You know how Madonna now talks with a British accent?Ā And everyone kind of mocks her?Ā It is annoying to have someone you know grew up in Michigan try and sound all posh, but at the same timeā¦ I would be the same way.Ā I once realized that I had been watching twenty minutes of a cooking show with an Australian host and I had no idea what was being made.Ā Iād spent the entire time watching her mouth trying to figure out how she was murdering pronouncing her vowels that way.Ā I sounded like a monkey on the couch as I clenched and unclenched my teeth trying āehhh-oooh-uhā my vowels.Ā I was two seconds away from throwing a shrimp on the barbie when my husband came home and gave me the look that implied that while our marriage was a joy and a blessing, it was also occasionally weird.
The unfortunate thing is that, just as Iām addicted to copying other peopleās accents, I find that Iām also prone to picking up the language of whomever Iām reading.Ā Iām sure my writing/reading group can tell when Iāve been reading Regency Romances.Ā One cannot help but be addicted to the opulent turn of phrase.Ā And if I could work some sort of line about puce satin and a cravat into the paragraph all the better.Ā What if Iām reading fluffy chick lit?Ā Pretty sure that my character needs to mention her thighs and a cupcake in the next sentence.Ā Taut thrillers? Sentences get shorter.Ā Characters become brutal. And adverbs?Ā Kill āem.Ā Kill āem all.
The brutal snuffing out of āsuddenlyā aside, this habit does real damage to my narratives.Ā Characters donāt sound like themselves (why does that Texan sound English?) and plots can veer wildly off course as I spend a page (or three) describing clothing.Ā So when Iām writing I have to take a bit of a hiatus from reading unless I can find that wondrous book that matches the tone that Iām writing.Ā I think itās incredibly unfair that my reading has suffered as a result of my writing, but currently itās a sacrifice Iām willing to make.Ā Of course, if I could just figure out how to retire with a million dollars so that I could segregate my year into reading quarters and writing quarters life would be awesome.
https://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/australians-are-just-british-texans.jpg788750Bethany Maineshttps://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.pngBethany Maines2021-01-13 05:00:212021-01-12 22:25:16The Accent Mark Goes Here
https://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.png00Bethany Maineshttps://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.pngBethany Maines2020-12-09 04:30:492020-12-08 13:49:19Forest of Words
With one week left until The Lost Heir is released, I find myself excited and nervous to hear reader reactions.Ā The novella is a prequel to the first two book in the Deveraux Legacy series – The Second Shot and The Cinderella Secret.Ā Each book of the series focuses on one of the Deveraux cousins and that works great for each individual story. The Second Shot is about the youngest cousin Dominique as she investigates the mysterious attacks on her wealthy family and discovers that maybe the jerk from college isn’t quite what she thought he was and might be the only one who can help.Ā The Cinderella Secret features Dominique’s brother Aiden as he searches for the mysterious girl who stole his heart and a murderer who’s set to strike again. And in 2021 we’ll see The Hardest Hit with older cousin Evan Deveraux as he tries to solve a decades old mystery and hang on to the girl who loves him in spite of being a Deveraux.Ā And last, but not least, The Fallen Man will showcase Jackson Deveraux as he discovers that while he’s spent years saving his family, they may be the only ones who can save him.Ā But The Lost Heir is about the family as a whole and it’s the first time that all of the cousins are featured equally AND we get to hear from the Deveraux matriarch, Eleanor.Ā But it’s also the first time that there isn’t a central adventure or mystery to be solved.Ā I love the Deveraux family and I love spending time with them, so I’m hoping that readers do too.Ā Fingers crossed!
Pre-Order: https://books2read.com/Lost-Heir
***THE LOST HEIR TEASER***
“He is your cousin,ā said Eleanor and the walls stopped moving, along with Evanās heart. āHis name is Jackson Zane and you are going to get him out of prison.ā
Evan looked at Aiden and then at Dominique, trying to make sure heād heard their grandmother correctly.
