I’m linking today! Hopping from blog to blog. We’ll get to the senseless but fun stuff at the end, but first up is something sensible and informative–agent Nephele Tempest’s Romancing the Blog post on the Perfect Pitch. I’m giving myself a pat on the back because I’ve been saying the same thing. Oh hell, forget the pats, I’ll take chocolate. 
At Karin Tabke’s blog, Officer Friendly guest blogs on how he felt after being newly retired from the police department. It tells you a lot about being a cop–and reading it you’ll see a man who would make a great hero in anyone’s book. Lucky Karin. 
Thanks to last week’s Milady Insanity’s Wednesday Wanderer for this link to a free short story, Black is the Color, by the fabulous Elizabeth Bear. Milady Insanity (aka May) has other links too, something for everyone.
A Dear Author blog by Jane compares Brenda Leigh Johnson in the TV show, The Closer, to Jessica Trent in Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, one of my favorite books. Dear Author is one of my ‘must read’ industry blogs.
There’s a new group blog in town, The Bradford Bunch, the 8 bloggers all represented by agent Laura Bradford. Cynthia Eden is one of the bloggers, a nice addition to her personal blog, so hope you’ll check it out.
Michelle jumped the penis gun on me yesterday with Lynne Simpson’s Chekhov’s Gun blog, but it’s worth mentioning twice. If you haven’t read it, here’s your second chance. This leads me to Lori Devoti’s Romancing the Blog blog on Killing the Trope … or not? She writes about romance cliches, which includes a penis mention in a way you’ve probably never thought of it.
Last penis-related mention is a link to the the best condom ads. Warning! While watching the condom ads be careful not to drink anything. You wouldn’t want to spew liquids on your computer.
I got that link from Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books, who wrote a hilarious blog, What kind of food would a romance author be .. if a romance author was food.
What are your ‘must read’ industry related blogs? If you don’t read a lot of blogs, just tell us, what kind of food would you be? Since I eat so much of it, I’d have to be dark chocolate, and when you bite into it, there would a surprise.
I don’t read industry blogs – MM is the only one needed in my life, and it has brought me many wonderful things.
If I were something one could consume, I’d be a very dry Stoly martini, each sip inducing a mellow buzz; so intoxicating you’d have to have more. (hic)
Kath, a martini sounds sophisticated and grown up.
And I probably should read less blogs and write more pages.
Edie, industry blogs set you on the right path. After all, knowledge is power. Look at me – I haven’t written any new pages in months and don’t have an excuse like expanding my knowledge of the industry.
(That’s why I come here! LOL)
Oh, thanks for the links!
I like Dear Author, too, and Karin’s blog sounds great–guess I’d better go check out Officer Friendly’s blog now!
Thanks for the link, Edie!
The question is, what kind of industry blog? I figure you read Karin Nelson, Jenny Rappaport, Lori Perkins, BookEnds Literary, Caren Johnson, Agent Savant aka Laurie Mclean, Dystel-Goderich, and TKA. That’s really it, discarding the anonymous blogs and the agents who don’t rep romance.
Uh, that should be Kristin Nelson…
May she never see this comment. *headdesk*
But, May you gave her a great first name and spelling, even if it were a petite faux pas.
I’ve been slacking in the reading blog department lately. Largely due to the fact there is so much caustic BS floating around.
As far as industry info on blogs? I have my own very reliable sources, so I don’t feel out of the loop on that end.
But the *real* reason I don’t read many blogs these days? I can’t afford the time suck.
I wish I had more time to blog hop … but I’m afraid that’s one of the pass times that I’ve been neglecting. Great links. I’ll have to make it a point of checking some of them out.
I read “Officer Friendly’s” blog yesterday. Extremely informative, Karin.
“The Bradford Bunch” sounds like a must check out blog and I’ve always enjoyed “Dear Author”.
Karin, I’m almost certain that if Edie hadn’t mentioned you in her post, I would not have said Karin Nelson instead or Kristin Nelson, LOL.
Also, two more, Jennifer Jackson (who doesn’t blog much these days) and Rachel Vater.
Kath, I hope your eyes are better so you can get back to writing. If I wasn’t writing, I wouldn’t read all the blogs either.
Cynthia, I know you’ll like OF’s blog. It’s a good one.
May, I count Dear Author as an industry blog, because they do sprinkle news (gossip?) in with their reviews. I read Kristin Nelson’s every day. The others I catch up on when I get a chance. And I completely understand that it’s Karin’s fault you misspelled KN’s name.
I miss Miss Snark.
Karin, I have about a half dozen I read a few times a week, so it’s not too much of a time suck. Once in a while when I have time, I’ll check out the agent blogs.
Liz, knowing your schedule, I don’t know how you find time to write your own, let alone read others. And it’s amazing to me that with all you do, plus writing your own books, you still have a social life. I’m in awe!
Other than you guys a very short friends list, my blog-hopping days are just about nil. I used to follow blogs by Kristen’s, Rachel’s, the two Jennifers, etc. But they chewed too much into my writing time. Once in a while I’ll bounce in and check things out, but it’s rare.
Marcia, you’re on my list.
Thanks for the mention, Edie. I do still think you and Michelle have a conspiracy to Google bomb me so that my blog comes up in searches for penises, though!
I read Kristin Nelson’s blog every day. Miss Snark used to be a daily stop until she vamoosed. I don’t read too many other agents’ blogs, actually. Not sure why.
I read here every day, of course.
My blog-hopping was severely curtailed for a while earlier this year, but things have settled down enough recently that I’m reading and commenting more.
LOL, Lynne. That would be a funny google search. Yours was a good one.
Thanks for coming by every day. If you were busy earlier this year, I hope it means you were writing, whipping out those pages.
Edie,
Like so many who have already commented, my blog hopping has been severely curtailed. If I have time I’ll randomly click on blogs I’ve enjoyed in the past. But I don’t seem to have as much free time as I used to have.
I used to read all the industry blog–but I haven’t read any now in months.
Of course, I know if anything interesting comes up, you’ll fill me in.
Unfortunately, Edie, some poor Carla Kelly fan (going by the search terms, anyway) has already run across that blog post. Eek.
Hey, Edie! You’re the bomb on these link blogs, girlfriend!
Hmm, well this week I’ve been away from my daily routine and on vacation. I have my fav blogs, all my Magical gal-pals, Lynne, Karin’s place, Cynthia, Tracey, and many more. I’ve been slack lately, but only because I’ve been working on edits. I try and balance everything, but not always easy to do. Since I’m craving apple crisp now, big time, that’s the food I’ll be. 
Theresa, I’ll definitely let you know if I see anything interesting.
Too funny, Lynne. I wonder if Carla Kelly would write it differently now. She probably had to tone it down back then, although I can remember reading some steamy Mary Balogh regencies when she still wrote the shorter and supposedly sweeter ones. There’s a reason she became so popular.
LaDonna, glad you took time off from your family vacation to check in. And I love apple crisp. I used to make it all the time.
I have a list I always visit, but I haven’t had a chance to write as much as I’d like lately, let alone blog hop. When things calm down, after National, I’ll be able to get to my 8 or so regular reads.
As I’ve just eaten one for breakfast, I’ll be a strawberry
.
Michelle, a strawberry sounds delicious.
And after National you’ll be busy working on all your requests and won’t have time to play blog catch ups. 