Are you dreading Valentine’s Day? For those who don’t yet know what to get their significant other and might be light on ideas, money, or time—first, let’s admit it: Valentine’s Day is one of the toughest holidays to plan. It’s the one day out of the year focusing solely on love, romance, and couples. The ads are flying with hearts, candy, flowers, and cards. We can’t get away from it, so we might as well embrace it as best we can.

Want to do something different? Here’s a few tips for the book lover that might help. I’ve looked through our stacks at Sapphire Books Publishing and picked out some sweet romances, romances with steamy love scenes and romances guaranteed to make your lover blush. Of course, these are only a few of the fantastic romance books with a HEA, happy-ever-after published at Sapphire. So, if your girl isn’t into reading, it’s okay. She might be after this.

Tip No. 1: Romantic curves ahead

Read something romantic to her! What’s romantic? My friend, romance is in the eye of the beholder. Now, I want you to think about this—what is the end result? A great romp between the sheets? Do you want to show her how much you love her? Perhaps, you want to share your love of books with her. You need to know your goal so you can pick out what to read. Will she respond to something erotic, or romantic? Is it leather and whips, or is it sweet romance where lovers explore each other’s bodies in a gentle, loving way? Knowing that first is the biggest hurdle.

So, find a book, ebook or print. Hint: as long as the ebook doesn’t need to be read from a computer, you’re good here. Now, have her close her eyes as you read. If appropriate, ask her to visualize the characters as you and her. This might be a good time to experiment with roles, and maybe switch them up. Whether it’s romance or erotica, pick out your favorite chapter and read it to her. If it’s too long, pick out your favorite scene. There are lots of great books out there with awesome chemistry between characters.
Whether it’s Addison M. Conley’s debut novel, Falling for Love, or Linda North’s “Wind and Dreams,” there are scenes in these books that singe the pages. Maybe your lover has an interest in a particular subject—for example, cooking and food—you can check out Shannon Harris’s new novel, Add Romance and Mix. Find out what her interests are and look for books that combine both of those things. Love and … you get the idea. If kink is her forte, check out American Yakuza I or II by me, Isabella. You’ll find some hot bondage scenes in this series that will not only spark a fire, but she might even ask you to read them again. Oh, and you don’t need a bondage club or lots of extra rope to do a faux-bondage reenactment. Just use your imagination. However, make sure your lover is up for this if you’re acting out a scene. A safe word might make her feel better about what you are about to embark on. Also, don’t judge if she says no to the extreme—it’s what gets both your motors running that makes the night a romantic success. Finding what works for the two of you is the key to a magic Valentine’s night.

Tip No. 2: Practice makes perfect

Practice your reading. Break out the book way before Valentine’s Day and read the passage. Read it over and over again. You want to be able to emphasis words: knowing them by heart so you can look into her eyes when you recite them will help you make a connection. She’ll be watching your lips as you push out every huff, moan, and sigh. So, do yourself a favor and make it look effortless.

Tip No. 3: Caution: Could be addictive

This tip is only for the adventurous among you. Act out your favorite scene from a book. Think about it, the author has already done their research— so now all you have to do is put it to use. Okay, so maybe you don’t have a cutlass or a sword at your disposal, but think of all the fun ways you can recreate settings from your favorite book. Candles, dinner, a bubble bath (just about every book has a hot bath scene), a trip to the adult store, or even those old neckties you have lying around for those kinky moments— these simple touches won’t cost an arm and a leg, and will go a long way to setting the scene and impressing your girl. Improvise. Trust me, taking a chance might end up being the best choice you’ve ever made—outside of choosing your partner.

Tip No. 4: More practice

See tip #2. Practice, practice, practice. She’s going to love it because you went to all this trouble to come up with a romantic night so completely different than anything she’s experienced before. You’ll get your swagger on by being prepared, and knowing that what’s coming next is so outside the norm of your routine that it could change your bedroom—for the better—forever.

