After the Storm

Filed in: blog | research | writing    Tags: civil exams | erotic poetry | short stories | tang dynasty poetry

*big sigh*

The whirlwind book tour is over! (Though I’m still appearing here and there.)

I feel like a great weight has been lifted and I get to put my writer hat back on. And I must say, it’s pretty darn nice to blog as MYSELF once again.

So I’ve been writing a new short story about a scholar and a musician in Changan; basically tackling the very well-worn and beloved trope of the scholar attempting the imperial exams. And though the length is going to end up between 10-15K, I’ve already purchased four new research books for it: a book on Chinese erotic poetry, a dissertation on the culture of sex in Ancient China, a book of translated short stories from the Tang Dynasty, and Barry Hughart’s Bridge of Birds. Okay, Bridge of Birds isn’t quite research, but my copy got hopelessly water damaged and lost in the move.

I asked myself, is it necessary to buy so many books for such a short story? Especially when I already have a decent reference library on Tang Dynasty culture, not to mention Google books and other references at my fingertips?

I’ve decided that it’s absolutely necessary!

I’m so unimaginative, I need research books to feed my brain. This is why I will never make any money writing. I have to consume so many orchids to distill them down into a concentrated vanilla extract.

BUT, I am collecting more interesting tidbits of trivia. For instance, the current book I’m reading, The Dragon King’s Daughter, is a collection of short stories. The foreword posits that the culture of the short story blossomed in the Tang Dynasty in large part to the exam culture. Students would often present essays and short writings to the official examiners ahead of time to gain favor. Poetry and writing were often given as gifts, even as payment occasionally. Talk about the value of the written word!

I was jumping up and down when I read that because I have my hero working on an essay that he needs to turn in as an assignment before he can take the exams. I didn’t know if this was true to the culture or not, but I figured, heck, academia can’t be ALL that different back then. Then sure enough, this historical tidbit ties in perfectly to my plot, pulling it even tighter.

And then there’s the whole cyclical pattern of things. The short story maturing as a form in the Tang Dynasty exam culture — and now I’m writing a short story featuring the exam culture. Doesn’t it all just feel right?

Karma.

P.S. Editing this post to see if it will post onto Facebook…Wish me luck.

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Harlequin-So You Think You Can Write

Filed in: Announcements | blog | writing    Tags: romance writing | SYTYCW

It’s November and though I’m not doing Nano, I’m jumping back into the writing saddle.

Harlequin is doing an intensive, one week Editorial Week and interactive writing extravaganza — I’m not sure what else to call it. They’re hitting the blogs, Twitter, podcasts, and all of weblandia with romance writing info and insights.

There’s quite a lot on the SYTYCW calendar. I’m assuming the times are in Eastern Standard Time. If you check out the Podcast at 3pm EST on November 1st, I believe that’s where you’ll hear from me and fellow HMB author Maisey Yates as well as debut author Meg Maguire about our experiences as brand spanking new authors for Harlequin: How I Became a Romance Author

Enjoy and happy writing!

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Guest blog: Window to the World

Filed in: blog | guest blogs | research | writing    Tags: chinese locations | unusual settings

I’m blogging today at Unusual Historicals about my internet location scouting process. I had struggled with whether to make up my own world based on China or write it as a historical. There’s plenty of discussion over which is harder – historical or historical fantasy. The truth is, I think there’s just as much worldbuilding needed for either of them. Your focus is just slightly shifted.

Come take a look to see my internet wanderings and how I look on China from afar. One day, I hope to actually go to these locations.

Unusual Historicals – The World of My Fantasies

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Done!

Filed in: blog | writing   

Okay, I’m not done-done. I have to smooth over the rough spots and send to some readers before I go through the edits, but the rough draft of Across the Silk Road is complete!

I reused very little of the old manuscript aside from the characters and plot and rewriting it made me realize how far I’ve come. On the flip side, I was reminded how I wasn’t afraid to dream big before I knew anything about writing. I don’t think I’d plot a book like this today. What was I thinking? Tee hee…

Now I have to make it human readable and send it off to Little Sis.

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Finding Inspiration

Filed in: blog | writing    Tags: j.d. salinger | writing inspiration

So I was running on the treadmill this morning (For anyone keeping track, I’m actually doing a lot better on the running goal than the writing one.  That’s how I know I’m in trouble) and I had a thought.

When I don’t blog as much, I don’t work on my story as much. It made me think of Finding Forrester when the kid gets stuck and Forrester gives him a short story to just start typing verbatim so he can get the rhythm of it and keep going. Maybe that’s what blogging does. It jumpstarts the cold battery in the morning so the engine can start running.

