My Name Is Louisa Judy Lavyrle Nora Mary...

...and I'm an author.


*Apologies for posting this late; I had to be up early for a signing and literally forgot it was my day to post!  Enjoy:)

My all-time favorite author is Louisa May Alcott. My copy of Little Women has been read so many times, the cover is completely gone, and there is duct tape on the spine. I think the first illustration, copywrite page, and other 'cover' pages are missing.

I checked out her biography so many times in the library, my name was the only one on the checkout card, in my childish, 4th-grade handwriting.

My entire library of LMA books is mismatched. Every time I'd find one I didn't have at a garage sale, I'd buy it. Some collector is probably furious with me for buying only Eight Cousins instead of the entire set. But that was before I learned the value of keeping a matched set together! (And yes...I'm slightly irritated with my high school self too...)

Anyway...I wanted Meg's wisdom; Jo's ability to write; Beth's musical talent; and Amy's name. Later I would also envy Amy marrying Laurie Lawrence! But I digress.

In the 6th grade, I was introduced to Judy Blume. She took ordinary, flawed girls and showed how other issues besides boyfriend or popularity problems could be dealt with effectively. In fact, when I began writing, I patterned book #3 of my AU series after her controversial First Love book, which chronicled a HS senior losing her virginity.

When I finished the 6th grade, my mom let me read Kathleen Woodiwiss' The Flame and the Flower. I was instantly hooked on romance. But I don't care to write historicals; too much research. I did, however, fall in love with the Civil War era, and was soon allowed to watch all of Gone With The Wind. I was always sent to bed after the war was over, but stayed awake to listen to the rest. I always wondered what the big deal was about the staircase scene; I'd gotten up during Rhett and Scarlett's 'fight' and Mom discovered me in the hallway as Rhett carried Scarlett up the stairs.

In college, I read my first Danielle Steele book, but soon discovered I didn't like the guilt the heroines always felt. After college, a friend introduced me to Lavryle Spencer, and I instantly fell in love. Separate Beds. Hummingbird. The Hellion. Three of my favorites of hers, as well as Family Blessings. When she retired, I thought, 'I can take her place!' I had three books under my belt at that time, and was working on completing #4.

During the same period, my mom gave me my first Nora Roberts book, Montana Sky. I now own many Nora books, and my favorites include the Key Trilogy and the Sister Trilogy (Megan, Kate, and Laura).

And among the erotica authors? Too many to count. I started an erotica on the sly after reading Mary Winter's Water Lust. I still haven't finished it; I wrote it in longhand and in private, as I blushed every time I used certain words. And as I continued to read other authors' work, I continued to write and worked up the nerve to submit some of it. All because a certain author dared me to challenge myself, to see if I could keep the heat level up. And promptly 'borrowed' my idea, but the stories are in no way the same, so I'm not upset. Initially, yes. But I got over it.

So there you have it. Influenced by many, but my voice is my own. Maybe someday there will be someone saying, 'Thanks Kenzie, for inspiring me'??

Thank you Louisa, Judy, Lavryle, Nora, and Mary! And to Brynn, Bron, Kelly, Anny, etc for furthering the 'corruption', ha ha! Seriously, if any of my books get to be half as beloved as yours, I'll be thrilled!

Interview of Author Kathy Lane

Today I'm pleased to present an interview of romance author Kathy Lane.

Latest Book: Bloodsworn 2: Linked by Blood
Buy Link: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=861

BIO:
Kathy is a central Florida native who devours books on a regular basis. Fiction is her favorite because it allows her to exercise her ever active imagination. She started writing short stories and poems in high school, continuing to dabble in science fiction and fantasy off and on until 2006 when her spunky niece, Darelle, dragged her to a writers convention. There her desire to write morphed into the dream to write well enough to be published. Four years, three manuscripts, and numerous edits and revisions later, the dream became reality with her Bloodsworn series. Now Kathy writes for her fans, inviting them to return once again to the world of Avalyr and all its wonderful characters.

Q: What’s the first thing you did when you received word you’d sold a book?
A: I cried, literally. Then I jumped up and down for about a half hour while calling everyone I know. Family, friends, acquaintances, didn’t matter. I had to tell everyone the good news.

Q: What part of the book is the easiest for you to write? Why?
A: I’d say it’s a toss up between descriptions and dialogue. I love to describe settings, bringing the reader into my world. And when the characters get to sparring back and forth verbally and it sounds completely natural, like they’re in the room with you, that’s true magic.

