Meeting new people.

Have you been watching the World Cup?  I have, along with Susi, The Geeky Bookworm, over in Berlin, Germany!  We’ve watched together, screamed, hooted and hollered, and cheered over google chat.  It’s been great!  Well…except for the United States losing, that is.  Susi and I agree that the vuvuzelas have to go.

Speaking of Germany, an author contacted me about my post on the true identity of Will Shakespeare entitled, The Dark Lady.  Lev Raphael left me this erudite comment regarding the article I quoted:

“It’s a lovely fantasy, but Reform Judaism’s editors should have been more thorough and done some fact checking.  Bassano Lanier was not a Jew, first  of all.  Her mother wasn’t, and there’s no proof whatsoever that her father was.  As for the rest of the story, it’s a lovely fantasy constructed out of half-facts and suppositions and starts from a false premise: Shakespeare couldn’t have written the plays.  This premise took root in the mid 1800s, more than two hundred years after Shakespeare died. That should give people pause.
Interested readers should check out James Shapiro’s “Contested Will,” Irvin Matus’s “Shakespeare in Fact,” and http://www.bibliobuffet.com/book-brunch-columns-322/1304-anyone-but-shakespeare-062010

Mr. Raphael is the author of My Germany.  He’ll be speaking in Berlin this fall.

http://www.levraphael.com
Watch an excerpt of the book at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFhrajH-6AE

Yes, I’d like to think that Shakespeare was a woman – it’s a very romantic notion, ah well…

Thanks to the blog hop, I’ve met some great new book bloggers, like Steph at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust.  We’ve been discussing True Blood.  http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspot.com/

And today I was thrilled to find a new-to-me site, (it’s a long story), Kelly and Five Agents and a Funeral – a name I find hilarious!  http://www.fiveagentsandafuneral.com/

News:  Little by little, I’m doing better.  I’m no longer crying all the time.  I can’t wait to see the puppies, but that won’t be until we get back from ten days in Montana – leaving on Friday.  Author Stacey Espino has had a great week with her new release, Saving Grace.  I think she’s like, um, numero uno over at Siren.  I’m sending many positive thoughts to my friends, authors Regina Carlysle and Paris Brandon who’ve faced some tough personal challenges lately.  All right, going to bed, night.

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As many of you know, I’ve been spring cleaning -

thus the injured back…

So what did I do today?  Well…there’s this box, you see, this big box.  This big, fat, full cardboard storage box has sat right next to the head of my bed on my side of the bed for years.  What’s in it, you ask?

REJECTIONS…YEARS AND YEARS WORTH OF REJECTION LETTERS FROM PUBLISHERS AND LITERARY AGENTS.

Why, oh why, you ask, would I keep something like that next to the head of my bed?  Am I some kind of masochist?  Well…yes, I guess…but it’s more than that.  I’ve kept these rejection letters for two reasons, first the pragmatic – so I’ll know who not to contact again, and second the emotional – so I’ll remember to be humble and grateful for the positive things in my life.

So what did I do today?  I pulled out the box and opened up every SASE envelope, and I re-read all those impersonal, two sentence form letter rejections.  As I sat cross-legged on the bed, I felt all that indifferent, disinterested, detached energy seep into my hands.  It felt cold, ladies, very cold.  I dropped every single rejection back into the box, carried it out to the recycling bin and chucked it.

As the box left my hand and clunked into the plastic bin, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.  I don’t need that negative reinforcement anymore.  Probably I never did.  I’m grateful, I’m humble and I don’t care who I contact and who I don’t.  Those rejection letters made me feel like a POS for so long…honestly, do I really need to feel like that?

My friend, Regina Carlysle, recently blogged about the futility of New Year’s resolutions.  I never make them, but I guess Spring Cleaning is a bit of a resolution in itself, you know, brush off all those cobwebs, toss out the skeletons in the closet and start fresh.  Oops, speaking of skeletons, not my good luck mummy’s foot.  No really, my good luck mummy’s foot from The Valley of the Kings stays where it is – long story.  Smells like cloves.

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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…

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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Translation, please?

