Lynn Raye Harris

My hands hurt a bit from all the typing lately (which isn’t stopping me from writing this blog, lol). Typically, I don’t force myself to write SO much all at once, but I have a lot on the writing plate at the moment.

I’m having SO MUCH fun, even though I’m tired, a bit cranky, and my hands hurt. I’m so in the zone that I committed an email faux pas yesterday — I accidentally sent Person A an email that was supposed to go to Person B where I, you guessed it, said something about person A that I’d prefer she not have seen. It wasn’t that bad, but I was a little disgruntled she had made a decision without asking my preference first. (This is not, in any way, writing related.) She made a decision she thought would help me, but I was a little blindsided by it and reacted. I apologized, but her feelings are probably still hurt. My Southern Lady Graciousness gene is certainly lying on a fainting couch, sipping iced tea, and feeling quite horrified.

Yeah, this little faux pas, as mild as it is, reminds me how careful we must be in our communications online. Email can exist forever. Vitriolic blog commentary will come back to haunt you. That time you got upset and vented your spleen on the RWA loops? Yep, it’s still there, somewhere, lurking. It’s human nature to get irritated. It’s human nature to fight back when we feel threatened. But when you get upset about something, take your time to think it through before hitting that reply button. You just might save yourself a lot of headache — and a whole lot of apologizing. If you do say something you regret, apologize. Not an “I’m sorry if” apology, but a real one: “I’m sorry.” No qualifications.

But, really, the thing to do is to always, always remember that words on screen, sent across the Internet, are forever. Don’t say anything you wouldn’t want to admit you said. Remember that blogs and email loops have lurkers, and you have no idea who those lurkers could be. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by branding yourself as a rabble rouser without a cause or an argumentative so-and-so who always has to jump in and give her 2 cents. And don’t think that anonymous comments are anonymous. They never are to the blog or loop owner.

Have you ever committed an email faux pas? How did you handle it? Have you been on the receiving end of an email faux pas? What did you do?

So many things going on lately! Overnight, it seems, I became a working writer. Now, I sit in front of my computer and read my WIP and think, “Will my editor like this? Am I going off the rails in this scene? Is it too much?” I’m new to working with an editor, but I think she’ll rein me in if I go into left field too much. Of course my fear is that she’ll read my work and think they’ve made a mistake in picking me as the winner because it’s obvious I can’t follow directions. *G*

Seriously, I think these are the things that go through every writer’s mind when she sells or, in my case, gets an editor for a year. You suddenly wonder what they see in your work and whether or not you can repeat it. My answer to a friend who felt this way would be, “Of course you can! They aren’t dumb, and they know you can do it or they wouldn’t have chosen your story!”

So, I’ll take my own advice and stop fretting. Too much.

But really, I’m having fun with these characters and their story. I wrote two entries for the Harlequin contest; the Spanish Magnate was my second entry. I knew when I wrote it — when I was writing it — that it was special. I didn’t know it was good enough to win, but I knew I had something. I could feel the depth of emotion in my characters, in their situation, and I wanted to keep writing about them.

I’ve always heard writers talk about how they knew a certain manuscript was THE one. I felt that way about THE SPANISH MAGNATE’S REVENGE. I didn’t know if the editors would agree with me, but I had that feeling deep inside, that giggly happy feeling you get when you know something’s right. As a Presents reader, I was positive I’d get a request out of it, that it fit the line even if it needed a lot of help. The outcome was more than I’d hoped.

So I’m working on finishing, and I have editorial notes to keep in mind as I work. But it’s still fun, writing this story, and I still love these characters. And I know I can do it, even if I get twisted up with self-doubt from time to time.

Have you ever known a book you were working on was THE one? If you’ve gotten a revision letter on a mss, did it scare you or did you jump in with both feet? More importantly, is it Spring where you live and are you enjoying the warm weather and flowering plants? I miss Hawaii in the winter, but when Spring hits, I love the new leaves and flowers, the gentle breezes, the birds and butterflies and warm sun. Spring is about possibilities, isn’t it?

It was a busy weekend here in Northern Alabama! The Heart of Dixie chapter participated in a local event called Female & Fabulous at the civic center. There were health, beauty, and lifestyle booths spread around the center, lots of giveaways, and Clinton Kelly from TLC’s What Not to Wear made an appearance.

I’ve never watched WNTW, but I think I will in the future. I liked what Clinton said. He said one thing that really impressed me: “Don’t dress to please a man.” The other thing he talked about was young women and the pressure to dress like Paris, Britney, or Lindsay. Those clothes, the ones that show lots of skin, aren’t necessary. You don’t have to dress like a ho to be beautiful. After that, I figured I was in love. When he continued on to say that catalog models weren’t women to emulate because they weren’t typical, well, the applause was deafening. The guy was funny, engaging, and entertaining. Other than the women who just wanted to smell or hug him, it was a great question and answer session he gave. (And what’s with people anyway that they raise their hand for a question and then just want to smell the guy when he comes over? Sheesh.)

