The Straight Poop On Formatting

You need to read this post by a working copyeditor.

http://deannahoak.livejournal.com/54532.html

SIN Scenes

SIN: Surprise, I'm Naked!

We've all run across them. You're reading along, the hero and heroine have most likely just met and then BAM! One of them sees the other naked, often by accident, sometimes not. He walks in on her changing in the bedroom. She walks in on him in the shower. You know what I'm talking about.

Sometimes these scenes work and sometimes they don't. For me, they don't work when they're clearly contrived and the character reactions aren't realistic.

Ex. A: A woman who's never had sex with a man yet runs naked through the house chasing her cat because she didn't realize she dropped her towel...um, not working. Sounds like a TSTL moment.

Ex B: The hero walks in on the heroine changing. He might stare a little (he is a man after all) but then she screams for him to get out and he obliges. Accidental and handled that way.

Having said all that, I have a SIN scene in books one and two and will probably have one in book four. How about you? Do you have any in your work? What do you think about them? Like them? Hate them? Can't get enough?

How You Doin'?

Did you make any New Year's resolutions? If so, how are they going?

I don't make resolutions but I have been working out regularly since the New Year so I'm happy about that. I do think this year will hold some changes for me. So far, I'm happy with how the New Year's going!

Bad Boys Ahoy!

Our very own Diva Sylvia Day's book is available from Amazon, buy it! :)

Bad Boys Ahoy!

Oh, those naughty rakes. With their wicked winks, sensual smiles, and bad boy habits, you just can’t take them out in polite society. But who wants to go out when you can stay in...?

STOLEN PLEASURES
Sebastian Blake, Earl of Merrick, long ago fled the responsibilities of his title to become the infamous pirate, Captain Phoenix. But the booty he’s just captured on a merchant ship is a fierce tempered minx who claims to be a bride...his bride, married to him by proxy on behest of their fathers. He could shame his hated family and return his beautiful wife untouched, but no treasure has ever proved more tempting to Sebastian, and making their marriage a true one-in every sense-is his one urgent desire ...

LUCIEN’S GAMBLE
Lucien Remington’s reputation as a debauched libertine who plays by no one’s rules-in business or the bedroom-is well deserved. He gets what he wants, social repudiation be damned. But society can keep from him the one thing he truly desires, the untouchable Lady Julienne La Coeur. Until she sneaks into his club dressed as a man and searching for her irresponsible brother. Suddenly she’s in Lucien’s grasp, his to take, and his mind is filled with the most wickedly sinful thoughts. A gentleman would walk away from the temptation she presents. But then, Lucien has never claimed to be a gentleman...

HER MAD GRACE
Hugh La Coeur never wanted to be the Earl of Montrose. Wine, women, and a hefty wager are preferable to responsibility of any kind. It’s certainly preferable to spending the night in an eerie, neglected mansion owned by a legendary madwoman. The duchess’s companion, the fiercely independent Charlotte, is another matter altogether. Hugh would be happy to spend as many nights in her bed as possible. He knows she’s hiding terrible secrets, but for once in his life, Hugh has the desire to take on someone else’s burden as his own, no matter what the danger...

They’re mad, bad, and totally irresistible...

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

There's a lot of waiting in this business. And patience is not one of my virtues (although I'm trying).

Right now I'm waiting to hear back on:

Fulls with two different editors
Partials with four different agents
Partials with three different editors
Query with one editor
Query with one agent
Non-fiction query with one magazine
Contest results in three contests

Hmmm. It's a wonder I'm not prematurely gray. What are you waiting to hear back on?

Road To Publication Stories

If you haven't read these yet, you should. Very interesting and affirming stuff.

Gena Showalter
Diana Peterfreund
Jaci Burton

At Long Last...

Here's a much overdue picture of my braceless smile. The crazy blonde on my lap is my neice. This was taken right before Christmas at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Orlando. She was a little wound up, as I think her face indicates. We had a great time! And I'm still thrilled to have those braces off!

Jewel of Atlantis by Gena Showalter

All Atlantis seeks the Jewel of Dunamis, which legend claims can overcome any enemy. Grayson James, human agent of the ultra-secret Otherworld Bureau of Investigation has orders to keep it from the wrong hands -- or destroy it. What he doesn't know is that Jewel is a woman, not a stone! But once he meets this precious gem, destroying her is the last thing on his mind....

Jewel, part goddess, part prophet, is a pawn in Atlantis's constant power struggles. She needs Gray's help to win freedom and uncover the secrets of her mysterious origins. Gray needs her wisdom to navigate monster-ridden Atlantis. But need blossoms into passionate love as they fight demons, dragons, vampires -- and a prophecy that says the bond between them could destroy them both.

If you haven't ordered this yet, all I can say is...why not?

Office Space

There's been a lot of blogging lately about what your personal writing space looks like, so I thought I'd join the fun and post some pics.

What's your writing space look like? Do you have a dedicated area?

Vote for Romance Divas

Yes, ladies & gents... it's that time of year again and we need to be #1.

Here's the link: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/

Preditors & Editors has started the annual poll and since Romance Divas won last year, we want to stay on top. Please vote for us in these categories:

Writers' Discussion Forum
Writers' Workshop
Writers' Resource/Information/News Source

If you love us, please keep us on top!

Pass this on...

New & Revamped

The Romance Diva's Blog has a whole new attitude for 2006 - we're working on getting daily posts out, keeping it fun and informative. If you haven't checked it out, go take a look and see what you think. We'd love any feedback to help move us in the right direction.

C It Is!

The votes have spoken - the next book will be choice C with a splash of A thrown in. Now, with a goldsmith heroine, an ancient ring that holds the secrets to the Devil's Triangle and a hero sworn to guard that ring with his life, what am I going to call this?

I need a working title, people! Ideas?

What to write, what to write?

Been thinking about my next book. Should be starting it in the next few weeks. But what is it going to be about? I have some ideas - about two pages worth - but I'm not sure my heart is in any of those at the moment. I've been toying with the idea of writing something aimed at category. Seems a good way to get one's foot in the proverbial door, but alas...I am just not sure.

So. Tell me what sounds the most interesting:
A. An "Indiana Jane" heroine out to discover the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle. (Contemporary Paranormal)
B. A warrrior queen discovers her bond-husband is actually the heir to the Lycian (werewolf) throne long thought dead. (Fantasy Romance)
C. A goldsmith heroine finds a ring that gives her some interesting powers, including summoning its rightful - and frightening - owner. (Contemporary Paranormal)

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? Let's here 'em!