The Readers’ Station Quarterly

Where Readers and Authors Mingle

August 2007 – Page 2

Travelogue – Hopeless, Maine

I'm coming to visit Hopeless Maine for a few weeks. What should I pack? Something waterproof because the island is always damp and overcast. Garlic, holy water, crucifixes and silver to keep werewolves and vampires at bay. The weapon of your choice to keep everyone else at a safe distance if needs be. Protective talismans are also recommended. If you want to make lots of friends, bring coffee and chocolate, neither of which are normally available.

Are there any laws, natural hazards, rough areas or other dangers that I need to know about?  People go missing all the time, but no one knows what happens to most of them. Sometimes the bodies wash up on the shore, or turn up drained of blood, or worse. It’s best not to go out after dark. The laws here are slowly breaking down, although occasionally lanterns and pitchforks are used to uphold common decency.

Where should I check out first?  You can usually get a hot meal at The Crow. Hopeless has no tourist attractions – it never has any tourists. If grim and decaying is your aesthetic of preference then this island has a great deal to offer. The nightlife exists only for the undead. If you are undead already, probably best to start your visit with a trip to the cemetery.

What might I expect to eat in a typical meal here? Things found at the bottom of the garen stew remains popular. There is some farming on the island – milk, eggs, grains and some fruits and vegetables are available, at a price. The coffee is mostly made out of mud and other luxury foodstuffs have to be improvised in similar ways.  Hopeless is not the place to go if you were looking for a good culinary experience.

What's the easiest way to get around? Most people just walk. The easiest way to get round however is in Salamandra’s flying dory, but your chances of getting a lift are not great, because usually she’s busy, and if you’re not from round here she is likely to be suspicious of you – as is everyone else for that matter.

Is there anything else I need to know before I set off? The odds of your ever getting onto the island in the first place are pretty slim – mysteriously cut off for some time, Hopeless hasn’t seen visitors in ages. If you do manage to break through, the chances are you won’t be leaving again until you die, which may be sooner than you were hoping.

The Readers’ Station Quarterly

Where Readers and Authors Mingle

August 2007 – Page 3

Kennalyn Introduces Nikki

Achoo. Sorry, I have been living in an old binder with dusty old pages for so long, that I have developed sinus trouble. Maybe I got that from Nikki. She has all kinds of allergies, well I guess that like children, creations inherit some of the creator’s traits. To bad I got the allergies, but at least I didn’t get the headaches.

I first met Nikki when she was about 22. She was working too hard even then and wanted to pursue a dream of writing. The way I hear it, she enjoyed writing in school and she has always loved to read.  Everyone in her family says she reads too much except for the grandmother who reads even more than she does.

Reading and writing seem to be one of those loves that not all people can understand. She has “told” me when we are wide awake at 4 in the morning that this is one of the reasons she left me alone for so long. People ridiculed her for wanting to write. It was the attitude of “Get a real job”. But, then one day while I was stuck in a box under the computer desk in her office, something wonderful happened. After years of wanting to write, she found a website during a “writing course” search online.  She had done this before, but this time, she found something that was truly interesting. And, she could find the time and money to take this course.

There was a site called Writers Village and it was even based in Virginia, which is where she lives.  Maybe that was a sign, but whatever made her make the decision to join, I am so glad that she did. I have been biding my time in the folder while she has been stretching her mental muscles and getting closer to bringing me back into her conscientiousness. Achoo, I am so sorry again. Does anyone have a tissue?

Today a wonderful thing happened… she took me out of the box. That’s right I “saw” daylight for the first time in a long, long time.  I am actually “sitting” on top of the computer desk with my friends and family and we are “seeing” the light of day. We live in a coastal town in New England. I heard her telling someone years ago that she wants to live in New England on the coast when she becomes a successful writer, maybe we’ll be neighbors.

