"Forbidden pleasures alone are loved immoderately; when lawful, they do not excite desire." ~Marcus Fabius Quintilian
Check out my lovely author page at The Long and the Short of It ~ don't they do a nice job?
***
I have begun the agent search for Summer's Song...we'll see how it goes. I read an interview with Gena Showalter the other day & she queried agents every time she finished a novel, for the first 7 she wrote. On the 7th she finally got representation!
So I'm sending out letters to test the waters...I've queried 19 agents and so far received 3 requests for sample chapters and one "no thanks." The nice thing is that I'm happy with Samhain, so if I don't get any bites on this novel, I'll keep writing and submitting to them. I like Summer's Song, don't get me wrong, but my fear is that it isn't "different" enough. Every agent's looking for the next totally original break-out novel, and I don't know in my gut that mine is it.
I do, however, have a story idea that I've been playing around with for the last few weeks. It involves different kinds of forbidden love, a ghost, and a mysterious death - and it was inspired by this piece of real-life news. If I tackle it, it will be different than anything else I've written. I just have to get up the energy!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
TGIF: For Extra-Special Reasons, Today!
"I learned just enough in school to figure out that everything is not all there is to know." ~Anonymous
Yesterday one of my colleagues (who came to my launch party and bought Lost in Paradise) said, "I'm so glad that when I'm reading your book, I'm not thinking about you." Pause. "That's supposed to be a compliment." I laughed and said I got it - the heroine is not me and doesn't in any way remind her of me. And yeah, I took it as a compliment :)
***
Appetizer
What is the weather like today where you live?
Hot and humid - I feel sorry for all the schools that are holding their HS graduations today.
Soup
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how career-minded are you?
Around a 9, I'd say ~ yesterday's post pretty much explains why.
Salad
What type of window coverings do you have in your home? Blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.?
Blinds in most rooms, that sorely need replacement (it's one of the things we haven't touched yet, after moving into this house 3 years ago).
Main Course
Name something that instantly cheers you up.
Either of my cats climbing into my lap and loving me :)
Dessert
How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning?
Once - more than that and I'm running late...
***
Last day of school before summer vacation! Woo Hoo!!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Pomp and Circumstance
"I hope your dreams take you... to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known." ~Anonymous
Last night our school held its annual graduation ceremony...always an overwhelming event. First of all, we graduate about 700 students each year. Miracle of miracles, it only lasts about 90 minutes (yes, really!) and every student gets to walk across the stage and have his/her name read. No speeches, and only 4 big awards given out.
So it doesn't last long.
But it's always a little emotional for me. Once you get past the arriving-two-hours-early-only-to-stand-outside-in-the-sweltering-heat element, and the packed-into-tiny-rows-of-chairs-like-sardines element, it's quite a nice evening.
Really, it is.
I'm caught between being so thrilled to see them graduate and being sad to see them go. Last night's class also managed to add to the mix by giving me a gorgeous and completely thoughtful gift. It's a good thing I was wearing sunglasses when they gave it to me so they couldn't see me tear up (was not going to cry! had spent a good 10 minutes doing my makeup).
And so the end of June always finds me in a melancholy sort of mood. We teachers spend so much time during the year trying to shape our classes, trying to help students learn the curriculum and manage behavior and keep up with grading and in the midst of it all try to form relationships that will help support them as they find their way into the world after they leave us...
It's exhausting.
And then often they tell us, that of all the things we hope they'll remember, they recall something different altogether. They watch us so closely - they see how we live our lives. They catch us in both our strong and our weak moments, and I think they learn more from watching how we carry ourselves, how we interact with others, how we make decisions and deal with adversity, than many of us realize.
My classroom is empty today, and my heart is sad.
Last night our school held its annual graduation ceremony...always an overwhelming event. First of all, we graduate about 700 students each year. Miracle of miracles, it only lasts about 90 minutes (yes, really!) and every student gets to walk across the stage and have his/her name read. No speeches, and only 4 big awards given out.
So it doesn't last long.
But it's always a little emotional for me. Once you get past the arriving-two-hours-early-only-to-stand-outside-in-the-sweltering-heat element, and the packed-into-tiny-rows-of-chairs-like-sardines element, it's quite a nice evening.
Really, it is.
I'm caught between being so thrilled to see them graduate and being sad to see them go. Last night's class also managed to add to the mix by giving me a gorgeous and completely thoughtful gift. It's a good thing I was wearing sunglasses when they gave it to me so they couldn't see me tear up (was not going to cry! had spent a good 10 minutes doing my makeup).
And so the end of June always finds me in a melancholy sort of mood. We teachers spend so much time during the year trying to shape our classes, trying to help students learn the curriculum and manage behavior and keep up with grading and in the midst of it all try to form relationships that will help support them as they find their way into the world after they leave us...
It's exhausting.
And then often they tell us, that of all the things we hope they'll remember, they recall something different altogether. They watch us so closely - they see how we live our lives. They catch us in both our strong and our weak moments, and I think they learn more from watching how we carry ourselves, how we interact with others, how we make decisions and deal with adversity, than many of us realize.
My classroom is empty today, and my heart is sad.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Tricia Jones
Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm talking with fellow Samhain author Tricia Jones. Sit back and enjoy!
Tricia, thanks for being here today. When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
Although I’ve always made up stories in my head, for years the day job in adult education took up most of my energy. Then in 2000 I had one of those milestone birthdays and asked myself “if not now, when?” That’s when I started to write seriously for publication. I finaled in a couple of contests and that spurred me on to start submitting.
That's terrific - tell us about your latest writing project or published title.
