Online communities and happy writers

I've had a lot of great discussions about the valuing art post I did, and I have to say, I love the online writing and reading community. Even when we disagree, we can have lively discussions. Oh, sure, all online communities have their nutballs, but I do love being able to talk writing and books and be the introvert I am.

Though if you tell my wife I'm the quiet, sweet one, she falls over laughing

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Julia

Just call me Sneezy

writing day! yay

Can't breathe, boo

Day off walking the dogs! Yay

Dogs very sad, boo

I like the new Dr Who, yay

I still haven't watched the Matt Smith seasons, boo

House is clean, yay!

Yard is a mess, boo

And now, for a random picture

Rocky Mountain National Park at the end of JUNE

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Julia

Valuing our work, or how romance writers get a little screwed

So, I was sitting at a reception at the UU church today, where I unexpectedly met a woman who runs a relatively well-known literary conference. She gets guests such as Gloria Steinem and Tracy Chevalier (Girl with the Pearl Earring). She handed me and BA card when she heard we were writers, but when we mentioned we were mostly e-published romance authors, the first thing out of her mouth was, "Oh, that .99 to 2.99 bundle crap? Or do you do anything high end?"

I get the .99 bundle. I really do. As an long-time ebook industry professional, I know that if you can offer the first book in a series, or a 20K short in an otherwise series full of novels, as part of a multi-author bundle, it will get a bunch of new folks exposed to your work. Hell, I buy bundles happily. For the reader they make the book budget stretch and allow us to try new authors with little commitment.

Still, I can't help but think of an old professor I had in college who doubled as an art and English professor. He often talked about devaluing art, about how people would exclaim, "My dog could do better work than this!" and about how damaging that statement was to the arts in general.

See, maybe the dog could do that. Maybe anyone with a PC and a Harlequin formula guide can write a romance.

The thing is, though, that it takes practice, persistence, and nerve to make art, literature, or music, whether classical or popular, and to share it with the world. So, we have to place a value on it.

Do I believe we should charge 15.99 for an ebook because that's what we charge for a paperback? Heck, no. But I do cringe when I see someone complain that they paid 1.99 for a lousy 5000 word story. Ouch. I mean, I wrote it. I didn't think it was lousy. Neither did the reader. They loved the story, but doesn't that author know they can get a bundle for .99?

So many people already question the validity of writing and reading romance. As a genre, we get the pats on the head, the sorrowful chin waggle. Our local indie bookstore here in Albuquerque has a mystery section. Horror, sci fi. Not romance, even though we account for fully a quarter of all books sold in the world every year.

So, I have to wonder. If we don't put a higher value on our genre, on our work, how will anyone else?

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Julia

so tired

and freezing cold. I think my stress levels are just up too much and hormones are nuts

what does a girl have to do to get a sponsor?

I was playing around on Twitter with Jenny Trout, a writer I quite admire, who recently got a box of clothes from Modcloth, a wonderful retail site that carries all sorts of stuff, including the cutest plus sized dresses ever.

I was teasing her about having an official "designer", and said I needed to get a sponsorship from Old Navy, since I wear their yoga pants everywhere.

In all seriousness, y'all, this is a great idea. I warm to the topic. I wear their slub hoodies all winter long. The thin ones that you can wear as another layer, the ones that you can wear to bed and not be to hot. I wear their long, best fit tank tops every day under my other shirts to smooth out the bumps and lumps of my middle aged spread.

I love their holiday pig banks.

So, I think Old Navy should sponsor me since they do pride t-shirts every year and I'm a GLBT author.

My only other option really is Chocolove or something...

What do y'all think?

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Julia

The Queen City and Julia or AAD in Charlotte

Hey y'all

It has taken the better part of a week to recover from AAD. I did 6 panels, a bunch of parties, and a ball, all on a torn up ankle and about 4 hours of sleep a night. There was madness and rushing around and laughing like loon.

I can never list all the people I got to see and love on, but Kiernan Kelly, TC Blue, Bronwyn Green, Kris Norris, Jenny Trout, Elise Hepner and Joey w Hill were among the many authors who made the week amazing. Readers, I shout out to all, but Jackie had my glasses!

I presented at the Bookies and got to give an award to Desiree Holt. How cool is that?

