Kimberly Dean's Blog, page 44

Mission Accomplished

I dove into a full-fledged writing frenzy this week and I'm happy to report I finished the novella.  Words were just spilling out of me, and my fingers were flying.  I really love the story, which is in a genre I've never tried writing before.  It's still an erotic romance, but set in a different type of world.  I don't want to give too much away.  The publisher has posted that they'll be sending out responses by October 1.  I'll let you know!

Cover for EVERLASTING

Good morning everyone.  I'm excited to share the cover for my upcoming release, EVERLASTING.  Didn't the designers at Hot Damn Designs do a fantastic job?  My thanks to the Kims!  Great names and great work.

EVERLASTING

When Chevon takes an impulsive road trip, she doesn't expect to stumble across her distant past.  Lost in a thick, unpredictable fog, she finds the Everlasting Inn.  The remote house on the cliffs is a haven, yet it evokes erotic thoughts and haunting memories.  They consume her until she realizes that she's been to this house before… in another life! When the inn's new owner shows up, she realizes that time is repeating itself.  It's up to Trey to break the cycle for these star-crossed lovers, but he'll have to fight to prove that their love is truly everlasting.

I'm currently planning on a release date of September 8, 2011.  I'll let you know when the story is available and provide all the links to find it.

If you'd like to see that excerpt again, you can find it here.

 

Double Duty — NOT

Remember how back in May I bragged about working on two stories at one time?  With June stinking and all, it didn't turn out so well.  I got knocked off course, but I just discovered that I haven't missed the deadline for the novella.  Unfortunately, it's only five days away.  I've got about 23,000 words left to write to make the minimum word count.  Ha!  So do I let the idea go or do I kick it into high gear and try to get something submitted?

Of course, I'm doing the crazy thing and am trying to write like a mad woman.  Normally, I don't write fast.  In this case, I do have the story line pretty fleshed out in my head.  (Fleshed out!  Ha.  Unintentional pun.  I do write erotic romance, after all.)  I consider this a challenge, so we'll have to see how far I get.  Sometimes it's good to change up your writing routine.

That's what I said before when I tried writing two things at once and look how that turned out.  Ha!  Still, it's what I want to do for at least today and I'm in a weird enough mood.  So here I go…  Ready, set, write!

Excerpt from EVERLASTING

As promised, here is an excerpt from my upcoming release, Everlasting.  Hope you like it!

An Excerpt From:  EVERLASTING

© Copyright KIMBERLY DEAN, 2011

The bellboy led her all the way down the hall to the end.  He opened the door to her room, set her bag on the bed and waited expectantly – not for a tip, but for her reaction.   She could tell by the way he stared at her face.  She began searching her pocketbook anyway, but the moment she looked up, all other thoughts vanished.

An overwhelming sense of home had hit her.  Wordlessly, she headed to the window.  She pulled back the curtains, but darkness made her reflection stare back at her.  The night clerk had been right, though.  The view would be magnificent in the morning.  She could picture the cape extending out into the water in blatant disregard of the ocean's currents.  The two would be forever at battle, land versus the sea.

She suddenly noticed the bellboy's reflection in the window – and the way his gaze was sliding with interest down her body.

"Thank you," she said, shoving a few bills in his hand.

He got the message.  "Enjoy your stay," he said as he reluctantly backed out of the room.

The moment he closed the door, he was forgotten.  Chevon looked around the room, soaking it all in.  The sights, the smells, the feelings…  A handmade quilt covered the bed.  A tall armoire stood against the side wall in the only open space available, and a bathroom occupied what had to have once been a closet.  She looked at the thick, cushiony carpet under her feet.

She preferred the hardwood floors.

"God, what is going on?"  She swung her purse onto the bed and dropped down next to it.  The drive had been stressful, but her senses had been on red alert ever since she'd first felt the fog brush against her skin.  This inn was evoking all kinds of strange sensations, and her nerves were tied into knots.

She pushed away from the bed.  She felt restless, both mentally and physically.  It was as if her body had been awakened.  Unfamiliar wants and needs were pressing on her.  Shakily, she unzipped her bag and pulled out her nightgown and robe.  Turning on her heel, she headed to the bathroom.

