Lindsay Emory's Blog, page 12
May 9, 2017
Best Books to Read Now – May 2017: Creative #HBIC Edition
I’ve been wanting to do this edition of Best Books to Read Now for a while now. So voila! Here is my list of the nonfiction books about creativity and writing that I love and, in some cases, refer to again and again.
About Creativity…
The Artisan Soul – Erwin Raphael McManus – comes at creativity from a Christian/ religious persepective
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert – I also highly recommend the podcast by the same name. Not a Christian perspective but definitely some #woowoo there.
About being an HBIC…
The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women – Valerie Young, PhD – Imposter Syndrome. Need I say more?
The Pro Writer Mindset – Jennifer Blanchard – practical advice on goals, writing and business. Loved this.
The Desire Map – Danielle LaPorte – I recommend this one and/or The Pro Writer Mindset when you need some concrete advice on how to get where you want to get. The Desire Map is a little more woowoo but there’s some great stuff on affirmations and visualization in The Pro Writer Mindset too.
About Writing and Marketing…
Romancing the Beat – Gwen Hayes – a concise, easy to read guide on how to plot a romance novel
Save the Cat – Blake Snyder – I’m a disciple of this storytelling method. It doesn’t click for everyone but once you see stories through a Save the Cat lens, you’ll never go back.
Your A Game – Damon Suede and Heidi Cullinan – about promotion and marketing and how different personality types can approach it.
And now you really want to know… what in the blazes is an HBIC?
Head
Bitch
In
Charge.
That’s right. We’re taking back the B-word.
It’s what my friends and I started calling ourselves when we stopped and realized that (1) we really knew what we were talking about when it came to our business stuff and (2) we were stronger when we worked together and supported each other.
On a sunny Feburary afternoon, after a beautiful al fresco luncheon, we started dreaming. What if… what if more people could join our group? What if… what if we could teach and learn from each other? What if… we took over the world? Thus, HBIC Nation was born.
Founded by six authors (and badass business women), HBIC Nation is a place to learn, share, and grow your creative empire–plus have one heck of a good time while doing it. If you identify as an HBIC, you are welcome.
So if you’re a creative of any type, and you identify as an HBIC, you are welcomed at the party. Come visit our Instagram, sign up for our newsletter, join our Facebook group, pour a drink and let’s get to work together.
P.S. Do you love our unicorn logo? For launch week, we’re offering a discount on logo t-shirts!!! Check it out HERE.
April 25, 2017
All These Things That I Love – April 2017
A monthly roundup of things that give me life…
With pajama pants. Weird? Maybe? I’ve talked about some of my pajama weirdness before, like my requirements for hotel pajamas. These pajama pants by Uniqlo are pretty fabulous. They’re light weight and flowy and have pockets! And they’re a perfect length if you have a puppy and have to take him out in the yard in the wee hours of the morning to, um, you know, and don’t want to flash the neighbors.
Also, they come in subtle Mickey Mouse prints right now for those that love Disney or want to match with me at #RWA17. Or would that be weird?
Hart of Dixie. Again. It has everything I love. Friendships.
Romance.
And sassy Southern belles.
I’m watching it on Netflix, but all the seasons are available on Amazon.
Essential oils. Going crazy with them, actually. My allergies have been intense since January (thank you climate change?) and essential oils have been a life saver. I usually use my own blend of lavender, peppermint and lemon but some days I dab on whatever feels good. My friend the DoTerra rep gifted me with this fabulous Mother’s Day trio of citrus oils and they truly are mood lifters.
If you’re interested in trying out essential oils yourself, you can check them out here.
This song. On replay. The book I #amwriting is sooooooo….. this.
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April 13, 2017
Patriarchy in a (Bully) Nutshell
*cracks knuckles* Hold my purse. I’m going in.
Have you heard the one about the male sculptor of “Charging Bull” and how he’s complaining that a sculpture named “Fearless Girl” is VIOLATING. HIS. RIGHTS?
Oh yeah. You heard me.
Fearless Girl versus the BullAttribution: Anthony Quintano via Flickr
I’m going to try to take this slow, nice and easy, so I don’t break any noses.
