Mia Downing's Blog, page 5
August 6, 2012
My New Cover!
OMG my new cover is hotter than Texas in August!!!
Mia's blog
Go see, and there's a blurb there, too.
Mia's blog
Go see, and there's a blurb there, too.
My New Cover!
OMG my new cover is hotter than Texas in August!!!
Mia's blog
Go see, and there's a blurb there, too.
Mia's blog
Go see, and there's a blurb there, too.
July 19, 2012
My Opinion on Reviews
There is a lot of hype about reviews right now, reviews of movies, reviews of books. Of course no one complains about the good ones. It's the dark, hating, ballistic, passionate reviews everyone talks about. I know I would hate to get one--I haven't, yet. Just three's. Negative reviews would make me cringe into a little ball in the closet with the coat hangers and cry like an infant out of formula. I don't have a hate review yet, but I anticipate getting one (God help my friends.) I actually, in a way, look forward to a negative review.
Why, you ask? If you look at what all great books have in common at some point is controversy. Fifty Shades of Grey, for example, has almost as many 1's and 2's on Amazon reviews as it does 4's and 5's. E. L. James may very well be sad about that, but her bank account isn't. The reason why that book is big is because one herd of people read it, loved it, and another herd of people said WTF? Then those not in either herd heard about the book, the controversy and want to know what's up with all of that? If someone had just posted really nice reviews, the story probably wouldn't have gone viral in a mad, better-than-Ebola way.
My next short story that will come out is a m/m and I'm expecting to get on the spectrum of 1-5 review scores with this one. I'm already bracing for it. One hero is what I like to call a train wreck. He's beautiful, lovable, and his life is holy hell screwed up. His past is holy hell screwed up. People are going to love him or hate him. What I'm hoping is it will spark enough controversy that people will want to see for themselves, and that will lead to sales.
For reviewers out there--you won't know that I'm curled in a fetal position with my friends feeding me I.V. coffee (or tequila if the right friends show up.) You won't know that I've taken stock in Kleenex, either. I don't plan on telling you that. A lot of authors react when they get these reviews, and it's sad. Yes, they're sad. An author works hard to put that book out, be it a 1 or a 5 book. People starved while he/she wrote that book (I know my family does.) People lived in utter filth and watched too many bad cartoons (if they're under 5) and probably talked to the back of the author's very angry, disturbed head while he/she wrote that 1/5 book. Husbands/wives probably didn't get sex (or if you write erotica, they got too much sex and they're just as disturbed as the ones that got none--the grass is not greener, folks.) So yes, they have a right to be sad.
Do they have a right to express that with the reviewer? I don't think so. You took the chance, putting it out there. You knew ahead of time that Twitter, Facebook, Good Reads and Amazon reviews existed. If you've ever gone to these places and read a review, then you should have thought right then and there about your skin and if it was elephant tough or baby tough. Your editor loves you. Your critique partners love you. Your family loves you when you're not writing and their house is clean and food is on their table. Reviewers...the don't have to love you.
Golden Rules: Not everyone is going to love you. Life isn't fair.
I'm going now to prepare my I.V. tubing for the future. But first, a question for you. Do you read the reviews? What do you think of the 1's, the 5's, and what makes you buy (or not buy) a book?
Why, you ask? If you look at what all great books have in common at some point is controversy. Fifty Shades of Grey, for example, has almost as many 1's and 2's on Amazon reviews as it does 4's and 5's. E. L. James may very well be sad about that, but her bank account isn't. The reason why that book is big is because one herd of people read it, loved it, and another herd of people said WTF? Then those not in either herd heard about the book, the controversy and want to know what's up with all of that? If someone had just posted really nice reviews, the story probably wouldn't have gone viral in a mad, better-than-Ebola way.
My next short story that will come out is a m/m and I'm expecting to get on the spectrum of 1-5 review scores with this one. I'm already bracing for it. One hero is what I like to call a train wreck. He's beautiful, lovable, and his life is holy hell screwed up. His past is holy hell screwed up. People are going to love him or hate him. What I'm hoping is it will spark enough controversy that people will want to see for themselves, and that will lead to sales.
