First-Person or Third-Person?

I've written books both ways, and never heard any negative feedback about using either approach. Here's what I've been pondering.

Writing from my heroine's POV for the entire book really gave me a great perspective on her views. I loved being in her head the whole time. I could watch the story unfold, and share her assessments of others, including the hero. I felt every reaction she had and commiserated with her when heartache hit.

However, there are some publishers who won't accept first-person manuscripts. Years ago, I ghostwrote a nonfiction memoir in third person. An agent was intrigued, but asked that I rewrite it in first-person. Doing such a rewrite isn't just changing every "Jane" to "I" or "her" to "my". I had to carefully edit each sentence to only reflect "Jane's" POV.

It was a major undertaking, but in the end, I thought the book "read" better in first-person and sent it to the agent. She, however, rejected it and returned it to me within days. I somehow feel that she never checked it! Anyway, I published it as an ebook in 1999.

I've got two other books I'm working on, and have tried writing them both ways. While I like the first-person versions, I'm leaning towards doing third person. I understand when people comment about wanting to "get a feel" for both the hero and heroine...and maybe a first-person POV doesn't give enough for the reader to "bond" with the hero.

My book, "Gone to the Dogs" by Marianne Stephens, was the fastest one I wrote...and I think it was because I was in Katie's head and wrote it in first-person. The words and actions just flowed, and I really connected with her. Here's a sample from the book:

"In mere seconds we climaxed as we passionately clung to each other while soothing drops of water flowed down our bodies. This was sheer heaven. We’d both enjoyed our rendezvous once we crossed that line from arguing with each other to channeling our energy in a more passionate direction.

As my breathing tried to return to normal I knew in my heart that one encounter with sexy Mike wouldn’t be enough. Like eating potato chips I wouldn’t be able to stop at one. No chance I’d be able to dry off, thank him for a lovely evening and be on my merry way. No. Mike had taken up residence under my skin and I’d need much more of him to satisfy my craving for additional intimate contact.

I moved my head closer to his ear and whispered, “Round two in bed?” Subtleness with my new sex partner would take a hike. A woman with a mission and eagerness to lead the way transformed me into a she-cat.

Katie-cat was on the prowl."

 I can feel her every emotion, reaction, and desire...and urge to never let those sensations end.

 Do you enjoy reading/writing in first-person?

"Gone to the Dogs" is available in print and as an ebook at many sites, including Amazon and at:
http://www.jasminejade.com/m-310-marianne-stephens.aspx
http://www.mariannestephens.net
http://www.aprilash.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus
http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com

Do Vampires Have Birth Certificates?

Okay...I admit I like an occasional vampire story that's not too bloody. I'd rather read a good vampire romance book than watch a vampire movie. Too much bloody stuff for my viewing pleasure (?)  isn't for me.

I started to wonder about vampires and everyday life. Yes, we suspend disbelief for most of this stuff in order to concentrate on the "real" story...that of the romance and passion between the hero and heroine.

But let's talk about some "real life" issues a vampire might face. They can't all be rich, can they? Live in mansions, own expensive cars, never work? Right?

So...how does a vampire get a birth certificate? A driver's license? Social Security number (in the US)? Does a vampire pay taxes?

Maybe there's a secret central Vampire Identification Unit that works solely on providing necessary documentation like fake passports, licenses, birth certificates. And, now in the age of advanced technology, these could be updated quite easily.

Surely a 300-year-old vampire can't provide an original birth certificate. In fact, a new one would have to be issued every 30 + or - years to keep the vampire in question "looking" close enough to be in a particular age bracket. With eternal youth at whatever age a vampire was first bitten and "turned", you could only say, "I've had plastic surgery" so long before people would get suspicious.

Now that I'm dwelling on all this, what about resumes? Do vampires get phony ones? Would anyone do a background check and start asking questions?

I guess moving every 30 or so years would help, but new "ID proof" would surely be needed even then. What about voting? Can vampires register? And, here's another question from a far-off tangent from the inquisitive side of my brain...what costume does a vampire wear on Halloween?


Sigh.

I'm thinking way too much about this. I should sit back and enjoy a vampire romance book at face value...as a romance without pesky "hows" getting in the way.

Photos: Flickr: Design Haus, Robin Hutton, and kevandem's photostreams. 


http://www.mariannestephens.net
"Anything You Can Do" is now available as an ebook at: http://www.breathlesspress.com.
http://www.aprilash.net
JOIN A NEW YAHOO GROUP: ROMANCE BOOKS R US at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus
Lots of fun, contests, information! No spammers allowed!
TWO BIG CONTESTS! Go to http://www.mariannestephens.net for information!

