Book Blog Tour: The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

The Swiss Courier, co-written by authors Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey, is set during WWII. Gabi Mueller, a Swiss-American transcriptionist for the Americans, is recruited as a spy. Her first assignment? To safely courier a German physicist working on the budding Nazi atomic bomb project to the Swiss border. In a time of traitors and uncertaintym who can Gabi trust?

Before beginning the fast-paced suspense novel, readers are reminded of the failed attempt to assassinate Hitler by Colonel Claus Graf von Stauffenberg on July 20, 1944. The Swiss Courier is based on events set in motion by Hitler's reaction to the assassination attempt.

Here's a glimpse of the opening chapter:

Waldshut, Germany
Saturday, July 29, 1944
4 p.m.
He hoped his accent wouldn’t give him away.
The young Swiss kept his head down as he sauntered beneath
the frescoed archways that ringed the town square of
Waldshut, an attractive border town in the foothills of the
southern Schwarzwald. He hopped over a foot-wide, waterfilled
trench that ran through the middle of the cobblestone
square and furtively glanced behind to see if anyone had
detected his presence.
Even though Switzerland lay just a kilometer or two away
across the Rhine River, the youthful operative realized he no
longer breathed free air. Though he felt horribly exposed—as
if he were marching down Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm screaming
anti-Nazi slogans—he willed himself to remain confident.
His part was a small but vital piece of the larger war effort.
Yes, he risked his life, but he was not alone in his passion.

To read the rest of the excerpt, go here. There's also a fun trailer to watch and a discussion guide for book clubs wanting to read The Swiss Courier.

Reminder: Have fun with words and donate to a good cause at FreeRice.com

I forgot about FreeRice.com until my daughter's third grade teacher used the site as a homework assignment. As part of her grammar homework, Christa had to go to the Web site and answer questions like:

Which is correct?
He left it over their.
He left it over there.

Her correct answers helped fill a virtual bowl with grains of rice.For each correct answer you get right, FreeRice.com donates 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program.

It'd been a while--too long--since I'd visited the Web site. I thought all you could do was answer vocabulary questions. Still a lot of fun for a writer/editor like me. But grammar? Also a good option.

I clicked on the "Change Subjects" tab and found you can try your skill at all sorts of topics: art, chemistry, geography--even math. Yep, I even tried my hand at multiplication and filled a bowl up!!

FreeRice is a non-profit site run by the United Nations World Food Program. Our partner is the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

FreeRice has two goals:

1. Provide education to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

Changing Seasons

I have lived in the South for most of my life. I love the beach with sand squishing in between my toes and the sound of waves pounding in my ears. I love the heat even as sweat trickles down my back. I love the sun, though I fight the laugh lines it causes with tons of moisturizer. In fact, I love every glorious minute of summer. But after five months of days with temperatures hitting the 90's, even a sun-worshiper like me tires of the continually same weather.

I love the change of seasons. I'm thrilled with the nippy arrival of fall. I Snoopy Dance on the first morning when the temperature dips and I have to break out a jacket. God's autumn palette of golds, oranges, yellows, reds, and browns inspire me; and I want my characters to enjoy fall too. Instead of heading for the beach, they're raking piles of crunchy leaves, then diving in, accompanied by peals of laughter. Conversations occur as my characters carve pumpkins and turkeys or drink mulled cider and eat caramel apples. They're cheering in bleachers for the local football team and decorating for a fall festival. They're participating in activities my family and I are doing.

What if you're writing a Christmas scene in July? What evokes seasonal images, scents, sounds, and tastes out of season? I know one writer who uses scented candles to strike a certain mood. An auditory author creates a soundtrack for every book. Because I'm visual, I look at seasonal photos. Another writer decorates her home office as the season she's writing in, not the season she's living in, because it helps her create the setting for her books. What's your trick to write spot-on details that anchor the time and location where your stories are set?

~Roxanne Sherwood



Don't forget! It's only a few days left until National Novel Writing Month.
Get ready. Get set. On November 1st, Go! Begin writing that 50,000 word book of your dreams. Don't stop writing until November 30th.

