Reflections of an RT
Virgin.
Recently I
attended Romantic Times annual reader/author convention that was held at the
Crowne Plaza Sheraton in Kansas City, MO. This was my first time attending as
an author. In 2012, I went for the weekend as a reader, and it was immense fun!
I even got to meet my bestie, Jo-Anna for the first time in person! (we met
originally on FB).
Attending as an
author for the full convention this year was awesome! Even better, Jo came again
with her sister, Shawna, and I also got to meet Angie J and Melinda, two other
friends from FB! It was so much fun!!!!!!!
I learned so much at RT!
I did many workshops regarding the craft of writing, strategies on how to
accomplish more as a writer, and even fun interactions with readers!
I would recommend that
any authors, aspiring or published, attend a conference or convention like RT.
The information is
INVALUABLE!
I would say that the MOST
helpful thing I did was an all day plotting class with best-selling author,
Cherry Adair! She is so much fun, as
much as she is a FANTASTIC teacher! Funny, and an all-around fabulous person!
Cherry is a very organize
plotter, so I took her class with the hopes I could learn her process and
actually plot. Traditionally, I have always been a pantser, as in I write by
the seat of my pants. Most of the time, I just sit down and write. Sometimes I
know what will happen in the scene, but there are a lot of times I just go with
the flow and see what I come up with.
But as you continue to
move forward in this field, career, as you will, it becomes harder and harder
to meet deadlines without planning books. So, I am trying to change my
whimsical ways!
I learned sooooo much
from spending the day with Cherry! She plots on a board. Every element of the
story is represented by a different color sticky note, and they go on the
board.
The idea is to start with
the danger (orange) (I write Romantic Suspense, and so does Cherry, but this is
not to say this can’t work with any genre) and work backwards, applying them to
the board in the appropriate chapters. Then you do the villain and his henchmen
(purple), also plotting backwards through the story on the board.
Hopefully you know the
story well enough where you write all info on the post-it notes before you place them on the board.
For pantsers like me,
this involves a lot of thinking!
The rest of the story is
plotted forward, using the appropriate colors. Hero is blue, his backstory light
blue. Heroine is pink, her backstory pale pink. Locations are green. Fuchia is
my favorite part, the SEX!
And the most important
post-it is the WHITE one, which is the “What’s the Point of the Scene” post-it.
ALWAYS ask yourself this BEFORE you write.
Tough, I know, when you
don’t plot.
I can’t say I will be a
Cherry star pupil, but I will try. And I did learn. If you want more info on the system, please
email me. (My email is below in where to find me).
Here’s my plotting board
for my WIP, Chance Collision (Crossing
Forces Book Two):
Hopefully writing the
book will be easy. As you can see, I didn’t finish the plotting process but I
did enough to know where the book is going. Just need to work hard, like
always!
I am currently in working
Chapter 8, so we’ll see how I am able to continue!
This was the 30th
Anniversary for RT and many pioneers of the Romance Genre, the GREATS, were
there! I got to meet JULIE GARWOOD! Talk about a fangirl moment! She’s always
been one of my faves and she was so sweet. Awesome and approachable! I loved
talking to her!
I met some fantastic
authors and readers at RT as well as got in touch with old friends. I did two
signings, and got to share MY book with the world! RT was such a positive
experience. I love conventions, conferences and writing. I love smoozing in the
writing and reading world and wouldn’t trade it for anything!
See you next
year, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blurb:
For generations, the Ryhans, ruling family of the Province of
Greenwald have been keepers of a sword rumored to possess enough magic to defeat
kings. Lord Varthan, a former archduke and betrayer of the king, covets the
sword and invades Greenwald.
Lady Ceralda Ryhan,
daughter of the murdered duke, gains the sword and flees, trusting only her
white wolf, Trikser—magically bonded to her. Cera needs nothing more to aid in
her fight.
Jorrin Aldern, half elfin and half human, left his home in the
mountains of Aramour to find his human father who disappeared twenty turns
before, but finds Cera with Varthan and his shades on her tail instead. His
dual heritage and empathic magic will tempt Cera.
Preorder: May 17, 2013
Prerelease: May 31, 2013
General release: June 28, 2013
Badboy,
married to his job FBI agent Cole Lucas always gets his man. So when the
unthinkable happens and one gets away, Cole grits his teeth and hunts human
trafficker Carlo Maldonado all the way to Antioch, Texas, where he collides
with Detective Andi MacLaren.
Cole doesn’t do small towns and he doesn’t get involved with
women he works with, but Andi tempts him in ways he doesn’t want to
acknowledge.
Two murders, her partner shot and leading the investigation on
her own, the last thing Andi needs is a cocky FBI agent that sees her as no
more than a tagalong.
Widow and single mother Andi is used to being on her own. When
Cole gets stuck without a place to stay, crashing on her couch puts them in
dangerous territory.
Attraction and passion bring Andi to a place she left behind
when her husband died.
Her three-year-old son quickly wiggles his way into Cole’s
heart, and he starts contemplating things—family, love—that he’d never planned
for himself.
Can being forced to
work together make them stronger or will their differences jeopardize their
case and their hearts?
CA is the author of fantasy, paranormal, romantic suspense and
the occasional YA. Sword's Call (King's
Riders Book One) AVAILABLE NOW from Gypsy Shadow Publishing! Collision Force (Crossing Forces Book One) releases
July 1, 2013 from Total-E-Bound Publishing!
She is originally from Ohio, but got to
Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor's degree in
Criminal Justice.
She works with kids when she’s not writing.
She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.
She works with kids when she’s not writing.
She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.
Where to find C.A. online:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/caszarek
Twitter: @caszarek
“I LOVE to hear from readers!” Email me: ca@caszarek.com
