Binge -- Writing and Reading

It is rare for me to binge write, especially on contracts. I'm not sure why this is so, except it might be one of those things that happens more joyfully when you're (when I was) unpublished.

Let the story grab you and just run with it.

Right now, Heart Journey is going well. I know what's going to happen in the next few chapters. Then SOMETHING ELSE WILL HAPPEN (that's not a teaser, it's an unknown transition bit), then I'll be on the road to the end of the story.

So much for binge writing.

Binge reading is another thing. I can sit down and read (and new books), one after another for a few days every month. I did that yesterday (3 books) and paid for it today. No matter that I say I can stay up to the wee hours of the morning reading, then sleep, then work, then nap and work again. I need to understand that this process really isn't right for me.

So find out what process is right for you and stick with it.
Robin (who still needs about 700 more words for her daily goal)

Covers -- Visualizations

I was talking to my Berkley editor and a light bulb went off over my head. I've been sending in cover art to match what I think of points in the book...but...she said things like "Heart Hope" are hard to visualize for the Art Dept.

Of course. But we are pretty much stuck in the "Heart" titles right now, and I don't recall any real heart shapes on the book for a while. For Heart Journey, I sent in a car (not futuristic enough) and a couple of characters from the City of Heroes program. Other stuff, too.

But, you know, if I was illustrating "Heart Journey" I'd have a road going up a mountain in the background.

So I will practice thinking of Heart titles that might be better visualized or offer something to the art department that they can visualize.

May you enjoy all you see today.
Robin

Quote -- James Cameron

"At the beginning of any writing project is the agonizing period in which nebulous ideas dance before the mind's eye like memories of a dream, and vaporous vague shapes take on human form and begin to answer to their names."

James Cameron

May your daydreams please you today.
Robin

Back Cover Copy -- Heart Journey

I spent this morning working on the back cover copy for Heart Journey. Which was due LAST Thursday. I mis-read/thought the message was about Heart Change, and didn't really understand it until last night and realized I'd screwed up.

So I spent this morning's word wars rewriting the copy to be a little punchier and actually include a hint of the plot.

I'll post here after a while, but I am not even done with the book, so it seems odd to be talking about the copy...

Anyway, I am not pleased with what is happening in the book (need more tension), and am hoping to really dig into it this week...though brother continues to work around the house and I find that very distracting.

So...Writing Advice for the day -- it appears that Heart Journey will be out in August of 2010 (unless I turn it in early, if I can, then it might get scheduled earlier). So it is 13 months out and I've done info on the cover and the back cover copy.

May you enjoy all your projects today.
Robin

Worldbuilding Rules & Revelation, Snap, Summoning

I don't know that I've ever spoken about this. But in the Summoning books, I DID have rules for the "Snap," that moment when the Earth women can decide whether they can return to Earth or stay in Lladrana.

And I made sure that I followed those rules. I had meant to lay it all out in book six/five (not that it would take too long), but it didn't seem to fit with the flow of the story.

So here it is (and if I've spoken about this, I'm sorry, I was thinking of worldbuilding rules last night):

The Snap occurs AFTER the Exotique has finished her particular task AND when she is experiencing emotional turmoil.

That's it.

Enjoy whatever rules you play by today.
Robin

Who Wrote That?

I'm not sure whether I titled this right, but I've been looking on amazon again (not at my stuff), and I've run into the "this author couldn't have written this book." And where/how/why this has come to pass in the reviews section, I don't know.
But the fact that such a comment on amazon is so widespread completely eludes me. Most of us don't have the money to share it with others who will write with us.

I don't know where the idea comes from or why it is so prevalent. Does anyone have any idea about this?

Personally, I know of only three of all the authors I know, who have had someone else write with them that are not acknowledged on the book. For two of these authors, it was a one-time deal, tragedy struck and they needed help (and no, I was not asked to give the help).

Remaining clueless...and may you have a good day today, (and bro about to turn off the electricity to mess with a ceiling fan).

Robin

Cliffhanger Book Endings

I don't think I've talked about this. I don't like cliffhangers. I think a book should stand on it's own. It IS true that the major fantasy arc of the Summoning books progressed throughout the series, but I wrapped up the major plot featuring the hero and heroine in each one.

In Heart Duel, I did leave a dangling plot, the Holly Family thing that carried all the way through to Heart Fate, but it was not the MAJOR plot, and you did know that Holm and Lark would be living happily ever after and knew where and what they would be doing.

