Fun! Fun! Fun!

I absolutely LOVE doing interviews!!!! It must be some thing in my brain that enjoys talking about myself. Can't help it sometimes. So when someone wants to do an interview, I so jump on it! LOL! But seriously, I do really enjoy sharing myself with others and sharing where I came from, how I got where I am now, what I plan to do in the future. I hope I can be an inspiration, not only to other writers, but all people.

So today I am over at Rachel Brimble's blog! Check it out!!

Doing it again!

I did the A-Z Blogging Challenge last year and it was a really great experience! I met lots of great bloggers and gained lots of new followers too! It was fun! So I decided to sign up again!

Last year I didn't really know what I was doing...so I just blogged about random things. But this year I want a theme. Movies, music, books. Maybe all three! I don't know. Something fun! What kinds of posts would interest you most?

Should authors review books?

I have always been a reader. Ever since I was a kid in my tiny bedroom lounging on my hot pink vinyl beanbag chair. My love of books and great stories is what encouraged me to write my own. Once I became a writer and then a published author did not mean I stopped reading.

After I started writing, but before I became published, I joined Goodreads. I thought it was great! I love organization and having this great website to keep track of the books I read and what I thought of them was so so cool! I wrote honest reviews, but was never rude or nasty. Just not my style.

But then my book was published and things shifted. I was now on the other side. Now not only was I giving reviews, I was receiving them. Luckily, I've yet to get a really bad review (knocking on wood really hard!!!) But I started to wonder if it was really appropriate for me to give negative reviews of fellow authors' work. I didn't feel it right to lie and give glowing reviews for books I did not think that of. But was it really proper to point out a book's flaws???

I still wish I had an answer to that. I ended up removing anything negative from the reviews I had written. I focused on the positives. But my star rating still reflected my true feelings.

As an author, it is extremely hard to read a book and completely turn off the editor inside my head. I am more critical than the average reader. I notice things readers might not notice. Sometimes it is really hard for me to completely lose myself in a book like I used to. I just can't...I'm too distracted. If the editing is bad, or there is head-hopping, it completely distracts me. I have to force myself through and really search out the story and I don't enjoy myself.

Also today, I am guest posting over at Flutey Words, Aubrie Dionne's blog, about my writing process! Check it out!

My baby boy is 4 today!!

How fast time flies! :) You hear people say that all the time. But honestly, I never really felt it until I had kids. They really do grow up so fast. They learn so fast. They change so fast. A few months makes a world of difference in their lives.  And my baby boy is now 4!

I think most parents are stuck between wishing their kids would stop growing and stay small forever, and wishing they would grow just a little faster. As kids grow up, they become more independant and need us less. And that can be so sad. Here is this baby who you've cared for and nurtured...they are your world...but gradually they just don't need you they way they once had.

But on the other hand, independent kids mean mom and dad can semi sorta get back a little more of themselves. Have a little more time to be who they are and not just mom and dad.

I try to enjoy every moment. I know this time is passing fast and one day soon I will wonder where the time has gone. We try to make birthdays special in our house. We have a small party with immediate family, but on each person's actual birthday, the birthday person gets to pick somewhere to go for dinner. Anywhere they want to go. I wonder what my big boy will choose today! :)

A new feature and an old one brought back!!

I think this is pretty exciting! Hope you all do too!!

I have decided to start a new feature...a weekly guest post every Wednesday. I'll be inviting my blogger friends to stop by and share a bit of themselves with my readers! It's nice to get some different ideas and perspectives!!

And I have decided to bring back an old feature...my Happy Hunksday posts!! But I think I will move it to Friday. Gotta think of a title. TGIH??? Thank God it's Hunkday??? Hmmm...I think I like it! Feel free to suggest some hotties to feature!! :)

And please let me know if you are interested in participating in my weekly guest blogger spot!!

Museful Monday!

I'm so excited!! Sandra Sookoo over at Believing is Seeing has asked me to be one of her contributing bloggers for her weekly segment titled Museful Monday! Each week we'll talk about writing and tips for success! Today is my first post! So please come stop by!

Sunday Six- a tidbit from my WIP!

Well, technically the book is finished. It's in the edit and revise stage!

Bobi's plastic surgeon boss is checking up on her new breast enhancements.

He stepped away from her, their eyes locked, Bobi’s breasts still on full display. The unmistakable sound of a jiggling doorknob broke their trance. She panicked as the jiggler knocked on the door and quickly buttoned her shirt like she’d just been caught making out in her parent’s basement. Not that she’d ever done that, but if she had, it would probably feel like this.

