Lisa J. Crane's Blog, page 6
April 8, 2014
Blog Hopping
I didn't know what that was, either. Apparently, one blogger tags another and asks questions. The second blogger links back to the first one and forward to another blogger they tag. Make sense? No? Well, bear with me.
I was tagged by J.A. Marx, author of the Destiny Defied series. Her blog (and more about her) can be found here. The questions she asked follow.
What am I working on? I'm currently trying to finish up Delaney's Peace, the sixth book in my McKenna's Haven series. I'm also doing a lot of editing to some of my previously published work. At the same time, I have this other story that keeps popping up in my head. I think it'll be fun.
How does my work differ from others in its genre? I write contemporary Christian romance. A lot of characters in Christian fiction are perfect. I try very hard to make my characters real. They make mistakes. They choose a wrong path from time to time. They're human. I also inject a lot of my own humor into my writing, so I think that sets my books apart, too.
Why do I write what I do? Easy question. I firmly believe any talent I have is a gift from God. I believe I have a responsibility to use that gift to share His love with others. I may not convert millions, but I know from readers' emails that I'm reaching hearts. And that, more than anything else, keeps me going.
How does my writing process work? Wow. My writing process is crazy. I don't do outlines. Ever. I start with an idea--sometimes it's the beginning of the story, sometimes it's the end. I may not know the whole story. And I pray. A LOT. I pray about every story I write. I often laugh and say that God sometimes rewrites my stories, and that's true. McKenna's Prayer is a perfect example; I was certain it was going to end one way, but the more I wrote, the more strongly I felt I was led to end it another way. So prayer is the biggest part of my writing process.
And there you have it. That wasn't too painful. I hope you followed the link back to Julie's blog, and follow the link forward to ... ah, now I know the hardest part about this blog hopping thing. It's finding the next author to tag. Hold on. Don't give up on me. Link will come very shortly.
Ha! As promised, you can find Anthony Carias's thoughts here.
Exciting update: As it turns out, I had another couple of writer friends who wanted to join in on the fun. So here they are:
You can find Christine Barber's blog here. She's a newly self-published author of Believe in Me. I expect more good things from her in the future.
And you can find Sherry Chamblee's blog here. I recently read Sherry's Matchmaker, Matchmaker and loved it!
And last, but not least, you can find Terri Bright's blog here. Terri's not published yet, but I don't expect it'll be long before she is.
I was tagged by J.A. Marx, author of the Destiny Defied series. Her blog (and more about her) can be found here. The questions she asked follow.
What am I working on? I'm currently trying to finish up Delaney's Peace, the sixth book in my McKenna's Haven series. I'm also doing a lot of editing to some of my previously published work. At the same time, I have this other story that keeps popping up in my head. I think it'll be fun.
How does my work differ from others in its genre? I write contemporary Christian romance. A lot of characters in Christian fiction are perfect. I try very hard to make my characters real. They make mistakes. They choose a wrong path from time to time. They're human. I also inject a lot of my own humor into my writing, so I think that sets my books apart, too.
Why do I write what I do? Easy question. I firmly believe any talent I have is a gift from God. I believe I have a responsibility to use that gift to share His love with others. I may not convert millions, but I know from readers' emails that I'm reaching hearts. And that, more than anything else, keeps me going.
How does my writing process work? Wow. My writing process is crazy. I don't do outlines. Ever. I start with an idea--sometimes it's the beginning of the story, sometimes it's the end. I may not know the whole story. And I pray. A LOT. I pray about every story I write. I often laugh and say that God sometimes rewrites my stories, and that's true. McKenna's Prayer is a perfect example; I was certain it was going to end one way, but the more I wrote, the more strongly I felt I was led to end it another way. So prayer is the biggest part of my writing process.
And there you have it. That wasn't too painful. I hope you followed the link back to Julie's blog, and follow the link forward to ... ah, now I know the hardest part about this blog hopping thing. It's finding the next author to tag. Hold on. Don't give up on me. Link will come very shortly.
Ha! As promised, you can find Anthony Carias's thoughts here.
Exciting update: As it turns out, I had another couple of writer friends who wanted to join in on the fun. So here they are:
You can find Christine Barber's blog here. She's a newly self-published author of Believe in Me. I expect more good things from her in the future.
And you can find Sherry Chamblee's blog here. I recently read Sherry's Matchmaker, Matchmaker and loved it!
And last, but not least, you can find Terri Bright's blog here. Terri's not published yet, but I don't expect it'll be long before she is.
April 3, 2014
The Difference Between Men and Women
Right up front, I have to give credit where credit is due. I've been trying to think of a topic for my (more or less) weekly blog. Then my friend, Scott, sent me a link to this article. After reprimanding him for sending me something like that at a time when he knew I'd be drinking coffee, I shared it with my critique group. They occasionally have to remind me that a guy might not think the same way a woman does, so I figured they'd find it as hilarious as I did. Then I realized it might make a good topic for my blog. So thank you, Scott.
I truly did sit here laughing as I read the article, because I know couples like this. Occasionally--not often--I am Martha. I'm not the kind of woman who calls her girlfriends and talks for hours about her feelings. But I do sometimes pick something out of a conversation with my husband and find myself dwelling on it. And 90% of the time, after I've stewed about it, and I ask Charles, "What did you mean when you said such-and-such?", I get a blank look in reply. I've spent all this time and energy worrying over an off-the-cuff statement, like a terrier with the femur from a tyrannosaurus rex, only to discover I'm actually a tiger choking on the rib of a field mouse.
This leads me to wonder which is more frustrating. To be the terrier with the giant bone, the imagined slight? Or to be the poor field mouse, blinking cluelessly at the tiger? Is it worse to think everything one's significant other says has some hidden meaning? Or worse to fear every conversation you have may be fraught with pitfalls and eggshells? In all honesty, from my perspective, I'd have to say the men have it worse. (You know I'm right, ladies. Some of us are crazy.)
