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Fran



Last Updated: 4/26/2009

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Gender: Female
Status: Married
Age: 56
Sign: Libra

State: All
Country: US
Signup Date: 2/28/2007

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Friday, November 06, 2009 
After a rather long break, I have returned.

Thanks so much for all the notes you sent over the last few months.  It's always great to hear from fans and other writers.

You can count on me to begin again to provide writing tips, excerpts and general observations on a regular basis right here at my MySpace blog.

So what have I been doing the last few months, my faithful readers and fans have asked?

I've spent most of the year dealing with some medical issues.  Things are getting better, and I'm back at work now.

After 11 years of churning out books, stories and articles, I needed a mental regrouping as much as I needed a physical one.

Thank you, my dear readers and fans, for being patient with me.  I promise 2010 will bring new stories from me.

Keep watching the blog for exciting announcements!

Write and let me know how you're doing.

Fran Shaff
Award-Winning Author
10:16 PM 
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Monday, March 30, 2009 
I'm going to be taking a sabatical from my blogs.

Thanks for reading.  I hope to be posting again soon.

Fran


3:34 PM 
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009 
Great characters are the foundation of any compelling story.

Readers don't care about wimps.  They want strong heroes and powerful villains.  We writers owe readers what they crave in characters.

Beginning writers and veteran authors alike think long and hard about their characters.  What do they look like?  What frightens them?  What moves them emotionally?  Who do they love and why?  What type of person do they dislike?  What are their names and what do those names show about the character?  Where do their passions lie?

These questions and scores more run through a novelist's mind as she/he creates characters for books.

One excellent way for a writer to get to know his characters is by interviewing them.  The interview can be done by the writer on her own, asking and answering the questions, or with another person.  If an author is lucky enough to have a friend who would enjoy this process, the friend could interview the writer posing as the character as she answers the questions of the curious interviewer.  Such an activity can really spark the writer's imagination.

If you're a writer, give this interview exercise a try, if you'd think it would be helpful to you.  If you're a reader, it's interesting to think about how the author of one of your favorite books went about creating the characters you love or the ones you love to hate.

Have a great week!

Fran


 


4:18 PM 
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Thursday, February 19, 2009 
Things taking up my time in my daily life have prompted me to miss February's landmark days in one way or another.

I don't know whether the ground hog saw his shadow or not a couple of weeks ago, but it is still winter here.  In fact, our temperature was below zero degrees Farenheit again today.  I'm really tired of winter.

Valentine's Day was nothing more to me this year than February 14.

As for President's Day, I'd have forgotten all about it if I hadn't seen a few ads touting their "President's Day Sale."

Sometimes stuff just happens that detracts from special days going on all around us.

I hope your February has been a good one, warmer and better than most.

And, if you missed Valentine's Day as I did, here's a late but warm wish that love fills your life today and always.

Fran


4:06 PM 
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Tuesday, January 20, 2009 
Our society deals in labels.  Teachers label students as gifted, average and remedial.  (Gees, I hate that.)  Coaches label team members by positions they'll do best at:  center, forward, tackle, quarterback, etc.  Bookstores, publishers and those involved in the creation and distribution of books label novels as suspense, romance, mystery, sci-fi, etc.

One of the most important labels a writer will use in her work is the title of her book.

A title is only a word or two or three or four long in most cases.  Some of my titles include MONTANA MATCH, STOLEN SON, MARI'S MIRACLE, and, my longest, FOR LOVE OF MAGGIE.

Titles, along with cover art, are the first things to attract a reader to a book.  A good title can entice the reader to take a closer look or to reject the novel without any consideration at all.

Consider this title.  MATT'S DAY.  We'll say it's a science fiction novel.  The title sounds a little gentle for sci-fi.  Even an enticing cover may not beef  up a ho-hum title like MATT'S DAY.  Readers want a kick-ass title, something gritty or intriguing or at least interesting.  Perhaps if the title were MATT'S DOOMSDAY or MATT'S LAST DAY or MATT'S DEATH DAY a reader would be a bit more interested in Matt and his impending demise.

Sometimes titles come easily.  They might exist before a writer writes one word of his novel.  Sometimes an author can complete 100,000 words or more before she has any idea what she should call her book.

For me, I usually have a title in mind before I begin a project.  Sometimes it's a the title I end up with, sometimes it's not.

STOLEN SON, a contemporary romance novel which will be re-released this winter/spring, is a perfect title for this book.  The words "Stolen Son" tell exactly what the story is about, a child who was kidnapped.  Those two words also imply intrigue and rouse curiosity about the story.

A good title should invoke images in the reader's mind which relate to the story.  BEHEADED.  ADAM AND STEVE.  THE FORBIDDEN FANTASY.  THE HARLOT.  CAROSELS AND CANNONS. 

Titles should rouse curiosity, intrigue readers, impell them to need to know more.

So how does an author meet the challenge of coming up with a good title?  She takes the meat of the story and condences it into a word or a few words. 

In the case of my books STOLEN SON and MONTANA MATCH, the premise is narrowly given in the two-word titles.  You already understand the significance of the compact STOLEN SON plot implication.  In MONTANA MATCH, another contemporary romance, a Chicago matchmaker ends up falling for her Montana cowboy client.  You can see how the title succinctly hints at the premise of the story.

