tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post1437391089005011735..comments2023-11-03T04:57:11.073-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: The Writer's Journey with Misa RamirezLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-11696274877648272622009-01-19T23:30:00.000-05:002009-01-19T23:30:00.000-05:00Thanks, Misa, we've really enjoyed hearing about y...Thanks, Misa, we've really enjoyed hearing about your journey to publication. Congratulations on your debut book and for giving us another wonderful selection for our TBR piles!jo robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824237193217632098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-47482656303900806972009-01-19T22:29:00.000-05:002009-01-19T22:29:00.000-05:00Thank you so much...ALL of you... for all your goo...Thank you so much...ALL of you... for all your good wishes and encouragement. It has been a fun ride, and I know it's just beginning. =) <BR/><BR/>And thanks so much to Jo for inviting me to play in the lair with y'all. You are a blast!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-65297062854030734672009-01-19T22:19:00.000-05:002009-01-19T22:19:00.000-05:00Misa, Congratulations on your release tomorrow...Misa,<BR/> Congratulations on your release tomorrow! ^5 Loved how inspiration came about, and that you're partly crafting your heroine after your daughter. <BR/> As for the writing process, each layer has its own challenges. As a major plotter, I love writing synopses. Second best, is editing. You can take your mush and make it [hopefully], an amazing story. Last but not least, I love writing description and action.<BR/> Congratulations again on signing with Holly. She's my agent as well and totally amazing. She sold the last two books of my series right before Christmas. I wish you every success. Take care and my sincere best,<BR/><BR/>Diana Cosby<BR/>www.dianacosby.com<BR/>His Captive/Alexander MacGruder<BR/>His Woman/Duncan MacGruder - 4 star Romantic Times review<BR/>Title TBA/Seathan MacGruder - Date TBA<BR/>Title TBA/Patrik [Cleary] MacGruderDiana Cosbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16417576796848731002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-88634151618644833072009-01-19T20:57:00.001-05:002009-01-19T20:57:00.001-05:00Misa, thanks so much for answering all my question...Misa, thanks so much for answering all my questions about the Call, the cover, the title. <BR/><BR/>I'm amazed that you survived the coming and going of several agents before you settled with Holly. You definitely need to give lessons on the break-up!<BR/><BR/>I can't wait to troll my local bookstores tomorrow to find Living the Vida Lola!jo robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824237193217632098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-66402918692976079662009-01-19T20:57:00.000-05:002009-01-19T20:57:00.000-05:00Congratulations, Misa, on hangingin and hanging on...Congratulations, Misa, on hanging<BR/>in and hanging on! It says much<BR/>about you! Good Luck!<BR/><BR/>The best is my family:Honey,our<BR/>children & grandchildren, our<BR/>siblings. The worst is the ever<BR/>present housework!!!<BR/><BR/>Pat CochranPat Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11997396930842831460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-30080251561262444882009-01-19T19:53:00.000-05:002009-01-19T19:53:00.000-05:00Hey Misa,Just doing a quick fly by to say WELCOME ...Hey Misa,<BR/>Just doing a quick fly by to say WELCOME to the Lair and big THANX to Jo for inviting you!<BR/><BR/>Misa, I know it has been a loong wait for you, but TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY!<BR/>And I couldn't be happier! May this be the start of a long and successful career for you.<BR/><BR/>I can honestly say that I've enjoyed ALL the phases for getting to the "my book is on the shelf" ending! I learned so much along the way. The rejections are the worst, and for me, never get any easier. But seeing the book out there and getting FAN MAIL really makes it all worthwhile!<BR/><BR/>ACLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-35815186855645240512009-01-19T19:28:00.000-05:002009-01-19T19:28:00.000-05:00Thanks, KB... Good luck to you, and keep the fait...Thanks, KB... <BR/><BR/>Good luck to you, and keep the faith!!!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534317836745673940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-50214977834536664392009-01-19T18:57:00.000-05:002009-01-19T18:57:00.000-05:00I am just starting out sending my manuscript to a ...I am just starting out sending my manuscript to a few agents and you words about rejection really spoke to me. Congrats on everything!KT Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15958121742156171756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-8137406371354333032009-01-19T18:27:00.000-05:002009-01-19T18:27:00.000-05:00Ack! I just noticed that for all my recent respon...Ack! I just noticed that for all my recent responses I was logged in as my son, AJ. Sorry!!!! So when it says AJ, it's really me, Misa. =)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-41111245327114816782009-01-19T18:19:00.000-05:002009-01-19T18:19:00.000-05:00Great question, Cassondra!Since this was my first ...Great question, Cassondra!<BR/><BR/>Since this was my first book, I knew what I wanted out of the relationship, but had no idea about pantsing or plotting or any of that. A mystery--with Lola as detective--is what came to me. The mystery elements drove the story forward and kept my on track with the character, too.