Everyone needs a framework, whether it’s building a house or doing the world building for paranormal romance novels. Readers need a reference point, a way to relate to both the setting and the story the characters are venturing through.

When you pick up a sci-fi novel, you expect it to show you brand new devices, far-off foreign places, and unique characters and creatures. An author has no limits, as long as the reader can relate and ‘see’ the situations, equipment, etc. That takes a deft hand and much behind the scenes world building to pull it off seamlessly in the story.

When you’re using a real-world setting, you can definitely take liberties, but you also have a responsibility to work within the framework of reality. (beyond just sticking with the laws of nature)

In The Matchmaker’s Mark, the first of my new paranormal romance series set in Charleston, South Carolina, I took some liberties within the city setting, but I worked to make it resonate with people familiar with the area.

One of my favorite comments from readers is that they recognized the Mexican restaurant where Lily and her brother Cade confronted a werewolf. It makes me happy to know that while I renamed the actual restaurant, the locals knew just where I was talking about.

Named Mama Rita’s in my fictional world, the massive burritos, layout of the place, and glowing reputation is all very much the same as it is in the real world.

Authors do that all the time -in every genre of writing – taking a real place and moving their characters through it. After all, the reality we’re living in is the most familiar framework available to us personally or through extensive research. The goal is that our characters add richness and depth to an area readers know well or can experience vicariously.

When I use real places in my futuristic Shadows of Justice series or in the contemporary Matchmaker series, I do it for myself – as a framework – but also for the reader. That familiarity is both a touchstone and a springboard for my imagination and the adventure that follows.

Live the adventure!

Since going the indie author route with my urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels, readers might assume I work alone dawn to dusk. While somedays it feels that way, and other days I wish it was that way, the truth is no one really does the publishing thing alone.

Writing groups and conferences help you find your writing voice and develop your skills in the writing craft. Once you have those things working well within the story you want to share with readers, it’s time to get writing.

There is no set, perfect way to write a book. Because no two writers are the same. While it might be nice if there was a simple task list (beyond getting words on the page) it isn’t going to happen. Paying attention to your process, discovering which hours are your most productive, what tools work, and what actions nourish you along the way will be most helpful.

An author friend of mine does extensive character background and plotting before she starts. I’ve tried her way, but it wrecked the process for me. I’m considered a pantser, (meaning I don’t plot) but really I’m a hybrid now. I start out writing fast and loose, then take a look at what I’ve discovered, whittle that down and aim for the ending I have in mind. (Yes there’s more to it, but you don’t want to know).

No matter how you get to the finished draft. It’s only the beginning.

Teamwork begins when the draft is done – or earlier if you’re working with critique partners. Trading feedback on works in progress is another system that works for some, but not all authors.

Once that draft is complete and polished to your best ability, it’s time to send it out to either beta readers or your first round with an editor.

Beta readers (who read paranormal romance novels, or your specific genre) can be a fabulous asset, letting you know if your book will resonate with readers, if you’ve left something out of the plot, if your characters are engaging. They might even point out continuity errors or typos.

An editor can address structure, pacing, grammar, and/or typos too. To give your book the best experience with an editor, do your best to clean up those little typos so your editor isn’t distracted from what you want them to be looking for.

Readers expect and deserve your best effort and all these extra eyes on your book, all this teamwork, helps improve not only your writing process, but the finished product you will deliver to readers.

And let me offer up a special THANK YOU to my team of beta readers and editors who have helped me bring each of my books to readers, from the non-fiction to the urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels!

Live the adventure!

It was a busy, wonderful week for Tracking Shadows, book 4 in the Shadows of Justice series! The story of Slick Micky, notorious Chicago smuggler and Trina Durham, the assassin hired to eliminate him, has won its first award:

I was thrilled to hear the book won 2nd place, especially considering the excellent company it was up against. To everyone who voted for Tracking Shadows, you have my heartfelt gratitude. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! It’s such a great feeling to know readers are enjoying these 2096 adventures.

Here’s the back cover blurb…

In Chicago, Slick Micky is the king of smuggling. Known to deliver anything, anytime, anywhere, he specializes in caffeine and sugar and works in the anonymity of shadows. But recently an old enemy is tired of waiting for Micky’s empire to crumble and has called in the best assassin in the business to take him out.

Trina Durham is an assassin with a sterling reputation, thanks to her unique ability to induce deadly hallucinations. When Slick Micky killed her best friend, she left Chicago – forever. She’s back now, unable to resist the perfect opportunity for vengeance. But no one warned her Slick Micky might as well be a shadow. Or that shedding light on the man and his secrets would put both her heart and reputation at risk.

