Blog - Mona Ingram

Goodbye, 2012

January 1, 2013 by Mona

It’s that time of year when you can’t turn on a radio, or the television, without hearing a recap of what happened during the year, or predictions about what’s in store for us in the coming year.

My crystal ball is in the shop for some fine tuning, so I’ll stick to the past, and what were a few high points for me.

Writing. Let’s get this out of the way. I worked hard, formatted, reformatted, designed covers, marketed, reformatted again and then wrote some more. At the end of the year I topped out at sixteen books, five of which I wrote some time ago. But hey…they all count.

Ryder Hesjedal won the Giro d’Italia, and he did it without doping. Ryder is from Victoria, on Vancouver Island and all Canadians are proud of him.

Korean rapper Psy broke onto the music scene with “Gangnam Style”. The video, seen on YouTube, surpassed one billion views on 21 December. Chances are that by the end of 2013, we won’t be able to remember who he was, but it was fun while it lasted.

50 Shades of Grey took the world by storm. Copycats abound, many of them with tongues planted firmly in their cheeks. Does this herald a new acceptance for erotica? I have no idea, but it will be interesting to watch.

The Oreo cookie turned 100.

Magic Mike hit the big screen, raising the heart rate of women everywhere.

American singer/songwriter Sixto Rodriguez finally had his day, thanks to a documentary by Malik Bendjelloul, a Swedish filmmaker. I wish him well.

Phyllis Diller died in August. Her self-deprecating humour rarely failed to amuse.

I had a short holiday in San Francisco in early September and explored some delightful restaurants. I would definitely revisit State Bird Provisions, Cafe de la Presse in Chinatown, and Pier One, where next time I’d sit at a stool and eat Chinese noodles for breakfast.

As for 2013, who knows what will happen? I’ll still be writing, as long as it’s fun. I’ll keep you posted.

So Many Books, So Little Time

December 30, 2012 by Mona

There are lots of good things about being an independent author. Freedom to let the words flow, breaking free of constraining guidelines set by publishers, and the ability to explore new genres.

I tend to become self-absorbed when I write, and it’s easy to forget that there are other authors out there writing compelling stories that have nothing to do with romance…thank goodness! Romance is great, but we all need a little variety in our lives.

I’ve opened a new page titled So Many Books, So Little Time. On that page, I thought I’d mention some of the books that have caught my eye in the past few months. Some I’ve read – some not. But they all look interesting.

Happy Reading,

Win a Kindle Fire…and more!

December 20, 2012 by Mona

This deal sounded great, so I became a sponsor with my book Then Came Love. Who wouldn’t want to win a Kindle Fire, or one of two $100 Gift Certificates? Maybe I should enter myself…those Fires look great.

Here’s the link to enter:

http://jotformpro.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b176bf2f5e126e6007c908e3c&id=0a561a7281&e=cd1544ab19

Good luck to everyone!

On the Casting Couch with Sheila Claydon

December 17, 2012 by Mona

Sheila Claydon is a multi-published author from Great Britain who I’ve come to know through an on-line group. Sheila writes stylish romances which I enjoy reading. Recently she offered to put me On the Casting Couch. This is a series of interviews Sheila has done with authors where they tell about the characters in their books. This interview is re-printed with Sheila’s permission. Check out her website; it’s full of interesting information, and most importantly, links to her books.

Published December 17, 2012 | By Sheila Claydon

Over the next few months a number of writers have agreed to sit on my Casting Couch to discuss the different methods they use in their search for the characters who populate their books. Their techniques give a fascinating insight into the writing process and the writers themselves

Today Canadian author Mona Ingram joins us on the Casting Couch to share the tricks of her trade and to tell why she likes the secondary characters in her books as well.

Thank you for agreeing to sit on the Casting Couch Mona. It’s always a treat to talk to a multi-published author and discover how she casts her characters. Assuming you are sitting comfortably, let’s begin.

* * *

Which characters are the hardest for you to develop? Is it the hero, the heroine, the villain, or the secondary characters?

I’d have to say the heroine. I think that’s because I usually identify with the heroine and although on a deep level I understand her motivation, I don’t like to talk about myself.

When an idea strikes, do you work through the plot first and then cast the characters, or is it characters first? Or does it vary? Perhaps you develop the plot and the characters together.

I wish I could say I’m that organized. Usually my stories start with a nugget of an idea and expand from there. I take quite a while to think about each book before I start. There’s a lot of ‘what if?’ going on in my mind while I’m putting the plot together.

Can you give an example from a published story?

