Posts Tagged ‘What About Everything Else?’

Links for Electronic, Non-Fiction and Business Publishing…

Monday, June 1st, 2009

 linksIf electronic, non-fiction or business publishing is your thing, here are some helpful links:

The future of books and electronic reding–

http://www.publetariat.com/publish/future-books-and-electronic-reading

Google ready to take on Amazon selling eBooks–

 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/technology/internet/01google.html?_r=3

An editor’s view on nonfiction publishing–

http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,b320cb6a-5af3-40cf-b266-ec503e3434dd.aspx

Business writing is storytelling, too–

http://ezinearticles.com/?Storytelling-For-Business—Getting-Your-Point-Across&id=2402853

Publishing’s Past, Present and Future…

Friday, May 29th, 2009

A few peaks at what some think about the state of publishing. There are lots of readers and writers out here. What do we think???

From The Nation–The Long Goodbye?:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090608/sifton

and Silcon Alley Insider–Amazon Runs Away with Retailing:

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=181701670042&h=_jeV-&u=Uc-u-&ref=mf

From Huffinton–For Romance Publishing, things may be looking up:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/28/romance-novel-sales-boomi_n_208796.html

Welcome Everyone!!! & May Contest Reminder

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Welcome to my beautiful new blog. Heaps and heaps of thanks to Mara Lubell at Works Progress Designs, who’s redone my logo and site and blog. Look around and check things out and scoot over to the website–there’s lots of cool stuff to do over. But the blog is where things will stay hopping, so keep coming back…

We have fun out here. And sometimes we talk all serious and all. It’s all good. Take a peak at the categories to the right and you’ll get an idea of what you might see more of.

Oh, and I’ll be adding an “Articles” category–where I’ll be moving all the articles and things from the old blog, posting one a week until I’m through, and then adding new material. You can also catch me on Facebook. There’s a link, if you dare ;o) I’m doing good, for now, not letting playing out there keep me from working. But it’s hard. Such a friendly place. So many opportunities for procrastinating and hooking up with great people. (more…)

Tails of Love…

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

We’re just back from the mountains and our annual Mother’s Day retreat (see the pic of Hurricane Falls in my Facebook teaser to the right…well, and hunky fireman, too), so I’m super busy catching up with work.

But I wanted to pop in share something really fun from Michelle Buonfiglio’s Romance B(u)y The Blog. Check out her and Lori Foster’s super fun contest, running through the Month of May.

(more…)

Hidden Feasts

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Time for a mini break from the info dump ;o) But no worries, those of you who want to know more about my Sept. release, I’m not straying too far.

So much of Dark Legacy (which I’m currently revising for my editor) is about symbolism and hidden meanings and dream imagry that the characters must figure out, if they’re going to find their happily ever afters (and, since this is a suspense, often just to stay alive).

I play a lot on everyday things, things we could find in our own lives, that take on critical meaning. The idea being, see the world around you–really see it. You never know what you could be missing… I’ve become facinated with it these days. Always looking around me, wondering what I’m really seeing. What I could see in a slightly differently world, where the impossible was a little more possible.

I stumbled across these pictures today–great, vintage images of New York City subway grafitti. There’s a flickr link below, to the larger grouping. Part of what I’ll be exploring more as my Legacy series continues (if it sells well enough for Dorchester to want to buy more ;o), is everyday things I can use to motivate, spook, intrigue and torment my characters (and readers, lol!), but giving them paranormal/psychic meaning. My Legacy stories will be contemporary reflections of the real world–dramas that you could imagine happening in the world around you, if you accepted that the psychic abilities I write about might really be possible.

Imagine what I could do with some of these movable works of art… Hmmm….

What other images come to mind? What would you like to see from your every day lives, used to crank up the suspense and paranormal punch in a future Legacy book? I’m aready writing proposals for the next leg of the series, after the Temple Twins are written. Three more books, about another family with different talents but equally spooky bad guys after them, and equally compelling love stories to tell. More about them later…but beyond that…what would you like to see???

Here’s the link to the flickr page for more hidden feasts…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhonetb/sets/72157605979490996/

If you haven’t been following along, read back through the last few posts for information about Dark Legacy. More to come–folks are asking off list about dream theory and I’ve promised a taste of the prologue (naughty romance author, using a prologue…I did say this was going to be a bit more mainstream, and definitely paranormal, so the prolugue fits about as well as the evil scientists and the secret government psychic weapons program ;o)

New and Improved

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Okay, Dark Legacy is in to Dorchester, and the revisions are already back and I’m talking with my editor about them in a little over an hour…so stay tuned…details every day this week on this amazing new direction my writing life is taking.

