Character Arc

I've recently completed an intense content edit for my novel coming out in July called "Cosmetic Heart." I signed the contract for this novel about six months ago. I'd lost the feel of the book after all that time and was pleased to have a thorough go-through with an editor. I have to admit that, at first, I struggled with her edits because they were so different from my previous editor's style and outlook. Once I got into them, I saw where she was coming from and now feel that my book is so much better. I'm so thankful for editors. What would I do without them?

Now back to character arc. The characters in this novel don't start off perfect. They start off with serious character flaws which pitch them against their happily-ever-afters. During the story, they change and become the people they were meant to become. The romance leads them forward and develops their characters. I think a romance isn't complete without a character arc. Not only do the hero and heroine find love, they find a way to view the world differently. They change and become better people. Love and the need for love changes them or so it should.

How do you create a believable character arc that makes the reader sympathise with your characters? That's a hard one. In the beginning, your character must believe a lie. In Wedding Gown Girl, Kienna believed that true love didn't exist, especially for her. She was afraid to give her heart to Blake because her ex-husband had lied to her about his true feelings for her. In the movie Nottinghill, the heroine Anna (Julia Roberts) believed that it was too risky to love with the world looking on. She'd messed up before and didn't think she could sustain love again with an audience. In most romance novels, there is some pain in the hero or heroine's past that is making them believe a lie. In Sleepless in Seattle, the hero is afraid to love again because he lost the love of his life before. What if he loses his love again? Yes, he may but he will miss out on happiness in the here and now if he doesn't jump in and take the risk. Finally, his son helps him discover this.

The character can't discover the truth too soon. They can begin to get inklings of it along the way but firstly, the lie must get stronger and bigger, like the cookie monster. It must consume them so that they give up or almost give up on the one they love. So, the process of a romance novel isn't just the falling in love, but also the falling out of pain or lies.

There must be a black moment. I struggle with always finding the exact blackest moment as in some novels, I have several black moments. Those are the moments when the lie is exposed. Straight after the black moment is the crucial moment when your character has to choose to face their pain and fear and rise above it or to take the safer route and deny their heart and love. Once they choose the courageous path, their character has changed and they've made the character arc.

One of my favourite authors, Katie Fford, does lovely character arcs. They're subtle, but her characters don't only find love but learn something vital along the way about life and themselves.

Ways in which characters can learn the truth about the lies they believe:

1. True love shows them something different about life or themselves.
2. Secondary characters, like family members who know so much about them, show them things about themselves.
3. Circumstances and conflict can bring that lie out to the surface like heating silver.
4. When they are faced with losing the love of their life, the lie loses its power.

In Cosmetic Heart, my heroine, Lisa, believes a big fat lie. She believes that being strong and independent is safer and better for her than opening up her heart to love. She's put layers over her heart like make-up over skin. She starts off in the story as a make-up artist. You will have to read my book to find out how she discovers it's a lie.

Book Review - Melancholic Delight

Today, I am reviewing Melancholic Delight by Tista Ray. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for writing a review. The writer of this book is only eighteen years old!

Melancholic Delight is a refreshing, unique novel about a young Indian woman's coming of age story. Sri falls in love with Jishu hard. Could that love she buries in her heart for him become any stronger? As you read, you wonder if it's possible, but it is. This is a story of a high school student's final years as she struggles to find a way to express her love for a boy in her class.

I was unsure of the book when I first starting reading. The language is different and the way of narration isn't your standard romance novel of third person point of view. It's very intimate and I soon became swept into the depths of Sri's feelings for Jishu, her frustration because of her shyness to show him, and her struggles with rejection and fickle behaviour from her love and the persecution of her insensitive classmates. Then I realised the wisdom and maturity of the writer's insight. She captures young, teenage first love like a master - the confusion, insecurity, intense emotion often changing from day to day, and the dynamics of teenage relationships and friendships.

The beauty in the story is not in the Happy-Ever-After. It's not that type of story, but in the growth of Sri as she becomes the adult she was meant to become. Although Jishu's final rejection is painful, Sri has changed as a person. The most touching line in the book is her mother's words to her: "I can see he had taught you a lot. Not just to talk freely and think gently but also to love sincerely." You're left with the almost certain feeling that Sri will find true love one day with a man who understands her shyness to express her feelings, a man who makes her feel comfortable enough to show them to him. She reminds me a lot of what I was like as a teenager and young adult.

The writer of this book is a teenager herself. The depth of point of view and analysis of teenage love goes beyond her years. She has a deep, literary almost poetic style. I love the way she gives a feel of her culture without going into any long descriptions but by merely taking the reader right into the mind of the person. Excellent deep point of view writing skills which many more mature writers struggle to grasp.

The reason I didn't give this book five stars is because I believe it should have been edited more thoroughly. There were grammatical problems and word choice errors that could cause confusion to the reader. At times I didn't understand what was being expressed.

Tista Ray is kindly donating 50% of the proceeds of her book to an orphanage. You can purchase a copy at the following link: Melancholic Delight. You can find her on the world wide web at: Tista Ray

Dragonflies

I'm fascinated with dragonflies. They're whimsical little creatures that make a body of water sparkle and look beautiful. In Dragonfly Moments, the dragonfly features a few times and holds a special symbolism for my heroine, Tessa. Now, of course I can't tell you what. You need to read the book to find out.

