Moonlight...Or Madness?

Did you see the show last night--Moonlight?

I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It's a vampire show, which is good. It's lead actor (Alex O'Loughlin) is cute, which is good. (I'll confess, I can watch just about anything if the lead actor is good looking. Pretty shallow, I know. LOL) But...

The main character--Mick St. John--drives a black convertible. Can you say Angel? And didn't Nick Knight drive a black car, too? And just what is it with vamps driving convertibles? While Mick (in an opening segment right out of "Interview With the Vampire") confesses that vampires won't burst into flames if they go out into the sun, he does admit that it's not comfortable for him. Well, okay. Another confession, which may tell you something about my character: If something makes me uncomfortable, especially in the "uncomfortable pain" sense, then I don't do it.

Vampire driving a convertible... Not a good idea, I'm thinking.

Nothing about the show made me go "Wow! This is such a great show!" But I think I'll reserve judgment and watch it next week. And not just because Alex is cute...

Man-Meat Friday

For all the girls...



Growwwwwwwwf!

Crime Doesn't Pay...Or Does It?

Take a look at this news clip from Scotland:

Apparently, customers pay for the chips every day because they think it's just so damn funny!

And they're right. :)

Harlequin Ebooks

According to Publishers Weekly, Harlequin has announced that effective immediately it will begin releasing all of its frontlist catalog in electronic format as well as print. That's more than 120 titles per month.

They've recognized that there are two major advantages to ebooks: The immediacy of the download and the fact that the books don't go "out of print".

With a large company like Harlequin now fully embracing epub, I wonder if there will be a change in the way some folks view epubbed authors?

What do you think?

Deliously Naughty Writers

Come on over to the Deliciously Naughty Writers' blog and chat with me about the writing life. Or at least pop over and say hi! :)

See you at DNW!

The Bourne Ultimatum...Or Not

Whether you've seen The Bourne Ultimatum or not, you're going to find this funny:

For All My Sisters Out There

Have a great weekend!

Authors Gone Wild

When did it become acceptable for authors to air their grievances against publishers or agents or other writers on the Internet? And not only air their grievances, but name names?

Oy, people. First of all, lighten up. Rejection is not the end of the world. And if you're willing to learn, you can make your writing better through rejection. Once you get over the hurt feelings and righteous indignation, take an objective look at your manuscript. Perhaps that editor or agent had legitimate comments about what doesn't work with the story. Perhaps--gasp!--you can make the story even better by paying attention to what they're saying and making some changes.

Second, it's all a matter of opinion. What just doesn't work for one editor or agent might send another one over the moon with joy. You just have to find the right fit.

Third, ultimately it's up to you. If, once you've calmed down and looked at the manuscript with objective eyes, you decide you don't agree with the editor/agent's opinion, then fine. Don't make changes. But realize that if you have a second or third person give you the same feedback... your baby might not be as good as you think it is.

But, in my opinion, it's never a good idea to throw a tantrum--no matter how well worded--in a public venue like a blog or group/email loop. Sit down and have a good, private cry, vent to a few close friends, but it's really not a good idea to publicly diss an editor or agent--especially by name--and especially just because your book just didn't work for them.

Believe me, people remember. Publishers remember. Some even keep notes so they know they don't want to work with particular authors in the future if they're approached with a manuscript.

So keep your hurt feelings off the web, folks. It might feel good to vent in the short term, by in the long run, it will only do more damage. To you.

Discovering Story Magic Workshop

This is a workshop being sponsored by my local RWA chapter--and I've been hearing it's EXCELLENT! So if you're a writer and live in Arizona or a nearby state, you really should think seriously about attending this workshop.

Discovering Story Magic

A Three-Step Method for Writing a Book They Can't Refuse

When you are writing:

* Do your characters become three-dimensional and alive?
* Do conflicts escalate within the confines of a tight, interwoven plot?
* Do internal and external conflicts intertwine and become indistinguishable?
* Do you know the bedrock truth underlying your story?


Would you like to learn how to create this kind of MAGIC every time you sit down to write?

If so, join Saguaro Romance Writers at the DISCOVERING STORY MAGIC workshop on Saturday, November 3, in the sunny "Old Pueblo " of Tucson, Arizona!

The Discovering Story Magic (DSM) method will help you create a story organically, from the characters up. DSM works for all genres of popular fiction: romance, horror, fantasy, mystery, suspense... you name it.

