More Yippee

Noble Romance has contracted Hot, Hexed and Bothered with a release date of March 28. It's a little novella by Lori with the usual Hell, Hell-hounds, hunky Destroyers, witches, incubus' and um... mayhem. Lots and lots of mayhem.

Double O Kitteh

My name is Double O Kitteh. It's my job to inspire, amuse and claw.

Be careful. I might be looking your way.

There's Your Sign

If there was ever any question that I was indeed a very old Fart, it's now been answered. I am, without a doubt, an Old Fart.

Nalini Singh's newest Angel book just released. I'd forgotten I'd pre-ordered it (sign #1) and got a pleasant surprise when it showed up on my Kindle PC early one morning. Oh joy!

Then I decided to reread the first two books in the series, because it had been awhile and events were rather hazy in my mind. (sign #2) I know, I know, I should have started the reread much sooner, but that just builds the anticipation for Archangel's Consort all the more.

So I went to my keeper shelf - that's the shelf with all the books I collected before I discovered ebooks ... actually every paper book I buy, I keep whether it deserves it or not ... and found Angel's Blood and Archangel's Kiss and started reading Blood. Let me rephrase that - tried to read.

Has the printing always been this small? I wear prescription glasses and still I was squinting and the lines were dancing around. (sign #3) I thought seriously of going out and buying a magnifying glass, but I got a better idea.

Yes, I did it, I really did it. I bought the books again in e-format, because with e-format I can enlarge the font for my reading pleasure. Actually, these days, for reading at all!

I should be ashamed of myself, buying the same books twice, wasting money. Am I ashamed? Hell no!! I shall donate the paper books to the library and call myself a philanthropist. *grin*

Now, I gotta go, got some books to read. :-)

Need Suggestions

Two Old Farts, as most of you know, are two women friends who write together and separately and are doing this blog (and a lot of other stuff) together because it's always more fun to experience things with your best friend.

Joyfully, we are experiencing not only this blog but also book publication. Carolyn has contracted for three books as have I. We expect there might be more in our future. And as much as we love this blog, we need to have something that can highlight the releases better.

So we need to upgrade our blog. And we have no freaking idea how to do it.

So please give suggestions. Who, where, what and how much dinero. We're not looking for bells and whistles but we need something more.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Are Rejections Ever Personal?

The writing needs more polish, for example, there isn't enough depth, plot or character-wise. Also, the transitions between scenes aren’t smooth and their execution take the reader out of the story. Unfortunately, this would not be what our romance audience is looking for.

This was a rejection I received. It was my second rejection from this publisher and if I was a beginning writer, I'd probably throw my computer off the nearest high rise and be done with writing forever.

But this publisher was the one who had offered on my first novel (that of the 666) and I decided to go with my current publisher.

I was a newer writer an had sent 666 out to multiple publishers. I received three offers on it. The above publisher took it badly that I submitted to multiples and chose another. I received a pissed off email calling me unprofessional and well, it wasn't sunshine and roses.

My next novel I sent to them and they turned it down without much comment. I decided three is the charm (or so someone said) and sent my newed WIP. And received the above rejection.

I decided to read this, this evening, and was delighted from page one.
Wonderful story. Love it.

Got this response last night in an email. Same story. I was rejected from the first on Friday. Sent it back out to another on Saturday and was offered a contract on Sunday. Interestingly, the publisher that is choosing to publish is the other publisher who offered on 666 and that I also did not go with.

So was the first rejection based on story or based more on history? Is there a blackballed author list for this epub that my name is on? Am I wrong to even ask these questions?

Morning Musings

It's appalling how many book reviews out there entice me to buy books. I'm so damn easy! And so damn poor. :-(

I have 445 books on my Kindle - make that 446; there was a review on DA this morning for a Sarah Morgan book that sounded so good, so me, that I just had to get it. So now I've got 446 books on my Kindle.

Of course, a lot of them are free downloads that most likely will never get read. But I continue to download, because it's about the only time I hit a sale. Usually I never knew about the sale in the first place and find out when I go to the store for something needed. Ah regret, thy name is Missed Sale.

Thank you for the book, Lori. You have 68 cents left on the gift certificate, lol.

Dragon:Fly

A small piece of the Work in Progress.

Since the fight with Rudy he seemed more subdued. His cheek was still bruised from the tear his father had given it. He’ll carry a scar and hopefully it will be enough to remind him to be careful. If he has the sense to realize that scars are there to teach us. Lord knows, we carry enough of our own scars, don’t we?

“You’re a fucking idiot,” I told him.

“And you’re a fucking shrew,” he answered.

I meant to slap him. Without thought my hand moved but before it connected, he had it caught in his fist and he was dragging me across the seat, the parking brake digging into my leg and we were kissing.

I wanted to kill him and I wanted to fuck him. The minute his mouth was on mine everything went to war. I fisted his hair, that long black mane of his was in my hand while my other hand was digging nails into his shoulder.

Corrie, if it had been possible to fuck him in that car I would have. I would have rode him then left him, probably cursing him every minute he was inside me.

Instead I bit him and sucked his blood into my mouth. He pushed me off him and I saw the look of fear and desire that wiped his expression. His lips had a small drop of blood forming and his eyes were wary.

“You’re crazy,” was the love talk he gave me.

“That was nothing whelp,” I answered. “When the Dragon Master comes, you’ll be lucky to have anything left.”

He shoved me away and disappeared from the confines of the car to the cage of rain outside.

It was the best I felt in ages.

You Want to Write? Then Stop Writing.

I don't know if you're like me ... no, I don't mean if you're short, round and addicted to chocolate. Although you might be. And if you are don't start looking at me thinking I'm going to share any of my stash with you. Go get your own damned chocolate, woman.

What I'm talking about is that you write and like me you're on Twitter and Facebook and all those other social media places hanging out with writers. Published writers. New York published authors who are funny and brilliant and writing. A lot.

These author types sure do write. They post their progress with steadfastness. Our twitter feeds and facebook pages are testimonials to their famous flying fingers. Goodness, they can write 5,000 words and then say they haven't yet made their word goal.

For awhile there I tried to do the same. I tried to push my word counts. I gave myself goals and hid the chocolate from myself when I didn't reach them. Then I chastised myself bitterly when I found the chocolate I'd hidden and ate it.

Oh I was a sad, sad woman.

But awhile ago I was sitting and feeling bad because I wasn't writing and I was reading instead and I had an epiphany. (Later I had a bowel movement but that's another story.)

My epiphany went something like this: Writers need to live in the world in order to write. I can have a character sitting by a window looking at trees outside but to write well, to write as part of the world, my character might see the tree I'm looking at now that has one side of lush branches and the opposite side with sparcer growth, more weathered and affected by the elements its faced.

Live in the world and notice it. People watch. Listen in on conversations. Don't worry about how many words you've written: connect. If writing matters to you then you'll write. But if you've been involved in life, you'll have a lot more to write about.

Don't worry about your word counts. If you want to be a writer then make sure you take some time and stop writing.

The Hathaway Series by Lisa Kleypas

Oh hell yeah.

There are many things I like, many things I do not and I'd say that series romances with endless references to previous stories and especially in historical where polite society ruled ... not my cup of chamomile.

I loved these books. I really did.

The Hathaway family is one that has dealt with a great deal of tragedy: the death of their parents, the death of the betrothed of brother Leo's, the sickness of sister Win and worse of all: the inheritance of a title by Leo.

The stories are um... Married by Morning, Seduce Me at Sunrise, Assholes in the Afternoon, Creme Brulee on My Thighs and ... uh... Slim Pickins at Sunset. Or something like that.

I liked how the books developed. The first two (sisters Amelia and Win) were choices that flew in the face of society, had nice heat and made me laugh at many places. Poppy's book (number 3) was my least favorite although it had a nice development of character. Leo's book (Dueling Daggers at the Dogwood Corral... or something like that) was my personal favorite. Leo was sarcastic, hot, witty, hot, funny and um... hot.

The last book is Beatrix who is the most liberal of all the children and also the dearest. I haven't finished reading it but I'm enjoying it greatly.

What I don't like: too much sex ultimately. The sex in the second book (Win's) was my favorite. The sex was hot and didn't annoy me.

I don't care about the constant refrain in each book having to do a quick synopsis of who everyone is and how the family has fared.

What I loved: Character development. The same people in book after book and we can watch them all as they ebb and flow into each other's lives. I loved Leo's progression and his ultimate snark and humor. That man could have me!

I really love Ms. Kleypas' writing. She's like a master class in writing where plot, character, pace and skill all merge and meld and make a delicious dessert of sweet and savoury.

I plan to read The Wallflower series next. Are there any other series that blend the same amount of growth, humor and plot?

By the way

Carolyn just signed her third contract on the sale of The Trials and Tribulations of a West Coast Southern Belle.

Her first novel, The Seduction of Lady Bea, will be released in July.

We have a lot of celebrating to do.

Oops ...

Hey Lori - Michael is cheating on you. ;-)

http://carinapress.com/blog/2011/01/what-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg/

Realism

There's been a lot of talk about heroines in blogland lately, and how true-to-life they should be. I didn't dive into any of the discussions, but I do have an opinion.

I don't want to read about me.

I read romance for the fantasy of it. I mean, really, how many romance heroes have you come across in real life? I love my husband dearly despite the fact he'd never do half the shit those heroes get up to. Just as well, I'd have taken action long ago.

I've been overweight and introverted most of my life. I don't want to read about a heroine like me. I don't mind if she's got a great body or is known as a great beauty. I only care that she has character and that I like that character. I don't want to be blugeoned by Real Life. I have my own Real Life and I read to escape it, if only for a little while.

That's why I switched to Romance several years ago; it comes guaranteed with a happy ending. With all the shit happening in the world, I need that, I need it badly sometimes.

So, please. Don't write about me. Write about dreams and could have beens. Write attractive people I can root for and care about. Write happily ever afters. It is, after all, why I read.

