CRACKING THE NUTTY PROFESSOR STEREOTYPE

CRACKING THE NUTTY PROFESSOR STEREOTYPE

(or the nutty Skhye!)

I'd like to thank Kim Watters for asking me about the "nutty professor" crack I always make about myself. Well, she invited me over to CHEAPER THAN THERAPY to talk about something writing related. Of course, I was exhausted and thought lordy I'll never think of a topic. The 3-yr old was sick all week. I had a writing deadline. I was basically braindead and cringed at the anything-you-want-to-talk-about response. But, low and behold, I can go on and on about the nutty professor persona. Whoa. Hang on. I should say nutty professor STEREOTYPE. Allow me a moment while I meditate and center...

First, I would like to point out that professors don't save the day. This character type drives me bonkers. Most professors know one thing. That's it. The term "specialize" is crucial here. Professors paint themselves into a corner and can't see beyond their tunnel vision looking back the way they've come. I know. I'd like to add that I had many worldly professors who had diverse backgrounds. But none of them reminded me of McGyver. Only on TV can you save the world with nothing more than a piece of fishing line. Okay. Okay. I'll give you the movies too.

After digressing on my soapbox, I think it best to talk about what "nutty" refers to when paired off with professor. Nutty equates to obsession. I love rocks. I love old dead things in rocks, i.e. fossils. I love culture. I love cultures lost to time found in layers of sediment, i.e. extinct like old dead things in rocks but trash in dirt. I love antiques. Those are things that are almost lost to time... I love science. I hate math. (I guess I'd fail the planet if an asteroid headed this way since I'd use the wrong formula to divert the destructive mass.) I never cared much for the human body but loved ecology. Stick a finger under the microscope and I was disinterested in biology class. I have no clue why. Mental blocks are crazy things, eh? Since I'm disinterested in the human body, it's odd that I specialized in osteology in bioarchaeology. But I love... See what I mean? Obsession=passion=love=nutty. I still can't save the planet with what I crammed inside my head studying geology and anthropology. And we're talking about the "cross-genre" hard science and soft science choices of my majors. Geology and Anthropology are eclectic in natural and social sciences. Back to the STEREOTYPE, a honey pot expert probably won't be saving earth any time soon. Aren't stereotypes insane? Lordy, I'm on the soapbox again.

Well, besides my crazy list of things most people could care less about but I love, I guess I should explain how my passion for said things makes my writing unique. I started writing my Time Guardian series with a singular idea: why not write about something considered taboo? Yes, I'm always bucking the system. The anthropologically-inclined often do. So, I chose a secret society, Freemasonry. Next, I decided to make my secret society from the future and strictly male. How does one fit that into the romance genre? Well, all you have to do is give these boys a counterpart sect of females and make them intermarry to safeguard something as important as human history. And why not give the lads kilts and swords? Even better, match them with female Druids. And the big question now would be are all Druids in history from the future? Are you one of them and just don't know it yet? Are you about to learn by encountering your one-and-only soul mate? Yes, soul mates protect the timeline by ensuring you will never be happy with any other soul wherever you fall along Time's vast continuum... Well, that's the fun in writing about a time-travel cult. I get to write about many things I enjoy researching and pontificate through the characters I torture (eh, send) along the time line by exposing them to potential paradox. You know, all known history could change in the blink of an eye if someone didn't uphold time-travel law! And if you break the rules, oh well, your author will torture you... I suppose my passion for thinking beyond the here and now is what makes me a nutty professor. I certainly don't carry fishing line. It's much more fun writing fantasy romance. ;)

In the end, talking about penis gourds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis_sheath and medieval pubic wigs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis_sheath is not going to save our planet. Mind you, these objects show the vast extents to which humans go to solve problems--something that fascinates me. Never ask an author who has studied anthropology for years to get people chatting! There will inevitably be an inspirational author or editor present who will be floored by the interesting topics one can sling into a chat room. ;) Although I haven't dropped penis gourds or pubic wigs into any of my tales, I've been told I do leave fascinating tidbits for the curious reader. :) Since I'm a horrible pessimist about my writing, I'll stop here and leave you with some of the reviews I've received. ~Skhye

"Arthur is a masterpiece... a fantastic job of world building. Watching him struggle to retain something of his dragon ways while trying to be as human as possible had me laughing and crying. Anyone who likes fantasy worlds and romance mixed with myth and legend
should run right out and pick this one up." Diane Mason; The Romance Studio

