Good news, good news and good news!

First item of good news: A huge congratulations to Curly. He's joined the ranks of the employed by getting hired for his first part-time job at local grocery store. Considering the unemployment rates in this town thanks to GM closing down the truck plant, that's an amazing feat.

To make me even more proud he graduates high school in a couple of weeks (though they don't have the ceremony until October and he's signed up for an extra year as they can do up here since the government cancelled grade 13.) My little guy is all grown up.



Good news item #2: Tomorrow is the start of the round-robin story Kimber Chin, JK Coi and I are posting.

Authors Leah Braemel, Kimber Chin, and J.K. Coi have joined together to combine the best of all their worlds. Three writing buddies, three romance genres, three to-die-for heroes. Throw in an ancient artifact and the possibility of the end of the world...and you've got one exciting short story put together just for you! Come and meet the sexy security team from Leah Bramel's Hauberk Protection Series, the smart and sassy duo of Kimber Chin's Invisible, and J.K. Coi's devastating immortals and chilling demons--all in one FREE read!

Find Part One on Kimber Chin's blog: June 1, 2009
Find Part Two on J.K. Coi's blog: June 2, 2009
Find Part Three on Leah Braemel's blog: June 3, 2009



Good news #3: It's the last call for entering the "Get Hooked on a Series" contest over on Moira Rogers blog. There are 50 books and 50 chances to win the first book in one of 50 series. The contest closes June 2nd at 12:01 AM Central Standard Time. The winners will be selected by random drawing later that day. (If you've already entered, don't enter again, only one entry per household.) (I'm considering it good news because someone's going to win a copy of my novella Private Property!)

Snippet Saturday: First Kiss

Today's theme is First Kiss. I'm not participating in today's Snippet Saturday, but there's a whole pile of people who are, so you've got a lot of steamy reading ahead of you.

Lauren Dane
Cynthia Eden
Vivi Anna
Sylvia Day
Moira Rogers
Mandy Roth
Anya Bast
Viv Arend
Beth Williamson
Elisabeth Naughton
Michelle Pillow
Jaci Burton
Taige Crenshaw
McKenna Jeffries
Victoria Janssen
Shelli Stevens
Maggie Robinson
Juliana Stone
Sasha White
Maura Anderson
Shelley Munro
Jody Wallace
Eliza Gayle
Kelly Maher

Diversity in Action

To add to this morning's post ... here's a list of where some of you are from:

Canada:

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Cobourg, Ontario
Guelph, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Petrolia, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Newmarket, Ontario
Barrie, Ontario

Outside of Canada:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Villers-le-Bouillet, Liege, Belgium
Egypt
Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
Utrecht, Netherlands
Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands
Auckland, New Zealand
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Swindon, UK

USA (arranged by State)

Birmingham, Alabama
Cabot, Arkansas
El Cajon, California
Glendale, California
Los Gatos, California
Mountain View, California
San Diego, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Wilmington, Delaware
Merritt Island, Florida
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Winter Springs, Florida
South Bend, Indiana
Robeline, Louisiana
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Tupelo, Mississippi
Liberty, Missouri
Astoria, New York
Buffalo, New York
Farmingdale, New York
Hopewell Junction, New York
Staten Island, New York
Raleigh, North Carolina
Beaverton, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Erie, Pennsylvania
Elgin, South Carolina
Cleburne, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Houston, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Newport News, Virginia
Seattle, Washington
Romney, West Virginia


Pretty diverse bunch, aren't we?

Who are you?

And where are you?

I get a report each week of how many people read my blog. Or at least click on the page. I've had this blog over two years now and I've only JUST noticed that the report I receive also has a link to a website where I can get things like maps of where my readers are coming from.

The red dot is where I am. The green dots are where the last 10 visitors came from. And the white dots are the 50 previous visitors. Shelley Munro - I'm assuming that's you down there in New Zealand. But I also had someone from Australia drop by.



I'm betting a couple of those green dots are my critique partners in Texas and Louisiana. There's one out in Seattle way - Lauren Dane perhaps visiting during Snippet Saturday. And several in California - RJ Lebeau, a new friend from Twitter and fellow Romance Diva perhaps? Another out in Nova Scotia - Julia of "A Piece of my Mind" blog, is that you? And someone up close to Hudson Bay - Churchill, Manitoba maybe? East coast, west coast, central US and Canada. It's so cool to see where you're from.

There is someone from England, another from Scotland (Edinburgh?) and several visitors from the Netherlands. Another visitor came from the southern tip of Sardegna (in the island in the middle of the Mediterranean) Is that what we in North America call Sardinia? I've even had a visitor from Egypt.

My website also provides stats, just not in map form. I've had visitors from Canada and the States, naturally, and from Australia and New Zealand. But also from Russia, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the Netherlands again, Switzerland, Finland, Belgium, Brazil (Yay, South America is finally represented!), Mexico, India, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Costa Rica, Turkey, Ireland, Taiwain and the Seychelles.

So ... now I know where you're from ... I'd love to have you leave a comment and tell me who you are and where, and how you found me.

Is that a light up ahead?

I'm hopefully on the home stretch for my work in progress. How can I tell? I printed it out last night. There's something satisfying about seeing this big stack of paper and thinking "I wrote that!" It makes me feel very ... authorial. (Is that even a word?)

I try not to kill too many trees, but I get to a point in editing the final drafts where I need to see it on paper. For some reason, I can only see some errors when they're printed out. Things that I'd miss no matter how many times I saw them on the screen. Sometimes it'll be something simple like a sentence that might work better later in the scene. And I think that's why editing on a screen doesn't work all the time. You need to see where each sentence is in relationship to the others on the page the way it would be in a book.

Others are more egregious errors, glaring errors that definitely should have been caught but got missed. Timelines - ten years in chapter 3, twelve years in Chapter 5. Details like eye color changing or names changing partway through (Yes,I changed a character's name halfway through in Personal Protection. I shouldn't feel too bad 3 of my 4 critique partners didn't notice it in the final draft either. And don't talk to my editor about how many names Rosie had in the original draft. Rosalinda. Rosie. Miss Ramos. Ms. Ramos. Miz Ramos. I think there were more too, I just can't remember. These are things I should have caught myself and didn't.) And some are just downright funny. My favorite today is a "his" where there should have been a "her" ... very embarrassing when you're talking body parts. ;)

There'll be a ton of editing to do when I've finished reading. Apart from the corrections, I KNOW there are scenes to be moved, scenes to be added and fleshed out even more. But at least I'm starting to see a glimmer at the end of the tunnel. Because this has been one loooooong, daaarrk tunnel.

It's all about Perspective

I bought a small rug to put in front of my kitchen sink on the weekend. I used to have one but in her final days, our dog ... well, let's just say it wasn't salvageable. As Gizmo Guy and I were in the store trying to make the decision as to which design to choose, we had a discussion about our kitchen.

"The kitchen's green, so we need something with green in it," said I.

Gizmo Guy looked at me, puzzled. "The kitchen's green? I thought it was yellow."

"No, it's that godawful green. I really want to paint it one day." (I do too. I've been saying I'll paint it ever since we moved in. That's 7 years ago, folks.)

