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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

GUEST BLOGGING: Over at Regency Seductions...

I'm tripping across the ditch today (aka the Tasman Sea) to chat to Bronwen Evans over at her blog - Regency Seductions.

We'd love to have your company and if you leave a comment you'll go into the draw for an ARC copy of VENGEANCE BORN. Looking forward to seeing you there!

TOPIC: An Author's Life...with Amanda Ashby

Being a published author is an ... involved ... process, and I take my hat off to those who've been in the business more than a few years now.

As a pre-pubbed author I was always curious about what happened once you received THE CALL and stepped into the world of publishing.

What did it involve? How did they handled the day to day pressures? Did they developed routines, set goals etc.? What did they like/dislike about the process?

So I asked my special guests these questions and many of them have offered some intriguing insights into their lives. Maybe they'll even give you a heads up on what to expect if you're thinking of entering the world of "getting published".

Please welcome my next guest... 

AMANDA ASHBY was born in Australia and after spending the last sixteen years dividing her time between England and New Zealand, she’s finally moved back and now lives on the Sunshine Coast.

When she’s not moving country, she likes to write books (okay, she also likes to eat chocolate, watch television and sit around doing not much, but let’s just keep that amongst ourselves, shall we?)

Author Facts
Pseudonym or Given Name?
Amanda Ashby. 
Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland. 
Published Genre/s: young adult, middle grade. 
Website: www.amandaashby.com 
First published: 2007. 
Number of books published: I’ve currently got three books out and four more to come in next 12-18 months.

The Nitty Gritty
List up to 5 significant events in your journey to publication?
The first clever thing that I did was join the Romance Writers of New Zealand.

I won a competition, which would’ve seen my book get published with a small UK publisher, but they went under before that happened.

At the same time I had moved to the UK and joined the RNA and went along to a local chapter meeting in Cheshire. There were four of us at that first meeting: me, Penny Jordan, Susan Stephens and Amanda Grange. To say that I was overwhelmed was an understatement but despite being a fish out of water those wonderful writers took me under their wings and made me feel like my writing dream was possible!

From there many more people ending up coming to our chapter meetings (including the wise Kate Walker and the lovely June Francis who writes Liverpool sagas).

Hanging out with so many Harlequin authors led me to the eharlequin boards and that is where I met my CP's Christina Phillips and Sara Hantz.

Meeting those two was definitely the best thing that ever happened to my writing career. I think we had been friends for about two years when I finally sold and I can’t imagine what I would’ve done without them (especially since they are fabulous at correcting my shoddy grammar!!!!). 


What resources/techniques/events did you find useful to develop your writing skills/craft?
I love Blake Snyder’s book SAVE THE CAT. I’ve read a lot of writing books that try and teach me how to write but with Blake’s book I feel like he’s putting names and structures to the things that I naturally do.

Can you share the special moment when you received THE CALL?
My first book went out on submission in 2005 to quite a big list but within two weeks we had received rejections from nearly all of them.

Then my agent sent me an email to say that NAL had offered on the proviso that I changed it from a young adult book to a woman’s fiction book. Honestly, in that email all I saw was the words ‘offer’ and so I immediately said yes!!!!

Looking back over your writing career, how have you grown as an author?
I think I write like a puppy! I have a lot of enthusiasm and over the top of ideas and not a lot of structure and style. Thankfully, over the years I’ve definitely learnt how to control my voice and impose some order on it.

Of course, it hasn’t all happened in a bubble and I owe it all to my editor Karen Chaplin who has been such a champion of my work. Karen has since left Puffin but I still keep her in my mind when I’m working on a new project because she knew just how to push and develop me as an author!

Ditto with my agent, Jenny Bent who never lets me put anything but my best foot forward. 

How important is it to set career goals? Can you give an example of one you have for yourself?
You know I really should start setting some goals. It sounds very grown up and clever! Unfortunately, I tend to just float along in a very vague way and hope that good things happen (for the record, don’t try this at home).

Can you describe your writing process/timeframe from when you start a new book to handing it in at deadline?
It varies so much depending on the contract. I’ve sold books on the full, on a partial and on a synopsis and so each experience has been different.

The only thing that stays the same is that by the time I hit the middle, my head is fit to explode and I’m convinced that I’m the worst writer. In. The. World!

Also, for me a lot of the work starts after the book has been handed in and when we move onto the revision stage (that when crazy really comes to visit!)

One of the things I found challenging about being a published author is the constant juggling of tasks ie. writing a book, editing another, planning promotion, writing the prosposal for another (and usually this all happens while holding down another job or dealing with family/life etc.).

What do you enjoy the most in the publishing process?
Ideas!!!! I’m such an ideas person and so I love the challenge of coming up with something that has a cute title, strong hook and that can work in the current market.

What do you least in the publishing process?
The waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is so much downtime in publishing, depending where you sit on your publisher’s list and so often you have long periods of time where nothing is happening and you have to keep yourself amused and out of trouble!

What's the most memorable fan-mail you've received?
It was for my debut book YOU HAD ME AT HALO and it was from a lovely reader called Laura who I would say was my first fan! She was so wonderful and I even ended up meeting her at the RWA conference in San Francisco.

We joked that she was my stalker but she wasn’t like that at all. She just really liked my book and I’ve never forgotten her because she was the first person who made me feel like a ‘real’ writer!

Is there anything you think pre-publishers writers need to know about the business/industry before they're published?
I don’t want to sound all pessimistic but sometimes when I think of publishing I think of Kurt Vonnegut’s book, CAT'S CRADLE where it concludes, ‘No dam cat. No dam cradle.’ Because no matter how great your publishing experience is, it’s NEVER how you expect it will be!

So my advice is to lose your expectations, concentrate on your story and remember that it’s not the most important thing in the world.

