Hello, lovely people.
Would you like to get an advanced reader copy (ARC) of my soon to be
released book and oracle deck, Affirmations for Women in Business? I
created all the art for this project, based on the wonderful
affirmations from The Dream Factory. An ARC is a mostly perfect version
of an upcoming release, given to select people for reviews and
comments.
Each saying has one of a kind art and includes journal prompts for
further brainstorming. Currently, the ARCs are only available for the
book since I am still finalizing the deck and the retailers for it.
If you want an ARC, reply and I'll get the .pdf to you. I ask you to
please leave a review at your favorite e-shop. If you have any comments,
such as if something doesn't make sense or I missed a typo (the most
persistent of all things), email me and I'll get those taken care of
before the release dates.
You can also pre-order the books. I'll announce when the decks will be
ready for order, too (since they take longer to publish than a book).
Thank you all so much. I can't wait to hear from you. <3
Linda
Linda's Literary Lair! Books for the intelligent, sexy, and curious.
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Advanced Reader Copies available!
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Nazi Snuff Porn, or How to Survive Bad Reviews.
Here are my notes for my workshop! I hope you all enjoy.
Nazi Snuff Porn or, How to deal with bad reviews
The very first review I got on my very first book was on GoodReads. Someone called my innovative, unusual vampire romance, “Nazi Snuff Porn.”
OUCH. Nazi Snuff Porn?? For a redemption story with Fallen Angels, Dracula, political commentary, AND a pretty fabulous (by my thoughts, at least) love story?
The second review I ever got on my book was on Amazon, where a woman claimed that it was the worst book she had read that year. DOUBLE OUCH.
That was quite the one-two punch, delivered within less than an hour of each other. People hated my writing, my characters, and weren’t even too thrilled with me. Bad reviews kill hope, strike in the heart of us. Their nasty insinuations ring in our minds, poisoning our confidence, cutting our dreams off at their knees. Every single writer in the world deals with negative reviews, nasty put-downs, and horrible rejections. In the midst of our pain, we think, “Oh, I just need to have a thicker skin.”
I’m here to say that you don’t need a thicker skin. Your thin skin is a gift. Thin skin is why we have a five day work week, why we have child labor laws, and the Society to prevent cruelty to animals. Thin skin means you see something wrong and you go fix it. It is what allows us to write with passion and the power to change the world. Our thin skin is what gives our writing power, emotion, and importance. Our concern for the state of the world and each other is the greatest motivator and the foundation of all we do.
But. Bad reviews still hurt. Life is hard and it comes at you fast and it hurts. What I’m going to give you today are concrete, real world tools to deal with these horrible people.
It can take time to recover. With these tips, you can cut that recovery time down to hours or days, instead of months.
Once you get a bad review or rejection.
1. Self-Care
a. Stand up. Brush off that nasty energy!
b. Do some self-percussion. Stimulate your circulation.
c. Jam out.
2. Celebrate!
a. Pop the champagne! Goddamn it, you wrote and published a book. You put yourself out there. You are brave, you finish what you start, and you have survived far more misery than these wanna-be Ebert and Siskels can imagine. Celebrate your courage. Have a party. You’ve made it! You’ve written a book and someone has hated it. You’re in good company. Damn it, you wrote a book and it created a reaction. That is fantastic.
3. Embrace the sisterhood of bad reviews:
Behold:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe
One has to be puzzled why people would read such drivel as this. The characters, the plot, the story, the background, the atmosphere, the landscape, the tone etc. is just awful, with little or no redeeming social or artistic value... You'll save your eyes and your time and get more benefits by sleeping than by reading this book-like-object.
Donna Tart, whose first book had won the Pulitzer, had someone say this about her second: and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History.
Reading this book was like watching paint dry, fade, start to flake off, and finally disintegrate.
or: This book is not worth the read unless one is looking for a long drawn out plot going nowhere.
And have you ever read Nora Robert’s bad reviews? Man, you’ll feel like a million bucks afterwards.
b. When the most likable character is a horse you have to wonder.....
4. It’s not about you. It’s not about you. It’s not about you.
a. These people get a kick, a thrill that is almost sexual, out of destroying someone’s dream. They will never admit it, but you can tell in all of their reviews and comments, that saying horrible things is how they fuel their self –righteous belief that they are smarter than anyone else.
Look at the Eggers quote on your handout. Remember that rage and envy. Because that leads us concrete actions.
5. How do you deal with these idiots with the IQ of a turnip? It’s one thing to deal with your emotions when you are safely reading in a magazine or behind a computer screen. But some people’s children The four most important words in a writer’s vocabulary:
a. “No Kidding!” and “Thank you.”
