Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

This is a photo of me cycling back to camp after visiting a crocodile farm. Hard work in the heat!

Savvy Authors did a spotlight on me and asked some great questions. Read the full interview here at Savvy Authors.

A few days ago I received a lovely email from an elderly gentleman who told me how he’d seen Ellora’s Cave mentioned on the Howard Stern show, and he’d gone off to check out their books. He chose to read Fancy Free, and he wrote to tell me how much he’d enjoyed it. He made my day with his lovely note.

This made me start thinking about the books I’ve read recently. I’ve read some really good ones, like Divergence by Veronica Roth and the Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater. Books that have left a real impression on me and made me think about my own writing. I thought of how my fan letter made my day, and I came to a decision. Authors work so hard on their books. If I enjoy a book in the future, I’m going to take the time to show my appreciation in some small way.

So how will I do this?

Here are a few ways you can help out one of your favorite writers:

1. Send them an email and tell them you enjoyed their story. Most authors have a contact address at their websites.

2. Tweet them and tell them you enjoyed their book.

3. Tell your friends about the great book you’ve just read.

4. Tell the author on their Facebook page.

5. Write a review at your favorite online store – Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Publisher website.

6. Mention the book on your blog.

7. Create a Pinterest board of your favorite books and maybe some of the elements that fit with the stories.

8. Subscribe to their author newsletter so you won’t miss their next release!

What do you do after reading a book you’ve really enjoyed? Do you contact the author or spread the word in some way?

Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it ~ Joseph Clark.

When I was a baby author and very wet behind the ears, I wrote my first manuscript. A masterpiece, I thought. I sent off my manuscript and eagerly waited for my contract by return mail. Three months later I received a rejection. I was crushed. Read the rest of my post at Savvy Authors.

I’m also visiting TBR today, the blog where you’re sure to find new reads. I did an interview, and I’m also doing a giveaway. One person who comments will win a download from my backlist. Here’s the link to my interview.

A notice before I get to my Thursday Thirteen:

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

Hubby went fishing last weekend, and he rang to tell me about the shark he caught. He was fishing in the Hauraki Gulf and totally inspired this post.

Thirteen Types of Sharks

1. Blacktip Reef shark – they hang around reefs and grow up to six feet long.

2. Bull shark – this shark does well in both salt and fresh water. It’s the third most dangerous shark to people.

3. Great White shark – anyone remember Jaws? We have a lot of this variety of shark. They attack more people than any other type of shark.

4. Hammerhead shark – this is the one that hubby caught. See above photo. They removed the hook and released it after taking a photo.

5. Mako shark – a very fast swimmer. It’s a jumper and sometimes jumps into boats.

6. Nurse shark – these are common in aquariums. They hunt at night and sleep by day.

7. Sandtiger shark – another shark that hunts at night. The female shark has two uterus. The strongest one eats the other before they are born.

8. Tiger shark – this one is also known for attacks on humans. They eat anything. Things such as boat cushions and alarm clocks have been found in their stomachs.

9. Whale shark – the largest of all sharks.

10. White Tip Reef shark – the most common shark encountered by divers and snorkelers on tropical reefs.

11. Wobbegong shark – this is an Australian/Pacific shark, and it lies on the bottom of the ocean waiting for fish to come near.

12. Zebra shark – this is a small and gentle shark, which is often kept in aquariums with other fish.

13. Thresher shark – this shark has a long tail, which it uses to help catch its food.

Okay, who watched Jaws, and how long did it take you to get back in the water? I watched the movie with my brother. For a long time after seeing it, whenever I went swimming I’d keep touching my legs to make sure they were still there!

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.