Thea Harrison's Blog, page 33
April 18, 2012
Writer Wednesday: Guest Author Joelle Charbonneau and Giveaway!
From Thea: One of my very favorite things about hosting a Writer Wednesday on my new blog is the chance to share wonderful people with you like my lovely friend Joelle Charbonneau! Thank you, Joelle, for visiting with us this week.
Joelle is offering a giveaway this week, and details follow at the end of her blog post.
~ ~ ~
A writer’s favorite things…
Joelle Charbonneau
Everyone sing with me:
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens….
Okay – enough singing. (Which is probably the first and only time you’ll hear me say that!) Technically this post isn’t about kittens or raindrops because while those are both really great, they aren’t really my favorite things. If I were creating a song about the things that me “the writer” can’t live without topping the list would be buttered (and salted) popcorn, Frosted Flakes, caffeine and friends.
Ten years ago, I was a reader. Writing my own books wasn’t even a blip on my radar. I was singing and acting on stage, teaching some acting and singing lessons and reading. Heck, come to think of it, back then I had never even met an author. Now I find it hard to believe since the majority of people I communicate with every day are authors. Including the lovely and talented and so incredibly supportive Thea Harrison!
Writing as a profession is an incredibly solitary experience. Lots of people are necessary to get a book from a word document on the screen to a book on the shelf. Agents, editors, copyeditors, sales teams, marketing folks, publishers, public relations gurus, typesetters, printers, cover artists, catalogue creators and countless others are all part of the process. And that doesn’t even cover the people who need to help get the book into readers’ hands like booksellers, librarians and bloggers. But before anyone can turn a manuscript into a book or get the book into the loving hands of readers, the book has to be created. The computer has to be turned on, a new document opened and the screen turned from a blank page into one filled with words.
Facing that blank page every day is wonderful and frightening because no one else can help you fill those pages. People can brainstorm with you and get you pot after pot of coffee, but the work of typing those pages belongs to the writer and the writer alone.
And it can feel lonely.
Which is where the fabulous writer friends like Thea come into play! The solitary writer experience never feels as lonely and the blank page as scary when you have friends on the other side of the phone, or on Twitter and Facebook. It’s wonderful to see other writers banging their heads against the proverbial wall or hitting The End of their manuscript because sharing their battles and their victories helps me know that I, too, will overcome the challenges I face.
And better yet – having writing friends is fun!
So, in this very public forum, I would like to thank my friends both readers and writers on the World Wide Web for their angst, their happiness and more than anything their kindness. You make being a writer a really wonderful thing to be.
To express my thanks, I’m giving away a copy of SKATING AROUND THE LAW to a commenter. I hope my heroine Rebecca Robbins and Elwood the ex-circus camel gives the winner some laughs and a lot of smiles.
**Giveaway ends at 12 noon MDT on Friday, April 20th!**
Tweet
April 17, 2012
Blog post: I just signed the contract for novella #3!!
I wanted to share some happy news: I just signed the contract with Samhain for the Elder Races novella #3!! The scheduled release date for DEVIL’S GATE is June 5th, 2012. I’ll be sure to post when we have cover art, and the story goes up for preorder on the Samhain website, and at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.
This is the medusa Seremela Telemar’s story, and I’ll reveal who the hero is soon. I have one more Elder Races novella planned. After I complete that fourth story, I do intend to concentrate exclusively on the full length novels in the series for the foreseeable future.
Tweet
April 14, 2012
Blog Post: UPDATE Apologies to readers, but Barnes and Noble signings are postponed
Unfortunately, due to a website snafu at Barnes and Noble, the Westminster store manager and I have decided we should postpone today’s scheduled signing for a later date (to be decided upon). The event was never successfully posted to their store’s schedule of events, and we felt it would be more advantageous to hold the signing at a later date.
The scheduled signing for the Barnes and Noble at Thornton is also not confirmed at this point, since that event never successfully posted to their store’s schedule either.
I apologize to local readers who may have been planning to make one of these two signings, and I promise that we will be rescheduling for another time.
Best,
Thea
Tweet
April 13, 2012
Blog Post: This week’s Writer Wednesday winner!
