From: ~**REE**~
Subject: [shireemccarver] Now available! Dirty Little Secrets: Japanese Male Hosts - An Erotic Anthology
To: shireemccarver@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 5:10 PM
Dirty Little Secrets: Japanese Male Hosts - An Erotic Anthology brings together three tales of Shiree McCarver's working in erotic fiction featuring Japanese men and Black women. Stories include: Rich Girls Cry Too, Club Iridescence, and Sayonara Teacher.
RICH GIRLS CRY TOO
Love asks a lot, but in the end what else is there?
This is a coming into oneself story: Game Developer Yashiro Tezuka goes through pain and strife to become the "man" he was meant to be; a man who is worthy enough to marry his first love, African American socialite, Elizabeth Dickens. Kidnapping her the day of her wedding, Yashiro seduces her like she's never been seduced before. If he fails he will lose the light that helped him through his darkest hours.
Club Iridescence
African vampire and huntress Nefera Hiraoka Japanese mate, Hiroshi Hiraoka, is fatally hurt while visiting Japan. Because of an incident five centuries before Nefera has been forbidden to return to Japan again by the Japanese Vampire Council. Nefera defies their laws and journeys to Japan to retrieve her eternal mate. Only her passionate love can save her eternal lover.
SAYONARA TEACHER
African American group leader, thirty-six year old virginal spinster Katie Jones, two year tenure teaching at the American School in Ch�fu, Tokyo, Japan has come to an end. She is given an invitation for one night to remember at an exclusive club called, Club Heaven. Upon entering she is greeted by "angels" with wings and dressed in white tuxedo ready to cater to her every desire. One guiltless night in the arms of her gorgeous angelic male host, Tenshi, Katie blossoms out of her shyness to become a sensuous new woman. The invitation turns out to be a gift straight from heaven.
Dirty Little Secrets: Japanese Male Hosts - An Erotic Anthology is a must-read for fans of steamy interracial erotica featuring Asian men and Black women!
I will be updating my website soon.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Now available! Dirty Little Secrets: Japanese Male Hosts - An Erotic Anthology
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Prince and the Panther now Available!
Prince and the Panther is now available!
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-prince-and-the-panther/7546638
Saturday, March 14, 2009
The World is full of it..."Full of what?" You ask...
FULL OF ADVICE. It's coming out of the wahoo from every direction even if you don't want to hear it...boom there it is. The writing world I have found is full of it. Mostly telling you how to be a better writer. I have yet to figure out how anyone can give you that advice and you still maintain your voice as a writer. In spite of all the hands that can make a book better, only one voice can make it happen at all. No matter how stubborn you have to become hold on to the gift that is yours alone. Your "writers voice" is and will be that driving force to keep the words coming to the page long after you think your best works are behind you. It will be the answer you need when you think there is no way you can top that last piece of work.
I admire the writers that can sit down and be so constructive in their writing. They know where it's going and how it's going to get there. I'm not one of them, I wish I could be and when I tried I got writers' block. So I get down the basic research to a character outline so I can keep my people straight and the rest comes as I write. Most of my best received books have been through my Summer Free reads that are cold writings from week to week. I know I'm long winded in my writing and my readers know that. When I tried to be the writers that all the advice columns and books make it seem like that's what you need to do to be successful, I found that I had to choose my own path that makes me a good writer. The first thing I did was make peace with myself over those who wanted to dump me from their books to read list and leave me by the way side. I stop taking it personal and focus my energy on reaching only those that are interested in my style, my long winded purple prose...etc...
This is what I've learned:
Be true to yourself and your vision.
If you write the way you love, it won't feel like work.
Don't do it to get rich. Do it because you love what you do and the money will come.
An opinion is one thing, turning your voice into their is another. It's not others careers in jeopardy it's yours. If you must fail let it be on your own terms. If you tried and failed you will still feel as if you succeeded because you tried your best with what you had to bring to the table.
Failure is not an option, dust yourself off and try again this time being true to your own gifted voice even if you have to publish it yourself.
Remember, just like I have just done, I have given you only my opinion based on MY LIFE experiences which has nothing to do with you or YOUR LIFE experiences which you have to bring to your style of writing. Advice is all it is. It doesn't need to be your mantra or your bible unless it helps you to achieve YOUR dreams of what kind a writer you want to be and what you want to be known for.
Don't follow a niche, build your own and allow others to use you as an example instead of becoming part of what is already out there. No one become memorable by working inside the box all the time. Remember you can say "Fuck you" with only a nod and a smile and none shall be the wise as you continue to not compromise.
Happy creativity no matter what it may be!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Recommended Asian Groups
South korean boy band
TVXQ
an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi
They also do songs in Japanese such as Lovin' You
But I heard this particular song while watching the Millionaire's First Love and fell in love with them.
Performed By Hero - TVXQ
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sunday, March 01, 2009
So you’re a black woman attracted to Asian males
Now what? The only social barriers to be crossed are the one of the Asian male Do not be accepting of any treatment just because you are dating a male of the culture you are in love with.
you're interested in. Once he is sure he wants you in his life
everything falls into place because most families who care for their
children; within time, after seeing their child isn't struggling with
his or her decision becomes accepting or go to their gave being
stubborn no matter who you married for their reasoning had nothing to
do with your happiness as much as their personal needs.
Most of the battle is when the interracial persons you love don't
stick up for you and show you respect at all times. If the persons you
love don't do this for you his or her family will never feel you are
worthy to be accepted and continue to treat you a certain way.
I also think if Asian males weren't so culturally brainwashed by
their homogeneous society commercialized reasoning of Black people in
general; they would find that we as Black women have a lot in common
with their culture such as family values, the drive to succeed in a
society that makes us last. The need to be accepted for whom we are
and an appreciation for what we can bring to the relationship to make
it successful.
The first thing a woman can do to make it successful is take time to
get to know more about the culture and language of the person you are
involved with. Don't go into the relation with the "If he loves me
he would" attitude, because if you love him, you would respect and
educate yourself to what is expected of you to be in his life.
Tradition is a very important part of the Asian culture, anything
less is seen as being disrespectful. You are allowed to make ignorant
mistakes when you are just a visiting friend, but in a relationship
it's unacceptable.
If you are fortunate enough to get to meet his family, ask him who
will be attending and to help you go buy gifts for everyone. No
matter who you are it is rude to not accept your gift even if they do
not like you. They will accept it and grudgingly appreciate your
offer. Al lot of times in Southern Korea rudeness to each other can
also be a form of endearment depending on the level of intimacy you
have with a person. They show all this hot air and bluster and
laughing and hugging you the next. Talking about passionate and
argumentive people. Black folks have nothing on them...lol
Do you know in most Asian culture there is a ritual to something as
simple as sitting down and having a drink with someone. Such as you
don't usually pour your own drink when a bottle is on the table. You
pour their drink and they pour yours, also depending on the rank or
age of the person you drinking with, you hold your hand beneath your
glass and depending on the person you turn away to turn the glass up
to your lips. If their glass is empty make sure you refill it
immediately unless they put their hand over their glass and politely
decline. Knowing these simple things show you cared enough to at
least try.
Acting accordingly, being able to understand what is being said
around you, or to communicate to their elders that may not had the
opportunity of a full education will show a lot of respect that you
aren't trying to sway their child into your culture, but you're
trying to become an accepted part of theirs, while bringing some of
yours into the equation. Before you date an Asian male make sure he
is respecting of you completely. Most of them are not trying to just
have sex with the women they want a future with. They are old
fashion in thinking even if they are all male in actions. They don't
mind and usually appreciate a woman that wants to wait until she sees where
the relationship is going first. If he can't appreciate and respect
this in you, he will not stand up for you when the time comes.
Ree
www.shireemccarver.com
Thursday, February 12, 2009
I will be reissuing The Lord and the Scorpion in my Lulu storefront: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=1228193 offered in E-book and Paperback. I suppose those have who have been peddling my book on Amazon for 70.00 missed the opportunity to be more reasonable in their sales price because of my reissuing of the book. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the price on the paperback copy because the publisher no longer sold the paperback copy.
The Lord and the Scorpion was my first novel. I’m proud to say it was the first Interracial Elizabethan Romance that I know of with a Black female lead character in a romantic setting. It got great reviews in which I was very proud of considering. Thanks to all my readers for their continued support in my dream of getting the interracial love them out to the world, I believe the more we see it and read it, the more we believe it and it will feel more natural, than unnatural no matter what race or nationality the interracial pairing may be.
Happy reading!
