It's that time of year again when I put together a newsletter to send out to people who've signed up to receive updates about my writing. I don't do it every month, or every quarter, or even every year. But I send a letter whenever I have a new release and a book-winning contest. My last release was in August, so I'm a bit behind.
I never know what to say in a newsletter. I try to make it short and simple, but it usually ends up stretching one or two pages long.
At first, I tried all these neat graphics with covers of all my books embedded in the body of the email, but then I figured out not all those go through all the email providers the same way and some people received blank pages from me, so I've narrowed it down to two or three pictures. I've seen where some authors put their letters in PDF format and attach it to the email. I guess I could do that. What do you prefer when receiving author newsletters, or do you like getting them at all?
I also wonder WHAT to write about. I've seen some authors go on about their personal life or add food recipes or interesting little facts and quotes. But I don't do that. I try to get out what just released, what's coming next, announce any awards or special recognition any of my stories have won, then announce some kind of contest for readers to win free stuff. And that's it.
So again, I'm all curious, what kind of stuff do you like to find in an author's newsletter? Just details about their books, or other things as well? My mind usually begins to wander if a newsletter goes on too long with too many different topics.
I wish I could find some site that does those professional newsletter things, where when you subscribe, you get the automated message and have to visit this site to verify your address and so on. But I have a bad feeling those cost money, which isn't something I'm abundant in at the moment. So I go cheap...unless anyone out there knows about a free newsletter provider place.
One neat fact I've learned recently is how to send off my newsletter so that the receiver doesn't see everyone else's email addresses in the sent-to line. To do this, you add yourself into your contacts. So I would add linda@lindakage.com into my email address book but instead of naming me Linda Kage, I use the words "Undisclosed Recipients" in the name spot. Then...when I send off the newsletter. "Undisclosed Recipients" goes in the TO line, while everyone else goes into the BCC line.
Did you know...CC in email lingo means Carbon Copy, and BCC means Blind Carbon Copy. Okay, fine, I was the only one that didn't know that then! So anyway, when your newsletter subscriber receives their newsletter, they only see that you sent a letter to..."Undisclosed Recipients," because the BCC is obviously blind and doesn't show up everyone else's addresses. Isn't that just the coolest thing? Well, it was cool for me to learn.
And now that I've taught you something you probably already knew, I'm off to finish my newsletter. I think I'll send it out Monday, so if you want to subscribe (though really, if you follow my blog, then you'll probably already know most everything I'll blather on about), then I've set up a "subscribe to my newsletter" box on the side bar to the left there somewhere.
Have a good weekend! I look forward to reading some good newsletter advice and opinions in your comments!!
2011 Banned Books Week!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
I totally forgot Banned Books Week started September 24th and is going on 'til October 1st!!
If you'd like to celebrate the freedom to read, you can follow Banned Books Week on on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and YouTube.
There's not much to report in other areas of my life. I noticed my book A MAN FOR MIA is selling cheaper at Amazon.com. It used to be, like, eight bucks, which was even more than I was wiling to spend. But now it's a more reasonable $4.99.
A couple of my friends have gotten some cool book covers finished for their stories. Heather Snow in my Midwest Romance Writers RWA group has a cover for her historical novel, SWEET ENEMY, coming out in February from Signet. It's totally sweet (the cool sweet, not the other kind, because it looks a bit too spicy to be that kind of sweet!)
Then Tori St. Claire, also in my MRW Group, has a new cover for her Berkley Heat book, STRIPPED, coming out in January. Then her other pen name, Claire Ashgrove, has a cover for her Templar book, IMMORTAL HOPE, also coming out in January, from TOR (She's a busy woman). I'm so excited for them and their great success.
I'm hoping to get a cover for my story THE RIGHT TO REMAIN MINE in another month or two. It releases in February, and I'm anxious to see what the cover artist comes up with.
Okay, and now I'm really out of stuff to say. Have a good Wednesday.
I'm an EPIC Finalist!
Monday, September 26, 2011
I was cruising the internet yesterday, and came across the Electronic Publishing Internet Coalition's (EPIC) website, where I discovered a happy little surprise. My story HOT COMMODITY, is a finalist in their 2012 Ebook Awards Contest, in the Contemporary Romance division. I was so happy, I danced all around the house with Lydia, which she loved, grinning and screaming with laughter as we whirled this way and that. The hubby's only response to the whole thing was, "You're going to hurt your back if you keep dancing around with her like that." Which I didn't (ha!). I hurt my knee.In other areas of my life, I had my first in-depth conversation with my daughter this weekend. I was pushing her in her new-old swing and this tractor chugged to life across our field over at the neighbor's place. Lydia and I looked at each other and I gasped. "What's that?"
She turned to squint across the way until she finally saw movement. Then her eyes lit up and she pointed. "Car!" she proudly proclaimed."No," I said. "That's a tractor."
"Car," she repeated.
"No, no. It's really a tractor. See, cars have four wheels and...and, well, okay. So do tractors, but--"
"Car, car," she argued.
With a sigh, I gave in. "Okay. Fine. A tractor is a kind of car, I guess."
She nodded, most wisely. "Car."
This morning, we had another heart to heart. I knocked a bottle of baby lotion off the side of the bathroom sink.
