Where *can* you find my books?

 

Links? 

You bet!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble 

Kobo 

Apple Books 

Scribd 

Vivlio

 

The Cafe of Hopes and Dreams: Katrina Kennedy McPherson

When Shea MacLeod and I were writing The Dream Factory, the first book in this series, we knew that we wanted Alice's older sister, Katrina to be the heroine of the second book.

Poor Katrina, trapped by her own fears and the inertia of not living her dreams. We introduced her in Book One as the frustrated big sister. By the time she showed up at The Thing at the end of The Dream Factory, we knew she had to escape the trap she had built for herself. First thing, we had to know what her key words were (It's a librarian thing. It's hard to explain). It's a way
for us to decide on theme and what our focus will be. Here are Katrina's (and Book Two's) keywords:

Freedom, escape velocity, sweetness of life, rising, silky, lightness, savor, relax, focus, starvation, satiation, completion, contentment, delicious, delicate, scent, fruit, fortification, and strengthening.

We also searched for images of what we thought she looked like. This picture really caught her tender interior and her bruised soul.

Once we had her words, we could figure out what she really needed and what she wanted. Fortunately, figuring all that out took lots of delicious baked goods. :)

Also, it took a lot of going over and over practice LSATs. That absolutely proved to everyone that law school was NOT in the near future.

Writing Katrina's story really helped us cope with being stuck at home. Shea and I could imagine the scents of roses and freshly baked cake wafted over the small town of Gold Coast.

It was such a pleasure to get to know our heroine. I hope you enjoy Katrina's story too!

The Cafe of Hopes and Dreams: The Dream Factory series, #2

I just released a BRAND NEW BOOK! 

Shea and I finished the sequel to The Dream Factory and it is now live on all ebook retailers. We are dancing all over the place and drinking champagne to celebrate. We love this book so much. 

***

 

Katrina Kennedy McPherson used to have dreams. Her ambition was to become an attorney and prosecute deadbeat dads. But Life had other plans for her; like a withdrawn husband and a less-than-exciting accounting career.

Always practical, Katrina never questioned how her life turned out. That is, until the night she arrived in the small town of Gold Coast, Illinois, to drag her sister Alice back home.

Confronted by her own unhappiness, Katrina chooses to search for her joy instead. Problem is, her old life will come calling, determined to drag her back under, just as she tried to drag away her sister. Fortunately, she’s got her sister, a ghost, a town full of quirky characters, and an obsession with cake to help her untangle her true calling.

Escape into the magic of The Café of Hopes and Dreams in this heart-warming, feel-good story of a woman meant to change not just her life, but the lives of everyone around her.

Behind the Character: Aunt Celeste from Keeping It Up

 

Celeste Barros was inspired by two amazing women: Auntie Mame and Mae West. Who better than a sexually liberated, intelligent, independent, fashionable, and powerful woman to teach not just Holly Barros, but me how to be fabulous and fearless?

Celeste is everything I ever wanted to become when I was a young woman and she is everything I wanted in someone who could show me the way to be fabulous and fearless!

Women need mentor figures to show us how to become what we want. Role models light the path to our dreams, dammit, I wanted Holly to have the best one ever. Someone who knew love and heartbreak as well as how to make herself heard AND someone who had the platform to make the world a better place.

My question for Celeste was, what were *her* struggles and wounds? In Keeping It Up, we learn how the early death of her beloved husband scarred Celeste. She had been able to create a wonderful life for herself afterward, full of love and intellectual pursuits. Like many women, though, Celeste had trouble receiving. She had become so skilled at giving and giving that she had forgotten to be vulnerable.

Which is why I was thrilled to discover who she really needed: Grayson Browne.

---

Celeste is (much) older than Grayson. Do you like reading May/December stories? Let me know so I can write more of them!

 

 

Where to buy
My Web Store
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Kobo
Apple

Behind the Character: Holly Barros from Keeping It Up

Sometimes, people ask me, "Where do you get your characters from?" Naturally, my first instinct is to say, "Why, from under the sofa cushions, of course!" Which makes me look like a jerk and nobody comes away happy. Rather than give in to my over-the-top Dad Joke impulses, I wanted to write a newsletter series about where characters come from.

The first character I want to talk about it Holly, from Vamping It Up and Keeping It Up. I really identify with Holly, because in my youth, I also made a man the center of my life, wearing what he liked and doing what he thought was fun (hint - it wasn't fun for me). I wanted to write a story about a woman discovering who she really was without him. Women's power is one of my favorite themes in my writing, and I come back to it frequently. I was desperate to write a story about a woman learning to love herself.

