Laurann Dohner's Blog, page 3

October update

Sorry for the delay in a new blog post. I have been writing and preparing for Romanticon. I forget how time consuming that is every year between the shopping, getting promo items ordered, and making arrangements so everything goes as smoothly as possible. It’s worth it!

Book news -
Shadow releases on October 30th at Amazon and B&N. It comes out at Ellorascave on October 31st.  There will be more New Species books after his and Beauty’s story.
 
Mate Set is now out in Print. Valiant will be in Print in November. More are to come.
 
I’m working on books from more of my series. I don’t know which one will finish first but I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m certain.
 
Emails -

Thank you to everyone who sends me emails. I’ve gotten a lot of plot suggestions. I am very grateful the books stir so many people’s imagination. The truth of that matter is, I already have plotlines and partials for every character mentioned in my books. I know who they are going to hook up with and how their books will go.

A lot of aspiring authors write to ask me questions. I couldn’t afford writing classes and unfortunately, I never even finished high school. I had a dream, a love for writing, and I was dedicated to do it regardless of being published or not. My original works are a nightmare of bad grammar, tons of mistakes, and I had a lot to learn. I’m still learning. I’m a work in progress. LOL. I take every edit as a lesson, make notes, and take it into the next book.

The best advice I can give is - write. Try it. Keep trying. Have your friends read what you write. Ask for honest opinions and listen. I’m always revising what I write. Finish your book, polish it as much as you possibly can, and then do your research. Do you want to be an ebook author or not? Do research on where your type of book would be a good fit for a publisher. Most sites have submission guidelines. Read them. Follow them. Expect long waits in some cases when you do submit.

What did it cost me to be published? Nothing. There were no reading fees, no fees of any kind. It’s really sad but there are a lot of...(let’s call them people to be polite) willing to take advantage of someone’s dreams. Do your research! Anyone can say they are anyone on the Internet, just by starting up website that appears professional. It doesn’t always mean it’s legitimate.

I get a lot of requests to write with other people. I am flattered but I just don’t have the time. I have so many projects I’m working on and more that I have planned...I’m going to be busy for years. I also don’t write book reviews. With my writing schedule, I don’t get to read books that often. When I do - I have a ‘to be read’ list...it’s really long. There are dozens of ebooks I bought sitting on my Ipad right now that I haven’t had a chance to get to and even more I pre-ordered. I appreciate the offers to read your books but again, I just don’t have the time.  .........................I will be at Romanticon this week until Monday so please expect delays in emails and responses...................................................................................   On a very tragic, sad note -


 

The world lost a very special person. I was blessed to meet Angelo (Ruben) at Romanticon in 2010 and 2011. He was very sweet and just a terrific person. I can’t say enough good things about him. He wore many hats in life and one of them was a cover model - a caveman for Ellora’s Cave. He was on many of my book covers.  Please don't ask questions on here about what happened. You can follow a link if you want to know that information. It's posted under the second video if you go to youtube. It just breaks my heart. Ellora’s Cave is putting together a fund for his family. Here is the link to donate.
Ruben “Angelo” Riguero-Brito or you can go directly to the Ellora's Cave main page HERE.
 
It made me laugh and cry to watch these videos but it really shows what an amazing person he was. Please donate if your able to.
 A promo video for Ellorascave 2011
Another video he made.

Exciting upcoming news about books

 
Hello everyone! I have some exciting book news. First off, next month I’ll be in Ohio with Mr. Laurann for Romanticon. While there, I’ll be passing out promo items and on Sunday there’s a book signing. Valiant is coming out in PRINT exclusively for the conference. Unless you’re going....I know that isn’t too exciting but it’s being released for sale at Ellorascave, Amazon, and B&N on November 20th.
  We have a cover for Shadow if you missed it revealed at Ellorascave’s Redlines and Deadlines blog! His book is the 9th in the New Species series. I don’t have an official blurb but I will say that it’s about Shadow and Beauty. You met her in Justice’s book when she was rescued by Jessie. Beauty is a Gift female who is a primate. I’ve let that information slip a lot when asked about Shadow’s book. I’ve been asked a lot about if she just a visitor in the book or more. MORE! LOL. Shadow and Beauty...run into each other and that’s just the beginning.        I DO NOT have links yet because they aren’t added to the sites yet BUT...I know the release date! I got an email today giving me that information and I asked if I could share the news. I can! You ready? It’s going to show up available for pre-order at Kindle and B&N within the week (hopefully - it could take less or a little more time) for a October 30th release date. It will come out on October 31st at Ellorascave.  I’ll post the links once they are added so check the comments or I’ll just wait until it’s up on all three sites and post a new blog. Whooo Hooooo! See? I think that’s exciting! LOL! To everyone wondering when the next Species book is coming...now you know. The end of October!  I am currently working on Blackie’s book from Cyborg. I’m hoping to finish it around the end of this month and get it turned in. It will probably come out at the end of the year or the beginning of next year. Edits take time so always give it at least a few months from the time I turn a book in until release date. I’m working on other books too. I can tell you this. Moon will be the next in the NS series. I’m working on books from the other series.  I don’t know which will finish next but...I’m working on them. Even if it’s just to add in a few thousand words every time I open up their files.  Happy reading! Now...I'm going back to writing.  

I got a ton of emails about...sex and writing. LOL!

 (Warning - 18 and older content!)  So recently I posted a picture on my facebook page because I went shopping and some of the looks I was given while in line, even by the checker, were funny to me. I thought I’d share the pic of my purchase to give others a laugh. I had NO idea what kind of response I’d get from it via emails. This is the picture I posted...
 
What is that? It’s Warming Jelly. It’s like KY Jelly except less greasy, it’s warm to the touch so you’re not dealing will cold stuff that you have to warm in your hands, and yes...I buy it - for real. LOL! I bought 4 of them because I got it at a good price and it’s not easy to find because I think it has to be a popular product. The last few times I’ve gone...they didn’t have any. I grabbed the last four. MINE! LOL! It is better to HAVE...than to not...great motto I live by.

So...I got a ton of emails asking me about sex and writing. Do you really do research? I do. There was a time I’d blush profusely and never admit it but I’ve been published for three years (this September marks that event). At first when you write erotic romance, you blush a bit. I mean, some people are pretty brazen about confronting you on it. They give you calculating looks wondering...whatever they do. I’ve had some bad responses from a few men - as if I’m some sex-crazy slut and would welcome their graphic and crude comments/come ons. Sorry (not really) to disappoint those types of men but it’s not true. I’ve even had women think along those lines - Gee, she must be some mega slut....to write those books. LOL.
 I’ve been with Mr. Laurann for over twenty years and I’ve never cheated on him. I’m totally into monogamy. I don’t flirt online. Yes, I get to look at mostly naked men when I’m hunting for stock photos to use (book trailers or that certain character I use to motivate me to write about) but the husband is okay with that. Looking is fine. Touching is not. LOL! Another good motto to live by. After a while of writing books with graphic sex scenes...you toughen up. I did anyway. I can take those ‘looks’ I get and find it amusing. I still blush sometimes but not nearly as much. I’m more blunt about sex, more comfortable, and generally...I’ll answer about any question. People are curious, so am I, and I’m pretty upfront.

So with that said...yes. I do research. Personal, hands on research with my research partner - otherwise known as Mr. Laurann. He retired from his day job to be at home with me full time so I could write full time. He is my house hunk who wrangles kids, cats, the house, runs errands...and is on hand when I need assistance. (wink) I’ll use examples. Propositioning Mr. Raine has sex toys. We bought and played with them so I could work out some of those sex scenes because I’ll be blunt here. I’ve read sex scenes in books and winced. I mean, really, really winced. It was obvious the author had never tried some of those maneuvers because it was so unsexy...OMG. My thighs clamped together and the pain I imagined if it were a reality...OMG. Yeah. Traumatized! LOL! I’ll even use an example. Big guy...all over. Anal sex. Woman has never tried it and the guy rams into her. First off, NOT sexy. At least not in reality. If that were to happen in real life...she’d scream alright. That blood-curdling, you just hurt me really bad scream of agony, and blood would be involved. (Yeah...I’m sure about that. Let’s um, leave it at that - LOL). I obviously have never had sex with a werewolf, an alien from outer space (okay...so I have dated a few guys who I thought...what planet are YOU from???), and some men act part animal at times so um...yes, I’ll count that. Some imagination is required. I mostly try to take personal experiences and add them into books to make believable sex scenes. Past experiences or current research get taken into account I write.

That being said, research is important. I want readers to find the sex scenes arousing. I write what I find sexy. I would hate to write scenes that make others wince and slam their knees closed. Recently I was writing a scene where the woman was exploring the guy. I went and grabbed Mr. Laurann. LOL. He never minds. He’s really great about that and I feel lucky (he does too) to be with someone who is open to trying stuff. Not everyone has that. I will admit I once dated the biggest prude...ever. We didn’t last long and I couldn’t stay with a guy who lectured me because I wanted a good sex life. I also lived with a guy once and our sex life grew stale. I talked to him about it (did all those helpful hints I’d read about) and he got pretty...defensive. It didn’t matter how nice I was, how much I used flattering words, he was outright hostile. We didn’t last either. It happens to everyone. You’re with someone for a while, you get older, your body changes, and things you used to like...you need more or something different. Great relationships change with the times, you have open talks about what you need/want, and your partner is open to trying new stuff. I’m not talking about swinging or...having affairs. I’m talking about ‘hey, tie me up or let’s buy sex toys’. I think men would be amazed at how receptive we are to sex (being blunt) if they actually make sure we enjoy it as much as they do.

I’m lucky because I found someone I can talk to, be totally honest with about anything, and he’s willing to meet me half way. I joke about kissing some frogs before I met my Prince. I can think up a scene and he’ll help me figure out the best way to write it after we try it - hands on...or other body parts. LOL. On the reading standpoint...books are great because you can hand over your ereader or book marked at a sex scene that flipped your ‘on’ switch and say to your partner...let’s try that! Hopefully, they will go for it. Do a little research of your own. I highly recommend it.

Any questions? LOL. Leave comments if you do.

As for writing...I’m doing lots of that. Shadow has been turned in. It’s featuring Beauty. You met her in Justice’s book - Jessie rescued her. I don’t have a release date because it needs to go through edits and line edits...and it will be a bit before I have a date. I am hoping it will get released by the end of this year. I’ll post when I do. I’m writing more Cyborgs, Raines, Mating Heat, Zorn, and tons of New Species. I think pretty much...if you have a favorite character from a series...it’s on my list.  Thank you sooooo much for all the great comments/emails/FB posts...ect about Obsidian. I took his book in a new direction. I knew it might upset some readers (I am sorry for that) but series tend to get stale. We all need to shake it up a bit sometimes and I did (not sorry for that). You'll see them in future books to know how they are doing and if Allie gets her job back at Homeland. (you know she will...LOL...no use in my even denying it)
 
Next month I’ll be in Ohio at Romanticon! Mr. Laurann and I are going. I’m bringing tons of promo items with me and there will be a book signing - free to the public - on Sunday. I hope to see you there.

Obsidian is OUT! Upcoming books

Here are links - Kindle - B&N - Ellorascave

Obsidian was released on Amazon and B&N yesterday. Today it released at Ellorascave. It will be showing up at other sites as soon as they are able to load them.

 WOW, thank you for all the wonderful emails, facebook posts, and comments made. I spent most of the night and morning responding to them and I’m still going. LOL! That’s fantastic. This is the kind of busy that I truly appreciate.

What’s next? That’s the big question. Shadow’s book with Beauty has been turned in. It has to go through edits and then a release date will be set. I don’t know when that will be yet but probably before the end of this year. Who is next after Shadow? Moon. Ven, Breeze, Brass, and Jericho (the ones I get asked the most about right now) are getting books and they are upcoming.

Since I’ve turned in Shadow...I am going to spend time working on my other series. I need to finish Cousin Brand’s book in Mating Heat. Sky and Blackie from Cyborg Seduction have books I’ve put some time into and want to finish (no clue which one will finish first - mood writer here - but one of them will be sent in soon). Riding the Raines - Drake and Ryder both have books I’m working on. Again, no clue which one will finish first. They are neck and neck in word count on where I am but I will finish one.

I get asked a lot how I write different books at once. I prioritize a book. I’ll use Shadow as an example. When I got hung up and needed to work out the next step in the book...I could have tapped my fingers on my desk while staring aimlessly at my walls. It’s called writer’s block and I refuse to suffer from it.  LOL. Instead I opened up another book - Drake Raine for example - and worked on his story to give me a break and go on a little western adventure. Then I was able to go back at Shadow the next day with a fresh perspective. It’s how I’m able to work on different books. I don’t get them confused because they are...real to me. As if they are people I personally know. You don’t get Aunt So’s life confused with your best friend’s. LOL. I don’t know how else to describe it. So...while I was working on Shadow’s book (example)...I was taking breaks sometimes to work on others.

Sometimes a book storyline will grip me and I’m obsessed for days. LOL. That happened with Blackie’s book. I hadn’t planned to write it until I’d finished Sky’s book first. One morning I crawled into bed and started to dream. I am one of those people who are aware and remember them. I dreamed about Blackie. I woke up, crawled out of bed after about two hours of sleep, and wrote 9,000 words of his story over the next ten hours I spent in my chair. I ate something, took a nap, and spent a few days on his story. I think I’m at around 40,000 something words with his book. I was obsessed. Then I went back to writing on my ‘priority’ book, while working on Blackie when I needed a break.

Yeah. It’s a crazy life but I love it. I get asked a lot how I write so fast. Oh, I wish that were true. I don’t. I just put in mega hours. I do this full time. I am lucky enough to have a house hunk who handles all the things I used to when he worked outside our home and I was taking care of the kids/house. I just didn’t sleep as much as I get to now because I was juggling kids/house/writing. Some authors only get to write for a few hours a day because they don’t have more free time. They hold full time outside jobs. They also don’t have a Mr. Laurann who is able to pitch in and take over the house/kids. I’m very blessed. I also work about 60-80 hours a week so no...I don’t write fast. I just write...a lot! I was always one of those people who daydreamed endlessly. Now I get to take advantage of that by putting them into words in books. I love what I do! I can’t state that enough.

I will begin to work on the last three Zorn books just as soon as I’m caught up and I am getting there. Coto, Vinlotti, and Vhon will get books. I have some of their stories written out so I do have them started. I’m hoping to get them out sometime by the end of next year.



Happy reading, everyone.

Laurann

News and updates...

Obsidian comes out this month!!! Here are links - Kindle- B&N- Ellorascave





I also have some print releases to announce. The Riding The Raines books! Propositioning Mr. Raine is out! Amazon- Ellorascave- B&N. Raine On Me comes out August 15th at Ellorascave. Amazon. B&N




I’m currently working on Shadow (with Beauty - Gift female), Sky from Cyborg Seduction, Cousin Brand from Mating Heat, and Ryder Raines' book. I’m planning more stories in all those series. I’m also planning on writing Vhon, Cotto, and Vinlotti’s books from Zorn Warriors. I wanted to work on them this summer but I’m STILL behind schedule. It’s always rough moving to a new home and it’s summer...so I’m spending some time with my kids. LOL. I’ll catch up! Oh...and YES ...Ven gets a book! LOL. I had about 100 emails this week alone asking that one question.


In other news...I get asked about other print books. I’ve been told that Mate Set will probably be out prior to Romanticon - that’s in October. His Purrfect Mate later this fall. Valiant will be put in print exclusively at Romanticon!!! It will be available for general sale sometime in November. The print versions of the rest of the New Species books should start coming out in December or January, about every month after that until they are all in print!!!


Where can you buy them? Ellorascave, Amazon, and B&N. Some B&N’s have some Ellorascave titles inside their stores (customers requested they keep some in stock) so you could do that if you wish to buy them in a brick and mortar store.  It never hurts to ask if you want to see them in yours. My website is being updated over the next week or two - adding links to all the print books where they are available. Mr. Laurann is pitching in to get it done. He’s awesome.
I’ve been gearing up for Romanticon. I really look forward to it every year. Mr. Laurann and I go together. I’ve got the boxes in my office to prove that I’ve already started ordering promo items to pass out. I also hired someone finally to help me a bit. I hated no longer doing book trailers or adding links to reviews of books to my website. My new helper searching for the book reviews to link on my website and in the near future...more book trailers will be made. LOL! I’d also love to get the update email system back online instead of just using my blog. It was crazy trying to keep up with all that while trying to write at the pace I do - plus some unforeseen issues that made me shut it down. I’m hoping it’s back online soon. Less stress means more word count. LOL!!!!
I do have fun sometimes. We took our three younger kids to build a bear. The teenager wasn’t so impressed but she survived. All of us (including Mr. Laurann) stopped for pretzels and had a good time at the mall. I got a bear too! It was a good break from writing for a few hours to see other people. LOL! Sometimes I tend to forget others are out there beyond the walls of my house or the Internet. I’m afraid most of my social life outside my family revolves around facebook. LOL! It’s a hazard of working from home but I can totally live with that. I love what I do!
Have a fantastic week...and I plan to video my office soon. I get a lot of requests for that. Why people want to actually see me and where I spend most of my time is a mystery but I did show you where I sleep so what the heck. LOL! One of my friends wanted to get all technical and do a video following me around for a few days and catching me writing but I said NO! Me playing air drums and dancing in my chair while I type or edit isn’t something anyone wants to see. Trust me or just ask my family. LOL!!!!
Laurann

Obsidian links, Q&A, and my bedroom pics!

Obsidian is now available for pre-order at both KINDLEand B & N! It releases August 28th, then at Ellorascave on the morning of the 29th. I wanted to thank everyone for being so excited about his upcoming book. I truly appreciate you!!!

I’m still behind. It’s going to take me a few months to catch up after being off for a few months while we moved but I’m getting there. I’m working on multi books, the way I do, to avoid writer’s block. I had planned to start working on the three last Zorn books at the beginning of the month but I haven’t yet. I really want to turn in Shadow first while I’m still working on a Raine, Mating Heat, and Cyborg book too. I will catch up though!

Life is really good for me. The family is all together (YIPEE!!) I hated to be apart from them. We are finally getting the gym together. Our Bowflex came and was put together. Now I just need to figure out how to use it. Wow, it came with a lot of options on exercises you can do. Mr. Laurann has been working out so I figure once he’s got it down...I’ll hit him up to show me how to work on my problem areas with it. We’re putting a TV and my treadmill inside the room so I’ll be walking while watching my precious House Hunters in there really soon. I’m behind in my dieting too. At least I’m consistent right now. LOL! But...I’m determined to get back on track with both.
The Q and A part...
Q: How many New Species are planned and do you have a list of their order?
A: I’m not sure but there will be a bunch of them (LOTS). I have a ton of partials and a few completed books that need updated and heavily edited. I’m trying to finish writing books that fill in the timeline gaps between books I had finished. It’s like fitting a puzzle together sometimes when I read partials. I’m like ‘oh...this book takes place before this happens, which is in this book...so I need to finish this one first.’ LOL. One of the finished books...a second one has to be written to go out back to back with it since it involves two unreleased New Species being held at the same place. I’m sure you’ll want to read the other story without waiting for a long time and it keeps the timeline straight so we’re not bouncing back and forth from the ‘present’ and ‘past’.  

Q: How many cyborg books are you planning?
A : So far...Sky, Deviant, Gene, Blackie, and Mavo. I’m sure I’ll think up more. It’s a really fun series for me to write and I love it. I can’t see letting it go easily without some sniffling and tears. LOL!
Q: Mating Heat books - When is Cousin Brand’s story coming out? I know you’ve been working on it so what is the hold up?
A: I am deeply into that book but I tied up Rave and Von’s story with it. In other words...they are written in the same timeline. While Brand’s story is playing out, so is Rave and Von’s. I’m writing in the scenes that connect...it’s easy to adjust them if I can change them at will instead of something already being set in stone by one of their stories being published. Once I’m past those parts and am happy with how they connect...I’m just a few chapters shy of turning in Cousin Brand’s book. I’ve been going over names for the book. I am down to a few choices and when I’m ready to submit it, I’ll send them in to my editor to see which one is the winner - then submit it. LOL.
Q: What is the word on the Raines?
A : I’m working on Ryder Raine’s story. It’s going well. Drake’s story will be after Ryder’s. I’ve got a chunk of it done too. Q : How do you work on so many books at once?
A : I laugh when I get asked this. It’s just...how I am wired. I’m a mood writer. I wrote for a lot of years just because I loved to write. I didn’t have deadlines or any pressure to keep the books in order even. I just...wrote whatever I wanted, when I wanted, and so it allowed me to juggle a lot of stories inside my head at once. After a few years...it was just the way it was for me. I wrote my first book in 1993 and wasn’t published until September of 2009. That’s a heck of a lot of years that I wrote that way. It’s kind of ingrained in me now. I also learned that when one story was stuck in my head...GO with it! Ignoring it only distracts me.
As an example...I was thinking about Drake Raine the other night and I stopped working on Shadow to pop open Drake’s story. I sat there all night and wrote 15 pages. That’s a lot of writing to get done in one sitting but it was just there and flowed right out of me. Then I was back to Shadow’s story the next day and wrote an entire chapter of his book after I’d hit this moment in the book of ‘what now?’
I don’t write with storyboards or write out notes on what I want to happen in a book. Nope. I just...write. I honestly don’t know what will happen in the next chapters of the books. I’m a ‘by the seat of my pants’ writer. I find it more exciting that way and I’m constantly surprising myself with where stories go. It’s kind of...awesome for me. It’s never boring. It’s an adventure!
In other words...my mind is a crazy, wonderful place to my way of thinking that is kind of as unruly as my hair. I don’t reign it in. Why would I? It works for me. I honestly can’t say enough how much I love to write. It’s so much fun for me and I get to do it full time now! I can put in 16 hour days if I want and I usually do! It’s like loving ice cream and all you life you were limited to the amount you could eat but then you get a job as a taster. Yeah. Dive in with that spoon! LOL!
In closing...I get asked a lot of questions about me as a person. I’m a bit of an odd ball, honestly, but I like who I am. I wouldn’t change anything - good or bad - because life has led me down this path and it’s a great place where I’m at. LOL! I am pretty much a homebody. I love writing (obviously!), watching TV, and my idea of a perfect evening is eating my favorite foods with Mr. Laurann and our kids while we’re watching some movie we have been waiting to see for a while. I collect a lot of stuff. Gargoyles, erotic art, and some gothic horror stuff. I LOVE dark fantasy art! My newest obsession is Monster High dolls. I’m a recovering beanie baby addict. LOL! I have a twisted sense of humor that I rarely apologize for since humor is important, no matter where you find it. I have four kids ranging from the ages of 7-20. My oldest daughter is married and I have a 2 year old grandson. I’ve been with Mr. Laurann for over two decades and feel really blessed because we are super close and I just adore him. I feel pretty darn lucky, actually.  I live in boxers and tank tops mostly, hate shoes, and am really into being comfortable.

I promised pictures of the house so...here is my bedroom and sitting room. Some of the pictures show my messy bathroom (sorry). The color is a darker blue than some of the pictures show (think it was the flash from the camera or the sunlight). That’s one of our cats - Ashes - on our bed. We had shutter doors put where the bathroom starts so we can close it off for privacy. They are open though so yeah...you can see my side of the walk in closet open (that hint of red are a pair of my boxers) and I think those are towels tossed on the floor that are heading for the laundry room.
Happy reading everyone and hope you enjoy the pics.
Laurann






Mr. Laurann's 65 inch widescreen TV makes for great movie viewing from our bed. LOL!

Here is his massage chair! It gets it's own sitting room.

Obsidian has a release date!!!

On August 28th it’s going to be released at Kindleand B&N. It’s available for pre-sale at kindle and I’ll add the B&N link when it’s added. It will be released the following morning at Ellorascave on August 29th. The excerpt is HERE. I get asked when it will release at other vendors and honestly...I never know. Some load really fast while some sites can take weeks. I have no control over that. Just check your favorite one often.
I was going to post some pics of the house but I need to have Mr. Laurann take some. I’ll get to that soon. This past week we got desks so there’s a computer/office/homework area in the loft. We also ordered some gym equipment so we can have a home gym. I’m kind of a homebody and I really need to get into shape. I figure if it’s right across from my office then I’ll actually work out. I’m only going to watch House Hunters while I’m in the gym so that should motivate me to go in there often. I love that show. LOL!

I’ve also been ordering more stuff for Romanticon. I’m really looking forward to that convention this October. The months are flying by for me. I can’t believe it’s July already. WOW! Where did the time go??? I am writing, of course. Still running a little behind schedule but I’m hoping to catch up soon.
Back to the question and answer section. I get a lot of the same ones so if you’ve seen these before, sorry! I’m just going to give the info related to what people seem to want to know most. It saves time.
Zorn Warriors  - This summer I’m working on three more books. Vhon is the youngest brother. Coto is Berrr’s adopted son. Vinlotti is the hot friend. Those are the three books will write. I don’t have titles yet or a time when they will be done/released. That will end the series. Mating Heat - Cousin Brand, the rest of the brothers, and Alpha Elroy!


Riding the Raines - The rest of the brothers, including Trip and Adam will get books.
Cyborg Seduction - More books are coming. Sky, Deviant, Mavo, Blackie, and Gene are on my list. More will be added to it. This series is open ended and I don’t see closing it any time soon.

New Species. Vengeance is getting a book. Brass. Breeze. 927 doesn’t have a name yet but he gets a book too. I have a ton of partials for a lot more characters, plus two complete books that are finished but need updated. I also have some that are mostly finished but need some major overhauls. You’ll be seeing me writing them for some time. Shadow’s story is up next after Obsidian. You’ll also see your first female NS featured. Beauty. She was the one rescued by Jessie in Justice’s book. She’s a gift female.

A lot of aspiring authors write to ask for advice. Just write! I handle writer’s block by avoiding it. I work on more than one book at a time so if I get stuck on one, I work on another. It means I’m always writing. Let your friends read your books. Ask for honest feedback. I want brutal honesty from my critique partner. Listen and be open to change and revisions. Rejection letters are rough but you’ll survive if you receive one. I have a folder of them. You have to try to have a chance of being published.

Writing isn’t an easy job. Between the writing, editing, and trying to tell a good story...you put your heart and soul into a book and then everyone gets to read it. Think of going to work and having anyone willing to buy into it...able to see exactly what you do on a daily basis and comment on it. Nice or ugly. You have to have a thick skin. You have to love what you do and believe in the books you write. Otherwise there’s a box of tissues with your name all over it and you might get the urge to curl into a ball sometimes because you WILL have bad days. Not everyone is going to love what you write but when they do...AWESOME!!! Seeing your book cover and your name on it is amazing!!! Holding it in your hands is...just wow! It’s worth it to me. I love what I do, good, bad, all of it. I wrote for all those years before I was published because I just love it that much. The fact that I get to publish them now...dream come true!!!

How has my life changed? Do you have all day? LOL. Seriously. I feel blessed. I say that and I mean it. I’m doing what I love and what makes me happy. I’ve accomplished more than I ever thought I could and I did it doing what makes me happy. I can’t thank everyone who reads my books enough. I get to meet and talk to a lot of fantastic people and I’m living my dream. Totally awesome!!!
Have a fantastic week. I won’t forget to post pictures soon and will post the B&N link for Obsidian as soon as it’s loaded there.  
Laurann

The mid June update

I have finished writing Obsidian!!! I have to say that it was so fun writing a brand new book for this series. I had written 9 NS books some years ago and the first 7 books I had to put a lot of work into before they were published. They really needed brought into modern times and I’ll be honest - my writing style was pretty rough. I’m always learning, trying to improve my writing, and I learn a LOT from every edit. I had opened every original document, put a blank one right next to it, and rewrote every sentence, fixing, adding, or deleting stuff in the new one - Line by line, page by page. I read the original 8th book when I finished Tiger and realized there was a gap in the timeline. A big one. I started on Obsidian.

When I used to write before I was published, I wrote for me, I let friends read them, and it really didn’t matter if they were in order - to be blunt. LOL. I needed to write at least 2 or more books to fill that gap. I’m sure you want the timeline to stay in order so one story flows into the next. Shadow’s story is up next. I had two original chapters on him so I’m at the part where I’m writing all new stuff. I’m about 1/3rd of the way through his book.

I’ve gotten hammered by emails asking when the next NS book is coming out. I know I usually have more books come out than I have this year but...I had to take time off for the move and getting the house done for my family to join me. It was rough on me not writing every day. I usually do. I had to get back into the swing of it when I went back to work. I was so excited to be writing again that it took me a bit of time to learn to focus again and not bounce from book to book because I felt starved for so many stories that I had been working on. It’s like going on a diet and then being seated at an all you can eat buffet. OMG! So much food, you want to taste it all, but it’s not a good idea. LOL! I’m focused. I’m back on track. The house is DONE. My family is moving in with me finally THIS weekend. No more living alone and only getting to see them when they come up every few weeks for a visit. I actually work better with my family around. Chaos is what I’m used to.


I am behind. I won’t lie. I wanted to finish four books by the end of June. If I don’t sleep...at all...or eat...or shower...I could pull it off but that would be real bad. Plus...I get a little grumpy/scary when I smell bad and haven’t slept or ate in days. You don’t want me writing in that condition. Everyone would be doing those things in the books, all they’d be doing, since that would be my fantasy at the time. LOL. It took longer than I thought it would to get the house in order. Naive, wasn’t I? LOL. The house is furnished finally though except desks for the loft. I wanted Mr. Laurann and the kids to pick them out since it’s their homework/computer area. I will catch up. I have an obsessive personality.
More books will be coming in New Species, Zorn, Mating Heat, Cyborgs, and Raines. I am still planning on working on Zorn books in July and August. I have the books started and just need to finish them. Then that series will close out. I’m sending what I have to a friend to read to tell me if I should keep with them or scrap them to start fresh. I don’t know if I’ll finish all three (Coto, Vhon, and Vinlotti) in that two month window but I’m going to try my best. I work at least 60 plus hours a week. I climb out of bed, grab iced coffee, and start up my computer every morning.

I had a great birthday, be it alone. I did some writing, watched a movie, and played some Angry birds. I also grabbed Olive Garden takeout and overdosed on iced coffee enough that I didn’t sleep for 36 hours. LOL! I totally did some fun things to get rid of some of that hyper energy. Yes, I’m admitting that I can do very immature and childish things. Let’s just say thick socks will make it easy to slide across tile floors. (No author was hurt in the process - don't allow real kids to try this at home) I need a keeper. I miss Mr. Laurann!!!

Obsidian doesn’t have a release date yet. It has to go through edits, then it will be assigned one. I’ll post everywhere as soon as I turn it in and find out that date.


Here are some pictures to share and one of them is my birthday gift. I always dreamed of having a fireplace in my bedroom - it’s romantic. I got it! The teddy bear on top is one Mr. Laurann had sent to me recently because he's awesome that way. Have a great week.

June 2012 - Why I am happy

June is coming. I love this time of the year. First off, it’s my birthday month. I am turning 42 on the tenth. I don’t mind sharing my age (my friends believe I’m INSANE for that since they would rather visit a dentist than admit to being over 40 - lol!!!) Hey, I’m just grateful for every birthday and I feel younger so it’s just a number. Turning 40 was...AWESOME! I know some women get depressed. Not me. I was like...hey, I’m 40! I can have some fun. I dubbed it FUN 40’s! (I have another one too but it involves a 4 letter word with F‘able in there but um...I won’t state that one on here since I don’t have the 18 and older warning...you can guess. Starts with F, ends with K. In my teens, I just wanted to grow older to be an adult. I spent my 20’s trying to get my life situated and you know, have people realize I was semi mature. My 30’s were rough with a lot of bad life luck. You know, the car broke down when we’d been saving for that new TV. Lost my apartment managing job so we had to move to the worst house in Texas (it was falling apart - walls detaching, falling foundation, and an infestation of BUGS!) Then the return move to California...and struggling to get a home. 40 = FUN! I’m beyond the stage where I really worry about stuff I used to. I rarely wear makeup, dress for comfort, and have a ‘this is who I am...deal with it’ attitude as far as looks go. I became published and I’m doing what I love = writing! I just am enjoying life. I see the little things stress used to make me blind to. I appreciate things more. I’m just happy. So come on 42!!! Bring it!


True Blood (HBO show) returns...on my birthday. I’m addicted to that show. LOL! Who is my favorite hunk on there? Alcide. Men who growl...yeah. I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that he’d be my favorite pick. Plus...new house that my family will be moving into with me mid June. I’m really excited about that. I miss them. It is rough living alone after having our family crammed into a small home for so many years. I couldn’t take a bath without someone coming in to use the only bathroom we had. I wrote in the living room, sandwiched between it, the kitchen, and the dining room area at my back. Privacy? What was that??? Now I have my own office. There are THREE bathrooms, one of them located right next to my office. I will just be SUPER happy when I have my kids and Mr. Laurann with me again. Two and a half months of living alone has been rough but June is going to end that!

Everything with the house is DONE! June marks that as well. I moved into an empty house with an air mattress, a TV, my suitcases, computer, and folding table. The new carpet and flooring was installed. The painters completely did the interior. All the repairs were done. We upgraded a few things. I had the side yard enlarged with artificial grass to replace the rock. I had security screens added to the front double doors. Just...a lot of stuff so it was more our style. I bought and furnished every room except the gym. It’s the only empty room in the house. I got my dream office, complete with magnetic walls. I hung some posters this week and have been unpacking books I’d bought. All the stress is...over. Now I can just relax and enjoy my home. And write more!!!

Here’s the Q & A part of my blog

Q - When is (insert book title here) going to come out in print?
A - I don’t know. My books come out in ebook and then they are put into print. It can take a bit of time. I know there are plans to put all of them in print.

Q - Audio books?
A - I don’t know. You could write and ask Ellorascave if they have plans for that.

Q - When is the next book coming out? (I get this question the MOST! LOL)
A - I am still writing them. I’m behind because of the move. I thought I’d have the house together faster but scheduling with the people coming in to do things or having to order things sometimes took longer than it should have. As soon as the books are finished and I’m happy with them...they are going in. They will hit edits, then be assigned a release date approximately 6 weeks later after edits are done. I am certain that I won’t have a release coming out in June. It would be GREAT if I could manage a release every single month and one day I aspire to get there but I was able to put out...I think 11 books last year. (I could be wrong but it was a lot...LOL) I’ve put out Wrath in March, Tiger in April, and the Something Wicked This Way Comes Volume II in May of this year. I knew the big move would put me behind though. I WILL catch up, get books in, and hope to see at least four more books published, plus at least one or two more of the anthologies by the end of this year.

Q -  What Conventions are you going to this year?
A - Just Romanticon. It’s held by Ellorascave in October in Canton, Ohio. Oct 11th-14th. Their website is this LINK. There’s a list of attending authors HERE - scroll down. Next year I hope to attend a few more. I knew I was moving this year and planned ahead to accommodate that. As much as I’d love to travel to more of them in 2012...I want to finish the books I’m writing first. I’m VERY excited about going with Mr. Laurann and getting to meet so many people and get to see friends I’ve made.

Q - How often do you update your blog? Website?
A - I try to write a blog at least every two weeks. I need to update my website. I’ve been writing, writing, writing and other things have suffered a little from lack of attention. Then again, not much has changed to update it with since I had to take time off to move into my house. Mr. Laurann is going to be taking over updating the website once he moves into our new house full time. I apologize. Please be patient a little longer.

Have a great week!

Laurann

I’m behind on the Blog update - Q & A

I meant to update by now but I’ve been writing! I’m trying to catch up still from the big move from California to Nevada. I knew it was going to be tough, lots of things needed done on the house, and it would mess with my ability to write. The interior got all new paint, floors/carpet needed installed, and I slept on an air mattress for a few weeks. My desk became a plastic folding table that shook when I typed so that wasn’t productive. Minor repairs, some stuff updated, and a house full of furniture to pick out and buy. The house is finally complete with my working office. I even have my favorite desk that Mr. Laurann brought me. I’ve just started to get back into the swing of things.



Ever see a pet that’s been penned up for a bit...get loose and kind of turn a bit hyper? There’s a mental image that kind of fits me when I started writing again. I was so excited I couldn’t focus and was jumping around from book to book just so ecstatic to be spending time with them again. I’m calming and getting back into a routine. I’ve actually spent a few days on the same book. LOL. I’m making real progress and hope to be able to turn at least one book in by the end of this month!


I’ll jump right to the questions and answers portion I’m putting in here.


Q - When is your next release coming out?
A - I have to finish the books first. Once a book is finished, I turn it in, and it gets sent to edits. Then a release date will be set - usually about six weeks from the time it finishes final edits. That’s pretty darn fast even if it doesn’t feel like it. LOL!


Q - How many more New Species books are there going to be?
A - A lot! I have books planned for many characters. I have no set number in my head to finish the series at. I could happily write them for years.


Q - How many Zorn Warrior books will there be? (Let me condense this part) How many Riding the Raines, Mating Heat, and Cyborg Seduction books will there be?
A - Here’s my ‘to write list’...
    Zorn - Stories for Vhon, Coto, and Vinlotti. (I’m scheduled to work on them in July and August of this year)
    Riding the Raines - All of the rest of the brothers - including Trip and Adam
    Mating Heat - Cousin Brand, the rest of the Harris brothers, and possibly Alpha Elroy - just because he needs a good woman and I can’t stand the thought of him being alone after what Eve did to him.
    Cyborg Seduction - I don’t know. I am writing Sky’s story, Deviant, I’d like to write books about a lot more characters that you’ve grown to know like Blackie, Gene, and Mavo. (more names popping up inside my head) It’s open ended so that list will more than likely grow longer.


Q - When is your ‘not so secret’ series going to be released and what is it about?
A - I’d like to close out at least one series, hopefully two, before I even think about opening another. I write a LOT of hours and right now I’m juggling between five series. I really want to catch up with my ‘to write’ list a bit. I work on my ‘not so secret’ series in my free time when I need a break from deadlines and just want to have pure fun. It started out that I’d have four books in that series. Four turned into six. One is written, the other five are partially written. The up side to waiting on me sending this series in is that by the time I’m ready to launch them...I should have the books completed. That means no waiting for the next ones to be written. If the series goes over well, I could see writing more of them. They are alpha males, of course, set in a modern day setting, with paranormal elements in the wilds of Alaska. Male/female monogamous relationships.


Side note  ----- I know some of you will be bummed that I’m closing some of my series out but I really think you’ll enjoy the new series that replace them. I’ve had a few people read the first book of the ‘Not So Secret -NSS’ series and they were really excited about it. The other bonus to this is when I’m down to just a few series, that it means the books will come out faster instead of having to wait a long time between books. This year I’ve only put out New Species books and Krell’s story from cyborg, along with two short anthology stories in the Something Wicked This Way Comes volumes. I’d like to hone it down to me scheduling out the books in an even routine of series books. You know...one month a New Species, the next book a cyborg, and then one from the ‘NSS’ series...plus there are some other books I’d like to see out there.


Q - How do you write so fast? What is your secret?
A - I don’t write fast. Seriously. My secret is insomnia and massive hours spent at my computer. I have an obsessive personality when it comes to writing. I can easily put in 15 hour days and I really love what I do. Sometimes if I’m really having a good writing burst...I’ve been known to stay up for 24-48 hours straight with only bathroom/food breaks. I’ll even eat at my computer while I’m reading what I’ve wrote and editing through it to fix things. I’m very lucky to get to do this full time and have such a fantastic husband who is so supportive.


Q - What’s your best advice to an aspiring author?
A - Don’t give up, keep writing, and rejections - if you get them - aren’t the end of the world. I have a file with some of them. It just made me try harder.


Q - Why don’t you write ménage books?
A - I read them sometimes. I have nothing against them. I read all kinds of books and enjoy them. I’m turning pages and just watching someone else’s story unfold. The blunt answer is - when I’m writing, I write what I personally find to be the sexiest thing and that is monogamy. Those are the types of men and women that I can relate to best. I live and breathe my characters when I’m writing. They are real to me, they exist, and I’m living inside their worlds up close and personal.


Q - Do you ever use anything from your real life in your books?
A - Yes. Sometimes. You’ll catch some of my characters drinking iced coffee. I think everyone knows I’m hopelessly addicted. My friends have laughed because they’ll catch glimpses of small things like that in books. They get a kick out of it.


Q- What is the best thing about the big move?
A - I can’t pick just one thing! Having my own office is beyond awesome. This is our dream home and I feel blessed every day. We went from super cramped to this. It’s just...WOW! The only sad part is having to wait for my family to join me full time in June. I miss them. They visit me about every two to three weeks but watching them drive away is super tough. Video chats just doesn’t cut it.  Luckily, it’s almost over and they’ll be with me again full time soon. I really love the house, I'm adjusting to the heat well, and we have air conditioning that rocks!


Q - What kinds of habits do you have when you write and how do you write for so many hours?
A - I keep iced coffee next to me. I listen to loud music via headphones. I kind of dance in my chair a lot and that keeps me from getting stiff from sitting too long. I also tend to buy stuff that inspires my imagination and keep it within sight. Mr. Laurann is VERY understanding and he and the kids love video games and watching marathons of things like Doctor Who so I get plenty of time to write. They tell me when I overdo it and pull me away from my desk.


Have a great week!