...well, on a Virgin Train, actually, for the RNA conference in Penrith, and I hope I'll be back again on Monday. But only for a boomerang visit: I'll be bouncing off to Washington DC for the RWA conference the next day, and won't be back again until about 20th July. Jetlag, ahoy!
So, today and the last few days I've been doing the same few things. Working on promo to take to RWA (which has to be done before I leave for RNA early Friday morning), finishing City of Lust (likewise), trying to get my damn phone to send texts to US numbers (er, not random numbers, but friends and people I'm meeting in DC) and attempting not to beat my printer with a big stick, because it decided yesterday that while I needed to print several hundred more pages, it was going on strike and was only going to print things with pink stripes all over them.
Now, I like pink stripes, but not on this guy, who features large in my promo materials.
Helping me while I tried to cut up bookmarks and make promo stands out of cardboard boxes and wrapping paper (I know, sophisticated or what?) was Spike. He likes stripy paper, incidentally, but isn't too keen on the stuff with stars.
As a result, my office looks like this. 
Actually, that's the tidy version.
Right about now I think I need a glass of wine.
Short post today to announce the Romantic Novelists Association blog. I can't believe we haven't got around to this before; there are so many talented and entertaining women (and men!) in the RNA with so much to say. All of us within the Association know this: it's high time the rest of the world did too!
I'm keeping fairly quiet at the moment: I have a book to finish, an uncooperative computer, and labyrinthitis. They don't combine to make me extra-sociable.
It's hot.
Really hot.
And very still. And the only form of air conditioning in the house is a desk fan (uh, note to people who live in hot climates where AC is prevalent: it's more or less redundant for about 46 weeks of the year in Britain, where you generally need central heating, not cooling).
And I'm trying to finish City of Lust. But my brain, it is melting. Melllltiiiing!
So while I try to think of some way to cool down that doesn't involve drowning myself in a vat of lager, have some pictures of Spike enjoying the sun. Despite that thick fur coat of his, he gives every appearance of enjoying the heat. Mad cat.
This is a collection of the second group of novellas I wrote in the Sundown series for Changeling about a thousand years ago. Okay, about four years ago, but this is the Internet, and four years might as well be a few millenia.
When Reaver finds a girl so shocked by demon possession she can't speak, he doesn't expect her to be the best demon fighter he's ever seen. But before he can give in to what he never knew he needed, he's got to figure out who she is... and why the hell he wants her so much.A couple of these won awards, I think--Never Leave Me was Best Book of the Year for RRT Erotic and Unholy Trinity was Joyfully Recommended by Joyfully Reviewed. One has to keep track of these things, y'know.
Sofie's trying to solve a vampire murder. Problem. Her new partner's utterly irresistible, but he asks far too many questions. Finn can't help noticing for someone who doesn't believe in the paranormal, Sofie goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid full moons, silver, and any mention of lone wolves.
When Paige wakes up with the worst love-bite of her life, there's only one person she can turn to for help -- her old friend Jamie. Rafael's never been shy about taking what he wants, and right now, Rafael wants Paige -- and Jamie, too.
For Chloe, human interaction is an absolute disaster. It's tough to form a meaningful relationship when you have the dating skills of a praying mantis. Alexius is about to find out when a siren says you look good enough to eat, she's really not joking... Fortunately, Alexius has a few tricks of his own up his family tree.
Sundown Investigations -- where all our operatives give every case that extra personal touch.
This collection includes the previously released novellas Never Leave Me, Duty and the Beast, Unholy Trinity, and Maneater.
1. Finish City of Lust. Must be done this week. Even if I don't know what happens next. I can always shoot somebody.
(Er, in the book, not in real life. Things aren't that drastic)
2. Finish the Sundown International book trailer. Because the book's out on Friday! It's a re-release of the second group of novellas in the Sundown series, which actually includes some of my favourites. I've been having a lot of fun going back over them all while I make the trailer.
3. Get some insurance for my trip to RWA Nationals. It's been about three years since last time I left the country, so I'm a bit rusty on what I need to remember. Although with my amazing capacity for losing stuff, getting lost and injuring myself, maybe I should start thinking about insurance for when I visit the shops.
4. Pick up new sunglasses. Thanks to a great Boots Opticians offer I've ordered myself some new Lulu Guinness prescription sunnies. I miss the days when I could just buy a cheap pair from New Look for a fiver, but then maybe I should have listened to my dad when he told me I'd need glasses if I spent so much time reading in the dark.
5. Concoct some brilliant promotional ideas for RWA. Which can be achieved in less than three weeks. And will cost nothing. Or weigh very much.
