RWA2012: Golden Pen, New Friends and a BIG Drink (Day 1)

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My first day at RWA2012 was spent at the bar at the Anaheim Marriott (well, I should say, at one of the bars, there are quite a few:)…and yes, I needed a drink after one of the most insane travel days I’ve had in my history of travel (which I’ll blog about later at my blog).

I didn’t arrive until 8 p.m. so I totally missed the Literacy Autographing (not happy about that at all!). So after checking in I went to the bar and ordered a BIG drink and other forms of nourishment.

While at the bar I ran into our very own Mermaid Kimberly (who has a cool hair cut and was looking fabulous). She was with Katrina Snow (201o Golden Heart finalist in paranormal category the same year Mermaid Kimberly was a GH finalist), and Katrina was telling me about the Golden Pen Contest – go now and check it out! Great last round judges, and the early rounds are judged by Golden Heart Finalists – so yeah, I’m going to enter. The deadline is August 15!!!

Sipping on my BIG drink, I then started chatting with first time attendee, and Golden Heart Finalist 2012 for “Faking It” in the Novel with Strong Romantic Elements category), Nikki McIntosh, who is also her chapter President, and she’s fr0m Canada. She told me where in Canada, but I was drinking the BIG drink, so some things slipped from the memory banks. Well, she’s delightful, and we were chatting it up when we were joined by her roomie, Joanne Lockyer, historical romance writer from Australia. She invited me to tell my story about how I got started in romance writing for a documentary being filmed here called “Love Between the Covers.” I’ll tell you how that goes!

Then there was Bruce (I think his name was Bruce-but you know, the BIG drink picks and chooses its moments to shine) – but he was definitely the husband of a first-time attendee and was Mr. Supportive. I could also tell he was a bit in awe of the Conference and his wife’s commitment to writing – up all night writing, up all day working, and to quote, “She’s have the time of her life.” Yep, we writers do love to write.

Okay, it’s 6 a.m. here, and I’ve got to get ready for the day, which begins at 7:30 with a continental breakfast.

Today I’ve got bunches of workshops and a luncheon to attend. And of course, running into old friends, and meeting new ones is always on the agenda. Later, I’ve got got a date later with Michelle Monkou. We’re heading to the Passionate Ink Party, which should be BIG fun. (and maybe I’ll have another BIG drink by then. What do you think?)

PS: Take a look at the BEST BAG ever! And yeah, TODAY’s GIVEAWAY to a commenter selected at random is a copy of The Taker (I grabbed an extra) by Alma Katsu.

It’s RWA 2012 Week: Schedule, Schedule, Schedule

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You know how it goes. You get all excited about attending a conference because of the friends you haven’t seen in a year, or brilliant keynote speakers, or the chance to be a fan girl when you run into one of your favorite authors in the cafe shop, in the elevator, or who knows where. Nothing but fun. Until you sit down and examine the schedule.

I love conferences and I love workshops, spotlights and author chats, and I appreciate tracks – craft, career, or research. But there’s always one day, and one time slot, where I swear the RWA 2012 programmers are plotting against me.

I call it schedule wars, and I have found my Waterloo for 2012 – Friday, July 27 between 9:45 and 10:45. On average there are 10 options for each hour time block, so it’s not unusual to find at least two or three programs you want to attend in the same block of time. But I want to take 8 of the 10 classes Friday morning, seriously. So here’s where you must stick to your original goal (I mentioned my original goal  yesterday, right?).

My goal – add to the my writer’s arsenal, which means learn more about something I already think I have a handle on as opposed to searching out a new topic (or one I just don’t get yet). Using this logic, I can narrow the field…

So, I am choosing between two workshops (instead of 8): Cherry Adair’s workshop (Choreography of Action), I write lots of action scenes as a urban fantasy writer, so that makes sense. Or Michael Hauge’s Using Inner Conflict for Powerful Love Stories (and yes, he was here at WRWDC, less than a year ago, but I could do Michael Hauge every day – oh, whoops, that sounded wrong…)…

But hey, see how effectively that worked, I just have to make a choice between the two! Good planning,  huh!

Whoops:), I just double-checked my calendar. I have an editor appointment that hour!

Anyway, if you are heading off to RWA 2012, what’s the must do workshop on your schedule? If you aren’t heading that way, take a minute to let us know about the online course you recommend we check out!  I love a good workshop. So, share, share, share.

And oh, tomorrow I head off to Anaheim in the wee hours of the AM, so my next blog post on RWA 2012 will be LIVE from Anaheim on Thursday morning when there will be prize giveaways!

It’s RWA2012 Week at the Waterworld Mermaids Pond!

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There was a lot about being a writer that was totally foreign to me when I first started writing romance novels seven years ago. But there was one aspect of writing I understood completely–attending an organization’s national conference. In my other life (JOB), I manage mega-sized conferences for my clients. So, the idea of attending the RWA National Conference in Atlanta in 2006 on a lark (I was in Atlanta for a fanfiction event) sounded just right. Although I’d never finished a romance novel, novella or short story (if you don’t count fanfiction), I thought why not?

Throughout this week here at the Waterworld Mermaids blog, I will be talking about the 2012 RWA National Conference in Anaheim, CA, which begins this Wednesday through Saturday. The posts will include interviews with authors, book giveaways, and general updates on what’s happening in Anaheim, which I hope you will enjoy.

Today, I’m talking about prepping – not packing, or shoe shopping, all important aspects of making the trip, but I wanted to give you some tips on how I explore a big conference (RWA usually attracts more than 2,000 attendees).

