Bouncing thru the Week

It's been a mixed week - bounced from extremely productive to extremely unproductive. Got a ton written on Bound Forever last weekend. I bound and gagged the internal editor and got an amazing amount done. I now only have a 1/3 of the book left to write and I'm on track to finish by mid-August. Go me! :) Then I dropped down to the other end of the productivity spectrum.

It became very obvious to me this week that when I'm not in the mood to write, I allow very bad TV to suck me in. I watched a marathon of Toddlers in Tiaras. And I mean marathon - like all night long, until 3am. It was like watching a train wreck - I just couldn't not watch. Very sad, really, since I was sitting at my desk, laptop on and the WIP open, and I chose to watch Toddlers in Tiaras instead of focusing on Oliver and Vincent. *shakes head at self*

But then Arthur and Leopold came to my rescue and snagged my attention. I pulled my notes for the sequel to Convincing Arthur out into a 7 page chapter outline (single-spaced, mind you). Then I wrote a synopsis for the book. Yesterday I received ARCs for my next m/f print book and spent last night putting together a promo mailing to bookstores and reader groups. I have no idea how effective such mailings are, but I have this feeling like I should do it, so I do. Plus it was a good mindless activity since the kidlet had a friend over last night and they were up past 1am, so there was no way I could have gotten anything done that required even an ounce of concentration. Monday I'll go to the postoffice after the EDJ, and I'm sure the postoffice workers will be frowning at me when I show up with a big box full of stuff to mail. And since the envelopes contain varying quantities of bookmarks, they will all need to be individually weighed. Yeah, the postoffice dudes are gonna hate me. LOL

Tonight I'll go back to Ollie and Vincent - they need to feel the love - and hopefully by Monday, I'll have a lot more written on the book. Still don't have release dates for His Client or Bound Forever, but I now have the feeling both will release this year. We shall see, though, and I'll post dates as soon as I have them.

I hope everyone's having a wonderful weekend! Oh, and the kidlet and her friend made me breakfast this morning. Diet coke, peppermint pattie and a hot fudge sundae poptart...yeah, the kidlet knows me so well ;)

Story Behind the Story - Object of His Desire

Stats - Sent in full ms 7/14/08. Received offer 8/21/08. Published 3/17/09.

Almost 6 weeks between submission and the offer…it felt like forever. I have really bad luck when it comes to timing submissions to Samhain. For this one, I sent the full a week or so before RWA Nationals (of course, my editor attended, so she was super busy before, during and after conference). And then she went on a long vacation to Australia. In fact, she read the book on the flight and emailed me with the offer when she landed.

Little known fact – The book was originally titled With Him. My editor didn’t think the old title would totally grab a reader, so after a lot of mulling, I came up with Object of His Desire.

Extremely little known fact – Though it was published 6 months after Bound By Deception, Object of His Desire was the first m/m book I wrote, and it was my first attempt at writing a novella. I never used to think I could write novellas, but now I love them.

How did I get the idea for the book – It was so long ago, I can’t remember what sparked the initial idea for the characters. I checked my notes, and I started writing the book back in December 2007. Actually Shawn Lane and I started writing erotic romance at the same time (yep, we’ve been critique partners for that long…I can officially say ‘I knew her when…’ *g*). I started with a m/m/m/f book, but the scenes with only the guys were way more fun to write, so I put that book aside (it’s still ‘aside’, likely indefinitely) and started a m/m book. I wanted to keep it short, and since I had never written anything shorter than a 100,000 word novel, I figured the only way I could do it was by limiting the timeframe. The book occurs over 8 hours. That need to adhere to a short timetable was what drove the premise of the book.

If I could edit the book now, what would I change (if anything)? Lengthen their argument at the end of the book, the one before the last smex scene. I added to it during edits, but I wish I could have gotten Henry and Arsen to really have it out.

Will there be a sequel – I had thought about doing a sequel, but decided the idea would work better as a free short story. I already have it outlined, and plan to write it and post it to my website later this summer. Likely right after I finish Bound Forever.

Misc stuff – This was the book that taught me – you never know if you don’t ask. I used to enter unpublished author writing contests (RWA chapters sponsor them) and had submitted the first chapter of a m/f book to a bunch of contests. My eventual editor at Samhain was the final round judge for one of those contests. She liked my writing and requested the full manuscript (she also placed it 1st…yeah, I had to work that in there *g*). Contests take months from start to finish, so by the time I got the request, I had already contracted the book with another pub. But when I had Henry and Arsen’s book ready to submit to publishers, I remembered that request. I thought the book might fit well at Samhain, so I got some balls and sent the editor an email. A ‘thanks so much, unfortunately have already contracted that book, but I also write m/m and have a novella I would love to send you’. To my total shock, I got a ‘yes, would be interested in taking a look at it’ response. I got to skip the slush pile and send the book directly to an editor who I already knew at least liked my writing. Yeah, I was geeked, and I still can’t believe I had the balls to even ask. But it taught me that all important lesson – you won’t know if you don’t ask.

