tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356289992024-03-15T21:10:50.361-04:00Angela Jefferson - Romance WriterAngela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-42491284365442031942010-12-07T20:33:00.004-05:002010-12-07T21:01:56.350-05:00Interview with Chicki Brown<div><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tonight it is my pleasure to present an interview with Chicki Brown, author of <strong>Hot Fun in the Summertime</strong>, released on November 26, 2010. Chicki is one of my critique partners and a talented new writer who resides in the Atlanta, Georgia area.<br /><br /></span></div></span><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Check out her latest release and my interview to follow:</span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvugLBcCDKhzLvq4tP1irTtcigC42qHsYoqqZw2AGrS9dwz04LnddcC7O-AVfxGsqy4p97FHlrodAsDZZnaMJb6noHFhYR02hbwkm0qmNS9qxpOAqe7l5aNZ4OTXPPzcKJWiK/s1600/HOT+FUN+-+BOOK+COVER.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548121376052233122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 328px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvugLBcCDKhzLvq4tP1irTtcigC42qHsYoqqZw2AGrS9dwz04LnddcC7O-AVfxGsqy4p97FHlrodAsDZZnaMJb6noHFhYR02hbwkm0qmNS9qxpOAqe7l5aNZ4OTXPPzcKJWiK/s320/HOT+FUN+-+BOOK+COVER.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em><strong>Hot Fun in the Summertime</strong> deals with the complexities of friendships between women, between men and women, and friendships that change and grow into something deeper.<br /><br />Seven very different singles – four women and three men – rent a New Jersey beach house for the summer: author Shontae Nichols, self-employed accountant and realtor, Linda Harris, Linda’s sister, hip-hop video dancer Kinnik Watkins, cosmetologist, Jovita Blassingame, Calculus professor Curtis “Doc” Whetstone, actor and drama instructor, Kip Lee, and new housemate, up and coming film actor, Devon Burke.<br /><br />During their two month stay, romances bloom friendships are tested and when a tragedy strikes one of the housemates, they all learn the answer to the age-old question: Can men and women ever be just friends?</em></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>What inspired you to write your first book?</strong><br />I’ve been a voracious reader since I was a child, but I had never written anything. My first novel, which fortunately was never published, resulted from utter boredom on a job that was experiencing a slow period back in 2002. I began typing what was supposed to be a short story just to give myself something to do. The story ended up being 400 pages. That’s when I discovered I could write, but I still had years of learning about the craft and the industry ahead of me.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?<br /></strong>Getting the story to flow without any loose ends, changing details or plot holes at the end. Remembering all of the plot points in a 400-page novel is a major job. It requires keeping copious notes and takes several readings by several people to spot those problems. Thank God for critique partners!</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?</strong><br />Honestly, I don’t think so. My problem is that I have too many ideas floating around in my head! There have been times though when I’ve been too tired or too discouraged to write. When that happens, I usually just put the story away for a day or two and immerse myself in reading instead. Reading is my fuel.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Why did you choose to write this particular book?<br /></strong>The 1983 movie, The Big Chill has always been one of my favorites. It dealt with a bunch of people coming together for the funeral of one of their college friends. I loved the ensemble cast with their different issues. More recently, Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married 1 & 2 featured a similar theme -- a group of couples going away together for a vacation.<br />I wanted to do something similar but featuring all singles. The story takes place at the Jersey shore, but is nothing like the television show.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>What was the hardest part about writing this book?</strong><br />Making each of the characters different. I wanted to be sure each of the housemates had a unique personality and distinct goals. This part of the process was a lot of fun, and I ended up with a New-Agey accountant, a self-centered video dancer, a cerebral college professor, a sex-obsessed player, a big-hearted, jovial cosmetologist, a sensitive creative writer, and a success-driven, ultra-good-looking aspiring actor. </span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?<br /></strong>Definitely. It’s that true friendship will overcome differences. The friendships between the women are the focus of the story, and sibling rivalry, jealousy, disappointments and tragedy threaten their relationships.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>What are your goals as a writer?<br /></strong>To develop a broad base of loyal readers. If I can determine what my readers like or dislike, I can write better stories that will appeal to them and keep them coming back for more. </span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Who is your favorite author and why?<br /></strong>I have several favorites, those authors whose books I will buy without hesitation. J.R. Ward, Eric Jerome Dickey, Beverly Jenkins, Suzanne Brockmann and Lisa Kleypas are at the top of the list. Ward writes the best vampire stories with grown and sexy heroes. Her world-building skills are amazing! Dickey is a master at depicting African-American life at all socio-economic levels, Jenkins writes the sexiest historical and contemporary romances featuring African-American characters, Brockmann is the queen of what I call “action romance” with true Alpha males, and I am in awe of Kleypas’ skill at crafting emotional romances that leave me sighing.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Where can we purchase the book?</strong><br />Hot Fun in the Summertime is available at Amazon.com for Kindle, PC, Mac, iPad and phone. at: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DI7KI0"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DI7KI0</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> It’s also available at BN.com for the Nook at: </span><a href="http://su.pr/2CVnhi"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://su.pr/2CVnhi</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><strong><em>Thank you, Chicki! Good luck and continued success!<br />Angela</em></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></div>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-90515082128456697442010-08-11T01:12:00.003-04:002010-08-11T01:16:02.768-04:00One Year and Counting<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">In exactly one year my daughter will be 15 years and 8 months old and will be expecting me to take her directly to DMV for her learners' permit. She is thoroughly looking forward to that day while I'm dreading it. Boy, time flies!!! It was just yesterday that she was born. I'm certainly not prepared for her to drive...and definitely not my SUV.