Vow of Silence Another Step Closer...

Story finished.
Edits Complete.
Cover Art In Progress...
Now it's down to the waiting...waiting....waiting for my baby to have a face. For me this is always the most exciting part. I think everyone who has ever written a book has a dream cover...

I'll let you know as soon as I get a preview to share...
And also the much anticipated release date!!
As soon as I know, you'll know...

And to give you a little peak at the three main characters:

George Kirkpatrick was originally introduced in Sacred Secrets as Doctor Psycho. You might remember some of his story: a young teen was responsible for destroying his psychiatric career...well, guess what...she's back to further complicate his life!

Lin Kuan, a renowned San Francisco metal sculptor, met George Kirkpatrick under false circumstances and believed she was dating a psychiatrist, not a sadist…too late she discovers she loves the man… and determines to change him.

Gigi Marconi seeks penance in pain, but not for the life of the man she ruined professionally. Will the vow she made as a child destroy her before she has a chance to face the truth? Or will the love of the man she once betrayed be her salvation?

Vow of Silence Delay...

It's official, the release date for Vow of Silence is going to be delayed.
I know, I hear you moaning...
I'm moaning.

It just can't be helped. My original deadline for completion was Oct 1 and I just wasn't comfortable with the story, or the characters...

So I asked for an extension (time for me to whip this story into shape) and sought the guidance of my beloved critique partner, Xandra Gregory, who was more than happy to rip it into shreds for me:) The result was that she told me exactly what I've been feeling all along...and whether my fans like it or not...the story has to say what the story has to say.

Here's the thing. I do read all the comments on blogs about my stories and my characters and I take the criticism to heart. No one likes to hear that a reader hated a particular story - or story line - but I can't write the story a few readers think they want to read.

I have to write the story my characters want me to tell...

And I was trying to write what I thought my readers want to read.

Rip, rip, rip.
That's the sound of the ms being shredded.

And now I'm ready to write the real story...

My Muse Works In Mysterious Ways

I have no idea what is going on here...
I was writing strong on my paranormal and then the worst happened. My thoughts froze, the ideas locked up, my characters stopped talking to me.

Seriously?

So, I step up to the plate and start a new WIP, it's actually in answer to a submissions call from Loose-Id which means there is a deadline involved. Sure, no problem...45 days...I've got this. And I did. I created a killer blurb, plotted the story start to finish, and started writing. Ready, Set...Stall.

Ughh!
Two chapters in and the story just stopped being told in my head.

Yesterday, I woke up and had a serious talk with my muse. It started out "WTF!???"
I didn't like the answer.

"George," she whispered.

No!

"George," she demanded more forcibly.

"I do not have time for these antics." George, meaning the WIP: Vow of Silence, technically the Fifth Chronicle of Surrender is so far back on the back burner that it shouldn't even have a working title and definitely does not belong in my thoughts.

"You have nothing but time," my muse said and I couldn't think of a single thing to say to that. I went outside and looked at my yard...I actually have grass this year, which is a huge improvement over the dirt field and spartan weeds I had last year. I watered the lush perennials which have returned to the bird sanctuary to brighten my day. I weeded the garden (a sure symptom of absolute desperation. I hate weeding.)

I went inside and opened the folder titled Vow of Silence and found the notes I've been taking over the last decade. George thoughts. And damn it if I didn't fall in love with George all over again.

Here's the first look at George from Sacred Secrets:

George Kirkpatrick is pacing, and his nervousness is making me insane. He’s the calmest, most rational handler I have on staff, my Number One, and he is pacing the length of my office. His blond hair and preppy countenance make him seem better suited for the tennis courts of LA or the golf clubs of Solvang. But no, he will tell you that is his past, he gave up a very successful LA psychiatric practice to get lost in the fantasy, a time before he made fantasy real life.

In the World of Lewd Larry's he is known as Dr. Psycho.

In my head he is a list of contradictions. In my head, he weeps. His heart has been broken. Yet, he still loves. He is optimistic, he is jaded.

He's a freaking psychiatrist for crying out loud.
He's a sadist.

Last night I wrote:
Chapter One
George

Holy shit, I'm really starting this book.
I don't know if I love my muse or hate her, but for the moment...I'm listening...and she's singing me the most beautiful love story about love and loss, betrayal and redemption...

Holy shit.

Gray Outside, Sunny Inside

Ever wake up just feeling insanely optimistic? You know, a song in your heart, a smile on your face...even though its seven am, raining, and you only had four hours sleep? Yeah, I'm not usually that girl...but this morning...I don't know, I just feel invincible. And the rejection letter may have played a small part because all day yesterday I dwelled on what I want from my writing career...

Last night, I wrote out The Plan.
This morning, I am off and running...

Here's how the rest of 2009 should go if my writing stays on track:

DEAD GIRL:
The paranormal WIP, now has a working title: Dead Girl. The paranormal venture is going to have three books total and I plan to get out and hussle them the old fashioned way...find an agent, find a publisher...hopefully it won't take a decade, but ya know, I've got nothing but time. The other two stories in the series will be titled: BIG BAD and MOMMA GOOD. This series is going to be my driving focus for the rest of this year. (80K each)

PRODIGAL SLAVE:
In between paranormal drafts I've gotta get WIP Prodigal Slave finished and out the door...it's still at 42K, I'm shooting for 55k...Xandra, after last night's read advised 100k, calling it a Big Book. I'm still feeling 55K, maybe 60, 80 tops, but we'll see. I already sent out a query promising ASAP so I really gotta move on this one. (bdsm, erotica)

VOW OF SILENCE:
The secondary character from The Chronicles of Surrender, George aka Dr. Psycho, has his own story to tell and turns out it is a prequel to the series...so I hope to get it finished this year. Right now it is roughly at 20%. Still deciding where to send it though...I have my fingers crossed for a particular house and have already queried an editor who wants to see it. (80K, bdsm, erotica)

ECHO OF REDEMPTION:
Yes, the fourth book of the Chronicles of Surrender is back in my thoughts and I'll be taking notes the rest of the year with it being a main focus by December. (80-90K, bdsm, erotica)

So, fewer small books...ie REAPER, VOYEUR, EDGE...but still room for one or two if I am so inspired...

Still have the big book LOVERS on a back burner, but sadly that baby is going to have to wait until 2010. I mean, all totalled, I'm looking at writing 400K just on what's listed...I know, divided by 8 months, roughly 50K per month, lofty goal, but I needed to start somewhere.