Author MaryLynn Bast talks about How Reading Influenced her Writing

    I met MaryLynn on a writer’s site when she was still ensconced in getting her book published, then unpublished, then published again. I was attracted to her energy, genuine kindness and detemination to make things right. I don’t think I’ve met another writer who works harder on her craft, or has more stick-to-itive-ness when it comes to attaining her goals. 

     When she announced the release of her first novel, No Remorse,  I was anxious to have her write a post for my blog and was delighted when she agreed to let us in on how she became a writer. In her post below, Bast talks to us about her love of reading and how it has influenced her desire to write. Her novel, No Remorse, is slated to be part of the paranormal fantasy series titled: Heart of a Wolf.  A romance and  paranormal fantasy writer, she is busy at work on the next two books in the series.

How Reading Influenced My Writing

by MaryLynn Bast

 Reading has always been a pleasure for me. As far back as I can remember I had my nose stuck in a book. I could escape into the fantasy world and forget the struggles of life at home. I would inhale books, sometimes reading a novel a day after school. I would hide under my covers, hiding the light so my mother wouldn’t catch me reading. As I got older and understood the stories more and more, my mind would wrap around what was happening. I would take the story line in a whole different direction wondering what if they did this or that instead. So one day I sat down and started writing my own stories and I loved it. My family tells me writing is in my blood, that Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) is my fifth great uncle. I can’t completely confirm what this, but if it’s true, then Whoohoo!  

     I do have a passion for writing and find that it is a creative outlet that has never left me. I set it aside for years while I took care of my family and worked. I didn’t allow the stories to flow and I realize now that I always felt that something was missing. I was lost without my stories. I am now at a point in my life to where my kids are grown and I am waiting for my next contract to begin to go back to work. So I have lots of free time. The stories are flowing and I am enjoying the creativity. Sleep, who needs it!?

     Writing fiction comes easily for me. I allow my mind to float off into whatever direction it wants to go and the stories take shape. I always thought of myself as a romance writer, and I guess in my younger day that was true. But now, I am more into the fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi, action, suspense and mystery genres with a little bit of romance mixed in. Even did an erotica the other day at a publisher’s request, I’m waiting for his reaction to that. So I guess I’m not really stuck in one specific genre. One day I will figure out my niche and belt out the stories. But for now, I’m allowing my mind to take my pen, or should I say keystrokes, where ever they want to go.  

 

  About emerging author Mary Lynn Bast's new novel

 

      Due to her unusual birth, Amber has abilities no other werewolf has ever possessed. On the run since childhood, the lone wolf avoids contact with other werewolves at all cost, continually moving, constantly looking over her shoulder and always alone.  

     Everything changes when Amber saves a werewolf from the mere brink of death, Blake, the only werewolf to ever protect her. Love blossoms, but not without tribulations when Amber realizes she must help her new pack rescue a member who is being held hostage by a rival pack.

     Warring with emotions of going from lone wolf to the pack leader’s mate, Amber must decide if she is willing to risk Blake’s life to know true family and friendship despite the fact that the Council is hell bent on locating her and will stop at nothing until she is found. Will Amber’s special abilities be enough to keep everyone safe?

 

MaryLynn Bast
Heart Of A Wolf series, #1
Werewolf Tails Publishing
Amazon

if you enjoyed this post, feel free to leave a comment

Welcome our the Blog Hop

 Meg always has great ideas and this is one of her best. I've been having such a great time visiting  all the sites of the writers attending the Ball. It's really nice to read all the personal info and connect it to the blogger.

I am a non-fiction writer...have tried fiction but find it too tedious for me and it just takes too long....all that character development and dialogue writing. I find writing topical articles and essays so much easier.

Almost a year ago,  I gave myself a challenge by deciding to write a memoir about the 16 years I have been an owner/innkeeper of a bed and breakfast in Louisville, Kentucky. As it turned out, writing a memoir is much more of a challenge than I realized and just as tedious and time consuming as writing fiction.

I am in the process now of re-writing the whole manuscript and trying to infuse the pages with my own unique voice.  I've actually discovered the humor and sarcasm lying behind that perfect grammar.  In addition, I'm adding dialogue, some character development, and a lot more description....all fiction writing techniques.

Thank you all for visiting my site. I look forward to seeing more of you soon.

if you enjoyed this post, feel free to leave a comment

Writers ought to know: Is it Titled or Entitled?

If we are referring to the title of a piece of written work, which is it, titled or entitled? I've had several editors and agents tell me to use "titled", as in my book is titled Operatic Divas and Naked Irishmen: An Innkeeper's Tale, but I frequently see writers using "entitled" in this case, so I researched it and this is what I found:

There is a common confusion between the words titled and entitled. Titled would have been the correct adjective for that sentence. If something is “titled” it means that it received such a title, either by the author or by someone else.

Entitled, on the other hand, means that a person has rights to something. If you are entitled to a house, for instance, it means that the law protects your right to own that house.

Some dictionaries propose that “to entitle” can also mean “to give a title.” I have rarely seen mainstream publications back up such usage, however. Below you will find two quotations from The Economist illustrating the point.

A visit to Canada’s web-site where the Federal Government describes itself to the world, particularly the section titled “Powers of National and Provincial Governments, as written by the late Honourable Eugene A. (The Economist)

The largesse has not been restricted to poor children. Since 1998 all pre-schoolers have been entitled to some free nursery care once they turn four, and in 2004 that entitlement was extended to three-year-olds. (The Economist)

if you enjoyed this post, feel free to leave a comment