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Movies

December 6, 2018 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as Hollywood, ideas, Linda O Johnston, movies, Plotting, writing

movies | Linda O. Johnston | A Slice of Orange

Movies

I’ve been going to a lot of movies lately. Why? Well, my husband and I now subscribe to one of those movie packages where you pay a monthly fee, and can then attend several movies a week for no additional charge. Although we’re allowed to see three, we’re mostly seeing two, and occasionally just one.

As a writer, I find that fun. I try to analyze each plot, note which ones I like and which ones I don’t. Most of them aren’t documentaries, so even if they’re supposed to be based on a true story they’re generally at least somewhat fiction.

Sometimes we just pick a show that sounds vaguely interesting, but we always hope to jump onto one that sounds a whole lot more—fun, exciting, inspirational, whatever.

And sometimes I get new ideas for my own writing from them. I’ve begun a proposal for a new mystery series which might not go anywhere, but, yes, I was inspired by movies!

I suppose that the fact I live in the Hollywood area also gives me ideas involving films, both novels and, occasionally screenplays—that I never write myself, although I’ve taken classes.
I’m wondering if the theater chains and companies that offer these multiple movies are actually making money. I hope they’re doing well enough to keep it up.

Do you go to movies? Do they inspire you to read or write?

And Happy Holidays to all of you! I’ll have a post here in early 2019. (Wow, that sounds as if it shouldn’t be happening so soon!) And when I do, I’m hoping to have some writing news to convey.

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Happy & Sad by Linda O Johnston

November 6, 2018 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as Harlequin Nocturne, Linda O Johnston, new releases, werewolves

Happy and Sad

My fourth book of this year, Visionary Wolf, has been released this month. I’m happy about that! It’s the ninth in my Alpha Force miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne, about a covert military unit of shapeshifters. Happy about that, too. It’s also my 50th published novel–very happy about that!

But it’s my last Nocturne, since the line is ending. I’m sad about that.

What’ll be my next published novel? The fifth book in my Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series, For A Good Paws, scheduled for May 2019. I’m very happy about that.

But For A Good Paws will be my last book for Midnight Ink, because that publisher is shutting down. And I’m very sad about that.

That’s a career in writing, I suppose. Good things and bad things occur, as in other professions, and traditionally published writers like me often don’t know what’s going to happen when.

So where am I now, and where am I going? I’m both happy and sad that I’m still figuring that out. I’ve got some good possibilities out there and am hopeful something will come of them, but we’ll see.

Meantime, can you see me? I’m smiling… wryly.

What makes you both happy and sad?

Linda

PROTECTOR WOLF

VISIONARY WOLF (Alpha Force)

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Another New Release by Linda O. Johnston

October 6, 2018 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as 25 Novels, 50 Novels, Bragging, Harlequin, Linda O. Johnston

Another New Release | Linda O Johnston | A Slice of Orange

Another New Release

Okay, blogs are for bragging.

Well, maybe not. But that’s kind of what I’m doing here today. My second K-9 Ranch Rescue novel for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Trained to Protect, is an October release.

It’s got romance. It’s got suspense. It’s got dogs. So it has to be good, right?

I definitely hope so.

Plus, it’s a milestone in several ways. I received recognition at this year’s Romance Writers of America Conference in Denver for my 25th published work with Harlequin. That included novellas. But this month I also receive, online, recognition that Trained to Protect is my 25th Harlequin novel. Plus, I’ve published 50 novels of all genres, including mysteries.

Okay, enough patting myself on the back—although it feels good. Let me just note that it’s hard to believe that this year is rushing by so quickly. I know they all do, of course, but the fact that it’s October already feels surprising. So . . . Boo! I won’t be blogging here again till after Halloween, so have a good, scary, chocolate-filled one!

Linda

Another New Release | Linda O. Johnston | A Slice of Orange

And here is the book!

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How Many Formats?

September 6, 2018 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as audio, Formats, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo

Formats | Linda O Johnston | A Slice of Orange

I admit I’m somewhat old-fashioned. I’ve been writing for a long time, and when I started there weren’t nearly as many formats for books to be published in as there are today.

But this is so fun! Whatever way you want to “read” a book, there are probably some titles out there in whatever format(s) you choose. And I’ll also admit in advance that I’m sure there are a lot of options that I’m not familiar with.

Let’s start with print. There have been different types of print books for quite a while, including hardback, trade paperback, and mass market paperback.

And now there are also e-books in several different formats, depending on the e-reader you use: Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, and more.

So… there are many different ways to use your eyes to read. But you can use another sense, too–hearing. Audio books! I’m in the process now of having a couple of books in my Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series made into audio books. Looking forward to it!

Another possibility, of course, is Braille, which I assume is only used by the blind or perhaps also those with poor eyesight. And yes, people who use Braille do use a different sense: touch.

Those are the main ways of enjoying a book that I know of. Anyone want to educate me on something else?

And, yes, enjoy what you read no matter what way you do it!

Linda

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Everything But a Dance by Linda O. Johnston

August 6, 2018 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as mystery, publicity, romantic suspense, Social Media, the internet

I’ve blogged here before about the importance of authors letting the world know about our books. Writers may prefer just sitting at their computers and writing. We’re more successful, though, when we actually publish those manuscripts we’ve spent so much time, effort and love on and let others read what we’ve been up to.

The internet and social media help a lot with letting readers know what we’ve written, but it also helps to get out in the world and meet readers and discuss our stories with them.

I’ve been doing quite a bit of that lately—not that I don’t always seem to have something pending. Or just behind me. I write in different genres, so I’m always busy.

Recently, I attended the RWA National Conference in Denver, where I had a great time—and was recognized for having had my 25th Harlequin novel published.

Returning home to L.A., I headed south to San Diego, where I participated in a panel called Romancing the Galaxy at Mysterious Galaxy, a bookstore specializing in—what else?—mysteries and sci-fi, but they also include romantic suspense and are now branching out into more romance.

Also, in the past couple of weeks, I’ve been on a delightful panel with other mystery authors at the Beverly Hills Library. And yesterday, I did a reading from my most recent Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Pick and Chews at the August meeting of the Sisters in Crime, Los Angeles Chapter.

More to come? Always. Can I tell you about it? Not yet. All I can say for certain right now, though, is that it won’t involve my dancing in front of a crowd—fortunately for me and for that crowd.

One thing I wholeheartedly believe in, though, is that writers don’t just write, then promote themselves. Writers help other writers in all stages of writing, from starting out to finishing books, then getting published, and, yes, then in getting out there and promoting. So, thanks to those writers out there who’ve been there, and continue to be there, for me. And if any writer has any questions for me, whatever stage you may be in, let me know.

And, oh yes, I’ll be glad to tell you more about my own stories.