It’s About the Story

A few weeks ago I had a discussion with a friend about the various romance genres. We  agreed that the happily ever after or happy for now was a must. But we disagreed about the way the characters arrived at those destinations.

Although I love all types of romances, from paranormal to historical, what gets me, what reels me in is the story. People meet, disagree about something, they fall in love, but in the end everything works out. I’m all about the story.

This led to a hard decision I had to make regarding my writing. Although I like reading erotica, in the past few months I found it harder to write. Don’t know why, but getting the words on the page was like pulling teeth. So I’ve made the decision to stop trying.

This will be my last post as Denise McCray. I thank you all for your support and hope you continue to follow my journey as I write as Rhonda Anderson Marks.

Love you all,

Denise 

Other Decadent Publishing Books by Denise:

Still Standing

It’s kind of hard to write about romance on a solemn day like this one. I cry when I think about all the husbands who lost wives and wives that lost husbands. I cry when I remember all the people who posted missing posters, and requested help in finding their loved ones. I cry for all the police and firemen who selflessly sacrificed their lives on that awful day.

Last year my husband and I visited New York City and went to the site of the tragedy. It was a moving experience for both of us. In fact, my husband requested we leave before the tour was finished. Waves of sadness flowed over us, especially when we read the names of the departed. 

But one thing that did bring us a measure of hope was the tree that escaped all the destruction. Horticulturists lovingly cared for the damaged callery pear tree and subsequently dubbed it The Survivor Tree. Many visitors took photographs, including me.

In the midst of your sadness today, take time to say “I love you” to your loved ones. We know not when our last day will be on this earth.

Love,

Denise

Baring It All

Bared Essentials available HERE

By Denise McCray

Hi all!

Hope you’re having a great summer so far. The weather here in the Burgh has been pretty up and down. For the most part, it hasn’t been too hot and this week it’s actually going to be a little cool for early August. As a middle-aged female, cool temperatures in the midst of summer are good, no, fantastic.  It’s bad enough we’re dealing with hot flashes, and hot, humid weather only adds to our misery.

Last week I took my niece, sister-in-law and great nieces and nephews to a local amusement park, Kennywood. We had a ball, riding the rollercoasters, playing games and of course sampling all the goodies. The park was packed with visitors from all over the tri-state area. Families streamed in with giggling children and coolers full of food and drinks. Everyone appeared to be having a wonderful day.

What a few of them seemed to have forgotten though was the rest of their clothing. I mean, there were women and a few men with next to nothing on their bodies. One of my dearly departed mother’s favorite activities while in the park was sitting back and commenting on people’s state of undress. She’d shake her head and point them out, despite our requests she not do so.

Although walking around in public in a pair of skimpy shorts and a midriff baring top is not my thing, especially since I’m not as toned as I used to be (stop laughing), at least they wore something. Not like the characters in my novella, Bared Essentials, who let it all hang out on a tropical island. Of course, wearing no clothes saved time when they wanted to get it on ;-)

Till we meet again, stay cool and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Love,

Denise 

Summer Vacation Plans?

 

by Denise McCray

So, summer is just around the corner and I hope you have something fun planned. I’ll be hanging out at la casa until I head to a couple writing conferences. In July I’ll be attending the Romance Writers of America conference in Atlanta, Georgia (can you say hot!). Then at the end of August I’ll be in New York City for a BDSM writers gathering. I’m really looking forward to that one because in addition to the exciting workshops led by Dr. Charley Ferrer, I’ll be able to do some serious sightseeing and shopping.

Are any of you traveling to an exciting locale? Sometimes I wish I was brave enough to frequent a clothing-optional resort like the one I wrote about in my novella, Bared Essentials. And one day I might, after I lose sixty pounds, get a face lift, and oh nevermind! But it is fun to imagine going, right?

Wherever you go this summer, stay safe and have fun. 

Love, 

Denise

Bared Essentials

Attorney Carin Cross, better known as CC, has just emerged from the marriage from hell. After the divorce, her best friend tricks her into visiting a clothing-optional resort, aptly named Bared Essentials. CC is not happy and lets everyone around her know her feelings. She makes up her mind to stay behind closed doors until it’s time to go home, that is until she runs into the man she’s fantasized about, Stephon Hill.
Stephon is a hard-working attorney who treasures his secret forays to the island. The last person he expected to see at the resort is CC, the woman of his dreams. Acting upon mutual attraction, the pair begins a torrid affair on the island. Almost as soon as it starts though, CC has doubts about them. Why would a gorgeous man like him want her?
Stephon must act quickly to convince CC she’s more than an island fling to him. But can he overcome her seriously flawed self-esteem and show her they’re made for each other?

