Roxy Rogers

Finding Your Muse in the Music

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 06:08:00 +0000

Franz Ignaz Günther
The Muse Clio Writing History

Writing is a solitary pursuit that can leave you drained, both emotionally and physically. If you write for any length of time you develop tools out of necessity to combat stress and rejuvenate. I call it filling up the well. In addition to focusing on a healthy diet, regular exercise, and herbal medicine, I like to use music to inspire my creative muse and to help balance my mood. I asked other authors if they did the same, and how it affected their writing. If you've never thought about using music as both an inspiration and an auditory drug, you might find this article helpful.

It's 11:30 p.m. and you've been staring at a blank page on your notebook screen--or your legal pad or phone--for what feels like an eternity. You're dying to get that next scene written, but nothing is coming.

It's ironic. After a demanding day of work and family obligations, taxing interruptions, and a flood of email needing your attention, finally, you have that precious block of time to spend with the art you love, the art that drives you: writing! But, disaster strikes. Your mind is blank and so is your page. "Is it writer's block?" you wonder. It can't be. You know your characters better than you know yourself, your plot is ironclad, and you aren't lacking in enthusiasm.

You groan in frustration and your stress level peaks as you tally up your frozen word count and compare it to your swiftly approaching deadline. Not willing to give up--what writer is?--you try everything you can think of to get those creative juices flowing: writing exercises, editing the last pages you wrote, trying some visualization and free writing, running through breathing techniques to calm your mind, and when those fail, you pull out all the stops and raid the emergency chocolate! And then... nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. You realize your muse has deserted you for parts unknown.

Or has she? What if your muse is just temporarily on strike? Sulking. Burned out. Feeling neglected. Used and abused. If that's the case, she'll be the last one to tell you. Your muse is a noble creature. Egotistical too. She'd never lower herself to jumping up and down, tantrum-fashion, in an attempt to get your attention. Knowing her worth, she silently withdraws, sulks, and waits for you to notice she's gone--and how very much she's needed!

So, after all the desperate attempts to jump-start your writing, and with your head buzzing euphorically from a chocolate overdose, it's well past midnight. Despite the fact that you've pinpointed the problem, you're still back where you started. How do you feed that deep well of creativity, that flighty unearthly creature you've been ignoring and coax her into coming out to play again? And how do you do that without falling further behind in your deadline and without sacrificing your minimum sleep quota as its own deadline is fast approaching?

When all else fails, I use music to entice my muse and quash my internal editor. In fact, I've learned to try music first before anything else. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary says the root of the word "music" comes "from the Greek word "mousike" -- any art presided over by the Muses. Hmmm... The Muses represent inspiration, emotion. And whether the art is writing or music, both strive to communicate emotion to the reader or listener.

Now, when I suggest using music, I'm not referring to the background hum of a radio, although many authors say radio or background music helps them tune out distractions and increase their focus. However, in the case of an exhausted or sulking muse, a more drastic approach might be indicated to enliven her or placate her into coming back on the scene. An intentional use of music to fit the characters, theme, or mood might be just the peace offering to shake your sullen muse from her pout. Perhaps the scene you want to write has your pirate hero saving the heroine from the clutches of the villain? Try putting on the rousing soundtrack of Disney's film Pirates of the Caribbean. Close your eyes and relax, go with it, and just allow yourself to sink into your book as if it were a movie. Give this a try with a favorite piece and see what happens.

Maybe your heroine is an Irish lass who finds herself married against her wishes to a Scottish Laird? Try something Celtic: Clannad or Enya perhaps?

Are you having trouble writing a love scene? Try selecting a particular song to get you in the mood. A favorite of mine is the hauntingly beautiful Council of Elrond from the New Line film Fellowship of the Ring--a song heard during the unforgettably romantic Rivendell bridge scene, which affords us a deeper glimpse into the enduring love of Arwen and Aragorn. If I'm in the mood for romantic music with English lyrics, I might try a piece like Celine Dion's Falling into You or Janet Jackson's erotically charged That's the Way Love Goes.

You might also try listening to soundtracks that fit a particular mood or scene. Author Cheyenne McCray (Vampires Dead Ahead) says, "The Mists of Avalon and Anna and the King are great soundtracks for writing love scenes to, and Gladiator and The Mummy are terrific for fight scenes."

You might wonder how music can be used to inspire your muse if you write across multiple genres. Prolific author Jennifer Ashley (BodyGuard), who also writes as Ashley Gardner and Allyson James, does just that. "I do fit the music to the time period or setting or character. When I wrote fantasy, I'd play medieval chant or Renaissance music. For the eighteenth century, harpsichord music, and symphonies for the Regency. I also play music a particular character might like--my hero might like country music full blast, or be a bad-boy who likes screaming guitars."

If you've never tried this approach, it might seem a little extreme. Yet I discovered that many successful authors love writing to music. In fact, I found that authors often use music in inventive and surprising ways. Roz Denney Fox (Linked by Love) says, "When I worked full time and wrote in the witching hours of midnight to three am, I developed a habit of writing to music. When I finished at three and wanted to sleep until five or six, I shut the music off. That night I'd turn it on at the same place and it was easier to start up my work again exactly where I stopped. It was as if the music dropped me right back into the scene I'd left." I suspect that most of us couldn't survive on as little sleep as Roz did in those early years. Nevertheless, her method gave her writer's mind, and her muse, the cue needed to flow out onto her pages. Many books later, the prolific Fox no longer works a day job in addition to writing; and her methods, too, have changed. Yet music still plays a primary role. "Now I like rousing, upbeat music to listen to when I write. I try to keep tempo with the typing and the music."

Mackenzie McKade (Blue Moon), often prefers quiet these days but also admits "...music ups the emotion. If there is a certain emotion I'm trying to convey I will use music that will help me get into that mood." Similarly, Denise Agnew (For A Roman's Heart) has always used music to write. "Music is like a movie soundtrack for whatever I'm trying to write. If I don't have music, I can create, but it may or may not have quite the intensity I'm looking for."

NYT bestseller Neil Gaiman (American Gods) wrote in his blog, "Given the choice, I want something with a faintly interesting beat, and I like songs with lyrics. The first time I ever realized that other people weren't like me was in conversation with Clive Barker, about fifteen years ago, when he mentioned that he had to have music, but couldn't have anything with words..."

