Layers in Writing by Colleen Coble

Good layers are often the key to making an editor sit up and take notice. So much of the time, stories that hit the editor’s desk are so similar. Romance especially can be tough to make fresh. But it’s all in the layers.

Here are the layers I work on with every story:

1. Setting is huge for me. A character who lives in Boston is very different from one who lives in Indiana. The culture that shaped him/her is different too. Think about where your characters are. Read newspapers from that area and see if you can find a plot layer in what is going on currently there. Is there a culture group that’s strong there? In my Rock Harbor books, the Finnish culture had a huge role and was fun to layer in. The Lonestar series is set on a ranch in Texas that rescues abused horses and matches them with abused children. That idea gripped me by the throat, and that’s what you want your idea to do.

2. Character types. Take a look at character types and pit different types against one another to play off weaknesses and pet peeves. This can add a really great layer of conflict that’s ongoing. Maybe your female lead loves the wilderness and the hero’s idea of a great vacation is a cruise where everything is served to him. Maybe your heroine makes gourmet chocolates and the hero breaks out in hives from the aroma on her clothing. You get the picture!

3. Can you give your protagonist an obsession? That can really springboard you to plot ideas as she pursues it. This is often where to layer in your theme. In The Lightkeeper’s Daughter Addie was obsessed to discover who had paid the lightkeeper to raise her as his own child. And why.

4. Interesting occupation. This leads me to story ideas all the time. I’ve written about a SAR dog team, a dolphin researcher, a smokejumper, an antique quilt expert, and an old time telephone operator at the turn of the century.

5. Think of plot layers that are problems for your main characters. Try to come up with at least three. For example, in Lonestar Homecoming, Gracie is running away in her wedding dress from men who just killed federal agents in front of her. She has no money and no way of supporting her daughter so she agrees to be a nanny to a man’s two children. She’s estranged from her father because only she knows she was responsible for her mother’s death. Keep piling on the problems! Torture your poor character. The problem with many manuscripts I see is that there isn’t enough conflict and it isn’t varied enough. It’s not enough to have just ONE conflict.

Layers will lift your book out of the rejected pile. They will add depth and interest to your characters and your plot. If you’ve already written the book, it’s still not too late to tear into it and make it something special. Don’t be afraid to start from scratch and add the things that need to be there.

Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill her—would he?

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth—and family—is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

Amazon Buy Link


USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 4 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com and connect at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/colleencoblebooks?ref=hl

Weather or Not? By Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu

Weather affects our mood, right? A cloudy or rainy day may make us feel lethargic or even depressed while seeing the sunshine can make us smile. In Minnesota, where I used to live, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) can strike some people during the long, cold winters.

A heavy rain shower had me running from a store to my car one day, and I started thinking about how we incorporate the weather into our stories. If we’re not careful, it could be easy to write an entire book where every day is sunny and gorgeous—or where we don’t mention the weather at all.

In one of my historical (unpublished) novels, I started out with an unusually hot day in May. Most of the book takes place in the summer, and as I wrote, it began to feel like every day was extremely hot. Guess the heat wave that year set some records. Fortunately, I realized the need for variety and incorporated rain and storms into some of the scenes.

Very few of our fictional settings will have consistent weather throughout the timeline of the story—unless the setting is a tropical island. Even then, a hurricane or unexpected storm could occur. If we want our stories to be realistic and believable, we need to incorporate the weather patterns appropriate to the location and time of year.

But more than providing variety, the weather affects—and often reflects—the mood of our characters. The one thing I remember about Wuthering Heights is the mist and fog of the moors—appropriate for England and for the overall mood of the book, as well as the mood of several characters.

At other times, the weather can create a contrast to our character’s mood. My most recent release begins with a bright, sunny day, but the setting is a funeral for a baby. The contrast highlights the negative emotions of the heroine, who feels “the sun should not be shining.” Many readers will be able to relate to a time when the weather was the exact opposite of their mood.