But leaving the hero or heroine in danger...I don't think so. I can't see myself doing that unless the publisher requested it (or I do another serial).

I tend NOT to buy books that I know have cliffhangers...until the next one has been published.

What about you?

May you enjoy all the stories you hear today.
Robin

Running Late

Got up at 5:45 am and I am still running late. I read email instead of doing the blog. I think I want to get current with a couple of my loops...just to have my name out there...

I feel as if I've been around long enough that I'm being forgotten. So I'll be thinking of other ways (probably expensive), to promote myself.

If you all have ideas about what you like to see or where you pick up info on new authors/books you might like to read, just let me know.

May you have a wonderful day and never get behind.
Robin

Support Groups

You MUST have other writers as support groups. And make sure they ARE supportive and not negative. I've found that a "bad" thing said to me can hang around for years while a compliment disappears in the next ten minutes.

All right, artists of any type will help (my next door neighbor does art quilts/hangings), but writers will GET what you mean when you say out of sequence or the transition is rough or the black moment needs to be deepened.

You can burble on for hours and their eyes won't glaze over.

So, outside attending conferences for editors and agents to see your work, get there just for the warm (or frenzied) fuzzies.

That's my advice for the day. May you enjoy all your friends today.
Robin

Back and Blogger Comments

Hi, I am back, thanks for the emails, I got some, but the wifi didn't work unless you paid 12.96 for it...so instead of getting more days if it had been 9.99 (which I still don't like), I went a couple without.

I am glad to be home and discovered waterbed is harder than whatever I was deliciously sinking into. I took the name of the purveyor of feather pillows as I'd like a couple more.

It was good talking to editors and agent and seeing and talking with friends. I liked that the best. The touring of DC was ok, but my feets were about walked off and I fell in Dumbarton Oaks down a gravelled incline and wrenched my knee -- landed with it back behind me at a bad angle. Luckily I've been exercising and I don't think that the ligaments were hurt too badly, and the cartilege (sp) will heal -- though I know that takes time.

RE: the Blogger comments. I went in and changed the setting so it may work better. If you still have problems, let me know.

Thanks, and I'll be heading off to my word wars where I'll be pretty puny today, I think.

May you enjoy your home today.
Robin

Settings -- Some Places Haunt You

I don't know about you, but I dream of places all the time. And I'll dream of locations I've been, even if I don't recall where they are -- so if I run into them again, I get a surrealistic visual echo...and maybe a couple of flashes of dream images.

There were places in Georgetown that featured in my dreams. And a couple of places at Dumbarton Oaks, and even some streets here in DC. Some of this I anticipated, and some not.

I wanted to get back to Dumbarton Oaks when I was writing Heart Fate, because the secret garden of BalmHeal/First Grove was set there, but I couldn't swing it financially.

Soooo....my advice: just do the best you can with memory and make up with imagination...and don't use photos that you don't take without the permission of the photographer (which is why I have LOTS of Dumbarton, but not as many as I like because my battery gave out...luckily, since visiting Cliveden, I have a rule of going first to the place that I MUST have photos of.

May you enjoy all the images that come to mind today.
Robin

Quick Blog RWA

I am up, after the dance party of Harlequin last night, and walking the Mall yesterday in hot and muggy weather. My feet (never the best part of me), hurt, and did last night so I observed as much as danced. I had a good time and the (small) epiphany I had was that I know more people than I thought.

So networking, even for an introvert, works.

May you be pleased with your friends and acquaintances today.
Robin

Sigh...and tribes and the Heart Books.

When I knew I was going back to DC, I contacted my old sorority (yes, I belonged to one), and asked if they'd be interested in meeting with me. They said yes and I went out to visit the chapter tonight.

And bored the socks off them, even with my stories. I was not witty or charming or interesting, but rambled. When I stopped talking they livened up.

I should have stayed with my tribe. This tribe was too alien for me, younger, Eastern, politically oriented (as I was when I went to college). So I stepped out of my comfort zone, and good for me...but the reinforcement Inner Creative Child got was Don't Do This Again.

I need to stick with readers and writers. I'll remember this.

And though Inner Child was unhappy, Writer WAS taking notes on interactions...though all of me is tired after Agent appt and Editor appt...and the heat and humidity of getting around in DC during the day in general.

Agent convinced me that it might be too stressful to start another series. Another sigh.

Editor had a couple of things to say...they may be branding the books something like "Heart Title, A Celta Romance" and the "Heart" may go, since I think most readers don't keep the stories straight. I said I was fine letting sales and marketing get what they want. Editor also wanted to know if I was planning on winding up the series. I said I still enjoyed writing them and if they continued to buy them (and readers continue to buy them), I will be writing them.

