October 14, 2008

From the eHar Weekly News

Top 10 Passion Titles
1. Kiss & Tell by Alison Kent
2. Greek Tycoon, Waitress Wife by Julia James
3. Pregnant on the Upper East Side? by Emilie Rose
4. The Money Man’s Seduction by Leslie LaFoy
5. Spanish Doctor, Pregnant Nurse by Carol Marinelli
6. Ruthlessly Bedded by the Italian Billionaire by Emma Darcy
7. Amorous Liaisons by Sarah Mayberry
8. Sicilian Husband, Unexpected Baby by Sharon Kendrick
9. The Italian Count’s Baby by Amy Andrews
10. Dante’s Contract Marriage by Day Leclaire

Go Alison! You rock!

October 9, 2008

September 19, 2008

In my research of how the brain works, I’ve been reading a lot about creativity and the chemistry that spurs and nurtures it. One particular area of interest is metaphor. People think in all different ways, and it turns out that a great many artists are synesthetes, where the brain blends two or more senses. For example, someone hears the word cat and simultaneously sees the color blue.

There are various grades of synesthesia, some profound and some subtle. Some people are simply visual thinkers, or perhaps that should be visual rememberers. When they see a cat, they don’t see blue, but their memories pluck out things that somehow, someway resonate with cat and bring them to the fore. As in: cat-soft quilt from childhood-scratch of sandpaper on fingertip-squish of Jello-distant thunder-etc. All in a split second of course, but the remembrance of somewhat similar, vaguely suggestive memories are available for use. Sometimes they’re just thoughts, but sometimes they become a book by Barbara Samual or an image that lingers from Stephen King.

Some people simply think metaphorically, and when you read their words, they are filled with color and light and images that surprise and delight, that give the reader the gift of their special sight.

And some people do not think metaphorically. Like me. Instead of images and sensations, what happens to me is that odd bits of other conversations come to me. Real or imagined, I don’t know, but my associations are predominantly heard, not seen.

This has a profound influence on my writing. I struggle mightily over metaphors, despite my knowledge that metaphors are incredibly powerful and give context and meaning to the reader that can’t be given any other way. My manuscripts tend to have a billion XXs where a metaphor should be. I’ve been taught not to accept the first, most obvious metaphor because it’s always going to be unoriginal, a cliche, but often, I only have that one. This struggle has been with me since I first started writing.

It’s only now, this past week, that I’ve seen my struggle in a new light. Okay, my strength is not in word-pictures. But that doesn’t mean my process is wrong. Where my strength lies is in dialogue. Because I hear really well. I’ve been told, and believe for myself, that my dialogue rings true and basically carries the story. The critical breakthrough, though, is that I’m not wrong or bad or stupid. My brain is another kind of brain. Which is just as valid, meaning I don’t have to turn in my writer’s license, at least not for this. I get to be my kind of writer, because there are lots of readers who find value in dialogue heavy work.

The word pictures will have to be left to those who have that gift. From this moment forward, I give myself permission not sweat it. This doesn’t mean I don’t have any metaphors in my books. I do, and some of them are quite good, but it’s not my primary gift. It’s okay. I can live with that. It’s a tremendous relief, in fact.

September 12, 2008

This made me sigh with happiness.

September 8, 2008

Interesting perspective on why storytelling is universal. Also interesting comments that say the article is bushwah. :)
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-secrets-of-storytelling

Stupidly wonderful captioning of old X-Files episodes. Some made me spit coffee. The Caps Files
Note: Not dial-up friendly in the least.

People are randomly wonderful and amazing.

If, for some odd reason (living in a place that is unkind to CM lovers) you haven’t watched Criminal Minds, don’t understand the fuss, go here and read the amazing discussion from Elizabeth Bear and cohorts. It will explain, gorgeously, why all writers (and humans) need to watch this amazing show. Find the geeks-with-guns tag and just keep hitting that button and reading. The new season starts Sept. 24th. I’m already sitting in front of the TV with popcorn.

And in the good news department, I have finished and sent in my partial for my new book, Ms. Understood. Yay, me.

August 28, 2008

Ms. Match Review from RT (It’s a Top Pick!)

Sparkling, clever writing combines with a perfectly imperfect hero and heroine to make Ms. Match (4.5), by Jo Leigh, a breathtakingly wonderful story. Beverly Hills PR exec Paul Bennet meets headhunter Gwen Christopher when her glorious sister Autumn asks him to find a date for Gwen for their parents’ anniversary. Gwen is funny and smart, but the ugly duckling in a group of beautiful swans as far as her family is concerned. Paul ends up taking her when the escort falls through, hoping the favor will get him into Autumn’s bed. He enjoys himself with Gwen, but she doesn’t think she belongs with the stunning Paul and makes assumptions about him based on her rather stupid family. Their journey to love is funny, warm, smart and amazingly believable. A total keeper.

—Page Traynor

August 23, 2008

Just a few days ago, I got an email that defined bittersweet. Dotes, you see, was adopted. His biological father had never seen him before he was killed in the submarine Seawolf in WWII. Dotes and I had both tried to find his biological family, but we sucked at genealogy and never did. The email was from his first cousin. Turns out there was a large family who’d always missed him. It would have pleased him so much to learn about his father, although his adopted father was wonderful. I’ve corresponded with his cousin and it’s been fascinating. Seems there’s a nephew out there who looks very much like Dotes. Here’s a picture of his father, circa 1944, when he was 27. He had been awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Navy Medal. His family was going to give the medals to Dotes. I know he would have been honored.

August 4, 2008

Here’s the hard part about journaling and being a professional writer: It’s so very easy to hide behind the words. I’m in grief counseling, which is a good thing, and I’ve been asked to journal about what’s happening in my brain. I’m swimming in murky, sad waters, and I do believe writing it down can be very helpful. Only I keep writing pretty words. Big words. Trying to get it just right. When I do get over myself, finally, and get to the raw parts, I’m only there for a minute, a few lines, then the wall comes back and I’m all about the writing instead of the emotion. I’ve tried listening to music. Writing at different times. Closing my eyes as I write on unlined paper. So far, not much luck. I suppose the only thing to do is to keep on doing it. Maybe I’ll shut up long enough to really say something – eventually.

July 28, 2008

Interesting (to me) bit of info on how women’s minds differ from men’s regarding sexual responses:

I’ve been fascinated by the slash fiction phenomena ever since I heard about the original zines featuring Spock/Kirk, before the interwebs became a giant scary super-scifi octopus with tentacles in every nook and cranny on earth. The thing I found most puzzling was that these m/m fictions were written primarily by women for women. I was even more surprised that I very much liked reading some – only two pairings ever got my panties in a bunch, but I seem to be conservative in slash circles. Now, Scientific American has reported some findings that may inform the discussion.

“The results, the researchers say, suggest that women are not only aroused by a variety of types of sexual imagery but are more flexible than men in their sexual interests and preferences.”

Women’s brains FTW!

But, the article infers that women need context for sexual satisfaction. Although women are aroused by visual stimulation, they want the romance, too. They are wired for romance novels that end with a woman who has found safety and bonding with her mate. And mostly, in slash, I’ve seen the most overall reader satisfaction from scenarios that also end with a safe bonding. The biological imperative: let me show u it. :)

As you can probably tell, I’m doing a considerable amount of research concerning the brain and sex, the brain before during and after intercourse, and also really hot slash. I’m also attempting to write the actual book, which is moving along at the same rate as the tectonic plates. I’m also a bit jealous of all the SF bound, but in truth, I’m incredibly not okay enough to go to National. Or to go much of anywhere. Especially because Wednesday is our anniversary. Shit.

July 16, 2008