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Susan A. Royal

~ If you could read my mind

Susan A. Royal

Monthly Archives: February 2016

Cake, Coffee and Conversation at my Place

26 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by Susan A. Royal in Interview

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

adventure, fantasy, MuseItUp Publishing, science-fiction

 

Please drop in. Today I’m visiting with Kai Strand, a fellow author with MuseItUp. She writes young adult and middle grade books.  I don’t know about you, but I love to discover the story behind the story, especially when it comes to writers like me. We are a diverse lot. There’s no telling what you’ll find us doing when we’re not writing. We have day jobs, families, hobbies and various and sundry activities that keep us busy.

Kai Strand

When her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died. The end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults. Learn more about Kai and her books on her website, www.kaistrand.com.

FindingThor_1-FINAL

Tragedy has left Cara Cassidy broken and the only thing keeping her from giving in completely is her guilt. Until Nik Rock.

Nik stirs up feelings in degrees she has never experienced, and causes her to do things that most assuredly give him the wrong impression – like kiss him before their first date. Somehow, he breaks down the walls around her emotions until she has no choice but to forgive herself and feel again.

But a mysterious, troubled past follows Nik, and Cara may prove to be his weakest link.

When a royal princess shows up looking for Nik, and an international gang arrives looking for missing jewels, Cara lands in mortal danger. Will she be able to save herself? What will happen to her newly repaired psyche if she loses Nik?

Romance, mystery, and high stakes – just another day in high school.

Excerpt 

The veil dropped over Nik’s expression so fast, it told her exactly what she didn’t want to know. Nik had indeed seen her mom. Cara turned away from him again intending to trudge back into the classroom.

“By the crown, will you stop already?” Nik begged.

The exasperation in his tone and the odd choice of words piqued her curiosity. Cocking her head, she asked, “By the crown?”

The frustration melted away and Nik pursed his lips, which almost distracted Cara enough to forget the thread of conversation, but she tore her eyes away and asked, “Is that what they say in Seattle?”

Nik’s eyes lit with appreciation. “Aren’t you clever?”

“Am I?”

He nodded. His appreciative appraisal and half smile wreaked havoc with her supposed cleverness.

“Nik?” she breathed.

“Yes?” He tilted toward her giving her the impression he hung on her every word. His eyes were glued to her lips, which she realized were parted and ever so slightly panting.

She gulped. “Can we perhaps do this after school?”

When he raised his gaze to meet hers she almost liquefied under the heat of it. “Can I trust you?”

“Trust me to do what?” Cara asked. She was losing the ability to think.

“Show up.” He slid closer and she held her breath hoping he would take her in his arms.

“Show up where?” she asked.

A full-blown grin curved across his face and she thrilled with the knowledge she’d put it there. Then she realized she couldn’t remember how.

“Actually, I was going to ask you that,” Nik said. His eyes roved her face.

“Wait. What?” Cara’s voice was so breathy she wasn’t sure if she spoke or gasped.

“Where should we meet? After school.”

She itched to rise up on tiptoe and kiss that stellar grin off his mouth.

A low chuckle rumbled through him. “Why don’t you tell me in gym class?”

She nodded slowly. Was he a drug? Or maybe the male version of a siren. Did they have those?

He tipped further forward and she caught her breath. Then he sighed.

“See you next period.”

Her mouth fell open as he walked away. He hadn’t even touched her and she was burning with need.

At the end of the hall, he glanced over his shoulder and grinned when he saw her still gaping after him. When he walked out of view she let out the breath she’d been holding. It stuttered and shook, but was relieved to escape her burning lungs. How long had she been holding her breath?

By the crown, Nik Rock was dangerous!

Okay guys, help yourselves to another cup of coffee and more cake, while we get to know Kai better. How long have you been writing? Like most writers, I’ve been writing in some format (angsty poetry, overly dramatized shorts, etc) most of my life, but I decided to pursue publication when my third child started Kindergarten (he graduates high school this year!) I have four kids and when he started school and I was left with only our youngest daughter, it felt like I had ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD to write. Rather liberating actually. It was six years before I received my first book contract. Not so liberating after all. But very rewarding.

That’s a familiar story. I finally got serious about it when my youngest graduated from high school. I decided if I was ever going to do it, I’d better stop procrastinating and get with it. Like you, it took me a while to get there.

