A tale of two graduations

I might not have ever mentioned this, but I have four kids. And by kids I mean I have three adults that I gave birth to and one nearly seven year old beauty who might one day take over the world, and not in a good way. Have I mentioned this before?

So the school year from hell is over, okay not completely, demon child still has a week left, but the older kids are all out. And two of them still live in my house and had nothing to do today. As for me, I slept. This weekend wore me the fuck out.

Two, count them, two graduation ceremonies in one weekend. Oldest daughter, or the one I call over achiever who loves taking on more than she can handle, who is on one hand incredibly intelligent and on the other hand dumb as a box of rocks, completed her undergraduate degree in Archeology in four years. She graduated cum laude from the university honors program, which means she took the harder courses when there were mundane every day 101s out there, she took 101 honors. So that 3.5 she held all four years was a hard fought for 3.5. She had all the bright and colorful scarves, hoods, and tasselly things hanging around her neck. So proud. Along with her my son in law, her husband, graduated from the masters program with a degree in toxicology and sciences that I've never heard of. Both of them will be attending another university in the fall, Aislinn to pursue her masters and Jason, his doctorate.

And on the other end of the weekend was my third child, the one I call middle daughter. Alaina. Her year has been the worst. Her school, well all of my kids went there, but she's a current student and was most affected, was hit by a tornado on Christmas day. The entire second semester of her senior year was spent in a group of portables (trailers) on the grounds of a middle school. Most of her friends were able to take the online option which was only available to students with one class left to complete their diploma, Alaina had two, and had to sit through the year. To say that she's another over achiever is....well, she's super intelligent, but super not interested in anything except Doctor Who. She just didn't care. Her kindergarten teacher wanted to hold her back a year because she was not as mature as the other kids. We've fought long and hard to keep her moving forward. Prove that teacher wrong. Of course, that teacher wasn't wrong, Alaina, for lack of anything better to say is not a mature young woman of almost 18, she's more on the maturity level of a 15 year old. But by god she made it through school and graduated on time without being held back for any reason. So of all my kids just seeing her graduate Monday night brought on the tears and I couldn't stop them. I cried at all the ceremonies, but I'm just so damned happy this kid made it through. I'm so fucking proud of her. She didn't graduate with honors or with a 3.0 but dammit she graduated and for this kid that's what counts. I'm hoping that college is easier for her. She wants to take drama and history classes. In January she had a melt down. She wasn't going to apply to colleges. She didn't want any more school. She hated school and she hated me and...then my son brought home his first project in his glass blowing class and suddenly college had a shiny side that high school didn't have. She found out they have fencing classes and that she doesn't have to go full time if she doesn't want to. That it's not mandatory. Take a couple classes that interest her. Step into it easy. One toe at a time. If they would offer Parkour (is that how you spell that?) she'd be in heaven. She loves jumping off of things. This is the kid that should have been diagnosed with Autism. She fits the spectrum. The kid that has broken my heart more times than I can count. And she did it. She's out of her own personal hell. She survived it. And I'm proud of her.

Both my girls. I'm proud of them. And the two who didn't graduate this year. The lone, long suffering, only boy, and small demon child who will one day rule this world as your evil overlord and you will love her for her beauty. These are my babies. My greatest accomplishment. The legacy that will be me and their father. Walking talking pains in the ass too smart for their own good....god help us all :-)

And I'm just glad it's over and don't have to keep searching for a damn solid white dress and shoes in a size small. I'm going to sleep for a few more days and then get back to doing what I do best. Yell at kids and try to stay sane.

