Almost there: 

 

 So this just happened — I am the featured author for Lynne Robitaillle’s site!  Thank you strenthinaheartbeat.com! 

Free Books! 
Who doesn't love free books?  This month there are two great giveaways from Prolific books, and guess who is in each one?  Yours truly, of course!  

These giveaways are a great way to read some free short books, and some longer novels,  to find your next great series -- or preview a novel to see if you want to read more! Plus, free books! 

If you have a computer, phone, or tablet, you have access to all of these great reads:

https://claims.prolificworks.com/gg/IwZh1SMGcxacni7VpYsW
 AND
https://claims.prolificworks.com/gg/FOhIKqp2FbjXBoiC2bDo

 

My most recent verified Amazon review.  I love my readers! 

 

A sneak at book 2: The Lady of the Glen! 

Scheduled release Jan 2018

Book Signing was AMAZING! 
I got to meet some great people, form a wonderful working relationship with Bargain Book World of Lake Elsinore, and sell a few books.  

Readers -- you are the best. 

*❤️☆❥ First Time Back •*¨❤️☆❥.•*
❥☆❤️Rebound Series Book One (.•´ ❥❤️
•*❤️☆❥•M.D. Dalrymple*❤️☆❥
SHORT STORY
**❤️FREE at the ProlificWorks link below or on KU! ❤️**

Can she open herself to a new man? Can she have a second chance at love?

Emma, reeling from a recent divorce, trying to find herself after years of identifying as "mom" or "wife," decides to take action. She signs up for a dating site and tells her friends she is on the prowl. One friend has an option for her -- a date with a sexy, dark-haired model. A night in paradise on Earth.

The problem? This is her first time back after nearly twenty years of marriage to one man. Can she bring herself to be intimate with a new man -- can she get "over the hump"?

As she drives to the hotel to meet this stranger, doubts about who she is, how she looks, and if she can be with another man, plague her.

Can she let go and succumb to the wiles of this hot date?

#writer #writing #rain #author #writerslife #Authors #ReadABookDay #book #books #BookBoost #bookstagram #novel #read #reading #bookish #novels #Romance #RomanceBooks #RomanceReaders #romancenovels #erotic  #Kindle #kindlebooks

Get your free copy here:  https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/5mtTq0Ee

Book Recommendation! 

 

Memoirs of a Play-White is a vivid and detailed story focusing on one young woman’s life during the time of Apartheid in South Africa.  The memoir opens with a descriptive narrative of the setting at that time, dilapidated housing, low employment, and the issues of social norms for those who fall in between the status quo of White and Black.  The main character of Louiesa is an innocent, likable girl trying to find her place in this strange world. Over the course of her life, she learns that skin color plays an active role in her life with regards to where she can live and work.  

The story opens with her mother who gave birth to her first child at age 13. Louiesa was born later in her mother’s life, her father unknown. As the daughter of a now-alcoholic Louiesa herself is a smart child, eager to learn and go to school.  She proves to be an industrious girl, who, along with her mother, finds housing with indoor plumbing, clothes for school, and opportunities such as a helicopter ride and a good job at a bank.  However, she also learns that she got the job because of her lighter skin color, highlighting the issues of race and color at the center of Apartheid issues of South Africa

I particularly liked the detail about the history of that time.  As an American reader, I am not deeply familiar with life under Apartheid, and this story is a window into a completely different world. Especially interesting to me was how limited they were with regards to technology we in the Western world take for granted, like access to a TV or radio in the 1970s.  

Overall, Mynhardt’s memoir engages readers, taking them on an emotional, harrowing journey as they read. I look forward to reading the second in the series. 

A full review and detail about Helene can be found here: https://www.stefanvucak.com/review-of-memoirs-of-a-play-white-by-helene-louiesa-mynhardt/

And the book can be purchased on Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Memoirs-Play-White-Autobiography-Other-Writings-ebook/dp/B07DC8B494/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539557810&sr=8-1&keywords=memoirs+of+a+play-white

Join us on Saturday, October 20, from 1-3 pm for a book signing by Michelle at Bargain Book World in Lake Elsinore, CA! 

We will have a reading, a Q&A, some romantic/Scottish snacks, and the books will be on sale ($10 each, cash)!   Bring a friend! 

Writing begets writing -- the ideas flow, and one of these ideas involves a collection of second-chance, erotic romance short stories.  The first is on deck and should be published soon!  It will be available for free in several retail areas.  A second "members only story" will come out later this month - if you want that short story as well, please click the "join my newsletter" to the right to have access to the second story as soon as it comes out!  

 

Day Two of Writer's October:  Books and Flowers! 
Here is something I put together - I love combining floral backgrounds with text from my novels. The image adds to the setting of the book, I think! 

 

Bookmarks are in!  I am all ready for giveaways and booksignings! 

October, here I come!

My first national promo!  Holy Cow! 

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/39195088/fran-briggs-releases-the-best-of-autumn-reading-2018-volume-i

On Being a Better Writer -

I have the luxury of having advanced degrees in English, Comparative Literature, and writing, in addition to being a professor of writing.  As an author, I read excessively from the greats, both classical and current, to see what is strong writing — and also what is not.  I try to model strong writing in my own authorship and avoid the weaker writing as much as possible.  Since I consider myself a bit of an expert in writing, I think I may have some good points, but if it doesn’t work for you, take it with a grain of salt!  Just one person’s opinion in the end.