Arturo Di Modica, the sculptor of “Charging Bull,” an iconic sculpture on Wall Street of, yes, a charging bull, is complaining that a sculpture of a little girl, aptly named “Fearless Girl” is violating his rights. “Fearless Girl” was placed in front of Charging Bull on a temporary basis to celebrate Women’s History Month but when New York City extended its (her) permits, Di Modica had had enough of sharing his space. He hired lawyers who are going to literally fight City Hall over the image of a little girl.
For a man who is so into symbolism, maybe Mr. Di Modica could realize that what he’s doing is a perfect living analogy for bullsh!t patriarchy.
Women have heard this kind of crap before: “She’s a lovely girl, but this space isn’t right for her.”
“Remove her and place her somewhere else in the city,” he said. “We’ve got lots of ideas.
Maybe she’d be more comfortable in the garment district. Girls love fashion, amirite?
Or we’ve heard: “If she’s here, she’s violating my rights.”
What rights, exactly, is Fearless Girl taking away from Charging Bull (this is starting to sound like the Dances With Wolves screenplay. Forgive me.) Or from Mr. Di Modica?
Let’s talk about the rights of art.
God, that sounds pretentious.
There are no art rights.
In this country, art isn’t a person or a corporation or a river . If you get to put art into the world count yourself damn lucky. If you get paid for it? You’re the king. Go home. You’ve won. And if you’re Mr. Di Modica? Who has a team of lawyers and copyrights and permits? You’ve got 100,000% more rights than 99.999999% of the earth’s artists.
Now some of you are asking, but Lindsay, what about his copyright?
Sure, he has copyright. Good for him. I don’t know what his legal protections are for that damn statue but here’s what I know, in life and in art, that putting a girl next to him doesn’t invalidate any of it.
And let’s talk about his permits.
In 1987, Di Modica illegally installed Charging Bull on city property without proper permits. It was then impounded by the city before being replaced in a new location.
But now. Thirty years later. A dude comes back and says a legally installed work of art is making his look bad. Wah. Freaking. Wah.
You know what, art changes. Go to a museum. You’re looking at art that was viewed one way centuries ago and now we’re like, wow. That celebration of an African slave market doesn’t look so great.
But it’s a great piece by a great master so a curator doesn’t take it down but puts that piece with another to put it in context. It helps us understand where we are as a culture. It doesn’t change the original art.
You know what doesn’t change? Male Privilege.
NEW YORK CITY – January 21: The landmark Charging Bull in Lower Manhattan represents the strength and power of the American People January 21, 2014 in New York, NY.That’s right, I’m going there.
The privilege that allowed a man to illegally drop a 7,000 pound chunk of metal into the middle of Manhattan and get rewarded for it. The privilege that sunk into his brain and gives him the audacity to hire lawyers to file FOIA requests to determine whether Fearless Girl was properly permitted. The privilege that led him to believe that no one should ever question his creation, his meaning, his freaking symbolism.
That right there? That’s bullshit.
It’s bullshit that all women recognize for exactly what it is. Patriarchy.
Good for New York Mayor De Blasio for standing up (so far) to Di Modica’s demands. Good for the tourists, the New Yorkers, and the Wall Street firms who support Fearless Girl and what she stands for.
None of it feels like a victory, though. Not yet. Not until the bullies stop trying to beat down little girls who just want to take up some of their space.
Fearless Girl: attribution: Shinya Suzuki, via Flickr
April 4, 2017
Best Books to Read Now – April 2017
Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!
FAN GIRL ALERT!!!
Gushing ahead!!!
I’m not even going to apologize. I am a Level A1 Ilona Andrews fan girl, as I’ve stated before. Magic Binds is Book 9 of the Kate Daniels series and one of the best. I can’t even explain why, it just had everything I love about the best of Ilona Andrews, crazy yet loyal friends and families, strong women and the strong men that love them and completely unique world building.
And while we’re talking about THE BEST of Ilona Andrews…. The first book in their new series, Burn For Me is on sale for $.99. It originally came out in 2014 and I have read it, no lie, at least four or five times since. So yes, you can say I recommend it. Read it now and then you’ll be able to read the next two with me when they’re released this summer.
Dark Road to Darjeeling – Deanna Raybourn
This was book 4 of the Lady Julia Gray series and this time Julia and her family take the trip to India to solve crimes in their oh-so-English way. I’ve read books about colonial India since a very young age (I’m not making that up. That would be a weird thing to make up.) and this story felt lovely and familiar.