Q: What part of the book is the hardest for you? Why?
A: I suppose the hardest part for me is bringing out the internalization of the characters. As a reader, I understand the importance of getting inside the heads of the hero and heroine in order to make that connection. But as an author, getting my characters to let me in so I know what they’re thinking sometimes is such a struggle. When I’m writing in deep point of view it’s even harder. Never been a man before but I have to write like one? Know what he’d think and how he’d react in a given situation? Not always an easy task.

Q: You’re on a remote island with a handsome man, a computer, and a “mysterious” source of electricity to power your computer. What do you do?
A: That’s easy. I’d save the computer for when the man gets too tired to ‘play’.

Q: What genre would you like to try writing in but haven’t yet done so? Why?
A: I cut my romantic-reading teeth in my late teen years on Historicals, specifically Barbara Cartland. I later graduated to the likes of Kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers, then moved voraciously on to Stephanie Laurens, Amanda Quick, and others. I love the whole setting of Regency and Victorian England. Something about the gowns, the food, and the dashing heroes. Yet, for some reason, I haven’t tried writing a Historical yet.

Q: Facebook, MySpace, Blogs, Chats, or Twitter. Which do you like best and why?
A: As an author, I am such a social media wallflower. Don’t utilize these resources nearly as much as I should. I have a MySpace page, but haven’t been to it in months. I have a Facebook page, too, but don’t get on it often enough. Same for Twitter. And my Blog? Don’t get me started. Or rather, yes, do get me started, please. I really need to blog more often. I suppose Facebook is my favorite because all my family and friends are on it and it helps me stay connected.

Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
http://www.kyrlane.com
Publisher’s page: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=Kathy%20Lane
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1803204427

BLURB:
The moment the mighty Blade, Bracca Cu-Laurian sees empath, Sheren Ni-Annun, he fights his desire for the young widowed mother. Not only is his life pledged to his Bloodsworn, but his past sins make him an unfit mate for any woman, let alone an empath. Never before has the line between desire and duty been so impossible to cross.

Sheren's late husband taught her to resent a Blade's duty, and she has since vowed to avoid those fierce warriors. Then Bracca awakens her empathic senses with a vengeance. How can she deny her feelings for him and possibly keep her vow? When her young son is linked to Bracca's Bloodsworn, the consequences that threaten to destroy them and those they hold dear, may also be the very thing that brings them together.

EXCERPT:
Breathing hard, Sheren ran through the exercise to put her normal shield back into place, concentrating on making it stronger, denser. It appeared to be working until she became distracted by a new emotion winding sinuously over and around the half-formed shield. Desire.

Potent, all consuming, and definitely not hers.

She snapped her eyes open and caught the longing in Bracca’s eyes an instant before he blinked it away.

“You want me,” she whispered, aware her voice trembled with wondrous discovery.

“Forgive me." He averted his eyes, pulling away from her. Even without his touch his guilt assailed her, the emotion strong, but not enough to overpower that yearning desire. “I never meant to frighten you. I only sought to keep you from injuring yourself. I’ll leave—”

She grabbed his retreating hand. Not even with Sayjan had she felt such breathtaking desire. Sayjan had loved her. But her senses had not blossomed under her late husband’s touch. Not like this. Compared to what she sensed now, she’d been blind before.

With her shield half up and only Bracca close enough to sense, she found the invading emotions easily bearable. More than bearable. Intoxicating. “You want me,” she whispered, aware her voice trembled with wondrous discovery.

“Bracca…” She reached up to touch his face. He stilled instantly. Pressing her hand firmly to his cheek, she said, “I feel you.”

He swallowed hard. “How can you even bear to touch me?”

She didn’t understand his question. Not bear to touch him because he was a Blade? Or because she’d swore never to get involved with a Blade again? How could he know? Not even Karess knew of her vow. At the moment, she had trouble even remembering why she’d made it.

Slowly he raised his hand and traced the edge of her face with calloused fingers. Wonder and longing swirled through the desire with a poignant sweetness that brought tears to her eyes.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered. Head bending, he leaned closer.

Sheren knew she should stop him. Had to stop him. Yet the emotions pouring into her were like a heady draught of wine. She could no more stop drinking them in than she could stop breathing air. Merciful Luma, she wanted this.

The first touch of his lips went through her body like lightning. Her knees buckled. He caught her, one arm across her lower back, the other between her shoulders, his large hand cradling her head.

Sheren gazed up at him, clutching at his shoulders. Slowly, his gaze locked with hers, he lowered his head again, giving her every chance to turn away. She didn’t.

His lips were firm and warm. Insistent. His tongue stroked firmly against her closed mouth, demanding she let him in. She surrendered with a moan. He kissed like a warrior, invading, conquering. Sweet pleasure laced with the bitterness of desperation crashed over her. His? Hers? She could no longer separate her own emotions from those she felt coming from Bracca. Nothing in her life had ever prepared her for this…fusion.