After a while, we decided upon a rug that had both green and yellow in it. (It's old world style, vegetables in muted colors.) When we got home to put it in place, I realized we were both right.

The cabinets are green, the walls are yellow.

Whoever lived here before did a slap-happy dismal job painting the '70s cabinets that need replacing. There are drips and missed spots on the paint job. Not to mention that sickly green color. (I like various shades of green, but this reminds me of that hospital green.) Since I took great pains to paint the cabinets in our last home with three coats of melamine - no drips, no splatters, no missed spots - these ugly green badly-painted cabinets really bother me.

Gizmo Guy however doesn't like the yellow on the walls - he thinks it's too bright and wants to tone it down.

In other words, we each focused on what bothered us and blanked out the other part of the room.

That discussion had me thinking about my work-in-progress and how one character can focus on one aspect of an issue, and another character might view the same issue from a totally different perspective. (Rather like witnesses at a crime scene - they rarely agree on details.) But it's a great source to draw upon for conflict. Especially when both characters are right. And both characters are wrong.

And with that I got inspired last night and attacked my manuscript with renewed vigor. I got up this morning with similar intentions. Only to be told my eldest son needs to be driven around town this morning, and this afternoon my youngest son has an interview I have to drive him to. Rats. But as I grumble and whine, I have to remind myself how petty I'm being. Especially compared to the challenges some of my friends are facing right now as their loved ones are struggling to beat cancer.

See? It's all about perspective, isn't it?

***

Don't forget about the chat I'm taking part in at eight PM tonight over at Romance at Heart. It's in the AUTHOR'S GRILL Room, not the General room.

Sam's going to fight a what?

Tomorrow night, I'm going to be part of a chat over at the Author's Grill at Romance at Heart along with fellow Toronto Romance Writers Kimber Chin and JK Coi. Needless to say we'll be talking about our books - Kimber and JK have upcoming releases. But we'll also be discussing how we got together and wrote a cross-genre fiction involving characters from our books.

For a writer, I suck at blurbs so I'm going to steal JK's own words from her blog:

Authors Leah Braemel, Kimber Chin, and J.K. Coi have joined together to combine the best of all their worlds. Three writing buddies, three romance genres, three to-die-for heroes. Throw in an ancient artifact and the possibility of the end of the world...and you've got one exciting short story put together just for you! Come and meet the sexy security team from Leah Braemel's Hauberk Protection Series, the smart and sassy duo of Kimber Chin's Invisible, and J.K. Coi's devastating immortals and chilling demons--all in one FREE read!

Find Part One on Kimber Chin's blog: June 1, 2009
Find Part Two on J.K. Coi's blog: June 2, 2009
Find Part Three on Leah Braemel's blog: June 3, 2009


Kimber Chin, author of Breach of Trust and Invisible
--Selling Forever is out in July, 2009

Blurb:

Can Cara close the deal on love?

The Best Sales Plans…

Real estate agent Cara Jones needs a celebrity handyman for her charity auction. Reclusive billionaire Richard Thompson is the perfect choice. All she has to do is find his trigger and trip it, without becoming emotionally attached.

…Sometimes Go Awry

Richard wishes to be valued for himself, not simply for his money. He certainly isn’t going to fall in love with a pushy, pie baking saleswoman, no matter how sweet she tastes.

***

J.K. Coi, author of the Immortals Series
--book 4, Forever Immortal, is to be released June 16, 2009

Blurb:

Forever becomes a lot more complicated when you’re immortal...

Immortal Series, Book 4

Eight years ago, science and reason ruled Gideon Bennett’s life. Until the death of an Immortal triggered a physical transformation, forcing him out of the laboratory and into a world of violence for which he was ill prepared. Now a seasoned warrior, he is still haunted by his one massive failure—and the face of the woman he couldn’t save.

Lyssa James wasn’t looking for trouble when she set out to enjoy a night on the town away from her dead-end job and obnoxious ex-boyfriend. Instead she got a first-class ticket to a demon hell dimension where she was trapped for eight long years.

Now she’s finally escaped...only to run into the man who failed her. Neither of them are the same people they were eight years ago, but getting reacquainted is the least of their worries.

One of the nastiest demons from the Abyss is on the loose, and it threatens not only their lives…but the future of humanity.

***

Leah Braemel, author of Private Property, and Personal Protection

Blurb:

She can cover him with one hand tied behind her back. Maybe two.

Hauberk Protection, Book 2

Sam Watson excels at keeping other people safe. Now a stalker is targeting him, but so what? A few doctored photos and a couple threatening phone calls are no big deal. He can watch his own back. Then again, the view from behind the sexy spitfire assigned to protect him isn’t so bad…

Rosalinda Ramos has managed to keep her attraction to Hauberk Security’s owner tightly under wraps. It’s just as well he doesn’t know. One slip—in the bedroom or on the job—will cost her her heart and her career, so she’s got only one thing on her mind. Protect Sam, whether he wants it or not.

The stakes—and the heat—rise exponentially when she discovers Sam belongs to an exclusive sex club—one she must investigate for potential suspects. Suddenly she finds herself immersed in a world that pushes her boundaries.

Sam delights in leading Rosie deep into his sexual shadows—until they go one game too far. Making him wonder if he can allow the woman he loves to take a bullet for him.

The Ugly Side to Writing

You know how I'd written that Dani wanted to know what happens behind the scenes once you got "the call"? Well, it's not all fun and games. Especially lately.

I'd already been feeling ticked off this morning because I got my royalty statement in and discovered that a single pirating site, in ONE week, had three times the number of downloads of one of my stories than I'd sold the whole of last MONTH. And that's not as bad as the rate some other authors are ripped off - just ask Cora Zane.

It's not an uncommon story, ask any author whether epubbed or in print. Yes, just because your book is issued in print-only format does not mean your book won't be scanned and released as an e-book for download within hours of its release.

But this morning I was Googling my name to see if it appeared on any other pirate sites and found that someone had posted a story they'd written but attached my name to it as if I were the author. Not a fanfic story, they weren't mimicking my style or using my characters, but using my name as if I'd written their story. Melany Rust, I am not impressed. I tried to leave a comment on your story asking you to please remove my name from it but you have disabled that ability from your journal. In trying to deceive your readers by using my name you are infringing upon my trademark.


Here's the trademark infringement statute for using someone else's name on your work according to the US Federal Lanham Act:

Sec. 1125. - False designations of origin, false descriptions, and dilution forbidden

(a) Civil action

(1) Any person who, on or in connection with any goods or services, or any container for goods, uses in commerce any word, term, name, symbol, or device, or any combination thereof, or any false designation of origin, false or misleading description of fact, or false or misleading representation of fact, which -

(A) is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association of such person with another person, or as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of his or her goods, services, or commercial activities by another person ...

Bloody hell, I'm wasting more time tracking and going after these f*ckers than I am spending writing these days.

