Liz Lee's Blog, page 8
July 18, 2014
What is it about Heaven, Texas?
Over the years I've loved a lot of books, but one romance remains my all-time favorite. I've read the book over and over. I've loaned it to friends, and it never comes home. I own in in paper, ebook and in audio. The book: Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.I never planned on reading SEP. I was a voracious historical romance reader when I signed up for one of the hardback book clubs back in the 90s. My first book was supposed to be a historical romance, but they sent me SEPs Dream a Little Dream on accident. I read that book cover-to-cover without stopping. And then I went to Waldenbooks and bought every SEP I could find.
I loved Gracie Snow from her introduction. Her wistfulness for something more, her mousiness, her bossiness, the way she throws herself in the car to keep Bobby Tom from leaving, the fact that she realizes he's confused her for a stripper and just goes with it even though she's the furthest thing from a stripper ever imagined. I LOVE Gracie Snow.
And Bobby Tom....ah. Without Gracie, Bobby Tom would be the biggest jerk ever, but with Gracie you see something different in him. He's such a great hero.
And then his mother's story.
And the movie set.
And the ice cream....yeah, the ice cream is the best.
Sometimes when I go back and read the romances I loved in the past, they don't withstand the test of time. Heaven, Texas does.
When I grow up I hope I can write like SEP. I hope I create my own Gracie Snow and Bobby Tom Denton hero and heroine. <3
*************
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July 16, 2014
That time I almost killed him, but he married me anyway...aka Why I Write Romance
The road to happily ever after started with food.That's what I thought when I made him that first dinner.I had it all planned. Salmon loaf--even though I hate canned salmon--, garlic toast and cherries jubilee, this sexy dessert I could set on fire...impress, impress, impress.He showed up and my heart did this little jig because he looked hot. Hot like the salmon loaf ready to dish. Hot unlike the stupid Pepperidge Farm frozen disaster. I don't know who comes up with the time on ready-to-cook bread packaging, but they are crazy. Follow the instructions, and it will be burned or a long way from finished. NEVER done."I'll go ahead and eat the salmon," he said, trying to show me the bread didn't matter.The bread did matter. But he could start without it.He sat at the table and dug in while I watched the bread. And watched the bread. And...something about his silence should have clued me in. But I'm slow. So I didn't catch on. No. I talked through the bread disaster until FINALLY it was done.I grabbed two pieces of piping hot garlic toast, gave him one, and sat down ready to use it as the disguise for how much I didn't like salmon."How is it?" I asked cutting a small slice of the smelly meat."Hmmmmm," he said shaking his head and taking another bite.Victorious. Who needed bread? I had salmon loaf. I was a rockstar in the kitchen. Paula Deen had nothing on me.I took a bite of the steamy buttery goodness and told myself salmon loaf was a small price to pay to win his heart. Worth it, worth it, worth it.OHMIGOD.I spit the meat out and jumped up from the table horrified.The entire middle of the loaf was raw.Salmon loaf=nasty. RAW SALMON LOAF....worst thing ever.I wanted to die right there. If I could have disappeared Wicked Witch water style, I would have.He laughed and told me not to worry about it. When I asked him WHY he'd continued eating when it was NOT DONE, he said he didn't want to hurt my feelings.He ate nasty raw salmon. On purpose. Because he didn't want to hurt my feelings.I should've stopped there. But I had that sexy dessert to share. And a point to prove. I was a woman, and I could rock the kitchen.SOAfter a dinner of garlic toast and wine, I laid the pillows I'd bought for the occasion out on the floor and told him to make himself comfortable. I set out our plates and silverware, brought the crystal bowl of deliciousness to him and smiled.He suggested we eat the dessert like that. It was pretty. And looked yummy.He was probably starving, but, again, I was slow. And I had that point to prove.So no."Just wait. It's going to be awesome," I said.And...started my living room carpet on fire.One minute it was just us looking at the best dessert ever. The next flames were leaping from the floor.So much for dinner.
It's funny when I look back at that night. Mostly because I missed it. The real proof that I had the best guy ever. That it had nothing to do with cooking or the wine or impressing him.It wasn't even when he ATE that stupid nasty smelling salmon loaf when it wasn't cooked. Or when he didn't dump me after I accidentally almost killed him in a freaky fire. I mean all of that was pretty awesome.But the thing that should have made it clear that he was my heart, my love, my one and only?That was when I asked how is it? And he answered "Hmmmmmm." Not a lie. A simple truth. One that showed he understood me more than I even understood myself.
