Howdy! We’re into Week 41 in the Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop.
Wait. Does this mean as a reader or writer? I’m taking it from my own standpoint as an author and reader.
If I’m replying like I’m supposed to, then this is easy to answer. Let me mention why I don’t include an epilogue in most of my books:
Do you read prologues and epilogues? I read both, so it doesn’t matter to me as a reader.
It’s not that I will never write one in another book. It depends on the story.
Moving Forward:
Well, yes, I have used an epilogue in three of my books. The first two were the first two books I wrote centuries ago.
After more centuries, when I started writing western romance, Hey, Cowboy, Book #2 in the Bull Rider Series, called for an epilogue at the end.
Why?
This story needed one to help wrap up a couple things. It wasn’t necessary because the ending at the last chapter ended with a satisfying ending. And a great one.
My Thoughts for the Epilogue:
After the final scene at the end of the book, I wanted to have the reader see what happened after the fact and not only with Velia and Caulder. It gave me a chance to tell readers what happens to a few others in the book as time carried on outside of the book. I did it this way in case Hey, Cowboy turned out to be the last book in that series, which had been my intention.
I wanted readers to visualize the future for all of these characters. Another reason this book has an epilogue is because I wanted to show my hero and heroine in a different role in the one and a half page epilogue.
I love that I made the choice, and it still makes me “happy cry” when I read it. The same with the end of the last chapter. LOL, yes, I took a moment to read the epilogue while writing this. You don’t have to ask… Yes, I happy cried again. I swear it might be the best ending I ever wrote. Nah, not true. I love all my endings, but I believe Velia and Caulder will always live on in my heart. It’s getting crowded in there now with new characters finding their way too. Isn’t this fun?
Remember, this is a Blog Hop and other authors take part in Marketing for Romance Writers Blog Challenge. Do they write epilogues or do they hate them? Will they read or write an epilogue at the end of a book? How about you authors and readers? Tell us.
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today.
Interested in seeing more of my Blog Challenge posts like Open and Closed Doors? My Favorite Indulgence? My Best Gift Ever? And why the heck do Shining Beams Make Me Cry? Type #MFRWauthor or 52 Week into the search box in the sidebar for more.
Thought I’d share this image and note of inspiration with you all today.
*Let your dreams be bigger than your fears.
In my opinion, fear steals from us. It does steal strength from me. There are fears I don’t mention, and sometimes they do stand in the way of moving forward to make some of my dreams come true. Regardless, I do my best to keep fear away from my creativity. Otherwise, I might never create. (Remember, my muse carries a lariat and knows how to use it.)
Fear can be inspiring, especially if you’re a stubborn soul like me, so yes, sometimes it drives me. Sometimes it keeps me safe.
There are times when fear is good. It must keep its watchful place at the heart’s controls. ~Aeschylus
Do you let some fears stand in your way? Am I alone in this?
There are other fears I overcome like when I’m ready to publish a book. Fear and nerves rule me for a few days before and up to the day of publication when I hit publish with a shaky finger.
Authors and other creatives, do you feel the nerves and maybe a tinge of fear of what happens after your baby goes out into the world?
Oh, there are other fears I can accept. Let’s use “change.” I know I need change in my life and have learned to deal with what comes. That doesn’t mean I always like it, but I accept. Deal. Live with it. Albeit, I’ve had plenty of major changes in the past decade. Well, longer than a decade to teach me this.
How about you? Do you think about change or take the “whatever happens, happens” path?
“Let your dreams be BIGGER than your fears.”
Is it safe to say this is easier said than done? However, I believe it’s a great goal to work toward and consciously strive to let our dreams be bigger than our fears.
#WritersLife
*I’m unsure who to credit for the quote. I’ve found a longer version of this quote with two different names as the author and also as “unknown.” I’ll leave it as it is for now. If someone knows who wrote it, please let me know.
Image credits: Pixabay.
Enjoy your summer!
The topic for this weeks Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge says genre and not genres. Romance and romance sub-genres are my go-to favorite. What’s wrong with Happy Endings? ❤ 🙂
It will come as no surprise that my favorite genre to write is contemporary western romance. I love cowboys, horses, and the ranching and western lifestyle. This genre is something I will, most likely, always read and write.
