And so the judge holds up the pictures, taken on the phone and says something like, you young people don’t get it – all this facebook and twitter and posting everything to your profiles..haven’t you ever heard the phrase, say it, forget it, write it, regret it?

Personally, I’d never heard it put like that but yes, I’ve always heard that you should be careful what you put in writing, and how if you’re angry you should wait 24 hours before sending anything written in said anger.  I think they’re good rules.

I’ve said it before – I find social media overwhelming and exhausting.  Part of that is my personality for sure – I definitely lean more toward the loner side of things – I need a lot of alone time, which is pretty awesome given that my career requires a lot of time alone.  And while I really love hanging out and chatting with readers and writers, sometimes only being able to respond with a certain amount of characters becomes tough and then it’s like, you’re basically using Twitter as an IM.  But I get it – it’s a great way to get updated quickly and efficiently.

When we talked about discontinuing the Writeminded Blog (don’t worry – we’re still all there on the reader’s yahoo loop and for now, the monthly chats will for sure continue) I said that I found it really sad that blogs were being replaced by Twitter and Facebook updates.  As someone who keeps pages for my author persona and not for personal use per se, I should like that more, find it easier to shoot out an update here and there.

But I’m a writer – I like to spill my thoughts on the page – and keeping this blog is really not much different than keeping a personal journal, which I’ve done since I was literally like eight.  Granted, there are things I won’t share here because they’re too personal, but I like knowing that people can come here and feel comfortable to post or not, to learn about Gus or Zoo or to hear about my writing process or the fact that I might be getting another tattoo soon or..whatever.

So this is my way of saying that I like my blog – and sometimes I have to say that to remind myself of how much I do like it, especially when I stop worrying about whether or not I’m saying anything of worth, whether I’m offending someone or being too PC or what.  I’ve been blogging for a long time and I’m really hoping that people still enjoying reading them.  It’s where I’m most comfortable and, like I told Catherine in an earlier post, it’s home.

So what’s your favorite social media / way of connecting with friends / families / readers, etc?  Do you like all the options or did you find it easier when people were all in one place?

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Speaking of, I don’t have covers yet, but I have cover blurbs for both LIE WITH ME and PROMISES IN THE DARK, so check them out and let me know what you think!  I’m really dying to see the new covers…I’m hoping they just blow me away.  Bantam’s art department usually does…and I’m trying to be patient.  *snorts*  Well, as patient as I can be.

I’m also in the process of updating my FAQs page, so in the next couple of weeks, that should be accomplished.

Now, I’ll take a little time off to do things like…well, laundry.  And making sure the 10 huge trees that literally ripped out of the roots from the last snowstorm get taken care of and new, large trees replace them so I don’t need to look directly into my neighbor’s kitchen.

Trees are really, really freakin’ expensive.

Anyway, when those fun tasks are taken care of, it’s back to work on Sydney book 6 and Shadow Force Bk 3 (which I’m really excited about because it’s shiny and new and stuff.)  Although I might try to sneak in some reading, because I can justify it as part of my job, along with pen orders from staples and my brand new iMac which should arrive tomorrow. Pretty soon, there will be no more PCs in this house and I couldn’t be happier. Loving my Macs.  If you’re worried about making the switch because you think it might be complicated, don’t be.  It’s the easiest thing in the world, I swear.

Hope you all had a great weekend and you’re having a good day – as good as it can be for a Monday…

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

But I think I’m on track with the book  - these revisions are for PROMISES IN THE DARK (aka Zane’s book, out 11/23) which just went up for pre-order on Amazon!  I’ve got book blurbs for both Promises and LIE WITH ME (out 10/26), and I think my book pages will be updated with them over the next couple of weeks, so I’ll point you in that direction when they’re up.  No covers as of yet, but hopefully soon!

Since most of my books are connected, I find that sometimes I have to write ahead on the characters (like, into the next book) in order to see the bigger picture.  That’s the way they reveal their world to me, and then when I know what’s happening with them in the future, it helps me to paint a better picture of them in the current book.

