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Monday, June 26, 2006
Perspective
On our recent trip to NYC my daughter took this picture of herself holding the Statue of Liberty between her fingers. It always amazes me the way she looks at things and the way she views the world.
Having a fourteen year old makes me feel a little old on some days because I can remember being fourteen, turning fourteen and feeling on the cusp of almost being an adult.
But most days it make me marvel at the perspective she gives me about my every day life. She sees the world in a different way than I do. And it adds a new dimension to my world view that simply wasn't there before.
The first time I visited NYC was in the summer of 1991 and I was pregnant with my daughter. So it was strange to be with her on her visit to the city this time. We were walking down the street after we checked into our hotel, down 7th avenue toward Times Square and she looked at me and said this is my kind of place. I think I'm going to live here someday.
The tension and the energy of the City is fun for me for about a week and then I'm tired of the noise and I need some quiet but not my daughter she thrives on those kind so things.
And watching her thrive made me see the world and the City through her eyes.
Kathy :)
posted by Katherine Garbera at 8:11 AM
Friday, June 16, 2006
Midlife Crises: How Many Can I Have?
Midlife Crises have been cursed and sneered at forever. But I've decided they're not necessarily a bad thing. Why? Let me try to explain.
I worked in a medical office for years after college before giving birth to my 3rd son, a special needs child. There were few day cares for special kids at the time, and I couldn't afford to be unemployed. So I becames a licensed home day care operator and did that for 7.5 years. Talk about a stressful job. Which led to my "first" midlife crisis in my early 30s when my last son started school.
I knew I couldn't return to the medical office and 12 hour days, nor could I continue with the day care--another 60 hour per week job. Both jobs took too much time away from my family and sapped every ounce of my energy. My relationships with my children and my marriage were starting to suffer. I searched for options and discovered that my rusty degree in American Studies wasn't going to get me far. I had to find another job--one that didn't require me to return to college for a second degree which I couldn't afford. This time I wanted to choose a career I LOVED and not one I "fell into" due to lack of money and desperation like the last 2. I searched my life, my interests and realized that romance novels were the one constant that had brought me joy since I was 11 or 12 years old.
That led to the midlife crisis 1. I decided to write romance novels. Before closing my day care doors I started writing in my "spare" time. Little did I know that I wouldn't find instant success with my first book (one that will never see daylight) or that the road to publication would be far bumpier than any path I'd traveled thus far. But creating those characters and stories was something I loved, so those pot holes --the ones big enough to consume a car-- didn't seem as troublesome.
We rearranged our finances and I took a part time job so I could write more. I was happier--despite the rejections--and my family benefited from my lowered stress and less witchy demeanor. It took 5 years to sell, but there were a number of joys along the way to keep me going.
So...my first midlife crisis resulted in me finding a fulfilling new career--one I had never considered prior to that "crisis" moment.
(And I refer to it as my "first crisis" because I had it early. I'm wondering if I get another.)
My husband's midlife crisis resulted in him needing speed. He bought a Jet Ski--the Aquaman version of a motorcycle. How could that be a positive thing, you ask? Because it was something he and the boys could share. He taught each of them to ride and, once they reached the appropriate age, to drive it. They took the safety courses together. They still spend entire days together on the lake doing the male bonding thing. In fact, hubby even bought a tiny grill and learned to cook lakeside. He loves it. The kids love it. Now even the dog goes along. Everybody has a great time.
I realize there are bad midlife crises that devastate families, but they don't all have to be negative or selfish or destructive. A "midlife crisis" is a chance to reexamine your life, to discover what's important, what brings you joy, and to work toward making that happen.
Who says we should only reevaluate once? Maybe this is something we should do more often, and if we did maybe we wouldn't reach the "crisis" stage before taking action.
***
The week has blown by. Thanks for letting me visit and please continue to post comments. I'll stop by to reply.
I hope you'll visit my web page www.EmilieRose.com and check out the picture of my boys (taken the day my youngest decided he wasn't part of our family), and my books. I have 3 coming out this summer to entertain you.
Enjoy!
posted by Emilie Rose at 4:24 AM
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Snakes, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...
