C. Margery Kempe's Blog: Lady Smut, page 152

A Walk Down Memory Lane by Gerri Brousseau

I have been giving a lot of thought to the way things were when I was a kid. It was a different life, a simpler time. Stamps were five cents and gas was under fifty cents per gallon. We had a telephone with a dial. It wasn’t cordless and there was no such thing as a cell phone. We had a black and white television with a round screen and it had rabbit ears. We only got three channels and you had to get up to change them. There was no such thing as cable TV. There were no computers, no video games, no microwave, no CD’s, and no DVD’s. I had a record player that played vinyl record albums. I walked to school. There were no buses. I wore dresses to school every day even in grammar school. I remember the boys in my class had to wear shirts and ties to school. No one wore jeans, not even after school.

After school, I walked home from school, and after a snack, I did my homework. Only when my homework was finished and before dinner, I was allowed to go outside to play. All the neighborhood kids would meet and we played games such as tag, hide and seek or baseball, and in winter we built snowmen, went ice skating or went sledding. Child obesity was unheard of.  When it was dinnertime, my mother would call for me from the back window, and I headed home. We walked everywhere, and our parents felt safe in letting us do it.

Every night I sat at the table with my family to eat dinner together. There was no TV in the kitchen. We actually had conversations about the events of our day. We went on a lot of picnics and fishing trips. We never had the money to take fancy vacations, like going to Disneyland (although we live on the east coast, Disneyworld did not exist at that time).

My parents worked hard and now that I’m an adult I realize that they were struggling financially, but I never realized it at the time. We always had food on the table and a roof over our head. We were happy and we laughed a lot. Life was simple then. It was a slower pace.

I remember buying baseball cards and pinning them to the spokes of our bikes because it made a really cool noise.  I remember bazooka bubble gum and penny candy that really only cost a penny. I remember getting our first color TV, our first phone with push buttons, getting a washing machine that didn’t have a wringer, having a car stereo that played 8-track tapes, I remember when The Beatles came over from England, and sadly, I remember the day President Kennedy was killed. I know, I’m dating myself here, but thinking back I realize those were happy days when someone else carried all the responsibility and carried it with a smile.

Now at the beginning of a new year as I set my goals to move forward in 2013, I reflect on my past and remember so many things with fondness.

I hope my little walk down memory lane gave you a smile and made you think about your childhood. Please share with us some of your most fond childhood memories.

Filed under: romance

What’s the Deal with Plots?

I completely mean the question I posed in the title. The longer I spend writing and the more books I read, the more I am convinced an incredible plot is absolutely essential and extremely difficult to produce. With this fast paced, advanced world, we demand more of the same tension-filled stories with new angles. In the competition to produce this, I see more of the ridiculous and I wouldn’t just confine this opinion to books.

So why are plots such a complicated animal? Well for one, as a writer we sit there and stare and work with our stories for hundreds or maybe thousands of hours. After a while, it becomes just one big convoluted lump of words. It’s hard to pull things apart even if you sit and plan them out beforehand (at least that is my experience). That inability to step back blinds us from scenes that might not be necessary or may be completely illogical. For these reasons, it really is important for us to have beta readers.

Now, I can sit here and go through plot steps which I may do some day, but I also realize there is a lot of material out there better suited to help you than I. My main piece of advice is to ask yourself a few questions:

1)      What is the purpose of this story?

2)      What is my hero/heroine trying to do? Or what motivates them?

3)      What is my villain’s purpose and what motivates them?

Once you answer all your questions, take your answers and think about how you can push that story even further. What do your characters have to lose? If nothing, you need to rethink your story. If your answer is everything, you’re heading down a good path.

Happy writing this week!

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life

The Truth About Self-publishing by Leia Shaw

I spoke at my local Romance Writers of America chapter this weekend about self-publishing. The president asked me to do something similar to what I did at Fiction Fest last year, which was a how-to workshop called “Anyone Can Self-publish!” or something positive-sounding like that. But I didn’t have access to the visual equipment needed to go in depth about how to self-publish. So instead, I took a more in-your-face reality check approach. Anyone can self-publish but that doesn’t mean everyone should.

I’ve had at least 2 books self-published for an entire year now. The first 6 months in 2011, I hardly count cause I was just getting starting and hadn’t sold much more than a thousand copies of two books. But 2012 I published my 3rd book and started seeing some success.

The biggest thing I’d like to stress to all you go-getters that want to dive into the world of self-publishing, is that it is very much a business.

Yes, you get to use that wonderful part of your brain to create the most imaginative stories and yadda yadda yadda. But if you want to make money, you have to make writing a business. To people like me, and probably you, business is boring. Math and spreadsheets and accounting are my worst nightmares. This is not what I thought my glorious writing career would be about.

