Guest Post by J.K. Hogan

Please welcome to Feed My Need, paranormal romance author, J. K. Hogan!

J.K. Hogan has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally decided to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all kinds of music and often creates a “soundtrack” for her stories as she writes them.

J.K. resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl at heart, she lives on a farm with her husband and young son, a cat, and two champion agility dogs. If she isn’t on the agility field, J.K. can often be found chasing waterfalls in the mountains with her husband, or down in front at a blues concert.

In addition to writing, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with her large southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading! For more information, please visit www.jkhogan.com.

5 things you didn’t know about J.K. Hogan and her books

1.      Mountain Laurel Falls, the waterfall from Blood in the Valley was actually based on Hickory Nut Falls in Chimney Rock, NC. This waterfall was used to film the waterfall scene in Last of the Mohicans. It is one of my favorite NC waterfalls to visit, because the pool at the bottom is perfect for wading. I have a really high tolerance for swimming in cold water, so unless it’s basically snowing, I’ll be wading in that pool.

2.      Which leads me to the second thing… I’m not particularly daring when it comes to man-made things like bridges, platforms, or planes you jump out of. But when it comes to naturally occurring structures like rocks, waterfalls and ledges, I’m pretty much going to be all over it. Whenever my husband James and I go hiking, we always try and take each other’s picture in the most precarious position (like on the edge of afore mentioned waterfall) to scare his mother. *cough*sorry.

3.      My son shares a name with one of the characters from Fire on the Island. Mhairi MacKay was the heroine’s grandmother, and MacKay is one of my husband’s family’s clans. We used the Gaelic spelling for our son, so his name is Rowan MacAoidh. Try learning to spell that one in elementary school!

4.      I have a real addiction to animated gifs and memes. I don’t always do book reviews, but when I do, I usually use more gifs than words. Wow, that was a total Dos Equis moment. Happy accident! Believe it or not, it actually helps me with characterization because I’m studying how expressions can convey reactions. Anyway, I’ve been known to even tweet gifs to folks when I have a reaction that just needs to be seen. Consider yourself special if you get one from me. I just coined the term ‘gifmaster’, patent pending of course.

5.      I’ve changed careers more than anyone I’ve ever met, I think, considering my age. I’m thirty-one and I’ve been an office manager, a bank teller, a horseback riding trail guide, a stable manager at two different stables, a vet tech and then a surgery vet tech, a graphic designer, and now I am a writer/stay at home mom. That made me tired just typing it. Believe it or not, I was actually at most of those jobs for at least 2 years…I just started to work at a young age and took a while to ‘find myself.’ But now here I am!

I hope you enjoyed  your trip onto the mother ship with me, and I wish you a safe journey back home. Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Blood in the Valley, available now!

Blood in the Valley (Vigilati, Book 2)

The daughter of a Las Vegas hustler, Raven Sabatier grew up trusting nothing and no one—she doesn’t even trust herself to stay in one place for longer than a minute. When her quest to find out the secrets of her past leads her to the mountains of North Carolina, she’s set on a collision course with the one man she thought she’d never see again.

In Appalachia consulting on an archeological dig, Anthropologist Dr. Drew Deveraux comes face to face with the indomitable beauty who broke into his apartment a year ago, tilting his carefully cultivated world on its axis.

Engaged in a fight with their demons, both imagined and real, the last thing either of them expected to find was love. Together, they must unravel the mystery of Raven’s past and her connection with an ancient race of witches, in order to save their future—and all of the souls hanging in the balance.

Fire On The Island (Vigilati, Book 1)

“She who wields the mark is the barrier between man and monster. She is the daughter of gods, the mother of man, protector of all. Vigilati Usque Ad Mortem”

All Isla Macallen wanted was a simple existence on her little Scottish island, free from her mother’s insanity and the prying eyes of neighbors. What she got was embroiled in a war for the souls of mankind. A war of good versus evil, of witches versus demons, and Isla learns that she alone can end it.

Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau was a self-proclaimed nomad, traveling the world researching paranormal phenomena. He doesn’t expect his research to lead him to Scotland, and to the woman who will turn his world upside down.

Together with a facetious shapeshifting animal spirit guide, Jeremiah and Isla discover that she is part of an ancient bloodline bred to protect the gateways between the human world and the spirit world, to keep evil demons from destroying them. They must find the key to defeating Alastore, the demon king, and closing the gate before Samhain, when the veil between the worlds is lifted. As the war for their souls wages around them, Isla and Jeremiah will risk it all for love—a love neither had ever thought possible.

5 Tips to Successfully Market an eBook: A Guest Post

Please welcome to Feed My Need, Samantha Gray!

Samantha Gray was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where she is now a writer for Bachelor Degrees Online. She loves receiving feedback from her readers at samanthagray024@gmail.com.

5 Tips to Successfully Market an E-book 

 

Play to your audience.

One of the keys to successfully marketing a product is having a product that is designed to sell. Writing fiction that is well-suited for commercialization may mean sacrificing artistry for entertainment – or finding a way to combine the two.

If your goal is to revolutionize the literary world, you’re probably going to need the team of professionals that would come with a major book deal. Those who are considering self-publishing should conduct significant research before beginning their endeavors and align their work to coincide with an opportunity in the market.

Research your target audience to uncover what themes and characters are trending. For YA fiction, supernatural and paranormal elements are popular. However, it is important to include something in your stories that will make you stand out from the competition.


Start something.