She closed the door behind her and sagged against it.  The vibes in this house were strong, but those in the bedroom were nearly overpowering.

She'd sensed passion and lust.  Pure, unbridled lust.

Just like she'd felt down by the fireplace.

Warily, she looked at herself in the mirror.  Her skin was pale, but her eyes looked huge.  It had to be fatigue.  She'd been going non-stop for too long and her mind was starting to rebel.  That had to be it.

Gathering herself, she started to peel her damp clothes from her body.  She looked at the silk nightgown shyly.  She didn't know why she'd brought it.  It was the sexiest thing she owned… the only sexy thing she owned.  She'd bought it on an impulse, but right now she didn't know if she'd be able to stand the way it felt against her body.  Her nipples ached, and her skin felt too sensitive.

Still, it was either that or sleep naked – something that was just a little too scandalous for her, no matter how much the idea excited her.  Resolutely, she lifted the white fabric over her head and let it slip down over her curves.  She bit her lip to fight back a moan.  The stroke of silk was sinful.  Absolutely sinful and so, so good.

She looked at herself in the mirror again.  The slinky gown fit her like a dream.  It was unlike anything she'd ever owned, but once she'd seen it at the store she'd had to have it.  It hugged her curves and teasingly showed off flashes of skin.  The side slit came to nearly her waist, and the revealing neckline displayed the swell of her breasts.  The sheerness did nothing to hide the press of her nipples.  If anything, it showed them off as her best feature.

Her body began to quiver.  Quickly, she pushed her arms into the matching robe.  She was tying the belt in a knot when she walked back into the bedroom.

One look at the bed, though, and she had to press her legs together hard.  God, she couldn't stand it.  She swiped her key off the dresser, put it in her pocket, and turned towards the door.

She came up short when she found Sarah just about to knock.  "Oh!  Hello, dear.  I brought you some more towels.  Is the room… comfortable to you?"

Chevon's body squeezed in unfulfilled arousal.  "It's fine.  Beautiful."

"Were you in need of something else?"

She was, but this woman couldn't provide it.  "I just want to sit in the gazebo and relax for a while."

One of Sarah's eyebrows lifted.

"The weather won't bother me."

"I was just wondering how you knew we had a gazebo."  The woman passed her the towels and stepped back.  "Have a good night, Ms. Arlette.  We're very happy to have you here."

Chevon's head began to hurt as she watched the woman leave.  She didn't know how she knew these things – or why she felt these things – but her body refused to wait any longer.  Hurriedly, she tossed the towels on the bed and turned for the rear staircase.  The back door slammed shut as she burst out of it.  Alone outside, she took deep calming breaths.  The fog still shifted and swayed, but the moon was now directly overhead.  It generated more light than before, and she saw the gazebo waiting for her at the edge of the woods.

Right where she'd known it would be.

 

Everlasting

I'm getting very close to releasing new material!  Just working out a few final details.  I really like the story and can't wait to hear your reactions.  It's a contemporary Gothic erotic romance.  (Try saying that three times fast:  Gothic erotic, Gothic erotic, Gothic erotic.)  It's a haunting and sexy tale.  Kind spooky and more than a little naughty.  It's titled EVERLASTING and here's quick description:

When Chevon takes an impulsive road trip, she doesn't expect to stumble across her distant past.  Lost in a thick, unpredictable fog, she finds the Everlasting Inn.  The remote house on the cliffs is a haven, yet it evokes erotic thoughts and haunting memories.  They consume her until she realizes that she's been to this house before… in another life! When the inn's new owner shows up, she realizes that time is repeating itself.  It's up to Trey to break the cycle for these star-crossed lovers, but he'll have to fight to prove that their love is truly everlasting.

I'll post an excerpt in the next few days.  I'm excited to get back in the game and get new material out there.  I hope you're just as excited to read it.

Surprise package

I received a nice surprise in the mail yesterday.  Wicked Words 5 has been translated to German!  I'm not sure what surprised me the most — that I received my author's copy out of the blue or that it was actually released in 2009.  Ha!  It was a good surprise, all the way around.  Authors rarely know when their books are being translated (or at least I don't.)   Yet I've been lucky enough to have some of my works translated into German, French, and Japanese.  I love the fact that it gives more people the opportunity to read my stories.  And I've said it before, but the Germans are not shy with their covers!

Here are some links if you're interested in buying Heiss Und Sundig, Scharfe Stories, which includes the German version of my story, Spiel mit dem Feuer (Playing With Fire):

Amazon   Print /  Kindle

 

June Stunk

The month of June was not a good one for me.  It seemed that everything that could go wrong did.  But right at the end of the month, there was a big turn-around and everything seems to be going in the right direction now.  I'm writing again after a bit of downtime, and I've gotten over a bit of a creative speed bump.  I guess life needs its high points and low ones so you'll appreciate it more.

Now July is here and I'm thrilled it's summer.  I've spent more time outside soaking up the sun in the past two weeks than I have in the past two years.  It's amazing how fresh air and warm temperatures can improve one's outlook.  Good times are waiting to be had, and I'm looking forward to where this month will take me — and my writing.

Hope your summer is off to a good start.  And if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, I hope it's not too cold.

Double Duty

I'm doing something I haven't tried before – working on two stories at one time.  I've been having trouble gathering steam on the main story I'm writing, which is a full-length novel.  Meanwhile, a novella has been sitting in the back of my head, calling to me.  The idea was sparked by a call for proposals, and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind.  It's not something I would normally write, but the idea has grown into a well-rounded concept (to the jeopardy of my WIP).  The question is… can I work on two things at once and produce anything decent?

I think the answer might be yes.  Working on the novella has started the word flow again.  Those words were not coming easily on the novel – until they started to bubble up for the shorter story.  Sometimes it's just a matter of popping that cork.

But how do I keep the stories straight?   Easy.  They're totally different stories, with different characters and motivations.  If you hop back and forth watching Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi, you're totally going to know where you are in each story and whether you're watching Indiana Jones or Han Solo (regardless if they're both played by Harrison Ford.)

My real concern is time.  When you're working on two things instead of concentrating on one, they're both going to take longer to finish.  Since the full-length novel is the second in a series, this is concerning to me.  I guess it's a matter of sitting and staring at a blank screen or getting words out of my fingertips.  I'll take the words anyday.

So how about you?  Have you ever taken on two projects at once?  Did they help one another or did they overwhelm you?  I'm hoping I haven't jumped into the deep end here…

Tic Toc

I've been asked several times recently by readers when I'll have new material coming out. The truth of the matter is that I don't know. One of the toughest parts of being a writer is being patient while being in the dark. I know how quickly I write, and it's not that fast. I'm picky and obsessive, and I can't stop editing until the story reads right and generates the emotion I want. But while I'm writing, I have control. I know how fast I produce material and I know where I am in the process. That control vanishes once I send off that manuscript to others.

It's at this point that time can slow to a crawl. Writers are busy people, but so are agents and editors. They need time to do their thing, and they receive a lot of queries, partials, and full manuscripts. I'm just one cog in the big wheel that turns ever so slowly… Of course, having a writer's mind doesn't help. With no visibility, I don't know if my material is being discussed excitedly, still on the bottom of the pile, or has slipped behind a desk with dust bunnies and lost pens.

In the end, the only thing left to do is keep writing and sending out more material – which I can report I am doing! Yet in the back of my mind, I'm aware that the clock keeps ticking away and time keeps slipping by. They say that the best things come to those who wait and who work hard. I'm doing both, so hopefully I'll soon have something new to report – and you'll have something new to read!

RT Book Reviews highlights GHOST FLUTE

Check it out! RT Book Reviews has chosen to highlight GHOST FLUTE on its erotica page. What an honor. They've included an excerpt from the book and a message from me. I describe how I came up with the idea for the story. Link here: http://bit.ly/dZmRuL

To buy: Kindle Nook