That’s right, I’ll no longer be posting articles to this page. During my quest to improve my site, I discovered that my website host offers WordPress without ads and with added features for no additional cost. I’m still in the process of setting it up, but you’ll find all the latest under my Havens-Realm.com umbrella.
Check it out!
https://havens-realm.com/blogsite/
See you there soon!
Tamara Monteau, Author
I know it’s been a long time coming, but Treacherous Destiny, Haven’s Realm 1, is finally on its way to online bookshelves. As of this moment, it has reached six outlets, including Barnes & Noble. I’m still waiting on Kindle. So, here it is!
Mistakes in his distant past force Joshua MacAaron to lead a solitary existence, but after centuries spent in the company of Mother Nature and her children, his soul becomes inexplicably entwined with that of a profoundly innocent mortal. Unable to resist her pull, he resigns himself to an unwanted love hunt, but is unable to conquer his fear of her rejection. When his reluctance to tell her the truth leads to tragedy, he’s faced with the necessity of letting her go.
Katie’s impoverished lifestyle and constant struggle to survive keeps her mind and heart occupied until a handsome Scotsman disrupts her simple plans. Drawn in by his gentle ways, she prays for the day he asks for her hand, but a horrific twist of fate reveals his vampire state in the worst possible way. Instinctive fear drives a wedge between them that only determination and love is able to break.
Their happiness is too-quickly shattered when a hunter attacks Community vampires near Haven’s Realm, calling Joshua to the defense of his clan. When he disappears and is declared dead, she is left alone to defend her destiny against the dictates of his Council.
This novel is a complete rewrite of Twilight Destiny, Haven’s Realm 1.
You can buy it now from Barnes & Noble here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/treacherous-destiny-tamara-monteau/1140067336?ean=2940165472039.
I will add more buy links as I get them. They’ll also be available at your local library. Thank you for your patience! #HavensRealm #VampireRomance
Tamara Monteau, Author
I sat down and reviewed my blog site to remind myself what I’ve posted and decide what to write this morning. I could apologize for my absence once again, but that’s beginning to sound lame, so I decided an explanation was in order. Presented with a blank page, I pondered over the title that would best describe why I’ve been absent for more than a year. It all summed up in four succinct characters everyone understands and bemoans — 2020.
It all began on the third of January. Determined to make a change for myself and claw my way out of the depression the holidays left with me, I took daughter number three clothes shopping. I’ll have to admit asking for fashion advice from my flamboyant redhead was a questionable decision, but I did come away with some updated togs and a bottle of platinum hair color.
After spending the remainder of that afternoon in Christina’s care, I returned home to find that Mike had begun interior renovations I really believed he would hold off on until after his upcoming surgery. “Buzzzzz! Wrong answer. Thank you for playing. Have a nice day.” I had no choice but to dig in, and I was thankful that he managed to finish stripping and painting the popcorn ceilings before the big day came. The end of January, I had my first day of rest, if you can call it resting, sitting in the hospital waiting room and watching the surgery monitor.
I completed most of the wood flooring while Mike recuperated, leaning on help from the kids once in a while when I needed something heavy moved. Another daughter even agreed to spend a day helping, and we covered more than half of the living room. I finished up to the last room, my library and office, when hubs, feeling better about himself, announced his readiness to work on our new pool site. The office is still on stand-by.
Because we have a septic system, having an in-ground pool is impossible. We went through the motions last year anyway, just so we could accept the reality. We’ve always had above-ground pools, and they’ve increased in size and quality over the years. Last year, we were forced to take our Intex pool apart due to corroded vinyl, and decided to upgrade again. The relocation pulled the new pool farther into the corner of the back yard, making better use of the space, but the stress of sifting tufts of grass root and weed out of the new site left me in a hand splint for weeks. We threw a big assembly party after the groundwork was laid and the some three-hundred pound steel wall was ready for installation, and another after the deck was built and the pool was in operation, to reward everyone for their hard work. Now it’s after the Fourth of July, and I have baby things to make.
