On Femininity

One thing that always fascinates me is femininity.


What is femininity?



How do we define what is or isn't feminine?



Each and every woman on the planet is similar, yet very different.



Are we feminine when we wear dresses and jewelry?



Are we feminine simply because we are female?



The characters in Loving Her are all women, and they are all very different. Liz and Stephania have "stereotypical" feminine jobs as a ballerina

and a model.



Linda is nearly androgynous and works a typically masculine job, but she's still a woman.


They all have different personalities, different likes and dislikes. They're all human. They're all women.



Personally, I think femininity is individual, just like us. I don't think it's a black and white issue. I think that there are variations. I don't think someone like Linda is in any way less of a woman than someone like Liz.



I love that these characters are as diverse as they are. I love that these characters are true to themselves. Mostly, I love that these characters are real women, just like us.



Come get to know each and every one of them in their own stories.


The women of the Loving Her series will be some of the greatest women you've ever met.

Happy reading!

Donna's Page 69 Trial

Happy Thursday! The weekend is almost here!


What could make for better weekend reading than book # 2 in the Loving Her series, The Cop?



To entice you, I'm doing the page 69 trial. However, the PDF has the book end on page 49 (ah, the joys of various formats). So, I decided to figure out what the equivalent would be, and that is page 33.


So, here is your page 33 trial. Hope you like it! :)




Donna sat on the cold, hard ground in front of the two head stones. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.” She said. “Nothing to report, really. Work is work. Dad, you know what it’s like working with John.” She tried to chuckle. “Taffy is being good. It’s nice to have some company. I still don’t have a girlfriend. I’ve got friends now, though. Real friends. Linda is my best friend. She’s awesome. I love her like a sister. So, I guess I shouldn’t complain, huh? Some people don’t even have friendships like that.”

She propped her right arm on her right leg. She rested her head on her right and wove her fingers through her curls. Donna took in a couple of deep breaths.

“This still sucks. Just so you both know. I hate this. It’s not getting any easier. I don’t care how much time has gone by. Do you guys have any ideas how many times a day I want to call you? Or how many times a day I think about you? Or how many times I think, Mom would like this or dad would love that? Do you have any idea what it’s like to not celebrate mother’s day or father’s day or your anniversary or your birthdays? Don’t even get me started on Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

Once again, Donna felt tears cascading down her face. “It’s so fucking lonely. I don’t have a family.”

She exhaled until she had no air left in her lungs. “I’m sorry. For everything hurtful thing I’ve ever said. For every selfish thing I ever did. For taking you out to dinner and not driving home with you. I’m sorry. I just wish that would make this all better. I’m just so sorry!”

Happy reading!

The Cop

Happy Thursday, gang!

Today, it is my pleasure to announce that book #2 in the Loving Her series, The Cop, is officially available for download!



Come and get it!

KINDLE: http://amzn.to/172RTJR

SMASHWORDS: http://bit.ly/16kfQtK

KOBO: http://bit.ly/1hngoAq


APPLE: http://bit.ly/1eqKALm

Happy reading!

So, what's next?

Happy Thursday, everyone!


My birthday was a good one, thanks to all of you who participated in the giveaway. Congratulations to the winner!


So, where do we go from here? What do I have in store for you next?



What's next is the story from the one character who captured more peoples' hearts and attention than any others. The one character who, when discussing her story, readers told me again and again that they wanted more of her and more of her story. I don't know what it is about this particular character, but she is widely and greatly loved by readers.



So she is book 2 in the Loving Her series.


Truth be told, I am incredibly happy with her story. This turned out far better than I had anticipated. Her story has great depth, emotion, action, intensity. Writing her story has made me fall in love with her as much as my readers.



So, without further ado book #2 is...



The Cop. Donna's story.



The Cop is be available for pre-order!!!

PRE-ORDER BUY LINKS

KOBO
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-cop-6

APPLE
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-cop/id716426866?mt=11&uo=4

NOOK
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cop-lauren-shiro/1116995376?ean=2940045289085

SMASHWORDS ALL EBOOK FORMATS
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/360350

Happy reading!

A Book Report by...My Mother!

My mother has sent me a book report for The Ballerina. I thought it was too funny not to share! Enjoy! :)

My book report: by: Mom





The Ballerina




Favorite description of a person: "quiet, mousy woman. Plainly dressed in an oatmeal colored button-down blouse paired with chocolate brown pants and similarly colored flat shoes"




Most disgusting description of feet: "The bottoms of her feet were layered sheets of callouses. Her toes appeared misshapen, flat and squished together. Even her toenails were discolored and appeared unhealthy. On her feet, Liz’s normally fair skin was red, cracked and peeling. Blood blisters and wounds of all sorts were sprinkled all over the tops of her feet."




Loneliest description: "The hotel bed was small, hard and incredibly uncomfortable. Life on the road seemed endless. She didn’t even know where she was any more. Cities blended into each other. Miles became exponentially longer. Home was just a distant memory. Familiarity resided in the unknown. Everyone was tired, uncomfortable, miserable. "



Favorite visual: "Karen’s voice was an audible lasso, roping everyone to her direction."




Most beautiful visual: " Her energy – her soul – emanated from her, creating an elegant moving sculpture on the stage. Her movements were adroit and effortless. She was the personification of beauty as she danced, twirled and leaped. Every movement from the slightest tilt of her head to the grandest arabesque was exquisite. "



One of many scary moments when you think they won't make it: "She paid no attention to her lonely partner on the other side of the couch."




Saddest moment: Jen finding out she has M.S.




Favorite name: O'Kane



Favorite ending: The entire last page




Great job! Loved the characters. My favorite thing is that they were not tempted by these other women and stayed true to each other.