Jade Lee's Blog, page 12

Barbara Vey’s Reader Appreciation Luncheon

What a great event! I go every year, but somehow she manages to get better and better each time. So last year, I swore I’d make my table prettier than last time. Guess what I added?

Tissue paper. Lots and lots of tissue paper.
Who cares if it’s artistic? Gold nuggets are always stylish.
I buried my table in books.
Plush grizzly bears. Who doesn’t like to eat with a snuggly bear looking you in the eye?

Answer: 3 and 4 – No tissue paper because whenever I use it, it just looks like a wad of paper. According to my friend and colleague Damon Suede, I failed to get the gay-man design gene. I have to agree. And as much as I’d like to bury my readers in gold, I can’t afford that. So they had to be happy with grizzly bears and books. Oh, and I added a little bit of candy to the table. Here are some pictures. I’m with a great cohort of fellow writers!

Sheila English, Jocie McKade, Karen Rose and moi!

My luncheon table

 

Tonya Kappes and me

 

Sunday’s breakfast was a ton of fun. I learned things like…

Bears have detached and prehensile lips.
Jade is part of the zombie apocalypse team. Or she’s a zombie. It’s hard to tell which.
Everyone liked my pretty yellow dress!
Running out of breakfast pastries is a good thing because then the hotel gives you cupcakes!

Answer: All of the above!  Yup, turns out bears do have very mobile lips. Here’s a picture of all of us working our prehensile lips. I am indeed part of the zombie apocalypse. Here’s my new mug thanks to Zombie Joe. Everyone loved the yellow dress seen in the pictures above. Thank you to my stylish children who dressed me. And we did indeed get cupcakes when the pastries ran out! A win all around!

Prehensile lips from all!

Yes, I am part of the zombie apocalypse!

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TRAVELLING!

I’m going to be travelling a bunch in the next four weeks. This past weekend I visited my daughters in Ann Arbor. Aren’t they lovely? Very mature and professional looking. I think they take after their mother.

Next comes Barbara Vey’s event which will be over by the time this blog goes live. Watch for pictures on social media. Plus I’ve got a special #hashtag about the event. In case you missed the event, here’s my welcome speech. In my head, it was a rousing success. I have no idea how the real event is going to go!

WECOME SPEECH – BARBARA VEY’S AUTHOR LUNCHEON

Many years ago, I had an interview with a Publishers Weekly blogger named Barbara Vey. It’s a funny story if you want to ask either of us about it, but the punch line is that we talked much too long about everything and became lifelong friends. I didn’t realize then that this is typical for anyone who hangs around Barbara. We find out interesting things, we talk about what we love, and we end up with friendships that last forever.

So this weekend, and especially today, Barbara has created an experience that magnifies what’s special to her.

Someone here today has something to say that will change your perspective and therefore your life.
Someone here today needs to hear what you say because it will touch his/her soul.
Someone at your table knows a story that will make you smile all the way down to your toes.
Someone at your table can become a lifelong friend.

This is why Barbara has brought together. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a catchphrase to really bring home how special this time is?

#IwasVeyed

Years ago, #I was Veyed when Barbara and I became great friends.

#I’ve been Veyed often whenever she recommends an amazing book to me.

And #I’ve been Veyed every year at this event with the great friends I’ve met.

So welcome everyone. Whether it’s your first time or your thousandth, please enjoy being Veyed. It’s going to be great day.

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What’s in Your Closet?

I was recently impulsive. (Cue: shocked gasp. Wait, was no one surprised?) I agreed to do a spring cleaning. It’s pretty simple and I’ve done it before. You remove 27 items from your home a day for 9 days. Why 27? There was some elaborate numerology thing, but my last experience told me that 27 items is more than just surface junk. It forces you to deal with stuff without spending hours at it. And by the way, if you miss a day, you have to start over at day 1.

Yesterday was day 6 for me. I sorted my dress pants into 3 categories. Category 1: they fit. Category 2: clothes from an era called “When I weighed less.” And Category 3: why the hell do I still own that? Because of my earlier purge, the never-in-a-million- years category only had 5 items. Which then caused me to dither. Do I keep? Do I toss? What am I going to do?

My partner in this exercise is military romance author Cindy Dees. Her response to the question was this: You should only wear clothes that make you happy, and if the unworn stuff made you happy, you would already be wearing it. It’s not about style, it’s about joy.

Clothes = joy? Really? OMG what a revelation! My dress clothes are about appropriate presentation for whatever event. Thanks to some selective shopping, I do have some lovely dress clothes that reflect my joy. I also have a mound of other clothes that are just fine, just not that much fun. The idea that they could be was a shocker! And then I started extending that to all the other stuff in my house.

So guess which items below I’ve given away (or tossed) and which I’ve discovered because I’ve cleaned house.

Highly rated sci fi thriller book
Lovely Asian style clothing that carry too much emotional baggage
Pants that fit-ish.
Signed celebrity pictures. Anyone else love Nathan Fillian?
Tournament tee shirts perfect for working out
That dress that others like but always makes me think I’m dressed as a ‘60s reject
A Jade Lee caricature.

 

Answers (one at a time)

Highly rated books are great. But I don’t like thrillers. So out it went.
I fit into some of my mother’s beautiful clothing, but her style and mine are not the same. I decided to let others enjoy them instead of having them sit in my closet.
Unless I love them, even pants that sort of fit are going.
I adore Nathan Fillian, but it turns out I have no desire to frame and hang his photo on the wall. But a friend of mine has over 300 signed celebrity photos. I gave Nathan to him.
I threw out most tournament tees, though I kept some as workout clothes.
This dress has lovely memories. It still goes. I feel too chubby in it.
A Jade Lee caricature – Found it! Isn’t it lovely?

What have you let go of recently?

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Can I Borrow Your Muse?

I recently turned in two manuscripts. The first was the copyedits for AS RICH AS A ROGUE by Jade Lee.

Isn’t the cover pretty? 

Next, I turned in the revisions for the first book in Kathy Lyons’ new grizzly shifter series, THE BEAR WHO LOVED ME. No cover for that yet, but I promise, it’s coming.

Anyway, having turned everything in, I took a few days off. But now it’s Monday morning and it’s time for me to get to work on the next book. Wouldn’t it be nice if I had a plot? Or a clue? Guess what I do to try and stimulate my muse. And then guess if you think it works or not. (Hint: it can and is more than one of the following.)

Take a nap. For a week.
Go rollerblading.
Eat yummy things.
Watch TV.
Read.
Play with my cat.
Meditate
Clean house.
Skydive.
Spa appointment.

Answer: well, let’s just take them one at a time.

No — I hate naps. I take them occasionally, but only reluctantly and with the full knowledge that I won’t be able to sleep at night. So I don’t do this one on purpose. I have been known to “meditate” for a long time in a hot bath though. With my eyes shut while a gentle snore fills the bathroom.
It works, but I never do it — I love rollerblading, but the weather has to cooperate. Not too hot, not too cold. No wet, no ice and no insects. And no people walking their children or dogs. That’s the big problem because if the weather is perfect, then other people want to enjoy it, too. So if the conditions are perfect, this does help my creativity, but the conditions haven’t been ripe for this for months.
Yes, but it doesn’t work – I do eat yummy things as a celebration, but never, ever has it happened that I took a huge bite of hot fudge sundae and suddenly a new story concept has dropped into my brain. But that doesn’t keep me from trying!
Yes, but it doesn’t work – I do very much enjoy television. Favorite shows include Supernatural, Blacklist, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. I wish I could say they stimulate my creativity, but I’m so caught up in the story there isn’t much room for something else. And as for John Oliver, well I’m usually caught up in tweeting things like #MakeDonaldDrumfAgain (Best Segment Ever!)
Yes and Yes! — Turns out reading is slow enough that I can immerse, enjoy, and still let my imagination wander in other directions. A really, really good book will inspire me. A simply good book will make me happy (which the muse likes). And a mediocre to bad book really gets me going on ways I would make it a great book. All good things!
Yes, but it rarely works. — I love my cat, have tweeted pictures about my cat, and generally love interacting with the feline as the scratches on my hands and arms will attest. However, as much as she rocks my world, she doesn’t inspire me except in the Get-Kathy-To-Her-Happy-Place way.
Yes and Yes – Meditation works. But slowly. And I get impatient. But that just means I need to meditate more. Ohm!
Yes and Yes – Cleaning house is a necessity but the drudgery of it lets my mind wander to fun places where hopefully a new book idea resides.
No and no – Never gone skydiving. Thought about it for a while, but nope. I took it off my bucket list.
Yes, though it only worked once – I love spa appointments. Massage, facial, mani/pedi – these are words I adore. And once during a facial, I got an awesome story idea that became Kathy Lyons’ book ONE NIGHT IN THE SPA.  But once is good enough for me to try it again and again!

So what about you? Anything you do to keep the muse coming back?

 

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Guess What I’ve Changed!

I’ve had the same style hair for a decade—short bob that the kids didn’t grab or bury in peanut butter. My clothing style was comfortable and hardy. And my home décor has been decided by the previous owners of the furniture I inherited.

