Merry Christmas from the Grippers of the Past!

This post is going to be a departure from our normal guest spot. Some of the past OGAG Alumni are sharing their Holiday Cheer. : )

I have posted what has come in so far, and if other emails come my way today, I will amend the post to reflect them.

Happy Holidays to all of our readers!!!

JUDE MASON:

Oh, it’s so cool to be back here at the Grip. *Waves at everyone* When Michelle asked if I’d like to say hi, how could I refuse? I miss the place, the struggle to get something intelligent out every week, the stress of finding a guest to send something and the pleasure of reading everyone else’s take on the weeks topic. Sigh, yeah, it was awesome fun. Seeing the new faces has also been a plus. New blood, new ideas, new kinks!! What fun. Course you all know I want to take this chance to not only wish you and your families the most amazing season’s greetings, but to also promote a little something, right? Yup! Fraid it’s nothing Christmassy. I seem to have an editor who finds great pleasure in adding to my workload at the wrong time. So, how about a tiny teaser from a book I’ve got coming out in the new year? I’m sure you’ll all enjoy a snippet from Jett’s Gift, due out in Feb.2011 from Total E-Bound.

Six hundred years he’d lived in darkness, feeding off the dregs of humanity and finding love with those who, for the most part, had been cast out or shunned for being ‘different.’

Alex was different, and he loved the man like he’d never loved anyone before. Loved him more than he’d thought possible after so long, so very, very long. Their couplings were nothing less than amazing. Alex, as always, was brilliant in the many ways he’d found to pleasure Jett. The lovely man knew how to do things with his mouth and lips that drove Jett mad with desire. The sharpness of Alex’s mortal teeth tugging at flesh long chilled and lust-tainted with the passing of so much time both astonished Jett and impressed him tremendously. He’d thought he was long past the intensity of arousal Alex garnered in him. Thinking of his lover’s amazing oral capabilities made his rod stiffen to majestic proportions and sensitivity. The gentle nipping of the man’s mouth was enough to set his teeth on edge and send flashes of ecstasy up his spine.

The best of the holidays to everyone!

Hugs
Jude

*Jude Mason – Readers needed: Come, explore with me…if you dare*
Website: http://www.my-haven2001.com/
Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jude_Masons_Newsletter/
To join my mailing list, go HERE

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JENNA BYRNES:

Merry Christmas to my friends, readers and fellow authors at the Grip! Jenna Byrnes here, popping in to wave hello and wish everyone happy holidays. I can’t believe it’s been just over a year since I stopped my weekly Grip blog posts. They say time flies when you’re having fun, and whether or not the past year has been fun, I’ve certainly found this to be true. Time, indeed, marches on.

The past few years I set a hectic pace for myself. Many months I had more than one new release at a time. It was fun, frantic, frenetic, fast-paced, furious, and a few other f-words I could probably mention. *G* Alas, it was a schedule I couldn’t live with any longer. After a great deal of consideration, I decided to cut back my erotic writing to the titles I co-author with my friend and fellow workaholic, Jude Mason. Fans of our Kindred Spirits series, never fear. Book five is on the way, and book six will come out sometime in 2011.

I still plan to be around, just not on the same scale I was before. I have a life outside my computer, and I plan to enjoy it. I can already tell you, by cutting my workload down the month of December has been a true joy for me this year. All my Christmas preparations were done early and none of them felt like chores. It’s been a truly wonderful holiday season.

If you’d like to receive special notice announcements when I have news next year, please sign up for my mailing list. No chat, just short emails when news happens.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jenna_Byrnes_Newsletter/ There are also a few free reads in the files section there, so enjoy. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and best wishes from my computer to yours!

Jenna Byrnes
Page Scorching Erotic Romance
www.jennabyrnes.com

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ASHLEY LISTER

Twas a Saturday Christmas, and whilst eating Yule Log,

I took time to pause at the Get a Grip Blog.

I’ve spent many hours with my friends who meet here

And I wanted to visit and wish them festive cheer.



You guys made me think, and kept me on my toes

Your comments made my cheeks burn like Rudolph’s red nose.

You’re witty and warm like a good English beer:

And I wish you a good Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Blessings of the holiday season everyone. And I hope 2011 brings you all the success and happiness you so richly deserve.

Visit Ash's website at: www.ashleylister.co.uk

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They're back ...

Jenna Byrnes and Jude Mason are back with us this weekend as our guest blogger. : )

Jenna: One of my favorite parts of the writing process is choosing a title. Jude might tell you that she agonizes over the process, but I absolutely love it. It’s like when I’m writing a mystery-- I might walk around seemingly normal on the outside, but inside I’m constantly mulling over tiny clues to throw into the story. Finding the perfect title sometimes works like that. I mull it over for hours, days, and occasionally even weeks, until the right name comes to mind.

Jude: Agonizes, she says. Add pulls hair out and whimpers and you may be close. Titles are often very difficult for me. I mull things over, but titles, unfortunately, either come to me out of the blue, or are like pulling teeth.

Jenna: About 75% of the time, I have a title in mind when I start writing. The rest of the time, as I write, a line pops out and I choose it for the title.

Jude: My ratio is a little different. 50% of the time I’ll have a title which leads to the story, or ‘is’ the story. A for instance, I saw Scorpio Tattoo. The title was there, the cover art, and the story, all at the same time. I knew the entire thing within minutes. That happens very rarely, and it’s awesome when it does.

Jenna: There’ve been a handful of manuscripts which were completely finished before the perfect title came to me, and I’ll admit, that bugs me. I like to know my title and I really don’t like ‘working titles’ that get changed after the fact. It’s like waiting until your child is born before you name it, or worse yet, changing the name when the kid is a few days old. *shudders* Not for me.

Jude: This is more the norm for me. (Okay, so my kids were named BEFORE they were born, honest, but the rest fits) Often, I’ll have the story completely done, my edits done and the work sent to Jenna for editing, the title still a complete mystery. She’ll often make suggestions and if I don’t get the title from her, I’ll get an idea. I’ve even had editors help me out with this.

Jenna: A couple times I’ve asked Jude to help me think of a title while she’s proofing a manuscript, and that has worked out well. Another time, a publisher asked me to change a title which she thought wasn’t sexy enough. I won’t say which book that was for, but I still hate the title ultimately chosen. LOL

Jude: Yes, I’ve offered my help a time or two, but this really is one aspect of being an author I’m not truly comfortable with. I distinctly remember saying to my first publisher, ‘you mean I have to come up with the title too?’

