SARA full-to-poppin' with NEWS!

Loads of cool stuff happening at the moment at South Australian Romance Authors News Blog.

I'm a convert...

I never thought I'd say this...but I love reading eBooks.  I love it more than READING BOOKS MADE OF ACTUAL PAPER.

Shocking, isn't it?  Five years ago, I would not have believed me, had I told myself that.  (This conversing with myself happens often, and more loudly than is strictly sane.).  I love print books, always have, and have at least four bookshelves that are testament to this fact.

I'll tell you why I've come out and announced my converted state.

It's because I'm a disciple of the school of instant gratification.

I like to have things as soon as I decide I want them.  I'm immature like that.

I'll give you an example.  I have wanted to read JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series for some time.  But I wanted to start at the beginning, with the first of (so far) nine books.  But, I couldn't get book one in my local library, couldn't get it at bookstores because it's older, could have bought it off Amazon or eBay, but that would have been a) exxy, and b) exxy.  Mainly because I would have had to pay for shipping and the cost of the subsequent eight books.

Previously to March this year, the BDB series was unavailable here in Oz due to those pesky geographic restrictions.

But then, they were free and I bought book one as soon as I found it.  Book one was subsequently devoured and I bought the remaining eight books, plus the novella that falls at 6.5.

I went from having no BDB to having ALL OF THEM.  It was awesome.

So, here's what I think about eBook vs print book:

Ebook Pros:
1)  I can get most of them immediately.  I use a Kindle app and Fictionwise via Stanza.
2)  I can get SAMPLES.  I like samples.  Samples give me joy.
3)  I get some books free, if I'm lucky.  Best one so far:  Elizabeth Naughton.
4)  Amazon tells me if I've bought a certain book already
5)  EBooks take up waaay less space.
6)  I can take hundreds of eBooks with me, wherever I go.  My current book is always on my phone.
7)  My devices are back lit, so I can read in the dark, and not disturb Sparky, my husband.
8)  My books are ALWAYS in top nick.  No dog ears or rips.  Although coffee stains could be terminal.
9)  I can get books as soon as they are available in Australia.  Like THE MINUTE THEY ARE THERE.
10)  I can move onto book two in a series in the time it takes to make a coffee.
11)  eBooks are never out of print, and they are aways available.  Digitised backlists rock!
12)  I can use a dictionary, notation and highlight tools, and a virtual bookmark.  I hate real book marks.  I'm a page bender.
13)  I can make wishlists on Amazon.  BIG wishlists.
14)  In some libraries, you can now download eBooks (and audiobooks) to borrow.  That's fabulous.
15)  Some authors only publish in eBook.   I've got access to all this.
16)  I can share my books around my other devices, and they sync up.  I'm always on my most recent page.


Cons:
1) Geographic restrictions.  This is a biggie.
2)  The whole device/water issue
3)  It doesn't smell like a book.  Really, is that even a con?
4)  The possibility of file loss if you don't back up. But really, BACK UP!
5)  You can't stand on a pile of eBooks to reach the food colouring on the top shelf of the pantry.
6)  If you fall asleep while reading, you may drop your device on your head.  Which could result in a bruise.  But dropping a book could result in nasty paper cuts, so it's fifty-fifty.

Ergo, I love eBooks.  What do you think?

DarkLight on some crazy chick...

I'm at the DarkSide DownUnder blog today talking about books, movies and Hugh Jackman sans shirt.  Come and talk about speculative fiction, big curved swords and Serenity.

Did I mention Hugh Jackman sans shirt?

See you there!  E x

What's happening on the DarkSide this week...

Another busy week at DarkSide DownUnder.

I was uber-chuffed to see that Eleni had linked to a Goodreads group called 'Dark Side of the Moon', and their new reading challenge--to read books written by the stars of DSDU.  What an awesome idea.  I might go join in.  

Click through and join the fun on the DarkSide!  

Anna's blogging at LoveCats...

Anna Hackett--one of my awesome CP's--is blogging at LoveCats DownUnder today about great opening lines for stories.

Come and see if your fave is there. You might also wonder why tiny baby clothes are making her smile...

DVD Stack - Watching movies to write better novels.

While this sounds like a just plain awesome idea, my newest phase has some grounding in the actual craft of writing.

When I first began listening to podcasts, I stumbled across Will Write For Wine, hosted by Lani Diane Rich (Lucy March) and CJ Barry (Samantha Graves).  Of course, I thought, "What an excellent concept.  Two of my favourite things.  Let's bang those together and see what falls out.", and listened to them all.  I loved those podcasts, with their dangerously teetering blend of writing craft and drinking games.  Sadly, those podcasts finished up in March last year.  In fact, before I started subscribing.  D'oh.

