by Roseanna White | Aug 23, 2010 | Uncategorized
In the last year or so, I’ve taken to writing a summary of a book as soon as the idea strikes. There have been times I’ve stuck nearly exactly to that initial outline. And other times . . . well, I don’t. =)
For my contemporary romantic suspense with the Bedouin woman and the ex-SEAL, I’d originally intended the hero’s father to not get along with the heroine right away. My thinking was that it would add an unexpected level of tension. She’d have to win him over with her sweet spirit. Prove he had no reason to be wary of her, and that he ought not judge her.
The thing is, when the Admiral got a load of her the first time, he just refused to judge her. Instead, he judged those who had misused her and immediately became one of her fiercest protectors–even against his son, who is a fabulous man but who doesn’t fully understand what the heroine needs in each moment.
Yeah, the Admiral kinda threw me for a loop with that. How was I going to maintain the tension? Thankfully, the sweet sister, Peaches, stepped into the gap. She was more than willing to sneak into the heroine’s room and give her the “You mess with mine and you’ll find out how sweet I’m not” speech. Not that she doesn’t like the heroine, mind you, she’s just wary.
Someone had to be!
In a way, this is a lot like first impressions. My hubby’s philosophy is “My first impressions are always wrong.” They’re not always, but they seem to be spectacularly. His best friends now he didn’t necessarily like the first time they met. Just one of life’s surprises.
Has anyone–fictional or real–ever thrown you for a loop like that?
by Roseanna White | Aug 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
Today let’s welcome K. Dawn Byrd to talk about her latest e-book, Killing Time. She’s graciously offered a t-shirt with the book cover on the front to one lucky reader, so please leave your comment below, with an email address where I can reach you. You must be a follower to enter.
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About K. Dawn Byrd
K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romance and romantic suspense. Queen of Hearts, a WWII romantic suspense released in April and was the bestselling book for her publisher during its debut month. Killing Time, a contemporary romantic suspense, released August 1, both with Desert Breeze Publishing.
K. Dawn Byrd is an avid blogger and gives away several books per week on her blog at www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com, most of which are signed by the authors. She’s also the moderator of the popular Facebook Christian Fiction Gathering.
When not reading or writing, K. Dawn Byrd enjoys spending time with her husband of 15 years, walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home while plotting the next story waiting to be told.
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About Killing Time
Mindy McLaurin, thinks it’s the end of the world when she’s incarcerated on trumped-up embezzlement charges. While in jail, she investigates the death of an inmate who allegedly died of an overdose. Mindy suspects foul play when her cellmate dies and she learns that both women had ingested the same drug. Mindy trusts no one, including Drew Stone, the handsome counselor she can’t stop thinking about. She faces many challenges, including constant interrogation by the Major and emotional abuse from the other inmates. Upon release, someone is stalking her and framing her for the murder. Can she prove to Counselor Stone that she’s innocent of all charges before she loses him forever?
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What’s your latest book?
Killing Time
Desert Breeze Publishing, August 2010
It sounds intriguing! What’s your favorite part of the story?
My favorite part of the story is my heroine’s spiritual journey as she is wrongly accused and incarcerated. Even though she becomes angry with God at times, she remains strong in her faith.
I’ve wondered on occasion what I would do in such a situation. It would be such a trial–but through that, God so often reached us and teaches us! What was the hardest part to write?
The hardest part to write was the “show-down” scene toward the end. Without giving much away, I’ll say that I rewrote it many times, attempting to bring the emotions and thoughts of Mindy onto the page as she’s held against her will and almost murdered.
I rewrite my show-downs frequently, LOL. Gotta get it just right, right? What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?
I hope my readers will be encouraged as they experience my heroine’s struggles. She’s not perfect. As I mentioned earlier, she becomes angry with God, but she retains her faith. I hope that my readers will see that no matter what, God is with us, even in our darkest hour.
Is there a theme to this book?
The theme is that even though bad things happen to God’s people, He is faithful. He is always there.
Amen to that! What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?
My favorite genre to read and write is suspense. Throw in a little romance and we’ve got a deal. I especially like the books that have unexpected plot twists. Throw me a zinger! With my books, you can expect the unexpected.
Just what I like to hear! Zingers make the world go round. 😉 What are you reading right now—and what do you want to read next?
I’m busy reading and critiquing the work of a well known inspirational author. I’m her eyes before she sends her manuscript to her publisher. I enjoy reading books from my publisher, Desert Breeze Publishing, because their books are clean, well-written stories. I just finished Tina Pinson’s Manor of the Ghost and really enjoyed it.
Another book that sounds so intriguing! (I need to get some more e-books now that we have a reader . . .) Okay, fun question. What’s one of the oddest or most interesting things someone has ever said about you?
I’ll throw out the most interesting, which was also the greatest compliment. While a student at Liberty University, I was required to take a Group Process class. In this class, the students are actually the counseling group members. At the end of the week-long group, we went around the circle and said goodbye to each other. The woman beside of me told me that I had the most calming voice that she’d ever heard and that she felt “safe” just sitting next to me. By “safe,” she meant that she was able to share a particularly traumatic incident in her life.
Wow! Now we’re all going to give you a call so we can hear this soothing voice . . . 😉 What would your dream office look like—and what does your REAL writing environment look like?
My husband is a TV person and I’m not. Unfortunately, I must have total peace and quiet when I write, which means that I have to write in another room. He remodeled a room in our 1920s house several years ago and turned it into a Library for my book collection. At the moment, our kitchen is under renovation and all the building supplies are stacked in that room. I’ve been writing propped up in bed. I’ll be glad to get my library/writing room back.