Remember that word of mouth is still an extremely powerful tool. Twilight and Shades of Grey – two sides of the same coin – are examples of how books can become conversation pieces. The unraveling of backstories, mounting tension and a fast-paced plot is a recipe for a “good read”, but best sellers often walk the line between socially acceptable and scandalous. Incorporate a plotline that is juicy enough for your audience gossip about, but not so risqué that readers feel uncomfortable discussing it or sharing the content with friends.


Build your empire.

You’re not only a writer, you’re a publisher. That means that you need to take control of your business Begin reaching out to your audience through a Website, a Facebook fan page and a blog. Any promotional materials such as book covers and advertisements will be out-of-pocket expenses.

Although this is about your work, this is also about you. A great photo and biography are two things that will help establish loyalty. Remember to invest your time wisely. You may be tempted to write on your blog daily, but being too accessible or inundating readers with the duller details of writing can completely blow your cover as a mysterious and powerful author.

Your book should also carry a distinct and attractive image. Writers should network with other creative professionals for the best cover art possible. Regardless of the old axiom, readers do judge books by their covers; and even though you’ve written, edited, published and marketed your own book – chances are you aren’t a visual artist. Find someone you trust and hire him (or her). This could prove to be an opportunity for rewarding artistic collaboration.


Lead up to the launch.

Build hype before you launch your book. Send copies of your manuscript to various review sites, ask bloggers to review your book or solicit editors for a review. Create teaser blurbs or turn your Website into a countdown clock. Choose the best passages for excerpts on e-commerce Websites and let all of your Facebook and Twitter fans know that the day is approaching!


Control your output.

Leading e-book author Darcie Chan limited availability of her book to Kindle and kept the price at 99c. This makes advertising easier. By paying for advertising spots on sites and blogs dedicated to Kindle, Chan was able to market directly to her target audience. For more on marketing strategies, consider reading this interview with successful indie publicists Robin Sullivan.

In addition to limiting the availability of your content, you will also need to plan to continue publishing. Maintaining momentum can be extremely exhausting and the income can be variably low; however, publishing multiple books will increase sales, especially if you can successfully tap into your consumer market.

Lessons Learned from my Worst Writing: A Guest Post

Please welcome to Feed My Need, Angelita Williams!

Angelita Williams is a freelance blogger who specializes in education-related content. She’s familiar with educational practices for every age and lifestyle, from online college courses to homeschooling to traditional learning. You can contact Angelita anytime at angelita.williams7@gmail.com.

Lessons Learned from my Worst Writing 

   

During college, I minored in creative writing. The courses placed immense pressure on my ego, but it also bred a sense of camaraderie and respect among our tiny group of writers. I think all writers have heard the famous advice from William Faulkner that to write good fiction means having to “kill your darlings,” but when you are a young, eager writer, this advice can be difficult to take to heart.

Looking through my old work, I stumbled upon a short story that I once considered brilliant. My teacher dismissed it completely, and my peers gently prodded me to make revisions. I was appalled that they couldn’t see its genius, and I sulked for the entire semester. My ego was so bruised, I refused to put effort into any other work; and I began editing other people’s work with an insane vigor.

My ego eventually healed, and I avoided alienating everyone with my absurd passion for editing; but I always remembered the short story as captivating and vivid – until I reread it this morning.

It is a period piece, set in industrialist New York City and is my adaptation of the Greek tragedy Madea – which ends with a woman’s ultimate revenge – except in my version, Jason is a mobster and Madea (Madeline) is a deadly assassin and illegal immigrant.

It’s an absolutely bizarre plot, but the Greek version is no less peculiar. There is still a very slim margin of possibility that the story could be good; but what I produced was some hybrid of a bad soap opera and a cheesy mobster movie.

 
Generic descriptions are ineffective.

His clean-shaven jaw line was strong, and, despite his advancing age, there were no traces of gray in his black hair. His charcoal suit was expensive and well-tailored.

When we talk about art, it is sometimes very difficult to discern between the good and the bad. There is nothing intrinsically valuable in a single word. As writers, we string words together to convey meaning, to paint scene or evoke emotion. Good writing is not only about intention; it is about successfully communicating your intention to a reader.

Obviously, my intentions and my character were not well thought out. The description gives no information about Jason except that he is wearing an expensive suit, has a strong jaw line and has black hair.

The man at the head of the table sat silently as smoke coiled above his head. He did not notice when the cherry of his cigarette fell onto the table, scattering ashes onto the highly polished mahogany. To the average onlooker, Jason Marchetti would have appeared lost in thought; but Lou knew what the tiny wrinkle between Jason’s brows meant. He knew that a deadly focus sat behind those blank green eyes.

I just whipped up the passage, and it’s not brilliant; but the intent is much clearer. I wanted to convey Jason as preoccupied but capable of destructive power. I brought in Jason’s right hand man Lou to give the reader insight into the tone of the scene, and included the description of mahogany to imply wealth. 

Passive verbs and repetitive sentence structures are boring.

His clean-shaven jaw line was strong, and, despite his advancing age, there were no traces of gray in his black hair. His charcoal suit was expensive and well-tailored.

The structure of these two sentences is almost identical; and each hinges on a passive verb. The cadence, or rhythm, of the passage reads like a catalog. Essentially, the passage was little more than my way of cataloging Jason’s generalized physical aspects. In a word, it is boring. 

Set firm guidelines for your character’s actions.

The faint echo of clicking heels sounded outside the doorway, and the four men fell silent. Jason smoothed his suit jacket and straightened his tie. The doorknob turned, and the men waited.

