Alice Popkorn – http://goo.gl/ex4LVu
What I realized:
While taking time off from social media and writing, it became clear to me that I need to spend more time doing what I truly love to do and spend less hours of the day on social media constantly pushing and promoting. I’m not saying there is no value to promoting; however I do believe that more books and less promotion will generate more sales than fewer novels and more advertising. Continue reading
Polishing the pearl is the phrase my husband and I use for massaging the clit. It can be of the masturbatory variety or partnering. “Honey, would you like me to polish your pearl in the morning?” or “Did you polish your pearl while I was at work?” YES and I sure did! A tongue can also polish the pearl and that is what brings me to this particular blog.
A young male friend of mine asked me for advice about good techniques for going down on a woman. What follows is what I said to him: Continue reading
I’ve been protecting myself. And in a place of self-protection, I can’t create, I can’t be vulnerable, I can’t be empathic to my characters. It’s not that the story isn’t there or that I’m stuck. I’m not. The truth is I don’t feel like writing another book. My heart hurts.
I’m a pretty intelligent sort and I know with all creative endeavors there are critics. So it would be beyond stupid of me to expect none. What I didn’t expect was mean. I have never written a mean review in my life because I know that if a story or a piece of art isn’t for me, it just isn’t. I don’t have to bash and shame and degrade other writers or artists. I don’t even have to understand their point.
Right now I’m exhausted and I’m pissing and moaning. Please forgive me. I’m just tired of pushing so hard. I wish I had the self-esteem of my husband (an enviable trait) because then I’d just brush off any negative review and focus on the abundance of positive ones. I’d persevere. And I will. I’ll get back to it. I’ll come out of hiding and let my guard down again, soon.
I’m in limbo waiting to see what happens with Bittersweet Deceit coming out August 5th. Then I will decide if I want to continue chasing the dream full-time.
I just finished watching Brené Brown: Why Your Critics Aren’t The Ones Who Count:
She makes an interesting point, well several, but the one I’m pointing out is about courage. She says it’s an important value to hold. Am I courageous? Sometimes I am. I think what I need more is tenacity.
Brené shared on her video my favorite quote of all time:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
Maybe I need to read the quote every single day! One hundred days in a row!
Make sure to check out the video above. It was a good reminder to me that only the courageous persevere.
Warm hugs,
Blakely
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Hi to all my lovely readers,
I’m featured on another blog called The Sassy Pen. Check out my interview and spotlight. There are more questions past the blurbs for each book, so make sure to scroll down.
I’ll soon have another cover to add to the list.
I have a cover reveal coming up on July 14th and a release blast August 5-7 for Bittersweet Deceit. If you’d like to participate (review copies available) you can sign up HERE. I’m also accepting donations for my celebration giveaway. If you’d like to donate, you can sign up HERE.
I won’t be posting author interviews for the months of July and August. We plan to be spending a lot of time up at the lake where we don’t have WiFi. The interviews will resume September 5th.
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. I’m actually sporting a tan!
Warm hugs,
Blakely
Please feel free to friend me on Facebook.
Find me Twitter & Pinterest.
Amazon
Goodreads
Please give a warm welcome to Eleanor Green, author of Torn.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
Hi there! I’m Eleanor Green and I’ve recently released Torn, a New Adult Romance!
Has a dream every inspired any of your stories?
Yes! I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but I have crazy-ass dreams! Some are worth writing down, others have me guessing, Why did I just dream that Patrick Dempsey was seducing me in a booth while I interviewed someone for a job? I don’t even find him attractive. What the hell did I eat last night? Continue reading
Please give a warm welcome to Cynthia Sax, author of Flashes of Me.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
Hi! (waves) I’m Cynthia Sax and I write contemporary, SciFi and paranormal erotic romances. My latest release is Flashes of Me, a 200 page contemporary erotic romance published with Avon. This is a modern twist on Beauty and the Beast with one very hunky head of cyber security and a beautiful yet secretive young intern.
