Kerfuffles and Random Thoughts

Today is lovely. Relatively cool, with a bracing breeze. It sounds like the sea as the orchard grass on the hill opposite us oscillates in waves.

I’ve been busy finishing the latest suspense slash contemporary western, Timber Lake, thanks for asking, coming out Aug. 25th. Don’t worry, I’ll remind you.

Social Media: I’ve been weaning myself away from Face Book for hours at a stretch. In fact after 7pm, I shut it down completely. Funny thing, I don’t miss it at all. Here’s why:

Gal complaining about an author who failed to meet expectations by responding directly to a comment said gal made on the author’s post. Said gal proclaimed she’s so outraged she’ll never read another thing by that author. She’s not the only one. Seeing quite a bit of victimization of authors via The Cult of Celebrity. Since when is it expected that an author enter into indentured servitude in exchange for a reader handing over 99c or a couple bucks for a book? *headscratcher* Recommendation: grow up.
Sarah Wendell’s letter to RWA regarding a book nominated for a RITA award in the first novel/inspirational category. If you like slippery slopes, you’re gonna LOVE this one. I am not insensitive to the merits of the argument, but without reading the book, I’ll keep my own counsel on this one. And in case, you’re wondering, I don’t do “inspirational romance.” Period. Full stop.
Politics, religion, animal abuse, people abuse, environmental abuse, click bait, exhortations to share if you agree (it’s called passive-aggressive for a reason), unending blasts on the newsfeed to buy/like/love my book. If one promo spot is good, just think how good 187 posts to groups will be. *mindboggles*
Zucchini. Gardeners will understand.

But today there was a good reason to see a post. Gay. Guy. Reading. and Friends is hosting authors “on the road to GRL 2015” and today’s guest is A.C. Burch who wrote the amazing The Homeport Journals. It’s not often a reviewer (in this case, moi) gets quoted because I managed to nail a description of one of the more iconic characters in the story in my review. I mean, wow, just wow. That gave me feels, lots of feels.

I also scored two utterly magnificent Dan Skinner photos which will become centerpieces on upcoming book covers. *HappyDance* And no, you don’t get to see them yet. Patience, grasshoppers.

Speaking of reviews, I have maybe a half dozen to write. I guess now would be a good time.

About Nya Rawlyns

Crossing boundaries, taking no prisoners. Write what’s in your soul. It’s the bass beat, the heartbeat, the lyrics rude and true. Nya Rawlyns is the pseudonym of a writer who cut her teeth on sports-themed romantic comedy and historical romances before finding her true calling in the wilderness areas she has visited but calls “home” in that place that counts the most: the heart. She has lived in the country and on a sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay, earned more than 1000 miles in competitive trail and endurance racing, taught Political Science to unwilling freshmen, and found an avocation in materials science. When she isn’t tending to her garden or the horses, the cats, or two pervert parakeets, she can be found day dreaming and listening to the voices in her head.