Megan Morgan's Blog, page 62

C is for Cats and Coffee

This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z challenge–blogging every day in the month of April (except Sundays!) with each letter of the alphabet.

Ask a writer what the staples of their profession are. Sure, you need your tools: a laptop/computer, paper, pens, whatever medium you choose to write on/with. You need time and space free from distractions. Some need music. Some like to have their notes and research easily available. A good critique partner is a blessing, someone to read and chop away at your drafts.

A lot of writers also need their caffeine fix and feline friends.

For some reason many writers tend to gravitate toward having cats as pets. Maybe it’s the calm, introspective nature of cats (when they’re not running wildly from room to room for no reason). Or maybe it’s their calming, inspiring purr as they cuddle against you (when they’re not draped over the keyboard blocking it). Cats are constant writing companions who glare at you imperiously, as if asking why you choose to click away on those keys instead of using your hands to pet them. They are fuzzy little muses who wedge themselves into any available space–in your heart, and on your desk.

Likewise, many of us are deeply invested in our morning (and noon, and night) coffee. I admit I’m a caffeine addict. The K-cup brewer is both the greatest miracle and biggest bane of my existence, allowing me to produce cup after cup and never have to drink the same thing twice if I get a nice variety pack. I mean, I have to try out all the flavors, right? Coffee is my writing fuel. Coffee turns me into a productive, creative human being first thing in the morning.

Here is a picture of my own fuzzy muse, plotting a bestseller for me:

And here is my last haul of K-cups from Amazon. Lots of variety! Cheap! Will last me a while (ha ha)! Don’t judge me. I only took them out of the package like this to make sure they were all there.

How about you? Are you a writer who needs the purr of a kitty and the buzz of a cup of coffee to make your writing routine complete? Show me your pictures!

Filed under: A to Z Challenge Tagged: blog hop, me, personal life, writing

B is for Book

This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z challenge–blogging every day in the month of April (except Sundays!) with each letter of the alphabet.

As an author, books have always been a huge part of my life. Even as a pre-teen and teen I was an avid book reader, even though at that time in one’s life reading recreationally makes you a geeky loser. I was totally a geeky loser and I didn’t care. I wasn’t good at sports and I certainly wasn’t hanging out with the popular kids and doing whatever fun stuff popular kids do, so books it was. Paper books, of course, because e-book readers didn’t even exist then so I could at least pretend I was just playing Candy Crush on my Kindle.

Throughout my life, some books have stood out above others for the impressions they left on me. I will chronicle them here:

The First Book That Left An Impression: Hilariously and ironically, I have no idea what it was called. I can’t remember the title, the author, or even enough of the plot to track it down on Google. I just remember when I was 12-13, I must have checked this novel-length YA book out of the library at least six times and read it over and over. I remember a friend making fun of me because I was reading it yet again. I only remember there was a boy and some sort of subterranian world. I almost want to say it was called ‘Downtown,’ but I don’t know. I just remember the feeling it gave me, how fascinated and infatuated I was.

The First Book That Changed My Life: Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat. I had never even heard of her or the series. I was 15-16 and I picked it up at a rummage sale for twenty-five cents because it had the word ‘vampire’ in the title and I was a morbid teenager. It literally changed my life. If you’ve read it, you know at the beginning Lestat is a trapped, restless, depressed, and isolated man who longs for adventure and to have an interesting life–exactly how I saw myself at that point in my life. I wanted to escape. I wanted life to begin. I remember crying during parts of it and reading it slowly so it wouldn’t end.

The Book(s) That Made Me Want To Be A Writer: Stephen King’s novels were the impetus for me trying my hand at writing. I was in love with horror as a teenager and wanted to write just like him. I hope to meet him someday and tell him this. My favorite Stephen King book is probably  Misery (oh to be so loved as an author!), and my favorite story is The Body (which became the movie Stand By Me).

The Book Series That Put A Crick In My Neck: The Harry Potter series. I binge-read the first four, rolling around on my bed, sitting in recliners, hanging off couches, my eyes glazing over. I did the same when each of the other three came out.

