AND SO IT GOES ...

Wow. Time flies when you are having fun! I've been sadly negligent about posting here.
There are days when I wished I had twelve hands and about eight brains. I have so many irons in the fire that I can't seem to keep up with everything. I wish I knew who's fault that was.

Those of you who know me are aware that I run a business out of my home and that this writing this is a new/revised passion. I've been a writer for years and only just signed my first contract. I'm fiddling with the paperwork for that, all the while trying to keep my attention on my business. Which also requires a whack of paperwork. And God forbid ... accounting. Please someone come and do the accounting. I'm begging here ...

For me, the writing comes in spurts. I'll write non-stop for days or weeks, then nothing. I'm wondering if I write myself out and need to pace myself better. Perhaps if I divided my times between business and writing I would manage better. But, that's  not me. I'm kind of an all or nothing girl. Both feet in, whole hog and all that rot. Obsessive compulsive? Maybe! Its hard not to let one interest or passion get in the way of the others.

I'm working on about four new stories right now. Ideas are coming fast and furious ... so my regular clients are on hold. Its a good thing I have deadlines for my real work. It forces me to get after things and get them finished. Without deadlines, nothing around here would ever get finished. Not even this post ....

Hold The Phone!

Okay, I've got to be honest here. I thought that writing a story was hard enough. But holy kamoly! The paperwork that follows is insane.

Here is a partial list of all the things I have to do before this thing is published. Write a biography for the back of the book. Come up with a dedication. Write a short and a long blurb for publicity purposes. Choose an experpt that tells about the story without giving it all away. Preferably one that is hot but not too spicey. Find a list of books by other publishers that have a similar feel. Generate a list of characters with descriptions and traits (which I had while working then deleted, so I have to redo this.) Sigh!

Then there is the tax paperwork. I live in Canada, the publisher is in the States. So much government paperwork ensues. There are even lawyers, yes lawyers involved in the paperwork. I am so NOT looking forward to that. I'll just open up my wallet and watch all that hard earned money dissipate. But in the end, it will save me some money, so I should be grateful.

It is hard to write a biography for oneself. You want to talk about your likes and dislikes and your history, but you also need to maintain your anonymity. Holy crap, if some of the people I work with found out what I do, land-sakes-alive, look out because the crap would hit the fan.  YIKES! I would be ostracized.

Of course my kids think its great, so does my mother, my sisters, and my husband. I have told some of my friends who are thrilled for me (if not a little leery.) But there are also friends who will never learn the truth of my alter ego.

So hold the phone, stop calling me. It's way to easy to distract me I plug away at all this paperwork and wish I was writing a new story instead.

I'm Gonna be a Superstar!

WOW

I am excited beyond belief.

I am officially going to be published.

I’ve dabbled in writing since shortly after high school. I’ve tried my hand at poetry, science fiction, romance, adventure stories and just about everything else. At long last I have found my niche. Erotica. How would have thought it? Surely not me. Well, okay … I would have, but only because I have an in depth knowledge of the twisted workings of my mind.

For the most part, my writing has focused on romance. On a number of occasions, I received the feedback that my writing had a unique voice and that I had some skill with writing sex scenes, but my worked lacked a decent storyline.

What was a girl to do after all those rejections? Why set out to improve her work and develop better story lines of course. I kept on trying, writing and re-writing. Ideas kept jumping into my head and demanding to be released as stories. So I continued to write. Finally, after much thought and consideration, I decided to channel my inner naughty and go straight for the zest. Anyone who knows me is well aware that my mind spends a lot of time in the gutter. (Grin.)

There is something inside me that drives me to write. It is impossible for me NOT to write. I think my head would explode if I kept all those ideas trapped inside. I even dream story lines. I have thought about keeping a notebook beside my bed so I can start writing the ideas down. But then again, maybe not because some of those dreams seem like fabulous stories while I am dreaming, but are a little suspect on closer examination under daylight.

Early this week I signed a contract with etopia for the publication of my novel-ette (I don’t like the word novella; it is too stuffy.) Late last month I submitted my story to their Ho-Ho-Holiday Heat, call for submissions. Frankly, I expected another PFO letter. (I’ve gotten used to them. They no longer crush my ego and desire to write.) I was ecstatic to be invited to sign a contract for publication.

The day I received my notification I was home alone. Hubby was away for work, my closest friends were on holidays or unavailable, even my kids were out of contact. So, I called my mother. She is very excited at my success even after I told her that she would never-ever-ever read my erotica. Can you just imagine? I would die!

So my story, with the working title ‘The Gift’ is scheduled for release in time for Christmas reading. (It does take place during the holiday season.)

Am I expecting fame and super-stardom? Of course I am. Okay kidding. I’ll just be happy to sell a copy and get some reader feedback.