Jax Cassidy's Blog, page 5

November NaNo

[image error]I'm totally stoked about participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) with all my writing buddies. I've signed up for it twice so far and both times I've won…so this year it seemed like a good idea to bite the bullet and do it again. Besides, I have to finish a novel to turn into my agent, so this came at just the right time. It's going to be grueling but I'm prepared and excited to see if I can meet my goal.

I'm happy to say that I'm off to a good start and exceeding NaNo's minimum word count per day. Based on NaNo's snazzy stats and calculations, even if I slowed down, all I need to write is 1,400 words a day to finish by the end of the month. If you really think about it–it seems daunting to write 50,000 words in one month but I'm going to face the challenge head on!

I'm well into Day 2 and the excitement just keeps building. I hope by November 30th, I'll have a solid product to brag about.

Wish me luck! [image error]

Music & Lyrics

‎"Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world

are the ones who do."

—Steve Jobs

* * * *

We are about two and a half months closer to the end of the year and I'm trying to meet my goal of learning something new. I've spent a little bit of time working in the music industry and one of the things I loved most was writing lyrics. Of course, some of the songs I've written will never be released due to the talent quitting the music industry, but at least I have the tracks archived. It's a great reminder that I was lucky to have worked with talented producers in New York, had my music listened to by music execs, and I was so close to having a career as a lyricist. But we all know that the road traveled always has intersections leading elsewhere…

Although I've had some music training, I never pursued it further. I've always wanted to learn the guitar but never seemed to find the time to take lessons. This year I decided I'd learn the basics so that I could play a few notes. I'm sure I'll get better in time but what I dream of doing is writing music to accompany my lyrics…so this was a great opportunity to put it on my "to do" list this year. Unfortunately, I have very small hands, so my short fingers has made it difficult to play on a regular sized guitar. Thus the delay has led to me in search of a smaller guitar that will fit me just right. While I'm searching for the perfect fit, I'm learning the basics in between all my work load and writing.

I supposed I'm a bit obsessed when it comes to learning. I'm not afraid to tackle things once I set my mind to it and I will do whatever it takes to accomplish the goal. It's the part of my brain that is persistent so I feel confident I will be satisfied with the end result. Strumming the guitar has this sort of relaxing effect so it really helps me get into the mindset of the character I'm writing about. A rock star who is tired of playing the kind of music his record label wants him to play, when all he would love to do is play the songs he really wants to. This part of my research is always fun–and I get to pick up something new in the process. How I see it, it's a win-win.

How about you? Have you made a goal this year and accomplishing it?

October Obsession

‎"Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."

—Steve Jobs

We are about two and a half months closer to the end of the year and I'm trying to meet my goal of learning something new. I've spent a little bit of time working in the music industry and one of the things I loved most was writing lyrics. Of course, some of the songs I've written will never be released due to the talent quitting the music industry, but at least I have the tracks archived. It's a great reminder that I was lucky to have worked with talented producers in New York, had my music listened to by music execs, and I was so close to having a career as a lyricist. But we all know that the road traveled always has intersections leading elsewhere…

Although I've had some music training, I never pursued it further. I've always wanted to learn the guitar but never seemed to find the time to take lessons. This year I decided I'd learn the basics so that I could play a few notes. I'm sure I'll get better in time but what I dream of doing is writing music to accompany my lyrics…so this was a great opportunity to put it on my "to do" list this year. Unfortunately, I have very small hands, so my short fingers has made it difficult to play on a regular sized guitar. Thus the delay has led to me in search of a smaller guitar that will fit me just right. While I'm searching for the perfect fit, I'm learning the basics in between all my work load and writing.