There are four words you need to know. No kidding and Thank you.
For example: “Your books sucks!”
“No kidding!”
“I read your dirty book.”
“Thank you.”
“I liked your book.”
“Thank you!”
The NUCLEAR OPTION
If nothing else works. If someone is trying to manipulate you.
Dale Spender story about lipstick. “Are you trying to orchestrate my response?”
In all honesty, I didn’t come with these. I stole them from much smarter people.
Now that you‘re feeling better, here’s how to read a bad review
6. Analyze the criticism
Take a look at the critic’s other reviews. See who they are, what they complain about, and what they do like. I’m going to lay odds, and really good ones, that they have a pet theory, a belief that things (often fictional things) are set in stone. We all have our beliefs and opinions. People with class, maturity, and style state those beliefs and opinions in ways that encourage the artist to keep going. They will say what they like, what they want to see more of, and tell you how to improve your work. But that’s hard and takes time, so your critics won’t.
a. Are the comments consistent in each bad review? Do they talk about convoluted plots? Historical inaccuracies? If your reviews tend to say that your characters are unrealistic, take a look at them. Do they mention problematic proofreading and editing? These reviews are helpful and let you know how to improve.
b. Nazi Snuff Porn, huh?
I had taken particular care with the section that dealt with Nazi War Crimes. As a historian, I found primary source materials from the men who liberated the first of the work camps – Mittlebau-Dora in Nordhausen. Everything I wrote had been documented from eyewitness accounts. The stories of bodies stacked like firewood, of feces being pounded into the cement from bombing? Those descriptions came from the survivors and rescuers.
I re-read the passages. I thought about how my characters responded to seeing this devastation. I decided that the work stood on its own.
c. “Worst book of the year”? After running around the house screaming, “I’m Number One! I’m Number One!”, I calmed down. And it struck me as *funny*. My little novel was the worst book of the year? The “worst book of the year” review also said it had too much sex. Well, that’s hardly bad news! After all, one person’s yuck is another’s turn on.
d. Also, worst book? Some self-satisfied yutzes on Amazon said the same thing about Left Hand of Darkness.
7. First exercise
a. Write down every single nasty thing you can imagine. Think of what your worst enemy would say about your heart project. 2 minutes
b. Give some space between each cut.
c. Take some deep breaths. Brush it off, and do some funk. :)
d. Now. Take a look. What is your wound? What wounds are these words hitting? Is it the fear of making mistakes? Of making someone mad at you? Write down what fear or hurt these things push.
e. When you go home, journal about these fears.
8. Second exercise.
Next, write down every single awesome thing you can think of. What an audience full of people who love you and want you to succeed would say? What would they like? How would they give helpful feedback if you made a mistake?
What is the wound these words are healing?
Pin that list up by your desk.
In Conclusion.
In the end, it’s all copy. Use it. Take these feelings; the loss, the hurt, the desire for revenge, and USE them. Write scene after scene of your heroine taking it on the jaw and coming up swinging.
Finally, the big point. The most important point. The only thing you really need to keep from this workshop is: The best revenge is living well. You want to get back at these bullies and bitches? Keep writing. Have an awesome life researching, writing, loving, laughing, immersing yourself in life.
Will these pixels on a screen or lines on paper stop you from writing??
If you stop, they will win. You are a writer. And you are invincible!
Now go out there and be excellent to each other.
Nazi Snuff Porn or, How to deal with bad reviews
The very first review I got on my very first book was on GoodReads. Someone called my innovative, unusual vampire romance, “Nazi Snuff Porn.”
OUCH. Nazi Snuff Porn?? For a redemption story with Fallen Angels, Dracula, political commentary, AND a pretty fabulous (by my thoughts, at least) love story?
The second review I ever got on my book was on Amazon, where a woman claimed that it was the worst book she had read that year. DOUBLE OUCH.
That was quite the one-two punch, delivered within less than an hour of each other. People hated my writing, my characters, and weren’t even too thrilled with me. Bad reviews kill hope, strike in the heart of us. Their nasty insinuations ring in our minds, poisoning our confidence, cutting our dreams off at their knees. Every single writer in the world deals with negative reviews, nasty put-downs, and horrible rejections. In the midst of our pain, we think, “Oh, I just need to have a thicker skin.”
I’m here to say that you don’t need a thicker skin. Your thin skin is a gift. Thin skin is why we have a five day work week, why we have child labor laws, and the Society to prevent cruelty to animals. Thin skin means you see something wrong and you go fix it. It is what allows us to write with passion and the power to change the world. Our thin skin is what gives our writing power, emotion, and importance. Our concern for the state of the world and each other is the greatest motivator and the foundation of all we do.
