Having developed an excellent opening act, thoroughly hooking the reader, and then creating a devious and cruelly twisted plot that has the poor reader staying up way too late, now the exhausted author needs to resolve all those heinous conflicts that she spent so much time dovetailing.
Recapping briefly, hooking the reader, making the characters thoroughly miserable, and then making them happy equals a great story frame.
When it comes to resolving all the troubles created, the ideal is a surprise that delights because it fits perfectly, and yet the avid reader never saw it coming.
In mysteries, romances, and all the other forms of popular fiction the best final acts accomplish this wonderful ending rather sneakily.
To be fair, the solution to the worst of the characters’ troubles can not come out of the blue. Meaning that it must be hinted at some where in the story, but subtly is perfectly fair.
Late one night, engrossed in a Lee Child thriller, I came to a revelation that had me flipping back to a prior section where I was certain the author had misled me. He hadn’t. He’d simply been very clever in allowing me to mislead myself.
I sat stunned by plot twist I hadn’t seen coming. That’s the way to resolve conflicts.
Happy New Year and may all your resolutions be brilliant.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 6:00 am |
Just in case you missed the news, I sold the first book in the dangerous series last year. While each title can be read as a stand alone, they are even better read in order. Starting with Dangerous Surrender.
As a little incentive here’s an excerpt from the story that started it all.
If her tongue hadn’t been glued to the roof of her mouth Ciara would’ve told him something. She wasn’t quite sure what. Either, take a flying leap, or take me. The second option sounded undeniably good. Her lips parted and small shallow breaths escaped, but no words formed. He stood so close she couldn’t think clearly and her intention to explain about the research for a story evaporated like advertising revenue in a recession.
He studied her as if she had the winning lottery numbers etched inside her pupils. “Tell me what you want.”
Apparently, small talk was over already. Some inner vixen must’ve possessed her, because she heard herself asking him, “What do you do?”
She licked lips gone suddenly dry.
“Everything, except kiss on the mouth.” He sounded sullen.
“You’re kidding, right?” She hoped he was joking. She wanted kisses.
He grinned. So he’d been teasing. Was that the same as flirting? Was he serious? How far would he go? He was on duty, right?
“Yeah, I do everything.”
She loved his matter of fact tone, as if nothing shocked him. Her pulse leapt into aerobic range. “Great,” she squeaked, her nerves skittering with anticipation.
He appeared disappointed. Did she sound too eager? What was the correct protocol when hiring a man for pleasure? If she ran over the minimum, then what? Was it strictly cash, did he expect a tip? She only had a twenty left.
Then a nasty thought hit. Was this whole thing a setup to bust her for solicitation?
Dad would understand. Heck, he’d probably applaud, thinking it showed grit, or something. But what about Aunt Maureen and her Junior League friends? What about Regan?
What about January? After all, she’d gone out of her way to sponsor her. And now she was about to get herself arrested, embarrassing everyone who had ever cared about her.
A quick replay of the conversation they’d just had confirmed her fears. She’d watched plenty of cop shows. They always made the John, or in this case Jane, commit herself first by asking for a particular sexual act and offering money.
“What’s the matter?” Zach watched her with that same odd intensity. He was probably worried that she was going to resist arrest.
She risked another peek from under her lashes. He’d insisted on getting paid first. That supported her prostitution bust theory.
“Are you going to cuff me?” she whispered, fear making her voice small.
He leaned closer, resting one arm on the doorjamb next to her. Something flickered across his face, but when he spoke, it was in a sexy drawl. “Is that what you want?”
“Certainly not.” She frowned at him. She needed information and he was still flirting. She asked him plainly. “Are you going to arrest me?”
He straightened and crossed his arms over his impressive chest. “For what?”
“Hiring you for sex.” She was breathing too fast and her words ran together, sounding too much like panic.
“Who is asking the question, the reporter or the woman?” His drawl got a little crispy.
“Who is answering, the cop, or the man?” Still too breathy, but better.
“Let’s leave the jobs outside that door.”
