Jaci Burton’s Muse

Well I know I’ve felt my own sense of desperation this week, but it has to do with having not a single blogging brain cell the past few days. Bleh.

Fortunately, Diana does. *g*. She’s talking about writers and the rush to publication and the sense of desperation. Check out her blog discussion today, because it’s a really good one. She also references Jo Leigh’s awesome discussion today on Romancing the Blog. Check that one out, too.

So I read these blogs and nodded my head in agreement, wondering why I see so many people gnaw their fingernails and gnash their teeth and scream in frustration while people around them are being published and they’re not. Is it because they lack the talent, the drive, the ambition?

Well…no. Okay, maybe some of them do. But a lot of incredibly talented writers haven’t had their shot yet because of many different factors. Could be the right editor, the right book, the right market and the right time. I firmly believe hitting the jackpot in publishing is all about timing. Yes, you have to have the talent, first and foremost. You have to write a saleable book. But it really is a lot about fortuitous timing.

Before i was epublished, i had friends who were getting print published. Oh, I targeted the print pub world for awhile, but then I stopped because the market just wasn’t right for me at the time. I just kept writing the books that fit my voice, and writing the stories I loved.

Then i was lucky enough to get published with Ellora’s Cave, and I published a LOT of books with them, happily writing along. A couple years into my happy epublishing journey, a few of my friends and peers in epublishing started to get NY contracts. I kept writing ebooks (with my blinders on). Successfully writing ebooks and not at all concerned about grabbing that agent or selling to NY.

I could have ‘oh woe is me’d’ to the nth degree about why I wasn’t making that next leap into NY land like my peers were. I didn’t. I was ecstatically happy for them, but I kept doing my thing at my own pace.

Then lo and behold I ran into my soon to be agent in blog land purely by accident one weekend, we chatted, she signed me, and through a course of whirlwind events I sold a book to NY within 3 months of her signing me. Whoa. But that was MY journey, unique to only me. (The timing thing I mentioned earlier…I got really, really lucky)

And even now some of my friends and peers are signing even more contracts…way more than me. Does that bother me? Uh, no. I do what I do at my own pace. I try really hard not to pay attention to what is going on around me as far as sales of other writers, other than to celebrate their successes. I’m perfectly happy with my life and what I’m doing.

Everyone has their story…everyone has their pace, their personal and professional journey. Just do your thing and your professional life will unfold as it should. Don’t EVER compare your writer’s journey to what is happening around you and worry about what you think SHOULD be happening.

There are no SHOULD’s. There only IS. The IS..is your life. It’s all that counts.

Why do I feel like Yoda now? *g*

Or has anyone noticed a great deal of blog blahs this week? Shan has it, Dakota has lamented about it too. And I have it.

I have a brilliant blog post brewing…uhhh..somewhere.

And I do have some cool news to share…uhh…soon. *g*

But today? Bleh.

My wonderful and talented friend Melani Blazer has a new book out with Samhain Publishing! Check it out!

Believe the Magic by Melani Blazer

When the strange antique dealer bestows Ella Mansfield with a weird necklace, proclaiming it magic, Ella refuses to believe. Why would she have a use for such a thing?

But she finds herself the target of some pretty odd characters, including the sexy but enigmatic Quentin, who becomes her guardian, her guide and her lover. Gradually she learns her necklace holds two of the ten original gems stolen from the fairy king - gems that control all the magic in the world. Ella realizes the need to believe, but even more her need to search deep within her heart to figure out who to trust, especially when those closest to her seemed to be following their own agendas.

With bad guys just a step behind them, Ella and Quentin use the magic to jump through time and space while bluffing their way out of questionable situations - in search of a plan. That comes to a screeching halt when Ella finds herself face to face with the man she’s been trying to avoid.

Ella’s an unlikely hero, learning as she goes - but the ultimate lesson involves a sacrifice she never expected to face, and one that all the magic in the world cannot undo.

But it here at My Bookstore and More!

Posting this because of Angie’s monthly TBR Challenge, which by the way is great for people like me who don’t have time to read. I have to force myself to do it, dammit, because I’m always so busy. How sad is that?

This months’ theme was a book that had been on the TBR shelf longer than 6 months. *snort*. That was easy for me since I buy books like crazy then don’t have time to read them. Finally got one read! Wooo hooo for me!