I Miss My Mama

By Denise McCray

Let me apologize in advance for this downer of a post, but my mama has been on my mind. She passed away on December 6, 2012 and had been ill for several months. I’m the oldest child and only girl in the family. I’m not ashamed to say my mama was my BFF, and even during my turbulent teen years, I could always count on her to have my back.

Mama supported me no matter what I wanted to do. As a child, I was the shyest person around, speaking only when spoken to, and then so quietly I had to repeat what I said several times. I hated to talk. I’d rather spend my time reading and daydreaming. So when I announced I wanted to become an attorney, others laughed and wondered out loud who would want to hire someone who hated to talk. But Mama believed in me and was able to say “I told you so” to a lot of people when I opened my own firm.

My mama was not a techie, no matter how hard I tried to bring her into the twenty-first century. I gave her a nearly new netbook which she promptly turned over to my younger brother. Her cellphone was a bare-bones model, and she had trouble operating it too. I tell you this to say she never read one of my published stories, but she still bragged on me like crazy. She was my biggest supporter.

I’ll always love you, Mama. I miss you.

Love,

Denise

Is your mom or another woman special in your life? Leave a comment and one commenter will win a copy of their choice of one of Denise's books from Decadent Publishing!

HalloThanksMas

Buy Wishing for Love HERE!

by Denise McCray

It’s that time of year again. Or rather it’s been that time of the year for the past two months. I think they should rename the last three months of the year HalloThanksMas. Isn’t it irritating to see Christmas decorations and hear holiday music in the middle of October? I know it is for me.

As an empty-nester, we don’t get real excited about the holiday season any more. When our son was young, we’d start putting up the Christmas tree as soon as we finished the turkey on Thanksgiving. Now, we may set it up a week before the 25^th. Forget about the other stuff, like garland and a wreath on the door. Haven’t done that in quite a while.

Now, I’m not saying we’ve turned into complete Scrooges. You can’t help to feel the holiday spirit, especially when you see little kids running around the department stores. Sometimes I wish for a little one, but just for a couple weeks. Then I’d give them back to their parents ;-)

The cold weather does spark my imagination though, and I've come up with a ton of new story ideas. Maybe it’s cabin fever that sends my mind spinning in all directions.

At this point, I have a notebook full of book titles and short blurbs. Now I need to follow through and actually draft a few outlines and then write the stories. Would anyone be interested in reading a tale about a sexy Santa? I should get right on that.

Love,

Denise

School Time!

by Denise McCray

          Aww! It’s school time again and I love it. Yeah, I was the nerd who looked forward to the first day of classes instead of the first day of summer vacation. The smell of a new book, the freshly sharpened pencils, and those blank notebook pages: Is there anything better?

          When my son was growing up, I loved going to the stores and buying his supplies. Truth be told, I probably bought more things for me than for him. My home is full of pens, folders and paper of all types. I could donate a year’s worth of supplies to a local classroom and still have a ton of stuff left.

          Now that my baby is a man and living on his own, I still love to stock up. Now I use these items for my writing business. What about my computer, Alphasmart and iPad? Yeah, I use them to write, but when I start a story, it’s pen to paper.

          So, what are your feelings about the first day of school? Leave a comment and let me know. While you’re on the computer, drop by my newly designed website at www.denisemccray.com. You can sign up for my newsletter there, too.

Love,

Denise

JUST THE FACTS with DENISE McCRAY

Hey everybody! It’s been awhile. Hope you are all ready for summer. I’m as ready as I’m going to get. In ten days I’m heading for the Big Apple for Romance Writers of America’s annual conference. Good food, a Broadway show, some sightseeing: I’ll make sure to fill you in when I return home to the Burgh.

Okay, so today is Just the Facts Friday and I’m supposed to list a few things nobody knows about me. Wow, that’s pretty hard since my life is somewhat of an open book. A boring open book at that. But here goes:

1.         I used to be a picky eater.

Yeah, yeah, sure. I can hear a few snickers out there. If you’ve met me, you’ll agree that I have a few pounds to lose and will eat just about anything placed in front of me. But back in the day, when I wore a size zero pants, I only ate a few food items. Then I turned twenty-one and everything started appealing to me. Weird, but true.

2.         I’m addicted to Angry Birds.

            I’m not a gamer, but somehow I’ve fallen in love with Angry Birds. Don’t tell my

publisher,  but I play this game sometimes instead of writing. Have you tried it? If

you haven’t, don’t start.    

