Guest Author: Angelica Hart and Zi

IS IT REAL OR IS IT MEMORY

Storing away memories and odd events to add to a story gives that story realism. Anne Rice once said, “No matter how long we exist, we have our memories. Points in time which time itself cannot erase.” And most of our memories are indeed gifts that we open again and again.

I was at an Evelyn Woods Speed Reading Class and the instructor said, “We are the sum of all our experiences.” There it was a truth that stood above simple truths. As I began to write I recognized that I had very limited experiences upon which to pull. My early work was unquestionable shallow. So I began a quest to discover, in the name of wanting to be a better writer? No! I realized I was shallow.

Every submission sent to publishers was returned or ignored. I recall critique suggesting I needed more depth in both the way I dealt with the subject and the technical writing style. As time ate at my life I waited as I worked. Wrote daily. How much life is lost to wait? That is an apt question, but my wait was filled with discovery. I became a student of people. Discovery. Examined other styles and broke them down mechanically and technically. Discovery. Tried to create more complexity. Discovery. Expanded my vocabulary. Discovery. Read… read… read. Discovery. Wrote… re-wrote… re-re-wrote.

That wait was not shallow but an aggressive tutorial for my growth. I continued to submit work. And slowly pieces were accepted.

So the question is who am I? Angelica or Zi. Ironically, we took the same path and had the same challenges and failures. We met as more mature adults prepared to be writers and we have written daily as writing partners. We found a synergy in our styles and complexity in what we wanted to create. Are we good? We don’t know. Have we found that depth needed to portray characters as real people? Hope we have. Have we found enough intrigue in our plot and our words to keep readers interested? You tell us. As Jacob Bronowski, a mathematician, well-spoken and a celebrity of the BBC show The Ascent of Man and was the inspiration of Carl Sagan to make the Cosmos wrote, “The world is full of people who never quite get into the first team and who just miss the prizes at the flower show.” If runners up is what we are, we’re proud for our journey has been wonderful.

Zi believes, “Be the best you can be by growing every day.”

Having said that, goodness, that was something (our hard work) we doubt we’d forget.

Our release Killer Dolls is a wonderful romantic thriller based in bio-terrorism. Snake Dance which is about to be released is a fantasy adventure romance placed in a unique culture.  Chasing Gravitas is a gentle paranormal romance which provides an unfolding mystery.

EXCERPT SIX

“Why are you asking me so much about Rud?” Her query accompanied innocuous though concerned peering.

“Just curious. I’m a bit of a techie myself.” He thought he had vamped to cover himself.

“I see,” she said, not quite stirring her tea, more toying with the spoon in imitation of stirring. “So, you’re into computers? I mean, just what do you do, other than make

me hot and feed me?” Laughing at her own humor.

He grinned at that and blurted his cover story about being an IT contractor, working for various companies as a troubleshooter.

For the first time since they met, Letti felt uneasy. His words sounded rehearsed. Did he hate his job? Was he really a male stripper, could have been, and didn’t want to tell her?

What? She found herself asking a little too often. Then he reached out and touched her hand, and for the moment she didn’t care.

His next question was interrupted by the ring tone of the song Rubber Duckie.

About Angelica Hart and Zi

Their combined accomplishments include book publications in print and/or electronic versions of twenty-four titles, fifteen romance specific, ten manuscripts pending, EPPIE finalist for three books, Cecil Whig award, Hob-Nob Reader’s Choice Award, written over 500 shorts with numerous published in both nationwide and small press magazines, articles published in various local, city and statewide newspapers, including four as a Guest Columnist in addition to trade articles. Both are members of various writing groups.

KILLER DOLLS IS AVAILABLE: Unaware that bio-terrorists are using her handcrafted dolls to attack the innocent, Letti Noel finds herself falling for Taut Johnson, an undercover FBI agent. Even as deceit is a growing barrier to their love, it’s the stalking terrorists that are a threat to their lives.

We love to hear from anyone interested in what we do. Anyone who writes us and leaves an s-mail address, we will send you a gift and add you to any future mailings.

Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER DOLLS ~ September 2009
SNAKE DANCE ~ February 2010
CHASING GRAVITAS ~ July 2010
angelicahartandzi@yahoo.com
angelicahartandzi.com
Champagne Books
KILLER DOLLS can be purchased at Champagne Books
_______________________________________________

Thank you Angelica and Zi for visiting Literary Escapism.

Contest Time!  You heard Angelica…we’re giving away an autographed 8 1/2 X 11 glossy photo of the book cover or a free ebook to a lucky commentator and it’s very easy to enter. All you have to do is answer this one simple question: What are you currently reading? Remember, you do have to answer the question in order for your comment to count. The contest is open to everyone, so everyone overseas can join in the fun as well.

As always, if you want more chances to win, you can post about today’s contest on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, twit it (#litesc), share it with the world. Wherever you share it, make sure you add a link to it along with your answer (all in the same post please). The more places you share it, the more entries you get.

For more entries, purchase any novel through LE’s Amazon store sometime during this contest and send a copy of the receipt VIA email for your purchase to: myjaxon AT gmail DOT com. Each purchase is one entry and it has to be through the LE Link.

Join the Literary Escapism Facebook page and you’ll get an additional entry. Make sure you leave a comment here so I know that’s why you’re joining. Only new readers to the group will be considered.

For an additional entry, subscribe to Literary Escapism’s newsletter in the sidebar. All current subscribers will also have an additional entry.

I’ll determine the winner with help from the Research Randomizer. All entries must be in by midnight on September 22th.

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

2 Comments

  1. Great interview! :0) This is a new series to me so I’d love the chance to try out an ebook.

    Right now, I’m reading Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.

    I’m subscribed to your newsletter.

    Thanks!

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