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by Adelle Laudan

Winner of Freya's Bower's Anniversary Submissions Call

Lizzy would give it all back just to hear her mother's voice one more time... the house, the furniture...even the money. Regardless, her heartless stepfather is determined to take what he feels is rightfully his. Handyman, Adam Woodward rides into Lizzy's life and vows to keep her safe, but is it enough to stop the cold, callous determination of Ben Stokes?

A Trouble Novel

Rating: Sweet

Book Length: Novel

Genre: Biker Fiction/Contemporary Romance

Diva Essay Contest

When I first started writing, I received the suggestion that I should look up some online writing groups, get my feet wet, learn a little. So I did. Romance Divas was among the first sites that came up when I googled. Want to know what I did?

I ran.

Yep, yelping in the other direction. I saw some well known names on this well designed, well put together website and freaked. I am a nobody, I won't fit in there. Well, about a year later, someone else recommended them from another group I had been with online. I recognized the site immediately. As well as Judi McCoy's name. Want to know what I did?

I ran.

Seeing a pattern here, huh? Eventually I did get over my OMG I WILL NEVER FIT IN HERE issues and signed up. Psychologically I know I didn't join then because I was scared, but because I wasn't ready for that next step. The serious kind taken when you are ready for the next stage of a plan, in my case, a writing career. But it didn't stop me from wanting to kick myself in my own arse for missing well over a year of valuable learning experiences that I would have received if I'd been two shakes smarter than a dead stick.
Well that dead stick has now become firewood fodder and I'm published. Not because of the Divas, but because I had found another outlet for my writing from them. It is because of Divas I learned of E-publishing. Some may snicker, or laugh with scorn because if it's e-pubbed, then it's *obviously* not good enough for NY. I say ptttt to that. It's two different markets. RD taught me what both are. Some say the writing is poorer quality. I've found several authors through this new Market that I specifically buy because they tell a good story, not because they line the B&N shelves. RD is the balance that showed me both, and the best way to use either market to my advantage.

Romance Divas has always been on the cutting edge of the important information in the publishing industry. They are a resource that no serious writer should ever be without. Whether you are starting out and need that push, or have something that can be paid forward, I've never found a more open, sharing, supportive place anywhere, live or cyber.

I've met so many other writers with the same struggles, the same drive, the same rejections, that it makes the single self-employed picture of a stay at home mom less lonely. I've met so many people in the last two years that I can't possibly name them all, but if you want to meet them, then hang a left in Florida, or cruise through California, or any state in between, because there's a Diva in just about every town in this country and across the world.

Being a Diva is more than just writing. It's believing. And I know I'm a Diva.

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http://www.DianaCastilleja.com
Romance that thrives in dark places

http://www.sweeterromanticnotions.com

Commiseration

I recently read Christine Feehan's DARK POSSESSION. Yes, I spent the hard earned money to get it in hardcover. It's no secret that I'm a squeeing fan girl of Ms. Feehan's, and even after this book, shall remain so. I mean, I also read SAFE HARBOR and was absolutely pleased with it. The woman is talented, and we all flub up, due to pressures from the publisher or life or our own muses deserting us. It happens.

Dear Author.com made an interesting review, that I swear could have been about this book, even though it was about J.R. Ward's latest installment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, another series that I have enjoyed, but haven't been able to get into as deep as time hasn't allowed. I can't comment on the BDB book because of this.

However, her review said so many things that I could use for Feehan's installment of the Carpathians. Mind you, I am still a fan, only slightly more disappointed, and I doubt I'll be dropping hard core bucks for another hardcover anytime soon.

The world building in itself felt shallow, changing the interactive dynamics so deep in midstream was bothersome. There was an introduction of another paranormal creature element that had had no buildup to this point, no discovery to help smooth the sudden, OMG feeling. There wasn't even that much in this book to help do this.

The second thing that really caught my attention was with MaryAnn, the heroine. All through her history as it is told in the story, which is actually started in DARK DESTINY at her introduction, she abhors violence, understands her own strengths, and knows how to make herself be, well, herself. When she meets Manolito, she fights his allure, but still succumbs to his domination, in more than one way, fairly easily. She becomes submissive to him physically, which doesn't really jive with her strength of self in her character. She doesn't like the feeling of domination, or the lack of control, but yet still does it. Yes, I know some people go against their nature and it's a turning point for their character, but her internal struggle with accepting this was left very vague through the story.

Which was one other problem I felt was out of proportion. The depth of the book, giving the characters their "color" and shape. Whether the book was written on deadline, or by preference I can't say, but it left me feeling very unsatisfied. There wasn't the internal struggles for them to overcome at the level that most of her books have had. It seemed to be missing a layer that is more recognizable in her wriitng.

I know this book is for sale right now, just about everywhere, so feel free to find a copy. Me, I'll still be waiting for the for the next release to be had, but I'll wait for the paperback.


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http://www.DianaCastilleja.com
Romance that thrives in dark places

http://www.sweeterromanticnotions.com

September 22nd through the 29th is National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week. Pulmonary Fibrosis is a debilitating disease marked by progressive scarring of the lungs that gradually interferes with a person's ability to breathe. There is no cure, and currently there is NO FDA approved treatment. The disease is fatal, within 5 to 7 years of diagnosis. Approximately 128,000 people in the United States have IPF, and an estimated 48,000 new cases develop each year. You can learn more about PF at The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis' website.

The Coalition for PF takes donations via check, credit card, even PayPal. You can donate by clicking the link below:

Book signing update

Sorry it's taken a while, but I'm here now and this is what happened.

Overall, the signing was well done, the staff were uber helpful, and the experience of hanging out with other writers rocked. The turnout sucked. I put almost a hundred dollars of my personal funds into this signing in promotion. My mother showed up.

Yep, doll that is. We had about a half dozen folks that appeared, some with ARWA and showing out of pity or confused interest, I'm not sure.

Two tips of advice DO NOT schedule when there is a major sporting event on the same day. I wasn't even aware of the football schedule when I planned the signing at Borders, but in Austin we breathe UT Football. If you have the money, you bleed orange as well.

Second. Try to schedule around another store's opening if at all possible. The Borders we held the signing at is in a new mall complex and Super Target is scheduled to open in October. If I had known that, we could have increased out potiential foot traffic by coinciding with that.

Oh, and have someone standing at the door to point people to the rear of the store where they are likely going to stick you. No one knows you're there. Hand them flyers, smile, thank them for coming and then shove them toward the rear (that's only mild humor).

The store *will* keep the ordered books to sell, but I know shelf space is prime and they will just as likely return them or set them on some obscure schlub space for the average joe to ignore, so they can validate returning them for "nonsales"  I really hope it doesn't happen.

If you live in Austin, check out the South Park Meadows Borders and ask for the books from the romance writers who were there for the signing last weekend.

As for what I'm planning on doing now... Probably not another signing, not until I have real print books. Teaser CD's at signings bomb, and since I didn't have a book, I couldn't pay anyone to take my card, much less a goody bag of info, bookmarks and candy. But that's okay. We have an annual City Birthday party next month. I'm just going to take a boxful and hand out stuff. It's doing me no good sitting in my office.

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http://www.DianaCastilleja.com
Romance that thrives in dark places

http://www.sweeterromanticnotions.com