I told her I did plan on skipping 15 years to the next generation and Laev (who...mumble...in Heart Change would be the first one I'd write about).

Heart Journey will stay as a title. (Sales and Marketing would like something more visual for my titles). Heart Hope will not fly as a title, so something will come up when I write Laev's story, and even though I love Heart Soar for Antenn because...mumble...I can't use it because, I mean, like, Soar/Sore? I don't THINK so.

That's the scoop. May you enjoy and be enjoyed by all the tribes you meet today.
Robin

At RWA 2009 -- and Input requested

I am here and have a few minutes before I need to meet with my agent. I heard at the airport on the way here that my new proposal for Luna was approved, YAY!

So that's a great relief.

I heard the cover conference for Heart Journey didn't go so well. Apparently he will be in a shadowy forest like thing with trees and they wanted him to be a warrior not an actor. But since he is not a warrior another tatt might work, or a amulet with a sword.

So, late last night I researched Lugh's Spear. Maybe a spearhead tatt, I am already thinking about how I can write it in and justify it. Maybe Celtic knotwork.

Where would you like to see his tatt?

Take care, now MUST go.
Robin

Off to RWA

Since I haven't heard regarding the new Luna proposal, this is a more nervous-making RWA than usual. I'll be checking in with both my editors and my agent. There will be cocktail and dance parties.

There will be old friends.

My Mom is going with me and will be touring DC on her own. We will both probably go to Dumbarton Oaks (the idea of which was the secret garden in the Heart books), so I can take many photos.

I finished up my page proofs on Heart Change late last night. There were some awkward sentences and my friend didn't like my motivation for the last fight of the book and the results, so I've changed that. Not many changes, a few lines.

To be honest, I had trouble looking at it.

That's all for now. I hope to check in with you all during RWA. Take care and may you have safe journeys wherever you go today.
Robin

After the End -- Luna Summoning Series

All right, here are Michele Oberland's questions regarding what happens to Lladrana after the last battle.



Hi again, Robin

I have to talk about the book some more... these thoughts have been plaguing me for the last three days.

I know I mentioned about Koz in the last note.
But you know, my thoughts could not stop there.

Now that the Dark has been vanquished -- What will happen to the Economy of Amee?
What will happen to the assayer when there are no more monsters to slay? The price will skyrocket towards the end once they realize that the hides etc will be at a premium and once they are gone, they are gone. What will he do for business then? Will a harvest of potatos replace the harvest of hides?

The fighters... after all they've trained for, lived for. There will be no more need for their services, their expertise. Like our soldiers returning from Iraq, how will they assimulate back into a peaceful society when they've not known anything except battle?
Will some experience Post Traumatic stress disorder?
They have to find a new niche in life. Don't they?
I expect the Exotiques to adjust a bit better because they lived so long on Earth, in peace... will they be the light to their mates and show them how to adjust to living without the threat of the Dark?

The Valorans - their sense of self worth seems to be attached to the honor they achieved by serving thieir human counterparts. They are sentient, how is this going to affect them?

With the loss of Bossgard.... will Koz take his place? Is he now the premier mirror wizard? Is it possible that Bossgard knew he'd not live through it and perhaps left something waiting for Koz if he moved into his castle??

Here's somthing else... The Dark concentrated on most of the land near and around the gong. But the whole planet was not under attack, was it? Is it possible there might be a portion of the planet that escaped the Dark's notice and attacks? A people? A specie? Something that was too fragile to fight back against the Dark and that is why Amee focused on people that lived on the land that housed the gong?

Is Amee truly done with the people that gave their all for her?

Sorry about the long list, but this is what your last book inspired - questions, wonderings, imaingings..what will life be like for everyone without the stress of trying to survive every minute of every day....

It has been a LONG time since a book series kept me in its grip long after the final read. Robin, does it HAVE to be final?

Michele

Robin D. Owens
July 6 at 3:33pm
Michele, sorry for the late reply, I've been living in a new Luna universe lately and then the Heart universe.

First, there are still horrors roaming around, brutish and not controlled by the Dark or the Master, but I can see them migrating (though they don't reproduce), and causing trouble for a few decades until they are all destroyed.

Ah, the Assayer did like his monsters. I think he shut up shop at the castle and moved to Castleton to do taxidermy and refurbishing on any that might come to him.

There is more trade for Lladrana now that they aren't fighting and can concentrate on business.

