Jennifer Lyon


Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Workshop Question

witchesalter8I’m probably going to give a workshop very late in the year to my local Romance Writer’s of America chapter. So I’m wondering, what would you all like to hear about? Worldbuilding? Reinventing yourself? Creating magical characters?  I’m just throwing ideas out.  If you’ve read BLOOD MAGIC, what would you like to know about how I wrote the book? Or how I transitioned from mystery to paranormal? Anything? Help a witch out!

And in other news, we’re ordering a new computer but it’ll take a couple weeks…keep your fingers crossed and the spells coming that my computer stays alive until then!  It got hot yesterday and did the Blue Screen of Death  again. I finally got it back up after it cooled down.

24 comments to “Workshop Question”

  1. Kira Daniels
    May 12th, 2009 at 7:53 am · Link

    That pc problem really sounds like a fan issue. If a fan goes out, then – POOF! And not in a good way. Hope you get your new pc soon.

    Hmm…workshops. On that topic I would have to say ‘how to weave in paranormal elements and still make your story believable’. I think a lot of people would benefit from that one. Especially since you specialize in witchy stuff. :)



  2. Erika
    May 12th, 2009 at 9:13 am · Link

    I would love to know how to weave a believable paranormal story. How you can create something completely UNbelievable and yet still suck the readers in.

    I agree with Kira, sounds like a fan issue. Good spells winding their way towards your computer.



  3. Silver James
    May 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am · Link

    Get a little desk fan and blow it toward the air vents in your computer case. (This is a desk top, yes?) If you can figure out how, take the side off so air (dust, too so get a spray can of air to spritz it with) can circulate. That should help cool it until the new one comes in. AND BACK UP RELIGIOUSLY! Go through your hard drive and make sure you haven’t missed anything. *conjours cool air spells complete with duct tape*

    I think you have your topic – Making the Paranormal Normal. I’d love to take this class from you!

    Have a great day, witches!



  4. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 11:17 am · Link

    Kira, yeah, we figure it’s the fan. Such a pain. Thanks on the ideas!I’m already seeing a pattern.

    How’s your work going?



  5. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 11:19 am · Link

    Erika, thanks for the spells! So far so good!

    Making unbelievable believable…good, thanks!

    So what about you? What are your working on? I haven’t been blog hopping much with the computer issues, so I’m missing out!



  6. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 11:23 am · Link

    Silver, thanks! I’m cooling the tower, but hadn’t thought about cleaning it. Hmm…how could I screw that up? Wait, don’t answer, LOL!

    Oh, I like Making the Paranormal Normal! I’m going to write that one down!

    Now how about your writing? You were working on two different projects after sending your contracted book off, right?



  7. Erika
    May 12th, 2009 at 12:00 pm · Link

    Silver is kicking writing butt! Go Silver! Me, I’m not working on much. My muse has taken a hiatus, I’m not real sure what will bring her back. I tried Appletinis and I got a postcard of margaritas and half naked men. I guess I need to try something new.



  8. Silver James
    May 12th, 2009 at 12:41 pm · Link

    Erika…try naked men? Just sayin’…

    Jen, it’s amazing how much crud builds up inside. Try cleaning it. Still conjouring for it to hold on to the ghost until the new one gets here!

    And yeah…lots on the writing front for me. The formatted book is in the hands of the copy reader, or will be soon. If she signs off on it, the off to production for galleys and then assignment of a release date. w00t! I’ve also had a request for a partial from an editor in another line of the same publisher. My editor’s daughter gets married this weekend(?) or next week so I anticipate hearing back from her on the second book in the Faerie trilogy soon. *crosses fingers*



  9. Silver James
    May 12th, 2009 at 12:41 pm · Link

    Crud. I forgot to ask, Jen. How’s Phoenix? Has he straightened up and decided to play nice?



  10. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 12:48 pm · Link

    Erika, I feel for you! Seriously, I have that happen and it makes me nuts. What type of book were you working on before your muse bailed?

    Silver is a MACHINE…just saying…she makes us all look bad. If we didn’t love her, she’d be in serious danger :-)



  11. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 12:50 pm · Link

    Silver, AWESOME! FINALLY! I can’t wait to buy my copy and see your revised version.

