Our first snow is descending gently as I write this. Season’s Greetings and peace to all. I usually send this annual letter with my Christmas cards, but this year, I thought I’d post it on-line and share my personal stories with my readers too.
First of all, my husband and daughter are doing well. They’re still employed in the same jobs. My daughter was even promoted to Art Director. My husband’s just grateful that he didn’t have to go to India this year. Whew!
I’ve had a banner year. Our annual winter vacation last January took us to the Bahamas. I fell in love with the laid-back island life. It seems SO long ago--more than just a year. This year, we’re headed to Fort Lauderdale, FL and we’re planning to meet one of my best Aussie friends--for the first time!
My first paperback came out in print last January too. February and March were pretty much the months I shivered through, dying for spring to arrive. At the end of March I attended the annual New England Chapter conference in Natick, MA. I also presented a workshop on e-publishing. People told me it was informative and helpful, and that I didn’t sound as nervous as I felt.
In May I was elected chapter president. It’s already proving to be an interesting job, offering me plenty of valuable experience. This means that I’ll be “the host” of our chapter conference next March. I hope I don’t sound nervous or get the hiccups. I’ll be standing in front of a couple hundred people, trying not to trip over my words.
In July my wonderful hubby and I went to the Romance Writers of America convention in San Francisco. Can you imagine being one of the few guys in a crowd of two thousand? He didn’t attend the conference, though. Just kept me company at breakfast and dinners and attended one party with me. He kept himself occupied by sightseeing while I went to workshops. We spent a week there, which meant I had 3 days free to explore. It was a fantastic area! I saw Chinatown, Fisherman’s Warf, the Golden Gate bridge and beyond.
I absolutely loved Muir Woods. Gazing up, up, up at the Redwood trees and taking loads of pictures. We even found one with a hole in the middle and had our pictures taken inside it. (It’s on my blog somewhere.) I also really enjoyed Sausalito, Monterey with their seals, driving up the coast, Napa Valley, and our tour of the Korbel Champagne winery. Yes, they gave us free samples!
This year I saw 4 new books of mine released! A short story about Rapunzel in an anthology of fractured fairy tales will be released Dec. 22nd. I think I’ve finally faced the fact that I’m a writer. It’s not just something I like to do. It’s who I am. If I got paid nothing for it, I’d probably still write. Don’t get me wrong, I want my royalties! If my publishers are reading this, please know that I will still look for my statements and cash my checks when you send them to me. (chuckles)
It’s been a busy year and I may have some very good news in the near future. I’m doing a light urban fantasy romantic comedy…part of a series if all goes well. I can’t give out details until a contract has been signed, but there’s been interest from a mass market publisher and I have a good feeling about it. Oh, and my books have been nominated for some awards! Stay tuned since I'm still in the running.
So, I wish you and yours much happiness and a safe, wonderful, serendipitous new year!
Warm Holiday Hugs,
Ash
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Oh My God! Nominated for an Eppie!
I have some exciting news today! My novella Oh My God has been nominated for an Eppie! That’s kind of like the Oscar for ebooks. I’m so stoked! Here’s a tid-bit:
Oh My God
What happens when a Greek God has amnesia--especially Dionysus, the biggest bad boy of Mount Olympus?
The Greek God of wine, women, and party, falls off a balcony and lands on his head during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Now he has amnesia and has to rely on witnesses to tell him about his life. All he knows is that they call him ‘Big D,’ and he’s a party animal who drinks too much and ought to give up alcohol for Lent.
Mandy and Brandy flashed Dionysus right before he fell and feel partially responsible for his amnesia. They’re nice enough to take him to an AA meeting, and then back to their homes until he recovers his memory. Fortunately, they’re not too nice to be naughty. They all agree that replacing a bad habit with a healthy one is the key to sobriety, and what could be healthier than sex? Will he come between friends before they know who he is? Will Zeus separate all of them, forever?
Chapter One
“Hello, everyone. I can’t remember my name, but I think I’m an alcoholic.”
The room fell silent. A few titters began in the back, then the chuckles spread and before I knew it, the whole room was guffawing.
“You came to the right place, Mister!” yelled a listener from the back of the room.
I could feel my cheeks redden. Well, fine, at least they’d match my eyes.
The gorgeous young women who took me to this stupid AA meeting slapped their luscious thighs and laughed out loud with the rest of them. If it weren’t for their sex appeal, I’d have stood up and walked out. How humiliating!
Even under their jeans I was able to picture their creamy skin. The brunette with big brown eyes would have a bikini tan. The other, an auburn redhead with long, spiral curls, would probably be a sunscreen wearer, but I loved fair complexions too. In fact, I enjoyed pretty much everything about women. It’s odd how I know that about myself--but little else since the amnesia.
I elbowed the pretty brunette next to me on my right. “Hey, I came here to get help and everybody’s laughing at me.”