Regarding the Chevaliers. ALL of them had a life before they became Chevaliers. Some return and are well integrated into life. Some fight the horrors. Those who swore loyalty oaths to a lady or lord are still involved in that person's defense. A few went Bad, leaving others to clean 'em up.

Of course there are nightmares and PTSD. The Singer (Jikata) offers free help for these and can cure it. Not easily, but a real cure.

The Exotiques remain a close knit group and help each other through whatever problems they have. Bastien helps govern Lladrana, Jaquar pursues his studies, Marrec has settled into a life as a country squire and Sevair returned to his passion of architecture. Faucon is doing VERY well in his shipping empire and Luthan and Jikata spend time at both his estate and the Singer's Abbey. They have full lives.

I think the volarans are concentrating on a breeding program with the Earth horses, also are exploring the world with some of the Chevaliers.

Koz is the greatest mirror magician (I'm sorry I didn't have time or room to tell his story). He married another mirror magician, and they live near her home. He isn't as interested in trans-dimensional mirrors as Bossgond, so he hasn't continued in that direction. But Bossgond had a school with Marian and that school is ongoing. One of the students may take over his telescopes and his mirrors.

There is quite a thriving world outside of Lladrana (I have a world map on my website) and the globe in my "room" at http://www.robindowens.com is of Amee), both the City States to the East and Krache to the south are populous, as well as the islands in the Brisay Sea.

Amee continues to speak to the Singer in prophecies, but she is healing at a planetary rate (slowly).

Thanks for all the questions, they made me think! I hope the answers were helpful and not too contradictory.

Robin

Sat and Sun --If You Can Do This...LASR Best Book of the Week Poll

There is a weekend poll at The Long and the Short of It romance reviews-- asking which book or story sounds like the best read based on their reviews (and as you can see I am trying to skew it, as are the other authors, I'd imagine).

The winning author gets a nifty button and the privilege of having their book or story featured at the top of that page the entire next week!

"­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Echoes in the Dark" was reviewed by them this week and is up for Best Book honor this weekend (voting runs from Saturday, 7/11, through Sunday, 7/12).



http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/recentrev.htm

Many thanks, and may you enjoy wherever you show up today.
Robin

Cleaning up Files/Folders/Indices

This is a quick post, I need to get over and do a catsitting. Cali is lonely and my friend will not be home until Sunday...went over to a different friend's and shot her cat with insulin this am. They will be home today, thank heavens.

Today I cleaned up my files. I've actually been working in chronological order, but not naming new files. Instead, in my Chapters folder I had a 36 page Chapter 13, then Chapters 14a-i. :0

So I stuck them together, not looking at them very much, just for hooks that might be good.

Now I have Chapters 1-18, with a Chapter 19 working.

I ran up against a couple of scenes I'd done before. So it goes. Doesn't feel like I accomplished a great deal, but I think I have.

In any event, when was the last time YOU cleaned up your files? Do they need it? Consider this a reminder. ;)

I still have "bits," "weekendbit," "RazHouseBit" but I can live with those. I also messed around with Chapter 12.

So no new words to speak of.

May you feel accomplished today.
Robin

July Update is up

Another small excerpt from Heart Change. Worlds and Free Your Artist updated, too with general pics of Singer's Abbey in Echoes In The Dark.

Contest is for a mug with Windsor Castle on it, the general model for the Marshall's Castle.

I'm beat, I got one of those "we need cover art for Heart Journey" messages from my editor that is always sprung upon me one evening after business hours. Of course there is a HOUSE, and I couldn't find any good pics of it online, so since it's local I went and took some (a restaurant now).

Then I messed around with character generators at City of Heroes and got the best I could (mainly Raz's hair), with Raz and Del, though not very satisfied. Will post tomorrow, I suppose, so you can be dissatisfied with me. ;)

Enjoy your dreams.
Robin

What happens then? Series

I have read series that stopped in the middle -- the publisher didn't pick up the rest of the books or they didn't do well enough for the author to continue them or the author got tired of the ideas...whatever.

But there are also series that end, and have a pretty satisfying end, but people continue to wonder what happened and "foreshadowing" (hinting at what happens) isn't enough.


It's no secret that I had intended to weave Koz's story into book five or the lost book 6, but didn't have time. Luthan's and Jikata's romance would have been more developed as well as Luthan's character. He was a wild one for a while, before he saw how his example had affected his brother, Bastien, and I'd planned on bringing that out more. I could have written a novella about Julia and Trent, too. And there was another story that was set in the same universe...but I turned in Echoes in the Dark last year and it came out in January and I had a hard time promoting it since the rest of the books were out of print...so I am getting over that particular universe by now.

