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2007 Diary Archive

December 31, 2007 -- Before I start, I have some nice news! Everything Forbidden was named Best Erotic Historical of 2007 by Lifetime TV! I couldn't believe it when Michelle emailed me the morning after Christmas! It's a big honor, so thanks Lifetime!

Well, here we are on the last day of 2007 and, as always, I am wondering how it flew by so fast. This year was an interesting one for me. I had some professional disappointments that I didn't discuss on the blog. It happens to everyone in their career, but that doesn't really make it any less painful. However, I think, from those disappointments, I learned a great deal about myself. And hopefully I'll be better prepared to deal with the future. I also took a good, hard look this year at my life, as well as my career and found that I wasn't balancing myself very well. With months of hard work, I think I'm starting to take care of me and not define myself entirely as "writer" or "author". So it was quite productive in the end, personally.

Looking back is always a good exercise for me, so today I'm pulling my goals up from my 2007 January 1st blog and reviewing them (my comments are in red beside the original goal):

2007 Goals:

As you can see, it was a big of a mixed bag, but on the whole I really feel I met my goals professionally. I also set some personal goals for myself that I met and was very happy about. But looking back can only be useful in a limited capacity. I know not everyone sets New Year's Resolutions, but I do. I think it helps me, the listmaker, to have an idea of what I hope to accomplish. That doesn't mean I always make those goals (as you can see), but it's a bit of a roadmap for me. So here are my goals for 2008:

So that's it! I wish you all a very Happy and safe New Year! And that all your goals and dreams come true! See you in 2008!!!


December 24, 2007 -- Merry Christmas a day early! This year we're celebrating just the two of us, which we're very much looking forward to. I am so blessed to have all of you who visit so regularly, so I hope you all have very happy holidays!

My happy holidays were made happier by two things this year. First, I did manage to write 150 pages in 3 weeks, just as I planned (actually a bit more, but just a bit). I'm well on my way to the downward slope in this book and I'm very excited to pick it back up after the new year. And second, I have seen the cover for my July 2008 historical Lessons From A Courtesan. I am not allowed to show it to you yet, but I have to say that it is the most beautiful cover I've ever had and probably also the most beautiful cover I've ever seen on any romance. So I'm so excited!!!

Anyway, have a great holiday week everyone! And see you all next week for the end of year round up!


December 17, 2007 -- I don't know how it happened, but we are just a smidge over a week from Christmas! There will be a blog next Monday (Christmas Eve) and the Monday after (New Year's Eve), so please do stop by those days as you hustle and bustle to ready for the holidays. Also, if you have time this coming Friday, stop by the Avon Romance Blog. It's been a month of Jess Michaels over there but on Friday you'll actually be eligible to win an ARC of Something Reckless (May 2008). First ARC!!

In other news, aside from getting ready for Christmas and planning a sort of impromptu New Year's party, I have been a very good girl and continued to write. I made my goal for the week and had some moments where I really, really was enjoying the story, which is good. I tend to love and hate my books while writing them, so when I love them it's much nicer. This week I want to buckle down hard one last time for the year and get another 50 pages out, which will take me over the halfway marker by quite a bit and let me relax and enjoy the holiday week a bit more.

However, AFTER the New Year, I'd really like to buckle down and get some pages jammed out. Soooooo... I'm going to be hosting a Book In A Week Challenge from January 6-11. And YOU are invited to join me! If you'd like to be a part of the BIAW and get a jump start on your own 2008 resolutions to start, finish or work on your book, email me and I'll put you on the special email loop for it.

Have a great week everyone!


December 10, 2007 -- That's right. I'm a writer. Finally I proved that again by actually writing. My book is coming along and this week I intend to do the same thing and buckle down for 50 more pages. Meanwhile, I also scheduled myself so that I actually got a lot of Christmas stuff done, too. I'm almost ready, which is a huge relief.

I've been thinking a lot about how this year has gone the last week or so. I'll be posting more about that on December 31 (the last diary entry of this year), but I think it's interesting how as the time bleeds away, we all start turning back and evaluating. I'm sure many of you are doing the same.

Oh, and I'm also appearing a few places this week (and this month). Check out My Events for the updates.


December 3, 2007 -- Heh. I keep being the girl who cried wolf. I actually got sick when I got home last week, so no writing was had in the Petersen household. But seriously. Must get down to writing. Deadline is now officially looming, especially with the holidays coming up. I have to get 150 pages written in the next three weeks in order to be on schedule. So I'm serious this time. I'm really writing this week. Promise. Cross my heart. See, even fast writers get the blahs.

In other news, page proofs for my May erotic historical Something Reckless hit my doorstep this weekend, so I spent Saturday socked in during an ice storm doing those. I'm so excited for this book, people!!

Oh yes, and Jenna Petersen has been updated for December! So check it out!


November 27, 2007 -- Hope everyone had a nice holiday! Ours was very good. And it was a nice break from regular life. But now I am ready to buckle down until we leave for China in March!

Speaking of which, I figured out what was troubling me about my current manuscript. The hero's name was wrong! Doh! I was calling him by what SHOULD have been his late brother's name. So I changed his brother's name and changed his name and now everything is unblocked. It's funny how something that seems sort of inconsequential like his name could block you, but there you have it.

Or maybe it was just an excuse for being tired. LOL Either way, I'm ready to be serious now and get to it!


November 19, 2007 -- This past week, I did do a little bit of work on the book, but I did not get my regular 50 pages done. Which is okay. I still have lots of time and there were other things that intervened and most of them were nice. I've spent a lot of time during the last three years being completely driven by my career and not really living my life. But I'm coming back into a more balanced state now and I'm finding I really like giving myself the freedom to just live. But the book will get done! I'm really liking the story and I'm exciting to keep picking away.

Plus, I'll probably do a bit more catch up this week and write a bit before we leave for North Carolina for Thanksgiving. In the end, it will all even out and I'll probably remain right on schedule. Or knowing me, ahead of schedule.

Which is good because after all that talk about living, not just writing, I have career-related news. I had a (couple) of lovely talks with my fantabulous agent. I'm very happy to say that I've accepted a contract for two more erotic romances with Avon Red.

I don't have release dates for any of the new books (either historical or erotic) yet, but generally it's around nine months to a year after I turn them in. So I'll probably have a couple of books in 2009 (maybe 3 if scheduling lines up) and a couple of books in 2010 (or one right now if the schedule aligns). Which is very nice. I like feeling gainfully employed and loved. Sometimes that makes that whole "living" thing a bit easier.

Oh, a quick P.S., because we are going out of town for the holiday, there won't be a Passionate Pen update on Monday, November 26. Instead I will update when we return. So look for an update on Tuesday, November 27. That update will include the February Historical Releases. Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!


November 12, 2007 -- The thing about being a writer is that you actually have to write. Actually, I meet a lot of people who want to be 'an author' but they don't really want to be a writer. There is a difference. You have to write. You have to. And that's what I did this week. Wrote. I'm actually over 50 pages now on the new book.

It's good, too, because I have to turn it in early. You see.... I'm going to China in March!! My husband and I booked a trip last weekend and everything was confirmed this week. We'll be traveling to Shanghai, then Xi'an and then Beijing for 11 days. I am so excited! And it gives me something to work hard for. LOL

Otherwise, I was just a writing writer. Hope you are, too!


