I’m not going to Orlando (crying on my keyboard-sniff-sniff) but I’ve registered for the New Jersey conference in October and already I’m wondering how my fellow sisters approach editors or agents outside of appointments.  I’m a total introvert. Yes, I know I don’t seem like such on our RSS loop but we’re sisters.

I’ve heard quite a few authors say they’ve received requests for material in the bar, elevator and even in the ladies room and those chance meeting have lead to representation or contracts.  Have any of you approached an editor or agent in this manner? And how?  The faint of heart want to know.

Is there a Who-dun-it in suspense? Of course there is. It’s when the villain will be revealed that makes the two different, among other elements. In a mystery, an act of violence begins the story, but most times the action is set off stage. The reader is invited into the dilemma and introduced to an already seasoned hero who solves the crime logically and through scientific methods. There is a small circle of suspects, clues and red herrings. Information is withheld from the reader and the said reader is kept in the dark two steps behind. The hero grows very little during the story. The story is all about who killed X? The villain is not exposed until the last scene and the end result for the reader is an intellectual satisfaction.

A suspense novel starts on even keel, showing the everyday life our hero or heroine. Then BAM a nightmare occurs.

Excerpt from Evil’s Witness:

Stephanie masked her sigh of exertion while lifting the Coleman cooler she’d borrowed for their trip. She lugged the container to her old SUV. She knew how her son felt. She wished she had the money to take them away on exciting excursions like their friends had this summer. To places like Disney World, but she couldn’t even afford a day trip to Hershey Park, America’s chocolate capital. Em’s special diet, because of her allergies, took up a third of her take-home pay. After paying the mortgage, utilities, car insurance and miscellaneous expenses, she was lucky to save a few dollars a week.

She chewed on her bottom lip. Hopefully, next week Bobby and his friends would be off on new adventures, their summer vacations a distant memory.

The howl of a diesel engine jerked Stephanie from her musing. The squeal of brakes, crushing metal and shattering glass made her spin around.

Other basics of a suspense: All action is on stage. The protagonists’ world expansions. There are surprises. The villain can be revealed to the reader immediately and can have a POV.

Yeah! This made my villain happy. Information is given to the reader but withheld from the heroes. In other words, we know what could happen if the wrong path is taken by our hero.  The reader sits on the edge of her seat, screaming at the heroine and hero not to go there.

Excerpt from Evil’s Witness:

“I don’t want to kill no kids, Victor.” Mac danced in place ready to dodge Victor’s wrath.

“You will do as I say,” Victor snapped.

She looked at the dead driver. His lifeless stare pleaded to her for justice.

“Don’t trust her,” Sheriff Morse ordered, turning his gun on her.

Stephanie refused to flinch under Morse’s scrutiny.

Gene moved in front of her. “Frank, what the hell are you doing? You’ve known Stephanie all her life.”

“There is too much at stake, Gene. She saw me kill that guy. I’m not going to jail.” Morse’s tongue skimmed his lips. “Why the hell are you trying to protect her anyway? You two have been fightin’ like junkyard dogs for years. You complain every day she’s milking you dry. This is your chance to be rid of your mistakes.”

“Steph was never a mistake to me,” Gene’s voice rose in response. Then it softened. “I was hers.”

Tears threatened to blur her vision and she blinked them away. She squeezed Gene’s arm and glanced at her ex-husband’s profile. He remained focused.

“Touching,” Victor said. “But, sorry, no. They must die here.”

The suspense story is all about the hero or heroine prevailing. Emotional satisfaction is what the reader gets from a suspense novel. And since I write romantic suspense, love also must be found.

Excerpt from Evil’s Witness:

After a week, her touch was familiar. His heart melted. He grabbed her hand, holding her in place as he turned and smiled down on her. Her nipples pushed against her white T-shirt. He gently brushed a knuckle across one peak. “No. It was hell without you.”

“Mmmm. Same here.” She pulled back and lifted his arm around her, curling into him.  Looking out over the lake, she sighed. “I could stay here forever, if you’d let me.”

“I wish we could.” He gathered her closer and kissed the top of her head. “But eventually Bobby and Em would have to go to school.”

“I could home school.” Her chuckle was strained.

He felt her pain. He smiled while his heart wrenched. He would like nothing more than to forget about the world and stay here with her and the kids. But they couldn’t. “Sooner or later Ben will call. We’ll have to go back.”

“I know.”

Steph moved away. A cold void took her place.

She drifted to the other porch column. Leaning against it, she folded her arms across her chest. Her lips pressed together as if she was forming the right words behind them. “I know I said that our time together here was going to be enough to last me a lifetime, but—” Tears brimmed her lids. “I was wrong.  A lifetime won’t be enough.”

John stepped toward her. “I don’t know what—”

“I know, you don’t know how we can be together. So, Ben will call. We’ll go back, and I’ll identify Victor. You’ll toss him in jail and throw away the key. You’ll drive off in pursuit of the next bad guy and me…Well, I’ll go home and wonder where you are. Wonder if what I felt was love.”

The woman knew how to make a guy feel like a heel.

John pulled her into his arms. She buried her head in his chest and cried softly against him. He kissed her head and smoothed her hair. “Steph, I didn’t think I’d ever love again,” he whispered softly, cupping her chin and tilting her face up until she looked at him. “Like a bomb, you dropped into my life. Every defense I’d put up to protect myself from ever being hurt again came tumbling down. You opened up my heart. As much as you don’t want to live without me, I don’t want to live without you. I love you.”

He kissed her gently. Her arms wrapped around him and held on.  “Somehow, we’ll figure this out. I promise.”

Evil’s Witness was my 2009 Golden Heart Entry and today it is it’s official release day from The Wild Rose Press.  To celebrate I’m giving a prize to one lucky commenter who posts a comment today. That person will receive a free download of my last novel Obsessed By Wildfire. You can be anywhere in the world, but you must be 18 years of age. I’ll post the winner Saturday noon EST, right here. Good luck and if you’d like  to view a trailer or read more EVIL’S WITNESS visited my website www.autumnjordon.com, or to read Stephanie’s and John’s back story visit my blog www.autumnjordonsnotes.blogspot.comEvils Witness

No part of this post may be copied or reproduced without the expressed permission of the author, Autumn Jordon.

Beth, You recently had a new release. In fact today, right?  Could you tell us a little about it?
Ah yes, my new release is a suspenseful light paranormal, *unique, Scottish time travel entitled Somewhere My Lass.  Somewhere My Lass is Book Two in my ‘Somewhere’ series.  The concept behind this series, of which Somewhere My Love is the first release, is that the story opens in the present day, although so far in old homes, and then the reader is transported ‘somewhere’ else. A pretty wide open theme.

I was inspired by all the intriguing old homes I grew up living in and or visiting. Victorian, plus some 19th and 18th century.  Virginia is a highly historic state. Also, interestingly enough, the British Murder Mystery series called Midsomer Murders, to which I’m addicted, fueled my inspiration. Their plots take place in modern times but in old manor homes, ancient chapels, quaint villages, sometimes with the added flashback to the distant past.

Did you have to do any special research for the novel?

I always research like a mad woman and obsess over every detail, but wasn’t actually able to visit Scotland. Being a British junkie, I watch PBS and rent British shows and films from Netflix and have done for eons as well as read many novels written by British authors, so that helps.  And my family roots are English Scot’s-Irish, reaching well back into colonial America and far beyond to the British Isles.

I’m fortunate that our genealogy is well documented.  We can trace lines back to Chaucer, a direct ancestor fourteen or so generations back, and some general who served under MacBeth.  *Yep, that dude really lived. Our family has tie-ins to the Salem Witch trials and all sorts of fascinating eras.  This rich legacy is a source of considerable inspiration to me.

Why do you write in the genre you do?

I write both historical and light paranormal with a strong historical element because I’m passionate about the past.

Visiting your website, I can tell this is so true.

What was the hardest scene to write?

That entire book was hard to write! I thought I’d never make it through, and now it’s my favorite book.

How did you become the 2009 Publisher’s Weekly Reader’s choice winner? (Tell us a little about the contest) And has this achievement opened any doors for you?

