My Holiday Traditions, continued

   About fifteen years ago, after my marriage, my mother, sister and I found a way of making certain we got some fun time around the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, by planning a shopping day at the Galleria.  And in doing so, we created our own Holiday custom.  Every year we eat lunch and finish last minute Christmas shopping.  As an added bonus for my sister and I, this is also when we get to pick out a present for ourselves from our parents.  As the years passed by, we had children and ended up taking them along.  This year, since my sister and I both have boys, we’ve decided our tradition is going back to being ‘girls’ only.  Taking the boys along seemed to defeat the purpose: for us to have a relaxing, fun outing.  After all, a person can only take so much, “Is it time to go yet?” and “Can’t we go to the toy store or the videogame store?”

   My favorite tradition grew out of a very difficult and sad time.  About ten years ago, I suffered two consecutive miscarriages around the holiday season.  It was a sad time and neither my husband nor myself felt in the Christmas spirit.  Little did we know it was our second to last Christmas to be able to sleep in late on Christmas morning.  That morning after we woke and ate breakfast we crawled back into bed to watch TV.  It just so happened that National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was on TV.   It was the first time in several months that my husband and I laughed and enjoyed ourselves.  To this day, some ten years later, we watch the movie together.  Sometimes while wrapping presents Christmas Eve night, and sometimes much earlier in the season, but we always watch it.  It serves to remind us that no matter how bad things get, we still have one another and things always have a way of looking up.  We also have two beautiful, rambunctious, healthy little boys to help reaffirm that all year long. 

   No matter what your Holiday traditions are I hope they are as special to you as mine are to me.  Happy Holidays.

 J.L. Langley writes gay erotic romance.  You can find out more about her and her books at www.jllangley.com

YULE: Season of Lights, continued

Monolithic Tribute

   Archaeologists once thought the great monoliths at Stonehenge were aligned to celebrate the Summer Solstice. However, it has recently been decided it is much more likely the monument was erected to celebrate the Winter Solstice, for at dawn on this day the sun shines perfectly along the road that once led to Stonehenge.

   Likewise, the great tomb at Newgrange in Ireland is another example of ancient people’s attunement to the Midwinter’s dawn. Its interior is illuminated but once a year, when the rays of the rising Winter Solstice sun shine through the stone lintel and into the main chamber.

Traditions

   Yule has always been associated with peace and charity. In Norway work had to be reduced to a minimum, and no wheels were turned, for that would show impatience with the great turning of the wheel of the sky—the sun. As part of this time neither bird, fish, nor beast is trapped, shot, or netted.

   In Ireland, seasonal activities included:

• Mummers – In what may have been the original custom of “caroling,” disguised performers went from door to door, requesting some token for their performance.

• Hunting the Wren – Catching a wren on this day was thought to bring good luck for the coming year.

   Scottish families had a unique use for the remains of the Yule log. It was placed under the bed of the lady of the house as a charm against fire, and was brought out the next year to kindle next year’s Christmas hearth. 

   Traditional Yule gifts included:

• Fruits studded with cloves and other warming spices

• Cakes made with dried fruit and preserved with spirits (the inevitable fruitcake we still see today)

• Sprigs of holly or the live plant. Holly was particularly prized as a decoration for windows, doors, and mantles because its prickliness was thought to catch evil spirits before they had a chance to enter the dwelling.

King Holly, King Oak

   According to ancient Celtic legend, Winter Solstice marks the time when the Holly King is strongest, watching over the Goddess as she bears new life in the dark of the year. Yet even as he stands at the height of his power, Solstice marks the beginning of his end. For the Oak King stirs and the never-ending dance of birth-death-rebirth spirals on.

   From this day onward the Holly King will be looking over his shoulder as the Oak King gains strength with the returning sun; at Ostara, the Spring Equinox, they will look each other in the eye as they engage in battle for the hand of the Goddess.

   The Yule log burned at this time of year was often made of oak, symbolizing the Oak King making the final sacrifice of his summer-season body to ensure the return of the sun. Traditionally it was kept smoldering, sometimes for as long as 12 days. Its ashes were scattered on the fields to fertilize the crops. Cut logs were decorated with flowers and covered in offerings of grain and wine before they were burned. Later on, in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, the French turned the Yule log into a confection. This “Bûche de Noël” is usually a yellow cake roll covered in frosting to look like a log.

