Liz Crowe's Blog, page 38
November 3, 2011
Welcome Dakota! What can I pour you to start?Hmmm, do you...
Welcome Dakota! What can I pour you to start?Hmmm, do you have chocolate beer? I've heard this rumor that someone has created one and even named it Sexual Chocolate? If you have that or something similar I'd love to try it. What woman can resist chocolate?
[image error]
Nope. No chocolate beer. But just to enlighten you, "chocolate beer" RARELY contains any actual chocolate. There are certain types of dark, (usually German grown) malts that, when used as a base, release chocolate flavor or slight essence. That said, "Sexual Chocolate" from Foothills Brewing, a brew pub in Winston Salem, NC is "cocoa infused" which, combined with their base malt gives it an amazing aura of chocolate, toffee, coffee and molasses (my theory is they ADD blackstrap molasses to the boil but that's just me.) It is delish, if a little cloying after just one.
I will have an oatmeal stout releasing around the New Year. Using oats in the mash (when you first make beer and add water to the malt) ALSO infuses a rich chocolate-ness that is not overpowering. So, enough beer school....on with the interview.
You have published an amazing number of books! I'm in awe and a little intimidated...well, not that but I am in awe. Tell me the story of your very first publishing adventure.
Oh my. I wish I could say I have this huge trail by fire to get my first book published but I don't. I hate to say this but I just fell into it. (Actually it was to get my dad off my back.) You see I've been telling stories since I was a youngster. Being that I'm dyslexic, most of my first stories were oral. I'd tell them to my dad. He was pretty tolerant until I got into high school and forced me to actually sit down and actually write my stuff down. He even bought me this old 1960's IBM typewriter. After that I wrote most of my stories down. Years later my hubby found my work in a box of old school stuff and said I know this site...Literotica. You should submit some of these. So that's what I did. That's where I met Selena Kitt and answered her call for submissions after about two years of submitting work to Literotica. When my pops found out about it, he said submit Chocolate Made Me Do It. (Do you see a theme here? LOL) I did it to get him off my back - you know how parents can nag a person to death until you give in and just do it, that's basically what I did. I figured I'd submit it, get a rejection letter and then it'd be over. Much to my surprise Excessica accepted it, and I had my first publishing contract. It's probably a good thing too - because if it hadn't been accepted Dad would've probably pestered me to submit to another publishing company.
Funny. My husband "knew of Literotica" before I did too...funny, isn't it? Dirty Bastard. Oh, that's a beer too, from Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My spouse put a boot up my ass to write as well. His words: "Just shut up about it and write it!" Now he's all "Honey, are you coming to bed sometime soon?"
What is your favorite type to write? BDSM? Paranormal? what?
It totally depends upon what I'm writing at the moment. I love to write BDSM - which totally floored me since my first BDSM book, Nisey's Awakening, was done on the dare of a friend of mine. Before that I wrote strictly sweet erotic romance with a dash of sci-fi. Then I delved into the the BDSM lifestyle and found I really enjoy it. But that doesn't stop me from stepping back occasionally and write books without it. Such is the case with my 1NS book, Blind Need. Not a lick of BDSM in it. Right now though my current passion is running between a combination of my paranormal and BDSM, since I'm finishing up the third book in my Darkest Submission series for Eirelander Publishing.
Seems to be a trend, the BDSM thing. The "forbidden nature" of it is appealing I can see. I like it to a certain extent. Wrote it in on a "soft scale" to the last of my 1NS trilogy, Turkish Delights after some...careful research.
What is the secret to your success? social networking? blogging? attending conferences? just cranking out more great books?
I'm not really sure. As I mentioned before I wrote for several years on Literotica and Storiesonline before I dipped my feet into the publishing pool. So I honestly can't tell you what is the secret to my success. I do have a blog I'm notorious about forgetting to post to, a twitter account, facebook that I try to manage from Tweetdeck but for the most part I just try to write relatable characters.
Those of you who did a lot of online writing and then say "Oh I forgot to blog!" crack me up. What do you think "blogging" is you silly goose? I love using this platform to vent, rant, brag, moan, groan and otherwise go off in ways I can't otherwise.
oh look your glass is empty! what can I pour you next?
How about something Irish...perhaps an ale? What's your suggestion?
We specialize in lagers, which are cold fermented, clean and crisp. We only have one ale on tap: a VERY delicious IPA but seeing as how you asked for "Irish" I know you won't want that (they are way too hoppy for the Irish). I have an award winning Amber Lager, the District 16 named after the brewing district in Vienna. It's gorgeous, malty, with a teensy bite of hops at the end.
Do you find being a part of writer "groups" other than those with your publishers useful?
Honestly it's hit and miss. I love my yahoogroups but I've collected so many of them that I don't have the time to read all the digest I get. I have found a few groups that have been beneficial however. The first that comes to mind for me is JERK (that's Just Erotic Romance Kontests) I've gotten a good response from them when I post my contests...as far as peeps entering. It seems to be a great group...as long as you post a contest, you can also add a blurb for your book and excerpt too if you want. So depending on the group they can be very helpful.
*makes a note*
What are you reading right now?
Aside from Coding books? I'll have to say that changes more often than I change my underwear. I read notoriously fast and have an insatiable need for m/m, menage, paranormal, BDSM and as of late 1NS books. I just finished reading a book by Gabrielle Evans last night and plan on starting Forever Kiss by Angela Knight when it arrives later today in the mail.
I love the 1ns books by my fellows at Decadent! Haven't read one yet I didn't like!
What was the last movie you saw?
The last movie I saw was one my dad dragged me to. We wanted to see True Steel with Hugh Jackman *drools* but unfortunately dyslexic Dakota went to the wrong theater and we ended up seeing Abduction with Taylor Lautner *drools more* My dad is a twilight fan and wanted to see it just because Taylor was in it. *wipes drool off* Not that I can blame him. It was pretty good movie over all - had some really good fight scenes in it.
Taylor Lautner saying "Hey, look, there's the Beer Wench!" Well, he IS From Grand Rapids...
Okay, nightcap time..what's your poison?
How's about an Irish Coffee? I remember my mom (a former bartender) making them for me when I was younger...and no I'm not talking about under 21. She loved to camp and Irish Coffee was a ritual while sitting around the campfire.Sorry chick. No liquor in this beer bar. How about we mosey over to the coffee shop that opened up across the street. They claim I've made the west side of Ann Arbor a hot commodity with my success. I don't know about that but they give me free double shot lattes when I come running in at 3 p.m. every day so I'll let 'em believe it.
Finally, tell me your thoughts on how "real" erotic romance needs to be. That is to say, should one have had some experience with men (or women or both) to be able to craft a decent hot story?
Honestly a lot can be said for research. I don't expect every author I've read to have physically done even a quarter of what is in their books. If so, they'd be shagging all the time and never get any writing done. So yes, research can work as well as first hand experience when it comes to writing a hot scene. I do a ton of it from reading books to picking other peeps's brains - to make each scene realistically hot as possible.
Mmmm.....shagging all the time..... [image error]
Sorry, distracted.
Thanks so much Dakota!Good luck with all your future endeavors!
Nope. No chocolate beer. But just to enlighten you, "chocolate beer" RARELY contains any actual chocolate. There are certain types of dark, (usually German grown) malts that, when used as a base, release chocolate flavor or slight essence. That said, "Sexual Chocolate" from Foothills Brewing, a brew pub in Winston Salem, NC is "cocoa infused" which, combined with their base malt gives it an amazing aura of chocolate, toffee, coffee and molasses (my theory is they ADD blackstrap molasses to the boil but that's just me.) It is delish, if a little cloying after just one.
I will have an oatmeal stout releasing around the New Year. Using oats in the mash (when you first make beer and add water to the malt) ALSO infuses a rich chocolate-ness that is not overpowering. So, enough beer school....on with the interview.
You have published an amazing number of books! I'm in awe and a little intimidated...well, not that but I am in awe. Tell me the story of your very first publishing adventure.
Oh my. I wish I could say I have this huge trail by fire to get my first book published but I don't. I hate to say this but I just fell into it. (Actually it was to get my dad off my back.) You see I've been telling stories since I was a youngster. Being that I'm dyslexic, most of my first stories were oral. I'd tell them to my dad. He was pretty tolerant until I got into high school and forced me to actually sit down and actually write my stuff down. He even bought me this old 1960's IBM typewriter. After that I wrote most of my stories down. Years later my hubby found my work in a box of old school stuff and said I know this site...Literotica. You should submit some of these. So that's what I did. That's where I met Selena Kitt and answered her call for submissions after about two years of submitting work to Literotica. When my pops found out about it, he said submit Chocolate Made Me Do It. (Do you see a theme here? LOL) I did it to get him off my back - you know how parents can nag a person to death until you give in and just do it, that's basically what I did. I figured I'd submit it, get a rejection letter and then it'd be over. Much to my surprise Excessica accepted it, and I had my first publishing contract. It's probably a good thing too - because if it hadn't been accepted Dad would've probably pestered me to submit to another publishing company.
