Squee! Writerly Peeps, this one is for you...

I was thrilled to be invited to give an author craft chat at this year's:
Savvy Authors Summer Symposium!

Click on the picture below to see all the incredible writing sprints, brainstorming sessions, author chats, workshops and pitch sessions that are in the line-up this year. And if that's not enough to tempt you, there are some fabulous prizes as well.

My chat is scheduled for Saturday 24th August 2013 3pm EDT (8pm GMT) and I would absolutely love to see you there!

So don't be shy - if you're looking for a place to hone your writing skills, learn more about the industry and unleash your writing potential, pop on over, register, and join in the fun.

So it's my turn to reveal my fave body part of my hero Cameron Dexter and give a clue as to the real-life inspiration for him!
When I was imagining Cam Dexter for The Waiting Game I imagined a guy who was the self-assured, intense, get-it-done type! A man who had progressed from raw talent and confidence in his job as Head of Security for Nocturne's world tour five years earlier, to now running his own security consultancy, in charge of people, in charge of resolving dangerous situations - in charge, period.

He was the kind of guy that breathed authority and handled stress with ease. The guy you knew absolutely would get you out of any given situation because he didn't just play at keeping you safe. He took it seriously. He took it really seriously. Because he'd witnessed damage done and taken the guilt of it all the way deep inside of him. He knew what could happen if he didn't keep you safe. That failure had cost him. Worse, it had cost the person he cared most about dearly - and then cost him that person.

Not that he'd let the experience beat him - that's not who he is! But if you dared to look close enough - if he let you get close enough to see into those sexy blue eyes - you would see the anguish of a guilt that cut deep, emotion at war with logic, a burning need to redeem himself of past mistakes, and absolute passion for justice.  And if your name happened to be Brooke Bennet, all these looks would come with  flashes of barely contained heat. Heat so hot you'd wonder how blue could ever be considered cold!

Whether his eyes were cool and assessing or hot and undressing...it was all about the eyes with Cameron Dexter!

Ever noticed how an alpha male has no trouble initiating and maintaining eye contact? How he never drops eye contact first! How his eyes can speak volumes! Delicious!

There was a real-life person who inspired me when I was writing Cameron. And his eyes just happen to be blue. And piercing. And because he's an actor they can also be cool and assessing or hot and undressing!

CLUE: He's gone from being a good neighbour to a castle via Spartacus.

Come along to our Entangled Ignite FB event tonight: Aug 8th 7-9 EST for the big reveal and join in the fun.

Ignite is the new name for Entangled Publishing's suspense imprint.
 
To celebrate we're inviting you to a fab, fun, FB Event. Click on the invite above to see the details.

But that's not all! During the lead up to the event you will get to read a post from an Ignite Author on their website about the hero of their current Ignite release. Each post will focus on their favourite heroes body part (what's not to love about that!) Prepare yourself from some scorchio posts! We'll also post a clue as to who the famous person is that inspired us to write our heroes!

Follow the websites and work out the clues and then come along to our FB event where we will reveal our inspirations. We haz prizes!!!

I will add the author links to websites each day (mine will be on Thursday).

MONDAY's Mystery Men of Ignite...Revealed!
Kay David
Stephanie Feagan
TUESDAY's Mystery Men of Ignite...Revealed!
Joya Fields
Maya Blake
WEDNESDAY's Mystery Men of Ignite...Revealed!
Cathy Perkins
Naima Simone
THURSDAY's Mystery Men of Ignite...Revealed!
Elle James
Eve Devon
 (me - see todays post above!!!)

My grandmother-in-law had this fabulous saying: I'm not nosey, I'm just interested.

The first time I ever heard her say those words I knew I'd met a kindred spirit. I hold her words dear because I've been "interested" in just about pretty much everything, for as long as I can remember! From checking out what's going on all around me to dipping into facts and stats, what's not to like about finding stuff out?

Of course now, with my writing, I get to take her words and add "it's for research" into the mix. I like to think she'd have had a chuckle about me taking "just interested" to a whole new level! She would have enjoyed that I get to watch all these action films, the latest romcom, the new zombie flick. Read books and articles by the dozen on every subject imaginable. Look around mansions and luxury apartments. Try on that jewellery at Tiffany's. Test-drive that car. Stay in glamorous hotels, and eat in fabulous restaurants...All in the name of research!

And she'd have thought it my absolute duty to carry out the most important part of research. That part which is totally legitimate, completely addictive and overwhelmingly fascinating if you're a writer: People Watching.

Marrying the art of people watching with research into the worlds you're creating helps you round out your characters. It's never about writing about one specific person, but, rather, it's more about observing the world around you and gaining experience into the myriad ways people behave. To be honest, more often than not, I will look something up, watch a TV programme, or read something and only retain about a quarter of the information. But what I do tend to remember (and what's great when it comes to writing) is the emotional impact of what I learn.

Hot lazy summer days are perfect for stopping at a street café, or sitting on that park bench, or lying on a beach, and watching the world go by. And remember. You're not being nosey. You're just being interested!

For the little bit of the nosey, sorry, "interested" in everyone ;-) here is a list, in no particular order, of the things I've been researching lately...

Motorbikes Sheet Glass Catacombs Personal Protection/Close Protection Services R & D Workflow Charts Vintage Clothing Film-making Reasons For Quashing a Conviction How to Present Evidence in Court Tattoos, Laser Treatment for Tattoo Removal and Skin Graphs Burlesque Dancing Short-Haul Private Jets Art Equipment 1930's Chateauroux, France Victorian and Edwardian Mansions Event Security Paparazzi Narcissistic Personality Disorder Great Exhibition of London 1851 Apartments on the River Thames Commercial Property Acquisition Automata Champagne, Whiskey/Whisky/Bourbon and Retrograde Amnesia

Can you imagine if this was all for one book!! What subjects fascinate you and makes you want to know more?