Until you’ve lost your reputation, you never realize
what a burden it was, or what freedom really is.
~ Harper Lee
I want to be like that one day. A one-line quote in The Goddess Within mini-book. Guess I better start saying pithy, quotable things, huh?
I’m supposed to be winging my way to West Virginia today. And there’s supposed to be a guest blogger here, but she didn’t show up. So it was fate, right? I’m not supposed to be at Lora Leigh’s big party this year. Nope, instead I’m sitting in my jammies, nursing a cold. I’ve emptied two bottles of Nyquil (lovely stuff) and a box of Kleenex (the kind with the aloe because my poor nose is sore).
Yesterday, I thought since it’s so warm still outside and the pool water is still in the 80’s, what difference does it make if I’m wet? Hmmm…my ears ache now because I couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t just look at the bugs and leaves the robot wasn’t sucking up. I went “pearl-diving”.
Back to that quote from the author of To Kill a Mockingbird. I flipped through my little book looking for inspiration, and that quote was the first to catch my eye. Why? It really struck home. I spent a lot of years in the military, a corporate job, a classroom—and I had to hide the wild child inside me. When I started writing, I let my inner vixen free to roam wherever. I kept my identity a state secret.
These days, I don’t care. I no longer pull a paycheck from anyone who cares what I do with the rest of my time, or what my morals are. I am free to be me. People ask what I write, and if they are old enough to send into cardiac arrest, I say, “I write very racy romances,” and give them a wink. Sorry, had to pause to clean the screen. I sneezed. The rest, I tell them I write in the very lucrative genre of erotic fiction. I don’t have a reputation left to lose—unless it’s for writing really steamy, really nasty pervy books. I’m loud and proud and out!
So, no more soapbox. Just thanks to everyone who’s bought my latest two releases. Four Sworn and Pleasing Sir are chugging along nicely as far as I can tell. I really don’t know how to get the word out any better than I do. I know this blog has a limited audience—mostly friends who’ve been with me a while. I kind of like that, but I would also like to know how to reach more people, because one of these days, I’d love to have an even bigger, badder rep. 😈
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Delilah, I’m with you girl. Sorry about the cold. I quit worrying about my rep along time ago. Now I worry about pleasing me and doing what is right in my heart. Kudos to you!!!
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Rachel! We need to start a club. Just need a catchy name now.
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Sounds like fun! I’m thinking “Beggin to be Bad”… Ah…I’d like to be a lil bad right now, but work calls. 😉
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Always good to have a rep…hehe!!!
And I’m in the same boat with the cold….seems like the bugs are flying all over the world right now.
Valerie
in Germany.
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I’m still learning that its okay to be me… whoever that is.
Hope you start feeling better soon.
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Rachel! Not bad. Although I’m not sure we should be the ones doing the begging! 🙂
Valerie! So sorry to hear you have the cold. Hope I didn’t give it to you with a cyber-sneeze. Get well!
Brandy! The more you endure, the sharper your self-image comes into focus. Thanks for the good wishes.
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Get well Delilah; I had a cold two weeks ago and it was nasty.
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Diane! Thanks, dear. I’m resting—a lot! Did manage to do a 10-scene plot page for the story I have to barrel through this weekend. Half way through. I can make it. I hope.
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Hope you feel better soon Delilah.
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Hope you get better soon. And very true.
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Hi!
I’m a new reader but I just bought most of your books and your latest (Four Sworn)! You have a new reader who will buy all of you next books!
I love your books and Thank you for writing!
Carrie
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Sue! Thanks, I do feel better. Still have the cough, but the fatigue part’s much better.
Taige! It’s great to see you here, and thanks!
Carrie! I’m so excited! A new convert! You can tell your friends and family it’s all my fault. 🙂