Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

Before I get to my post today, I have two announcements.

1. During the month of February, I’m host for CoffeeWrite at the Coffee Time forum. This is a round robin story where both readers and authors are welcome to add a paragraph or sentence, driving the story in any direction they like. My story is a paranormal one with the starting line – a shifter and a vamp walk into a bar…

I’d love it you stopped by to help me out with the story. You need to be a member of the forum before you can post, but it’s free to join.

2. I’m visiting Chris Redding and talking about writing plus my upcoming release Cat Burglar in Training.

The Seasons

Summer falls during Christmas in New Zealand. It’s the time when Kiwis traditionally go off on their family holidays, spend days at the beach and their days outdoors. In Auckland, particularly, summer is often humid and wet with very unsettled weather. Just like this year! Summer officially falls during December, January and February.

Autumn is a great time to visit New Zealand. The weather is more settled, the days are cooler and all the kids are back at school. The leaves change color, and the weather is perfect for walking. Autumn falls during March, April and May.

This is Cornwall Park, looking toward One Tree Hill in Auckland. This is an autumn photo. Notice the gorgeous day.

Winter brings snow in the southern regions. Since Auckland is sub-tropical we don’t get snow and seldom get down to 0 degrees Celsius. It’s cooler with lots of rain. Winter is officially during June, July and August.

Spring is lovely with lots of flowers and the grape harvest gets underway. The weather can be settled with sunny days or we might have rain. Spring falls during September, October and November.

My favorite seasons are Spring and Autumn. I always enjoy the cooler weather before it gets too cold, and I love spring flowers. Daffodils always make me smile with their bright, yellow nodding heads. I like summer with the long daylight hours, but dislike the humidity. I prefer the cold, and I’m happy to dress in extra layers. One can only strip down to skin when it comes to the summer heat!

What is your favorite season and why?

Wolves have loomed large on my mind recently with the release of my latest book Lone Wolf, so this week I thought the differences between wolves and dogs would make an excellent TT topic.

Thirteen Differences Between Wolves and Dogs

1. The skeletons of wolf and dog are quite different. There are diagrams on In the Company of Wolves which show the difference between the two.

2. Dogs behave like adolescent wolves throughout their lives while wolves mature in their behavior.

3. Wolves don’t shed like dogs. They lose their winter coats in spring and grow a summer coat. Our puppy seems to shed constantly!

4. Wolves tend to do what they want to do whenever the mood strikes them, while dogs happily wait for their owners.

5. Wolves seldom bark while barking is the main method of communication for a dog.

6. Wolves typically ingest fur, bones and other things while these things would make a domestic dog ill.

7. The muzzle of a wolf is typically much longer than a dogs.

8. Every wolf in the pack helps to raise the pups. They regurgitate food for the pups. Dogs don’t do this.

9. Wolves rarely kill anything for fun. When they make a kill it’s for food. Dogs can kill as a type of game i.e. to show their masters how clever they are.

10. Wolves come into heat only once a year while dogs come into heat several times.

11. Wolves have much smaller litters 2 – 4 pups. A dog can have up to 12 puppies.

12. Wolves have longer legs, bigger feet and broader skulls than dogs.

13. Wolves live in packs, which have a distinct hierarchy of alpha wolves and submissive wolves. This is apparent even with the pups in the pack.

Source: In the Company of Wolves

Note: that’s our puppy in the photo on the right. She knows she’s not meant to be up on the chair!

I’m visiting Words of Wisdom…From the Scarf Princess today. The Scarf Princess interviewed me about writing, travel and Lone Wolf, my new release from Samhain Publishing.

If you’re a regular visitor to my blog you already know how much I love to travel. Seeing different parts of the world broadens the mind and exposes us to new ideas, experiences and cultures. Personally I think it’s a great way of learning, and my experiences definitely bleed into my books.

Check out my interview, and don’t forget one commenter during my Lone Wolf blog tour will win a $20 gift card from Amazon.

I’m visiting the Romance Author Hotspot today to talk about writing, a few of my favorite things, and my new print release, The Bottom Line.

I’m also giving away a print copy of The Bottom Line to one visitor. Here’s the link to Romance Author Hotspot

I spent the weekend doing edits for A Discreet Affair, and today I got a glimpse of the cover. It’s absolutely beautiful. Watch this space!

Meantime, here’s the blurb:

Summer, 1940. Britain is at war, and her brave fighter pilots attempt to keep the enemy at bay.

The last thing Pamela Allison wants is another man, especially one like her brutal, now deceased husband. Her managing mother wants her to live with her in London, but Pamela accepts a job from her aunt, working in the family store in the village near Biggin Hill.

Enter Michael Stedman, a Spitfire pilot based at the Biggin Hill airbase. Depressed and a little drunk after the death of his friend, he doesn’t expect to meet a beautiful woman during a night out at the local pub. He’s not looking for anything permanent since a pilot’s life is fraught with danger. All he wants is a little feminine company to take his mind off the war.

