Oh, Sweet Mother -- Blog Hop

In honor of the upcoming holiday (ahem, Mother's Day), we Omnific authors would like to profess our dying love to our biggest fans: our mothers. Join us today on our Ominific blog hop as we do just that.

My mom truly is my number one fan and she goes out of her way every day to help me succeed in this struggle we like to call life. It started when I was little and her love grew as I grew. She's taught me many things in life, but the most important thing she taught me--well, showed me--was her strength. This was important because her strength gave me strength. And that continues to this day.

That's my wonderful mother on the right, my daughter in the middle, and me on the left. :-)

Dear mother of mine, here is a poem I've written for you:

* *
Your actions showed me strength
Your words showed me compassion
Your convictions showed me sense
And your work ethic showed me passion

You gave without receiving
You laughed without reason
And you showed me that love is a forever season

You showed me things
Taught me things
Bought me things
And made me do things
All in the name of love

It is this love that pushed me forward
Showed me life
Gave me hope
And at times gave me (and you!) strife

I give you back this gift with a kiss and a hug
Oh, sweet Mother you are the reason I love.
* *

Thank you, Mom for being the perfect mother. For being you and letting me be me.

~JD 

Struggling? Ira Glass has something for you.

Greetings bloggy friends!

I know we've got some readers out there *waves*, but I know we've got a lot of writers too. And for you writers, I've got a message for you. Well, Ira Glass has a message for you.

What we writers do is a constant struggle. The creative process is grueling, the publishing perhaps even more so. Some people dig in, some people give up.

If you ever question why you do what you do, or how long you can hold on, or if you should give up, watch this:



Now writers, go and do what you do best: write.

~JD

PS: In honor of upcoming Mother's Day, give a shout out to your mom tomorrow on your blog! Omnific authors are hosting a fan-tabulous Oh, Sweet Mother blog hop. Click HERE for more info. 

Grammar Police: The Asterisk *

It's been awhile since the Sheriff* has been on patrol. I do believe it's time to change that!

It's time to discuss the asterisk. 

For those of you unawares, it's that little star looking things above the eight on the keyboard.

And I just want to point something out really fast before going any further. If you are a writer of fiction, there's no reason for you to be using this in any of your finished books. Or your query letters. Or even a synopsis. Don't put this anywhere near your work of that sort. I've racked my brain trying to figure out someplace to use in it these circumstances and I've come up with nothing. So just don't. Ever. It's been awhile since the Sheriff has taken someone in...and I'm not afraid to start. Unless one of you has a good example, I'm standing by this decision.

Now, back to asterisks.

Asterisks today are commonly used for commenting or qualifying something in text, an ad, papers, computing, etc. If something needs more explanation, you add the little *. That little star tells the reader that more information, clarification, etc., can be found at the bottom of the page.

If you use an asterisk, rule numero uno is: ALWAYS make sure it refers to something at the bottom of the page.

Most of you probably connect this to those sale ads in the paper: All Women's Apparel 70%*. 
Then you scroll down and see that it's only 70% off if you use your department store charge card on the third Sunday in May only if it's raining. Sure, it looks like your getting a good deal at first glance, but then they hit you with what I like to call the fine print. That's what asterisks are to me. And what I HATE more than anything is when an ad (or anything else for that matter) has that little asterisk and then NO comment at the bottom that says what it means. *headdesk*

Asterisks are also used to replace letters of naughty words: sh*t, h*ll, and f*ck for example. Personally I don't understand this concept because it's not like you are avoiding the offense of the word. When someone reads your asterisk-filled word, they still read the word like the asterisk wasn't even there. You're still saying shit, damn, hell, whatev.

However, if your on a forum or something, perhaps the bots won't pick up your foul asterisk-filled language and block you. But in any other circumstance, I don't get it. Your potty mouth is still known, with or without the *.

And now, with the birth of social media, the asterisk has been used to describe emotions, or what someone is doing (like that *headdesk* example a few paragraphs up).

