Merry Christmas Wishes & Updates

Wowza!! So hard to believe Christmas is here. My kiddos are super happy. We managed to give them an awesome Christmas this year, and I can't thank you enough for making that happen. Due to your support of my work, we were able to do things for them we couldn't last year. So THANK YOU!!

Today I'll be running ragged going from one home to the next. I'm looking forward to spending time with my family. Some of them drive into town once per year and it's the only chance I get to see them. For that reason I adore Christmas. There's nothing like family.

I did want to let you know that next week I'll be gung-ho working. I'm over halfway done with The Ripple Effect and Enemy Mine. I'll wrap those up soon. Until then I do have a few books you can check out if you haven't done so (and are interested), including Make Me Shiver which is now on Kindle! Check out the blurbs and links below. All purchase sites are listed on the webpage, so it's as simple as clicking a button to venture over to the retailers.

Again, Happy Holidays. I'm sending you all tons of hugs and love.

A special excerpt is on the website for Make Me Shiver now. It's rated R, so keep that in mind. You can read the excerpt by clicking HERE. As a side note, the book is 53k words, so it's not a short story. It is a novel.

If you haven't read Omega Mine, now's your chance. It's pretty steamy and not for youngsters. A blurb is also on the website and you can read it by clicking HERE. This book is a novel plus, complete at around 86k words.

This is a short story that will have a full length follow up -- Twisted In Knots. I really enjoyed Zeke and Diane and can't wait to revisit them. You can read a blurb on my website HERE. Keep in mind the story is a Quickie and complete at around 9k words.

On a side, I have received a release date for Crimson Sunrise. It will be available on May 18, 2012. I apologize for the delay but hope the book is worth the wait. Thank you again for your patience. My hope is to return to the series and write the last book sometime next year. And for those who asked, I will be returning to The Desires of the Otherworld series soon. I've also contracted someone to put Eternity and a Day in print, so you should be hearing more about that soon.

Again, Merry Christmas. 2011 was a great year but I'm hoping 2012 is even better. I'm sending you tons of virtual hugs and cookies. Have a wonderful day with your friends and loved ones. I'll be back with another update soon.

All My Best!

Jaime

A Final Update Before Going Dark

So the time has finally come. One more day and I'm turning off my social networks. I am having the lovely Dina James by on Monday but other than that I'm outta here. If I get a release date or other news, I'll pass it along. Otherwise I'm updating my websites, getting things in order, and preparing for the long month ahead. With that being said, I did want to let everyone know a little something about my plans before I unplug.

First: I am not "officially" taking part in NANO (National Novel Writing Month). I'm not signing up on the Nanowrimo site, I'm not adding friends, and I'm not keeping track of the progress of others. Last year was the same. I place too much pressure on myself as it is. If I start worrying my word count is less than this or that person, I'll drive myself insane. Therefore I use NANO as a reason to get my arse in gear and push myself to get 'er done. My goal is to write 5k words per day (or 25k per week -- I'll be working weekends if I don't reach my daily goals to make sure this happens) and wrap up Enemy Mine (Alpha and Omega Shifters, Book Two) and the full length follow-up to my Ellora's Cave Quickie, No Strings.  If I reach this goal prior to the end of November, I'll be focusing all of my attention on The Ripple Effect.

I know, I know! I can hear the emails now:

Why aren't you writing The Ripple Effect first? Are you off in the head? Don't you know people wanted the third book yesterday? We have to know what happens to Rhiannon, Disco, and Paine! What's the hold up?

Well...truthfully...I'm the hold up.

Wait, don't go! I can explain.

Writing The Renfield Syndrome wasn't fun -- AT ALL. Cleaning toilets in public restrooms probably would have been more pleasant. I worked myself up over that book, in ways that most people wouldn't and couldn't possibly understand.

I lost sleep.

I drove my husband and crit partners nuts.

I agonized over the same things over and over again.

I wrote, erased, wrote, erased....and ended up in the same spot I started.

Despite sitting in front of the PC for hours I COULD NOT WRITE that fucking book. I saw everything. I KNEW what was going to happen. But I couldn't get it out. It was constipation of the brain, as if the the central command center was in working order but the plumbing beneath was clogged. You know, it felt kind of like this...

