Since tomorrow is my weekly Six Sentence Sunday post, I thought I’d give a shout out to my mom and all mom’s out there a day early!
Can a get a w00t! w00t! for anyone who grew up with a most awesome Mom?
I’m one of 5 children and we’re all a YEAR apart. Yes, my mother has a direct ladder to heaven for surviving 5 teenagers in her home! A lot of people blame the problems of their lives on their mothers. Ya know … I can’t say that. I’m sure my mom yelled. I’m sure she lost her patience with us. But truly … I don’t remember any of that. All I can remember from my childhood is her laughing. Mom giggles at everything.
My mom’s gone through some tough times, but she’s always been there for me. I love her and appreciate her so much. Unfortunately she lives really far from me. Last month Mr. Nina and I went south to visit her for a week. We had a wonderful visit. But it was waaaay too short. I can’t spend tomorrow with her, but she will be in my heart all day! And these flowers are for her (because she LOVES tulips):
So give a shout out to your Mom. What’s so special about her? How about a print copy of Dangerous Affairs to a random visitor who comments on this post between now and SUNDAY, MAY 13 at 8:00 pm EDT. (Shipping to US only … international winner will receive a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card) So what do you have to say special about your mom?
When someone finds out I’m a writer it’s often the first question I’m asked “Where do you get your story ideas?” The answer is … everywhere. Sometimes a line a song will begin the story. Other times it’s watching people in the mall and trying to figure out their life stories from the way they interact. (Actually, until recently I thought everyone made up stories about people in cars they pass on the highway or couples hanging out in the park.)
I’ve noticed my science oriented brain has moved from cataloguing the world around me to now wondering “What if ABC happened?” and from there a story is born. Anything can trigger an idea which often times triggers another until I finally have something I can work with.
I’m currently working on what I think would be considered a space opera. It takes place in a galaxy in deep space. Since I’m not a plotter I started with a very loose idea and it’s growing. I had intended for it to be a short story, but it’s moving forward without an end in sight. I’m having fun meeting these new sexy characters and learning about their faults and foibles. It appears my heroine has some very special talents that cause nothing but problem for my hero. And of course I keep throwing them into situations where the chemistry between them just explodes. Oh, yeah! My favorite kind of conflict!
In other news I’ve recently signed a contract with Ellora’s Cave and as soon as the story heads into edits I’ll share a little more. Suffice it to say … I’m really excited about this project. I know, I say that about every story. But this one is near and dear to my heart and I’m looking forward to sharing with everyone.
Also, if you don’t already know, I make book trailers. And here are two I recently made for other authors …
And I actually have some wonderful news! I’ve been alluding to it for weeks, but the contract has arrived, was signed and now has been sent back.
I signed with ELLORA’S CAVE!
Yes, this is a big deal! I’ve been trying to break in there for over a year. To say I am ecstatic is an understatement. I set a goal to write for their “fruit” theme. I did it. Sent it. It was rejected with an invitation to rewrite and incorporate some suggestions. I did. And they said yes! The title of the story is Divine Deception and takes place at a vineyard in western New York. I was pleased how the story came out. Unfortunately I have to wait until May for this one to come out also. 🙁
Which brings me to my next thing. Shame on me. I haven’t done any writing this week. I wrote one short story, but nothing productive other than that. This is a bad thing. Writing is not easy. Like all jobs, some times the days are fun and filled with words just falling on the page. But sometimes it’s a crappy day. I don’t feel good. Or my muse goes Christmas shopping. But I need to remember I still have to go to work. This is something I’m still learning how to do. When you work for yourself it’s to darn easy to say “I’ll catch up tomorrow.” But then too many tomorrows tumble over on themselves and still, I’ve done nothing.
I’m trying not to beat myself up over it, but it’s hard. Ya know? This week I’m setting a writing goal of 5,000 words. Okay, now I’ve said it out loud. You’ll hold me accountable. It’s not much. But it’s the holiday season and it looks like I’ll be doing some traveling for family business at the beginning of the week. So I have to cut myself some slack.
So check back next week and see if I met my goals. And if you’re brave enough … tell me what your goals are for this week even if they’re not writing related. Let’s hold each other accountable!
I’d like to say it was easy writing my latest story. I’d like to say the words just flowed onto the page. I’d like to say there was no frustration, or throwing of pens, or late nights…
But that ain’t the case! LOL!
