tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21551940545560959372024-03-12T15:31:21.011-07:00The Four Horsewomen of the MetropolisFour New York City Women in search of fame, fortune & the New York Times Best Sellers ListThe 4 Horsewomenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10526256488312592220noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-30349828198320153672013-08-26T20:03:00.000-07:002013-08-26T20:03:25.185-07:00The Lady Wears Multiple Hats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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by F. Leonora Solomon<br />
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My sixth anthology for <a href="http://www.ravenousromance.com/authors/solomon_f_leonora/">Ravenous Romance</a> <a href="http://www.ravenousromance.com/authors/solomon_f_leonora/">HOT SUMMER FLINGS</a> came out this past Friday. This time, I am wearing another hat as an author, my short story, "No Smoking" is part of the anthology. I have blogged before about what it was like for me to embrace the role of editor which was acquired for me much the way I acquire stories. It has become something that feels like a glove for me since words are an addiction for me. Whether it be to edit a story or learn a new language, an addiction. Writing is more like breathing or bleeding for me, so completely necessary to my existence. Yet I had barely written lately, it takes a lot of time to edit. I was constantly working with words, just not my own. Working on my own story was an adventure.<br />
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"No Smoking," was inspired by a peripheral experience I had in Paris. When I write fiction it <i>never </i>has anything to do with anything that has happened to me directly. I a) am not clever enough to write about my reality, b) too private to want to write about it and c) prefer to exploit my imagination--take an idea to the exponential. Reality is weirder than fiction, but I prefer to pull something like a rabbit out of my hat out of my imagination.<br />
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I had been editing so long, I forgot that I can create. I can put my hands on clay and mold something. This story was not overthought. I simply knew it had to be a summer fling, and went with it. Two friends were beta readers and made suggestions. The final piece is something I am pleased with. The entire of this anthology is pleasing, it made for a good summer fling for its editor!<br />
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Who realizes now wearing her hat as an author was not a fling...F. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004042578142133231noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-17228853049118940712013-08-21T10:10:00.001-07:002013-08-21T10:10:17.005-07:00SALE: HOT SUMMER FLINGS!<br />
Del Carmen is happy to report the sale of her new erotica story, "Hot Summer Nights," to Ravenous Romance for their HOT SUMMER FLINGS anthology, edited by F.Leonora Solomon. The book comes out September 2013. Check out its sexy cover.<br />
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Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-62035794567553261872013-07-03T14:14:00.001-07:002013-07-03T14:14:18.934-07:00Are you a Guerilla Writer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apfZI11Lv5s/UdSSzFJGgsI/AAAAAAAAA3M/Jwg4tkGf2eg/s320/gypsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apfZI11Lv5s/UdSSzFJGgsI/AAAAAAAAA3M/Jwg4tkGf2eg/s320/gypsy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Google is in court beating up on the Authors Guild. Apple is in court. Publishers have thrown in the towel in the DOJ case. The world watches as Amazon rules the digital roost. And the Big 6 traditional NYC publishing houses have become the big “5”. Or is it 4? Random House & Penguin are now a publishing conglomerate and everyone is waiting to see what changes are coming from that combo. No doubt about it, though, it will mean less choice for readers. As RH and P combine their imprints, and their philosophies, some more innovative energy may well wane. Tried and true, after all, is what publishing has always been about. They may not be able to pick a bestseller, but they’ll stick with any winning concept until it’s old and gray. Borders is a distant memory. Barnes & Noble is floundering. The “next big thing” is a 21 year old author whose book was first offered up on Wattpad. Self-published authors are reaching the top of the bestseller lists against behemoths like James Patterson. Books are being optioned for television and motion pictures by the handful. I just received a check for a short story. Ah, where to go wild with that $25? On the flip side? Sylvia Day’s got plenty to spend with her recent two book, 8 figure deal with Penguin. From the ridiculous to the sublime.<br />
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But you see, the thing that’s exciting about being an author in this day and age - if you are willing to take leaps of faith, try new paths to publication, and eschew the “RULES” that everyone attempts to throw in your face - is that you have so many ways to be a successful storyteller! I’ll bet any writer you meet, deep down, wants to be a <i>successful</i> writer. No matter what they write, they want to be bought and read – and <i>compensated</i> for their art. There’s probably a couple folk out there willing to write for the mere pleasure of writing, but they are the rarest of birds.<br />
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Being in NYC affords me a wonderful opportunity to watch this industry change. I work in entertainment and media, so I get a lot of news that way, including how the legal industry is changing to accommodate digital, including in the publishing world. [Hint: Copyright change is on the horizon, big time!]. There are industry events held here pretty much on a weekly basis that I can attend. I’m a member of a national writing organization and my NYC chapter is rife with news, and even better, innovative members who are graving this exciting new world with laptops blazing. Social Media is the be all and end all for writers. Conferences abound. Outfits of every ilk to help you write, edit, publish, market, brand are sprouting like weeds.<br />
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Sounds exciting, no? Sounds like there are opportunities for everyone, right? <br />
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So why the long faces, people? Seems like everywhere I turn, some group or another is pissing and moaning. Things should stay the way they were! Aren’t they watching? Nothing can stay the same. Change is inevitable. And you can either embrace it or you’ll be steamrolled over by it, left in the dust. Then there are the other grouches who want the baby thrown out with the bathwater – everything old should be jettisoned. Do everything the new way! But the old models have validity too. And if you don’t want to go with the opinion being espoused? Then you’re considered out of touch or naïve. If you go bold and brazen, the traditionalists think you’re nuts. If you make the choice to remain with the old school models? <i>You’re nuts</i>.<br />
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So, what’s a writer to do? <br />
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Well, here’s my two cents (or rather, given the length of this post, I expect you are suggesting it’s more like a buck fifty, right?). Be a guerilla writer.<br />
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Pay no attention to the proselytizers and the grumpy naysayers. <br />
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Forge your own career path.<br />
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Pursue your dream of publication, be it the first piece ever, or the umpteenth title, exactly as you choose. From start to finish. Don’t like outlining? So don’t do it. Love Scrivener? Use it. You hear that you should stick to a single genre, but you want to spread your imaginative wealth around. Let ‘er rip! Want to see your printed book on a shelf because that is the only way it is “real” to you? Then keep on truckin’ and work til you get there. Think digital first is the coolest thing ever with millions of eager readers just waiting out there to download your story gems? Then go for it! Want to keep every decision in the process yours and only yours? Indie-pub with glee. Think there’s advantages to all of these options? Welcome to the world of hybrid publishing.<br />
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How you reach your goal is not the important thing. What is, is reaching that goal, by any means necessary. The caveat? What does choice demand of you? That you be prepared to roll up your sleeves and sweat blood and tears. Be educated and informed. Be vigilant because your product is all you have. Be hands-on and pro-active. Be prepared to fail, re-strategize and try again. Be realistic and resilient. Be flexible and open to new innovation as well as old methodology. Be constantly aware that being a book author in this day and age means you are 50% author and 50% businesswoman, and in the words of Eloisa James, “the businesswoman comes first”. But above all, be smart. Remember that what works for you is anathema to another author. Your skill set is unique to you and someone else may choose alternate ways because they have a different brace of talents. Be a guerilla writer as you navigate this new publishing jungle. And don’t sneer at that other author or her choices. Instead, cheer each other on. And when you are crossing the finish line with an author who did it her way? Hold hands and smile as you embrace that dream!<br />
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<i>Lise Horton is published in digital erotic romance anthologies. Her upcoming 9/9/13 contemporary release, Words of Lust, will be a digital first erotic romance from Carina Press. And in 2014 she’ll be included in the Cleis Press print anthology, “Slave Girls” with her short story “My Master’s Mark” under her pseudonym, Lydia Hill. She writes in multiple lengths and numerous genres from BDSM erotica to WWII women’s fiction. Yes, she’s doing it her way! Find her at www.lisehorton.com. <br />
</i>lisekimhortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09072878628169741032noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-22593789147362904292013-06-28T14:39:00.000-07:002013-06-28T14:39:31.371-07:00THE BUSINESS WOMAN COMES FIRST<br />
by Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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I went to an RWA/NYC brunch where Eloisa James was the keynote speaker. She quoted Linda Lael Miller, and I still have that quote in my head:<br />
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You are 50% business woman, 50% writer. The business woman comes first!<br />
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Which means that I can’t afford to stay inside my cave, writing away, submitting when I have something, selling, and then retreating back to my writing cave? Those days are over. (If they ever were that easy.)<br />
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Nowadays, a writer must become a people person. And, the best time to start is NOW. This goes double for unpublished authors. Like Eloisa said, start building your platform now. When editors look at you, they will look to see if you have a platform, and the more established that platform – that presence – the better. <br />
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You are a writer. You can’t afford to be shy. Get out of your cave. If you are not doing all or some of the following, then get started.<br />
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• <strong>Join a writers’ group.</strong> You’re ahead of the game since you are a member of RWA/NYC! Now start making friends with your fellow members at the chapter meetings, at the critique group meeting, at the chapter outings.<br />
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• <strong>Make your name known.</strong> Write for the chapter newsletter and blog; sign up for the chapter blog tours. Check to see that your name is included on the chapter membership page with the link back to your website or blog.<br />
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• <strong>Attend readings and writer events.</strong> Like the monthly Lady Jane Salon readings, like NJRW’s annual conference, like the Jefferson Library Romance Book Club meeting. (At the latter, you get to read a romance and make friends. Dual benefit!)<br />
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<strong>• Make friends on the internet.</strong> Setup Facebook and Twitter accounts. If you write under a pseudonym, open the accounts under that name. Like the Lotto’s motto: You have to be in it, to win it. Friend your fellow RWA members, other writers, editors, agents, booksellers. “Share” their info and “retweet” messages. This will send them your name and they may in turn friend/follow you. <br />
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<strong>• Start a blog.</strong> It can be daily, weekly or monthly. Blog about your writing, your characters, your genre, the world you created, and all items related to any of the above. For example, I am writing a secret baby book so I just realized that I should do a “Baby Day” on my blog. Maybe pictures of cute babies, funny kid situations, kid jokes, et al. (NOTE: If you are scared to start a blog or don’t have time to start your own, write for the Chapter Blog!)<br />
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And, like Eloisa James, mentioned you want to “engage” your readers – even your potential readers. Be yourself. Be your writing persona. Be whomever, but be a savvy business woman.♥<br />
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<em>Maria C. Ferrer is President of the Romance Writers of America / New York City chapter. She writers contemporaries under her name and erotica under the name of Del Carmen. Her stories have appeared in</em> Penthouse, Cosmopolitan for Latinas, <em>and</em> Star <em>magazines and have been published by Cleis Press and Ravenous Romance. Visit her at </em><a href="http://www.marializaferrer.blogspot.com/"><em>www.marializaferrer.blogspot.com</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.mydelcarmen.com/"><em>www.mydelcarmen.com</em></a><em>.</em> <br />
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Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-14621668385104772462013-03-04T08:46:00.001-08:002013-03-04T08:46:10.005-08:00GREAT DAMES OF ROMANCE LITERATUREBy Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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<em>March is Women’s History Month and I would like to honor two extraordinary women in romance fiction – </em><br />
<em>Barbara Cartland and Corin Tellado.</em><br />
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<strong>Barbara Cartland</strong><br />
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“Love conquers all” – that was the overall message in each of Barbara Cartland’s numerous romance novels. I devoured them in high school. In fact, my collection was bigger than the local library’s or the bookstore’s. She had her own line of romances -- thin volumes with the most romantic covers imaginable. I read one a day!<br />
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A relative of the late Princess Diana, Barbara Cartland sold over 100 million books in over 36 countries in as many languages. But she didn’t just write romance novels; she also wrote books on health and vitamins; and even penned several cookbooks. She is in the Guinness Book of Records for selling the most novels worldwide. <br />
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Barbara was also very involved in her local community, and her efforts on behalf of the Gypsies became an Act of Parliament, granting them permanent homes for the first time in their lives and allowing them medical benefits and schools for their children. In 1981, Queen Elizabeth made her a Dame of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to literature and for her work in the community.<br />
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Dame Barbara had an award-winning formula for her romance novels – young, innocent heroine (usually a princess or Lady), in dire straits until the strong alpha hero (usually a prince or Lord in disguise) rushed to the rescue. Most of her novels were set in England, though there was a handful with European settings, and another handful that started in the United States until the hero inherited and so returned to England to take his rightful place in society and find a dutiful bride.<br />
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I met Dame Barbara on one of their trips to New York. Rizzoli Bookstore threw a grand party for her. She was elegantly dressed in her signature pink with a great hat. She was gracious and very direct. When asked for writing advice, her answer was succinct: write about love.<br />
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At her death, Barbara Cartland left 160 unpublished manuscripts. Her son Ian has organized them into “Barbara Cartland’s Pink Collection.” Fans can subscribe to the collection to receive a monthly book and a bonus one for Christmas. To learn more about this great Lady, visit <a href="http://www.barbaracartland.com/">www.barbaracartland.com</a>.<br />
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<strong>Corin Tellado</strong><br />
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Born Maria del Socorro Tellado Lopez, Corin has been compared to Barbara Cartland, as she is the most prolific writer in all of Spain. She earned a spot in the Guinness Book of Records for selling the most books written in Spanish, but from there she strays far from Barbara Cartland’s shadow.<br />
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Corin was a pioneer. A feminist before feminism was cool. She wrote about modern women. Her novels were set in the present and featured as much angst as romance. Maybe because she was a single mother of two and had no time for nonsense. <br />
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Her heroines had passionate natures; had bad marriages, bitter divorces; loved the wrong men; had problems with their children; and fought their way to a happy ending. These plots may not seem like such a big deal today, until you consider that in the 40s and 50s, Spain was under strict military rule and literary censorship was a political tool. But Corin prevailed. One of her novels was turned into a movie and won Best Picture at the San Sebastian Film Festival in 1984. In 1996, Spain’s TV network adopted several of her novels into what we today call made-for-TV-movies. <br />
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Her novels were sold in paperback form and as photonovels (think comic books but with much better art). Her novels were serialized for radio, television and magazines. In fact, for over three decades the Spanish magazine, Vanidades, featured a new full length romance novel from Corin Tellado every week. These magazines were distributed all over Spain and in Spanish-speaking countries, like Puerto Rico.<br />
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And that is how I discovered Corin. My grandmother introduced me to her work. My aunt had a beauty parlor and she ordered the magazine for the shop. My grandmother would read them first and share them with me. She wanted me to also read Spanish authors, and here was one who wrote about my favorite subject – romance. But Corin’s stories were ones I could relate to because they were about young women who graduated from college, worked and were looking for love. Their lives could have been my life!<br />
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Recently, I discovered that Corin also wrote erotica under the name of Ada Miller. These were written in English and then translated into Spanish. Ironic, I know. For more information about this amazing woman, visit <a href="http://www.corintellado.com/">www.corintellado.com</a>.<br />
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<em>Maria wishes she was as prolific as these two great Dames, and is getting her butt back in chair and filling up those blank pages across from her. When not tied to her pen, Maria is the President of the RWA/NYC. She writes contemporary romances under her own name, and erotica under her pseudonym of Del Carmen. Her work has been published by Cleis Press and Ravenous Romance, and has appreared in magazines, including Star, Penthouse and Cosmopolitan for Latinas. Visit her at <a href="http://www.marializaferrer.blogspot.com/">www.marializaferrer.blogspot.com</a>, <a href="http://www.mydelcarmen.com/">www.mydelcarmen.com</a> and <a href="http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/">www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com</a>.</em><br />
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Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-77604801891083972132013-02-27T16:34:00.004-08:002013-02-27T16:34:56.152-08:00Here I Come!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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by F. Leonora Solomon<br />
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I am SO excited to be going to <a href="http://writesexright.com/" target="_blank">Eroticon 2013</a>! It is filled with so many firsts for me as an editor, and that distant thing I am on occasion--a writer. This is my Comic-Con, it is going to be hectic for me to be in this environment wide-eyed, wanting to absorb everything and everyone. I was just on Twitter looking at the Eroticon hashtag, and saw this fun meme as a prelude to pre-conference drinks so I am doing it. I am so happy and appreciative to be participating in this event! When my mom told me about the birds and the bees at age six and was always open with me about sex, who knew what kind of career she was setting me up for?!<br />
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Here's my meme, and follow the link below to meet some very interesting Eroticon attendees!<br />
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Name: F. Leonora Solomon<br />
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Twitter id: @fsolomonrr<br />
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Must attend Eroticon 2013 session:<br />
Oh this is like a college day for me, I plan on sitting in on so many sessions!<br />
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Bloggers you’d like to be trapped in the lift with:<br />
Honestly, I am barely reading blogs (or writing blog entries but starting up again), but there are a TON of Facebook & Twitter mates I could be trapped with!<br />
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Erotic writer you’d like to write dramatize your life story:<br />
An EROTIC writer to dramatize MY life story, lol!<br />
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Expected biggest fangirl / fanboy moment:<br />
This is a candy store experience for me, I am going to want to grab--well gab with--SO many people!<br />
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What keeps you awake at nights?<br />
My overactive mind and its racing thoughts...not supposed to multi-task while sleeping but I do!<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://eroticnotebook.co.uk/blog/eroticon-2013-meet-and-greet/%E2%80%9D">See who else is coming to Eroticon 2013 in the Meet & Greet link up</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-44757672368536653242013-02-19T09:06:00.001-08:002013-02-20T10:59:30.635-08:00Happy Release Day + Giveaway!by F. Leonora Solomon<br />
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My newest antho about hot lust on cold days is out! <br />
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SNOWED IN is my third anthology with Ravenous Romance, and let's just say the third time must be the charm because I am flushing with post pub joy! Or maybe it is the flush from hot erotica on what has been these very cold New York days. <br />
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I am a native New Yorker and I swear I have never felt so cold in the city. My line of work helps to keep me warm, and not in the way you would think--I embrace staying home (warm) editing!<br />
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I want to share some of my joy with you, with a book giveaway!<br />
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Tell me how you are staying warm on these cold days, and I will help you to stay warm with a copy of SNOWED IN to read under the covers alone or with someone else!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-66693906302242796032013-01-28T07:05:00.003-08:002013-01-28T07:20:08.470-08:00The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tabB0-itSuE/UQXxb5gT7-I/AAAAAAAAACY/Du71YfPQtjg/s1600/6f3780d88e8eeaa2_carrie-bradshaw-mac.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tabB0-itSuE/UQXxb5gT7-I/AAAAAAAAACY/Du71YfPQtjg/s1600/6f3780d88e8eeaa2_carrie-bradshaw-mac.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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by F. Leonora Solomon<br />
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Before I was actually working as an editor, I used to watch <em>Sex and the City,</em> and think how cool it was that Carrie worked at home. It seemed dreamy to me that she would be at home or in a coffee shop working on her latest article or researching it. <br />
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That was an indication that this was the right field for me to be in, and believe me, there is NOTHING bad about editing erotica for <a href="http://www.ravenousromance.com/" target="_blank">Ravenous Romance</a>! But at the end of the day it is still work and sometimes even being at home with my MacBook on my lap can be daunting. Luckily for me as a freelancer, my office is mobile and wherever I make it be; though I work best at home on my MacBook. <br />
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Editing is not a bubble. I am responsible for my authors, the delivery of all the necessary materials to <em>Ravenous</em>, developing ideas for upcoming projects, and making sure they start out as close to perfect as they can be for the copyeditor. <br />
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As much as a story might be the most beautiful and sexiest idea, they are all like a woman before she puts on her makeup. Sometimes stories just need a little mascara and lip gloss, and they are good to go! Sometimes they need so much makeup that they look like it took hours to apply and might not be recognized once removed. Being a cosmetologist is artistry, but on a deadline, it is a mixture of art and geting the work done as soon as possible.<br />
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Editing has made me a different person. The world of publishing is not the dreamy existence that I used to think it was as a little girl or as when I was watching <em>Sex and the City</em>. <br />
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For me it is a dream come true that I have worked in publishing from so many sides -- as a writer, an editor, and production assistant. I know how things are done and how they need to be done. My work ethic is strong, and I am committed to what I do. <br />
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As an editor, I have come to respect the craft of writing all the more, and I think that it is going to make me a better writer when I have the time to write again. I'm compassionate about the things that need to be adjusted in other people's writing, because I recognize the same things in my own writing. I understand what writers are like because I am one. <br />
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Working at home is different from working in an office, but it is like being a cowboy. My MacBook is the galloping horse taking me everywhere I need to go.<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">♥</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"><em>F.Leonora Solomon is an acquisitions editor at</em> Ravenous Romance<em>. Her latest anthology, GEEK LUST, was released last month. </em></span><br />
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-57233711786926256762013-01-25T05:17:00.000-08:002013-01-25T05:17:24.914-08:00PICTURE FRIDAY: Window Dressingby Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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Join me every Friday, as I share my photos with you. Below is one I like to call, <strong>Miss Cupcake 2012</strong>. Her dress is made from over 800 cupcake wrappers. True story!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcWF1zTFDeM/UQKAIBgSpyI/AAAAAAAAEac/k8dlfSS8oYw/s1600/Pics+from+iPhone+2013+jan+392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcWF1zTFDeM/UQKAIBgSpyI/AAAAAAAAEac/k8dlfSS8oYw/s400/Pics+from+iPhone+2013+jan+392.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Miss Cupcake 2012</div>
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To see more photos, click <a href="http://marializaferrer.blogspot.com/2013/01/picture-friday-window-dressing.html">here</a>. Have a good weekend!<br />
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Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-58078585019263330522012-12-17T20:51:00.000-08:002012-12-17T20:51:36.112-08:00T UESDAY TALES: DADDY LOST by Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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This is a scene from a work in progress. Enjoy.--mcf<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T-MMjlmaNTE/UM_yiiG66EI/AAAAAAAAER4/WrSPZF_JTMw/s1600/TT+cabin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T-MMjlmaNTE/UM_yiiG66EI/AAAAAAAAER4/WrSPZF_JTMw/s400/TT+cabin.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The girls loved the cabin, the snow, the fireplace and the two weeks away from school. They were ecstatic, and having fun running around looking into rooms and closets with equal zeal. The girls. His daughters. Twin bundles of joy that had turned his life upside down less than four months ago.<br />
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His chest still tightens whenever he thought of them.<br />
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Jon was sterile, had been for the past ten years. Thoughts of having a child of his own had died a hard death when he’d been diagnosed with chicken pox and came out of it well, but sterile.<br />
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He had met some nice women with children. There was one in particular that he thought may have been the one. He knew now that it was the boy he had wanted and then the mother. It would not have been fair to her, but Jon would have been a good father and husband.<br />
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Now, it turns out, that he was a father-- a father of twins.<br />
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They had changed his life with that one phone call.<br />
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He remembered it vividly. He’d been packing. He’d lost the child and the woman he wanted so he had applied for a transfer at his accounting firm, and had tendered his resignation at the grade school.<br />
