New Website, RWA, and Baby News!

Finally!  It’s up and running.  I’m talking about my new website.  Check it out and let me know what you think.  Better yet, give that sucker a test drive. 

Though I like the work that Stonecreek Media did on my previous website, I needed a change.  Not to mention, the eyes aren’t what they used to be, so reading white fonts on a black background added to my daily eye strain.  The thunder and lightening grew tiresome, too.  It was almost as bad as having music start automatically when you open up a web page.  But I only have myself to blame because Stonecreek did exactly what I asked them to do.  Boy, have I learned my lesson.  :)

I had my eye expert, Kathy Calarco look at the fonts and background for me to make sure it wouldn’t hurt anyone’s eyes.  Thanks to Dreamstime stock photos for helping me with a creepy looking banner that really accentuates my style.  And last but not least, a thank you to Coffee Cup Software…although I could’ve slapped the shit out of you people earlier this week because you don’t know the difference between a break tag <br> and a paragraph tag <p> when it comes to your text boxes.  What you see is NOT what you get if you’re testing out your website in various displays.  Thanks to you, you’ve made my job of maintaining my website harder, too.    Good thing I know more than I want to about HTML code.

Of course, I can’t have a website change without changing up my My-hardly ever-use-Space page, too.  That’s here.  Nevertheless, I doubt the new layout will make me use it any more than usual. 

And as for some other stuff, I’ve decided to attend RWA Nationals in the cheap seats.  You know.  The ones in the bar/lobby where hundreds of authors, editors, and agents usually flock to anyway?  There’s nothing to stop me from hanging out at the hotel with my friends, so I’m going up there to meet up, have dinner, and probably tear up the town with them.  If everything goes nicely, I might never pay for another Nationals again.  I’ll just show up at the lobby of the hotels and hangout with other writers.  There’s no reason why I can’t be a business professional without it costing $475 a pop. 

Also, I case you haven’t heard me scream from the rafters yet, I’m having a baby GIRL. 

So that’s if for now.  Check out my new website and let me know what you think.  Happy 4th of July everyone!

Next Stop, Sagging Middle

There has been a change in plans.  I had planned to hire someone to revamp my website, but that fell through because I’m too cheap to fork up enough money to make it worth their while.  So, I’ve decided to drudge up enough drive to do it myself.  What it’ll look like when I’m done is anyone’s guess.  I just want it to look good and professional.  And for those of you who are still using an 800×600 display on your monitor, then you might have to scroll from let right.  Sorry, but I’m tired of squeezing everything onto a narrow page when there’s plenty of room to expand.

So what does this have to do with my muse?  A lot.  If you’ve been hurting your eyes trying to read my current website, you’ll notice that I haven’t put up a blurb for BITTERSWEET, my YA Paranormal yet.  I haven’t because the manuscript isn’t done.  In fact, my motivation for completing it had dried up.   Sadly, I knew when it happened, but continued to trudge through the mire thinking I could fix it. 

Uh huh.

I decided that if I was going to do my own website that I wanted to have something for BITTERSWEET.  Before taking the A train into the abyss, I loved it so much that it deserved one.  So, I started piecing something together.  I knew everything about it except for the one thing that would push my heroine over the edge.  The blackest moment of them all.  A bigger threat than the one she had originally perceived.  Well, I had found it with a simple “what if” question.  In fact, it was so big that it reignited my passion for this story. 

Now if only I can keep this sucker around 60K words.  *sigh*

Am I the only one who sees the downward spiral into writer’s block before it happens?  Or the moment of downturn as you head toward the sagging middle?  Do you pull the break before you slip deeper into the tunnel or do you allow yourself to plummet, hoping eventually you’ll see the light again?

STRIPPED – Trailer

I know.  Normally, I don’t post this often in one week, but it’s almost a month before the release of STRIPPED and I’m trying to get the word out.

I’ve been holding onto this for a while now because I wanted to wait until I got the book cover.  Now that I have it, there’s no reason to hang onto it. 

Sit back, watch, and enjoy. 

Blogging at Shapeshifter Romance

Today, I’m blogging over at Shapeshifter Romance and I’m taking an interesting topic that Magaly Guerrero started at her Pagan Culture blog not too long ago to the non-Pagan world to see what they think. Check it out.

Pretty Shiny Blog Awards

You love me.  You really do!  Or at least, Magaly does.   

Here are the rules:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered. 

My rebel response to the rules:

1. I accept this award, therefore have posted it to my blog with the culprit at the top of the page.   

2. I rarely discover new blogs because I limit my time on the Internet.  I’m lucky if I discover one a month and Magaly’s is the most recent.  What can I say?  Priorities.  If I have to come up with 15 new blogs, then I’ll need at least a year for that.  *sigh*

Nevertheless, I lurves my award.  Just look at how it spews with love.  Not to mention that rose tea is looking really good right now.  That a slice of delicious cake decorated in more pink roses and trim.  Then again, it’s probably the baby trying to send me a hint.  Back off, Little One.  It’s not going to happen. 

