Tawdra Kandle

Authors, Readers and Boundaries in this Brave New World

February 19, 2015 No Comments

I’m an indie author, and proudly so. I can’t imagine making this journey any other way, because it works for me. It doesn’t mean it’s anyone else’s best choice, but it’s definitely mine.

That being said, it’s not difficult to see the shifts in the landscape of publishing, both positive and negative. I love being in control of my own career. I can publish as much or as little as I choose. I can have the book covers I want, and I can write the characters and story lines I want. I’m my own boss.

Some of the negatives have been slow to develop, but they’re here. I’ve noticed that some readers–none of mine, who are perfect in every way–but some out there have begun to feel that they have the right to dictate to authors what they should and should not write. . .which book should be written before another one. . .which character should live and die.

I’m not sure why exactly this change has come about, but I have a theory. Once upon a time, authors were reclusive creatures. You might write a letter to a favorite author, or you might meet her at a book signing, but there was rarely time or opportunity to share your own take on her plot lines. But here we are in the 21st century, where most authors are on social media, have email addresses available to the public and often post very personal information. Readers feel closer to authors. And in one sense they are; I like my readers very much, and I enjoy what they share with me. As I’ve said before, my readers are perfect. But I see it, and I’ve heard about it.

I like feedback, and I welcome readers’ input. But there is a line. The characters may live out in the book world, but they were born in my head, and that’s where all the magic happens. I’m sorry if some of their actions or decisions aren’t what all readers want, but that’s how it happened, I promise you.

I think the inimitable Nora Roberts captured this perfectly in her recent blog post. It’s called, appropriately enough, Bite Me.

I’m not Nora, I’ll never be Nora, and I would never, ever dare to suggest that I know anything about what she’s experienced. But I see the trend, and not just with the lovely Ms. Roberts. I see it creeping in everywhere.

I’m not unsympathetic. Heck, if you want the full truth, in the course of my reading lifetime, I wanted Bella not to turn into a vampire (or have a baby, but that’s another story), I wanted Dumbledore not to die, I wanted Claire not to leave 18th century Scotland, and I wanted Rhett not to walk out on Scarlett. But I understood that the story wasn’t mine, and I had to accept the decisions of the author.

(Now, when it comes to a TV show, like, say, How I Met Your Mother, all bets are off. The real ending was not what we saw last spring. I’m sure of it.)

The bottom line is that writers have the right to control the destiny of their own characters without influence or harassment from others. It’s one of our job perks. And if you mess around with us, no worries. . .we’ll just write you into the book. And probably kill you off. Horribly.

😉

What I'm Reading Wednesday

I’m Reading. . .Until There Was You.

February 18, 2015 No Comments

This week, I’m reading Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins.

For me, word of mouth is the best way to find new books and new authors. I count on a small group of people who know my taste and preferences. Last fall, my friend Amanda recommended KH to me. I began with her Blue Heron series, and I was hooked fast. As is typical for me, I went on to devour everything of hers I could find.
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I’m now down to her earliest books, and I’m still enjoying them. She has a way of writing strong yet flawed women who are surrounded by amusing–yet all too real–supporting characters, family members and always a dog. I’ve yet to get through one of her books where I haven’t a) laughed out loud (usually in the middle of the night, to the annoyance of my sleeping husband) b) cried real tears–and sometimes ugly cried with sobs and c) sighed at the lovely romance of it all.

These books are more than just love stories. They border on chick-lit, but the very best of that genre–not so much on the angsty, more on the real and amusing. The women have good jobs, they have strong support networks, and they’re close to their families. The men tend to be slightly less-well developed; we’re definitely seeing the world through the female perspective, but it doesn’t make me like the guys any less.

The heat is on in KH’s books, but there’s no detailed sex. It’s fade to black, but I never feel that lack–there’s no doubt that she delivers the sizzle. But if reading the nitty-gritty makes you queasy, no worries here.

If I were you, I’d begin with The Best Man (on sale right now for 99 cents at the ‘zon), Book 1 in the Blue Heron series. And then be prepared to sail through her entire back list–I’m betting you’ll be hooked.

My favorites so far as Catch of the Day and Too Good To Be True. Be sure to come back and tell me what you think. . .or stop in to my Facebook page and let me know. We can chat all things KH!

Until next Wednesday. . .

Teaser Tuesday

The Only One Sneak Peek (Part 1)

February 17, 2015 No Comments

If it’s Tuesday, it must be time to get a little sneak peek of my latest work-in-progress. . .

This week I’m working on The Only One, the last book in The One Trilogy. I have to be honest. I’m so loving this book, and I am so freaking sad to say good bye to all the characters in Burton, Georgia. Part of me is wondering if ‘trilogy’ can stretch to four or five books. . .hmmm. . .