Bullocks. I think I’m making stuff up. I thought I’d put this link here because it’s one of the few things that’s really given me inspiration lately. In the words of J.D. Salinger, “When was writing ever your profession? It’s never been anything but your religion.”

http://brianyansky.blogspot.com/2009/09/write-what-you-want-to-read.html

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Waxing Sentimental

Filed in: slice of life | writing    Tags: writing journey

Yesterday on the Ruby Slipper blog, I was commenting on a post about typewriters and I recalled what it was like when I bought my first electric typewriter. I was in junior high school and I remember eyeing a box at the local Gemco (or was it K-mart) that was for sale for $99 dollars. I saved up the money to buy it myself because I knew it was a luxury that I couldn’t ask Mum for. (more…)

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Excerpt Monday: Sorcerer’s Daughter #1

Filed in: Asian fantasy | blog | excerpts | excerpts | writing    Tags: demons | excerpt monday | fantasy | historical paranormal | romance excerpt

Is it that time again? Time flies when you’re on deadline! Well, um, self-imposed deadline that is.

Excerpt Monday was started by two lovely writers: Bria Quinlan and Alexia Reed. It revolves around a group of unpublished and published authors who post their excerpts once a month on a Monday. More are always welcome!Visit the other links for some interesting reads and if you’d like to join up for next month, take a look at the main site: The Excerpt Monday blog.

November brings us the opening to a series that I’m hoping to be able to flesh out once Across the Silk Road is done. You can see by the less than sparkly title, that this is still in pre-production. It’s my first attempt to plot a historical paranormal series revolving around five swordsmen in secret service to the Emperor.
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The Middle Kingdom, 9^th century

Over the last rise there was silence. Tai Shen expected the sounds of the night to surround them out in this wooded area; the whirring of summer crickets or the coo of an owl. His hand trailed to his weapon, and his sword brother Jin mirrored the gesture.

“Do you sense anything?”

Jin grew still, breathing slowly in and out, before shaking his head. He remained tense however, poised for danger. Tai Shen didn’t comprehend the ethereal forces that Jin sought. Their shifu referred to it as a subtle light.

The outline of a cabin stood ahead. The scent of camphor and sandalwood grew stronger as they approached until it hung in the air like a veil. A strip of paper hung on either side of the doorway, displaying the spider-like brushstrokes of an incantation.

The Taoist master Yang had retreated to this remote stretch of forest nearly a decade ago, losing himself in isolation like so many seekers of the Way. But Tai Shen needed the help of a master now, a true sorcerer who could call the spirits and bend heaven and earth.

A sliver of light seeped out from around the door. Tai Shen peered through the opening. An elderly man lay still upon a mat at the center of the room. Too still.

Tai Shen felt his throat close tight. His insides ground to dust. Master Yang was dead.

A woman in mourning robe of bleached sackcloth knelt beside him. She balanced a writing tablet in her lap and held the calligraphy brush between her first and second fingers. Her brush danced down the strip of paper in one fluid stroke.

“It’s Song Yi,” Jin whispered.

The sorcerer’s daughter.

Song Yi finished the final stroke before glancing up. A white veil framed her fine-boned face.  Her eyes were swollen and rimmed with red, but any tears had long gone dry. “So the demon hunters are finally here.”

They were intruding and adding insult to the trespass by spying. Tai Shen pushed the door open to pay his respects properly. His blood went to ice.

Hundreds of talismans covered the walls, ground to the ceiling. Cinnabar ink stained the yellow paper like blood.

“They come for him every night.” Desperation crept into her voice. “They want him, I know it. I can barely hold them back.”

Had she been taken by madness? “Who comes for him?”

The night breeze began to howl behind him. Jin gripped his arm.

“Guǐguài,” she whispered.

Demonkind. The paper talismans on the walls burst into flame.

Sorcerer’s Daughter Excerpt #2

Sorcerer’s Daughter Excerpt #3

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Exceprt Monday Participants:
Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts and they may contain material that is not typical of my blog. Please heed the ratings when browsing the excerpts.

