Well, I do have to say that I am so far enjoying my experience with Silver Publishing. They have accepted my novel Swift's Temptation and a short story called Fragments of a Unicorn's Soul. Silver Publishing definitely has a more hands on approach than Dreamspinner did. Don't get me wrong, I love Dreamspinner Press, but I do like the fact that Silver Publishing has actually reached out to me and expressed more than a passing interest in my story.
I spent an hour on the phone between talking about the story and just talking about other things in life with the editor. She's a really funny, yet sarcastic, person and I like her. Although she has wrecked my brain! LOL. She finally sent me back the edits and oooohhhhh weeeeee! It's way more than Touch Me Gently. >.< I did expect a lot but holy cow!
A good portion of it does make sense, and I fully intend on making most of the changes being asked. However, there are some that are just nitpicking IMO. Little things that I don't think make or break a story. However, who am I to say that? I'm not the editor! lol. I've given the edits a once over so far, accepted or rejected the basic changes and left the major stuff for the second look. With all of the requests made, it seems almost like I may have to re-write a good portion of the story. I have to look more closely at the longer notes and go from there I suppose.
I can't wait to see the cover though. :D That's hopefully very soon. And I am still waiting to hear from them regarding the short story that they accepted.
I do have another story I'm working on that just needs editing before I can submit it. Although I will be submitting that back to DSP, especially since Silver isn't accepting Paranormal stories and it's a shifter story. Oh, big surprise there, ne? In my defense though, I've ALWAYS loved shifters stories. It has nothing to do with Twilight. I loved the books, but after the movies came out, I can't stand the whole series. *shudders* For many, many reasons.
Well, off to catch some zzzzs. Work tomorrow and more editing. >.< Also need to shoot off a brief email to my editor (wow... there's a word I didn't think I'd say) before I log off for the night.
Goodnight, everyone!
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Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
And the Nominees Are....
I found out a couple of days ago that I was nominated for the 2011 TLA Gaybies!! Wow! What an honor! To be chosen out of hundreds of different authors and books! I can't believe it!
The link to vote is: 2011 TLA Gaybies Voting
You can vote as often and many times as you want, so vote now and often! :D
Sunday, February 20, 2011
One of my best friends...
One of my best friends is going to have a book published in March by Dreamspinner Press. I am so happy for her. I've read the story and I can honestly say it is flippin' amazing!! :D Everyone MUST go read it!!! Make sure to watch for Hayley B. James because she's going to blaze over everyone else in the m/m romance world!!
Undercover Sins by Hayley B. James
Congratulations Hayley!!! You go, girl!!!
Undercover Sins by Hayley B. James
Congratulations Hayley!!! You go, girl!!!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
My Two Cents: A Review of Blood of a Leo by Dawn H. Hawkes
I'd like to start out by saying that this is my own personal opinion. It is not meant to offend, insult, or encourage anyone to take my opinion to heart. I believe that you should take what others say with a grain of salt because what one person likes doesn't mean another will and vice versa. I know that there are quite a few movies out there that have been box office hits that I can't stand, but the critics loved. So please take the time to read the story yourself and form your own opinion.
I can never think of enough to write here, so I decided to start throwing in reviews of books that I have read, good and bad. I figure this may actually be something some would be interested in reading. :)
Blood of a Leo
The basic premise of the story is about a young man named Leo who's kidnapped and held as a blood slave by a group of vampires. While in their grasp, he's brutalized, raped, and drugged. He escapes the vampires during a moment of confusion and ends up with a lion shifter named Maddox, who turns out to be his mate.
Though the recent influx of shifter and vampire stories since Twilight hit has been a bit on the annoying side, the story was well written and flowed well. I do like the fact that she made vampires back to what they were originally intended as, evil. She captured the cruelty and taunting quite powerfully. I could actually feel the contempt and hatred they held for humans as other than a food source.
I do understand that in fiction you can pretty much make anything possible, however, I prefer my stories to have a bit of a realistic twist when it comes to things that would traumatize a human. When someone is raped and brutalized, it is not an easy thing to overcome. There are scars, outside and inside, that do not heal and may never heal. Despite the lion shifter being his mate, I still feel his ability to get over his abuse so quickly was unrealistic. Granted the story was only 158 pages and as a writer myself I know that it is difficult to cover as much as you would like to sometimes, but perhaps lengthening the story and adding in a bit more regarding Leo's struggle to overcome the cruel treatment or skipping over part of the torment detailed in the first 25 pages and adding in more of Leo's healing process may have made it a tad more enjoyable for me to read.