*Note how the variation of active verbs and varying sentence structure makes the passage more interesting and lyrical.

Why would a fearless mobster smooth his suit jacket and straighten his tie? He wouldn’t. Again, I didn’t have a clear enough concept of Jason as a character.

In the patch of silence that followed the men’s laughter, the echo of clicking heels sounded from the hallway. Lou cleared his throat and straightened his tie before glancing sideways at Jason. The line between his boss’s brow had deepened, but offered no trace of surprise. As the doorknob turned, Jason dropped his cigarette into the crystal ashtray and swept the spilled ashes aside with the side of his hand. He leaned back in his chair, looking straight ahead to the door.

Jason is the leader of violent men, which leaves little room for fear. The passage is meant to show that the mobster carries concern under his nonchalant demeanor. The ashes that he sweeps from the table are meant to display that carelessness requires a clean-up and that he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty or soil the sleeve of his suit. Lou, obviously, is the less certain of the two, and he looks to Jason for reassurance. 

Build mystery by providing clues in each scene.

Hopefully, the looming question is, “Why are these dangerous men so afraid of a woman?”

Only time will tell why the echoes of high heels drive fear into the heart of these ruthless mobsters; and that is what keeps people reading.

5 Reasons Why Dystopian Novels Resonate with Young Adults: A Guest Post

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the fabulous blogger and editor, Debra Johnson!

This guest post is contributed by Debra Johnson, blogger and editor of nanny housekeeper. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: - jdebra84 @ gmail.com.

5 Reasons Why Dystopian Novels Resonate with Young Adults

Dystopian novels have been around for decades, and every few years there is one stand out novel among the rest; however it is just recently that the genre itself has exploded past one best seller at a time, and book after book dissecting different dystopian societies have been published and devoured by young adults everywhere. The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Mockingjay are all stand-out examples of this obsession that young adults have with dystopian societies. So what is it about these novels that make them so widely appealing to young adults?

1. Young adults identify with the discord. As people enter the young adult phase of their lives they are just beginning to understand the confusion and discord in our society. Before entering young adulthood they saw the world through rose-tinted glasses, relying on parents to make decisions for them and trusting that everything would work out. Now they are finally forced to make their own decisions regarding life and are beginning to understand that everything isn’t as black and white as they previously thought.



2. The heroes are almost always teenagers. The protagonist in all of the popular dystopian novels is almost always a teenager who is on the brink of entering adulthood and is forced to grow up much too quickly. Young adults are also teenagers on the brink of adulthood, or adults who have just left the realm of being a teenager, and it is easy for people within that age group to intensely identify with the struggles the protagonist encounters.



3. Dystopian novels force big questions. Every dystopian novel forces the reader to ask themselves really big questions: what would you do for freedom? Would you blindly follow society or are you willing to question the general public’s beliefs? Does society really have your best interests at heart? What is the bigger picture? These, and many other deep questions, are the root of these novels, and are questions that young adults are just beginning to encounter in their real lives.



4. Dystopian societies are always intensely monitored. This is in direct correlation to the world we currently live in, where we never know who is actually monitoring our movements and tracking what we do. In each dystopian novel there is always someone who is keeping a very close eye on what is happening within the society and is pulling the strings to spur events.



5. The protagonists always take the road young adults want to take. The protagonist in the popular dystopian societies always rebels against what is expected from the people in charge, bucking against expectations and forging her own path. This stance against conformity is one that many young adults yearn to take, and they are able to live vicariously through the characters as they read these novels.

Dystopian novels offer young adults more than just a good romance or a thrilling mystery; they offer the idea that you can be different and that you can change the world. It is this very idea that makes them so vastly appealing to young adults everywhere.

Power of Fiction: A Guest Post by Russell Blake

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the incredibly talented author, Russell Blake!

The Power of Fiction

When fiction is well written and executed, it has the ability to transport the reader to a different reality - the one that exists in the author's mind. It can excite, alarm, amuse and titillate.

And occasionally, it can teach.

One of the hardest things to do with a fiction novel is to leave the reader with more information than they came in with and get them to think about things differently. And I'm not talking about hackneyed morality tales or thinly-veiled social commentary or agenda mongering. I'm describing where a novel shifts the reader's paradigm and forces them to confront difficult issues - issues they might not have been aware of or cared much about before reading the book.

My name's Russell Blake, and I've just released a new police procedural thriller. Silver Justice features a female FBI agent heading up a task force that's hunting a brutal serial killer who is killing financial industry bigwigs. The plot has all my usual twists and turns and the characters are three dimensional, but what makes the novel a departure for me is the underlying subject matter. Silver Justice tackles an explanation of why the 2008 financial crisis that continues to devastate millions, actually happened.

It's couched as fiction, but many months of in-depth research went into developing the theory that is the basis of the book. Readers will either love it or hate it, depending upon their worldview coming in. I understand that some will despise the conspiracy that is set forth in its pages because it challenges deep seated convictions about how the world works. Others may find it provocative enough to do their own research. Still others will nod and think, "I knew it."

However readers react, Silver Justice attempts to be that rarest of fiction books - one that imparts a chunk of meaningful information in entertaining fashion couched as make believe. My hope is that it will touch most that read it and spur a sense of outrage. If it does, then I've done my job.

Writing thrillers in the Robert Ludlum vein isn't the most weighty of careers, I know. It is creating diversions, little bits of surrealism to make a plane trip or a late night at home more bearable. But Silver Justice is different. It explains without being preachy and hypothesizes without being kooky. And in the end, entertains.

