This week marks the near completion of summer. Schools are about to start, life is about to slow down and take a turn down the road of routine. I welcome the change with open arms. This summer has been filled with such incredible events; I've signed with an incredible literary agency, I've had my debut novel released in paperback (To learn more about the book or purchase please click here.), I've finished my second Veela novel, I've sold a novel and novella, and I've just finished writing the rough draft of the first book in my next series (though edits are still in order).I've been so consumed with the events of the summer that I'd like to give my readers a view into the life of my work-in-progress. This new series is centered around the lives of Irish Travellers and their trials as they come to terms with the cultural and social changes that are occurring within their lives, while also dealing with paranormal activities. I can't express how fun this book has been to work on. It's dark, gritty--with unexpected twists and turns, and above all Exciting! (I'll say no more.)The Irish Traveller Series is set in Adare Village, Limerick Co Ireland, which is said to be Ireland's most picturesque village. Below is a cottage in Adare. One can easily see why the village would be given such a title.
Near the village there is a cryptic, mystical, and enchanting Adare Manor, where the majority of the first book takes place. I fell in love at first glance.
Today, I've been working on a particular scene in Lady Caroline's Room, which is said to be the most mysterious and symbolic room of Adare Manor, as it's filled with angels and secrets.
From the pictures, I hope you can tell why I have been a whirlwind of writing this summer--with settings like these it has been easy to be inspired and to fall in love with the Irish Traveller Series. I hope to bring it to you soon! And I hope you enjoy the last bit of summer.Slainte! (Cheers!)
Montana Romance Writers Conference 2012
As some of you may know, I am an officer for Montana Romance Writers. This is a group I am immensely proud to belong to. Each member brings a different perspective, talent, or expertise in which has helped the group grow and become a successful and nationally recognized organization that has touched lives of authors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and even Africa. For the first time, this group of prestigious writers have come together to create an opportunity for new and seasoned writers from around Montana and the United States to come together, share ideas, network, and learn. I proud to announce we are having our first official Montana Romance Writers Conference. I hope to see you there!
2012 Montana Romance Writers Conference**
**(From the official Montana Romance Writers Website)
Montana Romance Writers
2012 Writers Conference
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort September 28th, 29th & 30th
Come join us for a few days of fun, learning and networking! Our talented group of Montana romance writers include
New York Times Best Selling Author Kat Martin as well as
USA Today bestselling author, B.J. Daniels.
We're committed to helping the writers within this great state of ours succeed as writers.
The inaugural Montana Writers Conference will give far-flung Montana romance writers the opportunity to learn, meet and re-energize for the work it takes to complete a novel and still have a life! Benefits for attending include:
- Better understanding of the positive/negatives of your writing
- Marketing of your published works to other writers in Montana
- Networking opportunities
Keynote: How to Become an Overnight SuccessAfter 19 years and 60 books, B.J. Daniels will share her secret to building a long-term writing career. She'll talk about being true to yourself as a writer, hanging in there and how important it is to write a lot of books!
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To Register or Learn More Please Visit: The official Montana Romance Writers Website!!!
The Key to Becoming a Great Romance Author is Having a Sense of Humor...
“A sense of humor...is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.” Hugh Sidey 
One of my favorite and least favorite conversations is when I introduce myself to a new person. I wait for the inevitable question, “What do you do for a living?” My heart quickens, because I love my job. I love writing. I love creating. I love imagining the impossible.“I’m a romance author.” I smile proudly.Then from their reaction I know who the person is: the non-romance reader cringes, the romance reader smiles excitedly and spills over with questions (I love these meetings—can you say ‘instant friendship?’), literary writers smirk and genre writers smile proudly and exclaim ‘Me too!’.It is truly amazing what you can learn from a person in the five seconds following my simple statement.Next I’m often asked, by the non-romance readers, “Why would you do that?” It’s almost as if, by writing romance, in their mind, I’m instantly delegated to the social rank of a stripper or porn star. Little do they know I’m far different than a porn star…I’m a professional writer—I know no pole dancing moves (not that I wouldn’t give it a shot), I don’t know camera angles, or movie making lingo, and I’ve never (intentionally) shown my ‘girls’ in public.What I most dislike about this assumption is the fact that they believe I’m writing smut. My internal dialogue goes crazy. Don’t they realize the amount of work that goes into writing a novel? Story structure? Pacing? Dialogue? Plot? Acts? Critiquing? Editing? Going to conferences? Teaching classes? Writing blogs? Pitching the novel? Writing the queries and the dreaded Synopsis? I’m sure they don’t mean to offend me, but the ‘smut’ that they are judging me for, is about 5 pages out of my 300 page novels. It’s less than 1% of my work. Yet, it comprises 100% of their opinion. I don’t walk into their job and point at their coffee cup and say, “Why do you do that?” (Though now, I think I just may.)During these lapses in conversational etiquette I always bite my tongue and give them the well-worn answer. “I love it. It’s a lot of fun.” And I leave it at that. If the person eventually becomes my friend, they begin to learn all that goes into writing, all the victories and the defeats, and soon they come to realize that most writing (even some literary) is, at their core, romance. And over a glass of wine, they come to learn that most writers are not porn stars or stippers, instead only humorists in disguise.