When Jenna has come to me about a title, I’ll do my best to offer ideas rather than the title. Sometimes it gives her a jumping off point and I’m thrilled when it happens. I really believe having the correct title, or a title that grabs the readers is one of the most important things. The cover might attract them first, but the title is second.

Jenna: I enjoy using a twist of words to create a title. I used to like using a character’s name, as in Convincing Cate and Switching Seth. Then I started seeing how many authors did that and how many verbs were tortured to come up with titles, so I’m trying to get out of that phase.

Jude: Well, I have always been awed by Jenna’s ability to come up with the perfect title. Titles like Alex’s Appeal and Feral Heat, to name just a couple. I never thought ‘tortured verb’, I did think ‘nice twist.’

Jenna: However it happens, I still love choosing titles. The satisfaction that comes from finding just the perfect one, for a writer, can’t be beat.

Jude: I’m in total agreement. When a title works, it’s magic and people notice. That’s what you want. When a title misleads or misses the mark, it can mean readers will prance on to the next book because they really didn’t ‘get’ what the first was meant to say. For a prolific author it’s more difficult, but it really is important.

They say the cover grabs the reader first. I agree. If you’re in a book store, you may be looking for that author you always buy. But, if you see a splash of color or the hunky guy in just the right pose with just the right props, you’ll stop to at least look. The title has to be right there, ready to snag them.

Speaking of titles, we’ve got a couple you might like to check out:
Stallion’s PrideBy Jude Mason and Jenna Byrnes
ISBN: 978-0-85715-058-5
Publisher: Total E-Bound

Purchase here
A recently discovered horse talisman and a gypsy horse changeling tribe seem like the perfect match. Is headstrong Brishen ready for the power the talisman brings?It's a stressful time for the familya of gypsy horse changelings. Shandor, King of the Gypsies, has died, leaving the clans at war and his son, Brishen, struggling with his new-found leadership. Brishen also struggles with something more personal - choosing a life mate. Will it be Tawnie, the female his father selected for him? Or handsome Jal, whose masculine features excite Brishen more than anything has before?In cougar territory, a day's journey away, clan leader Kai and his mate Aric are dealing with an issue of their own. A new talisman discovered - a brilliant purple stone with the head of a horse in gold filigree. Unaware of any horse changelings, Kai calls a meeting of the talisman holders to discuss what should be done.Tarek, leader of the bears, and Cole, ruler of the wolves, come together with Kai to track down their new changeling brothers. When they find the horses and meet young, headstrong Brishen, it's a battle of wills - a battle no one wants to lose.

——

Binary Stars: Willing and Able
Co-authors Jude Mason and Jenna Byrnes
Publisher: Phaze
Release date: coming soon

Willing
By Jenna Byrnes

Colt Willing never expected to be a key player in a drug-running operation. Before he can get out, he's determined to release the hold the organization has on Jonathan, the man he's grown to love. Jonathan has ties that bind him to drug-lord Nigel Caprice, and breaking the bonds may prove too difficult for Willing to tackle alone.

Able
By Jude Mason
Detective D.J. Able is determined to bring Caprice to his knees. Backed by his partner, Bryan Stokes, Able and his team are out for justice, and retribution for the loss of one of their own. When push comes to shove, Able discovers that even the best laid plans sometimes go astray, and the men end up in a fight for their very lives.

- - -

*Jude Mason - Come, explore with me…if you dare*
Website: http://www.my-haven2001.com Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jude_Masons_Newsletter/To join my mailing list, email me: jude.mason AT yahoo.ca

*Jenna Byrnes - Page scorching erotic romance*
Visit my website: http://www.jennabyrnes.com/
Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jenna_Byrnes_Newsletter/

One Night at Grandma's

By Jenna Byrnes


When I was a child, we'd travel regularly to visit my grandparents who lived two hours away in an old farmhouse. My older brother, whose main goal in life was to torment me, liked to tell me spooky stories about the farmhouse. These invariably kept me from a good night's sleep. But no story came close to what he and I witnessed firsthand, one night at grandma's.

Our family history contained a sad and scary (to parents everywhere) tale about my uncle who died as a small child. The house, built by my great-grandfather (or maybe two greats in there, can't remember) had a long flight of stairs leading to the bedrooms on the upper floor. One Christmas morning, my uncle, who must have been three years old at the time, found a shiny, red tricycle under the tree. He pestered and pestered for someone to take him outside to try out the trike, but his parents and older siblings were busy opening their holiday gifts. The way the story goes, no one noticed little Jimmy missing until he hollered and got their attention. There he was, at the top of the stairs, sitting on his tricycle. How he dragged it up there, to this day, no one knows. Just as his folks dashed to the staircase, Jimmy shoved off to take the bumpy ride of his life. He finally fell off the trike about two-thirds of the way down, snapping his neck in the process. He died instantly, and was buried three days later in a family plot on the back edge of the farm.

Fast forward thirty years or so. My grandmother made the best homemade candy by melting big Hershey bars and adding nuts and marshmallows, or sometimes a simple layer of peanut butter between two chunks of chocolate. My brother and I could never get enough of the stuff-because mom would cut us off after a couple pieces. But after the grown-ups were in bed, the candy was left unattended. We'd sneak out to the enclosed porch just off the living room, where grandma kept her table of treats, and indulge in some late night chocolaty goodness.

One night, after we were sure the elders were asleep, my brother and I slipped out of our makeshift beds on the laundry room floor, and tripped out to visit the candy. Just as we rounded the corner to the living room, we heard a noise at the top of the stairs. We froze, fearful it was mom--or worse yet, dad--catching us in the candy-thieving act. Hugging the wall, neither of us scarcely dared to take a breath. When we saw who was on the stairs, the air couldn't whoosh from my lungs fast enough. A small boy, on a shiny red tricycle, hurtling down the stairs at an amazing speed. Only this time, he didn't fall off the trike. He rode it all the way to the landing and raced past my brother and I. His face was a mask of victorious triumph. We turned our heads to follow him and see where he'd end up, but the boy and trike vanished as they reached the stone fireplace.

I'm lucky I only wet my pants that night. My brother didn't say a word, just helped me clean up the puddle with some paper towels and we both hurried back to our beds. I changed into clean pajamas and crawled into my sleeping bag, which I scooted a little closer to my sister. She might have wondered why, but she never asked.

It took my brother and I years before we could talk about that night. Both of us remembered it the same way, and we never talked about it again. We didn't sneak out for candy after that, either. And when grandma and grandpa sold the farm and moved into town, I wasn't unhappy. That place literally scared the piss outta me.

