Teresa Tysinger, Author

One Line at a Time

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Are you on Twitter? I am and have recently discovered the weekly fun for writers hosted by the Romance Writer’s of America “Kiss of Death” Chapter. For #1linewed, writers are challenged to write just one line on a certain theme. It’s so fun to see what people come up with and it keeps my midweek creative juices flowing.

This week’s theme was texture. I thought it would be fun to share with you my several #1linewed “texturized” tweets. Follow me on Twitter and join in next Wednesday!

“I hate the texture of carpet.” Her voice was raspy and distant. “It reminds me of home, and the kids, and chores I never did.”

She traced a shaky finger over the broken bark, her tear-stained cheek against the trunk, and wondered if her scars ran as deep.

He stole her breath, walking into the place with that scruffy, rugged face and a velvety grin.

She skidded across the rough, hot asphalt in slow motion, her head bouncing hard under the smooth helmet. “Let’s go again.”

The worn patchwork quilt was soft on her aching legs from its decades of service, though it could not soothe her fear of dying.

She took his leathery hand, tracing the weathered lines in his palm from years working the supple earth of their homestead.

He let out an exacerbated sigh as gritty grains of sand from the kids’ day at the beach stuck between his bare toes…and smiled.

The neatest part is that with each one-liner, a whole plot forms in my head. Overwhelming if I get carried away! LOL One line at a time, Teresa…

Why don’t you give it a try? In the comments below, write one line on the theme texture. Doesn’t mean you have to use that word…but something expressing/involving texture. I’m excited to see what you come up with.

GIVEAWAY NEWS

I never heard from our February newsletter giveaway winner, so I did a new drawing. KRISTEN SHUMBERA, you are our new winner this month. 🙂 Contact me to claim your winnings.

Writing When You’re Down and Out

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What’s a writer to do when there’s writing to be done but she’s down and out?

I can’t always offer advice from a place of experience, seeing as I’m still so new to this writing as a profession business. But, after this weekend, rest assured that I have a few real-world insights to writing when circumstances are less than ideal.

I started the weekend fighting a nasty infection, complete with high fever, chills, urgent care visit, and lots of sleeping. On top of that, a head cold threw its hat into the ring. I’ve spent a lot of time in bed. But my current WIP (work-in-progress) kept calling my name. Thankfully, I was coherent enough to realize I wasn’t at my best to actually write anything worth keeping.

When a writer’s down and out, but there’s writing to be done, here’s a few tips for working toward your end goal — without actually writing (say, what?):

Jot down ideas. Don’t feel the need to draft an entire scene on paper. Instead, when an idea comes to you, simply make note and keep sleeping. Use your smart phone’s notepad app, voice memo, or just plain pencil and paper next to your bed.
Read. In between hardcore naps, I read a little bit of The Sea Keeper’s Daughters by Lisa Wingate (yes, I read Lisa A LOT). Reading authors whose craft/style I admire is priceless for my own writing. Don’t underestimate this important task.
Research. I love researching characters, settings, and other little details (for accuracy) on Pinterest. I have boards dedicated to pinning ideas, facts, inspiration for upcoming projects. When you’re not feeling up to writing on the page, research is a great way to fill the time productively.

How do you work on projects when you’re not feeling well, too busy, distracted, etc.?

TODAY’S TWEETABLE:

Tips for Writing When You’re Down and Out – Tweet This!

writersalley

Today, I’m also guest posting over at The Writer’s Alley!
I’m writing about The Introverted Author’s Guide to Not Freaking Out.
Come visit and leave a comment.

TGIF

“Hallelujah!”

Do you ever feel like shouting this when you make it to Friday? This week chewed me up and spit me out. Nothing too major, but this morning I woke up with a brewing cold and a notice that my website was down thanks to my husband disputed the renewal charge because I forgot to tell him (lesson learned!) #TGIF

Here’s a few reminders to start your weekend:

The Grace Report is happening today (and every Friday) over on Facebook.
Be sure and “Like” my page, if you haven’t already. Please and thank you.

