Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Ask the Author


     For me, the absolute best thing about writing is the time I spend in make-believe worlds where I share adventures with characters of my own design. It brings great joy into my days and often helps me cope with real life characters whom, unfortunately, I cannot shape to my liking with an enchanted ink pen.




     I'm inspired to write in a number of ways. I surround myself with pictures and objects that remind me of stories I'm working on, things like dragons, pirates, model sailing ships, glittering butterflies, and my favorite statue of two fairies embracing. One of the best inspirational tools for me is to simply daydream for a while. Soon enough, I'm reaching for a pen and notebook to write down the dreamed adventure.




     First, if you want to be a writer, then WRITE! Spend less time thinking, studying, researching, learning, worrying about the art and just write! Write a sentence, a paragraph, a page every day of your life—about anything and everything. Scribble out a poem, a quote, a set of instructions, a portion of a developing novel, a letter to a friend, and so on. Read your work over and edit it. Then set it aside for a while before reading and editing it again. The point is,writing and re-writing are the exercises for authors that lead to excellence.

     Secondly, READ everything. Read books, articles, recipes, blogs, letters, cereal boxes, and so on. Pay attention to the details that draw you in. Note what causes you to lose interest. Keep a journal of what you learn, and refer to it now and then.

     Thirdly, pick up a basic GRAMMAR book and memorize it; put that knowledge to use.



Friday, October 27, 2017

The Tarishe Curse - Continues for 2017


The time has arrived!


My annual Hallows Eve tale has continued! I posted the next installment of The Tarishe Curse on my author blog for your reading pleasure. So get reading! I hope you enjoy it.
​ — Richelle E. Goodrich


This is a developing online book with new chapters added by the author every Halloween. Visit The Tarishe Curse website to read this story in the making.

Summary: Catherine fights every Hallows Eve to protect her village from creatures of the night. She has sworn to avenge the deaths of loved ones, but a witch's curse may prove a stumbling block impossible to overcome.

A thrilling piece of fantasy fiction from the Queen of Werefolk's point of view. It is challenging enough for Duvalla and Kresh to protect their young family in a world of Hallows Eve creatures, but such a feat proves near impossible when a witch bent on vengeance against the werewolves casts a Tarishe curse that manipulates both heart and mind. The fight is not only with the sword but an internal struggle to love the ones Duvalla has sworn under a spell to hate, and hate the one who through evil enchantment manipulates her heart.



Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Year Six of The Tarishe Curse

       It's getting close to that spooky time of year, All Hallows Eve.  You know what happens about this time, I add on another few pages to my ongoing Halloween tale starring the queen of werefolk.  If you haven't read the previous portions of this cursed story, now is the time to do so!



       Are you wondering how this tradition began?  I'll tell you.
Six years back, I decided to write a short story for a friend who could easily be crowned Queen of Halloween (she is that obsessed with the holiday.)  After reading the story, she asked me an unexpected question.
       "What happens next?" 
       Uh. . . well. . . nothing.  It was supposed to be a simple Halloween short story. 
       But she got me thinking.  What might happen next if I were to continue the tale?  That started an annual writing tradition that continues today.  Every Halloween, I add to an ongoing adventure that includes werewolves, a powerful and vengeful witch, devious vampires, treacherous gargoyles, and other frightful creatures of the night.  It is a spooky delight!

       So prepare yourselves!  

       Read the beginning chapter of The Tarishe Curse and either enjoy it for the first time or refresh your memory of Duvalla and Kresh.  By request from my friend, Cathie, (to whom this story is dedicated) I am posting the next portion of The Tarishe Curse on October 27th, 2017.  Get ready!





Friday, September 29, 2017

#AuthorConfession

Have you been following #AuthorConfession on Twitter?  No? You should! I've had a great time participating in this daily question-and-answer activity, and I've learned lots about other authors and their WIPs (work in progress.) 

How does it work?  The hosts provide a question for each day of one month, and authors post their answers. It's that simple! Sometimes the questions are easy; others take a bit of thinking. Overall, it's been a blast! So much so that I thought I would blog my answers to the following questions...just in case you missed them on Twitter:




(Day 1) Introduce yourself and your WIP.

My name is Richelle E. Goodrich, American author and poet. I'm working on the 5th book in the Harrowbethian Saga (YA fantasy series) - Eena, The Tempter's Snare.



(Day 2) What's your favorite thing about WIP?

I love the many characters, their distinct personalities and the way they interact. I've fallen in love with a number of them.


(Day 3) What embarrasses your MC (main character)?

Public attention. And flowery compliments.


(Day 4) Tell us three things about your WIP.

1) It mixes known mythological characters with new... plus dragons.
2) Mallawum ball is big - sword fighting meets basketball?
3) Surprises wait around every corner.



(Day 5) Tell us three things about you.

1) Hot cocoa is my drink of choice.
2) I love the smell of myrrh & eucalyptus.
3) I have one freckle on my lower lip.


(Day 6) What is your MC's most important memory?

My MC's most important memory is recalling her royal identity after twelve years of believing she was someone else.


(Day 7) Who is the class clown in your novel?

The closest person to a class clown in my manuscript is Edgar, because he lacks any real cares, other than for himself.


(Day 8) Which character in your WIP would survive a zombie apocalypse?

I think all my main characters would survive a zombie apocalypse, only because Eena would step in and save them.


(Day 9) Describe your protagonist in three words.

Queen Eena is headstrong, impetuous, and very persuasive.


(Day 10) Character swap!

Swap Queen Eena for Kira the Mishmorat. The citizens of Harrowbeth would have to loosen up... a lot!
     Kira the feisty Mishmorat and Queen Eena of Harrowbeth



(Day 11) What's tough about this WIP?

