Looking Ahead

Three posts in a row - holy carp, maybe the planets are aligning and the world is coming to an end. What other explanation can there be?

Normally I don't make many New Year's Resolutions (aside from the one I make EVERY year, to get to the gym, blah blah blah. I really do love the gym, it's psyching myself up to get there that's usually the problem. Sigh) but yesterday's post got me to thinking about what I want from myself on a professional level this year. There aren't many, and I may add to the list as the year progresses, but for now, here they are:

1. Blog at least three times a week.

2. Start commenting on other blogs on a more regular basis.

3. Get better at promo. This one is going to be tough, as I'm more of a lurker than a joiner on all of the loops I'm on (does that sentence even make sense??) But this year, I'm going to try to be more active on said loops.

4. Try to write a minimum of five pages at least five days a week. Even if the idea really does suck. Sometimes, I manage to salvage the trainwreck of a storyline. Sometimes.

5. Not be as distracted by the internet. Lately, I've been keeping away from all things internet. It wasn't a conscious choice, it just sort of happened. But I found I didn't miss it nearly as much as I thought I would. So if I can just keep that up, I might be able to write those five pages at least five days of the week.

Okay, so those a few of my goals for the coming year. Let's see how many I can cross off my list - or how many more I can add and reach - before December 31st?

Trying to Keep Up With It

Blogging, that is. I've been good. So far.


So today, my other half and I went oven shopping. When we bought our house four years ago, the oven, dishwasher, and microwave came with the house. We were in the house for about a two days when the dishwasher died. So, off I went to replace it. I wasn't happy about it, but what can you do, right?

Well, since about that same time, I've had a love/hate relationship with my oven. I suppose it was a nice oven -- a JennAir, which is pretty good. It's a convection oven (which really means very little to me, because the woman we bought the house from took the owner's manual with her -- but left the installation manual, for some bizarre reason. Probably the same reason she took the bag for our pool cover, I dunno -- I don't know who or what convection is.) But while the rangetop is gas (and for that I was thankful for when the power went out after Irene) the oven is electric.

I don't like electric. You don't cook with electricity. The broiler leaves everything kind of... gray-looking. No matter how high I have the heat.

But the oven. Wouldn't. Die.

Well, that's it - we finally decided the time's come to replace it. I've suffered long enough. My husband knows I love to cook (and I've come a long way since the hard-as-a-rock-and-about-as-tasty meatloaf I made for him right after we got married) and he knows how much I hate this damned oven. So we went shopping today.

My new oven will be here this week. It's all gas. It's convection (so I'll finally find out what that actually does.) It has five burners.

I'm in love. :D

Oh, and the over the range microwave is twenty years old and the handle is held on by electrical tape, so that is being retired at the same time. It's earned a good, long rest. I actually hate to get rid of it (I think the electrical tape gives it a certain je ne sais quois. And I know that isn't spelled right. And I. Don't. Care. :D) because I don't like to throw anything out that still works or might have some life left in it (my husband should consider himself lucky, for that, :D) but at the same time, the time's come.

And now that my edits for A Perfect Lady have been turned in (now I sit back and wait for the final proof. Yay!) I actually have a little bit of free time, and that's good. I can catch up on my blog reading (I've been terrible about that of late), I can get back to Six-Sentence Sunday, and I might even be able to read a book. Of course, my current WIP, Don't Tempt Me suddenly picked up again. I shelved it while I did edits and polished something else that will be going on submission tomorrow. Then, when I was putzing around over the weekend, I took a peek at it and BAM! The words came almost as fast as I could type them. I love that. So I will probably work on that as long as my muse and I are on speaking terms.

And that's where I am now, and it's good to be back.

Shifting Gears

OMG.

Yes. I'm blogging. Woo hoo!

Well, now don't get too excited, since every time I think (and say) I'm back, I go **poof** just as quickly.

So, let's just enjoy this while we can, 'mkay?

Anyway, first off, thank you so much to everyone who commented on my last post. You have no idea how much it meant, reading your kind words. It helped me get through what's been undoubtedly the roughest few months of my life. My mother is doing a little better, but not much. Still, each day is a gift and that's how I have to look at it.