“Uh,” said Aiden. “That’s not… I don’t… I just got out of law school. I havenāt even gotten my bar exam results back yet for here. Iād have to pass the bar in Illinois.”
Evan knew he was still mostly high, but he could tell by the flat look in their grandmother’s eyes that the decision had been made. Which meant that Aiden should probably start studying up on Illinois State law. Dominique was frowning and he realized that her eyes had been resting on him for an extended period of time. How much had she noticed? She was never as unaware as she pretended to be. Fuck.
“What do you think, Evan?” Dominique asked. He tried to remember the last time she’d spoken directly to him.
“It doesn’t matter what Evan thinks,” said Eleanor. “This is what weāre doing. Itās been decided.ā
“And I would like to hear what Evan thinks about that decision,” snapped Dominique. Aiden and Eleanor blinked at Dominiqueās tone, but Evan was still trying to figure out the content. Why the hell would she care what he thought?
Dominique turned back to Evan, her blonde hair swinging, and fixed him with a glare. “Well?”
His palms were sweating on his cutlery. He wanted to wipe his hands on his pants, but didnāt dare.
“I think Aiden should get him out of jail,” said Evan. “If he’s ours then we should bring him home.”
https://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/LostHeirGraphics-04.jpg10811081Bethany Maineshttps://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.pngBethany Maines2020-12-01 07:15:182020-11-30 21:51:54Countdown to The Lost Heir
As many of you know, I’m a mom with a full time job as well as an author. And while all of that is challenging enough, the pandemic has brought many fresh and special new problems. To free up some of my time I’m relinquishing one of my Stiletto Gang posting days to the fantastic Lois Winston. Lois is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author who writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, womenās fiction, childrenās chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Lois will be posting on the second Wednesday of the month and I thought I’d sit down and find out a little more about her as she comes on board.
Lois Winston
Me – drinking
Q: What do you write?
I started out writing romance and romantic suspense and was first published in chick lit withĀ Talk Gertie to MeĀ in 2006. However, back in 2003, while waiting for that first sale, my agent suggested I try writing a crafting mystery. She knew an editor looking for one. With my background as a crafts designer, my agent thought Iād be the perfect person to write such a series, even though Iād never written a mystery. I gave it a try, and in the process discovered my true literary calling. MyĀ Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery SeriesĀ sold in 2009.Ā Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, came out in 2011. Iāve since published nine books and three novellas in the series, plus two books in myĀ Empty Nest Mystery Series.
Q: What got you excited and started you on your writing journey?
Iām not someone who always knew she wanted to be an author. In the mid-90ās I was going through an extremely stressful period, taking on as much freelance design work as I could because my husband was out of work for an extended period of time. One night I fell into an exhaustive sleep and had a very strange dreamāstrange for me because I usually donāt remember my dreams. Also, the people in the dream were all strangers. Weirdly, the dream kept unfolding night after night like chapters in a book. Finally, I decided to write it down. When I finished, I had a 50,000 word romance that spanned thirty-five years!
The writing bug had bitten me. Long story short, I joined some writing organizations, learned what I was doing wrong, honed my craft, and signed with an agent. After many years of rewrites, that totally unpublishable romance transformed into a 90,000 word romantic suspense and becameĀ Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception, the second book I sold.
Q: Do you solve the mysteries in novels & movies or do you sit back and enjoy the ride?
I should have had an inkling that Iād eventually wind up writing mysteries because I have an uncanny knack for figuring out whodunit early into most books, movies, or TV episodes. I love when Iām wrong and fall for a red herring, but it doesnāt happen often. My grandfather was the captain of a large county police force and responsible for the apprehension of many gangsters and other bad actors back in the day. I figure I inherited a large dose of his detecting DNA.
Q: And of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask… what are your favorite shoes?
At this point, any that are comfortable! Iām afraid my sexy heels days are over, thanks to foot surgery a few years ago after an injury and arthritis that developed in that foot as a result. So now my shoe closet contains mostly Sketchers with cushioning inner soles.