The young woman, Brandy she said her name was, patted me on the knee and said with a southern drawl, “It’s all right honey. We understand. We’re laughin’ with you.”
“But I’m not laughing.”
“Well you should, darlin’. When you’re feelin’ better, you’ll be tellin’ your story to the world, and you’ll be laughin’ too.”
The meeting resumed, but I was too hung-over to listen to what was being said. Yet, despite the pounding headache and roiling stomach, I was able to concentrate on Brandy and Mandy’s thighs. Mandy was the redhead and she was the quiet one. Like a swan though, she had all kinds of energy underneath the surface. I sensed a passionate nature in both of them.
Brandy was a toucher. I loved touchers. Every chance she got she puts a hand on my arm or my leg. Now if I can just get her to zero in on the space between them. My jeans grew tighter as I imagined it.
Mandy wagged her top leg continuously, and I could barely keep my eyes off her shapely ankle that was graced by a rhinestone anklet. The afternoon light refracted and glittered as if fairy dust had been sprinkled all around. Her T-shirt spoke volumes in glitzy rhinestones too. They spelled out: ‘Half Naughty Half Nice. Which half do you want?’ over her ample breasts.
Read more in my free reads section!
TITLE: Nectar of the Gods (Anthology)
PUBLISHER: Total-e-Bound
RELEASE DATE: 9/29/08
URL FOR EXCERPTS: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?CAT_ID=&P_ID=355
ISBN: 978-1-906811-07-5
GENRE: Fantasy, Greek Gods
Oh My God
What happens when a Greek God has amnesia--especially Dionysus, the biggest bad boy of Mount Olympus?
The Greek God of wine, women, and party, falls off a balcony and lands on his head during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Now he has amnesia and has to rely on witnesses to tell him about his life. All he knows is that they call him ‘Big D,’ and he’s a party animal who drinks too much and ought to give up alcohol for Lent.
Mandy and Brandy flashed Dionysus right before he fell and feel partially responsible for his amnesia. They’re nice enough to take him to an AA meeting, and then back to their homes until he recovers his memory. Fortunately, they’re not too nice to be naughty. They all agree that replacing a bad habit with a healthy one is the key to sobriety, and what could be healthier than sex? Will he come between friends before they know who he is? Will Zeus separate all of them, forever?
Chapter One
“Hello, everyone. I can’t remember my name, but I think I’m an alcoholic.”
The room fell silent. A few titters began in the back, then the chuckles spread and before I knew it, the whole room was guffawing.
“You came to the right place, Mister!” yelled a listener from the back of the room.
I could feel my cheeks redden. Well, fine, at least they’d match my eyes.
The gorgeous young women who took me to this stupid AA meeting slapped their luscious thighs and laughed out loud with the rest of them. If it weren’t for their sex appeal, I’d have stood up and walked out. How humiliating!
Even under their jeans I was able to picture their creamy skin. The brunette with big brown eyes would have a bikini tan. The other, an auburn redhead with long, spiral curls, would probably be a sunscreen wearer, but I loved fair complexions too. In fact, I enjoyed pretty much everything about women. It’s odd how I know that about myself--but little else since the amnesia.
I elbowed the pretty brunette next to me on my right. “Hey, I came here to get help and everybody’s laughing at me.”
The young woman, Brandy she said her name was, patted me on the knee and said with a southern drawl, “It’s all right honey. We understand. We’re laughin’ with you.”
“But I’m not laughing.”
“Well you should, darlin’. When you’re feelin’ better, you’ll be tellin’ your story to the world, and you’ll be laughin’ too.”
The meeting resumed, but I was too hung-over to listen to what was being said. Yet, despite the pounding headache and roiling stomach, I was able to concentrate on Brandy and Mandy’s thighs. Mandy was the redhead and she was the quiet one. Like a swan though, she had all kinds of energy underneath the surface. I sensed a passionate nature in both of them.
Brandy was a toucher. I loved touchers. Every chance she got she puts a hand on my arm or my leg. Now if I can just get her to zero in on the space between them. My jeans grew tighter as I imagined it.
Mandy wagged her top leg continuously, and I could barely keep my eyes off her shapely ankle that was graced by a rhinestone anklet. The afternoon light refracted and glittered as if fairy dust had been sprinkled all around. Her T-shirt spoke volumes in glitzy rhinestones too. They spelled out: ‘Half Naughty Half Nice. Which half do you want?’ over her ample breasts.
Read more in my free reads section!
TITLE: Nectar of the Gods (Anthology)
PUBLISHER: Total-e-Bound
RELEASE DATE: 9/29/08
URL FOR EXCERPTS: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?CAT_ID=&P_ID=355
ISBN: 978-1-906811-07-5
GENRE: Fantasy, Greek Gods
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