Hello everyone,
It seems life continues to give the Yarina family lemons to make lemonade with. Joe and I usually like to do everything together, so I broke my right leg, too. :-( I'm just now back up on my feet and writing and riding again. It's rained on us quite a bit since October and join us in hoping this is the last of it.
I've missed the writing and riding life so much, but it serves to illustrate just how much my passions (and yes, I include my husband) mean to me to be without them for so long. I'm very grateful for all life allows me and so grateful to be up and about again.
Tomorrow, I will be signing at the Glendale, Arizona Chocolate Affaire and if you've never been, or even if you have, y'all come. I promise you, great food, great chocolate, fine artisians and the very best romance authors all signing novels for you. Here is the link:http://www.glendaleaz.com/events/ChocolateAffaire.cfm It is my favorite signing of the year and if you come, you'll see why...
Happy Trails,
~~Susan
Friday, February 4, 2011
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Blogging with Susan n' Sedona-The Write Place
Hello everyone,
I just finished my 100K work in progress and now it's off to those who've requested it. It's such a great feeling and I'm terribly excited about this new work. As soon as I'm able, I'll share more about it. I told you I get a lot of writing done in the summer. :-) Hope your summer went well and that everyone everywhere took lots of books on vacation either in a bookbag or in one the fabulous e-book readers. There are more choices all the time. My husband loves it when he asks where the book box is just as we're leaving for vacation and I hold up my novel sized ebook reader.
Today's Tip: Hire an office manager. Here's mine.
He must: be fluffy, irresistable, have big expressive eyes, be proficient in MEOW, nag author to-exercize, get the dryer, get food, drink water, pet cat, feed everyone else too, answer door or phone if dh doesn't seem to be doing it, tell me to turn off computer no later than 2:30 am and oh yes, live in.
Inside Information: Be sure to carry your own books with you on vacation. Most B&B owners love to hear you are an author and will buy several copies to place about for readers. One such special B&B owner even gave TimeRider to a producer that was visiting--haven't heard anything yet.
A Day in the Writer's Life: Pay close attention to those chores you've left yourself so you can stay healthy. For example, don't accidentally throw my type of office manager into the dryer-they turn into indignant hairballs the size of Texas in just one or two tumbles...:-)
How I started and you can too: offer to do something to serve that new writer's organization you've just joined--give something back from the minute you get going
Humor: "No, Aunt Sara, you are NOT the woman I killed off in my last novel."
TTFN and don't forget to leave a comment. I love to hear from my readers.
Warmly, what else? It's a hundred out.
~~Susan
Monday, July 19, 2010
Dog Days of Summer
Today's Tip: Sit your butt down in the chair and write. Every day. Something. I mean, I'm not working on my manuscript on Monday, because it's Marketing Monday and I do all my promo, scheduling, blogging, business upkeep and so on... But otherwise, write! Catherine Coulter says (in a very big voice for such a tiny woman) "I can fix a printed page, but I can't fix a blank one." So even if it's drivel, you can rewrite the next day and remember, some authors say the rewriting is the REAL writing and I tend to agree.
Insider Information: Want to get that fired up feeling you have after a writer's conference? Make sure you get to the booksellers reference books. Be selective and pick out what references for what you want to write. Some of the best are the Writer's Digest books. Make sure you include a book that inspires you to write. A great one is Walking On Alligators
A Day in the Writer's Life: Pant, pant, pant, er, I mean Hello Everyone,
This is the time of year I get the most writing done. Why? Because, friends, it's 100 degrees plus out there and the monsoon is threatening with huge clouds forming over the Superstition Mountains and every evening we get; a light show ranging from pretty colored flashes of every color that just flash from cloud bank to cloud bank to ominous crashes and forks of lightning that shake the pictures on the wall (remember I live on the mountainside), strike tall targets (sajuaros, trees, power lines, golfers with clubs pointed upward, horsemen and so on...gets ugly) and cause the dogs to bark and the horses to spook. Out this way we use strings of surge protectors by jingo. :-) So, the west stays wild out here even without the raiding Apache or gunfights.
How I started and you can too: Get a critique buddy. Just one to start with. Try to pick someone a little more advanced than you are and writes in the same genre. If that person doesn't resonate with you, trust your instincts and find another. Be sure not to burn any fences by being less than considerate of the critique buddy you're letting go. Or, if you have the time, keep both.
Humor: Sleeping writer rolls over in bed and murmurs "Brad."
Unfortunately, dear hubby's name is "Jake."
Understandably seething husband shakes tired author awake, "Who's this Brad you're calling to in your sleep?
