Be Very Afraid! The BOOGEDYMAN is Almost Here!

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Sharon Buchbinder

Greetings Everyone!

We want to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful and gracious Hostess Sharon Buchbinder for having us here today…we feel so humble and honored! I would like to introduce ourselves.

We are the best selling, award winning, husband/wife author team of AP Miller. We write in many different genres and have been in the publishing industry for over thirty years. We are represented by literary agent, Jennifer Etherton and our dynamic duo Public Relations and Marketing team Andi and Eric of G.Y. S. Entertainment.

Today we would like to chat with you about writing and what it takes to make it in this industry.

We get asked this question all the time and I will note, always write what you know. I can’t stress this enough. If you write paranormal don’t make an attempt to write science fiction just to jump on the ban wagon if your know nothing about the subject which can be very intensive.

People ask me, “How did you do it?”

Simple…we write what we know and we write in many genres because well…we know about them. You have to study the craft. It will take you years of practice and dedication. Not every writer is born. They are created through discipline, determination and persistence.

Sure you might believe it’s easy to paste together a novel. How hard can it be right? Boy meets girl they fall in love and marry, the end. Think again. You need a story, doesn’t necessarily have to end HEA, it can have a HFN ending but nonetheless you still need a plot. You need to pay attention to detail, characterization, setting, and plot. If you are writing a historical better make sure you are historically accurate. You can’t expect to have cowboys from the old west in the Revolutionary War, or your hero in a contemporary setting wearing an Armani suit, unless he is a time traveler. That would make for a scary book in my opinion. Living conditions were harsh back then. You also need to focus of the clothing and mannerisms of that time period, speech patterns are important. As with any genre you will after all, need to do your homework to make your story believable.

In order to create a story you need knowledge. This means lots of research in the genre you wish to write for. You have to READ and I’m not talking Tom Clancy, or John Grisham.

They are icons in the literary world yes, but what I mean is read within the genre you want your story set in. Write in first or third person, again do your homework. The book stores and libraries are filled with “How to” books. If you’re not sure, go and pick them up, trust me they will do you a world of good.

I’m going to touch on our latest YA book the first in The Scary Tale Theater series, THE BOOGEDYMAN.

When I decided to sit down and pen for the YA market I was already familiar with the genre since I am a retired school teacher, (write what you know see?) I wanted something that would scare the pants off the kids that wasn’t associated with blood and gore and the likes of Michael Meyers or Freddy Krueger, but I did come up with an extremely scary concept which I will not reveal here, you understand…

Halloween is my favorite Holiday. I love to be scared and so do the children. In this series they will get to meet the protagonist and the antagonist who he depends on. Murray Thompson was always afraid of things that go bump in the night and by age eleven he believed in the Boogedyman. He relies on his longtime Doctor to help him get through his life, but believes the therapy just isn’t working. Murray is brought through a whirlwind of horrific dilemmas before the end of the book is reached. Is the Boogedyman real or a figment of his imagination?

We hope all of you will remember to pick up your copy at Muse it Up Publishing on October 28^th just in time for Halloween. It’s available in ebook and print through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Also watch for our children’s book, “The Trouble with Tessa” which will release in December with Dancing with Bear Publishing.

Happy Reading to all of you and Happy Halloween!

AP Miller

PS: Sharon is still celebrating KISS OF THE SILVER WOLF’s first birthday by selecting one lucky commenter on her blog each week up to October 31, 2011 to win an e-copy of my werewolves meets X-files novella. So, don’t delay! Start commenting! Stop by and enter to win more spooktacular prizes at http://theromancestudio.com/party.

Happy Birthday, KISS OF THE SILVER WOLF!

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Sharon Buchbinder

It’s hard for me to believe that KISS OF THE SILVER WOLF is a year old today! The back story on this paranormal romance is that it actually took five years for me to give birth to it–from first putting the kernel of the idea onto the computer screen to countless revisions–and to numerous time-outs in a drawer. In fact, if not for my patient editor/midwife, Amanda Barnett, it might never have gotten out into the real world. She believed in my story and kept me going when I was discouraged and frustrated. Nicola Martinez is the talented artist who created the breathtaking cover for my story.