In the midst of writing and planning for a rewrite, I’ve been hard a work getting this year’s travel/promotion schedule nailed down (up on the website soon), singing the contracts for my new Atlanta Heroes novel for Superromance (tentatively titled, The Fireman’s Secret Baby ;o), collaborating with a local jewelry designer on promotional items and custom designed prizes for the Dark Legacy release, oh!, and working with a wonderful graphic artist on redesigning my logo, website and blog presence.
For now, sprinkled above and below are a sneak peak of the new logos: my main brand, my classic (Harlequin) projects, and my paranormal (Dorchester) books.
More soon on everythig, includng a new newsletter format using the very yummy Constant Contact! In the mean time, current prize winners your gifts are going out today (including the Fresh Fiction winners–of the XOXO and Coach purses). I’ll annouce the winner of the matching XOXO wallet by the endof the week.

Everyone, whatcha think of the more mainstream “me” look of the logos??? The color stories of the website and blog are going to change, to allow for the variety of books I’ll have coming out going forward. But we’re trying to still offer a “soft” option for those who prefer my Harlequin work, and a spooky place for paranormal fans to come and feel at home–plus a way to visually combine the two into an overall brand…

“Heat” Sitings and Web Contest Prize Sneak Peak

Friday, January 16th, 2009

There’s always such a stir in the comments when I show off prizes ;o)

And I totally understand the excitement for new, beautiful things. To further oblige, I highly recommend you keep reading for a sneak peak of the new…direction…my website contest prizes are going to be taking this year. How’s that for a teaser, bwahahahahaah…

But first, I had some excitement of my own on Wednesday.

First–and this is HUGE. I got out of my house, actually fashionably dressed and washed and brushed and everything, for an appointement. Even more excititng than that feat (because I’m mostly a cruddy, on-deadline writer these days), I gave myself permission to stop at a bookstore.

Usually, this creates potential for hours of lost time, as I’m prone to wander in such a heavenly environ. But I was a girl on a mission, and that was to see how my New York Silhouette editor and co. were handling the Jan. 13th realease of my new anthology. Would it be on the Sil. category racks? Would there be any push for sales?

Well…the pics sprinkled about this post are of WINTER HEAT ON A SHELF UP FRONT IN BORDERS!!! I didn’t make it over to our B&N (but I will some time today/tomorrow). But at Borders/Waldenbooks, my publisher has spent what’s called co-op money to place the book amongst the “Read This” sections of tables and shelves at the front of a chain store. A great thing for sales, because a lot of readers head to this section first.

So, yep, that’s Winter heat, facing out (HUGE advantage, because readers love them a pretty cover), one shelf above Sherry Kenyon, and I must say our frosty blue cover pops just lovely next to all that black. And, yep, thats me/us next to Jeffery Archer and above Tim Dorsey.

Notice all the NYT Bestselling lead lines on the covers surrounding Winter Heat. I think we really look at home, don’t you?

Just working with Vicky and Jade was such a treat, anthing over and above that is gravey. But this was quite a moment for little ‘ol me, and I couldn’t help snapping a few pictures. And… If you look closely enough at the number of copies of each book in the frame, I think…yes…yes I do believe there are only two copies of Winter Heat left (on the day it released) and, oh my, so many more of all the other titles…

That’s just wishful thinking for good sales, I know, but a girl’s got to dream, right???

Come back over the weekend for one final Winter Heat excerpt, BTW.

Speaking of working with dream people you’ll feel lucky for having worked with for the rest of your life, you should go check out this amazing woman I’ve been priviledged to meet and began creating with the final few months of ‘08–Marci Fried:

http://www.mollye.net/about_the_artist.html

I met Marci at the High Museum of Art here in Atlanta, where she’s shown numerous times, as well as at other locations in and around the South East. Her jewelry is not only museum quality, it’s amazingly creative and unique, and brings together the old and the new and surprises you with symbolism in ways I couldn’t help but stop and admire, and then chat with her about and then meet with her for lunch to chat about some more… Take a look at some of the beautiful things Marci Fried does:

http://www.mollye.net/vintage.html

http://www.mollye.net/custom_designs.html

I’m so excited to be planning to tell you more in the coming months–about a custom line of jewelry we’re working on together, to represent/promote symbols in my upcoming “Legacy” series with Dorchester. See–I really am a tease, beacause that’s all I’m going to tell you about that for now.

Except so say that Marci needs coaxing, so coax her in the comments so she’ll come out and play. Then go check out out her fashion blog, too, and watch for her great ideas over there (I’ve already subscribed).

Now, getting back to my website prizes: I’m going to be spotlighting Marci’s jewelry a lot this year, because she inspires me. I find myself wearing her creations when I need to feel that hopeful, positive vibe that makes the writing flow…

So, the blue butterfly necklace to the left is someting she designed for me–to match my website butterfly… That’s right, it’s mine–MINE!!!

I wear it a lot while I write, and get raves when I take it out to play in the real world.

But THIS beauty is the necklace I’ve chosen for my next big website contest prize. You didn’t think I’d forget my online buddies, did you?

I’ll have details up on the site (and much, much more about Marci and our collaboration together) after Dark Legacy goes into my editor.

