As 2009 looms to an end, we are now heading into a new decade. It’s amazing how much can happen in 10 years. Life changing things can take place, heck that can happen in a day. So it’s no surprise when I think about the past decade on how much has changed for me.

I got divorced, started writing as a possible career, moved twice, changed jobs twice, made friends, lost friends to ailments, lost family members, gained weight, lost weight, changed my hair style and color like 12 times at least, tried my hand at screenwriting, met some producers, went to a cool Hollywood conference, went on a couple of dates, realized I don’t want to date, watched my daughter grow up into a spectacular beautiful person with so much life ahead of her, joined RWA, got an agent, got a book deal, got another one, made a best friend for life, fired an agent, got another agent, wrote new stuff, changed directions, and now am going in a new direction…

And through it all there have been two constants, my love of books and my love of movies. I’ve read some of the best books ever in the past 10 years. And I’ve seen the best movies ever as well. I think the last 10 years has been a powerful time for both mediums. There have been new trends and new technologies that have taken us to new dimensions of storytelling.

Some stories (books and movies) that have made a huge difference in my life are:

LOTR - the visually stunning masterpieces that Peter Jackson created I think will be an almost impossible task to outdo. I remember crying through the entire 2nd movie, just from the visuals and the soundtrack, it moved me in so many ways

The Bourne trilogy - I’ve watched all three movies probably 20 times each, I’m not sure what exactly I find so amazing about these films, but I do, I think they are superior thrillers and I’d love to be able to tell a story in this way

Harry Potter - I know the first book was pubbed in 1998, but Pottermania didn’t take over until 2000. Both the books and the movies have captivated an entire world, I don’t think we’ll see a phenom like this for another decade, (I dont’ consider the Twilight phenom even in the same league as HP)

Graphic Novel movie adaptations - cool, that’s what I say about that, not everyone has been successful, but they’ve all be cool

The emergence of Urban Fantasy - some of my favorite books and authors are in this genre, this genre has provided me with hours and hours of awesome entertainment, I’d be lost without Kim Harrison, and Simon Green, and TA Pratt, and Mark del Franco, and LKH, and Charlaine Harris, and Rachel Caine

The emergence and dominance of the YA market - I’ve found the best books I’ve ever read in this market, The Hunger Game and Catching Fire are at the top of my list, there are some brilliant authors writing YA and I’m so happy that it is so prevailant and they are getting their accolades for stepping outside the box and writing something different

What has been the most significant thing for you in the past 10 years? Any books or movies that have stayed with you this decade and will last another one?

Happy Holidays to everyone!!! I wish that the next 10 years will be beautiful, bontiful and brilliant for each and every one of you.

Night of Fire is coming out from Ellora’s Cave on Monday!!! IMO this is one hunky cover.  I had no input into the finished product which is good with me ’cause I couldn’t be happier.  I love mature looking men on my covers because I don’t do toy boys.  Way too old to be turned on by smooth skinned fellas. Give me a few scars and years of experience.

I’m totally in cover mode this morning having just finished filling out a cover fact sheet for something I just sold to EC.  Sitting in my inbox is the draft cover for my upcoming LooseID story Wind Howl which I’d love, love, love to show here, but I don’t yet have approval.  I really dig it because it easily ties in with Storm Howl, the first story in this paranormal wolf series so as soon as I have the go-ahead, up it goes wherever I can think to post.

Covers are a world into their own and largely a mysterious process to me. I don’t know how cover artists work in today’s world, the whole computerized thing.  Years ago when I was writing for Harlequin, I attended a conference where I got to watch the then process.  Actual models were used and the other writers and I gawked as the beautiful people in their beautiful clothes contorted themselves in poses no mortals would willing assume. Fans blew hair about and the models, who were probably strangers to each other, gazed lustfully into each others’ eyes.  Umpteen pictures were taken and the artists worked from those pictures although I think I also remember the models holding the poses while the artists weilded their paint brushes. 