Lydia gasped, "Uh oh," and rushed over to swipe it up. She looked up at me and accused, "Broke it."
I might have been a little defensive when I responded, "I did not."
So I'd say we're getting better at our communications skills. Outside is still pronounced "Owie," and so is the boo-boo on her knee. But you can tell which owie she means. If she brings you shoes and points toward the door, she means the outside owie. If she points to her knee, she means the boo-boo owie. Obviously.Her newest words of the week are dirty, which is what the trash can is. And spider, pronounced "Pide-er."
And the kid has learned one very talented skill from me. After playing on the swing set and having our car/tractor conversation, she spotted a dead grasshopper on the sidewalk. When she spotted it, she paused to inspect it a moment before stomping on it with her shoe, 'cause that's exactly what Mommy does when she sees bugs and spiders. I was so proud I had to wipe a tear from my eye. That's my special girl.
Happy Monday to all!
Friday Forwards - #33
Friday, September 23, 2011
Sorry, but I have a little bit of promo news before I share my Friday Forwards.
FIRST, I was interviewed by the lovely blogger, Courtney, over at Courtney's Book Nook, so you can check that out if you're so inclined. Then I was spotlighted over at wonderful DeAnn Sicard's Blog, A Writer's Guide to Words.
Okay, Let the FRIDAY FORWARDING commence!!
Six Classic Affairs
The 1st Affair:
A married man was having an affair with his secretary. One day they went her place and made love all afternoon. Exhausted, they fell asleep and woke up at 8 PM. The man hurriedly dressed and told his lover to take his shoes outside and rub them in the grass and dirt. He put on his shoes and drove home."Where have you been?" his wife demanded."I can't lie to you," he replied, "I'm having an affair with my secretary. We had sex all afternoon.""You lying @#$%! You've been playing golf!"
The 2nd Affair:
A middle-aged couple had two beautiful daughters but always talked about having a son. They decided to try one last time for the son they always wanted. The wife got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy. The joyful father rushed to the nursery to see his new son. He was horrified at the ugliest child he had ever seen. He told his wife, "There's no way I can be the father of this baby. Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered! Have you been fooling around behind my back?" The wife smiled sweetly and replied, "Not this time!"
The 3rd Affair:
A mortician was working late one night. He examined the body of Mr. Schwartz, about to be cremated, and made a startling discovery. Schwartz had the largest private part he had ever seen! "I'm sorry Mr. Schwartz," the mortician commented, "I can't allow you to be cremated with such an impressive private part. It must be saved for posterity. "So, he removed it, stuffed it into his briefcase, and took it home."I have to show you something you won't believe," he said to his wife, opening his briefcase."My God!" the wife exclaimed, "Schwartz is dead?!?!"
The 4th Affair:
A woman was in bed with her lover when she heard her husband opening the front door."Hurry," she said, "stand in the corner. She rubbed baby oil all over him, then dusted him with talcum powder."Don't move until I tell you," she said. "Pretend you're a statue." "What's this?" the husband inquired as he entered the room. "Oh it's a statue." she replied. "The Smith's bought one and I liked it so much I got one for us, too. "No more was said, not even when they went to bed. Around 2 AM the husband got up, went to the kitchen and returned with a sandwich and a beer."Here," he said to the statue, "have this. I stood like that for two days at the Smith's and nobody offered me a thing."
The 5th Affair:
A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer. "Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent." "One Cent?" the man thought. He glanced at the menu and asked, "How much for a nice juicy steak and a bottle of wine?" "A nickel," the barman replied. "A nickel?" exclaimed the man. "Where's the guy who owns this place?" The bartender replied, "Upstairs, with my wife." The man asked, "What's he doing upstairs with your wife?" The bartender replied, "The same thing I'm doing to his business down here."
The 6th Affair:
Jake was dying. His wife sat at the bedside. He looked up and said weakly, "I have something I must confess." "There's no need to," his wife replied. "No," he insisted, "I want to die in peace. I slept with your sister, your best friend, her best friend, and your mother!" "I know, I know," she replied. "Now just rest and let the poison work."
FIRST, I was interviewed by the lovely blogger, Courtney, over at Courtney's Book Nook, so you can check that out if you're so inclined. Then I was spotlighted over at wonderful DeAnn Sicard's Blog, A Writer's Guide to Words.
Okay, Let the FRIDAY FORWARDING commence!!
Six Classic Affairs
The 1st Affair:
A married man was having an affair with his secretary. One day they went her place and made love all afternoon. Exhausted, they fell asleep and woke up at 8 PM. The man hurriedly dressed and told his lover to take his shoes outside and rub them in the grass and dirt. He put on his shoes and drove home."Where have you been?" his wife demanded."I can't lie to you," he replied, "I'm having an affair with my secretary. We had sex all afternoon.""You lying @#$%! You've been playing golf!"
The 2nd Affair:
A middle-aged couple had two beautiful daughters but always talked about having a son. They decided to try one last time for the son they always wanted. The wife got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy. The joyful father rushed to the nursery to see his new son. He was horrified at the ugliest child he had ever seen. He told his wife, "There's no way I can be the father of this baby. Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered! Have you been fooling around behind my back?" The wife smiled sweetly and replied, "Not this time!"
