Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Romance Weekly Blog


I'm pleased and honored to join a group of romance writers from the U.S. and other countries. They blog weekly to bring readers and writers together and provide an inside look at the writing process. Look for our posts every Tuesday where participating authors answer the same three questions. You'll find out more about me as well as other authors who write romance. The hash tag is #lovewritechat so share away on Twitter! And...there's going to be a HUGE Kindle/gift card/book/ebook/swag give-away in July, so start following us.

This week's questions come from Amy Jarecki, historical and contemporary romance author. http://amyjarecki.blogspot.com

Q. When did you start writing and why?

I started dreaming about writing novels as a kid. I even remember how my first novel began but never wrote it. My initial foray into writing was feature writing in the eighth grade. I wrote articles for the school newspaper and was also the roving reporter (so I got to be nosy!) Once I saw my byline in the Pipkin Pirate newsletter, I was hooked. After that, I wrote a great deal of non-fiction while in my marketing jobs--television scripts, press releases, annual reports and healthcare articles. I was a single mom for years and worked full time and then some, so I didn't try fiction writing until five years ago. Now, it won't leave me alone. Since 2010, I've had three picture books published, been in four anthologies, three six-word memoir works and my debut novel, THURSDAYS AT COCONUTS, will be out in August 2014 by Soul Mate Publishing.

Q. What do you like best about writing?

I love many things about writing. Here are my top three:

#1 I love the fact that I create worlds and characters entirely from my mind. It amazes me when characters become almost human and I want to sit down and have a glass of wine with them or when I think they'll go left and they tell me they clearly want to go right (many plot points are changed by my characters who take over my writing!) The creative process amazes me. It's magical. 

#2 I also love the fact that writing is portable. That's what I tell my husband when he wants to go somewhere for any length of time and it's true. I can write on a legal pad, use a laptop or simply scribble notes on the back of a grocery list.

#3 I really, really LOVE the fact that I no longer have hateful 8 o'clock meetings. I absolutely deplored rushing to work and chairing 8 a.m. marketing meetings. To make matters worse, mine were on Mondays! Pure agony.

Q. If you could go on a writing retreat, where would you go and for how long?

Somewhere by the water. Water relaxes me and I tend to observe nature more and add those observations and senses to my settings. It could be on a deck at the lake or on a sandy beach. I think a week-long retreat would be amazing but one weekend would be a focused event. But, heck, as long as there are outlets and wine in the evening, I'd be happy writing in a dungeon (as long as I wasn't alone!) Imagine how inspiring that would be.

Please comment and then check out contemporary romance author Carrie Elks. http://carrieelks.com/blog

26 comments:

  1. Thanks, Sarah. Hope it takes off.

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  2. Woohoo! welcome aboard, Beth and great answers!

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  3. Thank you! Glad to be invited. Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Oh yeah, writing by the water. I could see a couple of days with my laptop, a bottle of wine and the ocean lapping at the shore.

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    1. That would be hard to beat. I agree. Thanks for commenting.

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  5. HI Beth! Welcome to the group and congratulations on your new book! It sounds like you were meant to write!!!

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    1. Thanks, Amy. I think I was. I reinvented myself at a certain age to focus on writing and it has been beyond rewarding. Glad to join such a great group of writers!

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  6. Sounds like a fun blogging group to belong to.

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    1. You should join us, Lisa. Message me on FB if you're interested and I'll see how to add you. You're romance through and through!

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  7. Love your varied background Beth and getting to know you better!

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  8. Thanks, Kim. I have done a variety of things which should help enhance my writing. I'm happy to get to know you as well!

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  9. Welcome Beth! Sounds like you're doing great in your genre!

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    1. Thank you, Dani. I'm working on it! I could be doing a lot more. Thanks for stopping by.

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  10. Welcome aboard, Beth!!! Water inspires my writing as well :) Great blog!!!

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    1. Thank you, JJ. There's something about the gentle ripple or crashing waves, isn't there?!

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  11. Wow, you were young! :D Must be a real passion to keep going with writing right up to now.

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    1. Lol. I WAS young. Ouch. And when?!! I've switched gears many times and just started fiction writing a few years ago. Thanks for stopping by. I think. ;)

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  12. Thanks to Beth Carter for inviting me to check out this great blog.

    I agree about writing near water. I love to sit on the deck at our lake cabin and write while my husband takes the boys fishing.

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    1. Good to see you here, Sharon. We should have a local write-in near the lake!

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  13. 8am meetings - yuck! Writing in my pajamas - yay!

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    1. Yep. I can't tell you how many 8 am meetings I had for ten years!!! And...I had to get my daughter to day care first. It was pure agony. I am not a morning person.

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  14. Writing by the water sounds so delightful. You've come so far in the past five years. Way to go Beth! Can't wait to read Thursdays at Coconuts…the title intrigues me. If you need another blogger, I'd also be interested. My book of romance short stories just came out.

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  15. Hello, Beth. I feel a little odd being the only man posting, but here goes. I also love the fact writing is portable. When I go to visit my parents 100 miles away, I can take my laptop and not miss a paragraph.

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  16. Hi Beth, it was awesome to get to know you! We have a lot in common! From TV scripts to being a roving reporter. Um, I forgot to mention that. At 17, so many moons ago, I wrote on spec for a Teen mag, interviewing The Lovin' Spoonful, at one of their first concerts. The Dave Clark Five, and Tom Jones too! Wow! what memories! Also working by the sea resonates with me, big time!

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  17. Great answers, Beth! I share your love for the water. And thumbs down to the 8am Monday meetings. They are a creativity killer! Thanks for sharing your inspiration.

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