The glamorous writer’s life

This week, many of my fellow romance writers are out in Anaheim, California for RWA Nationals. Lucky ducks.

Me? I’m still living the glam life out here in Northwest GA, which means: four loads of laundry, two screaming (for joy, y’all, for JOY) children, two shedding dogs, not enough coffee in the house, and…

Outlines.

I just finished a rewrite of a sci-fi romance novella which will hopefully be out on sub sometime next month, so it’s time to start outlining/plotting something else. I’m still sort of stuck in the heads of the characters I just finished writing, so I need a buffer before I just dive into another project.

You may have heard writers taking sides in the great Plotter vs. Pantser debates: Which is better? Or not, because it’s really not that much of a debate. Different people work in different ways. Me? I’m pretty solidly a plotter these days, and I can blame THAT on Two in Winter. You see, Two in Winter is a retelling of an ancient Norse myth. I wanted to stick pretty closely to the mythology, so I did THAT by writing an outline and sticking to it. I also found it made the writing process easier: “What am I writing today? Oh, sex… Got it.” It made it easier for me to budget my limited writing time.

So now that I’ve finished rewriting the as yet untitled novella, I am plotting the second of the First Blood books. (I will not call it Second Blood, no matter how tempted I am.) The three First Blood books will be concurrent stories telling of three different romances featuring Queens from three different hives. The first book is already plotted but the other two stories need to be plotted as well, as there will be intersections in all three books since their timelines are concurrent. So, it’s caffeine, outlines, and laundry for me today. (and vicariously following the hashtag #rwa12 on twitter, because yeah… I wish I were there!)

Next week, I’ll be hosting the fabulous June Kramin on the blog, so I hope you’ll drop in with a hello for her! Also, the boy-children go back to school, and I will be celebrating my birthday! To get updates by email, follow the blog!

Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!

xoxo,

V

 

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Writing Paranormal: No Turns Ahead

When I talk about the Ushers, people are really excited about the idea of werewolves and the mythology, and all this paranormal “stuff,” which I love, and I love talking about! One of the things that I decided early on was that my Weres, and the the vampire society of First Blood, would be “born that way” and not “made” or “turned.”

Some have pointed out that this closes down one avenue for conflict in the story, and while that is true, I don’t really mind, because it opens up avenues for a different sort of conflict.

To turn or not to turn is a conflict many authors have handled, some really beautifully (Eden Bradley’s Midnight Playground series, for example), and my decision to make this a non-issue in my books is not a rejection of typical vamp/were lore so much as it’s a desire to explore another side of it.

The predominant theme in the Ushers is societal change, and oh-boy-oh-boy do we have a lot of that to tackle without even touching the fangs. Right now, our culture here in the US is entrenched in a social war for civil rights: simply being “the wrong sort” of human (in other words, non-white, female, gay, trans) is a minefield some days.

Taking the issue of change, and how fear of change impacts the Were society on a macro level is the focus, and later, when First Blood comes on the scene, fear of Other becomes part of it. By having almost no humans in the series, I can tackle these issues in a society completely outside of our own, which gives me a huge freedom to explore.

Do you have a favorite “take” on the turning versus non-turning paranormals? I’d love to hear about it, please share in the comments!

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Taking crits and taking hits.

So, part of being a writer is getting critique. And critique isn’t always nice. I actually prefer my beta readers to be blunt: if they are blunt, I don’t have to turn around and ask them what they meant by something. When you call my hero a douchebag, I’m pretty clear on the meaning.

I recently sent a book to be beta read and got conflicting feedback: one liked it, the other told me in no uncertain terms that it wasn’t ready.

Back to the drawing board. I trust both readers and their taste, so I’m going to try to hold onto what the first reader liked about the characters while delving into a total re-write of the plot. hoo boy. This should be fun.

And this my friends, is why it’s good to get feedback on your writing from multiple sources. It doesn’t mean you can’t trust people who give you positive feedback, or that one crit partner “isn’t enough.” The fact is, publishing is a subjective industry, and what works for one might not work for another. Getting multiple perspectives on your work is a good way to get a feel for what some editorial concerns might be and how you’d be best prepared to tackle them before you even send a book out on sub.

As of today, I’m 6k words into the rewrite on this book and a few things have become clear: the new version is going to be longer. It’s going to be darker. And, hopefully sexier and more satisfying when all is said and done.