3.         I want to camp out in the Grand Canyon.

            All my friends know that I’m not an outdoors person. In fact, my idea of roughing

It is staying in a hotel without room service. But I really want to camp out for one

night in the Grand Canyon. First, we have to make sure there are no wild animals around or bugs. Or annoying people.

4.         My writing music is the soundtrack from “The Phantom of the Opera”.

            Don’t ask me why, but I have to listen to that soundtrack when I’m writing. By

the time it’s done, I’ve written at least a thousand words.

5.         I’m a softy.

            Okay, I’m really giving away all my secrets now. I may display a tough exterior

most of the time, but I really hate confrontation. As a practicing attorney, I’m expected to enjoy arguing, but I don’t. I’d much rather sit down and talk about any disagreements. Don’t tell anyone: it’ll ruin my reputation ;-))

By the way, I have a new story coming out soon. Continuing Legal Education is about two attorneys who find something else to do during a boring legal workshop. Hot, hotter and explosive!

Love,  Denise

Confessions of a newly-published Author!

by Denise McCray

Hey everybody! Thanks for stopping by our blog and for your support of Decadent Publishing.

Okay, it’s been one week and a day since Decadent released my debut novella, BARED ESSENTIALS. I want to thank everyone who purchased it and I hope you enjoyed CC’s and Stephon’s story. And for everyone who wonders if I actually did research at a clothing-optional

resort, the answer is no. Heavens no!

In one way, I still can’t believe this is really happening. I’ve dreamed of becoming an author all my life, even writing my bio for the inside of a book jacket when I was a child! I drove my mother mad by using up all the paper in the house for my “books”. I even tried to sell some of my work to my little classmates. I’m so thankful for this opportunity.

But, on the other hand, I have to admit all this attention is a bit unnerving. Friends, acquaintances, co-workers and people I don’t know have downloaded my ‘baby’ and are reading it. What are they thinking? Will they love the characters as much as I do? Will they like the story? Is the sex hot enough? Worries, worries...

Fellow authors (I like saying that) tell me that this is normal. Self-doubt is part of our DNA. In my opinion, this makes us better writers. We polish our babies until they shine and then, and only then, do we feel comfortable letting the world see our work. And that’s the way it should be.

Love you,

Denise

Spotlight Sunday with Denise McCray

How did you start your writing career?   All my life, I've toyed with the idea of becoming a writer, but did not really become serious until 2008. That's when I attended my first Romantic Times Booklovers Convention and took Judi McCoy's beginner writers class. Boy, did I learn a lot! I'd like to share with you the advice she gave me: sit your butt in the chair and write everyday! Simple, huh? Although I didn't write everyday (sorry Judi), I did finish a novel which probably won't see the light of day. The next year, I won Bobbi Smith's writing contest with my manuscript "Making Time for Love".

Plotter or panster? Why?   A combination of both. I tend to go into too much detail with my plotting and get bored with the story halfway through the first draft. Then the panster in me takes over and I make a few changes.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?   For me, it's getting on a regular schedule. Which means I have to give myself a deadline. I tell myself the book or novella has to be done by a certain date, or I won't be able to go to an upcoming writers conference. That usually does the trick for me.

What did you want to be when you grew up?   I was one of those kids who flitted from one interest to the next. One day, I'd want to be a scientist and the next I dreamed of being a teacher. How I ended up as an attorney, I have no idea, especially since I hated public speaking. But I guess it worked out since I've been a member of my state's bar for over twenty-five years.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what?   I love listening to movie soundtracks. My favorites are Phantom of the Opera and Enchanted. Somehow, I find a couple thousand words on the page after the disc is finished playing.

 What would we find under your bed?   Other than the gigantic dust bunnies, you'd find plastic containers full of books. I truly believe in the old adage, "Whoever dies with the most books, wins!" 

    Tell us about your upcoming release.

        "Bared Essentials" is my first sale, so it has a special place in my heart. It's set on the beautiful island of St. Lucia at the fictional resort of Bared Essentials, a clothing-optional getaway. Writing what I know (another great piece of writing advice from the great L.A.Banks), my hero and heroine are a couple attorneys escaping their madcap existence at home. Although they're acquaintances at home, there's an attraction neither one has acted upon. The sights and sounds of the island act as a catalyst, and sets their torrid affair into motion. Soon, they can't get enough of one another. But real life rears its ugly head and threatens the happiness of the two lovers. Of course, there's a happily ever after, but I'm sure my readers will enjoy their trip to paradise.