blogging bleugh

Sometimes I write about having 'writer's bleugh'... which is my version of writer's block. But at the moment, I think I've got a touch of 'blogger's bleugh' instead. I just seem to have run out of steam a bit blogwise, and other demands on my creativity are making it difficult even to come up with my level of blogging twoddle... which is admittedly very much lower than a lot of people's.

But I don't think I'm alone in this [hopefully temporary] lack of enthusiasm for blogging. I go to a lot of blogs, not necessarily the same ones every day, but some of the folk who used to be real hard core, fluent and copious bloggers, seem to be just lacking the pep they used to have. And some don't seem to be blogging as much because they're concentrating on writing or whatever else they do... which I applaud! But it just seems as of the novelty of blogging has worn off and it's not quite the fresh medium it used to be. I suppose I'm lucky in that I've never set out to produce a consistently high standard of blogging, and I've certainly never aimed to be literary or to commentate or to educate... but I'm feeling that there's only so many times that people are prepared to be interested in my moaning and groaning about my writing problems, my health problems, and television, chocolate and cats.

Who else is a bit in the doldrums with blogging? It can't just be me...
--
Telly: LOCI - stunning acting Vincenzo! [and many thanks, Eliza, love you!]
Choc/Yummy: Fry's Turkish Delight
Mood: fairly good, but feeling pressured
Writing: a few hundred words of GH, but had to rip out some stuff, so no further forward
Reading: A Gentleman's Wager/Madelynne Ellis.... smashing stuff!
RSI/FMS: very, very tired, almost to the point of sleeping sickness


Don't forget Portia's Promos - new stuff being added all the time!

gaps...

Ack, did it again. Too busy to post. Too tired to post. Too distracted to think of anything fun and interesting to post. And it's not as if I haven't been having a nice time... I went to Manchester on Saturday and met two fabulous literary ladies, Madelynne Ellis and Janine Ashbless, who are Black Lace authors, just like me... Well, not just like me... because we all write different styles, of course.

Anyway, we spent several hours laughing and talking, dishing the dirt on writing and writers, and discussing our characters and plots, or lack of plots, in my case. We scoffed yummy food, drank delicious drinks and coffees and generally had a highly satisfactory time of it!

Here are some splendid piccies... well... splendid of Janine and Madelynne and almost human looking of me.... almost...

The fabulous Janine Ashbless

The Magnificent Madelynne Ellis

Madelynne again, with some old woman....

--
Telly: The Madness of King George
Choc/Yummy: Cupcakes
Mood: not bad
Writing: 1K Gothic Heat/outline Gothic Heat
Reading: about to start A Gentleman's Wager by Madelynne Ellis
RSI/FMS: rather tired and sore


Don't forget Portia's Promos - new stuff being added all the time!

Agh, I've been tagged!

Naughty Michelle Pillow has gone and tagged me, the scamp!

THE RULES:

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

EIGHT RANDOM FACTS:

1. I just ate a Fabulous Bakin' Boys Double Choc Cupcake

2. Before that I took an afternoon nap of one hour

3. There's an old movie playing on the telly - Heaven Can Wait, starring Don Ameche

4. Tomorrow I'm going to Manchester to meet Madelynne Ellis and Janine Ashbless

5. I do all my writing in bed! [or on it]

6. I wrote 1K words of my WIP this morning

7. #6 is a miracle

8. My favourite show is on the telly tonight - Law and Order Criminal Intent

I'M TAGGING... nobody

I don't think I'm actually going to tag anyone as such, but if you're visiting this blog and feel like posting 8 random facts about yourself on your blog... let me know!

displacement activity

I haven't got very far with the book yet, but I have made one of my silly faux covers for it!

Courtesy of Cute Overload

Was going to say... here's something utterly adorable to lift the spirits on a depressing Monday morning. Only I just realised it isn't Monday! It just feels like one after the Bank Holiday here in the UK.

Anyway, on visiting one of my favourite sites on the web, I saw this image... and I just felt an immediate lift in my happiness levels! If anyone is unaware of Cute Overload, oh, you really must try it. The site owners and contributors there just bring together the very best selection of images of... well... cuteness! Pictures of sweet, soul soothing animals to take the vexed mind off its worries and its woes. It's just pure medicine, it really is!

CUTE OVERLOAD

And many thanks to Margery, who submitted the kitten photo to CO

All the best people bleach their hair...

Thought I would simply post something pretty today... because I need it!

--
Telly: Agent Cody Banks
Choc/Yummy: miniature carrot cakes with buttercream
Mood: no comment
Writing: none
Reading: none
RSI/FMS: so so


Don't forget Portia's Promos - new stuff being added all the time!

virtual fun

Hey, I went to a glamorous awards ceremony last night! Hung with celebs of the romance world at a glitzy event... in virtual reality!

