Monday, September 30, 2013
Setting Sail In Style
It's ironic that I'm writing this half blind, since that's
how we went into this blog six years ago. Hellie wrote me and said, "What
would you think about me starting a group blog?" I was on board
immediately. I mean, group blogs were "the thing" back then. Not that
they aren't now, but 2007 was sort of the heyday when a bunch of group blogs
were taking off. Add Hellie at the helm and sign me up.
In 2007, I'd never written a book. I didn't have an English
or Lit degree (still don't), and had no faith whatsoever that I could be a
writer.
But Hellie never doubted me.
She never stopped pushing, reminding me that I AM a writer
and I could do this. When I'd get stuck, she'd talk me through it. She taught
me everything she knew about writing, and was nicer to me than she's ever been
to herself. She set the tone for this blog, which is why it's exactly as Janga
described it.
"... different types of people with different writing goals and different life experience all woven together in a community where everyone is accepted, no one is judged, and a sense of humor is the only price of admission."
That description fits because of our founder. I love every
wonderful woman on this ship, but it seemed fitting that the last blog be an
ode to the Captain. She's the reason I finished a book. The reason I'm
published. And the reason this blog kicked ass around the rough, unpredictable
publishing seas for so long.
As I say in the dedication of UP TO THE CHALLENGE – For Fran.
You've been with me from the beginning. Thank you for the push.
Today is not goodbye. There are more adventures ahead for
this crew, and I'm excited to watch these ladies take over the world. Never
doubt that's exactly what will happen.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Last Call at the Bar
Well, I thought about getting drunk and having a blog full
of nothing by self-pity and whining and they’d we’d finally get over the
melancholy and start telling dirty jokes and laughing. But it seems like most
of that has all been done…
I’ve wiped this bar a thousand times, from the first one I
put together, made up of old scraps lying about the deck. Some I fished out of
the water. The Kraken brought me more. I salvaged nail and used my shoe to
hammer it together. Only sat one, but the rest of you were willing to wait for
a turn. Or Hels would come by and kick Jack outta the way so the rest had a
chance.
Then I had the great fancy bar, but it really were a bit
much. And though Hector liked it, he was willing to help me start anew when we returned
to our less grand digs. At least he found me some shelves that weren’t so
warped. And time passed…
Tales we told to each other, and drinks we shared,
friendships were forged and oaths sworn. And now? Now the Revenge prepares for
its greatest adventure…into the unknown depths of the cyberseas. And who knows
what she’ll find there?
I imagine, years from now, we writer selves will meet our
pirate selves upon a sandy beach, still warm from a day’s sun, the sky full of
a million stars bursting so bright one could read by them.
The pirates will step to the beach, eyes telling impossible
stories of where they’ve sailed and what they’ve seen, the creatures they
discovered, the treasures and troubles they earned.
And we writers? We will be wise with the knowledge of life,
friendships and learning. Some with children, some with dogs, cats…partners.
Precious books in hand, read and written. I can see Christie, a kitten on each
shoulder, head shadowed by the deep hood of her jacket, bopping to the music
filling her head from the earbuds. Fran will smack her shoulder, dislodge one
of the kittens and hand it back as the earbuds fall away.
Terri, Marnee and Halleigh… Santa, J Perry, Lisa and Sabrina…Donna
and Leslie…and the familiar visitors, Janga, Quantum, P. Kirby, Irish… What a
grand party it will be!
Off to the side, a fire roars, and two familiar voices call
out. Jack and Hector stop their constant bickering long enough to welcome back
all the pirates, real and cyber.
Me? I’ll be there. I’ll be handing out drinks, all the
favorites. The Glittery Hooha, The Mighty Mast, The Cock & Balls, The
Bo'sun Burner, The Penis Pill, Silent as Sin, The Wild Cock, Hells' Fire, The
Marneasy, The Rum n'Bum, The Seething Passion, The Booty Call, Sandy Pirate Sex,
Wild Undead Monkey Sex , The Captain's Cocoa Puff, The A'moral Compass, The Kraken's Feast ,The
Facegod, The Bombay Bomber, Stephanie's
Flaming Double Stuffed Twinkies, Full Sail Frappuccino, The Double Dori, The
Terrio Speedwagon, and more, or so many more! (If you want the full list, send
me an email, I’ll send it to you.)
