Keep This Updated Class List Handy ~ Laurie Schnebly Campbell Workshops

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
July 2022-June 2023

live in Washington DC: THE FATAL FLAW, IN PERSON
(July 30, 10:30) If you’d rather get the class below in just one hour, here it is!

online: CREATING YOUR HERO’S FATAL FLAW
(August 8-19) groups.io/g/FatalFlaw
       The ideal flaw isn't totally random, tossed in at the last minute to keep a character from being Too Perfect. Instead, it's built right into their personality--which means it's guaranteed to create turmoil that’ll keep the plot moving, along with a flip-side asset that'll enable your character to triumph in the end. See what kind will work best for your people, whether they're starring in a current story or taking the lead in another to come.

blog: HOW MUCH DOES GENRE MATTER?
(August 19) writers in the storm blog dot com
       Is it a useful tool? Is it a crippling stricture? What can “genre” do for you?

Zoom: KEEPING THE WRITING FIRE LIT 
(August 27, noon-1pm Eastern/9-10am Pacific; info TBA in the July 29 email)
       Free for anyone who donates any amount of time or money to any (not-their-usual) charity they feel like God has in mind.

online: YOUR PLOT / CHARACTER / STORY BRAID
(Sept. 5-30) writeruniv.com/classes/braid
       Weaving the different strands and levels of your story is trickier than making a simple braid, but the idea is the same: you need to give equal attention to every separate element that’s part of the finished creation. Whether you’re braiding 
the conflict and resolution of a thriller, romance, fantasy, mystery, women’s fiction or any other journey of discovery, learn how to deliver the balance your readers expect.

live in San Diego: SHOWING EMOTIONS
(Sept. 10, 10:30 Pacific) SoCalRW.com/meetings/
       Just like the May class, but in person--come ready to do some writing!

online: BUILDING YOUR BRAID
(Oct. 10-21) writeruniv.com/classes/building-braid
       Once you’ve outlined the elements of your braid in September, this hands-on master class takes you through the steps of assembling it from beginning to end. Each day’s assignment will keep you going, accomplishing more actual writing than in any usual two-week period, with individual feedback during every segment of the process.

Zoom: 9 TYPES, 999 CONFLICTS
(Oct. 15, 9am Pacific): AgedToPerfectionRomanceWriters.com/workshops/
       No matter which enneagram types your characters are, there’ll be trouble.

live in Southern California: CRW FULL-DAY WORKSHOP
(Oct. 22) https://form.jotform.com/221227303113034
       Block-Busting, Double Ds, Personality Ladder, Revision & one-to-one chats.

live in San Diego: FALL RETREAT
(Oct. 23-26) Ask about the private-room waitlist for this gathering of 8 writers.

blog: SWEET, SCARY, OR SOME OF EACH?
(Oct. 31) writers in the storm blog dot com
       It goes beyond Halloween decorations. What’s going to draw your readers in?

Zoom: CHOOSING THAT FATAL FLAW
(Nov. 5, 1pm Eastern): FFPRWA.com/choosing-that-fatal-flaw/
       Which of the nine enneagram types will give your characters the best story?

online: BOFFO BEGINNINGS & FAB FINALES
(Nov. 7-18) groups.io/g/Boffo-Fab
       How can you make sure your book will draw readers in from the very first paragraph, through the next several pages, continuing into further chapters until they realize they’ve been reading so fast and so deep they can’t put this story down? How can you leave them, after reaching The End, so wonderfully satisfied with the book they just finished that they’re already vowing to read whatever else you’ve written and are going to write next? That’s what this class is about.

live in Houston: TOPICS TO COME (not yet open for registration)
(Nov. 12 & 13) for Houston Romance Writers & Sisters In Crime
       Rumor has it the mystery writers will hear about Creating A Villain...

Zoom: YOUR EDITOR-AGENT PITCH
(Nov. 19) https://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
       Tips for perfecting your pitch, no matter to whom/when/how you’re doing it.

Zoom: CREATING A CHARACTER BIBLE 
(December 3, noon-1pm Eastern/9-10am Pacific; info TBA in the Oct 31 email)
       Free for anyone who donates any amount of time or money to any (not-their-usual) charity they feel like God has in mind.

online: PSYCHOLOGY FOR CREATING CHARACTERS
(Jan. 9-20) SoCal Romance Writers (not yet open for registration)
       Tools for determining naturally lovable (and intriguingly flawed) characters include Adlerian birth order, Jungian thought/feeling scales, the Dewey priorities, and other theories of temperament. Learn which ones will offer the best opportunities for conflict between your realistic hero & heroine...whose “inborn” personalities will both oppose and attract.

