Deep in the Cave With Liz

The Writing Cave.

Yeah.


That was me, this week.

Yep.

There I was, all inspired for my "quickie" in the brewery (Menage A Brew--no lie) when out of the clear blue sky Hans, the impeccably dressed and uber hot Muse tackled me, rolled me around on the floor a few times (can't say as how I discourage this) and plunked me in front of a couple of reviews from my latest series: Turkish Delights from Decadent Publishing.

See, in that series, tragedy is one of the central story lines.  The tragic loss of a beloved family member, friend, lover, sets in motion a lot of action that might otherwise not have happened.

But what was this?  The reviews and some readers were starting to call out for...a closure.  An answer to the question-:
"What about Tarkan?"

I joke a lot about my "process."  It's one of my favorite interview questions.  So, Author Liz Crowe, how do you write? By the seat of your pants? From an outline? during certain parts of the day?

Ha! I say....let's see...since about 10 a.m. on Sunday, hungover from too much food, booze and football (Go Blue!) I opened up a blank document and wrote.  I peeled myself away from it after three hours and threw some food at the people in my house (who ARE they anyway and WHY are they so needy?). After another three, I had about 8,000 words to show for Hans' recent molestation (again NOT complaining) and those same people were all grumbling about a soccer game I'd missed or something.   Then, I looked up to see it was 8 p.m. the kitchen was a tip (not a new thing), dogs needed walking and the DH was eyeballing me funny.
"It's happened again hasn't it?"
I blink. Grab a beer and rush back to the computer. He sighs.

By midnight there were nearly 11,000 words done and I dreamed all night about the rest.

Monday:  Up by 5 a.m., coffeed up, lunches made and dogs walked.  I write.
7:30 I wave bye-bye to whomever it is leaving and making me cold when they open the door.
noon: a growling stomach reminds me I haven't eaten in about 24 hours.
2 p.m.: I rush around and grab snacks for those short people who live with me, pick one up and toss her at the soccer carpool, dash into Kroger to get enough food for the next 24 hour period. Get home, put it away, throw together something resembling dinner so I can't be accused of not doing my day job, and write.

Midnight:  "Um, honey..." DH taps me lightly then steps back, realizing the danger.
Me: grunts....drinks last of the DogFishHead 90 Minute Ipa....four-pack. (this is a Big Beer and by that I mean 9%) "I'm done."


Falls into bed.  35,000 words done, off to CP.
And for those you who care....He is Alive.
But it's not as simple as that....










When I go into the writing cave...I go deep.  And cannot emerge until the deed is done.  It's a failing, I know.
I love writing.

what's your favorite thing about our life?

Conversation With A Book: In The Shadows; Julieanne Lynch

“In The Shadows”, the first of The Shadows trilogy, is an urban fantasy of vampires and the supernatural, and much, much more. 

 In the shadows you will find lust and passion, battles for power and for blood, and death and fear around every corner. In the shadows you are carried away to an unknown future. Your destiny awaits, and you are no longer who you thought you were. You have a thirst, for blood perhaps, but a thirst for very much more than that.

Giselle was a normal girl with an attitude common to most girls of her age. Her family might not have been perfect (whose is?) but she loved them, and her future looked bright. She had an awesome best friend and a steady boyfriend, but how could she possibly have been so wrong about someone she loved? And how could she have been prepared for the darkness and for what she was to become?

Visit Julieanne Lynch's website to learn more about the author.

Question to our audience: 

How much do you think folklore influences how we think and accept the supernatural, and is it right to believe in entities that portray everything religion educates us against?

Erotic Corner - Gay for Pay?

Tina Sue wanted me to spice things up and stop being so politically correct when I post as it's probably boring some of you. Believe me, it bores me to have to always watch what I say and make sure I'm not offending anyone. So, the first order of business: Offend someone. Tell your momma I said hi. All of you.

Now to the real issue. I recently had this discussion with a fellow author who writes M/m romances and erotica for a living and she told me it irritated her when she saw authors who didn't traditionally write M/m start to jump on the bandwagon for sales purposes. I mean if you're writing straight or menage all the time and doing well, why bother crossing into another genre?

For one, M. Christian talked about stretching in an early WritESEX post entitled Flexing. Stretching those writer muscles helps us to grow for one. As he writes "A writer is nothing but pure potential, but only if that potential is utilized."

That being said, what do writers do? Writers write! And while we could all remain one trick ponies, that won't do much for expanding our possibilities for more income. So what if we want to capitalize on the M/m trend? As long as the stories are good, well written and speak from the writer's voice, they'll give us an experience we hope to remember.

Of course this does present a problem. Readers who buy ebooks may not like the jumping around an author does, they may not be a fan of M/m or those fans may discover a new favorite author. The "stick to one genre" purists fear that quality in their genre may drop.

It's possible. But if those purists have done their homework and built their audiences, what's the problem? I'll tell you.

It's mindset.

95% of the time when someone gives off any statement that sounds like a quality issue when more players are added to the board, it's often a mindset of "There aren't enough." There aren't enough readers in m/m and if someone else cuts in and steals my readers--you can see where this is going. It's bupkis.

The truth is, especially in this sub genre, there are TONS of readers DYING to read M/m. Just look at any of the fanfiction boards. Yaoi is a HUGE genre even though it seems sort of wrong. But authors make it work. Stephanie Burke, Morgan Hawke, Katrina Strauss, they're not worried about competing for your dollar in M/m. They've done what any true author does when it comes to the business of writing.

