[BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY] Phasms: Infinite Potential, by Barbara Garren

Book: Infinite Potential

Author: Barbara Garren

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Kelsi always knows when bad things are coming, but even she never thought she’d lose her husband at only twenty-three. Since he died, she’s been living her worst nightmare.  Her nights are filled with dreams of a Dark Haired Man, but her days are full of guilt, because the Man fills her with longing and confusion, promising to give her all she needs, all she wants, all she feared she’d never have again. If only the dreams would stay in her head where they belong. Kelsi starts seeing the Dark Haired Man in her waking life, shadowing her wherever she goes. And when her mysterious new neighbor, Aiden Hardt, knows about the Man in her dreams, Kelsi worries she can’t trust her own mind. "He’s not what he seems." But even Aiden’s cryptic words don’t frighten her as much as the way she feels around him. Kelsi must sort through her emotions and figure out what’s real before she can ever hope to have a normal life again.

I'm a writer, a reader and a frequenter of the more charming sites in town, namely pubs.

Born and raised in Southern California, I left to explore the world courtesy of the U.S. Navy. I've lived in San Francisco, New York and Norfolk, Virginia, but prefer to call San Diego home these days, with my husband, Henry (the inspiration for all the romance).

When not working on my next novel or reading a good book, I can be found running after my grandchildren, my dog and my sanity.

I believe a well-rounded diet consists of coffee, scotch, chocolate, popcorn and Luna Bars - in that order - and have been accused of violating grammar and etiquette rules in at least seven countries. My Muse is a Valkyrie named Prue, so look out.

Okay, I was asked to share the top 5 things you never would have guessed about me. This might be painful, but here goes:

1      I’m deathly afraid of clowns, puppets, masks and heights. Not in that order. I don’t know where the fear of clowns, puppets and masks comes from. I have a friend who is a psychologist and she says it’s a combination of my complete transparency, coupled with the difficulty I have seeing past the subterfuge of others. I’m not sure – I used to love the clowns at the circus. As for the height thing – that’s interesting, considering fact number 2…

2     I learned how to fly an airplane before I learned how to drive a car. Flying doesn’t affect my fear of heights. I love flying. I grew up flying with my Dad and he taught my brother and I how to fly as soon as we were able to see over the nose of the plane! So, maybe it’s not really a fear of heights, but a fear of being on the edge, teetering on the precipice?

3     I began my career in the Navy as a welder. Really! I was darn good at it too! My grandfather taught me how to weld (a little bit) when I was a little girl and I love the magic of joining metal together. I’m a bit of a metal geek (okay, a LOT of a metal geek) and the whole process still fascinates me. I quickly moved on to inspection and testing after suffering a nasty burn welding on a pipe on a ship in the Bay of Oman, but that’s a story for another day!

4      My iPod would probably have you scratching your head in confusion. I have opera, operetta’s (Gilbert & Sullivan), classical music, country, pop, rap, new wave, rock and roll, heavy metal – you name it. Most of my playlists are a real mash-up of genre, rhythm and tone. Whatever sets the mood best! I tend to gravitate toward darker, more melancholy songs when I’m really in “writing” mode. It helps me reach all those feelings!

5      I am possibly one of the most socially awkward and shy people you will ever meet, I’ve just learned to hide it well. I drag my husband to all the professional social functions I’m required to attend and he pushes me into other types of events, but I’m quite the wall-flower at heart. I can never figure out what to say or do and am terrified of glomming on to the ONE person who talks to me and never letting them go! With that said, once I know you and feel comfortable with you, I’m a firm believer in tackle hugs!

Website: www.bgarrenwrites.com

Email: bgarrenwrites@gmail.com

Blog: http://www.nofilterinstalled.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bgarrenwrites

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bgarrenwrites/

Twitter: @bak229

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[INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY] Phasms: Infinite Potential, by Barbara Garren

DUN DUN DUN...it has come!!

I'm extra-excited about this.  Barb is not only my critique buddy, but also my drinking buddy, workout buddy, coffee buddy, lunch buddy, gossip buddy...okay, she's a friend of mine!  And she writes some damn sexy characters.  So, of course, I was eager to sign up for the blog tour and throw some questions at her.  Read on for the interview!

Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see.

 - What is your name? Barbara
 - What is your quest? I seek the golden fleece
 - What is your favorite color? Uh, gold?

Just kidding, there are more than 3 questions.  
Ha ha ha!

What was the famous #pitmad tweet that got you snagged? 
You expect me to remember?  Okay, here you go: #pitmad At 22 Kelsi lost her husband & maybe her mind.  Is the dark haired man frm her dreams real?  Y dz he look like her new neighbor?

Which orifice did you pull this story from (from whence did the inspiration come)?
Not the one you think.  The basic premise was one I’ve spent a good deal of my life contemplating – (Warning: I am a physics nerd) – a universal law of physics is that energy is constant.  With that thought in mind, what happens when we die?  A certain amount of energy is expended in the natural decay of the body, but how can something as full of energy (and potential energy) exhaust itself in that way?

