Have you met Cassidy Kent?

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
I think you need to visit Cassidy Kent and help support her.

The website is fully launched so if you haven't visited it yet, you should. Don't forget to check out her blog as well as her assistant, Thaddeus' blog.

Her book releases:

SUNSET KEY
Phaze
April 2006

SANTA'S HELPER
Amber Quill Press
June 2006

She's got appearances scheduled but not fully confirmed yet. What are you waiting for, GO....

Not much longer...

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
Have you been to Romance Divas?

Have you checked out the Spotlight On this month with Sha-sha Crichton of Crichton & Associates Literary Agency?

I'll be changing out the info April 1st and will showcase my interview with DEIDRE KNIGHT of the Knight Agency

I've got lots of great folks lined up for the rest of the year..so go check it out... sign up for our Forum too!

Ideas

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
My problem is that I have too many and I don't have nearly enough time to write them all. I've got this killer historical series I'm working on...yes, I'm taking a stab at it...why not? The h/h are bugging me to do it. However, I've got commitments. I have two major projects to finish up and then I can focus on them. I swear my characters have no patience.

Ideas ideas ideas...when will they cease? I hope they never do, but I'd settle for them slowing down just so I can finish my WIP. I guess that's why some writers never finish, they are too anxious to work on the next big idea.

What about you? Got the same problem?

Releases!!!

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
Don't forget to order these amazing novellas when they come out! More information on exact dates coming soon....

CASSIDY KENT RELEASES ::

SUNSET KEY
Release Date: April 2006
Publisher: Phaze

SANTA'S HELPER
Release Date: June 2006
Publisher: Amber Quill Press

Two in a row

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
Last night I received notification that Amanda and I won the Phaze Surge Heatsheet conest. Yes, folks, another publishing contract! Cassidy Kent is on a role! In June, SANTA'S HELPER should be released through Amber Quill Press and then later this year SUNSET KEY will be released through Phaze. We're so estatic, but now we have so much pressure to produce!

I can't wait to see the final product. Thanks for everyone's support!

Lucky Me

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
I woke up two days ago with a crick in my neck. Turns out, it is now a full blown lump. Spider bite? Swollen glands? Tumor? Who knows. I called my doctor and he is fitting me in tomorrow. Is it me, or am I just lucky?

I'm just falling apart.

I've got less than a week and a half left to go and I'm already asking for time off. I should be employee of the year.

I think I'll go sulk. At least I get to pick up hubby at the airport. Haven't seen him for almost two weeks! Yay! No more sleeping alone.

Weird weather

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
California is suppose to be sunny.

This year it feels like the cold season isn't going to leave us. I love sweaters, turtlenecks, and boots like most women..but this is getting ridiculous. Throw in some rain and I feel like I'm in Seattle. LOL I'm tired of bundling up but the freak that I am, I tend to choose my flip flops over my tennis shoes. Poor little toes get frost bitten, but hey, that's the sacrifice they make for being a part of my body.

Anywoo, as I count down the days until I am away from corporate I notice the pattern in my new department..they keep handing me more work and expect me to do everything before I leave. Well, tough. I'm going to do what I can but I'm not going to kill myself over it. Thank you very much. Besides, I need to dump my desk. Trust me, you don't know what a pack rat like myself can harbor... yuck! The horror.

Okay, not much to say. I haven't written in almost two weeks, but I will real soon. I have to or my co-writer will beat me into submission. I did query some agents, does that count?

Stickin' it to the Man...

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
I did a bad bad thing... on Friday I was fed up and put in my two weeks notice. Okay, I know I got a double promotion and I should have been thrilled, but do you really think an artist like myself could handle a five year commitment to get into Commercial Real Estate and love it. NOT -- I would rather jump off the roof of the building than to be subjected to a company that works you to death, don't deliver on their promises, and pretty much give me no reason to love it. Granted I had a chance to travel, a spiffy title and lots of PR with political heads..but I'm not cut out for that stuff. I'm a mess, a reject from the Grunge era and I have no desire to be bossed around. Maybe I just need to be my own boss, that would be swell. Anyways, my superiors weren't very thrilled with my decision but they didn't try giving me a raise either..so Adios! I'm happy about finding other prospects. One of these days I'll land my dream job, until then.. I'll keep on chugging along.