Foggy author can always answer, "Hero of my newest work."
And then, baby, make it so. :-) For insider's tip on how to do this tune in next week!
Until next week, with a glass of iced tea in one hand and an editing pen in the other,
~~Susan
Insider Information: Want to get that fired up feeling you have after a writer's conference? Make sure you get to the booksellers reference books. Be selective and pick out what references for what you want to write. Some of the best are the Writer's Digest books. Make sure you include a book that inspires you to write. A great one is Walking On Alligators
A Day in the Writer's Life: Pant, pant, pant, er, I mean Hello Everyone,
This is the time of year I get the most writing done. Why? Because, friends, it's 100 degrees plus out there and the monsoon is threatening with huge clouds forming over the Superstition Mountains and every evening we get; a light show ranging from pretty colored flashes of every color that just flash from cloud bank to cloud bank to ominous crashes and forks of lightning that shake the pictures on the wall (remember I live on the mountainside), strike tall targets (sajuaros, trees, power lines, golfers with clubs pointed upward, horsemen and so on...gets ugly) and cause the dogs to bark and the horses to spook. Out this way we use strings of surge protectors by jingo. :-) So, the west stays wild out here even without the raiding Apache or gunfights.
How I started and you can too: Get a critique buddy. Just one to start with. Try to pick someone a little more advanced than you are and writes in the same genre. If that person doesn't resonate with you, trust your instincts and find another. Be sure not to burn any fences by being less than considerate of the critique buddy you're letting go. Or, if you have the time, keep both.
Humor: Sleeping writer rolls over in bed and murmurs "Brad."
Unfortunately, dear hubby's name is "Jake."
Understandably seething husband shakes tired author awake, "Who's this Brad you're calling to in your sleep?
Foggy author can always answer, "Hero of my newest work."
And then, baby, make it so. :-) For insider's tip on how to do this tune in next week!
Until next week, with a glass of iced tea in one hand and an editing pen in the other,
~~Susan
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Write Place-learning the business-a little update about me-a little laugh
Hello everyone,
Today's tip: Remember I said suggested that aspiring writers, readers and published authors ought to go to the Desert Dreams conferences? Well, here are just two of the reasons you should go. Every year the people who put on this conference donate these lovely raffle baskets, some up to $500.00 in value, and you can buy tickets. Proceeds go to literacy. These baskets are raffled off at events throughout the conference. You may get autographed books, candles, lotions, writing services (critiques, help with synopsis etc). This year I got a lovely heirloom coverlet perfectly created by Mary Fiori. Thanks, Mary. Second reason: You get to visit with old friends, like Linda Lael Miller and I in the second photo and even though they may be especially dear, if you are a dedicated writer, you don't have much time for visiting, so make the most of it. And for all authors these are times when we also network, catch up on market news and our latest projects with each other and of course the things like family news as well.
Inside Information: Pay close attention to what publishers are requesting NOW. Go to every spotlight on the publisher you hope to work with and find out what they want NOW. Keep your ears open. This is one of the best ways to get the current needs of the market. One of my friends was once commenting that no one wanted to see her civil war novel. A savvy editor of a house she hadn't even considered glanced over and said, "I want to see it." and gave her card to my friend. Viola!
A Day in the Writer's Life Tuesday through Friday are my most productive days usually. But, in every writer's life, adjustments must be made. My daughter is recovering from surgery and asked for books. Books, I have. :-) So, I sent her her favorites: fantasy, mostly light. So, what to do? After supper, instead of sitting down and watching Castle (which I'd TiVo'd) I perfected a cover letter I'm sending in.
How I started and you can too: Remember, continue to look up all the different writer's chapters. Figure out which books attract you most. Buy and read what you like. Find out which publishing houses they are from. Look up that house and see what they want. Try to do this for several weeks. Is that idea that's been percolating on your mind beginning to take shape?
Humor: A group of us just got back from an all day horse-back ride in the mountains. One of the fellas says: "Ah, a day in the saddle--better than sex." In the few quiet seconds following, I offered, "I don't know what to tell you, bud, but you're doing something wrong." The whole group nearly fell off their horses laughing.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Write Place-learning the business-a little update about me-a little laugh
Hello friends, readers, aspiring writers and fellow romance writers,
I hope this finds you well. If you need a little inspiration and somewhere to learn writing as a career you've come to the right place. If you want to see how an author lives, you've come to the right place. If you want a little laugh, you've come to the right place.
Todays tip: Attend writer's conferences. These are great ways to meet those authors you adore face to face. These amazing creatures will share how to make writing your career or what they're up to in their careers.
