Writing
From The Heart
It’s a question authors ask themselves all
the time. What are readers looking for in a romance?
Of course if we knew the answer, every book
we write would be a best-seller.
Instead of trying to figure out what the
reader wants, and twisting our prose to suit what we think might appeal to them, perhaps we should write what interests
us.
Think about it. If we write what is real to
us, our stories will be heartfelt. We’ll be able to express genuine emotion,
instead of throwing out words and hoping that some of them stick. Have you ever
read a passage in a book and thought to yourself “that just doesn’t make sense?”
Me too.
All of the ‘How To’ books will, at some point
or another, tell aspiring authors to ‘write the Book of Your Heart’. It’s
become such a trite and over-used expression that most authors recognize the
acronym BOYH without even thinking about it.
So why don’t more of us write from the heart?
Perhaps because we’re chasing the latest trend. Or maybe we’re afraid to expose
ourselves; to let the reader see our fears and insecurities as well as our
hopes and dreams. How’s that for four over-used words? Over-used perhaps, but
true.
Fiction writers love to discuss which is more
important, character or story. I’d also add setting to that mix, although to a
lesser degree. As a writer, I need to like
my protagonists, even if they’re flawed. As a matter of fact, it’s more
interesting if they’re not perfect. I need to be invested in their story and
know the setting. I care about what happens to them. That’s what keeps writing
fresh for me...and fun. And when all three elements come together, I have a
smile on my face when I hit that final keystroke.
I believe that Then Came Love is
an example of writing from the heart. The characters are ones with whom I
easily identify, and the setting is familiar to me...a winning combination. And
I’m happy to say that a lot of readers agree.
Mona
Ingram
February 25 Interview
Catherine Bybee
February 25 review
Secret Southern Couture,
February 26 Spotlight
February 27 Interview
Creatively Green
February 28 Interview
Pembroke Sinclair
March 1 Guest blog
Fang-tastic Books
March 2 Interview
Books, Books the Magical Fruit
March 3 Interview
Roxanne’s Realm
March 4 Guest blog
March 5 Spotlight and review
Readaholic's Reviews
March 6 Spotlight
Regina May Ross's Blog
March 9 Spotlight
Reviewing in Chaos
March 10 Spotlight
Bex 'n' Books
March 10 review
Bookish Things and More.
Then Came Love
Mona Ingram
Mona Ingram
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 978-0-9879069-0-8
ASIN: B0080SDHWC
Number of pages: 103
Word Count: 31,200
Purchase Links: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080SDHWC
Book Description:
Stuck in an unhappy marriage, Amanda Reimer grabs the opportunity to go on a short holiday by herself. An undercover cop, Jackson Galloway is a member of the RCMP Green Team, and he’s in the interior of British Columbia to find a marijuana grow-op. Jackson gives Amanda a lift to Loon Lake Resort and is intrigued by the gentle woman. The chemistry between the two is immediate and powerful, but Amanda is determined to stick to her marriage vows...besides, she’s afraid of her husband. Jackson is just as determined...to see Amanda again when the drug bust is over.
But will the growing love between Amanda and Jackson survive the pressures of finding the grow-op?
Join Amanda and Jackson in a journey of discovery, where the ultimate destination is love.
About the Author:
Mona Ingram was born in Ontario, Canada. Her family moved to British Columbia when she was twelve, and she can't imagine living anywhere else. In recent years she has lived in the Okanagan Valley and on Vancouver Island. In addition to reading and writing, traveling and bird watching are among Mona’s favorite pastimes.
Mona writes contemporary romance novels and takes great delight in creating unexpected twists and turns in her story lines. She frequently sets her books in areas which are familiar to her, immersing the reader in the setting. One reader recently commented that “after reading Fixing Freddie, I felt as though I’d been on a trip to Vancouver.”
Website: http://monaingram.com
Facebook: http://tiny.cc/h6gfnw
Twitter: @MonaIngram1
8 comments:
This is so true. When I write, I write things that I would like to read myself - and hope others will like to read it, too!
This looks like an interesting book!
Thanks for the giveaway. I am putting this on my wishlist.
When I first read "Green Team" I thought environment/recycling. Made me smile when it referred to marijuana growing. Yes, that would be green too.
Love cop type heroes.
Thanks everyone for your kind responses. Nothing like getting out on one of these tours. Such a treat for me to hear your reactions.
Sounds like it was enjoyable to write!
Great post. Makes you think.
debby236 at gmail dot com
Very nice post and cover.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
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