Their bodies shifted closer. He deepened the kiss. Her hands slipped up his strong arms, fingers sliding beneath the edges of his sleeveless tunic. The hard muscles of his shoulders shifted and bunched beneath her touch. So strong, so hot…

Anything else you’d like to add?
I have a new Bloodsworn book coming out Spring, 2012. It’s a novella which will be available in e-book only. The story features one of Devlin’s Silver Blades, Kiel Na-Turesh, and the love of his life he left behind when he became blade-sick. The title of the book is, Reborn in Amber, and is all about second chances. ‘Sometimes you have to die to get a second chance at love.’

Words to make you laugh

Do you like crazy words?

Found amusing ones recently. Once a year Mensa invites readers to take any word from the dictionary and by adding, subtracting or changing one letter, and then give the new definition. Hope these make you laugh.

1. Castration: The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus: A person who’s both stupid and an asshole.

3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Foreplay: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

5. Flabbergasted: Appalled by discovered how much weight one has gained.

6. Coffee: The person upon whom one coughs.

7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.

I’ve got more for another column. If you like these please let me know. I love them, but then I’m a little weird about words.

Here’s a few words of my own, which I hope you’ll like too. It’s an excerpt from Victoria’s Visions, my latest book released by PIP.


“Are you up to a race? See the copse of trees ahead? The one with the big oak in front? It’s a lovely spot with a small, running brook.” The sheer beauty of the day and his companion made Cabot’s heart lighten. “Let’s go. Victoria. One, two, now.”
As soon as he’d assented, she’d readied Lally, and both started at the same time.
She beat him by a matter of inches, and Cabot jumped off his horse. Without thought of the consequences, he dragged her from Lally. Her laughing face proved too much temptation for a man more than half in love. He didn’t think a male alive could resist her sparkling eyes and delighted smile. He bent his head and kissed her the way he’d longed to from the moment they’d met, his tongue invading her mouth and licking at her sweetness. She flung her arms around his neck and pressed her lithe body against him. To his dazed pleasure, she was not at all expert at the moves of love. She’d been kissed before, of course, but not very often or very well. The schools in Switzerland must be more protective than he’d thought. If he knew the address, he’d send somebody a fervent thank-you note.
He deepened the kiss, relishing her attempts to follow his lead with her sweet, soft mouth and questing tongue. Drawing her lower lip into his mouth, he sucked and licked and savored the taste of her honey. He moved his hands from her face to her shoulders and, almost out of control, lowered her body to the grassy ground and followed her down. Holding himself beside her, he caressed her body almost wildly, almost as if he wanted to punish her for being so irresistible. She gasped and writhed beneath his touch as he gloried in her uninhibited response. Then his hands grew gentle and adoring as he learned her feminine curves and found them even more luscious than he’d dreamed.
He intended to pleasure her in any way he could and then show her how to take them both to sexual fulfillment. No thoughts of anything but the beautiful body he was rapidly undressing filled his raging mind. Nor did Victoria make any attempt to protest, rather she kept kissing and moving against him with mind-shattering passion. He’d never known a woman to show such joy in exploring the boundaries of love.

Interview of Unpublished Writer Harlie Williams

RBRU is always thrilled to present unpublished writer interviews! Please welcome Harlie Williams.

BIO:
I’m just a city girl living in the country now.I was born in the great state of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner) and raised in Dallas, TX. I lived in Dallas until 5 years ago when the hubby got the opportunity to open a store in a small town about an hour southeast of Dallas and we’ve been there every since. I’m a married mother of one very active 1st grade boy that is the love of my life…well, next to my husband. I married when I was older (37) and would marry my husband all over again. I’m also a hockey/baseball/college football fanatic. I’m the girl that you will find at a sports bar talking to the men about sports and drinking beer and then helping their wives/girlfriends with the ins and outs of what’s going on in the game.

Website: Not yet. I know I need one if I ever get published.
Blog: http://mywritingbyharlie.blogspot.com-writing

Q: What genre do you enjoy writing and why?
A: Highly sensual small town contemporaries. I was born in Oklahoma but raised in Dallas, TX. Growing up my parents took my younger brother and myself to visit our relatives in Oklahoma so we would have a sense of small town life. My mother was raised on a farm and my dad was raised in town, as they say.

Q: What has been the most encouraging thing that’s helped you stay focused in your writing?
A: Getting feedback from people that read my blog. I also contribute to Yahoo from time to time and it’s interesting to read what other people, aside from friends and family, say about what I write about. Plus, I had a writer tell me that I was not erotic enough in my sex scene that I sent her and when I read it, she was right. I stopped worrying about the bedroom and focused on the other parts of the story and its just flowed every since.

