My Writing Process

Albert Anker's painting courtesy of Wikimedia

My writer friend, Antonia van Zandt has tagged me to participate in this writer's blog. "Just answer a few questions about writing," she said. "How hard can it be?" I think I'm about to find out. Anyhow, here goes

1. What am I working on? 

As usual, I have about ten partially finished manuscripts on my computer. I've just completed the fourth part of my Anton and Lenora historical series, a novella tentatively called Willow and it's sitting fallow at the moment until I pick it up again for a good going over. Next up is a romantic comedy about a soap star of a certain age whose character has been killed off. Georgette, the main character, is very dramatic and she's been after me to finish her story. Beyond that, I have two more novellas to write for Anton and Lenora before I bring their adventures to a finish, a more serious novel about a red cross worker who goes to Afghanistan, and a book about ski racing that features Creech, a secondary character in Dancing in the White Room. I'm also playing with a kind of magical realism story called "The Orchard". There's more, but those ought to keep me busy for the next decade or so. :)

2. How does my work differ from others in its genre?

I write across several genres, including historical, women's fiction, and romance. All of them are character driven, I believe that strong and interesting characters are at the heart of any good story. I also pay a lot of attention to things like tone and metaphor, description and emotional resonance. I think this is because my love of words began with poetry--and you'll find some of those 'poetic' elements in my work. 

3. Why do I write what I do?

I write romance because I love love. I'm a romantic at heart. Women's fiction comes out of a love of the genre, I like stories about strong women who overcome, and more often than not, these are the characters I write about.

4. How does my writing process work? 

The most unusual thing about how I write, I guess, is that I write all my first drafts out long hand. It's not the most efficient way to work, but there are a couple of key advantages. First off, there's something to the physical act of writing that connects me to the page and helps me get the tone and feel of my characters and their stories. And secondly, it forces me to rewrite every word into the computer, so that, when I have a 'computer draft' finished, it's in better shape than it would be if I wrote directly to my lap top. 

As Part of this hop, I've tagged three more writers. The fab three I've tagged are 'housemates' of sorts, they, like me, are authors who have been published by Champagne Books. I hope you'll check them out, as well as the other great books over at Champagne.

Elizabeth Fountain left a demanding job as a university administrator in Seattle to move to the small town of Ellensburg, Washington, and pursue her dream of writing novels.  She started writing in grade school; fortunately, most of her tortured high school poetry and song lyrics are lost to posterity. Her first book, An Alien’s Guide to World Domination, is a tale of people, aliens, and dogs who face the impossible, and do it anyway.  Now Liz has three more novels in progress, including You, Jane, which will be published by Champagne Book Group in June, 2014. She takes breaks from writing to teach university courses, spend time with family and friends, and take long walks while leaning into the diabolical Kittitas Valley wind. Liz strives to live according to a line from British singer-songwriter Chris Rea: “Every day, good luck comes in the strangest of ways.” Read more of her work atlizfountain.wordpress.com

Buy links:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00B0I5RM2

BURST! - http://burstbooks.ca/manufacturer.php?id_manufacturer=28

Kenneth D. Schultz is the author of the science fiction novel Truth-Teller Rebellion and its sequel, Truth-Teller Revenge, which has a November release date. Since childhood Ken’s loved writing and science. After a successful career in finance, he started to write again. Now he brings characters and worlds to life on a daily basis. Ken lives in the quaint fishing village of Poulsbo, on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula with his wife Teresa, Vizsla Ruby, and Pomeranian emergency back-up dog Otto.

He  blogs at www.kennethdschultz.wordpress.com

Stephanie Joyce Cole lived for decades in Alaska.  She and her husband recently relocated to Seattle, where they reside with a predatory but lovable tailless Manx cat named Bruno. Stephanie has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. When she's not writing, she's hiking, creating ceramics, practicing yoga, traveling, volunteering and discovering new ways to have fun--and oh yes, reading, reading, reading. 

Find her at her website--www.stephaniejoycecole.com
And her blog-http://www.stephaniejoycecole.com/blog

Her book, Compass North can be purchased at Amazon  


On a side note, The All Things Returned blog tour starts today with a spotlight at Melissa Keir's blog

All Things Returned Blog Tour

I'm taking the latest installment of  Anton and Lenora on tour!The lovely Krista Ames at Bridging the Gap has extended the tour, so there'll be lots of opportunities to join me at some of the stops along the way for fun and prizes.

