Ten Line Tuesday!!

This is from a shifter story I've already submitted. I love the story and hope you (as well as the editors) do, too. Grin. It's tentatively titled, Dual Threat. Enjoy!!

“It’s crazy.” She fumbled with her buckle. “I don’t know what you two have planned, but I’m scared and excited.”

Evan left the door open, but didn’t leave. “Why? Afraid we’ll bite?”

“I’m not worried about the biting.” She chuckled. “You’re tigers. Biting has to factor in somewhere.”

“Then what is it?”

“Our friendship. I know what I want to do tonight and once we cross that threshold, there’s no going back. Are we sure we want to take whatever we’ve got between us to the next level?”

“Lines are meant to be crossed.”

Friday Flirts....on Saturday!!!

Ok, so the TEB sale is over...I know, I'm sad, too. I mean, who doesn't want to get stuff on sale? Anyway, I hope you got in on the fun and nabbed a few books you didn't have otherwise. I should've written a Friday Flirt yesterday, but I got a little excited. I mean, it was a sale!

So...what's happening...

I've gone back and revisited a few of my older WIPs. Yep, I've got some stories that are literally sitting on the hard drive...sitting. So, I happened to be talking to my CP about them. One of them said, you wrote a stripper story...why haven't I seen it? and the other CP says, yeah, and why am I not critting it? It's done. It should not be sitting. They both had a point. I mean, stripper is a side story to the Right and PRM books. 9k more and it'll be the same length. I sent it to CP. She gave me some food for thought and I'm working on that. In case you're wondering, Stripper is tentatively titled When You're With Me and is about Detective Drew Alwyn and Jude Nelson. I've been kicking it around for over three years, so yeah, it's been around a while.

The other WIP that I got back out is one that's from Ancient Greece. Now, this one I snipped a bit out and used for a short on Whipped Cream. It's titled Addicted. Will I keep that title? Dunno. But it's a nice and short story with lots of heat. We'll see what the CP thinks of that one. So far I've been told it grabbed her from page one. Shrugs.

I've got news to share but I'll wait til Monday since it's Saturday and I want to be certain before I share.

Still waiting to hear about a couple of subs, so we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Happy Saturday, stay cool, since it's blazing hot here in oHIo, and happy writing.

What the? Wednesday...The Scariness of Submission

Submission. I know where your mind went. In some ways, you're right. There's a little of that in this post. And there's a little of a different kind of submission.

I'm working my heart out on a couple stories right now. One has to do with a menage. Yup. That one. Still not done with it. Not always a good thing. It's due by the end of the month. So if I want to sub it, then I need to get my buns in gear. That one has some fun submission and some yummy manlove. Yes. Megan convinced me to write some more m/m/f. And I liked it.

And then there's this other story. I've got a story I subbed last summer. Pitched it in person and everything. Needless to say, it was given a R&R. Revise and Resubmit. That would've been fine, had I not oh, I don't know...let it sit for more than a month. I worked my tail feathers off on it and then passed it on to a CP. Problem is, she kinda forgot about it...between forgetting about it and then finding out it was really not in shape...I haven't bothered to resubmit it. It's not that I don't want to. Far from that. I'd LOVE to resub it. I just didn't realize how bad off it was when I'd subbed it in the first place.

Hence my scared-y-cat-ness. I get all excited when a story is close to being ready but the queasiness that accompanies actually submitting...strikes every time.

Ugh.

I've got a sub in right now. It's a favorite of mine. So if it gets shot down, I'll be honest, it'll be a bit painful. Why? It's the polished and rewritten version of my very first MS. I call it the 6YOMS (6 year old manuscript). We'll see. And have fingers crossed.

You ever experienced the "I really need to ralph because I sent in a sub" feeling? Share your story. I'm all ears. Or eyes. Whatever. Let me know.

And Don't Forget to Check out These Awesome Authors: Megan Slayer, Kealie Shay, Menagerie Authors, Jessica Jarman, Devon Rhodes, Ashley Ladd, Linda McMaken, Cheryl Dragon, Marianne Arkins, Anne Rainey, KA Mitchell, Mychael Black, and Jenika Snow!

Friday Flirts

I'm hanging out over at the Total-E-Bound blog today!! Come on over and read my post. I'm talking hotties and procrastination.


Want an update as to where I'm at in the world? Sure you do!!

NASCAR story is almost done. I'm at the point of fixing little things here and there and trying to polish the rough edges. Hope to sub that soon.