The 3rd Affair:
A mortician was working late one night. He examined the body of Mr. Schwartz, about to be cremated, and made a startling discovery. Schwartz had the largest private part he had ever seen! "I'm sorry Mr. Schwartz," the mortician commented, "I can't allow you to be cremated with such an impressive private part. It must be saved for posterity. "So, he removed it, stuffed it into his briefcase, and took it home."I have to show you something you won't believe," he said to his wife, opening his briefcase."My God!" the wife exclaimed, "Schwartz is dead?!?!"
The 4th Affair:
A woman was in bed with her lover when she heard her husband opening the front door."Hurry," she said, "stand in the corner. She rubbed baby oil all over him, then dusted him with talcum powder."Don't move until I tell you," she said. "Pretend you're a statue." "What's this?" the husband inquired as he entered the room. "Oh it's a statue." she replied. "The Smith's bought one and I liked it so much I got one for us, too. "No more was said, not even when they went to bed. Around 2 AM the husband got up, went to the kitchen and returned with a sandwich and a beer."Here," he said to the statue, "have this. I stood like that for two days at the Smith's and nobody offered me a thing."
The 5th Affair:
A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer. "Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent." "One Cent?" the man thought. He glanced at the menu and asked, "How much for a nice juicy steak and a bottle of wine?" "A nickel," the barman replied. "A nickel?" exclaimed the man. "Where's the guy who owns this place?" The bartender replied, "Upstairs, with my wife." The man asked, "What's he doing upstairs with your wife?" The bartender replied, "The same thing I'm doing to his business down here."
The 6th Affair:
Jake was dying. His wife sat at the bedside. He looked up and said weakly, "I have something I must confess." "There's no need to," his wife replied. "No," he insisted, "I want to die in peace. I slept with your sister, your best friend, her best friend, and your mother!" "I know, I know," she replied. "Now just rest and let the poison work."
Can I Have a little Cheese with my Whine
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Today, I'm guesting at THE WRITER'S VINEYARD, talking about putting complaints in your blog.
Happy Release Day
Monday, September 19, 2011
.....to MARIE ROSE DUFOUR!!I've been following her blog since late 2010, and have been honored to watch her go from unpublished to published!
Today, her FIRST story, Fated Mates, released from Secret Cravings Publishing. When I purchased my copy to read, I noticed she's already number four on the publisher site's bestseller list, WOOT!!
I think her story is an erotic sci fi romance. For a blurb and excerpt plus a chance to win a free copy, head over to her blog and leave her a "happy release day" comment!
I'm so happy for her.
In my own life, things are and aren't quite as exciting. I was offered a contract for two books since complaining about waiting for a submission responses last week, YAY!! One story I was super excited about finally selling (my second young adult book). But I'll talk about those more later...probably way later.
Then I received a ho-hum review from The Romance Reviews for How to Resist Prince Charming. The reviewer had good things to say and bad things to say. Usually, I can learn something good from the negative comments, but I don't know how to change disjointed pacing and disconnection for a reader. Sounds almost like a subjective thing, where another person might not feel the same way. Oh, well. Can't win over everyone.
On the other hand, I received a GLOWING review on Goodreads for my story, Delinquent Daddy. So, it all evens out. And that's my Monday updates!!
Happy Monday to all. Hope you have a good week.
I need some expert excerpt opinions if y'all don't mind.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Guess what-guess what-guess what!?
As I said on Wednesday, whenever I complain about not receiving a response from a query letter, I usually receive a response that very day. Well, yep, I heard back from an editor and....woo hoo...I sold my first Linda Kage short story (the rest of my published works are stories over 50,000 words long, making them not so short).
I'll reveal all the juicy details whenever I get them, but until then...I need to pick out an excerpt to use as my big promo piece.
They say it needs to be "alluring," something a reader will think "I must buy this book" after reading it, something with enough conflict and excitement to keep a reader interested but not so much as to give away the ending.
I've narrowed it down to four. Now, I'm all curious...which one do you like best, or do you think I should keep searching for something better? Any opinion would be greatly appreciated, even if you think I should delete all these scenes from my story entirely.
Thank you, thank you. Have a great weekend.
******************************************************************************
--EXCERPT A--
“How’re you doing?”
Deri gritted her teeth. “Hurts.”
His chocolate brown eyes filled with sympathy as he lightly stroked her hair. “We’ve almost got you free. Just hang in there.”
A moment later, some unknown person yanked the ladder away. The release of pressure was almost more brutal than the pinching agony, but it soon dissipated to a dull throb. Deri closed her eyes and let out a breath. Her head lulled against that thigh tucked beneath her cheek, and she focused on the warmth and muscles layered under smooth cotton slacks to keep her mind off the pain.
“I’m going to check your ankle out, okay?” Large capable fingers slipped off her shoe.
She ground her teeth and swallowed yet another whimper.
“Sorry,” he rasped. He gently cupped her heel as he examined the damage, prodding with the barest of thumb pressure. Deri held her breath but the burning was not appeased.
When she heard, “Holy Mother of God,” her eyes flew open, and she lifted her face.
