I've Got Cover Copies!

I received a nice treat in the mail on Friday: the cover copies for BITE ME, I’M YOURS and GHOSTLY LIAISON. I submitted my suggested blurbs and expected them to be ignored (mainly because my blurbs aren’t usually all that great), so I felt really honored that my suggested blurb for GHOSTLY LIAISON was only tweaked a little bit. Guess that blurb writing class worked!! Haha!

Anyway, here is the blurb for BITE ME, I’M YOURS:

Sarah’s known monsters…and John isn’t one.

Sarah’s life isn’t going well. She’s divorced from an abusive jerk, been drugged, stuffed in her trunk and nearly kidnapped. Between that and a harsh winter, it’s almost more than a girl can take. She’s rightly distrusting of any man’s affection, so an ice-skating date with John - who doesn’t seem to feel the cold - isn’t exactly on her bucket list. Yet something about him captures her attention.

John is determined to live as an ordinary mortal. He’s moved into the city, bought a sports bar and works there as the bartender. As a new vampire, he’s never considered dating, until he meets Sarah. Prudence dictates he stay away from her, but everything about her calls to him…right down to her cute animal socks.

Sure, finding out John is a vampire is scary, but Sarah’s learned not all monsters have fangs. Besides, someone else isn’t too happy about their budding relationship. Sarah will have to survive before getting her chance at love.

 

And here’s the blurb for GHOSTLY LIAISON:

Avoiding love is hard, but proving a suicide was murder can be fatal.

When Rob’s sister passed away, she left him her dog and house. He can handle being a dog owner, but doesn’t need another home. Especially one the neighbor swears is haunted. Then he meets Bridget. She needs a cheap place to live and he has a house in need of repairs. He might have found the perfect way to get to know her better.

Bridget is working on getting her life together after an auto accident left her scarred in more ways than one. But it’s time to move on, starting with leaving her parent’s house...again. Broke, she can’t pass up free lodging, regardless of the shape it’s in. Or the roommate that’s part of the package. She’s never believed in ghosts, now she’s living with one.

Charlie may be dead, but she’s not gone. And she’s certainly not about to let the one person who can see her slip away. She has to prove she didn’t commit suicide before the killer decides Rob’s next.

Now I just have to wait for the COVERS! That’ll be an exciting day.

* * * *

I do not know what is wrong with my blogger account, if that’s where the problem lies. Seems my own comments can’t even be delivered to my e-mail, yet I’ll get the e-mail from Mailer-Daemon stating the delivery to that e-mail account failed. Say what? The from and to addresses are the same, so how can it NOT deliver to the TO address, but CAN deliver to the FROM address? Makes no sense, but then it’s a computer program. They never make any sense to me. If you have any knowledge about what’s going on, please share.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Ole!

Stacy

Spring Brings a New Writing Project (and Baseball!)

Well, the writing bug has hit again and I’ve started Book 7, in which I’ve tentatively entitled GHOSTLY INTERLUDE (this one follows a character introduced in GHOSTLY LIAISON). It’s about a woman who is being possessed by a ghost, but doesn’t realize it, and the man she hires to help her. I know, thin, but that’s about all I know about it now. Hello! Pantser here!

I posted what I thought would be the beginning of the story HERE (an opening I wrote on the spur of the moment for a fun assignment) and sure enough, it is! Well, there were some minor changes, but for the most part, that’s the beginning of my book. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Just because I’m writing, doesn’t mean I’m not editing. Book 6 (BLIND TEMPTATION), is nowhere near finished, but I find I can only edit for so long and then I’m really zoned out. That’s why I started the new project. Apparently the writing side of my brain doesn’t have that zoning-out kind of problem! Whew!

I find it interesting that I’m starting another book now (so close to April). I began writing the last four books in April. Heck, the first book I ever wrote was 5 years ago in April! I’m beginning to think it has something to do with spring! J

Now my only choice each day is whether to write first and then edit or edit first and then write. Yesterday I wrote first. Didn’t get much editing in, but then I don’t do all that much writing/editing on the weekend as it is (especially when I remember I want to write a post for my blog--oops!). But I’m thinking I better edit first. I really want BLIND finished so I can give it to another reader.

 

And then there are these two other projects that will take precedence over everything--you know, those that Lyrical/Kensington will be publishing (hee hee). Still haven’t heard from my editor, but then the contracts were just delivered on Friday (USPS isn’t exactly speedy, even with priority mail!). I expect it won’t be long before I’m knee deep into those edits.