I start with the  hotel – always. What’s this baby look like? How far from the airport? Where’s the main ballroom? How far apart are the meeting rooms? Scouting out a hotel upon arrival is always a good idea, but these days, you can find mucho info by visiting the hotel website. In particular, check out the meetings pages where you’ll find floor plans. I don’t like spending a day being lost, or having to search – even with good signage – so getting an idea of the hotel layout is an important time saver.

Also you may discover the cool spot at the hotel. For me at the Marriott Anaheim, I found, well, the most beautiful STARBUCKS in the entire world (check out the photo:). I am a major coffee drinker, and this is the kind of spot at conferences that is always packed in the AM (so if you need caffeine, get there EARLY). By mid-afternoon it will be a networking hub – so make certain you’ve plugged in all of your computer equipment (phones, tablets, iPads, etc.) so you can be ready for impromtu editor and/or agent meetings, brainstorming, general laughter – whatever! 

Later, the bar will be ground zero – but I’ll report on that after I arrive in Anaheim.

Most important of course is the conference schedule. I know there are some who might say that the RWA schedule is conservative, but this year, it appears to have it all, including quite a bit on self-publishing, social media marketing and as always lots of craft and career workshops and spotlights (LOVE the spotlights if you want to learn more about a specific publisher). Year one every workshop sounded perfect to me. But in recent years, I am looking for specifics to help my career as a romance writer. So like any good plotter, I never attend a conference without creating my personal roadmap. Not only is a National Conference great for networking, pitching, and inspiration, it’s also an opportunity to add to your writing arsenal – but only if you take the time to know what that means for you. More on the schedule tomorrow.

If you aren’t heading off to Anaheim, let us know what you think of national conferences, would you attend? What keeps you from going? What keeps you coming back? Published or unpublished, let me know what turns you on or off about the RWA Nationals. And if there’s something you want me to dig into while I’m in Anaheim, please let me know. I’ll see what I can do:)!

Tomorrow will include a book giveaway! And more about the schedule! And perhaps a surprise guest or two later this week!

Thanks for dropping by.

Guy Day! Service with a Smile: An Authentic Male Voice

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The Mermaids and a delightful young waiter named Noah have a great ‘cute meet’ story.  For those of you who may not have heard us gushing all over Facebook, personal websites, Twitter and the Internet in general, this past April was the Washington Romance Writers annual retreat.  A very special occasion in its own right, it was made even better when a handful of Mermaids were able to extend our stay for a few extra days of writing.  And what better way to celebrate than with a fine meal and impecable service!

Enter the eight of us to New York J& P Pizza restaurant.  Poor, poor guy is all I could think.  Here was this young man, with a table full of loud, laughing, story-telling, grown women depending on him for this good sevice and food.  At one point, he came by to check on us and I whispered to him that I was sorry.

Instead of shying away and murmuring a “Yes, ma’am” or “No problem, ma’am”, the kid asked, “Why are you sorry?”

Me:  “Oh, I was just feeling bad that we might be too much for you to handle, that’s all.”

Noah:  “Oh, I can handle it.”  And then he grinned.

And he did a superb job.  This kid had confidence on top of gumption and wouldn’t you know it, I’d been on a long, dreary search for a waiter with charisma to interview for our Guy Day segment.  But would cute, young Noah be up for the challenge?  My fellow mermaids beat me to the punch when they told him we were a bunch of romance writers, to which he said, “What’s that?”  I think it was then that the entire table cackled in delight and realized we’d hijacked the right restaurant and harpooned the right waiter.  Just to be sure the kid was legal, I asked his age.  “Yes ma’am.  I’m 22,” he said proudly.  Hallelujah, I was sold!

So, without further ado, I give you Noah–brave of soul, young at heart, bursting with charisma, ready to serve!

 

Me:  Hi Noah (waves), can you tell us a little about your profession?  How long have you worked as a waiter and what about this job keeps you coming back for more?

Noah:  I’ve worked as a waiter on and off for about 6 years now.  I always switch between cooking jobs and serving jobs because I enjoy working in restaurants.  I guess I find myself coming back for more because I love the busy atmosphere.  It’s a great way to meet people and personally it is a great place for networking.  I also work at Meriwether Post Pavilion which is a concert venue in Colombia, Maryland where I work as a cook and I got that job thanks to networking myself in restuarants.

 

Me: I imagine your job is very hard.  Do you think the reward is getting to meet people and know that you’ve helped make their nights?

Noah:  It’s not that the job is very hard, it’s just very fast paced.  Any serving job is the same.  It’s all about knowing the menu, putting in orders and taking food out.  The hardest part is how you walk into work that day.  I find that walking in with a smile and can-do attitude is the way to go because I am very personable and an easy talker so waiting on tables comes second naure to me since I love meeting and talking to peole.  I love making peoples’ nights because I’ve been the victim of a “bad time” in a restaurant and I love hearing people tell me that I’ve done a wonderful job or in your table’s case, to strike a “Blue Steel” look for a camera!

(He actually struck this pose for us and it was fabulous!)

 

Me:  What personal quality makes you great for this job?  Don’t be afraid to brag a little here.  And tell the truth, do waiters crank up the charm on purpose or does it just come naturally?