Q: What has been the most discouraging thing that’s happened in your writing?
A: Finding out about a rejection in a roundabout way and I still don’t have the “official” word yet. I didn’t write a word or read a book for about a month. I’m just now finding my groove again. I know that rejection is the name of the game but to find out the way I did; it was completely devastating.

Q: Do you do research?
A: Not really. I’m originally from Oklahoma, grew up in Dallas and live in the country now. I spent my summers growing up in Oklahoma so the research is in my head.

Q: If so, what type have you done?
A: I have called some of my friends and cousins that still live in Oklahoma to ask them about specific things but overall, I just remember hanging out on farms/ranches, the corner drugstores and the community pools.

Q: What do you think is the key to a memorable romantic story?
A: The emotional connection that the couple have with each other. Without it, nothing else matters.

Q: Where do you get your story ideas?
A: I actually came up with my current WIP in about 30 minutes. In fact, it’s the story I’m writing for NaNo. The first ever story idea I had, I’ve written about 30 pages but I’ve put it away for now. It’s a difficult WIP for me right now.

Q: What part of the whole writing process is the hardest for you?
A: Finding the time. I work 40 hours a week, married with a 1st grade son, so time is precious. My hubby is very supportive and really likes what I write.

Q: What part of the whole writing process is the easiest for you?
A: Editing. I know I’m weird.

Q: Is there someone who’s been extra helpful with your writing?
A: Actually a couple of people have been instrumental for me not to give up and keep pushing. I cannot thank Regina Carlysle, Maria Durst, Kim Siedel, Cari Quinn and my CP, April London enough for the encouragement; kick in the pants and overall cheerleading that they have done for me. I would have given up if not for them.

Q: Hero or heroine. Which is easiest to write and why.
A: For me so far, it’s been the hero. I see my hero as if he was sitting in front of me telling me his story. In fact, the story I’m writing from NaNo is in the male POV. Men are basic creatures with flaws but are specific in what they want and need. Much easier to write.

Q: Hero or heroine. Which is hardest to write and why.
A: The heroine is the hardest for me. I know, she should be the easiest but my heroines are flawed and highly emotional characters. I’m trying to tone them down a bit because as much as I like them, they sometimes are coming across as whiners!

Q: Describe your writing routine (place, hours, time of day, mood, etc.)
A: I usually write at work or on the weekends. My job affords me the time during the downtimes. I’m a receptionist/secretary so I have a lot of downtime. On the weekends, it’s my net book and me. Hubby works every other Saturday and he takes our son to work with him, so Saturday mornings are golden to me. Most of the time, I write in complete silence. Sometimes, I will write with the television on but I block it out. Its white noise to me.

Q: Are you in a critique group? If so, tell us how it helps you.
A: Yes, I am and that’s were I met my CP, April. I’ve learned a lot about my writing and the writing of others.It has taught me the value of taking the time to re-read and self-edit your work. In the beginning, I tended to rush through it and learning through others have taught me to slow down, read it out loud and sometimes laugh at what I wrote.

Q: Are you ready to promo your work?
A: Yes, I am. I have an author page already on Facebook (I know, a bit premature LOL), I’m on twitter a lot and I have my writing blog, too. Plus, my regular Facebook page. I do not have a website yet but will if I ever get published.

Q: What are you working on now, and do you have a publisher in mind to send it to?
A: Like I said I’m writing a piece for NaNo where there could be a sequel. My dream publisher is Harlequin. I know it’s a dream but dream big I say. Actually, I have a couple of publishers that I’m very interested in right now. The Wild Rose Press, Carina Press, Noble and Decadent are where I will target. I like their business models and the way they conduct themselves in social media circles and I’ve never read a bad book from any of them.

Q: You’re on a deserted island in a comfy beach house (with a magical power source), a laptop, and two handsome cover models. What do you do?
A: Wow, that’s a loaded question. A lot, but don’t tell my husband…

Anything else you’d like to add?
I really want to thank you Marianne and to everyone else that reads the Romance Books R Us blog. I love this blog and the writers that are on it. You have been encouraging, supportive and fun to talk to on the loop and on the blog.

Facebook author page is under Harlie Writer.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harlie-Writer/224885394212458?ref=pb
Twitter @marika67

Giving away a free book today...

I want to know what kind of hero you prefer...

So please check out the guys below...and pick your favorite man...

