N.J. Walters's Blog, page 236

New Cover!

Check out the sexy new cover for Finding Chrissten, an upcoming Legacy book. Don't have a release date yet, but hopefully soon!

Snowy Saturday

Yet another snowstorm. This is the fourth one in about eight or nine days. Last Saturday was a stay-at-home day and looks like this one will be too. Hope all of you are having a great Saturday. I plan on doing some work this morning and curling up with a book or a movie this afternoon.

Happy Groundhog Day and Guest Blog at TRS

Happy Groundhog Day!

No matter what the groundhog says today, we're getting a lot more weeks of winter around here. It's snowed pretty much every day this week and the snow piles are turning into small mountains.

But, no matter, I am guest blogging about this and more over at The Romance Studio Blog today. Be sure to stop by and check it out!

February Newsletter Now Available!

The February 2012 issue of Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—is now available.

Be sure to check out all the latest news, contests, my husband's popular column—Confessions of a Romance Author's Husband—an excerpt, and this month's interview with the very talented Mari Carr!

As always, some lucky newsletter subscriber wins a prize. All you have to do to be eligible to win is go to Awakening Desires Newsletter and join. While you're there, you can check out back issues of the newsletter.

Be sure and check out Mari's latest book Because You Love Me

Sleepy Sunday

A picture is worth a thousand words and this is how I plan to spend my Sunday. Hope you're having as much fun as I am.

Happy Birthday Robert Burns

Robert Burns was born in Scotland on January 25th, 1759. He's best known poem is undoubtedly Auld Lang Syne, that song we all hum on New Year's Eve, but most of us don't know the words.

Here's a taste of Robbie Burns...

A Bard's Epitaph


Is there a whim-inspirèd fool,
Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule,
Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool,
Let him draw near;
And owre this grassy heap sing dool,
And drap a tear.

Is there a bard of rustic song,
Who, noteless, steals the crowds among,
That weekly this area throng,
O, pass not by!
But, with a frater-feeling strong,
Here, heave a sigh.

Is there a man, whose judgment clear
Can others teach the course to steer,
Yet runs, himself, life's mad career,
Wild as the wave,
Here pause—and, thro' the starting tear,
Survey this grave.

The poor inhabitant below
Was quick to learn the wise to know,
And keenly felt the friendly glow,
And softer flame;
But thoughtless follies laid him low,
And stain'd his name!

Reader, attend! whether thy soul
Soars fancy's flights beyond the pole,
Or darkling grubs this earthly hole,
In low pursuit:
Know, prudent, cautious, self-control
Is wisdom's root.

Robert Burns

Happy New Year!

Today is the Chinese New Year! Happy New Year and welcome to my year--The Year of the Dragon!

Relaxing the Writer

Saw another author talking about this blog and thought I should pass on the link. It's focused on writers, but I think it's great for everybody!

Check out Relaxing the Writer.

The Renovation Starts Now...

Okay, so I'm not exactly doing renovations. What I am working on is edits for an upcoming book. But, really, it's not so different from a full-scale renovation.

What do they have in common? Well, for one thing, tearing things apart. Sometimes a book has a problem that requires a writer to cut some things out of a scene and rebuild it. Sure it requires time and work and can make you want to rip your hair out. But, in the end, the book is much better for it.

The revision process can be a long one or a short one. It really depends on the book. Sometimes something that might seem like an easy fix will really require a lot of fancy maneuvering and quite a bit of time. Sound familiar. Sure, honey, I can just take down this wall here. It won't cause any extra work. NOT! The revision process can be very similar.

The whole idea of both is to make whatever your working on better. And that's why I love the revision process. Sure it's messy. Yes, it requires ripping apart something you've already sweated over and built over weeks and months of work. But it's worth it when you see the final product and the book is even better than you imagined it could ever be.

So, thank you to all the editors I've had the honor to work with over the past seven years. You've all taught me so much and made me a better writer.

Now it's back to edits before my editor catches me goofing off.

Have a wonderful day!

Best Books of 2011

I've been asked several times what my favorite books of 2011 were. I read so many great books it's hard to choose just a few. But these five were standouts!

New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb. This series just keeps getting better and better!

Water Bound by Christine Feehan. Original and emotional. A paranormal read that is really stands out from the rest. The second book in the series--Spirit Bound--is out and is as good as the first.

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh. Angels just weren't my thing until I read Nalini's Singh Guild Hunter series. This series is really worth a look if you haven't already read it.







Valiant by Laurann Dohner. If you haven't read her New Species series you're missing out. All the books are fabulous, but I freely admit that Valiant is my favorite.

KGI Series by Maya Banks. I came to this series late, which wasn't a bad thing as the first three books were already out. It's one of the best, if not THE best, romantic suspense I've read in years. If you love this genre, you must read this series. It starts with The Darkest Hour. The fourth book, Whispers in the Dark, was just released and I devored it the same day I downloaded it to my reader. You won't want to put it down.
These are just a few of the incredible books I read last year. What are some of your favorite books of 2011?