Read previous news entries   12/19/2009 Happy Holidays! All best wishes for the Holiday Season and a Happy, healthy New Year!   1/20/2009 Cheers! Happy Inauguration Day! An historic moment for sure, regardless of party affiliation. Now the real work begins! After all that, it’s hard to shift my thoughts to anything else, but there are a couple of things on my mind. One is that my next book will be released in April, and the good news is...Amazon and other book stores are already taking advance orders. THE MISTAKE SHE MADE is a story about Lincoln Crusoe, wrongly identified as a woman’s attacker and incarcerated for ten years, and Tori Amhearst, the woman who made the horrible mistake. Now Linc has nothing, not even his memory. Tori knows she has to make it right, but she never expected to fall in love with him. Nothing, not even he truth can set her free. Instead, it’ll destroy everything. The second is that BOOTCAMP for Novelists Online has just been launched. I’ve taught several writing classes with fellow author and friend, Connie Flynn, who also teaches novel writing at Phoenix College. In doing so, we discovered we have a similar philosophy on writing in that it’s a creative process that needs to be shaped and nurtured. We believe anyone can learn to write a novel if given the proper tools. That’s why, after teaching a few classes together, Connie and I decided we could share what we know about novel writing in the easiest way for anyone to learn–step by step. BOOTCAMP for Novelists Online is a step by step program that will take you from the beginning of your novel to the end. Check it out at bootcampfornovelists.com Wtiting Tip: To deepen character and emotion, incorporate thoughts and beliefs when showing action.   12/21/2008 Linda's Popcorn Blog There are few movies I can watch without a giant bag of hot buttered popcorn. "Australia", with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, is one of them. A classic Hollywood epic of the African Queen variety, set against the backdrop of WWII, 1939-1942, the movie starts almost as a bad romance novel. But it quickly redeems itself. The scene where Hugh removes his shirt comes to mind. It's a largescale, classic romantic adventure movie. With amazing cinematography, a great cast, interesting characters (though some are a bit clichéd), fascinating historical content, a substantial subplot with social significance, humor, romance and heartwrenching emotion, the movie works in so many ways. If you’re a romantic soul like me, bring plenty of tissues. On my popcorn meter, the movie almost hits supersize. Writer's Tip -- watch the movie a second time if you want to study classic romance novel structure. Comments: Linda, my mouth is watering already, and not just for the popcorn. Posted  by Susan Vaughan on 12/21/2008 Linda, I love your popcorn meter. Okay, Australia is a definite TBW movie. I love romantic adventures! Posted  by Sheila Seabrook on 12/21/2008 Linda, love your writer's tip, especially since I've seen Australia and can't recommend it enough. The romance and the adventure are simply grand. I have to watch it again. For my writing only, of course, not because of Hugh Jackman :-) Posted  by Ginny  on 12/21/2008 Hi Linda, I agree 100%. I loved it, although there were points that I thought it was trying to be too much. But really, after the Hugh Jackman washing his chest scene, I didn't care what happened as long as he was in it. :-) Posted  by Erin Quinn aka Erin Grady on 1/10/2009   12/16/2008 "Tis the Season" Season’s Greetings! I’ve been MIA for a while now, but not without good reason. I’ve just completed two books for Harlequin Superromance, both to be released in 2009. “The Mistake She Made” will be released in April and “The Promise He Made” hits bookstore shelves in August. Both books take place in the small, fictional town of Spirit Creek, Arizona, located in the awesome red rock country near Sedona. I fell in love with Sedona and its surrounds the first time I visited some twenty plus years ago when my family moved to Phoenix. I’m still enchanted, and doing research for the Spirit Creek books has been some of the most pleasurable I've done, especially the time spent at Alcantara Cellars nestled at the confluence of the Verde River and Sedona’s Oak Creek. Two thumbs up on their superb Grand Rouge, a full bodied red. What else is new? Be sure to watch for a quick Writer's Tip in each of my upcoming blogs, (which I hope to be doing more frequently in the new year)and also watch for a new contest in January to kickoff my upcoming releases. And if you’re looking for a great read right now, pick up my friend Ann Voss Peterson’s new Intrigue, “Christmas Awakening, and friend Susan Vaughan’s new release "Primal Obsession", both on sale right now. Writer’s tip: Emotions come from what we know and believe about ourselves. What do your characters believe about themselves? Good and bad. Comments: Hey Linda, thanks for mentioning PRIMAL OBSESSION. And I love the writing tip at the end. Something we all need to keep in mind for our WIPs. Posted  by Susan Vaughan on 12/17/2008 Hi Linda, looking forward to both of your new books. Sedona is beautiful. All the green and red. Wow! I've read Christmas Awakening and highly recommend it. I know Primal Obsession will be equally as good. Great writer's tip. Thanks! Posted  by Ginny  on 12/17/2008 