Fellow author and friend Mona Risk told me about Barbara Vey’s annual contest held at her niche of Publisher’s Weekly where she accepts nominations/votes for various authors.  The titles I noted all fell somewhere in the romance genre.  Then I alerted my internet fans/friends at myspace, facebook, etc, and people went to her site and voted for the three titles I had out on 2009. All three finished in the top ten.  I noted that some of the folks logging into vote grumbled that I’d found ways to cheat because some of the names my fans registered under were odd, like Sock Puppet Monkey, but that’s because they weren’t required to use their real names if they didn’t want to and at Myspace often times people don’t.  Their votes are still only counted once.  It was a fair win.  I’ve had these complaints before because I’ve never ever lost a contest that requires votes.  People just can’t believe how a new author could have that many fans/friends, but I’ve worked very hard making connections at myspace, etc, and built a strong internet fan base.  And I really value my fans, many of whom are now friends.  They spread the word and help my base grow.  An enthusiastic fan is worth their weight in gold.

Here’s the link: http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook/?p=29

I couldn’t agree with you more, Beth.

You have an amazing backlist. Would you like to tell us a little about it?

I’m rather eclectic. I love history and fantasy, can write straight historical or a blend of both. I started out with a focus on colonial American, including the Shawnee Indians and the colonial frontier, and the American Revolution, then branched out into light paranormal as well as exploring my English Scots-Irish roots. I’m currently working on a story set in England during the French Revolution, and am planning a sequel to Somewhere My Lass.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received?

Write what you love because if you don’t no one else will.

What is the worst advice you’ve heard, to you or an author?

To write for the market, focus on what sells.

Are you a goal setter?

Yes. Self-imposed generally although I do have some editors nudging me now.

Do you have a writer’s cave or are you able to write anywhere anytime?

I have a cave when I’m not buried under people and sometimes a troll in there with me. I feed it dark chocolate until the rumbling subsides.

Conferences: What advice can you offer to author’s attending them?

Make the most of your investment; they’re not cheap.  Attend workshops, meet and greet, make some good contacts.

Write the book of your heart. What does that mean to you?

The book of my heart is the first book I ever wrote and rewrote until I finally got it right, coming out this fall, an American historical romance entitled Red Bird’s Song.  Writing that book and the research I did for it, all that it encompassed, was the most amazing adventure ever. I literally put my whole heart into it. And when I finished, I realized, it’s all about the journey which is why I can’t imagine not writing what I love. Yes, I look forward to sharing my stories with other kindred spirits, but the true meaning for me was in the doing.

How can readers contact you?

bctrissel@yahoo.com

My website also has my facebook, myspace, twitter and blog info at: www.bethtrissel.com

Thanks so much for having me here. Blessings on you all. As the Shawnee say, Tanakia, until our paths cross again.

While writing Evil’s Witness, which releases in six short weeks, I had such a great handle on my hero and heroine, John and Stephanie. I knew their dreams and secrets. Heck, I even knew what toothpaste Steph liked to use and which gun was John’s weapon of choice.

However, when it came to my villain, Victor, I knew he was the bad guy, stole money and wanted to do really bad things to John and Steph, but not much else. When the plot line of my book started to look like a sway back mare, I knew I had to invite Victor into my home.

It was a snowy, blustery night when he came to my door. The tree tops howled as the raging winds bent them at odd angles and mad gusts picked up handfuls of snow and sent them to the swirling heavens. Was God telling to be careful?

I stayed alert as Victor followed me into the living room. He paid no attention to my DH who watched a football game on the television and DH paid no attention to Victor, until later.

I asked Victor to sit beside me and while he shrugged off his calf’s skin leather jacket, folded and draped it across the sofa’s back I picked up my pen and notebook. My first question surprised him. “Why did you dye your hair platinum blonde?”

A micro-second before his gaze darted away, I saw Victor’s insecurity. His answer surprised me. I hadn’t expected the Russian Mafia prince to show emotion over his hair. The reason why he colored his hair was just the tip of Victor’s emotional iceberg. An iceberg I probed, digging for the real Victor.

Over the next hour we talked about his life, his career choice, his feeling toward Steph and John and his relationship with his family. I could see his mannerisms and hear his forefather’s dialect, even though he tried hard to mask it.

