It's almost Valentine's Day!

I was looking at my blog today and realized I haven't posted since Christmas!

Time flies when you're writing and living life, doesn't it?

So you know, I have been working on the third book in the Brianne James mystery series. The book is called Slipped Up and should be ready come fall of this year. My second book in the Aaden Prescott Space Adventure series is in its beta reading stage. This book should be out early April. 

Have a happy Valentine's Day! I promise to keep in touch.

Kathryn

Have you read this yet?

Makes a great Valentine's Day gift!

FRIDAY FLICKS: VALENTINE BOOK SIGNING!

BOOK SIGNING COMING UP AT THE

HIS & HER VALENTINE BOUTIQUE

broTIQUE this Saturday, Jan 30 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the 

South Towne Expo Center in Sandy!

Would love to see you!

Come and get something special this year for your honey!

Get 10% off with special postcard!

What Will You Get Your Valentine? Book Signing Coming Up!

For the first time - ever - I will be having a Valentine Book Sale! Come and get a book or two for your sweetheart! I will be autographing Christian fiction and and mystery books (with just a hint of romance).

The bridal fair, gun show and travel show will be going on at the same time! 

Come and see me!






Learn more about the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/491757700987963/

VALENTINE'S DAY GIVEAWAY!

That's right, the time has come!

This time I am part of a romance book giveaway! Romance, you say? You don't write romance! Well, in a sense I do, at least when it comes to a little flavor of romance in my Christian fiction novels.

You can compete at any of the following locations:

Writing in the Modern Age:

http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2015/02/multi-author-romance-book-giveaway-Valentines-Day.html

http://bit.ly/1yjpnug

I Love Romance Blog:

https://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/2015/02/13/can-you-resist-romance-multi-author-book-giveaway/

http://bit.ly/19aicQi

Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones or The Feast: A Parable of the Ring, are numbers 62 and 63 at the blogs listed above. Conquering Your Goliaths will be in paperback The Feast will be in audio for the winners.  

HAVE FUN!!

Paperback

Audio

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have you entered for a chance to win this book?

If not, this is your last opportunity!
I will be drawing winners tomorrow morning!

Valentine Prompts for the Truer than True Scrooge

I know you're out there; folks who don't quite "get" Valentine's Day. You might even be considered a Scrooge, though I'm well aware that the 'real' Scrooge had more of an affinity with Christmas.

Do any of these statements sound like you?

1. "I don't currently have a romantic interest" or "I'm just getting over a romantic interest and just don't want to think about Valentine's Day."
2. "I like to spoil my partner during the year and find it hard to dole out on Valentine's Day when it's 'expected.'"
3. "Valentine's Day is just a commercial set-up to get me to spend more money."
4. "I'm just not "gooshy." I show my love in different ways."

If you fit into any or all of the above categories, you may find yourself skipping out on the big day and filling it with something totally unrelated.

But what if I could pull you back, even just a little, with these Scrooge Valentine prompts?

1. Write a story about a romantic interest that has gone sour, and how better off one or both couples is. (See #4)
2. Write a story about a man who enjoys giving gifts to his significant Valentine, just not on Valentine's Day.
3. Do some research. Find out how Valentine's Day got started, and write a story reflecting this new found knowledge.

4. Write an un-romantic Valentine's story. Really? Yes, really. Perhaps it starts out in the direction of being a romantic story, but suddenly turns, finding the reader surprised and honored that all relationships don't work out, just as it should be. You could even try some comedy. Why did certain dates, whether you were "lined up" or not, not work for you?

Basically, have a bit of fun.

Here's the beginning of my story using prompt #2.

It wasn't fair, and he knew it. But what could he do? 

His new girl stood before him all glowing and all he wanted to do was escape, sort of like those prisoners he'd read about in "Last Man Standing."

But how could he do it? Why couldn't he just be himself and scatter the love when he felt like it?

She smiled at him. Her lips were a dark red today and he could almost taste them without leaning in.

Oh, she would hate him! 

It was Valentine's Day and what did he have for her? Nothing. Nothing.

"So?" she asked. The air was cool, but her arms looked warm underneath her heavy coat. The snow had not melted yet, probably wouldn't for another month or so, and all he could think about was warming his cold heart...

Let's see what you've got. Start your own story by responding to this post or see what I've got going here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Kathryn

VALENTINE GIVEAWAYS!! (Update!)