Many writers do seem divided on the issue of lyrics. Some authors, like Larry Hammer (The First Heroes), use music more as a white-noise screen and can find lyrics distracting when working on specific types of writing. In the case of poetry, he says, "I cannot listen to singing in English...I'll listen to classical, or lounge/trance, or non-English singing." Roz Fox's take is more neutral. "It doesn't matter to me if there are words as long as I really like the songs."

For some, it's how well they know a piece that can be the determining factor. YA and fantasy author Janni Lee Simner (Bones of Faery) says, "Often, I'll use music I know so well it slips into the background--and play the same thing over and over."

Not surprisingly, writers aren't the only artists who use music to coax their muse into cooperation. Brian Beigel, a Massachusetts-based painter who specializes in landscapes, says music helps transport him into the canvas he's working on.

"With free time at an all-time low, that transition needs to be a speedy one. I start the painting listening to music but often pull my headphones off when the music finishes and listen to nature's sounds around me. My favorite music is nature."

No matter how you might use music, authors Sherrill Quinn (Dragons Unleashed) and Jordan Summers (Hot Shot) both said it best, "Do what works for you."

To the practical side of how we access our music in a way that inspires us, there is no shortage of options. We're in a technological age of many choices from the old style stereos and radios, to internet music services, computer playlists, iPods, handhelds, and smartphones. Using technology to its fullest potential, you might consider creating Playlists for different characters, manuscripts, or moods--something I love to do on music services like Spotify.

No matter the device, the next time your muse goes MIA, look for her in your favorite music. Better yet, preempt her departure altogether and get those tunes playing! Let the storytelling muse inside you glide along with the melody. Let her soul dance to the beat! Experiment! You might be surprised how long your emergency chocolate stash holds out.

Happy writing and muse hunting!

Sexual Innuendo: Nice Way To Start My Day

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 16:18:00 +0000

DOVER TO VICTORIA STATION

Okay, so I don't make a habit of looking at the reviews of my work on Amazon or any other sites that sell my short eBooks or the anthology I'm currently in. I write what fires me up (pun intended) and if other people like it (usually women) great! If not, I'm still going to write what I want. So, I do glance occasionally at statistics, though admittedly they're usually earnings, not reviews or rankings. My life has been a roller coaster of crazy for the last two years and the last thing I need is to get my panties in a bunch over the fact that someone thought my short story was too short because it wasn't a novel...eh? Or because my sexy archangel erotic romance was not a spiritual rendering of the Archangel Gabriel. What? (Yep, writers get reviews like this--you see why we try not to read them very much?) And yes, sometimes we fail miserably because we can't help ourselves and in weak moments, we peek at them anyway... and then we make the sounds that Snoopy made after Lucy made a fuss about being kissed by a dog and needing hot water and iodine. But, if you're too young to remember the Peanuts episode I'm recalling, I'd describe it as a lot like a cat coughing up a hairball in slow motion from inside the depths of a tuba. But I digress...

So, I had an incredibly pleasant surprise while visiting Amazon today, intending not to look at reviews, but to check that a category update I'd made displayed properly. But while signed on I peeked of course. Underneath the main review for Going Down: Oral Sex Stories, in which my story DOVER TO VICTORIA STATION appears, was this:

Lip-smackingly superb!

That's what writer and editor Susie Bright wrote about the anthology I'm in. (The collection is edited by Rachel Kramer Bussell, a diva among erotica anthology editors, second only to Violet Blue in my humble opinion). Susie herself is quite famous and both women and men have her to thank for a great deal of sex-positive education. I admit I'm in incredibly good company in this collection as the other authors are more widely published in the erotica genre than I, and are all exceptional writers. I'm honored to be included in this anthology. The fact that it's consistently getting 5-star reviews is just a kick, and it's especially great to have well-known names saying such lovely--and naughty--things about it.

Made my f*cking day! (I'm channeling Debra Morgan this year...fair warning!)

Three Strikes . . . But Not Out.

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 05:13:00 +0000

My life is a seriously fun dose of bad juju lately, peppered with a little cosplay. But then, I don’t really believe in juju. I’m not superstitious. Okay, so I’m open to the possibility that we might physically (magnetic fields) gravitate toward or attract whatever it is we’re focused on. If that’s so, I believe it to be scientifically quantifiable, but likely without a branch of science to measure it accurately as yet. I also know that when I focus on gratitude and the wonderful people in my life, more positive things occur, and the less traumatic this bumpy road of juju feels. Nevertheless, the road for any artist is already a bumpy one, so several years of major trauma and minor catastrophes without any relief in between them all can be more than a little challenging, sometimes depressing. At least I haven’t cut off my ear (apologies to Vincent for that gratuitous mention).

So during this ride I've spent a lot of time observing other people’s reactions to me, and mine to them. I've come to understand that while I don’t think of myself in terms of labels or boxes, other people have, and continue to do so. I define myself as quite a bit more than just a “writer of erotica and romance,” but until someone gets to know me, they don’t see any of the other things I am, either as an artist or a person. And because I've often been too trusting of others, and become more guarded as a result, it’s becoming harder to get to know me. So I’m increasingly aware that from other people’s viewpoints, I sit in a kind of twilight zone intersection of “labels.” I have, in effect, three strikes against me in the moral majority’s view:

-I’m childless (by conscious choice)

-I’m atheist

-I’m female

You may argue that last minority group is debatable, but consider that most of the current "majority” voting on the bills introduced in congress in the U.S. are older, white men. Many of them have introduced a plethora of female reproductive-related bills in congress over the last two years that if passed, would remove most of my rights to sexual health and reproductive decision making for my own body.

As I entered my 40s, it became clear that for many people (surprisingly far more women than men) being childless by choice seemed odd, unreasonable, even “abnormal.” Many were quite vocal about it. Some individuals even pointed to my failure to believe in an all-knowing, omnipotent deity as the justification of why I decided against having children. (i.e., "Well if she had any faith, god would tell her she needs to have children because that’s her primary role in society," etc. etc.) Add to this mix that I write fantasy and science fiction with heavy doses of magic and religion in the plot, and label-seekers often seem truly befuddled by what they perceive as incongruous (i.e., "How can you not believe anything yet write about magic and religion?") Never mind that it's a fallacy that atheists "don't believe in anything" but that's another blog entirely. I ask you, how does a film director represent the emotions and experience of a rape on film without ever having participated in one? One of my eBooks is a prequel to a series of Archangel romances I’m writing which redefine the nature of religion as theists see it. So what? It's fiction. It doesn't have to mean anything.

