Danger: Women Writing

Okay I have winners and let me just say, so fun to read through everyone’s ideas on books to film. I love the JB Robb series idea with Teo Lione. I love the idea of The Fae series too from Moning. I sort  of see Buffy in that character a lot. Love Monings Fae series. And I am a huge Kenyon fan. Could they find guys hot enough to play those Hunters?

But onward — the winners!

Karin

Crystal GC

RachieG — I think– I can’t read my own writing here! I think I got that right.

Email me your addressed to lisarenjones@aol.com

Thanks for playing with me!

I love movies, television shows, and books! I think it’s so cool that Sookie has been so successful on television. I love Sookie! I hear Mary Janice Davidson’s series is becoming a television show in Germany. Very cool! What books do you think would make a great television show or movie? And who would star? I could see Sandra Bullock as Stephanie Plum! What about you?

Tell us what you think! We’ll be drawing for 3 copies of  AWAKENING THE BEAST on Wednesday from all comments!

Lisa

www.lisareneejones.com

www.Faith-Winter.com

I was raised in a house of readers. There were always books at my disposel, and it was no surprise to my parents that I won awards at school for reading the most books, ect… Books are a passion. I love to walk into a bookstore and see the different covers. I love the smell of a book. There’s just something glorious about it.

I love opening a new book and being sucked into a new world. Sometimes the first sentence will grab me and not let go. Sometimes it takes a page or two, but in the end, the author’s do their job. There have even been some books where I was sad they ended. I wasn’t ready to part with the characters, and I wanted more adventures, more of everything. Have you ever read a book like that?

But my favorite part of a book is when the hero and heroine meet. That first scene when they notice each other, and I mean *really* notice each other always gets my heart pounding. The hair, the eyes, the body, the strength and power of the man, the elegance and beauty of a women – how each character notices something different about the other.

That one scene usually sets up the entire book for the h/h. There have been authors that have captured this scene so well that I’ll read it again and again because I cannot resist. It is *that* good.

So what is your favorite part of a book?

hugs,
D
www.DonnaGrant.com

Recently our wonderful moderator at the Dangerous Loop posted this really cute Dog VS Cat journal entry. Then last night someone else posted it on twitter and I got just as a big a kick out of it as before… so I thought I’d post it here… so cute.  Anyone with a cat will especially appreciate this I do believe!

Oh and want to join the Dangerous Loop? Send a blank email to Dangerouswomen-subsccribe@yahoo.com — lots of fun weekly giveaways and book chat!

		Dobi Age: 11 weeks
EXCERPTS FROM A DOG’S DIARY Day number 180 8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE! 10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE! 4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE! Day number 181 8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE! 10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE! 4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE! Day number 182 8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE! 10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE! 1:30 pm – ooooooo. bath. bummer. 4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE EXCERPTS FROM A CAT’S DIARY DAY 752 – My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture…Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant. DAY 761 – Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors,I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair…must try this On their bed. DAY 765 – Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was… Not working according to plan. DAY 768 – I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called “shampoo.” What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only consolation is the piece of thumb still LODGED between my teeth. DAY 771 – There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event, however, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call “beer.” More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of “allergies.” Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage. DAY 774 – I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and he speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my activities. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time… -Author Unknown

Ever heard of the mushroom effect? Those of you who’ve ever renovated a house know exactly what I mean. You start a modest project, like caulking around the kitchen sink, and you decide hmmm, you could use a new sink. So you hunt one up (in my case on Craigslist because the prices of new sinks just about leave you gasping on the floor from sticker shock ) and are about to install it when you think, well, the garbage disposal has been acting up so why not go all out? So you watch Ebay like a hawk and get an outstanding deal on a new one, and are all ready to install both sink and disposal when you realize the old faucet looks really tacky on that shiny new sink, and… Well, you get the idea. The whole project just mushrooms until you end up with a new sink, faucet, disposal, granite countertops, glassfront cupboards, ceramic floors, and why not a new dishwasher while you’re at it?


Anyway. This summer my sons and I have been renovating an old handyman special house which they acquired to live in while attending college. If I hadn’t had 3 books due I would have been in hog heaven. I absolutely love power tools and building things. But my sons…yeah, not so much. There have been times when I’ve actually wondered if aliens dropped them on my doorstep because they are so different from me. Good thing there’s a strong family resemblance. Anyway, so it’s been a real education for them to get their hands dirty (with blisters!) doing such things as major demolition, ripping out floors and walls, framing in basements, laying tile, drywalling, putting in cabinets, and painting up a storm.


