Only one week until our Tampa Area Romance Authors multi-author Borders book signing!
On Saturday, June 13th from 2:00pm-4:00pm
Come meet eleven fabulous romance authors:
New York Times Bestselling Authors
Virginia Henley, Joan Johnston, and Karen Rose
USA Today Bestselling Authors
Alyssa Day, Julie Leto, Roxanne St. Claire
Kathy Carmichael, Terri Garey, Debby Mayne, Diana Peterfreund,
and Elissa Wilds
BORDERS
909 N. Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa, FL 33609
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
June Books
We have several TARA members with new book releases this month!
Kiss of the Phantom by Julie Leto -- Paranormal Romance
Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida by Debby Mayne -- Inspirational Romance
Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day -- Paranormal Romance
Outlaws and Lawman by Loretta Rogers -- Anthology (Western)
Also the reissue of First You Run, Then You Hide, and Now You Die by Roxanne St. Claire -- Romantic Suspense
And introducing first-time author Eliza March with her book Witch of Air and Fire -- erotic paranormal romance. This is an e-book available at Siren Book Strand. (For Adults Only)
Congratulations ladies!
Kiss of the Phantom by Julie Leto -- Paranormal Romance
Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida by Debby Mayne -- Inspirational Romance
Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day -- Paranormal Romance
Outlaws and Lawman by Loretta Rogers -- Anthology (Western)
Also the reissue of First You Run, Then You Hide, and Now You Die by Roxanne St. Claire -- Romantic Suspense
And introducing first-time author Eliza March with her book Witch of Air and Fire -- erotic paranormal romance. This is an e-book available at Siren Book Strand. (For Adults Only)
Congratulations ladies!
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Mean Season
With the beginning of June, comes the dreaded hurricane season. It's a time of year where everyone must be aware and prepared -- especially living on the Florida coast. The heat kicks up to scalding and the summer breezes ride in on violent thunderstorms. Even so, the skies are some of the most spectacular I've ever seen.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Island Life
Scenes from my Florida island. :)
Beach party!
Searching for supper.
Clouds gathering.
Perfection!
Photos by Liz Smith
Friday, May 15, 2009
New This Week
Diana Peterfreund is the author of several books featuring college age protagonists. Her first, Secret Society Girl was published in 2006. Followed by Under the Rose and Rites of Spring (Break). The fourth in the secret society series Tap and Gown will be released this week.
Love the titles! :) Congratulations, Diana.
And in the fall her first YA novel, Rampant will be published.
Check out her website at http://www.dianapetefreund.com
Love the titles! :) Congratulations, Diana.
And in the fall her first YA novel, Rampant will be published.
Check out her website at http://www.dianapetefreund.com
Saturday, April 25, 2009
To Prologue... or Not
Prologue: (from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
a. The preface or introduction to a literary work.
b. An introductory or preceding event or development.
I love to settle down in my comfy chair, open up a novel, and begin reading a brand new story. I especially love when there is a prologue.
Many readers insist they don't like prologues and even go so far as not to read them. What!? Why would you read a book and not read the beginning? Just because it says the word prologue?
I know several writers who choose not to include them in their work. I have also read published novels that include a prologue when in fact it should say chapter one.
To the best of my knowledge, I don't believe there are any hard fast rules pertaining to the use and construction of a prologue in a fiction novel. They come in every shape and size with an array of content. I have read books where the prologue was a mere two sentences long and others where they stretched into thirty pages. In both cases they worked well.
In a mystery/suspense/thriller novel, a prologue can be used to set up the crime, or tragic life-changing event. Often times the prologue might be in the villain/antagonist's point-of-view. This can enhance the tension when the main characters are introduced. We, the reader, know something our main characters don't. We feel the suspense as they head innocently toward the trap set up by the nasty villain. :)
Perhaps in a family saga novel, a prologue can be used to glimpse a piece of family history. A past event used to set-up the current storyline.
I write romantic suspense novels. In each of my three manuscripts, I begin with a prologue. Each prologue introduces a tragic event that affects the main characters in their present day life. They are life-changing events that help propel the conflict and characters throughout the books.
Over the years I have had each of my three novels critiqued by several different people. Often times it's one of my critique partners, sometimes in a face to face critique group, and occasionally through contests where the prologue/first chapter is judged by an anonymous writer. I usually do quite well in contests, scoring high, but I don't often final, and it seems to be because of my use of prologues.
Is it because other writers don't like prologues? Or they don't get the fact that it's a prologue and not chapter 1? Or am I starting in the wrong place, including too much back story? Probably all of these elements to some degree.
The real questions: How does the prologue enhance the story? Is it well written? Is it really necessary?
Prologues continue to be a great way to introduce conflict, show an historic event, steep the reader in the evil villain's point-of-view, enable us to view our protagonist as a child... or where ever your imagine takes you.
What is your opinion? To prologue... or not?
a. The preface or introduction to a literary work.
b. An introductory or preceding event or development.
I love to settle down in my comfy chair, open up a novel, and begin reading a brand new story. I especially love when there is a prologue.
Many readers insist they don't like prologues and even go so far as not to read them. What!? Why would you read a book and not read the beginning? Just because it says the word prologue?
I know several writers who choose not to include them in their work. I have also read published novels that include a prologue when in fact it should say chapter one.
To the best of my knowledge, I don't believe there are any hard fast rules pertaining to the use and construction of a prologue in a fiction novel. They come in every shape and size with an array of content. I have read books where the prologue was a mere two sentences long and others where they stretched into thirty pages. In both cases they worked well.
In a mystery/suspense/thriller novel, a prologue can be used to set up the crime, or tragic life-changing event. Often times the prologue might be in the villain/antagonist's point-of-view. This can enhance the tension when the main characters are introduced. We, the reader, know something our main characters don't. We feel the suspense as they head innocently toward the trap set up by the nasty villain. :)
Perhaps in a family saga novel, a prologue can be used to glimpse a piece of family history. A past event used to set-up the current storyline.
I write romantic suspense novels. In each of my three manuscripts, I begin with a prologue. Each prologue introduces a tragic event that affects the main characters in their present day life. They are life-changing events that help propel the conflict and characters throughout the books.
Over the years I have had each of my three novels critiqued by several different people. Often times it's one of my critique partners, sometimes in a face to face critique group, and occasionally through contests where the prologue/first chapter is judged by an anonymous writer. I usually do quite well in contests, scoring high, but I don't often final, and it seems to be because of my use of prologues.
Is it because other writers don't like prologues? Or they don't get the fact that it's a prologue and not chapter 1? Or am I starting in the wrong place, including too much back story? Probably all of these elements to some degree.
The real questions: How does the prologue enhance the story? Is it well written? Is it really necessary?
Prologues continue to be a great way to introduce conflict, show an historic event, steep the reader in the evil villain's point-of-view, enable us to view our protagonist as a child... or where ever your imagine takes you.
What is your opinion? To prologue... or not?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
April Release
Inspirational author, Debby Mayne's newest book, Peachtree Dreams was just released this month! Debby Mayne is a multi-published author and is a member of the Tampa Area Romance Authors. Check her out at www.debbymayne.com
Some of her other books include: Double Blessing and If the Dress Fits
And in June look for: Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida
Congratulations Debby!!
Some of her other books include: Double Blessing and If the Dress Fits
And in June look for: Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida
Congratulations Debby!!
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