London is under siege by the enemy. Bombs drop every night and the danger increases for everyone. Michael and Pamela’s relationship changes and they become lovers. They are happy with their secret liaison until gossip and the past intrude and threaten to destroy everything, including her good reputation.

Today, I’ve been busy working on my current WIP. It’s a contemporary menage a trois and a followup to Fancy Free. I’ve also received some great news from one of my editors. It’s a little early to make an announcement – I like to tease.

I did an interview and totally forgot to mention it here on my blog. Here’s the link to the interview with Rhonda Print.

Tomorrow I’m starting an online course on writing alternative histories/steampunk with Savvy Authors. I can’t recommend this group enough. They have lots of excellent online classes and that’s just the start of their resources. You can join as a basic member to get a taste of what’s on offer or pay to become a premium member. Full details here.

How was your weekend? If you’re a writer, what are you working on at present?

I’m visiting Unearthly Musings today and talking about The Spurned Viscountess and other things. There’s also a giveaway. Come over and say hello.

Here’s the link to Unearthly Musings

My special guest today is fellow Ellora’s Cave author and friend, Cari Quinn. I’m delighted to welcome Cari today and help her celebrate the release of her latest book, Personal Research. It’s out today! I asked Cari a little about her book plus her writing process and there’s a contest at the end of the post.

Tell us a little about your new release, Personal Research. Did you need to do any special research during the writing of this story?

Personal Research is about Elena Thomas, an erotic romance writer who’s feeling a little uninspired lately. She’s a legal secretary who spends her free moments at work writing her sexy books—and watching the hot Italian IT guy fix the printer that, luckily for her, seems to break down daily. Also luckily for her, her attraction’s not one-sided. The only question is if she’s actually willing to have a crazy, sexy adventure, or just experience them vicariously through her books.

I will say this though – Nunzio can be pretty persuasive. ;)

Personal Research didn’t require any special research because like Elena, I write erotic romance and also work in an office setting. We’ve had lots of issues with the printer, too, although unfortunately our IT guy isn’t quite as sexy as Nunzio. But fiction’s often more fun than real life.

What is it that draws you to writing contemporary romances?

As much as I love romance for the possibilities of what-if, I like a dash of realism in my stories. I really enjoy current cultural references in the stories I read and write. It just adds a sense of authenticity for me. The other reason I like writing contemporaries is because they’re a natural fit for my voice. I tend to have a sort of snarky, sexy fast-paced way of writing and contemporary subjects work well for me. But I do have a completed vampire paranormal romance that I’m currently editing and plans for additional urban fantasy, paranormal and even erotic horror stories. And my latest love is reading historicals, so I never rule out writing in any genre.

I’m going through a historical binge at present, too, Cari. Tell us a little about your writing process. Are you a plotter? Do you do music playlists or collages? Character interviews?

I don’t plot, much as I wish I did. I usually sit down at the keyboard with an initial scene and my characters and go from there. Sometimes I don’t even have my characters before I sit down to write. My favorite pantsing story involves my novel currently submitted to Harlequin Blaze, Virgin Territory, where I didn’t even know my heroine’s name until I reached her first POV scene. I’m really guided by the characters, which is why I’ll sometimes get stuck for weeks while I’m waiting for them to tell me what they intend to do already. ;)

I have gotten in the habit of doing music playlists because music really gets me in the mood to write certain scenes. Occasionally I’ll find pictures that suit my characters. Mostly I just write my way through the mist until something emerges I can work with.

Ah, another fly into the mist writer! There are a few of us around. How do you maintain your creativity and keep your writing fresh?

First and foremost, I take a lot of breaks. I don’t write every day. I’ve tried. My muse seems to get cranky if I ask her to show up several times in one week and tends to go on strike. This week, for example, I’ve written 11K in three days. That’s more then I’ve written in the last month. As much as I’d like to be on a regular schedule, I think that thinking space in between writing sessions is a must for me to stay fresh. Plus it goes back to that whole lack of plotting thing I mentioned—I can’t go forward until I’ve figured out how to get from point A to point B. Sometimes that takes weeks to discover. Sometimes months. I also work on multiple manuscripts at one time, which helps keep me interested and excited to write. If one story’s not working, I switch to another.

Another big creativity boost for me is reading. An excellent story can spur me to return to my manuscript with fresh eyes. That happened to me today actually, with Juniper Bell’s Samhain release, Training The Receptionist. Juniper’s voice is so unique and fun and sexy that I immediately jumped back into writing with new enthusiasm. I love when that happens.

Do you have any favorite books on the craft of writing?

Honestly, no. I know that’s an unusual answer. I’ve read and enjoyed a lot of the popular ones, but I’ve always felt you learn the most by doing. Nothing can teach you more than the act of sitting in front of the computer and getting all the way through to the end. Reading other books in the genre you’re targeting works for me too, although I know some people advise against that. Reading widely gives you clues on how to build a story. Eventually you start picking up the rhythm, so to speak, which is essential for pacing. Paying attention to what works for me as a reader also helps me hone my craft.