Tip No. 5: BYOB

Write your own romance scene. Break out a piece of paper, a good pen, and think about how special she is to you. Often, we writers are inspired by our own wives and lovers when we write a romantic scene. While it may seem harder than it looks, if you’ve read romance books, you might be surprised to find out how easy it really is. Now, if you have a hard time reading a graphic—or mildly graphic—sex scene, then don’t write one. So, what do you do then? Think of the most romantic evening, day, or time you’ve spent together, write it out, and then read it to her. Craft a story around it and give voice to it. The craft of letter writing has fallen by the wayside, but think about how you feel when you receive a card or letter in the mail. The same excitement holds true for a romantic note. So, I want you to think about the payoff here. Not in sexual terms, but in a way that can be special for you both. Writing about how much you love her will make her feel special. Make it more personal than the short little quip you put in one of those cheesy Valentine’s Day cards. The benefits you reap in the short term may uncover the key to many more in the future for your relationship.

Now, find your favorite book and get practicing. I’ve added a couple of links below to books that might help you on your voyage of exploration. Sign-up for our newsletter to keep up with all the new releases coming in 2018. If you need more inspiration check out: Sapphire Books Publishing

Falling for Love by Addison M. Conley – Check out chapter – Chapter 13

Add Romance and Mix by Shannon M. Harris – Check out chapter – Chapter 22
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Wind and Dreams by Linda North – Check out chapter – Chapter 28
American Yakuza I
American Yakuza II by Isabella – Both books are loaded with hot and steamy ideas
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Short Story more your speed? Check out: Last Train by Isabella

Isabella is a bestselling author of over thirteen novels. She writes everything from kink, suspense, fantasy, to romance. Her next novel, “Twisted Deception,” comes out this June.

The post Hot alternative for Valentine’s Day first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Lucy J. Madison journaling on the Appalachian Trail.

By Lucy J. Madison
special to Lesbian.com

The first time I departed for a solo hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail, I over packed. By a lot. Any seasoned hiker will tell you this happens all the time. You start out all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed thinking you need every little gizmo and gadget, and you end up realizing the absolute hell of carrying all that weight for a few extra items you barely use. So, you ditch everything that isn’t critical to your survival.

The backpack weight for my first hike was around thirty-eight pounds for a seven-day trip. That included everything from socks and underwear to food, water, tent, sleeping bag, maps, and more. I recognized pretty quickly that carrying thirty-eight extra pounds up and down mountains on shale, rock, wet moss and muddy trails was both painful and stupid. After that first trip, I spread everything out on the floor and took a long, hard look at each item and even went so far to cut down my toothbrush handle to save a few precious ounces. The next time I went out for a similar hike, my pack weight was down to a very manageable twenty-eight pounds. And each day I consumed food, the pack weight decreased more and more. You might not think ten pounds is a lot, but when you’re lugging that extra ten pounds up and down for ten miles over ten-hours, trust me, you’ll feel differently.

Hiking over 800 miles on the Appalachian Trail taught me a lot about life that I find myself applying to my days both on and off the Trail. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned:

