Monthly Archive for July, 2007

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Sweat – Day 5…I think

Published on July 13, 2007 in Life, Seventy Days Of Sweat and Writing. 12 Comments

What a week. I’ve been going great guns with my story this week. I managed another 1000 words yesterday, not as much as I would have liked, but still pretty good. My husband and I finished watching Torchwood, so I won’t have that distraction any longer.

I’m just about done chapter 4, through the first major love scene and will now be ramping up the external plot. I’ve actually noticed this pattern about my writing. I tend to focus the first four chapters (or so) on the building of the h/h relationship, then spend the next four chapters throwing road blocks in the way. Usually at that point I blow something up…or kill someone…or both. I haven’t decided what I’m going to “blow up” this time. But it needs to be something different from The Bond That Ties Us.

The nice thing for me this time is that the world is already clearly defined. I know the station, the planet and some of the races that visit there. It’s a lot of fun to add new layers to the environment to see where I can take it.

Since Sunday, I’ve written 25 pages. I’m only ten pages off of my weekly goal and should be able to get a lot of that done today. The best thing about Friday’s is I can write all night if I want to. :)

This weekend we are hoping to take out kids to go see the tall ships that have arrived in Halifax harbour. If we actually make it, I plan on taking lots of pictures to share with you. Maybe my next book will have some ships in it.

So what are you up to this weekend?

Thursday Thirteen #35

Published on July 12, 2007 in The Bond That Ties Us and Thursday Thirteen. 27 Comments

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I thought for this Thursday Thirteen, I’d give you thirteen facts about The Bond That Ties Us, release next week!

1. The Bond That Ties Us is set on Eurus colony, found many hundred light years from Earth. The colonists had to be cryogenetically frozen to make the trip.

2. Haylie Bond is the new security chief. No one knows what happened to her predecessor and his files have gone missing.

3. Haylie doesn’t act on impulse because she feels she’d be too much like her mother, who’d abandoned Haylie and her father for another man.

4. Ambassador Kamran represents the Briel, a race of people who have helped the humans establish a colony and presence in this sector of space.

5. Kamran is the youngest and most celebrated ambassador his people has ever had. He takes his job very seriously, and has spent the last year trying to prevent the Ecada from attacking the human/Briel colony.

6. Ownership of Eurus is currently under dispute. A brutal race known as the Ecada want the planet for their own. Ideally with the humans for a food source.

7. The Briel are governed by a matriarch. There are fewer women than men on their planet, and finding a mate is of great importance. Only single Briel men, or widowed Briel females have positions off world.

8. Sara Fergus is Haylie’s best friend and the colony’s new doctor. Sara is a bit clumsy, but is a fantastic doctor. She tries to get Haylie to relax.

9. Taber is the Briel head of security. He’s completely loyal to Kamran and lives strictly by the Briel rules of conduct.

10. Off world, the Briel are governed by a subset of the Briel government known as the Elder Council. This is comprised of widowed Briel females.

11. As soon as Haylie arrives on the planet, she is overcome with a wave of desire. She’s not sure what is wrong or who it’s directed toward until she sees Kamran.

12. Once Haylie and Kamran realize there is a connection between them, they decied to hide it from others. If the council finds out about them, they will be forced to leave the colony and return to Briel.

12. The Bond That Ties Us goes on sale from Ellora’s Cave on July 20th!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Funniest 5 Seconds On the Internet

Published on July 11, 2007 in Fun. 9 Comments

ROFL!!!

Multitasking

Published on July 11, 2007 in Goals, Life, The Bond That Ties Us and Writing. 10 Comments

I have to say that my multitasking skills have been tested over the past three days. I’ve somehow managed to write 21 pages (9781 words) in my WIP since Sunday, watched 6 episodes of Torchwood with my husband and even played a bit with my kids. Oh, and work full time.

So this morning, I find myself a bit tired. No, I’m not giving up on sweat. I’m thrilled that I’ve managed to get as much writing done as I have. I’m a deadline person apparently and external pressure is something I thrive under. Simply a statement.