We’ll sing all night, swap stories and lies, kisses and
maybe more as I suspect the Bandits will come with the Hotties they employed
who lost their posts when the Revenge went off. The party will never end, and
slowly, the pirates and the writers will remember each other and as the sun
rises, we’ll be taking up the oars and heading for the ship…she waits for us,
just past the horizon.
And I got nothing more to say. 2nd Chance is such a deep
part of myself, and I came to love her and want her and…want to be her. To me,
the Revenge will always be there, on the horizon… The Kraken’s Mirror started on this ship, in more ways then I’ll
ever reveal. And from that first, came the rest. Thank you, Hellion, Terrio,
Marnee, Hal and all for letting me crawl aboard and create my other self. We
have danced, and sung, drank and written, and thrown our critics to the Kraken…
Now, the wind fills our sails and the ship…she slips away.
I’m off to cry. Then get drunk.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
The Final FANTABULOUS Interview with Capt. Jack Sparrow Featuring Nan Reinhardt
Jack: Hello
there, darlings. You didn't think you could end this drunken voyage without
another visit from old Jack, now did you? Silly pirates.
Bosun: Jack, we
had a deal. I agreed to let you have your moment, but you cannot make this
about you. Focus on our guest.
Jack: Don't get
your whistle in a twist, dearie. I've got your annoying blue cards right here.
*shakes stack of large blue index cards in Bosun's face* Now where is this Ms.
Reinhardt? This says she writes sexy romance novels. I must meet her
immediately.
Bosun: *smack her
forehead while pointing to the stage* She's over there. Just stick with the
damn cards for once.
Jack: *flitting
toward the guest* Whatever you say, Bossy. *takes the guest's hand dropping a
kiss on her knuckles* Welcome to The Revenge. Let's talk sexy.
Nan: Oh, my,
Captain Jack... you do make a girl’s heart flutter!
Bosun: JACK!!
Jack: Yes, yes.
The cards. So, Nan Reinhardt, since this is your first visit aboard the ship,
tell us a bit about yourself and these sexy stories of yours.
Nan: Well, Jack,
I’m a romance author and yes, my stories are sexy, but more important, they’re
about women in their prime. Mature women who are still living life to the
fullest or at least trying to. My series is about several women who live in
Willow Bay, Michigan, thus The Women of
Willow Bay. Carrie in ONCE MORE FROM THE TOP is a photographer and a single
mom raising her teenaged son and doing pretty well when the man she’s always
been in love with reappears in her life. In SEX AND THE WIDOW MILES, Julie, who
is Carrie’s best friend, has been widowed a year and is trying to work through
her grief. She goes to Chicago for the winter to get away from all the memories
and discovers a new life and maybe even a new love. My heroines are all over 40
because as we all know women only get sexier and more interesting as they get
older.
Jack: More mature
heroines sounds right up my alley. The young ones take too much effort anymore.
It's nice to find a woman who knows what she's doing.
Bosun: Is there a
question in there, Jack?
Jack: Ignore the
control freak behind the curtain. Goodness knows everyone else does. Now where
were we. So two books at once. What made you take that route?
Nan: Actually, my
editor, the fabulous Lani Diane Rich of StoryWonk,
suggested releasing both books at the same time. At first I was a little
skeptical, but the old publishing model doesn’t work so well with e-books. We
wanted both books to be available so
that if you buy one and want to read the next one, you won’t have to wait
several months for it to release. They’re both right there, right now.
Jack: Solid
reasoning there. You follow your own path. I like that about you. *flips to
next card* Tell us a bit more about this Willow Bay. Maybe we could settle the
ship there after our final day in port here.
Nan: Willow Bay
is a fictitious little village on the west coast of Michigan, but it’s based on
one of my favorite places in the whole world, Frankfort, Michigan, which is about
40 minutes south of Traverse City. I’ve always loved that area, so I chose that
setting. You ship would be welcome, I’m sure—there are plenty of deep water
harbors in the area and plenty of great places to eat. But mind you, it’s
north, so winters are damn chilly—lots of ice and snow…
Jack: Cold then.
Maybe we'll stick to warmer climes. I want to know more about the women of this
bay though. Exactly where does the sexy bit come in?
