You wanted it, you got it!

The one thing I heard repeatedly after people read Loving Her was that they wanted more. They wanted to know the characters better, they wanted more of their stories.

Since Loving Her came out, I have been talking about writing prequels. I worked on them whenever the mood would strike. In all honesty, I loved the characters and I wanted to revisit them. I only got into it seriously this year, though.

I don't know why that is. Especially since these women are all so near and dear to my heart. But for whatever reason, NOW is the time for them.

What I had originally anticipated to be a set of prequels flowing into the book of Loving Her has become something different, but definitely something better.



Each woman now has her own novella. You will get the prequels mixed in with the original short stories and end in different ways. You will still see the connections and impacts they all have on each other, but now you will also see each woman for the person she really is.


I am so very excited about this! I can't even begin to tell you how I feel about this project as a whole, or the enjoyment I'm getting for writing each and every one of these stories.

It has been an amazing journey and I cannot wait to show you the final products.

We are starting with the first release in August! Details will come as we approach the release date. For now, I will tell you that the first story is Liz, the ballerina.

I hope you enjoy finding out more about her.

I hope you like these stories better than the originals! :)
I certainly had a wonderful time writing them, and I cannot wait for you to get your own copies of these books!!

Happy reading!

Reinventing Myself

Good Thursday morning!


Today, I want to share some very exciting news with you. Well, I think it's exciting. ;)



On Monday, I launched my brand new website, www.laurenshiro.com


You'll notice my surname changed. Why, you ask. Well, the ever amazing Vanilla Heart Publishing and I are re-releasing ALL of my books under my married name in celebration of my first wedding anniversary and also those recent political changes that actually make my marriage legal.



First up is Loving Her, but it's not what you'd expect. Instead, each character in Loving Her is getting her own story, her own book and they will all be released as a series! This is so exciting to me. I love these characters and I am thrilled that I can clean up their stories and present them to you in this manner.



Some of it will be new, some of it will be familiar. I think you will be blown away by how these women have grown and what their stories really are.


I am so very excited about all of this change and all the changes yet to come. I don't think you'll be disappointed in the least! ;)



So stay tuned for all the upcoming rerelease dates and happy rereading! ;)

Riding the Wave

Happy Thursday, everyone!



Today, yours truly is in a particularly good mood. Why? Well, because things on the writing front have been going incredibly well. :)

Most importantly, Impeccable has just come out in print! Excited?! Me?! Never! LOL. I don't know whether to dance or simply wet my pants! It is phenomenal! I am so very excited! Please purchase your copy today!




Also, I will be at the Fairport Holiday Author Book Signing in Fairport, NY on Dec. 3. This is an event to celebrate new releases for 2011. You can come meet me, buy my books and get them signed for yourself, or as a holiday gift! The event will be from 2-4 pm. I'd love to see you there!

I've been getting a lot of recognition from the LGBT community as of late, as well.

It is exciting and flattering to have the LGBT community recognize my work. What's especially exciting is that a lot of this recognition comes from overseas. European book stores, organizations and individuals are suddenly paying attention to little old me.






You have to understand that as much as I like to boast about my work, the truth is: I realize that I am not Pulitzer Prize material. I am not even close to being a NY Times best seller (though I desperately wish I was!) For these people to find me, let alone say & do what they are, blows my mind! It's thrilling. It's an honor, really.

Perhaps with Imperfect and now Impeccable, I am becoming the author I have always dreamed of becoming. Yes, I would love to see my books become best sellers, but to see my work impacting and helping the LGBT community is amazing.

That impact is the reason I write. To see it come to fruition is simply phenomenal. For now, I am simply going to ride this wave! ;)

Happy reading!

Blood on the Roses

Happy Thursday, y'all!
As an LGBT writer, I have often wondered how straight authors view the LGBT community and our causes. Even more so, I have wondered how a straight author would handle an LGBT story.

Author Robert Hays has answered my question with his novel, Blood on the Roses.

What I have discovered is that a straight author can tackle LGBT issues with poise and beauty. Mr. Hays tackled not only homosexuality, but homosexuality in the American south in the 1950s. This was an era and an area that is not necessarily LGBT-friendly. The entire LGBT community was still recovering from persecution from Hitler, and although J. Edgar Hoover was considered a good director for the FBI, his personal life was deeply questioned and unaccepted. To be gay in America in the 1950s was difficult, to be gay in the American south in the 1950s was even more difficult.

So Robert Hays set a very difficult task before himself in tackling a gay character in that era and environment.

What resulted is not only an incredible, gripping thriller of a mystery, but a beautiful and caring story. The characters involved in this story are likable, believable and genuine. Their beliefs (both good and bad) are true to the time and place. These characters are real.

The story itself is one of great depth with incredible back-story and intrigue. The descriptions paint an incredibly vivid painting for the reader. The storyline grabs you and never releases you. This is an excellently executed book.

So, what does it mean for the LGBT community when a straight writer writes a novel such as Blood on the Roses? It means that our cause and our struggles have not gone unnoticed. It means that we as a people, and our history, are just as important to straight people as we are to our own community. This book is a beautiful demonstration not only of good, solid, story-telling, but of tolerance and understanding.