“Shiree McCarver has got this reviewer’s attention with The Lord and the Scorpion. Ms. McCarver has done an awesome job of telling this story of romance, suspense, and lots of mystery for the reader to enjoy. The Lord and the Scorpion has everything a reader is looking for and so much more. Ms. McCarver hooks you from the beginning with love at first sight and keeps you hooked to the very end with the mystery of the Knights of Darkness. The Lord and the Scorpion is a fabulous historical romance with a lot of spice to turn up the heat. Sauda is one powerful heroine that will keep you on your toes and Ethan is one alpha hero that everyone can fall in love with. I truly enjoyed reading The Lord and the Scorpion and I cannot wait to get Ms. McCarver’s next book.”
“THE LORD AND THE SCORPION is an awesome tale and readers will find themselves hooked until the last page. Sauda is a courageous and strong woman who does what is necessary. Ethan has had to deal with much in his past, but finding Sauda is a stroke of luck for him. Together this couple is hotter than hot and the sparks fly at every interaction. Shiree McCarver is a new talent who is proving that she has what it takes to create intriguing and clever plots that readers won’t soon forget. I look forward to seeing what her next book brings.”
THE LORD AND THE SCORPION
In a time when their love is forbidden, two people will join together and find a passion unlike any other.
Ethan Clare wants the woman from the second he runs into her. He can’t explain the strong attraction he feels for the Blackamoor woman, but knows that he must see her again. When she saves the Queen’s life, Ethan finds the perfect opportunity to get to know who this remarkable woman is. Of course she hides secrets that he longs to uncover. When he is asked to help find out the assassin who tried to kill the queen he eagerly agrees knowing he will be working with Sauda. In a time where their love is forbidden, can they find a way to be together?
Sauda Mauri is a trained assassin. She has been a slave and an assassin for many years and now she has a chance at a new life as a free woman if she can complete her final mission. Originally running from her Japanese master she is traveling under the guise as Lady Francis’s nursemaid so she can get her assignments from the head of the Queen’s Secret Service. She does not need any complications and Lord Ethan Clare is more than determined to be just that. She will not let her emotions get the better of her; she has a job to do.
When she gets hurt protecting the Queen, she awakens to find him at her bedside. She knows she is in trouble by the look in his eyes and is happy to be putting distance between them until she learns Ethan has been asked to help her uncover who the culprits are behind the attempt on the Queen’s life. Their union changes the destiny of many and attracts the attention of a madman who his determined to get the Blackamoor woman out of their lives forever.
Excerpt:
Ethan mumbled his frustrations and after a few strange looks he realized his mumblings were aloud and clamped his mouth shut before they carted him away to Bedlam.
He continued his search through the assembly catching the eyes of many winsome ladies; however none was the one he was looking for. He was about to give up his search when he heard a soft curse and a light shove against him. He released an agitated sigh and gland down at the bowed head of the woman rubbing at the side of her satin clad feet.
“Oh! Pray excuse me. I…” His words trailed off as she looked up at him and he found himself staring at HER.
Ethan felt immediately drawn to the stunned, yet open admiration he saw in her dark eyes before she had the chance to mask her initial reaction Afore God, I hath not imagined her beauty. His fingers tingled at the tips as his mind meandered over the smoothness of her earthy colored skin. He wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers along the lines of her exotic features tracing the broadness of her nose and the wicked fullness of her wide mouth. Would her reception of his hands on her person be as warm, smooth and inviting as she looked?
He took full advantage of his close vantage point and savored her still figure openly. A part of him was hesitant in fear that the moment would once again be fleeting.
She was dressed not harshly bejeweled or overly painted as the other women of the court. Her garb; a softly concocted attire, was simply cut like none he’d seen before.
Gentle silken folds of what seemed to be yards of red silk with small white embroidered flowers leading into a small train, made up the skirt. Ethan could see why he accidentally stepped on the train of what she wore. This manner of walking gown wasn’t the normal wide skirts shaped by yards of petticoats that assured a man keep his distance. It made him wonder what she wore beneath such a form-fitting garment.
His accessing eyes roamed back to the halo of long dark brown wavy frizzed hair glistened like polished wood flowing from a center part and tied loosely with a thin matching red satin ribbon.
This woman was too bold in her stare. She was not submissive like most slaves or servants. Ethan sensed no shyness or nor any intimidation that he usual received from those indentured. His rank in life usually called for servants look away or at the ground in his presence. He imagined the drudgery of a commoners’ life or being a Moor and living in a foreign land caused the servants to fear those that held their livelihood in their hands.
