Cindy Lynn Speer's Blog, page 86

Another Goodreads Giveaway!

OK, finally cleaning up the website…I created an extensive bibliography so that I could get rid of old covers, and made sure active titles are, you know, easy to find…

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Goodreads Book Giveaway







Once Upon a Curse



by Anna Kashina

Giveaway ends December 23, 2012.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Where I confess to being a mess…

The problem with being a published writer is that you have to keep writing. Now, the writing part is easy…it’s the finishing part that sometimes gets hard. You all know the drill…too many ideas, not enough time to write them, yes, but also the idea that if you are not a full time writer you have less time ti write, so you lose the thread or you look back and you think, “This is all garbage.”

That’s what I did, recently, with the book I was passionately writing all last summer. Read it recently to get back into it…and I hate it.

Then I remembered that I had started a book, written in first person zombie, and thought, “I should write that before the whole Zombie craze is over…” and I did a couple of dumb things, there…originally, Minerva Corvae was not a zombie, she was a big part of the mystery that had to be solved, and I wrote it and got to the end and needed to second draft the book but was eh on it. Then I decided to write her character as a zombie, and I wrote it in this wonderfully snarky voice and fell in love with her all over again. So I started writing that and then thought I would try and use the old story and…yeah. Now I’m stuck, there, trying to decide whether to throw out the other book, or two go with these two other story ideas. Ashton and Minerva have about three books in them…

And I want to write another book in the Chocolatier’s Wife world, especially since I have lots of requests for a sequel. I have three non-sequels set there…I wanted to explore different aspects of the spell (what if the person the spell chooses for you dies/is not your social station?) and set a story in the Pandroth Empire.

I need to do some serious gardening in my head, get everything organized neatly. I had been using http://www.mywritingnook.com/write/, which I loves even though I had a heart attack awhile back where nothing was loading (I back up often, but you know…) and now I have a USB with Kingsoft Office’s word processing software. I’m trying it because it has….drum roll…my long desired tabbed word processing! It’s not perfect…what I really want is how, in Excel, you have ONE spreadsheet, and it has lots of tabs? That’s what I really want. But this is pretty close. I like Writing Nook…I can write on my iPad then sync, write at my desk during lunch hour, go home and write some more (I only have to sync the iPad, not the others) and I don’t have to worry about forgetting something. But if you are like me and your mind is an over grown garden in desperate need of weeding, then maybe it is not the best solution?

So, since I have time away…two weeks vacation, and the college break is six weeks total, I am focusing on cleaning my garden. Organizing my writing, seeing what I have. It’s nice right now, in the offices…so quiet. The campus is peaceful and very pretty (even though a Hollywood movie is shooting here…Fox Catcher, I think…) so all is kind of well with the world right now.

Thoughts on the Season…

So, this is the time of year when I get presents from people for various reasons…some because they want to thank me, some from my faculty who understand a propitiated secretary is a happy secretary (just joking) and some from students who are friends.

I never give presents back, sadly. For the faculty, I don’t think I’m supposed to, etiquette wise. One of them always gives me a gift of exceptional class and taste, and we’re dear friends, but I don’t even know how to begin giving her a present that would be appropriate. She’s exceptionally classy and elegant…I can’t even begin to contemplate.

I don’t give presents to friends because…where do you stop? I have a lot of really awesome friends…I can either go bankrupt and get everyone something, or I can not get anyone anything, thus saving me a) fussing over people’s feelings and b) obsessing over whether the present I picked was good enough. I save presents for life events…if they are in the hospital, if they get married or graduate. I know myself well enough to know what will drive me crazy and to know that it is not worth it. It’s not hurt my relationships (that I can see) so I think people can get away with limiting non-family presents?

And, in turn, I don’t expect anything. It’s nice, it’s appreciated, but I don’t give so I don’t expect.

I do send out cards, though. Cards are like “Hello! I thought of you and I wish you well.” But I send out fewer of those every year.

To me, I watch people from a distance and see how their holidays become this stress ball of misery, and I think that’s sad. Then there are barrages of “Keep Christ in Christmas!” and “The Christians stole this holiday from the pagans and you are ignorant if you think…” messages on Facebook, which I think misses the point.

Whatever your religion or choice to not believe thereof, this time of year is a block of time set aside for sentimentality, giving, charity, hope, family, kindness, love, time off. It’s up to every single person to make something out of it for themselves…to define it for themselves. I don’t care that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th and that Christmas used to be Saturnalia. I don’t think that it makes me uneducated, I just see it as being practical…this is when we celebrate it, and whatever religious or political things that happened to make this the date, they happened, and I don’t see us changing that any time soon. I see this as a present from God to everyone…a time of rest, a time of joy. For those of us facing the long dark winter, it is a time to have a little cheer and prepare ourselves for slog through. Buy a few luxuries to make it easier…for me it’s about books, tea and chocolate. Lots of reading so I can get through the winter. I try and worship God throughout the year, and do good works throughout the year, but I do get a little extra grateful and wistful as I contemplate last year and the year to come. And I’m a sucker for Christmas trees with multicolored lights.

