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Self Editing Workshop Feb 20-26

Self-Editing Workshop
Feb 20-26

Want to perk up the pace of your prose? Need help pinpointing your manuscript’s weak spots? Contest judges getting you down? Never learned the difference between POV and Show vs Tell? Join Roses Colored Glasses for the Self-Editing Workshop.

Your Instructors: Layla Chase and Elle James

This workshop will help make your writing shine! Through the use of checklists, topical lectures and writing exercises for each lesson, we give you tangible examples of what to look for and how to fix it. You’ll get interactive assistance from freelance editor and award-winning author, Layla Chase, and Harlequin author Elle James.

Passive Vs Active voice, Power words & pumping up your sentences Eliminating implied or unnecessary words Gerunds, misplaced modifiers, dangling participles Point Of View and Show Vs Tell Grammar & Punctuation Style and Voice.

To enroll, send your $20 payment through Paypal from the workshop page on http://www. rosescoloredglasses.com/WSSelfEdit.htm

Deadline for enrollment is February 20, 2012.

Testimonials “I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for teaching the Self-Editing class on Rose’s Colored Glasses. I took the class earlier this year and by applying what I learned to my manuscript, I managed to final in a RWA Chapter contest.”

“… even more than the wonderful tips and checklist and exercises, this workshop taught us how to discipline ourselves, which I love. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“Just want to say thank you so much for all your insight and information, ladies. I enjoyed the class and can definitely take the information and apply it to my writing. In fact, it’s been useful already!”

“I wanted to express my appreciation for the time and assistance we have been given. I have learned so much and have so much to learn. Thanks heaps and I’ll be doing this again!”

Happy V-Day!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Sending you all hugs, kisses, chocolate, and flowers!

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A Moment of Panic

Disclaimer: My last anatomy class was my junior year of high school…I don’t remember much except the cutie I flirted with behind me.

I didn’t know where the hyman was. I parted with mine so long ago that I don’t remember it. I was 16, sufficently buzzed, and anxious to get it done. I couldn’t tell you anything else about the experience.
Needless to say, today I had a moment of panic.

I should start by telling you that I finished a last read through of The Cancan Dancer and the Duke just before Christmas. Then today I found the Smart Bitches post about the physical location of the hymen.

SHIT! Are you kidding me? Did I do THAT!?

Of course I was at work, but I had my trusty Kindle Fire with me so I whipped it out and found the scene where the big moment happens and…whew. While I don’t specifically describe the breaking of the hymen I also don’t ignore the general discomfort I assume is normal for a virgin. Since I don’t know any (virgins, that is), once the book comes out y’all feel free to let me know if I got it wrong.

My moment of panic has passed, but I now get to live with wishing I had bothered to ask a fairly important question…

Where is the hymen?

Hopefully you all will like the book when it comes out despite my near miss with a mid vaginal hymen. :)

Giving Thanks

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope today finds you spending time with those you love. Remember to celebrate all the good things in your life.

Me, I’m thankful for my husband of 11years, my first book contract, and my family. How about you?

Have a wonderful Turkey Day!

Getting Close!

So, we are getting closer on the editing of The Cancan Dancer and the Duke. I expect my first galley soon. I can’t wait to be able to share this story with the you all. Hang in there!

Android App for The Wild Rose Press #twrp

Just wanted to share the news that The Wild Rose Press has launched a free storefront app for Android. :-) I downloaded it and love that you can go shopping from your phone. Be aware the store is not fully populated, but they are working hard at getting each book loaded. Go check it out and look for something new to read. ;-)

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.softwaysolutions.wildrosepress

Have You Heard About BookLamp.org?

A Romance Diva posted about BookLamp.org on the site and I went to check it out. So cool! It’s like Pandora but for books. :D Here is how they explain their service:

BookLamp.org is the result of an exploratory project intended to help you find new books by comparing the content of the books themselves, similar to the way that Pandora.com matches music lovers to new music. We’re attempting to help you find books with similar themes and writing style to books you’ve enjoyed in the past – comparing elements like Description, Pacing, Density, Perspective, and Dialog – while at the same time allowing you to specify details like… more Medieval Weapons.

It’s impervious to outside influences like advertising budgets – so it’s an equal friend to the front, mid, and backlist author. At BookLamp, we’re a fan of the idea that it is what’s in the book that matters most.

