Trying to get started off on the right foot here, so I’m beginning this year of blogging with a few of my goals for 2011.

First, I will blog more regularly. No, really! Lol! I’m going to blog at least once a week and start a few new features that, hopefully will breathe some new life into this tired old blog.

One of the things I have planned is a feature borrowed from the Page 99 web site where the blog features page 99 from whatever book is being spotlighted. My plan is to showcase page 99 from some of my own books and to invite other authors to do the same. I think it’ll be fun and doubtless will add to my already mountainous tbr list.

As for the writing in 2011, I have at least two novels contracted and possibly even three along with at least one novella that will release in April. I’ll be sharing more specifics about the stories in my future posts, so come back for sneak peek excerpts and other fun stuff.

Specifically, I plan to write at least 1000 words every day. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but a girl’s got to start somewhere, right? Lol! I also want to post some freebee stories here on the blog and in my yahoo group.

So that’s the plan for 2011.

I hope everyone had fun last night ringing in the new year. I know I did.

I know it’s been ages since I’ve posted. Bad blogger, bad!

 But I’ve been busy. Writing, helping to organize the Rainbow Awards of Excellence, as well as running the chapter. All of which take time. And now I’m off to Orlando for the RWA national conference, a week of workshops and networking and reconnecting with friends. And lots of hanging out with other writers, my favorite part. *g*

Hopefully there will be time for writing while I’m there, though I’m not counting on it, too many distractions. Maybe in the airport or on the plane, because the characters in my head are clamoring for my attention. So cross your fingers.

I’m back from my New Years vaca and ready to dive back into the writing.

Key West was fabulous as always, though a bit chillier than we like. Our friends down there think when the temp dips below 65F that they’re freezing. Lol!

We came home to 29F and snow this morning. Now *that* is cold!

Wow, I have so much to do and share with you all. I’m finishing up edits on Bound To Please, so you should be seeing that story in the very near future. I also got the cover art which was done by the

incomparable Anne Cain and I’ll be sharing/showing that off any day now. Also there are edits on a new antho story called His Leading Man which is a sequel to David and Kieran’s story from the BB anthology. So lots to get to.

Be well and happy!

There’s a female impersonator plot bunny nipping at my heels.

On New Years Eve I saw this female impersonator named Randy Roberts and he is so amazing! Here’s a link to a little piece of video so you can see what I mean. I am now a total fangirl. *g*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSisCkkPSL4

I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Year’s Eve and that a prosperous and joyful year awaits you.

This is video from the Duval St. celebration in Key West Florida. It isn’t this year’s vid, but will give you a taste of the best New year celebration in the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xPWadfywxE

The basket that we have donated includes:

-an original Michael Bonfiglio lapel pin (http://www.wilddot.com/)

-a USB fob with a handmade chainmaille keyring made by Maura Anderson that is filled to overflowing with electronic books, including “Giving Thanks” by Maura Anderson, “Details of the Hunt” by Laura Baumbach, “Naked Richmond” by Ally Blue, “Black Wolf” and “Horsfall: Tail of Two Brothers” by Jade Buchanan, “Hard Fall” by James Buchanan, “The Shape of a Heart” by Kimberly Gardner, “The Tin Star” by JL Langley and more!

-an autographed copy of “A Bit of Rough” by Laura Baumbach

-an autographed copy of “Untamed Heart” by Ally Blue

-an autographed copy of “Fireflies” by Ally Blue

-an autographed copy of “Temperature’s Rising” by Jade Buchanan

-an autographed copy of “Lord Carabas” by James Buchanan

-an autographed copy of “Phoenix Rising” by Kimberly Gardner

-an autographed copy of “With Caution” by JL Langley

-an autographed copy of “My Fair Captain” by JL Langley

-an autographed copy of “Heaven Sent 1″ by Jet Mykles

-an autographed copy of “The Name of the Game” by Willa Okati

Also included are:

-a laptop bag

-a rainbow cloth bookmark

-a “Lovers, Dreamers and Me” mousepad from Willa Okati

-a “Phoenix Rising” mug and t-shirt

-a size Large “Heaven” t-shirt

-an MLR Press mousepad

-a “Heaven Sent” keychain and bookmarks

-a book light

-other goodies like pens, chapstick, bookmarks and a few naughty items!

Remember, bidding will begin on May 1st and will run until May 31st! If you’re interested in bidding on this basket, you can access it directly here:

http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&Auction_uid1=1379086

Over the weekend several authors noticed that Amazon had begun stripping LGBT titles of their sales ranking. When they emailed to ask why, they received the following response:

“In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude “adult” material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature.”

The excluded titles included not only LGBT erotica and erotic romance (including my own books), but titles of historical and academic nature.

This morning, Amazon says that there is no new “policy” in place and that it was only a “software glitch” that stripped the sales rankings from the LGBT books.

Hmmm.

Sounds like a wardrobe malfunction to me.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/Divorce

 
After you watch the video, please consider joining me in signing the letter to the state Supreme Court and passing this video on to your friends. The more
people who see this video, the more people will understand the pain caused by Prop 8 and Ken Starr’s shameful legal proceeding.
 
Thanks.

So in celebration of Veterans’ Day and in tribute to all our veterans, particularly those forced to serve in silence, I’m posting a link to this speech given by a retired navy man, a patriot and one of those to whom we owe our undying gratitude and to whom the government owes an apology.

Thank you, Captain Rankin, for everything.

http://www.thegaymilitarytimes.com/060815Rankin.html

I have much to get caught up on. So where to start …

First, I got the hot comfort story, The Shape of a Heart, turned in on time. Yay! That was just a week ago and in the meantime, I’ve started a brand new story called Into Temptation, pitched an anthology idea to my publisher and started reading what promises to be an excellent book.

Into Temptation

The heroes of this little story — I believe it won’t exceed 10k — are Kevin and Chris. Kevin is a seminarian and Chris is a personal trainer, the spirit meets the flesh.

It’s a romance, of course. What else from me? And I’m hoping to complete it in the next week or two and submit it to an online magazine. Hopefully, they will love it and snap it up. *g*

The anthology idea

This idea came from a story I was fooling around with a few months ago. It’s about an actor and a director who fall in love while working on a production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

I think, I hope, the theme of the antho will be cross-dressing in the theatre. Doesn’t that sound like a blast? I think so anyway.

The book I’m reading

Yesterday I bought and started reading Orientation by Rick R. Reed. I’ve only read the first chapter so far, but let me tell you, this book had me crying by the end of chapter one and promises to be a deeply moving story of love and second chances. I can hardly wait to get back to it.

Now that I’m no longer in deadline hell, I will be returning to my more or less regular blogging schedule. I promise.