Cover Reveal!

I've been waiting quite some time to share this one with you - the second book in my Black Phoenix series, MIDNIGHT HEAT. 

I’m really excited for this book. It’s sexy and...well, Dominic. It doesn't get much better than Dominic Price. VBG

I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do. At the very least, stare at this cover for a few minutes.



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How I Start A WIP

As a writer, the question I get asked the most is ‘Where do you get your ideas?’. And if you’re interested, I answered this question in an older blog post. You can find it HERE.

The second most popular question I am asked is ‘Once you have an idea, where do you begin?’. This question is actually a bit more difficult to answer, but I’ll try. Story ideas come to me all of the time. The trick is being patient enough to wait and see if the idea has legs. What I mean is, some ideas come to me like a butterfly, then flit away just as quickly. Then there are the ones that stick, the heroes who won’t stop talking to me, even at three in the morning, that question that hangs in the air, day and night, that I feel compelled to answer. These are the ideas with legs. The ideas that force me to put pen to paper - or more and more often now, fingers to keyboard – and begin writing. These are the ideas that become my works in progress, or WIPs.

Once I’m ready to begin writing, I….heck, I’d love to tell you that I have a series of questions I ask myself or an outline I’ve worked up, but that’s not how it works for me. You see, I’m what they call a pantser – which means I write by the ‘seat of my pants’. That’s right, I don’t have much more than a title (which I can’t seem to begin without), and my hero and heroine’s name. If the idea came to me in the form of a question, which it sometimes does, then I have a bit more. If it came to me in the form of the hero’s voice in my head, nagging me to get on with it and tell his story, then I may only know how it ends. After all, heroes aren’t always prone to tell you how he got himself in the position he’s in, just how he wants that story to end. LOL

But, if the story idea came to me in the form of the opening scene (which is usually how they come to me) then I don’t know much at all. Maybe just what kind of person the hero/heroine is. And that’s when the fun begins for me, the moment I sit down and just begin typing. Letting the story unfold as it may, discovering the events that take the characters from the opening scene to the happily-ever-after. Yup, I just dive right in. No character sketches, outlines, or blurbs. Not until I’m farther into the story – like half way. For me, knowing too much before I begin spoils the fun. A complete outline before I’ve written a single scene, and I’ve lost the excitement, feel as if I’ve already told the story. Odd, I know, but true.

So that’s how I start a WIP. I get an idea stuck in my head, think on it a bit, then take myself and the voices in my head to my laptop and start writing. Does that make me sound a bit unhinged? Probably. However, I believe on some level all writers are...but that’s a different blog post.

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I’m Out of Shape

Writing shape, that is. We won’t even talk about what kind of shape I’m in physically, this is a writer’s blog, after all.

For me, summer is a time of total insanity. Not because of school break, ball games or vacations. Oh no, for me summer is crazy because both my husband and I work an insane amount of hours during the months of June, July and August. Heck, sometimes it carries into September. What do I mean by an insane amount of hours? Well, for him summer means 80+ hour work weeks, for me, something like 65 – 70 hours a week.

See, I told you it was a time of total insanity.

Given the choice between working an obscene number of hours every week and writing, I would, of course, choose writing. However, there are bills to pay. And so, I trudge to work every morning at 5 a.m., and leave at 6 p.m.. Only, instead of heading home, I head off to put in a few more hours working with my husband. I don’t begrudge this time of all work and no writing, but I don’t embrace it either. After all, it’s not like the voices in my head take the summer off.

This year has been a bit different for me, as I’m done with the crazy hours already. Yup, it’s 40 hour work weeks for me. Which is good, great really, except for one thing. I’m out of shape – writing shape.

As bad as being out of shape physically. Surprisingly difficult to get back into the habit of writing. There are so many things to do! Laundry. Vacuum under the couch. Paint the living room. Lunch with friends I haven’t seen in months. Get that last swim in the lake.

Whew, I’m working up a sweat just typing out all the things I need to do! Between work and that list, how do I fit writing in?

