Liz Matis's Blog, page 15

Living the dream, baby, just living the dream...

 My second eBook/Nook signing was held at the same location - Barnes and Noble at the Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY with members of the Hudson Valley Romance Writers of America. I met some lovely readers (more on that later).

At the first Nook signing all the members were signing at one time - about ten of us. We were located in a section off to the side. After a slow start we had a nice flow of traffic. The management at B&N were impressed enough to invite us back, but this time they extended the time and we did rotating shifts in smaller groups. We were placed in a heavy traffic area - right in front of the steps to the Starbucks Cafe.

My time slot was 1:00 to 3:00. I partnered up with the fabulous Charmaine Gordon. Traffic was slow for the first 45 minutes but then it picked up.

My favorites of the day:

I met a romance reader that reads over 200 books a year and said what is music to every writer's ears - "I'm going to tell all my friends about your books!" Better yet she is part of a book club and when I offered to do a Q&A she was thrilled so I pointed out my email address on the rack cards and told her to contact me if they are interested. I hope they are!

It pays to be nice to the non-romance readers who stop by your table to chat. For instance, a retired fashion photographer stopped by to discuss the book HE was writing. As a former actress, Charmaine Gordon, asked him about the casting couch and he said the photographers didn't need a couch - that the models vied for dates in hopes of being selected - ( he was very honest ) and he had his pick. Well, I'm writing a romance between a supermodel and football player - and lightbulb moment - I know where my story is going!

It's all about connecting with people and learning about them whether they are your target audience or not.

Over the speaker they announced our presence and I did my best beauty pageant wave. People laughed. The management of B&N wants to have us back AND next time stock our print books for the signing!

And, yes, I had to direct a nice gentlemen who wanted a Spanish-English Bible to the information desk. I escaped having to give directions to the bathroom.  Ah, the life of a romance author...

eBook Signing!

Today I'll be at the Barnes and Noble at the Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY. I'll be there from 1 to 3 signing nifty rack cards. If that's not enough to lure you in I have chocolate!

Housekeeping ain't no joke. Louisa May Alcott

Have some housekeeping to do! So here it is:

My blog tour is fast approaching! My first stop is Monday! Click on the link for details.

CLP Blog Tours: Love by Design by Liz Matis: Design Intervention starts the second season with its own surprise makeover. Interior designer Victoria Bryce must break in her temporar...

I other news I started my fan page on Facebook. I'm still learning how to use this but check it out and maybe even Like me?  Here is the link Liz Matis Fan Page

Also, I changed my Twitter account to @LizMatis instead of @taoofliz.  I think this will bring to my Twitter page..  Twitter - @LizMatis

If you read Playing For Keeps you've been waiting for Going For It to be out the end of April. I've had to re-work a couple of scenes and finish up. I know BAD, BAD author. Believe me I feel just awful. I hope to have it out by the end of May - at the latest beginning of June. Again I'm so sorry.

Age is about life span, about the journey we take. Julianne Moore

Another post to add to my Quotes by Famous Women series:
Julianne Moore has been in a gazillion films. Here are some quotes from this multi-talented actress who is also a author of the children's book series Freckleface Strawberry:
I'm looking for the truth. The audience doesn't come to see you, they come to see themselves.
 Julianne Moore  ( side note: so true with writing too!)
You never have sex the way people do in the movies. You don`t do it on the floor, you don`t do it standing up, you don`t always have all your clothes off, you don`t happen to have on all the sexy lingerie. You know, if anybody ever ripped my clothes, I`d kill them. Julianne Moore
It gets back to the narrative: You have to be where you are in your story and enjoy it for what it is. Julianne Moore
Have a favorite Julianne Moore movie? Mine is Children of Men.

'Love is a voyage my infinitive woman' Juan M. Frisanccio Muñoz

So begins the poem by Juan M. Frisanccio Munoz, who allowed me to include his poem in the beginning of my romance novel, Love By Design. I'm so please to present this interview with Juan.

Me: What types of poems do you find yourself drawn to writing?
Juan: Poems about love. Love is one of the most beautiful sensations you can have. Sometimes I write about what I've experienced and other times about what I wish to happen. When I'm writing I'm calling out to that person.

Me: I love that! You moved to the United States from Peru several years ago - why?
Juan: To challenge myself. I felt I reached my potential there. Coming here I had to start all over. I didn't even speak English.

Me: What are you reading now?
Juan: Lots of theology books in preparation for a future novel project. Also, Ruben Dario, William Shakespeare and a lot of blog surfing.

Me: Do you have a favorite poet?
Juan: Pablo Neruda.

Me: What inspires you?
Juan: Love. Also, I'm inspired by people who've been told they can't do something and then despite the odds do it anyway.

