NaNoWriMo anyone?

This year I am taking part in what is known as NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month! At first when someone told me about it I wasn't sure it was even possible, but after having started on the third it has been a thrill ride. In taking this challenge I have learned how to better my use of time and that if I put my mind to something I can accomplish it.

It is the fifteenth and though I haven’t finished it I have gotten about four-fifths the way done. Yes, I have written close to 40,000 words!! The goal is to write a short novel at about 50,000 words in the month of November. Start on the first and end by the 30th I believe. I’m still working that part out, but I hope to have mine finished around 60K and fully done for editing by the 20th. The 20th also happens to be the release date for my second Pulse Trilogy Book, Barely Beating.

One of the biggest things about how to go about writing is to pull away from the internet and other distractions. Thank you though for staying on long enough to read my blog. J I won’t’ tell. I think I would have written more it only I could keep away from the web, but I have to admit I have been only on in short burst throughout the days. Going cold turkey is a little harder than I thought.

What I have done is I’m carved out a corner of a room where I surround myself with inspiration, notes, and a trusty pair of headphones which block out background sounds and feeds me an endless amount of music from my playlist. I could never go about writing any story without music. Depending on what scene I’m writing I have a different playlist for it. Sad, happy, a fight scene, or a love scene, everything has its own music, but I drift.

When writing I normally write the beginning and ending so I know where I’m going to, but this time I’m writing from beginning to end all the way through. I’ll go back and add scenes later, working on editing, and refine everything when I have finished the first draft, but for now I am concentrating on simply getting the story pulled out of my head in one coherent mass.

So even if you start typing now to be a part of NaNoWriMo I think you can pull it off. Just manage your time and pull yourself away from the internet, you’ll be surprised at how much you can get done when you’re not reading Facebook updates, staring at a funny picture, digging through Twitter, or deciding what next to build on Minecraft.

I hope this helps if you’re working on it and if you haven’t taken part in NaNoWriMo maybe next year you will join in. J I know I will!

Brenda Franklin author of A Steady Pulse and Barely Beating, first two books of the Pulse Trilogy

You can find out about my works on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or if you would like a few free stories head over to my Smawords page. I don’t mind. :D

Review of: Love Lines by Diana Nixon

Having been immersed in the world of vampires and werewolves for so long I wasn't exactly sure how I would take to a paranormal romance novel without them. I know that sounds silly, but after I began reading I realized this was right up my alley!

Diana Nixon has made for us Dever (with seven different groups Feta, Meridin, Venturo, Vero, Embry, Fairey, and Wizardy.), a place humans shouldn’t know exists, but there are those with extraordinary abilities who are allowed to know. She doesn't spare on the details and as you sink deeper and deeper into the world Diana created you feel as though you are a part of it. That is a great accomplishment for any writer, is to make the read feel a certain sense of realism and I think she captured it well.

It was a story filled with discovery, love at first sight, secrets, humor, and the most relatable scenes you could ask for. If I had been in their shoes, like I wanted to be in many times, I would have been thinking and feeling the same things. I could only describe some scenes with the word eerie as I found myself connecting so well with her characters. Being confused with them, understanding when they found our something knew, and unable to stop myself from wanting to know why her main two characters, Eileen and Christian, are bounded together?

I don’t want to give away the ending, but I have to say that I my stomach was twisted in knots so tightly bound and it made it impossible for me to not have to read the next book. Not that that’s a bad thing! Don’t get me wrong! It’s a wonderful read and I would suggest it to everyone no matter what kind of books you were into reading this is one you shouldn't pass up, but I want--no need to read more. I just can’t go without knowing what’s next to come out of Diana Nixon’s mind and we’re all in for a treat because her next book, Song of my Wind is soon to be released. But if you’re reading this review any time after the month of November 2012 you just might want to look it up and see if you can grab your copy already. I give it a five out of five.

I also want to take a moment to thank Diana Nixon for giving me a copy of her book and allowing me to read. It really has been a pleasure to dive into this imagery world and I can’t wait to do it again soon very soon. To learn more about Diana you can go to her website.