Busy, busy, huh? But I’m loving it!

I’m going to my first Dayton Dragons baseball game of the season this week! Yay! Yes, it really IS spring! I just hope I don’t freeze out there. Even though the temp’s supposed to be in the sixties, that’s still not exactly toasty warm, you know? I’ll just make sure to take a blanket (or three).

So…What event tells YOU it’s spring?

Stacy

 

Wednesday Reads and Some Great News!

I’ve been waiting, and waiting, and waiting to share this news, but wouldn’t until I knew it was for real (And do you know how hard that is? It’s HARD!). Well, it’s for real now, since I’ve signed the contracts and mailed them out. Lyrical/Kensington will be publishing my next two books: “Bite Me, I’m Yours” and “Ghostly Liaison”!

Yay! Let’s all dance!!

So, I’m guessing that just may put a little bit of a crimp in my reading. We’ll see. I’m all caught up in my goal for now. Here’s what I read during the week:

Mar 20: “The Dragon’s Heart” by Eden Ashe, a paranormal romance. Blurb from Goodreads: The dragon-shifter king will do anything to keep his mate alive...even if it means war. After millennia as king of the dragon-shifters, Daniel Ashborne wants a little peace and quiet, especially from the beautiful Hollywood starlet who haunts his memories. His escape tactics end abruptly when he is called to the ER to save the one woman he wants to forget, but who now bears his mark. Shelby Kincade's life and movie career were nearly destroyed when Daniel vanished a year ago. Now he's back, claiming they have been accidentally mated. Getting over him once was hard enough, but she must choose either the life of her dreams or the man she can't live without. With peace finally on the horizon between the dragon-shifters and the Hunters, an assassination attempt on the dragon king and his mate shatters everything. Tensions rebuild as Daniel and his loyal team of shifters try to discover who put out the hit. Enemy and ally lines are crossed, but in the end--after the battle ash has settled--no one could have foreseen who has plotted for their own gain. Wow! This book hooked me from the get-go and never let go. To say I was nervous reading it is an understatement. I’ve had some bad experiences lately. So glad this one did not disappoint! I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

Mar 22: “Playing the Game,” by M.Q. Barber, an erotic romance. I won this book, but had it on my list to buy. Blurb from Goodreads: She expects dinner with neighbors, but gets sex with a side of safewords. Mechanical engineer Alice still drools over her sexy neighbors a year after she’s moved in. She can’t decide whether they’re roommates or partners, but either way, they spark a wanton desire in her that has her imagination–and vibrator–working overtime. Henry, director of everything around him, studies human nature and applies philosophies to his paintings as well as his relationships. Quirky, polite to a fault, and formal, he follows his own code of honor even when it means denying himself. Flirtatious and playful, Jay needs stability, guidance, and to please others. His antics counterbalance Henry’s stuffy ways while he brings a level of vulnerability and fun to everything the trio does. BDSM play with the enigmatic artist and flirtatious joker across the hall allows Alice to put aside the linear thought processes which have kept her unsatisfied and distant with other lovers. She must dismiss her preconception of love, sacrificing her independence, if she’s to find a permanent place in their beds and hearts. This book is way more than just sex (and trust me, it titillates, but good!); I LOVE these characters. They are so fascinating. And the book ended way too soon. I really look forward to reading more about Henry, Jay, and Alice! Heck, it was the short story I read in “First Frost” that made me want to read this book. I gave this 5 stars on Goodreads (and I’m craving, craving, craving the next one--so much so I already purchased it!).

Mar 24: “Watershed” by Cd Brennan, a contemporary romance. I won this book, too, but also had it on my to-buy list. Blurb on back: Maggie isn’t looking for love on her backpacking trip through Australia. She’s got enough man troubles back in Ireland. Australia is her escape, a place of adventure where she can create memories to last a lifetime. But some memories won’t be left behind. Gray is ready to quit hiring backpackers to help with the work on his remote Queensland cattle station when Maggie turns up. She’s just passing through, but the connection they forge during the long nights herding cattle won’t be so easily cast aside. This is a sweet romance (meaning no sex scenes), which I knew going into it, so I was okay with that (although I prefer more spice in my romances). Even sweet, I enjoyed this book, loved the characters, and breezed right through it. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.

