Adventures in Writing

I went ahead and published my young adult novel. For reasons I'm sure everyone can understand, I'm using a different pen name for it, but I don't think there's any point in working too hard to disguise the connection... I'd be sure to mess it up, if I tried - I'm terrible at keeping secrets!

Anyhow, it's fun to try a new genre, but nerve-wracking as well. I have to figure out ways to promote the book and get people's attention on it, and I have NO name in YA (not that I'm a superstar in Romancia, but at least I know a few people).

If anyone's interested in getting a free copy of the book in exchange for a review of it, let me know - Amazon, Goodreads, your blog if you have one - wherever. And the review should absolutely be honest - well, if you HATE the book, I guess I'd appreciate it if you refrained from reviewing rather than leaving a total stinker, but that'd be your call. No coercion here, just one of many efforts to get the title in front of people's eyes.

Definitely my least favourite part of this writing business, but, whatever... I guess it's a necessary evil.

If you'd like to see more about the book, please check out Amazon, Goodreads, or my alter ego's blog!

I know, you guys didn't sign up for a bunch of YA babbling, but... you got it anyway! It's a special bonus! You're LUCKY!

Yes, I've been at Goodreads. Reading reviews of my books. I know, it's never a good idea, but... I am weak. Very, very weak.

And, for the most part, undisturbed. I have a thick skin. I accept that all readers will not like all books. I realize that a criticism of a novel I wrote is not the same thing as a criticism of me. Seriously, all of this is true; I'm generally just fine reading reviews.

But in the name of all that is holy... Dark Horse is in third person. I swear, it is. You can tell because the narration uses "he" and "they" instead of "I" and "we" or, more strangely, "you". Third person, my hand to god.

It's in present tense, of course. I know. Lots of people don't care for present tense. I get it, I accept it, and I haven't written in present tense since my Dark Horse days. Not because there's anything wrong with present tense, but because people aren't used to it and it jars them. And because, apparently, it makes them think that the book is written in something other  than third person. (!!!)

Okay, I'm done now. Thanks to everyone who comments on any of my books, etc. It's just... *sigh*. Third person. I swear.

Last chance to pre-buy your copy of my upcoming novella, The Shift, for only $.80 at Diesel e-books. It's not out until May 22, but for $.80?!? It's worth buying now and reading later.


Two men, too many monsters.

Raised off the grid, Cash has trained all his life to protect humanity from The Shift—a mysterious force that creates monsters capable of unspeakable destruction. For Cash and his warrior family, risks are just part of the job and death is an ever-present possibility.

When his daredevil tendencies defeat a monster but leave him over his head in a puddle of green goo, Cash figures his number is up…until he’s plucked to safety by a devastatingly handsome stranger.

Toby needs no weapons to fight The Shift, that’s why he’s perfected the art of laying low. Sudden moves draw unwanted attention, but he can’t stand by and watch Cash drown. Big mistake—it isn’t long before Cash is returning the favor, rescuing him from kidnappers intent on harnessing his genetic enhancements.

On the run with danger nipping at their heels, romantic sparks fly between them. But there’s no trust without truth, and things get complicated when Toby reveals everything Cash has fought against is a lie. The time has come to decide who’s the real monster—and whose side he’s on.  

They made an audiobook of Shying Away, and it is currently playing on my iPod!!! My book, being read by... I don't know, some guy... I should probably figure out his name, right? But I'm too excited right now!

Excited and a little bit creeped out. I think I'm focusing too much on the reader, rather than the story. It's just WEIRD to hear a stranger reading my words. I'm trying to picture him, and I can't really do it. And I really don't know if I can listen to him reading the sex scenes... I'm getting embarrassed just thinking about it. (I'm a bit high strung today. I'll be better soon).

Anyway, I've just got the preview copy, and apparently it'll be a month or two before it shows up in the stores (Audible, Amazon, and iTunes). I'll be sure to tell y'all if I see it available somewhere, and if you see it first, let me know, okay? I'm VERY excited about this!!!

I've been busy writing.

I'm working on this dystopian series (whore with heart of silver, rich guy with brain of mush) and I'm really enjoying it, but I'm really not sure what it's turning into. The whore is broken, and it's going to take a long time for him to recover to the point where he can actually trust and love anyone, which I think is realistic... but it means I have to fill a lot of space in the books with stuff that really isn't romance! So I'm not quite sure what I'm writing - the series as a whole definitely fits the Romance rules, but the middle book especially is spending a lot of time on stuff that I'm worried might kind of be like those Intergalactic Trade Wars in the new Stars Wars series... and who really cared about the Intergalactic Trade Wars?!?