Another important consideration is to know the actual weather for the area where your story is set. I once read a book set in my hometown where the characters dealt with a snowstorm that kept them inside for days. Now, this could happen in western Kentucky once in a decade or two, but this novel made it seem like an annual occurrence. Having experienced fewer storms of that magnitude in my childhood than I could count on one hand, the story lacked believability for me after that. Several resources exist for finding weather patterns for your story, including these:

• Climate.gov, the site of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--find past weather for a particular zip code (https://www.climate.gov/maps-data/dataset/past-weather-zip-code-data-table).
• Weather Underground (https://www.wunderground.com/history)--search by date and city, zip code, or airport code.
• Weather History (http://weather.org/weatherorg_records_and_averages.htm) –find climate data for cities worldwide.

You may even get ideas for stories from these sites when you explore record-setting events in certain areas. A Jack Reacher story, for instance, takes place in New York City during the record-setting heat wave in the 1970s that caused a blackout across the northeast.

In preparing to write a scene, do you consider the weather—hot or cold, rainy or sunny or snowy, windy or still? What mood do you want to create for the scene, and will the weather enhance or contrast that mood? Is there a historic weather event that can provide the backdrop for a story you want to write?

Share examples in the comments of how you’ve used weather to enhance the mood or realism of your scenes, or tell us about great examples from books you’ve read.

About the Author

The Secret Heart by Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu’s newest novel, The Secret Heart, from Write Integrity Press, was named a finalist in both the 2018 National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Awards and the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Awards sponsored by Florida Writers Association. Her debut novel, For Such a Moment, won the Books of Hope Contest. Thirsting for More, the second book in the series was a finalist in the Selah Awards Contest and a semi-finalist in the Royal Palm Literary Awards. An unpublished historical novel set near Golden Pond has been a finalist in five contests.

You can find more about Marie and her novels on her Facebook page (Author Marie Wells Coutu), at her website (MarieWellsCoutu.com), or follow her on Twitter (@mwcoutu) or on Amazon.com.


Marie is a regular contributor to Seriously Write. For more posts by Marie, click here.

Finding Your Voice by Tanya Agler

When I’m driving my youngest children to school or wherever, I like to play the standards of yesteryear. I’m introducing Cupcake and Chunk to the silky voices of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Doris Day, and I love throwing in some Satchmo for good measure. There’s nothing like Louis Armstrong’s trumpet playing to brighten up my day. Decades later, their voices are each distinct and unique, and I can tell immediately whether Bing is crooning, Frank is extolling the virtues of New York, or Doris is serenading the troops who were taking a “Sentimental Journey.” As I was listening to “Swingin’ on a Star” the other day, I started to think how writers develop their own voices, something unique that differentiates their styles from others. 

Theme. Even today, the name Doris Day often brings up two famous songs of the twentieth century, “Que Sera Sera” and “Sentimental Journey.” Both are sung in a fashion to bring reminders of home to boys and men, who are searching for their way home. (“Que Sera Sera” was used effectively in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much and “Sentimental Journey” was a huge hit during World War II.) The theme of finding a way back to family is familiar in many novels. Coming home is also a recurring theme in my writing, and I try to use my voice to evoke images of home, from baked goods to holidays. When a writer is wondering how to establish his or her voice and his or her brand, recurring themes are often a great place to start.

Setting. Going into detail about the book’s setting can often make it seem as though the setting is an additional character in the book and help your voice stand out. Dynamic settings can add a dimension to a writer’s voice and keep the reader turning the page. The Alaskan wilderness or a Kentucky cave can lend a suspenseful air. The murmur of the waves on the shore can provide a backdrop for a women’s fiction novel or a reunion romance. All of these details are one more way a writer can strengthen his or her voice.

Dialogue. Ensuring your characters sound like themselves and not like other characters can help your writing. I’ve heard other singers perform “It’s a Wonderful World,” but when Louis Armstrong sings it, I stop what I’m doing and listen. It’s a beautiful song and his inflection and slightly scratchy voice bring out the best in the lyrics and melody. So too, your teenager should sound like a teenager and not like your heroine’s grandmother. By infusing your characters with attitude and giving them their voice, you also grow your voice.