But things have changed and the art departments for various publishers operate in ways I can’t imagine.  I’d love to see how they create their modern magic, at least I think I would.  Maybe its better if I let ignorance rule.  What matters is the end result and in the vast majority of cases, I’ve been WAY pleased with my covers.

Anyone know how things get from a writer filling out a cover fact sheet to the finished product?

Vonna the ignorant

www.VonnaHarper.com

Wednesday morning my teacher son called to say that he woke up with a sense of optimism he hasn’t experienced in a long time. For a moment I wasn’t tracking him–not enough coffee in me, I guess–but then I realized he was talking about Tuesday’s election. I happily agreed with him that it felt as if a corner had been turned. Oh yes, the economy is still in the toilet and everyone is tighening their belts and a little scared, but there’s new energy in the air, a new leader about to take the reins, and hopefully a developing of direction.
Reality has set in since Wed. thanks in part to the stock market (my husband and I had a meeting with our financial advisor yesterday, no fun), but optimism continues to ride on my shoulders and I’m determined to take that emotion as far as I can. And I’m not alone. I’m guessing everyone who reads this will agree that the economy is topic #1 (wanna see the latest email from my sister as an example?). Those conversations demonstrate that people are involved politically and economically. Instead of chatting about nonsense at the pool where I do therapy for my hips this morning, we discussed Obama’s cabinet appointments. Yeah, for a bunch of broads, we really do have brains. And we’re stimulating our brains because we truly care about what’s going on around us. Maybe what it boils down to is the feeling that the country is in this together. We know there’s no quick fix and are willing to walk the walk in order to get to the other side.
What does this have to do with writing? Maybe not much. I’ve found it hard to focus on the current book, blaming my lack of concentration in part on the no-nonsense arrival of winter weather in my part of the country, but now I’m thinking that its more a matter of reality capturing a huge chunk of my attention and not leaving much for creativity. Oh, I’ll get the words and pages done, but I’ll keep an eye on the clock because I want to catch the evening news.
How about others? Are these moments in history pulling you in?
Vonna
www.vonnaharper.com

  Okay, I’m not even going to try to be Pollyanna today.  I’m in a blue funk and nothing’s gonna get me out of it, nothing.  Except maybe making sure I don’t cook tonight.

 The reason for my kick the cat mood?  Everyone, and I mean everyone is at the RWA conference in San Francisco except me.  Here I am stuck looking out this dirty window at the haze of smoke that made its way up to Oregon from California’s never-ending forest fires and ALL the writers in the world are having fun.  Bah, humbug.

 I know San Fran.  I know and adore RWA.  Years ago my buddy Catherine Anderson and I attended an RWA conference there and did the whole tourist thing.  We even lost the Hilton the moment we got off the freeway but that’s another story. I could have gone to Kensington, Ellora’s Cave, and Loose ID parties.  I could have met Laura (sainted agent) for the first time.  I could have hung and gossiped with friends and gawked at THE names in the romance industry  But no. 

The reason for my isolation is self-imposed in that if I’d taken better care of myself (not packed on the pounds) maybe this damnable arthritis wouldn’t be in my hips, but that doesn’t make me any happier. I had to face facts: no way could I compete with the crowds and walking the way things are.  Next year, I promise myself, next year when the surgery is behind me!!! 

In the meantime, I’m living vicariously via blogs and posts coming in from the action.  It’s not the same thing and knowing a dear friend is at another conference geared for screenwritingin Portland Ore as I speak doesn’t help, but I’ll take whatever scraps of info I can get.

I started a new novella yesterday, an invite from Loose ID and when that’s done, I have another novella contract to fulfill for Aphrodisia so its not like I can’t keep myself out of the bars by staying chained to this desk. 

A couple of neat things happened this week.  One, my killer cover for Galen’s Pet with Loose ID is up for cover of the month at http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheMonth.htm.  Two, Roughing It, my latest release at Ellora’s Cave got a killer review at Dark Angels.  https://www.darkangelreviews.com/Roughing_It.html

But I’m still feeling sorry for myself and on the off chance I’m not the only romance writer in the free world not in San Fran, please check in.  Like they say, misery loves company.