 

So...did any of you have some cold weather yesterday? It snowed here (ugh). At least it should be in the 50s by Thursday. Of course, it's supposed to rain, too. Gee, can't we get some warm and sunny weather? I think Santa Barbara spoiled me!

Happy reading!

Stacy

 

It's Back to Work for Me!

Okay, the Olympics are done. The weather is getting warmer…uh, no it’s not. Rats! Anyway, things will go back to normal now. That means going back to the gym. I plan on going four times this week. Let’s see if I can do it! Someone want to kick my butt out the door? I might need it.

It also means working on a project. I have too many unpolished manuscripts, so my next project is fixing up GHOSTLY LIAISON (my fourth book). Doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about what my next book will be, though. Will I continue with my vampires or write another ghost one? It’s a decision I don’t need to make right away, at least.

After I polish GHOSTLY LIAISON, I am going to attempt a novella. I basically have a lot of it written. My second book, SARAH’S TURN, is pretty much junk (the events are no longer relevant as it used to be the sequel to BITE ME, I’M YOURS), but there is this nice wedding in it and some funny scenes I’d love to use. I’m excited about going through SARAH’S TURN and see what’s salvageable. I haven’t decided whether or not I want to keep the title. We’ll see…

Hopefully by then my daughter will have told me whether or not BLIND TEMPTATION is a hit or miss. Hopefully it’s a hit and I can work at beefing it up. If it’s a miss, well…then I’ll have to go back to the drawing board on that one and see where I went wrong. Right now it feels like a hit, but I’ve been known to be wrong before (like I did with SARAH’S TURN).

I think I have enough projects to look forward to. Of course, all that can get out of whack if I get a contract for BITE ME. Heck, I HOPE it all gets out of whack!! I’ll keep you posted.

So…who else is going to get hit with another polar blast? I think the temps drop down into the single digits on Wednesday. Ugh!!! In two weeks I’ll be in Santa Barbara (visiting my parents). I can’t wait for some warmer weather.  

Stacy

 

New Project News - Book 6!

Someone asked on one of my loops if anyone worked on two projects at the same time. You know, edit one project while writing the first draft of another. I checked my Excel spreadsheet (because I keep track of all my writing there) and discovered I had - back when I had the day job. I wrote “Alien Desires” at work and edited “Ghostly Liaison” when I got home. But since I lost the day job?

Nope, didn’t do it.

But there was a reason. My editing project was completed and waiting for feedback by then, so I was free to just write the first draft of “Alien Desires.” I finished that first draft back in October and have been editing stuff ever since. So why wasn’t I doing two projects now?

Hmmm… Could it be because no shiny new idea had poked me in the brain? Probably!

So I asked my husband what he thought my next project should be: vampires, ghosts, or aliens? “My Sunny Vampire” will be published by Lyrical Press. I’m hoping they’ll be interested in “Bite Me, I’m Yours” (once it’s ready to show them--and no, I refuse to work on two editing projects at the same time; the editing side of my brain can only do so much). He asked me what I would do with “Bite Me” if Lyrical Press didn’t want it. Well, I’d probably self-publish it. So he suggested I write another vampire story.

This from a man who has read ALL my work EXCEPT my vampire stories!

But I agreed with him. Plus, I was knee deep in my vampire world already. Question was: which couple would I pick?

This is where taking NOTES come in super handy! All this time I thought Sam and Janie would be the next book I wrote. But they weren’t screaming to be written--I had no story, just a couple and a tiny situation. Not enough. My Russian vamp needs a book or two to lead into it, so he wasn’t working out, either. Then I opened the notes on Ben and Victoria. I had forgotten all about them.

I had motivation. I had conflict. I had a story! And it fit! WhooHoo! I even got the first 700 words written yesterday (after, I repeat, after I added 500 words to “Alien Desires”--my editing goal for each day). I’d forgotten what a rush writing NEW stuff can be. Man, I really missed it.

“Blind Temptation” (Book 6) is born. Does that title do anything for you? It may change, but it seems to fit for now.

Tonight I expect to either be freezing at the Dayton Dragons game or be a chicken and stay at home, where it’s warm. Do I hear clucking?

 

 

The End of a Year and a Resolution for the New One

Ah, my last post of 2012. The 156th of the year, making it the best year yet. Sticking to a M-W-F posting seems to be working fairly well. Hopefully, I'll continue with it in 2013.

