RT ~ 4 Star Review for FORBIDDEN!

I'm so excited - Romantic Times gave Forbidden a 4 star review! Much squealing ensued between my CPs and me and plenty of wine will be consumed at the Oz conference in a couple of weeks in celebration!!!

Here's a snippet of the review: "Set in the time of the Roman Empire, Phillips’ wonderful story of the romance between a Roman soldier and a Celt is more than entertaining"

My current book is racing towards the end now, and I was so totally in the zone this morning it was a real wrench to break off for lunch. And then of course I never managed to get back into it, what with Real Life intruding and all that!!!

Three Over Par

Big shout out to Cathryn Brunet, whose steamy novella, Three Over Par, hits the shelves today with Carina Press! Congratulations, Cathryn. And when I say steamy, I mean it - read the first chapter here (and according to Cathryn, she was only just warming up in Chapter One!)

Here's the blurb:

Wild, hot, addictive sex…

After seeing one too many patients die regretting the things they haven't done, nurse Lucy Seymour realizes she's been making the same mistake. So when Robbie, the sexy golf instructor, makes his move, she responds with uninhibited passion, telling him there's nothing she won't try. Long sessions of foreplay lead to thrills and fantasy fulfillment…until Lucy sees Daniel, the greenkeeper, watching them. Watching her. And then Daniel does more than just watch…he joins them.

Can it lead to love?

Lucy might be exploring all of her secret fantasies, but her reality is that she's a one-man woman…and for her, that man is Daniel. But what does Daniel really want? Lucy or the fantasy?

I have several writer friends who have been contracted by Carina Press, and another book I can't wait to get my hands on is by my friend Shelley Munro. Her historical, Gothic mystery, The Spurned Viscountess, is due for release from Carina Press on 20th September. I love Gothics!

394

I've always had a secret passion for Alan Rickman (his Sheriff of Nottingham is priceless!!!) and let's face it, there aren't many blokes who could make Severus Snape (greasy hair and all) sexy!!! But his voice slays me every time. Here he is, making the number 394 sound deliciously decadent!!!!

Enjoy.... I know I did...

20k to the finish line

I've just hit 73k on my current book which means I have about 20k to finish. However, there's still a long way to go before my hero and heroine get their happy-ever-after and I'm not convinced they'll make it within that word limit! I also want to finish before the RWAus conference in four weeks time (which means I need to finish in three weeks time) so I don't need to worry about it while I'm in Sydney.

And speaking of Sydney, I am sooo excited about the conference. I've not been to an Australian one before so it's going to be all new for me, plus a fabulous chance to meet up with on-line friends in the real world. I'm taking my camera and there will be photos!!!

Character, Desire & Conflict

Here's a great blog post by fab UF author Keri Arthur, on a recent Art of Romantic Comedy workshop she attended with Michael Hauge and Steve Kaplan. Although the workshop focused on romcom and screenplay, the advice is relevant across genres and states all stories are based on a simple foundation that consists of three basic elements - character, desire and conflict.

It's a great post, and part two is next week!

Necessary Agent

This link, for an article on Poets & Writers, was posted on one of my writer's loops today, and I had to pass it on. It's a behind-the scenes look at what a good literary agent can do for their clients during the period after the contract is signed but before the book is published.

It's a long article - five pages - but I was riveted. I think it's well worth the time to read if anyone has an agent already, is searching for an agent or might be agent hunting in the future. I even think it's a great read for anyone not interested in signing with an agent at all, just to see what other kind of things agents do aside from negotiate the contract itself. Plus it's a good reminder of just how awesome editors are too!

Historical Bits & Pieces

I've been thinking for a while I should put some kind of background info or glossary on my website as a brief outline for the world of Forbidden and Captive. I made a start the other night, and it's up under Historical Bits & Pieces. I'll be adding to it whenever I get a free moment, and will include tidbits that relate to Morwyn's story in book two (which starts six months after Carys and Maximus's story ends).

Speaking of free moments, I need more of them to try and make a dent in my tbr pile!!! I keep finding fabulous books over at Lovin' Me Some Romance and The Season for Romance which is very good news for me but not such great news for my battered credit card!!!

How Authors Handle Reviews

Just saw this YouTube over at Pub Rants... hahaha... made me laugh!!!

