Friday, December 31, 2010

Looking Back At 2010!

It's hard to look at today's date and realize another year is almost complete. As a kid, time moves like a turtle trapped in molasses, but as an adult it seems to speed right by. As a paranormal romance author, well, time seems rather fluid with the ebb and flow of story, deadlines, and promotion.

For this alpha female paranormal romance author, 2010 has been full of interesting advancements, adjustments, and discoveries.

I started the year unsure how to do all the techno things here on

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

World Building For Kindle and eReader Owners

Did you get a kindle or other eBook reader this holiday season? Whether you treated yourself or someone treated you - congratulations! I was the happy

recipient of a kindle last year and I'm just as thrilled with it today as I was then.

(Shameless Plug: if you'd like to load up your new eBook reader with a few great paranormal romance novels, look for Regan Black titles on kindle, Smashwords, or AllRomanceEbooks!)

The best part of an eReader, in my opinion, is the fabulous world

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Sunday, December 26, 2010

Merry Christmas Greyhounds!

If today is merely another Saturday for you, then Happy Saturday and welcome to what's typically 'adopted greyhound day' at ReganBlack.com! But if, like me, today is a day you celebrate...Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I love the quiet of mornings when I can get up and have coffee and some time to think before everyone else is awake. I sort of go through the motions with the routine (dogs outside, Brody's meds, dog food, etc.) and the adopted greyhounds gently herd me in the right

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Thursday, December 23, 2010

An Element of Expectation

Here we are, at the night before Christmas Eve and all around me people, including my jaded teenagers, are getting excited for Christmas morning. That air of expectation, of eager anticipation, is contagious and I find it makes all of us smile, joke, and enjoy each moment between now and December 25th with loving clarity.

The same sort of expectation is an important element of paranormal romance novels.

It's a great feeling to open a new book, with all the rich excitement of a child

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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Holiday Elements of Paranormal Romance Novels

It seems many authors are asking their fans if they like to read stories set around Christmas or other holidays. Based on November and December releases, which usually include several novels with holiday elements, I'd say publishers believe readers like themed and well timed stories.

While I don't mean to jump on a bandwagon, I'd love to hear if you're yay or nay on the holiday book idea.

[caption id="attachment_965" align="alignright" width="102" caption="Snow Covered

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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Adopted Greyhound Holiday Traditions

Our adopted greyhounds adapted quickly to life off the track - including holidays!

I think Boo's favorite part of the holiday is the fruit and cheese trays on days when we're baking rather than cooking formal meals. We discovered Boo liked grapes about the time we remembered grapes and raisins are poisoneous to dogs. Boo survived (thank heaven) and likes to make a point of it now, every time we're washing grapes, that she's immune (we don't give in however) and she settles for smidges of

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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Resolutions And Revisions For Writers

As we get closer to putting the wrap on 2010, it's natural to look ahead to 2011. Whether you want to give your writing life a jump start, or need some encouragement to tackle the editing of the manuscript you just finished, the Resolutions and Revisions class can help.

Once more, I'm happy to say, this online class is sponsored by the LowcountryRWA. The class will start on January 5th (registration deadline is January 2nd)

New Year’s Resolutions and Revisions
Presented by Regan

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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Writers get set for another Resolutions and Revisions class! Visit LRWA for details: http://ping.fm/OM1ur

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

World Building for Paranormal Romance Novels Requires Dimension

World building for paranormal romance novels means engaging your reader, capturing their interest and taking them along from the opening line, through one scene to the next, until they reach that wonderful ending. You want a reader turning pages, forgetting about time. You want them immersed in the world you created.

Think of it like this. A great movie sweeps you into the action with music, vivid cinematography and dialogue (or an appropriate lack thereof) until the credits roll and you

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Saturday, December 11, 2010

Adopted Greyhound Is Into Conservation

Brody has reached the 'conservation of energy' stage of greyhound life. It's not that he hasn't enjoyed his retirement from day one - he has. It's more a matter of letting the other dogs take the lead in matters of moving.

Anywhere.

He's so confident in how well he trained Boo when she was just a foster greyhound that he lets her handle most of the 'greyhound greeter' responsibility now. Sure he'll get up when we come home, but only if he's thirsty or needs to go out sooner rather than

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Thursday, December 9, 2010

Still time to enter to win 1 of 3 Shadows of Justice novels at Black Rose Reviews! http://ping.fm/Y5pbx

World Building Lessons From Burlesque

Tuesday's quote from Marie Curie (about believing in your gifts and yourself) leads right into my thoughts on world building today. Anyone who's friended me on Facebook or twitter knows I'm a fan of the Burlesque movie, so it won't be a surprise that I'm using it as an example of excellent world building for paranormal romance novels.

But wait! Burlesque isn't a paranormal romance novel...

You're right. It's a movie I expected to be good, fun entertainment that turned out to be a fabulous

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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Motivating Quote From An Alpha Female

"We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained. ” Marie Curie (1867–1934) French physicist and chemist, two-time Nobel Prize winner

Marie Curie was an alpha female of her time, making advances in the sciences and inroads for women in scientific careers. Her accomplishments and advice are as relevant today no matter what we're reading, writing, or striving to achieve.

For paranormal romance writers, this quote is an excellent

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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Holiday Fun With Adopted Greyhounds

Having a puppy can be one of the best joys of the holiday season. Having an adopted greyhound can be equally fun. Having an adopted greyhound puppy means you're in for a world of fresh discovery and wee bit of craziness.

Greyhound puppies are relatively hard to come by, and when Bandit came to us as a foster greyhound he was a full grown giant of a greyhound with an even bigger share of curiosity, and at eleven months he was still very much a puppy.

Greyhounds are naturally inquisitive

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Friday, December 3, 2010

Oh happy day!!! The annual box from my MIL full of Frango chocolates has arrived. And I'm the only one home. bwahahaha!
Friday night means more hockey! It's so much fun to watch the game and the kids who support the team!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

The New Alpha Female Author Career Model

Publishing, like so many local businesses and global industries, is changing. If you're a reader of paranormal romance novels, literary fiction, newspapers, or blogs you're an eyewitness to the odd blend of chaos, uncertainty, and hope that surrounds every discussion of 'the future of publishing'.

A self described alpha female who likes to write strong, willful leading ladies, uncertainty and chaos as it pertains to my career path aren't things I find soothing.

Publishing is a subjective

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