For reviewers out there--you won't know that I'm curled in a fetal position with my friends feeding me I.V. coffee (or tequila if the right friends show up.) You won't know that I've taken stock in Kleenex, either. I don't plan on telling you that. A lot of authors react when they get these reviews, and it's sad. Yes, they're sad. An author works hard to put that book out, be it a 1 or a 5 book. People starved while he/she wrote that book (I know my family does.) People lived in utter filth and watched too many bad cartoons (if they're under 5) and probably talked to the back of the author's very angry, disturbed head while he/she wrote that 1/5 book. Husbands/wives probably didn't get sex (or if you write erotica, they got too much sex and they're just as disturbed as the ones that got none--the grass is not greener, folks.) So yes, they have a right to be sad.
Do they have a right to express that with the reviewer? I don't think so. You took the chance, putting it out there. You knew ahead of time that Twitter, Facebook, Good Reads and Amazon reviews existed. If you've ever gone to these places and read a review, then you should have thought right then and there about your skin and if it was elephant tough or baby tough. Your editor loves you. Your critique partners love you. Your family loves you when you're not writing and their house is clean and food is on their table. Reviewers...the don't have to love you.
Golden Rules: Not everyone is going to love you. Life isn't fair.
I'm going now to prepare my I.V. tubing for the future. But first, a question for you. Do you read the reviews? What do you think of the 1's, the 5's, and what makes you buy (or not buy) a book?
July 9, 2012
Finding Writing Time...
blogging about where I'm finding writing time. Come meet the newest member of our family.
miadowning.blogspot.com
Hope to see you!
Mia.
miadowning.blogspot.com
Hope to see you!
Mia.
July 3, 2012
blogging with Rachel Leigh
I'm blogging today with Rachel Leigh, a wonderful fellow TWRP author who has asked me lots of interesting questions! Come by and win a copy of Exceeding Boundaries. If you have it, I'll give away Spy Games: Trained for Seduction instead.
Rachel Leigh's Blog
Hope to see you there!
Rachel Leigh's Blog
Hope to see you there!
June 24, 2012
Inspiration
I find it interesting this time around, doing the writing thing. Music has been a driving inspiration and something I can credit for the huge amount of words I've put to the page.
I've done the go around thing many times. Pick up the pen, believe the evil voices that I suck, put the pen down, battle the evil voices with great loss of blood and self esteem. Then I listen to one single voice that says who gives a royal crap. Of course I do give a crap, but right now, the writing voices are stronger than the evil voices.
Maybe because I have new inspiration. Music. It's not a new inspiration because I've written to it before, but I've discovered something new. If I find the right song for the character or scene or moment, I can write faster, as if that bit I'm writing is channeled on the notes needed to for transportation.
This new book was interesting to write. It's my first m/m erotic romance, which is something I said I would never do (yes, hell is frozen, so go get a snow cone while you can.)
Hero A's song is a hard dance beat sung by the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, it's about abuse but also finding empowerment. The hero isn't abused,nor is he a woman, but the journey this book leads him on is a battle of empowerment and self, and he needs to find the strength to unleash the real man inside.
Hero B's song is by Snow Patrol and a song of ending things. His song actually fits at times, because he feels he's at the end, and he wants one last chance to enjoy things before Hero A sells off their island paradise.
Scenes that are full of angst are accompanied by 30 Seconds to Mars, "The Kill," the acoustic version, which is very sad and beautifully haunting. The song is about losing your mind, and neither character do, but they share one common bond--grief.
How do I know I have the right song? Oddly, when I start to write, I don't hear the song anymore. Not at all. If I can hear it, then usually the focus has changed and I need a different song.
I find songs different ways. The radio, of course. Youtube is a mecca of new song goodness. I also have a friend who is a college student--they seem to be up on the current stuff. I buy the song through Itunes or listen to it on Youtube if the song isn't available (the acoustic version above isn't, so it's all Youtube. Jared Leto is very distracting in a delicious way.)