Dragonflies come from the order Odonata which is a Greek word for "tooth." It was thought they had teeth but instead they have super-strong mandibles to crush their prey. The creature has 5,000 species (including the damselfly.) They are brilliant flyers and engineers have studied their flight pattern to design a flying robot. If they couldn't fly, they wouldn't eat because they eat in flight. Mozzies are their favourite meal. I think I'd like to hire a bunch of them for summer nights. They are also master migrators and one species can migrate about 11,000 miles across the Indian Ocean. And contrary to popular opinion, they live for more than one day. They can possibly live to a whole year, but normally a few weeks.

I've been considering getting a tattoo. I'm actually a very conservative person and for many years used to dress like an Amish, covering my skin ridiculously. I loosened up over the years, thankfully. But a tattoo? Since I've hit forty, I wanted to do something daring and outrageous. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the plunge, purely because I'm petrified that years later I won't like the picture I chose. I wonder if I'll ever do it. There was a point when I searched for pictures for a tattoo to put on my ankle. The dragonfly appealed to me. Partly because of my book and also because it looks cute. When I searched for pics of dragonflies, I stumbled upon some fascinating symbolism of the little creature. The symbolism is almost endless, but here are few lovely thoughts:

1. In Japan, the dragonfly symbolises power and victory. The Samurai warriors use the symbol to represent strength. The strength of its wings to keep it in the air is powerful for such a small creature.
2. In Native America, it symbolises freedom, happiness and purity because it dwells happily on land and water. Freedom because it breaks free from its larva stage after most of its life and then is able to fly all over.
3. The Chinese see the dragonfly as a symbol of prosperity, good luck and harmony.
4. In modern times, its seen as a symbol of living life to the full as the dragonfly only has a small portion of its life after it breaks free to fly and catch prey. It also speaks of the subconscious, like the reflection on water, the depth of the water speaking of going deeper and using your subconscious to learn more. (Wow, quite deep and mysterious.)

According to some legends, dragonflies were believed to possess supernatural power and be spiritual messengers. They were bearers of light, and in Ireland, they were considered the horses that fairies rode. Mmmh, now that sounds like an interesting thought for a fantasy story. The Lakota tribe in Japan used to invoke them to help defeat their enemies as they represented the spirit of illusion.

I think this all comes from the fact that the insect's wings refract light and many colours can be seen in them.

What feeling does the dragonfly invoke in you? Sometimes I think its sinister, other times beautiful and graceful but always mysterious.

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

I've been unofficially tagged by Romy Sommer, author of Waking Up in Vegas for the next big thing blog hop.

1) What is the working title of your book?

Cosmetic Heart

2) Where did the idea come from for the book?Now that’s a hard one. The novel was my Nano novel from last year so the ideas were thought of quickly based on the trope of “fake engagement.”

3) What genre does your book come under?

It’s a sweet contemporary romance, although not as sweet as my others.

4) Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Whew, this was a challenge. It’s so hard to find a face that fits the character you have in your head, but Heath Ledger does it the best in this pic:

Katie Holmes would make a cute Lisa with her hair lightened a bit:

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

When Lisa’s boss asked her to pose as his fiancée, she doesn’t bank on falling for him and his family, but can Dan’s love reach past the layers and secrets she’s put over her heart?

6) Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

This book will come out with Astraea Press in July.

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

A month! It was my Nanowrimo novel. Of course, it needed lots of editing after that and is in the editing phase at the moment with the publishers.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?I don’t know of a book but a fairly similar movie is “While you were Sleeping” where “Sandra Bullock” poses as a man’s fiancée who’s just come out of a coma and has amnesia. A cute movie although the ending is radically different to mine.

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?I’ve always been interested in journalism, hence my main characters are a magazine writer and editor. I liked the fake engagement premise especially because of the movie, “While you were Sleeping,” with Sandra Bullock. Part of the book was inspired by an experience I had while writing it – the spider bite part.

10) What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

There are plenty of lies, secrets, and betrayal. The setting of the first part of the book is unusual – in a rustic town in the Northern Cape called De Aar. There are also snippets of Lisa’s magazine articles interspersed throughout the book.

I'm not going to officially tag anyone, but put your blog link in the comments block if you have a book soon to be released and want to let the blogosphere know.

Like Scrambled Eggs

For the last fourteen months or so, we've been eating primal/paleo which means eggs for breakfast every morning. I've learned to cook a large variety of egg meals. One of the easiest and most versatile is scrambled eggs. I've also learned the trick of not making rubbery scrambled eggs. The trick is: low and slow. As soon as you up the temperature, it turns into hard, rubbery balls. But it takes time and patience. I have to start at least twenty minutes before my husband comes through for his breakfast else it won't be ready.

I'm learning that sometimes writing is like scrambled eggs. I'm an impatient person. I like things done and achieved here and now. It's been a whirlwind year for me. In the space of about nine months, I signed five publishing contracts. I'm used to fast and furious. But it's not working with my writing at the moment. I need to ease my breath, sit down and ponder. Ponder, stew and stir. Talk about stew: the low and slow ones always taste better. I'm making stew for supper tonight. I have a recipe that takes about four hours to make, but oh, what a difference to the meat. It drops off the bone into soft, juicy pieces instead of being so hard you break your ten-year old fillings on it. (The red wine in the recipe helps too.)

A writing mentor said something valuable a short while back when I was struggling with sticking to books that I'd started. I'd trashed a 17,000 word book because the heroine wasn't interesting enough. I'd already started and stopped three ideas before that. How frustrating to have spent all that time writing and have nothing solid to show for it. There's this pressure to keep books coming. But there's also the pressure to produce quality. She said that when a book idea comes to you, leave it for a while. Stew on it. If the idea won't let you go, then it's the one. Wedding Gown Girl's idea was one of those that wouldn't let go. So was Dragonfly Moment's. I think she gave a very valid point.