What's tough about my WIP is the world refusing to be put on hold to allow me time to finish it! Priorities straight.


(Day 12) How do you treat yourself?

When I complete a writing goal, my greatest treat is to read it thru & think "that was awesome." Then I call my mom.


(Day 13) Best compliment you've had.

Honest truth: a woman read my saga after hearing about it and said, "I loved it more than Twilight." Made my year!



(Day 14) What's the big conflict in your WIP?

Whether to battle enemies alone or put friends at risk by accepting their help.


(Day 15) What's the strangest thing you've Googled?

I don't know that I've googled anything that strange. I suppose googling my own name is the strangest.😁



(Day 16) What makes your story shine?

Relatable, lovable characters. Fall in love with my characters = fall in love with the book.


(Day 17) What are you currently reading?

I just finished The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe and now I'm reading Leven Thumps & the Gateway to Foo.



(Day 18) How would your WIP change if it became a musical?

My WIP is kind of a musical already; it has songs in it. But if it were a full-blown musical, there'd be lots of dancing!🎵💃🏼🎶



(Day 19) What's your favorite comfort food?

Hot cocoa or pb&chocolate ice cream, depending on whether it's chilly or warm outside.


(Day 20) Which of the seven dwarves best fits your MC?

With her healing touch, Eena is definitely most like the Disney dwarf, Doc.





(Day 21) If you could time travel, where would you go?

If I could travel in time, I would go back to the creation of our world and watch how it's done.





(Day 22) Favorite fall activity?

"Trick or treat!"




(Day 23) Where else can we follow and support you?

Support my writing on my author website where there are links to all my social media. RichelleGoodrich.com



(Day 24) Selfie Sunday.

Sunday selfie: dressed up to go to church. I don't write on Sundays. I guess that's not too weird--or is it?


(Day 25) What's your coffee order?

If you dragged me into Starbucks, I would probably get a strawberry smoothie. Add whipped cream.



(Day 26) Word count report!

Word count for WIP is 80,432 - closer to "the end" than "in the beginning"!


(Day 27) What's your writing theme song?

Lately, my writing theme song has been "Unstoppable" by Rascal Flatts. I love them. 😍



(Day 28) What are your tips for rejection?

I remind myself, many popular authors suffered repeated rejection before finding success. Why would my road be any easier?


(Day 29) Shout out an author friend.

Meet author Graham Downs from South Africa! Find a little fantasy, magic, & drama in his books.



(Day 30) What other talents do you have?

I illustrate my own books and play a little piano now and then. I'd like to learn to play the guitar too.






Saturday, September 2, 2017

Writer's Block




     Writer's block can be a real hurdle (or at least a speed bump) for authors. Most deal with some form of writer's block on and off throughout the creative process. As for me, there is always a story or a poem or an observation about human nature brewing in my head wanting to be jotted down. At times, the words flow smoothly. Other times, I struggle to put my ideas into sentences. Regardless, I force myself to write when I have the time, knowing I can edit my work later.

     One thing I do naturally that helps me avoid writer's block is switch between two or three works in progress. I might type out five chapters in one book and then set it aside while writing a few new chapters in another. If I'm unsure about a developing story, I work on some other book until inspiration sorts out the hazy details in the first. Knowing I can juggle works in progress alleviates the pressure to force out chapters when I'm up against a mental wall.

     The bottom line, however, is a writer must sit down and simply write. Have faith. Writer's block or not, great ideas emerge most readily when engaged in the process of actually writing.

     ― Richelle E. Goodrich

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

What Love Means



I stand in the night and stare up at a lone star, wondering what love means.  You whisper your desire—do I love you?  I dare say yes.  But my eyes drift back to that solitary star; my mind is plagued with intimate uncertainty.   
What art thou, Love?  Tell me.   
I contemplate what I know—the qualities love doth not possess.  Love lifts no cruel or unkind hand, for it seeketh no harm.  It shirks from constraints and demands, for tyranny is not love.  A boisterous voice never crosses love’s lips, for to speak with thunder chases its very presence from the heart.  Love inflicts no pain, no fear, no misery, but conquers all such foes.  It is said love is not selfish, yet it does not guilt those who are.  On a heart unwillingly given it stakes no claim.  Love is nothing from Pandora’s box; it is no evil, sin, or sorrow unleashed on this world.   
My eyes glimmer as the star I gaze upon twinkles with brightness I do not possess.  I recognize my smallness—my ignorance of the One whose hands placed that star in the heavens for me.   
He is love.  By His own mouth He proclaimed it.   
Again the whispered question hits my ear—do I love you?  I dare say yes.  But my eyes squint tight, wishing on a lonely star, wondering what love means. 

 



Friday, August 11, 2017

10 Things You Want to Know About the Book

The fourth book in the Harrowbethian Saga has been released! Eena, The Two Sisters is now available for purchase at most online book-retailers. Feed your curiosity with the following ten things you want to know about the book:


1. The book stars 17-year-old Queen Eena of Harrowbeth.

2. Two unscrupulous immortal sisters seek to gain their freedom at any cost.

3. Killer dragons are involved.

4. This book brings readers to the two-thirds mark in the Harrowbethian Saga.

5. The story was inspired by the author's fantastical youthful daydreams.

6. A love triangle builds and intensifies. Or is it a love quadri-angle?

7. Global maps of Eena's planet, Moccobatra, are included in this book.

8. A crazy and unexpected proposal is made. Make that two.

9. A traditional Harrowbethian birthday game is explained.

10. Learn to speak a few lines in the Bethan language.