If that makes me odd or abnormal, that’s probably a good thing. Why? Writers and other artists have seldom represented the majority in their thinking or living. Artists historically do not fit into a single box, mold, or underneath labels. But then I don’t believe anyone should. Artists are often sponges, accumulating data, emotions, and thoughts. Some of it is painful. Social upheaval, personally and globally, can singe us like lava flow from a volcano and drive us hermit-like into seclusion. When we are too vulnerable, we are canvasses upon which other people’s chaos, violence, and “stuff” is splashed and played out because of our receptivity and the very qualities that make us good at our art. I don’t know if any of that is good or bad, and I’m not passing judgment. I only know what it feels like when it happens. What I do know is that it often seems part of who I am: to listen, observe, and absorb input, views, thoughts and emotions until I’m full. Sometimes it makes me brittle, but it all becomes valuable to my writing. As it is for most artists, finding a healthy balance between being that sponge-like canvas and having a measure of self-protection is probably a lifelong pursuit. Not taking other people’s attacks personally is a particular challenge, and forgiving myself for allowing others to work out their crap on me as if I was an inanimate object is something I’m not sure I’ll ever master.

Despite being heavily affected by the chaos of others in my environment, the core of who I am remains unchanged. I’m still an atheist, I’m still happy without being a mother and a sex change operation is certainly not in the cards. If those are strikes against me as a member of society, perhaps I should be asking whether my art exists to illuminate an opposite viewpoint? Perhaps minority, creativity, difference, unique choice, and anything that falls outside the status quo exists to stir our thinking up?. . . to inspire us, remind us that “normal” might be simply the current majority’s social “agreement,” and not right or absolute.

Self-Publishing: Journeys and Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 12:21:00 +0000

Happy Weekend! I'm almost recovered from the wonderful whirlwind experience that was the Tucson Festival of Books. I met some amazing fans, authors and volunteers. What a great time! This event just gets better every year. Already looking forward to the next one!

Writers and anyone interested in self-publishing or Indie Publishing, I'm being interviewed today over at Frankie's Soapbox, the blog of author Frankie Robertson as part of her interview series of Indie-published Authors for the launch of her new resource book, BLAZING A TRAIL. If you want a taste of what her incredibly helpful self-publishing guide has to offer, check it out!

Publishers as Pimps?

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 01:51:00 +0000

Even the handful of remaining NYC publishers (about to get even smaller with the merge of Random House and Penguin) are turning into predators out to pimp their author's work and gouge them using viciously unfair contract agreements. Coming under heavy fire, Random House has just backpedaled significantly on it's contract agreements (though there are still major problems) after several large writer organizations and writer protection groups came down hard on them. Read all about it here on David Gaughran's Blog. Deciding not to publish with a supposedly prestigious New York Publishing house could save both your butt and your wallet. Writer beware!

One thing I'd also like to point out to romance writers is to please take note that the largest writing organization leading the way in litigation and outspoken challenge to the Big NYC houses is not a romance writer's organization, but one that represents Science Fiction and Fantasy authors (SFWA). And this is despite that the SF/F market makes up a fraction of the total book sales market, while romance makes up a much larger sales chunk (specifically $1.4 Billion annually for Romance books vs. $579 Million for Science Fiction and Fantasy books, combined (2011 figures)). I'll let you draw your own conclusions about the state of internal support for writers in both of those genres. I hate to sound like a harpy, but there is no better time to be an INDIE. Get on that!

photo credit: Anna Fischer via photopin cc

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:08:00 +0000

Get A Taste of 50 Shades This Weekend!

Love books? Romance? Well, romance is only a small portion of the literary fun to be had this weekend at the Tucson Festival of Books! You'll find plenty of talks and presentations on romance and erotica, and of course new books to discover in every genre. Come join me for a FREE book event at the University of Arizona in Tucson this weekend--for our annual TFoB! Over 100,000 people will attend the free event to learn about new books, meet their favorite authors or new ones, buy books, see demonstrations and enjoy a variety of entertainment.

I'm speaking on a panel Saturday afternoon at 4:00 PM in the Koffler Room #216. It's provocatively titled: 50 Shades ??? - Is Erotica Really Romance? Well, I write both, so answering that question won't be too difficult, but I suspect we'll also touch on BDSM in fiction and how kink has shown up in romance books with increasing frequency in recent years. Kink in the erotic romance genre has always been very popular with readers, even more so now that the 50 Shades books have piqued the interest of readers who are new to the sub-genre. But the festival offers much more than just romance and erotica -- there are fiction and nonfiction books of all kinds being offered, and this event gets larger every year, with publishers, agents, and authors traveling from all over the U.S. to attend it.

Perhaps your spouse loves history? And your daughter, cooking? You'll find books for every taste at the festival this weekend. To find out more about this fun, free book event, visit TFoB web site. The event and the parking are absolutely FREE at the University of Arizona, on the Mall, March 9 - 10, 2013. So come out and get your fun on this weekend!

Book Giveaways!

Still need more incentive to come out and play? Well how about some free books?! I'm giving away two eBooks and a print anthology during both my 50 Shades author panel at 4:00 PM Saturday and that morning at a panel I'm moderating, titled The Final Frontier of Romance - Science Fiction and Fantasy. I'll also be signing books, since the UA Bookstore is selling my short erotica during the event (Dover to Victoria Station appears in the print anthology Going Down: Oral Sex Stories, published in 2012 by Cleis Press). Just click on that book cover at the right side of my blog for more information on it. I'll be signing the anthology from 10:00-10:30 AM for readers who've purchased it at the UA Bookstore (check your program for signing locations), and I'm happy to sign my cards for you if you've purchased my eBooks from Amazon, B&N, Apple or any other retailers. You can also come find me at either of my panels--I love meeting and hearing from readers! If you're unable to attend the festival, please friend me on Facebook or send me an email via my web site.

