Jax's Artistic Journey...

I've been secretly tinkering with my WEBSITE during breaks in writing and graphics work. I finally spent an hour or two yesterday to finish up my re-design. Of course, I'm really old school and use actual design before importing and tinkering on dreamweaver. I really should be upgrading to Wordpress but I've been too busy to really dissect the software. I know how to change images on a pre-created template but it's a matter of learning all the CSS and language to give the look a polish finish. It's about making everything more seamless and easy to upload on the run. For now, I do all the uploads on all the changes from my home office. I'm one of those computer girls who learned everything through reading about things and then trying them out. I don't have formal training so I'm a bit slow. I'm an artist, not a code developer so I get lost at times. One of my goals is to get more savvy with Wordpress in 2010. I want to be able to get all my websites up to par and it would most likely be less time consuming than the work I do now. This can only be good for my new clients as they'll be able to get better rates...the bonus is that they'd be maintaining their own sites unless they choose to have me do it...which I'm fine with that too.

I know, it's all about change and going with it. There's a lot of things I am quite innovative about but web design is something I haven't really chosen to move forward on. I guess in my mind I enjoy the old school techniques but if I can produce more and faster and provide a slick design...I should really start learning it. A brain can only hold so much at a time but if worse comes to worse, I'm paying someone to give me a quick tutorial. At least I wouldn't have to be digging around and can save all that research time for my books!

Anywoo, I'm usually over at Hooked on Romance on Mondays but since I'll be with my family most of September, I'll have awesome guest bloggers in my place. You really should go visit them. I know most are giving away books so don't miss out on freebies!

Oh...There's going to be awesome September 1st releases!

My dear friend Kristen Painter has her first novel ALL FIRED UP released through Samhain Publishing. It's a wonderful book and I had the pleasure of reading it many eons ago in it's original form. I loved it then, and I still love it now.

BLURB:

Desire can heal the coldest heart—or burn it to ashes.

Alrik Gunn knows from bitter experience that change isn’t always for the better. From the woman who annihilated his Viking clan to the goddess who tricked him into centuries of slavery, betrayal has dogged his existence. The Goddess of Love is going to let him avenge his family, but for a price. As a Phoenix—a merchant of change—he must grant a human woman three chances to change her life.

When former Irish dancer Calleigh McCarthy tosses a carved-bird statue that belonged to her ex into a roaring bonfire, she unwittingly summons an honest-to-god Phoenix. A sexy, irresistible Viking who offers her an unbelievable bonus—three get-out-of-her-crappy-life-free cards. She’ll take it, even if it means guarding her cautious heart against the dark pain behind Alrik’s eyes.

Alrik has vowed never to let love sway him again, but Calleigh’s innocence and kindness throw him off balance. Yet even as his need for revenge fades and his love for her grows, he is bound to let her make her choices without interfering.

One wrongly chosen word, and any chance for happiness—for either of them—will go up in flames.

Then there's my friend Louisa Edwards whose debut book CAN'T STAND THE HEAT is already garnering great reviews. This is one of the juiciest books you'll ever read! I totally love anything to do with food and a studly younger version of Gordon Ramsey only makes it yummier...I got a freshly printed copy in my hands a week early. I guess Walmart was so excited they put it on the shelves...my gain. :)

BLURB:

For sharp-tongued food critic Miranda Wake, the chance to spend a month in Adam Temple’s kitchen to write an exposé is a journalistic dream come true. Surely Miranda can find a way to cut the hotshot chef down to size once she learns what really goes on at his trendy Manhattan restaurant. But she never expected Adam to find out her most embarrassing secret: she has no idea how to cook.

Adam’s not about to have his reputation burned by a critic who doesn’t even know the difference between poaching and paring. He’ll just have to give the tempting redhead a few private lessons of his own—teaching her what it means to cook with passion…and doing more with his hands than simply preparing sumptuous food.


Let me know what you think of my website re-design. :) Inquiring minds wanna know.

Promotion is a big part of an author's life. How will anyone know your name or your work when they've never heard of you?

Face time at book signings is a great way to connect with readers but that's just a small portion of marketing and promotions for an author. Live events are all about forging friendships and building relationships, often it's a way to help readers put a face to a name...and it's a way to meet others in the publishing industry.