Zoom: CONFLICT FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR BOOK
(Feb. 4, 1pm Mountain): Couer du Bois (Boise, Idaho)
       Co-workers? Siblings? Neighbors? Lovers? See how to give them all trouble.

online: DEEP & DEEPER POV
(Feb. 6-17) s in c guppies dot wild apricot dot org (Guppy members only)
       We all know readers like getting deep into a character’s soul, and we know the way to make that happen is through Deep POV. But how exactly do you present someone’s viewpoint so fully that readers will feel like they’re truly inside this person on the page? There are a surprising number of techniques for making that process easier, whether you’re creating a brand-new character or intensifying one who’s already in progress.

online: PLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION
(March 6-31) writeruniv.com/classes/plotting-via-motivation/
       Here’s what writers have said about the course in previous years: “I never thought I could plot my entire book from start to finish, but here it is. This is AWESOME.” / “This month has truly changed the way I think about writing. I wish I’d taken Plotting Via Motivation before giving up on my earlier novels.” / “Now that I look back in the notebook where I wrote all my homework, I realize I’ve got my book right here.”

online: FROM PLOT TO FINISH
(April 10-21) writeruniv.com/classes/onemaster-class-from-plot-to-finish/
       For anyone who’s taken Plotting Via Motivation online or in person at some point, this group gets you plotting a brand new or already-begun book (using your completed 14-point worksheet) from start to finish. No need to prepare a new story idea, character bios, goal charts or anything else...because you’ll see how to plot an entire book, and actually have it ready to type, by the end of this hands-on workshop.

online: BUILDING CONFLICT FROM THE HEAD DOWN
(May 8-19) groups.io/g/ConflictHD
       Great conflict comes from not only the situation, but from within the characters themselves. This class offers tools for shaping basic personalities into heroic, appealing characters who'll naturally wind up in conflict. Explore the various types, archetypes and subtypes--ideal for creating clashes between genuinely likable people--and see which will offer the best opportunities for conflict that's built in right from the start.

online: WRITING YOUR SYNOPSIS
(June 5-16) groups.io/g/Synopsis
       If you've ever had trouble writing a synopsis, here's a hint: pretend you're writing an ad. An advertising copywriter for 25 years, Laurie was amazed to discover that the same skills which helped her sell bikes, bouquets and birdbaths ALSO helped her sell books. Discover how to use those "Madison Avenue" techniques to interest editor-agent-reviewer-reader "buyers" in your product.

JUNE Q&A

Q: Even though I know feedback will improve my story, I’m afraid to send other readers the manuscript for fear they won’t like it as much as I do.

A: I totally get how scary it can be to find someone else doesn't love your story the way you do. I always used to feel like that before giving a live speech -- what if somebody yawned? What if somebody spent the whole time looking at their phone? What if somebody (gasp) walked out?

Then I realized that it only meant THAT person wasn't the one who needed what I was going to say. In every group, I assured myself, there was at least one person who really needed to hear this speech...and if somebody walked out, it just meant they WEREN’T that person. (Amazingly, a lot of people have come up after speeches and said "I really needed that," so it's nice to see the premonition was true.)

But the same thing applies to critique partners. Some of them might not be your readers. And some of them WILL be...which means THEY'RE the ones you're looking for!

Laurie, figuring that makes any less-than-100%-delighted response less disturbing...after all, you wouldn't expect your grandma to jump for joy over a video game that would thrill your teenage nephew :)

Laurie's  Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.

Guest Post by Peter Perrin & His Debut Book ~ Grace's Turmoil

Hello, L.A., Thank you for having me as a guest on your blog. 

A few years ago, my then fourteen-year-old granddaughter self-published two novels on Amazon. Inspired by this I thought I should have a go myself. After all they do say everyone has a book in them. I thought that at the very least it would be a good mental exercise for my then sixty-nine-year-old brain, and might help with my failing memory.

How much mental exercise it would entail I could never have imagined. Sadly, I’m not sure it has helped the memory much, but it has given me a new skill to learn and I’m told there’s a certain joie de vivre about me nowadays, so that must be good.

