Workshop with Michael Hauge

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a writing workshop hosted by Colorado Romance Writers. Author, consultant and speaker Michael Hauge gave a presentation that captivated novelist and screenwriter alike.

For 8 powerful hours, Michael Hauge kept his audience engrossed with his wit and humor, and his incredible talent for teaching the basic elements of writing in a manner that stirred many aha moments. Step by step, he took us through the process of plot vs scenes, identity vs essence and the dissecting the reasons why movies work or don't.

His most memorable, and useful, technique is the Six Stage Plot Structure. This method brings to the forefront of a writer's mind the journey your hero and heroine must take in order for your novel to bring emotional satisfaction to the reader. He drilled us through exercises designed to make us think about the characters and their GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) in life. You may have studied GMC before, but not like this. The added bonus of attending this workshop with screenwriters was invaluable. So many questions important to the progress of a screen play relate to the completion of a novel. I appreciated this mixed audience.

To learn more about Michael Hauge, please visit his website www.screenplaymastery.com. Check out his books and DVDs. You won't be disappointed.

Also, please visit Five Scribes blog where Leslie Ann Sartor had the wonderful opportunity to interview Michael Hauge. Her interview offers a very well rounded view of Michael Hauge and a look into his talent and expertise.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of his workshops or purchase his books and DVDs, don't hesitate! Michael Hauge is among many things, a teacher of teachers.

The Christy Awards

Similar to the RITA awards (Romance Writers of America), the Christy awards honor excellence in Christian fiction.

The finalists are announced in March. An awards ceremony is traditionally held during the International Christian Retail Show in July. Denver hosted the show this year with the Award ceremony and reception held on July 11 at the Denver Marriott City Center.

This year, Seekerville's own Mary Connealy was a chosen finalist! Calico Canyon is a finalist in the Historical Romance category.

Way to go, Mary!! We're so proud of you!!

Head over to Seekerville!

Ruth Logan Herne posts on Seekerville today.


Come join in the fun as she shares her *Call* story!!

You'll be snickering long after you read the post : )

Winter's End Steeple Hill Love Inspired March 2010

His Forever Love by Missy Tippens

Much like her debut novel, Her Unlikely Family, the characters found within the pages of His Forever Love are warm and friendly with just the right amount of conflict to make you wonder how they'll ever get together.

Bill Wellington lives in Boston, MA; Lindsay Jones lives in Magnolia, GA. There's a little bit of travel time between the two locations : )

To make matters worse, Bill returns to Magnolia to relocate his grandmother to Boston to live with him. Lindsay is heartbroken, but what can she do? As they work together to pack up Granny Bea's house, Lindsay rekindles her friendship with Bill only to realize the attraction she'd felt for him as a teen has fanned alive again.

Oh, did I mention, Bill has broken Lindsay's heart before?

Missy Tippens pens a delightful novel the makes the unpredicatable volley of emotions come alive in characters we care about from the first page.

His Forever Love

Steeple Hill

Love Inspired (June 09)

Happy 4th of July!

We live in the most awesome nation in the world!

Thank you to all the brave men and women who fought to grant us the rights we enjoy!

God Bless America!

Progress - Day 5

I can't believe I'm ahead of schedule! I finished the revisions and applied polish to Rough and Ready. Now, it's winging it's way to a trusted friend for that final eye over. Whew! This has been some trip!

I love this story, I really do. If you'd like to see the blurb of it, head over to my website and click on my books. There you'll see the projects I've been working on.

Heads up though. I love Historical Romance and I love Suspense, but I'm afraid my heart is with the cowboys : )

Yee Haw!!

Progress - Day 4

Days are getting better! Only 80 pages of polishing left!

This is feeling soooo good : )

Progress - Day 3

Smokin' along! I have 8000 words to CUT and I'm finding places to strengthen my conflict.

Gets dicey at times, but I think the give and take I'm playing here will work out.