A few months back, I got the rights back to Personal Protection, a novel I wrote back in 2008. Part of preparing to self-publish it meant I re-read the manuscript to clean up anything I wasn’t happy with, or correct any errors that might have been missed. I discovered the biggest was the technology my characters used back then compared to what they’d do now. I hadn’t realized how much technology has changed just in those 8 years.
There were still pay phones around back then – try and find one now. The iPhone had only just been released, (the iPad was still a future innovation) but most of us still carried flip phones or had phones with screens that slid up to reveal a keyboard. Back then most companies trusted their email only on BlackBerry’s proprietary system, as at the time it was supposed to be the most secure system, so that’s what I had my guys carry. Not anymore, so I changed it so my characters now carry a smart phone with no brand that could crash and burn within a few years.
Though there were phones that could link maps to a GPS in 2008, most people still used dedicated GPS devices to find their way around town. And the tracking devices all the private detectives and cops use on people’s cars nowadays? They were pretty high-tech and unavailable to most folks back then. Although I’m pretty sure Sam and the boys had access to some new James Bond-like devices. 😀
VHS had given way to DVDs, but streaming wasn’t a big thing back then. Up until October 2008, when you mentioned Netflix people thought DVD rental deliveries not the NetFlix app with its list of instantly-available shows. (Does Netflix even deliver DVDs anymore?)
Twitter and Facebook were still in their early days; there was no Pinterest or Tumblr, no Foursquare (is that still a thing?) or Instagram. The reference to YouTube is still applicable—it started in 2005.
And I don’t think my guys back then would have understood carrying your phone around to capture animated characters. Or maybe they would have been right out there on the forefront.
Although there are days when I think it might be nicer to be less “connected” to our phones…and I wonder where we’ll be in another ten years…
What modern technology do you love? Or dislike?
PERSONAL PROTECTION
Despite owning a security business, Sam Watson refuses protection for himself, even after receiving threats from a stalker. His second-in-command, however, isn’t willing to take no for an answer, and assigns Sam a security detail headed by none other than Rosalinda Ramos—Sam’s secret object of lust. As an employee, she’s strictly hands-off. Though, working so closely together, Sam isn’t sure how long he can resist.
A female in a male-dominated industry, Rosie has enough on her plate just proving her worth, so she keeps her attraction to Sam firmly in check. Until she learns he co-owns an exclusive sex club. While investigating the club as a possible source of the threat, Rosie discovers her own interest in certain sexual proclivities. Before long, it’s all bets off, and all hands-on, for Sam and Rosie.
But the couple will soon discover the real threat to Sam is much, much closer to home…and something from which Rosie may not be able to save him.
Read more about Personal Protection on Leah’s website.
And if you haven’t already read it, don’t miss book 1 in the Hauberk Protection series, PRIVATE PROPERTY or sign up for her newsletter to learn more about future releases http://eepurl.com/bDFPRb
About the Author
Leah Braemel is the only woman in a houseful of males that includes her college-sweetheart husband, two sons, a Shih Tzu named Seamus and Turtle the cat. She loves escaping the ever-multiplying dust bunnies by opening up her laptop to write about sexy heroes and the women who challenge them.
Reviewers have awarded Leah’s books numerous Top Pick and Recommended Reads designations as well as nominated them as Best Contemporary Romance, Best Erotic Romance and Best Ménage and More. Leah has also been nominated as Favorite Author and Best Erotic Romance Author.
Website http://leahbraemel.com
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I love my tablet/reader. I used to have to carry my laptop everywhere I went so I could “stay connected”. Now, I can check emails and carry a whole library with me in one small tablet!
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Jen B — I love my tablet and smart phone. And my Kindle too (I like it at night because it isn’t connected and I can’t check my phone/email at midnight when I’m supposed to be decompressing and getting to sleep.) I love that I can change the fonts on a book, or if we’re going somewhere and I need to know exactly where to go, not only can I get a map, but I can look at the street view so I know what to look for in the neighborhood as we approach it. Still, there are times I wish I wasn’t quite so connected…
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Hi Leah — long time no see.
I LOVE my kindle & texting. In my opinion, my kindle is one of the best things ever invented. No shipping charges, no trying to figure out where to keep all the books (under every bed & the bottom of every closet in my house is filled with books from before I got my first ereader), & new releases are there they day they come out. Doesn’t get any better than that. 😛
👿 But I HATE Facebook/Twitter/Instagram and all those “social” media sites, with a passion. My kids and grandkids put their entire lives out there for everyone to see and sometimes, it’s just plain embarrassing. So, I do not and will not ever have a FB account.
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I have to say the e-reader is my favorite “new” tech. I LOVE to read – a lot. I had a huge library – over a thousand books. However, for various reasons, I move frequently. This library had to go. Just moving all those books as well as the book cases required to store them took a it’s own moving van. Thank goodness for the e-reader. I still have a library of . . . well since I can now carry the entire collection in a backpack, I really have not idea how many books I actually have now. Just imagine how many books one can have on a nook, a galaxy tablet, fire different kindles, and a couple of external hard drives – not to mention the cloud. Isn’t it wonderful that one can now carry an entire library with them all the time? I love it! I always have something to read now.