Terry Spear's Blog, page 446

Not into Tattoos but...

I'm really not into tattoos, but sometimes even someone as picky as me can change her mind. Sometimes it can be considered artwork. Or maybe it's not the tattoo that caught my eye. Hmm, the sculpted body truly is a work of art when it looks this good.



For those of you who have read Killing the Bloodlust, I'm considering offering it in an ebook. Before I do, I'll want to do some more revisions. Anything you'd like to see done differently?

That's the fun with writing. I can change the words, move them around, add, subtract. It's a work of art. Yet some things--like painting can't easily be redone.

I was joking about the spoken word yesterday with a fellow co-worker. I told her I do much better with the written word than the spoken word. I have a chance to revise it hundred-fold in writing. In speaking? It's just out there, bare naked for all to see. And no chance to take it back.

If I had a choice of being a speaker or a writer, you know which I'd prefer. What about you???

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

No More Books?

You've probably heard that Borders is closing a ton of stores. One was near Dallas where I had my first book signing at Valentine's some years ago. It's sad to see the stores go. The bad economy hasn't helped. They say it has to do with not keeping up with the ebook market.

I still can't read in ebook format. I look at a computer screen all the time while I'm trying to write, and for me, I love reading a paper bound book.

Here are the stores that are closing.

http://s.wsj. net/public/ resources/ documents/ st_borders0216_ 20110216. html

And here are some of the publishers that are owed money. I'm sure my own publishers are also. Which means we don't get paid either. And the staff for all the book stores will be let go too.

Penguin $41.1 million
Hachette Book Group $36.9 million
Simon & Schuster $33.75 million
Random House $33.5 million
HarperCollins $25.8 million
Macmillan $11.4 million
Wiley $11.2 million
Perseus $7.8 million
F+W Media $4.6 million
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt $4.4 million
Workman $4 million
McGraw-Hill $3.1 million
Pearson Education $2.8 million
NBN $2 million
Norton $2 million
Zondervan $1.9 million
Hay House $1.7 million
Elsevier Science $1.6 million
Publications Intl. $1.1 million

It affects people in so many ways that we can't even see. What will become of libraries?

*sigh*

I want paper books. I like the feel of them, the look of them, and even though I know that Nook looks more like a book, it isn't. I want to turn a page and slip in a book mark when I'm done reading for the time being.

What about you? Are you giving up on paper books to join the ebook revolution?

I do think it's fantastic, though. The idea you can take hundreds of stories with you on an ereader. What a savings that would be when taking trips. And if I didn't write and read on a computer so much, I'd probably love it too....

Hope you have a great Friday!!! I will! It's FRIDAY!!! And it's been another one of those weeks!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

A Million Things to Do and Not Enough Time to Do Them!

Night before last, I was working on final line edits for Heart of the Highland Wolf. But before I turned out the lights, I read some more of a book I'm judging in a contest. I still have 4 others and 2 more contests to judge after this.
Are you goal oriented? I am. It makes me tick. :) So I was very nearly done with Heart of the Highland Wolf this morning before work. Only 11 pages to go! argh. I managed to finish it at lunch and send it off! Woohoo!
So I wanted to finish the book I'm reading for the contest tonight also. It's nearly done. Alas, I haven't been able to work on The Highland Wolf in Paradise, but intend to get my word count in this weekend. :)
And I missed doing a blog yesterday. Why? I slept in!
By accident!
And I was TRYING to finish the edits on Heart of the Highland Wolf before work. I don't have to have them done until next week, but I'd rather work on this stuff and get it done early. Because, next, I'll be getting editor notes on Dreaming of the Wolf.
I have never lived by Scarlett O'Hara's philosophy of life. "I'll think about it tomorrow."
Tomorrow comes and the deadlines pile up even more.
It reminds me of a case last night: A boy came into the library needing a library book for school the next day. It's 30 minutes before we close and grandpa doesn't have grandma's card to check out the books. Not only that, but they need to go to another library to get another book so he can have it for school the next day.
I asked the boy when he had been given the school project? A week and a half ago.
I've always tried to get jobs done early, if I can. Because who knows what tomorrow will bring.
What about you? Do you tend to think about it tomorrow? Put off today what you can do tomorrow?
Or take the bull by the horns and get the job done today?
After the week I've had at work though, I feel the bull has run me over a few times and the week is only half through. LOL!
Terry"Giving the term alpha male new meaning."www.terryspear.com

Final Edits on Heart of the Highland Wolf

I loved the architecture in Scotland. Quaint and historically appealing. Here is a cafe, although I didn't mean to get such a great view of their garbage cans. LOL We were driving by and so I snapped the shot.

I love final edits! It means that the book is getting close to release. It's a last look to see if there are any errors. It makes me feel that my current work in process can be just as polished too!!!

I love rereading a book that's near release. I've agonized over the beginning, of how it will continue, of how it will end. I've researched and researched and researched to make it as real as a werewolf tale can be.

I love the humor in the story, and the mystery and the suspense. I loved the tie in to historical times and Highland warriors and a castle and clans. I loved the push pull of Ian and Julia's relationship...the desire and pulling apart.

I'm always thrilled to finish a book, but the true enjoyment is in reading the story one final time before it goes to print. When I don't have to look to rewrite scenes, but just to enjoy and try to catch any small mistakes, or change a word or two that would sound better a different way.

Some have asked do I reread my books after they're in print. Yes, for continuity when I'm writing about the same pack. Would Ian's brother Duncan act such and such a way in The Highland Wolf in Paradise? Would his brother Cearnach? Each have distinctive personalities and it was fun showing the differences.

Just like with Destiny of the Wolves.

So I'm off to read some more of Heart of the Highland Wolf-which is no longer work now, but just plain fun. The only bad part is I'm having so much fun writing The Highland Wolf in Paradise, I hate putting it aside!!! :)

Do you ever hate having to redo things though?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Happy Valentine's at Heart of the Highland Wolf!

by

Terry Spear

Ian had even resorted asking his mother finally what to do for his mate for Valentine's Day, when all else failed and no one had any idea what Julia might want.
He finally decided to do what he did best--jump in with both feet and hope he wasn't in the doghouse for eons.
"Julia," he said, finding her in the gardens, writing about the plants for a scene in her new book.
She looked up at him, smiling. She was beautiful, a treasure. What could he give her that would tell her how much he loved her that didn't seem to be a commercialized version of love packaged neatly with a red and pink bow.
"Would you...like to walk with me?"
Her smile grew. "Oh, Ian, we haven't done so since I first arrived, what with your concern over the finances and all."
He raised his brows, hope renewed. "A picnic perhaps?"
"Yes, I'd love that. We haven't done that before."
"We could take the dogs."
"Of course, they'd love to run."
And so it was, they rode horses with the Irish wolfhounds running alongside, had a picnic by the waterfall rushing into the creek, and enjoyed each other as they had before.
He didn't say the words--Happy Valentine's--because they didn't mean what he felt in his heart for Julia. He held her close, their feet and calves wet from wading in the creek, the dogs dashing in and out around them, and he remembered just why he loved her so much. It wasn't about hearts and flowers and candy. It was about this. Sharing the time together away from everything else--remembering why they were together in the first place.
"I love you, lass," he whispered into her hair and tightened his arms around her waist.
"I know," she said, smiling up at him. "How did you know I've wanted to come here ever since things settled down? I was afraid to ask because you've been so worried about the money."
"Ah, Julia, you only had to ask." And he vowed they'd do it more often, to show her just how much being with her like this meant.
Happy Valentines from my wolves to you! Hope you enjoyed a preview of what it's like when you get to read Heart of the Highland Wolf...
Any special Valentine's plans?
Terry "Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Valentines in the Highlands--Heart of the Highland Wolf

by

Terry Spear

"She's a romance author, Ian," Cearnach warned, his next eldest brother usually always cheerful, but now he scowled. "The lass will think you don't love her."

Ian waved a hand dismissing him as he tried to study the financial reports his next elder brother sent him. Everything was still a mess unless Duncan managed to get hold of that swindler Silverman in the Grand Cayman Islands and wring their money out of him. "Julia writes about romance, aye, but it doesn't mean she believes in all that stuff--chocolate hearts and roses and cards better suited to some English dandy who smells more fragrant than a woman."

Cearnach smiled.

Ian sat up taller at his desk. "'Tis a man who keeps her warm at night when the cold seeps through the castle walls that makes her happy."

"Maybe true," Cearnach said slowly, glancing out the window. "But after Heather received roses, a box of chocolates, and a large ornate Valentine's card with hearts and roses covering it, I doubt your mate will be happy to learn of it and that you gave Julia nothing."

Ian came out of his chair so fast, Cearnach whirled around to see the matter.

"Who sent Heather these things?" Ian ground out. Wasn't it enough that some American had been paid to lure her out of the castle and cause all kinds of havoc?

"An anynomous caller. Who in their right mind would send anything of the sort to our cousin, naming himself, knowing how you'd skewer him if you found out?" Cearnach smiled. "She is having such fun, trying to figure out who might have sent them."

"He'd better not show up here, whoever he is, if he doesn't speak to me first and ask permission to see her."

Cearnach sighed. "How does Julia manage living with such an archaic laird? But mark my words, Ian, if you don't get her something for Valentine's, she will think you don't care."

Ian shook his head. "You're wrong about the lass. She knows I love her."

"Fine." Cearnach walked to the door and opened it. "Come in."

A man carrying a box of chocolates with a card attached and one dozen roses entered Ian's office.

"Cearnach, I couldn't give these to--"

Cearnach quickly raised his hand to stop his tirade. "They're from your bonny lass. 'Tis a shame you didn't think of it first."

Ian at once felt two centimeters tall. But hadn't he shown her how to ride a horse, even how to weild a sword? Taken her to every castle she'd wanted to visit, even? Promised to take her to the next Celtic fair so she could write her next Highland romance. He gave her anything she wanted. At least she only had but to ask.

He scrubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin. If Duncan didn't get that money back, they'd be in the poor house once again, and risk losing the castle all over again. The thought of begging for someone else to film a movie here, or turn the place into a bed and breakfast made the haggis in his belly do sumersaults.

He sat back down at the desk, feeling defeated. "Now that she's done this for me, I can't very well do the same for her."

Cearnach shook his head. "Can you think of anything she might like that she doesn't have? Or something she'd like to do?"

If they didn't have such money problems, or the worry about Duncan in the Grand Caymen Islands and how serious the situation was becoming there, he wondered if Julia would like for him to take her to an island paradise of her own.

He shook his head. It couldn't be done by Valentine's Day in any case.

Cearnach gave him a sobering look. "Well, if I were you, I'd come up with something. Fast."

:)
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Cover for Goddess in Training!

Well, I didn't get a whole lot of writing done, but I did finish reading a book to offer an author quote, made 2 book covers! And edited and uploaded...or at least before I went to bed last night, was in the process of uploading an ebook.

I was like 679 in line!!!! And after hours, I was at 54 before I finally had to retire for the night. I also sent the newsletter so if anyone didn't get it, just let me know. But it was an interesting process. Okay, weird, it's hung up on someone's upload, so I'm #13 and was at #13 which I hope isn't prophetic since I went to bed at midnight. Hmm....

Now it's time to get back to writing on The Highland Wolf in Paradise and reading another book for the contest! I did make my word count already this week. Actually 5,000 over it! Only 20,000 to go!!!

Hope you all have a great Sunday!

And what do you think of this cover--at least as far as the picture goes?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Cover for Goddess for Hire!

Well, I didn't get a whole lot of writing done, but I did finish reading a book to offer an author quote, made 2 book covers--which I need to change the title because it should be Goddess in Training! so I'll work on that first thing in the morning, and edited and uploaded...or at least before I went to bed last night, was in the process of uploading an ebook.

I was like 679 in line!!!! And after hours, I was at 54 before I finally had to retire for the night. I also sent the newsletter so if anyone didn't get it, just let me know. But it was an interesting process.

Now it's time to get back to writing on The Highland Wolf in Paradise and reading another book for the contest! I did make my word count already this week. Actually 5,000 over it!

Hope you all have a great Sunday!

And what do you think of this cover--at least as far as the picture goes?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Newsletter Off and Cover Made!

At least I hope this works for Seducing the Huntress!
Alas, I don't have the hunky vampire on the cover, but the story takes place in an island paradise, so I figured this was close to what I was looking for.
Hope everyone received their newsletter! I'm off to finish reading a book to offer an author quote and hope you all are enjoying your Saturdays!
But if you have a chance to comment, what do you think of the cover? It will be shrunk down to thumbnail size, which I don't know how to do to see if the title can still be read, which is the main thing. Well, my name also. :)
Technology ensures we're always learning!
Terry"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."www.terryspear.com

This is How I Feel!

Yep, I'm so glad it's Friday. Usually, it's just another day of work, but today, and I have no idea why since I took off Wednesday because of the icy weather--but I definitely feel it's a Friday and the need to have the weekend break!!!

Of course, I wrote all Wednesday...so it wasn't like I lazed around all day. But how could I have a day off in the middle of the week and still feel I need a weekend break so badly???

Anyway, I feel like all of the above!!! Ever have a Friday like that?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com