As romance writers, we often write women who are smart and confident. They may not start out that way, but they end up that way by the end of the book. Confident women moving forward with the man they’ve fallen in love with. They don’t compromise who they are to be with the hero. Nor does the hero want them to. I guess that’s why I love romance.

So, let’s remember that even though real life isn’t fiction, we can still be confident women who have every right to our own sense of self-worth that is NOT dependent upon a man. A man is your partner, not your reason for existing. No romance heroine would ever make that mistake, so why is it that romance novels get the reputation for being fluffy and trashy? Just another thing I don’t get.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever worn? I can’t remember the worse thing I’ve ever worn, but when I was about nine, I got into my mother’s makeup and proceeded to cake it on. Then I went outside to wait for my grandmother to pick me up for my trip to the skating rink. She took one look and went ballistic. Since she never, ever raised her voice or got upset, I guess I must have looked pretty awful. Needless to say, she made me wipe it all off.

I dug into the photos to pull out this one of a (I think) torch ginger from Kauai. Love the vibrant colors of the flowers in Hawaii!

Anyway, it’s Spring Break this week. Which means next to nothing for me. I don’t have kiddies out of school. I’m not a coed anymore.

But, strangely, I have Spring-Break-itis of the mind. My head is not in the game this week. I’ve stared at my WIP(s), typed a few words here and there, but had no major break throughs. For one, I had a stupid moment where I misread the KOD Daphne requirements. I wanted to get two entries in, and I thought I had until March 15 to enter electronically. Nope, no electronic entry. You could pay with PayPal, which is what threw me, and then you had to send in your hard copy to reach the coordinators by March 15. I realized this on March 13. Not good.

Stupid brain. :/

Whenever it gets a little warm out right after cold winter days, my mind turns to spring cleaning. I get these urges to vacuum and wash things. House projects start to crowd my head. Landscaping here, curtains there, paint that room, reorganize that closet, etc. I recognize that these are creative endeavors of a sort, and that it takes energy away from writing, but sometimes you gotta let the mind wander.

So, this week, I’m wandering. I bought some house plants. Hubby and I did a couple of small projects in the house. We’re talking landscape, looking at plans, thinking about what we want.

There’s always more to do, and I can’t spend all my time away from the computer. But this week, I’m letting myself relax. No WIP pressure, no sit-at-the-desk-all-day-or-be-a-failure recriminations. I’m having a Spring Break of the mind. Don’t you agree it’s a good idea from time to time?

Where does the week go!? It’s been a strange week in some ways. First, lots of rain. That was good. Wednesday AM, tornado sirens. Not good.

Trouble sleeping, but that happens when my mind is working overtime on a story. Or, in this case, three stories. When I lie down, my brain will not stop writing. The dialogue keeps coming, the words keep flowing, and I just can’t write it all down or I won’t sleep. I trust that I’ll remember the truly important stuff, and for the most part I do.

I’ve also been watching American Idol, which seems to produce some odd folks. Do some of these people really, truly believe they are any good? Or are they hoping to get a William Hung deal out of the appearance? Because it’s amazing who shows up to audition. I can’t get over it, and I’m sad for some of them because they believe this is their one and only shot out of the life they have. What about the kid living in his car? They put him through, but I’d be surprised if he survives Hollywood week. I was so sad for him, that he’s that young and that deluded (not about the singing, but about his life). He needs to go home, get an education, and do something with his life, not live in a car. He’s 17 for pity’s sake! He left school in what had to be his senior year. Amazing. Somebody please talk some sense into that kid.

And the girl whose father died in a car accident while she was on her way to the auditions. Whoa. And she could sing her butt off, too. Amazing she was able to audition. Some might think she was cold for pressing on, but I think it’s a tribute to her dad and what he wanted for her.

Truthfully, I don’t remember but a handful of the people going to Hollywood. Loved the rocker nurse. The beauty queen was scary, but she wasn’t a bad singer (though Simon wanted her to be bad). So, guess I’ll be tuning in week after week, getting annoyed (like last year, my first watching), and waiting to see if the best singer gets the boot (Melinda, for instance) or wins the whole shebang. Hubby loved Jordin, but I thought her singing voice was whiny. Sometimes quite lovely, mostly whiny. At least for me.

It’s going to be a long and irritating Idol season…

What’s your reality show pleasure? Are you rooting for Idol this year?

There are times when I miss Hawaii. Like now, when it’s overcast and drizzly again. Oh, it’s not too bad here, really. It’s supposed to be 73 today, and that’s much better than a few other places I can think of. Not complaining about the temp. Not even really complaining about the drizzle. It’s good writing weather.