Congrats, Cari!

Congratulations to Cari Quinn, a lovely friend I met over at The Wild Rose Press a couple of years ago! Today Cari's second novella from TWRP is released ~ Ex Appeal, book 2 in her Hunk de Jour series.

And here's the blurb!

As the webmistress for one of the Northeast’s hottest dating sites, Hunk Du Jour, Jenny Talbot is no stranger to reading the applications of potential clients. But when the latest application that crosses her inbox belongs to Ty Randall, the guy she broke up with a mere twenty-seven days ago, she does a double take. Reading what Ty wants in bed not only gets Jenny hot, it also makes her rethink ending their relationship. All she longed for was a little more spice in the bedroom—okay, a lot more—but he let her go without an argument. Faced with the possibility that Ty may really be moving on, getting her ex back becomes more appealing than ever. But will revealing exactly what she needs allow Jenny to finally experience ultimate pleasure or will she drive away the man she loves for good?

Earth's Children #6

OMG! I'm so excited! I discovered last night, over at Lisa Loves Books, that the sixth and final Earth's Children novel by Jean M Auel, The Land of Painted Caves, is due for release in March 2011!

I was a teenager when my (future) father-in-law recommended I read Clan of the Cave Bear, the first book in the series about Ayla who lives in prehistoric times. It took another 15 years before I managed to persuade my (by now!) husband to read the books, and more recently my youngest daughter became hooked too. I can't believe it's been eight years already since book 5 hit the shelves. Then again, I'm pretty stunned it's been over thirty years since the first book was published!!!

Destination: Pleasure!

Huge congratulations to my lovely friend, April Vine, whose book Intrigue in India is out today with The Wild Rose Press!

It's part of the Destination Pleasure Series and is set in the city of Delhi. Here's the blurb:


“All you have to do is disguise yourself, pretend to be me, go to India and meet the man I’m supposed to marry. By the time he realizes you’re not me, I’ll have already eloped…”

After a break up with her boyfriend, Haley Kent agrees to her best friend, Anjali’s madcap plan, hoping mystical India will help her find inner peace. Instead Anjali’s arranged future husband turns out to be a gorgeous Indian God with a touch that scorches.

Rajeev Yuvaraj refuses to be outsmarted by the sexy, blonde, blue-eyed American and devises his own retribution. A bride is what he expected and a bride is what he would get even if it meant handcuffing Haley to his wrist during the marriage ceremony.

But when Haley discovers the true nature of his secret scheme, can Rajeev seduce her back into his arms again?

Fun in the Fur

And another week passes!!! I have no idea where the time goes. I did, however, finally manage to finish the love scene that I'd been struggling with for the last two weeks. When I say struggling, it was more that my hero and heroine were enjoying themselves so much it took a while for them to actually hit the furs. And now they've had their fun I'm going to shatter their world (because that's the kind of nice person I am!!!)

I also spent some time tidying up my website (yet again) but I think I've finally cracked it. There really should be a FrontPage for Dummies because it's taken me forever to work out how to use all the various functions!

CAPTIVE ~ Cover Revealed

And here it is!!! It's very different from the Forbidden cover! The awesome Marketing dept have decided to brand my Roman/Druid series as "Forbidden" - and I do love how that's tucked into the bottom left hand corner!!

I've always loved dark, gothic covers and stories, and although I imagined the cover to Captive would be similar in style and tone to Forbidden (which I think probably most people know by know how much I totally love!!!), the more I look at this cover, the more I realise how completely it captures the tone of the book.

The hero, Bren, is a dark, tortured soul (I love him so much) and that stormy background is perfect for him.

I also think it's slightly worrying just how much I adore that font!!!

I'd love to know - what do you think of this cover?

Heat in the Outback

My very good friend Suzanne Brandyn has her latest book released today from Eternal Press ~ Heat in the Outback. Look at that gorgeous cover! Aren't the colours truly fabulous?

Happy Launch Day, Suz! (And happy birthday - what a great pressie!!!)

Here's the blurb:

The soaring temperature in the Outback is not the only heat Sarah Munro faces when she returns home for her father’s funeral. She wants to settle his affairs, sell the family’s homestead, Munro Cattle Station, and return to Sydney, and her fiancé, as quickly as possible. Sarah doesn’t want anyone to find out what she’d done in the past. She wants to close this chapter of her life for good. Then there will never be a reason to return to this dusty one horse town. She is wrong!

