Please Welcome Guest Author...Linda Mooney

Music is My Life and My Books

Melodies weave through my bloodstream. All my life, music has consumed me and filled me to the point where I was in the choir and band all through-out my school years. Then into college where I got both my bachelor and master’s degrees. Following that, I spent 25+ years teaching music in elementary and junior high schools.

When the iPod came out, I was delirious with joy. I could take my music with me anywhere (which was a godsend for the hours I spent in the hospital while hubby waited for a heart transplant.)

But where I became the most dependent on my music was when I was writing. I discovered that soaring love themes put me in a frame of mind for passionate romance, the same way big, bold, brassy, triumphant soundtracks gave me a reference to write heroic scenes, saving the heroine/hero scenes. And those long walks I took to clear my head also gave me ample time to listen to what I’d downloaded, and work out those threads I was weaving together in my plots.

I recently started a new book, but at the time my iPod was at the Apple doctor. I couldn’t get my motivation going, couldn’t get my Muse to answer, could barely scratch out a page a day. Got the sad news from the doctor that they had to put my iPod down. So off I went to Best Buy for a new one. Re-filled it via iTunes. Added another soundtrack.

Lo And Behold! My groove was back. The ideas were flowing. The love scene was coming together. I’m off and running, and once again I am happily pounding away on my keyboard.

Never again will I take my music for granted. I may even had my iPod buried with me when I die, ala the pharaohs of Egypt.

At least, I’m thinking about it.

Linda Mooney
Sensuous Romance with a Sci-Fi or Fantasy Flair!
LindaMooney.com (myspace.com/lindamooney for the video book trailers)

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Disclaimer (because we don't have a choice): The views expressed by the guest blogger do not necessarily reflect those of The Deadly Vixens.

Please Welcome Author...Tawny Taylor

Hello everyone! I’m so thrilled to be here this week.

I guess I could start with a short introduction. For those who don’t know me, I’m Tawny Taylor, and I write uber-hot romance stories for Changeling Press, Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Kensington and Pocket. The vast majority of my published works are paranormal BDSM stories. Many of them are also ménage-a trois.

I thought I’d comment about this week’s topic, since it’s interesting.

So, what’s my answer?

It depends.

Personally, I find that no part of writing is easy. Ideas, dialogue, sex scenes, romantic scenes, emotional moments…at one time or another, they’ve all come easier than the others. It seems to depend upon what else I have going on at the time.

Like right now, NOTHING is easy. I have a house full of bored, bickering kids (IMO, school should be year-round *g*). There’s lots of noise and commotion, and I’ve spent the winter and spring hibernating. I want to go outside. Breathe fresh air. Get bit by insects…you know, live. Thus, my writing suffers. Come fall, though, I know I’ll be ready to dig in again. At least that’s been the way things have gone since I started writing in 2001.

Now, this winter was the total opposite. After the holidays, it seemed like it all came easier (you’ll notice, I didn’t say easy). I had lots of stories in my head and they all wanted to come out. I couldn’t write fast enough. Emotion poured onto the page. Raging hot love scenes. I was just loving the process. That was when I wrote this week’s release with Ellora’s Cave, Masters of Illusion. I’d just watched a moody, dark movie called The Illusionist and my imagination took flight. The characters pretty much wrote the book for me (I was the one who got carpel tunnel, though. *g*)

So, there you go--my response to this week’s topic. It depends…

…on whether my kids are home from school

…on the weather outside

…on what and how much I’ve fed my imagination (yes, my imagination must be fed on a regular basis. You wouldn’t believe the “food” it craves.)

…on my hormones (TMI?)

Thanks again for having me! I had a great time!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tawny Taylor

www.tawnytaylor.com

MASTERS OF ILLUSION, Available in ebook formats, Ellora’s Cave

Sarah on the easiest part of writing

Hello everyone! I hope you're having an excellent Wednesday! =) Today I'm going to be continuing with this week's discussion on "The easiest part of writing." This topic is rather difficult because there are areas where I feel I've come a long ways and am decent in, but I still don't necessarily consider them easy. Ideas would probably be the least difficult for me. I feel comfortable with dialogue and plot as well.

As someone once said "writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration." I agree with that, for the most part. I find that I have so many ideas for novels and novellas, yet finishing the novel I'm currently working on is so much more challenging. Why? It involves that large dose of perspiration. Some days I have to force myself to sit down and write, yet I can lean back and daydream for a moment and get the greatest idea for a new story. =)

I enjoy writing dialogue because that allows the characters the opportunity to show their personalities through the words they say, or don't say. I've heard many people say that they're not good with dialogue, but for me, I just listen to the voices in my head. =) I try to keep with how people really talk, except spice it up a little. Plot works in the same way. I don't really have to struggle with plot too much. I'm still learning what works for me in my pre-novel plotting, but the actual concept and how a piece unfolds is smooth. I don't like to know too much because it takes away the suspense.

Anyways! What about you? What is the easiest part of writing for all of you? Is there something in your writing that feels like second nature? Let me know! I'd love to hear what y'all have to say.