The best part is ITS FREE! How cool is that? I hope the Wild Rose Press jumps on board with them because I would love to see my book listed here for people to find. In the mean time, I’ll be over there playing with the tool and discovering new authors. ;)

A Letter to Amazon about Exposing my Book Purchases

ETA: I was mistaken in my original post. You must opt to make your purchases public by ticking off what you are reading and allowing the status to be made public. My apologies for the confusion.

Dear Amazon,

I saw a tweet from @moirarogersbree about your Kindle Profiles and thought…no way. But yes way. You went there. You invaded my privacy and have exposed my reading habits to all and sundry without asking for my permission.  I knew about the profile’s existence, even added my bio to mine. I don’t mind a profile where content provided by tweets from my kindle about books I am reading are captured. I have chosen to make that information public by tweeting it. At no time did I wish to make my purchasing habits public in such an uncontrolled manner. I have lodged a complaint via their feedback tool on my profile:

“I would like to have my book lists not be made public. In this day and age I want control over which of my books are shown to the public due to professional concerns. I am not some teenager who does not understand the importance of controlling what aspects of their life are put on display. I find it concerning that Amazon would think that it is “OK” to make something I consider private a matter for public consumption. “

As a semi-public (technically I’m nobody, but I do participate in the romance community) figure I prefer to choose how my image is presented to the general public as do most public figures. As a private person, I have no desire to have every book I choose to purchase listed for public awareness. I have colleagues, friends, and family who I may not wish to know EVERY book I read or buy. This move on your part is as unthinking and foolish as the kids who post pictures of themselves getting drunk all over Facebook. I however am an adult with judgment. Please allow me to exercise that judgment without the benefit of your interference. I am sad to say that I will likely curtail my use of Amazon until such time as you find a way to fix this issue. It is decidedly unsavvy of you to do this to your loyal customers, and frankly disappointing.

Unhappily,

Dara Young

ETA: I have now changed my name on my profile and removed all identifying markers. I have also stated my objection to the profile in my bio. I hope that Amazon changes this to an opt in type service or at least give me a better way to opt out than individually removing books I don’t want to share. Ridiculous!

Sign My eBook Please!

I am so excited about this new service called KindleGraph. It lets authors who load their information and books on to the site digitally sign an ebook for a reader. :D Here’s how it works. First you go to the site and look for the book you want to have signed.

Note: Authors must sign up on the site to have their books listed for signature so selection is limited right now, but authors are signing up like crazy!

Next you find the book you want signed and click on “Request KindleGraph”. A window pops up:

You enter your Kindle’s email address and click “Update Email”. Then you are returned to the screen where you can request other signatures. You’ll notice the book I requested a KindleGraph for has been marked as such.

I love the concept of this and the way it lets authors and readers interface in yet another way. I will say the site has some work to do once more books are added to make searching and finding books easier. Right now you scroll through a big massive list, but when an author signs up they get an author page with just their books listed. Here is Keri Ford’s page. Hopefully authors will place a link to their page on their website to make it easier for you!

Here is a link to a video that shows both the reader interface and the author side of things in action if you are interested in adding your books.

There are those who scoff at the notion that book signings are an antiquated notion and this digital version of this is a useless implementation of an archaic interface. Well, I disagree. As a reader I love nothing more than having a signed book by an author. Whether the signature holds any real monetized value or not, it holds value for me a sentimental value. If I interface online with an author and then they can digitally sign a book for me, it solidifies my loyalty as a reader and gets me that much more excited to read future books. It’s a way of connecting with someone I respect as an artist and storyteller.  And that my friends is what is important.

So, as a to be published author, I can promise you all that I will be adding my book to KindleGraph, because if you love it and want to reach out to me and have it signed, I want nothing more than to do that for you. :) Because frankly, I will probably be as excited about signing for you as you are about having it signed…maybe more. :D

 

A Communications Poll…

An overload of communications

Image by windsordi via Flickr

I’m trying to figure out how best to communicate with potential readers about things as they happen. I’m already on Twitter and Facebook, and (as you can see) I have a blog, but I know some people are lazy about going to your site or even to FB. (Heh. Me.) So, should I be doing more? Is there an overwhelming preference for how you get info about what’s happening with an author? I just want to be sure that I am doing all that I should be doing to get the word out to potentially interested readers (you I hope!).

Also, feel free to comment on what you might like to hear about. I’d love to know what interests you. :D

Thanks for taking the poll!

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