Hi my friendlies!

The Mega MAKE BELIEVE anthology blog tour continues and today I’m thrilled to be hosting a sneak peek into the writing roost of my antho-buddy, author of LAST WINTER RED, Jennifer M. Eaton!

Jennifer Eaton lives on the East Coast USA with her husband, three boys, and a pepped up poodle.  She hosts an interactive website www.jennifermeaton.com aimed at making all writers the best they can be.

Her Dystopian novelette “Last Winter Red” is available as part of the “Make Believe” Anthology from J.Taylor Publishing.

Her Christmas Romance “Connect the Dots” is available as part of Still Moments publishing’s “For the Love of Christmas” Anthology.

Both are available in ebook format from Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords

The psychotic nature of my life shows on my desk

I planned on cleaning up my workspace before I took this picture.  But I figured “nah” let’s show it off as the mess it is.  Believe it or not, this is ordered chaos.  I know where exactly everything is.  I think the reason it is so chaotic is because I spend so much time here.

There is serenity not shown here, though.  On the back wall you can see one orange flower.  These flowers are all over the room in singles like this, or clusters.  If you’ve seen any of my son’s YouTube book reviews, you have seen the seventy-two gallon fish tank that’s in my office … and just outside the huge double window behind my chair is a trickling waterfall jiggling the lilies in my koi pond.  It is actually a pretty serene place when I can keep my kids out of it.

The cluttered look of my desk, which is what Kelly was interested in for this post, really mirrors the clutter in my mind of all the day to day things I need to do, battling the stories that I want to write.

It’s controlled chaos.

And yes, once in a while I take those empty snack containers to the kitchen and refill them.  You can never have enough munchies at your desk when you work.

What about you?  Are you one of those “perfectly neat” people, or do you roll with the chaos?

***

Well, my friendlies? What say you? I tend to be neat, but have the ability to roll with the chaos, hehehe!

Jennifer, thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into your writing world,  to my friendly followers, here’s some linkity link links where you can track down my fabulous antho-buddy…

her website:  www.jennifereaton.com
blog http://www.jennifermeaton.com/
she tweets @jennifermeaton
she talks books on Goodreads
and can be seen on Facebook

and her books . . .

MAKE BELIEVE (click HERE to add to your to-read shelf)
Last Winter Red: In search of a husband, Emily leaves the safety of the city and risks her life stepping into the outside world. What she finds there will question the foundations of everything she believes in.

FOR THE LOVE OF CHRISTMAS (click HERE to add to your to-read shelf)
Connect the Dots: Jill has no idea what she wants for Christmas, but when it looks like her best friend Jack is going to get exactly what he asks for, Jill makes a Christmas wish that will change both of their lives forever.

13 Comments | In: J.Taylor Publishing, MAKE BELIEVE | tags: J.Taylor Publishing, MAKE BELIEVE. | #

Hello my friendlies, Happy Sunday! Whee! I have yet another special guest author who is willing to open up a private part of their world, fantasy author and fellow MAKE BELIEVE antho-buddy, Terri Rochenski shows us her write space!

Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with the fantasy genre.

Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her two young daughters allow. When not potty training or kissing boo-boos, she can be found on her back patio in the boondocks of New Hampshire, book or pencil in hand.

How does my writing space work for me? It doesn’t really. I mean look at it. It’s my kitchen table – and even that area isn’t mine.

Seeing as how I’m a stay-at-home mom to a 4 & almost 3 yr old I haven’t much choice, though. It’s share & share alike – this includes my body, the potty, my food & everything else you could imagine as all you mommies well know! I have no sacred corner. No tiny space I can call my own.

How does my muse handle it? Suck it up or don’t write. That’s how. That means writing when I can, wherever I can. As a full time mommy with the dream of making some money on my writing it’s either write or don’t.

Steal a minute here, another there. I carry a notebook for those moments my exhausted brain is inspired. Library time or gymnastics – if something pops into my brain I gotta jot it down. Watching re-runs of American Pickers or Pawn Stars with the hubs? I got a clipboard & pen in hand trying to make sense of those notes.

Once I have some semblance of order in my brain & scratched down on paper it’s to the kitchen table I go.

