Learning Center

Illegal to write erotica in Pennsylvania?

To some people in a small town in Pennsylvania, it seems to be almost illegal to write erotic romances. By now I’m KNOW you’ve all heard about the story of Judy Buranich w/a Judy Mays. The news report on (WNEP) the local news in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, has two pictures of Judy, one as ‘Judy Buranich’ (the English teacher) and one from an interview that ‘Judy Mays’ did. They make it look like a mug shot for god sake.

All of you know that I’m an author (still unpublished) as well as an attorney, which is the reason I write this blog. If I was licensed to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania, I’d have already contacted Judy Mays regarding the delicious lawsuit she has sitting in her lap over this mess. Just off the top of my head, I can think of defamation, slander, libel, invasion of privacy, harassment, an employment suit for a hostile work environment, and if the school fires her then I’d slap a wrongful termination claim on top.

Over the next four months, I’m going to be focusing on some of the basics of fiction, starting with a two-part column that covers everything you ever wanted to know about creating fully realized characters. In July and August, we’ll finish off our fiction basics series with a potpourri of mini essaysthat should provide something for every writer.

What’s the most important part of a novel? Hands down, characters. You can have the greatest plot on the face of the earth, but if you don’t have even more exciting characters, you’ll never pull it off. Creating amazing characters that reach out and grab readers by the heart should be your paramount task when you’re writing a story. Nothing else you do will be even remotely as important.

Trying to catch the eye of an agent? Well, now's your chance! Vickie Motter of Andrea Hurst & Associates will be reading three line pitches today.

SUBMISSIONS REQUESTED: Vickie is looking for new and previously published authors dedicated to continuously developing their craft and writing poignant nonfiction or marketable fiction. She loves all things weird, fantastical, morbid, and romantic. She’s always reading and looking for books that transport her to new lands and allow the imagination to run rampant. She has a special love of unique plots, dark themes, strong characters, an engaging voice, and witty humor.

VENI, VIDI...CONSULI (I Came, I Saw...I Thought About It)

I bow to the toga-clad emperor, Julius Caesar. He had it right—he came, he saw, he conquered. Too often our characters stumble on that last step. They go, meaning they journey, either figuratively or literally. Perhaps they grow, expand their world, or even take a chance. They see, meaning they understand a new aspect about themselves or about their world. But then...they stop and think about it for a while. Nothing kills pacing like long chunks of backstory or introspection.

My first drafts are full of introspection. This is one method authors use to get to know their characters. Who are they? Why do they do what they do and want what they want? What are their views on the world and their current situation? Authors also discover a character’s backstory while he thinks, which informs his viewpoint and powers his actions. (More on backstory in a minute).

Recipe:

Take one hero
Add a heroine
A pinch of romance
Whisk in a dash of comedy
Create a plot and fill with elements at author’s discretion
Add a splash of funny and poignant moments
Toss in some conflict and obstacles
For variation fold in turning points
If you prefer a spicier dish – amp up the couple chemistry
Garnish with a happy ending


A romantic comedy combines the two genres I love most: romance and comedy. Essentially the genre is a romance with a comedic twist.

Congratulations to all Savvy Authors!

Our first congratulations this week goes out to Savvy Authors member Laura Kaye, who sold her Christmas fantasy, Snow's Man, to Entangled Publishing. Snow's Man will be the first of four books in a series on the seasonal/wind gods and will release 11/11! Congrats on your contract, Laura!

Lucianne River signed two contracts last week! The Kiss Test, a sensual romantic suspense novella, will be published by Cobblestone Press. Hold Me, and its sequels, Thrill Me, and Kiss Me, Kill Me, will be released in e-book and a print anthology by Entangled Publishing! Congratulations Lucy!

Lauri was very impressed with the quality and creativity in all the pitches! Below is a list of the ones she would like to see. Please send your submissions

Tricked-out Toolbox, by Melissa Bourbon and Tonya Kappes
Review by Marcy Weydemuller

This book is a breath of fresh air in the sometimes overpowering onslaught of marketing, promotion and publicity. The authors share personal experience and guidelines with practical step-by-step instructions. They not only give excellent information but also walk through each particular instruction with clarity. They tell and then they show.

And with each step they provide detailed appendix guidelines to work out your own unique strategies. They point out how the introvert/extravert author needs to adapt the possibilities both to their own style and comfort zone publicly.

I write because I can’t imagine a moment not writing. Whether it’s sitting at the computer or driving, or waiting for an appointment, I’m always writing. Do you find the more involved you are in a scene, the more bits and pieces of you become a part of the story? I do. Do you cry or laugh when you write? I do. We live double lives, one in real time, one in the mind. Why? Because we are writers who come in all shapes and sizes. No two the same just like snowflakes. Everyone has a story but we tell ours. A solitary business except for the characters that show up and direct our thoughts in order for the story to unfold.