Lisa and I are delighted you joined the L&L Dreamspell team! Thanks for participating in our new author group blog. It's always exciting to work on a new project, and I thoroughly enjoyed creating a very special cover for your wonderful new book Journey of the Spirit.
Anyone who'd like to find out more about the book should follow this link to the L&L Dreamspell website page for Journey of the Spirit -- http://www.lldreamspell.com/JourneyoftheSpirit.html
Once again, welcome aboard!
Linndah aka Linda Houle
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
A journey worth taking
When I was twelve, I read a book about Crazy Horse. That was too many year ago to mention. From that moment on, I wanted to write--but not write just anything, I wanted to write a book about Crazy Horse. My problem, I didn't know how, and I wanted to write one where people could not only learn about the history, they could enjoy it, too.
Years after reading the first Crazy Horse book, I read a novel by Ester Forbes titled, Johnny Tremain. I loved the book and it introduced me to two things: the term historical fiction, and a way I could write my story of Crazy Horse.
Again, I had a problem. I liked him, but sure didn't know enough about him or his people to write a book. I used my skills as a historian and investigator from a previous life...:) and began researching Crazy Horse and the Lakota.
This research took me many, exciting places. Ten years later, I still conducted research and hadn't written one single page on the book. I visited every single battlefield a couple of times--every museum, reservation, and talked to thousands of Lakota. I browsed dusty archives, talked to the curators, and walked the places I knew Crazy Horse had. Oh yeah, in the process, I also learned to speak the language.
When I started my journey to learn, I sought people who I thought were in the know. I am now in a position when people need information about Crazy Horse, the Lakota, the battles, I am the one they contact. I still hadn't written a page.
That was soon to stop. I sat down and wrote the book. I can't explain to you how it felt to finally finish that darn book. Bestseller and movie deals swam in my dreams. Riches beyond my wildest dreams clogged my thoughts.
Of course, when I was twelve, none of this mattered. I just wanted to write the book.
I started submitting my masterpiece and the rejections rolled in. This, I couldn't understand. Why didn't these people want a book that would rival Gone with the Wind?
I didn't know why. All I knew is, they didn't want it. I sat my book up and didn't touch it for a year, then got it out. In that time, I began to learn how to write. When I picked my manuscript up, I found out something. That had to be the worst book ever written in history. Hey, a normal book like this is between 80-100,000 words. Mine was only 190,000 spots of dribble.
I re-wrote and re-wrote it, and sat it aside another year, and got it out and re-wrote it again, and then I edited.
When I last edited it, I knew then, that the book was ready. Before I didn't know enough to know if it was ready.
They say that all things have a purpose. Now, just think, if someone had taken the book the first time, things would not have been in place. Those things I talk about are Lisa and Linda at L&L Dreamspell. Yes, my publishers.
Now, the book isn't perfect, but I can't tell you how excited I am about it, but I do think I found the perfect publisher for it.
Is it the next Gone with the Wind? Probably not. It is a book someone's teenager can pick up and enjoy, pass it to their dad. He reads it, and likes it so much, he passes it on to mom. She is so excited about it, she tells her friends, and the cycle continues.
Now, you might ask, is this book that good? I have a simple answer, yes.
Years after reading the first Crazy Horse book, I read a novel by Ester Forbes titled, Johnny Tremain. I loved the book and it introduced me to two things: the term historical fiction, and a way I could write my story of Crazy Horse.
Again, I had a problem. I liked him, but sure didn't know enough about him or his people to write a book. I used my skills as a historian and investigator from a previous life...:) and began researching Crazy Horse and the Lakota.
This research took me many, exciting places. Ten years later, I still conducted research and hadn't written one single page on the book. I visited every single battlefield a couple of times--every museum, reservation, and talked to thousands of Lakota. I browsed dusty archives, talked to the curators, and walked the places I knew Crazy Horse had. Oh yeah, in the process, I also learned to speak the language.
When I started my journey to learn, I sought people who I thought were in the know. I am now in a position when people need information about Crazy Horse, the Lakota, the battles, I am the one they contact. I still hadn't written a page.
