Busy Week!

I hope everyone had fabulous Thanksgiving--or Thursday depending on where you live. I had a blast at Momma's with my insane sibs and their offspring. Food was wonderful as usual. You can't go wrong with my mother and sister in the kitchen.

It was a really busy week. We not only had Thanksgiving Day, we had a day before TD meal as well. The oldest niece couldn't make it up on Thursday because she had to work. So sis put together ribs and all the fixin's on Wednesday. The eldest niece brought a few friends. I think we scared them but that's okay. They seemed to have a good time anyway.

Monday and Tuesday I had to go work for the old day job. The auditors were in for preliminary work. Since I helped with some of the major transactions last year, my former boss wanted me there in case there were questions. I remembered just how much I did not like the early morning thing with long commute. Blech!

Needless to say, the writing suffered this week. I'm not going to make my NaNo. My combined word count for the month was almost 26k words--and that was on several projects. Plus I had a couple of stories to revise and get ready for submissions--blurbs, synopses, etc. As much as I hate missing NaNo, getting stories submitted is more beneficial to my bottom line than NaNo bragging rights.

So now I have three stories subbed to Ellora's Cave and one short story subbed to Black Lace. *crosses fingers, toes and eyes* I'm about halfway through two more stories targeted at EC. I stalled on the one I was working (currently known as FS) on so I switched to another abandoned WIP (also known as OOC). I'll probably bounce between the two until they are done. Although OCC has caught my attention rather well this week. I might actually finish it first.

I spent part of the day with my critique partner, Cynthia D'Alba, and another writer friend, Shada Royce, at Starbucks in Little Rock. We had a write in from 9 to about 1 then went to lunch at IHOP. I did pretty good with OOC while I was there. I edited to make it more specifically targeted at EC--meaning I went from a M/F/M story to a M/M/F menage with an extra M in there somewhere. *cackle* The original story was rejected by Spice Brief earlier this year. I was going to make it longer and send it to EC as a M/F/M story. However, my wicked little brain took a left turn and I ended up revising much more than I planned. Plus I added some. I had about 1600 additional words and the old story completely revised by the time we finished up at Starbucks. I came home and did about 1000 words more. Now, I'm off to bed. Long day and I'm tired.

Plus, I have to get up in the morning! It's the last Sunday of the month and you know what that means! Yes, I'll be joining Delilah Devlin and Myla Jackson at the Ellora's Cave Readers Yahoo Loop. The emails will be flying from 8-4 Central US time. Lots of excerpts to post plus games and prizes! Stop by and check us out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ellorascavechat/. You join the email loop and either have the emails sent to you or you can read and post online at the Yahoo Group page.

The word count meters for the week:

FS (Stalled)


OOC

Blogging at Liquid Silver!

Stop by and tell me what you are thankful for! You'll be entered in a drawing for a download of one of my ebooks! http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/blog/

Hope to see you there!

Brrrrrrr....

It got cold in Arkansas! Yesterday morning we had our first hard freeze! The high never got out of the 40's! This is February weather, not November! This morning is still in the 30's with the high forecasted at only 50. Brrrrr... I have three cats vying for my lap. Glennie has taken the spot beside me and Romeo won the actual lap spot. Rusty keeps pacing around me, hoping to scare off Romeo. Not likely, Romeo will fight for attention.

I'm running behind in word counts again this week. Had a few interuptions such as a doc appointment on Monday and Momma's eye doc appointment on Friday. She had to have her eyes dialated so she needed a driver. And a walker. I had to keep her from running into things!

Back to the writing... Only about 3800 words of new stuff. My critique partner sent back Eternity 4 with her comments. I've made one pass through on the simple things. I'm getting ready to work through the harder questions. As soon as I get a fresh cuppa java and tap up the thermostat. It's a little chilly in here!

After I finish with her comments, I have to write the synopsis and a blurb. And then the hard part...a title! I suck at titles! LOL Wish me luck. Or give me a suggestion! The books in the series are 1) The Cost of Eternity, 2) The Rememdiu then 3) Longing for Eternity. I know, the second book didn't have "Eternity" in the title but when I wrote it, I really wasn't planning a series, it was just a sequel. Then I managed to set up the third book and voila...a series. So now, I'd like to continue the "Eternity" thing if at all possible. Especially since book four does set up a book five! I really don't do this intentionally! LOL

Word meter for the week...

Old WIP for EC

Hopefully, I'll get more written this weekend. I don't have any plans for the weekend except writing. Of course, synopses usually take me forever!

Another Boring Progress Update!

Except I don't have much progress to report! The last week has zipped past me in a blur with a conference, a lunch "meeting", doctor appointments and heating pads.

Last Saturday I went to a writers conference in Maumelle. Not exactly an RWA function but I did it more as a tax deductable excuse to spend the day with Cynthia D'Alba. I was suffering from withdrawal pains. LOL Cyndi lived close to my old evil day job. We'd have lunch usually once a week. Since I left the EDJ more than a month ago, I'd only had the chance to see her at our Diamond State Romance Authors meeting.

