What’s coming this month? Ivy, book 4 in the Ties that Bind: Auction night series is releasing on April 8th! Gah! That’s right around the corner. It’s sizzling hot and we finally get to spend time with Master Edge (~le swoon)!!!
What’s coming next month? I will be releasing Cocky Captain, my contribution to Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Hero world!!! We will match up an ex-Navy, Blue Angel fighter pilot with an ex-Air Force tanker pilot, Angel…get ready for not only a battle of the sexes, but Navy vs Air Force, and tanker pilots against those hotshot fighter jocks! This is a really fun book with off the charts chemistry!
What I’m writing? I’m writing Mistletoe Mischief, a billionaire romance for the holidays! It’s sinfully sexy, sizzling hot, and involves a beach and couple’s romantic retreat~
What am I editing? I finished edits on Firestorm, this is my contribution to K. Bromberg’s Everyday Heroes world. Asher is a hotshot firefighter and the chemistry between him and heiress, Evelyn, is smoking hot. Like an inferno! A Firestorm!
What I’m proofing? I am proofing Forest’s FALL…I know. I know! This is THE BOOK everyone is waiting for! And I have a surprise because…do I tell you now? Nah, we’ll keep that update for later…
Yeah, me either BUT if I were – these three books are a total necessity:
I would NEED Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series. It’s simply amazing writing and world-building and honestly, I could re-read those over and over and over again.
I’d take the Dead of Eve series from Pam Godwin, because it’s fucking sexy as hell.
And I think I’m cheating because I’m taking a series of books instead of three individual books.
As for the last one, Anne Rice’s entire Vampire book series. So incredibly rich and detailed!
What about you? What three books are on your desert island book list?
In the author community, we segregate into two different camps.
Those who read our reviews… Those who don’t…
I fall into the first category.
You might wonder why would an author NOT read their reviews?
It’s a great question and there are a variety of answers.
Some authors will tell you the negativity impedes their creative process. Others will tell you negative reviews make them want to quit.
I agree with both those statements, but since I began my writing journey in a critique group, I’m rather immune to criticism.
But bad reviews are difficult if you don’t look at them with a critical eye.
I read all my reviews. I want to know how my stories resonate with my readers. What they love and where things fell flat.
My goal is to improve. My greatest fear is stagnation. My writing should continue to get better and I read all my reviews, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Show my story outline/vision board? These are terrifying words.
My process is NO process. I’d love to think I was one of those writers who was totally OCD with a picture-perfect story outline and vision board, but the truth is ugly.
I don’t.
Like, my mind doesn’t work that way. If I have to stop and create a vision board, search out all those pictures of people who ‘inspire’ my characters…my mind literally stops in its tracks.
I find it paralyzing rather than freeing. And I love other authors who post all these pictures of their inspirational characters. I love that they have a vision of who their characters are. It is awe-inspiring.
For me, it’s a process of discovery. I don’t have all of that down. I travel that path with you, my reader, learning little things about the characters as we go along.
So, I apologize. I have no story outline, or vision board, to share with you, and I prefer to keep those things loose.
Way way way back before I ever published, I ran across a very talented critique partner in Critique Circle. This is an online forum where aspiring writers come together to critique each other’s works and improve upon their craft.
I made so many juvenile mistakes in my writing. My words got picked apart, all those mistakes revealed to me along with how I could improve them.
I count my time in Critique Circle as my crucible. It’s where I learned to write.
One of my first critique partners was Pam Godwin, an incredibly talented writer and we began critiquing each other’s words very early on. She was working on her first book, DEAD OF EVE, (https://amzn.to/2wiYYsK) and I was working on mine, VENDEL RISING (https://amzn.to/2x1ceCO), published under my sci-fi pen name, L.A. WARREN.
Pam’s critiques were always spot on, she gave it to me straight, always delivered constructively, but never sugar-coated. I grew as a writer because of her.
She went on to publish years before I took the plunge and I’ve devoured all of her books. I’m still privileged to Beta read but her skill honestly has surpassed my critique skills.
I finally published my first novel, not Vendel Rising, but rather CHANGING ROLES, (https://amzn.to/32MMx4M) one she constructively ripped and shredded until I finally made that story shine.
That was four years ago. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. If you’re into dark books, a little PNR romance, love reading RH done right, I encourage you to read her Dead of Eve series. Pam Godwin ripped my heart out with the second book, and I still haven’t forgiven her for that, but it was one of those hurt so good moments…GAH, thinking about it still brings tears to my eyes.
Anyway, she’s writing this dirty dark Pirate book called SEA OF RUIN, a dark historical pirate romance (https://amzn.to/39pR0fW) and you really should consider reading it. It’s going to be phenomenal!
I need to confide in you. Recently, I had to delete over 5000 words, that’s about two chapters worth of content because my characters were going off-script.
I tell you, these people in my head DO NOT like following directions. And as they wander from here to there, sometimes I need to break out the whip and snap them back in line.
Do you have people in your head clamoring for you to tell their story? I’d love to know. And if they are, who do you think will be in charge once you start writing?
I know for me, I’m seldom the one in charge. My characters always go off-script. Sometimes that’s awesome, but sometimes it’s simply too much and they are headed in the wrong direction.
I’m happy to let them lead, but sometimes…yeah, sometimes I just gotta crack that whip!
Michelle is a vivacious blonde bombshell who’s often been compared to Marilyn Monroe. Deeply submissive, she’s in love with her Dom, Tank.
Tank is an ex-Marine, ex-prize fighter, who’s built like a tank. His body is an artist’s dream of clean lines, hard edges and ripped muscles…Until you get to his face. Marred from an artillery explosion, a fine network of scars covers over half his face, and his nose has been broken so many times it finally gave up on ever being straight, and his ears are what you would expect from a boxer clubbed too many times. His face is a lumpy mess of the most imperfect beauty.
I’d love to see how you envision Tank given that description. Don’t be shy…post some inspiration in the comments below.
I wanted to share an intro from one of my blog posts aptly titled: The Agony of Forest’s FALL…
I’m about a third of the way into writing Forest’s FALL. This story is going to be bigger than I originally thought. I can feel it. At 35,000 words, the first pivotal moment has arrived. My gut twists as the words flow from My-Mind-to-the-Page. The knots twist and turn with the agony of this scene I just finished. It’s raw and ugly, painful and heart-breaking. Yet, it’s only the beginning of Forest’s FALL.
If you want to read more, click on over to my blog and see what else I had to say about writing this amazing book!
It’s not often I get excited about peopling, but Jet is making me break out of my shell. We have a kayak trip planned with a couple we’ve been ‘dating.’…..
Yeah, you heard that right…we’re building couple relationships. Is this something you do? Do you and your significant other seek out other couples to do stuff with?
Well, if you’re Jet, it involves setting up a kayaking trip. So, I will have my ass planted in a kayak, heading down the river on a three-hour tour (this sounds terrifying… Is it just me? Or are you now singing this tune from Gilligan’s island?)
🎶🎵Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship
The mate was a mighty sailing man, the skipper brave and sure
Five passengers set sail that day, on a three-hour tour
A three-hour tour🎶🎵
Seriously, this has been running through my head for days!
Tell me about your favorite ‘couples’ misadventure!
For me…this is difficult. I’m highly opinionated, yet I rarely share my opinions with others. I kind of live by the philosophy of LIVE AND LET LIVE.
But in thinking about this, I’m going to go counter to the grain and answer with one of my BOOKISH PET PEEVES.
Do you know what really gets my engine revving? My pot boiling? My fire burning? YOU GET THE POINT!
I get so irritated at people who say “Audiobooks don’t count as reading.”
I mean…WHAT?
REALLY?
Who the heck are you?
I’ve ‘read’ tons of audiobooks, and while they aren’t for everyone, they serve a very definite purpose in my life.
How? Why? What do you mean, Ms. OPINIONATED Ellie Masters?
Well, I’m going to give you a piece of my mind…(in the kindest, most southern way)…
I’m busy. You’re busy. We’re all BUSY!
So, anything which allows me to multi-task is a WIN-WIN for me.
I love audiobooks because I can put them on and go for a walk. This accomplishes two beneficial things in my life.
First of all, I get in those damned 10,000 steps the American Heart Association says is so critical to good health.
Second, I get to do so while listening to some of the best stories out there.
When I can combine something I love (reading) with something I hate (exercising) I consider this a WIN WIN WIN WIN!!
I’m fortunate in that I can pick up a book on my kindle and read when the mood strikes me. Okay, I don’t have the time to read, but I do own a Kindle!
I listen to audiobooks for convenience (aka…when I need to get my ass in gear) when I need to crank out 10 min, 20 min, or 30 min of walking to get those dang steps in.
Sometimes, I’ll play an audiobook while I’m sitting in the shower. YES! I do this. DO NOT JUDGE ME!
I’ve discovered some great new series this way and I love the way narrators can bring books to life in a way the written word doesn’t.
However, I’m also well aware not everyone can pick up a book and read with the same ease I can. I’m also aware not everyone enjoys listening to an audiobook.
But don’t you dare tell me listening (reading) to an audiobooks doesn’t count as reading.
I will go toe to toe with you!
With that said.
Are you an audiophile? Love audiobooks.
Are you an audio-newbie? Have yet to try out an audiobook?
OR, are you one of those…who hates audio? (It’s okay, we can still be friends~psst I’m right, you’re wrong)
Tell me the last audiobook you’ve read.
And did you know that I have audiobooks available? If you’re an old hat at audiobooks, or a newbie looking to try one out, let me know.
