Looking for Online Classes in May – Check These Out

Website Tips & Tricks and Enterprise in Prison May COFFIN Classes -

To register for one or both classes go to:

https://rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

***PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED AND ENCOURAGED***

COFFIN is the acronym for the online workshop program, College of Felony and Intrigue, through RWA Kiss of Death. The four-week classes are 100% online via an email loop and open to anyone.

Killer Instincts: Website Tips and Tricks

What if I told you that managing your website – and having it work for you - is a task you can understand? In "Website Tips & Tricks" we are going to cover some straightforward topics that will make a difference in how your website works for you. Information will be handed out in straightforward lessons throughout May. Unlimited questions encouraged.

Instructor Bio:

Barb Drozdowich started teaching in 1986 and hasn't looked back. Since 2010 she has taught authors and bloggers technical subjects in an easy to understand, non-technical way. She delights in taking complex subjects and breaking them down so that the average person can understand.

She can be found on her author site (http://barbdrozdowich.com), her business site (http://bakerviewconsulting.com) or her course site (http://authorstechschool.com) Her Amazon page can be found here: http://amazon.com/author/barbdrozdowich

MurderOne: Enterprise in Prison

With over two million people incarcerated in the United States, what do they do to fill their days? Michael Beedy will detail the legitimate ways some of the men and women participate in activities to get a high school diploma or learn a trade. And the illegitimate ways some earn power, respect, and a whole lot of money while incarcerated. So, when the antagonist in your next novel gets locked up, you'll know what they'll be facing, or participating in while they are locked away.

Instructor Bio:

Michael Beedy has worked in the law enforcement profession for more than 10 years and is a security lieutenant for the Department of Corrections.  Michael holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Sociology from Coker College as well as a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.  In addition to his law enforcement training position, Michael is also an Adjunct Criminal Justice Instructor for Bryant and Stratton College Online out of Orchard Park (outside of Buffalo) New York.  He is working on completing this first mystery thriller novel.

Go Here To View More Upcoming COFFIN Workshops: https://rwakissofdeath.org/coffin


Make Your Own Book Trailer

Instructor: Tracee Garner
Dates: May 6-31, 2019
PRICE: $20 YRW members/$25 non-members

Description:

Lesson 1 - What are the most important parts of the story to convey in the time allowed. Storyboarding your trailer or author interview. Time management, how long should you strive for and when do you lose potential readers/fans. (Storyboard handout provided)

Lesson 2 - Finding, editing (if needed) and selecting the right photos, how to easily alter a photo you love but is not quite fitting just right, careful considerations for free photos, tips for taking your own and where to get appropriate music to suit your story, carry the right emotions you desire to evoke in viewers and ensuring music fits the text you've created

Lesson 3 - Arranging your photos in a way to test them out and tweak the flow before you explore best video tools and finalize your story segments/text

Lesson 4 - Choosing and working with the right video tool to suit your needs and your knowledge - will overview pros and cons of Ripl, Youtube Studio Creator and Animoto (students should set up free versions of one or more of these accounts)

Lesson 5 - Pulling it all together (resource handout)

Lesson 6 - Common issues with these audio / visual tools and how to avoid pitfalls. Where to place your videos and how to increase engagement and viewers and what else can you use your video for?

For more information or to register: https://www.yosemiteromancewriters.com/workshops

About Tracee Garner:

Tracee Lydia Garner is a best-selling and award-winning author. She is a dynamic speaker and engaging presenter with a wealth of knowledge and resources. She writes fiction and nonfiction hoping to uplift, inspire as well as educate readers through her tales of hope, love and overcoming adversity. A northern Virginia native, Tracee makes her home in a suburb just outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan area and loves writing, reading and teaching all about marketing and publishing. As a person with a disability, Tracee has been an advocate for over twenty years and maintains a day job currently as a case manager in DC at a small nonprofit organization. Tracee Lydia Garner has done workshops for the RWA National conference on disability topics, diversity, as well for her local DC chapter of RWA where she is involved and has been the editor/agent coordinator for three years. Tracee also taught How to Write the Novel, Romance Novel Writing and the Self Publishing Boot Camp within her almamater's workforce development section of the college's offerings for almost 14 years.

