Showing posts with label #getting rid of dialogue tags. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #getting rid of dialogue tags. Show all posts

Thursday, June 6, 2019

The Cherish Book Series by Cheryl Long

JUNE 6, 2019

What a crazy week this has been and very stressing. Why? First, my eighty-six-year-old mother was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia and AFib and they haven't been able to stabilize her heart rate. If that wasn't enough, both of my sisters became ill. Robby was admitted to the hospital yesterday for pneumonia and my sister Caylen went to the twenty-four-hour clinic in respiratory distress and had to have a  breathing treatment. As for me, yep, I got something too. I went to my doctor and told him what was going on with my family and he immediately checked me for any virus, flu, strep, and pneumonia. I came out okay with only an ear infection. And, I thought it only came in threes. This came in fours. Please send up healing prayers for my mother and family.

On the upside of things, one of my grandsons competed in his swim meet and won all first place in the breast, free, relay, and fly. I am so proud of him and everyone calls him the Mini Michael Phelps.
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I also came across a book for teens to read this summer called SOUTHERN ATTRACTION: THE COLLEGE YEARS written by Tracy Kaufman which is about a head-strong, stuck up girl that had to come to terms with her parent's passing. Heather came from an upper-class family of wealth, fortune, and love.  Then everything suddenly changes.  She loses her family to a sudden car accident tragedy.  She has to move to a southern town in Alabama where the rednecks ruled the town.  She learns how to love an uncle she barely knew and live in a place she despises.  To her surprise, she discovers a new world amongst the country bumkins of the south. Trying to fit into this new life for herself, she is faced with a hard decision. Who will she give her heart to? A man that is completely different from her or someone who shares the same qualities that she does. Join Heather in this journey of love, discovery and search for happiness.

This week I also came across a new series of books aimed for mothers and daughters. I thought it was appropriate considering what was going on in my life with my mother and her three daughters. The author is Cheryl Long. Cheryl T. Long was born and raised in Philadelphia and has always loved writing stories. While in the fifth grade, Cheryl had a teacher who sparked her interest in writing. He always told her that her storytelling was quite unique for her age. From that moment, Cheryl had one vision in her mind -- give the people around her an imaginative outlet. She is a mother of four beautiful children and enjoys cooking, fishing, and talking. I want to introduce you to her book series called THE CHERISH BOOK SERIES which consists of three books -- AS THE FLOWERS BLOOM, BURSTING OF THE FLOWER, and FULL BLOSSOM.






Tell your readers a little about yourself, where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc. Let them get to know the personal you.

I grew up in the city of Philadelphia. I come from a very large family. My mother had thirteen siblings. My father had eleven. My parents grew up across the street from each other, making access to both sides of my family very easy.  I am the oldest of all my sibling.  I went to Henry Charles Lea Elementary K-8 and George Washington High school.  I have my associates degree in applied science.  I now live in the great state of Delaware, where I had owned a home for two and a half years. I am a Medical Office Practice Manager for Christiana Care Health System.  I am a mother of four children,  one son, and three lovely daughters. Not married at this time.  I love to cook, dance, write,  read, and fish.

What inspired you to author this book?

I had a good friend who experienced sexual assault in her home, and no one believed her. I saw the damage that was done from her having to live in that house with the abuser until she ran away. I saw her again later in life, and she had endured a lot of trama. I had a dream about this person (Cherish), and it shook me to my core. When I woke up, the feeling was still there, and I began to write and couldn’t stop, before I know it I had the outline done.

Where did you get the inspiration for your book’s cover?

The book cover spoke to me as I was thinking about the many faces of this person changing over time.

Who has been the most significant influence on you personally and as a writer?

My children, my fiance, Bryan, and my grandmother, who always told me I was a great person. She has since passed on.

What were your struggles or obstacles you had to overcome to get this book written?