One step at a time doesn’t work for me. Nope, me, I have to dive right in head first. Surround myself with inspiration, reconnect with friends who also write, and no matter what else is going on, sit my butt in the chair and write. Blog posts, fragments of the story, anything as long as I do as Nike urges and Just Do It! Every. Single. Day.

Just.

Do.

It!

It’s not going to be easy, but I’m the stubborn sort. With persistence, dedication, and a few kicks in the pants from a certain friend who shall remain nameless –ahem, Amie – I can get back into shape. I have to, after all, there are two heroes commanding my attention right now.


How do you get re-motivated?



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Mystical Press

Greetings and Salutations!

Many thanks to Sarah for hosting us on her blog today! We’ve got some really exciting news to share with everyone so grab that cuppa and let the blogging begin!

 September 1-15th marks the official
Grand Opening of Mystical Press Services!!! 

This means 50% Off all our classes
and services through September 15th!
http://mysticalpress.com 

In case you haven’t yet heard about our website, allow me to introduce you to a place where you just might find the fulfillment of your dreams. That’s right! The talented folks at Mystical Press want to help you reach your publishing goals!


How do we do that? I’m glad you asked!


Mystical Press is the culmination of an idea that came from two authors and professionally trained editors—Arial Burnz and AJ Nuest—where we help authors bridge the gap between the form rejection letter and publication. In fact, we believe in this venture so passionately, our tagline is “Helping authors achieve their dreams.”

At Mystical Press our primary goal is to help writers. As authors, we understand the frustration of not receiving constructive and useful feedback, the aggravation of navigating the murky depths of the publishing industry and that, sometimes, authors just need a place to vent. Well, we’re here to tell you, the insanity can end!

Like-minded individuals can gather online at Mystical Press to work one-on-one with professional editors who help authors prepare their manuscripts for submission. Whether you are looking for a Manuscript Evaluation, Submission Evaluation, or a full story edit, we will give you honest, encouraging feedback and work diligently with you on your story to make sure it’s ready to land on an editor’s desk. No project is too big or too small and all receive the same precise attention to detail.

Perhaps your submission is ready but you need assistance with smaller editing projects like a query letter and synopsis? Have no fear! Mystical Press is here! We offer a full edit of query letters and synopses with comments and suggestions that come directly from AN EDITOR! TAH-DAH!

 And don’t worry! If your goal is to write your very own dynamite synopsis, at Mystical Press we believe in “teaching a man to fish”. Our Power Class, How to Write a WINNING Synopsis, is designed to easily guide you through the process of crafting your very own synopsis! Yes, that’s right. I used “easily” and “synopsis” in the same sentence!

The self-paced course curriculum at Mystical Press can assist in tackling those pesky problem areas as well (e.g., show vs. tell, POV shifts, realistic character and story development, etc.). If you’ve read books, articles and/or taken workshops and are still in search of that elusive contract offer, perhaps Mystical Press can help. Take one class or take a whole series—our online classes are designed to meet each writer’s individual needs.

Is your next project of the self-publishing variety? Mystical Press has a selection of pre-made covers we guarantee will only be used once! No one will have the same cover! Or, if you’d like, we can design a cover specifically tailored to your vision—you will work one-on-one with our talented cover artists! We are also happy to edit your baby and can even format the document to meet the specifications of most popular self-publishing platforms.

Remember to mention Mystical Press to all your friends and fellow writing pals – here’s why. Mystical Press offers a free Referral Program. Just register on the site and we will assign you a Referral ID. If anyone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a referral fee! Whether you choose cash or a credit for products or services on the site, consider this our thank you for helping us spread the word.

Oh! And before I forget…we offer a wide range of gift certificates designed specifically with the writer in mind. Tired of searching for the “write” present for your author pals? Maybe that next birthday calls for an eGift from Mystical Press!

