You're beautiful

Yesterday I saw a picture taken of myself and was grossed out.  I got really depressed about it.  I shared the pic with my best friend who looked at it and said, "You're beautiful."

I rolled my eyes.  She wasn't lying to me.  I could see the image.  Fat, obese…society has lots of words for it and I was all of them.  She repeated, “You’re beautiful.”

Of course, I looked at her like she’d gone batshit crazy.  “Look!  My arms!  My thighs! My arm is as big as my head!  It’s gross!”

She shook her head.  “You’re beautiful.  You’re a good mom.  A good friend.  You help others everyday and sometimes that means your last priority is you.  If you’re more concerned with the difference you make in the world, in the people you love, than how you look, how can you not see what I do?  You’re beautiful.”

I might have paraphrased her but almost exactly that.  I stewed on her words.  Yeah, she has a point.  One I thought I should share because I’m not the only one who forgets it.  The world might think my size isn’t quite right.  Probably, some of you have been trained to look at yourself in the mirror and gauge your self worth based on the image reflected back at you.  You probably get as disgusted as I do with that image you see sometimes.

But if you’re like me and you spend your days worrying about everyone else and don’t get around to worrying about your hair, your size, your nails, your dead sexiness…Is there anyone on the face of this planet that can hold a candle to your beauty?

You’re beautiful.  I’m proud to know you.  I should tell you that more often.

Six Sentence Sunday--The Tourist Trap

Here's a sneak peek of one of my coming soon books, The Tourist Trap.  A romantic comedy coming soon, this one is more a comedy scene than a sexy one.

Blurb:

She chose money over love.

Moving to New York years ago, Phoebe Winters knew the only way to make it to the top was to buckle down and work harder than she ever had before.  Ten years later and she is a bestselling romance author who steams up the glasses of women—and some men—worldwide.  But for what? The man she loved asked that she tour all of the must-see sights the city had to offer and she refused, choosing to work instead.  He’s gone, lost in the past.  A letter to the 1Night Stand service asking for a romance hero in real life begs the question…can a real man be as good as the ones she writes?

He is drowning in family.

Nathanial Parnell is a good Italian boy.  He loves his family and would do anything for them but he is ready to start a family of his own.  Finding the right woman?  Since none meet the high standards he wants, he contacts Madame Eve for a set-up.  When his mother demands a trip to New York City to see the sights, he agrees to show her the time of her life.  But one city slick woman seems determined to ruin their day out, making him risk running late to meet the woman of his dreams…even if fighting Phoebe makes him feel more alive than he has in years.

What could be more romantic?

From SoHo to the Statue of Liberty, Phoebe and Nathanial both seek their planned day and neither find it. Phoebe is on a trip to recapture the past, Nathanial on a journey to please others.  Will Phoebe pass up another chance at love?  Or will they both fall into a Tourist Trap?

The Six

“I know, Mom.  But look, she’s okay.”  The man towering over her looked like a cover model from one of her books.  Golden hair hung in a shining cap around a face as wholesome as apple pie.

“I’m not okay,” she advised him.  “You hit me with a car.”

New Release!! Odd Stuff Available Now!

My first book ever published.

 

My first paranormal series project.

 

My first time that any one really believed my writing might have value other than amusing me...

 

Odd Stuff was a lot of things to me when I wrote it and still holds a special place in my heart because of all of that.  I'm glad to say it's been rereleased and is now available for you all to enjoy.  For readers who fell in love with these characters so long ago, thanks for believing in me.  For those who haven't read it yet...

Well, what are you waiting for?  Go grab your copy today!

 

Blurb:

Janie Smith tumbles through the paranormal world making mistakes and not keeping her sharp tongue in check. Pretending to be normal is what she has spent her whole life perfecting. But when her best friend, a witch named Mia, gets tangled in a murder investigation, Janie tries to stick to her guns and solve it without any “extra” help, be it supernatural or sexual. The hitch is that Mia is suspected to have murdered a vampire...and how do you prove you haven't killed someone who has no pulse?

What are the reviewers saying?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and would love to read more about Janie and her friends. Bitten By Books

 

Odd Stuff is hilarious. This story is fast paced, laugh out loud entertainment. Night Owl Reviews (top pick)

All in all, a don't-put-it down read that will have you smiling and giggling for Janie's inner thoughts are priceless. A must read for anyone who is a fan of the paranormal. Happily Ever After Reviews

HEA Best books of 2010

 

The humor alone is worth buying this book. I laughed so hard in places that I had tears running down my face. Coffee Time Romance

Virginia Nelson's story is an absolute delight. I highly recommend it to readers who revel in stories filled with magic, secrets and fascinating characters imbued with powers that can only be imagined. The Romance Studio

 

Find it here:

http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=352&products_id=1208

Don't trust Pinterest...No Heat Curls/Bantu curls

Okay, apparently I did this wrong.  In my defense, Pinterest didn't TELL me to put all the swirls in one direction.

