Summer in Wales...

It's August, it's supposed to be summer. The forecasters, back in April, promised us a 'barbecue summer', with temperatures soaring and lots of glorious sun. A lot of folk decided they'd holiday in UK this year instead of going abroad. There were going to be lots of outdoor events. The International Eisteddfod was being held in Bala in August. It would be wonderful...



Now they are backtracking. July has had double the usual rainfall. There have been floods. A local carnival was cancelled because the field was knee-deep in mud. The Brecon Show has been called off, for the first time in 50 years! 'Ah', the forecasters are saying, 'it's very hard to predict the weather.'



I've got news for them. We KNEW that! If they wanted an accurate forecast, they should have said 'Well, it probably won't snow this summer,' and they'd have been right. (Well, right so far, anyway.)



But this is Wales, where we export rain. (Seriously, we do. There are valleys flooded to form reservoirs that feed the industrial centres like Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham with lovely Welsh rainwater.) So should we really believe anything the Metmen tell us? Of course we shouldn't. But we do. Every year we hope that this year will bring us the summers we remember from our misty youth, when every day dawned bright and warm, and even our parents cast off their woolly layers and basked in the heat. Dads in shorts, showing pasty white hairy shins. Mums in cotton summer frocks, but with a cardie kept handy just in case. And we would strip down to our bathing suits and frolic like lambs...



I'm sure it rained back then, as well, but we don't remember it. It was always sunny...



And my three-year-old grandson, born at the end of a blazing July, has yet to experience a real summer. Oh, well, there's always next year.

The Debate Continues

I'm a member of Romance Writers of America. I joined right after I finished my first novel four years ago. I wanted to enter their Golden Heart contest, a writing contest for completed romance manuscripts to be judged by other authors. I was too late ... but something good came of it. They led me to my local chapter of RWA and a wonderful group of authors who were willing to take me under their wing and show me the ropes of the publishing business. Romance authors are amazing that way. I also found the "Kiss of Death" chapter for writers of suspense (they're a scary group, always asking about guns, knives and poisons over their loop *vbg*) and the "Passionate Ink" chapter of erotic writers. Both excellent places to ask questions about my current book.

Anyhoodles, fast forward four years.

I'm still a member of RWA and I still love my homegirls and satellite chapters. But the national policies and support of the organization ... not so much. It seems "the old guard" wants to define what makes an author successful. Yes, their responsibility is to help guide a writer into making educated choices about publishers and avoiding the pitfalls and unethical practices of some people looking to make a buck from unsuspecting newbies in the publishing industry. I understand that and I commend them for taking that on.

What their job is NOT -- is determining whether a career path chosen by a writer is viable or worse ... correct.

RWA wants to define ethical practice by publishers as a model where the publisher pays an advance of at least $1000 to the author to contract their work. But no royalties are paid until the author has earned at least $1000 in royalties. The reason is that it guarantees the author at least that amount in payment for every book he/she contracts. The problem is that electronic publishing doesn't work this way.

No advances are given at time of contract, but the royalties are significantly higher than the 7% most authors make on print books. Many authors make a very good living publishing with electronic publishers. The problem with authors who publish electronically as RWA sees it, is that if authors were "career minded" rather than treating their writing as a hobby, they should not consider contracting with electronic publishers.

Excuse me?

I'm about as focused on my career as an author as any of my chapter mates. But currently my books are only electronic. Do I want to be in print? You betcha. Would I like to sell to a big NY house. Oh yeah. Would I like to have an agent working my books for me some day? In a heartbeat. Does the fact that I've signed with 2 electronic publishers mean this won't happen? Not on your life.

I have learned so much in the two years since I signed my first contract. I've learned to write tighter and created better stories. All the while collecting royalty checks that I may not have had if I waited for the publisher with advance.

I'm happy with my decision. I'd like to know I had the backing of RWA. In this age of digital everything it seems to me that the new board should look to the future of the industry and perhaps revamp the way they define a successful writing career.

Oh, and in celebration of my newest release BONDED BY NEED coming out August 7 from Ellora's Cave, I've got a new contest going on over at my
website. Stop on over and enter!

New release! Hallie's Cats coming July 31!