So now that you know all about us, please tell us all about you! Head on over to Mystical Press and register free on the site. Everyone who does will be entered into our drawing for fabulous gifts and prizes! Join our celebration and together we will strive to get your voice heard!

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Musings of a Distractible Mind

For my first 'Musings' post I thought this was fitting

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Reality is Overrated

Recently I’ve read a couple of blog posts from women who want more realism in romance. Not in how people meet, or how quickly they fall for each other. Not even in the slim chance of being kidnapped, saved by the stunningly handsome hero and riding off into the sunset. No, the reality that some women want to see more of in romance is in the hero and heroines themselves. What do I mean? A few things they want:

• Bald/balding heroes
• Heroes who struggle with their weight as much as their heroines do
• No more multiple orgasmic women. Instead, give them women who either can’t or find it extremely difficult to orgasm

Now wait just one darn minute… No more multiple orgasmic women? Really?

Most romance readers are women – 91% according to RWA National – and so I’m especially stumped by this. Sure, the female reader wants to be able to put herself in the shoes of the heroine, and sure the heroine has to be real enough that the reader can achieve the transition easily. But so real that she can’t orgasm?

While I like realism in romance and enjoy reading about heroines I can relate to – women struggling to lose weight, find the right man, claim her place in the workplace because she’s just as smart and talented as the men she works with – there are some places I DON’T want to feel too much of a connection with the heroine. I don’t want a hero who farts all the time. I don’t want to think about morning breath or needing to use the restroom before I can get my sexy on. And orgasms? Bring ‘em! Lots of them! This is fiction. This is my ESCAPE! Time to immerse myself in a different world, a different place, a place where flatulence doesn’t intrude on those intimate moments with a lover (unless it’s a romantic comedy, then I’m good with it). A place where women – all women – are multi-orgasmic and no matter what, the hero knows just what she needs to get her there.

*deep breath*

Sorry. I lost myself for a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally against realism in fiction. There’s nothing worse than picking up a romance and cracking the spine, only to realize that the heroine is so far-fetched that you just can’t connect with her. And I have nothing against overweight heroes or heroines, balding or bald heroes – in fact, I have an upcoming book where the hero is not only bald, but he’s fifty years old! Fifty year-old heroes are a romance taboo. Guess what, I don’t care! Because fifty year-old heroes are also realistic. Fifty year-old men can be sexy as hell and Thomas Sr. is sexy with a capital ‘S’! But I digress.

Yes, I demand realism in my romances, but I also demand fiction. After all, this is romance fiction we’re talking about. Seriously folks, if I want nothing but realism I’ll read the paper. There’s enough depressing shit in there to last a lifetime. Enough that after a few pages, I’ll need my escape…wait, maybe I will go find a newspaper. Then I’ll sit down and immerse myself in a world where good always wins over evil, happily-ever-after happens all the time, and sex with the hero is both sensual and satisfying. Again and again and again…

*sigh*

Seriously, what could be better than that? Isn’t that the reason so many people chose to ‘lose’ themselves in a book?

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Why I Write

Today marks my last blog post for Read an eBook Week, and your last chance to leave a comment in order to be entered to win an e-copy of my romantic suspense, Not Without Risk. For some reason, today’s post has been harder than normal for me to write. I’ve written and re-written it at least four times. Each time I came up with a topic I realized either (A) I’d blogged about that topic not that long ago, or (B) it was a straight up promotional post.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against posts promoting my books, why would I? But today I wanted to offer something different. After all, if you want to know more about my books, you can always follow the links beneath my covers listed to the right. So instead I chose to tell you a little about myself and why I write.

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I have notebooks filled with poems, story ideas, and partial chapters from as far back as age five. Yes, thanks to my older sister, I could read and write by age five. And I did. I read everything I could get my hands on, usually re-writing the story in my head as I went. If you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered something different depending on the day. I couldn’t make up my mind. Then I picked up my first romance novel. Suddenly I had my answer: “I want to get married, have children and write romances.”

