August 23,
2010 -- This summer is flying by and honestly I feel buried by it.
Tomorrow I leave for Tucson for ten days with my nephews and their
awesome parents and as soon as I come home from that I'm repacking and
heading off to DC for my husband's triathlon. In other words, I'm pretty
much going to be incommunicado until my next update, which I'm
scheduling now for September 20.
In the mean time, I just finished with the first draft of The Zombie Whisperer the third (and possibly final?) book in my "Living With the Dead" series. And the first book, Married With Zombies will officially be in stores September 1. Please excuse me while I BEG you all to pick up a copy. Please, please, please. I would love for this to be a successful publish and the only way that happens is for readers to, you know, buy it. In small droves. I'm not asking for large droves, but c'mon. I know you can manage small ones.
And the second book in the Billingham series, The Unclaimed Duchess is also on shelves in about a week, so if you liked What the Duke Desires, I hope you'll be on the look out for it, too.
So I'm off, I promise to be a better updater once my crazy summer/early fall is over. Until that happens, Happy Writing!
August 9, 2010 -- It's my birthday today! And what a year it's been. Some bad, mostly good, often very odd and unexpected, but in the best ways possible. I definitely can't complain (stop laughing, Miriam). And if you're a fan of mine on Facebook, either as Jenna Petersen or Jesse Petersen, I'm doing some birthday contests today, so come on by.
Otherwise,
it's been a great couple of weeks. I went to Orlando for RWA and had a
wonderful time. You can read all about it in this year's
Day-by-Day. I had so much fun catching up
with friends and hanging out with people. I went to Animal Kingdom,
Epcot and Magic Kingdom, as well, with various friends and it rocked.
I also got a bit of writing done on the third Living With the Dead series zombie book and I'm over halfway done with that now, which is very exciting. AND my awesome publisher Orbit already sent me my author copies. The book is even more gorgeous and awesome in "real" format. I can't believe it's almost here!! Just a few more weeks and it will officially be in stores (though I'm told it will be seen even earlier than that if the distributers ship early). I hope if you see if you'll let me know via email or Facebook. I'm so nervous about this release.
Finally, in more personal news, I became an aunt again last week. Another nephew from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and I already adore him (especially since he looks so much like my husband). Real life rocks.
No other news to report. I'm still waiting for answers on another project I have out in the world currently. Summer is an odd time in publishing and sometimes things move a bit slower. At least, I hope that's the issue. But as soon as there is news to share, I will share it.
My next update will be August 23 and then things will get a little crazy for me since I'll be heading to Arizona to help out with the new baby and my older nephew. Then to DC for my husband's big triathlon in our nation's capital! Lots happening in my world currently, so until next time, Happy Writing!
July 26, 2010 -- So this week is one of the busiest/most exciting of the year for me because it's the week of RWA National! I leave for Orlando on Tuesday and will be there through Monday morning. I will be at the Wednesday evening literacy signing, seated as Jenna Petersen and signing Jenna and Jess books, as well as giving away bookmarks for Married With Zombies. I'll also be at the Avon Open House signing on Friday where they'll be giving away Jenna and (I assume) Jess novels to paid attendees of the conference (you have to have your badge on to get in to the Open Houses). If you see me, please do say hello! I love meeting other writers/readers!
In other news, I've been busily writing away on Zombie 3 and I'm about a third of the way done, which is quite exciting. Lots of "real life" interruptions, so I'm happy to be grabbing my writing time and I plan to grab some more of it during the conference, too.
I will be posting my usual "Day by Day" conference diary. I might try to do it as I go along if I have time. If not, I'll be back home on August 2 and I'll post it some time that week (so it will be an early update). Check back often this week to see what I end up doing!
In the meantime, happy writing and I hope to see you in Orlando! Next update on August 9 (my birthday)... except for the Day-By-Day, which I already discussed. ;)
Oh, PS, I fixed the links to the old Day-By-Days in Articles and the diary archives.
