Historical Fiction

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I've been formulating some thoughts, a few opinions about Historical Romance. Fiction. A genre I like to read occasionally, but would never consider a favorite... Still, some of my frequently read authors have the best fiction out there. Mainstreamers like Nora Roberts, Heather Graham, Brenda Joyce, Elizabeth Lowell...

There are lots more, including many, many, many in the Christian Fiction line. Francine Rivers, Michael Phillips, Jeannette Oke, Brock and Bodie Thoene...

I read a book recently by a new author, Jeannie Ruesch. She's published with The Wild Rose Press. The book, Something About Her is another worthwhile read [and available in eFormat or print]. If you get a chance, I'm looking forward to sharing this book with someone. If you stop by The Girls on Books today, Friday, you can catch my review. I believe it's important to step outside of my groove, my rut, my regulars and favorites. Doing so opens my world and allows me pleasure in the unexpected.

If you like romance set in Regency England with a dash of mystery, Something About Her is the book for you.

I'd like to talk about historical fiction again....after the weekend, I think.
This is just the tip of the iceberg in a discussion that will be both stimulating and controversial. Come back! If you're a Christian, I'm interested in your opinion. Come and find out what makes me go Hmmm.

Take care.
Love,
Bethanne

WIP Wednesday

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From Kate Karyus Quinn, the lovers, the dreamers and me



What's on my plate this week....


I've been doing a lot of soul-searching over the last year.
I struggled through a Vintage Historical revision--still not finished.
Moved to a cornfield.
Started my less is more experiment--and found it takes just as much time to do less, so why should I do more? [don't mean that in an apathetic way, just a practical one]
Started a new story.
Finished the story.
Started revisions.

So, here I am, April 15th. Our taxes aren't done yet, and won't be, and I need to get my BUTT in gear. I need to finish this less is more project. I need to start subbing this manuscript. I want to sell it...yes, for financial reasons, but also for the satisfaction in doing something worthwhile--I mean, something besides raising four kids, loving a man(you know it's not easy!!), keeping the schedules, etc.

My WIP this week is a story called Shake the Sugar Tree. I completed initial revisions on Chapter 23 last week then subbed it to my crit group and found I knew what was missing. It wasn't an epiphany or anything. No revelation. Just, an "oh, yeah." Well, it's been in my head, but not on the screen as much. So, it'll be a little filtering here and there. That's faith. My characters are Christian, because that's what I am. But like me, it's just part of who they are. They never think to be overt. It's not part of who they are...

This bit will help solidify my hero's motives. [Thanks for pointing that out Tatiana!] <--that's one of my CPs. For my heroine, it will mean returning to the church. In that one sense, my manuscript veered [horrifyingly] into a no man's land filled with not-quite-mainstream/not-quite-Christian manuscripts. *pullinghair*

It confirms something for me. I need an agent. LMAO...

But, that's a whole nother post. ;-)
Happy Wednesday, friends.
Love,
Bethanne

In A Pickle

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First, I had to get rid of Google Chrome.
It didn't do enough of what I needed, forcing me to use both Chrome and IE at the same time. Also, my Yahoo was acting like a big baby! I think Google and Yahoo were fighting in my Drive. Jealous little bastards, both of them.

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I popped into a blog yesterday, www.alishapaige.blogspot.com, where the author was talking about her visit in Dallas to attend a writing conference. Alisha scooped the word for us never-been-published yahoos.

According to Alisha, the rumors that paranormal is going out the door are NOT TRUE! Historicals, going strong, STILL! Let me stop right there. I really dislike these kind of conversations. What are they supposed to do? Encourage us to write something that doesn't inspire us? Beat us down, by assuring us that nothing we are doing will be desired? *sigh* The truth is, there are just as many Romantic Suspense readers as there are Shifter and Vampire readers[...well, literacy is the key to success, even for the paranormal!].

