In celebration of my new contract with Ellora’s Cave for The Real Mason I’m throwing an impromtu contest over at Flirty Author Bitches. 

Yes, there will be prizes… and fun. But it only lasts 24 hours so come on over and check it out! 

You’ll also find out about my upcoming realease, which I’m super excited about.

~Julia~

Last week over in the Ellore’s Cave author’s group we had a discussion about iPad apps and the like for writers.  Of course, because I’m a huge techno geek, I abandoned my normal lurker status and jumped into the discussion.  I’ve been using my iPad for writing since it’s release and have found some really great ways to utilize it.  Being the kind sort that I am, I thought I’d share them with you.

Now, I will say, in my opinion nothing takes the place of a my laptop and it’s still my tool of choice when it comes to pounding out words on my manuscript.  However, the one advantage I think the iPad has is (and this might be only my family) when it comes to trying to get some things done with the family, they seemed to have a different tolerance level with the iPad than when I try and bring my laptop in front of the TV.  Once my laptop is brought into the mix it becomes a thing of evil my family must destroy.

So, if you want to get some writing done on your iPad, here’s some apps that I’ve found invaluable and that I use on a daily basis. There are others, but I use these 3 constantly.

I hope you find them helpful.

My Favorite Apps

Thinkbook-  I use this app for plotting and organizing my WIP as well as my future ideas, and blog posts (yes, this section is a bit sparse).  I will admit, at first blush this isn’t the most intuitive app, however once you get over the learning curve I’ve found it really helpful.  You can organize your information in a project plan, outline, notebook, page, or note.  In addition, you can create templates and use them over and over again.  For my longer, single tiles I have a couple of templates set up that help me make sure I deal with all those niggling plot issues without ruining my pantsing nature.  Lastly, there are some very helpful youtube tutoritals that will help you over the hump. You can find Thinkbook at the App Store here.  Bonus: My husband uses this app for his job to track all his projects so it’s great for business as well.

Quickoffice- I’ve tried to use a variety of word processing programs but have found this one to be the most user friendly office compatible program .  I’ve used Pages, but because I’m not on a Mac I just didn’t find it as easy to interface with all my other computer equipment and I didn’t like having to convert back and forth and jump through various other hoops.  To me quick office is the most “wordlike” although it doesn’t have some handy features like word counts.  The other thing I like about this app is that the developers make a lot of updates to the program and seem to listen to users.  At one point there wasn’t a find feature, and there was quite a lot of noise about it, and they were very responsive with a fix.  In addition, it syncs with dropbox, which, with 2 laptops, a desktop, an iPad and iPhone I’d be lost without.  You can find Quickoffice at the App Store here. Bonus: It also comes with excel and PowerPoint if you like that kind of thing.

Dropbox- Yes, most people know about app, but I can’t say enough about how much I love it.  It might be one of my most loved products as it makes my life much easier.  The other thing that I find about Dropbox is almost all apps that allow storage and transfer sync with dropbox.  I’ve used other storage programs in the past and I haven’t looked back since I discovered dropbox. You can find Dropbox at the App store here.

~Julia~

(P.S- I have no affiliation with any of these products and I am not receiving compensation for this post)

Flirty Author Bitches talking about failure and the road to success.  I included some quotes in my blog but here are some other ones I like.

I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.  ~Bill Cosby

Try again.  Fail again.  Fail better.  ~Samuel Beckett

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.  ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

It is a mistake to suppose that people succeed through success; they often succeed through failures.  ~Author Unknown

I hope you’ll stop by and leave me a comment.

~Julia

I can’t believe 2011 is over!

Like most everyone I have my list of resolutions and things I want to accomplish in 2012 but instead of giving you that list I’d rather start this new year with the things I’m most grateful for.

My 2012 Gratitude List

1. My health– the last 2 years in a row have ended with people dying unexpectedly and it’s really made me realize how very important health is.  Without it, not much else matters.
2. My husband– After 18 years together he’s still awesome.  I really couldn’t ask for a better husband or a more understanding one. He’s supported every crazy idea I’ve ever had and there’s not many people who would do that.
3. My kids– I have 2 of the best kids out there.  They’re happy, healthy, and teach me new things every day.
4. My mom– She lives next door to me and is my biggest supporter.  She’s been nothing but enthusiastic about my writing, even when I know sometimes she’s um…. surprised… at my subject matter.  She also helps me whenever she can and is the best grandma ever!
5. The rest of my family– No list would be complete without mentioning this crazy bunch.  I love them all and am so thankful to have such a close knit group to call my own.
6. Writing– I spent a lot of years not sure what I wanted to do with my life.  Sure I had a good job, but I wasn’t really fulfilled.  I still don’t really know what made me open that 1st word document 5 years ago and start a story but I’m very grateful I did.
7. My readers– Thank you so much for all the support and kindness you’ve shown my work over the last couple years.  I am truly grateful to you for reading and liking my stories.
8. My BFF’s– I have the best friends a women could ask for.  They are all different from each other, and give me different things, but I couldn’t ask for a more supportive group of women.  It’s nice to be understood.
9. My creativity– I do believe that everyone is creative and I’m so grateful I’ve been able to get in touch with and cultivate mine.
10. My analytical side– I believe that writing is equally creative and analytical. Without this side of my personality I wouldn’t be able to produce polished stories, spot problems areas, develop believable character arcs, fix plot holes, etc.  Being analytical is a much over looked yet equally important component of writing and I’m grateful for my active, logical (albeit sometimes overly) brain.

So there you have it, the things I’m most grateful for… sure there are others, but this is the top ten.  What are you most grateful for going into this upcoming year?

~Julia~  

Thanks to the lightening speed of my editor the fabulous Mary Moran The Burn List will be released on November 25th over at Ellora’s Cave.  Since I’ll be tucked away in the mountains, recovering from too much turkey and a trip to Disney, I’m not sure I’ll have any computer access to do much promotion of the release so I thought I’d give you all a little advance notice.

Lukas Marlow is a gorgeous firefighter.  Abby Simmons is a repressed good girl with a very naughty to-do list.  Together they discover appearances can be deceiving and sometimes love is living right next door.

I loved revisiting this couple. Abby is filled with lots of snark and despite their shy start knows how to give Lukas a run for his money.

I hope they are as fun to read as they are to write.

Check out the excerpt, happy reading!

~Julia~

You’ve done it,  you’ve completed  your manuscript. Written a whole story with an actual beginning, middle, and end. And it feels awesome!  You run around your house bouncing off the walls in happiness, you do some yoga stretches to work the kinks out of your back and neck from sitting hunched over for too long, and rhapsodize about what you’ll do in your free time until the next project grabs you by the neck and won’t let go.   Sound familiar?

Then, reality sets in, writing “The End” is only the first step in getting a completed manuscript of the door, but this is where the real work begins.

And, since I’ve just finished a story, this list is in the forefront of my mind.

So, what needs to be done to get your manuscript out the door and into an editors hands?

1. The dreaded synopsis– I stupidly believed once I was published I’d never have to write one of these again.  I was wrong.  I can’t think of a story I haven’t had to write one for.  So, I guess my best advice is get use to them, they’re hard to shake.
2. The blurb– I could technically wait on writing this, but since I’m already forced to write a synopsis, I just get this little bit of irritation out of the way too.  How can 200 little words be so darn hard to write?
3. My electronic proof– I distinguish this from true editing that is  part of the manuscript writing process.  This it the electronic read though I do when I already have that “I’m happy feeling” and consider myself done with the book.  I usually give myself a few days to a week of time  before I do this read through.  That distance is vital and allows me to see things with fresh eyes. Tip: The more you struggled with a story the longer the time lapse should be to allow for the emotional detachment.
4. Depending on how I’m feeling about the manuscript I may send out to one of my critique partners to read through the story or parts of the story.  I don’t do this all the time, but only if there’s parts of the story niggling at me that I’m worried about.
5. My printed proof– I change the font (believe it or not this helps find spots you’re auto-correcting in your head) and print out the whole story. (Side note: I have a 2 sided printer to be kinder to the environment) Then I comb through one more time.  Doing that final paper read is in my opinion and essential step that’s very tempting to want to skip.  Don’t do it.  Your eye will ALWAYS catch things you’ve missed during your other reads.
6. Make those last changes, check all your formatting, make sure your information is on the manuscript, etc.
7. Send the story.  This last and final step is in some ways the hardest.  It’s the moment you’re most vulnerable and where your baby has left your hands and officially out of your control.

This is my list on the road to producing the most polished manuscript I can.  I hope it helps you, but always remember, like all writing advice, it’s only suggestions.  In the end you have to follow what’s best for you.

Full Disclosure– I’m starting step 3 this morning.  Wish me luck.