I believed the younger generation thought most people over the age of sixty had one foot in the grave, and were just killing time until the grim reaper claimed them. But, I knew that wasn’t the case for many people, so I looked for a way to write something to show them in a positive light.

The way I came up with was to write a romance with the hero and heroine being over sixty. I certainly managed that as I ended up with the heroine being aged sixty-eight and the hero even older, at seventy-one.

And, I came up with the idea of my characters being residents at a retirement village that was pretty much a private 5* hotel. My only concern was that the environment might prove restrictive to me as a writer or put readers off. But I found there was a lot of scope for activities and relationships and the idea seemed to work.

Unfortunately, I had virtually no previous writing experience or training and no idea about planning, outlining, plotting etc. It seems I am a natural ‘pantser’ i.e. I just let the book develop, rather than planning it out. So, the book started off as a series of conversations, and developed slowly from there. Sadly, my inexperience meant that a lot of what I wrote wasn’t very good, and I had to throw away quite a bit of material as the book developed and the story just didn’t work properly. This meant the book took a lot longer than I had initially expected it to.

I submitted a sample chapter to a publisher to see if it fitted with the sort of work they published, and it did. But, they said the chapters—at an average of 4,000 words each—were way too long. So, I chopped them all in half and started to tidy them up. After a year of rewriting and polishing the manuscript I submitted it and ten months ago I won a publishing contract. Now, at the age of seventy-three, my debut novel, ‘Grace’s Turmoil’ has recently been published as Book One of a series called ‘Not Too Old for Love.’ Initially, the deal with my publisher was just for an eBook, with the possibility of a paperback version if sales were good enough, quick enough. But now I know that once it is on Amazon—any day now—it will also be available from them in paperback form.

It seems that over recent years more and more readers of romance have become frustrated that all the heroines they read about were aged about twenty, whilst they themselves were on average at least ten years older. Now it seems that there are a growing number of authors writing for this new market, which seems to be being referred to as Seasoned Romance, Second Chance Romance, and the like. I’m proud to be a part of that growing band of authors trying to respond to this demand.

Blurb:

Divorced and emotionally damaged, artist Grace Stollery wants nothing more than to spend her semi-retirement painting and let time heal her emotional scars.

But when dashing widower Alfred Nobel moves into her retirement village he turns her life upside down and her heart inside out by awakening feelings she wants to keep dormant.

Alfred quickly sets out to woo Grace and slowly she warms to him. But the village’s resident femme fatale wants him for herself. Will she succeed in driving a wedge between Alfred and Grace?

Buy: 

Amazon | Devine Destinies

Bio:

Peter Perrin writes sweet, seasoned romances involving larger-than-life mature characters who will make you rethink your views on older people in a positive way. His characters are mature in age but not necessarily in their behaviour. They may not be in the first flush of youth but that doesn’t stop some of them acting like hormonal teenagers.

Peter was born in Romford, in the county of Essex, near London, England. For nearly twenty years he has lived with his wife of almost forty years in a quiet suburb of Swindon, in the county of Wiltshire, in England. He is a father and grandfather.

He is a former member of The Royal Air Force who has served in the UK, and in Madagascar, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia. He was also stationed for two years in Aden—which nowadays is part of Yemen.

For almost fifteen-years’ service in The Royal Air Force, Peter worked in Engineering, Quality Control, and Procurement Management, not to mention myriad smaller jobs in between those careers.

Now retired Peter’s interests are Writing, Carp Fishing, and (despite being in his early seventies) PC and PlayStation games.

His favourite quote is “Youth passes, but with luck, immaturity can last a lifetime.”

Find Peter:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Five Secrets From Jo Grafford and Her Latest Release ~ Into The Mainland

A little bit about Jo before she shares her secrets:

I love to write at night! Add in the growl of distant thunder and a few slices of lightning and I’m like a surfer riding the perfect wave. :)

Hi, Jo, please tell us Five Secrets we may not know about Into The Mainland or you, but will after today!

1) Into The Mainland is based on the story of a real group of colonists who’ve been missing for over 400 years. They’re often referred to as the Lost Colonists of Roanoke Island.

2) Although I invented their personalities, conversations, and (in some cases) love interests, the colonists I write about really sailed to the New World in 1587. I even used their real names!