Thanks for mentioning the book, Linda! I'm looking forward to reading your Spirit Creek series! I'm working out what the hero and heroine in my WIP believe about themselves right now, so your question is well-timed. Happy writing and happy holidays. Posted  by Ann Voss Peterson on 12/17/2008   5/13/2008 Happy Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day! Okay, I'm a little late on that, but I wanted to say it anyway. I've been busy writing new proposals, and I'm happy to say that I've contracted for two new Superromance novels. First up is THE WRONG MAN, a story about a man who spent ten years in prison for a crime he didn't commit and the woman who wrongly identified him as her assailant. The next book is RETURN TO SPIRIT CREEK, a reunion story between highschool sweethearts whose lives took drastically different directions due to a bad decision that ended in tragedy for many. Both books are set in my home state of Arizona in a fictional mountain town called Spirit Creek near Sedona. Doing research in the Sedona area is not a bad gig either. Watch here for more information on both books. Ciao for now, Linda   12/7/2007 GOING FOR BROKE Just in -- GOING FOR BROKE is on bookshelves now!! There must be a new schedule because the Superromances usually come out mid-month. But this is great. Remember, books make great stocking stuffers. :-) I'm also blogging today on www.muchcheaperthantherapy.blogspot.com and invite you all to stop by. I'm answering questions on the series or any other writing questions you'd like to ask. I'll be announcing the November contest winner later today. And remember, the first person to send me an email with a photo of my book on the shelf at a bookstore wins the first two books in the Hold 'Em series. Hope everyone is having a great holiday season so far. Linda   11/5/2007 Question of the Day Earlier, I mentioned that I'd talk about writing, so today I decided to start with a question from an another writer. How do I find my writer's voice? GOING FOR BROKE is the title of my next book, but the phrase represents so much more. It’s a willingness to put yourself out there…a willingness to forge ahead, take a chance…risk it all. It’s something many of us fail to do when writing. And that failure is one of the reasons a writer's voice doesn't resonate with the reader. So, what is a writer’s voice? It’s your personality on paper. It’s who you are, your world view, how you think and respond and interact with others. Who you are is derived from a combination of your early environment and events in your life. And every single one of us, no matter how much we’re the same, have a unique set of life experiences that make us who we are. I am the star in the story of my life. You are the star in yours. Okay, it’s a given--we are unique individuals. And yet, so many writers sound alike. What’s up with that? I believe a part of the problem is that many writers are so intent on making their manuscripts perfect, they remove all personality. Another reason is fear. Not fear to put words on paper, but fear to put yourself out there. It has to do with our inability to let our true selves be seen. As writers, the more willing we are to risk what’s deep inside—the more willing we are to expose ourselves— (and I'm not talking about specific details about our families and friends lives) and be who we truly are on paper, the more our voice will emerge. Voice is about authenticity. Authenticity is writing with authority. Being true to who you are. This is the reason editors always tell beginning writers to “write what you know.” Does that mean because I’m a cop, I need to write a cop story? No, what it means is that if you write what you know, you’ll be writing from your heart. It means your story will have more authenticity if you have feelings (an emotional connection) about what you’re writing than if you don’t. I’m also not talking about beating the reader over the head with your particular cause or piling on information about a subject because you know it. Both of those will bore the reader to death. If you write about what you know, and if you allow yourself to be who you are, your voice will appear naturally. Your voice is in the type of stories you choose to write, the tone, the subject matter, the characters you choose, themes that emerge and the words you put on paper. When I write, it’s not about my life, but my voice is there. That voice will tap into my world view, my values and beliefs, it will encompass the depth and breadth of my experiences and emotions, my education or lack thereof in some areas, my feelings about …well just about everything. It’s not me in my books…and yet it is. It has to be. I bring to the table what I know, believe and feel and what I understand or don’t understand. The old adage, no tears from the writer, no tears from the reader, is right on when it comes to voice. If you don’t feel what you’re writing about, it will show. Go for Broke and let your voice be heard. Linda P.S. Lots of authors write about what they don't know and they write with authority. That's because they research. You don't have to have direct experience to write with authority. But you do have to do the research. P.P.S. Mini Movie Review -- Michael Clayton -- Excellent! The Kingdom -- Excellent! Oscar nods all over the place.   