Clean Your Closet Week: What's Hidden In Yours?

(It's FABIO'S Birthday! Visit http://www.fabioifc.com for info about and photos of FABIO!)
Before I start this blog, I'm announcing a NEW YAHOO GROUP you can join: ROMANCE BOOKS R US, at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus  Authors and readers are welcomed...check the schedule on the Home Page!
And: TOMORROW is the last day to vote in the Book Boost's BEST FIRST LINE CONTEST! Go to:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HHC8TC2  I have two entries:
 "Your dog ate your underwear." (from "Gone to the Dogs" by Marianne Stephens)
 AND
"I'm upping the ante. Bring underwear." (from "Strip Poker for Two" by April Ash)
Would appreciate your vote for either one!

BLOG:

I've put this off as long as I could, but now that an official week is dedicated to doing this, I guess I should boldly go where no one has gone before...namely my closet.

Oh, I've tried "weeding" out stuff over the years, but other stuff just gets added to the mess and seems to multiply what's inside my closet. Where did I get it all from? Why do I keep it all?

The where is easy...sorta. I buy stuff. Shoes. Lots of shoes. Also have enough medications/pharmacy items in drawers and on shelves to rival drug stores. Then, there are all the promotion items I save to give out. And, my handbags. And, clothes. Lots of them. All sizes. All colors. For all seasons.

The why isn't easy to answer. I'm...a shopaholic? Love to buy things? Use my closet to store stuff because there's no other room in the house to put things? Holding onto my clothes has been ingrained in my being. What if I gain weight? Lose weight? Styles change? Styles that were out are now in again?

Sigh.

I have a dress from the 60s/70s. Wore it for a retro party. Held onto it all these years, although I was finally able to fit into it last October. But, damn. I had that hanging in my closet for decades and wouldn't part with it.

Another confession. I have a Dr. Kildare shirt from the 60's (anyone remember that TV series?) that will never fit me...but yet, I've been unable or unwilling to part with it.

Could I sell it on eBay? Is it worth anything? That might get me motivated to part with it.

When we first moved into this house, there was only one master closet...for the two of us and all the medications and all the towels and sheets since the only linen closet was on the second floor and our bedroom is on the first floor. Since then, we've added a closet (for my husband and I kept the larger one), and also added a first-floor linen closet.

And yet, I still don't have enough room. And probably never will...until I clean my closet to make room for future purchases.

In "Gone to the Dogs", my heroine, Katie, spreads out all her closet items on the floor as she sorts through to look for "something to wear". You know that feeling. Full closet but "nothing to wear". I didn't have the heart to make her throw out what no longer fit (she had some pounds to lose) so maybe I put something of myself in her character?

Are there any treasures hiding in your closet? How will you know if you don't clean. Anyway, that's the mantra I'll be parading through my head as I gear up to do battle with my closet. Never know what I might find!

You have a better chance of "finding" a treasure if you enter the TWO CONTESTS I'm running at my website to celebrate my latest book, "Anything You Can Do". Go to http://www.mariannestephens.net/ for information about the contests and my mainstream contemporary/paranormal romance books.
Visit http://www.aprilash.net/ for information about my erotic contemporary romance books.
"Gone to the Dogs" is available in ebook and print format at:
http://www.jasminejade.com/m-310-marianne-stephens.aspx

"Anything You Can Do" is now available at: http://www.breathlesspress.com/
Photos: Flickr: debcil, Praveen Rajan (Marketing.com), slurpiesandstraw's photostreams. 

It's Working Woman's Day

What a hoot! Isn't everyday a "Working Woman's Day"? Like, we don't work all the time, either at home or somewhere else? I don't know about you, but my days are always crammed with things to do!

This should be called "Every Woman's Day" since working happens without needing to be mentioned. Then again, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there are some women out there that don't work...ah, but they're called "the rich and famous". And, they probably have to "work" at staying that way.






I propose a "Take the Day Off Day" for all females not in school...gotta keep the kids in school and getting their education. So, let's combine the two: "Working Woman's Day" with "Take the Day Off Day" and honor women everywhere. Period.

Ladies, go pamper yourselves. Enjoy the day. Relax. Be catered to. Forget your daily stresses and focus on pleasure. Kudos to all working women...and that means every woman reading this!

Another suggestion: read a romance book to "whisk you away from it all". You know...Fantasy Land. Where you can drool over the hero and forget it's snowing outside, your preschoolers are screaming, your boss is bitching, your clothes are pinching and hinting you either need to lose weight or buy new clothes, or people are asking, "What's for dinner?" as soon as you walk through the door.