There will also be editors there with whom you may make an appointment. Editors like your idea, they take it to the publishing house and sell it and you become a household name after your first big contract.
There will be agents there with whom you may make an appointment. Agents will make it their personal business to help you plan a lucrative and rewarding career.
Insider information: Have a manuscript done before you make above appointments. So you say, how do I do that? That will come soon. But first just go to the conference and attend the classes that sound most like what you like to read. It will give you an overall idea if this is something you might like to do.
A Day in the Writer's Life: Marketing Monday: this is the day I catch up my weekend emails (from editors, agents, authors, librarians, universities and all the various and sundry places that want authors in their events), do my blogs, catch up on FaceBook (not sure if this simply takes too much time, but it sure is fun). Follow up on booksignings, ordering or making promotional materials, and when you finally have made enough money, finding a publicist to do all that for you. :-)
How I started it and you can too: I attended one of the best regional romance conferences in the nation. Desert Dreams Conference is held on the even years every April in Arizona, so though you just missed ours, put on by Desert Rose Romance Writers, there will be another in 2012. Here's a link to our conferences: Phoenix Desert Rose RWA We are in Arizona. If you go to the National Romance Writers of American site, you can find a list of chapters in your own state which may have your own conferences. Naturally, I think ours is best and well worth the trip from anywhere. Here's the national link:Romance Writers of America
Humor: You may be a writer if you are serving the same thing you wrote your hero and heroine are having for dinner.
I hope this finds you well. If you need a little inspiration and somewhere to learn writing as a career you've come to the right place. If you want to see how an author lives, you've come to the right place. If you want a little laugh, you've come to the right place.
Todays tip: Attend writer's conferences. These are great ways to meet those authors you adore face to face. These amazing creatures will share how to make writing your career or what they're up to in their careers.
There will also be editors there with whom you may make an appointment. Editors like your idea, they take it to the publishing house and sell it and you become a household name after your first big contract.
There will be agents there with whom you may make an appointment. Agents will make it their personal business to help you plan a lucrative and rewarding career.
Insider information: Have a manuscript done before you make above appointments. So you say, how do I do that? That will come soon. But first just go to the conference and attend the classes that sound most like what you like to read. It will give you an overall idea if this is something you might like to do.
A Day in the Writer's Life: Marketing Monday: this is the day I catch up my weekend emails (from editors, agents, authors, librarians, universities and all the various and sundry places that want authors in their events), do my blogs, catch up on FaceBook (not sure if this simply takes too much time, but it sure is fun). Follow up on booksignings, ordering or making promotional materials, and when you finally have made enough money, finding a publicist to do all that for you. :-)
How I started it and you can too: I attended one of the best regional romance conferences in the nation. Desert Dreams Conference is held on the even years every April in Arizona, so though you just missed ours, put on by Desert Rose Romance Writers, there will be another in 2012. Here's a link to our conferences: Phoenix Desert Rose RWA We are in Arizona. If you go to the National Romance Writers of American site, you can find a list of chapters in your own state which may have your own conferences. Naturally, I think ours is best and well worth the trip from anywhere. Here's the national link:Romance Writers of America
Humor: You may be a writer if you are serving the same thing you wrote your hero and heroine are having for dinner.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Sharing some sunshine/winner announced
Hello everyone,
It's raining here in sunny Arizona--lots! No problem. I've been writing like there's no tomorrow, which, if you've followed along about my husband's accident, is brand new. The bone graft of his tibia took and now he's doing the rebuilding necessary range of motion to be able to begin weaning off his crutches. Hooray! Thus, I'm writing with great joy! I've decided that writer's block, which I didn't really believe existed, does exist. It means this: something so life altering has happened in your life that you are simply overwhelmed and must work really hard just to get through the day. But persevere friends and the muse will return. :-)
I'm getting back in the swing of book signings, conferences, workshops, author's meetings--all those things that are part of a successful author's life. This weekend I speak at the Tucson Book Festival at U of A in Tucson, Arizona on Writing Science Fiction--balancing the science and the fiction in room 119 from 11:30 until 12:30 on Sunday. That will be followed by a signing immediately after. There will be over 400 authors there and they expect upwards of 60.000 attendees. Last year the festival folks handled this really,really well~~so you all come, hear? The link is www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org. and it's an absolute guaranteed good time.
The winner of the quarterly drawing for one of my novels for the first quarter of 2010 is: Rosa Turner Knapp. Congratulations, Rosa! You too, can be entered in the drawing by simply sending an email to SYarina315@aol.com with book drawing in the subject line and your name and email address will be added to the basket. And should you win and want to try for another book? Simply send another email. What could be simpler?
