Tracey’s Seal of Approval: Paper books like a Bastard Sturgeon* & Christian Grey

June 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This week’s listing of blog posts that gets Tracey’s Seal of Approval:

Eight Reasons Paperbooks will become an *endangered species: Another one has been converted.  Maniacal laugh!  Maniacal laugh!

The Comfort Zone is for Pets not Professionals: For authors: why tweeting and blogging is a MUST!

REVIEW: Fifty Shades of Grey: I cannot escape it!  It has now come to my doors.  A review from Dear Author.

 

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I love reading good blogs.  Which ones would you recommend?  Please don’t list your own.  Let’s spread the love!

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Tracey’s Seal of Approval: Love for Romance Novel Covers, Bookstores & Joss Whedon

May 14, 2012 By 1 Comment

Hey Guys-

Sorry about the postings shortage last week.  Virginia Romance Writer’s hosted our first multi-day conference in years and we had a wonderful time.  But I had a lot to do when I got home.  Everything is back to normal and postings will resume.  Thanks for your patience.  And now…

This week’s listing of blog posts that gets Tracey’s Seal of Approval:

The Seduction of Romance-Novel Design: Found this article courtesy of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.  Now you guys know who to contact about all the man-titty that’s taken over our covers!

The WANA Plan to Save Bookstores & Revive Publishing: Like Kristen says, “we are architects of change or artifacts of change.”  Read it again.  Deep.

Image Influence: A History of Celebrity Inspired Hair Horrors: A funny post by my friend, Tracie.  This is a new website.  Check it out!

And finally, can I totally geek out and say I LOVE JOSS WHEDON?  There are a lot of us who have been his fans for years and it’s great that Hollywood– and everyone else who didn’t watch Firefly (ahem)– know what we know: he’s a genius.  The Avengers has made $370 million domestic in two weeks!!!  And he made Scarlett Johansson’s character bad-ass, unlike her turn in Iron Man 2.

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I love reading good blogs.  Which ones would you recommend?  Please don’t list your own.  Let’s spread the love!

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Tracey’s Seal of Approval: Let Jack & Rose die in peace!!

April 9, 2012 By 2 Comments

This week’s listing of blog posts that gets Tracey’s Seal of Approval: 

 

Heads, Shoulders, Knees, Toes and Shoes: You know how much I love a blog post about romance covers. It appears that backs are out and fronts are in!

Writing Conferences: Beware of Crossing Deer: If you are attending your first writing conference in 2012, this is a MUST-READ!!

Titanic- Most hated beloved movie?: Haters, give it a rest.  The energy you spend hating could be directed toward something positive.  Try curing cancer or creating a zoom app for i-phone pics.

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I love reading good blogs.  Which ones would you recommend?  Please don’t list your own.  Let’s spread the love!

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Tracey’s Seal of Approval: Rain, never go away!

March 26, 2012 By 2 Comments

This week’s listing of blog posts that gets Tracey’s Seal of Approval:  

On the Far Side Contest for Unpublished Authors: Do you have what it takes?  If so, enter!

Don’t Eat the Butt#4- Real Writers Never Struggle: Says who?

The Asian Hero: Objectification or Equality- Rain, I’m objectifying you!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Welcome back, Don Draper!

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The T-Spot Welcomes Kristen Lamb!

March 7, 2012 By 8 Comments

                                  

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Kristen Lamb is in the spotlight!

I read Kristen’s books We Are Not Alone—The Writer’s Guide to Social Media and Are You There, Blog? It’s Me, Writer and they changed how I looked at social media and an author’s role in it.  They are informative, but not preachy, because she’s made all the mistakes before (blogs that writers write about their own writing– you know you all did it!)  So let me get out the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Kristen:

1. Have you always written stories?

Yes, from the time I could hold a Crayon. My first book was called, “Hi love Mom” because those were the only words I knew how to spell. As you can clearly tell by the title, it was an epic high fantasy about Princess Kristen and a kingdom threatened by stupid little brothers.
2. When did you decide to write professionally?
In 2002. I was in sales and hated my job. It was so stressful I would get sick every day on the way in. I was misdiagnosed with epilepsy and lost everything, including my job and ability to work. So, with nothing left to lose, I started writing and haven’t stopped and the “epilepsy” turned out to be a severe gluten allergy. I often think it was God intervening and smacking me onto the path He had planned for me, a place I could serve others and really shine.
3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?
I had to go indie because NY is too slow. Social media was the biggest transformation in society since the Industrial Revolution, but no one could write about it unless they self-pubbed or indie pubbed. NY couldn’t get a book to market before it was obsolete.
4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?
I start work every day at 8:00 and I work until 5:30. I write from 8-11 then I mix house chores with research/writing/business the rest of the day. I work 6 days a week and take off Sundays to rest.
5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)?
With practice, the first drafts have gotten better and better. I find I do far less revisions the more I am at this. But I do just get things down then go look through it later.
Why?
The subconscious mind is amazing and editing prematurely can kill subconscious seeds.
6. Do you get writer’s block?  If so, how do you handle it?
No such thing as writer’s block. Get to work and work through it. Sometimes the creative flow will gum up but if we keep priming the pump, eventually it will flow. My favorite quote is by Stephen King. “Amateurs sit around and wait for inspiration, the rest of us get to work.”
7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
I love the brainstorming. I brainstorm all kinds of topics for my blogs and books. I also love brainstorming plots and watching them come together.
Fun Topics:
8. Wine, liquor or beer?  What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?
Wine. Red. Clos du Bois is my fave.
9. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?
James Rollins because he is a fantastic writer and an amazing person. Even if his writing wasn’t so awesome I would still buy his books because he is just such a fantastic human being who is generous, kind and supportive. Same with James Scott Bell and Les Edgerton. All these guys write so well, but it is just extra special that they are wonderful people.
10. What TV shows are you watching?
House and I LOVE Rizzoli & Isles. I also LOVE documentaries. Can’t get enough of them. My favorite ones are about astrophysics. I’m a total science geek at heart.
11. Who is your celebrity crush and why?
Puss N Boots…those cute kitten eyes get me every time.
Thank you, Kristen for your time, advice and fabulous workshop.  Check out her blog: Kristen Lamb’s Blog.  Viva La Love Revolution!
Do you believe in writer’s block?  What’s your writing process?  Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.
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