Ethan Wade, her first love is at the homestead. Ethan claims he owns half of Munro Station. Sarah wants him out! As they try to settle their differences, a raging attraction ignites.

Will Sarah and Ethan find each other again as their past explodes before them?

Journey to Publication

Fabulous Nocturne Bites and Ellora's Cave author Mel Teshco has an interview up with me over on her blog, where I'm chatting about my (very long!!!) journey to publication. Love to see you over there!

Update & FORBIDDEN Excerpt

I'm a third of the way into my current project at 32k and my warrior hero and his magical heroine have just realised they're falling in love - not that they've admitted it to each other yet. Heh. I'm gearing up to throw some big spiky rocks at them because that's the kind of nice writer I am!

I've just uploaded the first chapter of FORBIDDEN onto my website, if you fancy a peek. It is a little spicy - Maximus and Carys, unlike my current couple, had no intention of waiting a week before they locked lips!

The winner...

Thank you to everyone who popped in over the weekend to chat with Erin!! The lucky winner of her e-book Serenade is...

Suzanne Brandyn

Congratulations, Suz!!! Please let me have your details so your prize can be sent to you.

I spent the weekend reading the page proofs of Forbidden. It was in PDF format, set out like a proper book and the chapter headings are in the same font as the cover of the book. So pretty!!! Only fourteen weeks and one day to go until P-Day!!!

"Secrets" & "Serenade" ~ Erin Grace

Please welcome my special guest this week, the lovely Erin Grace who writes passionate historical romances for Lyrical Press!

Erin is generously offering one lucky commenter a copy of her recent release, Serenade!

Erin, so glad you could pop in today! Can you tell us a little about your two books, Secrets and Serenade? How did the ideas for the plots come about?

My first book 'Secrets' came to me in a dream - seriously.

With Serenade, I had this scene in my head about the heroine getting drunk in a tavern and liked it so much, decided to build a whole story around it....pity the actual scene was about halfway in the finished book, I had to come up with a beginning!

LOL! I'm looking forward to reading that scene :-) I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

I've been writing for about 2 1/2 years now, have always loved literature, but never attempted to write. What is more, before I wrote my first romance, I'd never read one in my life. One night, I dreamed of the story for Secrets and just couldn't get it out of my head.
Something was urging me to write it down - so I did.

For the next 6 weeks I sat at my keyboard for hours after work - sometimes til 4am - as the story simply poured out of me. But, being a serious business woman, I was embarrassed to tell anyone what i was doing. I 'buried' my file 8 files deep so no one could accidentally stumble across it and would click to another page whenever someone walked into my office.

But, my secret wasn't as well disguised as I'd thought. One night, whilst hammering away, my poor hubby stood in my doorway and asked 'Are you having an Internet affair?"
So, from that moment on I was outed!

Christina: OMG! Your poor hubby!

But, I really had no idea what I was doing and just started sending it to all manner of publishers hoping someone would tell me what to do next. Then, I contacted an author who pointed me in the direction of the RWA.

They matched me up with my poor, long suffering cp, who arrived on the scene just in time to catch me panicking as I got my first full request the very morning after I'd sent it away...and there was me, thinking I'd have at least weeks to polish, etc...ergh.
So, I finished the book in record time, sent it in, but had it turned down on the basis I had made a few 'beginners' mistakes (no kidding!), but, the editor was very kind and critiqued my whole first chapter for me, which really gave me some direction.

Then, over the next 8 weeks, I attended my first RWA conference, learned as much as I could from my cp and sent it out to other publishers. Four days later, just as I was shutting down for the night at 1am, an email from Lyrical dropped into my inbox. I read it. Re-read it. Got hubby to read it....then squealed so loud it probably woke the neighbours!

Do you write every day? Do you give yourself daily/weekly goals?

I really do try to write everyday, though my shifts are sometimes 10hrs long, then there's the kids, etc. I know it may sound weird, but I enjoy working on at least 3 manuscripts at the same time. For some reason, it helps me focus.

Goals can vary depending on priority. Deadline for production edits have to come first, but other than that, it depends on how my words are flowing. But, corny as it may sound, I live by the motto 'you can't edit an empty page'.