"He of the Fiery Sword is an outstanding book with a new twist on King Arthur. From the very first chapter I was hooked. I am an older woman and usually read books by Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter Carol, so this was a very different kind of book for me. The concept of a dragon changing form and all the new feelings and experiences he had was totally thought provoking. I felt his pain and his joy and I laughed and cried right along with him. It was incredible... It was so good I couldn't stop reading. I can't wait for the next book!"
~Carolyn Cole; reader review from bn.com

"Skhye Moncrief's fiction is pithy, yet deep and dark. Complex, yet straight forward. I know those qualities sound at odds, and they are! But these opposing elements are a large part of what makes her fiction unique. She really knows how to throw a curve ball. Skhye
writes a unique brand of fantasy. A lot of the usual element are present: dragons, loads and loads of mythology, faries, and, yes, magic--her brand of magic." ~Tarah Scott

"EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! I love tony hillerman books and mysteries. A friend recommended 'he of the fiery sword' and i am delighted i ordered it. Don't think it is just another romance. When i settled down with the book, i thought i had the plot figured out within the first few chapters. Well, i was wrong. This story has it all shape-shifters, magic, time travel, celtic legends and myths and the most unusual hero. Just a good read." ~Carole Wright, an avid older reader/review from bn.com

"If you think you have read every possible spin on King Arthur possible, think one more time. He of the Fiery Sword is like none of them. Telling you much more would spoil it, but past and future collide and legends meet in this most ambitious of tales. This is a new legend that is designed for the intelligent and imaginative minds out there." Amanda Killgore

"Ms. Moncrief, you have a clever way with words. You wrote a book that I did not want to see end. I loved your characters and everything about them. I am an older lady, but I love fantasy well created and you sure did it. I have told many of your book and will tell more. I am very well read, from mysteries to Harry Potter and have been for many years. You keep writng and I will keep reading. I am looking forward to your next book. Sincerely, Alice Boling"
~reader review from www.thewildrosepress.com

HE OF THE FIERY SWORD available at http://www.skhyemoncrief.com/Page_5.html

HAUNTED HEARTS contains 2 Time Guardian tales: SACRIFICIAL HEARTS & NAKED ON THE STAIRCASE

"Druids, magic, time travel. They’re all present in NAKED ON THE STAIRCASE. The title of this book intrigued me, but by the time I’d finished reading I understood why the author chose this intriguing title. The entity is a mysterious being whose identity is not solved until the last few pages... Naked on the Staircase is well written with intrigue, mystery, magic and time travel, ingredients that work well in a fantasy novel. The interaction between Aron and Cowboy was excellent and the background of the story was skillfully woven into the book. I enjoyed reading Naked on the Staircase and would like to read more of Skhye Moncrief’s novels." ~Orchid; LASR
"Intense, original, suspenseful, and dramatic... an unpredictable topsy-turvy romance... the suspense builds with every page in SACRIFICIAL HEARTS. In a world where symbols mean everything, magic is the way..." ~Snapdragon; LASR

HAUNTED HEARTS available at http://www.skhyemoncrief.com/Page_5.html

All Skhye's books available in e-format at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/skhye-moncrief-m-232.html

Vow Of Superstition: Dragon's Blood

VOW OF SUPERSTITION: DRAGON'S BLOOD
Skhye's Free Read http://www.thewildrosepress.com/vow-of-superstition-dragons-blood-p-840.html

Share the Magic

I attended a luncheon a few days ago called "Share the Magic", and no, it didn't have anything to do with fantasy. It was all about the harsh realities of the real world and the wonderful people who create true magic.

It was the Arizona Beta Sigma Phis 10th anniversay luncheon against domestic abuse. This is a small group of dedicated women and men who primarily raise funds for several domestic violence shelters and to help those who are victims of domestic abuse. Along with a wonderful lunch, they had silent auctions, a jewelry shop and plenty of raffles to raise funds. They also had the Arizona Swing Kids for entertainment, who sang and danced to tunes through the years. The little ones were adorable as they grabbed people from the audience and danced with them.It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon and support an important cause, and I highly recommend it.

To find out more about AzBSPADA and the programs they support you can visit: http://www.azbspada.org/And to find out more about the Swing Kids you can visit: http://www.theswingkids.org/(Err, the coordinator just happens to share the same name with a past president:)

The Neurotic Writer Becomes a Fortuneteller

Welcome to another episode of
The Neurotic Writer
(Just for laughs)

Suzie Writer enters the office wearing a mauve-colored, floral peasant top with a matching skirt. A collection of heavy, gold necklaces hang at various lengths. Large hoop earrings pull at her lobes.

