All next week while Janna’s on vacation, you can read guest posts and win books – I’m giving away a copy of Daughters, Mia Watts and Bronwyn Green are also providing prizes. Make sure to stop by Janna’s place for some goodies!
Wiping the sweat from my brow! Whew! Sixteen hours straight of revising Anytime Darlin’ - my cowboy rancher/farm girl romance with Siren. I had to get it done…we may be getting a new puppy tomorrow. This was a major re-write and it took me days as this honey-bunny is a full-length romance/suspense.
I just this minute got a review for my very popular romance/suspense, My Everything, from Happily Ever After Reviews: http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/review-my-everything-by-julia-barrett.html Ben and Grace seem to be characters readers love. They are lovers reunited after ten long, heart breaking years apart. Five Tea Cups!
Drop by tomorrow as author, Anny Cook, gives us her take on fantasy. She writes very hot, very fantastic books – we’re talking major world-building!
Mia and I spent three hours on Rodeo Beach, picking through tiny pebbles, searching for semi-precious stones. We found, among other things, jade, carnelian, shark teeth, polished beach glass…I don’t know the identity of most of the stones. Some are quartz. She took a bag home with her as souvenirs.
Rodeo Beach is my favorite beach in the area, not because it’s all warm and sunny and you can swim. This is not Los Angeles. The water is icy, the waves rough, the currents, rip tides and undertow make swimming or surfing dangerous at best. Besides, the waters off Rodeo Beach are part of the Great White Triangle. Scary!
Nah, we just had fun, sifting through mounds of pebbles, waiting for that one bright and shining little tiny translucent treasure to pop up out of the blue.
So…why do I enjoy reading Mia’s m/m romances? The reading experience is a little like finding that one round rose-red carnelian. Her stories give me the same little jolt of excitement
I’m not an m/m of reader, yet the men in Mia’s romances appeal to me. They tug at my heart in the same way Ennis Del Mar did in Brokeback Mountain. I want them for myself.
Mia’s men are not the only treasure. Mia, herself, is precious. She’s a joy to be with – read her books! In fact, read more books in general. Books are good for you!
News: Over the next week, I’ll be slaving over edits – because you all want books three and four of Daughters of Persephone to be released on September 8 and believe me, so do I! I’ll post as often as I can.
I’m still over at Book Lovers Inc. – head on over! You can win a copy of Daughters of Persephone!
So Mia’s here and we’re getting along great, both typing away on our laptops while honey-bun watches baseball – because you know, baseball been bery bery good to me! She’s just as crazy funny as she says she is, and you get another stream of consciousness post!
No, actually, for a laugh head over to Mia’s site – she should have her new post up soon! Her brain is very scary, even off drugs! http://miawatts.blogspot.com/
Anyway, here’s my Scottish post:
This is Nigel. Nigel is my Scottish friend. Actually, he’s one of a triad, Nigel, Karen and Janice. Janice and I are partners in crime – we get into big trouble when we ride horses together. Karen follows our lead, leaving Nigel behind to yell at us.
Way up north in Montana, Nigel and Karen have a room next to ours. All last week after riding, Nigel sat in a chair right outside my door, downing his beer, calling…
“Arrrrrrre ye wrrrritin’ yer smut, now, lassie?”
“No, Nigel, I’m editing my smut.”
“Ah, lassie, I hearrrrrd ye prrrrracticin’ last night. Werrrrrre ye worrrrrkin’ on a scene, then?”
“Nigel!!!”
“Weel, I couldna help but hearrrrr ye carrrrryin’ on!”
“Nigel!!!”
“Dunna think to be puttin’ me in one o’ yer smutty novels then.”
“You’re going into my next novel in full kilt, Nigel!”
“Ye wouldna darrrrrre!”
“And you’re going commando beneath it and I’m going to write you into a scene where the wind is blowing, a gale force wind!”
“A trrrrue Scot is no’ afearrrrred o’ the wind!”
“When I blow your kilt over your head in front of the Queen you will be!”
“The Queen knows a rrrrreal Scot wearrrrrs nothin’ but what God gave him beneath his kilt. Go on with ye, wrrrrite yer smut!”
Ah Nigel…I can’t wait until next year when we can pick up our conversation where we left off! And you are going into one of my books!
3. The release of Daughters of Persephone will probably be delayed…ACK! DOUBLE ACK!!! I’ll be working on it all day today…@#$%^&*+=!
4. Author Mia Watts, my not-so-secret online lover, arrives tomorrow! Yay! Pant…pant…pant.
5. I tried a piece of bacon in Montana. I liked it. My daughter told me I can no longer officially call myself a vegetarian. I’m a lapsed vegetarian.
