Red River of Secrets

It took me a while to decide on what this post should be about, so instead I've decided from now on I need to mix things up.  I'll be writing a creative piece as one of my characters.  Enjoy!

It's nearly midnight, but sit outside in the garden with my evening gown on.  The breeze brushes against my skin as the hairs on my arms raise up.  I lean against the wooden chair I'm sitting in and admire the smell of roses.  It is a distinct smell, almost overwhelmingly sweet.

Then suddenly I heard a noise.  Someone is approaching from nearby, but I'm alarmed with it being so late.  I start to stand, but then I realize my husband has arrived.  He has somewhat of an anxious look in his face; the wrinkles show just below his eyes, as if he hasn't slept for days.  He walks over to the chair and kneels down to face me.

"I have a lot on my mind.  If it's all right with you, I'd like to tell you all about it," I say.

He nods.

"Of course, but may I ask why you decided tonight?  And at such an hour like this?  I barely could keep my eyes open for the walk alone," he responds.

"Husband, I fear there are matters I have never spoken of.  I want you to know everything about me, but in order to tell you all of this, I need to confine in you," I stroke his chin as I say all of this.

He seems calm, but his hand taps eagerly on the chair.  

"Speak, wife; you have no need to keep secrets from me.  I would never hide anything from you."

For a moment I hesitation, but then I push forward to say, "There is a river I know of.  It's unlike any river I've seen before, and it flows with water as thick and red as blood.  Somewhere within this river--perhaps at the bottom--there is a pearl, but how can one seek out this peal when the river is so treacherous?  I have gone to this river many times now since our marriage, and it does frighten me.  I want you to promise me, promise me, Lyedan, that such a river will never harm us."

Lyedan is entirely silent.  For the first time he is speechless, saying nothing and offering only a emotionless stare.  As I wait, I wish I hadn't made a metaphor about a river.  I wish that I had told him the truth and admitted that I knew his family's secret, but it is not my duty as his wife to know his business.  

At last he clears his throat, and I stop regretting my decision.

"Tell me where this river is so that I may find it and destroy it.  I won't have anything come in between us and threaten harm us, especially you.  So long as I live you will never be in harm's way again," he says.

I smile, though at the bottom of my troubled heart I'm not certain that I believe him.  Before I can decide on my feelings, he leans forward and his lips brush against mine.  All of my doubts rush away as his kisses linger on my skin and his whispers fill the silent night.  He promises to love me forever, to love me endlessly, and with each kiss and each promise I believe him.

This piece was written in the POV as Katarina, the main character in Hushed by Dawn, a romance/mystery/historical fiction novel.  Fortunately this story is on Wattpad if you're interested in reading more: here.  

Remember to leave behind in the comments your thoughts.  This might be something I do every Friday, if you like it!

Writing from a male's POV as a woman

Now for those of you male writers out there, I'm sure this is the least of your concerns.  However, for us ladies we may often struggle when it comes to writing a story from a man's point of view.  Whether you write in first person or third person, when it comes to writing the man's story or his views it sometimes can be very challenging.  

Over the course of writing a historical fantasy fiction book, I've learned a lot about male characters.  If there's one thing you want to be certain of, it's this: Make sure you male's characters have unique voices.  I cannot stress this enough.  (And I say that to you because I told myself the same advice.)  Imagine how frightening it would be if your male characters ended up sounding like the women in your book.  This especially can be a problem when your main character is a woman, but her sidekick or best friend is perhaps a man.

So then how do writers do it?  Numerous authors have written about The Tudors, focusing on the man Henry was --both as a ruler and a husband.  Or better yet, how did Mary Stewart write the Arthurian saga from the perspective of Merlin?

Don't fret, don't worry, though.  It isn't impossible.

Lynn Rush, the author of Wasteland (told from a male's POV), said her success came from research. Watching people, reading, the internet --all of these are sources that can help you in your writing.  

So here's some suggestions (both from me and from other authors that I read up on):

• Remember that men aren't always as open about their feelings as women are.  It doesn't mean they won't necessarily share their feelings, but keep in mind it may take them more time to be open about it then it may take a woman.
• Men connect more physically than emotionally.  This might not matter that much to you if you're not writing a romance novel, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.
• Men can be very logical and sometimes brutally honest.  They want to fix things, which you might have noticed when you went to a guy friend/boyfriend/husband and broke down crying over something, hoping for a hug, when in the end they're just trying to figure out how they can solve the situation.  Also, no matter how you're feeling, sometimes men will be entirely honest with you no matter how brutal it may sound.  They might say something like "You're being overdramatic;" we've all heard it before, and it's just a matter we may never understand.
• Women are more quick to realize anger than men.  This might seem like something you'd only read in a psychology textbook, but this actually does play an important role when it comes to writing for your character.  Perhaps someone is angry or upset at him for something he's said and instead of realizing the person is mad, he would ask, "What's the matter?"

