Call for New Samhain Anthology

Here's a great opportunity for all those who love to write romance, but aren't that confident with erotica. Samhain has just opened submissions for a less spicy antho.

Springtime “Just Romance” Anthology

Samhain is dialing down the heat and focusing on the romance for a Springtime “Just Romance” Anthology.

I’m excited to announce an open call for submissions for a new anthology for Spring 2011. The theme is Springtime, and in keeping with that theme, I’m looking for stories that focus on blossoming romance rather than full-blown sexual relationships, chemistry rather than combustion, the spark of attraction rather than the blaze of passion.

The stories can have closed-door sex scenes, glossed-over sex scenes, or characters who are waiting until after the book is over. There can be as much romantic and sexual tension as the book can handle, but no explicit language, and all stories must end with a happily ever after or happy for now.

I’m open to all sub-genres of romance, and all types of sexuality: m/f, m/m, f/f and combinations thereof.

The anthology will include novellas from 20,000 to 25,000 words in length and will be released individually as separate ebooks in May 2011 and will be combined as one print title for mid 2012 print release.

Submissions are open until November 1st, 2010 and the final decisions will be made by November 30th, 2010.

More info: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/submissions

Excerpt from Wolf's Den

Just realized I haven't posted an excerpt.

“Dangerous. Why?

Do you think I can’t take every delicious inch of you? Do you think I can’t handle you?”

He blinked, astonished by this statement and apparently at a loss for words. It was, she had to admit, the single cheesiest thing she’d ever said aloud. She watched him trying to figure out how best to react, while at the same time maintaining that stern, “we aren’t going to have sex, no-way, no-how” attitude.

The longer they looked at one another without saying anything, the harder it was to keep a straight face. She couldn’t say who broke under pressure first, but suddenly both of them were laughing uncontrollably. She collapsed forward in hysterics, her forehead dropping against his chest.

A few seconds later, she realized he’d gone completely still.

He pounced.

How Many Drafts/Edits Does It Take?

Do you ever wonder how many drafts the average author writes? How many edits it takes before a manuscript is ready for submission/publication? Is there a normal? Or does it vary by book? If you're a writer, I invite you to post your average here, your best, or your most frustrating time with a manuscript. To get things going I'll fess up to how many it took for my paranormal.

Note: I can't express how grateful I am to my editor, Eilidh MacKenzie, who is insightfulness personified.

Drafts before submission: 3

Including a somewhat horrifying major revision, doubling the manuscript's size (what made me think I was done at that first draft?).

Edit passes upon acceptance: 4

One mediumish set of revisions, one minor, two fine tunings during the galley stage.

So how about you? Are you good with the first draft, or do you find yourself wanting to make changes even as the book is going to publication?

Talented Cover Artist: Nicola Martinez

Wow!

That's what I said when I saw the cover for Wolf's Den, designed by Nicola Martinez, Senior Editor & Production of The Wild Rose Press.

One of the things I like best about working with this publisher is that they solicit input from their authors about what they'd like to see on their covers. Nicola definitely read my mind on this one.

You can enjoy her gallery of romance covers from cowboy to historical, contemporary to fantasy, posted at TWRP. While you're there, check out the galleries of all the other fabulous artists dreaming up covers for established authors as well as newbies like me.

Release Date Set

Just 11 days and counting until the publication of Wolf's Den!

Wolf's Den: Legacy of the White Wolf Book 1 takes you to the lands of the Kith, remote, forested mountains of the Pacific Northwest and Western Rockies where werewolf clans, who have lived in secret for centuries, abide by a code of blood, honor, and magic. Let me share their seductive world—and their sexy alpha heroes!—with you when Book 1 is released by The Wild Rose Press on July 7.

Here's the blurb:

Waking with amnesia in a body made for sin, Luka is a woman with an identity crisis. Not only doesn't she know her last name, why can't she remember the intense stranger with wolfen eyes who makes her want to howl with sexual hunger? Why has he accused her of a gruesome murder she knows she didn't commit?

Griffin is a wolf in mourning, sworn to bring his mate's killer to justice. His beloved Anya has just died of the bloodsong, a ritual magic forbidden among his people, in which the wolf can be called out in anyone, even humans such as Anya, who can't survive the transformation. How is it, then, that when he looks into her killer's eyes he sees not a murderess, but his own mysterious destiny?

Welcome!

I'm glad you stopped by for a visit. It's both exciting and nerve-wracking to be a new author. I've loved reading paranormal and romantic suspense for so long, that I feel honored to be a writer in my favorite genre.

I hope you enjoy my blog and pop back to enter July's multi-prize contest. Join me throughout the month for guest bloggers, excerpts, and hints at more books to come.

Please feel free to drop me a line via my contact page or leave a comment or two here. I'd love to hear from you!

Aileen

Graphics to Grab