December 30, 2006

OKRWA January 2007 Newsletter

From The Prez: Vicki Hudoba

Cheers to all! My cyber toast: May we all find our own way to say goodbye to 2006 and happily embrace the joys and challenges of 2007. I am much honored that one of my challenges this year is to serve as president of our fine group. Thank you for your confidence and your support.

I’ve always had a tendency to dive in head first and hope I can doggy paddle until I catch my breath. I know that Deb Behrens will throw me a life preserver if need be. I look forward to working with the new board to preserve and persevere to keep OKRWA on its upward spiral to success.

The coming year promises to be full of information, fun, laughter, hard work, camaraderie and maybe just a little bit of mischief. I for one can’t wait.

See you at the meeting,
Vicki

January 2007 Program
Saturday, January 20th 1:00

RESEARCH AND RESOURCES
Why You Can't Burn Your Corset
What did women wear to bed in the 17th century? What is the first step for conducting a crime scene investigation? What poisons were commonly available in Venice in 672 AD? Research gives us these answers, but sometimes finding the right or most reliable resource is daunting. Join us for a group discussion of the best and most favorite resources from our OKRWA members. Bring your own favorites and share with others as well.

In January, we will be meeting at Belle Isle Library instead of Penn Square Mall. For directions, you can visit the library's web site. In the lower section of the left-hand column, you will see several links concerning directions. This location is near Penn Square Mall, just down the road from Border's Books.

New Releases




Her Military Man – Laura Marie Altom

Constance Price, aka Miss Manners, is at her wit's end. Thanks to less-than-stellar ratings on her daily radio show, her boss is demanding a turnaround--fast! And that means asking Garret Underwood--her biggest critic and past love--to join her. Whenever the navy SEAL calls in, her ratings skyrocket! There's no way Connie can ask him to help. Or can she?

Garret's in town only temporarily and is "willing" to give Connie a hand. As much as she needs him, Connie plans to keep him at an emotional distance. Keeping him away from her ten-year-old daughter, on the other hand, won't be easy. But how can she tell the man she once loved he's the father of her child?




Surviving Demon Island - Jaci Burton

What's America's top female action star doing on a tropical island shrouded in secrecy? To Gina Bliss, competing in a survival-type reality show is a nice change from fending off on-screen villains. Until she meets real-life action hero Derek Marks. A survival specialist in a tight black T and sexy stubble, he's arousing every bad-boy fantasy she's ever had...and testing her survival skills to the max.

Martial arts, jungle warfare - Derek's done it all. But his latest mission is more dangerous than a stick of dynamite. Try telling that to the sexy, adrenaline-pumped actress who's got his libido racing off the charts. As the heat rises between them and real-life violence erupts, suddenly Derek and Gina are on the run...and when they uncover a secret so explosive it could blow the lid of their so-called reality show, these two unlikely heroes are about to discover what surviving's really about....




To Love a Texan – Georgina Gentry

A WOMAN WITH A WILL
Miss Lillian Primm is beyond weary of polishing the manners of Boston's young ladies, so when she inherits half ownership of a "hotel" in Fort Floppett, Texas, she eagerly heads out West—only to discover that The Texas Lily is no less than a house of ill repute!

A MAN WITH A PLAN
Bradley O'Neal doesn't intend to change a thing about The Texas Lily, least of all the lovely ladies who keep customers coming back for more. It won't be the first time he turns on the charm to get his way—and discovering what lies behind Miss Primm's proper facade is a game too tempting to pass up . . .

A MATCH MADE IN THE WILD WEST
Now, as the straitlaced schoolmarm faces off against the shrewdest gambler in the Lonestar State, let the winner take all . . .




Heart of the Amazon – Margaret Daley

There was no way her brother was dead. Officials claimed the biochemist had been murdered in the Brazilian rainforest, his body fallen prey to the mists of the jungle. But Kate Collier knew Zach and couldn't leave it at that; Zach was all she had left.

Tall, dark and mysterious, A. C. Slader had a past that was as turbulent as the Amazon River. Yet he was the only one who could guide her on a journey from which many never returned. A journey that would stretch the limits of their faith in God and each other.





2007 New Release List






Member News


Madelaine Culp, who placed second with her manuscript, My Lord’s Doxy, in the 2006 Golden Rose Contest, received this wonderful rejection letter from Hilary Sares at Kenningston.

Dear Madelaine Culp: Thanks very much for the look at
MY LORD'S DOXY--I thought this Regency romance was
lively and original and truly charming,but we're not doing
historical like this anymore. I really hope you find a
publisher because this is a terrific book. Thanks again.

Georgina Gentry has just been notified that the French rights for To Tease A Texan, have just been sold as well as the Portuguese rights for To Tempt A Texan.


Willie Ferguson won the 2006 Where the Magic Begins Contest with her manuscript Colorado Cowboy and has a request for a partial from Kathleen Scheibling of HQ American.

PC Cast and Gena Showalter have been notified that the Mysteria anthology has been optioned by Sony TV for a cable mini-series. Gena and PC both have novellas in the anthology. In addition, they’ve signed for a Mysteria II, due to be released in July 2008.

Please join us in congratulating our members on these accomplishments.


*********


From the Editor
I want to thank Rinda Elliott for creating and designing this wonderful newsletter. Taking on the task willingly, she has made the OK Corral Newsletter a monthly need-to-read item.

For my first newsletter, I’ve only included the basics. In the future, I hope to make it as entertaining and informative as Rinda has this past year.

Debbie Behrens


Please, send all member news, new releases, writing articles, etc. to me at Debehrs@aol.com .
Posted by Debbie Behrens :: 7:54 AM :: ---------------oOo---------------

December 05, 2006

OKRWA December 2006 Newsletter

Happy Holidays From the Members of OKRWA!

From The Prez: Deborah Behrens:

It seems like only yesterday I took office, boy does time fly when you’re having fun. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about being the one chosen to represent this wonderful group of writers. It was a decision I will never regret. You’ve all been so gracious throughout the year. I’m definitely going to miss being your Prez, you’ve made it seem like such an easy task. Even though I hate to say goodbye, you’ll soon have Vicki as your new President and a whole new slate of wonderful officers to make feel at home. I know you’ll be as helpful to them as you have been to me. I don’t have much else to say this month other than I love you, Outlaws, and I can’t wait to see you all at the Christmas party!


Deb

December 2006 Program:

Christmas party at Donnell's! It's pot luck, so bring something yummy. We also play Dirty Santa, so bring one of your favorite books to share-- Unwrapped. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! Directions are posted on the loop-- email directly for directions if you missed them.

Saturday, December 16th 1:00

New Releases:

Lakota Baby by Elle James

"Cooperate or you'll never see your son again."

Someone wanted tribal police chief Joe Lonewolf's attention, and now they had it. He had returned from war to learn he had a son--by Maggie Brandt, the woman he had never stopped loving but had forced himself to forget. If only it were so easy… Now they had only three days and each other--and nothing would stop them from rescuing their infant child.

Their frantic search soon unearthed deadly corruption in the South Dakota community--and old desires. With tensions rising on the reservation, the proud Lakota sought justice and found a kindred spirit in Maggie. He would need her courage if he was ever to set eyes on his beautiful baby boy.

A Season for Grace by Linda Goodnight

The moment they met, social worker Mia Carano knew Officer Collin Grace was the perfect mentor for a runaway teen in her care. After all, the boy looked up to him, and desperately needed a role model.

Though a childhood spent in foster care had hardened Collin, Mia would reveal the caring man she knew was inside. After all, breaking through his gruff exterior would fulfill a boy's Christmas wish…and maybe even her own.

Divine By Choice by P.C. Cast

After being mistaken for a goddess in the mythic world of Partholon, high school English teacher Shannon Parker settled in. She adores her sexy centaur husband, is getting used to her connection to the powerful goddess Epona and thoroughly enjoys the pampering from both! All is looking very right in her world…until she is wrenched from Partholon and sent back to Oklahoma.

As she struggles to return to the world and the husband she loves, Shannon discovers she is not alone.

A great evil has followed her. Now more than just Shannon's future is at stake, and she needs to somehow tap into our world's dormant magic. Her only ally is her husband's mirror image in Oklahoma--a man who loves her too much. Shannon must figure out a way to vanquish the ancient evil and not lose her life, her soul or her heart.

Along the way she discovers that being divine by mistake is a lot easier than being divine by choice….



Five Tips Keeping the Pace in Your Fiction
By Stacy Verdick Case

Eliminate Repetitiveness - Writers want to make sure the reader understands what’s happening in the story. Then make sure what you wrote was clear the first time, instead of slowing the pace by repeating yourself.

Rambling Man - Moving characters from one place to another, can slow the pace of a story. If one scene is in the living room and the next dramatic scene is in a grocery store, the reader doesn’t need to follow the character into the garage, out the driveway, past the church at the end of the block, waving to Mrs. Johnson – You see my point here, right? If there isn’t a horrendous collision that sends your character into a coma, ala soap writing 101, somewhere on the way to the store your reader will lose interest. End the scene in the living room, add an extra line and then begin the scene at the store.

A Whole Lot of Thinking Going On - If your character is having a problem with indecision don’t let them sit around thinking. Get their problems out of their head and into dialog. Better yet, add a scene that shows the characters indecision through their action or inaction.
DANGER, DANGER! – Is your character in enough danger from one chapter to the next? Danger can take many different forms. The easiest and most obvious is the physical danger. Don’t forget to use emotional danger. You as the writer have a moral responsibility to torture these characters as much as you can. Pile on the emotional danger along with the physical and see where that leads you.

The next step is a doozy! - Is your protagonist’s goal clear and are they taking a step closer in each chapter? Think of your story as a rollercoaster. Without the slow climb toward the giant hill and killer loops, the ride wouldn’t be as satisfying. Don’t deprive your reader. Notch them up the hill slowly but make sure each chapter is another step up and not a plateau.

Stacy Verdick Case is the owner of idothewritething.com a store that offers quality custom designed products for writers of all genres. Stacy invites you to visit her store and sign up for her free monthly ezine that offers writing tips to help keep you on track.

Stacy also has a lens http://www.squidoo.com/cafepress/thewritething where she offers free tips and tequniques and a blog http://idothewritethingcom-blogspot.blogspot.com/ where other writers can share their opinions about writing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stacy_Verdick_Case



Member News:

Lynne Murphy aka Georgina Gentry , spoke at the November meeting of the Tulsa Nightwriters on the subject: "The Two Qualities Every Successful Writer Must Have."

Alice Clary won first place in the Emerald City Opener contest with her paranormal 'Tin Man' and agent Barbara Rosenburg requested a partial. She also won first place in the Writer's Voice contest with the same book and Chris Keeslar with Dorchester requested the full.



From the Editor:

I've enjoyed my term as newsletter editor and am handing over the reigns to Deborah Behrens who will be taking over in the new year. Please, send all member news, new releases, writing articles, etc to her at Debehrs@aol.com . Have a wonderful holiday season!

Rinda Elliott
http://relliott4.wordpress.com

Posted by Rinda Elliott :: 9:01 AM :: ---------------oOo---------------