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Kelli's Quill - HOT July/August summer issue!
Kelli’s Quill
The Official Newsletter of Kelli Wilkins
July/August Issue (Vol. 2 Number 4)
Welcome everyone! Happy Summer! This issue the “for Readers” section includes links to new reviews, news about an upcoming book release, and a Q&A section. The “for Writers” article shows you how to create problems for your characters. Enjoy!
-Kelli
FOR READERS
New reviews for two hot summer reads!:
Two Lips Reviews gave Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover a 5 Lip Review! Here’s a snippet:
“I enjoyed Kelli A. Wilkins’ Confessions of a Vampire‘s Lover. It was a quick and easy read. I liked how Kelli achieved the mood of loneliness with her characters and the setting. I loved the ending. I’d take the chance just like Brian….”
The link is:
http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3976&Itemid=36
Naughty Nobles has received two excellent reviews! Rose at Romance at Heart had this to say:
“Naughty Nobles is a trio of racy and erotic novellas that will entertain you and keep you guessing. The travels these three pairs of mismatched lovers have to take to reach true love are convoluted, erotic, and yet necessary. Join Dalton and Elara, Julian and Annabelle, and Sebestyen and Katarina as they learn the ropes, and fall in love. Get a copy of today. It is delightfully naughty reading!
Read the full review here:
http://romanceatheart.com/review/naughtynobles.html
Coffeetime Romance gave Naughty Nobles a 5 Coffee Cup rating!
“The combination of these three outrageous but erotic tales is awe-inspiring. Individually the stories are hot, but together they are scorching. Each story is unique in content but tied together by the sexual needs of each character and the means they will go to in order to reach fulfillment. The author has an outstanding grasp of the idea that when it comes to sexual gratification, there should be no limits. This is an excellent read for anyone wishing to explore the fiery side of love…”
The link to review is:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Naughtynobles.html
Coming Soon – A New Release!
Kelli’s paranormal romance “Beauty & the Bigfoot” is scheduled for release in mid-August. What happens when Tara falls in love with her father’s cryptozoological catch of the century? Find out in this quirky fantasy/comedy! See a preview of the cover on Kelli’s photos! Look for an excerpt and a blog post coming soon!
Q&A WITH KELLI
What made you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I never actually decided to be a writer—it was just something that seemed natural to me. I’ve been writing stories since I was in elementary school and writing always interested me. I’ve been blessed with a lot of ideas and I just kept writing story after story as they came to me. Oddly, I never tried to get any of my writings published until I enrolled in a commercial writer’s program as an adult. People liked reading my short stories, and I liked writing them, so I decided to submit them for publication. From there, my “official” writing career was born.
Do you have a favorite genre or two that you like to write?
I’ve written in several genres: horror, romance, sci fi, and non-fiction. I have a lot of ideas, so I’m able to diversify and switch gears now and then. In romance, I like to write historical/fantasy stories. My “Royal Desires” trilogy from Amber Quill Press (A Most Unusual Princess, Dalton’s Temptation, and The Pauper Prince) is a “medieval” fantasy. I liked writing the series because it allowed me to create a whole world for my characters. My romance novella, The Dark Lord, is historical, and The Sexy Stranger is contemporary. Although I’m drawn to historical/fantasy settings, if I get a great idea for a story I’ll go with it, regardless of the genre. My novella, A Midsummer Night’s Delights, is a fantasy story and Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover is a paranormal contemporary.
What motivates you to write? Do you have muses that keep you going during those times when you may experience writer's block?
I’m self-motivated. I keep a folder of ideas, and if I’m ever at a loss for my next project, I read through the folder and see what story/plot/idea appeals to me to write next. Whenever I get stuck on a story or need to work out some details (of plot, characters, or whatever), I take a break from writing and go for a walk to clear my head. Usually the “writer’s block” clears up on its own and I get clarity on how to fix the story.
FOR WRITERS
Last issue we motivated your story characters to greater heights. By raising the stakes, you can make your plot more interesting and give your characters the extra push they need to achieve their goals. This time, we’ll show you how to make your characters’ lives miserable – but in a good way!