July 12, 2010 -- Been just trying to write, waiting for answers on the new project and just basically working to keep my head above water. Check out my September covers though:
Married With Zombies hits stores September 1, though I'm told you'll probably start seeing it as early as mid-August. And The Unclaimed Duchess will come into stores August 31 (probably right on the nose, maybe a few days early). Hope you'll enjoy both!
Until July 26 (right before I leave for RWA), Happy Writing!
June 28, 2010 -- After the past couple of weeks, I feel like I'm that chicken with its head cut off. So much going on between a new project making the rounds in New York, starting the third zombie book for Orbit and trying to get everything going on promotional activities for Married With Zombies and The Unclaimed Duchess. But now everything is slowly swinging into place and the zombie book is coming along slowly but surely. It's funny how much "stuff" you have to do when you're "just writing".
I'm in a very interesting place right now. The last couple of years have been increasingly difficult, but in the last couple of months I've really come to a place where I'm okay with me. And I feel like things are going to work out one way or another. Which is a good thing. I'll take it while I can get it since we writers are a neurotic lot.
Hope you are all doing well, too. Until July 12... Happy Writing!
June 15, 2010 -- Well, very sorry for the late update. I was supposed to be home from New York on Sunday, but flight delays caused me to roll in here yesterday instead and I wasn't able to get to this update until this morning. Aside from having travel issues, my trip to New York City and later to Troy, NY was amazing! Lots of great energy in my meetings, my Orbit peeps rock and the conference was wonderful. Oh and my agent? Yeah, she might be made of magic. There is much excitement and anticipation in my life right now and that's a good thing.
This week I was planning to start the third zombie book, but to be honest I'm exhausted and behind and I'm going to do it next week instead. I am excited about it though! I did some fiddling with set up while away and the story is starting to lay itself out in my mind!
So all is well in my universe, hoping to have a bigger update next time, which will be June 28!
May 31, 2010 -- Happy Memorial Day to my American friends! I just got back from Vegas, actually, where my husband and I attended the UFC Fan Expo and UFC 114 as a reward for my zombie sale! I had a great, fabulous, wonderful time! I am a big believer in celebration and this one was the perfect one for something I'm very excited about.
Speaking of Married With Zombies (Jesse Petersen, September 2010), last week at BEA Orbit was giving away ARCs to all the booksellers. If you're a bookseller friend who was there, I hope you snagged a copy and that you love it and can't wait to tell readers all about it! :) If you aren't a bookseller, I'm giving away an ARC every month until the release at my Jesse Petersen Facebook Fan Page. So check that out and fan me!
In Jenna Petersen news, I turned in the final version of Caleb and Marah's story. No, no release date or title yet. I've heard the book is not going to be coming out for some time, though. I'm disappointed, but still hoping that won't be true. If you'd like to let Avon know you want to see the book soon, you can email them! As soon as I have more info on the date, I'll share it here.
I'll be home for about ten days and then I'm heading off to New York! I'm so excited about this trip! I'll be meeting my Orbit peeps for the first time and then meeting with a bunch of different editors about some new projects! Then I'll be heading to Albany to speak for half a day at the Capital Region Romance Writers Conference! Check out My Events for more info!
When I get back, I'm probably going to start working on the third book in the Living With the Dead series, so I'll be back with my nose to the grindstone!
Next update is June 14 (right after I get back from New York), so until then... Happy Writing!!
May 17, 2010 -- So much for that sabbatical. I got the edits for the last book in the Billingham Bastards series (Caleb and Marah's book) and have been working through them. It's good, though, I'm happy to be closing up the series and hope you all will like the book. I don't have an official release date or title yet, but I'll let you know when I have it.
In addition, there have been some interesting developments in my career that I can't really get into at this point, but I'm hoping to have news about sooner rather than later. Writing is such an odd profession, honestly. Change is good and weird and sad, all at the same time. But I'd rather move than stand still, so sometimes change happens. More to come on that front.
