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How did you get started in the writing
business?
Well, truth be told, for years I worked
a full-time and part-time job while I attended classes at night to obtain my
Master’s Degree (MBA). When I finally
finished school, I suddenly had all this time on my hands and wasn’t quite sure
what to do with myself. A friend of mine
suggested that I try reading for pleasure, you know, NOT textbooks. That said, she handed me a Janet Evanovich
book, and I took the book from her with the thought that perhaps I’d get to
reading it someday, because, quite honestly, the last thing I wanted to do was
read anything after all that school reading.
Once I cracked that book open, I couldn’t put it down until I was
finished. The first book of Evanovich’s
Stephanie Plum series turned me into a reading maniac. I logged over 50 books read in the first year
after my graduation. After reading all
these books, it occurred to me that I should take a shot at writing one. After all, how hard could it be? I’ll just answer this question right
away. Writing the book was a piece of cake,
it was learning the craft and re-writing book that was difficult. In the meantime, I could have wallpapered my
house with the rejection letters.
In the beginning, I didn’t understand
why my book was being rejected, and I was on the verge of giving up when this
this awesome lady from my writers group offered to take a look at it. She critiqued the first few chapters and
provided lengthy feedback in regard to POV, dialogue tags, pacing, etc. Not only did I read her comments numerous
times, I studied the corrections and suggestions she made in the document
itself, and then I re-wrote the book based on her feedback. I dare say, the re-write took twice as long
as writing the book in the first place, but it was worth every painful minute
once I saw that contract offer pop up in my email.
My point to this whole little article is…The
most useful thing I’ve learned thus far in my writing career is the importance
of finding a honest and dedicated critique partner. One who isn’t afraid to tell you like it is, and
who is sincerely interested in helping you succeed. Additionally, when you find that awesome
critique partner make sure to reciprocate the effort.
After Alex
Polecheck's police officer husband, Sam, is stabbed in cold blood,
she vows to see the murderer brought to justice. Peter, Sam’s best
friend, and fellow police officer, seems to be the only member of the Police
Department interested in catching the killer.
Peter sets
out on a perilous hunt for the killer, while trying to protect Alex, who
appears to be next on the murderer’s list.
The mystery
begins to unravel when Peter finds a connection between the murder of Sam and
two other law enforcement officers, who were all part of an internet crime
taskforce. Peter and Alex find themselves alone in the battle for justice and
truth when they discover members of the local police department cannot be
trusted. Will Peter piece together the puzzle before Alex is silenced?
While battling to protect Alex, will he be able to continue to conceal his love
for her?
Purchase
Links
Whiskey Creek Press: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1218&zenid=21cd430dcd07b8c3d4601842eeb66a05
Bio:
Valerie is a
writer of romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and women’s fiction
novels. She lives in beautiful Door County Wisconsin with her husband and
one very spoiled cat. She loves to read, write, and spend time
at her cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She’s
lived her life surrounded by men, three brothers, a husband, and a male
Siamese cat who required his own instruction manual. Keeping up with all
the men in her life has turned her into a successful hunter and
fisherwoman.
She is a
member of Romance Writers of America and the Wisconsin Romance Writers of
America. Additionally, she was a finalist in the 2011 Celtic Hearts Romance
Writers, Novellas Need Love, Too! Contest.
Ms.
Clarizio’s Links:
 |
| http://valclarizio.wordpress.com/blog-tour/ |
Hi Brenda,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting this stop of my blog tour for Unforeseen Obsessions.
Val
It's great to have you, Valeria!
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