Kristin Miller

Romancing the Valentine Giveaway!

2012-02-06T08:11:00.000-08:00

Romancing the Valentine Giveaway Hop is being hosted by Reading Romances!

Valentine's day is right around the corner! (How'd that happen? Wasn't it just Christmas?!?) Husband and I aren't big Valentine's Day spenders, but this year we bought tickets to a Peter Cetera concert near the romantic holiday so we're using that as our heart-fest date. Although hearing one of the greatest voices of our generation in concert will be an AWESOME way to spend Valentine's Day, I can think of another: getting lost in the pages of a romance novel. In honor of that idea and our lovely cherub filled holiday, I'm taking part in the Romancing the Valentine Giveaway!

What you can win here:
U.S. ONLY
Your choice of one (1) of the following:
print or kindle copy of InterVamption

ReVamp's hottest Vampire Rehabilitation Specialist has been burning moonlight looking for a cure to what's ailing the blood supply in Crimson Bay, California. The mysterious infection is causing vampires to hit the streets and act like...well...a bit like Dracula when he's cranked out on venti mocha vamppuccinos. Neither her arranged marriage on the blood-smudged horizon, nor the threat of shutting down her clinic can tear DYLAN'S eyes off the prize--proving once and for all vampires aren't blood-lusting primal creatures. The last thing she expects while prepping a newborn for coven induction is to be spun for a wet and wild loop by the muscle bound vampire she finds beaten to a pulp and sprawled out on her bed.

Little does she know, the shape-shifting goon squads dead set on oppressing vampiric rights have a dark trick up their flickering sleeves. They’ve sent a sheep to sleep amongst the wolves…

Shape-shifter by birth, assassin by rank, and vampire by damned unfortunate circumstance, SLADE just wants to penetrate the coven of leeches, complete his risky assignment, and high-tail it out of there. Despite himself and shape-shifting law, he’s fired up; ready to take Dylan six ways from Sunday….with a Blood-Blasted cherry on top. When Slade’s next target is unveiled to be Dylan he must make a choice: complete his task and assassinate the love of his life, putting an end to the vampire uprising or die a traitorous death at the hands of his shape-shifting brothers and kick-start all-out war.

OR a print or kindle copy of Vamped Up

On the run from hungry vampires with his lover under arm, madly possessive RUAN has one thing in mind: keep the dirty fangs of his khissmates off the neck of his one true love—a human with mouth watering blood. The fact that from the moment he invited EVE into his bed, he’s been having eerily real nightmares about violently screwing her, then killing her? Yeah, that part wasn’t fitting too well into his carefully concocted plan to keep her safe.

Eve, a tantalizing biblical studies teacher at Crimson Bay University, has no idea her life is in jeopardy. Ironically, living with the knowledge of paranormal beings and sharing a bed with one of the most cryptic vampires on the planet was not what had her protectively grasping her throat at night. It was the mention of her name in the ancient scrolls; the scrolls written by vampire elders, revealing what’s in store for the end of times…and her spilled blood.

Savage, a villainous vampire-therian hybrid, has a simple plan: kill Eve, drain her dry, thus binding the death shades (dark spirits of vampire elders) to him.

Determined not to let the evil sucker execute his plan by harnessing the dark energy of the elders and killing everyone they’ve come to love, Ruan and Eve set upon a course to stop the future dictated in the scrolls from coming true. It doesn’t take long however, before Ruan realizes that breaking Eve’s heart and erasing himself from her life might be the only way to save her. If only the pull to her wasn't so strong..

Number of winners:

I'll randomly choose one (1) commenter via random.org on midnight, February 13th.

Open to:
U.S. entries only

How to enter:
All you've got to do is comment this post and tell me what your plans are for Valentine's Day!

Hop and enter the other giveaways!

Breaking through Writer's Block

2012-01-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

I haven't met a writer yet who can say they've written novel after novel unscathed. That they haven't fought bouts of writer's block. It hits everyone, though at different times and different lengths. I've heard writers say they hit blocks before they start, when they're trying to draw the lines of their story together. But once they get rolling, the book writes itself. I've heard writers say they smooth sail through the beginning and freeze up mid-way, when antes are upped and the conflict is at its peak.

I usually hit the wall around 2/3 of the way through the book. It's no secret I write plot-driven books vs. character-driven ones. Getting deep into character's heads and emotions has always been where I have to work harder than I imagine most others do. (Though I don't know the struggles of others, I can't say for certain.) I can weave plots that are complex and suspenseful, with twists and turns coming out my ears.

BUT (and that's a mighty big BUT--no pun intended), once I have all that conflict down, all that thick and interesting plot, my story tends to look like a giant, jumbled mess.

I get 2/3 through the book (about 250 pages), and stop. I hit the wall. How on earth do I sort those threads? How do they straighten and fit together seamlessly? My first response is to come up with something really complex to solve the problem. (Sounds counter-intuitive, doesn't it?) I guess in my mind, the only way to get myself out of a hole is to keep digging!

It's taken 3 years, 4 novels and 2 novellas for me to realize that solutions can be simple. But how do you get there?

How do you turn that mess of yarn into something beautiful?

There's a few things that work for me...maybe they'll work for someone else out there struggling with the same thing.

1-I switch up radio stations. I was listening to a pre-made playlist on mixpod to write my novellas, but it didn't seem to work for the world of Crimson Bay.
(Below is the exact playlist I used.)

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

To get back into the Vampires of Crimson Bay mode, I started listening to a Snow Patrol station on Pandora. I'm going to stay there for awhile because I'm finding that every now and then I get in the right zone and the music and writing both flow.

2-Switch up your positions. If you normally sit at your desk and write (that's me!), and that's not working, move to the couch. If that doesn't work, try standing. Or kneeling. Or walking. (Have you seen those nifty tread desks?)

*That's not me, by the way.

Last night I got so frustrated working through a scene that I pushed out the chair, moved it out of the way, and kneeled at my desk. It seemed to work just fine, though my knees have rug burn. (Oh, keep the jokes at bay. I know that one was too easy.)

3-Find something to keep your logical brain busy so your creative brain is free to, you know, create! I use this:

It's one of those little toy ball puzzle thingies that come in Happy Meals. I was mindlessly toying with it one day while writing (Tank had left it on my desk), and found that when I was trying to figure out how to open and close it one-handed, my creativity really flourished.

4-Go outside.

5-Exercise

6-Try hashtagging #1k1hr on twitter. (There's all kinds of people who are ready to push through 1k words.) If you've got someone there with you, pushing you through, you may break through the wall without realizing it. Or write 1k worth of total crap, but hey, you're writing.

There's tons of ways to break through writer's block, and I'm sure every writer you talk to will give you their tips if you ask them. These are mine...and now yours.

Year in Review

2011-12-31T19:54:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's the last day of 2011 already. A whole lot has happened this year, both good and bad, but overall I was very blessed.

On the family front, we bought a cabin at our favorite mountain spot, took trips to Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, L.A. and Humboldt. (Not including the trip I took by myself to RWA New York City!!) We picnicked, spa'd, soccered, laughed, smore'd, bbq'd and all around cherished our time together.

On the writing front, I published three books this year, got some really great reviews, sold three other books that are coming out in 2012, met some of my writing idols, killed a chunk of my TBR pile, and learned some tools to help me with character development that I hadn't thought about before.

And, if you don't mind, I'd like to keep my NYE tradition alive...I make really freaking lofty goals every year, strive my best to do a tad over normal, then see where I land.

Here's my list of goals for 2011 that I wrote at the end of 2010:

*Sell a book in The Crimson Bay Series to one of the major publishing houses in NYC.
*Find an editor who believes in my work like I do.
*Write every day
*Spend more time enjoying the little things rather than worrying about them.
*Finish another two books: the third in The Crimson Bay Seres and another (maybe a paranormal YA??? I'm tossing ideas around...)
*Final in the Daphne duMaurier Contest
*Final in the Golden Heart Contest

Now...for those of you in the writing biz, you know how hard some of those goals are to reach in a single year. (A final in both Daphne and GH?!? What was I thinking?)

But overall I think I did all right. I didn't only find one editor who believes in my work, but two. I'm working with the wonderfully talented Esi Sogah over at HarperCollins and AnnLeslie Tuttle at Harlequin. What stuns me about these women is that they're not only knock-your-socks-off smart, but very kind. They not only care about the writing, but about the writers, as well. I'm a lucky gal.

I didn't write every day, but darn close...minus the two month hiatus when I had men working in my kitchen during the remodel. My writing time was sucked up into the Home Depot vortex. Other than that, I think I was on the money.

I have been enjoying the little things. Instead of worrying how I'm going to afford gas back and forth to San Francisco Friday and Saturday for SFARWA meetings, I just go to the dinners Friday night, have a great freaking time, turn around, drive home, drive back in the morning, spend time with really great friends, and figure the friendships made are worth more than the money spent. That's just one example, but a good one, I think.

I didn't finish the third book in the Vampires of Crimson Bay series, but it's 1/4 done and IT SOLD to Avon Impulse, the publisher who bought the first two. I also wrote two paranormal novellas and sold them to Harlequin Cravings.

(And, in case you were curious, I don't have any plans to write a paranormal YA. Not anymore. I've got two other paranormal series stirring up in my brain after the Vampires of Crimson Bay series. I'm going to focus on those. My agent will KILL ME if I come at her with a YA at this point. ;))

Lastly, I didn't final in either contest. HOWEVER, I got really good scores (or at least really good for me--best yet),and one of my critique partners finaled. Seeing her all dolled up, heading to the Death by Chocolate Award Ceremony at RWA in NYC...I just couldn't be happier for her. For now, I'm living vicariously through her. :)

Okay...Really Freaking Lofty Writing Goals for 2012...that's the official title. Officially.

*Final in the Daphne (I want this sucker so bad...)
*Write and sell a third (and maybe a forth) novella in the Isle of Feralon series for HQN (Cravings)
*Write every day
*Write and sell another dark, gritty, sexy paranormal full-length novel to a major publishing house for a traditional print run. I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to work with HarperCollins again...time will tell.

Okay...I think that's it. Of course I could say I want a brilliantly starred RT review or to hit the NYT and USA Today Bestsellers lists, but I won't put those goals here. Not yet. I haven't made it to the point where I can start looking that far ahead without feeling like it's unreachable. Know what I mean? It's like waking up every morning saying you're going to hit the lottery. Sure, it's a goal. It could happen. But that doesn't belong on any Really Freaking Lofty Goal Lists either.

And what would a year in review be without The Year in Review from JibJab? Enjoy!

Hope you have a wonderful New Year! Bring it, 2012! I'm ready!

Ah, yes. Inspiration via Snow Patrol

2011-12-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

I've taken a bit of a break from writing Forbidden by Fate, novella #2 for the Harlequin Cravings line.

And, to be honest, I've been stuck. Every time I open it up, I write 500 words or so, then my inspiration dries up.

But yesterday I found "Run" by Snow Patrol. Though I didn't really pay attention to the lyrics, I wrote 1k yesterday and I'm aiming for 2k today. I just took a break between writing bursts and looked up the lyrics. No wonder it's so inspirational for this WIP. It pretty much sums up the theme.

Back to work I go!

Vamped Up Price ERROR

2011-12-13T19:49:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to clarify something...

VAMPED UP is NOT $262, as Amazon states. (You can check out the massive oversight--and overprice--HERE.) We're working out the glitches and hope we haven't scared you off.

The e-version released December 6th for $3.99. You can get your e-copy from your favorite e-retailer. Here's a few:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
Books a Million

However, if you are interested in purchasing a PRINT COPY (hey, thanks so much!), it releases December 27th for $4.88. NOT the $262 Amazon is claiming. You CAN preorder VAMPED UP for the correct price here:

Barnes&Noble

I can't apologize enough for the inconvenience. And if you are one of the people who've emailed me wondering why the price is so high, it's not. I'm sorry. As soon as it's fixed I'll let you know.

How'd I celebrate the release of Vamped Up, you ask?

2011-12-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

There were bright, happy faces...(A rare pic of Husband--he's the hunky, hunky, cheesy one on the right.)

There was cinnamon coffee cake...LOTS OF IT...

There was Settler's...(I was red and ended up winning only 1 game of 3 for the night.)

And there was Guiness...

I'd say I had a damn good release day.

(Side note: I took the wild goose that we found in our backyard to our local Wildlife Rescue Center. Turns out it wasn't a goose at all. It was an American Coot.
It'd somehow flown in from the river, hurt it's wing and couldn't get back. The Wildlife Rescue is going to fix him right up and set him free. Good deed done for the day!!)

Vamped Up release day!

2011-12-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

Today was a big day.

VAMPED UP released!

I celebrated by going to a local bookclub (Hello Monday Mamas!) and eavesdropping while they ooh'd and aah'd over someone else's book. (The author was a friend of mine and her work is really great, so I didn't mind sharing the spotlight. :wink:) I drank coffee, laughed, talked writing and the future of my series. It was a perfect morning.

This afternoon I cooked. Cleaned. Did laundry. Oh, and chased a poor, little helpless goose who'd somehow lost his way. He showed up on our back porch. Our yapping terrier nearly got to him, but I noticed the little guy in time. We corralled him in some brush and put him in a cat-cage. He was scared and no doubt, hungry, but at least he's out of the cold for the night with some chicken feed and water. I'm going to call the local wildlife rescue service in the morning and see what they can do for him.

What are my plans tonight, you ask? I'm going to scratch up some homemade coffee cake (after I borrow some flour from my neighbor), make a rich cup of coffee, spike it with some Bailey's, and play Settler's of Catan with Husband and a friend. Check back later and I just might post a picture!

Can't wait.

Oh! And Goddess Fish is hosting a virtual blog tour for the release. If you comment on any of the blog posts, you're entered into a giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon giftcard. Stop by and say Hi! If you've got questions for me to answer or just want to show some love, this is the time to do it. I'll be popping in and out of the blogs all week, looking for questions and comments.

Here's the schedule:
December 5: My bookish ways
December 6: Reader Girls
December 7: Among the Muses
December 8: AsianCocoa's Secret Garden
December 9: Parajunkee's View
December 9: Immortality and Beyond

Kindle Giveaway!

2011-12-04T09:40:00.001-08:00

Ready for a huge giveaway this holiday season?

The Dark Temptresses and I are giving away a Kindle and a whole stash of e-books to one lucky commenter. All you've got to do is click on the link below to be taken to the Darker Temptations blog, and comment on any post posted between now and Dec. 19th. The winner will randomly be chosen then!

Super easy. (Wish I could enter!!)

www.darkertemptations.wordpress.com

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

2011-12-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

Today has turned out to be a freaking awesome day. Good. One of the best in a long while. First, as I was shopping in Target this morning, I got a call from my agent. She had great news to share...that I'm not going to announce just yet.

Then I came home and had a package from HarperCollins waiting for me. (Those are always THE BEST. Like Christmas. And your birthday. Times ten.) Take a look at what was inside:

Early copies of VAMPED UP! They're GORGEOUS. Breathtaking. Prettier than I thought they'd be. The e-copies (found at pretty much any e-retailer) release Dec 6th. (THAT'S NEXT TUESDAY!!) The print version releases Dec 27.

Now you ready for The Bad?

No, I didn't find a new and creative way to point UP. (Hardy-freakin'-har!) I sliced my finger open while cutting onions yesterday afternoon. It was a new knife. A slippery onion peel. I dug into my flesh, bled a ton, and even cut through my nail bed. It was nasty. I rushed to the doctor to see if I needed stitches, if they could re-attach the flap that'd come off. No stitches, but they glued the skin and nail back in place and strapped down some surgical tape. Now I have to wear the funky hand bandage from hell for a week.

Want to see The Ugly picture of the cut?

Told you it was ugly. That whole sliced part is REMOVABLE. :shudder:

In the words of Mother Teresa

2011-11-29T15:20:00.000-08:00

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

--I had one of those "down and out" days yesterday, and it wasn't because the fog has decided to blanket northern California all week. There were a few reasons why, none of which I'm going to go into right now. I'm not really sure why this particular poem came to mind (I've only read it once and it was years back), but certain lines kept popping into my head. I didn't exactly know the name of the poem, or where it came from. It simply cycled over and over in my head--even drowned out the radio--while I was driving home from my in-laws last night.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

Yup. I've mulled over the internet, whined to a select few, confided fears in others, and now I'm over it. I'm embracing Mother Teresa's words of wisdom and writing my heart out until...well, until tomorrow comes and I'll do it again.

And maybe within the next few days, weeks, months, I won't be so cryptic.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. On towards Christmas!

I'm not one of those

2011-11-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

On the eve of Twilight's Breaking Dawn release, I must say...I have absolutely NO desire to stand in line for 2 hours in the godforsaken cold just so I can see a movie with a theater full of screaming girls. I don't want to sit for two hours getting kicked in the back. I don't want to huff and puff when the pre-adolescent girls pull out their cells to update their Facebook statuses mid-movie. I mean, it's SO IMPORTANT for your "friends" to know you're "watching" the movie, right? Then watch the darn movie and put your phones away.

:deep breath:

Don't get me wrong. I want to watch Breaking Dawn. I do. (I would've rather watched the whole shebang in one film instead of two, but whatever, Hollywood.) I just want to watch it when I won't have to share an armrest with a stranger or stand in long ass lines for a $4.00 box of Goobers.

I'm just sayin'...

Vamped Up goes into the world--NetGalley Review Time!

2011-11-11T10:41:00.001-08:00

I'm a little nervous...

VAMPED UP goes out to reviewers on NetGalley today.

I absolutely love this book. It's my baby. I fell in love with Eve and Ruan right away. From the moment they popped on the radar in INTERVAMPTION, I couldn't wait to tell their story. It's the first book I've written that elicited serious emotional reactions from me as I wrote it. (I teared up during one scene and released butterflies in my stomach for a few others.) My writing got stronger through the pages and I went deeper into these characters than I've done with any others.

But I still worry. There are bound to be imperfections and people who don't relate to the work. I'm sure there'll be bad reviews. There'll be expectations that aren't met. (Especially after the great reviews of InterVamption.)

Nothing can be done about that.

(I would like to think ALL writers, regardless what stage of their craft and career they're in, go through this kind of panic mode when reviewers get their hands on our work. You pray there are good reviews with the bad. No wait, you pray that the bad reviews are swamped by good ones. That would make the bad reviews more tolerable, wouldn't it? I know I'm rambling--told you I was nervous.)

Anyhow, I suppose I have to suck it up. Allow myself to sweat and worry. Then let the story go. It's like dropping off my youngest at school for the first day. As I left the parking lot, I couldn't help but wonder how his first day was going to go. Were the other kids going to be kind to him? Would he make friends? Would he sing and play and be happy or would he sulk by himself? Is Vamped Up going to live up to the expectation I've placed upon it? Will Ruan and Eve reach through the pages and grab readers' hearts? I sure hope so.

I'm just so damn jittery this morning and it has to be because my latest work is finally going out into the world.

Good luck, VAMPED UP. Fly, baby, fly.

Happy Three Year Writing Anniversary to me!

2011-11-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

I started on this crazy writing journey three years ago today...or this week, or next, or whatever. Anyhow, the day is close. I remember that by Thanksgiving in 2008, I'd already had a few chapters down the chute and my fingers were buzzing.

With each anniversary comes reflection and hopefully a little appreciation of how far you've come as a couple.

Me and my writing journey...we've come a long way.

I started writing with an idea: A girl who has visions of death before they happen. I thought I'd like to read a book like that. That's it. Nothing earth-shattering. I tossed around the idea for a couple weeks, but not once did I sit down at the keyboard to spit out a novel. The reason is simple: I wasn't spectacular at creative writing in college. I found myself so bogged down by the "rules" of the writing project (whatever it may have been at the time), that I never allowed myself the freedom I needed. (This is the reflection, part.) Write a poem using the five senses? Great. I'll do it. Write a short story using these very specific, and very random, fifty words. No problem. The writing was grammatically correct, structurally sound, and the stories flowed...but there was no meat to them, and the teachers could tell. (It wasn't until I tossed the rules that I *got* it.)

One day, Husband said, "Why don't you try writing a book?"

My response was something like, "I don't know if I can." (I was thinking something like holy hell, 400 pages would take FOREVER to write!)

"Well, why don't you sit down at the computer, no pressure, and see how far you get?" he said, like it was nothin'.

And it was nothing. I mean, writing a novel is SOMETHING. It's hard and tedious and strapping. But I had absolutely nothing to lose.

That story, set in Joliet, Illinois, about a marine who goes to war and a girl who finds herself through life (and death), was written in three months. I wrote late at night when the Husband and munchkins were sleeping. I wrote furiously. No holds barred.

It wasn't great. But it was a start. The writing bug got under my skin. I took the next step. How do I learn to write great books? Learn from the best! That's when I found RWA National and went to my first RWA conference (2009 Washington D.C), where I soaked up what the best of the best had to offer an enthusiastic newbie like me. I traveled by myself. I didn't know a single person there. I was focused on, not a writing career, but writing a single book that people loved to read.

That's where the journey really began...

Because I like lists, I'm gonna break down the timeline from there on out.