# 1

# 2

# 3

# 4

# 5

# 6

Okay...look these hot men over and let me know in comments which guy rings your bells...the most.  Tell me why.  The way he is standing? The way he makes you feel?  His body?  His attitude?  The way his jeans fit?  

What makes you sit up and take a closer look?  Is there an aura of sensuality?  A sense of sex-on-the-hoof masculinity?  Or do you just love to ogle?  Would you buy a book that had one of these men on the cover?  Or would you pass it over in favor of a cook book?

We are authors. We are in the business of selling books.  It isn't surprising that many readers choose a book because of the cover.  Shallow?  Not at all.  A cover must be evocative, sexy, thrilling.  A cover must make a reader turn and stare, then reach out.  The reader will then peruse the blurb...the excerpt.  If it all fits, the reader will buy.

So, in the time-honored tradition of voting for your favorites, please tell me which guy rings YOUR bells.  And why he does.  And if I really love your comment, you may just win a hot, sexy book.

Have fun!

Fran Lee

http://www.franleeromance.com  

http://www.jasminejade.com/m-554-fran-lee.aspx

How To Play God Without Developing a Complex

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Big deal, fantasy authors do it all the time.

Need to bend the rules of physics? As long as you keep it consistent and credible, go ahead. Want to have demons, angels, werewolves, and other shapeshifters existing in the same world? Fine, just make sure your characters are believable. Hey, you do believe in these beings, don’t you?

The most important rule to writing fantasy is to build your world and characters so your reader believes they exist. These creations must operate under a specific set of criteria that you set in the beginning throughout the story. For example, if a werewolf can only shift during the full moon, don’t suddenly have one of them able to shift at will—unless in your world the alpha can do anything or it is a new mutation, but be sure to let your reader know this from the start.

Once you have established the rules of your world, you can have fun. Let your imagination run free because you’re the God of your world. A God without a complex, no guilt allowed here, no remorse permitted. Torture your characters, destroy your worlds, rebuild and start anew, it’s all in a day’s work for a God. And I do so love being a God.

Bio:
LJ DeLeon is an Army brat and a world-traveled former CIA Intelligence Analyst who has seen enough of this world to appreciate other worlds. Working for the CIA was great training for writing fantasy, paranormal, and futuristic romance--and understanding the warrior mentality.

Amazing how real life and fiction overlap.

LJ’s books
can be found at all major on line bookstores.

Contact information for LJ:
Website: http://www.ljdeleon.com
Blog: http://www.warriorsforlight.com
Facebook: LJ-DeLeon
Twitter: @LJ_DeLeon

Veteran Heroes

I'm a little late for Veteran's Day, but I want to talk about a couple veterans in romance--specifically heroes, and why vets make such yummy ones. I don't think it's much of a stretch. Dedication, physical strength, mental endurance, duty, honor... yeah, those are all bad characteristics for a romance hero--NOT.

I've also read some great books where the heroine is military, too, but I haven't, as it turns out, written one. Hmmm. Will have to think on that. Meanwhile, I want to mention two of my favorite heroes. One's from a new book, one's from one of my first. They're different people with different issues, but both came home with scars, mental and physical, and both have to step it up when their lady-love is in need. First, I'd like to take a little stroll down memory lane with One Good Man, recently re-released from Ellora's Cave with a to-die-for good cover (also a Thanksgiving story, so very timely), and then we'll take a peek at my latest release, Wrong Side of Town, out this month from Resplendence Publishing.

And if you know any veterans in real life, (male or female) it's not too late to give them a hug!

“One Good Man”

By Lacey Thorn and Cindy Spencer Pape

Available now from Ellora’s Cave

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-3938-one-good-man.aspx

Blurb:

One of the most enduring of all urban legends is the story of the phantom hitchhiker. Young or old, male or female, in need of help or just needing a ride, the legends vary. A helpful driver offers a ride and the passenger gives directions. When they arrive at the destination however, the driver discovers the passenger has vanished, sometimes leaving behind a piece of clothing or some other memento to mark his or her passing. A stormy night, a deserted country road, a blown tire, and a woman on the run from a killer. Is the handsome young Marine here to save her? Or is he just a figment of her imagination?

Casey is caught between a murderer, a ghost and the wounded soldier who could either save her life or break her heart. Grant can deal with Thanksgiving snowstorms and determined killers but not his brother’s ghost, and not a woman who makes him start thinking about the future. Can Grant let go of the past to embrace the explosive passion he finds with Casey? He’s willing to risk his life for hers, but what about his heart?

Excerpt (R-Rated):

She didn’t cry, like some women did, in a cute, chick-flick kind of way. He was immune to that. His ex-wife had had it down to an art from. This woman cried from the gut—and if he didn’t miss his guess—from the heart. Her shoulders jerked and she wheezed for breath as she sobbed and sniffled, then wiped her face roughly with the back of her hand.