Things are starting to calm down a little. A Perfect Lady is off to my editor. I'm going through the print galleys for Tiger Eyes (**coughcough**available on Amazon for preorder. Order early. Order often**shamelessplug**coughcough**) and that's it. I'll have a clear schedule (until the edits for APL come in, that is) and I'm already plotting out two more books, and finishing the third Sebastiano book. Yay!

I'm taking a break from the Georgian/Regency era for a while. You Belong to Me, After the Storm, Devil in Disguise, The Pursuit, Playing with Fire, and A Perfect Lady are all set in those time periods and I'm a little burned out from it. For some time, I've wanted to write a western-set historical, which I did for NaNoWriMo, and I'm planning (hoping?) on finishing that sometime before the end of the year.

I'm looking forward to the change. I love the Georgian/Regency eras, but I don't know if I'll write any more books set in either time period. At least, not in the strictest sense of the words. I'm a strict believer in never-say-never, but right now, I have no plans to. I do have two WIPs that are nearly finished (as in submission ready) so while I may sub those somewhere, I have no plans to write anything new.

Change is good for the soul. Hopefully it'll be good for the stories, too. :D

So Tired...

of winter.

Really, am I the only one who thinks it's time for winter to just. go. away? It was almost 70 degrees a week ago, and now, it's barely out of the 30s. Tomorrow it's supposed to be just as cold. Blech. The groundhog didn't see his shadow, so bring on spring ASAP. I am beyond ready.

I'm a spring person. Well, spring and fall. Those are my favorite times of the year - warm during the day, cool at night. Perfect weather. I know the warm is here to stay when my daffodils make their appearance and I get the overwhelming urge to plant stuff. Last year I grew sunflowers (which were beautiful until the squirrels got them. Damn bastid squirrels), basil (what started out as one pot grew quickly into three and I had more than I could ever possibly use), tulips (fell victim to the deer), and snapdragons (victim to not enough watering. My bad.) This year, when the urge hits, I think I'll plant thyme and basil again (but this time, I'm going to try to keep it small) and my flowers. I dug up the tulip bulbs last year, so I'll try replanting them and see what happens.

So hopefully the warm weather really is right around the corner. I can't be the only one fed up with cold and snow and ice and all that. What about you? How do you know when spring has really and truly arrived?

Oh, and btw, I have a release date for Devil in Disguise. Look for it come June 17th! Yay!

Reviews!

Hey look, a new post! Woo hoo!

Anyway, I recently received a couple of reviews back on After the Storm and thought I take a few minutes to share them!

From Sizzling Hot Book Reivews:

I liked that the characters earn what they get, you get to watch the people grow and develop here. Hugh and Miranda together are believable, both having lost their fathers, having a love for the Scotland’s countryside, horse riding for itself (not to show off or attract others), i.e. they share more than just a physical attraction

And:

 After the Storm is a rich story, with well develop characters and setting that make you want to read more like it.

 You can find the rest of the review right at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

And The Romance Reviews gave it four stars and had this to say about it:

Kimberly Nee throws a huge twist towards the end of the book that completely blindsided me. I'm not going to divulge the twist in my review because I think everyone should read the book to find out what it is! All in all, this is a well-crafted book with many unforgettable characters. A must read! I can't wait for the next book!

Want to read the rest of the review? Check it out at The Romance Reviews!

 Anyway, it was nice to wake up to those sitting in my inbox!

And now back to your  regularly scheduled Sunday morning!

At Last! A Contest!

And it's a very simple contest. As I said in a previous post, I hate the title for The King's Bride and I need to change it before I submit it. Trouble is, no matter what, I can't think of anything better.

So, here's the contest - best book title wins a copy of Tiger Eyes and After the Storm (and an acknowledgment in the book when/if it sells!) I'll post the synopsis to the King's Bride, and all you need to do is come up a title for it. The contest will run through January 31st and all entries should be sent to kimberlynee AT gmail DOT com.

Good luck!!!

The King’s Bride

Synopsis

With his coronation imminent, Stefan Vanechka, the Crown Prince of Mordainia, has no choice but to accept the bride who has already been chosen for him, a woman he has never met. Faced with threats from both outside his kingdom, as well as within, he not only must do his duty, but he needs this woman. The woman chosen to be his bride is a Seer, and he will do what he must in order to protect his people and his throne.

