Editing Woes (part three trillion and four)

The editing fairies are eluding me yet again. I have this story, which I totally adore by the way, and I would LOVE to get this thing polished and sent to my CP for a read through… only the little fairy ladies who gave me the idea are now being especially difficult. Oh, yes I blame them. Arrrrrrrg!

*points accusing finger at editing fairies*

It couldn’t possibly be the fact that I am a raging perfectionist who stresses over every sound and syllable of every single page, paragraph… word. Oh no. It’s the fairies and I want them to stop being so difficult. Right now!

Ok thanks for letting me vent. Back to the drawing board. *mutters*

Poetry Share

I wrote this one for a poetry contest that called for something filled with angst. Did I go a little overboard? I don't know lol. Here it is anyway. ;)

Please Don't Leave
By. Lauren Murphy

Why do you torment me, with your cold careless ways?
Has my beauty somehow failed me, is my love now invisible?
The pain in my heart, resides in my eyes, as they drip their wet sadness,
Bleeding from emotions, repeatedly denied, bringing me to my knees…
Please don’t leave.

Without you, I cease to be, my soul craves you, thirsty for affection,
Dry, parched, longing for your passion.
Just to get a glimpse of you, still fills me to completion,
With abundant blessedness. Baby, I need you…
Please don’t leave.

If only you could tell me, that you reciprocate my feelings,
That you need me, for nourishment, and without me you would perish
Maybe then I wouldn’t miss you so.
Damn it! Are you listening? I’m begging, I’m pleading…
Please…
Don’t…
Leave.

© Lauren Murphy, All rights reserved

Her Own Best Enemy by Cynthia Justlin

In honor of Cynthia Justlin's birthday later this week, she's holding a $0.99 SALE on her romantic suspense, HER OWN BEST ENEMY. This is a limited time sale, so grab it while it's cheap!

Desperate to track down her ex-husband who disappeared along with their son, Grace Stevens delves into his past and uncovers evidence of a shocking dual life. The man she thought was an ordinary computer consultant is in fact a former high-ranking Special Forces officer with unique skills in military intelligence. With nowhere to turn she is forced to plead for help from Keith King, the one man she hoped to never see again. Against her better judgment she’ll have to put her child’s fate into his hands.

Keith has officially hit rock bottom. Framed for the theft of deadly missile components, the cynical Special Forces officer is in danger of losing the only thing he can count on: his career. His one shot at clearing his name lies in locating Grace’s ex, who was working with Keith on a secret mission to take down a cutthroat military traitor. But to team up with Grace he’ll need to spend 24/7 with a woman who has every reason to hate him. Out to use each other for their own agenda, desperate mother and disillusioned soldier find they must work together to stay alive, and in the process discover that sometimes even the best of enemies fall in love.

Get it from Amazon or B&N!

SOLD!!!! (Could I be more obnoxious with all those exclamation marks?)

I’ve been out of it the past few weeks and so out of touch. *prays for forgiveness* But I do have some fabulous news. Last week, I signed a contract with Cobblestone Press, and my novella, Curse of the Demon Queen, is going to be published! It’s been a nice long while since I’ve been able to make this type of announcement and it feels so goooooooooooooooood! I still don’t think I’ve come down from the high, and that’s all right with me. I am thrilled that my baby is going to be published. This story is dear to my heart and I can’t wait to share it.

Here’s a blurb.

For fifty years, Aamon has carried the pain of his lover's betrayal and her curse. He wishes to forget the harsh lessons he's been forced to learn, but the Queen of the Demons will not be so easily cast aside. Aamon does his best to close himself to Lilith's version of the past, but his raging emotions and lustful body shout down the reasoning of his mind.

Lilith has taken the fall for wrongs she didn't commit, and lost everything that truly matters. The irrevocable curse she'd flung at Aamon had been a result of her frustration, and now she is devastated that it may have cost her only chance at happiness. Since Aamon refuses to accept her explanations, her only hope lies in the power of love and seduction, but she doesn't know if that will ever be enough to undo the wrongs of the past.

Will the barriers Aamon has built between them hold fast, or will she finally convince him to follow the desires of his body and his heart?

Thanks for stopping by. I hope everyone will be as excited to read it as I was (am) to write it.

What Makes a Good Love/Sex Scene?

As a writer of wonderful naughtiness, I am always interested in people’s views toward sex, but more specifically regarding romance books. A good sex scene can really amp up the intensity of a book. It can push characters past their limits or make them regress. Some sex scenes are all about inserting tab a into slot b, then rinsing and repeating. Then they may include a bunch of “dirty” words into, what I would consider, a strictly action based sex scene, where there is no insight into the characters deep thoughts or emotions. These types of scenes unfortunately do nothing for me.

The ones that really pull me in, have loads of sexual tension, so intense, the reader has to wonder how the characters have kept their hands of each other (whether the timeframe has been thirty minutes or thirty days). I want to know what’s in their heads, what they feel not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. I don’t want to just know that it’s “good” I want to know how and why it’s good and the affect the experience is having on the characters. The scene can be expressed in the most adult, frank, language the author can conjure, it can be sweet, luxurious and lyrically beautiful or even a mixture of both. These are all things that can make a sex/love scene come alive for me. How about you?

Using Time Wisely for Writing (Or Motivation Issues)

I’m still tweaking my time management plan. It’s been working somewhat, but now the issue is not so much that I don’t have the time, but more of being consistent with the time I have. I have certain times of day that belong to me and just me. Of those times I’ve decided which ones are going to be writing time and which ones will be… other.

In my mind I am very dedicated to my writing. I want to be productive and creative. I want to feel good about the time I use to focus on my writing, but when I feel the story is taking too long, or when I feel I’m being distracted by my environment, or when I feel the story isn’t getting my creative juices flowing the way it should I start avoiding my writing time, which I’ve worked so hard to establish. (Holy run-on sentence Batman!)

Recently, I’ve decided to give this consistency thing another go (there must be something to it, right?). I’ve edited everyday this week, for at least an hour, which is encouraging. I’m thinking if I can get myself used to doing it regularly it will become more like a routine and harder to get away from or “forget.” Wish me luck.

How About A Poem?

I think this poem applies to writers especially, but also to anyone who as ever had to wait for anything, especially if it's something they've considered to be important or life changing. Enjoy!

Nervous
By. Lauren Murphy

Foot tapping on concrete floors.
Antsy jitters vibrate causing,
Sweaty palms and haggard breaths.
Head dizzy, thoughts bouncing.
Stomach clenching, heart pounding.
Tired of waiting, feeling anxious.
Frustrated screams never released.
Time running out for decision making.
What will it be? Did they pick me?
God only knows, how I hate waiting.

© Lauren Murphy, All rights reserved