A Bit of Fun
Favorite color:
apple green. 
Hunkiest hero ever: David Boreanaz.
Most daring thing you've done in your life: bought sour Skittles instead of regular ones. Sometimes I just scare myself with my thrill-seeking nature! 
Greatest love: husband. He’s very lovely when he’s behaving himself! 
Timeout/relaxation for me includes: watching television and reading books.
Special quote/saying you like: "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you odd." - Flannery O’Connor. I love this, and it pretty much sums up every book that I’ve ever written!!!




Saturday, January 28, 2012

CAST OF CHARACTERS: Kalan - the warrior hero of Vengeance Born

To continue the introduction of the characters from VENGEANCE BORN, today you find out more about Kalan, the hero.

Name: Kalan Tayn

Race: Human

Age: 30

Background: Kalan Tayn is the son of traders. His calling to be a Light Blade warrior came in his early teens. His best friend, Arek, joined the same time as him.

His sister, Kymora, was also called to serve the Lady, but as a Handmaiden in the Temple. They all helped one another in their respective roles.

While Kalan doesn't appear on the front cover, this is what I imagined he'd look like.

Kalan rose quickly among the Light Blade ranks to the position of Commander. Arek is his Second, a partnership which endures to this day.

Kalan's strong faith in the Lady guides his every action and helps him through difficult situations - the most pressing being to convince a rigid and inflexible Blade Council that they must adapt to survive the escalating conflict with the Na'Reish demons.

If he can't, the Na'Reish will succeed in killing or enslaving them all.

Skills: Like all Light Blade warriors he can use his kinetic power to kill by channeling it through touch or via any blade or weapon. This skill is used to kill the Na'Reish.

In human society, Light Blades are highly respected for their skills and dedication to upholding the Lady's tenets. They are the protectors of all.

Interesting facts:
  • His mother died of Claret-rash when he was young.
  • As young Light Blade trainees, he and Arek used to sneak into the Night Markets outside curfew to visit the taverns.
  • He insists on being called Commander outside the Blade Council chamber rather than Chosen. He believes strongly in forging personal connections with those he meets instead of relying on his rank to earn respect.
  • Like Annika, Kalan's greatest vice is a hot bath.

Friday, January 27, 2012

GUEST BLOGGING: Over at the Romance Bandits...

I'm wandering over to the Romance Bandits blog today.

The lovely Anna Campbell is my host and she's asking me all sorts of questions and giving me a chance to promote VENGEANCE BORN, my debut release due out on Feb.7th.

If you have a minute to spare, come and join us!

(For the Aussies who were wondering where the link was for this - I had to wait for the time zones to synch - the Bandits are in the USA zone).

Thursday, January 26, 2012

VENGEANCE BORN Countdown


Less than 2 weeks to go...

“That’s why you helped me escape? Why you need me with you?” The image of her latched on to him, feeding, flashed through his mind. “I’m a convenient food source?”

How many Light Blade warriors had he seen fall in battle? How many had he heard scream in agony as demon teeth ripped into their throats or wrists so they could be drained?

Nausea choked him. Too many.

Kalan dropped into a crouch, teeth bared. “Come one step closer and I will kill you.”

(VENGEANCE BORN Ch. 2)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

BLOG TOURING: Over at Helene Young's blog...

I'm visiting Aussie author, Helene Young today. She's put me in the hot seat and interviewed me this time!

Come join us and leave a comment to go into the draw for a signed ARC copy of VENGEANCE BORN.

TOPIC: An Author's Life...with Maree Anderson

Being a published author is an ... involved ... process, and I take my hat off to those who've been in the business more than a few years now.

As a pre-pubbed author I was always curious about what happened once you received THE CALL and stepped into the world of publishing.

What did it involve? How did they handled the day to day pressures? Did they developed routines, set goals etc.? What did they like/dislike about the process?

So I asked my special guests these questions and many of them have offered some intriguing insights into their lives. Maybe they'll even give you a heads up on what to expect if you're thinking of entering the world of "getting published".

Please welcome my next guest... 

MAREE ANDERSON always knew she had a re-e-e-eally warped imagination. The trouble was finding a socially acceptable outlet...which is why she became an author.



The other great thing about being an author is having a valid reason to read loads of books -- all in the name of research, of course. When she's not 'researching', Maree's writing romance of the paranormal persuasion.

She's a Kiwi, a New Zealander, and she's addicted to chocolate -- the darker the better. Not to mention coffee and  excellent NZ wine. She's not quite so addicted to her local gym but she's working on it ;-) 

Author Facts 
Pseudonym or Given Name? Given name—plain old Maree Anderson. I didn’t really think about the pseudonym thing until after I was published... in erotic romance. Ooops. *face palm*
Location: Auckland, New Zealand.
Published Genre/s: Erotic Romance of the science fiction/fantasy/paranormal persuasion, paranormal romance, Young Adult paranormal. (If you’re sensing a theme here, you’d be right *g*) 
Website: http://wwwmareeanderson.com 
First published in: 2009. 
Number of books published: 8 (3 novella-lengths, 5 novel-lengths). 

The Nitty Gritty
List up to 5 significant events in your journey to publication?

  1. As Barbara Clendon would say: “Finishing the damn book!” Or in my case, that very first manuscript.
  2. Someone asking me shortly after I’d finished that very first manuscript, “What scares you about taking the next step toward publication?”
  3. Finalling in the RWNZ Clendon Award in 2004 with that very first manuscript, and having Barbara Clendon say something to the effect of, “It needs a lot of work but for some reason, I just wanted to keep on reading the darned thing.”
  4. Writing an erotic romance novella specifically for a contest, just to challenge myself, and being offered a publishing contract. (I’d never written a novella or an erotic romance before, so that was The Best feedback *g*)
  5. My second Red Sage editor, Judith Harkins. We worked on four stories together before she left the company, and she was an incredible mentor, who really “got” me. She pulled scenes from me that I didn’t know I had it in me to write. We still keep in touch regularly via email.
What resources/techniques/events did you find useful to develop your writing skills/craft?
I read widely, across a variety of genres. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for writers to read heaps. And heaps. And heaps.

