Month: July 2012

Six Sentence Sunday #6 (Ghosts)

On By Stephanie IngramIn Six Sentence Sunday, Writing10 Comments

As if I needed another reminder of how quickly time flies, I have Six Sentence Sunday. I almost forgot to sign up for it this week… that’s how behind I am. It feels as though I just combed my work-in-progress in order to come up with six sentences to share and here it is time to do it all again.

Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I love sharing my six as much as I love poking around to see what my fellow participants are up to. Be sure to visit the official site and check them out HERE.

Last week I changed gears from the WIP I’d been sharing to something completely new and not very developed. I am excited how well received that new work has been and I’m happy to say that I have it pegged as my September project. I’ll be able to focus all my time and attention to it once the  minions are back in school and I’ll have plenty more to share then.

For the moment? Well, I’ve got some good news. That manuscript that I’d finished and nearly dumped has found new life. Ghosts Don’t Wear Silk Stockings has undergone some serious overhaul during the week and if all continues to go well, I’m expecting a September release for sure. (It’s been touch-and-go for a while.) If you’re curious what this story is about, check out the ten questions I answered about it in my previous post titled “The Next Best Thing Challenge”. Since this is the manuscript getting all my attention right now, this is where I will pull my six over the next several weeks.

Without further ado, I leave you with another tense interaction between Brianna (my main character) and Greer. Greer has been adamant that under no conditions can Brianna go through with marrying Dan or she’ll ruin more lives than just her own. She’s trying to believe him but Dan just seems too perfect to let go…

***

“How do I know that I can really trust you?” she asked him, the conversation she had with Dan still fresh in her mind. Dan had made a good point and the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to believe that she could melt into his arms with no fear of putting the entire world in jeopardy by simply being happy.

Greer said nothing. His form simply wavered and returned like the flame of a candle threatening to go out, making him seem fragile.

“You don’t,” he said, “so if you have something on your mind that you need to tell me then why don’t you just say it?”

***

Can’t wait to read this book? Add it to your Goodreads shelf today! (pretty, pretty please??) 🙂

Next Best Thing Challenge

On By Stephanie IngramIn Uncategorized12 Comments

I’ve been a bit of a slacker lately when it comes to posting on my blog. I haven’t forgotten. I just sort of let things slip through my fingers while I struggle to finish my ‘latest and greatest’ and still enjoy summertime before the minions return to school.

Imagine my surprise when lo and behold, Christina McKnight tagged me in the “Next Best Thing Challenge”. This is just the sort of thing I needed to help get me on the right track and get my butt back to posting. Thanks, Christina!

For those of you that don’t know Christina, I highly recommend that you check out her blog titled “Life – Love, Family, and Passion”. I’m following and you should be too. If you want to keep up with Christina via Twitter, you can find her HERE.

So, on to the rules of the challenge…

  • Answer the 10 NBTC questions below
  • Spread the fun and tag 5 awesome people to participate

Easy, right? Yeah, I thought so too.

My latest and greatest is finally taking shape and I hope to have it in your hands soon. I’m going to whet your appetite by answering these questions for this work-in-progress rather than beat my already published book to death…

1. What is the title of your book/WIP?

My current work-in-progress is titled Ghosts Don’t Wear Silk Stockings. I’m hoping for a September release.

2. Where did the idea for the book come from?

Under the bed, where all the best ideas are kept.

Seriously? I don’t know! One day I sat down with the intent to write an erotic romance story. I gave up on it about ten pages into the story and decided that an erotic romance author I am not. About a year later I was browsing my files and came across that half-hearted attempt at erotica and while I cringed at the erotic parts, I realized that I liked the idea and I could take it in an entirely different direction. So, I played around and wrote a bit more and next thing you know, I’ve got a bit of a wacky tale of finding love in all the wrong places.

3. What genre would your book fall under?

This is definitely of the paranormal variety. Is there such a thing as paranormal chick-lit?