And not to be outdone, look what that wonderful Jax Cassidy has given me. 

“This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

Jax, you’re just trying to get me to go all mommy-to-be teary-eyed, aren’t ya?  Yeah, I see what you’re doing.  Making me feel all ooey and gooey in the center so that I can burst out in tears and embarrass myself on my blog.  I know your game, sister.    You think because of my commitment to the craft and ability to overcome anything that my hardened exterior is going to crumble?  We’ll it ain’t.  You hear me?  *sniffle* 

As for my eight bloggers: Tivi Jones, Kathy Calarco, Magical Musings, Magaly Guerrero, Melissa Carmichael, Abigail McKenley, and Spy Scribbler.  You ladies are awesome.  I know I’m leaving some folks out because I love you all to pieces.  Perhaps my acknowledgment in Seduction on the Prowl (either that or Stripped) might fill in the gap.  There’s no way I’d be doing this if it weren’t for the support that everyone has shown me over the years I’ve been writing.  You guys make me want to keep coming back to it and I love you for it. 

Cover Art for STRIPPED

It’s official!  Look what I have. 

Does that say kick-ass urban fantasy or what?  Kanaxa is master of cover art. 

Write What You Want

“I’ll write what I want to write, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to read it.”

There comes a time in every writer’s life when you have to think this way.  It’s not cocky or meant to put anyone off.  It grants us writers permission to tell the rules to screw themselves so that creativity can flow. 

One thing I’ve noticed with more writers these days is they’re beginning to loosen up when it comes to the genre in which they write.  I’m not saying that’s true of all authors.  Some folks prefer not to stray from tradition and that’s okay.  However, I’ve always been one to find a loop hole in the rules because I don’t believe in absolutes when it comes to following my dreams.  Rules are a way to hinder them, and that won’t work for me.  So unless it’s physically impossible, never tell me that I can’t when it comes to writing. 

This is a state of mind that comes in handy whenever I’m trying to work through a sagging middle or writer’s block.  I don’t think about whether or not my book will sell, what my agent will think, or how my tiny audience will respond.  I don’t care if it’s a NYT bestseller or if it garners the award for the Worst of the Worst.  I write what I need to write to get the story out of my head and worry about the consequences later…maybe.  If my agent says “no” and/or my editor concurs, then there’s always a free online serial.  I’m okay with that.     

Do you write what you want or do you worry about breaking the rules…and possibly ruining expectations?  Why?

Sink or Swim Decisions

This Saturday, I’ll be at the Heart of Carolina presenting Pitch Practice for Nationals with the fabulous Jenna Black.  I can’t wait.    I love helping people with their pitches.  I can tell by the first few lines whether a pitch is going to interest me or not and it has nothing to do with whether I read in your genre or not.  I’m planning to have a blast with this in terms of what NOT to do when you’re pitching.   

If you’ve been keeping track, last December I had decided not to renew my RWA membership.  I had lost interest and didn’t see the point in sticking around.  Not to mention, my planned pregnancy took precedence over everything else in life, including my writing luxuries.

By October 2008, the programming staff had already had me on the roster for this year.  I don’t know what possessed them to think of me as a good pitch person because I hadn’t requested it.  Nonetheless, I’m flattered they had chosen me to present.  The best thing about that is I get paid.  Did you hear that?  I get PAID!  And it just so happens that it’ll cover my RWA renewalfees quite nicely.    Oh, and I get to see a bunch of my writerly friends again whom I miss very much.  Woohoooooo!

With the cash (or check), I’ve decided to renew my membership.  However, there will be some changes.   For starters, I’m not rejoining any other chapters.  I’m letting those things sink because I’m tired of swimming with them.  Not to mention 75% of the posts are either either about someone’s promo.  Uh, what happened to conversations about writing?  Either way, by putting them at arm’s length, I’ll be saving myself an additional $100 and a hell of a lot of drama.

So that’s one of the most recent decisions I’ve made regarding my writing career.  Have you made any recent changes or decisions with yours?

ConCarolinas Recap

By the first day, I knew I’d be there again next year.  This is without a doubt, one of the best mini-cons I’ve ever attended.  Then again, I could be biased because of the fabulous view from my hotel room.  Isn’t it gorgeous?  Too bad I couldn’t say the same for the drag-your-ass internet service.  *sigh*

I arrived around 6pm because the urban fantasy panel wasn’t until 10pm.  Everyone was very helpful at the registration desk, in terms of getting my situated.  Not to mention, they also had a goodie bag of sweets waiting for me, which I immediately chomped down.  Anyway, the urban fantasy panel included myself, Dorian Wallace of Amira Press, and J.F. Lewis of Pocket Books.  I don’t know about them, but I had a blast on that panel, talking about urban fantasy, what it meant and how we chose it.  At least, I think that was a question.  *shrug*  Either way, we put a lot of information out there for other writers, including our methods for slogging through our dreaded middles.