But I had a reader who had a multitude of questions regarding my Summoning series for Luna, and what happened later and wrote me on Facebook, so I took time to answer her questions. Since I DID stay in that universe for five/six books and several stories, I knew in general what had happened, and that's always a boon. I know some authors don't know what happened or have to struggle to think of that. I think it depends how well you know your world.

If you want more answers, let me know, and I will post it...or you can make up your own endings...I've done that myself with others' work.

Enjoy your own creative imaginings today.
Robin

Horror Novels, Endings

I don't read many horror novels, though, of course, I have read some of Stephen King's. But I have a daily quote I subscribe to and today's was:

"Anybody could write a horror story if you didn't have to end it." Dan Curtis

Since I don't know the genre, I didn't know that the ending should foreshadow that the Big Nasty the characters had been battling the entire book is Not Quite Dead and Will Return. (I didn't know this about the movies, either).

I am a Happily Ever After girl, I want the thing done and gone and dead dead dead and the characters to be rewarded for great effort. If i didn't want that, I'd have killed off more folk in Echoes In The Dark. I've seen reviews that Echoes was "unrealistic" in that too many people lived.

I THOUGHT I'd set up that with a whole planet on your side, there would be magic and power to heal even the worst of wounds...and if I didn't, then that's my fault, I needed to add another few bits here and there.

...and I had no idea that this blog was going to turn out this way!....I meant to talk about horror. One of the hallmarks of horror is that the Big Nasty does not die, and, like I said, the return is foreshadowed.

Rather like: And as Raine and the survivors sailed away from Glassy Island, deep in the smallest crack in the smallest crevice, curled around a lost finger bone, a tendril of dark stirred......

So, that's that, and pretty much all I know of the horror genre.

May you laugh and laugh today.
Robin

Readers For Life Autograph Signing Wednesday, July 15

Washington, D.C. Here's the List

2009 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing

Updated June 30, 2009

The "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing has become one of the most popular events at RWA's annual conference. More than 500 romance authors participate in this two-hour autographing event, and each year we raise thousands of dollars, which are donated to ProLiteracy Worldwide. Since 1991, RWA has donated more than $600,000 to literacy charities.

The 2009 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing takes place on Wednesday, July 15, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Exhibit Hall. This event is open to the public; there is no admittance charge. Sales of books purchased at the event go to literacy charities, and we ask that you purchase books at the autographing rather than bring copies you already own.

Authors: Please note that the deadline to register to sign at the event was April 30th. Questions may be directed to Erin at efry@rwanational.org or 832-717-5200, Ext. 122.

Click a letter below to search for an author by last name.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A
Shana Abe'
Cherry Adair
Jeanne Adams
C.H. Admirand
Ann Aguirre
Trish Albright
Rochelle Alers

Victoria Alexander
Donna Alward
Starr Ambrose
Karen Anders
Jessica Andersen
Bella Andre
Beth Andrews
Janice Angelique
Gina Ardito
Kelley Armstrong
Judith Arnold
Kristi Astor
TOP

B
Nina Bangs
Leanne Banks
Maya Banks
Gail Barrett
Gerry Bartlett
Michelle Beattie
Zelda Benjamin
Jules Bennett
Heidi Betts
Elizabeth Bevarly
Jo Beverley
Jenna Black
Shayla Black
Toni Blake
Mary Blayney

Ally Blue
Sherrill Bodine
Beate Boeker
Stephanie Bond
Joanna Bourne
Celeste Bradley
Eden Bradley
Shelley Bradley
Kate Brady
Mary Brady
Kylie Brant
Jean Brashear
Allison Brennan
Dee Brice


Terri Brisbin
Suzanne Brockmann
Cheryl Brooks
Nina Bruhns
Emily Bryan
Jan Burke
Niki Burnham
Jillian Burns
Juliet Burns
Monica Burns
Mary Burton
Shannon K. Butcher
Christyne Butler
Victoria Bylin
TOP

C
Gayle Callen
Stella Cameron
Anna Campbell
Laurie Campbell
Linda Cardillo
Kate Carlisle
Eileen Carr
Robyn Carr
Ally Carter
Sammi Carter
Kathryn Caskie
Carla Cassidy

