Fill-Me-In Friday: Best Writing Links of the Week

 

Favorite Photo of the Week: A.J. of Lit at Billy Bob's this past weekend. Yes, a rock band at a the world's largest honky tonk. It was like walking into a scene from Urban Cowboy but then they were playing Nine Inch Nails on the speakers. o.0

 

This week's list of links is going to be a little shorter than usual because I've been holed up in the rewriting cave under a tight deadline. I'm still in there, but I can almost see light at the end of the title (ha, that last word was a typo, but I think I'll leave it as stands, it's appropriate). That concert (above) is about the only relaxation I've had this week, so I'm looking forward to getting this book sent off so I can breathe. Well at least until I start drafting book four next week, lol.

So here are some of the best links I've come across this week...

 

On Writing/Publishing:

 

 

On Reviews (since that seems to be the BIG topic this week, with lots of kerfuffleness going on) 

 

 

On Social Networking and Marketing:

 

 

On Other Stuff: 

 

 

What You May Have Missed From Me This Week: 

 

Alright, that's what I've got this week. How has your week been? What's your weekend looking like?

My Top 5 Online Tools for Writers

I'm not usually one to just leave a link to a post on my blog tour, but today I'm a guest over at Books Are Magic talking about my top 5 online tools for writers. And since Wednesday is usually writers' day over here, I figured it'd be a perfect fit.

 

Tools

Photo by zzpza

My Top 5 Online Tools for Writers

 

Hope you'll stop by and say hi. *dives back into editing hell*

Skeletons (and Mancandy) in the Attic

For the past week and a half, kidlet and I have been staying with my parents in New Orleans. I'm happy to be home and back to my routine (and hubs) today, but I did have a lot of fun hanging out back home. And one of the things I had the chance to do while I was there was dig through my parents' attic (I use the term "dig" loosely because its actually perfectly organized up there. My mom's organization skills are like a page out of Real Simple magazine.) And what I discovered was that a) My mom doesn't get rid of anything, b) I'm thankful for that, and c) you can tell a lot about a life going through a few childhood boxes.

So in case you didn't catch my live #tweetsFromTheAttic session on Twitter, I'll share some of what I found up there.

See, I've always been into mancandy. My mom has folders and folders filled with all the Big Bopper and Teen Beat pages I used to have on my wall.

 

Signs of my New Kids on the Block obsession. The bottom pic is trading cards. And no, I didn't really have backstage passes (above). I'm sure I ordered those from some magazine at some point.

 

The book that made me want to be a writer

 

Some of my favorite middle grade books

 

The first sex scene I ever read. It left quite an impression. I remember being shocked they could actually write that stuff in books. (I was 13.)

 

Where I first learned I loved a good horror story.

 

Yes, they made books. Of course I had them. (And can you believe in the first one, Baby was Francis Kellerman not Houseman. They actually set it up that her dad owned the resort. *shocked face* What were they thinking?)

 

Proof that vampires existed before Twilight ;)

 

Found a notebook where me and my stepsister filled out answers to questions. This is "What would you like to do for a living?" My answer is #1 - "writer/editor" and hers is "pharmasist". (She may have needed a bit of an editor there on spelling, but she was 10 so we'll give her a pass.) So at 14, I had a plan. I probably didn't realize it'd take another 18 years to reach that goal. :)  (And for those wondering, my stepsister is an accountant, not a pharmacist.)

 

And look, I told y'all I was really serious at 15 about querying that first novel (the New Kids fan fiction.) Luckily, I never got further than buying the 1995 Writer's Market book. :)

 

Look, my natural haircolor. Haven't seen that in a while...

 

Alright, so that's what I found in the attic. It's kind of scary how much you can distill about a person from a few boxes. But it's also kind of cool to see that my journey to becoming a writer started all the way back then. I was always preparing for this career, even when I didn't realize it.

So what would you find in your childhood boxes? What do you wish you would've kept? Would people be able to figure out who you are now based on what was in those old boxes?

Fill-Me-In Friday: Best Writing Links of the Week

 

Signing MELT INTO YOU at B&N

Whew, it's been a whirlwind week. MELT INTO YOU released (thanks to everyone who's bought it so far!) and I've been staying with my parents, so I've felt a bit off balance all week. I haven't written, and I've barely managed to blog. It's been a fun two weeks away from home, but boy am I ready to get back to my routine.

And though I haven't been able to surf articles as much this week, I did find a few can't miss posts that I wanted to share with you.

