Last story of 2006...

Unless I go completely nuts tomorrow, I finished and sent off the last story of 2006. This piece proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that a) I am a professional and b) I am, in fact, the reincarnation of a decadent 19th-century poet. You see, my always tricky back decided to go completely bonkers on Boxing Day, the day I was scheduled to start that story. I took my "take 'em and drool" painkillers, put on the back brace, and started the story.

Okay, so I fell asleep once and woke (when nuzzled by a cat) to find myself drooling into the keyboard. And I discovered a few unplanned changes of tense when, once again in my right, non-stoned mind, I got on to the editing stage. But I finished the story and it's good. I took some risks with language that I might not have had I not been quite so relaxed. All right, it took about twice as long as it should have to finish, but I got it done, damn it!

I also discovered that I had a finished story that fit the guidelines for an anthology I'd forgotten about (oops! it got lost in the holiday rush!) so that's packed up and ready to go. With luck, they'll be understanding that it has a January 2 postmark instead of January 1. If not... *shrugs* I'm out a bit of postage. Oh well.

My, that last post was unabashedly whiny, wasn't it? I'm half tempted to delete it, but it does reflect what was running through my mind at the time. Some days, one just feels like Ms. Crankypants, and that was one of them!

Today, although I'm a bit under the weather and still trying to blast through the holiday-season writing doldrums, I can announce something fun. Coming soon to an open-minded bookstore near you, and already on amazon.com: Ultimate Lesbian Erotica 2007, containing a story by me and one by and Dayle (writing as Andrea Dale). A wide range of tales in this book, from the sweet yet hot (ours both fit that description) to the outrageous.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Lesbian-Erotica-2007/dp/1555839703/sr=8-1/qid=1167237438/ref=sr_1_1/103-7920885-3694259?ie=UTF8&s=books

Another story off, and reflections on a busy month

Got a short erotica piece off for a private call for submissions tonight. I still have another one to do by January 1, but am not feeling overly stressed about that; the story's pretty well formed in my head.

I have been feeling a bit stressed and guilty--both, I realize, with no good reason, about how little writing I've accomplished since mid-November. Realistically, I went from two simultaneous editing projects that left me with very few brain cells (but gave me enough money to pay my half of the mortgage for several months) to a much-needed vacation to holiday prep and the craziness thereof. Dayle and I have started working again on Out of the Frying Pan, the next Sophie project. I've done one short story and--hurray!--several poems. (Poems are delicate, tempermental things. I can make fiction appear on command more often than not, provided I have anything resembling focus and mental energy, although it's not necessarily good fiction right out of the box. Poetry comes when it wants to, performs ninja sneak attacks on my brainstem, forcing me to write, then vanishes again.) Before the editorial insanity set in, I'd made decent headway on Master Right. Didn't finish the draft, but would have if other work hadn't eaten my head, and should be able to pretty readily once I pick it up again.

So why do I feel stressed and guilty? Because everywhere, I'm seeing chirpy articles about how to write as a stay-home mom by shutting your kids out of the office, how to make writing your #1 Priority Always, and I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, a career focus is a wonderful thing to have. It allows you to be goal-oriented, lets you Get Things Done. But I admit my focus is split between my husband and the other important people in my life and my work, just about 50/50.

I don't have kids and that's unlikely to change, since I'm 42 and have never had a recognizable maternal urge. But if I did, I don't think I'd shut them out of the office. If my husband wants my company, I give it to him unless I'm in Crazy Deadline Mode.

And with that attitude, my productivity will never be as high as it might be. I know this, and sometimes I regret it. But aiming for some sort of balance seems to be what keeps me sane. If either side gets neglected too long--the writing or the relationship/domestic side--I get a little twitchy.

New Sophie Mouette Story online!

It's at the fine online publication Fishnetmag.com. This Sophie is sweet and romantic (but very sexy) and about the Winter Solstice.

http://www.fishnetmag.com/archives/2006/12/bringing_back_t.html

Happy holidays! (For my next trick, a real post will follow. Someday soon!)

Like sex, love, and rock and roll?

Then go forth and pre-order A Little Night Music, the forthcoming very hot novel by my beautiful co-author Dayle and her friend Sarah, writing as Sarah Dale. I've read large chunks of it and can say that (even if I weren't crazy about the authors) it's fun, romantic, sexy as silk sin, and great wish fulfillment for anyone who's spent too much time being a squeeing fangirl/fanboy over a musician. (And really, who hasn't at some point?)

It's at http://www.amazon.com/Little-Night-Music-Sarah-Dale/dp/0352341106/sr=1-3/qid=1165614788/ref=sr_1_3/105-5274852-2656439?ie=UTF8&s=books.

Won't actually be available until August, but hey, buy now and get a nice surprise in the mail in months, when you've forgotten you ever ordered it.

Interesting discussion all this week about erotic romance and erotica at

http://www.romancebytheblog.blogspot.com/

Today's installment features my Black Lace editor, Adam Nevill, with comments by some really smart writers. And if you're suffering from the misapprehension that writers of romance and erotica aren't that bright or sophisticated, this conversation might open your eyes. (Then again, if you really thought that, you wouldn't be reading my blog, would you?) Quotes from Susan Sontag and D.H. Lawrence, discussions about the place of de Sade in literary history...I felt rather outclassed, since I couldn't come up with something that profound to add.

It looks overall to be a conversation to watch if you're interested in the place of sex in books.

(And take a look at Adam. Don't I have a handsome editor? And he's really tall. Add the educated-Brit voice to that and you can imagine the trail of swooning women he left behind all over RWA.)

Nothing like a good review to brighten a girl's day

I'm looking forward to another exciting 12-hour+ day of editing and working with proofreaders, in the home stretch of finishing up a book that has to be at the printer on Monday and still has a huge amount of work to do on it*, I just but in my in-box this morning, I found a link to a really good review of Cat Scratch Fever.


http://www.aromancereview.com/reviews/index.php?app_state=show_event&bookid=9137

So, I may be stuck inside on a lovely day, and not doing my own writing, but hey, they like us. They really, really like us.

* Long story, but the short version is: someone else got unavoidably delayed and cleaning up the mess is now partly my problem. I really shouldn't complain; while there's a hellish aspect to trying to do so much so fast, I'll have a few months when it's done where I'll be able to focus on my writing without scrambling for editing work and other odd jobs. So I'm thankful for that. I just want Monday to be come and gone so I can sleep!