<BR/><BR/>I love the way it turned out, love Lola, love the series, and am so thrilled that others will hopefully fall for Lola, too!<BR/><BR/>As to mastering the elements of mystery....I'm still learning! I have to really work to find the balance between the mystery and the romance. I have a great critique partner who will tell me, uh, the mystery's kind of dead right now! Beef it up. <BR/><BR/>And I do!!!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534317836745673940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-11364253797083726882009-01-19T18:03:00.001-05:002009-01-19T18:03:00.001-05:00Suzanne, yes I will be at Legacy on Feb 7th!!! I ...Suzanne, yes I will be at Legacy on Feb 7th!!! I hope to see you there!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534317836745673940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-48072161687780861522009-01-19T18:03:00.000-05:002009-01-19T18:03:00.000-05:00Good luck, Kristen! "holy multiple agents, Batman...Good luck, Kristen! <BR/><BR/><BR/>"holy multiple agents, Batman! You should give lectures on how to extricate yourself from unproductive representation."--M LOL!!!! I guess I could!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534317836745673940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-75154223764305014362009-01-19T17:57:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:57:00.000-05:00Hey Beth, I'll have to get back to you on how the ...Hey Beth, I'll have to get back to you on how the promotion is balanced with life! I have quite a few book signings lined up, as well as a big event in Amador County at a friend's winery over Valentine's weekend. It's a great reason to go back to CA for a visit!!!! <BR/><BR/>I think the weekend book signings will be a big change, and I'm nervous, but I think it'll be fun. And my family knows that this type of thing is necessary to promote the book.<BR/><BR/>Managing the web site [http://misaramirez.com ] doesn't take too much time, and my other site, Chasing Heroes [http://chasingheroes.com] is a group endeavor and so is also manageable.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534317836745673940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-31094864081377285812009-01-19T17:51:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:51:00.000-05:00Misa, congrats on your debut! I really like myster...Misa, congrats on your debut! I really like mystery series, and Lola's sounds like a lot of fun. It's going on the TBR list. :)<BR/><BR/>Jo, perhaps right now isn't the best time to ask me about the writing process. I'm in the muddling middle, and I'm convinced this is the biggest piece of garbage I've ever written. I like the beginnings and the ends, but struggle with middles. That's where a lot of my revisions come in.Trish Milburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812010789617982102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-78740928594129237462009-01-19T17:47:00.001-05:002009-01-19T17:47:00.001-05:00Hang in there, Louisa!!!Hang in there, Louisa!!!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534317836745673940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-36212033289102250072009-01-19T17:47:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:47:00.000-05:00Living the Vida Lola was the brainchild of agent #...Living the Vida Lola was the brainchild of agent # 2. We went through a lot of ideas, but she came up with this one and she loved it, thought editors would love it [which many did!], and thought it would be a hit.<BR/><BR/>My editor at St. Martin's Minotaur loved it, too, and so it stayed. <BR/><BR/>The art dept. at the pub. house came up with the cover. I loved it from the start! It's vibrant and fun and captures the tone, I think, and makes it stand out in the mystery field, which is a great thing!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534317836745673940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-2140173524390616182009-01-19T17:45:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:45:00.000-05:00Misa:Welcome to the Lair and on the release of LIV...Misa:<BR/><BR/>Welcome to the Lair and on the release of LIVING THE VIDA LOLA.<BR/><BR/>As a writer, I love the process of writing. Sitting down in front of the computer, whether it's for 15 minutes or 2 hours, is just FUN. Not the head banging parts when the characters get quiet, but even then, it's like this big puzzle I have to figure out. What scene goes here? Is this scene too soon? Do I want to reveal that character emotion or thought yet. Professionally speaking...there really isn't any other way I'd prefer to spend my day!<BR/><BR/>AddisonAddison Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00168075638110546283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-9475257675874469972009-01-19T17:44:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:44:00.000-05:00Jo asked about my Call story. I think I mentioned...Jo asked about my Call story. I think I mentioned that my second agent had submitted my book to just about every editor out there. I went from excited to hopeful, to carefully optimistic, to getting a thick skin, to forgetting that the book had been submitted at all! <BR/><BR/>So when my third agent submitted the book--to mystery editors this time, which was key--I still had that 'forget it was ever submitted' pessimistic attitude. I was sure the book would continue to be rejected. <BR/><BR/>My agent phoned me up while I was at work. I