Can I say I like to read other genres? Maybe write them? I’m going to… Who’s going to stop me? LOL. I’m only teasing…but…
I can see myself writing a contemporary romance novel not in the western genre because I have novels on my hard drive that are non-western romance. I do read other romance sub-genres beside western, and I like reading women’s fiction novels.
I’ve already gone overboard with this topic I suppose, but I’m adding that while I wrote time-travel romance novels in the past, they were my favorite genre to write and read at the time, but I’ve always loved western romance. I love reading time-travel novels, but will I ever write another one? It’s doubtful. I’m too wrapped up in new projects as it is. In fact, I have a secret project coming out late next year, and believe it or not, I’m not sure if it’ll be a western, but I’m leaning in the cowboy direction. After all, it is my favorite genre to write, but I’m not limited to reading only western. Now look at that last sentence. I could’ve written a one-sentence post and been done with it.
It’s beginning to look and act like spring around here. Knock on Wood. We’re still holding our breath for decent weather. Look! Buds are on the tree in my front yard. I woke to frost on my car windows yesterday. Sigh.
Hope you enjoy your weekend.
In our Blog Challenge group, we have authors who write in many genres and sub-genres besides romance. However, this topic calls for romance. I’m interested to see what their favorites genres are to read and write. Let’s visit the Blog Hop by clicking HERE.
Thanks for reading.
Today is Tuesday. Wow, it’s been awhile since I posted using this theme.
Today for my Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse post, I choose to post a handful of good reviews. I’d be crazy to sabotage myself by posting the bad ones on my own blog. I’d love to be able to please everyone, but I can’t.
To protect their privacy, I’m not posting names of the reviewers in this post. You can always check them out on Amazon. Just know that these reviews, and many others, leave me smiling.
I’m about to post a handful of review snippets for books in the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight.
It might be unfair to post only the good reviews here today, but this is my blog and my inspiration. A few weeks ago, I wrote a Blog Challenge post and talked about–You Can’t Please Everyone. Maybe you’d be interested in visiting the post, too, if you haven’t already.
I read a lot of book reviews online and on blogs. Why don’t I post reviews of my own books? Well, I have in the past but stopped doing it. I admire those of you who proudly post your book reviews.
Don’t worry, I limited the number of snippets I added today. Altogether they’re probably as long as some single book reviews.
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to leave a review. Regardless if you left a review or not, thanks for buying and reading.
Happy Tuesday.
Pixabay
These review snippets are from Amazon US:
Cowboy Boss and his Destiny #1 (Sorry for posting more on this book.)
Author Mary J. McCoy-Dressel soundly convinced me of her storytelling abilities when I read Howdy, Ma’am, a contemporary western she peppered with heart, heat, excitement and drama. But in COWBOY BOSS AND HIS DESTINY, Ms. McCoy-Dressel shows she has the writing strengths and versatility to change things up and produce an equally enjoyable contemporary romance that focuses on the everyday matters of work, family, home, and, once again, the heart. I never grew bored with this unfolding tale of love that developed at a pleasing and natural pace, nor the quiet revelations that were revealed about two hearts destined to find one another and set a course for the future. Angie Just Read. The Romance Reviews. Click link for full review. (The Romance Reviews requires us to mention the reviewer when we post snippets.)Tristan’s Destiny (No longer available on its own). Now this story is the majority of Cowboy Boss and his Destiny and combined into one book.
Heartbreak’s Reward #2
t of revisiting the charming cast from the previous book, as well as the timely introduction of several new characters and a first taste of the third Carlson brother, Dane. Cowboy junkies everywhere will want to add this author to their favorites list! You can read the entire review at the Link. Angie Just Read. The Romance Reviews.Of the Cowboy’s Own Accord #
Lassoing the Last Dance #4
Yeah, no doubt this is a different kind of post for me. I hope I didn’t shoot myself in the foot. It’ll be awhile before you see another post like this one. I might be brave again one day and post reviews from Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series and the Bull Rider Series. Or, you can check them out yourself…the good and the bad.
Thanks for reading.