Jax Cassidy
Linda Castillo
Kendra Leigh Castle
Toni McGee Causey
Angela Cavener
Michelle Celmer
Janet Chapman
Elise Chidley
Tera Lynn Childs
Ann Christopher
Beth Ciotta
Rosemary Clement-Moore
Debra Clopton
Julie Cohen
Kresley Cole
Linda Conrad
Kristina Cook
Nicola Cornick
Leigh Court
Christie Craig
Susan Crandall
Gwyn Cready
Jenny Crusie
TOP

D
Victoria Dahl
Claudia Dain
Jacquie D'Alessandro
Jordan Dane
Lauren Dane
B.J. Daniels
Kathleen Dante
Livia Dare
Tessa Dare
Jo Davis
Stephie Davis
Gia Dawn
Geralyn Dawson

Alyssa Day
S.J. Day
Gail Dayton
Janet Dean
Cindy Dees
Ann Defee
Jomarie Degioia
Robyn DeHart
Roni Denholtz
Kathrynn Dennis
Anna Depalo
Anna DeStefano
Carol Ann Didier
HelenKay Dimon
Lucienne Diver
Marie Donovan
Susan Donovan
Kate Douglas
Cecelia Dowdy
Lindsay Downs
Marissa Doyle
Dianne Drake
Laura Drewry
Judy Duarte
Barbara Dunlop
Meredith Duran
TOP

E
Denise Eagan
Jennifer Echols
Cynthia Eden
Anne Elizabeth

Leanna Ellis
Mary Ellis
Dianne Emley
Suzanne Enoch
Jennifer Estep
Wendy Etherington


TOP

F
Charlotte Featherstone
Lilli Feisty
Judi Fennell
Tina Ferraro
Gaelen Foley
Marie Force
Delores Fossen
L.L. Foster
Lori Foster
Angie Fox
Calista Fox
Barbara Freethy
Jeaniene Frost
Caroine Fyffe
TOP

G
Susan Gable
Colette Gale
Shelley Galloway
Jenny Gardiner
Terri Garey
Tracy Garrett
Diane Gaston
Olivia Gates
Brenda Gayle
Maria Geraci
Cindy Gerard

Rachel Gibson
Blythe Gifford
Dara Girard
Deeanne Gist
Debby Giusti
Colleen Gleason
Candace Gold
Anne Gracie
C.S. Graham
Donna Grant
Samantha Graves

Allegra Gray
Shelley Shepard Gray
Alexa Grayson
Chris Marie Green
Crystal Green
Jennifer Greene
Leigh Greenwood
Laura Griffin
Andrew Gross
Laura Lee Guhrke
TOP

H
Nancy Haddock
Shirley Hailstock
Cathy Marie Hake
Linda Hall
Jan Hambright
Lori Handeland
Fiona Harper
Julia Harper
Karen Harper
C.S. Harris Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Candace Havens
Karen Hawkins
Rachel Hawthorne
Jennifer Haymore
Lorraine Heath
Rita Herron
Kate Hewitt Kristan Higgins
Cindy Holby
Diana Holquist
Anne Hope
Linda Howard
Hannah Howell
Elizabeth Hoyt
Madeline Hunter
Samantha Hunter
TOP

I
Laura Iding
Jessica Inclan
Jackie Ivie

TOP

J
Brenda Jackson
Holly Jacobs
Eloisa James
Julie James
Marcia James
Victoria Janssen
Sabrina Jeffries
Kathryn Jensen
Carolyn Jewel
Kate Johnson
Joan Johnston
Linda O. Johnston
Linda Winstead Jones
Crystal Jordan
Sophie Jordan
Julia Justiss

TOP

K
Mallory Kane
Tammy Kane
Virginia Kantra
Donna Kauffman
Robin Kaye
Barbara Keaton
Christie Kelley
Vanessa Kelly
Janette Kenny
Lavinia Kent
Jackie Kessler
Kimberly Killion
Laurie Kingery
Cindy Kirk

Mindy Klasky
Angela Knight
Deidre Knight
Sharie Kohler
Jayne Ann Krentz
Susan Krinard
TOP

L
Pamela Labud
Marianne LaCroix
Kimberly Lang
Ruth Ryan Langan
Leslie Langtry
Julia Latham
Sharon Lathan
Stephanie Laurens
Anthea Lawson

Jade Lee
Julianne Lee
Allison Leigh
Leah Leonard
Ann Lethbridge
Caroline Linden
Julie Linker
Sophie Littlefield
Carrie Lofty
Christine London
Julia London
Julie Anne Long
Kathleen Long
Dianna Love
Gennita Low
Jennie Lucas
Janice Lynn
Susan Lyons
TOP