That was soon to stop. I sat down and wrote the book. I can't explain to you how it felt to finally finish that darn book. Bestseller and movie deals swam in my dreams. Riches beyond my wildest dreams clogged my thoughts.
Of course, when I was twelve, none of this mattered. I just wanted to write the book.
I started submitting my masterpiece and the rejections rolled in. This, I couldn't understand. Why didn't these people want a book that would rival Gone with the Wind?
I didn't know why. All I knew is, they didn't want it. I sat my book up and didn't touch it for a year, then got it out. In that time, I began to learn how to write. When I picked my manuscript up, I found out something. That had to be the worst book ever written in history. Hey, a normal book like this is between 80-100,000 words. Mine was only 190,000 spots of dribble.
I re-wrote and re-wrote it, and sat it aside another year, and got it out and re-wrote it again, and then I edited.
When I last edited it, I knew then, that the book was ready. Before I didn't know enough to know if it was ready.
They say that all things have a purpose. Now, just think, if someone had taken the book the first time, things would not have been in place. Those things I talk about are Lisa and Linda at L&L Dreamspell. Yes, my publishers.
Now, the book isn't perfect, but I can't tell you how excited I am about it, but I do think I found the perfect publisher for it.
Is it the next Gone with the Wind? Probably not. It is a book someone's teenager can pick up and enjoy, pass it to their dad. He reads it, and likes it so much, he passes it on to mom. She is so excited about it, she tells her friends, and the cycle continues.
Now, you might ask, is this book that good? I have a simple answer, yes.
Ninth Lord of the Night Coming Soon!
Think the Maya Gods are Dead and Buried? Think again...
L&L Dreamspell is excited to announce the upcoming Action -- Suspense novel Ninth Lord of the Night by Diana L Driver -- due for publication in early 2007.
Diana has officially joined the "Dream Team" of talented authors at L&L Dreamspell -- this book is the first of her many projects due out this year.
L&L Dreamspell is set to publish several anthologies in the first half of 2007, including Mystery of the Green Mist -- a mainstream mystery story collection -- which will include one of Diana's stories.
Also forthcoming is a group anthology from The Final Twist -- the Houston, Texas chapter of the national organization Sisters in Crime. Diana L Driver, founder of The Final Twist will also have a story in this yet to be titled mystery anthology.
Back to Ninth Lord of the Night -- here is the L&L Dreamspell weblink for the book, and from there you can visit Diana's "Dream Team" web page to read more about this talented writer!
http://www.lldreamspell.com/NinthLordoftheNight.html
Here's the book's back cover material:
Think the Maya gods are dead and buried? Think again... What if they're only sleeping?
Spine tingling action combines with breathtaking suspense in Ninth Lord of the Night. In less than eight hours, seventeen-year-old Zack goes from California, the land of fun and sun, to the third world nation of Guatemala, where his life is changed forever. He expects to be bored, not tangle with murderers and artifact smugglers. He wants to go home, instead he's swept into the world of Mayan myths and legends -- a world that is his to claim if he only has the courage.
Hated by his brother, distrusted by his uncle, and seen as a troublemaker by other members of the archaeological study group, the only person Zack can turn to is the beautiful Maria, a girl fighting the demons of her own heritage.
Driven by unseen forces, Zack must choose to fulfill his destiny -- a destiny he neither wants nor desires -- and go against the vicious smuggler, or resist change and leave things as they are, allowing others to reinvent his character.
Then, he must make the larger decision. Let go of the precious Mayan artifact? Or use it to redeem himself in the eys of his family?
In the steamy jungles of Guatemala, Zack will learn that every choice has consequences, and he won't always get what he wants, but that what he does get is better than anything he ever imagined.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Resolution Time!
Ah yes, the beginning of a brand new year, and time to make some resolutions.
I decided to look up "resolution"--it has several meanings. In this case we are talking about a formal statement expressing will or intent. Yet the word also means the process of resolving and "resolve" means to break up into parts: analyze.
If you are a writer, and you intend to make 2007 a productive year, then perhaps taking your writing tasks and breaking them into smaller parts, then analyzing what you need to do in smaller steps along the way might actually work!
Now I don't mean going totally anal and filling up notebook after notebook with plots and plans and notes. I've been there/done that and trust me, it didn't work--I had a dozen notebooks full of notes and never wrote that particular book...
