Times...they are a'changing.

Who sang that? Bob Dylan? The phrase keeps running through my head. Oh, I know…times change on a regular basis, but recently I feel the changes are zooming by at warp speed.

I saw a tiny little girl, not long out of diapers, sitting on a stool in the library clicking away on a computer. Her eyes rarely left the screen, as she looked…surely she couldn't read…clicked, watched, and clicked again. Why wasn't she in the children's book area, where hundreds, if not thousands of colorful books are lined on shelves or propped open? The low tables and child-sized chairs were all empty, but a child occupied each and every one of the ten children's computers.

Wal-Mart has introduced a line of cosmetics for little girls. The display is right there, next to the L'Oreal and Cover Girl make-up for adults. Unbelievable. Why would any mother think her five-year-old needed lipstick and blush?

At church Sunday, the pastor called the little ones forward for the Children's Sermon. One small girl toddled down the aisle in high heels. I kid you not. Backless, high-heeled sandals with her pretty little dress.

Why must every university student own a new vehicle, often a huge pickup with extended cab? We have 30,000 students here in town, and every one of them owns something to drive, and most are brand new and not cheap, either. They drive from their apartments to the University bus stops, park along the streets illegally, and ride the bus the last six blocks.

Aren't we in an economic slump? Read the paper, read MSN on-line, or watch the news and you will repeatedly see and hear stories of hard times for our citizens. I simply do not understand.

Have you gone car/vehicle shopping lately? Where eight years ago each line had two choices—the base model and the upscale model, now, each line has from four to six models to choose from, and with each step up, the buyer is offered more gadgets. And thousand of dollars additional charge. I want a power driver's seat. I have a six-way power seat on my base model Chevy minivan (which I want to get rid of), but to get this handy gadget, I must go up to the next to highest-priced level on almost any brand of vehicle. This level offers several useless things I do not need. But a salesman whispered to me, "Oh, we don't NEED them, but we WANT them." Hmmm, so there's the sales pitch. Baby, if you want one thing, you will need to buy four others you simply don't need…and most likely, don't want.

Ah, well, such is life.

Oh, by the way.

The little girl who wore high heels to church? When the service was over she kicked them off so she could run outside barefoot and play in the front yard of the church with the other children.

Oh, and the tiny girl at the computer in the library? Before I left, she had dragged her mommy to the book area and her little arms were loaded with pretty books.

Yes, and the students who clog our streets and take our parking spaces? They turn out in force on Clean the River Day and work all day long. Also, they keep our big Food Bank booked with volunteers. I know, because I tried to sign myself and my husband up to volunteer, but were told…"we don't need any more volunteers. The University students keep the roster filled."

So far, I haven't seen any mother buying Wal-Mart cosmetics for her little daughter, so maybe there's hope….

Do I have a new vehicle yet? No, but I'm closer to making a decision. I think I found the "one," but we'll see. Buying a new one takes me a long time. Have to figure out all those gadgets, first.

All is not lost. We’re all okay. We're doing just fine.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.celiayeary.com/
http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

Do Your Readers Love Your Characters?

When I read a negative review—my own, a friend's, a best-selling author's—and learn why the reviewer did not like the book, often the reason is "I did not care for the protagonist." "The Heroine was not very likeable." "The Hero acted like a jerk."
Think about that. More often than not, the low rating concerns the likeability of the main characters. So, what characteristics make a protagonist empathetic? Why does one character resonate with the reader, but another turns her off?

The Protagonist has been treated unjustly. She loses her job because of a jealous co-worker; she was jilted at the altar; she was cut out of her father's will; she was physically abandoned, left alone to fend for herself; she is lied to but doesn't know it before it's too late.
This approach can work if we do not see her as a martyr—she must carry on with a brave face.
"Sharon's husband goes through a mid-life crisis, asks for a divorce, and wants to sell the house they've had for 25 years. Although she agrees—what else can she do?—she is angry and heartbroken. Stiffening her spine and lifting her chin, she seeks out a new life…with anger and resentment still burning in her heart."

The Protagonist displays a valued trait. She may be very loyal, loving, or courageous. This especially works if she makes or has made a bad choice. We forgive her, if we first see her tending a sick loved one, helping a child, or standing up to a bully for a friend.
"Jeanine dusts off her counseling certificate and works with battered wives. Knowing she made a fatal error by marrying Joel, she tries to settle her life by helping others."

The Protagonist is burdened with inner struggles. She may suffer depression, bitterness, jealousy, resentment, or hate. Perhaps she has shut down her emotions because of one of these reasons, but does not recognize her problem.
"Millie works 24/7, exhausting herself and threatening her health. If only her friend James would leave her alone and stop trying to help. She does not need help from anyone. Her life is under control. If only she could sleep…"

The Protagonist wishes for some basic human need. Perhaps she needs someone to love her, a purpose in life, or acceptance. This works well if we first see her as uncaring or selfish.
"Marcia cares for her dying mother for years, laying her own hopes and dreams aside. Now that her mother is gone, Marcia reaches out for acceptance in a world she doesn't understand."

The Protagonist grieves. She has lost a child, a beloved spouse, or her last living relative. A reader won't know why she grieves, but we don't want a bunch of back-story to explain her actions. Instead, we should learn more through the action and plot of the story.
"Jackie lost her baby and husband in one car accident…and she was driving. She meets Hal, and he wants her to live again…but webs of emotions keep her trapped, and even he might not be able to break through."
~*~*~

This is the short list of ideas to make the protagonist likeable. We want to cheer for her…but can't if she acts in a negative manner we don't like. At this moment, I'm in edits for my last contracted novel, The Stars at Night..
I had entered the first chapter in a contest, and got shot down. My critique partners did not like Katherine. I liked her…but others read something that made them feel negative toward her. What was wrong with her?

