|
|
Larissa's Blog
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
I'm THRILLED to announce that I've just signed a contract with Kensington to write a paranormal novella to be included in an anthology with Jacquelyn Frank for publication in 2011! This is SO cool, because I just love her books, so I'm kind of having fangirl squeals now and then! 
Anyway, to read more, I'm over at Writeminded blog today. I'd love it if you stopped by to say hi! 
Posted in At Other Blogs, Writing | 9 Comments »
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
I'm going to be participating in a workshop at Romance Divas starting Friday, along with several other authors (all of whom are going to sound a lot more intelligent than I will.)
So stop in and pick some brains. (I'm a little short on those, though, so be gentle…)
Here's the info:
Kick A$$ Characters By Authors Who Know How To Kick A$$
September 12-13 at Romance Divas
Featuring:
Bob Mayer
Lori Avocato
Maggie Price
Lindsay McKenna
Barry Eisler
Linnea Sinclair
Larissa Ione
Merline Lovelace
Want to know how to write authentic action, suspense, law enforcement, and military romance? Ask authors who know firsthand! Romance Divas is hosting a 2-day workshop with some of the hottest names in the genre. It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register.
Posted in Writing | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
Well, I made it home safe and sound! My mom bought my son and I upgrades on our plane tickets from Portland to Charlotte, so we got to fly first class. I was sick — really, really sick — but hey, being miserable in first class is better than being miserable in coach, right? ;-)
So once home, I spent the entire weekend working on copyedits for Desire Unchained (Demonica book 2.) Which i will show you the cover for soon. *g*
On Monday, I had to give a talk at the Chesapeake library about wacky weather, and thankfully Ann was there to hold my hand (and to put together the powerpoint presentation!) I was still sick, but I loaded up on meds to keep from losing my voice, coughing, or collapsing.
Yesterday, I spent the day working on revisions to Taming The Fire (ACRO book 4,) and talking to my editor about revisions to Pleasure Unleashed (Demonica book 3.)
Today, I'm working on revisions to both books, so this should be fun! :)
Hopefully, by this weekend, I'll have some RWA pics to share. My camera's batteries died, so I need to get them charged up so I can load up the pics.
How are you all doing? Keeping busy?
Posted in Home Life, Writing | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
…is done and turned in! Yay!!! Wraith is now on my editor's desk, and I am free to work full time on the fourth Croft book!
And why is it that my method for writing each book is different from every other one? :hmm:
It's so weird!!! I never write a book the same way. Each time I write one, I feel like a beginner all over again. Not because of the story, but because of the method. I just can't get one particular method down.
Anyone else like that? Am I a freak, or normal? Steph, you aren't allowed to answer that…
Posted in Demons, Writing | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
A long time ago, and I mean A LONG TIME AGO, I posted a blog about heroines who, well, gasp a lot. I was reminded of that post when I saw a review of a book in which the heroine gasps frequently. So I dug up that old blog post and figured I'd share my take on RHRDS:
Let's chat about a malady we've all seen–and may ourselves be guilty of burdening our characters with. I call it RHRDS.
What is RHRDS? A definition:
RHRDS– Romance Heroine Respiratory Distress Syndrome. A condition in which easily surprised and/or shocked romance heroines gasp frequently. The heroine is almost always "innocent," if not a virgin. Heroes can also suffer from RHRDS, but this, fortunately, is extremely rare.
RHRDS can be acute or chronic–acute (ARHRDS) happening when an otherwise healthy heroine suddenly begins out-of-control gasping during a sex scene. Chronic (CRHRDS) occurs when a heroine gasps often all throughout the novel for whatever reason.
Many excellent romances feature heroines who don't gasp anywhere in the entire novel. *gasp!* Others may contain a gasp or two, and often the gasps happen for good reason–like the heroine has nearly suffocated and must gasp for air. Even if the heroine gasps out of surprise or shock or sudden lust, it'll happen infrequently. This is not RHRDS.
RHRDS occurs when a heroine gasps so often that the reader begins to wonder if the poor girl has a respiratory illness. She may be gasping several times PER CHAPTER for hero-related reasons. Here are some actual examples I've seen while critiquing, editing, or judging contest entries:
His size and huge build was a shock, and she gasped as he stalked toward her.
Gasping, she struggled for breath when he brushed his thumb over her nipple.
"Oh," she gasped, amazed at the feel of him against her.
Her gasps of pleasure filled him with masculine possessiveness and pride.
Her gaze swept over him, and she gasped when she saw the size of the bulge in his jeans. (My personal favorite.)
Had these examples come only once or twice in an entire manuscript or even through a couple of chapters, they wouldn't be so bad, but they came one on top of each other. One begins to wonder if the heroine is really a fish who needs to be tossed back in the water so she can breathe normally again. (She writhed beneath him, gasping and moaning.) Quick! Dunk her in the water before she dies!!!