November 5, 2007 -- After I got home last week, I ended up with about a hundred little catch-up things to do. You know the kind of stuff I mean, busywork stuff. I had some blogs to write, unpacking and laundry, emails to write, etc, etc, etc. The only nice thing about all that stuff is that I'm a list-maker, so it's fun to cross things off as I finish. Sick, I know. But it does make one feel accomplished.

This week, though, my plate is slightly less full. And my intention is to try to write 50 pages on the new book. It really needs a title, anyone have any suggestions. It features an Underground pugilist (boxer) hero who is forced to take over the title when his twin brother dies suddenly. And a heroine who needs his connections in the Underground enough that she's willing to risk her reputation and 'train' him in the niceties of society that he has forgotten while living a life of sin and violence. It should be verra sexy and dark and everything I love to write. But it has no title. And I need one.

This week I'll also be out and about, blog hopping, so check out My Events for more info on where I'll be. It's all online appearances, so everyone should be able to join in the fun. :)

Have a great week, all!


October 31, 2007 -- It's here! Everything Forbidden is finally, finally here! It's my first full-length erotic romance (everything else has been novella-length) and it's my first erotic since June 2006 (Parlor Games). So I really hope you enjoy it and buy it in droves so that Avon keeps buying them.

The cool thing is that if you DO like Everything Forbidden than you don't have long to wait for the second book about the same family, Something Reckless, which hits stores April 22 as a May 2007 release. That book features the sister of the heroine in the book that hit stores yesterday. And be sure to check out Jenna Petersen since I'll be adding the first info about Reckless tomorrow!

In January, I'll post some new info about Lessons From A Courtesan, too. One big piece of news, though, is that Lessons has been moved to a July 2008 release (from August 2008). I'm excited to have it on shelves a little earlier!

Okay, so this weekend I headed to Seattle. The Emerald City Writers Conference was great and presenting was fun and the booksigning was divine (even though they didn't get Everything Forbidden in as promised). Then I also got to see my brother and some old friends, so it was a nice end to my big Fabulous Fall Tour. I'll add pictures to my HarperCollins Author Site this week (and be sure to check it out now, since I have lots of photos up from my other events). Oh, and on the plane ride home, I started my new book!

The rest of this week I'll be doing some last minute tidying up from all my traveling and hanging out with my husband, and next week I'll be working even more on said new book. Which really needs a title. But that's a story for next week.


October 22, 2007 -- Only one more week and I will be done with all my conference and promotional travels! I'm having a blast, don't get me wrong, but I'm exhausted! I'm looking forward to a hard nap and some play time.

There won't be a lot, mind you. I actually finished my revisions this week (yayayayay!!), but I'm waiting for some final feedback on the last few chapters from a friend before I send them back. Once I do, I get to do something SUPER exciting. I get to write a new book. I haven't done this since June 2007!! It will be a historical that won't be out until 2009 (there are hazards to always being so darned ahead), but still. A new book!!!

This weekend ended up being a bit of a bust for me. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I didn't end up participating in the Joliet Author Fair. I was so bummed, since I really enjoyed this event last year. But there was a mix up with who was supposed to be ordering my books and unfortunately, none got ordered. Ultimately, it was going to be just about impossible to get any to the event, so we all decided it was silly for me to drive 3 hours round trip without anything to present to readers.

I was upset, of course. But after this month of travel, it was nice to sleep in a little. Plus, on Sunday I posted the FINAL chapter in this year's You Tell Me the Story. Wow, I can't believe it's over again! I don't know if I'll do another, but I always say that. Hope you enjoy the novella!

This week I'm heading for Seattle! Which I'm pretty darned excited about for several reasons. Some of you longtime visitors may recall that my husband and I lived in the Seattle area for about five years, so it's like going home in some ways. My brother still lives there, so I'll be meeting up with him. And seeing some old friends. And, of course, doing the Emerald City Writers Conference in Bellevue, WA. Of course there is a booksigning that is open to the public, so if you live in the area, check out My Events for more info on when and where.

Since I'll be in Seattle until Tuesday (I'm staying a few extra days to meet with said brother and friends), there won't be an update next Monday. But there will be one on Wednesday, October 31, so still come back next week. After all, Tuesday, October 30 is a release day (Everything Forbidden, Jess Michaels). So I have to come and yell about that. :)

Have a wonderful week (and some change) everyone!


October 15, 2007 -- This past week, I managed to work on quite a bit of my revisions for Lessons From a Courtesan (August 2008, Jenna Petersen). I'm more than halfway through, plus I figured out a sticking point at the end thanks to a brainstorming session in Tulsa. And I have almost a month before they're due. So I should be okay, even with my traveling.

Speaking of Tulsa, OK, that's where I was this weekend for the Cimarron Dreaming Conference last weekend. It was awesome! A very intimate conference and everyone was sweet about my books and my presentations. I also got to hang out and have a fun time with Allison Brennan and Jaci Burton and Barbara Dawson Smith and Cyndi D'Alba and the list goes on and on. I'll be adding pictures to my photo album on my HarperCollins Authors site soon!

This week I'll be at a bunch of places around the web and in Joliet, IL for an Authorfest. For all the details, check out My Events.

One of the biggest events is the posting of the final chapter of "A Woman Scorned", this year's You Tell Me the Story event. It goes up Sunday. So I'll also be writing that this week. And I'll be working on more revisions. And also getting ready for my big Seattle trip, which is next week.

Busy, busy, busy. But that's how I like it. Have a great week everyone!


October 8, 2007 -- Phew! Another busy week for me. Actually all of October is just insane, so buckle up.

First, I got revisions for my August 2008 release, Lessons From a Courtesan (Jenna Petersen). So I'm working away at those little by little, moving toward a November deadline to return them. I am so excited about this project, I can't even tell you. If you liked Scandalous, this next book will probably appeal to you. It's very dark and emotional and character driven. Oh yeah. And it's HOT. HOT, HOT, HOT. Oh, and I've seen the results of the photo shoot for the cover... best. Cover. Ever. Can't wait until I can share.

I also spoke to my fabulous agent about the super-secret-project I've been teasing about for so long. Soon I hope to have more details because the proposal is ready. Just a little tweaking and it will be going out into the world.

Then my crazy, crazy traveling schedule continued! On Saturday, I headed to Palos Heights, IL (near Chicago) for a visit with the Best Sellers Bookstore romance group. They had chosen From London With Love for their book of the month. My visit was a surprise to most of the group, so it was really fun. Good food and romance conversation was had by all.

On Sunday, I did not rest, but instead headed to Peoria, IL for a library event. I was the special guest speaker for the "A Little Romance" Bookclub. I also signed books and spoke on the topic of why I love romance. It was a small, but friendly crowd. And one really cool thing was that our local NBC affiliate, WEEK, came out and did a very short interview with me that aired last night in the Bloomington-Peoria market (more than 350,000 potential viewers). They showed the cover of Seduction Is Forever and mentioned that I was a local author, so it would be nice if that translated to a few sales, but we'll see.

Both events were wonderful and big thanks to everyone who came to either one.