Me: You're also a dancer. Is there any correlation to the way you express yourself through dance versus poetry?
Juan: I use my body to express my feelings through dance and with poetry I channel my feelings into words. Both are about conveying a feeling.

Me: What are you working on now?
Juan: I'm building characters and creating a world for a novel. I've been working on starting a dance company. I love to create.

Me: Thanks Juan!

I hope you enjoyed this interview. Here is the poem Juan shared in my book, Love By Design. Please leave a comment - I'll make sure he gets them!


Love is a voyage my infinitive woman Fusion of two bodies blasted in our delectable passionsYour look is mine, my love Your lips are my lipsYour breath, your heartbeats, all is mineYou are my loveMy fingers trail your naked flesh, a thin stardust line, Delicate pure and with goddess dewUnflawed body of petals and honeyThen a kissNothing persist but the windNothing persist but our midnight moansNothing persist, only air and water, moonlight and whispersLabyrinth of shadowy handsBurning skinsBurning in our own bloodPenetrating each other’s veins
Juan M. Frisanccio Muñoz

What happens after the happy ever after?

No spoiler alert here since Love By Design is a romance and all romances have or should have a happy ever after but what happens after The End?
Wondering what's going on between Russ and Victoria? To recap Victoria and Russ are co-hosts of Design Intervention.
Here is a quick conversation between the two:
Russ: So now that I'm living here do I get a say on the décor.
Victoria: (Silence)
Russ: Well?
Victoria: My - I mean - our place looks nice as it is.
Russ throws a lacy mauve pillow at her.
Victoria: Oh-okay, I guess we can switch out a couple of things.
Russ: Good, let's start with a TV.
Victoria: Oh, no! They are hideous! A design disaster!
Russ: Come on. I'll build one of those wall cabinets that will completely hide it.
Victoria:  Hmmm, will you be doing this shirtless?
Russ: That's my uniform.
Victoria: And could we play hunky contractor and naughty housewife who can't pay the bill?
Russ; Ab-so-bloody-lutely.
Victoria: I guess I could work in a  32" flat screen. 
Russ: Cupcake, you know bigger is better.
Victoria: True, I do. 36" then.
Russ agreed know measuring wasn't Victoria's forte – she'd never know if he snuck in a 42".


So what you think? And do you wonder what happens after the hero and heroine get their happy ever after?

I'm a trisexual. I'll try anything once. Kim Cattrall

I miss you blog! Been busy writing Going For It that I haven't had a chance to update my blog.
So in my continuing Quotes by Famous Women series i thought I choose Kim Cattrall because I based Ava, the secondary character in Love By Design (my Sex and the City meets HGTV romp)
using the attitude Kim brought to the character of Samantha on Sex and the City.

Really rejoice in being yourself. Have your own drumbeat.
Kim Cattrall

Men cheat for the same reason that dogs lick their balls... because they can.
Kim Cattrall


I prefer younger men. In some ways, they are much more open to a woman 
being stronger and independent then some of the men my age.
~ Kim Cattrall 

Love By Design - 4 out of 5 Stars from Romance Novel Junkies

http://romancenoveljunkies.com/Liz_Matis.php

Please click on the link to read the review of Love By Design from the review site Romance Novel Junkies.

It's always a pleasure to get a great review! But now back to work writing the sequel to Playing For Keeps. This is why I haven't posted to my blog in a while.

Favorite Movie Couples

I read Woman's World magazine each week. Oh, I tell myself I don't have the time but then there is always an article that catches my eye as I walk by the magazine racks at the supermarket. Like - What special beer cures insomnia or lose 16lbs this week but then they have a yummy cake recipe made with Baileys further along in the issue. Yeah, I'm more likely to gain 16 pounds. Still, I love the magazine.

In an issue from February they had a personality insight quiz - What does you favorite movie couple say about you?

If you love
Edward and Bella ( Twilight ) - You're an imaginative artiste.
Rhett and Scarlett  ( Gone with the Wind) You're a persistent optimist
Jack and Rose ( Titanic ) You're a dynamic romantic.
Margaret and Andrew ( The Proposal ) You're a passionate label-defier.
Sally and Harry ( When Harry Met Sally ) You're a down-to earth brainiac
Noah and Allie ( The Notebook ) You're a loyal go-getter

Who is your movie couple? Mine is Rhett and Scarlett.

I'm one of those strange beasts who really likes a corset. Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett  is one my favorite actresses. 


Here are some quotes for her.


If you know you are going to fail, then fail gloriously. Cate Blanchett



You know you've made it when you've been moulded in miniature plastic. But you know what children do with Barbie dolls - it's a bit scary, actually. Cate Blanchett



Look, it's one of the great mysteries of the world, I cannot answer that question. I think I'm vaguely blonde. To be perfectly frank, I don't know. Cate Blanchett



It was only when I realized how actors have the power to move people that I decided to pursue acting as a career. Cate Blanchett