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Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

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Pleasure Cove

Say It With a T-Shirt

September 12, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Suck It Up Buttercup T-Shirt

I’m in an awesome writers group that posts writing challenges each month. Members share how much they intend to write during the week, 2-week or 1-month period to follow and how they plan to reward themselves.

I’d like to make my reward something yummy (like an entire pineapple upside down cake), but that won’t help my other cause, which is getting healthier by working out daily courtesy of DailyBurn.com.  So this time I opted to go with something I’ve always wanted but hadn’t gotten around to getting: graphic T-shirts.

Why haven’t I purchased them before? One: for a long time it was rare to find one that wasn’t designed for anyone whose shape was more eraser than pencil. Second: When you did find one, the price was more than this penny pincher frugal person was willing to pay.

Enter the age of do-it-yourself T-shirt websites. 

Now you can find T-shirts for everyone that support any cause or share just about any sentiment. It’s also super easy to make your own. I created a to-buy list of graphic tees I wanted and I’m rewarding myself with one or two whenever I hit a new goal or deadline. When I turned in Book #2 of my upcoming Pleasure Cove series with Harlequin Kimani Romance, I bought myself the following two graphic tees:

SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP

Fell in love with this shirt the instant I saw it. It’s perfect for those moments when:

  • I don’t feel like working out.
  • I’m working out but I feel like I can’t do one more squat/pushup/crunch/plank move, etc.
  • I should be writing or revising, but I’m not (like now)
  • I am procrastinating about doing what I need to do, preferring to do just about anything else (seriously…like now)

I chose purple because…Prince…and the purple and green are a throw back to Lou Ferrigno’s Incredible Hulk with those crazy purple pants and his you-done-made-me-mad-now green skin. Makes me feel slightly invincible and like I could do a split in heels while playing a guitar. I’m just sayin’.

A LITTLE HOOD, A LITTLE HIPPIE

A Little Hood, A Little Hippie

Anyone who knows me well knows that though I grew up in the hood, I have always been very much a hippie. So, as noted in the conversation with my husband (see below), it would be more accurate to say a little hood, a lot hippie. And as if I didn’t love this shirt enough for the graphic, the fabric is so soft. I could live in this thing. I’m thinking of belting it and wearing it as a dress. Just kidding! (Or am I?)

Anyhoo…my husband, whose obsession with Aldo shoes is one of the many reasons I lovingly refer to him as GQ Jones, and I had the following conversation this morning:

GQ Jones: Can we change that to A Little Hood, A Lot Hippie? *smirks*

Me: You do know this refers to a flower child, philosophical hippie, not someone with a lot of hips?

GQ Jones: You do know I’m not the only one who is going to be confused about that.

Me: *shrugs* Either way, A Little Hood, A Lot Hippie still applies. If someone makes that shirt, I’ll definitely buy it.

Okay, time for me to get back to work so I can earn my next graphic tee.

How do you reward yourself for a job well done? Or are you more of the just-shut-up-and-do-it type who doesn’t worry about rewarding yourself? (If so, I wanna be you, but I’m totally okay with the fact that I never will be.)

Happy Reading!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Filed Under: Share the Journey, The Writing Life, Wearing, What I'm... Tagged With: graphic t-shirts, Harlequin Kimani Romance, multicultural romance, Pleasure Cove, plus size fashions, Reese Ryan

Tangling with Timelines

September 9, 2016 by ReeseRyan

During my recent Labor Day Weekend #readergiveaway I asked readers to share how they spent their summer and invited them to pose questions about my new Pleasure Cove series. I enjoyed connecting with my VIP Readers and hearing about their road trips, reading challenges and time spent with children or grandchildren.

Timeline: Minutes courtesy of Bertalan Szuros. Some rights reserved.

Readers posed lots of fun questions, which I’ll be answering during brief vlogs here on Mindful Banter. VIP Reader Mary Goodman asked: What is the best part about writing a series? I’m working on the proposal for Book #3 of my Pleasure Cove series, so today seemed like an appropriate time to answer that question. Under two deadlines and looking more than a little scrappy today, I’ll skip the video (for your sake and mine) and answer the question in today’s blog post.