Vonna

www.VonnaHarper.com

Can you tell, I’m in an upper mood.  Kind of hard to believe because I got about 5 hours of sleep.  Blame the wip (work in progress).  Had some involved ‘conversations’ with my characters trying to peel off the layers of the onion and getting to the core of their personalities.  Now to see if those conversations lead anywhere.  But before I get rolling, I’m also in the mood to pass on what I think are a couple of pieces of interesting/important information.

The first news bite comes from a local writer friend.  Instead of trying to do justice by what she told me, I’ve copied and pasted and am throwing it out here.  Hopefully blog readers will see the poignant message behind it.  In brief, yes, bad things sometimes happen to good people.  But, and its a big BUT sometimes those people get up, wipe themselves off, and go on with their lives.  So without further ado (whatever that is), here’s the news:

“I’m sure you remember me telling everyone about Airleaf Publishers and the owner being prosecuted after ripping off thousands of dollars from trusting authors - well, the woman who spearheaded the investigation into the scams has come up with a plan to help all the authors (over 400 to date!) and she devised a bookselling plan. A number of us sent her start-up money to hire a good web designer. We get one book on the main page and any other books, and their description, on the author’s personal page with linksto the publisher’s site. We each agreed to buy five books during the next year from the authors listed. As more sign up, the money will be used to advertise the site. The site is up and running. Please have a look at www.BooksOfExcellence.com

Second, I belong to Novelists Inc, an organization open to published writers committed to keeping their heads above water in this sometimes storm-tossed career.  I pay my dues because the focus is on the business aspects of my career.  They have a fab conference, relaxed and intimate and honest which, sob, sob, I didn’t get to attend this year.  Recently the members decided to start their own blog.  Yes, I know, the Net is filled with blogs and of course The Bradford Bunch is the best, but I’m heartedly inviting writers and readers alike to check out what’s becoming available.  The decision was made to stand out from most writer-sponsored blogs by not focusing on self-promoting.  Instead, the concentration will be on everything from how-to pieces to interviews with publishing professionals.  As an example of what’s coming up—

“Starting next week, we will be having industry guests blog on Wednesdays. We’ll start with Liz Scheier, senior editor, Del Rey. The following week we’ll host agent Emmanuelle Alspaugh of Wendy Sherman Associates. And in coming weeks we’ll hear from Suzanne Beecher, owner of Dear Reader; M. J. Rose, New York Time Bestselling author, publicist and owner of Author Buzz; and agent Jennifer Jackson of Donald Maass Literary Agency.”

Oh, where to check this out, you’re asking.  Simple: http://www.ninc.com/blog/

Vonna

www.VonnaHarper.com

Happy 4th of July!!!  Although I’m writing this early because I’m going to be out of town, I’m very much in the 4th mood.  There’s a VA cemetary in the small town I live in and on many holidays, large American flags as set out in the public areas to the tune of hundreds of flags.  A drive through the cemetary (where a dear friend’s 22 year old son is buried) is a moving experience

Holidays tend to put me in touch with the past, but there’s something about the 4th that truly reaches me.  I think its because when I was growing up, the town I lived in went all out in celebration.  I remember, in high school, marching with the band.  I’d chosen the clarinet because I had a long walk after the bus let me off.  One year it was so hot I didn’t think I was going to make it to the end of the parade and am sure it was even worse for the tuba players.  When I was younger, the 4th meant seeing my cousins and running around Nana’s lawn with sparklers stinging our wrists.  We loved setting them off after dark and playing like Tinkerbell.

As an adult, it concerns me that maybe I didn’t instill that reverence for our day of freedom in my sons, but I know they’re appreciative of this country we live in.  These days it seems as if depressing news is all around us: gas and other price increases, the dog days of the political campaign, horrific fires in the state just south of me, etc, etc.  But when all the complaining is done with, IMO this is still the only country I’d ever want to live in.  Freedom is more than a word or even a mindset.  It lives in our hearts, or at least I believe it should. 