But, dang, sometimes I want to see the ocean again. I want to sit on the beach with a book and dig my toes in the sand. I want to feel that hot Hawaiian sun beating down on my sunscreened skin. Did I really used to live there? Were those pictures just routine everyday things in Hawaii? Unfortunately, yes, they were. Not unfortunately when I was there, but unfortunately now when I’m not. *sigh*

So now I have to settle for looking at my pictures and remembering the sunshine, trade winds, and warmth. It was great while it lasted, though I’m not unhappy with my move to Alabama. No, Alabama has its pluses. One of which is a much lower cost of living. It’s nice not to have to contemplate paying half your monthly income for a house.

Still, if I could just afford a condo there, and the time to go stay in it for a month or so at a time, that’d be awesome. Beach breaks are necessary from time to time.

When I lived in Hawaii, I loved seeing the beach and the ocean, but I didn’t love hanging out there so much. Seems nutty, huh? But sand is annoying, and the sun is hot, and after a while you just want a cool drink and some AC. A couple of hours at the beach and I was done. Many of my Hawaii friends don’t go to the beach much at all. If you aren’t a water sport person, it gets old. If you like to surf or sail or windsurf or dive, it makes more sense to head for the water. Otherwise, it’s just fun to enjoy it from the vantage of a beachside bar or restaurant.

So what about you? Any favorite beach spots? Or do you prefer something else? Enjoy the virtual beach break!

This past Saturday, the hubby and I went to a Southern ball in a historic home. I got to dress in a gown that made me realize exactly how lucky I am to be living today and not in the 1860s (among many other reasons, of course). But, it was quite fun to be dressed so differently. To realize that hoops are flattering, in fact. Those Victorian-era women weren’t dumb. A dress with a big bell and a cinched in waist makes you appear more slender than jeans. Who’d a thunk it?

My dress is kind of a replica of Scarlett’s curtain dress, though you can’t tell it from this picture. There is a cape attached to the back, which you can’t see, and some gold cords that hang from it and from the sash (which had to be tied in the back because it was too small to close around the front — or I’m too wide, but we won’t go there…). There is also a hat, but since I was going to a ball, I wasn’t supposed to wear it.

I’m holding a fan, and I definitely needed it after dancing the Virginia Reel in a velvet dress. Whew! Oh, and I won best ladies costume, which surprised me because there were some beautiful dresses there.

Riding in a car with a hoop skirt on was quite interesting. I did learn how to sit so as not to flash folks, though. One woman at the ball, however, learned it the hard way. Let’s just say I know why pantaloons were required attire under these things. If I ever decide to go back to writing historicals, I’ll know firsthand what it feels like to wear hoops. And my cat found it fascinating. She liked to get under it and attack it from the inside.

Hubby was splendid as a gentleman, don’t you think? His outfit was far easier to don than mine. I kind of wish men still dressed like this sometimes. I thought it was so elegant. I’m glad, though, that women don’t wear hoops anymore. Can you imagine running errands in that getup? No wonder they sat around and fanned themselves all day.

A new Publix opened yesterday about half a mile from my house. Talk about happy! The closest grocery store was approx. 5 miles away before. Not far, but when you just want to dash out and grab something you forgot for the recipe you’re making, it’s a bit of a pain to drive across town.

So what’s the secret I have to confess? *sigh* I grow science experiments in my refrigerator. Not the pretty truth, but there it is. I tend to forget what’s in there, and when things get shoved to the back, they just disappear off my radar screen. I also buy things I intend to use, but somehow I forget I bought them and they go bad waiting for me to remember they’re there.

Awful, huh? I am a neat person, I keep a clean house, I wear clean laundry, I make the bed every day. But I can’t manage to throw out food before it sprouts green fuzz. Or, worse, liquifies (hello veggies in the drawer).

It’s time for a fridge party. The kind where I get the trash can and reach to the back of the fridge, wondering what manner of odd thing I’ll pull out. And then I can go to the new Publix and buy new things. And hopefully remember they are inside the gleaming stainless box.

Now, totally off topic, but over at the Writing Playground yesterday, they had three fabulous and successful writers talk about their new paranormal anthology. What cropped up in the comments, however, was a discussion about process and self-doubt. Fabulous advice from Roxanne St. Clair, Allison Brennan, and Karin Tabke! Go read this post and the comments that follow.

Do you have any ugly secrets you’d like to confess? Or have you gotten any fabulous writing advice you want to share? Am I alone in my fridge neglect, or have you made green fuzz too?

It’s a myth, right? Life is life. It happens, it’s messy, it does what it does. And yet I can’t help but be seduced by the myth of a perfect life. I think that if I had a housekeeper, a scheduler, a decorator, an organizer, a life coach, etc, that things would go really smoothly.

