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[Books] [Coming Soon] [Contests] [Free Stuff] [Links] [Meet Mary] [Newsletter] [New Releases] [Podcasts] [Home] |
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AppearancesCheck out my chat loop and publisher loops! Nothing "officially" scheduled. Other InfoBooks available from Changeling Press Books available from Ellora's Cave Books available from Samhain Publishing To subscribe to my monthly newsletter please send an email or visit my newsletter page for alternative methods of joining. To subscribe to my chat loop please send an email or visit the group site.
Reviews"The storyline was pure reading heaven..." - Talia Ricci, Joyfully Reviewed, for Riding Partner "This
novella is an erotic romance and delivers on both counts - it is quite romantic
and is full of some hot bed play." Marina, Cupid's Library Reviews for Revealing
Photos " UNDER HER SKIN is so much more than a wonderful romance, it’s
a lesson in love and acceptance. It is an experience not to be missed."
Recent Posts
Writing Wednesday: Scruff your inner editor Sexy Feet - Some Thoughts on Cover Art Writing Without Distractions Writing Wednesday: Is it really work? Marketing Monday: Code Everything You Send Finding Your Bliss...Bears? Writing Wednesday: Writer's Organizations Make A Difference Monday: Get out of the Box My March 2008 newsletter is out! New Release - Mission: Carnal (Live Action Hero 1)
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Aside from the obvious (computer, word processor, printer, etc.) there are a few tools that I think are indispensable to writers. So, I thought I'd spend my writing Wednesday talking about them. Stamps.com - Now, I live within three miles of a post office. I go there every day to check my mail. I still find the monthly fee for Stamps.com worth it. Why? First off, I don't have to stand in line waiting to get postage for my packages. And, since I send out contest prizes, have a home based business, and a healthy ebay habit, well, let's just say that they know me at the post office. :) Plus, I can print out stamps when needed. They have tracking codes and at the end of each month I get a report emailed to me of how much postage I spent. No more trying to keep track of a million little USPS receipts. And, if I want to prepare something to ship at midnight I can. A Fax Machine - I don't use it very often, but it sure comes in handy. I bought a basic personal plain paper fax off of ebay for about $30.00. Works perfect for me. I can fax in contract signature pages, and I use it for my business. Some computers also come with fax capabilities as well. Those are my big two. What do you think are indispensable items in your office?  
http://www.transafricaforum.org/documents/HurricaneRelief.pdf Networks such as The Weather Channel, while very informative at times, also has the bad habit of making major weather events such as Hurricane Dean look like an action film. Intrepid reporters (stupid weathermen with a death wish) stand out in hurricane force winds and shout things like "it's sure windy out here." or "I just saw a tree come down." Well, duh people!!! Seriously. I've heard some Floridians talk about Jim Cantorre, and believe me, what they had to say wasn't nice. When it comes to tropical storms and hurricanes in the US we know what resources are available. After all, the news is filled with "disaster declarations," pictures of the Red Cross helping victims, and insurance companies surveying the damage. That keeps us informed. And, when there is a storm, such as Tropical Storm Erin, that does make US landfall, we need to give to our time and money to those organizations as well. However, I posted the link above, because it gives 4 pages of various relief organizations that work in the Caribbean (and elsewhere). With Jamaica, the Grand Cayman islands, and Mexico all seeing major to catastrophic damage from Hurricane Dean, this week I thought I'd highlight some of the organizations that will be in to assist those countries. Time. Money. Goods. Even prayers. They're all welcome, and they all make a difference.
As writers there are certain things we're told me must do. We must be prolific. We must put out lots of books. We must satisfy our readers. We must promo. The lists go on and on. With most writers having a full-time job and a family, the time for the musts gets awfully short, and if we're doing all of the things we "must" do, then when are we writing? It can lead to burnout. I'll admit to dealing with a certain amount of "must"-hood. Do this. Do that. Frankly, I was running in fifty directions at once, burning the candle in both ends, and still not feeling as if I were making any headway. And truth be told, I wasn't happy. Frustrated, stressed, I was many things, but not happy. Until I decided to simplify. Those in the environmental community are familiar with the adage: live simply so that others may simply live. It's true. Very true. And so simplifying life is something that I firmly believe we all ought to strive for. But more importantly, live simply so that YOU may simply live. I think if we all thought back and wondered when was the last time we took time to enjoy the sunset, or watch a robin hopping across your front yard, we all could admit it probably was far too long ago. While I'm speaking to my fellow writers, I could just as easily be talking to anyone. Please, for your sake, for your children's sake, simplify your life. Do you have to do one more promo? Do you have to write just one more page? If it makes you happy, then by all means DO IT. But if it doesn't, if it stresses you out, then don't. It's a lesson I'm still learning. But one, I believe is well-worth the learning. You see... It's okay if I don't blog everyday. I blog a few times a week, and of course when there's news, and I hope (oh boy do I hope) that my dear readers are okay with this. I know I sure am. :) It's okay that I only chat on a few loops, and even then when the day job and time permits. I love you all dearly. I wish I had more time to chat. I don't. And that's okay right now. It's okay that I've slowed down to savor the stories. (Yes, dear editors, I really have slowed down, LOL!!!!) It's okay that I'm spending some of my writing time working on my metaphysical non-fiction, which I'm passionate about. It's okay to spend an hour or so on the couch with a good book, simply recharging. I'd love to hear from anyone, writer or not, what have you done to simplify your life... what are YOU okay with?
