Start Something New by Jannine Gallant

And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings. ~ Meister Eckhart

It's a new year and a new beginning. Are you starting something new? Are you expanding your horizons or sticking with the tried and true?

Sometimes I think the same old, same old is easier. Especially as we get older. But I'm taking the leap into the 21st century. Yes, I, Jannine Gallant, actually got my very first cell phone. Laugh if you will. I think I was the final hold-out in my generation. And, not only did I get a cell phone--I got an iPhone. Every time I want to do ANYTHING on it, I have to ask my daughters. So, my first New Year's Resolution is to learn how to use it! Wish me luck.

I'm also beginning a new book. Okay, I started it before the holidays, but I got nowhere fast. Now it's time to get back to business and write. A new book is fun. Getting to know your characters, sending them out into the world and throwing obstacles in their paths. Discovering all the ways your plot isn't working the way you thought it would...okay, that's not so fun. Still, the beginning of a book is my favorite part, when everything is fresh and exciting.

This is the second book in a new series. I finished the first one before the holidays and expect I'll be immersed in edits by the time you read this, as Margo (my CP) is probably closing in on finishing her critique. I bet you all think she's a sweet, lovely woman. I do, too--until I start reading the comments in the margins... Kidding, people! I ask for and appreciate every bit of her advice. After I edit that baby into shape, I'll have to decide what to do with it next.

Which brings me to another new beginning. In the past, I've published with small presses. I've self-published. In March, my first book with a big publisher (Kensington) releases. Every Move She Makes is currently available for pre-order. I can't wait to see how my baby does out there in the big, bad world of publishing. I'm hoping for great things but have learned to be cautious in my optimism. So, I think I'll hold off on doing anything with my new series until I see how sales go. Maybe sticking with the familiar will be the right path...or maybe I'll take a risk and trust the magic of new beginnings...

I'd love to hear your thoughts. If you're an author, what's your favorite part of a book to write? Are you going to take a leap into something new in the publishing world this year?

To pre-order Every Move She Makes click HERE. To keep abreast of my writing news in 2015, check out my website. Happy New Year!

When Is Your Own New Year? (And book giveaway)

By Glenys O'Connell

I gave up on New Year's resolutions years ago. Good Heavens, I can disappoint myself any old time, why set myself up for more pain and humiliation by failing to live up to those nice, shining New Year's vows?

Mind you, I am attracted (like the moth to the candle flame) to all the hoopla that goes with the idea of a nice, shiny clean slate to start the year. Like the moth and the flame, the attraction has frequently ended badly.

Like the 25 extra pounds that still sit in all the wrong places, despite many diet resolutions. Like the exercise plans that have fallen by the wayside, nudged out of mind by pressing deadlines. The always tidy home? Regular notes to distant friends and family? The solid two hours a day of uninterrupted writing? Ha! All sunk without trace.

Being a bit of a contrarian, though, I've tended to celebrate two New Beginnings each year. Yes, you heard right - TWO New Beginnings a year. In September. And March.

September was when our four kids returned to school, leaving behind a summer's worth of chaos. The farm harvest was pretty well in, the garden produce jammed, jellied, frozen and canned, everything winding down to winter. Time to clean house, return to my job (journalism and freelance writing), catch up with friends, complete the house renovation projects, plan, dream....

Then March - Spring about to burst on us, pregnant with potential. Summer clothes out of storage, a cornucopia of new fabrics for little girls' summer dresses and fabric art. The camera primed and ready to catch the images that warm us in the winter months. And the seed catalogues - the excitement and anticipation of the new arrivals in the mail! Oh, my - the possibilities of summer!

Somehow, the conventional New Year's always seemed to pale by comparision to the fresh starts offered by September and March.

 
I have to confess, though, that this New Year's has been a little different. My very first Indie fiction publishing venture, The No Sex Clause, a romantic comedy, was released just before Christmas - and what a wild ride that's been! And on New Year's Eve itself, Crimson Romance published my Canadian set romantic suspense, Saving Maggie. After what seemed a long drought in fiction work, I was back in the game and loving it!

So what's up for the coming year? Two new romance books and a couple of non-fictions. Also, the Indie re-release of three books that are now out of contract with a publisher.

And I'm planning to return to practice as a counsellor and life coach.

Redecorate my home. Do some travelling. Dust off the sewing machine and quilting frame.

And oh, my - that pile of seed catalogues on my desk is positively glowing with happy thoughts....

So, there's my confession. What about yours? Does your new year really start on January 1st, or is there another time that gets your anticpation and creative juices flowing?

Leave me a comment, and I'll gift your choice of an ebook copy of Saving Maggie or The No Sex Clause to the one I like best!

Glenys O'Connell is currently frozen in place  by record breaking low temperatures and snow. She'll emerge briefly in February, like the groundhog, to test whether Spring is imminent or not. You can learn more about her and her work on www.glenysoconnell.com or  Amazon page

How Quickly the New Year is Flashing By by Jena Galifany

Am I the only one noticing how quickly January is slipping by? Didn't we just have New Years Eve and now we are half way through the month? I told my husband I need a hobby that I hate. He wanted to know why. I explained that when I am doing something I hate, the time goes by a lot slower.