Defining Moments

Welcome to Snippet Saturday. Each Saturday participating authors will present an excerpt from a published work according to a pre-arranged theme. This week's theme is "Defining Moments." The interesting part about Snippet Saturday is it's up to the author to decide how to interpret the theme. For some it may be something that happens during the course of the story that causes the hero or heroine to become the person they will be by the end of the book. When I was writing Personal Protection, Sam's defining moment was what caused him to become the person he was. (The one that changes the one he becomes by the end of the book would give the book away, LOL)

***

He [Sam] scrubbed his hands across his face. “A little over eight years ago, while I was still with the FBI, the Bureau had been tracking a serial killer who targeted members of the scene. It started with two separate incidents in California. The killer shot his victims then ritually mutilated their bodies. When it made the news, police departments in Miami and Chicago realized they’d had similar cases over the previous couple of years. A couple months later, a group were killed in a dungeon scene in Houston that had the same markers. They had a general description of the suspect, and a credible tip that he’d headed here to D.C. The Porte didn’t exist at that time, but there was a fairly active Dungeon scene. Back then there was no membership vetting as such. Anyone could show up at a couple of munches, talk the talk, get an invite to the scene and they’d be let in. No one knew your background or if you were there for the scene or to blackmail someone."

“I remember reading about it in the news. I was in college at the time so I didn’t pay much attention, but I remember being surprised that someone hadn’t been hurt before.”

“These groups are usually pretty good at sniffing out anyone who might cause problems, and they let other groups know of any nutjobs to be wary of. Anyway, Chad was the Supervisory Special Agent in Charge; he decided to send a team in undercover in hopes that we’d find the killer before he struck again.”

“How did they choose you? Or were you already part of the scene?”

“I wasn’t into the scene at the time, but when you apply to the FBI they do a full background check and I guess they learned a few things from a couple old girlfriends. As you’ve already figured out, I was—am—more liberal about sex than most.”

“I imagine going to a place where women are required to treat you like you’re their lord and master was a huge sacrifice,” she said drily.

Irritation radiated off him as he shoved himself off the bed and began pacing. “When you start off in the scene, even if you’re a Dominant, especially if you’re a Dominant, you undergo training to learn how to properly handle a sub. Not all clubs work that way, but this one did.”

“Let me guess, Leash Handling 101? How about Flogging for Dummies?” He’d stopped pacing, his back turned to her, the muscles on his arms bulging as he tensed. She shook her head, “It was a joke. I’m sorry. I’ll stop being such a smart ass. Go on.”

“In order to be a good Master, you have to learn what you’re asking of your slaves. So you start off as a sub.”

She couldn’t stop her laughter and quickly clamped her hand over her mouth at the mental picture of Sam wearing a leather dog collar while meekly being led around on a leash. More likely he’d rip the leash out of the person’s hands and drag them behind him. “I’m sorry. I just can’t picture you submitting to anyone.”

After he’d shot her another look sideways, he continued, “I had to serve a mistress who acted as my mentor and taught me techniques that would help me be a good Dominant while—” he hesitated, swallowing hard, “—the other agent who volunteered pretended to be my girlfriend who wanted to learn how to be a good sub.”

“And this was with the FBI’s blessing?” What the hell type of report would have to be filed?

“We had to give reports to our supervisor regularly, yes.”

“But no one in the club knew you were there as spies though?”

He scratched the long scar down the middle of his chest. “Cooper was in charge of the scene even back then, so he knew who we were, but he thought it best if no one else knew. Thalia is Chad’s sister. At the time she knew he was sending someone in, but not exactly who. Since she was the most experienced Domme, we were assigned her as our trainer. I guess she suspected that we weren’t who we said we were, but since there’d been a lot of emails flying around the scene about the murders, she wasn’t sure if we were the killers or her brother’s agents. So she questioned us.”

Something about the way he said it told her the questioning was more than a standard interrogation. “What happened?”

There was a long silence but whether he was lost in his memories or trying to decide just how much information she could handle, she couldn’t tell. He finally settled for “Unless you’ve been part of the scene, you couldn’t understand, but there are techniques a Dom can use to scramble a sub’s circuits so they’ll not be able to dissemble. Neither of us broke cover but Thalia deduced enough to realize we’re the good guys.”

There was more to the story, but she didn’t want him to lose momentum, so she decided to jump ahead. “Did you ever catch the killer?”

His hand drifted to the star-shaped bullet wound and his expression hardened. “Eventually.”

***

Next week's theme will be "First Kiss."

Links to this week's participating authors excerpts:

Lauren Dane
Cynthia Eden
Vivi Anna
SJ Day 
Moira Rogers 
Mandy Roth
Anya Bast
Viv Arend 
Juliana Stone
Savannah Foley 
Beth Williamson
Elisabeth Naughton 
Michelle Pillow
Jaci Burton 
Taige Crenshaw
McKenna Jeffries
Sasha White

A new feature tomorrow!

Hmm, I did a double post yesterday. I've been so distracted lately, I hadn't even realized it until now. Ah, well, that leaves me today to announce my participation in Snippet Saturdays which starts tomorrow.



Each Saturday a group of authors such as Lauren Dane, Jaci Burton, Anya Bast, TJ Michaels, Shelli Stevens, Moira Rogers, Cynthia Eden and a whole host of other authors including yours truly will be posting excerpts based upon that day's theme. (Not all authors will be participating each week--links will be added at the bottom of each blog so you can compare their excerpts of that week's participating authors.)

Some of the themes will be "defining moment" or "first kiss" or "fight scene (physical)", or this one I found really interesting and can't wait to see "Character Seduction Fail".

It'll introduce you to some new, or maybe familiar, authors and let you compare styles. See you then ...

I was where?

I Google my books, I admit it. But I have to admit I'm chuckling during my searches for Personal Protection. It's coming up in some very interesting, rather unusual places. Like this blog about protective apparel. I'm guessing they do an automatic Google search for links without screening them first.

Bean Soup recipes also thought I was link worthy. Probably for the post I did entitled "Milestones (Not the restaurant)" Hate to tell you guys, I wasn't talking recipes, beans or restaurants. Well, okay, maybe a generic restaurant as in ordering mimosas or hoisting a beer in Fort Worth with a friend.

I also found my blog list here under Crime Prevention and Personal Protection blog Posts form Google. I've been toying with the idea of interviewing various Law Enforcement officials for a post each week, looking for a different way to ensure you stay safe. Now I'm wondering if this would be a good place to start. Hey, guys, if any of you do read my blog and have some advice to offer/want to be interviewed, contact me, eh?

Leah as Leia?

To lighten things up again, I totally stole this from Lynn Viehl over on Paperback Writer - where does she manage to find the time to find these wonderful timewasting sites and still write as much as she does?



Explanations for my choices: I've given myself Princess Leia hair - hey, it's pronounced the same way even if George spelled it differently. (There's also an inside joke on that one too which people who know my real name may get.) Yes, the tea in my cup is always cold by the time I remember to drink it. The scarf is in honor of my love of the first Harry Potter books - couldn't get the Gryffindor colors, this is as close as I could get. And the Star Trek uniform? Maybe you remember I told you that I first started writing when my sister and I wrote Star Trek fanfic way back in the '60s when Star Trek the Original Series was in its first run. The book in my hand - well, it was a tough choice between a book and a light saber - back to the Star Wars reference. There was also a neat severed head I considered. But I figured I'm a bookworm, so I'd go with the book. And the cape? Because I've always wanted a super hero cape! So there.