The writers conference didn't reveal any great secrets of writing. Then again, Cyndi and I snuck off during the first breakout session and brainstormed a book she's working on. The sessions we did attend really weren't applicable to the type of books we write so we ended up cutting out a little early. I had fun spending time with her and we made friends with a couple of people who might join DSRA.

Sunday was spent with Momma shopping! We snuck off and ate sushi without Lil Sis. I'm going to be in so much trouble if she reads my blog. Then again, we did call her on Thursday after my doctor appointment to go eat...you guessed it...sushi for lunch. I'm going to turn into raw fish one of these days. *cackle*

The lunch meeting on Monday was just another excuse to meet with writers. Cyndi was one of them but Melissa Francis and Shada Royce joined us for fabulous Mexican food and wonderful conversation! With humans! LOL I spend so much time at home alone with my animals, I've begun to meow and bark!

Doctor appointments were a pain. Thursday was a followup with the lung doc. Nothing to report. They took an xray and they are still waiting for some of the cultures on the infection. Friday was my regular annual checkup. Blech... Although Doc gave me something to help me sleep. We'll see how that works.

And heating pads... I spent part of Tuesday and most of Wednesday with a heating pad on my knee. Between Saturday, Sunday and Monday, on my feet, I was hurting.

So how much writing did I get done? Not a heck of a lot! LOL

Old WIP for EC


Wow! That's actually more than I thought since I last posted a progress meter! But 5k words in a week isn't a big deal when I was doing that in two days. *shrugs* Hopefully next week will be better... Then again, tomorrow is my DSRA meeting plus a NaNo meeting. Then Monday I'm back to the doc for a bone density test. Maybe next week will be better... *cackle*

News & Reviews!

I've just finished updating my website with some news. I didn't realize I was so far behind on reviews! Ack! So here's a fast update of news and reviews!

First, I'm thrilled to announce the sale of a short story to Black Lace's Seduction Anthology! Black Lace is the oldest publisher of women's erotica. (And it has a deliciously sexy editor in the form of Adam Neville. *cackle*) I'm in the antho with galpal Shada Royce and Black Lace veteran Portia Da Costa! Shada and I challenged each other to submit to the antho and we both made it!

New Sale! The Shopping List in Seduction: A Collection of Naughtiness From Black Lace

A shopgirl finds a man and woman helping themselves to the privacy of her store’s fitting room. She’s fascinated at the sexual freedom of the couple—something she longs for but can’t find the strength to do—until they catch her watching and invite her into their closeted playground. But what will her boyfriend do when he catches her in a threesome?

Available February 2009 - UK & April 2009 - US

Available for Pre-order at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com




And the reviews...


A HELPING HAND
Ellora's Cave

Blurb:

Deputy Sheriff Rich Taylor has many secrets. His sexuality is only the top of the list. Even his best friend Dan doesn’t know Rich is gay. For good reason. His feelings for Dan are more than friendship. When Dan’s injured, the thought of losing him forces Rich to admit his years-long lust has turned to love.

An accident turns State Trooper Dan Fletcher’s life, and his car, upside down. With his right hand out of commission, he has to rely on his best friend for his basic—sometimes intimate—needs. After spending most of his life looking for the right woman, he begins to wonder if he’s been looking at the wrong gender—an impossible concept in their small-minded world.

*****

Joyfully Reviewed
Rating: Joyfully Recommended!
Reviewer: Ley

Excerpt of Review:

"A Helping Hand is another terrific story from Shayla Kersten. Dan and Rich’s fears and concerns toward the new territory they were entering were so real and very understandable, especially Dan’s. ... I enjoyed A Helping Hand immensely..."

Read the whole review.

*****

Fallen Angels
Rating: 5 Angels
Reviewer: Hayley

Excerpt of Review:

"This book was well written, raised some interesting questions, and had some really good characters. Dan and Rich are great, even as I found myself not liking either character at times. I wanted to scream at them both to get over themselves and open their eyes at times, but in the end I don’t think Shayla Kersten could have done it any better. ... I can give this one no less than 5 Angels!"

Read the whole review.

*****

Sensual Ecataromance
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewer: Kimberley Spinney

Excerpt of Review:

"A Helping Hand is an absolutely fabulous read by an exciting author. Shayla Kersten has a gift. Her words jump off the pages in a vivid show of emotion and imagery. The characters are fabulous described and their story becomes all consuming. This book is definitely a must read."

Read the whole review.

*****



DOUBLE HAPPINESS
Ellora's Cave


Blurb:

Chen Jin Tai faces the worst possible news only days from his commitment ceremony with his lover—Tai’s estranged mother is coming to the wedding. Unable to accept her son’s sexuality—she’s determined to have a daughter-in-law—Chen Qi Xiang’s visit is unexpected. Tai wants to believe she’s looking for reconciliation but he knows his lover’s attitude will be anything but optimistic.

David Anderson never thought about settling down until he literally bumped into Tai on the street. Before Tai, sex was for fun and love wasn’t an option. Now two years later, he can’t imagine life without his partner. Tai’s Ice Queen mother showing up with malice in mind could be the beginning of the end of the best thing in his life.

Two beautiful men, one tiny Chinese soon-to-be mother-in-law, a live cricket as a present and a red wedding dress. It’s about to be an interesting next few days and the men are going to learn a whole new level of sexual excitement.

*****

Literary Nymphs
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Excerpt of Review:

"Shayla Kersten shows us just the kind of mother who makes your spouse require bail money in Double Happiness. ... If you want to see a man earn the person he loves by fighting the good fight, then you will enjoy Double Happiness."

Read the whole review.

*****

Sensual Ecataromance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewer: Kimberley Spinney

Excerpt of Review:

"Shayla Kersten’s story is a delicious blend of humor, sassyness, passion, and love. This is a beautiful story and a highly recommended read. It proves that adversity can be overcome as long as one’s heart is in the right place. This is a four star work that I am highly recommending to lovers of the gay erotic romance."

Read the whole review.

*****

From the blog of Elisa Rolle from Rosa is for Romance

Excerpt of Review:

"This is a classical light comedy, the type that, if it was a movie, you would go to see with your friends to enjoy a night with a smile."

Read the whole review.

Warning: Self-Indulgent Whining Ahead

I'm sucking at NaNo! *whine*

My NaNo novel totally does not interest me. At all. The plot is good, the idea unique, the characters good... I just don't want to write it. Instead, my muse has focused on an old idea I toyed with at the beginning of the year.

I'm seeing a pattern here. Several of the things I've finished lately were old projects. Seems like the muse wants to clean up the old "Ideas File". And there's a lot of stuff in there. And that's a good thing overall writing-wise. Just not so good for NaNo. But if the old "Ideas File" can come up with more stuff to sub to Ellora's Cave, then that's good for the bank account.

So I guess I'm whining for no reason. NaNo is a challenge that doesn't necessarily reap any benefits. Pushing myself to write a new project of 50k words in November just so I have some bragging rights doesn't stack up to writing things I know fit my current publisher.

I'm going to stop whining now and get some writing done. Whatever the project. Thank you for listening. *cackle*

Old WIP for EC


Pain-In-The-Posterior NaNo Novel

I Can Breathe Again...

I've watched the country I love and served sink deeper and deeper into a quagmire of lies, deceit and bad judgement...Iraq--a war we shouldn't have started, Afghanistan--a war we should have finished already and an economy out of control because of deregulation spurred on by greed.

Last night, I took the first deep breath in months as I watched the electoral map turn blue. I know the wrongs of the last eight years won't be fixed overnight--over even the next year or the next four years--but I feel we are stepping off in the right direction. And we'll get there. We Americans are nothing if not persistent.

Regardless of the history made by electing Senator Obama, I believe the bigger picture is we elected an intelligent, thinking man who knows how to surround himself with strong advisors and will listen to them and to the people who elected him.

I look forward to January 20th as the beginning of a new era.

Another one bites the dust...

Duh...duh...duh...

Oh, excuse me. I'm a bit delirious... I finished Eternity 4. Finally. Only came up with the plot over a year ago. Started writing it months ago. And finally the block is gone and the story is done. At least for now. I think I'm going to go take a nap then I'll start self-edits this evening. I want to get it to my critique partner by tomorrow. Then I can start NaNo! Woo hoo!

I still don't have a title. I should call it "Took An Eternity". *cackle* Not sure my editor would agree. I need to do a synopsis and blurb. Come up with a name... I can get my CP to help with the title. Want it to have "Eternity" in the title. Book 1 and 3 do. Book 2 doesn't but I wasn't planning a series when I wrote that one.

So drum roll, please, while I wheel out the word meter!

I did 3657 words for today but a total of 15,964 in five days. I think I deserve a nap. And maybe a piece of that Halloween candy.

Vote!

Not NaNo but it's a word count!

Didn't start NaNoWriMo. Not that I thought I would but I did get another 3206 on Eternity 4. Need another 2800 and I'm done. I should be able to knock that out tomorrow. Self-edits on Monday and ship it to my CP. Tuesday, start NaNo!! I'll need 5k on Tuesday to make up for lost time.

For now, I'm going to bed!

Progress but not enough...

Okay, for day one of NaNo, I'm not NaNoing. *cackle* Yesterday's word count didn't finish Eternity 4 so the plan is to keep on with it until I'm done. Hopefully tomorrow. I need 6k--doable in two days except today is Sushi Saturday. Once every few weeks, Momma and I go to Little Rock and meet Lil Sis for sushi then coffee. Today, my niece B is coming with Lil Sis. We should have a blast. We always do.

Halloween was quiet here. A storm blew through right before sundown so I had to bring the dogs in. With them in the house, I have trouble opening the door without escape attempts and raucous barking, snarling, etc. I turned off the lights and hid in the bedroom. *cackle* I could hear the cars on the street and there weren't many so I don't feel too guilty. However, now what do I do with all the candy? *guilty grin*

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Eternity 4 (Target Ellora's Cave)