They've built an audience that hungers for their particular voice. Burke has written in numerous genres, Hawke has as well. Neither of them are worried. Strauss is becoming a bigger name in M/m because of her characters and her voice.

So instead of focusing on your competition, what are you doing to distinguish yourself as a M/m author from all the rest? And if you think I'm going to take your readers, you're probably right.

Buy Lifting Spirits from Amazon

More Posts you May be interested in:

Cautiously Optimistic
The Occupy Post - Author sounding off
Show Stella Price some (cover) Love!

Home Improvements and Cats Don’t Mix.

I’m going to go of the rails today and talk about myself and my life outside of writing. Well, its still whimsical in its own way.

For those that don’t know me, I have six cats and a black lab. Two of the cats are still kittens and very curious.  And that’s putting it mildly. The youngest, Cinder is by far the most curious and mischievous. She a bullet when she runs, spastic when she plays and cuddly when she’s tired.  The other kitten is Castiel. He’s the laid back kind that likes to cause trouble in a sly, “wasn’t me,” kind of attitude. His favourite is slowly knocking things off of bedside tables and dressers just so he can get our attention. Oh, and he’s deaf so yelling at him is pointless.

Anyway, yesterday I started doing a little home renovation. Most of my house is in laminate aside from the bedrooms and family room.  The stairs leading down to the family room and front door is rug. It’s a pain in the ass to vacuum so I decided it was time to rip it out.  My hubby is out of town, my youngest has swollen tonsils and a chest infection and I’m crazy enough to want to rip out carpet. But hey, I’ve never been accused of being sane. So here I am, my tools at hand, ready to get stared. I turn my back to get something and when I turn back, Cinder is batting pliers. I shoo her off and get started pulling up the carpet. She decides she needs a close up view and sits right on the part I’m in the process of ripping out. I shot to my sick daughter, “Take your cat out of here.” That lasts all of five minutes before the cat escapes. I’m down one step and working on the second. She sees the pliers again and knocks them around.

Damn it Cinder! I push her away and continue my work. Next thing I know, the pliers tumbles down the steps. “Damn it Cin—“ oops, this time its Cass.

I roll my eyes and continue.  Now the dog is interested in what I’m doing…or so I think. Nope, she needs to go outside. Great. I stop what I’m doing and let her out. I turn around and both Cass and Cinder are attacking the loose carpet. Grrrr! I toss them up the stairs and continue. Now the dog wants in. Double grrrr!! She comes in and trots up the stairs. At least she’s out of the way. Back to work.

It’s time to start ripping up the carpet tacks. I call my oldest to start on that while I finish with the carpet. He pulls up one piece, sets it on the top step only to have Cinder bat it around. Chris shouts at Angie to get her cat and for a few moments we have piece.  The carpet is now gone and all that is left to do it pop up the carpet tacks and the stray staples left behind from the carpet. Out come Cinder and Cass. Cinder runs down to me, sits on the step and watches, Okay, I can handle this. Next thing I know, she pounces my hand and starts chomping. Damn cat! I toss her up the stairs and continue working. Now Cass wants to know what I’m doing. Each time I pull out a staple, he bats at my hand. Grrr!!

Eventually the work on the stairs is done and all I need to do now is the laminate. I get out the tools and the glue and measure the laminate. Yep, there’s Cinder, trying to help. She bats at the measuring tape, chases after the chalk line and has the time of her life. Off to glue the sucker down. I slap glue on the first step, pull on the laminate and I feel fur grazing my legs. WTF? I look back and there is  Cass, playing with the hem on my pants. Dear God won’t someone save me. Half an hour later, the steps are done and its time to clean up. Cat helpers are not welcome. By the time al is said and done, I want to punt two cats, but I don’t and why? Because I love the little twerps with all my heart and without them, I wouldn’t have this blog post today.

And if you’re wondering why I didn’t just lock them up somewhere. The answer is, they claw the shit out of the rugs in the rooms their in just to get out. No win situation.

Thoughtful Thursday: Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends! 

 

                                                          Artwork courtesy of Christopher Chamberlain

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.

 Frederick Keonig 

I try to live what I consider a "poetic existence." That means I take responsibility for the air I breathe and the space I take up. I try to be immediate, to be totally present for all my work.

 Maya Angelou

When you are in the vibration of appreciation, you are in the vibration of allowing. Whatever it is you are appreciating, you are allowing, with that much more emphasis, in the now. In other words, it speeds the process. If we were wanting to reach for joyful experience, or the experience of connection, we would superimpose the word "appreciation", because it is a purer vibration for most. When you say, "I want that, or I have to have that," sometimes it can get messy. But when you say, "I surely do appreciate that," there is very little contradictory vibration within you. And you are much more likely to then use that as your excuse to allow what you've been telling the Universe, all along, with your yippees and yahoos, that you are wanting.

Abraham-Hicks

When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears

 Anthony Robbins 

Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.

 Kahlil Gibran 

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.

 Aesop 

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

 Albert Schweitzer

Some Guy Named Hans

I'm a sentimental sap.  I mean, I write (and on occasion read) romance novels after all.  I get pretty misty eyed around the holidays, mainly at the thought of all the money I'm about to spend.  But as I move through my 40s I have had a lot of changes occur in my life year over year.  Thought I'd take a moment and reflect, with you.

