January 2014 Reading List

I'd like to think I've opened 2014 with a bang. My slogan for the year is: The Year of the Writer. But with the amount of stories I'm consuming maybe I should call it 'The Year of the Reader/Writer'. Regardless, there's a lot of good books coming out from some of my favorite romance authors and some new ones. Though my goal is to read at least 1 nonfiction book and 2 non-romance books this year.

Here's what I've locked eyes with so far:

Misbehaving by Tiffany Reisz
Crazy, Stupid Sex by Maisey Yates
A Little Too Hot by Lisa Desrochers
Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare
Rushing Amy by Julie Brannagh
Bad Boy Billonaire's Girl Gone Wild by Maya Rodale
Wulfe Untamed by Pamela Palmer
Vampire Most Wanted by Lyndsay Sands
Live by Mary Ann Rivers
Nocturnes by Kendall Grey
The Greatest Lover Ever by Christina Brooke
Sneaking Candy by Lisa Burstein

Twelve for the month doesn't seem a bad way to start. I didn't bother tracking my reading numbers in 2013, but I'm interested in keeping count again.

Since the weather's been awful, what better way to pass the days by then with a delicious read, something fancy to drink and a space heater.

Writing Profession Series- Book Author

In my first blog in the Writing Profession Series, I thought I would cover book authors. Most of the people reading this are probably aspiring authors, or authors already. So some of this information may be new, some not. Seeing that I am currently not published (ha!), I thought I would refer to some experts.

My guest(s) today are Best-Selling author Anna Campbell and Harlequin Presents author Maisey Yates. Both author's have graciously submitted a little bit of info about writing books. So without further ado here is Anna's blurb about being a book author:

I wanted to be a writer from a VERY young age – books seemed like glamorous, mysterious items to my childhood self. They still do, in a lot of ways! I spent a lot of time writing and not being published but I finally became a full-time writer when I was in my mid-40s. After all that time, it was a dream come true, as you can imagine. Of course, then I started on a huge learning curve. I thought once I received the validation of publication, the writing would get easier. If anything, it gets harder. You have expectations to meet when you’re published – when everything you write ends up under the bed, not so much. I had to learn to deal with deadlines and the way publishers work (revisions, galleys, ARCS, promotion, etc.) and how to self-promote. For a slow writer like me, there was also the difficulty of producing quality work quickly. For genre fiction, a book a year is probably about the minimum requirement. The hard work is definitely worth it – there are some wonderful perks of being published aside from the opportunity to get paid for telling my stories. Hearing from readers all over the world who have loved my books is wonderful and seeing my books on sale in bookshops is also pretty special. Being able to go to work in my pajamas is a nice treat as well!

Thanks Anna, for sharing the information. Pay attention readers, topics you should learn about: Revisions, galleys, ARCS, promotion.
Questions to ponder: Are you a slow writer?

Now on to Maisey, who's writing experiences are a little different than the standard book author.

Hi Landra, thanks so much for asking me to come gab about writing!
I write Harlequin Presents, which is what you call category, or series, romance. These books have a promise offered to their readers (For Presents it's: Glamorous international settings, unforgettable men, passionate romance.) These books are 50K words long which is a bit shorter than a single title novel.
To write a complete romance with a satisfying character arch in 50K words requires one major keyword: Focus. The focus stays on the hero and heroine. There isn't room for a lot of secondary characters, a secondary plot or romance, or pages and pages of the hero and heroine apart.
I personally keep it at dual POV, only the hero and heroine. No one else gets that screen time, because I only have so many words to set up and solve the conflict.
Also, in a Presents especially, the conflict is mainly internal. This allows for the reader to really get to know the characters, and gives opportunity for maximum emotional impact in a small amount of words.
And that's the real goal in category/shorter length novels: To give the reader the complete emotional experience they expect to get in a romance with half the word count. There might not be as many pages as you get in some books, but everything still has to be there so that you're providing a complete and satisfying reading experience.

Sounds like writing on the short side is a challenge! Thanks Maisey for the great info. Fun Fact about Maisey: She writes fast!
Questions to ponder: Are you good at short, concise writing? Is the dual POV something you can stick too?

Reading both Maisey and Anna's accounts of being a book author gives potential authors things to think about and tons of options.
As author you can choose genre, novel length, and whether you would like to work in pajamas or alternative dress wear. Short or long, you have deadlines. Promoting your books through ARCs and blog tours is a full-time task, full of multiple hours spent writing on anything except the next book you desperately need to finish.
Being a book author involves working hard for every penny you make, but reaping the benefits via adoring fans/ fan mail.

Next week: I'll examine the world of technical writing!

Special thanks to Anna and Maisey for participating.
For more info on Anna's books, and latest releases visit her website at http://www.annacampbell.info/ . Latest news is available on her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AnnaCampbellFans
Maisey's latest and upcoming releases can be viewed on her website at http://www.maiseyyates.com/.

*If you're not a fan of either of these ladies yet, read one book and you will be!

Blog Joy Saturday

We Interrupt This Programming for an Important Announcement!
Tomorrow, more like 3am (some of you may still consider that Saturday), is the launch of Daylight Savings Time in the United States. Joy for the loss of 1 hour of sleep *sarcastic snort.

Now back to the regular scheduled post

Blog Joy Saturday

To write is to also read. You cannot expect to be a good writer unless you consume volumes of elaborate prose within the genre you adore correct? Most agents and authors would agree, although I am sure there are some out there who fall outside of that mold.

Regardless to help all of you wonderful people get their daily dose of reading I propose blogs as a medium to turn to when you are tired of news articles, magazines of celebrity hounding, and no time for reading a full book or short story. Heck, blogs usually tell the story. The story of the downtrodden, misty eyed, aspiring romantic author. The story of the witty, acerbic science fiction author that provide a humor, curse-filled look at ordinary topics.
To help you find some of these places, which exist beyond the blogger realm, I provide links of delight, pictures of morsels, tasty ideas (yes, I know too much description. Show don't tell). Here's to the showing.

My Top Five Blogs of Saturday

5. Maisey Yates I know after you all read this list you are going to say I am a little leaning with my Top 5 this week, I say boo! If it's good I will post it. Maisey is a wonderful romance author. She speaks from the heart and I like her. Spunky, sassy, and I am sure raising three kids deserves a ton of praise! Her blog is on her website. She offers a neat perspective and insight to writing, fun stories, and some giveaways. I encourage a look at someone who has accomplished her dreams and is living them.

4. The Semi-Organic Mom Like talking about kids, motherhood, and laughing at those funny stories only Mom's have (because the kids do the silliest stuff). Then Semi-Organic Mom is the way to travel. She also offers some great advice and research on mom topics, even for those who are not quite a mom but on their way (bun in the oven, pot on to boil, spawn of hell waiting to burst, etc).

3. Life, Muse, and Coffee This blog I just found. Great advice for writers, fun interviews to different authors I would have never thought to check out. All around fun and enlightenment. Just take a peek!

2. Limecello!!! Lime offers a little bit of fun. There are interviews, recipes, ranging comments. Just good times, great posts, and laughs. Her blog makes you feel like having fun and Lime is always eager to respond to her commenter's. Plus I recently won a free book from Lime's blog and love the idea of giveaways!

1. The Season Blog Are you interested in romance??? The Season Blog is where you need to go! Giveaways, author interviews on the latest and greatest out. Plus this blog is attached to a website that offers reviews on each month's romance novels in every category. I'm talking historical, contemporary, paranormal. The Season gives you a chance to get a little more info about a romance book you may be thinking about and more. Couldn't dote on this site enough as it has influenced multiple purchases (Yes, I read romance, like to keep my options open)!

That's it for Saturday. Read your heart away, learn about new books, new tricks, and above new topics to help fuel that creative muse sitting on your shoulder.

-Good Night, Forever Yours, a Purple Sheep