We've laughed a lot over the years. And I love him more now than I did then.He's my best friend. My love. My partner for life.And that's one reason I write romance. Bringing that kind of relationship to life. Maybe they're running from bullets fired or he's a prince and she's his runaway bride, or maybe she's a small town girl and he's the guy she's always liked or....the list of love stories is endless, but the main story is the same. He's a man who understands she is the woman she is meant to be and when the story ends, she knows that too. When the story ends, they're in it forever. Love and more. Not sometimes. Not for a little while. But always.
<3
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July 15, 2014
To Risk a Heart Excerpt
Here's a taste of my next book. Hope you enjoy! Cover reveal coming soon.
(The photo inspired my heroine's entire character development. Isn't it funny what works sometimes?)
Eliza Jane Miller slid on the blue four-inch heels stamped with cherries and buckled the strap. Oh yeah. They were awesome.The old Eliza Jane would have never worn these shoes. They screamed sex. Not that she was experiencing much of that these days, but maybe one day soon. She looked in the mirror and smiled.The leggings showcased her trim form. The navy minidress hugged her body in all the right places and flared out and down from her waist. The boyfriend shirt style wasn’t all that amazing on its own, but it slid off her shoulder just a bit. Enough that her skin would be a distraction if she needed it to be.And her hair. God, she would never be able to thank Jacinda Mason, her boss’s wife, for the new style. The blonde highlights shimmered like sun-kissed flecks of gold.The mouse was gone.This Eliza Jane Miller knew what she wanted and knew how to get it. One day she was going to see Grady Jenkins again, and when she did, he was going to be sorry he’d sent her to buy that last box of chocolates. Most of the time Eliza Jane didn’t miss Caldale at all. Not its small town mentality, not its one and only grocery store where everyone knew everyone else’s business and had no problem telling you all about it. And most definitely not her former boss Grady Jenkins. She’d loved Grady from the time she was five and told him he was going to marry her one day. That was right before he squirted a can of green slime in her face and after he’d convinced her to try Pop-Rocks and soda at the same time. At least when they were kids, they’d been friends. When he came home from law school in Austin and she started working as his secretary, that changed. Over night, she’d gone from his sister’s best friend to his rock. Not an emotional rock, but an organizational genius who knew his every second of every minute of every hour of every day. An assistant who took care of every detail of his practice and his life…from his case schedule to his dry cleaning pick up to the gifts he had her buy for his plethora of wannabe Mrs. Jenkins. She’d been a combination gal pal, wife without benefits and mother.Leaving had been the best choice of her entire life. She slicked her pink lipgloss on and puckered at herself in the mirror then laughed feeling carefree and hopeful for what the future would bring.It was good to be Eliza Jane Miller, Executive Assistant to Todd Mason of Mason Oil and Gas. Eliza Jane Miller who’d scored an invite with the boss and his wife to the swankiest private poker club in town.Okay, so the boss was an old family friend, but so what? She was going to win and win big tonight. And maybe she’d score a date or two with some of the city’s most eligible bachelors. She slid a sparkly headband over her hair and fluffed the new shoulder length style. Oh yeah. Tonight was going to rock.
Eliza Jane Miller was in a world of trouble. A world of trouble she couldn’t possibly know existed. Grady Jenkins sat in the Escalade down the street from a mansion on the Dallas West Side and clenched his teeth against the tick that had been a constant since he’d seen Eliza Jane’s name on the report detailing the possible ugliness of that trouble.“If this goes south, I’m ditching your ass and telling Lyle I didn’t want any part of your plan,” James Caddo, Grady’s partner for the moment, said. But the smile on Caddo’s face said he wasn’t all that upset. Caddo liked anything that broke up the monotony of investigating. Breaking from a Lyle-approved mission made the risk all the more worth it. “It would be a hell of a lot easier if you could just walk up to your old girlfriend and tell her to come with you now.”“Liza Jane’s not my old girlfriend,” Grady said sliding out of the SUV and checking to make sure the gun in the shoulder holster was ready if he needed it. He prayed he wouldn’t. Caddo was right. It probably would have been better to confront Liza Jane at home with a team ready to extract her from the situation once it was obvious she was nothing more than an innocent bystander. Problem was they didn’t have the time to prove her innocence, and if Eliza Jane saw him at Mason Oil and Gas tomorrow and ruined his cover, they were screwed. “I trust you with my life, man, but are you sure she’s not in this?”“Absolutely.”No way was Liza Jane involved in Mason’s nefarious deeds. Grady had spent years trying to help her see the truth about people, but she still believed the best in humanity. And now because of her naiveté she was in danger. Tonight he’d whisk Eliza Jane away from that danger, and he’d do it without compromising the mission. And then he’d find the information necessary to take down Todd Mason. When he was done, Eliza Jane would see reason and return to Caldale where she belonged. Hell, she’d probably thank him for riding to her rescue once the truth broke about her boss and his business. Probably.Eliza Jane tended to be a bit stubborn sometimes, though. If she proved to be stubborn about this, he’d just make her see reason. Somehow.
