The behind-the-story page for MORE series has been updated

Posted on May 27, 2015 by SloanParker

My website has been updated with all the behind-the-story info for MORE THAN MOST (More Book 2). I shared most of these during the book’s release party, but now all the character interviews, playlists, related blog posts, and character sketches for the series are available in one place. And if you haven’t read it yet, don’t miss the brief conversation with Matthew that takes place before the third book in the series.

Release Party: Playlist for MORE THAN MOST (More Book 2)

Posted on May 1, 2015 by SloanParker

Click here to enter the giveaway. One entry per person per day during the release party.

Here are a few of the songs that remind me of Richard, Matthew, and Luke and their journey in MORE THAN MOST. If you can’t see the embedded video for each song, you can click on the song title to view it on YouTube. I tried to link to the official video when available.

1) (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, Bryan Adams
This one is a great fit for Richard and his need to protect the people he loves.

2) Who You Love, John Mayer, Katy Perry
This one’s all Luke. And this video includes real-life couples, which I love.

3) All of Me, John Legend

4) Everything, Michael Bublé

5) A Few Honest Words, Ben Sollee
This song was written as an open letter to political leaders in the US, but it reminds me of what Richard expects from people.

6) How We Operate, Gomez
This one reminds me of a few moments in the book between Luke and Richard.

7) At Last, Etta James
This is the song Matthew is listening to when Richard comes home from his meeting and finds Matthew reading the box of letters.

8) What Makes You Beautiful, One Direction
Richard to Matthew.

9) Bound by Love, Gran Bel Fisher
The video is quite sad, but there’s just something about the lyrics that remind me of Richard’s journey in this book.

10) I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing, Aerosmith

Enter the Release Party Giveaway for a chance at a $25 e-gift card to All Romance eBooks and a bundle of Sloan Parker’s novels in print. You can enter the giveaway once per day for a total of seven entries per person. The giveaway ends 11:59 PM on Sunday, May 3, 2015.

When an author acts out the scenes (without really meaning to)

Posted on July 30, 2014 by SloanParker

Right now I’m putting the final polish on MORE THAN MOST. (I’m so thrilled with how it’s turned out and I can’t wait to share it!) At this point in the process, I usually spend my days walking around the house reading the manuscript aloud. I look for anything that stands out: repetitive or missing words, odd phrasing in dialogue, continuity issues, moments when an emotional reaction would up the intensity of the scene, that kind of thing.

I’m also at the point where I know the story so well that I sometimes start “acting out” certain parts. Every time I read the same scene over and over, I make hand gestures and facial expressions when the characters do. I lick my lips when they do. I move when and how they do. (And let me just say, I’m so glad no one has a camera anywhere near me during this phase of the writing process.)

So I thought it might be fun to share some of the specific moments from my books where I caught myself really stepping into the role of the characters.

So in no particular order, here are my more embarrassing moments as a writer:

I squeezed my eye shut imitating Walter when Kevin punched him, and then dabbed at the “tender” skin below my eye. (HOW TO SAVE A LIFE)
I banged my fist on my desk when Luke did the same on a diner table after talking with his father. (MORE)
I limped around the house like Richard after he’d twisted his ankle. (MORE THAN MOST)
I went to scoop up little Jessica and carry her through the house like Lincoln did when Nancy’s place was on fire. (BREATHE)
I shoved open the (non-existent) bathroom stall door and stormed across the room when Lincoln found out who the man was that he’d kissed. (BREATHE)
I squinted as the wind whipped around Evan when he was trapped in the blizzard, even though I was writing that book in the middle of summer. (TAKE ME HOME)
I raised my arm to shuffle Mateo into his apartment just as Grady did when he finally located him. (I SWEAR TO YOU)
I picked up the pace when Mark raced after Scott when Scott freaked out and ran out of Mark’s apartment after they’d tried to spend their first night together. (MORE THAN JUST A GOOD BOOK)
I puffed out my cheeks when Sean stuffed his mouth with two dinner rolls when he’d first met Gavin. (SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN)

And perhaps the MOST embarrassing:

I reached for my dick (of which I do not have) when Walter told Kevin to touch himself. And I did it again every single time I read that scene. (HOW TO SAVE A LIFE)

Now that’s dedication, right? Or a really, REALLY nutty writer, I’m not sure which.

I’ll just say I’m very passionate about my work and leave it at that.

I SWEAR TO YOU Release Party: Behind-the-Story Tidbits

Posted on April 30, 2014 by SloanParker

Today’s winner of the I SWEAR TO YOU Release Party Giveaway is:
Kelsey O. Congratulations!

I SWEAR TO YOU is now available at Amazon!

Here are some behind-the-story tidbits from my writing of Grady and Mateo’s story:

In the original premise I pitched to my publisher, Mateo and Grady’s roles were reversed. As the story unfolded, it became clear Mateo should be the one who had no one in his life after he thought he’d lost Grady, and Grady should be the more reluctant one when it came to the two of them first being together.
In an early draft, the first kiss between Mateo and Grady happened at a frat party in a bedroom upstairs. I wanted them to stop thinking and give into everything they were feeling, ultimately having sex in that bedroom at the frat house. But as I started working on that scene, I decided I wanted them to be at the lake and to not go “all the way.” That one decision was the moment everything started to fall in place for this story.
Much of this story’s first draft was written by hand in restaurants and a local coffee shop.
I Swear to You was probably one of the most linear stories I’ve ever written, meaning I started at the beginning and basically worked my way toward the end. I did have outline notes for some of the later chapters, but I wasn’t quite sure what the final scene would look like until I got farther into the story. Usually I know how each story ends very early on in the process, sometimes going so far as to write the ending before 3/4 of the book is drafted.
I had several ideas in mind for what Mateo had witnessed in his past, and until I wrote the scene in the bathroom where he tells Grady the truth, I wasn’t certain which version I was going to use.

Remember, if you haven’t done so yet, enter my release party giveaway for a chance at one of this week’s giveaways of a $10 e-gift card to All Romance eBooks. If you’ve already entered, you’ll be included in all of this week’s giveaways until you win a prize or the party ends. You only need to enter once. Good luck!

Behind the Stories: Research and Field Testing Story Details

Posted on May 31, 2013 by SloanParker

The “Behind the Stories” pages on my website have been updated for several of my books with a sample of research links for each story, new related blog posts, a short playlist for SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN, pictures of my organization-crazy scene board for HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, and a few tidbits about the writing of BREATHE, including why I smashed the toy car pictured above. You can check out all the new info at the links below:

BREATHE