Kristian Petroviya never knew she carried royal blood in her veins, and that she was betrothed at birth to the future King of Mordainia. Spirited far into the wilds of Mordainia as a child, she grew up knowing nothing of her heritage, or what was expected of her in regards to her gift. Rather, she was raised as being only one step above a peasant, reared by an aunt who used that gift for her own advantage, until Kristian was able to free herself  and begin her life anew. Marriage to anyone, least of all a future king, was the furthest thing on her mind and the last thing she wished to do.

Left with no choice but to accompany Stefan and his men back to Mordainia’s capital, Kristian is forced to accept a truth she’d never dreamed possible. And as they journey on, neither can deny the growing attraction between them. But when Kristian discovers the truth as to why he has come for her, and what her gift means for the future of his reign, it threatens to destroy not only lifelong friendships and growing trust, but Mordainia’s existence as well.

Edited: Please put Title Contest in the subject line of your email. ! :-)

Release Day and a Possible Contest!

Okay, I kind of forgot about the excerpts (sorry about that), but After the Storm is now available both in digital format and in print!

Here's the back cover copy:

When her father’s death leaves her in need of the protection of marriage, Miranda MacDonough travels from her home in Scotland to live in England with an aunt she hardly knows. There, she will learn everything necessary to make her into an acceptable society lady. The only problem is, the one man who makes her heart beat faster and her breath difficult to catch belongs to someone else.

Hugh Montgomery, the Duke of Thorpeton, has spent his life doing exactly what was expected of him, right down to the woman he is expected to marry, one chosen for him. What he hadn’t expected was to meet a woman such as Miranda, who will turn his world upside down and leave him torn between honoring his father’s dying wish or surrendering to his desire.

And here is an excerpt:

...she prayed time would halt but for five minutes. That was all she asked—five minutes more.

But time would not freeze and her absence would be noticed. “Hugh,” she whispered, “I should be going below…my aunt…you need to finish dressing and this is utterly improper. Why, should someone catch us…”

Hugh shook his head ever so slowly, still holding her gaze. “No one would dare enter without my permission. Not even my valet takes such liberty.” He stroked her thumbs again, his voice softer and deeper still. “I thank you for your help, Randi. There are those days when I miss my youth. When I needed no help. From anyone.”

"You are hardly old, Your Grace.” Why was her breath so hard to catch? Another flutter through her belly and the breathlessness worsened.

“I am fraying a tad at the seams these days, I’m afraid.” His words were soft, and sadness tinged his grin.

A deep breath did little to quell that returning sense of wickedness as she bent forward to whisper in his ear, “I happen to like frayed seams.”

He turned, caught her completely by surprise as his lips found hers.

Want to read more (and you know you do!)?? You can find it in digital format at Amazon, and The Wild Rose Press. Want a print copy? Check it out here and here!

Now, I've been thinking of holding a contest to celebrate the releases of both After the Storm and Tiger Eyes. But then I thought, what if I announce it, and no one is interested (the horror!)?

So, I am going to do a little research (begging? pleading?) to find out if there's any interest. The idea was a Name My Next Book contest. The King's Bride is ready to go out on submission, except I hate the title. And since I suck at titles, I thought - why not pick everyone else's brains and throw in a few prizes for their effort? I'd post the book's synopsis, and offer copies of Tiger Eyes and After the Storm for the best title.

Interested? Let me know what you think!

You DO Remember Me, Right?

I certainly hope so. But, I won't fault you if you don't, so let me introduce myself again.

I'm Kimberly Nee. I write historical romances. Maybe you've read one (or two) of my books. I used to blog on a fairly regular basis. Then I vanished.

But now I'm back. I took a two month break from writing, worked on revising a few current projects, and basically just recharged my batteries. And it worked, since I started a new book last night and I can feel that need to just sit at the keyboard and write. It's been ages since that's happened and I forgot how much I really do love that feeling.

So little by little, I'm getting back into my old routine. I'm catching up on all the blogs I read, and will hopefully get back to commenting on them as well. I also discovered a few new blogs. But mostly, I'm writing again. Yay!

