Carly Phillips's Blog: Carly's Web Blogs, page 89

What’cha Reading Saturday

My favorite day of the week! What is everyone reading these days? After a huge April reading binge while on vacation, I’m at loose ends and relying on all of you! So tell me what’s good! What are YOU reading lately?

Carly’s Friday Contest!

KARMA, the final book in the first Serendipity Trilogy is coming in two short weeks! Did YOU preorder? Have you read the first 3 books in the series? Here’s your chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift card so you can! Or use it to buy whatever your heart desires, I’ll never know!

Talk to me – who’s your favorite Barron brother or is it too soon to know? Comment for a chance to win (even if it’s to say you haven’t read my books! If you win, you’ll have a chance!)

PS – don’t forget to LIKE my Facebook page – where I immediately post recent news and all the doggie and pet cuteness I can find! LIKE me HERE!

FAVOR – Visit my Facebook Fan Page – and take a poll about Serendipity Series Romance Trading cards so I know how many of each to order. Thanks!

I’m a Cheap Date!

I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned this here before but I don’t drink. My main reason is my migraines. It’s just not worth it. There’s no alcoholic drink I like enough to go through the agony of a drink induced headache. This means, even if my husband drinks an expensive Scotch, I’m a cheap date. I’m kinda proud of this. It’s become my claim to fame and I really don’t care. I mean I get my share of – “not EVER?” or “Not even a glass of wine with dinner?” And really? No. Give me a diet Coke and I’m happy. A room of drunk people? I’m STILL OK. I can have fun. It’s all good.

That said, there are two drinks I do like. I like beer. Always have. And I like cheap Passover wine. Good old Manischewitz wine. $5.99 for a small bottle. I LOVE it. So this year I decided to indulge. I drank mine and I drank Elijah the Prophet’s glass. Yep.

A few hours later, I’m watching TV with my daughter and I say, boy do I have a splitting headache that won’t go away. And she says, with the wisdom of a 16 year old, “Mom, YOU DRANK WINE.”

Which means the second night of the holiday, I abstained. And I was sad.



Is there anything you love and can’t have for health or other reasons? And how do you feel after you indulge?

I'm a Cheap Date!

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this here before but I don't drink. My main reason is my migraines. It's just not worth it. There's no alcoholic drink I like enough to go through the agony of a drink induced headache. This means, even if my husband drinks an expensive Scotch, I'm a cheap date. I'm kinda proud of this. It's become my claim to fame and I really don't care. I mean I get my share of – "not EVER?" or "Not even a glass of wine with dinner?" And really? No. Give me a diet Coke and I'm happy. A room of drunk people? I'm STILL OK. I can have fun. It's all good.

That said, there are two drinks I do like. I like beer. Always have. And I like cheap Passover wine. Good old Manischewitz wine. $5.99 for a small bottle. I LOVE it. So this year I decided to indulge. I drank mine and I drank Elijah the Prophet's glass. Yep.

A few hours later, I'm watching TV with my daughter and I say, boy do I have a splitting headache that won't go away. And she says, with the wisdom of a 16 year old, "Mom, YOU DRANK WINE."

Which means the second night of the holiday, I abstained. And I was sad.



Is there anything you love and can't have for health or other reasons? And how do you feel after you indulge?

Romance Novel Expectations

A friend and I were talking about a book – where at the halfway point – the hero and heroine already know they're in love with the other (unsaid at this point, I believe) and having finished the story and it being a keeper for me, I know the author sustained the conflict and there was SO much more to happen and it WORKED. As newbie writers we have rules drummed into us – don't do this, don't do that. As we go on in our careers, we do a lot of learning in our craft, hopefully we keep learning no matter how long we've been at it. But those old rules stay in the back of our mind, even as we wish we could break them. Sometimes we try to – and think – "no no, Romances can't do that" or "It makes my hero or heroine weak" and we make changes.

BUT now I'm wondering – as readers, do you think there are rules or expectations in a Romance – beyond the requisite Happily Ever After? Do you ever think about these things? Or just read … and go with your gut?

If you are questioning what kind of rules I mean, we can talk further below. But if you GET my question, what's your feeling?

SQUEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My 1st Ever RITA Nomination! I've been writing since 1992/1993 and published since 1999 and I've been entering the Romance Writer's of American (first) Golden Heart Contest for unpublished writers and then the RITA – the gold standard contest for published authors. The RITA is contest is a contest for published authors judged by our peers. I've never finaled. I've sort of gotten used to the angst of the day, the disappointment, the joy for others and the longing and eventual acceptance. I figured I've had the ultimate lightning in a bottle moment and that's why this wasn't for me. But honestly, I always thought it would be great to be recognized by my fellow writers for my writing, at least once.

