Laurel Cremant's Blog, page 11
May 14, 2013
A Smex Author's Office
As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm still in the process of setting up my home office in my new home. The color palette I've chosen is a combination of turquoise and pink. Yes I know...but hear me out...I LOVE IT!!! I'm affectionately calling it a throw up of color, because I'm also going to be adding in some orange accents. Why? Because I LOVE IT!!! :)
I ordered some table legs from Home Depot and purchased some paint, a 2 x 4 foot mdf board and some 2 X 1 inch poplar and with a drill, some paint, and a grumbling hubby have a ridiculous hot desk:
To round out the color explosion I decided that I just HAD to paint some of my book cases. I figured if the whole experiment failed I could get new ones. I've had these for years and they aren't exactly the best quality. I'm prettty sure they were less than $40 bucks each at Walmart. Plus now that I have a wood saw, drill and some DIY swagger I may be able to build some new ones (possibly). Either way it was off back to the store for some more paint:
So yes, I still have to put the actual shelves back up, but doesn't this just look pretty? There are three of these tall bad boys just waiting for some love. I have three white smaller bookcase that will remain white, just to give the color explosion a break :). I even spray painted my dry erase board (you can totally see who's coming up in the guest blog post line-up):
Once the shelves are all good and dry I'll finally unpack all of by books and feel somewhat settled. I'll post the final picks once I'm done.
As much fun as I've had getting my office ready, I can't wait for it to be done! I want to get back to hours of solitude and muse wrangling.
Oh and FYI...
The turquoise: Bali Bliss by Behr paint and primer in one (eggshell)
The pink: Pink Salmon by Glidden paint and primer in one (eggshell)
Talk to you soon,
Laurel
The Romance Reviews Top Pick!
It looks like May is just a good month for me. In addition to getting my next book,
Persuasion Skills
, contracted by Evernight I had the happy fortune to receive a 5 star review for
Negotiating Skills
from The Romance Reviews and be labeled as a Top Pick! Color me stoked! I can't believe that only ten months ago I was still hyperventilating about the release for Negotiating Skills, and here I am only a few months away from the release of my second book, and I'm finishing up work on my third. What a crazy year!Next on my to-do list is to finally get my home office up and officially running. The DH and I moved into a new house this year and it's taken me much longer than I anticipated to get around to my office. In the past I've been able to write pretty much any where, but ever since I've become more strict about my writing schedule, a dedicated space is MUCH needed.
I'll post a few quick pics of my new space, soon. I've decided to decorate it in what I affectionately call a throw-up of color :).
Anyhoo, thanks for dropping in and reading my gushing rambling!
Talk to you soon,
Laurel
May 2, 2013
Casual Smex Friday with D.C. McMillen
Hello All,
Welcome back to Casual Smex Friday! Spring is officially in full swing, and what's spring without a few formal occasions and some weddings? Today's Casual Smex Friday will give you a lesson on how to enjoy all of those boring formal events you may attend this year. For those of you unfamiliar with the CSF posts, here's a quick breakdown. On Casual Smex Friday you’re encouraged to sit back, relax and get smexy. Remember that Smex day posts consist of the following four segments:
1.) The Quickie- For those of you who only have time for some quick relief.
2.) The Afternoon Delight- For the reader who wants a little foreplay before smexing.
3.) The Midnight Grind-For those of you who want to go beyond foreplay and get to main show.
4.) The After Glow Strut- For those of you not afraid to show your love and go for another round.
Today I’m bringing you an interview with the wikedly naughty and oh so talented D.C. McMillen. So slip on your favorite pair of F#$% Me! shoes and your naughtiest outfit, we've got a wedding to attend, and trust me, this one is so far from boring...
The Quickie…
Name: D.C. McMillen
Stats: D.C. McMillen is writer and blogger living in Toronto, Canada. She enjoys writing about dirty sex in questionable places but has been known to write about other subjects, on special occasions.
D.C. is featured in MuseItHot’s Short and Spicy line up with The Rental, A Decent December and her latest release, The Wedding. In addition, she can be seen in several anthologies and writerly blogs. D.C. is obsessed with Twitter and invites you to look her up at @mcmillendc, her e-rotica blog or on Facebook.