    Congrats on the request! But you’re still going to conference to pitch, yes? SAY YES!

    I have my fingers crossed!



  12. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 12:52 pm · Link

    Oh, and Phoenix is better, this book is just weird. I seem to be finding all the problems before I really get going–maybe that will mean things will smooth out later and I’ll write faster.



  13. Erika
    May 12th, 2009 at 12:57 pm · Link

    I am trying to get a romance out of my head. I can see it. It plays like a movie, unfortunately the sound is off. Figures. I have faith that it will work out, I just don’t know when.

    Naked men…I’ll give it a try. Can we say French Rugby Team?



  14. Silver James
    May 12th, 2009 at 2:53 pm · Link

    “French Rugby Team.” Just sayin’, Erika….

    And yes, Jen, I’m still pitching at RWA (in some form or another). I really think the Delta Ghosts series and the Penumbra series are more suited for a NY-type publisher. They will be the ones to hook me an agent. I think. I hope. SHADOW DANCE (DG book #1) is coming together wonderfully. We’ll see which I tackle next – finishing WALTZING MATILDA (book #2) or revising SOTW (Penumbra book #1).

    Casting a spell that the problems are small ones, and you’ll have smooth flying for the rest of the book!

    And on that note, I REALLY need to quit blogging and get to work. I’ve piddled around all day. LOL!



  15. Kira Daniels
    May 12th, 2009 at 3:45 pm · Link

    My WIP is going pretty good. I started a new one a few weeks ago–no title yet, just calling it ‘Jake’s Story’ and the one I was working on before this, A PIRATE’S FATE was going really well then hit a wall. But just last week I found out I finaled with it for the very first time! WOOT! That should get me pumped to get working on it again.

    Ericka- don’t give up. If your muse is down, research or collect ‘ART’, as I like to call them. hehe Always gives good inspiration. *beg*

    Way to go Silver! Sounds like you’re on a mega roll!



  16. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 3:57 pm · Link

    Erika, no sound? Well that’s annoying, huh? But it will come to you. Maybe you need a break?

    The French Rugby Team sounds like an excellent diversion!

    Oh, and this is a straight contemporary story?



  17. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 4:00 pm · Link

    Silver, excellent! Just wanted to make sure you were still pitching. WM has real potential! I know the plot on that one a bit and believe it’s Romantic Suspense/Mainstream.

    Right now, I’m working on weaving storylines, magic, etc. I want to bring in some characters from Blood Magic that I sort of left hanging, but it still has to be Phoenix and Ailish’s book.

    My day has sort of gotten away from me too!



  18. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 4:02 pm · Link

    Kira CONGRATULATIONS on the final for A PIRATE’S FATE (love the title)! Which contest was that for? That is so exciting! And heck yeah, that motivate you to get back to that story. Although Jake’s Story (title pending!) sounds like it’s going well for you too.



  19. Kira Daniels
    May 12th, 2009 at 4:19 pm · Link

    It was for Romance Through the Ages– I won’t know until the RWA conference where I placed. And thanks so much! It was something I was NOT expecting.
    Since I lost touch with my Pirate story, I started Jake’s then finaled with the other story–so now I get to work on two. Which is a new one for me. Never worked on more than one before.
    But I’ll sure as heck give it a shot!



  20. Erika
    May 12th, 2009 at 6:10 pm · Link

    Yeah, so far it’s a contemporary romance. Unless they change their damn minds….no no that won’t happen. They wouldn’t change the plot line on me again. Would they?



  21. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 6:30 pm · Link

    Kira, that’s awesome! This is a affirmation of your talent! Now’s the time to push and push hard!



  22. Jen Lyon
    May 12th, 2009 at 6:30 pm · Link

    Erika, LOLOL! We’ll cast a spell to keep them locked into the plot as you have it now AND make it work!



  23. Quilt Lady
    May 12th, 2009 at 11:07 pm · Link

    It is amazing how many dust bunnies get inside your computer. My husband takes an air compresser and blows ours out to keep them from getting hot. Most likely you have a fan in there that is locked up.



  24. Jen Lyon
    May 13th, 2009 at 10:30 am · Link

    Quilt Lady, thanks! My husband can try that once he’s done with a massive work load. But the new computer is ordered! It won’t be here until early June.



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