It was the Cameo Awards for Romance Book Trailers and it was held at the Romance Galleria which is a nifty 3D virtual world for romance writers and readers. I've been loitering there quite a lot lately, chatting to various writing buddies. It's a great venue for writers, where you can have a permanent presence or take part in chats and trailer screenings and other cyber events. There are official chats, but it's also perfectly possible, free and huge fun to just hang around the lobby and the exhibit landings having an informal natter with your buddies.


The Galleria does require you to download its own special software to create the virtual world, but even cautious me hasn't really had any problems with it. It's jolly new widget/toy to play with... and procrastinate with when I'm supposed to be writing!

ps. am gonna have to get me some book trailer goodness soon... I wonder if the Divine Vincenzo would consider starring in one for me. He does like to appear in Indie films, after all...

--
Telly: the snooker
Choc/Yummy: individual carrot cakes
Mood: idle
Writing: none
Reading: none
RSI/FMS: bit sore


Don't forget Portia's Promos - new stuff being added all the time!

Eyes of Desire

Here's the final lettered version of EYES OF DESIRE, my first HeatSheet! Mighty fine torso on that chappie, eh?

And here's the lineup of all the other great authors who are contributing to Force.

A good day...

Despite having not done much writing work... other than futzing about with a short... today has been a very pleasant day.

Got a bit of publication news this afternoon which pleases me mightily. It's another that I can't quite announce yet, because it's not 'official'... but I think I can say safely that it's 'almost certain' that a certain novella I've rabbited on here at length over the months might see the print light of day in 2008. Big smiles!

I was also deliciously tickled over at Romance By The Blog, when the lovely host there, Michelle, posted a gorgeous piccie of the Divine Vincenzo, just for me!



--
Telly: snooker
Choc/Yummy: turkish delight
Mood: delighted
Writing: editing a short
Reading: Rosemary Laurey Forever Vamps
RSI/FMS: bit sore, not bad


Don't forget Portia's Promos - new stuff being added all the time!

Win Big!

Nip over to Lust Bites today for a chance to win a magnificent prize! A copy of GOTHIC BLUE by yours truly... oh, and you're sure to enjoy the additional items that come with it too. ;)

--
Telly: LOCI [swoon...]
Choc/Yummy: not yet
Mood: okay
Writing: not yet
Reading: Kiss Me Forever - Rosemary Laurey
RSI/FMS: so so


Don't forget Portia's Promos - new stuff being added all the time!

erratic

Sorry to be so erratic about posting... You would think that after my fabboo news on Tuesday about Eyes of Desire, I would be bubbling all over my blog at the moment, wouldnt you? [That sounds vaguely rude and/or yukky...] Truth is, yesterday started out well, with a productive chat with a writing mate about a promo thing and then various other bits and bobs of writing/webby related stuff, only slightly interrupted by snooker [watching not playing] but then things started to get a teeny bit whack. Himself turned up, and we had a cuppa tea chat out on the patio [actually the area of our drive between the back of his large white van and the garage] and then shortly afterwards, I started to develop a headache... although I don't think the last two were in any way connected. Headache grumbled on throughout an early trip to Tesco, and then turned into a migraine when I got home. Happily was able to squish it with medication, but I'm hoping this isn't a sign of things to come... A resurgence of the frequent migraines I used to get before... fingers crossed it isn't that...

Any road up, I do have another bit of super publishing news bubbling up, but I probably won't be able to announce it until later in the summer, due to it not being quite nailed on yet. But, suffice it to say, if it does happen, it's something I've really, really wanted to be a part of for a long, long time... and it means working with a v. distinguished and famous erotica editor. :)


Don't forget Portia's Promos - new stuff being added all the time!

feel the FORCE!!!!

I am so chuffed today! I've been waiting and waiting to announce this, but couldn't until the closing date for submissions was past... and now it is!

I'm pleased to announce that my micro novella EYES OF DESIRE has been accepted by Phaze for their FORCE collection, to be published in July.

EOD is a particular favourite of mine, because it's a very warm and positive story. Megan, the heroine, is recovering from an eye operation, and her vision is still a bit wonky... but that doesn't stop her falling for a tall, mysterious stranger with a proud, soldierly bearing who is kind to her while she's taking a country holiday to recuperate. You could say she falls in love with Guy at first sight... but without the sight!

The Force collection is dedicated to all kinds of personnel from all walks of service and duty life. Soldiers, cops, pilots, paramedics, firefighters... all those who risk their lives for others. It's a splendid theme and I'm proud to be a part of it.

Shown above is the advance mockup for the collection covers... not sure this guy is quite like my Guy... but you have to admit he has an excellent bod... and a rather fine weapon! Tee hee!

I'll be posting more details about this publication in the near future... but suffice it to say, colour me very delighted with my news today!!!

Read a short excerpt from Eyes of Desire

--
Telly: snooker
Choc/Yummy: turkish delight
Mood: excellent
Writing: 1k Gothic Heat
Reading: ComputerActive
RSI/FMS: not too bad


Don't forget Portia's Promos - new stuff being added all the time!