Latest Release: The Wedding
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
The Wedding: Karen is not the type to attend a wedding with a guy she’s only slept with once but, in a rare display of empathy, she agrees to accompany her new landlord Allan to this sure-to-be-boring function. Fortunately, Karen knows how to have a good time, and she’s pretty sure she and Allan can make their own fun...even if they have to do it in the outdoors just steps away from a couple hundred stuffy wedding guests.
Availability: ARe |Amazon | MuseItUp
Smex Quotient: I'm officially looking foraward to my next formal event! Who knew they could be so...stimulating. This is definietely one HOT read. It's a great mini escape for those of you in the mood for a spring heat wave...
The Afternoon Delight…
Karen seems to have some interesting ideas regarding wedding entertainment. What were your inspirations for her character and her actions?
I’d love to reveal some super creative and entertaining train of thought that led to my idea to place Karen at a stuffy wedding. The truth, however, is that my boyfriend and I just have a habit of sneaking off during boring functions. Karen, well she just seems like the type to do the same. Please don’t think that this means I’ve based Karen and Allen’s characters on that of myself and my boyfriend. I simply thought it would be push her into a situation I’ve been in once or twice, while giving the scenario a special Karen twist
Why did you choose a wedding as the backdrop to your story?
Weddings do have the tendency to suck, don’t they? The only thing more annoying than a stuffy wedding is a stuffy wedding with a cash bar. While I couldn’t possibly subject Karen to that situation, I did want to drop her in a place that would bring out the fun, slightly bitchy side of her personality, and at the same time show how well Allen just goes with the flow. Opposites do attract if placed in the proper setting. ;)
Allen's character is an interesting blend of wicked and sweet. What made you decide to write his character this way?
Many romance stories involve men who are inwardly facing some personal demon/s from their past. They meet nurturing, patient, sweet heroines who somehow just know that their alpha males are hurting. These selfless women become determined to save the men from themselves even though it causes self-doubt, emotional torture, misadventure and a comedy of communication errors along the way.
Yeah, Karen is definitely not that type of heroine. Nothing makes her run from a guy faster than an excess of personal baggage. And Allen is not only suffering from a very heavy load of personal problems, he wears his issues like a cape instead of hiding them beneath bravado and obvious masculinity. Fortunately Karen does not seem to have to do anything other behave like her naturally fabulous self to draw out his lurking confidence and oh so appealing dominant sexual nature.
If Karen and Allen were to participate in Casual Smex Friday which segment would they prefer. The Quickie, The Afternoon Delight or The Midnight Grind?
Karen and Allen would definitely participate in the midnight grind above all else. Why? Well, to begin with, the midnight grind just sounds dirtier doesn’t it? A little more intense? And Karen approves of a little intensity to keep her sex life interesting.
Are there any new or upcoming projects you'd like to tell the readers about?
Yes! But first let me tell you about The Rental. While it is not a prerequisite read for The Wedding, it does explain how Karen and Allen met. It’s a super fun and sexy story so if you like the excerpt I’ve provided, why not consider picking up both The Rental and The Wedding?
I have also written a follow up to The Wedding and recently submitted it to the publisher. Hopefully it will be accepted and I can share an excerpt from The Alley in an upcoming Casual Smex Friday post.
The Midnight Grind…
So D.C. is just proving that she's the ultimate tease...She's left us a little snippet of Karen and Allen and their smoking chemistry. These two definietly know how to heat up a page and each other...
Carefully balancing the overflowing glass in one hand and a smutty paperback in the other, I sauntered into the living room. After placing both beside my open laptop on the modern glass coffee table in front of me, my body sank into the ridiculously comfortable sofa. Where did Allan find such a gem? My landlord—and guy I had sex with once—had excellent taste. I kicked off my hot pink stilettos, tucked my feet under me and wrapped a cream coloured cashmere throw around my lower body.
I reached for my book but paused when the familiar bloop bloop of Skype announced someone was video calling. Scooping up my laptop, I clicked accept. Allan’s charming face appeared on screen.
“Hello Allan, It’s nice to see you,” I said, amused. The guy just Skyped me three days ago. This was starting to become a regular thing. Truthfully I didn’t mind. If it were not for the fact that Allan was in Philadelphia while I was stuck here in Chicago, the guy would be much more than just a one-time lover.
“Hi Karen, I’m not, uh, interrupting am I? I can call back later...” his voice trailed off. I rolled my eyes.
“No, Allan. What can I do for you? Would you like me to get naked for the camera again?”