Hello everyone. I’ve been neglectful of posting on my blog, and I apologize for not getting around to yours, either. I do miss visiting with you. I’m making my appearance on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated. Yes, I’m still here, but my blog is lonely. Remember, at the end of 2017 one of the writing topics for the 52-Week Blog Challenge was about resolutions. One of my writing goals mentioned a major revision on two books. I’m deep into this as we speak. #LifeGoesOn
In other words, I’m consumed with this project and working long hours each day—ten to twelve hours while arguing with my muse at night to put down her lariat and go to sleep.
I’m not only revising one book, but two, because Nora and Tristan had two books.
Why would I do this to myself? When I finish my revisions, this will be one complete book where part of the first book will flow into the second book as one complete story.
Part of one book you ask? This was the culprit keeping me awake at night, but after two weeks, I figured it out. The books are Cowboy Boss and his Destiny and Tristan’s Destiny, Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight. I’ve deleted over 90K words from Cowboy Boss and his Destiny #1 and a little from Tristan’s Destiny #1.5. Take that, book pirates!
Cowboy Boss will never be the same book as it is now, and in fact, I’m getting ready to pull these two books from publication until the revision is finished, reedited, and formatted. It’ll be fine for new readers to begin the series with Heartbreak’s Reward, book #2 in the series or Whispers of Forever, book #1 in the spin off series.
Does this sound easy? I hope you said no. It is not easy.
Another reason for doing this is because I have learned so much and come a long way since I wrote Cowboy Boss. This book no longer reflects the other books in my series, nor does it reflect my writing of today. Therefore, this no longer fits as my series starter. So, yes, I’m doing this major revision for my future. Am I taking a chance by doing this? Yes. Am I hesitant about doing this? No. (not any more.) Am I scared about doing this? Terrified.
If you’re a writer, you’ve probably heard that writing is a marathon not a sprint. Consider this another mile in my marathon. #WritersLife
Oh, woe is me… The life of a writer. Oh, for joy… The life of a writer!
Cowboy Boss and his Destiny had originally been written as a standalone happy-go-lucky holiday story. It never turned out to be a holiday story or a single-title book. When I first wrote the book, I knew about half way through, this would start a series. Sure, it is a happy-go-lucky love story, but…
A reviewer called it a Hallmark movie with sex. However, the comment wasn’t meant to be positive. This book has its lovers and haters. (Read my Open Door Closed Door post.) To add some angst and more emotion and conflict to Nora and Tristan’s life, I gave them book 1.5, which will be added to the new version of Cowboy Boss as a complete story that flows together as one. LESS than a fourth of Cowboy Boss readers are reading book 1.5, anyway, but a lot of that book was necessary to further the series.
I’ve saved around 10K of Cowboy Boss before it blends into the new version where Tristan and Nora’s bond is put to the test and takes my characters on a more dramatic journey in this new version of Cowboy Boss and his Destiny, #1.
There are many dilemmas facing me as I decide how to publish this BRAND-NEW version:
While I’m on the subject of reviews: Reviews help tell readers, someone is at least reading the book. No reviews make it look like the book is just sitting there unread. Who wants to take a chance on that book?
Whoops, I digressed from the topic here—revising books.
I hear a lot about upcoming or new authors not wanting to self-publish. I get where you’re coming from. I had to make that choice once.
Making a revision like this to benefit my writing career would never be possible if I hadn’t published these two books myself. Nor would I be able to change the cover or pick the images for all my covers, especially my handsome heroes. I love having this control over my own books.
My next dilemma here is to change or not to change the cover. With this story now being so different, I think it deserves a new cover. Update: I changed the cover and it was the right decision!
If you’ve read this far, thank you for sticking around. I must be making up for lost time with all these words.
Have any of you published a 2nd edition? If so, what became of the 1st Edition? I don’t think Amazon will let us kill off the first edition if we publish a 2nd edition. In fact, I’m sure they don’t pull a first edition, and the upside to this is to have reviews available, albeit, new reviews will have to be garnered for the 2nd edition. I plan on finding out before I make a decision.
The entire series to date:
There it is, folks. I laid it on the line, and I’m hoping for the best.
Super Bowl friends, enjoy the game!
