Ellora’s Cave is a dream publisher for me. I write romantica, they publish romantica, an ideal match, right?

Yet when faced with an opportunity to submit and the need to create something worthy, I quailed. Then Swampy, the contrary muse came through for me big time with not just a single story, but a whole series.

Now I’m quivering again, because Warriors’ Woman Book one of the Seduction Mission series is going to be available February 10th. There’s already an official buy page, an excerpt, and I have an Ellora’s Cave author page!

Have you ever had an impossible dream that came true?

All reassurances gratefully accepted.

Every once in a while I think about blogging. Most of the time, since I’m such a utter geek, I just blog, spilling out whatever occurs to me on the topic of the moment. I share the music that catches my ear, the last book I read, the struggle to produce a better story, things that make me laugh, snippets of life with the diva dog, and of course excerpts, story news, and author whines.

According to this website’s stats, for awhile free reads surpassed books as the most viewed page. If I didn’t blog at all, I might have time to create a free read a bit more often… But then I like the idea of more contests too…

What do y’all think?

WordPress used their platform to join the chorus of stop SOPA and PIPA –legislation designed to shut down websites engaged in copyright violations. I understand the concerns about censorship and the potential for abuse in the proposed legislation. The level of backlash and underlying assumption that all regulation is evil scares me.

While WordPress asks for donations now and then. their developers chose to offer their publishing software for free. This is the model some of the well-intentioned anti-SOPA/PIPA crowd want everyone else who creates intellectual property to adopt.

No. Thank. You. I don’t want to give away the stories I write. And yes, I do think it’s wrong for people to copy my work and donate it to their fellow pirates.

The Question Copyright Organization claims stealing intellectual property isn’t the same thing as stealing real property. Therefore all software, movies, television, books, and music transferred to digital formats should be available for free.

Am I the only one that sees a huge problem with this line of reasoning?

In this society, most adults barter their time for money. We call this employment. We suit up, show up, and add value to whatever product or service our employers provides the economy. How many of us would keep showing up without paychecks as incentive? Most of us want and need to get paid for our work.

Go ahead and weigh in with your feelings — we still have free speech.

Readers really do rule!

Whether you read on Kindle, Nook, Sony, or even dead tree books if you enjoyed the title you just read, please take a moment and leave a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Goodreads. Here’s a whole article on why reviews have so much power and how to leave one without giving yourself a headache.

In this brave new world of publishing, readers rule more than ever. Go review something.

How seriously do you take reader reviews?

Here’s what my crystal ball shows I’m working on during 2012:

1) A Very Demon Valentines — Demon Hunters II scheduled for release 2/14/12 from Loose Id

2) Warriors’ Woman — Book one of the Seduction Missions coming soon from Ellora’s Cave

3) A contemporary erotic romance coming someday (I hope)

4) A Trace of Ivy — Treeland Pack III coming someday (I hope)

5) A Very Demon Halloween — Demon Hunters III coming someday (I hope)

6) Seduction Mission II

Will I get all of these books done this year? Possibly, but given the lead time between submission and release is usually several months it’s unlikely all of them will be out this year even if I get them written.

What are your plans for 2012?

Ta da, the winner of the Amazon Gift Certificate is: Cheri! Congratulations!

A big thank you for everyone who stopped by for making release day a whole lot more fun!

One of my favorite reviewers is hosting a Jingle Balls Giveaway blog hop. So roll your mouse on over to Queentutt’s World of Escapism and clickedy click to check out the fabulous prizes, including A Promise of Amber!

You deserve a holiday treat or ten.

The new story hijacked my brain. Earlier I turned to the dog and said, “Remind me to…” Whatever it was I wanted her to remember — like that was going to work — churned beneath a fresh onslaught of possibilities when I began questioning the hero’s surname. Then I scooped her dinner onto my plate. She tilted her head with gentle concern and watched me mumbling with sad eyes.

In the beginning the story is a cloud of ideas, snippets of dialogue, character voices, situations, and with the current project location, because the setting is important to both the heroine and the hero.

What I don’t know about the characters and events far outweighs what I know. I’ll rewrite the opening several times, and then I’ll tweak the final version until it sings to me.

When the story flows, it’s pure magic and the best job in the world. When my blood, sweat, and tears drip on to the page one painful word at a time, it’s still beats anything else I’ve been paid to do.

Ellora’s Cave contracted Warriors’ Woman (yes the apostrophe is in the right place) the first novel in my new series; Seduction Mission. I’m still pinching myself every now and then.

No whining from me today.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!