In a way, some songs are sheer poetry. Some writers have melodious voices and their prose reads like poetry. Others take you on a wild roller coaster of a ride. The best part is there’s room for all our voices out there. Think about your favorite song and why the singer who vocalized the lyrics made that tune something special. Then think about your writing. There’s something special in your words as well, and your voice helps shape their meaning.

What’s your favorite song or genre of music? Do you see any of the themes in those reflected in your writing?

Tanya Agler lives in an Atlanta suburb with her husband, four children, a Basset Hound, and a rabbit. She loved the University of Georgia so much she stayed there for seven years, ultimately earning her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Juris Doctor degree but trading those in for blue jeans and a laptop. A write-at-home mom, Tanya is a member of RWA and is the current President of Georgia Romance writers. A 2017 Unpublished Contemporary Category Maggie winner and Unpublished Contemporary Gateway to the Best winner, she is represented by Dawn Dowdle of the Blue Ridge Literary Agency.

Follow Tanya:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTanyaAgler/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/tanyaagler

Website: www.tanyaagler.com

    

What's In A Setting by Jean C. Gordon

In many ways, a book's setting is an additional character. And as with the other characters, you have to know your setting well. That said, I'd like to introduce you to the setting of my Love Inspired books. It's larger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon Parks combined. What is it? The Adirondack Park in Northern New York where I've set all my Love Inspired books. Created in 1894, the Adirondack Park encompasses 6 million acres. 2.6 million acres are owned by New York State, and the remaining 3.4 million are privately owned. It is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States. Under the New York State Constitution, the state-owned acreage is designated "Forever Wild," ensuring that the forest preserve land won't be logged for timber, and that certain areas will be maintained  for recreation, including skiing, hunting, camping, and mountain biking. The park boasts 3,000 lakes and ponds and 30,000 miles of rivers and streams.
Ready to join me on a short virtual tour of some of the places I've been in the park? Let's go.

Santa's Workshop on Whiteface Mountain in North Pole, NY (near Wilmington) is what it sounds like, a Christmas theme park. The Workshop opened its doors in 1949. In 1953, the US Postal Service awarded Rural Postal Station Statua to the North Pole. I visited it as a child. My family drove six hours from Western New York to get there. We also took our kids to the North Pole when they were small.

Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, is nearby. The Olympic ski runs were on Whiteface Mountain. When we visited in late August one year, it actually snowed while we were on the scenic ski lift "ride." Fortunately, we'd brought warm coats because we were camping and knew it could be cold at night.

Ausable Chasm is nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks. We've hiked the upper chasm past waterfalls and stunning rock formations on cable bridges that crisscross over the roaring Ausable River. You can also take a scenic float through the lower chasm.

Next up, Mt. Marcy, the highest point in New York State at 5,343 feet. On a trip without the kids, my husband and I hiked about half way up. We'd gotten too late of a start to try to hike the whole way. Between Mt. Marcy and Mt. Skylight, you'll find Lake Tear of the Clouds, often cited as the source of the Hudson River which runs behind our property 150 miles south and then on another 150 miles to the Atlantic Ocean.

Then, south to the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, which is dedicated to preserving the history of the Adirondacks. The museum is located on the site of an historic summer resort hotel, The Blue Mountain House. We visited last summer. The exhibit on the history of logging in the Adirondacks fascinated me, and I loved the beautiful Native American basketwork on display.

Heading back home, we'll stop at Paradox Lake, where my last eight books are set. The lake gets its name from a unique occurrence that happens every spring. Melting snow in the eastern Adirondack Mountains flows into the Schroon River. Paradox Lake's outlet also flows into the Schroon River. Due to the sudden increase in water, the outflow is forced back, making the river flow in reverse. According to local folklore, the word paradox means "water running backwards" in the native Indian language. We've been to the Paradox area several times and always stay at the same little rustic motel in Schroon Lake.