6. Siren sent me congrats yesterday on becoming a PAN-Eligible author, thanks to sales from Captured. I’m in the news over there and if I had time, I’d do a happy dance! http://www.sirenbookstrand.com/pan/
7. We get to look at the puppies early next week!!! The breeder says there may be three long-coated babies, which we want, and one is a really big male. Give me those really big males any day! I do love boys and I miss mine!
8. After reading Read React Review‘s take on Passion, by Lisa Valdez, my husband wants to know – here’s the question of the day – and if you can answer, you might just receive a copy of one of my books…How does one measure a penis? From root to tip? Where do you start your measurement? LOL! Only hubby-mine could come up with a question like that!
I saw this bumper sticker today – well, a nicer version of this bumper sticker – but since this is my first attempt at using my paint program I figure you’ll be pretty forgiving!
The bumper sticker is right on, reading is sexy in the same way that a big, alpha, macho shirtless man is sexy holding a little baby against his bare chest is…
S.E.X.Y.
Of course hubby saw a bumper sticker today that said:
I haven’t yet decided which books to take on my trip to Montana. Leaving Friday. May have to take a couple re-reads since my new books haven’t arrived and I’m unlikely to have internet service. What would you take for your reading pleasure on a ten day vacation?
Ack! Beauty and the Feast is up for Book of the Month on Dark Diva Reviews! Do not pass go…vote! Congrats to my friend Mia Watts, whose book is also up!
Author Mia Watts is my friend and she’s written a post that felt like a kick in the gut.
Oh…she wrote about both the good and the bad in her post, Mood Swings and Reviews. Everything she said resonated with me as I’m stuck in a big fat down period in my life, both as a writer and in general. I’m quoting her:
“You want a look into the writer’s psyche? Here’s your look. We’re mostly solitary people because we hunker behind a computer and pour our hearts into our work. We believe in our characters. We believe in their struggles. We believe they will end up happy, because our faith in those characters is more real than fiction. We hurt for them when they don’t understand their lovers. We laugh when we’re typing a line that came out of nowhere and surprised us with its humor. You have to understand, we aren’t crazy… we just feel and know those characters so well, they are almost real to us. Yes, we know the difference between actual real people and fictitious people. But we created these guys and we care about their stories.
In other news…you can still be in the running for the tote! Cats not included! And here’s a shot of my new tattoo – not the greatest view but it was hard to hold the camera and push the button with my left hand (yes, those are my jeans and white tee shirt on the floor – just getting into the shower):
I need to take a moment to focus on my fellow authors – enough with the me…my…mine crap.
So, the good. Author Brynn Paulin has a sweet, hot little number on the Amazon Kindle bestseller list – way to go, Brynn! As of 5/25, she’s rated at number 69 – a good erotic romance position! Here’s wishing Brynn much well-deserved success. Hey Brynn – Beauty and the Feast just got listed in Amazon’s Kindle store! Yay! Now back to you…
Another good. My secret on-line lover, Mia Watts, has written a dynamic post about do’s and don’t's for aspiring authors. I think a whole lot of us who try to make writing our livelihood consider her words to be pretty much spot on. The post is entitled, Tips and Tricks, and she posted it on 5/25. Thanks, Mia.
4. “Don’t Diva. No, seriously, don’t. You aren’t all that. None of us is. Just because someone asked you to submit, or had you sign a contract, there is ALWAYS someone who knows more than you. Acting like there isn’t just makes you a huge ass. If you didn’t realize it before, figure it out quickly… WE ALL TALK. No shit. The editors from multiple houses chat with each other and know the authors who pull power-plays. The authors writing for multiple houses and discover your assiness won’t play nice if you’re going to shit on them. The publishers chat amongst themselves, too.
It is rare indeed where I lay out my cards and piss off a publisher. I’ve done it. Just makes sure it’s deserved.
Readers know when you’re self-absorbed. Keep it in mind. I don’t want to hear any of you say, “Do you KNOW who I AM?” or I’ll smack you. It’s for your own good, so say thank you and move on.
5. Never stop learning. You are not the all-knowing grand poobah of authorhood. Learn from your peers even if you think you’re better than them. New authors tend to have a temporary superiority complex. That’s okay so long as you get over it and realize that every person in the industry and out of it has something valid to offer. Learn from it and use it in your writing. It makes you a better person and a better author.”
The good. Author Katalina Leon and I agree that romance and erotic romance writers are not stupid. We may come from a variety of backgrounds and educational experiences but generally speaking, we are a well-read bunch of folk. Check out the comments from yesterday’s post on philosophy.