So how did Sacrificial Oath for JTP’s Make Believe anthology get written? I was driving to PA, my old stomping grounds, when the story popped into my brain. I called my mom & had her jot down the notes for me. Didn’t think it’d be such a good idea to do it myself seeing as how I was on the MA turnpike.  ;)

From there it was scribble away whenever I could ‘til I had a decent story planned out. Not sure exactly when or how I got this particular story into the computer & formatted all pretty-like, but it did get done.

As Larry the Cable Guy would say, Git-R-Done.

To me, that’s all that matters.

Wow, Terri, thank you so much for inviting us into your private space, it’s always fun to see how we writers are able to make magic happen amidst the chaos of our daily lives, hehe!

For my friendlies, Terri tweets @TerriRochenski welcomes fans of her FB page and talks books over at Goodreads. Go chat her up! And stay tuned to her website, because she’s got a special announcement scheduled for Dec. 17th!

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Haa-oooooo! That’s my wolfpack howl, hehehe!

Helloooo my friendly followers! omgosh, I have the most amazing special treat for you guys! Holloway Pack mama, BLUE MOON and MAKE BELIEVE headline author J.A. Belfield has agreed to give us a sneak peek into the depths of her writing den! Set your wolf howls for welcome as I introduce the amazing lady who brought us such hotness as Sean and Ethan Holloway and Benjamin Gold, the fabulously talented, Mrs. J. A. Belfield…

One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield’s head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.

One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She’s yet to stop.

J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.

C.S.I. with J.A. Belfield

Now, I’ll admit, that this post is a seriously far throw from what I was initially asked to write, but I have my reasons.

You see, Kelly (who’s awesome, btw) wanted all of the MAKE BELIEVE antho authors to have similar posts, in which we describe our workspace (and include pics), and try to explain how our environment aids us in our writing.

Well, the facto of it is . . . mine just doesn’t.

My entire workspace is almost a hazard waiting to happen.

So I decided to treat it as such.

And here’s the proof.

Now, what we have here would be described differently by different folk. Some might call them fuel. Others may call them distractions. Personally, I call them my reminders to eat, because I would otherwise forget–despite my spot of choice being smack in the middle of my kitchen. O_o

Let’s take a closer look.

EXHIBIT A: What? one can NEVER have too many pain au chocolates.

EXHIBIT B: Um . . . dunno how that got there. Moving swiftly on.

EXHIBIT C: Ah, yes. My caffeine fix. From the first thing in the morning until lunchtime, you will find coffee (or empty mug) at my right elbow. And if you think that looks very much like a Holloway Pack mug, you’d be right. Yes, I am that vain.

EXHIBIT D: You’ll note that, due to the chaos that is my workspace, I’ve had to place pointers to help identify those items worthy of discussion.

So 1) My ‘Over 40′s Jokes’ book. A birthday gift from my biggest sister (in age, not size). Not quite sure what she was trying to say. O_o

2) This is my pile of essential items: hairbrush (please do not comment–a writer’s hair can become very messed up from all that tugging); purse (for those moments when I spot a paperback online that I just HAVE TO buy!); mobile & house phone (because if I had to get up for them, they’d likely go unanswered).

3) Hand cream. VEEEEEERY important *nods head*

4) My trusty Kindle. can’t live without the blighter.

5) Yeah, that’s the chaos pile.

6) My pooch. She was probably hiding from the camera knowing her. **

EXHIBIT E: Ah, here we go: the dumping ground.

At 1) we have sunglasses. Owned by Mini-Me. Last worn by The Boy.

At 2)? that would be the Mini-Me’s hat. one she couldn’t be bothered to put back in her room.

3) shows a teddy bear of mine. Bought for me by my best friend. Left on the table by the Mini-Me after she claimed it but couldn’t be bothered to put in her own space after said claiming.

Annnnnd, 4) is a (no longer legal tender) £1 note belonging to Mr B that the Mini-Me found and then proceeded to dump in that spot. O_o

EXHIBIT F: This pic? This is my writing view. This is what I see as I tap away at the keys (thought at a slightly lower angle coz, really, I ain’t that tall).