Noah:  The personal qualities that make me perfect for this job are that I am a very friendly person, I smile all the time, I am confident in myself to where I have no problem flirtng a little bit with my tables and my friends always tell me that the super power I possess is “Super Charisma”.  And to be honest, a good server does turn on the charm when you can tell it can be beneficial towards your evening but it really is a natural gift because if you’re naturally an angry prson, you won’t be a good server!

 

Me:  Do you have a really memorable experience with diners that you could share (besides waiting on a table of extremely exuberant and talented fiction writing ladies)?

Noah:  One actually happened a week after I waited on your table.  On this night, I waited on two older women and I was on my A game.  Long story short, I made these two ladies’ night just by being flirtatious and suggesting which meals they should get and a good place to go for dessert.  They ended up leaving me a $65 tip on a $40 bill!  So that was probably one of my better experiences.

 

Me:  Have you ever come close to losing your cool while at work?

Noah:  I do lose my cool at work every now and then but never in front of the customers because that would be unprofessional.  But I’ve definitely been brought to tears by bad tables before but mainly because I’m a pretty emotional person and I cry very easily.

(Awww, nobody better mess with our Noah!   The Mermaids have your back!)

 

Me:  Now let’s get to know you a bit outside of your job.  Afterall, a hero must be well-rounded.  What’s your favorite song and why?

Noah:  This is a hard choice because I enjoy a wide variety of music but if I had to choose one, I would pick……drum roll…..GET DOWN ON IT by Kool and the Gang!  This is my favorite song because I love to dance and this song makes me super happy every time I hear it.  When my best friend’s sister got married in the summertime, I requested this song and it started out with just me on the dance floor and after two minutes, I had nearly the whole reception dancing!! So needless to say, I bring it to Kool and the Gang.

 

Me:  Loved your answers, Noah!  You definitely brought it the night we sat at your table!  We’re almost done here.  So, as is traditon for my contributions to “Bring a guy to the pond” days, please read the scene below and tell me how you, as a real guy, would react:

Scenario:  Two guys are at a bar and grill.  One is currently finishing up his shift while the other,his buddy who has just been dumped unexpectedly by his girlfriend, is waiting for him to finish.  Let’s raise the stakes and say the poor dumped guy was just getting ready to ask her to meet his family when she kicked him out.  Now the first guy, the one on duty, knows this girlfriend pretty well and she’s generally a nice girl to his buddy so he has a clue that something might be wrong.

(I know what girls would do–we’d console each other, coming up with X,Y and Z to make our friend feel better.  But would two guys do that?  Yep, you guessed it.  We’re trying to get a crack at guys’ senstivities in a situation like this.)

Noah:  If I was the waiter on duty and my friend came in with this problem, I would tell him clearly she’s not seeing him for how awesome he is (depending on the friend) but no I would not put her down  because everybody has their reason as to why they do something in a relationship.  She couldn’t be held accountable.  If it wasn’t meant to be then it wasn’t meant to be.  When all is said and done, I would make him feel better because that is the kind of person I am.  Depending on how hard he took it, I would wing man with him and help him move on.  If he took it really hard, I would get off work and probalby talk him down from being upset and make him see that it was probably for the best.

 

There you have it folks–real guys do indeed possess a sensitive side and turns out can be quite understanding in a given situation!  Thank you so much, Noah!  You’re a real good sport and women everywhere appreciate the time you took to help us understand a true male perspective today!  I officially proclaim you Romance Novel Hero Worthy  😉

 

 

Ask a Mermaid: I Hate My Heroine, Can This WIP Be Saved?

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Ask a Mermaid is a monthly advice column for writers. If we don’t have the answers, we’ll find them for you. Send in your questions to Ask a Mermaid.

Do you have a question for Ask a Mermaid? Click to logo to submit.

Dear Mermaids,

A horrible thing has happened. I’m halfway through my WIP and I’ve started to hate my heroine. Well, hate may be too strong a word but she sure does annoy me. Can this WIP be saved?

 Sinking in the Deep End

 

Dear Sinking,

First, congratulations on hating your heroine.  No, seriously, I promise I’m not being facetious.  The fact that you are identifying a problem halfway through your WIP is a great tribute to your writing sensory skills.  I don’t know if this is your first manuscript or you have others in your back pocket, but in my case, I finished the entire WIP and sent out submissions before I realized the heroine sucked.  And it’s a lot more difficult to fix a whole manuscript that to go back on something that is not yet finished.

My advice would be to put aside your manuscript and write down the specific reason why you aren’t bonding with her.  Putting it on paper will help cement the problem.  Next, put away your writer cap and take out the reader headgear.  If you purchased this book, why wouldn’t you connect with this heroine.  Write those things down too.  Compare the lists and see if there are matches.  Your lists may be different because when you are writing your focus is different than when you’re simply the reader and trying to get swept away by a story.

Next, go back to your manuscript and highlight where you think things went off track.  Was she unlikable from the beginning or did the writing veer off at some point?  I’m thinking if she’s unlikable from the beginning, it may be because you didn’t fully define her in your own mind.  So when it came time to write her, she may have swayed all over the place.  I know that’s the case with some of my writing.

If all else fails, my last bit of advice is to plagiarize.  No, I don’t mean ACTUALLY plagiarize.  Take your most favorite book ever, the one where the hero and heroine are so real they practically come off the page and start reading it again.  But don’t read as a reader.. read as a writer.  Try to pinpoint why you connect with the heroine and how the author manages to convey that attachment (heck, maybe even put together the same list, but this time, write down why the heroine was great).

Lastly.. if none of this works.. go for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.  Extra calories always gets my creativity flowing.