For me, inspiration for a story strikes at the strangest times—in the middle of listening to a song, reading an article in an ancient magazine in the takeaway shop while waiting for my fish ‘n chips order, watching TV, glimpsing a photo as I flick through a magazine, waking from a dream.... I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve sprinted round frantically looking for a pen and paper to scribble down the idea before it vanishes.

So the best resource a writer can have? Pen and paper always at hand! (And preferably a pen that works, too.)

Entering contests can be a great way to get feedback about the strengths and weaknesses of your story—and your writing in general. I have a special fondness for the RWNZ Clendon Award, because it’s a full manuscript contest, with romance readers (not writers!) reading your whole manuscript and giving you feedback.

And having a group of writer-friends that you can meet with regularly is a must. “Normal” friends—and even family—don’t truly don’t understand what it’s like to have characters talking inside your head, and the muse cracking her fluffy whip and compelling you to write. Other like-minded writers “get” it and they’ll “get” you. And that’s a huge gift, because writing can be a lonely, very isolating, business.

Plus, I’ve always found other writers to be incredibly supportive and generous with sharing their knowledge. Our RWNZ Auckland chapter meetings have sometimes been the only thing that’s kept me writing through the tough times. 

Can you share the special moment when you received THE CALL/THE EMAIL?
I wrote an erotic romance novella—just to see if I could 1) write a novella, and 2) erotic romance. I entered the finished novella in a publisher-run contest, and to my delight, I finalled.

The editor who read my entry sent me an email saying Red Sage were “so impressed by the quality of your manuscript, we’d love to publish it.” I cried all over the place. It was a dream come true.

I printed out that email and still have it pinned to my notice board.

Looking back over your writing career, how have you grown as an author?
When I first started out, I thought I was a fantasy writer. Period. Then I discovered I like to challenge myself as a writer, so I started to experiment, and learned I could write in a variety of genres, and lengths, and POVs (third or first.)

I also believed that I was a dedicated pantser, who would “never” be a plotter. But I’ve taught myself to outline if needs be.

For me, I’ve kind of lived by “if it isn’t working, try something different” when it comes to my writing. So now I’m pretty flexible. And if I get stuck, or parts of a manuscript aren’t working, I have lots of tools in my arsenal to help me fix the story.

How important is it to set career goals? Can you give an example of one you have for yourself?
Here are the career goals I had when I first accepted a publishing contract with Red Sage:
  1. to have a novella published
  2. to have a novel-length story published
  3. to have a novella accepted for a Secrets anthology, so I’d have a story in print.
Those are the goals that I worked towards, and I achieved the last one with the July 2011 release of Kat On A Hot Tin Roof in the SECRETS Volume 30 “Desires Unleashed” anthology. 

Can you describe your writing process/timeframe from when you start a new book to handing it in at deadline?
Because Red Sage is primarily an e-publisher, and they generally contract already completed manuscripts (i.e. they don’t usually contract on proposal), deadlines weren’t such an issue for me. I’d complete a manuscript, send it to my editor, we’d work on it, and when we were happy with it, I’d be sent a contract.

That said, my editor liked the idea of SCENT OF A MAN (a fantasy I’d written a few years back) so much that she contracted it without reading the entire manuscript.

So for me, that was my first taste of a tight deadline. I had to drastically cut the word count and rewrite a fantasy as an erotic romance. It was a mission, and then some—especially since I had a large cast of characters, multiple points of view, and my hero and heroine spent far too much time apart!

But every time I panicked that I might not be able to do this, my editor would tell me how much she believed in me. So I had to believe in me, too.

I recall things getting really tough when we decided quite late on during the rewrite process that the last quarter of the story wasn’t working. In the end, I decided to cut a chunk of the story out, outline what needed to happen, decide which of the scenes I’d cut (if any) still fit the new outline, paste them back in, and then write to fill the gaps.

I made the contract deadline with about three weeks to spare, I think. But it was an incredibly stressful process.

What I took away from that process was that I can completely pull apart a story and put it back together again while working under pressure to meet a deadline. So nothing much scares me anymore ;-) 

One of the things I found challenging about being a published author is the constant juggling of tasks ie. writing a book, editing another, planning promotion, writing the proposal for another (and usually this all happens while holding down another job or dealing with family/life etc.).

What do you enjoy the most in the publishing process?
The writing! Because for now I’m not contracted to a specific publisher, I get to pretty much write what I want and try different things. For example, although I’m published in erotic romance, I also write non-erotics and YA.

I’m currently pulling out old manuscripts and rewriting them, which is a fun process—and a humbling one, when you see just how far you’ve come as a writer!

So far I’ve published three of my manuscripts—my 2006 RWNZ Clendon Award-winning manuscript, THE CRYSTAL WARRIOR, and a paranormal YA, FREAKS OF GREENFIELD HIGH (winner of the Maryland Romance Writers ‘Reveal Your Inner Vixen’ contest) are now available at Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Diesel eBooks, iTunes & Sony.

And the second Crystal Warrior book, RUBY'S DREAM, (a Clendon Award finalist) is available at Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.

The third Crystal Warrior book, JADE'S CHOICE (also a Clendon Award finalist) will be released in the next few months. It’s an exciting time to be an author *g*.

Unfortunately, my muse is a slave-driver, and she doesn’t count “re-writing” as real writing! So I’m currently querying a recently completed YA that placed second in the From The Heart Romance Writers Golden Gateway Proposal contest for published authors.

I had a full manuscript request from one of the judging editors, so at the time of writing this interview, I’m waiting to hear what she thinks of the full manuscript. And once I’ve finished rewriting the third Crystal Warriors book, it’ll be back into writing something shiny and new to keep Ms Muse happy.

What do you like least in the publishing process?
Writing the dreaded synopsis! Followed closely by the dreaded blurb. And the dreaded tag-line...

What's the most memorable fan-mail you've received?
I received an email from a lady who’d bought the kindle version of THE CRYSTAL WARRIOR on Amazon, telling me how much she loved it, and what a fantastic story it was. I cried all over the place—it was just so wonderful to hear that.