Funny. My husband "knew of Literotica" before I did too...funny, isn't it? Dirty Bastard. Oh, that's a beer too, from Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My spouse put a boot up my ass to write as well. His words: "Just shut up about it and write it!" Now he's all "Honey, are you coming to bed sometime soon?"
What is your favorite type to write? BDSM? Paranormal? what?
It totally depends upon what I'm writing at the moment. I love to write BDSM - which totally floored me since my first BDSM book, Nisey's Awakening, was done on the dare of a friend of mine. Before that I wrote strictly sweet erotic romance with a dash of sci-fi. Then I delved into the the BDSM lifestyle and found I really enjoy it. But that doesn't stop me from stepping back occasionally and write books without it. Such is the case with my 1NS book, Blind Need. Not a lick of BDSM in it. Right now though my current passion is running between a combination of my paranormal and BDSM, since I'm finishing up the third book in my Darkest Submission series for Eirelander Publishing.
Seems to be a trend, the BDSM thing. The "forbidden nature" of it is appealing I can see. I like it to a certain extent. Wrote it in on a "soft scale" to the last of my 1NS trilogy, Turkish Delights after some...careful research.
What is the secret to your success? social networking? blogging? attending conferences? just cranking out more great books?
I'm not really sure. As I mentioned before I wrote for several years on Literotica and Storiesonline before I dipped my feet into the publishing pool. So I honestly can't tell you what is the secret to my success. I do have a blog I'm notorious about forgetting to post to, a twitter account, facebook that I try to manage from Tweetdeck but for the most part I just try to write relatable characters.
Those of you who did a lot of online writing and then say "Oh I forgot to blog!" crack me up. What do you think "blogging" is you silly goose? I love using this platform to vent, rant, brag, moan, groan and otherwise go off in ways I can't otherwise.
oh look your glass is empty! what can I pour you next?
How about something Irish...perhaps an ale? What's your suggestion?
We specialize in lagers, which are cold fermented, clean and crisp. We only have one ale on tap: a VERY delicious IPA but seeing as how you asked for "Irish" I know you won't want that (they are way too hoppy for the Irish). I have an award winning Amber Lager, the District 16 named after the brewing district in Vienna. It's gorgeous, malty, with a teensy bite of hops at the end.
Do you find being a part of writer "groups" other than those with your publishers useful?
Honestly it's hit and miss. I love my yahoogroups but I've collected so many of them that I don't have the time to read all the digest I get. I have found a few groups that have been beneficial however. The first that comes to mind for me is JERK (that's Just Erotic Romance Kontests) I've gotten a good response from them when I post my contests...as far as peeps entering. It seems to be a great group...as long as you post a contest, you can also add a blurb for your book and excerpt too if you want. So depending on the group they can be very helpful.
*makes a note*
What are you reading right now?
Aside from Coding books? I'll have to say that changes more often than I change my underwear. I read notoriously fast and have an insatiable need for m/m, menage, paranormal, BDSM and as of late 1NS books. I just finished reading a book by Gabrielle Evans last night and plan on starting Forever Kiss by Angela Knight when it arrives later today in the mail.
I love the 1ns books by my fellows at Decadent! Haven't read one yet I didn't like!
What was the last movie you saw?
The last movie I saw was one my dad dragged me to. We wanted to see True Steel with Hugh Jackman *drools* but unfortunately dyslexic Dakota went to the wrong theater and we ended up seeing Abduction with Taylor Lautner *drools more* My dad is a twilight fan and wanted to see it just because Taylor was in it. *wipes drool off* Not that I can blame him. It was pretty good movie over all - had some really good fight scenes in it.
Taylor Lautner saying "Hey, look, there's the Beer Wench!" Well, he IS From Grand Rapids...Okay, nightcap time..what's your poison?
How's about an Irish Coffee? I remember my mom (a former bartender) making them for me when I was younger...and no I'm not talking about under 21. She loved to camp and Irish Coffee was a ritual while sitting around the campfire.Sorry chick. No liquor in this beer bar. How about we mosey over to the coffee shop that opened up across the street. They claim I've made the west side of Ann Arbor a hot commodity with my success. I don't know about that but they give me free double shot lattes when I come running in at 3 p.m. every day so I'll let 'em believe it.
Finally, tell me your thoughts on how "real" erotic romance needs to be. That is to say, should one have had some experience with men (or women or both) to be able to craft a decent hot story?
Honestly a lot can be said for research. I don't expect every author I've read to have physically done even a quarter of what is in their books. If so, they'd be shagging all the time and never get any writing done. So yes, research can work as well as first hand experience when it comes to writing a hot scene. I do a ton of it from reading books to picking other peeps's brains - to make each scene realistically hot as possible.
Mmmm.....shagging all the time..... [image error]
Sorry, distracted.
Thanks so much Dakota!Good luck with all your future endeavors!
November 1, 2011
Anniversaries and Other Shiny Things
The brisk walk with poodle muses this morning got me thinking about mornings after.
Like this morning.
The morning after I ate waaaaaaaaaaaaay (way) too many of those "fun size" snickers/mars/m&ms candies. I totally have a not-so-fun-size hangover. The whole neighborhood reeked of "morning after Halloween" what with squashed and/or caved in pumpkins (or in my case squirrel munched), abandoned ghosts and ghouls on lawns, and the random candy wrapper fluttering along with the leaves.
Other mornings for me (as you might imagine) have involved headaches, shakes and at times dates with porcelain if I've done real bad and mixed my alcohols. I rarely do this. I consider myself a semi-pro bordering on para-pro when it comes to pacing my self, getting just drunk enough and being mostly okay the next day. Happens more than I sometimes care to admit.
But this day, November 1, 2011, is a different sort of morning after.
This week will mark several Major Milestones in my life. The sort of perfect storm rarely occurs and sometimes I get so caught up in the day-to-day-just-get-through-and-get-done-and-move-onto-the-next-thing schlepp I forget. This morning as I sucked in lungs full of cold, clear air and the muses tugged from one invisible smellsGREAT to the next, I had to stop and ponder, nay, gawk at what is going down this week for yours truly.
This is me and the BW...and my "other husband"...no not really. Well sorta. At the Ky. Derby. Yes I am already 'faced on juleps.
On Wednesday I will be married 20 years. To the same guy even. No it's not perfect. Yes we could probably do a better job on a lot of elements of our relationship. There have been some fairly significant Downs and Ups even recently. But that's how these things go. You look at the BreadWinner and go: "hmmm...what was I thinking." Then something happens and you go: "Oh yeah. THAT was what I was thinking. This is good. And I love my spouse." Life is not a romance novel. It's why we (or at least why I) write them. To inject a little fantasy people into the world for consumption--people without bathrooms to scrub, laundry to fold, dishes to wash, diapers to change, mortgages to pay, lawns to mow, dog shit to scoop. Happy 20th Mr. Wench. You know who you are.
On Friday, my first (of three) Decadent Publishing OneNightStand books will release. It's set in Istanbul, Turkey. A place I lived for several years. A place I frankly thought I would never "revisit" even in fiction. It was the site of on of those "significant Downs" (see above). It took all I had at one point to not toss every expensive carpet, stick of furniture and random trinket that I brought back from there right into the dumpster at one point. But I didn't. And I'm glad. It's how these things go. Mistakes are made. People who love keep loving. And Forgiving. And now I'm beyond psyched to be able to channel all my GOOD memories of Turkey again. I never thought I'd be able to, just a few short years ago. I am grateful to Valerie at Decadent for accepting a piece that was a little bit cathartic for me. And then it's sequel, and finally a third in the series. I am convinced you will all LOVE the Turkish Delights trilogy. There will be more on this in a few days....
[image error] Make him stop or I shall smack him...
Finally, as you all must know by now lest ye be blind AND deaf, I own a microbrewery. We will be One Year Old on Sunday Nov. 6, 2011. The months from January to November of 2010 were a huge, exhausting, exhilarating, expensive and extra-specially growth oriented roller coaster ride for yours truly. And those 10 months were NOTHING compared to the ones from November 6, 2010 to the present day.