As I say to Larissa all the time, this totally makes sense in my head.

Anyway, this week marks the return of Real Housewives of New York.  I’m sadly addicted to the entire Housewives franchise, but New York is my favorite.  I’m finding Celebrity Rehab to be horribly depressing and American Idol isn’t thrilling me because the judges don’t interact with one another anymore, although thanks to one of last night’s performances, I found a new song for Mace’s soundtrack – Lips of an Angel by Hinder.  Not a new song, but it’s pretty perfect for my purposes.

So, what’s up with you guys?  Recovering from snow?  Is everyone healthy?

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

The woman who answered was like, Oh, Zoo’s wife!!!  And then people in the background were like chiming in, saying Zoo, etc. Like he was some kind of dry cleaning celebrity.

I IM’d Zoo and asked him what he does when he goes to the cleaners to elicit such a response at the mention of his name.

Then again, maybe I don’t really want to know.

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

2. I missed Burn Notice again last night…and Celebrity Rehab.  And the Real Housewives of Orange County.  And Grey’s.  Falling asleep will do that.

3. Jaci Burton has a new book out this week.

4.  If Jaci Burton lived closer, I would give her this cake.

5.  This cake was made by a good friend of mine.  I get to eat the samples – they are good.

6.  Cake totally helps with revisions.  This is a proven fact.

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

I still can’t really believe it.  I mean, last night, I was hyperventilating and in a general state of, well, stunned.  Like, really and truly and I’m so absolutely thrilled and thankful and grateful to all the people who bought the books and talked them up and blogged them.  You guys are awesome!

Even better, I get to share the thrill with Larissa Ione – we released the same day and her book, Ecstacy Unveiled, hit the New York Times at #23 and the USA Today Bestseller List at #58 (she’s hit both lists before and she just keeps climbing higher – I’m so proud of her!)

Larissa and I have done a lot together – I mean, we write together as Sydney Croft.  But it’s more than that – we sold our own first project within three days of one another.  She hit the Times with her third single title.  I hit it with mine.  And we’re right next to each other.  And we have purple covers.  So it’s really strange and really cool at the same time.

Zoo had a work dinner last night – when he came home, he said, you’d have thought I hit the list – everyone was buying me shots and drinks and stuff!

For the record, I had a brownie for dinner.  I know – I’m actually pretty happy about that.  Chocolate for dinner – who can complain?

Today, I’ll be trying to keep my mind on my revisions – and you can read my interview over at the Black Raven Cafe – stop on by and say hello and you’re eligible for a backlist giveaway!

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Oh, and LIE WITH ME is up for preorder at Amazon! I’m working on revisions for Zane’s book, aka PROMISES IN THE DARK (and I’m dying for covers for his book and Cam’s! Soon, hopefully…)

Let’s see, what else, what else…HARD TO HOLD sold to Thailand and Sydney’s Riding the Storm and Unleashing the Storm sold to Germany.  Foreign sales are always good news!

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

*edited to add*  Pearl, from Pearl’s World of Romance. has an awesome review of HOLD ON TIGHT up on her blog – she gives it a perfect 10!  WOOT!  One of my favorite lines (okay, I love the WHOLE review but I had to give you a sneak peek here) was this:  “The combination of strength and vulnerability in all the main characters is written so perfectly that I am still in awe.”

She also has a great review for TOO HOT TO HOLD right below it!

And you can find me guest blogging at several places today, all with giveaways.  Come visit me at Seductive Musings, Donna Grant’s Blog and Fresh Fiction!

HOLD ON TIGHT is Chris’s book.  His relationship with Jamie started in TOO HOT TO HOLD, and, as their story continues and there are some surprises in store for both of them.

