Interview with Deborah Shelley

I’d like to welcome our guests today, Shelley Mosley and Deborah Mazoyer. They’re also known as the writing team of Deborah Shelley. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

Thanks for asking us to visit! We see you’ve set out two matching loungers and a big bag of Lindor’s truffles. We might decide to never leave! (okay by us) KW

I understand you have a new release out called Marriage 101. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Marriage 101, like our other novels, is a romantic comedy. Our hero, Danny Riccuci, thinks divorce is hereditary. After all, his family could be the poster child for failed marriages. The only exception is his sister, Maria. And she’s married to the church. Danny’s so sure he carries this divorce gene that he’s never bothered to challenge the family curse.

Rachel Levin, our heroine, is a teacher of human relationships. She knows all the scientific reasons for mutual attraction. She knows the basis of the human needs that drive people into relationships. She knows the statistics of almost every aspect of her field. In fact, Rachel knows everything about human relationships—except what it’s actually like to be in one.

Together, Danny and Rachel learn there’s a lot more to love than what’s in a textbook, and that sometimes, genetics are highly over-rated.

Marriage 101 is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

The Life Skills class that Rachel inherits is known by its nickname, Marriage 101. But we had another reason for naming the book Marriage 101. A good marriage, even one based on a larger- than-life love, takes a lot of work. There’s also a big learning curve. All of us in a marital relationship are taking Marriage 101. Marriage 102, if we’re lucky.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Shelley was a teacher for ten school years, and managed to have only minimal psychological damage after a full semester of junior high lunch duty! Deborah is the mother of a teenager.

What character did you like writing about the most, and why?

We know this sounds like a cop-out, but we really liked them all. At first glance, Danny seems cocky and self-centered, but he has many layers that go against the stereotype of a jock. Rachel is on her own for the first time, and tries not to show how vulnerable she is. Our secondary characters kept wanting more air time--Maria, the stealth nun; the perpetually cranky Bianca; and Grandma Riccuci, whose spaghetti sauce is hot enough to start a war. Maybe we’ll give them more exposure later.

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero’s shoes?

Hugh Jackman. (Yum) KW

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

There are so many authors in both Valley of the Sun Romance Writers of America and Desert Rose Romance Writers of America who have inspired us from the beginning. They generously gave us advice and instruction, and cheered us on when we were reeling from rejections. We hate to list them, because we’re afraid we’ll leave out someone. They know who they are, and they have our love and gratitude.

What do we have to look forward next?

We’re working on another romantic comedy, A Taste of Decadence.

Thanks, Shelley and Debbie!

To celebrate their book release, Shelley and Deborah are offering a free copy of Marriage 101 to one lucky commenter on today's blog. They will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for them, so please ask away...

Bio: Deborah Shelley, the team of Shelley Mosley and Deborah Mazoyer, began writing together on a benchmarking report for city government in 1993. They soon discovered that, as much as they didn't like benchmarking, they loved writing together. Their first book, Talk about Love, was a Holt Medallion Finalist. Talk about Love was followed by the romantic comedies It's in His Kiss, My Favorite Flavor, and One Starry Night. "Falling for You," their Purim story in the anthology, Romancing the Holidays (a finalist for the IPPY), was featured in Booklist's “Spotlight on Multicultural Romance.” Their latest romantic comedy, Marriage 101, is a 2008 release. Shelley and Deborah are currently busy at work on books number six and seven. Their romances have been translated into Danish, French, Dutch, Norwegian, Russian, and Portuguese.

In addition to the Deborah Shelley romances, Shelley has co-written several non-fiction books: The Suffragists in Literature for Youth: The Fight for the Vote: Romance Today: An A-Z Guide to Contemporary American Romance Writers; The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Ultimate Reading List; and Crash Course in Library Supervision. Shelley’s co-writers include John Charles, Sandra Van Winkle, and Joanne Hamilton-Selway (a.k.a. “Team Mosley”). Dennis C. Tucker co-wrote Crash Course in Library Supervision. Shelley also reviews for Booklist and Library Journal and writes for What Do I Read Next? and Novelist. Shelley, RWA's 2001 Librarian of the Year, retired after more than twenty years as a library manager to work part-time as a reference librarian at the Glendale Community College Library Media Center and devote more hours to her family and her writing.