2008

-First story written

2009

-first story rejected by 100 agents
-Dark Tide Rising written
-half of Intervamption written
-Dark Tide Rising rejected by same 100 agents

2010

-Dark Tide Rising given two offers of publication from e-publishers
-Intervamption finished
-Dark Tide rising sold to The Wild Rose Press
-Offer of representation from agent for Intervamption query
-lost representation (agency closure)
-New offer of representation from agent (Hellooo Nalini!)
-half of Vamped Up written

2011

-Intervamption and Vamped Up sold to Avon Impulse
-Dark Tide Rising published in February
-Vamped Up finished
-Intervamption published in July
-Claimed by Desire written
-Claimed by Desire and 2nd novella sold to Harlequin
*Vamped Up published in December
*Feralon novella 2 written

2012

*Book 3 in Vampires of Crimson Bay series written
*Claimed by Desire published in Summer
*2nd novella published in Fall or Winter

(*'s are things to come, pending the stars aligning "just so" and the current path continuing as is.)

Quite a relationship we've had the past three years, isn't it? What that list doesn't include are the amount of wonderful writers I've become friends with. The critique partners who've helped shape my work. And how my becoming President of SFARWA this year has impacted my career. Since my first conference in D.C., I haven't missed a one. I still hope that people (or even one person) loves my work, but now I've got the bigger picture--this is my career.

And I can do this. (At least that's what I tell myself when I sit at the computer, staring at the blank screen!)

I only hope the next three years are as eventful as the last!

VAMPED UP's got a COVER!

2011-11-08T20:23:00.000-08:00

Wanna see something cool?

Awwwwww, yeah!! That's the grand reveal I've been waiting for--the cover of VAMPED UP, Book 2 in the Vampires of Crimson Bay Series. And (holycrapIcan'tbelieveit) do you see that unbelievable quote in the corner?!? Yup, that's from #1 New York Times Bestselling author Christine Feehan. Yup, that's what she had to say about my book. Yup, I'm passing out from lack of oxygen. I'm walking on air. Drowning. Spinning. Elated. Somebody pinch me.

VAMPED UP releases December 6th from Avon Impulse. It'll be available at all local e-retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders.com, Books-a-Million, etc, etc) for e-books and print on demand.

If you haven't read the first book in the series, INTERVAMPTION, it's still .99 cents at your local e-retailer, too!

In other good news...I've revamped my website: www.kristinmiller.net It should be easier to navigate now. I've also added updated snippets of the books I've written and am writing, including Claimed by Desire.

And did you know I blog at Darker Temptations now too? I post there every other Thursday. (Not this one, but the next one.) We'll be giving away some pretty cool things next month (LIKE A FREAKING KINDLE!!), so check back.

I'm gonna leave you a song that's got me rocking this week. I'm trying to work (and focus all my creative energy) on the second novella in the Feralon series, but once this song got under my skin, all I can think about is a character you'll meet in VAMPED UP. This is HIS song. Angry. Bitter. Redeeming.

So here you go--the song that's in my head every day. The song I sing picking up my kids from school. The song blaring from my radio as I'm driving.

So if you happen to be local, and see me flipping out in my car, I'm not crazy, I promise. I'm rocking out. Got any songs stuck in your head lately?

Really good reason to be MIA this month. AND A TWO NOVELLA DEAL TO HARLEQUIN!

2011-10-18T10:26:00.001-07:00

Yes, I've been MIA for, like, a month. (You may throw stones now.)

But I've got good reason. Swear.

We're doing a massive remodel on our kitchen and bathroom. Everything in our kitchen cabinets has vomited into our living room. Laundry is a pain since my laundry room is stuffed to the brim. I've been swallowed in edits of Vamped Up, Book 2 in the Vampires of Crimson Bay Series. They turned out great, better than I'd hoped. I've spent the last two days writing the back cover blurb for the book, and since there seemed to be a consensus among reviewers that the back cover blurb for InterVamption didn't do the book justice, I'm trying to redeem myself. (But that comment in and of itself is a compliment, don't you think? The blurb didn't do the book justice. Ah yes, the meat of the book was great, but the blurb fell short. I'll take it.) We've been battling some sort of Sheetrock dusting cold, which means the kids get the coughs and sneezes and pass it around like a hot potato. And I sold a two novella deal to Harlequin.

Wait. Hold the phone. OHMYGOSH, DIDN'T I TELL YOU?!?

I wrote a 25k word novella titled, Claimed by Desire, this summer. Super Agent Nalini pitched it and sold it to Harlequin Cravings. I'm so beyond thrilled that they wanted two novellas instead of the one. I absolutely love the world I created and want to spend more time there. I can't wait to dive back in. (Did I mention I've got nothing written on the second one? Not a single plot line or sketch of a character. And I've got a due date! Whoa! This "real writer" stuff is heavy. I better get my backside in gear.)

Anyway, Claimed by Desire will release Summer of 2012 with the second one releasing Fall or Winter of 2012. I wish I had something more concrete to give you. Oh wait. I do.

Claimed by Desire Blurb

As teenagers, dragon shifter Rafe Landon and empath Misty Burke shared a heart-stopping love and heated passion that neither expected…especially since on the mystical Isle of Feralon, dragons aren’t supposed to embrace members of other races. Fearing for Misty’s life should she be claimed as his rider, Rafe commits the ultimate sacrifice and sets his love free, banishing her from the enchanted isle.

The last thing he expects is for Misty to return to Feralon ten years later as a very mature, and deviously sexy woman on a mission: use her heightened sensory powers to locate the missing Draco stone, a sacred gem that strengthens the dragon race. But Rafe is hiding a secret of his own. Forsaking a rider will end his life…in two days time. Despite his eternal love for Misty, he refuses to imprison her on the isle, condemning her to an early grave.

For Misty, Rafe will gladly pay the ultimate sacrifice—he’ll die, so she can live.

It’s not long before Rafe and Misty are swept away by undercurrents of passion that never waned. Their quest to find the sacred stone may be more of a journey than either realized—one that not only leads to the lost gem, but to true, undying love.

Whatcha think?

INTERVAMPTION NEWS!

2011-09-20T09:11:00.001-07:00

For a very limited time (and I don't really know exactly how little--a week maybe?) e-copies of INTERVAMPTION ARE .99 CENTS!

.99 CENTS!

I can hardly buy a bag of peanut m&ms for under a dollar anymore, and that's gone in, like, sixty seconds. At least by buying this book, you'll get to enjoy your purchase longer. Hey, in hard economic times like these, you really gotta look at what you're getting for the cost, right?

.99 cents.

That's it. That's so cheap I might download a copy of my own. I'd offer to give one away in some sort of contest or sweepstakes, but they're like, less than a buck. You can't buy a gallon of gas on that. Or a loaf of bread. Or a gallon of milk.

But you could buy a book that I'm absolutely in love with. One I poured my heart and soul into. Maybe if you give it a shot, you'll love it too. What've you got to lose? Some spare change you could find in your couch? (Oh, I'm just loving this.)

.99 cents. Crazy.

I'd be absolutely thrilled if you went and bought yourself a copy. :grin:

How I'm handling edits on Vamped Up, Book 2 in the Vampires of Crimson Bay Series

2011-09-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

I got the first round of edits back on Vamped Up yesterday. Actually, I got the commented manuscript back two days ago and the revision letter yesterday.

Before I'd ever reached this stage...before I'd snagged the best agent on the planet and the most dedicated editor...I wondered how authors viewed their edits. What's the revision letter all about? What's the process like? How long do you have until you have to send them back? Then what?

I can't speak for everyone because, let's face it, every writer is going to have a different experience with their editor or book and a different process for dealing with the mountain of revisions they inevitably receive.

But this is how I handle (HANDLED, AM HANDLING) it (WITH MY FREAK-OUT THOUGHTS IN PARENTHESES):

When I saw my editor's email in my inbox, glaring in bold--Book 2 edits--with that little paperclip symbol, I freaked. I got butterflies. I took a really deep breath, and I opened the mail.

The email letter itself was very nice, yet very professional. She loved the book (THANK GOD!) but thinks there's some issues in my first 100 pages that need to be worked over. (I ALWAYS STRUGGLE WITH THE BEGINNING, SO THAT WAS REALLY NO SURPRISE.) There were overall suggestions I absolutely agreed with. (DUH! HOW COULD I NOT SEE THAT SOLUTION BEFORE?!?) And suggestions that made my nose twitch. (HMM...NOT WHAT I INITIALLY HAD IN MIND...COULD THAT WORK?...COULD I MOVE THAT SCENE AND CONNECT THOSE TWO AND REWRITE THAT ONE AND MAKE IT SMOOTH AND FLUSH LIKE THAT'S THE WAY I ORIGINALLY INTENDED? WOULD IT HAVE THE SAME EFFECT? YES, WITH SOME WORK, IT COULD. AND IF SHE'S SAYING IT'LL MAKE MORE SENSE THIS WAY, I'LL GET IT DONE.) There was also the panic inducing mention of the due date: October 10th. (SURE, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME AWAY, BUT DID I MENTION I'M REMODELING MY KITCHEN? DID I MENTION THAT FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS--THREE WEEKS IN WHICH I COULD USE SOME PEACE AND QUIET--I'M GOING TO HAVE A TEAM OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS STOMPING ABOUT, SMASHING INTO MY CABINETS WITH SLEDGEHAMMERS?) No problem. I'll get it done (BEFORE THE DUE DATE, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS SHOULD). And the book will be better for it.

Now when I dove into the book, I was looking for her comments in the margins. (THERE'S SO MANY OF THOSE DAMN RED THINGS! I'M TALKING MAYBE 2 BUBBLES PER PAGE.) I wanted to see where she tripped up in my writing, where the comments slowed down (meaning she was absorbed in the story) and where they picked up (places that still needed work). I noted those in my trusty composition notebook. I fixed some easy-do's. I highlighted new changes I wanted to make, leaving little notes for myself in the margins. I got reacquainted with the novel and my characters. (WELL HELLO, RUAN, IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.)

That's it.

The first run through is over. Took two days.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg. I opened the revision letter. It was four pages worth of suggestions, divied up by character. (ie: Ruan--fix XYZ on page 123. Dylan--go into more detail on her xyz from chap 8-12. Savage--what's with his blablitty-blah issues in the beginning? Move that to chap x and flop that end part to the middle. Mesh it flawlessly.) (I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE STRUCTURE OF THIS REVISION LETTER! SEE, I'M A HARD CORE PLOTTER. I CAN WEAVE A PLOT LIKE NO ONE'S BUSINESS. I CAN CREATE A STORY OUT OF A SIMPLE IDEA AND THROW MORE COMPLEX ISSUES AT THE CHARACTERS THAN THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHARACTERS, I TEND TO SPIN THEM ROUND AND ROUND ON MY PLOT STRING, AND FORGET TO TIE SOME OF THEIR ENDS TOGETHER. WHAT I MEAN IS, MY EDITOR POINTED OUT PLACES TO MAKE MY CHARACTERS STRONGER. WAYS TO BRING ABOUT MORE OF AN AH-HA MOMENT. WAYS TO TORTURE THEM WITH THEIR PAST. IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. NO, SHE DIDN'T DO THAT FOR INTERVAMPTION'S REVISION LETTER. MAYBE SHE'S REALIZING MY STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND WORKING WITH THEM. I DUNNO. ALL I KNOW IS, THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND MAKE VAMPED UP SHINE!) Seeing all the work that needed to go into Vamped Up and feeling a little overwhelmed, I re-formatted the letter. I double spaced it. (YES, IT WAS FOUR PAGES SINGLE SPACED!) I gave each character his/her own page. I took out the "I thinks" and the "You shoulds" and gave each instruction a 1,2,3 assignment. Now, I've got this really tight word doc straight from my editor about what I have to get done. It's gone from "wouldn't this be great here" to "get this shit done in order and make it snappy!" Just the way I like it. It's now eight pages long. (HOLY F#@%& EIGHT PAGES...EIGHT PAGES...HOW THE HELL AM I GOING TO GET THIS DONE. I SUCK. I TOTALLY SUCK. SHITDAMNSHIT! PRESSUREPRESSUREPRESSURE! HEADEXPLOSION!)

Then I closed all documents and put it aside for the day.

I let my mind stew. (OR YOU KNOW, LET MY BRAIN DOWNSHIFT FROM PANIC TO IDLE.)

I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets and stayed up late watching the season premieres of Vampire Diaries (WHY OH WHY, DON'T ELENA AND DAMON HOOK UP ALREADY?!?) and America's Next Top Model All Stars.

Today, tomorrow, the next day and the next, I'm going to be editing. Non stop. I'll go down the list, tweak what needs tweaking, iron what needs smoothing. Then I'll read through it again from the beginning to make sure it's tight. Then I'll download it to my kindle and read through it again, taking notes, to make sure it reads right. (THAT'S FOUR READS OF MY 400 PAGE BOOK IN THREE WEEKS, IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH IT.)

Then, and only then, will I send it back to my editor...on October 9th...a day early.

Getting Older

2011-09-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

Husband was going to call up some friends to play basketball at our house this evening. We have a small court that acts as our driveway, certainly enough room for two on two. He called a few friends and his younger brother to play. When he hung up the phone, he looked at me with a puzzled frown on his face and said, "Damn, we're getting old."

My reaction was something like "Well, gee. Thanks."

He scratched his head, perplexed, like he didn't hear a word I said. "I called up Joe, asked him to play this evening and he said, 'Sure...no, wait. I'll have to check with the wife when she gets home from work and make sure she's all right with handling both kids on her own tonight'."

I nodded, not sure how this makes me old.

Husband continued. "Then I called up Sam and asked him to play. He said, 'Great, what time?' I told him around six and he said, 'Well, I got someone coming to fix our water heater. It broke last night. Let me see if I can reschedule it'."

I blinked slowly. "So because your friends have to check with their wives and fix their water heaters, that means that I'm old?"

"I call Joe and he has to check with his wife before he can come out and play. I call Sam and he's got to fix something with his house." He laughed, a playful gleam in his eye. "Wanna know what Cam, my little brother said, when I asked him to come over?"

I waited.

"He said, 'I'm in. What time?'"

So there you have it. The passage of time does funny things. You get older and wiser, but with that comes all kinds of baggage. (Some of that baggage is priceless and cheek-pinching cute, though, isn't it?) Although I don't know anyone in their thirties who would go back to being eighteen, it definitely has its perks. Zip zero responsibilities.

And this is what we have to look forward to from here:

*Wait until the middle of this video for a great laugh. Just when you think he's being a gentleman, complimenting her hair, he says the unexpected. I suppose there are some things time never changes...

Suspending Disbelief

2011-09-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

In paranormal and urban fantasy, there is something called Suspension of Disbelief. It's the idea that when I bend back the cover of one of those novels, I'm expected to be whisked away to another world. I'm prepared to believe that vampires exist (they may or may not sparkle), that werewolves shift beneath every full moon (then walk among us during the day), and that love can exist between paranormal creatures from different species. Demon and vampire? No problem! Angel and Fae? Sure!

But there are certain things you have to keep real...

Like location, for example. If I'm expecting the reader to think the story takes place in San Francisco on the Embarcadero, I better have my facts straight. I better know which piers exist and which are skipped. I better know the Embarcadero curves westward as the numbers increase. I better know where the bars and restaurants are, and where there are more tourists than locals. Throw a vampire in there and I can believe it. Take me to a pier that doesn't exist, while you insist that it does and you may have lost me.

I can suspend disbelief of the world you've created, but cannot ignore the rules of my own.

This includes the concept of time. Am I the only one who had a problem with the length of Bella's pregnancy in Twilight? Were you able to hop on board the "we just consummated our marriage and I feel my belly expanding" train? I wasn't. I could believe Edward sparkled in daylight. Could see the Volturi on their thrones in some foreign land. But I could not get past the pregnancy issue. (And really, it was all because Meyer had to show Jacob imprinting on Bella's young. The baby had to be born quickly. But does that make it the right tool to use? I don't think so. I put the book down at that point. Sad...)

I can believe in lust at first sight. I can believe characters may be attracted to paranormal creatures of a different species, but...

You have to keep the logic behind their relationship real. Does the heroine feel threatened by the hero at their first meeting? (ie: is she being kidnapped, held at knife point, strangled by a stranger in her bed, shoved into a trunk, buried alive, held at gun point during a hostage situation?) If so, how can the author expect the reader to believe that instead of fear and anxiety in the given situation, the heroine would be lusting after her captor? The wicked, yet warm gleam in his eyes, the hard ridges of his abs, the way he softly grated the rope around the curve of her neck...nope! Sorry. Doesn't cut it. I can believe there are vampire-therian-shifter wars. In fact, I can easily believe there are prisoners of those wars who eventually become love interests to their "enemies"...but the key word is EVENTUALLY. That change of heart must be gradual to be believable.

(I'm reading Showalter's Heart of the Dragon and let's face it, she's one of the hottest paranormal writers in the market right now.) When the hero first meets the heroine, she has accidentally stepped into an enchanted mist and rocketed into Atlantis...where the hero must kill her for entering. Does the heroine fall all over herself gazing into his eyes? No, she shoots him. Over and over again. Knees him in the crotch. Screams for help. Does she also notice how strong he is? Yes. But it's done in such a way that you know she's putting up a fight. You know she wants to escape his hold, not nuzzle into it. Only after a long while does she notice the other, more gentler, things about him.)

In other words, take your reader to another world. Ask them to believe the unbelievable. But don't ask them to forget the laws natural to them.

Scavenger Hunt Winner!

2011-09-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

Nikki from Close Encounters of the Night Kind has won a Kindle copy of Intervamption!

My clue was "Where is my favorite pizza place?"

And you know what? I went this weekend!

Smugs Pizza Joint! There it is! For $4, you get a slice of pizza, a soda and a bag of chips!

It's deee-licious. And no, I didn't go to Smugs to be able to post these pics for the Scavenger Hunt. I haven't been to the Arcata Square in six years (far too long) and just happen to plan a trip for the same weekend as the Hunt. Coincidence? I think not.

You know what? I think Nikki and I are both winners. :wink:

Intervamption GIVEAWAYS

2011-09-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

At the moment, there are only two ways you can get your hands on a free copy of Intervamption.

1-Follow and comment on my interview post over at My Bookish Ways. The wonderful blog mistress, Kristin (I just adore her name--heh), is giving away a print copy of the book. The giveaway ends in 10 days.

2-Follow the scavenger hunt clues from Darker Temptations that should've led you here. We're kicking off the blog right and giving away A TON of awesome books. (The rules and timeline for the hunt should be up at Darker Temptations sometime today, though I think the deadline is Sunday. Keep checking back!) For the chance to win a kindle version of Intervamption, you should be looking for the answer to my clue: the name of my favorite pizza place. Find the right answer somewhere on my blog and take it back to Darker Temptations. Follow the rules for your chance to win! Good luck!

So there you have it! If you win the print copy of Intervamption and would like a bookmark (or 2!) to go along with it, email me and I'll get you one. If you win the kindle copy of Intervamption, go to kindlegraph.com and request an autograph. I'd love to digitally sign your book!

Vampires of Crimson Bay #2 has a title!

2011-08-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

Vamped Up!

It's release date is December 6th and the blurb can be found in the "Books" tab above. I'm very excited about this story. Ruan and Eve were great characters to write--I really put them through the ringer! Not to mention, I think the book contains some of my best writing to date.

If you purchased a copy of InterVamption, the first chapter of Vamped Up is given as a teaser at the end.

I should have a cover to share soon.

In other good news, I'm going to be posting bi-monthly on the Darker Temptations blog. I'll be posting every other Thursday. Other fabulous authors included in the blog are Danica Avet, Cynthia Eden, Erin Kellison, Katie Reus, Marcella Burnard, Rebecca Zanetti, and Sayde Grace. I'm very excited to be a part of such a talented group of writers. I'll give you the heads up when it gets up and running.

Until then...

Trying something new--stuffed manicotti

2011-08-25T08:42:00.001-07:00

I'm a creature of habit. I tend to cook the same things for my family. I order the same things off menus of familiar restaurants. I'm not that spontaneous. And I steer clear of certain aisles in the grocery store all together.

So when Husband came home with portobello mushroom smoked chicken sausage, I thought what the hell am I doing to do with that?

Husband offered to eat the links raw, which convinced me he really is the rugged mountain man I thought he was.

Instead, I went to the store, picked up a few easy ingredients, came home and cooked THE BEST pasta dish EVER. It tasted like something we ordered from Macaroni Grill. Husband kept blinking at me during dinner, like I was a mirage...wearing a chef's hat.

So, of course, I want to share the recipe with you. It's easy cheesy.

Portobello Mushroom Sausage and Cheese Manicotti

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup dry red wine. (I used a 2008 Gnarly Head Merlot)
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
dashes of Italian seasoning
15 oz ricotta cheese
2 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded or diced
3 oz Parmesan cheese, graded
3 links portobello mushroom sausage, chopped
pepper
10 manicotti shells

Directions:

Heat oil in large saucepan. Add onions and garlic, saute until translucent. Add red wine, tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat, set aside.

In medium mixing bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses. Stir in sausage and season with pepper to taste.

Boil manicotti. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spread 1/4 cup sauce along bottom of oiled 13x9x2 glass dish. Fill each pasta shell with about 1/3 cup cheese-sausage mix. Arrange stuffed manicotti in single layer in dish and cover with remaining sauce. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese over top. Bake uncovered until heated through and bubbling, 20-30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

That's it! Easy, right? This isn't a dish I'd make frequently, but it's definitely going to be one we treat ourselves with from time to time.