This year I plan to make a few new beginnings. I want to write, not one but two books this year. I have the beginnings of a dozen story lines and would like to see if I can get more than one out by the end of 2013. The hard part is deciding which story line to pursue first. Would you like to take a peek and help me decide?
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#1 Media Lies (Contemporary Romance) - A married couple, Ben deeply in love, Constance falling out of love.  Their marriage has become the greatest roll they've ever played, keeping their fans from knowing the trouble their relationship is in.

Benjamin Chandler and Constance Remington completed the scene with a long, breathtaking kiss – H.E.A. all the way. 

The director shouted, "Cut! That's a wrap! Fabulous!"

Ben and Connie took their time separating from one another. His dark eyes sparkled as he gazed at her, his fingertips stroking her jaw line. She lowered her chin, and a shy blush colored her perfect face as he pulled away, but only slightly. They slowly smile, obviously pleased with their performances, and with each other. The lovers lingered in their own world for a moment longer, and only then noticed the entire crew watched them. Connie broke the spell first, offering a bright smile to the crew as they burst into applause.

Ben offered his hand to Connie. He pulled her gently close once again. He moved to her side, held her hand as he presented her to the crew to take her bow. She tried to present him, but he refused, again directing the glory to her. After thanking the crew, Ben escorted his lady to their private trailer.

* * * *
Enter dressing trailer. Lighted make-up mirror, two fabric chairs, a table with champagne in a bucket, full size bed with a mountain of pillows in the corner.

Connie entered the boxy trailer, the smile still on her perfect lips as she moved to the center of the room and turned around. Ben followed her in, and closed the door. He wore his media smile until the door clicked closed and locked. His face relaxed as he turned to Connie.

She frowned, stepped forward and slapped him across the face. He laughed, and caught her hand before she repeated the assault. Indignant, she tugged her hand free. "I hope you enjoyed that kiss because it's the last one you'll ever get."
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#2  For One Kingdom  (Fantasy) - Erin wanted to find out about the winged creatures that were reported to live in the distant caverns in the desert. In a world where no one in their right mind would leave the safety of a locked building after dark, Jaycee and Erin settle an argument in the worst possible way. When one of the winged creatures takes off with Jaycee, Erin has to rescue her friend when their challenge goes awry.

Ashur - For One Kingdom

Jaycee narrowed her eyes.  "You knew I didn't want to go out there.  You just had to make me look bad, didn't you?"

Erin grinned.  "You make yourself look bad.  I don't have to do it for you."

"You're a bitch!" Jaycee lept from her perch, hands on hips.

"You're a coward… and a liar." Erin folded her arms and leaned against the counter.

"You'd like to think so." Jaycee looked close to tears.

"I know so.  Prove otherwise." Erin offered a lopsided grin.

Jaycee straightened her back and narrowed her eyes again.  "No problem.  Outside.  Now."

Erin stood, and dropped her arms to her sides.  "Get serious. That isn't courage. That's stupidity."

"What’s the matter, Erin? Too scared?" Jaycee headed for the door. 

Erin pulled her door closed as she ran after the red haired woman. She fell into step beside Jaycee as they reached the lift. "This is going to be rich."

"You have no idea." Jaycee paled as the lift carried them to the roof.

A klaxon sounded as the lift stopped at the top.  "Warning.  You are approaching an open area after Black Out is in effect. No protection is available beyond the doors." The metallic voice repeated the warning twice before Jaycee grinned and punched the button to open the doors.

The cool air rushed into the lift as the two women looked out at the night sky.  Erin drew a deep breath, amazed at the sight of so many stars.  She couldn't remember how many years it had been since she'd seen the night sky. With the black out, every star displayed its brilliance, and competed for her attention.

"Let's go," Jaycee prompted. Her whispered voice pulled Erin from her over-awed preoccupation. She stepped cautiously out of the lift, and looked both ways before she took too many steps. Erin followed, unable to take her eyes from the glittering display overhead.

The rooftop was quiet and dark. Shadows fringed the edge of the roof, and the black continued all the way to the city's outer walls.  Since all of the community houses were the same height, they appeared connected by black walkways, and tempted Erin to walk to the edge of town half a mile away.

"A lot of good it does to black out the town," Erin commented. "The stars light up everything anyway."

"Shh. I know. That's how I saw the creature grab that woman. I admit it scared me. It would have scared you, too. Three Commitables were stalking her. I knew they'd catch her. She tried to keep to the shadows, but they saw her when she crossed the alley. She had to be an innocent that got left out, the poor thing."

Jaycee settled on her belly at the edge of the roof, waved Erin to join her, and pointed down.  "There. That's where she was." Jaycee curled her hair behind her ear as she gazed down at the street five stories below. "The Commitables were only a few steps from her and she was screaming her lungs out."

Erin sat beside her, wary of the darkness around them as she chanced a look down.  She gathered her long hair, and twisted it into a cable to keep it out of her face as she scanned the street. 

"She ran into a dead end, didn't she?"

