From the Backlist - Taking a Break from it All

Art byYao Yao Ma Van As - Tax Season

Here at the Supernatural Underground, we are enjoying another insightful read from our back-list, posted  by Nicole Murphy. It's called, Taking a Break from it All. 

In this post, Nicole offers tips and tricks from her own well of resources, with other Sup authors adding their thoughts to the comments. 

* * * 

There's been lots of ideas coming from the Supernatural hivemind on things we do to get creative. Kim makes space - I've gotten into that a bit more as well, ensuring that nothing else is going on except me and the words. Terri reads (I can read when I'm editing, or between books, but when I'm drafting - no can do). Pamela and Jocelynn both listen to music (I need complete silence). Amanda uses images - the real estate website is a great idea and I know other people who are made for images but that doesn't work for me. Helen's three pages in the morning sound wonderful.

For me, however, the thing that really works is taking a break.

It probably sounds counter-intuitive - that taking time off the computer helps me when I'm on it. But the thing is, I find I dry up if I spend too long at it. I can pound out some great wordage, sure, but then my brain gets overloaded. Push it too far, and it will come to a standstill.

But taking a break doesn't mean a break from the story. Far from it - it's a break from that act of sitting and fingers moving on keyboard, but I'm still working, things ticking away in the background....

Read the entire post here ...

* * *

You can check out Nicole Murphy's complete works on Goodreads. Wonderful books!

 

Nom de Plume

From the book by Lemony Snicket, nom de plume of Daniel Handler.

A nom de plume, Webster's dictionary tells us, is French for “pen name”; an invented name under which the author writes. They cite Mark Twain as the nom de plume of Samuel L. Clemens.

It's a good example, but I can think of others that make me smile. Lemony Snicket, for one. I mean, what a delightful name for a children's author.

Why use a nom de plume?

Reasons for a nom de plume very, but basically, it is to hide the identity of the author. Here's why: 

1. Parents

Dr. Seuss, born Theodore Geisel, chose Seuss (pronounced Zoice) as it was his mother's maiden name. He added the 'Dr.' because his father was so disappointed in him for dropping out of an Oxford PhD program in favor of writing children's books. 

1.  Gender bias

Being female had, and still can have, its limitations in the publishing industry. The solution is to adopt a male or androgynous pen name in the hopes of being successful. 

We see this in some of our most cherished SF/F books. Alice Mary Norton wrote under Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston. Alice Sheldon wrote under James Tiptree, Jr. 

Of course, one of the most celebrated authors in the world, Jane Austen, published anonymously all her life. Her name didn't appear on a single book until after she died.

2. Distinguishing genres

A name change can help distinguish writers who publish in different genres. Kim Wilkins, the wonderful Fantasy writer, publishes her historical fiction under Kimberly Freeman. Our own Nicole Murphy also writes romance under Elizebeth Dunk. 

2.  Humor

It seems some authors over the ages have enjoyed ridiculousness pen names for no other reason than humor. A fun example is William Makepeace Thackeray who wrote satire such as Vanity Fair. He chose hilarious nom de plumes like George Savage Fitz-Boodle, Théophile Wagstaff, and C.J. Yellowplush. 

4. Collaboration

When authors collaborate, they may choose a nom de plume as in the case of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. This is the pen name of Ilona and Andrew Gordon, a successful husband-and-wife team writing urban fantasy and romance.

5. $$$

The reasons to go with a pen name can be financial/sales. One of my publishers told me about a fantastic writer, Margaret Lindholm, whose books just weren't selling. They worked out a nom de plume -- Robin Hobb -- and her next series sold over a million copies. 

With a new YA Fantasy series coming out next year, I have chosen the nom de plume, AK Wilder. 

If I check my list above, reasons include #1 Parents - Wilder is a family name. #2, Genre distinction - even though all my books are SF/F, I feel good keeping the YA and Adult Fantasy separate. #3 Collaboration - the new series is co-written with my son. His first initial is A, I'm the K and well, we are both Wilders by blood. 

Have you any nom de plumes to share? I'd love to hear them.

***

Kim Falconer's latest release comes out in 2019 - The Bone Throwers, book one in the Amassia series, writing as A K Wilder. Find her new page on Facebook - AKWilder Author and on Twitter as AKWilder.

