Just got my cover art today for my upcoming release with Noble Romance. Revel in the pretty.

Looks like the book will be released soon as well. So keep an eye on my website!

Okay, I just read this very disturbing article about Sanjaya of American Idol ‘fame.’

Sanjaya received a $100,000 advance

Yes, you read the descriptor right, some idiotic publishing house gave a has-been American Idol loser $100,000 for a book.

These are the kinds of stories that really burn me. Publishers will throw large amounts of money at any ‘celebrity’ they can find, assuming that readers will buy this garbage and they’ll earn their money back several times over.

It’s been almost 2 years since Sanjaya was in any kind of spotlight. Do they really think his ‘fame’ is lasting? That scores of pre-teen girls (who are possibly no longer pre-teen and have now moved on) will spend their babysitting money on this schlock? I just can’t see it happening.

Meanwhile, that $100,000 advance could’ve been spent on ten or more new authors, books that might’ve hit the best seller lists and created NEW worthier celebrities.

I wish the NY publishing houses would take a look at their bottom lines a little more closely. Who exactly is carrying them? Which authors have been profitable and which celebrity books have failed? What is the ratio? I have a feeling celebrity books (or quasi-celebrities such as Sanjaya) have not done as well as expected.

And you know Sanjaya got more than that $100,000 advance. He got the time of the marketing department and the promo people to get those stupid interviews. Ugh.

I started editing The Opal Hunter on Friday with my editor at Liquid Silver. This is my longest erotic romance to date (almost 40K). Although lately I’ve been writing some hotter books, The Opal Hunter falls right in line with the ones I have currently published.

I’m kinda big on story. Making the romance seem somewhat real. Maybe I don’t always succeed because, face it, in erotic romance there typically is hot-n-heavy action relatively quickly.

So most of my published stuff is sexy, but not on every other page. I like characters. I like revealing their backgrounds in bits and pieces.

With my hotter stuff, like the Arctic Shifters series, there is more ’straight-to-the action’ kinda stuff. In fact, I am still trying to figure out how to differentiate between the more story-oriented stuff and the crazy stuff here on my website. Once I have a new release that falls under ‘crazy,’ I guess I’ll have to figure it out.

As I worked on the edits for The Opal Hunter, I really surprised myself. The quality of that story…well…it’s just very good (if I’m allowed to toot my own horn). And more real than some of my other romances. Bigger obstacles to overcome, I guess.

Anyway, I just love it.

I’m curious to see how this book is received as it is one of the first few ’sterling’ heat books from Liquid Silver. Readers have complained here and there about erotic romance just going ‘right to the sex.’ So, readers, show me how much you want a story like this. I’d like to write more of them, but if the audience isn’t there…well, I do have to try to make some money at this.

Although sometimes you just have to write the story regardless of what sells.

So, anyone want to toss out an opinion? Do you like more story with your erotic romance? Are you willing to give the relationship time to develop?

Urgh. I am trying to finish up my coyote shifter story, but it seems to want to move along a little too quickly. Not enough *realistic* emotions between the hero and heroine. This is what I get for having an outline.

It gives me such a clear picture of where I’m going, I rush it. An outline only gives me the bare minimum when it comes to character. The outline really helps me more with the plot. I do stick some stuff in there…but when you have two words in an outline to describe the heroine’s emotional journey in one chapter it doesn’t translate well to paper.

Whoops.

The good news is that I’m two chapters from the end of this thing. The bad news is I will have to go back and layer more stuff in there to really make it sing.

I have a couple of pubs in mind for this story. I know one will be a challenge…I can’t tie it all up neatly and just finish. It needs to shine.

As my other edits are starting to bear down on me, it’s very important that I finish at least the DRAFT of this story. I’ve got a couple of days. That’s a chapter a day. I can do it!

Kris

Yesterday I got back in my writing groove. Finished with a major editing project, I felt free for the weekend to spend some time on my coyote shifter story.

It’s quite a good story so far, actually. And I managed to get through a second sex scene yesterday. You’d think that would be the ‘fun’ part of the writing, but it’s always the hardest. Trying to blend the physical with the emotional is tough.

My plan is to write around 1 or 2k per day. I’m about halfway through the story right now. Got the outline all done. Should be a breeze….HA!

But I’m very excited to have something new to sub. With so many new publishers, I’ll have to figure out which one would be the best home for this story. So continue to keep an eye on my home page where the Works in Progress section is. Hopefully, by the end of today, I’ll have a few more words to add.

Kris

I made some updates to my homepage this morning. I realized that I hadn’t changed my “Work in Progress” section in quite awhile. Which makes me look very sorry indeed.

My poor coyote shifter book is languishing. It is feeling so unloved! I have the outline right in front of me, 40% of the book done, but it just is not happening. Poor little story. So, even with all these edits about to crash down on me, I need to write something new.