Still, he felt no fear coming from this woman even though assuredly she belonged to someone to be here amongst the nobles. The unknown woman had a certain poise and quiet strength about her that intrigued him. Her dark face was just an intro to the magnificence of her as a fairer sex. Her body was rounded yet firmly shape, her arms defined.
There were curves everywhere from the gentle shape of her high cheekbones, to the fullness of her lips and coquettish smile. He believed the one thing that attracted him most was her mysterious sable-brown eyes surrounded by sooty curled lashes.
“I thought I would never find you again.” He was the first to break the lingering silence between them.
“I was not missing.” She smiled. “Nor do I know why you would be searching for me milord unless you wish to purchase me a new gown.”
He found her throaty voice and soft laugh delectable.
Ethan smiled. “If a new gown is what you need that can be managed. Give me your name and the wherefore to find you and I will make the necessary arrangements.”
He caught her staring at his mouth. Most other women would not do so upon first meeting a man that wasn’t a member of her family. Then again, she was not like any woman he had met before.
Ethan saw Lady Frances nearby distractedly chatting with a friend of hers. He would owe Lucian a brandy and an apology; he had been correct.
“I was not serious milord.” She returned her gaze to his eyes. “If you would get your booted feet off my gown, I am sure it can be salvaged.”
“Pardon me?”
She looked down and he followed her gaze.
“Pray forgive me,” he stepped aside releasing the trail of her gown from beneath his dusty booted feet. His face reddened at the imprint and rent he saw upon the silken material. “I beg you allow me to at the very least mend the gown,” he insisted. “If you will bid me your name I will assure a seamstress finds you--”
“It is not that serious, milord. I…” She backed up as two people pushed their way between them.
Ethan gritted his teeth; his annoyance increased when more people pushed their way through, he found this was an impossible situation.
“Prithee can we mayhap walk the grounds to speak more freely?” He asked once they came together again.
“It is not possible.” She shook her head at him. “I am here because I have duties to fulfill milord, not to be your social distraction.”
“If you are Sir Walsingham’s daughter’s guardian, I assure you he will not protest if you and the child are in my care until I see you safely to your rooms.”
“It will be best if we did not speak again.” She stated allowing more to pass through. He noticed the gap was growing between them, but still she remained close enough that when someone accidentally knocked into her, his hand darted out to grab her forearm to steady her.
Immediately she withdrew from his hold with a mumbled apology.
“Please.” His smile broadened. He wasn’t smitten by his own appeal to women but he often used it to his will if the need arises and this time the need was arising.
Ethan felt breathless as an undeniable magnetism swarmed between them and his heart hammered foolishly in his broad chest as the blood coursed through her veins like an awakened river to his lax groin.
He could see from the emotions across her face she was wavering.
“Please, come with me.” His hand reached out to touch the warmth of her face when suddenly trumpets sounded overhead and people forged forward. The growing breach between them unexpectedly spread and all Ethan caught in his reaching fingers was the crimson ribbon from her hair releasing the obsidian tresses to the caresses of the warm breeze.
His frustrations knew no bounds as once again, he lost sight of her and he still didn’t know her name. He brought the ribbon to his nose and sniffed in deeply the essence of her scent before pushing it inside the laced opening of his shirt and held it securely against his heart.
www.shireemccarver.com
The Lord and the Scorpion - re-release- 2/14/2009!
Finally the time is here. I know a lot of you have been waiting awhile for this because of the emails I have received over the years. I apologize that the publisher I chose originally didn’t live up to either of our expectations.
I will be reissuing The Lord and the Scorpion in my Lulu storefront: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=1228193 offered in E-book and Paperback. I suppose those have who have been peddling my book on Amazon for 70.00 missed the opportunity to be more reasonable in their sales price because of my reissuing of the book. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the price on the paperback copy because the publisher no longer sold the paperback copy.
The Lord and the Scorpion was my first novel. I’m proud to say it was the first Interracial Elizabethan Romance that I know of with a Black female lead character in a romantic setting. It got great reviews in which I was very proud of considering. Thanks to all my readers for their continued support in my dream of getting the interracial love them out to the world, I believe the more we see it and read it, the more we believe it and it will feel more natural, than unnatural no matter what race or nationality the interracial pairing may be.
Happy reading!
