Sommer Marsden's Blog, page 101

Ho, ho, ho!

What?

No, I haven't lost it.

So many people are doing Christmas in July stuff this year, I figured I would too. Four of my Christmas titles (Fixation, A Pinch of Spite, Kinky for Christmas and Eating Cookie) are 50% off for the next two weeks at ARe. And I'm doing a Christmas in July guest blog soon but more about that later.

This is very much a fly-by. The more Zen I try to become, the more opportunities drop in my lap, the busier I get. So...the trick is then to see if I can swing it, remain calm, carry on and not do my impression of a Chihuahua on crack by flipping out entirely.

Om...

XOXO
Sommer

I just fucking write. That's what I do.

I must be plotting to die at 80 on some level. I'm almost 40 and this year seems to be my year for low self esteem, extreme swings of self doubt and more than my fair share of self loathing. Hmph.

For about 48 hours I've been licking imaginary wounds and trying to nurse myself through an extreme case of I-suck-as-a-writer-itis. Don't get me wrong, I got that as a newbie too, but the bouts had more of a rat in a cage feel to them and were shorter lived and usually came on the tail of an acceptance and I'd think oh shit! What if it was a fluke! In fact if you go to my old blog, Smut Girl, and do a search for cave dweller you just might find some. Now the periods are not as frequent but they are of much heavier fare. Sort of a leaden discontent and fear that bounces around like the world's heaviest ping pong ball, ricocheting off my bones and filling me with the very scary urge to lie down in the middle of the floor and refuse to ever write again.

Melodramatic, yes? Boy howdy, do I know it. But much like you can't choose who you love, you can't choose these moments of writer's malaise (that's what I've come to call it, at least in my head).

So, what's a girl to do?

Drink

Write one of your best stories ever in a single sitting, submit it and then turn around and be convinced you suck again.

Read some stellar smut that must makes you happy by a person that you LOLove

Watch Roseanne on TV Land

Just fucking surrender to the feeling

Ride your exercise bike until you hootle goes numb

Avoid FB and Twitter for large chunks of time because the devil invented them and sometimes they can make you feel worse instead of better and then you feel like a whiner

Threaten to never write anything but messages in birthday cards again

Buy $100 worth of workout clothes online because exercise is one of the few things that makes you really happy at the mo.

Write zombies

Read Carl Hiaasen and giggle.

Write more zombies

Proof your crime book (written as yourself) and hope it does not suck and absolutely do not let yourself realize that you wrote it because you might just give up the ghost and delete the whole thing and who knows it might actually be good when you come out of this funk and…*gasp*

Run errands, laugh with your kids and watch some show called Sons of Guns with the man (crush hard big-time on the big tattooed, bald, gun toting good ole' boys)

Write more zombies.

A lot of writing for someone suffering writing malaise, yes? Well. It is my job and there is the lesson, no matter how I feel about my talents (or lack thereof) on any given day, I'm a writer. So I get up and drink coffee and bitch—and yes, sadly, maybe have a good cry and a pity party with my gluten free toast—but when all is said and done. I just fucking write. That's what I do.

XOXO
Sommer

*whew*

Up in a flurry(overslept)-->shuffle around to make coffee-->breakfast (thanks to a man who's off and cooked for me)-->dressed-->coffee to go-->bank-->Home Depot (80 million pounds of charcoal)-->grocery store-->errata-->haul kids to destination and drop off-->home-->spanking good afternoon fooling around (heh)-->50 mins on the bike (ouch!) whilst plotting dirty story for Alison Tyler-->shower-->arrive to pick up kids-->home-->chores-->errata-->write some zombies-->help with dinner (including muffins that sadly sucked)-->walk his fatness-->ah...wine and pajamas.

Busy day. Hope yours was spanking good.

XOXO
Sommer

My own attempt at pride and independence....

Happy Independence Day! I hope it's wonderful and fun for you and yours (and safe). I had a bit of my own independence day yesterday. I finally busted free of trying to hide myself entirely from family. I sort of shucked the idea of shunning who I am and what I do and what I write. A family member I haven't seen in a while leaned in and asked me about my books and what I was writing. A lot of folks know sort-of-kind-of what I write, but I refuse to give my pen name or any of that.