It took me a while to get to know Holly. I knew she was going to be of Latin descent (part Portuguese, part Central American). I wrote and wrote, trying to find a way to show that her parents loved her, but also wanted her to take the safe path in life. We deserve to choose our own adventures instead of having them chosen for us.

We also deserve to believe in ourselves and to use our voices about what matters to us. Holly needed to find her voice. And she sure was shy about telling me who she wanted to be. I got very excited when I realized that her secret desire was to go into politics. Women are woefully underrepresented in politics and that shy Holly wanted to break out of her cocoon and step onto the world stage made me so happy!

I also wanted her to have the world's greatest mentor to teach her confidence. Enter Holly Barros and Aunt Celeste.
 (To be continued....)

I made Pinterest boards for Vamping It Up and Keeping It Up!
Live Like Celeste
Vamping It Up
Keeping It Up

 

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Have you read Vamping It Up or Keeping It Up? Can you tell me what you liked about the books? What do you want to see more of in light-hearted erotica? Authors loooooooooooooove feedback. :)

Thank you!

Writing Sex: Know Thyself

 

For the final installment on writing sex, I'm going to ask some questions about your tastes. I think it is important to know what your boundaries are about sex in fiction, so let's get started.

1. What do you hate about writing sex?
2. What do you hate about reading sex?
3. What do you love about writing sex?
4. What do you love about reading sex?

What do these preferences tell you about how you are going to craft love scenes?

Let me know if you'd like your answers to go up on my blog.

Enjoy!












 

Where to buy
Amazon 
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Apple

Writing a Love Scene: Safer Sex - yes or no?

 

The AIDS crisis forced writers to talk about safer sex practices and it turned into a debate. Some authors state that their readers know that this is fiction. They think barrier methods ruin the flow. Some insist that not acknowledging the potential consequences of sex lowers the stakes, turns the characters two-dimensional, and throws the reader out of the story. Your choices depend a lot on your world-building. Are you in outer space with all bad germs eliminated? Do diseases not bother the undead?

I say that you need to have your safer sex choices remain consistent. If your heterosexual characters don't use condoms or gloves, neither should your gay or bi characters.

Exercise One:  How do you feel about safer sex in fiction?

Exercise Two: What are your favorite ways of writing safer sex?

Let me know! I'll post your answers on my blog.











 

Where to buy
Amazon 
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Apple
My Bookstore

Writing a Love Scene.

 

I started writing love scenes before I even knew what happened past a kiss. Instead of trying to figure out how to grope a boy's butt, I would write what (I thought) was flirtatious conversation. Naturally, it was really dreadful.

The world needs your truth. I want everyone of feel powerful and confident about writing sensuality, no matter the heat level. Joyous, consensual sex is under-represented in fiction. That goes double for representation of people of color, sexual minorities, or people with disabilities.

I go into deeper detail on how to write arousal and intimacy in The Arousal to Zipper Workbook. This series of newsletters share some the exercises found in that book.

Sex is about your characters saying, "Yes," if not "HELL, YES!". The world needs more fiction saying "HELL YES!" to their sexual experiences. This is a chance to think about the ways we can say yes. Does the scene call for a slow, measured pace, such as encouraging the less-verbal, less-assertive character to say what they want out loud?

How do your characters (especially in your work in progress) say, "Yes"?

Write me back and let me know! I'll post your answers up on my blog. :)

 

Where to buy
Amazon 
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Kobo
Apple

Multiverse Con is online this year!

 

On October 16, 17, and 18th, the amazing Multiverse Con On Line will be happening. Multiverse Con started last year in Atlanta, Georgia, and I was thrilled to be one of their presenters. Due to Covid-19, the con is taking place in the far-flung lands of Kwarentynia. Again, I am honored to be joining the Con. I'll be moderating the Girls Rule 2.0 panel (last year, this was *the* panel) and contributing to the How to Write a Memorable Villain.

Here is the con schedule.

I'll also be running mentoring sessions. If you need help writing sex, dealing with rejection, or avoiding burnout, check this out here.

 Please join the party. We can't con together, but we can still enjoy ourselves remotely. Come on in, the water's fine. :)

Help survivors of domestic abuse!

 Every year, the Emerald City Romance Writers host a raffle for survivors of domestic abuse. DAWN supports, empowers and shelters survivors of domestic abuse in South King County and helps to keep us all safe by educating our community to respond to and prevent violence.

I have donated two goodie baskets to the cause. Please come see all the fabulous things people have donated!
























Here is my first donation!

Item Description

We know that 2020 has been a hard year. With the pandemic and the West Coast fires, we know that there are many worthy organizations that need your support. So we have created 8 auction packages with a Buy it Now option to give 8 people the opportunity to support DAWN with a $25 donation.

