Book Review: Bayou Born

Sophie Sansregret reviewed Bayou Born. **** 4 Stars ****

An excerpt:

It is a romance which includes the real world of near-miss car accidents (and one helluva plane incident), sinks gone awry, cheating, stalking fiancés, new jobs, and one’s first trip to a honky tonk.

Did I say honky tonk? Yeah I did. I live in “the North” in Canada (and I mean NORTH). We don’t have honky tonks. We have bars and “the Legion”. I want to go to a honky tonk now. I think we’re missing some great fun.

Meet you over at Sophie’s place. Let’s talk south.

Review: Bayou Born by Linda Joyce.

Happy Reading,

Linda Joyce
http://www.linda-joyce.com

Five Things I learned at RT Con

I left last Tuesday and drove west to attend RT Con, for those of you who may be unfamiliar, it is the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. This year’s event brought writers and readers to Kansas City, a place where I lived for twelve years before moving to Atlanta. Next year it will be in New Orleans. Yes, I can’t wait!

I paid my registration fee earlier this year with a dose of trepidation. Would I disappear in a sea of noted authors? I figured that at least my friends would come to see me at the book signing. Sure enough, they did.

What’s unique about RT? It’s a reader’s fan conference with educational sessions for writers. Writers are fans, too. I met several of my favorites, like Jude Deveraux and Sharon Sala. Saw many more!

Readers are engaging, so happy to meet authors, including debut authors like me. At one point, I was trotting along in heels trying to make it to an appointment on time. Two women were at the door ahead of me. They held the door open. “You’re the author,” one said. “You’re important. Please go ahead.”

I thanked the lady profusely. I’m sure she thought it was for her door holding. It was, but also because for a moment, I felt recognized and validated.

Here are five things I learned at RT.

1) A smile is free and when you give it away, it comes back to you ten-fold.

2) Romance, no matter the genre, unites readers in a magical way.

3) *Squeeeeee* as often as you like. (I did some forms of this every time I saw someone I know, and upon meeting up with friends I’ve only known on social media.) The sound produces a “feel-good” vibe and it’s contagious for those around you.

4) The business of writing is like a complex dish on a Food Network cooking show where the aspects of flavor profiles meld together. The business of writing is also complex. No one can know everything about writing by reading a single book or attending only one workshop or conference.

5) I am not alone. (Nor are you.) There are readers excited to read books and meet new authors, as well, as visit with their long-time favorites.

What are you reading right now? What author would you love to meet? Me? I’m still stalking Pat Conroy.

Happy Reading!

Linda Joyce
http://www.linda-joyce.com

4 out of 5 Star Review for Bayou Born

Evolved World. Ever been there? It’s THE place for contemporary women.

Sophie Sansregret posted a review of Bayou Born. An excerpt from the review:

It is a romance which includes the real world of near-miss car accidents (and one helluva plane incident), sinks gone awry, cheating, stalking fiancés, new jobs, and one’s first trip to a honky tonk.

Did I say honky tonk? Yeah I did. I live in “the North” in Canada (and I mean NORTH). We don’t have honky tonks. We have bars and “the Legion”. I want to go to a honky tonk now. I think we’re missing some great fun.

I hope you’ll make the click to visit Sophie at Evolved World.

http://evolvedworld.com/books/item/889?layout=item

Then, I hope you’ll enjoy the journey of Branna and James.

Bayou Born (Fleur de Lis Series)

Happy Reading!

Linda Joyce
http://www.linda-joyce.com

The inner sanctum of Linda Joyce – at Harlie’s Books

Harlie has the coolest logo! Makes me wanna hope on a bike and ride through the north Georgia mountains.

I’m visiting with Harlie today at Harlie’s Books. http://www.harliesbooks.com/

Come on over. We’ll have tea (maybe spike with something?) and chat. You’ll get a look at my inner sanctum and a peek at two of the guys in my life: Gentleman Jack and General Beauregard. Can you tell which one is which?

Harlie has a way of making folks feel at home and then gets them to open up about their secrets. She certainly got me talking. I even revealed what my husband calls me.

And after you visit there, if you want to put a voice with my face, you can listen here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2013/04/24/rrw-whats-write-for-me

I hope you enjoy!

AND, if you’re in Kansas City for the RT Convention next week, please look me up and say, “Hey!”

Many thanks for Harlie for inviting me to her place. Our chat was so much fun!

Happy Reading!

Linda Joyce

What’s Write for Me blogtalkradio – TODAY at 3:00 pm Eastern

Today is THE day!

When I was in college, I worked in an office where almost daily I spoke on the phone with a man. His deep, sexy voice had my mind conjuring images of him. Then, I met him.

Seersucker suit
Bowtie

Not the image I had in my head!

At 3:00 pm Eastern, today, I’ll be live on the What’s Write for Me blogtalkradio with my host Dellani Oaks. I am one of three authors featured and the program is 90 minutes of fun!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2013/04/24/rrw-whats-write-for-me

I invite you to join me and learn more of the ‘behind the scenes’ secrets about Bayou Born.

Here’s where you can find the book:

Bayou Born (Fleur de Lis Series)

Please join at 3:00.

Smiles,

Linda Joyce
http://www.linda-joyce.com

Fleur de Lis & What’s Write for Me

I apologize. I’ve been remiss. Not everyone knows what a Fleur de Lis is, and nor should they.

On Sunday, I visited an outlet jewelry store. I went straight for the charm section. I wanted to check prices for Fleur de Lis charms.

The sales woman gave me a brochure and said, “Those are all of our charms. We don’t carry the entire line in the store.”

I looked carefully through the small photos, but the one I sought wasn’t there. “A Fleur de Lis?” I asked. “Do you have them?”

The woman went to her manager and I overheard her ask, “What’s a Fleur de Lis?” He shrugged. I interrupted their chat and drew a rough sketch.

“Oh!” they said in unison, clearly recognizing the symbol. But, they don’t carry them.

Fleur de Lis is a French term. ‘Fleur’ means flower and ‘Lis’ is lily. It is the iconic symbol of Louisiana. Even the New Orleans’ Saints adopted the symbol. A Fleur de Lis is a stylized lily brought to America via the French.

My novel, Bayou Born is the first book of the Fleur de Lis series and it’s the name of the antebellum home belonging to Branna Lind’s family. Fleur de Lis is the connection that links the characters in the series. In book two, Bayou Bound, the story is set at Fleur de Lis in fictional Bayou Petite on the banks of the Pearl River. The river is part of the dividing line between Mississippi and Louisiana.

Bayou Petite is estimated to be about fifty miles northeast from New Orleans, and about sixty miles northwest from Biloxi, Mississippi. The closest city to Bayou Petite is Picayune.

How about that for a geography lesson?

Now you may be asking, what’s all that got to do with What’s Write for Me?

I’ve been invited to discuss Bayou Born on Wednesday (tomorrow), April 24th at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. I will be live on the What’s Write for Me blogtalkradio with my host Dellani Oaks. I am one of three authors featured and the program is 90 minutes of fun!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2013/04/24/rrw-whats-write-for-me

I invite you to join me and learn more of the ‘behind the scenes’ secrets about Bayou Born.

A Taxing Monday. Will a Kiss make it better?

I’m over at RomCom today. The topic is Kiss: Show and FEEL ~ No Tell.

Tell me about your first Kiss.

http://www.romcon.com/_blog/Contemporary/post/Bayou_Born_By_Linda_Joyce/#comments

There’s a giveaway if you leave a message.

Kisses,

Linda Joyce

www.linda-joyce.com

 

ROMCOM