See y’all when I see ya. Miss you. ❤
Isn’t this quote nice? It is to me. The quote says a lot in only a couple lines. Robert Brault wrote this. A while back, I wrote a post where I mentioned *Robert Brault about how I’ve used his quotes (with permission) in some of my books. I had no idea what I’d post today until I came across this on The Quote Garden website. My muse approves.
Our imagination is a palette of bright colors though sometimes it can be dark and bleak. My favorite part of this quote is “You can use it to touch up memories.” I’ve done this before with memories that don’t emanate bright colors. But, can we hide the real color of a memory? I love the other part of this sentence, too… “or you can use it to paint dreams.”
I have used imagination with my memories in writing–the bright and the dark of my memories–but either way, I am painting dreams when I use them. Hats off to Mr. Robert Brault for this quote that inspired my muse today.
I know many of you have used your imagination to paint dreams. I see it in the photos you take, the music you make, the recipes you share, and the words that you write.
The imagination is a pallet of bright colors. You can use it to touch up memories — or you can use it to paint dreams. ~Robert Brault
*FYI: Robert Brault is a free-lance writer who has contributed to magazines and newspapers in the USA for over 40 years. I visited Robert’s site today and discovered he has another NEW BOOK!
Have a great rest of the week.
How do you all paint with your imagination?
Image credit without the quote goes to Pixabay.
Marketing for Romance Writers 52 Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop
Week 34 Open Doors or Closed Doors?
This topic has a couple meanings to me. First, I think of doors that have been opened in my life to let in good things. Bad things sneak in open doors, too. It’s the same with closed doors. Good or bad things get trapped, and you have to wait for the door to open again. Do you take advantage of the open door and all the possibilities? I have. I’ve also had doors slammed, and they stayed closed for years.
But…
Since I write sensual romance, I see open and closed doors as meaning something else. LOVE scenes in a book. Are the scenes open for the reader to see what is going on, or does the couple (author) close the door to the world?
Since Marketing for ROMANCE writers came up with this topic, I’m going with what it means as this romance writer. I’m curious to see what the other authors have come up with for this topic.
My doors are open. (Not in real life.) Sometimes the figurative doors are open in a pickup, barn, tent, HOT TUB, but yes, open. Do you think writing open door love scenes is easy? If you can’t picture it in your head, then you’ll probably have a difficult time writing them. With my tenth sensual romance coming out soon, I’ve become accustomed to leaving the door open and, yes, I see it as a movie going on in my head. I’m there. I hear the music, see the sway of candlelight and shadows on the walls, the warmth of the sheets and heated bodies. I’m not embarrassed to visualize this anymore.
In my writing, I prefer to have “open door” love scenes, though some of them do happen off the page–closed doors. I like writing and sharing what my couple feels sensually. I don’t use descriptive body part language because I like my scenes to be more sensual and to make an impact with romance.
I’m not saying writing descriptive body part words isn’t sensual, because I read erotic romance and it CAN BE sensual, sexy, and crazy hot, but I choose for my couples not to use them. I don’t publish or write erotic romance. However, in saying that, I have written two erotic romance novels, but they will never see the light of day because it would go against my branding now.
Plain and simply, I just don’t want to write erotic romance, but you can. 🙂
However, I’ve considered writing without open door scenes and maybe one day I will begin a new series where the doors close at the last minute. UPDATE: THIS DAY HAS COME. MY MORE CURRENT BOOKS KEEP THE DOOR AJAR AND MOST TIMES CLOSED. THIS IS RIGHT FOR ME NOW. I hope you find it right for you too.
How about you, authors? How did you interpret today’s topic? Am I wrong by choosing to discuss open/ closed door sex scenes?
Readers? What do you prefer?
Remember, this is a Blog Hop. Please visit the other blog hopping authors at Marketing for Romance Writers.
Enjoy your weekend.
I’m sorry if these images offended anyone, but I chose them to fit my topic today.
Images above from Pixabay and Marketing for Romance Writers.
Is it just me or are the weeks (years) flying by? It’s week 25 and we’re off to another week of the 52 Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop.
