How do Authors do it?

I have many times wondered as I devour book after book how an author comes up with the story, plot, characters, and dialogue that make up a novel. The thought soon passes as I pick up my next read, but recently it has lingered. I have been pondering it for days now. Do authors know what they will write when they open a new document file and begin to type? Do they create a character, build them up and tell their story as if that character is whispering it to them in their ear? Do they suddenly stop what ever they are doing and say " I will write a book about a Man who marries a woman they live quietly until suddenly he finds out she has a secret life and she finds out her best friend is trying to break up their marriage, suddenly they're thrust into a dark world where she must save powerful people and her husband finds out just how dangerous her secret life is.. will their marriage survive the discovery?.. and GO!!"? Could it be a bit of all the above? It amazes me how they can create so many plots and story lines that keep us so enthralled. I imagine it takes several qualities to be a writer. I believe you would need to have a great imagination and of course language and writing skills. I have the imagination covered but my writing skills are weak. I have never managed to write dialogue successfully, and I am not sure I could put the story I am imagining in my head in words. That takes a great skill that I don't think I possess. Maybe one day I will figure it out but it hasn't happened yet! If you do write let me know what your writing process is, I'm very curious as to how you go about it. So until next time..

A Good Week

This week has been just as busy as all the others! I have had so much packed into it, I am not sure how I managed LOL. Tho even I have to admit most of my 'week' started Wednesday. I had to do a few errands on Wednesday, nothing big. I had a GREAT day at HAWK Center Thursday. We had to take the GHO (Great Horned Owl) from Harmony to the vet to get her wing X-Rayed to see if she was healed enough to have the pin removed. She was healing great according to HAWK's wonderful vet Dr. Key at Southwind Animal Hospital, but she was going to have to keep the pin for another two weeks. Here she is in between X-rays.. NOT a happy camper! She did NOT like being out and she did NOT like being handled but it was for her own good! I have to say after holding her like this for 20-30 minutes or so my arm is a bit sore. Haha, I have lost my 'baby muscles'. I guess I need to do some weight lifting.

After we got the Harmony GHO back to HAWK we got in another GHO, this one from Rudy, that had been caught on a barbed wire fence. So back to Dr. Key we went. We watched her sew this very large female up. She was nearly four pounds! Quite a bit larger than the 'Harmony'. This is Dr. Key (on the right) checking the second GHO's wounds from the wire before her suturing and HAWK's Director Lynne (on the left) holding the 'Rudy's' legs and keeping her from biting Dr. Key.

My day was cut a few minutes short at HAWK because my daughters elementary school was evacuated for the second time due to smoke in the building. So I drove down to get her. School was cancelled that Friday. We spent the day shopping, eating lunch and more shopping, before we had to go pick her very unhappy sister from school. I have spent the time not out driving around this week on the phone and working online. My Granda who has Alzheimers went into the hospital with pancreatitis, so I have been on the phone a lot with family. He is going to be ok thank heavens. I have bought the soundtrack to WICKED :) I have been listening to it constantly. I think it's driving my family insane... but I can't bring myself to care!! I LOVE it.This post seems to have gone all over the place, but my mind seems to be doing the same thing!! I just started Marliss Meltons 3rd book in her Taskforce Series ENFORCER. I already love it. After reading her blog on my last post if your interested in reading the series: Marliss Melton is pleased to announce the release of all three Taskforce Series novels in one boxed set (available in all e-book formats, no paperback). This specially priced box set lets you enjoy all the excitement, all the passion, all the danger of Marliss Melton’s Inter-Agency Counterterrorism Taskforce, from finding its leader to carrying out its most thrilling missions. Priced at only $9.99, you save over $8 over what you would pay for each individual book. Makes a great Christmas gift! Visit www.marlissmelton.com for more information.

  They say we are going to have a rainy weekend.. I say bring it on! I am ready for some rain. Perfect reading weather with a small fire in the fireplace and mug of cocoa :) I hope you all have a great weekend!

Something Different.. Sharing Marliss Melton

A Hero Who’ll Steal Your Heart

Characters, New Release, Writing

If you’ve read my books, you’ve probably realized that all heroes are NOT cut from the same bolt of cloth. Yes, they may all be Navy SEALs or government special agents, but that doesn’t mean they all have to be terse, deadly, and brooding. Occasionally, they can be exactly that. But because I’m an amateur psychologist, I give a lot of thought to personality types and how my characters express their unique traits. As a result, I strive to make sure no two of my heroes are alike. And that’s how ATF Special Agent Tobias Burke, hero of THE ENFORCER, came to be.

“Toby” is an Artisan Performer, according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. That makes him warm, enthusiastic, dynamic, humorous, upbeat, and willing to put on a show, while still being very manly and potentially deadly. He’s the perfect antidote to THE ENFORCER’s wary, vulnerable, suspicious, and cynical heroine. And Toby can sing! He also wears humorous T-shirts with messages on them that seem perfect for every occasion. Here are some examples:

Readers are first introduced to Toby in THE GUARDIAN, in which he wears this shirt that pretty much sums up not only his occupation with the ATF but also his philosophy on life:

At the end of THE GUARDIAN, Toby has the guts to stand next to the Attorney General of the US Justice Dept. during a live news broadcast, wearing this shirt:
In his own book, THE ENFORCER (available now in ebook!), Toby infiltrates a militia in West Virginia to inform against a beautiful, dangerous, and very high-strung woman named Dylan. In order to prove her a killer, first Toby has to worm his way into her heart and starts by wearing this shirt:

But after he gets to know her better, he finds himself just wanting to get Dylan to relax and enjoy life…life with him, and his shirts become a little more personal in their message to her:

The test of a good hero is this: Did you fall in love with him over the course of the book? I certainly fell in love with Toby, and I trust that you will, too. Get your copy of THE ENFORCER today! (paperback release Sept 2, 2013). Kindle,Nook, Kobo, other.

by Marliss Melton

 

 If this doesn't make you want to read this book I don't know what will!!! When you read it be sure to stop by and let me know what you thought of it. Until next time..