So I'm waffling on the self-publishing, AGAIN! It might be nice to have a professional opinion on this one. Maybe my first self-published book should be a straightforward contemporary Romance, not a sprawling SciFi extravaganza.

Other than that... I've been doing some reading! I finally read Dani Alexander's Shattered Glass, and really enjoyed it, although there were a few spots where I got a bit lost. The characters were real and interesting, though, and really, that's what I care about in a novel. And I read Tigers and Devils, which I liked, but not as much as I'd expected...it has SUCH a great reputation so maybe I was expecting too much. For me, though, the final conflict wasn't very satisfying. I couldn't figure out what the hell the characters were so mad about! And I read Janey Chapel's False Start; which I liked very much. I wish it had been a novel, though - I wanted more details and a more active participation in a lot of the events. Still, a good read!

Other than that? I've been cleaning up after the winter, trying to get the garden in shape, and planting fruit trees! I love the idea of having a little orchard, and if I have the space... why not? Now we'll see if they survive.

I'm really getting in the groove for my new WIP! Why does this have to happen on the Sunday night before a long week at work? I NEED to write it, now! It's exciting, and fun, and I want to write it ALL THE TIME.

Hmmmm... my throat's a little sore. Maybe I need a sick day?

No, can't do it. Too much to do at work. Stupid 'being responsible.'

Oh well, there's a few hours to go before bedtime. I'd better make the most of them.

I think I'm usually too busy bitching about my anxiety to remember to appreciate and celebrate things that are going well. But I just checked Of Dark and Bright at All Romance E-books, and it's number six on the top rated list, site wide.

Now, that's based on only six ratings, but still... they were obviously good ratings, and I appreciate the positive feedback! And getting the  title on the front page of the site has got to be good promotion, right? There's also been lovely things said at Amazon and Goodreads. I'm not supposed to respond to reader reviews (don't want people to think they're being watched, etc.) but there are a LOT of m/m novels out there; ratings and reviews are a great way to help my books stand out from the crowd, and I really, really appreciate it when people take the time to comment.

So, thanks! I suck at the promotion side of writing, which makes me EXTRA appreciative of people who help me out with that!

A WOMAN! And a MAN! Together, romantically! It's outrageous! I don't know what this world is coming to...

Shining Armor is now available! From the publisher, from Amazon, from ARe... it's everywhere, spreading its filthy message of love and acceptance, even for heterosexual couples. Disgusting.

Amazon's being a bit weird about getting everything set up for Of Dark and Bright. For example - I have no idea why it says three print copies are available and ALSO says the book is sold out. No thoughts on that. And I don't really understand why the kindle version isn't linked to the print version, or why it's so hard to find the kindle version via searching. It'll probably sort itself out soon, but in the meantime, the kindle version is at http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Bright-Horse-Series-ebook/dp/B007OWFE76/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1332800463&sr=8-21

Okay. More writing, less stalking!

Of Dark and Bright is the  third 'real' book in the Dark Horse series...

Jeff, Evan, and Dan have been living happily together for the past two years. They still have problems, especially between Evan and Dan, but they’re mostly able to convert the interpersonal disagreements to sexual tension—and then resolve it—so nobody’s complaining.  

 Then Dan’s long-lost sister shows up seven months pregnant and on the run from the law, and the situation goes from complicated to overwhelming. Jeff and Evan want to help, but with Evan fearful for his own sister’s safety and Jeff struggling to keep his health issues under wraps, they’re a little distracted. As Dan's sister struggles with her past, Evan's seems intent on gambling with her future. With emotions and family ties pulling them in different directions, the threesome have to hold together—or the people they love may tear them apart.

It's available in e-book and paperback from Dreamspinner Press, and I think it's also already at ARe. Amazon probably later today? Buying from Dreamspinner is the best for me, royalties wise, but if somewhere else is more convenient for you, go for it! A sale's a sale!

I'm feeling really insecure about this one. It's been a long time since I wrote in this 'verse, and I still love the boys, and I still know them inside and out, but my writing style has changed. People who loved the loose, rambling style of the first books, the way we all crawled inside Dan's head and stayed there for days on end... they might be surprised by this book, and I just hope it's not an unpleasant surprise, you know?

Yikes.