I struggled with finding the time to write. I have a full-time job, and I’m a parent, and mentally, it was hard to concentrate after work to write.  However, once I really decided to give it a go, it wasn’t an obstacle anymore.

Tell your readers about your book.

'As The Flowers Bloom' is a captivating fictional story about a young lady who grows up in an environment of abuse and neglect, yet has a dream to become a famous dancer. Running away from home in search of greener pastures, Cherish would soon discover that the streets are even rougher than she thought. After so many wrong turns and disappointments, she finally gets much-needed help and pursues her career.

Who is your target audience, and why?

My target reader is abused children and women of all nationalities because I want them to know that their story will be heard and that people care and that they can persevere.

 What do you hope your readers get from reading this book?

I hope readers get awareness and sick stomachs. I hope readers get more involved in child and domestic abuse campaigns.

If you were going to give one reason for anyone looking at your book to read, why should they buy it?

This book paints a vivid picture of what a lot of young girls are subjected to in different parts of the world, as relating to the human experiences. Growing up in societies that provide little or no support, these girls are forced to survive in ways we can’t imagine.

What do you consider your greatest success in life?

Being able to think and being creative most of the time. I think and look at the world with rose colored glasses.

What one unique thing sets you apart from other writers in your genre?

Well, I think I’m in a genre all by my self as I have been told my books are not really fiction, nonfiction or literary I‘m calling it (sticky topic melodrama).

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I sit down with a cup of coffee and talk to it.

What one piece of advice do you have for new authors.

Just do it. Writing takes discipline, but it is what you love doing.

Tell your readers anything else you want to share.

This book is a series. Book two is Bursting of the Flower and book three, is  Full Blossom.   Read them all to see the evolution of Cherish Flowers

Also, I write in many genres. I have a heart for children who are born with life-threatening diseases and write to bring awareness and also to brag on them.
 

ABOUT THE CHERISH BOOK SERIES








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Living in a two-parent home would seem ideal, but for this little girl. Cherish Flowers is a six-year-old child prostitute trafficked by her father, and her mother knew about it. Although severely sexually and mentally abused, she finds a way to deal with her life as it is. She takes solace in her ability to dance. 

Cherish is in love with the dancing, but can she survive the daily travails of her life?

With no formal training other than her passion for dancing, Cherish has finally gotten her big break, but it might cost her everything. Unable, to put the nightmares of her past and the man that abused her out of her mind, she soon finds herself spiraling under those bright lights. Will this flower bloom? Or will she wilt?



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Forced out on the cold streets of Philly, Cherish has finally hit rock bottom. Her life as she knows it is circling the drain. After years of doing anything it takes to survive she meets a woman named Dorothy who offers to help her change her life for the better. 

Given a safe place to live by a woman who helps wayward girls in, Cherish finally has a place she can call home. However, the past is never far behind for Cherish, will she be able to accept the help offered to her? Or. will she wind up back out on the streets?

Even though her life is on track Cherish can’t stop thinking about her dreams of dance. And her dreams of true love. But, the only place she can find work as a dancer is at a gentlemen’s club.
Which is where she meets the man of her dreams. 

An older gentleman who works as a musician and knows everyone in the business. With connections, money, and power he offers Cherish the life she always wanted.

But, the more she gets to know him the more she comes to find that her new life has a hefty price. Dragged back down into a life she tried to leave behind, it will take everything Cherish has to get away.


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A compelling tale about perseverance, grit, friendship, love, passion, and resilience. This book captures the very essence of being human and the challenges we are all too familiar with in the pursuit of our dreams. When Cherish Flowers flees from her home after the murder of her mother at the hands of her father, she was certain that her troubles would finally come to an end; and she would be free to dance as she pleases. But in the new world, this twelve-year-old runaway soon discovers that her struggles are far from over as she encounters new obstacles in her strive to put the pieces of her life together. As the misfortunes kept trying to outshine her efforts, she is forced to confront the most daring of situations to reclaim control over her life. Is Cherish going to achieve her dream; is she going to get back the reins of her life or has she been dealt too many blows than she can recover from? This book is for every person with a dream who needs their hope reaffirmed; it shows that against overwhelming odds humans are capable of blossoming. It is also a memorable and inspiring read for all persons that have had to ensure any form of sexual abuse; it teaches that you're more valuable than you may think and that your dreams are valid!