(Want to read a sample? Just click here!)

…and a few words from readers and reviewers:

“Tracking Shadows is a smart, sexy, and dangerous read that you won’t be able to put down!”

Crystal <3

“All the elements readers have come to expect from a 2096 novel– a kick-butt alpha female lead, an equally strong hero, and a gritty, fast-paced thriller.”

“…film noir atmosphere with the tinge of a science fiction…”

The Bookish Dame 5 stars (Amazon)

“Join Ms. Black for this amazing addition to a powerful series – you won’t be able to put it down once you start.”

Jordan 5 stars (Amazon)

“I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves futuristic urban fantasy mixed in with some good old-fashioned mushy stuff. Way to go Ms. Regan, you deserve the elusive 5 stars from me.”

Penelope Adams 5/5 stars from the Paranormal Romance Guild

Thanks again for voting!

Live the adventure!

Welcome to part two in the Tuesday series of teamwork for writing success. Whether you’re a paranormal romance author like me, or you write in any other genre, trad or indie published, teamwork matters.

Based on my own experiences, I believe teamwork makes the difference and the first step is finding a writing group that fits your needs, either online or in person.

A positive, active writing community is essential for success no matter what your writing goals are.

It was during my first critique session with my local RWA chapter that I learned my writing voice bent naturally toward the genre of paranormal romance novels. The exceprt I shared that week was from a novel aimed at the romantic suspense audience, but everyone who read it commented that I needed to show the paranormal element sooner.

“There isn’t any paranormal element,” I thought. But when I took a look at the comments and compared them against the manuscript, I realized my vocabulary, mood and even the world building were better suited for paranormal romance readers.

A good writing group will help you identify your strengths. They will foster and encourage each other through accountability and camaraderie.

We all have days when we get lost in the research when we should be writing. We all have to deal with and conquer life distractions as frivolous as twitter and as serious as a family crises.

The give and take, the wisdom and support, the references and referrals, from writers who have ‘been there‘ is a vital element of team spirit and personal growth for an author at every stage of the game. No matter if ‘there’ is a form rejection, The Call!, or the choice to go Indie.

Writing groups are also essential for keeping your sanity. Not every one has imaginary friends that keep them up at night or show up in sleeping or waking dreams (those folks are missing out, in my opinion).  Connecting with a writing community, you realize you’re not as alone on this journey as it feels sometimes.

Match that positive camaraderie with smart programming to help writers with everything from grammar to marketing and you start to realize that a writing community is the solid foundation for teamwork which is vital to success, no matter what your writing goals are.

Live the adventure!

Today I’m launching a new series based on my experiences in traditional and indie publishing. Over the next few Tuesdays, you’ll find posts about writing, publication, and marketing and how it takes a village (or at least a committed team) to get a book to readers these days.

Whenever I get the chance, I encourage people to find what they’re good at, and nurture it. We all have skills and strengths and experience. Learning what those skills and strengths are, using them well, sets us apart from the pack, no matter what we do.

“What are you writing when the words flow effortlessly? Go write that!” It was the question (and advice) posed to me at the very beginning of my fiction writing adventure. And it’s made all the difference as I’ve developed my craft into a career.

That one phrase from a wise published author set me free to follow the darkness lurking inside my imagination, resulting in my first sale: a paranormal romance novel. That sale led to the Shadows of Justice series. (Book 5, Shadows to Light, is now available).

Which brings me to my first point of teamwork for writers of paranormal romance novels or any genre: you need support from other writers.

You can’t write in a vacuum (though some days I’m inclined to try). That’s as true as the statement “You can’t edit a blank page”. While I have no intention (nor the ability) to follow Hemingway’s example of living out the story I want to write, writers need support to learn their craft.

Passion is inherent, and talent doesn’t hurt, but when it comes to writing for an audience you need to match consistent, persistent effort with education.

While the publishing industry is a fluid concept these days, what readers crave – a great read – will never change.

So to start building the team that will help you hone your writing craft as craft is the one thing you have the most control over and the one thing that makes readers return for another great read.

A writing class is good start and a writer’s group with people of various levels of expertise is invaluable.

I’ll forever treasure the authors and industry professionals I met at my local writer groups as well as at regional and national conferences who shared their knowledge and encouragement in equal measure.