Mercy

Print Books and other things

So, the last week or so was a little bit of a drama over load. Let's just say that if it could go wrong it went wrong. Seriously wrong. If you were quick last week you noticed the announcement that I was releasing a paperback version of Beyond Complicated. And if you noticed a couple days later that the cover changed with no explanation then congratulations, you come here way too often. ;-)

So what's the story? I know you're wondering. So this is the story. Because Beyond Complicated was already out in paperback I had a bit of a problem getting it approved for release. I ended up having to jump through a couple hoops and wait wait wait....while I was waiting I realized that last weekend was the one year anniversary of the original release date with the original publisher and I was still having issues with that book. One year later. So in discussing this with a friend I mentioned that there are reviews where people are upset that they didn't realize the book was a menage. Never mind the pseudo incest issue, it was the menage aspect that upset a few. Soo one thing led to another and I decided that if this book is going into print and that's kind of permanent, then it needs a cover that better depicts all aspects of the book. One that doesn't leave any confusion as to what the book is about. Now I love the second cover, and I hated letting it go, but it's done and I like where my boys have ended up. And this cover, is just...it's the Kel model that does it. While the original model on the original book was close he's a bit bigger than how I pictured Kel. This Kel has the hair, the smaller build, and the attitude. And this Liam looks more like an Irish American to me than the original, he was a bit too Italian looking. And Seth, well both models from both covers are him. He's generic All American blond beef cake. Why no I don't hate Seth. He's the link that holds that whole mess together. But it's Kel for me. This beautiful young man just makes this cover for me. And now two weeks later there is once again a paperback edition of Beyond Complicated. Available on Createspace and Amazon. But I've ordered a whole box full of copies and if you'd like one signed I'd prefer you ordered straight from me. Cost is list price of $18.49 and I'll ship free in the US. International, contact me and we'll work out shipping. I take paypal.

So here's the cover. let me know what you think.

And while I was waiting for all of this mess to come to some form of cohesion I decided that I didn't have enough on plate so naturally I decided to see if maybe Six Ways from Sunday would be big enough to publish in paperback. And it is. The formatting made it a little over two hundred pages which is thick enough for a distinct spine. So instead of waiting for Sidelined to come out later this year and doing an anthology with a completely different cover I went ahead and contracted a wrap cover for Sunday as well. And the formatting and loading of this book went off without a hitch. So now I have not one but two books formatted and ready for print purchase. Again, it's available on Createspace and Amazon but I can send you a signed copy for cover price of 9.99 with free shipping.

Just contact me at celeste.mercy@yahoo.com to place an order.

Hope you like them,

Mercy

Behind Iron Lace update

For everyone who has been waiting for Lace to become available at Amazon, I have good news, it's there now. Best I can tell Amazon kept kicking it back. This happened with Beyond Complicated. They wanted to make sure I had secured my rights back to the book before they accepted it. But it's there as of tonight. Also at All Romance Ebooks and Total E Bound. Did you know that you can buy both Kindle and Nook versions of books straight from the publisher? You can. But I understand that one click thing, I really do.

AMAZON

All Romance ebooks

Total E Bound


Happy reading

Mercy

Wounded Warrior Project

Because I am incredibly touched by the response for Six Ways from Sunday I'd like to take a moment to thank all of who bought my book. Thank you, seriously, I can't say it enough. I really can't.

And because of the overwhelming just everything I'm going to tell you all right now that ten percent of my royalties from Amazon US will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. I try to give something to this and other charities that I think do real good, I've never been able to do much. But ten percent until the end of April of all of my royalties will go straight to this worthy and much needed cause.

Thank you.

Mercy

Find out more about Wounded Warrior Project HERE!

Trademark, licensing, and other such nonsense

The other day, could have been last week, hell it could have been last month for all I know, however long ago it was and it wasn't that long ago or I wouldn't remember it, I read the excerpt of a book I was seriously considering buying. Just the excerpt mind you. Because if I bought it I can't find it in my stash of hoarded books....so it had to be an excerpt....anyway like so many books about rock bands or singers, or musicians of some sort the author started each chapter off with song lyrics. I think there were two chapters in the Amazon preview...anyhooo, the problem is the author used real lyrics, from real songs, played on the radio, as in I knew these lyrics word for word. She did credit the singer/band.

Okay so why am I bringing this up? The author credited the singer with the lyrics, there's nothing wrong with that....right?