Hallie's Cats is coming July 31, 2009 from Ellora's Cave!

I am running a contest to win a FREE COPY of my new release on my website! Drop over to put your name into the hopper! Win a FREE copy of the book, or one of dozens of other great prizes!


I am amazed that I finally got this column uploaded!
I started trying to upload at 9:30 p.m. and it barely let me in at 2:02 a.m.!

Last week, a group of my pals and I blogged about the importance of various aspects of e-publishing. We had a seven-day run of e-pub advice for newbie authors, or those who wanted to get a start in e-publishing.

We have a co-op blog over at Six Sexy Sirens. We worked in unison with other blogs around the country in a series called "Left Behind and Loving It". There are some great bits of advice over there. Please feel free to go check it out.


I also want to put in a plug for cover trailers!

So many authors really want to have a book trailer, book teaser, or cover trailer made up, but don't have the money to spend for a professional job. I always say that one picture is worth a thousand words. Book trailers, if done well, can show off your work to its best advantage. And you don't have to spend a fortune to have one. Drop me an e-mail and I will happily point you in the right direction to either create your own beautiful video using FREE software and music, or I can walk you through making one. After the first one, it gets easy! This one took me an hour.

Hallie's Cats

So don't give up! And have a wonderful day!

Fran Lee
http://www.franleeromance.com

Disappointment

There are things in life we all have to deal with. Hurt, disappointment, betrayal, unfairness. Probably disappointment is the most difficult because usually there's no possible control over the factors that disappoint us. If we're hurt, we can hurt back or heal. If we're betrayed we can seek revenge or move on. If we're treated unfairly we can seek legal redress... or not.

But disappointment frequently rests on the actions of others or acts of God or events that are beyond our control. How we react to disappointment says a lot about us.

Last week, my grandchildren, a friend and I had a special "girls day out" planned. And then my friend woke up with a vicious stomach bug. As much as she wanted to go, it was clearly impossible. Well, what's so extraordinary about that, you say? I'll tell you: it was the very grown up way my granddaughters reacted to the postponement of their day out.

Both of them immediately talked to my friend on the phone, assuring her that her health was far more important than our proposed plans. And then they found something to keep themselves quietly occupied the rest of the afternoon. Not a word was said about the plans. I thought they demonstrated extraordinary grace for a five-year-old and an eleven-year-old. I was incredibly proud of them.

Too often I've watched adults have temper tantrums when disappointments come their way. No, I'm not talking about genuinely unfair or illegal treatment. I'm talking about things like someone showing up late for an event. Or having plans not quite work out. Or realizing that the store doesn't have the dress or coat in your size.

Disappointment is temporary. If we faced life's disappointments with grace and a willingness to seek an alternative, life would be much easier both for us and those around us. That doesn't mean we have to turn into a doormat. But it does mean we can act with dignity.

Sometimes, it isn't only adults who teach the lessons.

anny

A Funny Thing Happened at RWA in Washington, DC

A funny thing happened on the way to the RITA/Golden Heart awards ceremony here in Washington, DC: Exhaustion. I did not attend the awards even though, in my opinion, hostess Anne Stuart is one of the funniest people on the planet--maybe in the entire galaxy. I met other RWA conference attendees who said they weren't going either. So that got me wondering what if… We did the awards on the first evening? Would winners glow longer? Would runners up sob longer?

And what if the Literacy signing were on Saturday night--in place of the awards ceremony? Would that improve local attendance or not? Just a thought on this Sunday morning after a full and tiring week--mostly spent networking.

I really like the idea of having the Annual General Meeting (AGM) mid-morning on day one. Did I attend? No, because I was too busy networking with old friends (Daisy, Alfie, Delores) and meeting new ones (Pat, Karen, Joann and Carla to name a few) while smoking in one of the few places the hotel allows smoking.

Regarding the AGM, I haven't heard much except that the Board is taking e-publishing matters under advisement--again. And they're working on the RITA and Golden Heart rules. Again.

Interesting that no matter how the print-published (read NYC) try to distance themselves from the e-published (read beyond cutting-edge) technology prevailed in the gifts given to selected volunteers and luncheons attendees: E-Readers!