Faith is the winner of this week’s giveaway with Virna DePaul. I’ve emailed Faith separately–congratulations!
My next guest author on Wednesday the 18th is author and friend Joelle Charbonneau!
Happy reading, everybody!
Thea
Tweet
April 11, 2012
Writer Wednesday: Guest Author Virna DePaul and Giveaway!
From Thea: I was so delighted when Virna DePaul graciously agreed to come visit on my blog. I've been lucky to have several visits with Virna, at book signings and at RWA last year in New York. Virna's wonderful, and I know you'll enjoy her blog post today!
Virna is generously offering a giveaway this week. Details are at the end of the post!
~ ~ ~
All Of Me by Virna DePaul
Thank you to Thea for having me as a guest on her blog today. I first met Thea when we were doing a book signing together. I'd already read Dragon Bound and loved it. Turns out Thea's not only uber-talented but is gracious and fun to hang with! J Now on with my post…
I'm sitting next to my husband at Starbucks writing this blog post and he's just pulled a balloon out of his pocket to show the people next to him a magic trick. My hubby's always prepared to entertain and amaze someone, be it a friend, stranger, or hotel clerk he's trying to charm into giving him a free room upgrade. He's done stand up comedy, can make animals and flowers out of balloons, and once guest-hosted a radio show. He's also the kind of guy who can do any sport decently. But magic seems to be his true calling. He can work his outgoing personality and humor along with some amazing slight of hand. People are drawn to him, especially kids.
So what does this have to do with me and writing? Well, writing is complicated. Writers are complicated. My husband reminds me how multi-faceted people (even non-writers) are. During the day, he's a criminal prosecutor and sometimes he can come off a bit…well…let's say…strong-willed and intimidating. Most people don't know there's so much more to him. A whole other side that, while it might seem contrary to his true personality, actually complements it. Imagine if he had to be the serious prosecutor all the time. That part of him is important and valuable, but he deserves some joyful moments, too. In fact, I think my hubby's lighter side reveals his true nature the most.
From Thea: I love this photo!
On the other hand, I'm quite the opposite of my hubby in many ways. Like a lot of writers, I'm an introvert. I'm shy. I don't like making small talk. Half the time the day goes by and I'm still in pajamas and have to rush to school to pick up my kids while avoiding eye contact with anyone because I look like a disaster—maybe if we don't make eye contact, they won't notice?
I like spinning scenarios in my head and massaging them on the screen until it "feels" right. This is why I, unlike my husband, didn't enjoy being a criminal prosecutor. We did the exact same work, yet I could see how he flourished on the job while I felt like I was dying a slow death. I don't like conflict or being put on the spot. I hate having someone figuratively punch me in the gut and then having to remain poised enough to come up with an articulate response to said sucker punch instead of crying or yelling the way I really want to. Instead of doing the latter, I usually took the "silent" approach. Most people thought I was professional and strong, but really I was mostly distressed and flummoxed.
Yet now I write. I put my work out into the world for people to ignore, read, praise or trash. I market myself and network at conferences and teach workshops. Voluntarily. And all this seems so contrary to my introverted nature…but yet it's not. For the most part, readers and writers are connected by a passion for the written word, so I feel more at home with them. Despite being an introvert, I love challenges and I love making true solid connections with others. I love helping others reach an "a ha" moment, whether it's about the craft of writing or about some issue they've been struggling with in their lives. I really, really love providing an outlet for others to escape their problems, one that leaves them feeling empowered and hopeful.
When we're at Starbucks or other public places, my hubby usually shines. In a crowd, I'm quiet and might come off as standoffish. Yes, that's part of me, but it's not all of me. Like the characters I love to read about and the characters I endeavor to write about, I'm multi-faceted. It takes a while to get to know me but when you do, I like to think I offer something unique and special. I feel the same way about my books.
Thank goodness for the variety of people and personalities in the world. Thank goodness for the different writers and stories and genres. There's something for every mood and personality, even the most complicated ones.
How are you or someone close to you more than meets the eye? I'm giving away a signed copy of Chosen By Blood, Book 1 in the Para-Ops Novels, to one commenter.