To top it off, Husband did the dishes after dinner! Score!

**WRITING UPDATE: Vampires of Crimson Bay Book #2 will have a title and cover soon. I can't wait to share them with you! Intervamption continues to get great reviews--THANK YOU, readers! I'm chugging away through Book 3 in the Vampires of Crimson Bay Series. Tentative finish date is November. (I'm really gonna need Fall rain to get me through.)

Intervamption now available in print!

2011-08-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

Huzzah! The kinks are all worked out! You can now order Intervamption in print format at all the major e-retailers.

A heads up, though...if you preordered the book through Amazon, you may need to double check you shipping summary. I went in this morning to check the status of my book shipment, and an account warning stated that since there was a delay in shipping, I had to REAPPROVE the order before they could ship my books.

Thank you all so, so, so much for your patience. I can't wait to hear what you "print readers" have to think. :grin:

Glitchety-Glitch

2011-08-09T15:55:00.001-07:00

Technology can be both a blessing and a pain. The e-version of Intervamption released July 26th without a hitch. Reviews have been great (check out the new snippets on the REVIEW tab above), and I couldn't be happier with the outpouring of support from friends, family and new readers.

But today was supposed to be the smooth-sailing release of the print version of Intervamption. We've encountered some problems. They're being worked out (never fear) as I sit and type this. Ebook sellers like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders are showing the book is "Out of Stock" or "Temporarily Unavailable for Purchase". Between Super Agent Nalini and Editor Extraordinaire Esi, the issues will be resolved ASAP.

So...yes, there is a glitch. Intervapmtion is available in print. You can pre-order it on Amazon and it will be shipped once we iron out the kinks.

Please keep checking back. I'll post something here as soon as I have the good news. And, hey, if you have a minute, why don't you take a look at the new box on the sidebar that shows all the wicked cool blogs I'm visiting this month!

Review, Interview and Florence and the Machine

2011-08-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

There's a few things I want to point out today.

1-Kristin, over at My Bookish Ways, gave an awesome 4/5 hat review for Intervamption. I'll be guest blogging for a paranormal/urban fantasy event on the site in late August or early September. I'll keep you posted on the deets as I get 'em.

2-I did an interview for Kaitlyn at Nocturnal Readings. If you're interested in the inspiration for Intervamption or which character is my favorite, that's the blog to visit.

3-I'm blogging over at Pensfatales Friday, tomorrow, August 5th. The post topic is "SEXY" and it was oh-so-much-fun to write!

4-Florence and the Machine is totally bad ass...in case you didn't know already. I found the video below on youtube last night, as I was reeling through songs to listen to while I write Vampires of Crimson Bay #3. It's obviously not an official video and because of that, I'm not sure how long it'll last on my page before it's pulled. If you get to view it, count yourself lucky. It's true artistry. No Lady Gaga theatrics. No KISS pyrotechnics. No Beiber side-swiped hair. Just a voice that can shiver you to your toes.

(Edited to add: you have to click the black screen to cue video.)

And just in case that one doesn't last long, here's another.

Wow. Just wow.

Want to know what made me smile today?

2011-08-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

FROM PRWeb:

Vampires and Earls and Romance, Oh My; New From Avon Impulse: Intervamption and I Love the Earl
Desperate Circumstances and Dueling Personalities Collide in Two New e-Originals
New York, NY (PRWeb) August 03, 2011

Avon Impulse delivers two new titles from rising stars in romance—Caroline Linden and Kristin Miller. Avon fans will delight in I Love the Earl, a novella from award-winning author Linden that serves as a prequel to her breathtaking new historical romance series about three brothers seeking their fortunes—and love. Miller is a brand new Avon author who will appeal to fans of paranormal romances that combine powerful heroines and sexy, brooding heroes with a good dose of chemistry and wit—think Jeaniene Frost and Kerrelyn Sparks. Her debut title, Intervamption, is the start of The Vampires of Crimson Bay series, set in a world of vampires and shapeshifters, where nothing is what it seems.

I Love the Earl:
Margaret de Lacey has accepted her unmarried state with dignity, if not delight. She had no suitors when she was young and starry-eyed, though regrettably poor, and it’s unlikely any man will court her now that she’s older, wiser, and still just as penniless. Until, that is, her brother unexpectedly inherits the dukedom of Durham and settles an enormous dowry on her, making her the most eligible heiress in town. No gentleman in London is more in need of a wealthy bride than Rhys Corwen, Earl of Dowling. He contrives an introduction to Margaret because of her dowry, but she swiftly sets him right: no fortune hunter will win her heart or her hand. Far from put off, Rhys is intrigued. Interested. Entranced. And soon the only thing he needs more than Margaret’s fortune…is her love.

Intervamption:
Slade, a fallen assassin, has been given a second chance. Called back into action for an unknown task, Slade must shift into what he hates most: a vampire. When he awakens, an instant attraction ignites between him and his sexy vamp teacher, Dylan, who’s been assigned to show him the ropes. Dylan’s orderly life blew up recently when a rogue vampire killed himself right before her eyes. On top of that, her pride and joy, ReVamp --or the Rehabilitation Facility and Management Program for Vampires--is in major trouble. She's been accused of providing infected blood to the locals, weakening them and making them easier prey for their enemies, the shape-shifting therians. Forced to question long-held allegiances, Dylan and Slade have no choice but to trust in each other as mayhem reigns around them.

About the Authors:
Caroline Linden knew from an early age she was a reader, but not a writer. Despite an addiction to Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew, she studied physics and dreamed of being an astronaut. She earned a math degree from Harvard College and then wrote software for a financial services firm, all the while reading everything in sight but especially romance. Only after she had children, and found herself with only picture books to read, did she begin to make up a story of her own. To her immense surprise, it turned out to be an entire novel—and it was much more fun than writing computer code. Now the author of eight books, she lives with her family in New England.

Kristin Miller is the author of Dark Tide Rising, a romantic suspense, and the Vampires of Crimson Bay series, a paranormal series featuring a blood war between vampires and shape-shifters from Avon Impulse. She lives in Northern California with her family.

I Love the Earl
Avon Impulse * e-book originals * on sale 8/2/11 * ISBN 9780062109477 * $1.99

Intervamption
Avon Impulse * e-book originals * on sale 7/26/11 * ISBN 9780062105202 * $3.99

More information available online at Avon Romance
You can read the article in its entirety here: PRWeb

Isn't that AWESOME?!?

Intervamption Bookmarks!

2011-07-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

In other exciting news:

THANK YOU Brenda Pandos for designing these AMAZING bookmarks! They're absolutely perfect. Thank you for capturing my vision of them, before I even knew what I wanted. Can't wait to start dishing them out!

Kindlegraph!

2011-07-31T13:08:00.000-07:00

Talks of e-books and the e-revolution buzzed around RWA national this year. Everywhere you turned, people were talking about the "future of publishing" and what that meant.

No one had any solid answers.

BUT one very valid concern did grind my brain more than others: What will happen to book signings and author autographed copies of books once the world turns digital?

Kindlegraph has answered the question.

www.Kindlegraph.com allows authors to electronically sign kindle copies of their books! How cool is that?!?

I've already signed up both Dark Tide Rising and InterVamption. I've already had a few requests for both books--even before I signed up. Aww, shucks, you guys. Nothing like making a girl blush.

Now, I guess, the only question is how this process is going to work when readers want the same experience of waiting in line to meet their favorite authors and get that coveted autograph. Will it be the same? No. Probably not. I think Kindlegraph is simply the first phase of many...one part of the transition of the e-revolution...but what a great one it is!

It's also super easy to sign up. All you need is your kindle/amazon email. I'll be checking my Kindlegraph account regularly...hope to see your request there! :grin:

Those Vampires in Crimson Bay are HUNGRY! Recipes today!

2011-07-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

I rolled out of bed this morning in a great mood. Other than the nail stuck in my tire that had the sucker all but flat, today's been good.

In light of my odd morning mood--believe me, I am sooo not the morning person around my household--I managed to find two recipes from the Vampires of Crimson Bay's A How-to Cookbook by Miss Canine

Truly Bloody Mary
• 1 ½ oz vodka
• 3 oz tomato juice
• 3 drops Tabasco sauce
• 1 dash lemon juice
• a pinprick of AB blood

Blend all ingredients. Serve with a blood-soaked celery stick. For mundane tastes, omit the pinprick of blood and replace the blood-soaked celery stick with a dry one.

Tomato basil and O+ soup
• 4 cups chopped seeded peeled tomato
• 4 cups tomato juice
• 1 cup of your favorite blood type, freshly siphoned
• 1/3 cup fresh basil
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened

Bring tomato and juice to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes. Place tomato mixture and basil in a blender or food processor; process until smooth. Return pureed mixture to pan; stir in milk, salt, and pepper. Add cream cheese, stirring well with a whisk, and cook over medium heat until thick (about 5 minutes).

For a healthier version, substitute the blood of a dieting mundane or light cream cheese for the ingredients in the classic recipe. And for mundane tastes, simply omit the blood.

Enjoy!

Vampires of Crimson Bay Newsletter via Avon Romance

2011-07-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been a crazy-happy whirlwind. I think the best way to describe my elation would be to show you what has me grinning until my cheeks hurt.

Bitten by Paranormal Romance Review

The Jeep Diva Review

Kristin at MyBookishWays also rated it 4 of 5 stars, but the review is yet to come.

If you're interested in a reading a Vampires of Crimson Bay newsletter, follow the Avon Romance link below:

"Kristin Miller’s debut Avon Impulse novel, InterVamption, is set in the wild and wonderful world of Crimson Bay, where vampires and shapeshifters (also known as therians) have battled for centuries. Though the vampires of Crimson Bay are rather secretive, Kristin managed to get a copy of their latest newsletter. Enjoy it HERE–and be sure to download your very own copy of InterVamption today."

And hey, if you want to see a Cali girl explode with happiness, why don't ya comment on the Avon blog post? I think I'd officially die a giddy girl. *grin

Have you heard the news? Intervamption releases tomorrow!

2011-07-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

Here's the deets:

What:
Intervamption
The blurb:

Congratulations!

Either one or both of your parents has vampire blood. Welcome to the vampire race!

Please keep a few things in mind as you ease into the most difficult phase of your life:

1. Light sensitivity, humming teeth, and stomach pains are completely normal. You’ll also be faster, stronger, and sexy as hell (if you’re lucky).

2. You’ll bloodlust and go crazy if you deny your body’s urge for blood. Why fight it?

3. Do not pierce the skin of a mundane involuntarily. We’re not animals and will not behave as such.

4. Therians, our shapeshifting brethren, cannot be trusted. Their loyalties shift as often as their identities.

And finally,

5. Lighten up—you’re not dead.

Contact Dylan, owner of ReVamp, in Crimson Bay, California, for more information.

When:
E-Version releases July 26th, 2011
Print copies available August 9th, 2011

Where:
Avon Impulse
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

How much:
E-Version $3.99
Print: $7.99

Why?
"Crisp writing, an intriguing world, wicked humor, and scorching romance—I love Kristin Miller’s InterVamption. If you love paranormal romance, this series is ‘the same but different’ in spades! Get ready to be blown away."--Virna DePaul, National bestselling author of Chosen By Blood

**I hope you read the book, I really do. And hey, why don't you stop by and tell me what you think? I'd loooove to hear from you.

Good News Galore!

2011-07-21T20:15:00.000-07:00

INTERVAMPTION COMES OUT IN FIVE DAYS!!!!!!

*ahem*

Now that I got that out of my system, I feel better.

There are days--oh, believe me, I've had 'em--where I feel like nothing is going right. The writing is sluggish, at best. And I just don't know how I'm going to break-in to the industry that is full of so many wonderfully talented authors.

Everyone's so great! And I'm so...well...I'm just me. From the bottom of the mountain, the climb to "measure up" is steeper than hell.

Today was NOT one of those days. Today was a great writing day. A big day.

At nine o'clock this morning, the UPS guy pulled into my driveway. We weren't expecting a delivery. Husband went outside, received the package, came back in and said, "It's from Harper Collins."

He had me at "Harper".

I opened the package, heart in my throat, and found this:

Wanna see InterVamption's sexy backside? I do...

They're mass market size! They're dark and crisp and perhaps the most beautiful thing I've seen--perfect children aside, of course.

As if today couldn't get any better, InterVamption got it's first review! Here is the link from Goodreads, though I don't know if it's going to show if you don't have an account. It received 4/5 stars and I'm THRILLED to death that the reviewer liked it as much as she did.

I was also asked to be a featured author on a blogging event coming up later this month, but I don't have the details yet. The blogger contacted my publicist, who contacted me...gosh that sounds weird...and of course I agreed to do a Q&A, because HELLO, who wouldn't?

To top the cake, the writing FLOWED today. It was one of those everything-is-in-place-and-right-with-the-writing-world-kind-of-days.

I like those.

Night all.

Would you rather...

2011-07-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

write one book that hits HARRY POTTER/TWILIGHT hard, then drop off the face of the publishing earth,

OR

write book after book, making a long-standing career in the writing industry?

I've heard this question asked a ton. By my non-writing friends. By critique partners. And I think the response could depend on where in the writing industry you stand. If you've already hit it big and can't seem to make another book work as well (anyone read Meyer's The Host?), you may long for a slow and steady career. But, I could imagine someone on the other foot, coveting that #1 NYT or USA Today Bestseller slot.

I'm not sure where I stand. I look at the Twihards and Potterfreaks and think wouldn't it be cool to have a following like that? I could only dream of writing something so profound that it comes to life and overtakes a generation. All Rowling's money aside (and it'd take boatloads to cast that lot aside, I'm sure), I don't know if she'll ever be able to write anything again, for fear it'll inevitably be measured against Harry Potter...and fail.

Could I write one book or a series of books and be done? Could I stuff the storytelling inside me? I don't think so...

It makes me wonder where Rowling hides her scribbling notebooks. And how much they'll be worth when they're uncovered.

What about you? Which would you rather write? One HUGE hit or a series of steady ones? (Not that we have any control over that, of course, but it's fun to ponder.)

Guest blogging this morning. Follow me--this way!

2011-07-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to stop in to let you know I'm guest blogging over at author Lisa Sanchez's blog today talking about What I Learned at the RWA National Conference.

Stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win two free e-copies of my romantic suspense novel, Dark Tide Rising!

RWA Parties! Parties, galore!

2011-07-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

Every night at RWA National was a party.

The first night my friend and I went to the Hard Rock and heckled two bartenders--one, a Billy Idol look-a-like, and the other, a middle-aged Hispanic man who entertained us while we tried to order (poorly) in Spanish.

Another night was the Avon cocktail party at The Boathouse in Central Park.
It was BEAUTIFUL. See?

I sat outside on the patio with a Cosmo in hand, watching a family of turtles bob in the river below. The sun set, slashing red and orange across the sky, making me dizzy in disbelief. (How on earth did a little gal from northern Cali end up here?) I'm beyond blessed to have been invited to such an event. It wasn't long before people gathered around me on the patio--a few agents (Hi Nalini, Christine and Marlene!) and author Elizabeth Jennings. They are just the nicest people on the planet and I'm thrilled I got to experience that night with them. It was magical. (Yes, Elizabeth, I will go to the Italian Women's Festival with you. No, not this year. Maybe next.)

I felt like I'd stepped into a dream world where NYT Bestselling authors were kind and humble and enjoyed gabbing about writing as much as I did. Oh wait...that's EXACTLY how it was.

*That's NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Eloisa James, posing inside a cut-out of her own cover.

*And that's me, casting adoring glances at the lion. I'm a Leo, you know. We lions gotta stick together.

Another night was the Spencerhill Literary Agency cocktail party. It was great meeting the other writers who are represented by my agent. (They're all smart and savvy and sooo nice, fyi)

*Whatcha think of my dress? *grin

No matter how much fun I had when the sun went down each night, I was glad to get back to my room. (I don't do well running on such little sleep.) Here's an invite and my "comfortable" shoes:

Photo Diary of My Week at RWA's 2011 National Conference

2011-07-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

Registration Goody Bag:

**Wanna know something cool?!? The Conference was partly sponsored by Avon, my publisher. A thumb drive was part of the registration package. On that driver were four sample pieces of work...one was MINE and the other was my fellow SFARWA member and conference roomie, Rachael Herron! How sweet is that?!?

Me, in front of the Harper Collins office:

*I was sooo nervous for the Avon sponsored Digital Day, can you tell? I'm uber-glad Rachael was nice enough to come with me and show me the ropes. The Digital Day was great. I met everyone from the editors, to the marketing team, to the cover artist who designed my FABULOUS cover, to other lovely Avon authors. It couldn't have gone better.

Holding up my t-shirt at the Avon Signing:

**Wasn't that sweet of them to print it up?!? Totally made my morning. Can't wait to be a part of the signing next year!

Avon Author Spotlight:

*Wanna know the coolest thing about the spotlight? Seeing my cover on the bigscreen. Hearing my wonderful editor, Esi, gush about the book. It feels amazing to know that someone loves my work as much as I do. Oh, and hearing the crowd ooh and aah over the cover and blurb wasn't too bad of a feeling, either. *wink

A little hole in the wall Italian restaurant my roomies found on the last day of the conference:

*It was the BEST Italian food...

...but the company made it better:

*That's A.J., Rachael and me. They seriously made the trip the AWESOME experience it was. We got along so well--it's too easy to LOVE them--that every night I laughed till I cried. I'm gonna miss those slumber-party nights...

The LOOT I ended up taking home:

*Forty-eight signed books in all. $374 worth of top-notch reading material for a $25 checked bag fee. Not too bad, eh? My TBR pile is enormous. Can't wait to dig in.

More to come tomorrow...

It's the little things...

2011-06-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

I wasn't expecting a package from UPS yesterday, so you can imagine my surprise when the big and brown truck pulled in front of my house and blared the horn. The package was big. Fluffy. The return address read "Harper Collins Publishers."

My heart sped.

Look what was inside:

There's a bracelet, a NYC magnet featuring Times Square, a subway map in a nifty little holder, and a book called, "My First New York" about famous people and their first trips to the city. In case you haven't heard, RWA's national conference is being held in New York City next week. I'll be there from Monday-Saturday.

This little package, preparing me for my trip, was over the top. I cried. The publisher didn't have to send anything like this. They didn't have to think of me...but they did. It was the littlest thing--a bag filled with goodies---that made all the difference for me; I still don't think of myself as "making it" in the writing industry (and doubt I'll ever think that way), but as of yesterday I feel like I'm giving NYC a run for its money.

Writing update: I'm on Chapter 3 of my novella, still on page 60 of Book3 in the Crimson Bay Series. I should be finished with the novella by the conference and Book3 by Fall. And I must admit, I'm having much more fun writing the novella than I thought I would!

There's a first time for everything--a novel and a novella?

2011-06-15T22:40:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder the difference between a novel and a novella? According to thefreedictionary.com:

nov·el 1 (nvl)n.
1. A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters

no·vel·la (n-vl)
n. pl. no·vel·las or no·vel·le (-vl, -vl)
1. A short prose tale often characterized by moral teaching or satire.
2. A short novel.

If you've been around this blog, or me, any length of time, you know I'm a novel-writing fool. Or at least I try to be. Although Dark Tide Rising was complete at 77,000 words, the two paranormals contracted with Avon Impulse are over 100,000 words each.

To think about writing something for the Harlequin Nocturne Bites line, I need a complete, kick-ass, dark and wild story between 10,000 and 15,000 words. That's cutting down a lot for me!

I've learned two things about myself, after writing one complete chapter of the work:

1-I can't keep it short and sweet.
2-I have a serious problem with massive amounts of plot

I think I'm going to have to try to keep it as concise as I can, then go back and weed unnecessary things out. The hard part? Deciding what's unnecessary.

Side note: I got copy edits back for Intervamption yesterday. I'm going to be working on those this weekend, along with trying to finish the novella. Maybe I'll give you a hint what it's about when I get closer to knowing that myself. *grin

The NEW COVER is here!! And a RELEASE DATE!

2011-06-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

I'm sooo excited this morning!!! I can finally post the cover, title, and release date for the first book in my Vampires of Crimson Bay Series. It's dark. Sexy. Mysterious. Ominous. Just like the book itself.

I'm absolutely, positively in love with it.

Ready?

*

*

*

*

Isn't it GORGEOUS?!? Avon's graphic design team really outdid themselves.

Intervamption will be released from Avon Impulse July 26.

It's right around the corner! How'd that happen?!? I'm glad you won't have to wait long to get your copy. If I were shameless I'd say it's super smokin'-hot good, but I'm not...so I won't.

I will say that I'm uber proud of this book. Esi, my fabulous editor, and I worked hard smoothing kinks and making the pararnormal world really Pop! I can't wait to give a teaser. I can't wait to skip around the net on my blog tour. I can't wait for you all to meet Slade, my shapeshifting assassin hero, and Dylan, my Vampire Rehabilitation Specialist heroine. You'll love them...

Whatcha think?

New Nook Commercial: Read Forever

2011-06-06T23:02:00.000-07:00

I love absolutely everything about this video. But I mostly love the focus...reading...from whatever device moves you. Whether you love the eBook or the traditional print book, just read. Read forever.

I'm reading Gena Showalter's Heart of the Dragon right now. It's paperback and happens to be the last book I bought from my local Borders before it closed down. What about you?