Russell Blake was named one of the most popular indie novelists of 2012, and is the bestselling author of the thrillers Fatal Exchange, The Geronimo Breach, the Zero Sum trilogy (Wall St. thriller), King of Swords, Night of the Assassin, Revenge of the Assassin, Return of the Assassin, The Delphi Chronicle trilogy, The Voynich Cypher and Silver Justice. Non-fiction includes the international bestseller An Angel With Fur (animal biography) and How To Sell A Gazillion eBooks In No Time (even if drunk, high or incarcerated) parody of all things writing-related. Blake lives in Mexico and enjoys his dogs, fishing, boating, tequila and writing, while battling world domination by clowns.


Thirsty for more info? Learn more here.

Dreams and Reality: A Guest Post by Suzanne Lilly

Dreams and Reality: Which is Which?

Guest post by Suzanne Lilly

Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die

life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.

- Langston Hughes

In this poem, Langston Hughes is writing about the dreams that drive our lives. People who achieve great things dream up the goal and then strive toward it. People who are stars in their fields dreamed of their achievement, then worked hard to get there.

But what about the other way around? Can seeing what we think is reality in a dream affect the choices we make each day? Philosophers and theologists have debated this for centuries. I believe it can, and that’s at the heart of my story, Shades of the Future.

Have you ever dreamed of something so vivid that when you woke, your heart was pounding, or you were frightened, or you felt uneasy?

There was a story on the news in California several years ago about a woman who had a car accident on a lonely road at night. Another woman, a complete stranger, was visiting a relative’s home. She woke in the middle of the night after having a dream, convinced she needed to get up, get on the road, and go home immediately. She and her husband packed up and left right away.

As they drove down a rural California road, they saw a woman in the dark, lying on the shoulder of Highway 50. They called the highway patrol, and when the CHP came out and searched the area, they found a car at the bottom of a ravine. A mother and her toddler son were still strapped in the car after an accident. They boy was saved, but unfortunately, the mother was already dead. In this true story, a dream saved a little boy’s life.

This was a warning dream. Have you ever had a dream where you saw yourself being successful or attaining something you’ve always wanted?

I’ve often heard it said that dreams become reality. We can act on our dreams. We can do things to reach for the things we dream about. Perhaps in this way we can make our dreams become reality. Keep in mind Oprah Winfrey’s words,

The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.

If we take the little steps to make our dreams come true, eventually we’ll get there.

As William Shakespeare wrote:

We are such stuff

As dreams are made on.

What do you think? Do your dreams affect your waking life?



About Suzanne Lilly

Suzanne Lilly is a writer at night and a teacher by day, which is why she’s known online as the TeacherWriter. Her articles and stories have appeared in numerous places online and in print. She writes light romance, young adult, and middle grade novels. When not busy with words, she enjoys swimming, hiking, reading, fine arts, and cooking. She lives in California with her family and furry friends and has yet to feel an earthquake. You can follow her on Twitter as @suzannelilly, visit her TeacherWriter blog, at her Suzanne Lilly Author website, or friend her on Goodreads, and on Facebook.

Her debut novel, Shades of the Future, published by Turquoise Morning Press, is available July 2012. What would you do if you could see your future? What you think is “the gift” may actually be a curse.

3 College Courses For Writers: A Guest Post by Barbara Jolie

Hey Writers! 3 College Classes that are More Useful than You Realize


As writers, when we consider college courses we took that really developed our love for writing and our ability to manipulate words, we likely spout off things like English 101, writing classes, Rhetoric, Literature classes, Shakespeare. Sure, these are wonderful classes and they absolutely helped to develop our love for the written word and our ability to convey ideas. But, they are not the only classes and subjects that aid our writing.

Writing, be it blog writing, novel writing, or journalism, involves all aspects of life and academia. As writers we wish to convey a world, scene, or character in a believable and honest way. You have to have some sort of understanding of the world in its entirety if you are going to be able to create a world of your own in your writing. Obviously, this is not to say that writers know all the answers—no. But, we are far better-rounded than that list of English, Literature, and Writing classes leads you to believe. Consider these three college subjects to improve your writing and find more depth.


History 101

Regardless of your major in college, you likely had to complete at least one history class as part of a core curriculum requirement. History is in many ways very similar to English and Literature classes. There is a lot of reading involved and students are made to analyze situations and "characters". History classes can actually play a very positive role in our writing. Fiction writers create new worlds and place their characters in unfamiliar settings. Setting plays a vital role in the success of our stories. A general knowledge of history can be extremely useful when developing settings and situations. History classes can be a great way to add context to a piece of fiction. A historical backdrop for a piece can be a wonderful way to get the writing process moving and can add more depth to a scene.


Chemistry or Physics

Now, I know what you're thinking—how could Chem 101 (which I was terrible at) possibly help with my writing? But, science classes can actually be a wonderful lesson in writing style. Scientific writing, as we all know, is extremely different from what we are used to as fiction addicts and literature bums. But, that concise and systematic style of writing can be a great lesson in minimalism. While we don't want to write fiction that sounds like a chemistry textbook, learning to write directly and concisely can be very important. Take pointers from the type of writing and reading that takes place in the science realm. They speak like experts, getting immediately to the point and creating material that is all about the facts.