From my new vantage point, I’m catching up on Nikki’s life is after all this time apart. She is still working much too hard. She is still managing a business, but now it is the business she owns with her brother.  The last time I saw him he was about 14 years old. He must have grown up since then. I notice a difference in the way she approaches life and the things around her. It seems like the years have held a lot of disappointments and difficulties. That could be why she seems more concerned with doing something just for herself and the writing is for her. I think this “writing thing” makes her happy and I know it makes me happy. Maybe that means we are finally on a path that can be good and beneficial for both of us. So, here we are sharing our lives with you while Nikki’s cat lays next to the door in “our” office. He is different too, I will have to ask her when he moved into our world. Achoo! I have to “get out” more.

Written August 2002

(Kennalyn is the heroine of Nikki Leigh’s novel ‘Stormy Shores, due for release this October.)

The Readers’ Station Quarterly

Where Readers and Authors Mingle

August 2007 – Page 4

Let’s Pretend Characterization

Part 2

                                                             By Dorice Nelson

             Mild disclaimer—to give credit where credit is due: Much of the following is my interpretation of how I have used Alice Orr’s workshops on “Writing Characters from the Inside Out.”

             Last month, we worked on the “Beginnings of a Biological Life.” You have learned that the writer must pretend to be the actual character of interest. You are practicing your learning with your main (protagonists) and important secondary characters. Don’t forget your villains (antagonists). They provide the conflict and tend to spur on the actions of a book.

             Remember: You are to assume the character. Let’s pretend you are that character. You will be writing your text, using the word, “I”. To illustrate, I will use the hero, Gerek, from my novel CLAN GUNN: GEREK, set in 1650 Scotland:  It is Gerek who is speaking, using the method of Let’s Pretend.

            “I was an extremely large baby and caused my mother irreparable

harm in delivering me, so I have no other siblings. I was born in

the Highlands of Scotland, in Gunn Country, at the castle called Killearnan. My mother was not married and was frowned upon by

most of the ladies of what was considered a court. I never learned

who my father was, although there were many rumors.

I became the bastard heir to the chiefdom. Many in the Clan were discomforted by my lack of a father, in case he was a powerful

person in the government, but it didn’t bother me all that much,

until my mother died. I spent much of my early childhood following

my grandfather, who was then the Clan’s chief. I followed that

wonderful man until he had to send me away. I was only twelve

at the time.”

            In Part 2 of the articles on characterization, you will explore the physicality of your main character-or the character you have chosen to use while practicing this technique. As we read novels, much of a character’s physicality is learned from the perceptions other characters have of that character. We are given hints and verbal pictures of the character. Here, you will explore and discover what characters feel about themselves, about their perceptions as to their general appearance.

             We all have delightful thoughts and built-in prejudices about bodies, hair coloring, height, weight and numerous other things that affect the outward look of our bodies. We are attracted to those whose physicality is something we admire or are looking for—in ourselves or in others. It is the physical that catches our attention at the beginning of any relationship—friendship or otherwise. It takes us a while to form a complete picture of a person or to judge some of the person’s attitudes and judgments.

Often, we try to fit ourselves into what is sometimes considered society’s norm. We consider ourselves, too fat, too short, too tall, too freckled, too whatever. Those feelings, our own perceptions, shape our personalities. It is the same with our characters. Their feelings about their physical appearance and the world’s perception of them shape their personalities and their lives.

             If your character had to describe what s/he looks like, what might be the first thing the character would mention? And what might be even more important is why those character traits stand out in their minds. This is an example of a character’s description of herself, as taken from my novel, SARATOGA SUMMER: 1863. The heroine is thinking as she did in the novel.

             The overbearing humidity settled on Sinead’s head, her

shoulders and clung to her narrow frame. With a deep sigh,

she longed for cooler places, less-confining garments and no

tension.

            Moisture gathered on her brow and slithered down the side of

her face. She brushed at it with one hand then pushed the

unruly hair back up into the tightly coiled back loop where it

belonged. A drop of wetness trickled into the valley between her

breasts.  She shoved a cloth between them and her too-tight

corset, hoping her dress wouldn’t show a stain. It was important

to keep up appearances.