TCL Book Cover

There’s a giveaway for The Cowboy’s Bride Collection over here.
Go read yesterday’s interview with author Jaime Jo Wright if you missed it.

I’m posting lots of fun books, items, ideas over on
my Pinterest page. Join in the fun and follow along.

Have a happy weekend, friends!

Author Interview: Jaime Jo Wright

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jaime Few people you meet in your lifetime will feel like instant connections. Jaime Jo Wright is one of those for me. We connected through social media leading up to last year’s ACFW conference, then met there in person. This self-proclaimed “professional coffee drinking”is so real, funny, and a great author who writes spirited turn-of-the-century romance, stained with suspense. She’s been a friend and teacher to me in these last several months. I’m grateful for the chance to introduce her to you.

Today, Jaime is sharing some of her thoughts about reading, writing, and the upcoming release of The Cowboy’s Bride Collection (March 1, 2016). The Cowgirl’s Lasso is Jaime’s novella within the collection. It’s going to be good, friends. I can’t wait! Here’s a teaser to get you excited:

Jonah Sparks thought he hired a foreman not a dictator, but when the firecracker CJ Matheson rides in to lasso the pieces of his mismanaged, New Mexico ranch, Jonah is ready to call it quits. She wasn’t supposed to be pretty. She wasn’t supposed be a she.

TCL Book Cover

What inspires you to write?
They say some things are in a person’s blood. I sorta believe that my blood is dark coffee-brown and laced with a heavy dose of imagination. My mind always has stories racing through, so as cliché as it sounds, I was born to. I start to suffocate if I can’t write. It’s part of my existence. So, I don’t even need inspiration, because it is part of my make-up.

Who are some of your favorite writers, and why?
Wow. How many words can I make this blog post? LOL Ok. Colleen Coble is a serious favorite. She’s been my favorite Inspirational Romantic Suspense author for many years, and through a course of God-thing events, she became the one who held my hand through some fairly traumatizing life events. So, now I love Colleen on whole different and far more personal level. Others? I’ve adored Tracie Peterson’s Historical Romance for many years, Erica Vetsch for her Historical (snarky) Romance, and my writing sister, Kara Isaac, is coming out with her debut novel, Close To You in April of this year and I’ve already read it. She’s definitely a favorite in the Contemporary Romance genre. Outside of the Inspirational market, I love the classics. My three favorites: Jane Eyre, House of Seven Gables, and Great Expectations.

What are you currently reading?
“The Distant Hours”, by Kate Morton. She’s from the general market, and writes some really haunting split-stories (part of the story in contemporary times, and part of it in a more historical setting). I’m thoroughly enjoying it. I just finished Dani Pettrey’s new novel, Cold Shot, yesterday. Also totally worth the read!

Novellas in The Cowboy Bride’s Collection are romances set in the Old West. What draws you to this genre of Historical Romance?
Well, here’s the funny thing. I love writing Historical Romantic SUSPENSE. So, when I was approached to write a western romance, the first thing that popped into my mind was surprise and then I remembered my uncle, who passed away not long before. He used to own a horse ranch in New Mexico and I grew up visiting. So, this was the perfect opportunity to revisit my roots, summon the Old West and uncover a part of my writing love I didn’t know existed. Every ounce of my heart went into this novella, along with who I always pictured myself being if I’d grown up under my uncle’s gruff and soft cowboy ways. I hope the Old West is in my future more as my writing career continues.

What is the most challenging part of writing Historical Romance?
Hmmm…interesting question. I really had to think about this. Probably trying to be accurate with the details. We make assumptions, as writers and readers, about processes, materials, items, events based on what we’ve heard or even read. But, it’s not always accurate. Even phraseology. For example, I was going to use a phrase once then figured I better check when it first originated. My scene was set in 1885, and the phrase was never used until 1932. So … it’s that type of research that is challenging.