This interactive, hands-on workshop will give you tools and skills using a three-step process to make your writing more powerful from the start. You will learn:

* How to build a firm foundation under your characters using the Character Grid.
* How to give your story a backbone by defining its Turning Points, and * How to use the Storyboard to organize scenes so that you track your pacing and place events to make your book as strong as it can possibly be.

We will practice these skills in the morning and then use them in the afternoon when as a group we will brainstorm a book.

You will leave with handouts that you can use again and again.

Multi-published authors, newbies, "plotters" and "pantsters" have all used Discovering Story Magic's flexible tools to produce salable fiction by weaving together character, conflict, plot, realization and turning points from the beginning of the writing process through revision and even the synopsis. All this before even putting a word on page one. Multi-published writers have even changed the way they write after attending this workshop!

Here are just two reviews:

From Roxanne St. Claire, national bestselling author and 2005 RITA finalist:
"I have no doubt that the story and character development techniques I learned through Discovering Story Magic took my writing from passable to publishable. For the first time, I was able to see a clear process of storytelling that gave me a path without forcing the direction of my story and provided a structure without putting me in a box. The day after I took the seminar, I used everything I'd learned to crystallize characters and map out a plot using a story premise that had previously been nothing but a cobweb of ideas. Within a few days, I was able to start writing and within a few months, I'd finished the book that became my first sale, to Pocket Books. One reviewer called that book "breathtaking...a novel from the soul." No ... it was a novel from Discovering Story Magic! Since then, I've sold 14 books to two publishers, within three subgenres under two slightly different names. I've completed ten manuscripts and every single one starts with Story Magic."

From Jasmine Cresswell, USA Today Bestselling author of more than 60 novels:
"As a writer, I feel obligated to provide my readers with a minimum of two things: believable, interesting characters and a coherent plot. STORY MAGIC, used correctly, is a no-fail system for achieving that -- and more. I recommend the system to any writer, new or established, attempting to make a sale in today's high competitive publishing environment."


For more than a decade, Robin Perini and Laura Baker have taught thousands of writers online and at standing-room-only events, conferences and universities across the country. They recently taught at the Romance Writers of America national convention in Dallas. And now they're coming to Tucson!

SEATING AT THIS WORKSHOP IS LIMITED to allow maximum interaction with the instructors. Register NOW!

When: November 3, 2007 , 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-- Sign-in and coffee at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 1900 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, Arizona

Fees: Registration fee covers all workshop materials and lunch - $75 RWA-Tucson members; $85 members of other RWA chapters; $95 all others

Register: Online at www.tucsonrwa.org to use PayPal or a credit card.

FMI email Linda Reed at lindareed@netscape.com or Marilyn Johnson at mm-wordplay@comcast.net.

Deliciously Naughty Writers

Come on over to the Deliciously Naughty Writers' blog and chat with me about my day job. Or at least pop over and say hi! :)

See you at DNW!

Deliciously Naughty Delurk

From 6 to 9 p.m. EST tonight, the authors of Deliciously Naughty Writers will be hosting our monthly delurk. We'll be sharing excerpts and holding contests for readers to win some fun prizes. If you're not a member, come on over and join. If you are a member, hope to see you there!

5th Annual Amber Heat Wave Contest

All you erotic romance authors who have been eying Amber Heat as a potential publisher, start working on your entry. The 2008 contest will be open in January and if you start your story now, you should have plenty of time to get it spit shined so it's ready to go when the window opens.

Entries are accepted from January 1st through January 15th (the first two weeks) ONLY. Click here for more details.

I'm Going Part-Time

And I can't wait! Beginning next week, I'm cutting my day job hours to 30--there's just not enough work there to keep me busy 40 hours a week, and I can afford the cut in salary at this point, so I'm going for it. It should give me at least another 2 hours of writing time a day, give me an earlier start, which is huge for me. I've discovered that if I'm not writing by 6:30-6:45 p.m., it ain't gonna happen. Because I'm too tired, usually.

Of course, the downside is that I'll have to pay for my entire benefit premium through COBRA, so I'll only have 18 months to do this. Unless something happens at work where they need me to come back full-time. But until one of the above happens, I'll be off work by 3 p.m., home by 3:30, and hopefully on the keyboard by 4:00.

Yippee!!