Good luck!

Mermaid Masha Levinson

 

Dear Sinking,

The first awesome bit of news is….YES! Your WIP can not only be saved but it can be made fabulous and riveting. Try this fun exercise that helps me: Set aside some alone time for yourself and your hero. Once you’ve got that, straight up ask him this, “Hey there handsome, so this girl you’re in love with, yeah the totally annoying chick no one but you can stand, what the heck is it that you see in her?” He’s your hero, he won’t let you down. And the second bit of awesome news? It’s my opinion that a prickly, hard to love heroine makes for fireworks when you figure out how to make the rest of us love her. So don’t give up!

Fishy kisses!

Mermaid Carlene Love Flores

 

Dear Sinking,

Of course she can be saved, Deep End. You made her, and you can fix her! Remember, two of the most beloved heroines of all time were not very nice people. Scarlett O’Hara was a conniving, man-stealing, vain, selfish woman. Shanna, in Kathleen Woodiwiss’ novel of the same name, was equally arrogant. Yet, these two heroines are beloved because of their transformative journey.

My advice, figure out what is annoying you. Make a list of those traits and then see what you can do to flesh out and balance your character. Can we forgive Scarlett when we see her heart is broken over Ashley? Do we want to cover our eyes and scream, “No don’t do it,” when she marries Melanie’s brother? Those are the kind of little flaws, equalizers, that keep us reading until we see the heroine become more than what she is at the moment. So, take your heroinethrough those “human” moments and let the reader see what the people in her life cannot — her true heart.

Good luck and don’t give up!

Mermaid Diana Belchase

Ask a Mermaid is a monthly advice column for writers. If we don’t have the answers, we’ll find them for you. Send in your questions to Ask a Mermaid.

More Than Magic Mike + The Soundtrack Giveaway!

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UPDATE 7/16: Congratulations to our winner of the Magic Mike Soundtrack—Keely!  Thank you everyone who swam by to join in on this eye-opening chat 😉  Hope to see you back real soon xoxo  Carlene Mermaid

SPOILER ALERT #1:  I would hate to spoil this movie for you–so go see it before you read this…what’s that?  Oh, you’ve already seen Magic Mike sixty times?  Yeah, I kind of thought you had that dazed look in your eye 😉

SPOILER ALERT #2:  The views expressed in this post are those of my “Sweet Sandy from Grease” movie-watching personality and not my “Black leather, bad girl Sandy” writing/reading side.

So.

Magic Mike.

Someday, when I’m all grown up, I hope to have the cajones to watch this movie without covering my eyes as if it was Freddy Kruger and his gyrating dance troupe on the big screen.  (How scary is that guy?  I still wimper at the rhyme, “One, two..”  That’s as far as I can go without crying!)  And blushing because I admit to peeking through my fingers…once or twice.  Freddy never made me blush, just vomit.  Channing though, he’s dreamy in a good way.  But no matter how intriguing it is to watch all that larger than life, ummm, stuff– I’m still thinking, “Guys, that’s your private business up there and should I really be having my own private moment, (okay, me and these other ninety women) with it??  No!  Okay, maybe.  But still, No.  Yes. No. Oh, the conflict!

So yes, one day, (I’m predicting this day will come on the DVD release date) I aspire to have that completely open-eyed ability because my aunt tells me there’s lots I missed.  But for now, I’d like to talk about what I couldn’t look away from–the underlying story.  At some point, the super sexy dancing scenes took the back seat and something deep and important, and sort of sad and intense, grabbed me by the heart.  It took a few minutes to put my finger on the familiar thrill but soon I realized, Magic Mike had a Less Than Zero feel to it for me.  I loved that movie.  Loved, loved, loved it.  And I think I sort of love Magic Mike now, too.  A movie I’ve only seen half of.  That says a lot for that half, don’t you think?

I know, I’m silly and maybe you don’t believe me with all that other stuff to appreciate, that I’d come away with a love for the story.  Actually, anyone who knows me probably isn’t surprised.  (Shirley Temples anyone?)  You’ve probably seen Magic Mike five gazillion times with your eyes wide open.  Remember, my movie watching persona aspires to be you someday.  (Ahem, when is that DVD release date?)

So what was it about Magic Mike that had me reminiscing over Less Than Zero?  Well, Julian was my first experience with a tortured soul on the big screen.  That forbidden dark world that sparkled on the outside (remember the party house with all the TV’s?) but in reality was just a big soul sucker.  The way you sometimes find out the hard way who your real friends are.  How heartbreakingly beautiful it is when they step up and love you for who you are and want to help.  And how sometimes, it’s just too late.  I’ve honestly never had those exact same feelings as with Less Than Zero until just now with Magic Mike.  In a way, it was even better with MM because the wakeup call has such better timing and is so well-earned yet not overdone.  And the way the characters’ backstories unfold so organically is beautiful.  I loved not knowing for sure what Joanna’s past was but being so intrigued by her reactions to her brother, Adam, and his new stripper friend.  Oh my gosh, and the crazy cool things Joanna and Mike say to each other.  Their conversations are so everyday yet interesting.  (I believe that is the magic and wonder of Mr. Tatum’s acting skills)  I learned a lot about story-telling from Magic Mike.  I love that.

And so even though I suffered from a serious bout of “Holy Guacamole, what am I doing peeking at his hmm-hmm?”, this is a movie I respect and the type of book I want to read/write.

So, what did you think?  Were you there in the theatre strictly for the man show?  Did you enjoy the story just as much?

