Raine O'Tierney's Blog, page 5
May 25, 2014
DSP is having a #SALE! TIme to *~*BUY*~* #MMromance
If you can't tell from the banner... DSP is having a sale! I am a Year Seven author, so if you've been waiting to check out Under the Table and Into His Heart or Sweet Giordan, Please Remember , now is probably a good time. (Who doesn't love savings?)
Look at the beautiful covers... They are calling to you... OoooOOOOooooOOOOh! (Why do the covers sound like ghosts?!
Looking forward to hearing what you think! And if you've read them, why don't you drop me a line? :)
--Raine
May 17, 2014
Something Beautiful for Sweet Giordan! #mmromance #fanart
I'm a sucker for art--as anyone who's known me for more than three seconds and they'll tell you, "That Raine O'Tierney, she sure does love art." I love when people give me art they've done. I double love when they draw for me. And the ultimate, cherry-on-top pleasure of mine? Story art and fan art.
I was insanely blessed recently to receive my first ever piece of Sweet Giordan, Please Remember art. Ms. Kari Higa, knowing how important the peach orchard is in the story, drew the peach trees in full bloom. She even incorporated Christine Griffin's original sketch of Shane Devereaux.
This picture makes me so insanely happy. I'm sure Kari knows this, as I've only told her three hundred million times. But I want the world to know: insanely. happy.
If you ever have the urge to put pencil or pen to paper and draw with a Raine O'Tierney story as your inspiration, I will be a level of grateful the likes you've never seen. ^_~ You might be like, "Whoa, Raine. Chill. I get it." And also, I'll showcase your work on my site! :) Something to consider, artists. *Hint, hint!*
I was insanely blessed recently to receive my first ever piece of Sweet Giordan, Please Remember art. Ms. Kari Higa, knowing how important the peach orchard is in the story, drew the peach trees in full bloom. She even incorporated Christine Griffin's original sketch of Shane Devereaux.
This picture makes me so insanely happy. I'm sure Kari knows this, as I've only told her three hundred million times. But I want the world to know: insanely. happy.
If you ever have the urge to put pencil or pen to paper and draw with a Raine O'Tierney story as your inspiration, I will be a level of grateful the likes you've never seen. ^_~ You might be like, "Whoa, Raine. Chill. I get it." And also, I'll showcase your work on my site! :) Something to consider, artists. *Hint, hint!*
May 11, 2014
#GIVEAWAY : Who Love Magnets? PLUS Writing Updates! #MMRomance
It has been a long time since I've updated, but I promise it's for a good reason!
I've been writing.
And writing.
And writing.
And also... writing.
I just heard back from the GR MM Romance group and my free fiction, Somebody Nice!, has made it through QC and is ready to go. I do not have a release date on this bad boy yet, but believe me, when I know, you'll know! (I probably won't shut up about it.)
Also, I've been racing against a rapidly approaching deadline, but I finally feel like I have things in hand rather than wildly veering out of control. (Always nice!)
For those who did not hear, my YA novel I'll Always Miss You is in revise & resubmit status with Harmony Ink right now. I need to make a rather significant change--but one I think will help the story fit better for HI. It's not a hard change, it's just a long change. So once the above deadline has been met and CRUSHED(!) I will get to working on that.
...Then I can start something brand new! I've been dreaming about a brand new series for almost two months now. Shh! It's a secret.
Finally, The Most Beautiful Words in the World has entered pre-production. I dedicated it to my Paw-Paw, of course. The heart of the story is my wish that I'd listened to more of his tales. Most Beautiful Words is my favorite piece of writing to date, and I'm so pleased it's found a home with Dreamspinner Press.
All right, if you've hung on this long, it's time for a...
~*~*GIVEAWAY!~*~*
I got these super swank Sweet Giordan, Please Remember magnets to give away at RT Convention and I thought...why not do a little giveaway for those who enjoyed the story (or just love the cover!) You can enter through Rafflecopter three different ways to get three unique chances at a win! 5 magnets to 5 lucky winners!