A Five-Course Writing Lesson from the Food Network

"Eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably." —C.S. Lewis

What can the Food Network teach writers about writing? Like authors and their writing passions and genres, every food network star focuses on his or her expertise, appealing to their audience. Gourmet recipes stand out above the ordinary. What makes your writing bon appétit?

First Course: Know the difference between a professional chef and a novice.

Does your writing passion and mission match your writing skills? Individuals serious about cooking train as chefs at the Cordon Bleu and the Culinary Institute. Some novices who want to cook gourmet recipes watch the Food Network, but they never practice cooking or create their own recipes. Do you attend writers conferences or writing workshops or read books on how to hone your writing skills? And then practice.

Second Course: Slice and dice your target market

The Food Network defines shows appealing to every budget, age and ethnic group, taste preferences, and cooking genre. Take a look at their stars and target audiences.

Paula Deen: successful single mom, older cooks, comfort food, southern recipes

Ellie Krieger: healthy eaters and recipes

Daisy Martinez: Hispanics and Latin cuisine

Patrick and Gina Neely: African Americans, down home cooking

Emeril Lagasse: Cajun, fresh ingredients

Guy Fieri: American comfort foods

Alton Brown: Science and common sense cooking

Jamie Oliver: Young, hip, British and organic, nutritious food

Giada De Laurentiis: Italian

Rachel Ray: Harried, working women, 30-minute meals

Sandra Lee: Busy people, semi-homemade recipes

You name the food, the Food Network probably airs a show to appeal to a viewer’s taste buds. Just as every culinary style does not appeal to everyone’s tongue, your writing won’t appeal to every reader. But if you capture your writing niche and genre, your reading audience will instantly recognize that your writing gives them pleasure.

Third Course: What are your consumer’s needs and interests?

Do you know what genre within a genre your readers prefer? Are you aware of the problems your readers want your book to solve? Rachel Ray doesn’t claim to be a professional chef, but she helps busy women solve their problem, to prepare delicious food and get it on the table—fast. What problem will your book solve to add value to your reader’s lives?

Fourth Course: Appeal to senses and emotions

When Giada De Laurentiis breaks off a piece of garlic from the bulb a microphone magnifies the sound. Do your descriptions magnify sights, sounds and smells in your reader’s mind? Food close-ups make your mouth water. Do the close-ups of your character’s lives make the reader want to know more about them?

The combinations of ingredients make the reader crave the taste. Do all the elements in your book or article make your reader crave more of what you write?

Writing is a sensual experience. By drawing in all the reader’s senses, emotions, personal issues, and personal tastes, it convinces your readers that you’re a writer they want to read again and again.

Fifth Course: Create a memorable experience.

Your writing voice, expertise, passion, and writing skills reveal your personal brand. Does the drama in your book create a memorable reading experience that the reader will tell her friends about? Does the encouragement or solution your book offers translate to your readers’ lives? If so, you can satiate your readers’ appetite for good writing and reading.

Take 5: A Daily Dose of Writing Quotes

“Writing is like hunting. There are brutally cold afternoons with nothing in sight, only the wind and your breaking heart. Then the moment when you bag something big. The entire process is beyond intoxicating.”
—Kate Braverman, American novelist

“A writer should concern himself with whatever absorbs his fancy, stirs his heart, and unlimbers his typewriter.... A writer has the duty to be good, not lousy; true, not false; lively, not dull; accurate, not full of error. He should tend to lift people up, not lower them down.” - E. B. White, children's author

“The Artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” —Emile Zola, French writer

"Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you're doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing. . . . Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." - E.L. Doctorow, American author

“You have to learn how to use your energy and not squander it. In the writing process, the more a thing cooks, the better. The brain works for you even when you are at rest." - Doris Lessing, winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature

Can you have too much conflict?

According to Donald Maass, literary agent, author, and speaker, you can't have too much conflict. But I'm not so certain. Let's use an example to test this theory.

I have an idea about a protagonist in her 40's. She's a widow with five kids at home, ranging in ages from college to preschool. The first few chapters will span two weeks. Let's create conflict. Remember, in a story world (and according to Mr. Maass), the more conflict, the better.