I have been humbled and overwhelmed by reader feedback and by the way people have connected with the story, because it is first and foremost about family–whatever form that takes, including shape shifters. I never anticipated that my little my werewolves meet X-files novella would still be in the top tiers of Kindle sales at this time. To thank my readers for a wonderful year, I’m giving away seven (7), yes, seven (7) e-copies of KISS OF THE SILVER WOLF today. All you have to do to enter this contest is to comment on today’s blog by MIDNIGHT tonight!

David Beem, author of THE ABYSS OF CHAOS, has included me in an Internet game of tag and I’m “it.” The rules of this game are that I’m to share seven things about myself that you may not know and send readers off to discover some other authors and bloggers by “tagging” them. So without further ado, herewith are my writing and blogging buddies who have been kind enough to share the goods with me.

And now, seven (7) things you may not know about me.

Our Weimaraner, Edgar Allan Poe, loves the Ravens and wears a purple scarf on game days.
At one time, my husband and I used to breed and show cats. We had the best Egyptian Mau in the United States in 1982. Her name was Tiya and she loved to go to shows and do the catwalk.
I am related to the majority of the people who live in Stanford, Kentucky (Population: 3, 430). Perhaps you can understand why I set KISS OF THE SILVER WOLF in the fictional town of Eden, Kentucky when you see the photos of my beautiful family homestead.
My grandmother was deaf and non-speaking. She attended Kentucky School for the Deaf and moved to Washington, DC to work for a congressman. She met my grandfather on a blind date. He was a wild man, also deaf and drove a motorcycle. Her family was furious that she married a lowly gardener. Years later, he became the Assistant Head Gardener in the United States Botanical Gardens in Washington, DC and also gardened at the White House. (Yes, the one on Pennsylvania Avenue).
My grandmother was my primary caregiver and giver of love from age three to five. I have deaf characters in my stories in honor of my grandmother.
I did not inherit my grandfather’s gardening skills. Plants come to my house to die.
One of my relatives was a US President. Does the name Zachary Taylor ring any bells? Yup, another wild man.

People often ask me why I write about wild men and women. I don’t have any idea what they’re talking about, do you?

PS: Stop by and enter to win more spooktacular prizes at http://theromancestudio.com/

Human Trafficking: It’s In Our Back Yards: Part II

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Sharon Buchbinder

Last week, I posted on the who, what, where and when of human trafficking. Today, I will be posting on the why. Why should romance writers care? Why should they consider including it in their novels? We are all tuned into that radio station, WIFM, or “What’s In It For Me?” with good reason. We want to sell books and make money. So, let’s see how you can benefit from this topic as a writer and be a “do-gooder” at the same time.

(By way of reminder, I’m still celebrating KISS OF THE SILVER WOLF’s first birthday by selecting one lucky commenter on my blog each week up to October 31, 2011 to win an e-copy of my werewolves meets X-files novella. So, don’t delay, start commenting!)

*****

WIFM: Characters Wanted

Looking for some interesting characters? Try some of these:

Victims: children, women, men, families who through no fault of their own become victims of human trafficking.

Perpetrators/Villains: Family members–yes, you read that right. Families who do not value girls can sell them to traffickers to get the other family members through a famine, drought, etc. Fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts are all in the business. In the documentary, Born Into Brothels, one of the young women is told repeatedly by her “Auntie” that she’ll be “working the line” soon, i.e., working as a prostitute. Another little girl worries that she’ll be sold. Unlike drug and gun trafficking where men are in charge, human trafficking is an equal opportunity employer and women can rise through the ranks. Madams trafficking girls into brothels were often victims of trafficking. Teenaged girls who might not trust a male family member, are more likely to go with a female family member–and then find themselves enslaved. Throw in organized and disorganized crime, corrupt politicians, police, and border guards and you will find no lack of villains.