[image error] We've brewed nearly 900 barrels of beer in that time (1 barrel=31 gallons U.S.). I've literally run the bar myself, with a few select fellow owner and/or brewers and our significant others. I unlocked the doors, poured the beer, washed the dishes, poured more beer, swept and mopped, counted the money, locked the doors, collapsed in bed only to do it all over again the next day. When I was able to, I hired a manager, who hired 3 bartenders. That left me "free" to sell more beer, write more press releases, attend more functions, press more flesh OUTSIDE the Tap Room, so we can hit our projected 1st-year targets. Which will shall, and then some.
[image error] Travis and Dan. At a beer fest. In charge...oh Lord.
We've had our fair share of drama, arguments, temper tantrums and screaming matches. And that's just me and my brewer. My biz partners and the founders of the Wolverine State Brewing Co. had a dream. We are very quickly making it a reality.
During this year I have had 2 novels release including my first menage love story from Rebel Ink Press (Vegas Miracle), a ground-breaking "choose your romance" format Novel set in the craft brewing biz from Breathless Press (The Tap Room) and had 3 short stories and a novella accepted by a third publisher (Decadent). I have 2 other works from my heart under consideration at a few slightly bigger publishers and daily try to pretend I'm not obsessing over the lack of acceptances. I'm already pondering my next Big Project but haven't had a second to blow my nose, much less start a new book lately.
But to all of YOU dearest readers, followers, stalkers, lurkers and others I say a HUGE THANKS. Be you a fellow writer who's given advice, a fellow brewery type who's loaned me some stainless steel or yeast, an editor who works with me to make decent stories GREAT, a publisher who will patiently wait for longer form novels to be popular and have given me a chance---you have MADE MY YEAR.
Liz
Like this morning.The morning after I ate waaaaaaaaaaaaay (way) too many of those "fun size" snickers/mars/m&ms candies. I totally have a not-so-fun-size hangover. The whole neighborhood reeked of "morning after Halloween" what with squashed and/or caved in pumpkins (or in my case squirrel munched), abandoned ghosts and ghouls on lawns, and the random candy wrapper fluttering along with the leaves.
Other mornings for me (as you might imagine) have involved headaches, shakes and at times dates with porcelain if I've done real bad and mixed my alcohols. I rarely do this. I consider myself a semi-pro bordering on para-pro when it comes to pacing my self, getting just drunk enough and being mostly okay the next day. Happens more than I sometimes care to admit.
But this day, November 1, 2011, is a different sort of morning after.
This week will mark several Major Milestones in my life. The sort of perfect storm rarely occurs and sometimes I get so caught up in the day-to-day-just-get-through-and-get-done-and-move-onto-the-next-thing schlepp I forget. This morning as I sucked in lungs full of cold, clear air and the muses tugged from one invisible smellsGREAT to the next, I had to stop and ponder, nay, gawk at what is going down this week for yours truly.
This is me and the BW...and my "other husband"...no not really. Well sorta. At the Ky. Derby. Yes I am already 'faced on juleps.On Wednesday I will be married 20 years. To the same guy even. No it's not perfect. Yes we could probably do a better job on a lot of elements of our relationship. There have been some fairly significant Downs and Ups even recently. But that's how these things go. You look at the BreadWinner and go: "hmmm...what was I thinking." Then something happens and you go: "Oh yeah. THAT was what I was thinking. This is good. And I love my spouse." Life is not a romance novel. It's why we (or at least why I) write them. To inject a little fantasy people into the world for consumption--people without bathrooms to scrub, laundry to fold, dishes to wash, diapers to change, mortgages to pay, lawns to mow, dog shit to scoop. Happy 20th Mr. Wench. You know who you are.
On Friday, my first (of three) Decadent Publishing OneNightStand books will release. It's set in Istanbul, Turkey. A place I lived for several years. A place I frankly thought I would never "revisit" even in fiction. It was the site of on of those "significant Downs" (see above). It took all I had at one point to not toss every expensive carpet, stick of furniture and random trinket that I brought back from there right into the dumpster at one point. But I didn't. And I'm glad. It's how these things go. Mistakes are made. People who love keep loving. And Forgiving. And now I'm beyond psyched to be able to channel all my GOOD memories of Turkey again. I never thought I'd be able to, just a few short years ago. I am grateful to Valerie at Decadent for accepting a piece that was a little bit cathartic for me. And then it's sequel, and finally a third in the series. I am convinced you will all LOVE the Turkish Delights trilogy. There will be more on this in a few days....
[image error] Make him stop or I shall smack him...
Finally, as you all must know by now lest ye be blind AND deaf, I own a microbrewery. We will be One Year Old on Sunday Nov. 6, 2011. The months from January to November of 2010 were a huge, exhausting, exhilarating, expensive and extra-specially growth oriented roller coaster ride for yours truly. And those 10 months were NOTHING compared to the ones from November 6, 2010 to the present day.
[image error] We've brewed nearly 900 barrels of beer in that time (1 barrel=31 gallons U.S.). I've literally run the bar myself, with a few select fellow owner and/or brewers and our significant others. I unlocked the doors, poured the beer, washed the dishes, poured more beer, swept and mopped, counted the money, locked the doors, collapsed in bed only to do it all over again the next day. When I was able to, I hired a manager, who hired 3 bartenders. That left me "free" to sell more beer, write more press releases, attend more functions, press more flesh OUTSIDE the Tap Room, so we can hit our projected 1st-year targets. Which will shall, and then some.
[image error] Travis and Dan. At a beer fest. In charge...oh Lord.
We've had our fair share of drama, arguments, temper tantrums and screaming matches. And that's just me and my brewer. My biz partners and the founders of the Wolverine State Brewing Co. had a dream. We are very quickly making it a reality.
During this year I have had 2 novels release including my first menage love story from Rebel Ink Press (Vegas Miracle), a ground-breaking "choose your romance" format Novel set in the craft brewing biz from Breathless Press (The Tap Room) and had 3 short stories and a novella accepted by a third publisher (Decadent). I have 2 other works from my heart under consideration at a few slightly bigger publishers and daily try to pretend I'm not obsessing over the lack of acceptances. I'm already pondering my next Big Project but haven't had a second to blow my nose, much less start a new book lately.
But to all of YOU dearest readers, followers, stalkers, lurkers and others I say a HUGE THANKS. Be you a fellow writer who's given advice, a fellow brewery type who's loaned me some stainless steel or yeast, an editor who works with me to make decent stories GREAT, a publisher who will patiently wait for longer form novels to be popular and have given me a chance---you have MADE MY YEAR.
Liz
October 30, 2011
Death by Grocery Stores
Seriously. The whole process annoying the living sh*t out of me.
Once I counted how many times you have to actually touch each item before you're finished. It's seven. Into the cart.
Out at the cashier.
Into the bags (because God knows they can't ever hire enough baggers)
Back into the cart.
Into the car.
Out of the car/into the house.
Into the cabinets/fridge.
Ick. I'm sick of the damn stuff before I have to drag them back out and actually manipulate them into meals.
And if you are a good follower you KNOW how I feel about food prep.
So today, I've done my Good Daughter thing and spent some time with me mum in the knee rehab place, and decided to hit my "old" Kroger on the northside of town. It's familiar. I know where stuff is. It's one of THOSE visits wherein I must replenish pretty much everything so...
It's Sunday. Around 4 p.m. And....the bloody Kroger is being renovated. The damn groceries are all OVER the f$#@ing place! The toothbrushes are stuck next to the Mexican food. The tampons (which I currently purchase in ACME size quantities in my estrogen rockettes abode) are alongside the dog food which is crammed in with willy-nilly shelves full of instant oatmeal and cereal.
\Dear GOD I hate grocery shopping.
So here's my takeaway:
No Sundays.
Call ahead to make sure the stupid groceries are not scattered around in the store like some experiment in Pavlovian reverse psychology experiment.
Take a list (I never do).
Take a valium.
Take another one.
When I took long deep breaths in order not to hyperventilate as I rounded the corner and was faced with a long shelf half filled with Gatorade and the other half with canned tomatoes I pulled my usual: screw this. check out. escape with your sanity. return to fight/shop another day.
Whew.
HEY! Our In Between Days Blog Hop is nigh! Starts Friday....some amazing and talented authors from Decadent Publishing will chat about their upcoming releases and give stuff away!
Here's the list again.
Now I must go drink and block the vision of a screaming child in a half baked Halloween costume laying in the middle of the effed up aisle full of stupidly arranged products ready for me to touch them 7 times.
cheers
Liz
October 29, 2011
Three for Six--on Sunday!
From The Tap Room: A Choose Your Romance Novel. Already published with Breathless Press.
Threesome time......Hot!
