Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel
Today we are welcoming Genie Gabriel to the blog. She is the author of Picture Perfect Legacy, part of the Legacy series. She is touring with Goddessfish Promotions and will be giving away a $25.oo Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour as well as a smaller prize at each stop. You know how to be entered more often, drop by Goddessfish’s site and follow the tour, leaving comments everywhere you go!
I asked Genie to comment on one or two authors or books that have had a significant effect on her life and this is what she has to say:
“Name one or two authors/books that have have had a significant effect on your life and why.”
Well, there was one book that changed the direction of my life. Even if I remembered the title, this book would remain nameless. It was so bad I only got a few pages into it before I closed it with a thump and stated, “I can write better than this.”
I spent the next fourteen years attending conferences and furiously writing down every word spoken by published authors to learn how to write. Yes, it took that long in spite of best-selling authors like Susan Wiggs and Stella Cameron generously sharing their knowledge and patiently answering questions from newbie writers like me. Multi-published author, Muriel Jensen, even went through her entire writing process from idea to “The End” at one conference.
But it wasn’t enough to learn writing basics like characterization, plotting and point of view. Author Linda Needham opened up an entirely new level of writing when I attended her workshop based on Christopher Vogler’s book, The Writer’s Journey.
During all these years, not only was I rewriting the rewrites of my rewrites, I was trying to convince publishers I could write well enough to take a chance my books would sell.
At least if that life-changing book had hit the wall and bounced back to hit me in the head, I would have had an excuse for plodding forward for so long in spite of rejections. But, no, I had simply become hooked on writing, and any rejection other than a form letter copied crookedly on the page was encouragement.
Finally, an e-publisher offered a contract for my manuscript. I was disbelieving. Excited. A few weeks later, I cautiously offered them another manuscript. They wanted that one also! So I edited and polished a third manuscript, and was offered a contract on that one! Those three books received good reviews and were re-issued in November and December 2011 as the ROCK’n’ROMANCE trilogy. (You can read excerpts from those books and follow links to buy them from my Web site: <http://www.geniegabriel.com>.
Now, as I celebrate the release of my LEGACY series this month, starting with PICTURE PERFECT LEGACY, I guess I should thank the author–whoever she was– of that nameless book for starting me on this writing journey. And I hope I’ve learned enough from all the generous authors and how-to-write books in the past twenty years that some reader won’t slam one of my books shut and claim, “I can write better than this!”
Thank you to Sugarbeats for hosting me today! I’m looking forward to meeting visitors and responding to comments. Anyone who comments will be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate at the end of my blog tour (on March 23).
And please share: do you have an author or book that has dramatically impacted your life?
GENIE GABRIEL BIO
For years I’ve been fascinated by the puzzle of why some people collapse under life’s traumas and others emerge triumphantly stronger. In a job surrounded by social workers and in my personal life, I saw the effects of abuse, incest, and violence. Yet amid the stark realities of addictions, anger, abandonment, denial and betrayal shone the bright light of strength, hope and forgiveness. These triumphs of the human spirit over the ugliest of adversities became the basis for my stories. My passion for writing romance stories became an outlet for the powerful messages that people can overcome great difficulties, and that true love can turn life’s heartaches into happily ever after.
LINKS
Web site: www.GenieGabriel.com
Blog for The Legacy Series (PICTURE PERFECT LEGACY is the first book of the series): http://oshealegacyseries.
Excerpt:
Dawson watched the exchange between Marly and her brothers with interest. He didn’t grow up with a bunch of brothers involved in each other’s day-to-day lives.
“There’s an old Irish custom that might be of help in this situation.” Patrick stood, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. “When a man expresses an interest in an Irish lass–you are interested in Marly, aren’t you, Mr. Browning?”
“Very much so.” Dawson wondered what trick this seemingly easygoing priest would pull out of his vestments.
“Irish custom states when a man declares his intent to court a lass, he must meet certain requirements from the lass’ immediate family.”
“You’re all adopted and we’re not Irish,” Marly stated.
“Ah, lass, you wound me.” Patrick placed a hand over his heart. “We are family in action and Irish in all ways that matter.”