Are you a plotter, a pantser or some combination of both? I consider myself a pantser. When I start a new book, I also start a notes document, a place for me to make note of things like names, ages, physical characteristics, family trees, plot points I want to make sure to cover or circle back to, etc. However, the creation of the story itself mostly happens by the seat of my pants. Every single time I’m writing a story there is some point between the middle and the end when I wonder how the heck I’m gonna make it all come together. I’ve been doing this long enough now that I can assure myself (over and over again) that it will come together – that it always does. However, because I refuse to outline, I always hit a point in the book where I doubt my ability to find the path through to the end. It makes the discovery fun for me, actually. I feel very clever each time I succeed. Creating an outline seems to use up my creative juices for that story and then I feel like I’m editing through the whole thing. Even the first draft. I’m not a fan of editing.

The same thing happens to me! About 2/3 through the book I’m suddenly wondering what on earth I’m going to do to get my characters out of this mess. Nice to know I have company.

Give us an interesting or fun fact about your book/series (one we couldn’t possibly know).The concept of Finding Thor evolved from me wanting to write a YA mash up of the movie National Treasure and Wuthering Heights. I wanted the suspense and mystery of National Treasure and the tragedy and love story of Wuthering Heights. I wanted a kind and respectful male lead that made me sigh and fan my cheeks, and a female lead that grows and discovers her strength. Putting that all together was both fun and challenging.

Describe one of your favorite characters and tell us who you patterned them after and why.

Beyond the main characters, Cara and Nik, I think my favorite character in this story is Cara’s best friend, Kelly. She’s loyal and strong and funny. I know that if I met Kelly IRL, I’d want to be her friend. She isn’t really patterned after anyone in particular, but I guess her outgoing personality and her impressive height is reminiscent of my sister. Being shy and short myself, I’ve always admired both qualities in my sister, so it isn’t too surprising they should show up in a character. 

I LOVE supporting characters. Especially when they evolve into characters with stories of their own.

What is the best compliment you ever received as a writer? It was in the most unexpected place. I was attending a funeral, giving my condolences to the family. I hugged the girl who had just lost her grandfather and said that I wished I could do something to help her through her grief. Her answer was so unexpected. 

“Keep writing. It helps. It helps a lot.”

Wow.

I completely agree. What a wonderful thing to know your words have had that effect on someone.

What do you like to do when you aren’t writing? I’m pretty obsessed with walking. I love to walk. I love the motion of it. Soaking up the greater outdoors (regardless of weather conditions) is therapeutic for me. I wish walking didn’t take up so much time. At least I can multitask and listen to an audiobook at the same time. The two birds thing!

And who knows what ideas might pop into your head while you’re walking!

This has been fun. Come back again anytime Kai. Good luck with Finding Thor.

Thanks for stopping by everyone. Check out the links below to learn more about Kai and her books. If you get a chance today, check her blog. I’m doing a character interview on one of my characters in Xander’s Tangled Web, due out April 26th.

Website www.kaistrand.com

Blog http://kaistrand.blogspot.com/

Email kaistrand@yahoo.com

Buy links Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Whiskey Creek Press| All Romance| BookStrand| Goodreads

 

The Age of Adaline

22 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by Susan A. Royal in movie review

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

black-eyed peas, fantasy, romance, tear-jerker

the-age-of-adaline-posterThis is one of those flicks my sister and I jokingly refer to as a two hanky movie. It’s sweet and touching–one of those movies we’ll watch again. Sometimes you just need a good cry.

Adaline Bowman is over 100 years old, but she hasn’t aged a day since she died and was revived by lightning when she was in her 20s. Just imagine the complications. It’s impossible for her to fall in love or have close friends. She spends her life never staying in one place too long, because she’s afraid someone will discover her secret and try to turn her into a science experiment.

At a New Year’s Eve party in the present, Adaline meets Ellis. I love the scene where their eyes meet across a crowded room and she feels an instant connection. To me it speaks volumes. He wants to see her again. At first she refuses, until she realizes how lonely she is and relents.

Complications arise when he takes her to meet his parents, and his father recognizes her as the young woman he loved and lost. She tells him Adaline was her mother, but he realizes the truth. He confronts her, begging her not to run, because he knows how much it will hurt his son to lose her. But she says she doesn’t know how to stay. She writes a note to Ellis while he showers; she packs her things and flees.

What happens next is somewhat predictable, but to me this movie was very touching. I especially liked Blake Lively as Adaline, a tortured woman who only wants what we all want—to love and be loved. Also Harrison Ford, a man who cannot forget his first love and the life they might have had together.

Black-Eyed Peas, cabbage and Cornbread

black eyed peas

 

I don’t know about other parts of the country, but in the south (Texas in particular) eating black-eyed peas, cabbage and cornbread is a new year’s tradition. The peas are for luck and the cabbage and cornbread make great sides.