Yes. Call me shallow, but I had an idea that I’d love to write a scene where the two main characters in a book make love without speaking. That was the genesis for my book Fallen Angel.

That sounds like a book I’d like to read Mona. It must have taken a lot of careful thought to come up with something like that.

When deciding how your characters should look, do pictures inspire you or do you think of someone you know? Or perhaps you just rely on an active imagination or another method entirely.

If there are multiple main characters, I’ll sometimes cut pictures out of magazines, stick them on a piece of card, and type captions for them. It isn’t so much hair colour or eye colour, but the look on their faces that attracts me. When my granddaughter comes to visit, she’s always dismayed when she finds magazines with holes in them. I don’t feel it’s necessary to describe everything about each character, however. Not that long ago, authors would describe every detail about a character’s appearance. You don’t see that so much anymore, and I like that. I think readers want to create their own vision of what the character looks like. I never write about people I know; this is fantasy.

I so agree with you. I don’t enjoy books that are too prescriptive either. I would much rather develop my own picture of how the character looks based on just a few simple pointers such as hair colour or height for example. I am always disappointed when I watch a film of a book. The actor never looks like the character I envisaged in my head.

Do you have a system for developing their character traits? I know some people use Tarot or Astrology. Others produce detailed life histories. There are also writers who allow their characters to develop as they write. What’s your method?

I always know the character’s back story, but I usually let them develop as I write. I often have to go back and consider the reasons behind a character’s actions, and then I might have to ask myself why they did such-and-such, but generally I like to let it flow.

All characters have goals. Can your character’s goals usually be summed up in a word or two, or are they multi-layered? Do they change as you write the book? Could you give some examples?

My characters all have goals. I’m a big believer in GMC… Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Take apart almost any story and you’ll find those three elements. But to answer your question, the goals generally cannot be summed up in a few words. What’s that expression everyone is using these days? Multilayered? That’s how I see my main characters.

Motives drive a character. How do you discover your character’s specific goals? Are they based on back story or do other elements influence their motives?

In my mind, goals and motivations are generally tied together. But motivation gives the story that added dimension. I often like to keep the motivation secret, or use it as a twist near the end of the story. As long as it doesn’t drag on too long and annoy the reader, it’s a good plot device.

I like that idea. What a great way to keep the pages turning.

And last but not least, do you like your characters? Are they people you would want to spend time with? Assuming they are not just a paper exercise, which of your characters would you most like to meet, and why?

I can’t write about people I don’t like. Of course there are nasty characters in my books from time to time, but the main characters are always likeable. Some would accuse me of being too Canadian, but that’s just me.

As for the heroes, I always write about a hero I’d like to know. It makes them so much more believable. I confess, they’re almost always larger than life. I’ve tried to write about ‘ordinary’ men, but they usually morph into a high-powered type.

Who would I like to meet? Wow, good question. I have two. The first is Freddie, from Fixing Freddie. He’s my kind of man. Quiet, unassuming, owns a highly successful business, and is comfortable in his own skin. I guess the other would have to be Agnes, from my book Then Came Love. She’s an older woman who speaks her mind and befriends the heroine as well as the hero. We all need someone like Agnes in our lives. That’s the fun part about secondary characters. We can have them say the things we’d like to say!

It’s been so nice to meet with you Mona. I’ve certainly learned a few extra tricks from talking to you. Watch out for an outspoken secondary character in my next book! Thank you so much for visiting my Casting Couch and talking about the characters in your books.

* * *

Like all the writers who visit my Casting Couch, there is another side to Mona. When she’s not writing or reading, she likes to bird-watch. Quoting from a character in her book, Promise Me, she says it gets her out (in her case, away from the computer for a few hours), and keeps her aware of the environment. She also loves to travel…anywhere, anytime!

Mona is a multi-published author and you can find out more about her and her books a http://monaingram.com or go over to her blog at http://monaingram.blogspot.co.uk where she talks about her writing as well as discussing some of the other things on her mind.

You might also want to visit her Amazon page at http://amzn.to/W8MWoN and look at some of the many books she has written

Surprises Can Be Good

November 20, 2012 by Mona

Imagine my surprise this morning when I turned on my computer to discover that all five of my former Avalon Books had been released by Montlake, a division of Amazon. I knew they were coming…just not when. These books all have interesting storylines and I’m proud of every one. Here they are:

The Shell Game
Rebecca Lambert returns to her childhood home after the passing of her grandmother and comes face-to-face with her high-school sweetheart, Mitch Burton. Their encounter recalls the painful memory of Mitch s unexplained disappearance before the night of their final school dance.