When it comes to basic mechanics of writing (by this, the words we choose to put in our text — grammar, structure, word choice, etc) that contribute to our written voice, I have noticed some less-than-stellar writing in many author’s works, both traditional and indie published, but mostly indie. For those looking to migrate to a traditional publisher or present equally to those traditionally published, this information may be helpful.  

Here is my list of what I have noticed in the last several books I have read. Read Stephen King, Diana Gabaldon, John Steinbeck, or John Grisham for examples great writing that employ all of these tips:

1. Obvious/paired adjectives.  Some nouns just don’t need an adjective.  I don’t need to know the structure of every stone in the castle or the exact shade of every article of clothing.  Sometimes a blue work shirt is just a blue work shirt.  Focus on the nouns that are most important to that scene or moment.   Also, the excessive paired adjectives are getting to me. Not every noun needs two adjectives - “the large, dark room.” Pick the focus that is most relevant to the idea you are trying to present. Once or twice on a page is fine, but every single noun?  It contributes to a redundant writing structure, which leads right to my second point:

2. Redundancies in writing - especially with a “power” word.  One element of writing I teach in all my classes is sentence variety and word choice. I just read one book where EVERY SENTENCE, and. I am not exaggerating,  in one paragraph began with “They were.”   EVERY SINGLE SENTENCE.  I would have marked this up in an ENG 100 level paper in a heart beat - perhaps the editor just didn’t catch it?  Then repetitive wording in  general - the wonderful aspect of using a power word is its punch, but if you use it four times on one page, it loses that punch.  “Capricious” or “eccentricity” are great words but lose their impact when they appear repetitively on one page.  There are other words you can use that will still showcase  your written voice.

These two writing ✍️ aspects are ones that we would most likely catch in the revision process, as I tell my writing students.  They are ones that I endeavor to correct in each of my revisions and in the final editing process - in my most recent book, I found I used the horrible verb “felt” way too much (among other words!)  Not only is it redundant but it does not meet the “show don’t tell” aspect of writing. I had a lot of work in the editing process to fix that.

Ok, so that is Professor Dalrymple’s writing tip of the day!  Use it as you will!

Monday, October 8, at 7 pm  -- JOIN US -- for an online book release party on facebook! Follow the link below to join! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1177664505717530/ 

My order for books for my first official book signing just went it. Those, plus bookmarks should be here in the next week or so.  Work is keeping me busy enough, but all the busy-ness of my book release and getting ready for my online book release party and my books signing, PLUS keeping up on writing for book 2 and some short romance is making my head spin!  Thank you everyone for all your support and encouragement! 

Sage Advice! 

 

My first few reviews have started to come in.  How exciting!  It has been a crazy few weeks -- this part of the writing process is not one I am familiar with. I have been a writer my whole life, but not a published author to this degree.  Thank you to every one who helped me on this journey or who is reading my book!  Book 2 is halfway done!   Also - to keep up to date with everything that is going on, be sure to join my newsletter!  Click on the link to the right! 

Need more time to read!

I am trying to teach, write, have a life, and all this does not leave much time for reading. Plus, due to a life situation, I feel out of the habit and I am still struggling to get back in.  My goal right now is to read more with my daughter - to get her back in the habit a well — and to read more at night before I fall asleep. That was my go-to for my whole life, an hour or two of reading before bed, but not lately.  My goal this month - read every night before bed.  

❃.• 💞 °•❃•°💞°•❃•°💞°❃•°•.

•. °•❃ NEW RELEASE ❃ °•. 💞 ❃•💞 To Dance in the Glen 💞•.❃
 💞 ❃.•°❃•°.💞°•❃•°💞°❃•°•.❃•

“Fall” into a great book this September!   

 Available Everywhere:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H2V16H6

Available from Kobo, Itunes, Scribd, 24symbols, and Barnes and Noble: https://www.books2read.com/u/md02ZO

Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1720064466

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H2V16H6

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07H2V16H6

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07H2V16H6

Amazon MX: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B07H2V16H6

-- Expectations ---

-Ewan-

In 1306, Ewan is a man used to defying expectations. A renowned Scottish highland rake, he enjoys life as the oldest son of the Laird, until he meets a young woman in a secluded glen, where her safety is in question.

-Meg-

Meg is a clever and spritely woman who is certain of her place in life until the day the Laird's son helps rescue her from some rogue Englishmen.

Ewan becomes smitten with Meg, falling in love with a woman below his station.

He manages to win her over as she finds herself under Ewan's protection and they begin a passionate love affair.  Along the way when Meg is accused of witchcraft and Ewan's past entanglements come back to haunt him, their love overcomes the suspicions and obstacles.

                                                 -Together-

Together they upset the status quo and begin a life, one that brings happiness to themselves and those in the clan.  However, once they learn of a traitor in their midst, the security of the clan and their family, even themselves, is at risk.

Can they rise above to help each other overcome the challenges in their way?

BONUS: This version contains an excerpt of the second The Glen Highland Romance series - "The Lady of the Glen."