Her latest novel is out now - The Blood in the Beginning - and Ava Sykes Novel.

Learn more about Kim on Facebook and chat with her on Twitter. Check out her pen name, @a.k.wilder on Instagram, or visitAKWilder on FB and website.

Kim also runs GoodVibeAstrology.com where she teaches the law of attraction and astrology. 

Kim posts here at the Supernatural Underground on the 16th of every month, hosts Save the Day Writer's Community on FB and posts a daily astrology weather report on Facebook. 

The trouble with writing trilogies

Or series at all for that matter :)

Last week, I got the edits for Future Found, the first book in the new gadda trilogy (sequel to my Dream of Asarlai trilogy). I'm not as advanced as I'd like to be because I hurt my back a couple of weeks ago and it's hampering my computer time. But on Tuesday I was powering through and I came to a realisation.

There was a lot of things I'd put into that first book that I'd completely forgotten about when writing the second.

Now, there is an easy way to solve the problem of forgetting things in the process of writing a series (which can take years) - that's to plan the entire thing out to start with. And I'm sure that there are smart people out there that do that sort of thing.

I'm not one of them. I do plan some books, and I have a general plan for the trilogy, but not a specific one. So I'd completely forgotten that the Sabhamir identified the three attackers in the first book, and then he spends the second book trying to figure out who they are. I'd completely forgotten that one of the secondary characters is sleeping with every woman he can to try and get her pregnant and if he succeeded that would impact the second book. I'd completely forgotten that I was setting one character up to be the baddie when in fact I didn't want him to be apparent as the baddie at that time.

Thankfully, I got the edits for the first book while I was finalising the second book and planning the third, so I can make the changes I need to. But sometimes, you don't get that luxury. Sometimes, the first book gets published, and then you're writing the second or third and you realise you can't do x or y because of what the readers already know.

Again, a problem solved if you planned the books.

One person that isn't planning his books is, of course, George R R Martin. In fact, he's on record as saying part of the reason the last book ran so late was because he hadn't planned and he'd written himself into some knots that took a lot of working to figure out.

Thankfully, a trilogy doesn't give you enough space to knot yourself up that much. But I do have a friend (who shall remain nameless) who forgot a character for the entire second book of the trilogy and then had to work out how the hell to explain what they'd been doing off-page all that time when they were needed in the third book.

So the moral is - plan your series.

Except I doubt I ever will. Much of the fun of writing is in exploring and wondering what will happen next. That thrill becomes all the greater when it's a story stretching over multiple volumes.

I guess I'm a sucker for punishment.

What are some of the worst mistakes you've seen writers make in a series?

Find out more about my gadda books (urban fantasy romance) at my website.

Gifts and giving

Hello everyone! After a really difficult year, I'm back at the Supernatural Underground and delighted to be here.

It's a great time of the year to get things going again. Even with all the stress of preparing for Christmas (I still haven't done my shopping - eek!), this feels like a time when anything is possible. Miracles can occur.

Such as the fact we once again have a good Star Wars movie on the screen.

I'm not going to spoiler it for anyone - although I do want to note it's been kinda interesting to see US friends talk about going to the opening night when I knew Aussies already on their third viewing. For once, the time difference has worked for us.

But for someone like me, who grew up with Star Wars (I was 7 when I saw the first movie), this new movie is a real gift. I sat in the theatre, almost giggling like a child, wriggling in my seat and shaking my hands in the air with excitement as each old favourite was introduced. I once again got to fall in love with Han Solo, and find a kick arse girl to worship (Rey is the awesome).

In short - JJ Abrams and the team gave me the gift of being a child again. Of being overwhelmed with happiness. Of being so excited I couldn't sit still.

With all the pressure that comes with adulthood (and while sometimes it is fun, sometimes it is damn hard work), it's great to have the moments where we can escape.

That's what The Force Awakens did for me. In the middle of a heatwave, with an ear infection building, it still pulled me from the world I knew into a wonderland where everything is fun.

Of course, we here at the Supernatural Underground know that books can provide that same wonderful escape. In particular, I've tried to do it with my Jorda series of SF romance (which was actually inspired by Star Wars and in particular Princess Leia).