Need a Hero and Heroine? Look at the list of agencies at the end of this blog for a sampling of the organizations involved in combating human trafficking. In addition to governmental agents (FBI, ICE, DHHS); good police, non-corrupt politicians, and border guards, there are also Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs). Some are religious organizations, all are not-for-profits.

Need Secondary Characters? In DESIRE AND DECEPTION, my heroine (Sarah) found out about human trafficking by attending a conference sponsored by a Catholic university. A nun became Sarah’s mentor in the search for the nefarious trafficker.

WIFM: Plots Wanted

How about adapting some old plots to a not-so-new issue? Yes, we know there are a lot of variations on these themes, but look at the tropes and in the parentheses are ideas for tailoring them to a human trafficking story.

1. Secret Baby (Adoption Trafficking)
2. Cinderella (rags to riches) (Madams; Organs)
3. Opposites Attract (FBI agent, Crime boss)
4. Bodyguard (Protecting rich woman, nearly dies)
5. Second chance/First love rekindled (Oryx & Crake; children/teens torn apart)
6. Reunion (Woman/child reunited w/family)
7. Stranded (Lost and Trafficked)
8. Love Triangle (Pimp/Prostitute/John)
9. Marriage of Convenience (Mail-order Brides)
10. Beauty and the Beast (Captor/captive or C/c)

11. Sleeping Beauty/Ugly duckling (Drugged Woman/Awakened by Hero)
12. Amnesia (Head Injury & Trafficked)
13. Fish out of water (Abducted on vacation)
14. Blackmail/Revenge (Unfaithful lover)
15. Forbidden love (“Good”C/c)
16. Mentor/protégé (Boss/Employee)
17. Princess/Pauper; King/Beggar maid (Beggar children)
18. Bad boy/good girl; Bad girl/good boy (C/c)
19. Best Friends (One seeks trafficked friend)
20. The Road to Adventure (Boy soldiers/Captive “brides”)

(Adapted with permission from Jana Richards 20 Classic Romance Plots)

What Can You Do As Citizens?

Here are some simple ways to be involved:

Become informed and raise awareness through writing, presentations and workshops;
Buy only Fair Trade goods (e.g., flowers, chocolate, clothing, rugs, etc.)
Demand that laws against human trafficking be created and enforced (did you know 9 states in the US have weak or NO anti-trafficking laws? (Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Massachusetts, Montana, South Carolina and South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Hawaii and Ohio. (http://bit.ly/ntzjCL)
Advocate for reduced demand through:
- Creation of John’s schools (like a DUI school for first offenders) teach men that prostitution is not a victimless crime if you are forced into it against your will.
- Call for corporate policies that mandate no purchasing of goods created by slaves.
- Zero tolerance in tourism, real estate, advertising and related industries who benefit from human trafficking. In Paris, France, authorities boarded up an expensive condominium the owner had rented to sex traffickers. His real estate investment was gone.

What Can You Do As A Romance Writer?

Romance writers have long tackled difficult women’s issues, such as domestic violence and addiction. Romance writers can tell a fictional story that is less threatening to readers to expose them to the world of human trafficking. Romance writers can show readers what individuals can do. Romance writers can make a difference.

References and Resources

Films & Documentaries

Taken
Frozen River
Revenge
Human Trafficking
Slum Dog Millionaire
Trade
Sin Nombre (Without a Name)
Born into Brothels
Lilya 4-Ever
Selling of Innocents
National Geographic BORDER WARS (Cable)

A Small Sampling of Nonfiction Books

Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy by Kevin Bales
Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective by Louise Shelley
The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today by Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter
Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade–and How We Can Fight It by David Batstone
Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery by Siddarth Kara
The Whistleblower: Sex Trafficking, Military Contractors, and One Woman’s Fight for Justice by Kathryn Bolkovac

A Small Sampling of Fiction Books

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Wiser Than Serpents (Mission: Russia #3) by Susan May Warren
Blood Ransom (Mission Hope Series) by Lisa Harris
Stolen Woman (Stolen Series) by Kimberly Rae

Online Resources

PS: Stop by and enter to win more spooktacular prizes from October 26-31 at http://theromancestudio.com/party.