After the Storm comes out this Friday, and I'm pretty excited about it. I'll post a few excerpts over the next couple of days to pique your interest...

Taking a Break

From my NaNoWriMo project. I have to be honest, I hate the story. I hate the characters. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I don't want to write. I have to force myself to sit down and hit my word count each day.

I think it's partly because I didn't have time to do much more than a few paragraphs of a synopsis. Now, I'm not really a plotter. Never have been, though I've been leaning more and more toward it. But, I usually have a bit more of a skeleton, and I know the time period I'm writing about. But this year, I was editing two books during September and October, which meant I had no time to do even the most preliminary of research. As a result, my NaNo story, which is supposed to be an historical set in the Old West, reads like it could take place in any time, which is Not Good when writing an historical. Not Good at all. Yeesh.

But mainly, I think I'm tired. By the end of January, I'll have four books out (The Pursuit - July, Playing with Fire - November, Tiger Eyes - December, and After the Storm, January) with a fifth one coming as soon as I get a release date. Playing with Fire and Devil in Disguise (release date TBA) were the books I was working on in the run-up to NaNo (I also did first round edits on Tiger Eyes in there somewhere.) I finished The King's Bride. I started two other books in addition to everything else. It's been a busy few months, and that's without adding in everything that's been going on with my mom as well. Which all adds up to one tired writer.

So I'm looking forward to December. I'll take the month off from most of my writing (I'll have final edits on Tiger Eyes and that should be it for deadlines.) I'll work here and there on The King's Bride because I plan to start subbing that in the new year. I'll work a little here and there on my current WIPs, and I'll blog, but that's about it until sometime next year. I need a rest. I don't want my writing to suffer and I'm thinking that it's starting to do just that. And when the time comes that I have to force myself to work on a story? Yep, that's a hint.

So, I'm looking forward to my little vacation. I think I've earned it.

I'm BACK! didja miss me?

I've been running like a freak for the last two weeks. Way back, when contracts first crossed my desk, having several books coming out over a few months seemed like a good idea. Sure, get out there with new stuff, since it's been two years since my last release. Why not?

Seemed like a good idea at the time.


or so I thought.

Deadlines have overlapped. Major rewrites have come in all at once (eek!). But on the plus side - I kan haz kool kovers?

Check these out -

Playing With Fire ~ will be released by Aspen Mountain Press/Aurora Regency Historicals on Novemvber 26. And here is the smokin' cover...

And following that is Tiger Eyes, which is coming from Samhain Publishing on December 21, 2010. W00t!

Yowza...


And coming in January, 2011, from The Wild Rose Press:

And with a release date to be determined (but edits mercifully thisclose to done) is Devil in Disguise from the Wild Rose Press...

So this seemed like a great idea, like great exposure - and it was. But there was a lot of work and a lot of craziness on top of all the RL craziness going on in my word.

But now everything is thisclose to being finished. WHew.

Now I can begin working on my NaNo project. And then I'll tackle The King's Bride. Mary, my most awesome beta reader, gave me a lot to think about and made some great suggestions. So when those changes are made, The King's Bride will leave home to go out on submission.

Then I'll take a vacation. Maybe. :)

NaNoWriMo and Other Stuffs

It's hard to believe we're pretty much halfway through October already. I love October. It's my favoritest month. The days are warm (for the most part), the nights are chilly (perfect!), and the colors - OMG.

One of the best things about living where I do is the autumn. The leaves become the most beautiful shades of red, orange, and gold. We have one tree in our backyard (a black tupelo, if Wikipedia can be trusted) that becomes the most gorgeous colors when the leaves turn. It's just starting to turn now, and I'll try to get pictures of it. I love it. It's my favoritest tree ('Mom,'  the Girl says, 'don't you mean favorite, since favoritest isn't really a word?' Gotta love her.)


And during this month, I begin thinking about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month for those who have never heard of the challenge of writing 50k words in 30 days or less.) This year, I'd planned on finishing Midnight Angel. But when I finished my edits for Tiger Eyes and turned them in, I got hit with the urge to write. In the last two days, I've added almost 3k words and the way I'm going, I'll finish the rough draft before November 1st.