I'd started another book just before the 17,000 word one but put it aside to concentrate on The Creators Series. You see, Dragonfly Moments is book one of the The Creators. The creators are characters who create. Tessa is an artist. So, each of my books will have a hero or heroine or both who create things. Anyway, I wanted to work on Tim's story. But the heroine in his story didn't work. She was too wimpy. I'd started another book set in Zambia where I lived for seven years. I kept on wanting to go back to that book but knew I needed to work on the book two. I did go back because the characters were calling. Then I had an absolutely wonderful revelation. My heroine is a creator. She's a ballet teacher and choreographs dances. This book can be my number two.

It doesn't stop there though. This book is taking some time to write. One reason, is busyness in my life at the moment. I don't have huge chunks of writing time anymore. I have to make time. Also, I'm taking it slow. I'm researching, working on setting and pondering everything. I think the more I learn about the craft, the longer I take to write a book.

There are times that call for fast and furious. Nanowrimo is one of those times. And it does produce results. My Nano novel from last year is coming out with Astraea Press in early July. It's going through a fast and furious edit to get it out in time. Kind of like cooking a soup or stew as opposed to fried steak. Hope that the quality doesn't suffer with speed.

Just a snippit of info you may enjoy: Decadent Publishing is having a fantastic giveaway. Check it out: Decadent Publishing Giveaway

Image courtesy of www.morguefile.com

Fingers are Itching

My fingers are itching with excitement as my book, Dragonfly Moments, has a release date. And that release date is next week Wednesday, the 22nd of May. I don't know why I'm so excited about this book. Maybe it's because the editors at Decadent Publishing took it to a whole new level. The usual angst before release day isn't there. I feel almost confident.

I can't stress enough how writing is a team effort. I admire those authors that have the courage and skill to successfully self-publish without hiring an editor. (I've done it myself when I wasn't ready.) I admire their ability to trust their own work. There's something liberating about having professionals work with your book who have so much more experience in the publishing world and who are often seasoned writers themselves. Also, to have an editor check out all the grammar nitty gritty. There's something about grammar. The more I seem to learn, the more confused I get. I'm hoping when I get a new grammar programme for my kids at school and as I teach them, I will become better at constructing perfect sentences.

The other benefit of working with a great team, is that you learn so much from them along the way. Your writing can progress and reach higher heights for the next work.

What I love about Decadent Publishing, too, is their assistance with promo and the way they communicate and keep you abreast through the whole process.

Dragonfly Moments is one of my more serious books. Wedding Gown Girl and Reminding Me of You were more flirty and fun. Although the writing of Dragonfly Moments was just as fun. Here is the blurb to give you a taste of what will be entering the cyber romance world soon:

A young woman’s first love walks back into her life at the worst time possible—she is about to start a family with another man. But when her dreams begin to crumble, which one will be there to help her pick up the pieces?

Seven years earlier, Tessa Calitz wrote a letter to Ryan le Roux promising her undying love. As time passed, she forgot about that letter...but not Ryan, who clung to the hope that she would wait for him.

Such is not the case when he walks back into her life. Tessa is in a serious relationship, and is busy setting up her art gallery in Johannesburg. She has plans to start a family, and the arrival of Ryan into her life throws her for a spin.

He is the worst thing that could happen to her dream of stability and starting a family...or is he?

Because when her relationship and everything she clung to starts to crumble, Ryan is right beside her to inspire her to greater things.

But her obsession for having her own child pushes Ryan away when she falls in love with an orphaned HIV-positive baby.

Will Tessa push him away forever or open her heart to what she has longed for all along?

The other exciting thing is that Dragonfly Moments is part one of a series called "The Creators." I'm working on part two right now (in between lots of promo work.)

The Awesome Eiffel Tower

In "Reminding Me of You," Mia and Bryn kiss for the first time up the Eiffel Tower. Mia is petrified of heights and Bryn comforts her. That's the start of a Paris affair that leads to much confusion in Mia who thinks she loves someone else.

I adore Paris. Mostly because it contains the Louvre and I'm crazy about the famous artists' works, especially Renoir and Monet's Impressionist paintings. But I also love the French architecture and their quaint restaurants. The whole Mediterranean area appeals to me and I would love to visit there one day. That's why I set my book partly in Paris.

The Eiffel Tower is one of Paris's attractions. When I did research on it, I discovered how huge it actually is.

According to Wikipedia, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest structure in Paris and is the most visited paid monument in the world. The tower received its 250 millionth visitor in 2010.

Even though it no longer holds the title of the highest building in the world, it certainly holds merit in terms of height. It's 320 metres or 1050 feet high. The highest accessible platform available to view from is about 279 metres or 916 feet high and is only reached via a lift. Mia and Bryn only went up to the first platform which meant they climbed 300 steps.

The Eiffel Tower was built in the World Exhibition of 1889 in celebration of the French Revolution a hundred years earlier. At the time, many people feared it wouldn't fit into French architecture and that it would be copied and architecture would lose it's individuality. This didn't happen as predicted. The tower was designed by Gustav Eiffel who used to build bridges and he incorporated his bridge building techniques into the design of the structure which took more than two years to complete. It was constructed out of 12,000 prefabricated pieces of wrought iron fastened with about seven million nails.

What is the magic of the majestic structure?

