Scandalous...magnets?

I received a pretty fantastic gift from my sister for my birthday last month. It's cringe-worthy yet hysterical, inspiring yet horrifying.

It's....Magnetic Poetry.

Now, it's not just any Magnetic Poetry set. Sure, there are the typical words, such as his, her, the, a, is, have. But with this set, there's so, so much more. For example...

Yeah, you read that right. "His body intertwined with her uncharted continent, but he secretly longed for his mistress."

SCANDALOUS!

(I'm giggling like a schoolgirl.)

So, random romance novel, er, poetry (for lack of a better word) will be showing up here and there, at random. 

Oh, don't thank me. Thank my sister. :)

(Wand of pleasure? Really?! Fantastic...
And I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of these!)

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So....I was chosen as an Avon Addict!

I am very excited to announce that I'm one of the newest members of Avon's "Avon Addicts," which is a group of super-readers chosen by the good folks over at Avon (HarperCollins imprint for romance novels).

I was one of 25 people chosen out the hundreds of applicants. This means that not only will I be reviewing new books, but I may have some author interviews and swag/books for giveaways! That's awesome news for all you romance lovers out there!

I'm honored to be a part of this group, which includes dedicated readers, editors, and publishing professionals. The reviews I'll be posting on a weekly basis will be up here on my blog, on Goodreads, on the book's page at Amazon, BN, and anywhere I else I can get a posting up. I hope these reviews will help you to spend your book dollars wisely.

I can't wait for my first shipment to arrive - this is truly a book lover's (specifically a romance book lover's) dream come true!!

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A new season, a new book...

This new book I've got percolating in my head (and that I've started getting down on paper) is about a Boston catering professional and the son of a New England farmer - a farm boy with a city edge...and a one-night stand that may end up as a happily-ever-after, if the two of them could just stop arguing long enough for nature to take its course!

The caterer, Julia Emerson, has these three best friends - Gina, a down-to-earth lingerie model (she's pretty awesome), Rachel, an ASPCA worker who can't help but rescue every animal she can, and Hayley, a schoolteacher at a local prep school who is calm and rational (until her friends get her liquored up). Don't they sound fun? Well, they are. They talk so fast to each other that I can barely keep up on the keyboard!

Here's one of their many conversations. This was one of their rapid-fire conversations - keeping up with them is a challenge, but I admit that it's the most fun I've had with characters in awhile. In this part-of-a-scene, they're leaving their after-dinner drink establishment and walking down Newbury St in Boston.

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"I am going to set you up," Gina announced.

"Oh God, no," the three of us chimed.

I took the lead. "No, G, really. That's a bad idea. I don't want to date a model. No offense. I've decided I want to marry Rach."

"Me?" Rachel looked inordinately pleased.

"Definitely. You clean, I cook. You take me to animal society events, and I make crème brûlée for you to eat late at night."

"Keep talking, Emerson," Rachel encouraged as we gathered up our belongings and headed out. "I'm halfway in love with you already."

"What about the sex?" Gina asked, completely ignoring the myriad amounts of drool she elicited from the various men we passed. I loved that about her.

"No sex," I said simply. "Too much drama when you add sex into it."

"My answer is yes," Rachel informed me. "Hey, we're engaged!" she yelled to a passer-by. He gave her the double thumbs-up, and we linked arms triumphantly.

"It's true that I'd totally choose you for my wife," I informed Rachel, considering, "but maybe I'd need Gina for sex on the side."

"What about me?" Hayley exclaimed. "And you just said no sex!"

"I reconsidered," I replied matter-of-factly.

"We'd be closet lovers, Hale," Rachel said, linking her other arm with Hayley. "You'd have a hard time coming out because of society's standards, but I still support you."

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Book Review - Geoducks are for Lovers by Daisy Prescott

TITLE:      GEODUCKS ARE FOR LOVERS by Daisy Prescott 

AUTHOR:  Daisy Prescott

STARS:     4 out of 5

BUY IT:    Amazon: $2.99 ebook, or $14.99 print

HOW I FOUND THIS NOVEL:
I came across this title before it was released. I began conversing with the author on Twitter (@Daisy_Prescott) via someone I'd met at the RWA New England Chapter's conference (Traci O. at Omnific Publishing, a cool indie publisher, check them out). Daisy proved to be funny, poignant and outrageously clever in 140 characters or less. I was intrigued...and then she posted her cover:

Copyright Daisy Prescott

There was something about this cover that struck me. The rocks - I'd never seen such rocks before. And I knew there had to be some significance in that there were four of them...It's a beautiful cover. As I read hundreds of books every year, I made it a rule not to purchase a book based solely on the cover...however, once I saw this cover, I knew I had to read it. (Yeah, broke my own rule, blah blah blah...)

