Tag Archives: Jeannie Lin

Authors Give Thanks

Barbara Vey -- November 22nd, 2012

What are you thankful for? Author Jeannie Lin is thankful for her healthy twins, Daniel and Mae-Linh

While I’m a firm believer in giving thanks everyday (there’s way too much to be thankful for then can be mentioned in one day), I asked a few authors what they are thankful for.

Jeannie Lin: Last Christmas my twins were 10 days old and fit inside a small gift bag. I’m thankful that today, 11 months later, they are happy and healthy with chubby little cheeks.

Marjorie M. Liu: As always, I am thankful for my family and all my wonderful friends, new and old, and for the blessing of being alive in this beautiful world doing what I love and being with those I love.

Daniel Marks: I’m thankful to have found such grim, gruesome, like-minded readers and supporters, who’ve made my debut year a fantastic experience!

Military Thanksgiving

Dianna Love: I’m thankful for every day I can wake up in a country where my family is safe – huge thanks to our military who won’t be home for the holidays.

Tracey Devlyn: I’m so thankful for my supportive and loving husband, Tim. He’s been my rock and friend for nearly two decades and is a huge source of inspiration when I’m crafting my heroes.

Nancy Naigle: Thanksgiving always fosters a vivid recollection of the relationships that have come into my life. I’m so thankful for the friendships, experiences and partnerships that I’ve had this year and look forward to the continued opportunities to share the many blessings with others.

Lisa Kessler: I’m thankful for my amazing writer friends who are always there to buoy my spirits. Parts of this year were bleak and painful, and yet, they always made me smile and I still finished two more books in spite of the drama.

Susan Carlisle: I’m thankful for readers that make being an author the best job ever.

Today I’m thankful for the crazy set of circumstances that led me to this incredible second career and to all the amazing, talented people I’ve had the honor of meeting along the way.

And what are you thankful for today? What especially comes to mind as you gather with family and friends? Is this year different from others?

Bottom Line: “Take a moment and think about all you have and not all you want.” ~ Lori Basterash

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Jeannie Lin: New Mom of Twins

Barbara Vey -- May 14th, 2012

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Daniel and Mae Linh (nice jab with the Cardinal's outfits)

While I’m visiting St. Louis, author Jeannie Lin caught a Tweet I posted about coffee at a local cafe. She contacted me and we met up for a wonderful visit. Last time I saw Jeannie, we were guests of the San Diego RWA and ended up taking a train together back to Los Angeles late last year. It was great to catch up.

BV: You’ve had a lot going on lately. Care to comment on that?

JL: 5 months ago I wasn’t a mommy and now I am.

BV: So, what did you have a boy or a girl?

JL: Both. One of each.

BV: That is so sweet! What did you name them?

JL: Daniel Louis and Mae Linh

BV: Any special meanings to their names?

JL: Both are from my husband’s side of the family, but Mae Linh is a combination of Vietnamese and English.

BV: Any chance that’s affected your writing schedule?

JL: Hmmm…the twins are finally sleeping through the night, so I write between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.

BV: Was that ever part of your normal writing pattern?

JL: I’ve always been an early morning person, but the babies still dictate the schedule.

BV: I’ve heard that you are committed for several books in the near future.

JL: I’m writing 2 books for Harlequin Historical and 2 stand alone books for HQN. The most recent is My Fair Concubine (you can watch the video here).

BV: So, what do you do in your spare time?

JL: Spare time? I also work a full time job, but luckily I can do it from my home.

BV: Any chance you’ll be doing a reality show like Jon and Kate plus 8?

JL: I think it would be more like Survivor.

Bottom Line: I think Jeannie can Outlast, Outplay and Outwit anyone, so my money is on her.

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Visiting the San Diego RWA

Barbara Vey -- September 19th, 2011

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I thought I was being adventurous when I booked my flight to Los Angeles and was going to take a train to San Diego. The website makes it look like the train station is right there, but after flying from Florida to Atlanta to Los Angeles, I had to take a 45 minute bus ride to the train station. Not a pleasant experience when you have motion sickness. Luckily, moments before I really embarrassed myself, I was at the train station for the 3 hours train ride to San Diego (beautiful view of the ocean from the train). Then the next day I did it backwards to go home. But it was worth it to visit with the San Diego RWA writers.

Jeannie Lin

They brought me in for a one day workshop, but it really started Friday night with desserts at author Cori Owens-Mendez’s house. From the peach cobbler to brownies to the creme brulee pie, they made me feel at home and one of the group.