I couldn’t jot notes fast enough. When my DH decided it was time for Victor to leave because it seemed I was having too much fun with the guy, I had this overwhelming sense that a friend was leaving my home and would travel on a dangerous road. In my mind, I cautioned Victor about his actions and where they might lead him. He simply smiled, and said “Sometimes a man has no choice. He must do what he has been trained to do, without question.”

After the door had closed behind Victor, I dashed off two new chapters. One was inserted into the front of the story because my readers had to know the real Victor and what motivated him to carry out the acts he did. The other lifted my sagging middle out of a dark grave and gave the plot new life.

Victor is one of the favorite characters I’ve written. I will admit I loved writing about him and in his voice. Yes, he is a villain, but after our meeting I understand his whys and his secrets and his dreams.

Have you ever fallen in love with a character?

We’re ten days away from learning the names of the 2010 Golden Heart finalists and the Rita nominees, and the Ruby-Slippered Sisters (2009 Golden Heart finalists and winners) want to announce that we will be throwing a huge party for the 2010 candidates at our blog (http://www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com) on March 25, 2010. Also on that day, we have a special prize give away to one lucky commenter—a lovely Ruby-slipper journal.

Please stop by and announce your nomination.  If a friend finals, stop by, grab a glass of cyber-champagne and congratulate her.  The party is a two day affair.  On March 26, a few of our 2009 winning sisters will send out a special welcome to the finalists.

Until then, starting March 15, each day (except March 18 when we host the fabulous Margie Lawson) the Ruby Slippered Sisters will be offering advice to our future new Golden Heart Sisters on what to expect after you get the call.  We’ll also be giving away prizes, including published works of our RS sisters. So be prepared. Stop by our blog every day, and please feel free to pass on this announcement to your loops.

1) The boat sailed through the port’s gate.

2) The ship sailed through the port’s gate.

3) The yacht sailed through the port’s gate.

The first sentence is bland. The reader could picture either a two-man dingy or a cruise liner. The primary noun is simply too vague.

The second sentence is a little better. We have a better idea of the vessel’s size.

The third sentence however, shows us even more.  Not only do we know we’re not dealing with a rowboat, we see a beautiful cruiser—a ship owned by someone of wealth. Change the noun yacht to tanker and what do you see? A totally different picture, right?

Here’s another example:

1) A fire blazed through the building.

2) A fire blazed through the high-rise.

3) A fire blazed through the Empire State building.

Again, I much better picture is given to the reader.

Picking the right noun can also show the reader something about your character.

1) Carla’s car sped down the street, without her.

2) Carla’s Porsche sped down the street, without her.

3) Carla’s bucket-of-bolts sped down the street, without her.

1) Jabe pulled his hat low on his head.

2) Jabe pulled his Stetson low on his head.

3) Jabe pulled his Boulder low on his head.

Or what your character might be doing:

Zinna  grabbed her work.

Zinna grabbed her computer.

Zinna grabbed her tennis racket.

These were very simple examples.  Let’s take a look at some of my favorite authors and how their nouns choices paint a vivid picture.

Brenda Novak:  Every Waking Moment.

The patrolman’s boots crunched on the gravel shoulder as he approached. In her rear view mirror, she could see the pant legs of his taupe uniform, his black utility belt and holstered gun, and his badge, which glinted in the bright light of early afternoon.

Brenda  could have simply  written, Emma saw the uniformed patrolman approach her driver’s door.  But the nouns she added brought so much more details to our mind’s eye.  Pant’s leg. Utility belt. Holstered gun. Badge. light. Afternoon.

Caridad Pineiro; Secret Agent Reunion

The thick lather felt heavy and luxurious on her fingers and his hair. She massaged his scalp and he sighed with pleasure.

Whew! Lol. Candrid didn’t just write, She shampooed his hair and he sigh. The line doesn’t have the same effect as Cardid’s, does it is it?I’m glad she changed up.

Joy Nash; A Little Light Magic

She pictured his bedroom closet: a long, boring parade of white and tan.

In this example, Joy is telling us about the hero’s wardrobe.  She doesn’t just say, All she ever saw him wear was white shirts and tan pants, instead  Joy gives us a visual we can sink our teeth into using the right nouns.

Autumn Jordon;Obsessed By Wildfire

Mini dust tornados swirled off the tires of Isobel Trinidad’s seen-better-days Chevy pickup.

What do you think? Did I change up the nouns?