1) Okay, that looks suspiciously like the empty wrapper of the cupcake in EXHIBIT B. No idea how that got there. O_O

Moving swiftly on to . . . 2) This would be my missing number 4 key. Pried off one day when it wouldn’t work (the culprit turned out to be food crumbs O_o). And refused to go back on ever since. O_O.

3) What I do all day. Proof that I am a hard-working author who burns the keys she taps so fas–hang on, isn’t that Facebook?

So how DOES all of this help me settle in for writing?

Well, like I said, it doesn’t. The writing just kinda happens on its own.

** Unfortunately, my dog passed away soon after these pics were shot but I didn’t want to eliminate her entirely as she played a big part in keeping me company whilst I wrote. I kinda miss her snoring and snorting and whatnot.

Aww, JAB. I’m so sorry for your loss. *hugs*

I’d like to thank you so much for inviting us Howling Holloway fangirls and boys in to your private writing den where stories like DARKNESS & LIGHT and BLUE MOON and ESCORT TO INSANITY from the MAKE BELIEVE anthology were born.

Wanna stalk the lovely JAB on the web? You can find her on twitter @JABelfield, like her FB page or find out what she’s reading on Goodreads. Wanna hear the melodious sound of her voice? omgosh, if I had her lovely accent, I’d never stop talking, hehe! click HERE to visit our author friend Keri Lake’s website, where JAB can be found reading the most beautiful poem ever.

You can click HERE to add BLUE MOON to your to-read shelf,
purchase from BN
or AMAZON

click HERE to add MAKE BELIEVE to your to-read shelf
purchase from BN
or AMAZON

11 Comments | In: J.Taylor Publishing, MAKE BELIEVE, PETRIFIED | tags: J.A.Belfield, J.Taylor Publishing, MAKE BELIEVE. | #

Hello my friendlies!

Woohoo! I have a guest today! A lovely and talented author has agreed to give us a glimpse into her writing lair!

*whips curtain away!*

Direct from The Dreamweaver’s Cottage, broadcasting to the furthest reaches of the interwebz, please allow me to introduce my MAKE BELIEVE antho-buddy, J.Keller Ford, author of The Amulet or Ormisez.

J. Keller Ford is a quirky mother of four, grand-mother and scribbler of young adult fantasy tales. She has an insatiable appetite for magic, dragons, knights and faeries, and weaves at least one into every story she conceives. Her muse is a cranky old meadow gnome that follows her everywhere she goes and talks incessantly, feeding her ideas for stories 24/7.

Thank you so much for taking time for me and my followers today, JKF!

*woohoo! enthusiastic applause and cheers!*

When Kelly graciously agreed to have me on her site today, I had no idea what I was going to talk about. Then, in all her infinite wisdom, she said, “Hey, Jenny, why don’t you show us your writing space?”

“Umm, okay. It’s not much to look at but who cares as long as it serves the purpose, right?”

I live in a really small house. 1360 square feet. The only place I can put my desktop, which is what I prefer to use when I write, is the kitchen. I know, bad, bad place for a computer but a gal has to do what a gal has to do. I just make sure I stay on top of the cleaning and the dusting (well, I try to, anyway). It’s hard work and I wish I had some brownies (fairy critters, not beginner girl scouts) to come in and clean for me, but alas, I don’t think they care for Florida. It’s just as well. I don’t think they’d stick around with me, cat and dogs.

Anyway, I write at what used to be our dining room table now turned desk. It sits in front of a window that looks out at our next door neighbor’s house.

I’m trying to let the jasmine grow kind of wild to block out some of the view, though I do like to see the squirrels scurry around and jump from the trees to the roof. There’s also an opossum that lives in the tree to the right. Pretty cool, huh?

As you can see, I have typical desk stuff. There are four books I have always in my reach:

A dictionary

The Copy-editors Handbook

Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway

and The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale. As you can see, it is completely falling apart and has been taped together with blue painters tape. It is my single most important book I own. Yes, the thesaurus online is good, but this book has so many more synonyms. I take it with me wherever I go. It’s well-loved.

The shelf to my right is my “fave” shelf in the house.