I supposed I'm a bit obsessed when it comes to learning. I'm not afraid to tackle things once I set my mind to it and I will do whatever it takes to accomplish the goal. It's the part of my brain that is persistent so I feel confident I will be satisfied with the end result. Strumming the guitar has this sort of relaxing effect so it really helps me get into the mindset of the character I'm writing about. A rock star who is tired of playing the kind of music his record label wants him to play, when all he would love to do is play the songs he really wants to. This part of my research is always fun–and I get to pick up something new in the process. How I see it, it's a win-win.

How about you? Have you made a goal this year and accomplishing it?

Until next time, I'll be cheering you on…

In the Name of Research

[image error]I don't know about other writers but I LOVE the research process before and during the creation of my manuscripts. It's incredible how much you can learn and it helps build a more credible story. Most of the time I get information overload, but it's very motivating when you're stuck since the information sprouts so many ideas.

Most of my friends know I am a huge K-Drama obsessed fan..er so it's only natural I'd have to write a hot Korean rock star into one of my novels. What is the appeal? Besides being stylish and edgy, I especially love when they rock the dark guyliner and black nail polish look. I find that extremely sexy…Ahem, of course, the more I researched the topic of celebs, the more I discovered that the road to celebrity is so unlike ours—and not necessarily in a good way. The management companies are tough on their talent and their expectations  are so high that it can be overwhelming for the young'uns. I would have to say the managers remind me of those hardcore Olympic coaches that will work the athletes 'til they drop. I could go on and on about their intense work schedule—but I'm more excited about discussing the kind of research that inspires my characters.

You see, I've probably seen a zillion dramas and have become a total fangirl of Song Seung Heon. I knew right away he was the perfect inspiration for my hero. Not only is he easy on the eyes, but he's got that natural sexy edge. He walks with a swagger and can go from dark and moody to polished and sophisticated effortlessly. Can you say Ooh la-la? There's no way you can miss those photos below.

 

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Right, I was distracted for a moment there…anyway…I'm totally in love with this story! Although I can't cram all the juicy research into the book, I'm excited about bringing in some fun and interesting elements—along with my signature flair of combining the Eastern and Western together.

Can you see my enthusiasm? I'm hoping you'll really enjoy this read if it gets picked up.

Drumroll Please…

The winner of this incredible SHIBUYA GIVEAWAY is….

CIA LEAH

*Pops the champagne cork*

YAY! Congratulations!!!!! You're the lucky name drawn at random for this awesome prize pack valued over $500!

A big THANK YOU to my SPONSORS for helping out with this awesome event!

And a big THANK YOU to my readers for purchasing the eBook and supporting such a worthy cause!

But there's more good news….

SHIBUYA MOMENT will be available in PRINT real soon. Please stay tuned for buy links and more goodness…

Also, if you happen to be in Atlanta from September 29 – October 1, please stop by the Decatur Hotel and say HELLO to me. I'll be at the Georgia Romance Writers conference (Moonlight & Magnolias) and hopefully be participating in their charity signing. I'm hoping to sign the hot copies of SHIBUYA MOMENT.

Now I've got to come up with a bigger and more extravagant contest in the future….hopefully by that time I will have some incredible news to share…until then, please come back to learn more about me and my everyday craziness!

Sweet September

"What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose."

—Margaret Thatcher

This is my favorite month for many reasons. First, it's because number 9 is my favorite number…and it's the month of September (09)—and it's also a month in which yours truly was born. BUT, that's not why this month is so sweet.

The sweetest thing about this particular month is that I get to draw the winner of the great big 'ole giveaway on THIS page—AND I get to announce that SHIBUYA MOMENT is now AVAILABLE IN PRINT through Amazon, which offers free supersaver shipping! WOOHOO! Also, you can purchase a copy right from my website—which if you get it from here—I will be able to autograph and include the gorgeous RTCs (Romance Trading Cards) with each purchase. All author proceeds will go to charity. I'm excited to find more ways to contribute. Japan still needs our help!