The second part of the premise is a bit more personal: I believe we never truly die.  I believe our “soul,” for lack of a better term, transits to either another place, another form or another time.  Thus, the notion that our “soul” is made of that small bit of energy unaccounted for by the laws of matter, and that energy is represented as emotion.  Emotion in use and action, like energy, begets an equal and opposite force, and so Phasms were created.

What was the most difficult thing about writing Phasms?
The most difficult thing about writing Phasms was delving into my own life experiences and exposing the pain of losing a loved one, while making sure that element of the story was true to the character I had created.  There were many, many times my editor had to remind me my character is NOT me.

What was something you learned while writing Phasms?
Wow – I learned so MUCH! I think, the biggest thing I learned was to trust my voice.  We writers tend to be an insecure, needy bunch.  We sort of shrivel up into our shells and second guess everything we've written, especially when waiting for a reply from an agent, editor or publisher.  We have to remember that the story is OURS, the words and the rhythm and the pacing are all ours – and if we do that, then the words we hear in response will be reaffirming and encouraging.

What do you love the most about Phasms?
I love the symbolism I was able to incorporate: the beach and the waves, the beast and the stag.  I loved the tension between Kelsi and Aiden, and the slow awakening Kelsi experienced as she overcame her grief.  And I love that I got to include my dog, Charlie, as one of the characters!

What do you hate the most about Phasms?
Wow – that’s hard.  I can’t say I hate any of it, but I worry (constantly) the reader won’t have those absolutely heart-stopping, nail biting moments I tried so hard to create.  Building that depth of emotion; terror, sorrow, passion, exhilaration – I find it incredibly hard at times to find the words and I have to hope I managed at least a fraction of the “feels” I was shooting for.

Give us your favorite blurb from the story.
It would have to be Kelsi’s description of the first time she saw Jamie:

     He stood on the pitcher’s mound, hat tucked under one arm and wiped the sweat off his face with the other. The sun caught his profile, outlined his body where the uniform hugged it and made a halo of his hair. I caught my breath. He was the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen. 
     He looked up, our eyes locked and time stood still. The umpire yelled at him twice to get him back in the game. He grinned, his little lopsided grin, stuck his hat back on his head and winked. 
     Later that night, after burgers and fries, he told me he was going to marry me. I told him he was right. Because he was.

What are your future plans as an author?
To finish books 2 and 3 of this series, obviously.  I have two contemporary romance novels I’m polishing that I’d like to submit soon and a few other brands in the fire.  I’m constantly jotting down notes for the next story – we’ll have to see which gets finished first!

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Infinite Potential by Barbara Garren 

Entranced Publishing 

February 24, 2014

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Kelsi always Knows when bad things are coming, but even she never thought she’d lose her husband at only twenty-three.  Since he died, she’s been living her worst nightmare.

Her nights are filled with dreams of a Dark Haired Man, but her days are full of guilt, because the Man fills her with longing and confusion, promising to give her all she needs, all she wants, all she feared she’d never have again.

If only the dreams would stay in her head where they belong.

Kelsi starts seeing the Dark Haired Man in her waking life, shadowing her wherever she goes.  And when her mysterious new neighbor, Aiden Hardt, knows about the Man in her dreams, Kelsi worries she can’t trust her own mind.

"He’s not what he seems."

But even Aiden’s cryptic words don’t frighten her as much as the way she feels around him.  Kelsi must sort through her emotions and figure out what’s real before she can ever hope to have a normal life again.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Barbara was born and raised in Southern California, but left to explore the world courtesy of the U.S. Navy.  After traveling the world, she forced herself to live a humble life in in San Francisco, New York and Norfolk,Virginia.  She now calls San Diego home and you won’t pry her out with a crowbar. 

She would be the first to tell you her husband, Henry, is the inspiration for all the romance, and the real Charlie - who is as cute as he sounds in her books - is a terrorist.  When not working for the U.S. Navy, she can be found running, reading or writing.  She firmly believes a well-rounded diet consists of coffee, scotch, chocolate, popcorn and Luna Bars.  In that order.

She's a graduate of CUNY and Penn State - and manages to write a decent line here and there despite those burdens. 

Social Media Links 

https://twitter.com/bak229  

http://nofilterinstalled.blogspot.com

 https://www.facebook.com/NoFilterBetweenBrainandMouth

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And, last but not least, Barb is giving us a chance to win some goodies!  Hurray for goodies!

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SCWC: World Building for Speculative/Paranormal Fiction

-        How deviant from reality is this going to be?  The more different it is, the more you will have to explain.  Obliterating the usual “rules” can be fascinating but hard to follow

-        How similar to us is an alien culture?

-        Human systems are founded on religious beliefs (magic, gods, goddesses, God).  What role does religion play in the fictional society?  How is moral development affected?  What is the foundation of the society?  How do ideologies affect how they react to or treat other people?

-        Map-making can be helpful in creating a new world (town, city, country).  Spatial understanding of where people are to the natural world.

-        Different/skewed versions of well-known stories/fairy tales

-        Logic flaws make unhappy readers (ex: how does a sparkly vampire impregnate a girl if he doesn’t even have blood flow to get it up).

