Writing life
Here are Sebastian and Fiona, more or less how I see them. It’s hard to find images to match people who truly exist only in my mind’s eye. In the story their ages are reversed from these pictures, so it is a younger man story.
They aren’t being chatty yet, but at least they are feeling and breathing. Maybe they’ll talk later. Or perhaps they are talking and I just haven’t been quiet enough to catch what they’re saying.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
9:56 pm |
Real life
Last week was the worst of my life because I lost my real-life hero and husband of many years to cancer.
His battle was long and bravely fought, I thought I was prepared, but I find there is no preparation for losing the love of your life.
I have wonderful friends, and two terrific adult children, but they each have their own grief to deal with and busy lives of their own. So I’ve sent them home.
Now it is just me, the juvenile delinquent little dog, and the hoodlum cat. I sure hope the imaginary people who usually live in my head come back.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
6:21 pm |
Publication quest
Another rejection, which to be honest, I expected. The charming editor is right, it’s not their kind of story. Ironically, I know what she wants and I’d love to give it to her, but I don’t have anything unpromised in inventory. Argh!
To make matters worse, real life is kicking my butt and writing has moved to the back of the priority list–barely creeping along.
I have one more discriminating editor to try with my erotica short story. I know there are readers, who want these stories, but there are only a few publishers, who offer them. Argh, argh!
Current year’s goals updated
1) Continue to study and learn the craft of writing (this is a permanent goal).
2) Three submissions–done–follow up with a sequels* one done, two in progress
3) In roads into the TBR shelves
Progress report
1) Writing–applying what I’ve learned so far …
2) Six submissions sent! Two novels, one novella x two, and one short x two
Status: One sale–four rejections–one waiting to hear from the publishers
Timeline:
Number one: resting–revisions next year?
Number two: Sold! Tasteful acquiring editor explained it will be months before an editor is assigned to work with me … actual release date? Some time next year is my best guess.
Number three: waiting for format changes needed before resubmitting
Number four: Submitted–estimated response time: one week to ten months one week**
Number five: Resting before final polishing edit
TBR shelves lightened
*Yes, I do admit this is an insane plan, but I needed to stay busy. Now I need to recover my twisted mind in order to develope more dangerously sexy stories.
** Tasteful review editor wrote that she liked it and moved it to acquiring editor’s inbox. Sadly, acquiring editor’s inbox is overflowing
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
5:45 pm |
Writing Life
The story I’m wroking on at the moment, albeit very slowly, may be sheer indulgence. All I can do is hope that others enjoy the fantasy. It’s something I’d like to read that I haven’t found. I think of it as an X-rated Presents. Lots of the classic fantasy is there–exotic locale, alpha hero, the trappings of wealth and power, and of course the emotional conflict–but an erotic adult version.
Missing are all but the shadows of secondary characters, the long drawn out courtship, and the guaranty of a happy ending.
Wish me luck.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
4:20 am |
Life
On Sundays, I take stock of what I’ve done to achieve my goals. The answer this week is not much. Uncharacteristically, I’m okay with my lack of production. I’m still writing. I’m still reading, learning, and growing just very, very slowly. There are times when life takes precedence over work.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
2:47 pm |
More cookie corruption
Not only have my cookies gone bad but now one of my word meters is missing. I’ll come fool around with them at some future point or maybe I’ll get a real website. I can dream–bet they’re not trouble free either.
For now real life is demanding lots of time and writing gets whatever computer minutes are available. So I’m away from the cyber world for awhile.
XXOO
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
3:48 pm |
Goals
Alone in the office with nothing but pictures of Algernon’s amazing body to inspire me I’ve uncovered a shocking combination of naked ambition and grim necessity.
Let me explain. I already know my next goal (earn a living wage via writing thus preventing the need for a day job). By the way, I loved my former day job–but for a whole slew of reasons–earning money without leaving the house is very appealing.
Cat and dog food is not free, to say nothing of flea treatments, supplements, vet bills, and in the dog’s case–tuition and camp fees. Yeah, I know, they are spoiled, still they’re my responsibility.
Royalty income spans the whole spectrum from really discouraging to oh-my-God I need a much better tax plan. But one thing is clear, one title is not going to meet my income need. Next year I plan on three releases. The following year I want to double that number while adding a second publisher for at least one or two of those titles.
