Have a Decadent Christmas!

Here's a look at what new holiday delights Decadent Publishing is serving up this Christmas, to keep your winter nice and toasty... and they're even offering you a freebie (see below)!

A Very Russian Christmas 
by Krystal Shannon

For most of her adult life, bodyguards have shadowed Ksenia Sharanov, daughter of a Russian mobster. Her one serious relationship left her broken hearted when she learned he only sought her father’s power and money.

A ski vacation with her college roommates ends on a terrifying note. Her father’s enemies have been following her more closely than anyone could have anticipated. The mistake will cost a life…but will it cost her heart? Or will she find love in the arms of a complete stranger?

Matt O’Reilly, a retired Marine, generally keeps to himself. Working as a deputy in a small country sheriff’s office, provides just enough seclusion for him to cut himself off from his family’s pity and the heartache of losing his wife. He never thought love would be in the books for him again. Will the sudden arrival of a spunky dark-haired Russian beauty change his mind?

Coming Soon!

~*~

Dillon's Gift 

by A.J. Hawthorn

Stacy hasn’t celebrated a Christmas in years and has no reason to change her ways.  Dillon can’t understand why the most giving person he knows refuses to join in the holiday cheer.  He cooks up a plan that will leave them no choice but to spend the holidays together.

Yet, he doesn’t know Stacy as well as he thinks and there is an equal chance that things could backfire. An intentional gag gift mix up, a sexy game of Truth or Dare and a blizzard bring two friends together for a Christmas to remember.

Coming December 11!

~*~

Island Bound 

by Kiru Taye

Marriage has stripped their relationship of its thin, rose-tinted coating, and bared their monochromatic existence for what it was. Will Joshua and Christy get a second chance this holiday season?

When Christy Inemi-Spiff discovers that the man she vowed to love and honor has no such feelings for her, she is determined to cut her losses and move on with her life. A quick, quiet divorce is all she wishes for Christmas.

However, Joshua has other ideas. He’s not ready to walk away yet, especially when he doesn’t understand why Christy wants out of their marriage. So he demands she agree to spend a quiet Christmas on a remote African Island with him, hoping they can salvage their relationship. If she still wants a divorce after these two weeks, he will let her go. But not before he’s had his fill of her.

But with the sparking tension between them, and the secrets behind the disintegration of their marriage threatening to explode, will either of them get their wish? Or will this season of good will show them what really lies at the bottom of their hearts?

The first from Decadent's new Ubuntu line, coming soon!

~*~

Hot Winter Kiss

Irish Kisses Book 4

by Joanne Kenrick

Hot winter kisses to warm broken hearts….

Sick of tending to everyone else’s needs around the holidays, divorced barmaid and granny Sandra ferries it from London to Belfast. All she wants for Christmas is some peace with a romance story in front of a roaring fire in a remote Irish castle. What she gets is a most unexpected Christmas present from her friends at Bell’s—A 1Night Stand with a young Irishman.

Can she hack it in the real world of romance, or are life’s complications and treacherous snowstorms best left to the pages of a book?

Newly widowed Ardan Draighean owns Ballygalley castle. Once run as a hotel with his late wife, the stone building now serves as a home for him and his son. After hearing about Madame Eve’s matchmaking skills, he contacts her in search of the perfect match. Although much older than him—by fifteen years—Sandra is his ideal woman. He be damned if he’ll let a good story get in the way of his happy ever after with her.

Hot winter kisses are all this couple needs to stay warm this Christmas, but will the heat stay long after the magical season of mistletoe has finished?

~*~

And don't forget, I have a Christmas romance with Decadent, myself - my All Romance eBook bestselling novella Unwrapping Scrooge, available on ebook, Nook, Kindle, (and more!), and in the paperback anthology Yule Be Mine vol 2 along with three other Decadent holiday novellas!


Bestselling author Kale McKinnon is a modern Scrooge – eccentric, misanthropic and reclusive, made bitter by the coldness of his wealthy family. But when optimistic Canadian graduate student Molly Gillis visits Oxford and invades his space, he realizes Christmas is about to change for him forever. But can he make her stay, and force himself to un-Scrooge enough to be the right man for her?

HOLIDAY CONTEST!

To help you treat yourself right this holiday season, Decadent is offering a giveaway for this post! Comment this week and tell us how you plan on staying warm this holiday season, and Decadent can offer you 'Any Decadent Publishing holiday ebook of the reader's choice'! I'll draw a comment at random this Friday afternoon (4pm EST).

And don't forget, Decadent is also having their "Give a Reader a Reader" bloghop (on now), with a grand prize of a Nook ereader to one lucky reader along with BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS! 

Textbook Romance now available in PRINT!

Last Christmas, Decadent Publishing became the first company to publish one of my adult novellas in paper, along with several other authors, in a holiday anthology. That was thrilling, and I am so proud to have that on my shelf.

But, as of today, I now have a novel all of my own in paperback, and I am over the moon!

Please know I mean no slight against ebooks when I say this is a dream come true. When I was a child and began writing my "books," I naturally dreamed of them being in paper form. Things have come a long way since then. (Frankly, though, I knew right away when watching Star Trek: TNG and admiring their little electronic reading devices that that was where literature would wind up, so I'm not surprised by the popularity of the Kindle, Nook, Kobo, etc.) I am always pleased when one of my works becomes available to readers with ereading devices, of course. But, somewhere deep inside, a little 12 year old me is jumping up and down right now.

I now have a paperback novel! Like, for reals! Like, one I can send my Mum! (I am really happy, so please pardon the gushing.) I also couldn't be prouder that it is this novel, Textbook Romance, a book I am pleased to present. Aside from my first novel, Strings Attached, this one is closest to my heart.