Long has several other books that you might be interested in so check them out too.
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Monday, March 25, 2019

Spring Cleaning Your Manuscripts by Eliminating Dialogue Tags



March 25, 2019

Happy spring! I don 't know about you, but I am glad spring is here. I love the crispness in the air, the birds singing to me in the morning, and to watch the fruit of my labor in my flower garden. The picture to the left is one I took in Oregon of a lily pad in full bloom. I remember that day clearly. I was with one of my daughters and her two sons.

Oh, then there is the ultimate spring cleaning that I do. This year was a little different for me because not only did I do spring cleaning in my home, but I also added items that I cleared to my corner of my family's antique store. I worked all weekend packing things from my home and carrying to FAMILY TREE ANTIQUES & TREASURES located in Bay St. Louis, MS. Here are a couple of my treasures added to the store. If you see something you like, let me know and you can purchase it and I can ship it to you.

 I have an extensive antique marble collection with some rare ones for sale.


The store is full of crystal antiques, glassware, and more.


Another angle of the section called Mel's Marbles.


See the necklaces hanging on this, most are the necklaces like the one Jackie found in the antique store in my novel Never Stop Running.



 Look at the fabulous vases, trinket box, and platter from Ivory Dynasty. These are true collector's items.


I have antique lunch boxes and comic books. I also have my books The Keystroke Killer and Never Stop Running which are autographed available too. Oh, BTW, this is the antique store that Jackie, my main character in Never Stop Running visits. I also have the necklaces pendant domed watches available for sale.

SPRING CLEANING YOUR MANUSCRIPTS BY ELIMINATING DIALOGUE TAGS

BY DR. MELISSA CAUDLE

Today's author tips have to do with spring cleaning your manuscript. What does that mean? Simply put, as authors we sometimes junk up our manuscripts by adding unnecessary information. By unnecessary I mean the pesky dialogue tags. Ouch! Too many dialogue tags bog down your readers. More importantly, when it comes time for the book to be made into an audiobook, dialogue tags make the audio version sound horrible. Maybe this is just a personal opinion as I NEVER use dialogue tags in any of my novels. Instead, I focus on showing rather than telling through strong action of my characters which allow my readers to visualize everything that transpires. I challenge every author to rework your opening chapter and eliminate dialogue tags from it. Once you get used to writing without them, your writing improves. So how do you do that?

Challenge Step - Use the find and replace area in Word and locate the word 'said.' Once you find it, look at your dialogue. Ask, is the tag necessary? If you can remove it without losing who said it, do so. Make sure you adjust your punctuation mark to a period. Once you remove the dialogue tag, make sure it is easy to understand who is saying what. Remember when writing, it is important that your dialogue is strong and reflects the character. If you are successful in that area, the dialogue tags can be eliminated. If you are confused by who is saying what without a dialogue tag, then add a character's action or feeling. Look at my example below:

"I am so glad you came," Martha said as she rolled her eyes.

"Thank you for inviting me," Tom said with a smile.

"I wouldn't think of any other person that I wanted to come," Martha mumbled beneath her breath.

"What was that?" Tom asked, "I didn't quite hear you."

The above example is correct in every sense, grammar, structure, and punctuation. However, I added the bold font to the dialogue tags that aren't necessary. Now read the example where I eliminated the dialogue tags and added the action of the characters. Notice how easy it is to read now.

"I am so glad you came." Martha rolled her eyes as she sighed.

"Thank you for inviting me." Tom flashed a white-toothed grin of male satisfaction.