My First Urban Fantasy: Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series. Being largely an urban fantasy author myself, it was the first time I encountered the genre–which I think, when she first started, was not even called urban fantasy. I felt like I’d finally found exactly what I wanted to write–a sexy, dangerous premise where love and horror combined.

How about you? Are there books that were your ‘firsts’ and left an impression on you? What are your all-time favorite books?

Filed under: A to Z Challenge Tagged: blog hop, me, personal life, urban fantasy

No April Fools–today is Insecure Writer’s Support Group day AND the start of the A to Z Challenge!

How many blog hops can you fit in one post? Since Insecure Writer’s Support Group is supporting the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I’m going to put my contributions in the same post today. Whichever one you came for, hello and welcome!

First up, if you’re here for the insecurity:

This post is part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop. The first Wednesday of every month is Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the April 1 posting of the IWSG will be Suzanne Furness, Tonja Drecker, Toi Thomas, Rachna Chhabria, Fundy Blue, and Donna Hole!

One thing I’m super good at is overwhelming myself. I tend to give myself too many projects at one time, anxious that if I don’t produce, produce, produce, my writing future will go up in flames before my eyes. I must write more! I must have more submissions out! I must get more published! More, more, more! This is of course a little bit sensible, since I want to make writing a career, and if I actually want to pay the bills with writing I’m going to have to produce a steady stream of it. But running around frantic piling on projects is going to hurt me in the long run, I’m sure. I’ll either burn out, or produce sub-par work because I’m doing too much, or drive myself into complete insanity and end up hating my chosen career. I don’t want any of that.

It’s a terrible habit, and I’m working on it. The problem with success is when you get a success, you want more of them. And if I have x amount of things published this year, I feel pressure to have at least that many–but hopefully more–next year. When do I reach the limit? What amount of publications in one year is enough? How many will help me maintain a career? These questions make me gnaw on my nails. They keep me awake at night.

Right now I’ve made the decision to stay with three publishing houses that I currently have things published with, and whom I very much enjoy working with and feel supported by. Two are smaller presses and one is a major New York publisher, which will of course be where the focus of my ‘career’ writing goes (aka the one that will make me the most money). I have a tendency to want to write for and sample every small press I come across, but I need to focus now. I need to whittle down my projects to the ones that really boost my career. Work smarter, not harder!

Have any of you guys driven yourself mad trying to be productive? Any other multi-taskers out there like me?

Or, if you’re here for the challenge:

This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z challenge–blogging every day in the month of April (except Sundays!) with each letter of the alphabet.

On the first day of this challenge, I want to introduce myself. I am an author. I call myself an author, anyway. Is there a difference between an author and a writer? Some would say an author is published (which I am) while a writer is still trying to get there (which I was for many years). I don’t feel that way, but people rarely say ‘the writer of that book’ instead of ‘the author of that book.’ Wikipedia says: An author is broadly defined as “the person who originated or gave existence to anything” and whose authorship determines responsibility for what was created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work and can also be described as a writer. So there you have it, they’re pretty much the same thing.

I’ve been an author, or writer, for much of my life. I’m nearly forty now and I started writing, with intention, when I was thirteen. Only in the past year or so have I really made a big break as far as publications go, and funny enough, only in that time period have I been really comfortable with calling myself an ‘author.’ I’ve always wanted to write. I feel like it’s the default setting I was born with, wanting to tell stories. Maybe it’s a certain kind of mania. Authors, or writers, tend to live in their head a lot. It’s funny how most of the entertainment in the world–books, TV shows, movies, even music–is just the wild imaginings of storytellers, merely the fantasies that come out of one person’s head instead of staying hidden. There’s a magic in how those things come out, but even more magic in the fact that other people want to consume it, and enjoy it.