It’s release day for The Cinderella Secret and my latest book baby is already racking up some stellar reviews!
5.0 out of 5 starsĀ Aiden and Ella kick ass together!
Fast paced, super enjoyable romantic thriller. I love these characters!
5.0 out of 5 starsĀ I NEED the next book
I fell in love with these characters while reading the first book. Now I get to come back and fall in love with them all over again. One of the things I liked best about this book was that we got to peel back even more layers of the masks these Deveraux youngsters shield themselves with.
5.0 out of 5 starsĀ Don’t miss a word!
I am so enjoying this series as the authorās style of writing makes you not want to miss even one word. The humorous and sarcastic interaction between this blended family highlights their closeness.
The Cinderella Secret is book 2 of the Deveraux Legacy series and I have loved every second with my characters.Ā I’m so excited to see that readers are too!Ā In celebration of its release week, The Cinderella Secret and book 1, The Second Shot are both Ā¢.99 through 10/23!
The Accent Mark Goes Here
/in General WritingThe unfortunate thing is that, just as Iām addicted to copying other peopleās accents, I find that Iām also prone to picking up the language of whomever Iām reading.Ā Iām sure my writing/reading group can tell when Iāve been reading Regency Romances.Ā One cannot help but be addicted to the opulent turn of phrase.Ā And if I could work some sort of line about puce satin and a cravat into the paragraph all the better.Ā What if Iām reading fluffy chick lit?Ā Pretty sure that my character needs to mention her thighs and a cupcake in the next sentence.Ā Taut thrillers? Sentences get shorter.Ā Characters become brutal. And adverbs?Ā Kill āem.Ā Kill āem all.
The brutal snuffing out of āsuddenlyā aside, this habit does real damage to my narratives.Ā Characters donāt sound like themselves (why does that Texan sound English?) and plots can veer wildly off course as I spend a page (or three) describing clothing.Ā So when Iām writing I have to take a bit of a hiatus from reading unless I can find that wondrous book that matches the tone that Iām writing.Ā I think itās incredibly unfair that my reading has suffered as a result of my writing, but currently itās a sacrifice Iām willing to make.Ā Of course, if I could just figure out how to retire with a million dollars so that I could segregate my year into reading quarters and writing quarters life would be awesome.
Forest of Words
/in General WritingCountdown to The Lost Heir
/in The DeverauxPre-Order: https://books2read.com/Lost-Heir
***THE LOST HEIR TEASER***
“He is your cousin,ā said Eleanor and the walls stopped moving, along with Evanās heart. āHis name is Jackson Zane and you are going to get him out of prison.ā
Evan looked at Aiden and then at Dominique, trying to make sure heād heard their grandmother correctly.
“Uh,” said Aiden. “That’s not… I don’t… I just got out of law school. I havenāt even gotten my bar exam results back yet for here. Iād have to pass the bar in Illinois.”
Evan knew he was still mostly high, but he could tell by the flat look in their grandmother’s eyes that the decision had been made. Which meant that Aiden should probably start studying up on Illinois State law. Dominique was frowning and he realized that her eyes had been resting on him for an extended period of time. How much had she noticed? She was never as unaware as she pretended to be. Fuck.
“What do you think, Evan?” Dominique asked. He tried to remember the last time she’d spoken directly to him.
“It doesn’t matter what Evan thinks,” said Eleanor. “This is what weāre doing. Itās been decided.ā
“And I would like to hear what Evan thinks about that decision,” snapped Dominique. Aiden and Eleanor blinked at Dominiqueās tone, but Evan was still trying to figure out the content. Why the hell would she care what he thought?
Dominique turned back to Evan, her blonde hair swinging, and fixed him with a glare. “Well?”
His palms were sweating on his cutlery. He wanted to wipe his hands on his pants, but didnāt dare.
“I think Aiden should get him out of jail,” said Evan. “If he’s ours then we should bring him home.”
Meet Lois Winston!
