Thursday, February 7, 2013

Cool covers, Gr-r-r-r-eat Contest

Omigosh! What a week I'm having. So much good news I'm about to split open like ripe watermelon. Honest to goodness, I need to catch my breath.

Okay. Slightly better. Let's start off with the Giveaway!

The Booklover's Bench is an ultracool new site just for book giveaways. We're giving away a NOOK e-reader and five books. The books up for grabs have elements of mystery and romance, and they are page turners, for sure. Our contest runs from today, Feb 7 through Valentine's Day, Feb 14. (Gosh, I'm so excited I just misspelled Feb. Fixed it. Need another deep breath). Click on over to see what all the hoo-rah is all about! http://bookloversbench.com/

And as luck would have it, the covers to both of my summer release books arrived in the last two days. Amazing, right?

HOT WATER will release first, as an ebook, April-ish and in print in July most likely, though that's still being worked out. This is the second book in my Mossy Bog romantic suspense series, and it came about because fans kept asking me "Are you going to write Laurie Ann's story?" So I did, and this fab story has an awesome cover, don't you think?

Setting definitely plays a part in this book as police woman Laurie Ann and arson investigator Wyatt are on the trail of a serial arsonist and a murderer. You'll have the small town charm that I'm known for, the sigh of the mossy oaks, and the ever present pull of the tides - and a smokin' hot love story.

DIME IF I KNOW is my third in my ongoing Cleopatra Jones mystery series. Cleo's the single parent mom who uses her accounting skills to follow the money. In DIME, her golf pro boyfriend is implicated in the murder of a woman in a no-tell motel.

Cleo's already out-thought the cops on two other homicides, and she's most assuredly not going to let Rafe go to jail. But the strength of their relationship is tested as she realizes how little she really knows about him.

I don't have these covers up on my website or even here at Mudpies, so you're the first to see them. Except me of course, and I can't pick a favorite because they both scream "read me!"

What a fun spring and summer this is going to be.

Don't forget to click over and enter the contest at Booklovers - my funny Murder In The Buff is up for grabs over there. http://bookloversbench.com/

Have a wonderful day!

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Shootin' Class

I'm not a member of the NRA and I don't have a carry concealed permit, but several events converged leading me to spend three hours this week learning how to shoot a handgun.

First, as a mystery and romantic suspense author, I like having hands on time with elements in my book - in a safe enivronment of course. I did FATS training at the Writers Police Academy a few years back and was fairly terrible. I knew I needed to up my game.

Second, there's a gun rush going on right now. It's like the gold rush because people are flocking to gun stores like nothing ever seen before. Everyone wants to buy a gun for protection.

Third, my handgun profiency (as mentioned above) is awful. I didn't even want to consider the possibility of owning a gun unless I knew how to handle one. Lo and behold, there was a class just for ladies not too far away.

Not knowing what I would find, I packed up two bottles of water, a granola bar, and a pouch of almonds inside the tote bag with my notebook and pen. The other women in the class ranged in age from new moms to seniors, and they were all keenly interested in this topic. No one had randomly entered this class. I learned the instructor is booked solid for the next three months.

We had some handouts, but it was hard to keep my eyes on the papers when there were so many guns on a stand at the front of the room. I'd never been around so many handguns. Black ones. Silver ones. Cammo-looking ones. Paper targets were posted at strategic points in the room.

Serious stuff indeed.

We began with nomenclature for revolvers: muzzle, barrel, cylinder, hammer, grip, safety, trigger guard, trigger, and bullets. For semiautomatic weapons, there's no cylinder. Bullets are inserted in the base in a cartridge thing called a magazine.

As the instructor drilled us in stance, grip, and loading, unloading techniques, he stressed safety and the value of practicing. Also, one thing I was worried about, gun recoil, was not a factor at all. Holding a handgun high on the grip kept it steady. I had no jarring of my hands, arms, shoulders, or body.

Did you know if you have guns at home, you should handle them in front of a bookcase? That's so if a gun fires while you're handling it, the bullet will be stopped by the books. Bullets will tear through walls, windows, mattresses, and more. According to the instructor, the shelved books act like a bulletproof vest in their stopping power. Always be safe!

Another part of the class that surprised me was learning which eye was my dominant eye. For years and years I thought it was my right eye. Come to find out it is my left! That set me back on my heels. But sure enough, when it was my turn at the range, lefty did me proud.

Two things were hard for me. One was holding a heavy gun. Some guns were just too big for my strength. Along those same lines, some triggers of double-action guns were too hard to squeeze. Apparently, my fingers are not as strong as the average bear's.