That's so true, Erin. Something I have to keep reminding myself!! So tell me, are you a panster or plotter?

Hmm...well, considering I enjoy writing synopsis' (try not to gag), I'd have to say I'm a plotter. When my ideas come to me, I always jot down the 'skinny' first. This is a bare-bones breakdown of the story as I see it at the time. Although I'm primarily a plotter, my ideas aren't set in stone and can change as the story developes.

I can see who to ask the next time I get stuck on my synopses!! What keeps you motivated when the writing gets tough?

Chocolate - and lots of it.

Christina: Yep, I'm all over that!!

Seriously though, this is one of the reasons I find having multiple manuscripts useful. If I get stuck on one, I usually find I can get into another...which inturn gets my mind relaxed and thinking. Quite often, once the pressure of 'writers block' is taken off, I'll stop mid-scene on another manuscript and cut back to the one I was having trouble with, with the perfect scene I needed.

I also find that at times the 'big bad blank page' can be daunting when you have so far to go and little concentration, so, I leave myself a little trail of breadcrumbs. How I do this is to go forward into the book whenever I have some great words or scenes I can use later, and leave them roughly where I think I'll need them. Then I kind of know where i'm heading, and if things have changed along the way, I can alter or delete the original scene waiting there.

Am I confusing anyone yet?

LOL, I love discovering all the different processes authors have! Is there any advice or light bulb moment you'd like to share about getting/being published?

I wish I had some profound or sage advice, but I look at myself as still learning. Although published, I realise that in this industry you're only as good as you're last book and the rewards aren't always what you hoped for. The moment you sign your first contract, that's when your education begins.

Quite often I'm told how lucky I was to be published so quickly, but I believe that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. So, no matter how hard it seems at times, just believe there is an opportunity out there waiting for you and be ready for it when it comes by.

Do you have critique partners (CPs)? If so can you tell us how you met up and your process?

I have several Critique partners, some of whom edit my work, whilst others read and give feedback. They are all wonderful! My first cp was, and still is, my 'goddess'. At the time, I didn't know why anyone in their right mind at the RWA would put me with an actual published author! I mean, how on earth could I possibly contribute anything of value to someones work who'd been published? I think in the first chapter she sent me, I built up the courage to tell her she made a spelling error, or something like that.

But, fortunately, she is very hands on and soon we developed a close relationship where we could be constructive, open and honest with our critiques, knowing the other wouldn't take offense.

Each cp has their own way of dealing with me...lol...some who read just love getting the roughs as soon as i've finished each chapter so they can follow the story (i've been in trouble for leaving them in suspense at times...lol), whilst the more full-on edits can take time. Meanwhile, I also try to critique their work and send back.

I don't know what I'd do without them.

Don't forget to leave a comment for Erin to go into the draw for a copy of Serenade!

Upcoming Forbidden contest...

I'd been thinking about setting up a mailing list for a while, and finally got around to it the other day. And then forgot to mention it to anyone! Whoops!

Anyway, if you would like to join up to my newsletter it would make me very happy :-) This isn't a chat loop and I promise not to flood your inbox!! In fact I don't think I'll even manage a regular monthly newsletter but I do promise to keep up to date with it. I'm also going to do a special contest for newsletter subscribers at the end of June - more on that later (though I can say it will have something to do with FORBIDDEN - there's a surprise!!!)

Here's the link!

Forbidden Love ~ Kaye Manro

Please welcome my special guest today, the lovely Kaye Manro, who has just had FORBIDDEN LOVE, her debut book, published with Red Rose Publishing!

Kaye, thank you so much for popping in today!

Thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog Christina! I’m so excited about FORBIDDEN LOVE, my new science fiction romance (SFR). Now you know we both have to love that title!

Christina: We certainly do! It's an awesome title! And it's a fabulous cover as well! Can you tell us a little about FORBIDDEN LOVE?

Kaye: Forbidden Love is a futuristic sci-fi erotic romance. Yes, there is space travel at FTL (faster than light). But there is also lots of sexy sensual exploring between the hero T’Kon and the heroine Maya, who hail from different galaxies and evolutionary paths. Rules on T’Kon’s planet forbid interspecies mating. But when he crashes his spacecraft on Maya’s world close to her desert home, what else is he to do but let this lovely alien tend his, umm, injuries?