Items in this package -
- Naughty Notes by PNW Author Linda Mercury (Signed)
- Cloth Mask (Donated by https://www.facebook.com/groups/249630659482235)
- Swag shown in the photo.

And this is my second donation. When I went to the Romance Writers of Australia's conference in 2019, I nabbed so many cool things. Here is the link to bid.
 

Item Description

Linda Mercury (https://www.lindamercury.com/) gave a presentation at the Australia RWA Conference and brought home some goodies to share with one lucky winner --

White Gum Creek by Nicole Hurley-Moore
The Art of Preserving Love by Ada Langton
Falling for the Pregnant Heiress/Rust Creek Falls Cinderella
Ocean Light by Nalini Singh
Die cut Melbourne Tram Card
Australia themed postcards
Cute Penguin bookmark
4 Fake Tattoos
2 Romance Writers of Australia themed notebooks
Romance Writers of Australia Tote Bag
Signed - Vamping It Up by Linda Mercury

Please note that the physical basket is for visual display only. Since this item will be shipped to the winner, only the items within the basket (and listed in the description) will be sent to the winner

 

I hope to "see" you all at the auction. :) Domestic violence is on the rise due to the tensions of sheltering at home. Please nab some great books (if I say so myself) and support people in need.

Love to you all,
Linda Mercury

Where to buy
Amazon 
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Kobo
Apple

How to write a really hot sex scene, Part One.

I'll admit it. I like writing love scenes. Sex scenes. Saucy stuff. Naughty Notes. The, "Oh my God. Does your mother know you write this?!" kinds of books. I like writing them because:

• I believe that the world needs more examples of consensual, joyous, healthy sexuality,
• I believe that delight is the medicine that helps us through the bad times,
• I believe anything that brings humanity together can only be for the good, and
• I believe that arousal is a worthy goal for a book.

In the next few newsletters, I'm going to talk about writing love scenes. It doesn't matter how steamy you like it to be - if you want to draw the curtains before the characters even kiss, or if you want to follow them into the bedroom (or any other locale of interest).

So grab your keyboard, get the lube ready, and let's start writing!

 

***

Where to buy

Amazon 
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Apple

 

What is the best that could happen?

Let's be honest. Right now, the world truly sucks. We are dealing with a global pandemic, the rise of fascism, and incompetent world leaders. We are anxious, exhausted, and consumed with fear. In order to find at least a tiny bit of cope, we must ask ourselves:

WHAT IS THE BEST THAT CAN HAPPEN?

"Covid-19 numbers infection rates go down."

"Nationwide, all police departments destroy the traces of white supremacy that foul the system."

Then, we ask:

HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

"I can continue to wear a mask and social distance. It's really hard, but I've done hard things before."

"I will write and call and protest to the best of my ability. It is scary and feels small, but it is less scary than doing nothing."

We cannot make the best happen if we do not know what it is.

Ten Minutes: Activism if you have depression or other limitations.

The reality of injustice has been uncovered in the most horrific ways possible. We have work to do to make the country a place where people can live in peace.

If you suffer from depression, chronic pain, or other conditions that keep you from the front lines, you can still help people. The trick is to start small. If you make your goal too big, you will inevitably fail and slide into despair. So begin with ten minutes, just like if you were starting an exercise program.

You can get a lot done in ten minutes. Write a tiny email to someone you admire, telling them thank you for their hard work. Or write a tiny email to the city council, saying you want the police to learn new ways of interacting with their people of color.

No need to worry about making it perfect. Just start. For example, here's a tiny note I just made up on the fly:

Dear Police Department,

Seriously, guys, I think you need some help. The way you work now kills people, both officers and populace. Please expand to include social workers and mental health professionals. I want everyone to feel safe on the streets.

Or, you could be more assertive, depending on your personality:

Dear Police Department,

What the fucking fuck, dudes??

In ten minutes, you can create a draft about a situation or system that needs to change. If the email triggers your anxiety or your condition, you can wait for tomorrow's (or next week's) ten minutes to edit and send.

Perhaps you are awesome on the phone. Or you design excellent protest signs. Maybe you are in the absolute pits and can barely get out of bed. At that point, play some protest music, for yourself or your neighbors (my favorite protest musician is Mavis Staples).

Start small.

Small actions do add up and do make a difference.

Linda Mercury's Naughty Notes

My book, Linda Mercury's Naughty Notes, is live, too! You can buy it at these following retailers!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Rakuten Kobo

Apple Books

24 Symbols

Vivlio

What do you get when you combine years of erotic writing? Linda Mercury's Naughty Notes, Volume One. 

 

In this collection of mostly heterosexual short fiction, the stories range from the cold lakes of Minnesota, to young lust, to the obligatory visit to the principal's office. Sit back and enjoy the best in one-handed reading.