HCRW Writing Conflict Hurts with Melinda Curtis

Writing Conflict Hurts -- not just because it makes your characters suffer, but also because it's painful to create and carry through on a page. However, conflict drives story and holds an editor's attention, which means it sells books. Conflict also entices readers to turn the page, which helps create a satisfying experience (plus repeat purchases). Bring a story idea to this interactive course and learn how to build, refine or edit your stories by creating compelling conflict and stronger plots, one element at a time.
REGISTER AT: hcrw.rwa.org/HCRW/Events/...
May Workshop: Writing Conflict Hurts with Melinda Curtis
Instructor: Melinda Curtis
Cost: $40 non-members/$35 HCRW members

Description: Writing Conflict Hurts -- not just because it makes your characters suffer, but also because it's painful to create and carry through on a page. However, conflict drives story and holds an editor's attention, which means it sells books. Conflict also entices readers to turn the page, which helps create a satisfying experience (plus repeat purchases). Bring a story idea to this interactive course and learn how to build, refine or edit your stories by creating compelling conflict and stronger plots, one element at a time.

Takeaways include:
* Developing story goals that are hindered by conflict
* How to deepen character and create emotionally satisfying reads
* Better understanding of internal and external conflict
* The "bumpers" that keep your characters acting consistently
* Conflict that catches the attention of editors and agents
* Summarizing and presenting your finished or developing story

Instructor Bio: Melinda Curtis, an award-winning USA Today bestseller of over 35 romances, is a writing craft geek. Before turning to writing as a career, she worked with a cultural anthropologist and a marketing psychologist on how to create more compelling packaging at the shelf. One class short of a psychology minor, Melinda believes that "knowing more about what makes people tick can add depth to your writing."

Trouble Registering? Contact jjohnston4@nc.rr.com

Affect of Seasons on Plots and Settings

Spring is flirting with us, at least in my part of the country. Crocuses poke their heads out and then get covered with a white blanket. This could be the setting for a sweet romance. And that brings us to this month’s discussion topic - Does the season ever play a part in your setting? How do you think seasons affect setting & plot either physically or metaphorically?

It’s another interesting discussion, thanks, Rhobin.

        Winter is always a good season. You can use it to put lovers together, track villains in the snow, all sorts of things. I use seasons in my stories but it’s more a combination of season and weather.

        In my Hawkins’ Ranch series, I use season to tie in the work around ranches, like calving season in the spring.

In a WIP, I use the weather in late spring in New Orleans to set the scen.

 Dark clouds hovered over New Orleans. Thunder rolled through the skies. The late May rain pelted down on the streets of the French Quarter. The drops bounced off the pavement behind Perrine Dupré. Wind whipped her umbrella inside out. Rain clouded her eyes. She stumbled up the three steps to her front door. Juggling her parcels, umbrella and the key Perrine jabbed it in the direction of the lock. Finally the key found the opening and turned.

Her daughter was finally coming home for a visit. Excitement bubbled up and a smile sneaked out.

Julie Ann had been building her interior design business in New York for the last couple of years. Perrine was proud of her daughter and understood Julie Ann couldn’t visit, but she’d missed her. She could have gone to New York, but Perrine loved New Orleans and hated to travel. Tomorrow she’d finally be able to hug her daughter again.
Thunder rumbled across the sky.

Perrine turned the door knob. She paused.
A vision flashed in front of her. Her shoulders sagged. She wasn’t going to see Julie Ann after all. And she'd miss their regular telephone call tonight, too.
A single tear shimmered down her cheek.
Thunder continued to rumble across the sky.

She had no choice. If she ran away they would follow her and shoot her down in the street. She could put her friends and neighbors in danger. They could get hurt.
Even if she did manage to escape tonight, they would kill her eventually.

The people involved were too powerful. They didn’t care about collateral damage or anyone else who might get hurt.

The information she’d counted on to protect her and Julie Ann obviously wasn't going to protect her any longer. Had they killed off all the other people involved? Was that way the documentation wasn’t important anymore?

There was so much she should have shared with Julie Ann. At least she would be aware of the threat.
Perrine pushed the door open. An icy cold shroud of death drop over her. 
Thunder crashed. The skies opened wide and lightning flashed across the sky, turning it an electric white.
At the same time a light slashed across the room.

Perrine crumpled to the floor, her parcels scattered beside her. She felt no pain, not even when footsteps crossed the floor, paused by her side, then kicked her sharply in the ribs - twice.
The steps moved off. The door closed. The lock clicked.
I hope it affects the plot. What do you think?
Don’t forget to check out other authors to see what they have to say on the topic.

