Archive for January, 2010

Okay so I’m not exactly sure HOW I found this link (small kid you know, memories not the best at times) but if you’re at all interested in writing then you HAVE to read this blog post by Lesli Richardson…

http://leslirichardson.blogspot.com/2010/01/writing-how-to-you-are-not-special.html

There are so many true points in this it’s unreal and I can hear echoes of conversations I’d had with people who know what I do and ask me for advise on starting writing. A number of them irritate the hell out of me. They’re the ones, when I ask, ‘How long are you planning your story to be?’ answer ‘as long as it wants to be’.

Okaaaay, I can go with that maybe. Kinda. I’m anally retentive about planning. I study the market, decide what I’m writing next and what length. Most of the time I have a publisher in mind BEFORE I start writing, and at least half the time the story is pre-contracted. I’m lucky in that I can do that. Pre-contracting doesn’t work for everyone. At least one author I know doesn’t pre-contract because it puts too much pressure on, which I can understand, but I’m fairly sure she knows where she’s placing the story before she writes.

The next one ‘What is your story about?’ gets me more, especially when the answer is ‘whatever it wants to be about’. At this point my eyes are glazing and I can guess the next statement/question. It’s going to be about how much they’ll get for the story and how long do I think it will take one of the big-boy publishers out there to…get this..find THEM and offer them money. Here I’ll refer you to Lesli’s post as to my normal reaction, it’s fairly similiar.

Then we get the opposite end of the scale. The ‘how do I…’ers. These I don’t mind, they’re the ones who ask questions about writing and about making their writing better. What did I do to start off, how do I work…right through to questions about promotions and setting up websites. These people I have a lot of time for and I’ll help out as much as I can. When I started out writing it was a lonely business. Writing is a solitary endeavour and you can become very hermit like.

I was lucky. Very quickly I made friends with other authors a little higher up the food chain than I am and they helped me out so much. They still do (and not one’s told me to sod off yet with my incessant questions) and for that I am very grateful. In turn I try and help out as many new writers as I can.

My advice if you want to write…

1) Bum in seat. Don’t TALK about writing. Write.

2) Don’t give up. It’s hard work. But like any work, do it often enough and you get somewhere.

3) Don’t think you know everything. The instant you stop learning about the craft, you stagnate.

4) See point one again, then point two. Rinse and repeat as often as necessary.

5) Those Self-doubts that laugh at you. You know, the ones that say ‘why are you bothering? You’ll never do this. You’re a terrible writer.’ Yes, those ones. Ignore them, they lie. The only bad word is the one you don’t put on the page. Everything else can be worked with.

Yup, yup, yup!! I haz a new banner! The wonderful Anne Cain, who did the cover art for Playing Wolf was kind enough to do a version of it for my banner which I think is absolutely fabulous! And I haven’t stopped drooling over yet.

As a writer cover art is one of the things I agonise over. I’ll make no pretense about it. I loathe and detest the average poser cover with the passion of a thousand firey suns. It’s the whole deal, the bright lighting, the stiff poses, the lack of expression on the faces. A friend said they don’t like the lack of life in the eyes and I have to agree, dead eyes are not a good thing.

I prefer photomanipulation, such as the Playing Wolf cover. Did I mention how much I love that cover? Really? That many times? But yes, definitely a photo manip girl. There are so many wonderful covers out there done in this style I often get lost looking through the publishers sites. I start out looking for something to read then end up ogling cover art! I’m also a cover artist so it’s research, honest guv!

Anyway, in an effort to update my skills I booked on the Creative Direction Workshop in Feb. SQUEEEEE!! Although I’ve had to slot it into the weekend between renovations and moving into our new house so I’m going to be sat in the middle of packing boxes with my laptop snarling at everyone to leave me alone. Actually…that box looks big enough to hide in… I wonder if I can get away with that? If you don’t hear from me after valentines weekend, assume I’ve been packed away and lost in the removals van!!