Christina: What indeed?LOL! How did the idea for the FORBIDDEN LOVE plot come about?

Kaye: Interesting you should ask that. I like to tell this little story.

Forbidden Love came about as an experiment in writing erotic Science Fiction Romance and I wrote the first draft in a couple of weeks. Here’s a little inside info—while I worked at creating FL it fondly became known as ‘Lizard Love” by my critique partners –who still call it that-- because my hero, T’Kon has Reptilian DNA. A few friends still call the FL hero, that cheeky lizard. But when an editor asked me to submit it they stopped joking and started helping me whip Forbidden Love into shape.

Christina: Oh I love that - that cheeky lizard! And how exciting an editor asked you to submit it. As you probably know by now, I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

Kaye: I’m a journalist and I’m always writing something. But i actually didn’t start writing romance fiction until a couple of years ago. Since I wrote the original version of Forbidden Love for a contest that never materialized, the story went back on the shelf. Last fall, I attended The Muse Conference of Lea Schizas. She actually asked me if I had a story I would like to pitch to Red Rose Publishing. At the time, she was the head lines editor there. So I said, well, I have this erotic Sci-Fi. I pitched it to her, and a few weeks later Red Rose Publishing contracted Forbidden Love.

Christina: Do you write every day? Do you give yourself daily/weekly goals?

Kaye: That’s a good question. I write whenever I can find a minute or two. With my busy schedule, that isn’t always easy. But I manage because I love to write romance. I’m in the process of editing more titles in a series of time travel adventure romances with a medieval setting. I do confess I tend to over-edit, probably because of my background.

Christina: I so love the sound of your time travel medievals. Are you a panster or plotter?

Kaye: I am a little of both, really. But lately I find I’m more of a plotter. Yet I still love that intoxicating feeling you get when you just let yourself go and the story unfolds in its own way.

Christina: That is a great feeling, I agree! What keeps you motivated when the writing gets tough?

Kaye: I just push through things and make myself do it. Granted, when you are inside those high creative spaces it is much easier to write. But we can’t always have that space. Life sometimes gets in the way, and as authors, we just have to keep at it.

Christina: Is there any advice or light bulb moment you'd like to share about getting published?

Kaye: About getting published? Yes! It’s such an exhilarating feeling! And stressful as well. Because the story doesn’t end after finishing edits and publishing. Let the whirlwind begin! Now you are on your way to lots of promoting and marketing! It’s tiring, fun and stressful all at the same time. Actually, my advice is to start promoting yourself as an author even before you sign a book contract.

Christina: Yes, the promo side can be exhausting! And that's great advice, Kaye. So tell me, do you have critique partners (CPs)? Can you tell us how you met and about your process?

Kaye: I met my critique partners at different times. My first CP and I met on a Harlequin message board. Then I met a few more when I joined a romance writers group. My standby CP is another journalist who also writes romance. She makes sure my sentence structure is always right. We edited the grammar so much before submission that FORBIDDEN LOVE didn’t need the usual line edits. It went straight from content edits to formatting.

Kaye’s Bio:

As a romance author, I lean toward the adventuresome in my writing. I love science fiction and all the enticing quantum theories surrounding it. Where characters rush through outer space at FTL, or teleport into another time, and even slipstream into an alternate reality. I like creating sizzling love scenes too with sexy heroes, and captivating heroines. It just seemed natural to combine all these elements together in my stories.

FORBIDDEN LOVE Blurb:

Illicit Sultry Passion...

Maya and T’Kon are Galaxies apart so different yet so much alike…

While Dr. Maya Belle is researching wildlife habitats in the far desert region of her world, a sudden burst of sand engulfs her. She goes to investigate and cannot believe what stumbles out of a massive dune. She soon finds she is in the company of a sexy alien from another galaxy…

T’Kon from the planet Asconage is studying a distant world known as Terrain. His spacecraft malfunctions and crashes into its desert. A female named Maya gives him aid, and a steamy lust grows between them. A sultry interspecies passion neither can resist.

To avoid detection by the warring factions governing her world, he must repair his damaged craft and leave. Can he set forth without her and forsake their forbidden love?