As anyone who watches reality TV knows, there’s nothing like some good conflict to spice things up! Conflict is what prevents a main character from getting what he or she wants. Whether you’re writing romance, sci fi, mainstream, or horror, you need to give your characters opposition. If you make it too easy for them to achieve their goal, the story will be flat and the reader will lose interest. Back in grade school, conflict was boiled down to three groups: man vs. man; man vs. nature; and man vs. himself. We’ll use these as our basis.
Man vs. man: Every good protagonist needs a formidable antagonist. (In movie terms this would be Batman vs. The Joker.) Whoever this person is, he or she makes it his or her mission in life to stop the main character from reaching their goal, whatever the goal may be. When using this conflict, let your bad guy be really bad and throw everything at the hero/heroine. The badder, the better!
Man vs. nature (or environment): Sometimes the setting or circumstances in a story are used to build conflict. In some stories, anything that can go wrong, does. A blizzard is predicted on the same day the hero must climb the mountain and rescue his beloved. The car breaks down next to a creepy cemetery. The heroine desperately needs medicine for her child, but a serial killer has her trapped in a cabin. Let your characters get into trouble and then find a clever way to have them overcome the obstacles.
Man vs. himself: This inner conflict can arise during a crisis. Some characters have deep hidden psychological or personal issues that prevent them from doing what they want or need to do. For example, the hero who is terrified of heights must rescue the heroine from a canyon ledge. A woman who fears water is trapped on a sinking ship (surrounded by sharks of course!) Don’t be afraid to show your characters’ vulnerabilities – but don’t have them become completely dysfunctional, either. A character builds strength by overcoming his or her fears.
Make your characters suffer in their situations – it will help the reader root for their success!
Just for fun:
Here are some conflicts you can try on your next set of characters:
Cell phone with no reception (or no phone at all); power outage, relative/former lover unexpectedly drops in; main character falls and breaks leg; it starts to rain; running out of water; fear of confined spaces; rock slide; being blackmailed, locked in a crypt, a full moon.
I hope you enjoyed this issue! Feel free to pass it along to others who might be interested. You can also read back issues on my pages at Goodreads.com and on Facebook!
Have a happy summer!
Kelli
www.KelliWilkins.com
The Official Newsletter of Kelli Wilkins
July/August Issue (Vol. 2 Number 4)
Welcome everyone! Happy Summer! This issue the “for Readers” section includes links to new reviews, news about an upcoming book release, and a Q&A section. The “for Writers” article shows you how to create problems for your characters. Enjoy!
-Kelli
FOR READERS
New reviews for two hot summer reads!:
Two Lips Reviews gave Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover a 5 Lip Review! Here’s a snippet:
“I enjoyed Kelli A. Wilkins’ Confessions of a Vampire‘s Lover. It was a quick and easy read. I liked how Kelli achieved the mood of loneliness with her characters and the setting. I loved the ending. I’d take the chance just like Brian….”
The link is:
http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3976&Itemid=36
Naughty Nobles has received two excellent reviews! Rose at Romance at Heart had this to say:
“Naughty Nobles is a trio of racy and erotic novellas that will entertain you and keep you guessing. The travels these three pairs of mismatched lovers have to take to reach true love are convoluted, erotic, and yet necessary. Join Dalton and Elara, Julian and Annabelle, and Sebestyen and Katarina as they learn the ropes, and fall in love. Get a copy of today. It is delightfully naughty reading!
Read the full review here:
http://romanceatheart.com/review/naughtynobles.html
Coffeetime Romance gave Naughty Nobles a 5 Coffee Cup rating!
“The combination of these three outrageous but erotic tales is awe-inspiring. Individually the stories are hot, but together they are scorching. Each story is unique in content but tied together by the sexual needs of each character and the means they will go to in order to reach fulfillment. The author has an outstanding grasp of the idea that when it comes to sexual gratification, there should be no limits. This is an excellent read for anyone wishing to explore the fiery side of love…”
The link to review is:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Naughtynobles.html
Coming Soon – A New Release!
Kelli’s paranormal romance “Beauty & the Bigfoot” is scheduled for release in mid-August. What happens when Tara falls in love with her father’s cryptozoological catch of the century? Find out in this quirky fantasy/comedy! See a preview of the cover on Kelli’s photos! Look for an excerpt and a blog post coming soon!
