Pre-Order Here!

Why another book about writing BDSM? Because the world needs your dreams, your thoughts, and your truths. The world needs us to be honest in our writing by painting the full panoply the human experience. All of us are curious about power dynamics, sensation, helplessness, and roleplaying and how they affect our characters’ lives. Writing leather sex gives both the author and the reader a safe place to explore these experiences.

My goal for this book is that you will be able to write kink enthusiastically, with a full, rich emotional life for your characters. Everything I’m about to talk about it to reduce your anxiety or stress so you write with greater joy and clarity. If at any time, if you feel overwhelmed or like these ideas are too much work, take a breath and remember that these ideas are to keep you from writing yourself into a corner or getting stuck.

More new books!

 On Black Friday, November 25th, two books will go on sale. Pardon me as I dance around!

First, Start Your Life Now, is a book of affirmations based off the The Cafe of Hopes and Dreams, the second Dream Factory Book.

It contains original art by me, journal prompts, and encouraging text.

 

 

Second, Handcuffs Teach Trust; Writing the Best BDSM of Your Life, is a new companion book the Arousal to Zipper: Writing the Best Sex of Your Life!  Here's why I wrote this one, from the Introdction.

The purpose of a love scene, no matter the heat level, is to reveal who our characters are at their rawest and most passionate.  These scenes are the emotional dynamite for the story, where we explore the personalities and wounds of our lovely originals. There is nothing more powerful than a person stating her true desires and then getting what she wants. That is why I put together this book, because far too often, love scenes with BDSM have become a place to show off extreme actions and not about the emotions that create the true impact of what kink reveals.

Get your pre-order in now for holiday shopping. 

I'm so thrilled to have so many books out this year. :)

 

Do you need ideas for presents?

   

Do you know someone who needs a boost of love and warmth? Why not send them signed  paperbacks of The Dream Factory series? These books are perfect for anyone who needs a break or a moment of hope.

I'm running low on signed copies so now is the time. I only have 1 copy of The Dream Factory in stock and only 4 of A Dream of Words.

Perfect for holiday gifts, or just an, "I'm thinking of you," gift.

The Dream Factory

The Cafe of Hopes and Dreams 

A Dream of Words

My new book is released! I love this story so much. In this third book in The Dream Factory series, Cassie Mark, the teenager who shows up in Alice's costume shop in Book One, has an adventure to discover who she wants to be. Not everyone is cut out for living in a small town. I sure wasn't and neither was my co-author Shea. We both wanted to share a story about a young woman who had to leave the village of Gold Coast, Illinois for Rome, Italy. There is something liberating about being in a big city with a rich history. Visiting these places puts your issues in perspective and gives you endless inspiration. Writing this book gave us a chance to armchair travel to one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Also, you can buy signed copies of all three books over at my website. This is the perfect book for when you want to cuddle up with a warm beverage and a darn good read.   Buy Links: My Web Site Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo Apple Books

A Dream of Words is available for pre-order!

  Hello, beautiful people. I stopped engaging so much here and on social media because, first, it's been a gothic novel of a year, and second, I wanted to spend my energy on actually writing books. This turned out to be an absolutely winning strategy.

 

As a result, I have THREE new projects up for pre-sale now. The one I want to talk about today is my latest collaboration with my incredible co-author, Shea MacLeod.

Please welcome our newest book baby, A Dream of Words!

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Everyone knows each other in Gold Coast, a friendly place where dreams bloom. Once a depressed flyspeck on the map, the village has grown in warmth and love.

Welcome back to the magical town in Southern Illinois, where everyone glows with hope.

Alas, life in a small town is not for everyone.

Cassie Mack hated living in Gold Coast. Everybody knew each other’s business, her toxic family tried to use her as a workhorse, and there was no way romance would ever come for her. She dreamed of making a world of words, sumptuous words that described food, love, and flavor.

When the luscious words of her secret blog catch the eye of a flailing bakery in Rome, she jumped at their offer to come help them revitalize their presence.

Cassie can run from her family and create herself into who she wants to be. But the wounds still linger. If she wants a chance at a future that suits her, she will have to grow and become the embodiment of her Dream of Words.


Preorder today for the October 3rd release. This will be the perfect book for autumn, full of amazing food descriptions and learning to adore oneself.  We hope it will inspire to dig into your dreams and create them even further.

Watch for the newsletters on the rest of my projects - a book and deck of affirmations based on the Cafe of Hopes and Dreams and another writing reference book.  It's going to be a wonderful end to 2022.