My hubby and I are much the same way, but I’ve had to learn to write with noise (two small children, you know). Here’s hoping your get your space back soon! What lessons have you learned through the publication process that you wouldn’t have guessed as a pre-published writer?
I’ve learned that marketing is a necessary evil that never ends. As a newbie author, I’ve put a lot of time into establishing a web presence. I never would have guessed how much time goes into filling out blog interviews. I’m not complaining…I’m thankful for every one! The only negative is that they take time away from my favorite pursuit, writing. Also, my blog takes time away from my writing schedule. Be sure and check it out. I give away three to five book a week, most of them signed by the author: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com.
If someone were to give you $5,000 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy? (No saving of gifts to charities allowed!)
It wouldn’t quite pay for the project I have in mind, but I’d use it to build a room on the back of our house. We hope to complete that project next summer since the kitchen is taking all of our time and energy this year.
What writing goal have you set for yourself that would be the hardest (or unlikeliest) but most rewarding to achieve?
Last year, I completed the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge. NaNoWriMo challenges authors to write 50,000 words and occurs every month in November. I plan to tackle it again this year. It was extremely difficult to complete that task due to life getting in the way, but I was successful. My April release, Queen of Hearts,was written during NaNoWriMo.
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Thanks for visiting! Readers, you can find K. Dawn Byrd’s books fully linked for purchase at Desert Breeze Publishing. And don’t forget to check out her blog at www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com.
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Contest ends 8/26/10. Winners will have two weeks to claim prizes.
by Roseanna White | Aug 19, 2010 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
I intended to wax philosophical and thoughtful this morning–not that I knew what I was going to be all brilliant about, but I figured I was due for some profound thoughts. 😉 Then I thought maybe I’d mention my friend Kimberly who’s coming up this weekend, perhaps link y’all to her awesome toy-making blog, Lord Circus (the toy-making’s awesome–the blog just started).
But then friend Dina ruined those goals by sending me an email telling me to look up Christian Agha Photography on Facebook, as he has apparently volunteered to take the photos of the young woman who also volunteered to model for my book cover. Now I’m far too excited about the shoot happening over the next few days to be concerned with wowing you all with my deep thoughts.
Because, let’s face it, book covers are crucial. I am super-duper excited to be working with Tekeme Studios again, because George did a fabulous job with A Stray Drop of Blood. But since I can’t very well beg his wife to model for every single cover WhiteFire has him design (snicker, snicker), finding a new model was my worry this time. So special thanks to above-mentioned friend Dina for finding me not one, but THREE girls willing to volunteer their time for the sheer fun of having their face on a book cover. And for finding an awesome photographer working for a song, too! How in the world did you manage that, Dina?? 😉
Basically, Roseanna is excited. And, as always, a little nervous. My hubby said something about the weirdness of relying on volunteers for all this, but to me, it’s confirmation that we’re on the right track, that these fellow believers are taking of their time to help me out–and you can bet if there’s anything I can do for them in return, I’ll be quick to offer!
That’s what I love about the Church, which we see so often in the Christian publishing world–we help each other. We love each other, even when we don’t know each other. We’re working for a common goal, and so we don’t mind giving a little in order to get the message out to others. We promote each other, work for each other, serve each other, just like Jesus instructed us to do. So thank you, all you wonderful people helping my dream become reality. Thank you for helping me get my stories out there. And thank you, Lord, for leading me to the right people at the right time.
God rocks, doesn’t He? =)
by Roseanna White | Aug 18, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
So, just wrote a book about Esther, right? (Okay, more about another wife in the harem, but Esther was there too, and important.) Based it partially, obviously, on the book of the Bible named after her. Which stops in the twelfth year of her hubby’s reign.
Assuming said hubby is Xerxes, that means he was killed 8 years later. Esther would have been, in all likelihood, in her early twenties when she was widowed. Ever wonder what happened to her after that?
While reading Jewel of Persia, my hubby asked that question and demanded I figure it out. 😉 He offered his opinions on where she’d be likely to go, what she would likely encounter. And I gotta tell you–it’s intriguing to consider.
See, my reading of Esther, to go along with the history we have on Xerxes, requires that Vashti (a.k.a Amestris) is not killed, just deposed. I have to read it this way, because Amestris was Queen Mother during her son’s reign, after Xerxes’ assassination. Now, assuming all I do . . . can you imagine?? Can you imagine being the queen one day, then the next not only is your husband dead, but you’re under the control of the woman you replaced? A woman notorious for being bloodthirsty and cruel?
Yeah, um. I’m guessing Esther didn’t stick around the palace and hope that her marriage contract would see her set up in luxury for the rest of her days. I’m guessing she got out of Susa–fast.
But my little brain still has lots of questions it’s mulling over. What about Mordecai? Would he have fled too? (Probably.) Would Artaxerxes, well known for his kindness to the Jews (see Ezra and Nehemiah) have helped her or taken his overbearing mother’s side? (My answer–both, depending on who’s in the room, ha ha.) Where would they have gone? How long did she live? Did she ever remarry?
Which leads to a whole new realm of “Can you imagine?” questions. Like, can you imagine going into hiding, probably not letting anyone know who you are, then eventually having to confess to a would-be second husband that you’re the widow of Xerxes? As in, the former king? That you were the Esther??
Oh yeah. Many, many interesting plot points in the making. Roseanna is going to have so much fun with this! LOL.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.