Psychology 101

Characterization is one of the most important aspects of our writing. If you're like me, you obsess over your characters. Who are they? Are they believable? Are they likeable? Do we want them to be likeable? Our characters can really take a life of their own. However, it can be extremely difficult to create characters that are truly human and lifelike. Even for characters that are outside of the realm of reality, we strive to create a human element within them. We want our characters to take a life of their own. Our college Psych 101 class can play a really important role in creating characters that are believable and dynamic. Understanding how the human mind and psyche work might be extremely helpful. Learning about how people think can help put things into perspective when we are trying to create dialogue for our fictional characters.



Barbara Jolie is a full time freelance writer and blogger in the Houston area. She enjoys writing about education and the advantages of online classes for all students. If you have any questions email Barbara at barbara.jolie876@gmail.com.

Delectable Daggers: A Guest Post by Rayne Hall

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the fabulous instructor and writer, Rayne Hall!

Rayne Hall writes dark fantasy and horror. She has published more than thirty books under different pen names in different genres. She holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing, and teaches online classes for advanced and professional writers.

https://sites.google.com/site/writingworkshopswithraynehall/

DELECTABLE DAGGERS

The Writer's Most Useful Weapon

For historical fiction, a dagger is the ideal weapon: plausible in many scenarios, and  loaded with emotional connotations. Yet, its under-used, because few writers grasp the dagger's fiction potential.

PLAUSIBLE AND VERSATILE

Many authors write sword fight scenes where a dagger fight would be more plausible.  Swords are large and heavy, cumbersome to carry, slow to draw,  and almost impossible to conceal. In many situations, it's unlikely that a protagonist happens to carry a sword with him. By contrast, daggers are small, lightweight, quick to draw, and easy to conceal -  perfect for quick responses, spontaneous action, brawls, suicide bids, self-defense and assassination.

While only people of wealth and rank can afford a sword, owning a dagger is feasible for all but the poorest.  Wielding a dagger requires only moderate strength, which makes it plausible weapon for a lady. Even an injured person may be able to summon the strength for a final defense with a dagger.

For almost every scene,  the dagger is a better choice than the sword (the exceptions are horseback fights and battle scenes).

The concealment offers exciting fictional opportunities. Typically, a dagger is carried in a leather sheath on the belt, easily concealed under a cloak if required. For secrecy, it can also be hidden in a boot or in a bodice. Indeed, during the renaissance, it was quite common for women to carry a dagger between their breasts (the sheath was sewn into the bodice). A dagger can also be concealed in the back of the bodice or  in a hair ornament. The heroine, preparing to fight off a lecherous advance or to assassinate an enemy, can pretend to twist her necklace anxiously, or to fidget with her hair, and quickly draw the blade. Bodice daggers hilts without cross guards.

Here's a picture of a bodice dagger: http://www.knifemaker.co.uk/Gallery/Gallery%20Images/Art%20Images/Bodice/bodice.html

EXCITING CONNOTATIONS

Besides its many practical uses, the dagger carries a lot of emotional and erotic symbolism.

To stab someone with a dagger, the fighter has to get close, which makes it one of the most intimate weapons. When the dagger penetrates the flesh, the hand almost touches the victim. This is very different from a bullet or arrow, which can be shot from a great distance. The closeness creates an intensely personal connection between attacker and victim. Daggers (and knives of all kinds)  are often used in fights where emotions are running high: gang warfare, hate crime, vengeance. 

The shape of the weapon and the fact that it's typically worn on the belt  make it a symbol of male virility. In many cultures and periods, men demonstrated their manhood by displaying ornate daggers at the front of their hips, the bigger, the better.

Sometimes the hilt rather than the blade was exaggerated: Many daggers from 1200 to 1800, especially in England and Scotland, had  huge, stiff, upwards-pointing wooden hilts with balls on either side. They were unblushingly called  a 'bollocks daggers' (or 'ballock daggers').  Here's a picture of a ballock dagger (be prepared to gasp)

http://www.castlerockmuseum.com/exhibits/daggers/DA03.1/index.php
 

In addition, the motion of sliding a dagger into or out of the sheath can be highly suggestive. Talk about daggers lends itself to suggestive dialogue, with comments like "Nice weapon. Are you any good at wielding it?" "Want to see my other dagger, babe?" "Does your dagger need polishing?"  "So you like swordplay, Milady? How about daggerplay?"

DAGGERS MAKE GREAT VISUALS

Book cover designers love daggers, especially when depicting the hero. They adore the chance to imply male virility. The elongated weapon on the hero's belt - or in the heroine's hand - hints at other things.

A dagger on the cover may increase your book's sex appeal, so it's worth telling your cover designer about it. However, many cover artists get carried away by the concept, with cringe-worthy results. I've seen covers where the hero wore the naked blade in his belt without sheath: a prelude to self-mutilation!

HOW TO WRITE A DAGGER FIGHT SCENE

All fight scenes are fast-paced, and dagger scenes are the fastest of them all.  Use all the fast-pace techniques you know, e.g. short paragraphs, short sentences, short words.  Focus especially on verbs: cut, stab, pierce, act, slash, thrust, target, push, drive, force, press, duck, poke, kill.

Words with 'k' sounds are especially effective for dagger fights: duck, poke, cry, hack, kill.

Daggers are stabbing weapons with sharp points, usually with long, thin blades. When describing a stab wound, show blood spreading or oozing. The aim in a fight is to stab a vital organ. Stabbing directly at the chest seldom works, because the blade may glance off the ribs. If the fighter has dagger experience or  anatomical knowledge, she will  position the dagger below the ribcage and drive it upwards (through the diaphragm into the lungs). This is lethal and works from the front or from behind. If she knows her anatomy well (e.g. if she's a professional assassin), and if the dagger is long enough, she can aim for piercing the heart, which leads to a quicker death. Trained assassins know additional spots where a stab is lethal, e.g. under the armpit or under the chin.