This week, I'm on the road again! I leave for Tulsa, OK on Friday at 6am (!!!). I'll be speaking twice at the RWI-RWA Conference. You can join me Saturday from 6-7pm local time at the Marriott at Sourthern Hills, where I'll be signing Seduction Is Forever and other titles. The booksigning is open to the public.

If I can survive to November 1, I get to have a nap. ;)


October 1, 2007 -- Release week was lovely! Thanks to all of you who emailed me and told me you found my book or liked my book. It's just... fabulous. I really appreciate it.

And now it's time for a NEW countdown widget. Yup, here's the one for Everything Forbidden. Enjoy the lovely!

I was in Columbus, OH this weekend for the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Conference. It was awesome! I sold a lot of books at the booksigning Friday and met some lovely readers/writers. Then on Saturday I presented my Great Agent Search workshop. The Thursday before I left, they contacted me to let me know that the special speaker (a librarian) had to cancel, so I ended up doing Anatomy of a Love Scene, as well, to the entire group of conference attendees! Which was very cool. :)

Then, on the loooong drive home, we ended up stopping at a ton of bookstores so I could sign stock of Seduction Is Forever. So if you live in Columbus, Dayton or Indianapolis, you might be able to find a signed copy of Seduction at your local Borders, Barnes and Noble or B. Dalton! If I could remember which stores, I'd tell you, but think of it as a weird Bingo game. Find the autographed copies!

This weekend you'll have another chance for autographed copies, as well as hear me speak (I'm still writing the speech, so it will be a surprise LOL). I'll be in Peoria for a library event. Check out My Events for all the info, dates, times and etc. I would love to see friendly faces and it's open to the public!

One NOT very nice thing. I got YELLED at last week by a small publisher who had her panties in a bunch about a notation I had about a complaint from one of her authors. People, this site is for you authors. I do my best to weed out legitimate complaints from ones where someone has a personal beef. Sometimes I remove the publisher, sometimes I just make a note. If this person had come at me with a tone that was less 'you are a horrible person' and more of a 'I didn't know there was a complaint', then that would have been cool. We could have talked about it and I might have even decided she was right and removed the note.

But instead the result of this is that I'm changing my policy. Now, if there is ever a complaint about any publisher that I deem legitimate, small or large, I'm removing them. So everyone suffers. Because all the notations about complaints were supposed to do was let you know to do a little extra research before you made any decision. I've never been trying to tell people to go to or not go to any publisher. You're all grown-ups, you do what you want and in the end, you'll live with the consequences, good and bad. But now, the publisher will just be gone. Because I don't need the stress of getting screamed at via email. I don't get paid enough (oh wait, I don't get paid at all).

And to close, thanks to all you fabulous publishers who have contacted me over the years to say thanks for listing you. And who have gotten that I'm here for authors, not to promote you. Small or large, you are the bomb. I'm glad that we can create a situation where everyone wins together.

I'm going to go have a drink.


September 24, 2007 -- It's here!! It's finally here (okay, the countdown says one more day, but Amazon reports they are shipping copies today! I hope if you pick it up that you enjoy it and find it a satisfying ending to the Lady Spies series.

Last week was just INSANE. I was visiting at Romance Novel TV all week, which was very cool. But I also had a library event, I had work to do on the secret project and it never rains that it doesn't pour when you have stuff happen in your personal life.

I would say I'd be taking a break this week, but if you look at My Events, you'll know that isn't true. :) Tomorrow I will be guesting at Romance Vagabonds and this weekend I'm heading for Columbus, OH for the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Conference. I'll be speaking, as well as taking part in their big author booksigning on Friday evening. If you live in the area, click the link to find out more info about the conference/booksigning! I would love to see some friendly faces. Plus, it's the first place where you can get signed copies of Seduction Is Forever!

Okay, off to nervously await the official release of the book and hope that people like it! Have a good week, everyone! Go buy Seduction!


September 17, 2007 -- Next week is Seduction Is Forever!! Eep!! What that really means is that people will probably start to find it by the end of this week. If you do, I hope you'll email me and let me know! And buy it, of course!

In other news, I'm busy this week. First, I'm at Romance Novel TV all week as a Guest Author. Stop by to ask questions and hear the scoop on my upcoming releases! Heck, there might even be prizes! Who knows??

Secondly, if you live near Chicago, maybe you'll join me at the Homer Township Library Authorfest on September 18. Check out the Events page for more info and times and maps and such.

Otherwise, still hard at work on ye olde secret project. And I need to write Chapter 5 of "A Woman Scorned" since it also goes up on Sunday! Hard to believe that this novella is almost over! Just two more chapters until The End! My brain is spinning, so if you've emailed me, I am trying to get back on top of that. I'm not ignoring you, just overwhelmed.

Have a good week everyone!!


September 10, 2007 -- Just two more weeks until Seduction Is Forever!!! If you can't tell, I'm starting to get really excited. :) This week I'll be doing some final promo details, plus I'll be doing a video interview with the Peoria Library to go along with my appearance there in early October. Once I get a link, I'll post it.

So, as many of you know, I am a very quick writer. And Avon has a lot of talented authors in its ranks, so scheduling everyone can be a challenge. It means that I can't put out as many books as I'd like to each year, though they do try to alleviate that with buying erotic romances for their Red line from me, as well. I had been toying with the idea of writing in another genre, perhaps paranormal or contemporary, so that I could have more books out and be able to write more books each year.

Last week I went off to my writing retreat with a friend. I had every intention of plotting out a couple of those project ideas. Instead, when I got there, I started really evaluating what I wanted for myself and from my writing. It was quiet, I had no distractions of phone, television or internet. I could really THINK.

I ended up with the startling realization that I really don't want to write paranormal or contemporary. I don't have a passion for those genres. The ideas that I get interest me, but they don't get into my blood. They don't make me yearn to write NOW. And if I don't feel that yearning, that passion, then it isn't fair to me or to readers to try to fit my peg into a hole of the wrong shape. There is one project outside of historical romance that I am excited about... in fact it's outside of romance entirely and I hope to be able to share more about that with you soon. But otherwise, I think it's time for me to accept that historical romance in both its erotic and more traditional form, is where my heart lies.

So that means less books from me per year, at least for now. And it means less books for me to write per year (at least for now). But hopefully it also means that you'll really be able to feel my passion in the books I put out. Because I put a lot of it into my historicals.

I updated Jenna Petersen again yesterday, so come on by and check it out!


September 3, 2007 -- There have been oodles of nice reviews coming in for Seduction Is Forever (which is coming soon, as you can see from the widget to the left). I put up a few at Jenna Petersen (along with TWO contests and much more) on the 1st and more are coming as the month progresses. Here is the one from Romantic Times:

4 Stars -- "There are answers to several questions as Petersen ties up her Charlie's Angels in Regency England trilogy in this action-packed charmer. The author enchants with a lightweight cat-and-mouse thriller that will fulfill your desire for a fun, quick read."

A nice review, to be sure.

This week I'm dealing with some life issues. A broken refrigerator for one. ARG!!! But mid-week I'll be heading out for a writing retreat with a friend, so hopefully I'll be in a better mood when I return.

Don't forget to vote for what you think should happen in the 5th chapter of "A Woman Scorned"! Voting ends on Sunday, September 9!!