As a young girl, I always had a story to tell. At times they were funny, other times scary, but they were always, and I mean always, happily-ever-after. You see, I’m a romantic—a die hard romantic. I believe in love, not just as a fundamental part of human relationships, but as a force that really can heal emotional scars. I truly believe there is someone for everyone—the person they are meant to find.

Their other half.

Their soul mate.

Don’t you?

As an author you’re always told to write what you read. I read contemporary romance and romantic suspense, and that’s what I write. There’s nothing I love more than taking two characters, helping them fall in love, foil the villain and live happily-ever-after. It’s a natural for me, a no-brainer if you will. I mean, what else would a die hard romantic write, if not romance?

So what about you? What did you want to be when you grew up? Are you doing it?



Shed your inhibitions. ~ Pursue your dreams.

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I just take dictation

Ever try to explain to a non-writer what it’s like to write?

How about how you come up with your story ideas?

If you’re like me, your attempts have been met with a blank stare. Or maybe one or two ‘What you talkin’ about, Willis?’ looks.

Yeah, I’ve been on the receiving end of a few of those. Especially when I tell them that my characters talk to me, or more accurately, they talk to each other and my job is to take dictation.

Honest. That’s what it’s like for me to write. My characters (usually the hero and heroine) start talking and I frantically try to get it all down. If I’m not near a computer, that means scribbling in a notebook. I even have a notebook in my car because you never know when the characters are going to start talking to each other. Nothing is worse than characters having revealing, heart felt conversations and you don’t have a pen and paper. Don’t worry, I pull over. I swear.

Then I go home and the real work begins. Taking multiple conversations and turning it into a story. I mean, it’s not like character conversations take place in chronological order or anything, right? Sometimes it’s the very last scene, where everything comes together and all question and doubt is worked out, that comes first. This is how it was with my work in progress, MIDNIGHT HEAT. The hero and heroine told me the final scene before anything else. I then had to wait until they clued me in as to how and why they were where they were, before I could start putting together what led to that moment.

The really interesting thing—and most confusing to those people who give you ‘the look’—is when a character from a book is not acting right in the follow-up. Are you asking yourself, “What is that supposed to mean?” I’ll tell you…

Picture it, I’m plugging along on my WIP, transferring all the conversations into a word document, when suddenly I stop. Isabeau, the heroine from AFTER MIDNIGHT who is now a secondary character in MIDNIGHT HEAT, is ‘off’. She’s not herself. Why? I ask. What’s going on with you?

At first she is silent, not revealing anything. Then, in a conversation with Dominic, the hero of this tale, the reason is revealed.

Are you serious?

Turns out she was. All of a sudden this story has thrown me a curve, gone off in a direction I never saw coming. Sure, she’s a secondary character so it’s not a HUGE curve, but…I tell, you, I never saw it coming.

And that, for me at least, is what it’s like to write. It’s interesting, fun, not always easy, and sometimes when you least expect it, surprising. I love it. Even if I never published another story, I would write. It’s something I’m driven to do. How else am I going to quiet the voices in my head?



"Writer's block: when your imaginary friends won't talk to you." ~ Anonymous

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Twitter for Writers

A while back I followed the advice I’m sure you’ve all heard and signed up for Twitter. I was told it was a way to help to get my name out there, to build a following and connect to readers. I was told it was fun. Hmmm…


Before I continue I have to confess that I fought signing up tooth and nail. “Why?” I kept asking. No one cares about what a lowly romance author in Michigan has to say. (And if I’m being honest, there’s still a part of me that feels this way.) ::sigh::


But I signed on. Then I spent months watching other people tweet and did nothing. I was lost. I was overwhelmed. Hell, I still am. But I jumped in with both feet. I caught on a little, then a little more. Why does this stuff not come with a ‘For Dummies’ manual? Seriously.


Here are a few things I’ve learned, and am still trying to master:

Twitter isn’t just for connecting with readers. It’s also a great way to connect with other writers, agents and editors. You can connect with people who write a similar genre, keep your eye on publishing tips, and even get yourself noticed by others. How?

