Liz Crowe's Blog, page 23
January 15, 2013
My Desensitized Bits--A Reader/Writer's Journey
Greetings and happy Tuesday in January (a.k.a. Purgatory).
I have a sort of sensitive topic to address today so bear with me.
In the course of my research for the final Stewart Realty Book, Good Faith, I'm pondering the addictive personality. You know the type--usually good looking, athletic or otherwise driven to succeed, many times off the charts smart but with an inability to curb excess. Be it alcohol, drugs, exercise, work, or even sex, this person is a therapist's wet dream I-can-send-my-kids-to-college-thanks client. They are, in short an -oholic waiting to happen. I have known a few, and am related to a few more. I could be accused of this at different times of my life, the difference being (I think) that I caught myself, recognized it, and made changes to my own behavior accordingly.
Having watched a young relative drink themselves to death, literally, despite valiant efforts to "cure him" on the part of a lot of people, I realize this is no easy task for many humans. So please before you dash down to the comments section to lecture me let me make one thing perfectly clear: IT IS MY NON PROFESSIONAL OPINION that the alco/narco/sex/work/fitness/food-oholic needs help, support, and many times to be restrained physically from the thing that has them addicted however, ultimately the only change that EVER sticks comes from within that person. IF they can get the proper help.
So, back to my research (now that you are calm again). I am crafting a crucial character that the novel GOOD FAITH will turn upon, whose entire life has been spent in the spotlight--both for good and bad reasons. He came into the world a surprise, but was the center of attention from day one thanks to his high maintenance tendencies. Because his parents are wealthy, but driven they give him the sort of attention THEY got ("hey we turned out all right") from their equally successful sets of parents. Which turns out to be unintentionally half-hearted at times, and stiflingly overbearing at others. This book will explore a lot of things, including how parents do their best, wanting for their children a different life than they led and in the process merely enable a certain type of DNA-driven personality to be lazy, and expect things to be handed to them. Not that this character is "lazy" in the traditional sense. He is a talented athlete, ends up playing full scholarship football at an NCAA division one school (star quarterback with NFL hopes) and his focus on that from the time he could hold a football is admirable--and many times an addiction in itself.
Without revealing much more to my loyal fans and potential new readers, rest assured that this final novel in the best selling Stewart Realty series will pack a series of punches for this young man's family, his friends and the young girl who loves him so much it nearly destroys her--until she figures out maybe she can't love him anymore.
So, the research led me to the MOST fascinating article in Salon.com (my go-to source for news every day, right after the Louisville Courier Journal on line and annarbor.com). Written by a young man trying to come to terms with his inability to enjoy "real" sex thanks to his early addiction to internet pornography, it really got me thinking about those of us who write/edit in the realm of "lady porn" a.k.a. erotic romance.
While I really am trying to encourage new readers or those who stop me in the bar and ask how the "porn writing" is going (with a knowing rise of the eyebrows) to consider what I write as "just fiction," please, I have a few works that are best described as sex books--mostly those in my "menage" catalogue. I read these, and enjoy the well written ones, but have found myself less and less..ah...stimulated, erotically speaking the more I read them. Don't get me wrong: I still maintain to new authors in this genre that if you DON'T require a little "me time" during or after you write a sex scene of your own, you are really Doing It Wrong.
However, since this is my blog-thing I just thought I'd point out that without realizing it, my response to a "desensitization period" I may go through because I'm reading way too much explicit sex in my fiction can lead to a similar "out of body" experience as the young man writing the article about online porn. As many of you know, I don't read romance UNLESS it contains erotic elements. And, in an apparent odd transposition, I sometimes find the more subtle, less overt activity going on in "mainstream fiction" even more mentally stimulating than the blatant "lick, suck, pound, thrust and groan" going on in the majority of the books I have written.
Just an observation really. I don't plan to lighten up much on the explicit sex in my books, but I will say I am taking a lighter touch, trying to make it mentally stimulating and less like "porn writing" if you know what I mean. All in the name of improving my craft....
***EDITOR'S NOTE: This is NO WAY meant to belittle anyone's books, style, preferences or genre. So get a grip on your egos and just ponder how you handle your own moments of sexual desensitization****
Liz
And the blatant Liz Promo of the day: JOIN THE ROMANCE FOR REAL LIFE GROUP ON FACEBOOK NOW! I'm about to launch a 3-week reveal party for MUTUAL RELEASE the 7th Stewart Realty book that could (like book 8 will be ) be read as a stand alone novel with BDSM elements. "MUTUAL RELEASE: A NOVEL ABOUT TRUST, ON THE LONG ROAD TO LOVE."
I have a sort of sensitive topic to address today so bear with me.
In the course of my research for the final Stewart Realty Book, Good Faith, I'm pondering the addictive personality. You know the type--usually good looking, athletic or otherwise driven to succeed, many times off the charts smart but with an inability to curb excess. Be it alcohol, drugs, exercise, work, or even sex, this person is a therapist's wet dream I-can-send-my-kids-to-college-thanks client. They are, in short an -oholic waiting to happen. I have known a few, and am related to a few more. I could be accused of this at different times of my life, the difference being (I think) that I caught myself, recognized it, and made changes to my own behavior accordingly.
Having watched a young relative drink themselves to death, literally, despite valiant efforts to "cure him" on the part of a lot of people, I realize this is no easy task for many humans. So please before you dash down to the comments section to lecture me let me make one thing perfectly clear: IT IS MY NON PROFESSIONAL OPINION that the alco/narco/sex/work/fitness/food-oholic needs help, support, and many times to be restrained physically from the thing that has them addicted however, ultimately the only change that EVER sticks comes from within that person. IF they can get the proper help.
So, back to my research (now that you are calm again). I am crafting a crucial character that the novel GOOD FAITH will turn upon, whose entire life has been spent in the spotlight--both for good and bad reasons. He came into the world a surprise, but was the center of attention from day one thanks to his high maintenance tendencies. Because his parents are wealthy, but driven they give him the sort of attention THEY got ("hey we turned out all right") from their equally successful sets of parents. Which turns out to be unintentionally half-hearted at times, and stiflingly overbearing at others. This book will explore a lot of things, including how parents do their best, wanting for their children a different life than they led and in the process merely enable a certain type of DNA-driven personality to be lazy, and expect things to be handed to them. Not that this character is "lazy" in the traditional sense. He is a talented athlete, ends up playing full scholarship football at an NCAA division one school (star quarterback with NFL hopes) and his focus on that from the time he could hold a football is admirable--and many times an addiction in itself.
Without revealing much more to my loyal fans and potential new readers, rest assured that this final novel in the best selling Stewart Realty series will pack a series of punches for this young man's family, his friends and the young girl who loves him so much it nearly destroys her--until she figures out maybe she can't love him anymore.
So, the research led me to the MOST fascinating article in Salon.com (my go-to source for news every day, right after the Louisville Courier Journal on line and annarbor.com). Written by a young man trying to come to terms with his inability to enjoy "real" sex thanks to his early addiction to internet pornography, it really got me thinking about those of us who write/edit in the realm of "lady porn" a.k.a. erotic romance.
While I really am trying to encourage new readers or those who stop me in the bar and ask how the "porn writing" is going (with a knowing rise of the eyebrows) to consider what I write as "just fiction," please, I have a few works that are best described as sex books--mostly those in my "menage" catalogue. I read these, and enjoy the well written ones, but have found myself less and less..ah...stimulated, erotically speaking the more I read them. Don't get me wrong: I still maintain to new authors in this genre that if you DON'T require a little "me time" during or after you write a sex scene of your own, you are really Doing It Wrong.