But. Bad reviews still hurt. Life is hard and it comes at you fast and it hurts. What I’m going to give you today are concrete, real world tools to deal with these horrible people.
It can take time to recover. With these tips, you can cut that recovery time down to hours or days, instead of months.
Once you get a bad review or rejection.
1. Self-Care
a. Stand up. Brush off that nasty energy!
b. Do some self-percussion. Stimulate your circulation.
c. Jam out.
2. Celebrate!
a. Pop the champagne! Goddamn it, you wrote and published a book. You put yourself out there. You are brave, you finish what you start, and you have survived far more misery than these wanna-be Ebert and Siskels can imagine. Celebrate your courage. Have a party. You’ve made it! You’ve written a book and someone has hated it. You’re in good company. Damn it, you wrote a book and it created a reaction. That is fantastic.
3. Embrace the sisterhood of bad reviews:
Behold:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe
One has to be puzzled why people would read such drivel as this. The characters, the plot, the story, the background, the atmosphere, the landscape, the tone etc. is just awful, with little or no redeeming social or artistic value... You'll save your eyes and your time and get more benefits by sleeping than by reading this book-like-object.
Donna Tart, whose first book had won the Pulitzer, had someone say this about her second: and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History.
Reading this book was like watching paint dry, fade, start to flake off, and finally disintegrate.
or: This book is not worth the read unless one is looking for a long drawn out plot going nowhere.
And have you ever read Nora Robert’s bad reviews? Man, you’ll feel like a million bucks afterwards.
b. When the most likable character is a horse you have to wonder.....
4. It’s not about you. It’s not about you. It’s not about you.
a. These people get a kick, a thrill that is almost sexual, out of destroying someone’s dream. They will never admit it, but you can tell in all of their reviews and comments, that saying horrible things is how they fuel their self –righteous belief that they are smarter than anyone else.
Look at the Eggers quote on your handout. Remember that rage and envy. Because that leads us concrete actions.
5. How do you deal with these idiots with the IQ of a turnip? It’s one thing to deal with your emotions when you are safely reading in a magazine or behind a computer screen. But some people’s children The four most important words in a writer’s vocabulary:
a. “No Kidding!” and “Thank you.”
There are four words you need to know. No kidding and Thank you.
For example: “Your books sucks!”
“No kidding!”
“I read your dirty book.”
“Thank you.”
“I liked your book.”
“Thank you!”
The NUCLEAR OPTION
If nothing else works. If someone is trying to manipulate you.
Dale Spender story about lipstick. “Are you trying to orchestrate my response?”
In all honesty, I didn’t come with these. I stole them from much smarter people.
Now that you‘re feeling better, here’s how to read a bad review
6. Analyze the criticism
Take a look at the critic’s other reviews. See who they are, what they complain about, and what they do like. I’m going to lay odds, and really good ones, that they have a pet theory, a belief that things (often fictional things) are set in stone. We all have our beliefs and opinions. People with class, maturity, and style state those beliefs and opinions in ways that encourage the artist to keep going. They will say what they like, what they want to see more of, and tell you how to improve your work. But that’s hard and takes time, so your critics won’t.
a. Are the comments consistent in each bad review? Do they talk about convoluted plots? Historical inaccuracies? If your reviews tend to say that your characters are unrealistic, take a look at them. Do they mention problematic proofreading and editing? These reviews are helpful and let you know how to improve.
b. Nazi Snuff Porn, huh?
I had taken particular care with the section that dealt with Nazi War Crimes. As a historian, I found primary source materials from the men who liberated the first of the work camps – Mittlebau-Dora in Nordhausen. Everything I wrote had been documented from eyewitness accounts. The stories of bodies stacked like firewood, of feces being pounded into the cement from bombing? Those descriptions came from the survivors and rescuers.
I re-read the passages. I thought about how my characters responded to seeing this devastation. I decided that the work stood on its own.
c. “Worst book of the year”? After running around the house screaming, “I’m Number One! I’m Number One!”, I calmed down. And it struck me as *funny*. My little novel was the worst book of the year? The “worst book of the year” review also said it had too much sex. Well, that’s hardly bad news! After all, one person’s yuck is another’s turn on.
d. Also, worst book? Some self-satisfied yutzes on Amazon said the same thing about Left Hand of Darkness.
