So it’s Monday and June already. Where did the time go? I’ve got a book due July 31 - Relentless, it’s moving along nicely and I’ve reached the beginning of the real meat of the story so it’s all about pacing right now and trying to keep all the story threads in order. After July 31 I have another deadline in mid September and then another in October and another in January.
I’m heading to Ohio for the Lori Foster Reader Get Together next weekend and I’m very excited. I get to see many of my friends and I always make new ones. If you’re going to be in the area, please come by the signing on Saturday to say hello. I won’t get a lick of writing done, but i’ll have a good time, LOL.
I made a book video for my July release, Reading Between the Lines and I’m now officially addicted. You can check it out at my Lauren blog if ya like.
I also managed to read Lisa Kleypas’ Sugar Daddy and LOVED it and Noelle Mack’s Wild and also enjoyed it very much. Don’t know what I’ll read next, my tbr pile is huge!
Writing life is uber busy and that means I’m happy because to me, busy means I’m selling books and people seem to like them.
I’ve been so busy I haven’t been online as much to look at blogs but a quick peek this weekend has reaffirmed that as a good thing. Oy, authors, come on. Just you know, maintain in public. No, it’s not always easy to be gracious but unless someone brings it to you, why on earth would you go trolling at other blogs to seek out drama? Just. Stop.
Stop whining about bad reviews in public! Everyone gets bad reviews. Nora Roberts, most likely the most well known author in romance and one of the very top sellers absolutely gets bad reviews. I see her on blogs and I never see her whining about bad reviews. I get em and I know every single author on this blog as received them. They come with the territory. Sometimes they’re spot on and hit on a weakness. Sometimes they hurt like whoa! Sometimes they’re nasty and personal. Sometimes it’s clear the reviewer hasn’t read the book. But always, they’re reader opinion. Shrug.
I’m not saying authors can’t speak online about things they find important. I’m not saying we have to be Stepford Authors either. But I’m saying hold your sh*t together in public because you cannot win. You will always look thin-skinned and it’s not going to change any minds.
The “back” key is one of my favorites on my keyboard. You have the luxury of hitting back and not revisiting places you don’t like. Being in the public eye to a certain extent means you have to deal with all sorts of stuff. Most of it is pretty darned cool but some of it is unpleasant. Shrug. Thicken up your skins and grit your teeth. Save the hissy fits for your BFF via IM or you’ll be the new blog fodder and while you can amuse yourself by thinking any publicity is good publicity, it’s just not.
Ugh. Okay to wash away the rantyness of the end of this post, how about a contest? Tell me about your TBR list and some stuff you’ve read recently and enjoyed. I’ll choose a winner, or maybe even two this Thursday afternoon and post the winner.
Good luck!
**WINNER - I’ve been away since 4 am Friday, excuse the delay, I just walked into my door twenty minutes ago - KAMMIE - you’re my winner. You win a copy of any available book on my backlist in whatver format they’re available in. Just email me your choice and I’ll get it your way!
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:28 am
Some of the books currently on my TBR pile is as follows: The Host by Stephanie Meyers, Unmasqued by Collette Gale, Temperature’s Rising by Karen Kelley and Hotter After Midnight by Cynthia Eden. I’m an avid reader of all genres and love to read just about anything and enjoy discovering new authors. Recently finished La Vida Vampire by Nancy Haddock and enjoyed it! Mark Henry’s Happy Hour of the Damned was also a great find.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 am
I have Witch Blood by Anya, the second in the Lamp series by Melinda Barron, two ebooks by LA Day from Changeling, the Dangerous Boys and their Toy by Ms Black, two Maya Banks titles one in ebook, a few other prints (heh, heh). The last great series I’ve LOVED is by Violet Summers called the “Worthington Group”. I also read a superb thriller by Emma Wayne Porter “The Living Legend” now out in print from Samhain. That one reminds me of John Grisham’s style of writing. I collect books Lauren, like most people collect lint! Can’t wait to read ‘em all!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 am
Lauren, I love you. In a total platonic, you are one of the coolest people I know way
I just read Shiloh Walker’s Through the Veil and Caroline Linden’s A Rake’s Guide to Seduction, and liked them both. A lot.
