zzzzzzzz.....

Oh hell...

Agh, it's a good job I decided to do another run at these proofs! I found a minor plot inconsistency that I now have to get around with the least amount of adjustment to the text... bugger, bugger, bugger!

Can be done... but it's caused me to start doubting and questioning the whole book now. And the behaviour of the characters. I've gone from rather liking it to thinking it's a pile of pooh again, and silly, unintelligent and uneven.

It's probably okay, actually, but now, I'll always have doubts and uncertainties about it. One thing I know though... *never ever* again will I agree to turn in a manuscript early. Next time, I'll work up until my originally allotted deadline and take all the time I need for additional checking and nitpicking and extra polishing!!!!

I'd forgotten how much...

... I hate checking page proofs!!!!!

It's not that I hate the book itself, on the contrary, I'm very fond of it, and the characters. But I hate having to read it twice on the trot, knowing I'm going to find snafus. I daren't just read it the once, because I always, but always, find new errors on the second pass.

Worse than the actual reading and marking up the errors is the decision making. Making decisions is one of the things I loathe and hate and dread in life with extreme prejudice! And having to decided, with certain page proof 'funnies' whether to change them, or how to change them, makes me want to scream and cry and break things. It's horrifically stressful. In fact I actually get a physically sick feeling in my stomach at the thought of it... I've got that right now, and I'm doing anything I can to avoid tackling the proofs again... including making lolcats instead of getting stuck in.

And yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I should be a pro about this and get started and not whinge like a baby about it... but as my dear old Mum would have said, I'm 'maungy' and a drama queen, and can really act like a kid about things sometimes...

Time for a coffee, methinks, and maybe I'll watch a bit of snooker now... and start again on the proofs this afternoon. LOL

Excerpt at Lust Bites today!

I'm over at Lust Bites today... with an excerpt from GEMINI HEAT, my first ever Black Lace novel!

GemHeat is very much a 'women's romantic erotica' novel, rather than the sort of emotionally driven erotic 'romance' that I write today. Why not nip over there and check out the difference?

Keepin' it old school, baby!

While you're there, leave a comment, and you'll go into a prize draw to win a signed copy of a book from my backlist! :)

I'm hanging with Ravens today!

I'm featured at the Raven Blog today, with a Promo for Gothic Heat! This is a fun juxtaposition actually, as there's a Raven Nightclub in the book. It's pretty disreputable dive and nowhere near as classy as Michelle and Mandy's gaff though. The hero and heroine, Rafe and Paula first meet at the Raven... and sort of 'get to know' each other in the alley behind the club, if you get my drift! ;)

Anyway, do nip along there and leave a comment, because there's a chance for one lucky commenter to win a spot prize of a two book bundle of signed titles from my backlist!

Professor Hottie... is hot!

Despite my natural fears, I've been been enjoying checking the proofs of IN TOO DEEP and especially reacquainting myself with my hero Professor Hottie McHotstuff aka Professor Daniel Brewster. He's a very naughty academic, full of sexy fun, but also dealing with some quite serious issues. Molto complex... and it's no wonder that Gwendolynne very quickly falls for him!

The proofs themselves are pretty straightforward... no major boo-boos or continuity errors as far as I can determine. Just a few odd punctuation bits, nothing drastic. Which is big phew of relief for me! I've done the first pass, and am 'clearing my head' of them today, but tomorrow, I'll be reading through the proofs again. Even though I think I've caught everything, there is always, but always something I find on the second pass...

And I do like the book. It's a simple story, very intensely focused on two sexy, emotional people, pretty much a feel-good tale but with a side of complications that make the pair work for their happiness.

Snooker Loopy!

This is what I'll be watching on the telly for the next couple of weeks! Wahey, it's the World Snooker Championships held at the Crucible in Sheffield!

Snooker is the ideal viewing while checking page proofs, because you can have it burbling away in the background as a calming presence, and when you need a few moments to refresh your mind and your eyes, you can look up and dip into a game. I haven't quite yet decided who I want to win... but when I do, it'll be the kiss of death for that player, naturally.

What with the proofs and everything, I have a busy week ahead. I'm featured at the Raven Blog on Wednesday, and will be dropping in to answer comments there. :)

And on Friday, I've got an excerpt post at Lust Bites. Still haven't quite decided what excerpt to post, but it'll be from my first ever Black Lace novel GEMINI HEAT. Have been reading through the thing, looking for something to pull out, and it's astonishing how different it is to the way I write now. I'm not saying it's necessarily worse or better... it's just different! I think for my own taste, I prefer the me of now... I'm much, much happier with emotion based, committedly romantic writing... but the old PDC of full on, shag everything that moves erotica still has a certain charm.

Regular readers... what do you think? Erotic journeys toward love and HEA? Or women's erotic education bonkathons?

Eeek! Agh!

Agh! Agh! Agh! The page proofs of IN TOO DEEP have arrived!

Now, I should have expected these imminently, as the editor asked if I could turn the book in three weeks early, but it was still a shock when postie handed them to me this morning. I usually get a 'heads up' that they're on their way, but obviously things were too hectic and no warning was sent.

Page proofs terrify the bejesus out of me because at this stage, it's too late to make anything but the most essential changes to correct any spelling and punctuation bits that have slipped through the editing process. Obviously the book must be generally okay, as I wasn't asked to do any corrections, but it's a bit [lot] disquieting when you turn in a book and the next thing you know, the proofs arrive! It's the next to final stage...

