July 1st, 2009 by Lori
Paula talks about the transition from Juno, small press, to Juno, new line for Pocket. If you are thinking of submitting or just interested in how this came about, check out the interview.
June 26th, 2009 by Lori
Over the past five or so years I’ve found myself saying this…anyone else? I feel all dirty and cliche when I do, but seriously, it is darn funny how we (humans) can find something to complain about no matter how NOT bad things are. So, when my kids whine “I’m hot.” “I’m bored.” “I’m…whatever.” I can’t help but roll my eyes and become my father.
“I’m hot.” This is usually in context of getting into a car. Okay, we live in Wisconsin. Yes, it gets hot here. It has been VERY hot here this week, but people, I grew up in Southern Missouri. We had no air conditioning–not in our house or our car. And we had (in the car) vinyl seats. You remember those? You remember trying to slide across them in shorts? EEk! Lost some skin doing that. So, when my daughter moans. “It’s SO hot.” My sympathy level just isn’t what it could be.
“I’m bored.” Alright, I pulled this one on my parents as well. And I’d hear the stories of how my dad had no T.V. In fact, he remembered when electricity came to his part of the Ozarks–that’s right electricity. 
They had a pump for water and tar paper walls too. But I digress…. My dad had the outdoors, a wagon (I know he had a wagon because I’ve seen the pictures.) and a few other toys, but something like T.V.? Cartoons on a weekly basis? Craziness. At the time I was pretty much like, “how sad for you.” But now when my kids pull it, I stare around at their toy store worth of toys, the FIVE TVs in our house all with satellite, four DVD players, the computers and think REALLY? And yes, the stories of how I had ONE TV that was BTW black and white, showed at most TWO channels (usually grainy), which with the exception of Saturday mornings had no kids’ programming and one toy box full of toys. I made mud pies and collected rocks. I also made “soup” out of daisies and watched my dad hunt moles. Now that was some fun, kids!
And I know this isn’t going to stop. I’m waiting for the “I have nothing to wear.” I already have my speech prepared. How my dad got out the spotlight and interrogated us for hours when we bought a pair of shoes. Did you need those shoes? $20, really? Or how I had to wear the dresses from my sister and cousin’s weddings to both of my proms. Gunne Sax. Ugh. Do you remember that so sweet you could puke brand? It was so not me, but it WAS a perfectly good dress.
Oh, yeah, I’m ready…
June 20th, 2009 by Lori
First the contest…did I mention it here? If so, I’m mentioning it again! :) I’m having a contest where you can win an autographed, first edition copy of Kat Von D’s High Voltage Tattoo and Mel’s (from Amazon Ink) favorite headgear–a Wisconsin Badger cap! The details are on my contest page.
In other news, I’ve been writing and writing some more. Took a short break for a trip to a very wet St. Louis, and another to fill out the art fact sheet for my next Nocturne–due out February 2010, but that’s about it.
Amazon Queen, the book I’m working on, has been a bit of a roller coaster. I’m starting it with a kind of difficult goal for Zery. One that has potential to make her a tad unsympathetic…but she is an Amazon, so I don’t want to defang her right out of the box. You know? Plus she has to have a starting point for growth. The goal I picked for her definitely provides that!
It’s also the third book in a row where I have not been 100% clear where it was going. I think it’s going one place then realize that is just too pat. So, I stew and in general beat myself up while still trying to meet my daily word count goal. Then when I discover where the book should be going I have to rewrite. Sigh. I hate going backward on my word count. I get twitches. But for the sake of the book, it must be done!
The good news is this morning I had a major epiphany and realized two fairly easy to fix problems. I redid one today and have the second on the agenda for tomorrow. And two very generous authors in the Ninc critique group read my first three chapters and offered feedback. So, I’m again hopeful I will reach the end feeling fairly positive about the book. There’s still plenty to write though…so plenty of time for more freak outs. :)
In more fun and exciting things, we got a new front door. It is lovely.
I know I live an exciting life. ;-)
June 7th, 2009 by Lori
“This is going to be a hot urban fantasy series, full of incredible twists…”
I hope so! :) Here’s the full review at Scooper Speaks…
June 3rd, 2009 by Lori
Image is up at Amazon UK….write up says Intrigue but the cover doesn’t this time… 
June 3rd, 2009 by Lori
In honor of my urban fantasy novel (Amazon Ink) release I’m holding a contest. You can win an autographed, first edition copy of Kat Von D’s High Voltage Tattoo and Mel’s (from Amazon Ink) favorite headgear–a Wisconsin Badger cap!
For details go to the contest page on my web site.
May 26th, 2009 by Lori
Notice the “Intrigue” on the cover and the different font for “Nocturne”. Here’s the link to the eHarlequin Australia page. From there you can search by “Lori Devoti”.
It is also on preorder at Amazon in England…
Sweet!
May 22nd, 2009 by Lori
I grew up in southern Missouri and Decoration Day was one of my favorite holidays. Never heard of it? Maybe you call it Memorial Day. Technically today at least, Decoration Day might not be held ON Memorial Day, but it’s right around there and the sentiment is the same.
So, what is Decoration Day? It’s a day, where everyone connected with a particular church/graveyard get together at that church/graveyard to remember the people we knew or were related to. In my case it was a small one room church that was built on land one of my great-great-great (or more) grandfather’s donated to the community. The church doesn’t have regular services anymore, but the cemetery is still open and Decoration Day goes on. There is a big covered dish dinner and a lot of ladies with Ozarkian accents pushing chocolate cake. There’s seven layer salad (made with lots of mayo), deviled eggs, Watergate salad and Koolaide.
There are people you don’t remember who pinch your cheeks and say “You must be so and so’s girl.” There are graves of babies who died in the early 1800’s that you pause over and think about who otherwise wouldn’t have been thought of for decades. And there are new graves of people you perhaps knew or were related to that you linger over too. And you probably have a tear or two leak out looking at both of these graves.
And there’s a creek with crawdaddies and sparkly rocks, and an outhouse to pee in–if you absolutely must.
And sitting here thinking about all of it, I wish more than anything in the world I was there right now.
Happy Memorial Day. Spend a few minutes thinking about the people who lived before us, then have a big slice of Coca Cola Cake and go catch some minnows–for me.
Lori
May 18th, 2009 by Lori
A PDF download of Margaret Carter’s novel SHADOW OF THE BEAST goes to Victoria Janssen!
Congrats!
Lori