The bad. I got dog poo on my hand yesterday when I was walking my dog. He stepped in another dog’s poo and I had to clean it off with piles of grass and leaves because my dog was so totally grossed out he refused to take one more step with that poo on his foot. So as a result, we were both grossed out.
The badder bad. My author friend, Regina Carlysle, is going through a very challenging time and needs good thoughts, prayers if you got ‘em and just general positive vibes sent her way. Regina is another one of those big-hearted, generous, supportive authors who has held my hand many times over the past three years. All the power that is given to me is sent to you, Regina. Hang in there. You are loved.
She says the term for a woman like me is guyly girl. I’m a jeans and boots-wearing, big dog loving, horseback riding, sharp shootin’ tomboy. I may be married to an alpha hunk, but Mia and I carry on this long-distance love affair, because she’s totally funny and cool and because her words are to die for. Her prose is insanely gorgeous. The only male/male romances I’ve read are hers – reading one of her books is like reading a love poem, a very naughty, erotic love poem, but still a love poem. Damn, I adore her books and her person. Plus she’s got the prettiest set of eyes I’ve ever seen with the unfair kind of long eyelashes that the fates usually reserve for guys. You know…guys get all the lashes. One of these days, mark my words, she will have the time to write a best seller and then I’ll be able to say I knew her when.
I miss my Tony! There’s this shoe repair shop in town called Tony’s Shoe Repair. I used to go there all the time…I’d be like, “Um, honey? You have any shoes that need repairing or polishing, or maybe have a loose heel?“ Just so I could go to Tony’s shop. When you entered Tony’s shop, you entered another dimension. There would be Tony, a big bear of a man, with dark hair and an ever-present five o’clock shadow, embracing you with his Brooklyn Italianese and a big, welcoming hug. I’d squeeze into the tiny space, past Tony’s elderly father who sat on a little stool at a little table, shining shoes, maybe playing checkers with a friend, and I’d find any excuse to stand at the counter as long as I could, letting Tony’s voice wash over me like a warm, soothing rain falling direct from heaven. Tony was not of this world. He made shivers…good shivers…run up and down my spine. I swear to God he was from some place else and that some place wasn’t just Brooklyn. I like to think of him as an angel slumming with us humans for a time.
Five years ago, Tony sold the place and took his dad back to New York. It’s still called Tony’s Shoe Repair, but now some other guy owns it. He’s professional and all, I mean, he does a decent job with a repair, but he doesn’t talk to you and he doesn’t do all the extra stuff Tony used to do. Like, when I’d take a pair of boots in to Tony to get new heels or re-soled, I’d get those boots back reconditioned and polished, looking like brand new. The guy who owns the place now just fixes the heels and he’s done. Wouldn’t think to buff out a scuff mark if his life depended upon it. And his voice is just a voice. A human voice. It does nothing for me. The smell of glue is so thick in the closed space that I get in and out as quick as I can. I can feel my brain starting to fry…When Tony owned the place, it smelled like warm, clean, yummy leather, never like glue. Ah well, I think I’ll write a book about him…
Here we go with the maudlin part – Yesterday was my dad’s birthday and none of us kids could be with him. One of his good friends died at six a.m. – her birthday gift to him, I guess. Totally sucks. I’m heading north to spend time with my parents in a couple weeks. When I spoke with him last night, he’d had a great day, two parties despite the death, but he was melancholy. He said, “I remember the day I started high school and I thought, four years? I’ll never make it through four years! But they passed by in a flash. Geez, when I entered law school, I thought, three years? That’s an eternity. Passed by like nothing.”
So here I stand, between the generation going and the generation coming and I feel the moments of my life slip through my fingers like water. I think if I could sell my soul to stop the wheel of time from turning just once, I’d do it without hesitation.
Just in case I missed it, yesterday afternoon hammered that lesson home to me. We attended a reception for my husband’s patients – after twenty years of primary care, he’s moving on to take an administrative role. Most of these people/families have been with him since day one and they adore him. You cannot imagine how many patients came to talk to me to tell me that he saved their life or he’s been their main means of support through dark times or he is the best doctor they’ve ever met…They will miss him. And it was easy for me to see which of the women are still crushing on him after twenty years – wow, there were lots of tears shed and I was so touched by the spontaneous outpouring of affection for him that extended to me. Hundreds of people came to say goodbye. The experience was a bit daunting. When he began this practice, our kids were little tiny things and now they are out of the nest spreading their wings.
