Inspiration - JB Lynn...

I am so pleased to welcome JB Lynn to the blog today. As you know from my Friday post, Whatcha Reading, I read and loved JB's Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman. Quirky characters, laugh out loud moments and a plot that keeps you turning the pages - my kind of book! So it's no surprise that I asked JB to join us for an interview on Inspiration Wednesday.

Have you been writing long, JB? Was writing a part of your life as a teenager or did you come to it later in life?

I’ve been writing forever. Okay, maybe not "forever" but pretty darn close. When I was in second and third grade and the teacher gave an assignment to draw something, I’d ask for permission to write something instead. Hence my drawing skills are sadly lacking. 

Well, thank goodness you didn't pursue the drawing! Can you give us your 'call' story? I find call stories so inspirational.

Like all aspiring novelists, I couldn’t wait to get "THE CALL". It took me a couple years and over 100 queries. I revised for an editor three times, but he ultimately passed. I revised for a couple of agents. I finally landed an agent….but got no call, instead I got an email that said, "You've done a terrific job of revising this. I'd very much like to take it on." It was rather anticlimatic, lol.
Then the agent couldn’t sell the book and she didn’t have any interest in repping CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN, so we parted ways.

So I set about querying again. I got an invitation to Revise and Resubmit from Carina Press. I revised the book yet again and finally got THE CALL from the Editor in Chief (at least I think that’s her title). Since she tweets when she is making her acquisition calls, it wasn’t too much of a surprise…more like overwhelming relief at that point.

I’ve since landed another agent, the lovely Victoria Marini. Again the offer came via email, but she was all sorts of gushily excited which made me feel better. When I sold CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN to Avon, Victoria informed me via email, so no CALL there.

Ah, the joys of modern life - technology making 'The Call' a totally different animal! But still The Call!!

My characters seem to come at me for no rhyme or reason - there they are, fully formed and with a black moment I need to write to and 'solve'. Did Maggie, Patrick, Paul, God and the other fabulous characters of Confessions of a Neurotic Hitwoman find you - or did you go looking for them?

I had to go looking for them. I first wondered why there are never any stories on the news about hitwomen and then I got to thinking about why someone would become a paid assassin. I developed Maggie from there. She actually has a pretty good reason for agreeing to kill someone. Everyone else was developed to sort of highlight different aspects of Maggie’s personality.

And of your cast of characters, which would you want to go out to dinner with and why?

Hmmmm if I wasn’t happily married I’d say Patrick, but since I am, I’ll go with Armani, Maggie’s best work friend. She semi-psychic, ballsy, loyal, and she makes me laugh. BUT I would not share any food with her (have you seen her disgusting food combos??) and there’d be no Karaoke.

I love Armani - and can't wait to see how she develops in the next book, Further Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman.

My byline is Reading, Writing and Running (on Canada's East Coast) so I have to ask - Do you have a top ten list when it comes to books? If so, would you share maybe a couple of the titles with us?

The Top 10 that come to mind (probably because I’ve read them all multiple times):

Where the Wild Things Are -- Sendack
Horse of Two Colors -- Balch
To Kill a Mocking Bird -- Lee
Thank You for Smoking -- Buckley
Kiss the Girls -- Patterson
The Spellman series by Lisa Lutz
IT -- King
Room – Donoghue
The Non-Runners Marathon Guide for Women -- Dais
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook -- Maass

I loved Room, by Emma Donoghue! And you already know how thrilled I am that you suggested The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide for Women. Which leads us perfectly into the next question. You're a runner and I know that you started training for a half marathon while waiting for word on a manuscript submission. You've obviously got the bug - what's the best thing about running?

Okay, let me make something clear. Even though I’ve completed three half-marathons, I HATE running. The best thing is being finished. BUT it does have a couple of redeeming qualities. It’s a great stress reliever and as you tick off the miles you do have a sense of accomplishment. But seriously, I hate it. On the other hand my husband who took it up eighteen months ago and is way faster than me LOVES it.

See, I knew there was a reason why I felt a connection, JB - that and the fact you're a Pisces!

And since this is Inspiration Wednesday, I have to ask - what inspires you, JB?

People who try new things. People who leap out of their comfort zone. People who have enthusiasm and passion….even if I don’t share those passions (or in the case of those who rock climb or sky dive, people I think are out of their ever-loving minds). People who persevere. People who learn. People who grow. People who are willing to try. People who are willing to fail spectacularly.

And coffee….coffee is definitely inspirational. J

CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN

Maggie Lee is not your average hitwoman. For one thing, she's never killed anyone. For another, after hitting her head in the car accident that killed her sister, her new best friend is a talking lizard—a picky eater, obsessed with Wheel of Fortune, that only Maggie can hear.

Maggie, who can barely take care of herself, is desperate to help her injured and orphaned niece get the best medical care possible, so she reluctantly accepts a mobster's lucrative job offer: major cash to kill his monstrous son-in-law.

Paired with Patrick Mulligan, a charming murder mentor (who happens to moonlight as a police detective), Maggie stumbles down her new career path, contending with self-doubt, three meddling aunts, a semi-psychic friend predicting her doom, and a day job she hates. Oh, and let's not forget about Paul Kowalski, the sexy beat cop who could throw her ass in jail if he finds out what she's up to.