   The old carol, “The Holly and the Ivy” is probably the least Christianized of the familiar songs we know today. We know the song as comparing the winter thriving holly and ivy plants to the beloved figures of Mary and Jesus Christ. Yet the modern rendition still retains strong winter solstice images like the “holly bearing the crown,” rising suns, running deer and red berries in the snow.

   The original song was probably one called “The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly,” recounting the contest between emblems of woman and man, respectively:

Holly stands in the hall, fair to behold:

Ivy stands without the door, she is full sore a cold.

Holly and his merry men, they dance and they sing,

Ivy and her maidens, they weep and they wring.

Ivy hath chapped fingers, she caught them from the cold,

So might they all have, aye, that with ivy hold.

Holly hath berries red as any rose,

The forester, the hunter, keep them from the does.

Ivy hath berries black as any sloe;

There come the owl and eat him as she go.

Holly hath birds a fair full flock,

The nightingale, the popinjay, the gentle laverock.

Good ivy, what birds hast thou?

None but the owlet that cries how, how.

Chorus:

Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;

Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.

Yule Activities

• Winter Cleaning - This is a good time of year for letting go of the past and preparing for spring. If you are not into spring cleaning, a midwinter cleaning works just as well. Clear out the old and make room for the new!

• Light candles in celebration of the returning light.

• Decorate with sprigs of holly. Better yet, buy a plant and add it to your landscaping in spring.

• Invite friends and family over to share a simple meal, topped off with a mug of tasty wassail.

• On slips of paper, write down old regrets or other negative things you’d like to let go of, and burn them in the Yule log fire. No fireplace? A candle and a fireproof container works just as well.

Happy Yule!

Gia Dawn is a multi-published author whose stories are full of fantasy and fun with the heat turned up. You can check out all her books at www.samhainpublishing.com/author/gia-dawn or visit her website at www.giadawn.com

Carolan Ivey writes paranormal and Celtic-flavored fantasy romance for Samhain Publishing. Her current release is Wildish Things. Web site: http://www.carolanivey.com/

Paying It Forward, continued

   He proceeded to tell me the number of homeless people in our county and the number of children in that group - 30%. Staggering, not only that he knew that but that's a huge number of children who are homeless through no fault of their own. We went shopping for our 9-12 boy and he picked out all kinds of things he might like. My son had so much fun picking out things for someone else, it really was truly in the Christmas spirit. He was paying it forward.

   My 11 YO also reminded me that the canned food drive is going on at his school and he wanted to be sure to bring in enough to feed a family. You know he had the statistics on where the food went, right? The child amazes me every day. He knew how many pounds they'd donated and where they were distributed. Without realizing it, I've raised a socially conscious person who will make a difference in the world.

   Do you remember that movie Pay it Forward? It starred the kid from Sixth Sense and he taught his single mom how to give. It started with his homeless grandma and it spread until it touched a whole community. That boy was killed in the movie and I bawled like a baby when it happened. It was touching and poignant, and reminded me that kids are the voice of our conscience. We should listen to them.

   A gift is something we all share with others, not for ourselves. My greatest joy is my children and to see what wonderful people they are brings tears to my eyes. We're stuffing the stocking tonight, and I also bought a soccer ball to put in the "toy shop" at the Salvation Army for parents to pick out toys at Christmas. The cans will be going in three trips to the school. It's not a million dollars or even a thousand, but I am giving what I can. I sincerely hope what I do makes a difference for a child and a family this year.

   Take a moment to do something selfless and caring this season. Give a random stranger your parking space, donate an unwrapped toy, give money to the Salvation Army, or leave a gift on a co-worker’s desk anonymously. Pay it forward y'all.
 

Beth Williamson is the author of more than fifteen novels and novellas. Her current print release with Samhain, Devils on Horseback: Nate, is a fast-paced western romance that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Hot On The Trail Of Book Trailers, continued

But does it work?

