Day: December 16, 2019

Introducing The Old Gilt Clock

Published on by mariacatalinaegan2 Comments

The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap

I’m very pleased to announce the release of my latest book, The Old Gilt Clock. As all profits from my books go to help get dogs out of kill shelters I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who purchases my book and also to those who write reviews and help spread the word. I’m truly grateful for your support.

CLOCK EBOOK COVER FINAL

Cover photo: Willem Arondéus, Public Domain

SYNOPSIS

During one of the darkest times in human history when millions of innocent Jews and others deemed “undesirables” were being sent to concentration camps to be brutality worked to death or slaughtered, a group of Dutch resistance workers rose up against the atrocities. Their resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands created a vast counterintelligence, domestic sabotage, and communications network to help hide Jewish people from German authorities. The Old Gilt Clock is the story of how one Dutch resistance…

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Author Kelli A. Wilkins Shares 15 Fun Writing Tips!

Published on by mariacatalinaeganLeave a comment

 

 

you can write_final

www.kelliwilkins.com

 

Hi everyone!

One of the most common questions I’m asked is: “Do you have any writing tips?” Well, yes, I sure do! Whether you’re a beginning writer just starting out, or someone who is more advanced, here are 15 fun tips any writer can use.

TIP 1: Use more dialogue and less exposition (narrative) in the beginning of a story, it’ll speed up the action and pull readers in.

TIP 2: Don’t use “She thought to herself.” in your story. (Who else does she think to?) Instead, put your character’s internal dialogue (thoughts) in italics. Be careful not to overdo it, though. Your characters shouldn’t be “thinking” the whole story.

TIP 3: Make a list of important details, so they don’t accidentally change during the story. If your hero has a blue striped sofa in Chapter One, it shouldn’t be red in Chapter Three.

TIP 4: Don’t let your characters relax or become too comfortable in a scene. Keep raising the stakes and ask yourself, “What could go wrong at the worst possible time?”

TIP 5: If you’re stuck on a character’s name, try freewriting for a while. If you can’t think of a name now and are busy writing, call the character “George” or “Helen” and change it later.

TIP 6: Ask yourself what the character wants (this is his or her goal) then throw in a curve and see how you can make things go wrong.

TIP 7: The type of story you write can determine how you use point-of-view. Short stories are almost always told in one character’s viewpoint, whether in first or third person. Novels and novellas can be told by many characters using different points-of-view.

TIP 8: When you’re in the writing zone, don’t think about what to write, write whatever pops into your head. And don’t worry about spelling or grammar—this is just for fun!

TIP 9: Set aside an hour a day to write. Not sure you have an hour? Consider writing on your lunch break or during a commute. Get up an hour earlier or schedule time after dinner. Make an appointment with yourself and keep it.

TIP 10: Avoid starting sentences with “suddenly.” It warns readers that something is about to happen before it does.

TIP 11: Don’t rush through a scene to get to the end. Stay in the scene as long as you have to and let the drama build. When a scene is fleshed out completely, your readers can envision everything that’s happening.

TIP 12: Each character must have a weakness he or she works to overcome. It could be anything: chronic lateness, unreliability, or fear of spiders. Use this weakness against your character in the story and show readers how he or she overcomes it.

TIP 13: Give your characters something from the past that can come back to haunt them. A secret is revealed (or is threatened to be), an ex-lover returns, a secret love child appears, or a scandal threatens to destroy someone… It adds depth and believability to the characters. It can also move the plot forward. What are the consequences of hiding the secret? What happens when it’s revealed?

TIP 14: Show your readers your character’s personality, likes, and dislikes. Describe keepsakes and favorite possessions (a coffee mug from vacation, a lucky keychain, or a cherished family photo). What does each item mean or represent to the character? Why do they have it?

TIP 15: Keep a folder for “someday” story ideas, characters, and settings. File notes, scraps of plots, bits of dialogue, and photos of scenic views that you’ve accumulated in one place. If you’re ever stuck on what to write next, open the folder and see what inspires you.

Want more writing tips and advice? Check out my non-fiction writing guide, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction.

This fun and practical book walks you through the story-creating process step-by-step: from getting a great idea to meeting your characters, developing a plot, and on to writing, revising, and submitting your work. It covers the basics of storytelling – regardless of what genre you write.

Each easy-to-read chapter is based on my years of hands-on experience as a writer, advice I’ve received, and the technical “know-how” I’ve gained in writing classes and professional writing workshops. It’s practical advice on how to get started, almost like a Writing 101 workshop. Any writer can use the tips and writing exercises for an extra boost of motivation or just for fun.

Ready to write? Order your copy here:

 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Write-Really-Beginners-Writing-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00THWLFQU

 

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4AqYN4

 

Happy Writing!

Kelli A. Wilkins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 19 romance novels, 6 non-fiction books, and 2 online writing courses. Her romances span many genres and heat levels, and she’s also been known to scare readers with her horror stories.

