Author Lynn Tyler Shares the Best and Worst Advice She’s Ever Received

Today I would like to welcome fellow Siren author Lynn Tyler to Behind Closed Doors.  Her first novel Be With Us, was released earlier this month and her second is due out in February 2012.  As a newly published author myself, I know the excitement and the feeling of being overwhelmed at the whole process.  Lynn has graciously offered to share with us some tidbits to help us get through it all in one piece.

Before I begin with my guest blog, I would like to thank Tammy for hosting me today. It is always nice when a fellow author helps out a newbie like me.

You would think that, as an honest-to-goodness author, I would be able to rip off a blog post in record time but I agonized over what to write today. Should I write about the process of publication from a new author’s perspective? Should I write about my book? Should I write about myself?

Finally, I decided to go with my gut feeling and write a post about the best and worst advice I have ever received as an author. So here it goes.

1.  Read 

And read a lot! Almost every author will tell you that they are, or at least have been, an avid reader at some point in their life. Reading hones your sense of flow, sharpens your ability to see plot errors and gives you an idea of what tense and point of view you like the best.

2.  Take classes

I will admit the last thing I wanted to do when I graduated from university was take more classes. When I decided to try and write professionally, I found myself in the regrettable position of writing myself into corners without a way to get out. I have a number of unfinished books for just that reason. Finally, I sucked it up and took an online course on story structure, which changed my life.  Have no problem with plot flow but need to brush up on your grammar? There are plenty of courses available both online and in any number of college campuses. The last class I took was a website building class, which was how I built my own website.

3.  Write what you love

It’s the one piece of advice that I have heard consistently over and over again but it is one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received. Love to read erotic romance? Than write it! Trust me, readers can tell if you’re writing for the current market instead of writing something you love.

4.  There is a market for everything

Some of the most successful authors were rejected hundreds of times because “there wasn’t a market for the book”.  Wouldn’t you hate to be the editor that turned down the Harry Potter series or the Twilight series? Keep trying and you’ll find a publishing house that will be thrilled to publish your work.

5.  Research submission guidelines carefully

Yes, there is a market for everything but don’t waste your time submitting your manuscript to a publishing house that doesn’t publish your genre. Online publishing houses and traditional publishing houses who allow unsolicited submissions have strict guidelines. First make sure the publishing house you are considering publishes your genre. Then read the guidelines and FOLLOW them. Do they ask for one inch borders with twelve point font? Do it. Don’t assume that your book will stand on content alone. Many publishers will tell you up front that they will discard any manuscript that doesn’t follow their guidelines without even a second, or sometimes first, glance.

6.  Take rejections with a grain of salt and an open mind

At some point during your career as an author, you will get a rejection. Sometimes it will be a form letter. Other times, editors will give you feedback. One rejection letter I received was probably the best thing that ever happened for my writing career. The editor outlined the high points of my work but also pointed out weaknesses. I was able to re-write the book and ended up with a better product.

I could go on forever about the value of websites and different ways to promote your book but I will cut if off here. I hope that this post has been of some value to someone out there and I encourage all of you to keep reading, writing and dreaming.

Cheers!

~ Lynn Tyler

Be With Us by Lynn Tyler ~ MMF contemporary romance available at bookstrand.com

Blurb

Lindsay, a conservative librarian, has always fantasized about being with two men who love her and each other. Much to her dismay, two hot men walk into the Toronto library where she works, eager to make that fantasy come true. But, wary of the scandal a ménage relationship would bring, Lindsay sends them away.

After being convinced to give them a chance, Lindsay begins to realize how close to reality her fantasy is, until a reminder of her painful past surfaces and her fears take over.

Will Lindsay have the courage to seize what she wants, or will she let her past dictate her future?

Adult Excerpt (intended for audiences over 18)

Her silky cheek brushed against his chest when she tilted her head to look up at him. “Good morning.”

“Morning? Is it already morning?” He played with the ends of her hair, marveling at how soft it was.

