Joy Lynn Fielding's Blog, page 7
June 3, 2014
Of steam engines and short-tempered shifters
It’s been a while since my last post but I have a good excuse – I’ve been deep in writing a new book, and also doing edits for Riding the Whirlwind, which comes out next month.
I know a lot of you are waiting for Karl’s story in the Strength of the Pack series, and I’m thrilled and grateful that you’re enjoying the series so much! I will write it – I shudder to think what he’d do to me if I didn’t – but after finishing Riding the Whirlwind, I needed a temporary break from the shifters of Elk Ridge.
I’m very placid by nature, despite my red hair, and I hate confrontation. Christian, on the other hand, is a tightly wound ball of anger with a hair-trigger temper and offence is his defence. I found writing him to be quite exhausting. Added to which, the atmosphere is a little different from the other books in the series, and when I reached the end of it, I felt the need for a complete change before I start writing Karl’s story. That way I can ensure I do him, and the series, justice with the last book.
So in the last few weeks, I have learned more than I ever wanted to know about steam locomotives and their maintenance requirements in my research for a book that has a very different tone from the Elk Ridge pack. It features an engine driver, a trainspotter, and a spider called Mabel. Have I mentioned I’m arachnophobic? These characters are determined to kill me.
May 20, 2014
The trials and tribulations of writing in a foreign language.
Despite the amount of time I spend checking vocabulary, the differences between American and British English still trip me up. I was complaining to an American friend yesterday about the not-at-all-sexy overalls which one of the characters in my next book has to wear for his job and wondering how I could strip him out of them so he’s just in T-shirt and jeans.
After five minutes of confused, circular conversation, it became apparent that overalls in American English are a different thing from in British English. If I’ve understood correctly, they’re what we would call dungarees, and so it makes no sense at all for anyone to be wearing jeans under, well, other jeans.
Overalls and overalls:
Whatever they’re called, the point is that Our Hero is wearing far too many clothes right now and I need to get back to sorting that out, rather than obsessing over vocabulary.
On a slightly different note, I’m thrilled that Serena Yates at Rainbow Book Reviews has just given A Liar’s Moon a lovely review, following on the heels of the equally nice one she gave An Impossible Mate last week.
“If you like shifter stories with men who fall for each other before they really know who the other person is, then have to deal with the consequences, if you like reading about broken trust and the hard road back to a true relationship, and if you’re looking for a light read that is as emotional as it is hot, then you will probably like this novella.”
May 11, 2014
Strength of the Pack V – coming to a virtual store near you!
The book that I was beginning to despair of ever finishing is finally with the publisher and the contract signed for publication in July/August 2014. Remind me to never again listen to Christian when he tells me he wants his own book and then will only co-operate with it on his terms.
Titled Riding the Whirlwind, it follows the adventures of Christian and Dave in New Mexico during the events of Shifting Sands. And may I just say to the residents of New Mexico, Christian’s views on the state are not mine. I feel I should apologise for them.
THE STRENGTH OF THE PACK SERIES
BECAUSE FAMILY WEARS FUR
May 8, 2014
More chances to win!
Today’s stop for the Shifting Sands tour is at Words of Wisdom… from The Scarf Princess, where the book has received a lovely review. There’s also a blog post in which I talk about my love of research and the fascinating and completely useless rabbit holes it leads me down, and all the while the draw for the Amazon certificate is still going strong!
“It’s not only a mystery on a political level but a mystery of the heart for pack beta Bryce and the kindhearted political aide Tom…Theirs is a battle to put past hurts behind them, and stay one step ahead of those sent to kill them for the secrets they know.“
May 7, 2014
Snippet time for the Elk Ridge Pack
Today’s stops on my Shifting Sands book tour are a spotlight post at The Creatively Green Write At Home Mom and an interview at Fierce Dolan’s Words Without Limits (note – not safe for work!).
One of the questions Fierce had for me was: In 100 words, write a paragraph including a favorite character from one (or more) of your books, a sex toy, and a very happy ending.
To my surprise, it turned out to be Jason who went browsing for sex toys (online and anonymously, of course!). I think he’s still blushing.
And don’t forget there’s a Rafflecopter draw for a $10 Amazon gift certificate on offer, so do drop by one or more of the stops and get your name into the draw!
May 5, 2014
Shifting Sands is hitting the virtual road!
I’m going to be on the road again this week in support of Shifting Sands, courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours. There’s an Amazon $10 gift certificate on offer, plus interviews, blog posts, and even a sexy snippet starring two of the Elk Ridge pack…
I’ll post more details through the tour, but this is the schedule:
May 5 Guest blog
Roxanne’s Realm
www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
May 5 Interview
Pembroke Sinclair.
www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
May 6 Interview and review
Dark Side of Romance
Http://www.darksideofromance.com
May 6 Spotlight
Darker Passions
https://darkerpassions.net
May 7 Interview
Words Without Limits
www.fiercedolan.com
May 7 Spotlight
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
www.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
May 8 Guest blog and review
Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com
May 9 Guest blog and review
Sharing Links and Wisdom
http://sharinglinksandwisdom.blogspot.com
May 9 Spotlight
Zipper Rippers
http://zipperrippers.blogspot.co.uk/
May 12 Guest blog
Erotica For All
http://eroticaforall.co.uk
May 12 Spotlight
Corazones Literarios
www.corazones-literarios.blogspot.com
April 29, 2014
5 star review for Shifting Sands, and a completely gratuitous shout-out to Captain America
I was thrilled to wake up this morning and find Shifting Sands has received a lovely 5 Star review from Carly-RuralMom at The Romance Reviews.
“Another well written and fast paced adventure, SHIFTING SANDS is the fourth book in Joy Lynn Fielding’s Strength of the Pack series that focuses on the Elk Ridge wolf pack members. Best read in sequence due to recurring characters and a continually developing story line, SHIFTING SANDS is action packed and emotionally engaging. Her Alphas are strong and sensual, an erotic combination that is sure to win every time!”
Now I need to get back to editing Book 5 in the series – I’m aiming to have it ready for submission this week, even though I’m going to have to fit that around going to see The Winter Soldier again. I think this is the last week it’s on at the local cinema and really, there are so many things about it to love, how can I resist?
April 25, 2014
Updates and dentists
I don’t know if it’s a generational thing – I’m old enough to have grown up with pens and paper at school rather than computers – but although I do most of my editing onscreen, there does come a point when I feel the need to see a printout. And every single time I have it on paper in front of me, I spot things that escape me on the monitor. Is that just me, or do other people find the same?
In summary, Book 5, tentatively titled ‘Riding the Whirlwind’, is coming along nicely. As is my ability not to be embarrassed by editing sex scenes in public places. I’m not sure whether that latter development is an entirely positive thing.
April 21, 2014
Shifting Sands now available on Amazon
Just in case the title of this post left it in any doubt, Shifting Sands is now available from Amazon! It’s also received two very nice 4 star reviews from The Blogger Girls and from Prism Book Alliance.
April 14, 2014
A five Sweet Pea review for Shifting Sands
Monday mornings are not exactly my favourite time. This is not an exaggeration:
But Monday morning this week is shaping up very nicely indeed, because PizzyGirl over at Mrs Condit & Friends has awarded Shifting Sands five Sweet Peas! She has some lovely things to say about the book and the Strength of the Pack series. And for those who drop by to have a look at what she makes of the book, there’s still the chance to get into the draw for an Amazon certificate. The review and draw can be found here.
