Now available from Loose Id

My silly romp story is now available. Hope you enjoy!

BLURB:

Alex dumped her and Jen’s not sure why. Okay, he’d been her first, but she thought she’d done rather well, sexually speaking. Why did he all of a sudden tell her that it wasn’t working out? What was wrong with her?

Ken, Bart, Davey and Jason—her best friends—all try to convince her there’s nothing wrong with her. In fact they seek to prove it to her… by first-hand example. That’s all well and good until Jen starts freaking out. She’s sleeping with her best friends. All of them.

What’s up with that?

Read an excerpt

Take a trip on over to Fiction with Friction to read my fireworks post “Glory Boy” for the Fiction with Friction fireworks week.

Pairing: m/m

Eric’s ready for a typical, boring town picnic for the 4th of July. He’s not prepared when the town’s glory boy starts to talk to him.

I’ve been writing for just over a year and I seem to get one question more often than any other:

How do you create your paranormal worlds?

Honestly, I often start with a little plot bunny of an idea and see where it will take me once I add some spice from my knowledge of modern paganism, mythology, and a dash of just being wacky. Sometimes the additions are from a single resource but sometimes they are from all over.

I do have a few cardinal rules for myself when I build a world:

The reader must be able to relate to the world.
I find it difficult to read stories where the world is so alien that it has nothing in common with my real world frames of reference. Would the life of a space-going amoeba call to me? Probably not. In order to not have the reader too off balance, it’s good to make sure the paranormal world is near enough to seem famailiar but different enough to be exciting and interesting.

The world must be consistent within itself.
The world has to make sense. I get really frustrated with worlds where rules contradict themselves and seem like they could never make a cohesive, unified world. If the people worship trees, should they cut down trees to use as fuel?

The world should be different
The world I build should not be like every other paranormal world out there or it loses its luster. The more similar it is, the more readers will expect it to behave the same way as similar worlds, as well. I really enjoy taking the more established paranormal mythos (vampires, werewolves, etc) and giving them a half twist to see what comes out.

The characters must be part of their world, not mine.
The ways the characters behave or act, the phrases they use, etc must be integral to the world they inhabit. This paranormal world must be their natural environment and not a departure that would cause them to make note of something that should be normal. So someone living in a world where vampires are the norm and aren’t hiding wouldn’t freak at just seeing one. A pagan character would probably not use “Hotter than Hell” if their belief system didn’t include a Hell that is believed to be hot.

This can be especially tricky because we all have a tendency to fall into commonly used phrases or slang and that’s something that will throw readers right out of a story.

When I’m developing “rules” for a world, I write them down. Sometimes in painful and annoying detail, even. Then I ask my ever-so-helpful husband to read through them for me and look for things that don’t make sense. Sometimes I make changes based on his feedback, but not always, I admit.

I use this written record to then write the story but new situations or ideas often emerge as I do so and I add those to the world notes and make sure they don’t clash with anything already there before I submit the story.

Reviewers are Giving Me Mood Swings!

Okay, I can’t claim to be even keel all the time but seriously folks, a 5 one day and a 3 the next?  Then another 5 and then no rating at all, but a few unkind words.

I’m trilled and motivated to continue on and strive for excellence when I get a extraordinary review; and then with the next reviewer’s lackluster opinion, wonder why a mediocre writer like me doesn’t throw in the towel?  I can’t be alone in this, can I? Actually, I’m not. I know a New York Times best selling authors who no longer reads her reviews for the same reason.

My critique partner, who gets consistent 4’s, 5’s and top picks, blast her, says it’s because I’m a risk taker. I don’t write the same, expected thing over and over. To that I say, “Well, duh!” I—I mean, well done! That’s what I’m aiming for. Entertainment is my only goal. Maybe I’m easily bored, but I like my entertainment to vary from time to time. And in all honesty and modesty, I can’t say I don’t deliver. (Pardon the double negative.) To bring laughter and love to a world that badly needs it is my aspiration. To provide a healthy escape from today’s stress is a lofty ambition but I hope to accomplish it. I know these are tall orders, but on good days I feel as though I’ve succeeded and maybe I’ve chosen the right profession. On those other days, I think I should take up truck driving.

I’ve had some health problems lately and even though I was told I have to remain on this strict diet for the rest of my life doesn’t help my mood, it doesn’t affect it nearly as much as a crumby review. I cried in my doctor’s office last week. I’m embarrassed to say it was from grief and nobody died—just my “indomitable” spirit. He gave me his philosophy. He said, “Don’t you know the number one rule of life? It’s: There is no gratitude.” Yikes. I made sure I thanked him.

Okay, here is where some a**hole is going to tell me to grow a thick skin. Before you do that, be sure you can tell me where to buy the fertilizer and the “how to” book. Constructive criticism is welcome. Admonishment for being human is not.

Do I expect stellar reviews all of the time? Of course not. I’m actually my worst critic and uniquely surprised when a reviewer praises my book to the skies. So, if I want to keep this job, how do I get off the roller coaster? I guess I’ll have to do what my best selling friend does. Wear blinders and count my blessings. I have a wonderful supportive husband who pays the bills while I pay my dues. I have my health—such as it is. I can still work in my garden, walk on the beach and enjoy a beautiful day.

I know it’s against the rules to tell reviewers anything but “thank you.” Still, I’m going to do it. You can be nice when being honest. One of my recent reviewers admitted to being a “stick in the mud” when it came to what she liked and said that other readers who might enjoy something a little different would enjoy the twist in my story. That’s fine. A 3 isn’t enough for the overachiever in me, but the review was honest and respectful. And yes, though disappointed, I thanked her.

I recently decided to try a different genre. I know it’s starting all over, but I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t hear that constructive feedback. I think my style might be too audacious and not sophisticated enough for adults, thus I’ll be writing for young adults or those young at heart.

My first step is to read. I read every day, but now I’ll read what people in that genre are writing. So far, I’m pleasantly surprised. These books seem to run the gamut. The next step is to plot my own book—or series of books, and I have a great idea. Third step (and this is the one I’m not looking forward to) is selling the book. Try to find that needle in a haystack known as an agent who loves my voice as much as my present editor does, create a website, and promote my new pen name so my YA readers find the new me and not my erotic romance! 

Want to suggest a new name for me? I’m having a contest on our chat loop and the one who comes up with my new name wins a pink, Chanel silk scarf. The “rules” are simple.

1)      I must like the name and choose it from the entrants

2)      I must be able to look like a ____ (fill in the name.) I’m blond with green eyes.

3)      It needs to add up to #9 in numerology.  (My destiny or birth path number) Here is a quick numerology lesson.

Each letter is assigned a number. A single number from one to nine and then the order begins

A=1 J=1 S=1

B=2 K=2 T=2

C=3 L=3 U=3

D=4 M=4 V=4

E=5 N=5 W=5

F=6 O=6 X=6

G=7 P=7 Y=7

H=8 Q=8 Z=8

I=9 R=9 Nine is my destiny (or life path) number.  This is what you get by adding up all the numbers in your birthdate. 

> >

> > Start making suggestions!!! The ride won't stop until we have a winner!

To see what your number adds up to go here: a site for beginners which is all I can handle without my head exploding…
http://members.aol.com/AspireA1/index5.html

Have fun!

Ash