Friday Fun Facts: Try an Audio Book

Traveling this summer? Taking any books with you? Print version, or e-reader? Or...what about an audio book or two? Don't forget that downloading an audio book is a terrific way to take a story with you on the plane or in a car and requires even less space to store than an ebook!

And why am I mentioning audio books? Because two of my earliest stories, Lost in Paradise, and One Night in Memphis, are both available now from Audio Lark. I always forget to mention them when I'm doing promotion, so here's my big shout-out! And yum - I love these covers as well - don't you?

Or, if you've already read (or heard) my books, why not give another one a try? Enjoy your travels and free your hands - buy an audio book!

Writers' Wednesday: Two Helpful Links

I'm about halfway through my latest WIP, Beacon of Love, and though I went through over the weekend and made some major plot changes (and a character name that just wasn't working for me), I'm surging ahead now and trying, trying to get to my goal of 60K words by the end of the month.

But...

I wanted to take a moment to briefly share two links with writers today.

The first is Goddess Fish Promotions, partner site to The Long and the Short of It and run by two of very talented writing/reviewing/promoting friends. (That's not why I'm chatting it up though). They have some great options when it comes to promoting your new release. If you'd like to guest blog or do some online appearances but aren't sure how or where to start, they will set up the whole thing for you. Great price ranges, too. Check them out here.

And the second is Savvy Authors. I'll be doing some workshops for them later this summer, but as I was perusing their site I discovered that they have the AWESOME opportunity for writers to pitch to agents and editors, on a fairly regular basis. This week alone, agents/editors from Larsen Pomada, Sourcebooks, Judith Ehrlich, and Ethan Ellenberg have been/will be there. So check it out!

Now I'm back to the keyboard...

Monday Mentionables: A Successful Saturday!

Thoughts on my Saturday signing experience (4th time I've been at this craft fair in my hometown):

1. The "Local Author" angle is a HUGE draw. For the first time I had both a sign and a framed copy of an article that had appeared in the local paper a couple of years ago. The number of people who stopped by simply because of that probably made up at least half of my total sales - and these weren't people I knew, but people who just lived locally who thought it was cool that I had grown up there.

2. But don't discount the word-of-mouth-it's-who-you-know angle. A woman who turned out to be a mother of a classmate of my sister's (are you following this?) was so tickled when she found out who I was that she bought all my books!

3. Online/social media contacts do matter! One person told me they got my electronic newsletter so they knew I'd be there; another saw my post on Facebook about it. There are never too many ways to spread the word!

4. Being friendly (but not overly so) makes a difference. I chatted with one fellow vendor who was making the rounds. She asked which book was my favorite and I recommended Summer's Song, which she bought. About 4 hours later she came back because she was up to chapter 4 and wanted another one of my books! That was probably the highlight sale of my day.

5. Make yourself & your books appealing. One teenage girl asked me if I'd save her a copy of Summer's Song because she had to run home to get more money. I told her I would try, but that one was going fast (truth, I wasn't trying to play hardball). She took her last $12 out of her purse to buy it!

So yes, it was a successful author appearance (I sold 27 books total) - and I would really recommend taking advantage of any place where you can be the "local author" - people love to know/live next door to/shop with someone who's written a book or two!

Friday Fun Facts: First of a Few Summer Appearances

OK, the summer signing season is upon us, and so I'll be at the Holiday in Homer craft fair tomorrow, Saturday, from 10 am - 4 pm. Please stop by and say hello if you're in the area! Always a great day :)

Writers' Wednesday: The Dreaded Sagging Middle

Well, I've been moving right along, writing about 2000 words/1 chapter a day on my latest WIP, but yesterday I found myself slowing down. Badly. Struggling to care about my scene. My characters. And having no idea what comes next.

Ugh. It's Sagging Middle Syndrome.

To be fair, I'm not quite at the middle yet, but the pace is getting bogged down and I know it's coming. I thought I'd blog today about ways to tackle it, but I still struggle with that myself, so last night I went Googling in search of some help.

I found it on the website of agent Donald Maass, a widely respected agent in the business who gives workshops on, most notably, Writing the Breakout Novel. And this month, he's posting (and Tweeting about) ways to move your novel from so-so to breakout level. Just what I needed to give my sagging scenes a lift!

Here's the link - as of last night there were 40 tips listed for ways to jump-start your writing. A couple of my favorites:

What miracle does your MC pray for? Make it impossible...then make it happen.

Find a corner, crossroads or dark object in your story. Invest it with eeriness, unknown portent or dread. Go there three times.

Before a new character debuts, give your MC an expectation or fear. Make the reality three times better or worse.


Now, go check out the whole list - and be inspired! Happy writing......

Friday Fun Facts: A New Book

Well, I started a new work/project/book a little over a week ago, and I'm happy to report that I'm making steady progress and meeting my word count goals...so far...I wanted to write 2000 words a day - not impossible, certainly, but that definitely requires the Butt-in-Chair-Hands-on-Keyboard approach, since it takes me anywhere from 1-3 hours to write that much.

What's the story? It's tentatively titled Beacon of Love and it's about the host of a travel show, Sophie Smithwise, who comes to a small town in Connecticut to do a piece on the haunted lighthouse there. She meets Mitch Thomas, all-around good local guy, handyman, volunteer firefighter, and sometimes-cameraman. He steps up when one of her cameramen gets sick - but the real conflict here is that the fifty-year old murder-suicide that took place inside the lighthouse, and supposedly began the hauntings, belongs to Sophie's grandparents.

Something like that.

I haven't planned out the entire plot - unusual for me - but I'm just writing and letting the story happen. So far I like where it's going. I mostly like how the hero and heroine are interacting. She's a smart ass, and he's low-keyed but keeps up with her in more ways than one. I also like (and this always happens, such a great part of writing fiction) how the characters do things I would never have predicted, or how plotlines turn based on conversation that I didn't intend when I sat down at the keyboard.

Okay, I have 2000 words to go write. Happy Friday!

Writers' Wednesday: Self-Publishing Still the Kiss of Death?

Self-publishing: to many people, it's still a red flag. In a nutshell, some think if you can't get your book published through traditional channels, then it probably isn't good enough to be published at all. Thus, if you decide to take on the kiss of death and self-publish, you're trumpeting to the world that your book wasn't good enough to make it any other way.

Or are you?

These days, it seems, ebooks and the ease of digitally self-publishing have taken away that stigma, at least to some degree. Lulu, of course, has been around for a while for authors who want to self-publish a print version. But that requires a certain amount of cash up front, that authors may or may not recoup. But Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing program (as well as Barnes and Noble's PubIt) allow authors to upload a file, format it, and have it available in digital form almost immediately - with very little financial output (excluding, of course having an editor go over your work and/or having a cover artist design your cover). Royalties through KDP are 70%, which is higher than you'll find with any other publisher. Of course, keep in mind that you are solely responsible for all marketing of your work - and that can be hugely time-consuming, especially if you don't have a reader base already established.

But what if you do? This is where things get a little interesting, in my opinion. What if you're a published author, with a fairly solid reader base, and you have a work or two that either doesn't fit with your current publisher, or is a backlist title that you have the rights for, or is simply a short work you want to have available to readers in between releases of your full-length works?

I'm friends with an author who's in just that situation, and last year she formatted and uploaded one of her previously-released books when her publisher folded and she had all rights returned to her. She spoke of the process as being very easy (esp. since the book had already been edited, and she's savvy enough to create her own cover). I emailed her last week to ask about the whole experience, and she couldn't recommend it highly enough. Since then, she's uploaded 3 of her works (2 previously released and 1 new work that had been rejected in a few places - yes, established authors get rejected too), and along with her regular sales through her publisher, those titles have brought in a solid chunk of cash.

So....it's something to consider. For a new, unpublished author, self-publishing through one of these channels might be a way to test the waters, or a way to finally get that work out in the public eye. For published authors, it might be an interesting way to supplement your backlist, especially when you don't have anything releasing for an extended period of time. Am I thinking about it? Maybe. I'll keep you posted!

Until then, I'm interested in anyone's thoughts or experiences with KDP or B&N's program. Done it? Recommend it?

Monday Mentionables: Happy 4th of July!!!

Happy Independence Day, to all my friends and readers in the United States!



Wednesday I'll be back here to talk about self-publishing through Amazon's Kindle program - it's becoming more and more popular, for already-established authors as well as new, unpublished ones. Is it something to explore and consider? Seems like maybe it is....I welcome your thoughts!