“THE LORD AND THE SCORPION is an awesome tale and readers will find themselves hooked until the last page. Sauda is a courageous and strong woman who does what is necessary. Ethan has had to deal with much in his past, but finding Sauda is a stroke of luck for him. Together this couple is hotter than hot and the sparks fly at every interaction. Shiree McCarver is a new talent who is proving that she has what it takes to create intriguing and clever plots that readers won’t soon forget. I look forward to seeing what her next book brings.”
“Shiree McCarver has got this reviewer’s attention with The Lord and the Scorpion. Ms. McCarver has done an awesome job of telling this story of romance, suspense, and lots of mystery for the reader to enjoy. The Lord and the Scorpion has everything a reader is looking for and so much more. Ms. McCarver hooks you from the beginning with love at first sight and keeps you hooked to the very end with the mystery of the Knights of Darkness. The Lord and the Scorpion is a fabulous historical romance with a lot of spice to turn up the heat. Sauda is one powerful heroine that will keep you on your toes and Ethan is one alpha hero that everyone can fall in love with. I truly enjoyed reading The Lord and the Scorpion and I cannot wait to get Ms. McCarver’s next book.”
THE LORD AND THE SCORPION
In a time when their love is forbidden, two people will join together and find a passion unlike any other.
Ethan Clare wants the woman from the second he runs into her. He can’t explain the strong attraction he feels for the Blackamoor woman, but knows that he must see her again. When she saves the Queen’s life, Ethan finds the perfect opportunity to get to know who this remarkable woman is. Of course she hides secrets that he longs to uncover. When he is asked to help find out the assassin who tried to kill the queen he eagerly agrees knowing he will be working with Sauda. In a time where their love is forbidden, can they find a way to be together?
Sauda Mauri is a trained assassin. She has been a slave and an assassin for many years and now she has a chance at a new life as a free woman if she can complete her final mission. Originally running from her Japanese master she is traveling under the guise as Lady Francis’s nursemaid so she can get her assignments from the head of the Queen’s Secret Service. She does not need any complications and Lord Ethan Clare is more than determined to be just that. She will not let her emotions get the better of her; she has a job to do.
When she gets hurt protecting the Queen, she awakens to find him at her bedside. She knows she is in trouble by the look in his eyes and is happy to be putting distance between them until she learns Ethan has been asked to help her uncover who the culprits are behind the attempt on the Queen’s life. Their union changes the destiny of many and attracts the attention of a madman who his determined to get the Blackamoor woman out of their lives forever.
Excerpt:
Ethan mumbled his frustrations and after a few strange looks he realized his mumblings were aloud and clamped his mouth shut before they carted him away to Bedlam.
He continued his search through the assembly catching the eyes of many winsome ladies; however none was the one he was looking for. He was about to give up his search when he heard a soft curse and a light shove against him. He released an agitated sigh and gland down at the bowed head of the woman rubbing at the side of her satin clad feet.
“Oh! Pray excuse me. I…” His words trailed off as she looked up at him and he found himself staring at HER.
Ethan felt immediately drawn to the stunned, yet open admiration he saw in her dark eyes before she had the chance to mask her initial reaction Afore God, I hath not imagined her beauty. His fingers tingled at the tips as his mind meandered over the smoothness of her earthy colored skin. He wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers along the lines of her exotic features tracing the broadness of her nose and the wicked fullness of her wide mouth. Would her reception of his hands on her person be as warm, smooth and inviting as she looked?
He took full advantage of his close vantage point and savored her still figure openly. A part of him was hesitant in fear that the moment would once again be fleeting.
She was dressed not harshly bejeweled or overly painted as the other women of the court. Her garb; a softly concocted attire, was simply cut like none he’d seen before.
Gentle silken folds of what seemed to be yards of red silk with small white embroidered flowers leading into a small train, made up the skirt. Ethan could see why he accidentally stepped on the train of what she wore. This manner of walking gown wasn’t the normal wide skirts shaped by yards of petticoats that assured a man keep his distance. It made him wonder what she wore beneath such a form-fitting garment.
His accessing eyes roamed back to the halo of long dark brown wavy frizzed hair glistened like polished wood flowing from a center part and tied loosely with a thin matching red satin ribbon.
This woman was too bold in her stare. She was not submissive like most slaves or servants. Ethan sensed no shyness or nor any intimidation that he usual received from those indentured. His rank in life usually called for servants look away or at the ground in his presence. He imagined the drudgery of a commoners’ life or being a Moor and living in a foreign land caused the servants to fear those that held their livelihood in their hands.