I sent the first chapter to a young woman with a degree in journalism and creative writing. What's wrong with my heroine, my protagonist? What is she doing that turns off readers?
Here's why:
Five year-old Nicky tugs at Katherine's jeans' leg to get his aunt's attention. Katherine pushes his hand away and says, "Don't do that, Nicky. Wait til I'm finished here."
This is one example of several in which I had Kate speaking to sad little Nicky a little harshly.
My friend said, "Instead of pushing his hand away and scolding, have Kate reach for his hand, hold it, rub her thumb over his, saying—'Just a minute, Sweetie. I promise we'll get a room with a television.'

I am happy to report I "fixed" Kate, and even though she is insecure about taking Nicky to raise, she is kind and sweet to him. She shows that she loves the little boy very much.

JULY RELEASE : The Stars at Night..a contemporary romance. Desert Breeze Publishing

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.celiayeary.com/
http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

CRYSTAL LAKE REUNION-a love story

In the midst of furiously writing romance novels, another story came to me. I knew it wouldn't be a pure romance, though. Oh, of course, I would have a heroine, and yes, she would meet the "one," but the plot would revolve around her, her mother, and a mystery baby. A real love story--man, woman; mother, daughter; and daughter, family.

We were driving south through Indiana from Michigan back to Texas, and through that region are long stretches of farms and small towns off the interstate. Often during times on the road such as this, we have a CD playing. This gives me "dreaming time." I stare at the highway in front and occasionally glance to the side, but I'm only seeing characters in my imagination, performing for me, trying to tell their story.

On this particular trip, a scene played in my head about two teen girls meeting in an Unwed Mother's Home in 1980, and both having baby girls. One baby dies; one goes home with a mother.


This model looks like Dana Dawson
The Heroine




 The main story is about Dana Dawson who accidentally learns a shocking truth about her identity and the actual place of her birth.
During her search, she meets handsome, fun-loving Dr. Grant Adams who assists her in learning the truth.
In the meantime, they fall in love...but obstacles get in their way.

This model looks like the Hero
Dr. Grant Adams 

CRYSTAL LAKE REUNION was released on April 1, 2011 by Whiskey Creek Press. If you want to know more, Click below to read the blurb and open a sample chapter—which is a prologue. The story begins 25 years later.
http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=883&zenid=b510de951c68d62fb3a3bfbe779acd47

Thank you for visiting!
Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.celiayeary.com/
http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

Do Your Books Have a Definite Theme? Well...they should.



Theme? Morality.

 What makes a good book? There are myriad reasons, but the over-riding one is Trouble, spelled with a Capital T. Your characters must be in some kind of conflict that leads to Trouble.


Trouble and conflict make us care enough about a story to keep turning the pages. Trouble and conflict always have something to do with one or more of the following Dramatic Themes:
Betrayal
Acceptance
Crusade
Healing (wounded hero or heroine)
Protector
Redemption (righting past wrongs)
Rescue
Second Chance
Transformation (change)
Obsession
(There are many themes—these are only a few of the major ones.)

We don't want to be hit over the head with Theme. A good author will write so that the theme emerges from the story. We don't need to be told.



Theme? Accepting Change

 Most book club discussions revolve around the discussions of Theme. This might be a good way for an author to self-review her book. "What is the underlying theme?" This week, in my book club, we had read Thomas Hardy's Under the Greenwood Tree. (Yes, I hear you asking, Why would you read that when there are many other good books? Answer: We are committed to read two classics per year—until someone declares, "I declare our commitment null and void."

As an author, do you (a) invent a story, which has a predetermined theme, or (b) do you create and write, and in doing so, a theme emerges? Do you ever think about the theme?

EXAMPLES from my novels:
ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS: Theme: for the hero, Ricardo, it's Transformation. He saw his role as a caring husband but uninvolved with his wife's duties and daily tasks. He learned to see things her way, to support her, and to care more deeply.

TEXAS BLUE: Theme: for the hero, Buck, it's Rescue and Protector. As a tracker, he is to find Marilee and take her to Nacogdoches. He does and protects her with his own life.

TEXAS PROMISE: Theme: for the hero, Dalton, a wounded soul, it's Healing. He's been hurt physically and emotionally by his partner, and believes lies his partner told him about his wife.

TEXAS TRUE: Theme: for the hero, Sam Deleon, it's Redemption, righting past wrongs. He deceives his new wife, but learns that love turns his life around when he makes up for hurting her.

These themes, Transformation, Protector, Healing, and Redemption, are recurring themes in my novels.

What about yours? Do you write with a recurring theme? Or does each novel revolve around a different theme? Can you identify the themes in your novels?

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/ 
*TEXAS PROMISE: The Cameron Sisters-Book I

TWO RELEASES APRIL 1

I'm happy to announce two releases on April l.

The first—in keeping with our glorious Spring—is TEXAS TRUE: The Cameron Sisters—Book II. The wildflowers on the cover are Indian Paintbrush, which is one of the heralds of spring, along with its faithful companion the Texas Bluebonnet. (look on the sidebar for the cover of TEXAS PROMISE: The Cameron Sisters—Book I for the Bluebonnets.)

BLURB:

At a Governor's Ball in Austin, Texas, True Lee Cameron meets suave Sam Deleon. Before the night is out, she transforms from the coddled and protected younger sister to a woman in love. Reality crashes down when she accidentally learns he has deceived her. Daring to disobey him, she follows Sam to the oilfields and determines to live wherever he does. Has she made a mistake? Will she give up and return home where she can make her own rules?

When Sam Deleon meets the gorgeous young woman his mother has chosen for him, he fears falling in love, because he knows nothing about love. In order to carry out his mother’s plan, he marries True and moves her to his mother's home, intending to visit enough to set the plan in motion. When True fails to obey him, he faces the possibility of losing her, thereby losing his inheritance and the family property.

Sam and True attempt a reconciliation and compromise. Together, they now face a nemesis, someone who determines to thwart every action they take, endangering not only their lives, but also those whom they love.