“Yep. Nick called me and told me where the extra key is hidden. He thought you might like some company.” She slid a thigh over his and circled her finger playfully around one of his nipples.

Liam swallowed a plea and glanced down his body, not surprised to see the sheet tenting. He always woke up with morning wood, and he usually had to take care of it himself since Nick was almost always up and gone before Liam woke up. Fortunately for him, prospects were promising this morning.

“And guess what?” she said, letting her fingers trail farther down his abdomen.

“If you tell me that you’re naked under the sheets, I’ll be your slave forever.” Liam had to concentrate on his English, making sure his accent wasn’t too thick. It always took him a few minutes for his brain to translate his thoughts into English when he first woke up. Nick was used to the heavy accent, but he wanted to be sure Lindsay understood every word he said.

“Sorry, no. I’m wearing a bra and panties. They are black though.” Ah, there was the bra, he thought as he shifted his hand down her shoulders so that he could feel the band. “But I really wanted to tell you that Nick came home early. He went out to get breakfast.”

Liam tried desperately to wrap his groggy mind around Lindsay’s words. Lindsay was in his bed with Nick in the house? No, wait. Lindsay said that Nick had left to get breakfast. The only thing that he could make sense of at this particular moment was the hard plug of flesh throbbing between his thighs.

He jumped when the curvy little librarian shifted even closer and tangled her fingers in his pubic hair. Every thought of trying to speak fled his mind as he flexed his hips, trying to force her fingers lower.

“Kiss me,” Lindsay said abruptly, arching her neck toward him.

Obeying her request without a second thought, Liam brought his lips to hers and let her take control. Heat swept through his body and erotic possibilities flashed in his mind as he made quick work of her underwear.

A sound from the door drew his eye, where he found Nick grinning wickedly. He made a circling motion with his finger, letting Liam know he wanted Lindsay to be facing the other way. He followed Nick’s command, turning her around so that her ass snuggled against his crotch while Nick crept into the bed.

Liam brought his hands up to mold her breasts and watched Nick stretch out in front of Lindsay to kiss her. “I’m not going to last very long,” Liam warned.

The two of them kept at it, finding all of Lindsay’s sensitive spots. Liam discovered that her neck, especially the spot directly behind her ear, was as responsive as her nipples when kissed and sucked. He found a tiny area on the right side of her clit that was particularly sensitive, so sensitive that it drove her into climax if he stimulated for more than a couple of seconds. Within just a few minutes, Liam felt her pussy flooding with cream and she was begging for more.

Liam scooted back for just a second to put on the condom Nick magically produced. He braced himself for the pleasure of possessing Lindsay’s body, but nothing could prepare him for the sensation of sliding into liquid fire. He rocked into her gently, drawing her leg back over his thigh and opening her up to Nick’s view. And damn, he wished he could see the same thing as Nick.

Nick turned around so that his head lay next to Lindsay’s exposed pussy. Liam felt Nick’s finger trace along the spot where he and Lindsay became one. Nick leaned forward and, resting his head on Lindsay’s upper thigh, buried his face between her legs. Liam groaned, both at the sight and at the feeling of Lindsay’s muscles fluttering around him.

Liam watched his lovers with fascination as his increasing thrusts forced her sex to rock against Nick’s chin, driving all of him wild with need. Nick pulled back slightly, looking up at Liam, heat glittering in his eyes. “Do not come,” he ordered over Lindsay’s whimpers.

At Liam’s nod, Nick went back to suckling Lindsay. Liam could feel her muscles tightening, and when she reached back to grip his hip, he knew he would have some very strange fingernail marks. He’d have to be careful to avoid showering at the station for the next few days if he could help it.

Liam’s balls began to burn with the effort of holding back his orgasm. The only thing that kept him from spilling into the condom was Nick’s command. Nick was going to top the shit out of him if he managed to hold on, and he always loved it when Nick got extra aggressive.

How to contact Lynn

http://lynntylerbooks.com

http://www.bookstrand.com/be-with-us

lynntylerbooks@gmail.com