Still, he felt no fear coming from this woman even though assuredly she belonged to someone to be here amongst the nobles. The unknown woman had a certain poise and quiet strength about her that intrigued him. Her dark face was just an intro to the magnificence of her as a fairer sex. Her body was rounded yet firmly shape, her arms defined.
There were curves everywhere from the gentle shape of her high cheekbones, to the fullness of her lips and coquettish smile. He believed the one thing that attracted him most was her mysterious sable-brown eyes surrounded by sooty curled lashes.
“I thought I would never find you again.” He was the first to break the lingering silence between them.
“I was not missing.” She smiled. “Nor do I know why you would be searching for me milord unless you wish to purchase me a new gown.”
He found her throaty voice and soft laugh delectable.
Ethan smiled. “If a new gown is what you need that can be managed. Give me your name and the wherefore to find you and I will make the necessary arrangements.”
He caught her staring at his mouth. Most other women would not do so upon first meeting a man that wasn’t a member of her family. Then again, SHE was not like any woman he had met before.
Ethan saw Lady Frances nearby distractedly chatting with a friend of hers. He would owe Lucian a brandy and an apology; he had been correct.
“I was not serious milord.” She returned her gaze to his eyes. “If you would get your booted feet off my gown, I am sure it can be salvaged.”
“Pardon me?”
She looked down and he followed her gaze.
“Pray forgive me,” he stepped aside releasing the trail of her gown from beneath his dusty booted feet. His face reddened at the imprint and rent he saw upon the silken material. “I beg you allow me to at the very least mend the gown,” he insisted. “If you will bid me your name I will assure a seamstress finds you--”
“It is not that serious, milord. I…” She backed up as two people pushed their way between them.
Ethan gritted his teeth; his annoyance increased when more people pushed their way through, he found this was an impossible situation.
“Prithee can we mayhap walk the grounds to speak more freely?” He asked once they came together again.
“It is not possible.” She shook her head at him. “I am here because I have duties to fulfill milord, not to be your social distraction.”
“If you are Sir Walsingham’s daughter’s guardian, I assure you he will not protest if you and the child are in my care until I see you safely to your rooms.”
“It will be best if we did not speak again.” She stated allowing more to pass through. He noticed the gap was growing between them, but still she remained close enough that when someone accidentally knocked into her, his hand darted out to grab her forearm to steady her.
Immediately she withdrew from his hold with a mumbled apology.
“Please.” His smile broadened. He wasn’t smitten by his own appeal to women but he often used it to his will if the need arises and this time the need was arising.
Ethan felt breathless as an undeniable magnetism swarmed between them and his heart hammered foolishly in his broad chest as the blood coursed through her veins like an awakened river to his lax groin.
He could see from the emotions across her face she was wavering.
“Please, come with me.” His hand reached out to touch the warmth of her face when suddenly trumpets sounded overhead and people forged forward. The growing breach between them unexpectedly spread and all Ethan caught in his reaching fingers was the crimson ribbon from her hair releasing the obsidian tresses to the caresses of the warm breeze.
His frustrations knew no bounds as once again, he lost sight of her and he still didn’t know her name. He brought the ribbon to his nose and sniffed in deeply the essence of her scent before pushing it inside the laced opening of his shirt and held it securely against his heart.
www.shireemccarver.com
Friday, January 30, 2009
Harlequin Romance is giving away 16 FREE Ebooks!
They are having a big celebration and want to share it with their readers. Hey you can't beat free so take advantage!
http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/index.php
Ree
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
In one of the groups I belong to I realized that there are many dreamers of writing out there and there was a time that is all it could be was a dream because big name publishers make it very difficult to get your foot in the door. It would not always because of the books merit as much as it could be the books subject. Meaning they may have already bought 3 simular to yours or that particular editor that get's your book has issues with the race of your characters, or believe the aren't acting their "race". (you know I'm rolling my eyes on this one, don't you?) However, it's true. It happens. Or it could also be that they met you in person at a book convention and couldn't give you a business card to keep in touch or send their book to them because hey guess what, they just don't like you because the night before at the party they threw you were 3 sheets to the wind and danced on their toes. Hey! They are human, and good book or not those "human" emotions can change how the entire reception of said book works out for you. Hey, you could meet an editor who got blitz with you and demands (in a drunken stupor) to send that book to her or him because they are going to make it work! Yeah, right. It has to get through the other desk after their's so still no gurantees. With this said I will cut and paste a recent postings I made to my new online friend Karen in hopes that it will help some of you that may be wondering if your dream is worth the pitfalls.
