Editing… How I Love Thee?

As most authors I know, I used to loath and despise the editing process. In my opinion (this was then of course… and by then I mean three weeks ago) editing was evil and cruel. Now I look forward to it in a way I never thought possible (Dramatic much? So unlike me, I know.) The more I’ve gone through the editing process I’ve really come to appreciate it. I have learned to be patient and take it page by page, word by word and really make each aspect of the story shine. I often surprise myself with how much I’ve learned and how much better I’ve actually become. I’m sorry to all those who loathe the editing process (probably still with good reason) but I am now crossing over to the dark side. Please don’t hate me. *ducks rotten fruit on the way out*

Carolina Pearl by Sela Carsen

Carolina Pearl

A family legend could lead to a treasure more precious than pearls…or get them killed.

Between babysitting her very pregnant sister-in-law and fending off her mother’s nagging about her marital status, Blair Moreau is going insane. Her only hold on sanity is her daily walk for a guilty peek at her crush, the sexy neighbor who’s fixing up the old Cotesworth place.

Conn Lucas, the bastard son of Culford’s leading family, got way out of town a long time ago. When the only relative who didn’t despise him leaves him her 250-year-old house, Conn plans to refurbish it, flip it, and get back to Connecticut as soon as possible. Until a local beauty with a rare talent for DIY gives him a hand with some stubborn siding.

When he makes her mad enough to swing a two-by-four at his head, he realizes Blair is better than perfect. Especially when his efforts to keep her from killing him explode into an erotic rush of adrenaline that unleashes desires they’ve both kept hidden.
Breaking through Conn’s tough shell isn’t as difficult Blair’s next hurdle—telling him she’s a werewolf. First, though, they’ve got to deal with meddling ghosts and a bad ol’ boy cousin who isn’t above taking what he wants at nail-gun point…

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Product Warnings

This book contains a smokin’ hot werewolf chick with serious DIY know-how and a man who thinks that’s sexy; illegal use of nail guns; things to do in a claw-foot tub; pirate references; piddling Dobermans and meddling ghosts. Which is better than meddling Dobermans and piddling ghosts.

Read an excerpt!

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It's been a while since I've shared a poem...

For The First Time
By. Lauren Murphy

My eyes connect with the sky
On this starry night.

Enfolded in darkness
My weary soul rests.

Images of my life
Slowly swim by.

Running around wild with boys
Innocents gone, forever lost.

Carrying other peoples burdens
Doing their work for nothing.

Treating me like milk gone sour
When they get what they’re after.

Tears from my eyes fall freely.
False friends cause my suffering.

Putting a knife to my wrist enters my mind
Who would really care if I live or die.

I put my hands together knees to the ground.
Ask for guidance, a new place, a new home.

For days I had thought my prayers
Unheard unanswered

Once again played to the side
Cast aside like an unwanted child.

A new day arises the sun shines down
showering me with a new vision.

I begin to see the truth about me maybe
I don’t have to be somebody else’s plaything.

Maybe I should look no longer
For acceptance from others.


I begin to see the value
Of my own self worth.

More valuable than the most precious stone
Not to be left unseen loosing it’s luster, dull.

No longer capable of letting
Myself wallow in self pity

I close my eyes and hold myself tight.
And feel the warmth of self love for the first time.

© Lauren Murphy, All rights reserved

Back to Work

About two weeks ago I finished a naughty little story I'd been working on. While I'm letting that story rest I decided to take out another that's been resting for far too long. My favorite thing about letting stories rest is that I get to come back and see the good and not so good in my work. I think I'm going to have some fun revising/editing this one. It's so naughty, you know how I like them.