'WINTER' READING

Miranda's June Musings

Winter has hit Australia after a spectacularly warm autumn. All the 'winter reading' lists have come out. Glorious big fat books you can get lost in on those long evenings, snuggled into a cosy chair under a warm blanket next to the fire. 

So what you consider 'winter reading'? For those in the northern hemisphere there is also the association of winter with Christmas, which makes for a plethora of frozen festive reading. But Down Under, where it rarely snows in, well, a lot of Australia (even though it gets very frosty and can be sub-zero), what do you enjoy reading?

Do you enjoy romance with lots of snow and ice? I can distinctly remember reading Linda Howard's book Ice and nearly turned into a popsicle. Loved it! All warm and cuddly, nothing to worry about where I was, but everything to worry about in the book, one heck of an icy adventure with a policeman and a fabulously strong heroine.

Picture credit: amazon.com

Another chilly romantic suspense on my fave list is Karen Robards' thrilling Darkness. A truly spectacular book set in remote Alaska. The opening scene is just wow, when a scientist horrifyingly witnesses a plane crash over the Bering Sea. With tremendous difficulty she manages to fish one survivor out of the water before he dies. By the time they get back to her station all her colleagues have been murdered, and it looks like they're next on the hit list. Just thinking about it makes me get the shivers. Ooh.

Picture credit: amazon.com

Or do you prefer something a bit cosier like Debbie Macomber's Starry Night? Out a few years ago, this was festive fare set in remote Alaska (again), with a hero trying to dodge a persistent city columnist. The cover is to die for and I loved the story, that instant clash between the hero and heroine.

Picture credit: amazon.com

Notice the common thread of ice, snow, freezing locales and such? Is this your winter reading?! Or do you prefer reading a book set on the beach, so you can pretend you're feeling that heat while you're actually trying to defrost your toes? Something like Michelle Douglas' sun-drenched, gorgeous book Miss Prim's Greek Island Fling, which is so gloriously warm you could use it as a hot water bottle. Who doesn't want a wonderful Greek island retreat, with a hero and heroine who could never really get on in the past - but things seem to have changed?

Picture credit: amazon.com

Would absolutely love to know what you prefer.

Lots of love while I toast my toes,

Miranda xxx

Love to Love:

Enjoying some vicarious snow.

Love to Laugh:

At how quickly winter suddenly came in. My favourite season!

Love to Learn:

What do you consider winter reading? Snow and ice while you're snuggled up, or hot sun so you can 'pretend' it's warm outside?

Ending with a BANG!

with Enisa Haines

Image courtesy of: https/d.g.-assets/hostedimages

You're immersed in a book, totally captivated by the characters, the plot and the setting, and then, wham! The ending comes. An ending that unexpectedly introduces new characters or a subplot never hinted at previously, that has a sudden change in tone or leaves many questions unanswered. It's endings like these that leave readers disappointed, frustrated and annoyed and losing interest in the writer.

That's not an outcome any writer wants. It's often said, "The first chapter sells your novel. The last chapter sells your next one." How do we ensure this? How do we give closure to the story in such a way that readers gasp out, "Wow!", sigh with awe and yearn for more?

Ask yourself these 5 questions:

1. Does the ending evolve naturally from the progress of the plot? The ending is not text simply tacked on to close the story. From the first page to the last, everything that happens occurs for a reason and that reason leads the story towards the ending.

Image courtesy of: i.gr-assets.com/images

Example: To Hell and Back by Juliana Stone:
     'This wasn't the end for them. This was the beginning of something new and exciting, and for the first time in forever, it seemed, Kira was content.
     She was safe and she was loved.
     As Logan placed his palm against her belly and murmured, "I love you, little Dove," Kira felt as if she'd found her way         home.'




2. Is the story complete, the plot and sub-plots wrapped up and all loose ends tied? Reveal everything that needs to be explained.

Image courtesy of: www.readingreality.net

Example: Broken Open by Lauren Dane:
     '"I love you, too, Tuesday Easton, woman of my dreams,       artist, my beauty."
     "Yeah, that's nice." She sighed happily and when he fell asleep again, he knew he'd always have a place to return to.'