As for New Year's Resolutions, I didn't really have any last year, but I had a vague goal: start and finish Book #5. Well, I did that, so that's good, right?

This year I am making a New Year's Resolution. I felt I HAD to, because if I didn't, I'd probably chicken out and not go through with it. This way I'm kind of forcing my hand or else face embarrassment with my reading public (which isn't that large, I know, but large enough!).

My resolution? By Dec 31, 2013, I will have published (or contracted to publish) my vampire romance series. That would be Books #1, #2, and #3.

Now, I know I have no control over publication dates if I happen to sign with a publisher, which is my ultimate choice – not that I have one (ha ha). So if I can sign by then, GREAT. But if that doesn't happen, I will self-publish, and that I can control. I refuse to let my stories wallow away on my computer. Maybe they aren't unique enough for an agent or a publisher, but you know, I don't think all readers care about unique. I don't, and I know my daughter doesn't. They're good stories and fun to read. Well, #1 and #3 are. I'm still working out #2, but I'm being optimistic here!

So that's my resolution. Short and sweet. I find those are the best kinds to keep anyway. What are you resolving to do in the new year?

****

And in other news…I got my synopsis written and I submitted GHOSTLY LIAISON for the Golden Heart Contest. I also started querying!

I'm trying to make 2013 a very good year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

Goal Met!

I'm another step closer to querying. Got the edits finished on Book #4 and only have to read it through to make sure it all makes sense before I hand it off to some readers. I said I'd finish it by Thanksgiving and by gosh, I did!

**Happy Dance**

Now I can take a break and actually clean the family room. You think I'm joking? Well, I'm not taking pictures to prove my point. That would be too embarrassing. Well, maybe I WILL take pictures, if only for my own reference. If I think I've done an awesome job, then I'll post before and after pics. But don't hold your breath.

But really, this place is a mess. I have no place to put the Christmas tree right now. And there's too much stuff (junk) in front of the fireplace, making it useless.

Of course not all this mess is mine. Half belongs to the husband. I think I'll put all his stuff in a box and let him go through it. What do you think? Sound like a plan? I think so!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Got any plans for Black Friday? I have to cook this year (bummer), and the only thing I'm doing on Friday is going to the movies, like we do every year. Right now "Red Dawn" seems to be the likely choice for our family tradition. I wish the reviews were more promising, but hey, it's got Chris Hemsworth. Can't be all bad!

 

 

What I Read Last Week

Tomorrow night the daughter and I will be at the theatre to watch "Breaking Dawn Part 2" – yeah, baby! It looks to be a chilly, yet dry night, but standing in line for hours also gives me plenty of time to read. Of course, watching everyone in line can be entertaining, too. Young adults are a strange breed.

Anyway, I only finished one book in the past week (I've been on an editing mission!):

Nov 9: "Killing Johnny Fry: A Sexistential Novel" by Walter Mosley. I've never read anything by him before, but a couple of years ago, while perusing the sale "bin" at B&N on line, this book intrigued me. Now I finally got around to reading it. The blurb on the inside cover: "When Cordell Carmel catches his longtime girlfriend with another man, the act that he witnesses seems to dissolve all the boundaries he knows. In that instant, the calm existence of this middle-aged New York City man becomes something unrecognizable: he wants revenge, but also something more. 'Killing Johnny Fry' is the story of Cordell's dark, funny, soulful, and outrageously explicit sexual odyssey in search of a new way of life. Along the way, he encounters a mysterious woman named Sisypha, who leads him deep into the city's forbidden heart." The story certainly kept me curious 'til the end, but if you're not into erotic noir, you might want to stay away. I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.

I'm getting soooo close to finishing the editing of Ghostly Liaison. But I have to make sure not to rush it at the end (something I tend to do). I'll be glad to finish, though, and then pass it on to my daughter to read (and review). Maybe my husband, too. He read my rough, first draft of Alien Desires (I needed some feedback before I edited), and even after reading that mess (because, let's face it, first drafts SUCK), he's anxious to read Ghostly Liaison. That made me feel good, in a writerly kind of way!

So, are any of you planning on seeing "Breaking Dawn Part 2"?

 

What I Read Last Week

Editing is going along great. I foresee finishing Ghostly Liaison by Thanksgiving. And because I'm going along at a good clip, reading time has been reduced. Here are the books I completed since last Wednesday.