Friday Fun Facts: A Review of The Hunger Games

All year long my students read and devoured The Hunger Games, the dystopian YA novel by Suzanne Collins that's the first book in a trilogy (and coming out soon as a movie). I finally got a chance to read it last week, and though futuristic fiction isn't my usual favorite genre, I did enjoy it, for a few reasons. The story itself is clever - when publishers talk about wanting a "high concept" novel, this is what they mean:

In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

Interesting, current, compelling.

I thought the book did a great job (though maybe didn't go far enough) in exposing our current society's fascination with reality TV and the huge/sometimes awful influence of the media. The pacing itself is also one of the book's strengths. From the opening pages, it moves along at lightning speed, and since you know that the ultimate ending of the book means the death of every character save one, you read on wanting desperately to know who that will be. There's also a romance included between the two main characters, though it's more a device of the Games than an actual love story (depending on which character you identify with).

Downsides for me? A couple of plot devices that I thought forced the conflict of the story where the author didn't need to. I won't give them away, but they're responsible for the ultimate outcome of the Games. I also wasn't crazy about the ending, since it's obvious that the author meant for the story to continue in another book. There are minor conflicts introduced that felt "tacked on" in order to set up the next book in the series, Catching Fire.

Also, just a warning: there's a lot of violence in this book, especially for a YA novel. It's integral to the plot, of course, but younger readers (and their parents) might find it pretty strong and nightmarish. I've also read quite a few scathing comments about Collins' "stealing" the plot from a Japanese story, Battle Royale. Authors do borrow - nothing's original, people always say - but I can see that perhaps using SO many plot elements/tropes from another work might rub some readers the wrong way. As always, read at your own peril!

Anyone else read The Hunger Games? Thoughts?

Writers' Wednesday: A Couple of Writing/Promo Opps

Yes, I did take Monday off - the first day of summer vacation! From a teacher's POV (and of course from students' too), it's better than Christmas :) Now I just have to remember how to relax....

Writers, here are some opportunities that came through my email inbox the last couple of days. Remember, any chance you have to get your name in front of readers (or fellow writers, or editors, etc....) is one to consider. Weigh the time, effort, and cost involved, see how much it will take you away from your own writing, and then perhaps select 1 or 2 that are good fits for you:

Savvy Authors Summer Symposium: We're looking for workshop presenters, chat, and Q&A hosts on topics related to any aspect of writing genre fiction as well as raffle prizes to give away on the last day to the registered attendees. Prizes can be books - novels or books on craft or other topics of interest to authors - magazine or site subscriptions or best of all a 3-chapter critique. (**Note to blog readers: email me directly if you'd like more, and I'll forward the entire email to you)

Just One Bite Anthology: Authors wanted for All Romance's Just One Bite Short Story Contest! Thirty-two of the paranormal romance short stories submitted will be deemed "Semi-Finalists" and released onto the AllRomance.comand OmniLit.com websites on October 1, 2011.

Readers will vote for their favorite short stories during 5 rounds of voting with the field being narrowed at the end of each round. The first prize winning author will receive $1000 US.

Submissions will be accepted between July 1 and September 1, 2011. Each title must be an original, never before published paranormal romance work between 2,500 and 3,000 words.

I'll be back here Friday with my (very informal) review of The Hunger Games, a wildly popular YA novel that my students devoured this year and that I finally got around to reading.....Hope to see you then!

Friday Fun Facts: Last Day of School!

Last day of school! Yes, New York State is (finally) done for the school year! Now to tackle all those writing projects I haven't had time for all year long...

But speaking of which, looking at that video clip I posted Wednesday, it's true more often that not: people who have never written a book of any kind really don't have a true concept of how much work is involved. I mean, that's probably true of a number of skills/projects/professions. But it continues to surprise me all the same. Right now, a number of my friends & relatives are asking when my next book is coming out, and I have to say "I don't know" because I don't have one contracted at this point. There's a whole slew of reasons why, of course, and I wish I did, but life and a full-time job do sometimes get in the way. But I do think many readers think, oh, a few weeks/months and you can turn out a book. Doesn't take took long after that, right? Most people don't realize it's AT LEAST a year once you go through edits, cover design, and finalizing copy before a book hits the shelves.

But I still have people tell me they have a great idea for a book, they've written some pages down already, and could I just give them some resources where they could find out about publishing it? And of course I do (I always start people at Absolute Write - great initial resource), but I wonder how many of them follow through. Then of course there are those people who have a great IDEA and want me to write the story "with" them (I think that means their "idea" and my sweat & time & heartache in turning it into a novel).

So interesting to witness the learning curve - and so rewarding to have a group of friends and a support network of fellow writers who understand exactly how much is involved.

Happy Friday!

Writers' Wednesday: So You Want to Write a Novel

Have you seen this yet? Enjoy!

Monday Mentionables

I know I'm late posting today, but I did want to share two worthy mentionables:

Carina Press is giving away books this week! Yes, every day you can download a book for free. How great is that?!? Click here for more information.

And one of my fellow Hudson Valley RWA members, Shoshanna Evers, is seeking submissions for a non-fiction ebook she's compiling, titled How to Write Hot Sex: Tips from Multi-Published Erotic Romance Authors. If you're interested, visit her blog here for all the details.

Hope you've had a happy Monday!

Writers' Wednesday: The Old-Fashioned Love Letter

With techonology taking over the world, it's easy for declarations of love that used to appear longhand, meticulously scripted on stationery, to become online posts that are here one day, gone the next. Email, IM, Facebook posts or chats - young lovers confess their feelings in this way, this world, more and more often. Almost gone are the days of the handwritten love letter. That's not entirely bad, of course: today's communication is almost instant, so you can tell your love AT ONCE how you feel. But there's something charming about feelings that are committed to paper, in the tradition of years/decades past, right? Take a look at some famous ones:

"I can live only wholly with you or not at all – No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - "(Ludwig von Beethoven)

"You have touched me more profoundly than I thought even you could have touched me - my heart was full when you came here today. Henceforward I am yours for everything." (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

"Dearest, - I wish I had the gift of making rhymes, for methinks there is poetry in my head and heart since I have been in love with you." (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

"I belong to you; there is really no other way of expressing it, and that is not strong enough. How could I, fool that I am, go on sitting in my office, or here at home, instead of leaping onto a train with my eyes shut and opening them only when I am with you?" (Franz Kafka)


Sigh.

So I will admit, I'm the kind of sentimentalist that kept a few letters from boyfriends past. I dug out a few the other day to reread them, and those lines in faded ink reminded me so much of the girl I was, of the boys who wrote to me, of the way I treasured those awkward (and sometimes corny) lines. A couple of the ones I still love:

"I watch you walk across the room and I realize you are poetry: beauty in motion."

"If you make me wait, I won't mind: the more sand that falls through the hourglass, the bigger a sandcastle I will build you with it."

"Telling me to resist you is like telling me to live without the sunrise in the morning, warmth in the winter or water in the desert."

Ah, love letters...words from the hearts written down in black and white to be cherished always. Anyone have a stash from their past? Anyone still write them to their loved ones?

Monday Mentionables: Extreme Couponing

Does anyone else watch the show Extreme Couponing with a combination of awe and apprehension? Do you know what it is? It's a reality sort-of show that highlights extreme couponers - those people (actually, all women on the shows I've seen, no men - and I think there's a reason for this) who clip coupons, file coupons, compare sale flyers, and then bring their coupons/laptops/spread sheets to the grocery store where they emerge some 3-5 hours later having just scored $1,000 worth of groceries for something like $1.75.

Impressive? Absoutely. A little terrifying? At times, because these women are obsessive about matching up their coupons with deals and then either buying things they would never use (and then donating them to the needy, I guess), or stockpiling things they probably will never get through. The "stockpile" is the pride and joy of these women: usually a closet, sometimes a separate room altogether, filled with everything they've scored free or almost free. And yes, I admit I'm a little jealous, considering I spend over $100 almost every week on groceries. But I'm not sure I could break down and buy 25 deodorants just because they're .10 each, or 100 packets of dried noodles because they're .15 each. What on earth will one family do with 150 boxes of cereal? Or four shelves filled with hand soap?

This is where I think the extreme couponers border on hoarding. I really do. It becomes more about the deal than about buying things you need and will use. I think, honestly, having a huge stockpile, whether or not you use it, makes some people feel very secure, and maybe rightly so. But still. I do find it a little odd.

Here's the other thing: do these people buy produce or meat? I can't believe so, at least not on the show. Because those things are NEVER on sale with a coupon. And finally, with absoutely no disrespect to those people who are racking up 98% savings when they shop, not one person featured on the show has a full-time job. These women say they spend up to 30 hours a week clipping coupons and scoping out sales, and I believe it. But there's no way I would ever have time for that! (Thus my opinion as to why no men are featured on the show: they're out working 40+ hours a week while the women are home with the kids and the coupons).

OK, this post had nothing to do with writing. But I do find this relatively new fad of "extreme couponing" quite interesting. Thoughts?

Friday Fun Facts: Rotten Rejections

You know the story: debut author lands six-figure publishing deal, followed by a movie and then a second smash novel, and the author is appropriately, charmingly, and nauseatingly humble, saying, "Well, I did get about 100 rejection letters before I finally found the agent/editor/publishing house that was willing to take a chance."

Once we get past our envy of their huge success, it's worthwhile to listen to what many authors have to say about surviving the rejection letter - sometimes multiple times. Yes, the best authors have been rejected, often many times. So I try to take heart from their experiences - and surfing the Web to find some of those classic "can't believe this author EVER received a rejection letter" can bring a smile to anyone's face, I think.

In that spirit, here are a couple of sites that feature rejections of the famous and not-so-famous, all of which should make you chuckle and remind you to keep on keeping on! Write (or fill in the blank here_____) because you love it. Because you can't imagine NOT doing it. The publication (or fame, or money, or whatever else you're seeking) will come......

Rotten Rejections - My favorite here is about Carrie by Stephen King: 'We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.'

Famous Rejections - Starts with Dr. Seuss ("too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling")and moves on from there. Another funny one: "It is badly written and the hero is unsympathetic" (Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead)

And finally, from my own files (I save all my rejection letters), this one from an agent about Summer's Song: "Unforunately, I don't think your writing is strong enough to be publishable." (I will tell you, I still use this one in the back of my mind to motivate me, and to remind me that publishing is subjective, and never to allow one person's opinion to shape my own writing career.)

Carry on, and happy weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: Another Submission

Submitted my novella "Tequila Sunrise" to Samhain last night. Fingers crossed! If they're not interested then I'll probably try my former editor who's now at Carina Press.

And now I really have to decide what NEW project I want to take on for the summer. I need a new story to lose myself in!

Monday Mentionables: Short Reads!

Happy Monday!

For all my writer friends, The Long and the Short of It is seeking out short, sweet romance stories for their "Thrifty Thursday" blog posts. Info here:

The Long and the Short of It is looking for short (1300 - 1500 words), sweet romance
fiction for our Thrifty Thursdays, where readers can come and read for free
(http://tinyurl.com/njyoeh

In exchange for your short romance story, we offer $5 (payable on acceptance and
via Pay Pal only) and a free ONE MONTH book cover or banner ad (a $10 value).
The author may also choose to substitute a TWO MONTH cover/banner ad (a $20
value) in lieu of monetary payment. The author will also receive a link on our
website to their personal webpage and/or blog.

All genres are welcome as long as the story has strong romantic elements.
Additionally, all the stories accepted at Long and Short Reviews MUST have love
and romance as central. A "Happy Ever After" (or at least "Hopefully Ever After"
) is also a required, fundamental part of all the stories we publish.

More information, including how to submit your story, may be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/29p5gba

*************
And speaking of short/free reads, many authors swear by them, to keep readers interested in between longer releases and/or just to whet the interest of new readers. Check out my friend Liz's blog for one that does just that: link here.

And I'm curious: what do you think about free reads on websites/blogs? Do they make you want more from an author? Have you ever bought a book/story because you first read a freebie by that author somewhere?

(P.S. - It''s yet another maketing tool, for all you authors out there!)

Friday Fun Facts

Some random facts, in no particular order:

1. I really liked the Romance Writer's Report article on writing dialogue, in the June 2011 issue. Specifically, the reminder that people tend to talk in "code" (think of married people discussing conflict in front of others) was a good tip.

2. Brava is having a contest for all unpublished authors - they're calling for novellas in any genre. More information here.

3. I was really glad I made the bed and straightened the house yesterday before work, because the crazy-high winds blew in a window screen...which triggered our house alarm...which summoned the police to our place. On a walk-through with them, I realized I failed to put away my lingerie on the drying rack, but oh well. Almost everything else passed muster :)

4. This fairly large snapping turtle was digging a hole near the bottom of our driveway. Getting ready to lay eggs? Maybe, which would be kind of cool. I've seen turtles everywhere this spring, on the side of the road, IN the road, crossing parking lots. More sightings than ever before. Wonder why?

Writers' Wednesday: WD Top Websites for Writers

Every year, Writer's Digest rounds up the websites it considers best for writers, in a wide variety of genres and subject areas. So if you don't subscribe to WD, the May/June 2011 is definitely an issue you want to pick up! I won't list them all (there are over 100), but here are some that I visit on a (semi) regular basis and can vouch for their appeal/helpfulness:

Agent Query - find any agent here, listed by subject area/interest

BookEnds - agents Jessica Faust and Kim Lionetti run this blog

Pub Rants - agent Kristin Nelson has run this blog for years. Hugely helpful in terms of what agents are looking for, and she has a few series of posts regarding query letters, pubbing, etc.

Media Bistro - offers tons of resources & industry news for freelance writers

Preditors & Editors - lists agents and publishing houses along with questionable news, those who are fraudulent/not to be trusted, etc. A must-check before writers query ANYONE

Nathan Bransford - used to be an agent, now a writer, has friendly, easy-to-read posts on the inside workings of the publishing world.

WOW - Women on Writing - I freelanced for them a few times. Website devoted to supporting women's writing endeavors, really it just provides some great writing tips, industry news, etc, that anyone could find useful.

Absolute Write Forums - I check in there at least once a day. You can find information on just about any area of writing you're seeking. Forums for newbies to multi-published authors and anyone inbetween, with just about every genre and sub-genre covered. Awesome!
Happy writing/reading/researching/web surfing!

Monday Mentionables: Upcoming Events

Happy Memorial Day, everyone! In honor of all those who have served to protect our country, I thank you whole-heartedly!

***

I have a couple of events coming up this summer that I'm getting excited about, so if you're anywhere in the area(s), I hope you'll join me.

Holiday in Homer Annual Craft Fair - July 16th - This is my annual "hometown" event where I usually see a slew of familiar faces and sell all my new releases. Looking forward to it again this year.

Writing Workshops - Phillips Free Library, July 27th - Thanks to the librarian, who secured a grant so she could pay me (grin), I'll be giving both a one-hour workshop for teens (on writing romance) and a longer workshop in the evening for adults on writing craft and getting published. If you're interested in attending either one, you can call (607) 749-4616 for more information.

Chautaqua Conference = August 2 - I'll be speaking and selling books at this 2-day event that includes workshops on a variety of topics, devoted to the arts and learning for learning's sake. My focus will be "How a Local Girl Made it to NYC" or something of that nature. Will have to blow up pictures of my reading in Greenwich Village last winter!

***

Think I'll spend today writing and maybe planting some flowers, if the weather cooperates. The last 2 days were beautiful, but it's pretty overcast this morning. Well, even if I have to stay inside all day, that means more time at the keyboard!

Friday Fun Facts: Finding the Time to Write...

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! We have today off from school (a first-time ever), and then the next 3 days as well, so I'm really hoping to do some solid writing while I have some time. I'm revising Entwined, making it a shorter work (about 45K) - also revising Tequila Sunrise (will remain around 18K) - and finally, taking stock in what full-length work I want to tackle over the summer. It's a little nerve-wracking, because I don't have anything contracted and haven't released anything new in over a year. That's why I'm hoping to contract a couple of shorter works, to keep me on readers' radar while I work on another longer novel.

Sigh.

It's definitely hard to develop a writing career while also having a full-time job that pays the bills. Yes, I know many people do it. It's still hard!

But for now, I have 4 days ahead of me, and so I'm putting fingers to keyboard and nose to screen and slogging through.

Oh, and I'll be giving a writing workshop on the evening of July 27th at the Phillips Free Library in Homer, NY (my hometown), which should be a lot of fun. The librarian has invited me in to do a couple of talks in the past, but this time she secured a grant so she could have me in longer, and more formally. Will have to put together a compelling agenda for the evening...if you're a writer or just interested in hearing from a writer, consider joining me!

Writers' Wednesday: Another Guest Blog

I also blogged over the weekend at Samhain's site - this time about things that make me feel like summer. Stop by for a visit!

***

And speaking of "making connections," the topic of my Monday blog at Savvy Authors, my former editor from Samhain emailed me (she does that every so often, just to say hi) to tell me about a guest blog SHE wrote over at Carina Press, about her desire for sweet, non-erotic romance. Give it a read, here. While the market tells us that erotic romance is still one of the biggest sub-genres, it's nice to hear that some editors (and readers too!) prefer the "slow build" over heroes and heroines jumping into bed the first chance they get.

Happy Wednesday!

Monday Mentionables: Guest Blogging at Savvy Author

Well, I'm (almost) out from under my pile of paperwork, so I hope to be a better blogger this week :) Today I'm blogging over at Savvy Authors - please stop by and let me know what you think!

Monday Monday Monday........

Friday Fun Facts: A Random Collection of Musings...

Blogger was so wacky the last 24 hours! I couldn't post and now, well, it's almost the end of Friday :(

What am I doing this weekend? Lots and lots of grading. Sigh. At least the bulk of it will be done next week. I have to say, I'm looking forward to summer vacation more than ever this year! Been a long one.

I'm also considering what direction I want this blog to take. I mean, I used to blog 7 days a week, but it became too much. Now I try to blog Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with some kind of common theme...and yet I wonder if I need to change my focus. Right now it's sort of a random collection of writing updates and comments on my life, which I suppose isn't a terrible thing, but I've been thinking that it probably should be more of the former and less of the latter. Hmm. Still thinking on it. May reinstitute the book-a-month giveaway I used to do, to all commenters. I sure do have a lot in my library that I could share!

Will keep you posted - in the meantime, thanks to all my regulars for always popping in to read and occasionally say hello :)

Monday Mentionables: The Help

"We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."

I know I wrote a little while back that I had started reading The Help, a debut novel by Kathryn Stockett about the world of black domestics serving white families in the South in the 1960s. I finished it over the weekend, and my original assessment stands: it's fantastic. The voice, the story, the perpsective, the glimpse into a world I knew very little about...I loved all of it. It captivated me in a way few novels have done recently.

AND...it's been made into a movie, to be released this summer! I'm so looking forward to it, and from the looks of the trailer, it seems like they've kept a lot of the crucial parts & characters the same (oh, I hope so!)

Enjoy - and if you haven't read this book yet, what are you waiting for?

Friday Fun Facts: A Random Assortment of Thoughts

In no particular order, some interesting tidbits from my week:

A beta reader returned my novella "Tequila Sunrise" telling me she liked the story but thought there were too many coincidences and that the hero had too mnuch baggage. I always love another reader's perspective! Funny that I gave the hero quite a few qualities of a friend I know, baggage included. So maybe he's realistic but that's not someone we want to read about in a romance, huh?

One of my College English students remarked that he liked reading poetry for the first time in his school career because we weren't analyzing it to death, weren't swinging a giant fireman's hose at it to beat it to death and make it turn up its every suggested meaning. Made me laugh.

I want to write 2-3 other novellas around the same idea as "Tequila Sunrise", featuring minor characters that reappear as major ones. And so I need some good drink names for titles. I think "Sex on the Beach" might work. But I don't really want to go raunchy as much as intriguing/suggestive. Any ideas?

Happy early Mother's Day to all the moms out there who work so hard for their families and provide so much love and support - including my own :)

And finally, TGIF!

Monday Mentionables: What Should I Talk About?

"Chautauqua is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through a program that explores the important religious, social and political issues of our times; stimulates provocative, thoughtful involvement of individuals and families in creative response to such issues; and promotes excellence and creativity in the appreciation, performance and teaching of the arts."


I'm happy to announce another appearance I've just scheduled for this summer: I'll be giving a talk at the Cortland County Chatauqua Festival on the evening of August 2. This is a local couple of days of workshops on a variety of topics, in my hometown, and I was invited at the end of last year to plan to attend in 2011. I'm excited and always love doing talks and signings in my local area, so of course I said yes! The concept actually comes from the concept of the Chatauqua Institute, a summer series of lectures and events intended for people's general enrichment. It originated and still takes place on the shores of Chatauqua Lake, in western New York (I've spent some time there; it's beautiful).

Here's my question to all of you: what do you think listeners would like to hear? Some will probably know me/know of me. Most probably won't. I'm billed as an author who grew up in the area, and I'll have my published books with me. What do you think people would like to hear me speak about? How I got into writing? My advice for those who want to write/publish? The world of ebooks and how technology is affecting publishing today? I have about 40 minutes total.

Any thoughts welcome!

Friday Fun Facts: A Royal Wedding!

OK, who got up early today to watch the royal wedding? And who remembers getting up early to watch Diana marry Charles, all those years ago?

There's something so captivating about a wedding in the first place, two people pledging love and loyalty to each other, all nerves and emotion. Then add in a true fairytale story of a "commoner" who meets and marries her prince, and I think even the hardest hearts might have a tough time not tuning in.

I'm watching as I'm writing, and it's about 15 minutes before start-time. Can't wait to see Kate's dress, the ceremony, the guests, the pomp and circumstance of it all. Romance lives on!

Writers' Wednesday: Know the "Rules" of your Genre and your Readers

A few months ago, I was revising Entwined and trying to work through a major plot point: the fact that my hero initially has a girlfriend and baby but leaves them when he goes to do research a few states away. The relationship is a strained and unhappy one, but it's still a relationship. While away from home, he falls for the heroine. I wanted some feedback on how palatable this hero would be to readers, so I posted my dilemma on a writers' forum I frequent.

The response was interesting, to say the least, and still draws comments every few days. Far and away, most people said they'd be turned off by such a guy. Romance readers don't want a hero who cheats. Beyond that, the traditional romance genre doesn't allow for a hero to be a cheater; the story would be unpublishable. Of course, I don't write traditional romance for a traditional publisher, but it's still something to keep in mind.

Others said that if it was more along the lines of women's fiction, they'd be more open to characters who don't follow the typical/predictable mold. They still wanted a clear break between the hero and his girlfriend, though. Quite a few said that because so many women have been cheated on in real life, they wouldn't want to read about a guy who did it in a novel. There could be allowances for emotional growth, but the character would have to be well explained for readers to buy into his change of heart.

A few other commenters (definitely in the minority) said they wouldn't mind/judge a hero like that automatically because relationships ARE complicated, and because it isn't realistic to think that infidelity doesn't occur in matters of the heart.

Overall, it was interesting to see the range of responses, but it did reinforce an important notion: KNOW WHO YOU ARE WRITING FOR. Know the rules and expectations of your genre, know if you can break them or how far you can bend them, and keep your reader in mind.

Always good points to remember. Happy writing!

Monday Mentionables: The Books I Read on Vacation

Yes, yes, I know: I badly neglected my blog last week. But the sun and the 90 degrees were calling my name, so I'm sure you understand.

I did have a chance to catch up on my reading, and here's what I covered (for the most part, as you'll understand in a minute). And let me observe again how eclectic my reading tastes are, when it gets right down to it...

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - This one's a YA novel that's been stolen from my bookshelf at school not once but TWICE. I'd get angry except that I just can't, when it's kids stealing BOOKS to presumably READ. Anyway, I finally borrowed a friend's, and I was happily surprised that I really enjoyed it. The writing is strong and appealing, the characters are real, and the plotlines weave together well. In a nutshell, it's about a teen who spends a summer trying to deal with her father's death AND her mother's controlling nature AND her "perfect" boyfriend who wants to take a "break" AND her new job with a catering company working with people who are messy and not perfect and far from anything she's ever dealt with before. Beautifully written, really.

Much More Than Blood by Kate Hill - An erotic romance, I read this one for a review site I help out occasionally. It's a paranormal story about a female vampire who wants to turn a mortal into a vampire mate for herself. While I thought it had too much narrative and backstory, the characters themselves are strong and really likable. It's available from Ellora's Cave, if paranormal romance is your thing, and it's a novella, so it's a quick & easy read.

Velocity by Dean Koontz - A few of my students read this thriller and enjoyed it, so I thought I'd give it a try. And I do like a good murder mystery, but this one was too much for me to stomach. Killing is fine, but when the whole book is about murder after murder and how creative the killer can be (and when it's 9:00 at night), I couldn't find enough to keep me going with it. Put it down halfway through and have no intention of finishing it. Oh, well.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I know a lot of you have probably already read this one, as it's been getting a lot of buzz for a while now, but I finally got around to it - AND I LOVE IT! It's a terrific piece of fiction written by a debut Southern writer (OK, I admit to feeling more than a little jealous, but hey, good for her) about the black maids serving the white families in the South in the 1960s. The voices of all the characters are really what grabbed me, along with a setting I know very little about. It's captivating, really. I'm about halfway through and hate having to put it down.

So there you have it! Happy reading all, and if you have any other "must reads," let me know!

Monday Mentionables: Getting Away From It All

It's amazing how a change of scenery can recharge you, in so many different ways! We're vacationing this week in Florida, and let me just say that the sunshine and warmth are such a welcome change from the long, cold, wet winter and spring we've had in the northeast. I deliberately didn't bring any writing with me, just a few books I've been wanting to catch up on, though the ideas are already churning away. Think when I get back I'll work on a major revision of a novella I did over the winter. May also think about another "One Night" book (I have a few ideas for plotlines still in the works). Meanwhile, though, think I'll soak up some sun. Relaxation definitely lets the creative ideas flow...

Writers'; Wednesday: A One-Day Conference

Heads-up for anyone around the NYC area in late June: a one-day Women's Fiction Conference!

The RWA-WF Board is thrilled to announce that on Tuesday, June 28th, RWA-Womens Fiction Online Chapter will hold the First Annual RWA-Womens Fiction Day. Our line up begins at 1 pm with a two hour presentation by the fantastic Michael Hauge. Michael is considered a genius with story structure.

A highly sought after speaker he travels the globe educating both authors and screenplay writers on three act structure. Michael has created a unique presentation for RWA-WF. At 3:15 we will also host a panel of Womens Fiction Editors and Agents. This diverse and talented group of publishing professional will discuss Women's Fiction in the marketplace as well as answer questions with regards to this exciting genre in which we write. Confirmed members for this panel are Kristin Nelson or Nelson Literary Agency, Meg Ruley at Jane Rotrosen Agency, Andrea Cirillo at Jane Rotrosen Agency, and Shauna Summers Senior Editor at Random House.

Then at 4:15 we will have a panel of Authors dedicated to Womens Fiction. From Newbies to Veterans our pubbed authors will speak on Womens Fiction. They will answer questions about the genre as well as their personal experiences with writing. Our panel will include Megan Crane, Jane Porter, Barbara O'Neal, Therese Walsh, and Marilyn Brandt.

After our break for the RWA Literacy Signing we will reconvene at 8 pm for the RWA-WF annual meeting. Our guest speaker for the evening event will be internationally best-selling Juliet Marillier. We are thrilled that Ms Marillier will speak with our group while visiting the US. She is truly a remarkable writer. We will conclude the day with a cocktail reception.

The cost for this amazing day will be 55.00 for RWA-WF members and 80.00 for non-members.

Here's the link - check it out!

Monday's Mentionables: A Blog Post and a Finished Story!

Happy Monday!

If you didn't have a chance to stop by my guest blog over at The Long and the Short of It over the weekend, please do! I'm blogging about first lines and how important they are.

Finished my novella "Tequila Sunrise" over the weekend - 23K words. I really liked the way it turned out; my only concern is that it's tough to develop a whole story in a short word count and not feel as though it's either rushed or under-developed. Since I'm used to writing longer works, this was definitely a different challenge. My beta readers will let me know the verdict, I'm sure!

Just for kicks, the final lines of my story...enjoy :)

“Of course I’m sure.” Amy smoothed Lou’s hair and nudged her out the door. “We’re going to that show with the singing dolphins. Then the ice cream bar at ten. You’ve been attached to Trina all day. You don’t need to spend the night with her too.”

Long, dangly earrings brushed Lou’s neck. “But what if – ”

“Get out of here. Go meet your guy.”

Your guy. She wasn’t sure Toby was, not yet or maybe not forever, but she damn well was going to make the most of seeing him again. Almost without touching the ground, she made her way to The Grotto, one of two adult-only bars on the ship. Dim light made her squint and lose her bearings as soon as she walked in.

“Table?” the waitress asked.

“I’ll sit at the bar, thanks.” She found a stool at one end and studied the enormous aquarium of fish behind the bottles and glasses.

“What can I get you?” The bartender, a cute Spanish guy with an even cuter accent, tossed a cocktail napkin in front of her.

“Tequila sunrise.” The voice came from behind her, before she could speak. The arm slipped around her waist a moment later. “Hope that’s still what you drink.”

“Ah, yeah. That’s still my favorite.” She leaned into him, loving the solidness of his chest against her shoulder. I could spend forever right here.

“Good,” he said into her ear. His breath feathered the skin just below her lobe, and she shivered. All the way to her toes. “Because sunrises in general are still my favorite. And I have it on good authority that tomorrow's is supposed to be gorgeous."

She turned and cocked one brow. “Hope you have someone to watch it with, then.”

His lips touched her temple, then her cheek. Then her mouth. At his next words she fell all over again. “I hope so too.”

Friday Fun Facts: The First Meeting

End of the week - finally! Thought I'd share my "first meeting" of hero and heroine in my novella, Tequila Sunrise. I'm about 3/4 of the way through the first draft, and while I'm sure I'll change a zillion things, I still like the opening scenes, which take place on a singles' cruise. Here you go:

“Okay, where are they?” Lou spilled half her drink down her arm as an overweight man in a red flowered shirt elbowed his way to the buffet. “These super-hot guys I’m supposed to hook up with?”

“I’m still looking. Hang on.” Cassidy sipped her wine and narrowed her eyes. “Try the tiki bar. By the pool.”

“Already did. It’s a bunch of teenagers doing shots behind their parents’ backs.” She leaned against the railing and sighed. C’mon. One guy. One incredibly hot guy – okay, even mediumly hot would do – to take her mind off her life. That’s all she asked. It was a singles’ cruise, after all. Shouldn’t the place be crawling with eligible men?

Apparently not. Apparently a singles’ cruise that departed from Miami, Florida meant families who didn’t know how to entertain their teens, middle-aged men with comb-overs, and more than a few tourists in their thirties and forties trying their best to hide the tan lines around their left ring fingers and blend into the crowd.

“I’m starving.” Cassidy announced. “Want some appetizers? I saw a cutie circling with a tray a few minutes ago.”

“Go ahead.” Lou was half-afraid the crowd would swallow her up if she did move, and she’d end up somehow shimmied up and over the rail to the ocean below. Not a bad way to go, all things considered. At least that way Terrell wouldn’t be entitled to alimony. She sighed and turned around. The sun was making its way to the edge of the ocean, where blue met orange and seared together in a sexy black line that made her want to fly away, just go to the ends of the earth and never look back.

“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” Someone squeezed into the space to her right. A tanned elbow touched hers.

Lou turned. And bit her bottom lip. And tried to remember how to breathe. Well there you are.

Chocolate brown eyes caught and held hers. A smile, framed on one side by a deep dimple, sent something sinfully wonderful squiggling straight down to the pit of her stomach. Lower, actually, to a spot below her stomach that hadn’t felt anything at all in months.

“I’m Toby.” He reached for her hand, and for a long ten seconds, Lou promptly forgot her name. He held on as her mouth moved, trying to think of something to say to the muscled creature standing beside her. “Ah, hello? You okay?”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” She dropped his hand and shook her head to clear away the X-rated thoughts that had come out of nowhere. “Lou. Short for Louise.” She made the standard face that went along with her introduction. “Family name. Not crazy about it.”

“Louise. Lou.” He cocked his head and smiled again. “I like it. It’s unusual.”

She swallowed what was left of her drink. “One way to put it, I guess.”

He folded his arms on the railing and looked back out at the sun, a fraction closer to the water. “Beautiful night. Love sunsets.”

She nodded before it occurred to her that he wasn’t facing her and couldn’t see her stupid, silent response. “Yes.”

“I prefer sunrises, but this’ll do too.”

“You must be a pretty early riser.”

He turned again as the crowd pushed them closer together. Now she could smell his cologne, just a touch, under the coconut sunscreen everyone around her wore. Spicy. Masculine. One hundred percent driving her crazy.

“I work in construction. Jobs usually start at dawn.”

Construction. So that explained the monster arms, the thick neck and shoulders, the creases at the corners of his eyes that deepened when he smiled at her. They met almost shoulder to shoulder, which put him at five-ten, at the most. For a crazy moment Lou wondered how they’d measure up not vertically but horizontally. Terrell, at six-four to her five-nine, had always towered above her. She’d grown used to the crook in her neck that came with looking up at him. But this – this vantage point put her mouth at a lovely angle with Toby’s. If he were to kiss her, that is. Which he probably wasn’t going to, because what guy in his right mind walked up to a woman he’d just met and reached for her lips?

Oh this one. Please let this one do just that.

Writers' Wednesday: Newsletter Coming Soon!

Just a quickie today, folks: if you aren't on my e-newsletter mailing list and would like to be, there's a sign-up link over on the right sidebar. I've been a little delinquent (whoops) but will be sending out a springtime one later this week, so make sure you're on the list to receive it! Also, just another reminder that Saturday, April 9th, my guest blog post will be up at The Long and the Short of It. Make sure to visit and comment for a chance to win a Nook or a Kindle!

Monday Mentionables: What Women (Don't) Want

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~Dr. Seuss

In various conversations over the weekend, I discovered some interesting facts about women. Well, certain women anyway. I have a friend who's 40, owns her own business, has 3 beautiful children, a great marriage, is in shape, and used to model. We were talking about upoming vacations, and she said how she wished she had the courage to travel somewhere by herself.

?!

Now, I might *prefer* to have someone with me when I travel, especially when I fly, since I get nervous at takeoff and landing, but I would never think twice about going someone alone, if I really wanted to. Actually, 2 weeks ago I flew to Alabama to visit a girlfriend there. Alone.

Another day, a women at the gym complimented my hairstyle and said, "I would have loved the courage to cut my hair short, but...I don't know. Men always tell you they like it long."

?!?!

I had a hair appointment yesterday, and when I told my stylist, she said, "Oh, you wouldn't believe the things I hear from women, about how they won't/can't change their hairstyle, because their husband/boyfriend/family won't like it. I always say, well, what would YOU like?"

And it was all just very interesting for me because I was raised to be my own person and have my own thoughts and opinions and not be afraid to do or say things (thanks, Mom!). I mean, we all have fears. I just never realized that so many women (a) feared traveling alone and (b) feared making changes to their appearance because of a man's reaction. I was going to start this blog post by saying that it had nothing to do with writing...but life always does, doesn't it? Maybe I just found inspiration for a new character or two.......

Happy Monday!

Friday Fun Facts: Win a Nook or a Kindle!

Happy first day of April! Whether you have any "fools" planned for today, Mother Nature already played one on those of us in the northeast. We were predicted to be walloped by a storm, up to 1 foot snow by this morning! But in my corner of the woods, all we ended up with was a little dusting. My daffodils are awfully happy!

In other exciting news, The Long and the Short of It is holding a "Spring is Busting Out All Over!" giveaway - every day this month, you can comment on their guest blogs for a chance to win a Nook, a Kindle, OR a $150 gift certificate to Amazon or Barnes and Noble! And mark your calendars: my guest blog will appear Sunday, April 9th. Happy Spring!

Monday Mentionables: A New Story!

So I started a new story last week! I'm planning it to be a novella, aiming for about 18K - 20K words. I don't have anything published that length, but I know there's a market for it especially in the e-book venue, so I'm going to give it a try. It's a different sort of challenge, because you don't have the luxury of a full-length novel to develop your characters and your subplots. You have to get right to it!

However, I have to say that so far, I'm chugging right along and enjoying the process. I'm about 12K words in after this weekend (started mid-last week). Hero and heroine have met on a cruise ship, enjoyed a torrid affair (she's getting over a divorce, he was on a bachelor party - not his own haha), and are now back to the regular lives about 1000 miles away. I have a decent sense of where I'd like the story to go, plot-wise, and so far it's behaving itself pretty well! It's a contemporary romance, the genre I feel most comfortable writing in, with a sensual heat level.

I am coming to realize, from talking to writers, that what you market and deliver is what they will expect. My most recent release, Summer's Song, had a higher heat level than my earlier ones, and more than a couple readers commented on that. Not negatively per se, but they were surprised to see it there. So live and learn and write on!

Now back to my draft......tentatively titled "Tequila Sunrise."

Writers;' Wednesday: Some Reviews for You

OK, as I promised, reviews of the books I had a chance to read over the weekend, thanks to flights and long layovers:

I Know It's Over (C.K. Kelly Martin) - Fantastic YA about a teen pregnancy - told from the first person POV of the 16 year old boyfriend. It's beautifully written, heartbreaking in places, and a great, true look at teen romance from an unconventional standpoint. You rarely see the unexpected teen pregnancy told from this perspective. Highly recommended!

Colters' Woman (Maya Banks) - Menage romance (and 1st in the Colters' Legacy series) by a super-successful Samhain/NY author. I hadn't read anything by Maya and wanted to, so I'm glad I picked this one up. I'm going to admit that I found it a little hard to get into - young, blonde, beautiful virgin becomes the love partner to 3 brothers with little to no adjustment to her new lifestyle. Hmm. However, Maya's works are hugely popular, esp. this series, so if you're an erotic romance lover and haven't read any of the Colters' Legacy series, start here.

The Help (Kathryn Stockett) - OK, this isn't a review (yet) because I only read the 30-page free sample I downloaded to my Nook, but I do think I'll go ahead and buy the whole thing. The voice of the servant really hooked me from the opening pages, and I've heard a lot of good things about this historical fiction piece set in the 1960s south.

So there you have it. A pretty eclectic collection, I know, but I have pretty varied tastes. Happy reading!

Monday Mentionables: Some Good Reads

Hi everyone! I've been away for a few days, which means a little neglect of my blog...sorry. BUT I did have a chance to do some good reading on my recent flights, and I'll be back later on to share those with you. Until then, happy reading and writing!

Writers' Wednesday: A Word of Caution about Online Courtesy

I'm pretty sure I've said it before, but it bears repeating: be kind and civil in cyberspace. Please. As more and more of us socialize, do business, and conduct a lot of our lives online, the habits and the courtesies you do (and don't) extend to others will definitely follow your name and online presence.

Why am I talking about this? Recently, on a loop I belong to, one member repeatedly called out other members for not participating, not carrying their weight, etc. In a snarky tone. To me, this is simply uncalled for. People participate in online social networking in a variety of ways and to a variety of extents. What one member can contribute may not come close to what another can. Yet the negative attitude is uncalled for, regardless. There is no faster way to turn off people in your social group/work group/etc. than to convey a nasty tone online. And remember that because people can't see your face or hear your tone of voice, they can't tell if (or whether) you're being sarcastic.

Many (most) of you out there are Internet savvy when it comes to communicating with others, I know. And 95% of the social interaction I see is positive and wholly supportive, especially in my various author groups and loops. But every once in a while, temper or attitude creeps in, and then all too soon the conversation takes a turn for the worse.

Please, please, please don't be that person. Consider your words carefully before you post them online for all to see. It's too hard to take them back after you hit "Send."

Monday Mentionables: The Winner!

Congrats to Harlie Reader, who won last week's drawing to receive one of my ebooks. One Night in Memphis will be coming your way!

Happy Monday, everyone. Prayers to all those affected by the earthquake in Japan - such a terrible tragedy that always makes you realize how much we are at the mercy of Mother Nature and this planet.

Writing for the Ebook Market

In honor of Read an Ebook Week, it's worth mentioning again that ebooks and ereaders have made their way into the mainstream these last couple of years, which is great news for writers as well as for readers. The latest issue of Romance Writers Report, in fact, had a couple of great, informative articles on just that area.

"Put On Your Shorts" talks about how to write a novella and then how to choose a publisher for one. (Tips I found most helpful: simplify the premise; keep secondary characters to a minimum; consider giving the hero & heroine history, so they'll already know each other; write short chapters; tie every event to ONE main problem.)

"Deciding on a Digital Publisher" gives some great advice as well, about sorting through the myriad digital presses out there and choosing one that fits your needs, background, and genre.

Finally, I found the article "Is It Time to Hire a Virtual Assistant?" really interesting. I didn't even know what a virtual assistant was (someone who can help you with your organization/communication/social networking/etc) basically online, from anywhere. While they don't come cheap, it's something to think about if you're strapped for time and still trying to write and publish and market on a regular basis. The website of the International Virtual Assistants Association looks like a good place to start.

Happy writing! Remember that I'll be choosing (at random) one winner from this week's comments to receive his/her choice of one of my ebooks ~ I'll be announcing that on Monday!

E-Readers Abound!

So we have a new security guard at work. I teach in a satellite building, away from the main school campus, and we have a whole two floors and about 15 teachers. Quiet, to say the least. So Jim, the guard, spends most of his time...reading on his Kindle.

The secretary in the building, who loves all things technological (and gets a new cell phone about once a year) spends her down time/lunch break...reading on her Nook.

One of my fellow writers and beta readers recently gave me feedback on my latest novel draft...after reading the file on her Kindle.

Recently, I flew to Florida for a little sunshine and to visit my mom. Brought along 5 books to read...on my Nook.

And the local librarian, who has a regular column in the local paper, wrote a lengthy piece last week...about her Nook.

Yes, you guessed it: in honor of Read an Ebook Week, I'm mentioning e-readers and their growing popularity. I was in the waiting room of a spa last month and saw a young teen, maybe 14 years old, reading on a Kindle while she waited for her mother to come out. At least 3 of my students have an e-reader, and all of them have read at least one of my books on them. The younger generation, is easier to win over; they're used to reading things on screens. The older generation, most of them anyway, prefers their hands on paper (I do too, I'll admit it).

But there's no denying the fact that e-readers have found their way into the mainstream, and I don't think there's any looking back now. Question: do you own one? If so, how much do you use it/like it? If not, would you ever consider getting one?

(**Don't forget that you can also win your choice of my ebooks this week by leaving a comment on any blog, telling me which you'd like to have and why)

Monday Mentionables: Win an Ebook Week!

Hey everyone, it's Read an Ebook Week! That's right, there's an actual week devoted to ebooks - and in case you didn't realize it, the first ebook was actually created 40 years ago! For more cool info about ebooks, click here.

And to help celebrate this week, I'll be giving away a free ebook to one person who leaves a comment between now (Monday) and Friday at midnight. All you have to do is tell me which of my ebooks you'd like to win, and why! If you're not sure, they're all linked over there on the right sidebar...take a few minutes and then let me know.

I'll also be chatting on the Samhain Cafe Tuesday night and giving away one of my ebooks - hope to see you there!

Writers' Wednesday: First Lines

The February issue of Writer's Digest was (as always) chock-full of good articles on craft, success stories, interviews, etc. But the one I found the most helpful was the one on first lines. We agonize over them, revise them, abandon them, pretend they don't matter as much as they do. Bu ultimately, the first line of anything we write is the hook that will (or won't) pull the reader to the next sentence, and the next page, and...well, you get the idea.

Many, many people have talked about what a first line should do. This article, "Better Starts for Better Stories", touched on a lot of the standbys, many of which are worth mentioning again:

*Resist the urge to start too early (one of the best pieces of advice).
*Small hooks catch more fish than big ones (or, hook 'em and then pull like crazy in the opposite direction).
*Start with a mystery.
*Keep talk to a minimum (interesting, since many people will tell you to begin with dialogue. but be careful - you don't want to lose your readers either, and they won't have a clue who's talking from the get-go).
*Introduce your voice.
*Establish a mood.
*Go with a classic (yes, like "Once upon a time" or a close variation)

Some "classics" they quoted, again worth quoting here:

"Call me Ishmael." (Moby Dick)
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." (Pride and Prejudice)
"I am an invisible man." (Invisble Man)
"Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful." (Gone With the Wind)
"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins." (Lolita)
"It was a pleasure to burn." (Fahrenheit 451)
"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York. (The Bell Jar)

And if you want to read more, here's a Top 100 website that's kind of fun to peruse...

I've both agonized over first lines and, fortunately, had a couple that sprang to me fully formed and never changed. Of the 5 books I've written, these 2 have my favorite first lines - and interestingly, they really never changed from the moment I wrote them.

"Get out!" shouted Dakota James as she threw Sean McCabe's jeans - her favorite pair, she noted bitterly, faded in all the right places - across the room. (from One Night in Memphis) - I think this one works because it immediately sets up the conflict that drives most of the plot: a breakup, fiery and laced with reluctance.

Grant Walker knew it was going to be a long day when he woke up and couldn't remember the name of the woman lying next to him. (from One Night in Napa) - I think this one works because Grant's playboy personality (and how it both gets him in trouble and ultimately changes) is a major focus of the plot.

So...what are your favorite first lines, either ones you've written or ones you've read - and why do you think they work so well?

Monday Mentionables: My Week of Reading, in Review

Back from a week's vacation! Since I spent some time last week flying to Florida (and waiting in airports), I loaded up my Nook and treated myself to some good reads. Among those I enjoyed:

All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins - As I may have mentioned before, I've had the good fortune to meet Kristan a couple of times. Not only is she a talented writer (she's won the RITA twice), but she's a super-nice, funny, warm person as well. But! On to the book...

If you're a writer and unsure of how to create or connect story arcs, look no further than anything by this author. Kristan Higgins is superb at winding together major and minor plotlines and characters. All I Ever Wanted is no exception, with a funny, self-deprecating, slightly overweight heroine who'll do anything to win back the man of her dreams (until, she realizes, that he really isn't, and that good-looking but disdainful guy at the DMV actually is). Funny, touching, and with some great minor characters, I HIGHLY recommend this read.

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball (apparently it was a "Krista/in" sort of month for me...) - This one's a memoir by a Harvard grad who's living a "Sex in the City" sort of single life until she interviews a farming entrepreneur from Pennsylvania and falls in love with both him and the farming life. They marry and move to (way) upstate NY, where they start a farm that eventually becomes a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) now serving 100+ community members. She's a talented writer and spends A LOT of time describing both the food they grow and cook (my mom actually made 2 of her recipes, they're that specific) and the labor involved in running a farm, even a so-called "small" one. Really an interesting and inspiring read.

Finally, I read a few short stories for LASR as a reviewer (nope, keeping those anonymous) and came to this conclusion: I'm not crazy about stories where the hero and heroine fall into bed because they simply can't resist each other and then, a few pages later, fall in life-long love for apparently the same reason. Folks, even if it's a short story, there has to be a believable reason 2 people are drawn together and STAY together for the long run, besides the fact that the sex is incredibly hot. Just saying.

So...anyone have any good book recommendations for me?

Friday Fun Facts: From a Man's Perspective

“Women still remember the first kiss after men have forgotten the last” ~Remy de Gourmont

The nice thing about having male friends is that occasionally you can call on them to give you the man's perspective in relationships. Yes, I do often ask my husband for that POV, but believe it or not, not all men are created the same, and they do think and act differently. Plus I think my male friends can be a little more honest because, you know, they don't have to live in the same house with me!

Anyway, I asked one of my friends what a guy thinks about (besides the obvious) when he's first getting to know a woman. This was his response:

He replays every thing he has said in his mind, wondering if he might have said anything "wrong". He thinks about what he should have said to make himself sound more (the things she likes) intelligent, more or less aggressive, more in tune to her. He thinks about the things she has done, said, worn, and smiled at and imagines future situations where he can recall them, knowing these things are pleasing to her in such a way to generate a smile. He wonders if it is real? He thinks about the things in his past that have generated pain in other relationships and does his best to avoid them. He thinks about her flaws and imagines whether or not they are big enough to prevent going further. He wonders if he should wait to call her or if she will call him. he thinks about what it is he can do to impress her, but not in a way to seem too forward. He thinks about his flaws and wonders if she will like him once she is made aware....

Kind of poetic, huh? And lots of information there for a writer to draw upon, too. Seriously, talk to your friends when you're carving out relationships: male, female, young, old, straight, gay...there's such a wealth of experience and advice out there you can draw upon!

Writers' Wednesday: The Brenda Novak Auction!

It's almost time for the annual Brenda Novak Auction! This is a fantastic event organized by a NY Times best-selling author to raise money for juvenile diabetes research. Every year there are some amazing items up for auction, for readers and writers alike. My local RWA chapter is putting together a basket of signed books/author critiques, and I'll make sure to post the link when it's up. The auction runs from May 1st through May 31st, so you definitely have time to think about donating an item. Writers, if you haven't donated, consider doing so this year. The auction supports a great cause AND allows you a terrific promo opportunity as well.

You can find out more information here.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

All Hallmark commercialism aside, today is a perfect day to tell your loved ones how much you care about them. I know, we should do this every day, but we forget, don't we? So take the opportunity today and under the guise of Valentine's Day, spread some love to your friends and family.

And maybe buy a romance novel or two while you're at it! There are some great ones out there...

I love this song, and it's perfect for today. Have a wonderful Valentine's Monday!

Writers' Wednesday: Some Random Thoughts and a Helpful Blog Post

Some random thoughts today:

I really like the covers over at Carina Press (Harlequin's new ebook imprint). Check them out - really lovely.

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At my last book signing, a woman brought in her Kindle for Cat Johnson, one of my fellow romance authors, to sign. Times, they are a-changin', huh?

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And finally, for all your writers out there (or readers interested in one of the painful parts of seeing a book to its final stage, copyediting), here's a great blog post by fellow Absolute Write author Stacia Kane. She talks in detail about copyediting and includes a number of her own edited pages, scanned in FYI. Thanks Stacia!

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Happy reading and writing, everyone!

Monday Mentionables: Finished!

Finally finished (the 5th draft of) Entwined, the contemporary romance I've been working on for about 18 months now. Hoping this will be the last big push, because if not, it's getting put away for a long time. Maybe forever! This latest version is 12,000 words shorter than earlier ones and has one less sub-plot and one less minor character. When I think back about where this story started, it's been through so many changes! You definitely learn as a writer every time you tackle a new story, and some are definitely easier to write than others.

Anyway, one of the conventions I kept throughout every draft of this book was the idea of poetry - the poems are central to the story and to some of the characters' identities. Wrote the last one last night and thought I'd share it with you. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out :)


It is you, finally, that I have
Found to make me strong, to make me whole, and on
This night even the stars sing down and make me want
To draw my life with you in a thousand different colors. It is now,
I find, I cannot live in this world alone. My existence means nothing if I
Cannot share it with you. You are the other part of me, the part I lost when the sun
First rose, when the universe shattered and separated all souls. I have spent a lifetime
Searching for the one who completes me. No more. You are here, we are one, my love – entwined .

Friday Fun Facts: It's February!!

In the coldest February, as in every other month in every other year, the best thing to hold on to in this world is each other. ~Linda Ellerbee

Five fun facts about February, just because:

1. February is, of course, the shortest month of the year, with 28 days until Julius Caesar gave it 29, and 30 days every four years. According to tradition, Augustus, the Roman emperor, took one day off to add one day to August, the month named after him. We now have February with 28 days, and 29 on leap years.

2. As a result of being only 28 days long (usually) it's the only month that can pass without having a single full moon.

3. The Supreme Court of the United States met for the first time on February 1, 1790.

4. The flower of this month is a violet or sometimes a primrose and the birthstone is amethyst (which represents sincerity).

5. My sister turns 37 this month!! Happy birthday sis!!

Writers' Wednesday: A Massive Storm and a Contest...Both of Which Inspire!

So tell me: how is this massive storm affecting YOU? Unbelievable, the range and volume of it. Here, we're onto our second snow day. Yesterday it snowed until early afternoon, with probably about 8" total accumulation. Then, around 9:00 at night, the lightnsleet began. Sometime overnight that must have gotten worse, because it woke me up, against the house. Today we're supposed to get ice and snow all day.

I have a friend who was supposed to fly out to Hawaii yesterday morning - she made it, barely! And now she is drinking mai tais in Maui, lucky thing.

Here's a contest for both Readers and Writers. You can submit your manuscript starting now, and each week beginning in March readers can vote on excerpts from their favorites. Sort of like an "American Idol" type advancement process, I think, through June. Winning manuscripts will receive editor critiques from Carina Press, and readers can win ebooks every week! Sounds like fun, right? Here's the link.

Now I have to go check the fire and assess the food situation in the fridge (I'm blaming outr Norwegian exchange student, by the way - she spent most of December wishing for snow :) After that, I'll hunker down and write...now I have 2 good reasons to do so!

Writers' Wednesday: ROOM by Emma Donoghue

Just a quick post today, to share the latest book I'm reading, one that I highly recommend, though I'm only 1/3 of the way through: ROOM by Emma Donoghue. The voice of the main character, 5-year old Jack, is terrific. If you haven't read it yet, you should - and if you HAVE read it, what did you think?

To five-year-old-Jack, Room is the world....

It's where he was born, it's where he and his Ma eat and sleep and play and learn. There are endless wonders that let loose Jack's imagination-the snake under Bed that he constructs out of eggshells, the imaginary world projected through the TV, the coziness of Wardrobe beneath Ma's clothes, where she tucks him in safely at night, in case Old Nick comes.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it's the prison where she's been held since she was nineteen-for seven long years. Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in that eleven-by-eleven-foot space. But Jack's curiosity is building alongside her own desperation—and she knows that Room cannot contain either indefinitely....

Told in the inventive, funny, and poignant voice of Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience-and a powerful story of a mother and son whose love lets them survive the impossible

“Donoghue’s Jack is precocious but entirely believable; his passage out of cloistered innocence more universal than you might think….As for Ma, parents everywhere will relate.”
—People Magazine, 3 ½ out of 4 stars, “People’s Pick”

“Though the story's chilling circumstances reflect the horrors endured by tabloid-famous abductees, Donoghue avoids all sensationalism. Instead, she gracefully distills what it means to be a mother — and what it's like for a child whose entire world measures just 11 x 11.”
—Entertainment Weekly, grade A-

“… Seen entirely through Jack's eyes and childlike perceptions, the developments in this novel--there are enough plot twists to provide a dramatic arc of breathtaking suspense--are astonishing… And while Donoghue…brilliantly portrays the psyche of a child raised in captivity, the story's intensity cranks up dramatically when, halfway through the novel and after a nail-biting escape attempt, Jack is introduced to the outside world. While there have been several true-life stories of women and children held captive, little has been written about the pain of re-entry, and Donoghue's bravado in investigating that potentially terrifying transformation grants the novel a frightening resonance that will keep readers rapt.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred)

Monday Mentionables: Upcoming Author Appearances

Happy Monday everyone! I have a few upcoming appearances to share:

For my local friends, I'll be signing books with a few other romance authors at the Borders in the Galleria Mall on Saturday, January 29th, from 2-4 pm.

I'll also be on a Sweet Romance panel at the Authors After Dark Conference in Philadelphia in August - more details to follow.

And finally, I've just signed up for the Brooklyn Book Festival in September! I'll be at a table with other romance authors - more details to follow.

As always, I keep my appearances listed over on the right sidebar - please stop and say hi if you're ever in the same place I am!

Writers' Wednesday: Be Persistent, Always

"Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public." ~Winston Churchill


If there is one piece of advice I give new writers, it's this one: be persistent, and develop a thick skin. That second bit is especially important when it comes to hearing the words "No" from an editor, agent, or even reviewer, but it's also important when that voice comes from inside your own head.

What I mean is that it's really important to keep going, keep trying, and if necessary, write and rewrite no matter how many times it takes to get the story right. Most of you know I've been working on my contemporary romance novel Entwined for about a year now. It's messy because it has a few different plot lines and a twist that can't be revealed until precisely the right momet - and I've been having a really tough time putting it all together.

This weekend I got about 3/4 of the way through my 4th draft when I realized, yet again, that certain elements weren't working.

So I stopped. Opened a new draft. Eliminated a huge plot point that I think has been getting in the way, and now I'm on draft #5. Yes, true. Sigh. It's been frustrating for me, I won't lie. And this may end up being a story that doesn't ever find publication. There are some like that. Still, I'm not ready to give up on it just yet. I think Summer's Song ended up with about as many drafts, and it was about 8 years from first draft to final print publication.

So, new writers, stay strong when your manuscript takes a turn (or many turns) for the worse. Be patient with your characters. Call on your beta readers to help you. And hang in there.

Monday Mentionables: A Day of Remembrance

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, here's his great "I Have a Dream" speech. It's definitely worth watching/listening to. Enjoy & be inspired :)

Friday Fun Facts: A New Zodiac?

Did you see the latest article about the zodiac signs changing? According to the change in the Earth's rotation, I would apparently no longer be a Sagittarius (what??!) but now an Ophiuchus:

According to astrological principles, the Sun travels from the constellation Scorpius and goes directly into the sign of Sagittarius, but due to the constant motion of the cosmos, the Sun enters, for a few days of the year, the star constellation 'Ophiuchus' before entering Sagittarius from Scorpius, thus creating astrologically the birth of a thirteenth sign of the Zodiac, which is named as Ophiuchus the Serpent Holder.

The constellation of Ophiuchus is the only sign of the Zodiac which is linked to a real man. This man lived in ancient Egypt around the 27th century BC, and his name was Imhotep. The attributes of Imhotep can also be found in the Biblical Hebrew man Joseph, son of Jacob.. Imhotep is credited with many accomplishments including the knowledge and use of medicine. It is said of Imhotep that he brought the art of healing to mankind.The symbol of a serpent, which is still widely used today to represent the medical profession, was used to represent Imhotep. Imhotep was also known as 'Aesclepius' to the ancient Greeks.

I'm not sure what to make of this news. You?