Here’s my report:

Title: Crazy Hot

Author: Tara Janzen

Year published: 2005

Why did you get this book? I can’t remember. I think because it’s a Bantam book and I bought it not long after I sold to Bantam. I remember listening to an RWA workshop tape where my editor was talking about hot new authors, and Tara Janzen’s name was mentioned.

Do you like the cover? It’s a black on gray silhouette, but good for contemp/romantic suspense. I like it. And the hot pink title on the black/gray stands out.

Did you enjoy the book? Loved it. Hot, sexy, awesome characterization, fast paced and filled with really hot cars.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Yes, the author was new to me, and I’ve already bought the follow up book.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? I’ll keep it unless my friend Mel doesn’t buy it because I think she’d really love it. In which case I’ll send it to her.

Anything else? This is a really great book, and one that’s a good study on great pacing, sexy, dynamic characters, heroes and heroines who are flawed but loveable, incredible secondary characters, hot sex scenes and a genuine, all around great read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m damn picky and rarely finish books I start because I don’t have time to read.

So it’s Monday again. Time for the weekly TO DO list.

Last week I managed to hit 3 out of 4 of my goals. Not too bad. The most important was the 10,000 words I did last week for my Berkley book, though I barely managed to get those finished last night. Bad, bad me.

So, this week’s to do list:

1. 10,000 words on WILD, WICKED AND WANTON.

2. Do small EC project which is due at the end of this month (that’s like the end of this week so I have to do this!

3. Work on promo and packing list for the RT convention (ack…so don’t want to do this but I really need to figure out what I need to bring to the convention)

4. Finish book for Angie’s TBR challenge

5. Start reading book for quote

Oy!

So what’s on everyone’s to do list this week?

A question for writers?

I’m always curious how other writers write. Do you write daily? At a specified time and place? Do you set word count or page count goals when you sit down to write, or do you write until the muse runs out to play? Do you set a book deadline date when you start a new book, or are you driven by publisher deadline, for those who are published? If not published, do you set a personal deadline to finish a book, or is it more loosely based on ‘whenever it’s done, it’s done’?

I write every day. Every.Single.Day. Some days it’s a couple pages. Other days it may be 3 or 4 chapters. I’m not very good at goal setting, though I probably should be. I have a clear timeframe in mind as far as when the finished product is due to my editor, and I’ve never missed a deadline, but how I manage to get there has always been a bit of a mystery to me.

I’d really like to get more organized, so I’m interested in how you all do it.

So tell me….how do you do it?

I won an Award! Romantic Times told me today that I won the Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Erotic Paranormal for Animal Instincts!

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

I’m so excited all my brain cells leaked out and I can’t do a damn thing today except grin. I look goofy as hell, and I don’t even care!

Now I have to buy something to wear to the awards luncheon at the RT convention next month. And I have to give an acceptance speech - ack! I can’t believe I’m actually going to accept an award in person. I’ve never done this before.

:-D

Jaci

Hey I have good news. Animal Instincts (mine, not Genas *g*) is a finalist in Passionate Ink’s pubbed author contest. Cool news, huh?

Last week’s to do list stuff went pretty well. I finished the second novella in Wild, Wicked and Wanton (woo hoo!) which was a big to do for me.

This week:

1. Write 10,000 words on the third novella for Wild, Wicked and Wanton.

2. Post office run - Mail costume, books, bookmarks, bookplates, yada yada yada

3. Write some ’stuff’ for EC promo. (Yes, stuff. I know what I mean *g*)

4. Write blog entry about blogging. (Yes, I know what I mean about this too. It’s just a note to jog my memory…hehehe)

What’s on your ‘to do’ list this week?

SQUEEEEEE!!!!

My cover for my Berkley HEAT release, Wild, Wicked and Wanton. I LOVE this cover, especially the way my editor described the detail: This cover will be printed with special inks, gold ink will be used in the white areas on the top and bottom which will give it a special shimmer. The colored panel in the middle will be printed using bold rich reds and orange inks.

This is the first rendition of the cover so it will undergo a few subtle changes. But I did receive permission to reveal it. *grin*

Isn’t it gorgeous?