Oct 31: "Iced Chiffon" by Duffy Brown. This book is a straight (cozy?) mystery. Blurb on back: "There's always something to gossip about in Savannah, Georgia, and Reagan Summerside always seems to be in the middle of it. She's busy enough running her consignment shop, the Prissy Fox, with her vivacious auntie, KiKi, but now the gossip – and the sales – are about to pick up, after a gruesome discovery…" Not my usual genre, but the story looked fun and I attended Duffy Brown's Mystery Party during Lori Foster's Reader/Author Get Together (which she also helps run), so I bought her book. I sort of thought there might be some kind of romance involved, but there wasn't (although one was teased, sort of). I didn't figure out "who done it" until it was revealed at the end. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.

Nov 6: "Claimed" by Rebecca Zanetti. This is the second book in the series and now I need to purchase #3. I liked the story, although the alpha male is a little meaner than I'd prefer (I felt the same way about the alpha male in the first book, too). That won't stop me from continuing on with the series, though. Blurb on back: "Emma Paulsen is a geneticist driven by science. But she's also a psychic, so when a dark, good-hearted vampire frees her from the clutches of the evil Kurjans, she realizes he must be the man who's been haunting her dreams. But with a virus threatening vampires' mates, Emma may discover a whole new meaning of "lovesick"… As King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs has learned to practice diplomacy. Still, it's taken three hundred years to find his mate, so he'll stop at nothing to protect her – even if it means turning his back on his own kind…" I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads.

So what have you read this past week? Please share!

Here's to another week of happy reading!

 

 

Just Slap Me Upside the Head

Yay! Friday is here!

I got my edits completed and the manuscript sent out to my crit partners. And I'm finally getting to read Lover Reborn (my reward). Life is good!

This will be my last blog for the month. I already know our timeshare does not have WiFi and if we find a place that we can connect to the internet, you can bet I'll be checking my e-mail before checking anyone's blog.

I am so looking forward to the break!

Now, on to why I titled this post the way I did…

But first, a little background information. My husband gets up after I've gotten ready for work. By the time I come upstairs to brush my teeth, he's either still in bed or in the shower. I rarely see him in the morning. So the mornings don't count. They don't, I tell you!

On Tuesday morning he finally shaved off his beard. Yay! Problem? I noticed Wednesday night (and not on my own).

He went fishing Tuesday afternoon and didn't get home until 11pm (about the time I was getting ready for bed). I noticed he looked tired, but that was about it. I spent all of five minutes with him. So I think I have a fairly good excuse. Not great, but good.

I have nothing for Wednesday.

My daughter was over to watch Veronica Mars and we all went to dinner first. It wasn't until we were pulling into Hot Head Burritos, when the worker there indicated he was sorry to see the beard had disappeared.

Uh oh! Even my daughter hadn't noticed (and she had asked if she could buy him a razor for Father's Day – as a hint).

Am I screwed, or what?

Now, my defense is this – and for the most part true: Since he grew that beard, I kind of avoided looking at his face. That's how much I hated it. So, would this avoidance be enough to not notice when he shaved? I'd like to think it is. When I ignore something, I guess I really ignore it!

But that doesn't explain his co-workers. Apparently they've seen him for two whole days without the beard (a beard they said they loved) and only one person commented. A person he only sees occasionally.

I feel badly. I truly do.

But I am happy the beard is gone.

So, while I'm spending my vacation making up my faux pas to my husband, I hope you have a splendid week.

And if I'm smart (of which I think I just proved I'm NOT), I'll have written some blogs to post when I return. Without the internet to distract me, that might not be a problem. We'll see how lazy I get.

NOTE: Since I wrote the above, it has come to my attention that my husband shaved his beard because it became too much work for him (and it was hot). So now maybe I'm not feeling all that bad that I hadn't noticed when he shaved it. Because he apparently didn't shave it off for me!  But I still love him! :)

Favorite Movies I Never Tire of Watching

So busy finishing (yes – finishing!!!) the edits of Book 4, I didn't have much time to work on this blog. I'll still give the final ten pages another look on Thursday, but I think the story is solid – and that's what matters the most.

Anyway, I looked through our stash of DVDs (of which you can see from this picture taken last year – the collection has grown a little since and doesn't include all the John Wayne movies my husband has in an identical case) and wrote down the ones I could watch over and over and over. Well, I could probably watch them all over, but would need a year or two between watches. Not this list. If I'm flipping through the television channels and run across one of these movies, I'll stop and watch it. That's how much I like these.

