Finally Published... now what

Wow, what a journey!!! I am finally a published author. The excitement has not waned but the reality has finally set in...I gotta work!!We aspiring authors imagine as soon as our books hit the shelves that fortune and fame will be quick to follow. We look at the Nora Roberts and the Terry McMillians and immediately imagine our novel on the small small screen or nearest cinaplex. We imagine reviews pouring in from Publishers Weekly , blurbs in Essence Magazine or radio interviews galore. Then we realize that the phone hasn't rung , no one has yet to return your email and your publicist has assured you that the book signings are being scheduled. Doesn't anyone recognize my gift! Yes, you just have to wait until the pass on the good news about your novel to their friends. In the meantime, keep positive, don't slack on your day job, and use every opportunity to promote yourself and your novel.Now, I don't have all the answers nor am I an expert but I have started off to a modestly good start. Here are a few tips that I think helped me make steady strides.

1) A Myspace page - its free and you have access to more people than you can imagine. Post excerpts from your novel ( with approval from your pub if you have one), thoughts for the day, etc. Make friends with not only fellow authors or book clubs but people that may fit your demographics. Do not narrow your friends down by race or gender. But be wise, a 55 year old retiree may not appreciate your literary rendering of hoodlife. If you feel your novel falls into a genre that an established author writes in , acquaint yourself w/ some of their friends.

2) Enlist foot soilders - Friends and family should be armed with postcards, promo excerpts and what ever else you may have that can promote your novel. Try get family and friends that work at hospitals and large corporations. Choose your troops carefully. If they are not the most loquacious or outgoing do enlist them unless the specifically ask you. While they may support you , don't make them feel guilty of they are not comfortable being outgoing.

3) Become an internet sleuth - Surf for sites that feature authors or post work. There are tons of web sites that feature authors, post book signing, interview, etc. Some are fee based, so decide of the fee is worth it.

4) Be an online columnist or blogger - What better way to build a readership than writing an online column or blog that revolves around the subject matter of your novel or book. Many website and web zine take on columnist. Even though you in most cases you will not get paid, you have a world wide presence.

5) Join online groups- Make sure to not only join writers groups but reader and literary lovers groups. Be interactive and post comments and questions regularly so people can get to know who you are.

6) Vistaprint.com - this website by far has the lowest printing cost I have ever seen.

7) Exhale - If you can work overtime for a J-O-B. , you can work overtime to make your dream a reality. Rome wasn't built in one day , it took hard work , planning and faith.

I hope this little list helped. I will post so more stuff shortly but know above all else that the greatest asset you have is you and the greatest source is the GREAT I AM. The Creator gave identification of self as "I am that I am ..." So never position I am in a negative...

Peace!!!! Check my synopsis & excerpt on my my personal blog !!!

My Publishing Journey - Installment 3

Every Friday, I will take you on my publishing journey. I will provide a window into the world of an author, my interaction with the publisher, and the marketing/promotions involved.

Okay, so I'm a day off with this post. This week was a slow week with the writing because of a tedious week with the day-job. But you've got to earn an living. I did manage to crank out a second chapter for my young adult proposal.

The biggest hurdle with writing young adult is to keep the sentences fairly simple. I'm not pretending to write high-brow lit, so long convulted sentences with SAT-type words are not the order of the day. I'm also not writing with heavy dosage of hip lingo since most terms are dated six months to a year later. If that's the case, then my book would be dated by the time it got to the publishers and then finally to the bookshelves.

I'm enjoying the story as it unfolds, which sometimes doesn't always happen if I get mired into the pitfalls of writing: sagging middle of the story, weak characters, stilted expressions etc. The cast of characters is getting bigger. Maybe in the rewrite, some of them may not be necessary to the forward movement of the heroine's story. There is a developing subplot with her best friend, but I'm careful not to let it overshadow the main plotline.

So heading back to work on the third chapter. Here's hoping that I don't fall too behind with my timeline.

Enjoy your Valentine's day.

See you next week.