Menage story is way back on track. 2500 words from the min. So I can't wait to get back to it.

Farmer is next on the docket. I want to get back to him and really whip him into shape. I mean, why not? Whips are fun. Ask Megan.

That's all for now. Unless edits roll in and derail everything. Which happens.

Toodles.
~ ~

And Don't Forget to Check out These Awesome Authors: Megan Slayer, Kealie Shay, Menagerie Authors, Jessica Jarman, Devon Rhodes, Ashley Ladd, Linda McMaken, Cheryl Dragon, Marianne Arkins, Anne Rainey, KA Mitchell, Mychael Black, and Jenika Snow!

Flirty Friday...and a Little Down in the Dumps

I don't have much to report today. I spent the week hammering away at my resub. CP said it was ready to go and that I'd fixed my problems in it. I dunno. But I do know that if I had piddled with it much longer, all I'd succeed in would be more procrastinating. So I bit the bullet and turned it in. I'm waiting on a WIP to come back from the CP from the second time around crit. Might be able to send that one in some time this weekend. I don't know.

Crazy, huh. A lot of 'I don't knows' in there.

But I'm working with Megan to get her story done and I'm still hammering at my NASCAR story. I will get that one pubbed and it will be fantastic (and If I don't keep convincing myself it will get done and be worth reading, I'll never finish it.)

I'm having a 'little engine that could' moment and feeling like I'm just not making the grade. Do you ever get those moments? I'd love to know what you do to bring yourself up. Sure, I've got chocolate, good friends, and great reads to get lost in. And I will for a while. But I'm open for thoughts.

And Don't Forget to Check out These Awesome Authors: Megan Slayer, Kealie Shay, Menagerie Authors, Jessica Jarman, Devon Rhodes, Ashley Ladd, Linda McMaken, Cheryl Dragon, Marianne Arkins, Anne Rainey, KA Mitchell, Mychael Black, and Jenika Snow!

Friday Flirts - Last Post of 2010...

No it's not the last post of my blogging career. (I hope you aren't sad about that.)

But it is the last blog post of 2010 for me. Sniffle, sniffle.

So for my final post (of '10), I'm going to leave you with a yummy pic and a little update.

Update: I started working on the NASCAR novella I wrote over five years ago. Same characters, but slightly enhanced plot. If you've read Monday Moans, you've met the driver and the owner (hero and heroine). I'm really excited to get moving on this story and hope to sub it in early 2011.

I gave my high school reunion story to my CP and should get that back soon. I have no idea if it's even near submission ready. Guess I'll find out. But it's a favorite (aren't they all), so I'll give it my best when I get it back.

I'm going to finish my menage story this coming month. I've put my mind to it.

That's it for the updates. Now for the hottie.



Happy, Sexy New Year!!!!

Monday Moans

Monday Moans is the name, giving you a preview of me is the game. *Wink* Okay, so that's a little cheesy. Never let it be said that I'm not willing to make fun of myself.

Who am I?

Ah, yes, it would be nice if I gave you an introduction. My folly. (And yes, I do talk like that. Sammy would say I'm a true dork. She's right.) But my name. I'm Ryan Black, Ghost Explorer.

Wait...You've never heard of me? Really? Then I am just no doing my job. One more time.

I'm Ryan Black and I seek out the things that go bump in the night. I prove the things in the darkness are real. Oh yes, and I hunt for ghost. I am a Ghost Explorer.

Better?

I didn't think so. (Shrugs)I and the host of the show Ghost Explorers. But there's more to me than the schmaltzy guy who (cringing) tripped over my own two feet and got the willies scared out of me at the Allavisa School by an overly horny family of raccoons. You see, ghosts are real. Don't believe me? You're not alone. Many don't. Sad really. And the show should be global but I have to find the right cohort. My camera guy, Eddie, well, he's a nice guy, but A) he's married, and B) I don't swing that way. (and he's got really hairy legs. Not sexy.)

That being said, there is a particular person I want to cohost with. I'd like to be a whole lot more with her. Samara Jacobs. The woman makes my blood boil for all the right reasons. One look at her and I'm good for the day. (Actually I want to do more than look, but I can only ask for so much.)

Ahhh...yeah....well, I need to go...take care of something. Yeah... have fun, enjoy Wendi's blog and I hope to talk to you soon.

(Rushing from computer...rushing back)

And watch Ghost Explorers! Bye!

More Random Musings

Over the past week, a ton happened. I know it seemed like I was around.

I wasn't.

