Jax's Artistic Journey...

It's hard to believe that life can be so fragile. One moment you're a vibrant part of this earth and the next you are a memory... I have had a difficult few years and although I should be jaded and bitter, I'm not. Today I found out a dear loved one passed away. So young with so much ahead of him, yet in a fleeting moment it's over. I'm deeply saddened and these events really shape me, makes me re-evaluate things. Makes me want to be a better person. Sure, I should be angry about the unfairness of things but it won't turn back time...only time heal wounds. Life is tough and I know many of my closest friends are going through their own trials and tribulations. I wish I could help, but destiny has a way with working things out. I can only aspire to live my life with purpose, with kindness, with love. It's easy to hate but it's more difficult remain a good person even in the most troublesome of times...

Getting from here...

To here... minus the two glasses I didn't get from Melville Vineyards because they were too cheap to provide them! LOL

More of my great adventure to the vineyards to come...

What Lies in Winter has earned a spot on the top ten bestseller's list for All Romance Ebooks! It has also been awarded the Ecataromance 2006 Reviewer's Choice Nomination and is Joyfully Recommended by Joyfully Reviewed! If you'd like to get a piece of all of that fire and ice, check out the book that The Good, The Bad, and the Unread called "Grade A."

Dolce & Diana's been cooking up a storm ever since its March release. JERR called it "snarky, feisty, fun". Says Romance Reviews Today, "DOLCE & DIANA is a delicious treat!" And last but not least, Dolce & Diana is a Recommended Read by May Review!
One Wicked Winter is currently on sale at Amazon for $10.40 and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping. Don't miss this chance to experience Cassidy Kent for the very first time in print!

Whew! I think that's about it. Next up...

Fortune's Fool: An erotic anthology I'm releasing with several of my friends from Phaze. "Four mistresses of erotic romance present a collection of tales destined to get pulses racing. Sexy psychics offer delectable divination in the past, present, and future…"

I should be conscientious of what I blog about.

There are many folks who have found their way here. I'm sure they want to keep up with my life, what I'm thinking, and whether I've been carted off to the loony bin...

I've been exceedingly busy with work and it's a torturous pleasure. Long hours, heavy workload, lots of learning and great avenue to grow under the wing of a phenomenal boss. These daily perks really keep me jazzed...ahem, chair massage...I've got a busy weekend where I'm going to wine country. Going to see the vineyards, take tons of photographs and enjoying my 3 day holiday. It's nice to have the opportunity and to totally immerse myself in doing nothing! I've been running around like a mad woman these past few weeks and haven't slowed my pace. Unfortunately, the late nights, early mornings, hangovers, hangunders, and whatnots have caught up with me. :) Not that I'm complaining, mind you. It's a great test of the human psyche and emotions. Believe me, there are a lot swirling in my little head...so, what did I do last night?

I met up with my friend K. who is as gorgeous as she is adventurous and intelligent. We hit happy hour at the Enterprise Fish Co. in Santa Monica. Great venue! Had downed some White Zin prior to our meeting right after work with co-workers. By the time I got there I was a happy girl. Had a few more Zins and ordered Ahi Tuna Salad, Seafood Potstickers, Popcorn Shrimp, and crabcakes! It was fantastic and with happy hour prices I could go for that more often! We sat at the bar and chatted away about life, travel, philosophy, friends, girl's weekend and possibly becoming roomies if I would ever move to Santa Monica...well, I'm really considering it. K. just got back from a 4 month excursion in Southeast Asia. Some of the countries she visited were amazing and I'm sure I'll see pics soon. She does things spontaneously and she's such an inspiration...a gutsy broad...to travel without no real plans and taking each trip like an adventure. I'm amazed by her passion to travel and enjoy life so that's why we get along! Watch out world! Two crazy free-spirited women on the loose!

Well, for the past week anyways. I've been dragging my feet when it comes to keeping my butt in my writing chair. It's easy to make excuses, but I know I should take advantage of this time because once I'm up and running I won't be able to enjoy these little moments like blogging. I've got an agenda and a goal for end of year which includes publishing with NY and landing an agent. OK, so I'm a bit twisted with my belated New Year's Resolution....LOL

The mentor program I set up for Romance Divas has been another successful run and I couldn't have done it with this year's organizer LAURA BACCHI! Thanks, dahling!

I have had a great brainstorming session with my dear friend but now it's time to put it to paper. Yes, I know...Just Do It! I should be on a Nike ad. Oh well, I am going to definitely have to find inspiration somewhere....