No Bookies for me this year, but BA won best hero in a romance for Brett, from Alpha Call.

I thought Pride had the best tables at the Sins and Virtues ball thanks to Andrew Gray's decorating prowess. What do y'all think?

We had a blast, and there was so much swag. I got BA to get a signed copy of Joey Hill's Rough Canvas but the booksigning was so busy I didn't get to get up and buy books from anyone else.

Here's a few more pics.

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Julia

I have to talk about all of the things!

okay, y'all.

I know all promo all the time is bad, but I have so much going on!

I have Authors After Dark in Charlotte, NC August 6th through the 10th. That's Wednesday night through Saturday. Wednesday I'll be hosting the opening party with Kiernan Kelly and BA Tortuga. That's at 4pm. We're all presenting at the Bookies Thursday night. I'm on a metric shit-ton of panels. On Saturday I'll be at the big booksigning, signing both Designated Bottoms and Midnight Rodeo. Come see me!

One-Eyed Jack's story is out at Changeling Press. The third elemental ops book is called Found, and it's all about analyst Lane and Ops second in command Jack. Find it here!

Dragons!

Oh, and Designated Bottoms is out this week! OMG y'all. Me, BA Tortuga, Kiernan Kelly, Shannon West, Katey Hawthorne and KC Wells. Seriously, it doesn't get better than this. Find it here!

Some men are bottoms by birth, others by choice. Whatever the reason, a designated bottom is someone who’s happy to surrender, to submit, or just catch instead of pitch!

My story, Faster Bobcat, is also available as a single here.

I'll have DB at Authors after dark, and Shannon, BA and Kiernan will all be there to sign!

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Julia

so much goodness going on

I love my life. I really do.

Now if I could just get my ankle to heal up

Meep

Have a picture of randomness

been drowning in paperwork

trying to buy a house

They took our offer, we're approved for the loan for now, and we're hoping to close in Sept. O.O

Meep

Hugs

Julia

Banner week! Midnight Rodeo release

y'all

I have a book out with the wildly talented BA Tortuga and Kiernan Kelly

It's called Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming

Paranormal rodeo. OMG so neat.

Here's the official blurb

What happens when rodeos start to get too tough for humans to compete in? Midnight Rodeo, of course, where supernatural creatures like shifters and vampires work for the prize money, and for the awe of their audience.

In Welcome to the Pack by BA Tortuga, when head bullfighter Denton is killed by a demon bull, his twin, Denver, comes back to take his place. Denver was gone for years, working mundane rodeos and missing his twin. He’s not sure the pack can heal him since the other bullfighters challenge Denver at every turn. All except Blaine, who’s an outcast himself, and who knows Denver is like no one he’s ever met.

In Oklahoma Rain by Kiernan Kelly, psychic Blaze scouts locations for the rodeo company, Darque and Knight, where he finds another psychic talent, Zack, who’s hot as the Fourth of July. Zack is complicated, though, thanks to his sidekick, Mikey, a damaged kid. Blaze invites the pair back to the rodeo, but not everyone is as happy as Blaze to have them there.

In Big Bear, Little Bear, by Julia Talbot, bear shifter Ben is returning to the rodeo after a long injury recovery. Big bear shifter Ozzie is the barrel man and clown, and he’s been waiting for Ben to come back to the big show. But is Ben ready to ride again, let alone be the lover Ozzie is ready to take on?

You can get it here!

Yay!

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Julia

Snippet Sunday

here's a bit from Elemental Ops 3, releasing in August from Changeling Press

A dragon.

Jesu Cristo. What the hell was he gon’ do with an orange, high falutin’, female dragon.

Jacques looked at Serena, who had color back in her scales now that she and him, they’d bonded like they was supposed to. He smiled a little. He was gonna love her. That was what he’d do. After that, well, he had no idea.

Serena looked at him, rolled her eyes. Silly human.

“Well, I didn’t know dragons existed ‘til just these last days.”

She snorted, but she was pleased, he could tell. Her tail said so, the end flicking his ear. Crazy beast.

He glanced around, realizing the other dragons, and his team, had left them alone. Shit, how much time had passed? Hours? Days? His belly rumbled like Keon’s big dragon Damien was in there.