Satin Lies, my latest contemporary romance, was released by Samhain Publishing on 3 June. The setting for Satin Lies is romantic Tuscany, one of my favorite places. It's a story about a woman who tries to protect the man she loves and ends up alienating him. Pregnant, she enters into a marriage of convenience with his brother. But when, years later, an accident claims her husband and leaves her with temporary amnesia, she is forced to confront the past and suffer the consequences of her deception as her former lover takes his revenge.
My first Samhain title, His Convenient Affair, was released in print just yesterday, so it’s been a pretty exciting month.
Wonderful news ~ congratulations! So how do you go about developing your characters?
First I get the germ of an idea for a story and the characters come from that. The characters develop as I write the first draft, by the end of which I know them pretty well. The second draft is when I really flesh them out. At a seminar, years ago, the speaker said that the creation of the characters should always come first and the plot should centre around them. That never seemed to work for me. I just couldn’t figure out how to “get” the characters first and then develop a plot for them. It just didn’t flow right. It took me a long while to trust my own process, thinking I was doing something fundamentally wrong. Now I go with what works for me.
What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?
Believe in yourself – first, last and always. Listen to the more experienced writers and take advice, but learn to trust your own instincts and do what works for you.
Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?
Not sure I’d call it writer’s block but I do stall from time to time. Those days when things just won’t happen no matter how hard you try. What works for me is taking time to do other things—physical stuff like gardening or even, heaven forbid, that pile of ironing that’s been waiting forever. It’s amazing how many times I’ve gotten unstuck while negotiating a particularly difficult drain that needs unblocking, or a stubborn weed that refuses to be pulled.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?
That sometimes you just have to trust the process. While I always have the theme, the black moment and the ending in mind when I start a book, I’m basically a seat of the pants writer and don’t always know where I’m going when I sit down to write. That can be scary, especially when the ideas don’t flow, but if you just keep writing magical things often happen. A book my editor is considering right now started out from a very specific idea, but somehow in the middle it morphed into something completely different and, I hope, better. I don’t begin to know how this works, but someone once said that life’s “magical” processes should never be questioned, just accepted. As long as the words keep flowing, I’m more than happy to go along with that...
Anything else you’d like to mention?
Just to say thank you for having me here today, Allie.
You're welcome! Readers, help Tricia celebrate her awesome release month by visiting her website and her blog, and make to check out her books, too!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A Contest! And What Happens When You Google Yourself
"The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom." ~Jon Stewart
I almost forgot to mention that The Wild Rose Press is hosting a contest, all summer long...and the grand prize is a SONY E-Reader! The fun part is that it involves reading some of their authors' works - so here's the link, if you'd like to enter. Great prize!
***
Have you ever Googled yourself? I read somewhere that 30% of us (or so) have. I was surprised...I thought that number was low. (But maybe I'm just overly curious or narcissistic). Anyway, I Google my pen name every few months to see what turns up. Usually, it's just what I expect, the various places my books are listed or sites where I've blogged or commented. But the other day, I was surprised by two of the search results I found. Apparently, One Night in Boston is for sale on Ebay. I'm not sure that's a good thing, but maybe any exposure is good exposure?
The other link I found was cool: a university library in Iowa offers a continuing ed. course in popular fiction/romance, and my article on the changing genre is one of the links in their course! I thought that was pretty neat...
***
Go on, do it. You know you want to Google yourself now...
I almost forgot to mention that The Wild Rose Press is hosting a contest, all summer long...and the grand prize is a SONY E-Reader! The fun part is that it involves reading some of their authors' works - so here's the link, if you'd like to enter. Great prize!
***
Have you ever Googled yourself? I read somewhere that 30% of us (or so) have. I was surprised...I thought that number was low. (But maybe I'm just overly curious or narcissistic). Anyway, I Google my pen name every few months to see what turns up. Usually, it's just what I expect, the various places my books are listed or sites where I've blogged or commented. But the other day, I was surprised by two of the search results I found. Apparently, One Night in Boston is for sale on Ebay. I'm not sure that's a good thing, but maybe any exposure is good exposure?
The other link I found was cool: a university library in Iowa offers a continuing ed. course in popular fiction/romance, and my article on the changing genre is one of the links in their course! I thought that was pretty neat...
***
Go on, do it. You know you want to Google yourself now...
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sales Numbers
"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." ~Pablo Picasso
I finally joined the world of 2008 and bought a laptop yesterday, complete with a wireless router so I can actually sit anywhere in my house and connect to the Internet. While I thought this would be a plus (so hubby and I don't have to negotiate time on our desktop), I can see how it can also EASILY become a huge distraction...I can't force myself to just write when with one little click I can be online. Hmm. Must find way to control the urge to surf while I should be turning out pages instead.
Now, to clarify yesterday's blog post, yes, I know that 49 book sales in one afternoon is a lot, and I know I'm a lucky girl to have so many friends and family turn out to support my habit (ahem...writing habit, that is...). I certainly don't anticipate those kind of sales anywhere else I'm going this summer. Hey, I've sat in enough Borders the last few months to know even one sale is good! If you're an author preparing for any kind of appearance, I would just advise to keep an open mind - you really can never tell who will show up or who will want to buy a book. Expect no one to buy anything at all, and you'll be pleasantly surprised if they do.
Finally, help me welcome a new author to blogger land: Dayana Knight, who writes paranormal romance and has a series coming out shortly. Stop by her blog and tell her hello!
I finally joined the world of 2008 and bought a laptop yesterday, complete with a wireless router so I can actually sit anywhere in my house and connect to the Internet. While I thought this would be a plus (so hubby and I don't have to negotiate time on our desktop), I can see how it can also EASILY become a huge distraction...I can't force myself to just write when with one little click I can be online. Hmm. Must find way to control the urge to surf while I should be turning out pages instead.