His face blushed to the colour of my heels. “Well, that was a fun experiment. Perhaps I could hold off my question until later,” he answered. Even through the shitty quality of video, his eyes flashed, complimenting the wicked smile smeared across his face. Good. Confident Allan was back, if only momentarily.
“What question is that, Baby?” In the little corner of the screen that held my image, I could see my lips curled upward, matching Allan’s expression.
“Oh, um, I’m going to be in town next weekend,” he said.
“Mmm, I like where this is going,” I interrupted.
“I have to attend a wedding. My best friend from childhood is getting hitched that Saturday.”
“Not the one you caught in the shower with your ex and his wife?”
Allan’s eyes dulled. “No, not him,” he answered. “A real friend.”
A tiny stab of guilt landed in my gut. I considered apologizing for bringing up the painful memory, but dismissed the thought. That happened, like, eight months ago. The guy should just get over it.
“So what, you want to meet after the wedding? I’m free on Sunday so that could work out perfectly.”
“Well, no...er...”
I rolled my eyes again, a twinge of annoyance fluttering in my stomach.
“What can I do for you, Allan?”
“Come to the wedding with me?”
What?!
“As your date? To the church and everything?”
“Well that’s generally how it works, yes,” he said, his tone dry and a little hurt.
The Wedding, Available Now Via ARe |Amazon | MuseItUp
The Afterglow Strut…
You know you want more, don't be too shy to ask. If you enjoyed your naughty romp with D.C., you can find her strutting around the web and her blog. Check out her website for more info on all of her books and upcoming releases.
Website: www.dcmcmillen.com/
Twitter: @mcmillendc
Facebook: DC-McMillen
Great News #amwriting #ambreakdancing
Hello Lovelies!Tonight I have super duper awesome news! Yes dancing bear worthy news! Drum roll please.....Persuasion Skills has been picked up by Evernight Publishing!!!
Yes I did a fair imitation of the dancing bear this afternoon, when the email hit my inbox and I got over the initial shock and giddiness :)
So yes the contract has been signed and I am officially an Evernight team member. I almost fainted when I saw my name on their Coming Soon page. I will have more info on this soon I promise! For now I'm prepping for tomorrow's Casual Smex Friday post, and pinching myself like crazy.
Talk to you soon,
Laurel
April 17, 2013
Reviews That Just Make You Say Hmmmmm?...
I have a confession to make. I love reading reviews for my book (soon to be books). Yes I know that I shouldn't obsess over them, but I LOVE it. Yes I even enjoy the bad reviews on some level. The good ones make me feel all warm and fuzzy, and the bad make me think and try harder. Actually the good ones make me try harder as well because I'd hate to disappoint a reader who's willing to pick up another book by me and then hate it. That would suck, knowing someone gave me a five star review for one book and gave my next one a 1, 2 or the dreaded DNF. I have nightmares about that. If you've ever watched the movie Spice World there's a scene in it that describes this feeling perfectly (yes I was a Spice Girls fan and I even own the DVD. . . don't judge me). Anyway in this particular dream sequence scene a judge (played by Stephen Fry), says the following:
[bangs the gavel]
Seriously. . . funniest freaking scene. This movie is entirely under appreciated. . .
So anyway, back to my post-I like to read reviews. I think this stems from the fact that I also LOVE drama so not knowing whether I'm going to check amazon or Goodreads and want to smile or cry is somehow a delicious feeling. Yes I know that's sick, but again. . . don't judge me.
But sometimes I have a surprise reaction to reviews. I don't laugh, I don't cry, I just scratch my head in confusion (and smile a bit I admit). These are the reviews where I wonder whether the person read the same book I wrote. Sometimes the reviewer will state something they learned from the book that is so nothing I intended to even imply, that I just have to smile. Its like claiming the movie The Labyrinth was a treatise of sexual exploration with in the teenage mind. However after reading this article I can kind of see how some people may think that.
The point of this longer than anticipated post is that sometimes I read reviews, for my own work and for others that just leave me saying, Hmmmm? I was looking for books to add to my To Be Read pile this weekend, and was checking out reader reviews. There was a steamy novella that I found on Amazon (in the short stories section mind you) and one of the reviews was three stars. When I read further the reviewer stated that they loved the book, but were upset that is was too short. . . Yes this was a scratching head moment for me, because the book had the word novella in its subtitle and was in the short story section so yeah, the review confused me. It was like reading a review for The Terminator that stated the movie had too many robots and it was upsetting. I did end up purchasing the book, and it was very good actually. The reviewers comment about its length actually convinced me to buy it, because I wanted a quick short read to get me through a few hours of blah.