Is there anything you think pre-published writers need to know about the business/industry before they're published?
Do the research. You (hopefully!) wouldn’t jump into a car for the first time, stick the key in the ignition, and just automatically expect to be able to drive it. Writing is the same.

If you don’t know how to say, format a paragraph or conversations in your manuscript, pick up a few books and see how it’s done. Same with a synopsis, and a query letter—there’s a wealth of information and excellent advice out there. All you have to do is be prepared to look for it and learn from it.

Besides, once you’re published, writing becomes even more of a business, so why not be professional right from the start?

Other than that, the most important thing to do is write, get into the habit of writing, and get into the habit of finishing what you start. Good things take time, and so does learning the “craft” of writing.

A Bit of Fun
Favorite color:
Purple.
Hunkiest hero ever: Pierce Brosnan in The Thomas Crown Affair.
Most daring thing you've done in your life: Bungy jumped off the Kawerau Bridge in Queenstown.
Greatest love: My husband, my kids. And really good quality dark chocolate.
Timeout/relaxation for me includes: Reading a book. In bed. While juggling cereal and a mug of coffee.
Special quote/saying you like: “Begin at the beginning,” the King said, gravely, “and go till you come to the end, then stop.” (Lewis Carroll, from Alice in Wonderland.) Pretty much my mantra when it comes to writing a book!

Thanks heaps for inviting me to participate in this questionnaire, Kylie—I had heaps of fun putting the answers together!
You're welcome, Maree! :-)

And to finish off, you can find Maree lurking in all kinds of places:
Website/blog     Facebook author page     Twitter     Google +     Writers Gone Wild Blog

Saturday, January 21, 2012

CAST OF CHARACTERS: Annika - the half-blood heroine of Vengeance Born

I thought I'd share some facts and information about Annika, the heroine, from VENGEANCE BORN. 


Name: Annika

Race: Na'Chi (half human, half demon) 

Age: 25 

Background: Annika's mother was a human Light Blade warrior. Her father is Na'Rei Savyr, the demon king. Her father kidnapped her mother and raped her to breed a half-blood child to get even with an old enemy.

In demon society, Annika belongs at the very bottom of the social order, her Na'Chi status even placing her below the human slaves who serve the Na'Reish.

She grows up teased, tormented and abused by demons and humans but finds a mentor in Hesia, an elderly woman who teaches her healing skills. The healer teaches her about the Lady, the deity humans revere and the Na'Reish ridicule.

Annika dreams of finding out more about her human heritage, and plans to escape her tormented life. She also hopes to find someone who will love her for who she is.

Skills: She's able to heal or kill with a touch. Thanks to Hesia's influence she's chosen to help others instead of use the power to elevate her status among the Na'Reish (where power earns respect).

Interesting Facts:
  • Being half-Na'Reish Annika's inherited their enhanced strength, eyesight and hearing. She also has spotted markings on the sides of her face, either side of her back, & thighs, all the way to her ankles, although they are paler than those on a full blooded Na'Reish.

  • Her eyes are violet with flecks that change color depending on her emotions and moods.
  • Hesia kept her mother's Light Blade amulet after her death & gave it to Annika.
 
  • As per Savyr's orders, all Na'Chi babies are killed at birth, so she believes she's the only living Na'Chi within her father's fortress.
  • She ALWAYS looks for and plans several escape routes whenever she enters unfamiliar territory - a legacy left over from childhood when she learned to run and hide from other Na'Reish children to avoid being beaten.
  • The forest outside her father's fortress is her retreat from the grind of daily life.
  • She loves hot baths.
Artist: Gene Mollica

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Gearing up for Release Day - Winners!!!

Thank you to everyone who dropped by and and answered my question:

If you could spend an afternoon having coffee & a chat with your favorite paranormal/fantasy hero or heroine, who would it be? And why?
I've thrown names into my dragon coffee cup and randomly selected three winners.

  • Winner of the signed ARC of VENGEANCE BORN - YzhaBella's BookShelf
  • Winner of the Light Blade series prize pack (#1) - *yadnky*
  • Winner of the Light Blade series prize pack (#2) - Hanife Albayra
If those people could email me - kyliegriffin71 (at) optusnet (dot) com (dot) au -  with their postal addresses, I'll send your prizes off to you!

VENGEANCE BORN Countdown

With VENGEANCE BORN coming out next month, I thought I'd post a few snippets to whet your appetite for the big day.  :-)


Annika hated visiting the dungeons. The dank cells reeked of pain and fear as well as blood. Anyone unfortunate enough to be imprisoned here risked dying of exposure if the torture inflicted by the Na’Reish guards didn’t claim them first.
 
“This had better be worth it, Hesia,” she muttered and tugged the skirts of her dress away from slime-covered walls. (VENGEANCE BORN Ch.1 - opening lines)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick!!!

Over at Night Owl Reviews Yadkny has reviewed VENGEANCE BORN.

Snippet from the review:
I am completely captivated by this fantastical world Kylie Griffin has created. It is a mystical adventure with demons, Vorcs, and prejudiced humans to contend with. The journey is unpredictable, intense, and suspense filled with each scene easily realized. Add to that the strength, compassion, and underlying vulnerability and innocence of Griffin’s two leading characters and this story is an unstoppable read. Annika and Kalan's stories are revealed in parts throughout, so connections can be made with each of them although I'll warn that Annika's story is particularly grabbing. The pacing is perfectly set to deliver maximum impact on both character development and world-building. In short, I believe in the characters and I believe in their story.
I am so impressed by Kylie Griffin’s imagination and writing talents and I can’t wait to dive into the next Light Blade journey! There are plenty of plot twists and characters with stories yet to be told, so it seems that the ending of this story is actually just the beginning. Fantasy and romance fans will be pleased with this new series!
Thank you, Yadnky & Night Owl Reviews, you've made my day!!!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Visiting over at Love Books

I'm talking to Imogene Nix about VENGEANCE BORN and a few other things over at Love Lines from Love Books.