Onto other news. Lisa, her beau and his friend, and I went to the King's versus St. Louis hockey game and let me tell you -- it was Freakin' AWESOME. The third quarter was the most intense game I've ever witnessed in hockey. If you've never gone, you should. It's nice to sit a row back from the glass walls because you see, hear, and feel the action. Jeez, it was beautiful and I even witnessed a FIGHT. Yes, my beloved Kings won 3 to 1! About darn time! I was losing hope as they have been on a losing streak. I can say it was the highlight of my weekend.

Tomorrow marks a new week and I'm counting down the days when I can clear off my desk (chuck everything in the recycle bin) and say "have a nice life"..

Crap, I'm unemployed.

Anyone wanna give me a job. LOL

Ooh, I love picture day -- NOT

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
Corporate took photos of all their employees today. Of course, I jumped in and had like 20 shots. LOL Hope my hair isn't sticking up or I look cross-eyed. Although I did guzzle my latte so I probably have the caffeinated high look or restrained energy about to bubble over. Could be worse, I could be cross-eyed. It kinda freaked me out as the last time I had picture day it was for Senior Year and I looked like a Glamour Shot victim. Big hair, caked on makeup...well, enough about that nightmare.

Ummm, tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, ahem, and as I am Irish (I AM!)... I'm going to drag Lisa, Amanda, Paul and possibly Jesse for a night of Irish drinking. It's going to be fun and cheap. None of that premium drinks that I get for me. It's Guinness & Killian's all the way, baby! I'll even wear green...or would that make me look like a leprecaun? Gotta re-think the wardrobe. :)

Here's a place for Irish Pub songs to get us going until after hours Friday!

SLAINTE!

Something to think about....

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

-- George Carlin

LA Blues

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
It's been cold. I'm talking bone chilling cold. The kind of cold that still requires wearing two shirts underneath a turtleneck with a long coat. If I had my gloves, I would have put them on as well because my hands look as scaley as the gator in Kristen's neighborhood.

On the home front....I've got this space heater that I sit in front of, wrapped in my thermal blanket while I watch television. Jeez, I can't believe I've watched more shows in a week than I have in years. Soon I notice a pattern of neglect. I've hardly touched the computer except to get that entry in last week to Phaze. Granted I've been sick, so I can happily blame that... LOL

Bad habits...Oh, and I've been raiding the fridge and consuming for the sake of consuming. Apparently, I've become a lazy, comotosed pig. Thank goodness hubby is away until Wednesday of next week. Now I have time to be grungy and still be able to clean up before making it to the airport.

Guilt...Okay, I better shape up. Instead of watching American Idol tonight, I think I'll work on websites. I need to get book reviews up and a few other loose ends. Gosh, I dread the work. Which reminds me that I have a desk full of work to clear off. Where's the trash can? I'll just dump it in there. Hummmm... I wonder if my boss would be upset. :P I bet they're re-thinking the promotion they gave me. All I can say is GIVE ME A FREAKIN' RAISE WITH IT! More work, less pay. Wow, I love the fringe benefits. NOT -- Corporate. Need I say more?

Life's journey

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
This year has started out as a strange one for me. Over the past week I've learned a lot about myself and all I can say is that I'm happy with where I am today. I use to feel that all my hard work and perserverance would never pay off and at times I've wanted to give up. But as I trudge through the dark tunnel, there is a dim light ahead that urges me forward. I've been sick most of this year and it's been an obstacle for me. However, I'm feeling better, and I've made a pact with myself from this day forward I'm going to allow myself a small unit of time just for me. I've never done that before in my quest to fulfill my career goals and in the process I have neglected things that are important in my life.

Cause and effect.

To rectify those things that I've neglected I've stepped back and evaluated what I could do to improve. I'm learning that patience is good. Communication is better. Love is what is the driving force and without it, I might as well stay in the dark tunnel.

I can't say that I don't make mistakes, we all do. I'm quick to admit it. I'm more apt to learn and grow from it and I'm in a much better state of mind. I feel good about the rest of this year and I'm thankful for every day I am blessed to have good friends and family to share my days with.

Bittersweet Symphony

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah,

No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no

Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change
I can't change

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
Try to find some money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the things meet yeah

You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no

I can't change my mold
no, no, no, no, no,
I can't change
Can't change my body,
no, no, no

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you've ever been down?

Coming Soon...

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
Upcoming Events

Here are some of the events scheduled for the next few weeks at Romance Divas. As always, all events are free to registered members. And of course, registration is free too!

Agent Chat: Vivian Beck, Vivian Beck Agency, March 27th at 9pm
Editor Q&A: Dave King, editor and author - Self-Editing For Fiction Writers, April 3rd to April 9th (in forum)
Agent Chat: Jenny Bent, Trident Media, April 6th at 7pm

Don't you think it's time you became a Diva?

