Diva Jefferson

Have you ever had a long week? Where no matter what you do you can't get anything done? Or, so it seems. Class starts next week and I'm pulling hair out trying to finish my work in progress, The Earl's Son, and an editing project for a client. Who thought writing a love scene would be so hard to do? Especially when it makes or breaks your character's relationship with each other. This is why I put them near the end. It's almost like a finale. You know, when all the fireworks go off at once during the Fourth of July celebration and lots of pretty colors appear at once. To me, this is how those love scenes reflect on the paper. In a romance, they are the character's right of passage. Of course, sometimes they start the problems, not end them. I think a good balance is in order when this happens. Stronger relationships on all levels lead the reader to a much more fulfilling HEA.



<----We all feel like this sometime. Am I right?

Anyways, I've got lots of ideas in my head and I'm experimenting with several at a time to see what works and what doesn't. Writing isn't something you do overnight. It takes time like everything else important in your life.When you find yourself at the lowest of the lows and completely at a loss for words, just remember one thing:

There are a lot of writers, but only one YOU.

Yes, it's true. No one can write like you do, no one can create worlds in the same way.

Never give up. Never surrender.
Your readers are counting on you.

Thank you for all of your support! I really appreciate it. :)



Happy writing!
Diva J.

What do you look for in a review?

I love all reviews from my readers. Just supporting me through buying my book is wonderful. My favorite reviews are ones where the reader highlights their favorite parts of the book. Their likes and dislikes (if applicable) are important to me. I could use this input in making decisions in my future novels. If everyone loved the description about Ireland in To Love An Irishman, then I'll try to add more details in my current work in progress.

By all means, if something about the book is not working for you, don't be afraid to tell the author. 
Authors grow with experience.

I'd like to see less references to grammar/spelling and more input catered to content/structure. I've read many reviews where the reader just wanted to let the author know the story contained lots of errors, but said nothing about the story, plot, anything else.

Reviews are very important for authors. They provide unbiased feedback on the piece from someone who is not acquainted with the writer. This input influences future works and can help authors strengthen their voice. 

If you have anything to say about a book, please leave a review for the author on a website where it's available for purchase. (Publisher's site, Amazon, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc.)


In lieu of this post, I'm giving away a copy of To Love An Irishman in hopes *crosses fingers* that whoever wins will offer to write a review for me on a website of their choosing. :) (Please leave your email address in a comment to participate. Winners will be announced on Tuesday!)




Thank you so much for reading!
Feel free to visit the other blogs on this hop to show your support! :)




Happy writing!
Diva J.

When a writer finishes a novel and lands a contract with a publisher, his/her work is not done. Actually, it's far from being over with. Whether you traditionally publish or self-publish, the road is still the same. There is a lot of promotion and marketing ahead that only you can do. Yes, some publishers will kick-start your career by knowing people in the right fields, but most of the time you're the only one who can meet with your readers and give them a reason to read your books.

Here are some ways to start the process before you finish the work in progress:
--Social media networks are the key. If you don't have an established Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Myspace account, those readers who join those sites to find the latest information about their favorite authors will miss out on what you have to offer.

I'd wear one, would you?

--An author website is all the rage. This is the best way to show readers your latest releases and provide press information.

--A blog comes in handy for writers who like to help other writers in the craft and connect with even more readers. At the end of the blog tour for To Love An Irishman, I joined my first blog hop and I had over 40 people comment on one post!

--Make a name for yourself. A brand, even. You could create a tagline or interact with as much people as possible. The more readers who hear your name will remember it in the future.

--Other ways to promote include hosting a giveaway on Goodreads, having a release party for your book at your house or a friends, making t-shirts like the one above, creating a hangout session on Google+ to interact with your readers through video, etc.

It doesn't matter what you do, just get out there. Yes, I could've done a lot more for my debut release, attended conferences and hosted a party in my hometown, but I chose to do most of my marketing online. I created a video during the book release party, and I was interviewed by several blog owners.

The best thing about self-promotion is that you learn more tips and tricks along the way.

Right now, I'm on the home-stretch of my work in progress. In between writing and the other projects I have going on, I'm starting the promotion for my book. And it doesn't have a publisher yet. :)

Do you have any tips that are not mentioned here? How do you self-promote your books? Please tell me in a comment below. Thank you for reading!