Three years ago I became part owner of a craft microbrewery.  The Wolverine State Brewing Company has grown from a simple contract brewed one-product little-engine-that-could by anyone's standards to a company on the cusp of serious expansion and regional distribution of 4 bottled products with a Tap Room (a.k.a. beer bar that only serves our beer) that is SRO about 5 nights out of 7 and one that I'm about to expand to include a private rental hall.

Exactly one year later, a very handsome fella showed up on my doorstep.  Hans cut a tall figure, with an impish twinkle in His deep blues, and was busy cracking his knuckles and nodding towards the computer while I stared at Him-openmouthed at His physical perfection and what He was proposing.  Me? Write? Romance books?  Nope.  NO thanks Dude. I mean, c'mon in and let me pour You a beer and everything but...I have zero time to manage a small business, teenagers, a busy executive spouse, 2 dogs...You get the me.  But...let me just touch Your strong, lightly stubbled jaw...and draw a finger down and across those amazing shoulders...hold onto Your ...oo my that is quite a bicep.....and...huh? Oh sure, I'll follow You into the office.  Sit? Sure. Write? Why not? Just don't..you know...leave me or anything.

Yes, I met my Muse and He is a hottie. And demanding. And a bit high maintenance as relates to His ego. He is content to play on His own when I'm immersed in my beer life, or "life life" as it were.  But when He gets a thought, an idea, a plot, He is flipping relentless...tapping my shoulder, inserting His sweet arse between me and whatever else I'm attempting to do, until I give Him some Special Attention. In the form of one-on-one with the keyboard.

This time last year Hans and I were struggling. I considered couples therapy.  He had ideas. I had no time. He would disappear for days on end, when I need Him only to return when I was busy again.

But long about November, just before my second book (XXXMas Ale from Breathless Press) was about to release, He stumbled up onto my doorstep again, disheveled, desperate.. and hugely pissed off.

"Here!" He flung an armload of that silly parchment paper He uses to make notes at me.
"Take these! I'm outta here. Good luck."
I reached out for His arm (ooo...what a bicep).  "Wait, Hans. Don't go...I...I'm sorry."
He kept His back to me, his shoulders heaving with emotion as I admired His ass in the tight jeans He wears to humor-slash-inspire me.  He whirled around, His eyes dark with anger and something...else.
He gripped my arms, pulled me close and brought His lips to my ear....and here I am.

I swear it was the work of a moment (and an overly active imagination--I'm a writer.  Sue me).  But He poured the concepts for 2 amazing novels, a series of short stories and a couple of fun romps into my soul right then, ALL of which I've had published in 2011.

Now, we've been on a break.  One can only stand so much of His presence. And He gets all grumpy during editing and promoting which has been what the last 3 months have been a nothing but.  But...just last week...as I wallowed in self doubt and cried out for His strong comforting arms or at least for Him to share the bourbon bottle he was holding....He whispered a little something in my ear....

Something that I've started.  And It's gonna be great.
Menage A Brew

yes, he resembles Thomas Jane.

Marko: Authentic Viennese hunky blond Brew-master of Prufrock Brewing in Grand Rapids Michigan, hiding from a central truth about himself, has just won National Brewer's Association brewer of the year honors, has bedded his boss, and hired....

yes, he resembles Nicholas Gonzales

Jonas Calone, young, hip, dark of skin and hair and eyes as his second brewer.
Jonas is hot for teacher.


Helena is the widowed owner of Prufrock, who fights the demons of doubt and in-law pressure to continue her husband's legacy of success with their brewery.

Prufrock is on the cusp on national distribution.  Helena and Marko have a very hot, very physical relationship.  But nothing more.  He provides her with the proof she needs that she is beautiful in her curvy, womanly body, with her amazing gift for business. But when Jonas steps between them figuratively, literally and inadvertantly they all discover something about themselves--something that will blow apart everything they thought they knew about love.


Let's talk Muses...does yours demand? cajole? pout? blackmail?  Insist on you using Capital Letter for His or Her name/references?

I wish you ALL a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend!
Go Lions!
Go Blue!
Liz

Book Feature: Double Crossing, Meg Mims

A murder arranged as a suicide … a missing deed  … and a bereft daughter whose sheltered world is shattered.

August, 1869: Lily Granville is stunned by her father’s murder. Only one other person knows about a valuable California gold mine deed — both are now missing. Lily heads west on the newly opened transcontinental railroad, determined to track the killer. She soon realizes she is no longer the hunter but the prey.

As things progress from bad to worse, Lily is uncertain who to trust—the China-bound missionary who wants to marry her, or the wandering Texan who offers to protect her … for a price. Will Lily survive the journey and unexpected betrayal?

Buy from Astraea Press

Buy from Amazon.com ebook version and print version

DOUBLE CROSSING EXCERPT

Meg Mims

Chapter One

Evanston, Illinois: 1869

I burst into the house. Keeping the flimsy telegram envelope, I dumped half a dozen packages into the maid’s waiting arms. “Where’s Father? I need to speak to him.”

“He’s in the library, Miss Lily. With Mr. Todaro.”

