Smelling the roses. New habits in life. Do you make them?

For years I worked at my own business and wrote novels, articles, lots of non-fiction, even did a weekly business column (shoot me, please) for the local newspaper. With one husband, 3 children and a dog, I ran like crazy.

Recently, I closed the business. After 21 years, it was Time. The children are gone. Grown. Educated. The husband is still here! And am I glad of it!

I write full time. And am thrilled to do it, too. This is what I always wanted to do. Indulge my creativity to the max. Indulge my desire to perfect my cooking. (Which I do to the questionable benefit of my waistline largely because good wine must go with that, yes?)

As I divested myself of clients over the past few years--and wrote more, I also took time to learn yoga. I am limber but cannot do every noodle pose they've invented. I also go to the gym more. Trrrrrrrrrying to get in the habit of 3 x a week to do my circuit. And I allllllmost make it. (It's the circuit that kills me. Exhausts me. But I sleep better, by golly.)

I have also begun to grow herbs. Yes, it was a huge challenge in hot, dry, sun-scorched southwest Texas.

Now, this spring I have added to my repertoire. How?

Growing roses! A new step for me, where here in southwest Texas the only things that grow naturally (and without major injections of nutrients) are the cacti, your hips (from the queso and chips) and the deer who eat every thing (and would eat every ONE if they could).

But after 15 years of trying to grow plants and herbs here, there and everywhere in my garden (where things fry from approximately April through October), I have got a system down.

What is it?

POTS.

Yep. Growing everything in pots. And fencing! All for my herbs. Pansies. Geraniums. Impatiens. And now--ta-dahhhh--we are going to nurture roses.

These, seen here, are my first pot. (Like great lingerie, I always try out one before I buy more). This is right after I transplanted it. Spoke to it. Whispered sweet nothings. Fertilized its little ass. And so stay tuned here, as I show you more as the season wears on!

Wish my green thumb well!

And tell us, are there things you have wanted to do to smell your own roses in life? Have you started? Can you soon?

What have those activities done for your state of mind?

Finished Cal's Omega....

Just finishing up on my sequel to Hallie's Cats...

So many people wanted to hear Cal's story...so here it comes.  Hopefully I will have it subbed before the weekend is out. Have not heard back on the wip I subbed a few days back. Still have my fingers crossed.  I will let you know what happens with that one as soon as I know.  

I need to get some stories written this year. I really do need to get my fanny in gear if I want to be able to get ready for Romanticon.  But this year I'm not spending $1,000 on promo stuff. I will be smarter. Hopefully I will have another print book out by then.

So cross your fingers for my sequel...because I can't walk with my toes crossed, too, and I need all the good vibes I can get! LOL!

Hugs!

Fran Lee

How do ya like those apples?

New cover - mine and mine alone.

I'm introducing the cover for my new book here - yeah, you get to see it first! This is me dipping my feet into the world of self-publishing with Incorporeal, a paranormal romance.

No release date yet, but I'll let you know - with bells on!

Mini Review of "Just Another Rainy Day"

Blurb for “Just Another Rainy Day”

Tired of their ho-hum sex life, Jack decides to spice things up by planning a surprise for his wife. After sending the children off for an overnight with their aunt, Jack handcuffs Beth to their bed.

Beth awakes naked, blindfolded and at the mercy of her husband. The day starts off with being fed by Jack and quickly turns into hot and heavy sex. She soon learns that a slip of the tongue can lead to stinging ass cheeks.

This rainy day will be spent pushing their sexual limits. Whether in bed or out, Jack will leave Beth begging for more—until she says something unforgiveable.

I read Amber Skyze new book this weekend “Just Another Rainy Day” and really enjoyed it.

This “Quickie” is a fun, steamy read that jumps straight into the action but there’s also deeper emotional content hovering just below the surface that anyone who has ever experienced the stresses and benefits of being in a long term relationship can easily recognize.

The story starts off with Beth awakening one rainy morning to discover she has been blindfolded and handcuffed to the bed by Jack, her husband of fifteen years. The children and even the dog have been sent away for the day. Beth is told she is at Jack’s sexual mercy for the entire day (Lucky girl!)

I was hooked. Talk about getting a dream weekend...

Jack’s gone to a lot of trouble to ensure the surprise will be fun and boundary expanding for both of them. They play hard and some raw emotions come to the surface. Beth says something she regrets and the mood shifts toward one of mutual trust building and reconciliation.

What I loved about this story was it was genuinely kinky and tender at the same time. It showed a little snip of Beth and Jack’s married life and how clearly a sensitively handled BDSM weekend enhanced their closeness as a couple.

