Yup, more news, although not as fabulous as the previous news.  Or perhaps it is…

So, I’ve decided to send BLACK ANGEL to Champagne Books.  I sat on it for awhile, debating whether or not to send it to Cobblestone or Champagne.  I decided Champagne in the long run, simply because I like the story as is and don’t want to add in the erotic jargon that Cobblestone now requires.  I’m not a prude, as a couple of my books can attest to, however, when I write a story, I write it with a certain mindset, and BLACK ANGEL wasn’t “meant” to have the jargon.  Sure, it’s easy enough to add it in, but in so doing, I felt it wouldn’t be the same story I set out to write.  If and when I write any jargon, it must be from the get-go, a plan, rather than throwing them in after the fact just to sell a book.

So, fact #1 about Becka – I don’t sell out.  Or at least, I ride the fence hemming and hawing until finally deciding not to sell out.  LOL

Second bit of news my friends are gonna love – I’ve finished IT’S NOT LUCK!, my child-rearing guide.  All told, it’s only 84 pages long.  A handbook, really.  I’ve submitted it to Champagne Books as well, as they’re currently the only publisher I have that publishes non-fiction.  I also figured with such a slim volume, any New York based publisher would laugh their butts off if I submitted it there.

Why is it so skinny?  Because doing the right thing with regards to raising kids is very simple if you adhere to my advice in the book.  I don’t need to go on and on (and on) about how parents need to do XYZ.  Most of it is common sense we’ve somehow lost along the way and the rest tells you how to go about gaining back the upper hand in your household.  There are funny stories from my own experiences, advice, and pearls of wisdom. 

Now, neither story has been accepted yet, as I’ve just submitted them both today, but I’ll let you know when I hear word on either of them.  I’ve also sent the agent at the Bradford Literary Agency my partial manuscript on RENEGADE.  Yay!

Now, every single promised project is out of the way  – every single project but ONE.

What is that ONE?

Should I tell you?

Or should I keep you guessing?

This project is one I’ve been hounded about for two years.

This project is one that I get the most questions about in fan mail.

This project is going to totally switch gears for me, pulling my head out of the Old West and into the wild, wild world of shifters.

That’s right, folks.  MARK OF THE B*E*A*S*T*, my BEAST series book #4!!  Remember Mac and Robyn?  You know that you do.  Because all y’all have read my B*E*A*S*T* series, right?  And if not, GOREADTHEMRIGHTNOWDAMMIT!!! lol

For the noobs:

Book 1: THE B*E*A*S*T WITHIN

Book 2: B*E*A*S*T* OF BURDEN

Book 3: NATURE OF THE B*E*A*S*T*

Book 4: MARK OF THE B*E*A*S*T* (project forthcoming)

Now you know the title, now you know I’m working on it, now you know 2010 is the year BEAST roars back. (Assuming I can write the book fast enough to get it in the publisher’s 2010 roster. lol I’ll try my best!)  Will there be more books in my shifter universe?  Hard to say.  If I continue having good plots, I’ll continue to write the books.  But I’m not going to continue beating a dead horse if the storyline happens to end.  Therefore, I have no idea if there will be a BEAST #5 at this point.  One book at a time, eh?  The original series was meant to be a trilogy.  Well, now, it’ll be a quadrilogy (is that a word?)

I will be breaking ground on BEAST #4 tomorrow.  If you want to follow me on my progress, you can follow my updates on my Facebook fan page, as I won’t be updating my blog as often as I update my status.

Woohoo!  Are y’all excited as I am?  Good thing I re-read my own trilogy because dang, I’d forgotten some things… 

Let’s hope I don’t make that mistake in the book and get roasted for it by the fans, right?

It was a GREEN Hummer, Becka, GOSH!  lol

~~Becka