   Sheila Clover English is a firm believer that Book Trailers™ are the wave of the future. Do book videos sell books? “According to booksellers and authors, they do,” Clover English says enthusiastically. “One major bookseller called us to say that airing one of our videos increased their on-line traffic 50 percent. Independent booksellers are even dedicating online pages to books that have book trailers. You can watch before you buy. Borders Group, Inc., has featured some of the trailers both on their site and in their online newsletters. Christine Feehan’s Web traffic has increased 700 percent since she started showing the videos on her site.”
   “Several booksellers have told me they enjoyed them,” JoAnn Ross (No Safe Place) said. “Did that make them order more books? Again, who knows? I can foresee the day when chain bookstores will run book videos in their stores, the way Blockbuster runs movie trailers. If I were an independent bookseller, I’d have a computer monitor set up on my checkout counter, running all the book videos I could find today. What better way to get customers talking to you about what kind of books they like to read? Which, of course, opens up the opportunity to hand-sell more books! And isn’t that what we all want?”
   As the book video market as grown, so has the notice of industry professionals. The Book Standard highlights five book videos every week, including author interviews, book teasers, and more. They also now host the annual Book Video Awards with entries from U.S. film schools. Publishers have also jumped on the bandwagon and commission book videos on a steady basis.

   So, recently, I decided to put on my investigative garb and conduct a little survey on the subject. I did a flash poll where I asked both readers and writers alike to comment on these two questions: Are book trailers an important factor in your purchasing of a particular book? Do they matter at all to you.

And the results?

   Well, they are as wide and varied as most things are in the publishing world. Of those who responded to my poll, I learned that most would watch a video if it is easy to access and if they had the correct connection (if you are trying to view a video with dial up it can be very frustrating).

   But did it make a difference in whether or not a possible reader would buy the book? From the responses I received, I would have to say, no. 

So what have I learned from all this?

   For me, I’ve learned that book trailers are useful, and yes, there is a target audience for them, but I wouldn’t put all of my promotional money or efforts into that single basket.

   The most successful form of promotion for any writer starts first when an author sits down to write their book. Write the best book you possibly can, write what’s in your heart and the chances are you will find your target audience.

Mary Eason - www.maryeason.bravehost.com

Special thanks to Allison Brennan (Trail Blazers article) for your input.

From The Heart, continued

   Lucy Monroe says: “Believe in your voice and your stories and don't let anyone but your editor convince you to make changes that don't mesh with *your* heart. (Sometimes not even your editor.)” – www.lucymonroe.com

   Rosemary Laurey says: "Learn to live with rejection- it's part of the job. Remember this is a business. Trust the voices in your head." -- www.rosemarylaurey.com

   Angela Knight says: "New authors who are trying to write erotic romance sometimes focus so much on the sex that they forget romantic conflict is essential to making a romance work.  Without conflict—without something to keep the hero and heroine apart—the book gets boring fast.  The best way to keep readers turning pages is to make sure you instill doubts:  how are these characters going to overcome this terrible problem?" -- www.angelasknights.com

   Kimberly Raye says: “The biggest piece of advice I can give to any writer (published or unpublished) is to believe in yourself and your work and take both seriously.  If you don’t, no one else will.  It wasn’t until I started believing in myself and my work that I started to go places with my writing.  At first, it was just to the page, then to a critique group, then a publisher, and now it’s to thousands of readers.  But it started with me having the faith to sit down and do it, to value what I was doing, to cherish and nurture it.” -- www.kimberlyraye.net

   Shannon McKenna says: “The number one best writing tip I ever heard, and you've probably heard it a gazillion times, has been credited to Nora Roberts.  She said, "I can fix a bad page. I can't fix a blank page." -- www.shannonmckenna.com

   Juliet Burns says: “Read what you want to write! Pick up newly released books in whatever genre/ line you are targeting and read as many as you can get your hands on.  This will give you a feel for the type of plots and characters and, most importantly, the tone of that particular line. It also gives you an idea what editors are buying. (Or at least what they were buying a year ago)” -- www.julietburns.com

   R. Ellen Ferare says: “Keep writing, even as the rejections pour in. Editors sometimes ask to see your other work if they like your submission. Even if they can't use what you originally sent in. It keeps the spirits up, too.” – www.rellenferare.com
   Nicole North says: “Make sure your writing is tight. Avoid repetitiveness, weak words, unnecessary dialogue tags...actually anything unnecessary! Each sentence should move the story forward.” -- www.nicolenorth.com

   Calista Fox says: “Know your market! Understanding the genre in which you want to write is key. Know publishers within your genre and read their books. This will help you write books that fit their needs and style, and reduce rejection of a great book!