August 27, 2007 -- A few things this week. First, the 4th chapter of "A Woman Scorned", my You Tell Me the Story novella has been posted at Jenna Petersen. You can vote for what you think should happen in Chapter 5 until September 9th. And don't forget that I'll be doing a full site update, including a brand new excerpt from Seduction Is Forever on September 1st, so be sure to check back for that!

Secondly, even though we're just a month away from the release of Seduction, things are moving along for my NEXT historical romance! Cover conference has been held and it has a new title! Look for Lessons From a Courtesan in August 2008. I like the new title and I'm excited about the cover treatment. I'll have all kinds of info about LFAC in the months after Seduction is released.

Otherwise, I've been working on a side project this past week. It's something different and if it pans out eventually, I think it will be of special interest to all you Passionate Pen faithful. But I don't want to talk about it in detail yet, so you just get that tease and nothing else.

 


August 20, 2007 -- Not too much to say this week. Just have my head down working on some stuff. I'm teaching a class on Love Scenes this week for Hearts Through History Romance Writers. See you there if you're taking it.

Just one other thing, the third of my three erotic short stories from Avon Blush is available tomorrow. Here's a blurb and a link to pre-order "The Lover Hunt":

The Lover Hunt -- Lady Carolyn Riverton is known for the string of lovers she has left in her wake. However, now she finds she has two potential paramours vying for their place in her bed. Both Alec Hamilton and Stephen Dubois have their talents, so it may take having both men to determine who is the right one for her.

Enjoy if you download it!


August 13, 2007 -- For the first time, I am writing this blog without the aid of contacts or glasses. Yup, the Lasik went extremely well and I'm seeing 20-20! My eyes are a little dry and the drops are annoying, but they're a small price to pay for the vision.

Not much else to report this week! Most of last week was taken up by pre-op, Lasik and birthday fun. But this week I'm hoping to get down to a couple of projects I've been thinking about lately. Something new and fun and different. We'll see if it goes anywhere.

Happy writing all!


August 6, 2007 -- This week is my birthday (August 9)! And it's also a really nerve wracking, exciting week because... I'm getting Lasik on Wednesday! My husband got it about two months ago and loves it, so I'm taking the plunge. Happy Birthday to me! The gift of actually being able to see.

One thing that happened last week was that Romance Novel TV put up the second part of my interview with Jacquie D'Alessandro for your viewing pleasure. You can see both segments at their site. I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to Kim and Marisa and Maria, as well as the ever-patient sound and camera crew. You were all fabulous and I can't wait for us to play again!

Not a whole lot else to report, though. I have a lot of events coming up this month, so be sure to check out My Events for all the scoop!


July 30, 2007 -- First, obviously you cannot ignore the super cool widget to the left! Isn't that awesome? I'm going to leave it up in the diary until release day. And if you want one for your own blog or website, you can download it by clicking "Get this widget!". If you download one, let me know!

Last week was weird. Kind of busy, but not really. It was busywork busy, you know? Still trying to catch up on my To Do list, especially since my husband was out of town. But I did manage to get a bunch of things done, including the third Chapter of "A Woman Scorned", which is now up at the You Tell Me the Story page of the Jenna Petersen site, along with a full site update for August so be sure to check over there.

In other news, on Monday I was talking on the phone to my sweetie and call waiting kept beeping in my ear. I checked the caller-id and it wasn't a number I recognized, so I ignored it . And you know what it was? From London With Love has finaled in the Heart of Denver Romance Writers' Aspen Gold contest!! So woohoo!!! I won't know about placement until the end of October, but it was still really exciting and completely unexpected.

And the annoying neighbors with the screaming children and barking dog moved away! So it was a banner week in some ways.


July 23, 2007 -- Tomorrow is release day! After a very long, winding road, two of the three short stories I penned last year are being released through Avon's new short ebook program, Avon Blush. Here are some descriptions and links to pre-order/order:

Another Door -- Just out of mourning, Mia Reading is having trouble readjusting to Society. She scoffs at the idea of reinventing herself as a sensual woman until a masquerade ball when she stumbles into the wrong room and the powerful arms of wicked Aidan Maitland.

Just One Taste -- Being the Duchess of Bisby is not everything it is cracked up to be for lonely Drusilla. Humiliated by her indifferent husband’s neglect, she finds an unexpected passion when she surrenders to the attentions of his ever-watching and oh-so-very-handsome valet, Jacob Dunnett. 

A word of warning, these books are erotica, not erotic romance (though I think there is a romantic element to both stories) and they are only available for e-book download. But I'm really hoping you all like them!

In other news, I'm still digging out of my RWA hole. But my sweetie is out of town all week, so I should make some good progress on my To Do list (including writing the third chapter of the You Tell Me the Story, which will go up next Sunday!).


July 16, 2007 -- I have returned from Dallas! It was fabulous and I have much to tell, but for right now I'm still trying to catch up. So come back later today and all this week as I update my Day-to-Day Diary and make other updates to the site.


July 9, 2007 -- Woohoo!!! I'm leaving for Dallas tomorrow! So I'm pretty much useless today, sorry! Last week I was slightly better. I actually wrote a proposal for a new erotic historical. And that's pretty much it. Now I'm just busy being excited and I've got to go get my nails done.

A few things before I head out. Yes, I do plan on doing a Dallas Day-By-Day Conference Diary, just as I do every year (you can see past ones in Articles). I am supposed to be back in town Sunday evening, so I'll start uploading it all Monday. That means I'll probably do a very brief update Monday, then be constantly updating through the following few days. So be sure to keep checking back to see what I've updated.

If you're going to be at conference or you live in the Dallas area, there is a listing of where I'll be and when in My Events. Please, please come find me and say hi. Call me The Passionate Pen Lady, I'll answer to it. Don't be shy. I never bite unless asked and even then... probably not. You don't have to buy a book or whatever at the signing to say hello, it never offends me when people just stop by and say hey.

If you're going to be around this week, not in Dallas, here are a few things to keep in mind:

See you all when I get back!!


July 2, 2007 -- Hello, everyone! Just wanted to remind you all that I've updated the Jenna Petersen site for July. This means Chapter 2 in "A Woman Scorned", the new You Tell Me the Story novella is up! You can vote for what you think should happen in Chapter 3 until July 15 (the day I get back from RWA National in Dallas).

Speaking of RWA National... this past week I was all about getting ready for that. I finished buying a few things and this week I'll probably start packing up (late in the week). I've lost quite a bit of weight since the beginning of the year, so shopping was fun for me! In fact, I did a lot of 'shopping' from my own closet. That's the best kind, you know!

I'm starting to really get an itch to write again. I really will have to figure out what exactly TO write once I get back from Dallas. I could start on my next historical (which isn't due until next year), or maybe we'll get a new deal in place for Avon Red and that's what I'll work on... or maybe I'll just do something completely wacky and unexpected and see what happens. Whatever it is, I really need to get working again. I'm starting to get twitchy fingers.

Have a good week everyone! A holiday week if you're in the US. :)


June 25, 2007 -- I've been working on secret, hush-hush projects, people. Fun things that I think you're all going to like. But I don't want to tell you yet, lest I jinx them. They are not writing-related. Well, they're kinda writing-related. But not a book I'm writing. So decipher that, if you can. Ha!