I almost picked Belgravia to be my book club selection. I picked Big Little Lies instead but grabbed this one for Spring Break reading. As the cover says, the author is the author of Downton Abbey so if you were a Lady Cora fan…
I mean, a Dowager Countess fan, you’ll be quite happy with this Upstairs/Downstairs tale of scandal and family in the early Victorian era.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot
If you haven’t read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks yet, do yourself a favor and read it now before the HBO series starts this month. If you loved Hidden Figures, this book will also tell you a story of science and the amazing contribution of an African-American woman who never got the acknowledgment she deserved. I first read this with a prior book club. We were a diverse group and this book kept us talking for hours about science, ethics, and American history.
So… as always, I’d love to hear what you’ve read or are reading. Throw those suggestions at me down below or keep in touch on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. And are you subscribed to my newsletter?
If not, WHY NOT? My newsletter subscribers get all the news about new books, sales and contests, FIRST – sign up here and keep in touch! There will be some awesome stuff coming up soon!
Until next month, Happy Reading!!!
March 7, 2017
Best Books to Read Now – March 2017
Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!
Yes, dear reader, I skipped my BBTRN post for February. Life, man. Also, DNFs. Also… I was catching up on some of my favorite series and I didn’t want my whole blog post to be about book 9 and 10 of a great series…
Like Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson series. I wrote about this series before and like I said then, I don’t know how I got behind (except, y’know, LIFE) and obviously it took me longer than I’d like to catch up but oh man, Darynda just never disappoints. In The Dirt on Ninth Grave and The Curse on Tenth Grave Charley and her ragtag crew of (other)worldly friends are still funny, loyal, sexy and mysterious. Exactly what I love to read. And yes, I’m already behind again because Eleventh Grave in Moonlight is already out and waiting for me…
Y’all.
Those of you who have seen me in person have probably already heard me gush about the Winston Brothers series, about seven (mostly bearded) sexy siblings. From the humor to the dialogue to the fantastic covers, I loved these up and down. For some reason, I read book 3, Beard Science, and then book 1, Truth or Beard and I can attest to the fact that you will love the Winston Brothers in all the various birth orders. Do not amble, stroll, mosey or otherwise lollygag, RUN to your local internet book retailer and start (wherever you please) with these books and then come talk to me about them and we can sigh and giggle over them together.
Right after I saw Ms. Quarles win the RITA for Must Love Chainmail last year in San Diego, she popped it on sale and I nabbed it. I like time travel historicals (oh hai Jamie Fraser) but I hadn’t read a medieval book in decades, probably, so I just needed to be in the right mood, which I was in February (probably because I had an inexplicable urge to put on armor and grab a very big weapon and fight against tyrannical kings.) I chomped this one down fast. The historical details were fascinating and well-researched, the romance lovely, the suspense immediate. I like the slight twist on the typical time-travel ending (it’s an HEA, don’t worry) and the fact that the two characters couldn’t understand each other immediately (modern day English is very different from 13th century English). I’m definitely going to pick up her other books in this series, Must Love Breeches and Must Love Kilts to tide me over until Outlander returns…
Big Little Lies was my book club selection for January/February and mostly because I saw the HBO show was starting and remembered I always wanted to read a Liane Moriarty book. I’m pretty embarrassed it took me this long but… um… see my Darynda Jones delays. I’m a busy woman. I can’t read everything! I loved the book. I found it refreshing, suspenseful and real and I’ve got a couple of episodes saved up to binge watch this weekend. (I’ve heard great things – are you watching?)
As always, I’d love to hear about what you’re reading, watching and loving lately. Hit me up on my Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. And are you subscribed to my newsletter? I hope to have some announcements about new books coming soon!
P.S. I’m also participating in a multi-author contest this week featuring books with women sleuths! Check it out here to win 45+ books!
January 17, 2017
Best Books to Read Now – January 2017
Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!
As is often the case, my reading plans for the past couple of months didn’t quite go as planned. I had a stack of books I intended to curl up with over the holidays and then I found myself reading something else. Fortunately for me (and for you?) the novels I picked were totally engrossing and perfect for lazy winter sick days (Yeah, I was struck down by the Great Cruddy Cold of Christmas 2016 – anyone else?).
If You Only Knew – Kristan Higgins
When Kristan Higgins’ If You Only Knew was released, readers and her fellow authors alike raised a brow. A women’s fiction novel from one of the queens of contemporary romance?
