MySpace

I'm now on MySpace! Literally, since Wednesday I mean. I have all of 3 friends so don't judge me by that. I had a co-worker manipulate the background with my first cover. It's a little dark, you can't see everything I want, but I'm working on that. I prefer Facebook - clean lines and no background nonsense, it's just easier. So I'm on both, and feel free to friend me on both!

www.myspace.com/isabelroman

or on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1658970906&ref=profile

Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick is available in downloadable and audiobook form now. Dark Desire of the Druids: The Tryst, the prequel to Murder & Magick is available to download.

Slip into Something Victorian

I'm blogging over at Slip into Something Victorian today. Drop on by, leave a comment.

BTW: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans was good. Not great, not fantastic, but really good. You were certainly never bored and Michael Sheen is such a wonderful actor it's a shame he hasn't won recognition for it yet.



Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick is available in downloadable and audiobook form now. Dark Desire of the Druids: The Tryst, the prequel to Murder & Magick is available to download.

WS: Scars & Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans

I'm not a big horror fan. Freddy gave me nightmares as a child and is the only still-scary horror creature today. Jason? Passe. Michael Myers? Only those original 2 were worth seeing and now not so much. Freddy, however, came in your dreams. You don't go to Crystal Lake, you don't live near an insane asylum where escapees aren't caught by the police. But you have to sleep.


But there's something about vampires & werewolves that has me reading and watching them over and over. Buffy & Angel. So so there. Read Twilight long before the movie. Adore L.A. Banks new werewolf series and even though vampires are kind of overcrowded at the moment, I still find myself drawn to them.


Tonight, I'm going to see Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans. The first rocked, the second not so much. But this prequel looks excellent. We'll see about 7:40 tonight when the movie starts.

In the mean time, I'm finishing up Wicked Seductions: Scars and plotting out Wicked Seductions: Starlet. Tomorrow: writing Starlet and more plotting, this time of Book 3 in my Dark Desire of the Druids Series: Desert & Destiny. Gareth from Raven's story, (Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick) finally gets his own story. Set in London and Egypt, this is going to be a fun book. The research alone is extensive, and if I put everything I learned into this story, it'd be a dissertation. Still, I'm looking forward to plotting it chapter-by-chapter,

Hump Day

I always wondered why they called it that. Yes, I get the reference, but it's such an odd saying. And yes, I wonder about other odd saying, too. Like you're so cute I could eat you up. What? While I'm sure I could spend the rest of the morning coming up with odd saying I don't really understand, my news for this fine (frigid) Wednesday is that I'm finished Morgana's story!

I am seriously doing the happy dance, which doesn't help my typing. Luckily, Blogger has spellcheck.

Morgana's story, also known as Dark Desire of the Druids II: Sex & Subterfuge, takes place in Philadelphia 1882. I love Philly, it's history, it's museums, Reading Market, the Colonial stuff in Old City. Their bars. Not their sports teams so much though the Phillies managed to break the curse. The Eagles & Flyers...we won't talk about them.

After immersing myself in Philadelphian culture for months now, I've finished Morgana's story. It's sad, I so enjoyed her character. Strong, no-nonsense, bold when she wants her man, willing to take the responsibility herself when necessary. A strong woman for the times. And Lucien, not one to let her do things on her own, especially when they're dangerous, he knew when to let her be and when to stand by her side.

I love their romance. Going to miss it. Going to have to take a trip to Philly now, and see all the wonderful places I've written about. Oh, been there before (I live in the area) but it's been a while since I've really seen it. And now, I have other areas to explore, areas I've written so much about in Morgana's story.

Here's a blurb:
A master magicker, Morgana Blackthorne has a tenuous hold on her following. When a strange Englishman arrives on her doorstep with news of other druidic magickers, and magicker problems, she’s intrigued but suspicious. There hasn’t been contact between the American and European druids in over a hundred years. Plus she has her own worries and doesn’t need the handsome earl adding to them.

