It is no secret that I am a huge Batman fan. It started when Michael Keaton starred as Batman in the former franchise adaptations, and I saw each subsequent film (yes, even the one with Val Kilmer) in the theater. I was lukewarm about Christian Bale and even more tepid about Katie Holmes, so I skipped Batman Begins at the theater and watched it on DVD. One of the best vacations I ever took was to Seattle, Washington, with my husband. On a whim, we went to see The Dark Knight at the science museum's IMAX theater. Granted, the film had long-since been out of main stream theaters but was still playing to an enthusiastic crowd of local Batman fans. I will never forget the experience. The scene in which Batman beats the stuffing out of some bad guys in the parking garage, I literally shrieked with delight. Do you know what happened? The theater applauded ME! Embarrassed, I looked around, and people were truly applauding my glee and giving me thumbs-up. I was finally amongst my people. Aside from the costumes, vehicles, and allure of the uber-rich Bruce Wayne, I love Batman's one-liners. In The Dark Knight Rises, I will never tire of the moment Batman interrupts the Joker's torment of Rachel at Harvey Dent's fundraiser. When the Joker says to Rachel, "You've got a little fight in you, I like that," Batman responds, "Then you're gonna love me." Again, in the IMAX theater, I squealed. Approving laughter and grunts from the audience. Which leads me to my assessment of The Dark Knight Rises. I was very slow to get myself to the theater, and decided to watch it alone before I lost my opportunity. It was my first experience seeing a film alone, and it was interestingly pleasant. First, my fellow movie-goers on an early Sunday afternoon in Clovis consisted of two guys (each of them were alone) and two male-female couples. Oh, and me. I sat at the far end of a row with one of the lone dudes, who sat in the middle. I researched the film on-line to find the right moment for a restroom break and bought a small soda. I won't wreck the film with spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen it, but if you're super sensitive to that sort of thing, skip what is posted below. I will say that to my surprise, I cried four times. It is no secret that I frequently cry at films, but not when it makes sense to cry. For exmaple, Old Yeller? Didnt cry. Steel Magnolias? Not a tear. Batman?? Boo-hoo City, population 1 (at least in the theater on that day). 1. The first time Batman emerged in costume in all of his superhero splendor, I cried a little. It was really that good. 2. I cried when The Bane pulverized the holy-toledo out of Batman for the first time. I really thought Batman was done for right then and there. 3. More crying when Batman was betrayed in a way that we female Batman fans foam at the mouth over. 4. The almost-end. As I peeled off the napkin that was around my soda to wipe my eyes, I noticed the man in my row looking over at me. He smiled reassuringly. Maybe it was his 30th time watching it and wanted me to keep my spirits up. Maybe he thought I was nuts. Irregardless, it was a nice gesture. I did not appreciate the casting for Catwoman originally, but she was good. Not whom I would've selected, but she fit the bill for what the film was trying to convey. It made this awesome one-liner possible: Catwoman and Batman get into the Batmobile to flee the scene, and Catwoman drolly says, "My mother told me never to get into cars with strange men." Batman says, "This isn't a car." And off they fly. Love it! The Dark Knight Rises was good, and it tied everything up nicely in the end, but it was several clicks down from The Dark Knight. Just give me Batman. Batman in his costume punching the living daylights out of the bad guys. Give me a truly evil, twisted villian (Joker) that makes it all worthwhile.

I am a finalist in the Get Your Stiletto in the Door Contest.

I did not think my novel would fit in this contest, but it did. I quote my friend, YRW president, and critique goddess Sheri Humphries: "All they can do is say no." I am so glad I entered, fingers crossed!

I won!

I am the winner!

I am a GSRWA Emerald City Opener Finalist!

I am extremely thrilled that my WIP, Dark Conquest has also finaled in the Emerald City Opener contest.  They are having a conference in October and will announce the winners then.  As a finalist, I get to have a private pitch session with an editor of my choice.

Wow!  Thanks to my Witty Wenches critique group for encouraging me.  Click on the link below to learn more about the contest and the conference.  The writers I've been in contact with that are handling the contest are wonderful, I hope to meet them in person at the conference.

http://www.gsrwa.org/contest.php

Get to Know Christina Kenton

Get to Know Christina Kenton

See what I have to say on the Yosmite Romance Writer's blog.  YRW is my local chapter for RWA, and it is an awesome group of writer peeps.