Do you have some examples from either your favorite author’s work or your own work to share?

Was it something he did or didn’t do?

1: While eating out, did he/she always pick at the dinner you ordered because he decided yours looked or tasted better than the dinner he ordered?

2: Did he/she always leave the television on when leaving the house or apartment?

3: Did he/she never wash or clean out his car? And was happy to have a backseat filled with garbage?

4: Did they constantly make promises and always had an excuse for not keeping them?

Or was it something he/she said?

1: Hummm

2: I told you to…

3: Did he/she never let you finish your sentence?

Or did it seem the relationship was all about them?

1:  You always went out with his/her friends but not with yours?

2: You attended all of his ball games but he always found an excuse to miss your book signings. GASP!

3.  She always wants sex with the lights off and never in the afternoon.

Or were there outside influences that strained the relationship?

1:  He/she hated your dog, or cat.

2: Her/his family always had to be consulted concerning decisions that should be made by the two of you. Or the family interfered on their own.

3: His/her job took priority over everything.

Maybe there was a habit at first you thought was kind of cute but then it became really annoying.

1: He called every one of his buddies MAN.

2: While in the shower, he sang his version of We Are The Champions, inserting I am instead of we are.

3:  He always swiped a cookie or veggie from the tray you just finished making for a party.

4. He always wore the same ratty shirt on the weekends.

How many of you said “Oh, yeah. That one too.”?

I could make this list a lot longer and I’m sure many of you could still add more examples. Really great ones.

My point in listing all these examples are that they are character flaws and by giving your characters a flaw, your reader will definitely connect with them and identify with your hero or heroine’s reaction to the flaw. And that is what you want as a writer—a connection with the reader.

We’ve all heard perfect characters are boring characters.  That is so true.

Think about your favorite sitcom. One of mine is Everybody Loves Raymond.  Every character in that show is memorable. All have huge flaws.

Raymond, of course, is lazy when it comes to helping with the children and around the house. He loves golf and sex and would do about anything to have more time doing both, including telling his white lies.

Deborah, his wife, her flaw in my book, is she puts up with Raymond.  But she can also be admired for sticking it out with the guy.

Robert, Raymond’s brother, even though he’s a well over six-foot-giant has this insecurity about being second in line to his baby brother. And he has this freakish way of touching his chin when eating.

And Marie and Frank, Ray’s parents… well there isn’t enough room on this cyber-blog to list all their faults.

The only characters who seem perfect are Ray’s and Deborah’s three children.  GRIN. Kids are always perfect!

In my 2009 Golden Heart entry, Evil’s Witness, which will be released June 18, 2010 by The Wild Rose Press , my hero, John, a FBI agent, is very curt. He is a loner with deep wounds.

John wears a tiny rubber band around his ring finger and constantly snaps it. This bothers the heroine, Stephanie, because it’s the type of a hair band used by little girls and well, she has a five year old daughter.

Each time Steph sees John play with the rubber band her anxiety builds until finally she presses him about it.  The hair band is a reminder of his internal conflict. It reminds him of his daughter who was murdered because of him.

Now let’s go back to the lists above. I’m going to pick a few and show an example what conflict could be developed from the trait, flaw or habit.

A) Leaves the television on. Perfect internal conflict. Character was abandoned. Afraid to come home to an empty house.

B) Hmmm.. Heroine yells, “Hmmm. That is all you ever say to me. You never share what you’re thinking.”

Hero thinks, I really don’t want to do Thanksgiving at the grandfather’s house again, especially this year when it’s going to be the old man’s last.  I’ve lost enough this year.

C) Sex in the afternoon:

“I’ll get these reports to Mr. Gillings right away.” Marcy tapped the papers into a uniform pile, surprised Bill had agreed to all of hers terms.

“You have time.” He stood and second later she heard the door lock clink.

“What are you doing?” Her nervous chuckle echoed off the walls of her office as he walked toward her. It was Saturday and there was no one in the building. “I told you, I’m not going to have sex with you.”

“If you want my support, you will.’”

Marcy’s heel landed home, in his nut patch.

How’s that for conflict?

So next time you have a problem developing conflict between your characters or feel your characters seem cookie cutter, think back to the one who is your EX.