What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
Flashes Of Me, my most recent release, is a contemporary erotic romance. I love the purism of contemporary as much of the focus is on the characters. I don’t have to explain how a modern door works. (grins) I also write SciFi and paranormal erotic romances. That’s where I have fun with the big world building. Continue reading
I’ve written a blog about kissing in the past and once again I feel inspired by the topic. A guy friend recently asked me if I thought kissing was a behavior that a person could learn to do better. I don’t exactly believe the old adage that practice makes perfect but I definitely believe that the more you do something, the better you get. Continue reading
Please give a warm welcome to Deanndra Hall, author of The Celtic Fan. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to chat with her and I know you will find her to be another accessible author.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I’m a hard-working author living out my dream here in far western Kentucky with my partner of 30+ years and three crazy miniature dachshunds. I’m currently promoting my newest book, The Celtic Fan.
What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
I write in both the erotic romance and erotica genres. This summer I’ll be starting a new series that will be a paranormal romance and it’ll be unlike anything I’ve seen. I’m looking forward to that. Continue reading
I must start out with a great big thank you to each and every person who has taken the time to read my books and review my novels. Believe it or not, the amount of reviews someone has on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other sites impacts the books visibility and promotions from those venues. So posting a review makes a vast difference.
Hugest hugs go to those who have purchased my novels and then tell their friends about them. Especially in the realm of indie erotica, word of mouth has the largest effect. Continue reading
Please give a warm welcome to Evi Asher, Author of the Eternals Series: Burning Ember, Burning to Ashes, & Forever Burning.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I’ve got three projects running at the moment. The Eternals Series—The first miniseries in that is out, The Burning Mini. A YA book called More Things in Heaven and Earth, and a new series entitled Echelon that will be a bit of a post-apocalyptic paranormal romance series.
What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
I love Paranormal-Romance, but I do write other genres, Young Adult being my second favorite.
Who or what inspires you?
In one word: EVERYTHING. It could be a line in a movie, or a song on the radio or a dream. My inspiration comes from all around me.
Has a dream every inspired any of your stories?
Oh yes, the young adult book I’m working on More things in Heaven and Earth is based on a dream I had when I was a teenager, that I never forgot.
Do you have an agent and/or publisher or are you self-published? If self-published, do you use a professional editor? If traditionally published, who is your publisher?
I have a publisher. I work with Extasy Books. They are fantastic.
Do you use test readers? If so, how many?
I don’t have “test readers” as much as I have a writing circle. It’s a small circle, only four of us, but they do read my work, or bounce ideas off each other.
What advice do you have for writer’s just starting out?
Don’t give up! (and I can’t stress that enough) That is the thing that kills more writing careers than anything else. Keep trying no matter how many rejections you get. If they (the publisher) address the rejection to you personally instead of “Dear Author” count it as a win, and keep going.
Do you set writing goals and if so, what are they?
Yes I do, I try and write a minimum of 1250 words a day. Life gets in the way and I have many other things, but there are days that I have written 5k or more.
Do you outline your stories or just go with the flow?
Outline and then some. I start with what I call “the bones” it’s the skeleton, the base story idea and where I want it to go. Then I do chapter breakdowns, but I don’t let it stifle me, if I come up with a good idea while I’m writing, I’ll go with it.
What does your writing space look like?
PINK haha, I have a small desk and everything is organized. Pink makes me happy so it’s my dominant color.
What project are you currently working on?
I’m currently writing Book 6 in the Eternals series.
Is being an author your dream job? If so, how long have you been chasing the dream? If not, what would be your dream job?
Yes, I’ve wanted to be a writer my whole life. To be a published author is a dream come true for me.
What book are you currently reading?
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher. It’s part of the Dresdan Files. I love Harry Dresdan.
What has been your best moment as a writer?
When my EIC contacted me to get my series title so she could send me my contract. It was payoff for a heap of hard work
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m a mom and wife, but that’s my other day (night 24/7 ) job. I love crafts, I knit and cross stich and sew teddy bears (of all things)
How much time a day do you spend on social media?
About 2 hours a day, maybe more.
I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share who you recommend for us to check out. Bridgitte Lesley
You can find Evi on her website, Facebook, Facebook page, and Twitter.