One of my biggest pet peeves about reading m/m romance is when almost every single page has a sex scene. I'm as big a perv as the next m/m romance reader, but I do like story with my sex to make it one big amazing package to read. I like that Hawkes did not make it page after page of sex even after the pair engage for the first time. I felt that there was a true connection between Leo and Maddox and their initial 'contact' was sweet and tender rather than going for that all out 'f*** me now' factor.
All in all, the book was one I would give around a 3-star rating and worth reading at least once. Oh, but I do have to say the cover is gorgeous. I find that one of the biggest factors to capture my initial attention is the cover and the artist who prepared the cover for Blood of a Leo definitely has an eye for what makes a cover 'POP'.
I can never think of enough to write here, so I decided to start throwing in reviews of books that I have read, good and bad. I figure this may actually be something some would be interested in reading. :)
Blood of a Leo
The basic premise of the story is about a young man named Leo who's kidnapped and held as a blood slave by a group of vampires. While in their grasp, he's brutalized, raped, and drugged. He escapes the vampires during a moment of confusion and ends up with a lion shifter named Maddox, who turns out to be his mate.
Though the recent influx of shifter and vampire stories since Twilight hit has been a bit on the annoying side, the story was well written and flowed well. I do like the fact that she made vampires back to what they were originally intended as, evil. She captured the cruelty and taunting quite powerfully. I could actually feel the contempt and hatred they held for humans as other than a food source.
I do understand that in fiction you can pretty much make anything possible, however, I prefer my stories to have a bit of a realistic twist when it comes to things that would traumatize a human. When someone is raped and brutalized, it is not an easy thing to overcome. There are scars, outside and inside, that do not heal and may never heal. Despite the lion shifter being his mate, I still feel his ability to get over his abuse so quickly was unrealistic. Granted the story was only 158 pages and as a writer myself I know that it is difficult to cover as much as you would like to sometimes, but perhaps lengthening the story and adding in a bit more regarding Leo's struggle to overcome the cruel treatment or skipping over part of the torment detailed in the first 25 pages and adding in more of Leo's healing process may have made it a tad more enjoyable for me to read.
One of my biggest pet peeves about reading m/m romance is when almost every single page has a sex scene. I'm as big a perv as the next m/m romance reader, but I do like story with my sex to make it one big amazing package to read. I like that Hawkes did not make it page after page of sex even after the pair engage for the first time. I felt that there was a true connection between Leo and Maddox and their initial 'contact' was sweet and tender rather than going for that all out 'f*** me now' factor.
All in all, the book was one I would give around a 3-star rating and worth reading at least once. Oh, but I do have to say the cover is gorgeous. I find that one of the biggest factors to capture my initial attention is the cover and the artist who prepared the cover for Blood of a Leo definitely has an eye for what makes a cover 'POP'.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Long Time Away and the Greatest News!
Hi, all. I am such a slacker! I apologize for being away for so long, but life at work and so many other things got in the way that I just haven't had the energy to keep up with everything.
Currently, sick. Blech. Trying to fight it off. Here's hoping I can and fast!
The greatest news that I have is that I submitted a new manuscript to Silver Publishing and they sent me a contract for it inside of an hour. I didn't even send them the whole thing, just the first three chapters. Either I have a fan at Silver Publishing or they googled me and saw how well my last book did. :D Can't argue with it either way IMO!
Now I have to start with the process that I abhor... editing! It is the one part that I cannot really find myself enjoying. I LOVE writing the stories, coming up with new plotlines and twists and turns, but hammering out the minor (or major) screwups is not the highlight of my life. I need to do a pre-edit before I send it on over to Silver Publishing with the contract. I'm procrastinating... Hence the reason I have been spending all day either sleeping (sick..) or catching up on facebook, twitter, and now my blog. I know that I need to do it but it doesn't make it anymore enjoyable lol.
I've edited the story once before quite significantly, but it needs to be polished again before I send the entire manuscript. Here's hoping that I don't see as much red on the first round of edits from the company itself!
Wish me luck!
Currently, sick. Blech. Trying to fight it off. Here's hoping I can and fast!
