Jack Frost Pays a Visit

It's not technically winter for another couple of weeks, but try telling that to Jack Frost and his winter-weather-loving pals. They've been 'gifting' us with snow, cold, and frost since last month. Yesterday reminded us that not everything associated with winter is to be avoided. When Jack Frost visits, magic happens on windows--if you're observant enough to spot it.

Meet our Ice Dragon and our Ice Bouquet:

These were tiny gifts, barely bigger than a silver dollar, delicate and ephemeral, but oh, so beautiful. Enjoy the magic of the season!

Who's My Favorite Hero?

I write Fantasy Romance because I can’t help it. That’s just where my brain goes—straight to heroes on horseback wielding swords and wearing armor.

You know that song from the movie Footloose (the Kevin Bacon version) where they’re driving tractors at each other and the soundtrack is playing “I Need a Hero,” someone who’s “fresh from the fight”? That’s my kind of guy. That’s Arn, Prince of Val-Feyridge, and the hero I’ve had stuck in my head since high school.

He’s a ruthless warrior, so tough men fear him—and secretly want to “be” him. If only they knew how much he’s sacrificed to reclaim his rightful title. He loves no one, trusts but a few, and is focused on the one object that would fulfill his destiny, reclaiming the lost Crown of Tolem. He’s scarred inside and out, but he’ll be damned if he lets anyone see those wounds.

Can you tell I love him?

He needs a healer. Too bad she’s the one woman he shouldn’t fall for, a low-born member of the wrong side who could be both a witch AND a spy. Of course Aerid is neither, but she is stubborn, principled and anti-war. Opposites, I know, and that’s why she’s so wrong…and so right for a man who has to face his real, core fear. He’s lost everyone he loved once. Dare he risk that pain again?

Sometimes even the bravest warrior needs a determined woman’s help to overcome his fears.

The e-book is on sale for Veteran’s Day (kind of appropriate, don’t you think?) for just $2.24 at my publisher’s site: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/742_helencjohannes

Also, on Friday, Nov. 16, for one day only, you can go to The Romance Review’s Year End Splash Party site and play trivia for a chance to win a Kindle copy of THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE. You’ll have to register, if you’re not already a member, and log-in to play. Click on the link in the poster to the top left and you’ll be right there.

Coming in November--Giveaway!

The Romance Reviews Year End Splash Party runs the entire month of November. Be sure to head over there for daily trivia games and giveaway prizes. Remember, you have to log in to enter. Mark your calendar: I'll be giving away a Kindle copy of THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE on Friday, Nov. 16. For a link to TRR's Year End Splash Party, click on the poster at left starting on Nov. 1.

Who's My Favorite Heroine?

This month Coffee Time Romance is asking authors to dish on their favorite heroine from the books they've written. Here's the link to my post about my first published heroine, Aerid from THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE: https://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/adsep2018-helen-c-johannes/
Join me and more than 20 other authors as we reveal all kinds of connections to our heroines.

Best Writing Advice

This month Coffee Time Romance's Authors Dish topic is 'best writing advice.' Over 20 authors are participating. Mine is about helping the reader 'keep score.' Here's the link if you'd like to hop over and join the conversation: https://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/adaug2018-helen-c-johannes/

Giveaway!

Saturday, June 30 only! I'm offering a Kindle copy of BLOODSTONE on The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads Party Event. For a chance to win, be sure to log in to TRR and correctly answer a trivia question about the book (using the provided hint, of course): http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

Confessions of a Fantasy Romance Author -- Video Version!

Some time ago I visited the blog of my friend and fellow author Mary Hughes and created a post entitled "Confessions of a Fantasy Romance Author" to celebrate publication of THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE. 

Well, my talented and creative friend Mary has recently begun creating videos from her archived blog posts. She's taken my words and added pictures and music to create an amazing piece of art. I invite you to view it by clicking here: Confessions of a Fantasy Romance Author

Please leave Mary a comment to tell her how fantastically talented and generous she is. I can't thank her enough.

Spring Giveaway!

Today is the first day of Spring! Yay! The rhubarb on the south side of the house is poking a green leaf up. (It's always the earliest plant to emerge.) The driveway is clear of snow--finally!--and even the rooftops are shedding the white stuff. It's been a long, long time since we saw green grass, and we can hardly wait.

In honor of Spring I'm participating in The Romance Reviews 7th Anniversary Party and giving away a Kindle copy of THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE on Monday, March 26. For a chance to win in this one-day-only contest, you'll have to correctly answer a trivia question about the book. (Hint: the answer is found in the chapter excerpt on THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE page found on the link on the right of this column.) To enter, you'll need to go to https://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php and log in.

Please join me in welcoming Spring wherever you are and remember to enter the contest March 26.

Writing Contest--Open Now till March 1 the FAB FIVE

Wisconsin Romance Writers (WisRWA) FAB FIVE Contest is open now and in need of entries. If you have 2,500 words (approximately 10 pages) of the opening of a romance novel, check out WisRWA's contest tab for complete information. I've been fortunate enough to final and/or win with both of my published books in their early stages, so I can vouch for the value of this contest. Feedback is excellent.

For those thinking of entering, I offer up this previous post as a Valentine to all aspiring romance writers.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Some Friendly Advice for Those Who Are Entering Writing Contests

I’ve judged WisRWA’s Fab Five and RWA’s Golden Heart multiple times, and I’ve learned a lot from doing so—sometimes what I SHOULD be doing, but more often what NOT to do in my writing.

The first and obvious piece of advice should be this: Read and follow the rules.

Now I know entrants are at various stages in their writing careers and have varied knowledge of the conventions of writing, but here are some items to pay attention to fixing BEFORE you submit because if you attend to these issues first, you give your judges a better chance to focus on your story rather than on trying to figure out what is on the page. And what you really want them to judge is the story and characters.

Paragraphing

Observe in published novels how dialogue is broken into paragraphs. Put the character’s spoken words in the same paragraph as his/her actions. Readers will be better able to follow who said what if you do this. And following who said what helps the reader see the story without getting lost.

He/She/They used too frequently without identifying who he/she/they might be.

If two male characters are talking, be sure to tag each one clearly with a name or descriptive title because if “he” appears multiple times in a row, you (the author) may be clear as to which “he” is which because you are visualizing the scene in your head, but the reader has most likely lost track. (The same goes for female characters and any time you have more than two characters in a scene.)

The unreferenced “it”

This useful little word can also be a source of major confusion if “it” is not placed close enough to the thing “it” is replacing or standing in for. We, the writer, know exactly what we mean. But readers can’t see inside our heads, so it’s our job to replace all the vague words in our text with clear ones.

When we enter contests, it’s partly because we want to be read, to connect with an audience. We want the judge to assess our story, our characters, our scene setting, our hook, and give us feedback on the story as a whole. The last thing we want to do is interfere with the judge’s ability to see those aspects of our work. My best advice is to pay attention to these few items when you polish that entry.

What about you? What advice would you add?