Happy Reading! Wishing you all that's Green,
ROXY

AZ Dreamin - Readers Get Your Fun On!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:32:00 +0000


Saturday JUNE 2, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona

Jimmy Thomas, Romance Cover Model

I'm heading to Arizona Dreamin' for a fun romance reader event in Phoenix Arizona this weekend. If you live within driving distance, come out and see some of your favorite authors and find some new favorites! You can pick up some free erotic romance reads from yours truly and from author Frankie Robertson, and many others.
Get your books autographed and mingle with other readers, too. In addition to authors writing contemporary, paranormal, erotic, and many other romance genres, cover model Jimmy Thomas is also attending!

Jimmy is the sexy elf that appears on my web site! He's also one of the most widely photographed cover models in the romance publishing industry, and he'll be hosting the Man of Our Dreams Pageant on Saturday night.

So Readers, come out and get your FUN on this weekend! Pick up some free erotic romance to keep your summer sizzlin, talk with favorite authors and meet cover model Jimmy Thomas! See you there!!

Wishing you all that's green,

ROXY

Succeeding Means Believing in Yourself, Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:22:00 +0000

My latest release, DOVER TO VICTORIA STATION, is an erotic short story appearing in the Cleis Press Anthology entitled Going Down: Oral Sex Stories. This story almost didn't see the light of day, and it's a good example of why believing in your art is important.

Some people don't consider erotica to be art, but that's another discussion. The purpose of art is often to push the boundaries of what we think of as normal or to push our limitations, and that can show up in so many different ways.

For those unfamiliar with the train lines going into and out of London, this story takes place on the train going from Dover in County Kent into Victoria Station in London. Incidentally, I wrote the first draft of this story on that exact rail line, but I was going in the opposite direction (from Victoria Station out to Dover) at the time. When I first gave the draft to my critique group to read, I received mostly negative feedback. This was partly because only one member of my group wrote erotica (she liked it) and partly because it was a work in progress, and it hadn't yet become the story that it is now. I put it aside while writing other things but I believed in it and the emotion that went with it. Several years later I returned to the draft and immediately realized I was trying to go in two different directions with the heroine's journey. One was her inner journey and the other her outer journey. Surprisingly, most people think erotica is about sex. Well, yes, it is. But, no, it also isn't. The most powerful erotica, especially short, that I've read is about the emotion or the internal experience. Sex illustrates that, underlines it, gives it more power. At the very least the story hinges on the emotional or psychological dynamic between the characters. (If you've read my previous entries you are beginning to sense a theme here with my repetitive mentions of emotion). WARNING: Mild spoilers ahead...

Once I realized how I needed to shape the story, it rewrote itself around the heroine's inner journey. The story was really about her struggle to master herself and keep her identity in the face of what promised to be an ideal situation with a lover. She was completely petrified of losing herself in the face of having the relationship she wanted. Haven't we all felt that way at some point in our lives?

I finished polishing the story and submitted it to an online market, which bought it immediately and then promptly went belly-up before it was released. I had to wait 5 months according to contract until the rights could revert back to me and I could resubmit it. I then sent it to the editor of the anthology above, Rachel Kramer Bussel, who bought it. But another snag occurred...the publication was delayed from the fall of 2011 to this month, and I recall finding out and wondering if this story was really ever meant to see the light of day. But I'd believed in it long enough that I wasn't giving up hope it would be released. Well, it's finally out! I'm totally delighted to have my writing in such wonderful company as the other authors whose work is appearing in this anthology. So, lesson learned: here's to believing! If you'd like to read the anthology, it's available in bookstores now and online at Amazon and other major outlets in both print and eBook format. Just click on the title above or on the book cover in the banner to your right.

Wishing you all that's green,
ROXY

Succeeding Means Believing in Yourself: Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:30:00 +0000

Believing in yourself, your creativity, your art, anything that you do, is paramount to your success. This is the first in a series of blogs I'll be writing this year about choosing belief over doubt. Believing in yourself, in your dreams and goals is necessary to your success, no matter what your art form or work industry. I'm a writer, so in this first blog I'll be using some examples of how well-meaning advice can derail the creative artist with external distraction and also lead to self-sabotage.

Here's a memorized mantra I hear from traditionally published authors quite frequently:

You must be familiar with everything that's written in your genre or subgenre if you want to get published.

That's rather black and white. Anything said in absolutes immediately raises a red flag and makes my BS meter peg off the scale. It also makes me want to hiss back in my most menacing Darth Vader voice, "I find your lack of faith disturbing!"

Whether you are published or not, I suggest extreme caution if you find yourself caught up in the idea that you are somehow going to go unpublished if you don't keep up with absolutely everything currently available in your niche. The first story I sold was a short erotica piece. I had read less erotica by far than any other niche at that time. That begs the question: Do you really believe that outside influences are more important than your internal direction or your muse? In the current state of publishing, this rule which used to be part of the roadmap to traditional publishing is now parochial. Certainly you should not be ignorant of what is available to the readers in your genre, but neither should you read everything or even half of what's out there unless you have oodles of time on your hands ... you'd never get anything done! And if you spend all your time reading, it's likely you won't be writing enough to improve your craft ... unless you’re speed reading. And never mind having the time to produce enough product to make a go of writing as a paying business! And it is a business. Anything you love doing, but which you want to make money at, now or in the future, must be treated as a business.

From a craft perspective there are some real dangers to reading work that is too similar to yours: The line can blur regarding where you get an idea or a particular detail (did you think up that character mannerism or that cool plot twist yourself, or was it something you read last year?) If you read too much of other writers works, you are less likely to come up with your own very unique bent on certain story lines because you're subconscious mind and your muse will fill in the gaps of curiosity ... the gaps your conscious mind creates when external input is not constantly streaming in. Why is that important?

Because like it or not, no matter the trope, most of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey is mirrored in every book, movie and video game that we produce as a species. This is why the Hollywood studios make all their screenwriters use Campbell's work. (Interested writers can see Christopher Vogler's THE WRITER'S JOURNEY for more).

There is really nothing new under the sun as far as storytelling goes. But what is new is your specific twist and your unique retelling of archetypal tales that have been with us since the dawn of language development. It's true that some of our creative inspiration naturally comes from the books we read. But I notice that I tend to gain as much input from movies and video games as I do from reading other authors' work. Stories and ideas are everywhere!