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1A3
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com

Spring Has Sprung? #MFRWHooks #BeverleyBateman

But has it? I’m still seeing snow warnings and those poor crocuses’ are going to be covered in a white blanket.  Also it’s spring cleaning time (for some people). And maybe it’s a new start for writing.

Do you get energized and start new projects as the weather warms up? 

I check my list of goals from January and decide I need to get busy. Doing Book Hooks, which has been on that list, is my new project. We’ll see if I can get my blog together and posted correctly. If I didn't, someone please tell me. :)

Next is my WIP, which I need to dust off and get busy. I’m working on book two in The Foundation Series. The first book was Sara’s Story. The next one is Lydia’s story, and Carly’s in South America to save Link.

I find spring is a good time to write. Not only does the sun give me more energy but I write, work in the garden and work out plot points while I’m pulling weeds. I love spring for so many reasons – what about you?

Excerpt from The Fourth Victim Sara’s Story
        The office said he’d had a heart attack. Was he alive? Did she want him to be? What if her husband had to stay home for a few weeks to recuperate? Palms sweating, Sara’s breath came in short, shallow bursts at the thought. 
        The taxi jerked to a stop in front of the hospital emergency entrance.         Sara fumbled through her purse and counted out her meager number of dollar bills. Gordon didn’t allow her to have a credit card and he only allowed her to have a small amount of cash. She didn’t have enough money to pay the taxi.
            “I’m so sorry. I left home without any cash. I... I ... Would you take a check?” Tears spilled over and trickled down her flushed cheeks.

The driver spun around. A short stubby finger waved at the sign over the rearview mirror. “Look lady, it says right there - No Checks.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry. My husband’s had a heart attack and I ... I don’t know what to do.” Sara ran her fingers through her hair and scrunched the tight bun at her neck.

The driver shook his head. “Aw, shit. Go ahead, lady. Write the check.”

Sara pulled the single crumpled check Gordon allowed her carry for emergencies out of her purse. When she touched the check a vision of Gordon floated in front of her.

She froze and rapidly blinked her eyes. She only saw the ghosts of dead people. Gordon didn’t believe her and forbid her to ever mention it.

Could he really be dead?

“Gordon?” she whispered.

“Lady, are you writing that check or not?”

“Yes, sorry.” Sara scribbled her signature on the bottom of the check. “Please, fill it in, and give yourself a generous tip. Thank you, thank you so much.” She clutched her worn purse to her chest, slid out of the cab, and scurried through the emergency room doors.

What if he was dead? She didn’t have any money. Gordon did all the finances and never shared anything with her.  How would she manage?

Twenty years ago she could have handled it. Could she do it again? But he couldn’t be dead. Gordon would never allow that to happen.

His face flitted in front of her, fixed in an angry glare.

He had to be dead or she wouldn’t be seeing him. He didn’t want to be dead. He didn’t want her to be free. If he thought she could see him he’d be furious.

Sara shuffled toward the reception desk. She glanced over her shoulder, searching for some sign of Gordon, listening for his voice, waiting for him to yell at her. She couldn’t believe he was really dead, even though she had seen him. She clung to the edge of the transition counter, her head down, chewed on her lower lip and waited to be noticed.

Finally a brusque voice snapped, “Can I help you?”

Sara looked up to see a heavy set, older woman in a loose blue top. The woman’s thick dark brows met in a v in the middle of her forehead.

“I’m sorry, I ...I’m looking for my husband. His office phoned to say he’d been brought here.” Sara shrunk into her body.

 “Name?” the woman commanded. 

“Gordon, Gordon Peters.” Sara stared at her worn black oxfords, then at the scuffed, gray linoleum with the red, blue and yellow lines that led to different areas.  Maybe she shouldn’t have come. Maybe she should have waited for Gordon to call and tell her whether she should be here or not. But if he was dead she would have to make her own decisions. Her pulse raced. Her head pounded. For the last nineteen years she had never made a decision. Gordon made all of them for her.

 “When was he admitted?” The woman reminded Sara of a sergeant major.

“I’m not sure, less than an hour ago. They told me to meet him here. Maybe he’s been discharged already?” She chewed her thumbnail. If Gordon had been discharged, he’d be furious at her for spending all that money on a taxi.  But she’d seen his ghost.