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He was packing when the phone rang. He thought to ignore it, but then changed his mind in case there was an emergency at work, at the school where he coached pee wee soccer, or in case his ex-girlfriend had changed her mind and wanted him back.<br />
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“Are you Jonathan Cruz?” A small voice had asked over the phone. There had been some rustling, and then another small voice got on. <br />
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“Did you go to Platt High School? Do you know a Helen Soto?<br />
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“Are you our daddy?”♥<br />
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<strong>To read more Tuesday Tales, visit</strong> <a href="http://tuesdaytales1.blogspot.com/">http://tuesdaytales1.blogspot.com</a>.<br />
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<br />
<em>Maria C. Ferrer is happy to join the talented authors at Tuesday Tales. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America /New York City chapter and the Latino Authors Writers Society. Maria writes contemporary romance under her own name and erotica under the pen name of Del Carmen. Her short story, “Geeky Bowtie,” was published in the GEEK LUST anthology by Ravenous Romance. Plus, her work has appeared in</em> Star, Cosmopolitan for Latinas and Penthouse <em>magazines. Visit her at </em><a href="http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/"><em>www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.mydelcarmen.com/"><em>www.mydelcarmen.com</em></a><em>.</em><br />
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Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-43347374960448850322012-12-17T14:06:00.000-08:002012-12-17T14:06:55.117-08:00HERE COMES SANTA!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past Saturday, Santas took over New York City! They were everywhere...literally. </div>
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It seems that December 15 was <strong><a href="http://santacon.info/Locations.html">SantaCon</a></strong> in the Big Apple. Hundreds of Santas populated the streets, along with green elfs, white snowmen, sparkling angels, tall trees and even some gift-wrapped gifts. </div>
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SantaCons are planned in 276 locations and 37 countries this year alone. If you missed Saturday's event, fear not! <strong><u>Long Island's SantaCon is this coming Saturday, December 22</u></strong>. </div>
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To register for the Long Island SantaCon, click <a href="http://santacon.info/manage.php">here</a>.</div>
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You must dress as Santa, in full regalia; a Santa hat alone does NOT count. If you want to dress different, use your imagination and try going as a gingerbread man or woman. How about a reindeer or a snowflake? Again, use your imagination.</div>
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NOTE: SantaCons are not pub crawls. The site warns that every time someone says that, a poor Fairy dies. That a lot of pubs offer the Santas discounts is another story. (Those poor Fairies must be dropping like flies.)</div>
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Here are some more pictures from the NYC SantaCon. Enjoy and Happy Holidays! --maria</div>
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HO, HO, HO!</div>
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Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-22802851877414439822012-11-09T09:40:00.000-08:002012-11-09T09:40:06.105-08:00ANOTHER SALE: "THE BOW TIE"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Rn7vQrTDzQ/UJ0_MYpGAxI/AAAAAAAAEJA/YmUYrbfxMTw/s1600/Geek+Lust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Rn7vQrTDzQ/UJ0_MYpGAxI/AAAAAAAAEJA/YmUYrbfxMTw/s320/Geek+Lust.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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Del Carmen is pleased to announce the sale of another erotica story just in time for the Holidays!<br />
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"The Bow Tie" was sold to <a href="http://www.ravenousromance.com/">Ravenous Romance</a> for its GEEK LUST anthology (Nov 2012), edited by the fabulous <strong>F. Leonora Solomon. </strong><br />
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For an excerpt, visit <a href="http://www.mydelcarmen.com/">www.mydelcarmen.com</a>.<br />
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Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-55919638720220620862012-10-23T00:30:00.000-07:002012-10-23T00:30:04.163-07:00TUESDAY TALE: 27 Webb Avenue<br />
By Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x88IoUuxBCc/UINuJm_6_BI/AAAAAAAAEEg/cJPPQ_bOzt8/s1600/Tuesday+Tales+spooky+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x88IoUuxBCc/UINuJm_6_BI/AAAAAAAAEEg/cJPPQ_bOzt8/s400/Tuesday+Tales+spooky+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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George Stuart pulled the legs apart and arranged them against the white fabric. The red blood provided a good focal point, which he liked. He stepped back and looked at his creation – stoic, still, lifeless.<br />
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He walked down the stairs to the edge of the sidewalk and turned to look at his new home.<br />
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Ghosts in the windows, check.<br />
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Giant spider web on porch, check.<br />
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Vampire bats, pumpkins, Frankenstein monster, check, check, check.<br />
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George smiled with satisfaction. It was his first Halloween in his Victorian home and he was finally opened for business. <br />
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Yes, the whole street was full of bed and breakfasts but George was not daunted. He knew it was a risk, but the market was down, his job downsized and this house was all he had left. It was this or a job at Mickey Dee’s. But the Jersey Shore had always been popular with out-of-towners in good times and bad, and it retained its popularity thanks to Snooki and her posse. George was counting on the Shore’s continuing attractiveness, now more than ever. <br />
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Just as he stepped toward the house, a cab pulled up in front, and four women stepped out of its multiple doors; each unique in beauty and demeanor.<br />
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“This is it,” said the tall blonde with straight hair, as the cab driver unloaded suitcases from the back.<br />
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“I love it,” cried the short exotic beauty in gothic black, clasping her hands against her chest.<br />
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“You love everything,” said the dark-skin lovely with wild curls and familiarity.<br />
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“Do you think there are enough ghosts?” asked the buxom brunette, as she scanned the face of the house.<br />
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“There can never be enough ghosts in a haunted mansion, Ladies,” answered George, as he walked up to greet his first guests – romance writers on retreat. ♥<br />
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To read more Tuesday Tales, visit <a href="http://tuesdaytales1.blogspot.com/">http://tuesdaytales1.blogspot.com</a>.<br />
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<br />
<em>Maria C. Ferrer is happy to join the talented authors at Tuesday Tales. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America /New York City chapter and the Latino Authors Writers Society. Maria writes contemporary romance under her own name and erotica under the pen name of Del Carmen. Her short story, “Ride A Cowboy” was published in the WOMEN IN LUST anthology by Cleis Press. Plus, her work has appeared in</em> Star, Cosmopolitan for Latinas <em>and </em>Penthouse<em> magazines. Visit her at </em><a href="http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/"><em>www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.mydelcarmen.com/"><em>www.mydelcarmen.com</em></a><em>.</em><br />
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Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-42025653884569354102012-09-18T18:17:00.000-07:002012-09-18T18:21:22.872-07:00All Women Are Like That<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As an aficionado of classical music, few things thrill me more than
listening to Mozart, Beethoven, Puccini or Wagner. Opera in particular (the
word comes from Latin for “the works”) offers wonderful music, elaborate sets,
sumptuous costumes, glorious singing and almost more passion and drama than one
can pack into a three hour extravaganza — in other words: ”the works.” At this
very moment I am listening to a recording of Beethoven’s one and only opera, <i>Fidelio
</i>— but more on that later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mozart’s comic opera, <i>Così fan tutte, </i>translates to the title of
this post: <i>All Women Are Like That.</i> Though I adore the music, as a 21<sup>st</sup>
century liberated woman I find the plot of this opera rather difficult to
swallow. It involves two friends who, spurred on by a cynical acquaintance,
test their fiancées’ fidelity by donning disguises to see if either of their
ladies will succumb to a stranger’s affections. Each man attempts to seduce the
other’s fiancée. As much as I pray that at least one of the women will resist
temptation and remain faithful, proving after all that “all women are <b><i>not</i></b>
like that,” both yield to the wooing. Since this is the 18<sup>th</sup> century
equivalent of a romantic comedy, all ends happily. The gentlemen forgive their
fiancées for their transgressions — after all, they are members of “the weaker
sex.” Despite Mozart’s glorious music, I can’t help but feel a little
disheartened by the condescending portrayal of my gender. But I try to forgive
the storytellers, hindered as they were by living in a less enlightened age
than our own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So I look to other operas for more inspirational models of womankind.
