Writing The Love That Saved Him

Part of the reason why I really wanted to get into self-publishing, is because it allows me the freedom to publish some of the stories the publishing houses aren't interested in, either because they're difficult to market or don't fit the right slot at the time when I submit the manuscript. After offering this story to Avon and later to Kensington Press, and having it declined, I decided to go it alone. I knew it wouldn't be easy, simply because the story, being the contemporary one that it is, would not appeal to many of my readers. Still, I was determined to try for the simple reason that this is one of those books that had to be written. I can't really explain it any other way. All I can say it that the subject matter haunted me until a plot began taking shape inside my head. I started envisioning the characters and how to develop them over the course of the story. Their goals became as clear as their tragic backgrounds and scenery. So one night a couple of years ago, I sat down and wrote the first chapter. It would take another year and a half to complete the entire first draft of the book, not because I got writer's block, but because I had other projects under contract with my publisher. So this became a side project I occasionally worked on when I had time to spare, because just as I had to write it, I knew it had to be published so other people could share in Pierce and Sarah's journey. I've lost a lot of family members and friends to cancer over the years, including my aunt and my cousin. I was ten years old the first time I heard of a family friend passing away because of this awful disease. It shocked me to realize that such a thing was possible and that this friend's illness had progressed so fast. The idea behind The Love That Saved Him, is to shine some light on the devastating effect cancer can have while reminding people how important it is not to let it destroy those who have to go on without the people they've lost. It's about valuing life, finding beauty in simple moments and recovering from pain through friendship and love. 
Of all the stories I have ever written, this is probably the closest one to my heart, because it resonates in too many ways to count. I hope you enjoy reading it, and while I know it's not a historical, it is a cozy read filled with deep emotion and a little bit of gold-mining fun to lighten the mood. Hopefully you will give it a try and if you enjoy it, write a review. If you do, then I thank you. All reviews are greatly appreciated :)

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The Love That Saved Him - Goodreads Giveaway - ends soon!

I'm giving away 50 e-book copies of The Love That Saved Him on Goodreads! This giveaway ends on September 17th, so enter now for a chance to win a copy of my first contemporary romance. This story is all about overcoming loss and having the courage to open your heart and learning to love again. It goes on sale October 2nd. Please see below for a longer description and buy links.

He needed escape…

Suffering from the recent loss of his wife, Pierce Jackson leaves behind his corporate job in New York City and heads to the Klondike. There he meets Sarah Palmer whose eighty-five year old gold mining grandfather wants to lease the most dangerous part of Pierce's property. The last thing Pierce wants is to fall for Sarah. But as they start working together, a bond begins to form, and Pierce must eventually ask himself if he can overcome guilt and heartache and welcome the love of another woman into his heart.

And found a new beginning instead.

Sarah has a lot more on her mind than starting a relationship with her handsome new neighbor. But as she gets to know Pierce, she begins to wonder, what if? Encouraged by her matchmaking grandfather whose biggest wish is to see her settled, Sarah finds herself swept up in the most unexpected romance. But with shocking family history unfolding and a gold-mining expedition that could go wrong in so many ways, there's a lot for Sarah and Pierce to take care of before they can find their happily ever after.

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Love That Saved Him

by Sophie Barnes

Giveaway ends September 17, 2018.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