April 14-25

 14  Melissa Keir 

 15  A Passion for Romance

 16  Fiction Witches  

 17  Mary's Cup of Tea  

 18  Harlie's Books  

 18  Roast and Toast party

 19  Gemini Girls
 20  Brooke Blogs 

 21  Romancing the Pen Today
 21  Margo Bond Collins  

 22  Room with Books 

 23  Reviews by Crystal
 24  London Scribbles
 25  Fall into Reading Reviews 

Party at The Romance Studios

I'm having a great time over at the Romance Studios release party today. Hope you'll come and join me!
http://trsparties.com/
http://trsparties.com/2014/04/12/all-things-returned-excerpt/
http://trsparties.com/2014/04/12/welcome-to-the-party-5/

Another Peek at All Things Returned.

Here's another brief excerpt from All Things Returned the third part of the Anton and Lenora historical series

On that last night before his sailing, as we lay together, Anton kissed the place above my navel and moved his lips to the valley between my breasts. “You are my whole heart.” His voice was as tender as his kisses. “I would sooner die than let harm come to you.”

I ran my hands through his dark hair, made unruly by our lovemaking, and he came to me with such care, whispering his love into my ear. And then passion got the better of us and the urgency of love overtook us like a wave.

I awoke in the darkness to find the sheets on Anton’s side of our bed cool. I called his name, softly at first then more stridently when I got no answer. Getting no answer still, I pulled on my  dressing gown and went to the window. There, I spied him at the back gate of our garden.

Moonlight shone upon him, and had I not known him to be flesh and blood I would have counted him as an apparition, standing there staring out at the sea.

I went to him, the grass wet and cool against the soles of my bare feet. In a moment, he knew my presence though I had not uttered a word. He held out his hand to me and together we stood watching the moon reflect on the silent water below us.

You can find out more about the novella here

And you can buy a copy here

On a side note, the second part of this series, To the Wind, has been nominated for a RONE as best historical novella. Reader participation counts! And you can vote HERE

#SneakPeekSunday--All Things Returned releases tomorrow

It's nearly here! Tomorrow is the day All Things Returned, part three of the Anton and Lenora historical series, comes out to meet the world.
I hope you'll enjoy it and it's companions, Sweet Lenora and To the Wind.

Meantime, here's a sneak preview of the beginning of the story--

Anton pulled off his cravat for the second time. “Foolish speck of clothing—like to choke the life out of a man.”

He fumbled with it until I took the scrap of silk and tied it around his neck, sealing my action with a kiss. “You should try wearing a corset.”

“I think we should pull off all of these confounded garments and run about like babes in Eden,” he said, nuzzling my neck.

I dearly would have liked to take his suggestion. “We have to attend. For our own sakes and for Edward’s.”

For a more extensive peak, please Click Here

There's more on All Things Returned Here

And more on Anton and Lenora Here

All Things Returned Playlist

I listen to music when I write to help bring me to the mood and tone of a book. Here's some of my playlist for All Things Returned. You can click on each selection to hear it on you tube.





All Things Returned Playlist

• After the Storm
• Mumford and Sons


• The Pirate of Penance
• Joni Mitchell


• I Gave You All
• Mumford and Sons


• Gold
• Steve Kazee (Once)
• 
  
• The Ghosts that we Knew
• Mumford and Sons

   An old acquaintance threatens more than simply ruining the happy life Anton and Lenora have built together.

All Things Returned releases on April 7. 

#BookTrailer: All Things Returned

All Things Returned, part three of the Anton and Lenora series, comes out on April 7.
Here's the brand new trailer for the book--

Anton and Lenora Boudreaux have settled into an idyllic cottage overlooking San Francisco Bay. They’ve left trouble behind them and found happily ever after—family, friends, and a business that has every expectation of being successful. Until the Willow sails into port.

The captain of Willow, Jacob Lowell, is privy to secrets that threaten Lenora’s reputation and Anton’s life. When Anton sails to Seattle on a business enterprise, Jacob tries to blackmail Lenora, threatening to expose all he knows and forcing her to make decisions that will test her love of Anton and her life with him.

Afterglow Playlist

I like to listen to music while writing and I make a playlist for each of my books as I write it.
Since Afterglow is up for votes as a RONE nominee in the best contemporary, I'd like to share a few of the songs from the playlist, along with a link to where you can give a listen.
You can vote for Afterglow in the reader poll HERE

Feel a Whole Lot Better--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

If You Want Me--Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard (Once)

Irreplaceable--Beyonce

Stolen Car--Bruce Springsteen

Gone Gone Gone--The Everly Brothers

When Love Takes Over--David Guetta and Kelly Rowland

Silly Habits--Janice Ian

My Love Will Not Let You Down--Bruce Springsteen

Five Stars for To the Wind!

