Snare 17 - Set Him Free

Do you want to know more about Alice's conversation with Charlie? How are Edward and Bella going to spend their last moments together? Chapter 17 is ready: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8955111/17/

Camilla's short poem (SatinCoveredSteel helped to translate it):

Al profiler la veggente
tutto svela immantinente:
se il vampir libererà
la sua vita salverà.


On the spot, the psychic vampire
reveals all to the profiler.
If he sets the vampire free,
His own existence spared will be.

The new chapter is due to be posted in two weeks.

Reviewers get a little gift.

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Let's talk about "The Chaperone" by Laura Moriarty (guest post by Momatu)

Momatu is the well-known author of I Remain, Yours, where she did a lot of historical research. Today she's telling us more about Laura Moriarty's novel, The Chaperone.

Novel synopsis: The New York Times bestseller and the USA Today #1 Hot Fiction Pick for the summer, The Chaperone is a captivating novel about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York City in 1922 and the summer that would change them both.

Don't miss it because...

If you're interested in the 20's era, I just finished a book that was so good, there were scenes that will take your breath away.  It's called The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty.  It's the story of a woman all the way from childhood as an orphan in New York City in the late 1800's through old age.  The title comes from the summer she chaperones a 15-year-old future film star to New York City in 1922. 

From Goodreads: 

"For Cora, the city holds the promise of discovery that might answer the question at the core of her being, and even as she does her best to watch over Louise in this strange and bustling place she embarks on a mission of her own. And while what she finds isn’t what she anticipated, she is liberated in a way she could not have imagined. Over the course of Cora’s relationship with Louise, her eyes are opened to the promise of the twentieth century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being fully alive. Drawing on the rich history of the 1920s,’30s, and beyond—from the orphan trains to Prohibition, flappers,  and the onset of the Great Depression to the burgeoning movement for equal rights and new opportunities for women—Laura Moriarty’s The Chaperone illustrates how rapidly everything, from fashion and hemlines to values and attitudes, was changing at this time and what a vast difference it all made for Louise Brooks, Cora Carlisle, and others like them." 

It was a fabulous read, and if you're looking for your next book, I can't recommend it highly enough.

-x-x-x-x-

Thank you, Momatu!

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Writing Lab: What J.K. Rowling Can Teach About Writing

I've been spending the last months enjoying the whole Harry Potter Saga. I fell in love with the books, to the point that I now call "Happy Potter" the time I can spend reading them and dreaming about Hogwarts.

This inspiring article by Michelle V. Rafter offers 10 good reasons why J. K. Rowling's works are precious not just for millions of readers around the world, but also for writers.

Happy writing!

- Raum

10 Things J.K. Rowling Taught Me About Writing (by Michelle V. Rafter)

Here’s what Rowling and my Harry Potter experience taught me about writing: 

1. Persistence counts. 

Rowling got the idea for the Harry Potter in 1990 and spent the next 17 years working on it before finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. Seventeen years – that’s as long as it takes a kid to go from kindergarten through high school. 

The takeaway: You may start out loving a project but the day may come – days, weeks or months into it – you’re so bored, frustrated or fed up you want to scream or put it away forever. But look what can happen if you gut it out. 

2. Think things through. 

Rowling wrote in the biography on her website that she was on a train when the idea for Harry Potter “fell into my head.” She didn’t have paper or pen, so for the four-hour train ride all she could do was... [read the full article]

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Let's talk about "Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella

I love this book! I enjoyed it so much I devoured it in two days.
The plot is intriguing, and it made me laugh several times. But it made me cry as well for Sadie.  

Women in the Twenties

Who's Sadie?

Let's read the synopsis:

Lara has always had an overactive imagination. Now she wonders if she is losing her mind. Normal twenty-something girls just don’t get visited by ghosts! But inexplicably, the spirit of Lara’s great aunt Sadie – in the form of a bold, demanding Charleston-dancing girl – has appeared to make one last request: Lara must track down a missing necklace Sadie simply can’t rest without.
Lara’s got enough problems of her own. Her start-up company is floundering, her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, and she’s just been dumped by the love of her life.
But as Lara spends time with Sadie, life becomes more glamorous and their treasure hunt turns into something intriguing and romantic. Could Sadie’s ghost be the answer to Lara’s problems and can two girls from different times end up learning something special from each other?

This was a delicious read. Don't miss it. 

You can begin with an extract. And enjoy Sadie's wisdom:

“Darling, when things go wrong in life, this is what you do. You lift your chin, put on a ravishing smile, mix yourself a little cocktail--and out you go!”

Warning: you'll be tempted to research Twenties music and clothes after (or while) reading.

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Writing Lab: What Successful People Do With the First Hour of Their Work Day

Many writers complain because distractions ruin their writing schedule or their day. I hope this article will help them. I've found there are many mistakes I make. And you?

Happy writing!

- Raum

What Successful People Do With The First Hour Of Their Work Day (by Kevin Purdy)

How much does the first hour of every day matter? As it turns out, a lot. 

It can be the hour you see everything clearly, get one real thing done, and focus on the human side of work rather than your task list. 

Remember when you used to have a period at the beginning of every day to think about your schedule, catch up with friends, maybe knock out a few tasks? It was called home room, and it went away after high school. But many successful people schedule themselves a kind of grown-up home room every day. You should too. 

The first hour of the workday goes a bit differently for Craig Newmark of Craigslist, David Karp of Tumblr, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, career writer (and Fast Company blogger) Brian Tracy, and others, and they’ll tell you it makes a big difference. Here are the first items on their daily to-do list... [read the full article]

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Snare 16 -- Exception

Things between Edward and Bella are progressing. Chapter 16 features them opening up: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8955111/16/

Camilla's short poem (SatinCoveredSteel helped to translate it):

Può fuggire il prigioniero
se non fosse per il fiero
sentimento che ha per Bella
del suo cuore ormai la stella.


The prisoner could run away,
but fierce passion o'er him holds sway,
passion for the woman who
is his heart's star, through and through.

The new chapter is due to be posted in two weeks.

Reviewers get a little gift.

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S... University - An Initiative by Project Team Beta @ProjectTeamBeta

Do you want to improve your writing process when it comes to hot scenes? Project Team Beta has what you need! Since 2010, the fabulous staff at PTB has organized lessons and workshops with many writers from the fandom.

This year your teachers are: LayAtHomeMom, LuckyStar815, prettykittyartist, Plummy, jayhawkbb, TeamSmella, Gemgirl65, and Raum.

My lesson has been posted today:

Transitioning Into a Sex Scene: http://projectteambeta.com/smut-university-2013-transitioning-into-sex-scenes-by-raumtweet/

If you have any question about the article, I'll be happy to reply to your mails.

Go enjoy the whole course!

- Raum 

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Writing Lab: Get Into the Writing Habit @projectteambeta

Do you have a writing habit? Can you always focus on your writing or do you think you need help to improve? I've just joined this initiative by Project Team Beta:

Get Into the Writing Habit: http://projectteambeta.com/writers-resources/crash-course-get-into-the-writing-habit/

I'm just at the beginning, and I'm curious to see the results I'll get!

Would you sign up with me? 

Happy Writing!

- Raum

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