Dee Tenorio's Blog, page 4

What Do You Look For On Author Sites?

A little known fact about the hardships of writing is knowing when to put down the pen or back away from the keyboard. We’re tweakers, even if that sounds horribly wrong. We mess with stuff until it’s “perfect”. (Then, after it’s gone to print, we see stuff we wish we could fix and practically rend our clothes thinking about it, but that’s a whole other story.)

I’m also, incidentally, a coder. Which means, I’m twice as bad.

And as you can see, I’ve changed the wallpaper around here again, trying to make it easier to read. More cozy. “Perfect”.

Currently, I’m wildly happy with the results. (It’s the honeymoon period, so I imagine in another few months, I’ll mess with it again) But I am interested to know, what do you readers look for in a writer’s website? Finding more information about the author or the books? Sneak peeks? Bonus material? Buy links? What is it that you need as a reader when you come to a writer’s site?

As a coder, that’s also important to me to let other writers know, so your imput is SOOO appreciated. Also, feel free to tell me if I’m still missing anything.

Dee

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The Road To RT…

I really didn’t expect to be going anywhere this year, but miracles happened and I’ll be on my way Wednesday! Super excited because A) I get to room with Christine Bell! B) I’m headed to the BBQ Capitol of the WORLD! and C) I get to see everyone! And I do mean just about everyone! In fact, please don’t be worried if I’m walking by and look like I’m chasing my tail. Odds are, I either saw or heard someone I know and I’m spinning in place to find them.

Or it could just be the voices in my head.

Still, SO excited! I’m hoping to take a ton of pics and show everyone when I get back! (Or maybe while I’m there, we’ll see!)

Hugs all!

Dee

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Purpose

It goes without question that a person needs a purpose. I was explaining to my kids just yesterday that everything on this planet has a job (and they will be no exception, but that’s a different tangent). The importance of purpose can’t, to my mind, be over-expressed. Purpose gives us drive. It helps us understand why we have to do painful things. Tiring things. Things we wouldn’t do if we absolutely didn’t have to.

I would jump in front of a speeding car for my children. Not so much for, say, a bag of groceries, unless that bag was all there was between my kids and starving. As you can see, my kids, my family, is a huge sense of purpose for me. Higher even than my devotion to readers. To the law. To myself.

There are times, though, that a person’s sense of purpose can cause problems. Like when you have the sense but you no longer understand it. Like protecting a friend who is no longer a friend or has hurt you deeply. Or when there are too many important purposes and all of them need you. Or simply fighting battles that aren’t your own anymore. Or fighting battles that never seem to end. Weariness is Purpose’s enemy. And lord, sometimes we get so weary…

I’m not entirely sure where I’m going with this, but I woke up this morning with such a sense of purpose. There are things that need doing, but just not enough hours, not enough of ME, in the day to do it all. I’ve been sad since the marathon bombings. Things like that hurt my soul, knowing there’s so much pain that I can do nothing about. I probably take too much on, in that respect, but I hate the thought that people hurt each other so easily. There should be someone out there trying to make things better, even in the tiniest of ways, all the time. Sometimes a stranger offering a smile can make me feel so much better. Call me Pollyanna–though most everyone will laugh at you because I’m mean as a snake–but I’ve always had the policy that if I see something compliment worthy, I mention it. Even to people I don’t know and will never see again. You never know if that person needs it.

So I’m going to head back to my to-do list for today. Put my purposes in order, if you will, and do what I can to live up to what I was made to do. Hopefully, that’s to make at least one person today feel better.

Wishing all of you good purpose today,

Dee

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Dr. No-no-no-no-no!

Believe it or not, I found something fun to blog about–I know, you’re shocked!

Anyway, so Hubby has been glomming his way through James Bond movies while he works because it helps keep him awake when he’s pushing mad deadlines. So, he’s watching “Dr. No” and comes to this scene where Bond is getting into bed and is all set to get him some–miraculously–alone time to sleep. Imagine his surprise when there is not a bed-bunny but a bed-tarantula crawling up his leg.

So begins the spine-tingling music as this slow ass spider makes it’s way carefully up his moderately contoured body.

Dahhh-dah-dah-dah! Daaahhhh-dah-dah-dah!

Ever so still, Bond–in a cold sweat, mind you, and who can blame him? Haven’t you SEEN “Arachniphobia”??–waits until the spider crawls up to his shoulder and finally onto the pillow next to his head. As soon as the spider gets four of its legs onto the pillow and all of them off his shoulder, Bond does what we all would do in this situation.

He got the fuck off the bed.

He was not cool.

He was not collected.

He scrambled off that bed like it had lice, VD and old women on it, skidding the floor, all but screaming as he grabbed a shoe and slapped that spider like a bad pancake. Complete with “dramatic” movie music to make it manly instead of the panicked attack of a ten year old girl.

Which is about when Hubby and I laughed like old witches. I know, I’m horrible and you can bet your ass if I woke up with a tarantula crawling up my body, the scene would have not been nearly so calm upon the discovery. I had a roach climb up on my face once from a wall behind me. I slapped myself so hard by reflex the bug was actually stunned when it slapped the ground and my face was red for hours. But I’m not James Bond, lol.

Hubby surmises that perhaps Sean Connery was simply not able to make escaping a big hairy spider look cool simply because NO ONE can make that cool. Or possibly, “Maybe he’d never seen one before? I mean, really, how many tarantulas can they HAVE in Scotland??” He did wonder too, if possibly, Connery’s real reaction was editing from the movie. Maybe something like, “Whathefookisda??”

I guess the world will never know…

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New Day, New Book… Right?