“What?”
Hot Guy shifted to block her view from the damage. “Don’t look.”
That didn’t exactly placate her. “What’s wrong?”
“Well, it’s…it’s swelling and bruising already. We need to get you to a hospital. Now.”
She nodded. “Okay.” Then she blew out a breath to hype herself. “Okay,” she said again. But how was she supposed to walk out of here? Gah, even the thought of standing made her stomach pitch with nausea.
“Wrap your arms around my neck,” he answered her unspoken question. “I’ll carry you.”
The sheer, noble romance of his command caused Deri to lose her breath.
What? Run away with you and bare your twenty children?
Sure.
As long as he kept looking at her exactly as he was looking at her, she was pretty much game for any suggestion he made.
She stared deeply into his brown eyes and nodded. “Okay.”
******************************************************************************
--EXCERPT B--
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“But you fell because I distracted you,” he argued.
"Yeah, well I’m the doofus who lost her balance.” She rolled her head along the back of the leather seat to turn it his way.
He glanced at her, his mouth open as if ready to keep arguing, but when he saw her face, he cracked a smile. “Just how many painkillers did they give you?”
She shrugged a loose shoulder. “Dunno. I’ve always been a cheap drunk though. Maybe I’m a cheap druggie too.”
Unable to stop smirking, he shook his head. “Are you even going to be able to tell me how to get you home?”
“Sure.” Yet as soon as she made the adamant claim, she scowled, thinking hard about her address. When half of it came, she grinned and proudly pronounced, “Eight-twelve.”
“Okay...” He paused. “Eight-twelve, what?”
She frowned again. Hmm. Now there was a stumper.
“Eight-twelve, eight-twelve, eight-twelve…Aha! Dragon—I mean, Daggon, Doggon, Dogwood. Yeah, tha’s it. I live at eight-twelve Dogwood Lane.”
His shoulders eased. “Great. Dogwood Lane I can find. Now… do you know if that’s east or west Dogwood Lane?”
Deri pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth as she thought about it. Finally, she said, “East?”
When she made it sound more like a question than a fact, he sighed. “Is that your final answer or a guess?”
After another brain-smarting moment, she decided, “My answer.”
“All right then. We’re going to eight-twelve east Dogwood Lane.”
Deri perked to attention. “Really? Hey, tha’s where I live.”
******************************************************************************
--EXCERPT C--
“Do you need help with anything else?” he asked.
She lifted her head to look around. They’d made it to the second floor and now stood in front of her apartment entrance.
Had they come to the end of their association, already?
“No,” she mumbled, her voice full of all her forlorn thoughts. Time to let the hunk go now and never see him again. “I’ve got it from here. But thank you. Thank you sooooo much.”
Deri didn’t want him to leave. A dozen excuses came to mind. She should make him a hot cup of tea. Or maybe she could have him help her into bed and then just coax him into joining her there.
Ack, what was she thinking? A man running on his level of hotness did not tinker around with short, dumpty nut cases like Deri.
Besides, she didn’t even know him. The safe plan would be to send him on his way. Pronto.
Except, he looked so good standing there watching her as if he really did want to help her with, well, anything.
“Oh, what the hell,” she slurred and reached for him, her fingers groping clumsily for the lapels on his jacket, which blurred in her drug-hazed vision.
He immediately caught her shoulders, his eyebrows pinched with worry. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she garbled out the irritated mutter, and finally caught his slippery jacket within her two fists. “I’m jus’…I’m trying to thank you property…I mean, properly.”
He squinted. “You’re trying to…what?”
“Thank you,” she stressed with a little more force as she used the last of her strength to tug on his jacket, jerking him close.
Unprepared for her heave, Cole stumbled against her, which was just fine, because somehow, she lifted her face perfectly and aligned—mostly aligned, anyway—their mouths as they smashed together.
******************************************************************************
--EXCERPT D--
A baffled frown wrinkled Cole forehead. He cleared his throat. “So, umm…will you come back to work at Harrety then?”
Huh? “No,” Deri answered hoarsely.
His eyes flashed to hers. “But you have to,” he almost whined. “If you don’t go out with me, you really need to come back to work.”
Deri sent him a startled look. “Are those my only two options?”
“Well…they’re the only two I’ll accept.”
His honestly startled and pleased her. She threw back her head and laughed.
Cole’s gaze grew hot as he watched. “You just had to go and do that, didn’t you?”
When he visibly swallowed and let out a little groan, swaying almost across the threshold toward her, she faltered. “D-do what?”
He rested the side of his face against the doorjamb as he stared with a yearning that made her mouth go dry. “I think I’ve become quite desperately obsessed with your laugh, Dericka Crandall.”
Oh, boy. She had to physically restrain herself from confessing she’d become quite desperately obsessed with pretty much everything about him.
“I…I…” She shook her head, a loss for words.
He took a step toward her, his gaze vigilant, intent. “I’m just going to throw one more thing out there we both need to consider before you make a final decision.”
She licked her lips, more tempted by the second. “What’s that?”
“This.”
Before she could figure out what he meant, he eased one more step closer, barely entering her apartment. She could only gawk, mesmerized as he lifted a single hand and curled his fingers around the back of her neck to draw her close. Then she was against him.