What do you think? Ready for an in-person visit? How about a book visit?

Reuniting His Family
A Father's Promise

Rhys Maddox wants nothing more than custody of his two sons. Released from prison after a wrongful charge, the widowed dad will do anything to bring his boys home where they belong. But that doesn't include falling for their former social worker. Now leading an outreach program for families in transition, Renee Delacroix can't escape the tall, dark and intriguing single dad--or his adorable little boys. But Rhys is determined to go it alone. Until one incident that may cost him what he wants the most. Now it's up to Renee to save him--if she can make him see she's just what he needs to complete their forever family.


Amazon: http://amzn.to/2sTNWUq
Harlequin: http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html;jsessionid=4CBF9AA809B8026CD13B5993BF07C80E?cid=236&iid=71640
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reuniting-his-family-jean-c-gordon/1125580514

Jean C. Gordon’s writing is a natural extension of her love of reading. From that day in first grade when she realized t-h-e was the word the, she’s been reading everything she can put her hands on. Jean and her college-sweetheart husband tried the city life in Los Angeles for college, but soon returned to their native Upstate New York, where they share a 175-year-old farmhouse with their daughter and her family. Their son lives nearby. Connect with Jean on Facebook, as @JeanCGordon on Twitter, or on JeanCGordon.com. And sign up for her Readers Group, so you don’t miss a single new release. You’ll receive a free eBook.

Six Tips for Writing Romantic Suspense by Connie Mann

My favorite stories have always been romantic suspense. I love danger and spine-tingling suspense almost as much as I love getting swept away by a good love story. So what could be more fun than stories that put the two together? 

To make it work, you have to blend both of those elements. The authors who do it well make it seem effortless, but as we all know, once you sit down to write your own story, things get a wee bit more complicated. If you’re thinking about writing romantic suspense, here are some things to consider before you start.

1-Romance/Suspense Ratio

Depending on your personal preference and/or publisher guidelines, the ratio of suspense vs. romance can vary quite a bit. My new release, HIDDEN THREAT, has been called a ‘character-driven suspense’ because I spent a bit more time developing the characters on the front end, but then I ramped up the danger and upped the pace as the story raced toward the finish line. Other books start with a bang (sometimes literally) and don’t let up the pace until the last page. The romance is there, of course, but it takes up less space. Spend a bit of time thinking through where your story fits along the spectrum. 

2-Choose Your Setting

Make sure your setting is interesting. Think about the specific locations, features and even weather patterns unique to that setting. Use them –and make sure you take a sentence or two to describe them. When I have to page back in a story, trying to figure out where, exactly, I am in the world, I get frustrated and feel like the author missed an opportunity. Use your setting. Weave it into the fabric of your story so that it wouldn’t work if you moved it elsewhere.

3-Know Your Villain

Ever character in your story views him/herself as the hero of their own story, including the villain. They have reasons they do what they do and they need to be good ones. We may not like them, but they need to be believable, fully fleshed-out characters. No cardboard cutouts. The villain also needs to be strong enough that readers worry whether our hero/heroine can defeat them in the end. The stronger the conflict and higher the stakes, the better the story.

4-Add Red Herrings

You don’t want a plot that runs in a straight line, with an ending that’s obvious by chapter three. Readers tell me they love it when I keep them guessing about the villain’s identity until the very end. The only way to do that effectively is through red herrings. Who else could have done it? Who else had motive? Means? Opportunity? Use false trails and misdirection to keep readers worrying and guessing until the story’s big reveal.

5-Remember the Romance

Sometimes, the romance can get buried under all the running and bullet-dodging. As you think through the plot, make sure you allow the characters a bit of down time, some breathing room between action scenes. That’s a good time to turn the focus onto the couple’s relationship and deepen the romance. But choose wisely. A long, drawn-out discussion and lingering kiss while bullets are flying will seriously annoy your readers.