</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-44582983803919828922010-01-03T20:55:00.003-05:002010-01-03T21:09:47.419-05:00Embarking on a New Year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9nEMh-7SJyvzluTzOqcovaXPn-DGq9iJk7Q70-OXb4uLskWesd2ZrRVncO0LLjhjqjSG8E5guz1RFPdy9C34BHDSDiC0gApO9OakLxZbsQoLZ-1emGNXlI8kejfmG-CT3gNS/s1600-h/newyear.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 194px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 196px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422697588962937186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9nEMh-7SJyvzluTzOqcovaXPn-DGq9iJk7Q70-OXb4uLskWesd2ZrRVncO0LLjhjqjSG8E5guz1RFPdy9C34BHDSDiC0gApO9OakLxZbsQoLZ-1emGNXlI8kejfmG-CT3gNS/s320/newyear.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>2010</strong></span> is now upon us! Many of us are reflecting on our blessings, mistakes, accomplishments, regrets, surprises, and challenges from last year. Some of us are now setting goals and making resolutions for the year to come. And so am I. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">I'm not exactly sure what those goals and resolutions will be right now but over the next week I plan to put pen to paper and come with a definitive list. I'm excited about 2010 and all that the year will bring, both good and bad. The good will of course bring me happiness and satisfaction and the bad will make me stronger, physically and spiritually.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">Many of my supporters have express anticipation for what I plan to do as far as my writing is concerned. You know what? So am I. I'm a little concerned about what I'll be able to accomplish with my health as an issue but I don't want to bring negative thoughts/fears into the picture. It's been 5 years since I began this pursuit of writing romance fiction and not a lot has happened. But slow and steady will win the race, I'm sure!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">I look forward to seeing what my writing friends are going to create in 2010 and will support them through words of encouragement and critiques. Good luck, ladies!</span></div>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-27102386083800368982009-08-17T23:26:00.004-04:002009-08-18T00:32:10.996-04:00Summer is almost over!!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Goodness!! I can't believe summer 2009 is almost over. Back to the daily grind of dropping off and picking up the kid (who is going to her a ninth grader) from school. Back to afterschool activities and homework and projects and..... Ya know what I mean!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Even though I didn't take that luxurious vacation in the Carribbean or have that girls' only getaway at a spa retreat, I did have a pretty good summer. I relaxed like a slug on a rug and hardly did anything but hang out with the kid and my beau. Not only is it time for her to get back into the groove of school, it's also time for me to get off my duff, put my fingers to the keyboard and get to writing. Something. Anything. A short story, a poem, a limrick, darn it!! My brain is turning to mush!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I'm so proud of my fellow newbie writers who are making revisions, submitting to editors and publishers and signing contracts. And there is no good reason why I shouldn't be doing the same. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Granted, the heat and humidity have made my energy level sink like a stone and my motivation grind to a halt. But now that I've gone through a new series of symptoms and I'm on the road to recovery, I can brush the dust of self-doubt from the shoulders and plow forward. I may not plow as fast nor as steadily as my newbie counterparts, but I DO plan to get moving.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong>Since I said the same thing at the end of LAST SUMMER, wish me luck!!!</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">AJ</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-7204595388878121622009-06-04T00:08:00.006-04:002009-06-04T00:28:57.526-04:00Graduation Day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeYPlD3RHn_qlRWjxh0egLbYd4BLUCzc6qiJR7MquKtePMPMyWtxVxnB1Sh_39knBCJZm_uoP5kF_lOS4SBS0gRkSEWidlEvn56RAZrSteJsVbNMSvTa1DBzKs4mwevvV5nMd/s1600-h/courtney_ny2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343324252947130242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 97px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeYPlD3RHn_qlRWjxh0egLbYd4BLUCzc6qiJR7MquKtePMPMyWtxVxnB1Sh_39knBCJZm_uoP5kF_lOS4SBS0gRkSEWidlEvn56RAZrSteJsVbNMSvTa1DBzKs4mwevvV5nMd/s320/courtney_ny2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">In about twelve hours, my daughter will be graduating from the eighth grade. <strong>Eighth grade</strong>!!! I can't believe she's going to high school next year. I can't believe how fast the years have passed. Just nine years ago, she was going off to kindergarten, excited about dragging her book bag full of school supplies down the sidewalk into Kingdom Preparatory Academy. She couldn't wait to get to work and learn new things. Now school is the center of her social circle, where all things good --and bad --radiate. It's a wonder I have any hair left on the top of my head from all of the teenage angst she's put me through this year. Now don't get me wrong! She's not a bad kid and I know this age is a time when most kids struggle to find/make a place for themselves in their social arena. But boy, I'll be glad when this stage is over!</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I'm proud that she's made it this far and wish nothing but the best for her in the future. As she embarks on her summer break (30-day break for mom!), I pray she has a safe journey and fun in the sun. Hopefully she'll use the time she has this summer to be more introspective (as much as a hard-headed teenager can be!) and will develop the growth and maturity needed to begin her life as a freshman in high school.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I love you, Courtney Brianna! </span></div>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-64510339607662153132009-03-14T00:01:00.002-04:002009-03-14T00:06:55.130-04:00Critiquing Mode<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I'm dedicating my time this month to getting back into the critiquing mode. My to-do list is piled high with chapters I owe to my friends Zaynah, Chelle, and Jennifer. Denise, I can't wait for what you have coming down the pipe.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">More blogging to come next week........