Take a look at the NEW print edition page right here! I'm pretty sure it will be available on Amazon and B&N, as well, soon, and should also be available at any bookstore that does special orders.

Thank you, Pink Petal Books! You've made a dream come true for me.

Guest Blogging at Decadent Today

Visit me at Decadent Publishing's holiday blog, 30 Days of Decadence, today - I'll be giving away a copy of one of my favourite Christmas books and a DVD, and explaining why Ebeneezer Scrooge ranks up there with Mr Darcy... Wait! Just let me explain... 

There's a DVD, a book and a SECRET prize to be won!

Winners will be announced January 2, 2012.

New Paperback Release: Yule Be Mine Volume 2!

Cruising GoodReads, I noticed that a new book had been added to my name - Decadent Publishing has already released the Yule Be Mine vol 2 paperback Christmas romance anthology!

It's available now for purchase on Amazon and will be available via B&N on November 28.

(Words cannot describe how cool it is to be "available in paperback"!)

This anthology, containing four Christmas novellas from last year's Decadent ebook releases, is the non-erotic volume, and contains my book Unwrapping Scrooge and books from KT Grant, Seleste deLaney and A. Faris.

The Ghost of Vampire Present by Seleste deLaney – Jocelyn has finally found her knight in shining armor in Chad, and ghosts are the last thing on her mind. Even when one shows up in her bedroom on Christmas Eve, Jocelyn's a bit more concerned about the other guests on the agenda. She'd prefer to never see another vampire, and the ghost tells her to expect not one, but three…


Last Christmas by A. Faris – ‘Tis the season to be merry…’ But not when you’re on the trail of a time insurgent, and facing a demon’s servant at every turn. For Nadine, Christmas is a jinx. Two deaths in the family and an estrangement, all on the blessed occasion, she spends every Christmas alone since. A knock on her door reveals a mysterious stranger, a stranger who kisses sweet, knows her soul and offers his heart with no reservations. Not everything is as it seems, however, with more at stake than Nadine thinks…

The Christmas Fantasy by KT Grant – On a mission to lose her virginity before her thirtieth birthday on Christmas Day, Mandy Lockeheart plans to seduce the only man she’s ever loved; her brother’s best friend, firefighter Jackson Montgomery. With the sexy new body she’s worked hard to earn, she’s certain she can convince him to fulfill her fantasies…

Unwrapping Scrooge by Anne Holly – Bestselling author Kale McKinnon is a modern Scrooge – eccentric, misanthropic and reclusive, made bitter by the coldness of his wealthy family. But when optimistic Canadian graduate student Molly Gillis visits Oxford and invades his space, he realizes Christmas is about to change for him forever. But can he make her stay, and force himself to un-Scrooge enough to be the right man for her?


So, get it while it's hot. It would make a great holiday present, but your friends and family have enough stuff - get it for yourself, instead.

Six Sentence Sunday: Unwrapping Scrooge

This week's Six Sentences comes to you from my Christmas contemporary romance/romantic-comedy, Unwrapping Scrooge - one of my favourites, I admit.

While usually surrounded by an air of casualness, this morning's attire was altogether too unsettling. She couldn't say it was revealing, exactly. His cotton T-shirt, jogging pants, socks, slippers and cozy velour dressing gown in a deep chocolate brown were actually more than most people wore outside in warm weather. Yet, his smell was making it hard for her to concentrate, with the underlying scent of sandalwood now mixed with the musky hint of sleepy, warm male—an aroma wholly unknown to her. The sight of his beautiful, long reddish hair misbehaved from the pillow was a bit much for her nerves this first morning. Thank heavens he was at least wearing his glasses, so that one barrier of normalcy was maintained.

Unwrapping Scrooge is a novella published by Decadent Publishing, and is available from B&N and Amazon, as well as on Smashwords, etc, and has garnered positive reviews from Coffee Time Romance, Seriously Reviewed, and Sizzling Hot Book Reviews, among others. Heat level: Sensual.


Please, take a moment to flip through the other great Six Sentences offering found here.

Chat at the TRS with the Decadent Publishing Authors!

Join us at The Romance Studio, 6pmPST/9pmEST - have some laughs, learn about some new books, ask whatever questions you want. A great chance for writers and readers to discuss their beloved genres and the whole art/business of writing!

I hope to see you there!

Confirmed: Unwrapping Scrooge in PRINT!

I've just had it confirmed that my Christmas romance novella Unwrapping Scrooge will be included in the second volume of Decadent Publishing's paperback holiday anthology 2011, Yule Be Mine!

I am thrilled, and look forward to giving a few copies of these out this winter.

The anthology will be released in December 2011, and I will certainly be celebrating here.

My "Other Covers"

I thought I would wrap up my cover week with a few notes about the two covers not mentioned elsewhere.

The cover for my romantic-comedy Christmas novella, Unwrapping Scrooge, published last year by Decadent Publishing, has to be one of my favourites. Designed by Dara England, and featuring additional photography by K.M. Cook, this cover is professional and attractive. For Decadent, as with RIP, I had to fill out a cover info survey describing my characters, the major motifs and the images I most/least wanted. Kale is a bit different here from how I imagined him, since you can't tell he wears glasses and long hair, but otherwise, the image is perfect. Molly is wonderful! The embrace is sweet, yet passionate, just like in the book. I always imagine that the box Kale is holding contains the gloves she knitted him!