Deborah is the Building Safety Director for the City of Glendale, Arizona. She’s had some pretty huge projects these last few years--namely a hockey arena and a football stadium that was the site of Super Bowl 2008. With many other large projects, including residential and retail construction and all of the new hotels and restaurants needed to support the Super Bowl crowd, Deborah has had very little down time.

Both Deborah and Shelley have been blessed with truly supportive families who encourage their writing; a wonderful critique group (Sandra Lagesse, Marion Ekholm, Carol Webb, and Kim Watters); and spoiled rotten cats that object to time spent writing as time that could have been better spent devoted to them.

Check out author’s website at http://www.deborahshelley.com/

Buy Marriage 101 at Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Interview with Lucienne Diver

I’d like to welcome our guest agent today, Lucienne Diver, the newest agent over at The Knight Agency. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

Can you please give us a little information about your publishing background?

It all started in fourth grade when I won a speech competition…. What's that? Fast forward? I can do that.

When I graduated college (after working on the university anthropology magazine and earlier than that my high school literary magazine), I applied to jobs in publishing and to graduate school for forensic anthropology. Publishing got back to me first and I never looked back. I've always been a voracious reader and to be part of the publication process…priceless.

What made you decide to switch agencies?

There comes a point when it's time to leave home. Spectrum is a fantastic agency and Eleanor Wood gave me my start fifteen years ago when I was fresh out of school. However, The Knight Agency is a great fit for me now. They're a really wonderful, dynamic group of people with a lot of ideas and the energy to make them a reality. I'm very excited about joining them.

How many clients do you currently have?

About 40.

Did you bring over any authors with you? How many more are you actively looking to sign?

I brought all but one of my authors, who decided to stay with Spectrum, with me. I'm pretty busy with my forty plus clients, but I'm always looking to take on something that blows me away. I represent all kinds of commercial fiction, from adult to young adult.

What other genres besides romance do you represent?

Fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense, mainstream and women's fiction.

What fees (if any) does your agency charge? What is your agency’s commission rate?

No fees. 15% on domestic rights, 20% on foreign.

What’s your response time for queries, partials and full manuscripts?

Generally within a month, though occasionally when I'm swamped it can stretch to two or three months.

What new author have you recently signed?

I've recently signed a fantastic urban fantasy/paranormal romance author named Chloe Neill whose first, SOME GIRLS BITE, is coming out from Ace in 2009. I've also just recently sold an amazing debut novelist, N.K. Jemisin, to Orbit at auction. I'm really looking forward to both these releases, as well as new books by Marjorie M. Liu, Susan Krinard, Lynn Flewelling and others!

What new project made you grab for that hidden piece of chocolate in your pencil drawer?

Because it was just so good? One of my authors, Rosemary Clement-Moore recently turned in her new novel, SOUTHERN GOTHIC. I'm convinced she and I read all the same wonderful books growing up and that she managed to distill the best from each into one book.

What can an author do to grab your attention?

Write a kick-butt story with a phenomenal voice where the pace doesn't flag and the ideas are fresh.

What do you love/hate most about being an agent?

I adore working with brilliant, creative people and having some part in their success. What I hate? Waiting for responses. Patience is not one of my virtues. ( I can relate to that. KW)

What trends do you see for the future of publishing?

I think that with new readers, e-books are going to be playing a larger part in publishing, but we've all been talking about that for years and I don't think it will ever (or at least not in our lifetime) take over completely from print publishing. As always, it's a sure thing that the industry is cyclical, so different genres or subgenres will rise and fall in popularity. It's a good thing to be diverse, which is not to say unfocussed, in your work so that you can move with the times.

Any other chocolate nuggets you can give authors looking for representation?

Focus first on writing an awesome book. While you should be aware of the realities of the market, you shouldn't let them or "conventional wisdom" dictate to you. What you want is to be the person to whom others are compared, not the one compared to someone else. A fresh voice is priceless. Once you've produced an awesome book, hone it. Don't get turned down by being a draft away from a "yes." Unfortunately, agents and editors are often too busy to nurture a diamond in the rough.

Thanks, Lucienne!

