Lacking in Graciousness and Generosity? So Be It.

Karin Kallmaker 01/02/2018 Business of Books 6 Comments

Nothing New Under the Sun

1/17/2018 Update: It’s hard to believe I wrote this blog going on nine years ago. Not only do I still get requests like the one below from New Acme, it’s gotten worse. Now it’s a continuous stream of offers to “crowd promote” and “create viral visibility” through a mailing-funnel-follower-stream a.k.a. unicorn dust magic a.k.a. trendy sounding method that has zero proof-of-concept. Read More

Cheery Cherry Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Karin Kallmaker 12/14/2017 Chocolate and Inspirations, LIFE + STYLE 1 Comment

I don’t do recipe blogs often, okay, this is only the second one ever. (Here’s the first, Brine for Thanksgiving Turkey.) I usually save a great recipe for use in a book, but oatmeal cookies with cherry and dark chocolate is a winning combination I find irresistible. All the good things in life: Oats, brown sugar and butter, with bright pops of cherry and melting not-quite-bitter dark chocolate. Read More

It’s All Good: Chocolate for Her on a Budget

Karin Kallmaker 12/13/2017 Chocolate and Inspirations 3 Comments

Personal advice on gifting chocolate for that special person in your life – without having to take out a loan. Updated for holidays 2017. Have a personal favorite? Please comment! Read More

Our Happy Hours – How LGBT People Thrive(d) and Survive(d)

Karin Kallmaker 11/03/2017 Anthologies, Sisters of the Pen 1 Comment

Our Happy Hours

This week marks the release of Our Happy Hours: LGBT Voices from the Gay Bars. I’m proud to be a contributor to this anthology. The stories, essays and poetry collected between its covers represent diverse voices raised to celebrate and commemorate what our bars have been and are for our community. Read More

Why #SWRepMatters – Disposable and Invisible Equals Unsafe

Karin Kallmaker 10/24/2017 Craft of Writing 2 Comments

“We have a lot of work to do, and choosing not to do it is no longer acceptable.” #ChuckWendig #SWRepMatters

I’m on the Interstates between Colorado and California, slowly turning the brain from vacation to writing mode. It’s hard, but blogs like Not Being Inclusive is Also a Political Choice from Chuck Wendig help. It has given me both a lens and a mirror, and these are helpful tools to my writer brain. Read More

A Fish Out of Water – The Little Mermaid for Lesbians

Karin Kallmaker 09/30/2017 Book News, Fish Out of Water 0 Comments

The Little Mermaid is one of those fairy tales I never understood. No matter how I interpret the original Hans Christian Andersen story I can only see the usual female who can have no value unless she is loved by a man. The Little Mermaid has no soul, and can’t enter heaven so she can’t be loved by God, the ultimate male.

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Many Splendoured Things (But Not the Head Cold)

Karin Kallmaker 07/13/2017 Events and Appearances, Readers and Libraries 7 Comments

There’s a reason to read to the end. Just sayin’.

Eff You, Head Colds

Head Colds are lying sacks of you-know-what. You get the ‘flu and you know you’re down for a long count. The ‘flu gives others visible physical evidence that you are Not Well. Head Colds, however, build slowly and all the while they whisper in your ear that it’s not so bad. You’re okay. You can go about life – it’s just a sniffle or two. Read More

Your Conference Call is Live!

Karin Kallmaker 06/25/2017 Anthologies, Book News 1 Comment

Coming to a conference near you – that is, if you’re going to be at GCLS2017 in Chicago starting July 5th. Edited by Ann Roberts, Conference Call is a goodie bag of romantic stories set in, before, around, during, on and after conferences. Women liking the company of women – nothing better than that. Read More

So I Had This Idea 2017 – From Idea to Published Work

Karin Kallmaker 05/28/2017 Events and Appearances, Sisters of the Pen 0 Comments

Ask a hundred writers “how’d you finish that book?” and you’ll get 97 different answers and 3 people who’ll wander off muttering. Read More

Infomercials, Fraud and Your Credit Card – Be Cautious!