1. Few possessions matter. I don’t need all the stuff I thought I needed to be content. If you really take a look at what you use and wear on a daily basis, you’ll probably find what I did: you don’t need as much as you think you do, and you can be happy with less. I find that I apply this often to my life and tend to buy fewer items. The items I do buy are well thought out and the highest quality I can afford.
2. Soap is important. Soap is an essential that I am not willing to part with. I’ll deal with cold water rinsing. I’ll deal with re-using a bandana and wearing stinky clothes. But I become incredibly cranky and unhappy if I climb into my sleeping bag dirty and sticky. I don’t sleep well, and I fixate on the dirt. Just because I’m in the woods doesn’t mean I need to smell like a bear.
3. Live in the moment. Hiking requires concentration. Most people think the Appalachian Trail is like a broad, level, and a graveled rail trail that’s a piece of cake to walk on. The truth is almost the exact opposite. Because of the unstable ground, steep inclines and declines, it’s imperative to be aware of every single footfall. I find this incredibly comforting, and it forces me to listen to my breathing, the birds, and the breeze through the trees. It’s like a walking meditation, and it allows me to live in the moment. It’s also taught me that time is an incredible gift.
4. Technology is a tool, not a crutch. The first time I went hiking alone, I experienced severe technology withdrawals. I couldn’t Google every little question that popped into my mind. I couldn’t check the weather radar. I wasn’t able to send or receive text messages, see my CNN news alerts. How was I going to survive? After two literally painful days in solitude, I began to use my senses again, and it felt amazing. I’d been guilty of using technology as a crutch to fill the quiet moments and keep myself stimulated. Without it, I re-learned how to use nature and my own mind to encourage myself plenty. That said, having the safety of a satellite communicator in case of emergency is a technology item I always carry, which proves my point: technology is a tool, not a crutch.
5. The grass is green wherever you are. I’ve often said that hiking the Appalachian Trail is similar to scrambling through a rocky, jade tunnel. You usually can’t see more than a few yards ahead, and it sometimes feels a little confining to be inside the tree canopy. So often we fixate on what other people have, and we think that their lives are somehow better than our own. Hiking has taught me that wherever I am is precisely enough. It’s just up to me to look around and find joy. My attitude is directly linked to my outlook.
6. Effort equals outcome. Every single step is up to me and is a direct result of my own initiative. There are no shortcuts. The trail is the trail. No one is going to carry my pack for me. No one will magically appear to give me a lift. No one is going to listen to me whine and bitch. If I choose to stand in one place all day, I will be in the same place come nightfall. I love this about hiking. It’s brutally honest in that way. The more effort I put in, the more miles I cover that day. And the further I walk, the farther I get.
7. Sleep is significant. We all know what it feels like to operate on a few hours of sleep. We’re often crabby and can’t concentrate when we don’t get adequate sleep. People are often fascinated with the idea of sleeping in a tent or a lean-to in the woods, and they automatically assume that it’s more uncomfortable than sleeping in a cushy bed in a dry, temperature controlled house. But I can tell you the best sleep I’ve ever had in my life has been in the woods. Hiking all day is exhausting in an entirely different way than battling rush hour traffic, and a nine-to-five job is. I love my air mattress and sound of rain as it hits the tent. When I wake, I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day.
8. Be comfortable with discomfort. I won’t lie: backpacking is hard. And it hurts. I’m not actually sure which is worse – going up or going down. Bones creak, ankles roll, muscles ache. I’ve been stung by bees, fallen down rock faces, skinned my elbows, banged my head. I’ve had blisters that looked like extra toes and walked in wet clothes for days on end. Pain is temporary. It’s so easy to get wrapped up and consumed by discomfort to the point that we are incapable of doing, or thinking about, anything else. Usually, we quit things because our minds let us down, not because our bodies have. I learned that pushing through discomfort means I will be stronger for it. To feel exhaustion is to be humbled by it. Life isn’t always comfortable. The key is to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.
9. Snickers bars. That is all. Frank Mars invented the Snickers bar in 1930 and named it for his favorite horse. The man was a genius. Eating a Snickers bar after hiking for five hours in the rain is, well, life-altering. I’ll leave it at that.
10. I am enough. Backpacking is an experience. Backpacking alone is entirely different. I’m forced to rely on myself for everything. Navigation, meals, safety, purified water, strength, persistence. I can’t look to anyone else for support. I can only gaze within. Being alone in challenging circumstances in the woods has taught me about self-reliance more than anything else ever has. I am capable. I am stronger than I think. I’m smart. I’m also good for nothing if I’m too hungry. These experiences have shifted my approach to relationships. I no longer seek things out from other people that I may need. Instead, I find what I need within myself, and that has helped improve every relationship in my life because I can enjoy others without requiring or expecting, anything in return.

