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/  

The world of the supernatural is all around us... #NewRelease #MysticMagic #99cents #PNR @RomanceBoxedSet

Happy Release week to the authors of Mystic Magic !!

The world of the supernatural is all around us.

With every breath we take—each smooth inhale and exhale—magic moves through us.

Join USA Today and International Bestselling Author Nicole Morgan and International Bestselling Authors Krista Ames and Deelylah Mullin for journeys through magical places and hot romance.

Whether vampires, witchcraft, or voodoo, the ‘other’ can set the stage for love.

Includes these great stories:

Bossy Boots by Nicole Morgan

Take a Dive by Deelylah Morgan

Her Fate, His Mate by Krista Ames

Universal Buy Links:

#Books2Read – https://books2read.com/MysticMagic

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Retail Buy Links:

#Amazon –https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WQQSWQ8

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#Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mystic-magic

It's That Time of Year Again

Nothing delights me more than when the air turns cool and I can dig out my favorite turtleneck sweaters and plan crock-pot meals that will last a couple of days. Anything so I can get back to my writing. This year, I took the summer off, something I rarely do. I gardened a bit, cleaned out closets and planned a couple of new projects. It doesn't sound taxing but its totally out of character for me not to write something every day.

After a couple of months of rest, upping my exercise routine to include early morning walks with hubby and a couple of Yoga classes a week (also with hubby) I'm ready to tackle a few more tasks. We just finished painting my office and I'm rearranging (read, throwing out a ton of paper and culling my bookshelves) and getting reading to get down to business and write something besides a grocery list! Speaking of which, I need to start stocking up on candy for one of my favorite holidays.

I'm a sucker for both historical romance and paranormal romance and I couldn't resist blending the two. So, to help you get into the Halloween mood I'll give you a taste of my first historical/paranormal romance, I'LL BE SEEING YOU. 

Blurb:

 

20^th Century historical romance with a paranormal twist…

Jack Howland, part of an elite group of OSS special agents can’t resist the pull of the moon or widowed USO hostess, Lulu Lane. After the war, while chasing a Nazi war criminal, their paths cross again. Will the truth about what Jack is send Lulu screaming into the night or back into his arms?

Excerpt:

May 1944

USO Club, Los Angeles, California

There were girls in soft summer dresses, all pink and flowery, smiling and perfumed. None of them would have turned down the handsome lieutenant. Why ask her?

She placed a hand on his solid chest. “Did somebody put you up to this? Did you lose a bet or something?”

He loosened his grip and took a deep breath right before he slid her left hand to his shoulder. When his fingers brushed over the third finger of her right hand, and detected the evidence she was a widow, he uttered a harsh, whispered word that might have been a vehement curse in another language.

“Or something,” he said very clearly, his breath warm against her ear. “Have you ever felt like you’ve lost your mind?”

“Daily. What’s that got to do with you asking me to dance?”

“What’s your name?”

“Lulu Lane. What comes after Lieutenant?” she asked, trying not to get lost in the sensation of being moved around the floor by a handsome man while people stared.

“Jack. Jack Howland,” he snapped, but then he snugged her tighter to his chest and his hand drifted over her back as if he were soothing a wound.

“Asking me to dance doesn’t seem to be making you very happy. Why did you?”

He looked as if he were losing an argument only he knew about.

“I leave in two days. I shouldn’t have spoken to you, let alone asked you to dance, because no matter what I say, it’s not going to come out right.”

“It’s not going to come out at all if you keep talking in riddles.”

He looked surprised for a moment and she was gratified that she could at least break through his maddening, mysterious behavior. “I’ve got forty-eight hours left on a three-day pass and I want to spend it with you. Clear enough for you?”

It took a few moments for what he’d said to sink in, and even then she had trouble believing him. This had to be some kind of a joke.

“You’re smart, Howland; I’ll give you that. You picked out the only wallflower in the bunch—”

“I don’t want to scare you, Lulu, but you don’t fool me. I’m glad nobody else has sense enough to see past the glasses and sensible shoes. You’re an open book for the lucky somebody willing to peel back the cover.

“I’m not looking for romance. I’m looking for forty-eight hours with someone who looked back at me the same way I was looking at them.”

***Previously published as part of the Entice Me anthology***

Approximately 14k words

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FB5LGNW

Website: http://parisbrandon.com/ill-be-seeing-you/ 

Happy Reading!

Paris Brandon

Website: http://parisbrandon.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParisBrandon

FaceBook:  https://www.facebook.com/paris.brandon.author

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/parisbrandonaut/

Amazon Author page:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00N3M7EEM