Oh noooooo! Mr. Bill! My cultural references are becoming unusable!!!!

I stopped over at lovely Limecello's blog this week to talk about being a writer in my 40s, and how you just can't use some cultural references anymore...like Gilligan. Or Mr. Bill!

But, can you still use "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time?" There's only one place to find out. Come see.

Soylent green is people!!

Carolyn Crane leads a salacious double life
as Annika Martin!  

Okay, today I put up a giveaway alert for Carolyn Jewel, Amanda Carlson and Annika Martin. After thinking about this a bit tonight, I feel like I should let people know that actually, I AM Annika Martin! The erotic romance author!!

Writing my crazy little bank robber erotica romances started as a kind of secret lark of mine, and I tend to be a bashful and easily red-faced person, so I didn't link my names in public, or publicize that this is me. Also, an Annika Martin book is quite unlike a Carolyn Crane book.

Yet, I suppose if I'm promoting it on my own blog, or talking in public about Annika, I should rightfully claim her as myself! Because, I suppose it's just too wink-wink otherwise, or even misleading, like writing your own review under a secret name!!  And, that's sooooo not what I meant to do.

Phew! I can't believe I'm actually posting this!  But, I don't want to seem to be fooling anybody.
It's peeeeeople!!

Reader Alert: Fabulous freebies that popped up this weekend!

10 copies of FREE FALL up for grabs!

Free Fall (a My Immortals novella)

Highly recommended! Not only does Carolyn Jewel have a lovely name, but she writes some of my favorite books on the historical side and the PNR side. And, she's giving away 10 review copies of her hot and juicy PNR novella, FREE FALL. If you don't know her My Immortals series, this is a great place to dip in, and if you read it, what are you waiting for? 

What I love about the My Immortals series is the combo of great paranormal worldbuilding along with strong, steamy romantic arcs that pack meaty emotional substance.  

“dark, intensely sexy and has just a touch of kink…”

~Melindeeloo

“…the intensity between the two of them was scrumptious... 

I couldn’t put it down. With plenty of action, steam, and powerful romance, this is a wonderful introduction to the series, and a great story in its own right.”

~The romanceaholic

Free Fall: the blurb:

Attorney Lys Fensic has spent her life controlling a psychic power that kills. Her ability to lock herself down falls apart when her ex, a mage, sends enslaved demons to kill her. In a psychic free fall, she turns to tough guy Telos Khunbish for help. But is he a mage as she’s always suspected or is he something far more dangerous?

Free Fall is set in the My Immortals series world where demons and magic-using humans called the magekind are not quite getting along. Most people have no idea they’re living in what amounts to a magical war-zone. (35,000 words)

The deal: FREE epub or kindle copies available - you just have to leaven an honest review on Amazon, B&N, a blog or elsewhere.

Get it: head over the Carolyn Jewel's blog! 

Signed ARC of FULL BLOODED up for grabs!
Amanda Carlson has been making a stir with her novella BLOODED, the prequel to her werewolf series, which hits the stands on September 11th. But not everybody has to wait!! YOU could win a signed ARC! You'll have 4 whole months to make everyone jealous.

"A wild, wolfy ride that will have you howling for more!" 

~Kristen Painter, author of Blood Rights 

"Amanda Carlson's Full Blooded is full of all good things: danger, excitement, an original, LIKEABLE heroine and some great mythological mayhem. Bring on book 2!"
~New York Times and USA Today bestseller Karen Chance

"Amanda Carlson's debut novel is a fast paced tale with a cliffhanger ending that left me panting for more. Full Blooded left me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover."
~New York Times bestselling author Faith Hunter

Blooded: the blurb:
It's not easy being a girl. It's even harder when you're the only girl in a family of werewolves. But it's next to impossible when your very existence spells out the doom of your race... Meet Jessica McClain -- she just became part of the pack.

In the vein of Kelley Armstrong and Patricia Briggs, a new urban fantasy that rewrites the werewolf myth...

The deal: One lucky commenter gets a signed paper ARC. Ends Tuesday
Get it: head over to Amanda Carlson's blog!
[edited note: oops- I had this wrong in an earlier version. It's 1 and not 5!] 

10 review copies of THE HOSTAGE BARGAIN up for grabs!

For those of you in the mood to walk on the ultra wild and steamy side, you must head over to Annika Martin's blog! She's giving away 10 copies of her erotic romance, The Hostage Bargain. Fire up your fans, people! [edited to add: okay, coming clean, Annika is actually my own erotic romance author name. See this post]

“The build up to the intimate scenes was almost as hot as the actual scenes.”


~Fiction Vixen Grade: B+

“…a delicious mix of snappy humor, wicked sexcapades and on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense.”
  ~Penelope’s Romance Reviews - Grade: A.

"Ms. Martin packs a lot of wallop into a relatively short novel. There is great dialogue here and good twists and turns in both the 'crime' (...adventure, suspense) and erotica aspects."

~A lot of Reading: 5 stars

The Blurb: 

When small town girl Melinda Prescott is taken hostage by three hot bank robbers, she quickly discovers that a life of bank heists, luxury hotels, and kinky menages is way more exciting than working on the family farm. She should be scared of her dominating, fierce captors…but there’s something wicked inside her that’s craving to obey their every dark desire.

Melinda’s an all-too willing captive to three smoldering fugitives who are actually government agents…but is it all too good to be true? Will her delicious bandits overcome their own demons enough to let her in…or is she going to end up a victim of the world’s sexiest crime spree?