3. Does the story end with a cliffhanger? This is not advised for stand-alone novels but for novels that are part of a series. Any questions planted in readers' minds or left unanswered will have them waiting for the next book.

Image courtesy of: d.gr-assets.com/books

Example: Dark Witch (Book One of the Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy) by Nora Roberts:
'Deep in the woods in another time the wolf whimpered. The man inside it cursed. And with arts as black as midnight, slowly began to heal.
     Carefully, began to plan.'





4. Does the ending have a sense of surprise? An early detail, at first appearing trivial, can reappear and show the reader just how important it really is to the story.

Image courtesy of: www.fictiondb.com

Example: Butterfly by Sharon Sala:
The first scene:
'If only she could become as small and insignificant as the lowly little worm, then maybe Clyde would never bother her again. And if she was as ugly as Clyde said she was, being invisible would protect her from offending people with her presence. It seemed like a good idea, and she even closed her eyes and tried to think herself small. But when she finally looked up, she was still China and the caterpillar was gone.'

The ending (after China sees herself for the first time in a mirror):
     '"So, is this a yes?" China asked.
      He started to smile.
     "It's a yes!" she crowed. "The man says yes!"
     "I don't know what happened to you, but whatever it is, I am  eternally glad."
     China kissed him soundly, savouring the truth in her heart.
"It was nothing," she said. "I just saw a butterfly."'


5. Does the story end with a last paragraph or line that moves readers emotionally and leaves them wanting to read on?

Image courtesy of: www.thumbs.buscape.com.br

Example: Cry No More by Linda Howard:
     '"I-uh-I'm Zach Winborn. Justin. Your son," he added, unnecessarily.
     Her face was wet, her eyes overflowing; the tears blurred his features. A sob burst out of her before she could stop it, and an alarmed expression crossed his face. Just as suddenly the sob turned into laughter, and she reached out and took his hand. "I've waited so long," she said, and drew him into the house.'



The examples above each answer a different question and yet each book ends with a bang. Each ending works! And that's what writers want.

Which endings work for you? What do you consider as 'do's and don't's' of last scenes? 

Love to love: discovering images on the wonderful World Wide Web. Like this one of handfasting - the wedding ceremony (where the term 'tie the knot' originated) popular in ancient times and now making a comeback.

Image courtesy of: www.luckyinlove.co.nz

Love to laugh: at the funny gifs (like the one at the top).

Love to learn: how to end my novels with a punch!

Miranda's Musings in May

COMFORT READS

Darlings, at last the hot weather is cooling off... Hasn't it been a long, hot summer? Now, finally, it's time to snuggle with a book as the crispness of autumn sets in.

Do you have a favourite place to sit when you read? A throw for warmth? A favourite drink to sip? And dare I ask, a favourite snack to enjoy? Cassandra Samuels in her April 4th post Breathless Places 'outed' my reading chair. Here 'tis for those who missed it:




Chair, throw, cushion, coffee, and (she says virtuously) no snack...yet...plus a messy pile of books!

But what if you're not feeling brilliant with sniffles or pre-winter chills? Stressed with work or family? Do you feel able to pick up a new romance? Or do you turn to comfort reads? Those books you've had on your bookshelf for ages, yet love with each new reading?

I've got a few comfort reads that are like being hugged when I re-read them - I love them and they love me straight back; they give me tremendous pleasure and great joy. They melt stress. I feel happy. The world becomes a better place. Oh, the lovely power of romance!

For example, I love Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz. On a recent reread I was shocked to discover it's over twenty years old! (Actually, so am I. Who knew?) Who cares, this one still puts me in my happy place. It's fun and gorgeously entertaining, about a geeky computer guy who gets stood up at the altar (again), and he struggles to understand where he's gone wrong (again). The wedding planner and her crazy extended family bring huge chaos into his life...and love, and joy. Sigh. Guess who loves geeks? Moi, that's who!

Photo Credit: http://jayneannkrentz.com/trust-me/

Another is Duncan's Bride by Linda Howard. Goodness, another 20+ year old book! And...this is all about an arranged marriage. With a rancher and a city slicker. With a truckload of fun tossed in. Has it stood the test of time? Yes. My wordy, yes, yes, yes it has.

