For what seems like stationary thing, status is a busy word. It can tell you something simple, like the “in transit” location of the cat tree you ordered on Amazon. Traditionally, the word status speaks to one’s life achievements. Nowadays, status is most commonly associated with Facebook vernacular. The other day, because my brain hit a wall, (not so strange) I thought: What if you could capture a novel’s progress in terms of a Facebook status? Would it look something like this?
Seriously? She Writes Romance?
The blog below originally appeared on One Curvy Blogger. Many thanks to Sarah, who had this to say about Ruby Ink: “Hey, Curvy Readers! Today I have a guest post to share with you guys. Earlier this week I reviewed Ruby Ink. I loved it so much, I invited L.J. Wilson back so she can give us an in-depth peek at the author behind such a unique story!”
Do Writers Dream Differently?
I wonder if writers dream differently. It seems like they should. We’re people immersed in parts of our brains that leave others curious as to why we’re not medicated—hourly. On occasion, readers ask if I dream the plots of my books. To a point, yes. But surely not in the way they think—like a movie with an all access pass. I tend to dream on higher ground, if that makes sense. It means I have to search for the connection between the work in progress and the dream. It’s there. It’s just not always obvious.
Questions and Answers About Virtual Book Tours
There’s nothing like a whirlwind book tour! You know the drill: your pub date is set, your book hits store shelves, and your publicist spends hours tweaking your book tour itinerary. No doubt you’ll be crisscrossing the country, checking into 5-star hotels, where naturally a personal assistant will make certain signings and readings run smoothly, not to mention dinner with the Hollywood mogul—the one dying to buy the movie rights. Yes, your book tour will be demanding. But you’re a pro; you’ll power through. In fact, you’ll barely make mention of it when darting for that poorly planned redeye, flying from L. A. to New York. On second thought, maybe someone’s head should roll. What will your fan base think if you stride puffy-eyed onto the set of Regis and Kathie Lee?
What’s Your Social Media I.Q?
Lesson learned, book promotion stops for no holiday. And launch week doesn’t slow down, even if you have a horrid cold. That was me—doing a groggy stumble and sneeze through a week where I would have traded my Amazon rank for one more hit of Nyquil. On the up side, Ruby Ink’s launch is a marathon, not a sprint.
My biggest accomplishment this week was to create an Instagram account. Next week I’m determined to learn how to use it. All authors, I think, have a true love/hate relationship with social media. For the punch it can pack—if properly applied—we authors sure do go into it kicking and screaming. I’m no different.
Ruby Ink, We Are Go for Launch
“There are a thousand steps…” It’s my favorite line from my favorite movie. It’s a malleable multipurpose phrase, great for teenagers prepping for SATs and works well with husbands asked to purge garages filled with 15 years of junk. Excuse me, valuable odds and ends, for which a purpose may be imminent.
The thousand step theory also applies to book writing and publishing—two very different undertakings. Although the thousand steps of book writing can feel more like a game of Chutes and Ladders. Climb to step 598 and you may slide back to step 212. Of course, step 212 looks remarkably similar to step 887, which mirrors step 413. Translation: revision, revision, revision. You get to claim 1000 when you send your manuscript off to your agent or editor, and if you’re lucky the counter only resets to step 712.
The Permanence of Ink
In 2015, body art is as common as cell phones and social media. In fact, you have to be north of 30 to recall a time when two of those staples didn’t exist. Tattoos, on the other hand, have been around, seemingly, forever. A recent Bored Panda post, and the prominence of tattoos in Ruby Ink, got me thinking about the vast history of the topic. From Henna-dyed Egyptians to Julius Caesar, Somoan warriors to 18th century British officers, tattoos are a well-documented form of expression.
One of the earliest known “tattooed ladies” of the circus, circa 1907
Is a Pen Name a Good Thing?
A blend of folklore and fact explains how Samuel Clemmons became Mark Twain, another byproduct of the famed author’s time as a riverboat employee. The most validated tale revolves around captain Isaiah Sellers and his pragmatic descriptions of the Mississippi River—its water levels and favorable, or not, sailing conditions. In the margin of his logs, it’s said that Sellers embellished the dry waterway notes, detailing the river with more interesting and less perfunctory information. He’d sign his all his findings—exaggerated and unadorned—“Mark Twain.” And so was born the identity that Samuel Clemmons chose for his own writing. The words he saw as extensions of the truth, or the fiction we know as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Oh, the Drama!
Writers—romance writers in particular—require drama. I mean, if it weren’t for conflict, books would be rather boring things. In real life it’s not so black and white, as no one likes endless jags of drama, fits of jealousy or continuous battle rounds—unless it’s The Voice. Still, whether drama is found in your living room or a novel, occasional emotional anarchy is unavoidable.
Fact or Fiction, Is There a Place for Extramarital Sex?
Aside from the motel out on Route 9, I’m wondering if there is a suitable place for an affair. Most people would agree that affairs are a serious subject, whether you’re talking about the neighbors, an article in the New York Times or an author’s next book. Extracurricular sex is an emotion-filled event regardless of which side of the bed you fall—betrayer or the betrayed.