I think the magic is in its individuality. It creates the characteristic skyline of Paris and is an icon of France. Close up, the structure is enormous, towering above you like a giant mesh of iron, light filtering through the weave in beautiful patches. At night, it is lit with a myriad of lights, sparkly and energetic. Not only looking at the structure is magical, but viewing Paris from the structure is even more so. Now I speak as if I've been there. This link makes me feel like I'm really there: Panorama. Paris is truly the most beautiful city in the world! You just have to watch the whole panorama on this link.

I'm hosting a giveaway of "Reminding Me of You," to a lucky commentor on this blog post. Taste a bit of Paris in my romantic novella.

Images courtesy of www.morguefile.com (danielito and sioda)

Grit, Guts and Gumption

I've read several posts on this topic, and it may be quite familiar to many writers, but this time, it comes from my heart and I had to share my experience with it.

As much as I love being a writer, it's hard, very hard. When I first started writing as an adult about ten years ago, the thrill was intense. I had lofty dreams of publishing contracts, best-selling novels, and many adoring fans. Actually, not so sure about the adoring fans part. With it came lots of angst, insecurity, and disillusionment. But I loved every minute of the story. The words flowed endlessly. I had no idea what it was like to experience writer's block.

Jump forward ten years. I've self-published several books and have signed a few publishing contracts with two of my books out already. The angst hasn't gone away - it's magnified. But, sadly, the thrill has died somewhat. I won't say completely, but I would say it's tempered. I have these moments when the muse takes over and the words flow freely, but it rarely lasts through a whole book. Nanowrimo helps immensely but I can't just write one book a year. In fact, I love writing so much that I'm miserable if I don't have a project to work on. Crazy contradictions.

One thing I know is that writing takes much courage, determination, self-discipline, and stickability. You have to write through the dry patches.

For me the hardest part of a book is sometimes the middle, but most of the time, the beginning. I absolutely despise coming up with a new book idea. Ideas pop into my head, but I'm so unsure of them. Will they work? Will I keep inspired with the idea? Will it sell?

When I finished "Three Tiers for Win," I couldn't come up with a new idea. I started a chapter in two book ideas but they didn't work. The frustration was immense. What if I never came up with a decent idea ever again? What if I'd lost my ability to write? Oh dear, crazy but familiar feelings.

Finally I came up with an idea but have left it to work on a sequel to "Dragonfly Moments" instead. The thing that inspired me was my editor suggesting I write Tim's story. Her suggestion gave me the motivation to stick to this book. The first 10 000 words have been like wading through syrup. It hasn't been easy. Yesterday, I felt like giving up on the story - not the characters. But I keep on writing, despite the pain, despite the doubts, and because it's my work.

Not every day is the same. Some days are easy, some days are hard, others are inbetween. Some days you think you wrote junk but when you read it the next day, you love it. Other days you think you've written your best but when you read it the next day, it stinks. The fickle moods of a writer. Sigh ....

So, like any other job or career, we have to stick to it through the hard times and the easy ones.

Today I had a breakthrough with my book. Now I can see a way forward with my characters.

I'm a pantster. That's another difficult thing. I start a book with a very general idea of where it's going, but don't plan the details. Every time I've planned a book in detail beforehand, all the inspiration for it has fled. It's like the thrill of the unknown has been taken away. I love not knowing how it's going to pan out. Of course, I always aim for a HEA, but I never know exactly how it's going to happen. As much as this is my only way to write, it causes problems. I reached a spot in my WIP where I could see no way forward. The story seemed too simple with too little conflict and sparks. Now if I'd planned it, that wouldn't have happened. Tell my right brain that. Yesterday, I stared at the screen but couldn't write. So, I switched off my computer and went to bed. Today, I forced myself to write something, anything. After a while, the ideas started to flow. I had to leave my work to prepare supper but as I worked in the kitchen, more ideas came. I've climbed over the hill into a valley of ease. I think the muse is going to be good to me for a while. The grit and gumption paid off at last.

As the very well-used and familiar phrase goes - apply butt to chair. That's the best way to become and to stay a writer. And never give up.

To top it, I found the most delightful review of "Wedding Gown Girl" on Amazon today. These words touched me:

This is definitely one story that this author uses her magic in a wonderfully written story. The characters were all colorful and this story only produces a "gentle and tender romance that touches the heart with its' honesty." Be ready for a good read. Would I recommend this read? Yes!

Love this Hero

I've fallen in love with the hero of my book. There's something about Winston Harper that does it for me. Maybe it's because he's got a gorgeous bod. He's a professional swimmer, but he's hiding a wounded soul. Despite his woundedness, he's able to find the woman he loves and eventually, after much turmoil, give his heart to her.

I don't know why, but I love heroes that are flawed. They're not a perfect male who does everything right all the time, has everything together, and is super-successful no matter what. Winston Harper is successful outwardly, but what drives his all-consuming ambition is pain. It makes me wonder about sports people. What drives them? I'm sure for many of them it's just the passion for the game and for what they love doing. But are some of them driven by something much deeper than that?

In my first published novel, Wedding Gown Girl, Kienna helps Elaine dress beautifully for a wedding in one of her bridesmaids dresses. Even though Elaine has her sights on the same man that Kienna does, they become fast friends. My novel is Elaine's story. (And it even features Kienna.) It's the second book in the Wedding Girls Series. Elaine bakes wedding cakes.

She's sworn off dating athletes. She knows them as her brother is a professional swimmer too. So when Win enters into her life, she's surprised by how much she wants him. But Win doesn't want a relationship. He's focused on entering the London 2012 Olympics for South Africa. A relationship would just distract him. He has to win a medal, no matter what. His whole future depends on it. But Elaine is too good to resist.

I received a contract with Astraea Press for Three Tiers for Win today and can't wait for this book to come out. It truly was one of the funnest books to write.

