Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Cyber Conferencing

Newsflash! We have another winner: Christine H! Please drop me an email through my website with your snailmail info. Thanks to all who left a comment on this post.


If RWA hadn't moved its venue from Nashville, I'd be packing my bags today and getting ready to fly out to Nationals. When flooding forced the move to Orlando, I was given a chance to re-evaluate my trip to the convention. The panel I was scheduled to appear on was cancelled. Since I have 6 novels and a novella to deliver by next summer, I didn't really need to pitch another project. My time will be better spent writing and my money better spent hiring a pro to redesign my Mia Marlowe website before the books come out next summer.

I know it's the right business decision for me this year, but I'm going to miss the jazz of Nationals. The buzz of that many creative people who love books in one place is electrifying. I'll miss seeing my writing friends. So I decided I could have a little taste of the convention here by inviting another writer who's also missing Nationals to join me.

Please welcome Elysa Hendricks, one of my fellow Leisure Books authors, who's agreed to be my guest blogger today. She'll be speaking in italics. Take it away, Elysa!
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This last weekend I finally succumbed to the Internet gods demands I join the billions of Facebook drones. Resistance was futile. Now, I'm wondering where this new adventure will lead me. So far, I'm being cautious, only friending people I know. Darn, I can't believe how easily I'm seduced by this new world I've entered. Since when is "friend" a verb? Pretty soon I'll be texting - well, maybe not too soon. My phone is OLD and even if I could figure out how to do it, it costs me a dime for each text. All I want my phone to do is be a phone. Make and receive calls. Phones shouldn't be books, TVs or written message centers. It goes against the laws of nature.

As you can probably tell I'm hardly a techno geek. It seems like only yesterday my hubby dragged kicking and screaming me into the world of Windows. My wounds from all that broken glass have yet to heal and now I'm treading new ground. Actually it feels like I’m barely treading water here.

Fortunately the characters in my books are much more comfortable with the future technologies I’ve dreamed up for them. They travel through space without getting lost or losing data. They’re also much younger, stronger and better looking than me. Guess that’s why I love putting them through so many challenges and difficulties before I let them have a happy ending. If my life is going to be complicated by computers, phones and the like I’m certainly not going to let my characters off scott free. There has to be some reward for breathing life into them.

Emily here again. Part of the fun of Nationals is getting to know other writers. Here's Elysa's Bio:

When the heroine in my first story turned out to be a winged, telepathic alien, I decided I enjoy writing stories set in different places and times. Someday I'd like to compose those stories on a laptop while sitting on a tropical beach with cute cabana boys bringing me drinks. In the meantime I'll keep warm during the cold midwest winters by writing sizzling love scenes.

And here's a blurb about her current release:
STAR RAIDER

Ten years ago, to capture a notorious space smuggler, ASP (anti-smuggling/ piracy) agent, GREYSON DANE betrayed the woman he loved. Now he needs her help to capture a pirate, one whose activities threaten Earth’s safety and future.

After her father’s arrest and her lover’s betrayal, SHYANNE KEDAR fled to the Outer Worlds and slowly found a way to rebuild her shattered world. Now she captains her own small crew of smugglers. When Greyson reappears in her life she’s disturbed by her continued attraction to the man who destroyed her life. His plea for her help in saving Earth from destruction along with his offer of a pardon for her and her crew tempts her to comply, not for herself, but for her son – Greyson’s son.

As they work together to capture a pirate, Shyanne and Greyson must also find a way to recapture the love they once shared.

If you'd like to learn more about Elysa, please visit her website: http://www.elysahendricks.com/

Another great thing about Nationals is all the freebies. I usually come home with a carry-on full to bursting with books. So today, Elysa is giving you a chance to win a free book too. She's giving away a copy of her contemporary fantasy:

THE SWORD AND THE PEN

She’d never been his to control. After penning ten popular sword and sorcery novels, Brandon Alexander Davis was ready to move on. Ready to stop hiding in his fictional world. Ready to start living life. There was just one problem: as he plotted the noble death of Serilda D'Lar, his warrior-woman creation appeared in his study, complete with sword, skimpy leather outfit, badass attitude—and a quest. Was she nothing more than a crazy fan, or had Brandon finally cracked? This woman, so strong yet vulnerable, was both fantasy and reality. She was an invitation to rediscover all he once knew—that life is an incredible, magical journey, and for love, any man can be a hero.

So for a chance to win The Sword and the Pen, be sure to leave a comment or a question for Elysa. I'll kick things off with a discussion topic. Are you an anti-techno person like Elysa? Or could you give her some pointers on how to make the most of her new Facebook account?

Be sure to check back tomorrow to see if you're the winner!


12 comments:

Barb H said...