Where was I? No I won't make you play a game of where's Waldo. I went to Bristol to watch the NASCAR races. And yes, it was a blast. I love NASCAR (like you can't tell) and being in Thunder Valley. I walked on the track and "Got driver rubber". Get your head out of the gutter. There is ripped/shredded tire rubber on the track and yes, we filched some.

At the same time, I turned in my farmer. That part wasn't so great. I know, I know, there are the highs and lows of publishing. And I know that 1-3% of stories will be contracted. Still, to be told that the story is good, the emotion is great and the interior is fab... but it's not what we want... that took a little brave facing. You know, put the brave face on it, take it on the chin... okay, enough cliches. Still.

I also found out that my vampire story is with the editor. No clue what will come of that. I want to get my hopes up, but gravy, I don't need any more Milk Chocolate Milano cookies. (Yeah, that's my weapon of choice when I get a rejection.)

But anyway, I'm back to blogging, reviewing (cause I'm way behind), and twiddling with my NASCAR story. Oh yeah, it's about a driver and yes, I got some major inspiration at the track, tough part is that it was a submission and was all done, but it wasn't at all ready when I subbed it. It will be one of these days.

Toodles.

Submitters Anxiety

Sounds like a 12 step program or a disease. Well, disease it might be.

It's my label for the way I feel right now.

What do I mean? Oh, I subbed my farmer and I subbed my lawyer. Now I haven't spoken much about the lawyer, but if you read some of my older posts, you'll remember my farmer, Sully. Well, I think he's ready to see the light of publication... now hopefully the editor sees him the same way. And then there's the lawyer. He went to a different publisher because he's the follow up that goes along with Learning How to Bend, but it's got the distinction of being a stand alone story.

So why the anxiety? Oh, because if you're a writer, you know that feeling of "Did I write it well enough?", "Did I catch all the bugs in the story?", "Will the editor like it?", "How will I deal if the editor says no?"

Yup, all those thoughts are running through my head right now.

So what am I gonna do in the mean time?

Write. I have a couple of other irons in the fire and I'm not about to let them get cold or melt into oblivion. What else is there to do? If nothing else, it keeps me off the streets. And if they aren't what the publishing world wants, then I'll have others.

But I'm trying to think positive.

Then again, I'm a firm believer in not counting my chickens before their hatched... call it a throwback to my farm roots.

Toodles.

How I Got From There to Here

My friend Marianne blogged about that moment that everything seems to work out and the fabled contract offer is extended. Here's my story.

About 2, maybe 3 years ago, I had this idea for a NASCAR novel. It didn't pan out (As of yet), but it got me writing. While working on that novel, I got an idea for a pompous actor to hook up with a writer who's totally not Hollywood's standard for hot, but her personality makes her outshine the best looking superficials.

Well, I worked and worked on this MS and finally thought it was ready to send to my BF. Not the best idea (and not because she wasn't harsh, she was) but she's one of my close friends. I've known her since high school. Let me tell you, a crit partner is invaluable, but if it's your BF, she or he may tell you it's great when it's not. If you get lucky enough to find one who is honest and blunt - great, but don't count on it.

Then I received a rejection on another work that really needed help, but at the time I had no idea it was that bad off (Again here's where the crit partner helped immensely - she pointed out my lack of crisis in the story). Anyway, I signed up to work with another crit partner. Kathleen worked and worked with me (And made me schedule time to get Right right). It made me focus more and made me believe in the work.

We set a submission date for the first of March, but I got mine done a bit before Kathleen, so I sent mine in a week early. The coolest thing is that I titled the MS Right Where I Need to Be because Logan realizes that Hollywood isn't where he belongs (plus I love Gary Allan), now I got to see Gary Allan in concert the week after I submitted. He sings the song Right Where I Need to Be. HE DID IT IN CONCERT THAT NIGHT! I was so excited! Then he did some of the other songs that I used as inspiration for the novel. I loved it. Plus, that week I got to see my favorite NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer at the Auto Show in Cleveland. How cool!

After a bit of chasing and pestering, I found out that Right went to a real live editor. Even cooler!

Well, I didn't hear anything from anyone for over a month and got worried. I had some bad experiences, so I decided to check into things. On the Friday before Mother's Day, I got the blessed email with the CONTRACT! How awesome.

Since then, I've busted my behind getting ready with edits that were suggested before she really digs into it. I hope these edits help it for later. Don't know because at this point, this is all new to me, but a lot of fun (even when it is difficult).

When did that stroke of luck happen for you? Let me know!