******************************************************************************
Ree,
Thank for for reinforcing what I thought about writing I/R stories. If you self publish is it terribly expensive? I am between
a rock and a hard place whether to try and publish through a publisher or do it myself. I presume doing it yourself means
you have to do all the leg work. I like when you said which includes all your grammer errors etc. I like having
my work critiqued and sometimes I'm satisfied with just that person enjoying it. My biggest fear is being rejected not so
much by the publisher as I am the reader. Unfortuantely, I have a tendency to have grammer errors just at that point where
the story is rolling and that blip frustrates my reader trying to figure out what I'm saying. I've been encouraged to continue
and try to get published and I nod my head, but then, nothing. My feet freeze. I know I'm a decent writer, because when I
write a incident that happened for someone, I get the reaction I'm looking for. I can make the reader laugh, cry and feel
the other emotions of the people I'm talking about, so I know what it takes.
One day . . .
Karen
Karen,
You're welcome. If you go through Lulu then it's taken out of your sales so you need no out of pocket expense. They have a distribution packet you can buy if you want your work to be obtained through book stores and Amazon. They have staff that you can pay if you want them to edit...ect...I myself can't afford all of that as of yet so I do what I can with what I have. I'm on disability and I have two options to write the best story I can and put it out there on a wing and a prayer or to retire from writing because the reason I dont't work in an office anymore is because the stress flared of my illness.
The Doctor said I either make my new chosen profession work to the best of my abilities meaning the least stressful for me or I can't do it either. My readers are the best readers in the world and very patient and understanding with me while I've learned the writing process, relearned the basics of elementary English, bad formatting, bad publishers...ect. The fact that they ask me to continue putting out my works after all of this because my stories are worth it...it brings tears to my eyes and makes me feel less alone in this world. My books are the children I can't have, my hero's are the lovers I will probably never experience, and the heroines are the part of me I would have been if I could do my life over, or heck maybe they were me in a past life or a life to come. * LOL*
My motto that I will pass on to you is: "If you write it, readers will come". Will you be the next big name on everyone's lips? Well, probably not. But you couldn't feel more satisfaction from hundreds as you do with that one letter that one person takes the time out of their busy or strained life to tell you how much one of your books or all of your books meant to them or how they could relate to the heroine in some way...I swear they don't make an award that could give you that feeling of acceptance as a writer. Not in my book anyway.
So dump all the self doubt and write the best book you can. Blips are frustration not only to readers but to authors too. But I had blips with publishes, I've had blips with pre-readers and proofers so unfortunately it happens and the only time it's unforgivable is when the story isn't that interesting in the first place. Blips and a unfullfilling story makes disgruntal readers.
So if you know grammer is your weak point like I do, then do what I did, I keep a basic Elementary grammer book by my side and when you hit a writers block or need pre-readers turn to your fans, they will help you. My summer free reads that my readers encourage me along the way, have been some of my best books and even though I gave it away first, they sell really well. J-Pop, Eternally I do, Zaza and Sylus, All I Want for Christmas were all free reads first. If your story is good, then even giving it away won't stop it from selling later. I'm a reader too and I found that the books with the stories that touch me the most I want to read again some day or I want to support the writer so they will write more and I buy the book. The same thing applies to you once you become a publish writer. Put your soul into the book and blips or not people can't help but respond to that. Those who can't get past it enough to enjoy it, well you have to let it go unless everyone is complaining, then you know you have a big problem. However, not one that isn't fixable.
Most of this business comes with experience. This year I just learned how to properly format my books at Lulu. Mainly because the more pages your book is the higher it will be to your readers, and I'm not trying to break anyone and the good thing is Lulu gives you the option of ebooks and print. So you aren't forcing anyone to pay the cost of a paperback unless they want to. Just remember you sometime have to take a loss on the paper back to keep them cheap which means giving yourself a $1.50 a copy. The thing is think about your readers at all times. It's worth the little amount it brings in just to know your baby is in the hands of someone that cares to display you on their shelf or donate you to a local bookstore where somone else will discover you. Most of my revenue comes from ebook sells because if the book isn't printed, it isn't expensive to produce it.