Michelle

http://www.michellemonkou.com

A BOOK IN A WEEK

I was coming off a frenzied three weeks of hammering out WICKED WAYS, the sequel to GETTING HERS, when I decided to take a break and check my email. (Mistake #1). I read an email from my editor from Harlequin saying that she couldn't wait to read my next installment in my Pause for Men Series on Friday. Needless to say it was Wednesday at the time. My hands began to shake and I went into a mild panic attack. Of course my editor MUST be insane. I didn't owe her a book in two days! I scrambled through my files and located my contract. YIKES! She was right. And not only was she right she was actually giving my 2 days grace. I was fresh out of ideas, so the only thing to do was ignore the email of course! I still needed a week to finish the book I was working on.

I eventually called my agent who contacted my editor who graciously said, "Friday is fine." Friday! That was a week away. I finished WICKED WAYS, emailed it to my editor and took a one day break to clear my head. But the only coherent thought in my head was that it was impossible. Yet, I had no choice. The cover was already produced and it was scheduled for release in July. What I needed was a plan. And the one writer friend I knew who could knock out a book in record time was my girl L.A. Banks (aka Leslie Esdaile). After consoling me for about ten minutes, she told me of a plan of action.

1. I needed to be selfish, cut myself off from family, friends and the dreaded internet.

2. Start at 6 am. (yick)

3. Write in blocks of four hours. Take an hour break in between for food and exercise.

4. Stop by ten p.m.

5. Make my notes for the next day and go to bed.

Well... I did exactly what she said. My generaly daily output on a good day is anywhere from 20-25 pages per day. With this plan I was able to up the ante to 35-40 pages in a day.

Fortunately, it was regents week and my son was off from school, so instead of spending the hour in the morning getting him up and out and to school, I had that time to work. And I worked.

But Friday arrived I only had 156 pages. Panic once again set in, but I was going to be brave. I called my editor myself and once again she was very gracious and said "Monday, first thing is fine." Ouch.

I continued with the plan throughout the day and through the weekend. When Monday came I had 210 pages. But miracles to happen. I wrote a grand total of 55 pages in one day. I emailed my completed manuscript at 4:45 on Monday!!! Much to the delight of my editor.

Of course this in NOT something I would recommend on a regular basis. However the plan works. It is simply a matter of being focused and staying the course.

With any book, you must have a plan of action and goals that you set for yourself. If it's five pages per day or a chapter per day, stick with it and do it.

The bottomline is, a writer writes!

Good luck

My Publishing Journey - Installment 2

Every Friday, I will take you on my publishing journey. I will provide a window into the world of an author, my interaction with the publisher, and the marketing/promotions involved.

This week I did manage to finish up my proposal launching a five-book series. I was two days late from my timeline, but nevertheless, got it done. It ended up being a four page synopsis and three chapters (49 pages), which I emailed to my agent.

I took a day off then started working on my yound adult proposal. Since this is a new genre for me, I solicited an author-friend's quick approval. I finished the synopsis and the first chapter and got it off to my author-friend. I have two more chapters to write, probably by this weekend, which means my agent will have another proposal by next week to market.

While working on the young adult book, my agent emails me that the editor is interested in seeing additional proposals, ASAP. I'm faced with setting down the young adult ficition that no one is knocking down my door for, or working on the proposals that an editor wants to see.

I know the answer seems pretty clear, but....

I'm sticking with my young adult because I'm too close to finishing the required three chapters. I wrote the first chapter in less than a day, so I think that I can finish the other two over the weekend.

I do know that one of the romance series will take place in Europe. Haven't nailed down a country, but I'm pretty sure my American heroine is going to have a wonderful time in a foreign land with the man of her dreams.


See ya next week, for the next installment.

Michelle Monkou
http://www.michellemonkou.com

My Publishing Journey - Installment 1

Every Friday, I will take you on my publishing journey. I will provide a window into the world of an author, my interaction with the publisher, and the marketing/promotions involved.

Last week I turned in my book (untitled, scheduled for release Sept. 07), thereby completing the terms of my contract with my publisher. This means that I have no further commitments for any of my books. This also translates to being currently without a publisher.