"Work" at something different on "Working Woman's Day". Work at pleasing yourself and have a great time!

And while you're doing something for YOU, enter the two contests that I'm running at my website to celebrate my new book, "Anything You Can Do": http://www.mariannestephens.net. I've got lots of goodies to give to two lucky winners!

Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net for information about my mainstream romance books.
Visit http://www.aprilash.net for information about my erotic romance books.
"Anything You Can Do" is now available as an ebook at: http://www.breathlesspress.com.
"Gone to the Dogs" is now available in print at: http://www.jasminejade.com/m-310-marianne-stephens.aspx
Photos: Flickr: NIOSH, kharind, juliejordanscott's photostreams.

Share a Sexy Smile Day!

Okay...I cheated a little on this...I added the word "SEXY". But, hey...what else would a romance author do? Gotta get those hormones going and using the word SEXY will do it every time!
How often do you walk by people and (1) look away, (2) look down, (3) look up, (4) stare straight ahead as if you don't see them? We all do that...some of each of the above.


Sometimes my mind is whirling a mile a minute as I "head write" pages for a book or try to focus on my busy schedule. At those times, I may not even notice someone I pass, except in the vague recesses of my crowded mind.

 

Today, make a difference. Take the time to SMILE at someone. Doesn't have to be one of your famous SEXY smiles, just a casual one will do. People normally smile back...don't you? Look at these handsome guys and their winning smiles. You ARE focusing on their faces, right? Wouldn't you smile back?

In writing romance books, we tend to have our heroes and heroines smile. I have them do it frequently...and try very hard to come up with different ways of expressing that action. There's the full smile, the quirk to one side smile, the closed mouth smile, the teeth showing smile. The smile that curls your toes. That sexy smile, combined with eyes full of passion that gets your heart thumping and pounding in your chest.


Save those smiles for someone you love! For everyone else, the casual smile will be contagious. Try it. Smile. See how many people return the smile to you!


You'll be smiling if you're one of my two contest winners! Lots of goodies for two people will be given as prizes. To celebrate the release of my latest book, "Anything You Can Do", you can find two contests at my website: http://www.mariannestephens.net.

Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net for information about my mainstream romance books. "Anything You Can Do" is now available at http://www.breathlesspress.com as an ebook. "Gone to the Dogs" is now available at http://www.jasminejade.com/m-310-marianne-stephens.aspx
Visit http://www.aprilash.net for information about my erotic romance books. Ebook and print versions available at http://www.jasminejade.com/m-441-april-ash.aspx
Photos: Flickr: SSCusp, lucias_day, vividBreeze's photostreams. Rockshots.com

Meeting a President

If you could travel back in time to meet one deceased President, who would you choose? Today is President's Day and I started thinking about those I know a lot about from school and reading, and those I barely remember. Some lived long lives and held office for their full terms. Others weren't so lucky.

If I had to choose one, I'd pick Harry S. Truman.I've been to his museum and home, and was amazed at all this man accomplished. The Social Security Act passed in 1935, but didn't include Medicare. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed a bill activating Medicare, and Truman became the first American to receive a Medicare card.

After only a few months as Vice President, he became President on 4 April, 1945, after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He inherited an ongoing war, and made the critical and historical decision to use atomic bombs in Japan. That country wouldn't agree to ending their part in WWII, so Truman ordered bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What a difficult decision it had to be, and I applaud his strength and conviction in doing so.

His term in office was troublesome, both at home and concerning our relationships with other countries. The war had ended, but not the infighting within our nation. Coupled with the beginning of the "cold war", Truman had opponents on all sides.

His re-election campaign seemed all but lost in 1948...until his historical train ride, a "Whistle Stop Tour", through the Midwest. A special railroad car named the Ferdinand Magellan, was a custom built car for Presidential trips. He'd walk out to the car's rear platform and speak to people every time the train stopped.

The Ferdinand Magellan was used a few more times after that, and then retired to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami, FL. In October, 1984, President Reagan used it for one day (October 12) as he revived Truman's historic railroad trip. Reagan traveled in Ohio to campaign. My husband worked at the White House at this time as a trip officer. The train ride was one of his trip responsibilities, and he was aboard during Reagan's ride.

Remember to honor our Presidents, whether you agreed with their political views or not. Enjoy the three-day weekend and time off but think about the men who've held office and the hard work they did while running our country.

Photos: Flickr: Nobueno's

Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net/ for information about my mainstream romance books. "Gone to the Dogs" is now available in print. "Anything You Can Do" releases on 19 February from http://www.breathlesspress.com/.
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSho7Mus4zo
Visit http://www.aprilash.net/ for information about my erotic romance books.

