New Story

I'm pounding out a short story for an erotic horror anthology that I hope works out. I should probably finish it tonight if I stay focused.

So much happened this week. I found out I'll be taking pitches at EPICon in New Orleans in March. If you are an aspiring erotica writer, or an established one that will be attending the conference, and would like to have the opportunity for a Loose Id editor to hear your ideas, please make sure you sign up at the convention.

I've also volunteered to coordinate a "Reader's Retreat" at Coffee Time Romance for Loose Id authors and readers. I'll post more info when I have it. It should be a fun time for writers and readers to get together to discuss stories, ideas, and projects.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a safe and satisfying holiday. Don't forget to check out this blog tomorrow when I'll post an early holiday present for you: a sweet Yule fairytale.

I feel compelled to comment...

All of what I'm about to say is pretty much opinion, and I sincerely hope I haven't misrepresented anything. Most of you, if you follow industry news, know that Harlequin Romance, the name in romance, launched two new business models this week. One, an ebook label with a wider selection of sub-genres, and the other, and the other? A vanity press with some amazingly opulent packages. Some items you can pay for when you pay to have your book published are a movie-like trailer and a book tour liaison. The ebook company is Carina, and vanity is Horizons.

Most people in the industry, including big groups like RWA and SFWA, have denounced Harlequin for the Horizons plan. Most people are afraid that Harlequin will funnel its rejections to Horizon, thereby exploiting their dejected authors by giving them the hope that they can pay to publish.

Anyway, what I really think is that Harlequin should NOT have released these two concepts so closely together. Some people are wrapping the two things up, and ebooks and vanity publishing are not the same. Yet they seem to blend together in the conversations at times, and people are coming out against Carina, which is perfectly viable venue in concept for publishing. I'm not sure how Harlequin will run things, but ebooks give authors more involvement in all areas of the publishing experience, giving us more power. We may not see the returns that New York authors get, but ebook writers can make royalties and even advances, and more and more are becoming big names in their genres.

So basically, while Horizons will probably end up looking like every other vanity press, making money off the writers rather than the readers, Carina could have been a sound idea if it hadn't gotten wrapped up in the whole mess. I guess we'll have to see what happens after this...

Great idea!

I came up with a great story idea today. I'm not giving anything away, but it's going to be the next one I work on. Hopefully, it will be finished by the end of December. I'm going to start outlining as soon as I've finished up here.

I've decided to post my sweet, holiday fairy tale for you on Black Friday. I hope you'll take a break to read it on that oh-so-hectic day. In addition, become a follower on my blog in the month of November or December, and I'll enter you in a contest to win a $5 gift certificate from Loose Id! You'll be able to pick out something hot to keep you warm during those long winter months after the holidays.

Two stories up at Literotica

The first, "Under the Evergreen," is an entry in their holiday contest, so please go read it and vote. I could use the cash just in time for the holidays.

The other is a fun little erotic hook-up with a few kinks: "The Fifth Floor."

I hope you enjoy both, and stay tuned here for your sweet holiday present from me!

Cover!

I got to see my coverart today for The Lovely Kittengirls of Mew Orleans. It is by Christine Griffin, and I have to say I am thrilled. It is really unique. Not at all what some of the other covers look like. I love the florals and the faux signage behind my name and title. I totally think this fits both the book and myself as a writer.

More ick...

Two rejections over the weekend. Sheesh. It's wearing me down. I think my stories are good, but evidently they're "not what we're looking for." Oh well. One is a holiday story I'll put up free for you here and on my site; the other will be up at Literotica and I'll let you know when it is live.

Otherwise, I did get two good novella ideas over the weekend. These should both be finished by the end of the year if I am lucky.

Good news, bad news...

So I had one story accepted. "The White Bride" will appear in an upcoming lesbian fairy tale anthology. This story is a mash-up of some old Japanese folktales. I'll keep you posted as more information becomes available. On the other hand, I had another story rejected today...

I worked on my very first book trailer today for The Lovely Kittengirls of Mew Orleans.  Here it is:

Waiting... waiting...

I have five submissions out right now that I'm waiting to hear on. It makes me nervous. To distract myself, I've decided to start working on a book video for The Lovely Kittengirls. I think that would be fun, and I saw this one from another author at Loose Id. It inspired me to try one of my own. I'll definitely post a link when it's done, but it might not be for a while.