Last week I posted about searching for your author voice and I mentioned finding your natural style was only the beginning.

Characters need a distinct voice too. Some of these arise naturally from the inner morass, thank goodness. While others have to be drawn out like flecks of gold hidden in river silt.

Once the characters are as nicely layered as a sweet onion, the story flows because if I fully understand who they are then I know what they would do in any situation. Building character remains the best and the hardest part of writing.

I love reading about struggles. Please share your frustrations with your own quest.

Sizzling Hot Book Reviews read A Very Demon Christmas!

The gracious reviewer said: A fast and exciting read. I look forward to reading more books in this series as they come out.

The rest of the review is here.

From Demon Hunters II: A Very Demon Valentine’s Day releasing February 14th!

A decade later, the club’s amazing popularity continued to grow. The exclusive fetish venue offered a meeting place for a large population of eager submissives. Basic demon biology provided the club with a steady stream of masterful Doms — primarily civilian male demons.

Given the acute shortage of female demons, Miranda should have had her choice of masterful demon males. Maybe in different circumstances or a perfect reality she would have, but she only had eyes for one male, in or out of the club, Tey Durron.

There’s something irresistible about the dangerous hero that I should stay far away from, at least in my fantasies. Do you like your heroes safe or dangerous?

Winning the Wallflower was one of the winter free or bargain titles I scooped up in December. I’d sampled Ms.James before with less than delight. It’s rare for me to give an established author a second chance.

Regency, or close enough, romances are one of my favorite escapist reads. I adore quirky heroines. The price tipped the decision to click on this title. The tale flowed smoothly and I read the entire book without resenting the time spent. Success for the author and her publisher.

The connection between reader and story depends on so many things. Story choices are a factor. Craft, formatting, and cover art are all part of the book appeal package. Author voice is a vital element. Believable characters are the shortest route to hooking my interest.

In this story, the characters are tolerably consistent and skillfully drawn, and yet they failed to make me believe them. Perhaps more accurately, the characters failed to evoke the necessary suspension of disbelief. Because the story failed to thrill me, doesn’t mean you won’t like it.

If you’ve read Winning the Wallflower, I’d love to hear your impressions.

Thanks for sharing your favorite holidays, I loved every comments.

Ta Da, the $25.00 Amazon Gift Card winner is: Cara Bristol

Beginning writers search for their voice as if it were a sacred relic. There are no shortcuts. Voice is built a word at a time.

I’ve read it takes about a million written words to shape one. Definitely not the answer I wanted when I started. But my experience bore out this particular piece of conventional lore. If you’re searching for a second, or third, opinion check out Chuck’s post: 25 Things Writer’s Should Know About Finding Their Voice.

Finding your voice is only the beginning of an endless quest to tell a good story…

Feel free to post agreement, rebuttal or irrelevant comments.

Release day for Demon Hunters II: A Very Demon Valentine’s!

To celebrate I’m giving away a $25.00 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. Here’s how you enter, Leave a comment before midnight mentioning your favorite holiday and why it’s your favorite. You’ll be entered to win!

Winner selected by random number generator. Be sure and check back on Thursday for the winner’s name!

PS For a chance to win a whole raft of sexy prizes stop by the Smutketeers’ Blog today! I’m contributing a $10.00 iTune gift card, a sizzling excerpt and the playlist for A Very Demon Valentine’s