Hi all!
I apologize for not being as consistent as I'd like to be. My day job has literally been running me ragged. I've averaged 55 hours a week for the past 3-4 weeks. I'm pretty wiped out.
On the writing front, some other artists and I have created our own group to go through The Artist's Way. It's a lot of work, but it is very much worth it. To anyone and everyone with any kind of artistic inclination, I highly recommend it! :)
I have also begun working on a new piece! It is not yet titled, but I have 1107 words so far, and that's only after a few days. It's been a lot of fun thus far and I am looking forward to seeing where this piece will go! :) Not sure if it will be a short story or a novel. I'm letting it play itself out. :)
So, oddly enough, I have to go get ready for work. LOL. Hope you are all well. Hopefully soon I can be working at a better pace with my writing. :)
Thanks an happy reading!!!! :)
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
One Day Give Away!!!!
Good Thursday morning, readers! :)
Today's blog is a simple one. Today, and for today only, I am giving away a FREE copy of Trajectory (another one of my short stories) to one deserving reader!
So, what do you have to do to be considered for this awesome prize?
All I need from you is a comment on this blog post stating why you deserve to win the copy. I will read all the comments that are posted and will choose a winner who will be announced tomorrow.
So go ahead & get crackin'! :)
Today's blog is a simple one. Today, and for today only, I am giving away a FREE copy of Trajectory (another one of my short stories) to one deserving reader!
So, what do you have to do to be considered for this awesome prize?
All I need from you is a comment on this blog post stating why you deserve to win the copy. I will read all the comments that are posted and will choose a winner who will be announced tomorrow.
So go ahead & get crackin'! :)
A Short Story by L.E. Harvey
Joe Davis has spent the last four years of his life behind a
turrent scope as a sniper for the Detroit PD's SWAT Team.
A fateful call sends Joe and his team deep into the Detroit
Ghetto; and reminds him that there is more to life than what's on the
other end of his gun.
Albeit short, this story is chock full of details and insights
into the life of a police SWAT officer.
http://www.amazon.com/Trajectory-ebook/dp/B004VS2GP4/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316363280&sr=1-2
Thursday, June 28, 2012
What If...?
Earlier this week, I gave away a free copy of my latest short story, Amnesie.
Didn't you hear about it? No?! Aren't you my friend on Facebook? You're ont? Oh, that's why! Just become my friend on Facebook and you will hear about future contests & give-aways! ;)
http://www.facebook.com/leharvey77
Anyhoo, my whole week has been very focused on Amnesie and the story behind it. That got me thinking, "what if...?" What if I was in that situation?
As a newly wed, I will tell you that I would do anything and everything to keep my marriage strong and to take care of my wife. But, what if things changed and we ended up like Maryanne and Elfriede?
What if I was Marryanne?
Would I think like she did? I have to say yes. Not that that's a good thing, it's just my human side. If put in her shoes, I could easily relate to her thoughts & emotions.
What if I was Elfie?
Would I have the patience she has? Would I be able to handle the situation with the same strength and grace? I'd love to think so, but there is an uncanny courage to her that I can only aspire to.
What about you? What if you were in that situation? Could you relate to Maryanne's emotions? What about Elfie's resiliency?
Wanna know more? Want to understand their exact situation? Want to see if you can reate to either of them? Then check out, Amnesie!
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/143499
Didn't you hear about it? No?! Aren't you my friend on Facebook? You're ont? Oh, that's why! Just become my friend on Facebook and you will hear about future contests & give-aways! ;)
http://www.facebook.com/leharvey77
Anyhoo, my whole week has been very focused on Amnesie and the story behind it. That got me thinking, "what if...?" What if I was in that situation?
As a newly wed, I will tell you that I would do anything and everything to keep my marriage strong and to take care of my wife. But, what if things changed and we ended up like Maryanne and Elfriede?
What if I was Marryanne?
Would I think like she did? I have to say yes. Not that that's a good thing, it's just my human side. If put in her shoes, I could easily relate to her thoughts & emotions.
What if I was Elfie?
Would I have the patience she has? Would I be able to handle the situation with the same strength and grace? I'd love to think so, but there is an uncanny courage to her that I can only aspire to.
What about you? What if you were in that situation? Could you relate to Maryanne's emotions? What about Elfie's resiliency?
Wanna know more? Want to understand their exact situation? Want to see if you can reate to either of them? Then check out, Amnesie!
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/143499
Thursday, June 21, 2012
50 Shades of...
I'm back! Been happily married for 19 days now.
Life is getting back to normal, so it's back to work I go!
Today, I want to discuss the latest rage in books, the 50 Shades series.
