Jaci Burton’s Muse

So now that the dust has settled over my big news, I had time to do a little thinking on why this book sold.

This book being the book that I told everyone was ‘crap’.

Obviously someone thought it wasn’t crap, even though I was convinced it was.

So why did I think it was total and complete crap? (Yes, ‘crap’ became my favorite word while writing this proposal….*g*). It took me awhile to figure that out. And I didn’t realize until after I made the sale why I thought it was crap.

Because it wasn’t what I typically wrote. I write hot…really hot….erotic romance. And as I plotted out this book I realized there were very few paces I could put the really erotic stuff. Well, I thought, this isn’t me. This isn’t a trademark “Jaci Burton” book. I was suddenly floundering outside my “comfort zone”.

That comfort zone had been my lifeline for several years now. It was easy, it was comfortable and my writer’s voice sang within it. But it also wasn’t getting me anywhere with the NY houses, unfortunately, for one reason or another, because as we all know, they are buying the ‘high concept’ stories. Not that there was anything wrong with the books I was writing. They were selling, they were popular, reviews were great, yada yada….but when I was proposing for my agent, these kind of storylines weren’t going anywhere with other publishing houses.

Surving Demon Island is a high concept story, and it scared the living hell out of me. But fortunately my agent is a lot smarter than I am, and she read the proposal, loved it, and sold it. I also have some pretty amazing friends who kicked me, beat me and threatened me with dire consequences, convincing me that the story wasn’t ‘crap’…..and I will be forever grateful to them because of it. Clearly they saw what I could not see in this book. I love you Mel, Angie, Mandy, Shannon and Bree.

And it’s also quite clear I need to step outside my “comfort zone” more often….

My wonderful, fantastic agent, Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency just negotiated a two book deal for me with BANTAM DELL!

I’m sooo excited, completely unable to say anything coherent, so I’m just going to copy their oh-so-brilliant post from The Knight Agency’s blog here and you can read the full details on their blog too!

Thank you Deidre! I’m stunned, to say the least!

Jaci

Jaci Burton, “one of Ellora’s Cave’s most popular authors,” has landed a fabulous deal at Bantam Dell with terrific editor, Shauna Summers—only one week after sending out the submission! AND this makes Jaci our 4th author with Bantam Dell. Oh, did I mention it was an auction, too? Yep, 3 houses bidding for SURVIVING DEMON ISLAND with Bantam Dell landing on top!

Here’s her deal announcement on Publisher’s Marketplace: Romance/Women’s Fiction—Jaci Burton’s SURVIVING DEMON ISLAND, the story of a reality show gone awry, where fantasy becomes reality and nothing is what it seems, and a second untitled paranormal romance to Shauna Summers at Bantam Dell at auction in a very nice deal by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency (World English.)

Yes, cross one item off the ‘to do’ list because my faerie book is finished! Well, the first draft is, anyway. But at least another book is done.

Whew! Now to spend the rest of this week judging contest entries and doing a critique for one of my best buds who no doubt is tapping her foot wondering if I’m EVER going to finish her book, which actually I’ve been dying to do. No more writing for me for awhile.

And then soon we’ll get edits for OUT OF THE DARKNESS.

In the meantime, AFTERMATH, the faerie book, can sit in it’s little folder and take a nice long nap, gel a little bit, until I finish edits on OOTD. Then the little faeries can be edited (cuz my editor refuses to let me kill them, dammit) and turned in.

But a project is finished! Yayyyyy!

Is it too early for happy hour? It’s almost 9 a.m. *g*

Maybe it’s the weather….I mean it’s August in Oklahoma and it’s been freakin raining here for like a week and a half. What’s up with that? Like 5 inches of rain. That’s unheard of in dust bowl land here. Not that I’m complaining. The plants and trees are most happy about it.

Maybe it’s stress. You know, the proposal is in the hands of my agent who has sent it to publishers, some of whom have actually asked to see it. Okay. Cool. So now I wait. Tap tap tap.

And then I have the faerie book I’m finishing up for EC. Sigh. Yeah, it’s almost finished. I’m soooo ready for this book to be finished.

And then I’m waiting for edits for the vampire/werewolf/menage book that Charlie and I co-wrote for EC. tap tap tap.

And then after I finish the faerie book there’s a dragon novella I have to write for EC that’s due like November 1. Urgh.

Oh and I also have to write more on the proposal book, since I’m sure my agent would like to think I’m actually working on that. Which I am. Honest. In between all these other freakin’ projects.

Oh and I’d also like to find time to read in there somewhere. I’m in the middle of a fantastic Linda Howard book that I’D LIKE TO FREAKIN FINISH, DAMMIT!

Oh and maybe have a life in there somewhere.

And then there are the new puppies, which is a lot like having a new baby in the house, except for the lack of diapers *g*

Oh and the stupid day job is really damn busy right now, too. So not even any time to write there, either.

See what I mean? Meh. Which to me means just total stress. Too many things going on and too many deadlines. Again.

Why do I let this happen?

A wonderful book by a wonderful author - I highly recommend it! Jaci

HEART CHOICE by Robin D. Owens

Publisher: Berkley (July 5, 2005)

Tracker Straif Blackthorn has returned to Druida City after his last rescue mission, intending to repair his home and resume the noble duties he abandoned at seventeen, when he lost his family to disease.He’s futilely searched Celta for a cure. But he may be too late! A secret enemy schemes to claim his title, his lands, and destroy the woman he loves. As an interior designer Mitchella Clover dreamt of someone saying “no expense spared.”Unfortunately it’s a wildly attractive GreatLord who offers her the chance of a lifetime - to restore an ancient showplace.

