Read the bloody contract....

Have I got your attention? Excellent. Contracts - specifically book contracts. I'm quite fascinated by the fact that a lot of writers don’t seem to read them properly or they just remember the bits they want to. Yes, yes, it's all selective reading and controlled by moods but it often fascinates me how many writers feel clauses do not apply to them because, well...they just don't. They apply to ‘everyone else’ or I cannot 'see that clause' or ‘your contract must be different to mine.’ Bollocks. Unless you are a well known writer and have a team of lawyers writing your contracts then 99% of the time you are going to get a standard contract that every writer for that publisher gets. Yes, sure you may be able to negotiate royalties but the rest is pretty much set in stone - so sticking your head in the sand and refusing to see clauses is just going to get you in trouble. You don’t like the contract from the publisher? Then don’t write for them. It is your right to place your work where you feel it fits best and offers the best return for your effort.

The romance writing world is a hard, tough, non-pretty business. Don’t make it any worse by electing to do dumb arsed things that go against your contract or common business practice. Not sure of a clause? Ask an expert. Don't assume...we all know where that gets you. But, as always the bottom line is it's up to the writer. Read and question - or act in haste and regret it. Am I perfect? Hell no - but I read my bloody contracts.

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Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Prisoner of the Heart…

…haven’t we all been a captive of our feelings at one time or the other wanting and desiring something but not being sure if it’s the right thing for us or even if we want to go through the whole crapaciousness of love. Yep. Hearts are traitorous little buggers. You sometimes fall in love with the last person you expect to.

Author Anny Cook has a brand new release out today. It’s all about hearts and passion and flat out raw, oh-my-god-how-is-that-possible-emotional sex. ‘Gotta love that. Click on the cover to buy.

Prisoner of the Heart

When Rebecca Iversen graduated from college, she headed home with nothing on her mind but wedding plans. Less than a month later her plans were in ruins when she discovered she was pregnant the same week her fiance was arrested for selling drugs. Anxious to provide legitimacy for her child, she married Tom while he was still in jail. Years later, Becky finally divorced him, resolved to make a peaceful life for her children and herself.
When the reunion invitation from Karen arrived in her e-mail, her Aunt Mary urged her to take the time to enjoy a little adult time at the reunion.

Young Joe Harris lived across the street from the old Victorian where Becky lived during college. He spent those years secretly yearning for the “older woman”. Now that Becky is back and single, Joe plans to do everything in his power to convince her that he’s exactly the man she needs.

I love a man with a plan….

*************************

www.amarindajones.com
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Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Captain Jack and Emmy Lou...

I got a curious email from another writer - let's call her Emmy Lou - about the cover of Shiver Me. She asked me was I aware how much the cover looked like Captain Jack Sparrow? Why yes, I am. Emmy Lou indicated to me in less than subtle terms that I was ‘cashing in on’ the popularity of Jack Sparrow. Uh-huh...

This is curious to me because you could paste the 'cashing in on' label on every genre that is being written or published right now from vampire to doctor/nurse romance. There ain’t nothing new under the sun when it comes to books. In fact you could say, if you wanted to argue the point, that every romance writer is ‘cashing in on’ the phenomena of love. How so? We're writing about a universal desire that people have to be wanted, needed and cherished. We crave love and desire. Or you could argue that people like to read romance books as a hobby and a form of relaxation and therefore ‘cashing in on’ is a load of codswallop. Or you could just enjoy the books without analysing it all too deeply because life is too short for all that shite.

As for covers? You could say writers ‘cash in on’ the fact that women want to see naked male chests, bums, thighs or just a handsome face. Hmmm...so where do we draw the line Emmy Lou?

www.amarindajones.com
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Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Of love and scarlet pythons…

So, I was really stupid this year and fell in love with someone. Forehead slap - what a dumb arse...no really, I was. I roll my eyes at how pathetic I was over this man. I would never let any of my heroines be so dumb. Ah, if only you could write in the right man for you. Anyway it occurred to me today, as I was crawling around on my hands and knees tiling the bathroom floor, I don’t love him any more. Finally. No, I don’t think it was breathing in the tiling adhesive that made me come to that realization but it was a really nice moment when it occurred to me he no longer affects me as he once did. About bloody time. Jeez, love sucks doesn’t it? “Better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all?” Hmm…I don’t think so…

….in light of this revelation I bought myself the boots above. I got them for a fantastic price on an eBay auction. I think scarlet python Doc Marten boots make everything seem right with the world.

www.amarindajones.com
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Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Ok…

…after a short break and a looooooong discussion with a wise, pushy friend who knows me better than I know myself, the blog is back with a new look but not a new Amarinda. I’m remain my usual pissy self.



www.amarindajones.com
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Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Taking a break...

...back soonish...

www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Have a good Sunday...

www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book