Vanessa Jaye's Blog, page 9
February 6, 2011
Hunter of the Heart – Sold!
Took me long enough to post this. Not that I wasn't giddy with happiness when I got the official email, I was (!). I am!!
But I've mentioned the whole day job workload/stress level thing too many times to count already, so yeah, I was waiting till I had the energy to do up a post right (and for the contract to be signed) then the time got away from me….
But I digress. Wo0t!!
My editor said she'd like to have this on her 2011 release schedule; I haven't heard anything further on that score but of course I'll keep you all updated. :-D
And speaking of updates, my website needs some serious updating, including the excerpt of Hunter of the Heart that's posted. It's probably at least 8 yrs old so the writing is not as polished as the current version. Even the hero's name has since been changed from Cal to Nathan. Yesterday I made a To Do list for a bunch of things--not just writing wise--that I need to get done. (For example got a nice 'reminder' in the mail this week about filing back taxes. gaaahh! Anywho..) I'm vacillating between doing the updates myself and paying someone to do it. Actually have the email saved as a draft asking for quotes but haven't hit send yet. I think I will though. I need to clear the decks (hence the to-do list) and start fresh and I just don't have the juice to tackle the updates right now.
So I'll leave you with this small excerpt after the cut. It's a small sampling the current, updated version of the excerpt in comparison to whaat's up on the bookshelf.
Hunter of The Heart
(excerpted from non-finalized version. Copyright Vanessa Jaye)
"How many times do I have to tell you, I ain't seasick? We cats just don't dig the water. Look at those waves, up and down and up and down—" Mitch clamped his lips together, his whole face tight as he went from greenish to blanched.
Funny, it sure as hell seemed like sea-sickness to Nate.
"But sometimes a man has to suffer for his art." Mitch gamely raised his glass to a busty brunette further down the bar.
"Art?"
"The way I perform? Take a picture and hang it in the Guggenheim, baby. Entertain and enlighten the masses." Mitch began to coon in a raspy unsteady voice, "Nobody does it better. Makes me feel sad for the rest…"
"Hey, feel sad for my ears."
"Hey, suck my dick."
Nate just managed to hold back his laughter and he glanced around, ready suggest they be on their way, when his attention landed on the blonde again. His smile thinned.
Some no-neck nimrod was sitting way too close to her, breathing in her face. Nate told himself it was none of his business, the guy was probably her boyfriend, but if it were possible her body language was even more rigid and defensive.
As he watched, she shook her head periodically at whatever No-neck was whispering in her ear.
Nate didn't question his rising anger, just signaled the server and ordered another bottled-water. When it came, he took it and stood.
"I'll be right back."
"Take your time."
As Mitch slid off his stool and headed for the brunette, Nate turned, then wove his way through the maze of loungers to the other side of the pool.
Suntan lotion, sweat, ocean air, chlorine.., as he parsed out the different odors, one eluded him, flitting away before he could analyze it.
He was tempted to stand still, see if he could catch the fragrance again, but the male had just touched the woman's thigh and Nate so badly wanted to break every bone in that hand.
'Hello.'
Just before he arrived at the female's side, he sent out the greeting on impulse. Now why the hell did he do that?
It had the right affect, though—she looked up at him expectantly.
That wasn't supposed to happen. A queer sensation coiled inside him.
"Sorry I took so long." He handed her the water, it was the same brand as the almost empty bottle on the table beside her. 'I'm here to help.'
After a slight hesitation she took it from him. "Thanks."
Her voice was a soft caress to his senses; soothing, cool to brittle fires plaguing him. He would have curled up at her feet just to hear her speak some more.
That flash of need caught him up short. This was getting too weird. Nate almost backed away; then he locked eyes with the guy hitting on her and took a step closer instead, claiming the alpha position over the seated male.
"So who's your friend?" he asked casually.
"Uhm…Rod."
He watched Rod size him up and come up three sizes too small.
"Who the hell are you?" Roid-tard flexed a few oversized muscles.
Nate let the bones in his face shift slightly and flashed a smile, knowing his incisors looked unnaturally prominent. I'm the thing you don't believe in asshole.
February 1, 2011
Romance Junkies Annual Writing Contest (Promo)
It's that time again:
Romance Junkies 2011 Writing Contest
Sponsored by Carina Press!
They're accepting submissions starting February 1, 2011 (today!) There's prizes for the reader/voters, and a Kindle as grand prize for the top entry as well as crits by a Carina editor for the top three entries.
Check here for more details
Promo: To Tempt a Sheikh by Olivia Gates
I met Olivia back in the day when a bunch of us wannabe authors hung around the eharlequin boards, learning our craft, asking questions of the already published--who were very generous with their time and feedback--and in general supporting each other on our quest towards publication. Olivia always stood out as passionate, funny and kind. I won't pretend that we've kept in close contact the way I have with many other peeps from way back, but every time I have 'run into' her online she has been the same warm, funny and kind person I knew back then.
Olivia has a book releasing today but she lives in Egypt, and as you all know the internet has been shut down there. So when the call went out to help Olivia get the word out about her new book, I didn't hesitate.
To Tempt a Sheikh by Olivia Gates
He rescued hostage Talia Burke from his royal family's rival tribe and swept her into his strong embrace. But Prince Harres Aal Shalaan soon discovered there was more to the brave beauty than he knew. Talia held information vital to protecting his beloved kingdom…and she had every reason not to trust him.
Marooned together at a desert oasis, Talia couldn't resist Harres. Yet even as his sizzling seduction entranced her, his loyalty to his family and country would always make them enemies. Falling for the sheikh would be her heart's greatest mistake…but she feared it was already too late….
In stores February 1!
Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books A Million and bookstores everywhere. Also available at eharlequin both in print and as an ebook.
To read a first chapter and visit Olivia's webpage, click here.
January 29, 2011
30 days later...
I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted! Won't repeat my usual excuses/reasons (work, stress, work, stress), except to add I did come down with a serious of the flu (fever, bed-ridden and all) at the beginning of January. It's just been easier to do a short nonsense tweet or update my Goodreads bookshelf than tax my brain to come up with something meaty for the blog.
Anywho, there's some restructuring going on in my department at work. I'll be overseeing another part of the business. While on the surface it doesn't seem as challenging as what I'm doing now, TPTB expect it to grow exponentially over the next while. So I'm hoping that having less balls in the air at work means less stress. Also, the last time I was working on this project was the last time I was writing with any regularity. So I'm really looking forward to having my life back again! And producing (writing wise) on a regular schedule for publication and for the blog.
Also, I've been practically bursting with some good news regarding the werewolf novella, but I keep checking my mailbox before I say anything official…… ::puts down clue-cudgel::
Believe it or not, this wasn't the post I wanted to put up, but I rambled, got completely off course and blabbed (a tiny bit). But the good news is, the intended post for today will be tomorrow's post.
December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas!
All the best to you. May this day and the coming new year bring lots of laughter, peace, love, and contentment.
December 19, 2010
Judging Books By Their Cover
Anywho, this link to a peice on CBS popped up in my tweet-stream.
Judging Books By Their Covers
*
November 28, 2010
Then Suddenly It All Falls Into Place
I'm one of those peeps that fall somewhere in between a plotter and a pantser. I need a general framework, but not detailed blue-prints.
If writing was a road trip, I'm not the one to just get in the car and start driving in the general direction of my final destination; don't need a typed out itinerary either, just a map and a couple of brochures.
I tend to pull tug on lose strings when initially shaping a story. Not all the strings, just the ones that raise questions/red flags. Yesterday I posted about the heroine's profession, not a lose thread per se, but one that was going to require more effort than I was up to, to incorporate it into the story. Aside from that, the story wasn't quite firmed up.