Let's say her teenage daughter discovers she has lice. The protagonist studies her already-full agenda. Nope. Lice does not appear on the To-Do List. Yet, she'll have to spend a large chunk of time dealing with the vermin. What's her reaction? Lice treatment for daughter, and she'll check everyone else in the family and get someone to check her head. But what if she's freaked out and calls for everyone to bring their bed linens to the laundry room? Now, she's climbing mountains of sheets, pillow cases, comforters, blankets and mattress covers. Wow. That's a lot of linens. She's never washed them all at once before. Not even during spring cleaning. We'll cut her a little slack and confine the lice to the first daughter. Now, the protagonist feels foolish for stripping all the beds and overwhelmed with laundry. Plus, she's still got to apply lice treatment and comb out her daughter's thick hair, which takes an hour each time.

She found a good home for the high-strung terrier puppy who was chewing on all the toddler toys and everyone's shoes, but she still feels guilty because the 11-year-old boy really bonded with the dog, even though her son was the one to suggest giving the dog away. Now that the puppy is gone, they've found fleas in the house. She's so overwhelmed that she makes another rash decision and sets off bug bombs to get rid of the fleas. Since she's got the preschooler--who still puts objects in his mouth--she'll need to secure his toys from the toxic gas. She and her daughter spend all morning preparing the house, then they'll have to spend several hours away, then one of them will need to return to open the widows and let the house air before everyone can be allowed home.

Lice. Fleas. She feels like the plagues of Egypt are descending. Over the top conflict? Probably. By now the reader might be tired of insects.

Let's add a house repair gone wrong. Everyone can relate to that. What if she had an air conditioning problem? Let's set the story in the Texas where there was a record-breaking heatwave this summer. Say the A.C. unit, located upstairs, leaked water onto the ceiling over the downstairs laundry room. Of course it's after hours when she discovers the water damage, so she has to stew about the leak all night. By morning, mold has started growing. It will take several days, many phone calls (more conflict!), and several on-site visits to the house to get the A.C. manager, the insurance company, the mold specialist, and the repairman to agree on a plan of action. Meanwhile, she'll watch the mold travel from the ceiling to the baseboards along two walls. She can't imagine what's inside those walls or under the upstairs carpet or inside the A.C. unit itself.

Just for fun, her friends will tell her horror stories of houses with mold damage. House repairs this extensive can continue throughout the length of the novel.

While she's waiting for one of the repairman, she'll discover water inside the garage. Is that related to the A.C., or something else, or has the deep-freeze started defrosting? If she decides the food is safe to eat but closes the garage door, ignoring the water, will readers think she's a wimp? Or will they have sympathy?

We'll let her experience the kindness of strangers. The repairman will help mop up water and call a plumber he knows.

What about the secondary characters--how can they add more conflict? One of the children has allergies and asks to stay home from school. The school is concerned with an outbreak of swine flu and won't take kindly to an ill child sent to school. She allows her son to stay home but he's clearly well. The next day offers the same scenario. He feels ill only it isn't the flu, or is it?

The youngest child doesn't have many lines of dialogue. Let's use that as conflict too. He'll have developmentally delayed speech. Our protagonist will deal with the school system and early childhood intervention. That should add lots of conflict.

She's also weighed by other responsibilities the readers can relate to. Car pool duty. Grocery shopping. Cooking. Cleaning. Driving to all the children's activities. Since she's widowed, remember, she has to do it all, no "dividing and conquering" with a spouse.

In addition to her family, what if she has obligations outside the home? Perhaps, she co-teaches a Bible study. What if she handles her life with a certain amount of grace or dignity. Perhaps, she's funny and transparent, so people might think she has something of value to say. What if she also has a speaking engagement to a women's group?

We haven't focused on her internal conflict. Much more could be developed from her emotional problems, but what if she has a blog due? Can she benefit, at least, by writing about conflict for the blog?

So, what's our conclusion? Is this too much conflict? I'm not certain what Donald Maass would say, but the protagonist thinks it's more than enough.