   Write what you love. If you try to write the latest trend, but it's not your forte—or you're really not that interested in it—your audience (be it an editor, agent or reader) will know and they won't be happy with the story. This is especially true of erotic romance. If it's not up your alley—don't try it! Readers will sense your hesitancy or dislike for the genre in your stilted prose and they won't be pleased with the outcome.

   Believe in yourself! If writing is your passion and your dream... keep doing it!” www.calistafox.com

   Cynthia Eden says: “Not everyone will love your work—and that's okay. But YOU have to love your work.  Stay true to your voice. Write the story that you want to create—do not try to fit a preset mold or write what you think is "hot" right now.  Believe in yourself and write the best story that you are capable of creating.” -- www.cynthiaeden.com

   Sandy Wickersham-McWhorter says: “For beginning writers my most heartfelt advice is to set their fiction in a place they love with all their heart. That love and familiarity will shine through the novel and add depth and emotion many books lack. The setting in such a story can act as a character and further the plot in ways that readers will love because almost everyone feels a "love of home and place" for somewhere they've lived. That's why I set Cottonwood Place from The Wild Rose Press in the Southwest. I left my heart there after I visited it twice, and my father was buried in Bullhead City, Arizona.”

   Amber Green says:  “Turn off the radio when you're alone in the car.  You can hear the voices in your head better, and will often come home with just the fragment of dialogue or description you've been needing.”-- www.shapeshiftersinlust.com

   Brenda Williamson says: “Carry a small recorder and talk out what's in your head. Works great when alone in the car, riding the lawnmower, soaking in the tub and anywhere else you don't feel foolish dictating or acting out love scenes.” -- www.brendawilliamson.com

   Larissa Ione says: “Don’t sweat the small stuff…don’t get hung up on nits.  An editor isn’t going to reject your book because you had too many “thats” or not enough commas in the story.  Get the big stuff down – plot, characterization, voice, etc., because sometimes, the little stuff IS your voice.” -- www.larissaione.com

   Ann Jacobs says: “Sometimes the best ideas come when you first wake up, so it's a good idea to keep a tape recorder, pad and pencil, etc. nearby so you can get them down before they drift away as you go back to get those extra few winks of shuteye.”

--  www.annjacobs.net

   Marcia James says: “Don't make the mistake of thinking you can learn the business side of writing AFTER you get "The Call".  You need to learn craft and business (especially author promotion) simultaneously to be successful.” -- www.marciajames.net

   Jacki Bentley says: “I’d like to remind struggling aspiring authors to never to give up on their dream to have readers.  Over the years, I’ve seen many, many serious writers get published eventually – it takes a discouraging amount of time for some.  Windows come open then close in sort of cycles.  Use that time to hone the craft of romance writing.  Also, some of the rules of writing don’t always translate well to romance, so read, read and read more romance.” -- www.jackibentley.com

   Donna MacMeans says: “Find a local RWA chapter for support when the rejections come (and they will), for informative monthly speakers to teach the things never covered in English class, and for motivation to keep writing and submitting.”

– www.donnamacmeans.com

   Leigh Court says: “My best writing tip is a riff on the Nike slogan:  Just Write It!  My previous occupation was as a television news reporter, so when I think I have writer's block, or the story is just not flowing, or when I'm staring at a blank computer screen, I pretend I have that 6pm deadline for the nightly news and Just Write It!  Amazing how motivating a deadline can be!” -- www.hadleighcourt.com

   Now for a word from an editor with Wild Rose Press

   Amanda Barnett says: “For this editor, a wonderful and intriguing plot captures my interest every time, but basic writing fundamentals that need work pulls me back out of what could be an awesome read.  Point of view and passive/active sentences, etc are all things that can and should be learned with little effort.  However, the meat of a good romance begins with creativity—and this comes from the heart and soul.  Please, if your dream is to be published, do not give up!” -- www.thewildrosepress.com

   Well, that’s about it.  Now that you’ve gotten some great advice from some remarkable authors, here’s what Anne Rainey says:

   “Print this article and tape it to your wall or desk. Keep it handy when you need a reminder as to why you continue to put yourself through the torture. That’s exactly what I plan to do!” – www.annerainey.com

Anne lives in a small town way out in the middle of no-where-ville. She is a gorgeous blonde with wonderful curves and a money tree in the backyard. She never wants for anything and she always loves everyone. Of course, she wasn’t always this way.