I'm lucky I got involved with the World Wide Web right at the beginning of the online boom. Those days, I had assumed we'd have hover crafts in the year 2010...funny huh? Of course, I'm still learning and always trying to find new ways to network. Even when you've published, there's only a small percentage of promotions your publisher will do and the rest is all up to YOU. It's dizzying to see all the many promotional opportunities available to us these days. I remember when MySpace was the 'it' thing to register for. Now it's Facebook and Twitter. All these accounts require a lot of time and patience, even then, it is always a work in progress.

Recently I became more aware of GoodReads and as a very OCD type personality, I hate not figuring out things. I'm pretty tech savvy but as much as I like them...I'm finding out it's not as user friendly as it should be for authors. It's not only frustrating to spend hours making everything perfect, but also tiresome. I finally decided to step away for a breather. For one, when you register there's no option to choose the type of account you want: reader or author. Then, there's the problem of having multiple pseudonyms...you're not given an option to add in those books to your list. Couldn't they make an easy bridge to link your names and details? Maybe I'm just not getting it. LOL

Trust me, I'm grateful for all those intelligent and dedicated developers for creating all these social networks. It's given us a way to communicate and socialize with those from all walks of life. But with all that's available...what are your views on these options?

Seriously, do you read blogs? How do you know which ones to come back to? Or are you a skimmer like I am sometimes. Between writing, freelance work, and life...I find it difficult to read my friend's blogs every day. I kind of feel guilty about it but I do make an effort when I can, even if I don't always comment. That leads me to wonder what would help me acquire more followers? Is it the draw of a contest? Is it excerpts, guest bloggers, or just the fact that the person is entertaining? I want to know because I want to reach out to the masses. Especially when I'm writing different genres and hoping to gather different readerships that may like one type of genre over the other. Sure, I write erotic contemporaries right now...but I have paranormal, young adult, and women's fiction projects in the works. Do readers find it difficult to read a multi-genre author? What about the various social networks...for instance, which do you like and what seems to work for you? What other ways do you promote? What are your pet peeves? And what do you, as readers, like to see from authors?

Gosh, I'm inquisitive today...but in this day and age of technology, I think it's important to hear what others have to say. It's all a continual learning process and I'm eager to be accessible to my readers because, without them, there would not be a me for others to discover.

Well, speaking of networking. My friend Marcia Colette is guest blogging at Hooked On Romance and she's talking about her latest paranormal release: STRIPPED. And if you pop by, you'll get a chance to win her ebook.

Well, I'm getting back to writing...otherwise there won't be any future releases for my readers to put on their list!

Seems impossible to miss the craziness of life but when everything falls apart, one by one, like puzzles on the floor--I'm able to pick up the pieces and put them back together.

I've been stumbling through each day and I didn't think I'd have the desire to put my heart into my stories again. Somehow I felt like my heart was missing. Not in the love department, but in the one that requires me to figure out if writing is what I really want to do for the rest of my life. I kind of had to feel my way through all the things I love most like a blind woman searching for answers. I've had a lot more downs than ups but yesterday I 'snapped' out of it. I've pretty much isolated myself while I worked through all these things rolling around in my head and what I see is a bright one if I could just survive this. I know I can because the sun still shines even when I'm sitting in a darkened room watching my cursor pulse on the screen.

My characters are talking to me again and they're demanding I write this thing. Funny how much I missed those voices, those images...well, if not for their liveliness, I wouldn't have a story to tell. Maybe I closed myself off because I believed that if I didn't have to deal with them I could focus on those 'responsibilities' but it's like shutting out the part of you that makes you feel alive. I guess the lesson I learned is that you can focus on both as long as you can compartmentalize--juggle all those things that matter most. I'm feeling good and I am proud I took charge of my own head for a change. 15 pages isn't a bad start and I'm hoping by Monday I'll have my proposal in good shape to send to my critiquers. I'm nervous, because when you've got National Best Sellers asking and wanting to see what you've got...it's daunting, exhilarating, amazing. I guess if I can impress them, I might just be on the right track. Yeah, I need that kick in the pants.

No, not divulging my story yet...because when I do, I'm going to show you all the bells and whistles. I've got something up my sleeve. Now to figure out what I'm going to call the series...that's rough.

Okay, hump day is now work day and I've got at least 15 pages to produce.

Woot--I'm back in the game!