There are few things as difficult to do as start a new book. You’d think it would have something to do with the daunting sensation of starting over and learning new characters and facing new plot possibilities. And there is that. But there’s also…

Figuring out just what to do next.

I have several projects that need doing and I have every intention of getting them finished before end of Spring, but… wow, picking between them is a big challenge. Some days, I’m in the mood to be dark and moody, which is great to work on my upcoming suspense shifter novella. Then, I’m feeling comedic and sexy, that’s a whole other story I should do. And while I’m having split personalities, I might as well admit, I don’t know WHAT mood it is that has me thinking of two other projects.

I can probably alternate between two, but even I’m not overachiever enough to work on four. At least, not yet. So I’m guessing I’m gonna be a menagé-a-books kinda girl for a while. Good thing both novellas are sexy, right?

Dee

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Starting Fresh…In A Sexy Red Dress!

Taking a deep breath.

Lots of folks take that for granted, but I’m not one of them. It’s not just my gratefulness for oxygen–though, having had pneumonia twice in the last couple years, that’s probably part of it too–but my simple appreciation of having a moment of peace to enjoy. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m making strides forward. I’m taking off the things that have held me down or pulled me in too many directions and I’m making a new start.

And though it probably just seems cosmetic on the outside, there’s just something to be said for a new look. It makes you smile when you see yourself. Makes you feel good when you get things done. For the coder in me, this site is a complete revamp and reorganization and quite a learning lesson as well! Totally streamlined and compact, it will now make it much easier for me to update you, lol, which I know you all are going to hold me to. For the designer in me, well, I mean, honestly, how does it get better than crisp clean white with a flashy dash of scarlet?

And I’m hoping for you, it’ll mean you can better enjoy the many things that I’ve included here on my site re-design! I hope you’ll all take a look around and have a great time seeing what’s doing this winter. I have more surprises ahead, so I hope you’ll also join my new newsletter because I actually plan to make use of it.

Many hugs!

Dee

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Promo For Nationals!

I will have the Lonnigans series to sign at RWA’s lit signing, but I know not everyone will be buying books or might have the Lonnigans already, so I’m bringing a few goodies to sign!

And for those who can’t make it to Anaheim, I can still send them signed goodies! Wanna see?

Resurrection Postcard

10 Ways To Steal Your Lover Postcard

New Business Card

So, if you can’t come for a signed one in person, email me at AuthorDeeTenorio@gmail.com with your snail mail and I’ll be sure to get them out to you!

Dee

My First Book Signing!

I know, I know, I sound like a 1st grade September report, but honest, it’s my first time! AND I’ll be in incredible company. 400+ of your and MY favorite authors! (Lord I hope I don’t blush too much when I see my heroes!) So, want details?

2012 “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing

Wednesday, July 25, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Anaheim Convention Center, Ballroom (third floor)

http://www.rwa.org/cs/literacy_autogr...

Proceeds from book sales go to ProLiteracy Worldwide, Read Orange County, and Literacy Volunteers—Huntington Valley.

No outside books are allowed in the event.

Psst! Here’s a peek at the layout so you can find not only me but other faves: AUTHOR MAP

I’ll be at Table 601 next to Shana Galen, Yasmine Galanorn, Robin Perini, Renee Ryan & Sasha Summers!!

Beginning Again…

We all find ourselves walking through dark halls, from time to time. Tunnels, winding and seemingly endless. Sometimes, it feels like we’re underwater, or worse, buried alive. Every time there’s another bend in these roads, we hope–sometimes with hope we’d thought long extinguished–that we’ll see a light at the end, telling us the darkness is disappearing. That we’re through it.

Sometimes, our hopes aren’t rewarded. The road stretches on.

And sometimes…they are.

Sometimes, the light isn’t miles away, isn’t a mirage born of hopes held in check too long. Sometimes, you turn the corner and the light is right there. Waiting.

And that’s what’s going on in my life of late. I got a brand new start. One for myself and my husband that changed our lives in ways I’m still not sure I fully understand, but I appreciate more than I can say. Both of us have had professional opportunities come in and other miracles happen all at the same time. It’s been a bit overwhelming, but…it’s a brand new start in our lives, in every way.

Which brings me back here. I loved blogging, sharing thoughts and crazy things and writing with people. I loved watching it grow into something people were interested in reading. A lot of me withered in the last few years, but I’m being given a chance at renewal. That makes this a good time to start over and give it another chance, doesn’t it?

Amazon | Nook

And you wanna know something ironic? I’m starting over and at the same time, my very first book, “Betting Hearts” is getting a restart too. Re-released with a new cover and, can you believe it, they’re giving it away free for the next two weeks. They didn’t just decide that either, it’s been in the works for months, so I guess that just means the Universe has a game plan after all. Or that God just knew the light at the end of the tunnel wasn’t as far as I was thinking.

Or maybe He just thought it would make me smile.

Be sure not to miss out on the freebie!

Dee

More Cuteness Than You Can Stand…

So, my girls are terribly addicted to Adele. It's actually my fault. I played her in the house while I was writing. It started so innocent. They got a huge kick out of "Rumor Has It" (there's a whole other DANCE to that one!) Then they started wanting me to play it at night so they could sleep, which I didn't mind because I'd be writing then. So, after six months of listening to Adele every night to go to sleep (Or their not sleeping…and no, not really kidding about that), they can literally sing all of 21 in their sleep.

When I mentioned this to someone, they told me to film it. I mean, you can't get these moments back, you know. And good kid blackmail IS rather hard to get, lol. So here you have them, my four year olds, singing Adele with all their little hearts on their sleeves.

PS–The camera timed out so the second one has the end of the song and some PRIME Shatner moments, lol.