“Spare me the theatrics.” Marly rolled her eyes.
“The right of refusal belongs not to the lass, but to the prospective groom.” Patrick turned to Dawson. “Arise, my son.”
Slowly, Dawson stood, feeling like a small child caught stealing from the church plate.
“For the honor of courting this fair lassie, you will be required to meet a challenge from each of her seven brothers–“
“No.” Marly placed herself between Dawson and her brothers. “I will make the decision of who I marry.”
“I can beat these wimps at their own games,” Dawson declared.
Marly groaned as her brothers’ eyes lit with anticipation of the game begun.
Related articles
- Genie Gabriel Picture Perfect Legacy Blog Tour with Giveaway and Guest Post (paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com)
Thank you for hosting Genie today.
Good question! As an English major (undergraduate and graduate) and now a librarian, reading has always seemed like “work”–school work and then professional work. Even as I was reading excellent fiction books, it was not as pleasurable as it should have been. I think that Jane Yolen’s YA book, The Devil’s Arithmetic, was a book that I read purely for pleasure and didn’t feel the need to annotate, highlight, analyze, and remember. It was a wonderful feeling!
This story sounds hilarious. I would love to read the entire seried.
Good morning, everyone, and happy spring! At least the calendar says it’s spring. However, I’ve woken up to snow on the ground the last two mornings. I’ve lived in Western Oregon all my life–a good long time :)–and don’t remember having snow on the ground this late in the year.
At least the snow has melted enough that the beautiful pink blossoms of my star magnolia tree are visible again! It will be interesting to see what Mother Nature has in store for us weather-wise today.
Hope you are all safe and warm, and enjoying the sunshine if you have it!
Many thanks to Sugarbeats for hosting me today. I look forward to talking with all of you and giving away a $10.00 gift certificate to Powell’s Books (they have an online store and do have ebooks, so this can be used pretty much anywhere). I’ll also be having the drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate good at Amazon.com tomorrow that anyone who comments will be entered to win.
Hi, Catherine! It’s good to see you! I hadn’t read The Devil’s Arithmetic, but looked it up online. It sounds engrossing! No wonder you were able to get lost in this story and not think of it as “work”!
Hi, MomJane! Good to hear from you again! (And if you will contact me at my e-mail address to claim prizes you have previously won, that would be cool 🙂
Yes, there are some humorous moments in this series of books as well as the challenges these characters face. I think a sense of humor can be a friend when things get a little rough or just plain weird.
Love your excerpt and hope the tour and sales are going well.
This looks like a really good read. I enjoyed the humor and references to Irish customs. I appreciate your article as well. Thanks for a great post.
Great tour ,good luck. Deb P
Hi, Paty! Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by. I have enjoyed the tour and am looking forward to the next one when the second book of the series comes out May 1.
Hi, Naomi! Glad you enjoyed the excerpt and the post. Brother Patrick will get his own story in the second book of this series to be released May 1. It’s interesting how his character insisted on showing strong Irish connections…not that his sister, Marly, appreciates that!
Thanks, Deb! I appreciate you stopping by and have put your name in the hat for the drawings!
I enjoyed the post and excerpt. The book sounds very good.
Hey, bn100! Thanks for your kind words and for dropping by to say hello!
I’ve read some bad books in my time, but I don’t have the inclination or gift to write. I doubt anyone will use any of your books- negative connotations – as inspiration to write.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Hi, Mary! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. I really wouldn’t want to be a negative motivator. 🙂
And the winner is… Naomi Baltuck! Naomi, if you would e-mail me at **genene@genenevalleau.com** I’ll send you the $10 gift certificate to Powell’s Books (online and at one of their stores). Thanks to everyone who joined my tour, and I hope to hear from all of you again in May. In the meantime, please stop by my LEGACY blog at **http://oshealegacyseries.blogspot.com/** to learn more about my LEGACY series. I’ll also have more contests as the books are released. If you comment there, your name will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com. I’ll be drawing that winner after midnight tonight, March 23. Happy reading to you all!