So I want to give you all the gift of that wonderment. So anyone who tweets a link to this article (make sure you put me in it - @nicole_r_murphy) will be get a free copy of Loving the Prince, book one of the Jorda series.

I hope you all have a fabulous holiday time - and let's keep an eye out for those for whom this is a hard time and see what we can do for them.

Nicole

About Loving the Prince



From Escape’s fresh, exhilarating science fiction romance catalogue comes a story of corporate espionage, betrayal, sex, and bodyguards. Just another day in the colonies.

Cassandra Wiltmore is the heir to the throne of Rica, but it’s unlikely she’ll be stepping up any time soon. So she spends her days managing and building the Rican Balcite Mining Company. The company has made her family wealthy beyond imagination, but that kind of power needs careful control, and Cassandra is just the Wiltmore to control it.

When a new bid for the mining license is announced, Cassandra is determined to squash it. Then the thefts and threats begin, and every step she takes seems to be wrong. Taking on a new protector seems like an indulgence Cass can’t afford, but she equally cannot afford to be caught off-guard. If only the best man for the job wasn’t also the best-looking man she’s ever seen.

Kernan Radaton has ambition, and as protector to Cassandra Wiltmore, he’s well placed to reach all his long-held goals. If only his new all-business boss didn’t make him think of only pleasure. With the company, the heir and the family under attack, the last thing anyone needs is a distraction. But once everything is safe again, Kernan is developing new ambitions — ones that involve a lot of very personal time spent getting to know his boss on a very personal level.

And so 2015 is underway

I don't know about you, but it's only three weeks old and already 2015 is hammering my butt!

Some years are like that - there's so much to do, right from the start, that you look at the 12 months ahead and just feel exhausted. There are other years that start quietly, hiding from you all that's going to befall you over the course of the 52 weeks.

I've got three (probably four) books coming out this year. I've got two (probably three) books coming out next year and they all need to be written. This year's motto - 'Churning out the words'.

How is 2015 looking for you? Hopefully whether it's jam packed already, or still lithe and ripe with possibilities, it's going to be a year of making dreams come true for everyone!

I'm hoping that I'll be able to catch up with you all more - the Supernatural Undergound crowd are fantastic!

Tomorrow sees the release of 'Winning the King', book two in my science fiction romance trilogy (although depending on where you are in the world when you read this, it could already be out!) I had such fun writing science fiction romance last year - love being able to do relationships, and loves, and hope, amongst cool geegaws and thingummies.


Blue eyes, golden curls, a body songs are composed about, and part of one of the most powerful families in the colonies, Diana Wiltmore is not used to ever hearing the word ‘no’. So when she sets her sights on a fling with the gorgeous, potent and single King of Angonia, Gareth, she is shocked when he turns her down flat. In an effort to put the rejection behind her, she agrees to her sister’s plan to gain some political leverage by cosying up to a rival planetary ruler.

Gareth has responsibilities and no time for a woman like Diana. She is all temptation and distraction, but Gareth wants more from a woman than decoration. But it is Diana standing by his side as his beloved home of Angonia is attacked and he starts to see that underneath the surface is a strong woman even more beautiful than her picture-perfect exterior.

Gareth’s people need him and to be there for them, he needs Diana. But has he ruined every chance he has of winning her heart?

You can pre-order or buy Winning the King here: All Romance ebooks  / iTunes / Amazon US /  Amazon UK /Google Play / Kobo / Nook / Amazon Aus

Loving the rogue

Each month, the fabulous Helen Lowe sends us ideas for posts - because sometimes, you get so caught up in your world (both the real one and the one in your head) that you just can't conceive of what to blog about.

I don't know if Helen was inspired by one of the comments on my last post, but one of her prompts about swashbucking rogues mentioned the one, the only, Han Solo. So, let's get our Solo love on.

What was it about Solo that attracted us (apart from the fact he was played by Harrison Ford - seriously, just look at that face!)? Why was it the bad boy, who wasn't supposed to be much more than a foil to show up how heroic Luke was, who became the star of the trilogy?

I've always kinda felt sorry for Mark Hamill. He should have been the one to come out of those movies a megastar. Instead, we've been gifted with decades of Harrison Ford.