<3
***********Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter here. No spam. Just giveaways, free reads and news. No more than one a month!If you're on Facebook, you can like my page also. Just click this link.
(The photo inspired my heroine's entire character development. Isn't it funny what works sometimes?)
Eliza Jane Miller slid on the blue four-inch heels stamped with cherries and buckled the strap. Oh yeah. They were awesome.The old Eliza Jane would have never worn these shoes. They screamed sex. Not that she was experiencing much of that these days, but maybe one day soon. She looked in the mirror and smiled.The leggings showcased her trim form. The navy minidress hugged her body in all the right places and flared out and down from her waist. The boyfriend shirt style wasn’t all that amazing on its own, but it slid off her shoulder just a bit. Enough that her skin would be a distraction if she needed it to be.And her hair. God, she would never be able to thank Jacinda Mason, her boss’s wife, for the new style. The blonde highlights shimmered like sun-kissed flecks of gold.The mouse was gone.This Eliza Jane Miller knew what she wanted and knew how to get it. One day she was going to see Grady Jenkins again, and when she did, he was going to be sorry he’d sent her to buy that last box of chocolates. Most of the time Eliza Jane didn’t miss Caldale at all. Not its small town mentality, not its one and only grocery store where everyone knew everyone else’s business and had no problem telling you all about it. And most definitely not her former boss Grady Jenkins. She’d loved Grady from the time she was five and told him he was going to marry her one day. That was right before he squirted a can of green slime in her face and after he’d convinced her to try Pop-Rocks and soda at the same time. At least when they were kids, they’d been friends. When he came home from law school in Austin and she started working as his secretary, that changed. Over night, she’d gone from his sister’s best friend to his rock. Not an emotional rock, but an organizational genius who knew his every second of every minute of every hour of every day. An assistant who took care of every detail of his practice and his life…from his case schedule to his dry cleaning pick up to the gifts he had her buy for his plethora of wannabe Mrs. Jenkins. She’d been a combination gal pal, wife without benefits and mother.Leaving had been the best choice of her entire life. She slicked her pink lipgloss on and puckered at herself in the mirror then laughed feeling carefree and hopeful for what the future would bring.It was good to be Eliza Jane Miller, Executive Assistant to Todd Mason of Mason Oil and Gas. Eliza Jane Miller who’d scored an invite with the boss and his wife to the swankiest private poker club in town.Okay, so the boss was an old family friend, but so what? She was going to win and win big tonight. And maybe she’d score a date or two with some of the city’s most eligible bachelors. She slid a sparkly headband over her hair and fluffed the new shoulder length style. Oh yeah. Tonight was going to rock. Eliza Jane Miller was in a world of trouble. A world of trouble she couldn’t possibly know existed. Grady Jenkins sat in the Escalade down the street from a mansion on the Dallas West Side and clenched his teeth against the tick that had been a constant since he’d seen Eliza Jane’s name on the report detailing the possible ugliness of that trouble.“If this goes south, I’m ditching your ass and telling Lyle I didn’t want any part of your plan,” James Caddo, Grady’s partner for the moment, said. But the smile on Caddo’s face said he wasn’t all that upset. Caddo liked anything that broke up the monotony of investigating. Breaking from a Lyle-approved mission made the risk all the more worth it. “It would be a hell of a lot easier if you could just walk up to your old girlfriend and tell her to come with you now.”“Liza Jane’s not my old girlfriend,” Grady said sliding out of the SUV and checking to make sure the gun in the shoulder holster was ready if he needed it. He prayed he wouldn’t. Caddo was right. It probably would have been better to confront Liza Jane at home with a team ready to extract her from the situation once it was obvious she was nothing more than an innocent bystander. Problem was they didn’t have the time to prove her innocence, and if Eliza Jane saw him at Mason Oil and Gas tomorrow and ruined his cover, they were screwed. “I trust you with my life, man, but are you sure she’s not in this?”“Absolutely.”No way was Liza Jane involved in Mason’s nefarious deeds. Grady had spent years trying to help her see the truth about people, but she still believed the best in humanity. And now because of her naiveté she was in danger. Tonight he’d whisk Eliza Jane away from that danger, and he’d do it without compromising the mission. And then he’d find the information necessary to take down Todd Mason. When he was done, Eliza Jane would see reason and return to Caldale where she belonged. Hell, she’d probably thank him for riding to her rescue once the truth broke about her boss and his business. Probably.Eliza Jane tended to be a bit stubborn sometimes, though. If she proved to be stubborn about this, he’d just make her see reason. Somehow.
