Olympics, Brain Overload, and Publishing--Oh My! ~ Vonnie Davis

I always look forward to the Olympics. The best of every country competing. As a mother and grandma of youngsters who devoted themselves to various sports, I know the discipline and sacrifice they've given on the high school and collegiate levels. My grandson Ryan will be wrestling for MIT this winter--not that I'm bragging, mind you (Cheezy Grin)--the team's name? "Tough Nerds." I kid you not.

No one in my family has ever aspired to participate in the Olympics, but that doesn't deter from my enjoyment of the events. It's as if each athlete is a part of me. Yes, I am an emotional ninny.

I've been mentally bogged down of late. So much so, I feel as if my mind is a filing cabinet of storylines and I can't keep them straight. I literally have to ask myself what story I'm going to work on today. Hangs head in shame. Today I worked on three: The Roses Christmas short story, A Christmas novella, and a contemporary romance with a plot thinner than a sneeze. Oh, and a synopsis of a book I've yet to write; the fourth bear-shifter story in my Highlander Beloved series. I've no clue if I can generate interest in it, or not.

I'm trying because I've been getting a lot of emails from readers asking for more stories in the series. The latest was from an author who told me my bears were a topic of conversation at her local RWA chapter meeting. They probably wondered what kind of simple-minded fool would write a paranormal that didn't fit half of the rules. She gave me a list of the three shifters they wanted books about. One was married, but they wanted to hear how he met his love and got his HEA. I don't think I can convince my editor to go for all three, so I'll pitch one at a time.

If I were to label what kind of romances I write, I'd have to say anything but Regencies and futuristics. The variety of my published things makes it hard to market myself. My name is my brand. Most readers expect a certain level of humor in my stories. My editor tells me my humor should be greatly reduced, my plot lines are heavy, like my hips, aaaaand first person is preferable to third.

It's like the punch line:  "Just when I learn all the answers, they change the questions." Yeah, that's the state of publishing right about now.

If you've never read book one of my bear shifters, A HIGHLANDER'S OBSESSION, Amazon's Buy Link is: https://amzn.com/B00ILX9WC0

Forgive a proud grandma. My son made several slide shows to play at Ryan's high school graduation party. Unfortunately, Ryan is typically the shortest one in the group. Why do dark-haired wrestlers have blond hair in some of the pictures? They bleach their hair during districts and regionals. Ryan, who damaged his knee in the finals, took second place in the state at 170 pounds. Once the slide show starts, click on the arrows in the lower right corner so it goes full-screen and crank up the volume..
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tp8hrgrf4x51vcw/Friends%20-%20Good%20to%20Be%20Alive.mp4?dl=0