Stumbling to find something to fill the void, I came across another Lani Diane Rich podcast, this time with the stunningly clever Jennifer Crusie, called Popcorn Dialogues.  In PopD, these two watch a movie, then tear it apart, using the conventions of romance writing craft, to ask why some things work and some don't.  It's really very cool.

They loved ENCHANTED, and tore HITCH into bloody, twitchy little lumps.  They began with 1950's rom coms and are now just heading into a series they've dubbed "Hitmen in Love".

On the website, PopD's catch-cry is "watching movies to write better novels".  So I thought I'd give it a red-hot go.

I've raided the DVD cabinet, and Kmart's bargain bins, and my mum's TV cupboard.  Plus my wardrobe and the space under my bed (I'm one of those people that finds things on the spesh and sekrits them away around my house to give away as gifts.  There's a very good chance 90% of these items won't ever be found again.), and I've collected some romcom DVDs.

Here's what I've got (images from www.imdb.com):

I like the heroine's dress.  That counts, right?

Although Hugh makes me want to poke a stick in my eye, Drew is a romcom staple not to be sneezed at (PopD enjoyed FIFTY FIRST DATES, for the most part).  And I love music, so this is a good start.  The vest is a worry, but I'll soldier on.

I have a nasty feeling about this one (could be echoes of my cleaning-hate), but I'll give it a shot.

I think I've seen this--I used to get quite worked up about Michael Vartan back in ALIAS days.  As I get older, though, he gets too skinny to float my boat much.  :)

I'm not a SEX IN THE CITY kinda chick, so I'm going into this one blind.   Her dress is also cute.
Didn't McConaughey have some weird off-screen bizzo going on?  Or was that the guy from STARSKY & HUTCH?  Are they the same guy?  I mix them up, mainly because they're not...

RYAN REYNOLDS!  Yum.  With stick.
I don't think I even care if this isn't educational.  I'm in it for the pictures.  Hopefully, he loses his shirt within the first five to ten minutes.







Jack Black.  I like him in SCHOOL OF ROCK, and Tenacious D's TRIBUTE just stuck him with superglue in my book of cool.  Which leads me to...

PopD kinda poked this one with a big bad stick.  They called it 'Meh.".  The most interesting part is apparently where Jude's character admits to having a cow.  Really, Jude is a bit too Hugh-ey for me, so I'm not surprised.  I'm worried I'm going to keep wanting Kate to race to the front of the ship and hold her arms out like she's flying all through this one.

Jane Austen - Check
Book - Check

I can feel the educationment happening already...

Ah, more Drew.  Love the fairytale angle.












Finally, I've found these, which I realise aren't romcoms, but they're going on the TBW pile anyhoo:


I'm quite satisfied just by the title.  I mean, really, how could this one not be fabulous?

This one is THE BOAT THAT ROCKED here in OZ.

They rocked.  They rolled.  Then they sank.  

So, how's my DVD stack looking?  Have you seen any?  Are any of them going to change my life?  Or will they make my eyes bleed?

Win Anna Hackett's new Nocturne Bites - ONE NIGHT WITH THE WOLF!

To celebrate the release of One Night with the Wolf, Anna is giving away an e-copy EVERY WEEK in March!  That's all kinds of awesome!

From www.eharlequin.com...

One Night with the Wolf by  Anna Hackett Harlequin Nocturne Bites Werewolf Jade Thorne needs a man—a young, virile man to give her love and pleasure. As a rare female alpha, she must keep her pack safe by pledging herself in marriage to an aging leader from a rival pack. Until then, she wants to experience the raging passion of a wolf in his prime. She even has an ideal lover at hand: her Second, Christian Tallant. But Christian is a wolf who will demand to dominate her body, mind and soul. Now Jade must decide if she can afford to submit to his desire—and if one night with the wolf will really be enough....

Here's what Anna has to say about One Night...


This is my first ever wolf shifter story and I loved writing it. There's also a super sexy chase scene that my wonderful CPs loved! (E - I sooo did!)  So if you're looking for a tight, sexy read featuring a hunky wolf hero and spunky wolf heroine, you'll find One Night available for download at eHarlequin, Amazon US and other ebooksellers.



And woo, that chase scene is worthy of it's illustrious fame!

In order to get your name in the draw, head over to Anna's blog and answer her eeeeeassssy werewolf question!

Big congrats, Anna, and I can't wait to hear what you all think!

E x