So girls, the next time you find yourself wondering, What did he mean by that?, perhaps you should rephrase the question to ask, Did he mean anything by that? And guys, when you see your significant other giving you that look, just give her your most charming smile and say, "Baby, why don't we turn off the TV and talk about our feelings?" She'll be so shocked, she just might pass out. When she comes to, you'll have had time to come up with a whole scenario about how she tripped and hit her head on the coffee table, knocking herself unconscious, and oh, by the way, don't worry about making dinner, honey, I'll take care of it, you just lie here and relax. Then you call and order pizza or Chinese and sit there stroking her hair while she wonders how she got so lucky to find a sensitive guy like you. You can thank me later.
Oh, and ladies, lest you think I've sold out my own gender ... don't worry. In my next blog, I'll address some of the things men say and do that are responsible for so many women being crazy. *wink*
I truly did sit here laughing as I read the article, because I know couples like this. Occasionally--not often--I am Martha. I'm not the kind of woman who calls her girlfriends and talks for hours about her feelings. But I do sometimes pick something out of a conversation with my husband and find myself dwelling on it. And 90% of the time, after I've stewed about it, and I ask Charles, "What did you mean when you said such-and-such?", I get a blank look in reply. I've spent all this time and energy worrying over an off-the-cuff statement, like a terrier with the femur from a tyrannosaurus rex, only to discover I'm actually a tiger choking on the rib of a field mouse.
This leads me to wonder which is more frustrating. To be the terrier with the giant bone, the imagined slight? Or to be the poor field mouse, blinking cluelessly at the tiger? Is it worse to think everything one's significant other says has some hidden meaning? Or worse to fear every conversation you have may be fraught with pitfalls and eggshells? In all honesty, from my perspective, I'd have to say the men have it worse. (You know I'm right, ladies. Some of us are crazy.)
So girls, the next time you find yourself wondering, What did he mean by that?, perhaps you should rephrase the question to ask, Did he mean anything by that? And guys, when you see your significant other giving you that look, just give her your most charming smile and say, "Baby, why don't we turn off the TV and talk about our feelings?" She'll be so shocked, she just might pass out. When she comes to, you'll have had time to come up with a whole scenario about how she tripped and hit her head on the coffee table, knocking herself unconscious, and oh, by the way, don't worry about making dinner, honey, I'll take care of it, you just lie here and relax. Then you call and order pizza or Chinese and sit there stroking her hair while she wonders how she got so lucky to find a sensitive guy like you. You can thank me later.
Oh, and ladies, lest you think I've sold out my own gender ... don't worry. In my next blog, I'll address some of the things men say and do that are responsible for so many women being crazy. *wink*
March 26, 2014
Are You Someone's Plan B?
Most of you know I blog once a week--if I make myself do it. But occasionally, things just weigh on my heart and my mind, and I'm compelled to write a second blog. This is one of those occasions.
You see, I've had four--count 'em, FOUR!--conversations within about the past week, either with or about a young person who seems to have been relegated into being a Plan B. What's a Plan B, you ask?
A Plan B is the person with a carrot dangling in front of their nose. Plan B is the one who gets the text/Instagram/email/Snapchat/phone call just to make sure they're still there waiting in the wings.
For example, a boy tells a girl, "Baby, when I'm ready to date again, it's all you!" Girl waits patiently, hopefully. Boy gets back together with ex-girlfriend. Boy still wants to talk and text with first girl. Because, y'know, if things don't work out--again--with the ex, who knows? She's next in line, right? Plan B.
Girl "meets" boy through mutual friends. Boy seems interested, much texting ensues, then ... nothing. Girl assumes boy lost interest. Suddenly, a flurry of texting begins anew, initiated by boy. Girl responds. Boy drops out of sight again. This cycle repeats like the directions on a bottle of shampoo. Wash, rinse, repeat. Text, ignore, repeat. Boy actually asks girl out. Girl presses for details. You know, minor things, like when and where. Boy hedges and names a month. Not a day or time. A MONTH! Girl is ...? Anyone? That's right. Plan B.
So while I may write a really snarky blog sometime in the very near future about toying with people's emotions, this blog is about the Plan Bs.
My question to you is this: Why do you believe you are only worthy of being somebody's Plan B? A backup plan if all else fails. Because most likely, if you're Plan B, you're actually Plan C, D, E, F, right on down to Z. Because the person with the plan knows you'll wait.
Stop waiting. You deserve more. You are worth more. You drop that planner right now. Walk away. Block them. And if your phone is so stupid that you can't block them, get a new phone. For reals, yo. (Yeah, that's my new tagline. Thanks, Chloe.)
Seriously, I have yet to meet a human being who doesn't deserve to be SOMEBODY'S Plan A! Everybody deserves to be loved wholeheartedly. And that person who will love you unconditionally is the one who also deserves your total commitment.
Look at me. I'm, uh, not as young as I used to be. This is my girlish figure. This crazy hair of mine? Yeah, you should see it in the morning. Yikes. I sometimes forsake housecleaning in favor of writing. And yet ... in my husband's eyes, I'm the most gorgeous woman in the world. (Yes, I've suggested many times he have his eyes checked.) In other words, I'm Charles Crane's Plan A. And him? He's undoubtedly, wholeheartedly, unreservedly my Plan A.
Go find yours. Stop wasting time on someone who simply does not deserve you. If you keep wasting your time and energy being somebody's Plan B, you just may miss the one who wants to make you Plan A.
You see, I've had four--count 'em, FOUR!--conversations within about the past week, either with or about a young person who seems to have been relegated into being a Plan B. What's a Plan B, you ask?
A Plan B is the person with a carrot dangling in front of their nose. Plan B is the one who gets the text/Instagram/email/Snapchat/phone call just to make sure they're still there waiting in the wings.
For example, a boy tells a girl, "Baby, when I'm ready to date again, it's all you!" Girl waits patiently, hopefully. Boy gets back together with ex-girlfriend. Boy still wants to talk and text with first girl. Because, y'know, if things don't work out--again--with the ex, who knows? She's next in line, right? Plan B.
Girl "meets" boy through mutual friends. Boy seems interested, much texting ensues, then ... nothing. Girl assumes boy lost interest. Suddenly, a flurry of texting begins anew, initiated by boy. Girl responds. Boy drops out of sight again. This cycle repeats like the directions on a bottle of shampoo. Wash, rinse, repeat. Text, ignore, repeat. Boy actually asks girl out. Girl presses for details. You know, minor things, like when and where. Boy hedges and names a month. Not a day or time. A MONTH! Girl is ...? Anyone? That's right. Plan B.
