Need help with PLOTTING? Well Suzanne Johnson and Sola Writers has a class for you....

When I took this class by Suzanne Johnson, I knew I had to have her teach it again for my local writers chapter. Well, this is a online class so anyone can join in...

http://solawriters.org/registration-for-suzanne-johnsons-quilting-101-patch-working-the-perfect-plot/

Here's the info to sign up:

Date: October 1 – 25th, 2012 (on-line workshop)

Place: Sola’s On-line Yahoo Workshop Group (Invitation sent once payment received.)

Fee: $25 Sola Members / $30 RWA Members / $35 Non-RWA Members

Click here for online registration and payment information via PayPal.

To pay via Paypal go to this link

Course outline:

Do storyboards, sticky notes, spreadsheets and index cards give you hives? Does your manuscript wander in circles – yet you’re afraid a detailed outline will suck the heart and soul out of your writing?

All you need is a simple word-processing program to stitch together the perfect quilt of a plot to keep your novel on track and moving in the right direction – while still giving your muse room to play. We’ll use a six-step technique to plot a novel from start to finish, and give you a huge head-start on your first draft (and the dreaded synopsis). This will be a working course! Bring your best idea (the one that’s been bubbling in your brain for six months) or a manuscript that’s wandering in the desert, and we’ll shape it up and get it moving. We’ll also be deconstructing a novel into its outline as part of this class, and I’ve chosen J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover, the first in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. If you have a chance to read it before the class, it will make the deconstruction more familiar, but it’s not absolutely necessary.

Over the course of the month, you’ll put together the perfect quilt, er, novel.

Classes will include:

1) Picking the Right Pattern. Just as a quilt uses small pieces that fit together to create a whole, a novel is created of the Big Idea–your overriding storyline–plus several Small Ideas, or subplots.

2) Choosing the Fabric. Your novel can have its pattern, but without the perfect fabrics, you won’t end up with a pretty quilt. In a novel, your characters are your fabrics. At this stage, you’ll decide who your dominant hero (or heroine) will be, identify the secondary lead character, and determine what roles your supporting cast will play.

3) Color Arrangement. Before beginning to stitch, the successful quilter decides how those squares of fabric will be placed to make the most effective use of the pattern. In our novels, this step involves identifying relationships, not just the relationship between a hero and heroine, but between all characters, and between each character and the Big Idea.

4) Basting. Here’s where we really start to have fun. We’ll choose the threads of our story through the relationships we’ve identified and start to think about how to put them together. Each relationship should have a story arc that progresses from start to finish.

5) Piecing the Quilt Top. We’ll take each of our relationship arcs and rearrange them into a single plot arc. At the end of this stage, each person will have a rough sentence outline of a complete novel. This outline will also serve as an easy foundation to writing the dreaded synopsis.

6) Backing, Batting and Binding. A quilt top is beautiful, but unfinished. In this final lesson, participants will go back through their plot arc and begin to flesh out scenes. The “backing and binding” stage can be as simple or as detailed as the author wishes; those who develop a more detailed, fleshed-out plot arc will find themselves well along their way in creating a first draft of their novels.

Author’s Bio:

Suzanne Johnson is the author of a new urban fantasy series beginning with ROYAL STREET and RIVER ROAD, both coming in 2012 from Tor Books, and ELYSIAN FIELDS, coming in 2013, also from Tor. A longtime New Orleans resident now living in Auburn, Alabama, Suzanne is a veteran journalist with more than fifty national awards in writing and editing nonfiction. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama, and a native of Winfield, Alabama.

During her daytime job, Suzanne is associate editor of Auburn Magazine, the quarterly magazine of the Auburn University Alumni Association. She has also worked at Tulane University in New Orleans, the University of San Diego, Rice University in Houston, and at the University of Illinois. Awards include: the Robert S. Sibley Award for the best university magazine in the U.S. and Canada, for the Rice University Sallyport; feature writing awards in 2009 and 2010 from Writer’s Digest magazine; and more than 50 awards in writing and editing from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Suzanne is an active member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and is a member of the Georgia, Southern Magic, and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal chapters of RWA. Find her online: Website: http://www.suzanne-johnson.com/ Blog: http://suzanne-johnson.blogspot.com/

Getting the novella (prequel) done...

I'm taking a break from my witch series, Book #1 (Buried Magic) in order to write the set-up. (Don't ask.)

Here is the first sentence in Chapter 2,(Mixed Magic) which is basically what the entire book is about. Whatda' think?

"When Gwynn allowed herself to be talked into saving her covens’ future, sex with a witch killing warlock was the last thing she’d expected."

Er, yep. That pretty much sums up the novella. LOL

Now off to finish writing Gwynn's story...Wish me luck...


Dawn

Free ebook today and tomorrow ~ Not An Angel ~ Paranormal Romance

Well, I was supposed to do this big promotion for NOT AN ANGEL, due to Katrina's 7 year anniversary, but with Hurricane Isaac banging on my front door I didn't get a chance to write up a blog about it.