Now I'm sure I could go on for days with the ways men act and how this can affect your male POV.  At the end of the day, though, I think the most important thing to do is observe the men in your life.  Friends, a boyfriend/husband, relatives, even a stranger... All of them act differently, but you may notice some similarities.  I can't tell you how many times I've had words from a conversation flood my head while trying to write a male character's dialog.  Hold onto those conversations you had, the emotions you had, and the emotions you noticed them feeling.  There's a lot you can notice about a man, even if he isn't speaking.  And don't be afraid to peek around in books for those male characters you fell in love with (Tristan from Song of the Sparrow happens to be one of my favorite).  Note down quotes and body posture; anything at all that may help.  Maybe even write down how (if told from a woman's POV) the woman saw him/felt about him.

Good luck!  

Coming up next: I'll be talking about Her Highness, The Traitor --a new book I'm currently read.  Also, I'm going to start watching The Tudors sometime this week, so I plan on writing about my first reactions.  (Slightly excited because I've heard the show is great!)

Lindsey R. Sablowski

A writer cannot be his own hero

"A writer... He could write your story, everybody’s story, any story but never his story. That is the irony of being a writer. He can never be the hero of his own life, where there is no “Once upon a time” nor “They lived happily ever after.” Maybe that is the dreadful reason why a writer is a writer. He dreams of a chronicle where every tale is not his reality. His surreal mind dictates to his hand, what his heart desires. His yearning will only be feasible in papers, because only in papers he can barely feel happiness."

This is not my quote, but I read it on Tumblr and thought I would share. Very moving.... And absolutely true.

Now where did I leave off?

Afternoon, everyone!I can't tell you how many times I swore I would stay on track with updating the blog, but honestly I am trying to get back into the flow.
I decided now would be as good of a time as any to catch you up on everything.

Since signing my contract with Old Line Publishing, I've been spending a majority of my free time self-editing the book.  It's a long and sometimes weary process, but as any writer knows, it's a part of our career we cannot avoid.  To be entirely honest, sometimes I find the editing refreshing.  This will be my last chance to make any changes to the book --except for minor ones once it goes into publication, of course.
The next couple of months are very essential in the publishing process.  Once self-edits are done, I'll be sending the final manuscript over to Old Line.  We're working to release the book in September of this year, but again there is nothing set in stone until the edits are in and the process begins.

Once the book is published, I will have a contest most likely offering ARCs or something of the like.  Remember you can check in on Twitter and Facebook for more daily updates.

As for my blogs, I've been trying to update this one and The Magicians series.  I know there's some information outdated, so bare with me as I try to get it all up to date for you.  Also, the cover you see on the side for Cursed With Power isn't the official one --I'll be posting that as soon as the company sends me over my options to choose.

I apologize I'm jumping from place to place here, but I want to gather it all into a quick past.  I'll come back tomorrow or later on tonight and think of something else.  I'd love to do more posts aiming toward aspiring authors or authors who are searching for a publisher.  If you have any requests, I am always willing to fulfill them.
It's a lovely Wednesday afternoon, hopefully it won't rain, and it's just the right weather to edit until other plans are determined.  Enjoy your day, and don't forget to stop in again!
Lindsey R. Sablowski

Journey as a writer

As I was combing through back stories tonight, making sure everything was in the right place, I thought about a question a lot of people have been asking me lately.  "How did you not give up?" 

Being a writer isn't simply a career or a passion you pick up overnight.  To those of us who actually spend our nights writing, we know this is something we dedicate ourselves to every day of our lives.  While our soldiers go to war for us, gymnasts compete at championships, and singers perform in front of crowds of hundreds, we--the writers--are the ones hurriedly typing away at late hours of the night to finish one last chapter.  You don't always see us, you  don't often know us, but that's okay--we understand that.

The wonderful thing about being a writer, though, is that you are able to experience a journey like none other.  What the journey is like, though, I cannot tell you for sure.  It all depends on you, the book you write, the hours your sacrifice, the words you place down on paper.  And when you come to that final destination of your journey, you should know that it doesn't stop there.  Perhaps it sounds a bit cliche and it's been said before, but this is true: When one journey ends, another one begins.

It's okay to be asking yourself in the middle of the night why you don't give up or what it means to you that  you're a writer.  We all ask ourselves that question, and my answer is going to be different from yours, hers, and his.  We have to experience this journey for ourselves, but I want you to know that through all of this there are so many amazing people you can meet.

Up until I actually signed my publishing contract, I had no idea how truly significant acknowledgments can be.  Then as I was writing it, I realized there were people who impacted my book in more ways than I had noticed before.  A large group of those people were published authors--whether they were famous indie authors or traditionally published--all of them were my mentors, friends, and role models during this process.  So even if you ever feel like you're alone on the ride, don't forget about the men and women before you who have written amazing work--they truly do have an impact.

Well I've got a date with editing to return to, but I hope this gives you something to think about in the meantime.  Happy Tuesday everyone!

Lindsey R. Sablowski

Live Q & A !