They were caught in the crossfire between danger and desire…  

HE’S A NAVY SEAL SUSPECTED OF MURDER…SHE’S HIS LOVER, AND THE CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

Chris Waldron, an elite U.S. Navy SEAL, is used to getting out of tight spots. But all his years of training can’t prepare him for the crisis he now faces. When a mission to rescue a kidnapped ambassador and his wife goes tragically awry, an FBI hostage negotiator is killed and Chris finds himself at the center of the ensuing investigation. Leading the charge is the blistering hot special agent and onetime lover who has re-ignited their mutual attraction.

Jamie Michaels is determined to keep things professional with Chris Waldron this time. But seeing him bruised and battered in that hospital bed has rekindled all those feelings she thought she’d left behind during their brief, passionate encounter in Africa. Now Jamie must keep her craving for danger at bay as she spearheads a search for the truth that just may blow Chris’s career to bits—and put them both in the crosshairs of an unseen enemy.

***

Today, you’ll be able to find Chris’s soundtrack, glossary terms specific to his book and a character list up on my site.  I’ve got all of that for all three books now, plus maps and other extras, so feel free to look around and get lost in the site for a while.

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

I decided to put the last of my copy editing off until tomorrow, when I was sharper.  I can’t do those when I’m foggy.  I can write while foggy – written some of my best scenes that way.

I was also playing around on Facebook, asking people to suggest some of their favorite music and I got some great suggestions.  The first thing I do when I get a lead on a new song is play the sample on iTunes while I look up the lyrics.  Several of the songs suggested to me today are actually really perfect for the proposal book (It’s Mace’s book – I’m calling it In the Air Tonight, but I doubt that title will stick. Working titles rarely do.)

I also have RITA books to read – it’s my first year judging. Oh, for those of you not familiar with the RITA, it’s the RWA’s (Romance Writers of America) awards, announced yearly at their conference – there are different categories, like Romantic Suspense, Paranormal, Best series romance, etc.  There’s also a Golden Heart contest for unpublished manuscripts too, and I know lots of the Golden Heart winners went on to have their manuscripts published, so it’s a cool contest.

So yeah, that was my day?  Yours?

By the way, there was entirely too much football on today.  Seriously.

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Tomorrow night (Friday,Jan 22nd – 8PM EST) Larissa and I will also be chatting at LIST - about Nick and Chris and Lore and SEALs and Demons and everything in between.  Come on by (registration for the forum’s quick and painless) and have fun at the chat!

I’ve been holed up in the house (well, that’s nothing new) with a sick husband.  That’s like, the most un-fun thing ever, because sick man = someone send help please.  But thanks to Z-packs, he’s much better and should be going to work tomorrow so that way I can get back to work.

I’m so turned around anyway, thanks to the holiday on Monday.  So I’m like a day behind in my mind and my watch is giving tomorrow’s date, so I’m not sure if I’m coming or going.  Seems like a good time to huddle in and continue reading StarDoc.  I’ve never read this series and Lynn pulled me in immediately.  Loving it.

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Oh, and I kept meaning to share this here – Yvette, a bud from the Writeminded loop let me know via Facebook that last week, she and her husband were in Walmart and she saw two women fighting over the last copy of Too Hot To Hold!  She said they were arguing and pulling at the book and all I kept thinking was, dude, if they’d gotten into a fistfight and the cops got called, I could’ve gotten some awesome publicity.  I mean, the headlines alone – WOMEN ARRESTED FIGHTING OVER STEPHANIE TYLER’S BOOKS!

Oh well, maybe someday.  What?  I can dream can’t I?

Also, Sue Grimshaw’s got her January book recs video up and she mentions two names that you might be familiar with (HINT – they are Navy SEALs and their books are out now!):  Sue’s Must Reads | Borders Media.

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Right, winners, as in, I had SO much fun, I asked Lea to chose 2 winners instead of one.  So without further ado, the winners of a copy of HOLD ON TIGHT are…

MaryG and Jane!!!!

Congrats, ladies!  You can contact me or Lea with your snail mail and I’ll get your signed copies out to you ASAP.

©2010 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.