What is playing on the iPod? Bliss/I Don't Want to Know - Hinder
So my blog is apparently suing me for neglect. I am stepping away from writing for a wee bit and catching up on other things, like my blog. Since I last posted, I went back to the same wonderful writer's conference I went to last May (Backspace in Manhattan). I have a link to their website on here. Check them out. They are a fantastic resource for authors. I also joined Romance Writers of America. Ten years ago, if someone had asked me would I ever write romance, not only would I have scoffed at them, I would have used my favorite curse word multiple times in the conversation (hint, rhymes with duck:) Since September 2008, when my whole serious dip in the writing pool started, I have bought, borrowed and read around 300 books, ninety-eight percent of those being paranormal romances. I decided a serious investigation needed to happen into the genre since I had a dead guy named Jared hanging out in my head wanting out. Three-hundred is an estimate, probably a pretty close one but still, an estimate. On top of my sagging bookshelf is a pile of books that have not hit the mark with me, so I will either sell them or find a paperback exchange so they can find another home. There are only 12 of those. I can tell you that I bought a version of a book on Kindle that was so offensively bad, I almost emailed Stephenie Meyer's webmaster to tell him to get a lawyer because there had to be some copyright infringement on the Twilight books. Not just copying, but awkwardly-bad copying. And I paid ten bucks for it. I still kick myself over that one.
That leaves over 275 books that I have loved. Not only loved, read them over. The whole Fabio-esque mystique that comes along with the romance genre is not entirely accurate. Several of my favorites would never fall into that category. JR Ward's series (both of them) are nothing like that and there is a heavily-involved plot involving people that are clothed. No horses on beaches for this girl. As a matter of fact, I have her latest release (came out on my birthday) on my shelf signed and personalized. If my home were to catch on fire, I would grab my children, my pictures and that book.
Jeaniene Frost is another one. I bought Halfway to the Grave on a whim, never expecting anything to come out of it. The next day, I was back at Barnes and Noble buying the rest of the series. If everything goes according to plan, I will actually get to meet Jeaniene in Orlando at the RWA National Conference next month. The books are nothing short of phenomenal and when I have my signed copy of her latest release, I will put that one on the shelf along side JR Ward's.
As far as my own writing goes, I am completing the third book in the Messenger series now. Book one is edited as much as my novice editing skills will allow. Book two needs round two of editing but the construction is done. Book three has been the most fun I have ever had writing. The characters are hard to let go of. I am really dreading typing The End. They do play heavy for the rest of the series. I think I have finally gotten over being a literary prude. I have thrown inhibitions to the side and dove head first into writing sex scenes. I had my husband read the big one from book three and he read with his eyes wide open. When he was done, he smiled from ear to ear and said "Damn, that's...that's...damn. That was impressive." Since my hubby primarily reads stuff that involves history and engineering, I took that as a complement.
I am signing off for now. My next post will not take as long. Until next time!
