Discovering New Authors

I confess: reading time has been limited for me lately. So when I do get a chance to indulge, I often find myself reaching for something by one of my "must buy" authors. Jill Shalvis, Julie James, and Lori Wilde, to name a few. But I also love to discover new authors, and I want to make it a priority in 2014, especially since I will also be joining the ranks as a debut author this year.

Here were a few of my new discoveries in 2013:

Debut Author: Shannon Richard

Yes, my fellow Ever After Shannon! I just loved this book. Shannon's voice is so fresh and fun! I can't wait to return to Mirabelle, Florida, for the rest of the series.

New-To-Me Author: Roxanne St. Claire

Wow, how have I not read Roxanne St. Claire before? This book was sexy and fun and full of emotional punch. If only I had time to sit down and devour the whole series right now!

New Genre: Historical Romance

Yes, it's true. This was my first ever historical! And I really enjoyed it. This is also the first in a series, and I can't wait to read the rest!

This year, I'd like to break out of my comfort zone even more. I want to expand my horizons. Debut authors, new to me authors, new genres. Bring it on!

I've already got Julie Brannagh's debut all loaded up and ready to go on my Kindle (now if only I had time to read).

And I've been told I need to add Robyn Carr to my repertoire ASAP.

Contemporary romance and romantic suspense are my usual poison. Who wants to recommend a new genre for me to try? A new author? What have you read recently and loved?

Rachel Lacey writes contemporary romance that tugs at your heartstrings. Her debut, Unleashed, will be out this October. She blogs on this site on rotation with the other Ever After Foxes. You can find her online at www.rachellacey.com, or connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

New Year, New Focus

Is it still January?

I'm not sure why, but I already feel like January is over...or should be. Maybe it's the side effect of being in an author. We talk in terms of our next book release, so I've been living in March (Hard to Handle's paperback release) and June (simultaneous e/paperback release of The Millionaire Affair).

While I didn't make any new year's resolutions for 2014 per se, I did pick a few themes for the year. One of them is to simplify. After living in a house for the last decade, the hubs and I have amassed A LOT of stuff. Too much stuff. In an effort to pare down, Mr. Lemmony and I spent Saturday afternoon cleaning out an ENTIRE CLOSET filled with items that had value, but no longer were needed. Rather than spend the next six months photographing, cataloging, and shipping said items after selling them on eBay, we decided to load the car donate all the beautiful things from my previous PartyLite business to Goodwill in exchange for a hefty tax write off.

Oh, yeah, giving those things up? It nearly killed me.

About four years ago, I ended my last year as a PartyLite sales consultant. Not only did I sell various candle holders and home decor, I romanced it. I wasn't simply selling a decorative hurricane to hold a pillar candle, no, no. I was offering the chance to own a globe with hundreds of hand-cut, hand-painted iridescent glass squares that, when they caught the sunlight just right, exploded light across your living room ceiling like a disco ball.

This is about a fifth of how much stuff I had.

And now that I'm thinking about it, I just had a pang of loss for that hurricane now in a pile of discarded things at Goodwill.

Why is that?

Most of my beautiful, precious candle holders had been in that closet, stored, not collecting dust or being enjoyed since I left my business behind in 2010 to pursue writing. Many, many, many boxes took up up space in my house and in my brain, never getting any use. Yet parting with them was one of the most difficult things I've ever done.

It got me thinking yesterday about perceived value. Sure, that gorgeous hurricane was "worth" $80 retail at to someone at some point. And for me, that piece represented hours upon hours of hard work in a business I'd managed to turn into a full-time career for nearly six years.

But my keeping it (and the 50 other boxes we loaded into the car yesterday) meant I had to clear out space for it. Pack and unpack it. Rearrange it when I needed something.

What is the cost of keeping something you don't need?

I'm not sure I have the answer to that yet. And it's a great theme to explore in my books. Letting go. Clearing out the past. That's what I'll be taking from this experience. That and the courage to continue in another room. Because, I'm not done! I'm on a rampage this year to get rid of "stuff" that doesn't serve me any longer.

I want my life filled with what matters instead of things that are no longer a part of who I am. Does that mean I can buy more books? 

What about you? Do you have a hard time getting rid of things you no longer need?

Jessica Lemmon writes sassy, sexy contemporary romance with a squeeze of humor. She blogs on this site on rotation with the other Ever After Foxes. You can find out more at www.jessicalemmon.com, LIKE her at www.facebook.com/authorjessicalemmon, and tweet her in 140-character bursts on Twitter: @lemmony

Meet Ever After Rachel Van Dyken *waves*

How did you get your start in writing?

I used to be a school counselor ;) During my down time between scheduled kids I'd shut  my door (For my sanity) and write a few chapters. It was kind of my way to decompress and de-stress from every day life. I also used to work for Health and Welfare and had clients outside of school so it got pretty stressful at times. Reading was my first escape and then writing happened. :) 

What’s your favorite genre to write and why?