About Lucy J. Madison: Lucy J. Madison is a novelist, poet, and screenwriter from Connecticut. She’s the author of two contemporary lesbian romance novels In the Direction of the Sun and Personal Foul as well as a collection of poetry entitled I.V. Poems (Sapphire Books). In the Direction of the Sun features a main character who hikes the Appalachian Trail to heal her broken heart.  www.lucyjmadison.com Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @lucyjmadison.

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Lucy Madison playing basketball as a young girl.

By Lucy J. Madison
special to Lesbian.com

My mother always referred to falling in love as “the thunderbolt.” The first time I fell in love, it was magical, sudden, and entirely unexpected, as if I had been hit by a beautifully energetic bolt of lightning. The feelings were so intense I couldn’t sleep, I didn’t want to eat. I couldn’t think of anything except my newfound love and how we could be together forever.

I was eight years old, and the object of my attention was a leather basketball, twenty-nine inches in circumference, twenty ounces in weight with seams about one-quarter inch apart. I’ll never forget the first time I held that brown leather Spalding ball in my small hands, felt the dimples of the leather, saw how my hand naturally curved to cup it. I stood in rapt fascination in the game aisle of a local store lost in my own thoughts. I barely noticed the snot-nosed boy and his father sniggering at me, a girl with blonde pigtails, cut off shorts, a Joan Jett tee shirt and scabby knees in the sports aisle of the local department store in the summer of 1980.

Over the next thirteen years of my life, I focused most of my energy on learning the game played between the lines of the ninety-six-foot rectangular shining hardwood court. My life revolved around practice, repetitions, studying the greats like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordon on television. I ate, drank, slept, and existed entirely for the sport I loved. The sound of a ball hitting the hardwood immediately calmed my nerves. The court was my home, and I was my most authentic self on the court. Shot after shot, drill after drill, year after year, my focus was laser sharp, and my goal was elusive but straightforward: to be the best player on the court every single night.

Lucy Madison playing high school basketball.

While I wasn’t always the best player on the court, I was good enough to become a standout high school player in a Connecticut private school program and ultimately go on to play college basketball. Through four years of college at a small liberal arts Division III school in New York, my eyes were opened to life outside of basketball. I fell in love with writing, ultimate Frisbee, late nights out with best friends, the college newspaper, classes in philosophy and literature, and all the experiences that life in college brings.

During my junior and senior seasons, basketball started to feel like a chore, a time commitment I began to resent. It became a job, a responsibility and something I no longer did for the joy of it. Although I had the opportunity to play professionally in Israel upon graduation, I couldn’t see a career in the game, although I tried to. I tried to imagine how many good years I had left in my body. I tried to imagine myself as a coach or a commentator, or to envision how I could make a good living inside the sport. But try as I might, I could not see the way forward. So, the day I graduated from college was the same day I walked away from the game I loved.

To say I wasn’t prepared for the first year after graduation, away from basketball, is a severe understatement. For the first time in my life since that day when I was eight years old, I did not have basketball to come home to. No practices, no teammates, no National Anthem, no butterflies before the game began, no pre-game rituals or studying film, no competition, no outlet for all my physical energy. All of it was gone in the blink of an eye, disappeared by own doing. I had no one to blame for this but myself.

Looking back, I realize now that I spent the first year after college in an intense mourning period. We often only think of loss regarding the death of a loved one, but other types of losses are equally challenging. My entire identity had been centered on basketball. Without it, I had to learn who I was all over again and proved harder than I could ever imagine.

Over the years, I dipped my toe back into the game. I played in some leagues, coached high school and pee wee girls, at one point had season tickets to the New York Liberty. To an extent, all of it felt false to me. Because I had only known how to give 110 percent to the game, anything less felt inauthentic and, to a certain degree, a colossal waste of time.