If you are miserable during the holidays, I’m not sure what to suggest. I know it’s hard to cut back when society and those around you have expectations. It’s easy for me…I have a small family and we just get each other presents. And I was lucky enough to not to have to let it blow out of proportion. Maybe look at your life a couple months from now and see where you can make changes to make yourself happier? I feel badly for you because I am a fixer, and I want to fix the whole world and see everyone happy.

Just…try not to let the commercials and sentimentality get you down. And I’m pulling for you.

Ooh, look! Free paper copies of the Chocolatier’s Wife!

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Goodreads Book Giveaway







The Chocolatier's Wife



by Cindy Lynn Speer

Giveaway ends December 18, 2012.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Once Upon a Curse

It’s Final Exam week, and so people are talking about getting rid of their books and scurrying around trying to pull last minute miracles. As one of my faculty said, “Let the begging begin.” I always feel bad for students…not just because I can still remember being one…but because I can understand how things can just implode. But ze rules are ze rules. Sometimes there is no way to save them and you can just see the panic in their eyes. We’re having an unusually high Winter Graduation this year, and we’re losing a lot of wonderful people. But I’ve…I find I’ve gotten used to it. Sometimes there is a particular person who will be missed, but…you get jaded, I guess. My cycle used to be more attuned to the semester…I used to be so excited at the beginning and ends of the semesters, feel nostalgia around homecoming, etc, but now it’s like…blink your eyes, it’ll be back around again. Time moves so fast.

In other news, AVI has made all the coffee/cocoa machines free for finals week (as they do every year) and since the machine downstairs is busted, my student workers and GA’s have been migrating back and forth between here and the building next door. I don’t mind as long as I can tack on a French Cocoa order…yesterday (before the downstairs machine broke) I had a cup and it was spectacular. The French Cocoa from next door isn’t as rich, but it’s a) hot cocoa and b) free and c) made without any effort on my part, so I think it’s wonderful.

Yesterday I received a copy of the Anthology! The cover looks so wonderful…and it has the new book smell and this beautiful silky feel to the cover. So far it’s been really well reviewed. It’s filled with awesome stories by talented people — several of whom are fellow Drollerie Alumni, but what makes me feel all grown up and excited is the fact that three of the authors are people I actually own books by. It feels like a step up in my career. I hope that people are drawn by the big names…Peter S. Beagle, Nancy Kress, Patricia C. Wrede…and fall in love with the rest of us.

And the cover is rather lovely…the same guy, David Howard Johnson, who did The Chocolatier’s Wife cover, and the cover to my short story collection (which should be out…this summer? I think?)

I’m tag teaming between zombies and airships right now…but at least I’m writing.

eBook Buffet

Ever since I did my Kindle Give Away of the Chocolatier’s Wife (and if you missed out, we’re running a .99 cent deal for the book, starting December 23rd) I’ve been fascinated with free eBooks. In the US alone CW was downloaded 10,300 times, and I wonder how many of those were people who were like, “Oh, that sounds cool…I’ll snag it and try and read it someday” and who probably will never get around to it. I wonder because I find myself looking at the Kindle free-bestseller lists and going “That could be cool.” a lot and not reading much right away. This is partly because I’m not a big eReader. I’m a fan…more people buy my books as eBooks than as paper…but I love reading books. So if it’s a choice between reading a eBook or a regular book, eBooks still lose out.

I do like using the kindle app on my iPad to read teasers, though…I download sample chapters to see if I would like to read a certain person. So I can easily see reading whole books on the iPad if I can’t get them any other way…otherwise, I’ll probably read parts of the free eBooks I’ve downloaded, then go and find it in paper if I like it enough.

So, how about you guys? Do you have more free eBooks downloaded than you will ever read? Or do you have more self control than I do?

I confess, I do this with real books, too…the fact that I don’t have much book space for what I have now doesn’t seem to deter me. It’s my retirement plan…maybe I won’t be able to fence when I’m a little old lady, but I will have plenty to read. Now to pray that I don’t lose my sight…

Healing Notes – Today Maggie Jaimeson is our guest

Today is a stop on Maggie Jaimeson’s Healing Notes tour.

Isn’t the cover beautiful?

It’s a sweet story, too:

BLURB:

Forgiving yourself is the first step, but helping others forgive may be just too hard.

Rachel Cullen grew up in Scotland with a fiddle in her hand from the age of four. She couldn’t imagine life as anything but a musician. When her husband brought her to America she was immediately embraced by the Celtic and Bluegrass communities. But after her divorce, Rachel’s life is a mess.