Someone might tweet this:
@bak299 Wha? Tornado? In Alaska? *runs to check the weather channel*

Or this:
@finesarah I just got the best news *dies of happiness*

There's no telling what the asterisk will be used for in the future, just do us all a favor and use it the correct way now (including the social media thing...the Sheriff is fond of that).

Have any of you ever found an asterisk in a strange place? How do you feel about them in ads and such?

Sheriff



*The Sheriff portrayed in this post is none other than JD. And she wants you to have a happy Monday.

News You Can Use...

Frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriday! 

As the weather begins to heat up, so does our news! 

1. The 2013 RT convention is under way! My publisher, Omnifc, is there representing. And guess who else is there? E.L. James. Since she writes romance (erotica), that's not too much of a surprise. However, it seems that Wednesday, Ms. James didn't like what the NA panel was saying about her book, Fifty Shades, so she jumped up from the audience and caused quiet the scene! Boo-hoo-hoo. Overly sensitive much? I'm pretty sure if I earned what she has earned this past year, I wouldn't care what people said about my books.

2. I read the best article on "Why more women should read romance" from the Huffington Post this past week. The article's author, who is a romance author, is very much like me in how she looks are romance books (and what she tends to write). Check it out.

3. Here is the New York Times Bestseller list for this week. Fifty Shades has managed to sneak back on the list.

4. And the Barnes & Noble best-selling romances this week. And for you YA lovers, here the list of best selling YA books for you. :-)

5.  I think the following was just a matter of time: Authors Sue Self-Publishing service Author Solutions. 

And that, my bloggy peeps, will be it for me today. Run along and have a fan-freaking-tastic weekend!

OH...AND HAPPY MAY!!

~JD 

Pseudo PR Maven Mother got me THIS...

Do you know what that is? Hmmm...the postmark says Buckingham Palace. Wonder who that could be from?

Here's another picture:

Do you see the seal? Is that Whales? Now I'm even more curious!

Aha! Do you see where it says "St James's Palace'? And under that? Can you read that? It's from
The Office of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and HRH Prince Harry of Whales. 

That's right. I received a very nice thank you note from Duchess Kate. Well, from her assistant, but STILL.

It mentions me by name, three times, and also mentions how thoughtful I was for sending the Duchess a copy of my book, Recaptured Dreams. For those of you who haven't read the book, it deals with a contemporary daughter of a Countess and her New York fashion designer suitor. Right up the Duchess's alley, yes? YES!

This letter came about from my PR maven mother's wonderful idea. You can see the original idea here. And then what dear ol' mom did the day after that here.

So I'm pretty grounded to reality and realize that this nice little form letter probably goes out to everyone who sends something to the Queen or one of her royal family members. I realize that my book is probably stashed away in some closet or perhaps even the trash.

BUT, life is all about dreaming. So in my mind, I can dream all I want about how personal this letter is. How the assistant thoughtfully wrote the words to only me. And how my book is gracefully perched on a shelf in the royal library. I can dream about how Duchess Kate will snuggle up with it when her newborn is resting peacefully in a few months.

Life is full of dreams. And even though I know reality, this still made me giggle and smile for a moment.

Thank you, TRH Duchess of Cambridge and faithful assistant, you made my Saturday. And thank you, wonderful mother, for coming up with the idea in the first place. Now I will forever have this soon-to-be-framed letter to remind me that life can be what dreams are made of.

~JD

Do Romance Novels Destroy Relationships?

Now THAT is an interesting question! 

I'm going to give you two short answers and then we'll discuss. So do romance novels destroy relationships?

1. Yes--but this is only if you expect your man to act like any man in a romance novel. Are you going to act like the women in the romance novels? Didn't think so. Problems arise when you start having expectations about your reality. This just isn't happening peeps. 