It’s going to be better, and that’s what working with a beta reader is all about!

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Guest Post, Emilia Mancini: Confessions of an Erotica Author

V: today I’m welcoming fellow LSB author Emilia Mancini to the blog, where she talks about the inevitable questions asked of an erotica author. 

I’m always a little hesitant to tell people I’m a published author of erotic fiction.  Not because I’m embarrassed or ashamed. Actually, I’m quite proud of my work. I feel I bring class and romance together with some really hot sex in a way that isn’t cheap or slutty.  Or so I like to think.

I’m hesitant because I almost always get the same question: How do you find inspiration?

Which, in itself isn’t a bad question, writers get inspired by an immeasurable amount of things—a song, a news story, watching a couple walk down the street.

It’s when the question comes with a smirk and crooked brow that it causes me to heave a sigh of disappointment in the lack of maturity of my fellow man.

Obviously there seem to be a few misinterpretations of what I do as an erotic writer, so let me try to clarify some things:

• Contrary to what I may have written in a book, I have never discreetly taken off my panties and masturbated in public for the sexual gratification of my lover.
• I don’t write while wearing leather, lace, or latex.  Nor do I write in the nude.
• The only time I will ever flash my breasts or spread my legs at the doctor’s office is when it’s required for a medical examination.
• I don’t carry condoms, lube, handcuffs, or nipple clamps in my purse.
• I don’t have sex on a whim with whatever man, woman, or mythical creature may be around.
• I’m not a swinger.
• I’ve never slept with my boss (any of them).
• My neighbors are pretty safe from my overwhelming need to fornicate, even when they are swimming in the pool and their bare rippling chests are reflecting the sun.
• I don’t have an uncontrollable need to flash my voluptuous cleavage at every man (or woman) I see.
• I don’t fall into the throes of orgasm with every touch.
• I don’t have sex (oral or otherwise) in movie theaters.
• I don’t wear stilettos and a French maid outfit while vacuuming.
• When I eat, I prefer to use a plate and silverware rather than lapping up my dessert off the sweaty six-pack of a man I just met.
• I never have and never will consider semen a delicious treat or a regular part of my skin care regimen.
• I don’t wear crotchless panties on the off-chance I may meet some sex starved co-worker in an elevator.

I hate to bust all those bubbles in one swoop, but the truth is I’m actually pretty normal.  I usually write in house pants and a tee. I go swimming with my bathing suit on.  I cook, clean, and vacuum like everyone else; fully clothed.

I have one lover, my husband, and while we make a point to keep things interesting in the bedroom, what we do is private. I don’t write books about it.

And if I did…I wouldn’t tell you.

V again! Want more Emilia? Click the cover below to find her book, “The Rebound” at Liquid Silver Books

The Rebound by Emilia Mancini

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WIP Snippet

I’m on vacation, recharging the mental batteries, and trying to decide what to blog about, I realized I haven’t shared a bit of my work in progress for awhile, so I thought I’d share some Little Wing today. Remember: this is from an unedited work in progress, it may change or be discarded before the final draft. It’s shared in a spirit of fun, enjoy!

Paloma  pushed open a door, the nerves and anticipation sparking in her, making her high, making her want to chatter. She felt Eve’s excitement, curiosity. For a woman with a colorful past, Eve was more innocent in a lot of ways than Paloma. When Paloma had handed the other woman a gun she’d looked at it like she’d never seen one before. Finally they’d agreed that Eve could use her knife should they run into trouble.

The establishment that welcomed them was not quite a bar. It had the appearance of one: the dark atmosphere and the rowdy crowd. But no bartender stood by to take drink orders. Instead, the patrons did their own business. The person Paloma needed to speak with wasn’t there yet. But he would be. She pushed Eve into a booth, and they waited. A man walked by and deposited a pitcher of beer and a couple of not-quite-clean glasses. Paloma reached for the pitcher and poured for both of them.

“Paloma…” Eve whispered, throwing a disgusted glance at the glasses. 

Paloma laughed.

“What, you’ve had all your shots, right? What’s the old saying? God made dirt so dirt don’t hurt? Drink up.” She lowered her voice. “It will be obvious if you don’t. You want to blend in here. If you stand out too much, no one will deal with us. You stand out enough because you’re so damn pretty. Fuckin’ drink.”