I could go on and on and probably get myself in trouble stepping on peoples’ toes.  Instead, I’d like to flip things around and ask readers what the 4th of July means to them.

Vonna

www.vonnaharper.com

Okay, I’m not totally headless because something was there when I combed my hair and brushed my teeth.  I started putting on some makeup only to say, “screw that” and plop back down in front of the computer.

I don’t know where this cold/flu/malaise/whatever came from but I don’t like it, not one bit!  Dragging along for going on two weeks is more than enough thank you very much.  I want to write, darn it.  I’m about 3/4 of the way through the rough draft of my current book for Aphrodisia and have this sneaky suspicion the plot will evaporate if I don’t wrap up the loose ends asap.  In the meantime, my IQ is topping out in the 80s and much of the time is way below that.  Day before yesterday I took my mother out to lunch and a haircut and by the time we were done I felt as if I’d run a marathon.  Took a nap, fixed dinner, and was asleep by 7.  Didn’t wake up until 6 the next morning. 

Yesterday was better and I belted out 3000 words in addition to giving the VA a piece of my mind (long story with no end in sight)  Today however isn’t shaping up to be so hot.  My lips are numb, my fingers ditto.  And lets don’t even get started on my brain.  I have until 3:30 to write and should be limbering up my fingers and chomping at the bit but no, i want to hold down the couch and watch morning TV which I never do.  And now the neighborhood get-together that sounded like so much fun is looking like a mountain to climb.

So enough already with this junk I have. 

Some news to share before I fade off.  A small Slovok publisher wants to buy foreign rights to a romance I wrote years ago.  Nothing like a little found money.  The novella I sold to Ellora’s Cave has been kicked up which means it’ll be published June 20, four days before Going Down comes out from Aphrodisia.  All I have to do is figure out how to work the promotion..  No pub date for the novella Loose ID bought but I’ve completed the first round of edits and put in the cover request.  And I can’t remember if I mentioned that I’m going to be in the next Aphrodisia Cowboy anthology.  That’s #3 for me.  Plan to write that after I get this book I’m working on out of the way–except I kinda promised my EC editor a quickie 

So, getting ready to sign off, how about some suggestions on how to clear my head?  I don’t do antihistamines because they wrap me in cotton.  Lots of fluids I’m already doing.  Rest?  My body’s all for that.

Vonna the pathetic   www.VonnaHarper.com

 The mind is an incredible thing.  I occasionally entertain the possibility that it might wear out the way my body is, but so far it keeps chugging along.  Infrequently, I check the fluid levels and clean the windshield, but I’ve never needed a new transmission or tires.  (note to self, get tires rotated)

A couple examples of this well-running machine (no matter what anyone says to the contrary, this is my story and I’m sticking to it).  Not long ago an unexpected writing opportunity fell in my lap.  I’m in the middle of an 80k story for Aphrodisia so haven’t been mentally searching for new material.  In other words, except for Untamed, the brain is blank which is how it best operates.  Then along came this new gig and with it a need for at least the faintest hint of a plot and characters. (funny how fiction is like that)  Two days after hearing about the opportunity, I was talking to a professional horseman who had just taken on the challenge of training a wild mustang for an upcoming competition.  For an hour we sat in his living room with the sound on his TV muted and my mother snoring while he enriched me with his knowledge of horse psychology.  As I drove home, I rolled down the windows, cranked up my favorite country and western radio station and grinned.  I had it!!!  The core of what I’m going to write about.  Thanks for the shot to the gray matter, Harry.