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The one thing I forgot to tell you about this story is that none of it is true. Okay, my dad was Jimmy, he did live in a farmhouse when he was a kid, and he did ride his trike down the staircase (he survived, thankfully, or I wouldn't be here to tell the tale.) Oh, and my grandma did make the greatest chocolate candy, but grandma was a softie and I got all I wanted. (Weight Watchers thanks her.) The only other part of the story that's true? I would have peed my pants if anything like that ever happened to me.

'Now That's Scary' was a great topic choice for Halloween week, but I had not one freaking thing to contribute. Nothing very scary has ever happened to me, thank heavens. So I decided to make something up. I'm a writer after all. And this being my last post for Oh Get a Grip, I wanted to leave with a bang instead of a whimper. *grin*

I've enjoyed blogging here these past months, and meeting a lot of new people. Time constraints and other obligations are bogging me down, so I'm going to bow out. Devon Rhodes, another erotic romance author from Total E-Bound, will begin blogging here next week. I look forward to reading her take on the new topics, and I'll see the rest of you around the web. Thanks for the great run, and Happy Halloween!!!


~ Jenna

Oh, look, a kitty!

By Jenna Byrnes

Writer's block doesn't 'hit me' so much as I allow myself to succumb to it. With my schedule, I have a limited amount of writing time set aside each day. When I sit down at the computer, it usually goes something like this:

1) Check three email accounts. Two are not very active, personal accounts. The third one is the biggie, where I get all my editor/publisher/important stuff. That gets attention first.

2) In another folder of my busy email account, the loop messages and digests from over 50 Yahoo groups (that's way down from the past!) sit waiting for me. I scan those, answering the important ones and deleting the stuff I can't take time for. Depending on how much important stuff there is, and the level of my patience for rating what's important and what's not, steps one and two could take from 15 minutes to an hour.

3) Open the file to my current work in progress. Reread the segment I wrote previously. Suddenly remember that I meant to look up online the names of some baseball players in the mid-nineties for current WIP. Surfing for those take another 15 minutes.

4) Names copied and pasted, I return to WIP and begin to write. An hour of my allotted two hours is already shot, but I'm ready to dig in. I realize I've used the word 'looked' too many times and go online to the Thesaurus to come up with something different. Spotted. Excellent. Back to work.


5) I see Jude come online via Instant Messenger. I should stop and talk with her a minute about some important edits/proofing/gossiping we need to do. Thirty minutes later she shoos me away, saying she needs to get to work. I'd like to, but my time allotment is up! The real world calls, and I have to move on to other things.

Okay, this isn't so much about writer's block as it is procrastination, but it's something I deal with every day. Finding a balance between life, writing, promoting and the business end is tricky, but lots of people do it and I usually do, too. Some weeks are tougher than others.

True writer's block usually hits me when something serious is going on in my real life. It's hard to flip a switch and put it out of my mind. I can usually do busy work, though, and try to use that time to catch up on small stuff, website work, promotions, Spider Solitaire, etc. I've even skipped over sex scenes and written other parts of a story when my mind wasn't truly into the act. Works for me.

Lisabet is correct that if you want to be a writer, you have to just write. I'm fairly prolific, so I guess I do a decent job of it. But there are days when I think I'm all set to write, and I end up spending an hour putting widgets on my blog. I suppose it happens to the best of us.

I've started logging words written on a daily calendar, so I can see if I'm making progress or not. Last week I wrote 7,500 words. And found the most amazing Jack-O-Lantern for my website header! http://www.jennabyrnes.com/mainpage.htm *grin* Balance in all things, I guess.

Vive la différence!

By Jenna Byrnes

Passages from historical romance books and stories can be lyrical and beautiful. They can also make my eyes glaze over faster than someone reading to me from the Dow Jones Average. For some reason, I'm not big on historical stuff.

I don't care for the stilted speech. Hell, I can't understand some of it.

The stuffy clothing of the times doesn't suit me.

Flowery descriptive passages bore me to tears.

Elmore Leonard once said something about writing, and leaving out the parts people tend to skip. That's totally my philosophy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The original LOL cat: 1905 cat postcard by Harry Whittier Frees

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know there are zillions of fans of historical romance, and plenty of people who are happy to write it. I think that's great. Different strokes, folks. I don't judge what anybody likes to read or write. I like gay erotic romance, some people might not. I prefer third person point of view over first person. Again, merely my preference. Different is good.

If we were all the same, I'd worry about a shortage of Little Debbie chocolate brownies. That could be bad.

Levels of Comfort

By Jenna Byrnes

First of all, a big thank you to Sassy Brit of Alternative Reads for the lovely blog award! We gratefully accept and will post it proudly.

Now, to the topic of the week, opening closed doors. I have pretty strong feelings about this subject but hesitate to say to much since my doors are closed and need to stay that way. Lisabet is lucky not to have experienced the sting of this particular prejudice first hand. It's not fun.

Erotic Romance is a guilty pleasure that many people won't admit they enjoy. The fact that authors don't face legal battles anymore, or get 'in trouble' for writing about sex, means we've come a long way, but not all the way, to being an acceptable part of today's society. If it weren't still taboo, then so many authors wouldn't feel the need to write using pen names.

It's true, in the online community of writers, readers, publishers, reviewers and even bloggers that many of us talk to every day, erotic romance is a normal thing. I attended a small author-reader event this summer and found it extremely refreshing to sit in a group of people who enjoyed the same type of books that I read and write. I proudly wore a name tag and never once felt threatened by any of the wonderful people there. Everyone hugged each other when the weekend ended, and many people made plans to meet again next year.

I don't go to a lot of 'events', so that weekend was a new experience for me. I rarely get the chance to sit around discussing erotic romance, which was great. Follow that up with a trip to visit my writing partner Jude. We lounged in her living room, notebook in hand, feet kicked up, sipping diet pop (oh wait, make that hard liquor), brainstorming book ideas. That was a blast.

I am part of a writer's group that meets regularly to discuss the craft and different aspects of it. As nice as that is, I still feel like erotic romance authors are the red-headed stepchildren of the industry. We can write it, talk about it a little, but mainly, it's best to keep it quiet. More comfortable for everyone that way. I've accepted this, and think I finally have it figured out. Comfortable is good.

A journey, not a race

By Jenna Byrnes

The reams of stories written on wide lined notebook paper, bound with orange yarn, don't count. Those started in fourth grade. My first heroine had twenty-some babies and just as many husky sled dogs-- for two reasons. One, like many ten year old girls I swore I'd grow up to be a veterinarian because I loved dogs, and if I couldn't have a dozen of them, my characters could. And two, I loved choosing names, and never stopped to think that I didn't have to use all my favorite names in the first book I wrote. But, I digress. I said those stories don't count. Back then, I could while away hours lying on my bed writing in a notebook. Man, what I'd give for some of that free time now.