Training has never been so complicated! And, this time, Maggie has to get the job done. Because if she doesn't . . . she's the mob's next target.

FURTHER CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN

Take three wacky aunts,
two talking animals,
one nervous bride,
and an upcoming hit,
and you've got the follow-up
to JB Lynn's wickedly funny
Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman

Knocking off a drug kingpin was the last thing on Maggie Lee's to-do list, but when a tragic accident leaves her beloved niece orphaned and in the hospital, Maggie will go to desperate lengths to land the money needed for her care.

But the drug kingpin is the least of her worries. Maggie's aunts are driving her crazy, her best friend's turned into a bridezilla…and a knock on the head has given Maggie Dr. Dolittle abilities—she can talk to animals. Unfortunately, they talk back.

It's just another day in the life of this neurotic hitwoman…

THE HITWOMAN GETS LUCKY

A novella about the further misadventures of Maggie Lee and the rest of the cast of zany characters from CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN:

 Maggie Lee’s a lot of things:

The daughter of a mom in a mental institution and a dad serving time;

The niece of three meddling aunts;

The aunt (and now legal guardian) of her beloved niece, Katie;

The friend of a snarky lizard, a dyslexic Doberman, and a semi-psychic co-worker;

A contract killer.

But one thing she'd never thought she'd be is a thief.

That's about to change as she heads to the casinos of Atlantic City to

help her sexy murder mentor, Patrick Mulligan, steal something from a professional thief.

Maggie's never been lucky in love or money. Will this gamble pay off or will she lose her shirt, her heart or even her life?

 

AUTHOR BIO – JB Lynn

Besides being a writer, JB Lynn is a compulsive reader, a runner (of sorts), an enthusiastic cook (who doesn't get the appeal of the Food Network), and someone who has an irresistible urge to eavesdrop at all times.

JB has a great love of her husband, dogs, coffee, purple ink, spiral notebooks, running gear, hot showers, and '80s music. Given enough time, all of these things will eventually show up in her books.

Website: www.jblynn.com

Follow JB on:

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jb_lynn_author

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/jb.lynn.14

Thanks so much for joining us today, JB! If anyone out there has a question for JB, just post it in the comment section. To end, here's a inspirational quote from JB herself:

Focus your energy on what you really, truly, down-deep-in-your-soul WANT. Not what society wants, or your family, or your friends, but what YOU want. Not what common knowledge says can be done, but what your wildest dreams can imagine. ~ JB Lynn

 

　

Lucky Sevens Sunday Snippet - Day 2...

Happy Sunday - I'm playing along with B.E. Sanderson's Lucky Sevens Sunday Snippet. She's posted her snippet on her Tabula Rasa blog (I hope you go over and have a read). I'm posting here (obvious, eh?). I decided to day to go back to THE SEDUCTION OF LADY BELLS, my medieval romance. I still love this story - and the rejection the other day has just brought it to the forefront of my existence, again.

Anyway, here's page 137 - Hugh and Willamena are sitting in their chamber, getting to know each other a little better (they are married, but have yet to consummate said marriage because of a promise Hugh made to Willamena on their wedding night). Allie is one of Hugh's dogs.

The Seduction of Lady Bells - JS Corcoran (2008)

"Allie has taken to you. She knows a soft heart." He placed his bowl on the floor and Allie licked up what he had left.

"She is your dog. She was searching for you the other night. And if I’m so soft, why is it you that has left her something to eat?"

"Only because you pointedly suggested I do. You let her into the chamber and now she thinks she belongs here. The dog has found paradise in her old age, no longer having to sleep in the drafty kennels with the others." He lifted the now empty bowl and gestured for Allie to go lie down. The dog obeyed, circling three times in front of the fire before settling.

"As if your dogs sleep in the kennels. They sleep in the hall or the gatehouse with the exception of Gwen who awaits her pups. Your dogs are treated better than poor John."

She clamped her lips together, not believing she had spoken those words aloud. Her father would have been outraged with any criticism of his steward or the running of his manor, even if she meant it only in jest.

Hugh’s eyes were bright. His jaw remained loose. But his tone was serious when he replied. "John is like that dog. He, too, has found a piece of paradise now that you are taking over half his work. All the idle time will bore him senseless."

She said nothing, only stared at Hugh, waiting. His lips twitched and she felt her own struggling to curve into a smile. She burst out laughing at the exact moment he did.

She shook her head. "Stop. John would not be amused. And he deserves some leniency, I’m positive the man is dog-tired."

"Paws-itively."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope some of you play along - you can find the rules at Tabula Rasa - and if you do, make sure to tell us in the comments so we can come and have a read!

Lucky Sevens Sunday Snippet - Day 1...

B.E. has started a Sunday Snippet called Lucky Sevens - I've decided to play along. So, in her words, here's the rules:

The rules are simple: Go to any '7' page within the manuscript of your choosing - be it pg 7, or pg 27, or pg 207 - find a snippet you'd like to share and post it.