Who was your favorite dancer?  Give me one good reason why you would answer any other name here besdies CHANNING TATUM!

When did “I Am Number Four” grow up into all that?

Well, hopefully my movie watching side will get with the program so my reading/writing side doesn’t have to glower at  Miss Goody Two-Shoes much longer.

Let’s take some time to talk about this film and these men that were so much more than zero.

For today’s giveaway, I’m picking one random commenter to receive the Magic Mike soundtrack either in MP3 or Audio CD format.  Good luck!

Lynne Silver Swims with the Mermaids…Hot Science!

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Well have I got a Thursday treat for you!  Lynne Silver, author of the newly released and super-hot novel, HEATED MATCH, (Ellora’s Cave Publishing) is swimming with us today!  She’s such a great lady and a tremendous sport.  When I asked her to pretty please come to Waterworld Mermaids so we could talk about her awesome book, I believe I said, “If I interview you, the questions will probably be weird and random, so what do you say?”  Well, not only did she happily and bravely agree…she’s brought the super-irresistible couple from HEATED MATCH, Adam and Loren, to the pond to help answer.  Did I mention Adam’s a genetically enhanced soldier?  Yep, yummy!  Enjoy 😉

                                                                                     

Me: Hi there!  Diving in to the nitty gritty…I love the genetic matching idea behind your new CODED FOR LOVE series.  What sparked your interest in mixing DNA with steamy romance?  What did you do to get a good handle on the scientific aspect?

Lynne: Every year around Valentines Day, newspapers run articles telling that there is a science to falling in love- at least there’s a science to finding someone who will make beautiful babies with you. A lot of it is based on smell, I kid you not. This intrigued me, and then I also found a newspaper article talking about genetic enhancement, and how our science is already there.

Designer babies are on the horizon.  On one hand, this freaks me out, why should we play God? On the other, every parent deserves a healthy child, and if we could eradicate genetic diseases in-utero, maybe we should. It’s a tough question for me, and one that I clearly struggle with throughout the book, and much more so in book 3, Chase’s book.

 

Me: In an excerpt on your website, it is clear these two are matched by something deep and raw.  When Adam says, “The damn door doesn’t lock. Back. Away.”, I got goose bumps!  It’s obvious he absolutely does not believe he can control himself in such close quarters with Loren (Lucky girl!).  I’d like to ask the two of them what they were thinking in that very instant (one of my favorites in the book) but they look a little…preoccupied…with each other right now.  Can you tell us what each was thinking?  Adam, while he was trying to stay locked away in the bathroom that wouldn’t lock and Loren, trapped in the small conference room with a growling man ready to pounce.   

Lynne: Adam is thinking he’s never been more aroused, but since he fully understands the implications of following through, he fights his desire. Loren has no clue what the heck is going on other than she’s locked in a room on a military compound and kind of wants to have sex with a total stranger.

 

Me: Should a kiss be more romantic or more heroic?  Lynne, as the romance specialist, I know you could handle this one on your own, but I hear Adam may have an opinion on the subject.   Can you pry him away from Loren for a second?  Thanks!  So which is it, Adam?  A romantic kiss letting the woman know you are capable of being a pleasing and caring suitor or the heroic kiss, stating without question that you are there to stake a claim on her and protect her against all?

Adam: A kiss shouldn’t really involve thinking at all. But I’ll say my kisses are more heroic.  Loren knows I’ve got the goods to take care of her. Hang on, she’s  laughing her ass off at my answer.  *sigh* Fine, she says my kisses rock her world and are both heroic and romantic. Good  ‘nuff.

 

Me: Random Question: Think fast Lynne, what do you do when a friend tries to eat an edamame pod in a nice restaurant?

Lynne: LOL- I’d remind her not to eat the shells! They’re sharp and tasteless.

(the friend, who shall remain nameless, winks and waves thanks)

 

Me: As an experienced romance writer, what’s the best explanation you can give for that sudden onset of heated passion at first glance?  Of course, if Adam would like to chime in, that would be fantastic and highly entertaining.

Adam:  When I saw Loren, it was like my engine kicked on to full power for the first time in my life. Of course, Loren was my genetic match at the DNA level. Does that happen for the rest of you? Sucks if it doesn’t, cause the connection rocks.

 

Me: Random Question: Quick Lynne, what do you do when your kindly relative asks how things are going in the Erotica YA genre?

Lynne: Erotic Young Adult, yeah, that would be my well intentioned father doing his best to get me arrested. He’s so excited that I’m published, and thinks the erotic part is funny, but he doesn’t get the market at all.

 

Me: If you could wire every human male with one DNA trait, what would it be?  And for the females? 

Lynne: All males should have 6 pack abs, and females get perky c-cup boobs that will never sag and don’t need a bra.

No seriously, I’d wipe out the genetic diseases- Tay sachs, MS, Sickle cell, cystic fibrosis, etc… cause they suck, and knowing that it’s in your family and that you or your off-spring could have it, is scary.

 

Me: HEATED MATCH “Bred for love, coded for war”- Awesome-sauce tagline!  Lynne, How do you come up with these??

Lynne: My editor gave me 2 days to come up with a list of possible series names. I panicked, did a list of 20 and came up with Coded for Love.

 

Me: Rapid fire question: What do you do when your boss locks you in a room with your genetic match and you find out she drank the special water?  I think I’m going to step out on a limb and beg you to let Adam answer this one!