To the Wind received a five star rating from Reader's Favorite!

"As in the first novel, Sweet Lenora (Dark Heroes), Ute Carbone captures the reader's interest immediately with an adventurous, emotional tale of a sailor's life on the sea as they follow orders from bosses within the trade business of the California gold rush era. It also tells of incredible love, heartfelt compassion, and the pure admiration a young couple can have for one another. Ute Carbone's To the Wind has a bit of everything in it, making it appealing to many types of readers. It is a short story written so skillfully and descriptively it is as though you are watching a movie screen rather than reading a book." Michelle Robertson for Reader's Favorite Reviews

Read the entire Review HERE

To the Wind The Journey Continues In this sequel to Sweet Lenora, Anton and Lenora sail away from trouble in Rio de Janeiro only to encounter new problems. With only half a crew and a first mate that is hated and feared, they venture to San Francisco plagued by threats, mutiny,and illness. As they arrive at their destination, the ghosts of the past come back to haunt them and may prove to be the greatest menace of all. At each turn, the love they have forged is tested. Will it prevail?    Available at: Amazon Champagne Books Kobo Read more about the book on the To the Wind site To the Wind has been nominated for a RONE as best historical novella. Reader voting is in a few weeks Meantime, Reader voting for Afterglow, in the best contemporary (general) category is going on all this week. You can vote HERE

#Snippet Afterglow--Mitch and India

Update! Reader voting for best contemporary, the category in which Afterglow was nominated, begins March 17  and runs through March 23.

You can vote HERE

Because Afterglow was nominated for a RONE award this week, I've gone back and dug out one of my favorite snips from the story. Mitch and India have become friends--and maybe, just maybe, Mitch is looking for more


Here's the snippet--

“How’s Allie?” Mitch asked the next day when I went to pick up more shoes.

“Hurt. Angry.”

“I told her it was hard. I was pretty upset when my parents

split.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“And you get over it. I was totally annihilated when my

marriage split, but I got past it. It’s been two years now.”

“You were married? And divorced?”

Mitch nodded as he opened the door to his storage room. “Yup. You’re in good company. I know what it’s like to be the walking wounded.”

“What other secrets are you keeping from us, Dr. Tinker?”

Mitch turned on the light and stood holding the pull string. “Not that many,” he said softly. “No more than your average guy. If you stick around, I’ll share a few with you.” He smiled, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes, concern maybe, or longing. It matched my feelings and that made me a little uncomfortable.

“Like what, for instance?” I said, wanting to melt the discomfort away. It worked. The smile rose into his eyes .

 “I’ll tell one if you will,” he said.

“I like gravy on my French fries,” I said.

“Yummy. I sing along with my iPod when I’m alone.”

 “What kind of music?”

“Springsteen, mostly. No fair, that’s two. You owe me one.”

“The River is one of my favorite albums.”

“And?” he raised his eyebrows, waiting.

“Okay. I really like to finger paint. And sometimes after school I paint at a kid’s art easel.”

“Landscapes or portraits?”

“Portraits mostly. Your turn.”

“I still watch Scooby Doo.”

“Hallmark commercials make me cry.”

“I had a huge crush on you when I was ten.” The room went very still and we stood there staring at each other. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s fine. You’re not ten anymore. Heck, I’m not thirty anymore.”

“I have changed considerably. You haven’t. Not really. Not that much.” He turned towards the shoes. “So, how many boxes do you think your trunk can hold?”

Find out more about Afterglow HERE

Five Stars for Sweet Lenora!

Sweet Lenora has received a five star rating from Reader's Favorite!

"With love at first sight, forbidden love, adventures on the ocean and in distant lands, unexpected events, characters that are unforgettable, the reader will enjoy a riveting story. The love story is one that piques the interest of most novel readers. Most readers can only fantasize about this kind of relationship and are thus drawn to it. Ute Carbone has skillfully captured readers' hearts, souls and minds through her emotional story telling."
Read the entire review HERE

Lenora Brewer’s family owns the largest shipyard in Salem Massachusetts and Lenora, as her father’s only living child, is given free rein to learn the business. When Lenora’s father is killed in a carriage accident, her relatives arrange a marriage to a wealthy investor who is rumored to have beaten his first wife to death.

            Lenora devises a scheme to stowaway on The Sweet Lenora, a ship named for her.  

The last thing Anton Boudreaux needs is a naïve young woman stowing away on his ship. The dark and daring captain has secrets of his own to protect.

            When Sweet Lenora encounters a dangerous storm off the coast of Brazil, Lenora and Anton find in each other the courage and tenacity to brave the elements. As their love for one another grows it becomes a force to be reckoned with—and it will be sorely tested.