Summer is now over and winter is be fast approaching. Is it me, or did this year just fly by? I know! I'm really looking forward to many amazing things to come and I hope you'll stick around to see what's in store. Thanks for your support and thanks for allowing me to continue to create stories that I hope you'll love! I wouldn't have gotten this far without my readers, my friends!

Wishing you a magical month! You should all celebrate along with me because there is so much life to embrace!!!!

Stay SEXY!

Paranormal Lovin'

[image error]I know I've been slacking in the blogging department lately, but I hope to get back to a regular routine in the near future.

Wow, can you believe July has come and gone? Are we really almost through August? Looks like we're a little over the halfway mark in 2011 and it's a bit scary. I can honestly say I'm proud I've managed to produce so many words this year. It's a good feeling and I hope the momentum continues.

I've been focusing more on paranormal romances. I recently wrapped up a manuscript that was 2 1/2 years in the making…yes, I'm sure you've heard me speak of Project X, like, forever–but I finally sent it to my agent and now it's the waiting game to see which NY publisher will want to give my baby a home…

In the meantime, I'm writing a contemporary romance set in the fast-paced entertainment world and is about a sexy Korean rock star and a sassy assistant. I can tell you it's going to be hot, hot, HOT! As soon as I wrap that project, I'll finish my paranormal novella about a Guardian Angel with amnesia. It's a little darker than my usual style but still contains the sensual feel I'm known for…By the end of the year, I'm changing gears and working on the young adult contemporary series set in an exotic locale. I'll be using a different pen name for the YA books but this jump will really help me grow as a writer and in the different genres. I'm trying to be as versatile as possible because I hope to build a wider audience that will grow with me.

If all that writing wasn't enough, I'm spending any free time I can manage to meet my goal of learning something new every year. I'm going to squeeze in some time for guitar lessons and hopefully also work on some paintings. I've let my passion for art fall to the wayside and it's time for me to get back into it again. My goal for 2012 is to have an art show, if it's possible. I figured you have to set big goals to make it big!

[image error]On a sad note, we lost an amazing author this year… Leslie Esdaile Banks aka L.A. Banks passed away on August 2nd. It's truly a devastating loss to the writing community…

Whenever I think of Leslie, I can only remember how radiant and lovely she was. At the beginning of my writing career I was introduced to her at a writer's conference. My first impression was that she was such a kind-hearted soul and so full of life. She had immediately embraced me and took me under her wing. On many occasions she provided much needed advice about the publishing world which made me admire her even more. At the time, she had already been a successful multi-published author with her contemporary books but she was just starting to embark in the paranormal genre with her vampire series. We had discussed her fears and worries about the new direction but she was always optimistic and vibrant. I will never forget how beautiful she was whenever she smiled, her laughter was infectious, and whenever we met up at conferences or meetings throughout my career, her warm hugs and genuine support helped me through those rough early writing years…I still can't believe she's gone but in my heart, in my memory, she has impacted my life for the better–both as a mentor and a friend. I'll always carry those lessons she so generously gave to me and I'll never forget her strength and passion for writing…

You are deeply missed…

August Rush

…And I'm not talking about the movie either–Wow, July passed all too quickly and with it fond memories of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) conference in New York City. It was an amazing event which allowed me to mix and mingle with old and new friends. Yes–guilty as charged–I spent the bulk of my trip sightseeing with my buddy CJ Barry / Samantha Graves, which allowed me to capture over a 1,000 images of the Big Apple. I've selected a handful of my favorite photos which I displayed on my Facebook gallery.

This month is an equally busy time for me while I wait to see if my paranormal with find a home at one of the NY publishing houses. While I'm waiting for news, I'm working on a contemporary romance that I hope to turn in by the end of the year. It's been so much fun to write and really pushes me to go more mainstream than my usual lyrical voice. This story is set in the fast-paced entertainment world and is about a sexy Korean rock star and a sassy assistant. I can tell you it's going to hot, hot, HOT!