~*~ 

The cover for my paranormal erotic Waking Kara will always have a special place in my heart, because it was my first. Designed KitCat Designs, the cover made me blush a bit when I first saw it, but I appreciate its pretty, feminine sensuality. My one concern with it is that it doesn't really scream "paranormal," but it is likely attractive enough to encourage the reader to read the description, where they can discover the story's basic outline. But nothing really compares to it being the very first, nor erase the memory of my excitement the night WHP emailed it to me without warning. 

Covers are important - to readers and to publishers, and especially to authors, since they become part of our identities as writers. I have lived with some of these covers for months, and I am still not sick of them. I guess that means they work!

Editing Demon #2: "Head Hopping"

This is the second of my series of three deep-dark-confessions about my editing weaknesses. These are the major issues that I am always working on throughout every story, and for which I have to make specific editing rounds. The theme this week is editing, because I just spent two weeks in editing/re-writing Hades with ye old NaNo manuscript, which is now off to the initial betareaders (see more about betareaders here next week).

The second is a tendency to "head hop."

Definition: "Head Hopping" is a term used by book folk, editors, writers and reviewers to refer to unexplained and confusing shifts in POV during a scene. I.e., chapter starts in the hero's POV and slips into heroine's POV without a section break, and back again. This also includes "vanity/expressions perspective" (where the character that is serving as our eyes inexplicably knows what s/he is looking like at that moment, or unrealistically thinks of their nose as "cute" or similar).

The Problem: If a scene is in one character's POV, the reader should see everything as that character sees it - what s/he knows, sees, feels, etc. If POV slips happen too erratically, it can make the writing seem disjointed and hard to follow. The events and timing seems jumbled. And, worse, it leads to authorial interference, and can take the reader out of the story and make them feel disconnected from the scene.

The Allure: Both characters have so many thoughts and feelings, and head hoping allows you to describe both characters from the outside and give internal dialogue for each, i.e. "what they really mean when they said such-n-such aloud." Besides, I'm the author - I know what they are all thinking!

The Fix: This was a problem that was really big in my first couple of manuscripts, because I didn't realize it was a problem. In old romances, they head hopped all the time, and those were the stories I cut my teeth on. Nowadays, though, it is passe, and my editors have been good at spotting it and teaching me not to do it. Now, I include the planned POV for each scene in the outline for each chapter, so I know which character will be my eyes. This has helped eliminate the good majority of my head hopping. Other than that, a very thorough read-through is the best way to clip out the bits that escape through the outline.

***

Need an illustrative example?

Head Hopping Passage (pre-editing):

Once, the pair even literally ran into each other at the mailboxes, when she came barging into the small space as he turned to stride out. Neither had noticed each other until their torsos had collided. Instinctively, he brought his glove-clad hands up to her fleece-covered arms to steady her, and she noticed again the attractive scent of sandalwood. He detected the slight tinge of cinnamon on her breath as she puffed in surprise, and for a moment all thought fled from his brain as he stared into wide, hazel eyes, fringed with impossibly dark lashes.

He couldn't remember the last time his mind was completely blank while working on a book, but at that moment, he would have been hard pressed to recall his own name.

"Steady on," he murmured, realizing he should say something.

"Hi," she breathed, simply, and, almost reluctantly, made to move past him.

Her flat mate Colby, in their infrequent discussions of the other inmates of the building, had dismissed Kale McKinnon as "weird and old," but right then Molly saw him as nothing like old or weird. True, he had some eccentric qualities, but at that moment, his oddities were more intriguing than anything else. And no one who felt so firm and vital could be considered old. Her heartbeat, at least, rapped out a tattoo that told her she was in the presence of vibrant maleness, a feeling to which she was not normally prone.

"Hi again," he said, softly, taking unfamiliar pleasure in her pretty blush.

Molly stood aside and let him pass, and watched as he exited the building. If she were more like Colby, she thought, she would say he had a "great butt," and smiled impishly at the thought. But, no - she was just Molly, and she didn't have those kinds of thoughts about men she barely knew.

Even though it was true.

Same Scene (post-editing):

Once, the pair even literally ran into each other at the mailboxes, when Molly came barging into the small space just as Kale turned to stride out. Neither had noticed each other until their torsos had collided. Instinctively, he brought his glove-clad hands up to her fleece-covered arms to support her. He detected a slight tinge of cinnamon on her breath as she puffed in surprise, and all thoughts fled from his brain as he stared into wide, hazel eyes, fringed with impossibly dark lashes.

He couldn't remember the last time his mind was completely blank while working on a book, but at that moment he would have been hard pressed to recall his own name.

“Steady on,” he murmured, when he realized he should say something.

“Hi,” she breathed, simply and shyly.

“Hi, again,” he said, softly, taking unfamiliar pleasure in her pretty blush, but finally forced himself past her her to the door.

*break*

She stood aside and watched as he exited the building. Her flatmate, Colby, in their infrequent discussions of the other inmates of the building, had dismissed Kale McKinnon as weird and old. However, right then, Molly saw him as nothing like that. True, he had some eccentric qualities, yet to her, his oddities were more intriguing than anything else. And no one who felt so firm and vital could be considered old. Around him, her heart rapped out a tattoo that told her she was in the presence of vibrant maleness—a feeling to which she was not normally prone.

To Molly, he was sexy, if in an unconventional way. If she were more like Colby, she would say he had a great butt. She smiled impishly at the observation. But, no, she was just herself, and she didn't notice those kinds of things about men she barely knew.

Even though it was true.

(Scenes are both from my Christmas romance novella Unwrapping Scrooge, with thanks to my wonderful editors at Decadent.)

When I first made these changes, it seemed clunky to me to separate the two perspectives. But, I was thinking like the author and not considering the reader. Luckily, I trusted my editors!

***

There are always exceptions!