However, I've been working on some short stories for several upcoming anthology books, and I noticed something interesting about my writing process. For the first story I jotted down one page of notes to myself--about my main characters and their traits, and some of the situations I wanted to use within the story. I wrote that story in less than a week!
The second story, well, I confess--I got lazy and didn't make my scribbled page of notes. Guess what? I've been working on it for several weeks, I'm only at the half-way point, and I'm not sure where the characters are supposed to go or how it's going to end.
The next sound you hear will be me opening up my spiral notebook and scribbling away with my trusty pencil... Check back in a week or two--I'm resolving right now to get that story finished!
Good luck with your resolutions--Linndah
I decided to look up "resolution"--it has several meanings. In this case we are talking about a formal statement expressing will or intent. Yet the word also means the process of resolving and "resolve" means to break up into parts: analyze.
If you are a writer, and you intend to make 2007 a productive year, then perhaps taking your writing tasks and breaking them into smaller parts, then analyzing what you need to do in smaller steps along the way might actually work!
Now I don't mean going totally anal and filling up notebook after notebook with plots and plans and notes. I've been there/done that and trust me, it didn't work--I had a dozen notebooks full of notes and never wrote that particular book...
However, I've been working on some short stories for several upcoming anthology books, and I noticed something interesting about my writing process. For the first story I jotted down one page of notes to myself--about my main characters and their traits, and some of the situations I wanted to use within the story. I wrote that story in less than a week!
The second story, well, I confess--I got lazy and didn't make my scribbled page of notes. Guess what? I've been working on it for several weeks, I'm only at the half-way point, and I'm not sure where the characters are supposed to go or how it's going to end.
The next sound you hear will be me opening up my spiral notebook and scribbling away with my trusty pencil... Check back in a week or two--I'm resolving right now to get that story finished!
Good luck with your resolutions--Linndah
Monday, January 1, 2007
Crazy about Cats?
Want to know what happens when a lonely vampire, searching for a soul mate, gets more than the girl when he finds himself mixed up with jewel thieves at a wild and crazy cat show?
Read The Cat The Canary and The Vampire by Linndah!
Visit the web link below for more information--you can also link from there to Chester the cat's personal web page, and even send him an e-mail...
Sex, Murder, and a Crazy Cat Show
Synchronicity—a Dangerous Love Connection
Sexy celebrity author Andrew Augustine’s book promotional tour was almost over. His last stop—Houston, Texas—the Gladstone Hotel’s Mind and Body Conference. No ordinary man—Andrew was an immortal vampire—constantly on the prowl, always seeking a replacement for his long lost soul mate Samantha.
Devastated from yet another break-up, Valerie Stevenson thought she’d never find her ‘Mr. Right.’ Hopping into her blue sports car with her award winning Selkirk Rex cat, she headed for the Fall Frolic cat show at Houston’s Gladstone Hotel. No idea she was driving into her future—with danger around every curve.
In the middle of everything, Chester the cat took center stage—at the cat show, a jewel heist—even in Valerie’s secret relationship with a tall dark handsome mystery man. Playing around with a vampire was like playing with fire. Would Valerie’s reckless desire lead to her own destruction?
Synchronicity—a Dangerous Love Connection
Sexy celebrity author Andrew Augustine’s book promotional tour was almost over. His last stop—Houston, Texas—the Gladstone Hotel’s Mind and Body Conference. No ordinary man—Andrew was an immortal vampire—constantly on the prowl, always seeking a replacement for his long lost soul mate Samantha.
Devastated from yet another break-up, Valerie Stevenson thought she’d never find her ‘Mr. Right.’ Hopping into her blue sports car with her award winning Selkirk Rex cat, she headed for the Fall Frolic cat show at Houston’s Gladstone Hotel. No idea she was driving into her future—with danger around every curve.
In the middle of everything, Chester the cat took center stage—at the cat show, a jewel heist—even in Valerie’s secret relationship with a tall dark handsome mystery man. Playing around with a vampire was like playing with fire. Would Valerie’s reckless desire lead to her own destruction?
Vampires Are Watching You!
Ready for some action packed Vampire reading?