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer just starting on their journey?

Don’t give up on yourself or the stories you need to tell. No one can express themselves in quite the same way as you and the world needs your unique point of view. Everyone goes through rejection and self-doubt. I imagine even la Nora still does. Well, maybe.

Thanks so much for having me here today, Shelley! Love your blog and your books.

You’re very welcome, Cari, and thank you!

CONTEST – Cari is giving away a copy of Personal Research to one commenter. To enter the draw answer this question: What do you think of office romances? Fun or forbidden? Both?

You can visit Cari’s website or blog for more details about her books. She’s also on Facebook and Twitter

Purchase Personal Research at Ellora’s Cave

I’m visiting Amanda Young today where she asks me some probing questions, and we talk about my upcoming release, The Bottom Line.

Here’s the link to my interview with Amanda Young.

I’m doing a guest spot at The Blackraven’s Erotic Cafe today. There’s an interview, some excerpts and a contest to win an ebook download from my backlist.

The contest closes at 12:00 Noon (CST) tomorrow so there’s still plenty of time to enter.

See you there!

Today my special guest is agent Holly Root from the Waxman Literary Agency.

Shelley: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you become an agent?

Holly: I actually had no idea that “agent” was a job until after I’d already landed in publishing. When I moved to New York I knew I was interested in trying something a little different than the editorial work I’d been doing, and that led me to make my way to the agency side. Agency work allowed me to work with authors shaping their books but also shaping their careers.

Shelley: What are the most recent books you’ve sold?

Holly: This summer was busy with renewing contracts for clients at Pocket, Grand Central, Harlequin and elsewhere, and that’s always fun, seeing an author’s series continued. I have some great debut fiction heading out on submission soon too.

Shelley: You’re going on holiday. What books do you take with you for your reading pleasure?

Holly: If I were leaving tomorrow I’d take the four books at the top of my TBR pile: Jennifer Weiner’s Best Friends Forever, Sophie Kinsella’s Twenties Girl, Malinda Lo’s Ash and James Dashner’s The Maze Runner. Unfortunately there are no holidays planned soon!

Shelley: A query letter is very important these days. What mistakes or problems do you see in the query letters you receive?

Holly: Most are just not quite ready for prime time—clear first drafts, or letters that lay out the entire plot to less than stirring effect. I also see many letters that say, “Writing this was very therapeutic.” I find most authors feel that way, but it doesn’t affect the market appeal of the work so it doesn’t belong in your query.

Shelley: How would you describe your ideal client?

Holly: Crazy talented as a writer, thoughtful as a person, and cool-headed enough for the wild ride we’re about to go on together. Ideally we’d also have similar communication styles; nothing is harder than working on a subjective endeavor like fiction with someone who doesn’t speak your language editorially.

Shelley: Do you offer editorial advice for your clients?

Holly: Yes. We do at least some editing before every submission. Once there’s an editor involved, I defer to that person so as not to have extra voices whispering in the author’s ear while writing, but I am always available for advice, even if the advice is just “write it and see.”

Shelley: A lot of aspiring authors struggle with high concept and the fact agents and editors are looking for a high concept in submissions. What is your advice to writers with regard to high concept and how would you define it?

Holly: I actually did a blog post on just this question, so I’ll refer readers here: http://waxmanagency.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/recipe-for-success-high-concept/

Shelley: For authors who live outside America, one problem that comes up is setting. Is a US setting necessary or does it depend on the genre?

Holly: That’s an excellent question. For contemporary genre fiction I think a setting outside of America is a bit tougher sell, but of course historicals (mystery, romance, general fiction) have often, even primarily been set outside our borders. If you’re in the more upmarket fiction market there’s more openness to settings beyond the US as well.

Shelley: What is your best craft tip for aspiring authors wanting to submit to an agent?

Holly: 90% of writing is rewriting. I don’t know that it ever gets easier, but I know that the more you learn to self-edit and polish, the stronger you’ll be at those skills.

Shelley: Thank you very much, Holly!

For more information about the Waxman Literary Agency, and up-to-date details of genres they represent or would like to see in the future, check out their website and blog.

Last month, I did an online class with John Foxjohn through the Kiss of Death chapter. The course was called Eight Steps to Murdering a Manuscript and it covered all the things a writer should do during the editing stage. One tip I’d like to pass on related to dialogue.

Characters shouldn’t chitchat about the weather or what they did last week at work. Dialogue should advance the plot. A tip to make sure your dialogue does its job is to delete everything from your scene apart from the dialogue (or just highlight all the dialogue) and read it out loud without all the narration. Does it give the reader new information? Does it advance the plot? If so, great job. If the dialogue is just a lot of chitchat then think about reworking.

I’m blogging at Access Romance and giving away a print copy of Tea For Two.

I also have a new interview with author Fran Lee at the Examiner.

And finally, I got together with three other New Zealand writers to do free bookmarks. Readers can download the file and print it out. Here’s the link to download your free bookmarks. Please do let me know what you think of them!