07/13/11
Thor vs The Green Lantern vs X-Men: First Class
by Angi Morgan
Normally I don’t like to discuss movies that can still be seen in the theater, but I wanted to know if anyone else found themselves thinking about these action-adventure movies in the same way.
Ranking the three I’d go with X-Men, then Thor, leaving The Green Lantern as my third favorite. But honestly, Thor and Lantern could tie for last place. X-Men was Xcellent ! Everything you could hope for even an Xcellent villian (it’s a shame we know how he turns out, cause you certainly hope he’s just a bad boy needing the right woman to set him straight). Thor …YUMMY !! Yummy again. The let-down for me? Too much backstory and not enough action. Come on, he’s a Comic Super Hero ! And the villian is conquered much-too easily. Same thing with The Green Lantern. Much too much build up for the villian who is defeated (SPOILER) on the first attempt.
So what was the huge difference with X-MEN: FIRST CLASS–
a movie completely about back story–compared to two other action adventures that I believe had much too much backstory? X-Men was a complete story-line with character arcs. The characters grew through the adventure and action and relationships. It was a movie with the perfect blend of components. It built, grew, continued to grow, letting the audience continue to learn secrets about all the characters. 
THOR…well, the relationship was a bit unsubstantiated (it didn’t build, there was just attraction). And again, as much as I liked the actors…there just wasn’t enough story in the present. 
THE GREEN LANTERN–It definitely explained HOW he came into being…it just didn’t give enough of what he did with the power (and the ultimate defeat of the villian is just plain silly).
I could also talk about PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (#4) which I think is the best of all four movies. I like the relationships Jack has…like concentrating on HIS conflict. AND honestly, it’s another movie that deals with BACKSTORY.
Bottom line and the point of my post: When we read a book, we enjoy it at the time, and if it’s got the perfect blend of story-telling, characters, and plot…well, it sticks with us for a long time. That’s what authors strive for…to be remembered and live on every reader’s “keeper shelf”.
QUESTION FOR TODAY and I have three Intrigues to choose from for a commenter: Which of the four movies did you like the best? OR just tell me about a movie that stuck with you.
~Angi
AngiMorgan.com
Hill Country Holdup & .38 Caliber Cover-Up
Harlequin Intrigues, available on-line
06/7/11
THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK
by Angi Morgan
I can’t say that my mind is a blank slate.
It’s not. It’s rolling along down at least four different paths that I’m conscious of: San Antonio Showdown (new story I’m writing on); Sydney’s Run (old story I’m going to re-work for an Intrigue proposal); my family (too much drama to name); and the remodeled office my husband is working on (pounds of the hammer are against the wall as I type). Oh and payment arrangements for my daughter’s university. And oh yea, this blog.
Sometimes, I wish my mind would be blank. Wiped clean with no worries, then I’d have all the free time in the world to write. BUT, wait…what would I draw upon to write about? How would I include emotion and character development if there were no drama?
There are no erasers for life. We play with what’s dealt. Romance is my genre of choice because of the emotion. Characters are stronger at the end of a story. The hero and heroine are better because they found each other.
One of my favorite scenes in ROMANCING THE STONE is when Joan’s editor finishes her latest book and says something like: Joan you are a hopeless romantic. JOAN SAYS: Hopeful. Hopeful romantic.
I believe in Happily Ever Afters. I’m thankful for all the laughter, tears, frustration, happiness, and even the “drama” from family and people in my life. It’s great fuel for the emotion I need on the page. And a continual reminder that my pages are never blank. Now…I need to purge some of this emotion created by the family today.
~~Angi
I FEEL LIKE CELEBRATING …A FREE BOOK (I have lots to chose from) TO A COMMENTER. Vacationing is always a good place to forget and recharge your batteries–it’s sort of like coming back with a blank slate. So just let me know your favorite vacation spot…AND MINE. You’ll find my answer on the IntrigueAuthors.com newsletter. Shoot, I’ll give away several books today–choosing from those who take a look at the newsletter and leave the answer here along with their favorite.
‘Til next time, ~~Angi
AngiMorgan.com
Hill Country Holdup & .38 Caliber Cover-Up
Harlequin Intrigues, available on-line
05/3/11
by Angi Morgan
Confession: I was a size 22 one year ago. Now I’m a size 4.
Hawaii Oct 2009 -- not at my heaviest
January 2011 -- 96 pounds lighter
No one in the writing community has known me at this weight or size. It’s still taking a lot of adjustment for those around me…well, especially me. Considering that I’ve been overweight for 20 years, and seriously overweight for the past 15. I’ve lost 99 pounds (just can’t seem to reach 100). But that’s another story.
As part of my weight loss journy, I’ve been working on what *I* want from life. I’ve given a lot of myself away, concentrating on volunteering and being there for kids & family. A huge adjustment for those close to me is hearing me say, “No.” (Which I’ve discovered really is a complete sentence and actually works most of the time.)
Along those lines–and the point of this post–is just how freaky the workings of the mind are…espcially for those of us wired as writers. I used to have to bribe myself with writing time. After I finished my volunteer work, I could write. Well…it’s not like that any more. I promise myself I’ll write first every day. But don’t. The volunteer activities are getting fewer. So why am I not writing longer?
Hmmm…more thinking is required. Am I afraid of success? “Hell no.” Do you want to be successful? “Of course I do!” Then why don’t you think you deserve success? “Uhm…” More thinking required. More conversations. More analyzing: Why aren’t you writing? Final answer: “I don’t know.”
Family, life, part-time work committments. All there, but just excuses. I had them before…I still managed to write, sell, volunteer, blog, write a new book, sell, promote. So what’s different? Why now? Why can’t I just write?
Then it hit me . . . last week I was talking to a writing buddy and I couldn’t beleive the words I said to her: I associated writing with being over-weight. And if I wrote…I’d gain the weight back. Silly, right? But I’d never written any other way. I constantly put snacks in my mouth as I thought of the words to put onto the page. Selling was one of the things that made me decide to LOOSE the weight. I wanted to look good at author signings (ultimately, it was more about getting healthy and living longer–but again, that’s another story).
Wow…have things changed this past week! Addressing this issue aloud has made all the difference. I’ve given myself a deadline and I’m working towards it. I’m finding ways to change those bad habits I had when I wrote. I’m developing ways to be creative and yet HEALTHY! It can be done. I WILL find a way.
So any suggestions? When changing a bad habit…what do you do?
~~Angi
AngiMorgan.com
04/12/11
by Angi Morgan
Joe Fox: You know, sometimes I wonder…
Kathleen Kelly: What?
Joe Fox: Well… if I hadn’t been Fox Books and you hadn’t been The Shop Around the Corner, and you and I had just, well… met…
Kathleen Kelly: I know.
Joe Fox: Yeah. I would have asked for your number, and I wouldn’t have been able to wait twenty-four hours before calling you and saying, “Hey, how about… oh, how about some coffee or, you know, drinks or dinner or a movie… for as long as we both shall live?”
Kathleen Kelly: Joe…
Joe Fox: And you and I would have never been at war. And the only thing we’d fight about would be which video to rent on a Saturday night.
Kathleen Kelly: Well, who fights about that?
Joe Fox: Well, some people. Not us.
Kathleen Kelly: We would never.
Joe Fox: If only.
(Want to watch the scene >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVHxTtyP35w&feature=related< I can’t embed it…but you can watch Tom at his best.)
If you aren’t familiar with the above lines, you should catch a viewing of YOU’VE GOT MAIL with Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan. This happens to be one of my favorite lines of all times. Something I strive to write one day. “If I wasn’t…for as long as we both shall live.” What a great line by Nora Ephron.
And of course, there’s, “You had me at hello” from JERRY MCGUIRE written by Cameron Crowe.
Got any favorite lines?
~~Angi
03/8/11
by Angi Morgan
There’s nothing like a long drive to make me want to write. Longhand, typing on a keyboard, notes…I see things, listen to music and the wheels in my head start turning as fast as the tires tearing up the pavement.
02/1/11
by Angi Morgan
WARNING !
There may be a wee bit of promotion in today’s post.