Adam:  I tried to blockade myself in the bathroom with a cold shower. When that failed, I gave Loren a night to remember. Shit, she’s laughing again.

 

Me: Adam and Loren, you are on lockdown with nothing to do…on your nightstand you find a rose and a condom.  Who gets what and why?

Adam:  I obviously bought the rose for Loren, cause I’m that kind of guy. As for the condom… <turns to Loren, can I tell honey?> Cool, well, we’re kinda trying to have kids, so the condom gets tossed to the side.

 

Me: What genetic enhancement, if any, would you be up for?  As a mermaid, I am super thankful for my awesome lung capacity and super resilient hair that never dries out in the saltwater.  Any chance there might be a mermaid in line for any of your super-hot Coded for Love boys?

Lynne: I want super fast metabolism, so I can eat anything I want and maintain my svelte figure. Also- I’m kind of freaked out about memory loss as you get older. I’d want a brain that doesn’t go spongy.

 

Me: Can you tell us how many books you have planned for this delicious, irresistible series? 

Lynne: I’ll write as many as the readers want and Ellora’s Cave will publish! Conquered Match is already sold and should be coming out at the end of the summer. This is a very short story that’s kind of a prequel. I think all the guys deserve to find their match, so Chase, Gavin, Xander and Rowan will get books.

(I will dutifully go ahead and take the podium for the readers out there and beg for all these books!!!! Loved meeting these irresistible guys in Heated Match!) 😉

 

Me: I noticed that Adam and Loren have been eyeing the pond this whole time, if it’s okay with you, I say we let them have a private swim before they have to get back to the compound.

Lynne: Thanks for letting me swim in the pond, Mermaids! – Lynne

It was my absolute pleasure, Lynne, Adam and Loren!  Find out more about Lynne and the CODED FOR LOVE series here!  🙂

 

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Alethea Kontis, Motivation

This was so much easier when I lived alone.

It took six years for Enchanted to go from being a published short story to a faced-out hardcover at Barnes & Noble. I had the luxury of dropping the manuscript whenever I wanted to write a short story in Excel, or scold Dark-Hunters, or help my friend Janet with an art show. But when I finally made the push to finish the novel, I drove to Starbucks every evening after work and didn’t go home until I had written at least 1000 words. Some days, I only had coffee for dinner.

That doesn’t really fly when you have a family.

First of all, the only decent Starbucks with a sitting area is 5 miles from the house, and it is PACKED night and day. Going there is a commitment in which I must stalk one of the oversized chairs by the fireplace, and then pray that whoever sits next to me is not of the Very Loud And Keeps Looking At You To See If You Also Think Their Story Is Amusing Because Doesn’t Everyone variety.

(I know what those people are like. I’m one of them.)

My apartment complex has a “clubhouse”, which includes a fairy large room with giant windows where people generally wait before the apartment folks to drive them around in a golf cart. Of course, 1.) they just remodeled it so there’s a good chance it looks nothing like the lovely faux-Victorian sitting room it used to and 2.) My apartment complex was sold to a new company and they’re running it into the ground. Not sure that’s the best option either…but it’s an option.

Because writing AT HOME is virtually impossible.

Ideally, when one writes at home, one has an office. It is possible for one not to have an office if one has a room with a decently comfy sofa (for the laptop) and a side table (for your drink of choice). (Don’t write at the kitchen table–it’s ergonomically disastrous, and your body will not thank you for it.) This room must also be decently tidy, or else every time you look up from the computer to finish a sentence, you will be DISTRACTED BY EVERYTHING.

Because the Fairy Godboyfriend and I share his daughters with their mom half the week, it’s a bit easier, but they’re still teenagers and therefore still pack the entropic force of an F5 twister. When one lives alone, one’s mess is one’s own. When one lives with three other people, this mess is compounded four-fold, and is somehow still your responsibility to clean up, as you are the one who works from home (and has yet to make as much as your SO’s dayjob).

And because you’re not raking in the dough yet, you don’t have the luxury of that huge house on the water with a skylit room over the garage. You are stuck in a one-bedroom apartment that is in a constant state of post-apocalyptic disaster.

What you must–MUST–train yourself to do is IGNORE THESE THINGS.

“Oh, I’ll just hire a maid,” you say. I said that too. But the house actually has to be CLEAN before the maid comes. Yes, she can dust and do the toilets, but she can’t vacuum if you have all your book tour stuff strewn all over the living room floor, and she has no idea where (or if) the piles of books all around the room are meant for the bookshelves, giveaways, storage, or sales. She doesn’t know which swag goes in which box, or which pens she should never put away because those are your signing pens.

But you are not allowed to drop everything and clean your house, because you have a book to write, and NOW YOU HAVE A DEADLINE, a real one, and you need to crank out some words. But the boxes from publishers don’t stop coming, and the teenagers don’t stop eating, and the mess is being made faster than you can clean it up and AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Ignoring your house is one of the most difficult things a writer must do.

You need to have three things in your house for your family at all times:
1.) Clean laundry (which is the easiest thing to do, since you can throw in a load and see how many words you can write before putting it in the dryer)
2.) toilet paper
3.) bread and cheese for sandwiches

The rest of it, you simply have to accept, is going to look like hell for…well…as long as it takes. Your family will probably not eat a healthy meal on your watch. You have to be okay with that.

The coping mechanism I’ve used most recently is to pretend that I am under the weather. When you’re sick, nothing gets done, right? You let yourself off the hook. Well, it’s the same kind of thing here. You have to let that part of yourself off the hook while the writer part of yourself reigns free.