**Giveaway ends at 12 noon MDT on Friday, April 13th**
~ ~ ~
Bio: Virna DePaul is a former criminal prosecutor and now national bestselling author of the Para-Ops Novels, including her latest release, Chosen By Sin. Virna also writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense (It Started That Night, May 2012) and HQN (Shades Of Desire, June 2012). Her novella, Molly Wants A Hero, is included in the upcoming "Love Bites" charitable anthology with other pet-themed stories by New York Times Bestsellers Lori Foster and Brenda Jackson, and bestselling authors Catherine Mann and Jules Bennett. Finally, Virna has indie published several contemporary romance novels and novellas, including the Red-Hot Cops erotic romances under the name Ava Meyers. Find out more at www.virnadepaul.com
Tweet
April 9, 2012
Blog Post: I've Been Tagged For Lucky 7′s
Whee, authors are tagging each other to post 7 lines from page 77 of our latest book or current manuscript, starting after the 7th sentence. I've been tagged by Laurie London, so here's my excerpt from DEVIL'S GATE, my third novella in the Elder Races series, which I am just finishing tonight and should be available in late June/early July.
~~~
"She made no secret of how she loathed our lord, and now she has brought another of her kind who is even more poisonous." He and his companion drew their swords as well, and the sound of the long scrape of metal ran down Seremela's spine.
Do they not comprehend that you have a gun trained on them? Seremela said incredulously in Duncan's head.
Xanthe lunged, the others stepped to meet her and the clash of steel rang out.
I can't use it and they know it, said Duncan. The gunshot would draw too much attention. The sound of the swordfight is bad enough.
~~~
If they haven't been tagged yet, I'm tagging:
Shiloh Walker
Moira Rogers
Joelle Charbonneau
Vivian Arend
Lauren Dane
Megan Hart
Julia BroadBooks
Tweet
April 8, 2012
Blog post: local Barnes and Noble Signings April 14th and 21st
The first is on Saturday, April 14, 2012, from 12-2 pm at the Westminster Barnes and Noble:
9370 Sheridan Blvd
Westminster, CO 80030
(303) 426-7733
The second is on Saturday April 21, 2012, from 11-2 pm at the Thornton Barnes and Noble:
701 E. 120th Avenue
Thornton, CO 80233
(720) 872-2619
Stop by and say hi! I'd love to see you.
Smiles,
Thea
Tweet
April 6, 2012
Blog Post: Love Beyond All Reason
With a blog post title like that, perhaps you might be looking for me to make a big announcement about an engagement (no), or a title of a new book sale (no).
Instead, today I'm writing about creating my new living space. It is an interesting experience to get rid of all one's possessions, which is what I did two years ago in order to room with family and pursue writing full time. Another interesting experience is setting up house again from scratch. For the last couple of months I've been hunting clearance sales and carefully piecing my place together, trying to balance a strict budget with the need to develop a pleasing living/work environment. Some of it has been fun, but I'm not really a shopper so often it has felt like chore I needed to get through.
Then I found this and lost my mind:
I loved this piece so much, I had to buy it. Thankfully it wasn't too expensive–it's a piece of furniture carried by Hobby Lobby, and I managed to get it for $113 and change. The book ends are drawers:
In fact, I love this piece so very much, I had to order a second one for the other side of the couch. It will come into my local store next Friday, and I can't wait to go pick it up. After all, when am I ever going to be able to match such a quirky piece again? Probably never.
So while I am setting up my new home and focusing–most of the time–on sensible items on a budget, these two pieces I bought for sheer love. I'm calling them my housewarming present to myself.
What sort of thing have you discovered that made you lose your mind?
Tweet
Blog Post: This week's Writer Wednesday winner!
Fiona is the winner of this week's giveaway with Shiloh Walker. I've emailed Fiona separately–congratulations, Fiona!
My next guest author on Wednesday the 11th is Virna dePaul.
Happy reading, everybody!
Thea
Tweet
April 4, 2012
Blog post: sharing some happy news
I've now gotten the all-clear to share some fun news with you–Dragos and Pia are going to France! And so are Tricks and Tiago! I'm very excited at the French deal, and I will be very interested to see the book cover art for DRAGON BOUND and STORM'S HEART … now if I can only fit in their suitcases and go with them.
Tweet