Now this may sound like long range planning, but the time line between submission and contract runs up to a year or more. Then there is there are many steps between contract and actual release of the title–easily another year. Finally, there’s another period of time between release and actual payment of royalties, I figure six months. During these two and half years, the animals continue to eat . . . the pressure to produce increases.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
4:47 pm |
Writing life
Have you noticed the huge gap between career images and reality? Since steamy romance writing is my chosen occupation, I feel obligated to shatter a few rosy myths.
I am not my characters, nor am I living their lives. If I were, when would I have time or energy to write about it?
My office looks like any regular business type office. Desk, computer, printer, books, phone all that boring ordinary stuff. No bed, no satin sheets, and definitely no naked guys.
I’m not dressed in silk and lace. If my jeans don’t have big holes or any bad stains – they’re good enough. Come on, I work at home. What would you wear to work if you didn’t have to leave the house?
Confession time, I do frequently start writing in my nightie and robe. Not a problem–until the doorbell rings. Then dog barks, giving away the fact I’m definitely at home. Then I glance at the clock, noticing it’s after eleven AM. There’s no getting around the fact, answering the door in my bed clothes makes me feel like a sloth, even when I’ve been working all morning.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
7:55 pm |
Eye candy
Steamy stories need inspiration . . .
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
4:37 pm |
Publication Quest
The first big goal was to learn to write. This is one of those lifetime journey affairs–took me awhile to figure that out. I continue to travel the endless road, grateful I chose a path with great scenery. It is still a arduous trek but I’m not hacking my way through impentetrable jungle at the moment–more like hiking along decently marked but challenging trail.
The next big goal? Earn a living wage via writing. I do like a challenge.
The word meter for the new story stalled–a combination of real life interfering with my plans and noticing the minimum response time for the Pirate novella is getting closer. Knowing that if the story is not ready then the editor will absolutely respond faster than the estimated range, I hestitated, but getting a request and not being prepared is definitely worse that being ready and impatient. Hence, I’ve spent most of the week polishing the novella.
Current year’s goals updated
1) Continue to study and learn the craft of writing. (this is a permanent goal)
2) Three submissions – done – follow up with a sequels* one done two in progress! (I’ve exceeded the submission quota and am well underway with sequels)
3) In roads into the TBR shelves
Progress report
1) Editing –applying what I’ve learned so far …
2) Six submissions sent! Two novels, one novella x two, and one short x two
Status: One sale–three rejections–two waiting to hear from the publishers
Timeline:
Number one: resting (revisions next year?)
Number two: Sold! Tasteful acquiring editor explained it will be months before an editor is assigned to work with me … actual release date? Some time next year is my best guess.
Number three: Resubmitted–new estimated response time: two to four weeks
Number four: Resubmitted–new estimated response time: three weeks to ten months three weeks
**
Number five: Resting before final polishing edit
TBR shelves even reading ebook and one from library–I know all these good books to read and I’m reading a library book.
*Yes, I do admit this is an insane plan, but I need to stay busy. If I have idle time I become even more neurotic and imagine unpleasant things. Far better to put my twisted mind to work developing more dangerously sexy stories.
** Tasteful review editor wrote that she liked it and moved it to acquiring editor’s inbox. Sadly, acquiring editor’s inbox is overflowing
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @
4:17 pm |
One dangerous warrior woman plus two rogue demon males equals a love to threaten an empire. 
Getting paid to watch Eduardo is Desiree’s dream assignment, but when he reaches out to her, crossing the line, everything changes.
Deep in her secret heart, she lusts for a sexy pirate who’d be her master and commander in the bedroom. But, this man may be too dangerous
She finds paradise in the arms of twin brothers, but their law demands she chose one warrior to mate and one to die. 
One woman, two men, three wounded hearts--though already mated their love is still forbidden.
A reluctant reporter and a lone wolf undercover cop work to catch an extortionist, finding love requires the most dangerous risk of all. 
Street-smart cop plays princess to catch deadly terrorists. Now,the only man she trusts is the one she can't resist.
Along with the arrival of Sam’s nemesis comes Karina, the one woman who can heal his wounded soul. While he worries about endangering her, what he doesn’t know may kill him. Because, the love of his life is his worst nightmare--his enemy’s daughter. 
A lonely woman executive finds passion with a dominant much younger lover, forcing a choice between love and loyalty 