I'm not sure if I'm protecting them or me.

This is entirely my doing, by the way. If I listened to the man, I'd be writing under my own name and anyone who didn't like it be damned. However, when I started the kids were wee and I was very much protecting them, which to me is my number one job between birth and well...forever, when it comes to my kids.

But I gave her my card and told her who I was and how things were doing. For real. I was honest.

I made myself a promise a few weeks ago when I was at the bank and the banker made a comment on my deposit. (We've known each other a while) I said, "They're royalties" and he said, "Oh, what do you write?"

I then horrified and shamed myself by saying "Romance" and doing air quotes. I entirely disappointed myself in that moment because what I do and how hard I work to do it deserves more than air quotes.

So, like I said, I gave her my card. Then I came home and had a conniption. Had I ever used her name? Anyone's name she knew? Last names of folks? Whose names, places, coloring, storylines etc? If you are a writer you know that your life shines through in your work. Sometimes barely at all, sometimes a lot. It depends. But if I wrote stories with characters named ONLY after folks I'd never known in my life, everyone would be named Mabel and Bryce and Hubert.

So, then I calmed the fuck down and decided that that this year I'll be 40. In about five short months. It's time to go ahead and be proud of what I do. And if you don't like what I do, then don't look. And if you like me but decide to treat me differently because of what I do then...shame on you. Not me.

Like I said, I had my own mini independence day yesterday. I'm giving myself the freedom to be me--all of me. It's the kick off to not trying to hide myself. Good stuff.

Now, we are going to eat some good food and probably veg out since we had our party yesterday.

I hope your day is full of awesomeness, fun and fireworks in whatever form you choose to experience them. (I prefer orgasms to actual fire in the sky)

XOXO
Sommer

For the 4th...

Three Fingers of Want is up on Smashwords for free. Use the code provided (on the book's page) to check out. Enjoy your weekend and your holiday, folks! :)

XOXO
Sommer

Good Saturday stuff...

First of all, I just did my first ever kettlebell workout, so if there are tons of typos in this, it's because my arms are currently made of Jell-O and mushy bread. I bought a set that comes with two weights and a DVD that consists of four 20 minute workouts. I thought: "Shyeah, self. You have totally been working out 40 minutes to an hour every day (w/one day a week off) for a few weeks now. You can do two!"

Um...no. No, I cannot. Maybe eventually. But not now. I feel like I can barely hold a pencil at the moment. Lucky for me, I have mad typing skillz no matter what. So now...on to the goodness!


NOR gave my humble zombie book (the first of two out) 4.5 stars! I am so stoked. I loved when the reviewer said: "must admit - to my great surprise - that I really love this story and can't wait to read the next installment. I want to know what happens with all four of these fighters, and I hope Ms. Marsden keeps them as likeable and smart as they are here."

Ha! Super. Read the whole review by Terrihawk here.


And now double awesome, I thought I was done putting up reviews of my first werewolf novel, Base Nature. That yes, I still have a soft spot for. However, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews gave it four hearts. And when the reviewer said this: "My biggest question: Is there anything Sommer Marsden can't write?" I damn near melted with gratitude.

See the full review by Vicky here.



And last, but certainly not least, I am up on my partner in zime's (that is zombie crime) blog. Charlotte Stein was kind enough to host me and my excerpt from WKDT today on her blog. Yay! And thanks to Charlotte :)

And I think you're caught up. I have a ton to do today before a party tomorrow. We're celebrating early in our family because Monday the 4th, we have a family member deploying. Good thoughts for him and his wife and kids (and all of us extended family) greatly appreciated.

If I don't see you before the holiday, have a great one and BE SAFE!

XOXO
Sommer

I am so totally stoked and grateful...

You ever just get a feeling? I got one about two months back when I was flipping through a paper and saw a contest entry for a free getaway. Something inside me said 'self, enter this'. So I did. And I won! So this fall, the man and I have a free overnight getaway. A hotel, a wine tasting (how appropriate) and I'm sure some other fun stuff. I. Am. So. Psyched!