Speaking of volunteers: My personal thanks to all of you who gave me directions as to where to go and brought me lots of water during the Literacy signing. Your warm smiles really made my evening. And a special thanks to Passionate Ink for recovering my cellphone and making sure I got it. Maybe next year I'll actually win a Passionate Plume Award. Thanks for this year's nomination and the great party!

FOOD OF LOVE--what's yours?

Dear all, Today I want to ask you what is your food of love?
We've all heard of the chocolate sauce and whipped cream. The strawberries and champange. But what else works for you?
For me, a really good wine--red or white--or even a good rose--works. But to make the day complete, I like a bit of sustenance with my wine. Especially since romance uses up some of those calories! And you need to replenish your energies, yes?
I'm going to suggest a few good additions, like a nice Spanish manchego with whole wheat crackers, grapes and sliced cucumbers (chilled). OR how about a French baguette, sliced, lightly brushed with a good olive oil and a clove (or what the heck, two cloves of garlic), toasted and served with a room temperature brie, a few slices of smoked salmon and a dash of capers.
Then there are the luscious possibilities that a good pinot noir opens up with huge garlic-stuffed olives and a small platter of sliced tomatoes with sliced mozzarella and fresh leaves (from your garden?) of basil, drizzled with olive oil, virgin, please.
Tell us what you love to serve your lover!

What in the World is a Mage?

What in the world is a Mage?

Here’s the synonyms for mage from Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus:
Magician, charmer, conjurer, enchanter, magian, magus, necromancer, sorcerer, warlock, wizard.
Does that help? Lots of room there for an author to write about a mage.

My new series is titled Song of the Mages. The Webster definition is pretty all encompassing; I start off my first book with it. Merlin was the most renowned mage of all, so my family of mages is descended from Merlin. Stories about him are so varied he’s hard to pin down. You can essentially pick from a myriad of tales, but they all stress the supernatural powers of the Mage. This made writing about Mages lots of fun, since I felt free to attribute a lot of different fantastic abilities to my mages. What more does a writer want?

Now as to what we know for sure. Yes, there’s a little bit of fact here. That Merlin was a legendary figure is agreed. And he had a historical base. Any one who claims they know actual facts about Merlin can be questioned. Some historians place Merlin before King Arthur’s realm, although the most influential, Geoffrey of Monmouth, places him in the realm of King Arthur, and this seems to be the account that is commonly used. Geoffrey combined accounts of Myrddin and the tales of the war-leader Ambrosius, and names him Merlin Ambrosius. So there was some one who inspired the Merlin stories, just as there was a real King Arthur. We just don’t know anything much of historical accuracy about either one.

Geoffrey’s tales (written circa 1136) were immediately popular, and Merlin is now commonly portrayed as possessing supernatural powers and with phenomenal wisdom. If you search enough you can find almost any ability attributed to Merlin, and I’ve used a lot of them in my series. It’s enthralling to take a mythical figure and bring him down to earth in a concrete character. His descendants, my protagonists, all struggle with the burden and power of being a mage. After all, if you’ve got that much power, you need to use it wisely.

My first book in the new series, Damien’s Destiny, tells how Damien, Earl of Sinclair, needs all his power to save his love Toria from her rapist guardian. Damien has already been released and is available from Cerridwen Press. Damien and Toria eventually have five children, and they’re the stars of the succeeding books. Gareth’s Gambit and Jennivere’s Journey tell the stories of the first set of twins. Jason and Jonathan, come next. Twin Quest One is now being edited, and I’m writing Twin Quest Two. There’s another daughter, Vicky, waiting in the wings, and I hope one or two of the children’s friends will demand their own story next. I love to write a book when character and issue a command to me.

The varying tales of Merlin are fascinating, and numerous. He was so powerful, and yet his hands were tied by the fact he could not change destiny. It must have been a source of sorrow to him to raise Arthur, knowing he would be a great king and that Guinevere would destroy it all. Although the kingdom and the deeds live on in the minds and hearts of all who love gallantry and honor, and Arthur has become a well-loved symbol.

Do you think Arthur and Merlin have changed the world, even if they are completely fictitious? Leave a comment and let me know...