A year gone, a year ahead

in less then 18 hours, 2008 will be a memory. I'm happy about it. this year was rife with disappointments. We got over 100 rejections from agents for a book, And no, it wasn't because it was a bad book, or poorly written. The subject kinda threw them off. *shrug* we will try again with it, the book itself deserves a bigger distro and a bigger contract. the book is unique and different and I think the industry needs it.

Then, our writing has been slim and none this year. Its only been recently that we have gotten something substantial done, and thankfully. a book that would have normally taken us 1 month to write took 10. Ugh it sucked. The book is good though.

We had FEW releases this year, and that sucked as well. I like having a bunch of things coming out. Keeps me on my toes, but I have noone to blame for that but me and Audra.

So already 2009 has been shaping up better. We have a release almost every month from January to June, Audra's hubby is going to be away from home for 2 months starting Jan 5th so we can get all the WIP's off our list, and I plan on pitching at RT this coming April. Im hopeful that everything will be better in 2009. I know a lot of people are.

I know with the industry being what it is, that we all have a tough time ahead of us all by way of selling, but i think 2009 is going to be a better year for everyone. Readers are still reading and those of us that are really serious about our work are out there in the trenches to get that sale. I hope all of us that are going that extra mile for our careers are recognized for it.

I will be doing my part, and have been just told that Ill be one of the Go Green Authors for the ARe promotion starting in March 2009. Im so excited about this, and see the opportunity as one of the great things Ill be involved in next yet. More on that as i get it.

So happy New Year to all. Enjoy some alcohol and food with freinds tonite, and resolve to make next year 100% better for you and yours.

the holidays and whats coming this week

I swear im the most boring person in the world. Nothing big to report for christmas. Still didnt get what i wanted for christmas, surprise surprise. Aud got a plane ticket to visit me in October for the AAD event. So if your thinking of going, Audra will be there for you to see for yourself.

We are almost finished with two books, one for a revise for Loose id, which we are hoping they like the extended version so to speak, an one we are getting ready for pitching at RT. I love this book, love the characters and the premise, and Im hoping it will do well once it gets out there. And of course, we have to work on Book three of the snakes. Its already started, have about 2k written (which isnt much but it is a start, espcially when we are working on several othe books as well) and im hoping to have masquerade ready to go for a May or June release.

London for the Holidays has a Jan 5th release date, which Im very excited about. Since its out only vampire book to date (and probably ever) im hoping we get some new readers that just read the bloodsuckers LOL. though I will say that the story is good, and different, and when it goes into print, it will have a special short story called No Good Deed Goes Unpunished, and its about Marsh, and Janey after the end of Gifts. It happens on New Years, when The Devil comes to visit for a small conversation and bargain. Sorry, no sex in this one, Janey is pregnant and all, but it explains a lot that people were asking about.

So Im off to watch cartoons and enjoy my saturday. Hope you all had a good holiday!

Acomplishments... and a look ahead.

Im happy to say that while writing was lean this year, I think we have some things to be proud of this year in our career.

~Sold the snake novella's to Total E Bound
~Finished three books, Novels, to be pitched next year at RT
~developed two new series for future WIP's
~conceived and help set up the Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend.
~I personally won an Ariana and a Dirk A. Wolf for cover art i did
~I personally was up for a Fangoria horror award for the cover of the book Snuff
~Now have 8 books in print
~were nominated for several awards

Not too bad considering we barely wrote this year. I'm hopeful for next year. What i would like to accomplish:
~We snag an agent/ editor
~We sell our weresnake novel to a NY house
~we finish Masquerade, Leather and Moonshine, A Bitter Kiss of Chaos and What Binds the Darkness
~We do much better at the signings we set up (And this year wasn't too shabby at all)

we dont want much but Im a big fan of setting goals that are attainable. So what have you done this year.. and what do you hope to accomplish?

Letter to the ARe Santa, #3

Dear Santa,

I have been a very good girl this year. What do I want for the holidays? An iPhone/iTouch so that I can use Stanza to read all the romance I need from all the publishers I love that I buy at All Romance eBooks. You see, Santa, I deserve the iPhone/iTouch because...

I I really need to join the 21st century. My cell phone is horrible, and I drop calls, and the phone calls places like South America... and last week it was HONG KONG. I know no one there. See, I should be doing something like this for my mum, or my boyfriend, or grandpa... but really I want it for me. I never ask for anything expensive like this, because money every year is tight and I cant justify spending the kinda money they cost when the cost of living is so high. Im usually a sock and pajama kinda girl. When you have the choice of paying a bill or buying something that you would like to have, the need outweights the want, especially if you dont wanna freeze or read by candlelight. It would be cool to have something current, especially when I normally get something a year after, if not later.

I would like to be more green, and this is a great way to be green, and help to get the E book word out there... When Im at the bookstore and see someone and we talk e books, it would be great to be able to show them (and show off ARE, lol) and get more people into e books, helping to keep the world green.

Thanks Santa, Please pick me!
XOXO
~Stella