All These Things That I Love - June 2017

A monthly roundup of things that give me life…

Wonder Woman!!!

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.

Grapefruit Cocktails

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

With My Hobonichi

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

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

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

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

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!!

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   

Mad Max Fury Road: Amazon  || itunes

Mulan: Amazon  || itunes

Women with Smarts

Legally Blonde: Amazon  || itunes

Erin Brockovich: Amazon  || itunes

Hidden Figures: Amazon

Women with Plans

9 to 5: Amazon  || itunes

Elizabeth: Amazon  || itunes

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!)

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.

Best Books to Read Now - Creative #HBIC Edition

I've been wanting to do this edition of Best Books to Read Now for a while now. So voila! Here is my list of the nonfiction books about creativity and writing that I love and, in some cases, refer to again and again.  

****UPDATED in 2019!****

About Creativity...

The Artisan Soul - Erwin Raphael McManus  - comes at creativity from a Christian/ religious persepective

Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert  - I also highly recommend the podcast by the same name. Not a Christian perspective but definitely some #woowoo there.

About being an HBIC...

The Pro Writer Mindset - Jennifer Blanchard - practical advice on goals, writing and business. Loved this.

The Desire Map - Danielle LaPorte -  I recommend this one and/or The Pro Writer Mindset when you need some concrete advice on how to get where you want to get.  The Desire Map is a little more woowoo but there's some great stuff on affirmations and visualization in The Pro Writer Mindset too.

Dear Writer, You Need to Quit - Becca Syme - I highly recommend Becca’s Better Faster Academy courses to every writer I meet (she’s my writing/life coach/guru) but this book is a nice introduction to her methods and madness and empowers you to make the best choices that work for you. (Check out my Women With Books episode interviewing Becca for more information.)

The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women - Valerie Young - a good and empowering read about conquering your imposter syndrome

You are a Badass at Making Money - Jen Sincero - really, any of Jen Sincero’s books help you HBIC level up, but this one’s my favorite because cha-ching.

Atomic Habits - James Clear - I’ve decided that most productivity books don’t really apply to most multi-tasking women but this one actually spoke to me and I recommend it all the time.

About Writing and Marketing...

Romancing the Beat - Gwen Hayes - a concise, easy to read guide on how to plot a romance novel

Save the Cat - Blake Snyder  - I'm a disciple of this storytelling method. It doesn't click for everyone but once you see stories through a Save the Cat lens, you'll never go back.

Writing the Cozy Mystery - Nancy J. Cohen - another great, concise and practice guide to writing a popular genre

Your A Game - Damon Suede and Heidi Cullinan - about promotion and marketing and how different personality types can approach it.

Newsletter Ninja - Tammy Labrecque - the ultimate bible on how to build and engage the most powerful marketing tool; a newsletter

And now you really want to know... what in the blazes is an HBIC?

Head

Bitch

In

Charge.

That's right. We're taking back the B-word.

It's what my friends and I started calling ourselves when we stopped and realized that (1) we really knew what we were talking about when it came to our business stuff and (2) we were stronger when we worked together and supported each other.

On a sunny Feburary afternoon, after a beautiful al fresco luncheon, we started dreaming. What if... what if more people could join our group? What if... what if we could teach and learn from each other?  What if... we took over the world?  Thus, HBIC Nation was born.

Founded by six authors (and badass business women), HBIC Nation is a place to learn, share, and grow your creative empire--plus have one heck of a good time while doing it. If you identify as an HBIC, you are welcome. 

So if you're a creative of any type, and you identify as an HBIC, you are welcomed at the party.  Come visit our Instagram, sign up for our newsletter, join our Facebook group, pour a drink and let's get to work together.

P.S. Do you love our unicorn logo?  For launch week, we're offering a discount on logo t-shirts!!!  Check it out HERE.

All These Things That I Love - April 2017

A monthly roundup of things that give me life…

With pajama pants. Weird? Maybe? I've talked about some of my pajama weirdness before, like my requirements for hotel pajamas. These pajama pants by Uniqlo are pretty fabulous. They're light weight and flowy and have pockets! And they're a perfect length if you have a puppy and have to take him out in the yard in the wee hours of the morning to, um, you know, and don't want to flash the neighbors.

Also, they come in subtle Mickey Mouse prints right now for those that love Disney or want to match with me at #RWA17.  Or would that be weird?

Hart of Dixie. Again. It has everything I love. Friendships.

Romance.

And sassy Southern belles.

I'm watching it on Netflix, but all the seasons are available on Amazon.

Essential oils. Going crazy with them, actually. My allergies have been intense since January (thank you climate change?) and essential oils have been a life saver.  I usually use my own blend of lavender, peppermint and lemon but some days I dab on whatever feels good.  My friend the DoTerra rep gifted me with this fabulous Mother's Day trio of citrus oils and they truly are mood lifters.

If you're interested in trying out essential oils yourself,  you can check them out here.

This song. On replay.  The book I #amwriting is sooooooo..... this.

[embed]https://youtu.be/lbZVbLw-MYA[/embed]

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