Have you ever been looking through reviews either as a reader or writer and wondered Hmmmm? or just plain WTH? Like I mentioned earlier I love them all the same but some just leave me scratiching my head.
Talk to you soon,
Laurel
April 15, 2013
Spring Musings
.jpg)
Good Evening Lovelies,It's the middle of April, and spring is officially in full swing. Admittedly I live in Miami so technically I experience a year long spring/summer, either way Happy Spring! I've been running around like crazy lately tiling soil, planting seeds, pruning bushes and what-not for my next book releases (hooray metaphors hyperbole...whatever!) This is what I get for trying to look smart. Anyway I've basically been busting my butt, making sure that I have at least three new releases for 2013.
The first book officially completed this year was Persuasion Skills , the second book in my Boardroom Acts series. This is a stand alone contemporary romance that shares the co-worker theme/trope from Negotiating Skills but with a whole new set of characters. I teetered back and forth for months trying to decide whether I was going to self-pub this book or submit it for publication, and finally decided to send it out for publication. Fingers crossed that it will be picked up because aside from the fact that I wrote it, I really do think that its a great story and has mile long legs to stand on. I'll let you know how it goes. According to experts/people out in the interwebs, I shouldn't talk about this. Mainly because it will look bad if the book doesn't get picked up. Thankfully not only do I think that's a load of bull, I also want to provide any insight into this process as I can for those of you embarking on your own journey into writing.
I finally figured out how to fix my How To Kill Your Immortal , dilemma and have decided to release a few books set up in the HTKYI world, prior to releasing Dante and Jasmine's story. I've struggled with this for over a year. No matter how I looked at it, and no matter how much I love their characters, I just don't think Dante and Jasmine are ready for prime time. It's funny actually because a writer friend of mine told me I would have separation anxiety when it came to releasing my first book and she was sooooo right! Although Negotiating Skills was my first published book, HTKYI, was my first completed book. I hyperventilate every time I think about publishing it. It's crazy, I know. It doesn't make a lick of sense, but there it is. I'm absolutely terrified of putting my baby out there. But, thankfully, I can't put it off forever. When I first came up for the idea for my current work in progress, Frosted Bites , it was intended to be a short three book PNR series, but somehow my characters found their way into Dante and Jasmine's world and wouldn't leave! Next thing I knew I had half a book completed with Dante and Jasmine doing cameos. Talk about my subconscious kicking my ass! The awesome thing is that it totally works and I'm crazy excited about it!. So sadly, my lovelies you will have to wait a little longer for HTKYI, but before you get it you'll have:
1.) Sweet Dreams (A Frosted Bites Prequel)2.) Cupcakes at Midnight3.) Death by Chocolate4.) Whipped and Chained
Sweet Dreams is already completed and as soon as I have a free moment to edit the second draft it will be off to my editor. I'm also already two chapters into Cupcakes at Midnight . It was originally intended to be a short story, but after outlining it, I realized it will be another novella. *Sigh* One day I will master the short story. I swear it.
Okay those are the updates I have for now, hopefully in a week or so I'll have good news to share regarding Persuasion Skills . Either way I'll share with you my mental breakdown over query letters and the like soon.
Talk to you soon,
Laurel
March 28, 2013
Casual Smex Friday with January Valentine
Hello All,
Welcome back to Casal Smex Friday! It's been a long while since I've indulged you lovelies with a little Casual Smex, but rest assured I plan on correcting that today. For those of you unfamiliar with the Casual Smex Friday posts, here's a quick breakdown. On Casual Smex Friday you’re encouraged to sit back, relax and get smexy. Remember that Smex day posts consist of the following four segments:
1.) The Quickie- For those of you who only have time for some quick relief.
2.) The Afternoon Delight- For the reader who wants a little foreplay before smexing.
3.) The Midnight Grind-For those of you who want to go beyond foreplay and get to main show.
4.) The After Glow Strut- For those of you not afraid to show your love and go for another round.
Today I’m bringing you an interview with the naughtily talented Victoria aka January Valentine. So close the drapes, assume the position (reading position of course) and let’s get the smexing started!
The Quickie…
Name: Victoria Valentine AKA January Valentine
Stats: I'm a New York writer and indie book publisher. I write multi genre novels. Recent releases: Love Dreams, Sweet Dreams in the Mind of a Serial Killer. I also host a blogtalkradio show: Away With Words, every Wednesday evening at 7 PM EST where my co host Jill and I interview other writers and poets and discuss writing in general: Away With Words (Blog Talk Radio)
Latest Release: Head Over Wheels
Genre: New Adult Romance (steamy)
Head Over Wheels: Turning 21 hasn't proven very fruitful for Jewelia Delarosa. Still, one lost boyfriend & two failed classes haven't gotten her down. She's got her sights set on a career with the NYPD, and is on course ... until she meets an irresistible and unpredictable Med Student who contradicts everything she thought she knew about Life, Love, Commitment … and Sex.
Whether on the front seat of his Wrangler or his kitchen counter, her reserve is low, desire higher than the roof of the isolated A-frame in Maine where the two enjoy a weekend with friends, and take romance to the next level.
Who'll be there to catch her when she's falling Head Over Wheels?
Availability: Amazon
Smex Quotient: Umm...So yeah this book is not your mamma's Sweet Valley High. Jewel and Indigo have scorching chemistry that reaches out and straight up caresses you with heat and will definitely leave you panting for more. Seat belts are for sissies and helments are for wimps, you'll want to straddle your co-pilot for this ride lovelies, keep yor eyes wide, hair loose and enjoy the throbbing of that engine...
The Afternoon Delight…
I love that New Adult books have gained so much traction! What drew you to the genre for romance?
With New Adult, a writer can bridge the sexual gap between Young Adult and Contemporary Romance. Because you’re writing for an age group ranging from eighteen and up, this genre offers endless opportunities to tap into the trials and tribulations, drive and accomplishments, as well as the sensual temptations of individuals on the brink of adulthood. There is a natural empathy for the young facing adult situations, and so many ways for them to express themselves colorfully and dramatically. The excitement of youth is something most of us struggle to hold onto, and enjoy revisiting in books and film.
There's something to be said about instant attraction and steamy tension. What was your inspiration for Jewel and Indigo?
My stories are usually about complex and determined heroes and heroines. I love a roller coaster romance, sexy and powerful characters who know what they want and go to any length to achieve their goals. I want my readers to feel love, excitement, surprise, and sexual gratification. This was my objective when writing Head Over Wheels. Jewelia and Indigo are a perfect example of how opposites attract. She’s strong-willed, free-spirited, and eager to discover life, while he is moody and focused to a fault. He’s been burdened with problems and obligations since he was a child. The two come from entirely different backgrounds, and have much to overcome by learning trust and understanding. My intention was to write a story that was involved, yet lighthearted, thus, Head Over Wheels. Actually, the title popped into my head before the plot, and I knew right then and there it would be a refreshing story about an innocent but very steamy love affair with a tremendous amount of emotional and physical tension.
Aside from sounding like they belong together, Jewel and Indigo are so OMG hot together! If they were to participate in Casual Smex Friday which segment would they prefer; The Quickie, The Afternoon Delight, or the Midnight Grind?
Jewel and Indigo are definitely doing the Midnight Grind throughout the entire book. From day one that sexual tension is just waiting to surface. It's a very sexy book, and as the plot unfolds the electricity between the two increases until it explodes in Maine.
Okay now from a professional stand point I just have to gush! I love how you set up the chapters for this book! The chapter headings are just as engaging as the chapters themselves. I especially love the inclusion of images. What made you decided go with this format?
Each chapter contains a story in itself. I used highlights of each to create what I hoped were enticing tag lines. A table of contents containing descriptive chapter tags gives readers a taste of what's in store for them beyond the preview. As for the images, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. I'm very descriptive in my writing, and although every reader forms his or her own impression, I wanted to physically share my vision. I guess you could equate Jewel and Indigo's illustrations to flashing a photo of your kids :-)
The Midnight Grind…
So I'm officially sold on the New Adult genre. Oh the lust and...stamina of it all. Totally understanding the sweat currently beading your foreheads, and acknowledging those cute little panting noises you've been making January was nice enough to leave us an excerpt...
