Welcome to Minnette Meador’s “A Ghost of a Chance” blog tour. Minnette is an exceptional romance author. She has a way of describing a scene that brings the reader right into the historical setting as if the Roman soliders were breathing down your neck. I just love her books, THE CENTURION & THE QUEEN and THE EDGE OF HONOR.
Welcome Minnette and thank you for being on my blog today. I’ve got a heap of questions for you, so let’s jump right in.
Do you have any suggestions for beginning
writers? If so, what are they?
First of all, thanks Lyn for having me here. One of my favorite things to do as an author is to help other authors by telling them what I have learned. I don’t think it’s any great magic combination to getting published, but I hope it might have helped some writer:
Writing is 10% writing and 90% editing. Edit ’til you can’t stand the thing, then do it three more times. Then have someone else edit it and then go through it three more times after that. You should be there when
you start to change words BACK to what they used to be. Here’s a good example; I edited this interview for three hours before I was almost satisfied. You know you’re a writer when…you edit your IMs and text messages…
Get yourself a critiquing partner and a set of beta readers (family does nicely, especially if you have older kids…they do owe you; friends and co-worker are always good). LISTEN to what they have to say
and be prepared for criticism. That’s what you don’t pay them for. A critiquing partner is absolutely an imperative and there are lots of groups out there that can help you find one…www.critters.org comes readily to mind, but there are many out there. Check in your genre. Or join a writing class in your community…that’s
where my fabulous, wonderful, adorable partner came from. Take classes, join associations, join groups, get
involved in the writer’s community (it’s huge) and contribute to it. Harder to do than you think, believe me.
Be prepared to spend every waking hour on your dream and even some of your sleeping ones. The muse doesn’t rest…at least until you need her, which leads me to…
DON’T RELY ON THE MUSE TO HELP YOU. (S)he will always let you down when you need her/him most. Being a published writer does not take inspiration, it takes dedication. You cannot wait until the art moves you…art
is a lazy, drunken sod and it’s up to you to move it along. Hardest thing to do as a writer is to keep going. There are lots of tips on how to break writer’s block out there. The best advice I ever received? Get your ass in the chair and hit those keys (or move that pen, if you’re a purest) – who cares what you write, just write.
Be kind, be loving, live well, and treat others well. When you critique someone or even give them an opinion on their work, keep in mind yours is (or will be) in another’s hands one day. Creation is a fragile thing and easily destroyed…look at an egg sometime. I know; I shelved writing for twenty years because of a criticism. I regret it to this day.
You must develop a thick skin for this business…the whole “slings & arrows” thing. Not everyone is going to like your work….not everyone appreciates the hours that went into its creation…not everyone is kind. A gentle grace is needed to be a writer, I think…swear and punch through walls when you get home, but keep in mind it’s only one person’s opinion. You can choose to agree…or not. Did I mention this profession takes a bit of ego, as well?
There is no reward without sacrifice. When you see your name in print, the paperback crushed in your trembling hands, I promise, it will be worth all the pain. All you have to do then is write the next one…
What makes you happy?
I found it very strange that I really didn’t recognize happiness until I truly saw the underbelly of life. There are many times when I thought I would never see the light at the end of that long, dark tunnel, but when I finally did, I could really appreciate it fully. So here are the things that make me truly happy:
The sound of my granddaughter’s voice.
The feel of my husband’s hand in mine.
The words “Nicely done,” or their equivalent from someone I truly respect.
Finishing writing a book (though sometimes that can be both happy and sad.)
Singing at the top of my lungs and not afraid to have anyone hear me.
Driving my car.
A really good book and the time to enjoy it.
Watching my plants flourish.
Watching my kids flourish.
Watching the waves roll up the shore while I’m writing.
Writing a scene that makes ME cry.
Good news on a bad day.
Talking to my friends.
A good cup of coffee.
To name a few…
What is the next big thing?
I am currently working on the third book in the Centurion Series, called THE GLADIATOR PRINCE, which will be released on August 17, 2011. I honestly think this might be my best book. It is full of high adventure, deep pathos, loads of Roman history, not one, but two alpha males, a gladiator and a pirate (you will LOVE them both), and a wonderful heroine with a very dark secret. Here’s the blurb:
THE GLADIATOR PRINCE – Excerpt
a historical romance by Minnette Meador
Book III of the Centurion Series
RELEASE DATE: August 17, 2011
Resplendence Publishing
Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman
Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans after the Boudicca Revolt to save
his two daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is
condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the
arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver’s raid, Thane escapes,
forcing the daughter of his master to take him to Rome to save his children.
Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to
his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will
this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save
them all? Book III of the Centurion Series.
Tell us about your favorite character from your books.