Brenda Franklin author of paranormal romance, A Steady Pulse and Barely Beating, the first two in the Pulse Trilogy! Enjoy my works on Amazon or Smashwords, or follow me on Facebook and Twitter. I always love to meet new people. 

Review Sherrilyn Kenyon’s book Devil May Cry

I just finished reading Sherrilyn Kenyon’s book Devil May Cry from the Dark-Hunter series for the second time and I couldn’t get enough of it! After reading several of her works it dosen’t surprise me in the least to learn that she has appeared on the Top Ten list of The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today.

Devil May Cry 5 stars

Sin is an ancient Sumerian god whose powers were taken away by Artemis, who he has sworn to destroy if their paths ever crossed again. But he has bigger fish to deal with as the demon known as Gallus are hungry for humans. He is only one who has a chance to stop them, but when a mysterious woman looking like Artemis appears before him what’s a man to do other than hold her hostage and demand his powers back?

Now he has to decide whether he can shove his craving for revenge against Artemis aside long enough to accept her help, but the road of trust and betrayal is all too familiar to him. Before he knows it not only does the woman have his heart in her hands, but she may be just what he’s looking for to save his life when things get rocky, but can he trust her? Or will she abandon him?

I couldn’t put the book down. Even after reading it a second time I still feel like I can go back and read it again. Kenyon really puts you there in the moment. She tugs at your heart and as her characters struggle and come to realize you’re there bedside them feeling their pain or happiness. She really does know how to keep you wanting more, from her dashingly stunning characters, to her use of the Greek Gods and Goddesses; she leaves out no expense in depth.

Just read any of her books and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Brenda Franklin
find me on twitter, Facebook, my Pulse Trilogy on Amazon or Smashwords. :)

Wednesday Reviews: The Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead

Lawhead has a unique way about writing that I find hard to match with other writers. No matter where he is writing about you can guarantee he will get there. With his detailed descriptions of places such as Prague or London, no matter the year, you don’t have to go there to experience what his characters are seeing, smelling, and feeling. All you have to do is read his works.

The Skin Map, like his other works, isn't lacking is the details. He has done his homework on this masterpiece. The first of five in his Bright Empire series it takes you on an adventure that is sure to keep you reading till the last page where the fun doesn't end there.

Follow a long lost relative on an adventure to recover the pieces of a human skin map, avoid the bad guys and try not to tamper too much with the past while your at it. Then add a dash of humor and wallah! You have a fun field adventure I would recommend anyone to read.

I give it 5 out of 5.

 

Author: Stephen R. Lawhead

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. He is the author of such epics such as The King Raven Trilogy, The Song of Albion Trilogy, and The Dragon King Trilogy. Lawhead makes his home in Oxford, England, with his wife. Visit StephenLawhead.com to learn more about him and his works and follow his Bright Empire series with the next book, The Bone House.

Brenda Franklin

To learn more about me you can follow me on Facebook or Twitter. To read my works just go to amazon or smashwords.

A Steady Pulse

Name: A STEADY PULSE

Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance

Word Count: Approximately 85, 540

About:

Elizabeth just wanted to take a week off from life at her family’s cabin. Just one week to get herself back on her feet. Was that too much to ask for? Apparently, yes. The next thing she knows she’s neck deep in a Vampire--Yes, Vampire!--family feud where one side is trying to kill her and the other, led by Virgil--Mr. tall, dark, and irresistible-- wants to turn her! What’s a girl to do, other than have a panic attack and head for the hills?

The connection was instant. From the moment her thoughts entered his mind and his eyes locked onto hers, Virgil Hart knew he would never be able to be rid of her. And he didn’t want to. Elizabeth’s presence had awakened within him unfamiliar feelings. Was it love? Was it lust? Or could loneliness have finally driven him mad? Whatever the reason, Virgil won’t stand by and let Elizabeth be murdered by his brother. Now, if she would just calm down long enough to let him protect her then everything would go much smoother!