So, to kick it off, your hosts:

Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)

and

Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)

Joining us this week:

Jane Bled, Yaoi/M-M Erotica/Vampire/Paranormal/Horror (PG 13)
Danie Ford, YA Urban Fantasy (PG 13)
Heather S Ingemar, Dark Fantasy (PG13)
Babette James, Fantasy Romance (PG13)
Cynthia Justlin, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Kaige, Historical Romance (PG 13)
Julia Knight, Fantasy Romance (PG 13)
Jeannie Lin, Historical paranormal romance (PG 13)
R.F Long, Fantasy (PG13)
Shawntelle Madison, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)
Debbie Mumford, Fantasy (PG 13)
Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)
Megan S, Paranormal (PG 13)
Rosalind Stone, Women’s Fiction (PG 13)
Jo Lynne Valerie, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)

Kendal Ashby, YA (R)
Jax Cassidy, Contemporary (R)
Cate Hart, YA Paranormal (R)
Inez Kelley, Romantic Comedy (R)
Aislinn Kerry, Fantasy (R)
Jeanne St. James, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)
Cherrie Lynn, Paranormal Romance (R)
Jeanette Murray, Romantic Comedy (R)
Christa Paige, Paranormal (R)
Michelle Picard, Fantasy Romance (R)
Mary Quast, Contemporary Romance (R)
Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)
Zora Stout, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)

Sara Brookes, Erotic Sci Fi (NC 17)
Emily Ryan-Davis, Romance (NC 17)
Ella Drake, Historical Paranormal Romance (NC 17)
Angeleque Ford, Erotic Dark Urban Fantasy (NC17)
J.W. Hankins, Dark Fiction (NC 17)
Annie Nicholas, Paranormal Romance (NC 17)
Kim Knox, Erotic SF Romance (NC17)
Michelle Polaris, Erotic Futuristic Romance (NC 17)
Bryl R. Tyne, Contemporary M/M (NC 17)

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Good news week

Filed in: writing    Tags: Announcements | harlequin undone | new sale | warrior bride

It’s nice to have one of these once in a while.

This week one of my dear writing buddies, Bria Quinlan, landed a dream agent. Her book, Secret Girlfriend, brought me back to my teenage years and made me laugh and cry like a schoolgirl.

Blog penpals Lisa and Laura Roecker announced their first sale of The Haunting of Pemberly Brown to Sourcebooks. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time because I knew it was going to happen!

Edited to add: And more good news! Fellow Ruby Sister, Tamara Hogan, sold her debut novel Underbelly as part of a three book series to Deb Werksman of Sourcebooks. Underbelly is set to be released in 2011! There’s still time left for more good tidings.

I received approval for my first conference speaking opportunity on Monday and I received an offer for my historical short from Harlequin Undone on Tuesday! It’s a love story that’s mentioned briefly in Butterfly Swords and forms the basis for Ai Li’s honorable yet feisty character.

If you’ve browsed by on Excerpt Monday, you may remember that I posted the opening in first draft: Warrior Bride excerpt

The details are still being hammered out, but right now I’m glowing that this little story will see the light of day and that I have a second sale.

Good energy is in the air. Can you feel it?

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Workshop approved!

Filed in: craft | guest blogs | writing    Tags: first five pages | hooks | openings | submission process | workshop

I found out a workshop workshop proposal I’d submitted for a writer’s conference in New England was approved! This is so exciting. I’ll be speaking about tips for constructing a compelling partial submission through page 1, page 5 and page 50.

It’s a little nerve-wracking to do a craft workshop since I’m so new at this, but I have spent a lot of time learning how to put together the opening chapters, how to make them stand out and what pitfalls to avoid. It’s been over two years since I stood in front of a class to teach. At least I have a couple months to smooth out the presentation since the conference isn’t until March.

I’m using some of the material for the workshop in my post for Tuesday at the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood blog which is titled, “The First Five Pages…and the Red Line of Death”. Hope you can come by! Maybe the comments from the post to help me prepare for the workshop.

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Lost in Translation

Filed in: Asian fantasy | writing   

I just sent off Butterfly Swords for Mandarin language verification. My editor asked me whether I thought I would need it and all the sudden I had visions of bad translations like “All your base are belong to us!”. Oh geez. Yes, I’d rather pay extra for peace of mind.

I can see why many authors just go the pure fantasy route, but for me, I think it’s harder to make up Chinese sounding names and all the history. Crossing my fingers that there are no elephant-sized mistakes. I can live with being challenged on little details. It’s fiction. I made it up. *bites nails*

I’ve been having that thought a lot lately. The “oh crap, this is going to be for real”. Sometimes it’s little things, do I want this to be so and so’s name. Other times it’s fact checking. The worst feeling is wanting to read over every line again and line edit, but I’m forcing myself to only stick to requested changes. The book is the book. It’s not perfect, but I need to let go.

I like author Barry Hughart’s term “An Ancient China That Never Was”. I like it so much I wish I had thought of it.

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