Through those groups I made lifelong friends, found critique partners, met agents and editors, and learned everything from industry to formatting from the speakers at classes and retreats.

Most of all, those writing groups helped me identify my particular strengths and weaknesses and made me aware that while writing is an individual sport, I wasn’t alone with my doubts, insecurities or triumphs.

You can find writing groups online, through your local bookstore, or even through your local schools.

Live the adventure!

Looking at the production schedule I’ve planned for this year (and the paranormal romance novels on the agenda) it seems the perfect time to post about my friend, the alphie. (which is my admittedly uninspired name for my alphasmart NEO).

I absolutely love this tool for writing! Naturally there are the obvious reasons. It’s lightweight, easy on/off. Runs nearly FOREVER on three AA batteries. It’s durable and amazingly portable.

But mainly, I love my alphie because it’s the most effective tool for “writing forward” on any given project.

I should probably write a testimonial or even a new sales page for the Alphasmart website, but they’ve really have a nice site already. (Did I mention it’s affordable?)

It was during my first writer’s conference (Thank you Smoky Mountain Romance Writers!) that I was introduced to this simple marvel of technology. Three different authors were singing the praises of the alphie and how it kept them productive and on schedule. (there was even mention of writing while in the dentist chair! *g*)

As the marketing responsibilities increase for writers these days, it seems more imperative than ever for an unplugged way to write. Unless of course you have an iron will and can ignore the temptation of twitter and facebook.

Which leads me to ask – do you offer seminars?

Anyway, the classics of pen and paper are another good solution, but they don’t work for me because I type so much faster. When I try to write by hand, it turns into chicken scratch within a few lines because I’m trying to get everything onto the page too quickly.

Big surprise, to those of you who know me well.

Some authors can write so thoughtfully and effectively with pen and paper, but I’m not one of them. I like to let the ideas pour out fast and loose and then refine them as I work layer in the details of a scene or chapter.

It’s a process that’s served me well so far and I’m thrilled to tell you the alphie keyboard is getting a real workout in January as I progress on my current projects.

Look for books two and three in the Matchmaker series of paranormal romance novels coming this spring and I have a wonderful new surprise I hope to share with you soon!

Live the adventure!

p.s. If you haven’t yet voted for the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer’s Choice Awards, please stop by today! Voting is open through midnight on January 20th!

You may have caught my earlier posts about having repair work done around the house recently. As I watched the carpenter and his crew, I felt immense gratitude that I was a paranormal romance author and not a contractor.

I mean it. How do builders learn this stuff?

The good ones seem to have an inherent knack for it. They just know which tool does which job and how to take apart and reassemble things like door jambs without making a bigger mess. Me, being the less-than-patient sort, I’d likely crack that molding they so carefully pried apart.

When I asked him, he pointed out that he wouldn’t have the first clue how to write a paranormal romance novel.

My mind just doesn’t work that way. I’ve decided, having watched more than a few repairmen work on my house over the years, that the good ones are gifted in the way they view the task at hand. They see their world through a different scope.

And they have the patience to do the job right.

Much like my husband can tell you everything about how a circuit works or how a data pack transmits over the internet and what an acceptable loss rate is, a good builder just sees the way things should go together.

One thing you’ll always hear from me is that EVERYone has a gift, talent or skill that can be applied toward creating a successful life.

You just have to find it, nurture it, and then run with it.

It’s no big shock around here that I don’t have the patience, skillset, or physical ability to do the repairs and improvements. I wanted to learn some home renovation skills many years ago, was actually on my way, but life had other plans.

So I rambled along what I saw as a detour and turned what I considered a hobby into a career. I don’t think I wrote that first poem or story with the intention of winding up here, a published author of six novels, numerous short stories and two non-fiction works.

But now, I can’t see my life any other way. And I wouldn’t want to.

The characters and the adventures from each opening scene to each happy ending has become a journey I crave every morning when I wake up. Developing ideas into books readers and reviewers enjoy is the best kind of reward for this paranormal romance author!

Live the adventure!

You might remember my announcement about signing up for the Reading Romances Challenge for 2012.  It should be a fun way for readers and authors to connect about books, and stretch our ‘reading horizons’.  I’ve decided to make the first Thursday of the month the day I post about the current challenge.

As a paranormal romance author, you might think that’s all I read. Unless you’re a frequent visitor, and then you’ll know that I consider historical romance my particular indulgence. Sure I read lots of paranormal romance novels, and I love the genre, but this reading challenge hosted by Nat is about trying new things too.