And for those who love adrenaline...here's an "action shot" of the magnet! ^__~
The magnet in its natural habitat...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I've been writing.
And writing.
And writing.
And also... writing.
I just heard back from the GR MM Romance group and my free fiction, Somebody Nice!, has made it through QC and is ready to go. I do not have a release date on this bad boy yet, but believe me, when I know, you'll know! (I probably won't shut up about it.)
Also, I've been racing against a rapidly approaching deadline, but I finally feel like I have things in hand rather than wildly veering out of control. (Always nice!)
For those who did not hear, my YA novel I'll Always Miss You is in revise & resubmit status with Harmony Ink right now. I need to make a rather significant change--but one I think will help the story fit better for HI. It's not a hard change, it's just a long change. So once the above deadline has been met and CRUSHED(!) I will get to working on that.
...Then I can start something brand new! I've been dreaming about a brand new series for almost two months now. Shh! It's a secret.
Finally, The Most Beautiful Words in the World has entered pre-production. I dedicated it to my Paw-Paw, of course. The heart of the story is my wish that I'd listened to more of his tales. Most Beautiful Words is my favorite piece of writing to date, and I'm so pleased it's found a home with Dreamspinner Press.
All right, if you've hung on this long, it's time for a...
~*~*GIVEAWAY!~*~*
I got these super swank Sweet Giordan, Please Remember magnets to give away at RT Convention and I thought...why not do a little giveaway for those who enjoyed the story (or just love the cover!) You can enter through Rafflecopter three different ways to get three unique chances at a win! 5 magnets to 5 lucky winners!
And for those who love adrenaline...here's an "action shot" of the magnet! ^__~
The magnet in its natural habitat...a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 4, 2014
Dreams, Goals, Contracts, and the Day My Husband Contracted an #MMRomance!
When I do blog tours, I talk a lot about dreams. We're often told that dreaming is for babies and it's a waste of our time and we should be doing XYZ instead. And I'll grant, if you only dream...you're going to get no where. My (charming) father, used to say, "Wish in one hand, piss in the other..."
But overall, I think dreaming is important. Dreams sustain us when our wells run dry. If you find yourself re-writing a scene for the seventh time and you can't remember WHY you even bothered starting in the first place, you sit down and you dream big, and you remember, and often, you're able to go on.
I have two main writing dreams and they has nothing to do with publication at all:
Never stop writing and touch someone's heart.
Goals, on the other hand, I have in abundance. Real, measurable goals and slowly, but surely, I'm checking those goals off. They range from the very simple, to the wildly outlandish.
Publish a novellaBecome a Goodreads AuthorHave my name on a coverMake $20Make $40Sell 100 copiesCollaborateDo a DSP chat
Last night, I accomplished another goal on the list:
Publish a novel.
Dreamspinner Press contracted my novel-lengthed work, The Most Beautiful Words in the World last night with a pub date of Oct/Nov 2014. It will be in print. I can touch it. I can hand it to people. I can set it on a bookshelf. There are so words to describe my joy.
As I'm marveling at this accomplishment, another contract comes in, this one for a co-written novella called Alchemy Ever After that will be out Dec/Jan 2015. And just like that, my husband, Siôn O'Tierney, became a Dreamspinner Press author alongside me. We've been writing M/M together for almost ten years, and it's so THRILLING to know that are names will be side-by-side on the cover of our collaborative work.
Dream big.
Plan sensibly.
Never stop writing.
But overall, I think dreaming is important. Dreams sustain us when our wells run dry. If you find yourself re-writing a scene for the seventh time and you can't remember WHY you even bothered starting in the first place, you sit down and you dream big, and you remember, and often, you're able to go on.
I have two main writing dreams and they has nothing to do with publication at all:
Never stop writing and touch someone's heart.
Goals, on the other hand, I have in abundance. Real, measurable goals and slowly, but surely, I'm checking those goals off. They range from the very simple, to the wildly outlandish.