A self-indulgent post

This post is completely for my own ego as I bask in the fact that Personal Protection went up to #2 on the My Bookstore and More Bestsellers' List. I'm probably so much more thrilled because yesterday was a release day, and I'd expected to be bumped by the new books.



That is all.

Oh! NO, it's not. I'm still looking for comments on yesterday's blog about what you like to find on author's webpages. And don't forget, if you haven't entered Moira Roger's Get Hooked Contest, there's still time. (Click on "Enter Here" on the sidebar widget.)

What do you like?

As I wrote the other day in my Milestones post, my critique partner Dani suggested a while back that I write blogs about what happens "after the sale." Today I was emailing Dani, talking about all the promotional things I've been doing - and still have to do to keep my name "out there" and continue to sell copies of Personal Protection.

You've seen my talking about the guest blogging I've done, you've watched the video trailers I've made for all my stories, and the free stories I've written and participated in contests. (Don't forget about the Get Hooked on a Series contest that's still ongoing. You can enter on the sidebar widget.)

I've been considering updating my website lately - adding a "added features" type section to it sort of like DVD's have nowadays. I was thinking of writing interviews of my characters like I've already done of Jodi for JK Coi's blog back in January, or the interview of Sam I posted on Erotic Muses last week. I've been playing around with the idea of actually creating a "Hauberk Protection" fake website on WordPress. Having an org chart, and pages for each of the offices and managers. But that would be a ton of work, especially since I know nothing of WordPress and coding these days is too challenging. (That's why I hired Rae Monet to design and care for my website - I tried creating my own and gave up in short order.)

But is it a waste of time and energy? So here's your chance to tell me -- what would you like to find on an author's website? Book titles, obviously. Excerpts, of course.

But what else do you look for? Do you view those bonus features on DVD's? Do you like free reads? Would you get a kick out of seeing the characters interviewed or would you like to read deleted scenes? Would you like to see what an actual page of edits from my editor or copywriter looks like? (Assuming my editors would agree to let me put up such a post.)

What would make you go "Squeee!" if you found it on my website?

And no, that doesn't mean I'll put up my book to download for free. Sorry. I've lost enough money to pirates, thank you.

Putting Faces to Names, Part 3

I figured it was time to lighten up a little and give you a little eye candy.

Last year, Amy Ruttan suggested I find pictures for my characters - not only for inspiration but also to use when I'm trying to describe my characters to the cover artists. A while back I put up the pictures of how I saw Sam and Rosie, etc. Here's who I'm working on now.

Joy, a former moderator from the Samhain Cafe, twittered to me the other day wondering about Chad's story, figuring it would be next in the Hauberk series. To be honest, I thought it would be too. But it turned out Chad decided to be ornery and wanted more time before I got him hitched. So if you've been following this blog, you'll know I'm instead writing Andy's story. Andy's an ex-DC cop, who has been working with Hauberk for three years now.

Andy:

Here's a small excerpt from Personal Protection about him:

Considering he’d probably run about six miles, he’d barely worked up a sweat. A tad less than six feet, he wasn’t the typical body-builder people expected from a bodyguard. Today’s shirt had "I’m the man your mother warned you about" silk-screened across the chest, which most people meeting him for the first time would believe. Especially once they got a look at the tattoos completely covering his left arm and shoulder that made most people think he was a member of Hell’s Angels instead of one of the highest level operatives in Hauberk. But if they talked to him they’d discover he was a soft-spoken man who didn’t swear, didn’t smoke or drink and had manners that would stand him in good stead at Buckingham Palace.

He doesn't swear. OMG, that's been such a challenge for potty-mouthed me. The not-smoking is fun to play with since I've paired him with Scott who is a smoker, especially when he's stressed out. And considering Scott has just escaped from a Colombia terrorist group where he suffered a LOT Of stress, Scott's now smoking like a proverbial chimney. (see the link below - I see Scott as Colin Farrell.)I've gone back and forth on who would play Andy. For a while I saw him more as a younger Russell Crowe. I think maybe I see him as a combination of both men. (Good thing I didn't cast Colin Farrell as Andy - from what I've seen, CF can't go 5 words without dropping the F bomb. Although I'm not sure how successful RC would be either.)

That's Karl Urban. Bones from the new Star Trek movie, or for me, I'll always think of him as Eomer from Lord of the Rings - especially that scene in Return of the King when he's charging the orks on the fields in front of Gondor. (Andy has a goatee, not a beard the way Karl has here.)


I am still googling tattoos to find just the right type of design he has on his arm/shoulder since it's one he keeps adding to.

Andy's brother, Daniel
Michelle Rowen inspired me by posting a picture of Josh Holloway from Lost on her blog. I saw that picture and immediately envisioned him as Andy's brother, Daniel. (My bad for not watching Lost. I tried, but I just couldn't get into it. Sorry, Michelle.)

Hmm, I think I have a thing for scruffy guys in this one, LOL. And yes, Daniel rides a motorcycle (not a Harley, but a Ducati) and wears lots of leather *grin*

The heroine:
The love interest for both of them? Well, this is how I envision Charlene (Charley) Larsen ... the lovely Alicia Keyes.

Next question is, do they both end up with her? Well, you'll have to wait and see, won't you?

(Actually I'm still wondering ... this sucker is taking forever to finish thanks to my second guessing EVERYTHING. Second Book Syndrome strikes again. Even though this is my third.)

(I find it ironic that I've taken photographs off the web after posting about piracy. If any of the photographers objects to the photo being posted, just let me know. If any of the artists objects, or wishes to substitute a different picture, feel free to contact me.)

In the words of Jack Black...

Don't be a Douche.

People are pirating copies of Personal Protection. Grrr.

Listen folks, you may think you're saving a couple bucks, but you're costing me money. I don't get a big fat-ass advance for these books. Most authors don't. Most of us have to have full-time jobs and write our books wedged in between all the other stuff we have to do. From the time I sat down with the original idea for Personal Protection to when it was finally released was over a year out of my life. A YEAR! If you work it out on an hourly rate, most authors make less than a migrant worker. When I got a contract I had to hire a lawyer - you paid a lawyer lately to know how costly that can get? I had to have a website designed, hosted and maintained. I've had to buy ads on websites, have banners and bookmarks made. It COST me several thousand last year and I hadn't earned a cent. I've paid out more than I've made already this year.

It's not the same as borrowing a book from the library (did you know in Canada, Canadian authors get a percentage everytime their book is borrowed?) In a library the book has to be bought, and then is loaned out to a person one at a time. With downloads HUNDREDS, if not THOUSANDS of copies can be made in a day. We're talking a MAJOR loss of income here, people. I know authors who have had more copies downloaded in 24 hours than they've sold in the lifetime of the book.

Every time you download a story thinking you're so clever, you're stealing from the author. Big time.

Milestones (Not the restaurant)

There are certain hallmarks along the road to publication that tell you you're on the right track. The first one is when you get that first compliment from someone in your critique group. But you shrug it off and think, "They're just being nice."

