Category Archives: Writing Musings

My Books on Pinterest

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Do you like Pinterest? I’m all over that stuff, man. It’s like catnip to me, and if I’m not careful, I can go down a rabbit hole over there and be gone for hours.

(Luckily I also do Pinterest for my work during the normal workday, so I get my “fix” pretty much then.)

Anyway, in addition to all my personal boards, like the obligatory “Christmas Decor and Recipes,” “Fall Decor and Recipes,” “Table Settings,” “Places I’d Rather Be” and such, I have 2 new boards for my books! There I’m posting pictures of how I envisioned my characters, photos of the real places that inspired fictional scenes in the books, and videos of coastal activities that take place in the books.

If you’re a Pinterest person, click one of the boards below and come follow me there! Let’s have fun!

Follow Lauren’s board THE RED BIKINI, Book 1 on Pinterest.  Follow Lauren’s board TEN GOOD REASONS, Book 2 on Pinterest.

My First Industry Review for TEN GOOD REASONS! (also entitled The Second Time My Heart Stopped Beating for a Second)

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So I guess it never stops. Your mouth goes dry each time. Because my first industry review came in for TEN GOOD REASONS, and just like it did for the first book, my heart started racing.

I suppose this will always happen. Because you send it out there, and you love it, and you HOPE everyone loves it, but until you start hearing from everyone (anyone, really), you just don’t know.

And this book had the added pressure of being the SECOND, which has to be at least as good as the first, but not too similar, but not too different, and have some of the same characters, but not too many, and have the same setting, but not described in exactly the same way, and have some of the same writing-style and voice as the first, but not identical, and … well, you get the idea. Pressure. Lots.

So it was with great trepidation that I read my first review (it was from Kirkus). It’s here: Kirkus Reviews: Ten Good Reasons.

And it was with great relief that I finished reading it. (Breathing commenced!)

Drinking should have probably commenced also, because I had to read this part a couple of times:

Christopher’s second novel is a polished and accomplished success with a terrific mix of romantic chemistry, sexual tension and a touching emotional journey. … A smart, poignant contemporary romance from an author to watch.

An “author to watch”? Me??? I can’t even believe this stuff is written about me. It feels like they’re talking about someone else.

The Kirkus review was introduced in another article by Bobbi Dumas, who writes about romance, and she lumped me with some established romance icons who I admire, and she called the book “sexy and smart.” (Squeeeeeeee!) Her article is here: Beach Reads in Winter | Kirkus.

Dang, once I pick myself up off the floor, I’ll try to figure out if writers ever get used to this — the pressure, the nervousness, the heart-racing, the relief, and the strange oddity of seeing public reviews of your writing.

(I’m guessing not.)

But at least now I can go back to writing the next book! (Breathing properly, and with just an iota more energy.)

Thank you all for listening. …

Reader Question: What Did Your Kids Say When You First Got Published?

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This question is from beta reader Kristi Davis:

Q: What did your kids say to you when you first got published?

A: What a sweet question! My kids, who are now 15, 18, and 21 years, have been watching me write fiction at all hours of the days, nights and weekends for nearly ten years now. I think it seems normal to them. So, on the day I got my book contract, I hung up the phone in my den and turned to my then-13 yo – who was lounging on the couch the way all 13 yo’s do, with his body slung over the seat and only his hands at attention on his phone keyboard – and said, “Oh my God, I just sold my book!”

I think his exact reaction was “Cool” (with a quick glance up from his phone).

Deep sigh. …

But since then, all three of my kids have expressed mostly pride.

Although none of them has read my book (they’d all rather die, I’m sure, than read anything their mother has written regarding love scenes), they did all post pictures to Instagram on the day my first box of books arrived from my publisher. A few weeks later, they all took pictures of me in random Barnes and Noble stores posing near my book (once even in Missoula, MT, and once in Salt Lake City, UT), and they all feel the need to rearrange the shelves in the bookstores whenever they see it so my book is visible. They’ve all written me Mother’s Day or birthday cards that go on and on about how proud they are that I followed my dream, and made it come true. My daughter even called me an “inspiration.”

Nothing could be better.

This reader question and answer originally ran in my June newsletter. If you’d like to sign up for my newsletter, and get all the posts mailed directly to you, sign up here. We also do monthly giveaways and have “sneak peeks” at chapters from upcoming books. Have a question? Send to laurenchristopher [at] live [dot] com!

TEN GOOD REASONS Preorders Now Available!

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TenGoodReasons_FINAL

So, wow, I can’t believe it’s 2015 already and my second book is finally ready to make its debut! I’ve been waiting for this for quite a while. (It feels like I wrote it a long time ago.)

TEN GOOD REASONS — Lia and Evan’s story — is now available for preorder on Kindle and Nook as well as paperback. You can reserve your copy now and not get charged until April 7 when it comes out officially and will pop up in your reading device. (You’re also guaranteed the best price between now and then.) I’m so excited for this book! — Here are five places where you can now preorder:

Barnes and Noble (Nook or paperback): http://bit.ly/13TN4RV
Amazon (Kindle or paperback): http://amzn.to/1ysU85T
iBooks/ iTunes: http://bit.ly/1xxVhqS
Powells: http://bit.ly/13TO6NZ
Book Depository (free shipping outside the U.S.): http://bit.ly/1BrqTzZ

I’ll be sharing sneak-peeks of upcoming chapters in my newsletter, so if you want to read along, sign up for the newsletter here. I’ll be sharing up through Chapter 4, then when your book arrives on April 7, you can pick up right from there!

And I’ll also be giving away a couple more ARCs (advanced reader copies), so stay tuned for that also.

Right now, I’m putting together a Review Crew for TEN GOOD REASONS, and I thank all of you who volunteered through the newsletter. For those who I could squeeze in, I’ll be reaching out to you soon through email.

It’s going to be a fun year! Here we goooooooo ….

My Favorite New Ornament This Year

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Aw, look at this super-cute ornament my mom gave me:

DSC_0099

Isn’t it cute?

She glued “The Red Bikini” cover on the top book, and we’re thinking we’ll put “Ten Good Reasons” on the blue spine when I get my new business cards (with the cute small print).

Then … hmmm … it looks like we’ve got a few more spines to fill next year…

I’ll get on that!

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