First Pops' Girls review

Learning to Live received its first review -- earning the Top Pick Award at Romance Reader at Heart! Read the entire review HERE.

Dancing on the ceiling!

I finally get to announce this:

"The Historical that Wouldn't Die".... LIVES! And has found a home at Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

Set in 1870 on the Western Coast of Ireland, Alaina's Promise was my first completed novel. It's undergone serious revisions since that time...a time when I had no idea what 'point of view' or 'headhopping' meant. My plotting left much to be desired, as well.

But the story has been streamlined, made more coherent and a little more exciting. Apparently my editor approved. :)

With a tentative release date of January 30th, this coming year is shaping up to be another good one.

New release -- it's a comedy!

Learning to Live is now available as a download and trade paperback! I'm excited to see my newest 'baby' make its way into the world. ;)

If you like romantic comedy with a little bit of sex appeal, then you'll love Learning to Live & the other installments of our Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls series.

Quirks R Us

I have a quirk.

"Oh, really?" Go ahead and laugh. You know you want to.

I write, therefore I have to be a bit 'off', don't you think? Maybe. At least I have to be a bit different from most people. Most people do NOT make up stories in their heads. Took me years to realize this and the phenomenon still fascinates me.

My particular quirk -- at least the one I'm willing to divulge in a public forum -- is this:
I cannot write an unnamed story.

Nope. Can't do it. I've tried and failed.

I have to have a title or the words don't come. Nothing. It's as if the title cements the story; sets the tone; directs or defines the plot. The title seems to bring it to life like the lightning bolt that jolted Dr. Frankenstein's monster off the table and into our nightmares.

If I have a title, the rest can be as vague as a character's name and a general premise. Sometimes the title leads me to the rest as if it were a guidepost. Strange, huh? I don't know if anyone else writes this way and I'm honestly afraid to ask. But it works for me. I suppose nothing else really matters.

Current titles in the works or on my to-do list:

Table for Two (rom com)

Chameleon (paranormal rom suspense)

Autumn of the Armada (historical)

Small Town Junk (contemp suspense)

Phone Tag (rom com w/paranormal elements)

A Perfect Fit (rom com)

I love titles that do double duty -- ones with hidden or multiple meanings. But I won't tell you which ones fit that billing. You'll just have to read the stories to find out for yourself. ;)

Join our Reader Loops!

If you like to talk about good romance and want to keep up-to-date on two up-and-coming e-publishers, then join our reader loops:

Moonlit Romance publishes romance with a little steam from PG to soft R; except for the upcoming imprint, Moonlit Madness which will present the hotter side of love. Click on the logo to join in the fun and learn more.


By Grace Publications is a publisher of both Inspirational and Sweet romance. Click on the logo to join with our authors, editors and publisher in discussing romance presented the old-fashioned way.

The reviews roll in...

My first Samhain book, Secrets and Shadows, is due out August 22nd, but the reviews are coming in already. So far, they're really great! :)

You can read the one at Euro Reviews here: http://euroreviews.eu.funpic.de/bookdetails.php?book_id=278

(Their reviewer, Chantay, gave the story 4.5 flags and had some very nice comments to add.)


The other review from Coffee Time Romance wont' be posted in full until August. But here's a little peek at what their reviewer, Charissa, had to say:

"Fraught with lushly written twists and turns, this story is a fantastic read. The author has created two characters with strength and vulnerabilities that endear, and the danger that lurks around every corner leaves you guessing right up to the very end. The smoldering sexual tensions that grow page by page are the crowning touch." (Rating: 4 cups)

Am I psyched? Oh, yeah! These reviews and the comments made show me that I've done my job very well. What more can a writer ask for?

Chat tonight!

I'll be chatting tonight from 9-10 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, in the chatroom at Moonlit Romance. Pop on in and *meet* me and other Moonlit authors, editors and our wonderful publisher -- you may even win a prize! :)

We'll be discussing my upcoming release: Learning to Live, the third installment in the Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls series.

Done!

Yes! Another one is done and out the cyber-door!

Oh, yes, I was about an hour late on my deadline--but hopefully no one will notice. If they do, well, I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Am I satisfied with the story? Yes and no. It didn't exactly take the turns I thought it might. It didn't wind up the sexy read I might have expected...although there are moments of major tension.

I have a hard time judging here, because this one was so hard to write! And I'm not 100% sure why. Maybe me heart wasn't in it? Maybe it was circumstances in real life? I have no idea. But I did it -- and it's cute, a little romantic, hopefully a little funny now and then. If not, there's always editing. ;)

Irony, anyone?

I've been playing around with promotional items and came up with a great idea -- why not print out my very pretty banner (made by fellow Samhellion, Rene Lyons) as a bookmark?

It looks good! Perfect size. Simple; to the point; pretty.

And then it hit me. A writer whose mainly pubished in e-books...making bookmarks? Huh. Slightly ironic, don't you think?

Then again, all my titles thus far are or will be available in Print on Demand form. AND if someone should use my little bookmark in some other book...they'll have my name and website addy right there with them. As a gentle reminder, perhaps. So, yeah, this could work.

If not, hey, it gives me something to do while I'm waiting for the decision on that never-ending-but-it-did (Thank God) historical.