JAWS is a fine example of a story implied in a single word.  SIGNS is another excellent example.

Use suggestive words to focus on your storyline, words that conjure up images, words that inspire or intrigue.  Words that shock or that tickle the funny bone.  If you saw a book titled "Falling Ass-Backwards into Money" wouldn't you have to know what it was about?  If you enjoy quirky romance, I bet you'd pick up a book titled "Stealing the Groom."

Titles are story labels which fall within sub-genre labels and genre labels.  They are important to your novel.  Choose them thoughtfully, and you'll be pleased you did.

Good luck with your writing, and may you read a great title or two this month.

Fran Shaff
sites.google.com/site/fshaff

1:33 PM 
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Friday, January 09, 2009 
Happy New Year, Everyone

Are you a writer?  Have you always wanted to be a writer?  Maybe you have no ambition to be a writer, but you do like to get creative with words once in a while.

If any of these scenarios suit you, then I think you'll find this blog fun.

I'm offering an exercise this week to enable you to let your mind and pen or keyboard go off on any tangent you desire.  I'll give you a setting, a few words and an opening phrase you can use to turn a paragraph or two into a vignette, mini story or just a scene.

Ready?

Here goes.  Use the words "redhead," "toothpaste," and "puppy" in your writing.  Set your scene by a fireplace.  Here is your opening phrase:  "You've been chosen..."

Now it's your turn.  Put on that mantle of creativity, and see what you can conjure up in 200 words or less.

If you'd like to share your creations, feel free to place short posts in the comment sections of this blog.

Good luck!

Fran
sites.google.com/site/fshaff

4:45 PM 
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Saturday, December 20, 2008 

We're having our second blizzard in two weeks.  Our temperature has barely climbed above zero degrees farenheit (if it has at all) in the last seven days.

We are definitely having a white Christmas.  Today, as I look across the open field near my house, it's like looking through white soup since the wind is blowing around all of the fluffy snow.

To our friends in the Southern Hemisphere this description of our white Christmas probably seems strange.  I love to think of all the writers and readers in Australia and NZ basking in the warm sunshine, perhaps complaining about how hot it is.    It's nice to know it's summer somewhere in the world.

And what a combination that is--warm sunshine, beaches and Christmas!!  Can't think of anything better.

I hope that God blesses you with good weather (wherever you are), warm friends and family and abundant joy during the feast of the birth of His son Jesus.  May those blessings continue right on through all of 2009, making your coming year one filled with God's peace and immense joy.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year,

Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author

http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff/

8:17 PM 
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Saturday, December 13, 2008 
When times get tough as they are for many people, financially speaking, Christmas can seem pretty dismal.

But Christmas isn't one more added expense, as it may seem when money tightens.  It isn't the cost or monetary quality of presents that makes our holiday season bright.

The most precious things we receive during the Christmas season cost zero dollars.

Love from our children, our parents, friends and other relatives is given to us freely.  We extend our affection to others without charge.  And what is more precious than love?  No gold or precious gem of any kind can match the value of a hug or kiss from someone we love with all of our heart.

For Christians all over the world, another love, one that is stronger and more enduring than any human love, is celebrated as we remember the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

Sometimes, when things are especially difficult for us, we tend to feel sorry for ourselves so much we may forget that we always have Jesus in our heart cheering us on the way we cheer on those people we love.  He's showering us with blessings and hope at Christmas time and always, most especially when we are suffering.  Just as we do all we can to help a friend, child or parent when times are tough for them so does Jesus reach out to see us through our difficulties.

If you or someone you love has lost a job or been otherwise hurt by the difficult financial times we now find ourselves in, I hope that God grants the strength you and your loved ones need to get through your difficulties.  And I hope you find your way back to full employment soon.

God bless you in the Christmas season and always,

Fran Shaff
Award-Winning Author
sites.google.com/site/fshaff

12:26 AM 
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Wednesday, December 03, 2008 

Interference--

Pardon the football term.  But I am a fan, and it is that time of year.

However, this time, I am not talking about football in titling my blog "Interference."

I'm talking about life in general.

For some time now I've been working on edits for the re-release of my book STOLEN SON.  This award-winning novel was originally released by Champagne Books in electronic format only.

In a few months, it will be available from another publisher in paperback.  Getting a book ready for a debut, as all writers know, is a time-consuming task.  When life interferes with writing (or any other job we must do) things tend to get a little burdensome.

My personal life has been full of extra challenges in the last month which haven't done a thing to ease daily tension.

And now we're in the holiday season............

On the whole, my life is just like yours.  We all make plans, and life changes them.  A vision which seems crystal clear on Tuesday can be shattered by Thursday.

The trick to surviving these interferences with our plans is to adapt, change, be flexible.

Whether you are writing a book, reading a book or just trying to cope with holiday hecticness, I hope you can mitigate your "life interferences" by adapting to whatever comes your way.

If coping mechanisms don't work for you....well, there are an awful lot of good values on wine this time of year.