You can see B.E.'s snippet here: Tabula Rose. And you can let her know in the comment section if you're going to play along (or post your snippet over on her blog). If you do decide to play, let me know, too, so I can slip over and have a read of your Lucky Sevens Sunday Snippet.

So - my Lucky Sevens is from Confessions of a Carbohydrate Slut, page 7. Our heroine, Jane, is on a New Year's Resolution kick - she's determined to make changes even if it kills her, and on this day it just might. She's eating lunch (consisting of "...naked salad, dry tuna and cardboard rice cake...", while her workmates are enjoying the lunches they've brought to work. I hope you enjoy :)

Confessions of a Carbohydrate Slut - copyright JS Corcoran (2009)

"And it’s making you miserable." Mary went back to her lunch of egg salad on thick, crusty white bread. "You’ve been really grouchy lately, and you’re making mistakes in your work."

Jane cringed with the reminder that she had miscalculated a formula last week causing all kinds of trouble in the lab and forcing everyone to redo the work they had finished. And she was tired. "The book I read last night said that I would be tired and irritable until my body has adjusted to the change in my diet. It’s like quitting smoking."

"Which book are you on now Jane?" Theresa shoveled spaghetti with meat sauce into her mouth.

 Jane's mouth watered. Maybe she needed to eat at her desk so that she wouldn’t see all the real food she was missing. Maybe then naked salad, dry tuna and cardboard rice cake wouldn’t seem so bad. "The macrobiotic diet. It’s based on vegetarianism."

"You’re eating tuna. That was a real live fish at one time, not some vegetable grown in southern California." Theresa took a bite of her garlic toast and waited for Jane to say something.

They all did. She wanted spaghetti. "I’m only reading about it right now. I’m still working on the other book I read that told me to cut out all the fat in my diet. You know the adage: You are what you eat."

"But you’re not fat," Gail had been eating a casserole of some kind. It smelled heavenly and had potatoes in it. "We keep trying to tell you that. You just need to work on some exercise and you’ll be looking even better than you do right now."

Inwardly she snorted. She had stood in front of that damned mirror this morning again. She looked the same. Same plain brown hair falling over her shoulders, same plain features staring back at her, same semi-bulging body that her standard black pants, loose fitting turtleneck sweater and lab coat easily covered up. As far as she could see, after six weeks, there had been no changes at all.

She amended that thought. There were changes. She was grouchy, she was tired and her complexion, always one of her finer points she thought, was dull and blotchy. "The Girls" knew about her diet but she never mentioned the exercise she was also diligently working at. She knew them as associates, not necessarily as confidants, "I am exercising. Every day."

Theresa ran her last bite of garlic bread over the plate capturing every drop of sauce that was left. She held on to it while she spoke causing Jane’s stomach to rumble in protest. "That’s too much exercise!"

The scientist in Jane surged to the forefront, "Calories in, calories out. If you want to lose weight you need to expend more calories than you take in during the day. It’s a simple formula."

Mary spooned up some chocolate pudding. "In theory. But if you eat crap like that and then work yourself into a tizzy the calories you do maintain are not going to nourish your body." Her eyes widened as she latched on to something behind Jane.

Theresa’s fingers, which she had been licking, stilled in her mouth. Gail’s fork halted half way to her mouth, "Speaking of bodies."

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Next Big Thing...

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims' families in Newtown, CT.

***

I was tagged last Monday on B.E. Sanderson's blog The Writing Spectacle for The Next Big Thing. As most of you know, my Next Big Thing is really, really big because it's the first thing I've finished in a very long time! Will it be The-Next-Big-Thing-Fifty-Shades-of-Grey-Big? Ha, not likely - but, as I explain on The Unpublished Writers Guide to Survival today (yeah, me, guest posting today - over THERE), I found my happy place again and that's BIG!!!

So here we go:

What is the working title of your book? Dancing with the Bodyguard

Where did the idea come from for the book? I love Dancing with the Stars and have carried around the idea of doing a book based on the reality TV show - a 'what if one of the dancing stars needed a bodyguard'.

Which genre does your book fall under? Well, it started out as a Romantic Comedy and ended up a Romantic Suspense - so, definitely Romance!

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie? I don't do the whole actor thing when I write characters - they come to me, I write them - they are as individual as you and I.

What is your one sentence synopsis of your book? It takes Two to Tango, but only one to murder.

Will your book be self published or represented by an agency? Yikes - I'm lucky to have even finished it, so I can't really answer that question.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? NaNoWriMo + a couple more days, so a little over a month.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? No idea - I know, that's not the answer I should be giving. I should know my market, but I simply wrote to find my writing mojo again - publishing expectations were taken off the table.

What or who inspired you to write this book? NaNoWriMo, I guess.

What else about your book might interest the reader? It has a really hot hero? It has dancing? There's a mystery? I really am miserable at self-marketing - can you imagine: Buy my book, it has dancing!

Mini Excerpt: Content might change during edits.

Dancing with the Bodyguard - JS Corcoran (copyright 2012)

Unobtrusive, ha! Zahara quickened her steps aware of Dylan's presence behind her. She had promised the producers that he would not get in the way and at the very first meeting he tried to take down poor Mason. She clenched her fist and sent a silent 'go to hell' her father's way. This was his fault!

