Diva Jefferson

Well, I've joined the workforce again. I'm working days at a fast food joint and doing schoolwork/promoting/writing by night. I feel like a vampire. I haven't slept a full-night's sleep in days. Even when I literally pass out at a decent bedtime hour, I stay awake all night fretting/thinking.

For the past two weeks, I've been so busy, I didn't even remember to turn in some assignments. I know what you're thinking, I shouldn't have gone to college when I had so many other responsibilities, but I'm not going to allow lack of time to come in the way of my dreams. There is no excuse. Besides, I wanted to do something to make myself happy, because the wedding I planned 6 months for, didn't happen. (Don't worry, we're still engaged.) This is the main reason why I got another job: money. Other than the 20 hours plus of classwork/homework for 2 classes, college is great. I could write essays like nobody's business. :)

If there is such a thing as writing withdrawal that is what I'm experiencing right now. Without writing, I'm completely lost. I love it even more than college. Even more than playing video games. I want it to be the only thing I ever do right in my life. But without a roof over my head...writing would be very hard to do, indeed. Do you want to know why I write in the first place?

The truth is:
I write to escape from reality.

I'm not saying everything I've experienced (so far) is worse than anyone else, but to me, to what I want from life, it could've gone very different. By now, I'd have a Bachelor's Degree in English and I'd be on the next plane to Ireland/England to teach some type of writng/reading course at one of their schools. Or maybe I'd just travel the world teaching people to read. Either way, I'd get around.

Of course, if I never embarked on my current path (life is funny that way), I probably wouldn't have the best fiance in the world. Although, we swear that we'd find each other no matter what. :)

Good thing there is such a genre as "Historical Romance", because it's saved me a lot of traveling remorse. Every book is an adventure in a time/place I haven't visited yet. It takes me away from the day to day struggle. I just hope I could do more for my readers than write a blog once a week. :)

Last week, I talked about priorities and what people think is more important than writing, this week I vow to write no matter how much time I have. I. must. write. book. two. no. matter. what.

I'd love to hear your confessions. If you have any to share, please put them in a comment below. Thank you for reading!!! Until next time...



Happy writing!
Diva J.

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Happy writing!
Diva J.

If you came here, expecting a life story, then please read my autobiography in forty or so years. This is a series of confessions that I will tell you in relation to my publishing journey. This is for anyone who ever picked up the art of writing or anything they dreamed of doing and found discouragement. Sometimes, it comes from your friends and family, co-workers, other people in your profession, and yourself. Personally, I think we are our own worst critics. Since we are the author's of our lives, we take the blame for everything that doesn't go according to plan, and we punish ourselves.

No matter what is holding you back, don't EVER stop what you love to do. Why spend your life wallowing in the day to day or finding another outlet to enjoy yourself? If you believe what you love to do is just a hobby, then you are not driven, and your main focus should be is to find motivation. Success never comes before hard work, unless for some reason, someone did everything for you. I really hope this is not your case, because I have more faith in you than you have in yourself.

Speaking of faith, here is my first confession: The one person in my life I thought would stand by my side, told me that I'd never go anywhere in life and that writing shouldn't be my main priority.

Okay, maybe this person is a generalization of a few people fused into one. Anyone who doubts someone this much, needs to first get their own priorities straight before offering their disheartening advice. The fact of the matter is that I've heard this from many people throughout my life. Friends, family members, significant others, etc. They are pretty much the people I care about the most. Not knowing how they felt about me was one thing, but hearing it was entirely another. Actually, it was the best motivation I'd ever received. Not even a rejection letter could make me this ambitious. It was like receiving a million-dollar cash prize. Well, maybe not that great. :)

Don't get me wrong, you will become emotional and feel lost, but then you consider it a challenge to meet and beat their expectations. And I'm not even competitive. Believe me, I've been trying to overturn everyone's expectations my whole life. I turn all of those doubts upside down.

When you let your past come in the way of current goals, your view of success may change. Yes, you will no longer consider your profession as a hobby and take it more seriously while working for what you need to survive on the side.

