#hbicnation

#RWA17 - #SquadGoals4Life

For some reason, this year’s post-convention wrap-up is particularly hard to write. 

RWA Nationals was last week in Orlando and it felt like a wonderful dream, one that I didn’t want to wake up from. 

Why?

My tribe, y’all.

Ride or Die Friends

Ride or Die Friends

The OG HBICs are my family away from my family. No one can empower me or make me laugh, cry, create like this crew.

So leaving them on Saturday? It hurt, to be honest. Physically.

More than these five ladies, I met and reconnected with more amazing kindred spirits - Frannie, Kate, Amber, Violet, Ainsley, Laura, Tamsen, Tina, Cheryl, Elizabeth, Kristin, Megan, and so many more.  In a world that so often encourages women to take each other down, to compete  with each other, to judge and to mock, for four days in July, women writers from all over the globe join together and talk about making the world a happier, more hopeful place.  And the women I met are at the vanguard of this bodice-ripping movement (in the most Diana of Themyscira way).

 

So, yeah. It was hard to leave this beautiful wonderland. 

 

Because dance parties. And golden statues. And sparkly shoes. And books. And best friends. These are the best things in the world. 

If you’re coming home from #RWA17 and want a game plan for working through all that you’ve got running through your head, subscribe to our HBIC Nation newsletter for an exclusive post-con workbook. Because we can change the world together. 

 

Best Books to Read Now: July 2017

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

 

An Extraordinary Union - Alyssa Cole

Amazon | iBooks

 

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This was totally my catnip book. Spies, Civil War, a woman with extraordinary mental abilities (the heroine has a perfect memory!).  A great start to a series and a great book to read during the patriotic season!

 

The Day of the Duchess - Sarah MacLean

Amazon | iBooks

In the middle of this, I was comparing it to my favorite Sarah Maclean, (Yes, I always mention it. Temple’s book, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished) because my heart was clenching in that oh-so-painful-but-good way and I realized it was because they’re both stories of second chance love.  There’s also more of SESILY, a secondary character who’s been in at least two or three of this series and I’m really hoping that Ms. MacLean puts us out of our misery and gives us the Sesily (and the American?) book that we’ve been dying for.

Slightly South of Simple - Kristy Woodson Harvey

Amazon || iBooks

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This was my book club pick for the summer. I told my book club that I was picking a book with a beach on it, so I did, and so I read it by the beach when we were able to get away to Mexico last month. This is a great, easy read, about sisterhood, second chances and summers gone by.

 

The Deep End- Julie Mulhern

Amazon || iBooks

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I’ve had this on my TBR list for a really long time, and was finally in a place where I could read a straight up mystery (I don’t like reading it when I’m writing it) and I give this an enthusiastic two thumbs up (I think I’ve already hand sold a few more copies). It’s set in the 1970’s, in a Kansas country club set. The time period isn’t too much, and as a writer, I appreciated that the setting allowed Ms. Mulhern to write mysteries where no one could call the police on their cell phones, which really changes plots these days.  A start to a five book series, I think, so you’ll have a lot to binge!

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On the Lindsay Emory books front, if you’ve been following along on my Facebook page, you’ll see that I just wrote a BOOK IN A WEEK.  At the end of the week, I had a first draft of my Mistletoe Key Christmas novella, hopefully releasing in November 2017!  Go check out the posts (and unedited snippets!) and then sign up for Mistletoe Key updates and giveaways here.

Or sign up for my general monthly newsletter here. I love sharing the highlights of my month and doing a monthly giveaway for subscribers.  HOPEFULLY, I will have a big announcement later this month (or early August) so please, check here or sign up for my newsletter so you can squee with me. 

Or if you just want just-the-facts book news, Bookbub (that site that sends you your favorite books on sale - if you're not subscribed you want to be) has a way for you to follow me and they'll update you on when my books are released. Just click follow and easy peasy: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lindsay-emory

All These Things That I Love - June 2017

A monthly roundup of things that give me life…

I'm obsessed... (1)

Wonder Woman!!!

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After writing about it last month, I got to see Wonder Woman two weeks ago! We took the kids (part of a birthday week (c) celebration) and I really can't stop thinking about it. Gal Gadot as Diana was luminescent, and strong, and brave and vulnerable and smart.

As an author, the movie and the characters have given me a lot of inspiration, but then I read this quote by the director, Patty Jenkins in the New York Times and I wanted to share it:

Cheesy is one of the words banned in my world. I’m tired of sincerity being something we have to be afraid of doing. It’s been like that for 20 years, that the entertainment and art world has shied away from sincerity, real sincerity, because they feel they have to wink at the audience because that’s what the kids like. We have to do the real stories now. The world is in crisis.

I wanted to tell a story about a hero who believes in love, who is filled with love, who believes in change and the betterment of mankind. I believe in it. It’s terrible when it makes so many artists afraid to be sincere and truthful and emotional and relegates them to the too-cool-for-school department. Art is supposed to bring beauty to the world.

I agree with Patty but now I'm wondering... what kind of stories should I be telling? What's my responsibility to be sincere and truthful as a fiction writer? How do I show heroes and heroines that fight for right and love and justice in an unapologetic way?

It's a great discussion around a great movie and a great start to Summer 2017.

I'm obsessed... (3)

Grapefruit Cocktails

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If there's a grapefruit martini or margarita on a menu at a restaurant, I usually order it. So this summer, I decided to start trying out faux-Paloma recipes at home to enjoy in the pool.  This one I invented and it's currently my favorite.

