Lynn Raye Harris

It’s been a heckuva week over here at Chez Harris! I’ve been trying to get ready for my trip to LA for the RT Booklovers Convention next week, and I had to go see the accountant about my taxes. I *still* don’t know what the damage will be, but I’m quite positive I owe money this year. Not a problem since I was smart and followed good advice from Linda Howard: always put a third of your earnings away for taxes. I did that. Now it’s just the size of the check I’ll have to write that worries me.

I haven’t been completely absent on the blogosphere — I’ve been guest blogging in a few places!

I was at I Heart Presents, talking about amazing jewelry and passionate love affairs.

I was at the Pink Heart Society, where I gave an easy recipe for jambalaya.

And today I’m at the Writing Playground, talking about writing and books and giving away a book.

Hop over and join us!

Oh, and The Devil’s Heart is in stores now!

Today’s free book over at eHarlequin is The Prince’s Royal Concubine! If you buy two books, you get my book for free. That’s a pretty good deal!

Have you heard of the romance novel trading cards that will be available at RT and RWA? See this site for details. Basically, authors are making character trading cards for their novels — and readers can collect them all! I thought this was such a cool idea that I had two cards designed.

Here’s the card for The Devil’s Heart:

And here’s the one for Behind the Palace Walls:

These are side by side views. The cover will be the front, and the hero will be the back. If you’re at RT in a few weeks, come and visit me at the booksigning and pick up your trading cards! When I get them in, I may offer to mail some out to readers who can’t attend. Stay tuned for details!

I have a new cover to share with y’all! This is from the UK release of The Heartless Rebel, which will hit North America in November of this year.

Jack…Red-Hot. Renegade. Restless.

Notorious gambler Jack no longer gets a buzz from the risks he takes at the card table. In fact it bores him. Until one night he wins more than he ever bargained for… His prize is stunning Cara Taylor – she might be down on her luck but she certainly doesn’t need rescuing by a card-shark like Jack! Now she’s stuck with him she doesn’t know whether to love him or loathe him.

This story is part of an eight book continuity series. In the UK, it’s called Bad Blood. In North America, I think it will be called The Notorious Wolfes. I totally love this cover! It completely captures Jack Wolfe. This story takes place in the French Riviera, Paris, London, New Orleans, and Las Vegas. I had a great time writing it — and I hope you’ll enjoy this story when it comes your way!

Writing as a career is amazing. It’s awesome and wonderful and a dream come true. And yet, there will be bad days. Days when you worry and sweat and fear that you aren’t getting it right or that people don’t love your books and you’re doomed to fail. Yes, it’s true, even published authors are insecure.

So the next time you’re staring at crappy contest scores or feeling gutted because you got a rejection letter, I want you to remember something. Remember that no one is gonna die over this. No one’s life hangs in the balance as you type away, as you sweat and work and fear. It’s only you and your fears sitting at the computer.

Maybe that’s a small comfort. Or maybe it’s no comfort.

I know this means everything to you. I really do. But some days you just have to tell yourself it’s not brain surgery. Back away from the keyboard. Read; take time for yourself. Live life.

The words will come again. And they may come better than before. The pie is not finite, y’all. If someone else sells before you do, it doesn’t mean you won’t. It doesn’t mean your chances are gone, or slimmer.

Just write. The rest will sort itself out. No one’s gonna die if you get rejected. And that’s really kind of a good thing, right? (And believe me, there are days when I need to take my own advice! Days when I worry I’m truly the worst writer on the planet.)

And now I want to move on to happier things and tell you that The Devil’s Heart is available a month early from eHarlequin! You can order it for your e-reader or a paperback copy. You can read an excerpt on this site, or a different one here.

This book was rewritten massively between the first time I turned it in and when it was accepted. I’m sure I was an insecure mess as I worked on it, but it’s out there now and it’s your turn to tell me if I got it right. I hope you enjoy!