Breaking that rule was worth it.

Forty-something Maggie Marrion is finally settled into her life on Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest after a couple of really bad years. An upcoming college reunion - her 20th - inspires her to invite her four closest friends out to the island for a re-union catch-up. These friends - Quinn, a fabulously gay artist; Selah, a sexy part-time erotica novelist; and Jo and Ben, the college couple who married and live (on the surface) a perfect life - 2 kids, great home, nice cars, picket fence - all agree to come up to her beach-side cabin for a fun- and memory-filled weekend.

Quinn and Selah, however, plan a surprise for Maggie, throwing a wrench in her otherwise uneventful plans for the weekend. Gil, her college love, is coming on the ferry with Selah. Gil and Maggie never fully fell out of love with each other, even though they both married (and divorced) other people, and have carved out careers and lives without the other.

When I opened the novel, I immediately realized two things: One, it starts with a definition of geoduck. Two, the book is written entirely in the present tense.

I appreciated the definition (I'd never heard of a geoduck, which is the world's largest burrowing clam), and it immediately made me wonder what a clam like that had to do with a story about 40-somethings. Geoducks look like...well, you can draw your own conclusions:

Copyright Dan Rothaus

Copyright geoduckrecipes.com

So what do these giant clams have to do with the rocks on the front cover, and 40-somethings during a weekend reunion at the beach?

This is what drew me - take three seemingly related things (rocks on a beach, suggestive seafood, and a weekend beach retreat) and blow them into something more. 

First, it must be said that there are great descriptions of the island that don't slow the reader (I loved going for island runs with these characters, it almost made me go for a real run...ha), and snappy, witty dialogue that makes me feel as though I stood in the kitchen, eating blueberry scones with the characters. 

Maggie is confronted with her feelings for Gil in ways she really never expected to face. She's a strong woman with her own happy, comfortable life. She's not lonely, she's not depressed, and she's not bogged down by feelings of guilt over her mother's passing (all of which are typical for story-starters in many books, we all know that). Prescott doesn't lead with any of those - she expects the reader to be smart enough to realize that while these things shaped Maggie, they aren't the whole picture. Maggie believes these things of herself, too - and is perfectly happy with her life.

Refreshing to come across a character who isn't overly dramatic about past happening, isn't it?! I thought so.

Enter Quinn - I want him to be my best friend. He really loves Maggie - it's obvious from their dialogue and shared history that he will do and has done anything and everything for her - and the feeling is mutual. I love this guy - he's fabulously gay, but not stereo-typically gay (a tough feat to pull off, and Prescott does it with aplomb and humor). 

Selah came off as a bit too nosy - she brings Gil without asking Maggie, which at first made me question what her deal was...as the story progressed, I understood that Selah wants only the best for her two friends, but I found her to be a bit too snobby for my liking. 

Jo and Ben rounded out the crew, and they didn't make too many appearances, giving me the feeling that they were there to show the "other side" of life - the marriage, the money, the family. I appreciated that they were in the story - it would've felt too machinated if they weren't (an entire group of friends who were either never married or divorced seems maybe unrealistic). Ben was a workaholic by design - he worries about keeping his job, bringing a dose of reality to the weekend - and Jo is a very relatable character in that she loves her life but sometimes just needs a break from the kids and being a housewife. She doesn't complain, but she gets her point across - just because it seems perfect rarely means it is.

It's clear from the moment we meet Gil that he still has deep feelings for Maggie (who hides from them at every turn). He's patient, and kind, and almost annoyingly perfect in his understanding of Maggie. He really would be annoying...but Prescott gives the distinct impression that Gil wouldn't be this way for anyone but Maggie, because he knows her. This is a definite case of a man who knows what he wants, knows what she wants, and isn't afraid to let nature take its course (with a few pushes from friends, and the help of Nutella s'mores). 

