Author Archives: ptmichelle

About ptmichelle

P.T. Michelle is the NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY and International Best Selling author of the New Adult/Contemporary romance series IN THE SHADOWS, the YA/New Adult crossover series BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS, and the romance series: BAD IN BOOTS, KENDRIAN VAMPIRES and SCIONS (listed under Patrice Michelle). She keeps a spiral notepad with her at all times, even on her nightstand. When P.T. isn't writing, she can usually be found reading or taking pictures of landscapes, sunsets and anything beautiful or odd in nature. Come chat with P.T and other fans on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PTMichelleAuthor Sign up to be informed of new book releases via P.T.'s mailing list: http://bit.ly/11tqAQN

Writing Tips ~ Where to Start Your Story

I usually post Writing Tips on Thursday, but with Nanowrimo officially starting I thought today would be a great day to post an entry for my Writing Tips series.

Don’t you wish there was some magic formula that said, Start you story HERE like that sign to the left? Haha, me too, but hopefully this post can help point you in the right direction.

I admit it, I was a backstory queen when I first started writing. But I think that had more to do with the fact I was 1) initially a total seat-of-the-pants writer and 2) I didn’t plan my characters. They evolved as I wrote the story. Therefore my first two or three chapters were really me creating long, drawn out–very involved–character sheets. Heh.

Then a writer friend passed along a concept that has stayed with me…

Start your story where your character’s conflict and your plot’s conflict collide.

I’ve never forgotten it. Did it change how I started my books? Sure it did. But what I also discovered was that my progress slowed a bit in the beginning, because (apparently) I needed those first two chapters to get to know my characters inside and out. That was my muse’s process.

Now, instead of having to cut the initial three chapters, I’ll have to go back and flesh out the beginning. I also now create a detailed outline as a way to get to know my characters. That way I’ll know what I need to go back and work on for more for clarification.

Keeping that rule of thumb “how to start my story” in mind has been immensely helpful. It forces me to stay focused and reminds me that all that stuff I’m itching to show about my character right up front can come later, sprinkled in bit by bit.

The nice thing about following the concept of starting where the character’s conflict and the plot’s conflict collide is that you have so many options for a gripping opening scene…from an action scene to a dialogue scene…to even strong narrative. I just ask my character(s): What kind of scenario can I put you in that represents the crux of YOUR issue and the story’s main plot? and then I’m off and running, er typing. 🙂 

Hopefully you will be too. Best of luck, you Nanowrimo-ers!

~*~

Also, I wanted to highlight a couple of recent reviews BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS received. Thank you to Angel’s 909 Reviews, Ron C. Nieto and Romancing the Book for the wonderful reviews!

5 Stars! “…P.T. Michelle will leave you dying for more! Over all, this is a great story of love, mystery, loss, gain, friendship, and adventure. I cannot wait for P.T.’s next novel!
Brightest Kind of Darkness will have you on the edge of your seat, fighting every need you may have, just to read one more page, and always dying for more. With great characters, a strong plotline, and a never-ending supply of action—this novel is the perfect read, and will have you questioning everything from, “What will happen next?” to, “Just how far you would go to keep the ones you love most, safe?”  Click here to read the entire review at 909 Reviews
~*~
4 Stars! “I do have one roaring complaint about Brightest Kind of Darkness: I want more of it! There are so many things I thoroughly enjoyed from this book. For starters, the action was non-stop. From the opening scene, which put me on edge and shot up my adrenaline even when I wasn’t yet invested in the characters, all the way through to the very end, I was glued to the pages and unable to turn away! Every spare moment I had, I invested into reading more, into trying to figure out the mystery of the dreams and the visions and the crows and…Wait. I’m not making much sense, am I? I always try not to spoil reads, though, so I can’t really explain what the above referred to, but I can promise that you’ll be hooked from one issue to the next…”  Click here to read the entire review at Stories of My Life
~*~
4 Stars! “This was an exceptional Young Adult novel. I grew attached to the characters pretty early in book and was with them everything step of the way…”  Click here to read the entire review at Romancing the Book.

Get Your Creep On YA Book Listing – 2011

Just in time for Halloween, here are some YA books that should fit right in with the creepy holiday this weekend.  Want to read scenes that’ll leave you tense, anxious, looking over your shoulder? Check out the list of YA books below where you’re bound to find some books that will fill your creepy/spooky/spine-tingling reading needs!

