Sitting here in the silence of my living room with my laptop actually ON my lap, a cozy blankie on my legs and my backside planted on a comfy couch, I came to realize I’ve been a busy bee this year.

Not too long ago, I’d lost my groove.  Not too long ago, I’d gone through a LONG drought, a drought so long I wondered if I had any new stories within me to write at all.  I won’t regale you with boring, rehashed stories, as I’ve already blogged about that.

But I realized I’ve written seven books this year.  SEVEN.

That’s a lot!

KINDRED – Finished it.  Hey, that counts, man!

THE FALL OF JERICHO - Still pending publication at Harlequin

RENEGADE – Still pending publication at Harlequin

HEAVEN SENT – Bought by Cobblestone – got my cover (YAY!) but can’t share it yet until it’s approved (BOO!) lol

IT’S NOT LUCK! The Instruction Manual for Raising Kids – Still pending publication at Champagne

BLACK ANGEL – still pending publication at Champagne

MARK OF THE B*E*A*S*T* – Almost finished! 2K away from 2/3rds of the way through.  WILL be at Champagne

Wow.  It’s like…once I sat down just to see what I could plunk out, my muse hasn’t shut up!  I have another cowboy poking me after my fourth BEAST book, as well as an otherworldly sheikh idea that’s been plaguing me for ages.

Cowboy Idea:

Woman in present day inherits a run-down ranch that has some history.  A cowboy back in the 1800’s was killed on the property for a crime long believed he didn’t commit.

Woman sees a mysterious cowboy on the range whenever thunder and lightning flash.  She meets the man, only to discover he’s a ghost, who only appears during a storm.

His soul isn’t at rest, for he’s the very same cowboy the legend is about!  Through the power of the storm, she’s somehow transported back in time, when he was alive, and it’s up to her to stop his unjust murder.

Sheikh idea:

Okay, admittedly, this one is “otherworldly” because I want to write my sheikh like I want to write him, without restrictions of history and real life.  I want it to be magical, not just the setting, but actual magic, with flying carpets and potions and scrying and the like.  Therefore, this book is going to be a mixture of Arabia meets Persia, of a desert prince, fluent in magic, who’s leading a caravan that trades with other caravans and cities, a man who’s quite rich and about to marry.

Unfortunately for him, his path is about to cross with a fair-skinned blonde beauty with lavender eyes, a novelty he’s never seen before.  As he protects her under the harsh desert sun, she begins to trust him, and tells him she’s not from his world.  She tells strange stories and he humors her, because he enjoys being in her company.

She’s never known a man like him, and soon, she’s swept up in his arms, making love to him near a desert oasis paradise, yet his intended finds out his affections has now changed.  She arranges for the blonde woman to be sold – at a hefty price – to another caravan prince, one who’s known for mistreating and killing his slaves.

Can the handsome prince save his golden-haired beauty?

Both are rough ideas, but they’ve both been poke-poke-poking me to get them done as well.  When I decide on the cowboy, the desert prince whispers in my ear.  When I think on the sheikh, my cowboy bares his chest.  LOL  What do I do?!? 

Anyhow, that’s what I’ve been up to lately.  As always, when I can share my cover for HEAVEN SENT I’ll post it here.  When I find out any word from Harlequin or Champagne Books, I’ll let you know too.  And I’ll definitely let you know when I’m done with BEAST #4.  I’m trying to get it out the door by the end of November for NaNoWriMo.  I didn’t sign up, but it’s still a good goal to have, right? 

~~Becka