Check out the agent’s website at www.knightagency.net

The ABCs of Writing Fiction Section Q-R

ABCs of Writing Fiction
Section Q-R
Scroll Down to Read Previous Lessons

Q – Quest for an Agent. I have often heard it is now harder to find an agent, than an editor. That may be true, but don’t give up hope. Persistence pays off. Refine your craft and keep submitting. First, do your research. Don’t waste time submitting to agents who don’t represent your genre. Save that stamp money for filling your gas tank. While building your agent wish list, ask questions. That’s one reason we network at meetings, conferences, and on loops. Don’t be afraid to submit to more than one agent at a time. If you get a rejection, don't take it personally and don't be afraid to submit to that same agent with a new project in the future. Many writers were once rejected by their current agent. Here are links you might find helpful. Before you submit, check the agent’s website for guidelines. Also, you’ll find more and more agents blogging. Check out what they have to say.

http://www.aar-online.org/mc/page.do
http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/
http://agentquery.com/genre_descriptions.aspx
http://querytracker.net/
http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pealb.htm
http://www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/
http://www.writers.net/agents.html
http://queryshark.blogspot.com/ Get help on that query

editorsagentsandblogsohmy@yahoogroups.com Join this group to find agent interviews.

You can find The Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents on Amazon, at your local bookstore, and in your neighborhood library.


R – Research. We all know writing historicals requires months of research. I’m here to tell you, writing contemporary fiction doesn’t exempt you from the great fact hunt. For example, I once needed to know if the company my heroine worked for would most likely be privately owned. Would it have a CEO? Does a cell phone work in an elevator? I now write suspense/mysteries, so I stroll through bookstores and belong to the Writer’s Digest Book Club https://www.writersdigestbookclub.com/
I love collecting books like The Criminal Mind, Fakes & Forgeries, The Handbook of Practical Spying, The Private Investigator’s Handbook, and of course, The Elite Forces Handbook of Unarmed Combat. All I need now is a hunky guy to practice those moves on. Ask questions on your writing loops. For those of you writing mystery/suspense try joining
crimescenewriter@yahoogroups.com

I'll post the next lesson a week from today. Until then, I need to get back to my manuscript.

Interview with Annette Mahon

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Annette Mahon. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called The Secret Correspondence. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

The Secret Correspondence is the latest in my Secret romance series. All the books in this series take place in the fictional small town of Malino, Hawaii. In The Secret Correspondence we re-meet Julie Wong from The Secret Wish. Julie's neighbor, Claudia, has broken her leg and is now residing in the care center where Julie works. Claudia doesn't want the center to contact her son, but Julie feels he should know what's happened to his mother. So she sends an e-mail, which develops into a correspondence.

The Secret Correspondence is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

All the books in this series have titles that begin with the word secret. So Secret Correspondence was an obvious title for this one. Julie begins writing to Ned in secret, then they keep their correspondence quiet so that Claudia won't know Julie contacted Ned without her consent.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Not too much. There's always something that has to be checked on, even in contemporary books. I searched hotel websites to see what kind of luaus were offered, as I wanted my couple to attend one. I also looked at Hawaiian jewlery online, to see if the type of jewelry I envisioned was available--and it was! I also asked a few questions about CPAs--Ned's occuaption.

What character did you like writing about the most, and why?
I really enjoyed Claudia, the hero's mother. She's an older woman who blossoms during the course of the story, and I enjoyed having her find herself.

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero's shoes?
This is a very difficult question for me, because I'm not a movie person. I can never remember actor's names, either. My hero is a very handsome man, and he has fair hair and gray eyes. Maybe Orlando Bloom? (Yum. I'll go for that! KW) Not exactly how I pictured Ned, but close.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

I don't know if admiration is the same as inspiration... I loved Nora Roberts earlier books. I'm not into the darker, paranormal themes she's been doing more recently, but I loved her category books and her early single titles. I also love Debbie Macomber's books, especially her yarn shop series.

What do we have to look forward to next?