M
Heather MacAllister
Ann Macela
Sally MacKenzie
Julianne MacLean
Sarah MacLean
Donna MacMeans
Debbie Macomber
Michelle Maddox
Tracy Madison
Margo Maguire
Kelly Maher
Susan Mallery
Anne Mallory
Margaret Mallory
Catherine Mann
Michelle Marcos
Shirley Marks
Deb Marlowe
Melissa Marr
Kat Martin

Sandra Marton
Delilah Marvelle
Jessica Matthews
Cathy Maxwell
Melissa Mayhue
Amanda McCabe
Penny McCall
Monica McCarty
Sharron McClellan
Mary Kay McComas
Judi McCoy
Cathy McDavid
Loucinda McGary
Amanda McIntyre
Emily McKay
Terry McLaughlin
Fran McNabb
Susan Meier
P.J. Mellor
Marliss Melton Christine Merrill
Jess Michaels
Tanya Michaels
Tanya Michna
Trish Milburn
Tricia Mills
Brenda Minton
K.A. Mitchell
Sara Mitchell
Lisa Mondello
Jill Monroe
Pamela Montgomerie
Tracy Montoya
Alexis Morgan
Pamela Morsi
Janet Mullany
Debra Mullins
Hannah Murray
Cindi Myers
TOP

N
Pati Nagle
Sophia Nash
Elisabeth Naughton
Carla Neggers

Miranda Neville
Stephanie Newton
Tara Nina
Kate Noble

Celeste O. Norfleet
Nicole North
Brenda Novak
TOP

O
Teagan Oliver
Barbara O'Neal
Teryl Oswald
Robin D. Owens

TOP

P
Sharon Page
Pamela Palmer
Linda J. Parisi
Daryn Parke
Lydia Parks
Sarah Parr
Beth Pattillo

Kate Pearce
Marta Perry
Jenna Petersen
Carly Phillips
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Andrea Pickens
Barbara Pierce

Caridad Pineiro
Berta Platas
Allie Pleiter
Rhonda Pollero
Robin T. Popp
Patricia Potter
Mary Jo Putney
TOP

Q
Julia Quinn
Tara Taylor Quinn

TOP

R
Radclyffe
Tessa Radley
Sophia Rae
Francis Ray
Deanna Raybourn
Christy Reece
Terri Reed
Joanne Rendell
Sophie Renwick
Abigail Reynolds
Patricia Rice
Emilie Richards
Alix Rickloff
Christie Ridgway
Serena Robar
Elizabeth Robards
J.D. Robb
Nora Roberts
Sheila Roberts
Farrah Rochon
Joanne Rock
Maya Rodale
Elisabeth Rose
Emilie Rose
Esri Rose
Karen Rose
Patricia Rosemoor
Pam Rosenthal
Ann Roth
Robin L. Rotham
Stephanie Rowe
Michelle Rowen
Jeannie Ruesch
Jaime Rush
Gerri Russell
Roxanne Rustand
Hank Phillippi Ryan
Renee Ryan
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S
Sharon Sala
Lynsay Sands
Lara Santiago
Anna Schmidt
Laurie Schnebly Campbell
Melissa Schroeder
Kathleen Gilles Seidel
Jill Shalvis
Kathryn Shay
Maggie Shayne
Alisa Sheckley
Kandy Shepherd
Gena Showalter

Eve Silver
Elaine Sims
Elizabeth Sinclair
Kira Sinclair
Liane Gentry Skye
Kathryn Smith
Jeri Smith-Ready
Maria V. Snyder
Teresa Southwick
Kerrelyn Sparks
Roxanne St. Claire
Jennifer St. Giles
Kelley St. John Wendy Corsi Staub
Raz Steel
Natale Stenzel
Shelli Stevens
Mariah Stewart
Kay Stockham
Pamela Stone
A.Y. Stratton
Anne Stuart
Mary Sullivan
Cara Summers
Gillian Summers
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T
Karin Tabke
RaeAnne Thayne
Kay Thomas
Melody Thomas Sherry Thomas
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
Colleen Thompson
Ki Thompson
Missy Tippens
Jessica Trapp
Janet Tronstad
TOP

V
Bonnie Vanak
Susan Vaughan
Rachel Vincent

TOP

W
Tina Wainscott
Kate Walker
Shiloh Walker
J.R. Ward
Christine Warren
Linda Warren
Tracy Anne Warren
Margaret Watson
Jeannie Watt
Wendy Wax Christine Wells
Robin Wells
Christine Wenger
Karen Whiddon
Karen White
Loreth Anne White
Diane Whiteside
Merrillee Whren
Lori Wilde
Elissa Wilds