So sorry you won't be at Orlando, Emily, but quite understandable. You do need to be writing :)

Elysa, you and I are kindred spirits where techo stuff is concerned. I only wish I could offer suggestions to help, but I haven't tried Facebook yet. Just now getting the website up.

Good luck with you new release. Love the hero's name--Grayson--BTW.

Barb Bettis

EmilyBryan said...

I came late to the techno-party, but I now consider my time spent online an important way to connect with readers and other writers. I think the trick to a blog, or facebook, or even Twitter is to remember there's a person on the other end of the little ones and zeroes.

The friends I've made online are people whose thoughts and insights I enjoy just as I would a flesh and blood friend's. It's the connection, the message, not the medium that's important.

Lizzielvr said...

If only the RWA was closer to the other coast! Hello Emily & Elysa! I’m a new fan of Emily’s books and have been eyeing Elysa’s books for a while!

I have a question for Elysa on the difference between the two books, one seems to be a fantasy and one Sci-fi, was it easy to transition into Sci-fi (since most of it is fantasy anyway!)

Sherry said...

I am a total anti-techno geek.. although I was married to one for more than 1/2 my life.. One plus of being married to a techno geek was that I did save tons of money from having to pay for those Geek Squad calls..

But, he never told me that I had a web cam on my lap top.. I had it for over a year and a half and never knew it was there.. When I moved into my latest apartment. The Comcast guy wanted to know why I wanted to buy a web cam when I had a built in .... imagine my shock, when I had discussed this very matter with my soon to be ex.. I wanted to cam with my cousin... He hates my cousin..

Well, enough about us computer idiots.. Luckily, your book sounds exactly like something I would love to read.. Wow, very tantalizing and titillating excerpt..

Good luck with the new release and have fun at the Nationals.. I'm not part of the Facebook Nation.. to much information.. I'm still learning my cell phone.. but..I can text.. Did you want me to teach you?? It only took me 4 months...

Mai said...

Hey Emily and Elysa, Facebook is great you will have fun with it!!

Elysa said...

I'm becoming my mother's daughter. Several years ago after my hubby spent 3 hours on the phone with her trying to get her TV back to English after she somehow switched it to Spanish, we told her she wasn't allowed to have any new technology. :-)

So far FB hasn't improved my life, but I am seeing a lot of familiar names and faces, so maybe things will improve once I figure out how not to spam everyone.

For the time being I think I'll stick to my fictional technology. At least my characters know how to use it.

Elysa

Elysa said...

Lizzie,

I grew up reading sci-fi and fantasy, so when I started writing it felt natural to me to work in both genres. Since all my books sci-fi, fantasy or any other genre focus on how the characters react and respond to the worlds I create for them, I don't find it difficult to switch from sci-fi to fantasy or from historical to contemporary. I let the characters determine the setting for the story. Some stories demand a historical setting, others a futuristic or fantasy one and still others a contemporary venue.

Elysa

Nynke said...

Elysa, The Sword and the Pen sounds really tantalising! I love it when fantasy worlds meet 'real' worlds - makes me feel like magic is just around the corner :).

I'm a rather enthusiastic facebooker; I love to use it to stay in touch with friends that I know in real life, but who live in other cities and countries, even continents. But if you don't have a lot of those, you might still enjoy sharing cool tidbits or music you come across, or facts about how you're doing or feeling, or, of course, news about your latest releases :). The latter doesn't work for me, as the only thing I'm writing is a thesis which will never be published ;).

Unknown said...

LoL Sherry your too funny!

I'm from Ash's yahoo group. Thanks for letting us know about the book and giveaway!

I have a facebook page but I don't hang out there at all. So I couldn't give advice on it. lol

I agree with you Emily I've made some life long friends on the internet. Two I've had for 11 and 7 yrs. Great people!

Hi Elysa, I haven't been reading all my life, it's a new hobby not yet a year old but what I have read usually revolves around a woman so what made you write the book around Brandon?

Thanks! Christine Chirth7@yahoo.com

Elysa said...

Christine H,

The Sword & The Pen is about both Brandon and his fictional creation, warrior woman Serilda. Serilda came to me and asked that I help her with her problem - her creator, Brandon planned to kill her off. :-)

This story was inspired by an old Twilight Zone episode called A World of His Own about a playwright who can bring his creations to life.

Enjoy your new hobby. I'd be lost without books in my life.

Elysa

Chelsea B. said...

I know next to nothing about Facebook, sorry! I never jumped on that train :-)
Your book The Sword and the Pin sounds super interesting! I'll definitely be checking that one out!

EmilyBryan said...

Thanks to all who stopped by for a visit. Hope you'll return again soon. And thank you to Elysa for guest blogging.

My DH (who is a Computer Whisperer!) has managed to randomly pick our winner today. Congratulations to: Christine H! Please drop me an email through my website with your snailmail info. Thanks!