Vixenwriter

Got my first round edits on Vengeance Due! I’m working on them around kid chaos and hope to get them taken care of today.

And then I heard that Thrice Bound (Witches Knot Book 4) has been offered a contract from EC and also that Reluctant has been offered a contract and will be part of the Autumn Animalia Quickie Series!

I got my edits on Giving Chase back to my editor at Samhain and all is moving in the right direction there.

Once I’m done with these edits I’ll complete the finishing touches on GWAB and get that to my agent and get back to Threat of Darkness and Taking Chase.

Got it sent out to my editor this morning. This is part of the Cascadia Wolves universe, it takes place 10 years ago.

Here’s the blurb: Layla Warden had a ten year plan and it sure as heck didn’t include a mate. She had her flashy car and her corner office and all was right with the world until Sid Rosario sat down at her table and turned her life upside down.

Sparks fly right off as the two werewolves flirt over dinner and it’s no surprise to either of them when they end up back at his hotel room, naked and sweaty. But what is a surprise is that Sid is her mate and they don’t figure it out until the bond is sealed.

Angry and off balance, Layla asks Sid for some time to think and he gives her a day and a half to get herself straight. Any longer than that and the lack of the anchor of the tri-bond, the stabilizing third bond for a werewolf female, will begin to take its toll on the female mate’s sanity.

Layla, driven by confusion and fear, heads out of contact while a frantic Sid looks for her. What comes next helps a reluctant wolf find her way to acceptance.

One thing I’ll say for quickies is that you can write them very fast because you’re essentially distilling down to one scene or a few scenes in a larger story. I just finished up two hours ago and I’m pretty pleased with where I ended up. I’m going to submit it for the “Autumn Animalia” series but I’m not sure if it’s got enough focus on the werewolf aspect to be a part of it, although both characters are werewolves and the central focus is based on an integral factor in their culture. In any case, even if it’s not right for that series, it’ll still be a good quickie for another time of the year.

I’ll go back through tonight and lengthen the first sex scene and edit and get it to my editor tomorrow. Still not sure what I’ll call it. I’d like to just call it “Cascadia Wolves: Sid and Layla” but I don’t know just yet. For those who’ve read Enforcer, we hear about Sid and Layla’s bonding when Tracy goes to talk to Nina about the importance of the tri-bond. And yes, there’s a threesome scene in this one, just one, and Layla is blindfolded (yeah, that bit came to me last night, I liked the different focus that a scene takes when she can’t see who is doing what)

So it’s set ten years ago and Layla is twenty five and so not looking for a mate when she ends up with one totally by surprise.

Anyway, she’s surprised and scared and reluctant which is why I’ve had reluctant as part of the title from day one, but I’m not sure if that’s the title or not and if so, what other word will work.

I’ll talk to my editor about titles, right now it’s just called Reluctant and that’s probably what I’ll submit it as.

I watched Kill Bill Vol I and II last night. Each time I do, I’m struck by something totally different. Still, I think I is my favorite of the two movies – the scene with the Crazy 88s in Japan kicks ass – from beginning to end. And Elle and Bea in the trailer, yeah, best line “Bitch, you ain’t got a future.” Daryl Hannah is crazy. I love that. “yeah, that’s right, I killed your master.” Beauty.

This time a Five Star, O Rating from JERR – Thank you, Ann!

Cascadia Wolves: Enforcer pits against each other two of the most stubborn, headstrong and sexiest characters that I have read in a long time. Nina Reyes has been hiding behind a façade for years. She is not a delicate flower by any means. Any woman who can take down a werewolf and have the confidence to call the Alpha names doesn’t need anyone to protect her. However, she needs Lex emotionally. He is her rock but he doesn’t cosset her. His steadfast loyalty allows her to lean on him and feel protected. Lex is an Enforcer, protecting the pack is his job. However, he has difficulty adjusting to the fact that she wasn’t raised as a wolf. He keeps neglecting to tell her things about his culture that jeopardize her trust in him. Yet, under all the strength and intelligence hides a gentle and caring man who says the most amazing and heartfelt things. The sex is amazingly hot and sexy especially with the anchor. The secondary characters are rich in detail and I will definitely look for their stories in the future. Enforcer is a great story where the heroine could literally rip your throat out while the hero steals your heart!