Rain, Rain...

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
I guess I could be singing "It's Raining Men" but then I'd have to don on 8" stilettos, something sequins and flashy, a fat blonde wig and have a makeup job worthy of RuPaul...but I've actually been humming "Singin' In the Rain" because the darn rain just won't let up!

Last week my MP3 player came in and I love it! It's so lightweight and fits in my pocket, so my obsession wth James Blunt is carried over onto my little doo-hickie. Now I can block out those crazees on the subway--hopefully without missing my stop.

Anywoo, I've been comparing notes on my writing progress since my first novel and it amazes me how far I've come and how much further I'll go. I've read tons of "How to" books on writing and haven't found one that keeps my attention since I'm so ADD. Serious! Of course, I've like a few books like Stephen King's ON WRITING, and Christopher Vogler's A WRITER'S JOURNEY...even got the WRITING ROMANCE FOR DUMMIES.. but these days I'm just plum tuckered. I am waiting on some books Briana professes to...still waiting. LOL Maybe they'll pique my interest!

Yes, I'm a panster, but at least I am a well-thought-out one and possess a developed mental story board in my head. I see things like moving images and every book is a movie so I guess I write like it. Lately, I'm getting better at descriptives and the characters are very vivid. Scares me sometimes that they feel like they can walk out of the pages and function.

It's a nice feeling to have a writing partner that clicks. I'm thankful I found someone who I am more than confident about her abilities and one who is fine with sharing. We work really well. We sit next to each other in my office and we practically finish each other's sentences. It's as if we share the same mind. Creepy, but the writing doesn't reflect two voices--just one. It's bizarre. I love it because we are producing so fast that it is even more frightening.

So our story SANTA'S HELPER will be published by Amber Quill Press in June 2006. Keep an eye out for it. We have 2 other stories in this trilogy. I will keep you posted.

Weekend Fun

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
Lisa dragged me and Amanda out on Saturday for a day of fun. We started off with a fantastic lunch/dinner at this cool restaurant called the Yard House in Pasadena where we stuffed our faces. Then we proceeded to go for the Royal Pedicure treatment at my favourite place--Happy Nails...let me tell you, if you've never pampered yourself and gotten a manicure/pedicure..you ought to because it's heaven. Next go around I'm going to a full day spa!

Afterwards I went a little crazy on the shopping...I need a 12-step program. I really do! Well, I purchased one too many fun tees, stuff I don't need. But, the highlight of my night was getting a brand new Fossil watch. I'm pretty rough on mine and recently broke the little thingie that turns the time. I don't know how I did it but I did! But I'm really happy with my androgynous watch! It's fully silver with a square face and it's got a neat little wave design in the center where the hand is and even has the date! I'll have to show you another time. LOL

Okay, so the rest of the weekend I spent writing, and finishing up a client website! Very elegant, I might add! But let me tell you what a real geek I am. Somehow as I was channel surfing I came across ABC Family and they were doing a marathon of this new show called Beautiful People. Although I don't normally watch TV, except for American Idol.. I would have to say I love this show! It's juvenile of me, but it's a mix between 90210 and the OC. It's pretty decent writing and it sucks you right in. I hate to admit it, but I'm going to have to start watching it. Please forgive me, all you intellectual types.

Hey, don't cast stones until you watch an episode. Okay, on that note so I don't make myself even more of a fool..I'm running off to bed. Early for once in my life.

Yawn....maybe....

Breaking News!

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
This just in:

Out Of The Ashes (Kristen's second book, a contemporary paranormal) is a finalist in the Linda Howard Award of Excellence!

More news

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
My dear friend Eden Bradley has signed on with Bantam Dell after several days wrapped up in a bidding war! Congrats!

Kristen Painter has been asked to submit a full of her manuscript Out of the Ashes to a major publisher!

My fellow Divas also won the Amber Quill Heat Wave Contest!

Congrats to:

Cassandra Curtis
Selah March
Pepper Espinoza

Second chances were given to:

Cora Zane
Kim Rees

OMG - We're published!

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
As Cassidy Kent, my co-author, Amanda Kelly, and I just received confirmation that we are one of 11 authors (out of 200+ entries) who won this year's Amber Quill Heat Wave contest!

This is the happiest day of my freakin' year! I had been down in the dumps, but now I realize that this is what I should be doing and I am glad I pushed on.. otherwise, I wouldn't receive such glorious news!

I'm too tired to sleep.. so I will go celebrate.

Thanks for everyone's support!