In the mean time, I think the next little while will be busy and there should be many things to report very soon.
May 3, 2010 -- Over the past two weeks I've been very pleased to turn in everything I had due (woohoo) and I'm very happily working on a little sabbatical. I realized I have not had a significant break for almost a year, so I'm taking it. Just reading, watching all 6 seasons of "Lost" (I'm behind the times, what can I say) and trying to catch up on a bunch of stuff I've let fall by the wayside while I was writing, writing, writing, writing...
I'm happy to say that excitement and the buzz for Married With Zombies continues to grow. I'm definitely hoping this is a huge hit, though I'm cautiously optimistic. You just never know what's going to work and not work in this business. But if you'd like to read the first chapter, it's up at my Jesse Petersen site. And I added an excerpt for The Unclaimed Duchess at Jenna Petersen this month, too.
The next couple weeks will (hopefully) be very restive and relaxing. So until May 17, Happy Writing!
April 19, 2010 -- It's been a busy little time for me recently. I turned in my second zombie book, Flip This Zombie to my editor at Orbit since the last time we met. Additionally, I started an edit on another historical project, which I'll just refer to as Secret Historical Project A. :) It's going along well and I hope to have it all finished up and ready for whatever its future holds soon.
Last weekend I was in Las Vegas, NV presenting my day-long industry retreat to the Cactus Rose RWA chapter (which is in the process of becoming Las Vegas Romance Writers. It was a great time and I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did! This coming weekend I'll be in the Chicago-area at Chicago Spring Fling Conference. There's a booksigning on Saturday, April 24 in the afternoon. Check out My Events for more info.
The next couple of weeks I hope to finish up this editorial pass on SHPA and see what happens with it. And I've got to start work on the third book in my Orbit contract! So... busy, busy, busy! But it's better that way.
Until May 3, Happy Writing!
April 5, 2010 -- There isn't much to update for me this week. I've been head down working on revising the second zombie book for the last couple of weeks. It's with my agent right now and after one last pass with her comments, I intend to send it off to my editor at Orbit. Here's hoping she loves it as much as she loved the first book.
Then I'll be starting work on a historical project. Can't say much about it just yet, but I'm hoping it's the start of great things for me. This week I'll be home (teaching a couple of classes online) but next weekend I'll be in Vegas. Check out My Events to see where I'll be.
My next update will be April 19, so until then, Happy Writing!
March 22, 2010 -- Well, this is a big week for me. My intention is to put my head down and pound out the rest of the first draft of Flip This Zombie. I've been working like crazy on it and I'm down to the last little bit. The nice thing is that if I finish it this week, I get next week off before I have to start editing for my turn-in date. So cross your fingers for me.
In other news, I'm happy to say that I just booked my next trip to New York! I'll be going in June right before my conference in Albany. I'm actually doing a fair amount of travel in April, too, so check out My Events for more info about where I'll be and when. I always love to meet readers or those who have enjoyed Passionate Pen, so if you're near me, come on by and say hi! I'd love to see you.
My next update will be April 5, so until then... Happy Writing!
March 8, 2010 -- Not much to talk about for the last couple of weeks. I'm busily working on Flip This Zombie and trying to get things ready for all my Fall releases. I'm hoping to be nearly done with Flip by the time I do my next updated on March 22. Then I have another project which I'll be editing and then edit Flip and then... well, it all gets curiously quiet. I wonder what I will do with myself (I'm sure I'll find something). But if the universe conspires to give me a break, well I think I might just take it for at least a few weeks. I've been running non-stop since last fall.
But we'll see what happens. Until March 22, Happy Writing!
February 22, 2010 -- Okay, after literally months of promising, I finally found enough time this week to go through all the PP links and make HUGE updates. I apologize for the delay (and for the fact that there were so many inaccuracies in the interim) but with so many contracts and personal goings on, this was just the first time I could do it. I will try to be better and get back on my once-monthly links check schedule.