However, since this is my blog-thing I just thought I'd point out that without realizing it, my response to a "desensitization period" I may go through because I'm reading way too much explicit sex in my fiction can lead to a similar "out of body" experience as the young man writing the article about online porn. As many of you know, I don't read romance UNLESS it contains erotic elements. And, in an apparent odd transposition, I sometimes find the more subtle, less overt activity going on in "mainstream fiction" even more mentally stimulating than the blatant "lick, suck, pound, thrust and groan" going on in the majority of the books I have written.
Just an observation really. I don't plan to lighten up much on the explicit sex in my books, but I will say I am taking a lighter touch, trying to make it mentally stimulating and less like "porn writing" if you know what I mean. All in the name of improving my craft....
***EDITOR'S NOTE: This is NO WAY meant to belittle anyone's books, style, preferences or genre. So get a grip on your egos and just ponder how you handle your own moments of sexual desensitization****
Liz
And the blatant Liz Promo of the day: JOIN THE ROMANCE FOR REAL LIFE GROUP ON FACEBOOK NOW! I'm about to launch a 3-week reveal party for MUTUAL RELEASE the 7th Stewart Realty book that could (like book 8 will be ) be read as a stand alone novel with BDSM elements. "MUTUAL RELEASE: A NOVEL ABOUT TRUST, ON THE LONG ROAD TO LOVE."
January 7, 2013
Liz Haz Noms.....
No, not "noms!" I am on a diet...I mean, "have a new eating program."
Noms as in short for nominations!
It's "best of" time and I am thrilled to announce that there are a few opportunities for you to vote for me in various categories.
First, Sizzling PR/Reviews has my Stewart Realty series up for best series and Floor Time for Best Erotic Romance.
Here is the link for that: http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/2012/12/sizzling-read-of-year.html?zx=ac963606ba1f4e0d
And if threesomes are YOUR thing (raises eyebrow) then you can vote (or nominate) one of mine. Currently Honey Red is up! here is that link: http://marywhispers.blog.com/?p=1302
And finally, the Loves Romances Cafe has just nominated me (little old me) BEST AUTHOR of 2012 and CHEEKY BLONDE as best romantic suspense. IF I were the type I would squee. As it stands I will fist pump and clink beer glasses with you. You have to join the group at this link and you will receive voting info in your email: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe/
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
LIZ
p.s. be sure and join my Facebook group for exclusive shit....http://www.facebook.com/groups/RomanceForRealLife/
Noms as in short for nominations!
It's "best of" time and I am thrilled to announce that there are a few opportunities for you to vote for me in various categories.
First, Sizzling PR/Reviews has my Stewart Realty series up for best series and Floor Time for Best Erotic Romance.
Here is the link for that: http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/2012/12/sizzling-read-of-year.html?zx=ac963606ba1f4e0d
And if threesomes are YOUR thing (raises eyebrow) then you can vote (or nominate) one of mine. Currently Honey Red is up! here is that link: http://marywhispers.blog.com/?p=1302
And finally, the Loves Romances Cafe has just nominated me (little old me) BEST AUTHOR of 2012 and CHEEKY BLONDE as best romantic suspense. IF I were the type I would squee. As it stands I will fist pump and clink beer glasses with you. You have to join the group at this link and you will receive voting info in your email: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe/
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
LIZ
p.s. be sure and join my Facebook group for exclusive shit....http://www.facebook.com/groups/RomanceForRealLife/
December 31, 2012
2012 Was Definitely A....Year.
Greeting Liz fans, friends, followers and all those who just can't keep from visiting this blog 'cause it's so cool.
I'm having a whirlwind of a year end, as you already know. The holidays were kinda weird given all that's gone on this year, events of all sorts of bizarre and at times horrific magnitude to me personally. But you know what? Now that The Moment I've Been Waiting for All Damn Year Long is finally here....that "2012 finally in the rear view mirror" moment....I'm feeling a little remiss for not naming all the GREAT stuff that has happened to me as a writer. So, let's count them down, shall we?
Liz's Top 10 Writerly-type Events for 2012:
10. Getting some straight-up flamer haters. Yeah, I guess you can claim that it means "you've arrived" but until you read something THAT nasty/ugly about you and your "supposed" writing talents, for no real reason on a social network by someone who you don't even know and haven't had a change to truly be a bitch to, you don't realize how quickly you can be transported right back to middle school mean girls, emotionally speaking. I've learned from it and want to to personally thank those of you who feel that Being a Grownup and Mature about books you don't like is something you are allowed to leave behind when you hide behind your social networking avatar. Selling a shit ton of books is what I did this year, despite our little tiff. I hope you have a better year. I know I plan to.
9. ROMFEST in Gatlinburg! It was a whole bunch of firsts for this newb! My first writer's convention, my first book signing, my first "book club meeting at breakfast with a table full of new fans," my first face-to-face and fun time spent with amazing publisher/editor/cheerleader/and now friend Jessica--all sorts of great stuff! I loved it and plan to be there again in 2013. I had hoped to sponsor a party but the "2012 sucked ass generally" reality is precluding that. But I'll be there with my par-tay shoes on and for those of you cool famous types I met, THANKS for the fun time!
8. A bunch of hardware: My first semi big time review awards came through from Just Erotic Romance Reviews! 3 of my books (Sweat Equity, Essence of Time, Paradise Hops) got their highest ranking (Gold Star = "best of the best" in their opinion). I was also the proud recipient of many 5 star reviews, several "Top Pick" nods from The Romance Reviews, am up for Best Read of the Year on one site and have several others claiming one or more of my books as among their favs for 2012. Not too shabby. Of course, I also got pretty much eviscerated, right and proper, by RT so it truly is a karmic balance, this "reviews" thing. Being #1 on a big old Facebook list/group thing naming Floor Time (Stewart Realty #1) as the best book after 50 Shades was pretty much a buzz too. I expect the movie deal any moment now.
7. Adding 2 publishers: I had a brewery based menage book published by Ellora's Cave in 2012. Pretty exciting but mostly very eye opening. And I began a relationship with Tri-Destiny Publshing that frankly, turned a year that was headed right into the crapper for other reasons into Something Incredible. More on this later....
6. Changing my mind: I got the rights back to the Brewing Passion series...the publishing adventure that started it all more or less, for me. I plan to eliminate the "choose your romance" element of the main novel (The Tap Room) revise the entire series, and publish them with Tri-Destiny in 2014.
5. Going mobile: This may seem like a small thing if you are not a writer, but I had myself convinced that I could "only write" on my big Mac computer on the desk at home, while editing, promoting and networking could be accomplished on the Macbook Air. Not this year---I wrote the entire novel Essence of Time in about 3 weeks beginning on a verandah at The Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas and that ladies and gents popped my writer suspicion cherry. NOW I write on everything, even at times, the notes app on my phone.
4. Turning rejection into best selling mojo: Paradise Hops is one of the books published this year by Tri-Destiny. It was one of the 2 books that received many rejections before finding a home. Cheeky Blonde being the other, which was published by Decadent Publishing. Both of these books are brewery-based and both are departures from the tradition-bound "romance" genre. Despite that, at least one of them sold nearly 2000 copies its first month of publication (Paradise Hops) and the other (Cheeky Blonde) was one of my first "silver star" best selling award notice recipients on all Romance ebooks. Paradise Hops lead to Item Number 10 on this list--go on back up, I'll wait.
3. Blogging .... and people actually read it: The Brewing Passion Blog went over 100,000 hits about a month ago and The A2 Beer Wench blog is right at 99,000. Both blogs have been in existence for about 2 years now. I try to keep them interesting, fresh, pertinent with just enough give away freebie stuff to keep you coming back.
2. Local book signing X 2: Thanks to the hard work and efforts on my behalf by Tri-Destiny publishing's team of publicists, I had my first live, local book signing in November. Nicola's Books is one of 2 independent book stores left in Ann Arbor, and is the bigger one, about the size of a "mall Walden books" and if you don't know what that is you may just be too young to read my books. We had a GREAT time, met fans who travelled from far flung locales like Illinois and even Toronto, Canada. I got the news that weekend that my books had been requested by the Ann Arbor Library system too which was way cool in a way that even surprised me. I dovetailed my two worlds in December, by hosting a women's networking event in my brewery's new rental hall where I signed my books along with several other Michigan based lady scribblers.
And the Number 1 thing that rocked about 2012:
Finding a publisher who gets me, my voice and is dedicated to pushing me hard both creatively and professionally to reach the goals I've set for myself. I have a couple of fairly lofty projects in the pipeline for 2013, including a couple of mainstream fiction novels I want to at least start while continuing to write sexy romance novels that piss people off and get me more fans.
But 2012 was the year of Jack Gordon--the year the Stewart Realty series FINALLY (finally, thank you god and sonny Jesus) saw the light of day and turned me from "just another" into "something new." While I am befuddled more than a little by the trends in this genre thanks to a certain best selling phenomenon I honestly tried to read but simply could not, I think 2013 is gonna bring even more great stuff to my very own "Romance For Real Life" list of books PLUS some very new and potentially controversial new novels.
THANK YOU TRI-DESTINY PUBLISHING. I thank you. Jack and Sara thank you. As do Craig, Suzanne, Beth, Matthew, Brandis, Mo, Rafe, Rob, Lila, Ryan, Grace, Henri, Lori, Eli, Garrett, Nick, Ian, Hannah, Evan, Julie, Brandis 2, Blair, Gabe, Lillian, Kate, Parker, Nico, Metin, Alicia and many soon to be named others. We may not be the biggest but we work our flipping hardest to be the very best. Thanks for giving me this chance.
Yes. They are taking submissions.
Happy New Year One and All!
All the books pictured above are available, many in ebook and print on my Amazon Author page.
Watch for the "WHAT'S COMING FROM LIZ IN 2013" POST NEXT WEEK!
JOIN MY ROMANCE FOR REAL LIFE FACEBOOK GROUP TO GET ALL SORTS OF EXCLUSIVE EXCERPTS, DELETED SCENES FROM THE STEWART SERIES AND INSIGHTS INTO WHAT'S COMING SOON....
Liz
My latest release HEALING HEARTS launches the Challenge Series, new from Decadent Publishing!
I WILL AWARD ONE FREE LIZ BOOK TO ONE LUCKY RANDOMLY CHOSEN COMMENTER WHO ANSWERS THIS QUESTION: What was your first Liz Crowe book and which one was your favorite? All other comments welcome, but keep the flaming to yourself. thanks.
I'm having a whirlwind of a year end, as you already know. The holidays were kinda weird given all that's gone on this year, events of all sorts of bizarre and at times horrific magnitude to me personally. But you know what? Now that The Moment I've Been Waiting for All Damn Year Long is finally here....that "2012 finally in the rear view mirror" moment....I'm feeling a little remiss for not naming all the GREAT stuff that has happened to me as a writer. So, let's count them down, shall we?
Liz's Top 10 Writerly-type Events for 2012:
10. Getting some straight-up flamer haters. Yeah, I guess you can claim that it means "you've arrived" but until you read something THAT nasty/ugly about you and your "supposed" writing talents, for no real reason on a social network by someone who you don't even know and haven't had a change to truly be a bitch to, you don't realize how quickly you can be transported right back to middle school mean girls, emotionally speaking. I've learned from it and want to to personally thank those of you who feel that Being a Grownup and Mature about books you don't like is something you are allowed to leave behind when you hide behind your social networking avatar. Selling a shit ton of books is what I did this year, despite our little tiff. I hope you have a better year. I know I plan to.
9. ROMFEST in Gatlinburg! It was a whole bunch of firsts for this newb! My first writer's convention, my first book signing, my first "book club meeting at breakfast with a table full of new fans," my first face-to-face and fun time spent with amazing publisher/editor/cheerleader/and now friend Jessica--all sorts of great stuff! I loved it and plan to be there again in 2013. I had hoped to sponsor a party but the "2012 sucked ass generally" reality is precluding that. But I'll be there with my par-tay shoes on and for those of you cool famous types I met, THANKS for the fun time!
8. A bunch of hardware: My first semi big time review awards came through from Just Erotic Romance Reviews! 3 of my books (Sweat Equity, Essence of Time, Paradise Hops) got their highest ranking (Gold Star = "best of the best" in their opinion). I was also the proud recipient of many 5 star reviews, several "Top Pick" nods from The Romance Reviews, am up for Best Read of the Year on one site and have several others claiming one or more of my books as among their favs for 2012. Not too shabby. Of course, I also got pretty much eviscerated, right and proper, by RT so it truly is a karmic balance, this "reviews" thing. Being #1 on a big old Facebook list/group thing naming Floor Time (Stewart Realty #1) as the best book after 50 Shades was pretty much a buzz too. I expect the movie deal any moment now.
7. Adding 2 publishers: I had a brewery based menage book published by Ellora's Cave in 2012. Pretty exciting but mostly very eye opening. And I began a relationship with Tri-Destiny Publshing that frankly, turned a year that was headed right into the crapper for other reasons into Something Incredible. More on this later....
6. Changing my mind: I got the rights back to the Brewing Passion series...the publishing adventure that started it all more or less, for me. I plan to eliminate the "choose your romance" element of the main novel (The Tap Room) revise the entire series, and publish them with Tri-Destiny in 2014.
5. Going mobile: This may seem like a small thing if you are not a writer, but I had myself convinced that I could "only write" on my big Mac computer on the desk at home, while editing, promoting and networking could be accomplished on the Macbook Air. Not this year---I wrote the entire novel Essence of Time in about 3 weeks beginning on a verandah at The Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas and that ladies and gents popped my writer suspicion cherry. NOW I write on everything, even at times, the notes app on my phone.
4. Turning rejection into best selling mojo: Paradise Hops is one of the books published this year by Tri-Destiny. It was one of the 2 books that received many rejections before finding a home. Cheeky Blonde being the other, which was published by Decadent Publishing. Both of these books are brewery-based and both are departures from the tradition-bound "romance" genre. Despite that, at least one of them sold nearly 2000 copies its first month of publication (Paradise Hops) and the other (Cheeky Blonde) was one of my first "silver star" best selling award notice recipients on all Romance ebooks. Paradise Hops lead to Item Number 10 on this list--go on back up, I'll wait.
3. Blogging .... and people actually read it: The Brewing Passion Blog went over 100,000 hits about a month ago and The A2 Beer Wench blog is right at 99,000. Both blogs have been in existence for about 2 years now. I try to keep them interesting, fresh, pertinent with just enough give away freebie stuff to keep you coming back.
2. Local book signing X 2: Thanks to the hard work and efforts on my behalf by Tri-Destiny publishing's team of publicists, I had my first live, local book signing in November. Nicola's Books is one of 2 independent book stores left in Ann Arbor, and is the bigger one, about the size of a "mall Walden books" and if you don't know what that is you may just be too young to read my books. We had a GREAT time, met fans who travelled from far flung locales like Illinois and even Toronto, Canada. I got the news that weekend that my books had been requested by the Ann Arbor Library system too which was way cool in a way that even surprised me. I dovetailed my two worlds in December, by hosting a women's networking event in my brewery's new rental hall where I signed my books along with several other Michigan based lady scribblers.
And the Number 1 thing that rocked about 2012:
Finding a publisher who gets me, my voice and is dedicated to pushing me hard both creatively and professionally to reach the goals I've set for myself. I have a couple of fairly lofty projects in the pipeline for 2013, including a couple of mainstream fiction novels I want to at least start while continuing to write sexy romance novels that piss people off and get me more fans.
But 2012 was the year of Jack Gordon--the year the Stewart Realty series FINALLY (finally, thank you god and sonny Jesus) saw the light of day and turned me from "just another" into "something new." While I am befuddled more than a little by the trends in this genre thanks to a certain best selling phenomenon I honestly tried to read but simply could not, I think 2013 is gonna bring even more great stuff to my very own "Romance For Real Life" list of books PLUS some very new and potentially controversial new novels.
THANK YOU TRI-DESTINY PUBLISHING. I thank you. Jack and Sara thank you. As do Craig, Suzanne, Beth, Matthew, Brandis, Mo, Rafe, Rob, Lila, Ryan, Grace, Henri, Lori, Eli, Garrett, Nick, Ian, Hannah, Evan, Julie, Brandis 2, Blair, Gabe, Lillian, Kate, Parker, Nico, Metin, Alicia and many soon to be named others. We may not be the biggest but we work our flipping hardest to be the very best. Thanks for giving me this chance.
Yes. They are taking submissions.
Happy New Year One and All!
All the books pictured above are available, many in ebook and print on my Amazon Author page.
Watch for the "WHAT'S COMING FROM LIZ IN 2013" POST NEXT WEEK!
JOIN MY ROMANCE FOR REAL LIFE FACEBOOK GROUP TO GET ALL SORTS OF EXCLUSIVE EXCERPTS, DELETED SCENES FROM THE STEWART SERIES AND INSIGHTS INTO WHAT'S COMING SOON....
Liz
My latest release HEALING HEARTS launches the Challenge Series, new from Decadent Publishing!
I WILL AWARD ONE FREE LIZ BOOK TO ONE LUCKY RANDOMLY CHOSEN COMMENTER WHO ANSWERS THIS QUESTION: What was your first Liz Crowe book and which one was your favorite? All other comments welcome, but keep the flaming to yourself. thanks.
December 26, 2012
A Sweet End to The Year
HONEY RED, a Menage for Real Life novel releases on 12/30/12. It is already a Pre order Best Seller on AllRomance Ebooks and has wracked up several 4 and 5 star ARC reviews. I am very proud of this book, as it represents the culmination of an idea I had for nearly a year--one of three people who are struggling to overcome various personal challenges, from a blind vet suffering from PTSD, to a single dad trying to come to terms with his new role in life, and finally to a woman who looks up after nearly 7 years of heads-down focus on her master's degree to find herself completely alone.
My publisher, Tri-Desinty, let me go in a different direction with the cover as well, having my brewery's art director design it, based on a beer label that is at the heart of the story.
BLURB:
Two men suffering from visible and invisible wounds meet by chance circumstance.
Nick Traynor and Ian Donovan spend a lot of time and effort keeping it very hot, only physical, and purely superficial. But when their resolve starts to slip, a woman is tossed into their midst.
Hannah Williams wants nothing more than to do her job until something better comes along, but is forced to own up to her visceral reaction to Ian, her new boss, and later to Nick, his sometimes lover.
Lust has a funny way of turning into companionship, and eventually evolving into a deeper connection. Faced with the internal and external complications of their potential three-way relationship, they begin to heal and trust, to consider that it might work. Then life tosses them a hardball, forcing them back into their respective corners, where each must choose what is most important.
Three people determined not to commit, thrown together by fate and undeniable attraction--their nights heat up and emotions run high in spite of a claimed mutual desire to "keep it simple." In the process of honest self-discovery, can they learn that while love is never simple, it is definitely worth fighting for?
ONE SEXY EXCERPT: Alyssa knelt down beside him, took his hand. “We’re going to a movie. You okay here with Ian?” she whispered. He nodded but was very much not sure that he would be. The dog whimpered.“Later brother,” Gavin called out. “Talk soon Nick. Good luck next week with the new job.”Ian walked into the house with the couple, leaving Nick alone with his swirling thoughts and pounding skull. Brutus repositioned to Nick’s left, between him and the chair Ian had just vacated. He put his huge head on Nick’s hand. “Dude,” Nick said softly. “I think I just figured out why you’re upset. And let me just tell you now, it’s okay. I’m okay. I’m … agitated, but it’s normal.” He patted the dog’s nose, then leaned back and stretched his legs out in front of him, relieving the pressure building once more under his jeans.He heard Ian rummaging around in the kitchen, opening and closing the fridge. Nick took a long, deep breath and made a decision. He smiled when Ian pressed the cold water bottle to his shoulder and took it, but then set it on the table that he knew was to his front right, where it always was. His mind kept roiling but he kept a lid on his urge to suck in a breath when he sensed Ian pulling a chair up on his other side, avoiding the guard dog. “I don’t think he likes me,” the man declared.Nick put a hand on Ian’s leg.. He heard the other man’s breath hitch, and would swear on a stack of procedure manuals he heard his heartbeat increase. Don’t be ridiculous, you can’t hear a heartbeat. But he smiled, and leaned back, leaving his fingers trailing along the denim covering Ian’s thigh. “Oh he’s fine. But I think I figured out how in tune to me he actually is.”“Oh?” Ian touched his fingers, brushed the back of Nick’s hand once, then again, making him shiver.“Yeah, I think he senses how god damned horny I am. Since he has no frame of reference for it, it’s making him nervous, protective.”“Wow,” Ian leaned over and Nick could feel the other man’s lips near his throat. “Impressive,” He said, putting his hand over Nick’s erection.“Yeah,” Nick croaked out, suddenly nervous. “So, I’m typically not…”“Shh…” Ian’s hand left his cock, made its way up his torso, and wound around the back of his neck. “You are pretty amazing.”“No, not really. Just blind. Without a real job. Living in my sister’s house.”“But you look damn good doing all that, trust me.”“You make a point of seducing blind guys you just met?”“I didn’t just meet you. I remember you from a few months…before.”Nick shivered again. This whole thing was somehow right and wrong at the same time. He needed a physical connection, bad, but was unsure if it should be with Ian Donovan. This, of course coming from his now humming and thankfully pain-free brain while his body screeched at him to grab the guy and kiss him.Nick sighed when Ian’s fingers twined in his newly grown hair. He hadn’t had hair this long in over ten years. He’d forgotten what color it was. He sighed, raised his face to the cooling night breeze when Ian’s lips found his jaw and made their slow way down his neck, then up. “You are…very attractive.” Ian’s words made their presence known, curling in and around Nick’s amped up libido and making him grit his teeth.
I'm on tour, as you might expect but we have some FUN posts planned including a couple about beer (by my alter ego: The Ann Arbor Beer Wench) and several character interviews. We start today with a 5- Star ARC review on a new and very cool review site: Shh Mom's Reading.
And the rest of the tour looks something like this:
Site
DateWebsiteShh Moms Reading
12/26/2012 www.shhmomsreading.com 4 My Reading Obsession
12/28/2012 http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/ Reviews by Molly
12/29/2012 http://reviewsbymolly.com Erzabets Enchantments Blog Spot
12/29/2012 http://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.com/ Tsk Tsk What to Read
12/30/2012 http://tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com/p/ Read Our Lips
1/3/2013 http://readourlipsblog.blogspot.com/ Bad Barbs Reviews
1/4/2013 http://badbarbsreviews.blogspot.com/ Not Now Mommy's Reading
1/6/2013 http://www.mommysreading.com/p/ The Risque Redhead Reads
1/6/2013 http://therisqueredheadreads.com/ Sinfully Sexy Books
1/7/2013 http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.com/?m=0 Writer Space (moderated by Bad Barb)
1/7/2013Delphina Reads Too Much
1/8/2013 http://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/ Hesperia Loves Books
1/9/2013 http://www.hesperialovesbooks.com/ Breath of Life
1/10/2013 http://looking-for-a-breath-of-life.blogspot.com/ The Book Wranglers
1/11/2013 www.thebookwranglers.com Mary Whispers Blog
1/11/2013 www.marywhispers.blog.com Harlie's Book Blog
1/13/2013 http://www.harliesbooks.com/ Wicked Readings By Tawania
1/14/2013 http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/2012/ RomFan Reviews
1/15/2013 www.romfanreviews.com Kindle Hooked
1/16/2013 http://kindlehooked.blogspot.com/p/ Flirty Dirty
1/17/2013 http://flirtyanddirtybookblog.com/who-we-are/ Three Chicks and their Books
1/17/2013 www.threechicksandtheirbooks.com Twinsie Talk Book Reviews
1/18/2013 http://www.twinsietalk.blogspot.com/
CHEERS! Happy reading....Liz
My publisher, Tri-Desinty, let me go in a different direction with the cover as well, having my brewery's art director design it, based on a beer label that is at the heart of the story.
BLURB:
Two men suffering from visible and invisible wounds meet by chance circumstance.
Nick Traynor and Ian Donovan spend a lot of time and effort keeping it very hot, only physical, and purely superficial. But when their resolve starts to slip, a woman is tossed into their midst.
Hannah Williams wants nothing more than to do her job until something better comes along, but is forced to own up to her visceral reaction to Ian, her new boss, and later to Nick, his sometimes lover.
Lust has a funny way of turning into companionship, and eventually evolving into a deeper connection. Faced with the internal and external complications of their potential three-way relationship, they begin to heal and trust, to consider that it might work. Then life tosses them a hardball, forcing them back into their respective corners, where each must choose what is most important.
Three people determined not to commit, thrown together by fate and undeniable attraction--their nights heat up and emotions run high in spite of a claimed mutual desire to "keep it simple." In the process of honest self-discovery, can they learn that while love is never simple, it is definitely worth fighting for?
ONE SEXY EXCERPT: Alyssa knelt down beside him, took his hand. “We’re going to a movie. You okay here with Ian?” she whispered. He nodded but was very much not sure that he would be. The dog whimpered.“Later brother,” Gavin called out. “Talk soon Nick. Good luck next week with the new job.”Ian walked into the house with the couple, leaving Nick alone with his swirling thoughts and pounding skull. Brutus repositioned to Nick’s left, between him and the chair Ian had just vacated. He put his huge head on Nick’s hand. “Dude,” Nick said softly. “I think I just figured out why you’re upset. And let me just tell you now, it’s okay. I’m okay. I’m … agitated, but it’s normal.” He patted the dog’s nose, then leaned back and stretched his legs out in front of him, relieving the pressure building once more under his jeans.He heard Ian rummaging around in the kitchen, opening and closing the fridge. Nick took a long, deep breath and made a decision. He smiled when Ian pressed the cold water bottle to his shoulder and took it, but then set it on the table that he knew was to his front right, where it always was. His mind kept roiling but he kept a lid on his urge to suck in a breath when he sensed Ian pulling a chair up on his other side, avoiding the guard dog. “I don’t think he likes me,” the man declared.Nick put a hand on Ian’s leg.. He heard the other man’s breath hitch, and would swear on a stack of procedure manuals he heard his heartbeat increase. Don’t be ridiculous, you can’t hear a heartbeat. But he smiled, and leaned back, leaving his fingers trailing along the denim covering Ian’s thigh. “Oh he’s fine. But I think I figured out how in tune to me he actually is.”“Oh?” Ian touched his fingers, brushed the back of Nick’s hand once, then again, making him shiver.“Yeah, I think he senses how god damned horny I am. Since he has no frame of reference for it, it’s making him nervous, protective.”“Wow,” Ian leaned over and Nick could feel the other man’s lips near his throat. “Impressive,” He said, putting his hand over Nick’s erection.“Yeah,” Nick croaked out, suddenly nervous. “So, I’m typically not…”“Shh…” Ian’s hand left his cock, made its way up his torso, and wound around the back of his neck. “You are pretty amazing.”“No, not really. Just blind. Without a real job. Living in my sister’s house.”“But you look damn good doing all that, trust me.”“You make a point of seducing blind guys you just met?”“I didn’t just meet you. I remember you from a few months…before.”Nick shivered again. This whole thing was somehow right and wrong at the same time. He needed a physical connection, bad, but was unsure if it should be with Ian Donovan. This, of course coming from his now humming and thankfully pain-free brain while his body screeched at him to grab the guy and kiss him.Nick sighed when Ian’s fingers twined in his newly grown hair. He hadn’t had hair this long in over ten years. He’d forgotten what color it was. He sighed, raised his face to the cooling night breeze when Ian’s lips found his jaw and made their slow way down his neck, then up. “You are…very attractive.” Ian’s words made their presence known, curling in and around Nick’s amped up libido and making him grit his teeth.
I'm on tour, as you might expect but we have some FUN posts planned including a couple about beer (by my alter ego: The Ann Arbor Beer Wench) and several character interviews. We start today with a 5- Star ARC review on a new and very cool review site: Shh Mom's Reading.
And the rest of the tour looks something like this:
Site
DateWebsiteShh Moms Reading
12/26/2012 www.shhmomsreading.com 4 My Reading Obsession
12/28/2012 http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/ Reviews by Molly
12/29/2012 http://reviewsbymolly.com Erzabets Enchantments Blog Spot
12/29/2012 http://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.com/ Tsk Tsk What to Read
12/30/2012 http://tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com/p/ Read Our Lips
1/3/2013 http://readourlipsblog.blogspot.com/ Bad Barbs Reviews
1/4/2013 http://badbarbsreviews.blogspot.com/ Not Now Mommy's Reading
1/6/2013 http://www.mommysreading.com/p/ The Risque Redhead Reads
1/6/2013 http://therisqueredheadreads.com/ Sinfully Sexy Books
1/7/2013 http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.com/?m=0 Writer Space (moderated by Bad Barb)
1/7/2013Delphina Reads Too Much
1/8/2013 http://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/ Hesperia Loves Books
1/9/2013 http://www.hesperialovesbooks.com/ Breath of Life
1/10/2013 http://looking-for-a-breath-of-life.blogspot.com/ The Book Wranglers
1/11/2013 www.thebookwranglers.com Mary Whispers Blog
1/11/2013 www.marywhispers.blog.com Harlie's Book Blog
1/13/2013 http://www.harliesbooks.com/ Wicked Readings By Tawania
1/14/2013 http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/2012/ RomFan Reviews
1/15/2013 www.romfanreviews.com Kindle Hooked
1/16/2013 http://kindlehooked.blogspot.com/p/ Flirty Dirty
1/17/2013 http://flirtyanddirtybookblog.com/who-we-are/ Three Chicks and their Books
1/17/2013 www.threechicksandtheirbooks.com Twinsie Talk Book Reviews
1/18/2013 http://www.twinsietalk.blogspot.com/
CHEERS! Happy reading....Liz
December 22, 2012
An Odd Year Indeed
"May you live in interesting times...." that could be the motto I lived under for the bulk of 2012.
While my career as author and brewery owner both really took flight---I wrote 2 entire novels (over 100k words) and 3 other short ones (@ 70k) and expanded the brewery, getting the rental hall open in time for the a rather alarming influx of requests for it--- in many ways on a personal level the last 12 months went straight into the shitter. This is not to downplay how popular my Stewart Series became. I worked hard for this and have MANY people to thank for all their hard work to get it there. I love my man Jack Gordon--he is One Bad Boy who gets redeemed, and I love it that so many people have enjoyed his journey.
Without getting into a bunch of details, I will say that ending it on this note: sitting here in a hotel in Paducah, Kentucky after a 9 hour car ride to attend my 98-year old grandmother's funeral seems as apt a way as any to end a year that needs to get in my rearview mirror now. And I heard some terrible news on the way down here. One of the guys who I used as inspiration for many a bad behaviored college man, one of my original and best friends, like a brother to me an many people, died of a heart attack while about to board a cruise ship with his wife down in Florida.
So I'll be back in Louisville next week most likely for one of those "Holy shit I haven't seen you since that .... thing we did....all those years ago..." but for reasons NONE Of us wished for: the death of one of our own.
Hold your loved ones very close this year. While my well of sorrow is not as deep as those mourning a 6 year old or a loved one gunned down for no reason whatsoever a week ago, it is no less full of tears.
I have some big plans for 2013, including the release of the 7th Stewart Realty book that will be a very dark exploration of a couple of characters who provided good backbone for the main ones and could easily be read as a stand alone novel with strong BDSM elements but mostly is about the exploration of two wounded souls finding happiness, eventually, together.
And Honey Red, the menage release coming 12/30 already has a pre-order best seller indicating silver star on all Romance Ebooks. This is not your traditional menage but if you are a Liz Crowe fan, you already know that. The blog tour and reviews begin 12/28. Here is the schedule:
12/28/12 http://therisqueredheadreads.com/ 12/28/12 http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/ 12/29/12 http://reviewsbymolly.com 12/29/12 http://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.com/ 12/30/12 http://tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com/p/ 12/31/13 http://www.mommysreading.com/p/ 1/3/13 http://readourlipsblog.blogspot.com/ 1/4/13 http://badbarbsreviews.blogspot.com/ 1/7/13 http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.com/?m=0
1/8/13 http://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/ 1/9/13 http://www.hesperialovesbooks.com/ 1/10/13 http://looking-for-a-breath-of-life.blogspot.com/ 1/11/13 www.thebookwranglers.com 1/11/13 www.marywhispers.blog.com 1/13/13 http://www.harliesbooks.com/ 1/14/13 http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/2012/ 1/15/13 www.romfanreviews.com 1/16/13 http://kindlehooked.blogspot.com/p/ 1/17/13 http://flirtyanddirtybookblog.com/who-we-are/
Plus Healing Hearts, a short story about love rising out of the depths of personal tragedy that will launch Decadent Publishing's Challenge Series releases 1/1/13. Here is an early ARC review:
http://shhmomsreading.com/arc-review-healing-hearts-by-liz-crowe/
Thanks for your support in 2012. I will reward you with some GREAT new reads in the new year.
Liz
While my career as author and brewery owner both really took flight---I wrote 2 entire novels (over 100k words) and 3 other short ones (@ 70k) and expanded the brewery, getting the rental hall open in time for the a rather alarming influx of requests for it--- in many ways on a personal level the last 12 months went straight into the shitter. This is not to downplay how popular my Stewart Series became. I worked hard for this and have MANY people to thank for all their hard work to get it there. I love my man Jack Gordon--he is One Bad Boy who gets redeemed, and I love it that so many people have enjoyed his journey.
Without getting into a bunch of details, I will say that ending it on this note: sitting here in a hotel in Paducah, Kentucky after a 9 hour car ride to attend my 98-year old grandmother's funeral seems as apt a way as any to end a year that needs to get in my rearview mirror now. And I heard some terrible news on the way down here. One of the guys who I used as inspiration for many a bad behaviored college man, one of my original and best friends, like a brother to me an many people, died of a heart attack while about to board a cruise ship with his wife down in Florida.
So I'll be back in Louisville next week most likely for one of those "Holy shit I haven't seen you since that .... thing we did....all those years ago..." but for reasons NONE Of us wished for: the death of one of our own.
Hold your loved ones very close this year. While my well of sorrow is not as deep as those mourning a 6 year old or a loved one gunned down for no reason whatsoever a week ago, it is no less full of tears.
I have some big plans for 2013, including the release of the 7th Stewart Realty book that will be a very dark exploration of a couple of characters who provided good backbone for the main ones and could easily be read as a stand alone novel with strong BDSM elements but mostly is about the exploration of two wounded souls finding happiness, eventually, together.
And Honey Red, the menage release coming 12/30 already has a pre-order best seller indicating silver star on all Romance Ebooks. This is not your traditional menage but if you are a Liz Crowe fan, you already know that. The blog tour and reviews begin 12/28. Here is the schedule:
12/28/12 http://therisqueredheadreads.com/ 12/28/12 http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/ 12/29/12 http://reviewsbymolly.com 12/29/12 http://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.com/ 12/30/12 http://tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com/p/ 12/31/13 http://www.mommysreading.com/p/ 1/3/13 http://readourlipsblog.blogspot.com/ 1/4/13 http://badbarbsreviews.blogspot.com/ 1/7/13 http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.com/?m=0
1/8/13 http://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/ 1/9/13 http://www.hesperialovesbooks.com/ 1/10/13 http://looking-for-a-breath-of-life.blogspot.com/ 1/11/13 www.thebookwranglers.com 1/11/13 www.marywhispers.blog.com 1/13/13 http://www.harliesbooks.com/ 1/14/13 http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/2012/ 1/15/13 www.romfanreviews.com 1/16/13 http://kindlehooked.blogspot.com/p/ 1/17/13 http://flirtyanddirtybookblog.com/who-we-are/
Plus Healing Hearts, a short story about love rising out of the depths of personal tragedy that will launch Decadent Publishing's Challenge Series releases 1/1/13. Here is an early ARC review:http://shhmomsreading.com/arc-review-healing-hearts-by-liz-crowe/
Thanks for your support in 2012. I will reward you with some GREAT new reads in the new year.
Liz
December 18, 2012
Winter's Magic Book Blast Event
Winter’s MagicBy Cynthia Gail
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Owner of La Bella Vita, a five-star day spa nestled in the affluent suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, Beth Sergeant knows her elite clientele first hand. She attended their private schools. She was even engaged, although briefly, to one of their most recognized bachelors. But she never fit in to their social-elite world.
After losing his parents to a car accident at a young age, Nick Chester was raised by his grandfather, the wealthiest man in Nashville. When he chooses to socialize, he has a never-ending list of exclusive events and beautiful women vying for his attention. Yet he never lets himself forget that everyone has an agenda.
Beth can’t resist Nick’s charm and accepts an invitation to dinner, despite her deep-seated insecurities. She proves she’s nothing like other women Nick's dated and learns to trust him in return. But just as the last of their resistance crumbles and true love is within reach, challenges from Nick's past threaten to destroy everything and force Beth to reveal her most guarded secret.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
“Can I see you Wednesday night?”
“Assuming you get out in the morning?” Beth tried to feign indifference as the grin on her face reached new heights. He wanted to see her again. That fact, and being with him tonight, was nothing short of an early Christmas present. Score one for Jenny’s advice. Sometimes you do have to let down your guard and enjoy life as it comes.
“True. I’m not worried, though. Surely they’ll have this cleaned up overnight.”
“When do you get home?”
“I think I land around six.”
“Give me a call when you get in and we’ll figure out where to meet.”
Beth closed her eyes for a moment to absorb the exquisite sensation of being cocooned in his arms as he held her so gently. She could feel the power in his broad shoulders and the hardness of his chest as he drew her against him a little closer than before, bringing every nerve ending in her body to attention.
When she opened her eyes, Nick was staring at her with an intensity that caused a shudder to run through her. And as the music faded, he led her through one last turn and bent down to kiss her. Short, but heavenly sweet. Then he nodded toward the windows.
“We probably need to head home.”
“I don’t think the snow’s going to let up anytime soon.” Her voice sounding steadier than she felt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Home is where you hang your hat. A native Missourian, my family relocated twice during my teenage years, taking me from a high school freshman class of over 1,200 students to living in a small town in Kentucky with a total population of less than 1,000.