Nan: The sexy bit
comes in when Carrie in ONCE MORE FROM THE TOP discovers that she’s still in
love with Maestro Liam Reilly and that the chemistry between them is just as
strong as it was sixteen years before—maybe stronger. As for Julie, in SEX AND
THE WIDOW MILES… well, she meets Will Brody, the handsome young guy in the apartment across the hall and they heat up a
Chicago winter when Will finds out that an older woman can be very hot.
Jack: I like you
even more now. A younger man, though? Wouldn't this Jules like a weathered
pirate? One who knows his way around and under—
Bosun: *smacks
Jack in the back of the head* If you don't stop right there I'm ordering the
crew to leave you on a deserted island. Again.
Jack: *rubbing
the back of his skull* You're a violent wench. No wonder the hotties are all
afraid of you. Excuse me, Nan. I was going to say under the stars. Yes, that
sounds plausible. Now, will there be more adventures on Willow Bay in the
future?
Nan: You betcha. Coming
up, we have Sophie Russo, who was a summer resident for years, but has just
recently moved to Willow Bay permanently after a nasty divorce, and Sarah
Everett, the manager of the consignment shop from Julie’s book, is coming for a
visit and may just decide to stay and become a citizen of Willow Bay. After
that… who knows?
Jack: Lovely! Now tell us where we can find you to keep up with
your sexy exploits, and is there anything you'd like to ask the crew to get
things going today?
Nan: Right now,
both books are KDP Select titles and are available exclusively at Amazon.com. You can click on the book covers to go directly to Amazon. You can
also go to my website, read blurbs from the books or my Facebook page,
and you can Tweet me @NanReinhardt.
I’d love to hear from
the crew! My question for the crew today would have to be, how do you feel
about romance novel heroines who are more mature—40, 50, or even 60 years old?
Is a story still sexy and romantic if the heroine isn’t twenty-something?
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
The Power Of Inclusion...
As the newest crew member on The Revenge I wanted to use my last blog post to not only thank the rest of the crew for the wonderful opportunity, but also for the personal support that I know will continue on beyond the life of this blog.
Of all the things being part of this crew has given me, the lesson that will resonate forever with me is the power of inclusion. Being a newbie writer, struggling to find my way, to feel as if I had the right to call myself a writer, to find some sense of foothold along the treacherous path writers endure, something magical happened when I was officially asked to become a blogger with The Revenge.
Now I might not have blogged that often, nor can I claim to have given any immensely compelling insight into the writing process, but my inclusion as a member of this crew might have helped me more than my posts helped anyone else.
Advice. Support. Straight talk. Cheerleading. Reminders about big girl panties. Validation.
This crew has provided me with these and so much more and it all came down to the power of inclusion. They included me. By asking me to join their group it went beyond just writing a few blogs.
It lit a fire in me. I went from having spent two years trying to write my first book, to finishing the first, entering my first writing contest, outlining two more books while starting book two. Inclusion can do that.
All it took was someone asking me to be a part of something bigger than the blank page in front of me.
This crew has taken me beyond what I could have done on my own simply by making me feel apart of something bigger that gave some legitimacy to the time I spent writing.
So with my last post I want to leave this crew and our readers with this one point - include someone.
Whether it's just including that writer you see sitting alone at a conference or asking a newbie like myself to join a blog or critique group, extending an invitation to them will mean so much more than you can image.
My writing journey really started when I signed up for the amazing Judi McCoy's writer's boot camp at the RT Booklovers Convention. As you all know, Judi was an amazing woman who lived to include, to build-up, and to empower young writers. At the same time I met Judi I met an equally amazing, and honestly, an even more empowering woman for me - Maureen, our own lovely 2nd Chance. Both took it upon themselves to connect with me and I will be forever grateful and in awe of their selfless acts to help new writers.
What began with these two woman was lifted into something affirming and life-changing when Terri extended the invitation to become a writer here on The Revenge. It was the power of inclusion. Thank you so much for including me, for giving me a sense that I could conquer the blank page. Your invitation took me out of solidarity and allowed me to identify as finally, a "writer."
My dear crew, I'd love to hear your stories of being included - whether with your writing or personal life. Was there a special moment that has stuck with you as being a deal-changer or had long-lasting personal meaning? How did you come to join The Revenge?