Speaking of insanity, it has continued the last two weeks. Orbit has begun their big promo push for the new zombie books, which is wonderful! You can see the first chapter of Married With Zombies at my nice new website, http://www.jessepetersen.net and you can also "fan" me on Facebook (which is where I'm updating most often) here. I've just started the second in the series, Flip This Zombie, too and that is coming along nicely.
In addition, there is some great Jess/Jenna news to announce, as well.
First, Taboo (Jess Michaels) is a finalist for the
Favourite Erotic Romance in the
Australian Romance Readers Awards
http://www.australianromancereaders.com.
In other words, things are coming along nicely and I'm quite content as I'm getting back to writing. Hope you are, as well! Until March 8, Happy Writing all!!
February 8, 2010 -- The last couple of weeks were supposed to be a break for me, but I've been running like crazy doing some zombie-related stuff (not writing, but doing prep work for the release. This includes getting a new headshot taken:
I really like it, though it did take some doing to get there. But this week, for REAL, I'm taking off from writing. I'll be reading my RITA books and a book I'm giving a quote for. And I'll also be thinking about the second zombie book, Flip This Zombie, because I will begin writing it next week, which is very exciting (and slightly nerve-wracking).
Oh and this week I also hope to do a big site check here, which means on the next update (Feb. 22) I hope to have a much more in-depth update than of late.
Until next time, Happy Writing!
January 26, 2010 -- Well, I have been a busy little writer so far this year. My husband ran his half-marathon in AZ on Jan. 17 and did GREAT! We had a wonderful time seeing our family and celebrating his achievement.
I also finished the edit on Caleb's book and finished another project that I'm very excited about (while on the Muse Cruise). The cruise was a great time. Florida Romance Writers is a wonderful group and I had a great time with them and with Adam Wilson (from Harlequin, a man who puts his fat cat in a Santa hat is good by me) and Eric Raab from Tor (who I found a kindred spirit in all things Battlestar Galactica).
But now I'm exhausted. I have a little work to do on the first zombie book, which is called Married With Zombies and will be published in September 2010. Then I'll be starting the second zombie book, still untitled, that hits shelves December 2010! So many more books for me this year. Both will be published under my real name, Jesse Petersen.
I also saw the GORGEOUS new cover for The Unclaimed Duchess, which will also be out September 2010. It's the second in the Billingham Bastards series and I'll be happy to share in a short while. AND, last but certainly not least, I have a book out a week from today (Feb 2). Nothing Denied (Jess Michaels) is the last in the Alright Sisters series.
So... there you go. My insane life in a nutshell. But for NOW... I'm taking a break for the next two weeks. Aside from a little tiny bit of revisit on the first zombie (no real edits, just a final run through), I'm going to be chilling and plotting. We'll see if it takes...
January 11, 2010 -- Well, isn't this all fresh and clean! I do like a fresh new year with a fresh new diary page to fill up. I wonder what all will be written here this year and celebrated and cried over (at least by me). Just in case you are looking for the older diary entries, don't forget that I have archives going back to 2001 that you can access below.
I have been slammed busy since the new year. I have a lot of projects on my plate right now so I've been writing like a mad little writer, plus editing a project (the last book in the Billingham Bastards Series, Caleb's book) and preparing for my next project, which I'll be starting sooner than even I probably realize. Plus, there are many things shifting into high gear on my zombie projects that I mentioned during the last update. :)
Time is already flying on this young little year. And this week I'll be going to Phoenix with my husband because he'll be running a half-marathon there on Sunday! Then, right after I get back from that I'll be boarding another flight to Miami and heading out on the Muse Cruise hosted by Florida Romance Writers. Four days+ of just writing in the sun and enjoying other writers sounds heavenly! I'll tell you all about both when I get back on January 26 (the next update). I'm actually hoping to finish my current project while on the cruise, so wish me luck!
Happy Writing!
Visit the Diary Archive and see how I went from aspiring to published author:
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| 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |