I just hit send on the submission of Forever In Blue Jeans, Book 3 in the Blue Jeans and Hard Hats series, to my Samhain editor, Bethany.
Let’s all cross our fingers and toes and eyes that she likes it.
I’ll keep y’all posted! I am taking the rest of the day off from writing/revising. I’ll watch some NASCAR, go to Best Buy and the Home Depot, nap, eat yummy food, drink some coffee, read, start setting up my food blog, and wait for edits to arrive from that same editor for Twisted Up.
Yesterday was an emotional, topsy-turvy day and if you missed my tweet/Facebook update about it, don’t worry, I’ll talk more about it here soon.
I am in midst of doing self-editing/self-revisions on Forever In Blue Jeans, the 3rd book in the Blue Jeans and Hard Hats series. It’s my longest book at nearly 60K and by the time is is finished and through edits at Samhain (provided they contract it), it’ll likely BE 60K. My plan is to turn it in to my editor this weekend and hopefully we’ll all have an answer on it in the next 4-6 weeks. That would mean, we’d probably be looking at something like an early (if we’re lucky) Springtime release.
My editor did email me yesterday about the edits for Twisted Up and she said she’ll be getting those to me this weekend. So, my focus today and tomorrow is on the revisions of Forever In Blue Jeans, so when edits comes in, I can get started on them.
I need to get writing next week as well on something else… I need to finish Trouble in the Making for self-publishing, Drive Shaft (the follow-up to Stick Shift) because some of you are asking for it, and get to work again on the follow-up to Ink Spots which is the one titled Too Bad (Jackie and Mac’s story). If you have a preference one way or another, let me know.
Yesterday, Bethany, my editor with Samhain Publishing, offered yours truly a contract for Cowboy Justin, his girl Ella, and their book, Twisted Up.
The earliest the book will come out is December, thought it may even be January. I’ll let y’all know when I know. I have also turned in the partial of Forever in Blue Jeans, Blue Jeans and Hard Hats, Book 3. We’ll see how she likes what I’ve got so far and if she’s interested.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to say I’ve got anything new coming, but WOOT! I’ve got new stuff coming! I’m still working on the book that I will be self publishing this summer, Trouble In The Making. I will also be turning Masked, my free read, into a longer work (though not by much) and self-publishing it. After I finish Forever in Blue Jeans and Trouble In The Making, I’ll be getting back to work on Drive Shaft (Alli’s book from Stick Shift) and Too Bad (Jackie and Mac’s book from Ink Spots).
I’m working on a lot of stuff so just bear with me. It’s been a lean year for us, I know, but there will be a few things this year and then next year will be full!
Thank you to all my readers that have been so very supportive and unwavering in your loyalty. Thank you to those of you that have sent me wonderful and encouraging emails, even if some threatened me with bodily harm if I didn’t get another book out. Grins… I love all of you more than I can say.(Just imagine the release party we’ll be having for Twisted Up!)
I’m so sorry I’m late with this today. I’ve gotten caught up with some writing (yay!), making a delicious and homemade deep dish chicken pot pie, wasting time on Tumblr, and reading. I’ve been reading a lot. Writing has been so super slow…worse than molasses. It’s driving me nuts and actually my feelings about it fit in with our Bring Me A Tissue theme today… just makes me want to cry!
I’ve been considering all my books and my heroines don’t really cry. Me on the other hand, I’ll cry at the drop of a hat if the circumstances are right. But, a few readers said that there was a part of Sweet Caroline that made them want to cry, so… I’ll give you just a little snippet from that one.
Snippet:
Caroline watched out the driver’s side mirror as Buck walked around the back of the trailer. He was checking the locks one more time to make sure they were secure. She was tired, and her eyes were gritty. She’d cried some before she went to sleep then cried again when he made love to her early this morning.
She was a damn basket case, worse than she ever figured she’d be. But Buck was solid. His lip hadn’t even quivered. He didn’t tell her not to go. He didn’t ask to come with her. He didn’t even say he’d call, write or send up a flare.
He didn’t want things to end either, though. It was in the way he touched her, the way he kissed her, the way he looked at her when he thought she didn’t know. They were both grownups. They could do this. People moved and separated all the time even when they cared for one another. And…if she kept telling herself that, she might actually start to believe it by the time she reached Atlanta.
“Everything looks good. Got the keys?”
He stood at the window. She wanted to reach out and touch him but didn’t dare. “Yeah. In my pocket.”
“Okay then, I’d say you’re all set. Take care with the turns.”
They’d had this discussion before that she’d never towed anything on the back of a vehicle. “I will. I’ll be fine, Buck.”
“I know you will. I would say call me when you get there…”
“I don’t know if I can.”
He nodded. She knew he understood and that it didn’t make things any easier. “Be careful.”
It was her turn to nod as she cranked her Jeep and put it in drive. It was awkward, this feeling of something being unfinished. She wasn’t used to it and didn’t like it. Not one bit. There was more to say, more to do, oh hell lots more to do, but…
“You need to get on the road. You don’t want to hit Atlanta anytime between now and eight tonight.”
He was trying to make a joke, and she did manage a smile that didn’t seem forced. Not to mention, Atlanta was hell on traffic. She dreaded going up I-75 anywhere near the large city. Come to think of it, I-75 sucked no matter if you were near Tampa or Valdosta or Atlanta. There was construction at every mile marker it seemed and dumbass drivers that didn’t know they weren’t supposed to brake on the interstate. Hence, the lack of traffic lights and stop signs.
Thank you was on the tip of her tongue, but it wasn’t enough to convey what he’d brought to her life in the months she’d known him. He saved her from that too with his next words.
“It’s okay, Caroline. Nothing needs to be said.”
End Snippet
Y’all have a great weekend. Don’t forget to change your clocks back if you’re in a time zone that participates. And don’t forget to check out the snippets from these awesome authors:
Food is Rosie’s life, and life is good. She loves it, makes it, serves it in her diner, writes about it in her blog, and she’s happy. At least until a storm puts a rather large tree limb through her roof, and a sex-in-a-tool-belt roofer on top of her cabin.
But that’s not where she wants him. No, she wants him behind her with a strip of leather in his hand. That’s what makes her edgy—vulnerability is not her style. Except the more prickly she gets with him, the more he turns on the charm.
Decker arrives in Blue Ridge, Georgia, with nothing on his mind but a job and some new scenery. His legendary patience is tested from the first moment he meets sharp-tongued Rosie. She’s got hips that sway, non-stop curves and a mouth that needs to be filled with things that are much sweeter than vinegar.
A few singe-worthy kisses, and Decker uncovers passions that will likely earn her every red stripe she’s begging for. And Rosie discovers Decker’s got a hunger burning deep inside to give her anything and everything she needs. Maybe even…forever.
Warning: Between the sheets of this book you’ll find a twist on a decadent southern dessert, sweet rose wine, picnic table sexiness, truck sex, a man who knows how to give a spanking and a woman who knows how to bend over a hot yummy lap.
Mmm. Mmm. Mmm!
I hope y’all enjoy this book. It’s a little longer than Sweet Caroline. It’s a little darker, as some have put it. There’s a little bit of power play going on, but as in all my books, it’s subtle. I like subtle.
Rosie is feisty. Decker is hot. They are firecrackers together.
Did y’all know Neil Diamond is a nominee for the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame? I think that’s awesome. I grew up listening to him among others and honestly, whodathunk that his songs would inspire the names of a few kinky erotic romance books?
Cracklin’ Rosie, as most of my books are, is very personal to me. There are things in it that I have taken from my life, my childhood, my experiences, my desires, some of my loves. It makes my writing a more personal experience and the investment is greater. Some of those things are my spanking fetish, my love of coffee, my love of food, comfort food in particular and hamburgers especially.
If you’ve seen any of my tweets when I’ve talked about Red Robin, y’all know I love a good burger. And it’s a fond memory for me. I don’t have many when it comes to my step-father, but one of the few good ones for me are his hamburgers. I couldn’t tell you what was in them nor can I reveal the nickname we had for them because it would give away my maiden name. Suffice it to say, a little mustard, a little Heinz 57, some cheese and bread and butter pickles and I was in heaven as a kid. It was a ritual to make those at least once a week and to this day, my friends from high school remember those hamburgers.
What does this have to do with Cracklin’ Rosie? Well, Rosie’s favorite food is a hamburger. And as luck would have it, Decker can make a really good one.
Other foods appearing in this book are: Strawberry/Banana pudding,chicken and dumplings, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, cherry cobbler, a fried egg sandwich, potato salad.
It’s not a foodie book, but man oh man, I pulled some of my favorites and added them in.
There’s also the brief appearance of Buck and Caroline. The use of belts.
And a different way of drinking wine. The wine inspiration for this book is sweet Muscadine wine. My favorite is from the Duplin Winery here in North Carolina. I have 4 bottles in my pantry. Red, Blush (Rose), White. I love them. Rosie talks about a winery in Atlanta and that would be Chateau Elan Winery.
Of course, there’s also coffee in the book.
I know it’s sounding a bit like a foodie book, but she IS the owner of a diner. Food is what she does, morning, noon, and night.
Well, until she meets Decker…
For those of you that have purchased it already, thank you. I hope you enjoy it.
As of this writing, here at 6:46am, Cracklin’ Rosie is sitting at #5 on the MBaM Top Ten List.
Tonight at 9pm Eastern (8pm Central), I’ll be doing a chat at Kris Cook’s place. Can I tell y’all how nervous I am? Good, cause, I am nervous, but if any of you have the time or inclination to come by and visit and well, chat, I’d love it!
Thank you all so much for being my readers, my support system. Those that read my books, comment on my rambling blogs, chat with me on Twitter and Facebook, send me emails… None of you will ever know how deeply I appreciate you.
Have a wonderful Wednesday and yes, there will be giveaways in the days to come, interviews, release parties, and a title fight between Buck and Decker for who is hottest! Stay tuned for more details!
I just hit send on the submission of Forever In Blue Jeans, Book 3 in the Blue Jeans and Hard Hats series, to my Samhain editor, Bethany.
