Friday, May 30, 2014

INTERVIEW WITH THE WORKING WRITER'S COACH, SUZANNE LIEURANCE


       Suzanne:  Tell us about your background and how you became a writer/author.  
     Joyce: I WRITE Romantic Suspense, Cozy Mysteries and  women’s fiction for Tirgearr Publishing. I served as editor for a business school newspaper before embarking upon a career with American Airlines.  

   I’ve authored seven Romance novels, three, THE HIDDEN JOURNAL, BROKEN PROMSES, and DON’T DANCE ON MY HEART are currently available on Amazon.

      My short stories have been published in four anthologies. I’m an active member of the Las Vegas Romance Writer’s, a Chapter of the Romance Writers of America, The Las Vegas Valley Writers, and The Henderson Writer’s Group. I give presentations on writing, host both a critique group and a creative writing class, and write articles for a community newspaper.

       I was raised in a very small Ohio town and through my husband’s employment, we were transferred eight times. I pull on the different experiences in the many places we settled. I write my romance novels located in small communities. I began writing short stories for a Write and Read Workshop. My fellow writers encouraged me to expand one of my stories and then I was hooked. Creating a story with twists and turns is exciting.

   Suzanne: What is the title of the book you wish to talk about today?  
Joyce: THE HIDDEN JOURNAL.
Suzanne:  Please give a short summary.

 

    Joyce: THE HIDDEN JOURNAL is about a widowed woman from an abusive marriage who grows and changes. Jenna Mitchell relocates from Chicago to the small community of Crestridge, Kentucky. A designer of greeting cards, logos and advertising copy, she works from home on her computer. Due to the economy, she loses most of her income and is forced to take job in a local Antique shop and eventually buys the business. Her life is interrupted when she finds a journal written by a deceased doctor who exposes secrets that devastate the man she plans to marry.

Suzanne: What was the most difficult part of writing this book - and/or becoming a published author?  
Joyce: FOR ME, IT’S ELIMINATING THE SIDE STORIES AND
CONDENSING THE BOOK INTO EBOOK FORM. I tend to want to tell
everything about everyone.

 Suzanne:What do you enjoy most about being a published author?   
Joyce: THE STAFF AT TIRGEARR PUBLISHING and their group of authors. I have never worked with a more helpful, supportive group. They assist in marketing and keep everyone informed about the latest trends through newsletters. They network on facebook and advertise each other author’s new books. Also, they provide contests and special offers. They are a great group and I feel as if I’ve made life-long friends.

  Suzanne: What is a typical writing day like for you?   
 Joyce: ALTHOUGH I’M NOT AN EARLY RISER, I write in the mornings. I use a
   Dragon program to write my first draft and then edit-edit-edit. I spend an hour a day  
   doing promotion and networking on LinkedIn and facebook, and, of  
   course, marketing.

 Suzanne: What are you working on now?   
 Joyce: I’M WAITING FOR EDITS for MISPLACED, a book due out July 15, 
 and my current writing project is, HE’S SO DEAD. Both books are romantic suspense, but not horror. I’ve ALSO written a series that I need to polish before I submit it to the publishers.

 Suzanne: What is your best tip for aspiring authors?   READ. READ. READ. Read everthing. Don’t stick to the genre’ you write, but expose yourself to the latest trends. Join or create a support group. Aside from belonging to writing groups, I also co-host a readers group at one of the Las Vegas Libraries. Network with other writers and critique groups. Preparing for presentations on writing gives me the opportunity to do research. I give talks at library’s, writing groups and I’ve even addressed a sewing group and a charity based organization.

      I hope your listeners will visit my fan page for more information on my books. www.facebook.com/joycewritesromance

 Suzanne: Joyce, thank you for your time. I'll post the information about your book on my web site.

The Working Writer's Coach
www.workingwriterscoach.com   Get my free 5-module e-course, Jumpstart Your Freelance Writing Career!

 

 

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Drama in a Small Town: GET/GOT

Drama in a Small Town: GET/GOT: One of my pet peeves is the use of the words, get and got. I am especially annoyed when I read, "I've got to go." I have got, ...

GET/GOT

One of my pet peeves is the use of the words, get and got. I am especially annoyed when I read, "I've got to go." I have got, really? Just leave, already. There are many replacement words for get and got.
Get rid of.. dispose of.
Get away...leave, go, escape.
Don't get so...don't become.
Get over it...let it go.
I got a new car...I purchased, bought.
You'll get past it...You'll survive or overcome.
We'll get together at lunch...We'll meet.
Replacement words are endless.
Acquire
Catch
Develop
Obtain
Find
Procure
Annex
Grasp
 The point is, when you use a contraction such as I'VE, it means I have. I have got doesn't make sense. Either you have it or you don't.
What are your thoughts on this?

When I edit my manuscripts, I keep a list of synonyms available. Not to make my words sound stilted, but to keep from repeating verbs. I have dozens of replacements for common words like walk, talk, put, looked, thought, remembered, etc. It helps to keep my voice fresh and my words from becoming redundant.

Reach me @brennanwrites on twitter. My fan page: https://www.facebook.com/joycewritesromance
or leave a comment on this page
You can purchase my latest ebook, The Hidden Journal on Amazon.

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