In November 2019, she released Romance Every Weekend: 104 Fun Ways to Express Your Love, a non-fiction guide to romance. The book features 104 fun and easy ways you can express your love to that special someone in your life. Perfect for men or women, it focuses on tender, everyday gestures that let your partner know how much you love him or her.

Kelli published Extraterrestrial Encounters, a collection of 18 sci-fi stories, in August 2019. If you like horror fiction, don’t miss her disturbing novella, Nightmare in the North.

Her historical romance, The Viking’s Witch, was released in June 2019. This full-length novel takes place in Celtic Scotland and blends a sensual romance with paranormal elements.

 

In March 2019, Kelli published Dangerous Indenture, a historical mystery romance set in Colonial Pennsylvania. She released the second half of her flash fiction series, Cupid’s Schemes, in early 2019. These two volumes of lighthearted mini-romances are perfect reads for a quick lunchtime escape or an after-work indulgence.

 

Kelli released a Teachable mini-course, Fiction Basics: Finding Ideas in February 2019. She authored Fiction Writing for Beginners through Teachable in 2018. These courses are perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to write. Visit: https://kelliwilkins.teachable.com/ for more details.

Not just an author, Kelli is also an amateur photographer. Visit her pages on Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/g/kelli+wilkins and iStock https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/kelliwilkins to view her photos.

Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor.

Visit her website/blog: www.KelliWilkins.com to learn about all of her writings.

you can write_final

THE GROWING ROOTS SERIES by Chelsea Falin

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Putting the Pieces Together
Growing Roots Book 4
by Chelsea Falin
Genre: YA Coming of Age
Publication Date: October 27, 2019
Living a “normal” life doesn’t always mean that things will always be good. Bad things happen to even the best of people, and this is a life lesson Willie must now learn when tragedy strikes her close-knit group of friends.
As she continues to grow and change, Willie knows that she is far from the girl who arrived in Oklahoma little over a year ago. She’s growing, changing, and working on putting the pieces together in her life – just as her friends struggle to do the same.
“You never know, Willie. Death doesn’t discriminate by age or gender or social status. It’s one of the few things that doesn’t care. When it comes for you, it comes. It could be today, tomorrow, or a hundred years from now, but when your time is up, it’s up. There’s nothing you can do to change that.”-Dakota
Praise for the ‘Growing Roots Series’:
“a great lesson in the way life can change at any time”
“an eye-opener for teenagers and older adults alike”
“Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene.”
Great Strides
Growing Roots Book 3
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Willie has finally found her father, and he’s welcomed her with open arms. Now she must forge a relationship with the man she never even knew was alive. It isn’t just him, however, Willie must also find out how she fits in with her step-mother and half-siblings. Left in Alabama with no close-in-age peers, Willie makes great strides in finding out who she is as an individual without a group of close friends to rely on.
Alabama offers many firsts for Willie. The most notable in her own mind is her first relationship. There are other firsts in store, however, and a whole new cast of characters to get to know. How will Willie handle this newest experience? Will she handle it in the mature the way she has always handled change? Or will this be the point in which Willie loses herself?
“Genetics are a tricky business at times, and you just never know what you’re going to get when you throw two ancestry’s together.”
-Willie’s Mamaw
Personal Growth
Growing Roots Book 2
Publication Date: March 18, 2013
Willie, despite a rough start, has become immersed in the culture she should have been born into. As she grows in her own knowledge of her ancestral roots, she also grows in who she is as a person. All things are now within her reach, and all she must do is put forth a little effort. With all of this in mind, Willie has decided to dedicate herself towards her own ‘Personal Growth.’
“Our heritage might be bloody, but that’s no reason not to be proud!”
-Spike
~~~
‘Personal Growth’ is the second installment in the fairly popular indie series, Growing Roots. It is the sequel to ‘Less Than Humble Beginnings.’ Here is what people have said about the series:
“The characters are believable and realistic.”
“Chelsea used concise descriptions of her characters which made it very easy to imagine their interactions.”
“Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene. With her excellent weaving of words, the world of Willie came alive as if I’m watching a movie.”
“Being a teenager is never easy, and Willie’s internal struggles were easy to relate to.”
Less Than Humble Beginnings
Growing Roots Book 1
Publication Date: November 24, 2012
Willie and Babette have long, long been shielded from their own culture and heritage by their mother. When circumstances change, the girls are thrown into what they were once shielded from – only to find it is nothing like they once believed.
While Babette adjusts easily, Willie finds herself much more hesitant. While she struggles to find her true self, Willie is forced to learn she is not the only one suffering from “Less Than Humble Beginnings.”
“Try to remember everyone here has their demons, but we put those demons to good use. Make ourselves better, stronger, wiser.” – Jack
Chelsea Falin is the 25 year old independent author of well over ten titles. She began writing with intents to publish in 2006, at age 16, and finally published in 2009, at age 19. Chelsea writes in a variety of genres, including but not limited to: romance, young adult, comedy, cooking, poetry, and dramatic fiction. Professionally, Chelsea is also a freelance blog/article writer, web designer, and book blogger.
In her personal life, Chelsea is the mother of a six year old daughter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, fishing, hiking, biking, traveling, and spending time with her friends or family.
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