3) The hottie Agnes eventually falls in love with is so, well…hot…you might fantasize yourself into a few scenes with him before you finish the story! Just saying…

4) Not — in your wildest imagination — will you guess what actually happened to the Lost Colonists. Like real life so often is, the truth is messy, complicated, and full of twists and turns, which is why it’s taken me three full-length novels so far to unravel it.

5) I know, I know. The Lost Colony Series was supposed to be a trilogy, but... **drum roll** …I’ve had readers asking for more about this lord or that renegade, so there may be a fourth book coming in 2018. Shh…it’s a secret. I haven’t told my own husband yet.

Prologue:

One accidental crime changed my life forever. Horribly and tragically. But that was just the beginning of my bad fortune. Every time I swore things couldn’t possibly get worse, they did.

Here I was, preparing to face one of the region’s most terrifying enemies with a single tribeswoman as my witness if I failed.

A woman who’d hated me from the moment I’d joined the Croatoans because of the English blood running through my veins.

The only common ground we shared was our plan to sacrifice ourselves so everyone we loved could finally be free.

Blurb:

WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD!

An unusually lovely apothecary apprentice, Agnes Wood is forced from her country parish to the social whirl of London when her aunt and uncle negotiate her betrothal to an older nobleman to satisfy her uncle's gaming debts. While attempting to make the most of a bad situation, she accidentally commits a crime that will lead her to the other side of the world and into the crosshairs of a far more dangerous game. The layers of a terrifying conspiracy unfold, and two powerful men fight over her heart in the winner-take-all rugged wilderness of the New World.
 

Buy Links:

Amazon

Bio:

An award-winning author from St. Louis, Missouri, Jo has worked a lot of exciting jobs — from corporate trainer to junior college instructor to high school business teacher. Along the way, she discovered the only thing she enjoys as much as teaching is writing. Especially writing romance!

In her stories, the stakes are always high and there's nothing her heroes won't risk for the brilliant, sassy women they love.

Find Jo: 

Website I Facebook I Twitter I Wattpad I Bookbub I Amazon

Author Spotlight With Pamela Trawick's Walking Between The Stones

It is my distinct pleasure to bring you author, Pamela Trawick, and her new novel Walking Between The Stones. 

Please Pamela, tell us a bit about what inspired you to write this novel.

Thanks, L.A for having me as your spotlight guest. Who would have thought that watching elderly neighbors and their spouses deal with dementia would lead me to write a book where one of the characters suffers memory loss? Who would have thought that I could find humorous aspects to such a heartbreaking subject?  Who would have thought that writing Walking Between the Stones would provide me with lessons I used when my mother was suffering from ALS and that I’m now using as I face serious health problems of my own?

When I first started this book, I had no idea of the path God would put before me, but now I see his hand in everything. Walking Between the Stones is a story of love, family, and God’s healing hand. I hope reading it gives you new perspectives and a renewed faith in our Creator.

Excerpt:

Willie Joe exited the Santa Fe church where he’d pleaded again for God’s guidance. He hesitated when he saw the entrance to the circular stone labyrinth nestled on the side of the building. He didn’t believe in New Age hooey, but the spiral path drew him in. A good stretch of his legs couldn’t hurt. Maybe the walk would clear his mind. Maybe God was answering his prayer already. Well, no one was around to see anyway.

He placed one boot onto the gray gravel path. The small rough stones crunched beneath his foot. This wouldn’t take long. The thing wasn’t huge. He’d walk through the stone markings, turn around in the center, then be on his way. A second step—firmer, louder. A few more steps and his body settled into a cadence. Step, step, step.

The keys on his belt loop added a higher note. Crunch, jingle, crunch, jingle. The smell of fresh asphalt burned his nose. The stench started at the nearby intersection where a crew repaired potholes. The aspens beside the labyrinth flung their golden leaves into the wind gusts. He resumed his journey. Crunch, jingle.

Traffic roared on the road while he walked the course marked between worn river rocks planted firmly in the ground—raised into a Braille missive. The varied sizes spoke a message he couldn’t read, but its presence drew him deeper. Was God trying to talk to him? Show him the way in a language he didn’t yet understand?

The longer stretch—a runway—allowed him to increase his pace before the tight turn back toward the center caught him unaware. When he tried to twist his clunky boots through the switchback, he stubbed his toe on a rock and stumbled. “Focus, Willie Joe,” he muttered. “One step at a time.” Was that it? Had he been trying to plan too far ahead? Trying to play God in his own life?