What was most exciting about writing The Cowgirl’s Lasso, your novella within the collection?
LOL. There was one scene that instantly came to mind when I came up with the idea of this novella. Without spoiling the scene, it involves a tarantula, a dime novel, the hero, and a spunky heroine, named CJ. So when I was finally able to pen the drama that was in my head and put it onto paper, it was super fun!

Do you relate to your heroine in any way?
120%. They say “write what you know”. I figured for my first published work I should dig deep. So CJ is a mix of myself and a mix of what I believe my daughter will be very much like when she grows up. CJ is a mix of sarcasm, spunky, vulnerable, and super strong-willed. So, when you read CJ, you really do read alot of “me”.

Are there other exciting projects you’re working on that we can keep an eye out for?
YES! I have another novella coming out this August. This novella is titled Gold Haven Heiress and is a part of The California Gold Rush Collection, also from Barbour Publisher. It centers around a washed-up, soiled dove, Thalia and a very, successful gold baron determined to atone for his greed by creating a town for the unwanted.

Thanks so much to Jaime for “chatting” with us today.
Be sure and show her some love in the comments, order your very own copy
of The Cowboy’s Bride Collection , and connect her online. Links below.

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THE COWBOY’S BRIDE COLLECTION:
RELEASING MARCH 1, 2016

Join in the Facebook Launch Party on March 1st
for a chat with authors, prizes, and more!

Order your copies at these retailers:
Amazon
ChristianBook.com
Barnes & Noble

CONNECT WITH JAIME JO WRIGHT

Web | Facebook | Twitter
Pinterest | Instagram

TODAY’S TWEETABLE:

Interview with Author @JaimeJoWright on her upcoming new release #TheCowboysBride — Tweet This!

Top 10: Books, Blogs, and Buddies

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OOPS! Edited to include our newsletter giveaway winner! See below. 🙂

There’s a lot of great things to be seen around the web. I wouldn’t be a very gracious blog host if I didn’t share some of the best I’ve seen lately, now would I? Here are the top 10 books, blogs, and buddies I want you to know about this month:

BOOK: The Sea Keeper’s Daughters by Lisa Wingate. My current read, and it had me sucked in from page one.
BOOK: The Convenient Bride Collection, novellas by Erica Vetsch and 8 others. I read this sweet collection over the Christmas season. Each novella masterfully tells charming love stories between couples who get together under less than romantic situations.
BOOK: Moment Maker: You Can Live Your Life or It Will Live You by Carlos Whittaker. How to make the most of every moment…inspiring and quick read!
BLOG: Between the Lines (Books and Such Literary Agency). I check this blog every morning for timely, resourceful, and expert advice on the publishing industry and process. Bonus, the community of authors I’ve found in the comment section is priceless!
BLOG: The Writer’s Alley. Their tag line is “Where friends and stories meet,” and that’s just what they offer. Encouragement, support, and creativity among authors. I’ll be guest posting here, soon!
BLOG: The Grove Story. This site (not just a blog, but we’re being flexible) houses a group of authors who aim to inspire through storytelling. Not just for authors, they write about their books, faith, friendship, and so much more. I love, love, love this site.
BUDDY: Jaime Jo Wright, Author. This lady has been a champion of mine from the beginning. Her writing is stellar, shown up only by her friendship skills. You’ll get to “meet” Jaime Thursday right here on the blog, so check back.
BUDDY: Bob Goff. Ok, we’re not buddies, per se. But I’ve meet him at conferences, hugged him (!), and I’ve read his book Love Does. You need to know him! His simple approach to life and faith through action-oriented love has been life changing for me.
BUDDY: Laurie Tomlinson, Author. Another fellow author who I’m thankful to have in my corner. She’s also a brilliant editor and PR professional who knows her stuff.
BUDDIES: Mikal Dawn, Holly Michael, Shawna Young. These ladies are the three original members of my ACFW critique group. They’ve been with me the longest, helping me fine-tune the craft of my writing line by line. Check them out! They’ve got bright futures ahead, for sure.