Warning: This book contains a sexy bank-robbers-and-their-captive sandwich, light bondage, spanking, teasing hints of domination, and a little play-time in a hot tub. Oh, and some all too delicious, villainous alpha heroes who bend the heroine to their will. (56k words)

The deal: 10 free epubs, kindle copies, or pdfs. You just have to leave an honest review somewhere: Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, a blog, etc

Get it: email Annika at annikamartin@ymail.com specifying file type/reader type. Details on Annika's blog. 

EDITED TO ADD: Okay, Annika Martin is actually me!! See my latest post.... 

What kind of chocolate is your favorite villain?

Happy Friday, friends and fiends!

 

So, have you ever thought about the different types of villains that are out there...and felt unsure what sort of chocolate candy they are like?

Well, there's help for you. I'm over at Buckeye Girl's fun books blog this week with a post that clears it all up - it lists the kinds of villains that exist, or at least all the ones I could think of...and reveals the chocolate they are most like. And I also talk about my own villains.

And if you are nice and leave a comment telling the villain type you prefer, you might win chocolate from me!! Come say hi at A Buckeye Girl Reads. 

Five books that showed me cool writerly things!

This week She-Wolf Reads has invited five of her favorite authors to come and talk about book influences, and it meant so much to me that I was one of those five.

I'm there today!! 

So many books have influenced me - many different ones in different years - classics, children's books, nonfiction and more.

For this post I decided to talk about books that showed me very specific things that relate to what I"m writing now. Also, you can win books!! You can win one of my books, signed, and one of the books I list there!

Come on over to She-wolf! 

10 things I'll be doing at AAD

Hey friends! I'm over at the fabulous Book Faery talking about a convention I actually AM going to: Authors After Dark in New Orleans!!

I was there last year (super fun!) and this post is part about what I'll do differently, and part about what I'm looking forward to!

Drop by and say hi!

My own damn RT pictures

I know I've been griping and bellyaching about not being able to go to the RT Booklovers convention...well, please ignore all that. I was just being a drama queen. Because actually...I DID get to go after all!

Actually, I'm there right now! OMG, I am having so much fun!

I am so glad I am there, because it is the most awesome convention. I just wanted to share these photos of me having a great time there with all you  losers unlucky people who didn't get to go.

Stephanie Meyer, JR Ward, Carolyn Crane and Anne Rice on a panel at RT.

The most important part of the convention is for fans to meet us famous authors and hear what we have to say about books and things. Above, I am at at panel with other famous authors. The audience asked us tons of questions, and then the four of us authors went out for drinks, and then we went back to Stephanie's hotel room and threw our bras out the window and trashed the place! It was SO awesome! Anne Rice is incredible at doing the Irish jig, and JR Ward brought a pogo stick and sleigh bells.

 They have this jail there where they put all the rowdy girls. As you can see, Nicole Peeler and I are stuck in there. In this shot, I'm whispering to Nicole of a plan to get out and drink some booze and smash some stuff in her hotel room. Nicole is amazing. Doesn't she look great in that hat? I told her so. That is something that author friends do at conventions. 

Here I am with EC editor Grace Bradley and the awesome Jeffe Kennedy. Check it out! We all put pigtails in our hair. Well, they put pigtails, and I have braids. When we were in the hotel room doing our hair together, I was like, 'girlfriends! It's okay if our hairstyles are slightly different, because check out how great we look together, and we are having so much fun here at RT!' and they totally agreed. Please note that Jeffe and I are doing a head bump, which signifies to to other convention-goers that we are author friends.   

I suspect that it is very easy for people stuck at home to think that us authors, readers, publishers and bloggers are forming rich and wonderful lifelong bonds at RT over drinks. And the poor authors at home, I bet their imaginations are running wild, thinking that their fellow authors are all sitting together in the bar letting each other in on valuable secrets that will help each other not make terrible blunders but rather take advantage of the changing publishing landscape. And also, promo secrets. I'm here to say that if you were actually attending RT (like I am) you would realize that this is totally true! 

Uh, waiting in a line to get some swag. That's one thing I hate about conventions, all the lines we convention goers have to wait in. But, it's definitely better than sitting at home and pathetically wishing you were there, or fantasizing that you are, or pretending that you are when you really aren't. That would be just SAD! 

OMG, I'm in jail again! This time, with my galpals Jaye Wells and Suzanne McLeod, who is from the UK. The three of us had SUCH a hilarious time in the jail. Later, we sat on the floor and told each other author secrets that no other authors know. I find that, at conventions, it is the times like these that are priceless. 

I will try to post more pictures, but I might not, because it is really such a whirlwind experience, and the big signing will be held later today. I hope everybody back home is having a good time. Keep your chins up, people, there's always next year! 

Pets of Christmas past

What a packed busy day! Not only am I at RT and blogging about it, but I'm also over at Word Whores today, blogging about pets of Christmas past! Come say hi! 

**Thanks to Jeffe Kennedy, Nicole Peeler (and probably Jaye Wells and others) for the RT pictures! 

Fun and fabulousness at Simply Ali's Birthday Bash!

Ali's Birthday bash is where it's at!

I love when people do things up in a big, splashy way.