Last night, I accomplished another goal on the list:
Publish a novel.
Dreamspinner Press contracted my novel-lengthed work, The Most Beautiful Words in the World last night with a pub date of Oct/Nov 2014. It will be in print. I can touch it. I can hand it to people. I can set it on a bookshelf. There are so words to describe my joy.
As I'm marveling at this accomplishment, another contract comes in, this one for a co-written novella called Alchemy Ever After that will be out Dec/Jan 2015. And just like that, my husband, Siôn O'Tierney, became a Dreamspinner Press author alongside me. We've been writing M/M together for almost ten years, and it's so THRILLING to know that are names will be side-by-side on the cover of our collaborative work.
Dream big.
Plan sensibly.
Never stop writing.
March 29, 2014
Social Media Anxiety... You're Not Alone, Authors!
This was originally written for Miakerick.com on my Under the Table and Into His Heart blog tour. Published Feb 18th, 2014.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about social networking and how utterly stressful it can be for a brand new author. When I take off my tiny hat and my hot pink glasses and my faux mustache and become regular ol’ library lady, I love getting on and seeing what my co-workers and colleagues are all up to! I like to comment on their photos, chat with them, ‘like’ particularly witty posts—it’s all very easy and natural. When I have to do the same thing as Raine O’Tierney? It sometimes becomes a challenge!
When I received my first contract last year, I knew I was going to have to network. So I got myself all set to go onto the major social networking sites and I stepped into the world, friending other authors, and I was immediately hit with feelings of panic and inadequacy. It was like changing schools mid-year and walking into a cafeteria where everyone is already friends!
So I stood there with my proverbial lunch tray, not knowing where in the world to sit, eventually finding a little corner by myself and wondering—was it always going to be this way?
The answer is NO. No, it won’t. I know it’s hard feeling like the newbie and the odd man out, but it will get easier. I’ve made some KICKASS friends and I’ve learned some lessons along the way. If you’re feeling alone, consider the following pieces of advice that were given to me:
1. Be helpful! If an author asks for advice about a subject you know about—talk to them!
2. Be friendly! Maybe not such a good idea to start a fistfight when you’re trying to make friends. Don’t talk crap on people. Be positive.
3. Don’t be a walking advertisement! Seriously, don’t. It’s WONDERFUL to announce that you’ve just got your first galley or to remind people to come to your public chat, but you will only turn people off if every post is a reminder to buy your book.
4. You’re MORE than just an author! What are your other interests? Give a shout-out to your favorite show, post art you’ve done, or just celebrate your love of dachshunds. It’s all about connecting with people in a variety of ways
5. Support other authors! Tell an author if you loved their book and if someone asks for a beta reader in a genre you enjoy? Consider offering your help!
And the biggest one (and hardest for me!)…
6. BE PATIENT! It takes a while for people to get to know you and if you panic and run away, they never will. I was told (repeatedly) that once my first work actually came out, conversations with people would happen more naturally. Of course, I decided this couldn’t possibly be true and spent months feeling isolated… Then the release drops and wouldn’t you know it? Conversation happens naturally.
Know this—you’re not alone in how you feel. (Most) all of us have felt this way to varying degrees. It’s hard to believe when you first walk into that cafeteria, but you really are part of one of the coolest, most supportive groups in the world! Give it time and you’ll find the whole cafeteria is yours.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about social networking and how utterly stressful it can be for a brand new author. When I take off my tiny hat and my hot pink glasses and my faux mustache and become regular ol’ library lady, I love getting on and seeing what my co-workers and colleagues are all up to! I like to comment on their photos, chat with them, ‘like’ particularly witty posts—it’s all very easy and natural. When I have to do the same thing as Raine O’Tierney? It sometimes becomes a challenge!