There’s another lovely opera by Mozart, <i>Die Zauberflöte</i> (The Magic
Flute). The heroine, Pamina, courageously stands by her hero’s side through a
perilous trial of fire and flood. She is certainly an exemplary feminine
archetype. But misogynistic themes permeate the libretto. The villain is a
woman, Pamina’s own mother. Pamina’s wise male guardian advises her that “a man
must guide your heart, for without a man, a woman would not fulfill her aim in
life.” The hero, too, is warned to ignore the counsel of women because “a woman
does little, chatters much.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9JuxEHLu7c/UFkcHN1vXTI/AAAAAAAAAUc/zj-ms9Y1Erc/s1600/Musetta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9JuxEHLu7c/UFkcHN1vXTI/AAAAAAAAAUc/zj-ms9Y1Erc/s320/Musetta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Operatic heroines often fall victim to frailty, intemperance, or their
own or their lovers’ errant ways. Violetta (<i>La Traviata</i>), Carmen, Madama
Butterfly, and Mimi (<i>La Boheme</i>) all succumb through illness, suicide or
murder. Though a more sympathetic prototype than the villainess, these are not
models that a strong, self-sufficient, modern woman would care to emulate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But back, as promised, to <i>Fidelio</i>. Beethoven’s opera, first
staged in 1805, weaves thrilling melodies into a tale of intrigue. Yet it is
the heroine, Leonore, who shines above all. Disguised as a man, she rescues her
husband from certain death. The divine music is that much sweeter because
Beethoven has lifted the female ideal to a higher plane. In the magnificent,
soaring finale the chorus exalts “the devoted wife, the savior of her husband’s
life.” In <i>Fidelio</i>, I discovered a synthesis of music, lyrics and plot
that affirms my deeply held convictions. Through Leonore, the opera devotee’s
faith in the strength, courage and fidelity of heroines is restored. And I do
believe that many (though not all) women are like <b><i>that</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">You’ll find
another courageous heroine — along with a dashing hero — in Lisbeth Eng’s World
War II romance novel, <i>In the Arms of the Enemy</i>, available online at
Amazon, Barnes & Nobel and The Wild Rose Press. Please visit her at
www.lisbetheng.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Lisbeth Enghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814466999337154397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-31461443951621044432012-08-21T10:28:00.001-07:002012-08-21T10:29:08.553-07:00Who Knew Hot Sex Could Be So Much Fun?<br />
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<br />
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<br />
When I first started writing romance back a few years ago, one of my primary fears was whether or not I’d be able to write good love scenes. I certainly loved reading sexy romances, but could I render heat on the page? <br />
<br />
Then one year I was participating in my very first NaNoWriMo. I’m generally a pantster, so I went into the process with just an idea for a story & two characters. As I plowed through the month, I encountered various times when I got stuck, plot-wise, as to how I wanted to move forward. The first time I thought, I’ll just write a love scene! It seemed like a good time for my characters to get hot & heavy (this was before I’d really gotten a grip on the concept that love scenes should flow organically from the plot, and have a real purpose to them!). I penned one fairly painlessly, and the next time I had a block? Another love scene! I got to the end of the challenge with a completed novel that pretty much was some chit chat in between love scenes. And hot? Ooh, baby. What started out fairly generic ended up being all dominance and submission all over the place with lots of naughty words in place of those vague euphemisms. <br />
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Longer and hotter love scenes one after the other.<br />
<br />
Who knew?!<br />
<br />
So here I am today, with my very first published piece and it is, not surprisingly to me now, an erotic romance short story. Ménage a Quatre, to be exact. Short, hot, and a terrific 4-way HEA. What could be better?<br />
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As with any other aspect of my craft, I’ve come to understand the point of love scenes in a romance, and I’ve come to understand that I write stories with an incendiary heat level. No closed bedroom door. No vanilla M/F. I populate my stories with BDSM elements, ménage and kink upon kink. And I love it!<br />
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Just as I learned how to perfect dialogue, to create effective description, to lose the back story, and develop realistic, but heroic characters, I have honed the craft of writing sex. Making it hot, but still pertinent to the story. Involving my heroine and, in this case, heroes, in exceedingly graphic and edgy scenes, while striving too to convey their humanity, their psychology and their emotions. I hope that my combustible love scenes offer eroticism as well as great romance to my readers.<br />
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An excerpt gives you an idea of just what fun my heroine & her boys get up to: <br />
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<b>“My mind flew back to the wild, uninhibited fantasy I’d spilled into my journal, the book I knew Jake read. Had I been trying to tell him something? Trying to relay a desire that I couldn’t voice? The things I’d said in the journal made me blush. I knew immediately why the scene had played out. Because I’d wanted it. I’d said I wanted to be used. Used over and over until I couldn’t walk.”<i></i></b><br />
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And for anyone out there who hesitates to try their hand at writing steamy love scenes? My advice – just this once, close the bedroom (or study) door. Turn on music that makes you yearn. Light some sexy incense, put on an outfit that makes you feel wanton, picture your perfect hero – and fire up that computer.<br />
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You never know. You may discover that you’ve got the knack. Just make sure you’ve got the fire extinguisher handy.<br />
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<i><br />
“Share and Share Alike” is my story in the new Ravenous Romance digital anthology, “My First Threesome”, edited by F. Leonora Solomon. <br />
<b></b></i>lisekimhortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09072878628169741032noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-53252719701708097622012-08-12T21:45:00.000-07:002012-08-12T21:45:23.885-07:00MASSAGE CANDLESby Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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Last week I attended a JimmyJane products demo at Babeland in Soho, and one of the things that I had to have was one of their massage candles.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XeQ3mRT6iAs/UCiA6T2T9oI/AAAAAAAAD7I/v6su0itfOcg/s1600/bodyofevidence2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XeQ3mRT6iAs/UCiA6T2T9oI/AAAAAAAAD7I/v6su0itfOcg/s200/bodyofevidence2.jpg" width="200" /></a>Massage candles have always intrigued me since I watched 'Body of Evidence' with Madonna and William DaFoe. She had killed her client with sex and he was the "innocent" family-man lawyer set to defend her, whom of course she seduces. <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R0-8bhPDPDM/UCiBB6Ty8rI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/yz-QlzKr7BE/s1600/bodyofevidence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R0-8bhPDPDM/UCiBB6Ty8rI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/yz-QlzKr7BE/s200/bodyofevidence.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
In one of their encounters, Madonna pours hot candle wax all over DaFoe. I cringed along with him, imagining the heat of that wax as it burned into his skin. The pleasure-pain of it all was so erotic.<br />
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Well, these new massage candles from JimmyJane are wonderful. They can be poured directly onto the skin and will not burn. Instead, they are warm and sensual, as they trickle on your arm or down your back. And for those of you organically minded, they are made from soy and other natural ingredients. <br />
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The company has over five combination of massage candles.My two favorites are the Bourbon with its robust, musky, rich aroma; and the Cucumber Water with its soft, fresh scent. <br />
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Note there are other companies that also make slow-burning massage candles, and some folks have even been know to make their own. The maker is a personal preference. Mine is JimmyJane. <br />
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I encourage you to try these candles, and let me know which are your favorite flavors.<br />
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And, if you have another favorite scene from 'Body of Evidence,' let me know that too.##<br />
Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-38690881566604159762012-07-30T03:50:00.000-07:002012-07-30T03:50:30.301-07:00PACKING FOR CAMP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zmvcjqmwqj0/UBVp0_2TScI/AAAAAAAAAPY/eCiCSRK2S4U/s640/blogger-image-1918898258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zmvcjqmwqj0/UBVp0_2TScI/AAAAAAAAAPY/eCiCSRK2S4U/s640/blogger-image-1918898258.jpg" /></a></div>
by F. Solomon<br />
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Now the truth of the matter is that I am not actually packing for sleepover camp. Even when I went to camp as a child, I went to day camp so I got on a bus to and from. I am packing ideas for Camp NaNo. Now NaNoWriMo (aka National Novel Writing Month), I have done and won for six years. When I got my Winner's email and saw Camp NaNo, I signed up right away. I choose not to have bunkmates, and I am just absorbing life so on August 1 I can just go at it. <br />
I have never believed in the idea of doing an outline. My mother's mother always said never plan because it was a surefire way to be disappointed. In my own experience, I have learned never to plan an itinerary for travelling. I am getting ready to leave the country and the only thing I have been preparing is how to recognize Celsius from Fahrenheit. <br />