For more information, please visit:

http://home.comcast.net/~roberthayswriter/site/

and

www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com

Not Dean Koontz

Happy Thursday afternoon, fellow biblophiles!



I apologize for today's delay. My other job required more time of me than usual. And that is actually what I want to discuss today.

You see, I have just been asked to come do a local author's event; in addition, a reader has requested autographed copies of ALL of my books! I turned to my fiancee and said to her, "But I'm not Dean Koontz!"

And the truth is, I'm not. I am sitting here wearing scrubs as I type this. My other job, for those of you who didn't know, is as a licensed veterinary technician, or veterinary nurse. Again, not Dean Koontz.

I drive a 2000 Subaru Forester and my beloved 1977 Chevy K-10 pick up (sound familiar, Loving Her readers? ;) ). Also, not something akin to Dean Koontz.

I have bad hair days. I am short. I don't always look like a model. I am not a nationally known author...yet. ;) I have a regular job, I have bills to pay. I even have to pump my own gas! I know, it's terrible.

Seriously, though, I'm just a regular gal. There is absolutely nothing special about me. If you saw me walking down the street, you would simpy think I was a short, Hispanic female in her thirties. Not Dean Koontz.

Would I like the notarity that he has? Yes and no. I love the idea of people across the board knowing my work. I love the idea of my books selling themselves.I love the idea of my writing being recognized. However, there is tremendous pressure in being Dean Koontz or Stephen King or any other GOOD big-name writer. I will not discuss formula writers as...well, I just have an opinion about them and that's all you need to know. BUT, to be a truly good and famous writer, you need to be churning out book after book after book and they all need to top their predecssors. I don't know if I could do that. Right now, I am working on a project, but it's only a short story. I like my novels to come and just kind of happen. This one may turn into a full-length, but I want the freedom to explore all the possibilities with this story. That is a freedom Dean Koontz doesn't have.

Dean Koontz is very mainstream. To be him, I might have to tone down my Hispanicness or gayness or shortness. I don't know if it is a choice or an inability, but either way, that won't happen. Period.

Dean Koontz can only be Dean Koontz. Honestly, I like being L. E. Harvey the author or Lauren the vet tech or Jerry Skid the roller derby girl. I like wearing many hats. I don't see Dean Koontz doing that. He may, but I doubt it.

The point is: I am flattered and honored to be in this upcoming author's event as well as signing copies of my books for a reader I have never met. I may not be Dean Koontz, but that may not be a bad thing.

Coming Out Day

Tuesday (10/11) was National Coming Out Day.

Like any good LGBT author, I promoted several events and articles relating to NCO, but I also promoted my books.


Why?

Not because I am THAT much of a narcissist.

Close, but not quite. ;)

In all seriousness, I hope that Imperfect and Impeccable help others to come out. They helped me to come out, believe it or not.

I have known who and what I am since I was a pre-teen. I remember being in junior high and having "those thoughts." I had hit puberty early, mind you, and when you have a class that is full of beautiful girls, you can't help but be...interested.

I had said things or asked questions of my mother in pre-teen and teen years, but she dismissed them.


In my twenties, I had a few long-distance reltaionships with other women. Since they were short-lived and long-distance, it still didn't quite register with my mother.


Mind you, I hate to make my mother out to be some kind of ignorant fool. She is anything but. However, for whatever reason, my orientation just didn't click with her.




So, when I wrote Imperfect, my mother asked me why all my characters were gay (consider the fact that Loving Her was fairly hot off the press at the time).

So, I thus had to explain to mom AGAIN that I am bisexual (she still doesn't quite fully understand since I'm with a woman now, but that's a whole other blog! LOL).



So, writing love stories about lesbians helped me to come out as a "half-lesbian,' if you will.

Is that a bad thing? Not at all. If you look at Carol and Alex, you will see that they are strong women. They are not ashamed of who they are. They love each other regardless of race or gender. They show us what true love can endure, and what it should be. That can be a very powerful tool in coming out.

So, if you're closeted, please come out! Yes, the world can be a scary place. But it will be such a better place if you're true to yourself!

And if you can read, please read Imperfect and Impeccable. You might just like them! ;)

The Political Importance of Imperfect

Good Monday evening, fellow readers.

You've heard me talk about the importance of Imperfect. Perhaps it didn't quite resonate with you at the time. Considering the current political state, it is more important than ever that we examine Imperfect not just as a work of literary fiction, but as a political commentary.

DADT has finally been repealed, though the military is still working through everything. President Obama has just announced that DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) is no more. The state in which I currently reside is under a giant microscope for potentially being the next state to allow same-sex marriages.

What does all of this have to do with you and Imperfect?

Everything!

I think it is pretty safe to assume that you have all figured out where I stand on such issues. In case you've missed it, I'm pro EQUALITY.

Anyhoo, Imperfect is VERY political. I BLATANTLY discuss sexism, racism, prejudice against LGBT people and prejudice against HIV/AIDS people. In a time where we as a country need to reflect on what we truly stand for, I put it out there for all the world to see in black and white.

