Do you want to take a second to drool with me? As usual, I am blown away by KAM Design and Entangled. My covers are so beautiful! Continue reading “The Rookie | Cover Reveal (+ Giveaway)”
What books have influenced my life? This is a difficult question for me. Partly because I read so much, it’ll be hard to narrow the list. Partly because I don’t know that I’ve had any profound moment of change.
I’ve lost myself in books, escaping into the worlds and falling in love with the characters until they feel like old friends. Books can do more, absolutely. They can teach, inspire, reveal, expose, and so much more. Important roles. Continue reading “Books That Influenced My Life”
So… I have to admit that my enjoyment (perhaps it could be termed an addiction) to writing contests started at a young age.
When I was 9 years old, I won a writing contest in my school district for an essay about Abraham Lincoln. What? Someone thinks I’m a good writer? Well, then, I must be. Ever since then, I’ve been hooked. Continue reading “My Contest Experiences”
It’s Valentine’s Day today. Ironically, despite being a romance writer, I can’t stand this holiday. I heartily dislike the idea that my loved ones must be forced to tell me they love me once a year (and vice versa). Please explain why this isn’t happening naturally throughout the year? It’s a retail driven holiday that puts pressure on singles and couples alike, and it sucks.
*Off soap box.* That said, since today is (supposed to be) about love, I think it’s a good day to share my thoughts on something. With a handful of decades reading romance and now 10 years of writing it behind me, the question I still get asked most often is why romance?
I tend to answer with a couple of different reasons. Here are my top 4:
It’s my chances to put a little happiness in a world that has way too much of the opposite.
I can hardly stand to turn on the news these days. It is a rare thing that the stories don’t display a world in chaos filled with hate and violence. By writing romance–stories inherently about HOPE–I am taking the creativity God gifted me with and putting a little happiness back into the world. Out of curiosity, what are you doing to make this a better place?
It makes me happy.
I write and read romance because it…wait for it…makes me happy. I love the interaction between the characters and their growth on the page. I love seeing how finding love makes them happy. And, again, I love the HOPE. For dragon shifters and cowboys and billionaires and nerds and outgoing peole and shy people and people who are hurting alike, the opportunity is out there. Immersing myself in things that turn out beautiful and lovely is a wonderful way to spend some hours.
Why not? Why aren’t you reading it?
Love is at the center of all relationships (or it should be). It’s at the center of making babies (or it should be). It’s not a female-only past time (guys do feel something other than lust, I hope). And it’s not just escapism for women. Not when mysteries and action/thrillers are also out there. I don’t see most men running around beating up bad guys and solving crimes. Just saying.
So if these books are about hope and reflecting something that everyone on this planet has the capability to experience. And the have a wish to experience it (traditional forms or not). Please explain to me why more people don’t read romance? Maybe if more people did, this would be a happier, more hopeful world than it currently is.
Finally… The voices in my head won’t shut up, so I give their mouths something to do. 😉
Come on. You always suspected writers were crazy. I’m just saying…you’re right. To sit in front of a computer for hours/weeks/months/days/years torturing myself and my characters isn’t exactly an easy task. But I love what I do, and the people I get to meet because I do this, and the happiness it brings. So I guess I’ll continue to put up with Valentine’s Day and sing the praises of love and romance the other 364 days of the year.
Happy Valentine’s Day! xoxo
If I couldn’t be a writer, what would I do?
I think I’ve been asking myself this question since I was old enough to know that there was a choice. One might say that, due to the staggeringly low chances of making a living at this gig, I should have a backup plan. Continue reading “If I Couldn’t Be a Writer”
I am thrilled to announce that The Boss placed 3rd for best vampire/shifter romance in the 2018 Paranormal Guild Reviewers Choice Awards!!! Continue reading “Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer Choice Awards – WINNER”
MY PARANORMAL VALENTINE
FREE FEB 1-28 ONLY!
Seven of the top paranormal romance authors writing today have joined together to bring you a set of first-in-series novels to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day in style – with your very own paranormal Valentine. Continue reading “My Paranormal Valentine | FREE Anthology | Feb 2019 ONLY”
Today is February 2nd. You know what that means. Groundhog Day!
Every year, my husband is so excited to get to rewatch the cult classic movie. That’s our Groundhog Day tradition. Maybe one year we’ll actually go to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to experience the day in style and in person.
Anyway, Continue reading “Holidays or Traditions in World Building”
OMG this cover! Just take a moment to soak it in (fans self). As usual, I am blown away by KAM Design and Entangled. The covers for the Fire’s Edge & now Inferno Rising series are just gorgeous! Continue reading “The Rogue King | Cover Reveal (+ Giveaway)”
Worst writing advice I ever got? Honestly, this is a hard question because if someone is giving it as advice, it’s because that tip worked for them, or is a standard for most, if not all, writers.
For me, just like in most life situations, there is no BAD advice. There is advice that is given with bad intentions, or without all the information, or with a perspective that doesn’t work for the situation. Those can all apply to writing, too. There is also taking good advice and going way overboard.
That is what I find happens the most with writing. Taking a good rule, and being so rigid or methodical about it that you end up with bad writing or a boring story.
Here a few examples… Continue reading “Worst Writing Advice I Ever Got”
