It’s Paranormal. It’s Romantic! And you can win one.
I stuck my neck out and interviewed Rena. She’s the main gal in Carrie’s book and one tough cookie. Want to see what she says? Read on.
Rena, you are a petite blonde who seems to be very active. Besides working out with that punching bag, what’s your favorite exercise?
I used to be in gymnastics, and then I was on a martial arts kick, but the only exercise I’ll have time for is running between classes this semester. Seriously. I scheduled a couple back to back, and they’re on opposite ends of campus. Bleh!
I used to be in gymnastics, and then I was on a martial arts kick, but the only exercise I’ll have time for is running between classes this semester. Seriously. I scheduled a couple back to back, and they’re on opposite ends of campus. Bleh!
You’ll be buffed by end of term!
Can you tell us how you met that hunk, Wallace Edwin Blake?
Oh God. Are you going to lecture me, too? We ran into each other—as in, a face meets chest collision. Everyone thinks I had this dangerous run-in with the madman, but it wasn’t that big of deal at all.
Oh God. Are you going to lecture me, too? We ran into each other—as in, a face meets chest collision. Everyone thinks I had this dangerous run-in with the madman, but it wasn’t that big of deal at all.
No lecture from me! But I’ve heard “madman” bandied about. Just . . . well onward.
What is there about him, not including the fact that he’s gorgeous, that attracts you to him?
Attracts me? Easy there, lady. We just met yesterday morning. I mean, he seems pretty considerate, and he wears this tortured expression that makes me want to jump his bones, but I wouldn’t say I’m attracted to him. I hardly know the guy!
Attracts me? Easy there, lady. We just met yesterday morning. I mean, he seems pretty considerate, and he wears this tortured expression that makes me want to jump his bones, but I wouldn’t say I’m attracted to him. I hardly know the guy!
Er, sorry. But… well… jumping bone…. Never mind. Let me move on to another touchy question. I’m fearless, you see.
I notice a few bruises on your arm, and I hate to be nosey (not in the least), but how did you get those?
Ugh. Don’t remind me. I swear, I’m vitamin deficient or something. Wallace grabbed me once, and I’m still wearing his handprints. Isn’t that ridiculous?
Ugh. Don’t remind me. I swear, I’m vitamin deficient or something. Wallace grabbed me once, and I’m still wearing his handprints. Isn’t that ridiculous?
Aha! I mean, of course. Ridiculous. Absolutely.
There’s a rumor that this guy Wallace Blake is kind of a . . . how should I put this . . .wild guy. What do you know about that?
So help me, if I hear one more person bring up those stupid rumors. Yes, there are screams and growls and… God knows what else coming from his room every night, but that doesn’t mean Wallace is crazy. We let those stupid rumors get out of control, and now looked at what’s happened. The guy is a freakin’ pariah. I’m sick of it.
So help me, if I hear one more person bring up those stupid rumors. Yes, there are screams and growls and… God knows what else coming from his room every night, but that doesn’t mean Wallace is crazy. We let those stupid rumors get out of control, and now looked at what’s happened. The guy is a freakin’ pariah. I’m sick of it.
You got a little defense just then. I’m sorry, but my readers really like to know what goes on behind those closed doors on campus. Hope you don’t mind if I ask one more rather personal question.
*Sigh* It’s okay. I’m just… never mind. Let’s continue.
*Sigh* It’s okay. I’m just… never mind. Let’s continue.
Do you have any reservations about being up close and personal with Wallace? Is there any hope for a relationship? I’ve heard rumors, just so you know.
I’ll say this: I don’t know what goes on in that room every night, but I refuse to write him off because of it.
Well, there you have it. I need a drink. Not water.
What people are saying:
“Carrie Butler is now on my must read list.” ~Lynn Rush, author of Violet Midnight
“I carried Strength with me everywhere. Grocery shopping, the dinner table, you name it. The storyline was addictive, and the characters were hilarious. I couldn’t put it down.” ~Jessica Therrien, author of Oppression
Her Grammarness Grapples with Gerunds . . . sort of.
Here’s a riddle: What looks like a verb, but acts like a noun?
Ans: (Surprise!) A gerund.
Writing can be hell. Editing can be tedious. Re-writing is the pits!
See? Each underlined word looks like an -ing verb, doesn’t it? But they’re subjects in sentences, so they’re nouns. So what’s the big deal? *Ho hum. *Yawn.
