I can't help but giggle!

ABCs of Writing - A

This week, I’m starting a blog series for writers, published and pre-published, called The ABCs of Writing. With each short piece, I will discuss things I feel are important to writing. I’ll start, of course, with A.

A is for ARRIVE.

You can’t be a writer if you don’t arrive—I don’t mean this in the “I have arrived. Don’t you know who I am because I’m sooooo special” kind of way. In fact, that attitude is detrimental to a writer, new or seasoned. What I mean is arrive in the sense of showing up.

To be a successful writer, you have to show up! You need to make a daily, or at least regular, appointment with your work. Follow me here… You can’t be a writer if you don’t write. Am I wrong?

I find it best to have a daily appointment with your work. This is for two reasons.

First, you can’t get words on the page if you don’t sit down to write.

Second, and most important, the longer between writing sessions, the harder it is to write. The process becomes much like pulling teeth. Everything feels bad and clunky. Forced. By writing daily, you get into a rhythm and keep your voice consistent. It’s also easier to remember details for your plot, and it’s less likely you’ll feel the need to rewrite everything.

My suggestion… Determine the best time of day for you to write, and commit to having your but in the chair, typing away, during that time. It doesn’t have to be long. Some people commit a couple hours in the morning or at night. Some people write all day. Or all night. But you might not have that kind of time. I bet you can find at least fifteen minutes to a half hour. Commit to finding that time. Be creative if you have to. Think you’re pressed for time? That you can never write a story with your busy schedule? Consider this: my first published book and my first published story (in True Story magazine) were both written in notebooks, in my car, between appointments for my day job. It can be done. You just need to arrive on the scene, pen in hand or computer at the ready, and get the words onto the page.

Happy writing!

~~ Brynn

Waiting, oh the Waiting!

Hey everyone! I hope you had a great, long weekend! It was lovely to relax and now I'm back at it. Today, I'm hard at work on Roped by the Team. Do you know, I have started this book five times? FIVE!!! It was maddening, but I have it now. Sometimes, there are so many ideas for what you can do to a group of characters that it's hard to sort out the best course of action. I think I've found the best route for this group.

Now.

The false starts aren't totally wasted. The first one will be incorporated into this book as something that happens about a quarter of the way into the story. I'm excited to see what happens here when I sit down to hammer out the plot. Awesome things can surprise you when you throw a group of lives into a blender.

And the waiting... It will be about six weeks before I know Francesca's (Submissive Mine) fate. I'll post here as soon as I know what will happen with her.

Have a great Tuesday and enjoy the short week!

~~Brynn

Remember

This three-day weekend isn't just about BBQs! Take time to remember and be thankful. I was moved by this video. Freedom really isn't free!! ~~Brynn

Five Years, Fourteen Days

I did it! Last night, I finished the book that would not end. After three re-writes, I finally got it right and was able to end the book. Francesca Cress' book is finally complete and hopefully soon, she can join the ranks of her brothers who live in On Your Knees, All Chained Up, Master Me and Gentle Control. Of course, Francesca is the over-achiever of the bunch. She weighs in at almost half again the length of the longest of her brothers' books.

I'm so excited about this work and I felt such an extreme sense of accomplishment when I finally finished it. I love these characters, and I love their story! Sometimes, when I finish a manuscript, I don't want to think about it for awhile because it drains me so much. Not so with this one. I could happily sit down and read it again today :-)

I'll keep all of you updated on this one as I hear back on it! And today...I'm hard at work on the next Daly Way book!

~~Brynn

Book Release - IN THE DARK

I have a new book out this week! In the Dark was released this week by Resplendence Publishing! In the Dark is a light-BDSM Medieval Romance. Here's what it's all about:

Born with a red blemish streaking her cheek, Katherine has been hidden her entire life. Even after her family perished in the plague, she did not emerge from behind the walls that protect her. With the help of a faithful servant, she is content to live as she’s been taught. However, her contentment ends when a band of men arrive to the castle in a cloud of dust. She’s horrified. And worried. And more than a little fascinated by the man who leads them, Calen the Black. While she spies on Calen from afar, her need to draw closer rages out of control until she sneaks to his room to experience his touch…for as long as they remain in the dark.