Now, to clarify yesterday's blog post, yes, I know that 49 book sales in one afternoon is a lot, and I know I'm a lucky girl to have so many friends and family turn out to support my habit (ahem...writing habit, that is...). I certainly don't anticipate those kind of sales anywhere else I'm going this summer. Hey, I've sat in enough Borders the last few months to know even one sale is good! If you're an author preparing for any kind of appearance, I would just advise to keep an open mind - you really can never tell who will show up or who will want to buy a book. Expect no one to buy anything at all, and you'll be pleasantly surprised if they do.
Finally, help me welcome a new author to blogger land: Dayana Knight, who writes paranormal romance and has a series coming out shortly. Stop by her blog and tell her hello!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
A Beautiful Day for a Book Launch
"What is the disease which manifests itself in an inability to leave a party—any party at all—until it is all over and the lights are being put out?... I suppose that part of this mania for staying is due to a fear that, if I go, something good will happen and I’ll miss it. Somebody might do card tricks, or shoot somebody else." - Robert Benchley
OK, I lied. I do not have any pictures to share from yesterday's book launch party.
This is primarily because I forgot make sure I had my camera in my purse before I left - add that to the list of things I would change for next time.
Overall, though, it was a rousing success! Beautiful weather, first of all - 80 degrees and sunny all day long. This was nice because the library/resource center where it was held is oh so tiny, so the little front lawn with the extra picnic table was a nice place for people to hang out and chat.
I had lots of munchies and beverages - too much, probably, 'cause now I have lots of leftovers. However, I did discover a scrumptious punch recipe online that got rave reviews (a few people wrote down the recipe before they left the party!). It's down at the bottom of this post, if you're interested.
Most of my guests were family and friends, with a couple locals from the community who dropped in to visit. All in all, I sold 49 books - not too shabby!
What would I do differently next time?
1. Arrive earlier to set up. I didn't leave myself enough time.
2. Remember to eat. In a very weird way, it felt a little like my wedding reception: I was so busy chatting with people that I didn't have a thing to eat or drink all day. Translation: massive headache when it was all over.
3. Have a sign with the book prices. This wasn't crucial, but it would have prevented me from repeating myself 49 times.
Otherwise, for the time and money I spent on 3 hours of one afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised by how it turned out. And I like that every time I do an event, I learn more about my own marketing strategies and things that work/don't work.
On to the next one!
***
"Angel Punch"
One 12-oz container frozen pink lemonade
20-oz bag frozen strawberries
2 cups water
1 quart vanilla ice cream
2 cups lemon-lime soda
Combine half of all ingredients EXCEPT the soda. Blend in blender until smooth. Transfer to serving dish and repeat with the other half of ingredients. Chill until time to serve, then pour soda over the top.
Really, it was DELICIOUS - everyone loved it~
OK, I lied. I do not have any pictures to share from yesterday's book launch party.
This is primarily because I forgot make sure I had my camera in my purse before I left - add that to the list of things I would change for next time.
Overall, though, it was a rousing success! Beautiful weather, first of all - 80 degrees and sunny all day long. This was nice because the library/resource center where it was held is oh so tiny, so the little front lawn with the extra picnic table was a nice place for people to hang out and chat.
I had lots of munchies and beverages - too much, probably, 'cause now I have lots of leftovers. However, I did discover a scrumptious punch recipe online that got rave reviews (a few people wrote down the recipe before they left the party!). It's down at the bottom of this post, if you're interested.
Most of my guests were family and friends, with a couple locals from the community who dropped in to visit. All in all, I sold 49 books - not too shabby!
What would I do differently next time?
1. Arrive earlier to set up. I didn't leave myself enough time.
2. Remember to eat. In a very weird way, it felt a little like my wedding reception: I was so busy chatting with people that I didn't have a thing to eat or drink all day. Translation: massive headache when it was all over.
3. Have a sign with the book prices. This wasn't crucial, but it would have prevented me from repeating myself 49 times.
Otherwise, for the time and money I spent on 3 hours of one afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised by how it turned out. And I like that every time I do an event, I learn more about my own marketing strategies and things that work/don't work.
On to the next one!
***
"Angel Punch"
One 12-oz container frozen pink lemonade
20-oz bag frozen strawberries
2 cups water
1 quart vanilla ice cream
2 cups lemon-lime soda
Combine half of all ingredients EXCEPT the soda. Blend in blender until smooth. Transfer to serving dish and repeat with the other half of ingredients. Chill until time to serve, then pour soda over the top.
Really, it was DELICIOUS - everyone loved it~
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Lake House
"Even though this is clearly impossible, it's amazing." ~from "The Lake House"
This is a terrifically romantic movie, if you haven't seen it (I watched it last night...for the 3rd time...). Go rent it!
I'm off to my launch party ~ pics here tomorrow!
This is a terrifically romantic movie, if you haven't seen it (I watched it last night...for the 3rd time...). Go rent it!
I'm off to my launch party ~ pics here tomorrow!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Who Cares What the Reviewers Say?
"A writer should be joyous, an optimist... Anything that implies rejection of life is wrong for a writer." ~George Gribbin
These are the *real* reviews I like:
"You have amazing characters, gripping plots, a fantastic vocabulary, and fresh comparisons. I just had to drop you a note to let you know. I'm looking forward to your third book." ~ my good friend Jenny, a high school English dept. chair out in Ohio that I worked with years ago in a community college writing center. (Those words coming from a fellow English teacher mean A LOT.)
