Overused Words by Janice Seagraves

When going through my first edits, I overused 'and'. I hadn't realized that I'd used 'and' so much until my editor sent back my manuscript with 'and' highlighted and it was all over the place. I know now how to eliminate most of those, but not then.

Sometimes shorter punchier sentences work best.

Later, on another edit, I was given a list of overused words.

That
Very
Like
Then
Suddenly
Now
Really
Was
As

And then I learned about filter words and I had more words to avoid using:

Thought
Realized
Decided
Felt
Touched
Wondered
Noticed
Sounded
Knew
Seemed

Actually just removing these words and letting the sentences stand as is, works remarkably well.

Example: I felt her hand gripped mine.

Correct: her hand gripped mine. 

And now, about my books.

I'm running a sale during the pandemic.

Nearly all my ebooks on Amazon, Smashwords, and Barn and Nobles are only #99cents.

 

Windswept Shores two-book series

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078MRFD6N

The sole survivor of a plane crash, Megan is alone on a deserted island in the Bahamas. Then she finds a nearly-drowned man. Another survivor, this time from a boat wreck.

With only meager survival skills between them, will they survive these windswept shores and can they find love?

 Matrix Crystal Series 

Find love among the stars

 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078MHK58P

And my only Paranormal Romance is still free on kindle unlimited.  

Morgan isn’t expecting romance when she accompanies her friend for a week of skiing, but when she meets Jared all bets are off.
Haunted by the loss of his parents, werecat Jared Catterick earns his keep working for the Catclaw Clan. Jared has secrets that he doesn’t mind sharing with a special lady, and he hopes Morgan is that special someone. When his past and present collide it’s worse than he imagined, and he’s forced to fight for his life.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0748CP9JH/  

Windswept Shores Book One and Two by Janice Seagraves

This is my first published book.

I used to imagine what it would be like to live on a deserted island. How would I survive? This is a product of those daydreams.

I originally won a contest for a book cover and a contract to have my book published. I felt wonderful. Like I was finally getting somewhere with my writing. Getting that first contract is the greatest feeling in the world.

The ending of this book was inspired by my comments to a friend that modern pirates aren't romantic or sexy and are probably mean, dirty, and nasty.

Windswept Shores (Book One)

Blurb: The sole survivor of a plane crash, Megan is alone on a deserted island in the Bahamas. Then she finds a nearly-drowned man. Another survivor, this time from a boat wreck.
With only meager survival skills between them, will they survive these windswept shores and can they find love?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AS9NDNO

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/637092


Two years later I published the second and last book in this series. We find out if my couple ever makes it off the island, and met some of Megan's and then Seth's family.

I had a problem writing the second book. I didn't have writer block then...It kept disappearing off my harddrive.

Just ~poof~ vanished.

My sweet husband bought me an external hard drive to keep this from happening again. I wish I could say that worked ... but I ended up rewriting this same book at least one more time with a total of three times from scratch.

Thankfully I have a good memory.

It's published now so that shouldn't happen again. *fingers crossed*

Windswept Shores Two

Blurb: Megan and Seth are finally rescued off their little island, but things are far from idyllic. Seth is arrested for murder, and Megan is ordered to return home to her philandering husband who is somehow still alive. Will they ever get back together again or see the life they envisioned?

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/637092

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BPLNHTI

Cats by Janice Seagraves

Photo purchased from fotolia

Cats seem to find their way into my stories.

In Windswept Shores Two, Megan is finally home but finds out her philandering husband has gotten rid of everything of hers, including her cat.

In Werecat Love (no longer available), the main character is a cat shifter.

In Matrix Crystal River, the heroine bonds with a shadow cat she names Fluffy. (The name of the  kitten I had as a child.)

In Alien Heart, the Arcons living Goddess is a cat. The Egyptian Cat Goddess Bast (Basset) to be precise.

And the funny thing is, I'm not really all that partial to cats. I'm more of a dog person.

Don't get me wrong, I do like cats and we have a cat named Freya.

photo taken by Janice Seagraves

Jared in Werecat love was inspired by my cat Baron. I miss him.

Photo taken by Janice Seagraves

And, I'm not seeing any end in sight for my fascination with thrusting cats into my stories, novels, and romances. Which is good news if you're a cat lover and enjoying reading about my felines. 

Currently I'm planing on republishing Werecat Love with the second story, which is much too long now to add to the anthology I was intending it for.

The second story called Year of the Cat, start off the following day after Werecat Love ends.

Here's an unedited excerpt:

Jared found the plates and set the table. He also brought over glasses and filled them with milk. They dished out the food and dug in, but Jared only picked at his meal.

Morgan frowned. “I ordered you fish and shrimp Chow Mein. I thought being a werecat you’d love it.”

“I do.” He speared a shrimp with his fork and slowly ate it.

“That was for show.” She pointed her chopsticks at him. “What’s with you?”

“Nothin’.” He picked up his glass and drank. Over the rim of his glass his gaze locked on to hers, she scowled, and he rolled his eyes.

“What?”