Out of the Ballpark

Karina Bliss has hit another home run. Try Here Comes the Groom and see if you don't agree.

Lori - you said you were taking a contemporary break after the Hathaways. This is the book. After all the discussions of what people want in a heroine, this heroine will blow you away. Her name is Jo and she reminds me a bit of the Little Women Jo - stubborn, take charge, but ultimately vulnerable.

This isn't a review, 'cause I don't do reviews. Nuh uh. This is a recommendation. Karina Bliss rocks (loved her What the Librarian Did) and I want to write like her when I grow up.

Just sayin' ...

Coffee. Romance. Spaniards in Kilts.

Every month my publisher sends an email that they're having a romance chat at http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/ It's a monthly chat for Lyrical and at 6pm eastern time for a northwestern woman and I've never gone. Last night I did and had a whooping good time.

(Lyrical chat is the first Wed. of the month, 9pm eastern. General romance chats are Tuesday nights, same time.)

There weren't many of us and it was a soft sell session. But we laughed. We talked about what genres we liked. We came up with our hot new alpha type: Spaniards wearing kilts.

The ladies were gracious and quick to share a laugh. It was an easy way for a new author to talk about her book without feeling obnoxious.

It's worth checking out. In fact, I plan to be there Tuesday night to have some more laughs. Why don't you join us?

The L key on my keyboard died so apologies to the earlier, unedited post.

Fame, Fortune and Other Fantasies

We all want to be the next big thing. I think it's coded into us on a genetic level: grow up, get laid, be next big thing, die. Writers are no different than anyone else, we are just as ambitious whether the hope is to make money, get good reviews or just be read.

I waited and waited for my first book to come out, fantasies screaming into overdrive about glittery reviews and big royalty statements and well ... you've all seen the same movies I have and know the drill.

666 Angel Lane sold 7 copies.

I recognize this isn't counting Amazon sales which I won't know the numbers for until next month. Still, there's no way to describe that horrible moment when my ego realized that my fantasies regarding publishing were just as fantastic as my fantasies about Keanu and about as likely to come true.

Not a happy moment at all.

Then my brother called. He got a Kindle for Christmas and he's reading a Tom Clancy on it during the day but every evening while his wife cooks dinner, he sits and reads my story to her. And he called me today to tell me that he didn't know before just how good a writer I am. Now he does and he's proud of me.

I was thrilled. I also told him next time he can buy his own damned copy and give me another sale, the cheap bastard.

I'm looking with great interest to find out what the Amazon sales are going to be. This publishing thing is an interesting journey.

Books That Knocked My Socks Off in 2010

Everybody's compiling their best of 2010 reads. I had mine almost done, when I dropped into Smart Bitches and found Sarah had anticipated me. I swear to God, her list is almost exactly the same as mine. So you can just go over there and read it. ;-)

Oh very well, since you twisted my arm, I'll list them here too, lol.

The book that had the most impact on me was Meljean Brook's The Iron Duke. I can't say TID was my first steampunk - that was Souless by Gail Carriger - but it was the first time I really understood steampunk. I don't think I'd like it without romance, but that's just me. For sure TID had lots of romance and despite the discussions of this, that and the other on the web, I consider it just about perfect.

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews. Oh, *le sigh*. Kate and Curran finally come together (boy do they ever!). Who cares about the rest of the plot? I was happy reading about the love between these two. Every girl needs her own personal psycho, lol.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs. Mercy Thompson, Adam, Samuel - need I say more?

Near the end of the year, I discovered Lisa Kleypas. Don't even remember what made me check her out, but lord, am I glad I did. It's hard to pick a favorite. So far I've acquired her Wallflower series and the Hathaway series (my Christmas present to myself). I guess I have to go with The Devil in Winter (because I ♥ Sebastian) with Married by Morning a close second (because I ♥ Leo too). And I really ♥ that they fell for heroines that aren't perfect. Evie has as stutter when she's upset and Catherine is practically blind without her glasses. When Leo took her to an optomistrist and bought her a lovely pair of glasses, my heart just melted.

Okay, what else?

What the Librarian Did by Karina Bliss. Can't remember if I acquired this in 2009 or 2010. Doesn't matter, cause I just reread it not all that long ago. And I woke up this morning and her newest, Here Comes the Groom, downloaded into my Kindle PC. Oh happy days! *grin*

I also discovered Deanna Raybourn this year via her Lady Julia Gray bundle. You remember her first book, Silent in the Grave and that mindboggling opening paragraph! God, I wish I'd written that!

I also ventured into Ilona Andrew's new Edge series with On the Edge and Bayou Moon. I liked them well enough and Bayou Moon most of all, but much prefer the Magic series.

Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon. Loved this book and the next three or four, but my interest lessened after that.

I also rounded out my Elizabeth Vaughan collection with Destiny's Star. It was great to read Bethral's story and to revisit the plains. I really like the world building she's done in these books.

Looking over my list, I have to say 2010 appears to have been a very good reading year for me.

Oh, I just love it when a plan comes together!!

Happy New Year, y'all.