One More Day!!!

Thursday, August 31st, 2006 | Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Whoohoo! One more day until I announce the winner of my blog posting contest. I want to thank all my new visiters for coming back regularly to post and hope you*ll keep coming back to visit me often and check out me and my books.

This week has been really crazy and busy for me, but I hope to get back to regular updates tomorrow. And of course, I*ll announce the winner tomorrow as well. Check back about tomorrow evening and I’ll have the winners posted.

Also, don’t forget about my release chat tomorrow in the Cobblestone Press Chat Room at 7pm Central where I’ll be talking all about my new book. Until then…

Smooches, Lyric

***Whoohoo!!! New Review***

Sunday, August 27th, 2006 | Uncategorized | 3 Comments

So, one of my wonderful publishers asked us to get all our reviews together and send them to our new Review Coordinator. And guess what I stumble across, a new review from Fallen Angel Reviews. Hot Damn!

One Week Stand receives *5 Angels*. Here’s a snippet of what the reviewer, Amanda, had to say.

If you are looking for a contemporary read with plenty of sensuality, look no further than One Week Stand. Fans of romance will enjoy the immediate sparks these two set off; each subsequent encounter just gets better. When you add in a cast of caring friends and family who want to see these two happy, you are sure to get a winning combination. This story had me laughing at how adamantly neither was looking for love and yet how helpless they are to deny their attraction. As these two discover a friendship that pairs well with their passion, Ms. James makes sure readers are with them each step of the way cheering them on.

Isn’t that awesome! What a great way to start the week. You can read the entire review here.

Okay…I must go and tackle the stack of clothes waiting for me to fold and wash. I need a maid.

Smooches, Lyric

*Eye Candy* - *Join Me!*

Saturday, August 26th, 2006 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

This man is just SOOOOO HOT! to me. I just had to share some pictures.

Today’s my day to post at The Novelty Girls. Come join me. :-0

*Confession Time*

Friday, August 25th, 2006 | Uncategorized | 8 Comments

The Sad Reality

I can*t write paranormal. It*s true. I stink at it. Isn*t that sad? I tried, however, I can admit to you, my friends, that I was a big fat failure. I got a big ole fat *rejection.* But, I must admit that I don*t feel too bad about it. I rushed it, didn’t spend as much time as I could developing that other world, and it showed in the final product. What I think I might do now is revamp it and make it a regular contemporary. Now this is what I am good at. I might try another paranormal one day when I really feel like taking the time out to delve into creating that other world, but right now, I have to confess, I*m just too freakin* lazy to do it. Now that I*m back at work, my time is really short and valuable when it comes to writing. And when it comes to paranormal, it you want it to be really good, you have to take the time that paranormal deserves and frankly…I ain’t got it. LOL

New From Cobblestone Press

Blood Lust by Jodi Becker

and

Star Struck by Susan Greene.

Check em’ out.

Guess what*s releasing next week? You guessed it.

My tryst, Vindication: The Adventures of a Private Jane. I had so much fun writing this story. It was what originally got me interested in cozy mysteries. Zip by Cobblestone Press next Friday and download your copy!

Happy Friday, Lyric

**Blog Hopping**

Thursday, August 24th, 2006 | Uncategorized | 5 Comments

I must confess, I*m a blog hopper. I don*t get a chance to do it everyday, but at least two-three times a week I like to enter the author blogosphere, visit friends, and/or find new places. It*s a great way to meet people too. So, I thought I*d share some places I like to stalk…I mean visit.

Of course, The Novelty Girls, my second favorite hang out spot in the whole wide world.

Shelli Stevens

Sara Dennis

Loribelle Hunt

Amanda Brice

The Cozy Chicks

Anisa Damien

Jodi Becker

And last, but not least, Cobblestone Press Blog.

So, since I shared…who else do you visit in the blog world?

Smooches, Lyric

***Put These Dates On Your Calendar***

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006 | Uncategorized | 9 Comments

I*m going to be chatting several places the month of September, so come join me so I won’t be all alone in cyber USA.

1) Cobblestone Release Chat September 1st / 7pm - 9pm CST

2) Cobblestone Contemporary Authors Chat - Discussion Loop - September 7th / 3pm - 4pm EST

3) Cata Network Readers Loop September 14th / 3pm - 4pm EST

Hope to see you all there.