First Review for THE PRAETORIANS: INFILTRATION

4.25 out of 5

"Infiltration will take you on a wild ride of suspense and erotic thrills with this story of the renegade Praetorians and their ongoing quest to bring down the nefarious organization called The Foundation... Quinn and Kendra's story will hold you spellbound as you become a part of their journey of love as danger and intriguing events unfold. The edgy plot will leave you breathless as the intense scenes accumulate into a ferocious storm of desires and deceit. With wonderfully well written characters and a page turning plot, Sherrill Quinn has penned a fantastic story of the Praetorians... It a great read for those who like their romances red hot and suspense that will hold you enthralled to the end." (Susan, Night Owl Romance)

You can read the full review here.

To read an excerpt or buy, go here.

Deliciously Naughty Monday

Come on over to the Deliciously Naughty Writers' blog and chat with me about one of my favorite books from childhood. Or at least say hi while you're there! :)

See you at DNW!

A New Use For Prophylatics

Two weeks ago today I fell at work--had beautiful new shoes on and came down on the edge of the heel. Went pitching forward, down on one knee, XL Sprite clutched in one hand... Happy to say I didn't spill my drink! LOL I did, however, somehow overextend the middle finger of my right hand. I now have what's known as "mallet finger"--I snapped the tendon that runs along the top of that last knuckle (the one closest to my fingertip) and so the fingertip droops down. The treatment is to have it continuously splinted for six weeks. "Continuously", meaning I can't take it off at all.

Needless to say, it makes bathing and washing my hair somewhat of a challenge. I tried putting a baggie over my hand with a rubber band around my wrist to seal it and hold it on. While it kept my finger dry, I couldn't hold onto a washcloth (it just slid all over my palm), and it really wasn't conducive to washing my hair either. So then I tried wrapping kitchen plastic wrap around my finger and securing it with a rubber band at the bottom. Worked well when all I did was wash my hair, but when I got in the bathtub and had my hand down in the water...well, the foam on the inside of the splint and the wrap holding it onto my finger got soaked.

Now what? I really enjoy taking baths--have never really been a shower person. Then I see...a condom. Pretty purple one I got from Ellora's Cave (in a matchbook cover that says "Got Sex?"). Hmmm. Because the condom is lubed, I once again wrapped my finger in plastic wrap, then rolled the condom down and secured it at the bottom of my finger with a rubber band. It works great when I wash my hair. I've been taking showers and it's worked fine there as well. We'll see if it works tonight when I take a bath.

Necessity is the mother of invention, you know. Or is it desperation...?

A Break From Writing

Just for a moment, let me put my Human Resources hat and give some free advice on job interviews.

I'm sure you've heard the standard dos and don'ts of interviewing, but I thought I'd share a few with you from my recent experience in recruiting for positions at my company.

1. If you're asked to talk about a challenging customer you helped in the past, do *not* share a story where a female customer offered to give you a b***job. And do *not* then go on to talk about another customer who wore a low-cut top and fainted, falling over so that her boobs popped out of her top. Especially if you're a male applicant meeting with a female interviewer. It's inappropriate on so many levels--and will, I guarantee, knock you out of the running faster than you can try to whip a $20 bill out of your wallet.

2. Don't lean your elbows on the interviewer's desk. Most especially do *not* rest your bosom on the interviewer's desk.

3. This one's a no-brainer, but I'm amazed at how often it happens: When you've scheduled an interview and can't make it or decide you don't want to make it or just can't get your lazy ass out of bed, call the interviewer and let her know. If you're a no-call/no-show for an interview, I have a long memory. You'll never work for my company as long as I'm there.

Now, I know there are horror stories from the *other* side of the desk. Come on -- share some of your interviewing experiences with me!

Tasty Thursday

Gotta love them cowboys!

Happy Thursday!

Maya Reynold's Bad Girl

Today is the release day of my friend Maya Reynolds' Bad Girl.

Being bad can be so good. All it takes is the right man. By day, Sandy Davis is a dedicated social worker. By night, she's found an unlikely pastime: spying on her neighbors' erotic encounters. She tells herself that it's harmless, until one night she finds herself on the receiving end of such a fantasy-and an anonymous phone call from a peeping stranger who calls himself Justice, and whispers, "You've been a bad girl." The arousing predicament turns into a sensual dance between the adventurous pair. But when a third player enters their sexy game, the fun turns to something darker and more dangerous.


This is such a great book--a winner right out of the gate!

You can buy the book here.

Deliciously Naughty Monday

Come on over to the Deliciously Naughty Writers' blog and chat with me about pet projects we just can't seem to finish--or let go of. And say hi while you're there! :)

See you at DNW, and Happy Labor Day!