Now for those of you who haven't entered my SHIBUYA GIVEAWAY, you should! Next month I'll be announcing the winner so you need to spread the word to help me donate to a worthy cause!

I'll try to provide more exciting updates and news when they come. In the meantime, I need to head back into the writing cave so that I'll have new releases for you to pick up!

Until next time…enjoy the sunshine!

RTC and Audio Excerpt

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With the popularity of Romance Trading Cards showing up at conferences, I decided to create my own set of 3 for my eBook SHIBUYA MOMENT. The front side will be the book cover and the back side will have: general blurb, character profile of my heroine Seren, and character profile of my hero Max. I'm so happy with the design and can't wait to have the physical cards in my hands next week. It's going to be a great addition to the products I'm offering in an effort to raise money for my charities. I actually created a page for my RTCs which will expand as I create more trading cards for future books. You can purchase the set if you collect these cards.

Marketing and promotions is one of the most thrilling and difficult jobs when it comes to a release. I'd have to say I put a lot into this story because I love everything about it. I had originally planned to get everything out at once but nothing runs smoothly no matter how much planning you put into it. One of the most exciting things I've kept a secret, I've decided to finally reveal. I have a talented voice over actress and writer friend do an audio excerpt of my eBook for me. It turned out great after a few tries and technical difficulties, but I'm happy with the end result. I hope you love this special excerpt!

The fun's not over…I'll be revealing something else real soon…stay tuned! [image error]

Shibuya Moment – Audio Excerpt

Romance Trading Cards

I'm sure most of you have heard of Collector Cards or Trading Cards…but recently my friend Jeannie Lin came up with the brilliant idea to create Romance Trading Cards for some of the conferences as a way to promote authors. In the past, I've seen NY authors include them at book signing events–however, Jeannie was able to drum up major buzz by pushing this to the mainstream public…er, at least to readers and lovers of romance. She and a few of her friends also formed the Romance Trading Cards website so that collectors can see and order the RTCs from participating authors.

I have wanted to make RTCs for a few years now, but never got around to doing them.  I finally decided this was the right project to practice on. When my shipment arrives, I'll have a handful of these cards available at the Romance Writer's of America Conference in NYC this year–looks like a few lucky attendees will get them for free in the goody room. For those unable to attend, I want to focus on adding to the fundraising effort by making them available on my website. Half of the proceeds from the sale of this 3-piece set will go to charity and the rest will help offset the cost for additional promotions.

If you want to collect my trading cards, feel free to order them below. I've included US & International prices. There's also an option to let me know whether you want these cards autographed.

Oh, if you notice, the book cover is the front of the RTCs for each of the 3 cards. You'll get 1 with the general blurb, 1 character card for the heroine Seren, and 1 character card for the hero Max.

Shibuya Moment RTCs




RTC set of 3 – US Orders $2.50
RTC set of 3 – Int'l Orders $5.00





Want RTCs autographed?

 

 

Don't forget, I'm hosting a giveaway that includes a Japanese goody bag valued over $500.00 and packed full of items that will bring Tokyo to you. I'll put up a photo soon!! Can you tell how much I want to help raise money for charity?

To see a complete list of the prizes, including a KINDLE 3G Wifi & Amazon Gift Card, go HERE.

PURCHASE YOUR COPY NOW!

All Romance EBooks

Amazon Kindle

BN Nook

Smashwords

Read an exclusive EXCERPT NOW!

SHIBUYA MOMENT…

Freelance photographer Seren Takahashi wants to heal her wounded soul after a devastating loss. While embarking on a personal adventure into Tokyo's Shibuya district, she discovers a city rich in culture and vibrant in its exoticness. What she hadn't expected was finding closure and rediscovering the true person hidden inside. When she gives into destiny's pull, her journey awakens a need to live in the moment, embrace her fears, and open her heart to love.

Author's note: All author proceeds from the sale of this story will be donated to the Red Cross and ShelterBox for the relief effort in Japan.