So while I may write a really snarky blog sometime in the very near future about toying with people's emotions, this blog is about the Plan Bs.
My question to you is this: Why do you believe you are only worthy of being somebody's Plan B? A backup plan if all else fails. Because most likely, if you're Plan B, you're actually Plan C, D, E, F, right on down to Z. Because the person with the plan knows you'll wait.
Stop waiting. You deserve more. You are worth more. You drop that planner right now. Walk away. Block them. And if your phone is so stupid that you can't block them, get a new phone. For reals, yo. (Yeah, that's my new tagline. Thanks, Chloe.)
Seriously, I have yet to meet a human being who doesn't deserve to be SOMEBODY'S Plan A! Everybody deserves to be loved wholeheartedly. And that person who will love you unconditionally is the one who also deserves your total commitment.
Look at me. I'm, uh, not as young as I used to be. This is my girlish figure. This crazy hair of mine? Yeah, you should see it in the morning. Yikes. I sometimes forsake housecleaning in favor of writing. And yet ... in my husband's eyes, I'm the most gorgeous woman in the world. (Yes, I've suggested many times he have his eyes checked.) In other words, I'm Charles Crane's Plan A. And him? He's undoubtedly, wholeheartedly, unreservedly my Plan A.
Go find yours. Stop wasting time on someone who simply does not deserve you. If you keep wasting your time and energy being somebody's Plan B, you just may miss the one who wants to make you Plan A.
March 25, 2014
Tooting Your Own Horn
If you know me very well, you know that I'm not a big fan of self-promotion. Oh, I know, if you follow me on Twitter, or we're friends on Facebook, you may think differently. I do Tweet and post on a regular basis when I release a new book, run a free promo on Amazon, or reach a milestone (i.e., X reviews or X copies downloaded). I say two things to those of you who don't believe I hate self-promotion.
First, as an independent author (a.k.a. indie, one who publishes without benefit of an agent or publishing company), a certain amount of self-promo is necessary. I am my own advertiser, my own marketing department. I don't (at this point, anyway) pay for ads on anyone's blog or page. I have no agent negotiating deals for me or persuading anyone to help me out. I have no big publisher backing me. It's all me. So as much as I enjoy my independence as a writer, alas, it does require a certain amount of self-promotion.
Second, the faceless quality of Twitter and Facebook allow me to do a little self-promoting without having to see any of you roll your eyes as you think, "Great, here she goes again." Because I'm sure some of you do.
Self-promotion for sales purposes aside, I have a question. This is primarily aimed at artists. Writers, singers, songwriters, painters, etc.
If given the opportunity to review or rate your own work, do you do so?
For example, if I mark one of my own books as "READ" here on Goodreads, the little "Rate this book" box pops up. From Amazon, I recently received an email asking me, "How would you rate You Were Always There?" Yes, that would be a novella by yours truly. (At one time, authors weren't allowed to review their own books on Amazon--at least not under their own name. I believe this has changed now.)
I have always just closed that little dialogue box. I delete emails from Amazon asking me to review my own books. So I'm curious to know if you do the same. Or do you review your work? If you do, do you rate it as high as you can and give yourself a rave review? I know at least one author who does this, and I have to admit, it doesn't sit well with me.
So artists, what's your take on this question? And readers, what about you? Suppose you're reading the reviews for Not His Type, and you spot a glowing, 5-star review penned by HappyHeart1993. I think most of you would recognize that's my email, my Twitter handle--shoot, it's even on my car's license plate! So what would you think?
Do you toot your own horn?
First, as an independent author (a.k.a. indie, one who publishes without benefit of an agent or publishing company), a certain amount of self-promo is necessary. I am my own advertiser, my own marketing department. I don't (at this point, anyway) pay for ads on anyone's blog or page. I have no agent negotiating deals for me or persuading anyone to help me out. I have no big publisher backing me. It's all me. So as much as I enjoy my independence as a writer, alas, it does require a certain amount of self-promotion.
Second, the faceless quality of Twitter and Facebook allow me to do a little self-promoting without having to see any of you roll your eyes as you think, "Great, here she goes again." Because I'm sure some of you do.
Self-promotion for sales purposes aside, I have a question. This is primarily aimed at artists. Writers, singers, songwriters, painters, etc.
If given the opportunity to review or rate your own work, do you do so?
For example, if I mark one of my own books as "READ" here on Goodreads, the little "Rate this book" box pops up. From Amazon, I recently received an email asking me, "How would you rate You Were Always There?" Yes, that would be a novella by yours truly. (At one time, authors weren't allowed to review their own books on Amazon--at least not under their own name. I believe this has changed now.)
I have always just closed that little dialogue box. I delete emails from Amazon asking me to review my own books. So I'm curious to know if you do the same. Or do you review your work? If you do, do you rate it as high as you can and give yourself a rave review? I know at least one author who does this, and I have to admit, it doesn't sit well with me.
So artists, what's your take on this question? And readers, what about you? Suppose you're reading the reviews for Not His Type, and you spot a glowing, 5-star review penned by HappyHeart1993. I think most of you would recognize that's my email, my Twitter handle--shoot, it's even on my car's license plate! So what would you think?
Do you toot your own horn?
March 18, 2014
What Do You Want? Really.
I'm probably not very different from a lot of you. I'm very happily married (20 years) to the love of my life. He asked me on our second date--yes, you read that correctly--what kind of wedding I wanted? At the time, I'd more or less reconciled myself to remaining single. You see, I'd proven myself to have such deplorable judgment when it came to men that I didn't really trust myself to choose a good husband. Yes, they were truly that bad. Just ask my family.
Anyway, 20 years later, I'm happily married. I have single friends, however. The single women I know tell me there are no good men out there. Hearing some of their 'war stories', I'm almost inclined to agree. Mama's boys, commitment-phobes, playboys, boys with baggage, boys who aren't over their ex-girlfriends ... the list goes on. And the emphasis on the word boy is intentional.