Being in the business of writing means being aware of the trends. But it doesn't necessarily mean conforming to them. The last thing EVERY agent submission guideline I've read [for my genre] has said, it's the quality of the story, the writing that will come first. Show me a good story...and we'll see.

I'm kind of tired of the paranormal craze. I appreciate a good shifter story[Christina Dodd!!]. Have read a few great demon stories[Vicki Pettersson]. But, honestly? Even my favorite authors are starting to drop little bits of paranormal into the mix... eh. I'd like some good old-fashioned Romantic Suspense, please. Or even a plain old, Contemporary Romance--no bells, no whistles. Well, maybe a few bells...or whistles. LOL

I'll talk about Historicals another day.

What I say is, if you really like to write paranormal and sci-fi? Go For It! And good luck trying to be recognized amongst the thousands of other writers who have decided to follow the trend.

[Wow, that whole post was kind of biting, and depressing. Well, forgive an irritated lady.]

Monday Goals

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CHROME
it's what I'm using right now. Google Chrome. It has pluses and minuses. Plus one, my computer isn't running like crazy. Chrome runs low key. It doesn't have the same add-on smorgasbord that IE does. What this means is[minus one], I can't access youtube or any of my chat/IM devices in this window. I was going to get rid of IE--cause what a pain it can be--but, I need my add-ons. :D
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This will be another busy week. Outside of work, the family is going to Michigan for Easter and Little Matt is making his first communion. The garden is getting started. The big clothing switch has to happen. Matt has year end tax work for his company to do and I would LOVE to get this ms completely revised and ready to go. :P Right. No problem.

Sorry to be so boring today.
Have a blessed Holy Week.
Love,
Bethanne
PS Just found this. It proves I'm not boring after all. :D

Picky Eaters vs. Liars

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I don't know which is worse.
But, I'm always blending the truth with lies when it comes to my kids and eating. One kid in particular who will remain nameless who doesn't eat food...period. He likes hot dogs. He likes breakfast hotdogs, italian hot dogs, german hot dogs. I've cut up chicken and called it chicken hot dogs. He likes toast. When I give him his toast it has margarine on it, but it's already melted. If I give it to him with the margarine not-quite-melted there is a problem. We have a margarine remover... As a matter of fact, you probably do too! It's called the microwave. I just pop that bugger in there and seconds later, the margarine is gone! LOL So easily persuaded...

Four year olds, they'll believe anything! Which is why we do our best to teach them the ways in which we want them to go. ;-) Hahaha. Raising kids is tricky.


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Speaking of kids--younger people than me, and even some people my own age, too. I've read a few Young Adult novels over the past year or so. I try to expand on the reading front, right? Keeps my mind turning, know what it new and hot in the industry. I find myself slightly disconnected from what young people are going through. As an adult, I don't even remember having that much stress as I navigated the halls of junior high and high school. Too laid back, right? I don't know. Well, in trying to understand what my daughter is starting to go through, I picked a book, Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman.
It is the resource for writing a girl book/YA novel. [it's also a great resource for parents in general and I highly recommend it] It should be taken with a grain of salt, of course. It lacks an element of morals and faith, but...
On the writing front, there is so much out there about personality, birth order, characteristic... if you're like me, you skim alot of stuff then base your characters on what you see...what you experience. Sometimes it follows a well-studied formula other times, not so much. Now, if I were to write juvenile fiction, I would start with this book first. The description of the social hierarchy called Girl World--yes, you know what I mean--cliques and popularity. The pressures to be a certain way. Why some girls are popular and why others aren't. What drives them. What makes the bullied succeptible to bullying? How is this going to effect the rest of their lives... and BEST OF ALL, how to be a parent to these girls. How to help them become independent. Wiseman has spent ten years researching and studying girls...as amatter of fact, she used a girl! Haha.
It's a worthwhile resource. One I intend to use, in real life and in fiction.
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[an aside as I continue to read through the book...i got to the chapter about beauty and pageantry and the social climate. Feel like there is a lot missing, like the fact that you can raise your kids to NOT be materialistic, not concerned about outer beauty] I may need to re-review this tomorrow. *sigh* we shall see. I almost get the feeling, she thinks girls are the DEVIL...and the only way to help them is to be just as sneaky as they are. I'm not getting behind that. Nope. Sometimes, it seems like she thinks they have no individuality. They are all the same--lying, vying for attention, wanting cool shoes. Eh.
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Last but certainly not least...
Come visit my review blog, The Girls on Books!!!
Our author of the month, Jeannie Ruesch writes Historical Romance for The Wild Rose Press. Her debut novel comes out on the tenth and she wants to give a copy away.
Comment to win. She's a great lady, and a great writer. I look forward to sharing her book with you.