I try to employ my right to artistic licence very sparingly. I like to trust my editors, as they are less attached to the draft than I am. However, one of the little "quirks" I enjoy in my works is a montage scene that is used to build chemistry and intimacy, as if the melding perspectives mirror the growing couplehood. In this brief scene, the passage of time is denoted by overlapping POV, as well.

Example (also from Unwrapping Scrooge):

As the weeks passed, they talked of many things. They chatted about writing and how his work was going, and about her thesis, and about England and Canada. She told him about her mother's breast cancer, and their constant fear of its return until the five-year remission mark passed this winter. He was silent on the subject of family, which spoke volumes to her. And both felt quiet sympathy for the other. They found themselves developing a friendship neither had expected to find. He found her incredibly intelligent, and she discovered his rudeness was not his normal state, but that he was actually quite amusing when he allowed himself to be. And both also found themselves more and more attracted to the other as the days progressed.

Kale was surprised he had ever thought her plain now, and she wondered why Colby wasn’t able to see how fascinating his mouth was. One morning, she found his dressing gown hung on the inside of the bathroom door and had stroked its plush softness, allowing the scent of him to invade her. She enjoyed the tingling restlessness that pooled deep in her belly until she reminded herself that she was acting like a stalker again and hurriedly left the room. He often found his disobedient eyes travelling the length of her, basking in the sight of her lush curves, only to gather up the last ragged remains of his self-control and return to whatever menial task she had set for him.

And in this way they continued, trying to convince themselves there was no harm in a platonic friendship that was destined to go nowhere and be no more consequential than a few weeks of breakfasts. Soon after the New Year, Mrs. McCardle would return, and there would be no pretense left for them to meet, and then, a few months after that, Molly would return across the ocean, and their brief flirtation would be a warm memory, if that.

But for now, both walked around in a fog fueled by fantasy that neither was really willing or able to acknowledge, but which amused Colby and Byron enormously.

This passage is the only intentional violation of the anti-head-hopping convention in the book. It occurs at an "act break" just as their relationship changes direction, and sums up about a month of interaction in a few brief paragraphs. The characters are such opposites, I felt this was a risky move that could pay off by fostering a more realistic sense of growing together.

It is aggressively authorial, and likely isn't to everyone's tastes. For me, however, I like the cozy feeling of montage passages so much that it is worth taking the hit from the editors. That's my treat as a reader of my own work, in a way.

Luckily, this book has still done fairly well with reviewers and readers, despite this indulgence!

***

So, through editing and working on my craft under the watchful eyes of experienced readers/editors, and by paying attention to reviewer reactions, I am in recovery for my head hopping addiction, and have a greater control over my perspective - but it is still something I have to be conscious of.

The point of writing (at least in genre fiction) is to make the book a pleasant experience for the fans of that genre, and to communicate clearly. Being mindful of writing habits that make reading more difficult is an important step towards publishing.

Naturally, different writers and different forms of writing will have different needs and conventions, so YMMV!

***

So, the quick fix list:

1. Recognize the problem and why it is a problem.
2. Outline/plan/consider which character POV will be the eyes for the scene before hand and stick to it as much as possible.
3. Re-read in the draft stage for head hops or vanity adjectives, and clip the slips out.
4. If a passage cannot be merely clipped, move it to a new section (to the correct POV) or make it out right dialogue.
5. If need be, cut the scene into sections with a section break, and tell the same scene from the two different POVs - but this should be used sparingly.
6. Only head hop when you are consciously using your artistic license. Accidental head hopping should be scoured out by a qualified editor and good readers.

***

"So, good luck," he said, thinking she was nuts for all this.
"Thanks," she muttered, knowing he thought she was nuts.

Author Leanne Dyck on "Writing and Submitting"

Part II of Leanne's writing adventure...

~*~

Knowledge gleaned from a writers’ magazine: a writer’s job is to write and submit.

Sounds simple. Until you concern: Write what? Submit where?

***

In my teens I was seduced by two passions –knitting and writing.

Writing about knitting intrigued me. In 2005, I began writing knitting-related short stories, flash fiction and poems.

Rebellion

A small group of mothers gather in a kitchen to drink coffee and chat.

Cindy starts, “He stays out all night. Who knows where he goes.”

:Linda shares, “She listens to that rap music garbage. Loud. It breaks my eardrums
and I’m downstairs.”

Michelle joins in, “He is disrespectful. He calls me an ‘old cow’ and worse. His teachers all tell me he doesn’t listen, but what can I do?”

Ann adds, “First she got her ears pierced, then her nose. Now she has piercings and tattoos all over the bloody place. She even shaved her head. When I say anything she says, ‘It’s my body.’ I have no say. No say.”

Then it’s Rebecca’s turn. “My daughter knits.”

Silence.

Then the room explodes with laughter.

“Yeah, I thought the same thing. I thought ‘a mother’s joy a knitter’. I thought we would sail through the teenage years. No problem at all. Then I started noticing what she was knitting. Let’s just say no yarn manufacturer was getting rich off her.

“I told her she was sending the wrong message. I told her that guys would think she was slut, but what does Mom know?”

She is answered by a chorus of “Nothing.”

“Guess what I’m knitting? Come on guess.” She pulls a baby pink something out of her purse. “A baby blanket. Aren’t you going to congratulate me? I’m going to be a Grandma.”

To attract surfers to my knitwear designer web site –www.oknitting.com –I added a blog to my homepage. On the blog I shared news, views, tips. Occasionally, I also posted one of my stories or poems. Wow, was I surprised when I realized these pieces received the most hits.

Inspired I wrote more and soon had enough to fill an 80-minute audio book. I self-published Novelty Yarn in August 2006.

Here’s a review:

‘Novelty Yarn contains a collection of small, tasty morsels that will continue to surprise you right up until the last bite… Ranging from childhood memories about 4-H knitting and lessons from Grandma to night dreams about wild women knitting in the forest, each segment evokes a different mood. Many of the stories made me laugh out loud, while others made me pause…to meditate for a few minutes. The stories are separated by brief interludes of acoustic guitar music… The guitar intervals are just long enough to let your mind rest between the stories. The sensation is like cleansing your palette after sampling each vintage at a wine tasting. The total experience was delicious.”

-Donna Druchunas (The Knitted Rug, Artic Lace)

I did receive a negative review. The main complaint was that the stories weren’t long enough.

Interestingly, I had begun writing what promised to be a longer piece – The Sweater Curse. Emboldened I rolled up my sleeves and invested more time crafting it.

As I wrote, I read the work of other knitting-inspired authors. I found cute stories about nice knitters.

“We’re not all nice!” I screamed. Did you hear me? My main character Gwen Bjarnson did and she agreed.

All writers work at their own pace and in their own way. It was during this time that I discovered what worked for me. What I like to do is write and complete shorter pieces while I tackle something longer. That’s what I did while I wrote The Sweater Curse. Among other projects, I wrote articles for knitting magazines. I gained validation when I received my first cheque for writing one these articles.

Month after month, year after year, I returned to The Sweater Curse. Until, one fateful day, I dotted the last ‘i’ and crossed the last ‘t’.

Now what?

I contacted the editor I’d worked with on Maynely A Mystery. I was confident that she would tell me if The Sweater Curse sucked. She liked it and agreed to proof it in preparation for submission.

I’d answered the question: what to write?

Now, I needed to address: where to submit?

Unlike Maynely A Mystery that was developed for a small audience, I felt The Sweater Curse would have a wider appeal.

In my search, I left no rock unturned. I contacted literary agents and book publishers. My desire to network with other writers, led me to the Romance Angel chat group. It was here that I found the new epublisher Decadent Publishing.

I visited www.decadentpublishing.com and carefully read their submission guidelines. I spent days polishing my synopsis. I sought the help of fellow authors – they were generous with their helpful feedback.

Finally, I took a breath, crossed my fingers and hit send.

Shortly after, waiting in my inbox, was an email from Decadent Publishing.

I was apprehensive. I was certain it was another rejection. I braced myself and opened the email. I skimmed the contents looking for the familiar wording. Instead I found ‘will contract’. I re-read it. I asked my husband to read it aloud.

Acceptance, sweet, acceptance, they wanted my story.

I can’t say enough positive things about Decadent. They are a new author incubator. Wrapped in a cocoon of positive energy, I have greatly benefit from my involvement with them.

My journey as a writer has just begun. My dream is to continue to write and submit.

***
Leanne Dyck's novel The Sweater Curse will be released from Decadent Publishing on January 10! Congrats, Leanne!

Author Leanne Dyck on "Publishing a Book"

Mark Twain did. Why would you? Why did I self-publish?

My reasons were two-fold: to retain control and for educational purposes.

1999 was a tremulous year for me. The death of my mom sent me into a deep depression. Seeking a place to heal, my husband and I moved to Mayne Island. It was on this magical island that I began to rebuild my life. I longed to learn more about my new home and found Marie Elliot’s writing. Her article “The Japanese of Mayne Island” seeded my imagination and I began to write Maynely A Mystery.

As I wrote, my vision for this book grew clear. I knew who my target reader was and I felt I knew how to reach them.

I grew wary of involving someone else in my plans. Would they love this book as much as I do? Would I have to compromise my vision? Fearing the worse, I felt self- publishing was the only solution.

The longer I considered this route the more benefits I saw. I’d never written or published a book. Self-publishing would educate me on all aspects of the industry from designing the cover to marketing.

In June 2009, I self-published Maynely A Mystery. My target readers did find me.

Here’s a review:

‘Rumours of gold, a secret lover, ghosts and other mysteries create a labyrinth of intrigue as Maynely A Mystery traces the lives of the story’s animated eccentric characters. Author Leanne Dyck knows her craft, her audience, and her setting. Her novel provides a voyeuristic glimpse into human character and island life.’
- Terrill Welch (Leading Raspberry Jam Visions: Women’s Way)

Maynely A Mystery is sold in bookstores on Mayne Island, Salt Spring Island, and McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I’m thrilled at the success my cozy mystery has achieved.

Would I self-publish again?

Yes, but…

It’s expensive. It costs approximately seven dollars to print each copy.

There is, of course, a solution to print –ebooks. Ebook printers such as Smashwords take a percentage of sales.

The other problem I encountered in self-publishing was marketing. I didn’t hesitate to think outside the box. I organized a book launch/party. I contacted magazines, radio stations, ezines, and book reviewers. I visited bookstores. However, with my limited resources and sales skills I meet roadblock after roadblock.

Frustrated, I sought an alternative. Where did this search take me? Please read my next post, on Thursday...

***

Ever since Leanne Dyck was old enough to hold a pen, her dream to write a book. Leanne began her career by writing short stories, flash fiction, poems, as well as articles for knitting and business magazines. Her work appeared in Island Writer--the literary journal of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. She read her work over the radio and at the Abbotsford Tradex. These early successes lead her to self-publishing. June 2009, Leanne published a cozy mystery--MAYNELY A MYSTERY. (Soon) Leanne's paranormal psychological thriller THE SWEATER CURSE will be published by Decadent Publishing.

You can learn more about her and her work at her website or blog.

