I had my first pitch with an editor this past weekend. I’ve done the query thing and that is nerve wracking enough. I stressed a minimal amount prior to the event…and a whole lot the day of. And then I did my pitch (nervous and I know I sputtered a bit) but the time (ten minutes) went very quickly and I got a request. So it was worth making the appointment. Here is some advice passed around as I prepared:
• Try to have your first pitch somewhere other than Nationals – a RWA chapter meeting or Regional Conference would work – this could lower your stress level and make you more comfortable pitching among the crowds and fast pace of the bigger conference.
• Think outside the box and pitch a company not on your submission list. There isn’t as much pressure on you, it’s good practice, and you never know what it might turn into.
• Talk for two minutes and let the editor/agent ask you questions for the remaining time. (I didn’t follow this exactly, but once the editor started talking with me, my stress level did go down.)
• Feel you write queries better than pitch – bring a copy of your query letter and read it. (One of my chapter mates did this. Smart lady. Also means you can quickly send your request in. I used note cards and then had to write up a query letter.)
Any more suggestions? Do you find your pitch goes fast once you start?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Mirror, Mirror
Vanity.
It's one of the seven deadly sins, and theologians consider it the deadliest, as most sins flow from injured pride, frequently called crimes of passion.
An extreme love of self diminishes our love for others. Diminishing other people can make them appear as less than human, diminishing our compassion for them.
When we look in a mirror is what we see real?
In a way, the image looking back is reversed. Notice when you try to do something like brush your hair, its easier to feel what you're doing rather than use the reflected image as a guide. The concept of an alternate, or distorted reality has intrigued imaginations for centuries.
In literature the mirror is a symbol of an alternate world where reality is distorted or worse, the truth is revealed. Examples are "Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass" and The Grimm Brothers "Snow White."
When the wicked queen chanted : "Mirror, mirror on the wall," the mirror reflected her image, but when the answer wasn't what she wanted to hear she became enraged and planned Snow White's demise. Was the mirror image a distorted image?
The queen was beautiful, but her vanity made her ugly. It took the form of the witch and the witch was her true self.
Snow White never looks in anything reflective. She is buried in a glass coffin so the prince could see within the outer shell to the real person within the shell. Snow White's beauty isn't reflective, its real. She washed the dwarves dishes and cleaned the house (we will ignore the minor trespassing issue.)
The opposite of pride, Snow White was selfless. She served without being asked. In this story beauty and ugliness are reflected in deeds and appearances are decieving.
The idea of the magic mirror may have been inspired by the real life Countess Bathory. She was hailed as one of the most beautiful women in Eurpoe. Her vanity became an obsession and her cruelty was reknowned. It was her belief bathing in virgin blood would keep her young and beautiful. At least 80 (some say up to 600) women suffered for her distorted reality.
Dream interpreters will tell you when you dream of looking in a mirror you are in a stage of growth and self discovery. If your eyes are closed in the dream, you may not accept who you are. If you see another person's face or an animal instead of yourself, it means you worry you don't know yourself.
You may want to change yourself in some way to be sure the reflection is a real reflection of you.
It's one of the seven deadly sins, and theologians consider it the deadliest, as most sins flow from injured pride, frequently called crimes of passion.
An extreme love of self diminishes our love for others. Diminishing other people can make them appear as less than human, diminishing our compassion for them.
When we look in a mirror is what we see real?
In a way, the image looking back is reversed. Notice when you try to do something like brush your hair, its easier to feel what you're doing rather than use the reflected image as a guide. The concept of an alternate, or distorted reality has intrigued imaginations for centuries.
In literature the mirror is a symbol of an alternate world where reality is distorted or worse, the truth is revealed. Examples are "Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass" and The Grimm Brothers "Snow White."
When the wicked queen chanted : "Mirror, mirror on the wall," the mirror reflected her image, but when the answer wasn't what she wanted to hear she became enraged and planned Snow White's demise. Was the mirror image a distorted image?
The queen was beautiful, but her vanity made her ugly. It took the form of the witch and the witch was her true self.
Snow White never looks in anything reflective. She is buried in a glass coffin so the prince could see within the outer shell to the real person within the shell. Snow White's beauty isn't reflective, its real. She washed the dwarves dishes and cleaned the house (we will ignore the minor trespassing issue.)
The opposite of pride, Snow White was selfless. She served without being asked. In this story beauty and ugliness are reflected in deeds and appearances are decieving.
The idea of the magic mirror may have been inspired by the real life Countess Bathory. She was hailed as one of the most beautiful women in Eurpoe. Her vanity became an obsession and her cruelty was reknowned. It was her belief bathing in virgin blood would keep her young and beautiful. At least 80 (some say up to 600) women suffered for her distorted reality.
Dream interpreters will tell you when you dream of looking in a mirror you are in a stage of growth and self discovery. If your eyes are closed in the dream, you may not accept who you are. If you see another person's face or an animal instead of yourself, it means you worry you don't know yourself.
You may want to change yourself in some way to be sure the reflection is a real reflection of you.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Scary Stories from Childhood
I grew up in Waco, Texas, and as young people everywhere, we enjoyed telling scary stories, the more outrageous, the better. As teenagers, one of our favorites was The Hook. Cameron Park was an ideal place for parking and making out, the perfect backdrop for this heart stopping tale.
As the story goes, a young couple parked one night at Lover's Leap, a well-known cliff where supposedly Indian lovers from two warring tribes, jumped to their death rather than be parted. As the teenagers make out, the young woman is nervous, says she hears a noise, like scratching. The boy insists she's imagining things. Suddenly a face appears at the passenger window. The girl screams, the guy starts the car, throws it into reverse and they roar from the parking lot.
They arrive at her home shaken. When he exits the car and rounds the vehicle to help her out, he finds a hook hanging from the door handle. The parents call the police and they learn the man with the hook for a hand preys upon teens. He kills the boy and rapes the girl before killing her.
As an adult, I've learned most every town with a park has a similar story. But at the time, it scared us witless and we loved every shiver.
How about you. What scary story do you remember from childhood?
Linda
Linda LaRoque ~Western Romance with a Twist in Time~ A Law of Her Own, Forever Faithful. Desires of the Heart, 3-9, My Heart Will Find Yours, 5-9, Flames on the Sky, Investment of the Heart coming 5-9, When the Ocotillo Bloom 7-9.
www.lindalaroque.com/ http://wwww.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/
As the story goes, a young couple parked one night at Lover's Leap, a well-known cliff where supposedly Indian lovers from two warring tribes, jumped to their death rather than be parted. As the teenagers make out, the young woman is nervous, says she hears a noise, like scratching. The boy insists she's imagining things. Suddenly a face appears at the passenger window. The girl screams, the guy starts the car, throws it into reverse and they roar from the parking lot.
They arrive at her home shaken. When he exits the car and rounds the vehicle to help her out, he finds a hook hanging from the door handle. The parents call the police and they learn the man with the hook for a hand preys upon teens. He kills the boy and rapes the girl before killing her.
As an adult, I've learned most every town with a park has a similar story. But at the time, it scared us witless and we loved every shiver.
How about you. What scary story do you remember from childhood?
Linda
Linda LaRoque ~Western Romance with a Twist in Time~ A Law of Her Own, Forever Faithful. Desires of the Heart, 3-9, My Heart Will Find Yours, 5-9, Flames on the Sky, Investment of the Heart coming 5-9, When the Ocotillo Bloom 7-9.
www.lindalaroque.com/ http://wwww.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/
Friday, March 6, 2009
Love, death, and superstition
In times of superstition, legends of demons were rampant, and love was considered to be more powerful than any force of darkness.
One legend tells of Marcus and Brunhilda.
In a chapel they made vows, promising to God and company, that their love would always shine as a reflection of God's love for them. Each placed a silver ring on their beloveds finger to symbolize the eternal bond.
A ruckus was heard outside the chapel. The village was under attack. The doors burst open and warriors overtook the unarmed men. The women begged for mercy, but there was none to be had. Marcus fought bare handed, but fell on the stone floor, Brunhilda rushed to his side. She was hoisted from the floor and the raiders took her away.
The Huns were seen as demons. They had mis- shaped heads from being bound at birth, and they fought with a frenzy that couldn't be quelled until the ground ran red with streams of blood.
When every man in the village fell, the raiders claimed what they killed. The wives, homes and children became the property of the warrior who killed the head of their household. The Hun simply moved in as replacement for the one slain.
Brunhilda buried her husband's body in her garden, whispering a promise they would never again be parted. By day she stared into the garden, longing for the one she lost, by night she was a tool in the victor's hand.
Early one morning she woke. The overlord snored at her side. Brunhilda moved from the bed to slip across the room. She took the dagger from his belt, and as he lay sleeping, she plunged the blade deep into his gut, over and over until he moved no more.
Realizing what she had done, Brunhilda tried to flee into the woods, she was captured and hanged for her crime. Her body was left in the woods for the wolves.
The Huns moved onto other conquests. Those remaining looted the graves looking for tools and weapons. The grave of her beloved Marcus was opened. Instead of one body, there lie two. Brunhilda rest by his side, silver rings adorning the entwined hands.
One legend tells of Marcus and Brunhilda.
In a chapel they made vows, promising to God and company, that their love would always shine as a reflection of God's love for them. Each placed a silver ring on their beloveds finger to symbolize the eternal bond.
A ruckus was heard outside the chapel. The village was under attack. The doors burst open and warriors overtook the unarmed men. The women begged for mercy, but there was none to be had. Marcus fought bare handed, but fell on the stone floor, Brunhilda rushed to his side. She was hoisted from the floor and the raiders took her away.
The Huns were seen as demons. They had mis- shaped heads from being bound at birth, and they fought with a frenzy that couldn't be quelled until the ground ran red with streams of blood.
When every man in the village fell, the raiders claimed what they killed. The wives, homes and children became the property of the warrior who killed the head of their household. The Hun simply moved in as replacement for the one slain.
Brunhilda buried her husband's body in her garden, whispering a promise they would never again be parted. By day she stared into the garden, longing for the one she lost, by night she was a tool in the victor's hand.
Early one morning she woke. The overlord snored at her side. Brunhilda moved from the bed to slip across the room. She took the dagger from his belt, and as he lay sleeping, she plunged the blade deep into his gut, over and over until he moved no more.
Realizing what she had done, Brunhilda tried to flee into the woods, she was captured and hanged for her crime. Her body was left in the woods for the wolves.
The Huns moved onto other conquests. Those remaining looted the graves looking for tools and weapons. The grave of her beloved Marcus was opened. Instead of one body, there lie two. Brunhilda rest by his side, silver rings adorning the entwined hands.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Heart of the Sorcerer
My long-awaited paranormal short story, Heart of the Sorcerer, is scheduled for release August 26, 2009, from The Wild Rose Press.
Drawn inexplicably back to her childhood home, Annalisa returns, seeking to fill the void existing in her loveless life. Granny Jean, Annalisa’s adopted grandmother, failing in health and mental acuity, endeavors to discover the secrets of Annalisa’s soul, wanting nothing more than Annalisa to be happy before she leaves this earth. A picture hangs over the mantle in Gran’s cottage depicting a beautiful man of another time, a man who haunts Annalisa’s every dream, a man who calls to her in dreams. Unknown to Annalisa, Gran and Alec, the man in the painting, have set forth a course of events to eventually send Annalisa back, back into the arms of Alec.
P.L. Parker
Myths and legends of Wales
Tomorrow is St David's Day and I will be wearing the traditonal daffodil to show my alliegance to my native land. I'll talk a little more about him on my own blog tomorrow, but today I thought I'd mention some of the myths and legends I came across when researching the background for my story in the 'Song Of The Muses' series from The Wild Rose Press. (I sent my Greek Muse to Wales - well she wanted a change of scenery!) :)
In one scene she runs into the 'Ellylldan' (Pronounced elch-chlith-dan.) These were evil sprites with glowing eyes and fire at their fingertips, reputed to lure unwary travellers to their doom by leading them into the bogs where they were lost for ever. Yes, Wales has her fair share of imps and demons - also lost civilisations. Not far from Aberystwyth, where I used to live, at low tide one can see the remains of a submerged forest. This is all that remains of Cantre'r Gwaelod, or Maes Gwyddno as it would have been known at the time 'Dancing With Fate' takes place. The legend is simlar to the 'Atlantis' story and tells how the little town was drowned when the appointed watchman attended a banquet given by the king, became intoxicated and left the water gates open. The town sank beneath the sea and it is said that if one stands on the beach on a quiet evening one can hear the church bells chiming beneath the waves.
Of cours
e Wales has long been associated with the druids and Merlin (or Myrddin) who was ruputedly born in Caerfyrddin, a small mid Wales town which is named after him. (The English version is Carmarthen.) The symbol of Wales, on the Welsh flag, is the red dragon, and there is an interesting legend telling how this came about. King Vortigen was a British Monarch of post-roman Britain. After an incestuous affair with his daughter, he was obliged to flee to the county of Gwynedd where he was advised by his wizards to build a fortress, or 'dinas', now known as Dinas Emrys. He decided to strengthen his defences by building a tower, but each time the timber and quarried stones were carried to the site they disappeared over night.
