Arrrgggh!!!

Did a lot of rewriting and I'm still about 13 K short of the word goal for my sci-fi.

So, I've decided to print out what I've got, put it aside and start working on the first draft of my post-Civil War story.

I need a change of scenery, I guess. Once I get the first draft done, maybe I can go back and figure out what new scenes to add to get that sci-fi plumped out.

I plan to review my outline for the historical tomorrow, then dive into the first draft on Monday. If I can get the first 5000 words written over next week, I'll be very happy.

Is anybody starting on a first draft? If so, let me know what your word count goals are?

And by the way, Northern Roses and Southern Belles is slated for release on July 31, 2009. More on that to come.

Signed off on the galley

We signed off on the galley for Northern Roses and Southern Belles today, so we should be getting a release date soon. We already know it's coming out in July, but I'd like to know how close it will be to the release of Erin's Rebel on July 17th.

I'll keep everyone informed when news comes in, but in case you missed it, here's the blurb again.

Northern Roses and Southern Belles

coming July 2009 to The Wild Rose Press

In a country torn asunder--from the Candian border to Texas, from Maryland to Arkansas, from the battlefield of Antietam to the Red River Campaign--brave men and loyal women see their lives turned upside down.

Peril lurks behind every tree and near every homestead, but the hard-fought love of a man and a woman surpasses all.

Six talented writers provide stories of romance and danger centering on Union and Confederate soldiers, spies, blockade runners, renegades, and battlefield nurses during a period of corsets, hoopskirts, and gentleman callers.

Blogging Today at Slip Into Something Victorian

Today's my day to blog over at Slip Into Something Victorian. I'm talking about the impending release of my first full-length romance, Erin’s Rebel, a Civil War time travel.

Here’s the link if you’d like to take a look: http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com

Plotting Time

I'm back to plotting again, but this time I'm plotting out new scenes for a manuscript already written. This is the second time a manuscript came out too short after I wrote the first draft. So, what I've decided to do is reread what I already wrote, then plot out several new scenes I can insert right into the story. I've already written four new scenes, which added about 2000 words to the manuscript, but that's not enough.

I spent the past three hours rereading and writing ideas for new scenes. So far, I've got a list of five new scenes I can add to this story. The last time I had to do this, those new scenes really enhanced the original draft, so I'm hoping it will work with this story too.

I'm Over At Slip Into Something Victorian

And I'm talking about the types of jobs Victorian women took over from men during the Civil War. Join me over at: http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com

Thought It Might Be Fun...

To post an excerpt from my new vampire story, Sweet Redemption. And you can view that cool cover in the post below.

At first she held her lips firm, then opened allowing him to explore the velvety insides of her mouth. Encouraged, he leaned into her, and she yielded beneath him, sighing softly as she reclined on the settee. He pulled the pins, releasing her hair into a silken veil trailing over her bodice. He cupped one of her lush breasts through the fabric of her gown, and she moaned in response. Encouraged, he adjusted his body over hers, his arousal growing.

She gazed up at him, eyes half-closed in passion. He focused on her throat and the steadily beating pulse. He pushed a strand of hair back and fixated on the soft, white skin, gaze drawn to the pulse point. His lips grazed the spot, the beat and scent driving him mad. He had the overwhelming urge to bite. His mouth distended.

An image of what Arnwolf had done to him in the barn, made him jerk back. His heart pounded as he traced his finger along his teeth. Two sharp, pointed fangs had taken the place of his canines. He rose from the settee and howled, backing away.

Mrs. Emery stared at him.

He turned away, so she wouldn’t see. What had he become?

Just Okayed My New Cover!!

And I couldn't wait to get it up here, so I could show it off. This is for my latest short vampire story, Sweet Redemption, coming out with The Wild Rose Press.

Isn't it cool?

Here's the blurb:

On a cold December night, Union infantry captain, Jonathan Hackett, is pinned down on the Fredericksburg battlefield trying to escape Confederate fire. But a creature of the night, more dangerous than any enemy soldier, stalks him. Jon must fight for his life as well as his soul.

Maddie Emery has lost everything dear to her. Her husband and parents have passed on and her brothers are off fighting in the Confederate Army. She’s alone, trying single-handedly to hold onto her family’s farm, when a Yankee soldier collapses across her stoop.

Maddie and Jon form a bond of love and desire, but as Jon exhibits signs of becoming the creature he fears most, is their love enough to fight off the evil of a centuries old vampire bent on destroying them?

I'm So Excited!

The authors and stories that will be in the American historical Christmas anthology are posted on the Wild Rose Press American Rose line blog. Here's the link: http://americanroseline.blogspot.com