Yawn, can I do it tomorrow?

Got some new computer widgets and loving it! Got plenty of freelance design work and a new manuscript I'm plugging away. I had a buddy help me flesh out the entire storyline and now have to sit down and write the darn synopsis...I hate doing it. I'm more about the writing..I start a tough schedule next week after I make a checklist of all the things I plan on accomplishing by the end of the year.

My office is set up and my apartment is almost fully furnished. The only thing I'm missing is a few artworks for the wall. However, there's a main wall I'll be painting a HUGE abstact masterpiece...haven't touched a paint brush in months and now I'm itching to do it. I miss the smell of fresh paint, the little stains that makes it onto my skin, seeing the beginnings of something beautiful...I am extremely excited and hope to have pics to show when I'm all done. For now, I need to step back and rest a little.

Maybe I'll do one more week of partying to drown my sorrows but then there will be no excuses and nothing to stop me. I've got no time and I'm going to make sure every second counts.

What are you doing to fill up your days?

Seems like the Universe has different plans for me. The path I've always followed has been re-routed and now I'm on a new great adventure. Got an incredible job at a company that doesn't lack for social interaction and partying..No kidding! Not only is there an abundance of food and perks, it's exactly the sort of environment I envisioned I'd be in. What a change from my slave driving boss of a month ago!!!! If I told you everything this current company offers you'd be jealous! Let's just say we get chair massages every Friday on top of beer and chips night, softball league, pizza and beer, wine and cheese.... Seriously. Okay, so nothing is glamorous when it comes to the actual job but in a year I should be in a more creative role. I've got a new apartment which I totally painted and re-designed in 3 days! My walls are colored Strawberry Dacquiri, Cherry Cobbler and Cottage Rose. Don't let the names fool you. They're all shades of rich, deep red. It's definitely Jax's Bordello as Lisa has lovingly named it! I'll have to take pics soon and of my housewarming party. I've got a busy schedule ahead of me and my Memorial Day weekend will be a nice getaway...starting over is going to be interesting. Lots of me time and lots of personal growth. When you spend most of your life with others, it's going to be strange being accountable just for yourself. Soooo looking forward to the weekend!

Sometimes we do things because it's time and we can't explain why we have a need to do them...sometimes we hurt those we love in the process. Life is about change and understanding for me. It's about evolving and trying to figure out where your life needs to go. I'm a very spontaneous person with a lot of passion and drive. In fact, sometimes I have too much passion which leads to chaos. I do things not without much thought and reflection. I'm in the midst of a personal hurricane and although it will affect my environment, I feel it's the best thing for me even if not everyone understands. There are no motives. There is a desire to find myself as an individual so I don't spend the next fifty years of my life feeling lost.

To love is the greatest gift, but to experience a new awakening of the soul in order to love is more profound. Life is too short to let it slip through your fingers without discovering your own truths.

Please vote for the book cover I designed called Accidental Lover by Eileen Ann Brennan that is nominated! The voting is available from now until MAY 31st at: http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheMonth.htm

You’ll also have a chance to win a download of THE ACCIDENTAL LOVER as well.

Thanks so much for voting!

Well, hopefully you can see the photo of my new hairdo. I woke up yesterday and decided for a change. I went to the nearest hair salon and decided to go goth/rocker chick. Yep. So now I have midnight hair with fire engine red layers below. It's way fun and I've been stopped on the street several times with people asking about my hair and if I was in the entertainment industry. Funny how a little change could cause so much commotion. Lately, I've been restless. Theres's this story I'm working on that is totally taking me to a new place in my life. It's very emotional and it's helping me to explore the side of my writing I didn't know I had the capability of producing. My mother just shakes her head because she's beyond words. She sees my nose piercing and realizes that I'm just being me and she's accepted it. Nope, haven't showed her the tattoo, but I'm sure she'd take it in stride. Almost like the time she asked me if I was a lesbian. You see, mom is so old school but she's also pretty hip...took her over 20 years to realize I'm crazy and she's accepted it. My pops is doing better but there's this sad place in my heart because I can't predict how long he'll be around but I am grateful to spend what little time I have with him. There's a lot roaming in my head and seeing growth all around makes me choke back a tear or two. Life is strange but I'm starting to accept it too.