On the off-chance that there are some gentlemen reading this, don't get defensive. I've heard just as many negative things about the women out there. Gold-diggers, militant feminists, women who want the bad boy, just plain crazy girls... and that list goes on, as well.
And you know what? Both the women and the men are right. There are a lot of men out there lugging an incredible amount of baggage. And there are a number of women out there who are dragging their own luggage behind them.
So I truly want an answer to my question, the title of this blog. What do you want? Really.
You see, I've watched single friends meet members of the opposite sex and think, This is the one! Things go nicely, and everyone watching thinks the same thing. We wait for news, watch for a certain sparkle on a girl's hand ... only to see the sure thing fall apart for no apparent reason.
So when two people who seem to work on paper don't work at all, what happened? Women say they want a man to love and respect them. I know single men who would fit that bill quite nicely. Single men say they want ... well, pretty much the same thing. If that's all anyone wants, why are there so many unhappy singles? Why is one of my friends, a wonderful young woman, smart, funny, loving, unable to find a normal man? Why is a young man I know, kind, loving, a young man who makes me laugh every time we talk, unable to find a woman?
I realize there are other factors. There has to be chemistry, or whatever that undefinable quality is that we all have with our significant others. But if you were to make a list of the characteristics you're seeking in a mate, other than love and respect, what would you list?
Humor me. I'm just curious.
Anyway, 20 years later, I'm happily married. I have single friends, however. The single women I know tell me there are no good men out there. Hearing some of their 'war stories', I'm almost inclined to agree. Mama's boys, commitment-phobes, playboys, boys with baggage, boys who aren't over their ex-girlfriends ... the list goes on. And the emphasis on the word boy is intentional.
On the off-chance that there are some gentlemen reading this, don't get defensive. I've heard just as many negative things about the women out there. Gold-diggers, militant feminists, women who want the bad boy, just plain crazy girls... and that list goes on, as well.
And you know what? Both the women and the men are right. There are a lot of men out there lugging an incredible amount of baggage. And there are a number of women out there who are dragging their own luggage behind them.
So I truly want an answer to my question, the title of this blog. What do you want? Really.
You see, I've watched single friends meet members of the opposite sex and think, This is the one! Things go nicely, and everyone watching thinks the same thing. We wait for news, watch for a certain sparkle on a girl's hand ... only to see the sure thing fall apart for no apparent reason.
So when two people who seem to work on paper don't work at all, what happened? Women say they want a man to love and respect them. I know single men who would fit that bill quite nicely. Single men say they want ... well, pretty much the same thing. If that's all anyone wants, why are there so many unhappy singles? Why is one of my friends, a wonderful young woman, smart, funny, loving, unable to find a normal man? Why is a young man I know, kind, loving, a young man who makes me laugh every time we talk, unable to find a woman?
I realize there are other factors. There has to be chemistry, or whatever that undefinable quality is that we all have with our significant others. But if you were to make a list of the characteristics you're seeking in a mate, other than love and respect, what would you list?
Humor me. I'm just curious.
March 10, 2014
I'm Taking Romance Back
Let me just say up front, odds are good my words won't knock Justin Timberlake off his SexyBack pedestal anytime soon. They may not make a dent in the sales of so-called Mommy Porn. But if they make someone really stop and think--better yet if they change the way someone thinks--I'll be happy. I'll consider it a start. A start to a revolution.
You see, someone made an offhand comment to me upon learning I write Christian romance. "Christian romance. Isn't that an oxymoron?" Now, in fairness, this person might have been attempting humor. It failed miserably. Said person has no idea how close they came to getting smacked on the forehead. The subject is rather personal to me.
When I posted my little mini-rant (it wasn't really a rant, I just posted it as an observation) on Facebook, one male friend noted, "We sure don't want Christians experiencing romance. That would be downright human. Excuse me while I go cut out Song of Solomon." Another friend, also male, noted--and this is important--"It is unfortunate that when we think romance we think about trashy novels."
Did you get that?
Have you ever had someone ask what you're reading and rather than simply showing them, you mumbled, "Oh, it's just some silly romance."? Have you ever sat in a waiting room or flown on a plane and held your romance novel in such a way that nobody could see the cover? Why? Why do we do that? I'll tell you why.
Because sex sells.
Okay, that's the short answer. Here's the more informative one. Publishers, like everyone else in the business of selling, know that women will be interested in a book that has a man on the front cover with his shirt half off, muscles bulging and glistening in the sun. Add a beautiful woman in his arms, or clinging to him, or swooning against him and wow. Now you really have their attention. There's a name for those books. They call them "Bodice Rippers". And yes, even those based in much earlier eras often include premarital sex and/or extra-marital sex.
Some of you are asking by now, "So what's your point?" My point, Dear Reader, is there's a difference between sex and romance. Very profound, right? Actually, it is.
Sadly, in our society, men are being led to believe that women want one of two types of men. Women supposedly want the so-called "Bad Boy" or the "Romantic Hero". You know the Bad Boy, right? He's the handsome rake who flouts the rules of Victorian society, or rides a motorcycle and wears black all the time (okay, I have a hero in my current WIP who wears black all the time, but he's actually a very good Christian man). The Romantic Hero? He's the one who makes the big, grand gestures. A room full of red roses, trips to romantic locations, big honkin' jewels. In other words, the guy has money. (Yep, I have one of those heroes, too. But before all the big gestures? That's right, he did a lot of little everyday things for the heroine.)
Are either of those things romance? Nope. Sure there's a place and time for a little rough and tumble bad boy behavior. And there's absolutely a place for grand gestures. But there's also a place and time for things like a sweet goodbye kiss in the morning, a sincere compliment, help with a project or household task, help with the children, all those little everyday things that add up to a lot of stress on either or both parties in a relationship.
I also know, without a doubt, that readers are thirsting for good, clean romance--true romance--in books. I know it because of the way my book sales perform in different categories. And lest you think Christian romance has to be boring, you need to read one before you pass judgment. And can Christians kiss in romance novels? If you read my work, you know the answer to that. Do I get across the point that my H/h are very much in love and they do physically desire one another? I believe I do. Do I cross any lines? I don't believe so.
