Hello Fellow Writers!
NaNoWriMo is moving along swimmingly. I don't really "has writerz blox", I just love funny kittehs. I'm at 42K, which, if I was aiming for the traditional 50K goal, would be way head of the game - but since I'm aiming for 80K, I'm pretty much on track. I'm in the middle of the book now, trying to avoid the dreaded "sagging middle". The important thing that I keep reminding myself is that the characters have to have both internal and external conflicts that affect their relationship.
Today I'd like to welcome multi-published author Berengaria Brown to The Writer's Challenge. Her new book “Eternity” is available now from Siren Publishing.
Shoshanna: How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
Berengaria: “Intensity”, my first book, was published in April 2010. I had been writing seriously about a year at that time. I had several books published, at several different houses in quick succession, because while I was waiting to hear back about each book, I kept writing, and I sent each book to the house I felt it was best suited to.
Shoshanna: What's your favorite writing tip?
Berengaria: Never give up. Keep reading, keep writing, keep polishing. But also, read the submission guidelines of the house you are interested in very carefully, and make sure you follow them as best you can.
Shoshanna: Have you ever gotten a bad review? What do you do - how do you feel in a situation like that?
Berengaria: Not a bad review but several mediocre ones. Several times reviewers have said that they didn’t want a short story to end. Sadly, by definition, a short story is short. I am always grateful though, that inundated as they are with books to read, they have taken the time to read my book.
Shoshanna: You have a new release out now, right?
Berengaria: Yes! “Eternity” is a stand-alone story set in the same world as “Intensity” and “Complexity” with some of the same characters reappearing.
Shoshanna: The cover's so hot, I can't show it on here! Click here if you're an adult and want to see a *very* spicy cover for Eternity.
To read an adults only excerpt and buy Eternity, click here.
Check out Berengaria Brown's blog here.
Visit her website here.
I once had a review that said my short story should have been longer lol Ahem, it's a short story!!! lol great interview. Glad I popped in.
ReplyDeleteI will gladly accept your challenge. If I take nothing else from NaNo, I hope to have acquired the habit of writing daily. There are so many voices in my head whining for me to bring them to life of paper. That will only happen if I keep my butt in the chair and write.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Portia! The only way to be a writer is to actually sit down and write :) Let me know how it goes!
ReplyDeleteHi, Margaret,
ReplyDeleteYes, book length seems to be a common comment by reviewers. But I find the characters dictate the length of the book and there's not much I can do about it!
Hi, Portia,
I have heard people say BICFOK is the only way to succeed: Butt In Chair, Fingers On Keyboard. That makes a lot of sense to me
Hi, Shoshanna,
Thank you for inviting me over to play today
Berengaria
Nice interview!
ReplyDeleteNice interview. Just remember length doesn't matter. It's the story and the romance.
ReplyDeleteanytime, Berengaria!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Taryn
ReplyDeleteThank you JL. And you are so right. Its not the size that matters but how you use it!
Berengaria
Wow, Shoshanna! You are a writing machine!
ReplyDeleteGreat titles, Berengaria! Did you think of them or did your publisher?
I called my first book "Towering Intensity" and a friend said, "Why not just 'Intensity'?". So that is what it became. "Complexity" and "Eternity" just came to me as they fit the ongoing world.
ReplyDeleteI know some NY publishers insist on choosing the titles themselves
Berengaria