"I wouldn't think of any other person that I wanted to come." Martha titled her nose high into the air as she covered her mouth.

"What was that?" Tom's brow furrowed.  "I didn't quite hear you."

Now that you can compare the two, one with dialogue tags and one without, which one to you lets you visualize what the character is doing? How they responded? The last one without the dialogue tags proves that they are not needed. I challenge each writer to eliminate all dialogue tags to become a better writer.

The book Giveaway Contest for Max Hawthorne's books is in full swing. It is only the second week in and hundreds of new subscribers have entered. Thank you for your support. If you want to get to know Max a little more, he was on a radio show. Listen to the interview by clicking this link.

Also, don't forget to either subscribe or for additional chances to win leave a comment below.



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This blog's author interview is very special as I have identified a talented and gifted writer -- Katherine Moore and her book Elementals Mystic Warriors. Who doesn't love mystical warriors? And, do I dare mention how beautiful the cover is? Please enjoy getting to know Katherine More and her novel Elementals Mystic Warriors.

Elementals Mystic Warriors - Synopsis

Enter into the enchanting world of the Mystic Warriors where an ageless immortal society of gifted and powerful supernatural beings exist, unknown to man, with magic and the ability to control the elements of nature and use these abilities to fight the forces of darkness. Desire, love, and adventure lie ahead for two unlikely souls destined to be together.
A powerful shifter, telepath, and practitioner of magic, Bly La Croix is a true daughter of the earth. She’s a descendant from a long line of Elemental warriors and magical beings as a protector of mankind while living among normal man as one of them. The various roles she’s assumed over time afforded her the secrecy necessary to fulfill her protective role to man. 
Andrew Von Erikson, the eldest of the Von Erikson triplets born over six hundred years ago. The situation surrounding their birth created the one of a kind warrior that he and his siblings are. Known to the society of Elementals as Day Walkers, they are a triple threat to combat the evil of the world. Due to the circumstance of his birth, Andrew exists in a world of isolation, expecting nothing, to never find a mate who can save him from the shadows that haunt his being.
They were both summoned to return to Nos Ysse Kraggenra – Sanctuary Mountain, by the governing council of their society. Trouble is brewing and danger of the dark forces is presenting itself. It’s prey, mankind, and their weaknesses. From the moment they meet, Bly and Andrew are drawn to one another, helpless to resist the desire that ignites between them. Destiny has brought them together but is it enough to overcome the obstacles that malevolent force has thrown in their path.

Will the desire they share be enough to overcome the barriers of their lives that separate them?

NOW FOR KATHERINE MOORE'S INTERVIEW



Name of Book:  Elementals Mystic Warriors

Year Published: 2019
Publisher: Self-Published

Tell your readers a little about yourself. Where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc. Let them get to know the personal you.

I grew up in Iowa, LA a small town in southwest Louisiana, where everybody knew everyone.  I am the third child of eleven children, six girls, and five boys.  My parents moved to Houston when I was sixteen and I finished high school at Kashmere Sr. High, here in Houston.   I married at an early age but that didn’t stop me from pursuing my education.  Maybe delayed it but I eventually continue on. First at San Jacinto Junior College and later transferred to University of Houston-Downtown campus where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a Minor in Psychology.

I was a single mom of four children after a failed marriage.  This in itself was a struggle, but it just made me more determined to give my children a good life and that came with working hard.  Sometimes I worked two jobs in the process, too provide for my family.  Even as a single mom I was able to provide stability by purchasing our home.

What inspired you to write this book?

As a child, I always had a vivid imagination and I liked to read.  In reading, I escaped into other worlds.  Through reading, I travel through time and space and become whatever I wanted to be.  My mom was an avid reader and that is where my love for reading came from.  I wanted to share my thoughts on the written page, the adventures and characters I mentally create with others.

Where did you get the inspiration for your book’s cover?