"She should have stayed on the main street. She would have had a chance to get away." Jaycee pointed toward the far end of the alley. "She ran about half way to the end when he showed up.  He skimmed over the rooftop and dived into the alley. He landed right in front of her.  His wings blocked the alley."

Erin took measure of the alley with her gaze. "He must have a ten to twelve foot wingspan. That's amazing."

Jaycee nodded, and licked her lips, an excitement in her eyes. "He was amazing.  He was only wearing shiny black trousers. I think they were leather but not like his wings. His wings were dull, thick. I could hear them beating from here."

"What did he look like?" Erin felt the excitement grow in her as Jaycee shared the experience.

"He had dark eyes and the longest hair I've ever seen on a man. It flowed around him as if the wind swirled it, like liquid silver." Jaycee locked her gaze on Erin.  "There was no wind that night, though. Strange."

"Really strange," Erin agreed. "How could you tell he had dark eyes from here?"

"I saw them when he took off with her. He flew right over me, right here." She rolled on her back, looked up, and screamed.

Erin rolled to look up into the face of the man Jaycee had described.

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Decisions, decisions. And that is only two of my new beginnings. I'd love to hear your views on these excerpts. It may help me decided which way to go in this new year. I'd appreciate the help. Either way, I plan on writing these stories and many more, enjoying each new beginning that comes my way.

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If you'd like to see more of my work, visit my WEBSITE.
My books are available at Whiskey Creek Press and Red Rose Publishing.

Cheers!
Jena

Here's to New Beginnings Both the New Kind and the Old by Margo Hoornstra

By now most of my fellow Roses of Prose members have had their chance to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. Now it’s my turn to add best wishes for a fabulous 2013.

But as we enter this classic time of new beginnings I for one, don’t want to give up on everything that has gone before.

Let me explain.

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, I mixed an old activity with a new one. I went for a walk on my usual route wearing a brand new pair of shoes.

Over the years, I’ve run, jogged and or walked a substantial number of miles. So I was used to that part of this endeavor. It was the shoes that didn’t exactly work out as I expected being that they are maximum duty hikers, more rigid and heavier than what I usually wear.

What my brain hadn’t thought through—the consequences of possibly throwing off my natural gait—my body certainly realized without question. And after only a short two mile jaunt at that.

In deference to a right hip joint, the knee joint on that same side and thigh muscles on both legs that screamed for mercy, for the New Year’s Day five miles, I donned the old tried and true shoes that had been with me since June.

Not that those new shoes won’t have a definite place in my future as I rack up the miles in 2013. But only after I’ve had a chance to properly break them in.

Like when they’ve become a little less new and a little more, well, old.

And one final note on new beginnings and futures.

As I write this, my husband is preparing to gut and then redo our upstairs bathroom. (Prayers and or positive thoughts are welcome!)

On the up side, this new project will no doubt provide at least one topic for future posts of mine. If not in time for Share the Love in February, certainly by the following month’s theme.

What Does March Madness Mean To You?

Happy New Year, Everyone!

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Is Publishing all about Trends? By Jannine Gallant

This month we're talking about new beginnings. Today my almost sixteen year old is taking her first driving lesson and my younger daughter is getting braces. The beginning of something new for both of them in this new year. Reflecting back on the holidays, the old and new combine and morph into something just a little different with the passage of time. The same familiar faces keep getting a little older. The same regret for the family members no longer with us is sharper during the holidays but also eases with the passing of the years. Apparently, we can't stop time from marching on and giving us new challenges and joys to face.


And what about trends in books? What does the new year have in store for those of us in the business of writing. Heaven knows we've seen changes galore in the publishing industry, but do those changes reflect what people are reading? I ask because I have a book that needs a home. Season of the Witch is a historical romance, a sweeping saga that takes the reader from England across the sea to the new world. My heroine has the sight and sees glimpses of the future, none of which are reassuring when she finds herself in Salem, Massachusetts during the witchcraft trials. My hero is torn between love and duty. There's lots of action, adventure, and angst. A small press didn't feel like the right fit for this book, nor did a dive into self-publishing. I had a sneaking suspicion this story wasn't trendy enough to garner any attention in either venue, which would mean dismal sales. So, I sent it off to one medium sized press and a bunch of agents with long lists of successful clients. (Might as well think big, right? LOL) I received feedback from both the publisher and one agent, and they both said the same thing. They thought my writing was great, but they felt the book would be a hard sell. Early American history isn't a hot commodity.

Does this mean, as authors, we should write what's trendy if we want any chance of making money? I've heard over and over that you should follow your heart and write a great book. Well, I feel I've done that only to be told it isn't timely. Do I hold onto this manuscript for a few more years and hope the trends change? As readers, have your tastes in fiction changed over time, or do you simply read what's out there? Do you ever find yourself saying, "Why don't people write books like that anymore?" Would Kathleen Woodiwiss be a flop in today's market? What about Margaret Mitchell or James Michener?

So, does beginning a new year mean there's no place for something with a flavor of the past? Tell me your thoughts, and by all means, suggestions are welcome. If anyone knows the perfect home for Season of the Witch, speak up!

Have a happy new year!

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