Category Archives: Flower in the Desert

Bonne Anniversaire, Lavender!

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So I just realized something this past Christmas – while I was busy doing all the crap you do for the holidays – that I’ve been writing romances under the name Lavender Parker for three years! Time flies when you’re having fun (and having crippling creative blocks, but I digress…)

pokemon

Although it’s a bit past the official three year marker, I decided to do a lil wrap-up of the past three years for myself and you, my poor starved readers. So without further ado, here’s some musings on my past writings and future writings as well:

Favorite Book (so far): The Burning One

This is difficult, but I think my favorite overall is still The Burning One. It’s my biggest flop, sales-wise, but I still love the unusual story. Especially near the end of the book, when the story shifts to South America and Cee and Indira really have it out at Indira’s farm in the middle of nowhere. It’s a strange, slightly controversial story but I’m happy I wrote it. To me, it’s one of the most interesting stories that I’ve written and explores the dark and shady areas of psychology and grief, as well as romance.

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Frank Ocean.

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So as fans of Frank Ocean know, his looooooooong awaited album was supposed to drop today.

fooled ya

fooled ya

Surprise surprise, it hasn’t. Now, technically, there’s still several hours left today in which this album could drop, but it’s not looking good. While Frank’s fans cry in a corner, I was going through people’s reactions on Twitter and I had a realization.

I am Frank. Frank is me.

Not really. Frank is (arguably) a music genius and definitely more influential and interesting than I will ever be, but we’re both similar in at least one aspect – endless delays. Pushing forward projects that we might not be ready to let go of creatively because we feel like they should be finished. Enough, already! I find myself thinking when I’m staring at an unfinished scene in a book that should’ve (by my estimation) been finished months ago. I get so frustrated at myself for taking a long time to finish a book that the book ends up taking longer and longer. Months pass beyond my initial self-imposed due date. Any excitement and stimulation I felt about finishing a book starts to drain away.

But I keep pressing on. This writing ‘thing’ isn’t just a casual fling with me. It’s a lifelong love affair that I have to keep nurturing. Once I finish one book, I’ll move on to the next and then the next and the next. I think about my characters and their plot problems everyday. I write everyday, even if it’s only a paragraph. It might not be as fast of a process as I’d like, but I have to remember to keep it as creatively enriching as possible. I have to stop pushing myself to force out fast food and remember to let my ideas marinate. Not forever, but for as long as they need to become tasty morsels for all of you who enjoy my work.

Who ever said the life of a creative was easy? Cuz they lied! But to all my fellow artists out there, it’s worth it. I think 🙂

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I hope Frank feels the same way.

For all of you dying for updates, here’s what my VERY LOOSE schedule looks for the rest of 2016:

  • a novella spin-off of Flower in the Desert that I discussed in an earlier post. It’s tentatively titled Light in the Wilderness and should be out late this month
  • Beautiful Beatdown is very high on the priority list, of course. Hoping to have it out this fall.
  • I hope to have more installments of Dirty Rotten Dixons out before Christmas

Thanks for reading my rants~

L

 

(all images, credit to owners)

Summer Lovin’

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Hello dear readers!

As many of you may know, my book Flower in the Desert was a fun, quick little beach read type of story and I decided I want to make that an on-going thing. So soon, I’m going to release a ‘sequel’ in the loosest sense of the word.

This new novella will focus on two new characters – Tommy and Soledad – who will have their own adventure in the American Southwest. I really enjoyed writing Flower in the Desert in that setting and this new book will follow in the same feel as the original while telling an all new story. Also, Tommy will be a Native American hero. I know a lot of you guys really enjoyed that in Flower and so did I. I don’t think there’s a lot of NAM/BW out there right now, so I’m happy to do what I can on that front 🙂

I’ll let you guys know more deets when I have them, but for now, that’s something to look forward to. Well, I’m looking forward to it, at least!

As far as House of Pain #3, Beautiful Beatdown, I’m planning that for late Summer. I’m really feeling Tiny’s story and House of Pain as a series in general. I’m hope you guys are enjoying it, too.

That’s all for now, hoping you guys are having a great Spring!

ctto

KISS OF LIFE Update

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As you might know, I planned to release Vivica and Niko’s story this month. As you might not know, some shizz happened and my mind took me creatively in another direction… so I’m pushing Kiss of Life back to the end of November.

Pray for Mojo...

Pray for Mojo…

This year has been crazy in terms of writing. Other than a ridiculously long break between Kiss of Fire and Flower in the Desert (four months, ugh. Never again), I’ve been releasing a book a month. It’s a fast pace and sometimes I can keep up and sometimes I can’t. Some books come easily (The Burning One) and other books are a fight to the death (Stone Cold Knockout). I’m hoping that Kiss of Life won’t fight me. I’m so excited to have all the St. James gang together in one book!

I’ll admit it – the pressure is stressing me out and it’s kind of frying my brain. Unfortunately, I did it to myself! Next year, there’s no way I’m going to take that long of a break in between releases. It’s haunted me ever since 😦

So look for Kiss of Life in November! I’ll let you know my release date when I have it.

As for those wanting to know my dark erotica pen name… you can PM me on Facebook and I’ll give it to you 🙂

STONE COLD KNOCKOUT Release Date

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I know I’ve been teasing this release date for a long time… but I finally have an official release date for Stone Cold Knockout! SCK, the first book in my new House of Pain series, has been haunting me all summer, but I will say that I’m glad I got Flower in the Desert out in July instead. Flower was such a big hit and I feel like it helped gain me a lot of new fans. However, now I have a lot of readers chomping at the bit for Stone Cold Knockout! It’s a lot of pressure, but luckily I work well under pressure. Ha!

So, without further ado, the release date for Stone Cold Knockout is SEPTEMBER 16TH!

Mark those calendars, y’all. Writing Mikhail and Gennifer’s story has been a lot of fun, but this summer was not the most productive for me. I’ll be happy to move onto Viv and Niko’s story, Kiss of Life, that’s fo sho. Woot!

In other news, I had a great chat with the ladies from Violette Dubrinksy’s Fantasyland on Saturday and I want to thank everybody who participated. I had a lot of fun!

Happy Labor Day!

Author Chat with Lavender August 30th @7

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On August 30th, 2014, I’ve been invited to do an author chat with the lovely ladies at Violette Dubrinksy’s Fantasyland.

If you’re a current member, you can join the event and ask me all the questions you want. If you’re not a group member, you can join! Easy peasy.

I’m excited to answer your questions!

Also, if you want to ask me questions another way, you can also ask me here on Goodreads.

FLOWER IN THE DESERT is #1!

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Not to keep tooting my own horn, but Flower in the Desert just hit #1 on the Amazon Multicultural & International Romances chart! I didn’t think one of my stand alones could hit the top of the charts, but you guys showed me I was wrong. I don’t know how long it’ll stay at the top, but I love seeing my little novella up there!

Again, thanks to all of you for your support! I truly hope you enjoyed Ruby and Jase’s story.

FLOWER IN THE DESERT is a bestseller!

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Flower in the Desert is now in the top ten of three Amazon lists!

Top Ten – African-American Romance

Top Ten – Multicultural and Interracial Romance

Top Ten – Western Romance

MYemtions

I love it! Thanks to all of YOU who have purchased the book. If you’re so inclined, please take the time to review it on Goodreads, B&N, or Amazon, good, bad, or indifferent. If you already have, YOU’RE THE BEST.

Happy Sunday!