At the beginning of the summer they both thought the project would take a couple of weeks. Ha. I just smiled. It is now September, and we are just starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.


But the experience has been priceless for them. And for me watching them blossom. In June, they were afraid to hammer a nail without me to guide them…and when they did, it usually bent. Three months later, they may not exactly be Joe Fix-Meisters, but they are doing all those handyman things, and doing them pretty darn well. They’ve learned a bit of plumbing, electrical work, tiling and grouting, roofing, closet organizing, painting, gutters, and a myriad other things that will come in handy for the rest of their lives.


But the most important thing they’ve learned through this project? The confidence that they CAN do all that stuff, and a whole lot more. All it takes is the willingness to try…. Three months ago, neither of them would have believed himself capable. Now they both know they can. With any luck, that confidence will translate into other areas of their lives. How cool is that?


So next time you’re facing a seemingly insurmountable task, like, oh, say, writing a book, or even starting to think about writing a book, or a short story, or painting a picture (or a house!) or whatever your particular dream is, remember that important lesson. You’ll learn the most by just going ahead and doing it. Don’t be afraid. Don’t wait. Take it slow and learn as you go. It might not be perfect at first. That’s okay. By the end of the project, you’ll know a whole lot more than you did when you started out. Next time, whatever it is you’re doing will turn out even better.


And eventually, your knowledge and confidence will mushroom into exactly what you’ll need to fulfill your dreams.


So go ahead. Pick up that caulking gun…or pencil. And get to work!


Good Reading!!!
Nina
www.NinaBruhns.com

Hi out there!

Since I have no brilliant blog post idea, I figured I would do a little general writing update. My site and newsletter are very behind because I am getting a new site(2 — one for Faith Winter) and a new blog.  So a general update in the mean time.

Life has been filled with lots of deadlines though I am not complaining. That means I have books to write and though deadlines mean pressure,  I feel blessed to have that pressure. I am trying to get better about attending email and other things while juggling those deadlines. I tend to get in a tunnel zone while in the last two weeks of a deadline — like now!

A few general answers to questions I’ve had:

–Knights of White– when is the next book?

RETURN OF THE BEAST — a short story about a Knight of White is the anthology AWAKENING THE BEAST which will hit shelves in October. After that– it will be a while. I do have Lucian and Rock’s story outlined but I am contracted for back to back Blazes and for my Faith Winter books. I have not contracted for the rest of the Knights stories because of time. I do very much want to write these stories and I WILL. I’ll keep you posted I promise.

-When is the next Underground Guardian book?

There isn’t one. I used a similar premise for my Grand Central Faith Winter books but better! I took the stuff I did right with the Guardians and got rid of what I did wrong to make this new world. If you like the Guardians– you’ll like the Renegades coming in August of 2010 — the new website will be up soon at www.faith-winter.com — there is a blurb for book one up  there now!

Releases for the next few months:

-October — Harlequen AWAKENING THE BEAST ANTHOLOGY

-November – NAL WRAPPED IN SEDUCTION ANTHOLOGY

-December– BLAZE SANTA BABY — this is my favorite contemporary I’ve ever written — love this story!

I can’t seem to insert covers and links — this is a new wordpress format and I don’t understand it:( But the covers and the blurbs are all at my site at www.lisareneejones.com

Also Twitter with me if you get a chance! There is a link to my twitter and my facebook on my front page at my website!

I tried to insert the links but I can’t:(

Lisa

Hi everyone — When I was thinking about my blog post tonight, I realized, at the time, I was jogging and listening to an audio book on my ipod. What a perfect subject to talk about — audio books! While I admit I was resistant to the idea of audio books, my DH adores them. I finally decided to try one. Well. Not so good. Bad narrator. Bad experience. I was not sold at all. I resisted yet again. But months later when I was struggling with deadlines and time to read, I decided to try again. I needed to use times like my jogs, my housework, even my time dozing before sleep to read, or I wasn’t going to get to read at all. And for a writer, this is not a good thing. For a reader, it isn’t either. So I tried again and I am so glad I did. I loved my new book and realized listening to the sample of the book before buying is critical to making a good choice. Now, I’m able to workout, listen to the new book I’ve been dying to read, and still make my deadlines. I really love it. And a good audio book makes my workout go so much faster! Or it SEEMS faster and that is what counts.  But again, narrator matters. I really find that is the ticket to a good experience. My DH chooses his books by his favorite narrators. If he has to choose between certain new releases, the narrator is his deciding factor. He has favorite narrators like one might have favorite actors.  I’m starting to find I do too.