He didn’t even realize he was moving ‘til he was there beside the bed. Then it was the most natural thing in the world to sit on the edge and gather her into her arms. Whoever she was, whatever game she was playing, right now, all he could do was hold her in his arms and stroke his hands down her back while she cried.

After a few minutes the sobs dissolved into hiccoughs, then faded away to one locker-room loud snort. She pulled away from his soaked chest and used both hands to swipe at her face, shove damp strands of hair out of her eyes.

“S-sorry.”

“For what?” His own voice sounded rusty, even to him. Now that she wasn’t falling apart anymore, his cock had registered the fact that there was a real live woman sitting in his lap, all warm and soft, for the first time in almost a year. Down boy! He tried to remember that he didn’t know her, couldn’t trust her. Too bad it wasn’t working.

“Everything.” She looked around wildly. It dawned on him what she needed and he handed her the first thing that came to hand, which turned out to be a pillowcase. She nodded her thanks and used the cloth to wipe her face, then finally, blow her nose. “Including the extra laundry.”

“That would be the least of my worries. Probably should have put clean bedding on a while ago.” Would have, if he’d known there was going to be a woman in the cabin. But he knew, or thought he did, what she was really apologizing for. Unless he missed his guess, Casey—her name was engraved in his mind from earlier—was a strong, independent type. And he knew very well how much he hated to fall apart in front of anyone else. He figured he might as well say something to put her at ease. They had a lot of talking to do. It would go easier if they didn’t start out in confrontation. “Trust me, I’m no stranger to nightmares. They happen to the best of us.”

Wrong Side of Town

By Cindy Spencer Pape

From Resplendence Publishing

http://bit.ly/tZEjV5

Blurb:

Zach Shannon is back in town, and tiny Hawthorne, Texas will never be the same. When the local military hero comes home and starts working for his father, the sheriff, one of his first cases is a string of minor fires that everyone seems to blame on a handful of teens from the wrong side of town. Even worse, Zach is rapidly falling for Laney Burroughs, a quiet librarian whose Goth nephew is the suspected ringleader. Their attraction deepens but both have too many responsibilities and too much baggage to make it easy, especially with Zach’s wealthy family, Laney’s nephew, and the entire town looking on.

 

Excerpt (PG-Rated)

“Why don’t we get those in some water?” Seeming to understand that she was too stunned to know what she was doing, he steered her through the archway to her kitchen. “Then we can go get something to eat. I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.”

“D-dinner?” She reached into a cabinet for a vase—the green glass piece had been one of her mother’s favorites. Carefully, she filled it with water while Zach unwrapped the bundle of flowers. “I didn’t think you’d want… That is everyone will see you with me… I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

“I’m a big boy, Laney. I’m allowed to date anyone I want. Even if a couple idiots seem to have a grudge against her nephew.” He handed over the flowers and watched while she trimmed the stems in the sink. “I’d like to get to know you better. We’re both single and over twenty-one. There’s nothing wrong with us sharing a meal.”

How was she supposed to respond to that? She arranged the stems in the vase then set them in the center of the small, maple table.

“You might need some shoes, though those pink toenails are awfully cute.”

He thought her toes were cute? She felt her face heat. Reluctantly, though, she shook her head. “I’m sorry, Zach. I’m just not up to facing the stares tonight, or the pitying looks, or the whispering. I’d really love to go out with you sometime, but not…not tonight.”

He shrugged and gave her an easy smile. “Okay. So we’ll eat in. You want me to run back to the grocery store for some steaks or something?”

Suddenly staying in with Zach seemed more dangerous than going out—though that thought sent a thrill along her spine and made her core tingle in anticipation. She squeezed her eyes shut for a minute, got her breathing under control then smiled up at him. “Is the offer still good for going out of town? I know it’s late, but we could get to Midland in an hour or so.”

“Sounds good to me.” He reached up a hand and cupped her cheek. “Whatever you’re most comfortable with.”

Oh, lord, just that slight touch, and her bones wanted to melt. They had to get out of here, and fast, before he had her flat on her back. “Let me get my shoes and purse.”

Why Be Anonymous?

I stare at my diploma, that granted me full rights and responsibilities as any "Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, daily. It hangs on the wall in my study.  Best I can tell it allows me to say this:

Shakespeare wrote his own plays and sonnets.

Now, I've always maintained this opinion and I realize that the fact that I have merely read all of them, and even performed in a few of them gives me no license as literary historian.  So it was with much ingrained propensity to scoff that I bought a ticket and settled in to watch the latest version of the Shakespeare Fraud theories:  Anonymous.