[image error]
"I know that--it's my idea, and if you're okay with it, why not with somebody I already know you want too?" Owen watched her, his dark eyes neutral. "I'm not averse to sharing your body, but that's it, nothing else." He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear tenderly as Erin felt tears threaten. "And just this once, because we are here, far away from our real lives, in this room, with you." He pushed her up again, gently, into Jeff's waiting arms.
Threesome time......Hot!
[image error]
"I know that--it's my idea, and if you're okay with it, why not with somebody I already know you want too?" Owen watched her, his dark eyes neutral. "I'm not averse to sharing your body, but that's it, nothing else." He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear tenderly as Erin felt tears threaten. "And just this once, because we are here, far away from our real lives, in this room, with you." He pushed her up again, gently, into Jeff's waiting arms.
October 27, 2011
Across the Beer Bar with Lee Brazil!
Welcome to my Beer Bar Lee! What can I pour you to get us started?
Do you have any tequila back there? No? What do you have? Beer, eh? Just beer? *sigh* okay... well, the darker the better. Got any Three Philosophers? FINALLY I get a writer who knows craft beer…and it's lambics…ick. No. Sorry. Nothing sour in here. I'll let you have a preview glass of our pumpkin spice lager though. It just won a "straw poll" as the Favorite Pumpkin Lager at the recent Michigan Fall Beer Fest…Besides, I only serve MY beer here, darling. Nothing else.
You are the author of one my absolute favorite series for Breathless Press: Truth or Dare, the amazing story of the Blake Brothers and their various lives, loves, triumphs and happiness. It's HOT. What inspired you to write it?
Well, it was kind of an accidental occurrence. I started with the concept of family in a discussion with a friend, you know the old nature versus nurture thing? And how children raised in the exact same environment would be intrinsically different from one another. It grew from there.
Okay I'll just tell you that my absolute fav was Brandon's story. And when they exchanged keys...omg. (fans face).
That was truly the hardest one to write. I rewrote the key scene at least a dozen times to get the feeling I wanted to come through. From your reaction, I see it was successful. I'm glad you liked it, because that particular story has been somewhat controversial.
I hear Dan is getting his story....wanna share some hints?
[image error] Dan's story is out in early February. My editor and I are working diligently on it as we speak. *looks around* shhh. She doesn't know I'm here, and slacking. Dan's been involved with the same man for the last three years. Turns out rather than the last Blake brother to fall in love, he might well have been the first.
You've had a lot of success in publishing. what is your secret?
If I knew I'd tell you. I think that it's a least 50% happenstance, and then Victoria Miller's gorgeous covers, Breathless Press's excellent editorial staff, quirky characters and honestly? Who knows?
Oops your glass is empty! what's next? [image error]
For my glass? More of the same. Publication wise, more m/m romance. I've got Loving Jacob releasing Nov. 4, Word Play, an anthology of shorts with my Story Orgy group, December 2, and The Librarian releasing in early January. No silly, IN your glass…sheesh.. Writers.Here----drink this. It's a delicious brown ale, roasty, a little chocolately and only 4.2% ABV for you light weights.
How bad a boy are you....really?
Lol- now? Not so bad at all. I settled down fourteen years ago with the love of my life. Before that... well.. that's a different story.
Okay, tough question here: How many of your fellow published authors AT your publishers do you read? Or do you stick to what you know you like? I ask because I have found several authors I probably never would have had I not been "colleagues" with them (like you, for example). I've made an effort to buy and read authors at my 3 publishers and support them with reviews and what not. Of course, I've been known to keep silent when I don't like something. I only post reviews if they are "glowing."
See, that's hard for me. I only like to write reviews for things I love- in fact if I don't love things, I don't finish reading them. I'm published only through Breathless Press and with Story Orgy at this time. I read m/m; and BP mostly seems to produce m/f. I've read DC Juris, who pubs through BP, and I read Hank Edwards and Em Woods with Story Orgy. Other than that, I'm eagerly awaiting new m/m releases from certain BP authors * eyes Liz* who have been teasing the social media with hints of Turkish delights...I don't have a lot of time for reading as it is lately, but when I do I like Josh Lanyon's mysteries, and Jet Mykle's rock star series. I'm also reading Oscar Wilde again, on the recommendation of a new friend. :)
Can't go wrong there. I make a point to alternate contemporary whatever (fiction, romance, biography) with classics from my English Lit Degree days. Just finished "The Great Gatsby" for the third time in my life. Amazing.
I LOVE the excerpt from Loving Jacob...it sounds like an amazing story. What is your favorite story you've written?
My favorite story is the one I'm currently working on. It changes from day to day. But you know, the one I can reread is Telling the Truth. I had a heck of a time editing that one, cause I'd get absorbed in the story and forget what I was doing and just read.
Ok, nightcap...what's your poison?
Coffee please- I have to be sober enough to drive home. That is what taxis are for my love. I should know. I own a bar.
Finally, I don't want advice for new authors, or your "writing habits" or even to know what you eat while you write. What I want to know is this: I just wrote and completed final edits on my first m/m story: Blue Cruise. Will you please read it and let me know what you think?
Absolutely with pleasure.
Yay! Watch for it…
Thanks Lee. Looking forward to our "bedtime" very soon….
Liz
Don't forget about my IN BETWEEN DAYS BLOG HOP! starting November 4 with a ton of other amazingly talented writers!
More Details Here.
Do you have any tequila back there? No? What do you have? Beer, eh? Just beer? *sigh* okay... well, the darker the better. Got any Three Philosophers? FINALLY I get a writer who knows craft beer…and it's lambics…ick. No. Sorry. Nothing sour in here. I'll let you have a preview glass of our pumpkin spice lager though. It just won a "straw poll" as the Favorite Pumpkin Lager at the recent Michigan Fall Beer Fest…Besides, I only serve MY beer here, darling. Nothing else.
You are the author of one my absolute favorite series for Breathless Press: Truth or Dare, the amazing story of the Blake Brothers and their various lives, loves, triumphs and happiness. It's HOT. What inspired you to write it?
Well, it was kind of an accidental occurrence. I started with the concept of family in a discussion with a friend, you know the old nature versus nurture thing? And how children raised in the exact same environment would be intrinsically different from one another. It grew from there.
Okay I'll just tell you that my absolute fav was Brandon's story. And when they exchanged keys...omg. (fans face).
That was truly the hardest one to write. I rewrote the key scene at least a dozen times to get the feeling I wanted to come through. From your reaction, I see it was successful. I'm glad you liked it, because that particular story has been somewhat controversial.
I hear Dan is getting his story....wanna share some hints?
[image error] Dan's story is out in early February. My editor and I are working diligently on it as we speak. *looks around* shhh. She doesn't know I'm here, and slacking. Dan's been involved with the same man for the last three years. Turns out rather than the last Blake brother to fall in love, he might well have been the first.
You've had a lot of success in publishing. what is your secret?
If I knew I'd tell you. I think that it's a least 50% happenstance, and then Victoria Miller's gorgeous covers, Breathless Press's excellent editorial staff, quirky characters and honestly? Who knows?
Oops your glass is empty! what's next? [image error]
For my glass? More of the same. Publication wise, more m/m romance. I've got Loving Jacob releasing Nov. 4, Word Play, an anthology of shorts with my Story Orgy group, December 2, and The Librarian releasing in early January. No silly, IN your glass…sheesh.. Writers.Here----drink this. It's a delicious brown ale, roasty, a little chocolately and only 4.2% ABV for you light weights.
How bad a boy are you....really?
Lol- now? Not so bad at all. I settled down fourteen years ago with the love of my life. Before that... well.. that's a different story.
Okay, tough question here: How many of your fellow published authors AT your publishers do you read? Or do you stick to what you know you like? I ask because I have found several authors I probably never would have had I not been "colleagues" with them (like you, for example). I've made an effort to buy and read authors at my 3 publishers and support them with reviews and what not. Of course, I've been known to keep silent when I don't like something. I only post reviews if they are "glowing."
See, that's hard for me. I only like to write reviews for things I love- in fact if I don't love things, I don't finish reading them. I'm published only through Breathless Press and with Story Orgy at this time. I read m/m; and BP mostly seems to produce m/f. I've read DC Juris, who pubs through BP, and I read Hank Edwards and Em Woods with Story Orgy. Other than that, I'm eagerly awaiting new m/m releases from certain BP authors * eyes Liz* who have been teasing the social media with hints of Turkish delights...I don't have a lot of time for reading as it is lately, but when I do I like Josh Lanyon's mysteries, and Jet Mykle's rock star series. I'm also reading Oscar Wilde again, on the recommendation of a new friend. :)
Can't go wrong there. I make a point to alternate contemporary whatever (fiction, romance, biography) with classics from my English Lit Degree days. Just finished "The Great Gatsby" for the third time in my life. Amazing.
