Hello Readers,

Well I never did get my newsletter out during the month of June. Hopefully I’ll have a chance in July.

One of the things that has kept me busy is that I have to go in for surgery. I appreciate the thoughts and prayers that have been coming my way in this respect. I’ll post how it went when I am feeling my chipper self once again.

On a side note, I finished writing my latest book this week. It’s a full novel–Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Romantic Comedy. Yeah, it has it all. I had a goal to finish it before I went in for surgery. Now I can edit and polish while I’m recuperating. More about that later.

Take care All! I’ll be back soon.

Cindy

Well, a couple weeks ago my site was hacked by someone who had way too much time on their hands.  After a few days of fiddling with the site, we fixed it and everything is back to the way it was. PRAISE THE LORD!

IN OTHER NEWS!

My YA short novella e-book, Struck by Conscience, is now up for sale at Amazon in the Kindle format. Remember even if you do not have a Kindle reader you can download the Kindle software to your computer (FOR FREE) and then you can read Kindle books on your computer. Visit Amazon .

That’s about all for now. I hope to put out a newsletter later this month. Keep an eye out for that in your email boxes.

Struck By Conscience (short novella) Book 1 in the Faery Guardian Series

I, Charisma Mansfield, do solemnly swear that… I never asked to be popular. I never asked to be voted Prom Queen. I definitely never asked to have an invisible pixie perched on my shoulder whispering her opinions into my ear 24/7. But of all the things I never asked for, this is the worst one yet—when brooding but gorgeous Heath Ruvelas (my next door neighbor and the guy I used to be best friends with before jr. high) rescued me from drowning in the school pool. My already bizarre life would never be the same.

Available Now at Whimsical Publications.

Good News!! My short Inspirational novella, Snow Kissed, received the CAPA Award from The Romance Studio as the winner in the Inspirational category. I’ve actually had a book or story nominated the last three years and this year I finally won! I still can’t quite believe it. It’s quite an honor. Snow Kissed has continued to received outstanding reviews, has been nominated for several awards and now to win this award is just icing on the cake!!

Today is one of those days Logan Reilly wished he’d stayed in bed. Not only does he have to deal with the annoying Winter Wonderland Carnival but his close friend, that whimsical lover of snow, Holly Armstrong, is leaving town forever. The question is why didn’t she tell him and why today, of all days, does he realize she might be more than a friend?

Holly can nolonger stay in town knowing the man she loves only sees her as a friend. It’s time to move on; besides she has other career prospects.

As the carnival unfolds, watch God work in amazing ways. Can He change Holly’s mind and make her stay? Can He help Logan see beyond the friendship? Only time can tell.

Excerpt:

“Just breathe,” Holly whispered to Logan, as she slowly took in a deep whiff. “You smell that?”

He shook his head. “What? Burgers from down the street?”

“No.” She laughed; he could be so dense sometimes. “It’s the first snowfall.” She inhaled another intoxicating aroma of winter air. “It’s coming.”

“And what’s so good about snow? It’s just annoying and inconvenient.” He pulled his arm away and folded them across his lean frame.

“Snow is beautiful…magical.” Her voice came out breathy with the idea of snow making her feel all tingly.

“It’s cold, wet stuff that falls from the sky.”

“Then there are the wonderful clothes: hats, scarves, gloves…”

“…galoshes, wool socks,” he countered.

She continued, not to be undone by his cynicism. “Fresh baked cookies, hot apple cider, hot cocoa, hot toddies…what is a hot toddy?”

He nearly laughed at her, a cute smile building in the corner of his mouth as he shook his head.

Snow Kissed is now available from White Rose Publishing.

To celebrate the unveling of my latest release, Snow Kissed, I’m over at the Author Roast and Toast. Please join me. I’ll be awarding a copy of my new story at the end. http://authorroastandtoast.blogspot.com/

Just a reminder that we are continuing the ‘Our Cup Runneth Over’ Contest this week at http://whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com/. Just look for the White Rose Publishing mug on my blog and that of Sharon Donovan ’s this week and send that information to Carol Ann at carolann.erhardt@gmail.com Then you will be entered into a contest to win a copy of a book from Sharon and myself.

I’ve always hated the idea of the synopsis, and I know I’m not alone. To most authors it is the equivalent of a four-letter word. However, I have to admit that while investing quite a lot of time recently studying up on it AGAIN that I’ve learned to like it. Shh! Don’t tell. Part of the reason is because when you take the time to write the synopsis it gives you the opportunity to really evaluate your novel or story and make sure it has value and that it is indeed ready for submission.

So let’s get to it. Let me share with you the research I’ve put together on writing the synopsis.* What should go in the synopsis?

A synopsis is a summary of your book in it’s entirety. It’s an overview of plot, characters, and conflict. Its style is a preview of coming attractions—characters, dramatic moments, and plot.

I. Content—the parts of the synopsis:

1. Theme

The theme pulls the entire book together. Sometimes you don’t even know what the theme is until you’re ready to write the synopsis. But identifying that theme really is a selling factor for your novel.