But I’ve been empty nesting for a few years now. Life has slowed down and my husband and I are earning enough to have a little extra. And here’s the clinker. My twenty-something daughters have emphasized that “Style” isn’t a dirty word. Now if you’ve met me at a conference, you know I have some beautiful clothes. Flowy fabric often with an Asian flare. Beautiful right? That’s style, right? Of course it is. And it fit perfectly with my penname Jade Lee. Except I’m also Kathy Lyons who is publishing more and more contemporary fun books. Laugh out loud books, some with paranormal twists, but all with distinctive modern humor. So…style update. Guess what I’ve changed. (Hint: can be more than one)

Long blonde locks. Yup, grew out the hair, bleached it until it’s almost white, and then added some curls.

Red highlights. I’ve got dark hair so that shock of red…well, it’s not so shocking. In fact, in some lights, you can’t see it at all. But I know it’s there!
Short geometric patterns. Think 60s patterns with a fit and flare style.
Business suits in pastel colors. I’m a modern businesswoman, right? So that means black pumps, A-line skirt, and a flowy blouse covered by a fitted jacket. My nod to creativity was that I got one in pink, one in powder blue, and a cheeky one in lime green.
Stripper heels. Yup. I’m not exactly tall, so I’ve been practicing with increasing heights on my shoes. My next conference, I’ll be strutting my stuff in six-inch red sandals. Va, va, va, voom!
I tried all those changes, but it was too much work. So I just put that money into expensive jewelry. That’s a style change right?

Answer: 2, 3, and a little bit of 6 – Actually, I added the red highlights a couple years back and as I said, it’s not so shocking though my husband thought so at first. Mostly, I’m covering the gray, but the less said about that, the better. I have been growing my hair out. I can even wear a ponytail now! Haven’t quite figured out how to manage all this stuff about my face, but I’m playing. By November (the Readers and ‘Ritas conference) I hope to have figured it out. And by the way, me as a blonde would look AWFUL!

I have found some fun dresses that I’m going to try out. Patterns and block colors, but they’re fun. The key is that I never, ever wore dresses before. I hated the idea of pantyhose, so pants were just easier. But bare is in now and we’re heading for the warmer months. I used to have a pink business suit. It was actually quite lovely, but I can’t imagine wearing that now. Too professional! And as for stripper heels, they may look hot, but I walk a lot at conferences. No way would my feet hold out in six-inch heels.

And as for #6 – well, I’ve gotten a couple lovely pieces lately because they were beautiful. So I have to buy clothes that show them off, right?

I don’t have a lot of pictures because I haven’t really unveiled my new style. Still putting together the pieces. You can see one of my new dresses in this picture of me with Asa Maria Bradley, Paige Tyler and Genita Loh. See what I mean about geometric patterns? And my hair is growing…

 

 

So what do you think? Art? TP? Or both?

With frieds and colleagues Asa Maria Bradley, Paige Tyler and Genita Loh

 

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Don’t Miss This Great Sale

Hey readers!

If you haven’t read my contemporary romance by Kathy Lyons, check out THE PLAYER NEXT DOOR. It’s on sale for 99 cents beginning tomorrow, April 11. The sale runs through the 16th.  If you want a preview, watch this great video put on by Entangled Publishing.

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After THE END by Jade Lee

I just wrote THE END on the second of my grizzly shifter books. Yes, you read that right – grizzly bear shifters! Book 1 – The Bear Who Loved Me by Kathy Lyons – will be out June 7.  (If you check the outlets for pre-orders, etc, let me warn you that there are errors on it including a misspelling of my name. Hopefully, by the time this blog goes live, that’ll be fixed, but you never know…)

Anyway…I wrote THE END on the manuscript of the second book just a few days ago. Guess what I did right afterwards.

Celebrated with a margarita and cheesecake.
Went to bed (OMG it was late) and celebrated with my husband.
Immediately flew into the edits of Book 1. Writing is re-writing, after all!
Kicked back with a sigh and said, “That was easy!”
Stared dazedly into space and wondered what had happened to the last couple months of my life.

Answer:  5.  Much as I might have wanted to indulge, a margarita and cheesecake were not immediately available. Which is a massive bummer though, honestly, I would probably have regretted the combination of those foods. Unlike most times, this book was finished during the daytime, so I had no intention of going to bed. And since I was at a writing retreat without my husband, any fun type of celebrating with him had to wait!  I did not go immediately into my edits for the earlier book. I’m not that much of a masochist. And I’d never, ever say writing was easy. Even when the words flow, it’s not easy. Which leaves #5. I did indeed stare dazedly into space and wondered what had happened to the last couple months of my life. With this book especially, I seemed to dive in and not come up until it was done. And when that happens, it’s wonderful. Because I can immerse myself and not be distracted by the other aspects of life. Though my social media, personal appearance, and housekeeping definitely suffer during these periods.

So what do you do to celebrate THE END of something? Shopping? Dessert? A shower?  A good book? Like my Regency novel, ONE ROGUE AT A TIME and SEDUCING THE SKEPTIC that I wrote under the name of Kathy Lyons.

Can’t wait to hear what you have to say! Send me your thoughts by commenting below.

 

 

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DRAGONBOUND is on sale!

Hey there readers!

Check it out – DRAGONBOUND is on sale for 99 cents.  Where else can you get such a great book for less than a dollar? Click on the photo for the link to the sale!

 

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It’s RAINING

It’s not exactly spring here in Illinois, but it has warmed up enough that the snow has become icy rain. Yuck. There are moments when my Kitty Cinnamon braves the outdoors and comes back with wet fur and muddy paws. She seems to enjoy that way more than I do. So I’ll let you guess what I do when it’s gray and yucky outside.

Nothing different. I work inside. So rain or shine, I’m sitting in my same chair trying to figure out how the hero can be heroic and how the heroine will finally give him the answer (to whatever question he has).
I can’t work in darkness and my writing chair is right next to a window. So I sit and stare at the gray day and curse the weather while getting nothing done.
I write blogs. Duh. And I have a lamp, so that whole, not writing in darkness is just an excuse.
COFFEEEEEEE!!!!! Something about gray days makes me want to curl up and take a nap. My head feels heavy, my brain is fogged, and the wet kitty on my lap tends to make everything go snoozy. But since I have deadlines…well, it’s a quad venti mocha with a drizzle caramel.

Answer: 4 – Yup, caffeine and sugar are my muse and my antidote to a gray day. Also, I try to reward myself for working with a special something. Another mocha is often my prize, but I like rewarding myself with reading, too. Here’s a couple books that I’ve thought were wonderful.

 

Top 10 Things that Dead People Want to Tell You by Mike Dooley. He writes so funny that I could not put the book down. And everything he said felt absolutely right to me. Yeah!
Trade Me by Courtney Milan – New Adult Romance that was perfect. About two people who trade places and fall in love in the process. It sounds silly, but she pulled it off beautifully.
The Lady Meets her Match by Gina Conkle. I haven’t finished this one yet, so I can’t tell you about the ending, but the voice is delightful, the plot believable, and there’s just enough historical detail to make me envious of the way she effortlessly weaves in it. Love it!
Charming by Elliott James. Urban fantasy adventure. I listened to this on audio and thought it was fabulous. The reader was excellent and the adventure fun, fun, fun!

 

Now it’s your turn! What are you reading lately that you love?

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Am I a Crazy Cat Lady?

My husband posed that question to me. Well, he didn’t POSE it, per se. He downright accused me of being a crazy cat lady. Let me point out that I only have ONE cat!  Her name is Cinnamon and here’s a picture of her as a kitten. Yes, she is in a bag of toilet paper and she is adorable. But since I only have one cat, I cannot be a crazy cat lady. However, the following list of facts might indeed suggest otherwise. You decide.  The picture of Cinnamon in the toilet paper bag is the background on my phone.

I have more pictures of my various cats than I do of my children. But in all fairness, cell phones hadn’t been invented when my kids were at home.Since the bulk of my pictures are on my phone which I got long after the kids had moved out, I would say that’s just natural selection. I take pictures of what’s around me and my kids aren’t. Not as much as my cat. (My husband points out that he lives with me too, but I have a zillion more pictures of my cat than of him. I say when he can flip his head over and sleep on his own belly, then I’ll take pictures of him too.)
I have cat jewelry. Cats on my clothing. BUT!!! I have koala bears on my favorite pillow.
I get annoyed when Cinnamon sleeps on someone else instead of me. That is one of the primary reasons, I want another cat. So my husband and I EACH can have a cat in our lap. Or two on me. *grin*
I tweet about my cat a lot. (Follow me @JadeLeeAuthor) And I include pictures because…well, who doesn’t love a cat picture even when the cat is just staring into space?
I’ve had lots of other cats over the years, and I have pictures of them too. Here are Ginger and Tali. And Ginger as a kitten. And Cinnamon with squidge. 
It’s possible I’m crazy. Worse things have been said about me. And I’m definitely female, therefore a lady. But I am absolutely not a cat!

 

SO???? Am I a crazy cat lady? Tell me what you think and if you’re one, too. (Or a crazy dog person).

 

 

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