Short Term Memory

2011-06-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

First thing I did when I awoke this morning was try to find some news. Since the television was occupied by Looney Toones, I started up my computer and began google searching recent events.

Japan radiation update

Rebuilding Japan

Gulf of Mexico oil spill

Oil work on Gulf of Mexico beaches

I got nothing. All articles relayed information from the past. Like I was reading the tragedies from a history book.

So I added today's date to the searches.

I got nothing but a current article linked to the old information. I was flabbergasted. It seems news stations and papers have taken the attitude: It's not top news anymore, so why write about it? This has to be a result of google top searches on those subjects dwindling.

But Americans can't have such a short term memory, right?

Then I hop on Facebook. Most of my friends are shocked that we're still getting rain in June. Like it's never happened before.

Why doesn't anyone remember when high school graduations were held the first week in June? (I graduated today, actually, 13 years ago.) Why doesn't anyone remember how class after high school class had to have a back-up plan: 1) graduation on the field with unlimited tickets 2) in case of rain, graduation in the gym with two tickets. Why doesn't anyone remember the panic when it rained a few days before graduation and everyone was worried it wasn't going to clear up in time to have the ceremony on the field?

On the day of my elementary school graduation a huge storm was brewing. Strong winds cracked our huuuge "Graduation Class of 1994" banner in half.

It may not happen every single year, but it happens enough that people shouldn't be shocked about it.

I'm just wondering why we have such a short term memory? Doesn't anyone care about the cleanup efforts from the oil spill? The one that was said to be the greatest oil disaster in history? Doesn't anyone care about the extent of radiation in Japan or how the radiation dumped into the ocean is affecting that ecosystem? And why, on a much lower level, doesn't anyone remember that rain and storms are often a part of the first week in June?

I'm sure no one will have an answer. I'm just rambling.

And, as you can probably guess, I'm loving this rain. I just wish I could drink my coffee and catch up on my news while watching it.

What The Hell Wednesday

2011-06-01T21:09:00.000-07:00

No, this is not a new feature on the site. I'm simply wondering what the hell is happening on this wacky Wednesday.

This morning I went to the local flea market with my mom and my munchkins. There wasn't exactly blue skies, but it wasn't raining either. Right when Princess decided she wanted a life-size Rapunzel pinata for her birthday it started POURING. Guess who had to run through the market, into the street, and across the parking lot carrying a big ass paper mache Rapunzel, cradling her as if the rain would make her melt?

This girl.

As the storm moved northeast, we heard Tornado Warnings announced...in Sacramento.

Crazy.

Also on this What The Hell Wednesday, you'll never guess what I found while perusing the shelves of Salvation Army:

What. The. Hell. Right?!?

Who would buy something like that? No. Scratch that. Who would take out their camera in the middle of a packed Salvation Army and take a picture of that?

This girl.

When I looked around, got a whole lot of "What the hell are you doing" looks, I snapped this picture too:

So at least if anyone was paying attention maybe they wouldn't think I had a thing for ceramic japanese aliens in purple jumpsuits.

I had a good laugh. Which got me more looks. It was a crazy day. Glad it's over.

Top Ten Tuesday: Things that can be found on my desk right now

2011-05-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

1-My Starbucks coffee cup. It's red. It has "love" scrawled in loopy letters on the side. It's filled with French Vanilla roast Starbucks homebrew. Heaven.

2-A silver heart shaped box given to me by SFARWA via Sophie Littlefield. I received it after being a member of the chapter for a year. It's looking a little stained, but the inside is deep blue velvet, soft and warm. There's nothing in it, but it doesn't stop me from peeling the lid and peeking inside every now and again.

3-Three notebooks. There's a pink one with papers sticking out all over for SFARWA meetings. There's another worn pink one with white spots containing messy notes for Book2 in the Crimson Bay Series. It's falling apart and I love it. There's a blue and green spotted one for Book3. That one is less messy, but it's new. Give it time.

4-A fake orchid. I have a black thumb. The plant is perfect because it's always pretty, it's always green, and because I don't have to worry about watering it, I can focus on my WIP.

5-The board book "Five Silly Monkeys". Tank wanted me to read it to him over and over again yesterday. Here it sits, just in case he asks again.

6-A box of Tangled party invitations. Princess' 7th birthday is coming later this month and I have to send those puppies out to family and friends.

7-Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola bar wrapper. Breakfast. What can I say?

8-A rectangular straw box holding my thumb drives and pens...for my work and note taking.

9-A picture of Tank at a high school track meet wearing too-big sunglasses. His "girlfriend" let him wear her RayBans. He thought he was too cool. He's even got his tongue out and his eyebrows up.

10-Bronze hair clip. Because for some reason I slept with it in my hair and when I sat down at the computer this morning my head hurt like hell. I must've slept on it until my scalp was raw and didn't even know it. Ouch.

So that's what is on my desk. What's on yours?

Silent Sunday: Letter from John Keats to Fanny Brawne

2011-05-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

"...I must write you a line or two and see if that will assist in dismissing you from my Mind for ever so short a time...I cannot exist without you - I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again - my Life seems to stop there - I see no further. You have absorb'd me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving...My sweet Fanny, will your heart never change? My love, will it?...Do not threat me even in jest. I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion - I have shudder'd at it - I shudder no more - I could be martyr'd for my Religion - Love is my religion - I could die for that - I could die for you...You have ravish'd me away by a Power I cannot resist: and yet I could resist till I saw you; and even since I have seen you I have endeavoured often "to reason against the reasons of my Love." I can do that no more - the pain would be too great - My Love is selfish - I cannot breathe without you."

--John Keats: Letters to Fanny Brawne, 1819

Extreme Makeover: Writer Edition

2011-05-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about what kind of writer I am. I figure I'm a good mashing of a plotter and a panster. I create a sort-of-plot-outline-thingy with turning points labeled out (that rarely turn out that way in the end). I don't know where my chapters should begin or end or what my characters are going to do in any given scene. I let the story work itself out...within my boundaries, I suppose.

I stepped back from the computer today, listened to the washing machine whish and whirl, watched Bailey, my "rat-dog" terrier, curl up in a ball at my feet and waited for inspiration to strike me. It didn't, but that's not the point.

I realized I'm not an organized writer. Not at all. I don't clean my house (or even my desk!) before settling down to write. I don't shower, dress in my best, or get a manicure before pounding away at the keys. Most days I'm in my pajamas with a cooling cup of coffee and my hair--Lord, my hair!--just isn't cutting it. I think I've scared the postman on a few occasions.

What about you? Are you a grungy writer like me, or do you primp and prep for your writing day?

Top Ten Tuesday: Things I'm loving right now while I plow through Book 3 in the Crimson Bay Series

2011-05-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

10-How long this freakin' blog post title is. Yowzer. Guess my brain is so fried I can't come up with anything more concise.

9-Ben Harper

8-Devil's Food chocolate cake.

7-Last week of school for my munchkins=no early morning alarms

6-While I've gained 3-5 pounds writing each of my books, this one is different. I'm LOSING weight while writing. No, I don't have one of those treaddesks. I'm writing in the mornings and spinning in the evenings. Seems to be working.

5-Early summer rain. My muse is flowing even though everyone is grumbling about the rain sticking around later than normal.

4-I can't stop thinking about RWA National. It's in New York City at the end of June and I'M GOING. I didn't think I'd be able to make it this year. Finances got a little tight. My daughter's birthday lands smack dab in the middle of the trip. We've resolved those issues--albeit with a lot of mommy guilt. Wanna know what I'm most excited about? Traveling alone. Last year I went with critique partner Lisa Sanchez and had a BLAST. But there's nothing quite like showing up to the airport, checking in, finding a corner to sit and read or write all by your lonesome. Very freeing feeling not knowing anyone. It's like taking yourself on a date--dinner and a movie. LOVE it.

3-Deadliest Catch. It's my all-time favorite show and the season just started.

My obsession over the show is no surprise to those who know me well. I love the ocean. I'm fascinated with ice, ice fields, ice bergs. I love anything and everything revolving around ships. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with adding a little gruff in the form of crabbing alpha males.

2-Finding The First Book Ever Written. Yup. I cleaned out my desk yesterday and found Nine Days in Joliet, the first book I ever wrote. I laughed, combed through it, Ooh'd and Aah'd. I can't believe how far I've come in a few years. No wonder I received rejections from everyone in the business. Sheesh. Needless to say, that manuscript is now lining the burn barrel in our backyard. (I have a thing for burning old work--very liberating. The day of my college graduation I went to the beach with friends, lit a massive bonfire, and tossed in all my notebooks.)

1-I got the cover for Book 1 in the Crimson Bay Series! Can't share it yet, as I'm not sure if the image they shared is the final cover. As soon as I get the go-ahead, I'll post it here. *grin

Meet an Author Monday Blog Hop! Join in!

2011-05-23T09:57:00.001-07:00

Here's how it works:

READERS:

Follow as many authors as you like. Just follow the Linky list and hop from author to author. The idea is to find as many "new to you" authors as you can, and hopefully some great new reading material as well. Leave a comment as you hop from blog to blog! We'd love to chat with you!

AUTHORS:

Follow the Meet an author Monday host (Cali Cheer Mom) along with any of the wonderfully talented authors on the list.
You will need to enter your name and blog url into the Linky tool.
Grab our super cute button and place it in a post. (THIS IS IMPORTANT!) If you don't create a post for the hop, your readers won't have a place to comment, and the hop will stop with you. So create a post, paste in the Linky code and start hopping!
The purpose of the hop is to meet "new to you" authors and discover great new reads. Follow as many authors as you can. Leave a comment and introduce yourself!
If you'd like to share the Linky list in a post on your blog ( Please do!) just follow the link and grab the code.

Authors! The more you promote this hop, the more successful it will be. Tweet about it. Post a link on Facebook. Talk about it on your blogs. Let's get the word out!

People Searching Your Characters

2011-05-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

Quick post this morning in between church and a friend's baptism.

I was Googling recent reviews for Dark Tide Rising the other night and happened upon a People Finder type of service that popped up near the top. I thought it was odd that something like that would show above the links to reviews the book already has.

You'll never guess whose profile was there, registered as if he actually existed...that's right...Mark Thurgood, the hero in my story. My blurb from the book is on his page, the profile picture is blank, but his age and physical description are there and spot-on with how I wrote them. It shows he lives in northern California and has some likes and dislikes that are oddly similar to the story.

Either someone read Dark Tide Rising and created a profile using my hero (which I think is the most likely) or I happened to write a character based on someone from real life whom I've never met. (Okay, if the latter is true, I should start a career as a kick-ass psychic. Bet I could make pretty good money.)

This whole thing makes me think of the T-shirt slogan, "Be nice or I'll kill you off in one of my books." Yeah. Now I mean it. Heh.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet Cinderella

2011-05-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there are no words...

Did you watch the royal wedding? What'd you think?

My weekend with an editor

2011-05-15T23:41:00.000-07:00

I spent Friday and Saturday with an editor from Grand Central Publishing. She came to San Francisco to speak with our RWA chapter and answer questions about the industry.

I picked her up from the airport early Friday afternoon, showed her around the city, then spent the whole next morning and afternoon talking about "the business".

I. Learned. So. Much.

Surprisingly though, most of what I learned this weekend had nothing to do with writing or publishing. Of course I took away gleaming tidbits of information about what goes on behind Oz's curtain. Of course there's things I know about being on submission that I didn't know before. Of course I feel like I have a better grasp about how the industry's cogs work. But that's not what I'm writing about today. And because lists are neat and easy and I'm in a neat and easy kind of mood, here's five things I learned from my crazy, whirlwind of a weekend:

1-I should never handle parking tickets. Never ever. I lose them every time. Is it in my wallet? On my dashboard? In my pocket? Nope. This time it was stuck in the machine and instead of waiting for the ticket to spit out, we were on our way, gabbing about Weight Watchers and laughing about big butts (mine mostly). It took a good Samaritan holding the ticket up, screaming through the parking garage, "Did anyone lose a ticket?!" for me to wise up. I'm parking ticket challenged. There have to be others out there...

2-It's freezing ass cold in San Francisco in May. (On a related note: Minus the racks and racks of *I Heart SF* sweatshirts, there are NO warm clothes sold in the city in May.)

3-When a friend is on vacation, thereby able to eat whatever desserts they wish, if you are the one showing them around on their vacation, you are by default on vacation too. Diets need not apply. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory for a mid-afternoon snack after realizing that both of us had eaten there before without trying their infamous cheesecake. (Random similarity, right?)

Doesn't it look delicious? It really was.

4-Doing absolutely nothing is absolutely something. We drove around San Francisco from one spectacular stop to another. We gawked at Alcatraz, drove across the Golden Gate twice, curved our way down Lombard Street, strolled Pier 39, and ate absolutely tongue-lolling food. We talked family, shopping, friends, boyfriends, husbands, school, books and alpha heroes. Although I'd only just met her, by the end of the day I felt like I'd known her for years. We didn't really do anything, yet it was one of the most memorable days I've had in a long time.

And finally...

5-Editors aren't scary three-headed creatures who chomp on manuscripts for lunch, glaring hungrily at debut authors as they begin their submission process. Contrary to what debut authors think, editors are helpful and friendly. They want you to succeed! Editors are people too. Great people who love books and writing (many of them are authors themselves). They smile ear to ear with their clients as all their hard work shines on the printed page. They're people who fight for authors and genuinely love the publishing process.

I had a great weekend. Now excuse me while I get my cheesecake-lovin' butt to the gym.

Second Chance Prom

2011-05-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

I went to both of my high school proms, junior and senior, with the same boyfriend. I think we went to Mallard's on the Stockton waterfront for dinner both years. The first year was a blast, although we'd just got together so we spoke sparkles and walked on rainbows. Prom was held on a riverboat on the Delta. We gambled. We danced. We met up with friends afterward. (And hey, wouldn't you know it, one of those friends happens to be my Husband. Funny how things work out.) By my senior prom there was tension. Pictures were too expensive. I wanted more keepsakes to remember the night, he wanted to save money for "the real world". I wasn't ready for post high school reality just yet. We broke up not long after high school, after I met up with that after-prom friend again.

Things just clicked. Values stepped toe to toe. We laughed at the same goofy shit. We wanted the same things. He was drop-dead gorgeous to top the cake. Fun followed us wherever we went. We couldn't stop being together. (We've been together thirteen years now.)

When I was asked to chaperone prom this year at a high school I used to teach at, I was ecstatic, as I always am when prom rolls around and I get to spy on all the hot dresses. It's a fun night with sequins, sky-high heels, tuxedos, flowers and smiles...that is, until I see couples fight.

It always happens. There's that one couple that can't get along for one stressful night.

Side note: What's so stressful about prom anyway? Shopping for the dress, shoes and jewelry to make you feel like a movie star? Spending all day in a hairdresser's chair getting ready? Seeing your date at his most handsome? Going out and feeling like a princess? I don't see the problem. I don't understand why couple's fight on prom. Maybe the pressure and expectation? Maybe the sparkles--the princess dream world--are too enticing for her and too blinding for him? I don't know.

Anyhow, this year, couple's fought. A handful of couples left early and went their separate ways. I even saw a couple fighting over a cell phone. The guy was holding out his hand, demanding her phone, she wouldn't give it to him, he nearly pushed her outside to get to it, thereby ensuring she wouldn't be able to get back in again. (Once outside, the security wouldn't let kids re-enter.) I couldn't help but watch the train wreck, thinking back to my own prom.

I realized that prom wasn't the problem. It was me. It was my date. We didn't see eye to eye on what we dreamed, what we expected and what was real and we didn't care enough about the dreams and expectations of the other person to change. I think I was more the dreamer, wanting to be whisked away somewhere magical and he was more of a realist, not wanting to dream about anything for fear of wanting something unattainably great.

So this year I went with another dreamer--my Husband. And together we dreamed of going back to Titanic.

*Although it looks like Husband is holding my purse, he's not. (Not that there'd be anything wrong with that if he was.) My arm is tucked beneath his. Just wanted to clarify.

I seriously had one of the best Prom's ever. Okay, okay, it may have had something to do with one or three lemon drops I had right before the dance. Whether it was the company, the dream date or the drinks, I don't care. It was great.

All sparkles.

Can't wait for next year.

Meet An Author Monday!

2011-05-09T08:59:00.001-07:00

It's Monday and that could only mean one thing around these blogging parts:

Yup. It's Meet and Author Monday. Do you want to discover new authors and find new books to read? Do you want to be entered to win a free copy of Eve of Samhain by Lisa Sanchez? Of course you do. Join the hop, leave some comments, and meet some amazing new people.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my Prom story. And a picture! For now I'm diving back into edits. They'll be finished today. Woohoo!

Here's how the hop works:

READERS:

Follow as many authors as you like. Just follow the Linky list and hop from author to author. The idea is to find as many "new to you" authors as you can, and hopefully some great new reading material as well. Leave a comment as you hop from blog to blog! We'd love to chat with you!

AUTHORS:

Follow the Meet an author Monday host (Cali Cheer Mom) along with any of the wonderfully talented authors on the list.
You will need to enter your name and blog url into the Linky tool.
Grab our super cute button and place it in a post. (THIS IS IMPORTANT!) If you don't create a post for the hop, your readers won't have a place to comment, and the hop will stop with you. So create a post, paste in the Linky code and start hopping!
The purpose of the hop is to meet "new to you" authors and discover great new reads. Follow as many authors as you can. Leave a comment and introduce yourself!
If you'd like to share the Linky list in a post on your blog ( Please do!) just follow the link and grab the code.

Makeover!

2011-05-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

If you haven't noticed, Pararomance got a makeover! This is now my new author website, kristinmiller.net. I'm very excited to make the change from blogspot to .net and hope there'll be a .com in my future. (If you're a fortune teller and can let me know when the .com owner will be passing on their domain name, let me know. There may or may not be delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies in it for you. Actually, judging by the amount I've eaten today, there may not be any left. Get on it!)

Until then, the blog is being overhauled. I'll still be making changes to the color scheme, the gadgets on the side, and the banner on the top, but for right now I think this will work.

It's plain right now, I know, but it'll be tweaked this week. Whatcha think so far?

How to use Hyperboles!!

2011-05-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

I love dealing with insurance companies! They're the best! Adjusters, specifically.

Let me take you back to Mother's Day, two years ago. The Miller fam was headed to Santa Cruz along with all of my extended family. I was driving a Rav4 at the time and we had it packed to the max. Hey, with two little munchkins you need buckets, shovels, towels, strollers, blankets, food, more food, toys, etc, etc, etc. That list goes on forever. (Sadly, the Rav4's truck space did not.)

We were merging from one freeway to another when WHAM! another car hit us from behind. Thank God traffic was slowly merging and only going about 40 mph. My coffee went flying from my hands and splattered all over the windshield. My seatbelt snapped me good--it hurt then, but not enough to seek medical attention. Husband was out of the car in a flash, checking to make sure everyone was all right.

We were fine.

Elvira, the tall, gothic-slicked driver of the other car (NO, I'm not joking. I couldn't make up a character this rich!) said she didn't have insurance. We had to move our cars off the freeway. Husband got the feeling she was going to bolt, so he snagged her ID and asked her to follow us off the ramp into a parking lot up ahead. With her license in hand, she couldn't run. (Smart move, wouldn't you say?)

Everyone was okay. Kids were a little scared, but unhurt. I was soaked in hot mocha goodness. Husband was on the ball.

Flashforward one month.

I'm laying on the couch watching television and I hear a very loud, very scary POP! from my chest. My chest goes warm and tingly. My arms and hands go numb. Husband, who was across the room, looks over and says "Did that pop come from you?"

I nodded. Oh, God. That was loud. My mind raced. I cracked a rib. I popped a lung. One of my arteries snapped. I can't breathe. My breathing became shallow.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I shook my head, getting dizzier by the second.

"Can you breathe?"

Again, shallow pants, more numbness.

"Do I need to call an ambulance?" Husband asked, watching color drain from my face.

I nodded, more of a fast twitch, and struggled to take a full breath.

The hospital ran all kinds of tests. EKGs. X-Rays. MRIs. All came up negative. Lungs fine. Ribs intact. No evidence of heart attack or stroke.

So what the hell happened? And why, two hours later, was I still having trouble breathing? After seeing my primary physician the next day, he discovered I had a massive tender spot beneath my left breastbone...from where the seatbelt had snapped me in the accident.

Turns out the seatbelt had broken the cartilage in my chest. My muscles tightened around it, holding it in place, until they relaxed a month later, releasing it. POP! The warm sensations, the tingling, the numbness, the shallow breathing? That was attributed to the muscles and tendons finally relaxing...with a little panic attack and hyperventilation thrown in there too.

When I first dealt with Elvira's insurance company, Draco Alliance, (okay, now I'm kidding) I thought there wouldn't be a problem covering my medical bills. But there was.

How could I prove the injuries a month later were a direct result of the accident? The ER visit didn't prove a thing. In fact, it simply ruled out everything major.

Brings me back to my initial claim: I love dealing with insurance companies. Adjusters, specifically.

Two years later, I'm still dealing with them. I'm not trying to screw them out of anything. I don't want a landslide lawsuit when I'm not really hurt anymore. (Sure, cartilage doesn't ever heal--EVER--and I'll hear popping sounds from time to time, but that's not earth-shattering.) I just want the money I'm out from copays and such. Not too much to ask, right?