Available April 1-Desert Breeze Publishing
Ebook only.
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-156/Celia-Yeary-Cameron-Sisters/Detail.bok
Also Available on Amazon--eBook

~*~*~*~

The second book is a Contemporary Romance set in Texas titled Crystal Lake Reunion. The story also involves three women and two babies—one of which dies at birth.

BLURB:
Twenty-five-year-old Houston realtor, Dana Dawson, has no reason to believe her life is not as it seems. When Ruth Dawson, her mother, travels thirty miles to Crystal Lake for her twenty-fifth high school reunion, she becomes ill. Dr. Grant Adams summons Dana to the small town she has never seen. There Dana begins to unravel a secret about her past she did not know existed.

Dana keeps her suspicions to herself and remains in Crystal Lake when her mother goes home. During the next week, she becomes acquainted with the charming young doctor and elicits his help to discover her true birthplace. There she finds a shocking truth that not only changes her life, but also almost destroys her mother and another entire family.

Available April 1 from Whiskey Creek Press
eBook only
http://whiskeycreekpress.com/comingsoon.shtml
eBook only

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.celiayeary.com/
http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

Endings are important, too...aren't they?

In the past two weeks, I've read five books. Something about each story made an impression on me, which made me think about it after I read the last page. Notice I didn't say "a happy impression." Not all the books had the same kind of ending, but all the story lines were good. They held my attention. I turned the pages, anticipating the next scene. And…I remember how they ended.

Remember "Gone With the Wind?" Who could not recall the story and especially—the ending. "I'll worry about that later. After all. Tomorrow is another day." It did not end happily, at least for Scarlet and Rhett, but it left us hanging a little. What would Scarlet do? We felt certain she would survive and move on, so we weren't very distressed. What would Rhett do? Probably he would return to his old habits and continue being the rogue that he was—with a broken heart, of course. The ending gave us a rare opportunity to imagine the next phase of their lives.

What does a reader wait for at the end? Satisfaction is the key word. The novel must have an ending that satisfies the reader. If not, the reader most likely will not return to that particular author. Just what does "satisfy" mean?

Satisfy:

1. To answer or discharge a claim in full.

2. To make happy.

3. To pay what is due.

4. Convince.

5. To meet the requirements.

Surprised? A satisfactory ending does not always mean the same as "A Happy Ending." Nor does "a happy ending" hold the same meaning for everyone. For faithful romance authors and readers, a HEA is a requirement. Ninety percent of the books I read fall into this category. Even though I do read others that I know won't end happily, I look for some satisfaction for my protagonist—and myself.

~*~Did the author leave a glimmer of hope for happiness for my protagonist?

~*~Did the author make me believe wholeheartedly that the story was worth the time and emotional commitment I put into it?

~*~Did the author leave me with a lasting impression that her next book will be just as good?

~*~Did the author conclude the story with enough emotion to make me cry, laugh, or say "Yessss."

If none of these happen, you can bet I won't buy her next book.

What was the last book you read that did not have a perfect HEA, but you liked it anyway?

What is the best kind of ending for you to recommend a book?

Thanks for visiting with me today—

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

*TEXAS PROMISE: The Cameron Sisters-Book I

*Love Romances Café-Best Historical Romance 2010-Honorable Mention

*The Romance Studio-Five Hearts

*Love Western Romance-Four Spurs

*Sherry Gloag, Reader-Five Hearts

*Steph Burkhart, Reviewer-Five Hearts

TEXAS-175TH ANNIVERSARY

OFFICIAL LOGO

THE ALAMO
2011
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

The Texans who died at the Alamo did not know they were fighting for independence from Mexico and for a newly created republic.

DELEGATES MEETING AT
WASHINGTON-ON-THE-BRAZOS

The delegates, elected on February 1, convened on the morning of March 1 in Washington-on-the-Brazos, a new town about thirty-five miles upstream from San Felipe. It was a dismal place; the cold rain the night before had left the one street ankle deep in mud, and the cotton cloth stretched across the openings for windows in the unfinished building in which they met only partially excluded the chilling wind.

THE FALL OF THE ALAMO

The situation that confronted the delegates when they assembled that cold morning was anything but promising. Mexican troops were crushing Texas forces in south Texas, and Santa Anna's army was wearing down the garrison at the Alamo. Travis was pleading for aid, but there were no troops between them and San Antonio, 150 miles away. The outlook was well nigh hopeless.

ORIGINAL
TEXAS DECLARATION
OF
INDEPENDENCE FROM MEXICO

However, on March 2, 1836, delegates meeting at Washington on the Brazos declared Texas free and independent from the Republic of Mexico. Fighting was going on at the Alamo and four days later, on March 6, the Alamo fell to the army of Santa Anna.

GENERAL SAM HOUSTON

A few weeks later, troops under General Sam Houston defeated the dictator Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, guaranteeing Texas' freedom.

TEXAS
A MULTI-CULTURAL SOCIETY
THEN AND NOW

In marking the 175th anniversary of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Texans should remember that the state in 1836 was a diverse society that engaged many races and cultures in the battle. The Texas war for independence was a multicultural revolution, but it is rarely presented that way. One misconception was that Texas' independence was won by any single ethnic group.

THE LONE STAR FLAG
1836

Men and women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds have fought for the Lone Star flag and everything it stands for. Mexican-Americans, African-Americans and Cherokee Indians all played significant roles in the fight for liberty.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/

http://www.celiayeary.com/

http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

Meet Special Guest: Author Linda Swift

LINDA SWIFT
Award Winning Author
of numerous novel

Linda Swift and I became acquainted through one of the Yahoo loops, and we soon learned we shared a similar outlook on writing, promoting, reading, and life itself. I've read several of her books…and she's read mine…which provided a springboard into many long discussions. I know her well enough now that I can ask a few questions about this particular story--To Those Who Wait--and I do have a few.

I asked her: "Why did you write this story? It's different. Were you going through a phase of some kind? Did you use some of your own experiences as part of the plot? I'd love to know." ~~Celia~~

Thank you for inviting me to talk about my new release today,


A Classic Love Story
by Linda Swift
Available in eBook and soon in Print
Whiskey Creek Press 

Celia. I am intrigued by your questions of how I came to write this story. Since you've read several of my other books, I know you sense that this one is different and wonder why. And your astute observation about "going through a phase" is spot on. I spent four years as a counselor in a rural mountain school and was appalled by the prevailing lack of regard for student welfare. While there, I felt I had butted my head against a wall trying to make a difference without success. So To Those Who Wait was a catharsis for me after I left that particular school.
I have also worked in several other schools in three states and I know political motivation often takes precedence over educational goals. And this is never more obvious that when consolidation is an issue. This story will resonate with every teacher in public schools as something they have also seen or experienced.

All stories have to be told through empathetic characters. Scott and Leah were conjured up to tell this story and they have problems of their own. Teen-age children, meddling parents, spouses that for different reasons are unsuited. They didn't want to fall in love but it happened. And I think their relationship will satisfy any romantic heart although the story's conclusion may not.

But given events beyond their control, the outcome was inevitable so don't blame me. Scott and Leah made their decision, I only recorded it. ~~Linda~~


This is part of a review I wrote for To Those Who Wait. ~~Celia~~

"To Those Who Wait takes place in the 1970s, but it's a timeless love story that could happen in any decade…or century. Scott Parker and Leah Carson have no right to fall in love and carry on an illicit love affair, but the reader will feel and understand their deep love for each other.
To Those Who Wait is a gripping, emotional story about everyday people who only want peace and love in their lives—and the best for their children. Certainly, this novel will leave a mark on the reader's heart. Without a doubt, as a reader and reviewer this novel holds a sacred place at the top of my list of "must reads." The author, Linda Swift, is one of the best among the classic novelists. Don't miss To Those Who Wait."

Excerpt:
For a time the only sound in the room was the soft scratching of Leah’s pencil and the quick rustling of pages as she scored them. Then she put the last booklet on the finished stack and laid down her pencil.

“All done?” he asked.

“Yes, thank goodness.” She stood up, crossed to the window. “It gets dark early now, doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” he answered, draining his cup and setting it back on the corner of her desk.

“Aren’t you going home?” she asked softly.

“No. The first game starts in an hour. I’m just going down to Joe’s for a barbeque and come on back. My wife’s at the shop.”

“I’d forgotten all about the game. I’d better hurry.” Leah went to her desk, opened the top drawer and got her purse.

"Come to Joe’s with me.” He smiled at her. “I’ll buy you a barbeque for working overtime.”

“I’d really love to but my mother will have supper ready and it would be rude of me not to go home.”

“You just don’t want to go with me. Why don’t you tell the truth?”

“Okay, the truth. I’d like very much to go with you. But you know I can’t, Scott. What would people say?” Her voice quivered and she felt tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Leah.” He put his head in his hands. “I don’t know why I’m badgering you. I guess it’s just this damned consolidation mess. Forget I said it, will you?”

“It’s okay, Scott. I know you’re upset.” She stood there in the shadowy room looking at his bowed head. “And I really would like to go with you. It’s a funny thing, isn’t it? If I were a man, I could do what I want. Or if you were a woman. But because we’re a man and a woman I can’t.”

“Who says you can’t?”

“Society. You know what I mean. We can talk to each other here at work but we could never do it anywhere else without starting gossip.”