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Having Perspective: Or "I Got a Whole Lot of White American Girl Problems"
A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS is the second book by Khalid
Hosseini, who also wrote The Kite Runner, which I have read yet but will since
completing this book. His writing is poetic, almost soothing to read, even as
you’re reading about such horrific monstrosities. There were parts I was
basically reading through my fingers because it was like watching a horror
flick for me. This book came out in 2007, so as you might notice, I’m clearly
not on any bandwagons or following anyone’s book clubs very quickly, but always
better late than never. Quite frankly, I think the Universe was having a bit of
a laugh at my expense because the last eight days have been less than my
favorites in my life. In fact, if there comes a point where the Counselor and I
are looking at my life on an iPad, I’ll be like, “Just skip those days. I’d
rather not remember them if it’s all the same.”
But then I read this book, and what I’ve got is White
American Girl problems.
The main character of this book is Mariam, and this chick
has problems. So while I was pissed about my job and righteously thinking up
ways to send my resume all over God’s green earth, I’d read this and go, “Well,
at least I don’t work there. Under the Taliban.”
And it made the work week slightly more bearable. I at least
didn’t go around with signs and saying, “You’re oppressing me!” because you
know, if you want to be comparative about it, I’m clearly not. I may be a bit
misused, but clearly, if it’s a real problem, I can find a new job—and that’s
totally allowed in this country, so long as you can find another. Eventually I
hope they’re not so thin to the ground and I can find something better. I’m not
stuck in a house I’m never allowed to leave, being beaten and denigrated daily,
and making rice for an ungrateful asshole.
Then my relationship bubble burst, and that just degraded a
whole other aspect of my life and I was feeling sorry for myself, poor betrayed
heartbroken creature I am. And then I thought, “Well, at least I didn’t have to
live like Mariam and her marriage. I can move on or do something; in her
country, that’s not the option.” Which I basically thought every single time we
had to be in her POV and her husband decided to be his usual garbagy self.
It’s a story about how you know if you’ve lived a good life,
no matter how horrific its circumstances were, because that’s one of the
conclusions Mariam draws: she loved and was loved by the important people in
her life and her life mattered. So again, not a bad thought to be reminded
about while I was having my white girl problems.
Anyway, I totally recommend it. The writing is absorbing;
the plot is absorbing; the characters are memorable. I think I will always remember
Mariam as a heroine. And the last line of the book made me sob—so you know that’s
a good book. I mean, it was a “happy ending” of sorts, but the expense at which
it came was so great…you just seem to appreciate it all the more. I think we
should all read more of these kinds of books so we can all keep our white girl
problems in perspective.
What do you read when you need to put your life in
perspective? Anything memorable where you went: DAMN, I don’t have problems
like that, Thank God….
Monday, September 23, 2013
Black Moments
Well, if you knew me well, you knew I loved talking about black moments in books.
This week, there's been a lot of Black Moments roiling around me, threatening to sink my ship every five to ten minutes. There were days this week I came home and cried--and you know as well as I do there is no crying in pirating. I was so quiet and sad tonight at the farm, my dad grabbed my hand as I was leaving--and he doesn't do that, you see--and I asked if anything was wrong, and he just smiled and I knew he knew something was wrong I couldn't talk about. Which only made me love him more.
I was thinking about that incident on the drive home, how I was having a Black Moment...and it was the kind that has literary fiction all over it. But then I remembered that my current reputation with bad days is that I've survived 100% of them and even been happy again, so it stands to reason even if I'm a little sad, in the midst of a Black Moment now, and it seems all hope is lost--well, I write genre fiction and the Black Moment is never where the book ends. And if it's still a Black Moment, then it's not the end. Goddamnit.
So if we're all a little sadder than usual this week, if we all feel we're in the midst of a Black Moment from which no light shall shine again, just remember--if you're still in the Black Moment, it's not the end and just sail on until you do get to Tortuga...and there is rum and hotties and publishing contracts and everything you've dreamed of. It's all going to be okay.
So I'm sorry this isn't a glamorous send off with a parody and dancing hotties and everything else my reputation begs me to present here for my very last blog on the ship, but it is a bit like the speech from BRAVEHEART, when William Wallace rides up and down the line of gathered Scotsmen and says, "They may take our lives, but they will never take our FREEDOM!"--sorta like that.
Black Moments may take our happiness for a while, but they will never take our hope. And as you also know, if we writers didn't suffer, we wouldn't have anything worth writing about--so really, the suffering is just part of the gig.