HUNKS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Yeah, I can't let this opportunity go by without posting some wonderful guys for you to drool over. After all, Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and we all need a "lift", right?
Maybe you'll be someone who gets a stuffed bear, like the one shown in this photo. Oh...if you're lucky, the guy holding it will look just like this hunk and come aptly dressed (or undressed) when he presents you with his gift.
Notice his bulging muscles, the strategic position of that teddy bear...and the bear's little hat.
Are you wondering what's behind that bear? When you grab for the teddy, will you "find" something else, waiting for your caress?

Candy and flowers are the usual choice of gifts for your sweetheart to give you, but wouldn't you love something that keeps giving, and giving, and giving... Of course, recharging is necessary, but dream and fantasize all you want! What's under that bag? Use your imagination and place a face for this mystery man. And, what's under that box of Valentine chocolates? After you eat all the candy, will you find another wonderful surprise to enjoy?

Now, the message with this photo tells it all. What a luscious satin pillow for you to lay your head on. Comfy, smooth, surrounded by hot, sizzling male flesh. You get to fantasize what comes next! And...is that your hand holding up the pillow? How quickly can you move it aside to peek at what's behind it?

Valentine's Day is for lovers of all ages. Enjoy the day with someone you love...in any fantasy way you desire!

Photos: Rockshots.com

Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net/ for information about my mainstream romance books. "Anything You Can Do" will be released on 19 February by www.breathlesspress.com.

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSho7Mus4zo

"Gone to the Dogs" is now available in print.

Visit http://www.aprilash.net/ for information about my erotic romance books.

Some of these books are now available in Kindle format!

ALSO: Don't miss the multi-author, all-day, Ellora's Cave/Cerridwen Press chat on Thursday, 11 Feb. at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe. You must join the group to participate.

National Freedom Day

Okay...I'm a flag waver. Always have been and always will be. Freedom comes with a price, and sometimes we definitely forget that.

I remember listening to stories my father and uncles would tell about World War II and how they were in the military. Even visited Pearl Harbor and honored those who died in WWII.



In college during the Vietnam era, I was a dorm representative for our student council government. We were asked to vote for an anti-war statement. I was one of two who wouldn't vote for it. Again, that flag waver in me felt as if I had to support the military...and I hadn't been given the chance to poll those I represented.

My husband spent two tours in Vietnam. No one cared then. His devotion to the military and decision to make the Army his career didn't change how I felt for him. I knew the risks he'd take, in the name of keeping us free, and married him.

Those who protest anything and everything sometimes don't remember that they're able to do that because others made sacrifices for their freedom. Respect for those protecting us took a turn after 9/11. Sad to say, but that one day changed how many felt about their freedom and lives. As the years pass, some show signs of forgetting just how terrible those days in September 2001 felt, and how we need to constantly be on guard to insure our freedom.

My son's unit should be going to Afghanistan this year. He's ready. He knows the risks, as do I. Do I want him to go? No. No one wants war. No mother wants her son or daughter to go. But, he has a job to do for his country. Men and women in uniform will fight "over there" to protect us "over here" and keep the ideals of freedom from disappearing.

Fly your flag. I do, every day. Show your patriotism. Thank those in the military when you see them in uniform. Freedom isn't something to take for granted...it's something we've enjoyed, thanks to the hard work of others.

Photos: Flickr: Fausxt_digit, Frank Hale, The Gifted Photographer's photostreams.

In "Strip Poker for Two" by April Ash, my hero is an Army officer. Gotta love those men in uniforms, as the heroine quickly finds out! Check out this book at my website: http://www.aprilash.net/
Coming 19 February: "Anything You Can Do" by Marianne Stephens. Go to http://www.mariannestephens.net/ for more information. "Gone to the Dogs" is now available in print.

Feel Sexy

TEN  things to do/buy/wear for sagging self-images and to make you feel sexy:

1. Buy fancy lingerie...and wear whatever you buy! Don't keep these items hidden in a drawer. Wear them everyday to confirm that "I am sexy" feeling!

2. Buy dresses, top, sweaters, that cling to show off your curves...lower cuts show off your cleavage! Stand tall and strut your stuff!

3. Wear high-heeled shoes to give you that long-legged look to capture a man's attention as your hips wiggle with your confident, feminine walk.

                                                     
 4.Hair styles. Treat yourself to a session at a hair salon. Try a new look; maybe wear your hair long, presenting that "Hollywood" celebrity sexy look, creating a alluring image.