Seems like another lifetime where creativity and inspiration just sprung from the ground with every step I took. These days it's as if the focus has shifted and I can't seem to grasp one solid sentence that makes sense. I've turned my attentions to cooking, art, music, and fashion...but deep in the back of my subconscious, there's a voice nagging at me to get anything written. No—it's not writer's block. I've said it often enough I don't believe in it...I think it's a matter of hitting a brick wall and figuring out the best way get plow through it, or jump over the hurdle.

For me, I've got a lot going on inside my head and it seems like it's getting more crowded by the day. Can't seem to shut off the feeling that someone snuffed out this candle of wonderment and enthusiasm. Okay, it's really not that drastic. I'm just trying to figure out who I want to be as a writer. I'm still shaping my career and I believe it's the self-doubt that's killing my writer's buzz. Sounds stupid, but it's one of those things that I need to figure out soon! I mean—I've found my 'voice' as a writer...I just need to convey it in two different languages...one for the mass market and one for me on a personal level. Maybe this new project is tapping into a deeper, darker side that I'm not too sure of. Maybe it's not tapping into the right place at all and it's causing confusion. So instead of feeling sorry for myself, I've stepped back for a few days and let all these ideas simmer. It's harder to prepare a plan of action when I'm the type of person who likes to do three things at once. I know, lack of focus has been my personal weakness for a long time...at least I can admit it.

Okay, so I figured I'll be gone for most of September and wifi will be spotty where I'm going. That's probably why I haven't been too hard on myself about the writing schedule. I know that during my absence I'll have a heck of a lot of writing time. If I can't come out of this with at least 2 proposals and a novella, I'm just in bad shape. As a motivation...and reward, I'll have to do something extraordinarily special—well, at least Mr. Right is going to do something amazing for my birthday when I return from my trip. I think that maybe I will come out of the blahs in time to prove to the publishing industry that it's "game on"!

PART DEUX: So I went to the MOMA in Fort Worth and had an awesome time! Of course, the collection was a lot smaller than I thought it would be, but the architecture totally made up for it. It's breathtakingly beautiful and you could tell the Japanese architect TADAO ANDO poured a lot of love into the structure. I could gush about how amazing the place was. If it were a mansion, I'd gladly move in!

Okay, so I'm not really supposed to be photographing the exhibit, but you know me--I'm a rebel that way. I couldn't help it. Really! I don't know when I'll get a chance to go to this museum again so I made darn sure I would get this documented. Thankfully my accomplice became pretty skilled at the art of sneaky photography by the end of the day!

So come with me as I make my way around the museum....

One of the first pieces I came upon was this beautiful sculpture called BOOK WITH WINGS by Anselm Kiefer (Germany). Okay, who doesn't want to feel like an angel once in a while. I have to say, it's too bad we couldn't use the flash on our camera but I'm pleasantly pleased with sprouting wings :)



You have to admit how amazing this looks! Look at the scale of the piece ASCHENBLUME, also by Anselm Kiefer. It's magnificent with the intricate details and layering. Boy, I love layering techniques because that's what I do best when I paint.



I've always been wild about Jackson Pollack, so it was a treat to see several wonderful pieces from him. I was blown away. Crack ART! I'm going to own one of his paintings one day! Because if I hadn't discovered him at a young age, I would have never started painting in the first place! Yes, by this time I was itching to pull out brushes and a canvas and start painting in the space. But fortunately for me, my sanity came flooding back when we got reprimanded for taking pictures.










This was a totally cool ladder that reminded me of ALICE IN WONDERLAND for some reason. I adored it. I'm sure it took the artist forever to reach the end. Since I was kinda worried about getting caught taking photos, I missed the plaque. My apologies to the artist that I couldn't give proper credit.

I have to admit, modern art isn't just about paintings, photography, and sculptures. It's also about artistic expressions...mainly stuff I couldn't begin to decipher.

There was a special exhibit going on where the artist used animation techniques and large collages. This particular exhibit held screens in a darkened room, projecting a short movie and in one room it focused on a dancing nose! I was not digging it. I know, different strokes for different folks...but I DON'T GET IT! I'm pretty open minded...but maybe I don't understand all this modern art. I love the classics. I love being able to stare at some incredibly created art pieces for hours on end...but sitting on a bench watching dancing noses and strange imagery isn't my cup of tea. Explain this one to me, art connoisseurs! Pretty please.