Like all The One books, TOO is written in dual point of view, both Mason’s and Rilla’s. This particular piece is taken from Rilla’s chapter.

Dad had taken Gram’s place at the sink, and he glanced at me over his shoulder as I came back into the kitchen. “You’re late. Did you leave your grandmother to make dinner by herself? You know I expect better.”

I steeled myself against wincing. That had been the story of my life. He expected better. I’d been disappointing my father as long as I remembered. I always wondered if those had been the first words I’d heard upon being born. And I wondered if my mother had felt the same way, which would explain why she’d gotten off the farm and as far away from Burton, Georgia as soon as she could.

“I got here as fast as I could, but—”

“Emmett, leave the child be. I started supper early today, and there wasn’t a blessed thing Rilla could’ve done to help me. She would’ve been in my way.” Gram shot me a wink and a smile.

Remember, you can pre-order The Only One right here on Amazon, iBooks, Barnes and Noble and Kobo. I can’t wait to show the cover. All in good time, my pretties, all in good time. . .

(And if you haven’t read the first two books yet–The Last One and The First One–get to it! TOO releases April 7th.)

Uncategorized

The Playlist’s the Thing

February 16, 2015 No Comments

The Posse

Last week at Coastal Magic, I was privileged to be on a panel about music and how it influences our writing processes. I’m passionate about the playlists that accompany each of our books. I can’t imagine not having a whole slew of songs that affect story lines, affect characters’ decisions and keep me rolling when I’m not sure what happens next.

This reminded me that I needed to update all the playlists for my books on here. I used to be dedicated to making sure the lists made the website, but I’ve gotten lazy.

So each Monday, I’ll be updating the play list tab on the site. You can find it under “Books” in the main home menu.

Since past Tawdra had already nicely done The King Series music, today we’re premiering the songs from The Posse. This was one of my favorite books to write and also one of my favorite play lists, mostly because the songs come from my own teen years, the 1980’s. It was so much fun to listen to that music while I was writing, channeling Jude’s memories and the feelings she relived when she heard the songs.

You can find the play list here. And if you haven’t read The Posse, you really should. The next two books in the Crystal Cove Trilogy come out this year.

Next week. . .another of my favorites. We’ll find out what tunes make Rafe tick when I put up the play list from Undeniable.

Book Blog, Promotion and Publicity

Your Next Best #Erotica Read

February 13, 2015 No Comments

So you read the book.

Saw the movie.

What now?

We have the perfect answer.

In fact, we have fifteen perfect answers.

Join us as we share with you what to read after Fifty Shades.

Oh, and count on some naughty fun and some giveaways, too.

Fifteen hot authors bringing you stories with sizzle and heart. . .

It’s just what you need.

Kick-off Facebook Event

Friday, February 13th 2-10 PM EST

Want to check out some of this steamy goodness?

We’re offering a FREE sampler book here.

Meet the authors. . .

Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and three equally special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, and a lover of romance. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!

An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very active imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing is stress reliever that allows her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.

Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.

Follow Lia here: Website/Facebook/Facebook Fan Club/Twitter and sign up for her newsletter.

Colette Gale is the pen name of an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who’s written more than two dozen novels in a variety of genres. Her books have been translated into more than eight languages worldwide, and are regulars on the bestseller lists.

Follow Colette here: Facebook/Twitter

Layla Wilcox is a native New Yorker. She writes about strong women who like all things hot: weather, food, and men–and not necessarily in that order.

When not writing erotic romances, Layla enjoys watching entire seasons of old television series on Amazon Prime while eating homemade vegan pizza, followed by dark chocolate.

Follow Layla here: Facebook/Twitter/Google Plus and sign up for her newsletter.

Juli Valenti grew up in a small town in Arkansas, known for Wal-mart, which is no longer small but is still known for the grocery store. Lucky for her, she didn’t retain an accent, despite her overuse of ya’ll when talking. She currently resides in sunny Florida with her husband and two young boys. If her world wasn’t crazy enough, she also works a full time day job, as well as owns her own editing company (Juli’s Elite Editing).

Follow Juli here: Facebook/Website

After many years spent onstage mouthing the words of other writers, Jenna Barton found her voice while playing with an online community of mouthy broads. Writing down her own stories proved to be far more satisfying than dodging the human and inanimate hazards that come with backstage life, and it alleviated the need to walk and talk and gesture while inhabiting 89.37% of someone else’s reality.
Mostly settled into a life of carpool lanes and checkout lines, Jenna happily resides in suburbia with her husband and their two children. Sadly, there are no drooly, furry, corpulent lapdogs at Chez Barton. For now. For. Now.