I don't like to read movie reviews before I go.  If I had, I would have been in total agreement on the wonky timelines (I'm PRETTY sure Ben Johnson was NOT a direct contemporary of Will's and no self respecting acquisitions editor that I know would have allowed the massive amount of very muddled time travel we did to get our hands around the story). But...

Wow.

I'm a stone cold sucker for a costume drama and have been known to watch Shakespeare In Love, Elizabeth (1 and 2), The Other Boleyn Girl in that order, again, on a snowy Sunday.  I love the Tudor period of English history, literary and otherwise.  When I lived near London I spent HOURS poking around the Tower of London, staring at the entrance gate where Elizabeth and so many others were brought, soaking it up like a sap.

This movie had it all. Sex. The muddy, gritty reality of the Bankside area where the "playwrights" (at that time synonymous with "moldy pond scum") all huddled in ale houses, drinking, whoring and trying to make a living. A horny queen. Well-documented Cecil intrigue. Sex. Less than perfect looking yet utterly sexy Englishmen.

And a premise that is the most preposterous baloney I've ever heard.  But I love the movie!  Really got me thinking about that whole paradox:  writers as a pox on civilized society? or as purveyors of entertainment to take our minds of the reality (plagues, wars, pestilence, abject poverty--or social networking)?  Why would the 17th Earl of Oxford have to bankrupt himself by writing ALL THE TIME, neglecting his family's "titled businesses" whatever the heck THOSE were only to remain: Anonymous?  

Without spoiling it for you, I'll just say that while incest may be best, it yielded nothing but tragedy here. And....if the 17th Earl of Oxford (one of the oldest known titles in the country) truly did write all of Shakespeare's plays, bankrupting his family and nearly getting himself killed in the process...well, he really ought to have penned a revisionist "Oedipus Rex" right after that little chat with William Cecil.  

Amazing. Creative. Entertaining. and Utter claptrap.

But tied up in an fabulous and sparkly package of acting, costumes, sets and angst.

If you love The Bard like I do you will be incensed but have a great time getting there!

Have a great week!

Liz

Interview of Still Moments Publishing

Today I'm happy to present an interview of Still Moments Publishing!


Owned and operated in Nova Scotia, Canada, Still Moments began as a print magazine in 2003, and quickly grew to include subscribers from Canada, US and around the globe. Director and owner, Darlene Fredette, recently expanded the Still Moments organization into a full-service royalty paying e-publisher. As of September 1, 2011, Still Moments Publishing opened its doors, offering both new and established authors a full line of editorial, cover design, and marketing support.

Website: http://stillmomentspublishing.com
Facebook: Still Moments Publishing
Twitter: @stillmomentspub

CONTEST

Anyone who leaves a comment will have their name entered in a draw to win a PDF copy of one of our Christmas Treats Anthologies coming in December. Contest ends 13 November. We'll draw two names (one for Santa's Naughty List and one for Santa's Nice List). The winners will be announced on our web site November 14, 2011. http://stillmomentspublishing.com

Q: Describe your job.
A: I’m the owner, publisher, and editorial director. I oversee the complete set-up and operations of the company. I’m a hands-on type of person, and work directly with my team and authors to ensure the smooth running of our day-to-day operations.

Q: What motivated you to get involved in the romance industry?
A: I’m also a writer (newly published) and have always supported other writers and authors in the romance industry. When Still Moments Magazine was developed, it provided a place for writers to promote both their talent and stories. I also read and review many published romance authors’ books, and publish my reviews in the magazine.

Q: What's one important thing you've learned about your job as you became more involved in it.
A: To delegate. I can’t fill every position, so it’s very important I have a great team behind me. I have an awesome editorial team. Their support is second to none.

Q: What do you consider the best way for an author to do promos?
A: Still Moments Publishing handles most of the marketing for their authors through our social media sites, as well as through our magazine, which has a huge subscriber list. However, an author must do their part. Guesting on blog sites is a great way to spread the word about new releases. Reviews always boost interest, but the best promo of all is to be active in the world of social media; Twitter, Facebook, and blog…make your presence known.

Q: What’s the one most important thing a reader/author should know about your business?
A: Even though Still Moments Publishing is a new publisher, we have been in the publishing business since 2003. Our editorial philosophy remains steadfast in our commitment to offer our readers the same high quality stories they have come to expect.