Happy writing!
Diva J.

Dear readers,
I'm on the home stretch for completing this novel and I'm so excited to announce that it will be part of a series or saga. I much prefer the term 'saga', because it sounds more epic. The problem is I can't seem to come up with a series name yet. (I'll address those concerns later on in the post.) Although, I do have several other books in mind for the saga, The Earl's Son is actually a sequel to another book I wrote years ago.

This Victorian Era saga is about an aristocratic family who are victims of political strife. There is action, suspense, revenge, mystery, deception and above all, romance. I hope you enjoy the novels as much as I do writing them.

My theme for this post is: What is the best writing advice you've ever received?
Believe it or not, after years of talking to other writers, joining workshops workshops, and participating in a critique group, I've heard a lot of great advice on writing. One such recommendation came from none other than my fiance who reads a lot of Fantasy (Jim Butcher, Tracey Hickman/Margaret Wies, etc.) Our relationship involves a lot of conversation and despite his inexperience in my genre, I read him what I've written for the day in hopes to receive an opinion that sticks. So often he'd repeated a phrase which never left my mind. I think about it a lot when I write.

The words I remember most from him were...
Don't underestimate your readers.

It's true. Readers know more than they admit. Of course, a writer could give a whole history lesson on farming (like I did in To Love An Irishman), but it's really hard to avoid describing things that are relevant for a topic without thinking your reader will find the content boring. In my current project, I have several fight scenes where I describe my hero using martial art styles. You'd think most women reading romance novels wouldn't know the actual names of these moves...so, I describe the process. My fiance encouraged me to be more descriptive and hold less back in my writing.

Don't be afraid to open up to your readers. After all, they want the whole experience your novel gives them.
Including, the parts you think are boring.
Description and details go along way. Use them to your advantage.


Please feel free to share your advice in a comment below. Oh, and if you also have recommendations for naming a series or saga, then share those, too. Thank you for reading!



Happy writing!
Diva J.

When I feel unmotivated, I turn to music. When everything in the world seems to go wrong, I put in my favorite CD and let the melody show me the magic in the air. Although, I'm a very big fan of punk rock, specifically alternative, I listen to more and more instrumental lately. Of course, my guilty pleasure is Celtic music.

Today, I needed an intervention. I awoke early and for some reason couldn't move myself into action. I had emails piling up, content to write and other miscellaneous tasks to perform, including the creation of this blog.

From left to right: Button Accordion, Bodhran, Fiddle, Concertina, Guitar, Flute, and Uilleann Pipes.

As I listen to Ronan Hardiman's: Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance soundtrack from the actual production, I think about my family. I haven't seen anyone in my immediate family for a few years now. Listening to this music, reminds me of my grandma who took me to the show. Her birthday was today and for some reason I feel her presence all around me. It's like she never left. In fact, she just moved closer to where I live. I remember watching the Lord of the Dance with her and afterwards, we hailed the attention of the Irish dancers (especially, the gorgeous male lead). They were friendly and we told them how great the show was. They offered their 'thanks' and went toward their hotel rooms. I've been listening to the CD ever since and I can't get enough of the lively feeling I get from all the instruments. It inspires me to live happier, to lapse back into time and imagine a peaceful world.

Ireland is rich in literature that understands a soul's yearnings, and dancing that understands a happy heart. 
– Margaret Jackson


In my novel, To Love An Irishman, one of the main things that bring the couple together is Celtic music. The ceili, or group of musicians--traditionally, up to ten (called a band) who specialized in creating music for dancers--arrive and Ciaran cannot wait to show Aveline how to do an Irish jig. Drums, fiddles, flutes, and pipes are what they're most known for. Some modern bands now include guitar, piano, saxophone, snare drum with woodblock, double bass, piccolo, and even banjos. These bands gained wide popularity during the 1950s/60s. Ceili bands gain promotion through competitions and festivals still going on today.


If I ever get to visit Ireland, I intend to embrace the Celtic folk music scene.


Music helps me write by:
--Setting the mood, tone, or scene of my novel.
--Opening my mind to more creativity.
--Taking me away to a different time and place where all anyone had to tell a story with was an instrument and a voice.


Do you have a passion for music? What kind of music inspires you to write? Feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!



Happy writing!
Diva J.