What I'm watching

Although a lot of series are restarting now after the summer, my husband and I were scrolling through viewing options on Amazon Prime a couple of months ago when I pointed to a fun looking image of a nerdy guy and a sexy woman that screamed romantic action comedy, and said, "why don't we try that?" My husband stared at me for a second, then said, "Chuck?" He stared at me some more. "You haven't seen Chuck?" I shook my head and my husband hit play. Apparently this was one of those shows that had been on a few years ago already - the sort he'd watched by himself because I hadn't been interested...Yeah, there are a few of those, like Psyche, which I'll mention again below.
Fortunately, my husband hadn't seen the first couple of seasons, so I didn't feel too guilty about having him watch it again with me and while I wasn't entirely sure what to expect or how good the show was going to be, I soon became addicted.
Here's the gist: A Buy More (i.e. Best Buy type store) employee whose life if fairly dull and ordinary, is suddenly the CIA's most important asset after having all of the CIA's intelligence downloaded into his brain. His handler, Sarah Walker and an NSA guy, Casey, become his partners, joining him on secret missions and saving the world with Chuck often wondering what he got himself into.
It's funny, romantic, action packed and creative. The plots are interesting and always full of surprises, so I'd say there's a little bit here for everyone. Secondary characters are really strong too and allow for some compelling sub plots. There's Chuck's sister and her boyfriend + Chuck's childhood friend, Morgan, who also works at the Buy More and all the crazy Buy More employees, all of whom have to be kept in the dark about the CIA's secret operations and the base that's located right beneath their feet.
So if you're looking for a great show to binge watch, this is one I would definitely recommend along with Psyche and Castle. They're all built on the same premise of an ordinary guy getting thrown into unusual circumstances in which he has to find the skills with which to cope while a more experienced female counterpart backs him up.
There's also a cuteness factor because of the comedy and the romantic interest between these men and the bad ass women on their teams. Of course there are also the annoying moments where you wish the hero would be a bit more adept at matching the heroine's skill set, but since they have other talents (like Chuck being a whiz at computers), it doesn't matter so much if they're not martial art pros. BUT...what is fun with Chuck, is when the program downloaded into Chuck's brain gets an update and he's suddenly able to tap into that kind of knowledge, like how to use a gun, do kung fu or speak another language, but for that you'll have to make it to season 3 - no cheating!
I wish there were more shows like these on T.V. Or maybe there are and I just haven't found them yet.
So give it a try if you haven't already and if you have, share your thoughts in the comments below. Did you enjoy Chuck, Psyche or Castle? Are there other similar shows out there that you'd recommend?

Getting back in the swing of things

The kids went back to school last week, leaves started falling off the trees two days ago, my editor emailed me her review notes for my next release yesterday, so I can no longer pretend I'm still on summer vacation, no matter how much I'd rather doodle in my bujo, lounge about reading romance novels or watching T.V. 
Nope. 
It is officially time for me to get back to work, which is no easy feat since I've really enjoyed taking time off with my family. 
Writing, I always find, takes practice and requires routine. Whenever I take a break from it and get out of the habit of putting down 3-4,000 words per day, it is incredibly hard to get back into the swing of it. 
But, I now have a deadline looming on the horizon, so here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to grab a cup of coffee, plant myself in my favorite writing chair and turn off the internet to disable all social media notifications, incoming email distractions etc. Then I'm going to take a deep breath and dive right into chapter one of the monster before me. And yes, it is a monster right now since it needs a complete makeover. But I'm determined. You do not manage to write more than twenty books without being willing to take on an uphill battle - ask any author and I'm sure they'll confirm this. It's part of the reason why most people who say they want to write a book, never do. Because it's hard, but at the end of the day, it's also incredibly rewarding to know that you've built a new world and placed characters in it. 
I realize this, and that is the part I look forward to - the goal I know I can reach since I've done it before. I will turn this beast into a beauty, put ribbons on it and make it sparkle. So if you're struggling with your own story right now and trying to make it work, pulling your hair out with discouraged frustration or trying to overcome writer's block, know that you're not alone. I'm in the boat with you, but rather than sit and despair over how far away the shore is, let's pick up our paddles and row. That way we'll get there eventually - little by little - one word at a time.
And here's the interesting part - the truth - at least from my point of view: As soon as I actually start, I get sucked in and the edits miraculously get done by the deadline and sometimes even before. Because an author's persistence goes hand in hand with passion for the stories they write. We immerse ourselves in them and savor the process of turning them into the gems they are destined to be. If we didn't, our jobs would not be possible and we'd find something else to do instead. So take a seat and accept that summer is over and there's work to be done. Open your WIP or start a new one. Give yourself a fixed set of hours per day or daily word count. When you reach it, offer yourself a reward, like an hour with your favorite show, magazine or book, a bubble bath or some other treat. Then take a deep breath and repeat the next day and the day after that. Before you  know it, you'll have reached your goal - that elusive place that seemed so unreachable weeks before. And when you do, don't forget to congratulate yourself for your achievement, because you've done something most people wish they could do, but don't.