I LOVE the excerpt from Loving Jacob...it sounds like an amazing story. What is your favorite story you've written?
My favorite story is the one I'm currently working on. It changes from day to day. But you know, the one I can reread is Telling the Truth. I had a heck of a time editing that one, cause I'd get absorbed in the story and forget what I was doing and just read.
Ok, nightcap...what's your poison?
Coffee please- I have to be sober enough to drive home. That is what taxis are for my love. I should know. I own a bar.
Finally, I don't want advice for new authors, or your "writing habits" or even to know what you eat while you write. What I want to know is this: I just wrote and completed final edits on my first m/m story: Blue Cruise. Will you please read it and let me know what you think?
Absolutely with pleasure.
Yay! Watch for it…Thanks Lee. Looking forward to our "bedtime" very soon….
Liz
Don't forget about my IN BETWEEN DAYS BLOG HOP! starting November 4 with a ton of other amazingly talented writers!
More Details Here.
October 25, 2011
In Between Days! A Hot Blog Hop....
Greeting and Welcome to the
That's right. November is an In Between Time for us all. Still have little individually wrapped candies floating around poisoning the dog in the house but haven't quite gotten around to releasing the holiday spirit either. In publishing it's a sort of dead zone between the extreme flurry of Halloween paranormals and Holiday Debauchery stories.
It also happens to be when I release three stories in a row for the 1NightStand series from Decadent Publishing. On November 4 you will get a taste of Turkish Delights, November 8 prepare to grab the tissues for Blue Cruise and November 18 we wrap it up with Tulip Princess.
TURKISH DELIGHTS is the story of the Deniz family, from Istanbul. Twins Emre and Tarkan and their sister Lale are the children of a Turkish father and American mother. Their encounters with the mysterious Madam Eve and her magical dating service don't always end with neat and clean happily ever afters but they're compelling reads, full of heart, heat and no small measure of the essence of Istanbul--a magical place I was lucky to call home for a couple of years.
I'm giving away a Way Cool Prize for my post on November 4. An authentic Turkish kilim rug (reversible) and perfect for a doorway or kitchen.
The list of amazingly talented authors and fellow 'Tweener blog hoppers chatting about their November releases from Decadent is here:
This is just your Official Heads Up!With sincere apologies to The Cure~whose song says it all!Turkish Delights starts off the fun:
The fifteen year age difference between Elle Kensington, ex-patriat American executive and Emre Demir, son of Istanbul's most successful businessmen, has not kept them from becoming fast friends as they tour Istanbul together. But the time has come for him to return to the U.S. to finish his master's degree and she has just been named CEO of the pharmaceutical company that brought her to Turkey in the first place. Elle adores her adopted country, and is alarmed to find herself falling in love with the young man who's been her impromptu guide for the last few months.
But she knows they can never be. She will return home to California within a month, leaving behind all she loves about the ancient city. In a rare fit of spontaneity, Elle has contracted with Madame Eve's OneNightStand dating service to hopefully find a way to forget the dark, handsome young man who has captured her heart. Little does she know what awaits her in the ancient recesses of the Ottoman palace turned luxury hotel under the hands of her one night stand masseur.
SO KEEP CHECKING BACK! The fun begins November 4 Right here on the Brewing Passion blog!cheersLiz
October 24, 2011
Introducing the IN BETWEEN DAYS Blog Hop!
Greeting and Welcome to the
That's right. November is an In Between Time for us all. Still have little individually wrapped candies floating around poisoning the dog in the house but haven't quite gotten around to releasing the holiday spirit either. In publishing it's a sort of dead zone between the extreme flurry of Halloween paranormals and Holiday Debauchery stories.
It also happens to be when I release three stories in a row for the 1NightStand series from Decadent Publishing. On November 4 you will get a taste of Turkish Delights, November 8 prepare to grab the tissues for Blue Cruise and November 18 we wrap it up with Tulip Princess.
TURKISH DELIGHTS is the story of the Deniz family, from Istanbul. Twins Emre and Tarkan and their sister Lale are the children of a Turkish father and American mother. Their encounters with the mysterious Madam Eve and her magical dating service don't always end with neat and clean happily ever afters but they're compelling reads, full of heart, heat and no small measure of the essence of Istanbul--a magical place I was lucky to call home for a couple of years.
I'm giving away a Way Cool Prize for my post on November 4. An authentic Turkish kilim rug (reversible) and perfect for a doorway or kitchen.
The list of amazingly talented authors and fellow 'Tweener blog hoppers chatting about their November releases from Decadent is here:
THIS IS AN AMAZING LIST OF TALENT~You gotta check us all out!
[image error]
I encourage you to check out ALL of their sites throughout our little fun promotion.
This is just your Official Heads Up!
With sincere apologies to The Cure~whose song says it all!
Turkish Delights starts off the fun:
The fifteen year age difference between Elle Kensington, ex-patriat American executive and Emre Demir, son of Istanbul's most successful businessmen, has not kept them from becoming fast friends as they tour Istanbul together. But the time has come for him to return to the U.S. to finish his master's degree and she has just been named CEO of the pharmaceutical company that brought her to Turkey in the first place. Elle adores her adopted country, and is alarmed to find herself falling in love with the young man who's been her impromptu guide for the last few months.
But she knows they can never be. She will return home to California within a month, leaving behind all she loves about the ancient city. In a rare fit of spontaneity, Elle has contracted with Madame Eve's OneNightStand dating service to hopefully find a way to forget the dark, handsome young man who has captured her heart. Little does she know what awaits her in the ancient recesses of the Ottoman palace turned luxury hotel under the hands of her one night stand masseur.
SO KEEP CHECKING BACK! The fun begins November 4 Right here on the Brewing Passion blog!
cheers
Liz
That's right. November is an In Between Time for us all. Still have little individually wrapped candies floating around poisoning the dog in the house but haven't quite gotten around to releasing the holiday spirit either. In publishing it's a sort of dead zone between the extreme flurry of Halloween paranormals and Holiday Debauchery stories.
It also happens to be when I release three stories in a row for the 1NightStand series from Decadent Publishing. On November 4 you will get a taste of Turkish Delights, November 8 prepare to grab the tissues for Blue Cruise and November 18 we wrap it up with Tulip Princess.
TURKISH DELIGHTS is the story of the Deniz family, from Istanbul. Twins Emre and Tarkan and their sister Lale are the children of a Turkish father and American mother. Their encounters with the mysterious Madam Eve and her magical dating service don't always end with neat and clean happily ever afters but they're compelling reads, full of heart, heat and no small measure of the essence of Istanbul--a magical place I was lucky to call home for a couple of years.
I'm giving away a Way Cool Prize for my post on November 4. An authentic Turkish kilim rug (reversible) and perfect for a doorway or kitchen.
The list of amazingly talented authors and fellow 'Tweener blog hoppers chatting about their November releases from Decadent is here:
THIS IS AN AMAZING LIST OF TALENT~You gotta check us all out!
[image error]
I encourage you to check out ALL of their sites throughout our little fun promotion.
This is just your Official Heads Up!
With sincere apologies to The Cure~whose song says it all!
Turkish Delights starts off the fun:
The fifteen year age difference between Elle Kensington, ex-patriat American executive and Emre Demir, son of Istanbul's most successful businessmen, has not kept them from becoming fast friends as they tour Istanbul together. But the time has come for him to return to the U.S. to finish his master's degree and she has just been named CEO of the pharmaceutical company that brought her to Turkey in the first place. Elle adores her adopted country, and is alarmed to find herself falling in love with the young man who's been her impromptu guide for the last few months.
But she knows they can never be. She will return home to California within a month, leaving behind all she loves about the ancient city. In a rare fit of spontaneity, Elle has contracted with Madame Eve's OneNightStand dating service to hopefully find a way to forget the dark, handsome young man who has captured her heart. Little does she know what awaits her in the ancient recesses of the Ottoman palace turned luxury hotel under the hands of her one night stand masseur.
SO KEEP CHECKING BACK! The fun begins November 4 Right here on the Brewing Passion blog!
cheers
Liz
October 23, 2011
A Scary Milestone
Just a few observations today kids...related to my very first request for a "full" that came through on Friday afternoon. I've spent the majority of time since NOT getting my mum settled in her knee rehab facility staring at the manuscript, tweaking, mini-revising and contemplating the "what ifs" of getting it published. It's a stunning thing really, to anticipate that one of the works of your heart--a first fiction, after 2 years of work, might...just might...see light of day.