Some daggers are designed for slashing as well as stabbing. These have one or two sharp edges. When describing a slash wound, show a lot of blood, streaming or even spurting. The aim in a fight with this type of dagger  is either to slash the opponent's throat, or to disable him by  cutting tendons, muscles or ligaments (followed with a deadly stab). Fights with slashing daggers are very bloody. The point-of-view character's hand may grow slick with blood, and her grip on the weapon may become less firm.

If you're aiming for a sanitised, gore-free version of a dagger fight  - e.g. for a romance novel -, you may want to stick to pure stabbing daggers.

ASSASSINATION

For an assassination scene, give your assassin stealth and knowledge of human anatomy. An assassin will plan in advance how to kill the victim, and carry out the killing with calm efficiency. It will be with a single stroke, probably a determined thrust from below the ribs. 

VENGEANCE

An attacker who is motivated by intense feelings, such as outrage or hatred, will stab the victim repeatedly, and keep stabbing, perhaps even after the victim is already dead. If the motive is long-held hatred, the attacker may stab or slash the victim's face, disfiguring it.

DUELS

If both fighters are armed with daggers, the fight may include wrestling-type moves as each tries to restrict the other's weapon hand.

They will also try to disable each other's weapon arm, for example by slashing the inside of the elbow.  Such fights are often fuelled by emotions, intense, irrational, very bloody, and  fatal.

You can watch a demonstration of dagger fighting with wrestling moves here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z143thJWRBQ

SWORD&DAGGER IN COMBINATION

If a fighter expects a fight, e.g. in a battle, he may use both sword and dagger. He fights with the sword in his right hand and the dagger in his left. This was common during the renaissance.

You can watch a sword&dagger demonstration here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nITldg2dOVk

SUMMARY

The versatility of the dagger, combined with its symbolism and connotations, makes it a perfect weapon for historical, romantic and erotic fiction. 

ANY QUESTIONS?

If you have questions or suggestions, leave a comment. I'll be around for a week and will reply.

WRITING FIGHT SCENES – THE E-BOOK

Learn step-by-step how to create fictional fights which leave the reader breathless with excitement.

The book gives you a six-part structure to use as blueprint for your scene. It reveals tricks how to combine fighting with dialogue, which senses to use when and how, how to create a sense of realism, and how to stir the reader's emotions. 

You'll decide how much violence your scene needs, what's the best location, how your heroine can get out of trouble with self-defense and how to adapt your writing style to the fast pace of the action.

There are sections on female fighters, male fighters, animals and weres, psychological obstacles, battles, duels, brawls, riots and final showdowns.  For the requirements of your genre, there is even advice on how to build erotic tension in a fight scene, how magicians fight, how pirates capture ships and much more. 

You will learn about different types of weapons, how to use them in fiction, and how to avoid embarrassing blunders. 

The book is available on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes&Noble, Apple, Smashwords etc.

Here's the link to Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Fight-Scenes-ebook/dp/B005MJFVS0/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
 

Here's the link to Smashwords with a choice of all possible e-book formats: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87962

Underage Drinking in Young Adult Book: A Guest Post

Please welcome to Feed My Need, Dana Vicktor!

Dana Vicktor is the senior researcher and writer for duedatecalculator.org. Her most recent accomplishments include graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in communications and sociology. Her current focus for the site involves pregnant women and teenage pregnancy.

 

Underage Drinking in Young Adult Books

The young adult market has really grown in the last few years and with the increased popularity there has been an increased scrutiny of the behaviors of characters in the stories.

Some young adult authors feel that they have a responsibility to their readers to teach them about the dangerous aspects of being a teenager, while others feel that everything should be a reflection of what their readers are experiencing or what they themselves went through. Underage drinking is one issue that has been addressed in several different ways through young adult literature.

Drinking in Books

Teenage drinking is fairly common in a wide variety of social circles, and it appears in a wide variety of young adult books. You can read about it casually in Sarah Dessen’s books or read about the side effects of it in Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles. Both of these authors acknowledge that drinking happens and neither shies away from the negative impact that the drinking may have on their characters. Sarah Dessen has not yet addressed drinking in one of her books as a definitive issue, although several of her books show the fall out that comes after drinking too much. Leaving Paradise is based on something that happens as a result of a drunk driving accident and how it permanently affects the lives of the two main characters in the novel.

What Is the Author’s Responsibility?

Many parents and other adults feel that it is their place to control what their children read and may be up in arms about the inclusion of drinking, drugs or premarital sex in books. They argue that this paints an unrealistic picture of the world that teens experience. However, books provide the perfect place for teenagers to read about the consequences of poor choices and bad behavior. It’s not realistic to assume that teens are not drinking, but if the author can subtly include better choices to go along with the drinking, you may be able to get the message out to teens. For example, several books I have read recently make it a point to have a designated driver at a party or for the teenager to call someone for a ride if they have been drinking. Also while not every drinking experience is going to lead to a negative outcome, it is important to show poor decisions that are made while drinking.

Should This Even Be an Issue?

Teenagers want to read books that they can relate to and drinking does happen on a regular basis at many teenager parties. It is important to look at the entire picture. Should underage drinking be part of the literature in teen books? It definitely has a place since it is part of the culture that currently exists. The same can be said about drugs and sex. Books provide a place for teenagers to think about and process the information separately. Drinking is not going to disappear just because the censors decide to ban all books that casually mention it. So while young adult authors should think about the drinking they are including in the books, it should not be cut out completely. Not every book is going to have teenagers drinking responsibility or should it, but the after math should be real to life both positive and negative aspects.