When I received my first contract last year, I knew I was going to have to network. So I got myself all set to go onto the major social networking sites and I stepped into the world, friending other authors, and I was immediately hit with feelings of panic and inadequacy. It was like changing schools mid-year and walking into a cafeteria where everyone is already friends!
So I stood there with my proverbial lunch tray, not knowing where in the world to sit, eventually finding a little corner by myself and wondering—was it always going to be this way?
The answer is NO. No, it won’t. I know it’s hard feeling like the newbie and the odd man out, but it will get easier. I’ve made some KICKASS friends and I’ve learned some lessons along the way. If you’re feeling alone, consider the following pieces of advice that were given to me:
1. Be helpful! If an author asks for advice about a subject you know about—talk to them!
2. Be friendly! Maybe not such a good idea to start a fistfight when you’re trying to make friends. Don’t talk crap on people. Be positive.
3. Don’t be a walking advertisement! Seriously, don’t. It’s WONDERFUL to announce that you’ve just got your first galley or to remind people to come to your public chat, but you will only turn people off if every post is a reminder to buy your book.
4. You’re MORE than just an author! What are your other interests? Give a shout-out to your favorite show, post art you’ve done, or just celebrate your love of dachshunds. It’s all about connecting with people in a variety of ways
5. Support other authors! Tell an author if you loved their book and if someone asks for a beta reader in a genre you enjoy? Consider offering your help!
And the biggest one (and hardest for me!)…
6. BE PATIENT! It takes a while for people to get to know you and if you panic and run away, they never will. I was told (repeatedly) that once my first work actually came out, conversations with people would happen more naturally. Of course, I decided this couldn’t possibly be true and spent months feeling isolated… Then the release drops and wouldn’t you know it? Conversation happens naturally.
Know this—you’re not alone in how you feel. (Most) all of us have felt this way to varying degrees. It’s hard to believe when you first walk into that cafeteria, but you really are part of one of the coolest, most supportive groups in the world! Give it time and you’ll find the whole cafeteria is yours.
March 16, 2014
Sweet Giordan, Please Remember: Blog Tour! LOVE! HATS! *PRIZES!*
*~*Tour Dates*~*
3/17 -- The Hat Party
3/18 -- Prism Book Alliance + Giveaway
3/19 -- Cate Ashwood
3/20 -- JC Wallace
3/21 -- Charlie Cochet's Purple Rose Tea House
3/22 -- Tali Spencer
3/22 -- Dreamspinner Press Facebook Chat! + GIveaway
3/23 -- Andrew Q. Gordon
3/24 -- Charley Descoteaux
3/25 -- Wednesday Briefs
3/26 -- Sid Love + Giveaway
3/27 -- Mia Kerick
3/28 -- Butterfly-o-Meter Books
3/29 -- Allison Cassatta + Giveaway
*~*Tour Prizes*~*
*** Set of Sweet Giordan, Please Remember and Under the Table and Into His Heart ebooks
*** I Believe in the Sweetness Notebook
*** I Believe in the Sweetness Tote
*** 2x I Believe in the Sweetness Bumper Stickers
*** 2x Sweetness! Bumper Stickers
PLUS additional copies of Sweet Giordan, Please Remember at Prism Book Alliance, Sid Love, Allison Cassatta, and Dreamspinner Press Facebook Chat!
*~*Rules*~*Contest is open from March 17th until Midnight CDT on March 29th--Winners will be drawn on March 30thTo enter, please use the Rafflecopter widget below. You can have multiple entries!You can "like" my FB fanpage for one entry"Like" The Hat Party FB page for one entryBecome my "fan" on Goodreads for one entryTell me where you heard about Sweet Giordan, Please Remember for one entryEnter daily by going to that day's stop on the tour and commenting! Once you've commented, come back here and verify on the Rafflecopter widget for your daily entry!a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 28, 2014
Seeking LGBT Authors For Interviews! PLUS! A Brand New Website!