I don't mean to discount the things I have published already mind you. Those things were works of heart too. For different reasons.
But my Realtor series of novels truly is that first big thing I wrote. That .... thing that although it bears little resemblance style wise to my first enthusiastic, head hopping, overuse of certain words, slightly confusing stream of consciousness mess it was remains at its heart an amazing story of growth for my heroine spanning nearly fifteen years. It means a lot.
To see the words: Please send a full MS at your convenience in the old inbox did a LOT for my ego and re-energized me to finish the last of the three stories--or at least get it out of my head and onto the screen, as it were.
Here is the gist:
The Realtors: Life in the House Lane THE REALTORS spans fifteen years in the life of Sara Jane Thornton as she finds her way in the cut throat, difficult world of real estate sales, stumbling along the way over a couple of men who will either complicate or complement her life.
In Floor Time my heroine comes face to face with Jack Gordon, the older, super alpha, millionaire broker with a female-shaped chip on his shoulder. He has spent a lot of time and energy knocking it off--and then he meets Sara. Can he overcome the self-created hype that hides a fractured heart long enough to admit how much he loves her?
Then Craig Robinson enters the picture--a Ducati-riding, rock band playing, young, newbie Realtor who has no issues admitting how he feels about Sara. But their relationship seems doomed from the beginning--by the sheer force of Jack's personality.
Sara struggles, makes mistakes, and breaks hearts. And along the way learns not to measure her happiness in the eyes of others, but based on her own inner peace.
have a great week!Liz
I don't mean to discount the things I have published already mind you. Those things were works of heart too. For different reasons.
But my Realtor series of novels truly is that first big thing I wrote. That .... thing that although it bears little resemblance style wise to my first enthusiastic, head hopping, overuse of certain words, slightly confusing stream of consciousness mess it was remains at its heart an amazing story of growth for my heroine spanning nearly fifteen years. It means a lot.
To see the words: Please send a full MS at your convenience in the old inbox did a LOT for my ego and re-energized me to finish the last of the three stories--or at least get it out of my head and onto the screen, as it were.
Here is the gist:
The Realtors: Life in the House Lane THE REALTORS spans fifteen years in the life of Sara Jane Thornton as she finds her way in the cut throat, difficult world of real estate sales, stumbling along the way over a couple of men who will either complicate or complement her life.
In Floor Time my heroine comes face to face with Jack Gordon, the older, super alpha, millionaire broker with a female-shaped chip on his shoulder. He has spent a lot of time and energy knocking it off--and then he meets Sara. Can he overcome the self-created hype that hides a fractured heart long enough to admit how much he loves her?
Then Craig Robinson enters the picture--a Ducati-riding, rock band playing, young, newbie Realtor who has no issues admitting how he feels about Sara. But their relationship seems doomed from the beginning--by the sheer force of Jack's personality.
Sara struggles, makes mistakes, and breaks hearts. And along the way learns not to measure her happiness in the eyes of others, but based on her own inner peace.
have a great week!Liz
October 20, 2011
Weekend Dirty Dozen!!! An Inaugural Post.
HOT 12 FROM VEGAS MIRACLE! My uber romantic and way-romantic m/f/m novel.
"You feel incredibly right to me," he muttered into her hair. It had broken free from its messy tie and was tumbling over her shoulders. He sighed and Grace closed her eyes against the sensation of happiness that would no doubt be followed closely by sadness. She was going to let him fuck her. She was certain of it. As a matter of fact, if she didn't get him inside her soon, she might just explode with lust. For now, Grace would settle for his body, his lips, tongue, hands and that cock throbbing against her. But later she knew she'd want more. She stepped away and held out a hand and Ryan threaded his fingers in hers as they started back, silent at first before picking up the publication woes conversation again. He asked the right questions ,which got her thinking about her strategy anew and she nearly forgot she was halfway to being madly in love with a man she'd just met. At the foot of the stairway, he stopped, tugged her to him, possessed her mouth with his, his tongue aggressive, his hands all over her enervated skin. He groaned and pulled away.
BLURB:Ryan and Grace Sullivan have all the outward indications of a happy life: money, success, an undeniable physical attraction that quickly evolved from whirlwind relationship to marriage. But lately, Ryan's become moody and distant. As their relationship starts to crumble, Ryan discovers something about himself he can't admit just as Grace realizes the young man she encounters at an invitation only party, Henri Christophe, a celebrity chef with the most successful restaurant in Las Vegas, is her husband's lover. But Henri holds a secret himself. He wants to be more to both of them.
Trying to make their unconventional arrangement work, Ryan's deep-seated fear of relationship failure continues to thwart everyone's happiness. When he finally walks away instead of confronting the emotional connection the trio share, he returns to find their lives flipped inside out. A sought after hotel and resort consultant, Ryan has yet to meet a problem he couldn't solve. But when it comes to his own heart, Ryan may be too late.
Buy Vegas Miracle!http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...
"You feel incredibly right to me," he muttered into her hair. It had broken free from its messy tie and was tumbling over her shoulders. He sighed and Grace closed her eyes against the sensation of happiness that would no doubt be followed closely by sadness. She was going to let him fuck her. She was certain of it. As a matter of fact, if she didn't get him inside her soon, she might just explode with lust. For now, Grace would settle for his body, his lips, tongue, hands and that cock throbbing against her. But later she knew she'd want more. She stepped away and held out a hand and Ryan threaded his fingers in hers as they started back, silent at first before picking up the publication woes conversation again. He asked the right questions ,which got her thinking about her strategy anew and she nearly forgot she was halfway to being madly in love with a man she'd just met. At the foot of the stairway, he stopped, tugged her to him, possessed her mouth with his, his tongue aggressive, his hands all over her enervated skin. He groaned and pulled away.
BLURB:Ryan and Grace Sullivan have all the outward indications of a happy life: money, success, an undeniable physical attraction that quickly evolved from whirlwind relationship to marriage. But lately, Ryan's become moody and distant. As their relationship starts to crumble, Ryan discovers something about himself he can't admit just as Grace realizes the young man she encounters at an invitation only party, Henri Christophe, a celebrity chef with the most successful restaurant in Las Vegas, is her husband's lover. But Henri holds a secret himself. He wants to be more to both of them.
Trying to make their unconventional arrangement work, Ryan's deep-seated fear of relationship failure continues to thwart everyone's happiness. When he finally walks away instead of confronting the emotional connection the trio share, he returns to find their lives flipped inside out. A sought after hotel and resort consultant, Ryan has yet to meet a problem he couldn't solve. But when it comes to his own heart, Ryan may be too late.
Buy Vegas Miracle!http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...
October 19, 2011
The Wench and the Tart at the Beer Bar (Epic)
Across the Beer Bar with Hart Johnson
[image error]
Hey woman! Good to see ya! What shall we start with?
A beer? Something strong and dark, eh? (is there something about people liking beer like their men?) Ok...right now I think you would LOVE either my Big House Brown (a delicious, coffee brown lager). Michigan's Epic Fail this past week notwithstanding...OR the 38 Redemption Black Pilsner.
Q: How in the hell did you get here? That is to say, you have one of the most fun and widely followed blogs about writing out there. What did you do to get it to that point?
See... by nature I'm sort of an exhibitionist, so all the 'let it all hang out' of blogging REALLY appeals to me. I started with this idea I ought to be all professional, but when I looked around at some of the great blogs, I couldn't help but think THAT is a front on which I can't compete. I was a noob. I wasn't going to give better writing advice, or find more events, or any OTHER serious writing thing. What I excel at is being a NUT. I can play with the best of them.
So I decided to run with it. The OTHER thing I did, very aggressively for a while, was find a couple bloggers I admired (most notably, Elizabeth Spann Craig)--I followed a ton of blogs she followed, commenting every time I read. I was as slutty as possible, trying to just build a presence. This community is so amazingly supportive, they responded VERY kindly.
And I confess before THAT, even, I begged my friends. I've been writing online since about 2005 (*whispers* fan fiction... I know it's not highly respected, but it was GREAT schooling in plotting). And my followers from THERE over 4 years were not just readers, they were friends. A bunch of them were willing to follow, so before I even thought about 'public', I had about 40 followers... just helped me not feel so scared.And all you fine folks who follow EITHER the Beer Wench OR Liz can thank Hart for that. She sayeth: Go Forth and Blog. And so I did.
Q: Tell us about your experience so far with your agent? Worth it?