Follow Jenna here: Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter/Tsu

Jayne Rylon is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She received the 2011 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Indie Erotic Romance. Her stories used to begin as daydreams in seemingly endless business meetings, but now she is a full time author, who employs the skills she learned from her straight-laced corporate existence in the business of writing. She lives in Ohio with two cats and her husband, the infamous Mr. Rylon. When she can escape her purple office, she loves to travel the world, avoid speeding tickets in her beloved Sky, and–of course–read.

Follow Jayne here: Facebook/Twitter/Tsu/Newsletter
Online Shop – Autographed Books, Ebooks and Reading Apparel

LILI VON is the pseudonym of a bestselling contemporary and paranormal romance novelist. But Lili has a naughty little secret. She loves sex. She reads it, she writes it and if she’s lucky, she gets it. Soft or hard, fast or slow, hot or wild.

A thirty-something married woman, Lili likes erotic stories with substance. She believes in sex with a connection. The stories she writes are about unique couples in unconventional situations.

Follow Lili here:

Find Lili online: Facebook/Twitter/Website/Newsletter
Email: LiliVonWriter@gmail.com

Emma Fallon is a southern girl with a penchant for long nights under the stars with hot men. She writes and reads erotic romance and has a special weakness for historical erotica. She can be enticed to do just about anything. . .as long as there’s chocolate involved.

Follow Emma here: Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr/Website/Amazon/Newsletter

K.M. Scott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of erotic contemporary romance. In love with sexy, intense, unforgettable love, she writes stories that stay with readers long after they finish her books. Under her Gabrielle Bisset name, she writes erotic paranormal romance too for readers who love the supernatural in their sexiness. K.M. lives in Pennsylvania with her teenage son and a herd of pets (she can’t say no to strays).

Follow K.M. here: Facebook/Twitter/Website/Newsletter

Ava Branson is a native Floridian, born and raised. She grew up in a boating family on the Atlantic coast and had sand between her toes from birth. A ten year span spent living in Colorado taught her a love and appreciation of the mountains, but the ocean called her back home and Florida is where she settled raising two children and any number of cats.

When she’s not writing (which is rare) she’s thinking of stories to write (which is always) and just hopes to be able to share a fraction of the countless romances she has dreamed up with readers.

Follow Ava here: Website/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest

Michelle Fox lives in the Midwest with her husband, kids, the occasional exchange student and two, sweetly disobedient, dogs. In her spare time, she’s been known to shake her bon-bon at Zumba, make spectacular cheesecakes, hoard vintage costume jewelry and eat way too much ice cream (Ben and Jerry’s Karamel Sutra for the win!).

Follow Michelle here: Blog/Michelle Fox FB Group/Michelle Fox FB Page/Twitter/Tsu/Goodreads/Newsletter (free read for new subscribers)

ARIANNE RICHMONDE IS THE USA TODAY bestselling author of Stolen Grace, and the Pearl Series books: Shades of Pearl, Shadows of Pearl, Shimmers of Pearl, Pearl, and Belle Pearl – all full length novels. The first three books in the series are also available in one trilogy bundle/box set as The Pearl Trilogy. She has also written The Star Trilogy – a Hollywood romance – Shooting Star, Falling Star, and Shining Star. And also Glass- a provocative short story, which is currently being extended as a trilogy, The Glass Trilogy. Book 1 Shards of Glass, is available for preorder, releasing Feb 17th.

She lives with her husband and coterie of animals in France. She loves to travel and meet people and is thrilled that her books have touched readers from all parts of the globe.

Follow Arianne here: Facebook/Twitter/Website/Goodreads

Lyra Parish loves to write, glamp, and sing obnoxiously loud at the top of her lungs in the shower. Sweet love stories (along with the dirty ones) make her gush. She is a firm believer that a person can never have too many cups of coffee, cats or happily ever afters. When she isn’t busy writing, she can be found sipping various beverages from her non-alcoholic drink buffet, pimp slapping excel spreadsheets, or riding her bike. Lyra lives in Texas with her glassblowing, guitar-playing hubby and black cat named Nibbler.

Follow Lyra here: Twitter/Facebook/Website

USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss is an American author who writes stories about real-life scenarios with fantasy Alpha males. Her works include humor as well as steamy sex.

Follow Chelle here: Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Newsletter

Eve Adams has been writing erotic fiction since the days of original sin. She believes that love is love, exploring sex and relationships between men, women and everything in between. Queen of Hearts is the first book in the Four of Hearts series. With Eve Adams books, you get temptation on every page.

Follow Eve here: Tumblr/Facebook/Twitter

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