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

And there's Night Magic by Karen Robards. This one is a suspenseful on-the-run romance, with a big fat cat called Puff tossed in for sheer fun. I love cats in books - but I love any animal in books, come to think of it, as long as they have 'attitude,' which Puff does--in truckloads! The humans are fabulous, too. Another oldie but goodie.

Photo credit: www.amazon.com.au

What makes these books comfort reads for me? Simple. The romance, the laughter, a great hero and heroine, a bit of suspense, and fantastic sizzles. They might be slightly outdated with technology bits like phones or computers and gadgets and such, but frankly, I don't care. They've ticked all my romance boxes and the stories have endured over twenty years. They're all on my keeper shelf and I've read them many times, even though there's a truckload of new ones to read in my TBR! And by the way, that Keeper Shelf just keeps getting bigger. It's turning into a Keeper Room...

Next time I'll bring you some new reading, but for now what books have you read and reread and love so much you've had to buy a few new copies? Maybe find the ebook of your comfort reads, just in case you're stuck somewhere with nothing to read (horrors).

What are your comfort reads? Ooh, can't wait to find out!

Till next time, darlings,

Miranda

I love to love: Comfort reading! Snuggled in my chair, with my coffee... You get the drift.

I love to laugh: At fun animals in romances. Give them the biggest 'tude and I'm hooked.

I love to learn: What are your Comfort Reads? New or old, bring them on!

How Can BITB Help Your Romance Writing?

with Enisa Haines

Image: courtesy of corderogarden.blogspot.com

It's day 5 of our Blogiversary. Are you enjoying the celebrations? I know I am and love that the fun continues today with another prize.
(Check the comment section below to find out if you are the winner of yesterday's give-away.)

Are you hankering for some down time where you can indulge in the delicious taste of chocolate as you immerse yourself in a romance novel? Answer a question I've placed at this post's end and this box of Lindt chocolate balls and lovely rural romance novel just may be yours.






But first, how can BITB help your romance writing?

Are you embarking on your journey to write or aiming to be a better writer? Are you struggling to write, searching for motivation? Have you received your first offer of publication and wondering what happens at the publishing end? Do you need to know about book promotion? Or about social networking for writers? Would you like your book reviewed by an experienced reviewer?

Visit our blog where we discuss the craft of writing. We have guest bloggers sharing their experiences of the publishing and selling processes, as well as offering advice and information. Our regular reviewer, Miranda, gives insightful, in-depth reviews that coerce readers to buy.

Writing is a lonely occupation. Whether alone in a room at home or seated in the midst of a crowded plane, your focus shifts from your surroundings to the story playing in your mind and stays there as you write. In those moments when you're not writing, you may want to connect with people as immersed in writing as you. BITB is just the place to find like-minded people.

What book or books grabbed you emotionally?

Image: courtesy of poonamallee.wordpress.com

And now it's prize give-away time. I love those romance novels that yank at my emotions with such pull that I feel everything the characters feel. I've read a lot like that but there are four that stand out far above others,  that made me sob through the journeys to happily-ever-after. They are Linda Howard's Cry No More, Dinah McCall's Jackson Rule, Sharon Sala's Out of the Dark and Gayle Wilson's Only A Whisper.

A heroine desperately searching for the child snatched from her arms. A hero pleading guilty to murder to save his baby sister from prison. A best friend sacrificing his life to save a heroine from the clutches of an evil cult leader. A hero willing to die, and almost doing so, for justice. I was right there in the midst of angst and action in each story and the endings...as beautiful as I anticipated.

How about you? Did a book make you laugh out loud or shed tears or sigh in wonder? What book or books drew you right in until the last page? 

Answer in the comments below and do return on Monday. You may be the lucky randomly-chosen winner!


I love to love - romance writers and readers. You care, you share, and I am inspired!

Image: courtesy of www.beautifully-invisible.com

I love to laugh - enjoying the fun and games through this blogiversary.

Image: courtesy of keep-calm-and tumblr.com

I love to learn - embracing social media was my 'stepping out of my comfort zone' moment but I persisted and persevered and triumphed!

Image: mamalade.com