I Should Shrug My Shoulders and Say, Good Riddance To a Bad Affair

I've had to accept that my WIP isn't quite right for the call I was preparing it for, and resign myself to the fact that I'm not going to be submitting it as planned. I'm sure I will find it a home someday, but just not right now. It is kind of a tough thing to admit, but I'm trying not to be discouraged. Just because it is not right for this call, doesn't mean it won't work for something else. It's just a hard pill to swallow right now.

Also, I've been endeavouring to remove a verbal tick from my vocabulary. We all have them, but I don't enjoy them. I once spent an entire seminar at work counting the amount of times the presenter said, "you know." Luckily, I'm not afflicted with that, or the incredibly popular, "like." I find that I say, "It's funny . . ." before starting an anecdote, even when something isn't particularly funny. I've been trying to cut back on my usage, but it has been difficult. I know a lot of people do it, and as I am now hyper-aware of it, I notice it all the time. Wish me luck in my attempts to banish the phrase from my vernacular. Like, you know?

Stay tuned, for tomorrow I have awesome news. Truly, wonderfully awesome news.

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It's Deep and Dark When All The Surface Is Gone

It was a lovely, nice weekend at the Mothership. The niece turned three and attention had to be paid. Also, for some unknown reason, my hair started turning grey at the roots. Not all over, mind you, just a few here and there. Weird, right?

Now, it is on to another long week of work. It is the big push to the finish to see if this WIP is going to fly or not. It's tough, because I want it all to come together, but right now, I just don't know. Wish me luck, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

I had to pull out the Man Candy big guns in order to grease the wheels. Oh, gorgeous hunky men, work your magic.

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But I Got a Drug and I Got The Bug and I Got Something Better Than Love

The time is running out and I'm not sure I'm going to make it to the finish line of this new WIP. I know I mentioned it before, but I felt like saying it again. But, on the bright side, I have some good news to report.

Filament Magazine and LoveHoney have seen fit to give me a wonderful prize for my Erotic Fiction of the Year honors. I waited eagerly for the package, and when it came, well, so do I. They included a wonderful little vibe called Death By Orgasm. It comes in its own little coffin box which sounds morbid, but it is not. It is awesome. The package also contained Sliquid Organics lube and something called the Sqweel. It is a wheel of little soft tongues that can simulate oral sex. It looks slightly scary and I have yet to try it, but I plan to. Soon. . . . I'm so thankful to the loyal readers of Filament and LoveHoney for hooking me up.

Also, I have started my own little store, courtesy of Amazon.com. Just in time for the early release of Alison's Wonderland, which includes my story, After the Happily Ever After. Check out the store here, and buy a copy or click the link on the top of my sidebar and browse away. The collection looks to be hot, hot, hot and totally worth it. In addition to Ms. Tyler's latest collection, most of my stuff is available for purchase or pre-order. Check back often for updates, you don't even have to leave the house to pick up some great smut!

More good news is coming, so stay tuned! Back to work, or something like it.

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Gonna Go Where The Bright Lights and the Big City Meet

Not much to report, as I am in deep procrastination mode with my new WIP. I expected this, but I didn't realize how hard it would be to push through. There has been a lot going on here, lots of external stress and it has had a very negative effect on my writing. To say I've been distracted would be a huge understatement. I'm hoping the stress will pack up and take off soon, but until it does, it has set up a semi-permanent camp in the back of my head. I'll keep trying, but I fear the deadline will come sooner than my stress relief.

In honor of the FIFA World Cup, I've decided to do some Man Candy from my two favorite participating teams: Australia and the USA. There is some major yumminess on that pitch. Please to enjoy. (Top Pic: Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill from Oz, bottom pics l: Carlos Bocanegra r: Oguchi Onyewu of USA)

So Many Moons That We Have Seen

I'm all wrapped up at the moment, but I wanted to stop by and mention that my story, Commando, is up today on The Erotic Woman website. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Also, I'm proud to announce that my story, Happy Birthday to Me, is going to be a part of the first Seven Sexy Sins collection, Gluttony, edited by the fabulous Shanna Germain. Details and cover forthcoming.

Now that you are all up to date, I'm getting back to work. Progress is slow . . . . too slow.

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And I Once Held On To You So Tightly

I spent my weekend overdosing on nostalgia. You see, today, sixteen long years ago, I graduated from high school. So, I put on my flannel shirt, laced up my old ratty Doc Martens and went back to all those classic tunes that I loved so much back then. I was inches away from busting out my old tape deck, but I refrained.

I'm getting ready to start on my new project today, after finally finishing my outline and research. It's another novella length piece, and I'm excited to get some words down on the old computer screen. I've put it off long enough, shockingly, but now I'm ready to stop messing around and get down to it.

I have some more good news to report, but I have to wait just a little bit longer to share. So, until then, I leave you with some Man Candy and a fond hello from the year 1994.

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If I Am Lost It's Only For A Little While

Who knew a day spent on my knees was just what I needed to clear my head? No, not that you dirty birds, I was weeding my garden. Get your heads out of the gutter. I'm back on track and feeling better than I have in days. Except for the fact that my hands are killing me. God, it sucks to get older. Maybe I should look into hiring someone to do this kind of thing for me. Some cute boy in cut-off shorts who doesn't wear a shirt and likes to get dirty. . . . Sorry, what were we talking about?

But, in more good news, my story, The Eighth, is in the new collection from Starbooks Press, Men at Noon, Monsters at Midnight. It is my first attempt at "speculative fiction" and I think it went pretty well. But, don't take my word for it, check it out and let me know!

Back to work. That gardener has me thinking. . . .

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I Need A Little Less Hard Time, I Need A Little More Bliss

I'm not going to lie, it wasn't the best weekend. . . Too much stress and not enough fun. We did attended a wedding on Saturday night, which was a blast. But, other than that, my weekend sorely lacked merriment. Real life can really suck sometimes, and I was reminded of that again this weekend.

But, I muddle on and I shall overcome. Things are looking up, hopefully, and I wait patiently for that time to come. In the meantime, I had a friend and loyal reader ask for some special Man Candy. She is also carrying much too heavy a load and if I can help with some hot boys, then it is my duty to do so. It's in the friend code, I believe and I like to make my audience happy, so here it is, a two for one Candy, by special request. . . . .

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Danced Around the Broken Blues

After the Tuesday I had, I was in need of something uplifting, something good. I got it, in the form of a little piece of good news from the wonderful folks at Filament Magazine. During their 1st birthday celebrations Wednesday in London, they announced the winners of their Reader's Choice poll, that I had mentioned here on my blog.

Well, I am dead chuffed to say that my story, Cold Turkey, took the honor of Erotic Fiction of the Year. So, thanks to all of you who voted for me. Also, to all who have read, subscribed or just supported Filament Magazine in the first year, thank you. It is an amazing, necessary magazine and I am proud to have been a part of it. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do so, the new issue is out now!

In other good things, I got another acceptance in my inbox today, which I'll keep you posted on as I get more details. Also, my contributor copies of Please Ma'am have arrived and they are GORGEOUS!!! I can't wait to get started reading it. Tomorrow, I'm starting my new project, another novella-length piece.

It finally worked. I asked the universe for a glass of lemonade instead of lemons, and that's exactly what I got. Here's hoping it's not a one time offer.
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