Jeannie Lin's Blog, page 31

While I was sleeping…

I always know what time it is in the UK. At least, I know when 5pm hits over there and the business day is over. That block from when I wake up to about noon is when I wait eagerly for news…if there's any wait-worthy news on the pipeline…which there usually is.

In any case, I woke up this morning to a wonderful surprise. The powers that be have decided to rename my Harlequin Undone short from "Warrior Bride" to "The Taming of Mei Lin". The Undone line is e-published, with a possibility of...

Cover Cravings – Asian media

Coincidentally, I saw this link about Asian Covers the day after my cover was released. The blogger makes a comment that many of the Asian faces are occluded or cropped or not shown as full body.

I wouldn't quite agree while looking at these covers, though these were supposed to be the ones that the author identified with. I know, however, that this has been an issue with books with ethnic characters.

I'm happy to say, no one can look at Butterfly Swords and not think it's set in China. Now is ...

Guest blog: Window to the World

I'm blogging today at Unusual Historicals about my internet location scouting process. I had struggled with whether to make up my own world based on China or write it as a historical. There's plenty of discussion over which is harder – historical or historical fantasy. The truth is, I think there's just as much worldbuilding needed for either of them. Your focus is just slightly shifted.

Come take a look to see my internet wanderings and how I look on China from afar. One day, I hope to...

The highly anticipated cover

Highly anticipated by me, of course. I just received a scan of the cover flat this morning. Apparently, the Harlequin art department worked quite hard putting it together and I'm very grateful. The cover stands out from across the room!

But the part that made me most weepy…yes, okay. I did sniffle a little…The part that made me most verklempt was the little inscription along the spine that says "Tang Dynasty – China". I've read so many Harlequin Historicals and I've seen different categories a...

Global Traveler – South Korea

I always thought being a travel writer would be the best job in the world. My Little Sis happened to marry a journalist and travel writer, lucky gal! He hasn't traveled much lately and now does most of his research through phone interviews and such, but one of their first dates was in Tahiti. And on my sister's birthday too!

You can't say that didn't have something to do with her being swept off her feet.

Recently, the BIL asked me for some reflections on my stint in Seoul as a technical...

Presenting at LARA meeting on Sunday

Wow, this trip snuck up on me since I've been busy revising and packing items for the Ruby-Slippered Gift basket to be shipped off. This Sunday, June 13th, I'll be presenting the "Page 1, 5, 50 – Keeping them Hooked" workshop for the Los Angeles Romance Authors (LARA) chapter at the Encino Barnes & Noble.

I'm rather excited as LARA was my home chapter and I'll be seeing a lot of friends and familiar faces. It's also a very good thing that I get to do this one more time before presenting...

Random thoughts

I was picking up a couple of things at the Walgreen's and noticed that the woman on the Arizona tea label is dressed in a Tang Dynasty hanfu. There's a little pagoda in the background. Hmmm….I thought, that might be a nice cover, if it was  "romanticized" a bit.

A sign that I've been jonesing to see what the cover to Butterfly Swords  will look like? I should also start practicing in my costume for the "Dress for Historical Success" workshop. The sleeves on this thing are just amazing.

Tang Dynasty Poem

Something I really appreciated while reading Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay was how he conveyed the importance of poetry in politics and discourse. All students preparing to take the civics exams studied poetry. Educated men were expected to be able to come up with verses on command and use them to communicate their agendas in subtle ways.

I'm revising The Dragon and the Pearl (please, oh please don't change the name…oh Harlequin marketing gods!). The first pass is concentrating on the hero. ...

Happy 2nd Anniversary

Hubby and I celebrate our 2nd anniversary today. It's the cotton anniversary and I've yet to pick out his present. It's right now between the practical: dishtowels. Or the amusing: silly briefs/boxers. He's specified that for tradition's sake, it should be 100% cotton.

For our first anniversary, we exchanged movie tickets to Star Trek — while I rolled my eyes at him. I wonder if there's an updated list for the modern age.

I have until my lunch break to make a decision…

Last Day for Brenda Novak Auction

Happy Memorial Day to US visitors!

As the Brenda Novak auction nears a close, I wanted to put in a plug for the HUGE gift basket that the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood has posted. For the last two months, the Ruby Sisters have been sending goodies from all over to me and I think it's an absolute steal.

Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood Giftbasket of Goodies

What do you get?

- A partial critique from 3 Golden Heart '09 finalists including moi – Cynthia Justlin (Suspense), Amanda Brice (YA), Jeannie Lin...