Did I become a sharpshooter because of the class? No. I don't see that in my future at all. But I do have a new respect for what guns can do and learned that they should be handled safely. The instructor told us about biometric gun safes you can get that read your thumbprint, so that your kids can't get into the guns.

I came home smelling like gunpowder, but oddly happy that I hadn't failed. I've often joked that if I'd been born in pioneer times, I'd be dead by now. But maybe, just maybe, I would've been able to shoot a rattlesnake before he bit me.

Maggie Toussaint

ps congratulations to Dawn Staniszeski who just won a copy of SEEING RED, my sweet romance about the bed and breakfast money pit.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Bad boys, bad boys


Once upon a time we all knew bad guys wore black hats. The baddie rode into town and was rude and offensive and bullied everyone. He had slitty eyes and an eat-my-dirt demeanor.

Fast forward to present times, and it isn't easy to identify a bad guy. Bad guys in the news span the range of a teacher's child, hoodlums, politicians, tax authorities, insurance companies, special interest groups, corporate raiders, televangelists, and more.

With such a diverse face to baddies, how are we to stay safe? How will we recognize danger and take steps to have it corrected or avoid it?

I struggle with these questions as I write books set in contemporary times. Human nature is universal, as is human behavior. Debra Dixon's book on Goal, Motivation, and Conflict comes in handy to help writers steer through characterization.

GOAL - a villain's goal can spring from past issues/desires, present issues/desires, or a desire to control the future. The scope of the goal may vary from the villain's immediate vicinity to a global person, place or thing.

MOTIVATION - bad guys want what they want for reasons clear to them, and they will cross lines of respectable behavior to get what they want.

CONFLICT - baddies try to attain something that isn't theirs by any means possible. They will use words, weapons, intimidation, legal maneuvering, bioterrorism, and more.

Using this framework, authors can create a plausible scenario for readers to believe in the antagonist. Next, the villain's physical attributes come into question.

On television, bad guys are often bikers, scowling lawyers, gangsters, Vikings, rival gangs, Olympic athletes, vampires, aliens, or hulking muscle men, to name a few sterotypes. But writers must reflect the times in which we write.

The truth: bad guys come in every race and gender. While it's easy to write a villain who looks and acts different from your main characters, oftentimes the villain comes from their world. He or she is an associate with a sharp axe to grind.

My question for you: what do you look for in a bad guy? Do you enjoy reading about someone who appears "normal" but does heinous things? Or does your taste run more to and outsider vs an insider conflict?

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com

Monday, January 14, 2013

Embarassing moments keep readers engaged


How many of you have had embarassing moments? I've had my share and more.

In my estimation, they fall into a couple of categories:

Verbal gaffes - for example, calling someone the wrong name, letting a secret slip to the wrong person, or saying something uncomplimentary about someone who overhears the remark.

Ditzy mistakes - putting the cereal box in the refrigerator, forgetting to seal the envelopes of your bills, dialing the wrong phone number twice in a row, tucking your skirt in your underpants in a public place after using the restroom, gapping button or zipper, or searching for an item that's in plain sight on your body.

Messes involving body fluids or body noises - getting dog pooh on the shoe and tracking it all over someone's house/rug/floor, not making it to the bathroom on time for an urgent matter, or talking fast and spit flying out of your mouth onto someone else.

Everyone has a reaction to embarassing moments. The culprit is embarassed, naturally, but onlookers might be horrified, amused, sympathetic, annoyed, or somewhere in between.

Characters that display oddities are memorable and add zest. In my Cleopatra Jones series, Mama is known for her culinary disasters, such as spicklefish lasagne (lasagne made with spinach, pickles and sardines). Mama's a secondary character in that series, but don't tell her.

In Death, Island Style, my main character has several crafting disasters. MaryBeth's craft class turns into a free-for-all and she ends up with glue globs in her hair. Later, she collects seashells that have hermit crabs in them and thinks, because of the bad odor, that there's a body in her shop.

In Murder in the Buff, ultra-conservative reporter Molly must go to a nudist colony to pick something up for her boss. She darn near has heart palpitations, giving readers chuckles about her dilemma and mortification.

Want to share your embarassing moment? I'd love to hear from you!

Maggie Toussaint
Coming this year: Hot Water and Dime If I Know
www.maggietoussaint.com

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Storyteller or Technician?

"The Wizard of Oz" stirred me in ways I could not have imagined prior to seeing the movie. Oh, the thrill of the colorful scenes! Oh, the adventure of faraway places! Oh, the very idea of being stranded so far from HOME!