~Julia~

Every once in a wide I like to throw my husband a little curve ball by cooking up a storm like I’m the next Martha Stewart.  It’s a good way to keep him on his toes and confuse him.  Not to mention provide him with a little fantasy material where he can pretend I’m another women for the day.  Hey, after 11 years of marriage and 17 years together, one does what she can.

So, my six year old daughter and I made this healthy multi-grain cinnamon rolls form the Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Magazine.  There was a variation for twists, which for some reason my son had to have, and this picture is the end result.  Not perfect, not super pretty, but hey we’re new!!

And I have to say, healthy cooking never tasted so good.  My kids, who are my worst critics, gave it rave reviews. Needless to say it was gone within an hour.  (Side Note: I’m fairly certain to really be “healthy” you’re not supposed to eat all 12 servings in 1 sitting, but hey at least we got our fiber for the day.)

Happy Sunday,

~Julia~

I’m very excited to announce The Burn List is coming soon to Ellora’s Cave.

I wrote this story a couple of years ago, publishing it with a different house. When I got the rights back, it was great fun to see how I’ve grown and changed as a writer.

I laughed.

I cringed.

I corrected.

Nostalgic, I pulled out the first thing I ever wrote and read though those random, crazy pages.

I laughed.

I cringed.

I hid my head in embarrassment.

Good fun was had by all.  Maybe some day, if I’m brave enough, I’ll post some of my first writings just for fun.  We shall see..

In the mean time, let me introduce you to Abby and Lukas, two neighbors who find love in their own back yards…

After spending her thirtieth birthday with her parents, straight as an arrow Abby Simmons drowns her sorrows in a bottle of tequila and a splash of margarita mix. All she wants is a little excitement, one chance to go wild before she settles back into her regularly scheduled life. Fueled by liquid courage, Abby sets out to give herself the perfect gift—her bad boy neighbor, firefighter, Lukas Marlow.

Sure, Lukas likes intoxicated girls looking to turn their fantasies into reality as much as the next guy, but this is sweet little Abby. Definitely on the do not touch list.  Determined to save her from embarrassment, he sends her away with an order to sleep it off, and a promise to fulfill her desires in the sober light of day. Confident he’s scared her away for good, nothing could have shocked him more than an email from Abby outlining her sexual to-do list.

Turns out his quiet neighbor isn’t such a good girl after all and Lukas has no other choice but to make her burn.

I’m looking forward to sharing the cover and excerpts shortly.

~Julia~

I’m over at Flirty Author Bitches today (And the 3rd Tuesday of every month) talking about the trials and tribulations of social networking.  As you can see by my sparse blog posts that I’m not very good at the venue and wanted to share why.

Hopefully, someday, I’ll find a happy balance in this over connected world…

Come on over and let me know your thoughts.

http://flirtyauthorbitches.com/

Happy Tuesday!

~Julia~

No! I’m not talking about losing your virginity, but I like where your mind is at.  I’m talking about the first time you finish an actual story.  I’ve been thinking about my 1st time a lot recently because Riding the Rail showed up on Amazon recently and I got all nostalgic.

I came to writing later in life. I wasn’t one of those writers that had known since she was six what she was destine to be.  No, I didn’t eventhink about it until I was 35 (I’m turning 40 in August) when I had a boring job and endless free time and I was actually bored with surfing.  I still don’t even know what made me decide to open up a document and start writing characters.

Of course, they were all jumbled up in my head and I spent a lot of time just writing endless, meaningless scenes.  Then came the dreaded news that I had no idea how to actually write and I spent a good long time figuring out the how. Finally, it all started to come together and Riding the Rail was born.

I got the idea one morning when I was riding the Chicago EL to work.  I was squashed in between a bunch of strangers, none of them remotely inappropriate behavior worthy and I thought… hey, that would be a good opening scene for a book.  I started writing it that day, and about 5 weeks later I submitted it.

It’s not perfect. I look back at it now and see where I can strengthen the story and the writing.  I can see how my voice has changed and emerged since I started this crazy writing business, but that’s not really the point.  We all
need to start somewhere.  We all need a first.  And Riding the Rail is mine. It will always have a soft spot in my heart and why I’ll never pull it, revise it or change its core.  It’s a reminder of where I’ve come from and a marker of how I’ve changed and evolved since those early days where I didn’t know what I was doing or where I was going.  And, for that, I am grateful

If you’re interested  you can read the excerpt or Riding the Rail on Amazon for $2.85.

~Julia~