Category: Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston

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Looking Forward to Romance

by Linda O. Johnston

My attendance at OCC meetings has been spotty this year due to conferences, book festivals and family matters, but I’m delighted to say I intend to be there this month.

The conferences I’ve attended this year have all related to mysteries, which I write in addition to romances. One was the Sisters in Crime meets Hollywood event, where speakers taught us how to pitch our mysteries to those who might be interested in making them into movies or TV shows. It was fun, but I’ll be surprised if any of my stories even get optioned.

Another event was the Dog Writers Association of America annual meeting in New York City. Most of the writers there write nonfiction–about dogs, of course. I was there because one of my mysteries was a finalist in the fiction category of their Maxwell Awards. It was fun, plus it was right next door to the Westminster Dog Show. I even saw some of my favorite pups: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

I also attended Left Coast Crime in Phoenix in February this year. And last weekend I was at Malice Domestic in Bethesda, Maryland. It’s for cozy mystery writers and fans. And I’m glad to say that my next cozy, TO CATCH A TREAT, the second in my Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries, is officially available in a couple of days, on May 8.

Lots of events and conferences. I’ve only one more currently planned, and I’m really looking forward to it: RWA National in San Diego! I’ll bet a lot of you who are reading this blog post will be there, too. RWA National is always fun and informative, and this year the conference is practically in our backyard.

Hope to see you at OCC this month–and RWA National in July!

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Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

April 6, 2016 by Linda O. Johnston in category Events, Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston, Reading tagged as Linda O. Johnston, Mystery Writers of America, RWA, The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

by Linda O. Johnston

Sorry to say that, once again, I’ll be missing this month’s OCC meeting. The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is the same weekend, and I’m doing things there both days.

Of course they’re predicting rain, maybe even thunderstorms, for both Saturday and Sunday. During almost any other time I’d be thrilled about that. Not next weekend, though.

I’ve been attending the LATFOB for many years, starting when it was held at the UCLA campus. Now it is at USC, which in some ways is more convenient for me since I can take the Metro there rather than drive.

There are a lot of interesting-sounding speakers and panels this year, although I probably won’t hear any of them. I’ll be busy signing at a couple of booths for mystery writers, helping to staff the booth promoting the Mystery Writers of America, and volunteering at the romance writers’ booth. It’s always fun to walk around and see what else is going on, too. And buy a few books? Why not!

I always think it’s fun to attend any kind of book event, and the LATFOB is always huge and enjoyable. I’m sure it will be this year, too–depending on the amount and timing of any rain.

And as an author, I find it very helpful and productive to attend these kinds of events and meet potential readers and other authors. How about you?

I hope the OCC meeting goes great–and I hope to get there again soon. And in the meantime, even if you attend OCC this weekend, you can always head up to the USC campus on Sunday to check out the LATFOB.

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Lion and Lamb

March 6, 2016 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as #amwriting, Linda O. Johnston

by Linda O. Johnston

March comes in like a lion but goes out like a lamb. That’s the expression, and it’s supposed to refer to weather.

I live in LA, and this year March has come in like a lamb, although some rain is expected around now. No huge El Nino effect as previously predicted, though. And I anticipate it’ll also go out like a lamb.

But if I look at non-weather things, the expression may apply. My March started with my having a lot to do on the writing front, from finalizing a couple of copyedits for books to be published this year, to several proposals–some required and others self-imposed, to working on a manuscript for which I’m under deadline.

On top of that were a couple of trips–the one to New York that I mentioned last time, plus one to Phoenix for Left Coast Crime, both at the end of February but affecting my March. I’ve also had an unexpected and busy family visit–fun, but time-consuming. And a few other things that have required time.

Plus, I’m hoping to attend this month’s OCC meeting, although I couldn’t last month.

I love being a work-from-home writer, especially when I am at home. And most of the things that have taken up my time have been good. But I’m finally foreseeing and hoping for some of them to end so I actually have more time to write!

I’m sure all of you reading this can identify some with it, even if the details in your life are very different. My three-year-old grandson, after being told that Grandma writes books, has kept asking me why.

My response–and most likely yours, too–is that I love it!

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I’m Late!

February 6, 2016 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as cozy mysteries, Linda O. Johnston, Writing contest

by Linda O. Johnston

Sorry, but I’m posting this late. I let the beginning of February get away from me.

And unfortunately, not only did I miss the first OCC meeting of the year, thanks to a wonderful family visit, but I won’t be at this month’s meeting either.

Why? Well, I’ll be in New York City that weekend at the Dog Writers Association of America’s seminar and awards event. My first Barkery & Biscuits Mystery BITE THE BISCUIT is a finalist in the fiction category for the Maxwell Awards presented by the DWAA. I’ve got some fierce competition, but whether or not I win I’m thrilled to be a finalist. Plus, I look forward to meeting even more people who love to write about dogs.

The event is on Valentine’s Day. Guess I won’t be spending a special and romantic day with my husband this year, but he fortunately understands.

So–will I be at the March meeting? I certainly hope so! I miss OCC this year. And I have registered for RWA National in San Diego in July, so I’m sure I’ll see a lot of you there, too.

In any event, have a wonderful Valentine’s Day–a very special holiday to all of us who write romances.

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Happy New Year!

January 6, 2016 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery, Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Kindle, Linda O. Johnston, The Ballad of Jack O'Dair

Well, I’m sorry to say that I’ll probably miss the first OCC meeting of the year this weekend, but I’m not sorry for the reason: the post-holiday arrival of more family, including my grandsons!

Last month I mentioned here that I was writing a Harlequin Romantic Suspense novel, COVERT ALLIANCE, which will be published in August 2016, a sequel to my Identity Division book COVERT ATTRACTION. I sent it off to the editor early this week. I also mentioned that I was about to republish one of my backlist books, a time travel romance called THE BALLAD OF JACK O’DAIR, on Kindle. It was available then and now for preorder and will be available on January 25. And right now, I’ve started working on my third Barkery & Biscuits Mystery, but with family around suspect I won’t have a lot of time to write for at least a couple of weeks.

It’s all a great start to 2016, and I’m looking forward to more fun–as well as keeping busy. And hopefully getting to lots of future chapter meetings.

And let me take this opportunity to wish the same to you. Happy New Year, and I hope you keep as busy as you want with whatever you want to keep you busy!

Linda O. Johnston
http://lindaojohnston.com/books.htm

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