Kathleen Grieve, Author of DATING 911 Series on Funny vs Sexy POV

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Sharon Buchbinder

Good morning! I’d love to thank Sharon for hosting me here today at Snap, Crackle & Popping Blog! I was driving home from work the other morning and the radio Dj’s threw a question out to listeners—Are men more attracted to a woman who is funny or sexy when they first meet her? I thought, why couldn’t men be attracted to a woman who is both? Well, the Dj’s being MEN, shot that down and said it was downright impossible for a man to be attracted to a woman who is both funny and sexy because that woman doesn’t necessarily exist. Another statement I disagreed with.

But then my thoughts turned to my current hero in my upcoming release DATING 911 firefighter Jett Avery. Sure he’s got his issues—but when he first interacts with my heroine Roxanne Carter, is he attracted to her because she’s funny? Or Sexy?

I believe his reaction to her has everything to do with his current emotional circumstances. Jett is in one frame of mind. He needs to forget… His initial reaction is purely sexual. As his character evolves, and he learns more about himself and Roxanne, he’s attracted to and falls in love with the complete package.

So, Mr. Radio Dj, my opinion had I called in to your station would have been this—It isn’t humor or how sexy a woman is that would attract me to her first if I were a man. My reaction would totally depend on life’s circumstances and how my life was going.

~Maybe I haven’t been laid in a while and am on the prowl for a hook up.

~Maybe I’ve gotten a bonus at work and am looking for someone to share it with.

~Maybe I’ve been so damn depressed lately; I want to be around someone who is the life of the party.

Maybe…Maybe…Maybe… There are so many possibilities! I’d love to hear what you think! Do you believe a man is more attracted to a woman because she’s sexy or funny when he first meets her? One lucky commenter will receive a free digital copy of my upcoming release, DATING 911 due out from Evernight Publishing on Wednesday, October 12!! Just two days away… The buy link is www.evernightpublishing.com

Blurb:

Emergency room nurse, Roxanne Carter is a loser-magnet wishing she could enjoy her single life. Commiserating with girlfriends over butterscotch martinis creates the idea of The Dating Manifesto–a not so scientific research project which promises to point the way to dating success. While gathering data to find the most suitable single men available, she wades through a series of unsavory, stale dates, which literally places her back at ground zero. Just when she is ready to give up, sin personified in the form of sexy firefighter Jett Avery, arrives tainting all of her previous data.

A traumatic warehouse fire, in which firefighter Jett Avery’s closest friend dies, has him suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Attempting to stave off the worst of his depression, he decides to use his brand of therapy…Sex. The remedy has lost luster until he encounters ER nurse Roxanne Carter.

The pursuit of Roxanne by Jett’s twin brother, Doctor Cruz Avery, complicates her research and interferes with Jett’s therapy. Does Roxanne choose the brother who by analysis is the perfect match? Or the broken, dark and irresistible one?

Excerpt (PG-17):

She held up her hands, palms facing toward him. “Stop. This is a hospital. Not some stupid television show where the medical staff is always making out in a closet. I work here. Don’t even think about it!”

Jett closed the distance between them until her hands pressed against his chest, searing their imprint through the thin cotton of his T-shirt. He grasped her fingers and lifted them to his mouth, licking the sensitive tips with his tongue one by one. Heat filled her eyes and she trembled.

“You feel the pull, too. Don’t you?” he asked, dropping her hand.

Jett slid his hands to her waist, and molded her against his erection. A perfect fit. Her sharp intake of breath as she shook her head told him all he needed to know. He smiled. Satisfaction filled him.

“Liar. Shake your head in denial all you want, but I can see the reflection mirrored in your eyes, and feel the powerful draw when I touch you,” he said in a husky tone. He rubbed his stiff cock against her stomach. The intensity of his desire eliminated all reason.