Wicked Wraiths: Tori’s Secret
by Mina Carter
cover art by Sahara Kelly
ISBN: 978-1-60521-388-0
Genre(s): Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Theme(s): Magic and Mayhem, Elves, Dragons & Magical Creatures
Series: Wicked Wraiths
Length: Novella

Tori’s trying to find Mr. Right. So far all she’s found are Mr. Arrogant, Mr. Self-Obsessed and Mr. Downright Scary. When her latest date ends in her dumping her drink in her date’s crotch, a frustrated Tori takes matters into her own hands. One quick spell later and her very own Mr. Right is standing in her bedroom. So what if he’s a wraith, a magical construct. She doesn’t care. He’ll do the job far better than any of her buzzing friends.

However, the ghostly hunk standing by her bed is hiding more than one secret: like the fact he’s not a wraith at all, but a sorcerer looking for a way back to the land of the living. Jacob needs an in, a chink in some mortal woman’s armour. He needs to hear the words “I love you.”

Trouble is he doesn’t plan to lose his own heart along the way…

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1319

Use code Jacob1057 before the end of January for 5% off!

I got cover art for my upcoming release with LSB, Playing Wolf. It’s by Anne Cain and isn’t it just the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen?

The Queen’s of Merab: Temair’s Fyre

Temair has always known that one day she would have to step up and replace her mother as Queen of Emetra. She knew it but she wasn’t happy about it. That day came sooner than she expected. Now Temair must take a TOUR of the country and choose a Consort from each of the Four Elements. Fyre, Rayne, Aire and Earth. Four powerful elements, four compelling men. In a journey fraught with danger, Temair must decide who to choose and who to trust.

Miach, Fyre Lord had his life planned out. An accomplished warrior he lived to defend his land, and even sympathized with the cause of the Rebels. With Just one touch Temair changed his world. Now he has a new calling: First Consort and lover of the future Queen.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1314

Now Available from ChangelingPress.

…is at number two on the bestseller list for Changeling over at fictionwise! (http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b101415/Deception–Desire/Mina-Carter/?si=0) I’m really pleased because I do like Cassia and Tiny’s story a lot. It was great fun to write, but then, I do like writing heroes with a bit of the bad boy about them. Okay, that’s pretty much all of them then!

Currently I’m writing Edan in ‘Siren’s Seduction’ which is becoming a wee bit of a challenge. Edan isn’t just a bad boy (an mma cage fighter he has to be) but he’s damaged goods as well. However, the physical injuries are not as bad as the mental ones. He considers himself a failure and for the story to progress I have to get him from that point to starting to heal. Which is…interesting to say the least. (Especially when Levi the wonder lobster keeps wanting in all the time!)

Oh my, hasn’t it come around quick? I can’t believe it. One minute I was shopping for christmas and the next, it’s all Jools Holland’s Hootenanny and Big Ben’s ringing in the new year.

All in all it was a quiet new year for me. Mr C and I don’t go out anymore owing to little madam but, you know, I don’t miss it at all. Perhaps I’m finally growing up (God forbid!)…now if only I can decide what I actually want to BE when I grow up, we’ll be all set. Okay, I already know that. I want to be a famous author swanning around being totally eccentric (Yes, I am the woman who periodically dyes her hair pink. As a hair colour pink rocks!).

All in all 2009 didn’t treat me too badly. Okay, finances are absolutely crap and we hit rock bottom this year but you know what? It doesn’t matter. I learned that there are more important things than money and the things that satisfy me most, like sitting and reading to my daughter, are free.

2010 though, I’ve decided this will be a good year. I have plans you see, plenty of fantasic story ideas to work on and maybe, just maybe a project or two I have under wraps will come to fruition!

So the last two days I’ve been getting myself in order, updating things I’d let slide a little. I’ve finally updated the website and, shock horror, actually done a newsletter. You can find it for download on Scribd at – http://www.scribd.com/doc/24680582/Mina-Carter-Newsletter-Jan2010

Anyway, more updating and some actual writing to do so I’ll love you and leave you for now!