Until then, drool and oooh and aaaahhh and say hi to Marci in the comments, and dream of all the exiting, beautiful things to come this year ;o)

Cute Kitten Videos and Contests…

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

Because, a girl writing the end of her psychotic, psychic twins novel needs something to rip her back from the darkness… Like kittens and lots of prizes ;o)

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1813050/

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1828311

Now that we’re all smiling and feeling all cozy, wozy, let me point you toward two Fresh Fiction contests I’m running this month (one for their Valentine’s feature, the other just ’cause I couldn’t resist), to celebrate Winter Heat being on the shelves TODAY!!!!!:

http://freshfiction.com/contest.php?id=1562

and

http://freshfiction.com/contest.php?id=1563

And for those of you visiting from FF, here’s the matching wallet I promised for the XOXO purse (I have one more I’ll be offering later in the month, so keep checking back in). Old and new blog friends alike, leave a comment throughout the month to be in the running for this little beauty (it’s not a kitten, but then again, it won’t miss the litterbox or yack up a hairball ;o)

Working Late for Me–Good for You!!!

Monday, January 12th, 2009

Those of you who’ve been through a deadline or two with me know that the final month before a deadline is the chained to my keyboard part of the process. I have rough-cut rewrites to do, an ending to pound out (which I can’t do until I get the rough draft squared away and go back and figure out all I didn’t know before I wrote the ugly stuff), and then targeted edits to weave through the last two weeks or so. Finally, the last two or three days are 24/7 reading and rewriting through the entire manuscript as a whole, one more time.

And since I’m 11 days into the final month of my Dark Legacy deadline (I might have a cover for you guys sometime soon, and I CAN’T WAIT to share what Dorchester’s working on), you’ll find me blogging at odd hours and frequently and not always coherently, because I need a break sometimes and there’s just so much televisionwithoutpity.com a girl can read before she starts feeling like a sarcasm junky.

And if you’re wondering why there are pics of tornadoes throughout this post–they’re visual aids, in case you were wondering what my brain feels like on deadline ;O) Yep, the funnel clouds and the lightening and the destruction about to happen and even the rainbow. That’s my happy little mind at the moment…

Each post this month will be entertaining, no doubt. And some even rewarding beyond the mere experience of sharing in my sleep deprivation (I’ll start chatting about new contests tomorrow, so keep coming back–I’ll even be sending you to other fun sites for multiple chances to win, and we all like fun, so you’ll go, because I say so, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll do what the girl with tornadoes in her brain says).

Where was I??? Oh, right, fun.

Tonight, in honor of a quick trip to New York I’m planning in Feb. to speak at a new writing organization I’ve just joined (more of them coming soon, too) and hopefully to meet with some publishing-type people at Dorchester and Harlequin, I give you…

The best NYC Midtown Lunches…I wonder how many I can fit into a three-day visit?

http://midtownlunch.com/blog/2009/01/07/the-best-midtown-lunches-as-voted-on-by-you-2008-edition/

Check it out…do it…because I say so, and if you know what’s good for you… Oh, just go, and have some fun while you drool over all the yummy food pics. I defy anyone to tell me there’s not something on this list you’re dying for a taste of RIGHT NOW!!! Or maybe that’s just my stomach growling…

Which one’s my favorite, you ask. Anyone want to take a guess what a girl on deadline craves???

Saturday’s winners–and let’s talk Baby Steps

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

Yay!!! What an amazing week. Exhausting, but amazing ;o)

Time’s in short supply today, but I didn’t want to miss a post. A new goal of mine–to stay up with the blog and all of you guys, because hearing from all of you last week was an ah-hah thing for me. Not ready to let it go yet ;o)

So, I’m giving away that BCBG shopping girl tote below, the rest of the goodies (books and promo items and another gift certificatet) I’ll sprinkle into the post throughout the day and maybe even into tomorrow.

Did I mention that I’ve fallen in love with BCBG Max Azria’s designs? I’ve had to basically replace my “business” wardrobe this fall–nothing I own fits…don’t hate me, but I’m a wee tad smaller than I was last year (stress exercising and a year of deadlines can do wonders ladies, LOL!).

Take a look at their sweaters–
http://www.bcbg.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2769188&cp=2769127&clickid=cat_leftnav_txt .

And the amazing tops that you can layer under them–
http://www.bcbg.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2769164&cp=2769127&clickid=cat_leftnav_txt .

Ooh, and the dresses–
http://www.bcbg.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2768985&cp=2769162&clickid=cat_leftnav_txt .

It’s the kind of funky, creative mix and match line that pictures can’t do justice, but it looks so cool on. Can’t wait for it to stay cold here long enough to try everything out. So far, I’ve only been able to wear my new duds at conferences, where they keep the hotels so cold you practically need a parka on to keep your teeth from chattering while you give a workshop!

That Brunette asked about my Mother’s Day anthologyMothers of the Year comes out in April. Three amazing novellas you won’t want to miss, including my Baby Steps, which was written around a Snow White/Grumpy theme. How about an excerpt tomorrow???

Here’s the winner of the BCBG tote–check back in later for more giveaways. Toodles!!!

CrystalG–the shopping girls are yours my friend. Major congrats, you lucky lady, LOL!

Back later!