The next one (and this is a huge boost to an author's ego) is when you get a request from an agent or an editor. Now this may come several ways. Sometimes you've pitched your story to the editor in a face-to-face meeting. Very scary. I did this in Dallas two years ago. (Although personally I think most editors will say "send me the partial" because they don't like to say no to someone to their face and it's easier on everyone concerned. Didn't matter to me, I still went out for a mimosa with my critique partner Sue afterwards. And yes, the picture is of Sue raising a beer, but we really did go out for mimosas. (A "partial" means they want to see the first three chapters or 50 pages, they'll specify. A "Full" means they want to see the entire manuscript.)

Sometimes you've sent in an unsolicited partial to the agent or editor's "slush pile" via snail mail or email. To get a request from the editor or agent for a full if you've submitted that way is HUGE. That's what I did with Private Property. I didn't have a mimosa after Angela contacted me and asked for the "full" but I felt pretty happy for a few days afterwards.

If the editor or agent loves it, you get "The Email" or "The Call" where the agent or editor offers you a contract. HUGE HUGE HUGE. Happy dancing time, double mimosas if not straight up champagne. Angela sent me an email that I printed off and framed. (If they don't love it ... well, we're talking about positives here, we won't get into the blues of rejection.)

Next step? You receive the contract. Mine was 10 pages long plus a couple more pages of contact information I had to fill in. Actually reading all that fine print on pages and pages of legalese, initialing each page, and signing at the end? Exciting and scary. (Since I didn't have an agent, I hired a literary attorney to go over the fine points and make suggestions for changes - well worth it, in my humble opinion.)

Then you receive (not in specific order here): edits from your editor, forms to fill out regarding your cover art, line edits (that's all the grammar and punctuation edits from a copy editor) and the finished cover art (lots of squeeing and licking of covers goes on here. If it's a print copy, galleys are sent in there somewhere too - that's a printed copy that you have to proof read.(Something I've yet to experience.) And finally you receive the "Final Copy" that will be released to the buying public.

The next HUGE step that tells you you're an author? Release day. OMG, another cause for mimosas or champagne. If you're lucky, your spouse, being the thoughtful person they are, will take you out for a celebratory dinner after which you collapse in exhaustion while at the same time thinking "Is that all there is? My life hasn't changed at all."

Something I hadn't expected to celebrate was seeing my name on the publisher's Best Seller list. I figured, especially with Private Property, that I was a new author. Who'd know me? What would make my book sell over multi-published authors? I still have no idea, but the fact that Private Property hit #1 on the MBaM bestsellers list and stayed there for close to a week shall be a high point in my authorial career.

With Private Property I checked religious every day. With Personal Protection, I figure I'm up against some stiff competition, so I'm trying not to check it. But yesterday morning after I stumbled downstairs, Gizmo Guy greeted me with a "thumbs up."

"#4," he said with a grin.

"Huh?" was my erudite response.

"On your publisher's bestsellers list. Your book. It's number four on the list," GG patiently explained.


A little while later, I opened up my email and found a note from Sue saying the same thing. (I still hadn't checked, LOL) It still amazes me that other people are following me, and watching how I'm doing. It's a new experience for me because I tend to prefer staying in the shadows, but I know part of being published means I have to shoulder the lions share of the publicity.

Mixed into the pot here are the reviews - for Private Property I had to wait quite a few months, for Personal Protection - well, I got one the day before it released. To me that meant Chrissy, the reviewer, had been looking for my book. Another affirming moment for me. (Because it was a positive review - which doesn't always happen considering reading is so subjective.)

On Friday, I hit another personal milestone. I discovered Personal Protection listed on Amazon in their Kindle section. That was a real OMG moment. Amazon is a real puzzle the way they list things. When Private Property was released, I kept checking to see if it was there. I'm not sure why it's not, they do carry novellas, but Private Property never made it. A friend of mine has a full length book out with Samhain; it's been out for several months already, yet it's not available on the Kindle. Heck Lauren Dane was twittering last night that her book, Making Chase, has been out digitally for TWO YEARS, and out as a print book for a year, and yet it's STILL not up on the Kindle. Samhain keeps chasing after Amazon (yes, pun intended) but there's still no rhyme or reason as to when the book gets loaded, or the cover either.

So why is Personal Protection up already? I don't know. I don't care. I'm celebrating. (Yes, I know it doesn't have the cover yet - that's even out of Samhain's hands and is up to Amazon to put up.) But I've discovered that I'm checking it because Amazon have their own "ratings" comparing your sales to other books (Anyone remember Amazonfail?) When I first found it, PP2 was down in the 52,000s, by Friday night it was 29,411th in the ratings. It's slowly been going up and down since then. As I'm writing this on Saturday afternoon it's at 41,583. But whose counting? Okay, I guess I am. (Hey, I just discovered that Candy Havens' The Demon King and I is at 41,016! I guess that's a pretty acceptable number to be at! Although the numbers seem to be pretty fluid and fluctuate every time I hit refresh. But I'm not fixated on them. Honestly!)

**Edited** Hey, I checked this morning and I'm at 10,215! The word is getting out! But I'm still not obsessing. Honestly! **/edit**

So now I'm wondering, what's the next step, what's the next milestone to attain?

(Well, finishing my WIP and getting another contract, but that's already been experienced.) I think it'll probably be actually holding a book in my hands, a bound book with my name on the cover. That should happen next spring -- Personal Protection is supposed to be printed since it's a full length novel.

But other than that? Probably getting an agent. Or selling to New York. Two goals I haven't even aimed at yet. But they're there. And looming closer in the horizon every day. As long as I don't turn tail, that is.

Oh, and all those mimosas? In truth I've only had one - that one I had with Sue in Dallas. I think it's time to have another one, don't you think?

Playing for Change

Smart Bitches posted this video yesterday and I found myself so moved. I love the song to begin with but watching the way they mixed all these artists singing the song and how they merged together so beautifully, with such harmony brought tears to my eyes.

And here's how (and why) it was made:

End of an Era

The other day I was complaining about our neighbors and their hot-tubbing parties. All right, it was an outright rant. But it's been going on for 18 months, and it was 2 a.m.

Anyway, yesterday I saw this news article about the last truck rolling off GM's truck plant in our town and wondered if this is why they felt it necessary to party so late into the night. Maybe it wasn't a party so much as a wake. I know our neighbor works with GM, though I'm not sure if it's with the truck plant or one of the car plants here in Oshawa. He's gone through a few jobs with GM and its affiliates in the seven years we've lived here. When we moved in he told us how he had worked with GM but had been laid off so he retrained and was hired by Peregrine, a GM parts plant. Peregrine closed a few years back and GM rehired him. (That's quite a common tale around here.) Is he back on the unemployment lines now? Shall I forgive him?

Only if the hot tub parties end at 11 p.m. and let Gizmo Guy and I sleep. I'm forgiving but I'm not THAT forgiving.

Our town has been hit hard - a couple months ago, the unemployment rolls swelled by 99%. Looks like they've just taken another hit. Considering I've got a son about to graduate from high school, it's disheartening to tell him to look for a summer job when there are so many people out there looking for a job just to put food on the table. Makes me feel lucky.

GG has been laid off twice - once back on May 23, 2003. It came out of the blue, we had no warning. I will never forget the phone call at 8:05 a.m. and his stunned look when he hung up the phone. They'd laid off all their Canadian employees figuring they could send people from the States to do the jobs.