First, I spoke with my agent to discuss my plans and goals. Considering that there is about a year (give or take a few months) from the time a book is bought to the time the book is released in stores, my goals must take that timeline into consideration. Therefore any proposals I write from this point, if bought, probably won't be on shelves until 2008. Editors are hard at work filling their slots year to two years in advance.

Since most of my current books are tied to a series, which is dictated by readers' choice, I will continue in this trend for my next proposal. My proposal consists of a synopsis (3-5 pages) and three chapters (15-20 pages per chapter). I'm steadily working on this proposal with a self-imposed deadline to send it to my agent by Monday 1/29.

I started my proposal last week Thursday and planned to have it done earlier this week. However, my plans and reality didn't match. Kids had homework, projects due, and lots of studying for tests with the end of the quarter approaching. Now I'm about a week beyond my goal, but that really doesn't matter. I'm still writing every day. Now I'm on Chapter 2 where I'm filling in some of the background to the characters' relationships. Hopefully I'll have a productive weekend and can send it off to my agent. I'll let you know.

See ya next Friday for my next installment.

Michelle Monkou

http://www.michellemonkou.com

Motivation for Love Scenes

As I reached the first love scene in my book Sin's Iniquity, I realized something was different. I was actually reluctant to do it. I couldn't figure it out. I mean usually I'm so hyped about the love scene I can't wait to write it.

But for this one, I found it difficult to embrace the fact that now that these characters had all the tension and it was nothing to stop them from giving the reader what they wanted.

My fingers were reluctant, but I got the characters alone and she was perfectly ready to give him whatever he wanted.

Still i wasnt' in the mood, so I stepped away from the computer and looked at my work area. There as nothing turning me off to the fact that i couldn't do it. There was nothing physically wrong with me. Matter of fact, I was feeling pretty randy with no one to turn to so coming up with the scene was no problem.

Then it hit me...

Oh lawd, how could I forget the most important part of getting to the good part.

Music. I had been playing MJB in my headphones and even though she was jamming in my head, I just couldn't feel my male character.

So I switched up to Brian McNight and started to get in the mood. I sat back down, but there was something still wrong. Brian was getting to the good part, but not taking me there.

So I switched the CD again to Robin Thicke. Nice white boy with a melodious voice to groove too. And he was telling me how much he loved me. Yes! Yes! Yes!!!

With my eyes closed my fingers began to type.

Yes, Robin, you got it. Thank you !

And that's my motivation.

_______________________________

Sylvia Hubbard is an author, blogger galore and mother of 3 living, working and writing in Detroit, Michigan.

http://sylviahubbard.com

Join her as she releases Sin's Iniquity online at: http://sylviaHubbard.blogspot.com

January Release - HERE AND NOW

Happy New Year, one and all!

My latest book - HERE AND NOW - has hit bookshelves this month, January 2007. This book is the 2nd in the Masterson series. The first book of the series is SWEET SURRENDER, which was part of the Kimani Press imprint launch in its third month, September 2006.

HERE and NOW takes up the story of Laura Masterson who steps out of her family's shadow to forge her own life. She reunites with her college sweetheart, Chase Westfield, who learns how to live life outside the spotlight after his Olympic career is threatened.

Laura Masterson is a physical therapist. I had the opportunity to meet a physical therapist after I was hit from behind while in my car. My back and neck were injured and I had a series of appointments with the therapist. Then I met one of the managers of the company and he was an ex-athlete who, after an injury, turned toward sports medicine. I already had the premise of the ex-athlete, but no career for Laura Masterson. One day, I shared my story and asked if it seemed realistic and that's when I learned that the manager had been an ex-pro athlete. Then I spent time interviewing my physical therapist.

I had pages of notes, but ended up using very little in the story. After all, I'm writing a romance story and the importance and attention had to be on the two characters. Their careers are simply a layer to who they are and what passions drive them. This is the true nature of conducting research and then writing the stories.

