What Did I Miss? by Linda O. Johnston
August 6, 2017 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as Linda O Johnston, Questions, RWA National Conference, Writing conferences
I’ve attended many RWA National Conferences over the years–but not the most recent one.
There were several reasons I didn’t get to Orlando this year. Did I miss it? Sure. Even so, I got to follow friends on social media sites and see who won awards and learn who I could have seen there had I attended. Some of those were fellow OCC members, whom I’ve been missing since I haven’t been able to attend local chapter meetings lately, either.
So now, here I am, blogging about something I didn’t see. And I know I couldn’t possibly learn about it all by checking out friends’ Facebook posts or even talking to or emailing friends who attended. What would I like to do about it?
I’m asking here for anyone who attended who reads this to tell me: What did I miss? What was your favorite thing about this year’s RWA National Conference?
And those of you who also missed it–have you ever gone to one of the RWA Nationals? Why did you choose to go that year, or others, but not this one? Do you attend your local chapter meetings? Other romance writing conferences? Writing conferences for other genres?
Okay, enough questions–maybe. Next year’s RWA National will be in Denver. Will I be there? Too early to tell, but I hope so!
Linda O! Johnston
www.LindaOJohnston.com
BAD TO THE BONE, A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery,
UNLUCKY CHARMS, a Superstition Mystery
PROTECTOR WOLF, Harlequin Nocturne
Linda O. Johnston, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published 52 books so far, including mysteries and romantic novels. More than twenty-five of them are romances for Harlequin, including Harlequin Romantic Suspense and Harlequin Nocturne. Her latest release is Colton 911: Caught in the Crossfire, for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.
She has also written several mystery series including the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries and Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink, and the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries and Pet Rescue Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Nearly all Linda’s current stories involve dogs!
Linda enjoys hearing from readers. Visit her website at www.LindaOJohnston.com and friend her on Facebook.
Time Passes
July 6, 2017 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as Linda O. Johnston, reading, time, writing
I write posts for several blogs each month–and this month I’ve been tending to mention in most of them that it’s July already. The year 2017 is half gone already. Time certainly passes quickly! Do you feel the same way? What happened to the first six months of this year?
The two books of mine scheduled for publication this year have already come out. BAD TO THE BONE, my third Barkery & Biscuits Mystery, was published in May, and PROTECTOR WOLF, my eighth Alpha Force paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne was published in June. I’ve met deadlines for books scheduled to come out next year and am coming up with ideas for more.
Since I became a full-time writer, every year is somewhat the same, at least generally. I write a lot and spend time on the computer learning more and promoting what I write. I attend chapter meetings and conferences held by writing organizations and meet up with friends. I spend time with my husband, too. I play with my dogs. I travel now and then.
Every year is different, too. What I’m writing changes. I’m not currently writing Superstition Mysteries, but I have started a new miniseries for Harlequin Romantic Suspense called K-9 Ranch Rescue. The first book in that miniseries, SECOND CHANCE SOLDIER, will be a March 2018 release. And my fourth Barkery & Biscuits Mystery will be a May release. Will I have another Harlequin Nocturne published? Possibly, but it will be the last one since the series is ending.
Another thing that’s different about this year is that I haven’t been able to attend meetings of the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America as often as I usually do, thanks to a knee injury. But I’m improving and hope my ability to get to the meetings will improve, too.
So how has 2017 been going for you? If you’re a writer, what have you been writing? If you’re a reader, what have you been reading?
And does this year seem to be going especially fast for you, too? Think about it!
Linda first novel was the 1995 Love Spell time travel romance A Glimpse of Forever. Since then she has published over 40 novels—mysteries and romances, including paranormal romance and romantic suspense.
Linda has two new books out for 2017. May 8th will see the release of BAD TO THE BONE, the third book in the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series. On June 1st, her book PROTECTOR WOLF (Alpha Force) a part of the popular Harlequin Nocturne series of paranormal romances will be published.
Linda also blogs at Killer Hobbies, Killer Characters and Midnight Ink Author blog. You can also find her on Facebook.
WRITERS WRITE. OH, YEAH!
June 6, 2017 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston
I became a writer because I love to write. A side attraction is that writers can write for their whole lives and never have to retire.
I began to question that a bit, though, over the last few weeks after I broke my knee.
Hey, you say, what does that have to do with writing?
Exactly. But my creativity seemed to take a break for a little while, too, probably thanks to the exhaustion of healing.
When I sat at the computer and told my mind to get going, to begin plotting the next book, it rebelled, telling me to go take a nap and forget that I thought I had any imagination. Ugh. That wasn’t me. Or was it?
I worried. I stewed. I napped. I read other people’s books. And I kept arguing with my mind.
And guess what! My mind finally decided I was right after all. It may be taking me a bit longer, but I’m plotting once more. And soon I hope to actually start writing that next book.
So my advice to other writers? Keep at it. Writers do write, even if we sometimes have rebellious minds. But we’re in charge and can ultimately direct those minds to get busy, even under unusual circumstances.