Perhaps most important, if you over-read in your own niche, you can get very discouraged. You can start to wonder whether readers will like so-and-so’s work better than yours. You'll start thinking, "Do I really have a chance to distinguish myself among that group?" and "Why bother even finishing this book?" etc.

Several successful authors have told me over the last few years that you must believe in yourself, in your writing: no matter what. If you are a writer, you have to believe in the uniqueness of your work, your viewpoint, your voice. But no matter what creative art or work you do in your life or are striving to make a living at, you must believe in yourself. No one can bring your vision into the world in quite the same way as you. So don't deprive the world of your contribution by giving up on your work. Don't allow someone else's constraints to sabotage your thinking and your creativity!

Write! Create! Do! ... and don’t let distractions, doubts or haters deter you. If you are writing, don't dilute your passion and your energy by reading too much within your own genre and letting other writer's voices make you question or discard your own. If you do, you'll rob your readers of the most essential thing you can give them: emotion on the page! And art, in all it's forms, is all about emotion.

Wishing you all that's green,

Roxy

What Bleeping Century Is This?!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:38:00 +0000

Okay. Fair warning, Peeps: this month's blog is not as uplifting as the last two!
I don't usually blog about politics or other volatile topics, like the innocuous-looking actions that lead to infringement of our free speech. I can certainly be outspoken about things that I believe matter to me and to authors in this country. But, I'm a romance writer. An "Indie Babe." (A term I've applied to myself and other author friends who are taking the Indie publishing road rather than waiting, possibly for many years, for the traditional publishers to find an open slot for us amidst their quickly diminishing sales & severely diminishing world of royalties.) This Indie Babe typically spends more time thinking about science-fiction and fantasy (and my day job) than paying attention to modern politics or to the latest NYC publishing world's vapid and reactionary Amazon-bashing or Indie-bashing propaganda to be blogging about either. Edgar Rice Burroughs Indie published, btw... take that you NYC haters, us Indies are in good company! And anyway, there are plenty of blogs that I read almost daily that are covering all that action. In particular, PG at his blog ThePassiveVoice.com, also Joe Konrath, Kris Rusch, Barry Eisler, and Dean Wesley-Smith, to name some of the biggies.

But really, this past month has just had me wondering more often than I have for the entirety of all the years leading up to it: What f*cking century is this?!

So, earlier in the month we had the hearings in Washington D.C. about reasonable access for women to birth control. And who did we have testifying on the panels of those hearings? Men, and only men. Yes, it is absurd for only men to be commenting on the state of women's access to, and insurance coverage for, birth control. Someday, if and when it's physically possible for a man to choose to carry a baby to term, then the Feds can tell me that a man knows more than any woman what her access or insurance coverage around birth control (or hormone-based medical treatments that my life might depend on) needs to be! The fact that those hearings contained only men (many religiously affiliated, notice?) is certainly common knowledge by now. It was all over the news. Between that and the billionaire Republican talking about women putting aspirin between their knees in the good ole times, I do believe at least one side of the aisle got across very well just how little they value women as human beings. Great job, folks. Thank goodness for technology-driven media or we'd be back in the dark ages with no communication that this had even happened and worse, no accountability. (Well okay, but at least we know it happened). Women walked out of the hearings, outraged upon seeing only men on the panels. Understandable. Umm... wait, we got the vote years ago, right? I mean... did I somehow time travel back to the 1800's? No? Then, ouch! 'Cause it sure feels like it, Peeps.

And then this past week we've just learned that if you are an Indie publisher or author, as I am, that PayPal is being forced by banks and Credit Card companies to CENSOR what we can and cannot publish through our distributors! How, you ask? They are taking the sneaky approach and doing it via nonpayment of PayPal to authors, their publishers, and even large, free distribution channels like Smashwords). Granted, this applies only to certain types of erotic subject matter, which my work does not fall into. However, let me say that if Nabokov's Lolita was written today, it would, under the rules the banking and credit card industry are forcing onto PayPal right now, prevent Lolita from ever seeing the light of day. Now, regardless of how I feel, or how you feel, about the subject matter of that book, it is widely acclaimed as a classic and considered one of the best, albeit controversial, examples of 20th Century literature. (And by best, I mean, for example, that Time magazine named it to the list of 100 Best English-language novels written between 1923 and 2005).

Art is art, even when I, or you, don't like it and don't think so. The artist has a right to write about thoughts, ideas, and actions that any citizen might find distasteful, even horrifying, and also to write about actions that might be illegal. Writing about something illegal is not the same as doing the thing that's illegal. It's a work of FICTION!

Have you ever seen in a bookstore the true crime books that retell in every disgusting detail what serial killers did to their victims and how? That's not illegal, it's a true crime story. I don't like them, but I'm not going to support their censorship. I might not like a picture someone posts up on their Facebook page either, but I'm not going to lobby for Facebook to remove it, either! That would be silly.

Do you watch crime dramas on TV, like Law & Order? How about Castle? I love that show. It's about a writer, and it's really great! One of the things that makes Castle so great, besides the outstanding cast and crew, is the great writing. But I have never once questioned whether the writers on that show are breaking the law by writing about a murder. They do it every week. I do not question whether the artists on set, the finish carpenters, or the gaffers are breaking the law every week as they help to stage and re-enact the fictional murders that Kate and Castle solve on a fictional show. That would be silly, wouldn't it?

So if someone writes about a character thinking about or committing an illegal activity within a work of fiction, who are the banks to tell that artist or the artist's publishing company that they cannot be paid by Amazon, Smashwords or any other distributor via their PayPal account, simply because the banks have decided that they want PayPal to exclude current books that might have a Lolita storyline, or any other material in a specific author's work? Note that these banks are not responding to illegal activity on PayPal's part, nor to any illegal activity on the part of the authors or the independent publishers who sell their work. No, the banks and the credit card companies have simply decided that PayPal must stop paying authors and independent publishers who publish certain types of erotic literature (art!) just because they say so. Umm ... Fahrenheit 451, anyone?

All of us might disagree vehemently on what constitutes "art" for us personally ... but isn't that the point of art to begin with? If we let banks decide which work of art has value and which work should be banned through nonpayment of legitimate, legal earnings, we may as well rip up every government document including the Constitution of the U.S. and hand Washington D.C. over lock, stock and barrel to American Express or any other financial corporation and put a big red bow on the top.