Reminder to readers: Many times books may not consistenly make it into the stores or on the shelves. Please do not let that deter you, ask the booksellers to order the books. Otherwise, bookstores will determine, based on their electronic records, that authors or genres of books do not have economic value. The books can also be ordered through http://eharlequin.com.

My first 2007 interview is posted on The Pink Heart Society under the Sunday Spotlight. Feel free to leave a comment (http://pinkheartsociety.blogspot.com).

Michelle Monkou
http://www.michellemonkou.com

Changing A Character

Tomorrow is the day! The Big Day!

No, I’m not talking about any wedding – especially for me. Nor am I referring to the first day of the year. I’m talking about Sin’s Iniquity, my personal live story blog that I do for a whole month.

First about the book:
Sinclaire wants simplicity in her life. In order to prove her self worth to her ungrateful and evil mother, she is studying for the bar and in no way does she want any one or anything to get in the way of her goal. That is until Dwight Bowman steps into her life and wants to very much get to know the plain Sinclaire. Despite what she wants to prove to her mother, Sinclaire can’t help her attraction to the wealthy powerful gorgeous Dwight and gives in to her heart. Yet, sins of the past are destined to tear them apart or kill them in the process of being revealed.

Second, about the blog:
A live story blog is my cure to defeat writer’s block. I post chapters of the book live for my readers, which are usually thought of about an hour to seconds before I post. That means my readers get to see what I’m writing only seconds after I think about it.

It sounds hard doesn’t it? It is sometimes, but it’s a challenge and I love a challenge. It’s actually fun because I get instant feedback from my readers right away about my writing.

Third: About the Characters (which is why I’m writing this blog)
Before I blog, in my head I’m mapping out the story. I don’t try to write anything down because I want love surprising myself and since I’m a character driven writer, I usually let my characters lead the story where it might. I just set down the foundation of the story and go from there. It’s like playing that video game the SIMS (I think that’s the name). You just set up the world and then let them do whatever they want. I’m the story teller and give my readers a glimpse into these characters lives for this period.

Well, my male hero started off an African American. He was a strong black man surviving on the mean streets of Chicago with two kids by himself. To bring more conflict to the story, I changed him to a white man living on the streets with mixed children and the adversity that he had to face. On top of this, I also changed the characters name from Christopher to Dwight. Not because of his ethnicity, but because my fingers were tired of typing that long name. LOL.

Why did I do such a thing?

Well, Sin’s Iniquity started off with a basic story line. A woman trying to get respect from her mother and thinking she can do it by improving herself as a person by going to law school. Then I needed a back storyline for Dwight, the male character. And the more adversity for him, the better to explain why he has such a calming demeanor. The man can’t go anywhere but up at this point.

I hope you join me on my journey to Sin’s Iniquity. I hope to keep you on your toes and I hope you comment often and vehemently! LOL.

Have a Happy New Year and blessings to come!!

Your Author,

Sylvia Hubbard

http://sylviahubbard.com

Blog: http://sylviahubbard.blogspot.com

http://loveablackwoman.blogspot.com

There's No "I" in The Word Team!

As writers, we describe our process of writing the book as a solitary venture. We share the image with our readers and audience that we are sitting curled up in a lounge chair or at a desk painstakingly writing and thinking about word choice, sentence structure, character development. This process begins even before we put down one word on page one and doesn't stop after we write THE END.

Having a completed manuscript is only the tip of the iceberg. My latest book, Sweet Surrender, which came out in September had a small team of individuals participating in its development.

First, as a proposal of three chapters and an outline, my agent takes the manuscript and sends it to the editor. The editor then reviews it and determines whether it fits her appetite. It does and she calls my agent with an offer. My agent then calls me, we negotiate and the deal is finalized. Then I'm given a deadline for the completed manuscript.

I get to work. I have contract, soon an advance check, and a story to complete. Three months before the book is released, and maybe even earlier, I contact my publicist with the marketing material: short blurb, short bio, release date, title, etc.