So not sure what the questions should be--maybe "If Hellie had not been in the doldrums, what would have liked to have seen for the last blog?"--we can have a little fantasy like that. Or really, talk about whatever...it's the last week. Tangents just beg to be done now.
This week, there's been a lot of Black Moments roiling around me, threatening to sink my ship every five to ten minutes. There were days this week I came home and cried--and you know as well as I do there is no crying in pirating. I was so quiet and sad tonight at the farm, my dad grabbed my hand as I was leaving--and he doesn't do that, you see--and I asked if anything was wrong, and he just smiled and I knew he knew something was wrong I couldn't talk about. Which only made me love him more.
I was thinking about that incident on the drive home, how I was having a Black Moment...and it was the kind that has literary fiction all over it. But then I remembered that my current reputation with bad days is that I've survived 100% of them and even been happy again, so it stands to reason even if I'm a little sad, in the midst of a Black Moment now, and it seems all hope is lost--well, I write genre fiction and the Black Moment is never where the book ends. And if it's still a Black Moment, then it's not the end. Goddamnit.
So if we're all a little sadder than usual this week, if we all feel we're in the midst of a Black Moment from which no light shall shine again, just remember--if you're still in the Black Moment, it's not the end and just sail on until you do get to Tortuga...and there is rum and hotties and publishing contracts and everything you've dreamed of. It's all going to be okay.
So I'm sorry this isn't a glamorous send off with a parody and dancing hotties and everything else my reputation begs me to present here for my very last blog on the ship, but it is a bit like the speech from BRAVEHEART, when William Wallace rides up and down the line of gathered Scotsmen and says, "They may take our lives, but they will never take our FREEDOM!"--sorta like that.
Black Moments may take our happiness for a while, but they will never take our hope. And as you also know, if we writers didn't suffer, we wouldn't have anything worth writing about--so really, the suffering is just part of the gig.
So not sure what the questions should be--maybe "If Hellie had not been in the doldrums, what would have liked to have seen for the last blog?"--we can have a little fantasy like that. Or really, talk about whatever...it's the last week. Tangents just beg to be done now.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Thanks...for the memories...
Okay, so you have to have seen a Lawrence Welk show in your past to get that lyric - which is something no self-respecting pirate should ever admit. But this is my last post as a pirate, dammit! And even thought I haven't been here very long, I'm feeling sentimental.
I didn't start out as a pirate, but these wenches...I'm sorry...rather piratey women, invited me to join their crew. And it was great! I love these ladies! They're funny and smart and they never say anything about my addiction to cake and vodka and cake-flavored vodka (mostly because it meant more rum for them).
But every adventure has to have an end and I guess here's where The Romance Writers' Revenge docks for good - I'm assuming in Tortuga - or maybe to see new life as a Carnival Cruise ship (and if that's the case, we should probably take the undead monkey with us).
Let me just say that if anyone on this crew ever needs an assassin for any reason - you know where to find me! Even if you don't need my, um, particular skill set and you just need some idiot to show up and act obnoxious - I'm your gal.
Thanks guys, for letting me play a small part. You always made me feel like part of the crew. I love you all.
And I hope we will all stay in touch because I need each and every one of you. And not just to help dispose of bodies - but for any other reason too (although I should say up front that you probably shouldn't ask me to be a square dancing partner - everything else is okay).
All my love to the crew,
The Assassin
I didn't start out as a pirate, but these wenches...I'm sorry...rather piratey women, invited me to join their crew. And it was great! I love these ladies! They're funny and smart and they never say anything about my addiction to cake and vodka and cake-flavored vodka (mostly because it meant more rum for them).
But every adventure has to have an end and I guess here's where The Romance Writers' Revenge docks for good - I'm assuming in Tortuga - or maybe to see new life as a Carnival Cruise ship (and if that's the case, we should probably take the undead monkey with us).
Let me just say that if anyone on this crew ever needs an assassin for any reason - you know where to find me! Even if you don't need my, um, particular skill set and you just need some idiot to show up and act obnoxious - I'm your gal.
Thanks guys, for letting me play a small part. You always made me feel like part of the crew. I love you all.
And I hope we will all stay in touch because I need each and every one of you. And not just to help dispose of bodies - but for any other reason too (although I should say up front that you probably shouldn't ask me to be a square dancing partner - everything else is okay).
All my love to the crew,
The Assassin
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