So, I think I'll work on the western I've wanted to write. We'll see. I've got eighteen days to mull it over. Or, I can do as I've done in years past - finish one book and start another. That's how I ended up with Tiger Eyes and Devil in Disguise. One was begun, the other ended, during NaNo 2008. That's the beauty of NaNo. And, even better, I've sold every one of my NaNo projects, and they usually inspire more books as well. Writing's funny that way, work breeds inspiration. :D

Now, Playing with Fire is set to be released on November 26th, so I'll be knee-deep in edits for that as well. And there is still at least two more rounds of edits on Tiger Eyes - so I'm going to be busier than a one-armed paper hanger for the next few weeks. And, I should have cover art for Tiger Eyes and final cover art for Playing with Fire very soon.

I'm in for a couple of very busy weeks, but it should be fun. Surely I'm not the only loon signed up for NaNo - anyone else out there doing it?

Imagination

When I first sat down to write this post, I planned to blog about imagination. But no matter what I wrote, it sounded ridiculous. Probably because it was ridiculous. What do I know about imagination? I know that I've always had a good one and sometimes it runs wild with me. :)

I never had invisible friends (either human or rabbit, and a cookie to anyone who gets the reference), but my favorite toys were my Barbie dolls. My best friend and I would play almost every day and we never played like those stupid Barbie commercials ("Barbie's a veterinarian!") We had storylines. And drama. And conflict. There were love triangles, and betrayals, and reunited lovers (oh, yeah... our Barbies were gettin' a little somethin'-somethin' as well. Hardly a surprise I grew up to write steamy romance novels, eh? :D) Kris's grandmother would come to watch her and her brother for two weeks every summer, and she said she preferred watching us to her soaps. Is it any surprise I'm a writer now?

I miss those days now - those Barbie games and their stories, laid the groundwork for the writing I do now. I learned all the basics just from my imagination, without even knowing I was learning and without ever thinking that it might be something I'd actually get paid to do.

Imagination is limitless. It's infinite. It's a gift. And it's a shame most people lose that gift, or let it fade away. The ones who retain it are the lucky ones.

Because I Just Don't Have Enough to Do...

I've finished up the first batch of edits on Playing with Fire (did I ever announce that Aspen Mountain Press/Aurora Regency Historicals offered a contract on the second McKenzie book? Well, if not, here it is - yay! Look for it on November 26, 2010!) Now, this wasn't the first edits in total. My editor sends them to me in chunks of five to ten chapters each. All told, I'm about halfway through the first edits for the entire book.

I've also begun edits for Tiger Eyes. But these are not nearly as bad - at least, not yet. Yay!

I'm plotting out what I want to work on for NaNoWriMo (oh, you know I'm already signed up for that.) I think I'm going to finish Aidrian's story. I think. That's always subject to change. NaNo has been good for me. Devil in Disguise was my 2008 NaNo project, Tiger Eyes was 2009. I love NaNo, because it's a good exercise in just writing. It doesn't matter if it's great prose or not, as long as the story gets written. My inner muse usually pounds my inner editor into submission for those thirty days. :)

And, since (as the title of this post suggests) I don't have quite enough to do, I took on yet another project.

We've been in our house almost three years (our move-in anniversary is October 20th.) and I'm still kind of making it my house. Every fall, I get on a cleaning-rearranging furniture-making my house look nice kind of tear. The nesting instinct at it's finest.

My kids share a bathroom. And it's a boring bathroom. Just plain. White. Walls.

It needed something.

The only spot of color in the room is their shower curtain - which is bright blue, with tropical (I think they're tropical. I don't know much about fish, really.) fish on it.

So, I was in there last week, trying to decide what this room needed. Then it came to me. Stencils of  (wait for it...)

FISH!

Now, I've never done stenciling before, so I did what I do - I googled it (don't you just love how the word google has become such a part of our vocab?) and found out that it's something even I can't screw up. I'm one of those people who wants to be all artsy-craftsy, and tries to be all artsy-craftsy, and usually sucks dirt at it. But I was up to the challenge.

I trekked to AC Moore, and found stencils that I liked. And paint. And brushes. I was off to a good start...