My Decadent Journey So Far

Today, I'm sharing a part of my writing journey experienced with Decadence Publishing. I write sweet, contemporary romance, usually set in my home country, South Africa.

When I received my contract with Decadence for the Ubuntu line, I was over the moon. I somehow sensed that their authors were quality authors and felt privileged to be a part of their group. That instinct has proven true since I've joined their group and seen their work and blogs! I loved the efficient way my submission and contract was handled. I wasn't left in the dark at all.

What a privilege to have my third book being chosen for their new line, the Ubuntu Line, which is centred on Africa. I love setting my books in my own continent. Africa has been my only home. I hope the world will discover some of its mysteries and beauties through my book. And I would love to write more books for the Ubuntu line.

How can I describe how wonderful the editing process has been so far? Zee Monodee has done something to my book and brought it to another level. Her editing skills are masterful. No error seems to pass her by. Every little detail is worked on and improved. All this is done without belittling or dragging down my writer self. Instead, she adds the personal touch, easing the stress of the editing process. My writing has improved with her advice. I have insight that's going to carry me further in my writing career. I still haven't entered into the next editing phase and look forward to the lessons I will learn there too.

What I appreciate about Decadence is being able to belong to their yahoo group of authors. It's the best way to keep abreast of what's happening amongst the authors and managers at Decadence. Makes one feel part of a huge, very efficient team. I have to admit that sometimes I feel overwhelmed with promo. This group is teaching this wide-eyed girl one step at a time how to take it to another level. I've loved entering into the other authors' worlds by reading their blogs. I haven't experienced such networking with a publishing company before and it makes this author who sometimes feels cut off on the other end of the world, feel a part of the group.

My book, Dragonfly Moments, which should be released some time in the middle of the year, was great fun to write. The book was one of the first romances I wrote several years ago. That version looks very different to what it looks like now. I picked up the book again about a year ago and rewrote it after all that I'd learned. I changed almost the whole book but the core trope was the same - an old flame coming back into the heroine's life when she's quite settled with things the way they are.

Two beta readers helped me with the book and then I heard about the Ubuntu Line through our Romance Writers of South Africa Group. Dragonfly Moments seemed perfect for it, so I sent it off. When I received a letter saying I could resend it with revisions, hope blossomed. The revisions seemed workable and I made them straight away.

To be honest, I didn't expect to receive the contract after that. It took me totally by surprise. When I did, I knew good things were going to happen.

Tessa looks stunning on the cover - just as arty and unique as I wanted her to. The colours are rich, mysterious and African. Don't you love the glittery design next to her eye? At first you don't notice but it's the perfect little touch to show Tessa's arty, funky side which she allowed life to suppress until Ryan brought it out again.

If you're keen on reading other Decadent Publishing authors' journeys, go to this link: Other Decadent Authors' Journeys

Bridesmaids Dresses

In "Wedding Gown Girl," Kienna works at a bridal boutique. She loves finding the perfect dress for her clients at work every day but secretly designs gowns at home by night. Not bridal gowns but bridesmaids dresses.

The bridesmaid dress causes conflicting emotions in many. Some ladies have been forced to wear a dreadful or distasteful gown to please the bride, others have had the opportunity to look beautiful for a day. Nowadays, most bridesmaids pay for their own dresses, but they often receive gifts from the bride. There is a saying, "three times a bridesmaid, never a bride." Laughable, but I suppose no one wants to continue being the less important woman in the bridal party forever.

The history of bridesmaids dresses goes back far and is immensely fascinating. Nowadays, bridesmaids are there to assist the bride - carry her bouquet, check that her make-up and hair is neat, help with some wedding arrangements before and on the day and generally ensure her happiness. Especially, the maid of honor who is usually a close friend or older bridesmaid or sister. If she is married, she is the "matron of honor." One of the modern bridesmaid's most important duties is to organise a bridal shower or bachelorette party. These can range from wild drinking parties with male strippers to tame teas with kitchen tea gifts given to the bride. (I was subjected to wearing this outfit of sponges, scourers and pigtails, blindfolded and made to guess what was in the gift and if I guessed wrong, had to drink this strange concoction of mello-yellow and chocolate logs.)

In ancient times, bridesmaids dressed similar to the bride and would accompany her on the way to the groom's village, fending off other suitors from kidnapping her or stealing her dowry. In Roman law, they copied the bride's dress to confuse evil spirits to who the bride was. That was where the bridesmaid originated from.

One of my favourite channels to watch is TLC. Sounds boring, not like those gripping thrillers or sensual sensational series that people stay up late watching. I enjoy watching what people wear. Wedding Gown Girl was inspired by "Say Yes to the Dress" on TLC. The TLC channel has a website. They advise against ten colors for a bridesmaid dress. The colors are salmon, gold, silver, yoda green, bright orange, barney-purple, turquoise blue, neon and banana yellow. Check here for the full article: TLC Channel. The article describes these colors in a much more humorous way than I did.

Bridesmaids dresses vary as much as wedding dresses. There are some gorgeous creations with short, flared skirts, sweetheart necklines and long elegant skirts with high slits to show off a sexy leg. You could go simple and elegant or bold and embellished. The 2013 trend seems to be short, soft skirts, ruched bodice or waistline and sweetheart neckline. A satiny, simple look is in.

I'm curious to know what bridesmaids dresses my blog readers have worn. I was a bridesmaid twice before marrying. My first dress was a mint green with puffed sleeves for my step-sister's wedding - it was the early '90s. The second was a navy dress with puffed sleeves too - it was also the '90s. I enjoyed being a bridesmaid and felt particularly beautiful in the navy dress. I tried it on a couple of years ago, knowing it wouldn't fit but just hoping. I couldn't even get it past my thighs.