http://www.hsus.org/horses_equines/ It's hot and humid here in Iowa. We've gotten some rain, and my yard, as well as Fortune's pasture is turning lush and green again. But there are parts of the country (the Southeast, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas) that haven't been so lucky. Hay prices are soaring. Horse owners with no money to buy hay are simply turning their horses loose. In our state and national legislatures battles over horse slaughter, and what would happen should that outlet for unwanted horses be taken away, continue. Wild horses are taken off their lands in numbers that will make future herds less genetically diverse. Animal cruelty cases continue. I can't watch Animal Cops without crying some nights to think that people would be so cruel and heartless as to starve or mutilate their pets. This post isn't meant to depress you. Believe me, that's not my intent. But more, to let you know there are things you can do. The Humane Society of the United States, Hooved Animal Humane Society, Friends of Ferdinand, and many other organizations work tirelessly to improve the conditions for all animals. So what can you do today? Click on the link above. Read a bit. If you feel so moved, write your senators or your congressmen (or women). If you can, donate money, goods, time, etc. And simply be aware. And, if like me, you have an equine in your life, the next time you see them give them a pat on the neck and an extra carrot. Because that, too, is a way to make a difference in the life of one creature.
 Title: Under Her Skin Genre/Line: Paranormal/Gods and Goddesses Author: Mary Winter Author URL: http://www.marywinter.com/ Release Date: August 7, 2007 Publisher: Loose Id Publisher URL:http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=520 Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved. Blurb: A wilted flower never gets sent. A scarred woman never finds love. Ari intimately knows these two truths. She works as a florist. Her job is to create beauty. But a horrible car accident left her permanently scarred. She’s buried herself in her work and stayed too busy to think about her lonely nights and empty heart. A trip to Greece changes her life forever. When Ari falls asleep in the ruins of an ancient temple, she dreams of a place where her outside is as beautiful as her inside. It’s just a dream, but even so they wake the Greek God of healing, Asclepius. It’s been so long since anyone has prayed to him, and he knows he’s just the man to give Ari everything she desires. He takes mortal form and comes to her with only one goal: to show her she’s as beautiful as her floral arrangements. Her tears woke him. His love will show her beauty’s true meaning. For an excerpt, please visit either my website or the Loose Id purchase page. Visit them both! They offer two different excerpts! There's also an excerpt in my August newsletter (different from the previous two!)
Since they moved our garbage days with a new provider, and it's time to put the recycling bin and the garbage can on the curve tonight, thought I'd use a subject that's near and dear to my heart for today's "Make a Difference Monday." If you live in a community that has a curbside recycling program and you're not taking advantage of it, WHY THE HECK NOT? On our nightly walks around the trailer court, when it's garbage night I am completely dismayed by the sheer numbers of people who don't have recycling bins on their curb. Hopefully since we got new bins along with uniform garbage cans, more people will recycle. But in case you need a little persuasion, here are a few facts (taken from http://www.dosomething.org)
Those who don't recycle claim it's "too messy" or it "takes too much time." Um, it's just as easy to toss that water bottle in the recycling bin as the trash can. And now, most places don't make you take the labels off. (I do for a little free stress relief.) You could toss that tin can in the trash, or rinse it out and toss it in the recycling bin. Need to wash out all those yogurt containers? Do it with your regular dishes. Flattening boxes saves space and enables you to recycle them. So what can you do today? Go recycle something! And save a tree! Buy an ebook! (grin!)
Since I write romance novels, it seems natural to equate the start of a new project with the rush that comes with falling head-over-heels in love. Most writers I know, myself included, work in cycles. We do the work of putting out a raw draft. Type. Type. Type. Type. Then we spend several weeks, or even a few months, doing revisions, edits, and planning the next project (or not so much planning). When that's done, we go back to writing again. I'm in the starting writing part of that cycle. After spending several months finishing up edits (you'll see those books release the remainder of this year) and working on planning, I'm now writing several projects at once. I'm a busy gal. I like to write three or four different things at once. With a plot and a "to do" list, I find it keeps me from stalling out. Those projects I've started without any idea where I'm going...well....they're not going so far or so fast. Staring a new novel is like that first date. It's a little exciting, more than a little scary, and you're hoping that everything lives up to your expectations. For me, I've spent a few weeks, maybe even months mulling over the idea. I have a plot. A point-by-point outline, where sometimes the characters throw me for a loop. And sometimes, as in the project I've just started, with all this in place and simmering, like a good soup it all comes together and the opening just rolls from the muse to my fingers to the page. I hope your muses come out and play today.
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