<3
***********Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter here. No spam. Just giveaways, free reads and news. No more than one a month!If you're on Facebook, you can like my page also. Just click this link.
July 14, 2014
Ze Liz Lee Books Are Steamy...
Dear Readers,
First, I LOVE you. I am one of you. We speak the same language. Words rock my socks.
Second, ALL the Liz Lee titles are steamy romances.
All. Of. Them.
There are different levels of steam, but there are no closed doors.
I try to make sure the blurbs reflect that fact.
I just don't want any surprises. That's why I write these romances as Liz Lee. I'd hate for someone to expect a sweet tea and get a Crown and Coke, if you know what I mean. You can look on my blog sidebar for an idea of steam level.
If you're looking for sweet tea, check out my Mary Beth Lee titles. :) They're either YA paranormal mystery..YAY! New book out July 20!!!! or inspirational fiction.
Also, all the Liz Lee titles have now moved to KDP Select again. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can check them out for free! One of my romantic suspense titles, Nobody's Hero, will start a 5-day free run on Tuesday. I'm working to get them all in paper. I'll make sure you know when that happens. :)
LOVE,
Me
AKA Liz Lee
@AuthorLizLee
@MaryBethLeeybnp
**********
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July 13, 2014
To format Myself or Hire a Formatter, that is the question!
The hard part's done.I have four books ready to release to the world. One a month. And I'll be writing away on the next books in my upcoming series, both Liz Lee romance novels and Mary Beth Lee YA paranormal mysteries. Now I have to decide.I can format my books easily for Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Create Space. Or...I think I can.Smashwords has been a problem at times. I don't even understand iBooks. SoooooooDo I format myself or do I look for a formatter?Do I upload to iBooks myself or do I use Smashwords?Or do I skip Smash and use D2D....I don't even know what they are.And what about ARe?On the Mary Beth Lee blog I talked today about NOT reinventing the wheel. About talking to people who do what you want to do and getting advice from them.I guess I need to take my own advice.If you belong to some of the indie loops, I might be speaking up for a change today. I just have to get brave enough to do it!************Don't forget to sign up for my Author Liz Lee newsletter here. No spam. Just news about my releases and chances to win prizes. No more than once a month!If you're on Facebook, you can like my Facebook page here. July 12, 2014
Low Carb Disaster
Crap.
I caved. I caved and I gained a million pounds after eating icecreamfrenchfriespotatochipspotatoesricesugarsugarsugarjunk
Or as normal people say, I ate processed sugar.
"Just a little," the voice in my brain said.
And five bajillion minutes later I finally stopped.
And now I can't wear my jeans.
Well, that's not true. I can wear them. But it looks like they're wearing me.
So instead I'm sitting here in yoga pants and an OLLLLLLD pink night shirt that says What We Do Tonight May Appear in My Next Novel. (Ha! Good job there, DARA.)
The yoga pants are normal writing apparel. The fact that they're a bit snug...not so normal.
So here's what I think happened.
In February I started sneaking a few carbs in every once in awhile. Then I decided to go hard core Atkins induction level low carb and cut everything out except crazy amounts of coffee and cream and Splenda. So then I fell apart and decided to eliminate caffeine from my diet completely.