>>big grin<<
In one week’s time, my second Harlequin Intrigue® will be in bookstores. It has a terrific title: .38 CALIBER COVER-UP
A beautiful couple and background that matches the story. I love the book trailer my husband put together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsUJwGlm4c0 It even has a great back cover blurb:
AN UNDERCOVER AGENT, A BEAUTIFUL COP…
AND THE BULLET THAT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER
Undercover DEA agent Erren Rhodes was used to working alone. So the very idea of teaming up with Officer Darby O’Malley to ferret out a killer wasn’t exactly how he thought this critical mission would go. But thanks to information only the beautiful cop possessed, finding whoever was responsible for shooting Erren’s friend made Darby a valuable—and irresistible—partner. Digging into the case, though, revealed a far-reaching conspiracy…and angered all the wrong people. Now, trying to bring a killer to justice while keeping Darby safe was making Erren remember why he was better off on his own. Especially when Darby made him long to hole up together in the safe house and never let her out of his sight.
And to celebrate, I’m giving away a Romantic Suspense Basket with several suspense books, 3 DVDs, and chocolate! Who knows what will end up in there after 38 days of celebrating.
Comment on FIVE of my guest blogs through March 6th (my Facebook FAN page can count as once), sign up for my newsletter (if you haven’t already), and you’re entered. The drawing will be Sunday, March 6th.
Just to whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt from chapter one:
Alley. Lexus. Two drug dealers.
The situation read like a bad book: The Auto-frickin-biography of Erren Rhodes. He was pathetic. He would dread going through the motions of this meeting, but he was numb. Numb to the filth he dealt with on a daily basis. Numb to the filth he’d portrayed for the last six years. Numb to his filthy shell of a life.
Pike was dead and in the ground. Ambushed. Executed.
No witnesses.
Rhodes was certain no one had seen him at the funeral of his mentor, the man who had kicked his teenage years into shape. He’d stayed out of sight. He’d hung around the edges of the cemetery just like the edges of his fictional existence.
It was a dark and stormy night…blah, blah, blah. He’d laugh if it weren’t playing out in front of him like a colorized black and white film. It was time to get out of deep cover work, but not before he found Pike’s murderer. He wouldn’t let the bastard go without justice.
Unfolding his legs, he climbed from the POS rental he’d taken for the op. His first mistake. He should have insisted on something flashy like the sweet SUV at the end of the alley. Second mistake? This dark real estate. Drug deals went down at steak restaurants. Always in public places. So why was this meet for information set like a bad flick?
Backlit by the car’s headlights, two men came at him, arms extended, guns aimed at his chest. This was not the plan.
“You dudes have been watchin’ too many movies.” Yeah, he was mouthing off like a street thug–something he shouldn’t do but couldn’t help. He knew the drill and placed his hands at the back of his neck when Beavis and Butthead stepped closer. “Holdin’ the barrel sideways like that, empty casings can hit–”
“Shut up, fool.” The gold-toothed, eyebrow-pierced Butthead took another confident step closer.
Six years ago adrenaline shoved him to recklessness. Now it didn’t register. All these guys acted the same. Digging in with pond scum required a dedication he no longer had. His Dallas handler waited around the corner. Like he needed backup for this two-bit op? He could do this in his sleep.
Butthead shoved the barrel of a Magnum .357 under Rhodes’ chin while patting him down.
“You don’t talk ‘til we says you talk,” the bleach-blond Beavis barked, nervously shifting from one foot to the other in front of the rental.
Nodding, despite the barrel rammed into his Adam’s apple, Rhodes let them think they were in charge. Two bad-ass-wannabes who didn’t know him from Jack. Butthead lifted Rhodes’ gun from its shoulder harness under his Ed Hardy jacket and dropped it into his pocket. His eyes never met Rhodes’ straight on.
Flashy guns and jewelry, designer-label clothes and a Lexus. Not the ordinary run-of-the-mill street crap he’d been led to believe he’d be dealing with. Rhodes’ nostrils flared at the cloying scent of heavy French cologne floating through the smell of old garbage. Did he have the right guys? They sure seemed to know him since two barrels pointed straight toward unprotected parts he’d like to keep.
Shake it off. Nothing was wrong. He’d done this before. First-meet jitters. That was it. Yeah, that crappy feeling in the pit of his stomach had nothing to do with Beavis or Butthead and everything to do with the drive-through burritos for dinner.
“Get in the car,” Butthead demanded.