Therapist: “I see you’re no longer playing Zelda, Queen of the Other Realm. Who are you today, Suzie? Yelda, Queen of the Gypsies?” She quickly places her fingers over her lips, obviously regretting the slip of sarcasm.

Suzie Writer: “Close. Lady Mystic Millicent. My heroine in my paranormal novel, the one dating the werewolf, is a fortuneteller.”

Therapist: “So, you’re getting into character again?”

Suzie Writer: “Correct. I’m also doing research.”

Therapist: “Let me guess. You’re learning to read palms on the Internet and practicing on the werewolf you’re dating. Does his hairy palm pose a problem?”

Suzie Writer: “Been there, done that. It was too cliché. I needed a twist for my novel. Instead of reading palms, I read eyes.”

Therapist: “What?”

Suzie Writer: “I read eyes. I even hung a sign outside my door. I had my first client this morning. I’ll show you. Lean close.” She gazes into the therapist’s ocean-blue eyes. “In a past life you liked to swim. You tried to swim the English Channel and drowned. They never found your body. But don’t worry. In this life you have a guardian angel who keeps you from drowning in the English Channel again.”

Therapist: “What?! You can’t read eyes. I’ve never had any reason to go near the Channel.”

Suzie Writer: “See. He’s already doing his job. Besides, I never said I could really read eyes. I said I hung out a sign that said I could.”

Therapist: “You’re deceiving people.”

Suzie Writer: “I’m listening to them tell me their problems and then giving them a shred of hope for the future. Isn’t that what you do, doc?” She winks and then stands. “I’ll bring you a signed copy of my book when it’s released.”

Have a great week,

Tina LaVon and

The Neurotic Writer

Knight Agency Contest

The Knight Agency is holding a Book in a Nutshell Contest Submit three compelling sentences (150 words max) about your completed, unpublished manuscript to _submissions@submissions@sub_ (mailto:submissions@...) Write BOOK IN A NUTSHELL in the subject line or it will not be deemed eligible. One submission per project, please. Twenty of the best submissions will be
chosen and requested by various agents who will then give feedback on your work...and it may even lead to possible representation. Hurry, the deadline is April 20, 2009. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2009. For more info, go to
_http://tinyurl.http://tin_ (http://tinyurl.com/cnfe9d)

Interview with Natale Stenzel

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Natale Stenzel. 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 having me back, Kim! And I *always* revisit places that serve plentiful chocolate. I'm shameless that way. (You're more than welcome. Thanks for coming back)

I understand you have a new release out called Between a Rock and a Heart Place (Dorchester ~ March 2009). Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Hey, if you're going to twist my arm . . .*g*. Sure. This is actually the third book in my series of funny paranormal romances featuring sexy, shape-shifting pucas, unexpected Druids, temperamental faeries, and even a flabbergasted human or two. The first book, PANDORA'S BOX, was released in February 2008, and the second book, THE DRUID MADE ME DO IT, was an August 2008 release. With this third book, BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HEART PLACE (Dorchester Love Spell ~ March 2009), we meet another kind of magical being in my enigmatic hero, Tremayne, a powerful nature spirit. His job is simple and yet enormously complicated. For two thousand years, he silently served as jailer to Riordan, the puca from PANDORA'S BOX; then we met Tremayne and wondered about him in THE DRUID MADE ME DO IT. In BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HEART PLACE, the Druids again call Tremayne into service, this time to keep a watchful -- possibly dangerously so -- eye over my heroine Daphne Forbes.

As an only child of feuding and exiled Druids -- the dethroned king and queen of the weirdo cult, in her opinion -- all Daphne wants is to start a new life far away from them. She wants to work and live among normal people who live in blissful ignorance of the existence of magic-wielding types like Druids, pucas and faeries. At long last, she has that new accounting job, that sleek new apartment, that new and utterly normal life lined up and waiting for her all the way on the other side of the country. Of course, this all blows up in her face. A stray thunk with no ordinary cornerstone and suddenly Daphne's a non-practicing but hereditary Druid wielding puca powers and trying to suppress a lifetime's worth of rage. The Druids won't let her leave town now that she's wielding undisciplined shape-shifting and mind-control powers -- a virtual powder keg just waiting for a stray spark to incite flaming chaos. That brings us to Tremayne. He's charged with helping Daphne learn how to control her powers or, failing that, *destroying* her in order to protect everyone else. This could prove difficult since he's been fascinated with Daphne for months now. Makes for a bit of a rocky romance, I guess you could say.