Beth Williamson
Lauren Willig
Michelle Willingham
C.L. Wilson
D.J. Wilson
Pearl Wolf
Tracy Wolff
Veronica Wolff
Lenora Worth
Leigh Wyndfield
TOP

Y
Rebecca York
Karen Young
Michele Ann Young

I'm getting excited about the conference. May you be excited about something fun today!
Robin

Outlines

I dreamt I was asked to do a chapter by chapter outline for my Luna book and failed. Outlining serves many people, and the synopsis is there to show the editor how the story hangs together (which wasn't true in the case of Time Shifter), but outlining is not something I do easily.

And people who outline are doing what is right for them, but doesn't work for me. Even then, I think most folk discover the characters grow and change and may toss out the outline.

For me, the time when I "outline" most is when I am coming to the end of the book and I know the order of scenes. This is about 2-3 weeks out and if I write down 7 scenes they will probably get up to 10 or so.

I heard that for Nocturne, you need to provide a chapter by chapter outline and that would just be too hard for me, so though I considered Nocturne (and I haven't been writing as alpha heroes as they prefer), I am hesitant to think about them further.

So, if outlines work for you (and mentor has found that they are better for her when it comes to the middle of the book), I am pleased for you.

But I am sure that I/you/every writer needs to write the way they find best works for them. And the best editor is someone who points out "this doesn't make sense" and let's you figure out how to fix it.

Now I will be continuing to write today. If you're of USA, have a happy independence day holiday! If you're Canadian, I hope you had a good Canada Day, and if you are the rest of the world, enjoy your Saturday.
Robin

Gotta Write! Bottom Line Question

When I was in my long term relationship where I was giving 75% and he was giving 25% and before I began seriously writing (you see where my energy was going, right?), I couldn't watch Singing In The Rain, which is one of my favorite movies.

There are a lot of wonderful scenes in Singing In The Rain, but the one that was hard was "Gotta Dance!" when Gene Kelly is looking for a theatrical agent. I could NOT bear that number because the character was following his dream and I was not.

That was then and this is now, but "Gotta Write!" is something that lives in me.

I've been depressed, as you all might have figured, with Tommy's sickness and death and the tough revising of the Luna proposal. It wasn't until today that I could get back into Heart Journey.

So it took me four hours to make my goal, but I made it and Del (heroine) and Raz (hero) surprised me with their first (real) love scene. Whew.

And I feel SO MUCH better. Juices flowing again. Yay!

That brings me to a question that I use as one of my bottom line questions as to whether folks are writers (and, ironically, the person who originally gave me this question no longer writes much, but is a QUILTER).

Do you feel better when you've written?

If so, then you may be a writer.

I feel better! Almost as good as Del after fast and furious HeartMate sex (well, no, not that good), but pretty good.

May YOU feel good today.
Robin

Page Proofs - Galleys -- Electronic

I got the page proofs (galleys) for Heart Change yesterday (see image below). Since this whole thing has been done electronically, the page proofs are in pdf. Usually at this point, in the paper way of things, I would take the copy edits and the page proofs to my friend who line edits for typos and punctuation for me (though Berkley's idea of punctuation and mine and hers are different).

However, I didn't want to force her to look at the hideous electronic copy edits I got and have to compare somehow on screen. She, like most of us, has only one screen.

So I just sent her the pdf files and told her to tell me if any strange choreography occurred or something. **Sigh** So, we will hope, as usual, that very few mistakes go through. I've come to accept that some mistakes may always get through. My friend, who hasn't read the book, DOES occasionally get caught up in the story.

Anyway here's a sample.

May you enjoy your work, Robin


All rights reserved; copyright © Robin D. Owens. The text contained within may not be reproduced in whole or in part or distributed in any form whatsoever OR SOLD without first obtaining permission from the author.

Never Quit

I'm tired from errands and heat and trying to get back into Celta instead of the new Luna universe, and still grieving and rearranging the house with regard to the absence of Tommy...so I wondered what I could say that would be short and pithy and important.

Never quit.

Determination plays a HUGE role in whether you are published. It is the most important quality to have.

So if you want to write...or paint...or be a photographic artist or soft materials artist (like my neighbor next door), never quit.

There, the rule of three, repeated thrice for importance.

May you enjoy all aspects of your evening and night.
Robin