His wizards recommended a human sacrifice of a 'fatherless child' and the child Merlin was brought. Before he could be put to death he announced that a lake lay the middle of the foundations. and beneath the lake two dragons fought, a red and a white one, representing the Britons and Saxons. He told the king it was pointless to try to build his tower on top of dragons, and he should leave and go somewhere safer. Vortigen realised there was something supernatural about the child and fled to the Lleyn Peninsular, after giving Dinas Emrys to Merlin. (Emrys is a form of Ambrose, derived from the Latin 'Ambrosius' pertaining to the gods, and is another name by which Melin was known). The red dragon later became the Welsh National emblem.
Then there is the legend of Devils's Bridge, also not very far from Aberstwyth, where I lived. It is actually three bridges one above the other, spanning a deep gorge with a spectacular waterfall and a deep pool known as 'The Devil's Punchbowl'. It is said the orginal bridge was built when an old lady lost her milk cow one day. The animal somehow managed to cross the river and she knew she could not wade across herself fearing she would be swept into the whirlpool. Suddenly Old Nick himself appeared and told her he would buld a bridge across the chasm if she gave him the soul of the first thing to cross it, knowing she would have to walk across to fetch her cow. She agreed, but was not as simple as she looked. Once the bridge appeared, she put her hand in her apron pocket and threw a crust of bread across the bridge. Immediately her little dog ran across to retrieve it. The devil, realising he was beaten, disappeared in an evil smelling cloud of smoke and was not seen in those parts again, leaving the old lady to fetch back her cow.
There are so many myths and legends of Wales, I could go on much longer. No wonder I love fantasy so much, growing up and living in wild and spectacular countryside, with such a wealth of stories to draw on, how could one fail to be inspired?
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
How a Horror Author can Write the Same Scary Stuff for Dark Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 978-1-60659-118-5
Warning: This title contains hot, graphic demonic sex that goes beyond magic.
When I decided to write my first paranormal romance I looked no farther than what I’ve been doing already: horror. It was a no brainer for me.
I’ve read paranormal romances where the vampire didn’t drink blood nor did bad things. Let’s admit it, European vamps drink blood—humans are food for goodness sakes. I also had a problem about a vampire getting together with a human—things like necrophilia came up. My first vampire romance was set not only in the future but on another planet. The hero was the last Undead Earth vampire in existence and he had to escape from Earth to another world as pollution was killing his kind off. It was on that new planet that he met his ‘soul mate’, Nalessa, an alien vampire. She was the last survivor of her civilization, which perished eons ago. That story became Crimson Promise. Since then, I did write a vampire with a human romance story, which also was a second chance at love for two lovers separated by terrible circumstances.
Monsters are scary. We all are afraid of the dark. What better way to conquer that fear of the dark then have the heroine or hero fall in love with a monster? You have the bad boys or girls in contemporary romance novels, but this takes that bad idea and making them even badder? Besides the reader wants to be taken away from their mundane day-to-day life and suddenly they can read a tale where the heroine moves to some creepy town. Each night something or somethings are taking innocent citizens. These monstrous things are also after her. But she meets a tall, dark and handsome man, who saves her from a pack of howling things. She falls for him. Maybe even makes love with him. It is later that she learns he’s not human, but one of those ‘howling’ things. He’s a werewolf, cursed to take another shape, but he’s tortured and doesn’t want to harm humans. Will she, can she, change him for the better? When she does, and both ride off into the sunset on his motorcycle, the readers close the book with a snap, knowing once again there’s a happily ever after for another couple.
You don’t have to stick to supernatural creatures either. Why not an alien, whose people want to take over our world? Not just an alien, but a parasitical one? I did this with Iridescent Invasion. Since that e-publisher closed its doors and I got the rights back, I plan to turn this short story into a full length novel because it did so well. This could be considered a ménage in an odd sort of way--a love story between three people with two bodies.
It doesn’t matter what your hero or heroine is, a paranormal allows you to take chances, to go where no reader has been before in a love story. You can take the theme of racism, religion and prejudice, and add a twist by making one of the lovers a merperson or a vampire or shapeshifter. They say that love overcomes everything--well, here’s a writer’s chance to prove that.
With writing paranormal romance and being allowed stretching the limit with blood chilling horror I have proved that a horror author can take their experience and apply it to a paranormal romance with no problem.
Sapphire Phelan
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Go beyond the usual, instead take the unusual that stretches the boundaries and find romance with Sapphire Phelan's aliens, werewolves, vampires, fairies, and other supernatural/otherworldly heroes and heroines.
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