             Next, I would consider what the character believes other people find most striking and memorable about his/her appearance. Have the character state those beliefs, using “I think people find my. . . Why does the character feel that way? Have others made comments in front of them? Have others hurt his/her feelings with some inappropriate remark? Have others made mention of what they think best for the character to do in order to become a more attractive person?

            The difference between what the character thinks of him/herself and what others think of them is extremely important. Those differences create a great deal of contrast and conflict in a novel and make the character far more interesting. As an example, we’ll take Sinead, the heroine in the above novel, and show thoughts or appearance through a scene:

             “And you look your usual charming self, Jane,” Mrs. Dewitt said,

with the emphasis on ‘usual.’

Sinead stopped. “I don’t under. . . ”

“My dear, certainly, you are not planning on going to the docks

by yourself.” She paused and clucked her tongue. “It would be

distasteful for you to go alone.”

“I’ve been to the docks before—before I lived here.” Sinead stared

at the floor, knowing the lecture was coming next, but stammered,

“As I girl, I went—”

“How often must I tell you? You are no longer that girl. As

Robert’s nursemaid, you have a position to maintain, dear.”

In the first of the two scenes from the Saratoga novel, you can tell Sinead’s state of mind and her lack of confidence. She finds heat overbearing and settling on her narrow frame, her corset too-tight and her hair an unruly mess. She hopes her dress won’t stain for it’s important to keep up appearances. In the second scene from the Saratoga novel, we see some of the reason for her feelings. We realize that Mrs. Dewitt calls her ‘Jane’ as if the given name of ‘Sinead’ was too unacceptable. We can see the attitudes of both characters.

             Now, let’s pretend some more. Tell me what you, as the character and using “I”, feel about what you are like as a person, such as, “I would say that I am…” Fill in the blank, as if you were the character. Then give a brief description, reasons, for why the character feels as s/he does.

             How would your character describe his or her temperament? Would your specific character consider him/herself even-tempered and calm while the rest of the world considers the same person high-strung and frenetic? Can you see the contrast that would be there?

             How might your character talk about his/her personal habits? Would they consider themselves neat, while their mothers think they are the sloppiest people around? Do they keep themselves clean, shower every day or like many historical characters, wash often but not bathe fully in a tub until Spring.

             Your character’s attitude toward their religion and the religion of others is important in shaping a character’s personality. Also, one look into the political leanings of the character might be. Here, you must take into consideration the time in which your novel is written. A contemporary character would have much different feeling about religion or politics than a historical one. The times were so different.

            The lack of TV tends to be important in historical times, when the only way to learn what was going on was to hear it word of mouth or to read it in a paper of some kind. Generally, it was rumor. Those very differences make a character’s general religious and political attitudes important. Today, we have cell phones, computers and other devices to get the news to us—that is not to say that the news is any more truthful than before.

You must match the times with the characters. If you are aware of your character’s background, you novel will ring true—even though you will not use all the information you gather about a character. Just dig deep.

            Now, take a step back. I want each of you to consider one important factor in any character’s psyche. Remember, a character is always the hero of his/her own story, even a villain. Everyone feels that s/he knows the right way to live, the right ideas—no matter how bizarre they are—and that we are masters of our own fate. Yet, with everything you have learned in life, you must realize how truly fragile life can be and how little we control our own lives. We can only control the lives of our characters, by digging deep into what they think about themselves.

The Readers’ Station Quarterly

Where readers and authors mingle

August 2007 – Page 6

Fiction for Summer 2007

Journeys of a Lifetime by Members of the Readers' Station - September

Heart of a Peacekeeper, by Angela Verdenius, was released on 1st June from www.wings-press.com and is available as both an ebook and trade paperback.

The print release of Elena Bowman’s The Gatekeeper's Realm is now available on Amazon.com.