Now, as I sit and watch the WNBA playoffs in their twenty-first season and my forty-fourth year of life, I realize that I’ve moved into a different phase – appreciation. I’ve lived, and watched, the women’s game change and improve by leaps and bounds over the years. I often attend WNBA games at the Connecticut Sun Arena or UCONN games at Gampel Pavilion and still get a little misty-eyed when I watch an exceptional performance or play. The National Anthem always gives me goosebumps, and sometimes, I close my eyes to recall the days when I stood courtside too, sneakers double knotted, a wad of bubble gum in my left cheek, ready to do battle. I’ve learned to appreciate the Diana Taurasi’s and Sue Birds of the league much more entirely because of their commitment to the game, to be the best every single night.

Some people are born with a natural talent and physical attributes for the sport, but there are very few who also possess the inner desire to be the best. While I’ll never be an Olympic basketball player, basketball has taught me so many lessons that I now apply to my life as a professional writer such as:
• Practice your skills.
• Never stop trying.
• Hate losing (or rejection) so much that you’ll do whatever it takes to avoid it.
• Writing, like basketball, is a discipline that can be learned and improved.

It’s taken me years to fully understand how much my life changed that day way back in 1980 when I first held a basketball. I wouldn’t be the person, the woman, I am today without the game of basketball. Love changes over time, but when it’s true, it lasts forever.

About Lucy J. Madison: Lucy J. Madison is a novelist, poet, and screenwriter from Connecticut. She’s the author of two contemporary lesbian romance novels In the Direction of the Sun and Personal Foul as well as a collection of poetry entitled I.V. Poems (Sapphire Books). Personal Foul features a love story between a WNBA player and an official. It was recently named one of the top 10 Lesbian Sports Romance Books by the Lesbian Review. www.lucyjmadison.com Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @lucyjmadison.

The post A love that lasts forever first appeared on Lesbian.com.

In it’s first day, award-winning Sapphire Books author Isabella’s “Forever Faithful” received six five-star reviews. The second novel in a new romance series, “Forever Faithful,” follows on the success of “Always Faithful,” both novels follow the love story of Nic and Claire set against the backdrop of Nic’s demanding military career.

Pick up your copy at Amazon.com.

Here’s the summary:

Life is what happens when you make other plans, and Nic and Claire have just found out that life and the Marine Corps have other plans for their lives.

Nic Caldwell has served her country, met the woman of her dreams, and has reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She’s studying at one of the nation’s most prestigious military universities, setting her sights on a research position after graduation. Things couldn’t be better and then it happens; a sudden assignment to Afghanistan derails any thoughts of marriage and wedded bliss. Another combat zone, another tragedy, and Nic suddenly finds herself fighting for her life.

Claire Monroe loves her new life in Monterey. She’s finally where she wants to be, getting ready to start her master’s program at the local university, watching her daughter, Grace, growing up, and getting ready to marry the love of her life. What could possibly derail a perfect life? The Marine Corps.

Will Nic survive Afghanistan? Can Claire step up and be the strength in their relationship? Or will this overseas assignment and a catastrophic accident divide their once happy home?

The post ‘Forever Faithful’ by Isabella debuts to rave reviews first appeared on Lesbian.com.

When Christine Svendsen’s first book was turned away by publishers, she launched her own publishing company.

Now, four years later, she’s got a stable full of award-winning lesbian authors and her own award-winning books published under the pseudonym Isabella via Sapphire Books.

“Believe in yourself. Rejection isn’t the end of a story, it can be a beginning,” Svendsen said. “Looking back, I didn’t think in terms of what if this doesn’t work? I only thought of the possibilities.”

Sapphire Books is offering anyone who likes their Facebook page a free book. After you like the page, email to Svendsen.

Svendsen took time out of her busy schedule to share the secrets to Sapphire’s success with us.

What do you do and why?

I’m the publisher and an author at Sapphire Books Publishing. I started Sapphire Books Publishing in 2010. We publish lesbian novels, written by lesbians. Our authors include Linda Kay Silva, Kim Pritekel, Beth Burnett, Karelia Stetz-Waters, Linda North, Lynette Mae, Riley Adair Garret, Lorraine Howell, Rhavensfyre and Stephanie Kusiak.

What did you do before you started your company?

