Feb 12 2015

If You Build It, They Will Fly To The USA, And You Will Come

So I’m in the middle of writing my next book, a contemporary romance set partly in Dublin, and I have to confess that I’ve never been there. I’m relying extensively on a whole lot of internet friends (many of whom are from Dublin or that area) to make sure I’m not writing stupid stuff or using dialect that any self-respecting Irishman (or Irishwoman) would sneer to read.

But oh, I want to go there someday.

Unfortunately, I’m not a bestselling author yet, and no one’s throwing six-figure book advances my way (yet) so Dublin is a dream for now, as is the rest of the Emerald Isle.

Or so I thought. Continue reading →

Feb 11 2015

Two Books To Choose From! Help Yourself To Some Steam!

That’s right – Not one but TWO ways to get some heat going this Valentine’s week. Book Three of the Seeder Saga is now out on Amazon!

Changeling is the story of Lizzie, who gets kidnapped from Earth by a handsome stranger. It turns out her father was from another planet, and embroiled in a plot that threatens mankind all over the galaxy. She’s thrown together with Indar, a member of the Seeder Corps, and together they’re going to have to figure out a mystery that spans time and space – that is, if they can keep their hands off each other long enough to do so. Along the way, they’ll meet up with Miri, Raine, and their men – all of whom prove valuable in solving an intergalactic puzzle. This book contains strong sexual content and is not suitable for readers under 17.

Ready in Red takes place on Valentine’s Day, when a girl shouldn’t be alone with only Netflix for company. Val gets pulled out to a bar by a friend in need, only to find a hot and friendly bartender who makes her very glad she remembered to wear her matching red lingerie that morning. She’s primed and ready for a steamy night, and Zach more than delivers.This book contains strong sexual content and is not suitable for readers under 17.

Both of these books were tremendous fun to write. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed bringing them to you. I’m now partway through my next endeavor – this time a contemporary romance. Stay tuned!

Feb 10 2015

Amazon Is Really Hacking Me Off, So While We Wait…Have An Excerpt!

I was hoping by late yesterday, I’d have a link to Changeling on Amazon, but no such luck. The book has been “in review” for damn near two days now, and I have no idea why.

It’s not the end of the world – people can still buy it via Smashwords (and yes, they even have a version for Kindle) but it just seems so…naked having only 2/3 of my trilogy up on Amazon. It irritates me.

So I’m going to get over my irritation by offering you another excerpt from the book. Enjoy! Continue reading →

Feb 9 2015

Yes! It’s Here! It’s Finally Here!! CHANGELING Is Now Available!!

I know, I know…it was long overdue, but I promise, it was worth the wait. Changeling: Book Three of the Seeder Saga is now available via Smashwords, and should be up on Amazon sometime later today – check this post and I’ll add the link in when it goes live, I promise.

I want to thank each and every one of you who have so patiently waited for Indar’s story, and to catch up with Rain, Ajan, Miri and the men of Falenua. You’re going to get to spend time with all of them, and I promise, you’re going to love my gutsy Lizzie, charming Indar, and the secrets that define them.

This trilogy doesn’t read like a normal trilogy, I know. The first two books could easily be stand-alone stories, and that was by design. I wanted it all to come together in this book, and it does, beautifully.

So give Changeling a try, and don’t forget my Valentine novella “Ready in Red,” also available via Amazon and Smashwords.

Feb 5 2015

Being A Writer When Life Gets In The Way

A few years back, I was at a blogger conference, and the keynote speaker was a three-time NY Times best-selling author. During the Q&A, someone asked her what her secret was to being a full-time working author. The author answered: “Don’t quit your day job.”

She went on to say that unless you are very, very lucky and land that enormous advance on your first (and all subsequent) books, and then maybe a movie deal, you’re going to need to cultivate alternate revenue streams or you’re going to have to give up your dreams of a house in the burbs and a couple of kids and a car that impresses people.