He wove his way through the labyrinth, hands splayed at his sides for balance. He shifted between longer and shorter strides according to the winding path’s demands. When he arrived at the center, seven wooden stumps of varied heights offered respite. Was he supposed to know the significance of seven?

He sagged onto an oak stump and his knees popped. A groan escaped his lips. He hated getting old. The adjacent evergreens danced with a slow metronome beat and his body swayed with them. He closed his eyes and focused on relaxing, but continued groaning words he couldn’t vocalize. Slumped, elbows on his knees, he buried his face in his hands and sobbed. He already missed Dory-Ann. They’d not been apart longer than a night or two during their entire marriage.

How was he going to get out of this mess? When could he go home? Deeper sobs overtook him. Not ever if his fears were true. Would Dory-Ann forgive him? She’d be mad at first, but would she eventually understand his actions were driven by love for her? Or would she hate him forever?

A warm tongue licked his whiskered chin, and he jerked away. “What the—” Heart pounding, he wiped his eyes and peered into the mug of a black and gray Labradoodle. One with wet snarled fur and a vigorous tongue. He rose from the stump and stepped away from the dog, but not soon enough.

The dog shook, flung water with centrifugal force, and doused Willie Joe’s rumpled work clothes.

Willie Joe swiped at his soiled pants. “Go away, you mutt.” He’d asked God for guidance, not a dog.

  

Buy:

Amazon

The Blurb:

They had the perfect marriage.  At least she thought they did…

The day before their fortieth anniversary celebration in their small Arkansas hometown, Willie Joe Lankton tells his wife he must leave. Embarrassed by his disappearance, Dory-Ann makes excuses to her friends and family about her husband’s location. Heartbroken and frightened, she tries to track him down, but Willie Joe doesn’t answer or return her calls.

Willie Joe has a lifetime of experience repairing vehicles; however, he may have made a mistake when a young man is killed in an accident while driving a truck he just repaired. Suffering from memory lapses he believes are signs of Alzheimer’s, Willie Joe flees to the western states so as not to burden Dory-Ann.

A troubled journey, pride, and fear keep them apart until God's plans are revealed.  

Bio:
Pamela Trawick draws on her years as an attorney specializing in family law and estate planning and her parents’ experience battling cancer and ALS to craft a story of a couple traversing the rocky terrain of emotions and challenges tied to aging. Her books have been finalists in numerous contests, and Walking Between the Stones won the 2014 Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Contest for best contemporary novel. Pamela lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and their only slightly spoiled Westie.

Find Pamela:

Facebook | Amazon Author Page | Facebook Author Page

Five Secrets With Berdie Elliot ~ Enigma Of Fire's Main Character

Wow, today we're in for a different treat, learning five secrets 

from Berdie Elliott....read on :)

Thanks for this opportunity, LA.  I’m afraid Marilyn Leach has her head buried in an edit for an upcoming book.  She suggested that I, Berdie Elliott, her main character from the Berdie Elliott mystery series, share my own 5 secrets.  If you don’t mind, I’ll proceed.  And if you read Enigma of Fire, the mystery in which I relentlessly sleuth to resolve the crime, I’m sure you’ll learn even more about me.  Here goes--- 5 secrets about me, Berdie Elliott.

1) Although I’m an English vicar’s wife, I don’t fit the usual expectations when it comes to the kitchen.  In other words, I’d rather be sniffing out who the guilty party is in a village mishap than sniffing the perfect dinner for twenty I just cooked.  In fact, in Enigma of Fire, I have a special party for my husband’s former military pals, but my best friend, Lillie, and her handsome love-interest, Loren, actually do the lion’s share of preparing the meal.  What wonderful friends they are.

2) I sometimes struggle with living up to the expectations of a village that can put their vicar’s wife on a bit of a pedestal.  I tend to be impatient and I cannot abide falsehood.  To the chagrin of many, I’ll openly call people on it, which can sometimes rock the boat in a small village like Aidan Kirkwood where I live.  Often, my friend, Lillie, or my husband, Hugh, has to remind me to keep my tongue in check which is extremely difficult for me.