“And if anybody knew we were here alone at this hour it would cause some pretty wild gossip, too. So go on home, Leah, before we get caught.”
~~~
You may find Linda and her books here:
http://www.lindaswift.net/

How Much Description is Too Much?

Sweet Historical Romance
WISH FOR THE MOON
North Texas 1901

Remember I am no expert. My knowledge on any writing topic comes from a few years of self-study, and lest you think I know a great deal, let me set you straight. I am not…Sorry, I’ve already said that.

Why am I writing about this boring topic? Lately, more lavish description than is needed or wanted seems to be creeping in some fiction. While our writing instructors tell us “less is more,” and encourage us to omit descriptive phrases, we still feel compelled to endlessly describe.

“Her lovely eyes resembled pieces of emerald, shadowed by long, lush lashes, set in an alabaster face worthy of the most beautiful of angels.” (I made that up.)

First of all, this passage must be from the Hero’s POV. How many men do you know, or have ever existed had thoughts like this? A cowboy might think, “Her eyes sure were pretty, sort of green.” A modern man might say this: “Her eyes were so pretty, I wish I had the words to describe them.”

AVOID detailed descriptions of characters. Elmore Leonard in his Ten Rules of Writing, says, In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” what do the “American and the girl with him” look like? “She had taken off her hat and put it on the table.” That’s the only reference to a physical description in the story, yet we see the couple and know them by the tones of voice, with not one adverb in sight.

However, I need some description of the characters in some manner, or none at all. Why? Because I visualize the characters, and unless I have a clue early on I’ll paint a picture of them myself. If an author waits until about the fourth or fifth chapter to finally let me know the girl is petite, buxom, with coal-black hair hanging almost to her waist, I might have her pictured her as tall, lithe, and blond. By that time I have so much invested in my version, the author’s description makes me irritable.

AVOID great detailed descriptions of places and things. We don’t need to impress our readers with the beauty of our story setting. If we go on and on about it, heaping up adjectives and adverbs along the way, we run the risk of losing our readers because they have become weary and slammed the book shut.

Again, as a reader I do need to know in some creative way the surroundings or setting of the novel.

Now that I’ve offered this advice, I’m still in the process of “how much description is too much.” Or maybe I should be learning how to include my descriptions without listing everything in one paragraph.

In Wish for the Moon (1901), Max Garrison wanders to the McGinnis farm. There he meets the family, especially young, pretty Annie, complete with a few descriptions.

Excerpt:

When alone, Max walked to the spreading shade tree by the house and sat so he could lean back on the trunk. He lifted his hat and repositioned it to cover his eyes. Then he crossed his arms over his full stomach, let out a huge sigh, and fell sound asleep.

After some time, he didn’t know how long, he opened his eyes because he could feel a presence like somebody watched him and maybe waited near him. There sat the little blonde girl, except on close-up inspection, she was just about grown, maybe sixteen, seventeen years old. She sat cross-legged right beside him so he could easily touch her if he reached out. But he didn’t; he just waited, until she did something instead of sitting there, studying him.

“Hi, there,” she said, in a sweet sounding voice, sort of like water gurgling and sliding over smooth rocks—that swooshing, humming sound a person never gets tired of. “What are you doing here? I’ve never seen you around here before. Are you from over to Granbury? Or maybe Mineral Wells or Dublin?”

“Uh-uh. I’m from nowhere,” he said without grinning or anything. “I’m just a wanderer.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because I don’t have a real home, that’s why,” he answered. He never took his eyes off her big, pretty, blue ones, a little turned down at the corners, and framed all around with dark-brown lashes.

“Everybody has a home, don’t you know that? Except maybe those hoboes that stay over yonder under the railroad trestle. Are you from over there?”

“Nope.” He shook his head and chuckled a little at her persistence and curiosity. “Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“Why should I be?” she asked with a mock frown. “Are you a crook who robbed a bank, or a bootlegger who runs whiskey, or maybe you’re just a no-account bum?”

Now her face split into the widest grin that made his cold empty heart jump to life. More than anything right now, he wanted her to keep smiling at him.

“Nah,” she answered her own question, “you’re too nice looking to be a bad person. I bet you’re really a rich man who’s just having a good time wandering about letting somebody else take care of all his money, or maybe a famous doctor who left a good-paying hospital so you could rest from all the pressure of saving people and all that operating and stuff. Or I bet you—”

Max’s laughter cut her off. She sat real still and watched him laugh aloud, studying his one slightly crooked eyetooth on the left side. He said, “Yeah, I just bet you think all that. But you don’t really know, now, do you?” Max’s voice lost all trace of the laughter, and he solemnly gazed at her prettiness.

WISH FOR THE MOON: Coming Soon from Willow Moon Publishing.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

Me and My $25 LASR Gift Certificate Coupon



$25 Gift Coupon from LASR

Now I know why eBook sales have surged.
The number is still way behind the sale of prints, but the advent of the eReader and buying eBooks jumped dramatically in the past year. Now that I have a Kindle, I have an all-consuming urge to load it with novels.

As luck would have it, LASR (Long and Short Reviews) stepped in and gave me a $25 coupon to spend at Amazon or B&N. I won it by commenting on the Valentine's Day blog extravaganza. I followed directions, read a few, and commented. Thinking I'd get back to the contest after I ran necessary errands in town, I hoped to win something. Since I am a lucky person and often win a prize of some sort, I felt confident I'd at least get a $5 Coupon. When I arrived home and fired up my Toshiba, surprise! I won a $25 GC!

In my spare time—between edits—I perused the Amazon Kindle Store for just the right purchases. As I was checking around, I found a free novel by Jill Marie Landis, one of my favorite authors—limited time only. Well, I stopped my search to load that on my Kindle. I also found a free novel—limited time only—by Susan Wiggs, one of my very favorite authors, and I loaded that on my Kindle. (You might notice I have many favorites.)

Once I had my list, the total came to $24.17. Pretty good, huh? And the list contained SIX BOOKS. I am a true bargain hunter. Carefully, I read the directions about the use of an Amazon GC, and began buying.

Well, shoot. I forgot to click into Amazon.com/gc, so the total went to my credit card. At first, I tried to figure out how to start over to use my coupon, but my greediness took over. What's a $24.17 charge anyway? I don't splurge much at all, so in conclusion, I felt very happy that I still have that $25 coupon in my account as a credit.

Yes, you guessed it. I'm already making another purchase list.
Now, to find time to read all these novels.

Oh—do you want to know what I bought? Sure, I don't mind telling you.