The first dance studio was empty, naturally with all the dancers and show's personnel in the meeting room. Zahara held the door and slammed it shut after he entered. "What the hell happened back there? Did you think Mason was going to shoot me? In front of everyone?"

He opened his mouth, but she held up her hand. "I am so not finished. As a previous stalking victim, I can assure you that the bad guy," she used air quotes, "does not like media attention. He prefers to do things in the dark, when his victims are alone and vulnerable. And he certainly doesn't look like Mason!"

Dylan crossed his arms over his chest. Briefly, she retracted. No, damn no! She stepped forward and pointed her finger. "Do you have any training in security because what I saw back there, what everyone saw back there, was a big thug throwing around his considerable weight and testosterone, and acting like a bully."

He winced slightly at her words, but she didn't care. With another step forward and her finger that much closer to his face, she said, "Three things: Don't get in my way, don't be obvious and don't get shot! That's all I asked and already I'm waiting for a bullet to fly out of nowhere because you certainly have failed on the first two and in only," she checked her watch, "four hours."

"Are you done?" He hadn't moved, hadn't stepped back from her forward progress and his arms were still crossed over his chest.

She refused to step back and she crossed her arms over her chest. "You're going to try and explain?"

"No." He stepped forward and looked down at her, inches from her face. "I'm going to remind you that I asked for time in the taxi to discuss this detail at which time you would have given me a heads-up on this first meeting-come-circus. I would have asked you to take me through the building and make introductions instead of me having to follow in your wake like a baby duck following his mother." He pointedly looked down at her feet.

She grimaced at the reference to her duck walk, he could have no idea of how she had been teased about that as a child. She pulled her arms closer to her chest, but refused to look down.

"And I would have briefed you before the meeting, once I had seen the room, as to where I would stand so you could see me and I could glean from you whether or not the creepy guy coming towards you with his hand in his pocket was friend or foe." He stepped back. "As for the stranger danger advice, Zahara, I understand this is not a stalker-type detail. This is your father, a very rich and highly ranked oil sheik, who believes you could be in danger due to his actions. The enemies of your father and those like him do not wait for the cover of darkness to hide their dirty deeds. The enemies of your father welcome the huge publicity that would come with a take-down of a sweet, innocent daughter in a forum of television glitter and gold."

***

With Christmas just around the corner, I decided to tag everyone. If you're reading this and want to play along, feel free - tell us about your Next Big Thing!

The End...

...well, tomorrow - according to some. The Mayan Calendar End of the World Scare - are you ready? From all that I've Googled, there are many possible end dates including tomorrow (12/12/12 - at noon), Dec. 21st at 11:11 (go HERE to read about the actual Mayan Calendar and how it works - fascinating) or Dec. 23rd. There is so much information on the 'event', my 'take' - the Mayan Calendar Guy simply got tired of making calendar pages so many years in advance that he gave up! I certainly would have lost interest in creating a calendar for thousands of years in the future!

No, this THE END is about Dancing with the Bodyguard, my NaNoWriMo project. I 'finished' NaNo on Nov. 30 with a little over 51,000 words. Yesterday, I finished the story at almost 60,000 words! After years of starting and stopping, of questioning whether or not I could finish another story, of doubting my own love of storytelling, I finally finished! The feeling that came over me yesterday was relief - but excitement and accomplishment were close on relief's heels. When you have doubted for so long and you finally break free of that doubt, anything's possible.

As I said during NaNo, my creative self is flying. And that was no more evident than yesterday. No sooner had I typed THE END, than Muse was whispering in my ear. Another story needs to be told. I plan to open a word document (well, a Scrivener document because after many recommendations - Janice, Karyn, Silver - I've decided to purchase the publishing software) and keep writing! I will be taking my Advice for Beginning Runners and applying it to my writing:

1. Start
2. Be Realistic (especially at this time of the year)
3. Do Not Compare Yourself to Others
4. Keep a Journal (although, with Scrivener, I may not have to)
5. Use a Schedule
6. Writing Blogs - Beware
7. Don't Be Afraid
8. Sustained Effort (B.E.'s addition)

Any NaNoWriMos out there still working on their story? Anyone finished? Do you think that creativity breeds more creativity? Anyone partying tomorrow so they can meet the End of the World with a Big Bang?

Friday Ramblings Lead to Writing Method and Snippet...

It's Friday! Hmmm, that's all I got! I tried surfing the web looking for inspiration or a spark of an idea and...nothing! I considered putting up a snippet. I considered sharing a recipe. I considered leaving the post blank - with "It's Friday" as my title. I discarded all those considerations.

I could tell you about the minor (major) melt-down I had yesterday over this freakin' story! I could not find a way out of the mess I wrote - couldn't find a way to end it and reveal the bad guy (he's very good and a slip-up on his part just wasn't happening). I ended up having an MSN conversation with my niece (who's reading along as I write) asking her where she thinks it's going (get inside a reader's mind). Ha, first thing she asked was "Is this going to end up your blog tomorrow?" No, I decided to keep the conversation between us.