In the last week I’ve gotten one early review for Sudden Desire from Joyfully Reviewed. So new it’s not even up yet! But Talia says in part: Sudden Desire by Lauren Dane just about melted my palm pilot! I kept trying to convince myself that I would not want a spoiled man like Trevor and then he had to go and show me how lovable he could be. I have to admire Tess for her refusal to settle. I’m not sure I would have been able to resist anything that came from Trevor. Together, the lovers were combustible.

Sudden Desire by Lauren Dane is erotic, poignant, and humorous. I thought it quite entertaining and it is just one of the many books that I have enjoyed written by Lauren Dane. I think Sudden Desire is a great choice for an afternoon read or maybe for just a bit of Fun in the Sun!

And Courtney Michelle at Romance Reviews Today says of Enforcer in their June 5 issue: Can a woman with a past ever have a future? If you’re the heroine in Lauren Dane’s ENFORCER, the answer is a resounding yes. Nina has made a lot of mistakes in her life, but she’s turned herself around and become a woman to be proud of. She’s insecure yet confident at the same time, an intoxicating mix that Lex can’t resist. Lex is not used to having to explain himself to anyone, but he’s definitely met his match in Nina. He doesn’t know whether to throttle her or kiss her, but Lex knows that in order to gain Nina’s trust, he’s going to have to change the way he acts towards her. Ms. Dane allows readers to jump right into the story, rather than spending a lot of time explaining the hierarchy of the packs, instead describing them as they come up, which allows for a more action-packed tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed ENFORCER, the first in Lauren Dane’s Cascadia Wolves series, and look forward to enjoying more from this up-and-coming author!

Thank you so much Talia and Courtney!!

I started the day yesterday a bit melancholy but it went away rather quickly, leaving me in a good mood. I felt more creative than I had in a while. As always, the shift between projects and genres takes me a bit of time but I hit my stride and I’m really happy right now.

So last night I got 2500 words into my quickie which I need to name and hope it’ll come to me by the end. And as it’s a super short (10 – 15K) I’ll need to find that soon, LOL. I think Reluctant will be a part of the eventual title but I’m not sure what else will be with it. (As of right now, I’m at 5500 so I got another good chunk written during toddler naptime).

And then I shut down my laptop and hand wrote 85% of my detailed synopsis for Goddess With A Blade. A very good friend was kind enough to send me her entire proposal for a project so I could get an idea of how they work at that level of proposal. I’d only written synopses for EC and for finished projects so writing one based on a book that was only about 15K words completed so far was a bit of a mystery. Thank you oh unnamed friend! It was very helpful.

Cause, yes, I’m a pantser. But in this case, I’m finding synopsis writing/outlining really helpful because the story is unfolding for me in a way it doesn’t normally and I’m quite enjoying that. So Rowan has just gotten back from Ireland in my synopsis and there’s another dead body. This time she knows the victim. A romance keeps trying to brew and I’m not entirely sure I’ll stop it. We’ll see where it ends up when I’m finished because the numbers are not even and it’s a very complicated situation. I don’t know just yet. I’ll let them convince me although I don’t know if Rowan is convinced either.

Anyway, I’m still feeling sick, which sucks. Headache isn’t quite as severe, eye jumping thing seems to have abated at last, nausea is fleeting but tiredness is still lurking. But I’m so pleased about this work getting done.

It’s no secret that I think blogging, if done right, can be a great tool for an author. Some disagree and think it takes too much time away from writing and if that’s the case, it’s probably not for you. But, and I’m sure you can tell this, I don’t spend much time on my entries.

Booksquare (a great blog and a daily read) has a link to this piece on Highly Effective Blogging. I think it’s great advice.

Y’all don’t come here for craft advice, LOL – so what do you come here to find? And why do you come back?

I’ve decided to write a quickie prequel for the Autumn Animalia series about the bond between Layla Warden (Lex and Tracy’s sister) and her mate Sid – and their Tri Bond, heh.

I just decided this yesterday and I need to get moving on it and get it written and submitted ASAP! But I just thought I’d let you all know it was coming because I’ve gotten like thirty emails about it, asking if I wrote about them elsewhere or if I planned to. So ask and you shall receive! (well, if they contract it that is)

Oh and I’m up to 20K words on Threat of Darkness (Jayce and Mei’s book) and I hope to be finished (or rather, I promised to be finished) by the end of June. SO, I’m gonna be a very busy girl! I’d forgotten how much I liked Jayce and all that red hair and the warrior’s braids. Yum. Celts. Yum. Fae. Yum.

My husband made lattes before he left for work (I do love that man) but he left his here in his rush to get out the door. So I’m drinking it now alongside my chai. Course I’ll need the energy because my oldest is home from school today and the fighting between him and his brother has already started and I’m pretending to ignore most of it. Sigh. And their sister is scolding them. My husband said, “she’s bossy.” I blame him, cause I am sweetness and light. (bwah!)

How is everyone’s Friday so far?

Much has been made about the “respectability” of the romance genre and how the presence of erotic or hot romance “demeans” that.

And I’ve been puzzling over this for a bit now because I find the perspective incomprehensible and yet fascinating. (much like someone who says they like freedom of speech but tells a moderator she should have reined people’s posts in)

Romance has problems with respectability for a host of reasons, most of them occurring before erotic became the newhotthing. The truth is (and wow, if this hasn’t occurred to people I don’t know what to think) women are marginalized every day in just about every way.

Romance is a predominantly woman fueled genre. We write it, we read it and we edit and sell it. Our fantasies and thoughts are always demeaned as less important than those literary pursuits of men. This is not new.

Romance is viewed as silly. And you know what? A lot of it is. And who fucking cares? Seriously. Like I need to make excuses because I want a little fluff after listening to my kids snipe at each other all day? Like it’s a crime to want something you don’t have to work too hard on at the end of a day? And you don’t think there’s fluff written for men? Come on! So he’s a detective instead of a bakery owner – and? Like the presence of a penis and a typewriter makes him more respectable? A small percentage of books that are written are important in the sense that they change the world. I like to read those too. But they’re not the only thing I want to read.

Women’s fantasies are often maligned. Should I feel bad that I write something that gives my readers a happy ending? A hero who wants to share the heroine’s troubles and doesn’t leave his beard hairs in the sink? If I’m supposed to, too bad. Because I don’t. My romance novels are supposed to be entertaining. Yes, I do hope to make people think, my books often contain larger social issues in some form, but escapism is important too.

And women’s sexual fantasies are co-opted and dismissed. Co-opted and twisted by a lot of sexually graphic material and aimed at men. And you know, I’m not dissing men, I love men and I live with three of them (okay, not like THAT, that’s a great idea for a book though!). But most sexual material is created for men. So the women are often props instead of participants and very rarely the focus.

But erotic romance puts the spotlight on the woman and her fantasies. It celebrates the sexually independent woman who isn’t afraid of pleasure. That is threatening on many levels. In romantica, she’s the center of the action.

So of course it’s maligned and dismissed. It’s the “achilles heel” of romance, it’s the end of the genre, it’s porn, it’s dragging down the respectability of the genre (which we’ve established already has a problem with being taken seriously so it’s not a valid argument anyway). The worst thing for me is when other female romance authors make these arguments because they always strike me as specious and defensive and hostile.

We in romance are like the Mary Kay ladies. People love to make fun of the Mary Kay ladies but hello, the Mary Kay corp makes a hella big profit every year. People may make fun of romance but we dominate the market, someone’s buying our books.

So you know, I’ll take my royalty statements over respectability. That’s just me. I’m a smart woman with lots of letters behind my name and I love to read and write romance. I’m not going to apologize for either and neither should anyone else. Regencies, Greek Tycoons, erotic romance, contemps about NASCAR – I don’t care, sod respectability, let’s just enjoy what we do and stop attacking each other.

Sword and Crown

36,500 / 35,000 (104.3%)

And a bit more even. Relief. I was a bit surprised by the end, some stuff sort of snuck up on me but I’m pleased with it. I’ll definitely write fantasy again, but this time I’ll do it novel length so I have more space to explore the universe. I really loved Rhea though and Jax is yummy so I’m a happy woman.

Now I’m ready to move onto something else. Taking Chase needs finishing and I also need to finish my proposal/partial of Goddess With a Blade, too. As I’m sort of in a magic state of mind I may finish up my GWAB stuff first. I’ll have to decide when I’m done with my edits of S&C and send it to my editor.

I believe I may have convinced Anya and Megan to do Emerald City with me in October. Hee! Mavs in the house. And Samantha told me about the coolest wine that I want to put in a themed prize basket.

I’m off, I need more caffeine. (yes, I heard you snickering, I am indeed off, I can’t help it. But I’m also signing off.)

Oh and PS – Lydia Joyce you probably don’t even read this blog but I wanted to say to you – Smart women kick ass. Never hide your intelligence. It’s just petty when people try to tear you down because you’re smarter than they are.