I will openly admit I have not read any of them, nor do I have a desire to. Thankfully, my co-workers have been keeping me in the loop.
Here is my first gripe with this latest craze. From what I heard, the writer was a "bored, stay-at-home mom." Ok first off, I have never met a stay-at-home mom who was bored, but ok.
Second, if you're bored, it's great that you're doing something productive, but where is the art and even the legitimacy of your work?
I know people who work and struggle for years. Writers who have degrees and experiences, who write because they cannot exist without writing and they don't get this kind of fame.
The writers at Vanilla Heart Publishing are prime examples of such. We have an incredible poet, former journalists, teachers, writers - REAL writers. These people with whom I fortunate to have my books published - people I admire and aspire to become like - have worked so hard to be where they are, and they continue to work diligently.
How is it that someone with no literary passion can usurp some of the best modern writers I have read?
My second gripe comes to me by word of mouth. My co-workers know that I am a grammar nazi and that eloquence, articulation and verbage are important to me. One co-worker has been simply fantastic on telling me just how horrifically repetitive and redundant her writing is (yes, I did that on purpose, folks). You know the writing has to be poor when a non-writer complains about how everyone's expression is the same, there are no changes in adjectives, that she simply repeats herself endlessly in each book.
Again, I can't help but be aggravated. There are true artists out there - people who paint with words. Writers who use creativity and language. They understand that repitition is a bad thing in the literary world. They take their craft very seriously, and their time, dedication and attention to detail shows in their work. You don't find that in 50 Shades.
Yes, there is a place for erotica in literature. However, I don't think these books even crassify as erotica. They definitely do not classify as true literature.
So, if you're looking to download a new e-book or pick up a great new paperback, please help support the real artists of the writing community, don't just follow the latest craze.
Thank you & happy reading! :)
Life is getting back to normal, so it's back to work I go!
Today, I want to discuss the latest rage in books, the 50 Shades series.
I will openly admit I have not read any of them, nor do I have a desire to. Thankfully, my co-workers have been keeping me in the loop.
Here is my first gripe with this latest craze. From what I heard, the writer was a "bored, stay-at-home mom." Ok first off, I have never met a stay-at-home mom who was bored, but ok.
Second, if you're bored, it's great that you're doing something productive, but where is the art and even the legitimacy of your work?
I know people who work and struggle for years. Writers who have degrees and experiences, who write because they cannot exist without writing and they don't get this kind of fame.
The writers at Vanilla Heart Publishing are prime examples of such. We have an incredible poet, former journalists, teachers, writers - REAL writers. These people with whom I fortunate to have my books published - people I admire and aspire to become like - have worked so hard to be where they are, and they continue to work diligently.
How is it that someone with no literary passion can usurp some of the best modern writers I have read?
My second gripe comes to me by word of mouth. My co-workers know that I am a grammar nazi and that eloquence, articulation and verbage are important to me. One co-worker has been simply fantastic on telling me just how horrifically repetitive and redundant her writing is (yes, I did that on purpose, folks). You know the writing has to be poor when a non-writer complains about how everyone's expression is the same, there are no changes in adjectives, that she simply repeats herself endlessly in each book.
Again, I can't help but be aggravated. There are true artists out there - people who paint with words. Writers who use creativity and language. They understand that repitition is a bad thing in the literary world. They take their craft very seriously, and their time, dedication and attention to detail shows in their work. You don't find that in 50 Shades.
Yes, there is a place for erotica in literature. However, I don't think these books even crassify as erotica. They definitely do not classify as true literature.
So, if you're looking to download a new e-book or pick up a great new paperback, please help support the real artists of the writing community, don't just follow the latest craze.
Thank you & happy reading! :)
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Guest Blog Author K'Anne Meinel
Good Thursday morning, everyone! Today, we have a guest blogger! :)
Please help me welcome author K'Anne Meinel as she talks about her book, Sapphic Surfer! :)
Welcome, K'Anne!
Why don't you tell us a little about your book, Sapphic Surfer? :)
Ashley is a Midwestern girl who is enjoying the life in Southern California. She learns to surf, a lifelong dream that wasn’t possible in Illinois. Now she meets professional surfer Willow Samuels who becomes a good friend to her. How good isn’t really apparent until she realizes there is a mutual attraction. Can a virgin such as Ashley cope with the feelings that are building inside her for the famous surfer? Can a Midwestern girl with all the morals and hang-ups ingrained in her overcome them to actually enter into a Sapphic romance with this woman?
Ashley is conflicted when she realizes she is having feelings for her famous friend Willow. When Willow makes a pass at her she realizes that her friend is gay and attracted to her, how can she overcome a lifetime of ethics and values that just might destroy the happiness that Willow offers her?