In December, the second book in my Matchmaker Quilt series will be out. The Matchmaker Quilt books follow three sisters as each in turn inherits an heirloom quilt, given to the next woman in the family when she completes her education. Family legend says that the recipient of the quilt will quickly meet her one true love. In Dolphin Dreams, Jade, a marine biologist and dolphin behavorist, is given the quilt and subsequently meets Adam, the son of a hotel tycoon who is looking into buying the hotel where she works. In December, Jade passes the quilt along to her sister Momi (the Hawaiian word for pearl, pronounced "moe-mee") who can't wait to meet the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, the only new man she's met recently seems to be the crusty building supervisor at her apartment house. Yet she and Rick forge a friendship as he fixes her faulty plumbing and teaches her to cook.

Thanks Annette!

Author's website: http://www.annettemahon.com/ (sorry, it's a bit out of date, I'm afraid; that's what happens when you let a relative tend it)

Book may be purchased at any online bookstore or direct from publisher at avalonbooks.com

On-Line Dialog Class

Online class: July 1-15, 2008

"Dynamic Dialogue" by Alicia Rasley

Registration $30 at www.WriterUniv.com/



Dialogue reveals more than what a character is saying -- it reveals who the character is.

In this workshop, learn how to make your dialogue reflect your characters and their conflicts, and your own voice too.



Among the topics addressed will be how to:

* Find your character's voice

* Make dialogue a conversation

* Add conflict to dialogue

* Make it sound natural and authentic

* Use pauses and quote tags for active dialogue

* Make dialogue a true element of both plot and characterization



Alicia Rasley is a RITA-award winning author, college teacher, and nationally known workshop leader. Her book, Point of View and Your Story, is now available from Writer's Digest Books.

The ABCs of Writing Fiction Sections M - P

ABCs of Writing Fiction
Sections M-P
Scroll down the blog to read past lessons.

M – MySpace and Other Networking Sites. I’m not computer literate, so my sister made my MySpace page last August. You can probably find a teenager willing to do yours. During this past year, I have met many wonderful people and I was introduced to promotional opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise found. As a result, I would highly recommend MySpace for promoting your book. You can’t beat the price: zero dollars. I haven’t had time to spend on the other sites, but just from loop chatter, I don’t believe they have as much activity. If you have a contrary opinion, leave a comment about your experience. My only warning is not to take time away from your writing to network. Writing comes first.

When I began my MySpace journey, I realized it wasn’t easy to find “Friends” that might be interested in knowing my book existed. I realized a need and began to fill it. I contacted Romance Readers, Writers, Reviewers, Publishers, Librarians, and Booksellers to collect their live links for other writers and readers. On my personal blog, http://www.suspensebytina.blogspot.com/ there are now 1,000 live links to assist you in collecting your MySpace friends. Simply scroll down the blog to find the links, click on one and it will take you to a MySpace profile page, click on “Friend” or “Add” to ask that person to be your friend. Then go back to the blog for the next link. You need to have a MySpace page to do this.

N ­­– Nora. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to a speaker say, “Don’t head hop your point of view,” and a writer will answer, “Nora Roberts does it all the time.” Nora makes so money for the publisher, she can do whatever she wants. You will also hear many times, “Learn the rules before you break them.” This is good advice. One year, I was judging a major romance contest and it became apparent that breaking the rules can have a negative impact on your book. I saw manuscript pages bogged down with tons of introspection, flashbacks that stood out because they were obviously there to dump back-story, etc. Successful writers learn how to break a rule without the usual negative impact on the story. So, my advice is to stick to the rules until you are a multi-published author with years of experience behind you.

O – Own Your Domain Name. Even if you don’t plan to create a website yet, you should buy your domain name now. There are bound to be other writers, or Internet surfers, with similar names who could take your favorite http://www.com/ if you don’t grab it first. When I Googled my penn name, I discovered there is a former Playboy model who goes by Tina LaVon. I believe she may already have that domain, so I bought SuspensebyTina instead. There are a lot of Tina’s out there, so I was lucky it was still available. I bought mine through Yahoo. I've heard many writers buy theirs at Go Daddy.