So what do I mean by a business? Making writing a business – a career – is about the little and big things you do that aren’t writing. Such as: the erotic reading I participated in last weekend. Teaching writing classes at the local community center. Attending conferences. Speaking at conferences. Running book sales off your website. Doing graphic design jobs on the side. Those are a few examples of the things I do that don’t include writing but help build my brand, my platform, and my career.

It’s truly amazing to me just how often I’m working without even having opened my manuscript document.

So, I’m going to break down what I do into 3 main categories then tell you, on average, how much time I spend doing each activity.

Business = answering emails, setting up blog tours, paying bills, designing covers, website maintenance, registering for conferences, getting workshop material ready, etc.

Marketing = social media, planning ads, blogging, twitter, forums, etc

Writing = actually writing a book.

Control (period between releases as you’re writing your next book): 40% business. 30% marketing (if you have a backlist). 30% writing.

Just before book release: 40% business. 50% marketing. 10% writing.

After book release: 40% business. 60% marketing. 0% writing.

I am never JUST writing. So those of you with grand visions of spending long days in your pajamas, writing to your heart’s content… Well, good luck.

Also notice that the business percentage doesn’t change. That’s because I always have to pay my bills. I always have to answer emails. I always have to maintain my website. That’s not a choice.

Did I meet my goals at the end of 2012? Yes, I did. And I’m very pleased about that. Can I do better in 2013? I’m sure as hell going to try. The journey into self-publishing has been worth it in every way. I could not have made the same amount of money I did in one year had I traditionally published. But I’m constantly learning and growing and hopefully becoming a more successful author and person as I journey on.

I guess my point is…if you have the determination and ability to adapt as you learn, self-publishing might be a good choice for you. Just be aware that it’s not as glamorous as you think and you have to really want it in order for it to work. Just like everything in life.

Good luck. And as always, I’ll be answering questions in the comments below.

Filed under: romance

Freakishly Strange Paranormal-Scope

Listen up!  There’s something in the wind this week.  Expect the unexpected.  There’s a lot of dragons this week, which can be good or bad depending on conditions.

While I’m not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked with the paranormal in the world.  In many ways, so are you.

The week ahead for:

Aries

Shapeshifters are flexible and work well with a shift in plans.  Go with the flow.  Relax and embrace it.

Taurus

Dragons invite you to fly with them.  Take this opportunity to soar higher.

Gemini

Sleep with the pixies and have good dreams of a bright future.

Cancer

A vampire moves like starlight through the fog.  A lot of fog ahead.  Stay in the light wherever you can.

Leo

A werewolf cries.  You need to return to the pack.  Enjoy the strength of those that love you.

Virgo

Dragons cause a blustery day.  Stay out of the heat (not atmospherically) and keep your nose to the grindstone.

Libra

Elves know when it’s time to take a break.  Build in some relax time, you need it to restore yourself.

Scorpio

The fae that loves you will clear a path for you.  Do not be distracted by naysayers and go off the path.

Sagittarius

Gnomes know how to plan for emergencies.  Better to be prepared than to be without.  Make copies of important documents.

Capricorn

Dragons blow the world around, and so it is with yours.  Be prepared for surprises and unexpected changes to your schedule.

Aquarius

Dark winds can blow ill will.  Get the all weather gear out especially boots.

Pieces

Griffins are protecting you.  People want to meet you, and you will have a new opportunity to shine.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Q&A with Freya Press

Freya Press Logo

by C. Margery Kempe

Today I’m happy to ask a few questions of a new publisher whose themes are very dear to me. They’ve got a couple of new releases as well as a call for submissions.

Can you tell us a bit about the origin of Freya Press?

Freya Press came about when a group of online friends with a mutual love of Maine (yes, the state in north east US), were discussing self-publishing and all its pros and cons. Two of this group, Tara Olson and Kate Spencer, already had novels written, but felt they were without the tech savvy to see this through. This is where I stepped in. I already web admin several other sites for friends and family, and have an abiding love of tinkering with tech. I bought the domain, set up the site, and Freya Press was born.

We wanted to distinguish ourselves from the growing population of small presses, so we decided that a focus on female writers who were writing for a predominantly female audience was going to be our mission statement. That is not to say our releases cannot be enjoyed by male readers, quite the opposite actually. We wanted to ensure that our audience could read the kind of female characters we like to read, a mixture of strong and vulnerable in just the right amounts.

What current releases do you have?

Harvest Moon by Tara Olson (Book 1: New England Werewolves).

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance

River Montgomery is a singleton living in Millinocket, when one unseasonably hot summer brings the romance she didn’t realise she was missing. József is tall dark and handsome, but also a werewolf. As their romance develops, her life spirals out of control when she is exposed to the supernatural world of organised crime.

Amazon.com (kindle), Amazon.com (paperback)

Amazon.co.uk (kindle), Amazon.co.uk (paperback)

Also available in various e-formats through Smashwords, AllRomance, Lulu, Kobo, WHSmiths, or through the Freya Press site store for a 15% discount! Please visit the book’s page for full retail information and a sample.

Sylvan God by Katherine Spencer

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

When the stresses of London life become too much for Neena Addams, she leaves for her dream home on the banks of a lake in Sabattus, Maine. Known as Newt to her friends, she finds more than the quiet lives she craves in the shape of her handsome and reclusive neighbour, Jake Archer. only the love of a good woman can tame this wild man of the forest, this Sylvan God. But can Newt’s dreams of an idyllic life with Jake survive when threatened by the US Government?

Amazon.com (kindle), paperback available shortly

Amazon.co.uk (kindle), paperback available shortly

Also available in various e-formats through Smashwords, AllRomance, Lulu, Kobo, WHSmiths, or through the Freya Press site store for a 15% discount! Please visit the book’s page for full retail information and a sample.

Are you currently seeking submissions?

Freya Press currently has a call for submissions for an erotic romance anthology around the theme of Cowboys. The cowboy with his boots, tight jeans, and of course, the hat, is an enduring and iconic figure throughout romance. They embody the tough alpha male, yet their mannerly ways reveal a gentler side.

We are looking for short stories between 5000 and 8000 words, closing date for submission is 31st May 2013.

Please see the call for full submission requirements and information.

http://www.freyapress.co.uk/2013/01/call-for-anthology-submissions-cowboys-a-wild-ride/

 

What does the ideal Freya Press story need?

The ideal Freya Press story has strong and interesting female characters, and not just the archetypal damsel-in-distress. We prefer a ‘happy-ever-after’ ending, but this is not a deal breaker if the story is good enough. The sex needs to be explicit, but within the confines of a romantic story, not just simple erotica. The story is key and not just a vehicle to move from one sex scene to another. So far, we have only released erotic romances, but we are interested in introducing other genres in the future such as fantasy, scifi and horror.

 

Anything else you want to add or links you’d like to highlight?

As well as the anthology, the second book in Tara Olson’s New England Werewolves is due for release this summer, called Hunter’s Moon. We are currently talking to another couple of authors about full length novels so keep your eye on the website for more information. Alternatively, you can follow us on Facebook, or Twitter.

Thanks!

Filed under: C. Margery Kempe, erotic romance, Kit Marlowe

Arisia, An Expected Journey with Surprises

I have learned over the years that no matter how much I prepare for a conference, regarding twists and surprises I am completely unprepared.  My family continues while I am away which in a lot of ways is comforting.  When I return I just have to find my place again and fit into the world.

But for now, I must prepare.  I will organize my panel notes.  Answer any last minute emails.  Write a wardrobe card so I will know what I’m wearing on each day and not over pack my bag.

What will I be doing at Arisia in Boston?  Let’s take a peek.  Oops, already the schedule has changed.

Vampires: Fear of the Other, Fear of the Body:   Fri 8:30 PM     Duration: 01:15

Scholars of vampire literature have alleged that early traditions of the vampire in Europe reflect fears of Jews, both religiously and racially. Yet over time, the vampire has morphed. Rather than representing fear of societal dilution, the vampire represents destruction of the individual body, and concepts of the “blood disease” as like unto AIDS began to enter the zeitgeist. Rather than express fear of the other, more modern vampire literature embraces the other.

Ray Bradbury: A Retrospective:   Sat 10:00 AM   Duration: 01:15

Few golden-age authors were as beloved as Ray Bradbury, and his death last year was a loss keenly felt. Come discuss your favorite Bradbury works, the uniqueness of his authorial voice, and some of his lesser-known gems.

Reading:  Crowley, Dawn & Sawicki     Sat 10:00 PM   Duration 01:15

Autograph: Crowley, Ewing & Linzner   Sun 11:30  AM   Duration 01:15

The Hobbit:   Sun 1:00 PM  Duration 01:15

Did *The Hobbit* really need to be turned into a new cinematic trilogy? Having seen the first film, are you eagerly anticipating the next installment or were you let down? Has director Peter Jackson recaptured the magic that made *Lord of the Rings* into a hit? How faithful is the film to Tolkien, and does it matter?

The Undead and the People That Love Them:    Monday 11:30 AM   Duration 01:15

The undead are everywhere these days. Books, movies and TV are full of shows about them. Where is all this coming from? Why do we love our undead monsters so much?

Well, it looks like lots of fun.  This year I will be busy socializing and at times writing.  My book edits will be turned in before I leave, but I will be working on the next manuscript while there.  I always write at Arisia because I find it so inspiring.

Now where did I put my Hobbit notes?

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: paranormal, Readers Conferences, Susan Hanniford Crowley, vampire books, vampires, Writer's Life

Traditional Publishing or Self-Pub by Marian Lanouette

What I’m reading this week? A Little Bit of Baby by R C Bonitz

Today I’m sharing my experience with both. My first two books in the Jake Carrington Mystery Series are published by MuseItUp Publishing. I enjoyed the experience working with professional content and line editors. They really helped make the stories come alive.  I also liked working with the art department to get the covers that best displayed the story inside.

Are there draw backs? Yes, It takes a good nine months to a year to see the fruits of your labor up for sale. If it is an e-publisher it is released in e-book format first. Second, the paperback copy could take as long as one and half years after signing a contract to hit the shelves. This isn’t really a problem, if you understand the terms of your contract.

Why then would I look at self-publishing? I looked at self-publishing because I had a short story that I wanted to put out there fast. I also wanted a physical book in my hand when I went to book signing. You can’t sell a book no one knows about. By self-publishing my short story, it gave me the opportunity to promote my ebooks. At book signings, I not only signed the book, I handed out postcards for my other works to entice the reader to discover all my work.

Now with that said, the process was hardly faster. The differences? It will come out in five months as opposed to nine months.  I had to pay for the editors. I would never put my work out there if it wasnt’ professionally edited. After all I a girl from Brookyn—and what I think is a normal way of talking (see in New York people talk, in the rest of the world they speak) might not come across in the written word. So editing is a definte must no matter which way you’re published. I also had to pay a cover artist to produce my cover. These costs, the editing and the cover are up front. In a traditional publisher or epublisher the publisher’s percentages cover the cost of the books (net sales) before you’re paid.

You have to know what will work best for you. What your goals are for your books? And who you want to work with in the future, is also important. Writing, publishing and marketing all go hand in hand. Believe it or not the publishing industry is a small community and I want to build relationships that last a lifetime.

The beauty today is that you’re not tied into one format. So for each book you write explore all your options before making a decision.

Can you pick out the self-published book?

                                                                Both coming in January 2013

Filed under: romance

The Life of a Spoiled Muse by Mimi Sue Brousseau

Hello Readers. My name is Mimi Sue. Some of you may have heard of me or seen my picture on my Mom’s Facebook page, but I thought it was time that you got to meet me. I live in a nice condo with my Mommy, Gerri. She’s an author. She pampers me and treats me like a princess, because, well, after all … I am her muse. At least that’s the way I see it. When she writes she sits in her recliner with her laptop, and I curl up right beside her. My brother, Milo, sits with us too, but he’s not as important as I am. Actually, he gets away with doing lots of naughty things because he hurt his back and, well, I think our Mommy feels sorry for him. He knows how to play that card. Yeah, he’s got Mom’s number all right and she lets him get away with murder. He lays there in the chair and snores. He generally just gets in the way, but he’s still better company than the cats. Yeah, we have two of them, Harry and Louise. Sometimes Harry hops up in our chair and demands Mom’s attention. I have actually seen him sit on the laptop. Can you imagine the nerve of him interrupting her creative flow? Then again, Harry is a cat, and cats do that. But Mom doesn’t seem to mind. I guess she likes him just fine, although I can’t see what she sees in that oversized fur ball.

Anyway, as I said, my Mommy is an author. She has written a few novels and I have been right by her side through it all. That’s why I think I certainly must be her muse. When she’s writing, I try to be very quiet and limit my barking to the occasional growl. That is of course unless our neighbor walks by with the Basset Hounds. When I see them, it’s all out barkfest! I must patrol and protect to keep all from intruding on my Mommy’s creativity.

Because of this, I’m very spoiled. I have my very own pink princess bed, but I would much rather curl up next to my Mommy. Otherwise, I spend my days being pampered, fed, walked and snuggling. How else would a muse be treated? Every once in a while, I ask for a treat or a scratch behind my ears, but for the most part, I simply look cute and provide inspiration.

Right now, I’m trying to convince my Mom to put me in one of her books. She tells me I’m cute, and I believe her because after all, I am her muse. So why wouldn’t she feature me in one of her novels? I know one day she will and when she does, the book will be a howling success.

Do you have a muse? Who is it? Do you pamper your muse and spoil them with snacks, treats and snuggling? Not that I’m looking for a new job or anything … but how well do you treat your muse?

Filed under: romance

The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly in the Plain

Ugh, I must say I feel like Eliza Dolittle right now as I weed through my manuscript in search of extraneous thes, ands, ofs, thens, etc. Oh the list seems to go on forever and this reference-although I love the movie My Fair Lady-is not made on a positive note. I’m not Eliza after she learns to gracefully pronounce her R’s and A’s. I’m the Eliza that makes a jumbled mess of her words when she speaks, or at least I feel that way.

I’m asking myself right now why I’m such a wordy person. I’m even writing a blog about being wordy and how much it aggravates me. I was writing this current manuscript in the midst of pre-edits on my Irish novella and funny enough, I remember thinking that if I ever contracted this latest manuscript it would be a pain to pre-edit. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about the contract, but it all goes back to that importance of knowledge. I remember thinking then that I wish I had known about pre-edits before I ever wrote a manuscript. But that’s life isn’t it? We are always learning something and applying it. And most of the time, we are learning something after we already made our mistakes and then realize how valuable it is to be learning what we’ve learned. That’s life.

Take Eliza Doolittle for example. If she had just learned to speak well from the start, perhaps she might of met a nice man and not been forced to spend her days selling flowers in the street. She might have had her own shop. But then we would have missed out on the highly engaging musical detailing her story. And of course, we would have missed out on Professor Henry Higgins and his blasted shoes.

Well, in an attempt to cut short the wordiness, I’ll end here and wish you all happy writing this week!

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life

My First Public Book Reading by Leia Shaw

Last Friday night I had the pleasure of participating in my very first book reading!

The Lori Perkins Agency hosts a monthly erotic reading event called Between the Covers at a lounge in Manhattan. I was invited to read out loud by a member of my local Romance Writers of America group. So Friday night, my husband and I took the train into NYC, had dinner and headed to the Happy Endings Lounge.

Prior to that evening, I had practiced my ten minute long excerpt from The Dom with a Safeword a total of two times. Once in front of my husband, who fell asleep. And once in front of a couple friends. Normally, I’m comfortable speaking in front of people so I wasn’t nervous for the reading at first. But after my friends said I sounded like a school teacher reading a story to a group of kids (the content couldn’t have been more opposite), I got a little self-conscious.

I was third in the line-up and nursed a fancy pomegranate-type alcoholic drink that was way too yummy as I waited my turn. The room was dark at least. Oh, except for the spotlight at the podium. That was very…intimidating. The booths were cozy and the tables covered with promotional materials, candles, lollipops, and condoms. Yes, condoms. This was an erotic reading after all.

I had no idea what to expect from a lounge called Happy Endings, but I was pleased with what I found. No one was making out in the booths or undressing each other at the bar. They sat and listened quietly (really quietly for mine, or maybe it just seemed that way lol) but still fun, hooting during sexy parts and laughing at any jokes.

The first two author readings were a blur but I remember feeling a little out-dirtied. I knew there were no rules for the excerpt – the raunchier the better – but I’m a good little Christian girl. I couldn’t imagine saying certain words out loud in front of an audience. So I picked a pretty tame sample. The two heroines find a very kinky closet in their new friend’s house (who happens to be a Dom). Sabrina, straight girl gone kinky, gets her first girl kiss. It’s a fun, sexy little part of the book that I love.

At my turn, I tried not to think about the two very reputable book agents and other talented authors in the crowd watching me, judging my writing. I tried to forget that my friends had called me a dork while I was practicing. The romantic, slightly sexual, ambiance must’ve hit me harder than I thought because it was easy to “get into character” so to speak and give what I thought was a pretty decent reading. I even got compliments by random audience members. And there was a decent amount of people there too!

After the last two readers finished, Lori Perkins and Louise Fury took all the readers and their spouses out for dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant. This was the most fun part because the lights were on and we could really talk and have a good time. And the food was really good (though I was the only one completely hopeless with chopsticks).

I got to know some of the girls who worked in the agency office and we bonded over favorite movies and TV shows. I spoke with both Louise Fury and Lori Perkins about the publishing industry and some projects they’re working on. Hopefully, we’ll start a professional relationship from here and they’ve invited me back to read any time I want.

It was such a fun, interesting experience, I think I’ll do it again when my next book releases. I wish I had more pictures but the ones my husband took of me were too far away and it was too dark to see anything.

If anyone has any questions about the event or doing a public reading, leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer on and off today.

 

Filed under: romance