By this time I was looking for the EXIT.

This piece by Robert Rauschenberg is called WHISTLE STOP. I noticed some of the patrons giving me dirty looks but c'mon, you'd have done this too. It was so much fun to be part of the artwork!





An art exhibit isn't just the same without seeing an Andy! I'm going to have to try this technique someday. I've decided that it would be a fun project. What a happy, vibrant feel to this piece! The painting just popped, hence the magic of Pop Art.
















Okay, I could go on and on but I'm just going to leave you with this very thoughtful sculpture (sorry, didn't get the artist's name on this piece either).

I'm glad I had the opportunity to see all the art and it's so revitalizing. It's like going to conference and jazzing you up to write. I can't put a finger on the feeling but I left with an amazing high and a determination to build my own art--yes, it's time to crack the whip on my writing and I think that the visual inspiration will most definitely rev me up.

Mr. Right surprised me today. He's got Mondays and Tuesdays off so he's taking me to the Museum of Modern Art in Fort Worth. I'm so excited! I haven't been to the museum in a while and he thought it would spark my imagination and give me some much needed motivation. I suppose I could be stuck at the computer all day but this is a way better alternative, that's for sure....


Isn't this place lovely? It looks like a piece of art!


I'll be out and about but can't wait to tell you about this fun excursion. In the meantime, it's only Tuesday so you better WRITE!

Mr. Right took me on a day date and we watched this amazing movie. I knew I'd love it but I never knew how much it hit home. I related being in my 30s and feeling as if I didn't know what direction I should go in life. I've always found comfort in food and writing. I'm one of those people who likes to experiment in the kitchen and I tend to throw ingredients together to create something uniquely me. Something I'd want to eat and often the risks were rewarded with yummy Jax cuisine. Thankfully. :) In my head, cooking is like art. It's full of colors and textures and depending on how you work with the items and techniques, they can draw different emotions out of you.

Back to the movie...Julie & Julia is a good example that inspiration can come in different forms. For Julie Powell, her motivation came from a desire to finally complete something in her life--by cooking her way through Julia Child's cookbook--she was able to prove to herself that she could accomplish something.

**If Meryl Streep doesn't get an Oscar nod, I would be really surprised**

As writers, we are constantly talking to our characters. They are, in essence, a living, breathing person in our eyes. In Julie's case, Julia was her mentor, her guide, her support as she cooked meal after meal. Of course there are trials and tribulations, annoyance and discouragement...but she didn't give up. She learned from her mistakes and she learned what she was capable of. I think that blogging was a big motivator and factor. By making herself accountable, she was forced to continue on. For me, it would be meeting my page count goals or I else I would be extremely disappointed in my inability to perform...


When I wrote my first book, I didn't think I could ever finish a novel. I felt so many emotions and often I doubted myself. It's easy to give up, but it takes a brave person to keep going to the end. If I hadn't finished that first manuscript--I would not be where I am today. I would not use all those lessons to improve upon in the future. I would not have a reason to continue if I had not tried regardless of those who didn't have faith in my efforts.

I was speaking to a friend of mine who mentioned that they needed validation. Yes, it's great to have friends as a support system but sometimes we need to get confirmation from outside to make us feel accomplished. What I discovered the past 4 1/2 years is that it really doesn't matter what others think of you. It's really what you think of yourself. It really comes down to one important thing...YOU. I have spent so much of my life trying to please others. Trying to take all the advice and yet at the end of the day, the decision is ultimately mine. If I believe that I am a good writer...really believe...others will too. Writing takes talent and hard work. You can have talent and if you don't have the work ethic, then it's not going to help you. You don't have to have talent, but if you have the patience and tenacity, you will be accomplished. I think that often those who are the most talented take the little things for granted. I've seen it firsthand.

It's when you get kicked down that it becomes a true test of who you are. Nothing easy to achieve is as meaningful as those things that are fought for.

Without the hardships, I would never have learned how strong of an individual that I truly am.

Mr. Right spent about 4 hours hanging out with my 4 older brothers at the BBQ dinner outdoors. I basically abandoned him to hang out with the women inside to help handle all the 10+ kids ranging from 2-18 years old. It was exhausting and made me relieved I didn't have kids of my own to deal with. Gotta love their energy--but, man, they wiped my butt out! I must have gained so much weight with all the food feasts but now it's back to the grind and work obligations. Yes, I was terribly proud of Mr. Right for getting along with everyone and catching a glimpse of my insane family!