P – Plotter vs. Pantser. Which are you? Does it matter? It only matters that you have found a method that works for you, so when you have deadlines you can work quickly enough to meet them. My first manuscript was a pantsing attempt. I meandered, had fun, got rejected (No surprise there) and put it away. With my second, third, and fourth full manuscripts, I plotted the whole thing with colored Post-It Notes and classroom butcher paper I bought from a teaching store. It covered the whole dining room wall. Lots of Fun. I’m visual so every strand in the story was a different color and at a glance, I could tell where I needed to add romance, the villains POV, or character development. The fourth manuscript was Liquid Hypnosis and it sold to The Wild Rose Press. My current manuscript is Desperate Homeowners. I started out as a pantser, hit a wall after chapter three, and had to plot the rest. I believe you need to plot most of a mystery to make sure you scatter the clues for your readers, but don’t let anyone force you into being a plotter, panster, or a mixture. That’s like telling a painter how to create his masterpiece. You have to do what works for you.

Remember to follow your own instincts.
Successful authors write and submit often. So, why are you still reading? Go write!

Interview with Vicki Lewis Thompson

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Vicki Lewis Thompson. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.





I understand you have a new release out called Wild & Hexy. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Wild & Hexy is the second in a series, but don’t freak out if you haven’t read the first one, Over Hexed. You won’t get lost, I promise. Wild & Hexy features a nerd who lost his chance to date the beauty queen during high school, and now has a second chance when she returns to the little town of Big Knob, Indiana, for her sister’s wedding. To make the most of that second chance, he needs a little magic, conveniently provided by a matchmaking witch and wizard. The conservative residents of Big Knob have no idea a witch and wizard live in Big Knob, and they would have a conniption if they found out about the dragon in the forest and the lake monster in the lake!

Wild & Hexy is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

This is officially called the “hex” series, so the titles needed to work that in somehow. I started it off with Over Hexed, and then my editor suggested Wild & Hexy. Her boss came up with the third title, Casual Hex. It’s a fun word game we’re playing. I’m open to suggestions for future books.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Research of the most interesting kind – reading about the traditions of magic. But once I ventured into light paranormal, I realized I had tremendous freedom to make stuff up, which I love doing.

What character did you like writing about the most, and why?

That’s like asking me to choose my favorite child! I loved writing about Annie, because she had to come back to town a former beauty queen who is 20 pounds overweight. Then there’s Jeremy, my computer nerd, and nerds will *always* find a place in my heart. Dorcas and Ambrose, the witch and wizard, are a hoot, but my favorite character is George the dragon, who claims he’s ADD. George is a typical teen, except that he weighs 2,000 pounds and breaths fire. He’s a prankster who loves listening to his iPod and playing Texas Hold ‘Em with the raccoons. How could I not love George?

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero’s shoes?

I’d pick John Krasinski, from The Office, but I also loved him in License to Wed.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Absolutely. When I was in high school, I read Huckleberry Finn and became enamored of Mark Twain’s writing. Then I fell into a big non-fiction hole during college and, later, the diaper-changing years. I finally managed to climb back out and enjoy fiction again when I started reading romance in my – if you can believe it – mid-thirties! I devoured Jayne Ann Krentz, Sandra Brown, Barbara Delinsky, and, of course, Nora Roberts. Susan Elizabeth Phillips is another writer I really admire because she likes to make her readers laugh, which is one of my main goals, too. And I can’t leave out Jennifer Crusie and Janet Evanovich. Lately I’ve become a huge fan of Alexander Smith McCall.

What do we have to look forward next?

I have an anthology coming out from Harlequin in January, 2009, and the third book in the hex series, Casual Hex, will hit the shelves in February, 2009, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Thanks, Vicki!

To celebrate her book release, Vicki is offering a free copy of Wild & Hexy to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (please make sure we have a way to contact you if you win) She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio. New York Times bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompson sold her first book 25 years ago, and it’s been a rollercoaster ride ever since. She’s written more than 90 books for Dell, Harlequin, Bantam, St. Martin’s Press, and NAL in both series romance and single title. Besides being an eight-time RITA nominee, she’s won numerous RWA chapter contests and will receive the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award at RWA’s national conference this summer. Her latest book is WILD & HEXY, out from NAL Onyx June 3.

Check out author’s website at http://www.vickilewisthompson.com/

Buy Wild & Hexy. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Wild-and-Hexy/Vicki-Lewis-Thompson/e/9780451412584/?itm=1