I've read a few articles where people wish they could reach success at an earlier age. Others believe youth is wasted on the young (In which, this is true on many occasions.). For those who think they wasted their youth on less productive endeavors, I salute you. Either you worked really hard to get where you're at right now or you had a great time and laughed. When I say this, I'm coming from the perspective of the youth. College, working retail/fast food jobs to pay rent, etc. is a major setback for people my age. I don't have the time nor resources to set my writing career into full motion. I don't have the funds to attend conferences, or the free time to do anything other than write the books. Looking up publishers and agents is very time-consuming. Every time you think you have a working list, another year passes and it's out of date. :)

In order to cope with the day to day stress, I've gone on a few writing hiatuses, (lasting from one to three months) in order to work more hours, go on vacation, etc. And I regretted every moment of it. Well, maybe not the vacation part. Anyways, wherever you are in life, don't give up on your dreams. Luckily, they don't have a deadline and are attainable at any age. I believe in sacrifice, but not at the expense of your whole being. I love writing so much. It's become a part of me more than anything else. I'd be lost without it.

Thank you so much for reading! Join me next time for the Naughty or Nice giveaway hop and another author confession! :)



Happy writing!
Diva J.

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Don't forget to visit the rest of the blogs in the hop!!!

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.

Today, I would like to take the time to say: Thank you. For everything you've done for me. For your support, your kindness, your love, and your readership.

Without you, readers/friends/mentors/writers, there would be no me.


"The Earl's Son" is over 70% written. I can't wait to show it to the world.

I know I would probably write something else, but I have two manuscripts who need my utmost attention right now. Soon, I won't have the time to spend on them and I must embrace every moment I do have immersed in my writing. :)



Happy writing!
Diva J.

If you've ever finished a manuscript, you know what I'm talking about. Of course, once you are past the middle it's almost smooth sailing. I think beginnings and middles are the hardest parts to write because so much rides upon these scenes. The beginning is what readers/editors see first. It is what grabs their attention. Middles can also make or break your book. Its the part in the story where your hero/heroine must make an important choice or is a turning point for the plot in the novel.

When we get to this point, sometimes the story may sag a bit and we lose focus on where our characters are headed. Don't give up, though. When I get stuck in the dreaded middle, I start working on the structure of my work in progress. If I make the plot go this way, then how will it affect my characters?

I've learned a new technique for making sure the characters' background is revealed during the turning points in the novel.

Karen's Tips:
1. Count the number of pages you have, or "projected" pages you should have if you aren't finished with the book. Remember that certain genres have specific word counts. Let's say Regency Romance has a general word count of 70,000. To find out how many manuscript pages that is divide 70,000 by 250 words per double space page. This is about 280 manuscript pages.


2. Divide the page number by four. (280 divided by four equals 70.)


3. Mark off your pages by that number into three parts. In a 280 page book, mark pages 70, 140, and 210.


4. Within those chapters should be a turning point for one or both of your main characters. They must make a decision, or come to some kind of conclusion. In the rest of the chapter or chapter after that, one or both must then take some action because of that decision or conclusion.

Usually if you are stuck on a certain passage in the work in progress, then it means you either don't know or haven't decided what that crucial decision or conclusion your character has made or will make in that scene.


Ask these questions to learn more:
-Look at the scenes individually: What decision does the hero and/or heroine have to make here?
-How will that decision/conclusion make the hero and/or heroine act?
-How will that action move one or both of them to the next major decision point?
- At the middle of your book: In what way will this decision get them in trouble by the third turning point or "dark moment"?
-Have I included enough background and history to give my reader a good idea why my character (s) have to make their decision?
-Does their thoughts and emotions reflect this decision?


Next time, when you hit the middle of the book blues, you'll be prepared. Thank you so much for reading. Do you have any tips on overcoming writer's block? Please share in a comment below.



Happy writing!
Diva J.

WARNING: You might read some ranting and raving about authors changing their manuscript's genre to make a sale. Please bare with me! :)

Last week I read an article about an author who changed their book's genre in order to make a sell. I have mixed opinions about this matter. I am a firm believer in not conforming to society. For those who feel they should change their book for a specific publisher who accepts manuscripts out of their league, I think this is qualified as cheating. Why don't you leave the genre alone so others who are passionate about it could get a step in? Instead, you strip your novel of important elements and pawn it off with another name.

As a historical romance author, I will NEVER write to impress a market nor will I change a piece for someone else's benefit. I want to sell my work to those who'd appreciate my stories the way they are as much as I do.