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Muesday Goals

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I say Muesday because this should be Monday. I mean, where is time going??? It flies out windows, seeps through cracks in my basement, hides in the bed of my husband's truck when he leaves in the morning for work... It's insanity!

I had a nice get together at my house this morning. Made cake and coffee. Chatted with the ladies. Nice, really nice.

Work on my manuscript is slow-going, but going well. I have nothing new to report. It's SSDD.

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I'd like to mentione quickly before I go that The Wild Rose Press publishing house has opened a set of new doors. White Rose Publishing. I'm very hopeful about this...not because I write inspirational or Christian fiction as required by the industry guidelines, but I feel this is a new chapter in epublishing, one that will combat the growing and somewhat valid perception of the internet as a place to get porn...or crappily written romance.

Remember the days when, if you had a beeper it meant you were a drug dealer? Or wearing sunglasses meant you were on drugs? Well those days are over, and hopefully, the connection of internet and porn will become just as obsolete with a new rise in epublishing. Not that porn will become obsolete... too bad, but there you have it.

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Enjoy your week!
I know I'm enjoying mine.
Love,
Bethanne

Really Great News!

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My good friends are finally bringing their daughter home from the hospital tomorrow. She hasn't set off any alarms in seven days. This is wonderful news for the little preemie, who came into the world at 28ish weeks. I'm so happy for them. They wanted to adopt this baby as soon as they heard of her. God has blessed them, and He will give them strength... and hopefully a bit of wisdom, patience, peace, understanding, knowledge... really, the list goes on of all we need as parents to raise good kids. :D

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Thanks for letting me share.
Life is so busy, but I'm managing to make progress.
Revisions through chapter 23 are finished. Have 5-10 left. Can't remember.

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Did I mention that an acquaintance from one of my writing groups offered to send me her Gateway 2500 Solo. It's a notebook, laptop. I'm so excited and just as grateful to this nice lady for offering it to me. I'm so excited to be able to sit with my kids while they play outside...or sit at the library in the children's section while they read. I have big plans! LOL The idea of being somewhere besides this corner of the kitchen is a dream come true...answered prayers...the luck of the Irish... You name it, I've got it. Thank you Patti! Thank You!

Time flies.
Enjoy your weekend.
Think thoughts of peace and faith for all families.
Love,
Bethanne

Maturity

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A word on Maturity.
With spring upon us and garden planning in full force, my husband took his weekend to prepare the ground. Three trips to the fairgrounds in his truck blessed us with an over abundance--and much needed--load of fertilizer. Good old fashioned manure. Horses, cows...you name it. He got it and dumped it into our fertile patch of earth where last year we had the most wonderful success. Cucumbers! Tomatoes! Corn! Peppers!
About half way through Saturday, the distinct sound of wailing could be heard throughout the house. What was going on, I wondered?

POOP.

Not manure, not fertiziler...horse poop. From the time my husband came home and through the unloading, it was poop this and poop that, here a poop, there a poop, everywhere a poop, poop. Believe me, dismay was in great evidence. My daughter was in tears. Disgusted! Mortified!