Today Mr. Right has a day off so he's finally taking me on a partial day date. We're going to see Julie & Julia and spend some quality time together. Then I'm going to take a few hours in the evening to work so I am not totally swamped this weekend. Wow, life does pass quickly when you're busy!

Okay, I've got to get ready and I'll report back on what I thought of the movie. SQUEE--so excited!

It's one of those spur of the moment family reunions. My siblings attend an annual Catholic retreat in St. Louis, Missouri every year and this year they decided to make it a family road trip. For the last three days I've been spending it with my siblings and their children. We've had a feast at various brother's homes and yesterday I brought Mr. Right. It's the first time they've ever met him so I made him extremely nervous about the customs and proper etiquette. He was all nerves by the time he made it through the door at my second oldest brother's home. There was at least 25 people which included adults and children in one place. My sister-in-law made a traditional hot pot of duck stew with Asian veggies. It was scrumptious! I haven't had authentic home cooking in a while. Tonight my oldest brother invited us all to his home for a steak and BBQ dinner as a way to include Mr. Right into our mix. It's such a sweet gesture because I think they really like him. I feel a sense of relief, after all, he's the only Caucasian in the mix and it's just funny to see him try to interact with a traditional family. It's reminds me of those big Italian families...we have enough people to make up a clan! I hope we'll survive the chaotic evening. Mr. Right may be a little overwhelmed with the amount of family I have, but that's not everyone, I'm afraid :) He's taking it better than I've expected and he has no clue of what he's getting himself into!

It's Excerpt Monday again and feel free to learn more about it HERE! This idea was created by two members of Romance Divas, Bria Quinlan and Mel Berthier. "Excerpt Mondays" is the chance to showcase an author's work by making it available for readers. There are authors of all different genres and heat level ratings from G to NC-17. Be sure to check out the guidelines and calendar for future dates!

I am providing the excerpt of my current release to get new readers a chance to sample a snippet of RALEIGH IN RIO, the second novella in the SUNSWEPT anthology. Hope you enjoy it!

SUNSWEPT by Cassidy Kent
Release Date: June 2009
Publisher: Phaze Publishing
http://www.Phaze.com
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: R

SUNSET KEY…

Freesia Daniels, personnel specialist and consummate planner, wasn't prepared to get the boot from her company for possessing a heart. When she decides to return home from Boston to the sunny beaches of Key West to lick her wounds, she discovers her heartbroken past has finally caught up with her in the form of Zachary Gray, her childhood sweetheart. He lures her to his island getaway and lands them smack in the middle of a raging hurricane. Lightning doesn't often strike twice, but this storm might give them both a second chance at love.

RALEIGH IN RIO…

Raleigh Campbell just learned that her five year marriage was a sham. To cheer her up, her friends take her to Rio during Carnivale to celebrate her 30th birthday and pending divorce. Little does she know, she’s not the only one her soon-to-be ex has cheated on.

Private investigator Cristo Santiago has been assigned to watch Raleigh's every move, in search of twelve million dollars of embezzled corporate money, and that's landed him in the hot waters of obsession. His love for Raleigh is sealed under the starry Rio sky, but can he find the missing money without losing her trust?

DOLCE & DIANA…

Diana Radford’s divorce settlement includes three million dollars and an island resort off the coast of Grenada. Although not classically educated in the culinary arts, she possesses a rare natural ability to create brilliant Italian/Caribbean fusion dishes. When she is selected by the reality cooking show, Fighting Chance, she can’t turn away the opportunity. Win or lose, this is much needed press for her restaurant, “Dolce”.

Culinary celebrity and reality show host, Chance Kohler possesses arrogance to rival his talent. After helming several 5-star restaurants in the States, he is disappointed to discover his opponent is an ex-waitress with no formal culinary training. From the moment they meet, this fashionista whets his appetite and leaves him craving for second helpings. If he loses, his career is on the line and he must survive the fierce but tasty competition…while the whole world watches.

EXCERPT of RALEIGH IN RIO...

There were two types of people Cristo could read like an open book.

One, a liar.

He spun her around and pulled her back into his arms.

Two, a woman oblivious to her own seductive power.