- Never Give Up. Just Keep On Writing -

My best August purchases

Because it was summer vacation and I got to travel with my family, I picked up a lot of great things this month. My favorite items are probably the ceramics from Spain. Going back there to visit after moving away twenty three years ago, I really wanted something with sentimental value. The pieces I found were bought in the closest village to my childhood home, so I couldn't be happier and have since used both while entertaining guests at my home in the U.S.

Another purchase I'm happy with, and one which has changed my life somewhat, is my bujo journal. After a bit of research I decided to go for a red Minimalism Art journal. 

It was quite a bit cheaper than the Moleskin and Leuchtturm and the quality is really good with an option for either ruled or dotted paper. To go with it, I bought some Tanmit dual tip brush pens and Cra-z-art colored pencils which were on sale at my local grocery store in the 'back to school' section. 

I know everyone recommends Tombow and Prismacolors (LOVE Prismacolors after using them at my design job years ago), but they're also a lot pricier, so since I wasn't sure if this whole bujo thing would be a passing hobby or something I'd stick with, I chose to go cheap to begin with. 

What are your best August buys? Let me know in the comments below.

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

If you're looking for a forbidden love romance between employer and employee with some stellar secondary characters in supporting roles, then take a look at Tessa Dare's latest release!

When Alexandra Mountbatten arrives on Chase Reynaud's doorstep seeking employment as a clock setter, she is shocked to discover that he is the very same man she developed a crush on months earlier after bumping into him at a bookshop. To her surprise, she quickly realizes that their encounter did not impact her the same, for he doesn't even recognize her. Instead, he convinces her to become the governess he so desperately needs for his two unruly charges and in spite of trying to avoid such employment, Alexandra eventually relents, leading to close proximity with Chase and the sort of temptation that could end up breaking her heart.

Chase is a duke's heir and one of London's most notorious rakes. With no intention of ever marrying and producing an heir or forming an attachment, he makes every possible effort to keep his wards and his new governess at arm's length. But Alexandra has something else in mind and Chase soon finds himself taking his wards out for excursions and becoming increasingly involved in Alexandra's life. While he continues to struggle with feelings of unworthiness and pushing the people nearest to him away, he gradually opens his heart and allows himself to do what he dreads the most, which is fall in love.

A wonderful addition to The Duchess Deal and a thoroughly enjoyable read!

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Visit Tessa Dare online

Making a comic to advertise your book

Starting my bujo opened up a whole new world of inspiration and as I was thinking about ways in which to be more creative with advertising for my latest release, I decided to try making a comic - yes, this crazy idea just popped into my head and refused to be dismissed. So I spent some time online looking at how to simplify faces for cartoons and ways to add detail. The hardest part was actually coming up with some text that wasn't too long and which would give people an overall idea of what The Illegitimate Duke is about while encouraging them to buy the book and read it. I'm not sure how successful I've been with this last part, but since it is my first attempt at making a comic, I'm pretty pleased with how it came out, though I will say it did take a lot of time!

For a step by step on how I put it all together, here is the rough text I was trying to work out along with a rough image draft to figure out how many frames I'd need and to give myself an idea of how to draw the characters in each frame:

Next, I  laid the frames out in my bujo, which was fairly simple because of the dotted pages, and then I sketched in the images and text bubbles. This part took the longest.

Finally, I went over everything with my fine point sharpie, which is my favorite bujo pen because it doesn't bleed through the pages and the ink has a nice smooth quality to it.

Hope you enjoyed. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Have you made a comic or do you have other original advertising ideas you'd like to share? Please feel free to share :)