Lucien, Earl of Granville, left England to seek out the Blackthorne Druid line and discover what they’ve been up to since contact was lost. Once he and Morgana meet, their mutual attraction distracts him from his puropse. Embroiled in her problems, he finds himself more concerned with her welfare than is practical for a passing affair.

When I invited you into my bed, it never occurred to me I wouldn’t want you to leave.

There are darker forces at work and the hunger of a weak magicker desperate for power. Will Lucien convince Morgana of his true feelings before things spiral out of control? Or will the surrounding subterfuge tear them apart?

Book 1: Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick is available in downloadable and audiobook form now. I love and adore the cover to Murder & Magick, Raven's story.

Dropping the ball

I hate the middle of book 2 in my Druids series, Dark Desire of the Druids 2: Sex & Subterfuge. I hated it so much I gutted it last week and wrote fresh. It's still not great. I don't know what's wrong, the first 1/3 has humor, sex, sexy banter, devious villains and their nefarious plots. The ending is full of heartbreak, climatic scenes, more sex, and lots of magick.

But the middle? Not so much.

I'm still in the process of polishing it, and I know it'll ever be PERFECT, but I hate to have anything less than stellar. So I forebare, going over scenes, cutting, adding, tweaking, and hoping the middle turns into something half-way great.

It's how I'm spending my Thursday night. At least it's too cold out to do anything else!

DON'T FORGET: Leave a comment on my Unusual Historical blog between now and Sunday 1/18/09 and enter to win a free copy of Book 1 in my Druid series, Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick

Guest Blogging today

I'm over at Slip Into Something Victorian with Part 2 of my Great Depression Blog. You can find Part 1 here. The Great Depression 1873-1896, otherwise known as The Long Depression. You'll learn some surprising parallels with today.

And don't forget, my environmental romance, Hot Water is out in Ravenous' Green Love Anthology!

Dark Desire of the Druids: The Tryst
Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick

Unusual Historicals

I'm doing a book giveaway over at Unusual Historicals today! Just leave a comment any time during the week and next Sunday (January 18, 2009) I'll randomly chose a name for a free download of Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick.

Not as easy as it sounded

Once upon a time, being published sounded so easy. It was fun - the book was done, people bought it, end of story. Until the next. I'm on the next. It's not fun. Re-reading Sex & Subterfuge I realized the middle sucked. It was stilted, awkward, tedious, you name it, it was it. Except for exciting. It most definitely not exciting. It's now on the cutting room floor, so to speak, and I'm rewriting it.

Did I mention it's due January 15?

Yeah.

Stupid edits. Make me realize how awful my story is.

Back to the grind. I'm not getting any sleep tonight.

Unusua Historicals

An excerpt of Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick is up at Unusual Historicals. Now I know this isn't exactly an 'unusual' time period, but the Victorian Era isn't as popular as other time periods, so I guess it was close enough.

Slave driver

I am, I admit it. I push and push until it's all finished and on time, and it really doesn't bother me that I get dirty looks and grumbles. I think I was a general in a previous life.

I push myself just as hard. Usually. These past weeks haven't bee quite so productive, but I'm happy to say that I'm back in the groove and writing away. I amassed a huge pile of research on Philadelphia 1882 including the docks, Chinatown, Old City, and what's become known as Main Line.

I put it all in a neat pile ext to my computer so I don't have to waste precious time searching for it when I need it. I cleaned that area by my computer (so as not to lose anything) and have dived back into the story.

Just when I wondered if why I bother writing anything since it's all drivel, I realized that this is a great story! I'm kind of impressed, actually. The scenes came pretty easy, the path ever so clear! WOW, I can write!

Looking back, I suppose that break during Christmas & New Years was just what I needed. Sure it was a pain in my lazy way as I wondered why I wasn't writing even as I lounged o the couch. But now, with all this energy back, I'm thinking it was only a good thing.

This week is dedicated to Morgana and a rewrite of Love Birds, the weekend to edits, and all next week to more Morgana. Gotta get that book finished by the 15th!