Smooches, Lyric

Whoohoo! First Day Of School

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006 | Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Well, it finally arrived. The wonderful and dreaded first day of school. Why is that? How can it possibly be both? Kids love summer vacation, but when August comes and the days creep steadily by, they *do* get excited about school. New clothes, new shoes, seeing old friends, meeting new ones, going to a new grade. And parents, they can*t wait to get their kids out of the house so they can stop sucking up all the electricity and eating them out of house and home. HA!

But after about a month, that all changes. They hate getting out of bed early in the morning, don*t want to do homework, and the novelty of new clothes has worn off. How do we as parents get them motivated to want to learn? How do we express to them that getting an education is the first key to their future?

I must say that I work at a predominately African American school where most of the kids are from low income, one-parent homes and it so hard to get them to *see* outside the confines of their neighborhood and realize they can make something of their lives. Okay…I jumped on one of my soap boxes. I*ll climb off now. LOL

Goals Set

I set some writing goals for myself today that I plan to begin tomorrow. The hectic first day of school has come and gone, I*ve settled into my library and have figured out how I*m going to re-automate all of my books without driving myself crazy, which should allow me about an hour during the day for writing (30 minutes before school starts and 30 minutes during lunch). And hopefully I*ll be able to steal 30 minutes or so in the evening after the kids go to bed to do some more. In about 9 months I*d like to complete my children*s middle level book, my cozy mystery, and a contemporary novel that I*m co-authoring with a friend. Wish me luck!

Smooches, Lyric

*Life*

Monday, August 21st, 2006 | Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Yesterday was super busy for me, even for a Sunday. My grandmother turned 90 years old and we had a big birthday celebration for her at church, including food and cake. But what turned out really special was the slide show presentation my mother, husband and I created for the occasion of pictures we collected all the way from her parents, children, grand-children to great-great grandchildren (plus a few cousins thrown in). It brought forth lots of happy memories, along with some sad.

My grandfather passed in 1994 so of course we had lots of pictures of them together from the beginning of their relationship to the end (56 years of marriage). Plus, we had other family members on the slide show who*d passed also. But all in all, it was a celebration! My grandmother was so happy to see all her relatives come to the party. And she*s 90. How many people really make it to 90 years old who can still walk, unassisted, who still has all her own teeth, who lives by herself in her own house, and can remember everyone in her family, young and old. It was a great time.

Well, I*m off for the first day of school. Whoohoo! Pray that I won*t kill any kids. LOL

Smooches, Lyric

New Review & Yesterday

Saturday, August 19th, 2006 | Uncategorized | 5 Comments

New Review

Yesterday one of my fellow Cobblestone writers, Karen Erickson, found this review for me from Euro-Reviews. It*s the first review I*ve gotten for One Week Stand, and I must say, I*m very happy about it. I received 4 1/2 Flags!!! Here*s a snippet of what the reviewer had to say.

What I loved about this book was the fact that this scenario could really happen. A person could really see their one night stand again after a brief tryst. The characters are great as well. Jasmine*s has made a career for herself doing what she loves and so has Evan. Plus, they both have the support of their friends and family when it comes to their careers. Jasmine isn*t sure if she believes in love because she saw her parents go through a divorce. But she is willing to give Evan a chance. One Week Stand is a well put together book and a terrific read. Lyric James is definitely an author who*s work I recommend be read immediately.

See the entire review here.

Yesterday

Was a pretty good day. Come join me today over at Novelty Girls to read all about it.

Smooches, Lyric

Today Was A Better Day

Friday, August 18th, 2006 | Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Good meeting today. We have a new principal this year so today she really talked to us about her goals and what direction she wants us to take our kids in. Really great stuff. I wasn*t sure when when they dropped somebody on us from not only out of district…but out of state how I*d like her, but she seems really friendly and personable, and most of all *honest* about her expectations.

Tomorrow I get to actually get some work done in my library straightening up and opening up boxes of brand spankin new books, the real treat. Whoopie! I’m going to have to make myself shelve and not *read* - save that fun for later.

Well, one more day and then school starts on Monday. I*m anxious about my kids going to school this year. I have a second grader and a third grader. My second grader is super smart, is in the honors program, made all As last year, can read her hiney off, all the stuff you want your kid to be - so I really hope she gets a teacher who will challenge her. But, my third grader struggles. She*s been going to tutoring the last three and half months and I hope it helps and translates over to good grades (she got pretty good grades last year, mostly Bs), and a boost to her self-confidence this year. The school is having an open-house tomorrow evening so I*ll get to meet both their teachers.

So, what about you guys? Do you have school-age children (or nieces/nephews) and do you worry that their challenged enough, whether or not their teacher cares about their success?

Lyric