When I picked up writing again as an adult, my children were little and it was a pastime for the evening hours when my husband watched whatever sport was on TV at the moment. Back then I had a used word processor (which at least allowed me to get rid of the liquid paper) and an old fashioned printer with paper that had tear-off strips on either side. I wrote my first novel on that thing, a 120,000 word tome that eventually got published as a nice, tight, 30,000 word novella.

I put writing aside during the child-raising years. In the span of nine years, besides working full time and raising my children, I was a cub scout leader, a boy scout troop treasurer and committee chairman, a religious education teacher (that one for the whole nine years, yes, I said- NINE years!), president of my church's council of Catholic women, Eucharistic Minister, church neighborhood group leader, on the committee for church activities planning, and tired....very tired. Once my boys hit those milestones- Eagle Scout, driver's licenses, Sacrament of Confirmation in 9th grade, I dropped out of my active life and let them fly solo for awhile. I was very glad to have done all those things, thrilled to have watched my kids achieve all they had, but I was ready to take some time back for me. I started writing again.


At first it was late night scribblings. I had an honest to goodness computer, though it would be considered a dinosaur now. I remember staying up late, usually on Saturday nights, and writing like crazy while the rest of the house was asleep. Those were interesting times, but not a schedule I could live with for long.

Once I began to figure out the write/submit/sign contract/edit/publish/promote cycle, I knew I needed more regular writing and promoting time. I've slowly settled into a schedule that works for me, even though it means getting up earlier than normal and missing a few lunches here and there (which nobody can tell, I'm sure.) Somehow I manage to handle the day job, squeeze in some writing each day on my own time, get my housework managed and end up with some family time as well. Okay, some days that means falling asleep in front of the TV which we've all gathered round to watch. (Someone will nudge me.)

The system isn't perfect--with such strict allowances for writing time, when I sit down to do it, if the words don't flow, I get frustrated and feel like a slacker. Then Jude kicks me and reminds me it's okay to take some time off now and again. I write a lot. I know it's not a sin to take the occasional break (though the propensity to worry about sin is ingrained.)

There are so many stories in my head, they fight each other to get out. These days, I'm usually working on one solo project and rotating between my publishers so I send each of them something fairly regularly, and I'm also working on a project with Jude. When she has the manuscript, I work on my stuff, and vice versa. So, like Lisabet, beginning each writing session by reading the last bit I wrote is especially important to me. Wouldn't want to stick the wrong character in the wrong book, LOL. (Actually, I've never done that but it sounds funny and I might try it to see if Jude notices.)

Writing is a habit, and sometimes when I don't do it, it's hard to get back into the routine. I write six days a week when possible, and save that last day for blog posts and catching up on stuff. I usually write about a 1,000 to 1,500 words a day. I've done up to 3,500 words in one day, and wish I could be that prolific all the time. But then I'm afraid I'd be back in that crazy active lifestyle mode, when I was tired all the time. (Even more tired than I am now, which I can't fathom.) So I try to remember that writing, like life, is a journey, not a race. Half the fun is in the trip.

Love the One You're With

By Jenna Byrnes

One negative aspect of writing erotic short stories can be the lack of time for a relationship to blossom. When an author is working within word limit constrictions, it's harder to get to the steamy stuff fast. Readers (and publishers) want sex in their erotic romances. If the characters don't know each other, they come across looking like horndogs when they hop into bed on page three.

Jude Mason and I have addressed this in many of our co-authored works by having the characters in already established relationships. But sometimes, the story calls for a new romance. And it's not always feasible for the sex to happen right off the bat.

One way to get the spice in there early is to throw in a little self-loving. This adds heat, and at the same time, gives the hero/heroine a chance to fantasize about someone they've just met or perhaps only caught a glimpse of.

~~~~~~~~~~

Denise lay back on the bed and pulled her thick plastic vibrator from the nightstand. She turned it on and the soft hum made her smile. It had been just the two of them for so long now, the next time she was with a man he might have to hum like a vibrator to get her off. She chuckled and spread her legs, slowly inserting her plastic friend as deeply as possible. “Oh yeah,” she moaned, using one hand to thrust the fake cock in and out, and the other hand to massage her breasts and pinch her nipples. She thought once again of the man outside, and envisioned him rising over her.

His cock filled her completely, deliciously, and he pounded her until she couldn't take any more.

“Now!” he grunted out the command and she came explosively, feeling his heat pour into her in waves.

“Yes.” She held on until their simultaneous shuddering had stopped.

“Rest now.” He kissed the side of her face gently. “There are so many more things I’m going to do to you. Relax, and get your energy built back up…”

Denise withdrew the vibrator and turned it off. Her pussy had that pleasant “used and abused” feeling to it, but she still wasn’t satisfied. She wanted more, and she knew who she wanted to give it to her.

~~~~~~~~~~

When I was looking for excerpts for this blog post, I discovered something interesting. Every masturbation scene I've written has the main character fantasizing about being with someone else. Not one of them was happy to be in the moment, loving the one they were with, so to speak.

I guess this makes sense given the genre. Perhaps an erotica anthology about 'self-love' might celebrate the act, but in erotic romance, apparently it takes two...or more...to tango. Enlightening!

Oh, the trials and tribulations

Picture a gray-haired woman, exhausted, head thrown back and the back of her hand at her brow. Sighing. Gasping even!

Yup, that’d be me.

Okay, got that picture firmly entrenched. Read on.

Now, here’s an example of an IM shared between co-authors:

J1: <--Jenna!
But I don’t know anything about pony boys

J2: <--Jude!
What’s to know, guys with horse attire being trained like horses. Oh and don’t forget the sex.

J1: Ewww!

J2: What ewww, it’s great gay sex with one fellow whinnying instead of groaning.

J1: Yeah, I guess you’re right. What about cops. We could do cops and have one of them being kidnapped and the other one has to do some kinky something to rescue the guy. They’re lovers you see.

J2: Oh, that sounds cool. Kinky, you got something in mind?

J1: Uh, well no, but I’m sure we can come up with something…lol

J2: I’m sure we can. *G* A little exhibitionism maybe, how about the free guy has to show off or the guy who was captured gets strung up outside city hall on Monday morning.. naked and in some kind of bondage gear.

J1: Oh! That works

J2: You got a city in mind or do we want to create one of our own? This is a shorter one, might be an idea to not even mention a name unless we need to

J1: I agree. Four chapters, remember that.