~Roxanne Sherwood

DON'T FORGET:


November is designated as the National Novel Writing Month.
Your goal is to write a 50,000-word novel from scratch from November 1st-30th. You can sign up at anytime but actual writing begins November 1st. Go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/whatisnano for more information.

Thomas Nelson Launches Self-Publishing Imprint

“Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.” —Bertold Brecht

Agents, authors and the publishing world are buzzing about Michael Hyatt’s big announcement that Thomas Nelson is starting a vanity press, WestBow Press.

Hyatt implied WestBow authors could be a “farm team.” With the industry not sure where publishing is headed, my first thoughts were that this is a great business move. Why not offer this service to authors hungry to be published?

I wondered whether an editorial team at WestBow would evaluate whether or not the author could publish their book with WestBow. Thomas Nelson has trained the editor/evaluators to make sure the books published under the WestBow imprint are congruent with Thomas Nelson’s content standards. WestBow will offer editorial services, but in the end quality will be decided by the author. Having weathered a number of writers critique groups, the writers who most need their manuscripts to be edited will not take advantage of the editorial services.

WestBow Press Publishing Packages

• Essential Access: $999
• Pro Format: $1799
• Bookstore Advantage: $2799
• Online Platform: $3999
• Video Plus: $6499
• Video Premier: $9999
• Pro Launch: $13,999
• Premier Publicist: $19,999

I recall when Hal Lindsey decided to by-pass a traditional publisher. He self-published a book and used direct mail marketing. The book was a home run, but traditional publishers cried, “Foul.” As the industry changes, some pull back wishing things would stay the same. Alas, business and life continues to move at mach speed.

For more information:

The Wall Street Journal: Nelson Adds Self-Publishing Line

Micheal Hyatt’s blog announcement: Should You Consider Self-Publishing?

Thomas Nelson Partners with Author Solutions to Launch Self-Publishing Imprint, WestBow Press

Hyatt answers Mike Shatzkin’s questions: The new Thomas Nelson self-publishing initiative; more questions than answers

Rachelle Gardner: Major Publisher Opens Subsidy Publishing Division

Chip MacGregor

• Thomas Nelson and Self-Publishing
• So ... Self-Publishing is the New Black?

Self-Publishing Review: Thomas Nelson Forms Self-Publishing Partnership With Author Solutions

Some Thoughts on Self-Publishing (WestBow Press the Second and the Rabbit Room Press)

Faith ‘n’ Fiction Saturday: Publishers and Branding

The Masters Seminars

Chip MacGregor, president of Chip MacGregor Literary Agency, is now offering three Masters Seminars for fiction writers.
Here's what Chip has to say:


"In the Master Seminars you'll only get practical and proven methods to create a compelling story, and the plan that will make it sell. And sell. And sell."

There are three seminars offered:
1. Marketing Your Novel -- Proven marketing techniques that will make your novel stand out among the thousands on the shelves.
2. Writing Bestselling Fiction -- A two-day workshop with author Susan May Warren and literary agent Chip MacGregor explaining the basic elements of a bestselling novel, how to create great characters, and getting you going on plotting a story that will be both memorable and meaningful
3. Adding Depth to Your Fiction -- Bestselling novelist Lisa Samson and award-winning writer Susan Meissner are making themselves available for two weekends in 2010, in order to help novelists dig deeper into their work.


The first Masters Seminars are offered this November and December. A complete list of upcoming seminars is available here.
For registration and contact information, go here.

San Antonio author signs with 5 Star Gale for debut suspense novel, A Deadly Wilderness

Five Star Gale and Author Kelly Irvin announced that her debut romantic suspense novel, A Deadly Wilderness, will be available in January 2010.

Before graduating from the University of Kansas School of Journalism, Irwin studied for three semesters at the University of Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica. As a journalist, she worked six years in the border towns of Laredo and El Paso, where she was exposed to culture and language that serves as fodder for her fiction writing.

Irwin has been writing nonfiction professionally for 25 years and has written hard news, features, entertainment pieces, restaurant critiques, editorials, and weekly columns. Writing awards include the Silver Star Award from the Texas Mental Health Association and numerous awards in news, feature, and editorial writing from the Texas Press Association and Texas Press Women. For the last 15 years, she has worked in public relations for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department.