Peas: Soak 1 lb dry peas in water overnight. Rinse and add more water to cover. I like to use salt, pepper, minced onions, kielbasa sausage or bacon bits. You can add whatever spices you like. After bringing to a boil, cook on low until the peas are tender.

Cabbage: Shred desired amount of cabbage. Thinly slice an onion. Add as little or as much garlic as you want. Saute all until brown in a small amount of olive oil. Garnish with bacon bits.

Corn bread: I use self-rising cornmeal, an egg, milk and oil. I like to heat oil in my trusty cast iron skillet and cook it in a 400 degree oven until brown. (30-45 minutes)

This is good any time you want a simple, stick to your ribs meal.

Dinner and a Movie Monday – Tomorrowland

08 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by Susan A. Royal in movie review

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

action, adventure, fantasy, George Clooney, time travel, Tomorrowland

tomorrowland

Tomorrowland is a 2015 movie, directed and co-written by Brad Bird and stars George Clooney. The actor always amazes me. He’s never been one of my favorites, but whenever I see him in movies like this one, I’m reminded of the kind of actor he is when he doesn’t portray the suave, debonair and less than honest character he usually portrays. It’s hard to say whether he’s acting in the former roles and being himself in the latter or vice versa. In this one, he plays Frank, a disillusioned genius inventor who travels to Tomorrowland with Casey, teenage science enthusiast, to change the future which is affecting the past.

Frank and Casey team up to prevent it from happening. It’s a race against time in more ways than one. The movie played to mixed reviews, despite the stunning visuals and good acting (in my opinion). It was one of those simple films you didn’t have to spend time dissecting to enjoy.

Tomorrowland is a place that reminds me of the kind of future envisioned in the fifties. All shiny rockets and jetpacks in a vivid blue sky filled with tall buildings and monorails. The kind of world where you’d expect to see Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon. A world of imagination. world fair photo

I’m not going to include a recipe this week simply because when I think of a fair I think of corn dogs, cotton candy, fried ice cream, funnel cakes, and all kinds of things we loved as children. A recipe simple wouldn’t do them justice.

Close your eyes. Let your senses take over. Listen to the sound of people having fun, breathe in the tantalizing smell of the vendor food.

Turn back the clock for a little while and enjoy!!

Me, My Husband, and His Invisible Friends–A Writer’s Domestic Life with a Gamer #writerlife #gaming #humor

04 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by Susan A. Royal in Uncategorized

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Jami Gray's Blog

Today’s post has nothing to do with writing. Correction–it flutters around the edges of my writing life, but the star of this post is my Knight in Slightly Muddy Armor and his Invisible Gang of Game Domination.  As I write this, I have my headphones on and music pouring in, but it still does nothing to drown out the harsh battle cries behind me.

Invisible man

Those who’ve trailed along my blog for any length of time, understand that I am outnumbered in my humble abode. To the point I had to bring in the Fur Minxes to even the gender scales. With my beautiful, female labs at my side, we manage to hold off the tide of testosterone. For the most part.

Except for the Digital Arena of Epic Battles.

My Prankster Duo has graduated from the dignified world of architectural design known as MineCraft, and have joined my Knight on…

View original post 959 more words

03 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Susan A. Royal in Uncategorized

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Amen, amen, amen, and AAAAMEN

Wordland

4 roadblocks to your writing and 4 ways to steamroll themFor every writing problem you may be having, there is an answer.

Not necessarily an easy answer that involves lamps and Genies but an answer nevertheless.

Here are 4 common roadblocks that stop you from writing – and 4 ways to steamroll them flat.

1) I don’t have time to write

When I was younger, there was a TV show about a boy with a watch who could stop time. I think everyone would kill for one of those, writer or not.

You’re allowed to have a busy life, a job, a family, kids, pets and all sorts of other commitments. You’re allowed to have days when you don’t write. Don’t feel bad about them.

But –

the fact remains that your book/short story/poem/screenplay isn’t going to write itself. So you’re going to have to maketime. That might mean making a few little sacrifices; you wake up a bit…

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Episode 2 of #Reid2Write – Suzie from ‘Suzie81speaks’ talks Networking and Building Traffic

01 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by Susan A. Royal in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Aidan J. Reid

thsthnr-_400x400

SIX DEGREES OF Kevin Bacon is a fun game.

The premise is that the Hollywood actor can be linked to any other celebrity by six degrees of separation – typically through his wide and varied film roles.

If there was a similar game played out in the world of WordPress, Suzie81speaks would be the blog at the centre of that Universe, connected to other bloggers by far fewer than six degrees.

View original post 1,485 more words

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