The greatest news that I have is that I submitted a new manuscript to Silver Publishing and they sent me a contract for it inside of an hour. I didn't even send them the whole thing, just the first three chapters. Either I have a fan at Silver Publishing or they googled me and saw how well my last book did. :D Can't argue with it either way IMO!
Now I have to start with the process that I abhor... editing! It is the one part that I cannot really find myself enjoying. I LOVE writing the stories, coming up with new plotlines and twists and turns, but hammering out the minor (or major) screwups is not the highlight of my life. I need to do a pre-edit before I send it on over to Silver Publishing with the contract. I'm procrastinating... Hence the reason I have been spending all day either sleeping (sick..) or catching up on facebook, twitter, and now my blog. I know that I need to do it but it doesn't make it anymore enjoyable lol.
I've edited the story once before quite significantly, but it needs to be polished again before I send the entire manuscript. Here's hoping that I don't see as much red on the first round of edits from the company itself!
Wish me luck!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Virtual Book Signing for Touch Me Gently
Hi all! Well today was my release day! And I am so excited and happy! :D Just waking up to the knowledge that my book is out there for others to read was like the happiest moment of my life!
I wanted to post on here, and let you know that I am going to be having a virtual book signing tonight between the hours of six pm and nine pm. Dreamspinner Press Blog: Touch Me Gently Virtual Book Signing
There will be a couple of contests and lots of information about me, my characters, and excerpts from the book. ^_^
I hope you'll come and join me!
I wanted to post on here, and let you know that I am going to be having a virtual book signing tonight between the hours of six pm and nine pm. Dreamspinner Press Blog: Touch Me Gently Virtual Book Signing
There will be a couple of contests and lots of information about me, my characters, and excerpts from the book. ^_^
I hope you'll come and join me!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Release Date
I finally got my release date for Touch Me Gently! I am sooo excited! It's September 3rd! The day right before my birthday! How awesome is that?
Link to My Page on Dreamspinner Press!!!!
Funny part is, I found out from a friend that saw the book on the Coming Soon page on Dreamspinnerpress.com LOL. That's the second time she's pointed out my stuff on there. I guess Im not so good with keeping up with things. I was thinking that Elizabeth or Lynn from DSP would be notifying me of the release date but I guess that isn't how it works!
I just sent back my second round of edits. :D So hopefully that's the end of those. I have to say editing is my least favorite part of the process. I love spinning the tale but going back over it is difficult for me sometimes. Depending on what has to be changed. >.< I did however enjoy this second round a bit more than the first because there wasn't quite so much to change. HA. And it is a good thing that I went through all of this because now I know what is expected of me and I learned a LOT of what I need to watch for while I'm writing.
I tend to use the word was too much, and eyes. *sigh* I apparently like my characters emotions to reflect in their eyes way too much. >.< But I think the eyes are the windows to a person's soul, and no matter how they may appear outward, you can tell a lot about a person inside by looking at their eyes.
Well, I guess I shall sign off for now. Need to grab a drink and get working on my Advent Calendar short story submission. Still not entirely sure where I'm going with that one. LOL.
Link to My Page on Dreamspinner Press!!!!
Funny part is, I found out from a friend that saw the book on the Coming Soon page on Dreamspinnerpress.com LOL. That's the second time she's pointed out my stuff on there. I guess Im not so good with keeping up with things. I was thinking that Elizabeth or Lynn from DSP would be notifying me of the release date but I guess that isn't how it works!
I just sent back my second round of edits. :D So hopefully that's the end of those. I have to say editing is my least favorite part of the process. I love spinning the tale but going back over it is difficult for me sometimes. Depending on what has to be changed. >.< I did however enjoy this second round a bit more than the first because there wasn't quite so much to change. HA. And it is a good thing that I went through all of this because now I know what is expected of me and I learned a LOT of what I need to watch for while I'm writing.
I tend to use the word was too much, and eyes. *sigh* I apparently like my characters emotions to reflect in their eyes way too much. >.< But I think the eyes are the windows to a person's soul, and no matter how they may appear outward, you can tell a lot about a person inside by looking at their eyes.
Well, I guess I shall sign off for now. Need to grab a drink and get working on my Advent Calendar short story submission. Still not entirely sure where I'm going with that one. LOL.
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