My sister, her children and I were chatting away at the intersection, waiting for the green light when we get plowed from behind. Needless to say, we spent almost 5 hours in the ER. Walked away with whiplash, but it could have been much worse. I find life comical. I can't seem to ever have normalcy. There's always chaos that follows at my heels. Of course, I'm not going to let that interfere with my writing. The only thing that would deter my creativity is me. It's nearing 1:00AM and I'm not sleepy. Listening to good music (Joni Mitchell) and making the most of my crazy day. Of course, got to spend time with my buds Kristen and Lara Santiago made my evening even though I had popped 5 ibuprofrens.. Yep, pain killed! I found out the universe is a silly trickster. Most people know that I am a cover artist for Liquid Silver Books...well, tonight I discovered that I had designed the cover of Dolce & Diana for Cassidy Kent...fast forward...I just discovered tonight that the man on the cover is my friend JULIAN! How freaky is that? To have this beautiful man adorn my cover and not know it's someone I know!!!! hehe...I couldn't get over that fact. Jeez, you would think we would figure that out. So, as I try to get into the writing mood I have been itching to get another tattoo..yep, it's an addiction. I think if I got another one it's going to be my last! Yes, I can do it.

Now, back to writing....

Kristen, Moi, Bill, and Lara at the Moulin Rouge party

Moi, Tawny and Eden showing our goods

So many great pics to choose from, but I just love these two!

What am I up to? Babysitting pre-teens, babysitting babies, cleaning house and not sleeping. I just got off the plane this morning and haven't slept in 48 hours so now I feel like a walking zombie while I'm here in Orlando. Tomorrow I have a full day planned which will end up in me gorging on all you can eat Crazy Buffet! Don't ask. I'm going to be meeting Kristen, her hotrod, and Lara! It's going to be great fun. Believe me, this isn't a vacation. I've started a new project and I can't seem to stop typing. All I want to do is write write write until I get it all out. Obsessive? Sure, but in the long run, it's going to be by far one of my best pieces... or I believe it is.

Only 8:00PM Orlando time but if I can stay up past midnight it's a record on the number of days I haven't slept..except for the time I had to do serious coding when Romance Divas crashed. Good times....

Once in a while you come across a musician that totally blows you away...in this case BRANDI CARLILE is the new "it" singer in my eyes! My favorite song on her album is "THE STORY" which makes me weep every time I hear it. (Although all her songs are brilliant on this album!) I can say that after RT withdrawal I needed to hear music that would be condusive to my writing. I'm taking a totally different route and channeling in my darker side..trying to tap into that world is very intense, passionate, and emotional. Basically when you're there you are in a vulnerable state and it's a lot like acting in a sense; to be that character. I've been dying to get my hands on my GHOSTHUNTER series for the past year and a half and now that I have finished all of my commitments (almost all) I'm ready to take it to the next level in my writing career. I have so many stories waiting to burst from my head and I really want to tell them...but there's always a love story that is the central part of all this...

THE STORY
Artist: Brandi Carlile
Album: Other Song Lyrics
Title: The Story


All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true...I was made for you

I climbed across the mountain tops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules
But baby I broke them all for you
Because even when I was flat broke
You made me feel like a million bucks
Yeah you do and I was made for you

You see the smile that's on my mouth
Is hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess
No, they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what I've been through but you do
And I was made for you...


Let me know what you're listening to that is supporting you through those long writing days. I'd love to know!

ONE WICKED WINTER is now available!

It's a three novella anthology...

Published By: Amber Quill Press
Release Date: April 2007
Written as: Cassidy Kent

A sexy first date, an unexpected encounter, and a torrid reunion. Three smoldering stories of reckless passion stoke the fires of one very wicked winter…

Dear John

In her last year of high school, Dane Harley, a foster kid with no direction, met John Stratton, a Pittsburgh rich kid with a penchant for trouble. She visits him a decade after disappearing from his life, only to discover he’s moved on. Their subsequent affair speaks of the torrent of passion and love that still binds them.

Santa’s Helper

CEO Noel grants a boy’s Christmas wish by escorting sexy single mother Maura around Manhattan on Christmas Eve. The spark between them is immediate, but the distance between Park Avenue and the Jersey suburbs is immense. Are their worlds too dissimilar to merge or can they bridge the distance with love?

What Lies in Winter

Workaholic Hayley vacations in the mountains and meets author, Nicholas. He might be a solitary beast but Hayley is hell-bent on disrupting his peaceful balance. A blizzard makes them share quarters and their fiery personalities melt the ice caps off the mountains.