Here is a pic of my bridesmaids at my wedding. Maroon is my favourite colour. Doesn't it look striking with their dark brown hair? Ladies, I hope you don't mind me using your pic. You both looked lovely.

I'm giving away a PDF copy of "Wedding Gown Girl" to any commentor on this blog. Please put in your email address as follows: joeblog(at)webmail(dot)com.

Wedding Gowns - From the 60's to Present Day

I'm going to do a few posts about themes found in my books. The first is a post on wedding gowns. Wedding Gown Girl was my first published book and came out in 2012. I've always been fascinated with wedding gowns and how people choose such varied styles. I think it really shows the personality of a person. Let's look at wedding gown styles and trends for the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000 to present day.

The 60s

The rolling sixties were when woman broke out of many restraints and even became wild and pushed feminism. The hippies and flower power reigned. The 60s wedding dresses had tight bodices, high waists and high necklines. The necklines were straight and simple without dips or bows, beads and bows. The skirts were often flared and many were shorter than before. I remember a photo of my mother's short wedding dress. Those that wore sleeves, wore them as lace. There were embellishments, but mostly just bows, sashes and lace - nothing too elaborate.

The royal bridal gown of the decade - Grace Kelly.

The 70s

The 70s wedding dresses were less funky and fun and more elegant. Lace, frills and flounces were in. The overall look was flowing and lighter than air. They were mostly high-waisted and often with soft and flowing long sleeves. V-necks were starting to feature, and some of the dresses were bohemian for the free spirit.

The royal bridal gown of the decade - Princess Anne.

The 80s

The 80s brought in even more exaggerated size, flounce and fluff. Puffy sleeves were in. The princess ballgown was in. The sweetheart neckline gained popularity and strapless began to peep into the trend. Bows and large trains were favoured. Many dresses had ruffled necklines, possibly influenced by Princess Diana's. Cream was in.

The royal bridal gowns of the decade - Princess Diana and Princess Fergie.

The 90s

Puffy sleeves faded out - they were still in but shorter and less pronounced. The necklines lowered and sleeveless became more popular. Skirts were straighter and bodices and waistlines dipped lower. The mermaid style came in.

There was no significant royal bridal gown. I've put in my own one as I was married in '96.

The 2000s to Present

In recent years, individualism has played a strong role in the choice of wedding gowns. The variation of styles has amplified. Some women like ballgowns and others the simple-lined dresses. But the general trend is cleaner lines, low necklines and strapless and sleeveless. Beads, sequins and bling are popular. Very few women go back to the puffy sleeves and flounces of the 80s and 90s, but some of the 60s and 70s trends have come back in vogue.

The royal wedding of the decade is of course, Kate Middleton. I think the royals often try to set their own trends. I wonder what the next trend will be.

Romance Movies Quiz Week 4

It's the last week of my movie quiz giveaway. I'm so pleased with one of the answers to last week's movie quiz, that I'm going to post her answers for everyone to see instead of my own. I think she answered them better than I would have so here goes:

1. Kate was a doctor
2. Persuasion
3. A bad one. His father was cold, and got even colder when his mom left him (the father didn't even go to her funeral- she was dead to him when she left him)
4. He planted a tree and it was brilliant (for me) to watch it grow instantly
5. She went to an architectural firm to have her old brickhouse redone. The firm (VanGuard sp?) belonged to Alex's brother. there was a sketch of the lakehouse on the wall and she asked about it and found out he was dead.

The final movie is “Serendipity,” starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. It’s about a couple who meet but don’t keep each other’s numbers, believing that if they were meant to be, fate would draw them together again. For years, they regret that decision and dream about each other. What will they do about it? This one is a little easier than the last one.

1. What book did Sarah write her number down in for Jonathan to find by fate?

2. Who attempts to find the other first?

3. What constellation did Jonathan find on her arm with her freckles and which now reminds her of him?

4. Who gives Jonathan the book with Sarah’s signature inside?

I'm actually sad this is the last week as it's been great fun. I can't wait to see what answers you have for this quiz and to find out who loved this movie.

A Weird Feeling

I just had to get this off my chest and do a blog post on it. It's happened to me several times already, but twice it's been quite creepy and weird. Sometimes I write something in a book and it later comes out in life. The first time was when I wrote my first adult novel. The story was set in my home town, Newcastle, and I made up a new shopping mall near the casino. There was no such thing at the time, nor was there any talk of it in local media. When I read through my novel about a year ago to consider revising it for a second edition, I noticed that and goosebumps ran up my arm. How uncanny that we now have a new mall in the very same area. I'm not denying that maybe I had heard something in the media, but I don't think so. I was trying to think where a good place to put this imaginary shopping mall would be and I came up with near the casino. Maybe the developers and I had similar thoughts.

Well, it's happened again but in a different way. I'm working on a book which is kind-of a follow-on of "Wedding Gown Girl," not that it follows Kienna's story, but rather Elaine (the bridesmaid's) story. It does feature Kienna as her friend though. Anyway, Elaine's brother is trying for the Olympics as a swimmer. Elaine has sworn that she will never date an athlete but she falls for one of Mick (her brother's) team mates. This romance is about all the conflicts and barriers to their love - one of them being Mick's overly-aggressive protection of his sister against Win. I began to do research, to explain Mick's behaviour, on "roid rage" which is excessive aggressiveness caused by abusing steroids.