At the same time, I put in an emergency e-mail to B.E., hoping she could talk me down (the ledge was very high up and I was teetering on the edge).

So, between a reader and a writer, I calmed down and found (I think, I hope) a solution. By the way, if you're looking for a way to write through a block - and you don't have a fabulous niece who's been reading along and knows the story almost as well as you do - then consider B.E.'s advice:

Cards (I used recipe cards) - write down every red herring and how that red herring gets caught and filleted.

With the discussion happening on MSN and my cards, I was able to pinpoint that the bad guy I had originally decided on really was the bad guy AND he's a lot nastier than even I suspected. And I realized that those other red herrings had to be dealt with in some way that ties in with the story. Now I've been a big talker - sharing The Card method with various writer friends (only using them to keep track of scenes) - but I haven't walked the walk. Yesterday, I learned that if I'm talking about a method, that method will probably work. Look at that - a week after NaNo and I'm still learning lessons.

So. It's Friday! And this is a post thanking my niece and B.E. for talking me off the ledge yesterday! And it's a post about a writing method. And it's also a reminder to myself that I am darned excited about this story. Consider me happy :)

And here's a snippet - just because -

Dancing with the Bodyguard - JS Corcoran (copyright)

Dylan reached behind his back. Alex King was high on something. Dylan could not recognize it in himself all those years, but he had certainly learned to see it in others afterward. The shift of his body, the narrowing of his eyes, the slight shake to his hand indicated Alex’s growing agitation.

"I’m about the only friend you still have left, Zee." From agitated to pleading, another indicator. Alex grabbed her wrist. "The only friend you screwed over but still loves you. I need out. You owe me that much at least."

"Let her go, Alex."

"Oh, I forgot your new friend." Alex let her go. Dylan relaxed slightly. "Hey, just wait. You’ll be next. But you have to wait until she’s slept with you."

Zahara struck Alex. The sound of flesh on flesh echoed in the room. Dylan pushed her behind him and drew his gun. But Alex only shook his head as his hand came up to touch the welt already swelling on his cheek. "You’re a bitch. See if that keeps you warm and happy when your dancing career ends."

***

Inspiration - Alannah Lynne...

As I said yesterday, a full circle...three years ago today I ran my first Inspirational Wednesday post with thanks to Alannah Lynne for the idea (as she did a once-a-week motivational quote on her blog) and now, she's here (inspirational once again). Welcome, Alannah!!!

Janet – Thanks so much for letting me spend some time with you and your readers. I miss you terribly, and wish we got to visit more often!

Gone Fishing!

Once a year, if everything goes as planned, I get to say these magical words: My family has gone fishing!

It’s an annual tradition with the men in my mother-in-law’s family. They gather at the marina in a small South Carolina town, load their gear onto boats, and head off to an uninhabited barrier island. It sounds dreadful to me, but it’s heaven to them… all twenty-five to thirty of them, ranging in age from seventy to sixteen.

This year is the 31st Annual Roundup, and it’s something they look forward to all year long. My son couldn’t wait until his 16th birthday, so he could finally participate in this rite of passage.
But what the men don’t know, is that their wives/mothers also count down the days to Roundup, and probably with more eager anticipation than the men.

I love my family, but every wife and mother will tell you there are few things in life as precious as having the house to themselves.

My quiet time is going to be spent writing. I’m 2 months behind on one story and have had to push another story’s release back indefinitely. I need the quiet. I need the space and time to think and get back onto the writing track, and this alone time is going to be my ticket.

One of my FB friends said she would sleep as late as possible, eat Oreos for breakfast, then stay up as late as she wanted reading. Another friend recently spent her alone time catching up on some of her favorite new fall episodes.

What about you? If you had forty-eight hours alone, how would you spend the time?


Alannah believes there’s nothing more magical than finding the other half of your soul, experiencing fiery passion, and knowing you’ve found happily-ever-after.
She loves going to work each day (in sweats and a T-shirt) and writing about hot heroes and feisty heroines who torment each other in the most delicious ways before finding their happily-ever-afters.
She lives in the coastal region of North Carolina with her husband, who also happens to be her best friend and biggest fan. They have two sons, a dog, a cat and an outrageous number of ducks and geese that inhabit the pond on their farm. She loves chatting and making new friends, so visit her on the web at www.alannahlynne.com/ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authoralannahlynne

Alannah has two books - SAVIN' ME and LAST CALL. A copy of LAST CALL will be given away to one lucky reader who leaves a comment...and SAVIN' ME, um, is free!!!

SAVIN’ ME is free at All Romance Ebook and Kobo - here are the links for it:

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-savin039me-964582-340.html
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Savin-Me/book-0uddSWL_ZEa1n2_gSc9gSg/page1.html?s=8sECtghjP0CSu2AqGBj_hA&r=2





LAST CALL can be found at all the usual places:
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Call-Heat-Wave-ebook/dp/B009KEXBC6
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-call-alannah-lynne/1113105916?ean=2940015526622
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-lastcall-964768-149.html
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Last-Call/book-LGu2Kxl4BUCD__DH97x5Fg/page1.html?s=THMgc0GOFEaR_cHvHXa_Pw&r=3

It's Me (*waving hello*)...