Jett buried his face in her neck and breathed in her sweetness. “Hmm. Today you smell like chocolate.” His tongue traced the delicate shell of her ear as his hands stroked her bare arms. “But you taste like honey.”

Her knees bent and he placed his leg between hers to support her. On the brink of total insanity, he continued his light exploration. His hand skimmed her torso, and skirted the side of her breast. With slow, deliberate care, he let his fingertips graze her collarbone on the way to grasp the back of her neck. Another tremor rippled through her.

God, she felt so damn good.

She tilted her chin and her head rested in his open palm. “Jett,” her sultry voice caused his penis to throb. “This is not a good idea. Anyone could come in here and….”

He pushed his thigh against her crotch. She inhaled sharply, desire deepening the blue of her eyes. “You were saying?”

Her brow furrowed. “And…”

“Intoxicating being a little naughty, isn’t it?” he rasped. He gently tugged her face closer to his. “Hmm. I believe you mentioned the other night that your most recent sexual exploits have been lacking. Let’s add something of interest for your science venture.”

To learn more about me and my books, stop by www.kathleengrieve.com

Or my blog, Keeping a Pulse on Life & Romance http://www.kathleengrieve.blogspot.com where I share snippets of my upcoming works in progress and upcoming releases.

PS: Sharon is still celebrating KISS OF THE SILVER WOLF’s first birthday by selecting one lucky commenter on her blog each week up to October 31, 2011 to win an e-copy of my werewolves meets X-files novella. So, don’t delay! Start commenting! And to enter to win more spooktacular prizes, stop by the TRS Halloween party at http://theromancestudio.com/party.

Human Trafficking: It’s In Our Back Yards: Part I

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Sharon Buchbinder

One of the hidden atrocities of our time is human trafficking. As old as mankind, this practice continues to this day, even in those countries that have outlawed slavery. We should all be concerned about this as citizens. Over the next two weeks, I will be posting on this topic from the perspective of a romance writer who addressed this issue in DESIRE AND DECEPTION and will continue to address it in my sequel, DESIRE AND OBSESSION.

On a lighter note, I’m celebrating KISS OF THE SILVER WOLF’s first birthday by selecting one lucky commenter on my blog each week up to October 31, 2011 to win an e-copy of my werewolves meets X-files novella. So, don’t delay! Start commenting!

*****

What is Human Trafficking?

“Recruitment, transportation, harboring, or receipt of persons by means of threats, force, coercion, abduction, fraud or deception, or abuse of power or position of vulnerability or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation….” “Exploitation shall include at a minimum, the exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.” (Article 3a of the Convention of Transnational Organized Crime in Shelly, L. Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective, Cambridge University Press, 2010, pp. 10-11).

Why Should Romance Writers Care?

There are estimates that from 2.5 to 30 million people are victims of trafficking. Estimates for US human trafficking range from 100,000 to 500,000 victims. Because this is a clandestine activity, numbers are difficult to pin down, however the purposes are less elusive. People are trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced marriage, labor exploitation, for begging, for services as child soldiers, adoptions and for their organs. Two-thirds are women and children (under age 18 boys and girls) who are trafficked into sexual exploitation. Men and boys are trafficked primarily for forced labor, child soldiers and beggars. By sheer numbers alone, human trafficking is a women’s issue. (International Labor Organization. (2004). Report of the Director General Crime, Global Alliance Against Forced Labor. in Shelly, L. Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective, Cambridge University Press, 2010, p. 5. )

Human Trafficking is a Transnational Crime and Culture Predicts the Business Model

Asia: Trade & Development Model—Humans used to build national economy;
Eurasia and Eastern Europe: Natural Resource Model, Furs, Oil, Lumber, Humans sold as commodities;
Europe: Violent Entrepreneur Modal—Balkan Crime Groups, Humans as disposable goods and victims are often tattooed to show which gang owns them;
United States: American Pimp, High Consumption, Low Savings; Run aways, street children lured, girls told they’ll live the high life, usually minority women in poverty stricken homes;
Latin America: Super Market: Low Cost, High Volume; Illegal immigration, People Smuggling goes hand in hand with trafficking; and,
Africa: Traditional Slavery plus High Technology; Edo, Nigeria is the center of trafficking in Africa, following old slave routes.