Also this past week I did copyedits for the third erotic short story coming from Avon (this one will hit the net on August 21 and is called "The Lover Hunt"). And I started writing the second chapter of "A Woman Scorned", the new You Tell Me the Story novella! It will be up on Sunday, July 1. Be sure to check out My Events to see more fun things I'm doing in July.

Otherwise, I'm just percolating on some new ideas and crossing my fingers for a couple of special projects. When I have news, you will be the first to hear it. ;)


June 18, 2007 -- I was the Mystery Author at RomanceNovel.tv last week! You can read the entire fun thread here. I'm going to be doing some really exciting stuff with RNTV soon and I can't wait to tell you all about it as it unfolds. Other than that, this week I was prepping ARCs and getting ready for the Schaumberg Library event this weekend! If you're a Chicago-Area reader/writer, I hope you'll come join us Saturday. Head over to My Events for more info.

In other news, voting has ended for what should happen in Chapter 2 of "A Woman Scorned" at Jenna Petersen. I'll be writing Chapter 2 in the next couple of weeks and the new chapter will go up July 1.


June 11, 2007 -- This has been a busywork week. Just doing some promo stuff at my MySpace page and working through my "To Do" list and some conference prep. This week will likely be some of the same, but I'm starting to get the itch to write again. I have no idea what I will write, but the itch is starting to make my chest tingle and my mind race and that's always a good sign. Especially since it's really been a month and a half since I seriously wrote anything. A couple months is usually my limit before my mind and fingers want to play.

This is the LAST WEEK to vote for what you think should happen in Chapter 2 of "A Woman Scorned", the You Tell Me the Story novella at Jenna Petersen! The votes are super, super close (like single digits close), so please vote!


June 4, 2007 -- Holy Hannah, what a week! So much to tell, where do I start? Okay, got page proofs for Seduction Is Forever. Now, here's a cautionary tale. I was feeling really lazy and I almost, almost just skimmed them and said they were okay. But I decided not to be a slug and read the book very carefully (which I honestly, always do. Seriously, my moment of weakness was an anomaly). So, I'm reading the book and making a few corrections here and there and I get to the end and WHAM! Somehow page 322 is now page 317! Eek! Luckily, production had already caught this mistake themselves, but I still made the correction notes. Panic in the streets! The lesson learned: Never Skim.

Right after that, I got a note from my fantabulous editor who let me know that the three short erotic stories I wrote last year are on the schedule! Originally I had said audio and that is apparently still in the works, but for now they are going to be released as ebooks! The first two, "Another Door" and "Just One Taste" will be released July 24. And the third, "The Lover Hunt", will be out in late August. You can read more about the stories at Jess Michaels. And I'll have all the details on how to download them from HarperCollins and price points and such very soon.

So then on Tuesday night, I was at the gym and came home to see I had a message from a number I didn't recognize in Alabama. When I put it on speaker phone, it was the lovely Kelly, telling me that From London With Love is a finalist in the historical category of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Romantic Suspense!!! The Daphne is a prestigious award and the company I'm in is really amazing, so I was gobsmacked!

And, if that wasn't enough, on Wednesday, copyedits for the first two shorts landed on my front porch, so I also spent the week doing those. And you all know how I looooove doing copyedits. It's my favorite thing. Ever. Thank goodness these are short stories. Seriously.

To finish the week off, I updated Jenna Petersen, including posting the first chapter of "A Woman Scorned", the third You Tell Me the Story novella! You have until June 17 to vote, so if you haven't already, stop on by, read the chapter, check out the other HUGE updates and VOTE!!

And now, I am tired.


May 28, 2007 -- Happy Memorial Day all my American friends.

Last week I finished writing the first chapter of "A Woman Scorned". The You Tell Me the Story starts FRIDAY, so be sure to tune in! That's the big news. Tell your friends, be sure to come by and vote and all that jazz.

Otherwise, all I did was some promo stuff and played Oblivion on my 360. Yeah! Vacation rocks.


May 21, 2007 -- Something Reckless is turned in! It should actually arrive on my lovely editor's desk this morning! Woohoo! I feel... relieved. Deadline Mania is officially over. For a minute, at least. And I celebrated by playing video games, taking long walks and doing a bunch of promo preparation for my Fall releases. I've added a bunch of stuff to my schedule in My Events, so check that out if you haven't. I'm really, really excited to be adding the Emerald City Writers Conference to my fall! I've been wanting to go to Seattle and see friends and my family for some time and this is a great conference.

This week I'll be writing the first chapter in "A Woman Scorned", my third You Tell Me the Story! It will be posted June 1, so it's definitely the top of my 'to do' list. If you've never been part of my You Tell Me the Story events, here's how it works: I will write the first chapter of a novella and at the end of the chapter, offer you three options for what could happen next. The readers vote, I write the most popular and at the end of that second chapter, offer three new choices. We go on like that until the story is complete (in late October). The previous two have been such great fun for me.

And this novella I'm especially excited about since it features Madeline Reynolds, a character from my first You Tell Me the Story, "Her Every Desire". In that story, Maddie was the much-suffering fiancée of my heroine Jane's 'true love'. By the end, Maddie was quite heartbroken (you can read that story here) and I never felt quite right about leaving her that way. So in this book, Maddie will meet Nathan Blackstone, a man unlike anyone she's ever met. And she decides to hide her true self in order to have a glimpse at happiness. Only, we all know THAT can never work out in a romance.

Anyway, I'm excited to write it and hope that you all will like it. Be sure to spread the word, the more voters the merrier and I'll even be offering prizes after each and every voting period has ended (you have to vote to win). Otherwise, I'm very boring and not doing anything exciting whatsoever. But that's sort of good after the last few months, I think.


May 14, 2007 -- Not a lot happening this past week since my Mom was here and we were hanging out. We watched a lot of great movies and had tea and fun. But she's back in Idaho now, so I guess I must decide what it is I'm to do for the next little while here.

This week is easy. I'll be going over Something Reckless one last time before printing it out for the official turn in to my editor at Avon. Then I need to write the first chapter of "A Woman Scorned", the next You Tell Me the Story that starts at Jenna Petersen on June 1. After that... well, things are more wide open, as I mentioned last week. There are some exciting non-writing projects in the works that I hope to be able to share with you soon, though. So... more on that later.

Of course, I couldn't end today without mentioning the big elephant in the room on the left. Yes, this is the cover for my October 2007 release, Seduction Is Forever. It's the last in my Lady Spies series (sniffle). Very pretty and different, eh? It's got a traditional clinch with a twist sort of feel to it and I love the sea foam green cover. So, what do you think?


May 7, 2007 -- My Mom is here this week, so I'm going to be brief. I am really enjoying this whole time off thing. Reading, cleaning, pondering some outside activities. I have a long time before I have to write anything, so I'm able to explore some other options.

However, I do have some really nice news. I've been offered another contract with Avon for two more historicals, which I accepted. The release dates are going to be pretty far off for the new contract (since I'm through 2008 with my books that were part of the contract I just completed), but they are coming eventually. I'm so happy to be able to keep writing for Avon. Look for all the info about my 2008 and beyond books as the time grows closer. :)

Anyway, be sure to check out My Events for this week. I'm having my first chat in a loooong time along with fellow historical romance author (and one of my favorite people) Mary Reed McCall tomorrow! Oh, and there just might be a giveaway. Of an ARC. Of a certain authors final Lady Spy Book. Have I revealed too much? Come by and see.