So that's the Story Behind the Story for Object of His Desire. If you have any questions, ask away!

Bound Forever

Bound Forever, the third and final book in the Bound series, has a home! It's been contracted by Loose Id, and will come in at novella length. Release date is still TBA, as I am currently writing the book. I'm targeting mid-August to finish it, and I'm hoping it will be able to be released before the end of 2010, but I'll have to wait and see. All depends on the pub schedule.

I worked on the blurb last night, so I'll share it with you. It's not the final version, but it's what I'll turn in.

Lord Oliver Marsden’s life is perfect...well almost perfect. His bookshop is doing well, his bank account isn’t empty, and his nights are filled with a deliciously dominant man who loves him. A man who no longer keeps him at arm’s length in the bedroom. Of course, Vincent still firmly holds the reins of control. But while Oliver feels Vincent is finally ready to relinquish control and make their relationship truly equal, the looming threat Vincent could someday be forced to marry keeps Oliver from tugging the reins from Vincent’s grasp.

Then Vincent receives a letter that changes everything. Oliver seizes the moment and pushes Vincent toward a night neither of them will ever forget. Yet come dawn, Oliver awakes to an empty bed.

Lord Vincent Prescot knows he loves Oliver. The man’s his best friend and he trusts him. So why does giving up control to Oliver leave him so shaken? It doesn’t take him long to determine the cause, yet his solution could drive his lover away for good.

After finishing His Client last week and taking the weekend off to be lazy, it's been nice to go back to Oliver and Vincent. I know them so well, they've become rather like old friends. And speaking of Ollie and Vincent, I better get back to them. I really want to meet my self-imposed mid-Aug deadline. I hope everyone has been having a great week - and it's Thursday, which means Friday is now only a day way, and after that...the weekend! :)

Story Behind the Story - Got Mistletoe? by Andi Anderson

Got Mistletoe? by Andi Anderson

Stats - Got Mistletoe? was published this past December as part of the Advent Calendar series that Dreamspinner Press publishes every year. When I saw the open call for submissions, I decided to take a chance and write something. I started it on September 11, 2009 and finished it on the 15th. I had just enough time for my sister to do a quick read before I submitted it to Dreamspinner that night. They sent me an email that they had accepted it as part of their series on September 18th.

Little known fact - When I wrote it, I had intentions of finishing Ryan and Blake’s story. I felt like it ended right when things were getting interesting between them. I don’t know if I’ll ever write a sequel to it and that makes me feel a little sad.

Extremely little known fact - I called my sister, Ashley, and my mother at least a hundred times while I was writing it. I kept emailing them copies of what I had written so far, while I waited anxiously on pins and needles as they read it and hopefully give me the green light to continue. I don’t think I would have finished the book if it wasn’t for them and their encouragement.

How did I get the idea for the book? - I came up with the story by envisioning one of my heroes, Ryan Jolly, in my mind. His sweet disposition and zest for life was something I thought was different about some of the heroes that are portrayed today. I have an internet friend that is always upbeat and happy. Although I have never met him, I pictured him being the type of person that was not only cute and adorable on the outside, but on the inside as well. That has always been attractive to me as a reader. So in many ways, Ryan was born and Got Mistletoe? was written because of him. Ryan’s sweetness was definitely suitable for a Christmas story. I really loved him.

If I could edit the book now, what would I change (if anything)? - If I could have changed anything about it, I would have made Ryan and Blake’s story a full length novel. I think they deserved that. In my mind, they definitely live happily ever after, and I hope that people who’ve read the book came away with thinking that too. I wish I had given myself more time to polish it better, but I didn’t. I’m still very proud of it and I will always love it.

Thank you, Ava, for asking me about my book. It’s been fun remembering and sharing the experience with you and all of your friends. As a newbie, it’s an honor to be recognized by a great friend and wonderful writer like you.

Emerging from The Cave

I've been deep in the writing cave since this last weekend. I resisted the sparkle of the shiney internet, severely limited emails, and spent a lot of time in the garage with nothing but the cars and my laptop. And now I can officially say...

It's done!! I finished His Client tonight. *g*

I still need to give the book a final read through tomorrow and then I'll send it off to my editor. But the writing is done. The book came in just shy of 40,000 words, which makes it my longest Ava book to date. In comparison, Bound to Him used to be my longest at almost 30,000 words. After I hit send on the email to my editor tomorrow night, I plan to take a few days off, be lazy, read some books, and catch up with all the emails and posts I've missed, then get back to Bound Forever. Oliver and Vincent are getting impatient.