I don't think it's just about the actors. I don't think it's about the fact Hamill had that accident and it changed his face. I think it was about the characters.

While Luke had the real hero storyline, he started off selfish and a whiner and I don't think any of us ever got over that. Whereas the first time we see Han he's poised, in control, and you bet your sweet patootie that he shot first! Not likeable, but still you see in the relationship with Chewbacca that there's something to him. Han knew who he was, and he wasn't apologising for it. Luke knew what he wanted to be, and did nothing to get himself there until circumstances allowed it.

In the end, I think that's the attraction of the rogue - it's his confidence. He don't care what people think, and we'd all like to be like that.

So let's drink a toast to Han Solo and his ilk - may we never lack for a good rogue!

What do you love most about Han Solo in particular, but rogues in general? I'd love to know. Help inspire me to write my own lovable rogue!

http://nicolermurphy.com 

Living and loving science fiction

So here we are, one month into the second half of the year. Here in Canberra, that means we're into the depths of winter. To give you an idea - last night, the temperature dipped to -2 degrees C (28.4 degrees F) and the top during the day was 15 degrees C (59 degrees F). A glorious winter's day, the sun was shining, no wind, and I went for my first ever Segway ride!

There's something about a Segway, despite the fact the technology is really quite simple, that is very science fictional to me. So it was fitting that I lived out my own little bit of science fiction, because on August 1 my first science fiction novel comes out!

While fantasy and romance have been the genres I've done most of my writing in, science fiction is the genre I was brought up in, thanks to my dad. My earliest television memories are of hiding behind Dad's beanbag, peering over his shoulder at which ever monster was the feature of that week's episodes of Dr Who. Movie wise, my most important moment at a movie ever was when I was seven and Dad took me and my younger brother to see Star Wars. I can still remember vividly walking out and feeling like my brain was somehow bigger than it had every been before. I was too young for Star Trek on the television, but Dad made sure we saw all the movies.

I'll admit, I've not kept up my science fiction cred - I've not watched enough, and I've not read nearly enough. But still, I can safely say that the cancellation of Firefly still upsets me. That I loved both versions of Battlestar Galactica but while I think Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck was inspired, Richard Hatch will ALWAYS be Apollo to me. Red Dwarf still makes me laugh and Inception fricken blew my mind.

But really, in my heart and soul, it's Star Wars - beating out the Doctor by a sonic screwdriver. And so, when I was 14 and it came into my mind that I wanted to write an epic, what I wrote was a homage to the greatest space princess who ever lived - Leia Organa.

Of course, one's childhood scribblings generally don't go any further than that, right? And the space princess I developed as a 14-year-old really didn't deserve to go any further than that. Princess Cassandra of Rica was so idealised, and perfect, and really was just me pretending I could be as kick arse as Leia.

Except for some reason - maybe because she came from a place of such pure love - Cassandra never left me. From time to time, I'd pull her out and have another go at writing her story. She developed, her world developed, but I could never find the perfect story.

Until last year. Last year, I got it. And thankfully, my publisher loved it and now, on August 1, Cassandra will finally live!

From Escape’s fresh, exhilarating science fiction romance catalogue comes a story of corporate espionage, betrayal, sex, and bodyguards. Just another day in the colonies.

Cassandra Wiltmore is the heir to the throne of Rica, but it’s unlikely she’ll be stepping up any time soon. So she spends her days managing and building the Rican Balcite Mining Company. The company has made her family wealthy beyond imagination, but that kind of power needs careful control, and Cassandra is just the Wiltmore to control it.

When a new bid for the mining license is announced, Cassandra is determined to squash it. Then the thefts and threats begin, and every step she takes seems to be wrong. Taking on a new protector seems like an indulgence Cass can’t afford, but she equally cannot afford to be caught off-guard. If only the best man for the job wasn’t also the best-looking man she’s ever seen.

Kernan Radaton has ambition, and as protector to Cassandra Wiltmore, he’s well placed to reach all his long-held goals. If only his new all-business boss didn’t make him think of only pleasure. With the company, the heir and the family under attack, the last thing anyone needs is a distraction. But once everything is safe again, Kernan is developing new ambitions — ones that involve a lot of very personal time spent getting to know his boss on a very personal level.