It's very upsetting what happened to Reeva Steenkamp. If anyone has been following the latest news, it is believed that Oscar Pistorius (a South African Olympian runner) murdered his girlfriend, Reeva. Of course, nothing is confirmed and I'm hoping against little hope that he didn't murder her on purpose as he professed. Today there was a news article on "The Sun" website about the police finding steroids in his home. They suspect his aggression towards her could be caused by a mixture of "roid rage" and excessive alcohol usage. Strangely enough, as soon as I heard what happened, I thought of all the research that I'd been doing and I told my husband that maybe it was because of steroids. It seems that my thoughts right in the beginning may not have been far off.

I just can't believe how many book ideas always seem to come up after I've written them.

My first children's book was about a car that spoke and drove itself. Not long after I'd written it, the movie "Cars" came out. I knew then that my idea wouldn't get published as it was no longer original. In retrospect, my writing was in its beginning stages then so that was probably more the reason why it didn't get published. (If you are keen on a sweet, silly kiddies' book about a car that talks when it goes into a magical land, you can get my book on Smashwords for free - Buggy's Adventures in Motoland.) Here's the link: Buggy 1

So, I had to share how strange this all is to me - how the ideas of the universe seem to collide sometimes like an asteroid hitting the earth. I'm wondering if anyone else has gone through the same experience as a writer or am I the only one?

I sincerely hope that Pistorius is not guilty and that Reeva's family deals well with their grief. This story has been very upsetting as a South African to follow. For a sportsman that we respect in our country to possibly do such an awful deed or to be falsely accused of such, is quite disturbing.

Romance Movie Quiz Week Three

It's one day until Valentine's Day and I realise I didn't buy everything I wanted to buy for my very wonderful, special man! It's also frustrating because although I'm a writer, I struggle to put into words exactly how much he means to me without sounding sappy! Anyway, I hope he feels the love because it's very real!

The answers to last week's movie quiz are as follows:

1. Joe Fox brought his niece and nephew into Kathleen Kelly's bookshop.
2. Kathleen's username online to communicate with Joe was "Shopgirl."
3. Joe finds out that "Shopgirl" is Kathleen when he peers through the restaurant window before they are to finally meet and sees it's her.
4. Joe's dog's name was Brinkley.

The third movie is “The Lake House,” starring Keanu Reeves (don’t you love his husky voice?) and Sandra Bullock. This movie has some paranormal in it in that the two connect through different time frames via the post box at the lake house.

1.         What profession does Kate have in the movie?

2.         What book did Kate leave at the train station which Alex picked up?

3.         What type of relationship did Alex have with his father?

4.         What did Alex do for Kate outside her apartment block which wasn’t finished being built when he went there?

5.         How did Kate discover that Alex was dead?

Please leave your answers in the comment block with your email address so I may contact you if you've won.

Book Giveaway Week Two

It's a week and a day until Valentine's Day. Ten years ago, I received a very precious Valentine's Day present - a soft, cuddly and crying bundle that is now a beautiful child. When she was born, I was wearing a red checkered dress and the nurses didn't even take the dress off. She's always had a heart full of love for those around her.

In case you were wondering, the answers for last week's quiz are as follows:

1. Tony became a chef and opened a restaurant.
2. William sold travel books in his bookshop.
3. William spilt orange juice on Anna.
4. Anna kissed William in the doorway of his bachelor pad after coming in to wash off the orange juice.
5. Anna stayed at the Ritz Hotel.
6. William realised he should stay clear of Anna when the public opinion of her seemed more important to her than their relationship.

And now for the quiz for week two.

Another movie I adore is “You’ve Got Mail,” starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Interestingly, Kathleen Kelly runs a bookshop too – but a general one passed down from her mother. It’s about a couple that develop a close relationship online but are actually enemies in real life (besides there being definite chemistry between them.)

1.         Joe Fox is opening up a mega-bookstore in New York. Who does he take to Kathleen’s little bookshop?

2.         What is the username that Kathleen uses to correspond with Joe Fox unknowingly online?

3.         How does Joe respond when he finds out that Kathleen is the woman he’s been corresponding with?

4.         What is Joe’s dog’s name?

Please put your answers in the comments block and put your email address so if you've won, I can contact you.

Romance Movies Quiz

For the next four weeks, I will be running a giveaway contest on my blog. Each week, I'm going to ask a few questions about romantic movies. And each week I will be giving away a copy of my novella, "Reminding Me of You." The story starts off on Valentine's Day which is coming up in a couple of weeks. What better way to enjoy the month of love than to read and watch romance?

If you like reading romance, you probably enjoy romantic movies. I’m crazy about them and have a few firm favourites which I have watched several times already. I’m going to ask you some questions about these four movies and if you get the answers right, you can win a copy of my latest e-book novella, “Reminding Me of You” in PDF. If no-one gets them right, the one with the most questions right, will win a copy.

The first movie and my ultimate favourite is “Nottinghill,” starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. I think the reason I love this movie is that the characters are so real and some of them seriously hilarious like William’s room-mate Spike. It’s not just the hero and heroine that are fantastic but all the secondary characters. The script is top-class – I know because I’ve read it. I managed to pick up the book with the full script inside at a secondhand bookshop quite a few years ago.

1.  William’s friend Tony was an architect but changed his career to what?

2.  What type of books does William sell in his bookshop?

3.  What juice did William spill on Anna?

4.  Where did Anna first kiss William?

5.  What hotel was Anna staying at in London?

6.  What made William realise he must steer clear of Anna?

You can give your answers on the comments below. Make sure you number your answers correctly.