In the Dark is Book 1 of my new medieval series, Silken Threads.

Okay...and about this blog. Yes, I will be blogging more often. As of June 1st, this will be the location of www.brynnpaulin.com and the place to go for everything BRYNN :-)

Talk soon!
~~Brynn

Happy New Year

Hey everyone! I just want to wish you a wonderful and prosperous 2013! May all your best wishes come true! ~~ Brynn

"Cole" for the Fire

How about a little Cole to keep you warm? I am pleased to present my newest release Stocking Full of Cole. I just can't say enough about how much I love this book. Yes, it's my book, but those of you who follow my blog know that I love all my books, but I just don't gush about them. That seems silly to me -- the gushing, that is. But Cole is special. This one is definitely my most romantic work to date. It's hot, yet it's definitely very sweet -- but what else would you like to find in your stocking?

Here's what it's about:

When Tamah Jones came home for the holidays, the last thing she expected was to learn Cole Greenwood, a man eleven years her junior, wants her and has for years. For Cole, Tamah has always been unattainable. Now, however, he’s ready to make a move and prove he’s the one for her. He’s ready to give everything, just to be hers, but the two must overcome geography, age difference and her overbearing family before being together can be more than a distant Christmas dream.

Stocking Full of Cole is available from Resplendence Publishing.

Saturday Ten: Favorite Books

I have a lot of books, and I have way more than ten favorites. But today, I'm going to name just a few of the bunch I love. Most of my favorites are older titles, but these are books that have shaped me and/or stuck with me. In no specific order:

1. Captive Fantasy by L. Rosario

Seraphina Scala has just confessed she's never had an orgasm and now her friend has the perfect solution-a night spent at Captive Fantasy, a club that guarantees to fulfill every deep, dark, secret desire. Sera would rather admit she's a vampire than join her friend at such a place, but she doesn't, and she finds herself surrounded by ravenous women and drop-dead gorgeous men. One in particular steals her attention...

2. Wednesday Nights With Jamie by Daisy Dexter Dobbs

Lyla's favorite day of the week is Wednesday. That's the day she allows herself to indulge in chocolate truffles, fine wine and scintillating sex with Jamie. Well, with her vibrator, Jamie-2, that is. The real Jamie, her boss, has no clue Lyla lusts after him or that he's the featured player in her fantasy sex scenarios.

When a crisis throws them together, sparks fly and passion ignites. And hot, sweaty, sultry sex with the living, breathing Jamie is definitely a whole lot better than solitary sex with a battery-operated plastic wand.

Love, devotion and shattering orgasms. What could be more perfect? They'd be on their way to a blissful happily ever after if it weren't for one teensy little problem. Lyla is an evil white temptress in search of something exotic and forbidden in her bed. And Jamie is a lowdown, scheming black man looking to better himself by having a white woman draped on his arm.

At least that's the way their narrow-minded mothers see it. And they'll do everything in their power to keep Jamie and Lyla apart.

3. Full Bodied Charmer by Marilyn Lee

Having recently discovered that there is a whole segment of the male populace who like their women large and bold, Jennifer Rose has finally learned to be comfortable with the fact that she is full-figured. To celebrate, she decides to take a walk on the wild side. The moment she spots the tall, blonde, handsome Rick Markham at a charity bachelor auction, her libido slips into active overdrive. Although she's been hurt in the past, she determines to get more for her money than dinner and pleasant conversation. Rick Markham is ready to settle down and raise a family with his ideal woman: a tall, slender, beautiful blonde. This description does not apply to the sultry, plus-sized Jennifer Rose, who wins a bidding war with his ideal woman, requiring him to spend an evening with her. After a surprising dinner, a slow dance, and several kisses that excite and arouse him, Rick is ready to hop into the sack with Jennifer for a one-night stand. Neither of them is prepared for what happens when he does...