As inspiration I added a couple more titles to the list…BEEF CAKE 2 and ICE CAPTIVE. BEEF CAKE 2 is obviously the sequel to BEEF CAKE. The first in the series is coming out with Siren this spring, and I’d like to have the next one at least written by then. Don’t want too much time to go between releases for a series, or the interest wanes (mine and the readers’).

ICE CAPTIVE might have a name change. Maybe just CAPTIVE. It is going to be another book in my ARCTIC SHIFTERS series. Because I had a cool idea for another story…and somehow when you start a series, it’s really hard to just turn your back on the fun little world you’ve created. This book might possibly be longer (the other three are just under 10K a piece) and take place off of the ice (thus, the need for a name change…we shall see).

I suppose it might be wise to see how those first three do before I invest more time in writing another. Hopefully, hot shifter stories are still in vogue!

Even if I might not have a ton of time to spend on these new stories, having a plan is a good thing. Letting things slide and doing no new writing is very, very bad!

- Kris

Today, I am guest blogging on the Liquid Silver Blog - SEx - Silver Expressions. Check out my post here:

Blog Post

- Kris

This week has been full of juggling. The kids are back in school (hooray!), I ended up with a new writing project (tech not creative), and I’ve been working diligently on edits.

In the near future my situation may change, which will result in a less free-and-open schedule where I make my own hours and do my own thing. In these times of economic uncertainty, I felt it was necessary to get back to a ‘real job’ again. Which sucks, but will make our financial picture a whole lot better.

But this could mean a different schedule for my creative writing self. Which does worry me. I’ve been very lucky to be able to pursue my writing for the last five years, while still being able to keep our family afloat with other things.

Times are changing, though, and I will have to learn to change with them. For better or for worse.

There is something to be said for a for stable economic situation. That removes quite a bit of stress and worry from my life, which should result in more writing. Because if my head is not stuck in worry mode, my creative brain seems to go a little crazy with ideas and such.

I find it ironic that just when I get on a roll with my writing, just when I might actually make a decent bit of money for my writing, I find myself lining up a job that will take time away from my writing. But that’s okay. I will find a way to balance everything, I’m sure.

I was thinking just this morning about how little authors are paid (most of us, anyway). Even when sales are ‘good,’ the pay for the work you put into that writing is so minimal, it’s kind of sad. But that does prove to me that unless you LOVE writing and feel compelled to do it, you wouldn’t feel compelled to choose this path as a career.

Wish me luck. I may know within a couple of weeks if my situation will change soon.

I think 2009 is going to be a good year. Not that 2008 wasn’t…it had its moments, though. Not five days into the new year, and I’m quite a busy lady. With the possibility for more changes and more good stuff.

I like change. I’ve moved around quite a bit since I turned eighteen, and I like it. Although I would say in my earlier years I was a shy kind of person–not liking crowds or places where I didn’t know anyone–I really do like to see new things and go new places. Which is probably a good thing for a person with shy tendencies.

So to look ahead at 2009 and see what’s coming…and what MIGHT come…is very exciting to me. I’m ready for changes. Sure, it’s stressful sometimes. Sure, it’s scary. But if we don’t try new things and let go of our fears, life can be rather dull and too predictable. And since we each only have one life to live…why waste it with repetition and sameness?

I leap into 2009 with work ahead of me, a few unknowns, and a lot of hope and excitement. I don’t make resolutions or set goals every January…but I do a lot of wondering and thinking ahead about what the year might have in store for me.

One of the best things I’ve learned in life is to just let go. If you mess up or make a mistake, guess what? Another opportunity will come along. If you are marginally well-educated and keep a positive attitude, those two things can take you a long way in life, no matter the obstacles you run into.

2009 come and get me! I’m ready to go for a ride!

As some may know, I created a couple of book trailers a month or two ago. One was for my very first published story, GOING DOWN. I will admit, it has a very provocative title…which probably is why this book has been my best-selling to date.

When you upload a video to YouTube, you can see how many times it has been viewed. My GOING DOWN trailer quickly grew into the most viewed of my two book trailers (the other one is for MOONLIGHTING). It was obvious to me why:

1) The title

2) The random snapshot chosen by YouTube to ‘advertise’ it…cleavage shot!

In other words, I am guessing the majority of the people viewing this book trailer were expecting much different content. Whoops.

I hadn’t logged into my YouTube account for about a month. Out of curiosity, I looked this morning. My GOING DOWN book trailer suddenly had four times more viewers than it did a mere 4 weeks ago!

Now, here comes the fun part. You can look at information about who is watching your videos…where your viewers come from, and a few other details. And guess what? The Middle East really loves their porn! LOL.

My top ten hits for location of viewers:

1) Turks & Caicos Islands (okay, not Middle Eastern…but wait)

2) Libya

3) Egypt

4) Morocco

5) Saudi Arabia

6) Jordan

7) Algeria

Israel

9) Oman

10) Iran

Oh, and 87% of them are male. Yep. These are my viewers, folks. Somehow I have a feeling they are not racing to buy my books. Not sure if this interest is a good thing or a bad thing.