Talk to you again soon. Oh, yes, and pray for sunshine for the Tucson area.
Remember to take time to smell the flowers and, as always, read a good book,
~~Susan
It's raining here in sunny Arizona--lots! No problem. I've been writing like there's no tomorrow, which, if you've followed along about my husband's accident, is brand new. The bone graft of his tibia took and now he's doing the rebuilding necessary range of motion to be able to begin weaning off his crutches. Hooray! Thus, I'm writing with great joy! I've decided that writer's block, which I didn't really believe existed, does exist. It means this: something so life altering has happened in your life that you are simply overwhelmed and must work really hard just to get through the day. But persevere friends and the muse will return. :-)
I'm getting back in the swing of book signings, conferences, workshops, author's meetings--all those things that are part of a successful author's life. This weekend I speak at the Tucson Book Festival at U of A in Tucson, Arizona on Writing Science Fiction--balancing the science and the fiction in room 119 from 11:30 until 12:30 on Sunday. That will be followed by a signing immediately after. There will be over 400 authors there and they expect upwards of 60.000 attendees. Last year the festival folks handled this really,really well~~so you all come, hear? The link is www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org. and it's an absolute guaranteed good time.
The winner of the quarterly drawing for one of my novels for the first quarter of 2010 is: Rosa Turner Knapp. Congratulations, Rosa! You too, can be entered in the drawing by simply sending an email to SYarina315@aol.com with book drawing in the subject line and your name and email address will be added to the basket. And should you win and want to try for another book? Simply send another email. What could be simpler?
Talk to you again soon. Oh, yes, and pray for sunshine for the Tucson area.
Remember to take time to smell the flowers and, as always, read a good book,
~~Susan
Friday, October 23, 2009
Sometimes life gives us lemons
Friday, October 23, 2009
Sometimes life gives us lemons
Hello everyone,In our combined experience my husband and I have nearly 100 years of horse-training experience. So we were horribly shocked when our latest acquisition, SoBe, a registered Quarter Horse, who seemed to love us and her new home, attacked my husband during a training session. She did her best to kill him. I came home to two emergency vehicles and my husband immobilized on the ground with lots of blood soaking into it around him. What followed was two hospitalizations, three emergency surgeries, a bone antibiotic resistant infection, home with IV antibiotics, as well as oral ones and one sick and injured person for five months. He's recovering now, and doing physical therapy and the best birthday present I've ever had was him coming out of anesthesia after the last surgery (three in a month). I've been pretty blue because I haven't been able to write (for the first time in my life) or ride my horse (because it makes him so anxious--he'll get over it). But, as my dear departed mother reminded me many times-when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And Peck women are nothing if not tough. So, I cleaned out, caught up filing, organized, set up a better system for my business, and finally have done lots of research on my new series. I can now think clearly enough and have a few minutes at the end of every day (around midnight) to read a chapter or two of fiction. And for the last several days have been able to write again. I wish to thank all my friends, fellow writers, and neighbors for their unquestioning support. You all were fabulous and I daresay I might not have made it without you all. In summation, when life gives us lemons, we make lemonade.After a long time away and really, really glad to be back,~~Susan
Sometimes life gives us lemons
Hello everyone,In our combined experience my husband and I have nearly 100 years of horse-training experience. So we were horribly shocked when our latest acquisition, SoBe, a registered Quarter Horse, who seemed to love us and her new home, attacked my husband during a training session. She did her best to kill him. I came home to two emergency vehicles and my husband immobilized on the ground with lots of blood soaking into it around him. What followed was two hospitalizations, three emergency surgeries, a bone antibiotic resistant infection, home with IV antibiotics, as well as oral ones and one sick and injured person for five months. He's recovering now, and doing physical therapy and the best birthday present I've ever had was him coming out of anesthesia after the last surgery (three in a month). I've been pretty blue because I haven't been able to write (for the first time in my life) or ride my horse (because it makes him so anxious--he'll get over it). But, as my dear departed mother reminded me many times-when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And Peck women are nothing if not tough. So, I cleaned out, caught up filing, organized, set up a better system for my business, and finally have done lots of research on my new series. I can now think clearly enough and have a few minutes at the end of every day (around midnight) to read a chapter or two of fiction. And for the last several days have been able to write again. I wish to thank all my friends, fellow writers, and neighbors for their unquestioning support. You all were fabulous and I daresay I might not have made it without you all. In summation, when life gives us lemons, we make lemonade.After a long time away and really, really glad to be back,~~Susan
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