Here they are, in alphabetical order – my favorite movies I never tire of watching:

• American President
• Back to the Future
• Beetlejuice
• The Birds
• Bringing Up Baby
• Bull Durham
• Dave
• Die Hard
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• Galaxy Quest
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• It's a Wonderful Life
• Ladyhawke
• A League of Their Own
• Love, Actually
• Major League
• Music & Lyrics
• Notting Hill
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Pretty Woman
• Romancing the Stone
• Sleepless in Seattle
• Sound of Music
• Star Trek – The Voyage Home
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• While You Were Sleeping
• Young Frankenstein

Have I hit any of your favorites? Or are you like my dad – watch a movie once and then forget about it?

And if there's a movie here you've never heard about, tell me. I'll then tell you why you should watch it!

Pictures of Pittsburgh!

Hey! Lookie here! I finally got around to posting my pictures from our trip to Pittsburgh (and if you click on the pictures, the should enlarge).

But don't get your hopes up toooooo high. I don't have all that many (bad me).

Just to prove I was on a Segway, we had the tour guy take this picture. Starting from the right, that's my husband, then me, then our good friends Bill and Barb. That fifth person? Have no idea. She thought the guy was taking a group picture!

And the thing was, the guide knew she wasn't with us, so why he included her was beyond me. But hey, it makes for a good laugh.

I took this photo to show how close to the field we were at PNC Park. Nine rows from 1st base. Not too shabby, huh? Our friends are Cubs fans and were happy to be able to see them play at a park they've never been to. We got to see a good game, too. Tied right up to the last out in the 9th inning. Too bad our friends didn't get to see their Cubs win, though (I had no preference - I'm not a Cubs nor Pirates fan). Tough loss.

This was as close as we got to Heinz Field on this trip. In July we'll be a lot closer. The hubby and I will return for the tour. One thing I did pay attention to - my vampires could definitely climb over the fence and get onto the field (a scene I have in MY SUNNY VAMPIRE). That was good to know!

This photo was taken after we rode the incline up the hill, during our walk to the other incline to ride back down. You get a really great view of the city. That funky spiked building is the Pittsburgh Plate and Glass (or PPG) building. It was featured in Inspector Gadget and also the new Batman film, due out this summer. It's mostly glass and really impressive up close (and if I was smart, I would have taken a picture when we stood near it).

That's all I have. Well, that's all I'll post. I don't need to bore you (sort of like my geology teacher did when he showed the class his slides of his trip to Germany - major yawn!).

And in updated news...I pitched (to a small press) at the Lori Foster Get Together and they requested the whole book! Major excitement there. I'm stoked. As soon as I finish edting GHOSTLY LIAISON (so I can get that out to my critique partners), I'll take another look at MY SUNNY VAMPIRE. I want to make sure it's the best it can be. I'm not blowing this chance!

Hope your weekend was just as good as mine was!

Page 77, Line 7, Next 7 Lines

I've sort of been tagged for this (Jennette Marie Powell listed my blog in her April 5th blog). Taking my current WIP, I'm to go to page 77 (I'm using GHOSTLY LIAISON because I'm only on page 5 of ALIEN DESIRES), find line 7 and then post the next 7 lines (or sentences or paragraphs). Now, if it's the lucky SEVEN meme, why not go to page 7. Just saying...

Anyway, I'm using lines as they showed up on my word document (just in case you wonder why there are more than seven here).

            She would never be okay. "I'm fine. But I'm not in the mood to pick colors right now. Do you mind taking me home?"

            "No, of course not. Let me make sure he's left, though. I'll be right back."

            While Rob was gone, she pulled nearly every paint sample from the display. Maybe she should brace her insanity and let Charlie pick the color. Better than dwelling on her friend's death.

* * *

            Rob pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. This was not the way he had envisioned the day. He pictured having dinner with her. Laughing with her. Kissing her.

I'm never sure what posting these little tidbits are supposed to do. Go to page 66, 77, 99. Why? Is it just a way to get you to post SOMETHING? Oh well... Hopefully you enjoyed this, even though I'm sure you don't know what's going on. How could you? It's only 7 lines!

Writing AND Editing!

I started Book #5. No, I’m not finished editing Book #4.

