Yikes!

If you wondered where I was on Tuesday...
My modem died on Sunday night. We were contemplating changing service providers, so we went ahead and did it. I'm up and running now.

Tuesday May 14, I'll bring you another Author Interview with Amara Royce and we'll tell you all about her new book, Never Too Late. I promise you'll enjoy it! ; )

Laura Grace's Spring Garden

My MC, Laura Grace Chandler is known for her award-winning baking, but she has another talent--gardening. Setting can be used to create insight into characters. That's the nature of Laura Grace's garden. As a careful nurturer, she has, along with her deceased husband Tom, created a palette of perennials that bloom from late winter into late autumn.

Here's examples of what you would see in her garden from early to mid-spring.

(All of the photos below are the copyright of Zan Marie Steadham 2013.)

Cherry Hill, GA, Laura Grace's hometown, is know for its many namesake cherry trees.

Narcissus

Spring bulbs and flowering shrubs are also some of Laura Grace's favorites choices for her garden.



Iris

Azalea

Dianthus may be small, but their large,
spicy scent makes them a presence.







I hope you've enjoyed a tour of a southern garden in full bloom. ; )

How do you use setting to show your characters' traits?



Show and Tell

Nearly every writer has heard the dictum--"Show, don't tell." (Do you want a $1 for every time you've heard it? I sure do!) The challenge is learning how to show. But there's a caveat with it--sometimes you need to tell. Narrative has its place for bridging and transition. In two recent exercises on the B&W Forum, we've worked on learning how to show and when to tell.

Here's an example from my March exercise. I needed to get from Friday night to Monday morning while conveying my MC's feelings, but not showing every move she made.

I had to wait until Monday to talk to Connie. It would be the first time the Samantha and Madison would be at school. And Terrence would be at the bank. I didn’t think I could stand to look at him. Not yet. Not with the image Samantha’s fears had put in my head.

It was all I could do to hold my breath and count to ten. Or somewhere in the vicinity of ten million.

            Connie’s flippant comment at church kept playing in my head accompanied by her smirking look—“The sleepover sure turned out to be more exciting than I had expected.”

            Exciting? How dare she allow children to see a sacred act made profane! I was ready to wipe her smug face clean after my daughter’s three crying jags and the monster of all nightmares last night.

            Samantha’s face had fallen when I sent her to school this morning. But I couldn’t pack her away in cotton batting—even if I wanted to. She had to deal with the real world. And I hated it to the core of my being.

 

Here's some links you might want to explore:

Diana Gabaldon  Just click on the link "DianaShowTell.rtf

Joanna Bourne Just click on the link "JoBourneShowTell.rtf

And a few links to Jo's blog: Here, Here, and Here

 

*What has helped you learn how to show?

*When do you use telling to advance the story?

 

The kitchen is about halfway done, and I'm still cooking in the dining room. What a peek? ; )

 

  

 

Mini-Reviews VI

Here's my latest crop of mini-reviews. Enjoy!

Beggars in Spain Nancy Kress (science fiction)
BEGGARS IN SPAIN is a classic SF novel with high concepts and an exploration of what it means to be human. Good read.

Calling Me Home Julie Kibler (literary women's fiction)
CALLING ME HOME is a deep, enriching story that shows racism in all its facets, but also tells how love can heal. The lovely characters live and will steal your heart. Must Read!

Every Last One Anna Quindlen (literary)
This is a must read! It's brilliantly written deep internal voice and a novel about the lies we tell ourselves.    

I'll Take What She Has Samantha Wilde (women's fiction)
I'LL TAKE WHAT SHE HAS is a lovely book that takes lifelong friends Annie and Nora on a trip of growth and learning that allows them to look wisely at their own lives. Good read

The Unfinished Garden Barbara Claypool White (literary romance)
This is a lovely romance with two damaged characters finding the road a bit bumpy, but worth the trip. Good read

BTW, my hubby started on the kitchen remodel today. Let's just say, life is interesting. ; )
Hopefully I'll have Kristen Callihan's interview for you next week.

Guess What's Stopping Me Now?



Zan Marie Steadham 2013



Zan Marie Steadham 2013
 

Believe me. I've been rocking along at a good pace since the first of the year, filling in holes in FRIENDLY FIRE, jotting down ideas for the rest of the Cherry Hill books.

But.

Last week I've come to a screeching halt. Why, you ask.

Well, the total house renovation has revved up again with the warming spring air. The good from this is that the house needed a face lift terribly. The bad is, I've been crammed back into a corner of the dining room while the study gets painted and sleeping on a double bed with a six foot four husband and two toy poodles while the paint fumes air in the master bedroom.

Now I can at least reveal the new colors the heart of my home--my study. The curtains were there already and the new green walls are perfect. On the other hand, the books are still stacked in boxed like cord wood and on every spare surface of the dining room. ; )

Hopefully, next week will be better...Of course, I will still have to sort through and reshelf tons of books.

Update! The study is all back in place. There are three boxes to deliver to the library for resell, and I have four series of books I'm going to try to sell on ebay...but as of now, I'm back in business. That is if I'll get started again. Cross your fingers.