After Rebecca leaves for college and career, Mitch returns and begins living at Rebecca s grandmother s bed-and-breakfast, fixing boats for the guests. When Rebecca returns many years later and discovers her grandmother left half of her business to both Rebecca and Mitch, she is forced to come to terms with painful memories and struggle with re-awakened feelings for Mitch.

Eventually, Rebecca discovers that much like the Shell Game at the local carnival the truth is rarely what it seems.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Shell-Game-ebook/dp/B00A2FTIQK/

The Reluctant Rockstar
An experienced television journalist, Skye Cameron needs a big interview to propel her from weather person back into investigative reporting at her new television station. She’s determined to get there and will do anything to reach her goal.
Jason Williams, a world-renowned paleontologist, rarely does television interviews. When Skye has a chance to attend a field expedition led by Jason, she jumps at the chance, hoping to gain his confidence before approaching him about an interview. But when the two come face to face she’s torn between her desire to further her career and her growing attraction to the reclusive scientist.

Join Skye and Jason in the Canadian badlands as they learn to be true to each other, but more importantly, to themselves.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Reluctant-Rockstar-ebook/dp/B00A2NHMDS/

But Not For Me
Erin Delaney, a skilled and respected chef, is in demand in her profession, but her personal life is in shambles. Determined to get away from it all and get a fresh start, she accepts a position as chef at an exclusive fishing lodge on the west coast of British Columbia. Traveling to her new job via supply boat, she enjoys the company of the other two passengers but clashes with Graydon, the young captain. When an electrical fire causes all the passengers to abandon ship, Erin does what she’s always done–take care of everyone else. She quickly takes control of the situation, earning the admiration and respect of Gray. By the time Gray and Erin get to the lodge, their chemistry is palpable, though Gray’s strained relationship with his father, the owner of the lodge, and Erin’s issues with her sister threaten to jeopardize this fledgling relationship. When her rescue story is splashed about in the media, self-conscious Erin tries to retreat from the spotlight. However, with the help of her new friends, especially Gray, Erin discovers that perhaps she deserves to be the center of attention for once.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A9T5W50/

Brush With Destiny
Shattered by the death of her young daughter, Ashley Stewart moves to one of the many islands off the coast of British Columbia. Struggling to come to terms with the dramatic changes in her life, the renowned artist has lost the desire to paint but is hopeful that the tranquility of island life will renew her battered soul. Recently divorced, the last thing Ashley is looking for is another emotional attachment. But her good intentions are swept aside when she meets Matt, a widower with a lovely young daughter named Caitlin. Initially frightened at the thought of becoming too involved with Caitlin, she is slowly won over by the child. When Ashley returns to the mainland for an art show, she is surprised to find Matt. And the surprises don’t end there.

http://www.amazon.com/Brush-with-Destiny-ebook/dp/B00A9SCZO2/

The Gift
Julie Chapman is content with her life, thank you very much. As a single mother, she owns and runs a houseboat rental company in Sicamous, British Columbia.

Quentin Callahan, a friend of Julie’s brother, lives in Vancouver and has become a successful business consultant. Many years ago, on her graduation night, he rescued Julie when her date had too much to drink and now he’s back. The attraction between Julie and Quentin is immediate, but his visit to his hometown is prompted by more than a longing to get away from the stress of business. His largest client has unsuccessfully tried to buy Julie’s property. The ruthless company indicates to Quentin that if he does not talk her into selling, they’ll drive her out of business. The ultimatum is an overwhelming burden on Quentin.

Can the growing affection between Julie and Quentin survive the pressures of a harsh outside world?

http://www.amazon.com/The-Gift-ebook/dp/B00A9TOWJC/

Free E-book November 8, 9, 10

November 8, 2012 by Mona

Grab this one while it’s free. One of my favourites!

Stuck in an unhappy marriage, Amanda Reimer grabs the opportunity to go on a short holiday by herself. Jackson Galloway is an undercover cop. A member of the RCMP Green Team, he’s in the interior of British Columbia to find a marijuana grow-op and take it down. Jackson gives Amanda a lift to Loon Lake Resort and is intrigued by the gentle woman. The chemistry between the two is immediate and powerful, but Amanda is determined to stick to her marriage vows…besides, she’s afraid of her husband. Jackson is just as determined…to see Amanda again when the drug bust is over. But will the growing love between Amanda and Jackson survive the pressures of finding the grow-op? Join Amanda and Jackson in a journey of discovery, where the ultimate destination is love.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080SDHWC