Leigh Royals |

I would like to pay homage to a quote by a former president, of whose politics I am unaware. But he sums up in the following how I feel about our country and its leader:

“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country.” — President Theodore Roosevelt

Discuss:

Posted by Leigh under General | Comments » (4 comments) |

So, who hasn’t made a few in their life, eh? I know I have, and I’ll continue to do so. However, at any venture, I know that I strive to do my best. The same was two or three years ago when I wrote First Love First Aid. It is a cute short story about a nurse who falls in love with her employer. It’s kitchy, cliche. And awful. Well, not very awful, but a bit.

None the less, I still have pride in my work. Am I proud of writing something that years later is making me cringe for just a second? No. I’m proud of the fact that I can recognize the growth that occurred since it was created.

That is why in my recent contest, I included a signed copy of it in the prize package. I hope that the cuteness of the story makes the reader enjoy it; I pray they forgive me of the grammatical and spelling errors still present that neither myself nor the editor saw the first few times before it was set in internet stone.

Most of all, I hope that it isn’t as cringe-worthy as I no longer think it is because I want readers to want more. I promise I’ve improved. And I’ll show you.

How do any of you feel about your former writing?

Posted by Leigh under Work in progress | Comments » (10 comments) |

The Romance Divas annual Not Going to Conference Conference will make you feel a bit less deprived! Amazing workshops, a star-studded guest list and awesome giveaways, all on the Diva forum! Don’t miss it!

Here’s a bit of a schedule update for the Q&As and Workshops…

Wednesday, July 30

Paula Guran, Editor, Juno Books
Q&A on Creating Kick a** Heroines

Laurie Rauch, Editor, Samhain Publishing
Workshop on What Happens After the Contract (aka Editors are People Too!)*

Thursday July 31

Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary
Q&A on Inspirational Romance Stories and the Inspy Market

Sandra Schwab, Historical Romance Author
Workshop on Historical Accuracy and Anachronisms

Friday, August 1

Yolanda Sfetsos, Author of Guarded by Stone
Q&A on Paranormal and Urban Fantasy World Building

Katie MacIver, KatieDidDesign
Workshop on Website Design and Color Selection

Saturday, August 2

Joey W. Hill, Erotica Author
Workshop on Plotting Erotica and Erotic Romance

Rhonda Stapleton, Editor and Author
Workshop on Style and Voice

How about if I list some door prizes?

• What Gwen said” mug donated by Gwen Hayes
• 3-chapter critique of a YA by Simon Pulse author Rhonda Stapleton
• 3-chapter critique of a YA, chick lit, or rom com by Golden Heart Finalist Amanda Brice
• An ebook of your choice from Nell Dixon’s backlist
• An ebook of either Second Sight (paranormal romance) or Dragons’ Choice (fantasy romance - dragon-shifters) from Debbie Mumford
• Ten dollar Amazon gift certificate from Jodi Henley
• Lush stuff from Seeley deBorn
• e-book copy of Chasing Shadows from Erin Richards
• Paperback copy of Iron Horse Rider OR Smiling Eyes from Adelle Laudan
• Book thongs from Angeleque Ford
• 3 chapter critique from Sela Carsen
• winner’s choice of ebook copy of “Not Quite Dead” or “Heart of the Sea” by Sela Carsen
• e-book copy of HEATWAVE by Eden Bradley
• e-book copy of BREAKING SKYE by Eden Bradley
• a box of goodies, trade and paperbacks, bath products candles, etc… All for a fun and relaxing home spa day treat. courtesy of The Midnight Moon Cafe
• 1 download each of Natasha Moore’s Samhain books, The Ride of Her LIfe and The Passion-Minded Professor
• a copy of “Painted Soul” by Mary Quast
• e-book copy of HER CINDERELLA COMPLEX by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
• e-book copy of PAR FOR THE COURSE by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
• e-book copy of FOUND by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Wild Rose Press
• e-book copy of NIGHT OF INSPIRATION by Jenna Allen - Phaze
• e-book copy of ON AGAIN by Jenna Allen - Phaze
• $10 gc to Amazon from Kendal Corbitt
• ebook Vampire Oracle: Harmony by MG Braden
• Ebook ARC, Art of Sensuality by Jax Cassidy

Plus a lovely bar of wonderful Chagrin Valley hand made soap, Caramel Pralines jar candle, handmade jewelry, Tarot readings, a Lush box for European Divas/Dudes, a $10 fictionwise gc and much more!