4. Which actors would you choose your characters to play in a movie rendition?

This is a toughie. I don’t know actors well enough to cast them as the characters in my book and I’d probably be wrong if I tried. Ha! I’ll get back to you on that one…

5. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Eeeks… only one sentence? I’m not very good at this part but here goes…

Brianna ached for marriage and her happily ever after but what she got was one smoking hot demon promising immortality, a moody ghost complaining about her choices, and an ex-boyfriend that refused to drop dead.

6. Is your book published or represented?

Not yet. Want to recommend a home?

7. How long did it take you to write?

The first version took a few months of stops and starts. Then I handed off the first twenty chapters to my beta readers while I bit my nails and focused on the ending. I scrapped the ending and after feedback on those first twenty, I scrapped most of that too. The story I end up with will not resemble its original. Crazy but true. I’m up to version five and it’s taken somewhere in the vicinity of eight months to get this far. Some of that time I spent writing. Some of that time I spent cursing my story and wondering why I call myself a writer.

8. What other books in your genre would you compare it to?

I’ve not read anything I can compare this to. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing? I like to think that it’s Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series with a paranormal twist. You might disagree, however.

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book?

Janet Evanovich meets Stephen King? (The mind boggles, doesn’t it?)

10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book.

If you read my book, you’ll lose weight, look good, and feel great!

Okay, not really, but it sure sounds good, doesn’t it? That would pique my interest.

If you enjoy paranormal suspense with a comic twist and a sexy hero that makes jaws drops and toes curl … then my story might be worth a read. If you appreciate an author that takes something ordinary and puts an unusual spin on it, well, I might just be your girl. Most of all, if you consider this blog post even remotely entertaining then by all means, give the book a try.

Now on to the five awesome people I’d love to see take part in this challenge! You guys are superstars…

Mae Clair

Megan Trennett

James Garcia, Jr.

Karen Einsel

M.L. Falconer

Six Sentence Sunday

On By Stephanie IngramIn Six Sentence Sunday, Writing9 Comments

I’ve really enjoyed participating in Six Sentence Sunday. If you’ve never heard of it, I suggest you click on the link and be sure to sample some of the other participants as well. You won’t be disappointed.

Over the last four weeks, I’ve shared snippets of my current work-in-progress titled Ghosts Don’t Wear Silk Stockings. I’ve gone back and forth quite a bit trying to decide whether I should continue with this or switch gears for a couple of weeks and test the waters with something new.

I have another project that I’m pretty excited about, although it’s still in the early stages. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t even have a title. At this point, I know my characters and I have a hazy idea of the general plot and even still, I have high hopes that this will expand into a three-book series. Well, we shall see about that, won’t we?

Anyway, enough of my rambling on about it. Let’s get to the good stuff, shall we? Without further ado, I present to you my “six”, a brief exchange between my two main characters (Sarah and Nathanial) about the true nature of their relationship…

***

When she turned back to face him, he was seated in the chair and looking out at the darkened landscape as though he’d been that way the entire time. The slight sting of loss resonated deep inside.

“We were enemies,” she said plainly. The words weren’t meant to hurt or challenge. She meant no recourse, only to state the simple fact out loud for her own ears to sample and taste.

“We still are,” he said getting up and moving from the room.

***

I hope I’ve tempted you enough to return next week for more. Until then…

Blog Awards and Reminiscing

On By Stephanie IngramIn Uncategorized4 Comments

Back in my day … watermelon had seeds in it and half the fun of eating it was to spit the seeds on the ground and wonder if they’d grow.

Sound familiar? If you’re my friend on Facebook, it does. I posted this as my status yesterday evening after my son freaked out at dinner because he found a brown seed in his watermelon. He didn’t know what to do with it. Maybe I’m a bad parent, but I found his predicament slightly amusing. After all, to me, watermelon is supposed to be littered with brown seeds. That used to be half the fun.

And again, maybe I am weird.

I also remember when the weather was pleasant enough to spend every day outside. We didn’t get into “the three H’s” (Hazy, Hot, and Humid) until late summer and even then, we weren’t in high 90’s to 100’s *every* day. Today I look out my window to brown grass and July has only just begun. I looked at the current temp and remarked, “OH! It’s only 90 right now.”

Only? I should never have to say “only 90” as if this is a good thing.