I do the same thing now as I did when I started Sapphire Books, I work as a community college instructor in California. My current job affords me the luxury of working remote for most of my work load. The flexibility allows me to set my own hours, which really helps with the publishing company.

How did you come up with the idea for your company?

I had submitted my first manuscript to two publishers and was rejected by both. One said they weren’t looking for my type of story at that time. The other company wanted me to completely rewrite the story and resubmit. I thought long and hard about rewriting it. After talking to my wife, I decided that I’d try and publish it myself.

I researched self-publishing, looked at all the options and decided to start a publishing company. I’d always thought about growing the company at some point, but that was in the future. When Linda Kay Silva, a popular lesbian author, left her publishing company, I sent her an email. We met and discussed writing, publishing and motorcycles. It clicked for us and the company took off from that point. We’ve signed some really awesome writers. I have to say that I’m thrilled to work with some really talented ladies.

What do you find most rewarding about owning your own business?

I get to work with some amazingly talented women. They write books that blow my socks off.

Where do you see yourself / your company in five years? Hopes / dreams / plans?

Sapphire Books isn’t going anywhere. We’re in it for the long haul and plan on adding to our already growing list of fantastic authors.

What resources would you recommend to someone who is contemplating starting her own business?

Research the industry. Do your homework and ask questions. Learn everything you can and even then there will still be things that surprise you, so plan to be surprised. Roll with it, flexibility is important in today’s business world.

Social media is starting to play a huge role in business and it’s important that you treat social media as a tool in the business tool box.

Go to conferences, meet people in your industry and make sure to check out the competition. See what they are doing right and notice what isn’t working. IBPA and SPAN are great resources, if you really want to get into publishing.

Finally, be persistent.

What’s the process for an aspiring author to get published with Sapphire?

First, write your book. Polish the manuscript. Send the best work possible, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Sapphire isn’t the traditional lesbian publisher. We don’t have a formula. I like to think we publish great books that a lot of other publishers wouldn’t touch. For example, we’ve published books that were over 500 pages, most publishers in lesbian fiction won’t publish long manuscripts. We’ve published some truly scary books about serial killers and fetish killers. We also have published erotic books, Sci Fi, paranormal as well as romance. We just signed an author who writes the Happy Lesbian Housewife blogs and she has been referred to as “the love child of Erma Bombeck and Chelsea Handler,” so we are pretty open as long as they have strong lesbian characters, written by lesbians. Writers can contact me at publisher@sapphirebooks.com.

What would you say is the single most important key to sustaining a business long term?

Have a plan and be flexible. I can’t say that enough. The industry is constantly changing and we need to change with it.

What obstacles did you face in establishing your company and how did you overcome them?

I think the biggest obstacle I faced was being taken serious, both as a writer and as a publisher. I won an award for my first book and that started the ball rolling. When we signed Linda Kay Silva, a lot of people started to take notice.

After that, we signed some pretty awesome talent and our authors started winning awards, which moved Sapphire Books up on the list to be noticed.

Follow Sapphire Books on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Enterprising women: Sapphire Books, Christine Svendsen first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Sapphire Books Publishing is thrilled to announce that the 2nd Annual Left Coast Lesbian Conference will be held at the lovely Casitas Laquita resort, Oct. 8-12, 2014. The Desert Palm Press co-hosts the event, which brings authors and readers together to discuss writing in the genre.

In the mornings, authors who write mysteries, romance, paranormal, lesbian comics and historical fiction will discuss the craft of writing, moving from the page to the stage, from page to panel and the all too critical hook. The afternoon will be filled with author readings from some of the most prolific writers in lesbian fiction today.

The LCLC is proud to announce the keynote speaker for the event is award-winning author, Ellen Hart. Ellen Hart is the author of 28 crime novels in two different series. She is a five-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Mystery, a three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award for Best Popular Fiction, a three-time winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award in several categories, a recipient of the Alice B Medal, and was made an official GLBT Literary Saint at the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans in 2005. In 2010, Ellen received the GCLS Trailblazer Award for lifetime achievement in the field of lesbian literature. Ellen Hart will be speaking at the Palm Springs Public Library Saturday at 4pm.