Part of it has to do with the fact I haven’t really had any vacation this year. My trip to PEI, while fun, wasn’t relaxing. I’m still freaking out about The Bond That Ties Us release next week, and I know that’s taking a toll. I’ll be glad when it’s out so I can stop worrying. :)

Oh, and about me stopping in the middle of a love scene yesterday…my love scenes tend to be a chapter in length (or there abouts), so I’ve learned to press pause on the passion when I need to. :D I’d rather stop mid way than be tired and try and write it. ;)

Sweat Day 4

Published on July 10, 2007 in Seventy Days Of Sweat. 4 Comments

Just time for a quick post tonight. I was able to get another six and a half pages written today on The Bond That Heals Us. Smack dab in the middle of a love scene and it is hot! I’ll check in again in the morning. :D

Sweat – Day 2

Published on July 9, 2007 in Seventy Days Of Sweat. 13 Comments

Well Sven is quite the slave driver. I managed to get nine pages written today, for a total of 15 in two days. I’m trying hard not to edit as I go, but my internal critic is yelling at me. I’ll have to do some major clean up on this one once I’m done the first draft.

This challenge has been great for me so far. I’m focused on the writing and really getting my head into it. But it’s strange at the same time. The story feels like its both moving too fast and not fast enough. I’m already on chapter three and they haven’t slept together yet (it’s coming next chapter though), but the build up has been necessary.

As for my characters, I’m totally in love with my hero Davin. He’s a bit of a Han Solo kind of guy. And my heroine Sara is feistier than ever. They’re headed for some major trouble and the only way they can get out of it is to work together.

It’s also letting me develop some of the other secondary characters from Bond That Ties Us, and helping me get them ready for their stories. I have one character in particular who needs to go through some major changes. It’s going to be tough, but I can’t wait.

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Sold! Sweet and Sexy Spells

Published on July 9, 2007 in Promotion and Seventy Days Of Sweat. 11 Comments

Renee and I are doing the happy dance this morning! Ellora’s Cave has agreed to buy our co-authored Halloween story, tentatively titled Sweet and Sexy Spells! Nothing like good news to get you pumped!

I’ll be back later today with an update on Sweat day two, but I’ve already written 2 pages this morning. Will try and get another two at lunch.

Sweat – Day One

Published on July 8, 2007 in Seventy Days Of Sweat. 9 Comments

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Ladies (and gentlemen), meet Sven. He is our personal trainer for the Allison Kent’s Seventy Days of Sweat challenge. Sven, meet everyone.

Julia, put Sven down. I need him.

Ahem…anyway I thought since this is day one, I’d check in with you. I’ve managed to write six pages on The Bond That Heals Us. It was a little iffy at first, but I started to pick up steam as I got going.  I probably could have written more, but I promised my husband I’d watch Torchwood. Now I’m getting my characters primed to write a love scene, which will flow. I just need to get to it.

Tomorrow, I’ll finish this chapter and then…fireworks!

70 Day Challenge – An Edge to the Goals

Published on July 8, 2007 in Goals and Life. 9 Comments

I love writing challenges. I find they help focus me when I would otherwise be floating around. Sometime I can impose them on myself, and sometimes I need help.

I know several of you out there are taking Allison Kent’s 70 Day Challenge. I’ve officially thrown my hat into the ring and will be taking this on as well. I’m going to work on The Bond That Heals Us for this challenge. If I get my quota of 4-6 pages a day written, then I’ll keep plugging away at the wizard’s story. So officially for the next 70 days, here is my goal:

  • to write 4-6 pages a day
  • concentrate on The Bond That Heals Us

If I can keep focused, I’ll end up with the sequel finish before the end of the summer and ready to send off to my editor. The challenge starts today! Anyone else on board?

On a personal note, I was at the hospital with my oldest daughter last night. She cut her knee on her uncle’s belt buckle when they were playing soccer. So now she has four stitches in her knee and is milking the drama for all she’s worth. It was a heart-wrenching experience for me. This is the second time in her life she’s had stitches, and I’ve been with her for both times. Broke my heart.

Cathryn Fox Quote!

Published on July 7, 2007 in Promotion and The Bond That Ties Us. 4 Comments

Hi everyone! Nothing better to perk you up than someone saying wonderful things about your book. :D Cathyrn Fox just finished reading, The Bond That Ties Us and had this to say:

Solid storytelling, creative plot, and decadent sensuality.  The Bond That Ties Us is a highly erotic, fast paced, heart pounding love story that will grip readers from page one and not let go until the very end.  With her captivating characters, vivid descriptions and excellent imagination, this new author of erotic romance is going to leave readers salivating for more. 

Award winning author–Cathryn Fox

I’m so excited!