Right.

Happy Mother's Day to me. The day I have to revisit the accident and all the insurance paperwork from both parties and bills and hoopla involved. My injury claim closes Monday.

I love dealing with insurance companies. They're so worried about people scamming them that they make it a pain in the ass for legitimate claims to go through.

Adjusters, specifically.

(Edited to Add: Wanna know what happened to the Rav4? The damage to the back end was fixed--paid by Elvira's insurance--no problemo. A few weeks later the computer in the tow compartment went out from "some sort of extreme jostling". $6K to fix it. Insurance denied responsibility. It's long gone now.)

EDITS! And how to spell Suppose. Supposedly.

2011-04-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

Edits, oh edits,

how I love thee,

let me count the ways.

One

Two

Three hundred

fifty pages worth

and two more pages of Edit Notes for good measure.

I received edits back on Book One in the Crimson Bay Series this week. (I have the best editor in the world...just sayin'.) I'm thrilled. Downright giddy. Editing something, tearing it apart line by line, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and why, is the reason I went into teaching. I love it! I was the English teacher who smiled ear to ear on grammar days.

Don't get me wrong...I make errors in my writing. A ton of them, in fact. My quotation marks sometimes go the wrong way. I can't seem to spell "supposed" for the life of me. Suppose...suppose...S-u-p-p-o-s-e...supposesupposesuppose!!! Isn't it suppose? Nope. Supposed. Although I know how to spell it, I misspell it every single time.

What's the point here? I'm not perfect. The revision letter from my editor tells me so. But I'm having so much fun fixing those errors and making this manuscript as perfect as it can be. I'm molding it into something shiny and new. Something it was supposed to be from the beginning. There's no better feeling than taking something you worked so hard on and bashing it into shape to be something better.

Edits aren't meant to be painful. (Although after eight hours with Ass In Chair yesterday, my backside may argue the point.) They should be fun. It's the last time I get to play with these characters. The last time I get to listen in on their fights and mess with their world. It's the last time I get to watch my hero and heroine fall in love. And it's oh, so, sweet watching my bad-ass hero brought to his knees by love.

So the next time you're reworking your novel or editing it to pieces and feel that editing grouch start to claw its way into your mind, remember how much fun the characters were to create in the first place. You get to revisit them! Remember dancing on the streets in your fictional world. Do it some more! There's no greater joy for a writer...for me.

As soon as I have a title for Book One I'll let you know. Back to editing I go! Wish me luck!

Jayne Ann Krentz Signing

2011-04-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

So, last night was kind of rock star awesome. I had High Tea with Jayne Ann Krentz (who also writes as Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle), then went to her workshop/signing at Kepler's in Menlo Park. At one point I think I actually stopped, put down my teensy oh-so-cute tea cup and said, "Wow. I feel like I'm in a very surreal dream." Jayne spoke, answered questions. I sat with my wildly talented critique partner A.J, the fantabulous Herron sisters, Jayne's publicist (who I actually had breakfast with in Orlando last summer), our SFARWA membership guru, and Ms. Bates, the Amish Romance Queen.

There were scones (I learned how to say scones properly thanks to the Canadian in the bunch), and William and Kate royal tea sets (almost went back to buy them), and did I mention Brenda Novak showed up?? Oh, my suspense-driven heart was swooning. The serving gals wore aprons, served on wooden tiered platters, and poured out of cozied ceramic tea pots. The mini-sandwiches were delish, though I couldn't tell you what was in them. (I should've taken more pictures, I know, I'm working on that flaw of mine.)

After High Tea, the crew walked over to Kepler's bookstore where a crowd gathered in the back to watch Jayne speak. There were many things an aspiring writer/author could've taken away from the night, but the one thing that stuck with me was this:

"There is never a book that couldn't be improved upon by the act of deletion."

Brilliant, I tell you. Brilliant. Although she would say she's mastered the art of career suicide, I argue to the contrary. The woman knows this business. She knows her writing. And she obviously knows how to make work sell in this market.

Here I am, after I had her sign my book:

And here's what she wrote:

I had such a great time. Oh! And to top the cake, when I came home, my wonderful mother-in-law had cleaned my house, top to bottom, kitchen sinks to laundry baskets. After I thanked her profusely, I watched the newest Deadliest Catch (SOOO GOOD), then hit the hay. I doubted my dreams could've matched my reality. I was right. The night could've have gone better.

Close but no cigar. I'm talking Golden Heart over here.

2011-04-26T08:03:00.000-07:00

Golden Heart Scoresheets came back yesterday. For those of you who don't know what the Golden Heart is, it's the National Romance Writer's of America writing contest. You enter in your category, send in the first fifty pages and a synopsis, close your eyes and pray.

*And I mean really pray. The scoring instructions are a little whacked. "Score 1-9, using tenth of points." With no rubric! This English teacher is cringing.*

Anyway, the award ceremony is this huge formal event at the national conference in New York City--Have I Mentioned I'm Going to the Conference?!? Eeeeek!

I sent both books from my Crimson Bay Series in. The first one received AMAZING scores. It earned a few "perfect 9's" with a few "eight-and-a-half's" thrown in. But there was one darn "seven" that lowered my score enough so that I didn't final.

The second in the series received great scores, too, though they weren't as high as the first. The average score was a solid "eight" with no "nines" and a couple "high seven's".

Instead of being disappointed that I didn't final, I'm actually pretty excited. Book One did so well! The response was great! The scores are near perfect! How can I be upset about not being a finalist when I really was close? As for Book Two, I'm now going to take some time, go back through it, and look for kinks with a sharp eye. There's got to be places I can smooth things over and amp other things up.

So...close, but no cigar. Great scores...but no final payout.

I also entered the Daphne DuMaurier contest, which has an award's ceremony at the national conference too, and I should be getting the scores back any day now. I'll post something about those as soon as I know. (I've been holding my breath to final in the Daphne since I first heard about it. Daphne DuMaurier is BY FAR my favorite author and Rebecca is BY FAR AND AWAY my favorite book. Hands down. No contest.) To final in her contest would mean soooo much to me. I'll let you know...

Until then I'm writing away on Book Three in the series and going back to edit Book Two a bit more.

Did you enter the Golden Heart? How'd you do?

Crafting a Heroine for your Hero

2011-04-23T20:57:00.001-07:00

I received the following comment from my Writing the Perfect Heroine to Match the Gothic Hero post:

"i'm not much into paranormal things, vampires or whatever, but my class at school was learning about gothic literature and i loved your post on gothic heroes.
personally i love byronic heroes. it's the tragedy and the darkness surrounding them that hooks me into it. i actually posted a few comments on the gothic heroes post and wanted an opinion on my two guys. the byronic hero and the byronic/promethean mix.

now i want an opinion on my heroines. for my byronic hero, i took inspiration from padme from star wars. i like how she is morally strong and fights for what is right. my heroine is morally upright and has strong principles, but also kind and passionate in her love for the hero. she tries to show him the right path, but she never pushes him,she teaches but never tries to talk down to him. she is a light for him so that he can find the correct road.

the other heroine i got inspired from was bella. it's the idea that no matter how dark the hero sees himself as, she always shows him the lighter side within himself. the heroine is not innocent, but pure. curious, but not naive. her youth and optimism makes the hero remember a time when he was also that way, makes him believe that he can do what is morally right. just like she can.
what do you think of my heroines? anyone i'd love to get an opinion, or tell me what i'm doing wrong. one day i'm going to be a writer, it's always been a dream and i love to write. so i hope it happens."

*I actually posted the comment, replied, then decided it would make a great post in and of itself. I deleted the name of the person who asked the question. I hope that's all right. (And if it's not, "S" please feel free to email me and I'll delete this post right away.)

My response was this:
First, let me say I think it's Great! Amazing! Wonderful! that you're writing and developing your craft and creating new characters. This writing world is very small--much smaller than it seems--and I hope to read your work one day!

Not to get down to the nitty-gritty...without reading your book and getting to know your heroines, it's very hard to say what I think of them. I've read romance novels from New York Times Bestselling authors and have absolutely hated the heroine in them. I'm sure they crafted the heroine perfectly...there just had to be something that didn't resonate with me. It may have been the author's voice, the character arc (or lack thereof), or maybe even the style of writing. Hard to say. I think the best thing you can do is write a heroine who you would either like to be or have as a best friend.

As far as the gothic loverboys go, the archetypes I defined in the Gothic Hero post are simply cookie-cutters for you to mold you hero out of. It's easy to look back and say, "Yes, this hero fits right here", but it's a whole other beast to write that character effectively if the writer becomes too focused on the "type" they are writing. I know every writers' process is different, but I don't actually sit down and pick and choose which hero I'd like to write and which type of heroine he'd best be paired with. (In fact, sometimes the fun is pairing them with someone who is all wrong for them, and watching the characters change on the page for each other.)

I think the main thing is to let the hero and heroine choose you. Who do you picture in your story as the conflict consumes them? What changes will they go through when the fire closes in and the tension escalates? What will become of them? Who will they love? How will they change for that love? What will they have to sacrifice?

I think by choosing a character and asking those questions of them (and you) you'll find out what type of hero you're writing...instead of the other way around.

If you want to learn more about all types of heroes and heroines (not just the gothic ones) there's a great book called "The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes" that you should check out. It's by Tami Cowden, et. al. (I've included the link to purchase it on Amazon above.)

I used it as a guide while figuring out the characters in the first book I ever wrote--you know, the one that will never see the light of day? Yeah. That one. Now, I define the characters as I go, bashing through some archetype walls while falling in line with other classic models...all without meaning to.

"S", I hope this helped...if it helped anyone else, I'd love to hear it. And let me just say, again, every writer has their own process. All I can tell you is mine, so if you want something to balance it against, you might want to keep on researching, compiling your data until you discover what works for you.

Keep reaching for those dreams "S"! If you want it bad enough, it'll happen.

Burn Out

2011-04-21T07:56:00.001-07:00

Ever feel like you've got so much on your brain that instead of letting a few things slip through your fingers, everything falls apart at once, leaving you empty handed and exhausted? Yup. That's where I am right now.

The writing's been slow going. I've written 10K in three weeks. Not enough by a long shot if I plan to have this finished by mid-summer. Every time I sit down to write I remember I have to answer emails, do the dishes, throw in some laundry, pick up something for one of my munchkins classes, etc, etc, etc. The list in my brain goes on and on, all hours of the day. I'm even having trouble sleeping. My head just won't slow down enough for me to rest...but I can't seem to write during the night, either.

I think I'm close to burning out, trying to do too many things at once. I think I need to slow down a bit...take a step back. I don't mean from writing--Heck No! I mean from everything...for a night or two.

Not to mention I've been working out religiously for about four weeks now and haven't lost a single pound...instead, I'm gaining weight. Seriously? I know muscle weighs more than fat, but come on. I want to see those numbers decline on the scale. I'm even watching what I eat and I don't mean that in the funny ha-ha "I'm watching the chocolate as it passes my lips" kind of way. I'm being serious. And I'm not a fan of diets.

Something's gotta give or I'm gonna burn out FAST.

Yesterday I told Husband I need to get out of the house this week. He asked what I had in mind. I don't really have anything in mind, other than doing something that requires my brain to go on auto-pilot. Yet every time I try to think of what I want to do or when I want to do it, it feels like another "thing" added to my to-do list.

I could really use some advice here. What do you do when the writing is grinding and the rest of your life won't slow down enough to let you think clearly? Do you Yoga? Run? Coma-like sleep? Write through it?

Silent Sunday

2011-04-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

*

"I really enjoy writing novels. It's like the ocean. You can just build a boat and take off." --Denis Johnson

"I saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death, but an infinite ocean of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness." --George Fox

God Serving Angels: The 99 Year Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic

2011-04-15T08:22:00.001-07:00

Early this morning marked the 99 year anniversary of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic. It sank at 2:20am in the North Atlantic after striking an iceberg at 11:40pm the night prior. I've collected Titanic memorabilia since I was twelve years old. I'm a little obsessed. There's just something about it that screams FATE. Some things in this world are meant to happen. Other things are meant to fall apart. If you'd like to read a post on all the things that led to Titanic's demise go here. (It's my post from last year.)

As I was going through my Titanic books this morning (always do this time of year), I opened up a 1905 Old Scrap Book titled Heart Throbs. Here I am, holding it against my heart:

I tell you what...every time I read this book I find more things I love about it. It has my favorite quotes. My favorite Bible verses. My favorite poems. All bound into one really old book. It smells good too, but I won't show you the picture of me smelling it.

Anyhow, as I was digging through it a bit today, I was thinking about the Titanic, about the anniversary of it sinking, how far the Titanic Historical Society has come, preserving artifacts from the site and educating the world about the tragedy and found this:

God Serving Angels

"'Tis written that the serving angels stand
Beside God's throne, ten myriads on each hand,
Waiting, with wings outstretched and watchful eyes,
To do their Master's heavenly embassies.
Quicker than thought His high commands they read,
Swifter than light to execute them speed,
Bearing the word of power from star to star--
Some hither and some thither, near and far.
And unto these naught is too high or low,
Too mean or mighty, if He wills it so;
Neither is any creature, great or small,
Beyond His pity, which embraceth all,
Because His eye beholdeth all which are,
Sees without search, and cometh without care;
Nor any ocean rolls so vast that He
Forgets one wave of all that restless sea."
--Edwin Arnold

*Painting by Ken Marshall

Isn't the poem just beautiful? And the sinking no less awe inspiring, in the most heart-wrenchingly tragic way.

Take some time today to remember the Titanic and all that the terrible tragedy has taught us. Don't challenge God. Don't tempt fate. And most of all, never think that man can create something that mother nature can't bring down with a flick of her finger.

Dreaming about your hero. And a contract!

2011-04-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

I had the craziest dream last night. I'm typing it down as fast as I can so I don't forget any details...I'm sure if I went on with my day, the dream would vanish and I'd barely remember my Hero being in it.

That's right. I had the very first dream about my hero, Ruan, from Immortal, Beloved.

It was freaking awesome.

The dream started out with my travels in a foreign country. (I'm thinking Russia, although I've never known Russia to be that country-fied-rural and my book isn't set there.) I came upon his ranch, where he lived with his step-father, mother and a bunch of brothers and sisters. I was lost. He offered to show me the way back to society, after he finished a couple things he had to do for the day. So I followed him around while he expertly ran this hundred acre ranch. We talked. And talked. And talked.

He was such a gentleman! Helping me over fallen limbs. Carrying me over rivers so my shoes didn't soak. Holding my hand to guide me around trees and over fences. Wanna hear the crazy thing? I was me. I had a husband of nine years--we talked about him and how great he is. I had two children--he mentioned how he wanted kids eventually. I felt like from a few hours time, we were long lost friends.

Soon, his quietly bold attitude and some of the things he said started to trigger my brain. I felt like I knew this guy. The logical part of my head kept trying to place him somewhere in my waking life, but couldn't.

When it was time to leave, for him to show me the way home, I asked for his name and was blown away.

Ruan.

What a surprise--even to myself. I was so shocked! It all made sense! The chivalry! His rugged good looks! His mannerisms! The way I felt like I'd known him forever!

Thank you Ruan, for showing me how unforgettable you are. You came to life for me. And soon, you'll come to life for everyone else.

**I signed my Harper Collins contract yesterday! It's on its way to Spencerhill, then back to the publishing house. (Very side note: I'm going to write a post soon about how important it is to have a good agent who fights for you and your interests. Those contracts are sticky. I got very lucky.) It rained yesterday too! All-around perfect day around these parts.

How do you write? What works for you?

2011-04-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

Me and Leigh Michaels? Yup. We're kismet writers.

This Saturday was the San Francisco Area of Romance Writers' April meeting. I don't usually gush and gush about all the great things I learned at the meeting or how great the speakers were or how blessed I feel to be dining with such influential people in the publishing industry. (Although I really should.)

But oh my goodness, I can't help myself today.

It's easy for writing to feel like a solitary career. I mean, I sit at my computer, staring out my window and write stories about fictional characters. It's easy to compare my work to the work of others (and then feel that my work is not good enough). But what I find myself doing more often than not is comparing my writing style to other writers and their styles.

How does Nora Roberts pump out three (Or Four! Or Five!) books a year? How did Amanda Hocking make Amazon her bitch? (Yes, oh yes, she did.) What are other writers' work schedules like? And are they, in any way shape or form, like mine?

I've asked almost every writer I've met about their writing process and almost every writer has said that what works for them doesn't work for everyone. And it doesn't! It's all right. To each their own. Whatever works. (Haven't you told yourself this a hundred times over?) As long as you can write a Smashing book, and another, and another, who cares how you get there?

I spent Saturday with Leigh Michaels. *Insert big happy sigh here. What a breath of fresh air. She's brilliant and talented and charismatic and I really wish she lived closer. (Although Iowa is beautiful and I suppose now I could visit for more reasons than to see the famed John Deere plant.) Her workshop on the Sexes was great. I took a ton of notes. But I also learned how eerily close her writing process is to my own.

Cue daily schedule that's probably, really, not all that interesting: I get up, drink coffee and read, catch up on my email, write until lunch, sneak in more writing in the afternoon, break for a bit, then perhaps come back to it after dinner.

Sounds pretty cut and dry right? That there'd have to be a ton of writers who have the same schedule? Surprisingly, not so much. I've heard more writers say they write at night--staying up until the sun rises to spark their muse. I've heard writers say they have to write before lunch only, otherwise their creativity dries up. I've heard that some writers create only a work. Only at home. Only at a coffee shop. Only at the park. While listening to music. While watching mindless television. Only in complete silence! Onlyonlyonlyonly.

All I can say is, everyone does have their own, unique creative process. You should do what works for you. And if my career is a *smidgen* as successful as Leigh Michaels' and I turn out to be half as sweet and humble and fantastic as she was, I'll be well on my way to a writing career I can be proud of.

What's your writing process like? Do you think it mirrors another writer's?

Why Researching What You Write Is So Important

2011-04-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

According to Wikipedia, "The rod of Asclepius is an ancient symbol associated with astrology, the Greek god Asclepius, and with medicine and healing." Greek mythology states Asclepius practiced medicine and chose the symbol because as people heal and become rejuvenated, its the same process a snake goes through when shedding its dry and withered skin.*

Loads of medical organizations across the world use the symbol including the American Medical Association and American Veterinary Association to name a couple.

Although all the organizations use the basic image differently, the rod is always there, just tweaked a little bit.

But...

You've probably seen this symbol used for medicine too:

This symbol has two snakes instead of the one, and has wings stretching around the back. It's called a Caduceus. The US Army medical corps adopted this logo in the early nineteen hundreds and since then, the symbol has spread throughout the medical industry like wildfire.

You may be thinking, like I was at first, that the symbols look the same. Why are medical professionals making such a fuss about other organizations using the Caduceus instead of the Rod?

Because the historical connotation of the Caduceus is that of "commerce, theft, deception and death."**

Sure, if you go back far enough there are mentions of the wings representing the negotiation and commerce aspect of Hermes (although his means were not honorable) and the snakes representing the alchemist side of Mercury, but researchers have found more associations to trickery and corruption than the healing arts.***

So...as you write, make sure you research well. A few tiny alterations that may not seem like a big thing at the time (adding a serpent and wings) can change a symbol from something innocent and well-intentioned to something corrupt and vile. Get it right. Research the hell out of your genre and the area where your story is set.

And the next time you go into a doctor's office, take a look at the writing--or symbols--on the wall.

Pretty cool findings, huh?

*"Asklepios' reptile was a healing creature: in ancient mythology the snake, whose skin was shed and rejuvenated, symbolized eternity and restoration of life and health" Albert R. Jonsen, The New Medicine and the Old Ethics, Harvard University Press, 1990, p122;
**Engle, Bernice (Dec 1929). "The Use of Mercury's Caduceus as a Medical Emblem". The Classical Journal 25 (1): 205.
***Friedlander, Walter J (1992). The Golden Wand of Medicine: A History of the Caduceus Symbol in Medicine‬. Greenwood Press

Dorian Gray and The Cost of Writing

2011-04-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

I watched the film Dorian Gray last night, having been curious about the character for a while. I'd watched The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen when it first came out and was intrigued by the idea of an immortal man bound to an old and rotten depiction of himself. I'd heard of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray and knew the basic premise was about a guy who whimsically sells his soul to the devil after a picture of himself was painted. In this deal, he could live life as he wished, giving in to the pleasures of the flesh, while the picture showed each effect on his soul and he remained vibrant and young.

As I watched the film, I couldn't help but dwell on the price his deal cost. At first he could care less about his acts (sex, drugs and rock and roll, right?), but as the picture began to decay and transform into a demon, trapped in the picture, a demon he would become when it was time to pony up his soul, I could see the weight bearing on him.

He began to question whether the cost was worth the gain. And, in his case, finally realized it didn't.

But in everything we do whole-heartedly there is a cost, right? Olympians have to live and breathe their sport, often times giving up their loved ones to live in different states or countries. (Husband and I know this first hand and made the right choice for us--cue children running and screaming and giggling!) Lawyers and doctors sometimes give up dreams of an early marriage or family in order to focus on their careers first. (I'm speaking for a few friends, not everyone of course.)

