I know some people come to my blog through avenues other than twitter so here's the skinny on the up-down (I know that made no sense). I'm guest blogging today over at Babbling About Books and More on why I write lesbian romance and more importantly, why I write ethnically diverse lesbian romance. Do check it out.
the awkward teenager i reference in this guest post
And in response to the recent rash of writer on reviewer crimes, here's my personal stance. I read reviews, but I know they aren't for me. They are for other readers. As a writer it is not my place to attack reviewers for their opinions. I am psyched that people have read my work and that's that. To the authors attacking reviewers for posting reviews OF YOUR BOOK, not your looks, or your mom, or your kids, please chill out. You're making the rest of us look crazy. Smoochies!
Check out the Lesbian Fiction Appreciation Event starting today (Jan
7) through Jan 21 over at Babbling About Books and More. Posts from
lesbian authors, publishers, reviewers and bloggers.
My post will appear on Jan 9, but today,
author and (my) publisher Radclyffe is blogging about the facts of queer
fiction AND she's giving away books. Click the link. Leave a comment!
“When I turned 18, I felt I was grown up. Then when I
was 21, I reflected, ‘Boy, I was just a kid then; now I’m grown up.’
The same thing happened when I was 27. It wasn’t until I was in my early
30s that I realized it was a futile goal to have. You’re never grown
up. We’re all still dealing with the same hopes, same fears, same dreams
that we had as children.”
—
Shelley Duvall
That's how I feel about 2011. It's 2012 and here's what I got. This year I'd like to:
- lose 90 pounds. I promise you, there is 90 pounds to lose
- get along better with my dude. Two people and two cats in a small space and drive anyone crazy
- write more
What a list! I need to be more organized, save money and a bunch of other things I should be doing no matter what. we'll see how those things work out.
Now here's what's happening whether I slack off or not.
I'll be adding my two cents in a guest entry about why I write lesbian romance. Multi-cultural lesbian romance more specifically. I've already submitted the post so that wont add to my mountain of procrastination. I really appreciate KT's efforts with this event. In 2011 I saw just how hard it is to find exposure for lesbian romance. Readers are into it, I know this for a fact, but a lot of review blogs and websites refuse to review it. I'm not sure why this is. Some site will go as far to say they are LGBT friendly, they'll review m/m, m/f/m, m/goat/dog/f/m, but no f/f. Boggles the mind, but hopefully KT's event will bring more authors and readers together. My awesome publisher Radclyffe will also be contributing so please drop in, leave a comment, click some links, BUY SOME BOOKS!
February 1: It's my birthday and I have tickets to The Price Is Right. I'm pumped.
March 1- 4: 6th Annual Bold Strokes Books Palm Springs LGBTQ Book Festival. I'll be there, trying my best not to barf on myself before, during and after each reading. More info HERE!
In the meantime I have to proof the final run of The Fling, out in April, and I have to write Blacker Than Blue: Vampire Sorority Sisters 2. I'm a good chunk in, but I'd like to be further. I'll stop blogging and get to it then. :) Happy New Year.
I have a lot of feeling about some things that I would love to share, but I'm under a tit crushing deadline so I'll just share some news and a beautiful picture.
I'll signing Better Off Red Sunday Dec 11th at 2 pm, at Dark Delicacies in Burbank, CA. There will be several other paranormal authors signing as well, listed below. If you're in the So Cal area, or your grandma is, come on by or send your grandma.
Dark Delicacies 3512 W. Magnolia Burbank, CA 91505 darkdel.com
other participating authors: Collette Freedman signing Thirteen Hallows PS Gifford signing Curiously Twisted Tales VMK Fewings signing A Vampire's Dominion Gabrielle Faust signing Eternal Vigilance I, II & III
AND
Through a little trading an bargaining, the sweet Fandangler drew me this adorable picture of Camila and Ginger from Better Off Red.
I found him through his awesome Adventure Time fanart and I love what he did to my girls. Check out his art here. Happy Friday!
Hey kids. Check out Vampires.com today. There's an AMAZING interview with yours truly and you can enter to win a signed copy of Better Off Red. Run. Click. Fast. Go. Now.
Gingered beardo and fellow author, Chuck Wendig has an excellent post on his blog today about writers following their own path. Over the past year and a half I have received some amazing advice, some terrible advice, met and chatted with some awesome agents and writers and come across publishing types I'd just as soon push in front of a subway car before I forced myself to speak to them again. In that time, I have definitely learned that this writing journey is my own.
If you haven't been following this blog from the start, 503 days have passed between my first submission to an agency and the official release off Better Off Red. No, Bold Strokes Books does not fuck around when it comes to getting books out. Just another reason I feel at home with them. Minimal BS. :) No other author will experience what I have in the same amount of time, just as I will never share their exact experience, but that's the beauty of this life thing.
Though it's been on sale for a week and some change, today Is Better Off Red's proper book birthday, which means you should be able to walk into bookstores and pick it up. I'll probably go to my local Barnes and Noble and put it up on some display near the front. :) I'm sure they love when people do that. So far Better Off Red has received some awesome reviews on Amazon and goodreads from people who aren't my mom and that makes my heart very happy. I'd like to give a special shout out to my editor Cindy who made Better Off Red the book it is now. I love her guts.
Several of my fellow Bold Strokes authors also celebrate book birthdays.
In other news, check twitter and possibly BBC world news (anything that isn't fox new or cnn) if you aren't up to date on the situation with NYC Occupy Wallstreet movement. In the middle of the night, NYPD cleared protesters out and destroyed the camps while banning media coverage. It was just late night for me so I watched the streaming videos from inside and kept up with the tweeting madness. This is why we vote, people.
And here's some Beyonce for those of you who visit for visual stimulation. I plan to wear that first outfit at my next reading.
So mega surprise to me this morning, Bold Strokes Books is offering all of our November titles early. MEANING... you don't have to wait until Nov 15th to pick up Better Off Red.
In another news, I received this amazing 4 star review from Bibrary Book Lust. Check out the awesome things Sally had to say about Ginger and the rest of the girls here. (she put the stars up on goodreads).
And lastly - here's what I'm wearing tonight to the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival. I look ridic, but its okay. ITS HALLOWEEN!
