Identity as a Writer

Over the years I’ve had many identities, but today I want to share my self as a writer. The life of a writer sounds glamorous, but in fact is lonely and difficult. Even those of us who are social do not have time to socialize unless it’s through e-mail, which is not the same as face to face.

I started writing at the age of forty-three while I still worked for a major airline. After thirty-six years in the airline industry I retired to write full time. Once, I started down this path to publication there was no turning back. The art of learning to write stories grips you around the neck and will not let you escape its’ clutches. Unformed ideas swarm into your mind like bees, and they keep coming until you choose one and focus on it.

I write mystery romance with a women’s fiction bent because I like to read stories that deal with real issues, but mine also have mystery and romance in them. These are the types of stories I like to read, and so I write them. I grew up on Nancy Drew mysteries and others of that age group graduated to Victoria Holt, and then on to Sidney Sheldon and numerous others. It was only natural to want to combine romance with mystery.

There is so much to learn as a writer of fiction. You have to learn the rules before you can break them are a saying among authors and publishers. One of the things I had difficulty with was point of view. We’re supposed to stay in one view during a scene, never matter that someone like Nora Roberts can get away with going into the viewpoint of a cat if she wants to. For new authors that is not an option if you want to get published.

Other things beginning authors need to learn is how to weave the romance and the mystery together, or in other cases, sci-fi, romance and mystery, or paranormal and mystery, or whatever you are writing. You have to add description of characters, clothing and setting, then there is the introspection by your characters; these are just some of the things that have to be woven together.

Before you become a published author you need a website to build a name for yourself and to start promoting the image you want. After you finish the book (after many revisions) and have it published the job doesn’t end there. Next you have to promote your book, which is very time consuming and you wonder if you’ll ever have time to write again. Of course, you do because you can’t stop writing, or you become very moody. Grin. Would I have become an author if I knew what I know now? The answer is a simple “no.” Too late, I’m hooked.

In October 2008, my first book, The Catalyst, was released from Forbidden Publications an e-publisher. The Catalyst is the first book in a trilogy set in the Mid-West along the Missouri River amongst the riverboat community. It’s about the Madison dynasty, owners of riverboat casinos, and their trials within their family and their business.

In December 2008, the second book in the trilogy, Addiction was released. This story is about one of the daughter’s in the Madison/Dubois dynasty, and her fight against addictions and for her very survival when she learns someone is stalking her.

The third book is not finished yet, but I’m working on it, a short story, and revising a book that is finished, which never sold in spite of all the interest in it. This book is very important to me, and I will see it get published. We writers have trouble letting go of our babies whether they sell or not. As a writer my work is never perfect. I tend to revise and revise up until the day it is released by the publisher, and I find fault with my stories even after they’re in print.

This is my life as a writer. I am author, Sandra K. Marshall. My books, The Catalyst and Addiction can be bought as a download at http://www.forbiddenpublications.com and will soon be in print at http://www.pawprintspod.com.

I will come back and free you, Mom. I promise.

I will come back and free you, Mom. I promise

Two classic lines. A defining moment.

There are aspects of characterization that are often lost beneath the multitude of words, heart stopping crisises, deeply desperate black moments and dramatic flair of a story. These moments have a name. They are called Impact Moments. It is in a glimpse of a character's movement, a line of dialog or the flash of emotion across a character's face that they change forever. In a way, they are fulfilling the authors destiny they've designed for them. Impact Moments don't have to be subtle, but normally are.

The opening lines of this blog post, 'I will come back and free you, Mom. I promise.', comes from Star Wars, The Phantom Menace. The young Aniken has won his freedom in the pod races. It is a moment in which success and freedom war within his young soul as he leaves all he knows and the only person who has ever shown him kindness—his mother—behind.

This sets up Aniken's entire personae through the remainder of the prequels. Why he does what he does rotates around one pivotal moment—the Impact Moment.

The premise of the Impact Moment is based in psychology. We develop in our pre-adolescent years much of who we are when we mature. Things that make little difference to an adult, can drastically effect a child. A comment from a teacher, a joke from a parent, praise or bullying are translated in a child's mind differently. Children are far more literal than adults give them credit.

In Aniken's case, the line, and the emotions that followed, defined him. He'd do anything to save his mother when she was captured by the Sand People. He failed. Return to the original line of dialog. Aniken's failure is the cataclysmic turning point in his life, but it is directly related to his Impact Moment.

From that scene forward, Aniken begins his tunnel-visioned walk to the Dark Side. His love for Padme, the fear he'll lose her, are all integral rungs as he descends into evil. He won't leave his wife, and, he can't stand the thought of her leaving him. It all rotates around the Impact Moment.

This is the importance of the Impact Moment. All characters, like all people have at least one. These are also the moments of back story used in a story, whether short or long. They are the definers of a character. The glue that sticks them to the story.

