First my sincere thanks to Mari for inviting me to be a guest blogger! I think it was fate that we connected again at RT after a long and winding road as it were<g>Truly, it was fantastc to see you at RT and to see your many well-deserved success’s lady! Cyber high five and continued success!
So you wanted to know about what’s been happening since RT? Aside from already setting into motion the panels and workshops for RT 2009 (ack! there is no rest for the wicked, I tell you!!) I’ve been busy juggling sumnmer schedules for my family as well as my writing! (Am I preaching to the choir, here? Let me hear an amen!)
Oh lordy, my summer is nuts, as I’m sure each of you can attest! I came back from RT in Pittsburgh to news of my faery fantasy romance TIRNAN ‘OGE being released at Cresent Moon Press, (insert woohoo*) and shortly thereafter , news that it was coming out in a print duet with the gifted and (should be a new mommy by now) Isabo Kelly! True story..I didn’t Isabo very well, but somehow this past year, we connected via email and started talking about these individual faery stories we had sitting around from eons ago when we’d both submitted them to a pub for a “certain” faery anthology that sadly never came to fruition. One thing lead to another and we tossed fate to the winds as it were, and this month these two stories, having been polished, and amped up with serious yummy heat are together in a print duet release (double woowhoo*) called FAERY SONG” (Crescent Moon Press Fate or coincidence? you decide!
Happily amid the normal craziness that living with a professional caregiver husband, twin sons, a labrador who thinks he is a lap dog and a cat who tolerates the lot of us, and having two older adult children, I have been busy at writing my second erotic historical for Harlequin Spice.
TORTURED , an early medieval (or Dark Ages if you prefer) is slated for September 2009. This is the story of a young Celtic woman, Sierra, imprisoned in her teens by a tyrannical Saxon warlord, after she watches her mother murdered and tries to save her half-brother from being banished to the wolves. She becomes violent (go figure) and instead of a quick death, he cuts off her hair and forces her to apprentice his executioner. Over time, Sierra loses all emotion, save one-hate. (you figured that, didn’t you?) She barely remembers her life before, except for stolen sexual moments with a stable boy who befriends her. When a Roman warrior is brought in, he is strong against the measures used on him to extract information of a conspiracy to overthrow the Saxon lord. But with the promise of her freedom, Sierra uses unorthodox methods and what she learns from not only the Saxon lord, but the mysterious and handsome prisoner, may prove to be information that could kill them all. Intense, not for the faint-of heart! (Tortured-September 2009)
I just recieved the final draft of the cover of my debut erotic historical with HQ Spice! Its absolutely gorgeous and I couldnt have pegged such a a delish cover depicting this sotry any better! DIARY OF COZETTE is set in early 19th century England and is the story-in diary form-of a young woman, (Cozette) orphaned at a young age who escapes being sold into the “white slave trade” of that era only to end up homeless on the streets, dressing as a man to survive and winds up working for a madam in a burlesque theater. She befriends a well-to-do woman bent on reforming her. As she grows, Cozette learns of life, friendship, and lust at the hands of a wealthy lord, a stable tender with a mysterious past, and a budding new artist. While her mistress suffers in her marriage, Cozette takes on the role of confidant to her and learns that not all things are as they appear.
This story has a bevy of delightful, if not eccentric , lively characters that I loved writing about! So vivid are some they may well show up in other stories, you never know! I hope you’ll check it out!! (Diary oif Cozette October 2008)
Releasing the same month as an Writers Read at e-harlequin.com will be my tempting short story ‘THE BOYS CLUB”-this too is set in 19th century London. TBC tells the story of a woman desperate for work and independence that she accepts the impressively paid position as mistress for an elite private businessman’s “club.” Each month , as entertainment after the meeting, her duty is to entertain one of the members in any fashion he choses, so long as it can be done in the privacy of her chambers.The exception , of course, is the man who hired her for the year long commitment and whose home she lives in and is domestic servant for the rest of the time. Rules state that he cannot touch her. Angst-city, baby! Whew! It was a blast to write this one and rekindled a series of books on the great artists and their muses that I hope to have news on soon!
In September, my first Spice Briefs -MIRROR, MIRROR (contemporary) will release just ahead of Cozette! Very exciting and very different for those who love the settings like Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” or more recently, “Disturbia.” Lots of twists , turns, and steam-heat going on in this one!!
For now thought, its back to edits and deadlines and though they darn near at times send me over the edge, I am so thrilled and grateful to be writing for this particular Harlequin line of fine women’s fiction! To those of you heading to nationals in SF, safe travel and lots of fun!
To any of you authors who would like to guest blog over at my blog www.lustintime.blogspot.com just click the link and we’ll be in touch!
How have you all managed to juggle the summer schedules? Any tips you’d like to share, I have my pen at the ready! LOL When I can I sneak out to my hammock on the deck and wactch the clouds or doze-what do you do to relax or re-energize?
Hope to see you all in Orlando in 09 and until then , stay well, read lots and enjoy the day!
Best~
Pamela Johnson w/a Amanda McIntyre
http://www.thefaerycourt.com/
SPICE Briefs-Mirror, Mirror Sept. 08/ SPICE-Books-Diary of Cozette October 08
SPICE 2009: TORTURED and WINTER’S DESIRE anthology
ENCORE ROMANCE-Back again! Award-winning romance! -Unfinished Dreams April 08
TOTAL E-Bound-Available now-Risky Business June 08
CRESCENT MOON PRESS-New content! TIRNAN ‘OGE June 08
www.amandamcintyre.net * www.myspace.com/amandamcintyre *Lusty Ladies http://lustintime.blogspot.com
Some hard truths about e-publishers — Lynne Connolly
The sort of advice we all need to be aware of.
For the SECOND time in the past month or so, New Concepts Publishing has taken a partial from an author (the partial was contracted but never finished) and has made additions to the book without the approval of the creating author, thus violating her copyrights. (According to the contract, any significant changes must be approved by the author. This is not the case.)
I wholeheartedly can say this is a publisher to avoid. I, myself, have had my dealings with the company, and they currently hold 3 of my books, refusing to release the rights until the contract expires in 2010. In so refusing to release my books, I have been personally insulted and belittled by the owner without any provocation on my part.
Again, New Concepts Publishing is, in my opinion, unprofessional and a publisher to be avoided.
Professional jealousy is not only counter productive, it is unhealthy. I keep telling myself this. Really, really trying to be happy for my friends who have made the all important leap to NY while I am still waiting for someone to read my books/my submission and swear they must have me write for their company. And as the latest urge to kill myself washes over me, my friend Annmarie and I have decided to turn to Keanu for help. Think of handsome and talented Keanu Reeves to take away all your worries and other negative vibes to cause panic attacks and any other plunges into the pits of dispair.
So…Keanu, can you hear me now? Good. Take me away. Just let me see those dark brown eyes and melt away my troubles with one sultry look….
Ahhhh…..see, I feel better now.