Home is where your heart is. Despite the culture shock and challenges of those shy, teenage years, I met my true love in that tiny town and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to experience a community where everyone waves, calls you by name, and treats you like family.
My husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our eighteen-year-old son and three dogs. When I’m not working or writing, I can be found with family and friends. I love to bake in the winter, grill in the summer, and on occasion, I sneak away from everyone and curl up with a good book.
I hope you enjoy my stories. Each one touches on modern day issues, fears, and challenges that women face every day. And each one illustrates that love is within reach if you let down those walls and allow your heart to open. Our lives and experiences are so much more meaningful when we have someone to share them with.
LINKS
Amazon http://amzn.to/PdYIyf
Barnes & Noblehttp://bit.ly/RnxlBC
Soul Mate Publishing http://bit.ly/VwT9ZI
Twitter http://bit.ly/VXuYZx
Facebook http://bit.ly/RnxlBC
Website http://cynthiagail.com
Cynthia will be awarding the following prizes to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour either one $10 Starbucks GC, one $10 Amazon GC, or one $10 Soul Mate Publishing GC.
December 17, 2012
Liz's Birthday Winners!
Greetings and welcome to Liz's Birthday Post ver. 46.
I'm having a bit of a low-key day, and I am usually one to demand week-long orgies of .... gift giving. But after the horrific events of Friday in Connecticut that simply will not exit my brain, and getting news that my 98-year-old grandmother is fading and will likely not live through the week I'm just, as they say, Not In The Mood.
However, I am thrilled to announce winners from my 100k Post Contest!
a Liz Crowe backlist book of your choice:
Tess Halim
Marianne Stephens
and the $50 Amazon gift card goes too...........
Susan Haase. Hopefully you will be able to exit the bedroom long enough to collect it! (I have 2 new books coming out 12/30 and 1/1 so this will help ya with those!) BUT I NEED YOUR EMAIL SUSAN so send it to me at etcrowe@me.com!
And about that birthday, well, I'm on the upslope to 50, have had a bizarre year in the understatement of the century and will be glad to see 2012 in my rear view mirror.
thanks for your support!
Love
Liz
I'm having a bit of a low-key day, and I am usually one to demand week-long orgies of .... gift giving. But after the horrific events of Friday in Connecticut that simply will not exit my brain, and getting news that my 98-year-old grandmother is fading and will likely not live through the week I'm just, as they say, Not In The Mood.
However, I am thrilled to announce winners from my 100k Post Contest!
a Liz Crowe backlist book of your choice:
Tess Halim
Marianne Stephens
and the $50 Amazon gift card goes too...........
Susan Haase. Hopefully you will be able to exit the bedroom long enough to collect it! (I have 2 new books coming out 12/30 and 1/1 so this will help ya with those!) BUT I NEED YOUR EMAIL SUSAN so send it to me at etcrowe@me.com!
And about that birthday, well, I'm on the upslope to 50, have had a bizarre year in the understatement of the century and will be glad to see 2012 in my rear view mirror.
thanks for your support!
Love
Liz
December 13, 2012
The 100K Post---OR When Milestones Make New Ones
Greetings Liz fans and others here just to see what all the fuss is about,
I am pleased to announce that BREWING PASSION (this blog) has gone over the "100k hits" mark.
It's gotten me thinking about milestones and how they tend to shift and change the more successes we achieve and even with the more knowledge we gain about their relative importance. Once upon I time I really REALLY thought I'd be "IT" (you know, the Shit, without the SH...) if I could just get that "one acceptance" to that "one publisher."
Well, in 2012 I did.
However, along the way I become aware of the fact that, while that was cool and all--a goal achieved moment--it no longer had the impact I thought it would. Not because it didn't mean anything. It did. It was, as they say, a Solid Learning Experience.
I am fairly self-aware and hence, accept that I am pretty darn competitive. This leads me to be that writer, or that brewery owner, who is seemingly never satisfied with Where I Am Now. If it appears that way to you, I'm sorry. But because I tend to shift my gaze up, and past where I am I'm probably just focused on that next big milestone.
I set some goals for myself in 2012:
1. Get the Realty series (at the time "just" 3 books....) published
2. Get a handle on how much "blogging" actually affects my book sales/readership
3. Get a book accepted and published one of my 4 "target publishers"
4. Open a rental hall in my brewery and expand production by 150%
5. Expand distribution of my beer into the population dense/target rich Metro Detroit market
6. Go to Bikram Yoga 4 times a week
7. Get a book published whose concept had been rolling around in my mind for a while (a sort of "anti menage" as in "well since we live in the real world, let's get real about this thing" kind of...thing)
Five out of seven is not too shabby, considering that the #1 one goal blossomed into a 6 book project including two, 100k plus novels of backstory and front story. And #6 has been very gratifying (Paradise Hops) and was sort of a part of that "One Publisher Solid Learning Experience" thing I mentioned.
Truly the coolest thing I learned as part of my goal and milestone achievements this year?
Sometimes the most gratifying moments come by surprise. The Stewart Realty series was picked up by a very small publisher. As in I was one among their first authors. But that publisher (Tri Destiny) felt so strongly about my long story arc, difficult characters, deep POV and "unique voiced" series that together we pushed it right up to the top of sales over ALL my publishers including That Big One.
Oh, and I got a bunch of "hardware" in the form of a bunch of GOLD STARS from the Just Erotic Romance Reviews mag, plus many glowing reviews from other cool sites. Yeah, I collected some hater/ flamers too. And now that I realize that for what it is, I can compartmentalize it along with everything else.
Don't get me wrong. All of my publishers have taught me something and the parabola of my learning curve never ceases to amaze me relative to the editing processes. But of all those goals up there, the one NOT there, the one where I make "real" money writing and promoting and selling books is the one that makes me the proudest (OH and that this blog has gone over 100k hits, of course).
So thanks Tri Destiny: Jessica, Sheri, Ethan, Christine, Donna, Stephanie, and everyone else I'm forgetting because I just emerged from deep down in the writing cave (MUTUAL RELEASE: Steweart Realty Book 7 will Kick Ass. Just saying).
And thanks to all my FB Fan Page moderators and admins, Pink Boots Gang Street Team tweets and promoters, Beta readers and general propper uppers.
2012 was NOT what I expected it to be on many levels. But you know, that's OK.
Enough of this wallowing around....TIME FOR A GIVE AWAY!
Leave a comment and tell me ONE GOAL you set for yourself that you achieved in 2012. I will award a copy of ANY of my backlist in ebook format (or print if I have one) to 2 lucky commenters. PLUS I am going to pick THE MOST INTERESTING GOAL (or the one that is presented to me in the best format ---Haiku included) to get a $50 Amazon Gift card JUST IN TIME TO BUY MY NEXT 2 BOOKS THAT RELEASE BACK TO BACK!
HONEY RED: "Menage for Real Life"novel releases (ebook) 12/30/12
And HEALING HEARTS releases 1/1/13 to Launch THE CHALLENGE SERIES from Decadent Publishing:
I am pleased to announce that BREWING PASSION (this blog) has gone over the "100k hits" mark.
It's gotten me thinking about milestones and how they tend to shift and change the more successes we achieve and even with the more knowledge we gain about their relative importance. Once upon I time I really REALLY thought I'd be "IT" (you know, the Shit, without the SH...) if I could just get that "one acceptance" to that "one publisher."
Well, in 2012 I did.
However, along the way I become aware of the fact that, while that was cool and all--a goal achieved moment--it no longer had the impact I thought it would. Not because it didn't mean anything. It did. It was, as they say, a Solid Learning Experience.