When we got home, it took us ten minutes to unload all the generous and totally unnecessary gifts from his car, but you know, people wanted to show him how much they care about him. It was better than Christmas morning, better than a birthday party – I kid you not! We read every single card and they all said the same thing – we love you and we will miss you! I know these people as the fisherman who gives us home-smoked salmon. The tennis player. The father of the professional baseball player. The kidney transplant woman who came back from the dead three times. The owners of the orchard who give us pounds and pounds of walnuts, pecans and chocolate covered plums. The wine collector. The poet. The author of scary true crime novels. The butterscotch fudge lady. The Scot with the incredible brogue and his proper English wife. The Nagasaki bomb survivor, the Auschwitz survivor, the leukemia survivor…Everyone has a life story and my husband knows them all by heart. What can I say? Wow.
Other tidings: Mia Watts has a new release today. Congrats!
My husband took the morning off and we went hiking, pretty early, like at seven a.m. and we were talking about the problems with the Prius. You see, he almost bought one recently after his car was totaled in a freeway collision. I put the cabosh on the Prius. Why? Well…I’d driven one when they first came out and I thought it was okay, but these new cars are kind of scary high tech distracting and I knew my husband would get killed while trying to figure out what his dash board was saying to him. So we went with a Honda Civic hybrid. No, I’m not getting paid to say this…
So anyway, we were talking about the guy whose car ran away with him in SoCal and how frightened he must have been and I commented, well, at least he wouldn’t run out of gas. My husband burst out laughing! Yes, he said, What an ad campaign! Buy a Prius! You may be going a hundred and twenty miles an hour but you can drive for seven hundred miles on one tank of gas!
I’m one of those people who love Toyotas, but I did have a problem with my Highlander – that stinking carpet thingy under my gas pedal got stuck and I couldn’t brake when I needed to. Nearly got me killed a few years ago. I didn’t know there had been a recall so I just threw the thing out of my car.
Anyway, poor guy! I’m glad he’s okay. The car is so complicated that I’m not quite sure why you can’t just put the transmission in neutral or even if you can. Yiii!
Mia Watts has some hunks on her blog – check them out! Yum! We both love Gerard Butler. He’s such a guy!
I made a big pot of Peace and Happiness Chili last night. No matter how I change it up from time to time, there’s just something about that chili that makes you feel so happy and peaceful. It’s weird. Let me know if you want the general recipe and you all can personalize it.
In other news: A poor wolverine is looking for love…we actually have a lone wolverine in California where wolverines haven’t been seen in 100 years. He’s looking for a mate. Hugh Jackman, where are you when your species needs help?
And from the University of Chicago and the NIH, this jewel – men and women don’t generally have sex after 70. Waaaa! Hubby came to me last night and said – Get it while you can because in thirty years or so…no more! You’re cut off! By the age of 55, men have an average sexual life expectancy of 15 years, women …oooh!….25. Really? Now that’s a Cougar! Healthy men and women can extend that a bit – another reason to work out, baby!
Siren-Bookstrand authors are running an amazing week-long Valentine’s contest. You can win ebooks and Strandbucks to buy books from Siren. Sign into the Siren Reader’s Group for links to the blogs and contest give-aways. My day is tomorrow, so check back here and find out how to win a copy of my science fiction romance, Captured.
You can find my interview over at the Logical Lust blog. Leave me a comment and on Valentine’s Day, I’ll draw a name for a signed hard copy of The Cougar Book. Link: http://bit.ly/ZWnZq
Stumbling Over Chaos is running a contest for a copy of My Everything – my suspense romance coming out with Cobblestone Press on February 12th. The contest runs through the 11th. http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=5864http:// Head over and leave a comment. The book makes for a fun, sexy afternoon read.
There’s a contest running over at Romance Junkies too! I just don’t know exactly where it is – but I think there are lots and lots of freebies over there!
In other news, my kitty will recover from his life-threatening illness – it was touch and go all weekend and he finally turned the corner. The vet called to give me the good news.
The winner of Mia Watt’s F.U.? Linda! Here ya go! Mia will contact you. Congratulations!
The contest for F.U., by Mia Watts, is still alive!!! Write the words – Enter me! Enter me now! – and you’ll be entered in the contest for a free copy of F.U. I’ll draw the winner at random on Monday and announce right here.
