Farmers' Markets

I went to a wonderful farmers' market yesterday in a neighboring town. There were so many homemade products and home grown fruit and vegetables, along with several booths of farm raised beef and pork.  I'd forgotten how much I loved going to the farmers markets until yesterday.

Unfortunately, it was not the place to be for someone trying to stick to a diet. I brought home some vegetables and fruit, but the majority of my purchases were baked goods. Lemon and Raspberry muffins with crumb topping, a peach pie, a blackberry cream scone and let's not forget the chocolate creamed raw honey. I dislike honey, but the lady running the booth had samples. My curiosity got the better of me and I was forced to try it. It was a unique taste and, yes, I broke down and bought some. 

If you've never been to a farmers' market, please find one close to you and take a little time to explore. You never know what you'll find or what will make you change your mind on the things you like and don't like. 

Excerpt from Face to Face

FACE TO FACE
By Ariana Gaynor
Copyright © 2014
Excerpt

   “Dan, you need to move your hand.”
   He pawed at her as soon as they got around the corner of the building, into the shadows. “Stop it, Dan. Go home. This isn’t happening, not tonight, not ever. Am I being clear enough for you?”
   She heard people leaving the bar next-door and hoped the interruption would make Dan give up. Apparently, he wasn’t bothered by the possibility of being caught assaulting someone. He continued to push her, trying to get under her jacket.
   “You don’t mean that, doll. We clicked, didn’t we? We just need some privacy to get to know each other better.”
   She pushed at him, trying to shove him away. “Knock it off, you asshole. I said no, and that’s what I meant.”
   “Hey, buddy, the lady said no. Back off!”
   The deep voice booming from behind Dan was all too familiar. Oh shit! Just the person I didn’t want to run into. Jess had to think fast, she had to find a way to get out of the situation unseen.
   “Mind your own business!”
   “The lady said no, you need to move on, or I’ll make you move on.”
   “Buddy, you need to leave us alone. We don’t need you butting in where you aren’t wanted.”
   “I think we need to let the lady decide what she wants. Ma’am, now’s the time to leave if you’re going to.”
   Ash walked toward them, and Dan dropped his hold. Jess took advantage of Ash’s interference and backed a few steps deeper into the shadows—hoping Ash couldn’t see her.
   Keeping her voice a little gruff, she hoped he wouldn’t realize who she was. “Thanks, mister.” She took off for her car as fast as she could without running. She had to get away in case
   Ash walked to the back of the lot to make sure she got to her car, which is something she knew he would do.
   Ash’s voice carried across the parking lot. “You better get out of here, before someone calls the cops. Don’t try to follow her either. I’ll be waiting for you to leave.”
   “I’m going, asshole. The bitch isn’t worth my time anyway.” Dan stormed off to his car, gunned the motor as he started the engine then quickly tore out of the lot.
   Jess tried to get her hands to still so she could get the key in the ignition of her vehicle. They weren’t cooperating. “Shit, come on, get yourself together. If he sees you, tonight is only going to get worse.” Talking to herself seemed to work. She slid the key into the slot, turned it smoothly, and the motor started immediately.   With a quick look in her mirrors, she put the car in reverse.
   Bam! The sudden stop confused her at first. Looking into her rearview mirror again, she saw the rear end of a truck illuminated in the red glare of her taillights. “Where did he come from?” There hadn’t been anyone behind her when she put her car in gear.
   “Perfect!” She dropped her head to the steering wheel. “This is just wonderful. What else can go wrong?”
   Tap, tap, tap. “Ma’am, are you okay?”
   Oh my God, there is what else can go wrong

Is Your Story Bloated?

Does the information and detail in your story move the plot along? If not your story is likely bloated.

The detail should be relevant to your characters and plot. Your readers don’t need or want two pages of description on what your characters are wearing and how the décor is cluttered groupings of antiques.

The readers don’t need to know the bus driver in your book is named George, that he’s married to Lois, and she is his first and only true love. None of that information moves your story along. He’s just the bus driver that takes your character from one side of the city to the other.

Slip vital information in throughout your story. You want to keep the pace flowing smoothly, don’t let it stagnate with large chunks of detail shoved in the beginning or middle of your story. Make sure the information you do include provides the readers with an idea of time and location, and furthers your character growth and the plot.

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by my friend Sue Toth. Sue answered four interview questions and challenged me to answer four. So here goes: 


1.  What are you working on right now?

I'm working on Joseph's story. He's a character from my new release that will be out June 17, 2014. He's been pestering me for several years to get his story done, so now it's his turn.

It's a contemporary boy-meets-girl, in a not so obvious place, story.


2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre?

I don't really have a set genre. My current releases are contemporaries, but I'm also working on a couple of paranormals and a romantic suspense. But even as I genre hop I believe in strong character that not only entertain my readers but also make them want to be a part of the story as well.


3.  Why do you write what you do?

I write what the voices in my head tell me to. Yes, it's just like that. 

I can see someone walk by or listen to a friend talk about something that happened and think they could be a character or that could be a story.

The why is because I want to, and I enjoy creating.


4.  How does your writing process work?

I've found I have to wait until the house is quiet to sit down and write more than a few lines at a time. I spend time during the day writing plenty of notes for various scenes, and I keep a digital voice recorder hand for when I can't get to pen and paper.

Keep the chain going! Please visit Larriane Wills' author page.



Larion Wills, a multi-genre author, also writes under the name of Larriane Wills. From science fiction to western romances, she holds up her tag of 'two names, one author, thousands of stories.'

Born in Oklahoma, but raised in Arizona she feels like a native to the state and has settled in the high desert country. In a quiet, rural area with a family who tolerates her writer's single-mindedness, she presents us with a series of unique westerns while still producing contemporary romances, many laced with paranormal settings, all with strong characterizations and suspenseful plots, capable of dragging you into a story in a genre you thought you didn't care for. Under her pen name of Larriane she writes science fiction and fantasy. Larion produces the westerns and contemporaries. At her website, http://www.larriane.com, you can keep abreast of releases under both pen names, keep up with new releases through various publishers, and she invites you to contact her at larriane@larriane.com.