The book is complete and I submit to the editor. A few months later, I received an editorial letter or notes for the story. I complete that and send it back. Most times, a week is given for the edits. Then the manuscript is sent with the edits incorporated, but a chance for the author to review. This is not the time for substantive edits. This is the time to ensure that what was marked earlier is now in or not in the work.

The publicist provides a line up of online interviews, online chats, in-store booksignings, and other publicity events to market the upcoming release. Books are mailed to various reviewers, booksellers, librarians, etc. to introduce them to the work and/or to the author.

Then the book finally hits the bookshelves. Readers can now respond with their opinions with emails to the authors, publishers, online store comment section, book clubs, etc.

Sweet Surrender made a few milestones for me. I wrote the story and am responsible for what is between the covers, but as you can see, the success of a book largely depends on a team effort.

Big thanks to all!

Michelle
http://www.michellemonkou.com

Taking You Out of Your Comfort Zone

I get that from my readers many times. Over the years as I’ve written, I fascinate myself of the process I go through to get from 0 words on the page to over seventy thousand words of twists, turns and romance. The first time I ever looked at my own process was when I was twenty-nine, trying to look for a thing for my daughter and I wandered upon my second published book, Stone’s Revenge, that had been handwritten when I was sixteen. I forgot about looking for the thing and begin to read what I had written before I even knew what love was, let alone a love scene and had never experienced a day of abuse. Yet, I was able to bring forth a character named William Stone, who was just the most beautiful Hispanic man this side of the Mississippi, but with a father as a serial killer. I don’t know how or where this man came from, but he was complicated and needed love, but didn’t know how to obtain it. That’s where Abigail McPherson came in, who was the daughter of the prosecuting attorney that was William’s nemesis. (I told you I have twists and turns).

From analyzing that experience as I rewrote the book, which was very little from its original concept, I found that I had a knack for taking ordinary people going through the same things you and I are going through and making their lives extraordinary.

How? By taking my reader out of their comfort zone. I found that in order for the reader to accept the situation that I thrust my protagonist in, I had to make them like something that shouldn’t be right.

How? For example, (and I can’t go into real detail without giving away the story), in my newest book, Mistaken Identity, I took a twin, who was jealous of her sister – rich fiancé, beautiful house, and wonderful life – and once the reader sympathize with this jealousy, it was alright to allow the protagonist to sleep with her brother-in-law. Of course there are a lot more twists and turns in the story and one reader said it’s the crying game of erotic where no one will tell the secret ending (LOL), but when I published Mistaken Identity my fear was that people would just say, “Sylvia, you’re nasty.” (Which I was about to call this post) .

Yet, people who have read the story say, “I was uncomfortable, but I couldn’t stop reading.” I like when they say that, because that means I’ve accomplished what I set out to do, give you a good story by taking you into my world, made you accept it and enjoyed yourself. I hope to do this with each and every book.

So let me take you out of your comfort zone.

http://sylviahubbard.com/

Your Author, Sylvia Hubbard

Darling Nikki

"Why did you write My Invisible Husband?" is a question that I'm often asked. On a subconscious level, the story idea actually developed after hearing people ask me one too many times "So when are you getting married?" The second reason is because the character, Nicolette "Nikki" Montana, wouldn’t let me sleep well until I wrote her story. (smile)

For those who haven't read My Invisible Husband yet, here’s a short synopsis: To appease her family and friends, 34-year-old Nicolette Montana fakes a Las Vegas wedding. On her return trip to Dallas, she meets the dashing Byron Matthews. When she gets caught up in her web of deceit, she's forced to ask Byron to step in to fill the void. Byron vows to help Nikki even if it means making certain sacrifices. How Nikki handles her web of deceit makes for a dramatic and sometimes comical story.

I will let Nikki tell her story in her own words:
Shelia Goss: Please introduce yourself.
Nicolette Montana: My name is Nicolette Montana but everyone calls me Nikki. I am 34 years old and as far as everyone knows, I'm engaged.

Shelia: What advice would you give other women who are in their 30s and have never been married?
Nikki: If you find a man that you love and the feelings are reciprocated, go for it. Otherwise, don't let your age cause you to bow down to the pressure.