Buy Links:
My Web Site
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Apple Books

 

My top five feminist books.

These are books that I read to keep myself going while living in a patriarchy.

1. Against Our Will by Susan Brownmiller

    This book is not a quick undertaking. It is brutal, honest, and extraordinarily painful. Do not read it all at once for it is a harrowing read. If you read the reviews for the book, though, you will see many  examples of what was later labeled as #notallmen.

2. How to Suppress  Women's Writing by Joanna Russ 

    My first foray into inter-sectional feminism, the late Russ unearths all the fallacies that people drag out to minimize women's creations. 

3. Every single book by Dr. Fatima Mernissi. The late Mernissi was a Moroccan sociologist, feminist, and brilliant writer. Her work explores many of the fallacies of Islamic history and women's rights.

4. The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor. One of the finest examples of intersectional feminism, this book lays the groundwork for a more just society.

5. Afrofuturism: the world of Black sci-fi and fantasy by Ytasha L Womack. This book taught me so much the much under-represented Black experience in science fiction and fantasy. It is hopeful, exciting, and makes you want to write better books.

A few more excellent books and authors:

The Explorer's Guide to Planet Orgasm by Annie Sprinkle, PhD

Feminist Fight Club: An office survival manual for a sexist workplace by Jessica Bennet.  I really like resources that give women "boots on the ground", real life suggestions on how to deal with our daily stressors. 

Everything by Jean Shinoda Bolen

Everything by Dale Spender

The Survivor's Guide to Sex by Staci Haines

Everything by Susie Bright

 

The Oracle Deck is out!

 I've worked for ages on the Affirmations for Women in Business. I had no idea what I was doing. It was a long strange road but I finally got it done. 

It is available HERE at the Game Crafter. And it looks a little something like this:

And it reads a little bit like this:

Description: Half of a celadon green vase glows against a plain white background

There are people out there who can help you glue all the pieces together until your life is whole and beautiful. Find those you have a kinship with, people who believe that a rising tide lifts all boats, the ones who pop lovely fizzy beverages at your success, the ones who send you encouraging notes.

Early in my career, I discovered that the people who I thought would be my biggest cheerleaders weren’t. I’d tell them good news and then they would pick at me until I felt lousy. Not every voice around you is going to be helpful. These hurtful words sink into you.

I know it’s hard, but feel free to ask for what you need.

 

Journal prompts

·       Where do you think you can find supportive people? Take a peek at professional organizations, groups of women in your particular business, or mentoring alliances.

·       Who are your companions in power?

·       Listen to your body signals. Do you get headaches or nausea when a particular person talks to you? Do certain words or situations push you into a depression or leave you struggling to find your favorite self? Practice fear management.

 

One after another, her family spilled their disdain into her ears. With each blast of bitterness and anger, she shrunk deeper and deeper into herself until she felt like a hollow shell of a thing.

Like she had the day she ran away.

How was it that even from over a hundred miles away, they could still make her miserable? They could still make her feel like half a person? As less than?

The Dream Factory

 

www.LindaMercury.com

Pre-sale available for Affirmations for Women.

 

Hello, wonderful people. I have a couple of things on my mind today. First - did you know that you are awesome and that you can get through whatever you are currently surviving? I adore you all and want you to believe in yourself the same way I believe in you.

Second, my new book, Affirmations for Women in Business is now available for pre-order at all the usual spots that I list below. This is a big departure from my usual sexy vampires - it's a book of original art and original affirmations that I made up for The Dream Factory. Here is one of the images - this one is to help you get unstuck on a project.

 

 

There is a story behind this image.

In the middle of creating this book, I ran out of steam. I was completely blocked. I had nothing. Zilch. Zip. I had no idea where to go with his project or even how to keep going.
Naturally, this lead to me being convinced that this was a terrible idea that no one would care. My fear told me I should give up and spend my cold and lonely days sitting under my desk.
I had forgotten that we are meant to live in rich, interesting environments. Our brains and souls need stimulation and input if we are going to reach our favorite selves. Eventually, I yoinked myself out of the slump by listening to music, investigating other people’s processes, and smelling beautiful scent.
Journal Prompts:

• What are your favorite things to stimulate your brain?
• Make a list of interesting things that you like to do and places you want to go. Check Trip Advisor for your region, talk to your friends and colleagues, think about what feeds your spirit.
• Television and movies are wonderful places to start, but they cannot be your only mental food.
• What else can you do to feed your head?
•