Maria's Journal

Playing with Trouble by Chanel Cleeton Genre : Contemporary Romance Series : Capital Confessions #2 Expected publication : July 21, 2015 by Penguin/InterMix The author of Flirting with Scandal presents her second book in a sexy contemporary romance series about three sisters in a powerful political family, the scandals that threaten to destroy them, and the passion that drives them… The daughter of one of the Senate's most powerful figures, Blair Reynolds was ready to become the ultimate political wife—until she caught her fiancé cheating on her wedding day. Law school is a fresh start, her shot at putting the pieces of her life back together. That’s the plan, at least. Until trouble comes in the form of her Torts professor, the man whose arrogance infuriates her in class but haunts her private fantasies. Graydon Canter had a fortune and a place on all the hottest "Thirty under Thirty” lists, until a series of personal missteps nearly destroyed his career. A ye...

In my early teens when I began writing, I didn’t even know there were different styles of writing. As a young woman, I was just thrilled with the idea of world building. I discovered I had the power to change a person’s fate with a few simple keystrokes and that fascinated me. As the years went by and more responsibilities were piled onto my plate writing became secondary soon I’d stopped writing altogether. It wasn’t until just a few years back that I delved into world of fiction again employing the only method I’d ever known, the make-it-up-as-you-go-along method. When I set out to create my first short story Captive I started with nothing but a blank Word document and the hero’s voice in my head. The plot and supporting characters would emerge during the course of that first draft. As you might imagine my initial attempt at this short story didn’t go so well as plot lines were changed and/or added along the way. The second and third manuscript drafts were just slight...

It has been a while since my last post, but I'm still here... I don't think anyone who knows me would say that I'm shy yet a few years ago when I began my  writing to be published  journey I was...shy.  Back then, I was simply not ready to share my writing material with the world. It wasn't until 2009 when my daughter introduced me to blogging that things 'clicked'. Not only did blogging give me a much needed boost, but it also open a whole new world of writing possibilities. I was hooked. Since my early writing days much has transpired. I have served as president of a local writers club, written columns, articles, and newsletters and most importantly, I have published a book --now three. In addition, I've also developed a solid social media presence and invite you to visit my site and read my personal blog , I think if you visit often you'll be pleasantly surprised at all interesting tidbits about writing life. I will blog on this site oc...

I believe most of us writers understand this concept: a good reader makes a good writer. So, what does this mean, really? Well, it means that we writers need to fully immerse ourselves in reading the writings of others, quality writings at that. And this does not mean reading only material in the genre in which you focus, but across multiple genres. Realize that there's absolutely nothing wrong with reading a lot in just one topic, however, you will stifle your growth as a writer if you fail to read beyond a single subject. Now I’d like to share with you five well-known authors* and the way in which each has helped me define my own style of writing. See below in alphabetical order: Sandra Brown – romance/suspense Ms. Brown blends suspense with an element of contemporary romance. I enjoy reading Ms. Brown’s books because the stories are well-plotted and they offer just the right amount of tension. I also enjoy Ms. Brown’s ability to skillfully weave the romantic element in her ...

Earth Day is just a few days away. Please see below a handful of things everyone can do to make the planet a greener world: 1. Swap light bulbs 2. Plant a tree 3. Curb junk mail 4. Drive the speed limit 5. Carry your own water bottle Here's a link to for other good ideas: http://www.earthday.org/takeaction/campaigns.html Until next time friends! Maria

I want to say thank you to my friend Leslie Jones for inviting me to participate in the My Writing Process Blog Tour. Leslie Jones writes military romantic suspense, please take a moment to check out her Blog Hop post here . About my writing, well I knew at a very early age that I wanted to be a writer. What’s even more interesting is that I knew at the age of ten that I’d be a romance writer. Consequently, I wrote my first short love story at the age of eleven and I’ve continued to write ever since. Now, onto a few more interesting tidbits about Maria Cox— What am I working on? Right now, I’m in between projects. My latest novelette, Jungle Fever was released through Secret Cravings Publishing on 2/5 and my novella Captive (V.2) is in the hands of the beta readers. Currently, I’m finishing a first draft of a ghostwriting assignment. How does my work differ from others of its genre? My work differs from others in my genre in that the characters in my stories are wi...

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Phenomenal-Woman-by-Maya-Angelou Phenomenal Woman Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms, The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It's the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can't touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them, They say they still can't see...