I love the agent thing. I think GETTING one can be very hard, and I think NEEDING one is genre specific—you, for instance, my friend, are in a genre I suspect it's not necessary. Your genre has publishers willing to be approached directly and willing to work with you to improve something, whereas mystery is still a genre that is huge-house dominated, and publishers won't look at cold submissions. I also write YA, and it is the same thing. My Cozy mystery contract though, was achieved because the editor approached the agent with an idea and asked if she had a writer up to the project—write for hire, if you will. That is even LESS possible without the agent connection.
Oddly, with romance, there are calls for submissions from editors to write directly to themes—I have a good friend who has bypassed the agent thing by just responding to those and she's done really well.
The only reason I find this dichotomy surprising, is they are the two sort of stereotypical 'genre fiction' favored children, so you'd think they'd work the same.
Oh, right... the question... I love the process. My YA contract is probably more typical than the Cozy one, and Amy Tipton is a superstar. She's pushed me to rethink a few points so I lose some stereotypes. She's pushed me to fit the more expected genre profile so the book is easier to sell. And she's pushed me to do some things that increase the tension. I feel like in every case it's improved the story, and I feel like only a fraction of the points had been spotted by the 'non-professional' readers I'd had.
I still shudder at the thought of crafting query letters to agents however, one of my editors has suggested I do just that. My books are somewhat of a genre bender in that I incorporate sexy stuff, for certain (many times smoking hot) and a bunch of the standard romance requirements (Alpha Males for example) but tend to write more complex characters with sometimes annoying flaws that I think make readers connect more deeply with them. I don't do fantasy. My people are real. But again...shivers with dread at the thought....
Q: What the heck is a Cozy Mystery?
Oh, you know, the light funny murders... teehee. Seriously. These are for readers who love to solve the mystery along with the sleuth, but who don't want any gore or graphic violence. Think of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books—that is 'case 1' for Cozy mystery. It is an amateur sleuth (so you don't need to be schooled in police work or forensics), the victim is disliked and sometimes obvious from the start...
Did you ever go to slumber parties and tell ghost stories and there was a subset unwilling to be THAT scared... they needed it all watered down? In a way, that is this... it is the puzzle of mystery, without the distasteful stuff.
What I love about it is the characters are fun and funny, often quirky. The plots can be a little 'soapish'--it is like playing to me. I have a really good time writing them. And I've learned a TON about plotting, because mystery has certain pieces that have to be there, and they have to flow in a sort of evenly paced way—and that construction and pacing is really applicable to all writing.
Q: I heard you have a brewery story on your horizon. How's that going? What is your experience in the brewing world?
I wrote the first one during BuNoWriMo (just like NaNoWriMo, but much smaller—my writing group hosts it every June) and I am currently typing the end of it. (I tend to write long-hand and had two deadlines recently, so I hadn't done the typing on this yet).
I LOVE Microbreweries. I left advertising in 1991 with sights on grad school and worked for McMenamin's a chain in Oregon for six and a half years (yes, it took me that long to get through grad school). I learned a ton about micros and brewing (even spent a day with a brewer, as I wondered if I might want to be 'the woman brewer'--I couldn't justify it, as the pay was the same, but tip-free). But I love the creativity, individuality... and I LOVE a good craft beer. I tend to like the English varieties—heavier, hoppier, as opposed to the German.
But I thought writing a series with a female brewery owner in Portland would tap an 'almost cozy' (I call it Sassy, but I made that up) market that would have interested people from the cozy readership, but also from people a little less timid. My heroine is a divorced, forty-something woman, a refugee from software marketing prior to the Nasdaq dive—what was that 2002? She has a teen son who she only has in the summer and lives in a flat over her brewery in Portland's Old Town. So there is a ton of Portland flavor, a fair bit of brewery and beer detail (including a very hot brewer who is her best friend, but the sexual tension between them is palpable)
It was really fun to write. I wrote first person, which I don't usually do, but I think for amateur sleuth mystery it works really well. When I can clean it up, I plan to offer it to my Cozy editor, as Berkley Prime Crime does some darker mystery as well. Probably though, it will be winter before I really can do that. [image error] Fun! I have something that involves a little sabotage/inter-brewery intrigue and of course smoking hot sex with a dash of angst thrown in: Cheeky Blonde was an 18 month writing/critiquing and revision project that I LOVE. It currently languishes in various Big Name AE inboxes (makes notes about writing query letters for an agent...)
Q: what is your favorite style of beer for each season?
Keep in mind I ALWAYS like strong. It is just how I roll. And sweet is annoying. Erm... that might apply to my taste in men, too, even though I know better.
Winter: An oatmeal stout if I am only having one, though I LOVE dark Christmas ales. Full Sail in Oregon has a Wassail that is sublime. I also love Pyramid's Snowcap.You will love my Winter Lager coming out in bottles Winter Solstice....spicy, hot and perfect.
Spring: Probably this would be IPA season. It is a 'good times are coming' ale—I love the bitter and it has a little body to it. Were it available, besides in the Northwest, McMenamin's Hammerhead is PERFECT here. It is a heavy bodied, bitter red.Hop Heads UNITE!!! (do you like the Gulo Gulo? My IPL?)
Summer: An ESB, I think. I can go lighter bodied, but the lighter the body, the more hops I need. My favorite again, is from Pyramid—Ballard Bitter. I go for the wheats myself of my favorite Boston Brew: Noble Pils since I've discovered the distinct and subtle orgasmic bliss of a perfect Czech Pils...
Fall: I can get playful here... maybe a nut brown. I am really excited about Wolverine's Pumpkin one that is coming... Ginger. Clove. I love a spiced ale and fall seems the perfect time for it. The Curcurbita Smiles is gonna rock out for certain!
Q: Where do you see yourself this time next year, writing-wise?
Well I KNOW I will have released my first Cozy—that is scheduled for June—It is called The Azalea Assault and will be under my pen name, Alyse Carlson. I don't know the spacing, but I may be prepping for the release of the second (Begonia Bribe) and HOPEFULLY, I will have sold Kahlotus Disposal Site—my agent just got back my second round of revisions, and I really hope she will like it enough that it will be polished to sell by January.
I have two books to write by December 31—the 3rd Cozy and a YA idea that's been fermenting since February called Medium Wrong (that Amy loves, nice to have the okay before I even start). I suspect the only real difference between then and now is I will need to figure out how the promotion fits in my timeframe, as I also work full time. I hope I can still write 3-4 books a year, but I may have to shake it up a bit. Promotion is the necessary evil, even for those of you agented ones, trust me!But you have such an amazing platform already with your huge blog following, shouldn't be too hard.
Q: Who are your go-to authors? Those folks you might even by a hardback from?
Understand I live in poverty... I think JK Rowling is my only ACTUAL exception to hardback prices, and I think she is how I learned to 'finish a story' so that's okay by me. But I have a few more favorites:
Tom Robbins: Nobody is as bendy as Tom.Peter Straub: I wish I had the imagination for horror. I LOVE his stuff.And then I LOVE LOVE LOVE the 19th century men. I hate to be sexist, but 19th century women were writing about domestic and marital stuff, which I just can't care about. The men though, Hugo, Dumas, Tolstoy... were writing larger than life amazing tales.I like Ayn Rand, not because I agree with her, but because she stimulates my brain.On mystery, I really like Elizabeth George.
Q: What's our nightcap?
An Irascible Mink, obviously! It's my favorite of your beers!Funny really. It is "Insolent" our mink but he's been called Irascible, Indolent and downright Improper by many. It's a killer, isn't it? This last batch especially with the CTZ hop blend...sublime perfection.
[image error]
Thank you so much for hosting me, Liz! I love this writing/beer space we share!Me too Hart! Thanks to you for all your advice, your reading time (hope you can get to The Tap Room soon!) and for letting me blah blah blah all over the Watery Tart blog!cheersLiz
Hey woman! Good to see ya! What shall we start with?
A beer? Something strong and dark, eh? (is there something about people liking beer like their men?) Ok...right now I think you would LOVE either my Big House Brown (a delicious, coffee brown lager). Michigan's Epic Fail this past week notwithstanding...OR the 38 Redemption Black Pilsner.
Q: How in the hell did you get here? That is to say, you have one of the most fun and widely followed blogs about writing out there. What did you do to get it to that point?
See... by nature I'm sort of an exhibitionist, so all the 'let it all hang out' of blogging REALLY appeals to me. I started with this idea I ought to be all professional, but when I looked around at some of the great blogs, I couldn't help but think THAT is a front on which I can't compete. I was a noob. I wasn't going to give better writing advice, or find more events, or any OTHER serious writing thing. What I excel at is being a NUT. I can play with the best of them.
