Crusader Challenge lie

I love Jane Austen and Regency themed stories, though my absolute favs are medieval - Especially written by Julie Garwood.
I DO bite my nails!
I do think bunny rabbits are cute and like all baby animals.
I DON'T like fuliguline! Didn't even know what that word meant, i had to look it up!

Well done, Witless Exposition for guessing!!

First Crusader Challenge - yep i'm a bit late to the party!

so the challenge is:  In 300 words or less, tell us: 

· one secret
· one lie
· one interesting quirk
· one annoying habit
· one of your best character traits, and
· one of your favourite things in the whole world. 

The post can be in any format, including poetry (for those poets among us), but must include the random words, “bloviate,” “fuliguline,” “rabbit,” and “blade” (tee hee).
Finish your post with something along the lines of, “I may have revealed something about me that isn’t strictly true, can you guess what it is?” (this last bit isn’t included in the word count). And don’t forget to tell us the answer in your next post!

So i am a graduate with an English literature degree and i just love to bloviate about all the best authors out there that have paved our literature course. I especially love Jane Austen and have a love for Romance reads with a Regency theme. And if they contain anything to do with fuliguline, it just makes it better.

But, if i find i am lost in the pages of a story my nails are cut to the quick, not by a blade but my teeth.

One of my favourite things in the whole world are baby animals. Yes even the bunny rabbits! The cute cuddly things with giant feet and can be pets - so adorable!!

I would love to be able to write a story set in the Medieval period. I can't get enough of the stories set in this era, however i'm too lazy to do all that research! I only hope my heroes and heroines make others drift away as i do whilst reading these stories.

I may have revealed something that isn't strictly true. Can you guess what it is? (It's not hard!)

I've hit send, again!

Not wanting to give up on Billie and Cooper i have just hit send to Embrace Books, an e-publisher, set up by Jane Holland, author.

Man, now i'm nervous! Counting down for six weeks now!!

Character Interview

Do you interview your characters to try and get a better idea of them? Discover what makes them feel and do what they do?
I discovered some really great questions to 'ask' my characters from Nicola Marsh's site. Take a look.

So i used her questionnaire to get to the root of Billie and Cooper's characters, but i've never done an interview.
I'm a shy person - overcome this by being a tad too loud and exuberant! - and the idea of an inteview makes my palms sweaty.
But last night i had a very real image of Matthew Jackson Dean, the hot hero with a troubled past, in my latest untitled WIP, walk in the front door and sit on my couch, ready for questions.
So i jumped out of bed, and furiously typed our interview.

Here it is, let me know what you think when you've done reading it! If nothing else, it was actually lots of fun to write. It has also revealed to me a lot about where the story could go, and what has happened to make Matt the way he is. Next i'll try Emma, if she wants to!

Me: Welcome Mr Dean. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.

Mr Dean sits back in the couch crossing one ankle on a knee, one arm thrown casually over the seat back the other hand tapping on his expensive but practical plain shoes.

 Mr Dean: Call me Matt

The flash of white teeth makes me blush and stutter.

Me, I nervously tuck a strand of neat hair behind my ear: Ah, right, Matt. Um. Tell me a bit about yourself

Dean: You wanted to speak with me. Shoot.

Again his smile has my thoughts scattering. Geez pull it together Kerrin!

Me: Ahem. Yes. So, how did you get into game designing.

Matt visibly relaxes, his restless fingers stop tapping on his shoe and relaxes, wrapping around the top of his foot.

Matt: Well, you know. 
Shrugs. Smiles. 
Matt:I played a bit as a kid. Wanted something better.

Me:Better? As in bigger car chases? More blood and guts?

Matt shakes his head, calm grey eyes turning shuttered: No. More action.

His stare is very unnerving. I feel a line of unease in my spine.

Me: More action? How?

He shrugs and shifts his denim clad butt on the cushions, fingers start tapping again.

Me: More fighting? Flying?

A quick tightening of the jaw, flash of something in his eyes.

Matt: You ever played Wii, Kerrin?

Nervous giggle (I’m the interviewer!)

Me: Wii? Yes. Though there aren’t enough action games. Seems to be dominated by fitness stuff.

Eager nod, eyes lighting to a fascinating silver

Matt: Exactly. My games get you off the balance board and fighting. Arms, legs, head. Whatever you want to do.

I’m still fascinated by the liquid silver of his eyes. I love a guys eyes. Did I mention he’s very hot? His intent, excited stare has elicited zooming butterflies and I have to remind myself I’m happily married!

Me: So, um, you mean like karate, ninja type fighting?

He leans forward, elbows on knees, his face, covered with his 4 o’clock stubble, totally focused on me.

Matt: Yeah, with a bit more. If you want a gun, you hold your hands like one.

He points his finger at me pistol style

Matt: You want to get bloody knuckles.

He holds them up and his expression is so fierce, makes me gulp and wonder where the fierceness came from.

Me: Why fighting games? Why not car chases.

He sits back abruptly and I feel an instant loss of his focus as his gaze wanders to the window.

Matt: Prefer to use my fists.

I gulp, suddenly my throat is dry.

Me: Do you have much experience?

Sharp eyes pinpoint me and I try really hard not to call back my question

Matt: Using my fists?

I nod. He nods

Matt: Yeah.

Strong silent types. I think I prefer my men to talk. I need to find out why he has experience, I think it may help with his story.

Me: Um, were you like a bully, or did you go looking for trouble?

I really hoped not. He had the type of face that as a child would have been adorable. It was adorably sexy and rugged looking now.

Matt: It found me.

Eyes turn as cold as a stone in ice.

Why do I have to know?

Me: So you had to defend yourself?

Long. Silent. Stare.