Visions of the Goddess: The Moon and Her Many Faces, continued

   Astrology was a subject that intrigued me and frightened me simultaneously. There was so much to learn and I did not know where to start. However, as the saying goes ‘when the student is ready the teacher will appear,’ and so he did in the form of a cassette tape, and on it the voice of astrologer Robert ‘Buz’ Myers.

     The more I listened to his tapes the more I realized he was a masterful wizard. His gift of articulation was artistic and his depth of knowledge never ending. When he brought up his idea for learning to live harmoniously through the moon, I was all ears. I was particularly interested when he mentioned that he saw, via astrology, a resurgence of the Goddess.

     The simplicity of his concept was brilliant. Eagerly I learned that by simply taking note of what phase the moon was in, I could get the most out of my life experience. I would know when to act and when to lay back. All I had to do was track Mother Moon and her monthly sail across the night sky. With the New Year right around the corner, this would be the perfect opportunity to start getting on-time.

     As astrologers, we know to start projects, or our magical workings on the new moon. It is a time to do the legwork, the preparation for the future. The time when our muse with an idea sparks us with inspiration. We let it percolate in this new phase. For instance, I may want to work on inner peace in the coming month. I allow my thoughts to dwell on these peaceful imaginings.

     The first quarter is the time to take my first action, to reach out to the universe. This is a time to put into motion what I wish to accomplish. I may begin to meditate on the idea of inner peace. Lighting a candle in a corresponding color could be an option as well. You may choose any issue that is important. It could be abundance, protection, or good health.     

     The gibbous phase is when information is gathered. If you are born under this phase of the moon, you may find you excel at research. This phase evokes the image of the squirrel collecting nuts for its winter diet. Now is the time to perhaps visit the library or local bookstore and read up on peaceful living. If you don’t meditate, now would be the time to investigate where to take a class.

     The full moon is when we become illuminated. We dive into those books or classes and soak up all the information we have gathered thus far. We are meditating now, if we have not before, or maybe we decided to learn Feng Shui. Whatever it is that we have decided to do, whatever we set our intention at the new phase, we are becoming at the full moon.

     Waning gibbous, or the disseminating phase, is the teacher. To better illustrate this cycle, it is ‘walking your talk.’ You share your ideas and experiences with others. You may decide to journal your thoughts and ideas at this time.

     The fourth quarter is the phase for action. It is walking your talk, but more so, it is owning the feeling. If, at the start of the new phase, you decide to look for work, now is the time to go out on interviews. If you began your study of Feng Shui, start changing the placement of certain items in your home. Start simple. If you seek harmony, buy yourself a piece of rose quartz and add it to your rituals. Or a small indoor waterfall.

     As perceptive women, we know that things do not change overnight, and your issue that you have chosen to act on will most likely take a few cycles to work through. But in the end, it is always worth it. Whether you call yourself a Wiccan, spiritual seeker, New Ager, astrologer, or any other title, we also know that during the time of the dark moon, or the balsamic phase, we rest. We let go of negativity and take time to look within. Introspection is what we seek now. Knowing that soon it will be another new phase, and another opportunity to make changes for the better in our lives.

     The beauty of working with the moon is that eventually it becomes a part of you. What you consciously had to focus on in the beginning will happen on its own. You will get in sync with the cycles and they will become as natural to you as breathing. Like the tides, you will ebb and flow as nature calls to you.

      You can make this as simple or extravagant as you wish. If you are familiar with astrology, you can include the sign that the moon is in for your task of the month. You can add your favorite rituals that coincide with the phases. Literally, the skies the limit. It does not matter what your religious affiliation is either. You tailor these rituals to your specific system of belief.

      My appreciation and gratitude goes to Buz. He remains one of my greatest teachers and although he gave up his physical form, I still hear his voice and think of him often when I gaze at the moon. Now his knowledge is passed on to another generation of astrologers, as my son listens to the very same tapes I learned from, many phases ago.

b-ella-donna

Sitting Too Long May Hurt You

I’m not a doctor. I don’t even play one on TV, but I have a life-long interest in physiology – the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms – and a degree in biochemistry. My reading on the subject of clot formation in the legs suggests that symptoms can include swelling, redness, and pain in the affected leg. How many of us haven’t had some kind of cramp in our legs when we sit for long periods of time? I’m not trying to be an alarmist, but it’s fairly simple to avoid this kind of thing. Get up and move around once in a while!