I'm not going to give anything else away, but let's just say that Maggie must determine if she is content to stay as she is (in her bubble, on her island), or if there might be more to life than what she thought. Her journey is a fascinating one that gives us that hopeful feeling that happiness can be attained in more ways than one, and love is not just for the younger, 20-30 year-old crowd.

So, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and I highly suggest you read it. It's not an in-your-face romance novel, nor is it a piece of literature that will demand super-deep thought processes. It's a wonderful blend of romance, hope, friendship and great writing that will draw you in and hold you tight until the last word on the page.

From the back cover: 

Food writer Maggie Marrion is just getting back on her feet after  a horrible year, or two, or three. With their twentieth reunion approaching, she invites four of her closest friends from college for a weekend at her beach cabin on Whidbey Island. What she doesn't expect is her best friends, artist Quinn Dayton and part-time erotica novelist, Selah Elmore, to play matchmaker. The two plot a surprise that will make the weekend, and her life, a lot more interesting.
Gil Morrow, former grunge musician turned history professor, joins them as Selah's date for the weekend. After coming face to face with the one who got away, he decides he's waited long enough to get the girl. With the support of old friends, a few wishing rocks, the world's largest burrowing clam, and a hot lumberjack thrown into the mix, Gil reminds Maggie that forty-something isn't too old for second chances. 

Comments welcome - let's discuss Geoducks are for Lovers! Post below :)

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Romance Book Reviews

Last week was a crazy, crazy writing week. I completed over 15,000 words of a novel, and most of it was good enough to keep! (If you've ever written a book, you know what I mean - you can write an entire scene, and, upon rereading it, realize it either has nothing to do with the story line or doesn't move the story forward. Trimming the fat is never easy, but always necessary.)

This week, I'm still writing like crazy, but thought I'd put a question to all you viewers out there (this blog, by the way, had over 400 unique visitors last week). I'm thinking of trying my hand at reviewing some romance books. I read enough of them - I average about 3 or 4 per week.

Any suggestions? What are some of your favorites? What's currently on your bookshelf/nightstand/Kindle/Nook?

Reply in the comments - if I pick your book, there may just be prizes! Email me if you have trouble commenting. 

image copyright Bell, Book and Candle

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Decisions, Decisions

I spoke with an editor at a romance publisher today. It was enlightening, and kind of a little scary.

For the past ten years, I've been writing in some way, shape or form. I've also been keeping up (as best an outsider can) with the romance industry - I've combed through Romantic Times magazines  stalked publishers and agents' websites to see what they were looking for, and followed all the advice I could find (that made sense for me, anyway).

And then, I get so close to publishing. SO. CLOSE.

My manuscript in the hands of editors at major publishing houses? Check. My manuscript in the hands of editors at smaller presses? Check. My manuscript in the hands of agents? Check.

They've all come back with the same kind of comments. Positive feedback: I like your writing. I love the voice. You can write. I laughed out loud. 

Negative feedback: We just can't market this. This romance sub-genre isn't selling. Readers want your voice...just not in your chosen sub-genre.

Frustrating? Of course. Disheartening? Actually...no.

The fact is, my own reading tastes have changed. Of course they've changed; no true book lover stays stagnant in only one thing. When I first started writing, all I read were time-travel romances. Lynn Kurland, Karen Marie Moning, Janet Chapman. My three favorites, all right there at my fingertips to enjoy. (I admit I haven't read Diana Gabaldon. I know, it's like I blasphemed right there. Forgive me.)

Now, I read many romance sub-genres  such as historicals (Regency England), contemporaries, some romantic suspense (but not a lot, I'm not a fan of heart palpitations, and I get really into a story). There's a "new" sub-genre that's called New Adult, focusing on the early twenty-somethings; I think those would be neat to read. 

But there really hasn't been much that excites me about what's out there for time-travel. 

This is when people may start chiming in with, This is a perfect opportunity to jump in and really blow the socks off of people! or, Your writing can really bring the sub-genre back to its glory days!

But the fact is...I'm not looking to do that. I'm looking to have a career, one that inspires others. I love writing. I love writing about people; the setting is secondary for me. And that's what makes this decision actually rather easy.

