Monday, November 22, 2010

Tuesday Teases: Jenny Schwartz

I'm really excited for this one. Before I became a Carina author I had the opportunity to review this author's first book, The Price of Freedom. It was a really good read and a great take on angels and djinn. The one downside of signing with Carina is I don't get to review their books anymore, which is killing me because the second in the series, Angel Thief, promises to be even better than the first. Guess I'll just have to read that one for fun. Without any more rambling from me, please welcome the wonderful Jenny Schwartz!

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Hi Seleste! It's lovely to visit and chat about writing and life.

In my mind (which is a weird and wonderful twilight zone) I make a distinction between a writer and an author. A writer writes, an author is published. Yet despite having a couple of books digitally published (and short stories and even poems) I still consider myself a writer, not an author. I'm still learning.

A few years ago, I made the decision to write, which to me meant that instead of occasional attacks of scribbling, I'd commit to finishing things. I couldn't control whether an editor would publish my work, but I could finish, polish and submit it. I was scared, but determined.

I still am, though since then I've learned that:

  • editors are human, friendly, supportive and funny;

  • "writing" isn't some elite activity—it includes blog posts and tweets and comments on friends' blogs and reviews;

  • rejection stings, but it doesn't kill you; and,

  • there's a wonderful online community of writers and readers and it's fun to join in.


But has being a writer changed me?

Do you know the single biggest, most ridiculous change is that I can now tell a joke—and people laugh. Before I challenged myself to write, I used to mess up jokes. I'd stutter, stuff the pacing and forget the punchline. But with repeated attempts to create my own stories, I learned to recognise and memorise the key points of other people's stories, their jokes. Amazing.

Writing really is a craft. There's no shortcuts. Just practice. Butt-in-chair and write. Read, too. Maybe one day I'll even consider myself an author ;)

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[caption id="attachment_449" align="alignleft" width="291" caption="Copyright ©2010 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited"][/caption]

Angel Thief, releases Nov 29, from Carina Press

http://bit.ly/AngThief

She’s breaking the rules. Again.
An archivist in the heavenly library, Sara must follow protocol when it comes to curating the knowledge of the universe. But "liberating" an ancient text from the collection of a human—an Australian drug lord—could save a boy’s life. Sara has no way of knowing that one of the man’s other treasures is a sexy-as-sin djinni, bound by a wish to guard the estate.


He’s only following orders.

Filip is compelled to turn over intruders, even celestial ones, to his master. When he catches Sara in the library, he isn’t above indulging in some sensual kisses with her, or using her to trick the mobster into wasting a wish. It’s what he must do to preserve his facade of freedom and protect his heart.
But the kidnapping of the drug lord’s daughter forces Sara and Filip to work together—bringing out the hero that lurks within the soul of the djinni, and the passion within the angel.

.

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You can find Jenny:

at her website http://www.authorjennyschwartz.com/

blogging http://www.acquiring-magic.blogspot.com/

or on Twitter @Jenny_Schwartz http://twitter.com/jenny_schwartz

11 comments:

  1. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by PJ Schnyder, Seleste deLaney. Seleste deLaney said: So excited, the wonderful @Jenny_Schwartz is on my blog talking about learning to be funny http://bit.ly/dPwNsW I thought she already was... [...]

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  2. Seleste, that was the loveliest intro. Thank you. And you proved my argument -- writing is a joy because of the wonderful people you meet. The reading/writing community is incredibly supportive, not to mention fun!

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  3. It's getting close now, Jenny. I'm looking forward to hearing more about this book.

    PS That really was a lovely intro. And I loved all the points you made about the things you've discovered. True on every count.

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  4. Jenny, you are TOTALLY an author. We're always still learning. Don't sell yourself short!

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  5. Thanks, Cindy :) Maybe I can make my brain leave "writer" behind if I have a mental image of "author-with-L-plate"? Does America have "learner drivers", too? I think I'll be on "L's" all my life, but in writing, that's a good thing :)

    Maria, release day is so close (Monday!) I can smell it. It smells of fresh baked chocolate cake. Mmm, yum.

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  6. You can call yourself "Fred" if you like. I don't think it makes a big difference.

    As long as you don't call yourself "PRE-PUBLISHED"!!! OMG!
    I HATE that one. Sets my teeth on the edge of the table and makes me want to chew splinters.

    (Okay, not really.)

    But I do despise that term.

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  7. Repeat after me: "I am an author." Because if you aren't an author, I'm not an author because, like, at least you have two books out. EVEN IF they are novellas. Everyone considers those guys who get published in the big fantasy magazines as authors. Well guess what? You have been published by a big ebook publisher. Therefore ... you are an author!!!

    But I am SO WITH YOU on the writer/author thing.

    And that is so interesting about the joke epiphany. It took me a long time to find the humor in jokes, too. I remember when I was a kid, I would laugh at jokes in class just because everyone else was laughing.

    Seleste, I saw you over at Jenny's blog, and I also saw you at Decadent where I was buying my friend Kimber An's book. Congratulations! Looking forward to reading your stuff!

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  8. Oh my commas, I love you ladies :) When I read Jenny's post the first time, I wanted to kick her for saying that LOL. If it matters, I still stutter when I get nervous (including telling jokes).

    And thanks, Tia :)

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  9. Okay, raises hands in surrender. I'm an author. I guess I have to be cos I definitely regard you guys as authors. I still pinch myself, though, that I'm part of Carina Press and in such great company. I know that sounds like the sort of superficial thing people just say, but it's really, truly true. So, here we go. Deep breath. "I am an author."

    Taryn, "pre-pub'd" had somehow past me by. I guess it's a sign of commitment to being a writer...uh, author.

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  10. Oh mate, you are an author! Loved the post. I mean who'd thought editors were human. ;-) (Thankfully my editor has a great sense of humour.)

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  11. Janni, (as another Aussie you'll, hopefully, recognise the song) "I am, you are, we are au-au-authors." So much couth-er than "Author, Author, Author, Oy, Oy, Oy!"

    I really shouldn't have had that second coffee this morning *bouncing off walls*

    Thanks for hosting such a lovely chat, Seleste. It's been great fun :)

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