First post of the year

I thought about what to write for this most important post, my FIRST ONE OF 2009 how I'm going to stick with my 2009 goals, what I've done so far, all this energy, enthusiasm, so on and so forth; ditto, ditto; Et cetera, Et cetera...You don't what to know what I've done with the first 4 days of the new year. Nope.

There's been very little energy, some slight enthusiasm, little actual work, but over all, mostly Richard Sharpe and his various movies because of which I'm now reading Bernard Cornwell's books. I did finish a short story for Ravenous, Love Birds, a Valentine's Day story.

Promised to get off my lazy arse and write something else, but yeah, that didn't happen. And I have a deadline January 15 for the 2nd in my Dark Desire of the Druids series, Sex & Subterfuge. That's pretty well done, but I do have to finish it then edit it, but I have great faith in this weekend. Which conveniently gives me this week to finish reading the Sharpe books. *G* Yup. I'm addicted. It's a thing.

I did manage a blog for Unusual Historicals on Professions: Female Writers in the 1800s. Will start working on part 2 of y Panic of 1873 blog for Slip into Something Victorian, too.

More 2009 Goals

These aren't necessarily writing related but since they're pretty good goals for everyone, I thought I'd share them. I'm of the you never know what might happen mind-set and should therefore be ready for anything.

• See a lawyer about a will.
• Get that life insurance. My broker (and no he wasn't in that ridiculously high bailout that did nothing but line the pockets of the already ridiculously rich CEOs) recently suggested this savings-like life insurance. It's not term life where you lose that money if you don't die. You put the money into the policy like normal but if you happen not to die in 30 years (and I don't plan to) you get it back. With interest.
• Purge my closets of the old but not necessarily buy the new. I have enough clothes, shoes, purses, and yet more shoes without buying more.
• With that saved money I'll pay off my Macy's card and hopefully my Amex, too. With lots of luck and some restraint...
• Meditate. Yes there are stupid people in the world bound and determined to annoy but my 2009 goal is to breathe deeply and let it go without a snarky comment. Which will be the hardest.

And of course - TO WRITE!

Dark Desire of the Druids: Tryst
Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick

Christmas:
Four Calling Birds
Merry Sexmas Anthology: with the short stories, Memorable & Red Bow

Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick

My first full-length novel is now available from Ravenous Romance! Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick where we follow Raven Drake and Malcolm Preston from their initial meeting in Dark Desire of the Druids: Tryst through discovery and betrayal.

Losing her virginity can mean ruin for a Victorian lady. For Raven Drake, it means freedom to explore her sexuality. As a magicker in hiding, Raven subscribes to her culture’s less prudish philosophy. She wants to experience every erotic sensation imaginable.

Malcolm, Lord Preston, desires her from the moment he sees her, and doesn’t allow society’s rules to stand in his way. More than happy to introduce Raven to the pleasures of sex, he doesn’t expect to fall in love with her.

Their tryst is a welcome distraction from witch hunters and political maneuverings. But can it overcome the weight of another man’s ring on her finger?

Full of mystery, murder, and magick, The Dark Desires of the Druids series will leave you breathless!

Keeping up

Christmas is Thursday! I'm so not prepared. For days I've said I wanted to start wrapping. Haven't. Still need to buy 3 more presents...nope. Christmas Cards? Eventually. A second to myself? This morning when I slept in and it was wonderful.

In the meantime, I'm nearly finished my Valentine's Day story with my 4 couples, and I've managed another few chapters of Morgana's story (Dark Desire of the Druids II: Sex & Subterfuge). I've also read some great books.

Over at Wild Rose Press, Susan Macatee has a free Christmas short story out, and I'm reading Denise Eagan's Wicked Woman is out now, and the sequel The Wild One is out in January - I can't wait!

And don't forget to check out Four Calling Birds, and Memorable and Red Bow in the Merry Sexmas Anthology. Or Dark Desire of the Druids: Tryst, the prequel to Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick coming out December 24.