For a second there he’d sounded cynical. But he smoldered well and smelled wonderful. His clothes might be from disco nights, but the body underneath was prime beefcake. She trailed one finger down the front of his shirt. A small electric current moved from her finger straight into her feminine core. She let her gaze follow her caress and saw the muscles under her touch ripple in an enticing display.
They still stood by the door. The room offered the usual amenities. The furnishings were mid-level hotel grade. The plants were real, lush, and a bit incongruous with the urethane finished nightstands and economy carpeting. But, at least, the room didn’t smell funny.
A king-size bed dominated the space. How did she get him into it?
Did she want that?
She wanted him, but the only good sex she’d experienced had been solo flights. Did she really want to complicate her life on the slim chance things might be different this time?
Yes. Make that, hell yes.
Maybe the Cosmopolitans she’d had earlier had fueled her optimism, or maybe she’d developed courage since she’d met him. She only knew that she’d hate herself if she didn’t grab this chance to walk on the wild side. Zach, strangely, made her feel safe and daring at the same time. Her precarious situation combined with erotic anticipation, whipping her into a froth of nervous lust.
If she tried to talk, she’d stutter and any possibility of this being a totally hot encounter of the closest kind would go right out the window. She kept quiet, letting her fingers do the talking.
Absorbed in the feel of him, she traced a line across his chest to a flat, dark nipple. She blazed the same trail with kisses, allowing her touch to drift lower, past the open neckline of his shirt. Pausing at the waistband of his pants, she lessened the pressure. Her nail barely grazed the erection straining the front of his slacks. She heard his ragged intake of breath. Sweet tension coiled deep inside her belly, winding her another notch tighter.
Posted by Evanne @ 6:00 am |
With the presents all unwrapped, hopefully there will be a few new books in my stash. I am a greedy reader. And frequently a moody reader. I need shelves of books to choose from when I’m selecting the next title to be read.
The thinnest section, of the to-be-read shelves, is paranormal. I’ve plowed through a few dozen authors in this category. Finding more chaff than wheat. I’ve gleaned two autobuys so far. J.R. Ward, who’s Black Dagger Brotherhood books are divine in a completely badass kind of way. And Emma Holly’s Demon series. She has an upyr series as well, which holds great promise.
Paranormal romances swell the shelves at the local bookstore. Alas plentiful does not equal enchanting. Please share your favorites.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 6:00 am |
When both Hunter and Tru bond with Amber their mating triangle threatens everything they hold dear.
Determined to help rescue the princess, Cassandra agrees to act as the dragons’ sex slave, but can she guard her heart from the dominant males?
Camille, a plump, sweet-natured breeder, is caught in New Eden’s endless war with Baldor. Her mates, Jaxon and Aegis, need cunning and courage to rescue her. They need a miracle to capture her heart.
Werewolf-whisper Daniel is the only one who can heal Scarlet’s broken werewolf connection. If he succeeds then the pack’s needs will eclipse his claim on her heart. But if he fails, they'll both die.
A Scarlet Past, the story of Scarlet's parents is available on Amazon or Barnes and Noble for just 99 cents!
A lonely woman finds passion with a dominant much younger lover, when she tries to leave she learns her new master plays for keeps.
The Enyo Chronicles includes both Dalia's Choice and Joon's Tempation.
Three different stories, three dangerous men, and three women who deserve them.
One dangerous warrior woman plus two rogue demon males equals a love to threaten an empire.
Getting paid to watch Eduardo is Desiree’s dream assignment, but when he reaches out to her, crossing the line, everything changes.
Deep in her secret heart, she lusts for a sexy pirate who’d be her master and commander in the bedroom. But, this man may be too dangerous
One woman, two men, three wounded hearts--though already mated their love is still forbidden.
A reluctant reporter and a lone wolf undercover cop work to catch an extortionist, finding love requires the most dangerous risk of all.
Street-smart cop plays princess to catch deadly terrorists. Now,the only man she trusts is the one she can't resist.
What Sam doesn’t know may kill him--the love of his life is his worst nightmare--his enemy’s daughter.r.
