July 2020 – Jennifer Lane Books

Hi everyone! Today I feature a new book for writers…a treasure trove to enrich your character authenticity.

Some of you may know Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi of Writers Helping Writers. Well, today they are releasing a new book, and I’m part of their street team. I’m handing the blog over to them so they can tell you about their Writer’s Showcase event, new book, and a great freebie to check out. Read on!

Certain details can reveal a lot about a character, such as their goals, desires, and backstory wounds. But did you know there’s another detail that can tie your character’s arc to the plot, provide intense, multi-layered conflict, AND shorten the “get to know the character” curve for readers?

It’s true. Your character’s occupation is a GOLD MINE of storytelling potential.

Think about it: how much time do you spend on the job? Does it fulfill you or frustrate you? Can you separate work from home? Is it causing you challenges, creating obstacles…or bringing you joy and helping you live your truth?

Just like us, most characters will have a job, and the work they do will impact their life. The ups and downs can serve us well in the story.

Maybe you haven’t thought much about jobs in the past and how they act as a window into your character’s personality, interests, and skills. It’s okay, you aren’t alone. The good news is that The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers is going to do all the heavy lifting for you. (Here’s one of the job profiles we cover in this book: FIREFIGHTER.)

GIVEAWAY ALERT: THE WRITER’S SHOWCASE

To celebrate the release of a new book, Writers Helping Writers has a giveaway happening July 20th & July 23rd. You can win some great prizes, including gift certificates that can be spent on writing services within our Writer’s Showcase. Stop by to enter!

Resource Alert: A List of Additional Jobs Profiles For Your Characters

Some of the amazing writers in our community have put together additional career profiles for you, based on jobs they have done in the past. What a great way to get accurate information so you can better describe the roles and responsibilities that go with a specific job, right? To access this list, GO HERE.

(Jennifer Lane here: Check out the job profile I added for SPORTS COACH. The heroine and hero in my work-in-progress both work as coaches for rival universities.)

Happy writing to all!

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway: DROWNING IN STARS by Debra Anastasia

July 3, 2020July 3, 2020 Jennifer Lane

GiVEAWAY + COVER REVEAL: Drowning in Stars by Debra Anastasia

Congratulations to Debra, my pub sister! LOVE the cover.

… he walked a tightrope five stories up just to hold my hand.

Gaze: I moved into the building next to Pixie when I was eleven. She blew bubbles through my window. I shot my Nerf gun through hers. We both had secrets, but one of us was fated to get hurt. I wanted it to be me.

Pixie: When I was afraid of the dark, he would shine a light in my window. We shared our popsicles and I taught him how to get a good swing on the playground. I never imagined I’d have to decide who got to live and who didn’t. I chose him –and he could never know.

She walked a tightrope five stories up just to save my life…

COMING AUGUST 9th

★☆✶⭑⭐✩Drowning in Stars is a full 100k standalone.✩★⭐✯⭑☆★

Add Drowning in Stars to your TBR list: https://bit.ly/DISGOOD

Follow Debra on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2ZtTlCV

Get in on the giveaways in the Daredevils: http://bit.ly/DebrasDareDevils

Cover by TJ Designs

Debra Anastasia’s writing is imaginary, dark, comedic, and the perfect sexy. Drowning in Stars is the perfect representation of her! — Tijan NYT Bestselling Author

Full of gut wrenching angst and poignant emotion, Drowning in Stars is a hauntingly beautiful must read. –Helena Hunting NYT Bestselling Author

To celebrate this cover release go here for a $50 Amazon gift card giveaway by Debra: https://www.debraanastasia.com/drowing-in-stars-giveaway

Excerpt:

And then he came in for the kiss. It was him and I was so used to him, but in a totally different way. A new way. Changing everything and realizing that nothing really had to change. He was already mine. His kiss was just ours. Incredibly different from the accidental kiss when we were kids.

His lips tasted good. Slow and gentle, but my heart was racing so fast. He stopped and checked my eyes. I nodded slightly. I was good. This was good. He was making my mouth mine, letting me be the one that decided to be kissed. And then I wasn’t thinking anymore.

I was just a girl kissing a boy and free falling into the beauty of permission.

About the Author

Debra creates pretend people in her head and paints them on the giant, beautiful canvas of your imagination. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and writes new adult angst and romantic comedies. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two amazing children.

Connect with Debra

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debra.anastasia/

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DebrasDaredevils/

Newsletter:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Debra_Anastasia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debra_anastasia/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/debraanastasia/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vVuo45

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-anastasia

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#IWSG Publishing Changes and KITTIES!

July 1, 2020June 28, 2020 Jennifer Lane

Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for convening the monthly IWSG, where we share our neuroses to help us feel less alone.

iwsg2badmin-1

The awesome co-hosts for the July 1 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Beth Camp, Liesbet, Tyrean Martinson, and Sandra Cox!

July 1 question: There have been many industry changes in the last decade, so what are some changes you would like to see happen in the next decade?

I rarely follow publishing trends but I did find some predictions in this article. Self-publishing is already flooded, and all the writers pumping out words during quarantine will drown the market. I can’t wait to read the brilliant creations!

The demand for screenplays will likely increase given all of the streaming services. I hope to learn more about writing screenplays.

For those of you with a work in progress during COVID-19, are you altering your story to include the pandemic? I’m not. I believe many readers want an escape from this dreary reality.

Speaking of WIPs, mine is plodding along, up to 62K words out of about 80K. How’s your WIP?

My biggest excitement this month is KITTIES! I adopt two kittens tomorrow, a brother and sister. It’s been five years since my cat, Izzie, crossed over the rainbow bridge, and I’m finally ready.

I fell in love with tuxedo cats when author Jayne Rylon posted photos of her foster kittens on Facebook. Did you know tuxedo cats are smarter than other color patterns? So, I’m adopting a male tuxedo cat and his sister.

I’m thinking of the names Tux and Tessa. Got any fun bro/sis cat names to suggest? Whatever their names, I’m sure they’ll be excellent writing companions.