I wrote a funny post over at the Riskies, but is it possible no one gets it?
Archive for the ‘Blogging’ Category
Risky?
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
The Strange Case of Person X
Sunday, August 7th, 2011I check my WordPress spam to make sure no one gets unfairly caught there. Other than for my spam contest a while back when 3-4 comments got trapped (good work, people!) there’s only been one or two legitimate comments that got caught in spam. But I look just in case. I also check my pending comments to be sure spammers don’t sneak in.
So, a while back, I had a comment held for my review. It was from someone I’ll call Person X. The comment originated from an IP address belonging to a major publisher (Publisher X) who I do not write for. Cool, I thought. Someone at Publisher X is checking my blog from work and leaving comments! The comment was a bit . . . strange in that, well, it seemed to fall into this strange space between obvious spam and a reader actually interested in me and my writing. But I approved the comment and went on.
I got a couple more comments over time from Person X and they were in that strange space as noted. The email came with enough information for me to make a pretty good guess at Person X’s name and, of course, I knew this person had, at minimum, access to Publisher X’s email system. Anyway, turns out Person X works at Publisher X and also writes at some other places. And then I got an actual email from Person X because Person X works on a new community for Publisher X and wanted me to pimp the community, but Person X made no reference to previous visits and comments to my blog.
First, Dear Person X of Community X of Publisher X, I do mean to do that, but I’m snowed under at work and with my own deadlines right now. But you’re in my queue of things I need to get around to.
Anyhoo, is that strange to visit, leave “off” comments, then hit me up for the pimping without mention of the connectedness of the two behaviors? Maybe I was so strangely compelling a blogger (Hey! That’s possible!) that Person X just HAD to comment, but not being a real fan of Romance Person X felt guilty for being engaged by a Romance Author kind of against their will (deliberate gender obfuscation there, not just bad grammar). And to this day, Person X is having strange dreams about reading my books or feels the unsettling compulsion to read an actual romance and is terribly conflicted.
What do you think?
News and Celebration-y Stuff
Tuesday, April 5th, 20111. I blogged today at the Girlfriend’s Bookclub about My Other One True Love.. I can hear the gasps. Who, besides Alexander Skarsgard, could that be? Go visit the blog. There’s a picture.
2. The special, limited time, $0.99 price for Lord Ruin is live at Amazon. You can pick it up here. B&N isn’t showing the special price yet, but hopefully very soon!
3. I haven’t forgotten about the Rename the Blog contest, but I have to go make word count before I can announce the results and winner.
What’s in a Name? Contest!
Monday, March 21st, 2011Next month will be the 10 year anniversary of my blog. I’m considering changing the name. It’s been “Writer’s Diary” for 10 years. Maybe it’s time for a change. But what should I call my blog instead?
Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments, or plead with me to keep the name (Oh, yeah? And what will you give me if I do that?) I’ll leave the contest open until Midnight Pacific, March 31.
I’ll send one commenter a prize. Maybe two if two of you are awesome.
1. No Purchase necessary
2. Void Where prohibited.
3. I will think about a suitable prize. I will try to think of a worthy prize.
Go.
P.S. Some of you are wiseacres. Well done.
Over at Heroes and Heartbreakers today!
Sunday, March 6th, 2011I have a blog post over at Heroes and Heartbreakers. Genus, Genre, Genius, or, as I like to call it, the Dangers of Not Reading Romance. Check it out! I talk about sea slugs. And some other stuff.
Announcement, Good News and a Story coming your way
Monday, February 14th, 2011MacMillan, which as you may know, does the Tor.com website, has launched a publisher-neutral Romance website called Heroes and Heartbreakers. The site is live today, Monday February 14. Full disclosure: I’m going to be blogging for them from time to time and I’ve also written a short story for them called The King’s Dragon. You can read the teaser today, by the way. Check out the awesome artwork!
I’ll tease you a little more about the story. It’s set in a Fantasy world in which humans and a race of elves don’t exactly get along anymore. The hero is a half-breed and a warrior, terribly scarred. I think you’ll love this story and hope you’ll take a look at the teaser and admire the beautiful artwork. When the story is released on the website, you’ll need to register at the site to read it. The story rocks, people. It really does. I LOVED writing it. I’ll post to the blog when it’s live, of course.
The website has some pretty awesome content — there are excerpts of upcoming books from Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas and Cat Adams, as well as stories, blogs and contests. Check it out. I think it’s going to be a great community for readers who love romance.
I guess I owe you one
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011Crazy times here at Jewel central. I’m sure you’ll all be happy to know I am hard at work on The Next Historical which is taking the bulk of my time, blogging may be sparse until after the book is turned in, in case you haven’t noticed that already.
Somewhere on the web recently, and I just don’t remember where, someone opined that writers who eventually get published have given up other things in order to pursue their craft and mentioned things like getting up early or staying up late. While these things are undoubtedly true, if you want to write there’s no getting around making time for it, for some reason my reaction to that was mostly this: For gosh sake do not think you can take the time out of your sleeping hours.
So that’s my public service announcement to everyone looking to carve out more time for a creative endeavor.
Yes, something’s got to give, but it shouldn’t be sleep. The creative brain needs sleep and a sleep-deprived brain will make you pay for thinking you can short-change your sleep. My recommendation is to take the time out of TV watching. If this applies to you, what did you give up? Or what would you give up?
There. Go forth and . . . er . . . sleep.
Go Over There –>!
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010I’m giving away some books over at the Girlfriend’s Book Club. Find out what I have against Brussel’s sprouts, my favorite color and more in an insightful self-interview. Also, three silly questions for you. Go.
Girlfriends and Movies
Thursday, October 14th, 2010Over at the Girlfriend’s book club, I’m talking about movies and giving away a Jet Li movie. Go leave a comment for a chance to win my all time favorite martial arts movie.
You Might Well Ask, Why?
Saturday, December 5th, 2009
This is Thirsty. She is a ewe who got that name because she was at one time a bummer lamb (that is, a lamb whose mother rejected her). Bummer lambs need to be bottle fed using some milk replacer such as LambLac. She was quite ill and for a while we didn’t think she’d live. But she did, and once she was healthy, she was one thirsty lamb. Hence the name Thirsty. When she was very small, when she wasn’t in the house, she was on the deck. Eventually, she was moved into the field with the rest of the sheep. She was quite vocal when she thought it was time for her to be fed. Thirsty is pretty much the Alpha ewe — the one the other sheep follow.
In case you’re wondering why I have posted her picture here, the answer lies over at Katibab’s Blog. I would very much like to have my own demon sheep.