http://raineotierneyhatparty.blogspot.com/If you've been following my blog lately you've probably noticed the lovely parade of LGBT authors IN HATS answering really zany questions...! This is The Hat Party: my promo opportunity for authors who aren't afraid of having their picture taken in a hat or facing down a Raine O'Tierney interview.The feedback I've received has been OVERWHELMINGLY AWESOME! So awesome, in fact, that I decided to create a whole new site that will be an off-shoot of Home of the Sweetness. This works for a multitude of reasons:It gives interviewees a chance to be themselves and share excerpts that might be 18+ while keeping my main site PGIt allows me to offer more availability for guest authors, since my own news days aren't competing with interview daysI got to make a new logo! (Obviously, the most important part...)All author interviews have been preserved (along with comments!) and moved over to the new site.I'm VERY interested in scheduling ANYONE who wants a spot: from the newest newbie with one short story to the most seasoned "old hat" with 52 titles under their belt. Check out the site for more details and instructions on setting up an interview!
February 21, 2014
Sweet Giordan, Please Remember Cover Reveal!
It's here! It's here! OMG, my novella is available for pre-order which means... COVER REVEAL!
Artist Christine Griffin went into my brain and plucked out exactly what I imagined and then made a cover of it. Her cover perfectly embodies the gentle feelings of Sweet Giordan, Please Remember. Plus Shane is like, stupid beautiful. <3
BUT...it gets better! My release date? March 19th. Okay, so what's so special about March 19th, Raine O'Tierney? Nothin' much... BUT-! because of timezones and such, my book ACTUALLY comes out at 11:00 p.m. on March 18th...otherwise known as: *drum roll* MY THIRTIETH BIRTHDAY!
I now want NOTHING at all for my birthday--I've already got the best present anyone could ever hope for!
I would be DELIGHTED if you would consider checking it out:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4772&cPath=1024
Giordan Stone is lucky, all things considered. Sure, he spent five years in a coma only to wake with a right leg that’s practically useless and no memories other than his name. But now he’s under the care of sassy southern surrogate mother, Chloe Devereaux, spending his days painting and healing. Giordan wants for nothing at all… until he looks out the window one morning and sees Chloe's gorgeous son, Shane, standing there. Something very familiar stirs in Giordan.
When he sketches, Giordan is able to go into an “art trance” where pieces of disjointed memory come back to him without time or place. More and more of these flashes are of Shane Devereaux and the intense, intimate experiences they shared together. Even though Shane keeps his distance now, Giordan is convinced his flashes are real. But he doesn’t have the whole story. Giordan is determined to fill in his memory blanks and convince Shane his feelings are genuine.
Artist Christine Griffin went into my brain and plucked out exactly what I imagined and then made a cover of it. Her cover perfectly embodies the gentle feelings of Sweet Giordan, Please Remember. Plus Shane is like, stupid beautiful. <3
BUT...it gets better! My release date? March 19th. Okay, so what's so special about March 19th, Raine O'Tierney? Nothin' much... BUT-! because of timezones and such, my book ACTUALLY comes out at 11:00 p.m. on March 18th...otherwise known as: *drum roll* MY THIRTIETH BIRTHDAY!
I now want NOTHING at all for my birthday--I've already got the best present anyone could ever hope for!
I would be DELIGHTED if you would consider checking it out:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4772&cPath=1024
Giordan Stone is lucky, all things considered. Sure, he spent five years in a coma only to wake with a right leg that’s practically useless and no memories other than his name. But now he’s under the care of sassy southern surrogate mother, Chloe Devereaux, spending his days painting and healing. Giordan wants for nothing at all… until he looks out the window one morning and sees Chloe's gorgeous son, Shane, standing there. Something very familiar stirs in Giordan. When he sketches, Giordan is able to go into an “art trance” where pieces of disjointed memory come back to him without time or place. More and more of these flashes are of Shane Devereaux and the intense, intimate experiences they shared together. Even though Shane keeps his distance now, Giordan is convinced his flashes are real. But he doesn’t have the whole story. Giordan is determined to fill in his memory blanks and convince Shane his feelings are genuine.