Get Colin's Conquest by Lisa Rene' Smith!
Eyes. Intense vampire eyes...watching from the woods... Powerful, summoning eyes...
Joanna didn’t know why she felt called into the wilderness. Packing a few things, she headed to her favorite destination, her remote cabin in the east Texas piney woods to enjoy an impromptu vacation, relaxing by the lake. Nearby, a mysterious stranger watched...waited...and planned his ultimate conquest...
Colin, the handsome centenarian vampire knew from the moment he first laid eyes on the lithe young beauty he’d found the perfect mate. The time had come to claim his chosen one...but he didn’t anticipate her feisty nature, and the dangers he’d face in his pursuit. Stubborn and strong, Joanna refused to be taken against her will, yet once bitten, Colin’s hypnotic power permeated her being, causing a love/hate bond that brought about near disaster for both of them.
In the book Colin’s Conquest, Joanna’s struggle to escape her destiny delivers her moments of amazing passion, yet also brings terrifying punishment. The world of the undead is full of surprises, and even the powerful Colin doesn’t realize until almost too late that he isn’t the only member of the ancient blood seeker society who plans to take her as his bride...
Joanna didn’t know why she felt called into the wilderness. Packing a few things, she headed to her favorite destination, her remote cabin in the east Texas piney woods to enjoy an impromptu vacation, relaxing by the lake. Nearby, a mysterious stranger watched...waited...and planned his ultimate conquest...
Colin, the handsome centenarian vampire knew from the moment he first laid eyes on the lithe young beauty he’d found the perfect mate. The time had come to claim his chosen one...but he didn’t anticipate her feisty nature, and the dangers he’d face in his pursuit. Stubborn and strong, Joanna refused to be taken against her will, yet once bitten, Colin’s hypnotic power permeated her being, causing a love/hate bond that brought about near disaster for both of them.
In the book Colin’s Conquest, Joanna’s struggle to escape her destiny delivers her moments of amazing passion, yet also brings terrifying punishment. The world of the undead is full of surprises, and even the powerful Colin doesn’t realize until almost too late that he isn’t the only member of the ancient blood seeker society who plans to take her as his bride...
Red Hot Reading by Linndah!
Start the New Year off with a BANG!
Read Infrared Nights by Linndah...
Sleeping Spirits Just Want to Have Sex—A Ghost Hunter’s Erotic Adventure
A warm August night.
Ghost hunter Amy Thompson prowled dark and mysterious Stonebridge Cemetery, armed with an infrared video camera. Spirits trapped between death and the afterlife waited amongst the tombstones, their chilling presence teased and taunted the blonde beauty—daring the girl to explore her hidden fantasies.
Would the infrared videotape capture a full apparition?
The young woman didn’t remember to ‘be careful what you wish for’ when she invited Robert Marshall’s ghost to rise up from his grave and appear for the camera. Watching Amy and Jeff’s spontaneous erotic fun and games unleashed the restless soul’s carnal cravings—the ghost hunter soon became the hunted.
Spirit communication comes in many strange forms.
Robert’s unending desire haunted Amy, trapping the girl on a sexual roller coaster ride. Dark obsession spun her around dangerous curves and propelled the girl to new heights of pleasure. Would Amy and Jeff’s relationship survive the ordeal of passion and betrayal?
A warm August night.
Ghost hunter Amy Thompson prowled dark and mysterious Stonebridge Cemetery, armed with an infrared video camera. Spirits trapped between death and the afterlife waited amongst the tombstones, their chilling presence teased and taunted the blonde beauty—daring the girl to explore her hidden fantasies.
Would the infrared videotape capture a full apparition?
The young woman didn’t remember to ‘be careful what you wish for’ when she invited Robert Marshall’s ghost to rise up from his grave and appear for the camera. Watching Amy and Jeff’s spontaneous erotic fun and games unleashed the restless soul’s carnal cravings—the ghost hunter soon became the hunted.
Spirit communication comes in many strange forms.
Robert’s unending desire haunted Amy, trapping the girl on a sexual roller coaster ride. Dark obsession spun her around dangerous curves and propelled the girl to new heights of pleasure. Would Amy and Jeff’s relationship survive the ordeal of passion and betrayal?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