Karin Kallmaker 05/22/2017 Above Temptation, LIFE + STYLE

This comes under the heading of Public Service Announcement. Today I saw a rash of unrelated Facebook posts that all complained of similar issues dealing with credit card charges where people bought something from infomercials and fell into a pit of credit card hell. Read More

A Yank’s Opinion of Ireland’s Crisps

Karin Kallmaker 05/16/2017 Chocolate and Inspirations 10 Comments

Ithad to be done. I donned the mantle of science and tasted the most common crisps on the Emerald Isle. A great personal sacrifice, I know. This is my evaluation, which nobody asked for. Plus, I’m quite sure that no one in Ireland cares a rusty nail about what a Yank thinks on the subject. Read More

First Look the Second: My Lady Lipstick (Diana)

Karin Kallmaker 05/12/2017 Book News, My Lady Lipstick 3 Comments

You’ve had the chance to meet the puzzling Paris Ellison, and learn how she meets the dazzling, mysterious Diana. Who is the woman behind the red hair, impossibly green eyes and red, red lips? If only Paris knew what you’re about to learn! This is the rough draft, unedited second chapter of my next lesbian romance: My Lady Lipstick. Read More

Now It’s More than a Teapot – Travel Synchronicity

Karin Kallmaker 05/11/2017 Book News, My Lady Lipstick 9 Comments

Itall started when I was fleshing out the character profiles for my next novel, you know, like you do. Paris, the main character of My Lady Lipstick, shares a house with her landladies. I had already decided the landladies, living in Revere Massachusetts (a Boston suburb), would logically have strong ties to Ireland. Read More

Art Doing What Art Does – Fearless Girl Makes Us Reflect, Evolve

Karin Kallmaker 04/18/2017 LIFE + STYLE 6 Comments

There is a heated debate over Fearless Girl, the new statue in Wall Street who currently stands defiantly in the way of Wall Street’s iconic Charging Bull. Because the discussion is about art, intent, history and how that evolves, I offer two opposing blogs from this debate. I find that both have valid points, and both offer perspective. Read More

Same Thing Just Different People – When “Fix It” Means “Kill It”

Karin Kallmaker 04/04/2017 LIFE + STYLE 2 Comments

April is Autism Awareness Month

Cue the fundraising appeals and Facebook frames about raising awareness and “giving blue” and so on. Much like pink ribbon frenzy in October, lots of charities want you to help raise awareness about Autism. The big player in Autism “awareness” is Autism $peaks. Sounds great, putting a voice to help autistic people be better understood. Except that’s not what Autism $peaks is about. Read More

First Look: My Lady Lipstick (Paris)

Karin Kallmaker 03/29/2017 Book News, My Lady Lipstick 17 Comments

A work in progress has reached a milestone when I feel confident enough to share the first chapter. With the forewarning that this is as yet unedited, and completely subject to change, behold! The first chapter of my next lesbian romance: My Lady Lipstick.

P.S. Recognize anyone?
P.P.S. Interested in Chapter Two? Read More

Surviving that First Reading

Karin Kallmaker 03/19/2017 Business of Books, Events and Appearances, Readers and Libraries 2 Comments

I’vehad twenty-mumble years to get used to reading passages of my books aloud. My very first reading at a bookstore in Vacaville, sadly now closed, is still a vivid memory. I had flop sweats from minute one. I plowed onward and at the exact right time in the scene the audience laughed. Read More

Castle Wrath – Not Your Mother’s Jane Austen – Now Available

Karin Kallmaker 02/16/2017 Book News, Castle Wrath, Novellas 0 Comments

Burning curiosity. Wild imagination. Put them together and the breathless discoveries of an ingenue who reads far too many lurid novels come to life. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is all that and more. The dizzy chapters of young Catherine’s exploration of the Abbey are glorious fun to read. Cabinets that lure her with their tantalizing closed doors. The secrets! The treasures! Things that go bump in the night! Read More