6. Discover the whereabouts of my conference folder to take to RNA and RWA conferences. It must be in here somewhere.
7. Dust off Kett's manuscript and resubmit it. This book is driving me so nuts I keep having to leave it alone or I'll go mad and delete the whole thing. But now I've left it alone so long I can't actually remember what I've done to it...
8. Lose about 20lb. This might be achievable if I stop loafing off to drink cider, eat strawberries and cream and protesting that I can't do any exercise because I have a deadline.
9. Oh yeah, the deadline...
I haven't blogged an awful lot lately, partly because I've been quite busy and partly because I haven't been able to think of anything exciting to blog about. What have I been up to? Well, following my mum's birthday last week, I took her out for lunch at d'Arry's in Cambridge, which is wonderful and has a fabulous--and rather dangerous--wine list. Drink a glass or three with lunch, then buy a bottle, or a case, to take home with you. It seems like a really good idea after three large glasses...
Then I was at Center Parcs last weekend. Yes, I know, I go there a lot. I'm reverting to childhood--getting all excited abut water slides and bunny rabbits (er, not at the same time). Which is mad because there are hundreds of bunny rabbits where I live. Spike had one in the garden the other day (he seemed confused by it: too big to be a mouse or other easily-predated small creature, but too small and the wrong shape to be another cat). But we do have a distinct and lamentable lack of water slides.
Then on Wednesday, as a late part of Mum's birthday, we went to see Les Miserables, which she'd seen before, many years ago, and I hadn't. Songs were sung along to. Tears were wept. Thank God I didn't wear mascara.
But it's not all fun, fun, fun. I've also been working on City of Lust, the third Empire book, which has a blind seer heroine. Writing a blind character is tricky when you're using deep-third POV, and occasional first-person flashbacks, and makes you realise how many visual cues you read and write. My heroine can't see anyone smiling, or rolling their eyes. You can adapt things, of course, to read, he said, a smile in his voice or she could almost see the sparkle in his eyes but can't over-use them too much.
Still, as my old Drama teacher used to say: it's not a problem, it's a challenge. A couple of years ago I managed to write a whole novella where my heroine was unable to speak, apart from in dreams, where all she could speak were riddles. And it won an award. It's good to challenge yourself sometimes.
And while I'm here, I had another great review for Burning Desires, this time from ParaNormalRomance.
EMPIRE: BURNING DESIRE was an amazing story. I have not read very many stories with merpeople in them, but this one was very well done. Swann's character was so tortured-both literally, courtesy of the Empire, and figuratively because of the pain in his past, but he still was strong enough to allow himself to fall for Libby, and to trust her to save him when he needed it.
And it's a good one! Phew. I dunno about you, but I get so nervous waiting for the first review--it's an omen of how the rest will go. Thankfully this one, while not the Gold Star glory of After The Fall, is still pretty nice with 4.5 stars from JERR. Although I've no idea why the reviewer missed off the final 's' of the title.
Burning Desire is every bit as good as the first book in the Empire series but also quadruples the tension and the mystery. Swann is still suffering from torture he endured after capture during the rebellion and be forewarned that his therapy includes a threesome with some male on male action. Libby and Swann are inventive and quite imaginative in their sexual adventures together but quickly come to realize they love one another... I really enjoyed Burning Desire and I'll be holding my breath for the next episode of the Empire.Squee!
Today I am being interviewed by Meankitty on her blog. Well, I say 'I'. Actually it's Spike. He's surprisingly eloquent for a three year old.
A three year old who purrs.
The Smart Bitches are hosting a fundraiser in memory of author Edith Layton, who died recently. She was a huge supporter of animal rescue charities, and so they've set up a direct link to donate to her favourite animal charity. They're also keen on contributions to any animal charity in her memory. Now, I confess I'm not really familiar with Edith Layton's work, but I'll honour any excuse to give money to animal charities. After all, without them I'd never have had Honey, the Wonder Dog (are you listening, Demon Puppy? Big pawprints to fill). Or indeed Candy, my sweet shy tabby, or Sugar, my baby girl, or Spike, my gorgeous boy.
(Look into my eyes. Not around my eyes, into my eyes...)Firstly, by creating silly Facebook quizzes. Secondly, by picking one of these leaflets up from Tescos (they do tourism info now? Who knew!)
I used to drive past this place on the way to a friend's house. Secret. Nuclear. Bunker. This Way. I can't express how much I love that.
And I can't possibly comment on the Biggest and Deepest in Essex part. Nope, not me. Nor the phallic mushroom cloud. Not a word...
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