I know you’re all avid readers. Do you have an example of a character with a flaw you’ve read or are writing you’d like to share?

I can’t believe the day has arrived. I’m so excited, and nervous. Today is the day I’ve dreamt about  for so long. My first novel release, OBSESSED BY WILDFIRE, is on the cyber-bookshelves at The Wild Rose Press.

I love everything about this story. The heroine, Isobel Trinidad is a strong, determine woman who won’t let any man stand in her way of making her dreams come true. Warner Keyson is  the state fire marshal who comes to Wayback, Texas to investigate a rash of fires. There is suspense, however the story really revolves around Isobel’s issue of not letting anyone close to her heart. Warner finds a way though, from the very moment they meet.

My publisher has rated OBSESSED BY WILDFIRE HOT!  Take a gander at Warner, maybe that’s why TWRP thought to rate it as such.  Anyway, I didn’t know I could write HOT. My editor thinks I could erotica.  LOL. My answer to her is a topic for another blog.

If you love a guy with a great sense of humor, pop over to The Wild Rose Press and for less than the cost of a cappuccino you can download OBSESSED BY WILDFIRE and read Isobel and Warner’s story.

****

Here’s an excerpt:

The sight of the Yankee looming over her, his muscular forearms crossed across his broad chest, his jaw working, set Isobel back a step. She couldn’t see his eyes through his sunglasses, but she knew they were probably the same stormy blue she remembered from last night, challenging her.

“What do you want?”

“I have a few words to say to you.”

“Then say em’.”

“You’re really full of yourself, lady. If you’ll recall, I told you two things last night. First, I’m here on important business. And second, if you want more of what went on between us then you’re going to have to find me.”

“Then why did you call me?”

“I didn’t.”

Her eyes darted toward the restaurant behind him. A blue gingham curtain dropped back into place. Heat crawled up her neck. Damn. Just as she feared. The biggest gossips in the whole damn town were watching and talking about what happened between her and Warner last night at the Blue Bug and what was going on between them now. Mentally she scratched out Chicky’s name from her hit list and substituted Ray-Ray’s.

“When I called for the cab a man answered. I guess he was the dispatcher or owner. I didn’t know you worked for the cab company. I thought you worked for—” Warner’s lips sealed and he shifted his stance.

“You thought I worked for who?”

“I thought you had something to do with horses and the rodeo.”

“I do. I’m a barrel racer, and I am the cab company.”

“Oh. I see. Well, if you don’t feel comfortable servicing me, I guess I can go back inside and ask one of the locals for a ride. Maybe that Ray-Ray guy.”

She knew he used the word servicing to needle her. She’d be damn if he was going to get her riled in front of the whole damn town. “No. Mr. Warner. I have no problem servicing you. Let’s go.”

************************************

If you’d like to read the entire story, and I hope you will, here is the link to The Wild Rose Press home page.

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

And if you’d like to see a trailer for Obsessed BY Wildfire here is a link to that.

http://www.autumnjordon.com

For everyone commenting today, your name will be included in a drawing I’m holding at my own blog http://www.autumnjordonsnotes.blogspot.com/ The winner will be announced there on Feb 3, 2010. So please stop over.

The chilled night air held a fresh laundered scent and kissed her nose. She curled her fingers into the blanket’s satin edge and tucked the comforter securely under her chin. Soft warmth surrounded Emma, chasing the nip biting her toes.  As the radiator’s last crackle made its last push though the pipes, her sister, Mary’s steady breathing filled their room and lulled her back to dreams of a doll that could walk and talk. Smacking her lips, she could still taste the peppermint candy cane she received from her Sunday school teacher after the Christmas play. She snuggled further into her soft mattress and stared at the twinkling star hanging in the northern twilight just below the frill of the drapes. A moment later, she heard the jingle and recalled it as the sound that had awoken her.

Emma’s brown eyes widened as she studied the shadows of the room.  She held her breath, listening for the tiny bell.

Jangle. Jiggle. Jangle.

She knew what caused the sounds from a story told over and over during this the earliest of winter months and she threw back the covers and jumped from the bed. On this night, it could only be him.  Quickly, she gathered her nightgown into her fists and patted barefooted across cold hardwood floors to the window.