Winners have been randomly chosen! Check below to see if you're one of them. Both winners should have received a note from me about how to receive their prize. Thanks everyone!

THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO WIN A FREE MARKETING BOOK!

I know folks are reading this post because the visitors have tripled. But...I need to hear from you. Afraid to share your poem or Valentine message? Don't be. Just share something. Anything. It can be the words, "Write Sweetly," or "Edit Always With Chocolate."

But please write. I want to have many, many entries to draw a winner from!

Here's what you do:

***

There are going to be some sweet things coming up this month to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Here's the first:

My Marketing Book, MarketingYour Book on a Budget will be given away to one lucky reader of my blog. That means if you send me a Valentine via your response to this blog post (starting Saturday, February 1 and ending on Valentine's Day), you will be entered in the drawing to be held on February 15. 

This drawing is part of The Inkslingers Sweet Retweet BlogHop.

Second,

Between February 10 and 14, another blog hop will be taking place:

The CIA Love is...Blog Hop. Get a second chance to win! Shoot that arrow! Enter again!



Just send me a second Valentine via your response and you'll be entered in the second contest that will end the evening of Valentine's Day. (I don't need an 'actual' Valentine, just some 'heartfelt' words that you'd write on a Valentine).

There's nothing better for any writer than FREE marketing ideas for whatever book they're ready to market. Join in the fun!

Enter to win this book!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Kathryn

Valentine Writing Ideas

Since most of us are going to be in the Valentine swing tomorrow, I thought it would be appropriate to share some fun writing prompts to get every heart pumping.

When it comes to writing romance, it's a skill every writer needs, yes, even if you're not writing a romance novel. Since romance is a part of most of our lives, don't you think it should be a part of most of our novels?


Photo by: Mike Overall, courtesy of Flickr

So here goes:

Create a Valentine's Day box. Decorate it accordingly today, with slips of paper and ideas written on them that can be drawn out during the day tomorrow. Keep the ideas simple, like write your first paragraph with the word 'love' in it, or write a poem with the word 'red' in it. Interestingly enough, you may not come up with the best Valentine poem, but you will have something, and that's the point. Keep the box and pull it out next year to write even more.

Photo by: Peter Hellberg, courtesy of Flickr

Rather than buying a ready-made Valentine, write a love letter to your significant other. Use the five senses; something cards do, and make your words literally breathe love.



Photo by: Ruth L, courtesy of Flickr

Cook a Valentine's dinner instead of going out. In an envelope place some slips of paper with all of the words you can think of that explain your love for him/her. Share these words during your dinner.

Photo by Daniel Morris, courtesy of Flickr

Go ice skating and pay special attention to the couples. It's amazing what you can come up with when you watch others in their element (or not so much). Many romantic ideas can come from visiting places where couples are likely to frequent on Valentine's Day.

Valentine writing ideas are as available as your imagination. The deeper your imagination, the more ideas will come to you. Hopefully, these ideas will get you started.

Valentine Ideas for the Romance Writer

Since I don't write romances, this is a bit of a stretch for me, although I'll have you know that even in a Christian fiction or cozy mystery book there can be a bit of romance.

Photo by Adam Bell Photography, courtesy of Flickr

And, need I say it, I have had a bit of romance in the almost 33 years that I have been married.

So here goes:

The best books I've read that have had romance in them (even if they've only included one small kissing scene) do one of three things. They:

1. Keep you Guessing. The entire Valentine scene isn't spelled out. In my mind, the best romance isn't handed out on a silver platter, it takes some imagination to finish out the scene. That means that the reader is finishing out the kissing and what comes after it, not the writer.

2. Are Realistic. Most of the best romance happens on the spur of the moment, not on some long drawn out planned event. Sure, you may take your best girl to Hawaii for Valentine's Day, but it's not the flower petals that really get her, it's the flooding in the hotel that proves her man's devotion to her.

Photo by: Ryan Jarvis Photography, courtesy of Flickr

3. Keep You Wanting More. There is a lead up that first kiss. It isn't always easy and there are many obstacles to overcome before the romance happens. Heck, she may not even like him at first. Beginning the romance before it's time is kind of like taking the relationship to the next level before it's time. And yes, this does happen in real life, so if you decide to make this an issue in your book, be very sure to give your main character some time to heal or learn from the 'too soon' jump.

Valentine's Day, or at least those Valentine moments can be used in every book as long as the reader is kept guessing, feels like the romance is realistic, and the obstacles, including time, keep them wanting more.