Fairy-Tale Teachers...

Happy Thursday & Friday All (Since I'm going to leave this post up for both days),

Saturday is the NWHRWA Lone Star Writer's Conference. I've been really looking forward to it. Donald Maass is the keynote speaker and I believe it's going to be another great conference. This is my 5th year going. I can hardly believe it's been that long already, but I'm excited. This Fall marks 6 years as a member of the NWHRWA. The group is just awesome. So many talented authors. Many of them have become friends of mine, and I'm very grateful to them and the entire group, for their support and encouragement over the years. I'm telling you, they are really warm and caring. If you're a writer and ever get a chance to come down for one of our conferences and/or meetings, please do.

Today I'm thinking about the lessons we can learn from fairy-tales. I know, usually they're kind of "fluffy" or "cheesy", but I've been thinking about even though oftentimes the heroine is a "damsel-in-distress" rather than a "tough cookie", she sometimes shows her own strength.

Take Cinderella. For years she endures the abuse of her step-mother and step-sisters, who are jealous of her beauty and kindness. She could always haul off and slap them, but instead, quietly does her work, and dreams of when things can be better. When the opportunity arises, she seizes it in both hands and makes the most of it--winning the heart of the prince. Her journey isn't easy, and she often looks weak, but in the end, her tenacity and belief in things getting better--and then taking the chance when given--she gets her happily-ever-after. (The Grimm Brothers version is bloodier than most, having the step-sisters cutting off parts of their foot to fit in the slipper, but the general story is the same).


What about Beauty (or "Belle", if you prefer)? She takes care of her family and loves her father deeply. When the Beast threatens her father because he took a rose without permission, even though she's scared and doesn't know what will happen, she courageously takes her father's place. Eventually she and the Beast fall in love, he changes back into a prince, and she's rewarded for her unselfishness. (The original French version--at least the ones I've read/seen--have Beauty/Belle dreaming of the prince).

Those are just two examples (from my two favorite fairy-tales). What are some other examples from fairy-tales where there's a lesson about being a good person?

Have A Totally Terrific Thursday and a Fantastically Fascinating Friday!

Who's The Gilty One?

Happy Tuesday Everybody,

As promised, today is a special treat...an official blog book review and it's a brand-new release:

Laura Childs strikes again with her newest Scrapbooking Mystery, Gilt Trip.

When Carmela Bertrand and her best pal, Ava Gruiex attend a high society shindig celebrating the release of Jerry Earl Leland from jail (only because Carmela designed the invitations and Margo—Jerry Earl’s wife—decided Carmela must be at the party), the last thing on their minds is murder.

However, when searching for something to dab a stain on Ava’s blouse, Carmela runs across a murder victim stuffed in the dryer. And not just any victim. Jerry Earl himself. 

With her boyfriend/detective, Edgar Babock, out of town, his no-nonsense assistant Bobby Gallant is on the case. And he has no interest in Carmela sticking her nose in the investigation. In fact, Carmela has no interest in doing that either—even going so far as to promise Babock she won’t.

However, when the distraught widow begs (okay, let's be honest, leaves no room to say no) Carmela finds herself in the middle of a messy situation filled with business enemies, and prison gangs (one that references “the end of the world”) and a host of other things she hadn't planned on being a part of.

The whole thing gets worse when Jerry Earl’s assistant is next on the murderer’s hit list.

Can Carmela figure it all out so the right person goes to jail—or will she be too late?

You can purchase your copy of Gilt Trip today,  October 1, 2013, from the following...

Barnes & Noble and Amazon 

Hope everyone has a Tip-Top Tuesday!

Burning Questions -- The Answers...

Happy Monday All,

Here's hoping everyone had a great weekend! Mine was busy. Saturday we had offspring soccer game. Sunday we went to church and then we had family time. In the evening, offspring and Daddy went off to have time together (ran errands and hung out) while I watched the Season 3 Premier of Once Upon A Time (which was really good, by the way! Totally not the Peter Pan we're used to from the animated movie). I think it'll be a good season.

Last week I asked everyone to post or email their "burning questions" about my writing. A couple of you left me some really good questions, so today I'm taking the time to answer them:

Susan M. asked:  I notice that you write in first person, present tense Is there a reason you chose this? Is it difficult and will your future books be written in this tense?

My answer:  My Third Realm Romances (what All’s Fair In Love & Lion is, and the subsequent companion novels that are in the same world) are all first person /present tense. I’m not sure why that happened. I just know when I wrote AFIL&L, I tried to write it the more “conventional” way (3^rd person, past tense), and it just didn't have the right “feel”.  So I had it as 1^st person present tense and it just flowed for me.  My future books—the Immortal Dream Series—will be in the more “conventional” way (3^rd person, past tense). I did that with Immortal Dreams as a challenge to myself, and it actually worked well for that series, but it doesn't work for the Third Realm Romances. I’m not positive to why this is, I guess it’s mostly because every story has its own quirks.  Just about everyone I've talked to about writing present

tense 1^st person has asked me if it’s difficult. I guess it just depends on the day and my mood. Most of the time, when I’m writing a novel whatever makes that novel flow works for me. This isn't to say I never run into roadblocks—far from—but, I guess if I’m immersed in a story the style comes to me reasonably easily. The hardest part is switching from Immortal Dreams to the Third Realm and switching styles. However, when I’m immersed the style and the writing is flowing, it’s not real hard.