Ahhh, but I can’t edit at work. However, I can write there. Shhhhh.

Scenes are starting to pop into my head and take over my brain. I have to start focusing in the shower once again or the “daydreams” will take over and the next thing I know, I’m late!

But man oh man, it feels soooo good to start a new story. It feels soooo good to have new scenes in my head.

Right now, the tentative title to Book #5 is ALIEN DESIRES. I had first thought I’d call it TALL, DARK, AND ALIEN, but that title wasn’t doing it for me. ALIEN DESIRES is kind of a play on words. My alien has never experienced desire, and he’s an alien, so that would also make the desires alien to him. Maybe it’s stupid, but it’s working for me.

Titles used to be so hard for me, but now, not so much. And writing while I'm editing – unheard of! Does this mean I’m becoming more experienced? Gosh, I hope so!

Pictures and Other Stuff

It was a cold, cold weekend! And, of course, we had tickets to the Dragons (Class A team for the Cincinnati Reds) for Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, we all wore our winter coats. Forty degree weather and baseball really don't go together well.

And while it was cold, at least the weekend was also productive. I've passed the half-way point in editing Ghostly Liaison, so that makes me happy. I'm really surprising myself at how well my first draft has gone. I haven't found too many places where I screwed up – shocker! I just hope people like the story. I'll find out soon enough, I guess.

I had promised some pictures from RT and here they are. I didn't take all that many. Most of my pictures are of JR Ward (I really enjoyed her panel) and the lines I stood in (JR Ward and the Book Fair). Exciting, huh?

This picture above (if you click on it, it should get bigger) was taken at the Samhain western party. I got lucky and won two books here. Maybe one day I'll actually read them (when you come away from a convention with 34 books, and you haven't finished the 52 books you got from the one two years earlier, well, you do the math!).

Here's the line for the JR Ward panel. I was kind of in the middle. If they were smart, they would have put her into an bigger room (or at least a room where a line didn't create traffic problems!).

This was from the JR Ward panel. Yep, she has a body guard! The other woman up there was the other author, but I don't read her work, so I don't remember her name. Bad me, I know!

The picture above was inside the Book Fair. I beleive there were 16 rows of tables. Lots of authors and lots of people there wanting books and autographs.

And lastly, my picture with JR Ward. She signed my daughter's book.

I had fun and I may go back next year instead of attending RWA Nationals. I have time to decide, though.

So, what do you all think of the changes Blogger made? I'm not so sure I like them. Besides, what was wrong with the way it was before? I knew where everything was. And that calendar? Who makes a calendar Mon-Sun? I mean, really!! Can you tell I'm a person who doesn't like change all that much? This from a person who was used to the military moving her whenever! Oh well...

Have a good Monday!



Another Query - Aack!

Queries. They’re a bitch, aren’t they?

I swear it was easier writing the book then trying to convey 90,000 words into three short paragraphs. Which might not have been so bad if my book didn’t cross multiple genres.

It’s paranormal. It’s a romance. It’s suspenseful. I want so show them all.

I need a hook. I need to show conflict. Argh, argh, and more argh!

So, here I am again, with a query I need critiqued. If you want to comment – great (I value all criticism). If not, no biggie. I understand. I’m horrible when it comes to giving my opinion, too!

Maybe that’s why I find it so hard to ask for opinions!

Okay, so here goes nothing…

GHOSTLY LIAISON is a paranormal romance of 92,000 words.

After recovering from an accident and coma, Bridget Quigley is sure she’s going crazy, at least that’s her theory when she sees people appear and disappear in a blink of an eye. But when she accepts the house-sitting job for Rob Gentry, the hunky best man from her cousin’s wedding, she discovers she’s not going insane. She just sees ghosts and one in particular – Rob’s sister, Charlie.

Stuck in a world that can’t see or hear her, Charlie’s ecstatic when Bridget can and begs the woman to help her move on. Her murder was staged as a suicide, but Bridget won’t go to the authorities without proof and Charlie doesn’t have any. She suggests asking her brother.

Bridget secretly gleans information from Rob, only to find herself falling in love with the guy. What’s worse, he cares for her, too. But a relationship isn’t in the cards for her. Besides the whole ghost-seeing thing, the accident left her disfigured and unworthy. While her heart and head struggle for dominance, she gathers the proof she needs to help Charlie, and becomes the killer’s next target.