Sounds very interesting! What was the inspiration for a story like that?
When I began to write SAPPHIC SURFER I wanted to create a story that told of first times. First time love, first time sex, first time feelings, a lot of firsts. The characters are young and have their whole lives before them. Ashley has to deal with an attraction to her good friend that is something that would not be acceptable in the atmosphere she was raised in the Midwest. I myself have had to deal with that.
I also wanted to show California in the 80’s when I lived there. I used the area of Huntington Beach and the townhome complex because I actually lived there for over a decade. I in fact bought a townhome three miles from the beach at 19 while working at The Federated Group; it was a crazy and exciting time. Using personal experience makes a story such as this more personal, believable, and touching. Fans frequently write me because they have been to these places, have had similar experiences, I’ve even been known to accidentally write their life stories.
Struggling with your morals and ethics when you are brought up in a strict Midwestern family can be difficult but the attraction you feel for someone makes you question those things. Not that they are wrong but neither are the things you are feeling that makes you take a step back and think about what you actually believe and want out of life. Essentially these morals and ethics never go away, they are an intrinsic part of you, instead the experiences of meeting someone that challenges them makes you a different person, hopefully for the better.
Someday I might continue on the story of SAPPHIC SURFER but I want to travel to the locations myself…a good excuse anyway to visit the exotic locations I mentioned in the story for future reference and great ideas! ;-)~
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing that with us! :)
Lastly, K'Anne, where can readers find outr more about you and your book?
Sapphic Surfer:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LVQM46
To see my books and biography: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kannemeinel
and on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=K%27Anne%20Meinel
Like me on Facebook to keep up on my books and stories: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/KAnne-Meinel-Fan-Page/162171377151506
Thanks so much for joining us today, K'Anne!
Happy Thursday and happy reading to everyone! :)
Please help me welcome author K'Anne Meinel as she talks about her book, Sapphic Surfer! :)
Welcome, K'Anne!
Why don't you tell us a little about your book, Sapphic Surfer? :)
Ashley is a Midwestern girl who is enjoying the life in Southern California. She learns to surf, a lifelong dream that wasn’t possible in Illinois. Now she meets professional surfer Willow Samuels who becomes a good friend to her. How good isn’t really apparent until she realizes there is a mutual attraction. Can a virgin such as Ashley cope with the feelings that are building inside her for the famous surfer? Can a Midwestern girl with all the morals and hang-ups ingrained in her overcome them to actually enter into a Sapphic romance with this woman?
Ashley is conflicted when she realizes she is having feelings for her famous friend Willow. When Willow makes a pass at her she realizes that her friend is gay and attracted to her, how can she overcome a lifetime of ethics and values that just might destroy the happiness that Willow offers her?
Sounds very interesting! What was the inspiration for a story like that?
When I began to write SAPPHIC SURFER I wanted to create a story that told of first times. First time love, first time sex, first time feelings, a lot of firsts. The characters are young and have their whole lives before them. Ashley has to deal with an attraction to her good friend that is something that would not be acceptable in the atmosphere she was raised in the Midwest. I myself have had to deal with that.
I also wanted to show California in the 80’s when I lived there. I used the area of Huntington Beach and the townhome complex because I actually lived there for over a decade. I in fact bought a townhome three miles from the beach at 19 while working at The Federated Group; it was a crazy and exciting time. Using personal experience makes a story such as this more personal, believable, and touching. Fans frequently write me because they have been to these places, have had similar experiences, I’ve even been known to accidentally write their life stories.
Struggling with your morals and ethics when you are brought up in a strict Midwestern family can be difficult but the attraction you feel for someone makes you question those things. Not that they are wrong but neither are the things you are feeling that makes you take a step back and think about what you actually believe and want out of life. Essentially these morals and ethics never go away, they are an intrinsic part of you, instead the experiences of meeting someone that challenges them makes you a different person, hopefully for the better.
Someday I might continue on the story of SAPPHIC SURFER but I want to travel to the locations myself…a good excuse anyway to visit the exotic locations I mentioned in the story for future reference and great ideas! ;-)~
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing that with us! :)
Lastly, K'Anne, where can readers find outr more about you and your book?
Sapphic Surfer:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LVQM46
To see my books and biography: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kannemeinel
and on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=K%27Anne%20Meinel
Like me on Facebook to keep up on my books and stories: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/KAnne-Meinel-Fan-Page/162171377151506
Thanks so much for joining us today, K'Anne!
Happy Thursday and happy reading to everyone! :)
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