Rhodes stiffened. “No one said anything about a ride. I have the money in my backseat.” He came to conduct a small exchange of money for information. These punks were somehow connected to Pike’s murder and he was close to finding a serious lead to seal the coffin on the creep they had in custody. But that slippery grin behind the gun wasn’t the normal evil he faced every day.
These guys looked nervous, high and pre-paid…
Damn.
“Do what you’re told,” Beavis yelled in a crazy-high voice.
“What’s wrong man? I got the cash.” Rhodes searched his right, hunting Dumpster locations. Butthead shoved the pistol barrel in his back again, pushing him toward the Lexus. No way was he getting in that SUV.
“Get your ass in the car.” Butthead circled the barrel of the gun in the air. “Get in!”
This op might get his blood pumping after all.
~~~~
So what caught your interest the most?
Title, cover, blurb, trailer, or excerpt?
~~Angi
Remember one comment here and four to go to be entered for the suspense basket. Contest rules and details posted at AngiMorgan.com. Excerpt used by permission from Harlequin Books, Enterprises.
01/11/11
by Angi Morgan
Today I’m meeting my editor for lunch and a tour of “where the magic happens” at Harlequin’s NYC offices.
Extremely exciting for me. Kind of scary (the unknown always is).
I’m making plans regarding the publicity for the second book (.38 Caliber Cover-Up), what to do, what not to do. I’ve been asked to teach an RWA PRO-ORG Boot Camp at the end of this month (must get them bio material). Blogging, more blogging, more FB promotion, more book signings (YAY).
And traveling…let’s not forget that. Friday will mark the first day I’ll be home for a long period of time since, well, uhm, October?
So what’s the point? Writing. Among all the busy things and list of things to do and the places to go, visit, research, have fun, see family… My writing has suffered.
It’s 2011. Time to re-organize, prioritize, and any other IZE you (me) can think of that will put the WRITING first.
So…a short and sweet post today, so I can write just a little bit more on the proposal my editor is probably going to ask about at lunch. (More details about that later in the day.)
I will give away a copy of .38 Caliber Cover-Up…drawing from those who leave two comments. That’s right: 1 comment here, and 1 on my author Facebook page (it’s a picture of me). I’m making you work for it today. Watch the video book trailer for .38 Caliber Cover-Up and tell me something specific that you like about it. Remember 2 comments…
~~Angi
*Please note, physical copies to North America winners only. International winners are eligible for an advanced readers electronic copy.
12/29/10
by Angi Morgan
Bah Hum Bug 
My Muse could be named Mr. Grinch at the moment.
But that may be too strong. It’s not completely his fault I can’t write.
Sick with a “super” cold. Out of time due to family. Drained because of the shopping, cooking, caring for others with the same dang “super” cold. Two pounds heavier because of all the sugar consumed building the annual Gingerbread house. And I won’t mention the contest commitment–ooops I did. (I’m the coordinator for Great Expectations Contest and if you haven’t entered…perhaps you should–deadline is Thursday–NTRWA.org)
Does December ever just…get away from you? I should mark it off my writing calendar. Of course, I did resolve a couple of problems with my proposal.
But instead of making this all about me… Let’s share some word counts, successful Christmas gifts, favorite things, ANYTHING positive. Brag a little about what went right this month. I need positive vibes floating in my direction. “SUPER” COLDS be gone!!! Let’s rock in the New Year with some positive thinking. It’s time for the 2010 Muse to be ushered to the door by 2011.
Goals anyone?
Something go right this holiday season?
Come on…fill my cup with over-flowing blessings!
~~Happy New Year !
~~ Angi
12/7/10
by Angi Morgan
No reason to deny it. I got lots of work done while in Chicago…but typing words into my proposal was like pulling teeth without Novocain. Eeeking words and hoping they made sense when the sentences were strung together was considered a successful day of writing. 
But the muse was there. Trapped in layers and layers of clothes. (Did I mention that it was cold to this Texas girl?) Stuck under an umbrella during the rain. Sitting right there next to me at the India House restaurant. An idea. A smidgen of a truth that could be used to create a suspense. The characters needed even popped into my head.
So, I had my plot?
Wrong. I had an idea for the next series plot.
What is wrong with my muse? Why is it playing the same tired old song?
HELP! Can my muse reboot and Come Back To Texas? Come A Little Bit Closer? Come Along With Me? Come Back To Me? Come Fly With Me! Come With Me Now! Come on-a My House!
I have to write Come Rain or Come Shine. Come Saturday Morning.
I Will Survive Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.
It has to Come Together.
Mr. Muse please Come To Me, Bend To Me.
Tears Have No Name while I struggle with the words.
I’m Tired of Waiting.
Writing should be Fun, Fun, Fun.
That’s All I Want.
~~ Angi
I’ll draw for an advanced reading copy (ARC) of .38 Caliber Cover-Up out of those telling me their state of mind (or their Muse’s) in a song title. Sound like fun? Come Thou Thankful People Come…
11/23/10
JUDGE AND YOU’LL BECOME A BETTER WRITER
by Angi Morgan
Over the past ten years I’ve judged a lot of contests. A lot. And I firmly believe that judging as a pre-published author helped me gain confidence and a deeper understanding in my own writing. Helping me to constantly final in contests over six years and eventually sell.
Judging isn’t a chore or an obligation for entering a contest. Judging is an opportunity to learn. Learn about individual aspects of writing that editors are looking at. It is a mis-conception that editors are willing to work with bad writing if the story is good. Maybe true in years past. But with the publishing market shrinking and the world of non-published submissions growing, well…do you think the editor wants to use valuable time to correct sentence structure or easily corrected mistakes?
Back to contests… When reading an anonymous chapter, we tend to be looking for a reason to LOVE LOVE LOVE the work. OR we’re looking for the mistakes. Guess what? When you judge several contests, you begin to see those mistakes (and what works) when you read your own chapter. You might think that you’d get the same benefit from reading published works. I don’t think this is true for the same level of learning. There’s nothing to critique in a printed chapter. You either identify with the characters or you don’t. You want to read the story or not. You suspend your disbelief, relax and enjoy.
There’s always the opportunity to analyze a finished book, I acknowledge that. But something else happens when you have to explain why YOU believe that something in a chapter is wrong. When you must put words on the page and convince someone else their writing is incorrect, you learn and then you recognize those same mistakes in your writing. Teaching, mentoring, judging… all good ways to advance your own skills.
As a contest chair, I’m constantly working to keep my score sheets up-to-date. One of our 2011 editors reviewed our score sheet and said, it “gives room for valuing originality and fresh voice.”
Now here’s the blatant promotion… Yes, I’m a contest coordinator and yes I’d love for you to become a better writer and perhaps help new authors at the same time. Judging in the Great Expectations Contest will help the North Texas chapter, but YOU will be able to learn from every page you read. Excellent judge training which is well-thought out, helps you analyze not only what you’re reading, but also what others may be seeing in YOUR writing.
Please consider signing up to judge (just send me an email: GECoordinator@ntrwa.org). If not in my chapter’s contest, then try your own. Judges are always needed. And this year, those judging Great Expectations will be entered in a drawing for several autographed books from North Texas RWA chapter members. Just a small way to thank judges for giving back to the writing community.
Angi the contest coordinator~~ I’ve been involved with the Great Expectations Contest since 2003, becoming the coordinator in 2005 and taking the contest electronic. Faster turn-around times have given our contest a great reputation, but each year we take time to train our judges. We give judges a closer look at what the question means and hopefully they take a deeper understanding of what’s being asked to the page when they read. How can this transfer to becoming a better writer? When you know what to look for, you begin looking for it in your own writing.
Angi the contest contestant~~ Ever wonder why the same manuscript can score well in one contest and not another? Ever wonder why some judges “get it” and some don’t? As a writer who’s entered contests over ten years, I made notes to myself regarding contests and if they asked for last-minute judges…and if the judges I received had well-thought out, logical reasons why they believed my manuscript didn’t fulfill the “excellent” requirement. I applied that frustration and developed a judge training specific for our contest (and a couple of others). Nothing is more frustrating than getting a low score with no comments. If you judge, please think through why you’re giving a specific score. And if you’ve thought about it…you should be able to write down why.
Volunteer. Give back. And have a safe and terrific Thanksgiving.
~~Angi
How do you feel about judging? Someone leaving a comment today will win their choice between several books, an ARC of .38 Caliber Cover-Up, or a Texas-style Christmas Ornament.