I worked and pushed and forced myself to put sentences together to fill the pages. My characters seemed to take great pleasure keeping their stories hidden from me. I didn’t know who they were or why they needed me to tell their story. Like a personal trainer, I pressed them and kept at them until finally they relented and told me about all their pain and hopes.
Three quarters of the way through, the villain let loose on a rampage that revealed all. Like he had to wait that long? Because that meant I needed to go back and explain it all to the other characters in the beginning chapters. LOTS of rewriting.
But let me tell you … it was worth it!
From all this work, came my latest book, Shadows of Fire. I submitted it to Liquid Silver Books for their fireman series that will be coming out in 2009.
Fortunately, they also liked my novella and offered me a contract! Yay Me! I’m still dancing!
Here’s the blurb:
Sometimes the answer you seek is right in front of you …
ALEXANDRA FLANAGAN didn’t ask to be forced from her human existence as a chemistry student at the South Kenton University in the northern mountains of California into the ungodly world of vampires. But thirty years ago, after nearly dying from a vicious vampire attack, that’s exactly what happened. Saved by the blood of an ancient vampire, she unhappily walks among immortals–facing a hollow existence she never chose.
REESE COLTON has been a vampire for centuries. A man of honor, he is part of an elite military operation known as RISEN that seeks out and eliminates rogue vampires who choose to break the unwritten codes of the immortals and not live complacently among the human population. Under cover as a firefighter at the South Kenton fire department, he and his team have been called in to investigate the unusual number of fires that have ended the lives of several humans–and vampires.
When chemistry ignites passion, Reese and Alex find themselves embroiled in an affair that catches them both unaware. With the number of fires escalating and Alex’s behavior increasingly suspect, Reese isn’t sure whether to follow his heart or the clues. Will Reese find the answers to Alex’s secrets in the Shadows of Fire?
Now, we just have to wait until next year for these bad-boy firefighting vampires to be released into the world!
Break out the bubbly and let’s have a toast! I just signed another contract with Liquid Silver Books for my novella Blue Moon Rising!
Yahoo!
This time it’s a wolf shifter story that takes place in Montana. What’s even more exciting is that it’s going to be part of an anthology with two other amazing authors: Celia Kyle and Tina Holland.
Each of us wrote our own stories and they’ll be published together in a book titled Furry, Fluffy and Wild! (And their might even be a sequel *hint* *hint*!)
It looks like this could be out as early as late summer!
Here are the blurbs:
Blue Moon Rising by Nina Pierce
Tension between the cougar and wolf shifters in Lonesome Fork, Montana is spiraling out of control. With the full moon only days away and fear and the body count rising, Chief of Police, and head of the wolf shifter council, COLE TAKODO is trying to bring peace to both humans and shifters alike. But with the head of the cougar council, KURT HANSLEY, thwarting his attempts, it appears nothing will heal the growing rift. When orphan JAYDA KYNSLYN strolls into town, rumors of polymorphic shifters come to life begin to circulate.
Two men want to claim Jayda as mate: one will stand with her and unite the shifter clans; the other will possess her and reign supreme over the human population. With the Blue Moon Rising Jayda’s decision will determine the future for all of them.
Were What? by Celia Kyle
Lyla’s on the run from her pack’s omega. Since he’s at the bottom of the totem pole in her pack, this should be simple, right? Tell that to her aching lungs and jiggling thighs. She’s never been one to go with the flow. So when her alpha orders her to submit to mating with the omega she’s not about to start now. Good thing she runs into (literally) a big hunk of man who can make the scariest of wolves tuck tail and run.
Michael’s had enough of weres to last a lifetime. After being caught in the middle of a territory war while in Brazil between the Pumas and Jaguars, he sure as hell doesn’t want anything to do with the trouble following Lyla. But apparently no one told that to his cock.
Beauty is a Beast by Tina Holland
Welcome to the future! The year is 3025 and humans are fast becoming extinct. Nizhoni of Mojave Earth Clan knows her spirit guide will protect by giving her the power of the wolf. When she unwittingly bites another human she flees.
Michael of the Air Clan has searched for the woman he called Beauty who turned him into a creature of the moon. When he finds her living among the Mojave, he believes he can finally claim her. There’s only one problem she’s already married.
Together Nizhoni and Michael must battle her former lover, the Yee Naaldlooshi or feared skin-walker. The fate of their love and humankind hang in the balance. If Beauty can’t have her mate and save the world she’s going to be a real Beast.
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Don’t they all sound wonderful? I’m very excited. Edits are starting. As always, I’ll share more when I can!
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