</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">AJ</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-76678182343790676012009-02-06T01:06:00.003-05:002009-02-06T01:23:53.419-05:00Catching Up!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Well hello, folks!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Birthday to me, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year, Happy Inauguration to President Obama and pretty soon Happy Valentine's Day!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Once again, I've been missing in action for a long time but that doesn't mean that life's been uneventful. The holidays were loads of fun, including a surprise 40th birthday party for me thrown by my younger brothers. (Way to go, guys!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">For now, I'm recovering from all the fun: neck pain, numbness in my legs and hands and fatigue! It's kicking my butt! I can't seem to shake it but I know that with rest and patience with myself that I'm going to be fine. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">So, to all of you who have been waiting for new chapters and critiques from me, please be patient as well.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Later!</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-79119265959411796832008-11-05T21:18:00.004-05:002008-11-05T23:59:04.919-05:00It's Nice to be Missed<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Hello fellow bloggers, critique partners and friends,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">It's amazing how many of you have noticed that I've been missing in action for a while. I've received a few emails and phone calls asking where I'd been. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><br />Well I'm still here! What's been going on with me? Well, for short, not a lot of writing. My muse has simply packed her bags and moved out. And she didn't leave a Dear Angie letter nor a forwarding address. I've been searching for her everywhere, have practically been arrested for stalking, but she just won't come back to me. For weeks, I wrote her love notes, dreamed about some of the ideas she's given me in the past and even tried the Internet to see if I can "re-build" her. No luck! In fact the stress and frustration of trying to write may have even contributed to the MS attack that I suffered recently. After three days of IV steroids, I felt like I've been run over by a truck. No fun, let me tell you!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">So finally I decided to live by the old "if you love something, set it free" adage and just chucked the whole search for a little while. I have all the confidence in the world that my muse will return once I relax and give myself the permission and time to appreciate the pleasure she brought to my life rather than continue to work myself into a lather over the fact that she just up and abandoned me without saying goodbye. The little diva!! </span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">AJ</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-25233776953993072502008-09-03T17:02:00.002-04:002008-09-03T17:34:30.605-04:00The Summer is OVER!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">The summer of 2008 is unofficially over with the passing of Labor Day and I'm both happy and disappointed. </span><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241911055211105058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="150" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P1wsGJNEn9wDNSmuRuf7FzmCIfq2Jc90aIlGq3rQxNMLZClKT0tsyXkQpPUfCP-MhNGS46Vt9GiVwz8w8ZqZTQOiBXgUDCRdbjcpn4NVXGcEROyag4HKXCz0K7x9OcvsarP6/s200/Rosa+Lee%27s+131.JPG" width="307" border="0" /></p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I'm happy because that means the schools reopen and my daughter can get off the couch, out of my refrigerator and get back to the books. I was a bad mommy this summer because I gave in to her plea to do absolutely nothing all summer. No summer camp, no dance camp, no math review workbooks, no eighth grade prep books, no nothing! She got to be lazy all summer and capped it off with a 5-day cruise to the Caribbean just before school started. She came back looking like a crispy critter!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I'm disappointed because I used the eventful days of my summer as an excuse to do hardly any writing. OK, no writing. Instead of writing about romance, I experienced some romance of my own. The details are too precious to post in cyberspace. Let's just say that the fall and winter are looking to be very toasty indeed.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">It's good to be able to kick back and bask in the admiration of someone who's genuinely interested in you on so many levels. To be able to laugh at someone's corny jokes, to flirt outrageously via text messages, to cook for someone other than the kid who only wants chicken nuggets and french fries, and to be excited about the prospect of every phone call and the mysteries of the future.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Now, it's time for me to put my nose to the grindstone and get back to work. Yeah, I know. You've heard it before, but I'm serious this time. Of course, I'm not gonna pressure myself to compete with anyone else's goals or achievements which I think was at the root of why my creativity had been stifled. I'm just gonna relax and fun. Write when I feel good and have the energy and take care of my health when I don't.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">How was your summer?</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">AJ</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-38572566752087735102008-07-15T13:34:00.004-04:002008-07-15T14:18:14.502-04:00One-Word Survey<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I'm piggy-backing off my girls, Patricia and Denise and giving one-word answers to this fun questionnaire. Feel free to answer too! <u>REMEMBER, ANSWERS MUST BE ONE WORD ONLY</u>!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>1. Where is your cell phone?</strong> Pocket</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>2. Your significant other?</strong> Cute</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>3. Your hair?</strong> Relaxed</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>4. Your mother?</strong> Retired</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>5. Your father?</strong> Walker</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>6. Your favorite thing?</strong> Books</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>7. Your dream last night? </strong> Scary<br /><strong>8. Your favorite drink?</strong> Tea</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>9. Your dream/goal?</strong> Published</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>10. The room you’re in?</strong> Office</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>11. Your ex?