I still have Noelle Mack’s Wild in my TBR pile :wince: along with the second and third books in Jackie Kessler’s Hell on Earth series, and Sara Reinke’s Dark Thirst and Dark Hunger, and…
Oh man, too many to count!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 am
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
Working Stiff by Tori Carrington
The Devil You Know by Jenna Black
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
Storm Born by Richelle Mead
Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke
Body Movers: 3 Men and a Body by Stephanie Bond
Bitten to Death by Jennifer Rardin
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 am
Oh, I forgot to mention books I’ve read recently and enjoyed. The last two books that I read that I loved are Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn and Lady and the Vamp by Michelle Rowan.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:44 am
I have Rob Thurman’s Nightlife on my TBR, Anton Strout’s Dead to Me, Toni Andrews’ Beg for Mercy, Pamela Palmer’s Dark Deceiver, Nina Bangs’ Eternal Pleasure. . .my TBR pile is actually gigantic right now! As far as what I’ve read and liked, the top of that list is currently occupied by Eve Kenin’s Hidden, due out next month. It’s terrific!
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:32 am
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:58 am
Hi Lauren,
As to my TBR… [Oh! And I recently read Dark Needs at Night's Edge too - liked that a lot too] - I haven’t gotten them yet (boo) but I can’t wait to read Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson, Fearless by Diana Palmer, Lover Enshrined by JR Ward, and … Duchess by Night by Eloisa James. Ok - last one, the Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn. Sadly, secured transactions and not having books is putting a major roadblock in the reading love. (I’m such a book whore :mrgreen:)
Great blog post - I’ve been really busy recently, and haven’t caught up on net news… and although I’ve only visited 3 sites today, I’m glad I wasn’t around either.
I *really* liked Sugar Daddy. I almost didn’t read it because the title was a turn off, but I love Lisa Kleypas and was curious. I really enjoyed Blue Eyed Devil too. I recently read “Priceless” by Christina Dodd, and like it a lot. Taking it back to the old school
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Just a few on the ol’ TBR pile:
Exclusive ~ Eden Bradley
Not Another Bad Date ~ Rachel Gibson
Lover Enshrined ~ JR Ward
Killer Secrets ~ Lora Leigh
Unleashing the Storm and Riding the Storm ~ Sydney Croft
I just finished Iron Kissed ~ Patricia Briggs (I am so looking forward to the next Mercy Thompson book!) and Fangs But No Fangs ~ Kathy Love this weekend. Both were very good!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
On my tbr pile are “Hot” by Julia Harper, “First You Run” by Roxanne St.Clair, “Scream For Me” by Karen Rose, “Extreme Exposure” by Pamela Clare, “Remain Silent” by Jamie Denton and “The Bleeding Dusk” by Colleen Gleason. I just finished “The Death Dealer” by Heather Graham, “Unlawful Contact” by Pamela Clare and “Out of the Shadows” by Kay Hooper.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Lots of great releases this month. I just finished Sarah McCarty’s, Running Wild, and have Lora Leigh’s, Wicked Pleasure, Nora Roberts, The Hollow, Charlaine Harris’s, From Dead to Worse, LKH, Blood Noir and Vicki Pettersson’s, The Touch Of Twilight on order already.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I have a big mixture of TBB books from sweet to steamy, all genres. I just read Life Happens by Sandra Steffen. It’s a family drama that was very heart warming. Highly recommended if you like those type of stories. Oh, and one of Janelle Denison’s Wilde series book. I always love those bad boys.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Word Lauren. Word.
I’m reading Hex and the City by Simon Green right now and LOVING IT. It’s so dark and twisted. I adore it!