I see the same thing in my writing. I get asked a lot how I find time to write. I'll tell you. My house isn't perfect. My laundry baskets are never empty. My dishes are usually piled into the evening. And if you wanted something specific from my pantry, you'd probably be disappointed. I have only the staples. But my kids and husband are happy. Taken care of. They're put first, with writing coming in second and housework a very distant third.

That's the cost for me. If I want to write a book in three months, spending hours in front of my word doc, editing my heart out as I go, then I have to choose something to let slack. It won't be my family. Can't be. There goes the impeccable housecleaning.

Nora Roberts once said "Life is a juggling act. You're going to drop some balls. The struggle is knowing which ones are rubber and which are glass."

So true.

Which aspect of your life falters a little when you write?

Writing Environment

2011-03-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

It's no secret I write best when it's rainy and thundery. I've mentioned that a time or two before. My muse tends to dry up in summer, only peeking her head out when I jab her from behind with my thumb drive. (That came out sounding much dirtier than I intended.)

And I think I finally figured out why I write so well when it's dark and gloomy.

This weekend I took a trip here:

Beautiful, right? Quiet. Relaxing. Serene.

But that's the problem. I'm not writing for beauty's sake. I'm not writing something that's gonna soothe the soul or quiet the mind. I'm writing something that's dark and raw and gristly. I'm writing from somewhere angry, deep inside. Honestly, before I start writing, I sit at my desk and ball all my frustration and stress into my gut, then spew it out onto the keyboard. I almost have to make myself pissed off to write something good. What comes out is not daisies and butterflies, but torture and heartache, toil, toil, boil and bubble and all that voodoo jazz...but it works for paranormal writing. (At least I freaking hope so.)

So this weekend, as my mind cleared and powder from Bear Valley's slopes lightened my spirit, I found it very hard to head back to the cabin for writing time. Because my spirit was so light, the writing was light. I needed a big storm. A storm that was black and ominous...so my writing could match.

I'm starting Book 3 this week...again. Come hell or high water, Chapter 1 will be written by the end of the weekend. It's just too bad the weatherman's calling for a warm front...

What about you? Do you write better in certain weather? In a certain spot or position in your house? Can you write both inside and outside? Or is your muse a fickle creature, like mine?

Moonlight Mania Blog Hop

2011-03-25T12:14:00.001-07:00

Moonlight Mania is open to any and all book bloggers--regardless of genre. Though I ask that no one enter Twitter accounts onto the linky list. Blogs only!

Here's how it works. To participate in the hop, you must be a follower of this blog. After you're a follower, enter your-name@ Blog's name (genres you review) into the linky list. For example, Kristin@ pararomance (Paranormal, Suspense) Then once you've entered the linky list, copy and paste the beautiful blog button into a post on your blog.

(I can't seem to get the linky list to work here, so for now I'll just guide you back to the original list over at Nocturnal Reading.

This week's question is: What was the last book that touched you emotionally right before you went to bed? Have you ever read something late into the night that's so beautiful, you can't help but let the tears pour?

The last book I read right before I went to bed was The Ranger. (Take a peek on my sidebar--it's there with a link to Amazon.) I didn't cry my eyes out, but I'm not to the climax yet. I seldom cry when I read, actually. It takes a pretty superb book to make me tear up. The last one that made the waterworks start was Jude Devereaux's A Knight in Shining Armor.

What about you? Read any good tear-jerkers lately? I'm always looking for another good one!

A Thursday Mulligan

2011-03-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

ETA:Webster's definition of "mulligan"•A mulligan, in a game, happens when a player gets a second chance to perform a certain move or action.

Ever had one of those days where things just don't go right?

Where every step forward is followed by ten steps backward?

Where even the weather, dark and stormy and gray, seems to be issuing some kind of warning about the day ahead?

Yeah.

I'm having one of those mornings.

I feel like I didn't sleep a wink last night. I seem to be suffering from insomnia...at least I think that what's happening. I'm sooo tired. Sooo ready for bed at a decent hour. But I just can't seem to drag myself to bed. I stay up waaaay too late into the morning doing absolutely nothing. (Wouldn't it be fantastic if I could actually WRITE during those midnight hours???)

Usually 5-6 hours of sleep is enough.

But last night my gremlins woke me up on the hour, every hour.

Can I get some milk? I think the tooth fairy came! No...she didn't. How bout now? I have to use the bathroom. I'm cold. I'm hot. Is it morning yet?

By the time 7am rolled around and the perky sun shoved its rays into my bedroom, I was less than enthused. I grumbled my way to the coffee pot...to find I was out of everything--including the energy to run to the store to stock up for tomorrow. Great.

The weather changed. Huge gusts of wind are trying to knock my house down as I type this. The skies are as bland as my mood.

And every time I try to get something productive done, it's a struggle.

I think I'm going back to bed to take a mulligan on Thursday.

Ever had one of these days? How'd you turn things around?

Ashton Kutcher, Men's Fitness and...I'm sorry...What was I trying to say?

2011-03-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

I almost lost my mind yesterday. Yup, I was about to turn into the crazy woman at the store, yelling at people for no good reason because, well, what else are you going to do?

I thought I'd deleted my manuscript. All 90,000 words of it.

I have a system I'm comfortable with. I back things up, I do...just not to the extreme other people might. I save on my computer. I save on a jump drive. But...this time I forgot to email the manuscript to myself. I dove into my computer, clicked on Immortal, Beloved and got a two page synopsis. The file was gone.

Gone.

No problem, I thought. I'll just shove my jump drive in, and pull up that saved copy.

Only I couldn't find my jump drive. I swear, it grew legs and walked away.

Cue P. A. N. I. C.

Now, I realize I probably mailed the manuscript to a handful of critique partners, so I could probably re-download those from the web, but Immortal has CHANGED since then. I'd have to re-edit the entire thing. Go back through it with another fine tooth comb.

This can't be happening.

My house was a destruction zone. It looked like I tested nuclear missles in my living room. (Hello, cheesy Money Pit shout-out.) Seriously. I was ranting and raving, looking under couch cushions (Why, oh-why, would it be there??), and behind my television. I even looked in my dog's bed.

Bailey was scared, hiding beneath the kitchen table with his ears turned down. He was probably waiting for the moment where my head spun around and I vomited green sludge.

But then the Marvelous happened. I found it. My jump drive, nice and safely tucked away in the pages of Notebook for Book3. Because isn't that a perfect place for it? (Oh, my eyes are rolling.)

Anyway, this lost and found and subsequent rant-fest made me think what would happen if I really did lose my jump drive. What if my computer crashed? (I better go back up all those photos NOW.) Or what if the internet crashed, like, permanently? What then?

Heartthrob Ashton Kutcher was recently featured in Men's Fitness magazine. He predicted that the "end of days" is on its way. In order to be prepared for what's to come, he trains in hard-core Krav Maga. He told the magazine:

"It won't take very much, I'm telling you. It will not take much for people to hit the panic button. The amount of convenience that people rely on based on electricity alone. You start taking out electricity and satellites, and people are going to lose their noodle. People don't have maps anymore. People use their iPhones or GPS systems, so if there's no electricity, nobody has maps....And people are going to go, 'That land's not yours, prove that it's yours,' and the only thing you have to prove it's yours is on an electric file. Then it's like, 'What's the value of currency, and whose food is whose?' People's alarm systems at their homes will no longer work. Neither will our heating, our garbage disposals, hot-water heaters that run on gas but depend on electricity - what happens when all our modern conveniences fail?"

Something to think about right?

(NO, I didn't mean think about THAT.)

He may be exaggerating--taking things a tad far for satirical's sake. But we've had day-long power outtages and I see how crazy people get.

The thought alone really made me want to have a hard-copy of everything. Just in case.

But then I found this: an article in the Washington Post (and now, forgive me, I can't find it), that talked about how to make your office completely and uttterly paper-free. The article talked about how to back up pictures on disks. How to scan reports and wanted mail into your computer, then shred the useless paper. How to keep all your important records online--that way (GASP!) they can never be stolen!

I think we're becoming a society consumed by electronic devices and I don't see it getting any better. I'm not complaining. I'm not. I love modern luxury.

But when I lost my jump drive I blew a gasket. I wished I had a hard copy. I wished I'd been smarter.

How do you back-up your manuscript?

PS--I know there's programs online where you can store and "lock" your documents. Anyone know what those are called?

Meet an Author Monday!

2011-03-21T09:30:00.001-07:00

Good morning!

Before we dive into the Monday blog hop, I have to tell you...I learned something yesterday.

I cannot write while reading others' work. Period.

Stephen King, in his wildly popular writing handbook titled, On Writing says “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things about all others: read a lot and write a lot,” writes King. “Reading is the creative center of a writer’s life. I take a book with me everywhere I go, and find there are all sorts of opportunities to dip in.”

I think he's right. Of course he's right. He's The King. You must love to read. You must take in as many books in your genre as you can.

But my goal as a writer is to turn out 2-3 full-length paranormals a year. Each one takes me 4-5 months...which leaves a few months in between to plot and outline and synopsi the next. Where in there, is there time for reading?

You'd think I could read instead of watch TV. Or read while waiting to pick my kids up from school. I thought so too...

Until yesterday.

I'm reading Monica McCarty's The Ranger. It's a Scottish Historical and IT'S FANTASTIC. I'm in her world. I'm there. But when I tried to write the epilogue for my second full-length paranormal in the Crimson Bay Series, I ended up writing in Historical style--flouncy and beautiful and artistic--when I really needed to be rough and gritty and dark. I actually love the scene. I think it's some of the best stuff I've written. But, sadly, it has to go.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

Can you read while writing? Does the style of the book you're currently reading rub off on your own writing? I'd love to hear from other writers in the hop.

Here's how it works:

READERS:

Follow as many authors as you like. Just follow the Linky list and hop from author to author. The idea is to find as many "new to you" authors as you can, and hopefully some great new reading material as well. Leave a comment as you hop from blog to blog! We'd love to chat with you!

AUTHORS:

Follow the Meet an author Monday host (Cali Cheer Mom) along with any of the wonderfully talented authors on the list.
You will need to enter your name and blog url into the Linky tool.
Grab our super cute button and place it in a post. (THIS IS IMPORTANT!) If you don't create a post for the hop, your readers won't have a place to comment, and the hop will stop with you. So create a post, paste in the Linky code and start hopping!
The purpose of the hop is to meet "new to you" authors and discover great new reads. Follow as many authors as you can. Leave a comment and introduce yourself!
If you'd like to share the Linky list in a post on your blog ( Please do!) just follow the link and grab the code.

Silent Sunday: After the storm

2011-03-20T09:45:00.001-07:00

"A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease."--John Muir

Pensfatales Guest Post

2011-03-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

I'm blogging over at Pensfatales today about my "old" childhood. Surprisingly, I went into greater detail about my life than most posts here. Something about those wonderful Pens just makes me wanna open up.

Take a look. Comment. I'd love it if you did.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! And a Review!

2011-03-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

An Old Irish Blessing for you on this beautiful morning:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

And, if you're feeling up to it, head over to Long and Short Reviews. They posted an awesome review for Dark Tide Rising this week. Rated 4 out of 5 Books!

Where Ideas are Born

2011-03-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

I've been asked a time or two where I get my ideas from.

Dark Tide Rising was concrete and fun to write. I went to Humboldt State, lived in Arcata, and spent many days and nights on the same beaches Emily and Mark walked. I've been inside the cave where the murderer hooked Stefanie to the back wall. I've been to the casino where Emily's Uncle Jack worked. I've driven Hwy 101 with its crazy-sharp turns. I've experienced days-on-end rain that is so typical of that area.

But for my paranormal, I didn't have as much to pull from. Sure, it takes place in San Francisco, and I've been there countless times, but the world I was creating was much different. I created an underworld of wicked-cool creatures, like vampires who long to fit into society and shape-shifters who want to keep them oppressed. I created ReVamp, a rehabilitation center for vampires, "acceptable" food sources, closed-circuit vampire television and vampire-specific magazines, etc, etc, etc.

So where did those ideas come from?

I took what I knew, and meshed it with what I didn't.

When I wrote the scene where my heroine was passing through her haven lobby, and caught a glimpse of America's Next Top Vampire on the television, I was actually watching...yup, you guessed it...America's Next Top Model. When my heroine was craving blood and shoved a Blood-Blaster Bar into her mouth, I was on a chocolate fix and eating a bar too...only my chocolaty-nougat wasn't laced with B+.

I took things from everywhere around me. Flower vases on ReVamp's counter are mine, albeit with gothic twists. Buildings are ones I've seen in the city. I could go on and on about the similarities, but I want you to go out and buy the book, come summer.

What about you? Where do your ideas come from?

Why Bookclubs are THE BEST!

2011-03-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

Last week I was invited to a local bookclub. The absolutely lovely gals chose to read Dark Tide Rising for February and were reviewing it at the end of the month. They welcomed me into their group like I'd been reading books with them for years.

We talked favorite authors.

We talked favorite scenes.

They asked questions about my book.

They made me delve back into that world I wrote two years ago and really think.

They were smart!

They really knew romance and talked openly about their obsession with certain heroes. It was so refreshing to sit back, talk about writing and romance and publishing, with people who "got it". Being President of the San Francisco Area of Romance Writers, I meet tons of people in the industry. We talk writing. We talk about trends and where the market is likely to turn next.

But I'd never seen the Bookclub side of things. These ladies LOVE books. (Apparent by the 4-5 books a week admission by one of the gals.) They get irritated when a publisher lags between releases. (With E-Pubs on the rise, this could be solved...interesting change when books can be released within six months of contract.) They want more author involvement. Steamier covers. Tighter plots. Sizzling connections between the hero and heroine.

Although that's what the author/writer wants too, the bookclub gals really don't have much sympathy for falling out of those expectations. As a writer, I think it could be easy to forget what your readers want. I think it could be easy to get sucked into the "what I want to write" vortex and forget your readers and what they want. It could be easy to sit in front of your computer screen every day and forget to reach out--whether its via twitter, facebook, blogging, or face to face time with bookclubs, readers, or librarians--but it's so important!

I think meeting with readers is what fuels the desire to write...at least that's what happened with me. After meeting with the lovely ladies of the Tracy bookclub, I came home with a desire to write something that they'd love. Something they could gush over.

I hope that feeling never leaves.

Thank you ladies! I had a great time and hope you invite me back.

Monday Blog Hop!

2011-03-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!

Authors! Have a book out? Are you under contract for publication? Make sure you join in the hop. This is a great way to network your blog and let readers know who you are!

Here's how it works:

READERS:

Follow as many authors as you like. Just follow the Linky list and hop from author to author. The idea is to find as many "new to you" authors as you can, and hopefully some great new reading material as well. Leave a comment as you hop from blog to blog! We'd love to chat with you!

AUTHORS:

Follow the Meet an author Monday host (Cali Cheer Mom) along with any of the wonderfully talented authors on the list.
You will need to enter your name and blog url into the Linky tool.
Grab our super cute button and place it in a post. (THIS IS IMPORTANT!) If you don't create a post for the hop, your readers won't have a place to comment, and the hop will stop with you. So create a post, paste in the Linky code and start hopping!
The purpose of the hop is to meet "new to you" authors and discover great new reads. Follow as many authors as you can. Leave a comment and introduce yourself!
If you'd like to share the Linky list in a post on your blog ( Please do!) just follow the link and grab the code.

Loss of a Teardrop Diamond and Emotional Pulls

2011-03-12T21:11:00.001-08:00

I decided to watch The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond tonight. It's an unfinished screenplay by Tennessee Williams about a snobby debutante who bribes a hunky plantation workers' son (played by Chris Evans) to escort her to a series of coming out parties.

I watched, skeptically, as themes of euthanasia, abortion, drugs, division between laboring classes and sex before marriage were tossed about the screen.

As much as I enjoyed the scenery...

...I just felt the characters lacked depth. Sure, I felt for the bored, rich girl that no one liked. I longed for her to be redeemed. I wanted to see the workers' son, for once, not swallow his pride, but stand up for what he really wanted. I didn't know if the two leads were going to hook up in the end.

The movie just didn't pull me in.

Until it did.

Like one minute from the end. [Spoiler alert]

They're standing side-by-side on a levee, overlooking a river tinseling with moonlight. They refuse to look at one another. He's angry at his position, at her, at what she's asked of him time and time again. She's longing for his love, but doesn't know how to show it.

She asks him for a kiss.

Silence.

She turns toward him, a tear rolling down her cheek.

His gaze slowly follows as it runs to her chin. His eyes linger on her lips. He's holding his breath. He turns away.

Her breath is punched out of her. Knowing he's rejected her for the second time in one night, she walks away, defeated. But the instant she turns, he grabs her arm.

My stomach caught.

She glances at their hands, at him, tears falling freely to the earth that's bound him into such a lowly position. He pulls her close.

Cue credits.

The message I took from this movie wasn't Williams' stance on abortion or sex before marriage or drugs or euthanasia. It came back to writing. It only takes one scene...one emotional tug...one stomach catch...for your writing to shift from meager to spectacular.

Thanks to that one scene my opinion of the movie completely changed. What girl wants to beg a guy to kiss her, only to be turned down? It's not a stretch to imagine the total embarrassment she would feel. What girl wants to have to convince a guy to be with her time and time again? It's not a stretch to imagine how desperation would taint her spirit.

It wasn't the strong, universal themes from the movie that will stick with me...it was the simple guy/girl dynamic. The dynamic I can relate to on a very real level. THAT'S what got me. Not the complex plot. Not the stunning imagery. Not the controversial themes.

Just the simple human emotion.

Now to figure out how to elicit that emotional tug from a reader...if you come up with a simple fail-proof formula, be sure to let me know. Until then, I'm going to netflix some other movies that'll help me finish up my insane-plotting sessions for Book 3.

"That John Denver is full of shit, man."

2011-03-09T19:17:00.000-08:00

And so are the people who said writing a book is a piece of cake.

When people find out I'm a writer, they say one of a handful of things--after the "Really? That's cool":

1-"So do you practice the scenes in your novel with your husband, or what?" (By the creepy eyebrow raises, you'd know immediately what kind of scenes they're asking about.)
*To which I answer "No more than the murder scenes." If we "practiced" the scenes in the books I've written, Husband should be deathly afraid of water, caves, alleys in San Francisco and women with dark curly hair. *ahem

Or:

2-"I have this fantastic idea for a book! Do you want to hear it so you can write it for me?"
*To which I enthusiastically listen to an unbelievable and totally awesome story line about which I have no desire to write myself. The idea may be the best thing I've ever heard, but if it's not originally mine, I won't do the book justice.

Believe it or not, I've also heard a naive few say:

"It must be pretty easy to stay home and sit in front of the computer for hours on end and write, huh? Especially with an English degree."

Wait...

Easy and Write should NEVER be in the same sentence.

I kinda thought this writing gig would get easier over time, when in fact, I think it's the opposite. Stakes raise. You've learned how to make your book shine. Now you have to put the proof in the pudding. People (your agent and editor) are depending on your book being The Best Thing You've Ever Written. (Or at the very least, better than the last one you wrote which got you representation in the first place.) Pressure builds. Because not only do you have to write your heart out, applying every single thing you've learned over the course of your writing journey, you now have to do it quickly. Of the four books I've written, it's never taken me longer than four months to write a book and another month to edit it...but can I guarantee that for the next one? No. I can't. But I have to. So I will.

Whoever said writing a book was easy was full of shit, man.

I have the third book in the Crimson Bay Series plotted out. Mostly. I introduced the hero and heroine in Book 2. I know them. I like them. I know what they want, and what has to happen to make sure getting what they want is the most difficult thing for them to accomplish. Well, I sort of know that. And even though I know where my story is inevitably going to end up, and what my turning points are along the way, that starkly white first page is still daunting as heck. I thought about writing page one, line one today...then decided to clean out my refrigerator instead.

Whoever said writing a book was easy was full of shit, man.

Whether I jump into Book 3 the next day, or the day after that, I know one thing for certain: it never gets easier. Writing is hard. It's not for the faint of heart. It's not for the insecure. It's not for the weak-minded or feeble-willed. Even though I feel that way from time to time...especially when faced with the impatiently blinking cursor...

Beginning...starting out...this...is the hardest part for me.

What's the hardest part of the writing process for you?

In which I admit, Yes, duck and cover I'm very shy...

2011-03-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

I wrote my last post in a wild and giddy flurry of excitement. I mean, google has been BLOWING UP with news about Avon's new ebook line, Avon Impulse (Did you see where it mentioned my two book deal???) and I barely pulled myself away from the buzzing internet search to toss up a post about the press release.

But I think I forgot something very important...I wonder what it could've been...

Did I forget to mention how downright THRILLED I am about the TWO BOOK DEAL I signed with Avon Impulse? (HOLYHORSESHOESHOWDIDTHISHAPPEN?)

Did I forget to mention how humbled I am to be picked up by such a well-established publishing house who is on the cutting edge of the e-pub revolution?

Did I forget to mention how uber-supportive my family, friends, and writing peers have been through this whole crazy roller-coaster of a process?

Did I forget to mention how unbelievably lucky I am (BLESSED is more like it) that I get to work with Amazing Agent Nalini Akolekar? (That's her superwoman name, but don't mention it off of this blog--it's top secret. She's got crazy-good powers of publishing behind her.) Now, as if I wasn't blessed enough already, I also get to work with Esi Sogah from Avon's star-studded line-up of editors!