In other news, Andi Anderson will be by the blog on Monday with a Story Behind the Story post for Got Mistletoe?. Andi's a good friend and a talented author. She's also as sweet as can be. So don't forget to stop by on 7/19 if you have time to get the scoop on Ryan and Blake's book.

Shawn Lane is holding a couple contests on her blog for upcoming releases. One for Pieces and one for Only Forever, a paperback collection of her Only series. The Pieces contest runs till Saturday and the Only Forever contest runs until the book releases this month. Just follow the linkies to drop your name in the virtual hats to win copies of the books.

That's it for me for now. I'm off to go bask in the glory of typing 'the end'. :) I hope everyone's been having a great week so far!

His Client

His Client, my current work in progress, has a home! *g* It's a m/m Regency-set erotic romance with some light D/s elements and some role playing, and it will be my longest Ava book to date. Should come in at short novel length. It will be published by Loose Id, release date TBD as I have yet to finish the book. Close to being done though, and I'm on track to meet my deadline of next week.

I was darn productive over the holiday weekend. Finished chapter 3 of Bound Forever, finished chapter 8 in His Client and got a good start on 9, made a 'coming soon' image for the blog, wrote long and short blurbs for the book, and did the cover art request form. *pats self on back* And since I've written the blurb, I'll share it with you. It's not the final-final one, but it's the one I'll turn in.

Mr. Jasper Reed has been working at Madame Delacroix’s for a decade. He’s saved enough to retire, yet he remains at the decadent London brothel. Retiring would mean leaving Nate and the hope perhaps someday the rugged gentleman would stop pining for his best friend and realize he loves Jasper, just as Jasper loves him.

Mr. Nathaniel Travers has been visiting the brothel for five years. On every visit, he requests the same man. Stunningly handsome and highly skilled, Jasper not only shares Nate’s fondness for wickedly erotic games and black leather corsets, but he has become a friend. Someone he can talk to. Someone he can share a supper with. And Jasper’s the only person who knows Nate secretly harbors a love for his old childhood friend, Peter Edmonton.

It takes Edmonton’s marriage for Jasper to realize he’s been just as blind as Nate. Stubbornly hoping for something that cannot be. Convinced a gentleman like Nate can never be more than his client, Jasper retires.

Life in the country may be lonely, but with no one to please but himself, it’s calm and peaceful…until Nate shows up on his doorstep.

I'll leave you with another cookie that provided some inspiration for His Client. There are no red skirts in the book, but it's the feel of the pic. A hard male body contrasted with soft, gauzy fabric. Oh, and thanks to Eyre for the cookie at the top of the post. I liked it so much, and thought it fit Jasper and Nate, that I snagged it from her blog a while back ;)

Wet Hottie, a Test, and a New Kitty

Contrary to what the 'WIP'n Progress' shows, I have been productive this week. Really, honestly. ;) Wrote two synopses and am briefly back to working on Bound Forever. Even though I dread writing a synopsis, doing one for the book helped me to figure out a connecting scene I was struggling with. So that's good. And if all goes well today, I should be back to working on His Client by tomorrow. Oh, and I have news. *G* I'll share it next week, after I dot some i's and cross some t's.

Ever wonder what your ideal career should be? Well wonder no more. Simply take the Dewey Color System Test. It claims to be scientifically valid and very accurate. For me, it was scary accurate. It gives 5 career options based on your answer, and in those 5 options, it had my 2 current careers. I was sufficiently amazed. All you do is first pick your favorite color from yellow, blue and red. Then pick your fav from purple, green and orange. And viola! I'm blue-green = 'writer' and 'department manager'. It also listed accountant (and I love numbers like you wouldn't believe). So yeah, scary accurate. LOL

I saw a commercial for a new piece of exercise equipment and my first thought was...rather pervie. I bet over 1/2 the people who buy the Ab Circle use it for more than just excersing.

I came home from work Monday to a new addition to the family. Hubby got the kidlet a kitty. Her name's Georgette (the ladies at the rescue shelter named her) and she's cute as can be. She also has the added bonus of loving the kidlet's brand of over-affection. Kidlet played with her in the Barbie Cruise Ship last night and kitten just went along with it. Georgette also likes the kidlet's goldfishes.

The goldfish, however, don't appear too thrilled with the new addition to the family. Goldie #1 looks distinctly worried.

It's a holiday weekend here in the U.S. Anyone have any fun plans? Me, I'll be hanging at home with the hubby and kidlet, and writing. Yeah...I'm the height of excitement. And now, I'm ducking back into the writing cave. Hope everyone has a great weekend!