My first post of every month, I’ll give a quick status update on any current writing projects.

I spent most of the spring working on a Regency story that’s a mite different from anything I’ve done before. This one was both started and finished without any interruptions (go me!) and I hope to have positive news to announce soon.

Currently I’m working on the second Bottoms Up story. Alyssa sent me her 46,000 word “draft” (I put the word draft in quotation marks because her drafts are a lot more polished than mine!). I usually double — or more — whatever she sends me on our joint work and that’s what I’m focusing on now. No distractions allowed! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I sometimes have issues getting projects FINISHED. Made a promise to both myself and Alyssa, any time I’m working on one of our joint stories, nothing else will cross my mind (if it does, I have to spank it into submission, ha!).

After I finish Jonah’s story, I’ll be completing my third Roaring Rogue. Phineas, darling, I haven’t forgotten you! I have the entire story drafted out and dictated (I hand write everything first). It came to over 62,000 words which I think scared the peewadiddly out of me because that’s my longest draft to date. I usually add 40-50% more to my own stuff during the polishing phase which means the sucker could easily be 90,000+ words and I want every single one to shine, sparkle and set readers on fire! So I’m feeling the pressure. GULP.

To the right, I updated the word count meter do-hicky thing for July. My goal is to refresh that at the beginning of each month as well. [And fooey-looey--I've just learned that my blog isn't displaying properly in Internet Explorer browsers. It looks fabulous in Mozilla Firefox, so use that if anything on the side is looking wonky, and please know that I'm working to get it fixed!]

So there you have it–what Larissa’s been up to & how I’ve been staying out of trouble!

Tags: Bottoms Up, current project, Roaring Rogues, writing

RESTRAIN ME, the first in our Bottoms Up Western series, releases from Ellora’s Cave tomorrow!

Meet a real cowboy… We’re talking the kind of tough, sexy-voiced cowboy Sam Elliot and Tom Selleck have portrayed in the movies.  A rugged, hard-working real West Texas cowboy–Boaz “Bo” McKenzie.

If you’d like to learn how this one really knows his ropes–and how to use them,

if you want to know how he heats things up in the bedroom, complements of his brand…

Join the Alyssa & Larissa newsletter loop where we’ve been sharing excerpts too hot to post! (Members can access prior excerpts.)

And remember, you can always read my latest blog entry simply by typing in: www.LarissasLair.com!

Tags: Bottoms Up, excerpts, Restrain Me

So I’m skimming through the latest issue of Romantic Times magazine and I see a little section highlighting SaveTheWords.org, an association whose purpose is saving words from eternal obscurity. Evidently only 90% of written English communication is comprised of the most common 7000 words–not the least of which describe things of a cacatory nature…shit, poo, a dump, etc. [There are so many euphemisms for excrement I could go on and on, but I will persevere to stay on point...]

I did a bit of searching (I’m a bit of a word geek. “No! You, Larissa? A geek?” I can hear you exclaim in surprise.) and it appears there’s approximately 500,000 (plus or minus 100,000) solid words in the English language. If you add in technical and medical jargon, one source says that could double! If we base things on the 7000 and 500,000 numbers, that means we routinely use a measly 1.4% of the words available to us. Gasp!

In order to do my part to save worthy words from cacatory-like extinction, I will on occasion adopt words and attempt to educate and entertain. To that end, let’s begin today’s lesson…

I took this screen capture from the Save the Words site after deciding it would be the first one I adopt. I’ve now pledged to use it as frequently as possible, hehehe. First off, let’s face it…those of us with very…um, elevated?…senses of humor still find enjoyment in simply saying the word shit. (Ever since Tootsie’s “Macho shithead” line, I’ve been a fan.) But now, we have a fancy word to say it with. And we’re no longer talking about plain simple poop, of course not. We’re talking about the smelly, gassy, runny cacatory type of doo doo.

I looked this word up in several different dictionaries and had a difficult time finding it anywhere. One of the reasons I did so is that it’s described as an adjective, but about the only other place I found it shown online, this fellow had used it as a noun. Oh horrors! Good thing I’m not a grammar teacher.