And the agony of it all.

Being lost.

Not knowing anyone.

Causing an accident upon your arrival.

And everything you try makes the situation worse.


Did you have similiar thoughts about the movie? Did you grow up fearing flying monkeys, numbing poppy fields, and the man behind the curtain?

I did.

But I was also hooked for life on the idea of reading - and telling - a great story.

Fast forward ... some years ...  and I'm telling stories - in book format. In my mind, the difference between a good technician and a darn fine storyteller have become blurred.

Writers yearn to have the power to sweep readers away to a new Oz so engrossing that time literally stops for readers. Writers seek that misty zone where Frank Baum, writer of The Wizard of Oz lives, where readers will suspend disbelief, where they are so needing to know what happens next that they will keep turning pages.

I used to believe the difference was in how one wrote, whether it was a more organized, outlined approach or a free-flowing organic approach. But now, after reading good and not-as-good stories in both lanes, I earnestly believe it's simpler than that.

For me, the difference harkens back to the actual weaving of words. Sure, writers need to have an understanding of writing craft and a storyteller's ear for timing and drama, but the word patterns themselves are what entice readers away from reality into a land of a writer's imagining.

So how does one acquire this story perfection? Are writers born with it? Can it be taught?

My answer is ... wait for it ...


Buddy Ebsen played the Tin Man in the movie
yes! A natural aptitude shoots some writers to the front of the line, but writers that work at their craft, that learn layering and hone their editorial ears, can know great success.

What's your take on this topic?

And for fun, which Wizard of Oz character do you identify the most with? Are you a Tin Man, a Cowardly Lion, a spunky Dorothy, Toto the wandering pooch, Glinda the Good Witch, or another character?

Maggie Toussaint
mystery and romance author
www.maggietoussaint.com

ps images about The Wizard of Oz are from Wikipedia

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

No ifs, ands, or buts

Get motivated in 2013!

It's time to set aside the baggage of 2012, and move on. What do you want out of 2013? How badly do you want it?


The nice thing about January 1 is that you start with a clean slate. The year is fresh and clean, and you are in the driver's seat. This means the choices you make should be in your best interest.


Sounds easy, doesn't it?


However, a new start comes with all the challenges of the past year and the dreams of the present year. On January 1, I like to look ahead to the entire year because if I focus day-to-day only, I lose sight of the big picture.


To stay focused, I make a list of yearly goals that are within my power to accomplish. For instance, I would have a hard time achieving world peace, but I could easily mend fences with a neighbor or colleague.

Setting reasonable goals assures greater odds of success and personal satisfaction.

My goals are related to writing and the business of publishing. Each year I want to keep the momentum going and continue to build a strong portfolio of books and enlarge my reader base.

Those goals are too broad. With limited hours in each day available for writing and marketing, I must be realistic. I must focus on what is possible.

In 2013, I will release a romantic suspense and a mystery. I will also write another book. For writers, this is the status quo. Keep writing, keep marketing, and keep doing everything else you normally do.

The same goals apply to career women and men or self-employed people or even stay-at-home moms. Doing tasks quicker, better, and faster is everyone's goal.

Except, we are all very good at making excuses. We say "if only this or that" or "I could have finished, but...". Sound familiar?

My solution is personal accountability. Because my schedule varies from day to day, I write out weekly writing goals and check them off as I get them done. If events preclude me from working on a certain day, I know I have to make it up later that week to stay on track.

Another way to be accountable is to share your goals with peers. They will encourage you to succeed and meet your goals. And it is very easy to return that favor.

Though I know someone who writes standing up, the general axiom for writing progress is to keep your butt in the chair. Easy enough for tasks you like, but harder for those that present challenges. I've been known to file papers and clean my entire desk before I write one word of a synopsis. But if I keep my butt in the chair and my mind on the task at hand, I will get it done.

My wish for myself and for you for 2013 is to set aside those if's, ands, and buts, to keep our butts in the chairs, and reach our goals.

Maggie Toussaint

ps the holiday sale on Murder in the Buff ends soon. It's available in all formats. Check it out at your favorite venue.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

E-reader Book Bash - Grab a book or two!


I'm happy to participate in the E-reader bash. 23 authors are giving away 27 romantic ebooks. That's a whole lotta love!

To enter, all you have to do is answer a question here at Mudpies in a comment between now and Dec. 29. There will be a grand prize and a second place prize, with each winner taking home more than a dozen ebooks! Winners will be posted late on Sunday, Dec. 30.