She watched with satisfaction as Eve took a hesitant swallow, and she nodded, taking a deep pull on her own beer. It was bitter, made with cheap, metallic-tasting hops, but it wasn’t bad by Murray standards. And if they were being served beer, no one was really trying to take advantage of them yet. If a bottle of liquor appeared on their table, so would Paloma’s gun. A woman couldn’t be too careful in a place like this.

Thanks for visiting Murray with Paloma and Eve! Come by on Thursday, because we’ll be having a visitor here on the blog. The one and only Emilia Mancini is going to be sharing some confessions of an erotic romance author. Oh my!

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

V

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What’s Next?

After all the build up, the fanfare has died down, and I emerge from the confetti-strewn aftermath and look around and think, “What’s next?”

Actually, my inner Martin Sheen is the one  asking, and there isn’t any actual confetti. Confetti, like adverbs, tends to be more trouble than it’s worth.

Oh, him? Yes, I have an inner Martin Sheen,  please try to control your jealousy. 

So, my inner Martin Sheen asks “What’s next?” and I point at my release schedule and I say “ALL THE THINGS!!!!”

All the things.

By all the things, of course I’m talking about Amazon, Shifter’s Dance, United, and Cracked, the four books I have under contract right now to Musa Publishing. Musa is kind of a new kid on the publishing block–Amazon will be released during Musa’s first anniversary celebrations–so I’d like to take a minute to introduce y’all.

I learned of Musa through a writer’s forum called Absolute Write, where Celina Summers, one of the Musa founders, and I are both members. I was impressed by Celina’s descriptions of the company, and the no-nonsense way they navigated their first six months. I decided to submit the first of my Ushers books, Amazon, to Musa for consideration. I was thrilled when Jeanne De Vita, the head of the Calliope imprint, contacted me about acquiring the Ushers series.

You can learn all about Musa’s genesis and the fantastic crew behind the scenes here at Musa’s “About Us” page.

Since contracting the Ushers and then Shifter’s Dance, I’ve started getting to know the rest of the Musa family, and I continue to be impressed not just by the work Musa produces, but the way in which the company works, and I’m thrilled to be a part of their birthday celebration in October with the release of Amazon on October 12.

Check out the bookshelf page for the rest of the release schedule–it’s going to be a very Were-y winter!

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

V

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Happy Birthday, to my country, and my book!

Two in Winter was originally scheduled to be released this past Monday, 7/2. Over the weekend, massive storms knocked out power to millions, wreaking havoc on computer systems, including those that power Liquid Silver Books’s shopping cart, and the release was delayed.

If I were the type to keep a bucket list (I am so totally not), I would be crossing off the “publish a book” line today.  Whoa. That’s a big deal to me, as a writer. A part of me never believed it could actually happen. It seemed somehow, bigger than me.

But, this was the year of taking chances, the year I decided to be braver than me, and bigger than me, and today I became a published author.

Happy Birthday, Two in Winter, you quirky little nugget of my brain! You’ll share your birthday with the United States of America. I know, I know. I share my birthday with my twin brother, who has always been smarter and funnier and better-looking than me. Somehow, you’ll manage, little book, to find your own identity.

Happy Independence Day to my countrymen and women who are celebrating today. Be safe, be well, be happy. Be bigger than yourselves, and braver than yourselves, because you never know what might happen if you just try. Just, please don’t follow that last bit of advice when it comes to fireworks. Leave the explosives to professionals.

Thank you for reading!

xoxo,

V

Want your own Two in Winter? Click the book cover below, or visit www.liquidsilverbooks.com 

Two in Winter

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An unexpected delay…

Hi Friends,

Liquid Silver Books is currently experiencing some hardware issues which have made the shopping cart temporarily unavailable. Everything should be up and running smoothly sometime on Wednesday, so the release of Two in Winter has been delayed by just a couple days.

*V furtively shoves confetti back in her pockets and whistles as if she knew how*

Two days, friends! Wheeee! We’ll party like it’s the Fourth of July–um well, it will be the fourth of July–and in the mean time, I will amuse you with my juggling and dirty jokes. Nah, just kiddin’. See you all on Wednesday!

Thanks, as always, for reading!

xoxo,

V

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