I Have News  

Posted by Seressia in , ,

(I know some of you are tired of seeing htis, but I'm trying to keep this blog up to date)

So, some of you may have seen this little news item by Publisher's Weekly yesterday:

Pocket Books has signed a co-publishing agreement with Juno Books through which Juno will release one title per month under its own imprint. Founded in June 2006, Juno has developed a niche in contemporary fantasy novels and its authors include Carole Nelson Douglas, Stacia Kane and Sylvia Kelso. The first title to appear under the new deal is Amazon Ink set for a June release. Juno Books editor Paula Guran will oversee the line along with Pocket senior editor Jennifer Heddle.

You're probably going, "Yeah. So?" Well, here's the thing: Juno has offered me a contract on an urban fantasy series.

(crickets)

Hello. Is this thing on?

Yes, I have sold an urban fantasy series to Juno/Pocket! The first book is called SHADOWBLADE, and will be released in February 2010. Juno's books are currently shelved in scifi/fantasy, so it looks like I'm changing neighborhoods too!

Cue the Jefferson's theme song!

Living the Dream  

Posted by Seressia

Today I'm over at the ReadersRooms blogging about Living the Dream and what it means to me. I've shared an excerpt from my 1986 essay for the first MLK holiday in Atlanta. I hope you'll stop by!

Say it Sunday: Bette Davis  

Posted by Seressia in ,

I found this quote on my Sparkpeople email, and thought it fitting for writers too:

To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, and to be given a chance to create, are the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy.

- Bette Davis, actress

Whatever you're doing today, I hope it's in support of fulfilling your dream

Working and Writing  

Posted by Seressia in

I know many authors dream of giving up their day job. I do too. But given the poor results of Winter Wonder Write which didn't even produce 1K a day output, I'm wondering if not having to go to work would be a good thing.

But I'm beginning to think that the problem is that I just can't write at home. I hate being domestic. Hate it. In fact, one of the first things I plan to do when I have extra cash is hire someone to come do my laundry, kitchen and floors. Even if it's just laundry, that would be huge! When I find myself doing laundry instead of writing, I know I have an issue, and it's not lack of clean underwear.

This weekend I'm going to try a new (for me) approach. I'm going to go to my neighborhood library, and try to write there. No History Channel marathons to distract me, no games on the travel netbook. Just me, mini-me, and a note pad for 6 hours. My local library also has study rooms--closed off rooms you can have tutoring or study time in. Hopeffully I'll be able to snag one first thing Saturday morning. Hopefully it will go swimmingly. I have two significant projects that have to be done very, very soon, and I need all the help I can get!

Teaser Tuesday: Independence Day  

Posted by Seressia in ,

Here's the first page from my short, Independence Day, which is in the first volume of the Coming Together: At Last anthology. Two anthologies of stories and poetry will be released by Phaze in ebook and print, and proceeds benefit Amnesty International.

coming together cover
coming together cover

EXCERPT

“I told you he wouldn’t come for you.”

Ananda Perez-Smythe refrained from wincing at the pain Jack Nelson’s words caused. Barely. “Kee’s been busy. You know, that whole thing about forging a new republic for his homeworld.”

Nelson’s sandy good looks sneered at her through the holovid. “We do them a solid, help them kick Imperial Earth’s ass, and what thanks do we get? Booted off-planet, without even a word of acknowledgement from their fearless leader.”

It had taken two years for the Taurins to win their independence from the Imperial Earth Alliance, but win they did. After signing the treaty that ordered most non-Taurins off the planet, they’d released the political prisoners, including Taurin Kee, the father of the rebellion. Ananda knew the moment he’d been granted his freedom—it was the exact moment that he’d stopped “sending” to her mind.

“Is that what you did it for, Nels?” she wondered. “So you could be lauded as a hero and have statues erected in your honor? I did it because it was the right thing to do.”

“Tell that lie to everyone else all you want,” he retorted. “We both know you did it because you wanted Kee.”

“I will always consider Taurin Kee a friend, a compatriot,” she said evenly, gripping the holovid display in an effort to keep from shouting. “But make no mistake, Nels—even if Kee hadn’t been there, I would have still fought for the Taurins.”

“Ananda—”

“I lived on the plains with Kee’s tribe for three years. I lived and learned and laughed with the Taurins. It may be stretching it to say they became my family, but they did become my friends. Imperial Earth made a mistake in assuming that because the Taurins preferred to live simply that they were primitive. Don’t make the same mistake by assuming things about me.”

Nels blew out a breath. “I’m sorry, Ananda. I just want you to come back with me. This place isn’t for you.”

Somehow she dragged up a laugh. “If this place isn’t, then which one is? You know I’d be arrested the moment I stepped onto an Imperial ship. As far as Earth is concerned, I’m a traitor. I certainly wouldn’t make it to the Inner Nine or a court martial—they’d immediately execute me by blowing me out the closest airlock.”

“Then forget Earth. Come with me to the Outer Planets. These Taurins obviously don’t care how much you’ve sacrificed for them, they haven’t once tried to repay you or give you a place here, so I say so long and good riddance!”

Ananda stared at the holovid, grateful that she’d never fallen for the pretty surface that hid such an ugly interior. “I think I’ve heard all that I need to hear from you, Nels. I wish you safe journeys.”

New Year, Old Neuroses  

Posted by Seressia

Today is the first day of publishing's New Year. Folks are back at work, ready to do what they do. This means it's once again time to buy the club size pack of antacids as the Great Clock Watching begins.

I have queries out. Some came back with wonderful rejections that let me know the story needs to be worked on a little while longer (the contemporary). One has been sitting at two houses for 7 months and 5 months respectively (the erotic romance one; I don't think I can call it erotic romantic comedy, but it might be close). And the third project is sitting with two agents and an editor. (the urban fantasy)

It's nervewracking. It's like being Sally Fields at the Academy Awards that year: "You like me, you really like me!" in dazed amazement of being chosen. (poor Sally; don't think she'll ever live that down). But we are human; we need validation.

So I have to repeat the mantra: I control what I can control. I have to focus on doing my part to the best of my ability and then trust that the Universe will handle the rest. Otherwise, I'd just be what I was last year: neurotic. And who wants to be so last year?

Writing Op: Authonomy  

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Have you heard about Authonomy?

It's a site created by the editors at Harper Collins (home of Avon, doncha know) . And it's purpose is to find new books and authors.

authonomy invites unpublished and self published authors to post their manuscripts for visitors to read online. Authors create their own personal page on the site to host their project - and must make at least 10,000 words available for the public to read.

Visitors to authonomy can comment on these submissions – and can personally recommend their favourites to the community. authonomy counts the number of recommendations each book receives, and uses it to rank the books on the site. It also spots which visitors consistently recommend the best books – and uses that info to rank the most influential trend spotters.

We hope the authonomy community will guide publishers straight to the freshest writing talent – and will give passionate and thoughtful readers a real chance to influence what’s on our shelves.

By the way, it doesn't cost anything to do this--just your willingness to create an online profile and post 10K words of your novel. Would be a great opportunity to circumvent the slush pile!