Censorship is censorship, even if the detail of what is being censored is something that the majority of citizens might find personally offensive. Personally, I find it truly offensive that a distributor or PayPal being strong armed by the banking industry has any right to tell me what types of fiction I can and cannot write and how the distributor can pay me, or any artist, for the royalties that were earned.

So again I find myself asking: What F*cking century is this?! ... Discuss!

Roxy

Art-Inspired, Gabriel's Release Available!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:21:00 +0000

Happy Holly Daze!

The holidays are a great time to reflect on what has inspired your art. The inspiration for my Archangels Descending series was partly inspired by the work of other artists. Several years ago while purchasing a stunning archangel fantasy print (Ascension) by artist Ruth Thompson, I was also listening to an ebm/futurepop track called Darkangel by the group VNV Nation. That piece of music was released a long time ago, and so was Ms. Thompson's artwork, but art continues to inspire us as long as it is out in the world waiting to be appreciated by new admirers. That's what a good writer always hopes to do for her reader ... to stir or inspire emotion. Cezanne, the famous painter, once said

A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.

That's certainly true for me as a writer. If I don't feel intense emotions about my characters, their journey, or unique strengths, I can't write their story.
My newest eShort, GABRIEL'S RELEASE, is a prelude to my Archangels Descending series, and I'm very excited to announce it just became available today, two days ahead of schedule -- just in time for any last minute eBook gifting!

A huge thank you to all my readers for your support during my first year of publication. May 2012 be a healthy and prosperous year for us all. Wishing you all that's Green this holiday season and in the new year!

Roxy

Don't Settle: Make a Rainbow! Blaze a Trail!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:47:00 +0000

Are you someone who waits on the weather for a glimmer of those elusive rainbows, or are you someone who makes their own rainbows? Are you a follower or are you a trail blazer?

I've been traveling the "indie" publishing path this year and I recently made a decision not to renew my membership in a large writer's organization after seeing little change on behalf of indie authors, e-published authors, small presses, and the erotic romance genre throughout my twelve years of membership. Investing my money and volunteer time in that organization, even the time equated to money in my world because I work two jobs -- one as an IT professional, the other as a self-published author wearing many hats, including PR firm. I enjoy marketing almost as much as the writing itself so it's a good fit. But being vocal about the reasons for my departure, as you can imagine, resulted in lots of flak for going against the majority. So be it. I've got thick skin (I'm a writer, after all).

I'm also an entrepreneur at heart, and have been since reporting for regional newspapers while still a junior in high school. So, this certainly wasn't the first time in my life I was criticized for what I deemed to be a pointed case of not settling for something I didn't want. Won't be the last. I'm not the type to play doormat with my time, money or talent. But one author's response really caught my attention, and not because it was meant negatively. On the contrary, it was meant as good advice from a more experienced author who has been around the block -- and then some. This was someone whose advice I valued. Her response:

"You have to put up with the rain if you want the rainbow."

... that's a famous Dolly Parton quote.

I thought, okay, let's think about that. In my zeal to pursue my career and my life on my own uncompromising terms, did I miss something vital? Was I throwing the proverbial baby out with the bath water in my determination to never settle? (continued)

The answer to that question was obvious when I thought back to a conversation I'd just had with my goal coach. (This is a close friend of mine, who works as an engineering professor and is also a writer -- an all around creative and inspiring woman.) She and I have a standing call once a week to coach each other and keep each other honest around our goals. Our focus is on eliminating obstacles we put in our own way. When we'd spoken, I was reminded that my successes in life have come from being an entrepreneur, being unique, not following the pack ... by being someone who does not sit still and just "take" whatever life -- or anyone -- decides to dish out. During that conversation I was reminded of what has always worked in my life, and what does not work: settling for less than what I want.

Where I live now is a good example. I grew up in the Northeast and spent a good part of my 20s in the Boston area, but I hated the snow and the rain ... and let me tell you, there was RAIN! I'm talking Noah's Ark flooding rain! There weren't many rainbows either -- Boston gets more rain and is cloudier than Seattle, Washington. You think I'm joking? Look it up. And when it's always rainy or overcast, it's hard for rainbows to make their appearance. I had hated the weather most of my life. It was like a villain intruding into my life story but also my health! And yes, the snow and ice are beautiful, but not if the cold and humidity make you ill. That's a whole other story, but let's just say that my severe allergies to everything from mold to every tree pollen in the state led to regular bouts of laryngitis while trying to run several businesses. So, finally I asked myself, "What the f*** am I still doing here?" I realized there was little holding me back when I really examined my life from a place of self-worth. So I made a plan, did some research, and promptly uprooted myself with my job, and headed here to sunny Arizona in 1999. I love the heat and the sun, love the dry climate, and the only time my allergies bother me now is when our cats are shedding or when it's monsoon season... Yes we do have some rain here -- all 11 inches of it annually, often less. What does happen more often here though, is rainbows! And I mean that figuratively as well as physically. I've seen more rainbows in the sky since moving here than I ever saw growing up in Massachusetts, despite all that rain I'm supposed to put up with. But here's the important part for me: The weather was impeding my ability to live! To be healthy and happy. And that was unacceptable. Compromise is not real compromise if it makes you miserable!

I will not settle for "barely good enough." Why should I? Why should you?

I do not need to put up with 320 cloudy days out of 365 annually just so I can see a rainbow every 10 years! To timidly ride through life hoping for whatever happiness might come my way ... To assume that life must be filled with rain in order to see the occasional rainbow ... Um, sorry, that's not living. Not to me! That's existing, getting by ... that's settling! I understand where that viewpoint comes from, and I also understand the good spirit in which it was shared as advice, but it's not the right advice for the kind of life I lead. Mostly cloudy is not the life I chose. I've spent my life choosing sunny happiness, successfully, using a completely different roadmap. That had a lot to do with my becoming an indie publisher. But it was always there, even when I wasn't serious about making a living as a writer.

When I left my job as an eLearning manager at a large public utility, my department had undergone enormous changes in the four years I was there. My group had achieved major milestones for the company and garnered awards in the learning and human factors industries. I was proud of our work and proud that I'd never taken "no" for an answer when I had dared to insist that we could do what everyone said was impossible. We did it because we all believed we could. The day I left they gave me a beautiful photo of a sled team racing across the snowy tundra at sunset. Underneath the photo it read,

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.