NaNo is always a trip, an excursion; and, it is to be enjoyed, which is why I absorb my life at the time, and the things and people around me influence me. The best way to write is to live. <br />
Whether it be taking mental or actual photographs; reading; talking; writing. It's best when you take in the world around you. Your real experience makes the story, because it always allows you to be creative, to see life in a way you usually do not. <br />
I just had a conversation with a woman who was very self involved but struck me as a character, and maybe she will manifest in my story. Coming from an erotic writing workshop with Rachel Kramer Bussel, gave me perspective and exercises I might want to expand upon; and, walking home from that with friends, I was telling a joke and that joke might be my first scene and get me writing in a genre I have never written before!<br />
Ahhh, sitting in the garden of a cafe which I usually do not do, not soaking up the sun but the life around and in me...surrendering to summer NaNo...and looking forward to camp.<br />
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<i>Photograph by F. Solomon</i><br />
<br />F. Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004042578142133231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-19074050209756301002012-07-19T14:36:00.000-07:002012-07-19T14:36:12.817-07:00SEDUCTION, SEX AND SATISFACTIONby Maria Ferrer<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5hC_eZSpdnU/UAh9g882SDI/AAAAAAAADyo/_d0N5gFvWcQ/s1600/kiss+biting+lip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5hC_eZSpdnU/UAh9g882SDI/AAAAAAAADyo/_d0N5gFvWcQ/s1600/kiss+biting+lip.jpg" /></a></div>No, I'm not talking about last night's date or FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. I'm talking about writing. Truly!<br />
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SEDUCTION<br />
Your eyes meet across the room; then travel up and down –what we hope is –a hot body. Attraction sparks; desire races up and down your spine. You both make a move towards the other, and thus, the seduction begins: That first look. That first move. That first spark. <br />
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In our writing, we also want to seduce our reader to our side. We want them curious, excited and eager. We want her –it’s usually a her –to look at our cover and fall in love with our hero. (Let’s pretend a leaner, more virile Fabio has been found and is draped across the front of our book cover.)<br />
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We want to titillate her enough that she picks up our book and runs, not walks, to the nearest cashier. She rushes home to be alone with our book, to turn that first page, to lose herself in our words.<br />
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SEX<br />
The excitement builds. Alone at last. Now comes the good part. Some people keep the bedroom doors closed, others throw them wide open. Both ways are exciting and filling.<br />
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The deed is done. The climax reached. The last page turned. The Happily Ever After is ours. Mr. and Mrs. Hero ride off into the sunset and our reader is sexually satisfied and emotionally fulfilled. <br />
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SATISFACTION<br />
Today, a cigarette may be passe, but a nice glass of wine is a good way to celebrate the satisfaction of a good read, a good night. <br />
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Satisfaction is key, because if it was good, our dear reader will want to do it again, and we certainly want to leave her aglow and asking for more. <br />
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As writers, we must seduce our readers. We must give them pleasure -- yes, sexually and artistically – and most of all, we must satisfy their need for a good story, a good romance and a happy ending. And, if she tells all her friends, that’s an extra bonus for us.♥<br />
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Maria C. Ferrer is working on a secret baby book and a romantic suspense. She also writes erotica under her nombre de pluma, Del Carmen. Her first short story, “Ride A Cowboy,” was published in the WOMEN IN LUST anthology (Cleis Press, 2011). Maria blogs regularly at <a href="http://www.rwanycblogginginthebigapple.blogspot.com/">http://www.rwanycblogginginthebigapple.blogspot.com/</a>, <a href="http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/">http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.mydelcarmen.com/">http://www.mydelcarmen.com/</a>.Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-15615274317275802172012-06-07T08:01:00.000-07:002012-06-07T08:01:09.172-07:00Thanks For the Martian Memories, Ray.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0MWA9cl7_Ps/T9DBzmIHbnI/AAAAAAAABAU/lerrH5jze0c/s1600/wicked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="122" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0MWA9cl7_Ps/T9DBzmIHbnI/AAAAAAAABAU/lerrH5jze0c/s200/wicked.jpg" /></a><br />
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The NY Times had a wonderful obituary for, and Times critic Michiko Kakutani had a lovely editorial about, legendary author Ray Bradbury who died Tuesday at 91, after enjoying a writing career that lasted 70 years.<br />
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I thought that for those of us writing in the romance genre, one of his comments was emminently applicable, and a nice affirmation for us, as romance authors so frequently put upon by the denigrators. When faced with complaints that his writing was not serious enough he said, "I have fun with ideas; I play with them. I'm not a serious person and I don't like serious people. I don't see myself as a philosopher. That's awfully boring. My goal is to entertain myself and others."<br />
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And for me, he certainly succeeded. My favorite Bradbury novel is Something Wicked This Way Comes, which was horror/fantasy, rather than science fiction. And his wonderful Fahrenheit 451 sits alongside Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here as warnings against governmental intrusion and societal controls.<br />
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He may not have intended to be serious, but his work carried with it a serious weight.<br />
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If you have not ever read any of his stories or novels, give yourself a treat, and pick one out from his canon.They're wonderful!<br />
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And perhaps be inspired by his output - As Kakutani notes, for the majority of his career his regimen included at least 1 short story per week.<br />
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Certainly something to aspire to!<br />
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And I loved the final quote she included of Bradbury's, which, to me, sums up a writer's curious glee in storytelling:<br />
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"All my life I've been running through the fields and picking up bright objects. I turn it over and say, 'Hey, there's a story.' . "<br />
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May your journey into the unknown continue apace, Mr. Bradbury.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVak5D2lYsg/T9DB6GYaOiI/AAAAAAAABAg/DD6xq1zYUMw/s1600/451.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="121" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVak5D2lYsg/T9DB6GYaOiI/AAAAAAAABAg/DD6xq1zYUMw/s200/451.gif" /></a><br />
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Lise HortonLisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315265091119634416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-32918139617168981002012-05-28T01:23:00.000-07:002012-05-28T01:23:00.280-07:00Happy Memorial Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SuphHSCVMcM/T7_OQXaVQEI/AAAAAAAADgE/Xvmazu0pMGU/s1600/soldier+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" qba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SuphHSCVMcM/T7_OQXaVQEI/AAAAAAAADgE/Xvmazu0pMGU/s320/soldier+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank You!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-24864402586879798692012-05-14T04:14:00.000-07:002012-05-14T04:14:00.305-07:00EDITING TIPSby Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Here are 10 basic editing tips to help make your manuscript better. Good luck.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNYe7QhhNL8/T4MMfesZz6I/AAAAAAAADRI/vdprsH-4AQQ/s1600/writing+woman+chic.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNYe7QhhNL8/T4MMfesZz6I/AAAAAAAADRI/vdprsH-4AQQ/s1600/writing+woman+chic.bmp" /></a></div>1. <strong>Be merciless.</strong> Don’t be afraid to use a red pen and don’t be afraid to delete your work where needed. Remember that you can always save these “deleted scenes” to use for your website.<br />
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2. <strong>Start in the middle.</strong> The best way to get your readers involved is if you open your story in the middle of an action. Action is a great hook.<br />
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3. <strong>Show, don’t tell.</strong> Show the emotions not the experiences. Cut all the superfluous stuff.<br />
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4. <strong>Use action words</strong>. Word selection is important. Review your words and use the ones that move the story forward.<br />
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5. <strong>Watch your mouth</strong>. Your dialogue should match your characters.<br />
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6. <strong>Short, sweet and to the point.</strong> Dialogue is key. If your characters are talking nonsense without a reason, delete, delete, delete.<br />
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7. <strong>Skip the history lesson</strong>. Cut out all the extra history /research if it doesn’t move the story.<br />
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8. <strong>Setting is another character.</strong> While you should trim off the excess history / research, you still need to set the time and place of your story. Use the important bits for ambiance and setting.<br />