3) Although I don’t own a pet myself, I deeply appreciate the many animals that figure into most of the mysteries I solve.  For instance, in Enigma of Fire, there is a dog that’s a visiting nuisance at the vicarage.  But in the end, he’s quite heroic.  He helps save several lives.  And even wounded himself, he fights through his own pain to rescue others.  Where’s the box of tissues?

4) I’m not one to fussy-dress.  I do enjoy an occasional evening out when I can glam up a bit.  Like the time we went to dinner at Bamkingswith Hall as guests of the prestigious Preswood family during the Up from the Grave affair, although I almost went bum-over-end in their gravel driveway.  But I much prefer dressing for comfort.  I mean, how can you chase after the primary suspect in an attempted murder if you’re wearing high heels and pearls?

5) Though I sometimes get weary, as people do at my mature age, I never tire of solving perplexing crime cases.  I was created for adventure, intrigue, and a good giggle, even in distressing situations.  And I hope that I add a touch of inspiration to those around me as well.  I invite any who like to guess who-done-it, laugh, and be uplifted, to come visit with me in the mystery series named after me, Berdie Elliott.  Oh, and I’ll send Marilyn your best regards.  Cheers. 

Blurb:

Enigma of Fire: A Berdie Elliott Pentecost Mystery

When English village, Aidan Kirkwood, experiences an explosive fire, the entire parish is aflame with rumor and innuendo until Berdie Elliott, the scorching sleuth and vicar’s wife, can douse the flames with cold, hard facts that expose the perpetrator. A heroic dog, elusive book, and military champions come together to reveal the enigma of fire.

Buy:

Amazon.com

Bio:

Marilyn Leach is a dyed-in-the-wool British enthusiast who lives lakeside near the Colorado foothills.  She enjoys viewing and reading mysteries that originate across the pond.  From the Scottish Boarders to Devon, city buzz to rural church bells, she enjoys excursions throughout the beautiful isle that inspire her writing.  Her dear friends, who have become like family, live in Reading, England.  

Find Marilyn:
Blog | Amazon Author Page |  Facebook

Take Five With Author Candee Fick

Today it's my honor to host Candee Fick and her debut novel Catch of a Lifetime.

And wait until you read her answer to the last question!!

Welcome to An Indie Adventure, Candee.  Tell us, what inspired you to write your book Catch of a Lifetime?

Hi, Leslie, thank for hosting me today. I love football, and it’s a good thing I do because I’m married to a coach our oldest son plays. But what if I didn’t like the game? What if I hated it? That thought led me down a rabbit trail of speculation to discover my heroine, Cassie, and imagine what would make her feel that strongly about football. Then I wondered if I could change her mind.

How do you use setting to further your story?

Catch of a Lifetime revolves around a fictional college football program, so that naturally led to scenes in places like practice fields, the sidelines, meeting rooms, and training facilities. I added places around town, Colorado weather, and even took trips to other states for road games. But this setting was so much more than a place, especially when dealing with football player egos, competitive natures, testosterone, eligibility issues, NCAA compliance officers, dreams of bowl games, the thrill of victory, and yes, the agony of defeat. I was able to glean a lot of emotion and tension for the story by bringing the setting to life.

How do you construct your characters?

I’m a visual person, so I like to start with a picture of how I imagine them looking. Then I build enough background information to motivate their story goal and explain the lie they believe, because that wound will be healed by the end of the story as the character grows and changes. Of course, I’ll add and tweak things as the story develops so I make sure to keep a cheat sheet of the facts and tidbits about each character so I can keep things consistent.

How is your main character completely different than you?

Well, um, Cassie hates football. She also has an athletic past, so I made her an Olympic caliber gymnast when I can hardly do a cartwheel, let alone the splits or any tumbling without, um, tumbling.

Tell us something about yourself we might not expect!

I’m a bit of a science nerd. While I was an elementary education major in college, my first job was actually teaching high school chemistry at a private school. For the past ten-plus years, my day job has been doing legal research for an industrial hygiene company where I read and summarize depositions in asbestos cases. I get to work from home so that’s been great, but it’s little wonder why I escape to fiction-land whenever I can!

Give us a brief summary of Catch of a Lifetime:

He breathes football. She shudders at the very mention of the sport. After a tragedy involving a football player destroyed her family, athletic trainer and graduate student Cassie moves across the country looking for a fresh start, but a change in financial aid lands her in the middle of her worst nightmare. 