"I just finished One Night in Boston and found it engrossing and enjoyable." ~ my 81-year old aunt, God bless her.
And guess what? Sneak preview at some exciting news coming this summer...
Marianne and Ceri and I might be doing a Samhain author signing at a library or two in New Hampshire! Actually, I don't care about the signing or selling so much as having the chance to get together with 2 cyber-friends and fellow authors, in the real world. I imagine it will be a gab-fest more than a "meet and greet the fans" event - but that's OK. It's not set in stone yet but will hopefully work out. We'll keep you posted!
These are the *real* reviews I like:
"You have amazing characters, gripping plots, a fantastic vocabulary, and fresh comparisons. I just had to drop you a note to let you know. I'm looking forward to your third book." ~ my good friend Jenny, a high school English dept. chair out in Ohio that I worked with years ago in a community college writing center. (Those words coming from a fellow English teacher mean A LOT.)
"I just finished One Night in Boston and found it engrossing and enjoyable." ~ my 81-year old aunt, God bless her.
And guess what? Sneak preview at some exciting news coming this summer...
Marianne and Ceri and I might be doing a Samhain author signing at a library or two in New Hampshire! Actually, I don't care about the signing or selling so much as having the chance to get together with 2 cyber-friends and fellow authors, in the real world. I imagine it will be a gab-fest more than a "meet and greet the fans" event - but that's OK. It's not set in stone yet but will hopefully work out. We'll keep you posted!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
For Your Viewing Pleasure...
"Wine is bottled poetry." ~Robert Louis Stevenson
I have no words of importance today, so it'll be a visual blog post. You like that anyway, right?
The hostas around our pool deck (and yes, there is no pool there - we're getting a new one - hopefully soon!):
I have no words of importance today, so it'll be a visual blog post. You like that anyway, right?
The hostas around our pool deck (and yes, there is no pool there - we're getting a new one - hopefully soon!):
And the hostas around the side of our garage ( the middle ones look a little smushed 'cause I took this pic right after a terrific rainstorm yesterday. Those ones, incidentally, the deer will strip to nothing, if they discover them. The variegated ones on either side, the deer will leave alone. Stupid picky creatures...
Our container vegetable garden about a month ago, newly planted:
And as of yesterday, blooming pretty well (you can see the two upside-down tomato growers, hanging off the side - no salmonella for us!):
And finally, how I spent one day after work, earlier this week: touring a winery with my teacher friends (the oldest continually operating winery in the country, by the way, thanks to a need for sacrament wine during Prohibition). Hey, what other job gets you out and drinking wine at 4:00 in the afternoon?
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Lanaia Lee
Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm happy to be hosting author Lanaia Lee. Settle in and enjoy the interview!
Hi, Lanaia, and thanks for joining me today. Can you tell us a little about your background?
Not much to give for my background in writing. I have only been writing for five years. Divine intervention, I would say. My poetry has won numerous awards and I'm hoping so will my numerous books I will end up writing. I had a stroke at 35, confining me to a wheelchair, so me being a Taurus, my husband calls me Sitting Bull.
Ha - love the nickname! So when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
Five years ago my husband dared me to write a poem. After writing it being curious, I posted it in several on line poetry forums, and the feed back was so positive, I continued to write. Poetry at first, then short stories and finally novals.
Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.
Right now I am working on a five volume fantasy series called Of Atlantis, book one realeased on May 17th, right now it can be purchased at http://www.rovalpublishing.net/, book two called Skulls of Salvation, to be released by the end of summer by A' G' Press, http://www.agpress.8m.net/, the press will publish my last 4 books. I also have a book of poetry available through A. G. Press, called Within Lanaia's Garden of Darkness, now available every where. Soon Of Atlantis book one will also be available everywhere.
That's great news! Now, how do you go about developing your characters?
My characters from Of Atlantis have been in my imagination since childhood. I was an only child, so some of my characters, I played with as a child. An only child seems to develop quite the imagination. My series is based on a lot of my own personal beliefs, so no problem in developing my characters.
OK, what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?
Any new author, make sure [to be careful] in dealing with anyone, especially from the Internet. There are people out there that will seduce you, by telling you, just what you want to hear, just to take advantage of you. So my advice is to be very careful and be absolutely sure of who you are dealing with.
What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
I love mysteries and historical romances. My absolute favorite author of all time is Edgar Allan Poe, this man was a literary genius. Having died when he was only forty, I wish he had lived longer, so there would have been more of his work.
Ah, I'm a Poe fan too! What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
Sometimes in writing poetry, after writing over a thousand poems, sometime I get a bout of writer's block, but after a while of thinking, I always come up with a poem. After I write, I will read it aloud to my husband, and my most rewarding thing, is seeing the look on my husband's face. This tells me if he truly enjoyed my work. The most exciting thing is when friends read my work and comment. Remember those closest to you are your biggest critics.
Thanks for sharing your journey with us, Lanaia!
Allie, I would really like to thank you for taking the time to interview me and talk with me...and readers, remember to buy Of Atlantis!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Gardening Woes and Wows
"My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. " ~H. Fred Ale
I'm not much of a gardener. This will not come as a surprise to anyone who's read my blog for a while, but really, I do not possess a green thumb and have no great desire to develop one. I would much rather spend any free time I have reading or writing (or possibly drinking a good Merlot, but I digress...)
However, I'm happy to say that the vegetables we've started in containers on our front porch are actually growing. This is a feat in itself, as I'm always somewhat surprised to see seeds in dirt turn into green plants above the ground. Yesterday I was weeding (if you can believe it) and hubby came running across the driveway waving something in his hand. Thrilled, he produced two tiny green beans from one of our plants. Hooray! Actually, the lettuce is doing quite well too, and everything else seems to be growing and flowering. I'll take a picture and post it up here sometime.