Author is how I define myself, but I’m also a writer, because I write. How about you, do you call yourself an author, writer, or both? Do you think there’s a difference? Even if you found your way here and you’re not an author or writer, do you see those terms as different things? Are there achievements that you feel have to be attached to either title?

Filed under: A to Z Challenge, IWSG Tagged: blog hop, insecure writer's support group, me, writing

A to Z Theme Reveal

In April, I will be taking part in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I will put up a blog post every day of the month, excluding Sundays, using each letter of the alphabet. Today is the theme reveal for the participant’s blog posts. Since I’m an author, my theme will of course be writing. Here are the posts that will go up each day of the challenge:

A – Author (1st)

B – Books (2nd)

C – Coffee/Cats (3rd)

D – Deadlines (4th)

E – Editing (6th)

F – False Starts (7th)

G – Google (8th)

H – Happiness (9th)

I – Inspiration (10th)

J – Jealousy (11th)

K – Killing a Character (13th)

L – Love (14th)

M – Megan (15th)

N – Notes (16th)

O – Organization (17th)

P – Productivity (18th)

Q – Query (20th)

R – Rejection (21st)

S – Stories (22nd)

T – Time (23rd)

U – Unity (24th)

V – Voice (25th)

W – Writing (27th)

X – Xesturgy (28th)

Y – Yearning (29th)

Z – Zipping It Up (30th)

As you can see, some of the subjects are informative and educational and others are a little silly. If you’re a writer–published or not–stop by my blog in April and let’s talk shop! I’ll be discussing everything from querying agents, to choosing a pen name, to getting the cat off your lap so you can get some work done.

Filed under: A to Z Challenge Tagged: blog hop

Presales, Paperbacks, and Book Tours oh my!

I have lots of great news to share with you this week!

First, One Night In Chicago is now available for presale:

Part of the City Nights series.

City Nights is a unique erotic romance series with authors contributing stand-alone stories to the collection. Each book title starts One Night in . . . and takes place within a 24 hour time frame in a city somewhere in the world.

Breaking up is hard to do, especially after four years together.

Taylor Middleton, a singer striving for her big break, and her boyfriend Malcolm Darling, a mover and shaker in the music business, have decided to call it quits. Taylor wants to take her onstage persona—Gracie M—to LA, where she hopes bright lights and big dreams await.

But before they break up, the two decide to spend one last night in Chicago, the city where they once shared a passionate, romantic weekend, in hopes of preserving some good memories. In Chicago, Taylor realizes she’s not so sure about taking her talents elsewhere, as Malcolm reminds her why she fell in love—and lust—with him. Taylor may soon discover the right man, like music, can set her free and make all her dreams come true.

Coming May 27th from Tirgearr Publishing

Available for presale at:

Amazon | Smashwords

Also, The Wicked City is now available in paperback! I can’t wait to hold my own copy:

She’s got a voice to die for…

Whatever June Coffin says, goes—literally. And it’s not just because she’s a chain smoking rebel. As a Siren, June has the ability to force people to obey any command she voices. But in a world where those with supernatural powers quickly become lab rats for science, she’d rather look out for herself than fight on the front lines…until her similarly gifted twin brother, Jason, is captured by Chicago’s Institute of Supernatural Research.

To save Jason, June has no choice but to enter a hidden world of conspiracy, murder—and strange bedfellows—including a widowed paranormal advocate whose memory June accidentally erased, and a fiery paranormal separatist leader. Soon the lines between attraction and strategic alliance become blurred. But in a city exploding with paranormal crossfire, and her brother’s life at stake, June will have to face her inner demons and finally take a stand.

Purchase at: Amazon

I’m also currently on a virtual book tour. Click the banner to check out where I’ve been and where I’ll be:

So many exciting things going on in my little author world. I hope you’ll come along for the ride!

Filed under: City Nights, One Night In Chicago, Promotion, Publications, Siren Song, The Wicked City, Works Tagged: appearances, kensington, lyrical press, paperback, tirgearr publishing, urban fantasy

Sex and the city–One Night In Chicago cover reveal!

