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Paranormal and Contemporary Romances

Here’s the question – is it better to have a secondary plot or sub-plots? Here’s another question, which as a reader, and then as a writer do you prefer?
I think you have to have both.

Subplot = A subordinate plot in fiction or drama. In our terms (A relating plot) Basically a hidden plot that some readers miss and writers don’t know they have written, which helps bring the romance to the surface. Also known as twist and turns through out the romance.

A secondary plot is second story happening in the process of the romance. Such as a Mystery Romance, solving the murders.

As a reader I prefer and expect both. As a writer I love the secondary plot and fear the subplot. Not only do you have to worry about coming up with ways for the romance to move foreword and the secondary plot to come to an end but you have to add this hidden tale of the romance. Man what a pain in the ole writers wrist.

What makes a good secondary plot? And what makes a good sub-plot?

Can you give an example? And tell us how you would use those tools to your benefit?
A good Secondary plot has to be strong enough to hold up to the tension of the romance plot, without taking away from it. Basically in my book La Roe’s Finding the murderer and bringing him to justice is the secondary plot.

The subplot was Max teaching Emerald how …

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Wow I knew I put this question off for a reason. How to even begin? First, she has to be strong. I don’t even mean strength wise; she has to have a strong constitution. Grit, personality, doesn’t take anything from anyone, basically Emerald La Roe From my first book. She didn’t take anything from no one and stood on her own two feet. Which of course if why her and Max didn’t make it. You know Alfa male werewolf and all.

Emerald was beautiful in her own way, yeah she had a sinful looking body, with fire red hair and green eyes, but that’s when her outer beauty stopped and her inner beauty came out. She was strong, self-assured, relied on no one and took care of everyone and everything her own way.

A different character of mine Shayla is your basic blonde blue-eyed fairy. Ok so she does have the looks on the outside but she is developing into a strong and capable Queen. Next is Jacqueline from Vampires Revenge, she is short, Dark hair, and I forgot her eye color. Well that’s bad, but it’s her new inside that counts. She was a willowy fainting pushover that was an innocent in everything. Now though she is tough as nails, and well just don’t make her mad.

So I guess I choose independent women, who may or may not be a classic beauty. But by the end of the book they are, just from the character they become. Yeah …

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The title of my book is as important as the characters themselves. So the name of the book is as important as the characters themselves. You can choose an important event as I did in The title of my book is as important as the characters themselves. In my first I named my book La Roe’s after the Heroine in which the story was told from her POV, Secondly it also describes part of her. La Roe means The Red and her first name Emerald means Green she consequentially has red hair and green eyes. La Roe’s is also about an entire family in which her children will come to play mainly her daughter which according to family tradition will be named La Roe also.

So the name of the book is as important as the characters themselves. You can choose an important event As Fay’s Wish in which the mother a Fay makes a wish for her daughter. Then in Mystic Inn it represents the hotel, and Vampires Revenge represents the revenge our heroine will play on the hero. I think the name should give a clue to the reader of something grand about to take place.

So how to name you MS, well as you right it an important scene, place, person, or thing will stand out and hopefully shout use me. I find that I don’t know the name until that exact moment. It is as hard as naming your Characters themselves, esp. if they represent them. …

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What do you do now that you have finished that great manuscript? Many believe you can simply start sending it out to agents or publishers sometimes even both. However this is simply not true, just because you have created this riveting tale, you cannot send it out and expect it to be published right then. No, there are many aspects to being published and even more frauds out there, where the only goal is to con you out of your money. Filling their pockets and leaving yours empty and your dream of being published unfulfilled.

So what to do, where to turn, who do you trust, who do you ask? Well the first thing is take that perfect manuscript and reread each and every word and prepare to rewrite, if you are like many authors out there who have a hard time seeing their own mistakes then join a critique group. These groups are designed to help writers, and many have guidelines to follow so that your critique is accurate and fair. Once you have joined the group, redone your mistakes, repeatedly, finally believing you have the best Manuscript possible, here comes the hard part. Getting someone else to believe it as well.

You have to come up with a query letter that holds the readers attention using a strong hook. A hook if you don’t know is that one scene, that one line, that grabs the readers attention making them want more, need more of what you have to …

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“Author Sherry Soule’s IE DREAM CAST”
Today’s guest post is provided by author Sherry Soule, who is celebrating the release of her newest adult novel, IMMORTAL ECLIPSE. If you like supernatural suspense mingled with a dash of chick-lit and a healthy dose of paranormal romance, then this is the book for you!
This would be Sherry’s dream cast of actors if her books were made into a movie. So without further ado here are her top actor picks…
Skylar Blackwell is snarky, stubborn, and passionate about fashion—especially footwear—type of heroine, that any woman who can understand that being fashionable, spunky, and having designer shoes is important (a girl after my own heart)…even if you’re solving a supernatural murder mystery. It is a hard choice between these two radiant and talented actresses (love their shoes in these pics!), Kristin Kreuk or Nina Dobrev:
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OR

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I like tortured heroes, and mine is Dorian, a broken man, who wrestles with his inner demons. He is haunted by his past, scarred by memories of an unrequited love that broke his heart. For the part of the tragic hero, I think these brilliant and hunky actors would be great: Kellan Lutz or Jensen Ackles:

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OR

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For Skylar’s courageous friend, Emma, I like theses remarkable actresses: Drew Barrymore or Christina Applegate:

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Or

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For the mysterious and smarmy Victor Pratt, I like this actor, Jay Ryan:
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For the cute and outspoken, Margaret, I think this actress would be great, Jessica Parker Kennedy:
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For the grumpy housekeeper, Mrs. …

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