Mistress Nimue’s ‘Seven Seductions’ is available in paperback from Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Seductions-Tales-Slave-Girl/dp/1600540996/ref=sr_1_1/103-5025521-4532629?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181225542&sr=8-1

Nikki Leigh – Stormy Shores - (Re-release of Stormy View) – November

Nikki Leigh - Book Promo 101 (Release in November)

Bryn Colvin’s erotic romance ‘Late Night Sessions’ will be out in paperback this autumn from Romance Divine.

Non-fiction for Summer and Early Fall 2007

Nikki Leigh, Book Promo 101 - Learn the Basics of Book Promotion – November

Nikki Leigh, Book Promo 101 - Writer's Resource E-book - November

For additional information -http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm

For up to date information - http://www.muzesmusings.blogspot.com

New Reviews

 Fiction Reviews

Reviews for - Readers' Station Anthology - Journeys of a Lifetime

Heart of a Peacekeeper, number 13 in Angela Verdenius’s sci-fi romance Heart & Soul series received a 5 blue ribbon rating from Romance Junkies.

Nikki Leigh -

Lilah and the Locket -  http://www.nikkileigh.com/lilah_-_reviews1.htm

Lady Lightkeeper - http://www.nikkileigh.com/llk_-_reviews.htm

The sequel to Anne Whitfield’s novel Kitty McKenzie - Kitty McKenzie's Land is now available as an ebook from FictionWise.com Find out more by clicking the link.
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook47709.htm?r=7a9 

Reviewed by the Readers’ Station

Goblin Quest by Jim C Hines reviewed at www.myspace.com/brynneth_n_colvin

The Readers’ Station Quarterly

Where Readers and Authors Mingle

August 2007 – Page 8

Author’s News

The Reader’s Station Anthology

Coming soon - Journeys of a Lifetime - by Members of the Readers' Station Members of the Readers' Station compiled a wide variety of fiction and non fiction pieces for you. All fiction stories have a travel theme, in keeping with the Readers' Station theme. There are a variety of non-fiction articles to educate and enlighten. This anthology truly contains a little something for everyone.

Contributors to the anthology include: Elena Dorothy Bowman, Bryn Colvin,  Nikki Leigh, Dorice Nelson, Nora Peterson, Ginger Simpson, Donna Sundblad, Angela Verdenius, and Anne Whitfield.

One Summer’s Day - Elena Dorothy Bowman

Model Number 1007 - Elena Dorothy Bowman

The Waiting Room Princess - Bryn Colvin
Traveling Through Time - Bryn Colvin (Poem)
Bread Magic - Bryn Colvin (non fiction)
Networking – It Can Help Your Promotional Work - Shri Henkel (non-fiction)
Acceptance - Nikki Leigh
Nearing Noon - Nikki Leigh
Behavior Most Unlawful - Dorice Nelson
Shanks’ Mare - Dorice Nelson
Flying Lessons - Nora Peterson (non fiction)
Fishing Boat - Nora Peterson (Poem)
Tooth Fairy Wisdom - Ginger Simpson
Two Screwdrivers - Donna Sundblad
Zombie Hospital - Angela Verdenius
Perceptions - Angela Verdenius
FIRE! - Angela Verdenius
India Dreaming - Anne Whitfield

 

Reviews for - Readers' Station Anthology - Journeys of a Lifetime

Chats & Events

Linda at Red Roses For Authors blog has interviewed Anne Whitfield.
http://redrosesforauthors.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-for-anne-whitfield.html

You are Invited -

Muse Online Conference - Nikki Leigh with Arline Chase & Dorice Nelson - Will offer a one hour workshop and forum for questions about choosing real life settings and incorporate location and historical facts into your books. What advantages and disadvantages are there in the creation and promotion of your books. Meet us on Tuesday October 9 at 6:00 pm EST to discuss this topic and visit our forum during the week to share your thoughts and questions.
http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/2007workshops.htm
http://www.freewebs.com/museconference/presenterskm.htm
 

To register to attend any of the programs for the conference, visit
http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/registration.htm
http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/registration.htm>

On the 30^th of August, Bryn Colvin will be one of the authors participating in a chat at www.yahoo.com/group/eroticwritersofglbtpromo/

Nikki Leigh will be participating at Book Em writer's event in Waynesboro, VA on Saturday October 20, 2007. Visit  - http://www.bookemfoundation.org/. For more information about Nikki Leigh, visit  http://www.bookemfoundation.org/Pages/bookem/2007_authors_k_o.html.