Me: from who?

Did he hear me? It came out as a whisper. I want to know, but I don’t.

Matt turns his gaze to the window again, rubs a hand over his chin and I hear the scratch of his stubble.

Matt: Dad.

Shocked silence. Why would his own father want to beat up on such an adorable boy?

Me: Ah, your mu-?

Matt: Died. Put up with too much and finally gave in.

Anger there. At his dad, or his mum for dying and leaving him defenseless?

Not going there. Chicken.

Me: Did you have any friends.

Ah! A smile, full and instantly clearing the shadows in his gaze.

Matt: Yeah. Emma Wakefield. Lived next door and was the sweetest, friendliest girl. Made me talk even when I didn’t want to. Biggest brat I’d ever met.

Wistful smile as he gazed at his past.

Me: You still keep in contact?

His fingers of the hand on the back of the couch, start to play with the seams.

Matt: Yep. Live a block away from each other. Meet every Tuesday for a movie.

Aw, that’s so nice! But why the agitation?

Me: So, just friends? Ever been anything else? Ever wanted there to be?

Fingers still. His gaze sharpens but I don’t think he’s seeing me.

Matt: No.

His eyes though, they flicker from liquid silver to ice rock and back again. An internal war.

Me: Oh. She married?

Matt: What? No, no. Married.

He says it with a grimace. Okay, so she’d not married.

Me: You’re in a relationship.

Matt frowns at me like I’m an idiot: I don’t do relationships. They’re messy.

But he’s had a relationship with Emma for years. Has a date every week.

Me: Your friendship with Emma could be regarded as a relationship.

Oh he didn’t like that one.

Starts pacing all over my little lounge so fast I’m about to ask him to slow down.

Matt: It’s not supposed to be that way! We’re friends. I don’t want anything more.

I heard the question at the end, even if he didn’t say it.

Me, gently: She wants more?

Matt freezes: Asked me to, marry her.

My heart speeds up, oh, this gotta be good!

Me: and?

Matt shakes his head, fists his hands in his short dark curls (I told you he was adorable as a child!): It’s not going to be like that. Even if…

He trails off and I hear the longing, the possibilities.

Matt: No. She’s my friend. I need her to be my friend. Always.

Me, gently: Friends have a way of making the best life partners.

Matt: Not me. She’d be wasting her life on me, wasting her dream of having a family.

Oh dear god, what have I gotten myself into?

Me: Well. These things have a way of sorting themselves out. I’m sure if she sees you just want to be friends she’ll find someone eventually.

The ice rock stare has me blinking. So he doesn’t want to be more than friends, but he hates the idea of her being with anyone else. Interesting.

Me: Well, thank you Mr Dean, Matt. Good luck with your fight games.

Matt swallows and takes a deep breath. Takes my offered hand and smiles sheepishly: Sorry about that.

Me: No, no. It’s okay. Really.

I have heaps to work with. Now to get an interview with Emma….

Matt: Have a good day.

He’s already thinking about something else as he absently bids me farewell, probably Emma

Sigh. Oh to have those eyes turning to silver for me…oh wait, I’ve already had my HEA. That’s why I get to pry into others’.

Bernard Pivot questions

For just a bit of fun, and to get to know me/you, post it on your blog too - but answer the questions with your own!!

(don't click the image it doesn't work :))


Okay, here's Bernard Pivot's famous questionnaire:

1. What is your favorite word? facetious - though i haven't yet found an appropriate time to use it in my writing or everyday conversations!
2. What is your least favorite word? um, don't have one.
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? a beautiful sunset, a lovely song on the radio, the dappled colours whilst walking through a bush track
4. What turns you off? "Muuuum!"
5. What is your favorite curse word? bugger! (i say it way too often!)
6. What sound or noise do you love? kids playing quietly, the birds singing in the trees, "i love you"!
7. What sound or noise do you hate? crying, fingernails on a black board (thankfully haven't heard that since school, though it still gives me the shivers just thinking about it!)
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? A policewoman!
9. What profession would you not like to do? child doctor or child lawyer - just couldn't hack it!
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "We've been waiting for you, glad you could join us."

Giving it another go!

So, despite getting that form R from SYTYCW, i am charging ahead and editing Billie and Cooper's story to try and make it "stronger". I may even consider either submitting it to Embrace Books, or Carina Press, two ebook publishers for consideration.
Or do as my friend Nicole did, and upload it to Amazon.

I just can't let this story go, and would love to have it out there for all to read!
Do you think i should just give it up?
I am working on two other ideas as well, so it's not like it's the only story in my gambit.

What would you do?

Blog Crusade

Join the crusade to get more blog followers and eventual readership for your stories!
Go to Rach Writes now and join!

Voice and characters

Kate Walker has a fantastic post all about Voice on her blog. If you've ever wondered what it is and how to get it, she divulges the facts. It's hard but it will come to you if you are true to yourself as a writer!

I couldn't help but feel, maybe that was the main reason for my submission being "not strong enough"?!
I'll have to keep trying to get my true voice in my next ms's!

And, yes i'm still reading Kate Walker's fabulously helpful book 12 point guide to writing romance. I've just finished the chapters on Hero and Heroine, and it all comes down to, again, being true to character. Don't make your hero an arrogant pig that will suddenly realise he loves the heroine and all his horrid behaviour is suddenly forgiven. And don't make your heroine a wimpy virgin. Give her some spine, something to make your readers absolutely love and believe in her (and him for that matter!)

I'm absent this week, well for the next two weeks. I'm on my two week practicum for my early childhood degree - i get to play with the toddlers! I mean i am learning how to link theory to practice ;)

Good luck finding your voice, and creating true, believable and honourable characters!