Anyway, as gentle readers of this blog will know, IN TOO DEEP was one of those books that was both fun, and a total beyotch to write. As most of mine are, nowadays... But it's also one I ended up loving, and smiling at the end of, happy for my characters, Gwendolynne and Professor Hottie aka Daniel. Despite it's naughtiness and rampant sexual shenanigans, I think romance readers will like the way it goes. :)

It's available on the 4th September [my wedding anniversary!] in the UK and 11th November in the US, and you can pre-order now [if you want...] from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Do watch this! :)

This delightful funny is going the rounds apparently.... I found it at Cute Overload. It's priceless!

lolcat?

Anyone got a lolcat title for this?

Shortlisted!

Guess what? My 2007 title SUITE SEVENTEEN has been shortlisted in the Passionate Plume Awards, in the contemporary category! The Passionate Plumes are awarded by the Passionate Ink chapter of the Romance Writers of America, for excellence in erotic romance fiction.



Suite Seventeen is already a winner, having won the Year's Best Contemporary Erotic Romance Award at ROMANCE B[U]Y THE BOOK!

Not sure if I can make it a double, because there are some wonderful and very popular books up against me, but just to be nominated is a thrill and an honour! :)

Random Bloke of the Day

The delightful Alvaro Bautista, who won the 250cc Class at today's Moto GP of Portugal in Estoril.

Just look at those lovely smiley eyes!

Look what arrived this morning!

Not Mulder, obviously. She's been here 11 years now... But copies of the Black Lace paranormal erotic romance anthology MAGIC AND DESIRE - featuring yours truly along with top authors Janine Ashbless and Olivia Knight.

Doesn't it look gorgeous? Not pink, but still a very pretty colour...

You can find excerpts from my novella - ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT - here and here.

Enjoy!

Pretty in Pink!

Yes, it's the cover I've been waiting for... and isn't it nice? I love pink!

Here's some stuff about the book

More of that excellent news!

The BOUND BRITS anthology, containing my story The Retreat, is also going to be published in the first round of print releases by Total-E-Bound!

So that's two lovely new print titles that I wasn't expecting. Isn't that fab? Especially for reader buddies of mine who still prefer a good, traditional printed book over an ebook.

No details yet of the actual release date... but I'll post it here as soon as I know it.

Some excellent news!

I got home from my jaunt out on Friday to some really exciting news!

WILD IN THE COUNTRY my recent release from hot British epublisher Total-E-Bound is soon to go into print!!!

Wild in the Country was originally published in print in a slightly different version several years ago, but the publisher at the time never did any marketing or promotion for the line, so it pretty much disappeared without a trace on that first publication. Which was a shame, because even though it's not a giant classic of erotic literature, it's a really fun book with lots of rampant bonking and all round kinkery. A light hearted read to cheer you up and make you laugh at its absurdity as much as it turns you on.

Consequently, I'm really glad it's coming back into print again, especially as I know that there are lots of PDC readers out there who tend to prefer an actual book in their hands rather than reading an ebook.

I don't have any details about release date, or price, or where you can buy it yet, but rest assured, as soon as I know, so will you! So watch this space! :)

And a ps. to my fellow Vincent D'Onofrio fans....

Although Wild in the Country was written long before I turned on to our darling Vincenzo, I discovered when I was editing it again that I kept seeing the hero, Drew, as our guy. He's a tall, dark, strapping, gorgeously handsome artist with a wickedly naughty sexual imagination... nuff said! ;)

Wahey, a great day out!

Had an absolutely fantastic day out yesterday with my wonderful writing buddy, Saskia Walker! Instead of our usual trip to big town, we met in even bigger town/city and after a jolly, giggly lunch, we toured the big bookshops to look for our books on the shelves. Here in Waterstones, we found masses! So he's me, looking rather pleased with myself, along with some of my literary oeuvres.

Luckily, the staff didn't come and chase us away for rearranging the shelves and frightening the punters away! LOL

ps. Madelynne... notice anything? ;)

very scary

Am posting at LUSTBITES again today... on Ancient and Modern, a reflection on the fact that I've been writing for Black Lace for fourteen years.

Click here to read post [comment there for chance of a prize!]

The trouble is, I burbled something about 'what would I be doing in another 14 years' and now I've scared myself sh*tless because it's dawned on my how very, very old I'll be in 14 years time.

Of course there's nothing I can do about that, but still, it's frightening... :(

ps. hottish excerpt of Gemini Heat there too.

Here's my lad...

... home and safe and contented. Kuffer's dental surgery went smoothly and he's recovering beautifully, back to his normal self already and eating well. I'm hoping he'll put on weight now that he has a nice, if virtually toothless mouth. He's already fully mastered the art of 'gumming' up his Whiskas pouches, tuna, ham etc...

Have a good thought for....

KUFFER today... He's in the veterinary hospital, having dental treatment. It's routine stuff, although he'll probably have to have some teeth out, but he's 16 years old, and at that age, anaesthetics are a risk. Plus he has a thyroid condition. I shall be on tenterhooks until I hear from them that he's awake again. :(

Oh, and we've got a mouse in the house again too. Sigh...

UPDATE ON KUFFER

He's fine! Awake from the op and doing well. He doesn't have many teeth left, just a couple of canines, but both Alice and Mulder had to have their back teeth out some years ago, and they both eat like gannets!

No further news on the mouse. Still there, I suppose...