Shelia: Were you pressured?
Nikki: Uh. Well. No. I just felt the need to share that with your readers.

Shelia: Tell us something special about your relationship.
Nikki: Where do I begin? He's everything I've dreamed of. He treats me like a queen and he's good eye-candy.

Shelia: If you could change anything about your relationship, what would it be?
Nikki: I wish he didn't travel as much.

Shelia: Do you think having a good sense of humor is important in a relationship?
Nikki: Yes. Very. Once we get married, he'll be away so much - I've already started calling him My Invisible Husband.

Of course in the interview, Nikki fails to reveal that it’s all a façade. Some would say that Nikki's world is unrealistic. The fiction world that was created around Nikki Montana pales in comparison to the real life drama of Jennifer Wilbanks—the Runaway Bride that made the news last year and who recently made the news again when she filed a suit against her ex for $500,000.00. Jennifer Wilbanks proves that someone's fiction is another person's reality.

All of my books are "stories with a twist." My goal is to take real life situations, make them entertaining, but also make you think.

P.S. - Thank you Donna Hill Promotions for allowing me the opportunity to introduce Nikki on your blog.

Shelia M Goss
http://www.sheliagoss.com/
www.myspace.com/sheliagoss

In The Beginning...

IN THE BEGINNING…

So it’s another love story, well that’s a given. But the most important part to me in a romance is the journey to finding that love. LOVE ME LIKE NO OTHER starts a new series with Kimani Romance, a series of journeys and the beginning of several beautiful friendships. Okay, okay, I watch too many old movies. :)

This story started with a vision. Picture this: three absolutely yummy black men with more money then they could possibly spend in three lifetimes and enough negative female experiences to erect another Great Wall in China.

Lincoln Donovan took the lead mainly because I love the name Linc, and secondly because he’s the oldest brother and thus sets the example for the others to follow. I’m the oldest child in my family so my parents constantly fed me that tired line. Linc is too fine, too rich and too arrogant, thus making him too much for any woman to deal with. I like this type of hero because it’s so satisfying to find that small crack in his heart and break through.

Jade Vincent was the perfect nemesis because she was also a victim of the ‘too’ syndrome. She’s too loyal and too trusting which is what lands her at the mercy of the infamous Lincoln Donovan. And because life is always throwing curve balls Jade and Linc share the memory of one scorching night together. Needless to say as I went through the process of drafting the scenes that would finally pull this couple together I was touched by their contrasts and encouraged by their tenacity.


A.C. Arthur
http://www.acarthur.net/
http://www.donnahillpromotions.com/

Building a Character

One of my most compelling female characters was Rayne Holland of IN MY BEDROOM. It was the first time that I attempted to do a psychological story--really get into the mind of a character who stood on the precipice of sanity. There were many questions I asked myself about what would cause a person to develop a split personality or become bi-polar. The answer that I settled on was a traumatic sexual assault. To up the ante I made that assault an incestuous one.

In looking through the stacks of papers that I have in my makeshift office, I ran across the original handwritten notes that I used to build Rayne Holland. From these notes an unforgettable character was born.

Rayne Holland:
Raised in her early years by her father. Mother died when Rayne was eight, the result of a weak heart, weakened further by the pregnancy and the ensuing years. Rayne always felt the loss and a sense of guilt--heaped upon her by her father. She felt at fault and believed she had to "make up" for her mother's loss.

Rayne was in desperate need of love. Father, in his own twisted grief begins assualting Rayne (who looks just like her mother) shortly after her mother's funeral and continues to do so until she is almost sixteen and her remarries (Edith). Although Rayne was terribly ashamed she felt this was maybe a way to "please" her father--get him to love her. Inside she knows it is wrong and in an attempt to deal with her self-hatred and guilt her personality fractures.

Edith suspects what is going on. Convinces her husband to send Rayne to live with his sister--in an attempt to protect Rayne and her marriage.

Rayne grows up withdrawn. Becomes absorbed in books, reading, television and movies. Ultimately gets a degree in film.

