How do you Respect them?

We live in a small, small township. There is a blinking red light at the intersection. We have a church, a post office, a grocery and a war memorial.

This tiny slice of America also has a tall stone Monument with names from top to bottom. My Uncle is on that marker from WWII. My Grandfather came back alive from WWI. My cousin came back alive from Korea. Every Memorial Day morning we go to the corner. The Veterans have a ceremony and we few hundred souls remember.

There are new names on the marker this year. If those families only drive by, they deserve to see us respecting their sacrifice.

Don't mean to be depressing because mostly it's not. The junior high band plays, there is a parade of WWI and WWII vehicles as well as the fire truck. Total of perhaps ten vehicles with our living Vets on them and the Boy/Girl Scouts. Real Norman Rockwell stuff. We bring our dogs, which is a lot of fun for
the kids. (That reminds me I have to bath and brush Coco tomorrow)

The one thing we don’t do is have vendors. I'm glad of that. I don't know if it's because the vendors are not interested in a crowd this small or if we're not
interested in them. No one is there to make money.

This day can't be baught or sold, it's a day purchased with blood and honor.

"We are but dust..."

I had to lift this from the Two Lips Yahoo Group. From a very religious family myself, I find this child's views tooooo funny.

The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget.... this particular
Sunday sermon..."Dear Lord," the minister began, with arms extended
toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. "Without
you, we are but dust..." He would have continued but at that moment
my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and
asked quite audibly in her shrill little four year old girl
voice, "Mom, what is butt dust?"

Now I shall forever be tempted employ the term Butt Dust in certain conversations. LOL

Where the News Is?

I've spoken to a very few, but still some leaders in the ebook publishing field. Watched the response of several others and now really do believe it when those professionals say they do not read Romance focused blogs.

I find this a serious blind spot. Especially for E-book professionals. The Internet is their costumer base. This is where the their public is comfortable. Not being aware of what these people have to say is not wise.

You can read any number of successful business books and find one of the reasons those men were always ready to make the right deal was they gathered information obsessively. Reading three or four news paper's a morning among other methods of being the first to see trends and coming opportunities.

Romance focused blogs are gold mines of information. It's handed to the "information" gatherer so neatly. I'm not saying read every blog. It's easy to see some blogs gain a wide audience and provide a large slice of customer mood. They are the where the "news" is.

If publishers only use numbers to track trends, they are always going to be four to six months behind. That's when quarterly or bi-annual numbers come out.

What I've learned from the blogs. *The market is hungry for contemporary romances* Also the market is now over crowded with vampire/fated mates/BDSM.

As an author, I'm thrilled to have a contemporary coming out in July, WANNA PLAY. I also have several in various stages that are getting some focus.

I'm not saying there isn't a market for every genre of romance, especially in ebooks. Being aware of trends means being in a position to give the public what they want. Its a Win/Win for everyone.

I LURK!!

I admit it, I lurk on quite a few blogs. I don't mean skip through once in a while. I read them everyday, and the comments. LOL Serious "lurkage".

In this strange place we fondly call Romance Land, Review Blogs have become the industry news engine.

As with any news medium, some of it's good, some of it's gossip, some of it is garbage. We've long made fun of any newspaper reader who believes every word in the paper is true. Same concept applies to blog-land news, only more.

Why is anyone shocked when some post they wrote is passed around the Internet?????? Especially people running computer/Internet based business! HELLO!! It's happened over and over, for years.

Some loops are supposed to be private, and it'd be real nice if everyone in them respected the rules.

Truth is, if you're writing something and the button says "post my comment", "publish post", "send to group", anything like that...one must consider it public information. Any professional in an Internet based business better come to grips with that reality.

Internet-land is a world stage. We are creating a world culture, one computer user at a time. Sometimes it's good, sometimes the wolves come out. There are no cyber police, there are cyber terrorists.

Live large, laugh loud, post professionally.

My new man Troy

Thanks everyone who dropped by and met my new man Troy. Isn’t he southern charm that could spark a wild fire?

I’m desperate to finish another short story. I thought now would be a good time since Into His Keeping was a super plus novel and Wanna Play is a full length novel as well. Also I am privileged to be part of the Ellora’s Cave and Pocket books anthologies. I am so very happy with how that deal turned out, I want to try to qualify for the next one.

Not sure qualify is the right word, but I know I’ve gotta have short story out there to even be considered. Akkkkk…Must Write!!

Short stories are difficult for me. I very much admire those who can complete them at will. My pal L.A. Day seems to be genius at them! I’m freaking jealous.

Romeo is my only short and there are sooo many things I left out of that one. It’s still bothering me. So, I’m workin’ at keeping Troy on a short leash, or perhaps he’s keeping me on a short leash. Someone is being required to control themselves! Scowl …not sure which one of us it is.

Two New Excerpts on the Site

I'm very excited about TROY and REAL TIME so I figured it was timt to share these two charming men with you. Okay, only one is being charming right now, the other is a tiny bit scary.

