Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

Karen Tabke. She’ll be speaking on plotting parties–sounds fun! If you want to join us, leave a comment and I’ll send you an invitation to join the group. :)
Lori

(the below written by Karin)
Let’s have a party!

A funny thing happened to this pantser after she sold. She couldn’t write. She was frozen, stumped, migraines became a daily visitor. She choked.

For all of the years I strived for publication, I wrote regularly, but on my terms. I began a story with a germ of an idea, my characters fairly fleshed out and a few good scenes burning to be written. Usually, I began my story in the wrong place and by the sagging middle, I could, without pressure, mull my way to The End. This method usually required heavy rewriting. My stories generally meandered and well, while there were some really good scenes, these stories usually needed to be cut by 20-30 K words. Writing 20-30 K words in my life now equals time, my very valuable writing time, time I don’t have to waste on one single word, much less thousands.

I learned quickly that deadlines don’t bode well for casual mulling. Deadlines don’t bode well for beginning your story in the wrong place with leisure time to dabble, tweak and rewrite multiple times. Rewrites that ultimately dilute your story.

After weeks of staring blankly at my computer screen, and the beginnings of an ulcer due to massive does of aspirin, I knew what I had to do. Plot. ( I don’t cringe when I type it or say it out loud anymore.) Plotting does not come naturally to this pantser, but thanks to Shelley Bates, I discovered the kewlest thing.

A plotting party. Here’s what you’ll need.

A day with no outside interferences, a couple of really smart writer minds, a few specific office supplies, munchies, and most of all: enthusiasm coupled with the will to plot the next NY Times best seller!

Stick around and find out how to utilize this sure fire plan of not only plotting your story, but developing your characters GMC’s along the way.

Karin’s Bio:
Hot cops you say? I say, write what you know.

Karin Tabke writes hot cops; who while they live, lust and love they take time from their personal passions for their other passion: Justice. Not always by the book justice. Sometimes her hot cops walk the very thin line between good and naughty, but in the end, the bad guy is caught, the lust finds love and life is good.

How does Karin know so much about hot cops? Naturally, she married one. ;)

So it’s no wonder Karin is one of the launch authors for Kensington Publishing’s new erotic romance line, Aphrodisia. Her hot cops fit right in. THE HARD STUFF will be released January 2006. Her second and third sales were to Pocket/Simon & Schuster. Doing what she does best, her hot cops lust, love and fight the bad guy from page one to The End. GOOD GIRL GONE BAD, an erotic suspense, will be released in September 2006 and SKIN (working title), February 2007.
Karin is also a member of Romance Writers of America National, and two local RWA chapters. The Heart of the Bay San Francisco, and the Black Diamonds of the East Bay. She is also a member of several on line RWA chapters, most having to do with murder.

Karin has also joined four indomitable multi published writers (Jennifer Apodaca, Natalie R Collins, Deborah LeBlanc, and Allison Brennan) as part of the Murder She Writes blog site. All five authors have one thing in common. Dead bodies abound in their books. For a sidesplitting laugh or the raucous discussion of how to kill someone and get away with it, visit the ladies at www.murdershewrites.comKarin is part of the Crime in Mind trio, www.Crimeinmind.com, comprised of Dr. Cynthia Lea Clark, forensic psychologist, and Rae Monet, former FBI agent and current Private Investigator. CiM presents workshops and guest speaking appearances. Karin’s part in the group is discussing the life, love and trials of cop family life and also basic CST information. Karin is currently enrolled in The American Institute of Applied Science’s CST program.
Karin is also CEO of her own company.

Her website www.karintabke.com offers Cop Talk, a very popular resource to garner basic cop lingo, procedures, miscellaneous information, and even a few funnies. There are also several links for more detailed cop information.

Karin resides in a quiet little town east of San Francisco with her husband, three of her four children, three over indulged dogs, one very naughty cat, a mouthy African gray and numerous koi.

Her other passion is watching her two sons kick ass on the football field.