The poet who first penned my title line forgot to add boys will also require Band-Aids, stitches and casts to hold them together. Last month I had one son in a cast and one in a wrist splint. Pretty typical around her to have two walking wounded. In fact, hubby has the Orthopedist on speed dial. I've lost track of the number of times I've visited the emergency room to have my boys casted, stitched or cauterized. (Shudder. The last one is not a pretty memory.)
Needless to say, I have learned to stay calm in a crisis.
I have 4 sons, no daughters. Ninety-nine percent of the time I do not miss having someone to share the estrogen/tender/bonding moments. But yesterday my youngest turned 13. Wow. A teenager. And what did he want to do to celebrate this momentous occasion? Play paintball. What's worse, his father, brothers and friends all wanted to get out on the muddy field and shoot each other too. I've seen the welts left by paintballs that found their target. Where does pain fit into the birthday party happiness? I guess it's a guy thing, because I sure as heck don't get it, and I have no desire to get shot--with paintballs or anything else. Okay, maybe a water gun on a hot day. If I'm dressed for it.
Splat. So much for a mom's tender moment of saying goodbye to her last baby's childhood.
On the other hand, this is the son who goes fishing with me, the only one of my guys who gets the point of standing in the hot sun with a fishing rod in hand, listening to the croak of frogs, swatting mosquitoes and waiting for the fish to arrive. He's the one I can find by following the trail of trash or discarded dirty clothes. He's also the one who annoys the dickens out of me by diving into my bed right when I get to the juiciest part of whichever book I'm reading. But he still lets me hug him. In public.
So between my sons, husband, father and older brothers I know men. I know how they walk, talk, think, eat, shop and clean up(or not). But there's a far cry between reality and a romance hero. I don't think readers want a real man as a hero. Case in point: One of my brothers owns a yacht, several waterfront homes and a bunch of expensive cars. Hero material. He can burp the alphabet and shared that knowledge with my sons. Not hero material. (I put that in a book. Wonder if he recognized himself? Because he does read my "trashy" novels. So do his friends--which really rips him one.) This same brother owns a remote control fart machine which he unleashes on unsuspecting visitors. Definitely NOT hero material.
Romance book heroes need to be better than real men. They can't be the type to amuse themselves with bodily emissions or by crushing beer cans on their foreheads. They can't be the kind who sniff a shirt to see if it's clean enough to wear. Our heroes should be brave, sexy, smart and god-like in bed. (Let's not even get into the size issue.) We want them to communicate effectively. Grunts don't fall into that category. We want our heroes to be civilized--in a manly way of course.
Oh sure we want a real man--only sanitized, deodorized and civilized. Is that too much to ask?
posted by Emilie Rose at 5:45 AM
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover
Sure, we've all heard that cliche, but how many of you buy a book based on the cover? Raising my hand. I'm guilty. Unless it's an auto-buy author for me (one whose book I'd buy no matter what the cover looks like), I pick up a book based on the cover. Second, I flip it over and read the back cover blurb. Third, the title might even affect my buy-or-not-buy decision.
Would you believe that many authors have no control over those factors? Sure, we're allowed and even encouraged to make suggestions, but then the art and/or marketing department (people who very likely have not read the book) determine what goes on the covers. Editors or editorial assistants write the back blurbs. (If I had to write them I'd need a padded cell.)
What does all that mean? It means that the characters the author has lived, breathed and slept with while writing and editing the story may not be the ones on the front of the book, and the blurb may not encapsulate the story/message in her head. As for the title... Nope, we don't get final say on those either. (I confess I'm not gifted with titles, so I often need help finding a caticher one.)
Is it bad to have others making these critical decisions? Probably not since the marketing/editorial folks are trained to know what appeals/sells and what doesn't. That doesn't mean there's never a bad cover. So I bow to their wisdom and experience.
I've been fortunate. I've never had an awful cover or blurb. (That doesn't mean I've never whined about one of mine.) I have had several which featured people or scenes which in no way reflected the story or characters inside, but the pictures usually do reflect the tone of the book and the Desire line. I can't write a book without pictures of my hero and heroine taped to the bookcase in front of my desk. I send those pix in with each manuscript. I also give descriptions I think would be appealing on the cover, but my covers are always a surprise.