2. No--this is if you understand that romances are FICTION and the characters live in fantasy-land. The men you read about, the things they do, and the acts they perform are all in someone else's imagination. They are feel-good reads and you understand the man standing before will never say/do such things and act such ways (unless of course you married someone straight from a romance novel and if you have, I applaud you!)

Now, on the seriousness. 

There was an interesting post I found on Goodreads about this same topic. A reader asked the following questions:

1. Are there really such relationships that exist that are all fire and passion?

2. Or is this simply a fantasy?

3. Is it wrong to compare your partner to the characters in these fictional romances?

4. Should the reader strive to be more like the characters?

Let's face if, we all love those alpha-males. They are sexy, comfortable with their man-self. They are bossy, super sexy, sometimes rich, they know what they want and how to get it. They are sexy. But like a poster said on the Goodreads forum: "Picture what living with a man like this would be like 24/7. I would want to punch him in the face." 

Yup, that about sums it up. 

The same can be said for other heroes. I mean, could you live with Christian Grey? Or some mushy character? 

Sure, there are relationship that exist that have fire and passion. But if you've been with man for any length of time (either married or what-not) you know that it takes work. Nothing is as easy as romance novels. Sure, they have up and downs, but the purpose of them is to have a good ending. We KNOW that our lives aren't like that. Well, at least I hope you know. 

Romance is fantasy. There are not real life playboys-turned-to-good boys, cowboys who know how to waltz and fine-dine you, business men who would rather spend a passionate day on the boat instead of working. 

Now wait before you get all up in my face about there really being people out their like this. Because somewhere, I'm sure there are. However, the chances of any romance reader finding him and reeling him in is SLIM to NONE. 

It is also wrong to compare your partner to anyone in a romance novel. Every person on the face of this planet is different. No two people act alike, think alike, respond alike, dream alike, etc. If you think you can get your hubs to act like one of the dudes in the Black Dagger Brother series or any other book, good luck with that. You'll have a better chance of getting run over by a train while chasing down the ice cream truck. 

Here's the thing though. We, as women, wish we could have what's in these books. Those of us grounded to reality know the books aren't real. The situations aren't real. The men, for SURE, aren't real. And we as women have to remember that to get what we want (or need) we have to ask. 

Men can't read our minds. Men don't understand why we do what we do. Hell, we are the most confusing thing in the world to men. Our relationships will be what we make them. So if we lash out at our partner, they will lash back. If we cuddle and caress and love like we should, the partner will do the same. It's human nature. 

So, if your head is down here on earth with the rest of us, romance novels shouldn't have a negative effect on your relationship. If anything, it should help you understand some of the tinkerings of the opposite sex. And if you read a good romance, it might liven up the bedroom action (Fifty Shades baby anyone?)

And if your head is in space, deflate it ASAP and come back down to join the rest of us. 

Romance makes us feel good. We can take that feeling and put it into our lives. But we can't take the stories (and people) and make them part of our lives. 

Happy Monday all! 

~JD 

News You Can Use

It's that time of the week again peeps! 

FRIDAY!!!!!

Which can only mean ONE thing. 

PARTY TIME!!!

Oh, wait...that's not it. Not yet anyway. :-) It's time for NEWS YOU CAN USE! 

1. Did you read my blog earlier this week? And after that did you see what my mom did? Goodness, family members are so awesome. My condolences to Ellen and her staffers. 

2. Here's the New York Times bestseller list for the week. I think I may faint!! Fifty Shades is nowhere to be found in any of the top fives. Fever, by Maya Banks, however, is. Yay! 

3. Here's the Barnes and Noble bestseller list for romance. And of course, here's the YA bestsellers. 

4. The ABNA contest announced the peeps moving on to the semifinals. I was not on the list, but that doesn't surprise me. 95% of us got the boot! And the boot (along with the PW review) hurt this year! Ouch!

5. Here's some book news. Two authors make "Time" list of "100 Most Influential People." Now that's what I like to see!

And that's all I've got for you today folks! Have a rocking weekend (and I hope April showers don't ruin it for you!)

~JD