Books on my TBR:
Saint City Sinners - Lilith Saintcrow
Kitty Goes to Washington - Carrie Vaughn
The Outlaw Demon Wails - Kim Harrison
Heart-Shaped Box - Joe Hill
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I am reading Betrayed by Jam8ie Leigh Hansen and enjoying it. Some on my TBR pile.
LaVida Vampire by Nancy Haddock
Take Me by Lucy Monroe
Step into Darkness By Naomi Bellis
Cherry on Top by Kathleen Long
Wolf Tales V by Kate Douglas
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
my to get list christeen feehans new ghost walker book. Lora Leighs new seals book, I have agenda, by lora leigh, the vegas book i just got, i also am looking for some good paranormal ebooks, shifters vamps that kind of thing. ohh just read woven tapstry ohhhh awesome book!!! loved it. soo many books, so little time ohh the new anita blake book comes out this summer too! gotta get that!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
dirty bymegan hart
fallen angels by lori foster
nigtcap by kathellen oreilly
out of control by shannon mckenna
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I just started reading The Hollow by Nora Roberts. I’m looking forward to reading Lover Enshrined by J.R.Ward. Also, I just finished reading Hotter After Midnight by Cynthia Eden, Riding the Storm by Sydney Croft, and Wild For Him by Janelle Dennison. They were all really great.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
TBR pile:
Apache Warrior by Carol Ann Didier
Faery Special Romances by Jacquie Rogers
Cactus Flower by Alice Duncan
Recently:
Adopting Alyssa by Denise Patrick
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:42 am
I recently finished reading “Small Favor” by Jim Butcher, “Blood Noir” by Laurell K Hamilton “Magic Burns” by Ilona Andrews and “From Dead to Worse” by Charlaine Harris. All are great books and I enjoyed them.
On my TBR pile I see The Host by Stephanie Meyer, “One Foot In The Grave” by Jeanine Frost, “Playing With Fire” by Katie MacAlister and “Dark Needs at Night’s Edge” & “Dark Desires After Dusk” by Kresley Cole.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:07 am
Here’s a few on my TBR pile: One Night Stand by Julie Cohen, Dangerous Haven by Barbara Clark & Right Here, Right Now by HelenKay Dimon.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Wow look at all these great books!! And aww, Azteclady, I love you too, LOL.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Read
Hotter than Midnight by Cynthia Eden
When he was Bad by Shelley Laurenston and Cynthia Eden
Damien by Jacki Frank
reading Running Wild by Sarah Mccarty
Next up either JR Wards’s newest or shiloh’s newest or finally broke down and bought Threat of Darkness. Maybe I’ll read that one. Hard to say. lol.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I recently had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of ‘Eternal Pleasure’ and it was very exciting. I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. This series offers paranormal readers a new type of ‘immortal hero’, The Eleven with their boss, Fin, and they are awesome. The book is fast-paced and has its moments of humor and passion. Our hero, Ty, is unique in many ways and wanted to learn more about humans and especially, Kelly, who was hired to help by driving him around and winds up doing much more for him. There is also Ty’s incredible boss, Fin, who has extreme powers we can’t even imagine or haven’t seen yet plus the rest of The Eleven. The Eleven are ultimate and lethal predators here to save our world from the Lords of Death and I can’t wait to read future stories about them. Great new series! I definitely recommend it. I am now reading ‘The Darkest Kiss’ in the Riley Jensen Guardian series by Keri Arthur as I enjoy the heroine, Riley; she is quite unique and manages to save the day while her life is full of danger, excitment and certainly some sexy males.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:21 am
I’ve been catching up on a lot of EC ebooks and Samhain ebooks. I just finished reading Uncovering Navarro. Now I’m reading Wicked Intent by Lora Leigh. I have your Chase Brothers series and some of Anya’s books on my reader next.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Hi Lauren.
Very well done.
I’ve got Maya Bank’s SWEET SURRENDER and Jean Johnson’s THE SWORD.
Warmest Regards!
June 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
any winner
June 9th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Congrats, Kammie!
Get some rest, Lauren!
June 10th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Thank you so much!
June 10th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
wtg kammie