She knows she can never give Straif what he truly wants, but can she resist him? The job isn’t easy. Both the sentient Residence and Straif’s new snobbish Fam cat have remodeling ideas, and Mitchella’sward instantly dislikes Straif.

Everyone’s back! Characters from HeartMate, Heart Thief and Heart Duel appear to help renovate the Residence, solve the mystery, give advice on the perfect duel - or meddle. And the first baby of the nextgeneration is born…

Excerpt: http://www.robindowens.com/images/HeartChoiceWebsite.pdf

Cover: http://www.robindowens.com/images/heartchoice_cover.jpg

ABOUT ROBIN D. OWENS
Robin D. Owens has been seriously writing longer than she cares to recall, but is very happy with how her writing career is proceeding. She was named the Writer of the Year by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers in 2004, and 2003 Writer of the Year by the Denver Area Science Fiction Association. Robin has been the librarian, contest co-chair, and President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. She has given seminars at Pikes Peak Writers Conference, the Colorado Gold Writers Conference, and Romance Writers of America as well as other groups.

REVIEWS

“Character driven story, brilliant dialogue…Terrific writing with a very realistic and sensual romance, make HEART CHOICE a fantastic read” — Jani Brooks, Romance Reviews Today

“Dara Joy fans, rejoice! Robin Owens has created a unique world of her own…fun and sexy.” — Anne Avery

Website: http://www.robindowens.com/

Yesterday my wonderful husband surprised me by telling me we were going to look at puppies. Yes I have 3 dogs in the back yard. Big dogs. I need lap babies. I need dogs at my feet when I work at home. Admittedly, I’ve been whining about needing more babies. (Having a fish on my bookshelf just doesn’t cut it for company, ya know?)

We ended up choosing 2. Bella (female on the left) and Jaz (male on the right). They’re 1/2 maltese and 1/2 Dachsund.

I’m in love.

With both my husband and my new babies. *g*

In honor of my totally kewl and revamped website, I’ve launched a contest through my newsletter!

It’s a fun scavenger hunt with palm trees and a chance to win multiple prizes!

To play, you have to subscribe to and read my August newsletter.

Click here to join

BEYOND CONTROL by Rebecca York
(Berkley, August 2005)

BEYOND CONTROL, by Rebecca York, tells the story of telepaths who discover and develop their powers only when they sexually link with another of their kind.
Jordan Walker and Lindsay Fleming meet at a Washington, D. C., cocktail party. When they touch, they experience an electric moment of psychic awareness. As they explore the unique bond forming between them, they discover that the more intimate their contact, the more their psychic powers develop.

As with York’s Moon books, Lindsay and Jordan must work out their personal relationship against a background of danger and suspense after they stumble onto his murder cover-up at a secret biological weapons lab. At the same time, two other telepaths who want all the psychic goodies for themselves set out to wipe Jordan and Lindsay from the face of the earth.
Rebecca York says that, “Publishers wouldn’t touch a story with this unique blend of suspense and sensuality 15 years ago. But the characters and the plot wouldn’t let me go, so I held onto them until the time was right.”

Excerpt:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/glick/sneak-p21.htm

Cover:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/glick/beyond-control-big.jpg

ABOUT REBECCA YORK
Ever since she can remember, Ruth Glick has loved making up stories full of adventure, romance and suspense. As a child she corralled her friends into adventure games or acted out romantic suspense stories with a cast of dolls. But she never assumed she could be an author, because she couldn’t spell. Her life changed, however, with the invention of the word processor and spelling checker–and the help of her husband, Norman Glick, who spots spelling errors from fifty paces away. Writing as Rebecca York, she has authored or co-authored over 45 romantic suspense novels, many for Harlequin Intrigue’s very popular 43 Light Street series, set in Baltimore, and many with paranormal elements.

REVIEWS
WOW! This was certainly one very hot, steamy, mind boggling and exciting suspense thriller. . . an absolutely riveting tale of suspense . . . with well-developed characters, stunning sensuality and some clever twists. A truly dynamite read! –Romance Designs

BEYOND CONTROL . . . plays out on two interwoven levels. The storyline is action-packed from the opening sequence at Maple Creek and never slows down until the lead couple learns what happened there. The tale also contains a delightful romance between Jordan and Lindsay that starts off with A Strangers in the Night encounter . . . and plays out on physical and paranormal planes. .. . a strong suspense-laden romantic tale. –Harriet Klausner

Four plus, Top Pick –RT Book club

Website: http://www.rebeccayork.com

Does this mean I should ask for an advance on “4 Bitches and A Silver Shovel?” *snort*

I filched this link from Shan:

Astrology for Writers, Editors and Filmmakers:

aquarius: trust that you and you alone know what is best for your career. this is the time to let your sense of your career direction not be re-tooled by those who would benefit ” off your back” so to speak. if your editor has an idea for you, get all fiscal questions answered before your take to the keyboard.

I’m trying to be good and write faeries.

So why are my friends (the bitches) trying to get me to deviate from frolicking faeries to write this evil, twisted, suspensey paranormal that popped into my head….tenatively entitled….”FOUR BITCHES AND A SILVER SHOVEL”???

Oh why? why? why?

They hate me. They really hate me.

*g*