Summer Wrap-Up: Updates/Forecast on the WIPs

It's been a productive summer, spent editing and writing.

The first month or so was spent re-writing my NaNo 2011 novel, Textbook Romance, with the help of five wonderful betareaders. Then, I spent some time re-editing Unwrapping Scrooge for a Christmas print anthology. Goose and V-Day were re-vamped and released by Rebel Ink.

I did  flurry of new writing in August. The Halloween short, Like Magic, was written, read by a couple sweet people, and submitted to RIP for my holiday shorts series. It's with the editors now. I also managed to finish the Thanksgiving installment, and got it in only a day late. (They were nice to me about that.) The Thanksgiving one, Charity, is a nice, sexy cowboy one; I hope you'll all like it. It started out with another plot, but I had to shelf that beginning and start over with something lighter and more doable in under 15k.

Now, I've outlined and started the New Years one (Bubbly) - this one is a whole lot hotter than the other episodes. It's about a divorced socialite and successful designer who ducks her own New Years party to give life and love another whirl with "the hired help." Just right for a sparkly, fantastic New Years Eve romp!


Textbook Romance is now off to two companies, and I'm submitting it to a third in mid-September or so (staggered according to their response times). I keep revamping the sub letters/synopsis as I go, and tweaking the manuscript. My fingers remain ever-crossed. As always, I'll keep you updated.

The past couple of days have been spent blogging like mad to keep up with all the guest posts and interviews I promised to do over the summer. It doesn't seem like much work when you say yes at the time, but if you let them pile up... Oy!

So, what's next? After Bubbly is submitted for editing at RIP (aiming for September 15, if possible), I'm on to my planned paranormal/shifter dark erotica short/novella, which doesn't have a name yet (though I do have a publisher in mind!). Then, I'll finish the romantic-fantasy novella I started writing back in June but had to put away for other obligations. That one involves an "angel" figure, and has been named After Life. (I have a publisher in mind for that one, as well.) So, that all will likely take me up to nearly-NaNo time! After NaNo, I have plenty more planned - just today, I added a Mountie romance! But, for now, let's just say I'll be busy for a while.

It's insane how fast the year is flying by. This year, so far I've celebrated the release of three books (two of them twice), and am looking forward to at least four more. I got some very nice reviews. I've sold a few, promoted some, and generally kept busy. I am very much looking forward to having more contracts, new covers and releases to share with you throughout the end of 2011 and well into 2012.

If you want to see my complete WIP list, you can find it here.

And, that's a little update on where things are. I'll be in touch as things develop, I'm sure. :)

New Stories Galore!

I've been a busy little bee recently, which I hope should excuse me for the lackluster blogging of late.

So, what have I been doing?

First off, I'm now in draft four of my brand new full length contemporary romance, Textbook Romance, written originally for NaNo 2010. It's been through five betareaders, and I am busy preparing draft five, which will be the final draft before submitting it to a few choice companies. Sadly, this also involves a good deal of synopsis/cover letter composition, which is considerably less thrilling than fiction writing. Nevertheless, I feel okay about this one. Naturally, I will keep you posted.

Secondly, I am nearing completion on the rough draft of the Halloween installment in my five-story erotica series for Rebel Ink Press, You Never Know - a story about a no-nonsense man and a strange woman who claims she's a witch. So far, it's going well. All I can tell you for the moment is that it certainly starts out with a bang!

I already have the Thanksgiving installment in production. Charity is the story of a big city banker with a heart like an Excel spreadsheet who gets taught a thing or two about what really counts in life, by a farmer who sees more in her than her loan applications.

Finally, I have been brewing several more concoctions; a handful of short pieces that range from the unusual to the heartwarming. A dark-fantasy-erotic piece, in which an ex-boxer gets lured by the mob and an exotic dancer with a dangerous secret. An old fashioned romantic novella about the love of the land. And After Life, a paranormal romantic fantasy about a man trying to find redemption by helping his daughter mend her life from beyond the grave. I'm also cooking up a little romantic tale for next Valentines. And, let's not forget my NaNoWriMo 2011 entry - a paranormal-suspense blended with contemporary romance setting.

Now, coupled with my Real Life Day Job work, this is a lot. However, the ideas keep coming, and far be it from me to push them away. Blogging has sort of lost out in the competition for my time, I guess. Soon, however, I hope to have some guest appearances, some more "real posts," and some new trailers and other odds'n'ends. For now, take this update with an IOU.

So, here's to the rest of 2011, and forward-looking to a bright 2012, with, I hope, many more stories to come!