You can pre-order the book now from all good electronic bookstores. And it's just the beginning - Loving the Prince is one of three set on the planet Jorda. The second book, Winning the King will be out in December and the third, Saving Her Heart, will be out next year.

Want to win a copy of Loving the Prince? Tell me your favourite science fiction hero or heroine. I'll give five copies at random to those who comment.

Release the midsummer magic

Thanks to everyone who commented. I've declared you all the winner! Email nicole@nicolermurphy.com.au so I can send you a copy of 'Release'.

It's Midsummer in the northern hemisphere - Midwinter here in the land of Oz. Here it's the shortest day of the year, and the longest night. From here, we fall down into deep winter and the weather is certainly do it's best to mirror that. We had a lovely mild autumn and it's taken a while, but the cold has hit.

The cows have been killed, the kegs tapped and we have feasted. Now we wait, and hope we make it through the hardness of the months ahead, until spring blooms and we can start anew.

At least, that's the way it used to be celebrated. A little sad that squirrels were smarter than humans... Anyway things are different now - we don't have to eat all the food for fear of it going off, or spend all our time indoors because it's too dangerous out (although you don't go outside by choice in this bit of Australia - nights are below freezing, days aren't all that much warmer sometimes).

Still, there's magic in the air. Days like today, where the sky is so blue, the sun so yellow and yet there's a crispness that stings your cheeks a little and makes you feel alive. I love walking in fog - the shadows it gives to familiar things, feeling alone even though you're in the midst of a city. And the crispness of frost on the grass.

Of course, the best thing about winter is being able to curl up under a doona with a good book. And luckily, I think I've got a pretty good one for you - if you like lots of steamy, sex with some hot spirits :)

RELEASE, my collection of four paranormal erotica novellas, comes out July 1. Below is the cover, blurb and some links and then a giveaway!

Four stories of eroticism, strength, experimentation, and ultimate salvation.

Cursed after death to live in grey nothingness until they atone for their sins, four spirits have spent centuries doing good for others. Finally they stumble upon the true key to their salvation — because they hurt women in their lives, they’ll only find release by now helping women to become all they should be. One by one, the spirits meet a woman and as each sexual delight unfurls, the grey nothingness disappears a little more. As the women find their happily ever after, they grant the spirits a chance at peace for eternity.

Follow the journey of four remarkable women — Luisa, Anna, Cara, and Jan — and the four spirits that set them on a new path to sexual freedom and boundless pleasure.

Preorder links 

Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/release-21

Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Release-Elizabeth-Dunk-ebook/dp/B00KQ64YIM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403128221&sr=8-1&keywords=release+elizabeth+dunk

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/release/id885270605?mt=11

GIVEAWAY

I've got ten -yes ten -copies of Release to give away in your preferred electronic formate. To enter, tell me what is your favourite thing about winter?

I'll announced the winner on July 1, the day Release is released!

Living like the characters

First, congratulations to CrystalGB for winning last month's giveaway! I've emailed you, Crystal.

This month I wanted to talk about what gets us through the tough times. Work was absolutely horrendous in late April and early May and I barely had time to scratch myself, much less have some fun. So I had to be kinda picky about what I did with the little spare time I did have.

Here's what I did:

a) I read. I was into science fiction romance this time around - there's some really interesting stories and ideas around at the moment. Although one that I picked up that I thought was science fiction turned out to be an urban fantasy based on some Indian mythology, which was interesting.

b) I watched only my favourite television shows. No wasting time with things I wasn't interested in. If it didn't float my boat right away, it got kicked to the curb.

c) I made time for my friends. Sometimes I was so tired I didn't want to, but still I got off the couch, made myself dress and went out to see them and it was always worth it.

d) I made time for my husband. Really important - I couldn't always prioritise time with him every day, but I made sure I arranged things that at least ever second day, we had some quality time together.

e) I said no. I said no to events that didn't interest me or didn't involve me hanging with friends. I said no to stressing about deadlines and putting that aside until I needed to panic. I said no to doing things I 'should' be doing that really could be put off.

And it occurred to me - why only make those decisions when things are tough? Why not live the life I want to live ALL THE TIME?

My characters get to have interesting, exciting lives all the time on the page because you just don't write the boring bits. So why live the boring bits in my own life?