How does music inspire you? I'd love to know.
I've done the go around thing many times. Pick up the pen, believe the evil voices that I suck, put the pen down, battle the evil voices with great loss of blood and self esteem. Then I listen to one single voice that says who gives a royal crap. Of course I do give a crap, but right now, the writing voices are stronger than the evil voices.
Maybe because I have new inspiration. Music. It's not a new inspiration because I've written to it before, but I've discovered something new. If I find the right song for the character or scene or moment, I can write faster, as if that bit I'm writing is channeled on the notes needed to for transportation.
This new book was interesting to write. It's my first m/m erotic romance, which is something I said I would never do (yes, hell is frozen, so go get a snow cone while you can.)
Hero A's song is a hard dance beat sung by the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, it's about abuse but also finding empowerment. The hero isn't abused,nor is he a woman, but the journey this book leads him on is a battle of empowerment and self, and he needs to find the strength to unleash the real man inside.
Hero B's song is by Snow Patrol and a song of ending things. His song actually fits at times, because he feels he's at the end, and he wants one last chance to enjoy things before Hero A sells off their island paradise.
Scenes that are full of angst are accompanied by 30 Seconds to Mars, "The Kill," the acoustic version, which is very sad and beautifully haunting. The song is about losing your mind, and neither character do, but they share one common bond--grief.
How do I know I have the right song? Oddly, when I start to write, I don't hear the song anymore. Not at all. If I can hear it, then usually the focus has changed and I need a different song.
I find songs different ways. The radio, of course. Youtube is a mecca of new song goodness. I also have a friend who is a college student--they seem to be up on the current stuff. I buy the song through Itunes or listen to it on Youtube if the song isn't available (the acoustic version above isn't, so it's all Youtube. Jared Leto is very distracting in a delicious way.)
How does music inspire you? I'd love to know.
May 30, 2012
First Blog visit!
Today I'm blogging at Barbara Bettis blog
Stop by and comment to win a free copy of Exceeding Boundaries!
Stop by and comment to win a free copy of Exceeding Boundaries!
May 27, 2012
May is Lupus Month
I believe the month of May is Lupus awareness month. Since I have Lupus and being forgetful is a symptom, it's embarrassingly funny that I can't remember. So we'll pretend it's either ending, or starting, because it could be June instead of May.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that makes your immune system hyper-aware. So it's like being allergic to yourself, and your body attacks your hands, or your heart instead of the flu virus raging in you. More people have Lupus than MS, but you probably don't know as much about it. We don't get the funding or hype.
I should hate having Lupus, and most of the time, I do. Sunshine is the bane of my existence, and like a vampire I stick to the shadows. No, I don't sparkle. The sun makes me ill, so I feel like a wind-up toy that's been robbed of energy but no one will wind me back up. Sunshine also damages my kidneys and heart. I don't feel the kidney stuff, but I do feel the fluid when it builds around my heart. Thankfully, I feel pretty good right now.
The only reason I don't mind having Lupus is it's the reason I began writing. I needed a rest time, and decided to write while I rested. The years weren't kind but now I'm in a place where I can write again. I send my characters all the places where I can't go--the beach, tropical places, even picnics, sex out in a meadow. Too much risk for me.
So today I ask you to wear your sunscreen, put on a hat, and go outside for me. If you know someone with Lupus, see if you can give them a hand with something. But for me, you can go outside and maybe even just read a book.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that makes your immune system hyper-aware. So it's like being allergic to yourself, and your body attacks your hands, or your heart instead of the flu virus raging in you. More people have Lupus than MS, but you probably don't know as much about it. We don't get the funding or hype.
I should hate having Lupus, and most of the time, I do. Sunshine is the bane of my existence, and like a vampire I stick to the shadows. No, I don't sparkle. The sun makes me ill, so I feel like a wind-up toy that's been robbed of energy but no one will wind me back up. Sunshine also damages my kidneys and heart. I don't feel the kidney stuff, but I do feel the fluid when it builds around my heart. Thankfully, I feel pretty good right now.
