Shadow State

My Wild Rose Press Got Wolf? short story winner is now officially being published in October 2009 to coincide with Black Rose month at TWRP. I just set in the first round of edits last week and remembered why I loved the story so much. Werewolves, 1934 Germany, Hitler on the rise, panic in the streets. I love it all.



But until then, I'll continue working on my Druids series. Murder & Magick, Sex & Subterfuge, Desert & Destiny, and Book 4. Which isn't named yet...gotta work on that!

Scars (3rd in the Wicked Seduction series) and the short story

I have recently discovered I love writing short stories. Until August, when I sent in In the Shadows my Civil War Anthology submission to Wild Rose Press, I would have told you my shortest story was 75,000 words. Until August, my shortest story was actually 22,500 words (my beloved wolfie story now with an actual title, Shadow State contracted with Wild Rose Press).


Now? Thanks to Ravenous' 2500-6250 word count limit on their short stories (they call it a Ravenous Rendezvous...whatever) I'm in love with the short story. No, in no way does this mean I don't want to do longer stories, I love those too - there's much more to say in them, you can have more conflict, more angst. More sex. But in the short story, it's almost a race against the bad guy (word limit) to reach the ending first.

It's a poor explanation but I can't explain it any better. You have plot, sex, beginning-middle-end, and conflict. Lots and lots of conflict. It's fun, what can I say.

So today I'm working on my 1918 Rendezvous, Scars. A returning English WWI vet goes to the local pharmacy to buy the ointment needed for the scars he received on the battlefields of Flanders. What's the beautiful pharmacist to do but seduce the poor man?

And yes. I did my research. There were female pharmacists as far back at the 1860s in England. Not a lot, but they were there and voicing their opinions. I'll look for the link if anyone's interested.

Christmastime

I love the season. The music especially but the lights and the cheer. It's strange but people (some) actually are friendlier this time of year. Not so fond of the crowds, but then I NEVER am. There are few things more Christmas-y than finding love. This year, I'm blessed with being published with Ravenous Romance, and having 2 contracts with The Wild Rose Press.

With Ravenous, I have 3 Christmas stories out, 2 of which are in an anthology I blogged about yesterday. A third is part of the 12 Days of Christmas series, Four Calling Birds. Sure, there's lots of sex in it, but there's also romance. That's the whole point, after all, of a romance!

I'm revisiting these 4 friends throughout the upcoming year on various holidays, so stay tuned for more romance (and sex) from them!

Lark Summers, Paige Nightingale, Megan Cardinal-Walsh, and Eva Robin are four best friends with a mission. This Christmas they’re going to seduce the men in their lives no matter what.

Lark’s had the hots for her hunky professor since day one. Now that her Ph.D. program is over, there’s nothing standing in her way.

Paige finally admits that her gorgeous neighbor has potential. Though he’s spent months pursuing her, she’s resisted. With the encouragement of her friends, she’s going to see if his chivalry is all a façade or if he really is a knight in shinning armor.

Megan has barely seen her husband in months. Between both their high-powered jobs, time together consists of a brief morning kiss goodbye and text messages that they’ll be late. Tonight, however, she’s going to show him who’s boss.

Eva is swamped with work and school and hasn’t had time to breathe let alone see her longtime boyfriend. When he arrives home tonight, the scene is set but who’ll be more surprised at the end of the night?

Got Wolf?

Ages and ages ago I entered The Wild Rose Press's Black Rose Got Wolf? contest. Like June ages ago. Completely forgot about it until last week when I remembered they were announcing the winners on Halloween. TODAY I googled the results and after an intense search found the results.

I WON FIRST PLACE!

I'm desperately trying to breathe, but frankly I'm way too excited to bother.

Recovery

I've been sick, so have neglected my blogs. I'm feeling better though not 100%, but want to get back to my life, this included.

Today's tidbit is sick time. As in if you have it, save it! I'm serious about this, I'm lucky enough to be able to accrue sick time, so have 90 working days worth. I've now used 20 of those days. Lucky I saved them! Let my illness be a lesson.

On a brighter note, I've sent in my Civil War anthology story to The Wild Rose Press, and have signed a contract with Ravenous Romance for Birthrite-Raven! My time in the hospital hasn't been dull, I'll tell you that!

Busy month for me, and I hope many more of this kind to come. (Minus the hospital stay.)