Oh, bother. I didn’t have time to deal with Emil Todaro, my father’s lawyer. He was the last person I wanted to see—but that couldn’t be helped. Thanking Etta, I raced down the hall. Father turned from his roll-top desk, spectacles perched on his thin nose and hands full of rustling papers. Todaro rose from an armchair with a courteous bow. His silver waistcoat buttons strained over his belly and his balding head shone in the sunlight. I forced myself to nod in his direction and then planted a quick kiss on Father’s leathery cheek. The familiar scents of pipe tobacco and bay rum soothed my nervous energy.

“I didn’t expect you back so early, Lily. What is it?”

With an uneasy glance at Todaro, I slipped him the envelope. “The telegraph messenger boy caught me on my way home.” My voice dropped. “It’s from Uncle Harrison.”

Father poked up his wire rims while he pored over the brief message. His shoulders slumped. “I’ll speak plainly, Lily, because Mr. Todaro and I were discussing this earlier. My brother sent word that George Hearst intends to claim the Early Bird mine in a Sacramento court. Harrison believes his partner never filed the deed. He needs to prove our ownership.”

“Hearst holds an interest in the Comstock Lode, Colonel.” Todaro had perked up, his long knobby fingers forming a steeple. The lawyer resembled an amphibian, along with his deep croak of a voice. “His lawyers are just as ambitious and ruthless in court.”

Father peered over his spectacles. “Yes, but I have the original deed. I didn’t plan to visit California until next month, but we’ll have to move up our trip.”

“Oh!” I clasped my hands, a thrill racing through me. “I’m dying to visit all the shops out there, especially in San Francisco. When do we leave?”

“We? I meant myself and Mr. Todaro.”

I stared at the lawyer, who didn’t conceal a sly smirk. “You cannot leave me behind, Father. I promised to visit Uncle Harrison, and what if I decide to go to China?”

“Lily, I refuse to discuss the matter. This trip is anything but a lark.”

“It’s a grueling two thousand miles on the railroad, Miss Granville. Conditions out west are far too dangerous for a young lady,” Todaro said. “Even with an escort.”

“The new transcontinental line has been operating all summer. Plenty of women have traveled to California. I’ve read the newspaper reports.”

“I’m afraid the Union and Central Pacific cars are not at all as luxurious as the reports say. You have no idea. The way stations are abominable, for one thing.”

I flashed a smile at him. “I’m ready for adventure. That’s why I’ve considered joining the missionary team with Mr. Mason.”

Father scowled. “You are not leaving Evanston until I give my approval.”

“You mean until you dissuade me from ‘such a ridiculous notion.’”

“Need I remind you of the fourth commandment, Lily?”

“No, Father. I agree we ought to discuss it later.”

Red-faced, annoyed by being reprimanded in front of Todaro, I ignored the rest of the conversation. I’d always wanted to see the open prairie and perhaps a buffalo herd chased by Indians, the majestic Rocky Mountains and California. California, with its mining camps, lush green meadows and warm sunshine, the cities of Sacramento and San Francisco that had to be as exhilarating as downtown Chicago. I’d pored over the grainy pen-and-ink drawings in the Chicago Times. Uncle Harrison, who’d gone west several years ago to make a fortune and succeeded, for the most part, would welcome me with open arms. I plopped down on an armchair and fingered the ridges of the brass floor lamp beside me.

Somehow I had to persuade Father to let me tag along on this trip.

#

Watch the Book Trailer 

To Learn More About Author Meg Mims, please visit her website

Erotic Corner - Readers Fantasies of the Erotic Writer

I think one of the things we need to dispel is the myth that only deviants and perverts write sex in erotica. Only those who are the most depraved of souls, who have run trains on numerous genders, done a myriad of drugs and had a lot more experiences than the usual "normal" person will ever have in a lifetime.

In short, I think there is an expectation that an erotica writer should fit a certain image. We should at the very least be extremely hot and open about our sexuality. I mean, if we write about orgies and wild chandelier sex, shouldn't we at least fit the stereotype?

I can't speak for my cohorts but I have never touched drugs. My pleasures are alcohol and cigars/pipes. And while I have a varied career sexually, I'm pretty much closer to normal than you might think. Yes, I play with whips and other fun toys but due to numerous factors, I'm pretty much average.

I do own women's lingerie but it currently is in the wash. I think I spilled bourbon, not soft red wine(though I'm a wine snob at heart) on my chemise the other day. So while I'm listening to Slipknot, not Sade as I write a post and I'm thrashing along as I write, you can now imagine a different image of the erotic writer.

I'm not alone. As I dig into the depths of erotic romance, I find many of my peers are listening to the latest in metal or music that's not entirely something one might think of as inspirational to sex. While there is a certain eroticism to Slipknot (particularly if you're into violence) that isn't quite what most people would find themselves listening to while trying to get in the mood, let alone write the mood, reading one of my books. Laurel K. Hamilton writes to a lot of brutal metal. (Her tweets mention this a lot.) One of my authors writes to Fear Factory.

Now on the actual sex aspect. Most of the people I know who have been doing this for years have had their share of experiences and I'll leave them to tell you (or don't) as they see fit. But unlike the above mentioned scenario of bacchanal carnality, is just that. A scenario that probably had some basis in truth at one point but now is just used to fuel hate group nonsense and demonize those of us who write about the most basic of human needs.