/in General Writing, The Stiletto GangAs many of you know, I’m a mom with a full time job as well as an author. And while all of that is challenging enough, the pandemic has brought many fresh and special new problems. To free up some of my time I’m relinquishing one of my Stiletto Gang posting days to the fantastic Lois Winston. Lois is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author who writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, womenās fiction, childrenās chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Lois will be posting on the second Wednesday of the month and I thought I’d sit down and find out a little more about her as she comes on board.
Lois Winston
Me – drinking
Q: What do you write?
I started out writing romance and romantic suspense and was first published in chick lit withĀ Talk Gertie to MeĀ in 2006. However, back in 2003, while waiting for that first sale, my agent suggested I try writing a crafting mystery. She knew an editor looking for one. With my background as a crafts designer, my agent thought Iād be the perfect person to write such a series, even though Iād never written a mystery. I gave it a try, and in the process discovered my true literary calling. MyĀ Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery SeriesĀ sold in 2009.Ā Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, came out in 2011. Iāve since published nine books and three novellas in the series, plus two books in myĀ Empty Nest Mystery Series.
Q: What got you excited and started you on your writing journey?
Iām not someone who always knew she wanted to be an author. In the mid-90ās I was going through an extremely stressful period, taking on as much freelance design work as I could because my husband was out of work for an extended period of time. One night I fell into an exhaustive sleep and had a very strange dreamāstrange for me because I usually donāt remember my dreams. Also, the people in the dream were all strangers. Weirdly, the dream kept unfolding night after night like chapters in a book. Finally, I decided to write it down. When I finished, I had a 50,000 word romance that spanned thirty-five years!
The writing bug had bitten me. Long story short, I joined some writing organizations, learned what I was doing wrong, honed my craft, and signed with an agent. After many years of rewrites, that totally unpublishable romance transformed into a 90,000 word romantic suspense and becameĀ Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception, the second book I sold.
Q: Do you solve the mysteries in novels & movies or do you sit back and enjoy the ride?
I should have had an inkling that Iād eventually wind up writing mysteries because I have an uncanny knack for figuring out whodunit early into most books, movies, or TV episodes. I love when Iām wrong and fall for a red herring, but it doesnāt happen often. My grandfather was the captain of a large county police force and responsible for the apprehension of many gangsters and other bad actors back in the day. I figure I inherited a large dose of his detecting DNA.
Q: And of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask… what are your favorite shoes?
At this point, any that are comfortable! Iām afraid my sexy heels days are over, thanks to foot surgery a few years ago after an injury and arthritis that developed in that foot as a result. So now my shoe closet contains mostly Sketchers with cushioning inner soles.
Connect with Lois!
Release Day!
/in General Writing5.0 out of 5 starsĀ Aiden and Ella kick ass together!
Fast paced, super enjoyable romantic thriller. I love these characters!
5.0 out of 5 starsĀ I NEED the next book
I fell in love with these characters while reading the first book. Now I get to come back and fall in love with them all over again. One of the things I liked best about this book was that we got to peel back even more layers of the masks these Deveraux youngsters shield themselves with.
5.0 out of 5 starsĀ Don’t miss a word!
I am so enjoying this series as the authorās style of writing makes you not want to miss even one word. The humorous and sarcastic interaction between this blended family highlights their closeness.
The Cinderella Secret is book 2 of the Deveraux Legacy series and I have loved every second with my characters.Ā I’m so excited to see that readers are too!Ā In celebration of its release week, The Cinderella Secret and book 1, The Second Shot are both Ā¢.99 through 10/23!
Want to read now? Buy it here>>https://books2read.com/Cinderella-Secret
Want to learn more about the series?Ā Read more here>> https://bethanymaines.com/the-deveraux-legacy/
Want a chance to celebrate and get free books?Ā Join me in these Facebook Groups!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wegiveahoot
10/20 – 1pm – 5pm PST / 4pm – 8pm EST
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DirtyBadBoomBoomRoom