Can't wait. Can't believe I won. But unbelievably grateful that I did. Sometimes the Universe just gives you a wink. I got a wink today. Woohoo! :)

XOXO
Sommer

And now a word (and a CONTEST!) from an Angell....

Hi. Umm, I'm Miz Angell, and I'm a sex-o-holic.

But you knew that already. LOL.

I'd like to start by thanking the lovely Sommer Marsden for inviting me to guest on her blog. I've never done this before, so please bare with me (and yes, I did spell it that way on purpose).

See, I'm relatively new to the erotica game. I was first published in Alison Tyler's anthology Frenzy. THEN Sommer saw clear through to the heart of me – and published me anyway – in her small town tales of Kinkyville.

BUT, before those happened, I was a regular entrant in Alison's flash contests. And I really enjoyed the creative process of having a limited number of words to create something hot, and steamy and that others would enjoy reading (and I won a few of them - not to BRAG or anything – ok, I am...)

Lately, Ms. Tyler has been so busy with her other projects, she hasn't had time to host a contest since her first ever Project Smutway wrapped up a few months ago.

And that's where I come in. I know that I was one of those writers that used the contests not only for fun, but as a way to get my creative juices flowing again. Soooo....

In case you haven't noticed (and judging by the number of entrants – y'all haven't) I'm hosting my first ever contest. Hot Fun in the Summertime (not Sommer-time, but that's good too).

The parameters? Simple.

Five hundred itty-bitty words. That's all you need. Inspired by your favourite summer time song, give us some hot, sweaty, dirty, smutty sex. On a beach, in a Woody, on a pier, or maybe just in your backyard hammock.

I did have the deadline as July 4, but I'm thinking that not everyone is around this weekend. So, let's make it July 11.

No rules except for the usual standard NSW – no sex with – a) anyone under 18 b) animals (shifters don't count for those paranormal writers) c) anything or anyone dead (again, paranormal creatures are the exception) . No scat. No snuff. Anything submitted along those lines will be disqualified, no matter how good you think it is.

Email it all to me – word format please – to angell dot brooks at hotmail dot com. OR, visit the link for the contest, and leave your submission in the comments.

Whether you're new or established, good or bad, all writers are welcome.

Thank you Sommer for having me. I had a lovely time and the wine was incredible.

Happy long weekend everyone!

http://mizadventurez.blogspot.com

July 2011 Issue...

I'm in it! Woohoo! How freaking cool is that!? My story A Secret King is in the current issue of Penthouse because it was in this smoking hot book.
Awesomeness!

XOXO
Sommer

It's not you, it's me...

I wanted to take a moment to say this in a public venue. And if you are one of the folks I'm referring to, then you probably read my blog (or you should. And i say that in a totally non-stuck-up-pish way). What I mean is, if you are IMing or DMing a writer or someone you don't really know directly, you probably are reading their blog.

Lately, I've gotten a lot of instant messages from folks on various forums. I belong to a lot of them for work purposes as you can imagine, and yes, I enjoy them for fun or boredom or procrastination too. However, if I do not know you through other interactions, I won't directly chat with you in private. If I do not know you, I will not accept you on that yahoo thing that lets you know when I am online. I wish I knew how to disconnect that thing without having to 'reject' people. I don't really want anyone to know when I am online for sure. Though, let's be honest, I am *usually* online, said the addict.

Now, I have met and chatted with many people via facebook (page) and twitter (feed) and even gotten to know some folks who have emailed me and we have had an exchange. Then I would accept a live IM from that person and maybe chat for a few minutes if I had time. But if I don't know you and we've had no contact, I won't. And it's nothing personal. I'm not being snooty, I'm being smart. Basically, I practice the same rules I preach to my kids about online safety. So my suggestion is, if you want to get to know me, do it in any of the venues I have in place. Because if you just IM me, I won't answer you. And it's totally not you, it's me.

XOXO
Sommer