Fran Shaff

http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff/

----------------------------------

STOLEN SON:  When a man learns his child is the STOLEN SON of the woman he loves, he is faced with a life-altering dilemma.  Should he tell her the truth and risk losing her or live a lie so he can hold onto the love of his life?

8:42 PM 
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Saturday, November 15, 2008 

CHANGE OF HEART

By Award-Winning Author Fran Shaff

1850s Nebraska Territory:  A woman is stranded in a land she despises with a man she cannot resist.

November Special

$6.95 at Amazon.com, a  $3.00 savings

(Makes a Great Gift!)

Chapter Three, Part One, the final excerpt for Excerpt Week

Snow stung Marietta's eyes. Wind-driven, individually innocent flakes felt like pin pricks in her cheeks. Zack snuggled close and covered his face with his hands. Marietta saw no sign of a cabin.

Jase guided the horse through the storm as though he knew exactly where he was going. Marietta couldn't imagine how a man could be so ingrained in his surroundings that he knew even in white blindness precisely where to go, but Jase seemed confident he was moving toward the shack. All Marietta could do was hope he did indeed have them heading in the right direction.

The cabin didn't come into view until the horse was only a few feet from the front door. Jase got down from his seat, secured the rig, and helped Zack and Marietta out of their carriage. The three of them rushed into the cabin.

Jase lifted Zack into his arms. "Are you all right, partner?"

"I'm cold, Jase, and I'm hungry." Zack rubbed a hand over his eye, still puffy from all the crying he'd done earlier.

"I know, Zack, so am I, and so is your aunt. Aren't you, Miss Randolf?" He looked down at Marietta, his eyes filled with worry.

"I'm frozen and famished." She stared up at Jase a moment before she looked at Zack. "But we can take care of both of those problems. Can't we, Mr. Kent?"

Jase set Zack down. "In due time. I'll light a fire, but it may take me a while to find game in this storm."

"I have supplies in my bags," she said. "Not a lot, but I do have fixings for biscuits and some jerky as well."

Jase's brows lifted. "You do?"

"Yes. On my way to Fort Kearney, I wanted to be prepared in case we were stranded on the trail. If you'll bring in the bags, we'll have more clothing, food and perhaps Zack even has a toy or two among his belongings."

"I do," Zack said, "but I'm too cold to play."

Jase focused on Marietta. "There are blankets on the bunks over there," he said, pointing toward the north wall. "Plus a few extra in the closet next to the fireplace. Wrap the boy so he doesn't get any colder, and wrap yourself as well. I'll bring in the bags and put the horse in the lean-to. When I finish, I'll lay a fire."

"All right, Mr. Kent."

Marietta took Zack's hand and led him to the bunks. She pulled off his boots and helped him get under the blanket. While Jase went about his chores, she found extra blankets and put them over Zack.

She knelt next to his bed and rubbed her hand over his curly blonde hair. "Is that better, Zack?"

"Yes, thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Are we going to be all right?"

"I think so."

"When I got so cold, I thought maybe Ma was coming to take me with her like I asked. When people die, they get very cold."

"Yes, they do, but your ma can't come to take you away, Zack."

"Are you sure? You asked Ma to take you. If she could take a grown person with her, couldn't she take a little boy?"

Marietta bit back a tear and caressed Zack's hair again. "When people grieve, they sometimes say silly, impossible things. I asked Kathy to take me with her because it's so hard for me to be without her, but she can't really take me to where she is."

"I love Ma," Zack said slowly, "but I don't really want to die, Aunt Marietta."

She took him into her arms and squeezed him tightly. "Neither do I, darling. We're going to be fine."

Zack snuggled with his aunt a moment longer before he squirmed deeper under the covers.

"You rest." Marietta smoothed her hand over Zack's lemony curls. "I'm going to start laying the fire. Soon it will be warm as July in here." She kissed his cheek and touched his hair once more. "You'll see, Zack. We'll be fine."

Marietta went to the hearth and took kindling from the box near the fireplace. She put it in the firebox and lit it with matches she found on the mantel. The dry wood burst into flames, and Marietta added larger pieces of kindling. When she felt the door open behind her, she spun around. Jase had brought in the bags while she took care of Zack, and now he was returning from caring for the horse.

"You've started the fire." He came to her and crouched down beside her, taking a small log from the wood box to lay on the fire. "Good work, Miss Randolf."

His compliment and the warm look in the gaze he sent her toasted her insides, and all signs of a chill within her were gone.

"This is nice," she whispered.

"Yes," he said softly.

"It feels so warm." She looked into the flames. "I love the glow of a fire."

"It beautifies everything around it."

Marietta glanced around the shack. She smiled and set her gaze on Jase........

--------------------------------

CHANGE OF HEART is available at libraries and at amazon.com, target.com, lulu.com

--------------------Acclaim for CHANGE OF HEART

Simegen.com, 5 STARS: The author, Fran Shaff, has sewn together a gripping, warmhearted romance filled with suspense that will have you, the reader, weeping tears of sadness and of joy for the sweetest couple that has hit the pages of books for a long time. www.simegen.com

1:11 AM 
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