It always seems my favorite character is the one I’m working on at the moment, but I think that’s common for writers. Honestly, I have to say it is not a hero, nor a heroine, but a secondary character that absolutely shines from the page. His name is Kuna. He is Mongolian, a Roman soldier, hunched back, small, dark and deformed, and one of the best swordsmen and horsemen in the Roman territories. He is married to my hero’s sister, who is absolutely beautiful, and everyone who comes across him completely misjudge him, to their despair, usually. He is funny, irreverent, intelligent, talented, and keeps everyone on their toes. No one who meets Kuna is prepared for the astonishing feats he inevitably performs. To meet him check out THE CENTURION & THE QUEEN and
THE EDGE OF HONOR. I do have the beginnings of a novel with him as one of the main characters, so stay tuned.
Where do you dream of traveling to and why?
A lifelong dream of my husband and I is to travel to Italy and we think 2013 will be the year. That is our 20th anniversary and we plan to visit Florence, Rome, and Pompey. What a thrill it would be to see the places I’ve
only Google driven and imagined in my stories and dreams. The long list of things we want to see there grows exponentially every day. I even have a picture of the coliseum on my debit card to remind me to save for the trip and I’m learning Italian… slowly. Old dog, new tricks, you know. If anyone has been there please feel free to share. I’d love to hear your stories.
I would like to remind everyone that Minnette will be giving away a Kindle at the end of her promotions campaign
and anyone who comments on her tour, or on her blog, will be entered into that drawing. One randomly drawn commenter from the tour itself, as well as the tour host with the most comments, will– in addition– win a $100 Amazon gift certificate so the more you comment, the better your chances.
The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/05/virtual-book-tour-ghost-of-chance-by.html.
A Ghost of a Chance
Keenan Swanson is your typical, everyday graphic designer.
Well, except for the hundreds of pesky, prank-loving poltergeists that make his
life interesting (in a Chinese curse sort of way). He finds his situation
precarious yet manageable—until witty, smoking-hot coworker Isabella enters the
scene and Keenan decides he wants her all for himself. With a horny succubus
who has other ideas, a burly city cop determined to lock Keenan away, and an
evil entity who’s hell-bent on using Keenan’s seed to create a living demon,
the reluctant psychic realizes he just might not come out of this alive—or with
heart intact.
———-
…A very sexy TRUTH OR DARE…
CHAPTER SEVEN – SPIRITED AWAY
This time, Isabella didn’t even hesitate. “Dare,” she said firmly.
Keenan really wanted to know what this incredible woman could have possibly done to get her in so deep she couldn’t recover. After all, she was perfect. There was a kind of injustice when perfect people got in the headlights of bad news. Especially ones this charming.
“Well?” The coquettish lilt to her voice was playing handball with his heart.
“Give me a second. I want to savor my victory before delivering the fatal blow.” He knew what he wanted to ask her to do, but it was probably too soon and he didn’t want to lose her. The urge to kiss her was overwhelming. “All right, I dare you to take off your jacket.”
Apparently, Isabella knew what Keenan really wanted too, since she sniffed, “Wuss,” and then gave him a wicked laugh. Without preamble, she unzipped her jogging jacket and stripped it off. Underneath was a baby blue running halter that looked tantalizing against her dark skin. Dark mounds of flesh peeked over the top and the deep cleavage was almost black. The exhibition made Keenan’s mountain gorilla instincts come out. He wanted to pound victory against his chest.
“Wow,” was all he could say.
“Eyes up here, buddy,” she said pointing.
Keenan obliged by putting one elbow on the table, resting his chin in his hand, and staring into her eyes. “No place I’d rather be.”
“Oh, my. He’s charming too. My turn, hot shot.” She pushed her lips to one side and closed one eye in concentration. Her face lit up. “Truth or dare? What happened right after you saw that ghost?”
He knew that was coming and hoped the dare wouldn’t be something that could get him thrown back into jail. He wouldn’t put it past her. Pulling a sigh into his lungs and giving up to the inevitable, he gave her a plaintive, “Dare.”
A look of pure evil came over her face when she placed her napkin on the table. Standing up, she sidled along the end of the table and leaned against the bench seat. “All you have to do is hold still.”
Before he could say anything, she was on top of him, straddling his lap, with her arms wrapped around his neck. That heavenly scent clouded out just about everything else. He instinctively placed his arms around her very slim waist and pulled her closer.
“Pucker up, big boy.”
Isabella leaned into him and gently pulled out his upper lip with her teeth. She ran her tongue along it once, shutting down most of his reality receptors. The initial touch of her lips was so soft he could only feel
the heat at first. He gladly let her play. Moving slowly, she increased the pressure until she had him in an expertly executed lip lock; it was obvious she had done this before.
****
Thank you Minnette for your time. I know I can’t wait to download A Ghost of a Chance to my kindle.
Check out the links below if you would like more info on Minnette and her fabulous books.
www.minnettemeador.com
http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com
Amazon
Link – http://tinyurl.com/3r6tqap
Resplendence Publishing
Books Link