At their Saturday meetings, they do a full day program so I got to share the stage with the amazing Jeannie Lin who talked about the importance of the first 5 pages of a book. If you haven’t read Butterfly Swords yet, do yourself a favor and try it because Jeannie’s second book, The Dragon and the Pearl, comes out Tuesday (but she gave me a copy at the meeting that I can’t wait to dive into). BTW, in case you didn’t know, Jeannie is pregnant with twins!! Congratulations Jeannie!

back row: Bob Richard, Pam Moran and Suzanne Barris Front row: Melissa Cutler, Tami Vahalik, and Janet Tait

This large chapter has so many active members that awards were being given out like candy. They can earn a charm bracelet and charms for completing various tasks like sending in a manuscript, finaling in contest and signing a contract. These members were recognized for hitting the halfway mark on the chapter’s Writing Challenge to complete a new novel in 6 months. Of that group a few have already completed the book! They all received roses. There was also a booksigning and with such a large group, a lot of good books to choose from.

Due to popular demand...first close up of Jeannie Lin's baby bump

After a healthy (and delicious) shrimp salad lunch, I was up. While I like to think ahead about the subject I’ll be talking about, I pretty much just ad lib it. I know it’s a gift, but I must have been an actor in a past life. I’m such a strong believer in building reader loyalty, that I can pretty much just say how I feel as a reader. I also have talked with a lot of readers who share their thoughts about books and authors with me. One subject that always comes up is social media. What to do, how to do it and is it necessary. Sharing stories with the group and having them relate their experiences made for a lively discussion. I think I left feeling more energized than they did.

The chapter announced that they will be sponsoring their first conference in 2013 and have invited me back. Next time I’m flying in direct.

Bottom Line: My favorite compliment of the day: “I just loved your workshop. I usually get tired after lunch, but I stayed awake for your whole talk.”

Monday Giveaways

From authors Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love: To celebrate the release ALTERANT next week, they are giving away an exclusive Belador short story – FIRE BOUND. All you have to do to download the story is click here.

From Belle Bridge Books: Free on Kindle for 4 days starting Sept. 21:
THE MANICURIST, Phyllis Schieber
PRAISE JERUSALEM!, Augusta Trobaugh

From author Mia Marlow: Mia Marlowe is offering her novella A DUKE FOR ALL SEASONS as a free download at Smashwords. This story started as a serialized novella on her website in Jan 2010. It’s available FREE now at Smashwords.

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Romance Trading Cards

Barbara Vey -- April 1st, 2011

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People love collecting things, beanie babies, stamps, dolls and now author Jeannie Lin was telling me about the latest craze in the world of romance, Romance Trading Cards. She was nice enough to explain to us exactly what that is and how to get in on it.

A lot of people have been asking about Romance Trading Cards (RTCs) lately and the explanation is simple: Authors create trading cards featuring their books and readers can have fun collecting them all.

RTCs started as a whimsical conversation on Twitter one evening between a handful of romance authors. Soon we started hashtagging #romancetradingcards on Twitter and asking “Who’s in?” By the end of the first several hours, the number had grown over a modest ten authors. I sensed something would tip if we just nudged it so I put it on my website and started listing names. From there, other
authors chimed in and it got to the point where authors and readers were asking each other, “Are you in on this #romancetradingcards craze?”

By the weekend, nearly a hundred authors had jumped in and my critique partners, Amanda Berry and Shawntelle Madison, created a website to collect all the information and showcase the cards Romance Trading Cards.

It was the collective excitement online that got the whole thing rolling. The beauty of the idea is it’s so simple and cheap to join. It allows authors to be creative and provide a way for readers to get something special and collectible that’s unique to each book—and it all hinges on the strong sense of community within the romance genre.

The excitement and creativity I’ve seen from authors and readers has been so uplifting. The beauty of it is we’re really seeing how fast the Internet and a community can mobilize and I’m just thrilled to see something positive really take root. It is my dream that RTCs will be more than a fad and that you’ll find
Romance Trading Cards wherever romance authors and readers meet.

The big unveiling will be in Los Angeles in a week as RTCers will converge at the RT Booklovers Convention with trading cards in hand. We even have a buttons and stickers so readers can find us:

Visit Romance Trading Cards for more information and to see samples of all the cards. Then let the fun begin!

And to start you off, Jeannie Lin is picking 3 commenters to each receive a pack of 8 cards. The winners will be posted on Monday, so check back to see if you’re one of the lucky ones.

Bottom Line: I know I’ll be collecting them and try to make a whole set to give away on the blog.

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My Reads and Your Turn Friday

Barbara Vey -- October 22nd, 2010

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With all the traveling, it’s not easy to squeeze in time to read. But now that I’m home for a while, things have changed. I managed to polish off two exceptional books this week.