Cool Hand Hank by Kathleen Eagle: $3.44
The Irish Bride by Alexis Harrington: $2.99
Dry Moon by Karyna DaRosa: $5.70
Between the Lines by Kathy Otten: $4.80
Muddy Waters by Maggie Toussaint: $6.25
Iron Horse Rider by Adelle Lauden: $0.99

I hope to read these before 2011 ends.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas  

*TEXAS PROMISE: The Cameron Sisters-Book I
*Love Romances Café-Best Historical Romance 2010-Honorable Mention
*The Romance Studio-Five Hearts
*Love Western Romance-Four Spurs
*Sherry Gloag, Reader-Five Hearts
*Steph Burkhart, Reviewer-Five Hearts

IN DEFENSE OF THE ROMANCE NOVEL

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
On a recent trip to the library, an acquaintance walked up to me and said, “I heard you write romance novels. Do you really read that stuff?”


Mmm, I mused, how often have I heard that question?

Taking my usual bold stance—on quivering legs—I replied, “Sure, I do. Why not?”

I’ve learned one important thing in my mature years. If I don’t particularly like the question, I’ll ask one of my own. It’ll throw the person off track every time. Well, usually.

“Why not?” my casual friend asked. “Well, for one thing,” she stammered, “they’re…trite, with the same plot in every single book. A learned person wouldn’t waste time on them.”

Of course, by the time I arrived home, my busy brain had made a list of “why I read that stuff, and particularly why I write it.”

Answer Number One: Defending romance novels falls in the same category as defending myself. If I probe for a real answer, the person might say, “A reader of romance usually doesn’t have a life of her own, or a poor love life at best, or she reads to live vicariously through a character.” My reply might be, “Statistics show that 75 million people read at least one romance novel last year. So, you’re saying you know how all these readers feel?”

Answer Number Two: Some romance novels are better than others. True, the first romance novels were written differently from those today, but one might say that about all fiction in general. Advice to my friend-of-the-moment: “Try a romance novel. Begin with a few of the tried and true authors: LaVyrle Spencer (my all-time favorite), Susan Wiggs, Penelope Williamson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Judith McNaught, Kathleen Eagle, and Karen Robards. Neither you nor anyone else needs to waste time on any bad book. That applies to romance novels, as well.”

Answer Number Three: Perhaps readers and writers of romance are actually readers….period. To my detractor, I might reply: “Oh, by the way, if you’re looking for a good book, you might want to try Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Societies; The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; Plainsong; or The Dust Bowl Years. I highly recommend them.” Would that be tacky of me?

Answer Number Four: A simple statement. Reading and writing romance novels are my inalienable rights under the constitution. After all, this is a free country.

Answer Number Five: I’m easily entertained. When I choose a movie, I do not need to select one that has garnered critically acclaimed praise over the entire globe. The same is true with my reading material.

Answer Number Six: In response to the statement “Romance novels are just fairy tales, stories that never happen in real life.” Maybe, maybe not, but I might reply, “Sometimes, I just like to escape reality.”

I’m not the first writer to pen an article titled “In Defense of the Romance Novel.” I Googled the title and found quite a few. By the time I finished reading several, I realized the question, “You don’t read that stuff, do you?” has been asked many times.

Celia Yeary-Proud to be a Romance Author

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE SAFE

My writing career, if I may call it that, began in 2004 on an impulse brought about by severe boredom. Soon, I had a novel-length story written. Smugly, I said, “It’s a wrap!” Well, no, it wasn’t at all. I knew nothing about the intricacies of writing fiction. The knowledge I had would fit into a thimble, and even that, I based it on my experience with writing scientific research papers.

The first big shock was something called Point of View. Since I’d only been a reader of fiction, rather than a writer, POV puzzled me. I talked with two would-be-authors and asked about this term. Each of them explained…and explained…and showed…and finally told me one day it would just click, like a light bulb turned on. Actually, this happened, but alas, I dealt with only two POVs—the hero’s and the heroine’s in third person.

Since I’ve always been a self-learner, I began to rely on "How to Write Fiction" books for enlightenment. One neat little book was totally devoted to “mastering point of view.” Just what I needed. Do you know how many Points of View exist? At least six: Unlimited POV, First-Person POV, Inner Limited POV, Second-person POV, Outer Limited POV, and Combo POV. Then the writer may combine any of the six with “Multiple POVs and Challenging Perspectives.”

How did I deal with this conundrum? I pretended only two categories existed. Since I wrote romance, I felt fairly confident. So far, not one editor has asked me why I mixed Inner Limited POV with Unlimited POV.

My second learning experience was Passive Writing. Although I didn’t know the term, I did learn that all of us had probably studied it in high school, and knew it as Voice--with action verbs or without. Well, I took care of that right away by going to the Spell Check Options in Word, opening Check Grammar, and making certain every little box contained a little blue check, especially the one titled “Passive Writing.” From my first editor, I discovered the Find button, typed in the insignificant word “was,” indicating a passive sentence. In my first editing experience with this real editor, she located 972 times I’d used “was.” That’s a close approximation. Why did the publisher ever take such a messy manuscript?

The third, and last, learning episode for now is Formatting. A new phenomenon is sweeping through the e-presses community. Earlier, the guidelines stated only a few requirements: a particular font, double-spaced, one-inch margins, and page numbers. Now that I’m working with several publishers, I’m wondering why e-presses don’t standardize their formatting requirements? Each one has a long, detailed list of tasks the author must accomplish. (I do appreciate the publisher stating “do the best you can—we don’t expect you to be an electronic genius.) I admit I spent two entire days trying to change my “curly quotes” to “straight quotes.” When I learned how, I shoved my desk chair back, stood, punched my fists into the air, and yelled, “Yeeesss!” My husband came running to make certain I had not lost my mind. No, I had not lost anything. I’d found a valuable tool.
Celia
TEXAS PROMISE: The Cameron Sisters-Book I
*Love Romances Café-Best Historical Romance 2010-Honorable Mention
*The Romance Studio-Five Hearts
*Love Western Romance-Four Spurs
*Sherry Gloag, Reader-Five Hearts
*Steph Burkhart, Reviewer-Five Hearts


Celia

ALL MY FREE READS

If you need a quick read to fill a few moments before tackling a big project, I have five from which to select, and each is very short. Hope you enjoy one or two.

LOVE HAPPENS-available now on the LASR site under Free Short Romance Stories.

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/story.htm

I have three on The Wild Rose Press with my other books. Each is 1500 words. Download any or all.

THE WEDDING AUCTION

MERRY CHRISTMAS, VICTORIA

WISHES DO COME TRUE.