Whether you're on facebook or twitter, I've got you covered.  Tonight I invite you to Q & A with me on twitter/facebook.  If you'd like to tweet me questions: https://twitter.com/#!/LindseyReneeS 
You can also post your question to the Facebook group for Cursed With Power here at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/142263712518951/

I know it's extremely late notice, but I would love if you joined in.  You can ask questions about anything, so long as the questions are serious.  I look forward to speaking with all of you!
Lindsey R. Sablowski
Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

Officially Being Published! :D

My dearest writers, readers, followers, bloggers:
Tonight is a very special night.  Up until an hour ago this night was like any normal Tuesday night --editing, relaxing in bed, talking to friends.  And then the email arrived, the one that changed my life.
It brings me great pleasure to announce to you tonight that Cursed with Power is officially being published.  Old Line Publishing announced their final decision tonight, and I'll be receiving all of the details within the next couple of days.

Many of you have been with me on this journey since the beginning.  Two years ago I began this journey, writing Cursed with Power, posting it on inkpop, and hoping --without any idea--that someday it would make a difference.  I could not be where I am today without all of the support, motivation, and inspiration each and every one of you have given me.
This is truly a dream come true.
I've been reading posts by published authors for a while now, and I always wondered how I would feel if I ever got accepted.  After prancing around my room like a fool, I had to sit down and attempt to not have a heart attack.  I broke down in tears as my friends and fans sent in comments expressing their happiness and excitement.
What truly makes this moment special is that I have all of you to celebrate this experience with.  I plan on becoming much more active with the blog so you can be kept to date with publication, and I will be announcing a contest.  As for the contest, I was thinking of giving away ARC copies of the book or just free copies in general with an autograph --but the decision is entirely up to you!  Let me know what you'd be interested in seeing.
Before this post becomes too long, I do want to leave with this for the night: Never give up on your writing.  People will reject you, criticize you, and tell you you'll never be good enough.  You'll have times where you don't want to write, you lose faith in what you're aiming for, or you wonder why you are doing this to begin with.  I want you to know, though, in the end the journey really is worth it.  This is a dream you can achieve, and if you don't believe that then take it from an eighteen year old girl who's graduating high school in five days.  This is your dream, and don't ever let anyone --including yourself--take that away.

I love you all, and I am so thankful for your support.  I hope that you will continue to support me as Cursed with Power makes its way to bookstores! Will post more soon!
Lindsey R. Sablowski


Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

Interview with Cassidy Cornblatt, author of A Broken World

Hello everyone, joining us tonight is Cassidy Cornblatt, author of A Broken World.  His newly released book is now available in bookstores and online to purchase; he has been published by Old Line Publishing.  Tonight he joins us to tell us about his journey.  I'll hope you will join me in welcoming him.  Also, please consider taking a look at his book.

1.)    Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am finishing up my freshman year at the University of Maryland, College Park, where I am pursuing a double degree, triple major in Biochemistry, Genetics, and English. I recently published my first book, a young adult fantasy named A Broken World.

2.) Your book, A Broken World, just recently has become available for purchase. How did you begin writing the book, and what/who inspired you to pursue writing?

I started A Broken World when I was sixteen, about a month into my sophomore year of high school. I finished it almost a year later. I had previously started a number of novels, but this was the first one I completed. My love of writing began, as is often the case, with my love of reading. When I was younger, I devoured books, especially those of the fantasy genre. Many times I would finish books in less than a day. Soon I began to write the beginnings of stories, but then I would lose interest after a number of pages. With time, however, I began to write more and more until I eventually finished an entire book.

3.) How is A Broken World different from other fantasy books?

A Broken World does contain many of the hallmark features of fantasy: magic, adventure, even a few dragons; however, it is also a social commentary on the corruption of power and the exploitation of natural resources and indigenous species. In addition, it places emphasis on the importance of respect in society.

4.) Could you tell us the background of the language in A Broken World and how you developed it?

The language I developed for A Broken World was the original language of the planet and is used in spells. Originally, I just created a few random words to use in the spells near the beginning of the book, but then I realized it would make sense to develop a full, coherent language. I started by considering the grammatical aspects such as tenses and then went on to create a large variety of potentially useful words. When designing the words, I tried to make most of them evoke the image or feeling of the object or concept they represented.

5.) What are your plans in the future? Do you plan on writing another book?

I am currently working on the first book in a trilogy set many years after A Broken World. I also have a number of other book ideas that I am toying with for the future. In the meantime, I am attempting to publish a few short stories in literary magazines.

6.) What is your advice to aspiring writers? How were you successful with publication?

Never give up on your writing. Finishing a story is hard enough, but getting it published is far more difficult, especially for a first-time author. Make sure your work is as good as you think it can be, and yes, this means a lot of editing and revision. Do not feel down because of a rejection. Everybody gets them. I was rejected by literary agents twenty-eight times, and I was beginning to give up before I finally found a publisher. You have to believe in your work and just keep on trying.

7.) Thank you for taking the time to be with us today. Is there anything else you'd like to say before you go?

I’d just like to wish all my fellow writers the best of luck, and I hope you all take the time to check out my book.

Thanks for joining us, Cassidy!  It was a pleasure to read your book, and I encourage everyone to search it, google it, whatever it takes to join in on the adventure.

Remember to look for A Broken World on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble.

Lindsey R. Sablowski

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com