Got one of the stencils up...

And stenciled a fish!

Four hours later, I had the area over the tub finished...

I was pretty happy with how they came out, and it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be, it's just a little time consuming. Next weekend, I'll tackle the two smaller sections, and over the sink. From there, who knows... if it doesn't move, it may end up stenciled.... bwahahaha! :D

Checking In...

It's been very crazy in my neck of the woods - between the kidlets starting school, and my mother's latest go-round in the hospital, I haven't had the time or the energy to post anything. We're settling into a daily routine here, and my mom was moved from the hospital to a rehab facility, so things should calm down a little. Of course, every time I think that, something comes along and slaps me upside the head.

Anyway, I have some exciting news - Aspen Mountain Press offered me a contract for the follow up McKenzie book, Playing with Fire! It's scheduled for release on November 26, 2010, and I should have cover art very soon. When I do, I will post it. Yay!

I'm still waiting for cover art for Tiger Eyes, and when I have that, I will post it as well.

I'll also be receiving edits for Devil in Disguise, Playing with Fire, and Tiger Eyes, so things are going to get way busy in the coming days. Yay for busy. Right now, busy is good.

 Busy is very good.

Change...

Is good for the soul, or so I hear. I have to admit, I am sooo not a big fan of change. I wish I could be one of those people who lives for change, who likes when the powers that be shake things up, who can change their hairstyle 'just cuz."

But, even I need a change from time to time. My last few books (Tiger Eyes being the only exception) have been set during the Regency, although my McKenzie books are American-set. For the last eighteen months or so, I've been mostly in the Regency and even though I love the time period, I need a break from it. While I do have two more Montgomery books planned, I don't know exactly when I'm going to write them.

Instead, I've had an idea brewing for some time for an historical set in the Old West. About bounty hunters. It's a time period I don't know a whole lot about, but I'm definitely looking forward to researching. It's also a story I'm looking very forward to writing, as well. The American Southwest is one of my favorite places (I have family in Texas and New Mexico, although I don't get to see them much) and I love the idea of the 'Wild West'. Cowboys. Bounty hunters. Runaway brides. Oh, and a smartass, six-year-old orphan named Jack. It should be fun to write, if nothing else.

And change is good for the soul. :)

Done!

First edits for Devil in Disguise, that is. Yay! It took me a while, as they arrived just as my mom was beginning radiation therapy, and then she ended up being hospitalized twice in the last two weeks. Fortunately, my Wild Rose Press editor, Christine, is an infinitely patient person and very understanding.

So that's done with, and now I'm back to work revising Dance with the Devil. This one is almost finished, so this should be the last go round before it goes out the door. Then, I think I'm going to plot out the next Montgomery book. This will be Daniel's story (he's mentioned, but not seen in both After the Storm and Devil in Disguise.) After that, I plan to re-write Elyse's story (she originally appeared as Kendra in Shelter From the Storm - which has since gone out of print) and that will most likely be the last book in the Montgomery series. It's been a great series to write, but all good things must end.

So that's my weekly update in a nutshell. I'm busy. Very. Busy. And that's a good thing. Work has been especially therapeutic during this time and I'm thankful for the distraction right now.

Checking In

I'm still here - just running like crazy. My mom finished up her radiation therapy, but now she's back in the hospital because she's sick as anything. They don't think it's because of the radiation, but they aren't really sure why she's so sick. It doesn't make any sense to anyone. Hopefully we'll have answers real soon.

I'm going through the first edits for Devil in Disguise and my editor is a wonderfully patient woman. She knows what's going on, so at least I don't have that stress.

I may even have a title for Aidrian. Yay! As of right now, it's now titled, Midnight Angel. :D

I'm revising the cover copy and excerpt for Playing with Fire. I hate writing cover copy. It's a skill. I don't haz it. :( Fortunately, my editor does haz it. So this copy will happen. Oh yes, it will.)

I'm in the midst of getting the cover for Tiger Eyes. When I can share it, I will. Promise. :D

Okay, I think that's it - time to finish my coffee, jump into the shower, and trek on up to the hospital.