Did I forget to mention how my phone is vibrating constantly from the congratulatory emails and I'm sure my terrier, Bailey, thinks it's possessed as it shimmies across the living room end table. (You should see the quizzical looks he's throwing around.)

Last, but not least, did I mention that today has truly been a dream come true?

I didn't mention *any* of that?

Huh.

Avon Introduces New Digital Imprint: Avon Impulse

2011-03-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

Give in to Impulse:
Avon Books Introduces Digital Publishing Imprint
Avon Impulse Launches March 2011 with e-Original Romances

NEW YORK, NY, March 7, 2011 – Today, Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announces the debut of Avon Impulse, a new imprint dedicated to digital publishing. The new imprint will feature e-books and print-to-order novels and novellas by existing Avon authors, and will seek new talent to nurture in an e-book marketplace that finds Romance experiencing expansive growth. “Romance readers have been among the first to embrace books digitally,” says Liate Stehlik, Senior Vice President and Publisher of William Morrow and Avon Books. “Their passion has encouraged us to introduce a line of romance e-books, which empowers Avon to publish more quickly, with an eye to what’s trending in fiction.” The new imprint is looking to publish multiple titles each month, eventually releasing new content on a weekly basis. The Avon Impulse brand has grown organically from Avon’s existing publishing program and offers authors all the strengths of Avon’s widely respected team. Books will be acquired by Avon editors, and will benefit by targeted marketing and publicity plans, as well as powerful sales platforms.

“What sets Avon Impulse apart,” affirms Stehlik, “is that authors are signing to work alongside the Avon team, and will benefit from the same platforms that Avon authors have always enjoyed.”

As part of the imprint’s publishing strategy, each Avon Impulse e-book will benefit from a dedicated “five-point” marketing and publicity platform, helping build awareness in the competitive marketplace. Plans include cross promotion, digital marketing and publicity, social media outreach, interactive assets and coaching, as well as targeted online retail placement strategies.

“Without traditional printing constraints, we can edit, market and release e-books more quickly, allowing unprecedented speed to market,” says Carrie Feron, Morrow/Avon Vice President and Editorial Director. “The Avon Impulse imprint also allows us greater flexibility in the length of books we can publish – from novella to full-length fiction, and enables us to explore new themes in romance.”

“There is so much opportunity right now within the romance genre,” Stehlik says. “Readers have found a rich array of fresh content using digital and e-reading devices. It’s crystal clear that we can nurture great talent via Avon Impulse’s e-book publishing platform – and that there is already a very dedicated fan base of savvy digital readers.”

The line launches with A LADY’S WISH, an original e-novella by Katharine Ashe; on-sale 3/15/11; and then features ROYAL WEDDING, a historical romance short fiction anthology by Stephanie Laurens, Gaelen Foley and Loretta Chase, timed to coincide with the nuptials of Britain’s most beloved young couple. Later in the season bring four releases from Lavinia Kent and a prelude to Karina Cooper’s Avon debut, Blood of the Wicked. Jaime Rush launches a brand new series with a digital short; and a full-length paranormal romance novel by author Kristin Miller will be released in the summer.

Avon Impulse is currently in the acquisition and production process for e-books to be published in 2011 and 2012. “We are actively looking to acquire for Avon Impulse,” says Feron. Authors looking to submit to Avon Impulse can find guidelines and an online submission portal at www.avonimpulse.com. “We are looking for quality submissions across every romance subgenre,” says Feron.
Avon Impulse e-books will be made available at all online retailers, everywhere in the world where English-language e-books are sold. For those seeking a hard copy of individual Avon Impulse titles, print-to-order books will be available from online book retailers.

For more information on Avon Impulse, and a detailed FAQ, visit www.avonimpulse.com.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

HarperCollins, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world including the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children's Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children's books, cookbooks, mystery, romance, reference, religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history HarperCollins has published some of the world's foremost authors and has won numerous awards including the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, the Newbery Medal and the Caldecott. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers on the Internet at http://www.harpercollins.com.

**Did you all catch that?!? My Crimson Bay Series will kick off this summer! I'm so excited and can't wait for you all to dip into my paranormal world!

A Writing Sunday with Ray, Jude and Willie

2011-03-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

I'm gearing up to start Book 3 in the Crimson Bay Series. Ray LaMontagne (a new find for me), Jude (a long-time favorite) and Willie Nelson (who doesn't love him?) are really helping me out as I finish up some minor plotting details. Combine the three songs--Hold You in My Arms, I Know, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground--and you may have an idea as to the concept of Book 3...

Now excuse me while I open up my blank word doc and rotate these three songs to get me goin'. Happy Rainy, Inspirational Sunday to You.

Things, they are a-changin'

2011-03-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Borders are closing across the country. Some of the Big 6 publishers are letting retailers like Amazon determine a book's listing price once they purchase it from them. Other big-wigs are putting a cap on how many times an ebook can be circulated in libraries.

All this ebook madness makes a debut author wonder how these changes effect the publishing process. Is "breaking in" the same as it was five years ago? How 'bout last year?

An internet presence used to be non-essential. You could write book after book on the mid-list, build your career through buzz of readership and never send a Tweet. Now, though, I feel the pressure to Tweet, Facebook, Blog, Blog Tour, Guest Blog, Interview, etc, etc, etc, to build my internet presence as forcefully as I can. The publishing houses take a risk each time they sign a debut author. These risks are becoming even "riskier" with the shaky economy. So building a platform (visa-vie internet presence) becomes that much more important.

But what about all the time spent building the platform and gaining the followers? Couldn't that time be better spent honing the craft and polishing that manuscript? Couldn't that time be spent networking in person? Couldn't I start the new book or edit the last? I've heard a few established authors say all the internet hoopla is a "time-suck". I've heard authors say "Write your book, find an agent, and if it's good enough and marketable enough an editor will pick it up."

Things are changing.

Authors are spreading themselves thin trying to keep up with the demands of "breaking in". Writing a kick-ass novel doesn't seem good enough anymore. As a debut author, I think you have to come with more than a kick-ass novel to the table. Sure, there are those best-selling, right-out-the-gate smash hits...but I think as the publishing industry spins on its top, waiting to find out when things are going to stop spinning and how things will be when we finally land, those are going to be few and far-between as well.

Ebooks aren't going anywhere. The internet isn't going anywhere. CDs and VHS tapes are old-news. Although print books will take longer to phase out (God, please let them take longer to phase out), I don't think anyone in the industry can deny ebooks have caused a literary revolution.

It's not enough to write your book, find an agent, then find an editor.

You have to ask the question: How do you make yourself marketable?

With the way things are changing, I'm gonna make some bold statements here: Publish an ebook with a reputable company. Network. Market the hell out of it. Write the next smash-book. And the next. When your sales begin to climb and you build an e-readership, you make yourself sellable to the bigger publishers.

Or you could blog until your little fingers fall off. Build up your followers and unique hit count until you reach a million. (I've heard 20+ comments per post is the benchmark for success.) If people are reading your blog, chances are they'll read your work, right? (I've also heard for every 10 hits, there's one sale. Do the math on your own blog and see what you come up with.)

I guess what I'm getting at is, for the mid-lister wanting to break-in, it's not so much about your book anymore. It's about you. What can you do to sell your book? If they publishing houses are risking thousands of dollars on your career, what are you doing to make YOU worth the risk?

Whatcha think? Am I off-base? On target? I'd love to hear insight from both unpublished and published authors on how you think "breaking in" is changing.

Signing!

2011-02-28T08:28:00.000-08:00

I had a great time at my first book signing on Saturday! Sincere heartfelt thanks to those of you who came and to those of you who didn't, perhaps you can make it to the next one!

By the end of the hour-long event, my stack had dwindled down to nothing!

My wonderfully talented sister-in-law, Laura, baked this celebratory cake. Isn't it amazing?!? Yes, that mock book is edible too! She's got mad skills...but I've mentioned that before.

I answered some great questions--including one from Husband that he'd never asked before. I wonder if he was waiting until this very moment to make me blush. He asked why I get most of my inspiration during church sermons. I don't have a clue, but it's the truth.

I read a bit from the book. I had to force myself to sloooow way down. It's a harder task than you realize...unless you've actually heard me read aloud (sooo sorry former students).

The one above isn't the greatest picture, but it caught the warm ambiance just right.

I signed books and had an absolute blast! Very surreal.

Afterwards, we went to lunch and I de-stressed with the ones I love the most. I don't post pictures of Husband and munchkins often. It's a writing blog about my writing journey, so I hardly feel pictures of my children apply...but none of this would have been possible without their support. So a family picture can fly here, I think.

Dark Tide Rising WINNERS!

2011-02-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

I always love giveaway days, but today is super duper especially special. I get to announce the winners of the giveaway of MY book. *Sigh*. I'm a happy girl. I chose the winners by giving each commenter of the giveaway posts a number. Then I went to random.org and let the numbers roll.

The winners are...(drumroll, please!!!)

ADUB

and

AUBREE!

YAY! I'm super excited! I'll be contacting you both via email shortly to get your mailing addresses. Thanks for entering everyone!

Also, in other news, I'm having a signing, Q&A, and reading tomorrow morning at 10am at Main Street Cafe in Manteca, CA. I'll have books on hand (what an ordeal it was to get them delivered here through all the storms, let me tell you) and I would absolutely, positively love to see you there!

Rejection and American Idol

2011-02-23T23:39:00.000-08:00

Rejection was a theme on television last night. At least that's what I picked up.

On America's Next Top Model, Tyra decided to trick the models into believing they were being sent home instead of invited on the show. As they were ready to tote their luggage down the empty hall of their dreams, Tyra (as OZ) dropped her big ass curtain, revealing their trendy LA apartment.

The girls fell apart. I'm talking panic attacks and Niagra tears.

Was the point of the cruelty to make them appreciate their blessed position? Was it to make sure they knew how fast Tyra could *snap* her fingers and make it all disappear?

I changed the channel. All those dog-howling screams during the first few episodes really got to me. I may be deaf.

I started watching American Idol instead. It didn't take long before I was crying my eyes out. I couldn't believe they cut Chris Medina. (What a man, right? Talk about a hero.) Then Jennifer Lopez went and said something that made me think about writing...and once again, Rejection. There I was in my flannel PJs, sitting on the couch with my legs curled beneath me, munching on some popcorn, my dog snoring atop my feet, and J.Lo literally stops me mid-munch.

While crushing singers' dreams as lightly as she could, the diva said (forgive the paraphrase), "Don't let this No discourage you. You'll get rejected a lot in this business. I did. A lot. Now if you want this...if you really want this...you'll learn what you've got to do to make it happen. And then you'll do it."

It was then I realized...some of those singers who got rejected will go home, decide they made it further than they ever thought possible, and be fine-and-dandy with that. They'll live perfectly happy lives knowing they gave American Idol the best shot they could...they got far...and they're proud. (As they should be!) They can sleep peacefully at night knowing they at least reached for their dreams. What makes me sad is that many of them had AMAZING talent. I'd buy a few of their songs, had they stuck to their guns and sealed a record deal. But it's what good enough for them, and not me, or America or the judges, that matters, right?

Some writers aspire to finish that one novel that's been hanging over their heads for years. Some writers finish that novel, then wait years to begin the agent hunt for fear of being rejected. Putting your heart and soul into something just to see it turned down is a hard pill to swallow. Some writers receive one rejection or ten or fifty and think Hey, I got this far. This was further than most people got. And they quit much too soon. Before they fully developed their craft. Before they really stretched themselves to the limit.

I think Jennifer Lopez was on to something. I think the people who make it...the ones who really make it...they're the ones who feel it's never good enough. They can always be better. Their work, their art, their drive, can never be strong enough. Look at the greats in any field and think about their determination, their sacrifice, their drive: Nora Roberts, James Patterson, Al Pacino, Anne Rice, Madonna, Cher, Michael Jackson, etc, etc, etc. I could seriously go on and on. Think about your favorite artist, in any form. Although there are insta-stars in any business, I'd be willing to bet they were faced with hurdle after hurdle before reaching their goal.

At least this is what I'm telling myself as I face rejection after rejection in my own journey.

For all you idol fans, my favorite this season is Tim Halperin. I'm not sure he'll win because he's not really the total package that American Idol looks for, but damn his voice is awesome.

Why Critique Partners are Important

2011-02-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

1-They push you to be better.
They tell you when your work isn't good enough. Sometimes when I write, I have a tendency to think everything's great. I get the honeymoon period a lot. Me and my manuscript. Running off into the sunset holding hands. I become too familiar with the words and too in love with the characters. This is bad. Critique partners aren't afraid to tell you that your prose is murky and your characters are flat. They push you to dig deeper and write harder.

2-They lend an ear and a shoulder when you get rejected.
I don't know of a writer who hasn't faced rejection. (And by all means, if you're out there reading this and you haven't been rejected on your writing journey and your walls are full of shiny book-lovin awards...don't mention it here. You will be stoned.) It's easy to feel down when someone in the industry says your work won't be picked up. It's easy to take it as a personal attack on you instead of a simple decision on your work. Critique partners keep things in perspective. They remind you that you're not the only one struggling to make it. It's not personal. Have a drink. Or a donut. It'll all be better in the morning.

3-They celebrate in your victories.
I had a little victory when Dark Tide Rising got a five star review from The Romance Reviews. (Love the shameless plug.) I was jumping up and down. I was ecstatic. I read it a dozen times. I cried. Seriously. But there was no greater feeling than my writing friends congratulating me. I could hear the excitement in their emails. (OMG! WOW! CONGRATS!!!!! GO YOU!!) Victories, even little ones like starred reviews, are better celebrated together.

4-They GET IT like no one else in the non-writing world gets it.
It's hard to explain to a non-writer how important the Golden Heart awards are for romance writers. It's hard to explain why I enter the Daphne Contest. (I enter both every year.) The first thing a non-writer asks after seeing me toil over the submissions is "what do you win?" The answer is simple: A necklace. It's the most simple necklace infused with honor, respect, and writing glory. Truth be told, I don't even want the necklace. The necklace isn't what it's about. It's about knowing my work means something. It's about my work getting the stamp of approval from my peers. Writers get it. We gather year after year at RWA National, get all spiffed-out for the red-carpet award ceremony the final night of the conference and watch as our friends, colleagues and FAMILY take the stage to claim that simple necklace. Not so simple after all.

3-They plot!
I had originally planned my paranormal series to be three books. Enemy, Beloved is about a shape-shifter and a vampire (and a bunch of other cool fight stuff). Immortal, Beloved is about a human and a vampire (and a bunch of reincarnated lover, death all around stuff). The third in the series (Untitled) was going to be about a fallen angel and a vampire elder (and a bunch of other totally awesome stuff I haven't really figured out yet).

But...after a recent development which I can't share yet, I've put the third book on hold. Not for good. I'm still going to write it should a publishing house pick up the first two. (PLEASE PLEASE THEY'RE GOOD I PROMISE) Now, though, I've decided it's probably a better career move if I write something in a new direction. If I build a new world. If I stay in paranormal romance but write new characters in a new and equally exciting world.

Why, you ask?

Because I have to prove that I can write something other than the series I've already started. It'd be great to say I have The Crimson Bay Series and yet another coming down the chute that's the same, but different.

But I have no freaking clue what that book is going to be about. I have a general premise. I know I want to write angels or ghosts. I know I don't want to write demons. I know I don't want to write any book about people/monsters/otherworldly things rising up against God. Period. All the other details still need to be worked out. That's where my awesome critique partners come in. I talked with one last night while giving my kids a bath (Side note: NEVER attempt to plot while giving small children baths. Your bathroom will flood. Just sayin'.) Even though I felt like I had nothing to go on--a blank canvas that needed something beautiful painted on it, my critique partner started chucking globs of literary paint onto my blank slate. We mashed around colors. We smeared ideas right and left. Although my canvas now looks more like mess than art, it's a START. And I have my critique partner to thank.

4-And lastly (too long a post, although I could go on and on), they balance you out.
During the above plotting session last night, my critique partner and I realized that we write books the EXACT OPPOSITE way. I come up with a premise. I figure out the major conflict. I figure out who my hero will be in that conflict--major role, obviously. I then determine who would challenge him most in that world. There's my heroine. She, on the other and very interesting hand, develops characters first, then throws them into complex situations. She's a great writer. I'm honored to read and critique her work. I stand to learn a lot. But that's why I think we work. Without the balance we'd never learn, right? Yin is nothing but a funky crescent moon lookin' thing without Yang.

And I think that philosophical gem is a great place to stop.

Thank your critique partners today. They're your lifeline on this crazy journey toward publication.

Dark Tide Rising Giveaway!

2011-02-21T09:05:00.000-08:00

I'm giving away two signed copies of Dark Tide Rising! I'll also be throwing in a few Dark Tide Rising bookmarks courtesy of Brenda Pandos.

Rules to enter:

~Contest open to US Residents only
~Be a Follower of my blog (All you've got to do is click Follow on the right sidebar and enter your email address. I'll never spam you--promise.)
~Comment this post answering the following question:

In Dark Tide Rising, police sergeant Mark Thurgood is deathly afraid of the ocean. What are you deathly afraid of?

~Winner will be selected using Random.org
~Contest ends one month from today: February 24th at 9pm. Winner to be contacted via email then announced through a subsequent blog post.

Also, today's Monday! Know what that means? It's time to meet other authors and writers!

It's Meet an Author Monday!

READERS:

Follow as many authors as you like. Just follow the Linky list and hop from author to author. The idea is to find as many "new to you" authors as you can, and hopefully some great new reading material as well. Leave a comment as you hop from blog to blog! We'd love to chat with you!

AUTHORS:

Follow the Meet an author Monday host (Cali Cheer Mom) along with any of the wonderfully talented authors on the list.
You will need to enter your name and blog url into the Linky tool.
Grab our super cute button and place it in a post. (THIS IS IMPORTANT!) If you don't create a post for the hop, your readers won't have a place to comment, and the hop will stop with you. So create a post, paste in the Linky code and start hopping!
The purpose of the hop is to meet "new to you" authors and discover great new reads. Follow as many authors as you can. Leave a comment and introduce yourself!
If you'd like to share the Linky list in a post on your blog ( Please do!) just follow the link and grab the code.

Lady Gaga's Born This Way and Madonna's Express Yourself

2011-02-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

Madonna's Express Yourself has always been one of my favorite videos. I'm talking all-time, folks. The ripped men (something about a grease-monkey...*sigh*). The pouring rain (the men are wet the whole time for crying out loud). The brilliant imagery (from the cat to the gears to the boxing match, I could go on and on...). Madonna's gawgeous outfits (though she was mostly half-covered in satin sheets {they're very romantic, but what happens when you're not in bed-Ha!}). Her rough and tough, manly yet feminine dancing on top of those stairs. The message. Awesome. Take a gander and slip back into the 90's:

Doesn't that just take you back? When videos were seductive without being slutty. (Enrique Iglesias, I'm lookin' at you and your "Tonight I'm F 'kin You" garbage.) I'm sure it didn't take me posting a youtube video for you to remember one of Madonna's top songs. You probably recently heard Lady Gaga on the radio and thought Born This Way sounded mighty familiar. Have a listen (it's the chorus that strikes me most):

Even PopEater and the Washington Post caught the similarities between the melodies.

I'm not a bitter fan. I don't think Lady Gaga stole the song. The lyrics are different. The music is too. This is nothing like Vanilla Ice stealing "Under Pressure"'s beats from Queen. (Minus adding the little "da da da da-da-da dum". Gimme a break.) I simply think she was inspired by Madonna's song and structured her tune around what made that one great.

Don't we all do things like this as artists and writers? Don't we study others' work, discovering what made them "work" and apply it to our own masterpieces? I know when I read I keep a pen and paper handy. I don't write verbatim. Ever. I don't even write specifics that strike me as being great (Like, THAT WAS A GREAT LINE. I may think that, but that line is "his/her" line. Not mine. Much like Madonna's song is Madonna's and not Lady Gaga's.) But when I'm reading a novel and, say, start reading fast, I make myself stop. Flip back through the last few pages. Re-read. Focus on WHY my speed increased. Did the sentences become choppy? Was it action-packed? Was there an increasing amount of tension in the dialogue? Likewise, when I get butterflies, I write down what happened. Not exactly, of course. I pause, go back, and figure out when the relationship between the hero and heroine changed into something I was feeling rather than reading. Sometimes the masterful things that happen are so subtle, if you keep reading, enjoying the pacing and story, you lose how the author accomplished the feat of pulling you hook-line-and-sinker into the story.

(Keep in mind I haven't been able to read the same since I started writing. YES some of the enjoyment is taken out...but dissecting story structure and writing dynamic has ALWAYS been one of my greatest interests. It was one of my strengths teaching English, I think. And, I hope, what will make my work eventually bash into shape.)

What do you think? Do you think Express Yourself and Born This Way are the same? Did Lady Gaga rip-off Madonna's melody? Did she make it her own?

How do you study craft? Do you dissect what works, like I do, and then apply it to your own writing? Or do you simply write what strikes you and To Hell with how everyone else is doing what?

Valentine's Day and Fried Chicken

2011-02-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

I'm a romance writer. I'm supposed to be jumping for joy that there's a day reserved for celebrating the unique love you and your significant other share, right?

Right.