That's an author-ism (Ralph Waldo Emerson). I still have that photo. It hangs near the door to my office and I see it every day. It reminds me of what's possible if you believe in yourself and the ability of others.

So, are you a creator of rainbows in your own life? Are you a trail blazer? Are you willing to imagine that you don't need to put up with a lifetime -- or even a few months -- of rain clouds just to see a few rainbows? And are you willing to consider that not only can you create your own rainbows at will, by refusing to settle for what you don't want, but that a pot of gold might really exist and that all you have to do to get it is to believe in yourself? That's my challenge. Try that idea on like a pair of shoes ... then go out and create some rainbows in your own life! You have one life in which to achieve your dreams. Only one. So don't settle. Dare to blaze a trail in your life!

Wishing you all that's green -- at Yuletide, in 2012, and always,

Roxy

Giving Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:18:00 +0000

I'm almost recovered from the food coma that always ensues after Turkey Day. I took as much of last week off as possible to do some baking and cooking, and to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with my Romance Hero. I also got a few writerly things done without the shadow of the day job hanging over me. We put the Yule lights up on the house yesterday, which is far more fun now that I live in Arizona than it was growing up in Massachusetts, where the snow was often already piling up to the window sills at this time of year. Stringing lights with mittens was comical at best, and despite the quaintness that picture might conjure up, it wasn't something I enjoyed doing in -5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thanksgiving week was only dampened with the sad news that fantasy and science fiction author, Anne McCaffrey, most famous for her Dragons of Pern series, had died on Monday, at her home, Dragonhold, in Ireland. She was 85. This got me thinking about how much her work meant to the world, and to me personally. As an author, I can't help standing upon the shoulders of those who came before me. I know that McCaffrey is not the only author on whose shoulders many of us now stand. Everyone who breaks ground ahead of us is vital to our art, and to some extent, vital to our confidence in having the courage to tell the stories that we do. But, without the romantic elements that McCaffrey -- and others later on (like science fiction author Catherine Asaro) infused into their stories, mixing genres would be so much harder and so much less accepted. I'm intensely grateful for all the authors who helped make cross-genre books possible, and especially for those who introduced readers to the idea of fantasy and science fiction happily married to romance.

This year, as I enjoy the holidays, I give thanks for more than just being able to pay my bills, have a roof over my head, and for the good food on my table. I'm also grateful to artists everywhere, those living and those passed: you all make the world a better, richer place to live by sharing your art and your imagination. With gratitude, especially to Ms. McCaffrey: we will never forget you.
Roxy

Thank You, Readers!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:58:00 +0000

This past weekend I attended TusCON, the Best Little Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror convention in Arizona, which arguably should have "Romance" added to its title! I was not the only author writing SF or Fantasy Romance in attendance. But this year, after 7 years of attendance, was my first year as a published author! I got the chance to sign postcards for new readers and it was a blast! A special thank you to everyone who bought a copy of my eShort and who stopped by to say HI at the author autographing session -- special thank you to Lynda, our new friend from the local MENSA chapter.

Every year we have more authors at the Con and there is always so much to attend. This year I discovered new anime, met new friends at the LAN gaming, and met new authors and local artists. Best of all, I sold more eShorts as a result of meeting new friends and readers, and got the chance to talk about my work! Overall, a fantastic experience that has me looking forward to attending next year. Special thanks to everyone on the TusCON committee who made the annual TusCon such a success this year!

Extra special thank you to all the Readers who've purchased since my new web site and this blog launched earlier this month!

Wishing You All That's Green,
Roxy

A Gathering of Authors - 38th Annual TusCON

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:41:00 +0000

It's finally nippy enough in Southern Arizona to wear a sweater or a jacket this week!

That must mean it's time for TusCON - The Best little SciFi Fantasy Horror Convention in Arizona!

I'll be attending all weekend, from FRI afternoon until SUN. My default hangout is always the LAN gaming rooms in the hotel, where you can find me playing World of Warcraft & first-person shooter games with my Romance Hero and lots of our friends. Stop in and say Hi!

Last year the Con hosted Guest Authors Jim Butcher (Dresden Files) and Sharon Butcher. This year NYT Bestselling Author Patricia Briggs will be the TusCON Guest of Honor! ... Patty is joined by many other SF, Fantasy, and Romance authors, such as Emma Bull, Frankie Robertson, Jennifer Roberson, Jordan Summers, Yvonne Navarro, Gini Koch, Janni Simner, Weston Ochse, Dennis McKiernan, John Vornholt, David Lee Summers, Anne Elizabeth, and of course, Moi!

The Con is famous for its emphasis on getting to meet your favorite authors and artists, and to chat with them in a casual atmosphere. There's a variety of author readings and panels all three days, an Author Autographing session on Saturday, books galore of course, a fabulous Art Show, several Gaming areas for your kids (and you!) including Board games, LARPing and a huge PC LAN gaming set up! There's also an awesome Anime movie room (a favorite), movie Previews, Filking, Shopping, a Consuite with goodies, FREE swag, and a Masquerade Contest!!

A gathering of Romance/SF/Fantasy/Horror authors all at one location?? A book lover's dream! ... Thanks for reading and see you there!

Roxy

Self-Publishing: Working with Vendors

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:07:00 +0000

Greetings!

I'm guest blogging today about self-publishing (SP), specifically about working with vendors, over at Frankie's Soapbox. The Soapbox is the blog of author Frankie Robertson (LIGHTBRINGER).

I talk about lessons learned as I prepared to publish BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, my new erotic romance short. Please come by and ask any questions you have about working with vendors or any self-publishing issues you're curious about.

Thanks for reading!

Roxy

Guest Blogging about Self-Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:50:00 +0000

Hello Friends, Fellow Bloggers and Writers!
On Wednesday, Nov 9, I'm guest blogging about self-publishing (SP) over at Frankie's Soapbox, the blog of multi published author, Frankie Robertson. Please stop in and say Hi, and ask any questions you might have about the SP journey. There are a lot of myths surrounding the process, including that it's impossibly hard. It's not, but it does take planning, organization, and commitment. Most importantly, it's a learning process. Like anything new, it's going to take you outside your comfort zone and challenge you to see writing and publishing in a different way.