The picture (of the girl with the perfect curls that bounced merrily around her head in graceful waving wonder) just told me to spin my hair around, twirling it into coils.  Then I was supposed to use two bobby pins, criss crossing them (I like that the bobby pin directions were so specific whereas the twirling directions were NOT) and then sleep on that wet twirled hair and maaaagically my hair would look like hers.

My hair looked like hers when it was all twirled.  I was like...SUCCESS!  I'm gonna have some badass curl action going on in the morning. YEAH, who's a sexy author?  This kid!

The reality was...the tutorial SHOULD have been more specific insofar as the swirls all needed to go the same direction.  Mine didn't.  So mine looked less gracefully perfect than hers.  Mine looked like THIS...Before and aaaafter. 

I can only think that the Pinterest lady knew this was going to happen to my head.  Somewhere, she is slapping her knee and super happy about my lack of knowledge when it comes to hair swirling.  Actually...it looks somewhat like it should AFTER a swirly.  If you don't know what a swirly is, kids, well, you weren't a nerd in school and good for you.  Go make Pinterest tutorials for people, you winner you.

In any case, tomorrow I shall try the sock bun curling method.  Pictures to follow. 

This may be a new regular thing on my blog...when Pinterest suggestions go horribly wrong.

Meh, until tomorrow...I'm going to try to tame my suddenly ginormous hair.
Happy Writing!!

Blurb Writing 101

I realized I haven't really done a post on blurbs in my writing tips and tricks blogs and I should have.  Really, I should have.

Vague it up much?

There is such a thing as a really good blurb.  Conversely, there are also really bad ones.  Often, when writers try to be mysterious or intriguing, tempting readers to read more...what you're really doing is being so damn vague, readers don't care.

Example 1

Darcy danced her way into fame during her stint on Broadway.  Breaking hearts and taking names, she couldn't love like she once had.

Until they came...

Did it follow the rules?

Why does that suck, Virg?

Who the hell are they?  What do they have to do with her ability to love?  What does any of that have to do with Broadway?  Why do I care? Your reader should never be left wondering why they should care.

Since you gave us none of the information needed, it sucks.  Few readers are going to be interested in such a vague blurb.

Example 2

Monsters are here.  They're among us.  Only Darcy can defeat them...but will she do it before it's too late?

Did it follow the rules?

Again, suckgasm. 

What kind of monsters?  Among who?  What the hell makes Darcy so special?  When you're writing the blurb, you should have a pretty clearcut idea who your audience is, what your genre is, what your major conflict is and you should squash all that together to intrigue the reader. Basically, your blurb should answer the 5W's and the one H.

Huh?

Who, what, when, where, why, how.  Add a hook to it, and you're done.

Again, the writer might think they're being intriguing in my examples.  They're wrong.  Too many unanswered questions isn't intriguing, it's confusing.  People who are confused aren't happy.  People who aren't happy don't like to give you money.  Just bein' honest here.

Now, let's look at one of my blurbs (since I don't really have permission to share other people's blurbs as examples.)

Sample Blurb 1 (From Dom of the Dead, coming soon from Decadent Pub)

She couldn’t imagine living without him.

When Carson Black’s longtime crush and best friend dies in a bike accident, she openly weeps at his funeral. Never expressing her feelings for him, she thinks she might be going mad from grief when his voice, his scent, his desires…seem to fill her apartment.

He was afraid to demand what he needed.

Randall Stokes loves Carson but didn’t express it while he was alive. A dominant, he didn’t dare dream that the sweet girl next door would do the things that he needed to find satisfaction. When tragedy strikes, he not only has nothing to lose but a suddenly clear view into what she needs, wants, desires. Is it too late to take what they’ve both longed for?

A ghost of a chance…

Love lingers, though his body is gone. Can Carson and Randall find love in the Dom of the Dead?

 

Did it follow the rules?

 

Do we know, based on that blurb, who?  Yup, Carson and Randall.  Where?  Okay, vague there. Why?  Because he died.  What?  Something about Bdsm and love. When?  Contemporary--the motorcycle.  How?  Apparently he's haunting her.

 

Although I answered all these questions, I've left dangling ones.  Is it too late to fall in love with a dead man's ghost?  Well, you'll have to read it to find out.  But I didn't leave so many questions unanswered that readers are sitting there asking themselves what my book is even about.

 

Sample Blurb 2 (From Proper Care and Feeding of a Sex God, coming in March 2013 from Champagne Books)

 

Being a sex god isn't easy...

Yes has been a sex god for centuries. No one wrote stories or songs about him but they sure do remember to call out his name at the peak of pleasure. Satisfying the world by fulfilling their carnal needs, he is no stranger to Aphrodite's Island. When his sister, troublemaker that she is, calls him home for what she deems a 'special' job, he shudders to think what she could want.

Being frigid is worse...

Katie can't get off. She's determined it's physically impossible. She's tried everything--toys, men, women, flogging. It's just not happening. Finding an ad for a tropical island promising 'ultimate fantasy experiences' she figures it's worth a shot. It's not going to work, but it's worth a shot.