And think about it–how often do you really gasp? Sharp intakes of breath, jaw-drops, wide eyes, breath catching…these happen more frequently. Overused gasps in a story become distracting and melodramatic.
And speaking of distracting, I need to stop blogging and get back to writing. My poor heroine needs her inhaler.
Posted in Writing | 11 Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
This is why I've been so scarce…and will continue to be scarce…
Polishing
Circle I Limbo
Sleep?
Circle II Whirling in a Dark & Stormy Wind
Shower?
Circle III Mud, Rain, Cold, Hail & Snow
No Family Time
Circle IV Rolling Weights
Writing New Scenes
Circle V Stuck in Mud, Mangled
River Styx
Rearranging Scenes
Circle VI Buried for Eternity
River Phlegyas
Cutting Words
Circle VII Burning Sands
Cutting Scenes
Circle IIX Immersed in Excrement
Uncooperative Characters
Circle IX Frozen in Ice
Design your own hell
Posted in Demons, Writing | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
I know, it's not Thursday. And actually, it's not my Thursday Thirteen post I'm going to point you to. *g*
Last Thursday…no, it was the Thursday before that (I'm SO running late,) Ann at Fractured Fiction posted 13 Awesome Things About Pleasure Unbound. Yay! (And don't worry, Ann, I didn't get a swelled head! :) )
She also listed 13 things about Joely Sue Burkhart's The Fire Within, which has a FABULOUS cover, and I can't wait to read! So check 'em out!
Larissa, who is going back into the revisions cave to work on the second Demonica book (whose release date has been moved up to February — woo hoo!)
Posted in Demons, Reviews, Writing | 3 Comments »
Monday, March 31st, 2008
Just temporarily, I'm popping up. Been busy celebrating the sale of the Katrina house (YAY!!!!!!!) and writing like a mad woman. I have a new deadline (which I hope to be able to tell you about soon. *g*)
The cool news is that I just hit the 1/3rd mark on my third demon hospital book, so things are going well with the writing. The bad news? Spring break is getting ready to start for my son, which means that not only will he be home wanting me to keep him busy, but we're going to be going camping…which translates to NO COMPUTER.
Will die. No email? Writing by hand?
I'm so spoiled.
Okay, back to writing. I achieved a record 3,100 words today, and hoping for more. I'd love to be able to finish this third demon book by the end of April — a lofty and probably unrealistic goal, but I'm going to try!
Hope you are doing good! What do you have planned for April?
Posted in Demons, Home Life, Writing | 4 Comments »
Friday, March 21st, 2008
I'm finally feeling human again. Which means I still don't feel great, but better enough that mere aspirin is keeping the aches at bay instead of Nyquil. Which is NASTY.
My son's birthday was yesterday, so today he's having some friends over for a sleepover (someone kill me, please,) and I have relatives coming for a visit this weekend, so I've got a busy few days ahead. Will try to get some decent writing done today before the little monsters get here…
AND in fun news, I got a cover flat for Pleasure Unbound, and I just can't quit staring at it. It's beautiful! All matte and metallic…I can't wait for my author copies!!!!!
Okay, off to write. I'm working on the third Demonica book, and my half-demon, half-vampire hero, Wraith, is driving me nuts. The hero of the first book, Eidolon, was difficult to write because he's pretty reserved, very alpha and stoic, with this pesky sense of fair play that goes against his nature. The hero of the second book, Shade, was even more difficult, because he was broody and tortured, and incredibly stubborn.
But Wraith? Oh, man. He's the most tortured of all of them, but he doesn't show it. He keeps it all bottled inside, and on the outside, he's a cocky, laid-back, seriously arrogant male. He has some major avoidance issues and just doesn't want to deal with his past…which I need him to do. He just sits back and smiles at me while inching closer to the heroine. P.I.T.A.
Anyway, hope y'all had a lovely week! I'm going to go wrestle demons now… 
Posted in Demons, Home Life, This-n-That, Writing | 8 Comments »
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
I was planning to do the meme Ann tagged me with, but it's being pre-empted (will return to regularly scheduled programming tomorrow,) in order to do a favor for a friend.
She's going to be writing a column for Romancing The Blog and needs your help. If you had a website or blog before you were published, she'd really appreciate if you'd take this survey:
Author Survey.
If you're an agent, she has questions for you, too! Some really fascinating questions that I'm DYING to know the answers to, like:
1. If you’ve ever visited the websites or blogs of any aspiring authors, how did you find the link and what prompted you to go there?
2. If the writer’s URL is provided in a query letter, do you visit that website or blog? Do you visit some and not others? Please explain your answer.
3. Has the website or blog of an aspiring author ever influenced your decision to offer or decline representation? Please explain why/why not.
Agents, this is your link:
Agent Survey
Have a great day, everyone!
Posted in Writing | 1 Comment »
|
"Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough, but then, for the love of God, tell a joke." - Joss Whedon
|
Recent Comments