Supply: Push Factors of Human Trafficking

Poverty, high birth rates, low educational levels and patriarchy predict the presence and persistence of human trafficking. In countries where girls are not valued, they can be sold to support boys going to school or to purchase medical care for their elders. Children who are born into brothels will stay in brothels. Many countries that have a surplus of children (e.g., Brazil) now have a problem with street children living in allies, unsupervised by parents. These children are particularly vulnerable to trafficking. With destabilization of governments (especially the former Soviet Union, Latin America and Africa), there has been a rise of organized crime from former soldiers and enforcers (e.g., Russian mob, MS-13). In addition, the wakes of natural disasters leave women and children unprotected from predators preying on those who are still dazed and confused.

Demand: Pull Factors of Human Trafficking

Much like the demand for drugs driving the trade, the demand for sex, cheap labor, babies, and body parts drives human trafficking. Demand for sex in areas with large numbers of unmarried men (mining, agricultural) continues to rise, as does sex tourism, particularly for children (both male and female). Demand for compliant soldiers (<age 12) in parts of the world where conflicts never end, means children as young as 8 years old will be carrying weapons. Young girls are often trafficked to be “wives” of military leaders. When they grow older, or ill, the men abandon them. When they return to their homes, they are no longer welcome as they are no longer virgins. Shunned by their communities, many of them are re-trafficked. Global demand for lower prices drives demand for cheap labor in factories, in homes as domestic servants, and on farms as agricultural workers. Criminals want children for begging and will maim them to make them more pitiful and more productive. In addition, the developed world has a high demand for babies (due to low birth rates) and body parts.

Facilitators: Who Else Benefits from Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is a $32 Billion Industry. The money is good and the consequences are minor. Politicians, police and security apparatus are corrupt and profit from trafficking. Border patrols often complicit in crime. In addition, the real estate and leisure industries–resorts, hotels, airlines, restaurants, advertisers and other media–profit from providing services to traffickers.

Why Does It Persist?

Patriarchy, lower education for women and lower status of women predicts greater levels of trafficking. There is one exception—some clients want smart women with education so they can feel they have a “high class call girl.” Women who have higher education are sought after by traffickers to fulfill this fantasy. The value of trafficked person depends on part of the world, but generally speaking, treatment of the person is poor. There is a higher mortality rate among trafficked women and children; it is cheaper to let them die than to obtain medical treatment. Survivors continue to have mental health issues long after the abuse ends.

In Your Back Yard

Many organized crime rings have diversified from drug and gun trafficking to human trafficking. Criminals can only sell a drug or gun once, but you can resell a human many times over. The I-95 corridor from Florida to Boston is a main artery for trafficking and children and girls are moved often to keep authorities from finding them. Daily, Homeland Security Human Trafficking Reports, reveal that from small towns to big cities, slavery persists throughout the world. It is literally happening in your back yard.

Next Week: Characters, Plots and What You Can Do

References and Resources

Films & Documentaries

Taken
Frozen River
Revenge
Human Trafficking
Slum Dog Millionaire
Trade
Sin Nombre (Without a Name)
Born into Brothels
Lilya 4-Ever
Selling of Innocents
National Geographic BORDER WARS (Cable)

A Small Sampling of Nonfiction Books

Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy by Kevin Bales
Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective by Louise Shelley
The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today by Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter
Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade–and How We Can Fight It by David Batstone
Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery by Siddarth Kara
The Whistleblower: Sex Trafficking, Military Contractors, and One Woman’s Fight for Justice by Kathryn Bolkovac

A Small Sampling of Fiction Books

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Wiser Than Serpents (Mission: Russia #3) by Susan May Warren
Blood Ransom (Mission Hope Series) by Lisa Harris
Stolen Woman (Stolen Series) by Kimberly Rae

Online Resources