It does not matter what side you stand on. Imperfect speaks to both sides. It makes you think. It challenges your thoughts and ideals. It will move you one way or another.

So read it, people! Allow yourself to become uncomfortable! Allow yourself to be challenged! Allow yourself to think and consider all the options and perspectives! I guarantee you, this book will change your life. Guaranteed. That's pretty bold for me to say. But it is true. So buy it, down load it and read it.

And...don't come to any conclusions just yet. Why? Because there's still Impeccable to come. Once you have read these two books together, you will never be the same. These books are meant to move you, to touch you and to cause you to think. Individually, they both do that. In conjunction with each other, it's like nothing else you've ever read before.

Go on...click here

My Yule Holiday Gift

Howdy, folks! So, the powers that be gave me a wonderful gift for Yule yesterday: an interview on sellingbooks.com! Please check it out! :)

Thanks! And happy holidays, of course! ;)

http://www.sellingbooks.com/l-e-harvey-imperfect

Happy weekend, everyone!

This is a brief blog today because...well, I don't want to bore you. :)



First off, I have the honor of having Imperfect featured on Authors Promoting Authors!

Please check this link! :) http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-release-imperfect-le-harvey.html







Next week, I will be guest blogging on Romancing the Book. I'll be there on Thursday, the 16th. I'm THRILLED to be there and...we're doing a contest!!!! You don't want to miss out on that one! Here's the link-y poo: http://www.romancing-the-book.com/





Lastly, for those of you who have not yet heard (and who don't mind a good, hot political debate), my partner proposed to me this week! :) Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! That was my girlish squeal of excitement. I'm thrilled. She makes me so happy! :) So...Yayness!


Of course, I've already run into people who can't simply be happy for us. Yeah, I've gotten some lovely lectures from people who disapprove.


Perhaps I should disapprove of heterosexual marriages. I don't know. Just a thought.


Anyway, I am who I am. I am madly in love, we ARE getting married. If you don't like that, I'm sorry. You are entitled to your opinion, however, I don't need that opinion shoved in my face 24/7. I get enough of that from Fox news. ;)




Those people, those naysayers are the exact reason I write, folks. Their bigotry is my motivation. I use their prejudice to write stories that I hope will open peoples' eyes and create some more understanding and acceptance in this very cold world of ours. You know what? It seems to be working, too. Thus far, Imperfect has been read and reviewed by STRAIGHT people. The reviews have been wonderful. Yes, straight people LOVE an LGBT book. Be horrified, be thrilled. Makes ya wanna go out & read it, doesn't it? ;) The newest review came yesterday from Dr. T. Davis:
"I like a book that makes me uncomfortable. And this book does just that." SWEET! I made a Ph. D. uncomfortable, folks! He likened Imperfect to a psychological thriller, sans the morbidity. That is what I love to hear. STRAIGHT people who are intrigued by LGBT writing. Proof that our stories are, in fact, universal.



Ok, I'll stop rambling. I promised y'all I wouldn't bore you. Hopefully I didn't. Hopefully I did interest you in picking up a copy of Imperfect, though. ;)
http://www.amazon.com/Imperfect-L-Harvey/dp/1935407732/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292083339&sr=1-2

Busy Blogging Week

Good Tuesday morning, folks! :)





First off, I want to thank everyone for the Blog Jog. It was great. I had an absolute blast and it was an honor to have so many of you stop by, comment and even follow me! Thank you all so much! :)





Our winner has been selected and notified. Congratulations and happy reading!


For everyone else, thank you so much for commenting! I greatly appreciate it! If you are interested in reading my books, I have some GREAT news! My publisher, Vanilla Heart Publishing, is running this INCREDIBLE offer right now where you can purchase three e-books and get a fourth free! Here is the blurb from their website, http://www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/






Seasonal Ebook Supersavers!

Secure Shopping Cart- Credit Cards or Paypal

THANKSGIVING SEASON SPECIAL

We're Thankful for Great Books!

Buy 3, Get 1 FREE through December 16, 2010
Just copy and paste (or type) the code 8GI4SE3R

All These Vanilla Heart Publishing Authors!

Vila SpiderHawk, Smoky Trudeau, Chelle Cordero, Marilyn Celeste Morris, Misha Crews, Robert Hays, L.E. Harvey, Victoria Howard, Collin Kelley, Sandy Nicks, Malcolm R. Campbell, Charmaine Gordon, Janet Lane Walters, Anne K. Albert, S.R. Claridge, Melinda Clayton, Barbra Annino, our VHP Anthologies, and our non-fiction titles (more coming soon).


51 Great Books to Choose From!

Please check it out! There are some incredible books to be read! :)



As for yours truly, I have a couple of new blogs coming up here in the very near future. ;) For now, I'd be honored if you visited GLBT reading blog where I have a guest post.

Tomorrow, I am hosting a guest: Dr. J. Sivak, author of When Can I Go Home? Please stop by and visit him. His book sounds simply amazing! :)








Thank you all so much!


Happy reading! :)