These are all the book I love for one reason or another and I refer to them often when I’m trying to figure out how a writer captured a certain moment or expressed an emotion without “telling.” I read them over and over again to keep learning styles, tone, etc. some books I’ve even highlighted passages that speak to me. I study them a lot to try to figure out what makes them work, what it is about them that strikes a chord in me. I especially love Cassandra Clare’s books and have referred to them often for descriptions and imagery. Unfortunately I don’t own any of her books (I’m hoping hints I’ve dropped will be answered for Christmas), but if not, I can always return to the library. I also need a 2013 Writer’s Market book and will probably head out in a day or two to pick that up at Barnes & Noble with a gift card I have.

At my feet, you can usually always find two of my three dogs. The white one with the black spots is Jahlee. the black one with the white scruff is Toby. He’s an Australian Shepherd. They are pretty much my shadows. We have a third dog, Charley, but he hangs out by the front door most of the time. My orange cat, Ollie, hangs out on the back of my chair.

They’re silly critters.

Anyway, that’s pretty much it. That’s my writing space. Sometimes I’ll take my laptop and sit on the couch or in bed and write, but for the most part, this is my zone. I wonder, for you writers out there . . . where do you write? Do you have a “zone?” are there things you always have to have with you when you write?

Big hugs and thanks for having me today, Kelly. I hope you and your readers enjoyed stepping inside my world for a moment. I enjoyed sharing it with all of them. I left an assortment of Lindor truffles for everyone who stops by. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone.

Thank you again, JKF! You can follow JKF on twitter @jkellerford , see what she’s reading on Goodreads or fangirl/boy her FB page.

12 Comments | In: J.Taylor Publishing, MAKE BELIEVE | tags: J.Taylor Publishing, MAKE BELIEVE. | #

Whee! You guys! It’s here, it’s here, the MAKE BELIEVE anthology by J.Taylor Publishing is here! This is the book that features my short story, PETRIFIED.

To celebrate release day, Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance is hosting a MAKE BELIEVE giveaway! Please stop by and visit with Jennifer to see what she thought of the book, and for your chance to win a copy.

omgosh, you guys, this is so exciting, I’m going to be skipping all over the web chatting with friendly book bloggers about my story!

My first stop will be on Thursday, December 6th when the ever-gracious J. Keller Ford will be chatting me up at The Dreamweavers Cottage.

From there I hop across the pond to visit with the divinely fabulous Holloway Pack author, J.A. Belfield on Friday, December 7th.

Then, it’s back to the states where fantasy writer extraordinaire Terri Rochenski hosts me on Saturday, December 8th at the Scribbler’s Sojourn.

The wildly imaginative Jennifer M. Eaton will host a chat with me on her site, A Reference of Writing Rants for Writers or “learn from my mistakes” on Monday, December 10th.

I’ll be sailing the high seas with CALL OF THE SEA author, Rebecca Hart when she and I talk about me on her site, The Machenwood Chronicles and Other Tales on Wednesday, December 12th.

Next, I’ll be cruising the curve of the globe as I head to Australia to visit with the amazing Lynda Young on her site W.I.P. It: an Author’s Journey on Thursday, December 13th.

From Australia back across the pond to talk with fighter writer and ORACLE author, JC Martin, on Friday, December 21st.

Whew! There’s so much more happening, I’ll keep everyone updated as we get closer to actual dates.

You can click to purchase MAKE BELIEVE from BN or amazon or clickity click to add to your goodreads shelf if you’d like.

Oh! And for my friendly followers who haven’t seen this, here’s the blurb to my story PETRIFIED:

A mysterious storm has replaced summer with winter, devastating crops and smothering Casle lands in snow. Prince Sterling August stands alone as a leader, lost in personal grief as well as a desire to help his people but with an inability to do either.

The answers he needs await him, but without Lochlyn, a woman who’s just as isolated as Sterling, he’ll never see what stands before him, cloaked in illusion.

Thank you for stopping by to visit and share in my excitement!

13 Comments | In: J.Taylor Publishing, MAKE BELIEVE, PETRIFIED | tags: J.Taylor Publishing, MAKE BELIEVE, PETRIFIED. | #