Holding out for a hero

Why romance authors have the best husbands ever!

Word by Word

I read a blog post this morning from Virginia Heath entitled “Write What You Know, they said …” In it, she’s talking about borrowing some of her daughter’s traits, and events from history, for her latest novel. And it got me to thinking about heroes, and … writing what you know.

We’ve all seen it. When people learn you write romance novels, they automatically grin and waggle their eyebrows and ask that question. “Have you done everything in your books?”

Last week, we had a great answer suggested by Beverly Jenkins. “Hell, yes.” Which is way better than saying, “I found your nose in my business.”

But there’s also the suggestive question that really isn’t a question. “Your husband must be a very happy guy.”

And he is, but that’s because he’s generally a happy guy.  Not because I base my romances on us. Honestly, he’d be embarrassed if I…

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Stress & Burnout—How to Get Your Creative Mojo Back

For those stressed out souls out there…

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Image courtesy of Eflon via Flickr Creative Commons

The past few years have been just brutal. My grandmother who raised me was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and it was just one crisis after another and it just never…freaking…let…up. I felt like I was in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu being crushed all the time, but not allowed to tap out. Then, on Independence Day (ironically) my grandmother finally passed away.

I really never appreciated how much her declining health was impacting me until she was gone. It was like I was wandering around in a fugue state only aware that my knees hurt. Then out of nowhere a hand lifted off the 500 pound gorilla and I could breathe again. I never noticed the gorilla, never noticed the lack of air, only the knee pain.

So now I am in the process of rebuilding. I plan on taking a couple days off to…

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Sneak Off and Read: Lines about Water, #RSsos #RomSuspense

New lines about water…💦💧💦

Word by Word

#OneLineSunday by #RSsos Lines about WATER for a lovely start to your week, enjoy!

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I watched in rapt fascination as he swallowed it with a chug of water.

Vicki Batman

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The air was filled with the intoxicating scent of rain and the damp leather from his jacket. Christy had the urge to bury her nose in the open v of his dress shirt.

Jacquie Biggar
Silver Bells (upcoming)

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She relaxed and let the warm water run over her skin. What had initially stung due to the temperature difference now felt like heaven.

Jeanne Hall

A Midnight Clear (a work in progress)

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He tapped the stereo button on the way past, and stepped into the heated water with her. She sighed and pressed her soft mouth against his chest.

Kathryn Jane

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“Now for some swimming. Last one in is a rotten egg.” He jumped off the bank into the icy cold…

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#SummerOfSuspense Sale Alert for True Deceptions by @VeronicaForand #RSsos #mgtab @Barclay_PR

Jacquie Biggar-USA Today Best-selling author

#SummerOfSuspense Sale Alert for True Deceptions!

 

TRUE DECEPTIONS is on sale for $0.99 for a limited time only!

 

TRUE DECEPTIONS is a story about Simon Dunn, a jaded MI6 operative who ends up with a not so skilled partner. Cassie Watson is a computer genius and is tall, blonde and everything Simon doesn’t want in his life right. Her transformation from too stupid to live to kick-ass spy comes after some very intense events.

Synopsis:

After his partner was murdered, Simon Dunn was finished with MI6. But the cold, violent world of British intelligence never lets anyone go free. Now Simon has been blackmailed into a new job…with a beautiful new partner who’s going to get them both killed.

Robotics expert Cassie Watson is a newbie field agent with as much sophistication as…well, a pacifist, vegan computer nerd. Now she’s abruptly thrust into the cutthroat world of espionage…

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2016 Summer MG/YA Booklist!

Do you have middle grade or young adult age kids at home? Here’s some great summer reading!

Word by Word

I’m so excited about this summer’s Middle Grade and Young Adult reading list! There are a ton of new and upcoming releases and some old favorites recommended by readers.

Since there are so many new books on the list, below is just a small selection of what I’ve added.* There are stories for every tween and teen including  zombies, proms, cute meets, friend and family drama, aliens, fairies, fairy tale retellings, and a lot more from popular, indie, and debut authors.

For the complete printable list in a downloadable Word document, please click here: Summer 2016-mg_ya-list.

All of the books are available at Amazon, most at Barnes and Noble, and many at the public library.

Now for a sampling of the 2016 summer titles!

Young Adult Romance

Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Young Adult Romance Anthologies

Young Adult Realistic Fiction

Young Adult Science Fiction

Young Adult Action/Adventure/Dystopian

Young Adult…

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Critics & Control Freaks—Are You Your Own Worst Enemy?

Writing not working today? Go build a fort! 😃

Kristen Lamb's Blog

I confess. I am normally uptight, controlling and neurotic but after the recent death of my grandmother who raised me? Where I might have been a fiveseven twelve, I was suddenly a fifty (on a scale of ten). I felt flung to the winds and adrift. I was out of control and that is not a feeling I enjoy.

Monday, I was really tired so I wasn’t up to taking Spawn to summer camp where he normally goes for a few hours so Mommy can work.

And so it begins….

Kids have a really honest and refreshing way of getting right to the point.

For instance. Recently we went out to dinner at a nice Mediterranean restaurant. I stand up and Spawn (Age 6) suddenly looks up at me aghast as if he is seeing me for the first time and loudly proclaims.

“Mommy! Your boobs are HUGE!”

Thanks…

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Friends to lovers: Summer Solstice #BoxSet #mgtab #VIRAuthor @MoBPromos

Jacquie Biggar-USA Today Best-selling author

 

SUMMER SOLSTICE:

When Friends Become Lovers

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Is Being a “Good” Girl Hurting Your Career? Why “Bad” Girls Become Best-Sellers

Advice for those modest, nice-girl writers out there… (I used to be one.)

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Today is a repost because of a death in the family last week. But you know what? Life moves on.  I chose this post because we all need a good kick in the ass now and again, even ME.

It was a FUN post and a good way to get my moxie back….because seriously my moxie got kicked in the face last week. I am sure NONE of you have been there. Feeling like a failure, like nothing you do matters?

Well, get over it. We are going to have a hell raising Monday!

Last fall I read Kate White’s I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This: Success Secrets Every Gutsy Girl Should Know. There are bad books, okay books, good books and great books. But there is another kind of book and it’s the rarest.

The game-changer.

White has a witty, sassy style. She is seamlessly intelligent and down-to-earth in…

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Why Your Author Blog is Stuck & What To DO

Blogging Advice From Expert Blogger Kristen Lamb

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Image via Flickr Creative Commons, courtesy of Mike Licht

Ah the blog. Some of you might perk up at the word. Others? Blog sounds like some radioactive creature that hatched from a meteor and is only there to feed. Feed on your energy, your hopes and your dreams.

Many writers start the blog with high hopes, then a few months in? You can’t bear to go to your computer because the screen is a reminder of that shiny blog you started…then abandoned to the spam bots.

A blog done properly is one of the most powerful tools in our social media arsenal.

Twitter could flitter and Facebook could face plant, but the blog will remain. In fact, blogs have been going strong since the 90s and have taken over much of what used to be the sole territory of traditional media outlets. Additionally, blogging is the only form of social…

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Sheer Madness by Laura Strickland #Steampunk #mgtab

Jacquie Biggar-USA Today Best-selling author

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