So will you join me in the revolution? Will you join me in taking romance back? Can we take romance back from the world? Can we take romance back from those who believe it's either sappy or scandalous? Trite or trashy? Will you join me in showing the world that real romance is sweet, simple and honest? Will you join me, single ladies, to help men understand the media has no idea what we want? Will you join me, fathers, in teaching your sons how to be men--real men--not overbearing jerks or simpering doormats?
I'm taking romance back. Are you in?
You see, someone made an offhand comment to me upon learning I write Christian romance. "Christian romance. Isn't that an oxymoron?" Now, in fairness, this person might have been attempting humor. It failed miserably. Said person has no idea how close they came to getting smacked on the forehead. The subject is rather personal to me.
When I posted my little mini-rant (it wasn't really a rant, I just posted it as an observation) on Facebook, one male friend noted, "We sure don't want Christians experiencing romance. That would be downright human. Excuse me while I go cut out Song of Solomon." Another friend, also male, noted--and this is important--"It is unfortunate that when we think romance we think about trashy novels."
Did you get that?
Have you ever had someone ask what you're reading and rather than simply showing them, you mumbled, "Oh, it's just some silly romance."? Have you ever sat in a waiting room or flown on a plane and held your romance novel in such a way that nobody could see the cover? Why? Why do we do that? I'll tell you why.
Because sex sells.
Okay, that's the short answer. Here's the more informative one. Publishers, like everyone else in the business of selling, know that women will be interested in a book that has a man on the front cover with his shirt half off, muscles bulging and glistening in the sun. Add a beautiful woman in his arms, or clinging to him, or swooning against him and wow. Now you really have their attention. There's a name for those books. They call them "Bodice Rippers". And yes, even those based in much earlier eras often include premarital sex and/or extra-marital sex.
Some of you are asking by now, "So what's your point?" My point, Dear Reader, is there's a difference between sex and romance. Very profound, right? Actually, it is.
Sadly, in our society, men are being led to believe that women want one of two types of men. Women supposedly want the so-called "Bad Boy" or the "Romantic Hero". You know the Bad Boy, right? He's the handsome rake who flouts the rules of Victorian society, or rides a motorcycle and wears black all the time (okay, I have a hero in my current WIP who wears black all the time, but he's actually a very good Christian man). The Romantic Hero? He's the one who makes the big, grand gestures. A room full of red roses, trips to romantic locations, big honkin' jewels. In other words, the guy has money. (Yep, I have one of those heroes, too. But before all the big gestures? That's right, he did a lot of little everyday things for the heroine.)
Are either of those things romance? Nope. Sure there's a place and time for a little rough and tumble bad boy behavior. And there's absolutely a place for grand gestures. But there's also a place and time for things like a sweet goodbye kiss in the morning, a sincere compliment, help with a project or household task, help with the children, all those little everyday things that add up to a lot of stress on either or both parties in a relationship.
I also know, without a doubt, that readers are thirsting for good, clean romance--true romance--in books. I know it because of the way my book sales perform in different categories. And lest you think Christian romance has to be boring, you need to read one before you pass judgment. And can Christians kiss in romance novels? If you read my work, you know the answer to that. Do I get across the point that my H/h are very much in love and they do physically desire one another? I believe I do. Do I cross any lines? I don't believe so.
So will you join me in the revolution? Will you join me in taking romance back? Can we take romance back from the world? Can we take romance back from those who believe it's either sappy or scandalous? Trite or trashy? Will you join me in showing the world that real romance is sweet, simple and honest? Will you join me, single ladies, to help men understand the media has no idea what we want? Will you join me, fathers, in teaching your sons how to be men--real men--not overbearing jerks or simpering doormats?
I'm taking romance back. Are you in?
February 26, 2014
Kind of a Big Deal
You've probably figured out by now that I'm a somewhat ... ahem ... excitable person. Not excitable in the sense of a Victorian romance heroine suffering from the vapors (whatever that is). No, I'm excitable in the sense that I am easily excited about things.
My son might do the dishes without being asked. That thrills me. My daughter brings home a story of something good that happened at school. I love it. My husband brings me a brownie from the break room at work. Yep. Tickles me pink.
So maybe excitable isn't the right word. Maybe the word that best describes me is simply happy. I take great pleasure in simple things. I enjoy life and most of the things that come with it.
But every now and then, something just makes me so happy, so excited that I have to share. Repeatedly sometimes. As my daughter might say, "For reals, yo." (I really just wanted to include that in a blog.)
Tomorrow, February 27, 2014, is just such an occasion. Tomorrow is the release date of my latest work, a novella entitled, "You Were Always There". Yes, this is the work I blogged about months ago when a certain crazy songwriter asked me to challenge him.
Chris Perry, based on the storyline I originally gave him, has written a song I absolutely love. Starting with my storyline, and taking a couple of lines from my partially complete (at that time) novella, he expanded it and crafted a song I think readers and listeners alike will love as much as I do. The song will be available at Chris' website tomorrow.
I, in turn, used some of the lyrics from Chris' song, not only within the story, but as inspiration in a couple of places, as well. I've used music for inspiration plenty of times. In fact, some of you follow my playlists on Spotify and you know I have a pretty extensive playlist cleverly titled "Writing".
I've never heard of exactly this scenario happening before. This song was written specifically to go with my novella and, my novella was written specifically to go with the song. So yes, I believe it's a pretty big deal, and I'm pretty ... you guessed it ... EXCITED! I can't wait to get some feedback from my readers and from Chris' fans.
I hope all of you will be as thrilled with this joint venture as I am. I hope someday in the near future, someone will interview me as a best-selling author, or interview Chris as a Grammy winner. And when that happens, I feel sure whichever one of us it is will say, "Yeah, it started out small, but it ended up being kind of a big deal."
See you tomorrow, and as always, happy reading ... and listening!
My son might do the dishes without being asked. That thrills me. My daughter brings home a story of something good that happened at school. I love it. My husband brings me a brownie from the break room at work. Yep. Tickles me pink.
So maybe excitable isn't the right word. Maybe the word that best describes me is simply happy. I take great pleasure in simple things. I enjoy life and most of the things that come with it.
But every now and then, something just makes me so happy, so excited that I have to share. Repeatedly sometimes. As my daughter might say, "For reals, yo." (I really just wanted to include that in a blog.)
Tomorrow, February 27, 2014, is just such an occasion. Tomorrow is the release date of my latest work, a novella entitled, "You Were Always There". Yes, this is the work I blogged about months ago when a certain crazy songwriter asked me to challenge him.
Chris Perry, based on the storyline I originally gave him, has written a song I absolutely love. Starting with my storyline, and taking a couple of lines from my partially complete (at that time) novella, he expanded it and crafted a song I think readers and listeners alike will love as much as I do. The song will be available at Chris' website tomorrow.
I, in turn, used some of the lyrics from Chris' song, not only within the story, but as inspiration in a couple of places, as well. I've used music for inspiration plenty of times. In fact, some of you follow my playlists on Spotify and you know I have a pretty extensive playlist cleverly titled "Writing".
I've never heard of exactly this scenario happening before. This song was written specifically to go with my novella and, my novella was written specifically to go with the song. So yes, I believe it's a pretty big deal, and I'm pretty ... you guessed it ... EXCITED! I can't wait to get some feedback from my readers and from Chris' fans.
I hope all of you will be as thrilled with this joint venture as I am. I hope someday in the near future, someone will interview me as a best-selling author, or interview Chris as a Grammy winner. And when that happens, I feel sure whichever one of us it is will say, "Yeah, it started out small, but it ended up being kind of a big deal."
See you tomorrow, and as always, happy reading ... and listening!
February 14, 2014
This is ... Interesting
Okay, the word I was looking for was actually offensive.
From time to time, I Google my own name. This shows me reviews and blogs I might not otherwise see. Reviews of and blogs about my work.
For the most part, I find the typical information and reviews that can be found on Amazon and here on Goodreads. Sometimes I'll find a blog that makes my day because it's clear my work touched the writer.
And then there's THIS ONE.
Go ahead, go read it. I'll wait.
Oh, good, you're back.
Romance readers, are you offended yet? Romance authors, how about you? Because I am on both fronts. Don't get me wrong. This woman is entitled to her opinion. So are the reviewers who blast me for not having sex in my books. And the ones who complain that my characters are "always praying all the time."
Not only does this woman ridicule every reader of romance novels, she has, based on someone else's opinion, which is based on a single line or two in the description on Amazon, lumped several books in as "light porn". That's what she called it. Light porn.
I've read one of them, and it's a really sweet story. It's not going to win any Pulitzer prizes, but it's light and entertaining. It's a serial story, written in round-robin fashion. There is absolutely NO sex in the story. None. Additionally, the hero is a strong godly man--that is, in fact, what the heroine initially dislikes about him. She's annoyed that he's always singing hymns in his apartment upstairs. (She comes around.)
As it happens, some of you might also have noticed ... yep, that would be one of my books categorized as "light porn". Because of another woman's opinion of the description of one of my books, this woman has called Not His Type light porn. Did I miss something when I wrote it? Did someone follow behind me and add a bunch of bedroom scenes?
I'll be the first to admit that some of my books are a little "warmer" than others. But at no point do any of them ever cross a line into anything questionable. In those books that are a little spicier, my sole purpose in writing them that way is to demonstrate that Christians feel physical desire just like anybody else. They simply choose not to act on it until the time is right (after marriage). I also strive to show that Christians don't put themselves in the lap of temptation when sexual desire might be present.
I'll also be the first to admit that Not His Type has the weakest faith-based theme. But can anyone read Jace's Healing and not find God's grace and mercy? Can you read the sequel to Not His Type and not find a man so sure he knows what God's plan is that he almost misses an opportunity placed right in his path? An opportunity, not only for love, but to lead another soul to Christ.
If you read all the way to the bottom of the blog, you'll see it says there are no comments yet. I submitted a comment yesterday. I said, "I'm curious to know if you've actually read any of these books, or if you're basing your blog on descriptions only." After I clicked "SUBMIT", I received a little message that said my comment would appear when it was approved. I'm not sure how long it takes her to approve a comment, but it's been nearly 24-hours. My comment is still not there.
Here's the thing: I agree with her, in theory. There are some unhappy women out there who are disappointed their husbands aren't make-believe kind of men. I happen to feel I have a husband far better than any hero I've ever written. Does he make grand sweeping gestures like the one Travis did at the end of Not His Type? Not likely. Does he, however, work hard to support his family? When our children were young, did he help out with all that little ones entail? Does he love me with all his heart? Does he make my heart beat a little faster with a certain smile? Absolutely yes to every one of those. If a woman is unhappy that her husband isn't a romance novel hero, her problem is a heart problem, not a literary one.
I believe if you're going to put something on the internet, you need to do the research to back it up. And if you're not willing to do the research, be willing to let someone--in this case, an author whose work you've painted with a nasty and uninformed brush--comment on it. Otherwise, don't put a place for people to leave comments.
So here, dear readers, is where you come in. If you read the blog and are offended at being lumped in with silly women who really believe their lives should be like a romance novel, comment on this woman's blog. If you're offended on behalf of any authors whose work you might recognize (not just mine), comment on this woman's blog. She needs to understand that you can't just call someone's work "light porn" based on a single line (taken from a blog by someone else who took it from the description on Amazon.com).
I'm stepping down from my soap box now. I'll be interested to see if any comments show up on her blog. And feel free to comment on mine.
From time to time, I Google my own name. This shows me reviews and blogs I might not otherwise see. Reviews of and blogs about my work.
For the most part, I find the typical information and reviews that can be found on Amazon and here on Goodreads. Sometimes I'll find a blog that makes my day because it's clear my work touched the writer.
And then there's THIS ONE.
Go ahead, go read it. I'll wait.
Oh, good, you're back.
Romance readers, are you offended yet? Romance authors, how about you? Because I am on both fronts. Don't get me wrong. This woman is entitled to her opinion. So are the reviewers who blast me for not having sex in my books. And the ones who complain that my characters are "always praying all the time."