As I swung my head, he caught my eye. Dear Lord. Was it him? I did an about-face, plunked the empty glasses on the half wall behind me, fluffed my hair, blotted my lips and pulled a one-eighty.
Holy Shit. How long had he been standing there with his arms spread in welcome? Did he expect me to run into them and hug him? Hell yeah! But all I could do was stare.
Dropping his arms, he stood his ground, an adorable interrogating grin sliding across his face.
Just go with the flow, girl, I told myself as I zigzagged, pivoted, and in seconds, waltzed up to him, attempting to appear stunned to see him while remaining casual.
"Indigo." My presence didn't seem to surprise him, but what I said next sure as hell surprised me. "You didn't call." When my ears heard my childlike voice, my stomach fell.
The curl of his lips grew tighter. "You said you like spontaneity ... so here I am, unannounced."
"Nice try." My hands went to my hips.
His face dropped its earlier expression, but his eyes brimmed with atonement. He reached for my hands, gently tugged me toward him, and the next thing I knew we were standing soft breaths away. With an intentional stare, he drew me closer, like I was a long lost love. A chill rippled down the portion of my back exposed by my daring dress.
I worried his clear eyes clouded ... Didn't have to will mine to sparkle beneath the lights burning above us. I lost my voice. I mean, I went completely mute, but managed what I hoped was a smile, and not the sick look of stiff lips.
"Hey, you ..." his voice was smooth. "I've been around this club half a dozen times looking for you." His eyes were so intense, I almost froze. His fingers pressed mine with a firm grip, guiding my hands up and onto his shoulders, slowly dancing me backward, all the while staring into my eyes. Still pinning my hands in place, he brought his lips to my ear. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I really wanted to call, but I wasn't sure when I'd be free ... and I'd never want to break a date with you, Jewel."
A date? My heart broke loose, pounding like the hooves of a stampeding horse. I prayed he couldn't feel the earthquake inside my chest as his arms slid around my waist. Being a doctor, he'd spot a panic attack in a second. I'd be mortified. My legs grew weak. Hold it together, girlfriend. He's just a guy. He's human. Oh my God, no he's not. He's ... he's ...
His breath was warm on my cheek and light, lighter than I felt in his arms as we swayed to the sensual pulse throbbing from overhead speakers. The mind-cleansing scent of cool fresh cologne and peppermint gum rushed my senses. I heard no sound. Saw no other faces. Only Indigo's. And right then he was magically mine, about to become the victim of every electric spark coursing through me.
My fingers tightened, found their way to the back of his neck and up into his hair. Was I really doing this? The way he was holding me, it was like he'd missed me, had longed for me. His lips moved to my neck, softly caressing. My body molded to his in just the right places, my arms urging him closer. Was this a dream?
"It's okay." I heard my hoarse whisper. "I know you're busy. I understand."
"You smell so good. So sweet. Strawberries?" His lips inched up my neck, pausing at the hollow behind my ear where they played, stirring emotions I never knew I had. His hands ran the length of my back, fingers tightening and loosening, as if struggling with intent.
"Mmm. Strawberries." My arms, which had been loosely crossed, locked possessively around his neck. He was warm, gentle, firm, soft; he was every beautiful word I could think of.
"Can I take a bite?" His rich voice teased, so did his hands as they traveled, exploring every inch of my back, then dropped dangerously low. I wondered if he could feel the goose bump skin beneath the delicate fabric that clung to me like a second skin. The slim band of my sheer panties. The panties I prayed would hold up during what I hoped to be the longest night of my life.
"Be my guest." I breathed into his ear.
"You feel so good." His hands on my backside pulled me closer.
Head Over Wheels, Available Now Via Amazon
The Afterglow Strut…
You know you want more, don't be too shy to ask. If you enjoyed your Friday ride with Ms. Valentine, you can find her causing naughty mayhem around the web and blog talk radio. Check out her website for more info on all of her books and upcoming releases.
Website: www.januaryvalentine.com
Twitter: @victoriaskyline
Radio Show: Away With Words (Blog Talk Radio)
March 6, 2013
Writing When You Have A Full Time Job
Good Morning Lovelies,Things have been hectic as usual this new year, but in a good way. I've somehow managed to stick to my writing schedule despite working full time and running around like a headless chicken since January. My next book, Persuasion Skills , is out to my editor, I've already started working on my next release, Frosted Bites , and the hubby and I are in the middle of buying a new home. Yes it's been crazy! With a full time job, a husband and a guilt wielding mother that has been no easy feat!