7. First exercise
a. Write down every single nasty thing you can imagine. Think of what your worst enemy would say about your heart project. 2 minutes
b. Give some space between each cut.
c. Take some deep breaths. Brush it off, and do some funk. :)
d. Now. Take a look. What is your wound? What wounds are these words hitting? Is it the fear of making mistakes? Of making someone mad at you? Write down what fear or hurt these things push.
e. When you go home, journal about these fears.
8. Second exercise.
Next, write down every single awesome thing you can think of. What an audience full of people who love you and want you to succeed would say? What would they like? How would they give helpful feedback if you made a mistake?
What is the wound these words are healing?
Pin that list up by your desk.
In Conclusion.
In the end, it’s all copy. Use it. Take these feelings; the loss, the hurt, the desire for revenge, and USE them. Write scene after scene of your heroine taking it on the jaw and coming up swinging.
Finally, the big point. The most important point. The only thing you really need to keep from this workshop is: The best revenge is living well. You want to get back at these bullies and bitches? Keep writing. Have an awesome life researching, writing, loving, laughing, immersing yourself in life.
Will these pixels on a screen or lines on paper stop you from writing??
If you stop, they will win. You are a writer. And you are invincible!
Now go out there and be excellent to each other.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Predator and Prey
Here's a teaser from my short story, Predator and Prey, available here at Amazon.com,
And a review, from Brian Enigma!
Only .$99!
for a mere $.99!
“’Police Stymied by Latest Co-ed Murder’. Excellent.” Stewart giggled over his Google results. The next headline made him smile even more. Propped on his lumpy green sofa, he clicked on the link. His sweaty fingers slipped on the laptop’s touchpad but the article opened.Shrieks of laughter outside his efficiency apartment crashed through his concentration. He winced. Swell. People. He cranked his head to see out his big front window. A young couple lingered in front of the vacancy across the narrow yard. Even worse. New neighbors.There were two reasons he lived in this old remodeled hotel: the absentee management and the quiet. Noise irritated him.With the curtains gaping, those people could see right into his place, too. He pushed off the couch and opened his front door. There, hidden behind the mesh of his screen door, he stared unimpeded across the narrow yard between the two single story buildings.Their keys fell to the ground with a clank. For some inane reason, this made them throw their heads back in giddy laughter. The man picked up the key ring and fitted one into an apartment. The woman tittered as she propped open their screen door. Her adoring eyes never left her partner’s face. Shiny matching gold bands twinkled off their fingers.Stewart stared through their uncurtained window as the wife – rosy cheeked, with tiny bejeweled ears, long curly light blonde hair, a curvy figure, and a gorgeous smile – put down her package in the middle of the small apartment. She laughed again and spun in a circle. Her hair lifted away from her body. Stewart raised his eyebrows at the way her breasts swayed. Her companion, a tall, broad shouldered blond, looked at the woman, a besotted expression on his face.Stewart smiled and plucked at the corners of his moustache. This had promise.
And a review, from Brian Enigma!
A quick flash of story that starts out feeling formulaic, but pays off with a delightful and dark twist that I'm sure would make fans of Tim Burton or Neil Gaiman happy.
Only .$99!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Virtual Book Tour, Stop Three
***
My Review
I love this series and this book is a great addition to it.
Valerie is as awesome as she always is. Whether she is trying to figure out her place in life now, motherhood, battling evil or just being sexy as always she rocks. I love how you see inside her as she battles what she was and who she is now. She may be old but she really grows in this book emotionally wise. John and Lance are hot as every and you can see why Valerie loves these two so much. I really loved the scenes with Minerva and John. Now Minerva is going to be a handful you can tell by how she acts now. I love this toddler she doesn't seem afraid of anything.
This is the third book in a fantastic series. I love the other books and this one makes a nice addiction to it. I love the thought that Dracula was a woman gives it a fresh take that if that wasn't enough to get you to read the series you also get some action packed battles, amazing people and some steamy scenes that are very hot. You get several little side stories as you read this book and you get to enjoy other characters and their struggles as well. You even get to see the weak side of Lucifer. I really hope we see more of these people cause I want to see Minerva grow up and come into her own. If you love paranormal books with hottness pick this up.
4 out of 5 Stars
***
Thank you so very much, PamM! You just made me feel like this:
Monday, April 22, 2013
Virtual BookTour, Stop One: Reviews of Dracula's Secret!
Today is the first day of my review book tour!
My schedule is:
TODAY: April 22: Taylor Made Fiction
April 24: Coffee and A Book Anytime
April 26: Racing To Read
April 30: Shelley's Book Case
May 3: Let's Get BOOKED!
May 7: Long and Short Reviews
May 9: Simply Ali
May 14: Welcome to My World of Dreams
May 15: It's Raining Books
May 17: Queen of the Night Reviews
I will be awarding a fabulous dragon necklace (since Dracul means Dragon, after all), to one random commenter (USA only please).
My schedule is:TODAY: April 22: Taylor Made Fiction
April 24: Coffee and A Book Anytime
April 26: Racing To Read
April 30: Shelley's Book Case
May 3: Let's Get BOOKED!
May 7: Long and Short Reviews
May 9: Simply Ali
May 14: Welcome to My World of Dreams
May 15: It's Raining Books
May 17: Queen of the Night Reviews
I will be awarding a fabulous dragon necklace (since Dracul means Dragon, after all), to one random commenter (USA only please).
***
And here is the the review from Susan Taylor's website!
Dracula Unleashed is third in the Series Blood Wings delivers a inhumanly fast paced ride.
A battle is about to break between immortal forces and then does, devastatingly so.
Lance walks amidst wreckage with the Angel of Death who determines the
beings which have started this war are indeed vampires.There's only one
solution. A hunter must be utilized, or unleashed. Valerie
Tate is called upon to against Lance's wishes. She is wife to him and
John, angel and Guide, (that's right a vampire with two husbands!!), a
mother, and the huntress in this tale.
The paranormal cast within Dracula Unleashed is varied and rich giving the story an unsual twist.
First, I must say the interplay of passion between Valerie and Lance
is imaginative, delicious, salacious. YUM! And then there's some pretty
hot video menage that will leave the reader breathless.
I found the sibling against sibling tension a driving force, all the way
to sacred ground. The constant powerplay of good against evil
mesmerizing. And let's not forget, the stunning passion between the
characters. Dracula Unleashed is absolutely a dark, hot read that will captivate the reader.
***
Thank you so much, Susan!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Free, free, free!
This week, Dracula's Secret is free at Amazon.com! Good things about my book:
"With a talent for sinfully sexy romance, Linda Mercury will keep you up through the night and craving more after the last page is turned." --Tori St. Claire, author of Stripped and Lie To Me
"Non stop action, steamy sex, and tons of mythical creatures. This is my kind of Urban Fantasy. The character's are complex, the flashback's are relevant and help move the story along. The story never fails to keep me on my toe's. The idea that Vlad the Impaler was actually a woman is genius and makes Dracula's story that much more interesting.
If you like Urban Fantasy, strong female character's, strong male leads that are actually good men, and good writing you'll love this book. A must have for Kate Daniels fan's." Review by Jskinz.
Hurry on over!
And don't forget Books Two and Three.
Dracula's Secret, Blood Wings #1
Dracula's Desires, Blood Wings #2
Dracula Unleashed, Blood Wings #3, to be released March 21, 2013
Monday, December 26, 2011
The best Christmas present ever.
Last night, The Charming Man and myself went over to our dear friends' house (I'll think of a kicky name for them soon) for our holiday meal. I brought my laptop and spiral-bound notebooks with me since I wasn't interested in watching the basketball game.
As I sat in a quiet corner, brainstorming on my notepaper, another friend up to me. She is an avid reader of sexy paranormal romances and had been curious about Dracula's Secret since she met me.
She asked if she could read my manuscript early.
I said sure, but not the whole thing. So I handed over my laptop and let her read while I worked.
Here are her direct quotes:
"This book has surprised me in every chapter! You get used to things being a particular way in these novels, and you haven't done any of them!" (said with a great big grin on her face)
"I could read this all night!"
and
"This is some of the best stuff I've ever read."
Now imagine me running around screaming in joy like a madwoman. It was something like this:
As I sat in a quiet corner, brainstorming on my notepaper, another friend up to me. She is an avid reader of sexy paranormal romances and had been curious about Dracula's Secret since she met me.
She asked if she could read my manuscript early.
I said sure, but not the whole thing. So I handed over my laptop and let her read while I worked.
Here are her direct quotes:
"This book has surprised me in every chapter! You get used to things being a particular way in these novels, and you haven't done any of them!" (said with a great big grin on her face)
"I could read this all night!"
and
"This is some of the best stuff I've ever read."
Now imagine me running around screaming in joy like a madwoman. It was something like this:
EeeieieieeeewowohwowohwowieeeyeesssssWOW! \c O( \ _/ ___/( /( /--/ \\// __ )/ /\/ \/ `-.\ //\\ \\// \\ \/ \\ \\ '--`
(edited to add: In my joy, I forgot to credit the origin of the ASCII art:
This is Boy Running from Men in ASCII Men by Joan Stark)
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