Tension twisted her stomach into knots. The pain caused her to clutch her purse tightly against her abdomen. She needed to get home and start dinner. She’d have to take a bus. Did she have enough money? She opened her purse.

The woman moved to a second pile of folders and pulled one out. “You’re his wife?”

Sara nodded. “Yes. Can I see him?”

A sob slipped out. If she didn’t find see him soon, he’d be furious. He’d think she was too stupid to even find him in a hospital and he’d be right.

His ghost floated in front of her. This time confusion mixed with his anger. 

“Have a seat, Mrs. Peters. I’ll have the doctor speak to you.” The sergeant major’s voice softened. She indicated a chair near the desk.

“No, please, I need to see him right away. He’ll be upset if I’m late.”

The woman rounded the desk and laid her hand on Sara’s shoulder. She squeezed gently for a second. “It’ll be okay, honey. You just sit down for a minute. The doctor will be right out.”

Blurb from The Fourth Victim Sara’s Story

Sara’s emotionally abusive husband dies unexpectedly. She’s struggling to reclaim the intelligent, independent person she was before she married.  She vows never to let a man take over her life again. Now she’s part of a special team, training to help other women.
Mac is has been responsible for training women in special ops techniques so they are prepared when they are challenged to save other women. When he meets Sara, sparks fly between them. He wants her to quit the training and let him take care of her.
Sara graduates and now she and her team have to save Sara’s daughter from a serial killer. Can Mac step back and trust her in a dangerous situation? Can Sara and Mac resolve their issues, or will they go in opposite directions?

Buy Links from The Fourth Victim Sara’s Story

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JQ97L8M?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-fourth-victim-9 
Itunes https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-fourth-victim/id1440048796?ls=1&mt=11
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Beverley_Bateman_The_Fourth_Victim?id=_Od3DwAAQBAJ
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fourth-victim-saras-story-beverley-bateman/1129787236;jsessionid=DCE3DC6D307F1874CC82403A3F744C44.prodny_store01-atgap02?ean=2940155751731
24Symbols https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=2957078
Playster  https://play.playster.com/books/10009781386760245/the-fourth-victim-saras-story-beverley-bateman  

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Like Dark Fantasy, Futuristic, Paranormal, Romance?

The child of a painter and a psychic dreamer, Kate Hill feels spirituality and storytelling go hand-in-hand. She loves the scent of gardenia, the sound of wind chimes and the taste of honey. By listening to what isn’t said, she creates works based on unspoken desires. Kate prefers blurred gender lines and many varieties of romance. In a world where passion must at times be restrained, she believes erotica is a pleasure to be shared. With her stories she would like to make her fantasies yours and hopes you enjoy the ride. She also writes under the name Saloni Quinby.

2018 Character Interview

Beverley: What’s your name?

Jolanda: Jolanda.
Beverley: Where did you grow up?
Jolanda: I grew up with my wolf pack. I don't want to give details about which pack or where it was. The demon masters are still around, watching and listening. The last thing I want to do is lead them to more wolves.
Beverley: During what time period does your story take place?
Jolanda: The too near future.
Beverley: What’s your story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about you?
Jolanda: I don't consider myself special. Some might call me unusual, and I feel that I'm lucky. I wasn't accepted by my birth pack because I'm a wolf who also practices magic, but that's what's going to help me against the demon masters
Beverley: What’s your goal in this story?
Jolanda:To free the captive wolves and defeat the demons. It's a tall order, but we wolves don't give up.
Beverley: What conflicts are you facing?
Jolanda: Wow! I'm facing more conflicts than I ever thought possible. The demon masters are powerful. They're more than cruel. They get off on suffering. If they discover my true purpose, I'll be lucky if they kill me fast.
Beverley: Do you have a plan for resolving them?
Jolanda: Oh yes. I've got a plan, but it's not one I'm willing to share. You'll have to watch it unfold.
Beverley: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?
Jolanda: I'd like everyone to know this, especially wolves who are still anti-magic. My clan is as much a family as any pack. We're wolves. We're witches. We're not evil and we're not traitors. If we were, we--I--wouldn't be risking so much to help our brothers and sisters.

Blurb for Fangs and Fists 3: Victor:  

Werewolf gladiator Victor vows to escape captivity by demons or die trying--which nearly happens when his latest opponent takes him by surprise.

Jolanda is a member of a secret pack of wolf witches who want to free their kin from the dreaded demon tower. Strengthened by the power of her pack, she defeats Victor in the arena and demands that he be given to her as a mate.