So how the heck have I not gone off the deep end (much) and still managed to maintain the writing schedule I set at the beginning of the year? Sadly the answer is actually relatively simply stated but hella hard to implement. All it took to maintain this schedule was....
1.) 90% dedication (saving room for sleep, food and sex) and... 2.) 100% REALISM.
Yes you read that correctly. This year when I set out to list my goals and schedule to obtain them I decided to actually try being realistic with myself and how much I could actually get done with the state my life is in. With a full time job that requires far more than 40 hours a week, I didn't lie and convince myself that I could write 1,000 to 5,000 words a day. Instead I told myself that I would start every week with a list of mini-goals related to my current work in progress (ex. finish one chapter, research a character, read a new book etc.). If at the end of the week, there were items still lingering on my list, I would look at my calendar and see what activities would have to be cut to incorporate the additional items. Yes I sacrificed, yes I missed a party or two, but guess what? It kept me motivated. Knowing that I might miss out on a Louis CK concert, didn't magically clear my hectic schedule, but it did help me use my writing time more effectively.
Part of my being realistic campaign also included (gulp) only working on one project at a time. Yeah I know! That was actually the hardest rule to adhere to. With limited time available I had to be honest with myself and understand that streamlining (ie. uncluttering my mind) would be the best recourse. So out went the working on multiple books at once (*sigh*). But even within the rule I forced some realism. I knew that I would be tempted to work on something else I also refused to shove good story ideas aside, so I gave myself a ting concession-I was allowed to note the idea and even jot down mini outlines. That's it. The good news? My works in progress list has grown to epic proportions AND I know that they will actually get done. Sweet!
As an aside, notice that I've included reading a new book each week. Why you ask when my schedule is so tight? I do this for various reasons:
1.) I love to read and if I don't reward myself with a good book, then what would be my incentive for writing one?
2.) As a writer you have to perfect your craft. You are not perfect. It's good to see how other writers do things. When I read a well written book this is my progression...ooh and ahh over things like voice, emotion and just sheer awesomeness-->be green with jealousy-->become inspired-->become determined to be better myself. These are all good things. 3.) It's good to check out who is publishing what (self-pub and trade). Is the editing done well? How about the cover art? If it's a trade pub, is the book selling well and being marketed effectively? These are all things a writer should look at especially if you're interested in going the trade publication route. If you plan on submit your book to a publishing company you want to know which ones would be the best fit for your book. Obviously, you can tell I plan on going this route this year :).
Okay that's my spiel for today. I hope you're all doing well. I'll be posting lines from Frosted Bites soon so stayed tuned!
Talk to you soon, Laurel
February 25, 2013
An Apology For a Major Noob Mistake
SourceHello All, Brace yourselves lovelies, it's major apology time featuring yours truly as the not so virgin sacrifice. As many of you all ready know I did something not really well thought out this weekend and of course it bit me on the butt! You can read about the reasoning for my insanity here. Simply put, I pulled Negotiating Skills from all online publishers and enrolled it in Amazon KDP select and immediately listed it as a free read for three days...Yes I did that with no planing...yes I know that was crazy and a very typical NOOB mistake. However, sadly that is not where the apology needs to be given.
Downloads of the book were doing relatively well (over 10,000 downloads in 3 days) when late Sunday morning an AWESOME reader was nice enough to message me that there seemed to be some formatting issues with the book. !!!!! Yeah I KNOW!!!!!! First a big thanks and shout out to Terra Nuit for letting me know about the problem. I immediately corrected the issue and resubmitted a corrected version of the book to amazon. Sadly Amazon takes 12-49 hours to list a new version, so the corrected copy of the book but it didn't hit the market until late Sunday afternoon after over 6000 readers had already downloaded the book. And THAT lovelies is where the apology comes in.
To all of you fabulous readers who were willing to give my book a chance this weekend, I offer you a huge thanks and the sincerest of apologies. I always say that I'm a reader first and writer second. I understand what's it's like to have an afternoon or a few stolen moments of read time disrupted by formatting and editing mistakes. Regardless of whether a book is purchased or downloaded for free, as a reader you are investing your time into that author's story and that has value. No writer would ever disagree with that.