</strong> Gone</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>12. Your fear?</strong> Failure</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?</strong> Virginia</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>14. Where were you last night?</strong> Home</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>15. What you’re not?</strong> Dumb</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>16. Muffins?</strong> Blueberry</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>17. One of your wish list items?</strong> Peace</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>18. Where you grew up?</strong> Richmond</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>19. The last thing you did?</strong> Walk</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>20. What are you wearing?</strong> Shorts</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>21. Your TV?</strong> On</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>22. Your pets?</strong> None</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>23. Your computer?</strong> Old</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>24. Your life?</strong> Interesting</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>25. Your mood?</strong> Calm</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>26. Missing someone?</strong> Aunt</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>27. Your car?</strong> Fly</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>28. Something you’re not wearing? </strong> Shoes</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>29. Favorite store?</strong> Book</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>30. Your summer?</strong> Typical</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>31. Like(love) someone?</strong> Daughter</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>32. Your favorite color?</strong> Orange</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>33. Last time you laughed?</strong> Morning</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>34. Last time you cried?</strong> Yesterday</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>35. Who will re-post this?</strong> Unknown</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Not too bad!<br />AJ</span></span><br /></span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-54959786880976773172008-06-30T19:51:00.003-04:002008-06-30T20:12:28.726-04:00Peaking Out of the Rabbit Hole<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Once again, I've fallen off the writing radar because of life's interruptions and all-around doldrums and just wanted to take a moment and poke my head out of the rabbit hole. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">How's it going out there in the romance publishing world? Several of my friends have finished manuscripts and gotten publishing contracts and even seen their first debuts. To say that I'm not envious would be a lie, but I have no one to blame but myself. Now don't think this post is about beating myself up! I'm simply taking stock as I do every three months of so and being pragmatic about my efforts, or lack thereof.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">The good news: it's summer time. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">While she's out of town visiting her dad, I get a break from running back and forth, transporting my daughter to school and weekend activities. I can stay up all night (when I'm the most productive) working on my stories and doing critiques and then sleep late in the mornings. With me eating at odd times, maybe I can lose the weight I need to get into that bathing suit this summer. Of course, I want to take a much needed vacation somewhere. After the year I've had so far (thank goodness mom and dad are both recovering well), I need it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;">So don't fret, y'all! I'm still alive and kickin'!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;">AJ</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-214487778268004192008-05-25T22:47:00.006-04:002008-05-27T09:37:47.531-04:00Memorial Day 2008!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkkh7__0ciFJjOyk5EEZtOxZnxDICu6NOZ1p1-6bPOL0kpDWQSjun5ejzUPiT-HE1MH5wbNYoN5F36uIXrMRiq5GwG5SG-qOYx38pax9Vittj0krOikQWchLN13d_4zt8kHfV/s1600-h/j0399672.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204519101796923906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkkh7__0ciFJjOyk5EEZtOxZnxDICu6NOZ1p1-6bPOL0kpDWQSjun5ejzUPiT-HE1MH5wbNYoN5F36uIXrMRiq5GwG5SG-qOYx38pax9Vittj0krOikQWchLN13d_4zt8kHfV/s200/j0399672.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I just arrived back home from a family cookout. (The food was off the hook!) Looking around at the crowd I realized what a close-knit family we have despite ups and downs, disagreements and squabbles. I also felt the void of family members missing this year and years passed so on this <strong>Memorial Day</strong> I'd like to remember the following loved ones:<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Purcell Jefferson, Sr.</strong> - paternal grandfather,</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Thomas Anderson</strong> - maternal grandfather,</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Margaret Jefferson</strong> - paternal grandmother,</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Rebecca Anderson</strong> - maternal grandmother,</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Samuel Jefferson</strong> - uncle,</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Regina Harris</strong> - cousin,</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Sarah Williams</strong> - great aunt,</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong>AND each of the <u>4,081</u> US servicemen and women who have lost their lives during the current war.</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Everyday each of them are missed tremendously. RIP!</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-2415450579192004222008-04-21T19:22:00.007-04:002008-04-21T19:33:50.996-04:00LaConnie's Sophomore Release<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191843553491322066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwlGvsNbkZY1LjZvU4U1YmZfhYkDFb1FHvtx47Q0gvME6Pi1qFQpg9EcjaonWG0S4SO3_ylDjvM15pmFv8fZtZySGnLhZ6JPWG03DJZSFprKQ-lduRXMQ5PCmyB7AERwh-K6E/s320/whenaman-cover.jpg" border="0" />Congrats to my friend LaConnie Taylor-Jones on the April release of her second romance, <u>When a Man Loves a Woman</u>!<br /></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">It's another homerun!</span></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><u>BOOK </u></span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><u>DESCRIPTION</u><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Nursing administrator Victoria Bennett has soured on love. She has sworn off men; they bring too much drama and too much pain into her life. That is, until she meets pediatrician A. J. Baptiste, a single parent who is determined to woo her. A. J. will stop at nothing to have her, and Victoria finds her resolve put to the test...but is this a fight she really wants to win?