Amber Skyze books come across to me as clear, direct and real. I enjoyed the adventurous experiences Beth and Jack shared. I highly recommend “Just Another Rainy Day” to readers who love a good BDSM romp but also to anyone curious about how the BDSM dynamic might enhance a committed relationship-if only as a cherished fantasy. Don't wait for a rainy day to read this terrific book.

XXOO Kat

Amber Skyze “Just Another Rainy Day” Ellora’s Cave Taboo Line. Available Now!

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9229-just-another-rainy-day.aspx

What do Readers get from E-books versus Print books? Hmmm.

As the controversy over e-pub sensation Amanda Hocking and her decision to go Print within (breathless?) moments of author Barry Eisler quitting the Land of Tradition for the new territory called Electronic Publishing, I thought I would put up a list of the good stuff about the growth of e-books.

Not from the Author's Perspective.

But from the Reader's.

Here are mine--and I hope you come back and put up yours. (And Yes, the pix at the left is shameless self promotion of my latest Regency E-book over at www.resplendencepublishing.com.)

And with all that disclaimed, here I go!

Positives of E-book reading:

1. Affordable: books cost less. Great in an economy struggling to get back up after the Wall Street Smackdown. (sorry. could not resist that crack at the Boys who Brought Us Low.)

2. Variety of reading material: True the e-publishers who have made a huge splash at the electronic side of publishing tended to open with erotica, the material few would publish. But now that opening affords other publishers with similar non-traditional tastes/views/ topics, the ability to publish. And they are making a great go of it. To the readers' benefit.

3. Increasing and encouraging literacy: By the abundant nature of the material available for a reasonable price, books--both fiction and non--are now published which Traditional Print Houses [TPH] would not handle. Sensitive political subjects and viewpoints come to mind. (T this moment, I write a non-fiction book of that nature myself.) But others which TPH did not consider worth handling included GLBT and graphic interactive novels. I'm certain you out there can think of more.

4. Portability: Being able to read any number of books, any place, any time certainly means less wear and tear on the arms, the luggage (wow, am I happy for this one!), and the problem of what to do when you've just finished your latest and you are 35,000 feet over the Atlantic with hours more to go and nothing to do but watch the movie you saw at home last week!

5. Versatility of works available in terms of length, type and price: Okay, so this is sort of relative to some of the points above but I thought I would list it separately. WHY? Because I am FED UP with established authors who write 60-70-80,000 word novels and either repeat the same old plot I've read years ago, or who come up with a really stupid one, or who have NONE at all and still the editor lets it pass.... Why? Oh, various reasons not pertinent to this blog.

E-publishing houses have learned that works of all lengths can sell. Readers have flocked to these different lengths. (And authors? Well, I will joyfully exclaim for myself that some books are meant to be shorter. Some are more dynamic in the shorter versions. Traditional Publishing Houses found that their distribution systems demanded a conformity in size and type, ergo price as well. Ah, I am off topic here.)

6. Privacy: YES! As new e-readers hit the market and tablets abound, readers can sit comfortably ANYwhere and not proclaim to the world what the heck they wish to devour as intellectual fare. In a society that sadly sees some of its citizens more interested in condemning others for their lifestyles and their choices, than applauding our freedoms to choose the life we want, privacy of reading material is vital to preserving our democratic underpinnings. If many criticized the "bodice rippers" of old, imagine what they would say about the new-new covers and packaging of some works!

I know you must have more ideas about the benefits of electronic publishing to readers.

Come on and list them for us!

Just sent in my latest wip...

It took three months longer than I set myself for my New Year's Resolution...

But I got my wip completed and subbed it!

YAY!

Now all I have to do is start on another, and not take ten months to finish it this time.  Not sure which one I will spruce up this time. I have so many I started, then stopped...started, then stopped...

I think I will finish Cal's Omega, the sequel to Hallie's Cats. It's finished, but needs a good rewrite.  That one seems to be the choice.  I should be able to fix it up in a month or so, as long as I can keep myself grounded and not distracted.

Thanks so much, everyone who prodded, poked, encouraged, and commiserated...I am back.

Hugs,

Fran Lee

http://www.franleeromance.com  

Tomorrow is the big day!

I've been stuck for two weeks, doing a whole lotta nothin'!

According to my eye doctor, as of Saturday, I may resume my life. Yay! That means I can work on the garden I planted before my eye surgery, hike with my dog, lift, do laundry, cook, shop, get out of my scrubs and my Uggs and maybe I'll feel like doing something with my hair besides washing it with Baby Shampoo. When I saw him on Tuesday, he made me feel so good - he said, "Wow, lots of people still have really bloodshot eyes ten days out, but your eyes look great!"
Oh yeah! Party time!
Have a wonderful weekend. I intend to!