Crystal Jordan :: Blog

So, you can’t go to the RWA conference this year? Well, don’t fret for long. Romance Divas is hosting their annual NGTCC (Not Going To Conference Conference) and it’s going to be fun-filled. Already they’ve got great guest spots lined up, including: Josh Lanyon, Rowan Mcbride, Jet Mykles and Shayla Kersten, Carrie Jones, Marley Gibson, Linnea Sinclair, Patti O’Shea, Ona Russel, Steve Hockingsmith, Joey W. Hill and Sasha White.

There will be workshops for just about every genre, from Young Adult to Erotic to Historical. Plus, a workshop on Deep POV, one on going from e-publishing to NY, and a Q&A on how avoid and deal with burnout. And there’s bound to be a few surprises, too.

The NGTCC kicks off July 14th and runs until July 18th. If you’re not already a member of Romance Divas, all you have to do is go to the website and register! Best of all–it’s FREE!

Before I get started, I want to announce that to celebrate the June 30th release of EDGE OF DAWN, I’m giving away a copy of IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, the first book in my Light Warriors series. A winner will be randomly drawn from all those who leave a comment.

I had to turn to Twitter for help on blog topics and one of the suggestions mentioned was to talk about what inspired me to be a writer. I’m not sure there was one thing, though. In my memory, it’s a series of events spaced years apart.

First, I always had stories in my head. When I was a little girl and playing Barbies with my friends, they’d be done with their scenario and I’d still be enacting mine. I never understood why my scenes–and that’s what they were, actual scenes–were so much more elaborate than any of my friends. I only know I had a story to go through and prods to “hurry up” didn’t get it finished any faster. :-)

Then there was all the daydreaming I did when I was bored. At school, in church, at some social event my parents dragged me to, I’d just find a corner and zone out, playing different scenes from some story out in my head. I did it constantly.

I never put anything down on paper, though. Not until eighth grade. A friend of mine decided to write a book with the entire class as characters. I didn’t like what she did with me, she refused to change it, so I decided to write my own story. Only I found I couldn’t write real people, it felt uncomfortable, so I put down one of my daydreaming stories.

After that, it seemed everything was geared toward me writing something. I worked on the school newspaper in ninth grade and the yearbook in tenth, eleventh, and twelfth. I had the opportunity to take a journalism class my junior year in high school, I was in Advanced Placement English, I took composition.

By the time I entered college, I knew I wanted to write, and since I already realized fiction wasn’t a lucrative career path, I majored in journalism. I started out as a broadcast copy major and switched to advertising copywriting, which I guess is fiction writing in a way. And every time I strayed from writing after college (which was often), I met someone who steered me back toward the path.

So what inspired me to write paranormal romance, particularly my Light Warrior series about a society of magic users who protect humans from demons and other evil creatures? I blame it on too much television as a kid. :-) I was totally hooked on reruns of I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched.

Who wouldn’t want to have magic? Look at some of the cool things my hero from EDGE OF DAWN can do. Logan can travel thousands of miles in seconds simply by doing the spell to open a transit–walk through this gateway, and boom, you’re there. He can throw fire and lightning, which is a pretty cool way to fight, he doesn’t have to clean his house–at least not dusting and vacuuming. (Logan’s kind of a slob, so there are still clothes on the floor.) Forgot something at home? No problem, just do a little spell and bring it right to you. (And wouldn’t that come in handy?)

I had a really fun time writing EDGE OF DAWN and not only because of the magic. Logan and his heroine, Shona, were cute together and Logan, while being this badass warrior, is really sweet with women. Hey, he has three little sisters and he dotes on them. That was one of the things that I found so interesting–his family dynamics. Then there was his developing relationship with Shona all the while trying to hide magic from her and still fight the bad guy that’s after her. Yeah, it wasn’t easy for him, but then I have this thing about torturing my characters.

To find out more about EDGE OF DAWN or any of my other books, please swing by my website: www.pattioshea.com I have the back cover copy, excerpts, and other information available there.

Mad Madam M still here! I promise Crys will be back later this week. Until then, you’re stuck with me. In the mean time, I figured I should post at least once about something romance related. It only seems fitting…

Last year I got to attend the RWA conference in San Francisco as Crystal’s plus one. While there, I got to meet Hannah Howell, my favorite author. I own all of her back catalog and have read the entire Highland Series more times than I would ever admit in public. Even Crys knows the names of many of the characters and she’s never read any of the books. Even more telling, I’ve read her books with paranormal elements, something I normally don’t enjoy.

Anyway, I didn’t want to be one of those idiot fans that rambled on about how much I loved the one scene or that one character and so I asked about her upcoming releases. I have to admit, while I love her work, I’d grown somewhat tired of the highland setting. It turns out, she was tired of it as well. She made the comment that she had decided she needed to go in a different direction when she noticed she was using “ken,” “och” and “aye” in her everyday life.

If He’s Wicked is the first book in her new series and boy is it a blast of fresh air! I read it in one sitting…it was that spell-bounding. The characters are fun and the storyline is well constructed and interesting. I will say the cover art and title – as is the case for many books – has pretty much nothing to do with the book. From just looking at the front of the book, I thought it might have werewolves. I mean “wicked” is in the title and there is a full moon in a very purple sky. However, it’s the heroine that has a touch of magic. I totally recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, summer read!

Hey all! I have the lovely and talented Patti O’Shea guest blogging at The Novelty Girls. And she’s giving goodies away. Stop by and comment for a chance to win!

Mad Madam M still here…well kind of. All I can say is thank goodness it’s Friday! It’s been a long, strange week. Anyway, the videos continue…this time from the terrific – and gorgeous – Stephen Fry!

Mad Madam M still here! While searching for Robin Hood videos, I stumbled upon a clip from an Eddie Izzard stand up special that is beyond hilarious. If you have the time, I’d recommend watching all the videos featuring Mr. Izzard in the red, satin-looking pants suit!

Hey, I figured I’m like the substitute teacher and in school that always meant videos!

Mad Madam M here!  Crystal is currently typing her fingers to the bone in order to make a deadline, so I thought I’d try to step in and provide a bit of frivolous entertainment for everyone.  I recently discovered – and quickly became obsessed – with the BBC series Robin Hood.  As one columnist explained, “on the face of it, the BBC’s Robin Hood is a terrible television programme. Jonas Armstrong’s Hood looks like a member of a boy band that got lost in the woods after a team-building weekend and has been forced to live on nothing but hair gel. His arch enemy Guy of Gisbourne is essentially a goth, brooding and troubled, tormented by both Maid Marian’s rejection of him and the realisation that the Sisters of Mercy will never again tread the boards of Nottingham University Student Union. Historical accuracy, or even a vague effort to look and sound medieval, does not come into it.” In spite of all that, or perhaps because of it…who knows, I find the show absolutely delightful. So, without further ado, I present one of my favorite scenes from the series!

Be sure to tune in tomorrow for some Eddie Izzard fun as I, the Mad Madam M, continue my guest blogging reign of terror! Mwaaaahaaaahaaaahaaaaaa!

I’m over at The Novelty Girls talking about turn offs in a book or writer.