Every author, no matter what they write, should be able to spit out the character's Impact Moment without thought. What makes your character who they are? What happened in their past to put them on this path?

When you find that answer—you'll have your Impact Moment.

Hope this helps. If you have another way of defining a character, I'd love to hear it.

Until next time – cheers and happy writing,

T.J.

With love from Ms. Blush

Hello to you all wonderful, beautiful people!

You may be wondering who I am, and what I'm doing here. Let's put all your concerns to rest, shall we?

My name is Ms. Blush, and I'm the gal who rounds off each and every one of the Royal Blush Authors' posse. Every week, I'll bring you a little reminder of what we at Royal Blush have in store for you.

So, what can you expect from us? Certainly not the hum-drum pace of what you usually see out there.

We give you fresh. We give you news. We give you views. Every week, stick around and get to know us better as we open the doors of our world to you and share what's on our minds and what's on our writing plate.

Speaking of 'we', who are 'we'?

Well, behind this blog stands the posse and crew of the Royal Blush Authors. Some you'll see more often, some you'll see fleetingly, but we can all tell you we're here to stay. We want to get to know you, and we hope you do too.

Basically, what we have in store for you is something a little different. The authors of Royal Blush come with a full package of information, education, and entertainment. Separated into themed months, you'll all know what we're talking about at any given point in time.

Catch author T.J Killian every Tuesday for a little lesson on craft. Or else come find out what she has on her mind that day.

Every Thursday, the author behind the pen names of Aasiyah Qamar & Nolwynn Ardennes brings you her take on an aspect pertinent to the month's topic.

Every Wednesday, we bring you one of the Royal Blush Authors and she'll be sharing her take and view on the topic of the month. Sandra Marshall, Angela Guillaume, and Diana Castilleja will be your date on each of these days.

Friday is a special day here, because every other week, Prudence Tempest will make her appearance. You don't know who she is? Worry not, you'll find out soon enough as the fictional heroine will take you through an account of her topsy-turvy life at each fortnight.

We'll also have ongoing contests, promos and opportunities to meet our authors.

In case you're still wondering who the people at Royal Blush are, catch us this month as we take you on a wild ride that'll make you discover our personas.

This January, the Royal Blush Authors want to announce their presence in the blogosphere.
This January, they're taking you on a quest:

Searching for an identity...

Don't forget to catch T.J tomorrow, Sandra on Wednesday, and Aasiyah/Nolwynn on Thursday.
Our ongoing fictional story also begins on Friday, where you'll meet Preudence Tempest, striving author, striving young woman of today's world, striving singleton and basically, a striving everything kinda gal!

The best of us for the best of you, that's our promise as we deliver the full flush of romance.

From now till later, enjoy!

With love, from Ms. Blush

The Eternal Kiss at a discount!

The Eternal Kiss on Amazon! At a low price!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/storefront/index.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sellerID=AU8MBCLWFXBAZ

Buy a book! Buy one for a friend! And here's a special offer: the first 5 orders will receive a signed poster with their book (May be mailed separately at no extra cost). All books can be autographed, with a short inscription.

Christmas is coming! Enjoy a book! Share a book! Give a book!

Fictionwise is having a huge sale. 50% off for credit card purchases.

If you love the Royal Blush Authors such as:

Buffi BeCraft-Woodall, Diana Castilleja, Bonnie Clarke, J. Morgan and T.J. Killian - hop on over and stock up on great reads.

Hot off the E-presses

After the Fire

Available October 6, 2008

From Liquid Silver

Heat Level - Erotic Romance

Shar Brenna is a hard-working woman, a respected member of her witch Kin clan. At least until she’s held under suspicion of arson by the local police for the demise of Mystic, a Kin hotspot for the witch clans in Granier Falls.


As clues bring dangers bearing down on her and more of her friends begin to look as though they are in jeopardy too, she must find out who was behind the fire and then face the hunters who are determined to capture a witch.


Fleeing has never been her style when fighting back is so much more satisfying.

Hot off the E-presses

The Catalyst

Coming October 1, 2008
From Forbidden Publications
Heat Level - Mainstream/Sweet
Genre - Romantic Mystery

Dark revelations and secret love lead to personal resurrection.

Carolyn Madison didn’t kill her husband but didn’t mourn him either. The rapist deserved to die, or at least she thought so. Beneath a myriad of family secrets, Carolyn drags the skeletons out of the closet and in the arms of her true, learns to love again.

Walt Tollhouse has pined for Carolyn since she was a shy seventeen-year-old. Little did he know Robert Dubois would steal her away, and then destroy the beautiful spirit he still loved. Beneath the guise of clean-up man, the martial arts instructor never pushes his battered love but gives her silent support she deserves.