One word: Hashtags

Hashtags are a way of categorizing your tweets by using certain words prefixed with the pound (#) sign. Some of these hashtags are as easy to understand as #WIP (a tweet about the authors work in progress), while others may leave you stumped as to their meaning. Also, new hashtags are invented daily, so there’s really no way to keep up with all of them. However, hashtags are ‘clickable’ and doing so will bring up a list of all of the tweets that contain that hashtag, meaning you can usually discover it’s meaning fairly easily.


For now, I’ll share with you the ones I’ve noticed that may be important to you as writers. Yes, the ones I’m still trying to remember to use.

#amediting or #amrevising (posts from people who are editing/revising)
#amwriting (posts from people who are or about what people are writing)
#askagent (agent questions and answers.  Usually at a scheduled time)
#askeditor (editor questions and answers, again, usually at a scheduled time)

#author

#authors

#ebooks (when you want to target ebook audience)

#editgoal

#editing

#novels

#novelists

#pubtip (publication tips)

#publishing

#selfpublishing
#sixsunday

#storystarters (the first line of a new wip)
#vss (very short story)
#wip (work in progress)

#wordcount

#writegoal (how much people are writing or struggling with)

#writer

#writers

#writetip (writing advice)
#writingtips (writing advice)


That’s all I can remember for now. BTW, it is fun. Although I’m still not convinced anyone really gives a hoot about what I tweet. But hey, I’m a writer, I’m pretty darn good at talking to myself.  #amadork

Follow me at:  http://www.twitter.com/@SGrimmAuthor



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It's Saturday and...

I can’t seem to get my head in the game and write. Most likely because everyone is home today. I need quiet to write and I don't have it. Hubs is at the computer in the other room, laughing out loud and then reading to me what made him laugh. Teenagers just woke up so, of course, they feel the need to talk to me, too. I really need an office with a door. Ya know what I’m saying?

At least I’ve been writing this week. Every day this week, actually. Interested in a sneak peek?

I’ll share, but only if you remember that this is rough and unedited. I take full responsibility for any errors in medicalese as I haven’t talked with my emergency room contact to verify accuracy.

“Forty year old male involved in a T-bone MVA,” the medic called out as they pushed the stretcher through the doors and into the emergency department. “SUV versus semi. SUV rolled multiple times before stopping on its passenger side.”

Adrenaline surged through Dr. Rebecca Dahlman’s system, revving her pulse, pushing away the fatigue of an overly long shift better than the half pot of coffee she’d already consumed.

“Upon arrival, patient was unresponsive. We were able to get the c-collar on him right away, but had to wait for rescue’s hydraulic equipment to remove the door before we could get him on the backboard.”

Gown and gloves in place, Rebecca ran her gaze over the man strapped to the backboard with orange belts as they swung into trauma one and transferred him to the ER’s bed. Her team moved efficiently around the patient, cutting off his clothes with trauma shears.

The medic continued feeding her pertinent information as she began her own assessment. “Blood pressure is one-twenty over seventy-five, pulse ox one hundred percent. Pupils are dilated, equal and reactive.”

The guy was a bloody mess. Blood covered his face, soaked the left side of his head and shoulder of his shirt. He had a laceration on his left upper arm, deep enough to require sutures, and some bruises were already beginning to form across his chest from the seatbelt doing its job and holding him in place. Other than that, there were no other visible injuries. It was the injuries she couldn’t see that she had to worry about.

“I want a complete set of x-rays,” Rebecca stated automatically as she shifted closer and listened to her patient’s chest. Lungs clear, no abnormal heart rhythm. She looped her stethoscope around her neck and leaned in, searching the man’s scalp for head trauma. “Draw a trauma panel, tox screen and blood alcohol.”

Karen Williams, Rebecca’s best friend and charge nurse for the night, pulled the man’s wallet from the pile of clothes on the floor.