I was inspired by the characters that I am writing about.  A few of them are among the oldest ones, members of the first-born of the earth, Elves.  These are preternatural beings, especially from mountainous regions, with magical powers.  To me, they are the personification of the supernatural.

Who has been the biggest influence on you personally and as a writer?

Authors like Christine Feehan, Cecilia Kyle, and Isabel T. Lucas. They present great stories that make me want to read more

What were your struggles or obstacles you had to overcome to get this book written?

Time!  Working for myself or being self-employed, running a small home office can be very time consuming, leaving only late hours after closing my office to work on my book.

Tell your readers about your book.

The Elementals are descendants of generations of powerful shifters, telepaths, and practitioners of magic. They are magical beings, protectors of mankind living and working among normal man as one of them.  The protect mankind from dark evil forces seeking to destroy man.



Who is your target audience and why?

My audience is anyone who has a love for the supernatural. The things that go bump in the night…the mystical and magical with a bit of romance, fighting and life challenges included.  Adventure and action filled with the challenge of trying to maintain some normalcy in life in their abnormal world. 

If you were going to give one reason for anyone looking at your book to read, why should they buy it?

If they love the paranormal world, with scenarios of almost immortal beings living beside us daily, as they work and function as peace officers, teachers, doctors even grocery clerks but unknown to normal man in everyday life this book is for you.

What do you consider your greatest success in life?

My greatest success in life was the ability to have raised four amazing children successfully as a single mom with the help an influence of my family.

Everyone has life lessons to learn, tell your readers one or two of yours and how they make you the person you are today.

My father was a believer of that you can do and be anything you wanted to be if you truly wanted it enough.  I took his message to heart in whatever endeavor I pursued.  When things seemed impossible I just pushed a little harder until I achieved my goal.  You have to work hard for what you want out of life… If at first, you don’t succeed, it just means that you need to approach your goal at another angle.

What one unique thing sets you apart from other writers in your genre?

My characters are a part of me.  I feel them and I know them like they are old friends and family.  My stories unfold as the characters identity and personality presents itself revealing their place in my story. 

Tell your readers anything else you want to share.

Elementals Mystic Warriors is the first in a series of Mystic Warrior novels.  Each book will open up the paranormal world with refreshing new characters that my audience will love.  My second novel in the series is Dragonborn Search For A Dream.


ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO PRE-ORDER HOW TO LAUNCH AND MARKET A BOOK

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Time has really flown by with my pre-launch campaign to launch my new book HOW TO LAUNCH AND MARKET A BOOK which will be published on April 1, 2019. Although this is April Fool's Day, this book is no joke and provides a serious marketing strategy to launch your book. Where did the time fly? It seems like it was yesterday that I started writing this book to help other authors to navigate a pre-launch campaign to make sure their books make it to the #1 New Release on Amazon. Not only have I successfully launched my books as the #1 New Release, but I have also helped dozens of others to do the same thing. The book is a step-by-step guide that starts six months prior to your publication date for maximum exposure. This is one resource you must have as an author. I am including to videos, the book's trailer so you can take a peek inside, and a sample audio version narrated by Timothy Burke. 

HERE IS THE FLIPBOOK TRAILER


SAMPLE AUDIO EXCERPT FROM HOW TO LAUNCH AND MARKET A BOOK
NARRATED BY TIMOTHY BURKE



A.D.A.M. THE BEGINNING OF NEW LIFE IS SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH IN JUNE

I am always excited to publish a new book and right now you can pre-order my new science fiction novel A.D.A.M. - The Beginning of New Life. This book was so much fun to write as I delved into the world of a government conspiracy and the cover-up of an alien lifeform. This book has all the hallmarks of becoming a bestseller. Take a look at the book's trailers and pre-order your copy today.




HERE ARE SEVERAL A.D.A.M. BOOK TRAILERS







And, don't forget to get your copy of my other two novels, Never Stop Running and The Keystroke Killer.



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NEVER STOP RUNNING

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