You can find the excerpts in Works in Progress, front page below the book visuals.

Remember, they are unedited and uncontracted. Try to enjoy them anyway.

You can read them here http://gailfaulkner.com/index2.html

Is it good??

I'm writing a proposal for a three book series and must keep the whole thing to five pages. Feeling terribly proud of myself, convinced I'd mastered the beast, I asked my mother to read it.

Of course she did, correcting a few things, but still reading. At the end of the five pages I asked her if she liked it?

No! She did not. There wasn't enough information. Now she had all these questions. I asked if the ending was clear? Yes it was, but still, there are all these questions!

I ask you, is that good? Is the purpose of the thing to interest people to the point that they must have the books?? I'm hoping it is. It's cruel to force a writer to make an interesting, gripping, informative synopsis of a complicated plot. It's like trying to jam a whole turkey into the microwave. Even if you manage it, the thing will only be cooked in spots.

Lawdy, this is hard! I'd rather clean up hairballs than do this.

Okay, I'm going to consider the outline done. But now there is huge thing that is a Q Letter. ONE PAGE??? Are they nuts??????

Something Else

I had a great time this weekend. The book signing at the Borders Store in Cuyahoga Falls was fabulous. The store manager really made us feel welcome and I appreciate that.

I also learned I spend way to much time on the computer. If you’re reading this you know what cruising the net is. I’ve indulged in watching various net discussions last week and all it did was waste my time. People who jump on an issue with destructive glee are not who I want to focus on.

There is nothing wrong with stating facts. A reviewer who does not like a book and lists the reasons the book did not work for them is stating facts. A person ranting and calling people “fat asses” are not engaging in discussion. Responding to these people is a disappointing experience.

Today I finally got back to what I love. Writing.

Testing the appeal of a new guy, what do you think?

“Tell you what. I agree, no one has to know anything. Be my guest today. Just spend the day attending events you’d have gone to anyway, but do it with me. All that will change is now you’re seat will be better. We’ll talk, figure out what we want to do or not do about this. That’s it. What’s the risk? You only have to touch me to know what my motives or intentions really are. Just the day.”

“A ghost? Seriously?” Heather raised a brow in question as she ignored most of his suggestion. “And I thought my family was strange. Perhaps it’s your family.”

“How did you know the ghost was from my family?”

“Ah, I just assumed. All that talk about dead ancestors.” Heather’s arms wrapped around herself defensively as she hedged and tried to slide a step further away from him.

Alex followed her, frowning down at the little witch in front of him. “You’re still reading me, aren’t you? Even though we’re not touching.”

“Not so much, not like before. Really. No need to get all huffy. I already told you I get stray thoughts from a lot of people around here. Ya’ll are a spooky bunch and I really think its time I took off and left every one of you to the privacy of your own minds.”

Alex’s lips pulled back from his teeth in a snarl. He knew she’d side stepped his suggestion. He’d let it slide but apparently she’d mistaken patience for stupidity. He was out of patience with her running away. “You’re well aware I couldn’t disagree more. So let’s put that one on the shelf and try to work this out. Since I’m the King around here, you can consider it a royal favor that you stay. Got it?”

“Really?” Heather snapped in irritation. “What would it be considered if I don’t?” It wasn’t ‘til the words were out of her mouth that she realized what she’d just said. She was in some tiny European country, challenging its king and she wasn’t entirely sure they’d heard of the United Nations, much less adhered to any international law. One of the few remaining absolute monarchs and she was treating him like a schoolyard bully.

If stupid were an Olympic event, she’d just won gold. Heather’s hand covered her mouth in shock.

I have a confession...

This Saturday I'll be doing a book signing at Borders Books & Music at 355 Howe Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, OH From 2pm to 4pm. Authors at the signing will be Gail Faulkner, Diana Hunter, Sherri King, Tawny Taylor Jaid Black & the EC Tour Bus!

Last time I did one of these so close to the EC Home Office they brought the "Cave Men". Ya know what that means? I was watching six built guys in tux pants and white collars and cuffs for hours. Well, of course I wasn't just sitting there. It's only polite to chat with the shirtless men, ya know? I’m unclear on how this happened but I found a reason to smack one on the butt, sorta.

Um...that might not have been totally politically correct. So hopefully I can tell him how sorry I am this time! Yeah, and if he doesn’t remember what I'm sorry for, I'll have to show him. Just for clarity.

I really should be sorry, right? I'll be so happy to get this off my conscious! It's been a burden ya know.

Into His Keeping Responses

Gotta say a public thank you to those who've written in response to INTO HIS KEEPING.

I think everyone who's taken the time to write me has asked after my-man Drifter. That just makes me happy. I fell in love with him and had to work at keeping him off center stage. This was his parents story. Kids are such attention grabbers. LOL As you know, the book is long. I had to cut Christmas out of it and that was heavily Drifter material. He's such a smart mouth around his grandparents. Not a bad one though, Carol keeps up with his smart mouth very nicely.