Monthly Archive for May, 2009

Still alive

Published on May 28, 2009 in Life, The Bond That Saves Us and Writing. 3 Comments

I can’t believe it has been a weeks since I’ve blogged. Shows just how quickly things can get away from you. This past week I’ve been working on edits and fighting a chest infection. This is the second bad one I’ve had this year and I’m, quite frankly, tired of being sick. I’ll take all cyber prayers that I’ll finally get over this.

On the edit front, it is going well. I’m about halfway through The Bond That Saves Us, cleaning up the little things and making those love scenes nice and steamy for everyone. I can’t wait to share with you the end product.

This weekend will be mostly edits…and sleep. If the sun ever decides to come out again, I might squeeze in some gardening. I need to finish my backyard flower beds!

I hope everyone out there is well.

Slipped Away…busy, busy, busy

Published on May 22, 2009 in The Bond That Saves Us, TV and Writing. 1 Comment

Hello my friends! Yes, I’m still alive. Yes, I’m still writing/editing. I’ve been working hard on my revisions to The Bond That Saves Us this week, and so far I’m very happy with the results. Right now, it’s looking like this will be the longest book in the Eternal Bond series. Mind you, Sean has earned a nice long redemption story, so it is only fair. :D

I’ll be spending a large portion of my weekend cleaning things up and getting them finished off for my editor. Once I’m done, I’m going to finish up a quick story I’ll be submitting to Ellora’s Cave free reads program. With any luck it will be accepted. After that, it’s back to my WIP which I’m really missing.

I’m already missing all my TV shows now that they’re done. I do have Torchwood series three and the next Doctor Who movie to look forward to, but there’s been no firm release date set yet. I’m hoping July for Torchwood is accurate. *sigh*

I hope everyone is well and things are chugging along nicely for you. How are things??

Ellora’s Cave – Support Diabetes Research

Published on May 14, 2009 in Brenda Novak's Online Auction. 1 Comment

Ellora’s Cave has donated an expenses-paid trip to RomantiCon 2009 for Brenda Novak’s Online Auction to Benefit Diabetes Research. Highest bidder also gets her photo on the cover of the EC book of her choice with the cover model of her choice (from those attending RomantiCon) and 10 free copies of the book.

Let’s see how much we can raise for diabetes research! Bidding time is limited, so go bid now: http://brendanovak. auctionanything. com/auctionhelp. taf?S=N&R= 2&C=2&m=3& sort=1&st= 1&days=&category _id=8334& skipkw=1& _start=1

Trip includes:

1. Admission to RomantiCon 2009, Ellora’s Cave’s first ever convention devoted to our exciting trademark brand of Erotic Romance called Romantica. Be there for this historic (and rowdy) event, including three days of parties, workshops, photo shoots, cover models

2. Food, Hotel Accomodations, and Roundtrip Airfare (Continental United States only!)

BEST OF ALL!!
3. Your photo with the Ellora’s Caveman cover model of your choice, featured on the book cover of your choice and 10 free copies of the book

To bid: http://brendanovak. auctionanything. com/auctionhelp. taf?S=N&R= 2&C=2&m=3& sort=1&st= 1&days=&category _id=8334& skipkw=1& _start=1

More info on RomantiCon: http://www.jasminej ade.com/romantic on/

An Author’s Learning Is Never Done

Published on May 13, 2009 in Writing. 3 Comments

Whenever I start a new writing project, I tend to dip back in to some of my craft books, refreshing my memory on all the things I’m supposed to know. I don’t read everything, but I feel it’s important to keep reminding myself of the important elements that make a good book.

Personally, I tend to focus on characterization and dialogue when I write. My first drafts are usually mostly talking and I have to go back an layer in the introspection. If you’ve ever met me in personal you know why this is (I never shut up), and as a writer, it’s something I try to keep an eye on. I do feel you learn a lot about a person from what they say (or don’t say) and how those words are balanced by actions.

With every new book, it takes me some time to get used to those new characters. I play around with their speech, the rhtythm of how they say things. Sometimes it works…other times I throw it out and start over. My new girl in my WIP is a lot of fun. She’s torn between her current life, the life of her childhood, and a new world she knows nothing about. It will be interesting to see how she makes out.