2. Setting the Period

When you start off the synopsis set the scene and let the reader know the place and time period if that is revelant.

3. Plot summary

This is the heart of the synopsis. It includes the beginning, middle and end. Don’t forget the END! Introduce the problem, the conflict and the resolution. Provide the inciting incident (beginning), effort to reach the goal (middle), and climax—success or failure (the end). The plot must spring from your characters not events.

4. Character Sketches

Show that your story is character driven (Although it would be near impossible to write a romance that wasn’t character driven—wouldn’t it?) Take a paragraph to describe your character—his past, his motivations, what drives him and makes him unique, his flaws. Include major players in the story—protagonists and antagonists. Omit subplot characters. Name only 4-5 characters—tops. The rest give role names within the summary. Things like friend, mother-in-law, policeman, clerk, etc. In a long novel with many characters it may be necessary to include a character list with basic roles to be referred to through the plot synopsis.

5. Dialogue

Use dialogue sparingly in the synopsis. It slows down pace and takes up space. In a synopsis, every word must be efficient. However, well chosen bits of dialogue lend flavor to the bland voice of summary.

6. Emotional Turning Points

Every novelist knows that it’s the small scenes that move the plot forward. You can’t include all those scenes in the synopsis. The big scenes, on the other hand, those emotional turning points, should be included. The climax is the final turning point along with a statement regarding how your protagonist ultimately changes by books end.

7. Subplots

You won’t be able to include every subplot in the synopsis. But if there is an important subplot (especially if it connects to the main plot) make sure to include it.

Notes: Open with a problem and what’s at stake—set the stage. Introduce your protagonist with a hint at inner problems and conflict before going into the plot summary.

Have fun! No really, try to have fun with it. Make yours stand out from the crowd and a sense of humor just might do the trick.

*Most of the information I’ve put together on writing the synopsis comes from The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit by Elizabeth Lyon. It’s a great resource and I recommended it highly.

I don’t often place book reviews on my website anymore (check my blog for those), but I just reread this one and knew I should share this review today.

Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman

G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Teen Romance
ISBN: 0399243895
208 pages

2006

Ages 12 and up

Enthusiasm is a downright charming book. I don’t know how else to describe it. It is a young adult romance, but any romantic with a sense of humor (from 12 to 92) will enjoy this straightforward and sweet story.

Julie is 15 and about to start her Sophomore year of high school. It is her friend Ashleigh who is the Enthusiast. When Ashleigh finds her new “thing,” she enters it heart and soul. This has included things from candy making, reptiles, favorite rock bands, the Little House books, and now Pride and Prejudice. Now Julie’s friend will wear only long skirts and speaks in the archaic language of Georgian England. She even has devised a plan for the two of them to crash the fall dance at the local all boys private school to find their Darcys.

In the process, they do meet two nice boys – one of which is Julie’s Mysterious Stranger who she had been seeing around town all summer. By the end of the night, Julie is swept away by him, and the next morning she finds out that her friend, Ashleigh, has found her Darcy too. The problem is that Julie and Ashleigh have chosen the same guy to play their Darcy, Charles Grandison Parr. So, now Julie is bound to keep her mouth closed as loyalty to Ashleigh. As the story progresses, the girls are thrown into the path of the boys even more as they become involved in a play, which the two guys wrote the songs and lyrics for, at the all boys school.

This is a book of comedy as well as romance and other issues of family, friendship, and first loves. It was very well written and interesting especially finding all the Jane Austen and other literary references. The author has depicted teen age relationships extremely well. And her poetry is terrific. (Parr is a poet). I found myself really starting to feel everything that the heroine of the story was going through. As Parr would walk into the coffeehouse where Julie was enjoying a beverage, my heartbeat sped up just like the heroine’s. It is a clean, sweet story that I would recommend for pre-teen girls and up.

See the author’s website at http://www.pollyshulman.com/ I read this book a couple years ago and I keep hoping she’ll write another YA novel soon. Maybe if we send her enough fan mail she’ll go ahead and do it.

How? By joining our scavenger hunt. Each Saturday two to three new author’s web-sites will be added to the White Roses blog. Your job is to locate the WHITE ROSE PUBLISHING cup hiding somewhere on their site. Jot down the author’s name and what color cup is on their web page and e-mail the correct answers to carolann.erhardt@gmail.com (Please place in the subject line WRiB Contest) Each Saturday, starting September 19th, a winner’s name will be drawn and your prize will be awarded.

But that’s not all, each time that you send in an entry—regardless if you win that week or not–your name goes into a larger kitty for the grand prize drawing October 31st! (That prize consists of: seven e-books, a box of White Rose Organic tea, your very own beautiful White Rose mug, and a little basket of Arbonne skin care products.)

Get going today. The first two web-pages were already posted so you can start your hunt. There will also be a listing of the books which will be awarded.

Hope you can join us!