Flirty Novella

How could I miss the release of my new novella? My house has been upside down as our bedroom was getting tiled and we were sleeping in our sons' bedroom and them in the lounge, and my kitchen has been in the dining-room as we're painting it. The previous owners had absolutely no idea how to paint walls. The outside of our house is painted with brown roof paint which hasn't withstood the weather too well. Our lounge was painted in a bright purple which a few years ago we painted over with many coats. The kitchen was painted with this yellow powdery stuff that I'm not too sure was paint and has been coming off in blotches over the years. On the splashback tiles, light switches, and door frames, a kitchy green was sponged on. We had to scrub this yellow gunk off with plenty of sugar soap so my muscles and back are aching and my fingers raw. Tomorrow, we will sand and then attempt to paint. Besides that, I had to scrub the black specks off the tiles in my bedroom and move back in. What a relief that tonight I get to sleep in my own room.
Anyway, it was with mind-blowing surprise that I found my book in the recent release page of Astraea Press (not that they didn't tell me it would be released on the 1st January.) Reminding Me of You is a fun, flirty, funny short book about the power of memories and decisions when it comes to love. It's my first book that I haven't set in my home country, South Africa, so it was quite a step into unchartered waters. I enjoyed the research for it though, especially seeing I'm seriously enchanted with Paris and would love to visit it one day.

New Year Wishes

I've never been fond of making new year's resolutions or goals. I think I've tried it several times years back, but what bothers me about them, is a few week's later they're all forgotten in the busyness of life once we're back into our routine. So, what's the point? Goals have to be inwardly driven, not some list scribbled on paper. For those who love putting their inward goals on paper or file, I admire you.

So instead of making new year's resolutions, I'm going to put down some wishes for the new year. I've been reading some fantasy novels and am into magic and supernatural, so I don't feel like anything serious like a goal, but rather a wish or a prayer. They are not all writing wishes.

1. That I would be a better homeschooling mom, more devoted to my kids, and more patient and efficient as a teacher.
2. To have the strength to cope joyfully with those household tasks that have pulled me down at times.
3. That I would find a group of friends to share my spiritual aspirations and longings with.
4. That I would get more publishing contracts and make good sales from my books.
5. That I would become a better blogger and writer.
6. That my sister would get her writing and publishing dreams.

Short and sweet.

Now to think over the past year. 2012 has been a wonderful year to me as far as writing goes. I've received two publishing contracts and that has inspired me to continue on my dream of writing, which I love doing so much. I know that I have a lot to learn still, but there's nothing like getting your name out there. It's not the same as self-publishing unless you have the finances to hire a professional editor, cover-designer, and marketer. I can't help remembering Joel Osteen's word at the beginning of the year, that this would be the year of breakthrough. It has been in several ways - with my writing and my husband obtaining a long-needed promotion at work. It hasn't been an easy year. There have been many challenges that I've had to face inwardly and in other ways.

Here's to a wonderful 2013, where your writing wishes and goals come to fulfilment. For those determined and focused people who set definite goals and keep them, may you have the joy of reaching what you have aimed for. For those who like to breathe a wish or a prayer, may you have everything you need.

Why I Love Reading Romance so Much



Photo courtesy of Dan from freedigitalphotos.net



I just keep going back to them. No matter how much I try to read something else, even Ted Dekker's amazing fantasy novels, there's nothing I enjoy as much as reading romance.

There's got to be a good reason for it and I'm trying to think of it. So, this is just a silly post with my musings behind the reasons why I love reading romance (and therefore love writing it.)

Let's go back to earlier in my life and get a little personal. As a teenager, I didn't have much luck with boys - maybe because I was ultra-shy, wore braces, and didn't know how to style my hair right. Not that I wasn't interested. And I used to blush when my parents watched a romance movie, wishing to disappear into the ground. Then my now hubby asked me on a date. He was younger than me and in the beginning, I didn't think we were suited. But we had a great romance. We also had some challenges along the way as I pushed him away too many times, but thankfully he didn't give up. I was the typical heroine in a romance novel with all those barriers in her mind to her happily ever after. Even up to my wedding day, I wasn't sure I was doing the right thing - no reflection on him. The romance didn't end on that day, and his love has warmed up my heart so much that he's made me into a hopeless romantic. Before I met him, I never used to cry in movies. Now I cry for the silliest things - it's so bad that the whole family watches me in the emotional parts to see if I'm crying.

So because I've had my own romance with its many ups and downs, I'm fascinated with the story of others and how they get to their happily ever afters. I love happy endings. I think we're all wired deep inside to want a happy ending. I think the only reason someone doesn't want a happy ending, is that so many books do have that. They just want to be surprised. I find all the surprises in the middle. Sometimes I want to know the ending else I won't enjoy it. (I like to watch Bachelor/Bacherlorette only if I know who they choose at the beginning of the show, and I'm not interested if they break up in the end.) At least with a romance, I know it's going to end right.

This whole world is going to ultimately end happily. That's what I believe from my faith. I believe God is reaching out to everyone, and He has a wonderful future planned. He is the great author of romance and is forever wooing the people on the planet to Him. Maybe my love of romance comes from His heart.

Romance is wired inside the female heart so she can be the catalyst to a strong family and marriage. We all have it embedded in us but some haven't tapped into that part of themselves or have put it aside because of hurt. Which woman doesn't want a man to sweep her off her feet and make her feel like a goddess? We all do. And maybe we can learn a little from the books we read and write. Learn how to let our hearts open to our loves and to love in life.

Why do you like to read romance? I'm keen to know.

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