I have the lovely new cover for my upcoming release from Tirgearr Publishing:

One Night In Chicago

Part of the City Nights series.

Breaking up is hard to do, especially after four years together. Taylor Middleton, a singer striving for her big break, and her boyfriend Malcolm Darling, a mover and shaker in the music business, have decided to call it quits. Taylor wants to take her onstage persona—Gracie M—to LA, where she hopes bright lights and big dreams await.

But before they break up, the two decide to spend one last night in Chicago, the city where they once shared a passionate, romantic weekend, in hopes of preserving some good memories. In Chicago, Taylor realizes she’s not so sure about taking her talents elsewhere, as Malcolm reminds her why she fell in love—and lust—with him. Taylor may soon discover the right man, like music, can set her free and make all her dreams come true.

Coming May 27th from Tirgearr Publishing

City Nights is a unique erotic romance series with authors contributing stand-alone stories to the collection. Each book title starts One Night in . . . and takes place within a 24 hour time frame in a city somewhere in the world.

Lovely, isn’t it? I’ll have more info closer to the release date, such as pre-sale links and promotions. In the meantime, let Cora Graphics know she makes one damn fine book cover!

Filed under: City Nights, Cover Reveal, One Night In Chicago, Publications, Works Tagged: erotica, release date, romance, tirgearr publishing

Yay, I did it! Oh no, I DID IT…

This post is part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop. The first Wednesday of every month is Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the March 4 posting of the IWSG will be Chemist Ken, Suzanne Sapseed, and Shannon Lawrence!

Yesterday was the release of my first urban fantasy novel, The Wicked City, from Kensington Publishing! An exciting day for sure, one I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. I can’t believe it’s finally here. So all my insecurities have vanished, right?

Ha! Not even close!

Here’s my shiny new book:

The Wicked City – Siren Song #1

She’s got a voice to die for…

Whatever June Coffin says, goes—literally. And it’s not just because she’s a chain smoking rebel. As a Siren, June has the ability to force people to obey any command she voices. But in a world where those with supernatural powers quickly become lab rats for science, she’d rather look out for herself than fight on the front lines…until her similarly gifted twin brother, Jason, is captured by Chicago’s Institute of Supernatural Research.

To save Jason, June has no choice but to enter a hidden world of conspiracy, murder—and strange bedfellows—including a widowed paranormal advocate whose memory June accidentally erased, and a fiery paranormal separatist leader. Soon the lines between attraction and strategic alliance become blurred. But in a city exploding with paranormal crossfire, and her brother’s life at stake, June will have to face her inner demons and finally take a stand.

Read the first chapter | Read Reviews

Purchase at:

Kensington |  Amazon |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  All Romance Ebooks

(Additionally, I’m running a contest to win an e-book copy, if you’d like to enter.)

Beautiful, isn’t she? And certainly I’m celebrating. But, but, but…

What if people hate it? What if it gets bad reviews? What if I barely sell any copies and my publisher drops me from the rest of my contract for wasting their time? What if readers come to my house and stab my eyes out with forks for writing something so lame?

Getting the big publication doesn’t automatically mean all your anxiety and self-doubt vanishes. It’s kind of like being in love, where one minute you’re on top of the world and the next you worry the other person secretly hates you and is just leading you on. Maybe my publisher and the readers are just humoring me. But look, I have a book! I’m published, I did it! But oh God, what if they hate me?!

So it goes. That’s not to say there’s not a great feeling of joy and accomplishment in my heart, but this blog hop IS about insecurities, and there they are.

I’m going to try to bask in the glow, instead.

Filed under: IWSG, Publications, Siren Song, The Wicked City, Works Tagged: blog hop, insecure writer's support group, kensington, lyrical press, paranormal, release date, urban fantasy

The Wicked City is here–win a copy!

Today is the release of my debut urban fantasy novel from Kensington Books! The first book of the Siren Song series introduces my sassy Siren heroine, June Coffin.