First up is The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook. Amid a Victorian England inhabited by people with nanotechnology, Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth vigilantly works solving murders. When a body is found on the grounds of national hero Rhys Trahaearn, the Iron Duke, Mina finds herself fighting off the Duke’s advances as together they race against time to find, not only the murderer, but those who conspire to destroy her homeland.

This riveting steampunk novel had me gasping for my breath as Mina and the Duke traveled an incredible world searching for clues. I knew I was in trouble when I got to the middle of the book and fought myself to read slower because I didn’t want the book to end. I have to say, I picked up this book because of all the great buzz on Twitter. It seemed everyone was talking about it and now I know why. My first steampunk book and it totally won me over. Deny yourselves no longer, this book should be on everyone’s bookshelf.

Next I read Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin. Taking place during the Tang Dynasty, on her way to her wedding, Princess Ai Li learns the truth of her future husband’s treachery and escapes with her trusty butterfly swords for defense. Ryam was considered a barbarian in this culture and is slowly making his way back to his own group after an attack left him unconscious when his path crosses Ai Li’s. Thrown together by fate, they travel the long road to her family to warn them of her betrothal’s betrayal.

Jeannie Lin won the RWA Golden Heart award for this wonderful story and now I want to read all the Golden Heart finals to see what other gems I’m missing. This beautiful, enduring story of honor above all else had me mesmerized. Ai Li’s determination and Ryam’s awakening to his self worth make this book a treasure. Engaging, refreshing take on impossible odds. This one’s a keeper.

I really lucked out with two totally different, yet marvelous reads. It’s exciting to think what the week ahead will bring me.

Now it’s your turn. Tell us what books you’ve been reading lately. Any new discoveries? Genres you didn’t think you’d like, but were surprised to enjoy?

Bottom Line: I’m happy to know that I’m still open to new and different ideas…I’d hate to think I’ve gone stale.

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RWA: Librarian/Bookseller Day

Barbara Vey -- July 29th, 2010

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Christie Ridgeway, Kristin Ramsdell, Eloisa James

Wednesday was a day to celebrate librarians. The workshops were geared to them, the goody room loaded with books and swag and authors were waiting in the wings to court them. I hit the workshop given by Christie Ridgeway, Eloisa James and Kristin Ramsdell on trending books. Focus on Young Adult Romance featured Melissa de la Cruz, Ally Carter, Simone Elkeles, Susan Gibbermand, Amy Alessio – Popular Young Adult authors and a librarian talked about how to bring Young Adult readers into the library, and how to entice them into choosing a book. Best advice — don’t be pushy. Offer selections, but let the kids have the final say. At Tips and Tricks for Effective Romance Collection Development, author Tessa Dare and Wendy Crutcher, librarians both, gave excellent tips for maintaining and weeding a library collection during the financial stress libraries are suffering now. The best suggestion is to make sure everything is cataloged so that you know it is there and it can be found when needed, saving the high costs of new purchase or Inter-Libarary Loans.

Jeannie Lin and Kimberly Killion

Karen Rose and Jennifer Dillion of the Pennfield Middle School

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Sherrilyn Kenyon was the luncheon speaker and told of her days working in a library. After lunching with the authors, the librarians and booksellers enjoyed the goody room where they gathered tons of books, bookmarks, candy and other offerings. A meet and greet followed while the two groups mixed and talked to their love of books and gratitude for each other. Everyone came out a winner.

Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love at Literacy signing with fan

The Literacy signing is always a high point of the conference with over 500 authors signing their book and all proceeds to charity. Fans started lining up 3 hours early and the line went on forever. It was a sight to behold when the doors opened and the lovers of all things romance came pouring in. Many of the authors sold out of their books. I heard one woman tell Beverly Barton how she read Beverly’s books to her dying father when he couldn’t read himself anymore and how much that meant to her. Stories like this are plentiful and it helps bring home how important authors and their stories are in people’s lives. While the signing officially ended at 7:30 p.m., Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love were the last to leave at 9 p.m. when their line finally came to an end and all their books were signed. Congratulations on a very successful event for all.

Kate Poole, Marcia James, Nell Brice, Raelene Gorlinsky, Eileen Ann Brennan

After a quick dinner, (well, not so quick as the restaurants were all packed) I headed over to the Ellora’s Cave Dessert Party. Wonderfully decadent desserts were served and I got the coolest bag that goes across your body and has two sides that were stuffed with books. Definitely a keeper.

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Next up was the Goddess Blog Party. This group of authors not only write a fun blog, they also put on a terrific event. Here’s even more pictures from RWA.

Meg Cabot with YA fan, Nicola

From New Zealand, Sandra Hyatt, Tessa Radley, Abby Gaines

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Bottom Line: Don’t come to these events expecting to leave with one or two books…more like one or two boxes of books.

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