THE SOUL SEEKERS SERIES
by Marilee
Brothers
Welcome Marilee Brothers Author of the Soul Seeker Series. She has an interesting post about what to do when you are writing and get stuck.
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Stuck
Okay, fellow writers, artists and others who must dip daily
into your well of creativity. What happens when the well goes dry? What happens
when you get stuck? I’m not talking
about writers’ block. In my opinion, getting stuck is a whole different thing.
I recently started a new book and, since I fly by the seat
of my pants, I had main characters in mind and a vague idea of the plot line.
I’d learned to trust my process. In the past, the act of writing stimulated the
creative part of my brain, resulting in forward progress. Sure, once in a
while, I’d write myself into a corner and have to backtrack, but it was usually
an easy fix and I considered it a learning experience. Six chapters flew by and
then my fingers froze on the keyboard. I was stuck. Here’s what happened next:
1.
I brooded and indulged in a lot of negative
self-talk. What the heck’s wrong with
you? Yikes! After ten books are you out of juice?
2.
I forced myself to write. As the saying goes,
you can’t edit a blank page. When it took me an hour to write two sentences, I
knew it wasn’t working. This was followed by . . .
3.
More brooding.
4.
I tried writing in long hand, a technique that
sometimes works for me. Not this time.
5.
I comforted myself with junk food which, in
turn, led me to . . .
6.
The Solution. Concerned about putting on weight
from the aforementioned junk food, I hit the elliptical machine at our local
fitness club. Something about the music feeding directly into my brain via ear
buds, mindless repetition as I sweated and pedaled, plus the oxygenated blood
surging through my body did the trick.
Remember my term, “vague idea of the plot line?” I realized
I was a little too vague. I was writing romantic suspense, for Pete’s sake! I
had a spunky little heroine named Mel. I had a sexy Harley-Davidson riding
ex-Marine named Billy. I had dead bodies, nasty villains, stolen babies and
human trafficking. Way too many moving parts for an author flying by the seat
of her pants. I needed details. I needed more characters. I needed more plot
details. OMG, was I becoming a plotter? Were my pantser days over?
Happily, I’m back on track after taking some time to answer
the obvious questions. Who? What? Why? Where? When? Part plotter, part pantser.
It works for me. And, if it happens again, I know how to get through it.
Exercise.
GENRE: Paranormal
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BLURB for
AFFLICTION (Book One):
Twenty-two year old Honor Melanie (Mel) Sullivan has an affliction. Due
to childhood trauma and inappropriate social behavior, she is diagnosed with
Aspergers, a form of autism. But, Mel knows Aspergers is not her true
affliction. She prefers not to gaze into a person’s eyes because she is a soul
reader, and what she sees can be frightening. It can also get Mel into trouble.
After a
brush with the law, Mel leaves her family home in Southern California and
travels to Oregon where she meets Harley-Davidson riding William McCarty (Billy
the Kid) and stumbles upon a human trafficking/baby-selling scheme involving a
foreign girl from Kazakhstan, and others. Even though Mel's life is in danger,
she won't stop until she finds the answers that will help those unable to help
themselves.
BLURB for
ALLEGIANCE (Book Two):
Transplanted California girl, Melanie Sullivan, vows to stay in
Oregon until she nails the killer of her best friend, Dani. Mel’s ability to
search a soul for innocence or guilt is a big plus. Her love for Billy the Kid,
former Marine and now a detective with the 3 Peaks police department is also a
factor in her decision. She’s not quite sure what’s going on with Billy. Has
the PTSD from his Middle East deployments returned?
When a hate crime is committed in 3 Peaks, Mel is recruited by
sexy Homeland Security agent, Mick, who requires her soul-reading ability. Mick
doesn’t hide his feelings. He’s more than eager to step in if Billy steps out,
a complication Mel doesn’t need or want. As she goes undercover, Mel embarks on
a dangerous journey, aided by her Uncle Paco and devoted friends. Along the
way, she learns a valuable lesson about the power of forgiveness.
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Excerpt:
I lean down to drop a chaste farewell kiss on his
forehead. A split second later, I’m flat on my back, pinned to the bed and
Billy the Kid grins down at me like a naughty little boy. He rips out his ear
buds and pulls the cord free until the music washes over us. It’s a rock and
roll tune, a blast from the past.
“Hey, baby,” he says. “Wanna dance?”
Before I can form an answer, I’m swept off the bed
and twirled around until I’m dizzy and laughing uncontrollably.
He sets me on the floor and pulls me tight against
his body. “You sneaking out on me, Minnie Mouse?
I manage a weak, breathless protest. “I’m supposed
to meet Steve at 9:30 a.m. I need to get going.”
He cups my face between his palms and brushes his
lips across mine. “You sure about that?”
“Well, um...”
My body
says bring it on. My brain chimes in, promptness
is overrated.
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AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
Marilee
Brothers is a former teacher, coach, counselor and the author of ten books.
Marilee and her husband are the parents of three grown sons and live in central
Washington State. After writing six young adult books, Marilee is once again
writing romantic suspense for the adult market. She loves hearing from people
who have read her books.
Feel
free to contact her at http://www.marileebrothers.com and sign up for her
newsletter The Obsessive Page Turner. Her author page on Facebook is:
www.facebook.com/marilee.author and she occasionally tweets @MarileeB.
Check
out Marilee’s Amazon page here:http://www.amazon.com/Marilee-Brothers/e/B003RL7EWQ/
Marilee’s
blog is Book Blather, http://bookblatherblog.blogspot.com where she features
aspiring and published authors as well as some tidbits of her own.
Buy
Links:
Affliction:
Allegiance:
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
The author will
be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to one randomly drawn winner
and print copies of AFFLICTION and ALLEGIANCE to another randomly drawn winner
(US only) via rafflecopter during the tour
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Many thanks for hosting me on Mixed Book Bag. I appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the excerpt. It looks like a good read. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDelete