Janna, at Erotic Romance Reader featured a clip yesterday from Daughters of Persephone, Book One Exile.  Yikes!  I wrote that, eh?  Cool!

Here’s her main link in case you can’t get in the back door – http://erotromreader.blogspot.com/

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!

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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!

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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!

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1.  My Everything, my romance-suspense with Cobblestone, got a five-star review from The Romance Studio:  http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/myeverythingbarrett.htm

2.  Beauty and the Feast, my contemporary with Resplendence, received a five-teacup review from Happily Ever After:  http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/review-beauty-and-feast-by-julia.html

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!

love, a stressed-out julia

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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:

If you’re this close, my balls are in your face!

I like mine better!

Thanks to all of you who voted for Captured on Happily Ever After Reviews – Book of the Month Contest.  If you haven’t voted, there’s still time…hint…hint…  http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/p/best-book-contest_30.html

The contest is open until July 8th.

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!

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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.

So, when we hear bad things it’s like a knife.”

Her site is well worth the visit and you can read the post for yourself:  http://miawatts.blogspot.com/

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 miss my boy…

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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…

http://www.amazon.com/Punished-Taboo-Wishes-ebook/dp/B003BEEAFS/ref=pd_ts_kinc_69?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text

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.

http://www.writersevolution.blogspot.com/

These two tips are my faves:

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.

Tomorrow:  Mythology.

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Do not pass go.  Do not collect $200.  Run as fast as you can to the most hilarious cover rant ever in the history of blogoland!

Thank you Mia Watts for making my year!

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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.

She did just get an award on All Romance Ebooks for She’s Got Balls!  Go Mia!  http://miawatts.blogspot.com/

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…

And from my friends at Project Bacon  http://projectbacon.wordpress.com/ comes this hilarious tidbit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T_obaO46Bo&feature=player_embedded

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at the drop of a tear, they’re gone.

Let’s do what we dare, do what we like,

and love while we’re here before time passes by.”

Kathy Mattea

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!

Freeze Frame, by Mia Watts

Resplendence:  http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/

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