In A Deadly Wilderness, an idyllic wilderness hike turns deadly when a homicide detective tumbles into a ravine and lands on a corpse. Not just any corpse, but the son of a prominent citizen that turns the case into a political hot potato.

The detective teams up with his troubled partner and their boss to solve the murder before city leaders bump them from the case and out of their jobs. And before the twin temptations of alcohol and lust can derail his colleagues. Their determination to find the man’s killer leads them from the wealthiest enclaves in San Antonio to the city’s dark underbelly inhabited by a drug cartel and paid assassins.

A Deadly Wilderness is a romantic suspense novel that will take the reader along on a tumultuous journey as the consuming need for material wealth drives a deadly wedge among family members who haven’t learned when enough really is enough.

The journey ends where it began—in a deadly wilderness. Not everyone will survive the trip.

Irvin’s suspense manuscript, “The Dead Parent Society,” finished second in the 2007 Molly Contest sponsored by the Denver Heart of Romance Chapter of Romance Writers of America, while her romantic suspense manuscript, “Mine to Avenge,” was a finalist in the 2006 American Christian Fiction Writers national Genesis Contest.

The Kansas native is a member of ACFW, Sisters in Crime, and Alamo City Christian Writers. Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for twenty-one years, and they have two teenagers.

For more information, go to www.kellyirvin.com

DON'T FORGET:


November is designated as the National Novel Writing Month.

From November 1st-30th, your goal is to write one 50,000-word novel from scratch.

You can sign up at anytime but actual writing begins November 1st. So begin creating characters or planning your plot.

Go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/whatisnano for more information.

Help a Friend Out

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”—Winston Churchill

Financial times are tough, especially for writers. Two individuals that I know had a signed contract with a large publisher who decided to cut back. Now their book deals are dead. Another publisher followed that publisher's lead. My friend with a signed contract received an email, not a phone call. They would not be publishing the manuscript that she had already turned in. One writer who wrote full time, took a part-time, non-writing job to bring income in to support her family.

Two of my neighbor's husband's were laid off. Another neighbor struggles financially. Another friend's husband was laid off. As a single mom, I've had my financial struggles over the years and I'm so thankful for those who helped me out of really tough jams. How do you help your friends and neighbors who are too embarrassed or too uncomfortable to accept the gift of financial assistance?

Surprise those you love--give your gift anonymously

Giving Anonymously, (GA) celebrates pure giving. But more than that it allows you to give a monetary gift anonymously. It relationally connects people through giving to protect relationships from feelings of obligation.

If you have a little extra cash you'd like to share, you can be your own charity and give anonymously to those who can't pay their bills or adequately feed their families. Giving Anonymously sends them a check that includes every penny you sent, and you receive an email with a voice file of them thanking you. But they won't know who you are

How much can I give? The IRS allows a person to give up to $12,000 in 2008 and $13,000 in 2009 ($24,000 in 2008 and $26,000 in 2009 as a couple) to any number of people, every year, without facing any gift taxes. For example in 2009, you and your spouse together could give 100 different people each a check for $26,000 and none of it would be subject to tax nor would it need to be declared. A Recipient will never owe income tax on a gift no matter the amount and should not declare it as income on their tax return.

How do I know the person received my gift? Before mailing a check GA calls or emails the recipient to make sure the mailing address is correct and that they are willing to receive the gift. GA found that about 30% of gifts mailed without making contact with the recipient were returned or thrown out as junk mail. If GA has exhausted all means of making contact with the recipient we will refund the gift and contribution amount back to the donor.

What if the person receiving your gift doesn't call GA's toll free number to leave a 'Thank you"? When GA's bank receives the cashed check, GA emails you a scanned a copy of the check showing the recipient's signature.

So how does Giving Anonymously give every penny to your family or friends?

• Volunteers run the organization.
• They accept donations to cover the costs involved in providing this service

Giving Anonymous was featured on NPR's Marketplace and twice on the NBC Nightly News: Making a Difference. Check out NPR's audio interview and NBC's video clips.

Get Ready for NaNoWriMo!