And I did.
And then HOLY GEEZ I HAD NO IDEA YOU COULD FALL THAT HAD THAT FAST FOR SUGAR.
So
I'm starting over.
But I'm going to mix it up a little.
I'm not giving up coffee. Seriously. How do people even think that's an option for life?!? That was the worst suckage of the last year and I spent four months unable to move my arm because of frozen shoulder so that is saying something!
I'm adding fruit to my diet. I'll weigh weekly and see if the fruit can stay. If it can't, I will cry.
And since I'm not giving up the coffee, I'll commit to making sure I still drink the godawful amount of water my massage therapist said I needed.
Finally, those Atkins bars are toast. They make me feel bad, and they fool me into thinking I can handle a Snickers. Or Blue Bell Blackberry Cobbler Ice Cream. And I can't. So there.
*****
Don't forget to sign up for my Author Liz Lee newsletter here. No spam. Just giveaways (YAY! Fee stuff!) and new release news.
I caved. I caved and I gained a million pounds after eating icecreamfrenchfriespotatochipspotatoesricesugarsugarsugarjunk
Or as normal people say, I ate processed sugar.
"Just a little," the voice in my brain said.And five bajillion minutes later I finally stopped.
And now I can't wear my jeans.
Well, that's not true. I can wear them. But it looks like they're wearing me.
So instead I'm sitting here in yoga pants and an OLLLLLLD pink night shirt that says What We Do Tonight May Appear in My Next Novel. (Ha! Good job there, DARA.)
The yoga pants are normal writing apparel. The fact that they're a bit snug...not so normal.
So here's what I think happened.
In February I started sneaking a few carbs in every once in awhile. Then I decided to go hard core Atkins induction level low carb and cut everything out except crazy amounts of coffee and cream and Splenda. So then I fell apart and decided to eliminate caffeine from my diet completely.
And I did.
And then HOLY GEEZ I HAD NO IDEA YOU COULD FALL THAT HAD THAT FAST FOR SUGAR.
So
I'm starting over.
But I'm going to mix it up a little.
I'm not giving up coffee. Seriously. How do people even think that's an option for life?!? That was the worst suckage of the last year and I spent four months unable to move my arm because of frozen shoulder so that is saying something!
I'm adding fruit to my diet. I'll weigh weekly and see if the fruit can stay. If it can't, I will cry.
And since I'm not giving up the coffee, I'll commit to making sure I still drink the godawful amount of water my massage therapist said I needed.
Finally, those Atkins bars are toast. They make me feel bad, and they fool me into thinking I can handle a Snickers. Or Blue Bell Blackberry Cobbler Ice Cream. And I can't. So there.
*****
Don't forget to sign up for my Author Liz Lee newsletter here. No spam. Just giveaways (YAY! Fee stuff!) and new release news.
July 11, 2014
Jim Butcher's Dresden One of the Best Heroes Ever
There for a minute I thought Harry and Karrin...and I was like NO WAY... and then....Okay, I'm not spoiling Skin Game.
I am saying I LOVE The Dresden Files. I love them like I love Jill Shalvis novels, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and typing The End for the last time on a novel.
Dresden is seriously one of the best heroes of all time.
Why?
Let me count the ways.
Okay, not all of them. I don't have time to do that.
But here are a few of my favorite reasons to love Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden.
1. He's always learning, but at first he was young and cocky. Just like REAL PEOPLE!
2. He messes up big time. Just like REAL PEOPLE!
3. Sacrifice....ohmygosh, so many sacrifices. I mean...Geez. Read the books and you'll understand. If you have: SUSANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you haven't, do, and one day you will understand.
4. He's a bad ass.
5. He supports the women in his life and makes them better. Unless the women are trying to kill him. But even then, he tries to give them a chance to make good choices! Butcher is like Whedon when it comes to writing strong female characters.
6. A complete and total respect for the sacred and the secular. Maybe more than any character I've read.
7. As his story has grown, his conflicts have grown. Every book is new.
8. He has to be the bad guy sometimes, and it KILLS HIM. Literally sometimes. But hey, it worked for Buffy!
9. He loves his dog.
10. He buys Bob romance novels. Or he did back when Bob was his.
Every time I read a Dresden Files book I learn a little more about quality storytelling.
I <3 The Dresden Files. You should be reading them if you're not.
