Looking toward 2008

So I am almost done with my second short erotic male/male historical romance, The Squire. I probably have two more chapters in addition to the chapter I am working on now. I should have it done in time for the erotic romance contest I want to enter. I'll have two for that with the If Only You which I previously finished. These are written under my pseudonym of Shawn Lane.

I got my edits yesterday from my Wild Rose Press editor on A Man Not Her Own. I have to have it back to her by the end of January. So once I have the shorts done and sent off that is my next project I have to do.

So what are my writing goals for 2008?

To do my edits for the WRP book and the edits for the two Duke books contracted to Cerridwen when they come in.

I also need to get my final draft done on Sinful (Mathias' book) done so I can begin querying that. Then I want to get the first draft of Redemption (Graham's book) finished. I'd like to get both of those done by Summer so that come fall I can begin The Sorcerer (Morton's book).
These are dark paranormal historicals and are related but hopefully will stand on their own.

Hopefully if I have time, I will work on more erotics, including my interracial romance "It's Only Make Believe".

For general publishing goals:

I want to see all three of my e-books successfully published. I want to win a publishing contract as Shawn Lane for the male erotic romances. I want to get a website up for myself. I want to get an agent and more book contracts.

Anyway, 2007 had it's great moments for me as a writer and here is 2008 and more wonderful things for my writing career.

God Bless Us Everyone

It's almost Christmas and just about all publishing personnel are closed until after January 01, 2008.

Still working on getting my other male/male short story done for the contest. Called "The Squire" it is a medieval and should be done before January 15th which is the contest deadline.

Anyway...I am sure I won't post in here again until after Christmas, so as Tiny Tim observed, "God Bless Us Everyone".

More Short Stories

I finished my short male/male erotic Regency romance. I had so much fun writing it, I decided to write a male/male Medieval romance. It's going pretty well so far.

Once that is done, I will definitely work on Sinful.

It's only a week until Christmas and then the end of 2007

December is waning...

Christmas is just a little over a week away and I am definitely ready for it.

I'm just about done with my Regency male/male erotic romance which I will be entering in Amber Quill's contest. I'm pretty happy with it so we'll see how it goes.

Then I will move on to re-writes for Sinful until my edits come for the 3 books I've sold.

December 12th Remembrances

December 12th is the day I always think of my dad. It was his birthday. He's been gone 15 years now, but it could have been yesterday when this day rolls around because I always think a lot about him and how much I miss him. He was in my life for 27 years and he was a big part of my life. My dad was disabled by the time I started school and so he was the every day presence in my life growing up while my mom worked. During elementary school I could walk home for lunch because school wasn't far and my best friends, Lynn and Laura, likewise went home for lunch. Conveniently they lived across the street. Each day that I went home (some days I bought the school lunch like when they were having pizza), my dad always had my lunch waiting. I barely remember those times now. It's been years and I am 42 now. I remember feelings more than actual events. I suppose it's like that for most of us. I was always very close to my dad. My siblings knew I was his baby. Sure there were some bumps in the road. There always are, but for the most part my dad was a great dad and I will always miss him. Last year at this time, I sat on the bus on the way home from work wishing for a sign from my dad. Some indication there really is life after death. The next morning, December 13, 2006, as I pulled into the parking lot where I catch the bus for work, the radio station that plays Christmas music 24/7 during the Christmas season began to play a song called, Mamacita donde esta Santa Claus, and it was even the version of my youth. I sat there letting it wash over me. It was chilling.You see, when I was a child, it was my favorite Christmas song and as Christmas approached, my dad would play that record for me when I came home from school. It never failed. I'd come home and there he would have it playing and I absolutely LOVED it. So, when I heard that song the morning after asking for a sign from my dad, I knew I had gotten one. Some skeptics would tell me it just coincidence. But as they say in Signs, can it be that there are no coincidences? I don't know. But it doesn't seem like mere coincidence to me.

Edit Delays

So I received word from my editor for my two books contracted with Cerridwen Press, Duke's Project and Duke Pretender, that she isn't going to be able to get to my edits until after the new year. Her husband has been ill and she has had some teeth issues, plus she is going on a month long annual vacation. So my edits for these books won't come by Christmas after all.

I should get my edits from Wild Rose Press on the medieval though probably before the Cerridwen Press ones now.

Plus I am plugging away on new projects.

Not So Worrisome

So Ellora's Cave made an announcement that the rumors they were doing away with Historicals was not true. That was a bit of a relief I have to say.

Christmas Approaches

Christmas is my favorite time of year. Just love December. This December has been really busy.
Tomorrow is our lunch at Ye Ole King's Head. We go every year. Lot's of fun and very British.

Worrisome

So I'm worried that my two books contracted to Cerridwen Press will be canceled. Why? Because there has been talk about the publisher, Ellora's Cave, deciding to withdraw from publishing historicals and that is what I have contracted with them. Piers Anthony's website about e-pubs even stats that they are not going to take historicals any longer and that they are canceling contracts. I know an author this has already happened to so yes, I am worried this is my fate.

Why are they doing this? I don't know. Other publishers are talking about how historicals are making a remergence yet they are withdrawing? Obviously another genre is working better for them. It's very discouraging to say the least.

I haven't seen any "official word" from them yet, but Piers is getting his information from someone, isn't he?

Venturing out in to different genres

So I am writing some erotic romance these days. I recently tried entering one of them (a contemporary interracial) in a RWA Chapter run contest and I missed a final by 2 points. No doubt because of the incredibly crappy synopsis I did. I knew it was crap when I enterd but they insisted on one. Oh well. Alas.

I am also working on a m/m erotic romance set in the Regency historical and I intend to enter that in the upcoming Amber Quill contest. Much better because it is free and you have the potential to receive a contract.

Honestly, I am convinced that 90% of today's published writers would never actually final in contests if they annonymously entered. That's how sick and twisted the judging of these RWA chapter contests are.

Oh well...I am enjoying delving into new terroritory.

Excerpt from A Man Not Her Own - Coming Soon from The Wild Rose Press

Her fingers had begun to trace circles on his chest.

"My lord, as you know, neither of us intended to be wedded to each other," Marion said, stalling. He didn't even bother to comment. He just waited, dark and dangerous. Her heart fluttered. "Be that as it may, we are to be wedded and very shortly."
"Marion…"
She stayed his protest with her hand on his chest. She hadn't meant to touch him, but it seemed entirely natural. Her fingers fanned out, enjoying the thrum of his heart underneath. "Please, this is going to be hard enough without constant interruptions. I pray you have patience and allow me to speak."
He inclined his head in agreement but she chose not to move her hand. "I am aware, sir, that it was at one time your intent to marry a woman named Constance." He opened his mouth to speak but she quickly continued, "Do not growl at me over it, sir, for I only speak the truth. Unfortunately, marrying your beloved is no longer an option." Unprepared for the briefest twinge in her heart, Marion hesitated. "I would not have you resent me for coming between you and your beloved Constance, my lord."
"Marion."
"You are growling again, Nicholas," she said, sighing. "If you cannot speak civilly to me then we will just have to postpone the wedding until you feel you can."
His midnight eyes flared briefly, then a muscle in his cheek flexed. "You have my assurances I will not resent you."
Marion studied him doubtfully. "Really? You don't seem at all sincere."
"Madam, if you think…"
She smiled to end his tirade. Her fingers had begun to trace circles on his chest. He didn't act as though he minded.
"Very well, Nicholas, if you will give me your word, then I will accept it."
"You have my word." His voice was cool. "Are you through?"
"Heavens, no, my lord. That was just the first part."