February 15, 2014
The Power of Love Valentine’s Day Blog Hop! (BOOK GIVEAWAY!)
http://powerofgaylove.blogspot.com/p/the-main-event-page.htmlMY BEST VALENTINE'S DAY EVER...was about kindness and friendship.
When I was in high school, they would come around with the Candygrams (those caramel apple suckers that were like shards of glass on your tongue?) and notes and hand-deliver them to anyone lucky enough to have a friend or an SO or a stalker who shelled out the dollar and wrote the message. Every class period, the populars would receive three more Candygrams, throwing them into the pile—hoarding those coveted suckers. And every class period, I would sit up a little straighter, and my gut would clench, and I would hope and pray and pray and hope, that *someone* thought to send me one.
Spoiler alert: I never got my Candygram.
I changed schools at the beginning of my junior year. By the time February rolled around, I'd had a few months to make friends in this new, tiny, private school—but I wasn't expecting much. The handsome, green-eyed cowboy I was crushing on hard, didn't see me ‘like that’ and, even if he had, this new school didn't do Candygrams.
Spoiler alert: It turned out alright.
A friend walked up to me February 14th, 2000 with a Gundam Wing! V-Day card she'd made, full of kind thoughts about me and our friendship, chocolates, and a single rose. She smiled, patted me on the back and said, “I know you were worried about today. I wanted to make it special.” With that one thoughtful gesture, she wiped out every low feeling I'd had about Candygrams and popularity and my belongingness in the world of V-Day. I doubt she even remembers, but I'll never forget. Best. Valentine's Day. Ever.
PS. I married my green-eyed cowboy—and though he's tried, he still hasn't been able to top that single, thoughtfully given rose—that I still have in a glass bottle in my writing cove.
What was your best Valentine's Day? Leave a comment between February 14th and February 16th (11:59 p.m. CST) about your own best Valentine's Day EVER and you will be entered to win a FREE copy of my V-Day short, Under the Table and Into His Heart from Dreamspinner Press. The winner will be drawn randomly and notified on February 17th.
At the Under the Table host club, Valentine’s Day means one thing: cash. Neglected housewives, newly ex-girlfriends, and lovelorn thirtysomethings pay for the attention of handsome men. Shy bartender Jem has always wanted to be a host, and when the club’s owner, Miss Rye, accepts a contract from a MensLove Convention, Jem volunteers to flirt and make out with another host for the ladies’ entertainment. Bailey, an older man who’s had his eye on Jem, convinces Miss Rye to let him be Jem’s partner, and everyone gets more than they expected—especially Jem and Bailey. February 3, 2014
Just Lost My Publication V-Card!
*~*~UNDER THE TABLE AND INTO HIS HEART~*~* just became available! This is my FIRST EVER PUBLICATION If you want to check out my story, I'd be incredibly honored and very, very pleased! It's a universe I've been thinking about for a while now and I hope to write several more stories with the gentlemen from the Under the Table Host Club.
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4673&cPath=55_1024
At the Under the Table host club, Valentine’s Day means one thing: cash. Neglected housewives, newly ex-girlfriends, and lovelorn thirtysomethings pay for the attention of handsome men. Shy bartender Jem has always wanted to be a host, and when the club’s owner, Miss Rye, accepts a contract from a MensLove Convention, Jem volunteers to flirt and make out with another host for the ladies’ entertainment. Bailey, an older man who’s had his eye on Jem, convinces Miss Rye to let him be Jem’s partner, and everyone gets more than they expected—especially Jem and Bailey.
<<< >>>
I'm still sort of speechless about this whole publication business! I've spent 20 years dreaming, 10 years writing m/m romance, and the last year being a lionhearted girl, all to come to this moment. It's both quieter and more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.
Thank you for sharing this moment with me. Thank you for supporting me.
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes: "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?" It's seen me through every moment of this crazy adventure.
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