Monday Morning Ramblings

Published on May 11, 2009 in The Bond That Saves Us and Writing. 3 Comments

Every time I sit down in front of my computer to start a new project, I get really excited. Currently, I’m wrapping up edits on my recent WIP and am getting ready to start a new one. It’s currently all I can think about. I love getting to know these new characters, see what they are like and what they are going to do with the situations I throw at them. I enjoy world building, and am currently exploring what this new world will be like.

Funny enough, this one really isn’t a romance. Lots of sexual tension to be sure, but no HEA for the heroine as  such. This is a new road for me as a writer, which is another reason I’m really excited about this one.

I also have one foot back with my other projects. They never really leave me until the final line edits are done and the publisher has taken everything off my hands. I’ll be starting edits for The Bond That Saves Us very soon, which I really have mixed feelings about. It’s the end of the series…my very first series. When I started all this a few years ago, I never thought The Bond That Ties Us would expand to this amazing world. Now, I can’t believe it is over.

My final edits for Heaven’s Sight, a new paranormal series have been painful. This one is still uncontracted, but it’s been my problem child for a while. Now though, I think I’ve really learned who these characters are, and what was their real story. The world around them has changed, but all for the better. As I finish up the last ten pages of edits for this book, I’m really happy with how things have arranged themselves. But I need a small break from the world. If I want to do book two justice, I need some space. Hence, the new WIP.

Writing is exciting, frustrating, painful and amazing all at once. I’m very lucky to be able to do this.

I hope everyone has a great Monday.

Can I go fangirl for a moment?

Published on May 8, 2009 in TV. 0 Comments

ZOMG I love Supernatural!!!!!!

*takes a breathe*

Please tell me if you lovely people are watching this show. If you’re not YOU NEED TO! Yes, the boys can be a bit emo…but they do it so well. As a writer, I really admire how well thought out they have plotted their story arc. The events of last night’s episode have been building for over a year now. Oh Sam! And Dean…breaks my heart.

One of my favorite aspects of the writing has to do with how solid the characterizations are. Like Battlestar Galactica was more of a drama in space than a sci-fi, SPN is more of a character study with the boys being thrust into increasingly tense situations. How would two brothers deal with being on opposite sides of a situation…in this case a war? It happens in reality all the time, and the writers on the show are exploring this theme (along with drug dependency and the impact on families) in a unique way.

I’m not going to mention specific, simply because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. But honestly, if you like paranormal stories or urban fantasy and aren’t watching this show, you are so missing out.

*fangirl mod off*

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I’m still sick but…

Published on May 6, 2009 in Fun. 1 Comment

I’m almost better. A friend sent me this video to help the healing process. Yes, I starting singing along. Here is the blurb to go along with it…

This video was made in the Antwerp, Belgium Central (Train) Station on March 23, 2009, with no warning to the passengers passing through the station. At 8:00 am a recording of Julie Andrews singing ‘Do, Re, Mi’ begins to play on the public address system. As the bemused passengers watch in amazement, some 200 dancers begin to appear from the crowd and station entrances. They created this amazing stunt with just two rehearsals!

New Sale – New Print Book

Published on May 4, 2009 in The Bond That Saves Us, Wizard's Thief and Writing. 6 Comments

*does a snoopy dance*

I’ve been sitting on this announcement for a little bit, but I’m now able to share. For those of you who have been asking, Sean’s story is soon on its way! I’m thrilled to announce that Ellora’s Cave has bought book four in my Eternal Bond series, The Bond That Saves Us.

And here to tease you is a little blurb…

For years, Sean Donaldson blamed himself for the Ecada attack on the Eurus colony, pushing everyone away. When he’s injured after a security breach, he realizes that he has nothing and no one important left in his life.

Captain Amy Bryson is trying to draw as little attention to herself and her ship as possible. All she wants is to participate in the Catallian race and bring home the prize money. In order to protect her ship and crew from attacks, Amy enlists the help of Sean as both bodyguard and co-pilot.

With a drug lord intent on fixing the race for his own purposes, Amy and Sean fight against outside forces as they try to resist the pull of Amy’s sexual pheromones. They must learn to keep their passion in check, or run the risk of ending up dead.

In addition, I’ve learned that Wizard’s Thief will be a part of the Amethyst Attraction print anthology! It will be coming out this spring. Once I have a confirmed print date, I’ll let everyone know.