I am fairly self-aware and hence, accept that I am pretty darn competitive. This leads me to be that writer, or that brewery owner, who is seemingly never satisfied with Where I Am Now. If it appears that way to you, I'm sorry. But because I tend to shift my gaze up, and past where I am I'm probably just focused on that next big milestone.
I set some goals for myself in 2012:
1. Get the Realty series (at the time "just" 3 books....) published
2. Get a handle on how much "blogging" actually affects my book sales/readership
3. Get a book accepted and published one of my 4 "target publishers"
4. Open a rental hall in my brewery and expand production by 150%
5. Expand distribution of my beer into the population dense/target rich Metro Detroit market
6. Go to Bikram Yoga 4 times a week
7. Get a book published whose concept had been rolling around in my mind for a while (a sort of "anti menage" as in "well since we live in the real world, let's get real about this thing" kind of...thing)
Five out of seven is not too shabby, considering that the #1 one goal blossomed into a 6 book project including two, 100k plus novels of backstory and front story. And #6 has been very gratifying (Paradise Hops) and was sort of a part of that "One Publisher Solid Learning Experience" thing I mentioned. Truly the coolest thing I learned as part of my goal and milestone achievements this year?
Sometimes the most gratifying moments come by surprise. The Stewart Realty series was picked up by a very small publisher. As in I was one among their first authors. But that publisher (Tri Destiny) felt so strongly about my long story arc, difficult characters, deep POV and "unique voiced" series that together we pushed it right up to the top of sales over ALL my publishers including That Big One.
Oh, and I got a bunch of "hardware" in the form of a bunch of GOLD STARS from the Just Erotic Romance Reviews mag, plus many glowing reviews from other cool sites. Yeah, I collected some hater/ flamers too. And now that I realize that for what it is, I can compartmentalize it along with everything else.
Don't get me wrong. All of my publishers have taught me something and the parabola of my learning curve never ceases to amaze me relative to the editing processes. But of all those goals up there, the one NOT there, the one where I make "real" money writing and promoting and selling books is the one that makes me the proudest (OH and that this blog has gone over 100k hits, of course).
So thanks Tri Destiny: Jessica, Sheri, Ethan, Christine, Donna, Stephanie, and everyone else I'm forgetting because I just emerged from deep down in the writing cave (MUTUAL RELEASE: Steweart Realty Book 7 will Kick Ass. Just saying).
And thanks to all my FB Fan Page moderators and admins, Pink Boots Gang Street Team tweets and promoters, Beta readers and general propper uppers.
2012 was NOT what I expected it to be on many levels. But you know, that's OK.
Enough of this wallowing around....TIME FOR A GIVE AWAY!
Leave a comment and tell me ONE GOAL you set for yourself that you achieved in 2012. I will award a copy of ANY of my backlist in ebook format (or print if I have one) to 2 lucky commenters. PLUS I am going to pick THE MOST INTERESTING GOAL (or the one that is presented to me in the best format ---Haiku included) to get a $50 Amazon Gift card JUST IN TIME TO BUY MY NEXT 2 BOOKS THAT RELEASE BACK TO BACK!
HONEY RED: "Menage for Real Life"novel releases (ebook) 12/30/12
And HEALING HEARTS releases 1/1/13 to Launch THE CHALLENGE SERIES from Decadent Publishing:
December 11, 2012
Love-Bots On The Loose
Lust After Death (Love-Bots, Book 1)by Daisy Harris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Assassin Bane Connor just wants to get the girl to the Zombie Underground and receive his payoff-a mental reset that will erase his memories as well as his guilt. But an attack by a rival faction derails his rescue, and the wide-eyed female whose circuitry requires a husband tears at his hardened heart and ignites desire like he's never known.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPTS
Excerpt One:
She peered down at her wet fingers, confusion etched on her angelic face, and then she gave her digit a tentative lick. Eyes wide with surprise, the girl fed her finger farther into the bow of her mouth.
Ho-ly shit! His body sprung to attention, his nerve endings strung taut as a bow.
Feeling like a peeping tom, Bane looked away from the window, assessing the pebbles below his crates and a nearby bank of leaves and weeds he could land on quietly. Then he gave a last glance through the window and noticed her hand caressing the water’s surface.
A fascinated smile played at her lips. Damn, she was beautiful, and not in some fake plastic surgery and programming way. She was fresh, shiny, new—like she held the keys to paradise.
Fuck, he was drunk. The crates wobbled underneath him and Bane let go of the windowsill with one hand, readying to jump. Really, he was leaving.
Her ivory hand slid up her hospital gown and tugged at the tie. The blue-striped, papery material sank from her shoulders to the floor, revealing a pale, slender body that seemed to shimmer under the bright bathroom lights.
Bane bit his bottom lip to stop from groaning out loud. His hips bucked forward of their own accord. The crates tilted to the side and he grabbed at the windowsill’s metal edging to right himself. His arms supported his weight and he trapped the top crate between his legs and pulled the pile back under his body, desperate for one more look. By the time he righted himself, the girl had turned her back on him to step into the tub.
If he’d thought the front of her was nice… Her back was long and delicate, her ass spectacular. Goose bumps rose on her skin and he could almost imagine the feel of them under his fingertips. The girl must have wondered about the water's temperature, because she bent forward at the hips to test it.
His right hand dropped to cup the bulge in his pants. He was a douche and a pervert. And he would jack off to this image for the rest of his undead life. Which, now that he thought about it, would only be a few more days.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Birkenstock-wearing glamour girl and mother of two by immaculate conception, Daisy Harris still isn't sure if she writes erotica. Her romances start out innocently enough. However, her characters behave like complete sluts. Much to Miss Harris's dismay the sex tends to get completely out of hand.
She writes about fantastical creatures and about young men getting their freak on, and she's never missed an episode of The Walking Dead.
Twitter:https://twitter.com/thedaisyharris
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daisy-Harris/185042351535537
Website: www.thedaisyharris.com
Ellora’s Cave buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9442-lust-after-death.aspx
Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Lust-After-Death-ebook/dp/B005E8AMCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351866737&sr=8-1&keywords=lust+after+death+harris
Barnes and Noble buy link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lust-after-death-daisy-harris/1104299378
Daisy will be awarding a $20 gift certificate to Amazon or Barnes & Noble and a Walking Dead T-Shirt to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US & Canada Only).
December 5, 2012
The Next Big Thing....Mutual Release
Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:What is your working title of your book? MUTUAL RELEASE
Where did the idea come from for the book? It is the 7th book in the best selling and award winning Stewart Realty Series BUT it could be a stand alone.
What genre does your book fall under? Contemporary fiction with BDSM erotic elements (My "working genre" BDSM FOR REAL LIFE)
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Chris Pine
and Ali Larter
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Can two dark souls make a light?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? My publisher is TRI-DESTINY, under their Sizzlin Books Line.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? 3 weeks or so (120K)
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? erm....none really. I mean it has BDSM as it's core element and has many hot scenes of the main male character especially growing into his role. But there is so much more going on relative to the healing nature of their initial experiences that grow slowly into a mature relationship while they both face personal demons from their past, I haven't really read anything like it.
Who or what inspired you to write this book? The characters of Evan and Julie who remained in the background of the first 6 books--they spoke to me, and I listened.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? It is a set up for a stand along non-erotic novel "In His Shadow" exploring the consequences of a woman choosing to enter into a relationship with a man claiming to be a "Dom" when he is really just an abuser. (not the 2 main characters in this book, but one who makes an early, and very scary, appearance).
so I got tagged by the creative and talented (and amazingly helpful mentor) Katalina Leon...here is her interview:
http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-next-big-thing-tag-blog.html
Here are a few other "Next Big Thing" posts:
http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com/2012/12/next-big-thing.html
http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/blog/the-next-big-thing/
