Thank you!

On June 16th, the Many Shades blog will be closed.
The authors thank you for your readership and hope you will come visit them at their personal sites via the links to the left.

Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Another Day In Writer’s Paradise


First let me apologize for getting my blog up so late. To be honest, I had forgotten all about the blog which I have only done one other time since we all started doing getting together weekly.

Now, the reason for this is simple. I wanted a lazy day. It had been a few months since I had had a lazy day...you know the type where you do little or nothing. You take a long bath, watch all those TV shows that you’ve been waiting to catch up on and have been hording on the DVR.

Basically, you do nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Except for me. I have one problem even on a lazy day. My mind goes a mile a minute on every novel I’m working on at the moment. And I’m working on quite a few. But even I surprised myself as I’m watching one of my favorite medical shows, I believe it was House at the time, when I realized I was zeroing in on just two stories this time.

One is the novel I have due at the end of the month. This is a good thing as it’s a historical and I’ve never really done historical before. Now, this doesn’t scare me, but it does make me very anal about getting it all right. I’ve checked and rechecked to see if my facts are straight and for those who aren’t, I’ve made sure I’ve explained why they aren’t. Sometimes the explanation is harder than the actual fact itself. LOL!

The second book is the one that I’m working on with my critique group. It’s the first time I have really had a group who demands so much. Sure, I’ve always had to produce but usually by the time I actually got to the critique session itself, I’ve already got much of the book done and can work on it at a leisurely pace. With this story, I need to produce a chapter a week or I feel like I’m letting them down. And more so, they let me know I’m letting myself down by not producing like I’m used to no matter if I have too many irons in the fire.

And this is good, very good. I want all readers out there to be able to enjoy my writing. If I don’t produce it, you can’t see it and won’t know I can write a good story. If I don’t produce my writer friends and critiquers will know something is wrong and try to help me figure out just what is eating at me which they have.

Now, this week, it’s all me. I wanted to be lazy and while it might have been precipitated by a change in weather, sometimes it is good to lay the blame all on my shoulders. It’s good to own when you do things wrong or not at all, the latter being my case.

But I like everyone else, needs to recharge, to restart my engine in the face overwhelming laziness. And know that next week, I won’t be as lazy nor will I be as slow in getting this blog up.

Now we come to the time I know you’ve all been waiting for...the FREE giveaway! Last week’s winner has won a copy of the first book in my Orchid series, Fluke...Phyllis C...come on down to get your free prize. Just email me a lynncrain@cox.net and send it right to you. Next week, I’ll be giving away a copy of my short, Shopping Spree...so don’t forget to comment on this week’s blog and let me know what you do to recharge.

See you next week!

Lynn

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

eBooks, ePublishing and RWA



First, let me apologize about this blog being so late in the day. My computer hasn’t been cooperating the last couple of days. I can only surmise it is as under the weather as I am feeling with sinus headaches and hurting joints. That’s what happens in the desert when you get clouds and humidity for a few days. Your body is forced to get used to something not normally here. It took me two days to adjust and it just might take the computer a little more.

Second, the blog topic for this week is epublishing and ebooks. As much as this pains me to say, the blog Dear Author had a very relevant topic with the following blog today. Here’s the link, so please go read it and take the poll. This is one blog the industry pays attention to a lot and I suggest we participate.

While the Dear Author blog is not known for playing nice in certain areas, they have actually tackled a subject which should be near and dear to all of us. They are also fierce supporters of ebooks and that is good for all of us.

Here’s the link: http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/06/10/how-many-readers-have-bought-an-epublished-book/

When I read the blog, I had to pull out my RWR and look to see if they were telling the truth. Sigh. Sadly they were and all I could think was another RWA president put their foot in their mouth before really thinking about a large chunk of their membership.

In the letter, RWA President, Diane Pershing says because of the lack of advances, epublishing does not serve the RWA membership well. Apparently, RWA feels that anything less than $1000 up front is not good, not even the industry standard of 37.5%+ royalty base serves the membership as well. I would like to know just what planet this woman is on.

I am a past RWA board member and I just don’t understand how, in this economic climate, RWA can not see the benefit of their members receiving a monthly or quarterly paycheck instead of a biannual or annual one which may or may not see any cash in hand. I receive monthly royalties from a couple of my publishers and am quite happy with the arrangement. I didn’t get an advance and to be honest, I didn’t miss it at all. I would miss my monthly royalties if I didn’t receive them at all.

Now, I expect another RWA battle in the works and it’s not going to be pretty. BUT the only way to be part of the solution is to state our opinions and let the world know just how you feel about the ebook and epublishing industry. I know I am.

I know I did when I voted on this poll that RWA and NYC industry leaders will see. Even NYC is seeing the writing on the wall and has the foresight to understand ebooks are the wave of the future. Most books in print from NYC also have an ebook component. It’s a necessity to survive in publishing today. Why can’t RWA see this? Why can’t they ride the wave of the future? What is it that’s holding them back?

I don’t understand and I’ve been a member of this organization since 1984 for the most part. I’d like you all to let me know just what you think and go vote on the Dear Author poll. It might just help us all.

Remember, for all of you who comment, you’ll be entered into my June contest. I plan to give out basket full of books and goodies as a celebration of me being back writing full time and my birthday. Yeah, I’ll be a year older this month. And the solstice never looked so good. LOL!

Till next week…

Lynn

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Another Holiday Season

I thought I would be pushing my book this week but I got waylaid on the way by the very holiday I love to write about. Now, don’t give me wrong, I really, really love this holiday but you have to understand where I live.

I live like many authors on this blog, in the normally hot to warm southwest. This week that all came crashing down as when I went to join said authors for lunch, I found myself in a blizzard. Yup, you heard me, a blizzard. I actually took pictures but haven’t downloaded them yet. When I do, I’ll post one with whatever I’m doing next week.

Now a lot of you already live in areas where it snows. Where I live, a snowstorm of any kind almost shuts us down. People out here don’t even know or understand how to drive in weather. Most of them are traveling at almost record speeds and don’t understand when they lose traction. Even in my four-wheel drive, I slowed down.

Still, the desert in the snow is very pretty because if nothing else it adds color. Doesn’t matter that the color is white, it is a whole lot prettier than the ugly brown we have. And I love it. I just called the DH to say, ‘It’s snowing here!’ and his reply was ‘It’s not here.’ Too bad for him in some ways but considering he works almost 30 miles away, I’m glad he won’t be out with the idi – sorry – people who drive the Las Vegas freeways. Can’t help it. LOL!

Now for a little holiday cheer, here’s a couple of excerpts from my new book An Elf’s Magic…I hope you enjoy!





Available NOW at eXtasy Books!
http://tinyurl.com/63jwjg
Book 4 in the Santa’s Elves Series

Excerpt #1

“Dance with me,” a seductive voice said close to his ear.

Tingles traipsed through his insides and his body tightened in response to the seductive nature of her voice. “What?” Instant attraction to the female caught him off guard. He turned his head and his mouth brushed against a pair of soft pink lips as an exotic scent wrapped itself around him.

“I said, dance with me.” A pair of beautiful brown eyes stared up at him.

“Do I know you?” The staccato beat of his heart tapped against his chest and he hoped she didn’t notice. She took a breath and the mere act turned him on even more.

“We met in Boston. You’re Cuinn Locklin and I’m Lacey Sinclair. I’m a friend of your cousin’s. We met at a party, had a drink and even talked about going out sometime. Unfortunately that never happened.” She smiled and arched her eyebrow in what seemed to be an open invitation. “Yet.”

His gaze widened. “I remember. How did you get here?”

“The sleigh picked us up.”

“What I meant to say is, what are you doing here? I don’t recall you knowing my sister, Aingeal.”

She flipped her honey blonde hair off her face. “You mean what’s a human doing here, right?” She shrugged. “I told her she could practice her amnesia spell on me. You know the one where you make the person forget everything that’s happened at an event?”

“I’m aware of it. But you shouldn’t know anything about it. And since Giselle’s human I know she doesn’t know how to do the spell no matter what she told you. She’s a lot of things but…” He tried hard not to stare at Lacey but couldn’t help it. She was beautiful. “Let’s just say, we only share genetics from one side of the family.”

“I guess we’re busted.” She smiled at him again, her eyes lighting up with apparent amusement. “I guess you’ll have to practice it on me, ‘cause now I know a lot of things I’m not supposed to.”

He smiled wryly. “I would say so.” He looked out at the dancers again, uncomfortable with the fact he didn’t excel in dancing at all. “But I’m not sure I’m someone you’d want to dance with.”

“Why not?” she asked with a hint of a laugh, dazzling him with another smile and looked down at his feet. “Your feet may be large, but I can tell you don’t have two left ones.”

He laughed. She was such a breath of fresh air. “Alright. But I’m not very good. ”

“I don’t think you have to be good for this one. It’s a slow dance. All you have to do is put your arms around me and sway with the rhythm of the music.”

He grabbed her offered hand, pulled her toward the dance floor and, doing as she had instructed, took her in his arms and swayed gently to the music. A head length taller, his shoulder was the ideal height for her to rest her head upon while they moved to the music. Her alluring scent, her utterly feminine, soft contours that fit like a perfect match in his, stirred his passion. He willed his body to stop reacting, afraid if he couldn’t control it, he would embarrass them both.

“See, this isn’t so bad, is it?” She smiled up at him.

“No, it isn’t,” he agreed, hoping not to melt into a pile of goo at her feet.

“So, what are you studying in Boston? We never got that far before.” She gazed up at him as if intent on memorizing every line.

“History and computers right now. I haven’t figured anything else out yet, although my oldest brother wants me to help him design toys. But I’d rather have my masters in something I like, not what the family likes.”

She chuckled. “At least you understand that much. It takes some people years.”
“And you?”

“I’m in pre-med. I hope to be a pediatrician some day. First, I need to get out of school and earn money toward my goal. I’ll graduate with a nursing degree specializing in pediatrics within the next few months. ”

“That’s a hard thing to do. My brother Ardan is a doctor and, while he loves it very much, I know it was really difficult. But you sound as if you have a definite plan in place.”

“Anything worthwhile is always hard. Life wasn’t meant to be easy no matter who you are.”

Puzzled, he nodded. She was right of course, but the only person he had ever heard say that had been his father. He looked down at her and smiled. Lacey was a stunning woman and she had sought him out. Maybe that was a good sign. But then again, there were elven matters she wasn’t supposed to know. Giselle was always doing something she shouldn’t. He would have to get back with his cousin on the issue later.

“Coming through, coming through.” Eggther pushed his way through the dancing couples, stopping to stand next to him. “Eggther thinks you’ve found a very pretty woman.”

Excerpt #2

“Ah, hell—” Cuinn swooped down on her and captured her lips with his. He couldn’t help himself. From the moment she walked into the conference room that morning, all he could think about was having her in his arms. He should have told his father at the wedding last year about his desire for her, but her place hadn’t cemented in his heart yet. Now there would be no stopping their bonding.

Gently, he pulled back and gazed at her. “I’ll stop if you want me to.”

Lacey quickly shook her head. “No. I’ve never felt something so right.” She pulled his head back to her and his lips captured hers with no tenderness this time, just a hard, raw need.

Still, he knew she needed tender after what had happened to her this past year. Changing the tone of his onslaught, Cuinn gently sucked her bottom lip and ran his hands softly down her arms. Rewarded with a slight shiver, his body tightened in response to her body’s signals as his caress slipped around to her soft buttocks.

The rapid beat of her heart drummed against him, showing how aroused she truly was. She would be the core of his world and he wanted everything to be right for their first time, so trying hard to remember all the lessons on sex from his father. First, he put up his shields knowing some people in the city would feel the energy. Then, he snapped the glamour spell more firmly around himself because there were some things she couldn’t know until they had reached the North Pole. Cuinn only hoped she would forgive him once all had been revealed.

Breaking off the kiss, he breathed hard as he gently cupped her face in his hands. “Tell me to stop right now and I will because you have to be very, very sure you want this to happen.”

“I am…believe me…I am,” she whispered.

He pulled her to him again, his mouth descending on hers, seeking entry with his tongue. Trying to convey the promise of all he could offer, he moved closer to the bed, easing his knee between her legs. She trembled around him then began rubbing herself up and down on the rough fabric of his jeans, shivering and whimpering. He hoped she felt the way he did and slowly lowered her to the bed, following down.

“I want to touch you the way a lover does.” he said, looking into her now flushed face.

“Me, too,” she whispered and pulled him on top of her.

Her hands caressed his body through his clothes, each movement a slow torture of pleasure. All he wanted to do was rip her clothes off and do what he should have done months ago. Leaning into her, he pressed his lips against her and with just a bit of pressure, she opened her mouth and allowed him easy access inside as their tongues glided across each other, returning kiss for kiss. He slid his hand under her shirt, her skin warm to his fingertips. He yearned for this, wanted this in a way he had never wanted anything else.

His nerve endings tingled again as she pulled his bottom lip into her mouth. His body grew hotter with desire with each tug of her lips. Her hands pulled his shirt from his jeans and moved along his hard abdominal muscles then glided even further around him to squeeze his butt. He almost lost it.

“Lacey,” he murmured. “I want to feel your bare skin against mine.”

Her cheek rubbed against his in agreement.

He sighed heavily. “I need to make sure one final time that this is what you want.”

“I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Can’t you feel how fast my heart is beating?”

He nodded and grabbed her hair, pulling her back to him again, kissing her fiercely. Cuinn rolled them to the side and began to undo each button on her blouse, opening it slowly to reveal a beautiful lacy bra on her sensual body. Leaning down, he kissed her flat stomach and unfastened her pants. He moved them out of the way then went even lower and she moaned in pleasure.

“That feels so good. Please-please—” she murmured.

“I intend to do just that.”

Lynn Crain
Experience the Magic
www.lynncrain.com

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