Alone, they surrender to their overwhelming lust for each other, but Jolanda needs him for more than sex. She's been sent to rescue the captive wolves and Victor is the Alpha she needs to help her. Together he and Jolanda plan a mass escape from the tower, hoping to strike a blow the demon masters will never forget.

Excerpt from Fangs and Fists 3: Victor:

Two demon guards clad in black body armor entered the barracks. Their red eyes glowed behind dark face shields. They approached Victor and one guard said, “Get up and come with us.”

All the guards sounded and looked alike. They were even the same height and body structure.

Victor knew better than to refuse. There would be no point in fighting, even if he was so inclined.

He guessed he would be going to one of two possible places. It would either be the punishment chamber because he’d killed Slate too quickly or -- and this was more likely -- to the demon masters who had bargained with him to kill for their entertainment.

The guards brought Victor out of the barracks and down a steel corridor to an elevator at the end. They boarded it. Except for the soft whir of the elevator descending, there was silence.

It stopped with an almost imperceptible lurch. The door opened and Victor, accompanied by the guards, stepped into a spacious room with an enormous glass ball in the center of it. Several couches surrounded it. While the upholstery resembled leather, Victor’s sense of smell told him the couches were covered with material that hadn’t come from any four-legged animal.

He’d been in this room before. Here, the demons had bargained with him for the lives of his fellow gladiators, their mates, and their cubs. Here, he’d traded his integrity and his soul for their lives.

The guards disappeared into dark corners of the room.

Since he had no intention of sitting on the foul furniture, Victor stood near the glass ball and waited.

The ball glowed faintly at first. Then it brightened. From within, two demon masters -- one male and one female -- stared at him. He knew they weren’t actually there. The ball was similar to television. He could see and hear them, but they were far away.

The male had ink-black, elbow-length hair. Tall and slim, he was dressed from head to foot in red. The female had short white hair. Her skin was nearly as pale as her form-fitting white dress. Both demons stared at him with black eyes.

“Your game has improved, Victor,” said the male, “but I’m afraid you still haven’t mastered the art of performing. Your kills aren’t entertaining enough, but for now that’s beside the point. We haven’t called you here to critique your style, but for another reason.”

“We have something special planned for you,” the female continued. “There’s a new contender in the tower -- one who has seen you fight and wishes to face you in the arena.”

Buy Links for Fangs and Fists 3: Victor:

Amazon - https://amzn.to/2UAUM2c
Changeling Press - https://www.changelingpress.com/victor-fangs-and-fists-3-b-2610

*♥*♥*♥*15% off any order when you shop Kate Hill *♥*♥*♥*

Code: Fangs-and-Fists

Will work on the entire cart, as long as there's one Kate Hill book in the cart.

Only at Changeling Press

You can find Kate at:

kate-hill.com
twitter.com/katehillromance
twitter.com/compbeastsblog
facebook.com/compellingbeasts/
facebook.com/katehillsaloniquinby/

Kate is giving away a $10 Amazon GC during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember there is a chance to enter everyday so be sure to follow the Blog Tour. You may find the tour schedule and locations here https://bit.ly/2G1mPye

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Blog or Taxes

I’m busy doing my taxes (dues April 30^th) and suddenly I quit adding numbers and realized I’m supposed to have a blog ready to post today. Yikes!

My mind is mush.  All I can think about is finding all my receipts. I was missing a couple of government ones and had to phone and listen to their lovely music waiting for an agent. They send it by the postal system. I’m working around it for now, adding and subtracting all my receipts and putting numbers into my working copy.

The reason I do it myself is I feel it keeps my brain active and I resent paying for programs of to have someone do it for me. I know I should probably take my shoebox with all the receipts and tax forms and give it to an account.

What do you do, as a writer? Do you do your own or pay someone to do it?

I figure out the percentage of the space and utilities etc. I use for my writing space, books, internet and take deductions for it. Once I figure out my business forma I can use the number and move on to the general form.  Why do they have all these funny formulas and percentages? Why can’t they say if you make $20,000 you pay certain amount? My theory is, if you do them yourselves, you’re so exhausted by the end of all the formulas you don’t care, you just want to finish them.

That’s my thought and I’m sticking to it, as I dive back into the numbers.

Depending what country you’re in, have you finished your taxes? Your thoughts on the process?