Posted by Leigh under General, Lessons | Comment » (0 comments) |

So. I decided that it is imperative for my current WIP be entered into a contest. (I haven’t paid yet, but I will) With that motivation behind me, pushing me, I realized that the required first chapter or first 25 pages is NOT ready. For a week I’ve been hemming and hawing about it. I procrastinated enough. But I did make a painful decision. I decided that I had to cut out the debris. Let loose the detritus that was my superflous prose. It was all info dump. What is that, you say? Well, it was mostly information that I had thought was pertinent to the story. But it was all back story told as it happened. It didn’t move the story forward. In fact, it backpedalled. So, somehow, I will have to craft the most important threads of that forsaken 30-50 pages (I know! A lot!) into the forward momentum of the rest of the story. If I do it right, I can sprinkle some here and there and reveal bits of character for the H/h as I go. That would go so much farther in connecting with them, instead of me telling you how to get there.

And speaking of telling. I have GOT to stop doing that. Bad writer, Bad, bad. I know to use my senses. And I’m improving, but, still a lot of polishing to do. I decided at my halfway word count goal (151 pages so far out of a hopeful 300, at least) to start editing now. Because if I go on without editing, that might mean massive, and I mean ginormous rewrites. My tired little brain can’t wrap around that. I’d feel much better if I got things honed now and moved forward from there.

I even devised a clever little scheme. In the work in total so far I color coded the segments in pink for her, purple for him and brown for other scenes. After I did that I reordered some of them and didn’t color code what I haven’t transfered yet. What I have is started the book in a different spot, much later than I had earlier. This way, you drop right in the middle of ACTION baby, instead of waiting for it to happen. I know this is a smart move. Besides, all of the flotsam and jetsam is political or inconsequential. Further proof that it will NOT move the story.

I just hope that despite the fact that the H/h do not meet within those first 27 pages isn’t going to hurt my chances. At least they’re both introduced to the reader… We’ll see. I’m awaiting feedback from my good buddies. Come on people, pretty please and thank you, I have a deadline.

Posted by Leigh under Work in progress | Comments » (2 comments) |

I grew up loving the Red, White, and Blue. I cannot separate the celebration of Independence Day from watermelon in Grandmama’s backyard. Going to fireworks displays was always fun. We’d go to different places each year. My favorite was at Lennox Square. We parked at the top of the parking deck, and the view was spectacular. I think I haven’t been to a display now since I was pregnant with my son. I live close to the beach as it is, so I can see, and especially hear, the relvelry without leaving the house. But I don’t relegate this jingoistic behavior to only one day a year. Yes. Similar to mother’s day, I think it is something to celebrate everyday. Freedom is hard to explain to those who have the same liberties as we do. As American born citizens, we have grown up in this society, enjoying what we call freedom. But what is it really? Can one be free or know freedom if they’ve not known oppression? Well, perhaps. I know how I’d feel were my rights removed. I know I may have taken for granted what a great life I’ve been able to have. And the potential for more greatness and wonderful things are there for me. But I so do not want to forget how this came to be. As much as I wish to be a true Daughter of the Revolution, my ancestors in Virginia could easily have been Tories or Loyalists instead of Patriots. I do not know. But I draw inspiration for this day in seeing freedom being won for others. I have not felt oppressed. But I sympathize with the trials of others. I see the atrocities man has wrought and my heart breaks. I mourn for lives lost in the pursuit of this freedom. And it is for them this day is made. Today is the epitome of what their sacrifice gave.

Posted by Leigh under General | Comments » (2 comments) |