All of them! No, seriously. My goal is to write in every genre, well close to every genre. My first love was regency romance, then I switched over to contemporary and New Adult. I'm one of those readers--the type that read anything they can get their hands on. It ends up transferring to my writing ;)

Where do you write…kitchen table? Office? Work?

Kitchen table, closest to food and coffee! 

Favorite character you’ve written to date and why.

This is so hard because no matter WHO I CHOSE I'm cheating. You know what I mean? I think Nixon from the Elite series is one of my favorites but I really have a soft spot for Wes Michels from Ruin. He had so much wisdom and such a different out look on life. Even though I wrote it, I feel like I learned things, which is so awesome. 

POV—pick your poison. First person, third person, dual POV?

It depends on the genre. Third person for Historical. First person dual POV for New Adult and third person as many POV as I can for contemp.

What’s your typical writing day look like?

Usually, I get up anywhere from 4:30-6:30 depending on the day, and work out, eat, shower, then write until I can't write anymore. I really like getting in at least 6-10 hours a day. But it's my full time job so I feel like that's normal. 

Any weird quirks while you write? You know, like do you do a handstand while typing with only your right hand when writing kissing scenes…?

I have to listen to certain types of music to write a kissing scene and even then, it has to be on repeat. 

Lightning Round:

Red or White Wine: RED

Black or Fixed Coffee: FIXED (coconut milk latte)

Football or Basketball: FOOTBALL, which is weird...b/c it used to switched. GO SEAHAWKS!

Rap or Jazz: Both

Candy or Chocolate: Chocolate, but I'm not supposed to have sugar ;( 

Pirate or Ninja: Pirate. Always a pirate. I mean come on! It shouldn't even be a competition.

Christmas or Easter: Christmas. I LOVE Christmas. I listen to music in September to prepare for the Holidays

TV or Netflix: Netflix bc then I can watch on my own time.

Apple or PC: If I said PC my dad would actually disown me. :) I LOVE my Apple computer. I had to get rid of my old one and Im pretty sure i'm going to turn it into some sort of shrine...

Thor or Captain America: Thor. I even have a Thor mug. 

Muscular or Nerdy: Muscular.

Tattoos or no Tattos: TATS!!!!!!!!! 

Do you have any piercings? A few in my ears.

If you could get one tattoo that would describe your writing what would it be and why? It would be a tree. Okay, okay I know that sounds dumb. But trees have roots, and roots go into the ground and branch off everywhere. I feel like thats my writing, it all comes from one place but goes in tons of different directions. Wow, wisdom, right there. I hope you wrote it down...;) Kidding.

What’s your most embarrassing moment? When I was little I had a crush on a boy from school and I accidentally tripped, fell over backwards, flashed him my barbie underwear, and just sat there. Like an idiot. It still replays in my head.

If you were a superhero what would your power be? Would you wear a cape? 

I would want to have super speed. I'm terrified of Heights. But it would be cool to be able to do everything really fast. I'd also wear a cape and it would be red, b/c thats sounds awesome.

Would you rather be trapped in a room with Tom Hardy for twenty four hours knowing that you’ll have to eventually kill him to leave, or be trapped in a room for twenty four hours, spending your last moments in his loving embrace—before he kills you? I'd rather kill him. I mean I'd do it as painlessly as possible, but I'm selfish like that. I want to live. 

Would you rather be known as a bad kisser or a bad huger? 

My best friend told me i was a bad hugger one time. She said I didn't put my entire body into the embrace. So I practiced, and now Im better (I think). So I'd rather be a bad hugger.

Would you rather be a guest on The Ellen show or The Today show?

THE ELLEN SHOW--I love her. I want to dance with her.

You have ten seconds to convince The Kardashians to adopt you. Ready. Set. Go. 

If you don't adopt me I'm going to write a tell all book and publish it. BOOM!

This is the time for you to be inspiring ;) What’s your advice to aspiring authors?

Keep writing. I think lots of people put all their eggs in one basket and when that one egg doesn't do amazing--they panic and give up. Don't ever give up. You're going to have ups and downs as an author. Some people will love you will others will absolutely hate you. That's the name of the game. As long as you are doing what you love, what your' passionate about, then keep doing it. Get better, and keep writing. Keep publishing books. Success isn't in that one book that does awesome, it's in you continuing to push your own limits and inspire those around you. Writing isn't about you. It's about them..the readers, it's about fulfilling a part of their life that needs fulfillment. If you're writing to be rich, famous, well know--then you aren't writing for the right reasons. It needs to be your air. It needs to be your water. If it is--then you have nothing to worry about--just let it happen. :)

Twitter: @RachVD

Wattpad: Rachel Van Dyken

Facebook: Rachel Van Dyken

Website:www.rachelvandykenauthor.com 

LOVE,

RVD