Sounds like it. You said Between a Rock and a Heart Place is actually the third book in a series. How are these books connected?

Although many of the same characters show up in each book and they all share the same story world, there's a different romantic couple and different conflict for each story. We're talking magical beings secretly walking among humans in the contemporary real world of Richmond, Virginia. Each book stands alone, but I'm told the experience is richer if you read them in order.

Why did you write a series and what are some of the challenges of writing books in a series?

Why? Heh. That's a good question. I honestly didn't know I was writing a series until I finished the first book on a perfect hook to start another book. It's addictive, too, I swear. When you create a world and fall in love with it, you like to stick around and explore it for a while, elaborate on it, and maybe rock it every once in a while*g*. Challenges? Oh, it's very easy to write yourself in a corner with these books if, like me, you hate to plot everything out in advance. Once that first book is printed, then you've already placed limitations on the next book. Character histories, timelines, relationships. You have to maintain consistency in the next book, and it, too, will elaborate on those same histories and timelines and relationships, which limits your options further with any subsequent book. Specific to the paranormal subgenre, I've learned not to use absolutes when defining magical laws. I never know when I might need to get around a law I've created, so I leave the means for a loophole later if I need it. That's not terribly difficult; a world based only on absolutes would be too simple to be believable. Our real world is full of loopholes and exceptions. It makes sense to me that any world I create should also be riddled with them.

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

Oh, man, that's tough. Obviously, I love all my characters or I wouldn't write about them. I admit I find it easy to identify with Daphne's story arc -- was rooting for her even before I started writing the story -- and it was a lot of fun watching her learn how to wield unfamiliar magic and grow into her own power. Still, if I had to pick just one character from this book, I guess I'd have to go with Tremayne, my hero. He really broke my heart in this story. He's so strong -- his powers so intimidating -- and yet he can be so vulnerable. He's a magical being who's lived in impossible conditions for thousands of years but now he's facing the challenge of his vast lifetime. He's learning to be human and learning what it means to love and be loved. His approach to these is so painfully direct and honest . . . and then he's willing to give up everything he's gained, purely out of this new and wonderful love for Daphne. The guy's internal growth is enormous. I think he really earns his happy ending.

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

That's actually a complicated question*g*. You see, the hardest part about writing this book was also the easiest part. The ending. I had a completely different ending in mind when I first sketched up my synopsis for Between a Rock and a Heart Place, but when I sat down to actually write the story and worked my way to that last chapter or two . . . well, a radically different ending sort of wrote itself in a heated rush. It was an ether-to-fingertip-to-screen process -- seeming to bypass the brain (and internal editor) entirely. The ending was a risk for me but was so natural, the progression so organic, that for me, the story couldn't have concluded any other way. Clues and details setting up the ending were already planted early in the story -- just the subconscious doing my work for me, I guess. The hard part, I think, was convincing myself to have confidence in that ending. I sent it to my editor and immediately panicked*g*. Guess it was okay, though, since nobody asked me to change it. I love it now.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

Honestly? I blog and try to maintain an online presence with my website and Myspace and Facebook, but I don't know if any promotion I do has any direct effect on sales. I do believe, however, that each book I write helps to sell more copies of its predecessor. So, in a nutshell: writing another book.

What's next for you?

I have a hard time discussing projects while I'm working on them, but I will say that I'm still strongly drawn to paranormals and have some fun contemporary romance projects that are intriguing me at the moment.

Thanks, Natale!

To celebrate her book release, Natale is offering a free book to one lucky commenter on today's blog. The winner can choose one of the two prequels to Between a Rock and a Heart Place: either Pandora's Box or The Druid Made Me Do It. She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio.

An avid reader and an incurable writer, Natale Stenzel has sold seven books for publication so far. The latest three are a series of funny paranormal romances published by Dorchester Love Spell. PANDORA'S BOX, the first book in the series, was released in February 2008; THE DRUID MADE ME DO IT was an August 2008 release; and a third book, BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HEART PLACE, a March 2009 release, is on bookstore shelves now. Prior to the paranormal romance series, she wrote four books for Harlequin's now defunct Flipside line of romantic comedies.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Natale earned degrees in English literature and magazine journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Currently, she resides in Richmond, Virginia, with a husband, two kids and a shamefully spoiled hound.

Check out author’s website at www.NataleStenzel.com.

Buy at:
Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Between-a-Rock-and-a-Heart-Place/Natale-Stenzel/e/9780505527837/?itm=1

Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9780505527837?id=4311019083304

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Between-Heart-Place-Natale-Stenzel/dp/0505527839/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238442390&sr=8-2
Borders: http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0505527839

Book Trailers - Fad or Future Advertising Tool?

As an author I’m always looking for new ways to promote my books. Book video trailers always caught my attention. They’re very much like a movie trailer, and like movies, books have a story to convey. With movie trailers having been around for years, it’s only logical that books would eventually follow suit. I truly believe with the tremendous growth of multi-media, book video trailers or commercials are not only here to stay, but will continue to thrive. Like a cover, a book preview is an enticement for a reader to think about purchasing an author’s book, and also just like a cover, a preview can be deterrent to a reader. So be careful what you put up on the internet as a visual promotional tool.

A good book preview runs for approximately one minute. If you have something two minutes or longer, you have a good chance of losing your audience. As authors we know just how important words are and nothing changes when it comes to a book preview. Actually, they’re even more important because you have less than a minute to catch a potential customer’s interest. Make sure your audience can also read the text with ease. We sometimes forget just how fast we read as writers.

The best trailers have a mixture of different visuals. Special effects, live action shots, voiceovers and still images can all add to a powerful book preview, and it doesn’t have to cost an excessive amount of money. Sometimes a simple, tasteful trailer can be even more effective than an expensive, detailed and highly technical one. One picture can have numerous scenarios imprinted into a person’s mind. They are visual works of art.

Advantages:

Attracting a younger audience.
Attracting a different audience.
With the right trailer, a buzz can start before your book is even out.
Generates more traffic to your web site.

Disadvantages:

A bad trailer can detract and lose sales.
The cost of investing in a trailer.
The time involved in doing it yourself.

I’d played around with doing trailers for a while with my own books, but then when author, Linda Andrews, asked if I would do two for her books, A Knight’s Tale and Dancing in the Kitchen, I decided to become serious about learning how to put a trailer together. After all, this wasn’t for me but someone who was counting on my ability to promote her work. I quickly found out how thoroughly enjoyable and hard they are to make and that like a full-length story, trailers have to have an emotional hook. With the right trailer, they’re a wonderful tool to promote your book. But unlike a two hour movie, a person doesn’t have time for a whole lot of pop corn to watch a book preview!

Can a book preview generate more sales for an author? The statistics aren’t out yet, but when you watch a movie trailer that moves you, makes you smile or makes you become deeply emotional in a matter of seconds, are you more likely to watch that movie?

I know I am.

I thought I’d share my latest book preview for Addiction written under my pen name of Lynne Logan.

For more information on Bella Entertainment, you can visit our web site.


Carol Webb

Boot Camp For Novelists Online Workshop-April

UPCOMING APRIL COURSES
4/5 to 5/2



BASIC TRACK
SPARKLING DIALOGUE
(Connie Flynn)

Most novelists figure dialogue is the easy part of writing. After all, we know how to talk, don't we? But flat dialogue can be worse than flat narrative. In WRITING ENGAGING DIALOGUE we'll learn, among other things, how dialogue moves the story, how to keep characters from all sounding alike, how to move smoothly from dialogue to narrative, and how to make ordinary dialogue jump off the page. Topics include:

* Using dialogue to move the plot
* How he thinks is how he speaks
* Techniques for making dialogue snap
* Getting narrative in edgewise

Questions? Email Connie: bootcamp4novelists@cox.net.


POLISH TRACK
DEEPENING CHARACTER
(Linda Style)

Rejection proof your manuscript by creating memorable characters that stay with readers long after they've closed the last page. This is what every author strives to do, but of all the novels out there, very few actually succeed in the way we'd like them to. Creating memorable characters isn't simply a matter of giving your hero and heroine interesting traits that make them unique, or giving them flaws that make them human. That's only the beginning. There's so much more to it, and that's what you'll learn in DEEPENING CHARACTER. You'll learn how to find your character's "vital force," the art of "transformation" and how it works with his character arc. Learn what you can do to make your characters memorable and your manuscript rejection proof.

* Vital Force
* Character Arc
* Values/beliefs
* Dynamic Conflict

Questions? Email Linda: bootcamp4novelists2@yahoo.com

FEE: $22/course
Check us out and enroll on our website. Again, the start date is April 5. http://bootcampfornovelists.com/