November is designated as the National Novel Writing Month.

From November 1st-30th, your goal is to write one 50,000-word novel from scratch.

You can sign up at anytime but actual writing begins November 1st. So begin creating characters or planning your plot.

Go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/whatisnano for more information.

RhymeBrain—Not Just for Poets

“I sing [write] from the heart... I sing [write] the words of a song and really feel them, from the top of my head to the tip of my toes... I sing [write] as though my life depends on it, and if I ever stop doing that then I'll stop living.”—Mario Lanza

RhymeBrain isn’t just for poets, it’s for all writers who want to make their writing sing. Use the alliteration aide to add another building block to your writing tool box and make your sentences, headlines, titles, or subtitles lalalalala. Add alliteration (repeating the same consonant sound at the beginning of several words) to your sentences. RhymeBrain figures out how to pronounce your word in the same way a human brain does. It uses combination of heuristics, machine learning and probabilistic algorithms.

RhymeBrain Features

• Matches the word you input against their database containing over 259,871 words.
• Results return within a split second, with the best rhyming words shown first.
• Alliteration aide: Enter two words, and RhymeBrain suggests alternatives that sound better together.
• For fiction writers, find schoolyard insults for your characters to blurt out.

Check out my other post regarding other rhyming dictionaries.

Book Review: The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren

Look for information about the recipe contest at Susan's website!

Let me just say this right up front: I love the way Susan May Warren writes!

Susie makes me laugh out loud, sit on the edge of my seat and whisper,"Oh, no, what next?!" and give a sigh of pleasure when the guy and girl finally kiss and make up. Most times, this happens all in the same book.

But I have to tell you when I first heard about The Great Christmas Bowl, I thought, "Really?"

Forgive me, Susie, I doubted you.

But, darned if you didn't make me laugh and cry again! Oh, me of little faith!

Here's the low-down on The Great Christmas Bowl:

Christmas is a magical season. Except for this year.

Marianne Wallace loves the holidays. From dressing the tree to her traditional Christmas dinner, it’s all about creating memories for her family. But when her children begin to leave home—and their traditions—behind, she has one last chance to create a holiday they’ll never forget.

Unfortunately, she’s soon in over her head, and one impulsive decision leads to a string of events that will change the way her family—even her small Minnesota town—sees the Christmas season.

Heartwarming and hilarious, The Great Christmas Bowl is a story about family, traditions, and rediscovering the real magic of Christmas.

The Great Christmas Bowl will now take it's place among my Christmas book selection--favorite stories that I pull out every year and place around the house to re-read.

Susie's hosting a fun recipe contest over at her website:

Share your story and recipe with Susie and the readers of the Great Christmas Bowl. She will post your story and recipe on the front page of the blog, and send you a link when it goes up so you can tell all your friends. Then, at our Great Christmas Bowl party (December 5th, 10am, online! Details TBA) we’ll make the entire cookbook available for download!

For every recipe/story you submit (up to 3), you will be entered in a drawing to receive one of SMW’s collections (Noble Legacy, Team Hope, Heirs of Anton, Deep Haven Series, Josey series, or THE ADVANCED COPY of Sons of Thunder – Susie’s brand new epic World War 2 novel, due out in January 2010!)

A fun writing contest: Show Editor Chuck Sambuchino your worst writing!

Photo by alexsaes/StockXchange.com



As writers, we always strive to write our best--maybe not the first draft, but definitely by the final draft.

Here's an opportunity to work your hardest to write the worst storyline ever, thanks to Chuck Sambuchino, an editor for Writer's Digest Books,

What does he want from you?

A logline -- a one-sentence line that explains what your story is about and shows the "hook" - the unique idea that makes people want to see more. You see loglines all the time in TV Guide and on the back of DVD boxes. But, here's the twist: He wants stupid, dumb, terrible loglines!

Chuck held the contest once before, so if you'd like to see who won at writing their worst, check out the best entries.

Okay, that was a confusing sentence to write.

Go to Chuck's blog, Guide to Literary Agents, for all the rules. But the basics are: Your logline has to be one sentence with a max of 60 words.

So have it: Do your best to write your worst!