April 30, 2007 -- Sheesh, one week off and my brain starts bombarding me with ideas. Bad brain! We are on a break. So I'm jotting down little notes and then moving on. I'm NOT writing right now. Nope. Not going to happen. No matter how my brain conspires against me.

Instead, I'm reading. I've read two books since last week. Which, for me, is quite shocking! I normally just don't have time. So I'm enjoying this immensely. This week I probably won't get the same amount done. See, my Mom is coming Friday! Yippee! So I'll be doing fun Mother-Daughter things instead of plotting and writing and stuff.

Oh, and be sure to go to Jenna Petersen and check out all the details on the next You Tell Me the Story, which will start on June 1! And read the first excerpt for Everything Forbidden, which just went up today. :)

One last thing, I now am at MySpace! So go Friend me!!


April 23, 2007 -- Wheee! The revision is done!!! I'm freeeee! FREEEEEEE!!!! For a while... sorta. Miriam has Something Reckless now and after I make any changes she finds, it will go to May. Still, after the past 8 months of deadline dementia (August 1, November 1, March 1, June 1) I'm really happy to feel even kinda done for a while. I'm going to read! Read, people. That is huge. HUGE.

Of course, I am also going to be doing other work. Actually, this is a good time for Le Big Announcement! I'm going to be doing a third You Tell Me the Story at Jenna Petersen! This one will involved Madeline, who we last saw being jilted by David in "Her Every Desire". So I'm working out details on that, but check out Jenna on May 1 for all the deets.

I'm also making other plans for Le Big Promotional Push for Seduction Is Forever and Everything Forbidden. but still... FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


April 16, 2007 -- Part of being an author is creating a certain appearance. I want to look professional, yet approachable. And since I generally hang out in jeans, t-shirts and flannel pajama bottoms, this means that several times a year I realize I'm traveling somewhere that requires my "Author" appearance, then have to shop. Last week was one of those times. I required slacks. And tops that didn't say "Joss Wheaton is My Master Now" and "What Would Brian Boitano Do?" Seriously, I have both those t-shirts.

So I shopped. A hardship, I know. But the upshot is that I had new outfits for Friday and Saturday at the Windy City RWA retreat, where I presented a little round table on the "Year of Being Almost Published", which pretty much just covers all the things that happen between the Call and On Sale, as well as things new authors might want to think about. Sort of a fun topic and not one we talk about regularly. There are always lots of discussions on promotion (which I did cover a bit) and pre-sale, but not the nuts and bolts of what happens when you're expecting a book.

Otherwise, last week was very nice, but pretty quiet. This week, however, is another story. My husband is off to Chicago, himself, today and won't be back until Wednesday night, so I'm going to start the revision on Something Reckless. Woohoo! I'm really hoping to finish up this book in its entirety by May 1 so that my lovely, wonderful, worth-her-weight-in-gold agent can look at it before she gets married and lives happily ever after, herself. And then off to Avon it goes.

Also, I have a bunch of updates for Passionate Pen waiting and I will upload them for next week's update, so look for a big one on April 23.

Happy Writing Everyone!


April 9, 2007 -- This past weekend, I was at the conference in Knoxville, TN for the Smoky Mountain Romance Writers. It was very intimate and the ladies there were a lot of fun. I got to chat with Vicki Lewis Thompson and Sabrina Jeffries, which is always fun and hear some interesting sessions. But man, driving 16 hours in a three day period. Ugh. Ow. Eh.

This week, I'll be heading out again, this time up to the Chicago-area for the Windy City RWA Retreat (open to chapter members only). But before I go, I'm going to try to finish up the copyedits for Seduction Is Forever. The hard copy is done, it's just a matter of inputting the changes on my own computer copy so that I can create my own ARCs later on in the year. Then I'll be sending them back before I head out.

Otherwise, not much going on. After this weekend, I'll be getting back to Something Reckless. It's sitting on the floor, all printed out and ready for revision. So once I'm back I'm diving back in. I'm hoping to be all done and have that totally turned in by the middle of May (it's due June 1).

Anyway, retreat report when I get back.


April 2, 2007 -- Woohoo! The book is dooooooone! I'm done! DONE DONE DONE!! Now I'm setting it aside until I'm done with the next couple of week's traveling. This Friday I'll be heading out to Knoxville for the conference there. There is a book signing on Saturday, so check out the link if you live in the area.

And then next Friday I'm up to the Chicago area for my chapter's retreat. When I'm done with those things, I'll be revising Something Reckless and sending it off. :)

Also, on Saturday, my copyedits for Seduction Is Forever arrived. So I've been working on those, as well. Not very exciting, I know. But hey, I'm done! I deserve to be boring. :)

One final piece of news for the week. I just found out that Russian rights for Desire Never Dies have been sold. Which reminded me that I hadn't mentioned the sale of Portuguese rights for Scandalous and From London With Love earlier this year. Scandalous is already available in Brazil. The cover is to the left.

Pretty, eh? I'll post the London and Desire foreign covers when I see them!
 


March 26, 2007 -- This was a weird week. I'm in a bit of a holding pattern. Things are happening, but they aren't happening yet. LOL Which makes no sense unless you're a writer and then it makes kinda sense. But it's actually good because I've been in a nothing phase for a while before this. I'm almost done with all my contracted work, so I was thinking I'd be unemployed for a while ("between projects", I know Miriam, I know!!!). And I wasn't really sure what I was going to do with the time (I'm still not. Scheduling is always an issue with me because I'm so early all the time). But now there are some possibilities on the table and the seductive hint of 'yes'. So things are good. I'll share when I know anything.

While I was holding and waiting, I was also writing. I'm SO CLOSE to finishing Something Reckless. Like two or three scenes away from The End. So I'll hopefully finish today or tomorrow (depending on how obsessed I get and how long it takes for me to run my errands later today). After I'm done, I can focus on getting ready for Smoky Mountain RWA's conference in Knoxville, TN next weekend. Anyone going to be there?

Also, I got copyedits for Everything Forbidden over the weekend. Dum-dum-dum. I soooo hate copyedits. Have I mentioned the hate? And now we have a new system, so I'll have to get used to it, as well. I've been so focused on finishing Something Reckless that I haven't looked at them yet, soooo... wish me luck.

Anyway, this week finishing Something Reckless and the copyedits, and then it's par-tay time! Wooooooooo!!!!


March 19, 2007 -- The book I'm working on has an official title and release date! Well, I think it's mostly official. If it's not, I'll tell you later. LOL Okay, the book is now called Something Reckless and it will be coming out April 2008. Here's how it happened. So I've been writing is as Something Wanton for some time now (and referring to it that way here). I wanted to use the word "Something" in the title since the previous erotic is called Everything Forbidden and the two stories have related characters.

Anyway, so my fantabulous editor emailed me to let me know they were going to be releasing it in April 2008 and that they were starting to put together some sales stuff for that month's books, so could I send her the title and a short description. When I said Something Wanton, she wasn't sure. Wanton is kind of a weird word to say and they don't use it in titles very much (seriously, check it out. There are very few Wanton titles, at least from Avon). She said that she wasn't sure whether it would stay, but she'd throw it out there as was. At that moment, I couldn't really think of a title that would still fit (though I did throw out a couple of silly ones). Then, over last weekend, I was writing along and I used the word 'reckless' in the text. And I thought, hey, what about Something Reckless. So I sent her that title and she liked it and here we are.