So, does it make sense? Can you tell what the book is about? Is there something majorly lacking? If this is the type of book you like to read, would you open the book?

Even if you don’t want to give an opinion, I thank you for reading this far!

Getting There

Editing is tough when you know you don’t have enough to hook a reader. New scenes have to be written to add suspense, which really slows down the process. Ah, but in the end, you have a stronger story. At least, that’s my hope!

Last night I finally got past the point of having to add new scenes to SARAH’S TURN (the sequel to THE UNCOMMON ONE and a book my friend has been pestering me to finish so she can read it). The beginning got revamped (pun intended) and I hope I’ve added enough to tease the reader to keep reading.

It’s been eye opening, to say the least. I harped on my poor critique partner that each scene should mean something, each scene should hook you to the next and what did I have? Interesting scenes, but nothing suspenseful. In other words – YAWN.

Well, maybe not that bad, but when my own daughter couldn’t get into the book, I knew something was wrong. All in all, it really didn’t take that much to punch it up, either. I had all the ingredients, I just needed to foreshadow a little more.

I’m psyched now thinking I’ll get the editing done on this book soon, since it was the beginning that needed all the work. And once I finish and send it off to my friend, I’m free to work on GHOSTLY LIAISON.

And I’ve also changed my mind about the next book I write. Now’s a good a time as any to wean from my vampire stories (unless I sell them, in which case – YAY!). I’m toying with another ghost theme (using a secondary character from GL), but I also have other strange ideas flowing around in my head (aliens, anyone?). I think I need a good brainstorming session with someone.

How are things going with you?

Disappointing News

I know I've mentioned that I sent MY SUNNY VAMPIRE to an agent back in June. I was very excited – I had pitched that book at Nationals in NYC. Time went on and I received no word. I sent a nudge in September and found out she never received the material. Hope surged upward once again. And again, time went on without a word.

I understand agents are busy and I did my best to be patient. But after six months, I issued another nudge.

Yes, my novel was rejected. But in a way it was a good rejection (if there is such a thing). She loved my writing, loved my characters, thought the romance and conflict were great, she just had a problem with my vampires and wasn't sure she could sell them in the crowded market.

It's disappointing because I love my vampires.

It's encouraging because someone (other than a friend or family member) loved my writing.

I still have other options out there for my vampires, but if I get the same response, I may have to "shelve" these stories until I'm prepared to publish them on my own. I refuse to put these stories under the bed.

In the meantime, I'll continue to edit SARAH'S TURN because it deserves to be polished (and I have friends that want to read it). I consider this round of edits to be practice, if nothing else, so that when I get back to GHOSTLY LIAISON, I'll be even better.

Oh, and if you had been following THE WRiTE CLUB, I'll have you know I almost made it to the finals (lost by two votes). The piece I entered was the beginning of GHOSTLY LIAISON and I used the pen name of Jamie Stuart – a name I kind of grew attached to and seriously considered using as a real pen name, until I discovered too many other Jamie Stuarts out there. So, I'll stick with Stacy McKitrick. At least my name pops up first when I Google that!

I Did It!

Two days later than I had planned, but I did it. At 90,233 words, GHOSTLY LIAISON is finished!

Yes, there's editing & revision ahead of me, but right now...

It's party time!

Discoveries

Monday was a bust writing-wise. But not in figuring out how to finish the sucker. Got lots of notes written of the scenes that remain, so hopefully when I get back to it (tonight, I hope), I won't struggle with what to write.

This book has opened my eyes to my writing process. I don't outline (tried that and failed miserably), I'm a pantser, but I apparently need to have an idea of what the next scene is about if I want the writing to flow. So as I'm writing one scene, I'm thinking about the next and taking notes (or if I'm at work, e-mailing the notes). I'm amazed at how well that's working, too. No more staring at a blank page. Now, I sometimes stare at the written page, but that's another issue.

I also determined during my vacation how much I value brainstorming. The person you brainstorm with doesn't necessarily have to be a writer. They just have to listen and suggest. Or maybe be an expert in whatever it is you're trying to figure out (like I was with my husband – he knows about electricity and stuff like that and helped me figure out a way to create a scene that was realistic).

My husband hasn't been interested in reading my vampire stories, but he said he would read my ghost story when it was done. I don't know if it's because it's NOT vampires, or if the story has really interested him, but I'll take what I can get.

Eleven days till 2012. I better get crackin' if I want this book done before then.