TOPIC: An Author's Life...with Mel Teshco

Being a published author is an ... involved ... process, and I take my hat off to those who've been in the business more than a few years now.

As a pre-pubbed author I was always curious about what happened once you received THE CALL and stepped into the world of publishing.

What did it involve? How did they handled the day to day pressures? Did they developed routines, set goals etc.? What did they like/dislike about the process?

So I asked my special guests these questions and many of them have offered some intriguing insights into their lives. Maybe they'll even give you a heads up on what to expect if you're thinking of entering the world of "getting published".

Please welcome my next guest...

MEL TESHCO grew up in Australia, where her seemingly gypsy dad and ever patient mother saw her living in many areas of the East Coast, along with her sister and two brothers.

Each new home stimulated an already over-active imagination, where she spent as much time dreaming about fantasy worlds as the real world - the fantasy sometimes being much better.

Now living on a small rural property with three horses and a handful or two of cats, she is happily married with three children of wide-spread ages and loves writing gritty, sizzling paranormals and the occasional contemporary with darker tones.

Author Facts
Pseudonym or Given Name on the cover? Mel Teshco.
Why a pseudonym? I write erotica so I’m aware stalkers might one day be an issue. Plus I loved being able to use ‘Teshco’—the first two letters from each of my daughter’s names. 
Location: Sunshine Coast/Wide Bay, Queensland, Australia.
Published Genre/s: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal and Contemporary Erotica.
Website: www.melteshco.com
First published in: 2009.
Number of books published: 11 (including one self-published and one free read).

The Nitty Gritty 
List up to 5 significant events in your journey to publication.
Definitely joining Romance Writers of Australia was the biggest reason for my success today, followed soon after by moving to Queensland and meeting Robyn Grady and Rachel Bailey—both unpublished at the time with Harlequin.

Soon after I joined up with an online group of writers (Claytons Critters) who helped me to hone my craft, then eventually left that group to focus on more one-on-one writing and became CP’s with Tracey O’Hara.

Melissa Smith has been another brilliant CP who has influenced my writing a lot, as well as some other writers who I occasionally swap with (Laurann Dohner, Cathleen Ross). 

What resources/techniques/events did you find useful to develop your writing skills/craft?
Aside from generally writing, writing and more writing, it’d be all the brilliant workshops at the annual romance conference.

Also, for me it was contests where judges left sometimes brutal comments and suggestions—you can’t beat them for getting your work out there and being judged fairly (most of the time). And having great writers to look at your work is invaluable, it’s amazing how much the brain soaks up. In the same way I’ve found judging and critiquing helps to see what works, what doesn’t.

For ‘how to’ books I highly recommend Angela Knight’s Passionate Ink: A Guide to Writing Erotic Romance. I can’t stress enough how much every writer can learn from this book.

I also really enjoyed Stephen King’s take on his writing journey, an interesting insight.

Can you share the special moment when you received THE CALL/THE EMAIL?
I had a couple of close calls with Nocturne Bites, which included what is now STONE-COLD LOVER, which I eventually sold to Ellora’s Cave.

To be honest, I sent that story there after it was rejected from Bites, with no real expectations it would be accepted—until I received an email telling me they wanted it (if I was willing to add more explicit sex scenes).

When I published HER DARK LORD with Nocturne Bites, I got an acceptance email followed by a phone call—most of which I can’t remember. I think the editor must have wondered what she’d gotten herself into, LOL!!

Looking back over your writing career, how have you grown as an author?
I’m certain you never stop growing as an author, even if you’re Stephen King or J.K Rowling. But I think I’ve mostly grown in my realizing how far I’ve got to go in my own writing journey, how much I learn all the time.

How important is it to set career goals? Can you give an example of one you have for yourself?
It’s so important to set ‘realistic’ goals.

For me I set out a writing ‘to do’ list which I published on my blog and updated a few months ago to let readers know where I was at. It’s also a great tool for motivation. 

Can you describe your writing process/timeframe from when you start a new book to handing it in at deadline?
I don’t really have deadlines, though I can write decent word counts when I’m focused (I wrote Dragon Heat in 3 weeks, with absolutely no idea what the story was going to be about when I began typing).

My writing process is basically whatever story is captivating me at the time, though I do try and focus on the ones that need to be done. I’m usually juggling at least three or four stories at a time as my attention span is deplorable.

One of the things I found challenging about being a published author is the constant juggling of tasks ie. writing a book, editing another, planning promotion, writing the prosposal for another (and usually this all happens while holding down another job or dealing with family/life etc.).

What do you enjoy the most in the publishing process?
Speaking of juggling LOL!! For Ellora’s Cave I’ve never had to write a proposal, I’ve written the whole book and sent it in—thankfully they’ve accepted all of them so far.

But yes, promotion and just the time it takes to check emails, blogs, facebook and twitter, sometimes it’s exhausting! I try to spend less time on all of those things now—getting books out is much more important, and besides which, I don’t want to sacrifice more precious time away from my family.

What do you like least in the publishing process?
There’s actually nothing I dislike. I love getting edits and making the story that much stronger, I love LOVE seeing a cover for the first time, and I love seeing the book go out into the world.

Oh, I do dislike bad reviews, they totally suck! But I’ve come to accept not everyone is going to love every book.

Mel's free read
What's the most memorable fan-mail you've received?
It was probably one I got from a lady who loved my free and very short story (3k) and begged me to make the story longer.

Is there anything you think pre-publishers writers need to know about the business/industry before they're published?
Just know you’ve got to put the hours into your craft. It might seem silly, but there’s a reason very few people get published early in their writing career.

Learning the craft takes many years and I think most writers would feel incredibly grateful none of those earlier works are out in the world, tarnishing their name - LOL!