Meanwhile, rookie coach Reed worries his dream career will slip away as injuries plague his players and his star receiver teeters on the brink of ineligibility. As the two work together to salvage the season, sparks fly, and Reed must eventually choose between the game he cherishes and the woman he loves.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Amazon Paperback

Bio:

Candee Fick is the wife of a high school football coach and the mother of three children, including a daughter with a rare genetic syndrome. When not busy with her day job or writing, she can be found cheering on the home team at football, basketball, baseball, and Special Olympics games. In what little free time remains, she enjoys exploring the great Colorado outdoors, indulging in dark chocolate, and savoring happily-ever-after endings through a good book.

Find Candee:

Twitter | Facebook

Interesting New Release: A World-Building Bible and Guide to Writing a Science Fiction Series

WOW, something different.  A World-Building Bible and Guide to Writing a Science Fiction Series.

Illustrated by Jamin Allen and Kayelle Allen.

Genre non-fiction

Author Kayelle Allen

Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G

Page count: 311 pp on Amazon

For the science fiction writer, this volume teaches you how to build believable worlds, track details of your story, organize your writing, and lay out your story bible. Novice or experienced, you will pick up tricks and tips here. This EPIC eBook Award winning writer shares organizational tips, links to marketing sites, groups supporting writers, science fiction groups, and more. Material from the author's 90+ page website is included.

For the science fiction fan, the Companion reveals the worldbuilding magic that makes Kayelle Allen's Tarthian Empire tick. She shares every character in every book, 10k years of future history, offers inside peeks at scenes and stories, lays out a quick tour of the Empire, and dishes up a surfeit of secrets, all in one illustrated volume. Original art by Jamin Allen and Kayelle Allen.

Buy Links:
Amazon | Smashwords | Goodreads
Coming soon in print

Excerpt:
Military and Ships

If your world has an army, navy, or other branch of service, consider how ranks are listed. The naming of ships should follow protocols. It doesn't matter what the protocols are, but it does matter that you use a consistent system. Organizations pivot on protocols. What makes an army effective is its ability to move as a unit. That is one reason armies adopt uniforms. The sight of a mass of people, all moving in a unified manner, can strike fear into the heart of an enemy. Use that to advantage in your books.

Uniform and other codes can be found online. Here's a link to a PDF published by the Military Quartermaster detailing requirements for an Enlisted Aide. It contains pictures, placements of uniform items, and more, for all ranks within the military.

http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/jccoe/Special_Programs_Directorate/Enlisted_Aide_web_documents/navy%20ea%20handbook.pdf

Also try this site for links and other documents for military reference. http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/

Military ships and aircraft have naming protocols. If you create your own, follow them. On my worlds, the officers on board starships do not carry Navy designations (such as ensign), but instead use the same as those found in the Air Force. If you do this, be consistent. Be sure you know to whom members of a rank report. Your readers are likely to, and they won't like it if you have someone reporting to the wrong rank.

What War Was That?

When I wrote the future history for my series, I studied the patterns of the past. Wars punctuate human history. We refer to them as eras (the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War II, etc.) and certain aspects are attributed to each. When we hear "Viet Nam Era" we envision a specific time of history, and also a culture. When creating your future history, keep these things in mind. If your people have been peaceful for centuries, how has that affected their culture? Be aware of these concepts as you write.

Also consider what kind of morality drives wars. Is it a requirement that your people seek new worlds to inhabit? Why? Did they destroy theirs? Did aliens invade? Did a supernova destroy their solar system? Were they exiled? All these things shape social structure for your characters.

Government and Law

Consider how your people govern themselves, and the premises behind their laws. My Tarthian Empire series contains references to slaves. I created some basic laws so I could have characters break them and use them to become free. Remember the importance of consistency. If it's a law in one book, it better still be one in another, or have a reason that it no longer matters.

About the Author
Science Fiction and Fantasy author Kayelle Allen is the winner of the 2010 EPIC award for Science Fiction, and the 2008 Honorable Mention for Science Fiction Fantasy. Her unstoppable heroes and heroines include contemporary every day folk, role-playing immortal gamers, futuristic covert agents, and warriors who purr.

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About the Artist
Jamin Allen is the founder of Nimajination Studios, and is known as "Volgraza" on the popular YouTube channel V^2 Gaming, which features game play, advice, and update information for games such as SpaceEngineers, and other games on Steam. He is the son of Kayelle Allen.

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