J2: Grrr yeah, I remember…LOL

The conversation goes on, suggesting, rejecting, revamping ideas until the rough plot is sorted out and then I get the inevitable:

J1: Okay, do you want to start this thing?

With little more than a rough idea of where we’re going with this, but one hell of a bunch of ideas floating around in both Jenna’s and my minds, the story begins. I’ll write, usually around 2500 words, but sometimes it’s 4000 or more. It all depends on how the story flows for me. When I’m feeling like it’s a push, I’ll send it to Jenna, with ideas on where to go from where I left off, or just a simple… ‘Your baby now, have fun’

This isn’t the first time I’ve written with someone else, but it is the first time I’ve felt so comfortable doing it. It’s taken time, but it’s definitely been worth. The first book Jenna and I tackled together, and I’m sure she’ll correct me if I’m wrong, was Feral Heat, the first of our Untamed Hearts Series. From the information I still have stored on my computer, we began working on this one in March of 08. The series, which we thought was done at three books, is apparently well liked enough that our publisher asked us to do one more so the books could all be put into print. We’ve sent off the fourth book and I do hope you like horses.

To me, that’s a huge accomplishment. The first two e-books, Feral Heat and Bear Combustion have been combined into, Untamed Hearts Vol 1, and is available now at Total E-Bound. I am totally jazzed about it.

It’s taken time, and it hasn’t always been simple dream up an idea and bingo off we go. If it was, everyone would do this. Jenna and I were good friends before we even thought of writing together. She’d edited quite a bit of my work and I’d done the same for her. We knew the strength and weaknesses. We knew the professionalism and dedication to improving the skills each of us has. We also know that we have lives outside of writing and make great efforts to make sure we don’t pressure each other more than necessary. I’ve had eye surgeries and Jenna has had a very ill husband who needed a great deal of care. We worked when we could, we let up when it was important to do so. Our friendship came first.

Perks of co-authoring:

1. Someone to bounce ideas off

2. Built in editor. She writes some, I edit hers, then add my bit. She does the fixes I’ve suggested, then edits mine and adds her bit. Finally, we both do an edit, then we send the MS to our editors

3. There are times when a story just flies. There are times when it flies then falters. When you’re writing with a partner, you can hand it off and be fairly sure it’ll fly again.

4.Honest feedback. When you’re working alone, you can ask for comments from friends, and you’ll most likely get some nice remarks. But, if the writer has a vested interest, royalties, he or she is going to be much harder on the MS. They want their work to be as perfect as you want yours to be.

5. We all have our strong points when it comes to writing. If you chose wisely, your co-author’s talents will compliment yours. I write hot sex. Jenna has this awesome ability to create a twist at the end of a story that is simply astounding.

Disadvantages of co-authoring:

1. Royalties, and this might very well not be a disadvantage. You cut any royalties in half. But, you also may very well garner a following which drives the numbers up, so it could very well be one heck of a perk.

2. Schedules. There are times when one of you may not be available for a project. Family always comes first, so when you see this really cool call for submissions, but one of you has a wedding in Zimbabwe to attend, it’s not going to happen unless you want to tackle it solo, and that’s always an option.

3. Hmm, I honestly can’t think of a 3.

Let’s see, Jenna showed off a couple of our covers, so I’ll show off a couple of others. I hope you enjoy.

Phaze Rocks, Slippery When Wet Series

Book #1 Wanted Dead or Alive

Dan Radisson has been released from Corcoran State Prison and never intends to go back. He's working his twelve steps, minding his own business, and trying to resume some degree of normality living in the home of his sister and her family.

Trey Wallace knows what he likes and isn't afraid to go after it. When he meets Dan at an AA meeting he sees exactly what he wants, but questions whether the newly freed man is ready to dive into the type of sexual relationship Trey has in mind.

Dan's ready for the sex, but not so sure about life on the outside. When he stumbles upon a homicide and runs from the scene in the same way he did in the past, suddenly he's a wanted man. Dan must either solve the crime or risk returning to the place he dreads the most--the prison that changed his life.

_ _ _ _ _

"This is an excellent mystery with suspense and eroticism that keeps it fast moving." ~ Dee, The Romance Studio

~ Read excerpt or buy now

* * * *

Book #2, Living on a Prayer

Logan White is released from prison after serving eight years on Corcoran prison for his part in a B &E where a man was killed. Enter Reverend Shane Grayson, a gay man of the cloth who helps find Logan a job, but that turns into a horror story. Can the two lovers find a way to be together or will the underbelly of society win this battle?

Fallen Angel Reviews - Livin' on a Prayer makes you truly walk in someone else's shoes, giving a little taste of what it must be like.

~ Read excerpt or buy NOW

* * * *

Book #3 Never Say Goodbye

Damien Hall has never done an honest day's work in his life. On his own from a young age, his street wiles got him by until he ended up in Corcoran State Prison, found guilty of theft. Five years later, he's moved in with a man who only wants him for one thing, nightly hot sex. But he's off the streets, and Damien thinks the trade-off is worth it.

Travis Slater wrangles horses for a living, and wants to wrangle Damien in his off hours. He sees potential in the man who suffers from extremely low self esteem, and quickly falls in love with him. He hopes to take Damien and leave, knowing they can make their own way in the world.

Damien isn't so sure, and is terrified at the thought of being homeless again. When his employer admits the real reason Damien was hired, it's decision time. Do what's easy or do what's right? Only Damien can decide.

_ _ _ _ _

Number One on the Top Twenty Bestseller List for Phaze in June, 2009.

"This book gets a 4 (recommended to buy) for being such a good story in such a short package. Don’t let this one pass you by!" ~ Acquanetta Ferguson, the San Diego Examiner

~ Read excerpt or buy now

* * * *

Book #4, I'd Die For You

Snake Thompson is out of Corcoran and looking for revenge. He meets and falls for Abel, a lusty blond guy who winds up quitting his job and tagging along. Can the two of them find the truth and clear Snake's name, or will drugs and money send them both to the grave?

Top ten list at Phaze for July 2009

Read excerpt or buy now

That's my bit on co-authoring. I think if you chose who you want to write with, the experience can be nothing less than amazing for anyone who is serious about it. Pick the wrong person and it can be exactly the opposite. Go into it with your eyes open. Possibly try a shorter piece first and get out if the feeling isn't what you want. Always, be honest.

I'd really love to hear from others who have tried this.

Why do I even bother typing?

By Jenna Byrnes

Heh heh heh... *rubs hands together*...Co-authoring is an easy topic for me. Jude Mason and I have been writing together for more than a year, though honestly, I can't remember when we first started. It seems like we've being doing it forever. Checking in with her on instant messenger is a regular part of my day, after I've gotten caught up on email (in case we have important business to discuss- we do not gossip!) It feels natural to touch base with her before I start writing each day.