He brushed his knuckles across her cheek, caressing her soft skin as he memorized her face beneath the dim glow of the moon. Perfection.

Raleigh needn’t work too hard to seduce him anyway. All she needed to do was look at him and he could see the longing in her eyes. Could feel her need to be touched and be held, to fill the loneliness that she hid from the world. A flash of memories seized him. Images of her balled up on the floor in tears while he watched on helplessly through a damn monitor. He hated those days, hated not being able to console her, reach for her or wipe the tears away.

He felt the same way, too.

Cristo expelled a ragged breath as a familiar scent filled the air. Brunfelsia grandiflora, known as Kiss-me-quick. An ironic chuckle escaped his lips over the appropriate name of the purple and white plants. Even if he were to get what he wanted, it would have to be brief.

Sadness washed through him. How long must he push his wants and needs aside until he had nothing left to offer any woman? Hell, he had spent so many years devoting his life to his work that he hid from relationships when his lovers demanded more. Instead of a warm body lying next to him at night, he clung to cold case files, buried in the lives of others who sought to hurt and destroy one another. With his ability to uncover the truth, he had finally discovered what he had been missing through uncovering Raleigh.

As the sensual love song floated to a leisurely halt, Cristo grazed his lips across her brow. He had to end the night before he compromised his mission, or worse, allowed her further into his heart. His stomach knotted when she smiled up, licking her lips in anticipation of another kiss.

That settled it. Time for him to walk the guileless seductress to her hotel room, kiss her chastely on the cheek and finish his evening in his boxers, curled up next to a case of Brahma and the remote control. The thought of spending another night alone definitely didn’t appeal to him as much as seizing a few extra minutes in the company of his midnight fantasy.

Dinner had been polished off eons ago and he couldn’t recall a time when he had a more refreshing conversation with a woman. The more he learned about Raleigh, the more he wanted his fill of her, to learn a lifetime of details about her in the span of a night. He had to take something of her with him for those long, chilly nights. Yes, he wanted to know if her reality truly compared to the profile he had memorized from her files.

Cristo tightened his hold on Raleigh. His only regret was finding the woman of his dreams now, under these circumstances. He wished they had come together during any of the dozens of times in his life when he could have committed to someone and hadn’t.

How would Raleigh react when she found out the truth about him? Would she give him a chance to show her another life outside of the prison of her failed marriage? Or would she walk away more wounded and broken than when she started? Could he risk it all and gamble on one night?

Like two teenagers at a forbidden prom, they continued dancing skin-to-skin and a sudden wave of warmth spread through him as Raleigh threw her arms around his neck.
Not wanting the night to end, he grasped for any reason to be with her. “Care for a walk along the beach?”

Raleigh slipped out of his arms to gift him with a smile that made his chest constrict. “Excellent idea. However, I’d rather prop up my feet after walking in these heels for ten hours. A nightcap at my place, instead?” She ended the question in a smoky voice that lured him like a siren.

Staring at him through the thick lashes of her hooded eyes, she waited expectantly. Had it been a figment of his imagination, or had he seen a flash of slow mounting fire within the ocean depths?

Cristo’s head gave him a hundred and one reasons to say no, but his heart urged him to take what she offered. He’d be a fool to walk away from her, for he might never have the opportunity again and regret was a bitter road he didn’t want to revisit. Time to take action before he lost the nerve.

He took a step forward and reached out for her, cradling her head with his palm as he drew her to him for a kiss brewing with fervent desire. When he finally tore his lips away from hers, he was anxious to finish where they had left off in more comfortable surroundings.

“What was that for?” she asked in a husky, satisfied voice.

“I wanted to make sure this wasn’t a dream.”

She slid her arms around his neck. “Let me show you that you are fully awake.”


If you liked the excerpt above and want more, please visit the participants of Excerpt Monday this month. Just remember, you'll get to choose which excerpts you want to read by checking the genres and ratings that you're interested in. Enjoy!