In over twenty years of working, he'd never not had a job. Working is his identity and taking that away from him was like stripping him naked and forcing him to walk down the street as Nelson Muntz yelled his famous "ha-ha". We'd just bought our house 11 months before, and I was terrified we were going to lose it. Guitar Hero was about to graduate high school and his tuition to college was due in full in a month. We paid it anyway, not knowing if we were going to be homeless two months later. But we figured his education came first. It took another four months before things shook out and GG's company hired him back. A little over a year later, that company was bought out by their competitor, and GG knew that, once again, the writing was on the wall. This time he had six months to prepare and found a new job. His new employers let him set his start date - which he arranged for six days after the old one ended so he'd get the buy-out package which has saved us since he had to accept a salary at 40% of what he was making. We now live in fear of him being laid off again since he's now low-man on the totem pole and our savings are nearly wiped out.

I can't say I've had a week go by where someone I know hasn't posted on a loop or twittered that they or their husband had been laid off/made redundant. My heart goes out to people who are facing unemployment. It's not fun. Here's hoping the economy picks up soon. For all our sakes.

Want to win one of my books?

Wander over to Hooked on Romance today where Nikki Duncan has interviewed me, and leave a comment. That'll enter you in a chance to win either Private Property or Personal Protection - your choice.

Something nice to wake up to ...

Buy it here!

Guest Blogging at ...

Don't forget I'm guest blogging over at Alisha Rai's today. Alisha's a new-to-Samhain author who has graciously invited me to play in her sandbox today.

I iz sleepin'. I hope.

OMG, I'd totally forgotten how the week before Private Property released, I stopped sleeping.It was my first release, I was entitled to be nervous/excited/scared sh*tless. But this was my second release. It should all be old hat to me now.

Um. Nope. This time I was even more nervous or something. I've been going to bed at the regular time but I'd roll around until about 2 or 3 before finally falling asleep. And then I'd be back up at 4:30 or 5 a.m. 3:30 yesterday, 5:05 today. What was keeping me awake? Thoughts that I had this blog post to do or that one, that interview to give, that pile of emails needed answering. I needed to make sure I did ... what? I can't remember? Which is why I couldn't sleep. What was it that I'd forgotten?

I hope this isn't indicative of any releases I have from here on in. (If I EVER have another release that is.)

So here I am up at 2:30, almost 22 hours ... Oh boy. WARNING WARNING: Leah's about to RANT: I was just about falling asleep at my desk when I heard yelling upstairs. Gizmo Guy has gotten up and is yelling out the window because our neighbors are partying in their hot tub again. GG NEVER yells. EVER. He just turns inward and gets real quiet. To have him yelling out the window is a first and tells me they've pushed him way past his limit.This has been going on for a year and a half now. They are in that damned hot tub during thunderstorms, freezing rain, and snow storms, yakking it up over the noise of the motor. They climb into it when the husband comes home from his shift at 11 p.m. and usually don't get out until 3 a.m. They put the damned thing right against the fence beneath our bedroom window and the sound carries up because of the water in the tub and the pool directly behind it. For the past 18 months, we have had to sleep with a white noise maker to block out their noise. GG just said that not only did he have the white noise machine going this evening, but also a fan and they still woke him up with their noise. So I might as well stay up until they quiet down. Which on Saturday night meant Sunday at noon. Yes, 12 hours in the frickin' thing. So even if I head to bed, doesn't appear I'm going to be getting much sleep anyway.

So if I don't surface for twenty-four hours, you now know why. I've crashed. Either that or GG and I have grabbed a hotel room and abandoned the place, hoping the neighbors will shrivel up into prunes and disappear. Yeah, I don't hold out much hope for that either.

Okay, I started this post just exhausted, now I'm exhausted and crabby. Not a good end of what should have been a good day.

Finally! Personal Protection releases today

OMG what a great way to kick off Personal Protection's release. Yesterday I received an email from Chrissy Dionne over at Romance Junkies telling me she's already reviewed it. And given it 5 Ribbons! Chrissy says:

I’ve been anxiously awaiting this story since first being introduced to Sam in the first HAUBERK PROTECTION book, PRIVATE PROPERTY. There was a sense of sadness and loneliness about him that defined him and made him impossible to forget. In PRIVATE PROTECTION readers will get the opportunity to know Sam much better and meet the lady strong enough to tolerate his bullheadedness. He’s not going to be able to intimidate her and that’s exactly what he needs. While Sam and Rosie are the primary focus of this story, there are plenty of other characters to incite the imagination and make you want to know more about them.

Leah Braemel has written a perfect follow up storyline to PRIVATE PROPERTY in PRIVATE PROTECTION. It’s not necessary to read the first book in order to enjoy this one but since events that happened in the first story are mentioned throughout this book I’d recommend you do so. Besides, you’d get a better feel and understanding of Sam and how he thinks if you read this series in order. I’m now very hopeful that we’ll see even more HAUBERK PROTECTION books in the near future since I’ve developed a real fondness for so many of these characters.

Click here to read the full review

And now you can read it too. Do you need to see the blurb again? Well, here it is anyway!

Sam Watson excels at keeping other people safe. Now a stalker is targeting him, but so what? A few doctored photos and a couple threatening phone calls are no big deal. He can watch his own back. Then again, the view from behind the sexy spitfire assigned to protect him isn’t so bad…

Rosalinda Ramos has managed to keep her attraction to Hauberk Security’s owner tightly under wraps. It’s just as well he doesn’t know. One slip—in the bedroom or on the job—will cost her her heart and her career, so she’s got only one thing on her mind. Protect Sam, whether he wants it or not.

The stakes—and the heat—rise exponentially when she discovers Sam belongs to an exclusive sex club—one she must investigate for potential suspects. Suddenly she finds herself immersed in a world that pushes her boundaries.

Sam delights in leading Rosie deep into his sexual shadows—until they go one game too far. Making him wonder if he can allow the woman he loves to take a bullet for him.

And here's where you can buy it!

And to give you the inside scoop on the glamorous life of this "multi-published author" on release day, stop over at The Samhellion blog this morning - find out what I'm really up to. "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille."

Guest blog spot #2

I'm interviewing Sam over at Erotic Muses today. Stop by and say hi ... and find out what I did to tick Sam off.

Excerpt Monday - Personal Protection

Today I'm participating in "Excerpt Monday" ... For those who are visiting from the Excerpt Monday site, welcome! Excerpt Monday is a brilliant idea created by two Romance Divas, Mel Berthier and Bria Quinland. On the "middleish" Monday of each month, you post an excerpt of your WIP or completed work, and link to other participants of Excerpt Monday. It's open to anyone, regardless of genre, and you don't have to be a member of the Romance Divas to participate.

This is an excerpt from tomorrow's release, Personal Protection. Definitely not a word-in-progress anymore. Next month, (June 15th) I'll post an unedited segment of Andy's story so you can get a glimpse of it.

