What did you just say?

I'm not ashamed to admit that as a reader I tend to skip past several pages of text just to get to the dialogue. Especially, when we're in the main character's head and she's rambling about something that happened and what it all means when all I really care about is what are you going to say next.

As an author, I love writing dialogue. It can move the story forward and provide insight into my characters. But the key is to make it real. Don't just have them say stuff just to talk. I recently read a series and where I enjoyed the general story line and couldn't wait to find out what happens next, I found myself even skipping some of the dialogue because the main character was chatting with her friend and they weren't saying anything important. I don't care what you had for breakfast and to be honest, neither does the person you're talking to even though they are fictional character.

Its also important to make sure if you are, let's say, writing YA that your character speaks YA. As a 36 (I have to ask my husband all the time how old I am!) year mother of 3, I may not be the target audience for my books but that's were watching TV and reading magazines help. I love YA shows which if full of dialogue (do you see a theme). I devour everything they say and the way they say it because we all know inflection and body language can take what you say and twist is all around.

Here's my tip of the week about writing and dialogue. It can move your story forward and provide the reader with a lot of information but you'll fall flat if your characters sound too old and if they ramble about nothing important.

Happy Writing!

Dare You To Review: 5 Nuts!

From GoodReads:
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all.



Did you read that line? How could you not fall in love with this book! I've said this before but I'm a HUGE fan and love Katie McGarry! Met her, loved her, wanna write like her!

I thought after Echo and Noah that she couldn't possible write about two more characters that I'd like but I was wrong. We are introduced to Beth in Pushing the Limits and McGarry rewards us for our patience with Ryan. We know the type. Jock, blessed with great skin, hair and all the girls love him and the guys wanna be him. But looks can be deceiving, which happens to be the theme of this book.

I fell in love instantly and couldn't put the book down and then was sad when it was over. Love these characters and if McGarry writes about Logan, I'd love to see these two again.

My Brother's Wedding is here!

Allison Daughtry is catapulted into a past life when she returns to her childhood home to attend her brother’s wedding. Bombarded with memories of a night she’d shared with Ryan Johnson, her reason for leaving and forever crush, she attempts to navigate her feelings while maintaining a fake romantic relationship with her best friend. Complicated emotions surface and Allison struggles to remember what’s real.

My Brother's Wedding is a contemporary sweet romance set in the Midwest. Follow Allison as she maneuvers her family and a long lost love. But watch out for the grandmother, she's a spitfire!

It's here! It's here! I'm so excited about this release. TMP was able to offer my new book as a pre-order but now she's alive and well (of course my book is a girl and like most females, she likes to be a caressed with your eyes!)

My Brother's Wedding is set in one of my favorite cities...St. Louis! So grab your toasted ravs, gooey butter cake and they's get our Lou on.

Here are your linkie poohs for this $2.99 DEAL:
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Smashwords
ARe  All Romance eBooks


If you can't find it where you normally purchase your ebooks, please let me know.

Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy this new step with me!