5. Use make-up. Emphasize your best facial feature...perhaps your eyes or full lips.

 6. Polish your nails. Toenails, too, can make you feel feminine.

7. Use sweet, wonderful smelling perfumes. Find a scent that you like and mixes well with your body temperature to give off that wonderful aroma a man will recognize as yours.

8.  Use satin sheets. That wonderful feeling of satin running along your skin will tingle and spark your sensitive areas.

9. Get all dressed up and have some professional photos taken.

10. Love yourself, believe that you're sexy and attractive, light candles, sprinkle rose petals on those satin sheets, and tease or flirt outrageously with the man of your dreams! Your ultimate goal: a passionately satisfying rendezvous/relationship that affirms your sexual charisma.

Sometimes women in romance books question their sexual attractiveness. In "Gone to the Dogs" by Marianne Stephens, Katie had been dumped by her ex-boyfriend, and that was a blow to her sexual confidence level. In "Anything You Can Do", also by Marianne Stephens, Allison had been betrayed by a man she thought she loved, and never made to feel sexually attractive. Both women gained strength in their new relationships with men whose passion flamed their own desires. Ultimately, they found true love.

Photos: Photostream, Flickr: p22earl, Tiago Riberio, gabriel.georgina, indiewench, Kylie Balough, and Mariano Kamp

"Gone to the Dogs" is available in ebook and print versions at:
http://www.jasminejade.com/m-310-marianne-stephens.aspx
"Anything You Can Do" will be available 19 February as an ebook at: http://www.breathlesspress.com
For more information about my books, visit:
http://www.mariannestephens.net
http://www.aprilash.net

INSTALLING LOVE IN YOURSELF AND BOOKS

My passion is writing romance books, stories of love and happily-ever-afters. A writer needs to know herself/himself and understand or have experience with all the feelings that complicate love and romance before penning that next book.

Have you experienced envy? Jealousy? Hurt? Forgiveness? These are just some of those feelings along the rocky road to love. The following is an edited, whimsical rendition of Installing Love in yourself before a writer can successfully portray romantic heroes and heroines in novels.

(NOTE: There are various versions of this on the Internet and I can’t locate the original author. I did find a version in the Winter 1999 issue of Hopes & Dreams newsletter of the Illinois Chapter, Huntington's Disease Society of America.)

Tech: How can I help you?
Writer: I've decided to write a romance book and figure I need to install Love in myself first. Can you help me?

Tech: Certainly. Are you ready?
Writer: Well, I'm not very technical but I think I am. What do I do first?

Tech: The first step is to open your heart. (Pause) Have you located your Heart?
Writer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Can I still install Love while the others are running?

Tech: What programs are running?
Writer: Let's see. I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.

Tech: No problem. Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs.
Writer: Okay, that sounds great. What about Low Self-Esteem?

Tech: Love will also eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem.
Writer: And the other programs?

Tech: You'll have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?
Writer: I don't know how. Can you tell me?

Tech: Sure. It's really easy. Go to the start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.
Writer: Hey! I did it and Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program right now. You'll need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.
Writer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error-Program not run on external components." What should I do?

Tech: Stay calm. Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.
Writer: So then...what do I do?

Tech: Pull down Self-Acceptance and click on the following files: Forgive Self, Realize Your Worth, and Acknowledge Your Limitations.
Writer: Okay. Done.

Tech: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it's completely gone and never comes back.
Writer: Got it. Hey! My Heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is that okay?

Tech: For some it works that way. For others, it takes awhile but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.
Writer: Great! What about the other things that crowd my Heart program like Responsibility, Obligations, Distractions, Jealousy, and Envy?

Tech: Sorry but there's no way to delete these from your permanent memory and operating programs. Those will pop up at any time and you'll have to just deal with them when they do.
Writer: I guess now that Love is installed in My Heart, I'll handle those as they surface. You've been so helpful. Thanks so much!

Writers need to have their characters go through much the same process. Love isn't automatically installed. Obstacles have to be overcome, hearts have to open, so many complications must be addressed and conquered. Then, happily-ever-after will happen!

The heroine, Katie, of "Gone to the Dogs", by Marianne Stephens, has lots to go through before Love installs in her Heart program. Read an excerpt and reviews of "Gone to the Dogs", published by Cerridwen Press, at my web site: http://www.mariannestephens.net

Marianne Stephens has three ebooks published by Cerridwen Press, http://www.jasminejade.com and one of those is also available as a paperback.
April Ash has two erotic romance books available: www.ellorascave.com
and one is also available in print.
www.mariannestephens.net
www.aprilash.net