Not Quite Random Thoughts

I started out to write a few seemingly disjointed thoughts that have been on my mind, but a funny thing happened on the way to the blog - I realized that they're really all kind of connected. So bear with me please.

I've been reading Cat Lindler's Kiss of a Traitor after reading about it on Romance University last week in an article entitled Revolutionary Heroes: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Kiss of a Traitor reminds me of the kind of lush historical romances I cut my teeth on and which have been in short supply in recent years. I've always loved reading and writing Revolutionary War stories but anytime I mentioned that interest to an agent or an editor, I was told quite bluntly that there was no market for them. Another recent post on Romance U had an agent commenting that she'd heard of agents and publishers not even willing to look at historicals set in America. Yet Medallion Press took a chance on Cat's book which drew rave reviews and Wild Rose Press has an American Rose line. Hmmmmmm.

That got me to wondering. How many readers are there who would love to read other settings or themes but have had to settle for whatever the big publishers decided was marketable? I'm not denying that Regency England may have a larger market interest share than Revolutionary War America but does it have to be exclusive? The current glut of vampire romances or paranormal romantic suspenses being published at the expense of other types of novels are another example. And remember when all anyone wanted was chick lit?

All of this makes me think of how cable revolutionized the television industry. Which also makes me wonder - is the ability to fill this kind of need for individual interest a way small presses or epublishers will change publishing?

Earlier today, I stumbled upon Joe Konrath's blog - Publishers + Ebooks = Epic Fail which is basically an analysis of his ebook versus print book sales.

If you haven't read it yet, check it out. I don't have the background to know if his argument holds water, but it was fascinating reading given what else was on my mind.

Many of Joe's comments about the future of epublishing are hardly unique, but he does give an interesting financial analysis from an author's point of view. I don't think he ever addressed the idea that his name being established by print publishers puts him in a different league from the ordinary person trying to self publish, but the whole idea is interesting anyway.

I'm sure none of these thoughts or questions is particularly new or insightful but they've been circling in my brain lately so I decided to throw them out there. I have no crystal ball to tell me the future of publishing, but I'm interested to hear any thoughts you may have on how changes in the industry may impact you as both a reader and a writer.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Sun Glorious Sun

The rain is GONE!

I should have updated earlier but the past two days have been glorious and since I'm on break, I've spent long hours in the park with the dog. It's a tossup which one of us is more exhausted. He's asleep on the sofa as I type.

Days in the park aren't a total writing washout. Soaking up the sun is inspirational and ideas seem to waft on the breeze. I brought my iPod and was able to jot notes while the dog rolled in the grass.

On to a more serious writing note - I'm at a crossroads. The WIP had been giving me problems so I decided to take out an old favorite to prod my writing brain. Reading it made me fall in love with my characters all over again. Some of the writing was frighteningly bad; the headhopping had me dizzy. But I love the story.

So now I'm tempted to play with both stories at the same time. On the surface that sounds like a bad idea - and a confusing one. I think it's really good though. That story was one I loved writing. I know it inside out and can play with it to strengthen the structure and the craft. And hopefully, working on something fun will get me out of the rut I'm in on the new story.

We'll see.

Rainy Days and Mondays

It's raining again - and will be for the next few days.

I was talking to my daughter today about how sometimes the weather just gets us down. The conversation reminded me of this song. Amazing that I still remember all the lyrics.

Hope the weather where you are is better.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This is one of my most favorite Irish songs. The lyrics get me every time.


Nothing matters, Mary when you're free.
Against the famine and the crown I rebelled, they cut me down,
Now you must raise our child with dignity.



A few months ago my husband and I visited the Irish Hunger Memorial in lower Manhattan.
It's extraordinarily touching in its simplicity. So stark against the Manhattan backdrop.







A friend sent this to me so I pass it on.

The Lure of a New Story aka Confession time

I've never been a fishing person, but I understand about lures. They're shiny and colorful and they make you want something that may not be good for you.

The lure of food that is not healthy, the lure of staying up all night reading, the lure of the bookstore. The lure of a new story idea.

The reading lure is my hardest to avoid, but today I'm working on resisting the lure of a new story. A shiny, golden, promising new idea that doesn't have the plot problems or the pacing difficulties of the story I'm working on now.

This new idea is like an unexpected present. It sparkles and tempts. It has no sagging middle or inconclusive end. It has only the bright promise of something fun and exciting to explore. It's Eve's apple and it's Pandora's box.

According to Dictionary.com, ambush is a synonym for lure. Exactly! I feel like I've been ambushed by this lovely new story. She beckons, she tempts. It would be so easy...

Another synonym for lure is sitting duck.




According to UsingEnglish.com sitting duck means something or someone that is easy to criticise or target. Yup, that's my poor WIP. The target of all my frustration and angst. The old story looks tawdry compared to the bright shiny new thing. It's novelty has worn thin and it's trouble more often than fun. It's work. Not like the new idea that invites me to play.

How is a writer to resist?

It's really all about self-discipline. I'm not good with self-discipline when it's about self-imposed work ethics. If I had a professor awaiting a paper or an editor awaiting the book, I'd have someone else imposing a deadline. As it is, I'm accountable only to myself. A VERY bad thing. I have no willpower when it comes to doing something that's only for me. None, Nada, Zilch.


Well, maybe a smidgen. That's why I'm writing this blog rather than the new story. If I promise - in public to hold off writing the new story - at least until summer - maybe I can make myself stay the course for the current book.

I'll let you know how it goes.

But what about you? How do you stay on course? What allows you to resist the lure of a shiny new idea and work on polishing the tarnished, shabby WIP into something magnificent?

Or are you one of those people who's just not tempted?

Proctor and Gamble gets me again

I blogged the other day about the Olympic commercials, but then I saw a new one.




I guess it's no surprise that Proctor and Gamble, the company that gave soap operas their name, should be so good at tugging on the heartstrings.

You'll Never Walk Alone is one of my favorite songs. It always brings back memories of warm summer evenings at the beach - back when the Jones Beach Theater did summer musicals.

When I heard the song this time, I wasn't thinking of summer nights or even the Olympics.
I was feeling the wonderful comraderie of writer friends and realizing that we're never really alone in this journey to publication because there are so many wonderful people offering of themselves whether it be sharing a strategy or lending a shoulder.

Thank you to all my writer friends.


There are so many reasons to be thankful to friends - old and new - but I was recently reading something about the 2008 RWA Conference in SF and it reminded me of my very first National - also in SF - but way back in 1990. I was a newbie on the scene - knew literally no one - but I was welcomed with open arms by complete strangers. Those generous writers shared their knowledge their friendship - and their dinner table. I was grateful then and I still am today.

If you happen to drop by today - or a month from now - please share stories of how someone has helped you along the way.