Now how in the world did I choose this word, you might be wondering. I typed “cat” in the find field and this was the first one on the list. Quite appropriate, as Big Buddy Fluff, a.k.a. Klingon, has been having several cacatory bathroom experiences of late & now has an appointment with Mr. Friendly Vet.  He better be friendly, because Klingon’s regular doc is out of town. And his mommy — that’s me — is very tired of cleaning up cacatory messes throughout my home.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT – Either use cacatory in a conversation and educate as necessary OR pop over to SaveTheWords.org and pick out a word you want me to adopt next and leave it in comments. But make it a good one!

Tags: language, my gatos, new words

So what is Bottoms Up, you might be wondering?

Is it:

a) A hint of the type of naughty sexual escapades you’ll be indulging in throughout our contemporary Western stories?

b) A bar in remote West Texas, where cowboys go to wet their whistle and shoot pool and listen to Elvis loudly crooning “Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love” on the old-fashioned jukebox?

c) A mostly-organic restaurant, where the head chef makes the best Women Pie [dictation mistake! That was supposed to be Lemon Pie, but was too funny not to share!!] west of the Pecos?

d) A ranch running mostly Hereford cattle, a tiny herd of sheep (Grandpa loves lamb chops, you see) and the sexiest cowboys you could ever imagine?

e) A two-word book title Alyssa came up with years ago that just needed the “perfect” story to go with it?

f) The name of a co-written Western series (when I insisted that her title idea was too catchy for a single book)?

g) All of the above, after the two of us got together and did our patented phone brainstorming, amid me sneaking chocolate morsels out of the bag & Alyssa telling her dog to hush (so we could talk) and her daughter to go back downstairs (so we could talk about the sexy parts)?

My quizzes are so tough, I know.

If you answered “G”, consider yourself awarded a sparkly, glittering gold star! Below is a visual map of the fictional Sweetwater County we created to showcase our Bottoms Up series.

It kind of helps put things in perspective (because I’m sure any faithful reader will surmise that the “Lucky Lady” dude ranch must mean the ladies staying there get lucky!), but more than that, it shows the really cool mountains.

And now, good little writing partner that I am, I’m heading back into Storyland so I can keep working on the second Bottoms Up title that Alyssa recently sent my way.  The first of the series, Restrain Me, comes out next week on July 1 and you can read all about it here: http://www.larissalyons.com/restrain.htm.

For grins, share your favorite two-word title that you’ve seen or heard & I’d love to receive some recipes for that Women Pie.  >^..^< Larissa

Tags: Bottoms Up, current project, dictation errors, Restrain Me, writing

Nothing fancy today… just getting my feet wet.

But after debating for months I finally decided to start blogging, with the hope of keeping fans and readers more up-to-date on what I’m working on story-wise, as well as sharing my thoughts — goofy though they may be — on such far-reaching, mind-titillating topics as 007 (yes, James Bond…I’m a fan of both the books & the movies and over time will offer reviews of them all),  the writing life of a health-challenged author who strives to feel better every day and make sure every book is better than the last, and I’ll also be posting reviews of my “Keeper Shelf” — those books that have been in my possession ranging up to 20 years or more, that I considered top of the tops. There’s a ton of traditional Signet Regencies on that list, but also a large number of books in other genres. Lastly, I’m sure there will be the occasional recipe or chocolate fix, or better still — little tips on living well and being happy. Because as far as I’m concerned, there is so much crappola going on in the world around us I think it’s really important when our own corner of this wonderful world is as pleasant and peaceful and smile-engendering as we can make it. That’s what I strive for– in my life, and with my stories–pleasantness and peace and contentment. All good qualities I think may sometimes be overlooked.

For several years now, I’ve attempted to update my Lair every other month or so and share all my writing news and best kitty pictures all at once but sometimes I’m woefully late. I think trying a blogging format, where I can post smaller snippets more frequently, and organize them according to topic, will prove a more efficient way to share what’s going on.

For the next few days, as I wade in a little deeper — and because Alyssa and I have a fabulous release coming out next week — I’ll be posting frequently as I get into my groove, but eventually, I’m not sure how often I’ll add things. I thought about posting just whenever I feel like it, I’ve also thought about attempting to do it on the “5’s” (i.e., on the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th and so on…). I also might try doing it once a week, say on Thursdays…

Haven’t made up my mind yet, but I do think every single day is more ambitious than I’m up for right now, but if you have an opinion I’d love to hear it. Are you someone that enjoys going to a blog every single day? Or is once a week or twice a month good enough?

Share your preference if you have it and have a wonderful day! Larissa

Tags: 007, book releases, Keeper Shelf, peace & contentment, Regencies, writing