How To Survive Your First Book Launch: A Guest Post by Lani Wendt Young

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the fabulous author, Lani Wendt Young!

I  was born and raised in Samoa.  I went to university in the USA and New Zealand, studying English Literature, Women's Studies and  Education. Back in Samoa I worked as a secondary school English teacher for 7 years and did lots of writing in between for the local newspaper and for myself. My short fiction has been published in Samoa, NZ, Australia and the UK. My collection of short stories "Sleepless in Samoa" won the 2011 USP Press Fiction Award. 

I also write stories for children that are used in primary school reading programs. In 2009 I was commissioned by Hans Joe Keil to research and write the narrative non-fiction book 'Pacific Tsunami Galu Afi'. The book was funded by the Australian Govt Aid program and all book sale profits go back to tsunami survivors who were interviewed for the record. My book 'TELESA The Covenant Keeper' is the first in a YA urban fantasy series and  it was launched in Oct 2011.  I'm married to Darren Young (who is probably the most patient and most hottest man alive) and we have five children ranging in age from 4 to 16yrs. We are now based in New Zealand but get to go home to Samoa enough to keep me brown. (and broke.) I blog about the misadventures of a (slightly demented) Domestic Goddess over at Sleepless in Samoa.

Check out her blog here!

How To Survive your First Book Launch: The Do’s and Don’ts of the Media

Here are some nuggets of wisdom, accumulated as my very first book was thrust upon an unsuspecting public.




1. DON’T wear a wrap knit top to a television interview. ( Even though those are the kind of tops that Queen Latifah wears and she always looks hot…big, bold and beautiful…and so you copy her because you know you cant fit in the beautiful bony Angelina Jolie category.)

If you choose to wear such a top, you may end up being interviewed by John Campbell from TV3 NZ at a restaurant by the ocean on a particularly windy day. And the blasted wrap knit top will keep catching in the wind and gaping open, thus revealing your lack of bodacious Queen Latifah assets. Very difficult to focus on giving intelligent answers to questions when one is worried about one’s top blowing open in the breeze.


2. DO make sure before your interview that the book you have written has the correct spelling of the name of any tv interviewers in it.

Otherwise, John Campbell will buy you lunch and have a lovely chat with you before he goes home, reads your book and finds out that you have spelt his name…John CAMERON. DUH. And you will go home and cringe in shame and hope desperately that he doesn’t decide to pay you back by ripping you to shreds on air. (or zeroing in on your blasted blowy wrap knit top)


3. DO make sure you have a mother like mine.

Who prepares platters of delectable appetizers, cream puffs, and walnut frosted cakes for your very first press conference. Reporters are MUCH less likely to be mean to you when their mouths are full of cream puffs. And if nothing else, when the press conference is over and you feel crap about it – you can drown your angst in cupcakes and cheese scones and all will be right in the universe.


4. DON’T go to a press conference alone.

Go with an assertive, confident friend. Ensure this friend is on a first name basis with all tv crew, comfortably chats with any and all reporters, sets up venue beforehand, stays to help clean up afterward, preps you for tricky questions, and gives you pointers for the next time.


5. DON’T speak with too much animation.

Try your hardest to be boring and slow. Because otherwise you will look like a crack addict on hyperdrive when your interviews screen on television. Why didn’t someone TELL me that I talk a hundred words a minute and that I keep throwing my head and hands around like I’ve got a serious attention deficit disorder?!


7. DON’T stand next to your 8 yr old supermodel daughter when its time to take photographs.

Because she will out pose you every time. And then give you tips afterward…’Mum, you really shouldn’t smile like THAT…and you should stand like this…and put your shoulders like this..and blah blah blah. (Next time I will just send her to face the media alone. She’s poise perfect and totally doesn’t get it from me. Must be the music videos. Or Hannah Montana?)


8. DON’T get your hair done in some fantastically fabulous style on the day of an interview.

Because you will come home from the hairdresser and your kids will stare at you horror-struck and say, “Mum what have you done?! You look weird. What’s that on your head?” And you will have to take all the pins out and brush out the transcendental style and just put it all in a ponytail. Like you usually do. Only without paying a phenomenal amount to do so.


And finally, don’t worry if you break all the rules because by tomorrow you will be yesterdays news and nobody will give a stuff about what you said, what you looked like or what you did. Thank goodness. (They will probably still remember your mum’s exceptional baking though. Very difficult to forget heavenly delights like homemade rum balls, coconut clusters and caramel slice.



(I was commissioned to write my first book – Pacific Tsunami Galu Afi – the narrative record of the 2009 disaster which devastated islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga. Publication was funded by the Australian government. The release of this book was timed to coincide with the national memorial of the tsunami. It was an intense few weeks of book launch events held in several different countries, including New Zealand.)

Leila returns to the land of her birth in search of family and instead discovers she is heir to a fiery elemental birthright...all while navigating through the drama of a new high school with the help of her new best friend "Simone daahling" - a boy with flawless makeup and the catwalk style of Kate Moss. She is introduced to the national sport of rugby and meets an irritating boy that would be much easier to hate if he didn't have chipped emerald eyes that are always laughing at her and a glorious golden smile. (The glistening, bronzed abs and Pacific warrior tattoos don't help either.) 