The other recent example of my faithfully producing brain: I’m writing Untamed by the seat of my pants.  I know and love my characters and absolutely adore the setting.  I believe I’ve nailed the major conflict.  It’s the twists and turns that keep me and hopefully readers turning pages that I haven’t nailed down.  Or rather I hadn’t until this week.  That’s when I turned the plot holes over to my subconscious as I was falling asleep.  The upshot of that process is that I wake in the middle of the night feeling as if I’ve walked into the middle of a conversation.  I’m not sure who is doing the talking, a couple of virtual critique partners for lack of a better explanation.  The latest conversation went something like this: 

     “You must have had a reason for having that dark fog surround your shape-shifting hero.”

     “I just wanted to add a moody-broody quality to the scene.”

     “No you didn’t.  You had something else in mind.”

     “I did?”

    “Of course you did.  How many times do I have to tell you, everything has a reason in fiction.  How about, hey, how about this.  You’ve explained how the shape-shifting takes place so it makes sense that the fog is the catalist for the shift.”

    “You’ve got my interest.”

    “Of course I do.  Don’t I always?  Hey, how about this?  What if the fog also serves as the connection to the past you need?  Your heroine is an archeologist.  You want her to find something incredible.  The fog wants certain historical questions answered so it leads your heroine to a rich historical site, with the hero along for the ride of course.”

   “No one’s going to buy that a chunk of fog can do that.”

   “You’ve already had shape-shifters in other stories and readers haven’t laughed you out of the bookstore.  Get cracking.”

Okay, so maybe I’m paraphrasing but that’s pretty much what happened last night.  Before, I had all these plot pieces sitting there looking like a mass of twine after a bunch of cats had gotten to it and now its pretty much untangled and well on its way to becoming a beautiful sweater.  Now if I can just stay awake.

Question of the day: does your brain ever jump up and do something totally unexpected and exciting?

Vonna     www.VonnaHarper.com  

So as I understand it, Sunday is our kick back, put our feet up, flex fingers and see what comes out day. Hey, beats getting at the revisions I told myself I’d do today while watching the Yankees and Mariners out of the corner of my eye.

Just a short note to say I’m hoping, hoping, hoping our beloved agent Laura will have nailed down a certain something in a few days so I can spread the news. This is one of those, “Neat, didn’t see that one coming” things.

Okay, back to the salt mines–but not for long because it’s a beautiful day.

Vonna

www.VonnaHarper.com

   I feel a deadline breathing down my back so this is going to be short, but dang it, I’m getting excited.  In less than a week, April 29th to be exact, my novella Breeding Season will hit the stands in the Kensington Aphrodisia anthology called Only With A Cowboy.  The cover, ah the cover!  I’m going to try to upload it here but in case that doesn’t work, here’s the important details.  Except for the title which is yellow and our names (P.J. Mellor, Melissa MacNeal, and me, Vonna Harper) in white, it’s all a dusty blue.  What shows–and is the only thing that matters–is this hunky torso of a cowboy.  At least we assume its a cowboy because he’s wearing a cowboy hat and has a length of rope slung across his neck.  The poor man doesn’t have a shirt–maybe the local cowgirls ripped it off him.  His jeans are unsnapped and the zipper at half mast.  The fabric over right knee is torn and ragged, leaving skin exposed, darn it.  Can’t see the left knee but hopefully it’s a matching set.

I have to share how my contribution came about.  My editor asked if I’d like to contribute to the anthology so of course I jumped at the chance.  But the truth is, although I was raised in the country, had a horse (or rather she had me) and belonged to 4-H, I don’t know nuttin about busting no broncs or whatever it is they do on ranches.  But a dear friend is married to a fifth generation beef rancher so I picked Gail’s brain.  No surprise, what grabbed my attention was the breeding part of the operation, specifically those massive bulls that are about twice the size of steers and singleminded.  Hmm, I thought, what if the hero’s bull got loose and stormed ripe for action in the middle of the heroine’s cows?  I’m not going to give away the plot.  Let’s just say that h/h are inspired by the bull’s aggression and the cows’ willingness.  Not a particularly serious tale but one I had a blast writing.

Okay, back to the salt mines but first a question.  On your personal hunk scale, where do cowboys rate? 

Vonna

www.VonnaHarper.com