Although Covid has not hit our family directly, knock on wood, the inconveniences have. Things that were once plentiful on the shelves are now hard to find. You take for granted that the stores will always have what you need, but I didn’t anticipate the supply chain breakdown that slowed the restocking of those convenient shelves. Some of the things, like toilet paper and sanitizers, were easy to understand, all things considered, but there have been times when I’ve needed something that simply couldn’t be found. Crazy stuff–black pepper, gravy mixes, and privacy fencing to name a few. I even had to give up one of my favorite beverages due to a plant closure that, I think, is still ongoing. This made helping daughter number two more than a physical challenge.
We spent the first weeks in August helping our very pregnant Amanda and her family paint, repair privacy fencing, clean, and move into their new home. My sixtieth birthday passed with little more than mention, but we were so busy, I understood. I was bummed, but I understood. And then on to a baby shower, and the careful preparations needed these days to make sure visiting family members stayed safe. Almost four weeks after the fact, once the dust settled, the kids made it up to me, you can believe that!
I’ve spent every day in Haven’s Realm, usually in the mornings when everything is quiet and I can devote at least an hour to my muse. Every title is ready, if needing one more good look through, and I’ve been making noises about self publication. “When things settle down and I get the time…” But every aspect of the publication process seems profoundly involved and complicated to my aging brain, and I haven’t had the resources to put the attention on learning. I have another novel in the gears, and so far it’s proving its worth to me, but with a new grandson on the way and the holidays breathing down my neck, I guess I decided to give it thought again next year. And then…
A former writing associate announced in our old group that she had an advertising special on Facebook. Because she commented that on one of my old posts, I saw it and thanked her, but told her I didn’t yet have anything to advertise. Another associate saw that and tagged me about being signed on, finally, with another publisher who agreed to her back list. Because The Demon Chief was ready to go, I took a look at their website and decided to take a chance. So hold on, cherished readers–Haven’s Realm is sticking its foot in another door.
Will they decide The Demon Chief is worthy? I sure hope so. It would certainly help me get back on the shelf faster and take some of the stress out of it. But as I warned the hubs last night, this will throw me into another long round of edits, covers and galleys. I may have to sacrifice some of those things I want to do for others for the sake of seeing this through. My ever optimistic and logical-minded champion assured me this is what I need to do, and is ready to support me.
Everyone I talk to about my imagined friends wants to know more. I’ve shown excerpts to visitors who expressed more than mild curiosity, and won them over after a few short pages. Return visits often include inquiries regarding my published status. My devoted readers frequently ask when I’ll be available again, and I have to offer them assuring smiles and tell them I’m trying. How can any writer fail with reader encouragement like that? Well, okay, maybe timid me, but I’m trying to be optimistic.
Gaining acceptance of Trey’s story will open the door for consideration, and the rest of my already-visited friends are patiently waiting to see what the big guy will accomplish. Not-so-patient newbies have been throwing me vibes, and–believe it or not–I have ideas for fifteen more plots, ten of which will probably develop into new stories. Will any of my previously published titles follow The Demon Chief into the hands of professionals? I have no clue. Each story is going to have to fly on its own merits, so I’ll give every one of my friends all my support while they endure the process. It could be I’ll still have to go indie on some titles, and I’m bracing myself for the possibility of severe cuts and editing. King had to abridge The Stand to get it launched. If he can endure it, so can I. I’ve promised I’ll get Haven’s Realm active again, and I never back out of a promise, even if fulfillment is a long time coming.
I have two months, hopefully, to wait on another response from the publishing house. I’ll work double-time to finish the sewing and crafts I have lined up for both baby and as gifts, spend my quiet morning hours reviewing my work and the supporting files, and prepare myself in the event I do become published again. Assuming the next email I receive is positive, I’ll have a hectic end to 2020, and the beginning of another long uphill climb.
Thank you for being patient with me. Let’s hope 2021 starts out on a better note.