Passion beyond her wildest dreams...

Who knew the one man who can trip her trigger would refuse to touch her? The more he backs off, the more he tempts her. Katie is fascinated by the man Miss A has sharing her hotel room but, although he seems attracted, he won't do the deed.

Can Katie figure out The Proper Care and Feeding of a Sex God?

 

Did it follow the rules?

 

Who?  Yes and Katie.  What? A fantasy vacation with a sex god. Where? Aphrodite's Island. When? Contemporary. (Ad, toys, slang) Why? Because she can't get off and he is a sex god. How? Because Aphrodite set them up.

 

Again, it answers the questions yet still has a hook.

 

So, basically try to answer these questions to avoid being vague.  You'll still intrigue readers while not leaving them so confused they don't bother.

 

Just my advice. 

Happy Writing!!

 

 

 

The Next Big Thing--Guest post from Jinni James

I'm super excited to be taking part in the Next Big Thing bloghop.  Today, my guest post is from Jinni James!! Welcome, Jinni!

 

What is the (working title) of your book?
The Wolfs Maine

Where did the idea come from for the book?
The idea came from a mixture of personal experience and a love for paranormal romance.

What genre does your book fall under?
Paranormal Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
For John I would say Channing Tatum because YUM. And for Avalon I would say Lynn Collins from Wolverine and John Carter.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A lonely and desperate woman ventures out to experience something new but ends up not only finding her soul mate but herself as well.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It is self published

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It took about 7 months which I thought was quick until I met a bunch of fellow authors who can knock a story out within weeks. lol

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I'm not sure. I haven't read a book similar to this one just yet. But I'm sure it's only because I haven't found it yet.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?
My divorce. lol. During my marriage I had day dreamed about the situation in the book. Once I became brave enough to get the divorce I actually sat down and worked on this story.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

It has romance, shape shifters, vampires, some mystery, action, and sex I hope that piques some interest.

Blurb:

 

Avalon felt like her life was set on repeat.  Every new day was just like the one before until Avalon's friends talk her into venturing out and leaving her dead end marriage behind. Little did she know that she would meet her soul mate face to face and that he would ignite a desire in her that she never knew existed. 

 

John had been watching over Avalon ever since her parents died when she was three but she had no clue. She had only been talking to him online for two years.  She slowly learns that there is a whole world and a whole story she had not known about involving every one she knows and cares for.  Her husband, Nicholas, is not the man she thought him to be, if he is a man at all and John seems to be more than he lets on as well.  Avalon soon discovers the hidden truths but can she handle it? With Nicholas seeking vengeance can John and her friends help her?
Check out Jinni's post here.
Grab your copy of The Wolfs Maine here.

You're all so angry...Gaaaah!!

I noticed it started around the election. 

Not blaming the election or anything but that really seems to have amped up the internet angry-meter.

Democrats attacked republicans.  Both sides advised us that if their candidate didn't win, the end of the world was nigh.  Brothers attacked sisters.  Mothers told off their daughters.  Husbands and wives set up trenches in their livingrooms and there was even mention of the zombie apocalypse.
(Bravo, Joss.)


But it didn't stop when the election was over. The ads stopped, which--don't get me wrong--was nice but the hate campaigns took new roads.

Now people are attacking each other's religions regularly.  Christians--the most loving and forgiving lot before the hate campaigns started--are damning folks right and left.  I even saw a post about Santa being a road to hell...apparently, Jesus cakes should be baked instead.  I mean, it's his birthday and all that...even if it's not actually his birthday, just the day we celebrate it...

Meh, I digress.

Now you're attacking fat kids.  Cats.  Unicorns and sequins.  Attacks are coming out of nowhere.









Really, I've never, in all my years hanging my hat in the internet, seen this much hating going on.

No, guys, tell us how you REALLY feel.

So, this is my intervention.  Knock that shit off.  We're all grown ups here.  That means we're setting an example for the kids.  If you're going batshit crazy in a facebook rant about why pasta salad is going to destroy the global economy and give rise to the squirrel apocalypse, you're kids can see this shit.  If they can't read now, they'll figure it out and the internet is forever.

I know, I know. We tell our kids that to keep them from posting pictures of their boobiebuds on the net but it's true for us, too.  If you post it, it's going to stay up FOREVER...

And do you really feel better after posting this stuff, anyway?  Since it's next to impossible to change someone else's mind, if it's made up, what purpose does this venting serve other than that...
VENTING.

If you really must vent, call a friend.  Get that angry out in a safe way.  You don't want people to respond to these posts--if they disagree, you're only going to get angrier.  So why post them?

I liked it much better when everyone was addicted to LOLZ cats, personally.  Less angry attacking more laughing at silly things felines did.

What ever happened to loving each other.  Gah...it's the season for giving, light, hope and love.

Quit hurting each other. 

*steps off soapbox and goes for coffee*