On the other hand, if you are not already an established author, then changing your genre is a part of your growing process. Some people find their niche after they've written dozens of books about something else. Say you've loved fantasy all your life, but the right story doesn't come to you until ten years later. Well, you've wanted to write this romance for a while now, so you do that, and it sells. Then the fantasy idea comes along and you write a great story that you want to pitch, but your name is attached to romance. You could a) get a pen name, b) stop writing romance, and focus solely on your fantasy career. I would totally go for the pen name idea, because you never know if your original name gained a following or not. Your readers come first.

Okay. I'm done. Yes, I feel better. Thank you for asking. :)


The wedding plans are coming along. I am waiting to go visit the ceremony location sometime this month. So, until that happens, I can't do anything else.

The two works in progress are going along smoothly. I've hit over 20,000 words in Loch Lomond, and over 10,000 words in The Earl's Son. Wish me luck!


Thank you so much for being patient with me and reading this far. YOU rock!





Happy writing!
-Diva J.

Hello, readers! This will be my last Friday post for two weeks. In the mean time, be sure to check back during my book release party and my blog tour for more information about where I will be at next.

For the past two weeks, I have barely been able to do anything but answer interview questions and write blog articles for my tour. I have two works in progress that hardly get a couple hundred words a day put into them.

Sometimes I discover the greatest ideas while brainstorming what to write though. Sometimes I just can't believe where I am today. It all feels like a dream. A menagerie of what could really be happening. Once again, I am inspired by an Irish song. Like the lonesome boatman, endless possibilities surround me. Yes, I could dwell hopelessly on the sea, wondering what could be, but I choose to see the brighter side. Just because you are alone in the marketing/promotion of your books doesn't mean it's the end of the world.

Today, publishers give you very limited options on book promotion, but it's up to you to market your work. This is why authors host their own blog tours, subscribe to similar blogs, actively contribute to social networking sites, create a Pinterest account, etc. It takes many hours to get the word out there, and it's not easy sometimes, but it's worth it. If you feel the same way I do, and wish to reach as many people as possible to share your hard work with the world (or your message), then the time you spend will not be in vain. I want you to have something to be proud of.

What do you believe is your single most useful marketing tool?
Mine is Facebook. Please share your answers in a comment below.

Good luck in all your future writing and promotion endeavors! Thank you for reading.



Happy writing,
Diva J.

As I countdown to the release of To Love An Irishman on March 17th, I reflect on my past rejections. One in particular comes to mind from Harlequin. Believe it or not, that was the first place I queried my first novel. They helped me without realizing it.

Well, like anyone who has achieved success despite their failures, I only aimed to the sky and fell among the stars. Believe me, it sounded better than it came out. When I sent the well-researched query letter, a synopsis, and a partial for The Phantom of Fonthill Abbey to the big name publisher, I felt confidence seeping through my being. I knew that if I didn't try as hard as I can the first time around, then if there was another time, it wouldn't be as rewarding.

Needless to say, they rejected the story saying "Although the plot sounded promising from the synopsis, the story itself was rather slow to get going." I agreed that I am a very descriptive person, and I use detail like mist around my characters. After all, my new brand is 'Beautiful landscapes, passionate love, and regrets of the past.' I absolutely have to live up to it, right?

They mentioned my heroine, Elizabeth, "was a little hard to engage with because she seemed so very young and naive." I loved a woman going into a situation without knowledge of how her actions could affect her world. Now my heroines are too smart for their own good. In which, I love completely!

Then they included 4 tips "to bear in mind for your next submission":
1) Ensure that your story and conflict are character-driven.
2) Focus on the internal emotional conflict of your characters.
3) Use secondary characters to add richness and depth to your central romance but don't let them take over!
4) Read current books from the Historical Romance series as these provide the best guide to what our readers want.

The final words. "As a whole, we don't suggest that you attempt to revise this story. We would advise that you start again on a new story, bearing in mind the points made above."

To tell the truth, not all rejections are bad. Some offer great advice like mine and others will actually empower you to succeed even more. I didn't revise this story, instead I wrote another and another....



Do you have any rejection stories to share? Feel free to tell us in a comment below.



Happy writing!
-Diva J.