“Looks like my eight o’clock is here,” the doctor chirped. “I’ll go let them in.”


Click here to check out all the Sunday Sixers!

Did you join a gym as a New Year's resolution??

We joined a gym two years ago as our New Year's resolution. The main reason for joining was so hubby could lose 30 pounds. His doctor told him he had sleep apnea and he needed to lose some weight. Wanted to try that before giving him the machine. But he was also told that having sleep apnea makes it harder to lose weight. So we joined a cheapy gym...only cost us like $40 a month for both of us and the monthly fee for our son to use the kid's playroom while we were there. Even then we knew it was going to be something we did for the long haul...not just a short term thing. I joined too, but I've always been happy with my weight. I really only wanted to lose 4-5 lbs and just tone up.

Here we are two years later and I've been extremely happy with it all. We have switched gyms...same price, but a new place that offers all kinds of classes. I got my body to a place I was very happy with...though I do still need to tone some areas. I gained a lot of muscle too. Hubby is getting there. He was having a hard time getting to the gym....could only go like 2-3 times a week. Just so much going on every afternoon. He has recently switched shifts at his job and it should be much better for him.

But the thing about the gym that cracks me up is the rush of people joining in January. It is fantastic and it makes me happy to see that people are making the effort to get healthy. But from watching the crowds at the gym, once we get to the middle of February...the luster is gone. People just do not come anymore. I wonder what happened...where their steam went. And I don't know about most gyms, but ours locks you into a two-year contract. You are paying that cash no matter what.

So how are you doing on your resolutions so far???

Indie Vs. Selp Publishing...my choice

Today I'm over at Fiction Groupie talking about Indie publishers and self publishing and why I did what I did. Come stop by and check it out!!

Click here!

How do you know you're ready?

So many editors, agents and published authors give the advice of "Don't submit a manuscript until it's ready." Well...how do you ever really know?

I'm in the middle of revising an old manuscript. This MS has been revised before. This is probably the second or third time. This MS has been out on submission twice. The second time was after extensive revision and probably a year and a half's time. Both times I sent it out, I truly thought it was great. I had worked on editing it for months. I'd gotten tons of feedback from writers group members and beta readers. Everyone thought it was great.

But as with anything, the more you do it, the more you learn. So of course I know more now than I did back then. And yeah, this most recent revision has fixed even more problems. Once again, I think it's great. I'm hoping to finish up one last read through today before I send it to beta readers.

But, I've been here before, thinking something is great, but it's really not.

One of my favorite things- Disney World!

Many of you probably already know. I have a slight obsession with Disney World. I go as often as our budget will allow, which isn't really enough, but that usually means like once a year....if we can get a great deal during value season staying in a value resort.

I like to consider myself something of a expert when it comes to planning a budget conscious Disney World vacation. many of my friends come to me when they need tips and advice. I'd typed the same email at least a dozen times with my best tips and a list of websites I love. Then it finally dawned on me to have a website I could direct people too. So I did. It's a blog I try to update whenever possible. There are tons of planning tips and advice and reviews on everything from rides to food to resorts.

So if you're a Disney fanatic like me, come stop by and say hi!

Disney Dreaming

Sunday Six- More Karma!

Here is another scene from my newest release, Karma Kameleon!

As the room continued with “Happy birthday dear Preston,” the pain sharpened, like a shard of glass being jammed into my mid-section. I gripped one of the dining room chairs and fought to stay on my feet. Me crippling over in pain would only cause mass hysteria. And I didn’t want that for my boy’s big day.

Rich made it to my side before the song had ended. “Are you okay?”


And if you'd like to check out all the other participants, go here!!

What warms you in winter???

Today I'm guest posting over at Melissa Schroeder's blog! Come by and see how I keep warm when the temps drop!!!

And I'm giving away a copy of Karma Kameleon!!!!! Stop by and tell me what keeps you warm all winter!

Things You Should Know- RWA!

I *HEART* RWA!

I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to join. But for a while, I wasn't sure the cost was worth it...and I really didn't have extra cash to be throwing around. But finally I did give it a try and it was like a breath of fresh air. Exactly what I'd needed. I found home.

The ladies in my local RWA chapter are why I joined. The main organization is fantastic, but it was the local chapter that would make or break it for me. I have another writers group that I belong too, but there really isn't anyone like me, who writes what I write. And when you write a genre that can be misunderstood and often disrespected, it really helps to unite with people who also write it.

This week there was an article in Buffalo Uprising about my local REA chapter. Buffalo Uprising is a publication dedicated to showcasing Buffalonians and their successes. Please check it out!!

Buffalo Uprising

The Joy of Being an Adult!

How many times did your parents say these things to you, or have you said them to your kids?

"No candy before lunch."

"Cookies are not a meal."

"Put your coat on before you go outside."

"Clean your room."

"Go to bed at a reasonable time."

"You can't lay there and watch TV all day."

I know my parents said those things to me as a kid. I say them to my kids now. But ya know what, sometimes I completely go against those rules for myself. I know there have been times, many times, I have eaten cookies or cake as a meal. I've stayed up waaaaaaaay later than I should have watching stupid TV or reading a book or playing on the internet. Many times I have gone places and left my coat in the car- who wants to carry a winter coat in the mall? And oh yeah...on a lazy Sunday...I've definitely laid and watched Tv all day.

And I can do these things because I am an adult and there is no one to tell me I can't! LOL!

But I also know they are not the best things for me and I don't do them all the time...especially the cake for dinner thing. I treat myself and pamper myself occasionally....and usually do not let my kids see me doing these bad things. Gotta set a good example!! I have the lessons I learned from my parents engraved on my brain. I know the right things to do and I'm trying to instill those values in my kids too. If I let them eat candy and sweets as meals, even once in a while, they might start doing it more and more and set bad habits that will be hard to rectify later on. If they turn out like me, knowing these things are bad and only do them once in a while as a treat, I will have succeeded a parent!

It's Release Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Release day!!!!!!! Yay!!!! I'm so excited!!!!

Today is the release day for my second full-length novel, Karma Kameleon! It's the sequel to my debut, A Bitch Named Karma. I'm so excited for the release of this book. Readers were so engaged with Lexi Marshall in the first and I just needed to tell the next phase of her life. More problems, more Karma, more Lexi! Readers also get more Rich, her sexy rockstar boyfriend, and get to see him mature and become a man. But that causes more problems for Lexi too! She's now caught between the two men in her life!

I'm partying ALL day on my Facebook Fan Page with, prizes, guests, games, giveaways and more!!Come stop by!!

Here's the blurb:

Karma is back, but this time she’s not completely to blame. 

After surviving a heart- wrenching tragedy, Lexi Marshall is determined to find happiness with her wacky, new-age family. Stumbling through her first few months of motherhood, she's achieved the perfect balance living with her son, the love of her life, and her best friend and his lover. But happily-ever-after all under the same roof doesn't last long. 

For one thing, Rich doesn’t exactly agree living with everyone is ideal. With their gay/straight double wedding fast approaching, he wants to find a place of their own instead of continuing to sponge off of Marcus and Kevin. But Lexi isn’t ready to give up her easy lifestyle...or the never-ending wisdom of her lifelong best friend, Marcus. 

Torn between assured comfort and true happiness, Lexi has to make a choice, and fast. Will she lose everything, or can she trust karma, and have it all?

Some Karma for Six Sentence Sunday!

Tomorrow is the release day for Karma Kameleon the sequel to A Bitch Named Karma, and my second full-length published novel! So in honor, I will post the first 6 sentences from Karma Kameleon!

Enjoy!

“Rich, I’m pregnant.”

The last time I’d said those exact words to him, it had led to our breakup and my entrance
to a dark and dreary pit of misery. This time, instead of a dumbfounded, confused expression, a
huge grin formed on Rich’s face and he kissed me. We laughed and he told me how happy he
was and how much he loved me.

“This is perfect.” He lay next to me on our bed and combed his hand through my hair.

And if you want to join the party, stop back tomorrow for all kinds of fun and prizes!! I'll be partying all day on my blog, Facebook author page and Twitter!

Promo promo promo...I need new ideas!

I blog, do blog tours, blog hops, guest blogging spots, interviews.

I Twitter and Facebook.

I have Goodreads and Amazon author pages.

I did a Goodreads ad.

I do online chats (when I can remember).

I participate in online contests and giveaways.

I've organized a Street Team and sent them all kinds of materials to hand out.

I did a local book fair.

I do local open mic nights.

But so far, none of this has given me the sales figures I desire. I need to do more. I want to do more. I just don't know what. I am out of ideas. But I won't be that media whore who blitzes everyone all day with "BUY ME!" posts. Not my style. And from everything I've read, it's not cool anyway.

What am I missing? Are there some great marketing ideas I have missed?? Remember I am a struggling author...so if it takes money, I probably can't do it.

Help! Please!

Good editing is so so important!

As writers and authors, we spend weeks, months, sometimes years, perfecting a book. But even still, there are typos and mistakes, grammar boo-boos. It happens. We're human. I truly believe that when your eyes have read something a million times, it just scans the document. Your brain kinda knows the words by heart. It automatically corrects the mistakes and you just don't notice them.

But a reader WILL notice them. They make them stop...they pull them from the story. And every time a reader is pulled from a story, there is a chance they won't go back.

This is why every author needs an editor..even two. My publisher, Lyrical Press, has a very extensive editing process. Before we start the process, I do a last self edit. Then my copy editor goes at it. Usually we do three rounds. She edits, I correct. She edits again, I correct. She edits again, I correct. Then it goes to another set of eyes, a line editor. They go through it and it's sent back to me once again for correction. And then...even after all that, I get a galley copy, which is the final copy...what will be published unless I find and correct mistakes. Once that proof is approved, it's done..no going back. So, suffice to say, I scan it very carefully. And every time I have found mistakes in the galley.

But through this process, I have been able to produce a final product with few to zero mistakes. Unfortunately, as any published author will tell you, a couple still slip through the cracks. Usually it's not misspelled words, but punctuation mistakes or something silly like a space in the middle of a word (I was just told about that one in A Bitch Named Karma.)

In the end, we are human, but we are also professionals, and readers expect a professional product.

I am in the process of reading a great story. It has really sucked me in. But there is literally a mistake on just about every single page. Very distracting. If I wasn't so into the story, I would have set it down long ago. So this author is lucky...for now. But will I ever pick up one of her titles again, or anything from that entire publishing house? Most likely not.

So, my biggest advice today, NEVER EVER think you are too good for an editor. If your book will be published by a traditional publisher, be it print or digital, you'll have no choice but to undergo professional editing. (But as I have just proven, even a publisher can have shoddy editing). Those of you who choose the self-publishing route, please do not underestimate the value of paying for professional editing services. Even those of you who are far from being ready to publish....share your work with another writer or even your friends. They can help you find the mistakes your eyes gloss over.

Interview with the FAB Roni Loren!!

Today I have a super awesome treat!! Fresh off her release day for her debut book, Roni Loren is here to chat with us!!!

You've done what so many writers dream about...snag an agent and book deal! How did you celebrate both of those successes?

When I signed with my agent, I’m not sure it really set in. I just kept punching my husband in the arm and saying, “Dude, I have an agent!” : ) Then when I got my deal with Berkley, I just couldn’t stop smiling. I was such a Berkley fangirl, and I couldn’t get my head around the fact that my book was going to be published with them. I do remember going into my Borders and sticking my finger in the spot on their romance shelf where my book would go. I still look for that spot in any bookstore I go into.

That's so cool. Now I wanna go do that at the store!!

I remember way back when...I met you way before either of us had publishing contracts! We'd started blogging around the same time and even had a similar amount of followers for a while...but then you just exploded! :) Is there a secret to your blogging success?

I don’t know if I have any secret. I was as surprised as anyone when people started following me, lol. I think the key for me was I had a focus. I naturally gravitate towards teaching (although, my husband may argue that really means I gravitate toward bossy. J) So even though I hadn’t intended for it to be a writing blog, that’s what it became. And for some reason, even though I was a complete newbie, people found that “come learn with me as I learn” approach helpful. I don’t know if I’d recommend my approach to others since it also means I limited myself on topics (and have subsequently had to start a separate reader-focused author blog as well), but I’m so thrilled to have met all the great writer friends I have. It’s been a blessing.

You always have such great advice for writers. Where did your wealth of knowledge come from?

It truly was a learn as I blog kind of thing. I devour books on craft. It’s a bit of an addiction, really. And then I read agent/editor/writer blogs like they were going out of style. Plus, as I went along, I started learning things by making my own mistakes. (Like querying a first novel before it was ready.) So I would share those hard lessons on the blog to hopefully help others NOT do what I did, lol.

Thanks for sharing your enending wisdom with us all!

Now, let's talk about the book! Give us the blurb for Crash Into You!

Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat—a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. To find her Brynn must go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the one Master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn’s past.

Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he’s all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate—and so does the danger.  Their hearts aren’t the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.

Sounds so good!! Can't wait to read it!

What will you most likely do the first time you see your book on a bookstore shelf? (I'm thinking cartwheels in Barnes and Noble are a bit frowned upon.)

Is that frowned upon? Well, damn, there goes plan A. I’m honestly not sure what I’m going to do. Probably do a little quiet squeezing and bouncing, then I’ll have hubs snap a picture of me holding it. I think the whole thing is going to be surreal.

We did this interview weeks ago...so now I'm wondering what you actually did do yesterday!! :)

Did you set out to write an erotic romance, or did it sorta just happen?

Just sorta happened. I had written a paranormal YA and contemporary romance already. And while I was waiting to hear back on the contemp romance, I got the idea for CRASH. It was an idea that could only be told via erotic romance, so I decided to give it a shot. I’m an avid erotic romance reader, so I was familiar with the genre, but I was a little nervous about writing something with all the naughty stuff in it. : ) Then I realized, hell, this is fun!

It sure is fun! The more I write, the more sexy my scenes get! So fun!

I know this isn't the first book you've written. Will you someday dust off those other manuscripts??

The YA? Probably not. It was my practice novel. Though I haven’t ruled out writing a new YA in the future. The contemporary romance had publisher interest, so it’s still viable. I just need to find time in between my deadlines to revise it a bit and decide which way I want to go with it—traditional or indie. I love that book and have a series planned for it, so it will get out there at some point.

And just for fun, knowing we have similar tastes in movies and men, I need to know......

Favorite scene in Dirty Dancing:

Definitely when Baby and Johnny dance in his cabin. *swoon*

Favorite song from Dirty Dancing:

Cry to Me – Sexiest. Song. Ever.

(If I know you as well as I think I do, I’m guessing they are the same as mine!)

I was sooooooooooooooooooooooo right!!

Favorite Ryan: Reynolds or Gosling:

Gah! That one’s tough. Which one’s taller? *googles* Dang, they’re both over 6 ft. I’ll say Gosling. But I do write erotic romance, can’t I just have both? ;)

You take Gosling, and I'll have Reynolds!

Sexier eyes: Paul Walker or Bradley Cooper:

Bradley

Thanks for having me!

BIO:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Her debut erotic romance CRASH INTO YOU will be released January 3, 2012 by Berkley Heat/Penguin. If you want to read more posts like this one or follow her journey to debut authorhood, you can visit her writing blog Fiction Groupie or her author blog. She also tweets way too much for her own good.

CRASH INTO YOU - EXCERPT:

Brynn’s response lodged in her throat, the all-too-familiar name ringing in her ears. No, couldn’t be. But a sinking feeling settled in her gut. She’d only met one Reid in her life, and that Reid was a lawyer. She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath before she turned around to face her new co-worker.

Reid’s blue-eyed gaze met her head-on, hitting her like an airbag to the chest. She sucked in a breath and fought the old instinct to lower her eyes in deference. Son of a bitch, where had that urge come from? She ticked up her chin and gave him her best I-hate-you-but-will-be-polite-because-I’m-the-bigger-person glare. “Hello.”

Cooper walked around Brynn and clapped Reid on the shoulder. “Reid, I’d like you to meet our other social worker, Brynn LeBreck.”

Reid nodded, his expression annoyingly unreadable. “Brynn, pleasure to see you again. It’s been a while.”

Not long enough. Three years had passed since she’d last seen him. His inky hair was longer on top and a few lines creased the corners of his eyes, but time hadn’t softened her warring responses to him. The urges to pummel his face and strip naked before him held almost equal weight. Luckily, the venue was too public to give in to either. She feigned an air of indifference. “It has.”

“Still as beautiful as ever, though.”

The warm notes of his voice stirred the dark recesses of her memory, further inciting the old longing. She shifted in her heels as hot tingles crept from deep in her belly and moved downward to settle between her legs. Un-f**king- believable. Her body was a whoring traitor.

Melody stepped next to Brynn as if sensing her need for support, and Cooper’s eyebrows rose. “You two know each other?”

Boy, did they—in just about every way a man and woman could. She searched Reid’s face, and he tipped his head infinitesimally, as if giving her permission to answer the question. Her eyes narrowed. “Used to. Long time ago.”

Cooper smiled, either oblivious or unperturbed by the tension zipping through the air between her and Reid. “Great. Guess introductions weren’t needed then.”

Nope. Not needed. Brynn knew exactly who Reid Jamison was. A first-class bastard.

(Full version of chapter one can be read here: http://www.roniloren.com/excerpts )

One more week!!!

Next Monday is the release of my second full-length novel!! I am so so excited!!

Karma Kameleon is the sequel to A Bitch Named Karma. I cannot wait for you all to read the next chapter in Lexi's life. There's more drama, more laughs, more sexiness and sassiness...more Lexi!

All day next Monday, January 9th, I'll be hanging out here, posting all kinds of fun things. And I'll be partying it up on my Facebook page and Twitter too. All kinds of fun things- excerpts, games and prizes! I have lots of great things to give away!! Hoping lots of my author friends stop by and share their books and excerpts too. Should be lots of fun!