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…
