Mar 30, 2011 | Blogging, Books
It's been a heckuva week over here at Chez Harris! I've been trying to get ready for my trip to LA for the RT Booklovers Convention next week, and I had to go see the accountant about my taxes. I *still* don't know what the damage will be, but I'm quite positive I owe money this year. Not a problem since I was smart and followed good advice from Linda Howard: always put a third of your earnings away for taxes. I did that. Now it's just the size of the check I'll have to write that worries me.
I haven't been completely absent on the blogosphere — I've been guest blogging in a few places!
I was at I Heart Presents, talking about amazing jewelry and passionate love affairs.
I was at the Pink Heart Society, where I gave an easy recipe for jambalaya.
And today I'm at the Writing Playground, talking about writing and books and giving away a book.
Hop over and join us!
Oh, and The Devil's Heart is in stores now!
Mar 18, 2011 | Books
Today's free book over at eHarlequin is The Prince's Royal Concubine! If you buy two books, you get my book for free. That's a pretty good deal!
Mar 13, 2011 | Books, Promotion, RT Convention, Readers |
Have you heard of the romance novel trading cards that will be available at RT and RWA? See this site for details. Basically, authors are making character trading cards for their novels — and readers can collect them all! I thought this was such a cool idea that I had two cards designed.
Here's the card for The Devil's Heart:
And here's the one for Behind the Palace Walls:
These are side by side views. The cover will be the front, and the hero will be the back. If you're at RT in a few weeks, come and visit me at the booksigning and pick up your trading cards! When I get them in, I may offer to mail some out to readers who can't attend. Stay tuned for details!
Mar 8, 2011 | Books |
I have a new cover to share with y'all! This is from the UK release of The Heartless Rebel, which will hit North America in November of this year.
Jack…Red-Hot. Renegade. Restless.
Notorious gambler Jack no longer gets a buzz from the risks he takes at the card table. In fact it bores him. Until one night he wins more than he ever bargained for… His prize is stunning Cara Taylor – she might be down on her luck but she certainly doesn’t need rescuing by a card-shark like Jack! Now she’s stuck with him she doesn’t know whether to love him or loathe him.
This story is part of an eight book continuity series. In the UK, it's called Bad Blood. In North America, I think it will be called The Notorious Wolfes. I totally love this cover! It completely captures Jack Wolfe. This story takes place in the French Riviera, Paris, London, New Orleans, and Las Vegas. I had a great time writing it — and I hope you'll enjoy this story when it comes your way!
Mar 3, 2011 | Books, Writing |
Writing as a career is amazing. It's awesome and wonderful and a dream come true. And yet, there will be bad days. Days when you worry and sweat and fear that you aren't getting it right or that people don't love your books and you're doomed to fail. Yes, it's true, even published authors are insecure.
So the next time you're staring at crappy contest scores or feeling gutted because you got a rejection letter, I want you to remember something. Remember that no one is gonna die over this. No one's life hangs in the balance as you type away, as you sweat and work and fear. It's only you and your fears sitting at the computer.
Maybe that's a small comfort. Or maybe it's no comfort.
I know this means everything to you. I really do. But some days you just have to tell yourself it's not brain surgery. Back away from the keyboard. Read; take time for yourself. Live life.
The words will come again. And they may come better than before. The pie is not finite, y'all. If someone else sells before you do, it doesn't mean you won't. It doesn't mean your chances are gone, or slimmer.
Just write. The rest will sort itself out. No one's gonna die if you get rejected. And that's really kind of a good thing, right? 😉 (And believe me, there are days when I need to take my own advice! Days when I worry I'm truly the worst writer on the planet.)
And now I want to move on to happier things and tell you that The Devil's Heart is available a month early from eHarlequin! You can order it for your e-reader or a paperback copy. You can read an excerpt on this site, or a different one here.
This book was rewritten massively between the first time I turned it in and when it was accepted. I'm sure I was an insecure mess as I worked on it, but it's out there now and it's your turn to tell me if I got it right. I hope you enjoy!
Feb 19, 2011 | Books, Reviews |
Today comes a lovely review over at Enduring Romance for Spanish Magnate, Red-Hot Revenge. Rebecca says, and I love this part:
Lynn Raye Harris has a great voice. I have a feeling I'm always going to enjoy her books. I'm looking forward to reading the one that's out that I still haven't read. But I'm MORE excited for her to have a new release, because based on what I've seen so far, her writing just keeps getting better and better!!
That's what every writer hopes to hear! I want to get better with each book. I want to make better story choices, and I want to write the kinds of stories that resonate with readers each and every time. I know I won't please everyone, and I'm fine with that.**
Reviews are a mixed bag, no matter who you are. I try not to read the negative ones, though sometimes they slip through the radar. I always read the glowing ones, and yes, they make me feel good. I don't let them go to my head, but I do love that happy feeling they give me for a while. It's always wonderful to know that something you sweated over, something that you wrote, found its way into a reader's heart and made them happy. Those kinds of reviews trump the bad ones and make it all worth it.
Thanks, Rebecca! You've made me happy today. 🙂
**For a hilarious look at just how I didn't please someone, go check out my Amazon UK reviews for Prince Voronov's Virgin: one reader thinks the book must have been written by a man or a computer. I admit to being upset at first; now I just find it funny. Important Note: if you are related to me in any way, you are forbidden from commenting on that review or from writing a glowing review to counteract it. I mean it. You won't be doing me any favors. Readers have a way of finding out that authors are enlisting family to say nice things. They don't like it, and I understand that. If you are not related to me, feel free to glow away. 😉