His mouth sealed over hers.
As I said on Wednesday, whenever I complain about not receiving a response from a query letter, I usually receive a response that very day. Well, yep, I heard back from an editor and....woo hoo...I sold my first Linda Kage short story (the rest of my published works are stories over 50,000 words long, making them not so short).
I'll reveal all the juicy details whenever I get them, but until then...I need to pick out an excerpt to use as my big promo piece.
They say it needs to be "alluring," something a reader will think "I must buy this book" after reading it, something with enough conflict and excitement to keep a reader interested but not so much as to give away the ending.
I've narrowed it down to four. Now, I'm all curious...which one do you like best, or do you think I should keep searching for something better? Any opinion would be greatly appreciated, even if you think I should delete all these scenes from my story entirely.
Thank you, thank you. Have a great weekend.
******************************************************************************
--EXCERPT A--
“How’re you doing?”
Deri gritted her teeth. “Hurts.”
His chocolate brown eyes filled with sympathy as he lightly stroked her hair. “We’ve almost got you free. Just hang in there.”
A moment later, some unknown person yanked the ladder away. The release of pressure was almost more brutal than the pinching agony, but it soon dissipated to a dull throb. Deri closed her eyes and let out a breath. Her head lulled against that thigh tucked beneath her cheek, and she focused on the warmth and muscles layered under smooth cotton slacks to keep her mind off the pain.
“I’m going to check your ankle out, okay?” Large capable fingers slipped off her shoe.
She ground her teeth and swallowed yet another whimper.
“Sorry,” he rasped. He gently cupped her heel as he examined the damage, prodding with the barest of thumb pressure. Deri held her breath but the burning was not appeased.
When she heard, “Holy Mother of God,” her eyes flew open, and she lifted her face.
“What?”
Hot Guy shifted to block her view from the damage. “Don’t look.”
That didn’t exactly placate her. “What’s wrong?”
“Well, it’s…it’s swelling and bruising already. We need to get you to a hospital. Now.”
She nodded. “Okay.” Then she blew out a breath to hype herself. “Okay,” she said again. But how was she supposed to walk out of here? Gah, even the thought of standing made her stomach pitch with nausea.
“Wrap your arms around my neck,” he answered her unspoken question. “I’ll carry you.”
The sheer, noble romance of his command caused Deri to lose her breath.
What? Run away with you and bare your twenty children?
Sure.
As long as he kept looking at her exactly as he was looking at her, she was pretty much game for any suggestion he made.
She stared deeply into his brown eyes and nodded. “Okay.”
******************************************************************************
--EXCERPT B--
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“But you fell because I distracted you,” he argued.
"Yeah, well I’m the doofus who lost her balance.” She rolled her head along the back of the leather seat to turn it his way.
He glanced at her, his mouth open as if ready to keep arguing, but when he saw her face, he cracked a smile. “Just how many painkillers did they give you?”
She shrugged a loose shoulder. “Dunno. I’ve always been a cheap drunk though. Maybe I’m a cheap druggie too.”
Unable to stop smirking, he shook his head. “Are you even going to be able to tell me how to get you home?”
“Sure.” Yet as soon as she made the adamant claim, she scowled, thinking hard about her address. When half of it came, she grinned and proudly pronounced, “Eight-twelve.”
“Okay...” He paused. “Eight-twelve, what?”
She frowned again. Hmm. Now there was a stumper.
“Eight-twelve, eight-twelve, eight-twelve…Aha! Dragon—I mean, Daggon, Doggon, Dogwood. Yeah, tha’s it. I live at eight-twelve Dogwood Lane.”
His shoulders eased. “Great. Dogwood Lane I can find. Now… do you know if that’s east or west Dogwood Lane?”
Deri pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth as she thought about it. Finally, she said, “East?”
When she made it sound more like a question than a fact, he sighed. “Is that your final answer or a guess?”
After another brain-smarting moment, she decided, “My answer.”
“All right then. We’re going to eight-twelve east Dogwood Lane.”
Deri perked to attention. “Really? Hey, tha’s where I live.”
******************************************************************************
--EXCERPT C--
“Do you need help with anything else?” he asked.
She lifted her head to look around. They’d made it to the second floor and now stood in front of her apartment entrance.
Had they come to the end of their association, already?
“No,” she mumbled, her voice full of all her forlorn thoughts. Time to let the hunk go now and never see him again. “I’ve got it from here. But thank you. Thank you sooooo much.”
Deri didn’t want him to leave. A dozen excuses came to mind. She should make him a hot cup of tea. Or maybe she could have him help her into bed and then just coax him into joining her there.
Ack, what was she thinking? A man running on his level of hotness did not tinker around with short, dumpty nut cases like Deri.
Besides, she didn’t even know him. The safe plan would be to send him on his way. Pronto.
Except, he looked so good standing there watching her as if he really did want to help her with, well, anything.
“Oh, what the hell,” she slurred and reached for him, her fingers groping clumsily for the lapels on his jacket, which blurred in her drug-hazed vision.
He immediately caught her shoulders, his eyebrows pinched with worry. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she garbled out the irritated mutter, and finally caught his slippery jacket within her two fists. “I’m jus’…I’m trying to thank you property…I mean, properly.”