Presents

I'll be Christmas shopping today, and if you're one of those who suddenly realized Christmas tricked you and IS NEXT WEEK! stop by Ravenous Romance for some last minute presents. Love Christmas stories? Check out Four Calling Birds and Memorable and Red Bow in the Merry Sexmas Anthology.

Magick more your style? Try Dark Desire of the Druids: Tryst, the prequel to Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick coming out December 24.

Happy Shopping! And Merry Christmas!

Taking a break

I love writing. I love the start of it when I have a new idea, the tweaking it all out part to make it work, the writing it all, and eve reading it over again. I can never get over that I wrote this, and hey, it's not half bad!

But sometimes I need a break. Not a long one, a day works. Just to recharge and not write drivel. What's the point in writing when I'm going to delete it all later because it sucks? It's a waste of time ad I only get frustrated.

I have 2 deadlines coming up in January, and fully intend to make them but today I need to step back and breathe. It's a hectic time of year and with shopping, cleaning, baking, decorating, and general running to do in addition to working, writing which is a wholly creative process and doesn't do well under stress, must take a break.

Tomorrow I'll work on Morgana's story, I'll finish the middle third this week and go over the outline for the final 1/3. I'll also flesh out y Valentine's Day short story and hopefully that'll take better shape than it has been.

OK, OK, and I'll watch Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles tonight and House tomorrow night. What? Smart TV is so hard to come by...

Critique Partners

Dark Desire of the Druids: Tryst is now available from Ravenous Romance!

I belong to a wonderful critique group. I haven't used them in almost a year but it's a wonderful group nonetheless. They know what I write and understand my time period, the Victorian Era so I don't have to explain the neat inventions that came about then. And they always nitpick those punctuations and grammar issues. Overall plot is harder, since we do a chapter at a time over 2 weeks. By the time they read chapter 10, months have passed.

That's what self-editing is for before they even see the story. Plot points are tricky little buggers, but they're what drives the story. You can't rely on others to pick up those things from your story.

Now that I have deadlines (not as cool as I thought it'd be and that's a shame) and more stories to work on that I even conceived of 4 months ago, I've started keeping a file of plot ideas. Basically, I have a story, say book 2 in the Dark Desire of the Druids series, Sex and Subterfuge. I have an overall synopsis for the major points, then a chapter-by-chapter breakdown.

Each chapter has some sort of cliff at the end. It wasn't hard to come up with the cliffs, but it was difficult to fill in the blanks between chapters. In the long run, it made the story tighter and more interesting. Easier to write, too.

And now that I know where I'm going, and with my Victorian critique group set to start up again after the holidays, I think they'll enjoy the story. And not find so many problems with it. *G*

Tryst

I'm away for the next couple days for a funeral, but wanted to share the link to purchase Dark Desire of the Druids: Tryst. It's my short story prequel to Dark Desire of the Druids: Murder & Magick out December 24. And be sure to check out Ravenous Romance's site, it's easy to use, and lots of great books there to download!

Ravenous is live!

It's a gorgeous site! I love it. It's so easy to navigate, and the graphics are just that good. Definitely check it out! And don't forget, my short story, Dark Desire of the Druids: Tryst comes out Saturday December 6.

Happy Thanksgiving

The history of Thanksgiving is an interesting one. And I'm not just talking about the Pilgrims coming over. I'm talking Lincoln and reminding a nation at war the meaning of that nation.

Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on 28, 1863, urging him to have the "day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival." She wrote, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution." The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise."

The original proclamation, written by William Seward (also know for the purchase of Alaska), was sold to benefit Union Troops:

According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President
Lincoln's secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William
Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow
Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary that he complimented Seward
on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops.

So tomorrow, as we gorge ourselves on turkey and football, remember our past, our troops, and our hope for the future of our great nation.

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/source/sb2/sb2w.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/tgproclamation.html

Don't forget to download your free short story, and enter a chance to win a iPod Touch at Ravenous Romance.

December 6, 2008: Dark Desire of the Druids: Tryst is available from Ravenous!

(I've had problems with blogger ad adding a site, so if MY link doesn't work, it's: http://www.ravenousromance.com/)