The pane fogged with her breath as she stared down upon the shoveled sidewalk leading to the front door.   Mary and she had spent most of the afternoon building a snowman. Wearing Dad’s old Stetson, Franklin Frosty stood just off the walkway, waving a holiday greeting with a twig of an arm and hand to all who passed by on the country road leading to the village to the east.

Jangle. Jangle.

She jumped, hearing the screen door’s slap below. Her blood rushed through her veins. She knew it. He was here. She wasn’t dreaming.

The door slammed again. On tiptoes, she drew closer to the window again. There . Between the pine branches someone moved.

A flash of light followed a star crossed the sky. The tingling of tiny bells changed to church bells ringing in the distance.

Emma sighed.  Her world had never glistened with such peace.

The above scene probably reminds everyone of a holiday classic, but actually it is based on my recall of a night when I was age eight. Decades later, that night stays fresh in my memory.  I now know it probably wasn’t old Saint Nick visiting our farmhouse but dad who caused the ruckus moving gifts from the summer house to the main house. But still, I’d like to believe otherwise.

Okay, the topic of this blog is writing from your memories. Why do you think recalling a specific moment in time is important?  Did you feel Emma’s emotions? Her startle? Her comfort and feeling of safety?  Her excitement? Her peace?  Did you get a visual on her home? Of her life?

Digging deep into your memories, remembering the emotions you felt during an experience, and recalling the physical responses you had will add power to your words.  Your character’s situation might not be the same as the one you went through, but your visceral responses could be exactly what will take your writing to the next level.

I might never use the entire scene above in one of my works, but sometime or another I will use bits and pieces.  I will have a heroine who anxious awaits her hero. Who will awake and search for him.  I will have a heroine who feels safe in her hero’s arms—one who feels blessed.  I might even have a child come face to face with Old St. Nick and when I do I will go back to that night and remember how my heart raced.

Do you add emotion through memories?

Ingredients you will need:

Several Holidays stacked on top of each other

One home or an apartment already in desperate need of cleaning will do

Family members—The number depends on your lifestyle

A ton of shopping

Several hours of gift wrapping

A day or two of baking and cooking

Friends or social events. Some say this is optional. I do not. Add a bunch.

A dash of cleaning-up

A ream of blank pages

One Golden Heart contest or publishing deadline (personal goal can be substituted)

A  six-week calendar.

A  measure of relaxation.

1)      First, grab the calendar and slap it on your refrigerator.

2)      Set the word count necessary to complete your deadline or goal and write it at the bottom of the calendar.

3)      Cross off the holidays—these days are to be spent with your family and friends. No writing! It’s okay, really. The only business you may conduct on those days is to interact with others and enjoy life. Think of the opportunity to people study.

4)      Cross off the days you will need to shop, either for gifts or holiday groceries.  The tonight before my shopping spree, I make a map or list of where I’m going and what I’m going to buy. No impulse buying.  I hate shopping, so there is always a plan. I’m up early and out the door and when I return home hours later I’m dead, so writing is not on my to do list for that day.

5)      Mark the next day to wrap all gifts. Do not wait.  You can write in the morning, during breaks or after the last bow is placed neatly on the last package.

6)      Cross off a day before the holiday for cooking and baking preparation.  You can slot in an hour of writing in the morning, but do not include the word count in goal grid.

7)      X off a day before the holiday to do a run through cleaning of your home. Again you can slot in an hour of writing in the early a.m. but do not include this word count on your grid.

8)      Mark the calendar with all social events.

9)      Highlight two days. These are floater days. Save them for the unexpected chores that always seem to pop up. These days can move anywhere, anytime.

10)  Now count all the days that are not crossed out, marked or highlighted.  Divide your word count goal by that number. Then add 100 words.  Why add 100 you ask? It’s a mind thing. Trust me.

11)   Each unmarked day, place butt in chair, set the timer and crank out the words.

12)  Finally, resist the urge to add stress. It’s tempting I know, but adding the pressure will only let to frustration and possible defeat.

When attempting this recipe, realize it takes organization and discipline but the end results are totally worth it.

Does anyone else have a tip to keep on track during the holiday season? Please share.

Also, because it’s my birthday, I’m going to send five lucky commenters 2010 pocket calendars. So don’t forget to leave a message.