When we decided to try our hand at co-authoring, we set down a couple of rules. First and foremost, our friendship was more important than any book. If we got deep into writing and either of us felt like there was a problem, we'd stop right then. We're getting ready to start our fourteenth project together (if my math is right) and we haven't had a hint of a problem yet. Maybe we're both too damned polite. We never argue, and always agree on our plots. (And we both find it hard to say no when we're asked to come up with something for an editor or publisher.)

Or possibly, we're so much alike that it's scary. When we talk on instant messenger, half the time we're both typing the same thoughts at the same time. One of us invariably questions why we even bother tapping the keys. We seem to be very attuned to each other. So much so, that I flew 1800 miles this summer to meet her in person. We walked right up to each other in the airport, hugged, started talking, and didn't stop for five days.



My favorite part of co-authoring is having Jude to lean on. There are some days I write like a house on fire, and some days I fiddle with the widgets on my blog for two hours. But when we're in the middle of a project, we're accountable to one another. Jude and I encourage and motivate each other, and cover each other's arses in the editing and proofing departments.

We have a little routine-- we brainstorm an outline for each story together, then she writes the first few thousand words. We pass the manuscript back and forth, editing the previous bit and adding our own segment, until we get to the end, when I wrap it all up in a pretty little bow. She edits, I edit, then we turn it over to our editors. You'd think we know where the commas go by now, wouldn't you? (We don't. Hence, the other editors.)

Sometimes we write individual stories that are connected, like our Slippery When Wet series for Phaze. In those instances, we edit for each other and provide support. We let each other know what works and what might need some improvement. It's a wonderful system, and I rely on Jude a lot. I'm grateful to have her as a writing partner, editor and friend.

And I'm glad I get to post the day before she does. Because we'll probably say a lot of the same things.

Mama, the Record Player and Simon Cowell

By Jenna Byrnes

When I was a kid I was the lip syncing queen of the neighborhood. My favorite song was "The Nights the Light Went out in Georgia," -- not the knock off by Reba, mind you, this version was by Vicky Lawrence, of "Mama" fame. (Have I dated myself yet?) All I needed was the record player, (oops, just dated myself again), my hairbrush (microphone) and my vanity mirror, to make sure I looked my best.

The reason I was so good at lip syncing was that I was so bad at singing. I loved doing it, and did sing in my high school choir. (With a group, I guess I wasn't so bad.) I used to think being a famous singer would be about the coolest thing ever. Kind of like I now think being a NYT Bestselling author would be the coolest thing ever. LOL

When my kids were little and got fidgety in the car, I used to sing to them and they loved it. I'd substitute their names in songs, or maybe throw in Batman's name, and they thought that was great. I'm not sure at what age they they began telling me, "Mom, if you want us to behave then please stop singing..." but it was a heart breaker. I still love to sing.

A friend once told me that not much looked dorkier than someone driving down the road singing along with her radio. I told her then and still say now, "tough cookies." I sing along with my car radio and if there's nothing good on I hit the CD button where I'm guaranteed to find a sing-along worthy song. We have a 6-disc CD player, I get three choices and the hubster gets three. I don't complain about his "Wooly Bully" or "Legend of Zelda" soundtracks, and he doesn't dare mention my Gordon Lightfoot or Air Supply. (So much easier to sing along to than today's music.) I do not rap, BTW.

If I had to trade in my writing abilities for another skill, I'd choose a good singing voice. I'm sure breaking into the big time for singers is just as hard as it is for writers. I just think I'd enjoy being able to belt out a tune in public and having people go, "Whoa! That girl can sing!"



If they'd had American Idol back then, I probably would have stood in line all day at the nearest audition for that one shot--and hope my voice didn't squeak when I got up there to belt out my tune. I might have peed my pants with nervousness waiting for the judges' critiques, and I would have been crushed when the snarky Brit shot me down. But it would have been fun knowing I had my shot.

I wonder if Simon likes Vicky Lawrence?

Dream on...or not

By Jenna Byrnes

I don't remember my dreams. I have plenty of them. Thanks to my bestest nighttime buddy Ambien, I have tons of vivid and busy dreams every night. I just don't remember them when I wake up. I might recall a certain person being there, or a tidbit of what the dream was about, but unlike Lisabet, my dreams don't tell stories or write books or poems.

Maybe I had better dreams before the Ambien, but who cares? I love that I sleep through the night now, and only once--once--have I gotten up and done something I didn't remember doing the next day. (This is a common side effect of Ambien, and concerning to people who don't have a light-sleeping husband lying next to them.) Some people *cough* Jude *cough* prefer to live more naturally and would rather not take pills if they don't have to. I think that's great. But for me? I say, you got something legal that will make me feel better/ look better/ sleep better, bring it on, baby!

Sleeping without Ambien is a tossing and turning nightmare. So I simply pop one tiny white pill each night and snooze comfortably until my alarm goes off the next morning. I sleep so well, in fact, that when I'm asked to answer questions about how I sleep I always say "Great!" and then have to remember to add, "With Ambien, that is." LOL

Back to the issue of dreams. Trying to remember my pre-Ambien days, I still don't think I ever used anything from one of my dreams in my writing. Dreams are freaking weird. Daydreams are so much more fun!

Daily campground admission: $8

Large outdoor blanket: $95

Pitching a tent in your sleep for everyone to see... Priceless.

Avast, me hearties!

(Translation: stop fucking pirating our books, peeps.)

By Jenna Byrnes

The topic this week is For Love or Money--giving away our books vs. selling them. I do both. Hopefully I sell more than I give away, of course, but I don't mind giving away a few here and there. I run a contest in my newsletter each month, and the winner gets to pick a download of my available titles.

In July I attended the Carol Lynne Author/Reader Weekend in Kansas City. I met a bunch of wonderful people there, everyone was nice and so much fun! Some of them seemed kind of excited to meet me, which both thrilled and shocked the hell out of me. I signed a few bookmarks, and gave away almost all the print book inventory I had in stock. The people were just so sweet, how could I not give them a little something? Besides, it was obvious the ones I gifted had already purchased some of my books, and for that I'm so very grateful.

There's a third leg in this 'For Love or Money' debate, and it's one that's been spoken of a lot on the web recently. Ebook Piracy. Where the choice to give or sell is taken away from the author. Some people don't think it's a big deal. I'll admit, I never thought much about it when it first came to light in the form of illegal music and film downloads. But ebook piracy has hit me directly in my pocketbook, which can barely afford the hit.