The only reason I don't mind having Lupus is it's the reason I began writing. I needed a rest time, and decided to write while I rested. The years weren't kind but now I'm in a place where I can write again. I send my characters all the places where I can't go--the beach, tropical places, even picnics, sex out in a meadow. Too much risk for me.
So today I ask you to wear your sunscreen, put on a hat, and go outside for me. If you know someone with Lupus, see if you can give them a hand with something. But for me, you can go outside and maybe even just read a book.
May 20, 2012
New Review!
I googled myself to find a wonderful review from Ashleigh at Siren Book Reviews.
"This was a great story, not only was the sex amazingly hot, but the characters were real and easy to love. The story of Megan and Adam was one filled with real emotions and mixed signals from the first page. The horrible pasts of these two characters made them come to life on the page, and with that the story flowed so well that it ended far too quickly. I haven’t read too many books by Mia Downing, but this one was grade A-mazing and it is a definite reread for me. If you are looking for a great love story with some naughty good times in the sack thrown in for good measure than this is the book for you!"
Thank you, Ashleigh!
for the full review visit: Siren Book Reviews
"This was a great story, not only was the sex amazingly hot, but the characters were real and easy to love. The story of Megan and Adam was one filled with real emotions and mixed signals from the first page. The horrible pasts of these two characters made them come to life on the page, and with that the story flowed so well that it ended far too quickly. I haven’t read too many books by Mia Downing, but this one was grade A-mazing and it is a definite reread for me. If you are looking for a great love story with some naughty good times in the sack thrown in for good measure than this is the book for you!"
Thank you, Ashleigh!
for the full review visit: Siren Book Reviews
May 14, 2012
Uncomfortable Mother's Day
I reached the bottom of embarassed late Mother's Day when I had to tell my 95 year-old grandmother why she could not read my pen name book, Exceeding Boundaries. I didn't tell her EXACTLY why. I just wrote a short story in my real name (I have plenty of non-fiction already) and she delighted in reading it. Wants to read more of her talented granddaughter's work.
So I cringed and told her it was very sexy. She countered with the list of authors she reads (not sexy) and of course she can handle sexy, she's had nine kids.
I told her to just bask in the glory of knowing her grandaughter was published in more than just her real name. She informed me that I needed readers, and how would I spread my good pen name unless I gave it to her?
I ended up breaking down and having her call my cousin in because though Nana owns a Kindle, a cell phone and sends emails, she's not quite able to manage buying stuff herself.
I was frank with the cousin--there's anal sex and BDSM, do not let that woman read my book or I will kill you. She said, "I see. I think that might be out of my comfort zone, too." But then in the next breath she asked to borrow Fifty Shades. Which hurt, because what am I? Not as famous.
The update is my grandmother now thinks the book isn't out and plans to read it and the next one. Spy Games: Trained For Seduction will be out in June from The Wild Rose Press. It has BDSM, anal and a menage. I think she has a better chance of catching unicorns under her bed.
So I cringed and told her it was very sexy. She countered with the list of authors she reads (not sexy) and of course she can handle sexy, she's had nine kids.
I told her to just bask in the glory of knowing her grandaughter was published in more than just her real name. She informed me that I needed readers, and how would I spread my good pen name unless I gave it to her?
I ended up breaking down and having her call my cousin in because though Nana owns a Kindle, a cell phone and sends emails, she's not quite able to manage buying stuff herself.
I was frank with the cousin--there's anal sex and BDSM, do not let that woman read my book or I will kill you. She said, "I see. I think that might be out of my comfort zone, too." But then in the next breath she asked to borrow Fifty Shades. Which hurt, because what am I? Not as famous.
The update is my grandmother now thinks the book isn't out and plans to read it and the next one. Spy Games: Trained For Seduction will be out in June from The Wild Rose Press. It has BDSM, anal and a menage. I think she has a better chance of catching unicorns under her bed.