Buy a copy of Sweet Lenora at :

Amazon

Champagne Books

BookStrand

ARe

Valentine's Blog Hop #CBG

Have you bought your chocolates yet? It's nearly Valentine's Day. In celebration, I'm blog hopping with some other great authors.
It's a big week for me--I have a new book releasing on Tuesday. The book, Dancing in the White Room, is about skiing and love. What could be better for a big heart winter celebration?

Dancing in the white room is slang for skiing or boarding in deep powder snow. The dancer is PD Bell, one of the best extreme skiers on the planet. Mallory Prescott, the woman who lives with him and loves him, is used to Bell’s exploits. A patrol woman at Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid, New York, Mallory is no stranger to risk. But this time Bell is taking on the West Rib of Denali, highest and most dangerous mountain in North America. It’s a descent that has never been done, though it’s been tried. Five years ago, Bell had tried it. The attempt nearly killed him. Five years ago, he promised Mallory he wouldn’t try it again.

     Over the six weeks in which he’s gone, Mallory begins to question her relationship with Bell. Does he really love her? Is he in it for the duration? What has loving him cost her?  Mallory’s life choices are thrown into stark relief when her daughter Emily takes a terrible fall. Together with her life-long friend Creech Creches, she must work her way through a maze of uncharted territory at a hospital miles from home.

            Dancing in the White Room is the story of the love we keep, the price we pay for that love, and the forgiveness it takes to hold on to what is precious.

I'll have more updates and some sneak peeks at Dancing later this week. Meanwhile, leave me a comment for a chance to win any one of my books you choose. 

There's more fun and prizes at all the stops below. And a GREAT GRAND PRIZE of a Kindle Paperweight e-reader loaded down with books, including the first two novellas of my Anton and Lenora Series:

Did I mention the kindle is chock full of books? Here's a list of all the titles:

J.A. Garland Books: INSTINCT, Dysus Dreamer

Celia Breslin: Haven

Pippa Jay: Gethyon

Mimi Sebastian: The Necromancer’s Seduction

Cecilia Dominic: The Mountain’s Shadow

Jude Johnson: Save the Last Dance Trilogy

Isabella Norse: Assassin’s Heart

Dani Harper: First Bite, Storm Warrior

Rita Bay: The Aegis, Into the Lyons Den

Allison Knight: Lynbrook’s Lady, Betrayed Bride

Joyce Proell: A Deadly Truth

Holly Hunt: The Devil’s Wife, Scale & Feather

Ceci Giltenan: Highland Solution

Ute Carbone: To the Wind, Sweet Lenora

Cassiel Knight: Blood on the Moon, Key of Solomon

Audra Middleton: Hitchhiker

Morgan Wyatt: Dangerous Curves, Escaping West

Angela Kay Austin: Rumer

Liz Crowe: Floor Time, Sweat Equity, Closing Costs

January Bain: Forever Man, Forever Woman, Forever Clan

Susan Frances: The King Maker

Linda Rettstatt: In The Spirit, A Falling Star

Graeme Brown The Pact

Dani Collins: The Healer

Stop by at The Valentine's Day Blog Hop Home Page for your chance to enter. And be sure to check out all the other hop stops, too, for chances at more prizes and fun! 

 

Saturday#Snippets To the Wind

The To the Wind blog tour finished up yesterday, but I wanted to give everyone one more look. Will they burn the Sweet Lenora? Anton worries they will.

My head and my heart had been filled with Lenora, yet I knew well how the disease had ravaged the crew. They were a rough lot, true, but no one deserved to die at the hands of such devilment as the yellow jack. “I know how bad things were aboard.” I cast my eyes to the door behind which Lenora slept.

“Then you must be aware such disease can linger. You suspect Rio, so you told me yourself, as the origin of your misery. Look how far you have carried the miasma. The ship is contaminated.”

“If it can but be saved. I’ve heard they use carbolic and lime. I would scrub down every inch of her if she could be spared burning. She is new, it is her maiden voyage, and we’ve yet to take her to the Orient. She would have broken the record from New England to SanFrancisco if not for foul weather off the Brazil coast. How I wish we’d never stopped in Rio port, yet we had no choice. We came from that port with but half a crew and still made ’Frisco in two months time. Two months, sir. It is a testament to the ship’s fine build and to her value.”

“There will be other ships,” was all Mather had to answer to my plea.

“Nay,” I said. “Her maker has died. There may never be another like her.” With that, I took my leave and went back into the room where my Lenora slept.

Click below for more on-

To the Wind

The Anton and Lenora Series