I've contacted amazon regarding the errors and they stated that they will notify readers who purchased/downloaded the book and these readers will be able to sync/update to the newest version. So hopefully this issue will be cleared up soon.
Again, I apologize for the error...I'll be in the corner tied to a rock now *sigh*.
Talk to you soon,
Laurel
February 22, 2013
Persuasion Skills, Smexy Work in Progress
As many of you probably already know I've been working on several works in progress that will hopefully be released this year. I've also finally made the decision to submit the second novella in the Boardroom Acts series, Persuasion Skills into trade publishers. Eeek! The whole thing is more than a little nerve wracking!
The Boardroom Act series is all in response to all of your great feedback on Negotiating Skills , I decided it wold be fun to write a series of contemporary novellas centered around lust, love and the work place. Each book will feature main characters that work together in some capacity. If you like Veronica and Victor from Negotiating Skills , then you're sure to love my H/h for Persuasion Skills , Pepper and Jaxon.
For the last few weeks I've been writing and re-writing the last chapter of Persuasion Skill s, but tonight is the night! That sucker is being written and that's that! Lol. After my little procrastination session last night I actually got some good hours of writing in and I'm finally happy with where this final chapter is going. To be fair I think all the re-write had more to do with separation anxiety than anything else... But anyhoo, in celebration of finally releasing my baby to my editor tomorrow morning I decided to give yo guys a quick taste of Persuasion Skills before my editor/savior/super hero/evil queen of grammar cleans it up :) Either way enjoy the sneak peak!
Talk to you soon,
Laurel
Persuasion Skills...
He felt the usual sense of peace seeing her always gave him, right before his skin tightened in a zing of awareness. Seeing her never failed to jump start his senses. Her features had changed very little since college but she’d grown her afro out to a long mass of curls that stretched past her shoulders.
At that moment the mouth he’d secretly lusted after for years was set in a firm line and blaze of anger shone in her steady gaze yet that still didn’t prevent a smile from spreading across his face as the car drew near.
She wore a white snow cap with earflaps, her curls spilling around her shoulders and what looked like a white heavy winter coat. She looked like a ferocious bunny rabbit.
If looks could kill, he thought chuckling softly.
He swung the axe one last time and planted the blade firmly in the chopping block before walking leisurely to the top of the drive and waited.
It wasn’t hard to keep the smile on his face as his gaze caught hers and held. He could practically feel the waves of rage rolling off of her as she pulled the car to an abrupt stop only inches from where he stood.
He merely winked at her and gave a cheerful wave. God he loved hunting rabbits.
She stared at him for a searing moment before climbing out of the tall vehicle and dragging out a medium sized piece of luggage. She snapped up its telescoping handle and marched the few steps it took to stand in front of him.
He let his gaze wonder over her frame, taking in the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the tip grip she had on the luggage handle and the clenching and unclenching of her free hand. Yet the only thing that caused his smile to dim was the hurt he saw mingled with the outrage on her lovely face.
He let his gaze drift back to her clenching fist for a moment before looking at her face again. Looking into her eyes, he let loose a loud sigh as he widened his stance and shoved his hands into his coat pockets. This is going to hurt.
“Go ahead. Do it. You know you want to.”
He let the taunt hang in the air waiting for her to speak, react, do anything. She stared at him for a few seconds before he saw her eyes swell with unshed tears.
The sight caused a small ache in his chest. Nothing ever hurt as much than seeing Pepper cry.
The thought barely registered in his mind before she pulled back her clenched fist and slammed it squarely on his jaw.
His head snapped to the side with a snap.
“Fuck!”
He let loose a few more choice expletives. Trust Pepper to have a killer right hook.
The stars in his eyes cleared just in time for him to watch her turn and stomp toward the porch steps and up to the front door of the cabin.
“Feel better now,” he yelled out the words to her retreating back.
He answering response was a decisively unladylike hand gesture over her shoulder before entering the cabin and slamming the door behind her.
He rubbed his jaw for a few seconds before turning and walking to the car door. Peering inside, he saw the keys still dangling from the ignition.
Reaching inside he pocketed the keys before popping the hood of the SUV open.
“Well let the games begin,” he muttered to himself as he walked to the front of the car and reached under the hood.
He barely winced in pain as a smile spread across his face and he reached into the belly of the car and yanked out a bundle of wires.