Smashwords---Amazon---Barnes and Noble

---Excerpt---

“I must be crazy.” Virgil laughed. He had wanted to run into her ever since the car ride, but now that he was face to face with her he felt unable to do anything more than make her upset. How was he to save her if she wasn't even going to listen to him?

“You…you are…” She whispered weakly trying to gather the courage to say what she prayed wasn't true.

“Not going to harm you. Not going to drink your blood. I am not a monster. I am a vampire.” He assured her with the best smile he could muster under the circumstances.

“Yeah…” She let out a shaky breath. He understood why her eyes were still searching him. She was looking for anything to prove or disprove what he was saying. So Virgil leaned his head back and lowered his jaw. He extended his fangs out and pushed hard to darken his eyes. What more proof could he give her?

Elizabeth would have fallen to the floor if she hadn't already been sitting, but she stayed facing Virgil taking one deep breath after the other. He pulled back in his fangs and lowered his head. His eyes returned to normal and the space between them was tense.

“I saw a pair like that once.” She whispered releasing a shaky laugh. “It was at a gothic store in the mall…”

“These are--”

“Don’t say real!” She snapped. “They can’t be!”

Brenda Franklin

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A Steady Pulse from Smashwords to Amazon

My first Ebook, A STEADY PULSE, made its debut on Smashwords on December 5, 2011. I was beyond the simple description for the word nervous when I pushed the button to publish it online that I could have had a heart attack. Any person watching me as I sat quietly in the library would have thought I was making a life and death decision.

Well, I was.

I was facing my demons of perfection demanding me to wait. They were saying I wasn’t good enough and that I could do better. They also filled my head with doubts about people reviewing my work and eating me alive! How would I survive?

But I did it. I pushed on and managed to publish my works in Smashwords. It must have taken a week before it fully set in and though I updated it a couple of times for mistakes that were simple I found courage. With each update and sell I became stronger.

I found out I wasn’t alone and that I was being supported by people just like me! And with this new found discovery I knew I needed to go farther than Smashwords. I started a BLOG, I joined Twitter, and I even gained friends from FACEBOOK. I started to form a small group of authors to follow (Ia Uaro, Cheryl, for example) and slowly it expanded into being a part of a full community (tweets4authors).

Then I found Ashley Wied and fell head over heels in love with her cover art and took yet another big step for me. Something I probably should have done in the beginning, but I’m still learning. After several days and many lovely conversations back and forth she made the process easy and painless. Next thing I knew I had this one of a kind cover that I couldn’t be more than happy about. She really did take the hundreds of things I gave her and narrowed it into a great piece. I definitely plan to go back to her for my next works. You can learn more about her by clicking on her name.

Now with a new cover and with a whole cast of supporters I published my work on Amazon as of September 11th and I haven’t looked back.

I look forward to what everyone has to say about my book and I can’t wait to finish my next paranormal romance. I am also working on several over projects, one is a Middle Grade fiction which a sample of the first chapter can be read here: The Adventures of Kyle and Jordan Chapter 1 Part 1.

Thank you for reading, following, and supporting me and my work.

B. Franklin

To learn more about A STEADY PULSE please click one either links to amazon and smashwords to read a description.

Sydney Song by Ia Uaro

 It’s an amazing and emotional love story that pulls you in at the first page. If you can get past reading the first page you better make time in your day because you’ll be hooked unable to put it down. SYDNEY’S SONG is written with such honest passion and it practically oozing off the pages. When Sydney isn’t so happy it makes you want to cheer her up, when her heart is racing you just want to check your own pulse, and when love is in the air you have to make sure to breath.

It’s one of those stories that touches more than just the surface of love, but travels deep within the structure testing it every so often and battles all odds to come out on top.

I give it 5 out of 5 and you can read more reviews here.

I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to read Sydney’s Song. Thank you for creating such a masterpiece and for reminding me of the miracles of love even in the hardest of times.

To learn more about the author Ia Uaro please visit her site here or follow her on Twitter.

B. Franklin
Follow me on Twitter, talk to me on Facebook, read my bog, or buy my book A Steady Pulse.