For example: my June book PAYING THE PLAYBOY'S PRICE features a blue-suited, short-haired guy on the cover. The inside contains a burned out, former country music star, Harley-riding bar owner with a ponytail. Hmm. The outside features a good guy--probably the kind of guy my hero would like to be. The inside features a bad boy trying very hard to live down his less than admirable past. It's a good cover. It's just not my guy. Rex Tanner wouldn't be caught dead in a blue (almost purple) suit. But when lined up with the other covers in the series I see a very attractive package.
Other factors might influence the title or the cover shot. You can only have so many guys in a tux on the shelves each month. And the model I've had pasted to my bookcase very likely isn't available to pose for my cover shot. A word in an author's chosen title might be in too many other titles for the same time slot. Somebody's will have to change.
So next time you hit the bookstore or search for books online I suggest you do as the cliche says and don't judge a book by its cover. Instead peek at page 1 and read a paragraph or two, because chances are the cover art doesn't reflect the journey the author is about to deliver.
posted by Emilie Rose at 4:07 PM
A Gathering of Kindred Spirits
One of the highlights of my summers is always the Romance Writers of America (RWA) conference. Each July there's a gathering somewhere in the US of 2000+ romance writers and industry professionals. It's an opportunity to meet face-to-face the women (and a few men) with whom I correspond only via email for the remainder of the year. Authors come from across the globe. It's as much fun as a high school reunion. Yes, it's work, but it's enjoyable work. (See my previous post about research, and you'll know why I like the new locations and faces.)
This year we're meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, and my calendar is already filling up with people to see, places to go and things to do. I am a reader first and an author second. That means I'm eager to meet my favorite authors, to get autographs and to be a fan. There will be more than 500 authors signing at the Literacy Autographing on Wednesday evening, July 26, 2006 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. You can bet I'll be buying books from my favorite authors as well as (I hope) autographing my own for fans. Come and visit if you can!
This year I'll meet my editor for the first time. Considering the lady has been privy to my innermost thoughts, has prodded me to dig deeper or talked me off a ledge when a story wasn't going well, it will be wonderful to finally put a face with the voice I've heard only over the phone. I'll attend an Atlanta Braves' baseball game (my sons are jealous), and I'll check out the renowned Georgia Aquarium. And those are but a few of the things on the docket thus far.
Charlene Sands mentioned clothing in a previous post, but I'm going to briefly revisit the topic. I gave up working outside my home a few years back. When I did I gave up the cool clothes and fabulous shoes. Like Charlene, I dress more for comfort than style these days. Jeans and t-shirts are wardrobe staples. My computer doesn't complain if I look a little sloppy or if I forget shoes entirely. The RWA conference is the one time of the year that I can dress up. I confess I hunt the clearance racks year-round for conference clothing, and I've already made of list of what I'll wear this year.
Another fun part of the vacation is meeting the Desire authors, the ones I've read for years and the brand-spanking new ones whose books have yet to hit the shelves. I'm also planning to attend Greater Detroit's Bookseller's Best award ceremony. SCANDALOUS PASSION, last summer's "dirty picture book," has made the finals.
If you're a romance writer or a fan who lives within driving distance of Atlanta please stop by the Marriott July 26th to say hello. I'd love to meet you--and I promise I'll be wearing shoes.
posted by Emilie Rose at 3:31 AM
Monday, June 12, 2006
Write What You Know. Or Not
Writers are often told to "write what they know." But how boring is that? For me, half the fun of concocting characters and plots derives from the research of people and places I'd never otherwise encounter. Still ... there is that chastising voice in the back of my head, so for this summer's series of books I combined both--something familiar and something new.
My June, July and August books are set in Wilmington, North Carolina, a city I drive through each year on my way to the beach. My sister-in-law lives there. But there were facets of Wilmington I'd never suspected existed. Throw in three best friends, a bachelor auction and a slew of dates and I had an excuse to indulge my research hobby.
For PAYING THE PLAYBOY'S PRICE (June) I visited the Wilmington waterfront and discovered a historical district in the midst of revitalization, a real paddleboat dinner cruise and a number of other tempting new sights. That's where I set bad-but-trying-to-be-good Rex Tanner's bar because the area, like Rex, is starting over.
