The back yard project.

Remember when my back yard looked like this?

Or this?

Or even like this?

Makes you want to sit a spell, right?

 But now!!
Soon, we will have paint and furniture, too. :)

Celebrations!

Now that I have found a measure of health again, it is time to celebrate the release of Dracula Unleashed!

 To celebrate Dracula's final book, I am giving away a dragon necklace - after all, Dracul means dragon. And Valerie loves her dragon embroidered coat.

This is the chance to wear your very own dragon! It is suitable for both men and women, too, just like everyone else in the book.

All you have to do is comment here, at my Twitter, or on my Facebook, and you are entered into a drawing for the shiny.

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

Best of...Tips and Tricks

Continuing the four year anniversary of my blog with a post from November 10, 2009. :)

Tips and tricks.

Let's be honest. We all experience insecurity and fear about our writing. Everything from "It sucks", to "I suck" and everything in between.

It can paralyze an artist in a quagmire of self-loathing misery. Sometimes, though, it's possible to make a few steps out this nasty, leech-ridden, malaria-infested swamp

I call upon my 'tricks' to make it easier to find a shortcut. Here's few of my favorite tricks in no particular order, in a handy numbered list for quick reference. :)

My local library

Bribery. Yummy, yummy bribery.

1. Change writing locations. I'll write in the library, different rooms in the house (I'm writing this now on my second floor landing), a coffee-shop (Starbucks is a cliche for a reason, folks!), or even just go outside. Something about a different visual geography can shake me out of a funk.
2. Bribery is both functional and traditional. One of my critique partners says, "I don't need a lollipop every time I finish five pages." Well, I'm not nearly that mature. I love to bribe myself with hot baths, visits with my friends, a good movie - you name it. I try to avoid bribing myself with food, though. That way lies getting stuck in the different quagmire of body image issues.
3. Ask for help. Somewhere out there, someone believes in you. Give them a call or an email. Say, "I'm going in. Cover me!" For some reason, this works really really well.
4. Set a timer. When I'm exhausted and nearly falling out of my chair, I can fulfill my promises to myself by setting a timer for however long, and then letting myself rest.
5. Read your work aloud. Something about hearing the story  gets me ready to rock and roll.
6. Crank your tunes. Turn that knob to eleven. Let the music drown out all those nasty, self-defeating voices.

What are some of your favorite tricks?

Women in the Arts: Su Lute

What is the name of your business and what do you tell other people you do? (such as author, teacher, designer)

When I meet new people I always tell them I'm an author...and a nurse. I don't always wait until they ask, lol.

When did you know it was time to stop treating your art as a hobby and start it as a career?

I never considered writing a hobby. I was always very serious about it, even in high school writing stories for English class. And I made conscious decisions about whether or not writing could fit into my life, especially when I had a young family, was working the night shift at a hospital and bringing home a steady paycheck. Once the kids were older and I had a long bus commute into Portland I decided to see if I could finish a full length novel. I did and have not looked back.

What are some of the aspects of your job that people don’t see? For example, most people don’t understand how much marketing is done by the authors themselves instead of a publisher, and most audience members don’t see how costumes and props are designed/chosen.

I don't really look at writing as a job. For me, most of the time it's one of those fun things I do, like designing the book covers, telling a story that moves the reader to look at their life differently, setting that story free and hoping it flies high. When you are an Indie author there is so much that goes into making a finished, salable book, even I was surprised by the amount of work it takes, and the number of hours. I guess that's what I would say readers don't see. Hopefully they enjoy the results of all that work, which for me is a labor of love.

Who inspired/inspires you on those inevitable rough days?

This is going to sound corny, but my mother, who's still with us thank goodness, and now moving back to the place of her heart – Hawaii. Her life and how far she's come is an inspiration. The saying, you've come a long way, baby, what coined just for her.

Su - that truly is a fantastic cover!

Name a few of your current projects. For example, conferences, publicity, design process, what you have for sale.

I always have a long list of “things” to do, but of course my current projects are books in progress. I just released the first Dragonkind novel, Dragon's Thief – with my favorite cover, by-the-way – and have started the second book in the series, Dragon's Keeper. I'm also in the middle of writing the second Falling For A Hero novel, Bear's Full House. In the back of my mind, I'm thinking of starting a series of novellas, not necessarily connected; one of them Daniel and Abigayle's story (from the Dragonkind Chronicles). I'm investigating Scrivener as a writing tool, and organizer for my crazy way of writing a story. And I'm decluttering my life and how I go from day to day. Does that count as a project?

This question is a chance to meander or talk in greater depth if you’d like. Here you can talk about what hobbies you pursue, how you refresh your well of ideas, what you would recommend to other women interested in a career in the arts.

Thanks Linda, so much for having me. All I can add is...we are each of us a work in progress. Pursue yourself, your best nature, love and passion as you would that perfect latte, or dark chocolate, athletic goal, or race for the gold. That perfect moment when everything comes together as it should. When you are in that moment, whether in the arts, business, or just as a human, you will have made it and your life will have been worthwhile. You can find me at all the usual watering holes and at www.susanlute.com. Come visit. I love to chat.

New!  A Marine's Christmas Proposal AND Dragon's Thief
More @www.susanlute.com & www.seejanepublish.wordpress.com

Thank you so much, Su!

Dracula's Secret, Blood Wings #1
Dracula's Desires, Blood Wings #2
Dracula Unleashed, Blood Wings #3, to be released March 21, 2013

A love letter to you.

I'm a big fan of Alexandra Franzen (over here).  She wrote this challenge on her website:

The premise: what if instead of writing a traditional “sales page” about your latest product, service, event, project, workshop or offering … you simply wrote your customer a Love Letter?

And this was what came out. :)

I want to live in a world where women are not shamed for what they read, what they watch, and their sexual choices.

I'm so tired of women's tastes being diminished and belittled.

I want you to have books that highlight women asking for what they want, and then being encouraged and supported by her relationships instead of struggling to be heard.

So I've created a series of sexually explicit, adventurous books filled with strong thoughtful men and powerful women.

Right now, I want to you click on the link to read a sample chapter of each book!

Dracula's Secret
Dracula's Desire
Dracula Unleashed

It all begins NOW.

With all my love,

Linda Mercury