Michelle Styles's Blog, page 20

New York magazine, smut and The Viking's Captive Princess

My brother in law let me know that the New York Magazine has done an article on *smut* aka the Romance genre for most normal people. At the end of the article, they have a flow chart to help the novice smut reader find the right book. If you don't care about demographics, want your romance set in the past, at sea and wearing a Viking helmet, they reccomend The Viking's Captive Princess.
As I do like the cover, I was pleased to see it there. Luckily despite it being out several years, it remains available as an ebook.
The article amused me, particularly as there is no getting around how popular the genre is.

Happy Easter

Wishing everyone a happy Easter holiday.
I am spending mine gardening and doing various writing projects as I wait for my editor to get back with her thoughts.
Slowly but surely the garden is starting to look less like an unkept jungle and more like a cultivated garden again. You would not believe the amount of ivy we have burnt over the last few days. My youngest son has learnt about what happens when you put a very dry ex Christmas tree on a bonfire. The holly tree will recover in time. It is a good lesson.

I had a piece of good news yesterday. My short story His Stand In Bride was published in print somewhere in the world (rather than just being in digital). It pleased me no end as I thought it was only ever going to be in digital. I also got paid some more money for it as per my contract which was very welcome. It remains up as a free read on Harlequin. in case people haven't read it.

The Tracy Anderson Method: Continuity L8

It has been an age since I posted anything about my Tracy Anderson Method journey. I am on Level 8 (day 162 of the Meta programme). I have been doing it consistently 6 x a week since late October.
I continue to do 60 minutes of the Dance cardio and do like the C1.1 cardio more than then Meta cardio. I think I am getting better at it.
The Muscular structure work is more challenging in some ways. This level has one armed planks, modified headstands and other delights. BUT I can do all of them. I can also keep up on the arms and the abs.
The big tip I have learnt is to point my toes during the floor ab work and really during most of the leg lifts, unless Tracy is clearly retracting her foot. It helps engage the abs and can really help if you have had separation of the abdominal muscle due to pregnancy. My over all body is far more defined, rather than a huge inch loss.
My eating habits tend to be a smoothie for breakfast, soup for lunch and a solid meal for supper. It works for me. Soup/liquid meals stay in your stomach longer than simply drinking a glass of water before you eat. I have fresh fruit, nuts or dried fruit for snacks if I feel hungry.
I have discovered that I was v lactose intolerant, particularly when there is a lot of fat involved. Not surprising as I had my gall bladder removed years ago. I can handle Greek yogurt in moderation. Cheese in v limited quantities. I can have a little bit of wheat but I do tend to avoid it and go for other grains now. My diet has a lot more fresh fruit and veg.
I am staying a solid size UK 8 (US 4). I do have to buy some more tops as I have been wearing my old jumpers etc. It has been pointed that I do look like an orphan wearing a bigger sibling's clothes. And while I can get away with this in the winter, the summer is another matter. Slowly, slowly, slowly my wardrobe is changing. I also need to get some shorts, and capris as my TAM started when the weather was getting cooler...
The best thing about TAM is the stress release and the way I feel after I complete a session. It just helps. There  is also a sense of accomplishment as I finish a level or move further on in the programme. All this helps with improving my personal body image and ultimately my self esteem.
I am very glad that I made me a priority.

As I am currently waiting on my editor, I am keeping busy doing other projects...including cleaning up the garden. This means wresting with the brambles, doing the ivy and generally doing all the big jobs I have avoided for awhile. It is great thinking time. As a writer you have to spend time thinking. Repetitive jobs can be great for this.

Book In

Last Night at 20:07 precisely, I hit the send button and sent my latest manuscript to my editor. It was time for her expert eyes. This morning my editor let me know that she has it and will get to it in the next couple of weeks.
It means I beat my deadline by 6 days. When you consider that I only had a vague outline on the 2nd and about 6k of useable words, it is quite an achievement. The manuscript went in at 74,000 words. And by the end I had done 3 complete drafts. My editor will undoubtedly find ways where the manuscript can be improved (she is very good at wringing the last drop of emotion out) so there will be more drafts of this story in my future.  I want the strongest story possible as I really believe in this couple.
I now need to reaquaint myself with my family, plus do a thousand other tasks that I put to one side.
One thing I did keep doing during this period of intense work was my exercise. Intense exercise is the BEST way to get rid of stress and silence doubt demons.
I do emotionally eat when I reach stressful points in my manuscript. Some of it is to silence the doubt and anxiety demons and some is to divorce myself from the intense emotion I am feeling.  Sometimes you have to go with emotional eating. But sometimes it is just a habit. It depends where I am in the manuscript. I did eat mostly nuts and dried fruit. My size stayed the same.
It is funny when various people say -- oh slim as ever or I see you haven't put on weight. I am determined to maintain my weight.

