Mariposa's Musings

How do you cope with set-backs? Jannine Gallant You have to develop a thick skin to be a writer. Rejection letters are a given. So are sales so low you wonder why you even bother. I take a breath and get back to work. You can’t sell books if you don’t write them. Knowing I’ve created stories that received great reviews makes me want to write another one. I keep telling myself that the next book is going to be the big seller. Think positive! Find Jannine here: http://www.janninegallant.com/ C.R. Moss My level on how well I deal—let it roll off, get angry, get down, etc.—depends upon the set-back, but I usually have a good talk with my author friends and/or hubby who help me to find solutions and feel better about what’s going on. Find C.R. Moss here: www.crmoss.net Mariposa Cruz One thing that helps me keep perspective is realizing that having to cope with a set-back is better than doing nothing at all. While doing nothing is “failure-free” it is also incredibly boring. Even...

I’m pleased to welcome Lynda Bailey, one of my fellow Sierra Romance Writers. What inspired you to become a writer? Guess you could say I wasn’t so much “inspired” to be a writer as desperate to get all the freakin’ stories and characters outta my head. They just kept clamoring at my skull until I got ‘em down on paper. LOL Who are your favorite romance characters (besides your own?) Without a doubt, Houston, Dallas and Austin Leigh from Lorraine Heath’s Texas trilogy. Loooooove those guys! They’re hard, but with a soft spot in their hearts for the women in their lives. If you’ve never read Lorraine Heath, you should. She’s an amazing storyteller who’ll make you laugh and cry –probably in the same paragraph. Tell me what inspired this story. Interesting story there. It was first inspired by the name of a repo business called, Accounts Retrievable. The business has long since closed, but the name got me thinking. What about a story about a woman who owns a repo business? A...

What is a “must-have” for a writer’s bookshelf? C.R. Moss I have a few… A good dictionary and thesaurus (for the basics); The Romance Writers’ Phrase Book The Millennium Phrase Book for Romance Writers (for creative inspiration); The Writer’s Journey (for story structure/inspiration) Find C.R. Moss here: www.crmoss.net Jannine Gallant: Sitting on my desk in all its tattered glory, is my thesaurus. The cover is missing, pages are loose, but I wouldn’t replace it for the world. It’s my faithful companion, a gift from a college friend years and years ago. When I’m staring at my keyboard, trying to find that perfect word, it always has the answer! Find Jannine Gallant here: http://www.janninegallant.com/ Mariposa Cruz: I highly recommend Carol Lloyd’s Creating a Life Worth Living to anyone who aspires to life in the arts. Rather than advising people to quit their day jobs, Lloyd coaches on how to find a career supportive of a creative path and find a balance between inspirat...

What inspired you to become a writer? ~ I don’t think any one thing inspired me to become a writer. I think being a writer was what I was destined to do. Writing’s been a part of me for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, I made up stories to keep myself entertained. Then when I was in middle school and received an A in English that’s when I realized that writing was the path I was truly meant to be on. Who are your favorite romance characters (besides your own?) ~ Oooh, good question! The first story and characters that came to mind was ‘Remembrance’ by Jude Deveraux. That story, when I read it the first time, enthralled me. Loved the theme of reincarnation and how the characters were meant to be together in each life time. ‘ Sunset Desires ’ ~ Tell me what inspired this story. ~ Three things had the creative juices flowing when I was writing this story. The first was developing the story for a particular line. The next was remembering a beautiful sunny day I s...

Old Man Winter finally decided to visit Reno. There’s nothing better on a chilly winter evening, than hot-buttered popcorn and a classic fright flick. Five strangers are invited to a haunted house party thrown by millionaire, Frederick Loren and his fourth wife, Anabelle. The only thing the five have in common is a desperate need for money. Each member of the party who survives the night will receive $10,000. The house is reputed to be haunted by spirits of those who were murdered there. For “party favors” Loren gives a loaded gun to each of his guests. But can mere bullets offer protection against murderous spirits? Vincent Price’s performance alone makes this film worth watching. He infuses a sense of menacing grace to millionaire, Frederick Loren. The film features another notable icon. A national landmark, the Ennis House , designed by Frank Lloyd Wright makes a cameo appearance as the exterior of the haunted house. Even with the usual features of a haunted mansion (...

What is the best writing advice you ever received? Jannine Gallant This wasn’t advice, but something I learned that I hope will benefit others. Quite a few years ago, I went shopping online for an agent, sending out dozens of query letters. After being ignored or rejected too many times to count, I was thrilled to receive acceptance from a company who only wanted to b e reimbursed for the cost of copying and mailing my manuscript to publishers. The amount they were asking for was reasonable, so I sent them off a check and waited for the contract offers to start pouring in! After a year and a half (with intermittent contact saying these things take time) I discovered the whole company was a huge scam. Sure I lost money, but I also lost valuable time. Before you sign with anyone (agent or publisher), make sure you check them out thoroughly. An hour or two of your time could save you a lot of heartache. Predators and Editors is a great site to start your search. Find Jannine Gal...

Candace Bushnell did it with New York City in One Fifth Avenue. Pat Conroy did it with Charleston in South of Broad. Both novels are love letters to their respective cities. Though extremely different in style, both authors convey a sense of place so strong that the setting becomes another character. Their readers can wander the streets like a native even if they never set foot within the city limits. I fell in love with my adopted hometown while listening to a cowboy ballad under an Old West sunset. As the final guitar chords faded, this lifelong California girl realized Reno could also be home. How can you make readers fall in love with your beloved places?