Well, hello there! I know, I haven't been very regular with this blog lately, but my excuse is busy, busy, busy! That and the temperatures were crazy hot, so I've been getting out early for my runs and bike rides - the time I'm usually sitting at the computer blogging away!

Yesterday, in case some of you missed it because I wasn't thinking straight on Tuesday night and posted my guest blogger's post immediately instead of scheduling it to post on Wednesday morning, Jana Richards stopped by to celebrate the launch of her new book, HOME FIRES. If you didn't get a chance to read her post, I encourage you to do so today - she's got some amazing research stories about war brides. Jana has really taken a liking to this era of history (HOME FIRES being her second book set in WWII - her first, FLAWLESS, is a brilliant read). Jana's also doing something interesting with her launch - she's giving away a free book with the purchase of HOME FIRES! Here's the details from Jana's website:

And the goodies don't stop there! Between July 4 and July 18, I'm offering a bonus gift to anyone who purchases a copy of "Home Fires" or any of my other titles. Send me an email at jana.richards at hotmail dot com (the ats and dots are my, Janet's, attempt at deceiving the trolls) with the receipt number of your purchase, and I'll send you an free PDF copy of my romantic comedy "Rescue Me".

Check out all the details at Jana's website: http://www.janarichards.net/ (info under 'contests').

****UPDATE: The winner of Jana's book, HOME FIRES, is Connie! Congrats, Connie - Jana will be in touch!******

On the running front - signed up for another half marathon in August, so the training has ramped up! I had a glitch with my running watch (for those who don't know, I love my running watch, so a glitch was like a total disaster). I could still use it, but it wouldn't transfer the data to my computer. Now the whole point of the watch is to have it on my runs so I know how fast I'm going (don't want to go out to fast and burn out before the end of the run) and how far I've gone. But the fun part is seeing the data on the screen. The little elevation graph, the chart that shows my pacing and whether or not I was steady-eddy or fast, slow, fast, fast, slow, slow, dead. So to not have that drove me nuts.

I ended up in contact with the watch's support team - nice people - and they suggested a couple of things. In the end, I had to do a complete overhaul and default my watch back to factory settings. That meant all my totals were lost. Thankfully they told me that - so I wrote them down: Since receiving the watch for Christmas 2010, not using it until March 2011, letting it go dead over a couple of winter months 2011 - 2012 (was on the treadmill, so still running) I've logged 744.05 miles over 147.37 hours! Wow, I was impressed!

And check this out - I love this! Please feel free to substitute anything you feel passionate about in place of running. I find that if I use 'writing' it makes perfect sense, too - well, except for the babe running in the desert, but I imagine a babe sitting at a desk typing away on her keyboard (oh, yeah, that babe is me and I bet you didn't know that Nova Scotia was actually a desert)!

Hey, it's good to be back - missed you all.

White Point Beach Resort, Nova Scotia...

One of the most beautiful places in Nova Scotia (and there are many of those) is White Point Beach Resort. I discovered this gem when we lived here before - a day trip out to the resort for lunch and a Christmas Craft Fair - I fell in love. The beach, the peacefulness, the old lodge (and the food was pretty darn good, too - my friend and I sat in the lounge, next to the huge stone fireplace, looking out over the ocean - amazing). The resort was a little over 70 years old then and the placed oozed history and story - I imagined there were also a few ghosts hanging out.

When I discovered my friend Frances Jewel Dickson was going to be writing a book on White Point, I was elated. I love history - I love Nova Scotia - and I love knowing how others lived their lives. Every time I asked, Frances said the book was coming along well, on schedule. Then, in November of 2011 White Point's main lodge burned to the ground. Frances' book, almost complete at that time, had taken on new meaning. And she felt it was only right to add to it - include the fire and the hopes, dreams and reality of rebuilding.

I am pleased to say that Frances is finished and her book Destination White Point is ready to order. She's doing an 'Early Bunny' promotion (bunnies play a significant role at White Point Beach Resort) - and I'm pleased to help her promote. The book will be released to the public after June 30th, so you don't have much time to get in on the pre-order - did I tell you that the 'Early Bunny' promotion is a signed edition of Destination White Point? Yes, it is. I'll let Frances explain - the video is great, with Frances at White Point and flashes of old pictures and a brief summary of the book.


Here's some links:

Frances Jewel Dickson: http://www.voicesetc.ca/index.htm

White Point Beach Resort Blog (about Destination White Point):  http://www.whitepoint.com/blog/2012/06/12/destination-white-point-to-be-released-order-yours-now/

White Point Beach Live Webcam (I love watching the ocean): http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/south-shore/white-point-beach.html

Have a great weekend, everyone :)

Carnivalesque - The Stigma of Romance...

Oh, yeah, this is going to be one hot topic - welcome to Carnivalesque: The Travelling Blog Show! No travelling for me today, I'm hosting and the discussion is all about the stigma of romance novels. I hope you join in on the discussion - the usual suspects, Jana Richards, Joanne Brothwell, Karyn Good and Hayley Lavik are in attendance - we'd love to hear your take on this!

Jana Richards: Stigma in romance? Oh yes, it exists. Like Rodney Dangerfield, romance novels don’t get a lot of respect. People, even readers of romance, often dismiss them as fluff, or bodice rippers, or soft porn for Mom. If you’re reading romance, readers of other genres and more literary fiction think you’re less intelligent than they are. And if you write romance, people ask you when you’re going to write a ‘real’ book.

I’ve got news for you; they are real books and they’re immensely popular. According to the Romance Writers of America, consumers spent 1.358 billion dollars on romance novels in 2010. Other genres don’t come anywhere close in sales, and in fact romance sells more novels then most other genres combined. All kinds of people read romance, from all different walks of life, education and socio-economic backgrounds. Contrary to popular belief, even men read romance; RWA says that 44 percent of romance readers are men.

But popularity doesn’t equal respect. I’m not sure how the genre earns a higher opinion from readers. Perhaps it starts with writing really good books. And maybe romance writers, including me, have to stand up and demand respect.

Joanne Brothwell:  I have to admit, I did have a negative mindset about romance novels prior to becoming a writer. Not that I'd ever read one that I thought was "cheesy" or "predictable", but that was definitely my thinking at the time.

I think there have been many romance novels in the past that have trivialized, glorified or even condoned violence against women. There are likely also many that have portrayed women as being singularly focused on becoming partnered, as if the primary goal of women is to have the love (and therefore, validation) of a man. The feminist movement has highlighted such paternalistic attitudes in romance, but perhaps by doing so, the entire genre has been painted with the same negative brush.

Karyn Good: I don’t know why we can’t all respect each other’s preferences and talents. Why we need to judge what others choose to read and write? The stigma is, I suppose, that’s its formulaic and not well written. Or perhaps the assumption is you read romance because somehow you’re less than ideally intelligent and therefore unable to grasp the meaning of ‘real’ or ‘classic’ literature. Or that it’s porn.

Is it formulaic? Yes. Name me one genre that’s not. How often to mysteries remain unsolved? Name me one YA book that’s not about young adults. Is it well written? Absolutely. If you want I’ll provide an extensive list. Are the people that read romance less intelligent than other readers? I choose to read about healthy, well-developed relationships between consenting adults that have a happy ending. Not once have I felt my IQ dropping. And, yes. There’s sex. Great, orgasmic sex. Because that’s the best kind.

Hayley Lavik: Oh, now this is a topic that can't fit in a small response. I think I'll just have to skim the surface and come back in comments!

I used to be one of those people who sneer at romance novels. Trashy, predictable, etc etc. I hadn't actually read one. I just didn't like the idea of these neat, happy endings with no surprises. How boring, how trite.

Now, I'm one of those people who smacks down remarks about how romance is the one genre that's trash. Remarks from those who will defend sci-fi and fantasy from insults of being 'lesser fiction,' but paint the entire romance genre with the same brush, without sampling any of it. Romance novel does not inherently mean bad, or cheap, or trashy. It means a novel with a romance as the main plotline. Nothing in that suggests storytelling quality.

I have read a few romances by now. Some fulfilled my low other expectations, others I enjoyed, others are Literary Fiction in disguise. It's still not really my genre, I don't seek out romance the focal plot very often, but I can appreciate the great value in knowing you won't be screwed over at the end of your reading experience when you just want to enjoy a book for a few hours. A guaranteed happy ending is not a bad thing. We expect it with every summer blockbuster we fork out money for. The HEA in itself doesn't inherently make romance formulaic. Formulaic writing makes books formulaic.

I do have a big problem with romance novels still, though, and that's the gender typing. Not all books do it, not all authors do it, but I do see a definite trend of reinforcing harmful stereotypes about the roles of men and women, the importance of romance and Finding A Man in a woman's life, and the glorifying/fetishizing of male dominance, aggression, and behaviors that -- in reality -- are often warning signs for an abuser. I cannot stand the perpetuating of that mentality, and the harm it does to people. There are a great many authors who do NOT write stories like that, and a great many authors in other genres (including my own) who write highly problematic stories as well, but we're focusing on romance today, and that's my beef with them.

So I still don't read romance, and I have a knee-jerk stigma to overcome if I'm going to read a romance novel, but I'll defend anyone who's taking crap for their genre choice.

Me: I've heard people exclaim, "Thank goodness for e-readers, now I can read my romance novels without judgement!" Others have said, "Oh! You write romance!" I've even been witness to this, "Cheesy fluff, but I guess it's OK for a beach read." Really, people? Romance novels are works of literature (yes, the literal meaning of literature is 'things made from letters' and the definition is 'written works') so when did that literary genre get such a bad wrap?

