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.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
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!
Our beloved Madam President, my friend, my critique guru, and outrageously talented writer Sheri gives up the goods about the conference, check it out!
Monday, July 30, 2012
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/
http://www.yosemiteromancewriters.com/blog/
Sunday, July 29, 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, July 28, 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.
Monday, July 23, 2012
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!Sunday, July 22, 2012
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.
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
Stay tuned for novel progress updates, musings, inspirations, and visual goodies. Visual goodies are my favorite.
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