He sat his empty glass with a thunk. “I’ve been challenged.”

~*~

Look for Year of the Cat sometime this year (2017)

2017 Goals not Resolutions by Janice Seagraves

I mentioned last year that I don't do resolutions, I set goals.

I'm happy to say that I manged to make all my goals for 2016.

I wrote my goals on sticky notes and place them where I can see them everyday. It helps to remind me of my goals all year long.

This past year's goals were rather ambitious.

Take another vacation, which I did.

Finish and published Windswept shores two. ✅ (I changed the name from Journey Home)

Finish and publish Matrix Crystal River (book three of Matrix Crystal) ✅

Finish the edits on Alien Heart (Chronicles of Arcon book one) ✅ Its published and available on Amazon.

I'm happy to report that I finished all my goals, also I finished a couple other books this year that need to be polished and the fourth book in the Matrix Crystal Series (will be published in 2017) and finished another book in the Chronicles of Arcon (Fourth book in series).

On the fifth of December (this month) Alien heart was published. Which is the last goals for the year! *Grin*

For my goals for 2017,  publish Matrix Crystal Rebels and submit two more books in Chronicles of Arcon. Hopefully the second books in the series will be publish in 2017 also. And I want to take another vacation.

Alien Heart, the first of a whole new SF series.

https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Heart-Chronicles-Arcon-Book-ebook/dp/B01N0N73OF/
~*~

Blurb: Divorcee and single mom, hardworking Audrey Westberry is the host of a cable TV show called Miz Fixit.
Romance was the last thing on Audrey’s mind when two handsome extraterrestrials join the audience of her show.
Soon Audrey finds out a single word “mated” has different meaning when you are born a galaxy away. After a wonderful night of passion, Audrey finds herself far from home, impregnated and her life turned upside down.
Will she ever be able to leave the alien compound, see her son again, or get home in time to film the fall season of her Miz Fixit show?
But what’s a girl to do with two aliens that smell like candy, and their kisses taste like it, too?

Excerpt: “Good show, everyone.” Derek, the director, walked through the dressing room. “So Audrey, how are you going to spend your summer hiatus?” Tall, dark-haired, with hazel eyes, and oh so married. He leaned on her chair and looked into the mirror at Audrey. “Oh hi, Derek.” Kendra made eyes at him again.

Audrey frowned at her. If his wife ever saw her do that, she’d go ballistic.

To Audrey he was just a dear friend and director, who’d guided her through the complexity of cable television. “I was going to spend it with my son, but I got a call from my ex. Tony is going away to camp for eight weeks.”

“Camp?” He blinked in surprise. “Whose idea was that?”

“Tony and his best friend decided they wanted to go. My ex put him on the phone, so he could tell me.”

“Ouch.” Derek pulled down the corners of his mouth. “Best friend one, mom zero.”

“Yeah,” Audrey sighed, still feeling the sting of rejection. “He’s at an age now when friends are more important than mommy.”

“And, this is the dressing room where our star puts on her makeup for the camera.” Fox Watanabe, Audrey’s agent, was nattily dressed.  His straight midnight hair and dark eyes marked him as pure Native American. He seemed to be acting as a tour guide to the aliens.

A cameraman entered the dressing room ahead of the aliens, walking backward as he snapped pictures.

Audrey grimaced. God, what’s Fox doing now?

“The aliens look like elves,” Derek muttered under his breath.

“Yeah, they do.” Audrey noticed their pointed ears and long faces. “They could’ve played extras on the Lord of the Ring movies.”

“Got to go, things to do.” Derek headed toward the exit, but he slowed, and his back stiffened as he got near her agent.

Audrey tensed. Please don’t let them get into another argument over me.

“Fox.”

“This is our little show’s director, Derek Alcorn.” Fox gestured toward him.

“Nice to meet you.” Derek gave a nod to the aliens. “I’ve got to button up the set.”

He hurried out of the room.

Fox turned back to the aliens. “He’s a busy man, lots of responsibilities.”

Audrey let out a breath. Fox had once again ignored the subtle dig Derek’s quick exit meant. The show’s director didn’t like chitchat, but he hated her agent even more.

“They have three penises each,” Kendra whispered in Audrey’s ear. She used a soaked cotton ball and ran it over the side of Audrey’s face to clean off the makeup.

Audrey turned to stare at her. “What?”

Kendra pinched Audrey’s chin, moving her head over to clean the other side.

“I saw a picture on the internet.” She whispered, “Two long ones and a little one. It makes you wonder what their women look like down there.”

Audrey licked her lips, trying to imagine the male aliens naked. Would their equipment look like my favorite toy?

Kendra moved back and smiled. “All done.”

Fox walked over to her, with the aliens in tow. “Here’s our Miz Fixit, Audrey Westberry.”

God, what a thing to tell me, just before I’m introduced to them. “How do you do?” Standing, Audrey held out her hand and tried not to glance at their crotches.

 ————————————————

https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Heart-Chronicles-Arcon-Book-ebook/dp/B01N0N73OF/