A Bit of Fun
Favorite color:
Green. 
Hunkiest hero ever: I have a bit of a thing for Brad Pitt. In fact the part he played in Thelma and Louise was the hero (in my mind) in my free read Discovering Sofia. My fav hero in a book would have to be Clayton from Kelley Armstrong’s, BITTEN.
Most daring thing you've done in your life: Moved interstate with a baby and young child (with a major physical disability), to start a new life and escape an abusive relationship. Seriously the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and for my kids.
Greatest love: It goes without saying I love my husband, my children and my mum. I couldn’t imagine life without any of them in it. I love grabbing a pizza and sitting down in the afternoon with my husband and having a bourbon and dry. I love my house—it feels like my own space, my own piece of paradise.
Timeout/relaxation for me includes: Reading. Swimming. The occasional horse ride. Reading to Miss four or playing memory. Driving. Holidays. Playing COD (shooting games is a great stress release LOL!).
Special quote/saying you like: Be careful what you wish for, it just might come true. (I think that is apt for all of us). And: There are only two ways to live your life: as though nothing is a miracle, or as though everything is a miracle.

Monday, January 16, 2012

2011 ARRA Finalists announced!

We have some RWAustralia & RWNew Zealand members on the lists - some multiple nominees - CONGRATULATIONS!

* Asterix = member of RWA/NZ - hope I caught everyone, shout out if I haven't! (I cross-checked with our membership lists on the websites).


Voting has opened today for the 2011 Australian Romance Readers Awards. Below are the finalists in each of the nine categories. ARRA members can now vote for their favourite in each category. Voting will close on 29 January.

Winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner on 11 February 2012.

Favourite paranormal romance for 2011 (proudly sponsored by Galaxy Bookshop)

·         Big Bad Beast / Shelly Laurenston

·         Dragon Bound / Thea Harrison

·         Dreams of a Dark Warrior / Kresley Cole

·         Fate’s Edge / Ilona Andrews

·         Goblin King / Shona Husk*

·         Kiss of Snow / Nalini Singh*

·         Lover Unleashed / JR Ward

·         Nightfall / Ellen Connor

·         The Guardian / Sherrilyn Kenyon

·         Three Wishes / Jenny Schwartz*

Favourite sci-fi, urban fantasy or futuristic romance for 2011 (proudly sponsored by Carina Press)

·         Archangel’s Blade / Nalini Singh*

·         Archangel’s Consort / Nalini Singh*

·         Blood Bound / Rachel Vincent

·         Blood Cursed / Erica Hayes*

·         Born of Shadows / Sherrilyn Kenyon

·         Death Magic / Eileen Wilks

·         Magic Slays / Ilona Andrews

·         River Marked / Patricia Briggs

·         Shadow Kin / MJ Scott*

·         Shadowfever / Karen Marie Moning

Favourite short category romance for 2011 (proudly sponsored by Harlequin Enterprises Australia)

·         Colorado Cowboy / CC Coburn*

·         Girl in the Bedouin Tent / Annie West*

·         Molly Cooper’s Dream Date / Barbara Hannay*

·         Prince of Scandal / Annie West*

·         Promoted to Wife? / Paula Roe*

·         Rapunzel in New York / Nikki Logan*

·         Sex, Lies and Mistletoe / Tawny Weber

·         The Man Behind the Badge / Sharon Archer*

·         The Man She Loves to Hate / Kelly Hunter*

·         With This Fling … / Kelly Hunter*

Favourite historical romance for 2011 (proudly sponsored by Rosemary's Romance Books and  Temptation the Romance Bookstore)

·         A Little Deception / Beverly Eikli*

·         Cloudy With a Chance of Marriage / Kieran Kramer

·         Heiress in Love / Christina Brooke*

·         How the Marquess was Won / Julie Anne Long

·         Midnight’s Wild Passion / Anna Campbell*

·         Never Love a Highlander / Maya Banks

·         Salt Bride / Lucinda Brant*

·         The Many Sins of Lord Cameron / Jennifer Ashley

·         Unveiled / Courtney Milan

·         Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue / Stephanie Laurens*

Favourite contemporary romance for 2011 (proudly sponsored by Romantic Reflections)

·         A Lot Like Love / Julie James

·         Any Man of Mine / Rachel Gibson

·         Boomerang Bride / Fiona Lowe*

·         Claudia’s Big Break / Lisa Heidke*

·         Cop’s Passion / Angela Verdenius*

·         North Star / Karly Lane*

·         One Perfect Night / Rachael Johns*

·         Promises / Cathyrn Hein*

·         The Castaway Bride / Kandy Shepherd*

·         The Next Always / Nora Roberts

Favourite erotic romance for 2011 (proudly sponsored by Romance Direct)

·         Agent / Lexxie Couper*

·         All of You / Rhian Cahill*

·         Bunny and the Bear / Eve Langlais

·         Endless Lust / Lexxie Couper*

·         Guilty as Sin / Denise Rossetti*

·         Love, Lust and Lies / Cathleen Ross*

·         See You In My Dreams / Jess Dee*

·         The Lone Warrior / Denise Rossetti*

·         The Surrender of Lacy Morgan / Suzanne Ferrell

·         Triple Dare / Lexxie Couper*

Favourite romantic suspense for 2011

·         Beyond Fear / Jaye Ford

·         Breaking Point / Pamela Clare

·         Breaking the Rules / Suzanne Brockmann

·         Chasing Fire / Nora Roberts

·         Deadly Little Lies / Jeanne Adams

·         New York to Dallas / JD Robb

·         Shattered Sky / Helene Young*

·         Treachery in Death / JD Robb

·         Viper’s Kiss / Shannon Curtis*

·         With No Remorse / Cindy Gerard

Favourite continuing romance series for 2011

·         Gena Showalter / Lords of the Underworld

·         Ilona Andrews / Kate Daniels series

·         JD Robb / In Death series

·         Karen Marie Moning / Fever series

·         Kresley Cole / Immortals After Dark

·         Nalini Singh / Guild Hunters*

·         Nalini Singh / Psy/Changeling series*

·         Rhian Cahill / Coyote Hunger series*

·         Sherrilyn Kenyon / The League

·         Thea Harrison / Elder Races

Favourite Australian romance author of 2011 (proudly sponsored by Booktopia)

·         Angela Verdenius*

·         Anna Campbell*

·         Annie West*

·         Christina Brooke*

·         Helene Young*

·         Kelly Hunter*

·         Lexxie Couper*

·         Nikki Logan*

·         Paula Roe*

·         Stephanie Laurens*

Saturday, January 14, 2012

WORLD-BUILDING: Origins of the Light Blade series

As a kid I was the one with my head in a book - at recess, lunch, on weekends, anywhere I could squeeze in a few minutes reading.