Should I keep complaining or are you getting sick of me yet? Hmmmm…

Moving along… Karen Einsel has surprised me with a blog award today – or three, I’m not sure. I got a little confused. I’m easily confused. Cut me some slack, it’s hot, remember? Regardless, I want to offer Karen my sincere gratitude. I’m very flattered! Thank you! Please click HERE to check out Karen’s blog and learn a little more about her. It’s a great read, I promise.

First: The Rules.

1. Include the award logo somewhere in your blog.
2. Answer the 9 questions below
3. Nominate 10 to 12 blogs you enjoy. Or you pick the number.

4. Pay the love forward: Provide your nominee’s link in your post and comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been included and invited to participate.

5. Pay the love back with gratitude and a link to the blogger(s) who nominated you. 

While I am very flattered and happy to participate, doesn’t this sort of thing kind of remind you of chain letters? Back in my day (yes, I’m going there again), chain letters came in an envelope via the mailman. We had to copy them and mail them to X number of our friends. Later, it came by email. I guess nowadays it comes by blog. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind. Gives me something to post if nothing else. I’m just relieved that I’m not promised some version of a horrific fate for not completing the rules exactly, especially since I am breaking the rules a bit. I am not going to nominate others. Not because I don’t know any terrific bloggers. I sure do! I follow many entertaining blogs and I will recommend all of them in a heartbeat. What I don’t want to do is spam people, especially the ones I really like, and that’s kind of what I feel like I’m doing if I list a bunch of people who are obligated to follow these rules.

So… in effect, if YOU are reading this blog and you have a blog of your own, then YOU are nominated! This is doubly true if you also happen to follow MY blog and I follow YOURS. BAM! There you go… that’s easily more than 20. 😉 You know who you are so come on, hop to it. Don’t pretend that I can’t see you hiding in the corner…

Alright then, here are the blog awards:

Wow! Now I really feel special. Thanks, Karen. 🙂

Questions for me to answer from award #1:

What is your favorite colour?

Red!

What’s your favorite animal?

This is a tough one. I love most. I’ve always had a thing for dolphins though.

 What’s your favorite non-alcoholic drink?

Coke

Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook for keeping up with family and old friends. Twitter for  making new friends.

What is your favorite pattern?

Plaid, especially in the form of shirts on a man.

Favorite number?

5

Favorite day of the week?

Saturday. Family time!

Favorite flower?

I love all flowers and my favorite changes all the time.

What is your passion?

Writing!

***

Most Inspiring Blogger Award – Need to share seven things about myself that you don’t already know. This shouldn’t be too tricky since 99.9% of you don’t know me all that well. (yet)…

Hmmm… so what do I share??

1) I hate butter and all its wannabe counterparts such as margarine and the like. I mean, I really, really hate it and I have since I was a kid. People have often thought me strange because I will eat plain toast, plain baked potatoes, and plain corn on the cob. If I go to a restaurant and forget to ask for “no butter” on my pancakes, I can’t touch them. The sight and smell of butter melting over pancakes is enough to make me feel sick to my stomach.

2) As a kid, I was so skinny that my family nicknamed me Pretzel Legs. Once at the pediatrician’s office, the doctor asked me my name and I responded, “Pretzel Legs”. My mum was a tad embarrassed. 😉

3) My favorite sport is ice hockey. (Go Penguins!)

4) I once swore that I’d marry Simon LeBon from Duran Duran. I joined the Duran Duran fan club in Birmingham, England and protested when the band split. I never did marry Simon but I did eventually visit England and met the man that I would marry, a native of Birmingham. We share an interest in music.

5) I am an INFP and an Aries.

6) I still think that Ghostbusters is one of the most amazing movies ever made. I secretly believe that I was put in this world to write screenplays this brilliant and when I overcome my fear of writing one, the rest will fall into place.

7) I am Mom to three boys. Because of #4, my kids will always have citizenship to both the US and the UK. I think that’s pretty cool.

That is probably more about me than you ever wanted to know! If you accept these wonderful awards (and I sure hope you do) then please make sure to send me a note so that I can learn more about YOU too!

Happy Weekend! See you next time for Six Sentence Sunday when I will share a snippet from something new.