Wrong. Oh so so so SOOO fucking wrong.

You can't write the lyrics of your favorite song into your book. Okay you can, but you have to do a shit lot more than just credit the singer. Because the singer might not be the writer see....you have to write up the owner of said song and ask them nicely how much it will cost you to post the lyrics to their song in your book. Oh yeah I said cost. And don't smirk and snort at me.

Just because you hear it on the radio doesn't make it yours to do with what you please. And publishing a book with song lyrics from real songs is a sure fired way to get yourself sued. For a fuck load of money. Money you won't ever make in royalties no matter how good you are.

I backed away from that book really fast. So fast I can't remember the title or the author. But it was there. I promise you. I read it.

If you need to quote lyrics to make your rock/country/operetta/whatthehellever seem deep and profound then writer, write those too, and make them mean something to the characters and the story. Don't plagiarize song lyrics because you think you can get away with it. Who knows, David Bowie might have a secret romance jones and he might download your book and go you bleeding arsehole, somebody get my lawyer on the phone....I don't know if David Bowie talks like that...or if the lyrics were his...seems like they were....maybe Billy Idol...anyway it was some bleached blond Brit.

That is a whole whoop ass can of trouble that you don't want.

And now let's talk about trademarks and pop culture.

So can you use trademarked items in your books....well, yeah. Some of them. But not all of them.

Okay, to preface this, this little detail came up with my first book going on nine years ago with my first publisher who was at the time a hardass about trademarks. They preferred that we didn't use them, but if we had to they sent us this document all about trademarks that were pretty lenient about their stuff, and those who weren't. This might not still be the case, but I tend to think that the publishing world might have changed by leaps and bounds over the past nine years but big business has not.

So hmm, what was I saying...oh yeah, product names in books... yes I use some. I try not to use too many per book. maybe three or four. I don't litter my books with too many brand names or pop culture references. But yes I am guilty of this. Most of us are. Not denying this.

Back then in late 2004 2005 when doing edits for my first book I was forced to delete the brand names for tissues, and plastic bandages...you know the big name that we all think of for those products. Other items the editor told me weren't allowed were the big names for cotton swab ear pokers and a certain gelatin brand, oh and those strips of hooks and fuzz that closes shoes....yeah you can't use that term, even though there is no other way to describe that strip.

So after that I tend to be a little gun shy about brands. I won't even name the teams that I have in my football books. I change Coke to cola or soda or whatever....beer is beer, or beer in a green bottle. Sparingly. Sparingly. If you must use a brand name use them sparingly.

Cars and trucks and Jeeps....sure you can use the car type. I don't believe there are any makers that will go after you. But if it can be called what it is instead of the actual make and model then do that. If it's a truck say it's a truck or a sedan or a hatchback or a speedracer. But if it's a Jeep, well, how do you describe a Jeep in one word without using Jeep? Can't be done. I drive a Jeep Cherokee, which is an SUV....but that box with no top and a roll bar thing that came from the military, nope that's a Jeep.

People, places and tv shows....yes, you can use those. You can mention David Bowie. You can mention Jersey Shore....or whatever but you can't say anything horrible about them. I mean seriously you can't say a certain star is a serial killer, because that's slander and can get you sued.

Tricks of the trade, when in doubt, don't. Or change it enough to make it not the trademark. That's been a trick television and movies have used for decades. Calling a certain brand of soda Koka Kola. It works. It's acceptable. It might seem silly but hey....if it's a company that might sue you and your descendants for decades to come, why risk it right?

About titles and why so many book titles share the titles of songs...you can't copyright a title. Nope. You can't. Because if that were the case then most of the words in the English language would be in copyright infringement.

So there, for whatever that's worth, a little food for thought. If standards have loosened some then color me happily surprised.

Later,

Mercy


editing in: this isn't a strict do and don't, this is just something I've picked up over the years working with editors. This a use your best judgment post. And if standards have changed, I'd love to know. :-)