On my guest blog, I'll be relating tips I've learned about working with vendors. That is, outsourcing some of the tasks that need to be done when you SP, becoming both publishing company and author at the same time. SP can be daunting, but I also found it to be a deeply satisfying process. Trepidation can easily turn to elation with a little enthusiasm and some careful planning.

Stop in at Frankie's Soapbox Wednesday, and if there's a SP subject you'd like me to write about here on my blog, please leave a question or suggestion--I'd love to hear from you!

Roxy

Sex and SF and elves, oh my!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:29:00 +0000

Hi, and welcome to my blog! I write erotic romance in fantasy and futuristic settings. If you enjoy reading about heroic and immortal elves, archangels and green men, along with the women who steal their hearts, you’re in the right place.

Below is an excerpt from my first eShort, Be Careful What You Wish For, an erotic romp involving an alien disguised as an elf who invades a woman’s dream as her fantasy lover. This eShort is available for purchase on Amazon and Smashwords for eReading devices Kindle, Nook, Sony, Kobo, and many more. It’s also available to read on your PC, or for your iPhone, iPad, Droid, or other handheld device with a Kindle app. Best of all? … It’s only $.99! Yep. Get your sexy romance fix for less than the price of a cup of coffee … and a whole lot hotter! It makes a great thank you or stocking stuffer gift for that special romance reader in your life, too. Enjoy!

She thought he was only a dream lover …

But the elf with the long, silver hair and the Aegean-blue eyes is a traveler from across space. And her dream is his doorway …

If she refuses him, all mankind will be decimated by one of his own people - a chaos being that arrived ahead of him.

Note: The following excerpt is meant for the enjoyment of adult romance readers.

I open my eyes. I’m standing at the edge of a small lagoon, my body drenched in warm sunlight. A gentle wind stirs the cool grass, the blades tickling my bare feet. An aqua sky floats overhead. A rush of water draws my attention and I turn to find the sound. Across the pool, wide frothy columns spill down from above, sending up clouds of fine white mist that drift along the surface like smoke. The air is heavy with it, and it dampens my skin. I inhale. The clean, clinging scent of wet and earth and pine fill me.

A faint breeze blows, and my nipples tighten in response.

I know I’m only dreaming. If I look down, will I find my nightgown gone, my body naked? The thought makes me uncomfortable. Angry. I don’t want to know I’m somewhere else. It’s so beautiful here.

A movement in the center of the pool draws my attention. I feel as if I’m observing everything from a distance. The water starts to churn under the mist. Air bubbles rise and pop.

Sea monster.

My heart races as the thought springs to my mind from nowhere. Oh, sure. In fresh water? I giggle and let myself relax. It’s just a dream, after all, and I’m giddy with anticipation. I want to know what’s under the surface of that roiling water.

Maybe it’s the Lady of the Lake come to deliver up Excalibur? Ha! But I’m not Arthur. And this isn’t Camelot. Wait—what if it is? I laugh out loud at the thought.

Something is coming up out of the water now. I should be frightened.

I’m not. Amazingly, I’m simply curious. The mist begins to part as whatever it is breaks the surface.

The sea monster is pale, or at least it has pale hair on its head. Blond, no … silver! I see a forehead, thin eyebrows, eyelids … faint lashes.

Not a sea monster … a woman? Must be the Lady of the Lake, or maybe a mermaid? I giggle.

But then the eyes open and I’m galvanized, run through by a searing glance of bluer than blue, piercing straight into me. Nose, mouth, strong chin emerge. Not a woman. A man. Yet his features are finely formed, exquisite and flawless. Beautiful. And he has … pointed ears?!

His eyes remain fixed, pinning me, as broad shoulders follow his head above the surface. Oh my. Very muscular shoulders. Dear gods of Olympus. Stunning pecs and the most glorious washboard stomach I’ve ever seen rise from the water. The breath whooshes from my lungs as if I’ve been sucker-punched. Not a stitch of clothing covers his sculpted form. He has the physique of a Greek god. Not rounded, like the masters carved, but more slender … a body that would tempt an ice queen. His hair is long and thick and reflective. It makes me think of starlight and mirrors.

Men don’t have ears and hair like that. Elf.

The corners of his perfect pink mouth turn upward. A knowing smile spreads across his face. And I understand—am certain—that he has just heard my thoughts.

Now I’m afraid for the first time. My earlier humor is forgotten. I stare, unable to look away from his lithe form as he continues to rise from the pool. Water sluices from naked flesh, running in small rivulets from thick ropes of sparkling hair as he moves toward me through water and swirling mist.

The sunlight seems magnified on his skin, reflecting as if bouncing off metal. I wonder how he’ll feel under my hands.

So tall …

Narrow hips and an impossibly flat abdomen emerge, and my eyes are drawn to the thin line of glossy down below his navel that disappears under the waterline. The muscles in my belly and thighs clench in response to the sight, and a fluttering warmth starts inside me. I know very well what’s coming next, and I can't look away …

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Rogers) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Welcome to my new blog home, and a very Happy Halloween to all you scary but, warm-hearted trick or treaters.

I'm a bit of a closet goth, so this is truly a favorite holiday of mine. In fact, I stunned my entire family when I was 9 yrs old by proclaiming I wanted an entirely black bathroom when I grew up (this was long before the term "goth" was even coined). Since my family decorated in French provincial and Colonial, this got quite the reaction, and I wondered for years if I'd been adopted or placed in the family by aliens?

Speaking of aliens, for all you adults looking for a naughty but wonderful treat for yourself as you recover from eating too much candy, try my new erotic romance eShort, Be Careful What You Wish For. This hot read features a sexy alien disguised as an elf who invades a woman's dreams. It goes on sale November 2nd at Amazon and Smashwords and other fine eBook retailers). And, hey, it's less fattening than candy and a whole lot more fun at only $.99! You can read it on your PC, your Kindle, your Nook, iPhone and many other devices.

This Halloween, like many of you, I'll be in costume (G-rated for the trick-or-treaters, of course!) so I can scare silly the adorables dressed in their cute and scary costumes (Well, just a little scare, and all in good fun of course...bwaahaahaha!).

Have a spooky and safe holiday!

Roxy