The best part about writing a series is that the world I’ve built is familiar to me and so are many of the characters. Most of the action in the Pleasure Cove series takes place…you guessed it…in my fictional beach town Pleasure Cove, North Carolina. I know the landscape of the town: the best seafood restaurant, the dive jazz club, the coffee shop and the newly refurbished concert hall. The series revolves around a few key families. Those characters are as familiar as old friends and gotta-love-em relatives. I know a lot about these characters before I begin drafting their stories. Sometimes, even before I realize that they’ll ever have a story of their own.

What drives me crazy when writing a series can be summed up in one word: timeline.

Timeline photo courtesy of Luigi Mengato. Some rights reserved.

Keeping the timeline straight over the course of several books in a series (and related series) can be challenging–particularly if you don’t establish the timeline right from the start. I’m one of those dreaded procrastinators who drags my feet when it comes to doing things I don’t particularly enjoy. I often find myself revisiting the timeline when I’m forced to–like today. So, as I fiddle with another timeline app, I’ve come to the conclusion that I should probably purchase one.

So my questions to you are: As a reader, what timeline issues drive you crazy in a story? To writers, what method do you use to keep track of the timeline of your story or series?

Happy reading!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Timeline: Minutes courtesy of Bertalan Szuros. Some rights reserved.
Timeline photo courtesy of Luigi Mengato. Some rights reserved.

Filed Under: All Posts, Reader Q&A, The Writing Life, What I'm..., Working On Tagged With: Harlequin Kimani Romance, Pleasure Cove, Q&A, Reader questions

And the winner of my Labor Day Weekend #ReaderGiveaway is…

September 7, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Hi All,

For those of you in the United States, hope you had a fabulous Labor Day weekend!

The past few months have been pretty crazy for me with lots of writing, revisions and travel. It was nice to have a weekend where I got some relaxation in and time with my family. However, I managed to sneak some work in, too.

The Inspire Journal and Colorful Pens -- Reese Ryan VIP #ReaderGiveaway

One of the things I enjoyed doing this weekend was picking out the journal and colorful pen set, pictured above, that will go to the contest winner of my Labor Day weekend giveaway along with a $25 gift certificate. Since I’m a journal and pen junkie, I couldn’t resist getting a set of each for myself. 🙂

Now, with no further ado, I give you the winner of the Reese Ryan 2016 Labor Day weekend #ReaderGiveaway: Sherri Hollister.

Congratulations to Sherri, who is also a writer. This journal is chock-full with creative inspiration and encouraging sayings. I know you’re going to love it, Sherri!

When you love what you have, you have everything you need

If you didn’t win this time, no worries. These journals were so awesome, I bought out the entire stock and I’ll be giving them out quarterly to my awesome, patient VIP readers whom I adore. So look for another opportunity to win during the fourth quarter giveaway in late October or early November.

I’ll be answering some of the excellent reader questions I received during the contest via video right here on the blog. So, be sure to subscribe to my blog (6th block down in right sidebar) to stay tuned to the latest shenanigans and/or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook.

Chase your dreams, you might catch one

Now, this girl has a proposal to write for Book #3 in my Pleasure Cove series and an indie project to edit. Stay tuned for more info on the series and my coming indie release.

Namaste,

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Filed Under: Doing, Giveaways, Playing by the Rules -- Book 1, Pleasure Cove Tagged With: #ReaderGiveaway, Contest winner, Kimani Romance, Playing by the Rules, Playing with Desire, Pleasure Cove, Reese Ryan

Final Day of Labor Day Weekend Giveaway Contest

September 5, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Reese Ryan Labor Day Weekend Giveaway

Today is the last day to enter my Labor Day Weekend giveaway exclusively for my VIP Readers. I’m giving away a lovely journal, a set of colorful pens and a $25 gift card from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes or Starbucks–winner’s choice. If you’re not a VIP Reader already, entry is easy peasy.

  • Step one: Join my VIP Reader mailing list. (See the box on the top of the right sidebar.)
  • Step two, email me and tell me how you spent your summer.
  • For a bonus entry, ask me a question about my new Pleasure Cove series or March 2017 release PLAYING WITH DESIRE.