Because Wilmington is a port city boats are common. But for EXPOSING THE EXECUTIVE'S SECRETS (July) I didn't need just boats, I needed a world-class yacht building facility which led to New Bern, another NC port city. Hatteras Yachts kindly offered me a tour. I can't say enough about the friendly and knowledgeable staff who made my visit more pleasure than work. No, I can't afford to drop a million plus dollars on a yacht, but my characters can, and it was there in that vast production complex that my naval architect hero Clayton Dean was born.
Wherever you have waterfront property you have money--vaults of it--as well as expensive island homes and posh country clubs. Enter my rich banking heir hero Eric Alden and BENDING TO THE BACHELOR'S WILL (August). Since hubby and I still live in the home we bought before our 4 sons were born, it's safe to say we don't own an island getaway. But I was able to visit the exclusive paradise of Bald Head Island and vicariously live in one of the gazillion dollar homes.
And next year's series is set in magical Monaco. Who wouldn't prefer research to real life?
posted by Emilie Rose at 5:34 AM
Thursday, June 08, 2006
The generosity of authors
This weekend I am taking part in the Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society 24-hour event held all around the country. It begins with a Survivors Lap that is emotional beyond words. Then at night luminarias are lit in honor and memory of cancer victims and survivors. It's another speechless moment when you stand there looking at the thousands of decorated bags lit by candles and know that each one represents such a small percentage of cancer victims.
A month ago I sent out an e-mail to my RWA chapter sisters asking if they wanted to contribute an autographed copy of a book that I would feature in a basket of local authors as part of our fundraising efforts. Within a week I had 25 books--romance, women's fiction, mystery, romantic suspense, chick lit and futuristic books. I also had enough copies in Spanish (there is a large Latino population in my community) to also offer a basket of books translated into Spanish. What a generous and varied group we are.
My baskets runneth over :-).
posted by Susan Crosby at 7:26 AM
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Looking for title ideas
I am in the process of titling my next Desire. I am not a title queen, by any means, but this one is stymieing me more than most. Anyone want to help?
Here's the set-up: a one-night stand between two emotionally distraught strangers results in pregnancy. So, there's a baby surprise, but not a secret baby. He's a really rich guy, of course, but I can't use "millionaire" in the title--as in, The Millionaire's Baby Surprise, for example--because the continuity is called Millionaire of the Month, so it would be redundant.
All ideas would be welcomed!
posted by Susan Crosby at 9:42 AM
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Meet your local authors
I attended a discussion and booksigning last weekend for James Rollins and John Lescroart, megahit thriller writers who are part of a group of 32 authors who've written short stories for an anthology for Mira titled THRILLER. The book is unique for a couple of reasons. First, the authors themselves did not get paid, but elected to have the advance paid to a new organization called the International Thriller Writers. The money will be used to fund the group's initial set-up and conference, which I think is an incredibly generous gesture. Second, each story features a character from one of their previous novels or series. Sometimes it's a lead character, sometimes a minor character they love whom they thought deserved a spotlight, but weren't big enough characters for a novel of their own.
Now, I'm not a big short story reader, nor do I generally read thrillers. My critique partner, Robin Burcell, is published in mysteries/police procedurals, and I love her work, but so far she hasn't written a thriller. I dove right into THRILLER and read the Rollins and Lescroart short stories, as well as the one by Lee Child, and they were all excellent. I expect to read the whole book. I can highly recommend this book for Father's Day, graduation, or for no special reason whatsoever.
Jim and John's lively discussion at Border's was entertaining and enlightening. A good crowd asked a lot of great questions, and got serious, funny and intelligent answers. It was a great way to spend an evening.
Since long before I was published I've attended signings. It became part of my networking process and definitely paid off in contacts when I decided to write and try to publish. Support your local authors, please! It'll do you both good :-).
posted by Susan Crosby at 6:43 AM
Monday, June 05, 2006
The news couldn't be better
The last time I blogged here I was in mourning about losing my favorite local independent book store. The good news is that at the last possible second--the day before Charlotte was supposed to close down--someone bought the place! It's a youngish couple with two teenagers and a 5-year-old, and they hope to expand the children's book section and maybe have some poetry readings. I'm sure they'll make other changes as well, which will be fun to watch. I am so happy for everyone in town--and especially for myself :-). I have a new book out next week, FORCED TO THE ALTAR, and I know a lot of people in town would've had a hard time finding it.
I'm a happy camper again!
posted by Susan Crosby at 5:36 AM
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