Not only does this woman ridicule every reader of romance novels, she has, based on someone else's opinion, which is based on a single line or two in the description on Amazon, lumped several books in as "light porn". That's what she called it. Light porn.
I've read one of them, and it's a really sweet story. It's not going to win any Pulitzer prizes, but it's light and entertaining. It's a serial story, written in round-robin fashion. There is absolutely NO sex in the story. None. Additionally, the hero is a strong godly man--that is, in fact, what the heroine initially dislikes about him. She's annoyed that he's always singing hymns in his apartment upstairs. (She comes around.)
As it happens, some of you might also have noticed ... yep, that would be one of my books categorized as "light porn". Because of another woman's opinion of the description of one of my books, this woman has called Not His Type light porn. Did I miss something when I wrote it? Did someone follow behind me and add a bunch of bedroom scenes?
I'll be the first to admit that some of my books are a little "warmer" than others. But at no point do any of them ever cross a line into anything questionable. In those books that are a little spicier, my sole purpose in writing them that way is to demonstrate that Christians feel physical desire just like anybody else. They simply choose not to act on it until the time is right (after marriage). I also strive to show that Christians don't put themselves in the lap of temptation when sexual desire might be present.
I'll also be the first to admit that Not His Type has the weakest faith-based theme. But can anyone read Jace's Healing and not find God's grace and mercy? Can you read the sequel to Not His Type and not find a man so sure he knows what God's plan is that he almost misses an opportunity placed right in his path? An opportunity, not only for love, but to lead another soul to Christ.
If you read all the way to the bottom of the blog, you'll see it says there are no comments yet. I submitted a comment yesterday. I said, "I'm curious to know if you've actually read any of these books, or if you're basing your blog on descriptions only." After I clicked "SUBMIT", I received a little message that said my comment would appear when it was approved. I'm not sure how long it takes her to approve a comment, but it's been nearly 24-hours. My comment is still not there.
Here's the thing: I agree with her, in theory. There are some unhappy women out there who are disappointed their husbands aren't make-believe kind of men. I happen to feel I have a husband far better than any hero I've ever written. Does he make grand sweeping gestures like the one Travis did at the end of Not His Type? Not likely. Does he, however, work hard to support his family? When our children were young, did he help out with all that little ones entail? Does he love me with all his heart? Does he make my heart beat a little faster with a certain smile? Absolutely yes to every one of those. If a woman is unhappy that her husband isn't a romance novel hero, her problem is a heart problem, not a literary one.
I believe if you're going to put something on the internet, you need to do the research to back it up. And if you're not willing to do the research, be willing to let someone--in this case, an author whose work you've painted with a nasty and uninformed brush--comment on it. Otherwise, don't put a place for people to leave comments.
So here, dear readers, is where you come in. If you read the blog and are offended at being lumped in with silly women who really believe their lives should be like a romance novel, comment on this woman's blog. If you're offended on behalf of any authors whose work you might recognize (not just mine), comment on this woman's blog. She needs to understand that you can't just call someone's work "light porn" based on a single line (taken from a blog by someone else who took it from the description on Amazon.com).
I'm stepping down from my soap box now. I'll be interested to see if any comments show up on her blog. And feel free to comment on mine.
February 13, 2014
I've Been Busy
Someone recently asked if I'd written any blogs. She was concerned that her Facebook was broken since she hadn't received any notification from me. I assured her that no, it was me, not her.
Back in, oh, August or so, I joined a critique group. It's been a wonderful addition to my life. The ladies (and a handful of men) are strong, loving, kind Christians. They are supportive and more encouraging than I'd have thought possible. They are also crazy, so I fit in very nicely. We often joke about the voices in our heads. We laugh about carrying on conversations with our characters. Unless you're creative in a certain way--artistic, music, writing, and so on--I'm not sure you completely grasp this.
At any given time a story idea may just blossom in my head. It makes me think of one of those time-lapse photos of a flower that starts as a tiny bud, then suddenly opens into a massive red flower. I'm not sure why it's red, but there you go. I can be doing dishes, laundry, sitting in my car waiting for my daughter to come out of school ... I might even be writing another book!
At this writing, I'm actively working on four different works: two novels, one novella and a short story. But in the back of my mind, behind a door that is often ineffective at keeping things inside, are two more stories. I don't know if they're books, short stories, novellas or what, but they're there. By the time I finish this blog, there may be more. They seem to invite friends. Technically, this is a good--no, make that great--thing. It does tend to make me a little bit preoccupied sometimes.
Anyway, that's my excuse for no blogs since--I'm ashamed to admit--October. (Hey, I've never claimed to be a great blogger.) But the good news is, the novella I blogged about in October is, for all practical purposes, finished. I'm tweaking a few things and making minor editorial changes. I'm hoping to publish "You Were Always There" within another week or so. I'm just waiting on a couple of things.
I hope you'll think it's been worth the wait. This particular storyline is one that's rattled around in my head for years, and I'm pretty happy with it. I'm also excited for my buddy, Chris Perry, the artist behind the song that bears the same title and goes with the story. In fact, I have to credit Chris with the title and with enabling me to work through some of the puzzles I ran into as I wrote. The lyrics to his wonderful song really helped me over a couple of hurdles.
So thank you all for your patience, and be patient just a little longer. I think you'll appreciate the time this one took.
As always, happy reading!
Back in, oh, August or so, I joined a critique group. It's been a wonderful addition to my life. The ladies (and a handful of men) are strong, loving, kind Christians. They are supportive and more encouraging than I'd have thought possible. They are also crazy, so I fit in very nicely. We often joke about the voices in our heads. We laugh about carrying on conversations with our characters. Unless you're creative in a certain way--artistic, music, writing, and so on--I'm not sure you completely grasp this.
At any given time a story idea may just blossom in my head. It makes me think of one of those time-lapse photos of a flower that starts as a tiny bud, then suddenly opens into a massive red flower. I'm not sure why it's red, but there you go. I can be doing dishes, laundry, sitting in my car waiting for my daughter to come out of school ... I might even be writing another book!
At this writing, I'm actively working on four different works: two novels, one novella and a short story. But in the back of my mind, behind a door that is often ineffective at keeping things inside, are two more stories. I don't know if they're books, short stories, novellas or what, but they're there. By the time I finish this blog, there may be more. They seem to invite friends. Technically, this is a good--no, make that great--thing. It does tend to make me a little bit preoccupied sometimes.
Anyway, that's my excuse for no blogs since--I'm ashamed to admit--October. (Hey, I've never claimed to be a great blogger.) But the good news is, the novella I blogged about in October is, for all practical purposes, finished. I'm tweaking a few things and making minor editorial changes. I'm hoping to publish "You Were Always There" within another week or so. I'm just waiting on a couple of things.
I hope you'll think it's been worth the wait. This particular storyline is one that's rattled around in my head for years, and I'm pretty happy with it. I'm also excited for my buddy, Chris Perry, the artist behind the song that bears the same title and goes with the story. In fact, I have to credit Chris with the title and with enabling me to work through some of the puzzles I ran into as I wrote. The lyrics to his wonderful song really helped me over a couple of hurdles.
So thank you all for your patience, and be patient just a little longer. I think you'll appreciate the time this one took.
As always, happy reading!
October 17, 2013
Who Challenged Whom?
I've noticed I start a lot of my blog entries with the phrase "If you're my friend on Facebook...". Here's the thing: my Facebook page is my personal page. It's not a fan page because, seriously, I'm just me. If someone says something about "an author", I still look around to see who they're talking about, and am surprised when I realize they mean me. So anyway, if you're my friend on Facebook, you know I'm pretty much an open book. You have also most likely figured out I'm a disgustingly positive person. When I wake up each morning, I'm certain that something amazing will happen. But even I was ... well, amazed when I woke up a few days ago to some messages on Twitter.
See, "they" tell me I should follow other authors on Twitter in order to promote my work. But I've discovered that I really do hate self-promotion. Sure, I'll tweet when I release a new book or story, and I'll tweet when I run free promos on Amazon. But that's it.Many Most other authors on Twitter, however, seem to have one or two tweets, which they roll out over and over. Those tweets consist of, basically, "I wrote a book" and "Please buy my book". If I'm following you, I know you wrote a book. Anyway, authors can be a surprisingly boring group, considering that most of us have random characters walking around in our heads most of the time. So I only follow a handful of authors. Instead, I follow musicians, specifically, Red Dirt artists. One of those musicians is a guy named Chris Perry (no, not the rapper).
I can't even remember how I "found" Chris on Twitter - I actually think he followed me first, which says something about him (you can decide exactly what it says). I give him a hard time about his questionable taste in sports teams and a few other things, but he's a pretty great guy. I'm even FB friends with his wife now (she's a photographer - I'll give you the link to both their pages at the end).
Now we have to backtrack some. Remember a few weeks ago (months? I'm not sure), when I was so excited that one of my favorite artists gave me permission to use the lyrics of one of his songs? It's one of my favorite songs, and it just seemed to fit L'Amour and Delaney's story. Well, I mentioned it to Chris, went to bed, and didn't think anything more about it. I woke up the next morning to discover Chris had propositioned me. Not like that, we're both happily married. No, he wanted me to "challenge" him (although, I'm not sure who challenged whom, to be honest). He wanted me to give him a story line and he'd write a song for it.
Well, let me tell you, friends, I did a little happy dance while I brushed my teeth. When my husband came upstairs with my coffee - because he's amazing and brings me coffee every morning - he thought I'd lost my mind. I was beyond excited - still am, actually. So I presented Chris with two possibilities, and he immediately picked one. Within a few hours, he'd emailed me a chorus. So now I'm working madly on a story that has rattled around my head for years.
Now I can't wait to hear the song, and I can't wait to finish the story and I'm still just stupid excited about this project. Can you tell? I think this venture could open up new avenues and fans for both of us, but mostly, I'm just flattered and excited (I really need to hit my thesaurus for a word besides excited) about this.
Okay, so enough about the insanity that is me. As promised, here are the links to Chris' page on Reverbnation and Jenna's page.
Jenna's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonicPhot...
Chris's music can be found at: www.reverbnation.com/chrisperry4
Go look and listen and spread the word. They're both really talented, and I'm so happy I stumbled across them both.
See, "they" tell me I should follow other authors on Twitter in order to promote my work. But I've discovered that I really do hate self-promotion. Sure, I'll tweet when I release a new book or story, and I'll tweet when I run free promos on Amazon. But that's it.
I can't even remember how I "found" Chris on Twitter - I actually think he followed me first, which says something about him (you can decide exactly what it says). I give him a hard time about his questionable taste in sports teams and a few other things, but he's a pretty great guy. I'm even FB friends with his wife now (she's a photographer - I'll give you the link to both their pages at the end).
Now we have to backtrack some. Remember a few weeks ago (months? I'm not sure), when I was so excited that one of my favorite artists gave me permission to use the lyrics of one of his songs? It's one of my favorite songs, and it just seemed to fit L'Amour and Delaney's story. Well, I mentioned it to Chris, went to bed, and didn't think anything more about it. I woke up the next morning to discover Chris had propositioned me. Not like that, we're both happily married. No, he wanted me to "challenge" him (although, I'm not sure who challenged whom, to be honest). He wanted me to give him a story line and he'd write a song for it.
Well, let me tell you, friends, I did a little happy dance while I brushed my teeth. When my husband came upstairs with my coffee - because he's amazing and brings me coffee every morning - he thought I'd lost my mind. I was beyond excited - still am, actually. So I presented Chris with two possibilities, and he immediately picked one. Within a few hours, he'd emailed me a chorus. So now I'm working madly on a story that has rattled around my head for years.
Now I can't wait to hear the song, and I can't wait to finish the story and I'm still just stupid excited about this project. Can you tell? I think this venture could open up new avenues and fans for both of us, but mostly, I'm just flattered and excited (I really need to hit my thesaurus for a word besides excited) about this.
Okay, so enough about the insanity that is me. As promised, here are the links to Chris' page on Reverbnation and Jenna's page.
Jenna's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonicPhot...
Chris's music can be found at: www.reverbnation.com/chrisperry4
Go look and listen and spread the word. They're both really talented, and I'm so happy I stumbled across them both.