The Wicked City – Siren Song #1

She’s got a voice to die for…

Whatever June Coffin says, goes—literally. And it’s not just because she’s a chain smoking rebel. As a Siren, June has the ability to force people to obey any command she voices. But in a world where those with supernatural powers quickly become lab rats for science, she’d rather look out for herself than fight on the front lines…until her similarly gifted twin brother, Jason, is captured by Chicago’s Institute of Supernatural Research.

To save Jason, June has no choice but to enter a hidden world of conspiracy, murder—and strange bedfellows—including a widowed paranormal advocate whose memory June accidentally erased, and a fiery paranormal separatist leader. Soon the lines between attraction and strategic alliance become blurred. But in a city exploding with paranormal crossfire, and her brother’s life at stake, June will have to face her inner demons and finally take a stand.

Read the first chapter | Read Reviews

Purchase at:

Kensington |  Amazon |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  All Romance Ebooks

Giveaway

Also, in honor of this awesome day, I’m giving away an e-book copy! How do you win? It’s easy!

Leave a comment on this post–that’s all! The contest will close on Thursday March 5th at 12 a.m. EST and I will pick a winner at random on Friday, March 6th. Make sure you leave some way to contact you on your comment–either an email address or your website in the provided fields. Simple!

I will also be attending Nina Crespo’s Sexy Supeaturals Facebook party starting at 8 p.m. EST tonight (March 3rd), where I will additionally be giving away an e-book copy of The Wicked City. Stop by for prizes, excerpts, music, and sexy supernatural fun featuring lots of fun authors!

Filed under: Contests, Giveaways, Publications, Siren Song, The Wicked City, Works Tagged: kensington, lyrical press, paperback, paranormal, urban fantasy

I’m on the radio!

Today I’ll be on Red River Radio with other Tirgearr Publishing authors, celebrating Tirgearr’s birthday! I’ll be reading from my upcoming novella One Night In Chicago and chatting. The show runs from 4-6 p.m. EST and my slot will be at 5:10 p.m. The lineup is as follows:

4:10 PM David O’Brien

4:20 PM Cathy Mansell

4:30 PM Mary Bradford

4:40 PM Noreen Wainwright

4:50 PM Elizabeth Delisi

5:00 PM Daithi Kavanagh

5:10 PM Megan Moran

5:20 PM Tegon Maus

5:30 PM Kate Laity (as Kit Marlowe)

5:40 PM Troy Lambert

Stop by and listen in! You can also join us in the chat room during the show.

Filed under: City Nights, Interviews, Promotion Tagged: appearances, radio show, tirgearr publishing

Upcoming Events

I have a few exciting things coming up in the near future. Check it out:

February 25th – I will be on Red River Radio, to celebrate Tirgearr Publishing’s birthday! The radio show starts at 4 p.m. EST. We’ll be chatting about books and writing, and reading excerpts–I’ll be reading an excerpt from my upcoming novella One Night In Chicago, which will be released on May 27th from Tirgearr. I’ll be back on the show again that very day to talk about the City Nights series, which my novella is part of.

March 3rd – The Wicked City arrives! The first book of my urban fantasy series from Kensington Books will be released. That day, I will also be participating in Nina Crespo’s Facebook party for her own release that day, Thane’s Redemption. I’ll be giving away a copy of The Wicked City during that party. I’ll have some other fun release day things and giveaways planned here as well.

March 7th – I will be attending the Indie Author Conference & Showcase at the Parma-Snow library here in Cleveland. If you’re planning to attend let me know, we can chat!

All of April – I’ll be doing the Blogging From A to Z challenge.

Also, recently was the release of my paranormal erotic romance novella Her Darkest Secret. I have a busy schedule at the moment, I hope you’ll stop by where I pop up and say hi!

Filed under: Behind The Scenes, City Nights, Giveaways, Her Darkest Secret, Promotion, Publications, Siren Song, The Wicked City, Works Tagged: appearances, information, kensington, radio show, release date, tirgearr publishing, updates, urban fantasy