*****
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July 10, 2014
I Love Romance
I write genre fiction and I read genre fiction. I love genre fiction.
Literary fiction is fine for some people, but for me, a great romance novel wins the day.
I've talked about it here before, but now's a good time for a refresher.
Remember those awesome Silhouette First Love romances?
I don't think Silhouette could have published them fast enough for me and my friends. So I started writing romances for us to read.
In those early books, the mom always died from some awful disease (had to make my readers cry!!!), the girl always got her first kiss and someone usually underwent a makeover. Above all the girl ALWAYS got the guy.
Just like the First Love books.
My love affair with romance novels continued into high school with REAL silhouette books. My mom subscribed to the mail order books. She thought she was hiding them from me, but no way. I found and read every one of them, and they were awesome. And Jude Devereaux's A Knight in Shining Armor. AHHHHHH!!!! Enough Said.
Flash forward to college. I wasn't reading as often until a friend introduced me to Waldenbooks and Johanna Lindsey. OhMyGosh. The Malory's. All of them. I mean, I can't even. And then Julie Garwood. And then I rediscovered the Harlequin mail order books but this time I was old enough to buy them myself!
Today the sky is the limit when it comes to romance. Waldenbooks is gone, but Amazon is here. And Wattpad. And B&N. And iBooks. I never leave the house without my kindle app. Audible means I never have to spend time without a romance novel. It's incredible.
I know people who say "OH, you write THOOOOOSSSSSEEEEE books," and I wonder what exactly they mean. Are they talking about the fact that the books are steamy? Or do they think they're easy to write? Usually when they say that they follow it with how they too will write a book one day, to which I say DO IT! You will love it. Rarely do they follow through, and that's totally fine because (see paragraph starting...Today the sky is the limit...).
The other day I read where someone said romance was bad because it set unrealistic expectations. To that I say, are you kidding me?!?! Never once while I was reading about James Malory did I believe a pirate would capture me and hold me captive on his ship. Not. One. Time.
I love my husband. He's my biggest fan. I'm his biggest fan. We both know the difference between reality and fiction.
I wonder if the person who made that comment would say the same about fantasy? I mean, I read EVERY Dresden Files book by Jim Butcher and I <3 <3 <3 Harry Dresden, but no way do I believe there's a wizard in Chicago battling forces of evil. And don't even get me started on GRR Martin's Snows. UGHHHHHH GRR Martin, you suck, you suck, you suck, but I will still read every one of your books and when I do, I won't worry about a Red Wedding in my near future. I could go on, but there's no reason to do so. I believe I've made my point. If the author meant romance novels set up unrealistic expectations about sex...see my previous paragraph. If the author meant it set up unrealistic expectations about relationships? Maybe said author should try a little harder. Okay, no, see my previous paragraph.
Enough said. I've got to write. Or read. Or both. <3
*****
Don't forget to subscribe to the Author Liz Lee newsletter here. No spam. Just giveaways and new release news!
Literary fiction is fine for some people, but for me, a great romance novel wins the day.
I've talked about it here before, but now's a good time for a refresher.
Remember those awesome Silhouette First Love romances?I don't think Silhouette could have published them fast enough for me and my friends. So I started writing romances for us to read.
In those early books, the mom always died from some awful disease (had to make my readers cry!!!), the girl always got her first kiss and someone usually underwent a makeover. Above all the girl ALWAYS got the guy.
Just like the First Love books.
My love affair with romance novels continued into high school with REAL silhouette books. My mom subscribed to the mail order books. She thought she was hiding them from me, but no way. I found and read every one of them, and they were awesome. And Jude Devereaux's A Knight in Shining Armor. AHHHHHH!!!! Enough Said.
Flash forward to college. I wasn't reading as often until a friend introduced me to Waldenbooks and Johanna Lindsey. OhMyGosh. The Malory's. All of them. I mean, I can't even. And then Julie Garwood. And then I rediscovered the Harlequin mail order books but this time I was old enough to buy them myself!
Today the sky is the limit when it comes to romance. Waldenbooks is gone, but Amazon is here. And Wattpad. And B&N. And iBooks. I never leave the house without my kindle app. Audible means I never have to spend time without a romance novel. It's incredible.