The poor flowerbeds around the property aren't doing quite as well, though, mostly because it's been beastly hot and dry here, and also because most of the ground beneath us is slate and sand (a neighboring town is actually named "Slate Hill" - need I say more?). But they're doing OK. Except while I was weeding yesterday I found hoofprints in one bed. Yes, actual hoofprints, from the local deer. Yes, they're cute. Yes, I refuse to let hubby hunt them. Yes, I hate to see them hit along the side of the road. But they demolished my impatiens - demolished those and yet left the petunias completely alone.
Unbelievable.
Oh, well. Some things are still steadily growing, others are struggling, and others are thriving no matter what gets thrown at them (like the hostas...they're enormous...does anyone need any??)
Sort of like people, now that I think about it.
I'm not much of a gardener. This will not come as a surprise to anyone who's read my blog for a while, but really, I do not possess a green thumb and have no great desire to develop one. I would much rather spend any free time I have reading or writing (or possibly drinking a good Merlot, but I digress...)
However, I'm happy to say that the vegetables we've started in containers on our front porch are actually growing. This is a feat in itself, as I'm always somewhat surprised to see seeds in dirt turn into green plants above the ground. Yesterday I was weeding (if you can believe it) and hubby came running across the driveway waving something in his hand. Thrilled, he produced two tiny green beans from one of our plants. Hooray! Actually, the lettuce is doing quite well too, and everything else seems to be growing and flowering. I'll take a picture and post it up here sometime.
The poor flowerbeds around the property aren't doing quite as well, though, mostly because it's been beastly hot and dry here, and also because most of the ground beneath us is slate and sand (a neighboring town is actually named "Slate Hill" - need I say more?). But they're doing OK. Except while I was weeding yesterday I found hoofprints in one bed. Yes, actual hoofprints, from the local deer. Yes, they're cute. Yes, I refuse to let hubby hunt them. Yes, I hate to see them hit along the side of the road. But they demolished my impatiens - demolished those and yet left the petunias completely alone.
Unbelievable.
Oh, well. Some things are still steadily growing, others are struggling, and others are thriving no matter what gets thrown at them (like the hostas...they're enormous...does anyone need any??)
Sort of like people, now that I think about it.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Countdown to End of School, and Party Plans, and Release Dates, and...
"We can make this thing into a Party, instead of a Memory." ~Will Rogers
Two weeks left of school...and I'm not sure who's happier, the students or the teachers!
I'll be spending this week (among other things that, you know, have to do with my day job) getting ready for my book launch party this-coming Saturday! I'm excited, if only because I'm holding it at a place that's really small and maxes out at about 50 people - which means if even 10 people come to my party, it will at least look sort of crowded and well-attended :)
And this is a shout-out to my local blog readers: everyone's invited on Saturday! (really) - Click on this link to find out more details.
I had a chance to visit my parents this past weekend, and my mom said to me, "You know, I got a little worried toward the end of Lost in Paradise. I thought maybe it was going to have a sad ending." Aha! So the black moment in the book works :) And see, that's the nice thing about the love stories I write - you can count on the fact that they have happy endings.
Speaking of love stories with happy endings, only three weeks and counting 'til One Night in Memphis releases!
Two weeks left of school...and I'm not sure who's happier, the students or the teachers!
I'll be spending this week (among other things that, you know, have to do with my day job) getting ready for my book launch party this-coming Saturday! I'm excited, if only because I'm holding it at a place that's really small and maxes out at about 50 people - which means if even 10 people come to my party, it will at least look sort of crowded and well-attended :)
And this is a shout-out to my local blog readers: everyone's invited on Saturday! (really) - Click on this link to find out more details.
I had a chance to visit my parents this past weekend, and my mom said to me, "You know, I got a little worried toward the end of Lost in Paradise. I thought maybe it was going to have a sad ending." Aha! So the black moment in the book works :) And see, that's the nice thing about the love stories I write - you can count on the fact that they have happy endings.
Speaking of love stories with happy endings, only three weeks and counting 'til One Night in Memphis releases!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Father's Day
"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." ~Clarence Budington Kellard
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!
My goal for today is to finish my second round of edits for One Night in Memphis. One thing I like about my Samhain editor, she's very efficient. She always gives me about a week to work on edits, which is nice because, really, it doesn't leave me a lot of time to procrastinate. I got this round last Wednesday, I think, and she wants them back Monday. Of course, being that it's the end of school, life's a little crazy right now, but luckily she only wants a few things fixed.
I can't wait for this story to meet the world - less than a month to go!
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!
My goal for today is to finish my second round of edits for One Night in Memphis. One thing I like about my Samhain editor, she's very efficient. She always gives me about a week to work on edits, which is nice because, really, it doesn't leave me a lot of time to procrastinate. I got this round last Wednesday, I think, and she wants them back Monday. Of course, being that it's the end of school, life's a little crazy right now, but luckily she only wants a few things fixed.
I can't wait for this story to meet the world - less than a month to go!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
A Quick Question
"I like to do all the talking myself. It saves time, and prevents arguments." ~Oscar Wilde
OK, so here's my question: if you were going to attend a presentation at your local library given by 2-3 writers (and of course you would, right? because writers are very cool and you support struggling artists), which would you rather hear?
1. A discussion of what it takes to write something and get it published
2. A discussion of how the romance and women's fiction genres are changing and what kind of plotlines they include these days
3. A brief introduction of what each author writes, maybe a personal anecdote or two, and then an open Q&A session
4. Something else altogether
I have the opportunity to speak at a couple of places this summer and am wondering what might be the best draw?
