I've been sick

Hi All

Haven't posted in a while. I've been ill and in the hospital. Hopefully, I'll be posting a little more often!

What's up in the world of writing and reading?

Anyone read the new JD Robb story? She's an auto-buy for me.

On a personal note-my daughter sold a story she wrote. I sold two novellas and two short stories. Good news when I came home from the hospital!

More later!

Thursday 13 - 13 Things I HATE!

Thirteen Things I hate by Erin 1… Liver--just smelling it makes me nauseated! 2. Stuck-up people (Don't we all?) 3. Green (I think it comes from a green house where everything inside was green!) 4. NBC for canceling Surface 5. SCI-Fi Channel for canceling Stargate SG-1 6. Books that don't have a happy ending! 7. Movies that don't have the 'right' ending. 8. Winter (I detest cold, and it's only allowed to snow on Christmas Eve) 9. Telemarketers (They should all have laryngitis!) 10. TV Shows that end without an 'ending' 11. Prejudice 12. Waiting months and months on a manuscript submission to be answered. 13. Trying to think of 13 things I hate! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Book Fair

Hi Everyone!

I'll be at a Book Fair on Saturday August 4th all day from 10-2:30 signing books. I believe I'm at table 47A

The Second Annual Hanover Book Fair is being held at the VFW Post in Hanover, VA.

There will be over 100 authors there, and admission is FREE for readers! Come join the fun. Lots to do, and there are PRIZES, too!

Hopefully, some of you can attend.

Here's the link to the Fair: http://home.comcast.net/~hanoverwriters/hanoverwriters.html

My daughter sold her first manuscript!

HI

I know this is my blog--but...my daughter just sold her first manuscript. It's going to be in a Christmas Anthology.


More details when we know more. She just got notified today that they want it. The title, unless it's changed is Mistletoe Magic. She' writes as Lanie Fuller.


She got the writing gene from me!

In other news.....

My Amazon Short is in the 100 sales ranking...look for Table of Two or click the link to check it out:

HERE

In still other news...

We've been having storms all day :( I wanted to take my new author daughter out to dinner, but the storm was nasty!

Thursday Thirteen

HI

Trying something new...the Thursday Thirteen. Thought I'd start with 13 facts about me for my first one. Kewl idea, this.

1. I used to be a cop
2. I collect guardian angel figurines
3. I've lived in ten states and Canada
4. I was an EMT for 20 years
5. I wrote my first complete manuscript when I was 8--The Christmas play the school performed that year.
6. I have one child (very much grown up now--she's my writing partner)
7. I write erotic and contemporary romance
8. I hate to cook
9. I usually read at least one book a day.
10. I am an electronic gadget junkie
11. I'm a Romance Diva! (Yeah, Diva's!)
12. I didn't get my Bachelor's degree until I was 40
13. I love sci-fi shows

Thirteen Things about YOUR NAME 1…. Start your list here! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Life

Ah, the joys of real life! I thought I'd post something about me. I realized that I hadn't yet.

I'm a single mom and my daughter and I often write together.

We live on the Potomac in VA, with a beautiful view of the water!

Believe it or not, I used to be a cop :) (I was hell on drunk drivers!) and an EMT. Most recently, I was an English teacher.

Now, I write full-time because that's where my heart is. (Who needs to pay bills, right? lol)

Post and tell me about you :)

Erin

Check out my Slide Show!

New Covers

HI

New Covers for my books...Please let me know what you think of them!

Erin

Latest Reviews

Oh yeah, one more thing...

Got the latest reviews of my books.

Coffee Time Romance gave Some Lessons Still to Learn 5 cups

and Lessons to Love 4 cups.

Romance at Heart magazine wrote "Masterfully written"


But hey, the reviewers seem to like them! I've gotten three great reviews on each book.

Are you an author?

Hi

I'm raving, so feel free to skip this post should you choose.

How many of you reading this write romance? Are you writing for a big NY Giant or a smaller press?

Well, apparently, if you're not writing for the big boys--you're not a published author, per RWA.

It doesn't matter if you review well with your smaller publisher. You're not an author.

It doesn't matter if the books are offered as ebooks or print (as many big publishers do) You're not an author.

It doesn't matter if your book can be found in Barnes and Noble. You're not an author.

Why? Because RWA, in its infinite wisdom has decreed it. The new requirements require advances to become a PAN author. Most of the small presses don't pay advances.

So, why pour your heart and soul into writing a book? That's the question I've been asking myself.

I write for small presses because I choose to do so. I've submitted one story to a large publisher in the last 15 years--and it's still waiting for an answer three months later.

The thought that small publishers only publish crap is just...well...crap. About 4-5% are published from the slush pile. Diamonds in the rough are given a chance they might not otherwise be given, as perhaps an editor has more time to help an author polish the book.

I'm fed up. I'm tired of small publishers being considered not real publishers.

RWA is supposed to support romance writers. Do the members not see the writing on the wall? NY Publishers just can't publish all the books out there--they'd be publishing hundreds a month--just not possible. Does that mean that all authors should just give up? Or should they look at other avenues?

What about those that want to see their book sometime in THIS decade. Is that wrong? Apparently so--because although I've published two books, several short stories, have a story coming out with Amazon in a few weeks--I'm not an author.

Ok, done ranting for the moment.

Re Amazon Feed

HI Folks!

If you're viewing this from the Amazon feed, please note that the slideshow only seems to work properly from my physical blog site.