</span></em></span></span> <p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Check LaConnie out at </span><a href="http://laconnietaylorjones.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">http://laconnietaylorjones.com</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-78568955017352791802008-04-13T20:53:00.003-04:002008-04-13T21:34:13.648-04:00American Masters - Zora Neale Hurston<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QQZZZIKj2eqHTaQSXEdDCa6t38RIbhwDHCT0w1kwl1__mLm02FYZL727etOHEdm7rwF9oy72YY5vlRKyWQJ7m3UPfz-A5j7x1CnN7o8byauhY2Z8aOcEv3Kz3OdhVB588nx-/s1600-h/znh_bio_image.gif"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188900197934106354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QQZZZIKj2eqHTaQSXEdDCa6t38RIbhwDHCT0w1kwl1__mLm02FYZL727etOHEdm7rwF9oy72YY5vlRKyWQJ7m3UPfz-A5j7x1CnN7o8byauhY2Z8aOcEv3Kz3OdhVB588nx-/s320/znh_bio_image.gif" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">PBS's American Masters series re-aired its feature on </span><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/hurston_z.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Zora Neale Hurston tonight</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and once again I was mesmerized. I'd watched the two hour show previously last Thursday about Ms. Hurston who was considered one of the pre-eminent writers of twentieth-century African-American literature. Hurston was closely associated with the Harlem Renaissance and has influenced such writers as Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, Gayle Jones, Alice Walker, and Toni Cade Bambara. Her masterpiece novel, <u>Her Eyes Were Watching God</u>, published in 1937 was shunned by her Harlem Renaissance contemporaries, such as Richard Wright and Langston Hughes, but is now considered the first African-American romance with its richly drawn characters and use of the literary device known as free indirect discourse.</span> <div> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Despite experience some publishing success in the 1930's and 1940's , Hurston never received the financial rewards she deserve. She wrote, not the racially charged prose of her fellow writers of the day, but studied her people in the South and wrote stories with obvious love and appreciation for them in all their conditions, settings and flavors. She wrote for the love of writing and not with a goal to become rich and famous. Her later manuscripts and queries were often rejected, mainly because of vocal opposition to desegregation (she felt that her people were giving away their self-respect in a effort to merge with white society, that they didn't need to sit next to white people to be just as educated, just a cultured and just as success in their community) , and she died penniless in 1960, her work falling out of favor in the literary world.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In 1975, <em>Ms. Magazine</em> published Alice Walker's essay, "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston" reviving interest in the author. Hurston's four novels and two books of folklore resulted from extensive anthropological research and have proven invaluable sources on the oral cultures of African America. </span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Through her writings, Robert Hemenway wrote in <u>The Harlem Renaissance Remembered</u>, Hurston "helped to remind the Renaissance--especially its more bourgeois members--of the richness in the racial heritage." </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She took big chances and lived life to the fullest each day. She was as fascinating as any of her characters! Check your local listings to see her life story.</span></div>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-63254819124124377762008-03-28T13:59:00.001-04:002008-03-28T14:01:41.717-04:00Just Checking In....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJS7nBbkkQpIB5JBaC1MbIpcxt1LQqDHZOXSIJV49xE2WC5hVtLerhwSRV4o3t-GD5V8bL_A0GrD2TCeVmJskbq7_HmZ3k5WP5p9sWVVGbCqjcf77y0vq18ae3_3uewixBnLY/s1600-h/Frangipani+Flowers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182854018846783346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJS7nBbkkQpIB5JBaC1MbIpcxt1LQqDHZOXSIJV49xE2WC5hVtLerhwSRV4o3t-GD5V8bL_A0GrD2TCeVmJskbq7_HmZ3k5WP5p9sWVVGbCqjcf77y0vq18ae3_3uewixBnLY/s320/Frangipani+Flowers.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I know, I know. It's been over a month since I checked in but you don't even WANT to know what's been going on in my life over recent weeks! Suffice to say, things are settling down and I'm trying to get back on track with my writing and editing...and blogging. I also have to tackle my critique to-do list. Several of my writing friends have been making great strides in completing their manuscripts. I'm both proud and envious of them and their work ethic. Keep up the good work, ladies!</span></div>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-45799437883925459632008-02-21T01:29:00.008-05:002008-02-21T02:06:53.118-05:00"Putting the Critics in Their Place" By Sophfronia Scott<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">As some of you know, I'm dealing with a family medical crisis this month. And since my tired brain can barely string together these two sentence I'll instead share with you folks the following article by Sophfronia Scott author of:</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169319431912946978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsh49ayY7SY6pK6f6mIqfzIMjrNpkXDV8M9pvaJhbDSJBm1shgQxVP4qloofMFYwHFtnLoE7ZTsxxwBn8m8pQ4LdlQZQVlRfTt5hyphenhyphen2susfVjJd4bepigyE_4RLvbwyuStzi6L/s320/all_I_need.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"><u><strong>Putting the Critics in Their Place </strong></u></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;">By Sophfronia Scott, "The Book Sistah"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#990000;"></span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"></span></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;">I once read that if you were a writer, it wasn't enough to just write. "You must <strong>publish</strong> what you write" was the given advice. I believe that's true and it's great advice. But when you do that, you have to know at least <strong>three</strong> things are going to happen: 1.) Someone will like your writing. 2.) Someone will dislike your writing. 3.) Someone won't care! If you allow all these reactions to make or break you, you'll be on an endless <strong>emotional</strong> roller coaster ride. You can smooth out the peaks and valleys, though, if you ask yourself a few questions.