I finally settled on a new job for her and everything fell into place. Her name, the reason why she has that job, how it's central to the story. The hero became more fleshed out, his background/motivation, the world-building, the villain and certain plot twists/developments. Not every little detail but enough that I can start writing in earnest. Not sure how long this story will be. I'll aim for 50K-60K for now.
All it takes is that one key element and things fall into place. Writing isn't just about the idea and execution thereof. It's also the 'how'. You have to know how *you* write. And if you fall out of the habit of writing regularly you forget those little 'hows'; those little red flags that warn you you're going in the wrong direction or need to take the time to flesh something out more.
So I got to check some email, and I'll probably do a quick drive-by on some of my fav online sites, then I'll be writing for the rest of the day.
Will check in with progress later.
November 27, 2010
Yet Another Attempt
Let's just say it a measure of how shitastic things have been going at work. I'm going to leave it at that.
I've still been doing a lot of reading and that's been going well. Found a couple of new authors to glom.
The writing unfortunately stalled out again. Partly because of work, but also because while I like the story idea a lot, I don't find dragon-shifter heroes inherently sexy (with the exception of Shana Abe's dragon shifter series). It's kind of hard writing about a hero when his shifted form is not appealing at all. I guess in the same way peeps can't get past the 'undead' blood-sucking vampire hero, or the 'hairy-monster' werewolf hero. Big, scaly, fire-breathing reptilian is hard for me to write.
So I've put that one on the back burner for now and I've gone back to my beloved werewolves. Not related to the submission I'm still waiting to get a yea or nay on, but I think this new idea will work. The hero is a werewolf and a detective. Initially the heroine was a psychologist and a succubus. There was a thriller aspect to it, but I'll be honest, I'm not up to doing the research on the heroine's area of expertise nor am I up to plotting out the twists and turns, red herrings, and the planting of false suspects.
You can call it lazy, I call it stressed-the-eff-out.
I just want to write the next story straight and have it focused two characters interacting, challenging each other, stripping each others emotional defenses and ultimating coming to the understanding they need to be together; that they love each other.
Got a few career ideas for heroine that won't be as challenging to write, but still integral to her character and the story development.
November 7, 2010
More of the Same
I love blogging, I really do.
But I hate whining.
Which is what I would have ended up doing if I attempted to blog more in the last couple of weeks. The work situation has been bad. High HIGH stress, just a crazy amount of work and equally crazy deadlines. One of our recent hires quit, which has left us short staff again. Annnnd.... there's more--as in I seriously thought about quitting, besides other stuff-- but I'll stop there.
Anywho, on the bright side, I've been having a terrific run on some great reading. It's the only time I can de-stress, and luckily I've had some great reads that it was easy to immersed myself in.
Open Season, and Duncan's Bride (Linda Howard)
Untie My Heart (Judith Ivory)
Slightly Dangerous (Mary Balogh)
Passions of a Wicked Earl (Lorraine Heath)
Willing Victim (Cara Mckenna)
Breaking Free (Cherise Sinclair)
Duck! (Kim Dare)
Just to name a few.
I'm currently reading Native Star by M.K. Hobson (a kick ass steampumk) and I've got a slew of great books lined up to read:
Room (Ema Donough)
The Iron Duke (Meljean Brooks)
The Silver Devil (Teresa Denys)
A Duke's Temptation (Jillian Hunter)
Comfort Object (Anabel Joseph)
And a bunch of others I can't name off the top of my head.
Curious that there's something edgy about the storyline or unlikeable about at least one of the characters in each of the books I've read or plan to read. Given my mood, the planned wip might be... interesting.
Speaking of the dragon shifter book. i did make a couple of attempts at it but-- wrong start/wrong scene. I have to think about it and flesh it out some more but barring any excessive craziness at work, I should be able to give it another stab this week.
**image: Ambyon/deviantart.com