One fun example: all-around lovely Ali, who is having quite the birthday bash! Over 30 days she is interviewing 30 authors who are going to AAD as part of a blowout spotlight event, and giving away a KINDLE FIRE and one registration to the Authors After Dark conference.

Whew! Anyway, today I'm over there. We're chatting on a big, fun batch of topics and giving away a copy of Devil's Luck!

It's all happening at Simply Ali's! Come say hi!

I'm at Ask an Author!

Hey everybody! Okay this is really fun - I'm over at this fun and lively Goodreads group: Romance Readers Reading Challenges, doing an Ask an Author event. 

This is a group that anybody can join over at Goodreads - it's easy. Come check it out! I'm in the hotseat. We've been talking writing, inspiration and how embarrassing it is for people in my real life to read my sex scenes and more. 

Come check it out. Feel free to ask me a stumper! Okay, not a stumper, maybe!! And you don't have to join RRRC to lurk. 

It's all going on right here at Romance Readers Reading Challenges! 

***

Big interview time at Litstack!

Wow, my month of being featured author at Litstack has flown by!

**Crane adjusts tiara, fluffs throne pillows**

And today, I sat down with TS Tate of Litstack for a wonderful & writerly interview. We discussed rejection, characters, publishing and more.

Come visit Litstack!

Words & Music Monday! Let's rock!

I'm really excited to be over at the fabulous BOOKS MAKE ME HAPPY blog for Words and Music Monday.

Wow, who knew I had so much to say about the relationship between my writing and music. But I do, because the relationship is intense and deeply important to me.

This is a really cool feature that Jennifer runs over there. Not only did I have fun doing this post, but I loved looking through what other writers has said on the topic.

Drop by Books Make Me Happy and let's talk music!!

Sad fashion confession and a visit to the Qwillery

Yesterday, while typing away at my WIP, I heard the sound of the mailman down at the building entrance and realized I'd forgotten to send my insurance payment, which is egregiously late! I scribbled a check, all the codes, slapped on a stamp, and burst out, running down the sidewalk after him in my slippers and office clothes to give it to him.

Pictured: the sweater I wore to chase/scare
the mailman. 

And then walking back to the condo, past people waiting for the bus etc. I realized: OMG WTF am I wearing? 

The answer: rags.

I bring you exhibit A: my favorite sweater of 2008. Somewhere in my clothes-challenged mind, I still think of it the day I got it from Kohls, new. So pretty. I would also direct your attention to my generously vented favorite office pants. I do love them. The fabric is just too thin even to patch. I have two other similar pairs. It is kind of crazy, what I wear every day. The degree of decrepitude. 

Working at home is such a strange luxury. Because, it IS this luxury, but the people doing it typically wear the most un-luxurious outfits.  

These pants: holes front and back, and a sad
mixture of clownish yet obscene. And I am
wearing them as I type.

I remember when I worked at an advertising agency--it was always SO hard for me to cobble together a nice looking outfit every day, and ad agencies are way more casual than normal businesses, but still. When I was at my most uptight agency in terms of clothes, I remember this hotshot freelance copywriter came in for a meeting wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, and it was this sign of prestige that he didn't have to wear something nice. I was so impressed by that. 

Now I'm the freelancer going in for meetings, (though honestly, women freelancers have to dress a little nicer). Anyway, I wear my nice clothes from 2005. Mostly, though, I have meetings virtually, which I wildly prefer. Because I don't have to think about the clothes thing. 

Though, the crazy outfit I wore to chase the postman was definitely pushing it! And, I am not even going to start on my jogging clothes. 

The other day I was going to go to the grocery store and I put on jeans and a normal shirt, just enough to get myself presentable in normal society, and I was grumbling to myself that one good thing about winter is that I can throw a coat over my ragamuffin outfit to go to the store, but when it's hot, I actually have to change--I cannot cover my pov-looking self with a giant coat. @#$@#!

I need to channel more of Betty. Maybe
not 100% Betty, but would 5% kill me? 

Anyway, my husband looks at me surprised and goes, you look really nice! And I realized he always says that when I have any clothes on that aren't rags. It made me feel a little bit bad because, okay, it's not the 1960's, I don't have to look like Betty Draper every day, but surely I can make an effort to not wear rags! 

I should probably retire some of my clothes. Maybe I will...maybe I won't. I do love the blue sweater. It is cozy on cool mornings. I don't know. 

Over at the Qwillery!

Okay, hey! I'm over at the illustrious Qwillery today! We did a fun little interview--short but substantive, talking about books and writing, and what I find most challenging about the author life (clearly not the clothes!) and we're giving away a Devil's Luck ebook! 

Do come visit at the Qwillery!! 

The SCARIEST-EVER thing you can put in an urban fantasy novel...

The scariest-ever thing: no, not a
bat! Bats are our friends!

Happy Monday, friends! I hope that you had a lovely weekend. It is fabulously warm here...all windows are open at Casa Crane. I have even put away my winter clothes and taken out my summer clothes...I didn't plan to, it just sort of happened. Bags were opened. A wash was done.  I have a feeling I may regret that. Well, we'll see.

In the meantime, I am over at the lovely Mama Kitty Reviews discussing - with frightening graphic depictions - the most terrifying beings ever to be found on the pages of a UF or PNR novel.

Is it a rogue WERE-BAT?
A DHAMPIR?

 Come to Mama Kitty Reviews and find out...if you dare! 

Luck: Seven random things I can tell you!

Feeling lucky to be a FWIW!!

Having fun talking luck at FWIW! 

In honor of St. Patrick's day, I'm over at the very fun and smart For What It's Worth Reviews, a blog of all things books, music and whatever else grabs Karen's attention talking about LUCK!

Character luck, book luck, my sordid past in the luck biz and more. AND if you're lucky, you can win a copy of Devil's Luck. 

Oh, you must drop by!

And best of all, you can admire Karen's feline assistant, who looks uncannily like my feline assistant. Pinky lock!

LitStack fabulousness
Also, the featured author spotlight over at LitStack continues with a review of Double Cross today. I'm double lucky right now. Stop by!

Image from the Greg Brady Project!

Red hot interview...upcoming snippet, fave scenes, giveaway & more!

Happy Monday everybody! I hope you had a fun weekend.

I was so pleased to be invited for an interview wtih Jen at Red Hot Books, the lively and lovely blog about all things Urban Fantasy, romance and more.

We talk about heros, secondary characters, tell our favorite scenes from the Disillusionists, and other cool stuff. Also, I dish on my story in Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance, and there's a preview snippet there.

AND if you leave a comment, you could win a copy of my stand-alone Disillusionists novella, Devil's Luck!

Stop by and say hi at Red Hot books!!

xo

Carolyn

Carolyn Crane: Word Whore!!

Hey! I have some fun Saturday news: I've joined the group blog Word Whores! This is such a fun, eclectic  group of novelists: Allison Pang, Jeffe Kennedy, Kristine Krantz, Marcella Burnard, Linda Robertson, and James Tuck. Some of this gang I already knew, others I knew only from afar. I was so flattered they invited me!

The gang picks a weekly subject, and I'm the Saturday blogger, so this is my first post. This week's topic: places we would most want to live. I know everybody has been curious about that with me, but you'll have to go visit and find out.

Come say hi to me in my new Saturday home!

So honored to be featured author at Litstack!!

I'm so honored to be featured author of the month over at Litstack, a very eclectic blog "for the love of all things wordy..."

LitStack is a place for bookworms and bibliophiles to discuss classics and recent releases, check out cool stuff for readers and get the inside scoop from your favorite authors. We’re like a cozy little bookshop without the free coffee. (Sorry, we’re working on that.)

Incidentally, I was also quite excited to discover the origins of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" sign there today, something I have long wondered about.

But not as excited as to be featured author! Festivities this month will include reviews of books from the Disillusionists world, and a fabulous lively interview and more! 

Do drop by and say hi!  

Dishing on books, conventions and more with Twimom227!!!

Stop over to the fabulous and fun That's What I'm Talking About - where Twimom and I chat it up on the Disillusionists, my upcoming series, books we're looking forward to and the AAD convention!

Also, you could win a copy of DEVIL'S LUCK in a lightning giveaway that ends Thursday!!

Come say hi and Join the fun. 

A big, fun interview - with Simon commentary - at abookandashortlatte

What is the secret history of when he and Packard first met? What are his plans for Gumby? Is there a playlist for the Disillusionists?

What is Simon's guilty pleasure? You'd be surprised...

I had such a fun time over at abookandashortlatte doing this interview! We talked about everything from book faves to series construction and more.

Come by and say hi!! 

Release day: Devil's Luck, the Simon novella!

Simon: in the wild! 

Yay! Devil’s Luck, the Simon novella, is finally available out in the wild as an ebook novella. 

I have such a soft spot for Simon, who I originally created as a messed-up villain and foe for Justine, but ended up really enjoying as a character. So, I gave him his own book. In series order, it’s 3.5, though it can easily be read without knowledge of the trilogy. (32k words, a bit over a third of a novel)

•$2.99 • 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | ARE | Diesel | Googlebooks  [As you can see, it's not up everywhere yet - I'll make these links live as soon as the book is available]

Blurb:

THERE'S A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND DOOM
 
No wager is too outrageous for Simon Fitzgerald, the most reckless of the Disillusionists. His dark secrets drive him to take increasingly extreme risks, but he’s never lived so quite so dangerously as when he hooks up with Midcity’s most powerful prognosticator.

Fawna Brady is tormented by the destinies she sees for those around her. To Fawna, knowledge of the future is a cage she’d do anything to escape. She’s stunned to discover a taste of the freedom for which she yearns at the side of Simon, the one person in the world who despises everything she is, everything she stands for.

Simon’s defiant attitude toward destiny captivates Fawna, but will her love destroy him? And will Simon rush headlong into the delicious doom she offers?

True confession: Whenever I would edit this book, I would feel a bit teary at the very end, just because of how I love these two characters and their story. Seriously, I am such a sap!  

Join the fun! I'm over at Goldilox and the Three Weres right now...answering some crazy fun questions and more. Stop by and say hi! 

Minor reader and writer mysteries that have been on my mind lately...

The mystery of the blow-off blog post, the mystery of the pretty dresses on the book covers, the mystery of the messed up heroes, or reading formats...

In honor of Stella ex Libris's big second anniversary, I boldly explore these very mysterious items...and more! And I give things away!

Come wish Stella a happy TWO years and join the fun! 

Characters, secrets and soap operas!

I'm over at Poisoned Rationality chatting with Lexie about the pleasure of secrets, and how much of my love of characters with secrets came from a youth spent watching too many soap operas!

 Come say hi!

 And, for your viewing pleasure, the fabulous Kendall Hart! A woman with a secret. Does she look familiar to you?

Devil's Luck: cover, blurb, + a rumination!!

Here's the thing: putting out my own novella all by myself has been a very intense journey! And continues to be.

I probably shouldn't admit this here, but I've actually worked harder on this story - and with far more concern for quality - than on any other piece I've written. I don't mean it took me longer to write than a novel, but I find myself taking this new degree of responsibility, as an artist, and as a publisher. Because, I'm running the show.

It's kind of dizzying, like I'm standing on something very tall and looking down, and a lot could go wrong, but it is also exhilarating.

And also, I am in love with this character and this book, and I just want it to be perfect. And, in addition to my critique partner, Joanna Chambers, valiantly and repeatedly working it over, as well as my husband and a pass through my local writing group, I have worked with two freelance editors - a copy editor and a line editor/proofreader - as well as a professional cover artist. (Anne Cain. Do you see what she has done? That cover is SO Simony!)

This week I shall teach myself to format it, and once I do that I will proof it yet again. (Because in this blog post, Courtney Milan says that's what she did, and if Courtney Milan did it, then I must do it because she is verra knowledgeable! *shakes fist*)

Actually, I love when other writers write about their self publishing endeavors, and so many others have given me advice and directed me to resources. I learn so much from other writers, and it makes me feel less alone in my high dizzying perch.

So, this week I plan to format and proof the book. Then, I shall send out my newsletter maybe Wednesday (did you know newsletter subscribers get to download Devil's Luck for free until around Feb 28th? That is the tentative public release date.) At that point I aim to have it up on sale at places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and so forth.

More info on the Devil's Luck  page of my site, and all the links will be there when it's up.

Devil's Luck....the blurb!

There’s a thin line between love and doom.

No wager is too outrageous for Simon Fitzgerald, the most reckless of the Disillusionists. His dark secrets drive him to take increasingly extreme risks, but he’s never lived so quite so dangerously as when he hooks up with Midcity’s most powerful prognosticator.

Fawna Brady is tormented by the destinies she sees for those around her. To Fawna, knowledge of the future is a cage she’d do anything to escape. She’s stunned to discover a taste of the freedom for which she yearns at the side of Simon, the one person in the world who despises everything she is, everything she stands for.

Simon’s defiant attitude toward destiny captivates Fawna, but will her love destroy him? And will Simon rush headlong into the delicious doom she offers?

Oh, I am so excited about this novella, and for people to read it!! And, happy Monday, friends!

Is Carolyn Crane a worldbuilding fraud?

Smash and I talk worldbuilding!

Am I a total fraud when it comes to worldbuilding? There's only one way to find out: at Worldbuilding Wednesdays over at Smash Attack Reads!

World-building Wednesdays is a fun feature where the lovely, delightful, and sadly world-building-obsessed Smash gets authors to talk about their world-building strategies.

Come over to Smash Attack Reads and say hi and talk worldbuilding with us!!!

Badass Interview!!

Where's the action? One word: Badass. 

Happy Friday, friends! Today I'm over at the very fun and awesome Badass Book Reviews where I had a lively chat with Regina and Erika about triangles, writing sex scenes, heroes we love, the inspirations and models for different characters from the disillusionists and a whole lot more.

Also, Regina came with a great person to play Otto, and I gave the link to the page that shows how to spot the hidden Gumby image on Head Rush. And more!

Stop by and say hi! 

5 things on a Sunday

1. Awesomeness. 

Heifer International is awesome!

I’m so excited that Pat Rothfuss and the worldbuilders team has EXCEEDED the goal of $250,000 donated to Heifer International, an incredible, fabulous charity!! There is still time to donate (it runs through the 7th). 

Not only do you give to a great cause, but for every $10 bucks you put in, you are eligible to win books and many many other mind-bendingly wonderful prizes. It’s the ultimate win-win lottery. A ton of league books are in there, and so much more. Check it out here and here. 

2. Comma freakout.
I have been close-proofing DEVIL'S LUCK, my novella about my character Simon, which I am going to self publish. I have had it professionally copyedited, but am now reading it over and changing things around and suddenly I feel like I don’t know how to use commas anymore! 

What is a comma?

Commas used to be so natural for me, but when I really think about them, then my understanding of them falls apart. It’s like that old story of the centipede, and somebody asks it how it walks with so many legs, and once he starts thinking about it, he can’t walk. It doesn’t help that I have been edited through the years by editors with different comma-using styles, the open and the closed, and my Chicago Manual of Style is possibly a few years old.

3. Website freakout.
I have been re-building my author site, a project I started a couple of weeks ago. It’s not up right now - it’s still my crappy old author site there. Honestly, I thought it would take a weekend, but that was before entering the odyssey of tutorials and crazy frustration and OCD perfectionism that is this process. I’ve been in trying to get it EXACTLY PERFECT, of course. My new site is turning out so freaking complex, but I think it looks cool. I sort of think I will get it up today, but honestly, I have thought that on many other days. Either there’s a snafu with the way-too-complicated-for-me theme I’m using, or I get a new idea for something to add or change.

4. Voodoo.
So, my new site is sitting on a development url right now, and I’m kind of scared to even look at it this morning. One morning when I looked at it, I’d changed one page the night before and all these other ones had inherited the change that weren’t supposed to inherit the change. So I changed them back, and then that changed other pages. And then I changed those others back and…etc. It was like a morning of whack-a-mole. 

My website building process

I know that right now the hyperlinks are bright purple, and I haven’t managed to change them to a better color, not for lack of trying, but I have decided to leave them as is, just to not mess with my luck, like the website gods might bite off my beggarly and shaking hand if I put it out, asking for this one last crumb of design goodness. Yes, that is the level of my mastery; it’s quite primitive!

What I’m really scared of is that it will fall apart when I migrate it to my normal URL. Actually, I’m petrified of this, even though Hostgator assures me they will help. But maybe if I leave the hyperlinks in that messed-up purple, my site will remain whole somehow.

5. Quandary.
One of my last quandaries on the site was whether to put up the home page “billboard” many authors have where there is a glowing quote or two or three about their work. I had this whole design done without thinking about that home page quote. And at that point, putting a quote on the home page would completely wreck the cool design. 

Helpful in website building

In my regular job as a copywriter, I work with designers who sometimes complain about this sort of thing, like this or that copy or subhead will mess up their design, and my feeling is often, "Screw your design, it’s the content that’s delivering the message!" But here, I was on the opposite side. Or, both sides. 

I had a discussion with blogger galpal who typically doesn’t notice the home billboard quote, and that made me feel better, and partly, my thinking was, they’re at your site, do you really need to sell them? But then I still felt uneasy. It then occurred to me that there are two main audiences/purposes of author’s site: to provide more info and resources to those who have read your work, and to build credibility and interest for those who haven’t read your work, and that’s who the billboard quote is for, that last group of people who don't know you. Who knows! It's all kind of voodoo, in a way. Anyway, I figured out a solution that wouldn’t wreck the design. Yippee!

Anyway, happy Sunday friends! I hope you're having a lovely weekend. 

Authors dish on characters!

I can't decide whether I'm more loving the "What makes a great character" post over at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks because I'm a writer, or because I'm a reader, but who cares!

Julie put out the question - what makes a great character? -  to a bunch of authors and got 25 responses.  She's running some today and some tomorrow.

There are a lot of my favorite writers on the post today - I'm so fangirlish about and honored to be included with them, and so enjoying reading their thoughts. I'm getting new insights into books I love, and also, new thoughts about my own work.

Can't wait to see who's there to tomorrow. *Crane sharpens note-taking pencil*

Image: A chromolithiographic picture by Count Franz Graf von Pocci from his book 'Viola Tricolor: In Picture and Rhyme', originally published in the United States in 1876 - the year of Pocci's death, from wikimedia

Simon novella: update

This image is NOT the cover -
this is the Simon trading card.
 I can't wait to see the cover,
which is being created now. 

Finally, a title: I'm calling it DEVIL'S LUCK!

I'm really grateful to the handful of online pals I bugged for feedback on my title list. You guy really helped me narrow my list and get thinking clearly about it.

One of the things I love about the phrase Devil's Luck is that few people can agree on what it means. Even if you go online, definitions conflict. Some say it means luck that turns back on you, others say it means extraordinarily good luck, or amazingly bad luck. So, it was perfect for this story, because Simon's kind of luck is a thing all its own.

I had more arty titles like BEAUTIFUL LOSERS or THE ART OF RUIN in mind. I actually think those are awesome titles, but I'm trying to think like a publisher now that I'm putting this piece out myself, and those titles felt like they didn't nod to the urban fantasy genre. What's so funny is that, I originally resisted MIND GAMES as a title. It felt a bit common to me, and I wanted more pizzazz. But part of the job of a title is to suggest to people what is inside a book. *head slap*

As I was explaining it to my husband, it's sort of like hospital logos. Have you noticed most American hospitals have blue, teal or green shades on their logos and materials? (Not children's hospitals, but regular ones.) Crisp lines, often swirls or simple lines, a clean look, lots of white space. I find hospital logos totally boring, but if I was sick, I think I might be more attracted to a teal swirl logo than a logo with a spangle of red stars on a field of yellow, or an inky old world font...it just wouldn't look hospitally! A simple greeny blue image tells me there's a hospital inside.

I want people to get that Devil's Luck contains something magical and sexy and dangerous. Devil's Luck definitely does not contain a hospital.

I'm so excited for this novella I can't even tell you. I love the Simon character!! Fawna is in it, too, another favorite character of mine. I'm working with a wonderful editor, as well as a cover artist whose work I've long admired - I've never worked with cover artists or freelance editors, so I'm excited to see what they come up with - more on all that as it unfolds. The book will stand alone--even more so than the Sophia book. In series order, it's 3.5, taking place after Head Rush. Though, a reader could start with it, too.

I'm hoping to release the book at the end of February. That might be ambitious because there is a lot to do between now and then for it, but that is my goal!

Who is my Girl Crush? + author site redesign, day 2

Girl Crush Monday at
Who Needs Neverland!

First, I'm over at fellow author Katherine Hawkings blog, 'Who needs Neverland?'  

Her first book is coming out in February (The Sphinx Project!) and she also runs a feature called Girl Crush Monday where she and other authors post about their girl crushes.

Today, I'm there posting about why I think Patti Smith is so awesome. And, rather incoherently, I must say.

But, isn't that what a crush is all about? Who can be logical and reasonable about a crush? It would take all the fun away! Come say hi! 

Author site!
In other news, I'm redesigning my author site. Of course I have to do it myself because I am a major DIY girl and massive control freak (You wouldn't believe how hard it was for me to hire an outside editor and a cover artist for my Simon novella.)

Anyway, I have just enough techie and coding skills to be dangerous on an author site.

My author site, day two. Aren't you SO impressed?

I use this Wordpress theme called Headway. It's a very powerful and flexible theme that lets control freaks control many things (ahem), but they did an update that changes things (for the better) but the learning curve for an unskilled non-techie like me is a bit steep. Part of that is because I'm trying to do a very unusual layout and scheme.

I thought I would make all sorts of progress yesterday, but spent the whole day getting a feel for the new tools. Pictured, a screenshot of my site after I worked on it for like SIX HOURS. lol

But, I feel like I have what I need now to achieve my very extreme and insane ambitious vision. There won't actually be animals on the site. I was just getting a feel for how to manipulate things. Wish me luck!

And, Happy Martin Luther King day to my fellow Americans! Yay MLK!!

Whose book is it, anyway?

Back when I was an English Lit major in college there was some shocking tale going around about a conference where a professor was giving a big talk on a famous book (I can't remember the who's and what's).

The crow symbolizes chocolate,
dammit!  

Anyway, the author happened to be in the audience. And this author stood up and corrected some assumption--a bird symbolized this and not that or whatever. And the professor giving the paper told the author to sit back down--nothing the author had to say was relevant. Like it didn't matter what the author had to say, what the author intended. Even though it was the author's book!

It seemed so brazen of the professor to shut the author up like that. I wrestled with that tale in my mind for a long time.

Eventually I came to love what it meant. It said to me that a book becomes its own thing in the world once it leaves the author's hands. The book, once published, no longer belongs to the author. It belongs to the reader.*

That idea seemed so revolutionary to me. And cool!

During writing, of course, the author brings things to the book. But then after it's published, it's the reader's turn to bring things to the book. There's no place for the author in that, because it's between the reader and the book.

Readers are always finding things in books that authors didn't intend, but if they are honestly there for the reader, then they are honestly there. I really like that, as an author and as a reader. Sometimes it's an intensely personal meaning, or a super-smart insight that a reader finds in a book. Other times, readers find things that are offensive to them, or tedious, or boring, or characters who push their buttons. And readers of different generations bring different things to books, just as readers of different political, geographical, and socio-economic circumstances do.

Just today, I had a twitter exchange with an author about a sex scene in one of her books. I had found the scene to be hot, but also profound for a specific reason having to do with the plot. She felt it was just sex. Sorry @authorfriend, I read the book, and the sex scene was hot AND profound.

Not that she's wrong. It's just one point of view, and it doesn't happen to be mine.

Hey Craigslist people, get your feet the hell off the couch!

I often think of this whole thing when these review kerfluffles break out, where authors become upset about reviews. (Even though, gah! a spectrum of reviews, both good and bad, help readers find books they like, and that's good for authors.)

I'm grateful for every review no matter what. These days. I'll read a review now and then if I'm invited. (And, I'm not going to act like I don't enjoy hearing people enjoy my books or reading a positive review - of course I do!) But in general, my thinking is reviews don't involve me and I don't seek them out.

Sort of like, if I sold a couch on Craigslist, I'm not going to go visit the buyer and monitor if they're putting their feet on it or whatever. Because it's just not mine anymore.

I guess that's why I'm writing--to add that point, because I find it freeing. I mean, it's been said over and over that authors should not respond to negative reviews (well, they can, but not in writing). It's been said over and over that  authors should not troll for reviews. Turn off Google alerts. Focus on the next book. Reviews are for readers.

I guess I would go a step further, and say that a review, positive or negative, doesn't have anything to do with the author whatsoever! It's between the reader and the book. It's about the reader bringing things of their own  to the book. You're no longer involved. This is a point that can be liberating for both readers and authors.

Or at least, it's been liberating for me!! LOL. Maybe it's totally obvious to everybody else.

Wow, how did this turn into such a screed? It was supposed to be a short anecdote. ~Crane eyes synopsis she was supposed to be writing this whole time~ Anyway, happy Saturday people!
__________
*Just to clarify, when I say a book belongs to the reader, I mean in terms of perception--I don't mean literally, as in the author doesn't deserve to be paid anything for their work.
Images: Otani Oniji by Toshusai Sharaku, Edo era, Japan, Wiki Commons; No. 296, 10x18 cm (4x8"), Woodcut / Hand-Made Paper, Edition 100 · 17.02.1983 - 24.02.1983 by Werner Stuerenburg. wiki commons.

Sam, Elena & Rhonda's awesome blog hop!

Click to check out the hop & sign up!

As somebody who's got books out in all publishing formats - NY, small press and self-pubbed, you know I'm very into publishing diversity. I'm thrilled at how many ways there are for readers and authors to find each other.

So I really love the idea behind the new Small Press Treasures Blog Hop Giveaway created by the lovely bloggers of Sam, E and R's Awesomeness. This is a hop dedicated to blogs discovering sharing small press and indie treasures with each other. And, I was really thrilled to be named on Sam, E & R's roster of small press faves for my Head Rush release!

Do you have a few small press or indie faves you like to recommend? If so, this hop is for you! In fact, I have a bunch to recommend - I should prolly do it too! Once I figure out how a hop works. I'm a total hop virgin.

Anyway, the Small Press Treasures hop runs from March 17th to the 24th, and you do a giveaway related to small press and indie authors during that week. I'm looking forward to seeing the familiar and the new-to-me names that come up on this!

Interview at YMAKAC + giveaway!!

How does this 'Wolf and 7 Kids' image relate to 

my interview at YMAKAC?  It doesn't! 

I just like to have pictures with my posts.

This week I visited with the  Julie from the highly entertaining blog 'Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks'

It was really fun, and she asked some excellent questions about everything from the convention we're both attending this summer to fave movies to scenes I wrote that made me blush. (A deleted angry Cubby sex scene may have been mentioned!)

Pop over and say hi! AND, you could win a signed copy of either Mind Games or Double Cross!

YMAKAC - it's all happening right here. 







Illustration by Karl Fahringer (1874-1952) Wiki commons

Some reading/writing things I thought I'd never do that I now do all the time!

Use ‘LOL’ or ‘ROFL’

I used to be soooooo down on LOL. An LOL hater! I felt it was dishonest, because, who among the people writing LOL truly were laughing out loud? Maybe 1%! And I felt sure none were ROFLing! So this made me not like LOL, or ROFL.

But now I’m a user—and some might say abuser—of LOL. Seriously! ROFL!! Especially on twitter. No, I haven’t begun to laugh out loud or roll on the floor, but my understanding of LOL has changed. It just means I think this is funny, or I mean this to be funny, in a medium that has no expression. I used to not see it that way, but I do now. These days, I love using LOL.

Aren’t you so glad you are reading this riveting post? Let us now move to the next exciting item...

Ever write 'tho' or  'thru'

I used to not ever use these sorts of abbreviations of though and through, even if it was on something for my eyes only, like I would lose my self respect as a lover of words and an English Literature person. It just seemed tawdry, lazy, and WRONG! But, now with twitter—argh!! Twitter, you have been making me use tho and thru! You have cheapened me in my own eyes! And now, today, while making notes on a paper manuscript, I used tho. Nooooo!

Actually, I’m not that upset about it. Language is always evolving, so, this is fine. I think some shortcuts truly ARE tawdry, lazy and wrong, but informal uses of tho and thru, I’ve let you into my life! Make yourselves at home. Go ahead! Heat up the leftover pizza. Put your feet up on the coffee table.

Use the thesaurus on Microsoft Word

I used to have eyes ONLY for the Rogets thesaurus. I have an awesome hardcover one here, a massive, classic, complete thesaurus. It really is wonderful. And I would use it when I needed the perfect word. Even when editing on the computer I’d have it nearby. And how I disdained the MS word thesaurus. Has there ever been a more pathetic thesaurus? Please! You can never find just the right word there. Or, I can't. MS Word thesaurus: when just any old synonym will do. 

I felt thesaurus.com was okay, but definitely not anywhere near the fabulousness of the hardcover Rogets. Then, I sort of started using it. Not a lot, and still I would go to Rogets when I felt serious about a word. And THEN, every once in a while, I would use the hated MS word thesaurus!! I suppose at first it was just laziness, or if I was in a rush. But, my use of it crept up more and more.

I suppose now my thesaurus use is 3-tiered, with MS word for the low-hanging fruit, thesaurus.com for the middle of the tree fruit and glorious Rogets when I must have it right. Or, like, if I’m thinking of a title.

Aren't you totally fascinated? LOL also, OMG, how priggish do I sound? No, don't answer that, because there’s more!

Read multiple books at one time

As an author, I plant all sorts of little details and seriously, every sentence is there for a reason, and I think most authors are like that. So to stop reading a book to pick up another? Then another? Heresy! How does a reader remember all the careful little details the author wove in? For years I felt that each book must be my one and only, and a continuous read, unbroken by other characters and narratives.

You probably know where this is going. Right now I am reading three books. But, I like it, because I read according to mood. Oh, what will become of me? LOL

***

Confession time!
Are there any word or bookish things you thought you’d never do that you do now? Do tell!

Images: public domain images from wiki commons

Release month roundup

Happy New Year, everybody!

Well, HEAD RUSH has been out just about a month now! I'm so happy and relieved it's out. Also, so so grateful for everybody taking time to tweet about it and facebook, and put up reviews on blogs and Goodreads and Amazon and, seriously, just to get and read it!

Muskratty the muskrat sez thank you

I wonder if you know how much that means to an author. You probably don't, so let me tell you: It means TONS!!! Thank you!

Some fun end-of-year round-uppy things in no particular order...  
I have enjoyed seeing Head Rush and the trilogy pop up on some end-of-year lists:

>>The Disillusionists trilogy was named a top pearl for 2011 by "Pearls Cast before a McPig" (a blog with one of the most delightful blog names!) AND, you can win a signed book there!

>>HEAD RUSH earned a spot in the Top 10 of 2011 from Goldilox and the three Weres, another delightful blog with a most delightful blog name.

>>HEAD RUSH was also there among the Advent Calendar books of 2011 over at Book Lovers Inc. where they choose favorite books to overview and give away. Yay!

>>Justine Jones was named Best Heroine of 2011 in Under the Covers Book Blog!!  So honored, UTC.

>>Finally, I was super stoked for the Disillusionists to be called Best Series of the Year at the awesome For What It's Worth Reviews. *yippee!*

....okay, I'm really bad at collecting these things, so if I have missed any end-of-year things, please do let me know! And thanks again, everybody for reading!!


Have a fun and safe week, everybody!