Oct 15, 2008 | Reading, Writing |
I found this site last night and had to share: Sheikhs and Desert Love. This site specifically catalogues all romance novels featuring sheikhs, desert princes, etc.
Yes, yes, I know that the reality of the modern Middle East isn't all that appealing, and that desert chieftains aren't exactly Omar Sharif or Oded Fehr (pic) lookalikes in caftans. But I love sheikh romances. Always have since that first Harlequin Presents fix I got as a pre-teen. There are most certainly deeper mythological connotations to the dark desert prince/sheikh romances, and as an English major I could certainly go into boring and copious detail about the fantasy aspect–
But no, not happening. I just love these stories for the sheer exoticism of them, and I hope to write one of my own someday. I've read TE Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom twice — the reality of the desert is harsh, but the text is also romantic in its own way. Lawrence was certainly inspired by the life he found out there (and changed by it, no doubt).
So how do you feel about the sheikh romances? Total turn off? Or can you suspend disbelief enough to get lost in the world of camels, desert palaces, and golden dunes?
Oct 14, 2008 | Blogging, Contests |
The Call story is coming soon over at I Heart Presents! (UPDATE: Oct 20 is the date for THE CALL story) And don't forget to sign up for my newsletter and be eligible for that $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. Who wouldn't want free books?!
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It's been one week since The Call. What exciting things have I done? Um, started work on another book. 🙂 I have a deadline. A real one. OMG…..
Oct 11, 2008 | Celebrations, Contests, Writing |
You can still sign up for my newsletter and enter yourself for a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card!
By signing up, you agree that you will receive emails from me on occasion. I promise not to share your address with anyone.
I'll draw for a winner on Tuesday, October 28th. I'll announce it on the blog and send you an email. You will have 48 hours to get in touch with me and give me your snail mail addy before I redraw.
Click to join lynnrayeharrisnews
What did I realize? I'm ineligible for the Golden Heart! Being a finalist last year was amazing, but now I'll never have a chance to win. Ah well. 🙂 I'll cheer my friends instead!
Oct 10, 2008 | Celebrations, Contests, Promotion |
Hey, I'm celebrating my two-book sale with my friends over at The Writing Playground today! Come on over and say hello!
I'm also having my first official contest!!
Sign up for my newsletter and I'll enter you in a drawing for a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card.
By signing up, you agree that you will receive emails from me on occasion. I promise not to share your address with anyone.
I'll draw for a winner on Tuesday, October 28th. I'll announce it on the blog and send you an email. You will have 48 hours to get in touch with me and give me your snail mail addy before I redraw.
Click to join lynnrayeharrisnews
Sign up and then come on over and party!
Oct 9, 2008 | Celebrations, Fun |
Yesterday, I met several friends for lunch at a local restaurant. Little did that lunch crowd, mostly comprised of engineers and assorted military types, realize that five creative women sat at a table in their midst talking about books, contracts, agents, and due dates that had nothing to do with babies.
The best of all possible worlds is when a writer has writer friends. The things we talk about! There was a discussion of sex toys that started when we discussed a particular author and her use of odd things in her books. One of our number had never heard of this particular implement, so we had to whisper it, and describe it, which turned hilarious when we glanced around to make sure no one was listening.
At least we didn't discuss how to hide the body, which sometimes happens. Or whether to simply kidnap someone instead of kill them. But this wasn't a gathering of suspense writers, so we didn't really go there.
I needed that time away from the computer, and I cherish it. It was a great lunch — we laughed and talked a lot. Two ladies had to go back to work, but three of us stayed for another 2.5 hours. We originally got together to celebrate my sale, and I'm so happy they wanted to do that. But really, sale or not, it's just fun to get together with people who think like I do — who get lost in their heads, who think it's perfectly acceptable to talk about characters like they are real people, and who are serious about what they do. It helps keep me sane, I swear. 🙂
Do you have writer friends you love to get together with? Do you talk about crazy things? Do you need that connection from time to time? If you don't have writer friends close by, what do you do to decompress? And if you aren't a writer, what do you and your friends talk about when you get together? What is the one big thing you have in common?