He squinted. “You’re trying to…what?”
“Thank you,” she stressed with a little more force as she used the last of her strength to tug on his jacket, jerking him close.
Unprepared for her heave, Cole stumbled against her, which was just fine, because somehow, she lifted her face perfectly and aligned—mostly aligned, anyway—their mouths as they smashed together.
******************************************************************************
--EXCERPT D--
A baffled frown wrinkled Cole forehead. He cleared his throat. “So, umm…will you come back to work at Harrety then?”
Huh? “No,” Deri answered hoarsely.
His eyes flashed to hers. “But you have to,” he almost whined. “If you don’t go out with me, you really need to come back to work.”
Deri sent him a startled look. “Are those my only two options?”
“Well…they’re the only two I’ll accept.”
His honestly startled and pleased her. She threw back her head and laughed.
Cole’s gaze grew hot as he watched. “You just had to go and do that, didn’t you?”
When he visibly swallowed and let out a little groan, swaying almost across the threshold toward her, she faltered. “D-do what?”
He rested the side of his face against the doorjamb as he stared with a yearning that made her mouth go dry. “I think I’ve become quite desperately obsessed with your laugh, Dericka Crandall.”
Oh, boy. She had to physically restrain herself from confessing she’d become quite desperately obsessed with pretty much everything about him.
“I…I…” She shook her head, a loss for words.
He took a step toward her, his gaze vigilant, intent. “I’m just going to throw one more thing out there we both need to consider before you make a final decision.”
She licked her lips, more tempted by the second. “What’s that?”
“This.”
Before she could figure out what he meant, he eased one more step closer, barely entering her apartment. She could only gawk, mesmerized as he lifted a single hand and curled his fingers around the back of her neck to draw her close. Then she was against him.
His mouth sealed over hers.
She Who Rambles with No Purpose
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Last time I complained about waiting for a word back from my book submissions, I think I got two responses that week, so I'm going to complain again in the hopes history will repeat itself. Honestly, I really do love being pampered in the digital age, an era where a 77-day response wait feels like FOREVER (yeah, yeah, I keep track of the days!).
Though all this technology does sometimes have its downfalls. I told you about my adventures in electronically entering a manuscript contest last week. After about thirteen emails and one very patient contest coordinator, I finally got my entry turned in. Whew. But then, a few days later, I tried to submit one of my stories to a publisher, and I didn't get back my automatic response email. Thinking it didn't go through, I submitted it again, then again, and again. Poor lady ended up with four of my query letters. Sigh. I think I know just enough about digital technology to be dangerous.
If you can't tell, this is my ramble post, where I meander from topic to topic without purpose because basically....I got nothing. My life is pretty well off comparatively speaking. I haven't been struck with any of the huge natural disasters that seem to have hit record proportions this year. I still have my job. My family is safe and healthy. There's really nothing to complain about. It's really all quite boring in my little nook of the world...and that's okay with me.
Okay, topic change. My kid (nineteen-months-old now) is beginning to say words. She actually calls me Mama now. She uses this sweet, little high-pitch voice that sounds totally adorable. And even after she says it fifty times in a row, it still sounds almost cute.
One of my husband's bosses (one husband, multiple supervisors) gave us his kid's old swing set, so Kiddo's been swinging like crazy. She'll bring me my shoes and dance around insisting, "owie, owie." I think "owie" is her word for outside. Either that or she's hurt herself. Who knows.
Cookie is her all time favorite term these days. We adults have started to spell it out when we mention that word. Other cute phrases and words she says latey: chicken, thirsty (though it sounds more like tir-tee), right back, I got, I (I'm thinking that means Ice tea), puppy, moo (she refuses to say cow), and uh-oh.
The phase of screaming fits have started. I'll be happen when that's over (please tell me it passes) because honestly, I don't know how to deal with them. I really don't like watching my kid hyperventilate just because I punished her by putting her in her crib for time out.
Okay, new topic. I received my first review for my latest release, Kiss it Better. Here's what Stacey over at SIZZLING HOT BOOK REVIEWS had to say:
It received a 4-star rating.
And with that, I think I'm out of things to ramble. Happy Wednesday!
Though all this technology does sometimes have its downfalls. I told you about my adventures in electronically entering a manuscript contest last week. After about thirteen emails and one very patient contest coordinator, I finally got my entry turned in. Whew. But then, a few days later, I tried to submit one of my stories to a publisher, and I didn't get back my automatic response email. Thinking it didn't go through, I submitted it again, then again, and again. Poor lady ended up with four of my query letters. Sigh. I think I know just enough about digital technology to be dangerous.
If you can't tell, this is my ramble post, where I meander from topic to topic without purpose because basically....I got nothing. My life is pretty well off comparatively speaking. I haven't been struck with any of the huge natural disasters that seem to have hit record proportions this year. I still have my job. My family is safe and healthy. There's really nothing to complain about. It's really all quite boring in my little nook of the world...and that's okay with me.
Okay, topic change. My kid (nineteen-months-old now) is beginning to say words. She actually calls me Mama now. She uses this sweet, little high-pitch voice that sounds totally adorable. And even after she says it fifty times in a row, it still sounds almost cute.