Tonette asked:  Are you going to stay with novels or are you branching back out?(I know you are a poet and songwriter, as well).

My answer:  My primary focus will remain being a novelist. However, I haven't ruled out writing more poetry and lyrics (in fact, I've written some poems and at least one set of lyrics in the last 6-7 months). I'm pretty open to wherever I'm inspired. But yes, I plan to focus mostly on my novels.

Stay tuned for tomorrow, folks! I've got a special treat--an official blog book review. 

Have A Marvelously Merry Monday!

Those Burning Questions...

Happy Monday All,

Did everyone have a good weekend? Mine was mostly okay. I had a high school reunion to attend, which went all right. It was hard without my friend, Sarah (the one who died in February), but I wasn't sorry I went. Everyone I spoke to was very nice. It's fun to see how people are doing these days.

I've decided to do something different. I'm going to give y'all some time to come up with some questions to ask me and then I'll answer them at some later date. 

Please keep the questions related to my writing or characters. You can ask me what you want about All's Fair In Love & Lion (read it and had a question about a scene or a character, feel free to ask). If it's a "spoiler" question (meaning something about the plot that might give something away) please put: ***SPOILER ALERT*** to let others know (especially if they haven't read it!)

>>>>>>Just leave your questions in the comment section of this blog, or 
you can email them to me at bethany (dot) averie (at) gmail (dot) com.  Please put "BETHANY AVERIE Q & A" in the subject line of the email or else I might think it's SPAM email (yikes)<<<<<<

*PLEASE NOTE:  ALL COMMENTS GO TO ME TO BE PUBLISHED, SO IF YOU COMMENT DOESN'T SHOW UP RIGHT AWAY I PROBABLY HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO PRESS THE "PUBLISH" BUTTON YET. I'm sorry for any confusion or frustration, this has been the best way to avoid comment glitches I had in the past.

I won't update the blog until I answer the questions, so probably most of this week you'll have to ask me.

So fire away!

Have A Momentously  Marvelous Monday!

We Have A Winner!

Happy Wednesday All,

Congratulations to Dana W. who won yesterday's giveaway! She's been notified. Enjoy your Amazon Kindle copy of All's Fair In Love & Lion and the necklace, Dana.

This week I'm still doing revisions. I should finish before (or at) the end of the week. Then it will go to a critique partner of mine (new one) and I'll go through it again and whatever other revisions/proofing so it can go to my editor.

Hope you all have a fabulous week, and please accept my apologies for being so silent on here. I post regularly on Facebook and Twitter (@WriteByBethany) so don't hesitate to look me up.

Have A Wonderfully Witty Wednesday!

Hey Hey! ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE & LION Giveaway!

Happy Tuesday All,

Since the prizes are all ready now and I'm in a place where I can do this, I'm going to go ahead and do my giveaway.

I'm new to using Rafflecopter so please be patient with me.

A few things to note:

1.  ONLY USA (United States) residents are eligible. (I'm sorry).
2.  Follow the information in the Rafflecopter box below TO THE LETTER. (Prize info also included in the Rafflecopter box, so read everything!)a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's A Writer's Life...

Happy Friday All,

I know it's been a long time since I've written a post. I do apologize. There is A LOT going on.

I'm working on edits based on critique given to me by my critique partner, Tess St. John.  This is for my New Adult Romance--book 1 in a series. I've got around 20 pages left to finish today, then I have to go back over it to check on what I've done (and there's a few things I put into my head to have a closer look on). I'm hoping within the next 2 weeks to get it back out to Tess and to my new critique partner. 

I do plan to do a giveaway. Not today, but soon. Kathy with Beadmore Designs has made another All's Fair In Love & Lion Monroe Necklace and has agreed to send it to one lucky winner. I'm working on the details for that giveaway, so I'll let you know when the time comes.

Meanwhile, I'll give a little rundown on my New Adult Paranormal Romance.  Immortal Dreams Book 1:  Dream Weaver centers around two 18 year-olds:

Laney Alberts is a typical high school senior. She has a weakness for powdered doughnuts and loves musicals. What she doesn't bargain on is Erich.

Erich Magnus is a descendant of the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus. Erich is a dream weaver whose job is to make the dreams of young women come true. However, when he gets assigned to Laney he has NO idea exactly HOW different this assignment is going to be.

New Adult usually refers to the age group that is around 18 to 25. I kind of look at it as the genre right between Young Adult and Romance. I discovered I really enjoy writing this genre and have planned a total of 3 books in the Immortal Dreams series, as well as a spin-off series that will take place 3 years after Immortal Dreams, and will center around Cupid (Eros) and Psyche's son (who has a twin brother). 

While you're out and about on the internet today, check out the very special fund raiser my author pal, T. Lynn Odom is having. Hurry, though. This fund raiser ends TOMORROW (September 7th).  T. Lynn has agreed to donate $1 to Lone Star Boxer Rescue for every copy of Never Pick On A Jaguar Princess she sells. At the moment, the book is only available on Amazon Kindle. But, hurry, like I said, the fund raiser ends tomorrow!

What are you all up to these days?

Have A Fabulously Fun Friday!