It wasn't writer's block; it was self-doubt. I couldn't do what I once loved, because I was no longer writing for me -- I was writing for everyone else. This does not for a happy writer make.

While I'm thrilled readers enjoy the Rhiannon's Law series, I really need to unwind a bit, let the next book settle in my head, and then I'll return to it. I've already started the process of revising, which must be done completely before I can start wrapping up the book. Due to this I will resume work on The Ripple Effect in December. I realize now that I've been neglecting my writing by revising the manuscript like crazy in an effort to make the third book "even better" than the first two. I can't keep doing that. There is a reason there was such an enormous length of time between the release of Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between and The Renfield Syndrome. If I want a Summer release for The Ripple Effect, I've gotta shake those inner demons.

The button below sums up everything nicely, I think. I've even printed it out and posted it on my cork board -- for clarity and all that.

So fear not, awesome people. I will return. And when I do I hope to have completed manuscripts in my possession. I've got a lot of stories to share and they won't write themselves. The Ripple Effect is on that list, and it is a priority. I just want to prepare myself for the dark places I'm about to take my favorite character. Despite what you might think, Rhiannon has been through a walk in the park. Something bigger, badder, and more dangerous than anything she's ever faced is about to hit town. Too bad the dumbass I'm talking about doesn't know our girl.

It's going to be bitchin'.

I'll see you on Monday when Dina visits. I hope you all have a happy and safe Halloween with your loved ones.

Peace Out!

New Releases & Shout Out!

As you know, tomorrow if my official release day. I'm nervous since this is my first contemporary offering (no vampires, demons or werewolves in this one!), and I'm not sure how everyone will react. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed. If you're interested in the story and want to check it out (an excerpt is included at Ellora's Cave) CLICK HERE and head on over. Thanks again for all your support.

Now for the shout out...

I'd totally forgotten the third book in the awesome Dissillusionists Trilogy, Head Rush, is out in audiobook today! If you like listening to books, you can learn what happens now instead of waiting for the eBook to hit Samhain in December. Interested? Just click the cover art below to redirect.

Congrats, Carolyn! I can't wait to learn what happens to Packard! *LOVE*

No Strings Coming Soon & Other Things

You're probably wondering where I've been? *grin* The answer is all over the place. I've been attending school functions for my kiddos, gearing up for projects (I'll get to that in a second), and trying to get my calendar in order for next year (it never hurts to think ahead). Fortunately everything seems to be going as planned, so I'm hoping my good luck (aside from a horrible case of the flu that sidelined me for a couple of days) holds.

For those of you who are interested, No Strings releases at Ellora's Cave on Wednesday (October 26th). It's only $1.49 which isn't bad for a short story. The best part is I'm plotting the full-length book for the characters and plan to have it done next year. So if you decide to give the story a go, there will be more in the future -- promise.

Here's the blurb:

Diane and Zeke have one tragic thing in common—they’ve both lost their spouses. Despite years of group therapy, neither has been able to move on with their life. So when Zeke suggests a one-night, no-strings fling, Diane decides she has nothing to lose. It will take a passionate evening to reawaken desires, fantasies and sexual pleasures they’ve long forgotten. And before the sun rises, they’ll discover letting go isn’t as bad as it seems.

Onto other things...

I'm waiting for edits on Make Me Shiver but hope to get to work on the manuscript soon. The second book in the series is another I intend to work on and have out next year. In fact, it's probably a good time for me to discuss NANO while we're on the subject.

During the month of November I'm not going to be online much (if at all). I plan to use NANO to complete Enemy Mine (sequel to Omega Mine) and hopefully finish up (or at least put a dent in) The Ripple Effect. Because of this I will be slow to respond to emails and the like. If you send me an email, message on Twitter or Facebook, and I don't respond that's why. I realize now that there are numerous projects I have to write and I've fallen behind. If I want to meet my deadlines, I have to get my arse in gear.

For those who have asked about Crimson Sunrise -- the edits are done. I'm simply waiting for a release date. When I receive the information I'll pass it along. Also, I will have a guest on November 1st -- the lovely Dina James -- who is promoting her new release All Wounds. Aside from that, I'm going into the cave. I'll probably pop online once a week for a progress report but assume that no news is good news.

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying October. It's hard to believe Halloween is almost here! I'll be back with a release day post on Wednesday. Until then, enjoy your weekend!