At least that's what the stores would have me believe. I went grocery shopping today and was slammed with a wall of red and white the instant I stepped in the store. Dozens of roses screamed to be bought for $19.99. (They're beautiful, sure, but I'd much rather have roses given to me when my significant other doesn't feel obligated to buy them or be shoved into the "all-my-other-friends-husbands-got-roses-for-their-wives-why-didn't-you?" category. Boxes of candy perched on the edge of racks for $16.99. (They're delicious, but they'll also make you feel worse when your pants feel tighter next week.) Everywhere I looked fluff-stuffed squirrels smiled at me eerily, holding signs that read "I'm nuts for you." (They're cute, but really? I mean...REALLY?)

That's when I realized I'm a realist. I'm practical. I don't need to buy my husband chocolates when I know I'm the one who's really going to be eating them. I don't need a special day to tell him I love him or that he's "beary special" to me.

So I did what any real, practical wife would do. I bought all the fixings to make his favorite meal. (I'm frying chicken as I write this.) Haven't you heard the saying "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach"? Well that's where I'm aiming. (Little side note: the first time I got my hubby's attention is when we were in high school and I offered him my sandwich--we were on a field trip and the lunch provided was peanut butter and honey sandwiches. I hated honey--still do.)

Today, tonight, forever, don't go for the "easy". Don't buy the card and do the usual. If you normally buy flowers, offer to go for a walk, pick some, pull a pre-planted ribbon out of our pocket, tie it around the stems and give it to him or her. (Husband can take credit for that one.) Spice things up. If you normally go out to eat for special occasions, eat in. Offer to do the dishes. Do something meaningful. Give a foot rub without having to be asked. Put effort into something that will make your significant other happy. Because when your partner realizes that you didn't take the easy-cheesy store-bought-romanticism way out, THEN you'll be jumping for joy. And it won't be because of the red-swamped holiday infused with love-firing cherubs. It will be because on this day, you'll feel closer to your partner than you were the day before.

Come to think of it, that's how every day should be lived, and loved. Don't you think?

Just. Hit. Send.

2011-02-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

I know sometimes it can be terrifying. You just finished writing your query. You've pasted the whole thing into an email. You've addressed it to your dream agent. You've read the email a dozen times, skimming for errors, rewording things you know worked to begin with. Your finger hesitates over the SEND button...

And you re-read it again. Or SAVE DRAFT for later.

I went through something like that yesterday. I'm "finished" with Immortal, Beloved. I attached it to an email to my agent, said a prayer (PLEASE OH PLEASE LET HER LOVE IT AS MUCH AS ENEMY, BELOVED), or...okay, maybe I said two prayers (PLEASE DON'T LET IT SUCK) and STILL I hesitated over the SEND button.

It's just so...so...definite.

Once you push that button there's no going back. There's no changing something you noticed wrong later. A lot of the pressure from the writing/publishing industry stems from the feeling that you get one chance to make it happen. One chance to make it or break it--publish your work or bury it beneath your bed. Or at least that's how it feels to me.

I think Eminem said it best in "Lose Yourself":
Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted-One moment-
Would you capture it or just let it slip?

You have one first impression with your dream agent. Once you have a Fantabulous agent who loves your first work, you have to impress them time and time again with each manuscript you write after the first. Mr. or Mrs. Dream Agent could easily say "No, this sequel isn't for me. Go back to the drawing board, keep the characters, and write me another." Listen, I just spent one month plotting Immortal, Beloved, four months writing that 350 page book and another month editing it.

I. Feel. Pressure.

As I hesitated over the SEND button, I thought back to when I was querying agents with Enemy, Beloved. It felt darn near close to the same feeling. Did I get everything right? Did I cross every T and dot every I? Did I close up every single thread? Did the characters arc as they should've?

Then I did it. I hit send.

You should to. What are you waiting for? Take the time to make your manuscript as good as you can get it, then send that puppy. You'll never get an agent/editor/critique partner if your computer mouse keeps hovering over the same email.

As for me, another waiting game has begun. (Did I mention I'm still on submission with Enemy?) The publishing industry is a s..l...o...w... road to walk folks. But that's okay because the people you meet along the way are happy-writer-lovers, supportive and make the steep legs of the trip not seem as daunting.

Speaking of supportive happy-writer-lovers (I love that phrase--sums everyone I've met in this industry *perfectly*)...I did an interview with Kaitlyn over at Nocturnal Readings. She's also posting a review of Dark Tide Rising tomorrow. So if you've got the time, between hitting that send button, stop on by!

Proud Critique Partner Over Here

2011-02-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

An exciting announcement today:

My critique partner's second novel released today! (Isn't the cover gorgeous?) The dialogue is snappy. The plot is tight. The characters jump off the page. What more could a gal ask for! You can get your copy at Omnific's website or Amazon.

You won't be disappointed. *grin

Monday Blog Hop!

2011-02-07T15:24:00.000-08:00

It's Monday again...don't know how that happened. I've been battling a sick household the last few weeks, putting final touches on Immortal, Beloved, and not sleeping well thanks to a strained shoulder that tweaked itself while I was doing P90X's Kenpo video. Air boxing is not to be taken lightly, let me tell you.

Have you entered a certain giveaway to win a free signed copy of a certain romantic suspense novel titled Dark Tide Rising? No? Get to it. Giveaway ends February 24th. All you have to do is comment the contest post found labeled under "Pararomance Contests".

On to the hop!

Here's how it works:

READERS:

Follow as many authors as you like. Just follow the Linky list and hop from author to author. The idea is to find as many "new to you" authors as you can, and hopefully some great new reading material as well. Leave a comment as you hop from blog to blog! We'd love to chat with you!

AUTHORS:

Follow the Meet an author Monday host (Cali Cheer Mom) along with any of the wonderfully talented authors on the list.
You will need to enter your name and blog url into the Linky tool.
Grab our super cute button and place it in a post. (THIS IS IMPORTANT!) If you don't create a post for the hop, your readers won't have a place to comment, and the hop will stop with you. So create a post, paste in the Linky code and start hopping!
The purpose of the hop is to meet "new to you" authors and discover great new reads. Follow as many authors as you can. Leave a comment and introduce yourself!
If you'd like to share the Linky list in a post on your blog ( Please do!) just follow the link and grab the code.

Ten Rules for Writing Fiction

2011-02-03T08:36:00.001-08:00

I'm not an expert by any means--I'll be the first to admit it. (In fact, most times I feel much more amateur than every other writer in the business.) I don't have hardfast rules I live or write by. I've struggled through four novels in two years. In that time I've acquired an agent, lost one, then acquired another. I've flown through chapters. I've trudged through paragraphs. But since I started writing there are certain "rules" I've come to write by:

Don't have easy dialogue. By that I mean don't always have the hero/heroine's questions answered. How many times have you really wanted the answer to a question and, instead of relieving you of your stress by answering simply, the other person in the convo gives you the run-around? Or goes off on their own line of questioning? Or stares at you like there's no way in hell I'm telling you *that* Make your characters squirm. Don't make things easy for them, even when it's a simple question. (And of course, everything in moderation, right?) Now that I think of it, I may just like to torture my darlings.

Carry around a notebook. Always. Record the tiny things that strike a cord in your own life. Jot down some dialogue from people sitting next to you on the bus. Take notes about the daily things that bring a smile to your face. And the ones that bring you down. Don't necessarily use those things word for word, but figure out WHY you wrote them down and WHY that particular scene elicited the type of emotion it did.

Once you *think* you've finished your manuscript (and I'm talking about the edited THE END not the first draft THE END) read it backwards to edit some more. Then read it aloud. Print it out and read it again. Then download it to your e-reader and read it again. I can pretty much guarantee you'll find something to change every single time (and probably even once it's published!)

Be hopeful and open, but expect the absolute worst. It'd be great to wish for NYT Bestselling status with your first sale...but that's probably not going to happen. It'd be great to think you could sell one book, make it big, then write whatever you want and have that be big too...but it doesn't work that way. It's easy to feel down when rejection hits (believe me) but you can't let it pin you to the mat. Get up and fight for your dreams some more.

Are you writing for business, pleasure or both. If you never plan on pursuing publication that's fine. Write for you and you alone. Ignore all rules--including these. If you're writing to make a career of it, treat it that way. Write every day. Edit on days you don't. Be *IN* the world you created, even when you detach from the computer. If you write for both business and pleasure I believe you've chosen the right path!

And for my final five rules, I'm going to pick and chose my favorites from an article in guardian.co.uk titled "Ten Rules for Writing Fiction".

"You know that sickening feeling of inadequacy and over-exposure you feel when you look upon your own empurpled prose? Relax into the awareness that this ghastly sensation will never, ever leave you, no matter how successful and publicly lauded you become. It is intrinsic to the real business of writing and should be cherished."--Will Self

"Description must work for its place. It can't be simply ornamental. It ?usually works best if it has a human element; it is more effective if it comes from an implied viewpoint, rather than from the eye of God. If description is coloured by the viewpoint of the character who is doing the noticing, it becomes, in effect, part of character definition and part of the action."--Hilary Mantel

"Remember: when people tell you something's wrong or doesn't work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong."--Neil Gaiman

"Let your work stand before deciding whether or not to serve."--Andrew Motion

And last but not least...

"The nearest I have to a rule is a Post-it on the wall in front of my desk saying "Faire et se taire" (Flaubert), which I translate for myself as 'Shut up and get on with it.'"--Helen Simpson

So there you go. Now shut up and get on with it.

My Writing Spot

2011-01-31T13:40:00.000-08:00

As promised, today the authors participating in the Meet an Author Monday blog hop will be showing you their workspace.

For my writing time, I decided to nestle myself into a corner of our living room. I have a beautiful view of grape vineyards outside my window (though you wouldn't know it from the blindingly beautiful glow in the picture). I always have a cup of coffee to my left. My current read (Lauren Kate's Torment) to my right. And if you look closely you can barely see the edges of stacks of paper on the far left...those are the Golden Heart entries I'm supposed to judge by March 1st. I'm a tad behind...

But my writing space is just that...*MY* writing space. No clutter. No bills. No stress. Just an orchid, my coffee, and writing materials. That's where I work best. (I totally just typed "That's where I work beer." Freud would have a field day with me right now!)

On to the hop! Here's how it works:

READERS:

•Follow as many authors as you like. Just follow the Linky list and hop from author to author. The idea is to find as many "new to you" authors as you can, and hopefully some great new reading material as well. Leave a comment as you hop from blog to blog! We'd love to chat with you!

AUTHORS:

•Follow the Meet an author Monday host (Cali Cheer Mom) along with any of the wonderfully talented authors on the list.
•You will need to enter your name and blog url into the Linky tool.
•Grab our super cute button and place it in a post. (THIS IS IMPORTANT!) If you don't create a post for the hop, your readers won't have a place to comment, and the hop will stop with you. So create a post, paste in the Linky code and start hopping!
•The purpose of the hop is to meet "new to you" authors and discover great new reads. Follow as many authors as you can. Leave a comment and introduce yourself!
•If you'd like to share the Linky list in a post on your blog ( Please do!) just follow the link and grab the code.

Signs are EVERYWHERE

2011-01-27T07:55:00.000-08:00

Some signs need no explanation...

*This one's on the way to Arnold, CA. It was rainy. Foggy. Snowy. Windy. Icy. Our four-wheel drive decided to malfunction. (Murphy's Law, anyone?) Have you ever driven up a hill completely sideways, skidding the whole way, looking "forward" through the passenger side window? Sad to say I can mark that off my bucket list.

*

Some signs remind you what you should be doing...

*Ruan is the name of my hero in my work-in-progress. Yes, the truck was my inspiration. I thought Ruan...Ruin...tortured hero...PERFECT! But when you're going through a writing slump, bashing a scene into place (which I was at the time), the last thing you want is to see your main character on every milk truck that passes you by.

*

Some signs give you hope...

*I'm currently on submission with Harper Collins' imprint Avon. I haven't seen an ad for Avon in YEARS. Maybe since the late 1980's. Yet there it was, staring me in the face in the Dairy Queen drive through. A reminder to have hope...that there might be good things to come. I said a prayer, crossed my fingers...and picked up my chocolate chip cookie dough blizzard.

*

Some remind us of a forgotten age...

*This sign is one I found while traipsing through Fort Point in San Francisco. I was researching Immortal, Beloved at the time. This one was bolted to a brick wall on the barracks side of the fort.

*

And there are those that show us what the future holds...

*

Other signs make you read in awe...

*Another Fort Point beauty. I read this one over and over again. I could only dream of writing something so awe-inspiring. It was pinned beneath a window with a view of the center courtyard lightower.

*

Some signs aren't even signs at all. Sometimes the feelings bubbling inside of you are signs. Signs you're on the right path...or the wrong one. I feel happy. Hopeful. Grateful. Appreciative. In my book, those feelings are all signs of good things to come. If I'm a member of this group in any way shape or form, my future is brighter than I ever could've imagined...

*San Francisco Chapter of Romance Writer's of America board. I couldn't ask for a better group of gals to be on this journey with.

Dark Tide Rising Love and Some Giveaways

2011-01-24T08:04:00.000-08:00

Okay, there's a few things to mention today, none of which are normal Monday things like school and work, and all of them make me very, VERY happy.

Catch Dark Tide Rising as the featured novel over at Mithril Wisdom. You just missed his 100 Follower giveaway but the blog is informative and witty and you can really hear Mithril's voice through the posts. Could you ask for anything more from a writer? I think not.

Also, romance authors Tina Folsom and Bella Andre (all-around great gals and fellow members of SFARWA) are giving away Nook colors. The requirements to enter are super easy and best of all: THEY'RE FREE. Tina's giveaway ends January 24th (That's tomorrow folks!) at 9pm. Bella's giveaway ends January 31st at 9pm so you have a bit more time.

And last but not least, I'm giving away two signed copies of Dark Tide Rising! I'll throw in a few bookmarks too because they're too beautiful not to pass around. (Geez, how many toos were in that sentence? Two too many. Ha!)

Rules to enter:

~Contest open to US Residents only
~Be a Follower of my blog (All you've got to do is click Follow on the right sidebar and enter your email address. I'll never spam you--promise.)
~Comment this post answering the following question:

In Dark Tide Rising, police sergeant Mark Thurgood is deathly afraid of the ocean. What are you deathly afraid of?

~Winner will be selected using Random.org
~Contest ends one month from today: February 24th at 9pm. Winner to be contacted via email then announced through a subsequent blog post.

Sagging Middles

2011-01-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about that little pooch hovering around your middle. I'm talking about the drawn out middle section of your work-in-progress.

You'll know if you have one:
Is there a certain chapter driving you mad? Giving you all kinds of problems? A certain character who won't get in line and do as you want him to? Is the writing slow and choppy? Have you edited it a thousand times over and *still* something doesn't seem right about it?

If you answered YES then your problem most likely is not that chapter or character or scene that is "sticking"...it's the sagging middle pulling down other threads of your story. The plot should roll. Fast. (Although I struggled in my own WIP to make certain parts PERFECT, and rewrote them {and rewrote them over and over again}, I honestly felt like I was still in the beginning throws of my book, still tossing conflict at the characters, still building their relationships, when I suddenly realized I had to start wrapping things up. I started panicking that I didn't have enough room to finish the growth that the characters so needed.)

So how do you stop the middle of your book from sagging?

Use the Three Act Structure.
Use GMC: Goal, Motivation, Conflict. (Although I prefer reading it straight from Deb Dixon.
Remember Vogler's Hero's journey.

Those are great tools. If you're still stuck, here's a quick checklist you can go through to be sure your middle doesn't sag:

1-Characters aren't drifting through--make sure they have solid, clear goals.

2-Are characters getting closer to those goals? Or closer to realizing what they are, at the very least?

3-Are all scenes ending with the characters' needs being met? THEY SHOULDN'T BE. Do you always get what you want? No. Neither do I. Neither should your characters. It complicates things and that's exactly what you want.

4-Do you have unexpected twists and turns? Some event that takes the story in a different direction? (And side note: what would happen if that event pushed your character into a corner?)

5-Are your emotional stakes high enough in the middle? Do they escalate?

6-How's your pacing? Is it choppy and quick? Or long winded and dreary? Speed things up by creating a sense of urgency, not just with your words, but with your sentence structure.

7-Are there dead weight scenes? Find THREE purposes to keep the scene in your work-in-progress. If you can't find three VALID reasons, HACK IT.

8-Is your writing cliche-driven? Does your plot have predictable patterns? Change things up. Lead the readers a certain direction in your chapter or scene, then end it COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY.

How's your middle looking now?

Thick Skin

2011-01-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

(This post brought to you by the news of my first "on submission" rejection.)

Rejection sucks. It really does.

Whether you're trying to break into the publishing industry with queries to agents or submissions to editors...or whether you just passed along your very first draft to your very first critique partner...you always stand the risk of being told "it's not good enough."

And, sadly, that's what I was told earlier this week. Three times. Yup. The first rejection was from a major publishing house in NY. I'm bummed to say the least. But Enemy, Beloved is still with two houses, and there's a few more out there so DONT'FREAKOUTKRISTIN!

*deep breath*

The other two "rejections" came in the form of critique partner feedback for Immortal, Beloved, the sequel to Enemy, that I just finished. I sent off the last 50 pages to be torn apart by two of the most vicious (and also smartest and most appreciated) critique partners out there. They didn't hate it...per se...just tore it to shreds saying it could be tons better.

*deep breath*

This writing gig is hard. Really hard. I feel like I'm competing with the likes of authors I love to read (ie: Brennan, Novak, Ward, Ione, Kate, McCarty) and here's the even scarier part...I AM! I really am. I desperately wanted to send my crit partners my work and have them tear the house apart running to the computer screen. I wanted them to devour the pages. I wanted them to call screaming that they want more...a third in the series! But they didn't.

So in the face of the three rejections this week I did absolutely nothing yesterday other than watch DANGEROUS BEAUTY. Do you remember the film about the 16th century courtesans? If you haven't seen it OHMYGOSHWHYHAVEN'TYOUSEENIT you should netflix it. It's about forbidden first love and tears my heart out for the heroine every single time. I kept myself busy by cleaning cobwebs out of my vaulted ceiling and my brain. I devoured my crit partners' harsh, but heartfelt, words...and chocolate.

Then I got back down to business. Instead of saying "thanks for reading my work" and moving along with minor edits to appease my injured ego, I listened to all they had to say. Really listened. I took notes. Asked questions about my own plot, including hypotheticals. I asked where they were taken out of the story (took notes) then where they were "in" it (took more notes). I analyzed why and read (I mean researched) some of my favorite books, rereading parts that hooked me and asked myself why. Why do I care at that moment? How did Ms. NYT Bestselling do that? I took more notes.

It would've been easy to say my crit partners were too harsh. It would've been easy to let their sobering advice about one of my plot points fall on deaf ears. I could've easily thought "I'm the writer, and I like this scene, I'll do what I damn well please."

But this writing gig isn't easy. So if I want to make it among the likes of Brennan, Novak, Ward, Ione, Kate, and McCarty I have to work as hard as they do. I have to take that soul dampening advice and chop apart my manuscript no matter how much I want to be done.

That's my challenge today: look at the manuscript with fresh eyes. Love nothing so dear that I can't chop it to bits. Try not to worry about being done, but rather being great.

And *deep breath* here I go.

The Perfect Storm and The End

2011-01-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

I wrote like a madwoman yesterday and finished Immortal, Beloved!!! Yay!!! I woke up, deciding immediately that it was going to be a PJ, coffee, writing day (those are now OFFICIALLY my favorite kind) and buckled down.

Do you remember the movie The Perfect Storm? Let me jog your memory:

What'd you say? Those two hunky celebs weren't supposed to be the focus of the movie? Huh.

In the movie (based on real events), Hunk 1 and Hunk 2 were part of a crew of swordfishermen fishing off the Grand Banks. Their fishing boat, The Andrea Gail, despite countless warnings, headed straight into The Perfect Storm (a culmination of a few monster Atlantic storms crashing into one another) and sank.

How does this fit in with my writing day yesterday? Glad you asked.

Remember this scene?

The Andrea Gail was fighting to get out of the storm. The fishermen could see the sunrise. Just on the other side of that ginormous wave was their freedom. They could almost reach it...almost...tension was at its peak. And then they tumbled down the wall of water and were never seen again.

Okay, so I'm being overdramatic. But I was fighting to finish Immortal's first draft. Although this book is my absolute favorite--the best I've written to date--it's given me pains along the way. The beginning was torture. I wrote draft after draft. The middle was action-packed and went much more smoothly. But this ending. Ugh. Pain. I wrote 6k in a few hours yesterday morning. Stepped away from the computer for a bit. Came back. Deleted 2k of those words. I reached the black moment of my story, wrote through it, realized I was a few paragraphs from the end...and decided it wasn't good enough. It didn't grab me like it should've. So I tumbled back down the wall of words.

After I put the kids to bed last night I sat down again, determined to finish this book. I wrote a few more hours, twisted things in a different direction, saw the new day dawning (in my book of course), and FINISHED!

It's raw. It needs to be edited A LOT. Especially since I wrote another 2k in a flurry after hours. (And the stuff I write in the middle of the night is not good. Ever.)

But it's done. I made it out alive. (Albeit tired and in serious need of coffee and down time reading other genres.)

The [glorious and wonderful and all things shiny and sparkly] End.