See how we're collaborative like that?

Speaking of Something Reckless (April 2008), I've been working away on it this week (despite being utterly distracted by totally beautiful weather early in the week) and I'm almost to the last third of the book. Woohoo! I should be finished with the first draft in the next couple of weeks, hopefully before I leave for Knoxville, TN on April 6th (check out My Events for more info). Although this week is a weird one, work-wise for me. See, my ten year anniversary is on Wednesday and I know my sweetie is taking some time off. But if I'm going to be off schedule, I think 10 years of wedded bliss is a the perfect reason. :)


March 12, 2007 -- Well, you see there my big news for the week. This is the cover for my November 2007 release, Everything Forbidden. Isn't it gorgeous? I love it. I saw it a few weeks ago before I could share it and have been jumping out of my skin to show you all ever since. So what do you think?

I haven't yet seen the cover for Seduction is Forever yet. I think they probably do sales stuff for trade differently than the mass market, but I should be getting the mechanical soon. And then it will be a month or so after that that I can share the jpg. I've been so lucky with all my covers. Go Avon Art Department!

This past week I got sick (booooo) and writing was a bit of a challenge, but I still managed to work out close to my page goal, so I'm chugging along on schedule (or close enough to it to call it on schedule). I should be done in the next few weeks (with the first draft). It's due June 1, and I figure I'll be turning it in mid-Mayish.

Oh, and one more thing. Apparently there was some confusion about what I did or didn't say two weekends ago during my speech for Celebrate Romance. I've added the speech in its entirety in Articles.


March 6, 2007 -- Sorry for the later update this week. With the weather being so wacky and since it was such a long drive to make all by myself, we decided it would be better if I flew to Kansas City rather than drove. And, of course, since it was last minute, I couldn't get a flight Sunday night. So I spent an extra day in KC, which was fine despite a very weird hotel, a burnt hamburger and a day from hell at the airport Monday (let's just say I'd rather walk than fly United again any time soon).

Bu the conference was LOVELY. It's so nice to hang out with readers. I did a speech on Kick Ass Heroines, which I actually ended up liking so much that I'll probably put it up here in articles later. I also sold lots of books at the booksale and met some really nice people. Plus, I got to hang out with friends and meet some new authors.

I also wrote on Sunday night while in the weird hotel and after eating the burnt hamburger. The book is coming along. I'm over the 100 pages line, which means I'm about a third of the way through. I should be finished probably by the end of March, actually. Then I'll take a couple weeks off and revise the book by the end of April. I had the deadline extended to June since I'm traveling so much in April, but I'm still hoping to turn it in around the middle of May at the latest. Especially since it's just been scheduled (at least tentatively). Something Wanton (tentative title) will likely be an April 2008 release!

I'm still tired from my magical 12 hour journey (I could have driven to and from Kansas City TWICE). So I'm signing off. More fun stuff next Monday... Promise...


February 26, 2007 -- Have you ever felt unappreciated and then you say to the person, "I feel unappreciated" and their response is basically, "So?" And then you feel like, Wow. I didn't know I was that unappreciated. Yeah. That happened to me this week. But hey, less money going toward something that isn't doing much for me anyway, right?

Here's my thing about promo. As a published author, you spend a lot of time checking out ways to promote yourself. And the fact is, you have no clue what helps and what doesn't. Why did Book A do well and Book B do less well and Book C do better? Who knows? So it's all a crapshoot and I've pretty much started limiting my promotional activities to things and places where I feel:

A. Wanted AND
B. Like I want to be there OR
C. Like the site is a good place to support.

Hence, if I stop feeling wanted someplace, I feel completely it's completely legitimate to go away. I mean, I have plenty to do with Jaunties and Avon Board and here and the Jenna Petersen site. So that's what I did this week. Went away.

Otherwise, it was a good week. I wrote! Fifty pages + down on Something Wanton, which is a big chunk since Trade Erotic Romance is about 80,000 words (320 pages). So far I'm liking the story. It feels different from anything I've done in erotic romance before. I don't know why exactly. Just a feeling.

Another awesome thing for this week is that The Promise of Pleasure is officially off my desk and will be hitting my editor's desk within the next couple of days. So now I can relax on that one for a while... at least until I get revisions in the next few months (depending on when in 2008 the book gets scheduled).

This weekend, I'm going to be in Kansas City for Celebrate Romance. Are any of you coming? Email me and let me know! I'm excited to do the mingle thing with readers and other authors. I'll be co-moderating a session and I'm even doing a drawing for those who come see me at my table at the booksigning. All my backlist that's still in print. You know you want it...


February 19, 2007 -- Two more books down, one more to go! I got the revisions of Everything Forbidden out the door last Monday afternoon! Yay! Then I sent a copy of The Promise of Pleasure to my agent. I'll be printing a copy for my editor mid-week and getting that off, as well.

And now that those are gone, I've been working on Something Wanton, which is obviously a related erotic historical. Don't know if the title will stick, but that's what it is for now. I even found the perfect template for my hero Jeremy:


Julian McMahon, people. Is he not sex embodied?? So perfect for Jeremy who is... sex embodied. Yummy!

Okay, enough distraction with super hot JM. You may have noticed that the original audio didn't launch as planned. My apologies. It's a very new program and Avon is still working out the kinks. I thought the February 14 was a firm date, but the launch was moved back again. When I have more info, I'll let you know. :( But hey, this just gives you more time to anticipate these highly erotic short stories, right? Yeah. Right. LOL

Do you live in Kansas City? Well, make sure you check out my upcoming events! There is a fun reader conference in KC in a couple weeks where I'll be. I'm fairly certain you can still register!


February 12, 2007 -- Okay, I have to start out with news that isn't mine. One of my very best friends, the fabulous Kathryn Smith made the USA Today Bestseller list for the FIRST TIME with the second book in her Brotherhood of the Blood series, Night of the Huntress. These are Victorian vampires and they are so good. Like, I don't even like vampires and they are AWESOME. Buy them. Kate rules. I'm so happy for her!! It's so cool to see someone just work her cute little butt off in the trenches, write smashing books, and have it all pay off with a list. Yay Kate!!

Okay, on to me. Me, me, me! I also have good news this week! On February 14, Avon will be launching a brand new program of original audio erotica. These will be short stories, very steamy, perfect to get your Valentine in the mood. And guess who is launching the program. Yeah, that'd be Jess Michaels! I'm not going to have a link for you until the big launch day, but come back here or to Jess Michaels on Wednesday for all the info!

In other fun, awesome news, I did an interview with a local magazine called TCStyle about a month ago. Imagine my surprise when my good friend Julie Kistler emailed me to let me know her copy had come and I was on the cover! Here's a link to the article itself, online. The picture that accompanies it is the cover shot, as well. It was so fun to do the interview and I want to thank my very sweet husband for being a good sport and getting in on the photo shoot. You rule, baby.