Q: What are your guidelines for a writer/author to submit a book/manuscript for a review or to sell?
A: We’re actively seeking romance stories in the following categories:
Chick Lit, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary, Fantasy/Magical, Inspirational, Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal, Sensual Erotic, Western, and Young Adult. Word count limitations: 10,000-100,000. All submissions must have romance as the main theme and contain a man and woman. Heat levels range from sweet to sensual. Structure, plot, setting, characters, and dialogue are key elements we look for in a story. For our complete guidelines, check out our submissions page at: http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/p/submissions.html

Thank you for hosting Still Moments Publishing, and for the generous opportunity to spread the word about our exciting new venture.

CHINA'S ONE-CHILD POLICY

When I travel, I look for features about the country or culture that inspire a story which could only happen in that particular location or under those circumstances. In China, the government's one-child policy triggered my imagination.

Travelers in foreign lands are always exposed to one or more of the world’s pressing social issues. Issues that are easy for tourists to simply ignore, and many travelers do just that. They come home with photos of elephants, temples, and monuments, with souvenirs, dirty clothes, weary bones, tales of adventure, and a myriad of other things. I do that, too.

But, also, I return--gratefully--to the United States with concerns regarding population growth, environmental degradation, loss of historical and cultural heritage, poverty, hunger, racial and religious discrimination, poor living conditions, inadequate medical treatment, economics, social inequities, and violence, including wars. Everywhere I’ve been, at least one or two of those raise their ugly heads. Fortunately not all of them on every trip, or I’d quit traveling. But being an urban planner who spent more than thirty-seven years dealing with planning for future generations, one of my interests is population growth and how it’s being handled.

What the Family Planning Law Covers
I came back from my trip to China in 2002 impressed with the way the Chinese government had addressed the previously-uncontrolled population growth.

Say what? No, you read that correctly. Thirty plus years ago, China faced a huge population problem. They couldn’t house, feed, or educate the growing population. They couldn't provide adequate jobs or medical treatment. Overpopulation and a high birth rate created enormous economic, social, and educational problems. In 1978, the PRC (People’s Republic of China) under the direction of then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, bit the bullet and adopted a population control policy.

The law restricts the number of children of married urban couples (essentially Han Chinese living in urban areas) to one child, although it allows exemptions for rural couples, ethnic minorities (there are fifty-five), and parents without siblings. About 36% of the population is subject to the control. The policy has been credited with reducing the population growth (in a country with 1.3 billion people) by an estimated 300 million people since its implementation.

Granted, this would be an irresolvable political issue in the United States, but as a result of the policy, overall conditions improved significantly for the most of the Chinese people, putting the PRC in a better position to address the critical issues, along with the environment and human rights.

Continuation In The Near Future
However, by 2005, Chinese demographers were predicting that in the future there would be a shrinking workforce in China and not enough young workers to support an aging population, which has been the case in much of Europe for quite a while. The PRC was seriously is considering rescinding the policy (which has always been considered a temporary measure), but in 2008, the government announced the policy would continue through 2015. In March, 2011 there were modifications to allow couples to have two children under certain circumstances.

Social Implications of the Policy
There has been some very controversial press regarding the policy, but the people I talked to in China indicated the law does not "punish" anyone for having more than one child. Those "additional" children are not entitled to any of the benefits afforded the first child, like free education, health care, etc. Some Internet sources indicated that the government imposes fines.

Most of the people I spoke with seemed to favor the policy, primarily for economic reasons. Some of those people we talked to were tour guides who work for the government and definitely recite the party line--so anything they told us had to be taken with a large grain of salt--but some of the folks were guests at the hotels and people we meet on the street and in restaurants (including grandparents caring for their grandchildren) and other folks who seemed to be average denizens.

On the other hand, some sources claim that this law has caused a disdain for female infants: abortion, neglect, abandonment, and even infanticide has been known to occur to female infants. There are plenty of “horror stories” circulating, and I've heard some of them from friends with relatives in China. How true they are, I can't say.

One verified result is the disparate ratio of 114 males for every 100 females among babies from birth through children four years of age. Normally, 105 males are naturally born for every 100 females. Another is the reduction in China's fertility rate (number of births per woman) to 1.7, lower than the U.S. rate of 2.1, which is the replacement level representing a stable population, exclusive of migration.

Now that millions of sibling-less people in China are now young adults in or nearing their child-bearing years, a special provision allows millions of couples to have two children legally. If a couple is composed of two people without siblings, then they may have two children of their own, thus preventing too dramatic of a population decrease. It's hard to imagine this level of intervention in private lives. Who knows what the future may hold for China.

Implications for Novels
I can think of a number of intriguing story lines that could result from a culture (real or imaginary) with this kind of growth policy. It would make a great science fiction story. I’d love to hear comments on what you know about this, the stories you've heard, and/or ideas that this situation evokes for stories. Hope to hear from you.