Saturday was a full day for me, but the of the best highlights not on the schedule was meeting authors and publisher of Amira Press.  Sabrina Luna, Dorian Wallace, Crymsym Hart, and Dahlia Rose are the best!  I had the chance to pick up a few of their books while I was there, so I’m definitely going to get my reading on.  And if you’ve never heard of Amira Press, I highly advise keeping an eye on them.  I’ve been watching them grow for more than a year now and so far so good.  Not to mention, their books have gotten some pretty good reviews in Romantic Times. 

I can’t possibly forget the wonderful Kalayna Price who arrived on Saturday afternoon with friends Darlene and Tori in tow.  All three of them rock!  I’m thrilled for Kalayna and the way her career is turning out.  Urban Fantasy lovers, keep your eye on this fabu author.  Trust me, you won’t regret it.  I finally had a chance to give her my much awaited congratulatory hug.  It would’ve been better had it not been for my sore boobs, but that’s a mother-to-be’s ever-changing body for you. 

The Marketing Your Book panel and What Color Are Your Characters were two awesome panels.  David B. Coe has a great write up on Magical Words regarding panels and is a very wise and personable author, too.  As for what I thought, the marketing panel was very informative with the biggest piece of advice being to have a book out at least once a year once you become published.  That’s the best marketing plan ever, IMHO.  We also shared the panel with the amazing Misty Massey who’s such a sweet person.  I’m still kicking myself for missing her belly dancing class.  Baby tummy or not, count me in if it has anything to do with dancing.  I’ll manage just fine. 

In What Color Are Your Characters, I finally got to talk about something that’s very near and dear and private to me, as you can probably tell.  I write what I know, which is why I write African American and biracial heroines.  Now that we have an African American (or biracial) president, perhaps it’ll open up the doors a tad wider for AA heroes and heroines in the sci-fi/fantasy genre.  Fingers crossed.    We also talked about book covers with non-Caucasian characters and James Maxey brought up a very good question.  What was the last book you read that had an AA character on the cover.  Mine didn’t count, unless you weren’t me.   

Next up was the Where Have All of the Vampires Gone and The Horror, The Horror.  I almost missed the vampire panel because I had fallen asleep.  What can I say?  I had split my time between Amira Press and crew and Kalayna and crew (Tori  and Darlene).  Before I knew it, it was 8pm and my panel was at 9pm.  So, I sat on the panel is a slight daze, still trying to wake from my much-needed nap.  Anyway, I think it went over great.  With such wonderful co-panelists, how could it not be?  By the time The Horror The Horror rolledaround, I was awake and ready to vent a few of my frustrations with horror movies past and present.  In fact, I think we wall had a great time doing just that.

ConCarolinas is without a doubt one of the best mini-cons I’ve ever attended.  My only regret is that I didn’t get a chance to meet Christina Stiles.  Fingers cross we can rectify that in 2010.    I think it’s safe to say that about half the people came in costume, which made it all the more fabulous.  If I had to pick a favorite, it would be a tie between the zombies and the steampunkers.  Although, there were some fabulous vampires there too. 

I can’t possibly forget about the writer’s track either.  The programming folks did an impressive job with setting up the panel topics.  I didn’t expect much since this was a small conference, so needless to say, it was a wonderful surprise and made me all the more honored to be a part of it.  If you’re looking for a cheap conference–$35 if you register early (I think)–and has a great writer’s track that concentrates on a little bit of everything from writing to the business of publishing, then this is the way to go.

ConCarolinas 2010, count me in! 

Ending the Week on a Good Note

I’ve seen the preliminary book cover for STRIPPED and it looks awesome!  Some of my writing buddies have seen it, so they have a good idea.  However, they haven’t seen the one that my editor and I approved because I’m building up to the final reveal.    Anyway, it’s not the official cover yet because the publisher still has to give it the thumbs up or down.  Either way, I know it’s going to great because Samhainhas some of the best book covers in the business.  Urban and gritty, here I come.   And before you ask, yes, it’s it has many of the elements you see on UF covers today.  So let’s hope it still stands out on its own.

On another note, I’ll be heading to Charlotte, NC for ConCarolinas this weekend and I can’t wait.  I have some people to meet (Kalayna, Christina, Misty, Nicole etc.) and panels to enjoy.  The only thing I’m worried about is feeling the blahs.  Crazy, huh?  I’m fourteen weeks into my pregnancy and I have moments of tired ickiness almost everyday now.  It doesn’t last long, but boy is it annoying.  Go figure.  Either way, I’m not letting that stop me from having fun.  I might take it a little easy is all. 

Yeah.  Right. Get me around the right group of people and you’ll see just how “relaxed” I am.    Let’s just say it’s a good thing I don’t drink.  Nevertheless, ConCarolinas, here I come!  If you’re there and you see me, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of STRIPPED’s preliminary cover art. 

So what do you have planned for this weekend?  Are you ending it on a high note or a low one?