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9. <strong>Conflict, conflict, conflict.</strong> Make your characters work to achieve their goals. The conflicts should escalate as the novel progresses. Their achievements –and failures! – will make the reader care for them.<br />
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10. <strong>Happy Ending.</strong> A definite must. Just remember to tie up all loose ends before the hero and the heroine ride off into the sunset.♥<br />
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<em>Maria C. Ferrer writes contemporary romances under her real name, and erotica under the pen name of Del Carmen. Visit her at </em><a href="http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/"><em>www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com</em></a><em> or </em><a href="http://www.mydelcarmen.com/"><em>www.mydelcarmen.com</em></a><em>. </em><br />
Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-27845470842521686492012-04-23T05:00:00.000-07:002012-04-23T05:00:12.252-07:00BASIC LEGAL TERMSby Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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<em><strong>ATTENTION: This is <u>not</u> legal advice</strong>. These are just some basic legal terms writers should be familiar with. RWA National has lots of great legal articles in their archives, which are available to all members. (<a href="http://www.rwanational.org/">http://www.rwanational.org/</a>) Plus, there are plenty of legal websites for writers to browse through. Please do your research.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1G33kXqNOY/T4MJ1Q4YcaI/AAAAAAAADQo/HBqoj8mRxVk/s1600/bookstack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1G33kXqNOY/T4MJ1Q4YcaI/AAAAAAAADQo/HBqoj8mRxVk/s200/bookstack.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>Advance</strong>: Money the publisher will pay up-front for your book. You will need to earn this amount in royalties on sales before payout of royalties begin.<br />
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<strong>Copyright:</strong> This is the right of ownership for a work. The author always retains copyright ownership. The publisher registers the published work for a separate copyright, which includes the artwork and book design. The duration of a copyright is the author’s lifetime plus 70 years. If you use a pseudonym, its 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation of work, whichever is shorter.<br />
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<strong>eBook:</strong> A book ―published online or digitally, like in a PDF format. No print copies. These books are printed for e-readers, computers, electronic devices, etc.<br />
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<strong>Non-compete clause:</strong> Be wary of this one. It states that you cannot write another book in the same genre or style as the one they have bought from you so it doesn’t compete with theirs. Negotiate to be specific with this clause. Limit the genre and the time period.<br />
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<strong>Piracy:</strong> The act of stealing published works and loading them onto ―free‖ distribution sites. If you see one, tell your publisher. If you’re your own publisher, write them and tell them to stop immediately. Most piracy sites will but they may just change their name and pop up elsewhere. Be vigilant.<br />
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<strong>Plagiarism:</strong> Using or declaring another author’s writing as your own.<br />
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<strong>Print-on-Demand:</strong> The publisher will only print the exact number of books requested. There will be no inventory of books.<br />
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<strong>Pseudonym:</strong> The assumed name under which an author writes. Also, referred to as a pen name.<br />
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<strong>Publication date:</strong> A clause in your contract that says that the Publisher will print/issue your book in said amount of time. If they don’t, your contract should provide that your rights revert back, that you do not forfeit the advance, and can re-sell the book elsewhere.<br />
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<strong>Out-of-Print:</strong> When your publisher is no longer printing or distriuting your books (to a contractually denoted quantity for a contractually specified time), then the title is deemed to be ―out-of-print.‖ You can then request reversion of your rights (see below). Again, be specific with this clause. For example, your book will be considered out-of-print unless total sales –in any format – total 300 copies a year.<br />
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<strong>Reversion of Rights</strong>: This is the clause in the contract that says that if the publisher stops reprinting/reissuing your book in said amount of time, then you get the right to your book back and you can sell it elsewhere. See also out-of-print.<br />
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<strong>Right of First Refusal:</strong> This is an option clause in your contract that grants your publisher the right to see your next work BEFORE you show it to another publisher. You want to be very specific with this clause. Make sure your contract states that the clause refers to your next book in the same genre as the first, and that they have a set time frame in which to review the option book and offer for it (say 90 days), otherwise you will send it elsewhere.<br />
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Roy<strong>alties:</strong> The amount the publisher will pay you (in allotments) for sales of your book.<br />
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<strong>Self-Publishing:</strong> In this case, you are your own publisher. You do the edits, pick the paper, the format, the cover, the marketing, etc. You find venues where to sell your book or eBook.<br />
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<strong>Subsidiary Rights:</strong> Rights granted to publisher usually for book clubs, foreign sales, movies, audio books, etc. RWA recommends authors hold all their subsidiary rights, just in case.<br />
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<strong>Subsidy Publisher:</strong> Also referred to as a Vanity Press. These are publishers you pay to publish and distribute your book. Most do not offer a royalty. RWA does not recognize these publishers.<br />
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<strong>Vanity Press:</strong> See subsidy publisher.<br />
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<strong>Work-for-hire:</strong> This is just what it says; you have been hired to write one specific book or series for a set amount and you will not see a penny more, nor will you hold any rights in the work.♥<br />
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<u><strong>Reference Books</strong></u><br />
Author and former lawyer, <strong>Anna DePalo</strong>, recommends KIRSCH'S GUIDE TO THE BOOK CONTRACT, KIRSCH'S HANDBOOK OF PUBLISHING LAW, and THE WRITER'S LEGAL GUIDE (CRAWFORD). All books available at amazon.com or through your library.<br />
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<em>Maria C. Ferrer writes contemporary romances under her real name, and erotica under the pen name of Del Carmen. Visit her at </em><a href="http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/"><em>www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com</em></a><em> or </em><a href="http://www.mydelcarmen.com/"><em>www.mydelcarmen.com</em></a><em>. </em><br />
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Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-5570484045767345002012-04-20T13:40:00.000-07:002012-04-20T13:40:43.476-07:00COUNTDOWN TO COSMO LATINA!by Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2571zpurko4/T5HJfFaXPaI/AAAAAAAADS8/XICnMlGLgn8/s1600/Cosmo_For_Latinas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2571zpurko4/T5HJfFaXPaI/AAAAAAAADS8/XICnMlGLgn8/s1600/Cosmo_For_Latinas.jpg" /></a></div>Cosmopolitan <em>For </em>Latinas.<br />
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The new Cosmo is aimed at American-born Latin women who are bicultural and bilingual. There will be two issues this year – Spring and Fall – with a print run of 500,000+ copies hitting newsstands in heavy Latino states, like New York, California, Florida and Texas.<br />
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The whole of the Latino community is excited over this magazine. “Everyone can’t wait to see our first issue. I think there are a lot of young women out there who have been looking for a cool take on being young, hot, and Latina today,” said Editor in Chief, <strong>Michelle Herrera Mulligan. </strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z2w0jUGHsVc/T5HJnU1xq2I/AAAAAAAADTE/mCpz4mReAa8/s1600/michelle+herrera+mulligan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z2w0jUGHsVc/T5HJnU1xq2I/AAAAAAAADTE/mCpz4mReAa8/s1600/michelle+herrera+mulligan.jpg" /></a></div>In terms of the direction of the magazine, their tagline says it all: “Cosmopolitan For Latinas, Cosmo’s fun, fearless spirit takes on a Latina voice. The magazine will be an insider’s approach to everything Cosmo with the Latina sensibility—from beauty and style to dating, relationships, family, the hottest celebrities and the coolest parties—Cosmo Latina will cover it all with an extra dash of spice.”<br />
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11 days and counting!<br />
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To read the original launch article,<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/business/media/media-companies-set-their-sights-on-latin-women.html"> click here</a>.Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-30271618618130660092012-04-16T05:27:00.000-07:002012-04-16T05:27:00.626-07:00IF SHAKESPEARE KNEW THEN WHAT WE KNOW NOW - SCIENCE & WRITING ROMANCEby Lise Horton<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjomQdyXgh4/T4MO8cFZFhI/AAAAAAAADRQ/FaAASgcWptE/s1600/head+shaped+with+words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjomQdyXgh4/T4MO8cFZFhI/AAAAAAAADRQ/FaAASgcWptE/s200/head+shaped+with+words.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>Have you ever found yourself reading a romance and experienced one or more of the following: Teariness? Knots in your stomach? Smiling? Arousal? Heartbreak? It could be that the author of that novel was just THAT GOOD. Or it could be partly because of the physical experience of being a reader. It may seem odd, but science and fiction go hand in hand and romance fiction, in particular, in understanding the way people read; which can in turn guide us in how we write.<br />