So I decided to run with it. The OTHER thing I did, very aggressively for a while, was find a couple bloggers I admired (most notably, Elizabeth Spann Craig)--I followed a ton of blogs she followed, commenting every time I read. I was as slutty as possible, trying to just build a presence. This community is so amazingly supportive, they responded VERY kindly.
And I confess before THAT, even, I begged my friends. I've been writing online since about 2005 (*whispers* fan fiction... I know it's not highly respected, but it was GREAT schooling in plotting). And my followers from THERE over 4 years were not just readers, they were friends. A bunch of them were willing to follow, so before I even thought about 'public', I had about 40 followers... just helped me not feel so scared.And all you fine folks who follow EITHER the Beer Wench OR Liz can thank Hart for that. She sayeth: Go Forth and Blog. And so I did.
Q: Tell us about your experience so far with your agent? Worth it?
I love the agent thing. I think GETTING one can be very hard, and I think NEEDING one is genre specific—you, for instance, my friend, are in a genre I suspect it's not necessary. Your genre has publishers willing to be approached directly and willing to work with you to improve something, whereas mystery is still a genre that is huge-house dominated, and publishers won't look at cold submissions. I also write YA, and it is the same thing. My Cozy mystery contract though, was achieved because the editor approached the agent with an idea and asked if she had a writer up to the project—write for hire, if you will. That is even LESS possible without the agent connection.
Oddly, with romance, there are calls for submissions from editors to write directly to themes—I have a good friend who has bypassed the agent thing by just responding to those and she's done really well.
The only reason I find this dichotomy surprising, is they are the two sort of stereotypical 'genre fiction' favored children, so you'd think they'd work the same.
Oh, right... the question... I love the process. My YA contract is probably more typical than the Cozy one, and Amy Tipton is a superstar. She's pushed me to rethink a few points so I lose some stereotypes. She's pushed me to fit the more expected genre profile so the book is easier to sell. And she's pushed me to do some things that increase the tension. I feel like in every case it's improved the story, and I feel like only a fraction of the points had been spotted by the 'non-professional' readers I'd had.
I still shudder at the thought of crafting query letters to agents however, one of my editors has suggested I do just that. My books are somewhat of a genre bender in that I incorporate sexy stuff, for certain (many times smoking hot) and a bunch of the standard romance requirements (Alpha Males for example) but tend to write more complex characters with sometimes annoying flaws that I think make readers connect more deeply with them. I don't do fantasy. My people are real. But again...shivers with dread at the thought....
Q: What the heck is a Cozy Mystery?
Oh, you know, the light funny murders... teehee. Seriously. These are for readers who love to solve the mystery along with the sleuth, but who don't want any gore or graphic violence. Think of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books—that is 'case 1' for Cozy mystery. It is an amateur sleuth (so you don't need to be schooled in police work or forensics), the victim is disliked and sometimes obvious from the start...
Did you ever go to slumber parties and tell ghost stories and there was a subset unwilling to be THAT scared... they needed it all watered down? In a way, that is this... it is the puzzle of mystery, without the distasteful stuff.
What I love about it is the characters are fun and funny, often quirky. The plots can be a little 'soapish'--it is like playing to me. I have a really good time writing them. And I've learned a TON about plotting, because mystery has certain pieces that have to be there, and they have to flow in a sort of evenly paced way—and that construction and pacing is really applicable to all writing.
Q: I heard you have a brewery story on your horizon. How's that going? What is your experience in the brewing world?
I wrote the first one during BuNoWriMo (just like NaNoWriMo, but much smaller—my writing group hosts it every June) and I am currently typing the end of it. (I tend to write long-hand and had two deadlines recently, so I hadn't done the typing on this yet).
I LOVE Microbreweries. I left advertising in 1991 with sights on grad school and worked for McMenamin's a chain in Oregon for six and a half years (yes, it took me that long to get through grad school). I learned a ton about micros and brewing (even spent a day with a brewer, as I wondered if I might want to be 'the woman brewer'--I couldn't justify it, as the pay was the same, but tip-free). But I love the creativity, individuality... and I LOVE a good craft beer. I tend to like the English varieties—heavier, hoppier, as opposed to the German.
But I thought writing a series with a female brewery owner in Portland would tap an 'almost cozy' (I call it Sassy, but I made that up) market that would have interested people from the cozy readership, but also from people a little less timid. My heroine is a divorced, forty-something woman, a refugee from software marketing prior to the Nasdaq dive—what was that 2002? She has a teen son who she only has in the summer and lives in a flat over her brewery in Portland's Old Town. So there is a ton of Portland flavor, a fair bit of brewery and beer detail (including a very hot brewer who is her best friend, but the sexual tension between them is palpable)
It was really fun to write. I wrote first person, which I don't usually do, but I think for amateur sleuth mystery it works really well. When I can clean it up, I plan to offer it to my Cozy editor, as Berkley Prime Crime does some darker mystery as well. Probably though, it will be winter before I really can do that. [image error] Fun! I have something that involves a little sabotage/inter-brewery intrigue and of course smoking hot sex with a dash of angst thrown in: Cheeky Blonde was an 18 month writing/critiquing and revision project that I LOVE. It currently languishes in various Big Name AE inboxes (makes notes about writing query letters for an agent...)
Q: what is your favorite style of beer for each season?
Keep in mind I ALWAYS like strong. It is just how I roll. And sweet is annoying. Erm... that might apply to my taste in men, too, even though I know better.
Winter: An oatmeal stout if I am only having one, though I LOVE dark Christmas ales. Full Sail in Oregon has a Wassail that is sublime. I also love Pyramid's Snowcap.You will love my Winter Lager coming out in bottles Winter Solstice....spicy, hot and perfect.
Spring: Probably this would be IPA season. It is a 'good times are coming' ale—I love the bitter and it has a little body to it. Were it available, besides in the Northwest, McMenamin's Hammerhead is PERFECT here. It is a heavy bodied, bitter red.Hop Heads UNITE!!! (do you like the Gulo Gulo? My IPL?)
Summer: An ESB, I think. I can go lighter bodied, but the lighter the body, the more hops I need. My favorite again, is from Pyramid—Ballard Bitter. I go for the wheats myself of my favorite Boston Brew: Noble Pils since I've discovered the distinct and subtle orgasmic bliss of a perfect Czech Pils...
Fall: I can get playful here... maybe a nut brown. I am really excited about Wolverine's Pumpkin one that is coming... Ginger. Clove. I love a spiced ale and fall seems the perfect time for it. The Curcurbita Smiles is gonna rock out for certain!
Q: Where do you see yourself this time next year, writing-wise?
Well I KNOW I will have released my first Cozy—that is scheduled for June—It is called The Azalea Assault and will be under my pen name, Alyse Carlson. I don't know the spacing, but I may be prepping for the release of the second (Begonia Bribe) and HOPEFULLY, I will have sold Kahlotus Disposal Site—my agent just got back my second round of revisions, and I really hope she will like it enough that it will be polished to sell by January.
I have two books to write by December 31—the 3rd Cozy and a YA idea that's been fermenting since February called Medium Wrong (that Amy loves, nice to have the okay before I even start). I suspect the only real difference between then and now is I will need to figure out how the promotion fits in my timeframe, as I also work full time. I hope I can still write 3-4 books a year, but I may have to shake it up a bit. Promotion is the necessary evil, even for those of you agented ones, trust me!But you have such an amazing platform already with your huge blog following, shouldn't be too hard.
Q: Who are your go-to authors? Those folks you might even by a hardback from?
Understand I live in poverty... I think JK Rowling is my only ACTUAL exception to hardback prices, and I think she is how I learned to 'finish a story' so that's okay by me. But I have a few more favorites:
Tom Robbins: Nobody is as bendy as Tom.Peter Straub: I wish I had the imagination for horror. I LOVE his stuff.And then I LOVE LOVE LOVE the 19th century men. I hate to be sexist, but 19th century women were writing about domestic and marital stuff, which I just can't care about. The men though, Hugo, Dumas, Tolstoy... were writing larger than life amazing tales.I like Ayn Rand, not because I agree with her, but because she stimulates my brain.On mystery, I really like Elizabeth George.
Q: What's our nightcap?
An Irascible Mink, obviously! It's my favorite of your beers!Funny really. It is "Insolent" our mink but he's been called Irascible, Indolent and downright Improper by many. It's a killer, isn't it? This last batch especially with the CTZ hop blend...sublime perfection.
[image error]
Thank you so much for hosting me, Liz! I love this writing/beer space we share!Me too Hart! Thanks to you for all your advice, your reading time (hope you can get to The Tap Room soon!) and for letting me blah blah blah all over the Watery Tart blog!cheersLiz
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