On Writing/Publishing:

7 Ways You Give Away Your Power – and How to Avoid It | Rachelle Gardner

The Luxury of Having Options | Mystery Writing is Murder

See How Easily You Can Write A Novel Using The Snowflake Method via BubbleCow (This idea gives me heart palpitations, but it may work for you.)

Between Fact and Fiction: Allow Yourself To Think Of Alternatives

For writers: Steps to deal with book piracy « Stephanie Lawton

25 Things Writers Should Stop Doing via Chuck Wendig

Bisy Backson: The Unsung Value of Idle Time « Writerland

Cheryl Rainfield » Evernote: A Great Free Tool For Writers

Successful Fiction Begins With a Great Concept - via Kill Zone

Protecting Your Writing Time – And Yourself via Writer Unboxed

 

On Social Networking/Promotion:

6 Rules of Facebook Engagement via Lisa Hall Wilson

Blogging Basics: 10 Places to Find Images That DON'T Cost a Penny via Amberr Meadows

Cat's Eye Writer Blog | Judy Dunn - Pencils, Pens and Writing - The Beauty of Low Tech Blogging

Authors online–good or bad? via Carina Press

 

For Fun:

Top ten myths about introverts – Basically a breakdown of me. | Chris Conner

ME AND MAGIC MIKE | TheRomanceMan <--a guy's perspective

 

What You May Have Missed Here:

Hats, hats, hats...

5 Signs You're Having a Blog Identity Crisis & 8 Ways To Fix It

 

That's all I've got this week. Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! My blog will be back to "normal" next week since I'll be back home again.

MELT INTO YOU is out today! Her first love has returned & he's brought a friend...

I'm not sure there's anything more exciting for a writer than a book birthday and today is MELT INTO YOU's. Yay! 

I loved writing this book and it features my favorite heroes (yes, there are two) in this series so far. I also took a few risks in this story that I wasn't sure I'd get away with, but I did. ;)  I hope y'all will check it out!

Read! Enjoy! Review! :) (Yes, I'm shameless.)

Here's what a few early reviewers are saying:

"A book has to be really special to keep me up all night, and this book my friends is it." - Danielle of Ramblings From This Chick

"With a tangle of complex relationships, some of the sexiest fictional men out there, one of the stronger female leads in the genre and a whole lot of steam and heart, Melt into You by Roni Loren will push every button you got and have you begging for more." - Allie Sanders, Goodreads review 

"I can’t say enough about this book. It really gave me everything that I want in a romance. It’s edgy, entertaining, emotional, and romantic. It’s just beautifully written. The sex scenes are sizzling hot. The plot line is like a roller coaster ride. It’s full of ups and downs and moments where you can’t take anymore and your tummy is in knots, but when you hit the last page, you say “let’s ride it again”. That is exactly what you get with this book." - Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

 

Her first love has returned, and he's brought a friend...

After running away from home and the boy who broke her heart, Evan Kennedy has kick-started the perfect new life with her celebrity fiancé. So what if said fiancé prefers guys? She knew the deal. And with her ticket to The Ranch, an exclusive resort where any fantasy can be satisfied, she knows she can find someone to fulfill her less-than-traditional desires on the side.

She just never expected that man to be Jace Austin, her old heart-breaker—all grown up, hard-bodied, and holding out a collar. She knows it’s probably a world-class bad idea—especially since Jace has brought along his buddy Andre, who’s every bit as irresistible. But if they can stick to the no-strings rules, so can she.

Too bad Jace has never been so good with rules. Evan is convinced “forever” is a word used only in greeting cards, but Jace and Andre have one last fantasy of hers left to fulfill. It’s time to go big or go home. And neither man has ever been a fan of going home.

 

And if you'd like to check out the first chapter, you can read it here.

 

 

You can buy MELT INTO YOU in print of ebook from any of these retailers: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BAM | Indie Bound | Powell’s | Chapters

 

 

Blog tour: I'll be doing a blog tour for the next two weeks with some fun giveaways. If you'd like to follow along, be sure to stop by. Here's the schedule:

July 2:  Novel Reflections

July 3:  Tyra's Book Addiction

July 3: Lauren Dane's blog

July 3: The Smutketeers

July 4:  A Tasty Read

July 5:  Rachel Leigh - Erotic Romance

July 6:  Ramblings From This Chick

July 9:  Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance

July 10:  AsianCocoa's Secret Garden

July 11:  Books Are Magic

July 12:  Roz Lee

July 13:  Seductive Musings

 

Thanks, y'all! Hope everyone has a great day and holiday tomorrow! :)