Yes, some romance novels are poorly written - but since I'm a very eclectic reader I can tell you there are mysteries, women's fiction and the high-brow-award-winning literary fiction that are poorly written, too! Romance novels focus on romance - as mysteries focus on a mystery and fantasy, well you get where I'm going with this. If that's the issue, then I dare anyone to pick up any book and NOT find a bit of romance between the covers. Then there's the 'formula' argument - but I ask you, what book doesn't have a beginning, middle and end - is that not a 'formula'? Besides, I would rather read a fantastic boy meets girl, boy loses girl, girl kicks boy's ass until he realizes what a prize he could be losing than a book that meanders all over the place and leaves me wondering how I'll ever get those lost hours back.

I think readers, and writers, should focus on story. And those that read romance - be proud of it, show it to the world (yes, including the sexy cover that at least gives a hint to what's inside the book for those who pick books by the covers), and remind those that turn up their noses at the romance genre that it's not money that makes the world go around, it's LOVE!!

Looking forward to the discussion :)

Inspiration - Karyn Good (and Giveaway)...

I'm so excited to welcome Karyn Good to The Journal today. I've known Karyn for a while, she was a part of my first writing group, Saskatchewan Romance Writers, and a founding member of Prairie Chicks Write Romance. After reading her work, I knew it would be just a matter of time before she was published - her voice is fabulous. Her very first novel, Backlash, will be released June 1st. I'm thrilled to help her promote the first of many (and incredibly humbled by her kind words - thanks, Karyn)!!

I’m thrilled to be here at Janet’s blog talking about my June 1st release, Backlash. I think it’s entirely fitting to start off my blog tour here.  Janet has been instrumental in making Backlash a marketable possibility. Her very gracious offer to read a very early, and thoroughly awful, draft of what was then called Common Ground kicked started my writing journey. She must have been thoroughly sick of it by the time she was done critiquing various drafts. Thank you, my friend. I couldn’t have done it without you!

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Since dropping in and visiting Janet’s Journal always seems like a welcoming and warm visit with friends I thought I would blog about the dynamics of small towns. I find small towns fascinating, despite the fact that I couldn’t wait to leave my own at the oh-so knowledgeable age of seventeen. I moved on to find greener pastures, which in my case meant a slightly larger town. Yep, that’s my adventurous spirit shining bright.

I think the thing that’s fascinating about small towns is the sense that they are a world unto themselves. That they are small and big at the same time. Small because they take up less geographical space and have far fewer inhabitants. Big because that small space can be host to any number of dividing conflicts and struggles. There’s the sense that small town values are somehow different from the ones held by city dwellers. That residents help each other out. There’s that famous unlocked door policy. The sense of greater safety. The promise of a simpler life style. Everyone knows your name and your business. Myths or reality?

I suppose it depends. I personally think anyone who chooses to live in the rural part of anywhere deserves a medal.  I couldn’t do it. Rural dwellers are survivors. People who by necessity have to think outside the box and discover creative solutions to combat the decline of small town North America. In reality, schools are closing, hospitals are disappearing, grain elevators, those proud prairie castles of each small town, are dinosaur cousins of a newer, more efficient grain processing system. Despite this decline, they find a way. And often it’s a collective effort. An all for one and one for all mentality.

That’s the romantic notion of a small town that enthralls people. In my fictional town of Aspen Lake everyone is just looking for a way to make a living and raise their family in a location they consider the greatest place on earth. And what did I do with this notion of paradise? I turned it on its ear. Nothing is that simple. Or easy.  Aspen Lake may be an idyllic and popular resort town, but one of its residents is a boy who is by turns neglected and abused by a broken father. He’s invisible in a place where everybody is supposed to know everyone else’s business. A criminal gang invades the town destroying the heroine’s sense of security. Life here is anything but unassuming for the returning hero who wants nothing more than to get the hell back out as soon as the ink is dry on an another transfer.

So along with the rolling hills and groves of Aspen trees in my fictional setting of Aspen Lake you’ll also find murder and mayhem. Hopefully Backlash, a romantic suspense, will be a roller coaster ride of emotion and action. To celebrate its release I’m giving away a free short story to all commenters. Waiting for Mason is a story that came to me after hearing the beautiful, haunting story of how the Qu’Appelle Valley in southern Saskatchewan got its name. Just leave your email in the comment section and tell me your favorite fictional small town setting. Remember to use dots or spaces to stump the spamming cyber trolls.

 

You can find me here:

http://karyngood.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karyn-Good/168409826555843

https://twitter.com/#!/karyngood

Backlash by Karyn Good

What he’s sworn to protect, she’s willing to sacrifice to save those she loves...

When dedicated teacher Lily Wheeler interrupts a vicious gang attack on one of her students, she vows it won’t happen again. But her rash interference puts her in the path of a cold-blooded killer and the constable tracking him—a man she has little reason to trust, but can never forget.

Constable Chase Porter returned to Aspen Lake to see justice done, not renew old acquaintances. But when he rescues the woman he once loved from a volatile situation, he realizes his feelings for Lily haven’t lessened over the years.

Now, the dangerous killer Chase has sworn to capture has Lily in his sights. Can Chase and Lilly learn to trust each other again before it’s too late—or will old insecurities jeopardize their future?

You can find BACKLASH in both print and ebook coming June 1st at:

My Publisher, The Wild Rose Press

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=4883

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Backlash-Karyn-Good/dp/1612171559/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338240173&sr=8-1