Awards and Recognition

A List of New Books Compiled by The Management and Government Information Center (MAGIC) Chinn Park Regional Library 703-792-4880

Summer 2007

Indicates titles relating to the FISH Philosophy

365 Foolish Mistakes Smart Managers Make Every Day: How and Why to Avoid Them by Shri L. Henkel, 2006

The title is somewhat misleading, since it does not include the word new. The book is intended to guide new managers to success and to help them avoid many common pitfalls. Henkel notes that each of the 365 enumerated mistakes “…clarifies what new managers do wrong, and suggests ways to correct those mistakes…” The principles outlined include three major topics that all managers need to understand:  “proper communication, delegation, and motivation.”

New Contracts and Future Releases

Angela Verdenius has just submitted book 14 in the Heart & Soul series for consideration.

Elena Bowman has a new contract with Write Words, Inc. ebooksonthe.net for her
novella The Imposter and has signed print contracts for the four books in the Sarah's Landing Series -Contact, The Telepaths of Theon, The Barbarians and Genesis, as well as the other two books in the Legacy Series: Gatekeeper's Realm, Adam's Point.

Bryn Colvin’s fantasy erotica novel ‘Illyan Daughter’ has been accepted by Whiskey Creek Press.

The large print rights of Anne Whitfield’s historical, The Gentle Wind's Caress, sold to UK library publisher Thorpe Publishing.

Works in Progress

Angela Verdenius has started a totally different sci-fi romance book, but is still on chapter 1!

Bryn Colvin has finished her paranormal first world war novel ‘The White Hare’s Lament’ but has not settled on a publisher yet. She has an m/m anthology in the offing with www.loveyoudivine.com and is currently working on a pagan novel called ‘Hazel Arden’.

Nikki Leigh is putting the final touches on her non fiction book - Book Promo 101: The Basics of Book Promotion. For additional information about this book, please visit www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm

Other News

Angela Verdenius has revamped her website - www.angelaverdenius.com 

She is also building a new website for readers and authors for resource, listing authors and genres and their website links so readers can more easily find genres and authors they like, or wish to discover new authors. For the authors, there will be resource links for their writing and interest, such as publishers, agents, research – whatever, but not pornography. Angela is looking for authors who wish to list their websites there – send in their names, genres they write under and website links. Links for resource sites also welcome. Email angelamv@westnet.com.au

The genres don't have to be fiction - anything is fine, poetry, biographies, cooking books, fiction - anything. f anyone does website graphics, banners, fantasy artwork, book covers - anything to do with books/websites – Angela is happy to check their links and put them on the website if it's appropriate.

Do you or anyone you know live in South Africa? Well now you can order Anne Whitfield’s books from Loot.co.za! Her books are listed there.
http://www.loot.co.za/shop/main.jsp?offset=0&page=search&cat=qb&terms=Anne+Whitfield&x=14&y=15

Bryn Colvin has become a volunteer for the Druid Network and is a book reviewer on their website – www.druidnetwork.org

Angela Verdenius has a newsletter available from -  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/angelaverdenius/join

Nikki Leigh is the new Promotional Consultant and Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours. She is organizing her own book tour in September and is hosting various authors on her Muze's Musings blog (www.muzesmusings.blogspot.com) each month. Nikki will be available to organize your virtual book tour and to answer questions for you. Feel free to contact her at bookpromo101@excite.com. For more information online, feel free to visit: http://www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com. This is the information about Nikki from the website -

 Click the banner for more information about scheduling your own book tour.