One of my husband's bosses (one husband, multiple supervisors) gave us his kid's old swing set, so Kiddo's been swinging like crazy. She'll bring me my shoes and dance around insisting, "owie, owie." I think "owie" is her word for outside. Either that or she's hurt herself. Who knows.
Cookie is her all time favorite term these days. We adults have started to spell it out when we mention that word. Other cute phrases and words she says latey: chicken, thirsty (though it sounds more like tir-tee), right back, I got, I (I'm thinking that means Ice tea), puppy, moo (she refuses to say cow), and uh-oh.
The phase of screaming fits have started. I'll be happen when that's over (please tell me it passes) because honestly, I don't know how to deal with them. I really don't like watching my kid hyperventilate just because I punished her by putting her in her crib for time out.
Okay, new topic. I received my first review for my latest release, Kiss it Better. Here's what Stacey over at SIZZLING HOT BOOK REVIEWS had to say:
Sophia has dated a lot of men with heavy baggage and keeps getting burned. Reed has some very heavy baggage he hasn’t shared but he wants Sophia. Can Sophia Kiss it Betterand make things work with Reed despite his baggage?
Sophia is a professional who is attracted to Reed, a man she works with. He seems stable enough and a normal guy, so she starts dropping hints. But, when a family crisis affects Reed, Sophia becomes more interested. She is the type of person who wants to fix it and make it better. I could easily relate to Sophia and her desire to make Reed smile.
Reed is a successful business person who loves his job and his family. When family trouble strikes, he has to deal with the crisis, only he isn’t prepared to deal with his feelings or those of his sister. Reed is a likable character, very realistic. As Sophia begins to become more and more a part of his life, he knows he can’t keep his secrets for very long.
Kiss it Better
With strong characters and a sweet romance, Kiss it Better
It received a 4-star rating.
And with that, I think I'm out of things to ramble. Happy Wednesday!
Ten Years Later
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The Eleventh Of September
Written by Roger J. Robicheau ©2002
The Poetic Plumber
www.thepoeticplumber.com
We mourn their loss this day this year
Those now with God, no danger near
So many loved ones left do stand
Confronting loss throughout our land
My heart goes out to those who do
No one can fathom what they view
I firmly pray for peace of mind
Dear God please help each one to find
And to our soldiers now at war
God guide above, at sea, on shore
They are the best, I have no doubt
Our country’s pride, complete, devout
The finest force you’ll ever see
All freedom grown through liberty
One final thought comes clear to me
For what must live in infamy
Absolutely - We’ll Remember
The Eleventh - Of September
Friday Forwards - #32
Friday, September 9, 2011
ZEN AND THE WISDOM OF LIFE
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Sex is like air -- it's not important unless you aren't getting any.
5. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
6. No one is listening until you fart.
7. Always remember you are unique -- just like everyone else.
8. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
9. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
10. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away, and you have their shoes.
11. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
12. Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
13. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
14. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
15. Some days you are the bug; some days you are the windshield.
16. Don't worry--It only seems kinky the first time.
17. Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
18. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
19. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
20. Duct tape is like the Force--It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
21. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
22. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
23. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
24. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
25. We are born naked, wet, and hungry, and get slapped on our ass...then things get worse.
26. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
27. There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness".
28. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
29. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday...around age 11.
30. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Sex is like air -- it's not important unless you aren't getting any.
5. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
6. No one is listening until you fart.
7. Always remember you are unique -- just like everyone else.
8. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
9. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
10. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away, and you have their shoes.
11. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
12. Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
13. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
14. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
15. Some days you are the bug; some days you are the windshield.
16. Don't worry--It only seems kinky the first time.
17. Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
18. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
19. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
20. Duct tape is like the Force--It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
21. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
22. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
23. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
24. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
25. We are born naked, wet, and hungry, and get slapped on our ass...then things get worse.
26. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
27. There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness".
28. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
29. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday...around age 11.
30. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
What's a girl to do?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
I've been entering contests like crazy these past couple of months. Well, more often than usual, and by usual, I mean not at all. So two or three is a big number number for me.
I kind of like doing everything electronically: fill out the electronic entry form, pay through electronic PayPal, upload my story partial straight to their website, and that's all there is to it...until I encountered a problem.
I was entering this one contest recently (like yesterday), and the rules were a bit scattered. I'm one of those people that likes steps to her rules. Step one: fill out this form. Step two: follow the link to pay for entry...and so forth.
After reading all the rules and FAQs, I decided to give it a go and entered the contest. Well, first of all, the entry form link didn't work, so I rooted around the website until I found another link for it. Once I made it there, I filled out the entry form without a problem. Directly upon submitting my information, it sent me straight to PayPal to pay...yay! All good there, too.
Then, I got a little lost.
I went back to the rules to see what to do next. When I found a line that said to send all attachments to such and such an email, I figured, okay, that's where I send my story. So I emailed the contest coordinator, letting him/her know I'd filled out the electronic entry form, already paid via paypal, and that my story was attached in an RTF file, which is what the rules said to save our stories under.