I've been with publishers and with them you have blips that remain forever blips because they won't pull your book and make those corrections that you find after the fact. With Lulu you can pull your works and re-edit yourself once it's old in your head, or sometimes you have readers that will send you emails of stuff that jumped at them. I love being in control of my destiny and Lulu allows me that. With publishers, I waiting for checks that always seem to get lost in the mail before they reach me on the "second" go around. I rarely don't get progress reports to let me know how my sales are going and that "You have to do all the leg work". Unless you have a helluv of agent doing the leg work, you are still doing all the leg work with publishers. Most don't pay for advertising and if they do it may come out of your revenue so in the end you're paying for it anyway. Advances, just mean it takes longer to get your first paycheck and find out your progress...lol It's all in how you look at things.
The good thing about publishers is some people don't think it's a book worth reading unless it's published by a publisher they know, so you can reach those people. Also, publishers get your work into doors that may not be opened to you unless you can afford to buy a distributer package which you can always do later by using book revenue to do it instead of out of pocket. unless you're like me you need book revenue to make ends meet these days.
Out of all this which I probably will copy and paste to my blog just in case I've said anything that make a difference to anyone struggling to be a writer...lol...is, I want you to let go of all the self-doubt. If you don't, then like some online friends I known for over four years that are writers, four years from now I will still be waiting on the first or the next book from them. Some people make a career out of "becoming" a writer and never get one book published because they are trying to write that runaway bestseller for that big name publisher that will simply adore them from the moment that "irrisisitable bestseller" hit their desk. I say what a waste of talent. Think of what their resume would look like to that big name publisher if they had started publishing something....ANYTHING four years ago. So think of your worst to your best book as building your resume and becoming experienced, and most of all building a readership. Even an agent can't resist someone that is already proving they can do the leg work on their own and just want an agent to take them farther and the fact that you're bringing with you to that publisher a following doesn't hurt.
Remember, for every reader that rejects you which i know hurts the most so you remember it above the six that think you are the best thing since slice bread. In the end it's the one that think you're better then slice bread that matters. They will follow you to the end as long as they know you are being loyal to what you did to draw them in in the first place. The first time you sell out for what you think is the bigger picture they will also be the first to let you know they weren't pleased with the last book. It's true you are only as good as your last book, so you let it go and move on to the next book.
Don't sweat the small stuff or you will get writer's block. Don't try to write a book you think will sell because it will never be good enough. Don't try to impress those that aren't impressed because they may not like anything about you anyway. Don't try to be the next Jude Deverux because Ms. Deverux is still writing her own books. Don't try to write in the voice that belong to editors, readers, publishers, proofers, because editing and voice is two different things. If they start adding their voice to make your voice sound better, it's no longer YOUR voice and the readers will know the difference because the emotional pacing that it took to pen the story is a process. No one can come in at the 11th hour and say they know the character better than you and she would say that I think she would say this...BS. No one knows your character as well as you do, no one never will and sometime you write a character that even surprises the heck out of you, so no way that editor can make that change and you agree to it without a fight or an objection.
Editing me is one thing still the passion of my voice that inflames me is dulling my natural gift for putting words to paper and when it's time to write again I struggle against the voices because of the editors advice and when that happens you procrastinate, you give up and you think you're never good enough therefore you never write another book.
Don't say one day...
Say, Today is the day that I will do whatever it takes to get what I have to say, the way I want to say it out there. Reach out to those that are interested in what you are and don't reach out to those who don't. They don't matter because people read what they are interested in at the time based on whatever they are going through in their daily lives. You can't compete with that. If you do you are setting yourself up to fail at something that is simply a "dream of yours" not someone elses dream for you. Don't let self-doubt steal your dream. Don't assume readers will reject you because they will surprise you everytime on what they do and do not like. Also, most of all don't live for the praise because truly in this business no buzz about your book can be a good thing, because some don't talk about a book unless it's something negative. Not saying everyone is like that it's just easier to knock something down then to build it up.
Be encouraged and not discoraged. Be you when you right and we can't help but like you for it. Most of keep being honest to yourself and your readers about your faults and work on the things within your power to work on. But experience is only something you can gain by writing. God knows I've read some stinkers by some of the most successful writers. Stephen King for one, definately a mood writers. His books are and stories are based on his moods which is a sighn of a creative genuis but sometime genius even get it wrong to some of their readers. He wrote the Green Mile, Carrie...ect would do something to me like write the Tommy Knockers and Thinner. Never could forgive him for Thinner...and that television series which still has me asking what's up with the Ardvark???
So get writing. It is your friend.
Ree
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