Q&A WITH KELLI
What made you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I never actually decided to be a writer—it was just something that seemed natural to me. I’ve been writing stories since I was in elementary school and writing always interested me. I’ve been blessed with a lot of ideas and I just kept writing story after story as they came to me. Oddly, I never tried to get any of my writings published until I enrolled in a commercial writer’s program as an adult. People liked reading my short stories, and I liked writing them, so I decided to submit them for publication. From there, my “official” writing career was born.
Do you have a favorite genre or two that you like to write?
I’ve written in several genres: horror, romance, sci fi, and non-fiction. I have a lot of ideas, so I’m able to diversify and switch gears now and then. In romance, I like to write historical/fantasy stories. My “Royal Desires” trilogy from Amber Quill Press (A Most Unusual Princess, Dalton’s Temptation, and The Pauper Prince) is a “medieval” fantasy. I liked writing the series because it allowed me to create a whole world for my characters. My romance novella, The Dark Lord, is historical, and The Sexy Stranger is contemporary. Although I’m drawn to historical/fantasy settings, if I get a great idea for a story I’ll go with it, regardless of the genre. My novella, A Midsummer Night’s Delights, is a fantasy story and Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover is a paranormal contemporary.
What motivates you to write? Do you have muses that keep you going during those times when you may experience writer's block?
I’m self-motivated. I keep a folder of ideas, and if I’m ever at a loss for my next project, I read through the folder and see what story/plot/idea appeals to me to write next. Whenever I get stuck on a story or need to work out some details (of plot, characters, or whatever), I take a break from writing and go for a walk to clear my head. Usually the “writer’s block” clears up on its own and I get clarity on how to fix the story.
FOR WRITERS
Last issue we motivated your story characters to greater heights. By raising the stakes, you can make your plot more interesting and give your characters the extra push they need to achieve their goals. This time, we’ll show you how to make your characters’ lives miserable – but in a good way!
As anyone who watches reality TV knows, there’s nothing like some good conflict to spice things up! Conflict is what prevents a main character from getting what he or she wants. Whether you’re writing romance, sci fi, mainstream, or horror, you need to give your characters opposition. If you make it too easy for them to achieve their goal, the story will be flat and the reader will lose interest. Back in grade school, conflict was boiled down to three groups: man vs. man; man vs. nature; and man vs. himself. We’ll use these as our basis.
Man vs. man: Every good protagonist needs a formidable antagonist. (In movie terms this would be Batman vs. The Joker.) Whoever this person is, he or she makes it his or her mission in life to stop the main character from reaching their goal, whatever the goal may be. When using this conflict, let your bad guy be really bad and throw everything at the hero/heroine. The badder, the better!
Man vs. nature (or environment): Sometimes the setting or circumstances in a story are used to build conflict. In some stories, anything that can go wrong, does. A blizzard is predicted on the same day the hero must climb the mountain and rescue his beloved. The car breaks down next to a creepy cemetery. The heroine desperately needs medicine for her child, but a serial killer has her trapped in a cabin. Let your characters get into trouble and then find a clever way to have them overcome the obstacles.
Man vs. himself: This inner conflict can arise during a crisis. Some characters have deep hidden psychological or personal issues that prevent them from doing what they want or need to do. For example, the hero who is terrified of heights must rescue the heroine from a canyon ledge. A woman who fears water is trapped on a sinking ship (surrounded by sharks of course!) Don’t be afraid to show your characters’ vulnerabilities – but don’t have them become completely dysfunctional, either. A character builds strength by overcoming his or her fears.
Make your characters suffer in their situations – it will help the reader root for their success!
Just for fun:
Here are some conflicts you can try on your next set of characters:
Cell phone with no reception (or no phone at all); power outage, relative/former lover unexpectedly drops in; main character falls and breaks leg; it starts to rain; running out of water; fear of confined spaces; rock slide; being blackmailed, locked in a crypt, a full moon.
I hope you enjoyed this issue! Feel free to pass it along to others who might be interested. You can also read back issues on my pages at Goodreads.com and on Facebook!
Have a happy summer!
Kelli
www.KelliWilkins.com
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