Do you get spam like this?  I do.  The above is a good one.  Usually it’s more like ‘horny housewife wants to get with you tonight‘.  Yay.  Can’t wait.

News:  Author Regina Carlysle has a new release with EC – Drilled – part of the Cougar Challenge series.  Knowing Regina, the story will be great!  http://reginacarlysle.blogspot.com/

While I’m on vacation, not only am I strolling the sandy beaches of Santa Barbara – on my way to Disneyland – I’m enjoying Fran Lee’s A Brief Moment of Pleasure - her contemporary romance which is so much more than a brief moment of pleasure!  It’s not often you read an erotic romance and learn a new skills set, I mean other than the obvious LOL! – This is a very detailed and realistic story of a female martial arts teacher and her determination to be respected for what she can do, not how she looks.  For those of you who don’t know, the author herself is a skilled martial artist.  I’m loving the story of Lisa’s early training with Matasi Kanegawa and her meeting with her new employer, the deliciously hot, James Rhee.  http://fran-lee-romance.angelfire.com/ Good stuff!  Here’s the delightful blurb:

Lisa Hampton is serious about her martial arts career…but a woman in the traditional Japanese martial arts is seldom taken seriously. At least, not until one hunky and hot man takes her…very seriously.

James Rhee runs his own brand of martial arts studio…teaching advanced moves and technique to movie stars and competitors who want to win. Something Lisa genuinely doesn’t want any part of.

Being a serious teacher of serious stuff, she finds it hard to swallow his methods. But she soon finds it’s damn hard to refuse the maddening man anything…including her body.

Anyway – we’ll head on down to L.A. tomorrow, but we’re staying in a lovely bungalow tonight.  I love the central coast of California, especially driving along Highway 1, which we skipped this time because we poked this morning until we were about three hours late getting out of town.  See you later!  j

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Heirs to Darkisle – Darkisle Book One

by Cassandra Pierce

When Sebastian arrives in the seaside town of Darkisle, Briana wonders who and what he really is. His icy skin and hypnotic eyes ignite a strange desire she cannot extinguish. When a murder occurs, Briana must decide if the lover of her dreams is also the architect of her nightmares.

Buy Link: http://www.sirenpublishing.com/cassandrapierce/

Awakening Augusta

by Cindy Spencer Pape

Regency Scotland can be a lonely place, but Augusta MacLeish has four mischievous younger siblings for company—now if she only had money to feed them! Colin Fordyce has recently inherited an earldom, along with five wards in a remote Scottish castle. When he travels to meet them, he discovers his predecessor was skimming their funds. He also learns the oldest Miss MacLeish is absolutely stunning. A knock to his head leaves him seeing two of the buxom beauty, just as one kiss from her tempting lips leaves him longing for more. A night spent together forces Colin and Augusta to marry, leaving them all the opportunity in the world to explore the sexual hunger between them. Colin delights in teaching Augusta all the pleasures of the flesh, awakening the wanton lover beneath her ladylike veneer. From Scotland to London, the flames burning between them refuse to be doused, and oh how they will set the Ton on fire.

Buy Link:  http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8076-50-awakening-augusta.aspx

Jaguar Hunger

by Regina Carlysle

Noah Littlehawk and Aaron O’Malley have searched long years for the mate they will share, a jaguar female to fulfill their lives and ease their loneliness. What begins as a job soon becomes much more when they meet Violet. Her quiet intensity calls to them. Her body makes them yearn to claim her with the savage hunger of their species.
Death comes for Violet Carson like a speeding train. She knows the shift from woman to beast will rip her apart without the help of jaguar mates. As heat and lust overwhelm her, two men step from the shadows to claim her body and soothe the fire that consumes her. But a human predator waits and he won’t rest until he possesses her, body and soul.

Buy Link:  http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8049-jaguar-hunger.aspx

Double Your Pleasure

by Fran Lee

Coming January 13th from Ellora’s Cave

Ever Dreamed About Having TWO Hot Men Loving You?

Helen Turner never even imagined such a thing…but she sure wants a nice apartment and a secure job…

So what’s a girl to do when her wishes come true…and in spades?

How would you like to have this hot and sexy pair of identical twins chasing you?

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