Onto something, or maybe I'm going completely crazy. We'll see :)

What do you do to get through the tough times? I'd love to hear.

Have a great month everyone!

PS - if you love vampires, come visit my blog tomorrow (22 May) - Daniel de Lorne, a new writer with a great novel out, talks his favourite vampires.

Never fear - the whole trilogy is here! (+giveaway)

Hate waiting for the next book in a trilogy?
Hate finding the second or third book and being scared to read it in case it doesn't make sense, but it's hard to find the others?
Hate starting a trilogy with the fear it won't be finished?

You can't hate the Dream of Asarlai trilogy for these reasons now! There's a new omnibus version available (electronic form only). You can get all three books in one, and the price is fabulous. Around 350,000 words of action, adventure, magic and romance, for less than $10. And that's Australian - probably even less in other currencies. (Except New Zealand - probably more for you. Sorry NZ).

Here's the blurb:

An exciting Urban Fantasy trilogy full of intrigue, action and a hint of romance. For centuries, the gadda have worked to keep their identity secret from the rapidly expanding human race. All this is now at risk - the most terrible of gadda teachings, the Forbidden Texts, have been stolen and the race is on to find them. Asarlai believes the gadda should rule the world, and she will risk everything, and everyone, to achieve her ambition. As the body-count mounts, Asarlai finds a powerful ally and the pressure builds to stop her and retrieve the Forbidden Texts before she can change the world forever. Join Maggie Shaunessy, Ione Gorton and Hampton Rouke on their quests to save what is dear to them ... and the world as they know it. Praise for Nicole Murphy: 'engaging' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'compelling' KIWI REVIEWS 'fresh and interesting approach to an urban fantasy series' Bookseller+Publisher 'a rollicking romp through the space where romance and fantasy collide' The Courier-Mail

Purchase from iTunes, Amazon and Kobo.

For you - an excerpt from the first book, Secret Ones.

His eyes focussed on a young woman who stood in the middle of a group of older men. Glorious golden hair was twisted up around her head. Her halter-neck black jersey dress, its hem just sweeping the tops of her feet, enhanced the rich curves of her body. Jackpot, he thought.

She turned and their gazes caught. She walked over, moving gracefully even though he was watching so closely.

‘Dr Valeroso.’ Her smile was as sunny as it had been that afternoon, although it lacked the heat he’d liked. ‘I’m pleased to see you survived the encounter with the grove’s protector.’

He bowed his head. ‘Thank you for saving me.’

‘I’m sure you’re quite capable of saving yourself.’

‘But always nice to have someone else make the effort, don’t you think?’

‘Sometimes, you have no choice.’ A shadow passed over her face and Lucas wondered what bad memory he’d just dredged up.

She shook her head and the smile resumed. ‘I hope you’ve managed to settle in.’

‘To my accommodation, yes. I haven’t seen my laboratory yet, but I’m looking forward to it.’ He didn’t like how businessy this conversation was.

‘If there’s anything you need, let me know. I’m working as the chancellor’s PA at the moment.’

He wondered if there was a reason O’Hara had hired his granddaughter to work for him. ‘At the moment? Isn’t what you normally do?’

‘No.’ Another shadow. ‘I’m just helping him out until the school year begins. I teach primary school. I think in the states that’s elementary school.’

‘Then you’re a fellow educator.’ Lucas was desperate to find a connection. He’d been so sure there was something between them during their first meeting.

‘Except you’re abandoning the chalkboard.’ The lightness that had entered her tone gave him hope.

‘Not by choice, I assure you. I’m allergic, you see.’

‘What, to students or the chalk?’

‘Um, both?’

She laughed, a thrilling sound that played over his body like music.

‘Actually, I think it’s the marking I’m allergic to,' Lucas continued.

‘How can it be? That’s my favourite part — hours bent over a desk, red pen in hand, wondering just how to tell someone they got it wrong without ruining their fragile self-esteem.’

‘Are we supposed to worry about their self-esteem?’

She laughed again. ‘Lucas Valeroso, that’s just too bad.’

‘Really? I’m trying very hard to be good.’

‘Oh, I’m sure you are.’

