Tag: Harlequin Nocturne

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Juggling Act

May 6, 2013 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , , ,

I love to write–but I love to have written even more!
 
Over the past week, I’ve been juggling between a few stories I’m working on.  For one, I have to complete a proposal for a Harlequin Nocturne romance that I’d suggested some time ago.  I had fun getting back into that story and into Alpha Force mode.  Alpha Force is my Nocturne miniseries about shapeshifters.  Love them!   I wrote a rough first draft and I’m now editing it.
 
Plus, I’ve come up with some ideas for a couple of new mystery series.  I’m also working on proposals for them.  And, yes, I’ve done rough first drafts, for one of them, at least.
 
I must have a lot of characters occupying my brain, since I do have to call on them, usually one at a time, and have them speak up even when I’ve been working in a different genre.  They always come through for me and tell me what comes next on the page.  It’s a good thing I’ve been at this for a while.
 
How about you–do you have more than one character or type of story in your mind at a time?  If so, how do you handle them?

Linda O. Johnston
http://www.lindaojohnston.com/
http://www.killerhobbies.blogspot.com/


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Our Next OCC Meeting

February 6, 2013 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , , , , ,

Our February OCC meeting is next Saturday. I’m really looking forward to it–as usual. But my reasons are a little different from why I’m usually filled with anticipation.

First, there’ll be a drawing for me to provide a critique of someone’s first chapter. I always enjoy doing things like that–contributing a little bit, I hope, to encouraging someone to keep on writing.

And then there’s our program. Our all-day speaker is Patrick Brown, the Author Program Manager for Goodreads, and he will be talking about how to promote your wok on Goodreads. I need that! I’ve been a member of Goodreads for a while but haven’t adequately utilized it. I did give one book away on Goodreads once, and I receive emails on updates about people who’ve friended me on Goodreads, but I know that there are a lot of aspects of the site that I’ve never used, or have used incorrectly.

Yes, I’m one of those people who use social media, but only a few things like a page on Facebook–the “friend” kind, not the “like” kind. I blog a lot, weekly on Killer Hobbies and monthly here at A Slice of Orange. This month, I’m also starting to blog on the 18th of each month at Killer Characters–or at least my characters are. Plus, I’m currently doing a lot of guest blogs to help promote my two new releases. And I post now and then on a wonderful blog that’s run by some delightful and talented OCC members: Writers In The Storm.
But I don’t tweet, since I’m sure I’d spend too much time on Twitter. Goodreads, if I knew how to use it better, might be another good resource, though, so I’m really looking forward to learning more.

How about you? Do you participate in Goodreads? Will you be at this month’s meeting?

By the way, there won’t be a PAW meeting this month, and I usually look forward to them a lot, too. But there’s always March…

O? —
Linda O! Johnston
LindaOJohnston.com
OODLES OF POODLES, February 2013
Berkley Prime Crime
UNDERCOVER WOLF, February 2013
Harlequin Nocturne

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The New Year

January 6, 2013 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , , ,

My New Year’s resolution this year is much as it is every year: I resolve not to make any New Years resolutions!

I’m happy to see the new year arrive. It’s a fresh start, of sorts. But I don’t plan to do things much differently this year from last.

I do have a lot to accomplish this year, though, with all the writing and promotion I aspire–no, intend!–to do in 2013.

I intend to meet all deadlines. I intend to learn and implement as many ways as possible to let people know about my published work–self promotion has become an integral part of my life! I intend to work on some creative directions that may not fit the mold of what I’ve already been writing. I also intend to flesh out lots of fun new ideas for some of the genres I’ve been writing in.

Hey–did I just contradict myself? Maybe intentions aren’t so different from resolutions.

One thing’s for sure. I’m resolved to attend as many OCC meetings as possible, since interacting with my friends there helps to inspire me to continue. Plus, it’s fun.

So, Happy New Year to you–and may you accomplish all your resolutions or intentions!

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OCC’s Upcoming Meeting and More

November 6, 2012 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , , , ,

I’ve missed OCC! I was unable to get to the last two meetings because of family travel plans, but I’m in town now and am delighted to say I’ll be at the Saturday meeting.

Both speakers sound interesting to me. In the morning, Tara Lain will be speaking about blog tours–and I’ve participated in quite a few. I’d love to learn other people’s perspectives about them. I try to utilize a few different social media avenues to let people know what I’m writing, and blogging is one of them.

I’ve said this before, but once upon a time, when I started writing, I thought that was all it was: you write, get published, and things are great from there on. It turns out that, yes, things are great, but there’s more to it than that. These days you write, publish and promote. As a result, I’m always eager to learn about other promotional opportunities.

For example, I’m participating in a blog hop tomorrow. Come visit my post at KillerHobbies.blogspot.com and learn more about me and this particular blog hop.

I’m delighted to say that I’ve signed up for the SoCal RWA Conference in March. Have you? I belong to two of the four participating RWA chapters and have for years. I’m really looking forward to this first SoCal RWA joint conference.

How about you? Do you blog? Are you going to the SoCal RWA Conference?

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Career Milestones

April 6, 2012 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , , ,

By Linda O Johnston


Every author’s writing career is different. We all share one thing in common, though. We remember our milestones.

Maybe we don’t recall exactly when each occurred, but we think about the time that we stopped telling ourselves we would like to write and instead actually began writing. We think about the first time we finished a chapter. And then a whole manuscript.

If we’re lucky enough to pursue our careers and succeed, we also recall our first publications. Our first agent. Whatever other things were meaningful to who and what we are as writers.

I’m bringing this up because I have just reached a couple of milestones. First, my new release HOUNDS ABOUND, my third Pet Rescue Mystery for Berkley Prime Crime, is my thirtieth published novel.

I also was recognized in a Harlequin newsletter for having published my fifteenth Harlequin story. They count novellas in that, so my Nocturne Bites were included, although I hadn’t added them to my novel count. I’m delighted about that, too!

I do recall some of those earlier milestones as well. I’d tried my hand at writing before but had stopped while going to law school. Even so, I kept telling my husband I wanted to write again. He finally said, “Well, write, then,” and I did–and kept going.

Of course I recall my first published fiction–a short story in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. I’d have remembered it anyway, but it was especially exciting since it also won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for best first mystery short story of the year. Plus, it was published again in an anthology.

Then there was my first published novel, A GLIMPSE OF FOREVER–a time travel romance published by Dorchester. I’ve been really sorry to hear of that company’s recent struggles.

I remember signing with my first agent, and then with the one I’ve been with for many years and adore. I recall my first Harlequin sale, my first mystery sale, and more. It’s always so much fun to revisit those times!

How about you? What are your favorite writing milestones?

Linda O Johnston’s Pet Rescue Mysteries, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, feature Lauren Vancouver, a determined pet rescuer who runs a no-kill shelter. Of course, in this cozy mystery series, “no-kill” refers to the animals, not people! Her most recent Pet Rescue Mystery is  HOUNDS ABOUND , an April 2012 release.

Visit Linda at www.LindaOJohnston.com  or KillerHobbies.blogspot.com



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