Now I just hope my mind stays on course, for now… and forever!
Oh, and by the way, my 8th, and possibly last, Alpha Force paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne, PROTECTOR WOLF, is a June release. Enjoy!
Linda first novel was the 1995 Love Spell time travel romance A Glimpse of Forever. Since then she has published over 40 novels—mysteries and romances, including paranormal romance and romantic suspense.
Linda has two new books out for 2017. May 8th will see the release of BAD TO THE BONE, the third book in the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series. On June 1st, her book PROTECTOR WOLF (Alpha Force) a part of the popular Harlequin Nocturne series of paranormal romances will be published.
Linda also blogs at Killer Hobbies, Killer Characters and Midnight Ink Author blog. You can also find her on Facebook.
2 0 Read moreTHE FUN OF PROMOTION–Enjoy the Game
May 6, 2017 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as LA Times Book Festitval, Linda O. Johnston, Malice Domestic, Mysterious Galaxy, promotion
The third book in my Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries, BAD TO THE BONE, will be officially released in a couple of days–May 8. And I’ve been quite busy promoting it already.
Do I enjoy promotion? Yes and no. I used to be uncomfortable getting in front of crowds doing any kind of public speaking. Now I do it all the time.
For example, I recently attended Malice Domestic, a conference focusing on cozy mysteries. Both authors and fans attend, and it’s a lot of fun. I was on a panel called The “Paws” that Detect: Animal Companions with several other authors, and we were asked questions and got to explain how the animals in our books help our stories. Fun!
I also went to an authors’ event at a local library branch that was reopening after being remodeled. There, I was on a panel discussing–no, not dogs this time, but promotion. I got to share ideas with the other panelists who approached part of it similarly and some differently.
I attended the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books a few weeks ago, where I encouraged passersby into the romance writers’ booth and also did some signings at the mystery writers’ booths. I talked to a lot of people there, and not only about my writing–though that played a major part.
Gay Kinman, Linda O. Johnston, Glen Hamilton, Stephen Buehler, Anne Bannon at SinC/LA booth #367
I’m attending a birthday bash at the Mysterious Galaxy bookstore soon, where I’ll also get to talk about my new release.
Then there are all the blogs I do–including A Slice of Orange plus my other scheduled ones such as Killer Hobbies, Killer Characters, and InkSpot. And I’m also currently on a blog tour to promote my new release, where I’ve written blogs and responded to interview questions for some sites and will also have my new book reviewed or highlighted on other sites.
So what are the things I enjoy about all this? I get to talk about myself and my writing and meet other people and share ideas and… well, I’ve definitely learned that writing isn’t only about writing. Not now–not when one is published. So I might as well have fun doing it, since it’s part of the game!
Linda first novel was the 1995 Love Spell time travel romance A Glimpse of Forever. Since then she has published over 40 novels—mysteries and romances, including paranormal romance and romantic suspense.
Linda has two new books out for 2017. May 8th will see the release of BAD TO THE BONE, the third book in the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series. On June 1st, her book PROTECTOR WOLF (Alpha Force) a part of the popular Harlequin Nocturne series of paranormal romances will be published. Both books are available for preorder.
If you’re in the San Diego area, Linda will be at the Mysterious Galaxy Birthday Bash on Saturday, May 13th
PETS, ROMANCE & LOTS OF SUSPENSE
April 6, 2017 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as Alpha Force Harlequin Nocturne, Barkery & Biscuits Mystery, Linda O. JohnstonPets, romance and lots of suspense. That’s me! Or at least that’s my theme on the revamped A Slice of Orange blog.
Why? Well, first, everything I write these days includes dogs, including my paranormal romances for Harlequin Nocturne, my mysteries that I write for Midnight Ink, including my Barkery & Biscuits series, and, soon, my new K-9 Ranch miniseries for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.
Also, everything I write includes romance. As I mentioned, I write for two Harlequin series, which are, of course, romances. And all the protagonists in my mysteries have romantic interests. The mysteries don’t always have a HEA
(happily ever after) when it comes to the romances, but of course the mysteries get solved in each one.
And that leads me into suspense. Everything I write also includes some degree of suspense, not just my mysteries but also my romances–and I don’t just mean my Harlequin Romantic Suspense novels.
So join me here at my Slice of Orange blog on the sixth day of each month, and I’ll be sure to include something regarding one or all of those themes.
By the way, I have two new novels about to be published: Bad to the Bone, the third Barkery & Biscuits Mystery in May, and Protector Wolf, the eighth Alpha Force Harlequin Nocturne in June–about a covert military unit of shapeshifters.
And even though this blog is no longer sponsored by the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America, I hope to see you often at the chapter’s meetings!
Linda O. Johnston’s first novel was the 1995 Love Spell time travel romance A Glimpse of Forever. Since then she has published over 40 novels—mysteries and romances, including paranormal romance and romantic suspense.
http://www.lindaojohnston.com/
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