For those of you not familiar with Personal Protection, here's the blurb:

Sam Watson excels at keeping other people safe. Now a stalker is targeting him, but so what? A few doctored photos and a couple threatening phone calls are no big deal. He can watch his own back. Then again, the view from behind the sexy spitfire assigned to protect him isn’t so bad…

Rosalinda Ramos has managed to keep her attraction to Hauberk Security’s owner tightly under wraps. It’s just as well he doesn’t know. One slip—in the bedroom or on the job—will cost her her heart and her career, so she’s got only one thing on her mind. Protect Sam, whether he wants it or not.

The stakes—and the heat—rise exponentially when she discovers Sam belongs to an exclusive sex club—one she must investigate for potential suspects. Suddenly she finds herself immersed in a world that pushes her boundaries.

Sam delights in leading Rosie deep into his sexual shadows—until they go one game too far. Making him wonder if he can allow the woman he loves to take a bullet for him.

The book is definitely R-rated, but this excerpt has been cleaned up to PG13. Since you're coming in mid-scene, the first speaker is Sam, the next one is Rosie ...

“It’s not a test. I was trying to be hospitable—it’s how my momma raised me. My daddy taught me to look after myself—which is why having you—anyone—babysit me while they’re waiting around for someone to try to take a potshot at me sticks in my craw.”

“That’s precisely what Hauberk hired me to do. It’s understood that we’re agreeing to protect our principals by whatever means necessary.”

“Yeah, well…if it comes down to taking a bullet for me, don’t.”

“I’m supposed to let them shoot Hauberk’s owner and president?” She crossed her arms and waited for him to answer.

He lifted the bottle to his lips and hesitated, his gaze dropping down to her cleavage and the three buttons she’d left undone.

He muttered something under his breath that sounded rather like “death of him” but she couldn’t be sure. Her theory about him having a death wish started niggling again. Had he done something he was ashamed of? Did he feel he deserved a bullet for whatever he’d done?

“How will you protect me if you’re dead?” he demanded. “I’m not the president with over two hundred agents who can jump in if one falls. If someone shoots me, you’ll follow standard Hauberk procedure—keep yourself safe, and get me the hell out of Dodge. You can get me medical care once you’re clear of any danger.” He finished his beer and stashed the empty bottle in a bin under the sink then stalked out to the living room.

Once he’d flipped on the large flat screen to a football game, she knew it was time to change tactics. She wandered around the apartment, waiting for a commercial break before picking up a picture of a woman with similar golden skin and high cheekbones. She already knew who it was, she’d been through his file, but wanted to keep him relaxed. Hoping to project a casual manner, she asked, “She’s pretty, who is she?”

“That’s my little sister, Sarah.” His defensiveness dropped, pride filling his voice.
“She graduated medical school last year and is doin’ her residency in Atlanta.”

“And this lady?” She picked up the picture of a Hawaiian woman in traditional Hawaiian garb with dark hair and high cheekbones, and Sam’s beautiful smile.

“That’s my momma.” His entire face softened as he looked at the picture. “After Pop died, she moved back to Hawaii.” His brow creased. “If she calls, don’t tell her that you’re here to protect me, all right?”

“She’ll get upset?”

Sam snorted. “More likely she’ll get on a plane and come here to try to run the detail herself. She was a nurse with the Army—served in ’Nam for two tours—that’s where she met Pop. I swear she’s a mind reader because you can’t get away with anything when she’s around.”

The next picture was one of Mrs. Watson and a small boy with a full head of black curls. Before she could ask, Sam sneered. “Yeah, that’s me. And if you say how cute I was, I’ll kick you out.”

“I won’t.” But she wanted to.

He ran a hand over his stubble. “And don’t tell me you’d like me to grow it out because I’m tall enough as it is without lookin’ like someone parked a goddamned poodle on my head.”

Rosie couldn’t help but laugh as she moved along the mantel and picked up the next picture. Sam in leather pants and motorcycle jacket, standing by a black and chrome Harley, the Washington Monument in the background. It was the look of adoration on his face as he smiled at a curvy redhead wrapped up in his arms that had caught Rosie’s attention when she’d first seen the picture earlier that day.

“That’s Jill Hoskins.” A bleak look crossed his face as he turned his head to stare out the window. “She died two weeks after that picture was taken.”

Carefully setting the picture back on the mantel, Rosie murmured, “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. So am I,” he replied even quieter, one of his hands rubbing idly at his chest. After a moment, he hit the remote and unmuted the television, focusing on the scrimmage instead.

She waited until halftime before speaking again. “Has Chad told you about Troy loaning us one of his operatives to help out?”

“Yeah, Scott Phillips.” Sam’s scowl and something that sounded like it would be a particularly filthy curse in what might have been German. “If anyone should be on vacation, it’s Scott. Instead Troy sics him on me. Do him a favor—give him a pile of files to check out or something. Keep him busy, will ya? He sits around with nothin’ to do, he’ll drive himself crazy second-guessing himself.”

Without another word, he stalked from the kitchen and headed down the hall to his bedroom. Obviously she needed to take a look at Phillips’ file herself and find out why he deserved a vacation. A burnt out operative definitely wouldn’t help protect Sam.

Thirty minutes later, a rhythmic noise had her peeking around the door. Wearing only a pair of shorts, Sam was working out on a rowing machine. His shoulder muscles rippled and his thighs bulged as he hauled on the pulley. Rosie stood in the doorway, entranced by a bead of sweat as it rolled down his forehead and slid down his neck.

He’s your boss, her conscience hissed. She fled to the safety of the living room, wondering if she was fleeing Sam, or the strength of her desire.

Other Excerpt Monday links:

Be warned, I haven't screened these sites, some are adult, some aren't - I've put the ratings in for you to choose what you want to read. And as I said, some people are choosing to put up works-in-progress, and others are from released or almost-released books.

Mel Berthier, Urban Fantasy (PG-13)
and
Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG)

Joining us this week:

Melissa Aires, Paranormal Erotic Romance (PG)

Gina Ardito, Historical Paranormal (PG)

Evie Byrne, Paranormal (R)

Jax Cassidy, Erotic Contemporary (R)

Lynne Chandler, Romantic Suspense (PG 13)

Ella Drake, Erotic Paranormal Romance (NC-17)

Cate Hart, YA (R)

Kinsey W. Holley, Paranormal (PG)

Babette James, Fantasy Romance (PG-13)

Cynthia Justlin, Romantic Suspense (PG)

Kaige, Historical Romance (PG-13)

Inez Kelley, Rom Com (R)

Ainslinn Kerry, Paramornal Romance (R)

Ansha Kotyk, Middle Grade Adventure (PG 13)

Adelle Laudan, Romantic Suspense (PG 13)

Jeannie Lin, Historical (PG)

Elise Logan, Paranormal/contemporary (R)

RF Long, Fantasy (PG)

Crista McHugh, Historical Paranormal Romance (PG-13)

Suzanne McLeod, Urban Fantasy (R)

Alina Morgan, Urban Fantasy (PG 13)

Annie Nicholas, Paranormal Romantic Suspense (R)

Kirsten Saell, Erotic Romance/Fantasy (NC-17)

Vivienne Westlake, Historical Erotica (R)

Kate Willoughby, Fantasy/Parnormal Erotic Romance (NC-17)

Guest blog spot #1 today

Since JK Coi is on vacation this week, I've hijacked her blog today - I'm blogging about how the internet has helped me worldbuild and keep my facts straight. Traffic cams, Google Earth, blue prints, make it all so easy to help me spy on my characters.