My own contest, hosted by Stumbling Over Chaos, runs through February 11th. Stop by the site and leave a comment and you could win a copy of my Romance/Suspense, My Everything, from Cobblestone Press. Damn, that cover is hot! The book comes out February 12. The link: http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=5864http://
Other news – The Cougar Book, with Logical Lust comes out on Valentine’s Day. My short story, You Might Just Get It, is one of twenty-three fun, sexy, hot reads. The book is available for pre-order in both ebook and print and I think if you order early, you can get a copy of Swing!, another sizzling anthology. Here’s the link: http://www.logical-lust.com/cougar.html
Every day in February, a contributing author from The Cougar Book is being interviewed on the Logical Lust blog. My day is Sunday, February 7th. Please drop by and leave a comment. If you do, you’ll be eligible to win a copy of any book from my backlist, including Captured, my new sci fi with Siren. Link: http://bit.ly/ZWnZq
Katie Couric is officially a Cougar – dating a man 17 years her junior. Go Katie!
Last but not least, the authors over at Siren-Bookstrand are running a seven-day event, beginning tomorrow. You can win Strandbucks by visiting blogs all week. There will be lots of contests. Head over to Siren-Bookstrand and join the Siren Readers Group. It’s a great opportunity to get to know some fabulous authors in all genres and pick up some Strandbucks to buy a few books! http://www.sirenbookstrand.com/
Paranormal and Sci Fi Day is Tuesday, so stay tuned for my blog and my contest! You can win a copy of Captured!
The link will go live after midnight tonight, Pacific Time.
Drop by. Leave a comment, and you might win yourself a copy of my new romance/suspense with Cobblestone Press – My Everything. The contest will run through February 11th and the book releases on the 12th.
In other contest news – check the post below regarding Mia Watt’s menage/multiple, F.U.
Leave a comment with the words – Enter me! Enter me now! and put yourself in the running for a copy of her fantabulous book. I’ll choose a winner, at random, on Monday and announce it right here.
In the meantime, enjoy the cover and stay tuned for exciting announcements over the weekend and next week. Interviews! Contests! A week of Valentine’s fun and prizes from Siren-Bookstrand authors!
Enough with the nicey nice nice posts. I’m a MILF! It’s official.
Pardon me for a moment while I paraphrase Kohelet, or as he’s known by his more common name, Ecclesiastes:
Vanity…vanity…all is vanity.
I admit it…I am as vain as they come. A couple weeks ago I headed over to Whole Foods and I got the look…in fact I got several looks…you know the head down, eyes up appraising look, the interested double take…got it from three guys having coffee in front of the store -sitting at three different tables. I called my daughter and I said, “I am so vain…I tell you, I am so fucking vain. The day I no longer get those looks is the day I hang it up. Does that sound awful?”
Like mother like daughter, she replied, “No, mom, I totally get it. I feel exactly the same way.” Thank you Jesus!
I’m not vain in the plastic surgery or makeup or short dresses or manicured nails way. Never had plastic surgery, don’t wear makeup, hardly own a dress and I bite my nails. But I am vain in the I like the attention of the opposite sex kind of way.
Follow me here…
1. Two days ago, my husband and I went out to our favorite local dive with a couple friends and I ran into a guy I used to hike with…he’s maybe ten, fifteen years my junior and hot. And married. And I like his wife. A lot. He gave me a hug and took down my new cell phone number so he could call me about going on a hike.
2. Yesterday afternoon, I had to go for a mammo because there have been some issues lately that I am not ready to discuss until I have the good word – anyway – the little Hispanic mammo tech, as she’s fitting my small breast into the machine of squish torture asks me if I have kids. Grimacing, I say, yeah, three. She replies, three kids! You are one hot mama! You are what my sons would call a MILF! I burst out laughing while she giggles and tells me to hold my breath and says – See, now it don’t hurt so much!
3. Last night, my old friend (see no. 1) sent me a text and then he called. He said – I was so happy to see you the other day! I felt like a teenager again. You look so good, I wanted to jump your bones. His words rendered me speechless, which doesn’t happen very often, but I finally said…we’re both married buddy. He said, Yeah, I know, but damn girl!
4. It’s called the stress-related don’t eat, don’t sleep, exercise excessively, along with a lot of hot, hard middle of the night lovin’ from your sweetie school of MILFing.
5. I am gloriously happily married to love of my life and the best fuck I ever had so ain’t nuthin’ ever gonna happen, but damn girl…I’m gonna enjoy my MILFing while I still got it!
In other news, my good MILF bud, Mia Watts, has a new release and if you head over to Resplendence you can pick it up along with any book you like and get a discount in the bargain – so go! Type in: Mia20 and receive 20% off your book purchase!!!
Janna, at Erotic Romance Reader featured a clip yesterday from Daughters of Persephone, Book One Exile. Yikes! I wrote that, eh? Cool!