I discovered the science fiction and fantasy worlds quite early on - the first SF book I ordered through the Scholastic Bookclub was PLAGUE SHIP written by Andre Norton.

As a teen, I devoured The Pern series and most of Anne McCaffrey's other books (I still have them all on my bookshelf, yellowed pages and well worn).

Some of my favourite authors include Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey, David Eddings, Patricia McKillip, Isobelle Carmody and John Marsden - their worlds so rich and full of characters, creatures and adventures, ones much more exciting than the real world (or so I thought).

But the best thing about most of these series - the maps! I spent hours pouring over them, learning the names, orientating the characters journeys, making up my own.

So, when I started writing I HAD to have maps for my stories too. More often than not, I stole names from the family atlas or any of my father's cattle breeder catalogs he'd left lying around (the property names were excellent names for cities).

Fast forward ....mumble, mumble...years to now - the legacy of those early years continue in my fantasy romance novels - you'll see maps in the Light Blade series!






























Sacred Lake (human city) and the Light Blade  compound

Unfortunately, the one of Sacred Lake (one of the human cities) didn't make it into my first book, VENGEANCE BORN, (so this is a sneak preview of my very amateur mock up), but the others (who were created by my very talented friend, John Wrench) will appear in ALLIANCE FORGED and the untitled Book #3.

The second map is of human territory and where Kalan, Arek, Kymora and the Na'Chi live.

While VENGEANCE BORN begins in Na'Reish territory, most of the story unfolds here.

HUMAN TERRITORY - Sacred Lake, the Sharvadan Forest and Ostare play significant roles in ALLIANCE FORGED (Bk#2).




















This map though will appear in ALLIANCE FORGED, Book #2 of the Light Blade series.

The third map belongs to (untitled) Book #3 of the Light Blade series.

You'll be able to track Arek and Imhara's story through Na'Reish territory.

NA'REISH TERRITORY - the setting for Book #3.

So, what do you think of maps in books?

Are they essential for you as a reader? Or can you take or leave them?

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Gearing up for Release Day...

It's been a long time coming (about 17 years).

With my debut fantasy romance, VENGEANCE BORN, due for release on February 7th, the countdown to R-Day begins.

That's Release Day for anyone who doesn't know, LOL.

It'll be my turn to be in the spotlight - and I'm gearing up for some serious online promotion.

Here's a list of blogs where you can find me (and some giveaway opportunities) over the next couple of months... very exciting (and exhausting) :-) :
During the tour, you'll learn more about the characters and the world of VENGEANCE BORN, and there will be plenty of chances to win giveaway copies (ARC's & paperback).

I'll be posting quotes from the book and giving you insights into the hero and heroine on my blog, so keep checking back to get the lowdown and sneak peeks. :-) So, with all this happening, come prepared to party with me!

And here's your first event, folks!

To kick off the celebration - TRIPLE GOODNESS - 3 giveaways!!!
  • A signed ARC of VENGEANCE BORN
  • And 2 x special Light Blade series prize packs (a mix that may include a cap, t-shirt, book magnets, notepads etc.)
If you'd like to go in the draw (winners will be randomly selected), have some fun and answer this question...
If you could spend an afternoon having coffee & a chat with your favorite paranormal/fantasy hero or heroine, who would it be? And why?
The winners of the prizes will be announced midday, January 19th (Aussie time). Have fun!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Kylie Griffin Newsletter

For all the latest news, newest releases, contests, special giveaways, other information and goings-on in my little world, you can sign up for my newsletter.

The link here is just below the timer for the cover of ALLIANCE FORGED in the side column or it's on the HOME page of my website at the very top of the left hand column.

The first newsletter goes out on Australia Day, January 26th!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

TOPIC: New Year’s Resolution: from unpublished to published!

Today, I'd like to welcome first time visitor LOUISE CUSACK to my blog.

Louise is an Australian award winning fantasy author whose Shadow Through Time trilogy is about to be released by Pan Macmillan’s eBook arm, Momentum Books.  She is also a highly successful manuscript developer, writing mentor and tutor.

Take it away, Louise!

Thanks, Kylie. :-)

Most writers will happily acknowledge that there’s never been a better time to be an author.  Opportunities to become published are rife, with new ePublishers opening almost daily. We’re spoilt for choice, and if we’re still not satisfied with what publishers are offering, we can self-publish, which is a viable option for niche-market books or even mainstream fiction if you’ve got the time and know-how to self promote.

But for those of us who prefer the distribution might of a big publishing house behind us (not to mention the editorial and art departments) plus the lure of an advance on sales, traditional publishing is still a good choice, and despite the finger-pointing from successful self-published authors, the big publishing houses are catching up with the fact that we want decent eBook royalties and eBook pricing, along with our editing and great covers.

There are still a few anomalies: I recently heard of a big Australian publishing house that was charging $20 for an eBook by a new author and that’s just not sustainable, not in the current market.

So as an author you have to be savvy and do your research before you choose a publisher to submit to, checking the quality of their editing and covers, and the pricing of their books (both in print and digital formats), as well as scouting around to get feedback on what their advances and royalties might be.

Brenda Hiatt’s Show Me The Money website is a good place to start. But realistically, you also have to have a good quality book to submit, because big publishers are highly discerning.


So how can you achieve that? Well, belonging to a professional writers organisation like Romance Writers of Australia is a great start. If your books have even a sniff of a love story in them you’ll be welcomed into the fold and RWA’s competitions and conferences have helped many Aussie authors across the line to contracts with Avon, Berkley, Harlequin, Random House, Pan Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Penguin and more.