*bwhahahahaha*

Happy Spooky reading!

P.T. Michelle | BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS | http://amzn.com/B0058J4KSQ | dark-paranormal, romance | $0.99

J.A. Templeton | THE DEEPEST CUT | http://amzn.com/B0058HTU0G | dark-paranormal, romance | $0.99

P.R. Mason | ENTANGLEMENTS | http://www.amazon.com/Entanglements-Multiverse-ebook/dp/B005R0RPPG/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1 | urban fantasy, romance | $0.99

CC James | Demon Trackers: The Anointed | http://www.amazon.com/Demon-Trackers-Anointed-ebook/dp/B0057PHJQ6 | horror, action/adventure | $0.99

Jo Ramsey | The Dark Lines 1: The Black Bridge | http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Lines-Book-One-Bridge/dp/0983419906/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1318262818&sr=8-2 |paranormal, urban fantasy| $13.95 (print)

Tawny Stokes / DEMON WHISPERER / http://tinyurl.com/3kx2duj / horror, urban fantasy / $2.99

Nicole Zoltack | SEEING FOR THE FIRST TIME | http://tinyurl.com/3bh824a | paranormal, horror | $0.99

Helen Scott Taylor | A CLOCKWORK FAIRYTALE | http://amzn.com/B005JERQDG | fantasy, romance | $2.99

Stacy Juba | Dark Before Dawn | http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Before-Dawn-ebook/dp/B005PG7SXG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318277666&sr=1-2 | psychic, paranormal |
99 cent sale through Halloween

Wilson Doherty | ASHLYN’S RADIO | http://amzn.to/qRrEEV | YA-paranormal, romance | $3.99

Maree Anderson | FREAKS OF GREENFIELD HIGH | http://amzn.com/B005M9TC3K | YA, paranormal | $2.99

Edie Claire | WRAITH | http://www.amazon.com/Wraith-ebook/dp/B005FR7NL2 | paranormal, romance | $0.99 sale through October 31st.

Andrew Culver | CAMP CANNIBAL | http://amzn.to/qpLFmd | YA horror | $0.99 | Note: This is New YA (where the main character is college-age)

Lori Devoti | DEMON HIGH | http://www.amazon.com/Demon-High-ebook/dp/B004IE9WLM | dark urban fantasy | $0.99
(right now $2.99 but price in process of changing…)

Kelly McClymer | BLOOD ANGEL | http://amzn.com/B005UJR5EU | dark-paranormal, fantasy | $0.99

Lena Coakley | WITCHLANDERS | http://www.amazon.com/Witchlanders-Lena-Coakley/dp/1442420049/ | dark-fantasy, action| $10.98 (print)

Nicole Chase | MORTAL OBLIGATION | http://amzn.com/B005F9YGN8 | vampire, dark-fantasy| $0.99

Angeline Kace | DESCENDED BY BLOOD | http://amzn.com/B005IQL6EA | vampire, dark-fantasy| $0.99

Addison Moore | Ethereal | http://amzn.com/B004U34BZS | angels, dark-fantasy| $0.99

Blog hops, blog appearances, giveaways & a new review!

Trying to catch up after being mostly off-line the last couple days.  I wanted to let you all know about chances to win a copy of BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS now and coming up!

The wonderful Rhianna is featuring BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS as one of her giveaways on her RhiReading blog for the SPOOKTACULAR BLOG HOP that’s going on right now through Oct 31st! She enjoyed BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS so much (click here to read her review), she’s giving away, not one, but THREE copies of BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS. I hope you’ll hop on over to RhiReading and enter. Thanks so much Rhi!

Also, coming up, I’ll be visiting the Booklovers, Inc blog on Halloween day, where I’ll ALSO be giving away a copy of BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS! Bwahahaha…

And here’s a recent wonderful review I received from Temara…

5 Stars ~ An amazing must read! “…I absolutely loved this book. It had me guessing and wondering until the end. Just when you think that you have something figured out though BAM P.T. Michelle throws you a curve ball. This book is amazingly well written and will keep you on your toes till the very end.

This book is action-packed, exciting, and intensley mysterious. BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS is an absolutely fantastic book if you love paranormal romance.”  Click here to read the entire review on Temara’s Anything and Everything blog.