</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"><strong>Who is Saying it? </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"><strong></strong><br />You may have heard the saying "consider the source". That's important when you're weighing any commentary on your work. In the case of teachers, editors or book reviewers, you want to be confident that the person is truly <strong>objective</strong> and knows what they're doing. If you're sure of them, you can take what they say, good and bad, and learn from them. These aren't people out to destroy you (usually!), so don't shoot the <strong>messenger</strong>.<br /><br />Once people in the real world start buying and reading your work, you'll definitely hear about who loved it and who hated it. But pay close attention because there's more to it than a<strong> love-hate relationship</strong>. My first novel was packaged in such a way that it looked like an urban romance when in fact it is a complex family drama. I knew people who picked up the book expecting a light romance would be sorely disappointed--and that's exactly what happened when my novel was featured in a book-of-the-month club that specialized in selling urban romance. Many of their customers who bought my book hated it!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"><strong>What Are They Saying?<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;">If I had taken their criticism at face value, I would have felt like a failure. But all of the reader comments I saw on the club's website: "Too slow, boring, not enough se*x" told me they were expecting a different kind of book--and I didn't blame them! I would have been miffed too if I had expected "Valley of the Dolls" and ended up reading "War and Peace"! These readers were not in my <strong>target market</strong>, so the comments didn't upset me.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;">Readers in my target market gave different feedback. Yes, they liked the book, but that wasn't all: I could tell they had engaged with the book and had invested in the characters. Even comments about how frustrated they got with the main character were good because it meant they cared enough to be frustrated. If these readers had found the book slow and boring, I would have known for certain I had a problem.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"><strong>Is it Consistent with What You Know of Your Work?<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;">As a writer, you must know your own work well enough to help you decide what criticism <strong>makes sense</strong> and what doesn't. I've said before that I believe most writers know in their heart when something is wrong or if they're having problems with their material. If you know writing dialogue is difficult for you, there's no reason to be hurt or surprised when someone says your dialogue is weak or unbelieveable. So do an open and honest evaluation of what the reader and/or critic is saying. Then you can...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"><strong>Make a Decision: What Will You Do?<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;">No matter where your feedback is coming from, it will always be your decision whether or not you do anything with it. Sometimes feedback will open up new ideas and you're <strong>happy</strong> to rewrite based on those comments because you know the work will be better. Sometimes the book is already out there, and the feedback can only make you think about what you'll do differently next time. Or maybe you won't make a change at all. There's a particular scene in my novel that's so soap opera-ish it's almost ridiculous. But I knew that when I wrote it and I wanted it to be that way because I wanted to show how love can make people do crazy things. I wasn't going to change it.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;"></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;">But if I hadn't been clear on my <strong>intentions</strong> for the scene, I would have felt horrible everytime it was brought up in a book group's discussion. It was easier for me to stand up for my writing because I had been clear about what I was doing. So, for the sake of your writer's heart, be <strong>clear</strong>--all the better to see your way through to a better book.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;">© 2008 Sophfronia Scott<br />Author and Writing Coach Sophfronia Scott is "The Book Sistah" TM. Get her FREE REPORT, "The 5 Big Mistakes Most Writers Make When Trying to Get Published" and her FREE online writing and book publishing tips at </span><a title="http://www.thebooksistah.com/" href="http://www.thebooksistah.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#990000;">http://www.TheBookSistah.com</span></a>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-74199646137612971112008-02-08T17:37:00.001-05:002008-04-21T19:40:10.424-04:00Blogging in Black: A question of passion<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Hi all,<br /></span><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Just a quick note to tell you to check out a <u><a href="http://www.blogginginblack.com/">Blogging in Black</a></u> post by my friend, LaConnie Taylor-Jones, a contemporary romance writer on the rise. On February 6, 2008, she pinned an inspiring guest blog on passion and creative writing. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think you will too.</span></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjo6n6hJz05U-IvQzY1Qh_e9Tan80L4YgxqrGTP99GKOr8Tx7di_TmzAlYySnWcZ9IxlzzyvlcayUlB0a7bu-jSKl6ySICwX15uU5TJ7yelklGGVKs3iKaJbJmGo7xEYkdESu/s1600-h/wiwy-cover.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164745182008196866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="195" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjo6n6hJz05U-IvQzY1Qh_e9Tan80L4YgxqrGTP99GKOr8Tx7di_TmzAlYySnWcZ9IxlzzyvlcayUlB0a7bu-jSKl6ySICwX15uU5TJ7yelklGGVKs3iKaJbJmGo7xEYkdESu/s320/wiwy-cover.jpg" width="115" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Also, pick up her debut novel, <u><em>When I'm With You</em></u> from Genesis Press, Inc. Marcel and Caitlyn's love story is a poignant love story about overcoming domestic abuse. Check out her website to read an excerpt. <a href="http://www.laconnietaylorjones.com/">http://www.laconnietaylorjones.com/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Definitely a keeper!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;">AJ</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-4589151534199365942008-01-24T18:49:00.000-05:002008-01-25T01:37:36.516-05:00The End!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I can finally type those two words at the bottom of a manuscript. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong><u>Can't Help But Love You</u></strong> is finally, albeit imperfectly, complete. My moment of relief and joy is tempered by the knowledge that it needs a lot of tweaking before I feel it's ready to go out to publishers. Oh, don't get me wrong! I'm not going to hold on to it and labor over it forever. Just until I'm happy with its theme, its premise, its characters and its plot. All of those items have to gel in order for it to work for me. Already, I have new ideas about my secondary characters and their overall usefulness in putting Paxton and Kelis' romance on the right track.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I've received advice to put it aside for a week then get right to work. Well a week has gone by and life has intruded in the form of a laid-up child, whose calls of "mommy" are echoing in my dreams. I guess edits and re-tooling will have to start in another week or two. (sigh!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;">AJ</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-52026831984350659302008-01-16T09:07:00.000-05:002008-01-19T01:18:23.391-05:00Reputation at Stake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74x7YePxj8ezG5MkaGYYxzeXTwrYO3KXHSyzVsn3dWQU72IqzccPzCl41tSRbTzpqBThPTtJbjYVUJRWaM6lmJXepQbAIbZCVRLSoCApuiUpHzIY354vTPX66fdFKUqukYdnh/s1600-h/Cassie190.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156076244360052898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74x7YePxj8ezG5MkaGYYxzeXTwrYO3KXHSyzVsn3dWQU72IqzccPzCl41tSRbTzpqBThPTtJbjYVUJRWaM6lmJXepQbAIbZCVRLSoCApuiUpHzIY354vTPX66fdFKUqukYdnh/s320/Cassie190.jpg" border="0" /></a>Has anyone been keeping up with the plagiarism controversy involving Cassie Edwards, the historical romance writer? It's becoming a huge topic in the industry. So much so that RWA has made an official statement. Check out the link below:<br /><div><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/books/12roma.html?scp=1&sq=cassie+edwards">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/books/12roma.html?scp=1&sq=cassie+edwards</a></div><br /><div><br />I've read a few of Mrs. Edwards' romances. It's a shame that such a prolific, successful author will have a blight spot on her reputation.<br /></div><div>Thought-provoking, huh?</div><div></div><div></div>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-434745914079245052008-01-10T17:15:00.000-05:002008-01-11T09:02:44.520-05:00Has it really been a month?!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">TIME HAS FLOWN!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">It's been a whole month since my last post and so much has happened. Too much to list, really. Needless to say, I'm glad I made it through the end of 2007 unscathed and have limped into 2008. Limped literally. But I'm resting up and recharging my batteries (taking my vitamins and getting plenty of daytime sleep.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Now it's time to set a few goals for <span style="color:#cc0000;"><u>2008</u></span>. Let's see....</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Renew my memberships to RWA and VRW.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Wrap up CHBLY and tackle two new manuscripts.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Get out of the house more. It's become my cave of sorts.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Build an author's website for myself, hopefully to coincide with a sale.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Post to this blog at least twice a week. I've been a real slacker!</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Log in more critique time especially on RAH and RWC critique groups where I am a moderator.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">And take a real vacation, someplace away from Richmond.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;">Kudos to all my writing friends who have set their 2008 goals!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;">AJ</span></p>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-77001634744374019832007-12-07T22:01:00.000-05:002007-12-07T22:05:45.351-05:00Check it out....<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I have nothing to write here but check out my blog entry at <strong>Mavens of the Pen</strong>, </span><a href="http://themavensofthepen.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">http://themavensofthepen.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">. It's a fun one.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Angela</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-91285487192175784422007-12-06T19:21:00.000-05:002007-12-06T19:47:33.877-05:002007 Goals Revisited<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I'll take this moment to revisit my 2007 goals and evaluate how I did for the year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><br /><strong><u><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Completing one or two full manuscripts</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">I'm almost done with <em>Can't Help But Love You</em>, the one I've been working on for months and months and did start another one, <em>Can't Get Enough</em>, at the beginning of the year. They both should definitely be completed in 2008.</span><br /><br /><br /><strong><u><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Find an agent</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">I don't feel comfortable making queries until I've completed something. I have to prove to myself that I can finish.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><br /><strong><u><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Participate in writing contests</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">I entered <em>Can't Help But Love You</em> in to VRW's Fool for Love First Chapter Contest and came in <strong>second place</strong>. First time entrant, first time finalist! Hot damn!!</span><br /><br /><br /><strong><u><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Educate myself on marketing and promotional tactics</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">With the help of my critique partner, Denise, and the ladies in Mavens, I been receiving little nuggets of wisdom but having fully researched the tactics.</span><br /><br /><br /><strong><u><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Renew my membership to RWA and Virginia Writing Group</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">Done. I'm a member of both.</span><br /><br /><br /><strong><u><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Submit my finished manuscript to publishers</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">I've gotta finish the darn things!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><br /><strong><u><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Buy a laptop or Alphasmart (Dana)</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">My youngest brother, Michael, who is deployed in Iraq but will be home for Christmas, purchased a Dell laptop for me and my daughter (she insists that it's her birthday and Christmas present) and had it delivered this week. We are truly excited and grateful! Now I can type away from home and take a break from my office desk and the Internet. She wants me to get a wireless router for the house but I think that'll defeat my purposes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;">I'll set <strong>2008</strong> by the end of the month.