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I’m Here This Month

by Linda O. Johnston

I purposely didn’t do a blog post here at A Slice of Orange last month. I suspected I wasn’t going to be able to attend the Birthday Bash, and some of the posts that were already there told people lots about what would be going on. I figured they were more interesting than anything I had to say.

But I’m back now. I do hope to attend the regular OCC meeting this month. I enjoy them and really missed being able to attend the Birthday Bash. But life happens.

I’ve heard some about how the Birthday Bash went–great, of course! Even so, I’ll ask questions at the next meeting. I’m sure I’ll hear lots of good stuff, which will make me feel even worse that I wasn’t there. OCC is one wonderful organization and I’ve belonged for a long time and do enjoy meeting up with the members. I’ve attended the Birthday Bash before and always find them fun and inspirational and a really good time.

But then, that can also be said of the regular meetings. So, regarding the next one and as I often say, I hope to see you there!

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Labor Day Holiday Week

by Linda O. Johnston

I mentioned this on another blog this week, but Happy Labor Day Week, everyone. I used to pay a lot of attention to this and other holidays when I was a working attorney. Now that I’m a full time writer, though, I’m generally aware of holidays but don’t give them much thought except in interest of what they celebrate. But days off? Hah!

I work every day, and I’m sure every one of you who’s also a writer does the same even if you have another job. Of course those of you in retail and other professions might not get the holiday off anyway, which may be a shame depending on your situation. At least writers choose to work constantly. Sort of. Our minds tell us what to do, every waking moment of the day and often during sleeping moments, too.

Me? I’m either writing (including coming up with ideas and plotting), editing or promoting, and often it’s a combo of two or three–all the time. Before I became a full time writer I could say the same, but I often cherished those days off to work on writing-related stuff, so those holidays weren’t days off for me then either.

One of the fun things about OCC is being in touch with people at many stages of their writing. Many do have full time jobs and work their writing in the way I used to. Others are like me, and writing is their life. Professional life, that is. Families always come first–including pets.

Unsurprisingly, I’m looking forward to Saturday’s meeting at the end of this holiday week. In fact, I was asked to participate on a panel then but fortunately there was some flexibility as to when that panel was to occur, so I raised my hand to choose the other date.

Enjoy the rest of your week–and hope to see you at the meeting!

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More Romance

August 6, 2016 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Linda O. Johnston

Things got by me last month, and I didn’t post here on Slice of Orange. I thought about it when it was just a little late but decided I didn’t have anything as exciting to say as the posts already there, so I chose not to say anything.

But here I am. I’m back! And this is a special month.

Yes, it’s August–can you believe the year is going so fast?

August is the publication month of my latest Harlequin Romantic

Suspense, COVERT ALLIANCE. It’s part of my Identity Division mini-series about a non-witness protection program. As with the last story, the heroine has had her identity changed for her protection. But now there’s a critical reason for her to ignore her promises and return to the place she learned of criminal activity that resulted in threats to her life, but that she couldn’t help prove if the bad guys were arrested. Someone else from the Identity Division is now in town collecting evidence–and of course, the two of them meet. And clash. And are highly attracted to one another…

As you may know, these days I’ve been writing more cozy mysteries than romances, but that may be about to change. The book I’m working on now is one of my Harlequin Nocturnes, a paranormal romance about Alpha Force, a covert military unit of shapeshifters. Looks as if I may be writing another Alpha Force story, too. And a different Harlequin Romantic Suspense series as well. It’s not completely decided yet, but I’m excited.

Meanwhile, I had a great time at the RWA National Conference last month. Hope you did, too. And I’m planning on attending this month’s OCC meeting, and I hope to see you there as well!

Linda O. Johnston

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Upcoming Round Table Chapter Meeting

June 6, 2016 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston, Writing tagged as Berkley Prime Crime, Linda O. Johnston, Silhouette Nocturne

by Linda O. Johnston

Did you realize that today is 6/6/16? That’s right–sixth day of the sixth month of twenty-sixteen. Lots of sixes–which are hopefully good luck despite their possibly bad reputation when grouped in sets of three. I like sixes anyway. And in addition to my romances and other mysteries, I happen to write the Superstition Mysteries.

But, boy, this year is certainly going fast–nearly at the halfway point.

As I mentioned last month, I missed several OCC meetings early in the year. I did attend the one in May–and now I’ll be there for the June one, too. A bunch of published authors have been recruited to lead discussions at various tables at the afternoon meeting, and I’ll be at the one where we’ll talk about traditional publishers.

Yes, I’ve been at this a long time, and although I’ve done a bit of self-publishing, including republishing some of my earliest backlist as e-books, mostly those published by Dorchester, I still remain mostly traditionally published.

And enjoy it.

For my mysteries, I’ve written for Berkley Prime Crime and am now being published by a smaller publisher, Midnight Ink. I’m fortunate, since both have worked out well for me.

For romances, I’ve had a long-standing relationship with Harlequin series romance. In fact, my next published novel, due out in August this year, will be COVERT ALLIANCE, a Harlequin Romantic Suspense.

I guess I’m qualified to talk about traditional publishing! And I hope those of you who come to the meeting will join me at my table, along with Tara Lain, so we can talk about the pros and cons of it.

See you there!

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Looking Forward to Romance

May 6, 2016 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Linda O. Johnston

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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