I still wanted to mention it though real quick. So if you hadn't already, please grab your FREE ebook copy today...(click the link above)

Stay safe and enjoy!
Dawn

Authors After Dark 2012 ~ New Orleans

While I can't post much about the #AADNOLA convention because I was only there for one day. I will post a link here to Barbara Vey's blog on Publisher's Weekly.

I was supposed to go for the entire thing, but family matters come first. But when I got an email from Barbara asking if I would be there, I knew I had better try. Barbara is one of the nicest ladies and if she could fly across the US on a moments notice, then I could be there at least for a few hours... I'm so glad I went...

Anyway, here is the link to her take on Authors After Dark Nola Style...

Check out these babes with the Heart to Heart book club group and Barbara Vey at the head of the table! After lunch we went to the book signing where I met tons of new authors and I got to see some of my old writing buddies as well...(Hi Jae Lynne!)

And I can't forgot to mention all the men in red dresses that were in New Orleans. (see below) Men always find an excuse (or a good cause) to wear a pretty dress... :-)

Happy reading and writing,

Dawn

Giveaway & Interview over at Paranormal Addicts

Today I'm over at Paranormal Addicts. Come join me for a chance to win my vampire paranormal romance, NOT AN ANGEL.

PARANORMAL ADDICTS

New Book Trailer for DIAMONDS...

To view the new book trailer for my lastest novella, DIAMONDS.

Here is the link. DIAMONDS.

This video was created by my baby girl.

Smiling at the new reviews in for DIAMONDS...Thank you, Reviewers!

I would like to send a shout out to these awesome reviewers! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. :-)


***Review from Faerotic Prose*** www.FaeroticProse.blogspot.com

This book is definitely intriguing! I love that the main character, Holly is a strong, determined, hard-working woman; but with her own unique quirks. I enjoyed reading how the author portrays her very-human emotions and reactions to each situation. Holly is a woman who seems to "have it all," yet is lonely and desires what most people want - someone to love her for herself, not her wealth or what she can do for him!

Drake is a charmer, and drew my interest from the beginning. He poses as a wealthy man, yet is a professional thief near retirement. He is to steal from Holly, yet finds himself intrigued with her instead. As the story heats up . . . well, you'll just have to read it for yourself to see what happens!

The story was intriguing, fun, kept my interest, and most definitely steamy. There were a few parts of the book where I felt the wording didn't quite flow as smoothly as it could, otherwise it is well-written. The story has a good plot, the theme remains constant throughout and the characters are likeable. Diamonds by author Dawn Chartier is a great book to add to any erotic romance lover's personal collection.

***Review from That’s Erotica!*** www.thatserotica.com

Diamonds is the first book in the Stiletto Millionaire Club series. Holly and Drake are characters who compliment each other, making it easy for the reader to connect with them quickly. I really like that Holly’s character is a millionaire, yet she is very likeable; she is down to earth, and has a huge heart. Used to easily getting any woman’s attention, Drake is disappointed and frustrated that she holds her heart closely protected.

The story is different in that you already know what Drake plans to do, but you are left guessing at how the emotional side of the story will play out. There are some nice, hot scenes, but nothing that takes away from the story. Holly’s Sexsomnia problem makes some scenes rather humorous if you put yourself in her place and Drake certainly doesn’t have an issue with it.

I would recommend this story to anyone who would like a quick and steamy HEA read. Diamonds is a relatively short story, all of 82 pages, so it’s perfect for a day at the beach. Don’t let the short page count keep you from picking up this book; every page is well written and the story wraps up cleanly without feeling rushed. I look forward to reading what Dawn Chartier gives us in the next book of the Stiletto Millionaire Club.
*There is an attempted rape scene that may be difficult for some readers.*

***Review from Smitten With Reading*** www.smittenwithreading.blogspot.com

B erotic

The hero is a thief. I wasn't sure that Dawn was going to be able to convert me to being happy with a happily ever after with those circumstances, but she did! Because Drake is most definitely a thief. He has been his entire life, from the time he ran away from home and his abusive father. He's uber-charming and very good at what he does, but he wants out. His handler has agreed to let him out if he does this one final job...steal the Heart Diamond from Holly.

Holly had an awful childhood. She has risen above that to become a self-made millionaire, but her childhood and men only after her money and influence have left scars. She doesn't trust often or easily, but Drake has snuck in under her walls and she's well on the way to giving him her heart.

This is an interesting premise and I was completely surprised by how Dawn worked out the story line. It was good and entertaining. It was a short novel, but I felt like there was enough depth to the story so that I completely connected to the characters. I enjoyed the book.

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A big THANK YOU to the reviewers! I truly appreciate the time you took out to review, DIAMONDS! Thank you very much!

Hugs,
Dawn