Happy Mother's Day

Blue Monkey's Mom sent this to me last night, and I loved it and thought I'd share it with you:

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
They don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother....

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned..

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

Talented Pooches

Someone over on one of my loops posted the link to this advertisement. I'd never seen it before, but we used to have a dog who would act like this ...(I've always had a soft spot for bulldogs.)

I wondered how they trained the dog, and then I found this video -- the bulldog actually rides a skateboard:

A post for my own blog!

Whoa. What happened? I actually get to blog here today, instead of sending you off to a guest blog I've done somewhere else. I knew I had deadlines for the upcoming guest blogs so I figured I'd get them out of the way early yesterday morning. (I'd gotten up at 5:30 AM since Gizmo Guy had to be out of the house early) I wrote 2400 words. NONE of which was for Andy's story, but all for blogs. *sigh*

Since I've been burning out brain cells coming up with all these guest blogging spots, I got desperate and totally borrowed these videos from Yasmine Galenorn's Witchy Chicks blog. They're just too good not to post here.

This one is so sweet, it'll mellow you right out:




This one ... well, you have to watch this one. And then you'll probably go after me because that song ... OMG the song ...



Oh, and don't forget about the "Get Hooked" Contest. Spread the word!

Guest blogging at ...

I'm guest blogging over at Nikki Duncan's today. I first met Nikki over at Candy Haven's Fast Draft back in 2006. And now we're both contracted authors with Samhain. How cool is that?

Here's to Another 31

Happy Anniversary, Gizmo Guy

Well, okay, technically it's Happy Anniversary to me too. Thirty-one years ago today - yes, folks that makes it 1978 when we got married. Before some of you were born. (Or maybe just after, *cough*Amy Ruttan*cough*) It's also our sixteenth anniversary since we renewed out vows on our 15th anniversary. I've always told Gizmo Guy that means he owes me two presents.

Neither of us look anything like what we did back then. (I wanted to post a picture of what we look like now, but do you know, the last time we had a picture of both of us together, it was for our 15th anniverary. I guess I need to bite the bullet and get one done. If I can convince Gizmo Guy to let someone take a picture of us. Both of us prefer to be on the other side of the lens.)

Over the years, a lot has happened both good and bad to test us, yet we've stuck together when none of our friends who married around the same time lasted more than 7 years. In fact, two couples didn't even make it to their first anniversary. How did we manage to stay together so long, even when life threw its worst at us? Because we're best friends. We laugh together, talk everything over, and enjoy getting downright silly at times. And we respect the hell out of each other and allow each other to have their opinions even if they're different from our own. Without respect, you've got nothing.

Two Interviews in One Day

I've got two interviews up. While I knew one was going up today, I had no idea the other would be scheduled so soon. Take a wander over to Hooked on Romance and see what I have to say about Personal Protection, and my work-in-progress.


I've also got an interview over at The Long and The Short of It's Whipped Cream Reviews (it's a clean post, no sex, no swearing, I promise.) WC are also hosting me as their "Featured Author" on their Yahoo group tomorrow. Stop on by and say Hi.

Want to win a book?

50 books * 50 winners * 50 series

Moira Rogers is hosting a huge "Get Hooked" contest -- there are 50 books up for grabs, including a copy of Private Property. It's really simple to enter, too. There's a widget over on my sidebar so you can scroll through - then go here for full instructions and to enter.

The contest couldn't be simpler. Browse the books. Click on the covers to read blurbs and excerpts and find out more about the authors. Figure out which books you're dying to read, and then enter! The form on Moira's page lists the fifty books up for grabs, and all you need to do to get in on the contest is check the box next to the books you're interested in winning.

The contest starts today, May 5th, and will run until June 2nd at 12:01 am. (To ensure fairness, entries are restricted to one per household.)

Monitoring my vision, an interview, and a contest

All right, I have to admit it, I'm starting to feel old. It's all thanks to my eyesight. Last year I blogged about having to wear two pair of glasses since my prescription is so screwed up that my trifocals don't have enough room for me to focus on the middle distance level. I got a second pair of glasses so I could work on my computer without having tears streaming down my face as my eyes strained so badly.

Recently Gizmo Guy noticed that while my monitor is a proper distance in the morning, when he comes home at night, it's pulled right to the edge of my desk and I'm leaning over the keyboard squinting at it. My middle distance glasses have stopped working. I've changed my fonts on Firefox to LARGEST, but then the menus on screens like iGoogle all run together. In Word, I work in "Text Width" which blows the fonts up to 150%, and I still can't read them without squinting. *sob*

Since we've got an anniversary coming up, and since it's my "BIG" birthday in a few months as well (NO NO NO, I can't be turning THAT age! Say it ain't SO!) GG bought me a new monitor and put it up for me today. It's a 22" wide screen with HDMI. It's beautiful. I can see wearing my "distance" glasses without squinting.



I can read my screens on Word again! But look at these screens - look how large everything is. When the boys looked at it they snickered and turned away. "OLD LADY" I could imagine them saying. (The screen's straight it's my picture that's crooked.)


Most programs adapt, but I've been using Outlook Express lately (not my favorite program, but it is the only program I have that will attach my banners and let me put links in for my books.) Though you can change how the messages display, I've not found a method to change the text on the folders or the list of emails waiting to be opened. If anyone can tell me how to make them bigger, leave a comment, will you?

Tomorrow Long and Short of It's Whipped Cream section is posting an interview I did. Take a gander over there tomorrow - and don't forget to come back here. There's a huge contest starting tomorrow and I'll be posting the details on how you can win one of 50 books.

What Do You Want to Know About?

OMG where the heck has time gone? It's May 3rd already. Personal Protection releases in less than two weeks and I'm no where near ready. In order to determine a marketing strategy, I've been spending a ton of time examining my website stats, trying to figure out which ads have worked. And which haven't. Strangely enough the most hits I received in April came from a quote I gave to Kimber Chin for her to use in a blog she did. Not the cover ads I've paid for, not the blog posts I've done, not even my twittering. A mention in someone else's blog got me hundreds of hits. Weird. (Yes, I immediately booked myself a spot on that sites' blog. If I can get that type of response from a mere mention, what'll I get for having my post? Probably none, LOL. Marketing is strange.)

In the meantime, I've started my blog hopping. When I read someone else's blog and discover a cover, a blurb, and an excerpt, I'll be honest. I click off. That's a glorified ad. If the author can't take the time to put some thought into their post, why should I waste my time? However, if the author is talking about the process of writing the book, I'm more likely to stick around andread their post, and scan their excerpt.

Therefore, I'm trying to make each blog post unique. I also try to choose a subject that ties in with whatever book is coming out. (Boy, does that ever sound weird -- whatever book is coming out -- OMG I have TWO books out, and two freebies. Holy Moly, that makes me sound like a real author!)

However, I often wonder what readers want to know. So here's your chance - tell me what type of blogs you read, what gets you to stay on the page and read. Or what do you want to know about Personal Protection or me? Have at it!