Interview with Author Maureen Betita

Meet Maureen Betita, a lovely lady I have been honoured to know through our mutual authorship at Decadent Publishing - and hear about her upcoming book The Kraken's Mirror, coming soon from Decadent!

~*~

How did you get into writing?

It started by reading everything I could get my hands on. Then a book ends and I’m not ready for it to end and start dreaming about how I’d be a character in this world and where I would go and what I would do and suddenly, one day…I was writing!

What's the earliest story you can remember writing?

Some godawful wanna be Robert E. Howard thing, ala Conan the Barbarian. I mean godawful. Like really, really bad.

When did you decide to make the move to "published"?

Ooooo! Interesting story! In 2007 I almost died. I suffered sudden cardiac death and spent three days totally out of it in the hospital (husband hero of this tale as he noticed something was wrong and gave me CPR, etc.). Anyway! Months later, suffering from PTSD since all of this came out of absolutely bloody nowhere, I was sitting in a therapist’s office talking about what I had been doing the years before the EVENT. Which was writing. And she asked what I intended to do with what I was writing. And I sorta sputtered about nothing because I was too fragile and scared of rejection. She tilted her head at me and said something in line with, “You almost died. What is scarier than that? You survived that.”

Well, dang if she weren’t right. I gazed at her and I suddenly realized how right she was. Why the h*ll not try? And from then on, whenever I sent out a query, or did a pitch and got nowhere, I’d remember that I’d faced down death. This was no big deal.

How did you find the experience of seeking a publisher?

Well, I actually enjoy in person pitching. One of the certifiable insane out there who do… But now that I am represented by an agent, I don’t really become involved in this aspect. Sorta sad, actually.

What did it feel like when the acceptance notice came?

The day Saritza, my agent, called me about an offer, I was sitting in Starbucks (nothing unusual in that. I’m probably sitting in a Starbucks right now!). I glanced at my caller ID and blinked, stood up and walked outside so I could hear her over the blaring music and she told me I had an offer from Decadent Publishing. From what I remember from then on…I smiled a lot the rest of the day. Maybe the rest of the week.

What inspired you to write The Kraken's Mirror?

I’m a regular blogger on the Romance Writers Revenge group blog and over the course of a year we’d been blathering on about everything involved with writing, which is what we usually do…and the subject of older couples came up. And I stood strong for the passionate relationship being something the growing older baby boomers would like to see. Emily and Alan walked out of that. My H/H of The Kraken’s Mirror.

Being me, I had to make sure it involved pirates, krakens, Ipods and alcohol. And sex. It started as a lark and grew and grew… I want to be the founding author of the sex between older couples in a romance series. I also want to be famous for inventing the term piratepunk. Pirates, breaking all the genre rules!

What books or authors have most influenced your life most?

Edgar Rice Burroughs. Yup, Tarzan, Pelucidar, John Carter of Mars…serial books of adventure and other worlds. And Tolkien, who was a god in my home growing up. Once grown? The Newford series by Charles deLint.

What book are you reading now?

A collection of short and scary stories by China Mieville. I have no idea why I thought this would be a good intro to the author… *shiver* These things are seriously ominous!

What are your current projects?

I’m praying I can entice Decadent into a second book set in the Kraken’s Caribbean, so I’m working on that book. This one stars another couple from the first book, Mick and Jezebel. It’s a bit heavier than the first, with elements of dark steampunk tossed into the Kraken’s Caribbean.

How important is the support and friendship of other writers?

Phenomenally important. I first reached out to other writers when I attended the RT Booklovers Convention in April of 2008 in Pittsburgh, made some good friends in Judi McCoy’s Aspiring Author class and have gone on to branch out with attending RWA conventions and hooked up with the writers on the Revenge, through my publisher, taken online classes, joined my local RWA… All of these things contribute to sources for when answers are needed, hugs are mandatory to go on, and one needs a cheering section for celebrations. Reach out, find someone!

How does your family feel about your writing career?

Thrilled. Sisters are very supportive. Big bro, nephew and nieces all waiting for the book to come out. Mom is tickled pink for me. I do wish Dad were around and when I get that first copy, I’ll go visit and talk to him about it at the cemetery. My husband likes to ruminate on how one day he can relax by the pool, sipping Pina Coladas while I attend author signings. (Dreamer!)

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Don’t censor myself. (Wait for the editor to do that, sigh.)

Do you have any advice for other writers?

It’s been said before. Write, you twit. Stop editing and just write!

Tell us a factoid about yourself that we don't know.

I’m part bionic. (After the EVENT and no discernable diagnosis, I got an ICD. This is a little metal box above my left breast with leads into two parts of my heart. If my heart acts up again and goes berserk, the box will deliver an electrical shock to spank it back into behaving. Yes, it’s strange. Yes, I have to be patted down at the airport and yes, you can touch it if you want to. Just don’t let those hands wander too far.)

~*~

The Kraken’s Mirror

Treated by our youth oriented society as invisible and sexless Emily Pawes attends a pirate festival to recapture the make believe magic she knew as a younger woman. She wins an interesting bit of booty at an old woman's bric-a-brac stand. The Kraken's mirror is a magical portal and transports her to a land of Hollywood piratitude, where swashbuckling heroes own iPods. With little choice, she embraces the madness, deciding she’ll play pirate until she figures out how to get home. Or wakes up in a padded cell.

Instead of men in little white coats, she encounters the handsome Captain Alan Silvestri. He is a man haunted by a strange curse. Good luck is his to command, but it comes at the cost of any place to call home or people to call family. Resigned to die shunned by all, forced to sail every three days, he begins to dream of a special woman.