Check it out, though! I thought it was rather cool!

Erin

Check out my Slide Show!

Removed....covers changed

Check out my Slide Show!

Let me know what you think!

re News

Hi

Still waiting for news on stories I've got out everywhere! Does anyone know why publishers are so slow? LOL.

We can hope that no news is good news, right?

The third book in the Lessons Trilogy is coming soon. For those that read it...what would you think of a series about the two?

I was thinking of a series where they solve a new crime in every book! I'd appreciate feedback!

check out my new banners at http://www.erin-gordon.com They are really neat, and I'm excited. An artist friend made them for me. (Well, ok, it was my daughter)

I'm also wanting book trailers...thinking of a contest for the best design....ahhh, the possibilities!

Erin

Reviews Just In

WOW!

I'm so excited! I just got the reviews back on both my books! I got five roses on both books! Get out the champagne!

Here's what they said for Lessons to Love...

"...Oh my God, I want more by this author. This author hit on all of what I look for in a book like this. I am new to Dom/s stories and there is a fine line that makes it to much for me however "Wow" this author hit right on the mark for what I want and look for. If you have not read this book and love this type of story, I am telling you run and buy this one now ...you will not be sorry." Nicole at http://www.mybookcravings.com

And for Some Lessons Still to Learn...

"...This is a great sequel to one of the best books I have read. It has it all, made me want to know more about the lifestyle for sure. This author writes a story that you can feel yourself in the story or wish you were. If you haven't read this one or the first in this wonderful Story, go and buy them today." Nicole at http://www.mybookcravings.com

I am just in 7th Heaven! This just made my whole week! As an author, we can think what we've written as 'good' but when someone else says it is...just...WOW!

Wish me Luck

HI All

Wish me luck. I just sent out a manuscript to Phaze. Hopefully, they will like it! It's about a romance writer that finds her own Hero!

What could be better than finding the man you've written about for years?

Erin

Blogging

Hi

So, why do we blog?

I blog because it lets people read a little about me and my thoughts. I'll admit that I hope it also makes them want to read a book I've written.

It's nice to be able to write in a forum where no one is going to reject your work because of a spelling mistake!

Seriously, though, I think we blog because we live in a great big world and it helps to know that there are others that think what we have to say might be a little interesting. Anyone agree?

re POD and Vanity Presses

Hi

Okay, today I decided to write about one of my personal pet-peeves. There seems to be a huge stigma attached about printing on demand, or POD.

Let me see if I can clear up a few things here on this blog. First, there is a difference between PRINT on Demand and PUBLISH on Demand.

Many small publishers, mine included, print books in small runs--thus, the use of a PRINT on Demand printer is utilized.

The company I publish with doesn't charge the author a dime. It's not a vanity press.

PUBLISH on Demand are usually Vanity Presses. The author pays for the privilege of seeing their book in print. Sometimes up to a thousand dollars.

Some places provide both services- Print on demand AND Publish on demand; Lulu is one such place. Some small publishers use their service to do very small print runs--not to mention Lulu provides another outlet to find books.

So, the writing tip for today: If you're considering POD--make sure it's PRINT on demand; not a publisher that is going to charge you to print your book! POD takes eBook authors a step further, and allows their readers to buy print versions of their books.

POD books look the same--the printer prints what the publisher sends. Real books, real perfect-bound paperback books.

re Happy Wednesday

HI!

The week is half-way over!! New and exciting things are happening. My writing partner and I are half-way done our new book. We'll put up more details soon.

Two new proposals went out today--one to Ellora's Cave, and one to Spice. We'll see....

Today's writing tip: Join sites like eHarlequin.com and learn from the authors found there. Writing is a lonely process, it's true; but there is a wealth of information on eHarlequin for the writer in you.

For the reader, there is a lot of fun stuff, too--like reading blogs, chats and meet-and-greets with some of your favorite authors.

Book Two of the Lessons Trilogy is finally in print. We'll see how sales go :)

Till later....

New Story Sold

Hi

Have a new story that I just was notified sold to CF Publications. The Lessons Trilogy book two is also out now, see Shadowrose Website for purchase.

Keep Writing

Ok, so you've sent off that manuscript. What do you do now? I've spoken to writers that do nothing until they hear back. With some publishers, that could take up to six months!

Don't waste that time--write the next one! You'll have a lot less time to worry about the one sitting on the editor's desk if you're working on the next project!

As to my own Lessons trilogy- book three is almost done. It's sad for me to say goodbye to Cassie and Brandon, but on to new things.

I like series books--especially with the same characters. Probably why I love JD Robb and Linda Howard's Mackenzie series.

What's on your keeper shelf?

re Writing

Hi Again

I forgot to mention a few things. I'm going to use this blog to talk about writing, and some things to do as well as some things NOT to do.

There are so many aspiring authors out there. They all have the same dream--to see their name on the cover of a book. (or, as in my case, their pseudonym.)

How do you get there, though? Hmm, good question. Over the ensuing weeks, I'll be posting some hopefully helpful tips to other writers.

Today's tip is: Submit what the Publisher Asks For. What does this mean? Simple. If the publisher asks for a synopsis, query and 3 sample chapters; don't send more--but don't send less either!

I've heard editors talk about how they don't receive what they ask for. It's annoying!

Welcome

Hi Everyone

Welcome to my blog. Here we'll talk about the books I have coming out, but we'll also talk about writing in general for those aspiring authors out there!

Welcome!