Notes from the wreckage…
On A Personal Note…
Many of you probably heard we had a pretty significant house fire at the end of January. It's hard to conceive of how much something like that can change your life! If I used to take for granted that I had a nice home to live in, that my kids could walk to school and to visit with their friends, and that as long as I worked hard and kept things up very little would change, I am now thoroughly disabused of that notion.
We've been living in a residence hotel for about four weeks now, and have taken a lease on an apartment (small, but it will suit our needs) for about six months while they make repairs to our house. Between asbestos abatement, having to rebuild the garage entirely and de-smokifying the house itself, it's a huge project, as smoke apparently moves through the attic and walls and pours out like water from behind things like outlets, medicine cabinets, light and faucet fixtures, and it saturates everything with this toxic miasma that has to be got rid of before we can move back.
There is a staggering amount of work to be done. Thank heavens I'm not the one to be doing it! Thanks to everyone who expressed their best wishes, and all the kind notes I've received about this. My family is pretty adaptable so far, the kids treat these things like adventures and not crises, but I imagine our enforced captivity into a space half the size of our house might prove to be complicated over the long haul. Wish Us LUCK!
P.S. I'm registered for GayRomLit in Albuquerque! I hope to see you there!
On A writerly Note:
Lots of you noticed that two books are missing from my backlist, Family Unit, and The Long Way Home. The rights to those two books reverted back to me, so I'm re-editing (I have honed my skills since I wrote those, I hope, and I'll be giving them a critical once over) and commissioning new covers for them, and then I'll be re-releasing them sometime this spring. Stay tuned for those! To find blurbs, excerpts, and buy links to all my available books CLICK ON THE BOOK COVERS OR THE TITLES ON MY BOOKS PAGE.
In the meantime I'm working on three different projects (One of which I'm co-writing with the knockout talent of none other than Heidi Cullinan, so that should be something!)
A Picture Perfect Holiday, released by MLR Press in November, and Secret Light from publisher Loose Id in December, are my latest releases. Secret Light is the #3 Top Ebook at Fictionwise today, 3/1/2012, and they've both been getting some great reviews, including a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick, so thanks to everyone who helped in making this book a success.
Among other things, they said:
"Secret Light is, for me, about trying to fit in at a time when certain differences can not only be unhealthy, but deadly. It is also a story of finding your way to happiness, love and friendship.
A truly wonderful read."
I'm also expanding The Artist's Model and giving it a virtual facelift. It will be re-released by MLR press, who is also releasing a single print book containing my two novellas, Stirring Up Trouble and All Stirred Up. Look for something a little bit extra (and fun) there.
As always, thanks to you, my readers and friends. Your letters and comments keep me on my toes and working hard. Thanks for your support!
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Hi dear-- So glad you are registered for GRL. I almost emailed you when i saw that space was going so fast! I'm anxious to hear about your self-publishing adventures and am ecstatic about the great success of Secret Light. : )
Family Unit is my absolute favorite of your books, and The Long Way Home is a close second. Don't change them too much! :)
BLit wrote: "Family Unit is my absolute favorite of your books, and The Long Way Home is a close second. Don't change them too much! :)"Ditto that but in reverse! :)
And ZAM, I'm sorry to hear about the house fire. How scary! Good luck with the repairs.
What they said. JUST finished re-reading Family Unit (I was going to shorten it to just the initials but decided, um, not to) when I transferred a copy to my Nook... Love the older characters - who'd have thought a sexy grandfather could be so hot & sweet?And A Long Way Home was the very first ZAM I ever read, (seems like ages ago) and it stuck in my head as an awesome and compelling story - and I usually don't care for most murder-mystery kinds of stories, especially with serial killers. But I've re-read that one a couple of times, as well.
So unless you're planning to ADD a bunch of stuff that got edited out, like the "new director's cut" kind of thing, don't change them too much!
And that utterly sucks about your house and the hotel, and the asbestos and dealing with the insurance company... and having firemen come to your house and not be Birthday Strippers.
My God darlin', I'm so sorry. It sounds like everyone was okay though, thank God for that. Can't wait to see you again at GayRomLit. xoxo
Debbie wrote: "I registered today for GRL also! It sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun. I loved Secret Light and look forward to reading more of your books :)."
Thanks so much! I look forward to meeting you at GRL! It should be a blast!
Tara wrote: "Hi dear-- So glad you are registered for GRL. I almost emailed you when i saw that space was going so fast! I'm anxious to hear about your self-publishing adventures and am ecstatic about the great..."Thanks Tara! I wasn't going to let grass grow under my feet because I've been looking forward to seeing all my new GRL friends from last year. Of course, lucky me, I get to see you on Saturday!
BLit wrote: "Family Unit is my absolute favorite of your books, and The Long Way Home is a close second. Don't change them too much! :)"Tightening a few things up and fixing an unfortunate typo or two. Thanks~ I'm so glad you liked them.
Librarian wrote: "What they said. JUST finished re-reading Family Unit (I was going to shorten it to just the initials but decided, um, not to) when I transferred a copy to my Nook... Love the older characters - who..."Watching the firemen work has been one of the best parts of this, I just wish it hadn't been my house! Our Placentia Firefighters are awesome men and women who are really, really good at what they do.
I've been meaning to drop you a line, some of the books I was going to send your are being de-smokefied, (because I procrastinated) but I'll send them when I get them back!
J.P. wrote: "My God darlin', I'm so sorry. It sounds like everyone was okay though, thank God for that. Can't wait to see you again at GayRomLit. xoxo"
Thanks, well. There's so much to be grateful for! I definitely count my blessings.
I look forward to seeing you again too! :D Big hugs until then!
I'm glad you're all safe. It doesn't seem fair that something so traumatic would have to be compounded by drudgery and paperwork while you don't get to sleep in your own beds, but this too shall pass.
I loved Secret Light and look forward to reading more of your books :).