S.J. Reisner's Blog, page 91

Smashing Saturday

I decided to be a BAD, BAD writer last night. Instead of writing, I cracked open the latest Madelyn Alt. I do have to say this about Madelyn Alt – her writing is pretty average, but her characters are divine and her story-telling is fun. I did consider Victoria Laurie's 9th Psychic Eye Mystery, but Laurie's stories aren't as "brain candy" and right now I need brain candy (sorry Madelyn, but brain candy can be an awesome thing!). So far I'm finding Home For a Spell entertaining. It's a bit...

Literary?

I got it again earlier. "Steph, why don't you write literary fiction? I've seen you write well enough to write fiction that has some merit beyond what you currently write." 

I write a lot of woo-woo evidently (the esoteric and thrillers) and I'm pushing the porn envelope with my erotic romances.  No, the only genre I write in that wasn't lightly dismissed was the sword and sorcery fantasy. Evidently my first novel, Left Horse Black had some literary merit according to my friend. I'm guessing b...

Authenticity

I want to take a moment to discuss paganism, occultism, spirituality and authenticity. People LOVE debating and questioning the authenticity of anyone who doesn't believe, practice, or grow spiritually in the same way they do. I think anyone who thinks their way is the only way or the only one-true way of anything (with regard to spirituality) and believes that their particular way is the only way for everyone - is delusional. Personal spiritual paths may be right for individuals, but...

Curb Appeal

DH and I have so much going on this summer that we're kind of excited about it.  Or at least I am. He is the one coordinating it all, but it has to be done. By the time we're finished, it's going to look like we have a new house. I really should take before and after pictures. We're having a stone mason come in to re-do our front steps, walkway and patio (in stone obviously). The 30+ year old, wooden, 200 pound garage door is going away to make way for a new, insulated version. The brown...

Readings

For those who read my blog and didn't know, I'm not only a writer, but I also perform readings for people.  I've always been intuitive ever since I was a girl and as I get older, my ability for it seems to be increasing. Either that or I'm just more in tune with it. Regardless, I actually have regular clients and people who recommend my readings to their friends.  So I thought I'd take my blog post today to tell everyone about the types of readings I do and offer my services to my blog...

Perfecting Plots

I've actually be writing a pretty good clip the last few days. I put together another 1500 words on IT (great plot stuff), as well as more on MNE.  There's an unedited excerpt of MNE up on this blog somewhere. The password, of course, being IAMOVER18. Remember "unedited".   :)  Enjoy. For those who read it initially – I deleted the old excerpt and put up a different one. Sneaky, eh?

It's been a long week already and it's only Tuesday. Right now I'm hard at work managing plots and working...

Eye of the Tornado

Fast Tube by Casper

Megadeth: Tornado of Souls

It's a classic.  I highly recommend the whole Rust in Peace album.

This is where I'm at right now. In the eye of the tornado. I have a deadline coming up and the novel is missing something pivotal.  My editor suggested printing out the manuscript to look it over in physical form. She may have a point. I sometimes find I am able to figure out the issue when I have a physical copy in front of me. It's nice to know Kim knows me so well. 

Better get...

Real Writers Get PAID

Back in 2004-2005 I put up a page on Author's Den. If you don't know what that is — it's basically a website that hosts writer information, blogs, etc… And since there are millions of writers out there (literally) most every author you'll meet likely has a page there. Or at least that was true 5-6 years ago.

Anyway, it was because of a profile I posted to this site 5 years ago that I opened my e-mail this morning to the following "offer" made by a person who genuinely thinks he's doing me a...

Writing "THE END"

I was reading an article earlier about how different authors felt when they finished writing a book.  I started thinking about my own reaction when I finish writing a book.

There are two kinds of finished IMHO. There's finished with the draft that goes off to the editor and then there's *finished* as in it's going to press.  I don't generally get all angst-y over my drafts that go to my editor anymore. Probably because we work in sync and I will give him the first half while I'm finishing up m...

Reality

Yeah – everyone and their mother keeps writing these silly articles telling everyone they're going to tell them some great reality of being a self-published author. Something that everyone else is afraid to tell them.  Then they lament about how authors have to write a good book, put out an awesome product, and market the book themselves! Oh heavens!  For me none of that is a huge secret. Of course I can see where people new to the whole publishing game might think self-publishing is easy...