A portion of my proceeds from this book will be donated to Black Lives Matter. Because the real world needs to be sexy and joyous, too.

The Dream Factory is live!

Hello, everyone! At last, my super seekrit project sees the light of day. My fellow author, Shea MacLeod, and I have been working on a brand new book series together.

Shea is known for her brilliant and funny cozy mysteries. I am known for sexy political thrillers. Together, we wrote *drum roll* a small town, magical realism, coming of age story.

Check out the teaser:

---

Alice Kennedy needs some hope in her life. At the age of twenty-three, she escapes her mama's clutches, looking for change. In the small town of Gold Coast, Illinois, her car dies, leaving her stranded. Just her luck.


Alice doesn't expect to find empowerment in the depressed village, but a mysterious benefactor gifts her with a new start – the ownership of a once-magnificent costume shop called The Dream Factory. The store's potential to create beauty lifts up not only Alice, but Gold Coast itself.


Escape into the magic of The Dream Factory in this heart-warming, feel-good story of a woman called to become fabulous.

---

Chapter One

I am the captain of this ship.
Affirmations for Women in Business.

 
Illinois weather sucked and so did Alice Kennedy’s life.

Her wipers slapped back and forth as fast as a sewing machine on high, sluicing the water in wild sprays, but she could barely see. The lashing rain dimmed the streetlights on Interstate 55. She was driving across the flattest part of a flat, flat state, not knowing where she was going. All she knew was she couldn’t stay in St. Louis. Not even the radio singing about being nice and warm could lower her shoulders from her ears.

At twenty-two, she finally left her mother’s house. Nothing new had happened to snap her spine. The thought of endlessly serving at her mother’s capricious whims goaded her into the stormy night. She had no destination, no plans, no job, but anything was better than choking on her dreams and Mama’s dismal mindset. Her throat tightened.

Freedom was beautiful and frightening.
 

---

We hope you have as much fun reading this new book as we did writing it.  You can buy the book at:

Amazon
Barnes&Noble 
Apple Books
Scribd
24Symbols
 

Note: I will be donating a portion of my proceeds to Black Lives Matter.  Let's make the real world fabulous, too.

Cover Reveal!

Look at my brilliant cover for my upcoming release, Linda Mercury's Naughty Notes! This collection is oddly mostly heterosexual, but later releases will be more diverse.

I will share the link when it is ready for pre-order.

Mental Health in a time of pandemic; Part IV

The last in a series on dealing with the Covid19 isolation!

Stay Grounded

Pandemics are naturally anxiety-producing. This is something that is going to affect millions of people, and there is no clear message about the future and when things will get back to normal. However, there are some things to consider when thinking the worst and feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances.

-          Unplug from the 24/7 COVID-19 reporting. In order to stay grounded, it’s important to limit exposure to the constant news cycle that discusses this and only this. Be sure to stay on the lookout for important announcements, but check in with the news once a day rather than have it on constantly. This also includes searching for COVID-related stories, reading articles online, and getting caught up in social media.

-          While it feels like there is a lot out of our control, we do have control over our actions and how we view things. Choose to focus on what you CAN control. There is a lot of change and also uncertainty occurring right now, which is notoriously scary for us. There are likely a number of worried thoughts running through our minds about having to stay home, not having enough resources, getting sick, and things closing. Remember:

o   You greatly minimize your chance of getting sick if you keep physical distance from others, clean surfaces, and wash your hands thoroughly.

o   You have likely gone to the store or ordered things online in preparation, so you are able to use your items wisely and have everything you truly need for the next week or so.

o   While businesses and leisure activities are shut down, essential places, like grocery stores, hospitals, and pharmacies are open and provide necessary resources – you will be able to access them.

-          Psychologists know how anxiety-producing this time can be, so some have produced podcasts about ways to manage stress and anxiety during this time. Yale psychologist, Dr. Laurie Santos has a podcast, “The Happiness Lab,” where she has two COVID-19 specific podcasts about things we can do to decrease stress and anxiety. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/id1474245040?fbclid=IwAR3qG8CC6H8CLLJrsHr4wgA8fYQGkLzR0IwmzEr_0HReDc1zXuYMzLBjGR0

-          Seek out professional resources, such as therapy for additional support. A lot of therapists are transitioning to telehealth services. If you have insurance, most likely, there is an in-network provider currently accepting new clients via telehealth (phone or video chat sessions). For those without insurance, there are also resources that are sliding scale, ranging from $20-$60 per session.

o   Open Path https://openpathcollective.org/client/

o   Clear water Counseling http://clearwatercounselingchicago.com/

o   Better Help https://www.betterhelp.com/