Well, here are two reasons to know about this versatile (aka tricky) grammar bit.
1) Create sentence variety. Use a gerund form once in a while to vary your sentence structure.
2) To be grammatically correct, use the possessive form with the gerund. Instead of writing,
“Dear Editor, I appreciate you making all those red ink marks on my manuscript.”
You’ll write (and correctly so),
“Dear Editor, I appreciate your making all those red ink marks on my manuscript.”
Ta! Off to find some red ink.
I'm jealous of Rena's running into that delicious chest. I hope I wrote that correctly. Regardless, I think you understand my sentiment. Thank you, ladies. Smiles.
xoRobyn
Gerund is a fun word. I just like how it sounds.
I've often been told I write with too many gerunds but I say–hogwashing! LOL Thanks for stopping by The Desert Rocks!
And hogwashing it is! Great to have your visit.
Ew – am so not liking the second Dear Editor sentence! LOL! Take care
x
Is it the red marks? Hate those meself!
I'm trying to wrap my mind around gerunds, but I keep thinking of that book cover…
Great interview. Nice to meet you, Rena. Congratulations, Carrie. Your book sounds fascinating.
Congrats to Carrie!!
and yay for gerunds–I'm sure they should have a fan club 😉
Ha! Fun interview. Congratulations, Carrie 🙂
@Sheena-kay – You bet! 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
@Nas – Thank you very much! 🙂
Congratulations! Sounds great book! And good grammar lesson, too!
Gerund sounds interesting. Carrie's character sounds like she can take care of herself.
@Beth – Isn't he? Yum!
@Lee – *Grins*
@Kelly – Thank you! 🙂
@Al – I love showing her many facets. 🙂
@Angela – Thank you so much! 😀
@EJ – Why thank you, sir! 🙂
@Elizabeth – Thank you! 😀
@Elise – You bet! 🙂 Thank you!
@Alex – Thanks, Alex! 🙂 Hah! Yes, you'll have to report back to us.
@Joylene – Whew! Wouldn't that be nice? 🙂 Thank you!
@C.M. – Thank you! 😀
@Nancy – Thank you! 🙂
@MPax – The poster is certainly nice to have around. 😉 Thank you!
@DMS – Thank you! 😀
Great interview!
What a good grammar lesson. Hmmm- I am sure I mess this one up. 🙂 Thanks!
~Jess
Congrats to Carrie! Her cover certainly chases off the gloom of a dreary day.
Great grammar lesson, too.
Rena really is something else! As for gerunds, well, as an editor, I constantly see the overuse of them, especially in debuts. Gerunds/present participles are fine when used sparingly, like twice on a page. When overused, they create a singsong effect in the prose. And they show the author's inattention to sentence structure and variety. It's my pet peeve.
Congratulations Carrie! Enjoyed reading the post, thanks for the giveaway!
I love gerunds. I know so many critiquers who don't. I've never figured that out. I know one who hates the words but and that. Duh.
Hey, Carrie, hope you sell a million copies of STRENGTH. Seriously.
Yeah for Carrie! And I'm going to try the tortured look on my wife tonight and see if it works.
Fun character interview! Rena sounds like a no-nonsense kinda girl, I like her already! And thanks for the gerund tips. (:
Go Carrie go!!
I was a gerund dunce. You taught me something today. Gerunds don't equal passive voice and do not have to be eliminated. You're a grammar master! Thanks.
Fabulous interview ladies (CL, Carrie, AND Rena)! No freshman 15 for Rena I'm guessing–sounds like a very active person. And maybe a touch aggressive, too, which is awesome. 🙂
Three cheers to Carrie for her publication and wishing her all the best with it 🙂
And though Rena got a little defensive, I like her spunk!
Rena is a very interesting character.
And that lesson is precious to me. Another mystery solved.
Loved the character interview! And great giveaway.
It looks as if Rena has kick started Thursday!
Dude on the cover is hot.
*Grins* Rena did get a little defensive, didn't she? Thanks again, Lee! I appreciate it.
@Melissa & Catherine – Thank you! 🙂
First of all, congrats, Carrie. As far as gerundive "verbs" I tell my students to run from them. It's often a set up for an awkward, passive sentence, and also for the dreaded dangling participle.
Great interview and great grammar lesson. Kudos to you both!