4. A Heart So Wild by Johanna Lindsey

Courtney Harte is certain her missing father is a alive, lost somewhere deep in Indian territory. But she needs a guide to lead her safely through this dangerous, unfamiliar country, someone as wild and unpredictable as the land itself. And that man is the gunslinger they call Chandos.
Courtney fears this enigmatic loner whose dark secrets torture his soul, yet whose eyes, bluer than the frontier sky, enflame the innocent, determined lady with wanton desires. But on the treacherous path they have chosen they have no one to trust but each other--as shared perils to their lives and hearts unleash turbulent, unbridled, passions that only love can tame.

(Confession Time: I own THREE copies of this book)

5. Sexed Up by Sally Painter

In 2383, all the men on Earth are dead. The Anti-Male world government, convinced it was "God's will", has outlawed all research into re-creating males.Working illegally, Randi Mayers, the world's foremost sex-replacement designer, aims to create the closest thing to a real man the technology is capable of. William, the result of advanced nanite technology incorporated with DNA, is the ultimate "sex replacement" and everything Randi dreamed of. His sexual prowess leaves her breathless — and very, very satisfied.But William is much more than a machine, dammit — he's a man! As his "testing" continues and he demonstrates more and more human characteristics, they fall in love, but discovery and industrial espionage place them on a collision course with the Anti-Male faction, with dire results.

6. Tempting the Beast by Lora Leigh (I LOVE this whole series)

Callan Lyons is a genetic experiment. One of six fighting for freedom and the survival of their Pride. Merinus Tyler is the reporter who will tempt him, draw him, until the fury of the "mating frenzy" locks them into a battle of sexual heat there is no escape from. Deception, blood, and the evil Genetics Council are hot on their trail. Callan will use his strength to try and save them both...and do all in his power to keep his woman in the process.

7. Flat-out Sexy by Erin McCarthy (I also LOVE this series!!)

The last place widowed single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a man was at the racetrack. Been there, done that. But rookie driver Elec Monroe sure does get her heart racing.

8. Something Wild (All Through the Night Antho) by Shannon McKenna

It started out as a not-so-innocent flirtation, but Annie Simon can't resist the powerful man on the motorcycle . . . or his tantalizingly erotic promises. Long-haired and leather-clad, Jacob Kerr is strong, sexy, and determined to give her the ultimate lesson in pleasure, if she's willing. And all she can say is yes . . .

9. Luring Lucy by Lori Foster

All Lucy was looking for when she went to her vacation home was an innocent fling to quell the yearning she had felt since her husband died four years ago. She never expected her longtime friend Bram to lure her into a love affair so hot. 

10. Dance Through Time by Lynn Kurland

Romance writer Elizabeth Smith falls asleep in Central Park, New York City, in 1996, only to awaken in fourteenth-century Scotland, where she finds herself in the arms of her dream man, powerful Scottish laird James MacLeod. 


These are all fantastic books. Check them out!!

~~Brynn

Something Sad

There are a few things, people actually, that are making me sad — really sad. People I care about, people I’ve worked with in the past who are no longer writing. It twists my gut to know these very talented people have apparently put down their pens and walked away.

I’m speaking specifically about three people (LD, AL/EH and EA). All three of these people were beaten down by the industry and stopped writing. All three are utterly talented and people I’d work with again in an instant, no questions.

One of the group I mentioned I also considered a good friend. When she walked away, she left behind all of us, friend or not.I wonder if she was given the choice, between her day job and her writing career. She works for a Christian organization and I wouldn’t be surprised if she faced an ultimatum.

That too saddens me. I wonder what I would do if faced by the same. Well, sort of. I’ve often thought over what I’d do if “outed” at church. I’d walk away. Religion is far different from faith. But church and your livelihood are far different too. The thought that someone would be forced to choose between their writing and the rest of life just makes me want to cry. Writing is life for most writers.

I hope the best for these three friends, and I wish there was something I could do for them. I guess, most of all I hope they read this and know I’m still here for them.