6-Tie up the Loose Ends

After the big climactic scenes where the villain is defeated and the guy gets the girl, you need to make sure you’ve tied up those other threads and picked up the breadcrumbs you sprinkled throughout the story, too. If you’ve created secondary characters readers care about, they want to know how things turned out for them, too. Make sure you give them that closure.

If this still sounds daunting, remember that like everything else in writing, it takes time and practice to make it work well. I certainly don’t have it all figured out, but I learn something new with every story I write. Read extensively in the genre and take time to analyze the books to see how the author built the story. Happy writing. I’ll look forward to reading your new romantic suspense.

What are your favorite kinds of stories? What appeals to you about them?

Connie Mann is a licensed boat captain and the author of romantic suspense novels Tangled Lies, Angel Falls and Trapped. Her latest novel, Hidden Threat, (book 2 of the Safe Harbor series) is now available from Waterfall Press. When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” on Central Florida’s waterways, introducing boats full of schoolchildren to their first alligator. She’s also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle. She and her hubby love traveling and spending time on the water with their grown children and extended family. (Hubby says they are good at fishing, but lousy at catching.) Visit Connie online at www.conniemann.com

HIDDEN THREAT

She’ll uncover who’s poisoning her hometown—at any cost.

 

An environmental crisis is the last thing clean-water crusader Eve Jackson expected in her hometown. She’s used to taking on powerful DC politicians in her fight, but when a baby in Safe Harbor, Florida, shows mysterious signs of possible poisoning, the danger hits painfully close to home, stirring memories of her own mother’s death.

 

Eve’s search leads her to the Sutton Ranch, now run by her high school crush, Cole. Focused on keeping the family ranch afloat as a series of deformed calves are born to his herd, Cole has no time for Eve’s crusade. But as her unwelcome questioning ostracizes her from locals, Cole’s irritation turns to intrigue—not only about the source of the poisoned water but also the tenacious, loyal, and passionate woman determined to help.

 

As Eve digs deeper into Cole’s operation, she sees her suspicions in Sutton Ranch may be misplaced. Yet she can’t shake the feeling that his ranch, and perhaps his past, hold the answers she seeks. When the sabotage escalates, the two must work together to uncover the culprit—if they can survive the investigation.

Website:  www.conniemann.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ConnieMannAuthor?ref=hl#!/ConnieMannAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captconniemann/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptConnieMann
Pinterest.com http://www.pinterest.com/captconniemann/

Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Threat-Connie-Mann-ebook/dp/B01NANIKWE/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Vacations and Story Ideas by Terri Weldon

Earlier this month I travelled to the Amana Colonies in Iowa and the Wisconsin Dells in Wisconsin. When I started on my vacation my plans were pure relaxation. No thoughts of writing whatsoever. 

 

Still somehow when I stopped in Amana and toured the area I couldn’t help but think how perfect a small town setting it would make. So I walked down the streets, visited the shops, took way too many pictures, and tucked the idea away in my mind. 

 

A few days later I took a boat ride on the Wisconsin River. There was a gorgeous island that had over 200 acres and provided home to every tree native to Wisconsin. The land belonged to the university and was in a protected status. A beautiful river, a protected island, eagles flying overhead, a type of sandstone found in only four places worldwide. Hmm, a perfect setting for the second book in a suspense series I’m working on. So I took a boatload of pictures (pun intended) and even had my poor sister quizzing the captain of the boat and the guide. We spent the rest the day sightseeing and I picked up all the free literature I could find. 

 

Did the story ideas ruin my vacation? Not at all, if anything it made me have more fun. Do I expect to get a story idea from every vacation? No, forcing the issue would take all joy and relaxation out of my trips. All I’m suggesting is that you keep an open mind, an open eye, and if the story muse whispers in your ear – spend a little time seeing where it leads you. 

 

What about you? Have you ever used a vacation spot in one of your books? Leave a comment and let me know. 

 

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in Oklahoma. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing.

Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com or Blog: Seriously Write

 

 

Five Keys to Captivating Settings by Connie Mann

I'm delighted to welcome a friend of mine from the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of RWA to Seriously Write today. Connie Mann is a talented author and a joy to be around. I hope you'll try out her latest suspense title, Tangled Lies.

