All the Other Stuff

"No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance." ~Confucius

I was just over admiring Marianne's new blog template when I realized that I haven't updated my website in, hmm, about 5 months. I try to balance all the other little stufff, the promo jazz, the communicating with other writers, blogging everyday, etc etc with writing too and sometimes I let things slide. Oh, and there's the day job, of course. Finding balance with it all is an on-going struggle. Thank goodness the school year is almost over...I've never looked forward to summer vacation so much!

This weekend's goals are working outside if the weather cooperates (I'm REALLY behind on all my planting/landscaping), cleaning inside if the weather doesn't, and trying to write another chapter of One Night in Savannah. My goal for that WIP is actually to finish it by the end of the summer (goal WC 85,000), let it sit for a few weeks while I go back to Entwined and figure out what I'm doing with that, and then submit ONIS (not sure where yet) before the end of 2009.

So I guess I'd better get going! Happy weekend...

The Geek Girl's Guide...

"It's the friends you can call up at 4am that matter." - Marlene Dietrick

Hey all, there's a fantastic new YA release you should check out: The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading. And to kick off the release, the authors are hosting a BFF contest (that's Best Friends Forever, for those of you out of the current teen lingo loop). Check out what you can win!


Two bags, one for you, one for your BFF which include:


An autographed copy of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading
The new iPod Shuffle
A mix tape (CD) of songs about friendship
DeBrand’s Chocolates
Matching T-shirts
And a few geeky surprises...



That's right, two prize bags!! So what are you waiting for? Here's the link - go on and enter!

Running Late!

Boy, I'm running late today, so just a quick post.

I've managed to write about 6000 words on my new project, One Night in Savannah, and it hasn't been too bad so far. What's challenging, though, is that I have all these "secrets" that unfold during the course of the story, and some characters know more and less than the others and find out parts of the secrets at different times. So it's tough to know how much to reveal, and when.

As I was working through this yesterday, I realized that this is also exactly why you should get through a rough draft (of anything, no matter how long) before you try to really revise it. Polishing the first few chapters over and over again is futile if by the very end of the plot, things have changed (and they do change, don't they?!).

Happy writing, friends...

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Christina Phillips

Welcome to a (rainy) Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm chatting with Wild Rose Press author Christina Phillips. Enjoy!

Thank you for having me on your blog today, Allie. I'm thrilled to be here!

And I'm glad to have you! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I moved to sunny Australia from the UK ten years ago with my very own hero and our three adorable children. Over the last few years as I’ve actively sought publication for the romances I love writing, I’ve tried my hand at category romance, chic lit, paranormal and now dark erotic romance for the Scarlet Line at The Wild Rose Press.

When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I've always loved writing. When I was a child I used to write plays, then as a teenager I wrote long angsty poems and tragic space operas. It wasn't until we moved to Australia that I finally decided to get serious about my writing, and aim for publication.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

My current release is Touch of the Demon, a Scarlet Rosette from The Wild Rose Press. Here's the blurb:

Dark angel Rafe travels back in time to destroy the woman who is fated to bring untold chaos to the cosmos. Instead, he finds Celeste, a child of the Earth Goddess, who is sworn to protect the one Rafe seeks. He mistakes her for his quarry but an irresistible attraction prevents him from taking her soul. And although Celeste holds the one weapon capable of banishing Rafe from Earth forever, she's unable to deny the overwhelming desire to possess this creature from hell. They come together in a frenzy of passion, each believing they are changing destiny by their actions. But when the Earth Goddess appears they discover her plans are more far reaching than either had imagined.

Excerpt:

“I’ll beg you for nothing.” It was a lie. If Celeste thought begging could get her anywhere, then she would already be on her knees before him. She kept that knowledge locked deep in her heart.

Rafe took a step toward her and her heart hammered in her breast. He was taller than any human she had known over the years. But then, he wasn’t human. Beneath the long leather coat he wore against the night’s chill air, his broad shoulders all but blotted out the rest of the world.

She sucked in a suddenly panicked breath, and his evocative scent of other worldly essences, meshed with hot, heavy male enveloped her. Against every principle she stood for, her nipples strained against the fabric of her bodice, peaking with desire and disgust and pure, animal heat.

A mocking smile twisted his full sensual lips. “I could make you beg, human.” His finger traced the outline of her face and she shuddered, hating the way she reacted and yet unable to help herself. “I might even listen to your pleas.” His smoky whisper shimmered along her senses, searing with words unsaid.

Great excerpt!! Now, what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

I have a couple of mantras - the first is a quote from Galaxy Quest: "Never give up! Never surrender!" It took me over nine years before I sold, and I was close to chucking it in on several occasions. Only the fact I become bad tempered and totally witchy to live with when I don't write kept me going back to the keyboard. Well, and the fact my wonderful CPs would never allow me to throw in the towel!

The second thing I'd like to share is this - Never Say Never! A couple of years ago it hadn't even occurred to me that I could write erotic romance, never mind sell in that genre. But when I sat down with the specific intention of writing erotic romance, something just clicked and I discovered I absolutely adored it. The weird thing is, up until I wrote Foretaste of Forever, my writing leaned towards romantic comedy.

Sometimes it really can pay to try something completely different, even something you've always maintained you'd never want or be able to tackle, just to see if you can do it!

When you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?

I use the computer to write. Always. I have tried writing longhand when I've got stuck, but it doesn't work for me. However, having said that, I find it easier to hammer out a blurb using pen and paper, rather than struggling for hours at the computer! Very weird, but true!

Christina, thanks so much for being here today. Readers, you can find out more about this author and her work in any of these places on the web. And have a great day!

Christina's Website
Christina's Blog
To buy Touch of the Demon from The Wild Rose Press, click Here

Trailer for Touch of the Demon

I Don't Usually Read This Genre, But...

"I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top." ~English Professor (Name Unknown), Ohio University

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day, complete with a moment or two of remembering all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Our local paper ran the Gettysburg Address yesterday, and I'll confess, it gave me goosebumps. What a wonderful speech. Here's the link, in case you haven't read it in a while.



*****


And interestingly enough, I received 2 emails in the last week that began, "I don't usually read this genre, but..." One was from a former student; the other was from a cyber-friend. Both had just finished Lost in Paradise.

My favorite excerpts: "...while reading your book I could feel the built up passion and romance between the two characters. I also became completely involved in the book and found myself yelling at the characters sometimes. Another true sign I became immersed in the book is even though I had to get up very early for work the next morning and my eyes were burning I had to keep reading..."

and "I got into the characters and forgot I was reading, I escaped, and there is no better compliment that I can give. I understood Ashton and wanted Eddie...".


I wish there weren't still such stereotypes about contemporary romance. I wish I could tell people I wrote love stories without the inner cringe of wondering if they'll smirk. I wish my royalty statements were bigger LOL...

Happy Memorial Day

For love of country they accepted death... ~James A. Garfield

Greetings from Indianapolis!!

I'll give a full-blown report of the Indy 500 when I'm home (and can hear myself think). In the meantime, have you read today's installment of the Round Robin story??