http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=366&zenid=ec889ebdf17b7f53e580006fb38fed31

One Free Read is here on my blog, on Page 2. At the top, click on the tab "California Cousins."
Another at the top is "A Permanent Memory."

Thank you!

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/

http://www.celiayeary.com/

http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

*******************

The Worst Mistakes Writers Make

What are some of the worst mistakes writers make? Even though I have several published novels and short stories, I'm still a novice at this writing business. Editors point that out to me quite often, but usually the errors have to do with punctuation, spelling, POV, sequencing, or incorrect usage of a word.

But what other mistakes do we make concerning description, location, or objects? I learned early on in my Western Historical novels that certain things weren't available, and I had to do more research to satisfy not only my editor but to make the story believable. In one manuscript, I used "cash register" but learned the machine didn't exist at that time. In another, I used the wrong kind of train--an oil-burning engine when oil hadn't yet come into use.

We could go on all day about errors we've made or we've read in novels or productions. I'm engrossed in the PBS series of Downton Abbey, and even though it's purely British, I thoroughly enjoy it. However, from a discussion on the Historic Authors loop I learned the production is "flawed" with too many errors concerning historical facts. What these mistakes are, I wouldn't know and frankly, don't care. I'm simply enjoying it for the superb acting, exquisite costumes, and intriguing plot line. But the experts' enjoyment is dampened somewhat because they can spot the flaws.

Oh, if we could only write a perfect novel and make everyone happy.

I came across a website titled HearWriteNow, a writing resource site. There I found a series of eBooks about myriad topics, and each titled "33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make about--horses, or weapons, or ballet dancers, or any city, or hunting, or blind people, or Mother Nature…." I never found an end to this list. Here's the link to the site if you're interested in checking it out.

http://hearwritenow.com/writing/resources/mistakes

I also have a link to an Online Etymology Dictionary that has been invaluable to me. When I use a word such as "okay" in a western historical, or "gee whiz," or many other terms, I stop and look up the origin. You're welcome to use this.

http://www.etymonline.com/

Keep writing even though you might make errors. Remember you can find the correct usage in many places. I hope these two will help--if you need help!

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.celiayeary.com/
http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/
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Texas Promise-eBook-Desert Breeze Publishing

How to Write the Perfect Excerpt

Excerpts—we love them, don’t we? There’s no better way to sample an author’s writing style than to read an excerpt. One entire Yahoo Group is devoted to “Excerpts Only for Romance Writers and Readers,” and many authors and readers post there on a daily basis.

However, there is a right way and a wrong way to post the perfect excerpt. Many writers have their own methods, from very long, to very short, somewhere in-between, at times concise, and at others, rambling. What is the best method of selecting a sample of your writing? How can you entice a reader to read your full excerpt? Choose one that contains dialogue or action, not just narrative, and keep it short and simple.

Consider the short story. The guidelines are: limit to a specific time, place, event, interaction, or character’s evolution. It is, in fact, a mini-novel, complete with a beginning, middle, and an ending, i.e., an abbreviated novel.

Attention span is the amount of time a person can concentrate on a task without becoming distracted. Continuous involvement without any lapse at all is as short as eight seconds. The average adult who is engaged in an interesting activity or topic will remain focused for twenty seconds. People are also capable of longer periods up to two and a half hours when they are doing something enjoyable or motivating, such as watching a movie. Researchers have found that the modern adult’s attention span shortens as time goes on. The phenomenon of instant gratification in our technological world deters the attention span even more.

Now consider the excerpt. The guidelines are perhaps the same as those for a short story: one idea, one interaction, in one short time frame, wrapped up with a beginning, middle, and an ending, approximately three hundred words—a mini-short story with a hook at the end.

Here’s a test for you. How many words are in this article to this point? (310) How long did it take to read it? (Average adult-one minute.)

EXAMPLE from a short novel for the Wayback, Texas Rodeo Series-Title: Showdown in Southfork.

Excerpt: Cody and Marla

Smiling lazily, he looked her up and down, at her short white shorts, pink stretch T, and red flip-flops. With that salacious grin, he continued back to her hair, hanging to her shoulders in a tangled mass of curls, but right now, there was no time to brush it properly. Some day she would just get it all whacked off and stop worrying about it.

“Stop staring,” she demanded.

“Well, I can hardly keep from it since you’re standing right in front of me.”

“Oh,” she muttered, straightened, and moved to the side.

Cody kept staring at her even though she’d moved out of his direct line of vision.

He drawled, “You know, if there’s anything I like in this world, it’s a woman with red hair.”

“It is not red. And if there’s anything I hate in this world, it’s a man saying my hair’s red. For your information, it’s strawberry blond.”

“Strawberry blond. Whadda you know? Now, I like that even better.”

Narrowing her eyes at him, she said, “Well, I’m just as pleased as punch.”

***

This short excerpt has three parts: Beginning: Cody stares at Marla while she watches him. Middle: they have a short argument. Ending: She has the last word. It contains 260 words. Reading time: 20 seconds.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/

http://www.celiayeary.com/

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Texas Promise-eBook-Desert Breeze Publishing

Making the Turn-print & eBook-Wings ePress

SURVIVING AN ICE STORM



This is not our house, but the road is similar.


We've had a worse-than-usual winter, but I recall one several years ago here in Texas that became worse for us than it should have been.

The weather stations from Austin and San Antonio blasted us with the news that Central Texas should prepare itself for a big ice storm. We thought we'd be fine--just stay in the house, off the roads, and this, too, shall pass. Plus, I always keep a good store of food, so we had no worries about that.

By dark, ice had coated everything with extremely thick layers. Our huge ancient live oaks worried us, because the ice was so heavy even enormous limbs bent to the ground. We retired for the night, hoping none of the limbs would break off.

Little did we know that would not be our biggest worry. We woke up around 7:30 am, began to stir around, but before we could even get the coffee on, the electricity went off. In the winter, even when the sun is up there somewhere above the thick, gray clouds, it is dark. Our house is all-electric, so that meant no coffee, nothing. The power has gone off numerous times over the twenty years we've lived here, so we thought all we had to do was wait a while and it would come back on.