Lindsay's 2017 Pool Drink

2 oz. gin (or blanco tequila) (or vodka) (I'm not picky)

half a lime, squeezed

2 oz. pink grapefruit juice

8 oz. ICE calorie free grapefruit soda

I'm obsessed... (5)

With My Hobonichi

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After years of using my personal size planner, I realized at the end of May that I just needed more space. Writing all the deadlines and various publishing related notes didn't fit in my old planner anymore so I decided to spring for an April start Hobonichi Techo.  It fits great in a Louis Vuitton desk agenda and it gives me TONS of ways to plan out my life.  I'll share more about my system in the 2017 version of #ReadWritePlan, coming in September but for now you can get peeks on my Instagram.

If you follow me on Facebook, you'll know that I'm doing something crazy this week... I'M WRITING A BOOK IN A WEEK!!! (WHAT?! HAVE YOU HAD YOUR HEAD CHECKED, GIRL?)

I know, I know, I just wanted to see if I could do it. I started a Christmas novella yesterday and all week long I'll be posting snippets of un-edited 100% fresh book parts to keep me accountable and at the end of the week, hopefully I'll have a book that I'll be publishing later this year.

Check out my Pinterest inspiration board here.

If you're interested in getting updates about my Christmas novella/ Book in a Month click here.

If you want into my monthly update newsletter to get information about giveaways, new releases and sales, click here.

Let me know if you try my cocktail recipe or if you have a better one to recommend - or what you thought about Wonder Woman! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Best Books to Read Now: June 2017

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Let's jump in, shall we?

Summer Heat by Alexis Anne

Amazon || iBooks

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A hot steamy romance with baseball?  Um, yes. There's just something about summer nights and guys in tight white pants. Fans of Alexis Anne will be thrilled with this new story in her Storm Inside world, and past characters come back!  Whee!

White Hot by Ilona Andrews

Amazon || iBooks

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I've waited for this book for what, 2, 3 years? Of course I took a day off to read it. I've recommended the first book in the series, Burn For Me, here and it's still on sale for $2.99.  The third book in the series is releasing in August and yes, it's that good. I've converted a number of peeps into fans, so if you're jumping on the train, let me know so we can gush together.

It Happened on Love Street by Lia Riley

Amazon || iBooks

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I'm going to be honest. I read the first five pages of this book and texted a writer friend: "I hate Lia Riley so much."  I don't really hate Lia because she's sweet and awesome and writes incredibly real, funny, sexy books that inspire envy and low-self-esteem in other authors (me.)  This book is Kristan Higgins-esque set in a small Georgia town that's like Bluebell, Alabama (from Hart of Dixie) mixed with Stars Hollow. Read it and bask in the sexy adorableness.

You are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero

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Amazon || iBooks

This was the inaugural #HBICNation book club pick (read more about HBIC Nation here) and I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to talk about the mindset of wealth with the other HBICs. If you're a creative entrepreneur who identifies as an HBIC, check out our Facebook group and join the party (and book club.)

Make sure you're signed up for my newsletter [here] to get all the latest news about books, appearances and sales AND my monthly round up and giveaway!!

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As always, I'd love to hear what books you've been reading and loving lately! Comment below!

She was warned, she was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she watched a movie.

As I talked about on Facebook recently, my family took me to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 for Mother's Day (which I thought was fun, creative and funny). Love 'em or hate 'em, we got to see lots of preview trailers for all the upcoming shoot 'em up superhero action movies. The one  I found myself weirdly engrossed in was this one: The Mummy trailer:


Now I loved the first Mummy movie, it's my favorite kind of romantic adventure crack. Ancient curses and a bookish, stubborn heroine and a wise-cracking hero. FLOVE. So I was watching this new trailer to see if/how they were referencing the original.

Strangely, I found myself completely rooting for the evil woman who was wrongly entombed and is now returning to wreak revenge on the world (using Tom Cruise as her pawn. As one does.)

I mean, come on. Go girl.

Then on Twitter a few days ago other women authors were also reporting feeling... feistier than normal. Their heroines started kicking dudes, their manuscripts were getting a little bloody, that kind of thing.

So I started making a list of movies to watch, to capture this girl power in the air, when you feel like resisting... something... everything...

Women with Guns. Swords. Trucks.

Spy: Amazon  || itunes   

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Mad Max Fury Road: Amazon  || itunes

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Mulan: Amazon  || itunes

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Women with Smarts

Legally Blonde: Amazon  || itunes

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Erin Brockovich: Amazon  || itunes

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Hidden Figures: Amazon

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Women with Plans

9 to 5: Amazon  || itunes

Elizabeth: Amazon  || itunes

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There are some upcoming girl power movies I'm really excited to see, too.  I already got my Wonder Woman (in theaters on June 2!) stamps and gleefully used one to post a card to The Ripped Bodice (a woman-owned independent book store. Shop here!)

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And how amazing does this trailer look for Battle of the Sexes? It's one of my favorite tropes to write although... maybe not with Steve Carrell as the hero... but it still looks like a great movie.


So what do you think? What gets you pumped up?  What's your favorite girl power chick flick?  Are you rooting for the nasty woman who's going to bully Tom Cruise into doing her bidding? Answer below or connect with me on Facebook - we've always got something fun to discuss there.