Please note: This contest is open internationally. However, only the digital gift card will be sent to winners outside of the United States. The physical items will only be shipped within the United States or Canada.

It’s been great connecting with all of you and hearing about how you spent your summer. Readers have posed some excellent questions which I can’t wait to answer in future vlogs, right here on this blog, so stay tuned.

Good luck on your entry and Happy Labor Day!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Playing with Desire -- Book 1 Tagged With: #Giveaways, Harlequin Kimani Romance, Playing with Desire, Pleasure Cove, Reader Contests, Reader giveaway, Reese Ryan

Playing with Desire Release Date

August 26, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Playing with Desire, the first book in the Pleasure Cove series, published by Harlequin Kimani Romance, goes on sale everywhere.

Playing with Desire by Reese Ryan -- Pleasure Cove Book #1

Tagged With: #WeHaveDiverseRomance, #WeNeedDiverseRomance, African American romance, black romance, book release dates, BWWM, Harlequin Kimani Romance, Playing with Desire, Pleasure Cove, Reese Ryan

Playing with Temptation Release

August 26, 2016 by ReeseRyan

Playing with Temptation, Book #2 in the Pleasure Cove series published by Harlequin Kimani Romance, goes on sale everywhere.

PLAYING WITH TEMPTATION by Reese Ryan

 

Tagged With: #WeHave, #WeNeedDiverseRomance, African American romance, black romance, Book Release, Harlequin Kimani Romance, Playing with Temptation, Pleasure Cove, Reese Ryan

Breaking News from Reese Ryan: A New Publishing Deal

March 11, 2016 by ReeseRyan

The Playing with Bad Boys series has a new name and a new publisher.

A new publishing deal requires a celebratory mug of tea.
Celebratory mug of tea, anyone?

First, let me apologize for being missing in action the past few months. This year has been full of health challenges and there are plans for surgery ahead, but there was some really exciting news, too.

Along the way to indie publish my planned Playing with Bad Boys series, I got an offer for a traditional publishing deal I just couldn’t refuse. So the series is getting a new name which I shared exclusively with my VIP Readers earlier today.

Hop on over to Hot M.A.M.A. Land to get details on why I’ve been Secret Squirrel the past few months , how this unexpected publishing deal came to be and when you can expect to see the first book in the series at your local bookstore.

But before you go, I’m inviting you to a fun reader event I’ll be participating in this fall.

Kianna Alexander’s Fall into Romance Reader Event at Disney World

FallIntoRomanceKianna

Don’t miss an exciting reader event hosted by a fellow Hot M.A.M.A. and Kimani Romance author. Kianna Alexander’s Fall Into Romance reader event is going to be a ton of fun. Join me, Kianna, Cheris Hodges, Piper Huguley, Deborah Fletcher Mello, Farrah Rochon, K.M. Jackson, Te’ Russ, Synithia Williams, Lena Hart, Kaia Danielle and Siera London for fun in sunny Florida as we celebrate romance written by and about women of color.

Join us October 20-24th at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Orlando in Lake Buena Vista for a great reader event celebrating diversity in romance. Plus, there will be plenty of time to get your Disney on. Learn more about this event by visiting the Kianna Alexander Fall into Romance Facebook page. Reserve your spot at the event here.

We’re going to Disney World, y’all! Woo hoo!

Reese Ryan. Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

Secret Squirrel Over and Out

Filed Under: Doing, Hot M.A.M.A.Land, News, Playing by the Rules -- Book 1, Playing with Desire -- Book 1, Pleasure Cove, Publishing Industry, Share the Journey, The Writing Life, What I'm... Tagged With: Cheris Hodges, Deborah Fletcher Mello, Farrah Rochon, K.M. Jackson, Kaia Danielle, Kianna Alexander, Kimani Romance, Lena Hart, Piper Huguley, Playing by the Rules, Playing with Bad Boys, Pleasure Cove, publishing deal, Reese Ryan, Siera London, Synithia Williams, Te' Russ

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