**All links have been updated as some were incorrect. :)


Mel/Alexia Reed Urban Fantasy (R)
Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG)
AJ O'Donovan, Poetry (PG13)
Stephanie Draven, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)
Heather S.Ingemar, Dark Fantasy/Poetry (PG13)
Babette James, Fantasy Romance (PG 13)
Cynthia Justlin, Romantic Suspense (PG 13)
Kaige, Historical Romance (PG 13)
Julia Knight, Fantasy Romance (PG13)
Ansha Kotyk, Middle Grade Adventure (PG13)
Adelle Laudan, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Jeannie Lin, Historical Romance (PG 13)
RF Long, YA Paranormal (PG13)
Caitlynn Lowe, Epic Fantasy (PG13)
Shawntelle Madison, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)
Crista McHugh, Contemporary Erotic Romance (PG 13)
Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG)
Leigh Royals, Historical Romance (PG 13)
Megan S., Paranormal (PG13)
Dara Sorensen, Historical Paranormal (PG 13)
Bethanne Strasser, Historical Romance (PG13)
Melissa Aires, Futuristic Romance (R)
Melissa Blue, Contemporary Romance (R)
Jax Cassidy, Contemporary (R)
Christina DeLorenzo, Furturistic Sci-Fi (R)
Maya Doyle, Parnormal Romance (R)
Ginny Glass, Paranormal (R)
Amber Green, Romantic Suspense (R)
Cate Hart, Paranormal YA (R)
Kinsey W. Holley, Erotic Romance (R)
Ali Katz, Erotic Paranormal Romance (R)
Aislinn Kerry, Fantasy (R)
Inez Kelly, Fantasy Romance (R)
Cherrie Lynn, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)
Mel/Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)
Rebecca Savage, Romantic Suspense (R)
Fae Sutherland, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)
Stephanie Adkins, Paranormal Erotic Romance (NC 17)
Evie Byrne, Erotic Historical Romance (NC17)
Ella Drake, Erotic Contemporary (NC17)
Dawn Montgomery, Erotic Paranormal Romance (NC17)
Lauren Murphy, Erotic Romance (NC 17)
Kim Knox, Erotic Paranormal Romance (NC17)
Emily Ryan-Davis, Historical Western Romance (NC17)
Kirsten Saell, Erotic Fantasy Romance (NC 17)
Jeanne St. James, Contemporary Romance (NC 17)

Of course I would have to find the most boring image for this topic.

To me, writing a synopsis is like pulling my toenails out, one by one. Believe me, I've lost a toenail before and it ain't good...after days of groaning and griping, I asked a few of my friends for advice. Wouldn't you know it, I got so much support and help so now I'm well on my way to finishing up the sucker. Once I got started I was amazed to discover that everything just clicked and flowed smoother than expected. I'm going to need a tight editing on it but otherwise, I'm halfway done.

I am not going to get any real writing done until tomorrow because I just found out my siblings are in town visiting. Looks like I'll be tagging along as they tour the city. It's going to be good to see family because it's been well over 5 months so it's just time. Hopefully this will involve lots of shopping and eating. Being almost the youngest, I sometimes love that role :) Who doesn't love being the pampered younger sis?

Just a reminder, on Monday is Excerpt Monday and I'm going to have a never before published snippet of RALEIGN IN RIO from the SUNSWEPT anthology for Phaze Publishing. Hope you'll come back for a read!

John Hughes died.

Sniff. Sniff.

I grew up on Pretty In Pink, Ferris Bueller, Breakfast Club...gosh--who will make such great cult classics as those again?

About eight years ago I worked for a director/producer in Hollywood who really made me love John Hughes even more than I already did. My boss had worked with John on a number of projects including Some Kind of Wonderful. I think I totally related to those movies at a young age--I was all angsty and going through puberty so those movies made me feel better about myself. One of the best things about working in the movie industry is that you get firsthand info from the people you work for. It was so nice to hear stories about the set, the actor who was originally supposed to be the lead actor before they picked Eric Stoltz, the antics, the craziness--I even got to touch an original script! ...But most of all, it made me feel like I was taking part on a John Hughes flick. I never got to meet John, which is a shame, but I never stopped feeling proud whenever I came across one of his movies.

What a great loss! I know that everything he did will still be around for years to come...I've always embraced my inner geek since the moment I discovered him!

Mr. Right came home from work last night and gave me the mail. I had purchased a large Atlas of Fashion Designers book because I wanted to be inspired. I've been longing to sew and create, but didn't have the motivation--until now. But before I had a chance to crack open the book, he handed me a Barnes and Noble bag. Inside was a copy of "Julie & Julia" I've been eying. Since I've seen previews eons ago, I've been dying to buy the book...so in that brief few seconds, I reminded myself just how awesome he truly is! It's the little things he does that make me so happy and he's given me a lot to laugh about. Not trying to be too sappy but he was truly meant for me! In every way and I know I've got some jealous girlfriends out there who will be the first to admit it. They've even told me so. (Hands off, he's all MINE!)

