So today is a pretty amazing day! Today, we had a chance to participate in The Guardian's Blog Tour! We're so happy to have brilliant writer T.M. Franklin participate and guest post for us as well as a giveaway!! This is our first official guest post and from one of our fav writers!
Before we get the guest post, please let me tell you that if you have yet to read the MORE series, you are missing out!
The Guardians (More, #2), is the second book in the More series that follows our main protagonist, Ava, who’s life is . . . complicated.
After all, it’s not every day a girl
learns she’s not entirely human, or unlocks hidden powers strong enough
to make even the First Race sit up and take notice. After surviving an
attempted kidnapping and standing up to the Race’s Ruling Council, Ava
Michaels returns to college and what she hopes is a normal life. But Ava
quickly realizes that for her, normal may not even exist anymore.
In fact, the Council wants her under their control, and they’re not the
only ones. The mysterious Rogues have a plan of their own, and it turns
out Ava’s a big part of it, whether she wants to be or not.
On top of
that, her new relationship is tested in ways she never expected. Her
boyfriend, Caleb Foster, has disappeared—accused of betraying the
Race—and Ava herself stands implicated in a crime she didn’t commit.
Clearing their names will mean uncovering a web of deceit and intrigue
with Ava woven right in the center. To unravel the strands, she joins
forces with some unlikely allies; a Protector who once haunted her
nightmares, a young girl with secrets as unexpected as Ava’s, and a
group of rebel Guardians who have their own fight against the Council.
Together they stand in a battle to find the truth, bring Caleb home, and secure Ava’s freedom—not to mention save her life.
Wow, if you think middle series books are typically mediocre, you are in for one crazy surprise with T.M. Franklin's The Guardians (More, #2)! Okay, so seriously, T.M. Franklin is a master at world building! She has taken the super human race concept to a new level and adds in a great mix of mystery and intrigue, action and romance that will completely capture readers and have them hanging on the edge of their seat until the very last page! This book seriously has it all! The settings are familiar and yet unique and create a whole level of wonderment that will leave you breathless.
Let me just say, that I absolutely adore Ava and her boyfriend Caleb. More really solidified the couple in my mind and while The Guardians continues their story, I would definitely not have complained if there had been a little more relationship building between the two of them. Also, as far as supporting characters go, Most Improved is hands down awarded to Tiernan and Katherine. I will be honest when I say that in the first book I really disliked Tiernan and Katherine, however their story develops quite nicely and I have grown quite fond of the pair, especially Tiernan. :)
If you have not read More (More #1) yet, stop what you're doing and go pick up a copy and if you have had the privilege of reading the first do yourself a favor and add The Guardians (More, #2) to your collection! You will NOT be disappointed! I didn't think it was possible, but this one improves upon the first!
Now on to the guest post...
Getting into the
Writing Groove
By T.M. Franklin
People often ask what I do to get into the right mindset to
write, and if I have any weird rituals to help me get into the mood. Well, I do
have things that make me more comfortable and able to focus, but I don’t always
have to wear the same shirt (gross!) or turn around three times before I sit
down or anything (my dog does, though.)
Still, here are my Top
Five Must-Haves to Get Into the Writing Groove.
1. Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
To clarify, it doesn’t have
to be coffee, although I do prefer
it in the mornings (fat free half and half and two Splendas, or a Grande Skinny
Vanilla Latte for those keeping track.) I usually switch to Diet Coke in the
afternoon, and in the summertime it’s really strong iced tea or iced coffee.
But yeah. Caffeine is a necessity, and I have to admit I
drink a lot (read: too much) of it.
2. Quiet
A lot of authors have playlists they write to, even several
different ones, depending on the mood they want to create. I’ve found I can’t
write to music, though. I get too distracted singing along. Even with
instrumentals, I hum, trying to find the harmonies, and before I know it I’m
dancing around the kitchen instead of writing.
So no music for me. I love it, but not when I’m writing.
I can, however, write with the television on. I think it
comes from years working in a TV newsroom with the constant noise of different
competing channels and satellite feeds and police scanners surrounding me. It’s
just white noise to me, and it actually helps me focus. Go figure.
3. An Outline
I’ve found I have to be organized if I’m going to get any
writing done. I’m not a seat-of-your-pantser when it comes to writing. I need
to have a detailed outline, even broken down into scenes with notes to help me
along. This way, even if I’m not feeling particularly inspired, I can push
myself through, because I know where the story’s going. I can always go back
and fix it later, but getting those words down is the most important thing, at
least for the initial draft.
4. A Motivator
To go along with number 3, I need a deadline. I need a daily
or weekly goal. I need to have accountability. Otherwise, I’ll procrastinate
until the very last minute. National Novel
Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) has been a big help to me as far as this is
concerned. The goal to write 50,000 words in a month, 1,667 words a day, is
really a great motivator. In fact, I’m participating in NaNoWriMo right now –
so stop by and keep me on my toes!
5. A Friend (or Two or Three…)
And speaking of motivators and accountability, I love a good
Word Challenge (WC.) I have a lot of writing friends and I’ll often meet up
with one or more of them in a chat room and we’ll just write for an hour or two
and compare word counts at the end of that time. Sometimes we’ll share a little
snippet of what we wrote and give each other feedback.
It’s a great way to encourage one another, and to keep
yourself on target for that limited amount of time. I’ll even turn off all
social media during a WC (gasp!) so I can completely focus.
So there you have it. Nothing too strange. No dancing under
the full moon or writing in my underwear. Just keeping alert, keeping
organized, and keeping motivated with the help of some friends.
What do you do to stay focused? Share your tips in the
comments!
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