I know people who say "OH, you write THOOOOOSSSSSEEEEE books," and I wonder what exactly they mean. Are they talking about the fact that the books are steamy? Or do they think they're easy to write? Usually when they say that they follow it with how they too will write a book one day, to which I say DO IT! You will love it. Rarely do they follow through, and that's totally fine because (see paragraph starting...Today the sky is the limit...).
The other day I read where someone said romance was bad because it set unrealistic expectations. To that I say, are you kidding me?!?! Never once while I was reading about James Malory did I believe a pirate would capture me and hold me captive on his ship. Not. One. Time.
I love my husband. He's my biggest fan. I'm his biggest fan. We both know the difference between reality and fiction.
I wonder if the person who made that comment would say the same about fantasy? I mean, I read EVERY Dresden Files book by Jim Butcher and I <3 <3 <3 Harry Dresden, but no way do I believe there's a wizard in Chicago battling forces of evil. And don't even get me started on GRR Martin's Snows. UGHHHHHH GRR Martin, you suck, you suck, you suck, but I will still read every one of your books and when I do, I won't worry about a Red Wedding in my near future. I could go on, but there's no reason to do so. I believe I've made my point. If the author meant romance novels set up unrealistic expectations about sex...see my previous paragraph. If the author meant it set up unrealistic expectations about relationships? Maybe said author should try a little harder. Okay, no, see my previous paragraph.
Enough said. I've got to write. Or read. Or both. <3
*****
Don't forget to subscribe to the Author Liz Lee newsletter here. No spam. Just giveaways and new release news!
July 9, 2014
Red River Romance Writers
Back when I first started dreaming that I could be a published romance author, we had this amazing bookstore in town, Waldenbooks. Waldenbooks was seriously the best bookstore ever. They hosted book signings for local authors. At one of those signings, I discovered Red River Romace Writers...or rather they discovered me. The woman from the group there supporting the author was named Mary Duncan. When she heard I wanted to be a romance writer, she told me all about this group that met at our local library one Saturday a month.
I was terrified, but I forced myself to go to the meeting. There I met the mom of the group, Jackye Plummer. Jackye held critique sessions at her house every Tuesday night. Members were encouraged to attend. I wish I could remember the author speaking, but I really have no idea. It didn't matter. The MEMBERS mattered. They encouraged and supported each other.
Some of my dearest friends came from that group.
When Sharon Sala spoke the first time, it changed my life.
Back then I was trying to write and cook and clean and work full time. She told about a job cleaning chickens AND about writing and how one day her (ex) husband asked "What's for dinner" and she said bologna. And then she told us it was okay to say sandwiches.
These days it seems so WEIRD that I ever thought it wasn't okay to say sandwiches. But back then I was a new wife and a new teacher and a newish mom and I just wanted to be EVERYTHING while pursuing publication. I hadn't learned the impossibility of that want yet. Sala helped me learn it before I burned out, that goodness.
Funny thing, when I said sandwiches, everyone in the house was fine with it. DD LIKED sandwiches and DH supported my dream and cheered me on.
Red River Romance Writers was a godsend. The speakers were incredibly giving of their time and expertise and the members were like no other. Over time as the internet became the go-to place for networking, fewer and fewer people attended the meetings, and the group finally folded a few years ago. When Jackye passed away, most of the members were there to pay their respects.
These days as people seem to crave more person-to-person contact, I wonder if the group couldn't be revived. I'm going to the NTRWA meetings. It's a 7-hour round trip, but after years of NOT going to a group, I found nothing compares to the creative energy of sitting in a room with like-minded people.
I loved RRRW. I miss it. I'm not sure the magic could ever be recaptured in this busy world we live in today, but it might be worth a try.
Julia M and Sheila C at a RRRW meeting with a guest speaker.
Karen Kelley receives flowers for her new publishing contract at the RRRW meeting.*******Don't forget to sign up for my Author Liz Lee newsletter here. No spam! Just giveaways and new release news.
I was terrified, but I forced myself to go to the meeting. There I met the mom of the group, Jackye Plummer. Jackye held critique sessions at her house every Tuesday night. Members were encouraged to attend. I wish I could remember the author speaking, but I really have no idea. It didn't matter. The MEMBERS mattered. They encouraged and supported each other.
Some of my dearest friends came from that group.
When Sharon Sala spoke the first time, it changed my life.
Back then I was trying to write and cook and clean and work full time. She told about a job cleaning chickens AND about writing and how one day her (ex) husband asked "What's for dinner" and she said bologna. And then she told us it was okay to say sandwiches.