Other authors attending the event include Barrett, Baxter Claire Trautman, DeeJae Cox (radio host), Beth Burnett, Catherine Wilson, Michele Weis-California, Isabella, JD Glass, Womens Theater Project,
Jett Abbott, Jill Johnson-Young, Kris Dressen, Linda Kay Silva, Linda North and Stephanie Kusiak.

Learn more at Sapphire Books.

The post Left Coast Lesbian Con draws lovers of lesbian lit first appeared on Lesbian.com.

After bouncing from job to job, Burnett began writing novels. She’s published “Man Enough,” “Andy’s Song” and “The Love Sucks Club” so far. She’s currently working on a non-fiction book about a life experiment she’s conducting that could land her in an Alaskan jail or on the New York Times Bestseller list.

How did you get started writing?

I used to write short stories on bar napkins for drunk tourists. Eventually, I realized I had a novel inside of me … or two or three or fifty.

Prior to being an author (or concurrent with it), what did you do for a living? How has it informed your work?

I liked to tell people I was a self-employed astronaut. In truth, I’m a terrible employee because I don’t like being on someone else’s schedule. Consequently, I held a lot of jobs, from doing corporate payroll to beach bartender to personal assistant to directory assistance. Currently, I am writing and giving workshops on inner peace for women.

Having a myriad of (very) odd jobs has given rise to some amazing scenes in my writing. You can’t write about it unless you live it and I like having a pool of jobs that I can use for my characters.

What writers inspire you and why?

My two favorite authors are Neil Gaiman and Katherine Forrest. Neil Gaiman is a brilliant master of manipulating his characters into situations that in any other hands would be unbelievable. In his hands, the strange becomes normal and the bizarre seems perfectly natural.

Katherine Forrest is simply an icon of lesbian literature. She was a pioneer in giving lesbian women a voice, something that even today, we have to struggle to use.

What are your favorite books and why?

I love so many books. I love the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien. Linda Kay Silva’s “Man Eaters” series, because it has tough lesbians and, in a setting of zombies, an all too realistic backdrop of people behaving badly. Anything by Kurt Vonnegut because of his sardonic wit and sense of the absurd.

If you could have a dinner party with anyone, living or dead, who would you invite?

Kurt Vonnegut, Issac Asimov, Maya Angelou, Margaret Sanger and Vincent Van Gogh. Then, I would just serve drinks and shut up. And I’d hire a caterer.

What’s your writing process like?

I have to have a plan and sit down to do it. If I let myself get distracted, I can spend hours doing other things when I should be writing. Yet, when I get into the zone, I am completely lost in my work to the point that my roommate can say something to me and elicit a response without me being aware that we had every spoken. I just try to make sure I sit down every single day and write something. Every day involves some kind of writing, some kind of marketing and some kind of school work. If I can do that, I’ve had a productive day. The only necessity to my work is coffee. If I am in a writing blitz, I have to have a cup of coffee on my desk, even in the middle of the night.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a romantic comedy about a group of lesbian women and how their lives intertwine and affect each other though they are all so incredibly different from each other.

Concurrently, I’m working on a non-fiction book about an experiment I am running with my life right now. It’s an odd experiment that could make my life even more incredible or have me end up in a small-town jail in remotest Alaska. Who knows? I figure my loving publisher, Sapphire Books will bail me out if needed. I’ll let you know how it works out.

How has your writing evolved over time?

I feel more confident with every book. I’m more disciplined. I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head and sometimes, it can get overwhelming. I’ll be halfway into a book and suddenly another book is clamoring for attention. Recently, I’ve learned to just jot down some notes and maybe an outline, but stick with the current work in progress. Otherwise, I’ll end up with a bunch of half-finished novels.

You can find Burnett’s work at Sapphire Books or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

The post Author Beth Burnett draws on rich life experience first appeared on Lesbian.com.