My explanation that it wasn't really poop anymore didn't help--nor did the odor help my argument! She was sure she would not be eating anything from the garden, which btw, is going to be absolutely FABULOUS! I can't wait for stuff to start growing. I'll post some pictures after I buy battaries for the camera. :)

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One more quick note for goals:
This book is getting longer.
Still working on edits, revisions, and rewrites.
Also, finish reading Queen Bees and Wannabees<--liking it so far.

When Fiction isn't really Fiction

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My neighbor said to me tonight, "why fiction? You should write about this, real life. Like today, with Matt and I getting the manure, and the Hadleys coming by. Sean walking over to my house all by himself." He gestured with his hands. "You can't make this stuff up!"

But he doesn't get... most people don't get it. What do they think is in my stories? Where do they think I get my ideas, my inspirations? I may write fiction, but maybe my fiction isn't really fiction afterall.

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On the other hand, Rocky's input is also very insightful. I could journal. It would be neat to go back and read it later in life. But, I couldn't write those things with the thought in mind that someday, by writing and publishing them, my work would finally be worthwhile. [he wasn't suggesting that either, so don't think less of Rocky for it]

As writers, we don't have to write what we know. I don't hold to that rule of thumb. God gave us an imagination, we should use. From experience, though, I'm writing a story now that has been fun to write, and that's because it's full of all the things I know and love. *shrug* What can you do?

Whatever. Just keep doing. That's all I say.

Long Week

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It's true. I remember thinking on Wednesday night, 'I can't believe it's only Wednesday night!' [long in a good way, not a bad way!!! :D Lovely long week when lots is accomplished]

I've got my coffee brewing.
And felt the need to get on here and update.
Hmm. So, what to talk about?

There's the tragic news of Natasha Richardson's death. So tragic. My first reaction when I hear stuff like that is anger. I can 't help it. It flares like...well, a flare from the deserted island where I'm stuck with just my lap top, a lifetime supply of insulin and my husband[yes, he's in the fantasy, too!]. Then comes the sadness, followed closely by the lingering thoughts of panic and determination. I mean, life is too short!!!

In more news, I caught wind of Lifetime's premiering of four more of Nora Robert's books as movies. This time, Northern Lights, Midnight Bayou, High Noon and Tribute. Congratulations to Nora. We're all hoping these four are better respresented. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the TV rendition... but there's that small part of me that is disappointed and left wanting more. OH! and an announcement for her next book...looks like fun...and made me think about the current trend in books. FEET! Lots of feet on the covers of books lately. Anyone else notice that? Is it a fetish? Who wants to guess what will be next? I'm going with ears...

Another week closer to Easter.
One more week to offer something up to the one who sacrificed His Son in order for us to have life eternal. So, I'm off for the day. Take care and have a great weekend.
Love,
Bethanne

Defending Your Writing

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I got into a scuffle with an associate writer [don't ask me what that means. Really, the person was practically a stranger who happens to be in a writing group I belong to. As writers, personally, i feel we should be able to relate on some level, making us associates]. The person called what I do, as a romance writer, juvenile and laughable. Perhaps this person was talking about romance novels in general, but in essence this person can't possibly mean that the work we do as writers is at all meritable. This writer was, in fact, rude.

If you've been keeping track of my crappy week, you know I wasn't just irritated, I was ticked...

and I lit into her. Respectfully and as nicely as possible. This person baited me--perhaps, unintentionally --and I got hooked. The poor thing probably didn't know what hit, all my Irish fury in one short email [okay, it was more like medium to long...and there were two, because the writer refused to see the error of the rude comments]

Do I feel bad? My mother once told me, it would never matter if I were right or wrong, as long as I was the one yelling, I would be the one apologizing. So, yes. I apologized for some indiscretion...

So, tell me. Do you find yourself defending what you do? What steps do you take to be professional and reasonable when faced with....yuckiness? How does it affect your writing...your day? [my day seemed long, but I did get some very good work done on revisions. i just know i could have done more, if I'd ignored my instinct to be protective and possessive.]