Her head tilted. Hungry?

“I am, cher. Starving.” He could eat an alligator.

Show you. Serena led the way, making oddly musical noises. Dragon humming.

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Julia

Chosen Wolf release

So, my first Minerva Howe book is out!

That's my new hot BDSM nick, remember?

Out from Resplendence Publishing, it's Chosen Wolf

Brantley is perfectly happy with his life. He has a good job, a strong wolf pack behind him, and a trip into Denver every so often to take care of his needs. So when the Pack has the kind of meeting that only happens once in a blue moon, he's more annoyed than worried. At least until the meeting turns out to be the stuff of Pack legend, with a vampire appearing to choose a new guardian from all of the eligible male wolves.

Vampire Paul has a good arrangement with the Moonlight Mountain pack. He gets to choose a wolf as his guardian, and they get a draught of his blood to strengthen their line. His connection with Brant is immediate, and he knows Brantley will be the first guardian in maybe centuries who will match him need for need. Paul likes games of dominance, likes to put his guardians to the test. Brantley is pretty sure he doesn't even like men, let alone a vamp who's into whips and chains. Can Paul convince Brantley that they really are made for each other?

This is the first in a series, too, y'all! Make them want book two for me and go buy it? (grins)

Find it here!

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Julia/Minerva

New Releases! Minerva Howe and Julia!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I have two releases today. One is the newest in my Full Moon Dating. (Each book can be read on its own, but the first two are Aiden and Ben and Coy and Denver. The new one is Evgeny and Feng, and here's the cover!

Find it here!

And here's the blurby

Tiger shifter Evgeny worries that he’ll never find a lover who can stand up to his sheer size and strength. He’s scared off more than one man, which is why he turns to Harve and Stone at Full Moon Dating. He wants someone who can deal with his tiger self and not run away.

Acrobat and snow leopard Feng is all over Ev’s physicality. He’s used to working without a net, so he’s not afraid of anything Ev can dish out. Especially since Feng finds Ev far gentler than anyone would expect. They’re determined to make a two-city love affair work, so when Feng disappears, Ev will move heaven and earth to find him.

Stay tuned for all the info on Minerva Howe's release.

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Julia

Who is Minerva Howe?

She's me. Julia. No worries about that.

She's a bit harder edged when it comes to the sex. A bit less spanky and light, more whips and chains.

Minerva is my way of giving my readers a choice. If you see a Minerva release, it will have some serious sexy in it, with toys, bondage, that kind of thing. I've been asked more than once to let people know when a story of mine would go that way, and this is my chance!

Minerva was my gran's middle name. Howe was my wife's dad's mom's maiden name. Both of these ladies were pioneers, rebels, feminists, if you will. My gran was a flapper, she had erotica and vibrators in her house when she died at age 90. BA's gran was a slacks-wearing, fearless broad. I couldn't pick a better name for my sexier stuff.

Tomorrow is my first Minerva release from Resplendence Press. It's a m/m paranormal with a vampire and his chosen werewolf guardian. I'll post more tomorrow!

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Julia

Happy Independence Day

back to work

working on a f/f super short for Don't Feed the Alligators. A new m/m for Dreamspinner. A femdom for EC...

Not dead

We went on our honeymoon! 10 glorious days in Colorado. I will post pics this week.

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Julia

we interrupt Snippet Sunday

to say

We got married!

BA and Julia 06/15/2014

wordless wednesday

Missed Snippet sunday

I'm a bad dog. I feel a little disjointed today, a little out of whack. Yesterday was a great day, though. Went to the UU church (my girl asked me to try, for her. Church and I are not mutually exclusive, exactly, but we're not buds) Good service. Then it was off to the garden show, then Chinese for lunch. We got some neat garden ideas. I'll be making my girl a table type bird feeder for the front yard for the quail and doves. We walked the dogs, too, which is always a gamble once it gets hot. Sonny, the boy basset, had a bad vet visit his last time out. Chunky, if you will. After walking daily for 3 weeks, he's back in fighting trim. Boom.

And now, in lieu of content, have a hot guy

Also, Teamwork is out at ARE, Amazon and B&N

More dragons, more Elemental Ops action, more Keon and Ice

Check it out here on ARE

Better day tomorrow

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Julia