10/25/2007 GOING FOR BROKE -- a new contest! Beginning Nov 1st, I'm holding a brand new contest. Two winners per month will win a Texas Hold 'em related prize--something you might find in my new book, GOING FOR BROKE, which hits bookshelves in December. A Texas Hold 'em T-shirt, Hold 'em playing cards, poker chips and more. And the first person who sends me a photo of GOING FOR BROKE on bookstore shelves will also win the first two books in the series. Last month Harlequin asked the authors in the series to talk about our books...as our heroes. Now, Jake and the other guys in the "Wild Bunch" weren't so sure they wanted to do that...because chatting online isn't exactly a guy thing. But...with a little convincing, our heroes stepped up to the plate and what a fun time it was. If you want to check out the dialogue between Blake, Cole, Jake (my guy) Brady and Luke, just click on the Harlequin archives at http://community.eharlequin.com/webx?14@@.4a84b231/0 Happy trails to you!   9/10/2007 Going For Broke Read more about my upcoming Harlequin Superromance Going for Broke here. Comments: Wow, Linda! Two fabulous covers in a row! Love them! And I found THE MAN FROM TEXAS at the bookstore yesterday, so I'm all set to enjoy! Posted  by Ann Voss Peterson on 9/14/2007   9/8/2007 Cowboy Up!! Welcome to the new "What's New" page. So, what's new? THE MAN FROM TEXAS, my September release, is in bookstores now! That's a whole week earlier than the release date I thought it would be. I started a new contest in August where you can win a full three-book set of my COLD CASES: L.A. series. Check it out on my contest page. Congratulations to the August winner Joy Isley! I've left my favorite cold case detectives behind in favor of a couple of cowboys...Jack Parker, THE MAN FROM TEXAS, (Sept) and Jake Chandler in GOING FOR BROKE, (Dec). It's been great fun since part of my research involved revisiting some of my favorite western movies. Shane, The Magnificent Seven, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (how about them cowboys), Tombstone, and High Noon, to mention only a few. Happily, I've noticed the new fall movie season is western heavy with 3:10 to Yuma (a remake of an old Glenn Ford classic), another Jesse James movie with Brad Pitt, and the Cohen brothers addition, No Country for Old Men. Not exactly a renaissance for the oldest movie genre around, but it's a good showing. My favorite western title is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Maybe because it reminds me of my first attempt at writing. :-} First on my list of new westerns to see is "3:10 to Yuma" with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale and you'll likely see a review here afterward. Watch for more news on my December release, GOING FOR BROKE . It's the third book in the new Texas Hold 'em continuity series set in River Bluff, Texas. The first book in the series, THE BABY GAMBLE by Tara Taylor Quinn, is an October release, and the second is COUNTING ON SANTA by Debra Salonen in November. Each story stands alone, but you'll find all five hunky cowboys in all the books--each with his own intriguing story to reveal. Check out the cover and other information on GOING FOR BROKE on my books page. The last new thing is that I'm now able to make my own entries on this page, which makes it kinda, sorta like a blog, but I'm not saying it is. :-} What it means, though, is that I'll be here more often to let you know what's new...and I may even chat about some of my favorite things...like writing, and movies, and writing, and music, and writing, and food, and well...whatever comes up. My passions are many. :-) The new format also allows responses for you to chat with me if you wish. So, come back soon and see "What's New!" Cheers, --Linda Comments: Just thought I'd drop you a note and let you know that your What's New page is great. I'm my way out the door to buy THE MAN FROM TEXAS. I love all the westerns you mentioned and am looking forward to the Christian Bale/Russell Crowe movie. Ginny Posted  by Ginny  on 9/8/2007 Linda, You named some of my favorite old movies and actors. I can't wait to read your "cowboy" books. Posted  by Susan Vaughan on 9/9/2007 I love THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY! I think my favorite old western is ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. Henry Fonda as a bad guy. Too cool. And the music is so vast and haunting. I can't wait to read THE MAN FROM TEXAS! Posted  by Ann Voss Peterson on 9/9/2007 Linda, I love your latest cover for THE MAN FROM TEXAS! Can't wait to read the book! Posted  by Sheila Seabrook on 9/9/2007 Sounds like some tough research, Linda. :-) I loved Tombstone (Sam Elliott!) and the 3:10 movie looks terrific. (Trailer is at imdb.com). Best of luck with your September release. I'll be looking for it! Posted  by Jennifer Ashley on 9/9/2007 Hi Linda, Can't wait to meet your Cowboys! Posted  by amy  on 9/11/2007 I LOVED The Man From Texas, Jack & Taylor's story immediately "roped" me in, and was as thrilling as a Bronc ride at a rodeo with all the Twists and Turns, I was capitvated till the end. So fun to read, I didn't want the book to end! What an imagination, characters are so real- do movies help you spark that? What are your favorite mystery movies or books? Trying to put the puzzle pieces together was my favorite part of this romance with mystery. Posted  by Theresa Sheridan on 9/20/2007