Directly above his left ear Rebecca uncovered the source of all the blood. Pushing her fingers into his hair, she palpated the injury site. The wound immediately began to bleed again. “No skull fracture that I can detect.”

“Rebecca.”

“I’ll want a CT scan of the head and neck.”

“Rebecca.” Karen’s voice was tight and pulled her attention. “It’s Dominic.”

For a moment, a heartbeat really, the words didn’t make any sense. Then, she looked closer. As if in slow motion Rebecca dragged her gaze up the torso, locked it onto the face partially hidden behind long, blood soaked hair. Her breath snagged in her throat and she froze, the sound of her pulse beating in her ears. It was a struggle to keep her hand steady as she pushed his hair away from his face and focused on his mouth, those lips, the bottom one slightly fuller than the top, the thin, straight nose.

“Stud,” she whispered, her voice torn.

His eyes were closed, ringed in thick black lashes. Were they open, she knew they would be the color of the sky just after a cleansing rain.

Her world tilted.

No. It couldn’t be. It wasn’t Dominic. Dominic didn’t have a goatee or a scar across his right clavicle. Dominic wasn’t in California, he was in London. Safe in London.

Not unconscious and bleeding in the middle of her ER.

She lost focus as the room began to spin. Rebecca grabbed the side rail of the bed to keep from hitting the ground. Dom. My God. Her chest felt as if someone stood on it.

“You know this man?” the medic on her right asked.

How could she ever forget? He’d haunted her, both asleep and awake, for nearly three years. She knew his scent, his wicked sense of humor. She knew that were he conscious, he’d be giving her a hard time in that sexy damn voice of his. That he had calluses on his fingers that set her body on fire. Calluses from years of playing the bass, something he did even while asleep; tapping out a rhythm against her hip.

“Yes,” she admitted without thought. Then she pulled her head out of the past and got back to work.

So what do you think? Me, I think I need to get my head back in the game and write some more.

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NaNoWriMo & Excuses

Some of you may be asking 'What is NaNoWriMo?' NaNoWriMo, aka NaNo, is National Novel Writing Month. Simply put it's: write a 50,000 word novel from scratch in a month. Yup, thirty days from Chapter One to The End.

I first heard about NaNo a few years back and I'll tell you my first reaction was no freakin' way can I do that! Earlier this year I thought about it again. Really thought about it, and figured I not only can, I will.

*gulp*

Step One: Stop with the excuses. We've all used them.

"I don't have time."
"November isn't a good month for me what with the holiday and family get-togethers."

Heck, I bet you've even used or heard a fellow author say:

"I have too much housework to write today."  or
"I'll write after I do the laundry."

You get the idea. As mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, friends, & writers we're full of reasons  why we don't get enough words on the page. I should know, I'm the reigning queen of excuses.

The heck with that. I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year.

Sort of.

As I stated above, NaNo is about writing a 50,000 word novel from scratch in a month's time. I have about 30,000 words of MIDNIGHT HEAT completed. So my NaNo goal? Get the other 50,000 on the page. Words on the page are words on the page, right?

So this is my goal. My very own kick in the pants to get my WIP done. I will write 50,000 new words in the month of November.

*big gulp*

To try to stay on task and as motivation, I've posted a counter on the top of the blog to keep track of my word count. (I will only keep track of the new words, not what has already been written.) As more motivation, I've designed myself a cover, which I will post in a couple of days along with the back cover blurb I've done for the book.

Wish me luck! I'll need it.

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Today

Today I am at three different places. Yeah, you just know I'm going to mess up my posts somehow. VBG

TRS Spookapalooza  http://www.theromancestudio.com/party/

Fallen Angel Reviews Chatter  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FallenAngelReviewChatters

Love Romances Cafe  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe

Stop by if you can. I'd love to chat with you.

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My muse is sleeping

I feel the need to write.

My muse doesn't. The fickle beyotch just wants to sleep.

That's her, on the arm of the chair. Wake up!

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