That's right, I said it. Sex is a basic human need. It's comfort, whether it's long term or a quick fix. It's compassionate, it's angry. It's loving, it's violent, sometimes it's sweet, sometimes it's seductive and yes, it's addictive. Every emotion the human mind and heart can feel can be expressed through sex.

So why demonize us for writing about the nature of man? Erotica writers are just like anyone else.

We simply are. The difference is that we oftentimes know more about sex than the average human and when it's had, well it is what it is depending on how twisted we feel. Or how much energy we have. After all, we're still writers first. (Most of us.)

I'll Submit to You, Master - Can Mistress Jackie realize her true nature as a submissive at the hands of Master Collin? Out now at Amazon

I Want to Serve You, Master - Mistress Jackie learns more about the true nature of her gift but at what cost? Out now from Sizzler Editions

Whimsical Friday: Partying with Vampires

Partying with a vampire Pros and Cons

Vampires. Love them or leave them.  People have been fascinated with vampires for centuries. They want to date them, have sex with them, become them. And why? Because they’ve been become hero’s, great lovers and role models. Romance novels paint the vampire as a sexy leather wearing Adonis. Movies make them irresistible, intriguing, beguiling. We become so enthralled with the character that we often forget just how vile they really are. They suck blood. They kill innocent humans and drain them of their life force. They rampage villages, taking everyone out in one fell swoop. Their teeth are yellow, their skin is sallow and they look as if they haven’t showered or changed clothing in forever. They stink of decay and blood. Yet, we can’t seem to get enough of them.

So I decided to come up with some pros and cons to partying with a vampire. Below are just some I have come up with. Have some fun with me. What do you think the pros and cons are of partying with a vampire?

Pro: You have the best tan.

Con: Dark meat is just as tasty as white.

Pro: No one will fight you over the last chip

Con: Vampires enjoy salty blood.

Pro: You don’t have to buy them drinks.

Con: You are the drink.

Pro: They’re more than eager to neck with you in the closet

Con: Their idea of necking will leave you drained

Pro: You think BYOB means Bring Your Own Booze

Con: BYOB stands for Bring Your Own Blood

Shiela Stewart www.shielasbooks.ca

Thoughtful Thursday: Nature and Art

Today's Thoughtful Thursday, features the art of Christopher Chamberlain. Christopher's work has hung in galleries all over the world, recently in Portland, London, New York City. He is the co-creator of Kid Robo  and the Art Director for GrayHaven Comics. Christopher's speciality is pen and ink and his art has been seen on band albums, bookcovers, in textbooks, graphic novels, on t-shirts and this year, his erotica art has been getting a lot of attention. He is open to commissions (need cover art? character art? illustrations? designs?) and you may contact him at: manyfacesart@gmail.com .
All art featured in this blog post is for sale as original prints for $40.00USD, including shipping.
Please do not copy, print, reuse or repost images without the permission of the artist. All rights reserved.
Leave a comment on this post, for a chance to win an ACEO by the artist. 

Nature and Art 

He is outside of everything, and alien everywhere. He is an aesthetic solitary. His beautiful, light imagination is the wing that on the autumn evening just brushes the dusky window.
 Henry James

Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift.
 Albert Einstein 

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
 John Muir 


Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower
 Albert Camus 



A wind has blown the rain away and blown the sky away and all the leaves away, and the trees stand. I think, I too, have known autumn too long.
 E. E. Cummings



My sorrow, when she's here with me, thinks these dark days of autumn rain are beautiful as days can be; she loves the bare, the withered tree; she walks the sodden pasture lane.
 Robert Frost 

In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences.

 Robert Green Ingersoll 

Nature is too thin a screen; the glory of the omnipresent God bursts through everywhere.

 Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Everything is the product of one universal creative effort. There is nothing dead in Nature.

 Seneca 

If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living.

 Henri Poincare 

Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more.
 Vincent van Gogh 

We need the tonic of wildness. … At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be infinitely wild, unsurveyed, and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature. 

Henry David Thoreau

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.

 Mother Teresa 

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is a rapture on the lonely shore,

There is a society where none intrudes,

By the deep sea, and music in its roar:

I love not man the less, but nature more.

Lord Byron

As a husband embraces his wife’s body in faithful tenderness, so the bare ground and trees are embraced by the still, high, light of the morning. I feel an ache of longing to share in this embrace, to be united and absorbed. A longing like carnal desire, but directed towards earth, water, sky, and returned by the whispers of the trees, the fragrance of the soil, the caresses of the wind, the embrace of water and light. Content? No, no, no—but refreshed, rested—while waiting. 

Dag Hammarskjold

Two Steps Forward...Three More Back

We are all in varying stages of our publication life.  I am considered still an "infant" given that I have only had anything published since fall of 2010.  I'm good with that.

In 2011 I will have 2 novels (Vegas Miracle--my first menage romance/The Tap Room--that choose your romance Brewing Passion one), 1 short story in a cougar anthology (Player Conference), a trilogy of shorts that have gotten progressively longer with publisher blessings (Turkish Delights/Blue Cruise/Tulip Princess) and one final stand along short as part of the 1NightStand series: Caught Offside.  Plus the "final chapter" unless there is an incessant clamor for more (hey, a girl can dream) of the Brewing Passion series: Specific Gravity.

I am here to tell you that is a ton of words.

Not just the words I used to craft the various stories and series either.

I mean the endless slew of words required for edits, various rewrites, and finally the Dreaded Promotion...the long slog of blurbs, excerpts, cover ads, "release parties", blog hops, blog tours, blog-go-rounds, and of course reviews (we have covered this).

But I love the words....maybe it's because I am such a relative infant that I still get a buzz when I see "Liz Crowe_2nd edits_current MS" in my inbox. While I know this usually means we are past the worst of the crit, and egregious pointing out of my infamous overused words from Editing Round One, I get to read it again and have a teensy little squidge of pride when I realize: Hey! I wrote that! Somebody wants to publish it!

Now I don't kid myself.  Publishers abound these days and in some cases seek quantity not necessarily quality.  But at the end of the day, it's still a proud moment when you move past the: "We'd like to offer you a contract" to "Liz Crowe_1st edits" and my FAVORITE "Liz Crowe_cover art" and can say. Yeah. I wrote that.  People are (God Willing) going to pay money to read it.  They may not like it (see previous reviewing rant) but that's OK.

So riding high like I am on a week that has not one but TWO releases for said "Liz Crowe" (Blue Cruise and Tulip Princess from Decadent) it was fun to open up the Iphone email on a Sunday and see a particular set of new words: a request for a "full."

You see, I, like you, am in constant submission mode.  I love my publishers and plan to stay with them but I have 2 projects I thought I'd throw to the 5 winds of some of the bigger houses.

You know, see how they stuck? So I subbed them, back in August. Just last week I was at a "to hell with it" stage and inclined to take them back and re-think my strategy.

But....lo and behold....there it was....glowing out of my inbox like a rare gem.  I spent several hours Sunday ignoring my family's needs and polishing that sucker AGAIN before pressing the send button.  For the record this is actually the SECOND request for a full I've gotten. One for each "bigger project" so far....

And now...the waiting begins anew.  It's Okay, I get it. These publishers are awash in in submissions. To have made it this far is a real coup.  But my energetic and enthusiastic 2 steps forward towards getting one of my big projects to the light of day now gets the 3 steps back treatment of waiting.

Hold my hand willya?
I'm not a patient person!
Share your story about getting that acceptance email or letter or the "sure send us more" one...did it work out for you?
cheers
Liz

Erotic Corner - Cautiously Optimistic in these Turbulent Publishing times

One of the stigmas about this business, and I mean writing erotica in general, be it erotica or erotic romance is the flack people may give you about writing "dirty books." That can and will be addressed in a separate post. Today's post is going to focus on the Publishing side of things.

If you've been following WriteSEX regularly, you've seen our over 100+ years of combined experience. From M. Christian's posts on how to maximize profit AND stretch your writing muscles, to Jean Marie Stine's advice on why erotica still sells, and everything in between (this is a plug for Oceania and Thomas Roche!) you've gathered that the best way to really make a living off writing is to write well, write often and keep pushing on, despite rejections. But what else makes a writing career? I mean there IS the self publishing route, but serious professionals tend to avoid that route as they understand that time is money and time spent designing covers that may or may not sell, plus file conversion, uploading to the few sources you'll sell at, plus the math, becomes a problem.

Enter the publishing house. They handle all that, and get your book out with potentially reduced profits to you, unless you've built your audience. No biggie, right? Fast forward to the age of e-books and we have in erotica, the big three:

1. Ellora's Cave
2. Samhain
3. Loose ID.

Around the same time, eXtasy books came into existence, as did a number of other e-publishers , many of whom are still around. (Side Note: Sizzler Editions has been around longest of all, but has focused on a different business model, IMO, resulting in targeting a different audience.) Many of whom have had problems internally that have spawned authors with their own desire to run publishing companies. The problem with this now is that because of the confusion in New York, it seems like a LOT more publishing companies are sprouting up, and your options are vastly much larger than when I started writing. This is both good and bad. The good: It may be easier for you to get your work published by a house that's hungry for talent and new opportunities.

The bad: The house may fold. And they may screw you in the end.

I've been screwed over three times. That leaves ME with my five year rule, which I just broke upon my submission and acceptance to Decadent Publishing. My rule was thus - I will NOT write for a house less than five years old, especially now, considering all the factors that go into publishing, including our economy, desperate people with schemes, etc. Except that I just signed and emailed the contract back to Decadent last week. I know the owner, and most importantly, my agent gave me the backing. My guesswork was taken out of the equation by my e-agent. (We'll cover the belief I'm currently forming about why you'll eventually need an agent working with e-houses in another post)

Because I've spent time talking to the owner, I met some of the very sexy staff at the Erotic Author's Association convention, and got a sense of where I could place my trust should an offer come my way, I went ahead and asked my agent about subbing to Decadent. She gave the green light, two weeks later, I banged out a story, subbed it and two days later had a contract offer. (Since writing this post, I have banged out another story, subbed it and yes, two days later, got another contract offer!)

For someone like me with as much experience as I have, gut feeling plays an important role. Plus, I'm lending my name upon acceptance to their house in hopes that it'll be a great fit for both of us. I also had a back up plan in case they rejected me (It could happen!) or we worked together for a time and things went south or didn't go as planned/hoped.

Fast forward a few days later and I received an invite from a VERY new house to give them a story for an anthology. They'll remain unnamed as I'm not a slander guy unless I've been burned bad enough to warrant destroying them. I made reference online to how I'm doing them a favor and glad to so do, despite my reservations. The offer was rescinded, both of us wished each other luck and the incident will go forgotten about before you even finish reading this post.

I mentioned the favor thing partially as a joke but more so because this is my career and I intend to get to the top. This is the important thing. It's YOUR writing, it's YOUR career. So it's also your responsibility to take all sorts of things into consideration during these tumultuous times in the publishing industry. Yeah, my ego comes off a little too big for some but I'm through screwing around with my career. I've had twelve years to do that with and the results were not what I wanted until the last two years when things started to break open for me. So I can't waste my time with people who won't work with me especially when THEY'RE the new guy on the block. It's really just too risky. But for some other authors, that risk may pay off tremendously. I hope it does. I don't like to see authors or publishers fail. But in ANY industry I have been in, the key question was, what's your skin in the game? If I've got 12 years, and they have 100+ years in separate parts of the industry, it'd seem that they have the upper hand. But do those people have the combined skill to execute the plan of a successful publishing house? (This isn't a direct shot either, it's a question I'd ask of anyone) On day one, you don't know. On day 1,825 (I'm skipping a leap year) you've got a pretty good idea.

I think by now we all know the stat about new businesses and failure. For those that don't, something like 80% of new start ups fail in the first year.

When new opportunities in publishing become available to you, I encourage you to seek them out, feel your way through things and see what happens. But have a plan in mind. And a backup plan in place before that.

Erotica publishing works the same way non erotic publishing works, our career path is just much more fun since it involves sex. But do your research. Do your due diligence. You wouldn't trust your child, spouse or dog to just anyone, so why not treat yourself as the writer you are.

That writer is career focused, business oriented and optimistically cautious.

Sizzler Editions has been around slightly longer than Ellora's Cave. Different business strategies have placed EC in the top slot just as Sizzler Editions is expanding and growing. That's the beauty and bane of this industry though. Different business strategies. Many work, many work for the long haul, and many fail in the long run. But not always.

Whimsical Friday: Let's PLay

Today on Whimsical Friday I thought I would let you play with me…I mean, play a game with me. LOL

Below are 15 things about me.  I want you to tell me which ones are accurate and which ones are bald-faced lies.  I can’t wait to see what you know about me, or think you know about me. J

And to encourage you to play with me I am going to give away a free ecopy of my 1 Night Stand Story, A Taste of Humanity.

Now, let’s get this party started!

1: I am the second youngest of seven children. I have three brothers and three sisters.

2: I have six cats, one dog, three turtles and two fish.

3: I once met Elvis Presley. I had a free pass to visit him backstage after one of his concerts. He gave me the scarf around his neck and signed it. I still have it and placed it under glass.

4: When I was a child I came down with a virus that nearly killed me. For a week before being hospitalized, I had visions of Jesus standing at the foot of my bed.

5: I was once asked to join a rock band, but my shyness prevented me from accepting.

6:  I began taking dance lessons from the age of 4 and when I was 12 my dance troop toured across Canada. We were asked to perform before the queen but a day before we were to leave I broke my leg and couldn’t go.

7: I suffer from panic attacks.  It takes every ounce of my will not to panic during a thunder storm. My biggest trigger is Moths.

8: I watched my house burn to the ground as a child and was comforted by a ghost who reassured me everything would be fine.

9:   My oldest son and I were once runway models.

10: A Taste of Humanity is based on a true story. My hubby and I actually met on a one night stand.

11: I suffer from debilitating migraines and can’t be in a room with florescent lights. They are my biggest triggers.

12: I once played a homeless person in a TV commercial for poverty.

13: I was once attacked by birds while walking to work.  Though I didn’t need stitches they did leave several marks on my head from their sharp beaks.

14: I’m color blind.

15: I’ve written fifty-seven novels and have had eighteen published.

A Taste of Humanity: A 1 Night Stand Story

Blurb:

One night of passion could be lethal!

Wanting some excitement in her life, Penny Parker heads to Vegas. She’s hoping the guy Madame Evangeline has set her up with will give her more than a thrill.

Cade O’Donnell is a virgin…of sorts. Wanting something he’s never had before, he signs up for the 1NightStand service. Deciding to meet his match in Vegas seems the right setting for his tryst. What better place to have a fling than in Sin City.

Thrills are abundant when Penny and Cade get together. But will it be more than she bargained for? Has Cade bitten off more than he can chew?

 Place of Purchase: www.decadentpublishing.com
My Website: www.shielasbooks.ca

NaNo What Mo?

Ok, I give up.  Who else but a group of writers would designate an entire month as "Novel Writing?"

It's terrifically motivating to get up each morning in November and realize that thousands of others just like you are cranking out required word minimums on the Next Great American Novel.

Or is it?

If you're like me, that sort of external motivation doesn't work.  Some quirk in my psyche (and I have a few) balks at this and forces my mind to come up with excuses NOT to write.  Stupid ones too, like "laundry", "housework", or even "nap."

To me, if there is a story in my head, careening around and bouncing off my brain pan I gotta get it out there.  I have one now as a matter of fact. A time travel tale with a hot, early 1900s-era German brewer (who looks a LOT like Til Schweiger just sayin') who turns the corner in his famous brewery to find a beautiful woman knocked out cold, dressed in denim and some brewing company tee shirt.  They have a very hot night once she revives.  But when she wakes up in his arms he's still "in character" from the quaint little tour she thought she was on---anyways, the point about my personal writing process is that if I sit here and try and flesh that sucker out any more than those brief lines I will disappear into a rabbit hole, never to emerge completely until the damn thing is finished.




Oh, you might see my body, at the grocery store, or driving my kid to soccer, or pouring beer at my bar but I'm not there.  I'm with those characters, in their heads, in their skin, using their words and living in their world.  Snap your fingers in front of my eyes and I might focus but only for a second until I can plop back in front of the computer and Get It Done.

That is the thinking behind NaNo I am guessing.  (does anyone beside me start picturing a young, long-haired Robin Williams every time you say it?  no? okay, never mind).

Give yourself a finite number of days to crank out that novel that's clanging around upstairs.  No excuses. No naps.  Sit and write until it is done.

But that's how I always write.

Right now, I can't because I'm too busy promoting (see: my earlier lectures on promote or perish).  When I'm in that mode (which lately has dovetailed with "editing" for other stuff) I simply cannot allow myself to think too hard about .....  Max: a hunky, blond, tall, blue-eyed, Alpha, slightly bossy German brewing genius who wears tight brown trousers and boots as he tromps around his brewery and yells at anyone in his way and who nurtures a deep fear of commitment until confronted with...Johanna, the dark-eyed, lovely woman brewer from the year 2012 --- the love of his life who's unfortunately fallen through some sort of rip in the time/space thingie (I gotta work out the Magik bits as it's not my area really)
oh crap....now see what you've started??

Otherwise, I'm a goner.  And my family misses me so when I in the writing rabbit hole.

What is your style? Are you doing this Mork 'n Mindy sounding thing this month? Does it help motivate you or make you want to take illicit naps in the middle of the day?

cheers
Liz

The Occupy Wallstreet Post - What it Means to be an author

Tina-Sue wanted me to spice things up and let the beast out, so I thought I'd start off attacking the Occupy Wallstreet morons.

Yeah I'm sure that just lost us a ton of followers. But hear me out. I can relate this movement to writing and why it's important to embrace writing as a business. If you've been reading my posts for any length of time, you know I'm not just a hobbyist, this is my career and one I'm damn good at. I don't really bother with people who are writing for the pure pleasure of it, real writers need to tell stories, to produce and realistically, we need to sell them. If you write erotica, your road ahead is even harder than the traditional road due to the stereotypes, the lacking acceptance outside of the erotic circles, making it harder to sell a book or story. Yes, there are plenty of markets, especially since the e-book revolution is in full swing with reading devices that make it so much easier to buy and read your favorite perverted stories and authors than ever.

When you get that first paycheck, no matter how small it may be, as an erotica author, it's gratifying. It's validation. People will buy and read your work, and even though it's one check, it's one in a hopefully long line of paychecks, royalty checks and more that perpetuate, motivate and drive you to write more, to your heart's content without having to worry so much about the bills.

Yes there is competition. But that should drive you to write better, write tighter. In most cases, it will make you a better author. Editors will tear your work to pieces and expose plot holes (that's just funny in the erotic sense!) and butcher your babies until you've fixed the mistakes and made the story the best it can be. If it's longer than a short story and is actual e-book length (let's stop messing around with stories under 10k, they don't sell as well) then it gets a decent cover and an artist who has a vision that's oftentimes not entirely close to the book (another post will cover why and cover art in erotica) but will help the book reach the largest possible audience it can!

Now let's take the Occupy Wallstreet people and throw their beliefs into the mix. We're going with facts, not speculation. At their root, they want to tear down the American system as we know it and rebuild it so it's a fairer system. They want to destroy capitalism.

Will you still write? Will you still strive to put out the best product you can, knowing it's not going to matter because your incentive to write is gone? If they were to get their way and force income redistribution, would you still bother to read and if so, how would you show your favorite authors you support them? After all, they're not going to stand out anymore, they'll be in the pool just like everyone else.

Capitalism encourages competition. It encourages us as writers to strive for betterment. It pushes us to learn from our mistakes and strive to try again? Sure it's not always fair. And yeah some of us are going to get ahead faster than others, others will stand out more than some and we're all ultimately vying for the dollar from our readers.

We know internally that the system is a mess. In NY this is plain as day as many M/m authors will not see book deals due to the stigma against the sub genre of erotic romance. But that isn't stopping those authors from writing and making money in e-books. I have a BDSM background, yet I've got two agents, both of whom represent me and know they can sell my work if I spin it a little bit.

In the business, this is what's mislabeled as "selling out."

All the protests in the world won't change what America is, they won't change the reader's mind, only you the author will.

Whimsical Friday:Sexual Plants

Before I begin I must put a disclaimer before showing you the photos. If you're not 18, stop viewing!

Now, for todays Whimsical Friday I will be showing you some odd plants that are shaped in some....interesting ways. Whenever I would see these images on the internet I would always wonder if they were actually real or modified. Well, last summer I was walking along the river when I came upon my very own phallic tree. Yep, a penis tree. I split a gut laughing while snapping a picture. Now, whenever I drive by the area I can't help but laugh.

I hope these give you a good hardy chuckle.

Now do you understand why I chuckle everytime i drive by. LOL

Have a wonderful weekend!