Happy Tuesday, everyone! :D

Settling Dust

Whew... when things get hectic, they really get hectic. And lately, things have been hectic.

First, I want to apologize for my random posts. My mom was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, so I've been running like a madwoman, taking her to radiation therapy, for this test and that test. Then, this past Thursday, she went in to have a lung biopsy done. There was a complication that resulted in her needing a chest tube, which led to being admitted into the hospital for three days. But, she's home now and resting, so that's all good. She'll be going for a PET scan sometime this week, to see if the cancer's spread. So, if everyone could just think good thoughts for her, that would be great. Thank you.

I've also been working to get Playing with Fire finished and out to my editor and I'm happy to say that it's done. Yay! Just in time for me to begin the first edits on Devil in Disguise. Nothing like busy on top of busy, right? Keeps me out of trouble.

But tonight, I'm taking for me. I'm working on Aidrian's story and, of course, a new story idea hit late last week, so maybe I'll get that outlined or at least roughed out.

I'll try to get back to regular blogging, but right now, everything's so up in the air, that it'll be hit or miss at best. Once we get things settled with my mom, things should calm down a little (or so I hope) and with any luck, I'll even have ideas for blog topics. We'll see.

And now, since the Boy and the Girl are peacefully watching a movie (it's raining and gray outside today, unfortunately), I'm going to try to get some new words written.

I've missed writing new words. :D

Some Good Weekend Stuff

It's Saturday - yay! Of course, Saturday is pretty much like every other day to me - it's one of the benefits of being a writer. Unfortunately, one of the liabilities is that I often forget what day of the week it is. It's sad when I have to ask the Girl if it's Monday or Tuesday. Even worse, when I've already asked her half a dozen times.

But this isn't about my absentmindedness, which reaches epic proportions at times. But it's the weekend and that means rest and relaxation (or west and wewaxation, if you're Elmer Fudd.) So...

Here is an interesting blog I found this morning, compliments of the Smart Bitches. It's called Handsome Men Who are Now Dead. The title says it all. It's about handsome men. Who are dead. Kind of depressing, but oddly fascinating.

Okay, now, back to the rest and relaxation. After all, it is Saturday!

A Friendly PSA

Over at the Absolute Write Water Cooler, you will find some of the best information, most amazing people willing to help and offer advice, support, etc, and some really heated political discussion - in addition to some serious terrific publishing knowledge.

One of the sub-forums is the Beware & Background Check (B&BC) - there people post about this agent or that publisher and others chime in either from their own experience or what they know about the standards in the industry.

The other day, a question popped up about a certain e-publisher and that they charge a $90 set-up fee if one of their contracted authors opts for the POD (print on demand) option. It's a one time charge (per manuscript) and only applies to the option of having your work available in trade paperback as well. They don't charge for editing, cover art, or ebook set up fees. Just for the print option.

For anyone considering a publisher like this - remember one of the Golden Rules of writing: Money flows toward the author not  away from the author. It's called Yog's Law and it's a biggie. Really. Any time a publisher asks one of  their authors to contribute financially to the creation of their book - you're dealing with either a vanity press (such as PublishAmerica) or a subsidy press. Either way, neither one is considered a professional writing credit and I think such fees hurt epublishing because authors should NEVER have to pay a fee of any kind to a publisher. Never. Publishers pay you, not the other way around. And yes, PublishAmerica IS a vanity press. It masquerades as a commercial publisher (or, as they like to call themselves, a traditional publisher. Which is BS because there is no such animal in commercial publishing.) No, they don't initially charge - but they bury their authors alive in a continuous landslide of emails - Buy x amount of copies and we'll send a copy to Oprah/Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg/President Obama. < - Seriously, they have been deluging their authors with ridiculous pitches like these. PublishAmerica. Vanity. Press.

So before you seriously consider paying a setup fee to any publisher, make sure you've exhausted ALL other publishing houses because you're about to sign away your book to a vanity or subsidy press. Any epublisher that expects to be taken seriously cannot charge these set up fees and hope to achieve the level of respect that epublishers such as Samhain, Loose Id, Ellora's Cave, Aspen Mountain have achieved. It just won't happen.

Just a friendly public service announcement from your friends at A Few Thoughts. :D