I know most of you are sick of me praising him but he's just amazing....words are not enough to express how I feel.... Sometimes I look at him and I can't breathe. I can't seem to focus because he has a way will making me feel like the most important person. Special. He is so good with the art of negotiating and verbal communication--it took me a long time to have the patience I do now..but honestly, he's brought the Zen in my life.

Funny how these thoughts assaulted me just from the simple act of giving me a book...it may not be diamonds or expensive cars...but it made me appreciate him all over again. Even when the going got tough I managed to stay focused and positive. If he wasn't there to tell me the things I needed to hear without sugar coating it, I wouldn't be who I am now. So, every once in a while I like to yell from the rooftops that I have a man who is the epitome of what 'chivalry' is all about. I couldn't ask for anything more...

On that note, he's taking me for date night on Sunday so we're going to just enjoy being together. To me--that's what romance is all about.

I'm pleased to announce that my good friend, Abigail McKenley, has just released her first novel THE CHOSEN ONE. You can find the book at Parker Publishing or as a Kindle download at Amazon.com.

Seriously, I'm really thrilled and excited...it's been a long time coming. Check it out!

Here's the awesome blurb:

Worldly and sophisticated, Rachel Penniston thought she'd seen it all. That is, until she entered ‘The Palace’ a club where a sign warns visitors that they must be ‘comfortable with nudity or open sexuality.’

When Clinton Scheff arrived at ‘The Palace’, the last thing he expected to do was find the woman of his dreams.

Rachel is determined to put their encounter behind her. Achieving success has been an uphill struggle, besides should anyone find out, both their jobs and their reputations would be in jeopardy.

Suddenly the calm of their everyday existence is shattered and Rachel and Clint find themselves in a fight to save not only their careers, but their lives.

What they didn’t know is, before that night at ‘The Palace’, Rachel had already been chosen.

"When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and they married any of them they chose."

Genesis 6: 1-2

Praise for 'The Chosen One'

"Abigail McKenley is fresh, hot, and intelligent. Gripping and suspenseful, her debut novel will keep your heart racing and the pages turning to the very end." ~Jax Cassidy, Author of ART OF SENSUALITY

"Having had the pleasure of reading 'The Chosen One' in its entirety, I can say in all sincerity, Abigail McKenley is a talented fresh new voice in romance." ~Dyanne Davis, AWARD WINNING AUTHOR

"With blazing hot characters and an engaging story, Abigail McKenley is definitely one to watch for!" ~Seressia Glass, AWARD WINNING AUTHOR

I don't know about you, but I'm mentally tapped out. Working on the computer is tough enough when you have writing deadlines, but compounded by all that other stuff that requires computer time--you get major brain, eyes, and neck strain!

So, I've been doing a lot of listening to music...watching music videos...and I've managed to discover a few new voices in rock, folk, and country. It appears that one of my all-time favorite songs HOME has been covered by just about everyone--but there's something kinda sexy about Blake Shelton singing with his smooth country twang...I'd almost forgotten about this cutie-pie until my friend Gwen Hayes mentioned him on twitter. That brought back the country in me...Thanks! :)

If you haven't had enough of me...I'm over at Hooked On Romance talking about SEEING. I think I did a fairly decent analysis on how writers 'see' and what is the best way to utilize this amazing gift in our storytelling. If you don't think it's a good bit of advice, you can come back here and tell me how much I suck. I'll give you that. :)

...As you start your work week, just remember that there's no place like....

I'm over at Killer Fiction talking about professionalism. Gemma Halliday is full of awesomeness so she allowed me to blog there today.

As far as what I'm up to, trying to catch up on web stuff and spending time with Mr. Jax. He's making me breakfast as I type. :) Since it rained yesterday, we're postponing the lawn maintenance and just going to enjoy the day. I feel like there's so much to do and so little time. I have mapped out a writing schedule starting next week and I'm going to make sure I hit deadline. I think it's time to shift into high gear and get this writing career started. After all, I want to see some books on the shelves next year or the year after...