2012 RWA Conference Highlights

2012 RWA Conference Highlights

Our beloved Madam President, my friend, my critique guru, and outrageously talented writer Sheri gives up the goods about the conference, check it out!

Check out my blog post on Yosemite Romance Writers

See what my fellow Yosemite Romance Writer friends and I have to say!
http://www.yosemiteromancewriters.com/blog/

Jane Eyre - Obscure, plain, and little... with the heart of a lioness.

I revisit these lines from Jane Eyre often:  "I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh: it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal — as we are!”

While envisioning my characters as living, breathing people, I am called to remember the words of Jane Eyre.  My beautiful characters, tormented and fearless as they are, struggle to find their human voice at times.  Well, they're immortal, not human, but you know what I mean.  Larger-than-life characters are what the writing experts say will sell books, and correct they are, but there must be a human spirit in there to temper the grandeur.  There are times when I imagine I am taking too much liberty with a character's actions or words, and I am called to go spirit-to-spirit, as Miss Eyre did with her Mr. Rochester.

What a fantastic idea! I know what I want for Christmas 2012.

No News is Good News?

  I still eagerly await to hear my final placement in the Duel on the Delta contest, and in addition, I'd love to hear if I placed in this contest:  http://www.gsrwa.org/contest.php

 Here's hoping!

The Joy of Having Writers as Friends

Critique is Cathartic?

     I am so spoiled with my critique group.  Though I attend far less regularly than I would like, when I do attend, I feel fantastic.  Even if my scene was a stinker, it hurts so good!  One of my favorite things about writing is sharing my characters with other people.  To hear my critique friends discuss my beloved vamps and elves is part of the thrill of writing.

    My critique partners are so uniquely talented and supportive.  I am extremely lucky to have these ladies in my life.  I recently boo-hooed to them in a sniveling e-mail about how disappointed and frustrated I am with my STORY, nevermind the publishing process.  How fortunate am I to have such wonderful, helpful, encouraging writers to urge me back into the writing?  What would I do without these ladies?

     Today I had the good fortune of meeting up with one of my critique friends to chew the fat about our characters and plot lines.  Though this discussion was relaxed and unstructured, I learned a great deal.  As I was sharing my concerns, I realized how much I was fussing over the plot hiccups instead of writing my way around them.  My characters will push me in the right direction when the time comes, but that will only occur if I put my behind in the chair and start typing their dictation.   Lesson learned:  When in doubt, keep going. 

    

I am a Duel on the Delta River City Romance Contest Finalist!http://www.rivercityromancewriters.org/duel.html

My WIP, Dark Conquest finaled in the paranormal category.  Many, many thanks to my beloved Witty Wenches critique group for enduring my numerous re-writes of the first chapter and providing invaluable advice.  Look Wenches, it paid off!  I should find out my final placement soon.  Wish me luck!

When the mind gives birth to a stranger.

Where do my characters come from?

I am an avid reader and movie watcher and have been since a very young age.  Characters interest me much more so than the story they're involved in.  I can overlook a weak plot if a character is compelling.  When I am reading or watching a film, I will see a spark of something familiar in a fictional character.  That is usally my psyche telling me, "Hey, you've been thinking about this guy/girl.  Pay attention."  Perhaps an example is best.

I have always been fascinated with King Henry VIII, which lead to a general interest in Tudor history and the English monarchy.  Also, I have spent many years as a fan of vampire lore in different contexts.  The romance novel alpha male is something I am very familiar with in different genres (paranormal, historical, regency) and I have my stand-out favorites.  Combine all of this into one person's imagination and an alpha male vampire king is created.  It starts slowly... a mental glimpse of this character in snapshots, if you will.  The character has the voice and diction of King Henry (and the bad temper), the paranormal abilities of a vampire, and the tortured soul of an alpha male.  The cultivating of this person is a slow, slow process.  In fact, I am very far into my novel and I am still uncovering who he is. 

The fun part is deciding the particulars-- name, age, appearance, likes, dislikes, special talents.  My hero is a delectable combination of King Leonidas as portrayed by Gerard Butler in 300 and Julian Luna as portrayed by the late Mark Frankel in Kindred: The Embraced.  It makes sense, doesn't it? For me, it just works.  I can see and hear this person as though he were flesh and blood.

Knights of the Scarlet Crown

Welcome to Knights of Kenton, home of the Knights of the Scarlet Crown novels. 

Stay tuned for novel progress updates, musings, inspirations, and visual goodies.  Visual goodies are my favorite.