Beware of two dangerous things:

1.) The “pick up one thing per day” deal. You may make this deal with yourself, but it’s a dangerous one. Because there is SO MUCH to do, and one thing can EASILY turn into twelve when you’re trying to distract yourself from Chapter 9.

2.) “But my kids and significant other can take care of things while I can’t.” That way lies madness. Especially when you have teenagers. Do not set yourself up for disappointment AND the hurt feelings of your family members, because that only leads to a stressful environment you won’t be able to write in at all.

You have to be zen about this and let it all go. You will clean the tub when you get in it one morning and it looks like a horror movie, and you will throw away the green thing in the back of your refrigerator when you’re foraging for something to distract you from Chapter 12. But you MUST LET THE HOUSEWORK GO TO HELL.

This is the ultimate sacrifice.
The penultimate sacrifice: EMAIL.

*sigh*

You guys got any other excuses/coping mechanisms/magical spells/suggestions you’d like to share that might help?

The Promo Dilemma

Marketing

The awesome news? Passion Creek, book three in the Layton series, is coming out Aug. 31.

The not-so-awesome news? I only have two months to develop a marketing plan and get reviews lined up.

Ack!

It’s the promo dilemma. Sure, my publisher markets the books (thank you Evernight Publishing, thank you), but that doesn’t let me off the hook. This means I’m on the hunt for a virtual book tour company. I’ve worked with several companies in the past and each were great but not that star-crossed lovers type of perfect fit. Come on, I’m a romance novelist, of course I shoot for that. 🙂

I started sending out feelers the other day, looking for recommendations and I received and interesting reply: Why not just do it yourself?

The short answer is a lack of time. I’ve organized book tours before. It’s frickin’ exhausting. It also steals me away from writing, from the old day job (don’t tell the boss) and my family – not necessarily listed in order of importance.

When I hire a virtual book tour company, I have a partner that does all the legwork. All I have to do is write a few guest posts and do a few interviews. Heaven!

That said, I’ll still be lining up guest blogs, interviews and reviews myself. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some amazing authors and book bloggers who are very generous in letting me plunk myself down at their blog and chat with their readers. I cannot express how amazing these folks are.

So, anyone have any virtual book tour company recommendations?

Author Interview with PJ Sharon, Indie Author Extraordinaire!

mermaids

Happy Monday, Mer-friends! Today we are interviewing PJ SHARON, and indie author with three books published (so far!). PJ is a YA author, with wonderful sensitivity for the concerns and interests of young adults today. In addition to being a massage therapist and a black belt in martial arts, she has recently begun training in weapons. You know, like guns and things? One thing we know about Paula, she never goes into any new venture half-hearted.

Take it away, Paula!

Please tell readers a little bit about yourself.

Thanks so much for inviting me, Susan. In my day job, I’m a Massage Therapist, personal trainer and yoga instructor. My business, ABSolute Fitness, has been a wonderful and thriving part of my life for the past seven years, and outside of writing, keeps me plenty busy. In my spare time (hahahaha), I can be found in my garden, hiking the endless web of trails behind my house, or paddling the lakes and ponds in New England. Now that my sons are grown and off doing their own thing, and my husband is so self-sufficient, it’s nice to have time to myself to pursue whatever floats my fancy.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

The short answer is about six years. I’ve written on and off since I was just a little girl, but never considered myself a “writer” or imagined I would actually become published one day. Unlike most writers I’ve met, writing toward publication was a choice made on a whim, and not a lifelong dream for me. After attending a financial seminar about ten years ago, I began kicking the idea around that I could maybe write some books and make some money for my retirement. The idea kept popping up, so I started researching the book market, figuring out what people read, and discovered that Romance novels were 55% of the book market. I thought, I could write one of those. I know about romance.

So one day, while talking with a friend about how great it would be if we could stay young forever, live on a beautiful island, and have handsome young men to do our bidding, my first plot was born. I went home that day, started writing down the characters, taking notes about the “movie” I saw in my head, and didn’t stop writing until I’d written THE END nine months later. It was badly written, but I had another idea right away, so I figured if I’d done it once, I could do it again. It was about that time that I joined RWA and decided to give myself five years to learn the business and become published. I studied the craft by reading books about writing and working with a retired high school English teacher friend who continues to edit some of my work and give me writing tips. I’ve taken a ton of on-line workshops and have attended conferences like a groupie. I even amassed seven full length manuscripts in six years, so I figured I had reached my 500,000 words of practice. I jumped through traditional hoops for a while and then decided to independently publish my books. Somewhere along the way, I became a writer.

Please tell us about your latest work.

WANING MOON, the first book in the CHRONICLES OF LILY CARMICHAEL, takes place in the year 2057. A sixteen-year-old girl, genetically engineered to survive the plague that destroyed three quarters of the earth’s population, must evade the rogue Government agency that would seek to capture her and her brother. But Lily’s gift for healing has its limits and her brother’s gift isn’t the only thing the family is hiding. The uncle they live with has his own secrets and if found out, it could cost them everything. Book One chronicles Lily’s journey to the trading post in Albany with her new friend Will Callahan. She’s on a mission to get the medicine that could cure her uncle’s cancer, but Will is along for reasons of his own, and Lily finds much more than she bargained for on her trip. I’m finishing up the first draft now and the book is slated for a fall release. I’m also working on a companion short story that will be the prequel to Book One. That one will be from Zephron’s (Lily’s brother) POV and is called HARVEST MOON. It will be published in the WG2E October anthology and will be available on e-book through Amazon.