</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-32718545889537037502007-11-28T18:39:00.000-05:002007-11-28T19:04:14.612-05:00When Your Writing Sucks...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y9iXCsdvK0E8Oyk01CDCJZY9oVLR8cn5FpDtcxgjFoex0poxFY2i8BfCfAKuoSxQZ6hc-7YubBq5YDHDBGcdrkVBNwMIdjXOT1k_fmgddUnJuwBOf5shN7-qcQy1SLe-_2SF/s1600-h/j0428592.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138045644727537522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 155px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" height="178" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y9iXCsdvK0E8Oyk01CDCJZY9oVLR8cn5FpDtcxgjFoex0poxFY2i8BfCfAKuoSxQZ6hc-7YubBq5YDHDBGcdrkVBNwMIdjXOT1k_fmgddUnJuwBOf5shN7-qcQy1SLe-_2SF/s320/j0428592.jpg" width="203" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">What do you do when you know your writing simply stinks up the room?</span><br /></strong><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">That's how I'm feeling this week. I just posted a chapter to my critique group and know it's a bunch of garbage. I'm trying to ignore the malaise in my pacing and plot and push through to the end of the book but --gee wiz-- <strong>it's all a bunch of drivel!</strong></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Quite honesty, the problem could not be with the writing but with my mood. I'm down in the dumps and blue this week. Why? I don't know. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">So my critique buddies are going to have to suffer through and for that I apologize in advance. I promise, things will get better.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">AJ</span></div>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-8801761972239680522007-11-12T09:59:00.001-05:002007-11-12T10:13:05.019-05:00Nose to the Grindstone!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Hey All!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I haven't posted in a while because I've been very busy with my WIP, outlining my next story, critiquing and life in general. I'm making great progress in <u><strong>Can't Help But Love You</strong></u>. The story is wrapping up nicely and now it's time for editing. I'm not looking forward to that because I know how difficult pulling a cohesive story together can be.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">My daughter's 12th birthday was Saturday and I can't believe how much she's grown and changed. Gone are the days of Bratz dolls, cartoons and cuddles with Mom. Now she's talking on the phone with her friends as soon as she gets out of school (mind you, they just saw each other ten minutes before), wanting big-ticket electronics, watching music video, and mumbling under her breath how much I get on her nerves. <strong>Calgon take me away!</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Well that's all for now. Hope to have more later this week. What are you working on?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Happy Birthday wishes today to Shaniqua and Charlotte!</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">AJ</span>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35628999.post-79786906609227442402007-10-22T18:52:00.000-04:002007-10-22T20:08:43.548-04:00Remembering Quinton and Nola<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">In light of the sudden death of Hunter Tylo's (The Bold and the Beautiful) nineteen-year-old son, Mickey, on Thursday, I was reminded of one of my favorite soap opera couples. Mickey's father is Michael Tylo, Sr. one half of one of the greatest "Guiding Light" couples (besides Josh and Reva), <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Quinton McCord Chamberlain and Nola Reardon</span></strong>.</span> <div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6OkUPy1eJ7Q9mbij3GvB1d0R7KnnkqXoWpvS6bEI_D2jKnr304DcTW30h9P7705qdDXzPWteU19i1BxWv_fsQHHdgXnKroWCzkGfg1P8M3YbSkK17Nr41KUYcRwEzddJCUft/s1600-h/sumja83.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124312218810376354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6OkUPy1eJ7Q9mbij3GvB1d0R7KnnkqXoWpvS6bEI_D2jKnr304DcTW30h9P7705qdDXzPWteU19i1BxWv_fsQHHdgXnKroWCzkGfg1P8M3YbSkK17Nr41KUYcRwEzddJCUft/s320/sumja83.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Back in the mid-80s as a teenager I was glued to the screen in the afternoons watching the developing romance between Quint and Nola (Lisa Brown) and was hooked on the genre of romance forever more. Quint looking dashing in his trademark ascot and sending smoldering looks at Nola. Nola the quirky Irish daughter with her fascination for the mysterious, debounaire boss. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">When I read early editions of Harlequin romance where the wealthy boss was the quinessential hero, Quint was always the image in my head. An archealogist, he was Indiana Jones before Harrison Ford made the character his own. It's funny, we could always tell when you were seeing the real man Quint whenever his ascot was off. Hubba-hubba! Remember those heartwrenching moment</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4JK1uWzqc3-P0Jj8DVmdcua6hKCQiET4POQp9BlV7Prj9LDCxVpQoK307n8Gh0Ifq2e_TWafM01a0qbRYL-1HkUgy6OdVr-r2CTpkP23qzVednfAhIgMQL4d6rQDLP7XTUfk/s1600-h/wedmain.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124315336956633266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4JK1uWzqc3-P0Jj8DVmdcua6hKCQiET4POQp9BlV7Prj9LDCxVpQoK307n8Gh0Ifq2e_TWafM01a0qbRYL-1HkUgy6OdVr-r2CTpkP23qzVednfAhIgMQL4d6rQDLP7XTUfk/s320/wedmain.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">s when Nola was in a coma and Quint admitted he loved her while as her bedside. I was never more pleased than when Quint and Nola got married on June 24, 1983.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">What a day! And the adventures continued until they left the show in 1985. Their characters made a reappearance in 1996 but it just wasn't the same. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">For a walk down memory lane, check out this site: </span><a href="http://www.quintnola.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">http://www.quintnola.com</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">.</span> I found this site and was catapulted into the past.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">My prayers go out to the Tylo family.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">AJ<br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></div></div>Angela Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00904101837640867493noreply@blogger.com4