And there it was, that attraction that had so instantly drawn him. When her eyes sparkled like that, Lucas felt as though anything were possible. ‘Perhaps you can help me with that, Ms Shaunessy.’

‘Please, call me Maggie.’ She held her hand out. He reached for it, expecting to feel a thrill at the first touch of skin on skin. The shaft of energy that ran up Lucas’s arm surprised him with its intensity.

He knew she felt it too, because her eyes went so dark his stomach dropped into his shoes with arousal. Then she released him, and he fought back the disappointment. ‘We’re thrilled you decided to come here, Dr Valeroso.’

The ice in her voice threw him. What had he done to piss her off? ‘I’m not sure I had much of a choice. I think Chancellor O’Hara decided I was coming here, and that was it.’

‘Once he sets his mind on something, it does tend to happen,’ she said. ‘I need to keep circulating.’ She looked at him, and he fancied she was trying to read his mind. Then, with a nod, she walked away.

Damn, damn and double damn, Lucas thought. He’d really stuffed that up, somehow. Then he remembered the shock he’d received when he shook that aeroplane guy’s hand — a shock exactly like he’d just felt with Maggie. And Flaherty was involved with the O’Haras somehow. Something strange was going on around here. Good. He quite liked a good mystery, especially when the heroine was smart and gorgeous.

***

Don't we all, Lucas, don't we all :)

Leave your name and email address for your chance to win the Dream of Asarlai omnibus (iBookstore or ePub readers only).

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A flying visit

Just dropping in to say hi - 'Hi!' *waves* and to share some news.

I'm in the middle of organising a progressional development day for writers and the Aurealis Awards ceremony. The Aurealis Awards are Australia's premier speculative fiction awards. So I'm kinda busy.

I've also got book deadlines up the wazoo. Between now and May next year, I've got four books coming out. The first is 'Release', a collection of paranormal erotic novellas. It was a very different thing to write, and lots of fun.

Then there's a science fiction romance trilogy - The Jorda Trilogy (Jorda is the planet it's set on). The first book is called Loving The Prince. It's a story I've been trying to get right for 30 years and finally, I've done it. And the publisher loved it enough to want two more!

Finally, HarperCollins Australia is relaunching the Dream of Asarlia trilogy as an electronic omnibus! The new version, with a new great price, goes on sale and April and here's the cover:

That's all I've got time for this month -  hopefully next month I can stop by for a proper chat with you all.

New books, old books...

This week, I signed a contract for a new book (yay!). It's for a collection of paranormal erotic novellas, being published electronically by Escape Publishing (the electronic publishing arm of Harlequin Australia).

While I've written sex scenes before (many, MANY sex scenes), I'd not written erotica. It was a real challenge, to try to come up with new and interesting ways to keep things steamy and hot, throughout four interlinked stories.

As I've said here before - I like a good challenge. I like to test myself by trying to write things I've never done before. If they don't work that's fine - I've undoubtedly learnt something from the experience.

In this case, the publisher believes it has worked. In June, I'll find out if the readers thing so too!

Here's the blurb:

Cursed after death to live in a grey nothingness until they atone for their sins, four spirits have spent centuries doing good for others. Finally they stumble upon the true key to their salvation – because they hurt women in their real lives, they’ll only find release by now helping women to become all they should be. One by one, the spirits meet a woman and as sexual delights unfurl, the women find their happily ever after and the grey nothingness disappears, allowing the spirits to find contentment for the rest of eternity.

Meet four remarkable women – Luisa, Anna, Cara and Jan – and the four spirits that set them on a new destiny of sexual freedom and delight.

February also brought some good news about an old book.

In April, HarperCollins Australia will be re-launching the Dream of Asarlai trilogy in an omnibus (electronic only). That means you'll be able to buy all three books in one! There will be a new cover and a new price point. It's like a re-birth for the books, and I hope that it pays off.

So there you go - so far, 2014 has started with a bang. And hopefully it won't be long before I'll have MORE news to share with you.

Hope 2014 is treating you well!

Returning from paradise

From time to time, you get to live the dream and that's how 2014 has begun for me. I've just got back from a two week writing retreat with some of my favourite people in the world. Two weeks of writing during the day, and then chatting, eating, drinking during the night.

It's such a wonderful environment. Everything else gets put away - responsibilities, work, even doing the housework - in order to indulge fully in being a writer.