And I know there are lots of you out there who lurk but don't comment, so if you have an opinion today, I'd love to hear it!
OK, so here's my question: if you were going to attend a presentation at your local library given by 2-3 writers (and of course you would, right? because writers are very cool and you support struggling artists), which would you rather hear?
1. A discussion of what it takes to write something and get it published
2. A discussion of how the romance and women's fiction genres are changing and what kind of plotlines they include these days
3. A brief introduction of what each author writes, maybe a personal anecdote or two, and then an open Q&A session
4. Something else altogether
I have the opportunity to speak at a couple of places this summer and am wondering what might be the best draw?
And I know there are lots of you out there who lurk but don't comment, so if you have an opinion today, I'd love to hear it!
Friday, June 13, 2008
TGIF!!
"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." ~Jimmy Dean
Thanks, everyone, for your kind words yesterday...that's why I love cyberworld!
And because I am at the end of a long week and fresh out of new ideas, here's the Friday Feast. Enjoy!
Appetizer
Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist?
I'd say 80% of the time, I'm an optimist. Every once in a while the pessimist side rears its ugly head, though, and I'll spend a few philosophical hours wondering the point of any of my efforts, since in the very grand scheme of things, we live such a short time and have such little (if any) lasting effect on the world.
Soup
What is your favorite color of ink to write with?
Blue.
Salad
How often do you get a manicure or pedicure? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon and pay for them?
During the summer, I get pedicures at a salon about once/month. In the winter, rarely to never, or I do them myself. (c'mon, it's like shaving - who's going to see your legs and your feet when it's 20 degrees outside??) And I never, never get manicures. I use my hands way too much...between doing dishes and playing the piano, the polish comes off the next day.
Main Course
Have you ever won anything online? If so, what was it?
I've won books in different writer's contests. For me as an author, that's a pretty cool prize.
Dessert
In which room in your house do you keep your home computer?
Desktop: the office.
Laptop: anywhere I am and need to write...
Thanks, everyone, for your kind words yesterday...that's why I love cyberworld!
And because I am at the end of a long week and fresh out of new ideas, here's the Friday Feast. Enjoy!
Appetizer
Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist?
I'd say 80% of the time, I'm an optimist. Every once in a while the pessimist side rears its ugly head, though, and I'll spend a few philosophical hours wondering the point of any of my efforts, since in the very grand scheme of things, we live such a short time and have such little (if any) lasting effect on the world.
Soup
What is your favorite color of ink to write with?
Blue.
Salad
How often do you get a manicure or pedicure? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon and pay for them?
During the summer, I get pedicures at a salon about once/month. In the winter, rarely to never, or I do them myself. (c'mon, it's like shaving - who's going to see your legs and your feet when it's 20 degrees outside??) And I never, never get manicures. I use my hands way too much...between doing dishes and playing the piano, the polish comes off the next day.
Main Course
Have you ever won anything online? If so, what was it?
I've won books in different writer's contests. For me as an author, that's a pretty cool prize.
Dessert
In which room in your house do you keep your home computer?
Desktop: the office.
Laptop: anywhere I am and need to write...
Thursday, June 12, 2008
And I Thought Mrs. Giggles Was Tough...
"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever." ~Lance Armstrong
Ouch.
Hang on, let me get another bandage.
And find the limb that got torn off and thrown somewhere across the room.
And see if I can stop the bleeding.
I got my worst review to date, yesterday, for One Night in Boston, from Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction.
The reviewer wrote, in part, "The biggest problem with this story is pace. I read the first chapter excited. The second going, okay, bring it on. The third through probably the next five to six were absolutely flat. I regained my excitement only to have more flat chapters appear. They merely read as set up and lent nothing to the actual story line. I ran into all the cliche roadblocks of Woman’s Fiction and a few from Romance...Heroine’s big secret, which the reader figures out by the end of the first chapter, is so horribly hooked I wanted to tear my hair out...The plot gets warped because I am trying to follow so many characters and none of them truly get to make their mark in the tale."
Yeah - ouch.
I suppose I should find some kind of comfort in the fact that the reviewer went on for paragraphs about what s/he didn't like - my writing was powerfully bad enough to draw actual frustration, not just indifference. Woo hoo!
And I suppose I should be glad for the few teeny tiny glimmers of positive light, because s/he did ultimately say, "I would give her another shot if she could do something other than the already overdone...Big Kudos for trying a new formula in romance...Personally, I’d like to see something else from this author that is outside the box. Hey, if she isn’t writing inside the proverbial limits in the first place, she might as well take a deep breath and jump. All in all, I am giving this book a rating of good read, intriguing, mainly on characterization. She’s got style. I can’t wait to see what might come from her in the future."
I spent a couple of self-indulgent hours yesterday feeling really bad. I thought, wow, maybe I shouldn't be promoting a book that is so obviously flawed. Then I thought, well, I'll take what I can from the review and move on. No one likes everything. No, the book isn't a traditional romance. No, the hero and heroine do not meet in the first chapter. They don't even meet until halfway through the book. Yes, I probably sacrifice action and conflict for prose that captures a mood or a moment - though it's something I'm working on. And I got a thumbs-up on style, which made me happy :)
So, live and learn. Bad reviews sell books too, right? (As a matter of fact, it looks as though 2 copies have sold on Amazon since that review went up. Connection?)
Ouch.
Hang on, let me get another bandage.
And find the limb that got torn off and thrown somewhere across the room.
And see if I can stop the bleeding.
I got my worst review to date, yesterday, for One Night in Boston, from Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction.
The reviewer wrote, in part, "The biggest problem with this story is pace. I read the first chapter excited. The second going, okay, bring it on. The third through probably the next five to six were absolutely flat. I regained my excitement only to have more flat chapters appear. They merely read as set up and lent nothing to the actual story line. I ran into all the cliche roadblocks of Woman’s Fiction and a few from Romance...Heroine’s big secret, which the reader figures out by the end of the first chapter, is so horribly hooked I wanted to tear my hair out...The plot gets warped because I am trying to follow so many characters and none of them truly get to make their mark in the tale."
Yeah - ouch.
I suppose I should find some kind of comfort in the fact that the reviewer went on for paragraphs about what s/he didn't like - my writing was powerfully bad enough to draw actual frustration, not just indifference. Woo hoo!
And I suppose I should be glad for the few teeny tiny glimmers of positive light, because s/he did ultimately say, "I would give her another shot if she could do something other than the already overdone...Big Kudos for trying a new formula in romance...Personally, I’d like to see something else from this author that is outside the box. Hey, if she isn’t writing inside the proverbial limits in the first place, she might as well take a deep breath and jump. All in all, I am giving this book a rating of good read, intriguing, mainly on characterization. She’s got style. I can’t wait to see what might come from her in the future."
I spent a couple of self-indulgent hours yesterday feeling really bad. I thought, wow, maybe I shouldn't be promoting a book that is so obviously flawed. Then I thought, well, I'll take what I can from the review and move on. No one likes everything. No, the book isn't a traditional romance. No, the hero and heroine do not meet in the first chapter. They don't even meet until halfway through the book. Yes, I probably sacrifice action and conflict for prose that captures a mood or a moment - though it's something I'm working on. And I got a thumbs-up on style, which made me happy :)
So, live and learn. Bad reviews sell books too, right? (As a matter of fact, it looks as though 2 copies have sold on Amazon since that review went up. Connection?)
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
Thanks for joining me for another exciting author interview - and today, we have a slightly schizophrenic one (just kidding). She writes alone as Mechele Armstrong and collaboratively as Melany Logen. Intrigued? Read on...
Thanks for being here today! So, when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
I've written most of my life from the time I was a child. What really got me serious was a moment at the beach when my youngest was tiny. I read four romance novels in a weekend after having not read them for a long time. I thought, "I can do this." Came home and wrote a romance novel, which will need lots of tweaking before it ever sees the light of day. That was a defining moment that got me serious about writing.
What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?
Learn your craft. Don't give up. Give yourself permission to write badly. You can always go back and fix things later. The only thing you can't tweak is a blank page.
I stand by that advice, myself. What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
I love to read almost anything. My favorites are paranormal and erotic romance, followed by romantic suspense, thrillers, and horror. I have several favorite authors, LOL, too many to list here. Some authors with books on my keeper shelf are Robin Schone, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Karen Marie Moning, and Lynn Kurland.
What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
The most difficult thing is promotion. I'm a shy person, and it's hard for me to talk about myself. I've had to get over. I've had to get over my shyness and approach people for things. The most exciting and rewarding things for me are when a person loves my book. I've had my books and keeper shelf mentioned. It's a wonderful thing to hear.
How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
It is a constant juggling act. I juggle hubby, kids, friends, pets, and the house and hope I don't drop anything. The house is probably what suffers the most.
I can't imagine you ever suffer from writer's block, since you're writing under two names...but do you ever get stuck? If so, what do you do about it?
A hot bubble bath usually helps me get back on track. If I'm really stuck, pushing ahead or writing on something else will sometimes jog lose the stuck portion of my brain.
Describe your writing space for us...
Hee. I have a fairly new wooden desk that I sit at to write on my laptop. It sits in an inset of a room, which we just painted a mellow shade of green. A picture of New York City (with the TradeTowers) hangs in front of it. A signed poster of Kinley MacGregor's Sword of Darkness hands to the wall to the right. Across a doorway, on the far left wall hangs a poster my hubby did for me of my covers to date. It's beautiful. I also have one Snoopy statue and one snowglobe of him writing on top of his doghouse sitting on top of boxes that hold address labels, cards, and such to the left. The words, "It was a dark and stormy night." are etched on the doghouse. A lamp rests on the desk to the right with a tray for "stuff" to the left. The cat generally lays on the desk to the right beside the laptop fan as I tickety type. It's very inspiring. I love my desk.
Oh, it sounds lovely! What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?
That the novel isn't done once you type the end. It takes lots of tweaking from me and rounds of edits before it's truly "finished."
When you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?
I'm a computer writer. My handwriting is horrible especially when my brain pushed on ahead. It's bad when you can't read your own handwriting. Plus, I tweak as I write so would end up scribbling out things and writing in the margins. I'm much happier writing at the keyboard.
Mechele, thanks so much for being here today! Readers, make sure to stop by and visit Mechele's website or Melany's website - and have a great day!
Thanks for being here today! So, when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
I've written most of my life from the time I was a child. What really got me serious was a moment at the beach when my youngest was tiny. I read four romance novels in a weekend after having not read them for a long time. I thought, "I can do this." Came home and wrote a romance novel, which will need lots of tweaking before it ever sees the light of day. That was a defining moment that got me serious about writing.
What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?
Learn your craft. Don't give up. Give yourself permission to write badly. You can always go back and fix things later. The only thing you can't tweak is a blank page.
I stand by that advice, myself. What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
I love to read almost anything. My favorites are paranormal and erotic romance, followed by romantic suspense, thrillers, and horror. I have several favorite authors, LOL, too many to list here. Some authors with books on my keeper shelf are Robin Schone, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Karen Marie Moning, and Lynn Kurland.
What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
The most difficult thing is promotion. I'm a shy person, and it's hard for me to talk about myself. I've had to get over. I've had to get over my shyness and approach people for things. The most exciting and rewarding things for me are when a person loves my book. I've had my books and keeper shelf mentioned. It's a wonderful thing to hear.
How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
It is a constant juggling act. I juggle hubby, kids, friends, pets, and the house and hope I don't drop anything. The house is probably what suffers the most.
I can't imagine you ever suffer from writer's block, since you're writing under two names...but do you ever get stuck? If so, what do you do about it?
A hot bubble bath usually helps me get back on track. If I'm really stuck, pushing ahead or writing on something else will sometimes jog lose the stuck portion of my brain.
Describe your writing space for us...
Hee. I have a fairly new wooden desk that I sit at to write on my laptop. It sits in an inset of a room, which we just painted a mellow shade of green. A picture of New York City (with the TradeTowers) hangs in front of it. A signed poster of Kinley MacGregor's Sword of Darkness hands to the wall to the right. Across a doorway, on the far left wall hangs a poster my hubby did for me of my covers to date. It's beautiful. I also have one Snoopy statue and one snowglobe of him writing on top of his doghouse sitting on top of boxes that hold address labels, cards, and such to the left. The words, "It was a dark and stormy night." are etched on the doghouse. A lamp rests on the desk to the right with a tray for "stuff" to the left. The cat generally lays on the desk to the right beside the laptop fan as I tickety type. It's very inspiring. I love my desk.
Oh, it sounds lovely! What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?
That the novel isn't done once you type the end. It takes lots of tweaking from me and rounds of edits before it's truly "finished."
When you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?
I'm a computer writer. My handwriting is horrible especially when my brain pushed on ahead. It's bad when you can't read your own handwriting. Plus, I tweak as I write so would end up scribbling out things and writing in the margins. I'm much happier writing at the keyboard.
Mechele, thanks so much for being here today! Readers, make sure to stop by and visit Mechele's website or Melany's website - and have a great day!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Of Sales, Promotions, and Horse Races
Marianne reminded me yesterday that I should have shown the videos from the 1978 Affirmed-Alydar matchup that resulted in the last Triple Crown winner. So here's the final, the Belmont Stakes, and it's a heck of a race:
Got a nibble yesterday from another bookstore I sent a mailing to, who asked me to send promo items and noted that they'd ordered both One Night in Boston and Lost in Paradise. So that's a good sign - I'll probably offer to stop by this summer (it's about 75 miles north of where I live) and sign copies or do a "meet and greet."
I'll be interested to see how the print sales are for both these books, though it's tough to wait because Samhain, anyway, gives you print royalties only twice a year, 6 months behind the selling period. That means I'll find out about Jan-June sales for this year in December. That's OK - I guess I can wait! Got my royalty statement from The Wild Rose Press yesterday for the first quarter of 2008, and it was pretty disappointing. I know they're focusing more on their ebook/e-short stories than their print books now, so I don't expect print sales for Lost in Paradise to be astronomical.
Live and learn, I suppose.
Got a nibble yesterday from another bookstore I sent a mailing to, who asked me to send promo items and noted that they'd ordered both One Night in Boston and Lost in Paradise. So that's a good sign - I'll probably offer to stop by this summer (it's about 75 miles north of where I live) and sign copies or do a "meet and greet."
I'll be interested to see how the print sales are for both these books, though it's tough to wait because Samhain, anyway, gives you print royalties only twice a year, 6 months behind the selling period. That means I'll find out about Jan-June sales for this year in December. That's OK - I guess I can wait! Got my royalty statement from The Wild Rose Press yesterday for the first quarter of 2008, and it was pretty disappointing. I know they're focusing more on their ebook/e-short stories than their print books now, so I don't expect print sales for Lost in Paradise to be astronomical.
Live and learn, I suppose.
Monday, June 09, 2008
And Now for Something Completely Different
"I think it's better to break a man's leg than his heart." ~from the movie Seabiscuit (2003)
I'm sure a lot of us watched the Belmont Stakes over the weekend, hoping and wondering if Big Brown would become a Triple Crown winner. And without getting into all the conversations about horses on steroids, or the cruelty of the sport (Eight Belles RIP), let me just say that I do love watching them run. They are such magnificent animals.
So I did a little video searching for today's entertainment.
The first is Rags to Riches' victory in last year's Belmont, a tremendous win because she was, of course, a girl. I love the emotion in the announcer's voice:
This one's a 1938 film of Seabiscuit and War Admiral. Watch the people on the infield running back and forth as the race progresses! (By the way, this is a great movie if you haven't seen it):
And finally, if you have the time, here's the classic final race scene from The Black Stallion (also a terrific film - the beach scene early on, which spans 15 minutes without dialogue, is a cinematic masterpiece):
I'm sure a lot of us watched the Belmont Stakes over the weekend, hoping and wondering if Big Brown would become a Triple Crown winner. And without getting into all the conversations about horses on steroids, or the cruelty of the sport (Eight Belles RIP), let me just say that I do love watching them run. They are such magnificent animals.
So I did a little video searching for today's entertainment.
The first is Rags to Riches' victory in last year's Belmont, a tremendous win because she was, of course, a girl. I love the emotion in the announcer's voice:
This one's a 1938 film of Seabiscuit and War Admiral. Watch the people on the infield running back and forth as the race progresses! (By the way, this is a great movie if you haven't seen it):
And finally, if you have the time, here's the classic final race scene from The Black Stallion (also a terrific film - the beach scene early on, which spans 15 minutes without dialogue, is a cinematic masterpiece):
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