I'm hanging up my time-travel pen for now. For now. The market can't support it - and I understand and accept that. In the future (insert groan), when time-travel cycles back as it certainly will, I'll have something ready. And by that time, I'll have made a bit of a name for myself, so perhaps I'll be good enough to have a reader base that will be willing to give it a try, because I've proven to them that I can deliver on a well-told story. (That's always been my goal - a reader base who knows that when they pick up a book of mine, they're in good hands.)

After much work on the time-travel books, it's time to start writing what two editors and three agents have asked me for...and that's contemporary. Present-day people, present-day issues, and present-day setting. 

Letting go of my current book isn't going to be easy, but it's certainly doable. After all, I'm the writer. That means I get to be master of my universe, and right now, another galaxy is in need of creation. I'm on it. For better or worse. But the optimist in me thinks this is definitely for the better...perhaps, even, a happily-ever-after.

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Everyone Needs at Least One...

Lucy and Ethel.

Laverne and Shirley.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha.

I'm talking girlfriends, and a book (chick-lit, women's fiction and romance in particular) just isn't as good without at least one. In fact, life isn't as good without a girlfriend.

If you're lucky, you had friends in high school (I really was rather unlucky in that sphere). If you're really lucky, you carried one or more of those relationships throughout college (I was slightly more lucky). If you're incredibly lucky, you became part of something bigger than yourself and made friends for life (this is where I am most lucky).

Luck isn't really luck so much as confidence. The more confident you become, the more friends you make...and keep (that's the key). A good friend makes you feel confident.

A girlfriend makes you feel empowered.

Girlfriends are great for thousands of reasons. I recently read an article that stated GFs are like husbands without the sex or jealousy. I started to think about that, and I thought that there may be something to it. I'm not sure about the jealousy (I married a rather level-headed man who can keep his wits about him in a major crisis; he's not going to get jealous if I splash Adam Levine all over my Facebook page - right, honey? Right?) but I did see some merits to the thought. 

When I create a girlfriend in my stories, there are some definitive traits she must possess. Here are some of what makes a good girlfriend great:

• No matter how stupid of an idea it is, she's got your back
• When you need to break a diet, she's already at the door with wine, chocolate and a babysitter
• You stay up late into the night texting like a teenager about nothing...and you can't stop giggling like one, either
• She cares about everything you have done, will do, or haven't yet thought to do
• She is at major events in your life because she wants to be there (or because she remembers the time you attended her great uncle's wake and helped her clean up her dress after you made her laugh so inappropriately hard she spit coffee from her nose)
• She knows when to talk...but more importantly, when to listen
• If she were a guy, you would've proposed eons ago

These qualities are the sum of a whole - and there's many more than just these few. When I see these in a book, I'm immediately invested in the story. I can relate - and the girlfriends in my own stories certainly reflect those who have been and are in my life. 

Zesty. (It's a girl thing.)

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Talking to Strangers is Encouraged

I talk to everyone I meet.

Everyone.

I can talk to people in an elevator (why not? you've got 3 minutes), in a bar (especially at writer's conferences, nothing like debating the merits of 50 Shades over a cocktail - yes, pun intended), in a parking lot (really, if you see someone struggling to put their groceries away, just lend a hand already)...the list is truly endless. Seriously, pick a place, and I can strike up a conversation. I find personal satisfaction in meeting an introverted person (someone who doesn't really enjoy small talk), drawing out what they're interested in, then getting into a discussion about whatever it is.

Point of pride for me, really. 

The fact is, if you have a random conversation with a stranger about something, and you enjoy it, that's a great thing. It's reassuring that humans are still humans, despite all the technology we can hide behind (I'm looking at you, Facebook and Twitter). That face-to-face interaction is one of the key things that makes us more evolved than, say, dolphins (although, were they to get their fins on some of our technology, I'm not sure if my statement would stand. I wonder if they can squeak in 140 characters or less). 

I'm also the kind of person to whom people tell stuff. The woman who sold me my new glasses last week is a prime example. I was watching her rearrange a giant image of my eyeball on her computer screen when I mentioned that I liked her glasses (they were red - who doesn't love red glasses?! They're so bold!). That led to a discussion about other things, and at the end of it (about 10 minutes in all), I learned her husband had a nervous breakdown last year but was recovering nicely, her daughter and her fiance were moving into their own place (with a roommate, though, to save costs), she planned to retire in the next 5-6 years and she was so grateful to have her husband back that she didn't care if she had to work for the rest of her life to ensure he didn't go back to the high-stress job that caused the breakdown in the first place. 

Fascinating.

Although I didn't have time to find out what that job was, it was fine. That nice woman got to dump some of her stress, and I am not the kind of person who stresses out for others - and I think people can sense that. It's the only explanation I've got for why strangers tell me about their personal problems and triumphs. For triumphs, I offer my heartfelt congratulations (I mean, how awesome do you feel when a complete stranger shares your excitement?! Validation, people, validation...). For problems, I don't offer solutions, because I've found that most people don't want you to fix things, they just need to unload.

Well, to them, I say: Unload away. It makes for some great writing.

(Oh, stop looking at me like that. You have oddities too, you know. Everyone does. Come on over, and we can chat about it.)

Photo copyright One Big Photo. Modifications are my own.

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My Truths About Children and Writing

• Truth #1: I skip without kids. I skip in heels and boots (it's what I love to wear because shoes are my lifeline. Along with my purses.).

When dropping my daughter off at preschool, we skip across the parking lot. Why? Because it's fun! When is the last time you skipped anywhere? I highly suggest it. And if you're concerned about what other people think, my only question is...why? Why do you care? Is your happiness based solely on the fact that you entered someone's mind in a less-than-positive way? I spent most of high school feeling that way. Shortly after I graduated, I decided to never let someone have that power over me again. It was freeing in a way that is hard to explain, but it's changed everything about me for the better. Give it a go.

• Truth #2: I listen to what kids say. Their words may sound like nonsense, but they are telling you their innermost thoughts without fear. That takes a courage that many of us lose throughout a lifetime. I respect that.

My son's discussions with me are getting shorter as he gets older. What were long, rambling answers to the most basic questions are now replaced with merely, "I dunno" or "I guess" responses. When he does decide to chat, I give him my full attention because I really want to keep up with how his mind works. Sometimes, his observations are more insightful than my own. He sees things that I miss, and I love that he's so observant of people and their feelings.

• Truth #3: I enjoy conversations with children - their perspective is usually unfiltered and pure, free of the various experiences (both positive and negative) that shape adults. The simplicity is striking, poignant...and frequently, funny as hell.

My children (and their classmates and friends) provide a LOT of comic relief to my daily stresses. There's something contagious in a child's laugh - maybe because there isn't any embarrassment behind it (a three year old isn't concerned if she's laughing through her nose, and what someone might think about that) or because they only laugh when something's truly funny (you can't force a kid to laugh at something just to spare feelings - trust me on this one). I've been asked about God, nature, sex, adoption, the ickiness of boys, the snobbishness of girls, and, my personal favorite: "Was there color when you were a kid?" (That gem was provided by my very own offspring. Apparently, I'm older than color.)

EVERY conversation has something of value to it. A new way to use an old phrase, a slightly misplaced adjective to change the meaning of a sentence, or the simplicity in a heartfelt "I love you." It all adds up to great interactions, and I am not ashamed to admit that these conversations provide me with some great interactions in my books. Whenever I get stuck, I just think back to the last time I was on the playground, or picking the kids up from school, or volunteering during a school event.

Think about it. This is the stuff that makes characters on a page jump out:

Two girls, normally best friends, are yelling and crying at each other on the playground over some perceived slight. A boy runs by, tugs one of the girl's braids, then runs off. Immediately, argument is forgotten and the girls band together, linking arms and running after to him avenge the braid-pull.

Together.

That is the start of a great friendship. And great friendships can really start a book out right.

Copyright Verissima.

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The Dreaded Second Act

Why is it that the second act of a novel is the hardest to write? I can get into the beginning, and I know where I want it to end. But inevitably, there's a lull in the writing process...and it's usually right in the middle of the story. This is the crucial place to keep a reader entertained, involved, connected and feeling.

It's really, really hard.

I know I've found lots of things hard lately. But this is all good - I'm challenged. If writing a book was easy, everyone would do it, right? And I must say, anything that's worth something is rarely easy. Hard work and perseverance - that, plus talent and a little luck - are what defines success.

Comment below and tell me what you're working hard on, and about your own success stories!

(Credit to FutureDocs blog)

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