In my final news of the week (yes, I've been busy), The Promise of Pleasure is now dangerously close to being ready to head off to Miriam, and ultimately May! I spent last week working hard on revision and sent it off to the fabulous Susanna Carr to look over for me this weekend. Happy Valentine's Day to me! So this week I'll be doing final revisions on Everything Forbidden!

Oh yeah, one more thing, you can now pre-order both Everything Forbidden AND Seduction Is Forever at Amazon!


February 5, 2007 -- Hello! I'm back from my vacation and it was lovely. I'll be blogging about it over at Jaunties later on this week. But sufficed to say, it was relaxing and just what the doctor ordered for my previously overwhelmed and stressed out brain.

Before I left, I had some smashing, spectacular news! In less than a month since its release, Desire Never Dies has already gone back for a second printing!! Thanks to everyone who bought the book. I hope you're enjoying it. And when I got back I also found out that Scandalous has sold to Brazil for Portuguese translation. The book is already out. And From London With Love also just sold into Brazil! Yay for foreign rights. These are my first and I'm very excited.

I was kind of surprised that just about no one responded to my call for feedback on the diary (thanks to the two of you who bothered to email). I'm guessing that means either my stats are way off and no one is actually visiting the page, or that you all just like the status quo. So serves you right, you will just continue to get me blathering endlessly. That will teach ya.

Speaking of blathering endlessly, this week I'm digging in and starting my revision of The Promise of Pleasure (due March 1). And after I'm done with that, I'll be hitting the editorial revision of Everything Forbidden (due end of February, but very, very small). And after that, I'll be writing Something Wanton (due May 1). And somewhere in there, I will have copyedits for Seduction Is Forever. Oh yeah, and I'll be traveling to Kansas City, Knoxville and Chicago in there, too, for conferences and retreats.

In other words, things are about to get really busy and stressful in Casa Petersen. So if I'm slow to email back or not doing huge site updates, you'll know why. Sheesh, all my vacation mellow is bleeding away.... away.... and it's gone.


January 22, 2007 -- Okay, so I was updating this week and noticed that I my "What's New" for last week was all screwed up. I somehow put what I updated on top of last week's? Anyway, I did update last week, obviously. Blame it on book brain.

The book that is DONE! Woohoo! Finished the first draft late last week so I'm FREEEEEEE until I'm back from Jamaica. So this week it's just tidying up a few things, packing, catching up on email, and choosing a winner from this month's Jenna Petersen contest (on Friday, January 26).

I had actually written this very long message about what I had to do when I got back. When I read back over it, I realized I might be turning into one of those self-absorbed authors who just goes on and on whining about how busy she is. Oy. Don't want that cause those people annoy the heck out of me.

So I talked to a friend about it. Thing is, when I started this diary, I was unpublished (and blogging was hardly being DONE, dahling). This diary was a window into the daily life. And I posted about rejection and I posted about disappointment. I was trying to show the entire picture, since I saw a lot of other authors just talking about all the good things and I wasn't sure that was a real deal.

Well, I'm lucky enough to be in a much different position now. Except it kind of changes what I can and should talk about. Are there still disappointments? HELL YEAH! But sometimes I can't talk about them. Or shouldn't, at any rate. So I'm thinking... what do you guys want to hear about? Is the mundane listing of my-so-called-life entertaining? Do you want to hear about the realities once your published that have nothing to do with writing (like all the crap no one tells you about the stuff you'll have to do while writing the book)? I mean, I've been published over a year now (with Avon). So you guide me. Otherwise, you're gonna get more self-indulgent to do lists! :)

Okay, so no update again until February 5 cause I'm going to be in Jamaica!! And if you email me from January 27 - February 2, I won't be around to email you back. Have a wonderful next couple of weeks everyone!


January 15, 2007 -- This week started out with an unexpected nice bang! Last Monday, just after I published the update here, I got an email from the Smokey Mountain RWA in Tennessee to tell me that I had finaled in the Lauries with Scandalous! This contest is judged by readers and the finalists will be ranked by booksellers! It was totally unexpected and lovely to final! And now I'm going to Tennessee in April for their conference! Woohoo! If you're from that area, come and say hi.

Actually, I'm going to be traveling a lot this year. Check out My Events for all the skinny. I've updated it with my brain-spinning schedule and I'm sure there will be more to come (actually, I know there will be, especially in the Fall).

Also, on Sunday a friend called me to let me know that there was a lovely review of Desire Never Dies in the Chicago Tribune. If you get the Trib, it was in the Books insert of the Sunday paper. So that was very cool, as well.

One final little personal excitement. My lovely husband has surprised me with a trip to Jamaica the last week of January! So I'll be updating the site next week, but then I'll be off to sunny Jamaica and won't be updating until February 5. Jenna Petersen will be updated the night of February 2nd when I return from my trip. I'm hoping to finish up the first draft of The Promise of Pleasure before we go (and after a very productive week last week, that is a goal that is totally in reach), and just relax in the sun!


January 8, 2007 -- Well, I was excited to see that Desire Never Dies hit the Bookscan list this past week, even though it was a holiday week on both ends. Thanks to everyone who has or is planning to pick it up! I hope you enjoy the story. If you haven't found it yet, ask your bookseller! Even if they don't have it for some reason, at least you'll show them there is interest in the title.

Otherwise, I've just been working, slowly but surely, on The Promise of Pleasure this week. I'm hoping to be a bit more productive than last week, which was interrupted midway through. But my goal is still to finish the first draft by the end of January, so I really don't have any choice but to get on the stick and WRITE.

I've also spent the last few days re-evaluating my promotional plan for my next couple of books. I'm trying new things this time and I've decided to invest in doing some conferences. So if you're going to have a conference in the Fall 2007 and are looking for speakers, give me a jingle!

Oh, and if you haven't gone over to Jenna Petersen and taken the Which Lady Spy Are You? Quiz yet, please do! Email me with whichever spy you are and you'll be entered to win my January prize. :) And it's BIG. Plus, you can take a tour around the gorgeous new Jenna website.


January 1, 2007 -- Happy New Year! How did 2006 end so quickly? It seems like I was just typing Happy New Year to 2006 and here we are in 2007. Weird. But I'm really looking forward to this year since I have three books out (Desire Never Dies - which I've already had some very sweet notes about, so if you've found it, I hope you enjoy it; Seduction Is Forever and Everything Forbidden). Actually, I have the revised version of Seduction sitting on my desk even as we speak, ready to trot it over to the UPS store tomorrow morning.

As soon as it is off on its way back to the world, I'll be turning my attention back to The Promise of Pleasure, my next Jenna historical after SIF. It has yet to be scheduled (or at least, I don't know about it yet, it probably actually is on the schedule), but as soon as I know, I'll post! As you well know.

But it's a new year and I'm not going to think about what I'm going to do tomorrow. I want to think about what I'm going to do for the next 365 tomorrows. Yup. It's Passionate Pen Goal time. Last year, I had a few goals and here they are:

If I can finish those things, here are a few more things I'd like to do:

So I did pretty well on my 2006 goals, which is great! But what do I want to do this year?

2007 Goals:

So what are your goals? If you're making them, take a gander at my article about that very subject!

So, will I make my goals? Will I exceed them? Will I crash and burn? Who knows... you'll have to tune in over the next 12 months to see!

 

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