Only one of the books I have written have been made into an audio book and though I have not listened to it, I hear complaints that the narrator was not good. She didn’t get the Hispanic accent at all and readers say she went back and fourth between several accents. That was disappointing because I got hit on reviews, even on amazon, for the audio reader, despite the audio being bought somewhere else.  SO, a good narrator makes a great experience.

If you haven’t tried audio — audible. com has a plan — 1 book a month for $14.95 and a special intro program for only $7.95 for 3 months.  Give it a try. And if you love it let me know!

Oh– and on a side note — new website coming very soon for me with lots of updates. Lisa Renee Jones and  Faith Winter are getting new sites!  I can’t wait!

Cheers everyone!

Lisa

www.lisareneejones.com

The winner of the Dangerous Author goodie bag, a copy of Awakening The Beast (an anthology w/ Dangerous Authors Lisa Renee Jones and Caridad Pineiro) and a copy of Alluring Tales, Hot Holiday Nights w/ Lisa Renee Jones ~~ Sue L Leech

The winner of a copy of Lisa Renee Jones and Caridad Pineiro’s upcoming Nocturne anthology, Awakening The Beast is ~~ Shauna Leigh Atkinson Kemp

The winner of a copy of Debra Webb’s July Intrigue, Small Town Secrets, is ~~ Lyra Rose

And the winner of Faeries Gone Wild, Michele Hauf’s recent St. Martin’s anthology, is ~~ Cynthia Gander

Congrats, ladies!! And be sure to join the Dangerous Authors on their Yahoo loop for more chance to WIN!!

Please email Melissa with your snail mail addy so I can get your prizes out to you!!

Monday is the deadline for friending Dangerous Women on Facebook!!

Those of you who are already on Facebook, are entered. But if you send someone to friend Dangerous Women, and let us know about it on the loop, you’ll be entered again!!

And some lovely prizes are hanging out there ~~ a Dangerous Women goodie package, a few Dangerous Author books…So sign up at http://www.facebook .com/pages/Dangerous-Women/81689670785.

Oh, and did I mention I have copies of Caridad and Lisa’s upcoming Nocturne antho, Awakening The Beast? Yup, we’ll pick one winner to have that in their hot little hands before it’s out.

How about a copy of Debra Webb’s Small Town Secrets? Or Michele Hauf’s Fairies Gone Wild??

So friend away, and send your friend to friend Dangerous Women, and then let us know by posting here.

Lisa Renee Jones will pick winners on Monday to be announced here and on the reader loop!!

As you may have noticed yesterday, one of the prizes was a digital download of “After The Kiss” my latest release, which is sort of a companion short story to Moon Kissed. It revisits the hero and heroine six months after they fell happily ever after. [Click on links to read first chapters from both books.]

I did something a little different with this short story. Actually, I didn’t purposefully set out to do it, it just sort of happened. I wrote it in first person, from both the hero and heroine’s POV. I’ve written one other story (Getaway Girl) where the heroine was in first and the villain/hero was in third. In this new story, both characters wanted to be heard from, in their own particular manner.

On another loop we’ve been discussing the readers’ likes and dislikes for first person. The majority, it seems, don’t really care for first. They like the immediacy, the being inside the person’s head, but they want to see more than just that one person’s POV. I can understand that. Especially in romance, it is important we get inside both the hero and heroine’s head. We may identify with the heroine (if we are girls; boyz, you can identify with the hero) but we can handle being inside a man’s head, and want to know what he’s thinking as he’s falling in love.

So let’s chat Point Of View today. Do you absolutely abhor first for romances? What if both characters were given a POV in first, would that be cool? What about mixing POVs? One person in first, another in third. Or how about the all-seeing omniscient?

What are some examples of great first POV you’ve read lately?
Michele