These days it seems so WEIRD that I ever thought it wasn't okay to say sandwiches. But back then I was a new wife and a new teacher and a newish mom and I just wanted to be EVERYTHING while pursuing publication. I hadn't learned the impossibility of that want yet. Sala helped me learn it before I burned out, that goodness.
Funny thing, when I said sandwiches, everyone in the house was fine with it. DD LIKED sandwiches and DH supported my dream and cheered me on.
Red River Romance Writers was a godsend. The speakers were incredibly giving of their time and expertise and the members were like no other. Over time as the internet became the go-to place for networking, fewer and fewer people attended the meetings, and the group finally folded a few years ago. When Jackye passed away, most of the members were there to pay their respects.
These days as people seem to crave more person-to-person contact, I wonder if the group couldn't be revived. I'm going to the NTRWA meetings. It's a 7-hour round trip, but after years of NOT going to a group, I found nothing compares to the creative energy of sitting in a room with like-minded people.
I loved RRRW. I miss it. I'm not sure the magic could ever be recaptured in this busy world we live in today, but it might be worth a try.
Julia M and Sheila C at a RRRW meeting with a guest speaker.
Karen Kelley receives flowers for her new publishing contract at the RRRW meeting.*******Don't forget to sign up for my Author Liz Lee newsletter here. No spam! Just giveaways and new release news.
July 8, 2014
Debbie Macomber, Mom and Me
I've loved Harlequin books from the first time I held one in my hands. That Greek shipping tycoon who kidnapped the virginal secretary who'd won a cruise holiday...YUM!
In my early 20s I discovered Debbie Macomber. I loved her books. Books that touched hearts and made people fall in love again and again.
This Matter of Marriage was my FAVORITE of her novels. That book helped remind me that once upon a time, I too, had wanted to tell stories about falling in love. My mom doesn't read my Liz Lee romances. They're too steamy for her, but she supports me and my writing 100%.
Back when I read This Matter of Marriage and started writing, Mom did this:
I looked at this page so many times. I used to have Macomber's story hanging on my wall in my old office (AKA living room at the old house). In it, she told about almost giving up. About almost going to work instead of writing because of the rejections. I don't know what book I ripped Macomber's story out of. I believe it must've been an author's note at the end of one of her novels. The pages I had tacked to the wall eventually curled and yellowed and crumbled away, but the idea is still implanted in my mind. The idea that if you have a dream, DON'T EVER GIVE UP!
Macomber's beautiful novels inspired me to write romance, but her persistence and how she shared her personal story has truly changed my life.
When I read The Success Principles, I was thrilled to see Macomber mentioned.
I love writing romance, I love reading romance, I love believing in a dream.
Thanks for the inspiration, Debbie Macomber. I wonder how many countless authors you have inspired over your years of writing and encouraging others to never give up.
*****
Don't forget to sign up for my author newsletter here. No spam, just giveaways and new release news.
In my early 20s I discovered Debbie Macomber. I loved her books. Books that touched hearts and made people fall in love again and again.
This Matter of Marriage was my FAVORITE of her novels. That book helped remind me that once upon a time, I too, had wanted to tell stories about falling in love. My mom doesn't read my Liz Lee romances. They're too steamy for her, but she supports me and my writing 100%.Back when I read This Matter of Marriage and started writing, Mom did this:
I looked at this page so many times. I used to have Macomber's story hanging on my wall in my old office (AKA living room at the old house). In it, she told about almost giving up. About almost going to work instead of writing because of the rejections. I don't know what book I ripped Macomber's story out of. I believe it must've been an author's note at the end of one of her novels. The pages I had tacked to the wall eventually curled and yellowed and crumbled away, but the idea is still implanted in my mind. The idea that if you have a dream, DON'T EVER GIVE UP!
Macomber's beautiful novels inspired me to write romance, but her persistence and how she shared her personal story has truly changed my life.
When I read The Success Principles, I was thrilled to see Macomber mentioned.
I love writing romance, I love reading romance, I love believing in a dream.
Thanks for the inspiration, Debbie Macomber. I wonder how many countless authors you have inspired over your years of writing and encouraging others to never give up.
*****
Don't forget to sign up for my author newsletter here. No spam, just giveaways and new release news.