And then, on Monday, the unbelievable happened. I GOT THE CALL! Not just THE CALL but one that made this moment even more special. The RWA Board members are randomly assigned the task of calling finalists. My call came from JANELLE!!! How cool is that? She can pop on with her side of the story but this was such an amazing day. And one that wouldn't have happened without Janelle, Julie and Leslie – all three of them make it possible for me to do what I do and actually look good at it!

Which book? 2012 RITA FINALIST – Carly's "Compassion Can't Wait" in More Than Words, Vol. 7 – Romance Novella category and winners announced July 28 at the RITA and Ceremony to be held at the 2012 RWA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm already a winner by finaling! Especially after all the wonderful emails from old writer friends, tweets from what felt like the entire world, Facebook congratulations, and Leslie's shout out here … it's been wonderful. Like floating on a cloud. Very little work got done this week but … shhh!

Another huge piece of good news came my way this week! KARMA will be featured in the June issue of COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE as a Hot Read! Can you believe this week?

And FINALLY – Publisher's Weekly reviewed KARMA and they said – "Phillips creates sympathetic and interesting characters who realistically grow and mature despite their unhappy past actions and experiences. Excellent writing, deft plotting, believable situations, and a satisfying romance add up to a winner."

You can PREORDER KARMA – For a list of online bookseller links click HERE!

And if you missed the short story in More Than Words, you can find a list of bookseller links by clicking HERE!

I'm off for vacation tomorrow for a week – my husband and I are taking my daughter and GULP 5 of her girl friends to FL with us for her 16th Birthday. Wish me luck!

Have you ever wanted anything so badly but you've just about given up? I'm here to tell you, IT STILL CAN HAPPEN!

Carly’s Winners & Funny

Better late than never! The winners of my Friday Mix It Up Blog are –

1. # 31 – Tanya – A copy (eBook or paperback (out April 3) – of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY – so you can read for yourself and see why I loved it – or get yourself a hard copy for your keeper shelf– If you prefer one of the other two books in the series, that’s OK too – email me and let me know eBook or Hard copy and the address to send your choice!

2. # 55 – LSU Reader – I’ll preorder KARMA for you - the 3rd in the Serendipity series (eBook or paperback, so let me know which w/address – both out May 1) – so you receive a copy the day it comes out!

3. # 151 – Stefani Stayton – A $10 Amazon Gift Card - so you can buy your own Fifty Shades; pay for KARMA; or buy any other book of your choice and I’ll never know, LOL.

CONGRATULATIONS! Email me at: carly phillips @ mac . com and I’ll take care of ordering your prize!

FUNNY

SORRY! LOL.

HAPPY SUNDAY, ALL!

Carly's Winners & Funny

Better late than never! The winners of my Friday Mix It Up Blog are –

1. # 31 – Tanya – A copy (eBook or paperback (out April 3) – of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY – so you can read for yourself and see why I loved it – or get yourself a hard copy for your keeper shelf– If you prefer one of the other two books in the series, that's OK too – email me and let me know eBook or Hard copy and the address to send your choice!

2. # 55 – LSU Reader – I'll preorder KARMA for you - the 3rd in the Serendipity series (eBook or paperback, so let me know which w/address – both out May 1) – so you receive a copy the day it comes out!

3. # 151 – Stefani Stayton – A $10 Amazon Gift Card - so you can buy your own Fifty Shades; pay for KARMA; or buy any other book of your choice and I'll never know, LOL.

CONGRATULATIONS! Email me at: carly phillips @ mac . com and I'll take care of ordering your prize!

FUNNY

SORRY! LOL.

HAPPY SUNDAY, ALL!

What’cha Reading Saturday

For once, I don’t have an answer. I’m between books which means I’m relying on all of you! What are you reading? What have you recently read and loved? What books are on your TBR pile? Any books you’re currently rereading? You get the gist! SHARE!

HAPPY SATURDAY, ALL!

xo

Carly

What'cha Reading Saturday

For once, I don't have an answer. I'm between books which means I'm relying on all of you! What are you reading? What have you recently read and loved? What books are on your TBR pile? Any books you're currently rereading? You get the gist! SHARE!

HAPPY SATURDAY, ALL!

xo

Carly