Something delicious happens when you start reading a new book and find yourself seamlessly transported to another world. Maybe you’re fighting in a galaxy far away, or dancing at a masquerade ball in Regency England, or walking through a charming town someplace you’ve never been.

Books take us on a journey and for me, that trip begins with setting, that first tantalizing glimpse through the opening-scene portal into another world. When an author whisks me to another world and plants my feet on solid ground, I’m ready to enjoy the trip.

But sometimes, everything screeches to a halt because I don’t know where I am. Frustration sets in as I flip back to the beginning of the book to look for clues, characteristics, something solid to anchor me in that particular place. Without it, I can’t really settle in and enjoy the story.

If your settings need a little pizazz, here are a few tips to draw the reader in and immerse them in your story world.

Start with the Big Picture

My Dad worked for TWA for 37 years, so my love of travel and perpetual excitement over new places started early. The first thing I do is simply stop and look around.  It’s wonderful to take it all in—the sights, sounds, smells, unique architecture, different clothing, accents and all the amazing variations in people and culture.

Even if you’re writing about your home town, go do the same thing. A small town in Florida is not at all like a ranch in Wyoming. Force yourself to see it like you’ve never been there before. Take pictures, jot notes, write down the smells, the feeling.

If you’re starting from scratch or writing about someplace far away, go online and search for images, videos and travel shows. Gather it all so you have a thick stew of impressions to scoop from.

Narrow it Down to the Telling Details

Places have their own personality, their own unique vibe that differs from anywhere else.  The challenge is to take those big sweeping impressions and boil them down to deliciously memorable snippets. It’s all about the telling details, the one description that distinguishes this place from any other. What does the waterfront smell like? How do the waves sound lapping against the dock?

Make the Setting (almost) a Character

For my stories, setting is one of the first things I start thinking about. I always make sure it is part of the plot. For example, Tangled Lies takes place in a small town in Florida, in and around a family-owned marina. The climax scene of Angel Falls takes place at Iguacu Falls, Brazil, one of the world’s largest waterfalls. Neither plot would work if I tried to move the story to the middle of, say, a big city. The setting has become part of the plot itself—and impacts the book title, too.

Create Visuals for Yourself

I draw a map of every town I create, so I don’t have to remember whether my heroine turns left or right when leaving her house to go to the café. I also create collages with photos and use Pinterest boards as a fun way to keep track of those telling details.

Know When to Say When

How much detail should you include? That depends quite a bit on genre. In a historical, readers expect more lush and lengthy descriptions, though less is still better than more. I write suspense, so readers won’t tolerate a long descriptive paragraph of flowers and butterflies—unless the killer is hiding behind said flowers, trigger cocked, ready to shoot the heroine as she walks by. Even then, readers won’t care about the butterfly unless it lands on his nose and affects his aim.

No matter what genre you write, build a setting we want to visit. Help us see it clearly, and we’ll settle in to enjoy the journey.

How do you create captivating settings?

Bio: Connie Mann is a licensed boat captain and the author of romantic suspense novels Tangled Lies (May 2016) Angel Falls and Trapped! as well as various works of shorter fiction. She has lived in seven different states but has happily called warm, sunny Florida home for more than twenty years. When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” on Central Florida’s waterways, introducing boats full of schoolchildren to their first alligator. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries follow their dreams and break the poverty cycle. In addition to boating, she and her husband enjoy spending time with their grown children and extended family and planning their next travel adventures. You can visit Connie online at www.conniemann.com.

Social Media Links
Website:  www.conniemann.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ConnieMannAuthor?ref=hl#!/ConnieMannAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptConnieMann
Pinterest.com http://www.pinterest.com/captconniemann/

Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Lies-Connie-Mann-ebook/dp/B0194UEDEK?ie=UTF8&keywords=connie%20mann&qid=1460580370&ref_=nav_signin&sr=8-1