When they meet, sparks fly, passion flares. He needs her to be free, but more than that, he needs her to be whole. They set sail, uncertain of who has control of the wheel, seeking to defeat his curse of good luck and discover all the Kraken’s mirror plans for them.

Maureen lives along one of the most beautiful places in the world, Monterey Bay, California. Married 30+ years to her high school sweetheart, they have a dog and a cat, a garden totally out of control and a growing black hole of chaotic clutter in the house. She attends scifi conventions, pirate festivals, renaissance faires, steampunk gatherings and the rare SCA event. At present, her goal is the worldwide recognition of herself as the first to coin the phrase and genre of piratepunk.

Her first book, The Kraken’s Mirror, is an erotic romance, coming soon from Decadent Publishing. Visit her website and her blogs - 2nd Chances; Castles & Guns; and Romance Writers Revenge.

Wild Horse Press, Wicked Nights and Decadent Publishing

A word about my e-pubbing and my publishers.

Much has been said about e-book companies, some good and some derisive, but I am one of those who made e-books my first choice. This was partly because I respond better to smaller businesses, and like being a part of an independent venture - I find independent companies are more willing to work with everybody attached to a project, as a general rule. Primarily, however, I chose e-books because you don't need an agent, and my first attempt at publishing was an experiment; I had a manuscript, and I just wanted to see if someone found it worth publishing. I wasn't in it to write full time right away - I just wanted to see if someone would accept that first novel. When someone did, it was fast. I got word back within a month of submission, a turnover that would be impossible in traditional brick-n-mortar publishing, where the two years in the slush pile is the norm.

Two years of waiting, while life moves on, is simply not conducive to an experiment.

So, e-publishing was for me, straight away. Would I love to move into paperbacks? Sure. I will be thrilled when my current companies move into paper (like WHP has started to do, and Wicked Nights will be doing this year), and I wouldn't say no to a chance to publish something with a big print company someday, now that I know I'd like to stick with my writing for a while. But the general practice of e-publishing, of taking quality works fairly efficiently, and letting new authors get considered for publication without the work of an agent, was best for me at first, and will remain so for a while yet.

I won't be seeking an agent until I decide to write full time, if I ever do. So, e-pubbing is for me.

I now have works out with three e-pubs. I have two other companies in mind for current works in progress, but I am sure I will work with these companies again. Right now, I have my short paranormal erotic Waking Kara and my upcoming full length, Strings Attached, with Wild Horse Press; I have Good for the Goose with Wicked Nights' erotica line, After Dark, and I plan on a further series of holiday erotica with them (in the hopes of benefiting from their move to print). I have only one short Christmas romance, Unwrapping Scrooge, with Decadent Publishing, but I would love to work with them more.

Wild Horse took the very first chance on me, and has been instrumental on me staying in writing, and doing more. I have also met some of the most important writing friends I have through my association with this company, and the more experienced writers have been wonderful at helping me figure out where I am going. WHP is open to all of my creative suggestions, and, despite how busy life is for a publisher, they have remained enthusiastic and happy to hear from me. I owe WHP a lot.

My second company, Wicked Nights, was a heaven sent chance. I had a book that needed to go out by Christmas, and was in a panic because it was growing too long for the anthology for which it had originally been planned. I turned to Stacey Thompson-Geer, one of the authors at WHP, for advice, and she welcomed me to Wicked Nights with open arms. For a small, new company, Wicked Nights is getting it together - slick, determined and fresh, Wicked Nights has a strong future, and I am pleased to get in at the ground level.

My third company, Decadent, was a long shot for me. I knew they were quite powerful and "major league" for a startup, and, unlike Wicked, I didn't know anyone working there. But, I had Christmas romance that needed a home, and WHP simply couldn't accept any more submissions for 2010, as they were packed. Sitting with this romance, I was thinking to send it to Wicked, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to have two releases at one company within weeks of each other. I found Decadent, and was considering it when a happy Decadent author on Facebook gave me a nudge of encouragement, so I sent it off. I knew this book was strong, but I admit I wasn't sure it would be accepted. Then came word - Yes! Unwrapping Scrooge would have a home at Decadent!

I have really enjoyed my time with Decadent. They have lovely covers (which is important, despite the old adage), extremely rigorous editorial quality control, and they also do a bit more promotion than a lot of e-book companies do, which is great for a new author on a budget. They also have an incredibly supportive and active author community who have embraced me as one of their own, even though I am, at the moment, a one-short author with the company.

I would gladly work with all three of these companies again, and very likely will if I can come up with more works they like. Sure, my sales have been moderate at best, which is the price one does tend to pay for e-pubbing, and, in time, I might have been more successful (if you measure that in dollars or stats) had I been miraculously discovered in the slush pile two or three years from now... But I wouldn't have been happier.

And I wouldn't have been more keyed up, that's for sure. Right now, I have a great deal of enthusiasm for my avocation, which might not have been the case if I felt my publishing lacked momentum. Right now, I can feel the rise - when I Google myself, I get more and more hits, and I feel like putting out all of these works are starting to pay off. I may never be Nora Roberts, but that's okay - she has the big times all sewn up. I'm happy producing good work with small, intimate companies.

So, wherever I head now, and whether things work out with the other companies I have in mind, or if I never hit the big times, I am putting things out there, and proud of them all. I will always remain grateful to all of the companies who see in my work something worth taking a chance on.

2010 has been good to me. I wish us all the very best in 2011!

Introducing UNWRAPPING SCROOGE

Due to copyright issues that just came to light yesterday, my Christmas romance from Decadent Publishing had to be re-named. The new name is now Unwrapping Scrooge!