I am happy to report that there’s still plenty of romance in this book, but also a fascinating story about three women who try to put their lives back together after heartbreak, betrayal and loss. There’s something in this book for romance fans and women’s fiction fans.
The Hating Game – Sally Thorne
Speaking of the blend of romance and women’s fiction, The Hating Game was on so many “best of” lists of 2016, including NPR‘s. This is packaged as a women’s fiction or chick lit book but in my opinion, it is a straight up romance/ romantic comedy about how hate and love are two sides of the same coin. I couldn’t put it down.
A Promise of Fire – Amanda Bouchet
I first heard about A Promise of Fire on Smart Bitches Trashy Books but then, suddenly, it was every-freaking-where. This was another book that got a lot of end-of-year accolades and for good reason. It’s a totally unique fantasy romance and I didn’t really know what I was reading for the first 20 pages. It was a pseudo-Greek mythological world. People have magic, there are lands and kingdoms, Game of Thrones-style and a romance that sort of reminded me of Curran and Kate in Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series (one of my all-time faves.)
I will make one caveat/ warning that I’ve noticed in a lot of the reviews. For a good portion of the book, the heroine is literally tied to the hero after being kidnapped by him. Yes, it’s a magic rope. Yes, he’s a benevolent captor. Yes, she can make herself invisible. Still, if such things would bother you, I wanted you to be aware.
Now is a good time to grab this because Breath of Fire (The Kingmaker Chronicles), Book 2 has just been released and the third book is supposed to be released later this year, I believe.
A Lady Awakened – Cecilia Grant
This is another book that someone mentioned in a SBTB podcast (I think? I can’t remember and I can’t find the episode) and I kept seeing it on people’s “OMG Favorite Historical Romance” lists. To continue my trend of atypical historical romances, this is a tale of a widow who essentially hires a playboy neighbor to try to impregnate her so that she can inherit her late husband’s estate and save it from her late husband’s brother’s evil clutches… got that? Even though the plot sounds bananas and over the top, I can’t remember the last time a romance felt so intimate and so small. The hero and heroine truly develop and mature through the book. There are (gasp!) conversations, there are real feelings and true, sweet intimacy. If you’re tired of wham, bam thank you ma’am stories this one might be a breath of fresh air for you.
So… as always, I’d love to hear what you’ve read or are reading. Throw those suggestions at me down below or keep in touch on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. And are you subscribed to my newsletter?
If not, WHY NOT? My newsletter subscribers get all the news about new books, sales and contests, FIRST – sign up here and keep in touch in 2017!
December 6, 2016
All These Things That I Love – 2016 Gift Guide Edition
Most of us feel a little worn out, huh?
Murphy is very tired from 2016.
No matter what side you were on, I think we’re all exhausted from a long, nasty election cycle. Many people are hurt, confused, scared. I’m doing a lot of praying these days. Last Sunday, my pastor said some stuff and I’m sort of stealing the gist of it for this post.
Love each other like lambs so that tomorrow we may be warriors.
It went along with what I was feeling as we rolled into December. I had this cautious optimism creeping back into my bones. Mostly because we’re all here together. November (hell, all of 2016) was rough, but we can still fight together and laugh together.
I have faith in us. Because we’re a people who can make up really great memes. But we still need to take care of each other’s hearts. With simple comforts. So here are some simple things I’m loving, that maybe people in your life would get some joy from.
There’s a good chance this is tea.I mentioned the Yeti before but this is the one I use in the winter for tea. It keeps it at a perfect temperature while I’m running around town and also confuses the other moms in carpool line who think I’m drinking booze.
There’s a really long story about how I first bought this lip balm in Paris. But I rebuy it on Amazon (in stick and pot form) to luxe up a basic necessity. I keep the pot next to my computer and sometimes I dab it on my dry cuticles, too. Because cuticles need French love, too.
You know what makes everyone feel good? A really awesome hardcover book. For me, I’d love a classic that feels like an old friend who makes my heart sing.
Or a different classic that I’ve reread four hundred times.
Or something that makes you laugh until you pee yourself on a cross-county flight. Hypothetically.
There’s also alternative gift giving. My heart is always with women, children and families and so those are the causes that I support. Environmental, health and animal causes are also in need. The organizations I’m supporting this year are:
Ronald McDonald House – I give to the one in Houston, because that’s the one that helped my family when my nephew was in the hospital, but you can give to your local house. You can call to see if they need other items – like toilet paper, soap or a homecooked meal!
Planned Parenthood – because all women of all income levels deserve health care
Fisher House – like Ronald McDonald Houses, this organization provides housing for military families to be close to loved ones during their medical treatments
International:
Clinton Foundation – I supported this organization long before it was a hot button topic this year because it is consistently a leader in initiatives that help girls, women and education around the world.
Heifer International in Haiti – the recent hurricane wiped out a lot of the progress that the country has seen in the past five years. Help them restock with goats and hens, small livestock that can feed families for years.
Basically, take care of yourselves. Take care of each other. That’s pretty much all we ever need to do. And why I’m leaving you with this gift. My favoritest Christmas music video. Turn it up. Sing along with someone you love. See you in 2017.
November 10, 2016
Best Books to Read Now – November 2016
Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!
Can I talk for one sec about that ^^ above? Some observant readers might notice that I didn’t post this blog in October. The reason? DNF’s – books I did not finish – and books that I couldn’t really recommend to a friend. And I get a physical ache talking about this because… I want every book to be something I can share and be giddy over. But… alas, I have a string of half-finished novels in my Kindle and a bunch of texts to friends about “this book is so stupid, it makes me want to bang my head against a brick wall.” You know the ones.
BUT. I am happy to report that I finally finished four books worthy of the title Best Books to Read Now. Ready? Here we go.
In July, I had the opportunity to participate in the RWA Literacy Signing and there I had the pleasure of sitting next to the lovely Kendra Elliot. I got to see her adoring fans and meet her gregarious husband and she was very sweet to me, the newbie. I finally got to read the first of her Bone Secrets romantic suspense series, Hidden, and it was quite the page turner. I can’t wait to keep reading the rest of the series!
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Regular readers of this blog will note that I have become a serious Katharine Ashe fan girl. If you love Scotland, and the beautiful scenery of Outlander, I recommend this historical romance that tells the story of a lady and an earl on a trip through nineteenth century Scotland. The Earl is part of a continuing series and the start of a new series I believe but I enjoyed it without reading the rest.
Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley
I’m not going to lie. I kinda sorta thought there would be a dragon in this book. I don’t know why. It’s not like (the always amaze-balls) Susanna Kearsley is known for her dragon shapeshifters but…what can I say, these days dragons are a thing. I’m not saying I was disappointed – of course not! -especially when the book seamlessly weaves together a modern day mystery (y’all know I love a mystery!), Arthurian legend, Tudor history, a Rosamunde Pilcher-esque holiday house party and a sexy rural Welsh playwright. I highly recommend Named of the Dragon as a perfect cozy comfort read during the holidays.
Six Dirty Secrets – by Alexis Anne
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My friend Alexis Anne has just released her latest, 6 Dirty Secrets and it is so fun, hot, creative and pure escapism. Yes, it’s number 6 in a series, but the series is more like connected characters – you don’t have to read the first five to read this one (although you’ll want to!)
So… November hit and a big hit of HOLIDAY CHEER smacked me upside the face.
.
[image error]Kind of like this.
And I thought, I want to spread more holiday cheer across the land! I’m doing a RANDOM GRAB BAG GIVEAWAY here. Three winners will receive a wrapped holiday gift during December. There will be books. There will be treats and swag and surprises!
[image error]There will not be this.
My newsletter subscribers will also get a separate chance to enter, so make sure you’re signed up here. I’ve been planning 2017 already and tons of things are percolating and my newsletter subscribers will get all the news and deals and bonuses first.
I’m not sure I’ll post a Best Books to Read Now in December… I have a stack of nonfiction and cozy mysteries I’ve been saving to devour during the holidays. Keep in touch on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
October 12, 2016
Everything You Need To Learn About Writing & Publishing You Can Learn From Project Runway
In recent years, as I’ve pursued my own creative dreams, I’ve come to see that everything one needs to know about writing/ publishing you can learn from Project Runway. Don’t believe me?
Preparation
Every episode starts with some sort of fashion challenge and the way the designers approach the challenge is an individual combination of market/ materials/ inspiration that mirrors the way writers start books.
Some people sketch and make a detailed list of fabrics, notions. (If they were writers, they’d be ‘plotters.’)
Some people go to Mood and find the perfect bolt of lime green crushed velvet and go off on a lime green cloud of inspiration. (Or ‘pantsers’ as we call them in Writer World.)
Everyone has their own style and methods but one thing you see from the contestants who make it to the top is they are confident in their craft. They are expert enough that they can be flexible and nimble when all of a sudden they have to make a day-to-night outfit for Heidi Klum’s chihuahua. If they were a sketcher/ plotter, they can still come up with a new plan on the fly. If they were winging it on a cloud of lime green velvet, they don’t melt down when their yardage is insufficient.
In other words… no matter how they start their book, they are resourceful and talented enough to finish it, despite the challenges that arise.
Feedback
Whether it is Tim’s feedback in the workroom or the judges’ critiques on the runway, feedback on Project Runway is EVERYTHING, as it is in publishing too.
Think of the workroom feedback as what you receive from your critique group, or your agent. This is your opportunity to revamp,
…trash…
…or back in their adoration.
You don’t have to respond to their feedback (which I’ll get into more, later) but you have to listen to it. And consider it. Because Tim Gunn isn’t trying to screw anyone over. He wants the designers to succeed. As a mentor, that’s his job.
The Runway critique is also super important. Think of Nina, Heidi and Zac as your editors and publishing professionals. If you watch Project Runway you’ll see the difference between professionals and the amateurs (and it has nothing to do with how much money they make.) The professionals thank the judges for this:
and this..
And even this…
The Amateurs argue, get defensive, cry. The amateurs don’t understand that Nina Garcia wants to find the next great designer to feature in Marie Claire. Zac Posen wants to see talent and innovation. Heidi Klum wants to wear something edgy and sexy.
In other words, they want the best on the runway, just like publishing professionals want to be swept away, inspired by and make a lot of money off your book.
But they don’t want to settle. And they don’t want you to settle. And if you’re arguing and pouting and crying about their critique, you’re not grabbing the chance to learn how to be the best.
So learn the value in a professional critique and then blow them all away.
Editing
I’ve written an amazing blog post about editing here. But to really see how to work with an editor, watch when Tim comes into the workroom to give the designers his (always constructive) feedback. When Tim says, “rethink that” “needs editing” or even, “start over” the professionals do what he says. They rip seams apart, shred sleeves, chop hems. And the non-sewing people at home (like me) are shocked at the destruction – how could they? How will they ever make another dress?
But professional designers – and professional writers – know that there’s nothing that can’t be fixed. Your darlings may need to be sacrificed at the altar of Saggy Middles. You may have to start fresh. For non-fiction authors, I imagine that editing must be even harder – what do you mean, you don’t think my story about my tenth birthday party is fascinating? That was the day I didn’t get a pony! How could anyone not want to learn about this rare Peruvian fern I researched for five months?
Designers and writers (heck, all creatives) must ask themselves what their goal is – a professional, cohesive, finished product? Or that stray (yet beautiful) sub-plot about a meandering butterfly that’s a metaphor for lost innocence?
I think you know what Tim Gunn would say.
Voice/ Brand
These are two inter-related concepts that some writers really have a hard time understanding but I think if any writer watches Project Runway, they will eventually get it.
As the season goes on, you’ll invariably hear the judges discuss a designer’s point of view. Or their aesthetic. Or whether “they have something to say as a designer.” By the time the final four are developing their collections, viewers have strong visuals of what a designer’s voice or brand would look like.
Let’s play a game with these three examples. Pretend each look in each photo is a book, written by the designer. Which writer would have a consistent voice and which wouldn’t?
Yes.
Yes.
Er… maybe?See what I mean? And if you watch the whole season, paying attention to design choices and designer reactions to challenges, you’ll soon see how a creative person should stay true to their vision and voice even when faced with creative and practical challenges.
How to Ignore the Noise
Maybe this is the most important thing for writers to learn from Project Runway.
It goes against a lot of what I’ve said.
And yet it doesn’t.
Any successful designer on Project Runway has to, at some point, ignore the haters, Tim Gunn and yes, the judges.
Note I said: Successful. Not winning. Not best-sellers.
There are successful designers who don’t win. Who are sent home. But they walk away from the runway feeling confident, knowing they did their best work and stayed true to themselves.
Most of the successful designers don’t win, actually, Because there can only be one winner. But winning isn’t the coolest part of Project Runway, anyway.
The best part of this show are designs like this:
A dress inspired by the Brooklyn Bridge shouldn’t work. On paper, Nina would have worried about the “taste level.”
But damn, that’s cool. It’s a dress that looks sort of like a bridge… but it’s a dress! And yeah, it’s kind of weird, but I’ve never seen a dress that looks like a bridge that’s also kind of… sexy. Huh. Sexy bridges. Who knew?
And a dress that changes color in the rain? Could really make up for a bad hair day.
These kinds of things aren’t created unless a designer says, ‘you know what? I’m going for it. I have the skill, the imagination and the ovaries to make something that’s never been made before.”
So yeah, sometimes you get some iffy feedback.
You consider it. And then you go… nah.
You say, I’m going to make the baddest LBD ever. That looks like a MF’ing umbrella. And it shouldn’t work, but damn, it does.
And it’s a hot dominatrix umbrella. Sexy umbrellas?? Huh. Is that a thing? Who knew?
Because at the end of the day you would rather have a fierce dominatrix umbrella dress that’s a little slutty than
Am I right?
We’re here to create! We’re here to have fun! We should participate in this crazy creative process with the diligence and professionalism that maximizes our ability to, um, sell books. But we should never forget that we each have a divine, unique, kaleidoscopic pilot light inside of us that we have to let shine.
So go, learn your craft. Do you. Make something, but don’t be afraid to tear it up. Be professional. Design the best, sluttiest unicorn dress out of lime green velvet that you can.
Go shine.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Project Runway or other reality television that’s inspired you on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments down below!
September 19, 2016
Best Books to Read Now – September 2016
Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!
Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
This is the first SEP book that made me cry. Again. And again. And over. and over.
Let me back up a few. When I join a book club, I lay down my first rule: no hurting kids stories. I don’t care how uplifting they turn out, if there’s an abused or murdered kid, I’m out.
So it should be no surprise that it was the KID in this book that made me sob. And really, it wasn’t so much the kid as his mother, who loves him so desperately that she’s willing to go to desperate measures to provide him food, shelter and clothing.
Even with the tears, do I recommend it? Yes. It has more pain than most SEP books (with a widower hero, to match the widow heroine), but it also has all the feels, the funny and a few Chicago Stars – my favorite.
A Scot in the Dark, by Sarah MacLean
The first few chapters of this book were fine. And if you think I’m speaking badly of this book, please remember that it’s written by Sarah MacLean and a “fine” Sarah MacLean novel is better than 98% of all books.
I’m just warning you. It’s a fine story about a forgotten ward and the Scottish duke who discovers he’s her guardian. And then. …Slowly, deliberately, artfully, Ms. MacLean began to slice and dice my heart with a Scottish broadsword and stuff it into a sheep’s intestine and call it haggis, #romancelandia style.
A SCOT IN THE DARK comes very close to my favorite Maclean (That would be NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED) (and yes, savvy Sarah Mac fans will note similarities between the Diluted Duke and the Killer Duke and therefore deduce my preferences in heroes – growly, damaged and often violent.) I also loved the bright spots of humor and banter that balance the torturous haggis o’heartbreak. Also? SESILY NEEDS A BOOK, SARAH!!
That’s me plying Sarah with alcohol so she’ll write me a Sesily story.The Governess was Wicked, by Julia Kelly
As observant readers will remember, Julia Kelly is a friend of mine and I was able to scoop up an exclusive advanced reading copy of this book in July at RWA. Observant readers will also recall that I’ve been devouring non-traditional historical romance for this whole year, and THE GOVERNESS WAS WICKED fits right into that. The heroine is a governess, of course. The hero? A doctor. And a whole heck of a lot of clandestine sexual tension between two people who are supposed to be very good role models. Scoop this one up quickly (it’s on sale for $.99!), because the next two in the Governess series (Wild and Wanton) will be released in the next TWO months.
Julia Kelly is unique among historical romance authors because she has dual citizenship in both the U.S. and U.K. She graciously agreed to provide my readers with this exclusive, insightful and delightful quick BRITISH Q&A w/ Julia.
Austen or Bronte?
Tough one, but I’m going to have to say Austen. Although it feels like I’m betraying governesses by picking her over Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre, Persuasion has been one of my favorite books since I read it in high school. Every time I go back to it I find some other insight that fits another stage of my life.
Sherlock or Poirot?
Another hard one! I was raised on both series of books and TV shows. Choosing one feels wrong. Kind of like this:
If I have to choose, I’d say it’s Sherlock by a hair. He’s a fascinating character, and I really enjoy watching how different actors have interpreted him in so many different ways.
Sorry Poirot.
Afternoon tea or ale at the pub?
This is a little easier. An ale at the pub, please. I love pubs and the little communities that surround them.
Also, although I’m a staunch tea drinker I’m actually not crazy about high tea (which is how I interpreted this question). It all stems from having been a waitress in a rather stuffy tea shop before going off to college. I used to have to wear a frilled cap and a pinafore that was a pain to keep clean, starched, and ironed. The one benefit was that developed asbestos hands that can still stand very hot water.
Favorite British historical period?
If you think about it, the Victorian era was an amazing period. You could have been born at the beginning of Victoria’s reign in 1837 and by her death in 1901 have watched the railways and manufacturing boom, the installation of electric lights on the streets of London, the explosion of print media like books and newspapers, and the invention of the telephone.
For a writer, it also is helpful that the Victorian era is a time of social shifts with the rising industrialist classes clashing with members of the aristocracy who struggled to maintain their fortunes in a changing Britain. It’s full of material to write about, and it doesn’t hurt that the frocks were pretty too.
Favorite British tourist spot?
Although I grew up in Los Angeles, my parents relocated to London and live right by Hyde Park. When I go there for the holidays I love taking the dogs for walks in the park. On some mornings you can still see riders exercising their horses along Rotten Row just like a Victorian gentleman would have.
Favorite undiscovered (by Americans) spot in the UK
There were two things I did on my last trip to Edinburgh that I thought were wonderful and I never would’ve known about if my sister and her boyfriend didn’t live there. One was taking a boat called the Maid of the Forth out to Inchcolm Island. There’s a ruined abbey you can climb to the top of if you’ve got a strong stomach for slippery, narrow staircases. There’s also World War I and II defenses on the island, but I went during nesting season for gulls. Here’s what happens when you try to walk by a gull’s nest:
I also paid a visit to the Assembly Rooms on George Street. It’s an imposing Classical building with a grand Georgian interior. I actually gasped when I walked into the ballroom which still has its massive original mirrors and chandeliers. I desperately want to set a scene in a historical romance in that beautiful space.
Music you listened to while writing Governess was Wicked (or series)
I’m not much of a music listener while I’m drafting, but I rely on it to keep me on track while editing. For the Governess series I listened to a lot of dreamy ballads like Beyonce’s “Superpower” and Hozier’s “Work Song” as well as big, joyful songs like Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” which is the stuff of happy endings.
Will Liverpool win the 2016-17 EFL Cup?
For those who don’t know, I’m a big soccer fan and wake up too early some Saturday mornings to Liverpool play.
To answer your question, Lindsay, I wish that Liverpool could pull out a league-winning season but, I think it’s too optimistic to believe the manager, Jurgen Klopp, can turn around a team that’s hovered at mid-table for so long. He needs time to reshape Liverpool to his own system, and I just hope that the club has enough faith in him to allow him the time he needs to pull it off.
For now, let’s just look at GIFs of the adorkable giant German nerd of a man that is Jurgen:
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Favorite Britishism
There are so many! I lived in Manchester while studying abroad which isn’t far from Liverpool where my mother’s family is from. I still miss everyone from bus drivers to the ladies in the school cafeteria calling me “love,” and starting off every conversation with “You alright?” (which sounds a lot more like “Y’alrite?”)
I also love (and believe) that the appropriate reaction to any crisis is to put the kettle on and make a cup of tea.
Favorite Royal
Is there really an answer other than Harry? Here, look at this BuzzFeed article of him playing with dogs and tell me I’m wrong.
So here’s the deal. The man is a former wild child who served in the military and now does a lot of high-profile charity work for children and wounded veterans. Harry’s also faces a lot less pressure than William who stands to inherit the crown — something I’m not at all interested in. He’s also handsome, seems intelligent, and fun.
Plus the man dances like this which just makes me giggle:
Thank you Julia! You answered all the questions correctly, especially the last.
Interested in winning Julia’s book, mine, or tons of other prizes? Julia (and friends) have put together a huge Rafflecopter giveaway to celebrate the release of THE GOVERNESS WAS WICKED. Enter today and as always, let me know here, on Twitter or Facebook what books you’re loving!