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In Shakespeare’s day science was ruled in large part by superstition. Yet even without a Sigmund Freud to parse the human psyche, he wrote complex characters and timeless stories that continue to be beloved the world over. But what would he have created if he’d had access to the information we have today? Information provided by constantly advancing technology which has uncovered wondrous information about people, the human sexual and romantic experience, and how readers read? <br />
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How much time do you devote to the study of human physiology, neurobiology, psychology and sociology when you craft your stories? It is not as far-fetched a question as it sounds. We research sex and relationships, certainly, to ensure honest portrayals of what we write: love. But there is so much more to be discovered; discoveries that can add richness and astute detail and at the same time, be created to be read with the greatest impact.<br />
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How much thought do you give to the experience of a reader’s reading of your novel when writing? Not just the craft questions like plot, pacing, grammar and myriad other details: Do you think of how readers read? How the physical act of viewing words becomes recognition and how they engage, and are translated in, a reader’s mind?<br />
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In past workshops I’ve discussed the fact that the average reader “hears” the words she is reading, and how that knowledge can help author craft successful passages by choosing and arranging words to maximum effect. In another workshop on the five senses, I pointed out the difference in the way scent is interpreted by our brains from touch, sound and sight; scent is translated in a combination of brain activity, one linking the sensory experience with memory and feelings, making scent an exceptionally powerful sensory detail to use. I am purely fascinated by this kind of revelatory reading, not just for the science but for how I can apply this information to my writing.<br />
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Two recent articles in <em>The New York Times</em>, “Your Brain On Fiction” by Anne Murphy Paul (Sunday Review sec., 3/18/12) and “The Brain On Love” by Diane Ackerman (Sunday Review sec., 3/25/12) offer amazing theory and research.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kPK0By7FKqU/T4MPDdd3OXI/AAAAAAAADRY/k1KfpsFe9xw/s1600/couple+romantic+soft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kPK0By7FKqU/T4MPDdd3OXI/AAAAAAAADRY/k1KfpsFe9xw/s1600/couple+romantic+soft.jpg" /></a></div>In Paul’s article, fascinating details are revealed. For example, the choice of descriptive words being read alters the neurological response in a reader. Words that invoke touch sensations “rouse the sensory cortex”. So a choice such as “the singer had a velvet voice” evokes a more potent response than does “the singer had a pleasing voice”. Further, words like lavender and cinnamon and other scent descriptors elicit a response not just from the expected areas where language is processed, but other areas devoted to scent interpretation. Additionally, words describing motion “stimulate regions of the brain distinct from language-processing areas”, leading to revelations that these words incite activity in the motor cortex – the area of the brain involved with movement. Final observations indicate that the brain “does not make much of a distinction between reading about an experience and encountering it in real life”. <br />
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In addition to the physical, there are the social implications. One psychologist uncovered that “there was substantial overlap in the brain networks used to understand stories and the networks used to navigate interactions with other individuals”, and as readers we “identify with characters’ longings and frustrations, guess at their hidden motives and track their encounters with friends and enemies, neighbors and lovers”. <br />
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Other scientists have shown that readers learn from their reading and, particularly in social situations, put this learned experience into play in real life (the “theory of mind”). Contrary to the British doctor who was certain that reading romance would make women have unreal expectations, could it be romance novels actually lead to healthier and more successful loving relationships? <br />
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Beyond the understanding of a reader’s physical perception, there is also the psychology and sociology of love, sex, romance and human relationships to explore.<br />
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<em>Esquire</em> magazine’s April sex survey issue revealed some startling (to me, at least) results: Men actually prefer smaller (albeit “perky”) breasts to more bountiful bosoms. And the preferred sexual position with 30% of the vote is cowgirl (or woman on top) which beat out the old standard missionary position by 2% points. The author’s own informal survey showed that 8 out of 10 men prefer giving oral sex to receiving it. Another source’s study showed that the first thing a man notices about a woman is a gorgeous head of hair (legs, lips, face and body lag behind). And yet another study showed men react most strongly to women in red. <br />
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A past <em>NY Times</em> article discussed studies which provided new information about men, women and physical attraction; information that challenged commonly held thoughts about attraction and desire. Science continues to uncover challenges to long-held beliefs in numerous areas, which shed light not just on human physiology, but on the human experience itself – and how the two are interconnected.<br />
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In Ackerman’s article she delves into the new field of “interpersonal neurobiology”, in which studies have shown that people are actually neurologically changed in the course of relationships. Lovers bond in a fashion similar to the bonding of mother and child, and literal physical changes occur in the brain. Science, too, has actually explained the “whys” of the feelings following break-ups that our heart is “breaking”, or you can feel physically ill. Just as a disastrous romance can do that, being in a happy relationship changes the partners’ stress levels, fear reactions and actual physical perceptions. Women in happy relationships were given shocks to the ankles while alone, and their physical reactions gauged. They were then put together with their partner, holding hands and this time the shocks produced much reduced pain responses in the women. In another study, partners viewing a picture of a loved one experienced a “lighting up” of the reward centers in their brains. Ackerman concludes that “Loving relationships alter the brain the most significantly”.<br />
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Articles and books on these subjects can prove wonderfully enlightening for a writer who seeks to imbue her human characters with as much complex subtlety as possible, while engaging her readers on every level, from the conscious to the subconscious. So the next time you spy an article on science – don’t automatically pass it by. You never know what you’ll learn!<br />
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Can you imagine what amazing use Bill S. would have made with this knowledge?♥<br />
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<em>Lise Horton is currently writing in her two favorite genres, and keeping abreast of the fascinating changes in the world of publishing. Find out more about the industry on her blog, The Publishing Game, </em><a href="http://publishinggame.blogspot.com/"><em>http://publishinggame.blogspot.com</em></a><em>. Lise also blogs at </em><a href="http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/"><em>www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com</em></a><em>. </em>Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2155194054556095937.post-67326592741236472602012-04-09T08:59:00.000-07:002012-04-09T08:59:34.472-07:00A WRITER AND HER TAXESBy Maria C. Ferrer<br />
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If you are itemizing your taxes and want to take writing expenses, you are going to need to file a Schedule C with the IRS. Note that if there is no income, the IRS will disallow all expenses unless you can show proof of a profit motive—that you are writing so you can make money. (Aren’t we all?) Also, remember that not all expenses are deductible. Be honest and be prepared to defend your expenses to the IRS. Here are some tips to help make tax time easier:<br />
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<ul><li>Keep good records and keep them in a safe place. </li>
<li>Keep all receipts. When in doubt, keep it. </li>
<li>Keep log of expenses. For example, membership dues paid to which organizations; conference fees; contest fees; research books; etc. </li>
<li>Keep track of contest entries, queries and submissions. For example, what you sent to what publisher and when. This log shows proof of profit motive. </li>
<li>Keep copies of all correspondence especially from agents and editors. </li>
<li>Keep business cards from conferences as they are proof that you are working on your writing. </li>
<li>Document everything! When in doubt, keep it!</li>
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NOTE: This year, the deadline for taxes is Tuesday, April 17. Good luck.♥<br />
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<em>Maria C. Ferrer writes contemporary romances under her real name, and erotica under the pen name of Del Carmen. Visit her at <a href="http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/">http://www.4horsewomen.blogspot.com/</a> or </em><a href="http://www.mydelcarmen.com/"><em>www.mydelcarmen.com</em></a><em>.</em><br />
Native NYerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239230892287943136noreply@blogger.com0