It’s a new year, and I’m already looking at the pile of junk mail on my kitchen island and wondering how it got so damn big. And there’s the little matter of a technical thing I need to attend to that’s worth, oh, a lot of money to the bottom line (by the end of January). There’s the laundry, the decorating, the appointments for things I’d rather not think about (dentist, for instance) that need to be made.

There’s damn HGTV seducing me with the idea of the perfectly decorated house, the awesome and fascinating party I should host, and the stupid commercials where spraying Febreze makes like ohsoperfect. When does it get perfect in Chez Harris? When does myth meet reality and make it all a snap? I’ve sprayed the Febreze, rearranged the furniture, and tried the new recipe. Life ain’t perfect.

Oh, it ain’t bad. I’m very thankful for what I have, thankful I can bitch and moan about Hollywood ideas of perfection, but I still wish they’d give me a break from the idea that my life could be perfect if only.

This, I think, is why I write fiction. My characters’ lives aren’t perfect, but I control their world. I am the demi-god who makes life or death decisions for them. Maybe that’s why my real world seems so chaotic. In the fictional world, I have control. Here, I can barely organize a closet, much less my response to a Febreze-scented nation. Jeez.

What about you? Feeling the pressure of a new year and new expectations? Or have you figured out how to make your own way in this perfection-obsessed world? If you’ve got the secret, I’d sure like to know…

This is an easy one: lose weight. How many people set that goal every year? The majority of resolvers, I’ll bet. I was watching TV the other day, something on HGTV no doubt, when Valerie Bertinelli popped up with her new Jenny Craig body. OMG. I was practically reaching for the phone, y’all!

Valerie looks awesome. She’s 47 and she looks amazing. I want to be that thin again. I held off calling Jenny, but it’s in the back of my mind should I fail on my own. Now, I know that losing weight is difficult, and programs like that really work because they portion out your meals and take all the planning away from you. But I’ve lost the weight on my own once before (and I’ve lost it on NutriSystem) and I know I can do it again.

I sound like a yo-yo dieter, don’t I? I’m not, though. I’ve been overweight twice before and I’ve lost it both times. This is the third time in my 40 years I’ve let it creep up on me. Not exactly a yo-yo, but a pain in the butt nevertheless.

When I was 20, I needed a program. Lost 40lbs on NutriSystem and kept it off for 12 years. Then I did Body for Life with the hubby, which taught me how to eat and work out. Lost the 25 lbs I’d let creep back on. Now, I need to lose 30lbs. I gained this weight while not exercising and eating all this great Southern food. I knew it was happening, and I let it happen, and I’m not happy with myself about that.

So, I’m back to doing it myself by planning my meals, avoiding the bad stuff (except for one day a week), and exercising regularly. I know how to do this. If I decide I need Jenny, then it’s because I’m not sticking to my plan well enough on my own. And that’s a possibility, but I’d really rather do it myself. It’s cheaper, first of all. It puts me in control, second.

Here are my diet tips if you’re contemplating such a thing for yourself. I offer this as someone who’s succeeded in the past. I’m not an expert, but this worked for me.

1. If it’s man-made, don’t eat it if you can help it. I make an exception for Kashi cereal. And, in this go-round, for Lean Cuisine. Avoid the center aisles of the grocery store like the plague. No chips, no sodas, no cookies, no rice cakes, no boxes of stuffing mix or macaroni and cheese.

2. Don’t eat seconds.

3. Portion control. A portion of something is the size of your fist or your open palm.

4. Protein/carb balance. Don’t eat tons of carbs (pasta, bread), and don’t avoid meat (if you aren’t a vegetarian, I mean). Get a balance at every meal. For example, a snack I like is a stick of cheese (protein) and a yogurt (carbs).

5. Small meals throughout the day. I like six over all (and this includes the cheese and yogurt snacks).

6. 20 to 30 minutes of exercise 6 days a week. Get your heart rate up and keep it up. Don’t kill yourself, and don’t think you’re going to jog for an hour on the treadmill. And don’t forget that working out with weights also keeps your heart rate moving. You will not get big man muscles if you use weights. Trust me. I’ve bench pressed 100 lbs at my best and never looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Other small tips to consider — don’t deny yourself. If you really, really want a slice of pizza, eat it. So long as you don’t eat the whole thing, and so long as you don’t stray every single day, you can reward yourself from time to time. I like one day a week to eat what I want without recriminations. Also, if you’re a drinker like me (love my wine!), cut it back to two or three times a week instead of a glass a night. Most importantly, everything in moderation.

I’m not saying how much I weigh, but I’d like to lose 30lbs. I lost 3 before the cruise and gained it all back onboard. *sigh* Goal for next week: 2 lbs. I’ll let you know…..