This diagram, found on the website of author Addison Albright, says it all:

Ebook piracy is unfair to all authors, but really hurts small authors like me who are trying to eek their way in the world. Most ebook authors, myself included, work another job to pay the bills. But even those who don't, and those who will never have to again (Stephen King and Nora Roberts pop into mind) don't deserve to have their work taken from them and copied without their permission. Maybe it takes making something personal to get people enraged about a subject. I guess it did with me. When I find the pirate sites online, and see the number of free downloads there have been of my books, it makes me sick.

And totally takes the fun out of 'Talk like a Pirate Day' on Sept. 19.

Going with the flow

By Jenna Byrnes

Someone once said, "I may not know art, but I know what I like." I feel like that when it comes to discussing the topic of so-called 'bad language' in erotic writing. I don't have a list of do's and don'ts when it comes to words I'll use. I go with the flow, writing what feels natural. Though I must admit, sometimes I'll change wording two or three times before I send it off to my second set of eyes, Jude. What she doesn't fiddle with my editor probably will, so I'm not stuck like glue to any one thing I write.

I agree with Lisabet that we use some words to titillate, but as she said, a skilled author should be able to do that without the reader catching on. One of my editors has a real negative thing about repeated words in the same paragraph (or on the same page, even.) So frankly, sometimes I get creative with language to keep from repeating words.

I don't swear a lot in my every day life, so when it's appropriate I let my characters cuss. One of my favorite expressions is "Well, f*ck me." Not that original or creative, but used in context, (with the proper amount of sarcasm or incredulous-ness), I like it.



And I feel the need to express my thoughts on a comment left on Lisabet's post yesterday- someone (I won't say who *cough* Garce *cough*) said he can't stand the term 'pre-cum'.

Excuse me?

I write m/m erotic romance. We got pre-cum out the ying yang, here, folks. We got pre-cum before we even get out of our jeans. We need the term pre-cum, and use it frequently. I never thought it sounded clinical at all. Honestly, when I started writing I didn't use the spelling 'cum' thinking it sounded porn-ish, but editors have since informed me that 'come' is a verb and 'cum' is the product, or a noun. So we got cum all over the place in my books, folks. I think it's expected when you write m/m sex. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

It's all part of going with the flow.

Fangirl Squee

By Jenna Byrnes

I have to admit, getting new cover art is still one of the biggest thrills in this business for me. I can usually be found on various Yahoo Loops showing off the new cover while the book is still sometimes months away from release. There's something about seeing a beautiful book with my name on it that just makes me want to squee like a fangirl at Monkees concert.


Um, did I say Monkees? I meant Blink-182. Yeah, that's it.

As Lisabet mentioned yesterday, some publishers give the author more leeway than others. Most allow the author to fill out a form with their vision spelled out in a paragraph or two. Some even allow the author to send links to stock photos they'd like to see used. I've done it both ways, and I gotta tell you, looking through stock photos is tons of work. I've spent hours searching for the perfect thing and sometimes never finding it. But when I do--man, oh man, is that a great feeling.

Jude Mason and I chose the various photos for our Slippery When Wet series and Michelle Lee at Phaze put them together for us in a manner we were both extremely pleased with.

(See all four covers here)

Alessia Brio at Phaze did a super job on my Streets of Fire series with some minimal input from me- I loved the New York skyline, the heart shaped cuffs, and I chose three different men in various white shirts for each of the three covers. I think these came out great, even if they suffer from the chopped head syndrome. (Which actually doesn't bother me. Sometimes when the physical description of the character doesn't match the picture, it's better to chop off the head and go with a sexy torso.) I love these covers, and the one below is my favorite. I chose it for the cover of the print version, coming this month from Phaze. (You can see it in the sidebar to the right on this blog.)

(See all three covers here.)

Jax Cassidy at Phaze caught the feel of my novella, Play it Again, Sam, with the sepia tinted cover she created. This story is about two men who spend their afternoons hiding away in a run down movie theater, one working and one simply watching Casablanca, over and over again. Jax got what I was going for, and I was very happy with the cover.

I didn't have any say in the Noble Romance anthology Spank Me Once cover, but I have no complaints. What's to complain about? LOL This one generated quite a bit of buzz online. I guess you can see why. Artist Fiona Jayde definitely 'got' the concept of this book!


Total E-Bound has never done me wrong on a cover. I'm continually impressed with the quality of their work. April Martinez did my Cattle Valley covers and I think they captured the spirit of my little Cattle Valley lesbian tales quite nicely. I'm very happy with them, as I am with all my TEB covers. Quality stuff.



I'm pretty easy going when it comes to covers, but of course I like some of mine more than others. If you think I'm going to tell you which ones I don't care for, think again. I know who butters my bread. *G*

In other people's books, a cover might influence me when I know nothing about the author. But if the book is by an author I enjoy, the cover doesn't matter. Jude Mason could release a blank white page with black text that read, "Book by Jude Mason" and I'd snatch it up. *grin* I know a good thing when I see it.

P. vs. E.

There's been a lot of talk the past couple weeks about Barnes & Noble now selling ebooks online. Another small victory for small publishers and their authors, who often don't get to see the inside of brick and mortar bookstores. And our topic this week is ebook versus print books, which we prefer and where we see ourselves going in the future.


I think ebooks are cool as hell, and I wish more people knew about and understood them. I still get that blank look from family and friends when I say that most of my stuff is in ebook. Huh? Some of the general public has no idea what an ebook is. The books I have in print are a much more tangible sign of my efforts. People understand those. They don't understand why they can't walk into a bookstore and buy them, but hey. Have you ever noticed how many ebooks, authors and publishers there are online? No one bookstore could sell everything. So, I settle for providing people with the print copies of my work, and that's okay, too.

The advent of e-publishing has allowed a lot more people to get their work out there. Sometimes, I wonder if the quality of writing suffers, but that's not my call. I'm grateful I stumbled across e-Harlequin which opened the door to other epubs for me. It's much more fun to have the ebooks out there than to spend hour after hour soliciting agents and NY publishers with little or no success.

Would I like to walk into the grocery store and see a book I've written on the spinning rack by the checkout counter? Abso-freaking-lutely. Maybe someday. Maybe not. It takes a lot of work and perseverance to succeed in this business, and there are times I'm not sure I have it in me. Then, an idea for a story hits from out of the blue, and off I go again. So, like I said, maybe someday.

Watch out world, here I come!