You can think about writing, spend hours staring out the window, and no one minds. You can disappear from a conversation to furiously write something down and everyone understands. You can stop in the middle of a piece and cry your frustration to the sky and someone will have a chat and help you work it out.

Everything is about story, and the industry, and dreams and aspirations and fears and worries.

It's wonderful, but like paradise, there's the snake. You can become so caught up in this world that you lose touch with reality and when you return, it's a real downer. You can also put on copious amounts of weight, but I'd prefer not to focus on that :)

So even when you're in paradise, it's about finding balance. Keeping yourself centred and secure, so you can keep going when paradise inevitably fades away.

It's the same with the darkness that so many of us are drawn to in our reading and writing. You need the balance of light to keep yourself even.

I've crashed back down to earth with my first day back at work and I'm already knee deep in reality. Somehow, I need to keep that joy going as well, because that's what helps fuel you as a writer - the joy you find from sitting and playing with story, with characters, with words.

I already know 2014 is going to be a big year (can't make any public announcements yet but BOY) so now more than ever, I need to find balance. Maintain a sense of reality, but recognise and celebrate the moments of paradise when they come.

What do you do to find balance in your life? I'd love to hear your ideas.

The beautiful Snowy Mountains in Australia, where I've just spent the past two weeks writing.

December 1 approaches...

Photo courtesy of
www.yachtandboat.com.au

Can you believe it's only two weeks to winter/summer? Depending on where you live, of course.

Here in Australia, we're actually having a bit of a hard time believing it's almost Summer. We're in the middle of a bit of a cold snap at the moment, and the Spring rains have been more 'deluge' than 'refreshing' in some parts. All this just a few weeks after horrific bushfires.

Weather, huh?

On Twitter, I've seen people staring to talk about the build-up to Christmas. In particular, parents commenting on how the stupid end of year whirl has begun, with their relationship with their kids being reduced to little more than a bus driver. There's also been the now traditionally whinge about how early the shops get all the Christmas gear out. Actually, I think they were a little more laid-back this year - it was early to mid-November before it was really noticeable.

Do the shopping centres start decorating for Christmas that early in the US, or does Thanksgiving hold it back?

Lotsa folks have been saying December 1 is the day that Christmas observances can start. It's the earliest day that you can put up your Christmas tree, they opine. It's when the shops should put up their decorations. Anything earlier is a waste.

When you look at that depository of all wisdom, Wikipedia, it turns out December 1 is actually a pretty cool day. Here's some of the holidays/observances from around the world:

• Christian Feast Day:
  • Castritian
  • Eligius
  • Edmund Campion
  • Nicholas Ferrar (Episcopal Church (United States))
  • December 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

• Damrong Rajanubhab Day (Thailand)
• Earliest day on which Farmer's Day can fall, while December 7 is the latest; celebrated on the first Friday in December. (Ghana)
• Earliest day on which Good Neighborliness Day can fall, while December 7 is the latest; celebrated on the first Sunday in December. (Turkmenistan)
• Freedom and Democracy Day (Chad)
• Great Union Day, celebrates the Union of Transylvania with Romania in 1918; since 1990, National Day (Romania)
• Military Abolition Day (Costa Rica)
• National Day (Burma)
• National Transit Tribute to Rosa Parks Day (American Public Transportation Association)
• Republic Day (Central African Republic)
• Restoration of Independence (Portugal)
• Self-governance Day or Fullveldisdagurinn (Iceland)
• Teachers' Day (Panama)
• World AIDS Day (International)
• Rosa Parks Day (United States)
• National Day (United Arab Emirates)

Personally, I love the idea of a Good Neighborliness Day - particularly as the stress of the end of the year grows. We all know that for some people, this is a really difficult time of the year, so a day put aside to being a good neighbour sounds awesome.

Christmas and everything just rushed at me last year. Work was extremely busy in December and I just didn't have a chance to stop and think about it and by the time it arrived, I wasn't ready and it was a bit of a dud, quite frankly. This year, December at work is going to be much calmer, so I am DETERMINED that I'm going to give Christmas and the end of the year the attention it deserves. It's going to be a party, my friends.

How about you? Are you looking forward to December?