In other news:
Yesterday was a fantastic day for my friend Donna Alward whose book How A Cowboy Stole Her Heart reached the finals of the Rita competition in Contemporary Series. It was a very special book for her and written straight from the heart so I am so pleased and proud for her. The winner is annouced at the end of the RWA conference in July. Fingers firmly crossed  here.

First draft done

It is Mothering Sunday in the UK and I have finished my first draft.
Yes, it is rough. yes, it needs layering. But my characters have had their Happy Ever  After.
Considering on Friday 2 March, I had in reality about 6k and I am now at 67k (it needs to be 70 k plus but I ALWAYS pick up about 5 -10 k after the first draft), I have done remarkably well.
I will admit that I had visions of working deperately late on 31 March and indeed 1 April to even get this far! I was determined to make it and I will make it with a manuscript that I am proud of.
It means I have 2 weeks to edit, revise and polish before it goes off to my editor.
The main thing that happened was that I completely turned off the internet and started working on my laptop on its battery. I forced myself to stay there and work, rather than taking a break to put the laundry on, or another one to do the dusting or jut put the kettle on. Not pausing.
I did keep doing my Tracy Anderson through out it all and am Continiuty 1.1 Level 6. I will do an update on this soon, suffice it to say that I am still seeing changes in my body. But whereas I started doing TAM for my physical health, I now do it for my mental health. It really does help to keep me focussed.

My poor neglected blog

Many apologies.
I am currently working hard on my wip. I am absolutely and completely determined to make my 1 April deadline. This means it has to take absolute priority.
My family also like to see me on occassion when I resurface.
Things should be less fraught in April.

Kestrel 1 Rat O

This morning, my husband spotted a kestrel in the garden. I missed it the first time. My husband looked out  again and watched as the female kestrel dove down from on high and neatly caught a large rat.
The kestrel was absolutely goregous as she sat on her wriggling prey. It  was one large rat. When disturbed by the ducks, she flew with the rat hanging from her talons to a far corner of the garden where she could enjoy it in peace.
I hate rats!  And I did discover evidence of the same in the compost pile. The compost has now been scattered on the garden.
However because we have tawny owls nesting the owl box, I had not put poison out. Thankfully the kestrel decided to do its job. Hopefully the owls will join in.
Fingers crossed that it nests nearby. I would like the rat population cleared out.
We already do protect any ducklings which happen along, until they are large enough, so I am not worried about the ducks or the hens.

Hattie WIlkinson Meets Her Match November 2012

My editor emailed me today with the lovely news that Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match (provisional title) will be out in November 2012 in both the US and UK markets.  I am SO pleased.
It would be lovely to think I will get to keep the title as well as it suits but titling is up to the editors.

I am still waiting for the Viking to be scheduled and my partial has gone to my editor. I have a due date of 1 April for that one and am determined to make it!

It does feel good to know what is happening.

His Unsiutable Viscountess proofs done

I finished my proofs of His Unsuitable Viscountess this morning. I loved the book and think it really special. I know, I know there have been no reviews of it and everyone might hate it, but right now I am going with my gut instinct. I did get a distinct tingle down my back. There were places I knew I would cry, but I was caught unawares by one place.
All the behind the scenes drama of last year was worth it and I am pleased my editor pushed me so hard.
I don't have the back cover blurb yet or I would have posted it and I am looking forward to getting the cover, but this book has been put to bed for me now.
Still no word on the scheduling of Hattie Meets Her Match or Shackled to the Viking. I think these are both still working titles as well.
I do need to get to work on To Marry A Rake as I have promised my editor the partial for Monday and after reading HUV, I know it is not up to that standard YET but it will be.
It is about delving deeper into the character's physche and really pushing hard to deliver a heart warming read.

Going International

[image error] One of the great joys of being published with Harlequin is that my books do get published all over the world.
I forgot to check last month but Compromising Miss Milton was published in Italy as Il Visconte Libertino.   The books arrived via the post this morning. I love the colours on the cover. Breaking the Governess's Rules is out in March as La Sposa Perduta (the lost wife) which fits. I am very excited about it being out in Italy as the heroine spent time in Sorrento.
Breaking the Governess's Rules is also out in February as Fiancee a un lord.
I was very pleased as one of my resolutions this year is to relearn French. I have been doing my Rosetta stone lessons every morning for the past few weeks. Once upon a time I was nearly fluent but allowed it slip. When I met the French senior editor last summer, I so badly wanted to speak to her in her own language. I look forward to rereading various books of mine in French.
It has given me quite the spur to get on with the short story I promised my editor that is a prequel to both Compromising Miss Milton and Breaking the Governess's Rules. It is another governess story. But more importantly to get my current manuscript done. I finally figured out what was wrong and that I needed an Aunt. I don't think I have really done an Aunt before. I have several Aunts (and there is a reason for the capital -- think PG Wodehouse). I love them dearly.
I have no idea what my nieces think of me but I would be honoured to an Aunt.