Announcement of another Author Interview
If I get myself back to work, I'll introduce you to one of my favorite romance authors--Kristen Callihan, a double RITA nominee for this year.

So, back to work... ; )

Goodreads!

Aside from all the news that Amazon purchased Goodreads last week (see HERE) and whether that's a good or bad thing, I need help navigating all the options at Goodreads.

I joined recently and I know how to post books, make bookshelves, and rate books. Other than that, I'm still trying to figure it out. So, I thought I'd ask for you for help.

Do you use the following?
The widgets for blogs come in a lot of varieties:

• custom
• update
• grid
• My Books
• shelf badge
• email footer, etc.

Do you have any suggestions about the settings, emails, or feeds?
What is Listopia?

As you can see, I'm a novice when it comes to Goodreads. ; )

What's your favorite thing about Goodreads?

I'm Zan Marie Steadham on Goodreads...and I love new friends. Let me know if you are a member of Goodreads and we'll share a few recommendations. ; )

Mini-Reviews V and the Blog Blitz!

 

Check out D. L.'s BLOG BLITZ



Everyone knows I like to try new and different things, so today I present to you the BLOG BLITZ. Here’s how I see it working. Sign up on the linky list below, making sure to record your email address, and you’ll instantly become a member of the Blog Blitz Team. Then from time to time, I will select a deserving blog (that must be part of the Blitz Team) and a specific date. I will then email the team members that information and on that date we all will go out of our way to visit that blog and leave an encouraging comment on their most recent post. I'm talking about hopefully a 100+ comments appearing out of the blue in one day!

Copyright-Zan Marie Steadham, March 2009
 

Spring is here and we all need good reads to fill the new season. Here's my latest installments of good books to read.

BEL CANTO Ann Patchett (literary suspense)
This is an excellent book. Blending opera, terrorists, and music into a readable, edge-of-your-seat read is an amazing achievement and Ann Patchett pulls it off with style. The deep, but shifting, third POV is seamless and smooth. I never had a doubt about whose head I was in and why. Must Read!

THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE Diana Gabaldon (Historical Fiction)
You can't go wrong with Diana Gabaldon's books! This one is a great read that cuts to the heart of one of her beloved characters, Lord John Grey. Add a neat mystery and Jamie Fraser and it's as good as a read gets.

CHILDREN OF GOD Mary Doria Russell (Literary Science Fiction)
This is the sequel to The Sparrow and it is a wonderful, comprehensive conclusion to the first book. Emilio Sandoz's journey to another world as a Jesuit missionary comes full cycle and the reason for all his pain is gloriously revealed. Must Read!

CROSSING OCEANS Gina Holmes (Christian Women's Fiction)
The main character must make some tough decisions when faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis. Some reviewers thought the Christian content was heavy handed and others didn't see it at all. I think it's just right. Good read.

EMMA JEAN'S BAD BEHAVIOR Charlotte Rains Dixon (Women's Fiction)
Emma Jean's Bad Behavior enchanted me. The main character, Emma Jean, has a snarky exterior that hides a deeply wounded and insecure soul who is searching for the truth of the story of her life. She's delightfully flawed and I wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake her. Great Read!
See my interview with Charlotte Rains Dixon on February 19.

RESCUE Anita Shreve (Literary)
Rescue is a good story, but the style wasn't my taste. The third person POV was distant, but not omniscient and much of the book was in present tense.

PIRATE CAPTAIN: CHRONICLES OF A LEGEND Kerry Lynne (Historical with Romance touches)
Pirate Captain: Chronicles of a Legend, is not your usual pirate story. It’s a sprawling tale with more layers than a hundred onions. At the center of the tale lies the stories of Cate McKenzie, a woman who hides deep secrets, and Capt. Nathanael Jonathan Edward Blackthorne, a man of mystery and legend.  Good read.
See my interview with Kerry Lynne on March 12.

THE SCOTTISH PRISONER Diana Gabaldon (Historical Fiction)
This is even better than BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE and true to its title, it concerns Jamie Fraser and Lord John Grey. If you've ever wondered how these two very different men can be good friends, you must read this book. Besides, we all need a dose of Diana Gabaldon while waiting for the next big Jamie and Claire book, WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART'S BLOOD.

What about you? What are you reading this spring?

Pixar's 22 Rules for Phenomenal Storytelling

A good story is the start of a lot of entertainment. From the campfire and the classroom, to the movies and books, it still holds true that you have to have a good story to hold an audience. Now you can sample the wisdom of one of the great animated picture making companies--Pixar. Ther list of 22 Rules is from Emma Coats, a Pixar storyboard artist, who tweeted them last summer. Check out this cool graphic version HERE.

And for you who want to keep this piece of inspiration around all the time, Etsy has a poster version you can buy.

Some of them really resonate for me.

 

#3: Trying for theme is important, but you won't see what the story is actually about til you're at the end of it. Now rewrite.

 

#8: Finish your story, let go even if it's not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.

 

#11: Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you'll never share it with anyone.

 

#17: No work is ever wasted. If it's not working, let go and move on - it'll come back around to be useful later.

 

Do you see a pattern here? ; ) I keep telling myself the goal must be, finish the book, THEN worry about the small stuff.

 

Follow the link and let me know which rule resonates for you?