She gave us an easy January challenge to kick off 2012:

Read a book that is first of a series, by an author that is “new” to you or a debut novel by an author.

OR - Read a romance that has a teen as the protagonist.

OR - Read an Erotic Romance or Erotica.

Based on my daughter’s enthusiasm for a new-to-her author, Ally Carter, I chose Heist Society for my January Challenge. Here’s a quick overview from Gillian Engberg of Booklist at the Amazon page:

My daughter is already pestering me (in the best possible way) about how far I’ve read (page 1) and what I think (so far I like the writer’s voice, lol). When I’m done I’ll post a review here as a Book Feature and at Nat’s site, per the Reading Romances Challenge.

As the author of several paranormal romance novels, I have added book prizes to the Reading Romances that will come up during the year. I’ll be sure to let you know when (and what) will be ‘up for grabs’.

Remember, you can join the challenge any time this year. It’s designed to be fun for readers and authors both!

Live the adventure

As a paranormal romance author I like to think of world building for a paranormal romance novel as a process of adding in the extra spark, giving the reader a pleasant jolt or dark surprise.

As a fan of Nora Roberts, I have to bow to world building so effective it makes me change my routine. You may think that sounds silly, but it’s true!

Usually when I’m working on one of my paranormal romance novels, I read either historical romance or I re-read favorite books that have become like old friends.

Lately Nora’s Bride Quartet (Vision in White, Bed of Roses, Savor the Moment, and Happy Ever After) fit the bill perfectly.

So how can the world building Roberts applies for her popular contemporary romance novels actually change my real world routine?

I believe it’s because she does such a fine job with the details. A reader gets swept away until you can see the sparkle on the gowns, feel the happy buzz of champagne, and catch the scent of lilies and freshly baked cake in the air.

More, Roberts’ makes you feel it – in your heart – and an engaged reader just sort of slips into her well-crafted fantasy. Even the workout habits of the four are part of the world building. And if you’re not careful, a reader could actually pick up some good advice along the way.

We all need fresh air, close friends, and exercise. As I read about Parker encouraging Mac to add cardio to her fitness routine, I think, ‘yeah me too’. Fictional Mac might be preparing for her fictional wedding, but in reality fitness matters and she makes it seem manageable and almost appealing.

When Roberts incorporates something so simple, and incorporates it so smoothly, you almost don’t realize you’re getting tips, much less expert world building for the novel itself.

I believe writers should follow that same example and look for opportunities to add the details to the world building for paranormal romance novels – or any genre – so the story will come alive for the reader.

The workout room is part of the routine of the foursome in the Bride Quartet, but it’s more than that. It gives that added layer, provides another glimpse into each character’s development, as well as their relationships with the other characters.

It’s lovely really. And re-reading the Bride Quartet while I use my stair machine and let my own story percolate in the back of my head means my thighs should be in great shape by the time my next paranormal romance novel comes out this spring.

Live the adventure!

As we say farewell to 2011, I thought you might want to know what to expect from this paranormal romance author in 2012…

To ring in the New Year, I’m participating with The-Cheap.net in a special Thank You event just for Nook readers. On January 1st, you can visit the site and request a free ebook from me or one of the more than 40 authors participating.

I’m excited to join this great effort as the admins and fans on the Facebook page have been so warm and welcoming to me and my books. If you read via Nook be sure to visit The-Cheap.net on January 1st.

Now, what about the remaining 364 days of 2012?

Though I panicked a smidge when I wrote up my 2012 writing plan, I’m truly thrilled to announce you will soon see books two and three in the lighthearted paranormal romance novel Matchmaker series.

Our goal is back to back releases in March and April. You can look forward Grant and Maeve’s story followed by Cade and the only female on the planet sure to drive him crazy while they fall in love. Keep an eye out for titles, blurbs, and bonus short stories in the coming months.

There are also two more new series ideas in the works that I can’t wait to share with readers.

One is a new dark paranormal adventure set in New York City starring a knight from King Arthur’s Court. Oh, the possibilities are wonderful, let me assure you! The other series I’m eager to share is a contemporary romantic suspense series. Details will be available soon, but I can say it’s been interesting – and surprisingly fun – to write a book without any paranormal elements.

The Join the Adventure newsletter subscribers will continue to have first access to new releases as well as exclusive short stories and behind the scenes details when the monthly newsletter resumes in January 2012.

Thanks again for your support and as always…

Live the adventure!

Reminder, December 31 is the last day for the Year of the Indie Celebration at WoMen’s Literary Cafe!