By Jenna Byrnes

When I was a kid, vacations consisted of piling into the car and driving wherever my dad wanted to take us. He'd crack his window about an inch so the cigarette smoke could escape, and drive until my mom made him stop for a bathroom break. There were four of us kids, two would curl up at either corner of the backseat, and two would lie on the floorboards, using that hump for a pillow. (Gawd that sounds awful now! Do backseat floors still have that hump?) I even remember climbing into the rear window one time to get more room to stretch out. Those were the days when we didn't need seat belts- ah, the good old days!



I'm not knocking my dad, he took us on some great trips. By the time I was a teenager I'd visited every state west of the Mississippi River and Mexico. We went to Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, the Ozarks, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, up the coast of California including San Diego and SeaWorld, L.A. (Disneyland, NBC and Universal Studios) and San Francisco (I can still smell Fisherman's Wharf). There were tons of other destinations and so many sights I can hardly remember them all.

I'm sure dragging around four kids was no picnic for my parents, and I give them credit for taking us as many places as they did. When we got old enough to stay home alone, my parents began taking trips as a couple. Cruises, and flights to far-away, exotic destinations like Rome and Spain. I envy that now, but at the time I was happy to stay home with the keys to the car. *G*

My husband and I haven't done as well taking our kids places, but they've seen a few sites. We're not big travelers, sticking pretty close to home most of the time.

Which is why my vacation this week has me so excited. At some point last winter, I decided I wanted to take a trip. Not just any trip--I wanted to go visit my friend and writing partner Jude Mason. We batted the idea around until the details fell into place. I invited my husband to go along, but he politely declined, something about hens cackling or whatever.

Through the magic of Blogger and pre-scheduled posts, while you're reading this I'm jetting through the sky some 1800 miles to the frozen north. (Canada is frozen, right? I packed all my sweaters and long undies...) I'll be stopping off in Minneapolis and Seattle, and eventually arriving in a foreign land. I'm really looking forward to my first solo vacation. Keep your toes crossed for me that I don't get lost or miss a connection. That totally sounds like something I'd do.

See you in a week!

Villains vs. Bad Guys

By Jenna Byrnes

I don't think of myself as writing villains. Villains are someone like Darth Vader from Star Wars (although he became a little less villainous when Hayden Christensen played him in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith). I also consider Ursula from The Little Mermaid a first-rate villain.


And Cruella DeVille from 101 Dalmatians is about as villainous as they get.



I write contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense, so while there's the occasional bad guy, I never really considered them villains (I've used that word more times in this post than I probably ever have in my life.)

I love writing romantic suspense because it combines the two things I most like to read, romance and mystery. It takes some plotting, but when I can pull it off, it's a great feeling. It's exciting to keep the reader guessing who the bad guy actually is. In most good fiction, TV or movies, part of the fun is trying to figure out "who done it" before the end. The trick in writing this is to introduce a variety of possible characters along the way, dropping hints as you go. When it's over, the reader/viewer wants to be able to look back and say, "Oh, yeah. I get it. That makes sense." There should be a feeling of satisfaction that the loose ends have been tied up properly.

Some of the legal-type thrillers get so caught up in details that when you sit down to pick up where you left off, you actually have to try and remember what's going on and who the main characters are. I know someone who writes in the front of books to keep track of the cast. That's way more work than I want. If I'm reading and it's not work-related then it's for relaxation, and I want to be entertained, not put through the wringer.

But even in those books, I don't consider the bad guys villains. I guess I reserve that term for the really epic baddies.

Does bladder control qualify as a talent?

By Jenna Byrnes


When I read the subject for this week, my blood ran cold. Other talents? All I do is write. Work, and write. Okay, eat, work and write. You get the picture.


I mean, I can do stuff, but I don't know if the stuff qualifies as a 'talent'. I'm a fast reader. (Harry Potter books=3 days.) I kick butt in board games which require word skill. (Scrabble=high score, family record.) I used to be a heck of a chess player. I can crochet a chain, know all the words to several TV show theme songs, and I can change a diaper in 30 seconds (wet only, please, when going for the record.)

None of this seems much like talent to me. I can't sing, can't dance, can't play sports and can only tell a joke if you give me a minute to think about it first...none of the usual 'talent' offerings.

On the other hand, I've been married for twenty-eight years. I've raised two children to adulthood (and helped with a third and two grandchildren). They've all turned out to be great people, and none of them has been arrested for anything. (I was going to add 'yet' but I'll think positive and won't do it.) I've got some good friends that I can call on when I need them, and they can do the same for me. I've got faith, love, humor and respect in my life, so I must be doing something right.

None of that qualifies as talent, I know. But I can do stuff, even if I can't think of it to list here, and even if I ain't as good as I once was. Both my sons read the last Harry Potter book in a day, and both can now beat me at chess, and probably any other game they convince me to try. (We won't even mention video games, I haven't been a champ there since we had our Atari hooked up.) But that's okay. Parents want their children to do bigger and better things than they did, right?

Maybe that's what makes me feel good about writing. It's something I can do that not everyone does. Of course, plenty of people are much better at it than me. I can't worry about that. My writing makes me and at least a few readers happy, so I think I fill a small niche in the world that way. If I can leave that (and my speed-reading kids) when I shuffle off this mortal coil, I'll be happy.

It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

By Jenna Byrnes

Research can be so tedious. Long hours spent on the computer, checking and double checking facts.

I digress... which I do easily, when I'm researching online. It doesn't take much at all for me to wind up looking at pictures when I'm supposed to be checking facts. Not just those pictures. Lighthouses, inns, prisons, small towns, names -- I love looking through lists of names!

I think back to the olden days when a person had to go to the public library to look something up. I used to digress there, too, wandering up and down the aisles looking for titles that piqued my interest. I stumbled upon Go Ask Alice at the library, and I must have read it a dozen times or more. What that has to do with this post, I have no idea. My mind associates it with the library, I guess. I continue to digress, and yes, I like that word.

Before we had the library, most of my research was done in the set of encyclopedias my parents bought--or should I say, started to buy. The version in my house ended when JFK was president, so I had to guess about anything that happened after 1962-ish. The books were better than nothing, and I remember thinking my family was lucky to even have them.

The internet has made 'research' more accessible to the masses. Of course, you have to know what to believe (If it's on Wiki, it must be true?) And you have to know where to look. Occasionally when I get a little too technical with my keywords, I open up a whole nother world of stuff I might never have known existed. Sometimes, I use that back button on the browser and scoot right out of there. But sometimes, like a train wreck, I just have to look. Before I know it, my writing time is over, and not a lot has been accomplished.

Bottom line, research is not my favorite pastime. I do what I have to do, but try not to get mired down in the muck.

*sigh*