November has been one hell of a month for me.
1. My chance to work and learn from a publisher was dashed.  I'm over that, though.
2.  Now here is the heartbreaker.  Sapphire Blue Publishing is closing their doors at the end of this month.  Sapphire Blue was my publisher.  To say I'm down in the dumps is an understatment.  I loved being one of their authors.  Maria and Tina made me feel like part of a family.  They always took time to answer any question I tossed their way and never made me feel stupid for asking.
They gave us back our rights and the rights to the cover art (at no cost to the author). 
What next?  To be honest, I'm not sure.  I'm a writer.  I will write.  But will I sumbit again?  I'm thinking of hiding myself away and writing like a fool.  Writing until I have something great enough for one of the big guys in New York.  Am I good enough?  I don't know.  I want to be.  My heart is there.  I have the determination.  Talent?  That is to be seen, I guess.
Time to give myself my hour of pity party time.  Then back to work. 

Feeling Blue

I'm a nice person. I don't speak badly of people and those I don't care for I simply walk away from. I've aways felt there is a place for everyone in this world. So when someone who doesn't know me treats me badly, I am a bit confused. I felt bad for someone I know, someone who had a bad experience with her publishing company. So silly me, I thought I could step in and try to help. Maybe I could get her on good footing and give her the company she wanted. This has caused a site set up to warn people against bad publishers/agents to come back at us with a warning about us. I guess these people think there is no way you can come back from a bad experience, having good intentions and a good publishing plan, and trying to do something good. Am I walking away. No. Am I upset. Yes. But I can say they called attention to something on the Web site I hadn't noticed and I will voice my opinion on it. The only comment I'm going to make on this is I'm trying to do something good here. I will not put up with dishonest actions toward anyone who submits/signs with this publisher. My word is my bond. I have a good reputation and would like to keep it. So I have something to protect here. I'd just like to have a chance before I'm made into the bad guy.

New Position

I've been looking for something to challange me, but not to the point that I wouldn't have time to write. I was talking to Linda Daly, CEO of LSP Digital. She used to be my publisher until she ran into a rough spot that lasted for the last couple of years. Problems with a couple authors, problems with people trashing the company and her name. I never understood any of it. Linda had always been honest with me. She fulfilled every promise she made. And when things starting getting bad, she released me from my contract to find another publisher. I did move on, but I always felt a little bad, as if I'd deserted Linda in bad times. We remained friends. Well, before I got sidelined, as I said, I was talking to Linda and before I even thought about it, I said, "Linda, if you need some help, I"m here. Who knows, we could do big things with this little company."

I'm not sure where that came from. I mean it wasn't something I'd been thinking about doing. Anyway, Linda was thrilled with the idea and asked if I'd like to be the Director of Operations. I had no idea what that envolved, and said so. She's, at this moment, typing up a list of what my duties would be. I can cross out what I don't agree to, and it's not a contract. I can leave at any time.

Those of you who know me, know I'll give it everything I have to do a good job. I've told Linda what I'll put up with, and what I won't. Not just from her, but the authors who sign with LSP Digital. I don't officially start until January 1, 2012.

Wish me luck or just shake your head. At least I'm up for something new,  I'll keep you updated.

Tags: director of operations lsp digital, lsp digital, new job

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Great Reads

I've had a slow week of writing and when that happens I read. I re-read Erica Spindler's Watch me die Saturday and Sunday, then on Moday I re-read Blood Vines by Erica. I can't say enough about these books. Great, edge of your seat, don't want it to end read. I could go on, but I think you get the drift. These are really great reads. Suspense with just enough romantic touch to make you smile and enough suspense to make you cheer when the bad buy bites the dust. Watch Me Die is available in hard back and eBook. Blood Vines is available in paperback and eBook. Want a great read? Then pick up either Watch Me Die or Blood Vines, or why not both?

Too Much

I seem to be in one of those phases where I have too much to do and too little time.  A friend suggested I sit down and list everything I do in a day and how much time it takes to do them.  Right.  I'll fit that into everything else I have to do.  I guess I could spend less time online, but everyone needs a little chat time with other humans even if it's the faceless "friends" we have online.  I could hire a housekeeper for two days a week and save about eight hours, but I have no idea where that money would come from.  I refuse to give up any hubby time.  And TV time is really hubby time, since we spend most of our down time in front of the TV.  I sometimes share my hubby time with writing time, since I have a laptop and can work and stop if he gets in the mood to talk.  And since I'm talking about time management, I guess I should close off and get back to my word count goal for the day.  See ya in a couple of days.

The Writing Life is Strange

I'm sitting here after spending a great deal of time rewriting a couple of chapters.  I'm taking a writing course at RWA on writing suspense.  So far it seems common sense lessons, but sure enough after reading what I've written so far on Murderous Visions, I found some things that needed to be added/changed.  I don't mind.  Lord knows I want to write the best story I can.  But what is that makes us sit down and let the words flow as they will, knowing that you're leaving out some things that will have to be added later, or things that will have to be changed or even deleted.  Here is what I think.  If I (maybe not you) have to keep rethinking as I write, I will get frustrated and give up on the story.  I need to write it as my brain sees it at that moment or the Muse will go off on a tangent (read vacation). So I will write the bones of the story, enjoy writing without rules, and finish the first draft.  Then I will go back and unbreak rules (or not, if I think it works as is), add in "how does that make her/him feel?" and describe the world I've created for my characters.  And if SBP is ready to take me on again, Murderous Visions will be my next book.  I'll keep you updated.

Shadows by Jen Black

Shadows by Jen Black
Released 24^th May 2011 by Sapphire Blue:

http://www.sapphirebluepublishing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=118&osCsid=a20ceebd00e8092d01a8a771526ddf5b

Genre: Contemporary romance with ghosts

Blurb:

Melissa thinks she’s taking a huge risk in going on holiday with Rory Hepburn. He may be gorgeous, but she only met him three days ago. But when she sees the old watermill in rural France, she is delighted. Within ten minutes of her arrival, she sees the man in black, but thinks nothing of it. Concentrating more on keeping her secrets and sleeping alone, she is shocked when ghosts disturb her first night at the mill. Not just one ghost, but two. When Christophe arrives at the mill, the chic Frenchman regards Melissa as his soul mate, and Melissa knows she’s in real trouble.

A chilling tale, written with humour and drenched in the sights and perfumes of the rural Dordogne, this is a must-read tale for those who like a romance with a ghostly twist.

This Jen’s fifth published book, and her first contemporary tale. In many ways writing about character in this century is easier than writing about people in the sixteenth or eleventh centuries. There isn’t as much research required, though it’s important to get things like brand names, distances, food and fashion right - hairstyle or hemlines can speak volumes about a character’s personality today.

Jen lives in Northumberland, a corner of England rich in castles and history, and visits France regularly for summer holidays. You can find her at http://jenblackauthor.blogspot.com where she writes about anything that catches her interest – usually something to do with writing fiction! and shares one of her other hobbies - her photographs.