Sent that off and then opened an email I got from the contest. And in that confirmation letter, it said something about going to this other link to upload your story entry directly to their site.
Yikes.
Thinking I'd messed up and shouldn't have sent anything at all to the coordinator, I sent her a "sorry" note, explaining how I'd just received my instructions to upload my entry and to please ignore my earlier email.
But after I went to the upload screen, the freaking thing wouldn't let me upload my RTF file. Ugh. So, back to the coordinator I wrote another letter. "Yes, sorry, it's me again, but I have a slight problem."
You know, I really hate being that picky person that writes email after email to someone. They probably think I'm a nut by now. I haven't heard a response from any of my three wacky emails yet, though technically, it wasn't all that long ago, so there's still plenty of time for someone to respond.
What's worse, after about five or six times of trying to upload that stupid story on two different computers, I thought, "I'm trying this in a DOC file instead of an RTF file, and see what happens." AND IT ACCEPTED THE DOC FILE!!!
Can you believe the nerve of that computer? A DOC file.
So, now....do I write the poor, harnessed coordinator AGAIN and tell him/her that the computer accepted my story in DOC, though the rules clearly said RTF? Plus, there really is a line that says to send all attachments to coordinator, but what attachment am I supposed to send? All prompts have already led me to upload all my entry and entry information straight to their site.
Maybe I was supposed to send a second copy of the story to the coordinator, after all.
I'm so confused.
Sigh. I have to bug him/her again to find out my answers, don't I? I hate that.
I kind of like doing everything electronically: fill out the electronic entry form, pay through electronic PayPal, upload my story partial straight to their website, and that's all there is to it...until I encountered a problem.
I was entering this one contest recently (like yesterday), and the rules were a bit scattered. I'm one of those people that likes steps to her rules. Step one: fill out this form. Step two: follow the link to pay for entry...and so forth.
After reading all the rules and FAQs, I decided to give it a go and entered the contest. Well, first of all, the entry form link didn't work, so I rooted around the website until I found another link for it. Once I made it there, I filled out the entry form without a problem. Directly upon submitting my information, it sent me straight to PayPal to pay...yay! All good there, too.
Then, I got a little lost.
I went back to the rules to see what to do next. When I found a line that said to send all attachments to such and such an email, I figured, okay, that's where I send my story. So I emailed the contest coordinator, letting him/her know I'd filled out the electronic entry form, already paid via paypal, and that my story was attached in an RTF file, which is what the rules said to save our stories under.
Sent that off and then opened an email I got from the contest. And in that confirmation letter, it said something about going to this other link to upload your story entry directly to their site.
Yikes.
Thinking I'd messed up and shouldn't have sent anything at all to the coordinator, I sent her a "sorry" note, explaining how I'd just received my instructions to upload my entry and to please ignore my earlier email.
But after I went to the upload screen, the freaking thing wouldn't let me upload my RTF file. Ugh. So, back to the coordinator I wrote another letter. "Yes, sorry, it's me again, but I have a slight problem."
You know, I really hate being that picky person that writes email after email to someone. They probably think I'm a nut by now. I haven't heard a response from any of my three wacky emails yet, though technically, it wasn't all that long ago, so there's still plenty of time for someone to respond.
What's worse, after about five or six times of trying to upload that stupid story on two different computers, I thought, "I'm trying this in a DOC file instead of an RTF file, and see what happens." AND IT ACCEPTED THE DOC FILE!!!
Can you believe the nerve of that computer? A DOC file.
So, now....do I write the poor, harnessed coordinator AGAIN and tell him/her that the computer accepted my story in DOC, though the rules clearly said RTF? Plus, there really is a line that says to send all attachments to coordinator, but what attachment am I supposed to send? All prompts have already led me to upload all my entry and entry information straight to their site.
Maybe I was supposed to send a second copy of the story to the coordinator, after all.
I'm so confused.
Sigh. I have to bug him/her again to find out my answers, don't I? I hate that.
Fourth Anniversary Book Contest
Friday, September 2, 2011
Starting MONDAY (September 5th), TheWritersvineyard.com will be throwing a huge, HUGE contest, lasting every Monday until November 28th (that's thirteen weeks of prizes!!!).
To celebrate their fourth anniversary, at least one Champagne Books author will give away a prize (prizes consist of books--print, e-wise, or on CD--plus other goodie bags).
Here's how to play:
Each Monday an author will announce their mystery question to win a paperback. You simply go to their website (which will be provided in the blog) and search for the answer hidden in their excerpts. Then you submit your answer to that author's email (also provided in the blog). The winner will be randomly drawn from correct answers by the next Monday.
In concordance with print book contest, a contest for ebooks will occur every other Monday, and play the same way as the print contest.
I guess there are a few rules though. I know, ugh. They are...
- For paperbacks, CD, and goodie bag prizes, which are shipped via snail mail, only USA and Canada residents can play.
- Winners of E copies can be from anywhere.
- To be fair to all, you can only win a prize one time.
So, on THIS MONDAY, go forth, my lovely blogger buddies, and check The Writers Vineyard every week for a chance to win something new!!
My book-HOT COMMODITY-will start its contest to win a print copy on October 3rd (I think...I'll let you know when the times comes for certain though!).
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
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