Over the next couple of days, watch out for a new trailer, and a bunch of new PR.

It's still the same book - just a new name!

Guest Post at the Decadent Blog

To celebrate the release of my new Christmas romance, Un-Scrooged, with Decadent Publishing, I was pleased to get a guest shot on their main blog, Daily Dose of Decadent. Drop by and see why I write so many stories centering around the holidays - a theme I plan on expanding with my new Seasonal Tales website (still under construction).

Swing by the Decadent blog - I'll be answering comments there throughout the day, and I would love to hear from you!

Release Celebration: Unwrapping Scrooge

Bestselling author Kale McKinnon is a modern Scrooge – eccentric, misanthropic and reclusive, made bitter by the coldness of his wealthy family.

But when optimistic Canadian graduate student Molly Gillis visits Oxford and invades his space, he realizes Christmas is about to change for him forever.

But can he make her stay, and force himself to un-Scrooge enough to be the right man for her?

Available NOW from Decadent Publishing!

And on Amazon!

Stay tuned for a few more release day events...

PLUS!

I will be sharing sales links as they come available.

***

You can find it on the following sellers:

• Amazon
• Decadent Publishing
• 1Place for Romance
• Omni-Lit
• ARE
• SmashWords
• DigiBooks Cafe

(Updated December 5, 2010.)

Excerpt Sunday: NEW RELEASE Unwrapping Scrooge

In honour of my new Christmas romance, Unwrapping Scrooge, which makes its official debut tomorrow from Decadent Publishing, I have selected a funny little exchange between my hero, the eccentric Kale, and his debonair literary agent, Byron - who is so good, he nearly deserves his own story!

“‘Allo, ‘allo!”

Byron let himself into the top flat and strode in with his usual brusque manner. More often than not, Kale simply ignored interruptions such as knocks, so the cheerful agent had long ago simply decided it was a waste of time to attempt it. Luckily, Kale had taken to leaving his door unlocked as it was easier than listening to his agent beat it down every Monday for their regular coffee break meetings.

“In here!” Kale called, without looking up from his typewriter keys as he finished off the last bit of dialogue to the scene he was completing.

“Why didn't you tell me what you had downstairs?” his disgustingly chipper friend tossed at him in mock accusation. “Not willing to share?”

Lost in thought, it took a moment for the words to penetrate Kale's creative bubble. “What?”

“Molly and Colby,” Byron expanded, “Your little Canadian friends.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and removed his glasses with a sigh. “Ah, yes...I should have guessed it wouldn't take you long to discover them.”

“You might’ve helped a mate out and made some introductions.”

“I don't even know them, myself.” He replaced his glasses and leafed through his new pages as if disinterested.

“Well, they seem to know you well enough.” Byron chuckled. “Middle-aged wool-clad writer...sounds about right.”

“What?” He glanced up from the papers sharply. “Who said that? About me?”

“Don't worry,” Byron cooed mockingly at what sounded like mild hurt in his voice. “Your Molly stood up for you admirably.” He turned to the coffee maker with a chuckle.

“Hardly my Molly,” Kale countered. “We've only met a few times around the building.”

“Well,” Byron said, smoothly, “she wants to get better acquainted, it seems. You, or should I say we, are invited for what promises to be an old fashioned Canadian Thanksgiving Day meal that Molly is cooking especially for their nearest and dearest.”

“Canadian Thanksgiving? Both of us invited?”

“Yes, and you sound like a mildly handicapped parrot today—what's wrong with you?”

Kale cleared his throat and shrugged. “So, when is this Thanksgiving, exactly?”

“I don't know,” Byron said. “But it doesn't matter. I'm your agent, and I say you're free. And you're going.”

“Why?”

“Because you're nothing but bones, and you never get out enough. And I got the distinct impression that Molly would throw me out the window if I dared show up without you. My God,” his agent added, “finally—after ten years of knowing you, could you be showing some interest in a female worth knowing for longer than a couple hours at a stretch?”

Kale just gaped at him.

“Kale and Molly sitting in a tree....” Byron sang under his breath as he switched the coffee maker to brew.

And, as promised, one lucky commenter on this post will receive a free PDF of this book. Today's comment topic, in light of the upcoming Christmas season, is "What is your favourite Christmas story or movie?"

So, drop on in and let me know, and then swing by tomorrow for the official release when I announce the lucky winner of a free PDF copy of Unwrapping Scrooge, my brand new release from Decadent Publishing!

~*~ CONTEST! ~*~

In honour of the release of my Christmas romantic-comedy, Unwrapping Scrooge (from Decadent Publishing), I'll be holding a blog comment contest on Sunday, November 28 - there will be a holiday-related skill-testing question, and one commenter will walk away with a free PDF of the book!

So, stop by tomorrow for an excerpt of Unwrapping Scrooge, leave a comment, and check back on Monday, November 29 for the release celebration and find out who won!

New Release -- Coming Soon!

My sensual romantic comedy for Christmas, Unwrapping Scrooge, might be releasing as early as this Monday through Decadent Publishing.

It's a story about a misanthropic Oxford writer who gets un-Scrooged by a young, optimistic Canadian grad student during her year abroad. It's funny, unusual and a bit on the snarky side, but satisfies that need for sweet, passionate love that comes with the magic of the snowy holiday season.

This is one of my favourite stories that I have written, and the characters are some of my favourite ever. I look forward to sharing this contemporary Christmas love story with you, and I hope you like it.

Release details will be announced when they are ready!

New Cover: Unwrapping Scrooge

Here's my brand new cover for my Christmas romance, Unwrapping Scrooge, to be released by Decadent Publishing the week of December 10, 2010 (tentative).