A year of trying to prove to herself that she’s woman enough for any man, and then a vicious rape while on tour with the band, leaves Rachel reeling. When she meets Noel Kershaw, an English teacher who is poetry in motion, she is definitely attracted. But he has a young child and he’s suffering from his own divorce. The last thing Rachel needs in life is more baggage.

First, Rachel must reconcile who she is, what she wants, and how to get there. Maybe then she’ll know how to be a part of the family she’s always wanted.

Excerpt Three:

Claire crawled onto a stool on the other side of the island and smiled. Neither of them talked for several minutes as they listened to the water in the pot heat.

“When I grow up, I’m going to play with Sweetwater Canyon all the time.”

“Are you sure you want to hang out with all us old folks?”

“You’re not all old. Well maybe a little old. But Kat isn’t old.”

Rachel smiled. “That’s true. She’s only seventeen.” And going on twenty-five it seemed sometimes.

“Oh, seventeen? That is old.” Claire put a finger to her lips and furrowed her brow. “How old do I have to be to play in the band all the time?”

“Probably at least eighteen.”

“But, you just said Kat—”

“Kat is different, because her mother plays in the band and can watch her all the time.”

“Well, you can watch me all the time. You can be my mother.”

Rachel gulped.

“Well, can’t you?”

“Can’t she what?” Noel walked in the room and lifted Claire off the chair in a big hug, swinging her around the room. “Can’t she what? She can do anything she wants.”

“See,” Claire leaned forward and looked at Rachel over Noel’s shoulder. “See, even Daddy thinks you can be my mother.”

“Whoa.” Noel set Claire back on the stool. “I’m not sure what I walked in on here.” He sent an accusing glance to Rachel. “You already have a mother, Claire.”

“I know. Not my real mother. My second mother. You know, like my friend, Megan. Her mommy and daddy got divorced and her daddy married a new mommy. So, Megan has two mommies now. See? Rachel can be my second mommy. Okay?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Maggie Jaimeson writes romantic women’s fiction and romantic suspense with a near future twist. She describes herself as a wife, a step-mother, a sister, a daughter, a teacher and an IT administrator. By day she is “geek girl” – helping colleges to keep up with 21st century technology and provide distance learning options for students in rural areas. By night Maggie turns her thoughts to worlds she can control – worlds where bad guys get their comeuppance, women triumph over tragedy, and love can conquer all.

HEALING NOTES is the second book in the Sweetwater Canyon Series of four books. The final two books will be available in 2013.

Website: http://maggiejaimeson.com

Blog: http://maggiemeandering.blogspot.com

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-...

Twitter: @maggiejaimeson

And there’s Coyote Con!

I’ll be doing three panels this weekend with some awesome people.

Tonight at 6:00 I be discussing monsters, 2:30 tomorrow I’ll be discussing Fantasy and Fantasy Romance, and finally at 5:00 I will be at the Here Be Magic panel.

The Chocolatier’s Wife for free this weekend!

Hello!

Right now until Midnight on the 28th, you can download the kindle edition of The Chocolatier’s Wife for free. Even if you already have it in the older edition, please consider downloading it…every hit is good. (And there are some edits that make this one a little better.)

Because I am trying to spread the word as much as possible, I’m linking to some sites so hopefully they will tell people.

The first one is Reading Kindle.

Free Book Dude is also featuring my book.

Tuesday Top Ten: Halloween Spirit

Hello!

I’m trying out Tuesday Top Ten with an awesome list of books to get you into the Halloween Spirit…

1. We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson. Jackson’s ability to write creepy work with a nice dose of social commentary is pretty astonishing. Very effective and a bit scary.

2. The Grave Yard Book, by Neil Gaiman. Not terribly scary, but a wonderful read. And it takes place in a graveyard, and involves death…what could be more Halloween?

3. Shadowland, by Peter Straub. I remember this from when I was a teen…a mix of horror and magic.

4. Unbalanced by…um…me. Don’t look at me like that, this murder mystery has some pretty creepy — and one fairly gory — moment. Go ahead. Walk through the woods in search of a crazed werewolf…

5. Those Who Hunt the Night by Barabara Hambly features some of the most wonderfully drawn vampires ever. Don Simon Ysidro is wonderful. If you like vampires set in a historical time period, or if you just like vampires who feel like real creatures of the night, this whole series is a must read.

6. Another great series — Patricia Briggs combines shape shifters (Mercy is a coyote) vampires and the fae in awesome ways.

7. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley is one of the most beautifully written horror novels…how can you go wrong with this classic?

8. Edward Gorey’s illustrations feel like Halloween to me. And reading the terrible things that happen to those poor innocents in his books should creep anyone out…or make them laugh. But that depends on if you are as heartless as I am.

9. The Haunted Looking Glass, edited by Edward Gorey is a collection of classic horror stories…to me, for some reason, the old short stories are actually more evocative, to me, of old time Halloween…

10. And finally, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. As you can tell, my sensibilities range more to gothic than horror…but still, this one has some creepy moments.