There must be something wrong with me, or I’m trying to be too analytical when it comes to figuring out these topics. Does this mean what books I read over and over? Favorite books from my past? Favorite books I’d recommend? I have many favorites.
I prefer to read romance, but it isn’t the only thing I read. What’s wrong with a Happily-Ever-After? ❤ ❤
As a teenager, I read historical romance—my favorites then. I got hooked on Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen E. Woodiwiss.
Some old favorites from long ago written by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss:
The list goes on.
Some of my favorite books were written by Nora Roberts. Other favorites are written by John Grisham. Oh, I read a lot of self-published books in different genres by Indie authors I’ve connected with online or have come across. Many are favorites.
I don’t write erotic romance but I read it sometimes. One of my favorites was purchased by the cover alone while browsing books at Barnes and Noble. It’s called Submission by Cherie Feather. OMG. Today I might not think of it as a favorite. My reading style seems to change over the years. I should reread it to find out. 🙂 Another old favorite paranormal author is Christine Feehan. I say old favorite because I haven’t read anything by her for years because I can’t get back into paranormal.
My favorite New Adult book is Easy by Tammara Webber.
Today, my favorite western romance authors include Linda Lael Miller and Delores 
Fossen to name a few. When Delores friended me on Facebook, I about jumped over the moon. A favorite by her is Wrangled, but I have a long list of books yet to read. Louis L’Amour and Craig Johnson are favorite western authors. If Craig’s name is familiar, he wrote the Longmire books. (Longmire used to be a TV show, but is now on Netflix with the final season coming in September 2017.)
I can’t say I have one favorite by Linda because many of them turn out to be my favorite after reading. I’m reading book #1 in a new series right now. I’m inspired by reading Linda’s westerns because it puts me in the mood to write my own stories. Does that make sense?
It’s difficult for me to read, even a favorite book, without my muse, or characters, drawing me back to them. They’re a selfish lot, I suppose, because they want my attention. This prevents me from sitting down to relax and get lost in a story for long. Once I am lost in the western environment—an environment I love— I’m reminded that I have a book needing attention in the same environment. So, if I have to answer the question about favorite books, I’ve proven to myself that my favorite books are contemporary western romance.
I have favorite non-fiction books too:
And last but not least, my own books are on my favorites list, too. Please don’t think less of me for admitting it.
I appreciate you taking the time to read.
You can visit the other participating authors by clicking BLOG HOP. We’re all romance writers in many different genres. I’m curious as to what favorite books we might have in common. ❤
Week 25 – MFRW 52-week Blog Challenge Participants
Books & Kindle image credit: Pixabay
Disclaimer: I don’t get any compensation for mentioning Kindle. I also read on iPad, and I don’t have any compensation for mentioning iPad, either.
For twas not into my ear you whispered
But into my heart
Twas not my lips you kissed
But my soul
~Judy Garland
I put a lot of time into a post I’d written a long time ago, and I still like that post for Valentine’s Day. It’s titled Alone on Valentine’s Day?
Why would a romance writer want to write about being alone on Valentine’s Day? I believe in Happily-Ever-After, Love at First 
Sight, and being Swept off my Feet, and I have been, and have experienced, each of these. I continue this in my writing…live for it, in fact. ❤ Many are alone on Valentine’s day for many different reasons, so why not write about being alone on this day for lovers?
Many of you long time followers have read the post I’m directing you to, but many of you are new, so if you’d like to read my suggestions for being alone on Valentine’s Day, please enjoy at the following link:
Many of you have already read the interview I did for Valentine’s Day with the legendary cover model, C.J. Hollenback. If you’re new, you can read it yourself right HERE.
Author note:
I’m considering asking another cover model for an interview. He’s on an upcoming book. It all depends on his time and my time, so don’t hold me to this. He’s too adorable and friendly not to be introduced. Plus, he was a great inspiration for my Randy in Lassoing the Last Dance. I hope you think so when I do a cover reveal.
Last but certainly not least:
You have to try this cake by Suzanne at A Pug In The Kitchen Food Blog. Her recipes 
send my brain into a lip-licking tizzy! The photographs of her dishes alone make my mouth water. Image used with permission from Suzanne. And, you’ll see why her blog is called what it is called:
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
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