Having a critique partner (or CP) is also a great start, but as I found early in my writing career, the critique group you’re in is only as helpful as the skill levels of its participants. When I started working with a published author who was also a writing teacher, I went from having short stories published to having novels published.

Now as a writing teacher, mentor and manuscript assessor myself, I offer that service to other writers, so if you think your work could benefit from a professional assessment, do have a look at my Manuscript Development webpage for an overview of how manuscript assessment works.

I’ve helped three clients become published, and many more to wins and shortlists in competitions.  Other tutors as well as myself also conduct teaching retreats with writing groups which can incorporate manuscript assessment and individual mentoring or writing workshops as required.

A quick look in the Australian Writers Marketplace (book and online versions) will offer you a variety of other qualified tutors/manuscript developers as well. So don’t wait for the magic to drop into your lap, go out and find it.

If you’ve been writing for years and not getting published, this might be time to consider that old saying “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got.”

Resolve to make the changes necessary to ensure 2012 is the year your writing dreams turn into your writing career!

More information about Louise can be found on her website or Goodreads link, or you can like or follow her blog, Twitter account or Facebook page.

Louise's Shadow Through Time trilogy:



Saturday, January 7, 2012

TOPIC: An Author's Life...with Anna Campbell

Being a published author is an ... involved ... process, and I take my hat off to those who've been in the business more than a few years now.

As a pre-pubbed author I was always curious about what happened once you received THE CALL and stepped into the world of publishing.

What did it involve? How did they handled the day to day pressures? Did they developed routines, set goals etc.? What did they like/dislike about the process?

So I asked my special guests these questions and many of them have offered some intriguing insights into their lives. Maybe they'll even give you a heads up on what to expect if you're thinking of entering the world of "getting published".

My first special guest is...Anna Campbell.

Author Facts
ANNA CAMPBELL has written six multi award-winning historical romances for Avon HarperCollins and her work is published in eleven languages.

Anna has won numerous awards for her Regency-set romances including Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, the Booksellers Best, the Golden Quill (twice), the Heart of Excellence, the Aspen Gold (twice) and the Australian Romance Readers Association's favorite historical romance (three times).

Her books have twice been nominated for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award and twice for Australia's Romantic Book of the Year.

Pseudonym or Given Name? Why a pseudonym?
Pseudonym. I intended to write under my given name but was so sure I’d never be published, I didn’t spend a couple of bucks parking a domain name.

Would you believe about six months before I sold, someone with my name (and I suspect it’s her real name) published a romance? As far as I know, she hasn’t published another but it meant I needed to come up with an alternative name. I dug back through the family tree and combined names from my two grandmothers.

Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia.
Published Genre:  Historical romance (late Regency setting).
Website:  www.annacampbell.info 
First published in: 2007. 
Number of books published: 6.

The Nitty Gritty
List up to 5 significant events in your journey to publication?

  • Joining Romance Writers of Australia
  • Placing in the RWA First Kiss 2001 (my first contest entry)
  • Meeting Annie West, my wonderful critique partner
  • Winning the RWA Emma Darcy Award 2005
  • Getting an agent
What resources/techniques/events did you find useful to develop your writing skills/craft?
I think the principal difference between my unpublished and unpublished writing is that in between I learned to write emotion.

Can you share the special moment when you received THE CALL/THE EMAIL?
CLAIMING THE COURTESAN went to auction in 2006 after finalling in the RWA Golden Heart®.

I spent a really fraught week not sleeping – New York is on almost absolute opposite time to Australia. Then finally the word came through on Good Friday morning 2006 that the final offers were in.

I’d had a dream of being an Avon author since I’d read THE WOLF AND THE DOVE as a teenager and it turned out – I WAS AN AVON AUTHOR! Huzzah! It felt quite surreal, partly because I was operating on severe sleep deprivation by then, and it took a while to sink in properly.

But I remember being in the pool a couple of months later and suddenly smiling to think my dream of being a published author was finally coming true.

Looking back over your writing career, how have you grown as an author?
I’m not sure that’s something the author notices! One thing I’ve learned is to trust my process. It’s awful and it drives me mad but I know it’s given me a publishable book in the past. It should give me a publishable book in the future. Fingers crossed.

How important is it to set career goals? Can you give an example of one you have for yourself?
Actually I’m not sure I set career goals aside from meeting deadlines and writing the best darn book I can. I think a lot of this stuff is completely outside the writer’s control (bestseller lists, foreign editions, prizes, appearances on Oprah).

Can you describe your writing process/timeframe from when you start a new book to handing it in at deadline?
I’m currently writing my first series (still under wraps) and I’ve got eight months to write each book.

That’s fairly luxurious in the current genre environment, but I’ve got to say I still find it a stretch because I’m a pretty slow writer. I write a really dirty draft that’s always too long and completely unreadable, then I refine it down like making a lovely rich sauce. At least that’s the theory!

One of the things I found challenging about being a published author is the constant juggling of tasks ie. writing a book, editing another, planning promotion, writing the prosposal for another (and usually this all happens while holding down another job or dealing with family/life etc.).

What do you enjoy the most in the publishing process?
I usually enjoy turning the dross of my first draft into something readable. Like most writers, I love those occasional days when writing is like magic and the pages pour out in a beautiful flow.

What do you least in the publishing process?
Actually, I like pretty much everything. I wanted to be a full-time writer all my life, I’m not looking for things to complain about, LOL!

Is there anything you think pre-publishers writers need to know about the business/industry before they're published?
It doesn’t get easier.

A Bit of Fun
Hunkiest hero ever: Daniel Day-Lewis in LAST OF THE MOHICANS. Sigh. Swoon.
Greatest love: Music.
Timeout/relaxation for me includes: Reading and wine.
Special quote/saying you like: "The heart has its reasons that the reason cannot know." – Blaise Pascal.