The nature of her work as a filmaker is reflective of her reality/personality--all fabrication. Making something out of nothing--creating an imaginary world. This is where she can bloom and feel almost human when she is creating.

She has successfully buried the assaults deep in her subconscious and it is not until a life-altering accidents takes place that the demons begin to rise to the surface and the two personalities begin to battle.

Well... that's how I began to build Rayne Holland and took her on a journey of self-discovery and healing.

How SWEET SURRENDER Turned Into A Story

First, major thank you for this blog by Donna Hill Promotions where I and my fellow authors under DHP will chat about interesting details behind our work.

My September release, Sweet Surrender, like most of my stories start with creating the characters and then the plot follows when I'm in creating mode. I literally have my characters side by side on the page and work on their strengths and weaknesses, aiming for as much conflict, as possible.

In this particular story, I introduced the Masterson family. This family is without a leader in the form of a mother or father. But like all group forming processes, someone has to emerge as a leader to keep cohesion in the group.

This is especially personal to me since my brother stepped up in the big brother/paternal role when my mother, brother and I moved to the U.S. My father was still in Guyana. I remembered how much I hated my brother to transform into the big brother role. Since he is seven years older, you'd think that I could accept this permanent hierachy. But, oh no, we fought like you wouldn't believe until after my college years. Around the time of my wedding, the relationship changed and now, I'm not likely to clobber him when he begins a sentence with "As your big brother...."

Phillip Masterson, the eldest brother, acts as the self-appointed leader. His siblings would probably accuse him of being a dictator. Yet none of the siblings can deny that he did play a major and vital role in them all being reasonably successful, productive members of society. Of course, Phillip would disagree with that claim when it comes to his youngest brother, Omar. Omar doesn't care for the smothering from her brother or sisters.

As far as the story setting, which takes place in the mountains in Western Maryland, I borrowed the images from the history of many suburban cities in my home state. Many of the cities were small populated areas near a major train station, factory, or port. Cities are now aggressively pursuing revitilization of historic buildings and areas to keep a bit of the past in the rapidly expanding present and future. Street names, like Main Street, is a common sight with shopkeepers and older residents knowing each other, along with past generations. Hampton Mews where the story is set provides a wonderful fantasy retreat for me.

I also think that the house has its own personality. Here is a house that sheltered a family where the father abandoned them and the mother died. While the outside world was cold and painful, at times, the Mastersons could come home and enjoy their familial bonds.

When Haley and her daughter move to the town, it is only right that they should find their refuge in this home of love. This house will be a central part in each sibling's story where forgiveness, acceptance, and even repentance occur.

I have several autographed copies of Sweet Surrender available at Turn The Page Bookstore - http://www.ttpbooks.com. This link will take you directly to the Order Books page - http://www.ttpbooks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TTPB&Category_Code=VB

As I often say - Books make great gifts!


Michelle Monkou
http://www.michellemonkou.com
http://www.donnahillpromotions.com

A Brotha in Timberland Boots

Yesterday a reader asked me where did I come up with my latest hero, Reginald Hodges? Well, I'm gonna tell you. I was at the club with my girls one Friday night sipping apple martinis and bobbing my head to the beat of the music when this man walked in. My heart started racing. My hand was shaking so bad I had to put my drink down. Brotha was fine! Cornrows. Throwback jersey. Loose fitted jeans. And Timberland boots. All three of us noticed and I couldn't take my eyes off this man. He looked like the good Lord had dipped him in a pot of chocolate, and them eyes! Oh me. Oh my! They were large and light brown and drew you in with one long piercing look. After asking around, the girl at the next table told me his name was Reggie and that he did odd jobs in the neighborhood. Painting. Remodeling. You name it. I didn't move the rest of the night. All I did was stare and try to decide which room I needed painted first. By the end of the night I had his business card in hand, and as soon as I got home, I started preparing a character description for my next book. Just a regular brotha from the hood, wearing low riding jeans and Timberland boots. With that in mind, A Delight Before Christmas was born.

Angie Daniels
www.angiedaniels.com
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