We ate Cheerios and yogurt and settled down to ride it out. But what do you do if there's not even enough light to read in the daytime, no internet service, no stereo, no TV, no…nothing. We noticed a couple of trucks inching down the road, but our driveway is long and made of concrete--iced over. Anyway, the garage door openers wouldn't work and we know what a hassle it is to unhook them to open manually.

The house became colder and colder. By noon, we were cold but not that uncomfortable. My husband started hauling firewood close to the back door--a huge pile of it and built a big fire. That warmed the living room some, but you know a fireplace does not heat an entire house.

We both changed clothes and added a layer of thermals underneath our clothing. Our water comes from a well, brought to the surface by…yes, you guessed it, an electric pump. Of course, we conserved what water we had--especially in the toilets.

For lunch, we ate peanut butter and honey sandwiches and apples. Maybe the electricity would return soon. We wandered around the house like zombies, trying to find something to do in the dim light. I opened the blinds all the way to the top of a window, pulled a chair close, and I could read a little at a time.

I searched the house for candles and grouped a few on the table between our lounge chairs. The one book I could read was by Sandra Brown and I had checked out the large print edition by mistake. That came in handy when reading by candlelight.

By four o'clock, my husband went to the shop and dragged out a Coleman stove we've had since the sixties. He found about a cup of fuel and brought both to the back screened-in porch, set it up on the table out there, and fired it up. (The Coleman people should use us in a commercial) By hand, I opened a can of Progresso vegetable stew poured it into a pan, and we heated our dinner. By flashlight, I peeked into the refrigerator for cheese to add to crackers.

After dinner, we quickly changed into sleeping clothing with our thermals under that, added our sweaters and coats, and…now what? Hours until time for bed with nothing to do. Aha, he remembered a small transistor radio he had from the fifties--yep, he never throws anything away he thinks he might need. We settled down in front of the fire in our loungers, put up our feet, drew on our blankets, and prepared to listen to the radio.

Very little would come in clearly enough to listen, except one station out of San Antonio. The NBA team, the Spurs--OUR team--was playing someone in a playoff game. That was our entertainment for the evening. When it was over, well, there was nothing else to do except go to bed and hope the electricity would come on.

We did, with extra blankets piled on, and slept fairly well. The next morning, we woke up to beeps and flashes. Do you know how many things in your house has a little light on it or sound on it? Our bedside clocks, the microwave, the oven, the computers, the TVs--three of them--set up a little chorus. The refrigerator hummed. Two lights came on we forgot to turn off the day before. The heater fired up.

Guess what we did? Made a pot of coffee as fast as we could, ran to our desks, turned on our computers, and connected to the outside world.

We only got an inkling of what others go through during severe disasters. My heart always goes out them.

Stay safe and warm! And be thankful for your blessings.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.celiayeary.com/
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READERS' ANSWERS to the Question: What Makes a Good Blog?

Last week I asked the question: What makes a good blog? Twenty authors commented, and others commented on Yahoo loops. Several authors said the same thing, which meant the ideas were important.

The visiting authors:

Terry Spear; Adelle Lauden; Linda Swift; Skhye Purington; Steph Burkhart; Morgan Mandel; Cynthia; Miss Mae; Maggie Toussaint; Cheryl Pierson; Keena Kincaid; Paula Martin; Mona Risk; Pauline Holyoak; Diane Craver; Danielle Thorne; Jennifer Hudson Taylor; LK Hunsaker; Connie Chastain; and Savanna Kougar.

The most often mentioned answer was "a catchy title," one that would get the reader's attention and pique their interest. Another most often named was tags--something I often forget. Photos seemed to be very popular, as well as something different from writing topics.

One reader said, "A reason a visitor doesn't comment might be the difficulty of signing in, especially copying those little curly letters." I agree with this one hundred percent. About one out of four times I try to sign in an author's blog, the process becomes tedious. Much of the time I will not leave a comment.

Other suggestions: keep the blog current, don't stray into controversial subjects, promote your blog, and reflect what you write.

Keena Kincaid suggested a unique view: "Show energy and passion in your blog. People who like to blog often get more visitors, too."

Thank you for the ideas, and while I know they're important doesn't mean I remember to use them enough. I'll make notes of these, and hope to write an article soon.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.celiayeary.com/
New Releases
Texas Promise-eBook-Desert Breeze Publishing
Making the Turn-print & eBook-Wings ePress

What Makes a Successful Blog?

This question is often tossed about in discussions, but I've never read concrete rules on how to create and maintain a good blog. The best advice I heard once was that the blogger should have an identity, some facet of the blogger's personality and interests. I do believe a blog about romance books shouldn't espouse a cause of any kind. Those blogs have a place, and I even read a few now and then. But for the writing and publishing business--stick to business.

For a reference, I studied the stats for my blog between May 2010 and January 2011. The results are surprising. Bottom line, I don't know why readers view my blog, leave or don't leave a comment, or why certain blogs become big hits.

It's still a big mystery, but I do have one encouraging comment: "Many readers view and/or read your blog but do not leave a comment." I always keep that in mind.

The guest blogs' stats are varied. A guest may get many comments, but only a few more pageviews. (Note: I block my own pageviews.) The numbers indicate how many readers open the blog, whether they read it or not. The conclusion here is that I find no commonality among the higher numbers.

Are you curious about my top blogs for a six month period?

Number One blog from these six months: One of my blogs titled "The Victorian Age in America," on June 3, 2010 got 18 comments. Nice, but get this number of pageviews: 497.

Number Two blog of this period: Destination: Berlin-by Stephanie Burkhart, on July 9, 2010 got 13 comments but pageviews? 362.

Interesting, isn't it? If you were a guest on my blog during these six months, I'll tell you your stats if you want to know. E-mail me.

But why did a post about the Victorian Age get so many pageviews? I have no idea.

I haven't formed any solid conclusion to my findings, but I do have a few conjectures on what influences a reader to check your blog: (1) A blog is visited because of the topic, the guest, or the blogger herself. (2) The more a blog is promoted, the more visitors and/or pageviews (3) Curiosity about the unique title.

Do you have any idea why a blog is successful? Please share with all of us--we need it!
Thanks and I'm hoping for many comments and/or pageviews.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.celiayeary.com/
New Releases
Texas Promise-eBook-Desert Breeze Publishing
Making the Turn-print & eBook-Wings ePress