was in the work room at the time and didn't think anything of the phone call. I figured she was just touching bases with me. She asked how I was feeling. I told her I had a cold. Small talk. =) She said that her call should make me feel better. Then she said we had an offer. <BR/><BR/>I was floored! It was so unexpected! My husband got friends and family together and we went to dinner at BJ's to celebrate. =)))Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534317836745673940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-54063472106479066662009-01-19T17:37:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:37:00.000-05:00PJ, you asked about my time management--it is SO m...PJ, you asked about my time management--it is SO much easier now that I'm writing full time. We relocated from CA to Texas for many reasons, one of which was so that I could stop teaching and write. <BR/><BR/>It's easy to get distracted, though, and wrapped up in the kids and their school, volunteering, emails, etc. <BR/><BR/>I try to get right to work after I drop them off, and work until they get out of school. I also try to exercise a few times a week, though I need to up that to daily! Where I used to try to sneak in minutes every day at every possible moment, now I feel the dedicated writing time helps me devote more quality time to my family, which was lacking before!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534317836745673940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-48046256419760771692009-01-19T17:08:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:08:00.000-05:00Welcome to Misa and thanks for the interview! You'...Welcome to Misa and thanks for the interview! You've had your hands full! Lola sounds like a great character! Jo- I love that I'm the boss at work as I have my own RE title company and law office. I also hate that I'm the boss and responsible for everything!! LOL Not really! I hate that I can't spend more time reading or following blogs about authors and books I would like to get to know!Martha Eskuchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14403539348594584733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-469861943830577982009-01-19T15:27:00.000-05:002009-01-19T15:27:00.000-05:00Misa, thanks for joining us. I love the sound of ...Misa, thanks for joining us. I love the sound of your book. I admit that mysteries are...well...a mystery to me. They're a world of their own, and mystery readers, like romance readers, have such particular expectations. I know how I chose romance--it's because I love the development of the relationship and the view into the inner landscapes of the characters. The suspense elements were natural for me because of my background. <BR/><BR/>But how did you come to choose mystery as your genre? Were you a mystery reader? <BR/><BR/>And did it take you long to master the essentials of the mystery format?<BR/><BR/>I'm so impressed that you were able to combine these two genres, and that you had the stamina to keep pounding at the revisions until you got it just right! I can't wait to read it!Cassondrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07420982030156788059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-25636419699077375712009-01-19T15:22:00.000-05:002009-01-19T15:22:00.000-05:00Helen congrats on the Fiesty Golden One! I think ...Helen congrats on the Fiesty Golden One! I think he's been around enough now to know where his bread gets buttered, so to speak. You may have to surprise him and change up the cookies in the Tim Tam jar here one of these days. Can't you just hear him fuss? ;0)Cassondrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07420982030156788059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-4427311889313634102009-01-19T13:46:00.000-05:002009-01-19T13:46:00.000-05:00Don't let Susan fool you, Misa. She's charming an...Don't let Susan fool you, Misa. She's charming and witty and funny ALL THE TIME, in person and in print!<BR/><BR/>But the blog tours do sound exhausting! <BR/><BR/>Misa, don't you have a big one coming up soon, out our way -- California?<BR/><BR/>Misa used to be in AC's and my chapter, Sacramento Valley Rose, and then she went and moved, boo hoo!jo robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824237193217632098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-32461378519920663332009-01-19T13:43:00.000-05:002009-01-19T13:43:00.000-05:00Okay, what I love about my job(s).Hmmm, for writin...Okay, what I love about my job(s).<BR/><BR/>Hmmm, for writing there are many things, the spark of a new idea, seeing the characters come to life, watching their story unfold. Yep, love it.<BR/><BR/>For nursing, well, now there is little I like more in this world than seeing a new baby come into it. There is nothing more thrilling than hearing that first lusty cry. Watching tears fill mom and dad and the occasional grandma's eyes. Then there's the whole "sticking-needles-into-body-parts" thing, yep, I have to confess, I sorta like that part too. (Mostly coz I'm good at it!)Suzanne Ferrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761579189372602292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-34824618165112604332009-01-19T13:40:00.000-05:002009-01-19T13:40:00.000-05:00Ah, Anna, I hate those rejections, the really clos...Ah, Anna, I hate those rejections, the really close ones. It's like razor blades to your heart. So close and yet . . . no cigar!jo robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824237193217632098noreply@blogger.com