Respectfully submitted,
Tamara Monteau
Author, Haven’s Realm
Hello, cherished readers! I’m sorry it’s been so long since I last posted, but my brain has been permanently lodged in Haven’s Realm. Ever since I lost my place on the shelf, I’ve been buried in mountains of editing work. I’ve come to a very important conclusion — you have to write well into a series before you can know the culture well enough to write it.
Starting with book one, chapter one, page one, I’ve rewritten the entire Haven’s Realm saga, incorporating an ever-improving writing style and all that I’ve learned during my writing adventure. Joshua MacAaron, my first vampire from the Community, was shy and reserved when confiding his secrets, and I didn’t have a whole lot of information to go on. I didn’t know who Jason was or the events leading to the founding of my noble clan until I had an opportunity to speak with the king himself. I interjected that knowledge into my first novel, giving readers a better understanding of the world they were exploring.
Dragon Lord is another story that has undergone a profound change. I found while reviewing the work that I had almost completely ignored the title character. I left numerous holes — bits of plot that dropped out of sight and opportunities for character advancement that were ignored — and filling them took a lot of patience. Ronan still wasn’t talking, and I had to force it out of him. He feels much better now.
Over the last three years, I’ve scrutinized each and every paragraph at least a dozen times, cleaning out unnecessary fluff and smoothing story flow. I’m sure they’re not perfect, but I expect any editor out there to put their publisher’s spin on things, and I’m good with that. I restructured two of the stories and completed two new titles. Haven’s Realm now stands eight novels strong, and I’ve begun work on the ninth. I have notes and sketches for several more after that, and I can’t wait to show it all to you.
All eight titles are as clean as I can make them and ready to go. I managed to condense each massive novel into 2-page synopses — not an easy task for one who is not known for brevity. I have a timeline issue to resolve so all books are consistent in facts, and I need to polish the series outline and query I intend to send. This shouldn’t take long. I’ve also updated my website with a new look and content. After drowning in a sea of English for years, switching to html — a language I once spoke fluently — was a challenge I didn’t expect.
Slipping back into the media is also going to be a challenge. I’ve gotten used to the company of my ‘friends’, and feel like an ostrich whose head has been stuck in the sand for ages. Or like Lucien, waking after a hundred years to find so much has changed. My solitary existence is coming to an end, and that is as frightening as it is exciting. I hope I can keep up!
I want to offer profound apologies to every one of you who has been waiting for Haven’s return. You’ve been patient with me, and I truly appreciate that. I hope you consider the end result well worth the wait.
…and, I promise to keep you posted!
Respectfully submitted,
~ Tamara Monteau
It is with the greatest sorrow that I must announce the closing of Secret Cravings Publishing. Haven’s Realm has been taken off the market, but I promise you that isn’t the end of the saga!
While I await the release notices for my right to republish, I’m working on preparing the series for submission to a number of publishing houses. Twilight Destiny is currently in the hands of my final beta reader, and I’m preparing the supporting documentation to present the saga. I intend to take my time, get things just right in my heart and head, before I make my next move.
Jason and his Council are waiting patiently at the moment, ready to voice their support should they be called on while I revamp (no pun intended) each book. I know I can promise better detail, stronger sensuality and passion, and a much more satisfying read between every set of covers.
I’ve learned a lot from the Secret Cravings staff, and owe Sandy Sullivan my respect and gratitude. I will carry their lessons forward while I do the same for Haven’s Realm.
~Tamara Monteau
A fan asked me a while back about the publication process. This comes up a lot, and she seemed genuinely surprised by all that publishing a novel entails. Today I’ll make this my topic of conversation.
Of course, first and foremost, you need to write and complete a story. It has to be original, or contain a new twist on an old idea. This alone is a daunting task, successful only to those who truly believe in their work, and have the fortitude to see it through. When I tell someone I’m a published author, about half the time I receive the same reaction–“Yeah, I have a book I’ve been meaning to write…” Trust me. Meaning to isn’t doing, and doing is a lot harder than it sounds. I tell them all the same thing. Sit down and write a little every day. An hour is sufficient, as long as you stick with it. That’s the key.
So now you have a completed manuscript. Congratulations. You’ve nursed it, coddled and fed it, and the final words of the final chapter bring you great satisfaction. “I did it,” you tell all your friends. “I finally finished that book.” Well, guess what. You’re not even halfway down the path to a published work. Next comes self-editing. This is where you dissect that carefully assembled product and weed out the bugs. You’ll second guess plot and dialog, add, subtract and rearrange, polish every word until you can, honestly, read someone else’s work and think, Hey, mine’s better than that. When you reach that stage, it’s time to find a publisher.
Now, I can’t speak for publishing houses, but I imagine each must receive thousands of submissions every year. The competition is stiff. You have to sell your book right out of the envelope, so to speak, convince the house you are contacting that this book is worthy of sale. To that end, you have to first sit back with a blank canvas, choose the most important plot elements, and condense your book into a two-page synopsis. It has to be concise and tell the basic story, and it absolutely has to be free of typos and editing mistakes. Your writing style will be judged here.
Next comes the query letter, these days an email containing your completed manuscript and synopsis, and an explanation to catch the attention of the submissions department. I begin by naming the title, tell how many words and if the work is complete, the genre, and if the book is part of a series, the series title. A blurb outlining the idea of the story follows, and it should be brief, generally 150 words, and should make the reader want to know more. This is the same text you browse through on the back covers at your local bookstore. Now thank them for their time and consideration, and push send.
Then you sit back and wait for a reply. And trust me on this as well–it’s a killer. It may take as little as two, or as many as four weeks to receive a reply, depending upon how busy the publishing house is at the time. You really don’t want to hear back any sooner than that. A reply that comes two days later is probably a “Thank you, but not what we’re looking for” let down. In my opinion, the longer the wait, the more closely they’re considering offering you a contract. Don’t send followup messages every day and irritate the crap out of them, just be patient.
At long last, if you’re good and very lucky, someone will offer you a contract. Read it. Read it again. If you agree to the terms, sign and mail back. Now you can call yourself a published author. Go ahead and do your happy dance, you definitely deserve it! But the journey does not end there. Oh, no. You’ve only reached the top of the mountain. Now you have to work your way down the other side. And this, to many, seems the most surprising of all.
While you’re waiting to be assigned an editor, you’ll polish your blurb and submit information to the company for the development of your cover. You probably have a pretty good idea what your cover should look like, and you can express those ideas here. I’ve often found that giving just the right info–main character descriptions, etc.–and letting the artist do his/her thing is best. Once the final product is approved both by you and management, you can use the image to promote interest in your book.
By now, your editor is probably ready for you. Be prepared for compromise, and don’t be too much in love with your own words. These people are professionals, and know what works. Be patient, tolerant, and cooperative. Most of the time, you’ll progress smoothly through this step. You’ll go around a few times before you’re both happy with the finished product and are ready for formatting.
But there will be times when standing your ground is crucial. A good case in point is my own journey through my first Haven’s Realm novel. The editor I drew seemed, for the most part, fixated on another series, and pestered me no end until I finally had to say, “Look. The story is what it is.” There is nothing in the plot that resembles the work I have never read–I didn’t see the movies until after I first made my story public. Thankfully, when I moved on to book two, I was reassigned, and my new editor loves my work. I give her my full cooperation, but there are times when I need to explain why something is said a certain way, or point to a reference earlier in the story. I do have to say, however, that sometimes my editor has a suggestion on word usage, such as British slang or swear, that vastly improves that one sentence, and I’m always open to improvement.
At this stage, most of your pre-release work is done. You’ll see an email or two while the work is assembled and formatted, and I strongly recommend reviewing the entire manuscript every time. Until the day it goes live, there’s still time to correct that troublesome typo. In the meantime, you can organize your release party and prepare yourself for the day your book goes live. When that day finally arrives, and you’re holding a copy of your very own book in your hot little hands, do another happy dance, and move on to marketing. And, oh yes, get started on that next book!
Thank you for spending time with me today, cherished readers!
Tamara Monteau
Haven's Realm 