SAVAGE CINDERELLA is very different from your first two books. Can you talk about that?

I write young adult fiction, and as an indie-pubbed author, I don’t have the restrictions of having to write the same types of stories every time. I still want to make sure that I’m living up to my readership’s expectations, but as long as my message of hope comes through, I think readers will enjoy seeing something different from me. SC was written back in 2009. I wrote it in third person point of view because it was a romantic suspense and I wanted the hero’s and the villains POV in addition to my heroine’s. Back then, I had some issues with staying in deep POV, so a fellow writer recommended I try writing in first person. What came out of that was ON THIN ICE, and then HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, which were both told from the main character’s POV. Since HIFH came easily and quickly, and felt like my best writing to date, I released that one first. Then I released OTI, and after much revision, published SC in March. I think the common theme of all of my stories is that no matter what challenges a person faces, it is possible to find the inner strength to overcome. The other thing you can be sure to find in my stories is a sweet romance…because who doesn’t love a sweet romance?

What was one of the most interesting things you learned in researching your book?

I learned a lot about native plants indigenous to the Smokies and Northern Georgia. I’ve never been to Atlanta, so I did a lot of research on the city so I could create a real experience for my readers. But I think the most difficult research was reading about victims of abduction and delving into the psyche of pedophiles. I lost more than a few nights of sleep.

Do you have a formula for developing characters?

That would probably make things much easier, LOL. No, I don’t. My characters kind of come to me fully formed. Like friends, I have to spend time with them to get to know them. They generally come to me with a problem and I get to help them solve it. I’m still more of a pantser than a plotter, but I do like to work out a character grid. If I know what their goal, motivation, and conflict are, it tells me a lot of what I need to know. I also ask myself questions about them, like what is their fatal flaw? What is the thing they are most afraid of? What is the thing that keeps them from having what they want? When I know these deeper character traits, it makes it easier to see what would create conflict for them and what their big black moment might be. Beyond that, details about them evolve as the story unfolds and they reveal themselves to me.

Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

Oh, I’m sure I do. Do things like hanging upside down when I need to focus, or spouting daily affirmations at my computer count?

What was the last amazing book you read?

I’m almost done with Kristan Higgins’ latest, SOMEBODY TO LOVE. Everything she writes is amazing.

What’s next in writing for you?

Since I’m committed to the trilogy, I should be pretty busy into 2013. I’m hoping to release some short stories in between each book. I have another contemporary YA that I started last fall and I’d love to get back to work on that. I also have some ideas for non-fiction projects, but until I’m able to write full time or hire some help, production will move along at whatever pace my limited human condition can handle.

Can you leave readers with a little teaser from SAVAGE CINDERELLA?

Okay, here’s a creepy snippet for the suspense lovers:

“Do you recognize any of these men?” It was Karen Sutton, the Assistant D.A. from her father’s office, asking the question. The woman’s voice sounded distant.
“He can’t see me, can he?” Brinn glared through the glass. He was older but had the same wiry frame and narrow face that she remembered. A sick pain thundered through her flesh, reminding her of the nightmares she’d had for years. Stockman’s face suspended, immortal in the recesses of her mind, affirming that even sleep was no escape.
Her nights were tormented more than ever by dreams and memories. Now, her worst nightmare was standing no more than ten feet away. The bile that rose in her throat burned. He knew she was there behind the mirror. She could see it in his eyes—that confident, cruel look that sent a wave of terror through her chest.
“He absolutely cannot see you, Brinn.” The detective reassured. The woman wrapped an arm around her shoulders, supporting her as her limbs wobbled and threatened to give way.
“He knows that I’m here. I can feel it.”
“Which one is he?”
Brinn raised her hand and pointed a shaky finger. “That’s him, the third one in.” Her breath came in shallow gulps. “He’s the man who took me.”
“You’re absolutely certain?” Karen asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay, Brinn. We have your statement and you’ll have the opportunity to testify when he goes to trial. Someone will contact you when we have more details.” Detective Walker led her out and down a hallway, followed closely by the tall blonde attorney who was already making conversation with someone on her cell phone.
In spite of the voices around her, Brinn was distracted by a stabbing shot of needles that pricked her spine. She looked over her shoulder. The men from the lineup were filing down the hall in the opposite direction and as he came out of the room, Roy Stockman looked down the narrow corridor, met her eyes, and let a wide, evil grin cross his face, a facade of charm showing even from a distance. He mouthed the words, but Brinn heard it as if he had whispered in her ear. “I will find you. I promise.”

Well, that’s it for today’s interview!  PJ’s covers are featured below, with buy links embedded.  As well, in the next spot are links to her website, Facebook, Twitter, blog and group blogs.  She’s a busy, busy woman!

Thank you, PJ Sharon, for sharing your story and insights with the Mermaids today!

                      

Contact Information for PJ Sharon
Book Trailers: http://www.youtube.com/pjsharon64
Website: http://www.pjsharon.com
Follow PJ on Twitter: @pjsharon
“Like” PJ on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pjsharonbooks
Find PJ on Amazon’s Author Central page: https://www.amazon.com/author/pjsharon
Follow PJ’s Promotional blog @ http://pjsharonyawriter.blogspot.com
Follow PJ’s Tuesday blog @ http://secretsof7scribes.wordpress.com
Follow PJ’s Friday Healthy Teen Tips blog @ http://yabeyond.com