There's hate, love, jealousy, volcanoes and lots of delicious Samoan food in Leila's coming-of-age journey as she realizes that ancient Pacific myths of elemental spirit women Telesa, contain more truth than fiction. Secrets are revealed and things get blown up as Leila must choose between sisterhood and the boy she loves. Can their love stand against the Covenant Keeper?

There are many different kinds of love. All of them require sacrifice. Who will give everything for the one they love?

Top 4 Page-turning Books for Young Adults: A Guest Post by

Please welcome to Feed My Need, Katheryn Rivas!

This guest post is contributed by Katheryn Rivas, who writes on the topics of online universities advice.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: katherynrivas87@gmail.com.

Top 4 Page-turning Books for Young Adults

While most adults feel the need to coerce teenage students into reading, the easiest way to get young people engaged in a novel is to introduce a compelling plotline that works for anyone, child and adult, alike. The most important thing about reading for young people is having someone or something to connect with. Stories that involve basic human truths are easy for people of all ages to digest and understand. 

Here is a list of some of the books that are appropriate for a teenage reading level, but cool enough to keep young people turning the pages. Many of these stories discuss advanced and nuanced topics, but the humanity of the stories is clear enough for anyone to understand and enjoy. Pick any of these books back up as an adult, and you’re sure to find meanings that you never knew were there.

1. Harry Potter

These stories are actually appropriate for children much younger than middle school or high school age, but, if there was ever a book that could make a young person of any age hungrily turn some pages, it would be this J. K. Rowling classic. In fact, there are plenty of adults who have become thoroughly hooked on the series, themselves.

2. The Hunger Games

Written by Suzanne Collins as a young adult novel, this is a must-read for any teen looking for a story that won’t be boring. In fact, with the huge popularity of the movie, this is the perfect time to rent it or head to theaters to check out the movie version before or after reading. The story is set in an apocalyptic world in which two children, ages 12-18, are selected to compete in a battle to the death for an annual television special. Told through the eyes of a 16-year-old girl competitor, the story is intense and can go from humorous to heartbreaking in seconds.

3. Animal Farm

Animal Farm may seem a bit old-school to young students at first glance, but this is actually a perfect read for teens. The main characters are animals who balance work and power struggles after taking over their family farm after mistreatment by the humans in charge. Despite the fairy-tale nature, this is no book for babies. Real issues of power, struggle, desperation and tension abound, and the plot is interesting, yet easy to follow.

4. The Catcher in the Rye

This is a classic for both adults and teenagers. First off, it’s hilarious and so uniquely-written that readers of all ages will have something to grab onto. The plot is told through the eyes of Holden Caulfield, a prep school dropout making his way through New York City. Teenagers will love Holden’s anti-protagonist charm and surely see themselves reflected in his take on the silly world of adults.

4 Tips for Blind Dates: A Guest Post by Ellie Stevens

Please welcome to A Three Way Tie, Ellie Stevens!


Ellie Stevens is a guest post author who loves sharing her tips for dating and relationships. Ellie has taken this passion to blogging for Best Online Dating Sites where she focuses on educating singles about the best and most effective ways to date on the internet.

4 Tips to Make Blind Dates Less Terrifying 

Blind date—two words that have the ability to strike fear into the hearts of singles everywhere. And when you’re a woman without a significant other, you know all too well what it’s like to be a prime target for your married friends who just to happen to “know a great guy you need to meet!”

In order to get your friends off your case, maybe you’ve finally given into their requests to set you up on this blind and sure-to-be catastrophe while in the meantime you are brainstorming excuses for getting out of it. But before you call and cancel on the fellow because you “seem to have contracted a highly contagious and disgusting illness—probably swine flu,” be sure to take into consideration the following tips that will make your blind date a whole lot less scary than it sounds:


#1: Do your research. 

 In order to put your mind at ease so that you aren’t so blinded by the situation, use your investigation skills and get the scoop on your date before heading out the door with the guy. You may have never met him, but the person setting up the two of you should be able to give you the lowdown. Also, a light sweep of pertinent social networking sites and Google will assist in giving you a better idea about what this guy is all about—just don’t let it slip that you already know everything about him when striking up the get-to-know-you conversation!


#2: Keep an open mind. 

If you go into the blind date with a negative attitude and the idea that the guy is not going to be a match for you, then you are just setting yourself up for a miserable time. Keep your mind open and look at the date as an opportunity to get to know someone new—he might not be “the one,” but even if you just wind up making a new friend, the date should be considered a success. And you never know…your blind date may very be the start to many not-so-blind-dates with the guy down the road!


#3: Know you aren’t the only one who is nervous. 

 It doesn’t matter who you are, when a date is involved, there are bound to be some nerves that come along with it. It’s an awkward situation meeting someone you’ve never met before—so rest assured that your date is going to be feeling nervous too. Stop rehearsing things to say and freaking out about whether there is food in your teeth or if you are going to have anything other than awkwardness in common. Just go with the flow! Once you get past the initial small talk (and maybe even a glass of wine or two), the date should be flowing more easily and the two of you should be feeling more comfortable. Even though you may feel as though they are about the fly out of your stomach, the butterflies are one of the best parts about dating someone new!


#4: Don’t ditch your date. 

If you arrive at the restaurant where you are meeting your blind date and the guy is not what you expected, do your best to keep from scramming out the door before introductions are made. You owe it to him and whoever set you up to at least see if there is some sort of connection other than the physical kind. If it’s not a match, then you don’t have to go out with the guy again—but you got all dolled up so you might as well be polite, tough it out and not let a killer outfit go to waste.