My book that's up for grabs is Murder in the Buff, a romantic mystery. In the story, reporter Molly Darter's job is on the line, and her marriage has gone south. When she gets the worst assignment of her life, she can't turn it down. The job? Getting an obituary from the nudist colony.

My question for the giveaway is: what hair style does the woman behind the fence sport?

Here's a short excerpt where you can look for the answer:

We’d also heard the naturalists were retired call girls. No telling what went on back in these dark woods. Orgies. Wild rituals. Substance abuse. Anything was possible in such a remote location.

I checked the time again and sighed.

If I left right now, my mother would never know I’d been here. However, Ted would fire me if I returned without this family-placed obituary. Jobs were scarce in our county of ten thousand people, and with my changed personal circumstances, I couldn’t afford to lose this one. Air huffed out of my lungs, up my warm face, giving flight to the wispy bangs on my forehead.

I dried my sweaty palms on my jeans and ramped up the air conditioning another notch. What was taking so long? I rubbed the back of my neck to ease the stiffness.

Behind the stockade fence, briars and weeds flourished. Spanish moss and ropy vines choked the tops of the oaks, pines, and cedars, adding to the sense that anything could and would happen deep in that jungle of green.

Jungle love gone wild.

I grimaced at that carnal image. My gaze fell to the thick ground cover outside my door. I couldn’t see the sandy soil at all. I gulped. There were probably rattlesnakes galore out here.

Cottonmouths and copperheads, too.

And ticks.

I bet every tick known to mankind lurked within the dark green foliage, waiting for me to step out of my vehicle. I’d have to be diligent as I checked every inch of skin tonight for ticks.

Without warning, a narrow-faced woman with gray braided hair peered over the top of the fence and waved her bare arms. My heart sunk as her lips moved. Dang, she was talking to me. With my windows up, I couldn’t hear a word she said.

Please, dear God, let her have clothes on behind that fence.

+++

Okay. So all you have to do is leave your answer in the comments section of this blog. If you'd like to visit other blogs and have more winning chances, here's a list of the other blogs involved:
THAT DATING THING by Mackenzie Crown ~ http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/
HOME by Calisa Rhose ~ calisarhose.wordpress.com
MONA LISA’S ROOM by Vonnie Davis (plus a little sweet) ~ vintagevonnie.blogspot.com
STEPPING OUT OF LINE by Linda Carroll Bradd ~ blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com
DECEPTIONS OF THE HEART by Denise Moncrief ~ ~ denisemoncrief.blogspot.com
BE STILL MY LOVER’S HEART by Lisa Hannah Wells ~ memorymakerscreator.blogspot.com
THE TREASURE OF COMO BLUFF by Alison Henderson ~ AliceHenderson.com
SHANGHAI CONNECTION by Carol Henry ~ macsmadmania.blogspot.com
SOMEWHERE MY LOVE (A ghostly time travel romance) by Beth Trissell ~ bethtrissel.wordpress.com
FAERIE FOOL by Silver James ~ Silverjames.com
CLEAR AS DAY by Babette James ~ http://wp.me/pjagl-1Tr
AN UNEXPECTED GIFT by Katherine Grey ~ katherinegrey.blogspot.com
TAKE ME HOME, COWBOY by Krista Ames (Plus 4 Anthology titles below) ~ apassionforromance.blogspot.com
THE DOLLHOUSE (For the Love of Christmas Anthology) by Dani-Lyn Alexander~ danilynalexander.com
STUDIO RELATIONS by Georgie Lee ~ georgielee.blogspot.com
Carolyn Sullivan
A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER by Joanne Stewart ~ jm-stewart.blogspot.com
MAGIC OF THE LOCH by Karen Michelle Nutt ~ kmnbooks.blogspot.com
THE BETTER MAN by Ceri Hebert ~ cerihebert.wordpress.com
THREAT TO OUR FOREVER by Em Epe ~ emeperomances.blogspot.com
CONNECT THE DOTS (For the Love of Christmas Anthology) by Jennifer Eaton ~ jennifermeaton.com
FADEOUT by Rolynn Anderson ~ blog.rolynnanderson.com

Plus four anthologies, courtesy of Krista Ames.
BELIEVE CHRISTMAS ~ BE MINE, VALENTINE ~ ALL BETS ARE ON ~ SUMMER SHORTS
+++

Thanks to Mackenzie Crown for putting this together. Besides commenting here, a comment at the other sites may increase your chances of winning. Best of luck to you all!

Don't forget to leave a comment with your answer to my hairstyle question! I'd love to put a copy of Murder in the Buff in your hands, and on your e-reader. MITB is available in all digital formats.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com