It's a Book Signing! Come By and Say "Hi"!

I'll be there from 11-2
Come by and say, "Hi!"

Boomerang Books
907 W Main St
League City, TX 77473
281-316-1404

I Have My Podcasts Linked Now

Most of you know I do a weekly talk show on Blog Talk Radio called Other Worlds of Romance. Sometimes I interview other authors of sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal romances, and sometimes I read excerpt from my own books.

I've gone back to my website and added links to those podcasts to the books I've already read. So if you see this button (see above left), it'll take you straight to the podcast, which will be a little blue and white box at the top middle of the screen. It'll play a short 15 second ad first, which you can mute until it's over and the podcast begins. :D

Over on the horrror side, the button is a bloody microphone with the word PODCAST --->

It's a Scratch and Dent Sale!

I was doing inventory on my print books for an upcoming book signing I'm doing in League City this Saturday, and I found a copy of SANDEFLAY and a copy of RUNNER'S MOON: SIMOLIF that are a bit too roughed-up to sell. These are new books, but their covers leave a bit to be desired.  So I'm selling them for $5.00 each (plus $2.00 postage)!  (Regular price $17.95 and $15.95 respectively.)

First come, first served!

Coming Soon - The End of the "Runner's Moon" Megabook

The "Runner's Moon" Megabook, which features the first 3 novels of that series (JEBARAL, TIRON, and SIMOLIF), reaches the end of its contract in October.  At that time, the megabook will be taken off the market.

The good news is that readers will still be able to get these three books separately!

But there's more good news to share.  In November, both HEARTFAST and HEARTCRYSTAL will be offered as a 2-in-1 megabook.

Children's E-books?

I was reading a recent article that Scholastic, a well-known seller of chidlren's books, is thinking about stepping into the e-book market.

Scholastic Close to Testing E-book Distribution Platform

Only one thing wrong with this.  It's getting e-book readers into the hands of children.  Yes, the e-books will be available to read via computer, but it's not a practical solution for several reasons.

Which means there will need to be a very viable and CHEAP version of e-book readers for the youngest generation of readers. And that means schools will need to become pro-active (instead of their usual "wait and see what happens 10 years down the road" stance) to get those readers into the classroom.

Yeah, I seem very negative, don't I?  Do you think it's because I've been in education too long to realize that schools are the LAST place to see new technology, even though districts pride themselves on claiming to have the Latest And Greatest for their students?

Tonight I'm Hosting Elysa Hendricks on Blog Talk Radio!

Tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio, I'm hosting Elysa Hendricks.  She'll be reading from her sci-fi romance novel STAR RAIDERS, now available from Dorchester Publishing.

Show begins at 11 pm ET.  Don't miss it!
***
A smuggler’s daughter and an interstellar lawman, Shyanne and Greyson were destined to collide. Their affair was scorching, dazzling…and ended in a blaze of betrayal. Ten years later, the flames between them haven’t cooled. Now if Greyson’s plan to save mankind succeeds, he’ll lose the woman he loves...this time forever.

New Poll! First Person Narrative

New Poll!

First Person Narrative
Once you've read the excerpt and discovered a book that sounds promising is written in first person, are you still likely to buy it?  Or do books in first person turn you off?

I write all my romances in third person, but I sometimes write my horror in first, because I feel it gets the reader "closer to the blood", per se.

Please tell me what you think.  Poll closes next Saturday.  Thanks!

Dear Linda,

Why did you self-publish one of your stories?

1.  Because it was an older story that had already been with a publisher, and

2.  It was a horror story.  But in the land of romance novels and romance loops, and after being with a primarily romance-focused publisher, it didn't sell well, so

3.  Once the contract was fulfilled, and I got my rights back, I felt it was still good enough not to hide in a drawer.

4.  Therefore, after some research, I decided to go the Amazon Kindle route to sell it as an ebook.  I also got a new ISBN number for it.  Plus I went with Lulu to make it into a print edition, so I can sell it at book signings.

(The results?  It's doing VERY well over on Amazon!)

Why Dinosaurs Are Extinct

Purchase JOURNAL for 15% Off!

You can purchase either the PDF e-book or print version of my zombie novella JOURNAL at Lulu's for 15% Off!  Just use code BEACHREAD305.  But hurry!  This offer ends 08/15!

http://www.lulu.com/product/11069166?cid=071810_en_email_BEACHREAD305

Disclaimer: Use coupon code BEACHREAD305 at checkout and receive 15% off Journal. Maximum savings with this promotion is $10. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer ends on August 15, 2010 at 11:59 PM so try not to procrastinate! While very unlikely we do reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so.

10 Thoughts to Ponder

Number 10
Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 9
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 8
Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny.  If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich.

Number 7
Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

Number 6
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

Number 5
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals, dying of nothing.

Number 4
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Number 3
Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200.00, and a substantial tax cut saves you $30.00?

Number 2
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird.  Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

And The Number 1 Thought
Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers; what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
 
(Thanks, Jo!)

Sand Castle is an ARe/OmniLit Best Seller!

Sand Castle now proudly wears the All Romance e-books/OmniLit Best Selling star!

http://www.omnilit.com/product-sandcastle-13518-149.html

***
Second chances, are they possible?


Terrie Myers never believed life would give her a second chance at anything. Little did she understand the draw of a little girl with dreams of a knight in shining armor. Or the magic of hope that would turn those dreams into reality.

Can the magic of Christmas make dreams come true?

I'm Hosting Jesse Fox Tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio!

Tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio, I'm hosting guest author Jesse Fox.  She'll be reading from her paranormal m/m romance SAMHAIN'S EMBRACE.

Show time is 11 pm et.  Don't miss it!
*****
What is loss to the human heart?A spirit of nature, misunderstood and forgotten by modern man, when drawn out on the one night he roams the darkness freely, seeks to understand the meaning of loss and ease a young man's pain.Bran Conleth is a man broken by the ultimate loss - death. Desperate to summon his deceased lover he chooses the one night when the veil between the land of the living and the land of the dead is at its thinnest. Instead of his lover, he calls forth the embodiment of the night - Samhain.Together they share one incredible journey that will teach Samhain about human loss and Bran that there is life after death.

WhooHoo! JOURNAL Has Broken Into Amazon's Top 100!

It's time to do the Snoopy Dance!  My zombie horror novella JOURNAL has just broken into Amazon's Top 100 in the following:

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #24,686 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #81 in Kindle Store > Kindle Books > Fiction > Horror > Occult

If you have a "taste" for horror, check out the links (below and down the right-hand side of this blog) to my horror books and blog.

***
Edited to add at 8:00 p.m. ct

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #18,362 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#59 in Kindle Store > Kindle Books > Fiction > Horror > Occult

***
Edited to add on 07/19 at 10:00 a.m. ct

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #9,605 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#34 in Kindle Store > Kindle Books > Fiction > Horror > Occult
#57 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Occult

***
Edited to add on 07/19 at 2:15 p.m. ct
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #7,912 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#25 in Kindle Store > Kindle Books > Fiction > Horror > Occult
#50 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Occult

I Has a Sad

In the past week I've gotten word that four co-workers whom I've become good friends with over the years have been promoted or transferred to a different campus.  One of them was my assistant principal, and I'm sure many of you can understand how rewarding it is when you have a boss who fully supports you.

Although I'm very happy for their success, it means I'll be starting this next school year with four less people I can go to and share a smile or joke with.

If Life Was Perfect...

If life was perfect, writers would get the edits to their next book AFTER they'd finished writing their latest novel.

(Not in the middle of it when the muse is working hot and heavy, the words are flowing onto the computer screen, and the ideas are falling all over themselves.  Because we all know what happens when you put a good thing on hold...)

It's a Buy-Out!

WHOOHOO!

Back in 2006, I submitted the first book of my BATTLE LORD saga to Publish America.  I signed a 7-yr. contract, which meant I wouldn't be able to get it back until 2013.

Since that time I've learned my lesson, and I've sold very poorly.  Yes, I got a nice looking cover and a terrific-looking book. Plus I got listed on Amazon. But $29.95 for a 396-pg. paperback?

Today I got an email from PA saying that, due to low/non-existent sales this last year, they're offering to return my contract rights back to me...for $99.  Am I going to take them up on their offer?  Hell, yes!  For one thing, I've already completed 3 more books in the saga. And I've planned at least one more book, plus a 3-book additional trilogy.

So while I'm waiting to receive verification (they have to snail mail me the papers - go figure in this day and age of technology), I'm going to go back and polish my original manuscript, and then try to figure out where I'm going to sub this 111K book and all of its sequels.

My Favorite Apocalyptic Movies

in no special order.

The Omega Man/I Am Legend
The Miracle Mile
Cherry 2000
The Book of Eli
Soylent Green
Deep Impact
The Road
Testament
The Day After
The Day After Tomorrow
Mad Max

(Check back as I'll be adding more as I think of them.)

The Apocalyptic Genre and THE BOOK OF ELI

I love apocalyptic stories.  I especially love the movies if they're done right.  THE BOOK OF ELI is one of those done right.

It's been several days since I rented and watched this flick, and it's still sticking to me like meat to a bone.  The acting is top notch, but the scenery and circumstances of the movie (not to mention the killer ending) are what make it, in my honest opinion.  If the "background" isn't plausible, nothing else is going to get me interested in the plot.

Why the interest in this genre?  I have no idea.  Maybe it's because it's always so abysmal, that someone has to emerge victorious in the struggle for survival. And it's that someone we cheer for whenever they succeed.  (Please don't get "apocalyptic" confused with "futuristic".  The "end of the world as we know it" could happen today.  And the future could become a marvelous utopian society.)

Likewise to reading and watching, I love to write these kinds of stories.  My BATTLE LORD series (yes, there's only one out, but there's 4 more finished books waiting in the wings, not to mention a separate trilogy I've outlined.) is my hands-down favorite.  There's also A DIFFERENT YESTERDAY, which is due out this December from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.

Technically speaking, of all the apocalyptic movies I've watched, the overwhelming majority of them do not end Happily Ever After (among those rare exceptions are 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow.)  Still, it doesn't stop me from watching to see how movie makers depict the end of the world.

I'll be posting a list of my favorite doomsday movies tomorrow...

That is...if there IS a tomorrow!

Karenna Colcroft is my Guest Author Tonight on Blog Talk Radio!

Tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio, I'm hosting author Karenna Colcroft.  She'll be reading from her paranormal romance Eternal Love.

Show time is at 11 pm et.  See you there!
***
Karenna Colcroft is the alter ego of a shy mom, wife, and former teacher. She began writing when she was five, and in 2006, she started writing erotic romance. The first erotic romance scene she ever wrote is now part of her new novel Eternal Love. Since 2009, Karenna has received contracts from several publishers, including Pink Petal Books, Siren, Noble Romance, and Excessica. In her spare time, Karenna—wait, she has no spare time! She lives in the northeastern US with her two daughters, her real-life romance hero husband, and two cats.

Books as Babies - One Mother Author's Perspective

The comments have arisen again about authors who consider their books as their babies, which has brought about a lot of ridicule and teasing from other authors.

Come on, people!

I am very protective of my books.  I get emotionally involved in them when I'm writing.  But I know these creations aren't flesh and blood.  I know I don't have to get them their immunization shots, or make sure I teach them to look both ways before they cross the street.

But I do want to make sure they have a good home with a publisher who'll treat them with respect.  I want to give them a good cover to make them attractive.  And most of all, I want readers to enjoy them.

So in a very rhetorical way, yes, my books are like my babies.  And I believe other authors who have the same sense of "mothering" feel the same way.  We are in no way equating books to actual children.  We're simply saying that, after all the effort we've made to bring these creations into the world, we hope they're well-received.  We hurt if someone derides them.  We get upset if someone casually dismisses them without actually giving them a chance.  And we sometimes get defensive.

Why?  Because it's the way we're wired.  Creative people are less analytical and more spontaneous.  We're also more emotional, and it shows in our books, our paintings, our sculptures, etc.  Emotion drives the creative spirit.  Emotion, and the love of creating, keeps us producing.  But because of emotion, unfortunately, some of us are less adept at handling negativity than others.

So the next time an author comments that her books are like her babies, please accept the allegory and go on.  If husbands can call a favorite car "their baby", and other people can call their pet dog or cat "their baby", there's nothing wrong with authors doing the same about their books.

The Plight of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani - Please Help Out a Great Cause!

Over on Emily Veinglory's blog (link here), she's discussing the plight of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian woman who was condemned to death by stoning because three of her judges "think" she committed adultery.  It doesn't matter that they have absolutely no proof to back their suspicions.

It reminds me of the Salem witch trials, where anyone accused of being a witch, regardless of any incriminating details, was automatically put to trial.  And it then became the prosecutor's job to invent evidence to support the claim.

Emily is giving Amnesty International $1 for each comment to her blog.  So please go by and leave a message.

Dear Linda,

Do you make your own webpages, or do you have someone who does them for you?

The answer is I do them myself, so please don't expect them to look ultra-professional.

Seriously, though, I know of a couple of writers who have theirs done by a professional.  Both of them have really neat looking websites, but one isn't happy with the fact that when she needs something uploaded or changed, she has to wait until the designer can get to it.

The other friend is lucky in that her designer can get the changes done within a decent amount of time, usually within twenty-four hours.

However, there's always the COST to be considered. 

I started making my own websites long before FrontPage ever existed, back when we had to use html codes for the background colors and all.  And because I can change my webpages as frequently as I change my mind, I prefer to do my own.  Of course, I often take ideas I see on some websites and incorporate them into mine.  No website should be static, in my honest opinion.  And by keeping it fresh, it becomes a plus for both me and my readers.

So What?

There's been a lot of talk lately since scientists have determined that reading speed decreases if a person is using an e-book reader, rather than reading from an actual dead tree book.

My response is, "So what?"

Is there a race here that I don't know about?

Are we being "graded" on how fast we can finish a book?  Or how many books we can read?

I'll be very blunt and admit that I often skip whole paragraphs and sometimes pages when I'm reading through a print book, usually because the story has gotten uninteresting.  But I don't always do that with my e-reader.  For one thing, I can't find my place I left behind because I tend to forget to bookmark my page.  (Yeah, getting old sucks.)

But all in all, is it really IMPORTANT to know we slow down our reading on those e-readers?

(Psst!  Did they count the number of times we went back to re-read those steamy sex scenes?)

Dear Linda,

Any chance of a sequel to the HeartFast/HeartCrystal stories?

Yes, but I have no idea when.  But I've had several people let me know of some "loose ends" that I need to clear up, especially regarding:

-the romance between Doctor Devorah Perlakian and Commander

-StarLight's past history

-Seeker's infatuation with Master Hunter

What I can tell you is the title will be HeartStorm.  So just keep your eyes open for further details and announcements.

(Thank you, DW!)

"We Didn't Start the Fire"

For all you people who remember Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire", check out Daddy Comic's updated version. You can find out more info about it here.

I'm Hosting Diana DeRicci (Diana Castilleja) Tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio!

Tonight, my guest author will be Diana DeRicci, aka Diana Castilleja.  She'll be reading from her erotic paranormal romance novel CAGED.

Come by and listen!  Show starts at 11 pm et.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/other_worlds_of_romance

Happy Independence Day!

It's a Book Signing! Come By and Say "Hi"!

I'll be at Hastings today from 11 to 4, signing copies of my newest release FROM OUT OF THE SHADOWS.  Come by and say, "Hi"!

Movie Review - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS

Yes, I watch animated movies.  I do so for several reasons:

* I teach Kindergarten, and sometimes on rare occurrances, I'll show a movie if it deals with something we're studying, or if there's an "off" day, like the Last Day of School.

* Animated movies tend to leave you with a really good feeling.  A warm fuzzy.

* Most animated movies are based on beloved children's books, like this one.  So it makes for a great Compare/Contrast,

* Finally, I LIKE animated movies.  Admit it - you'll rent one to "watch with your kids", but you'll get just as much of a kick out of it as they do.  Maybe more so!

Get this movie and watch it.  Look for the "in jokes", like the nod to Independence Day and Shatner's Twilight Zone episode where he's an airline passenger.  From the moment the giant banana knocks the Paramount statue off of her pedestal, you know you're in for a treat.

And as an added plus, for those of you who like to listen to movie soundtracks, this one is fantastic!

I give this a 5 out of 5, and this warning:
Don't be surprised if you find yourself growing hungry during and afterwards.

Looking For a Unique Marketing Tool?

My new car had a dealer's frame around the back license plate, and I told my husband I was about to take it off.  He suggested I get a personalized frame, and I found one here at Autoplates (dot) com.  Very reasonable!