I drive a Kia, but I do have the house in the burbs to take care of and the day job that pays for it and all my other bills, which are a multitude since my divorce. And this week, I had a lot going on at the day job. In addition, I got news about a book contest just a few days before it closed and I had to rush to re-review my manuscript before I submitted it (and commission some cover art) and finish up my novella “Ready in Red” so it’s positioned for Valentine’s Day. Add in two blogs and a professional article-writing gig and it really, really gets crazy.

All of that pushed back my final edits/read-through on “Changeling” and it’s frustrating as hell. But I will persevere, and come hell or high water, this thing is getting finished. I’ll update you shortly, I promise. I just have to stop second-guessing myself and decide it’s good like it is. (And I never feel like my books are good like they are. Never.)

So back to work for me.

Feb 4 2015

Here’s A Good Writer/Reader Question: What Would Your Book Be?

Let’s pretend that Ray Bradbury’s novel, “Farenheit 451” is the society in which we live today. Books are banned, and a group of dissidents determined to safeguard works of literature have taken it upon themselves to memorize their favorite books, as a means of preserving them.

So let me ask you: What would your book be?

My initial response would be “anything by Ray Bradbury” because I love his work so much. Maybe “The Martian Chronicles” or “The Illustrated Man”. Or maybe I’d be preserving Harry Potter books – God knows I’ve read them all. I have a strong desire to preserve “Jonathon Livingston Seagull”, too. And how about “Goodnight Moon”? How do I pick just one?

Anyway, it’s food for thought. Let’s hope it never becomes reality.

In the meantime….

What’s your book?

Feb 3 2015

My Brain Is All Over The Place Today

I have a serious case of what I call “Irons-in-the-Fire Syndrome.” I have the final edits and read-through of Changeling to finish so I can release (hopefully today, but maybe tomorrow if I get interrupted), but my next book is demanding that I pay attention to it. The plot is rich and full and already mapping itself out, throwing chunks of dialogue at me, moistening my eyes with tender moments, and making me squirm on my commute home with thoughts of how well these two people fit together.

In addition to that, I have new FanFiction to plan out (although that’s not as huge of a deal. I’ve started fics with a lot less to go on and the beauty of Fanfic is you have to write one chapter at a time and it leads you to the plot points as they evolve). And alongside all that, I have a job writing articles for an online magazine, this blog and another blog to manage, and I have a non-fiction book I’m putting together on a specialized subject.

All while working a full-time day job and with primary custody of two kids.

No wonder I don’t have a social life. Sheesh.

Continue reading →

Feb 2 2015

Heat Up Your Valentine’s Day With My New Story, “Ready In Red!”

It’s Valentine’s Day, and a girl shouldn’t be alone with only Netflix for company. Val gets pulled out to a bar by a friend in need, only to find a hot and friendly bartender who makes her very glad she remembered to wear her matching red lingerie that morning. She’s primed and ready for a steamy night, and Zach more than delivers.

Ready In Red is available at Amazon for Kindle or Smashwords for all e-reading devices (as well as online) and it’ll only set you back $.99!!

Get it while it’s hot and enjoy a hot, sexy Valentine’s Day!!

Jan 30 2015

Use A Comma, Save A Wedding

Jan 30 2015

Don’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover (Except Everybody Does)

I am one lucky author. I hit the motherlode when I found Colleen Clarke at Mystique Book Designs. Colleen is responsible for all the amazing covers on my Seeder series, and at a more than reasonable price. I found her on a website featuring premade ebook covers, that I used to find the cover for “Naughty or Nice”, and she’s been terrific to work with.

This week, I had a special challenge for her.

You see, I wrote a young adult novel, under my alternate pen name (Britt DeLaney is for erotica only). This one is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy kinda thing, but unlike a lot of YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels, it is completely devoid of vampires, werewolves, angels, demons and dystopian futures. In short, it’s different.