-        “It works, because…”  Make it believable.  Explain why it’s possible.

-        Nature is full of bizarre, fascinating things—good source for inspiration/ideas

-        Environment is a huge determinant of people’s behavior (ex: more crime during heat, less crime/violence when women and children are present).

-        Get inspiration from real news stories/feeds.

-        Novel-writing tips: http://storyfix.com/

-        Author/reader networking: http://redroom.com/

-        Write FIRST, edit later.  Don’t edit while you’re writing.  Go back to edit after you’redone.

-        Nowadays sci-fi fans demand technical accuracy.

-        Only explain enough to take away questions (have someone else read it and find out if they feel distracted from the story because they’re wondering how something works).

-        No one ever explains how a flux capacitor actually works, but just the mention of it is enough to ground the story

-        When you’re making up names/words, stay consistent with the structure of the language

-        Tactile experiences give things more credibility (acting out a story to a friend as opposed to just telling it to them).

-        Don’t do a big information dump—“tease” it out a little at a time.

SCWC: Why Some Authors Get Published—and Some Don’t

-        Strive to write every day even if you don’t get around to it.  Set writing goals.

-        Read a lot (of good stuff).  If you don’t have time to read, then you don’t have time to write.

-        Read widely within your genre for inspiration

-        Publishers don’t have time to deal with high-maintenance authors.  Do the work they ask for.

-        Try to look at your work with an objective/dispassionate eye when self-editing.

-        Setting/style/period/subject can be what sets your work above the rest

-        Stay focused on your strengths and what’s unique about you and your story when marketing/making your pitch

-        The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron: http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421472/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1  “Bring life in.”

-        Do research to cover a universal theme.  Every nonfiction book is an argument

-        Don’t give up!!!  If something isn’t working, take time to re-assess.  It’s okay to send a query letter to the same agent if you indicate you’ve spent some time researching, revising, improving, etc

-        Online writing groups (Salon, RedRoom, She Writes)

-        San Diego Writers’ Ink, Scribd

-        Community support and interaction is important

-        Editors’ guilds

SCWC: Tweaking - Making the Difference Between Good and Published

-        Build to power.  Always end your sentences with the strongest/most powerful word.

-        Change the order of words in sentences/move sentences around.  Save “what happens” for last.

-        Make material visually attractive.  Hard nowadays to distract people from their busy lives.

-        Paragraphing accentuates dynamic/pivotal points.  Put sentences in their own paragraphs to demonstrate their importance.

-        Use punctuation “tricks” to add drama.

-        Don’t be afraid of sentence fragments or one-word sentences.

-        Ellipses imply the character’s thoughts are trailing off.  A surprise sentence ending.

-        Don’t be afraid of short and/or long sentences.

-        Use prepositions to add more sentence variety.

-        Make dialogue unusual/brilliant

-        The best writing is fast writing—spontaneity creates a better story/flows better

-        Take out dialogue introductions, use “shortcuts.”

-        Most of us are pretty dull most of the time; make the character more interesting than you.  We don’t want boring conversation, we want the best of what we say.

-        Use action tags for dialogue—carefully and sparingly

-        Can characterize people through the words/actions of other characters

-        Pause for reaction time.

-        Make your dramatic scenes long (and longer).  Inject heart-stopping events

SCWC: Package Submission

This is in regards to when you’re ready to submit your manuscript to an agent.

Package Submission

-        Query letters/synopsis for submission to agents

-        A good query letter should be brief—sell yourself and sell your book

-        Do your research and adhere to the requested format!

-        Need to capture reviewer right at the start, then elaborate a little further on stories/characters

-        Explain why you’re qualified to right this book (your bio should be relevant to the story)

-        Don’t copy a generic submission template

-        You’re applying for a job—be pleasant and business-like.  Present yourself as someone your agent/publisher would want to work with.  Your bio is your resume.

-        Agent website/blogs tell what they require and some talk about what they like/don’t like to see in query letters.

-        Synopsis—sample of your writing skills.  1, 3, and 5 page overview of story.  Don’t leave cliffhangers/surprises.  Tell it all.  Touch on major characters, conflict, resolution, key story element.  Start with 5 pages, then cut down to 3 pages, then cut down to 1 (working backwards is easier to get the meat of the story down to a one-page synopsis for submission).

-        Follow agent’s directions for initial story submissions (first 3 chapters, first 50 pages etc).

-        You have to be really damn good in order to break the rules.

-        Looking for an agent: http://pred-ed.com/ and http://aaronline.org/

-        http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/lunch/free/ - newsletter, see which publishers are selling/popular/good ratings

-        http://duotrope.com/ - search publishers by genre, etc

-        “Submishmash” - http://www.submittable.com/ - manage submissions

-        Send multiple submissions at a time

-        The bigger the agent the better, but relationship with agent is important too (may find that a smaller agency is more agreeable).

-        http://www.shewrites.com/

-        An agent is good to have so they can fight your publishing/publisher battles for you.