Simple stretching, or even just flexing your feet and pointing again for a number of repetitions is a good way to keep the blood flowing, and your legs happy. Flexing and pointing your feet can even be done while sitting, if you aren’t able to get up. Rotate your ankles, straighten your knees if you have room. And don’t do what I do – don’t sit curled up on your legs! It’s a very bad habit that I’m trying to break, even as I write this.

In a perfect world, I’d be able to get to the gym every single day. I used to, back in my fit and trim youth, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten a lot busier, and, to my shame, lazier. When I can’t drag my slothful body to the gym, just getting out and taking a walk is a very good idea. It’s getting colder where I live, but that’s no reason not to walk. I can go to the mall and get a few miles in while window shopping. One good trick I use is to walk up and down every aisle in the supermarket, including the ones that have absolutely nothing I need in them.

Wearing a pedometer, you can easily gauge just how much walking you’ve done, and recent studies suggest that there’s no need to “speed walk.” You can gain valuable health benefits from a slow walk as well as a fast one.

A study conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine found that walking at speeds of 4.5 mph or above used energy at the same or higher rates than running at comparable speeds. Now 4.5 mph is pretty fast, but there have also been reports of physiological benefits from longer, slower walking. Regardless, doing any walking at all has to be a good thing, right?

As for where to get a pedometer, I’ve had the fancy models and the cheap ones and they’re pretty much all the same. The more expensive ones have more features, of course, from being able to calculate how many calories you’ve expended (though I’m suspicious of those numbers and what real value they have for me) to the basic functions of counting the number of steps and doing a calculation, based on your stride length, to tell you how far you’ve gone in miles or kilometers. Entering the stride length into the pedometer is something I’ve always found challenging. First you have to measure it by walking in a straight line and calculating the total distance divided by the number of steps you took. Then you have to input that number into the pedometer by pressing the little buttons in different sequences according to the manufacturer’s directions – usually translated badly from Chinese, if you know what I mean.

What I’ve found is that the cheap step counters are just as good. The most essential data to track is how many steps you’ve taken. Even the cheap, Dollar Store pedometers have both number of steps and a calculation of mileage. That’s about all you need. And there is some benefit to having a few of these little things lying around because they’re small, and easy to lose.

So, for what it’s worth, I’d encourage us all to get off our duffs and away from our computers once in a while – or several times during the day – to move around a little. Your legs will thank you.

Bianca D’Arc is the author of several erotic romance series, most notably her Dragon Knights, and won the 2007 EPPIE Award for Best Erotic Romance Fantasy/Paranormal. Her most recent release is an erotic paranormal called Sweeter Than Wine, released on December 11^th in ebook format by Samhain Publishing.

www.biancadarc.com

Writing During The Holidays, continued 

1. Give yourself permission to write.  By this I mean, we get so caught up in cookies and shopping and dinners and planning and traveling we feel guilty about taking time away from the season. Which, well, sort of detracts from it anyway, doesn’t it? Writing is an obligation, a responsibility to those who are writers. Don’t feel guilty for doing your work.

2. Schedule your work. Because we’re harried, we tend to push everything we can to the side to get our other stuff done – exercise, writing, etc. So what I do is either set a weekly word limit or a daily one. If I miss a day, I make it up the next day.  If I have a weekly count and I make it early I will either use the surplus time elsewhere or get more writing done (usually the latter). If I have my word count finished, I don’t have to worry about enjoying the time I have with my family and when I’m with my family I don’t have to worry about my writing getting done.

3. SCHEDULE YOUR WORK. I’m not joking so let me say it again. If this means you get up an hour early in the morning or you stay up an hour later at night, if this means you take your weekly word count and push it to the weekend and you get up early, so be it. Whatever you need to do, do it.

That’s it. It’s not complicated although it might be a challenge to let yourself not feel guilty and to find that extra time. But truly, by viewing your writing like a job, which hello, if you’re a writer it is, you can make it through the holidays with some planning and a bit of dedication and when January comes, you won’t be scrambling and guilty and making excuses to your editor.

Lauren Dane has a big assed book due in January so she’d better put this into practice or she’ll be red-faced. She’s also the author of nearly thirty contracted novels and novellas – her current Samhain release, To Do List is a red-hot contemporary romance with small town heart and a holiday theme.

You can check out her titles and what’s coming soon for her at her website http://www.laurendane.com

Copyright 2007, thesamhellion.com