On Writing

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    It is done … again …

    7 Comments

    So, this weekend I buckled down and finished revisions on my assassin book, Gin on the Rocks.

    It’s about an assassin who can control the elements of ice and stone (the other two are fire and air in my world). My assassin, Gin, goes to do a job and gets double-crossed and almost dead. Soon, she’s on the run from the cops, a Fire elemental who wants her dead, and lots of other people.

    This book is a little grittier than what I usually write, and there’s lots of blood. Seriously. Gin kills something like ten guys in the first ten chapters. The girl is really handy with knives. 😉

    It’s also set in the South and has a nice regional flavor to it. There are barbecue restaurants and fried chicken and Southern movie references. I even mention Dr. Enuf at one point. That’s a soft drink, for all you Yankees out there. Tastes like a weak version of Sprite, but it’s really good.

    I’m always amazed at how right my agent is when it comes to revisions. She sent me some suggestions, and we talked about some other things on the phone. As I went through the book, I saw how much sense her ideas made. I’m really excited about the book now — I think it’s one of the best things I’ve written. And I’m really looking forward to writing Assassin 2, after I do some page proofs and other stuff.

    I got such a high when I finished the revisions last night. I’m still smiling this morning. Good times. :bub:

    Now, we’ll see if the book sells. Fingers crossed!

    What about you? What did you do this weekend?

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    I’ve been a bad, bad girl …

    11 Comments

    So, I did something I shouldn’t have this weekend. I went to Mr. K’s, a used bookstore — and brought home an armful of books.

    I shouldn’t have done this for several reasons. First of all, I already had about 10 books at home in my TBR pile. Not counting all the Buffy, Angel, and Wonder Woman comics I need to read.

    But there’s just something about used bookstores. I love wandering through the stacks looking for books. Hidden treasures! Bargains! Cool covers! Authors I’ve always wanted to read!

    It’s a sweet, sweet siren’s song. I just can’t resist. Besides, I had trade credit I needed to use up anyway. That makes it okay, right? Right?!? 🙄

    So, what did I come home with? Here are some of the titles:

    1) Eye of Heaven and Soul Song by Marjorie M. Liu (books from her Dirk & Steele paranormal romance series)

    2) Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (the first one in her Women of the Otherworld series, which I’ve heard lots of folks raving about)

    3) Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughn (the first in her paranormal romance trilogy)

    4) Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson (the first in a fantasy romance series)

    5) Quiver by Kevin Smith (a graphic novel about the comic book character Green Arrow, whom I’ve never read about before)

    6) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller (one of the most admired graphic novels out there, which I’ve always wanted to read)

    So now I have like 20 books in my TBR pile. Sigh.

    Something funny that happened was the checkout guy said something about the graphic novels belonging to my significant other. I corrected him. No, dude, those are mine. Chicks read comics, too.

    What about you? Do used bookstores make you lose control, too?

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    The stereotype is alive and well …

    4 Comments

    The Smart Bitches and Diana Peterfreund have some interesting posts up regarding a letter a journalist from the Washington Post sent to a group of romance writers asking for information for a Valentine’s Day piece. Go read it for yourself.

    As a professional journalist, I would never, ever send anyone a letter like that. I don’t even know that I’d send my friends a letter like that.

    As a journalist, you don’t try to be funny. Professional? Yes. Respectful? Yes. Funny? No. You tell people what you’re doing and then ask them for their input, even if it ends up being no comment.

    Geez. To the person who wrote that letter: you work at the Post. You should know better.

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    An interview with yours truly …

    Karen Healey over at Girls Read Comics was nice enough to take the time to interview me about Hot Mama and various other things. Go check it out.

    While you’re there, be sure to leave a comment in the forum or ask me a question. I’m going to give away two autographed copies of Hot Mama and one of Karma Girl to three random commentators. Along with bookmarks, of course. Because you can never have enough of those.

    BTW, Karen recently acquired an agent for her young adult urban fantasy novel. Way to go Karen! :ww:

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    Top Ten Signs a Book is Written by Me …

    4 Comments

    So, I saw this over at HelenKay Dimon’s blog, which she found a couple other places. It’s called Top Ten Signs a Book is Written by Me. I thought it would be fun to do my own list. So, here goes:

    1. The words shrinking violet will never be used to describe my heroines. I write strong, kick-ass women, and I always will. Who wants to read about a heroine who has as much gumption as a wet noodle? 😎

    2. At least one of my characters will wear outrageous, costume-like outfits — whether they want to or not. What can I say? Sequins and eye-burning neon colors are cool. I like describing them, and I like putting my characters in them, mainly because I don’t have the body or courage to pull of electric-blue spandex in real life. Who does?

    3. There will be lots of explosions, death, or danger – the more the better. I’m pretty good at writing action scenes. In fact, I probably do that better than I write emotional or sex scenes. Plus, I love writing scenes where my heroine gets the best of the bad guys — and they get exactly what they deserve.

    4. I’m not going to hit you over the head with morals or life lessons or deep thoughts. Fun, sexy fantasy. That’s what I write, and I’m proud of it. 

    5. There will be no obsessive, crazy, stalker-like men as heroes in my books. Guys can be hot and sexy and loving without going bananas if another man so much as looks at their woman. Ugh.

    6. There will be witty banter, heavily tinged with sarcasm and sprinkled with irony. At least, I hope other people think that it’s witty.

    7. Stereotypes and genres will be summarily dealt with. There’s nothing I love more than taking a stereotype or genre (like comic books and James Bond movies) and giving it my own twist. Sometimes as a spoof (the Bigtime books), sometimes as a send-up (Live & Let Spy), sometimes just my own take on an old character/construct (my elemental Assassin book).

    8. Cleverness is key. More often than not, my heroines succeed by outsmarting and outlasting the bad guys — not necessarily by overpowering them.

    9. Little things matter. I like adding in little details to make my worlds richer, like all my superhero and villain names and random encounters in the Bigtime books. Halitosis Hal, anyone?

    10. It’s written in first person. I know lots of people hate first person, but it’s the voice that really sings to me and lets me get inside my character’s head. I don’t know that I’ll ever write a third-person book.

    What about you? What describes the books you write or the ones you love to read? What do you think makes a Jennifer Estep book a Jennifer Estep book? 😎