I seriously cannot take a break between projects, folks.  I was tempted, but I couldn’t do it.  This cowboy has been poking me for far too long.  I’ve started a new novella.  It’s about a ghost cowboy.  It’s a time-travel.  It’s entitled RIDE THE LIGHTNING.

I told you about it not too long ago.  I have no word count goal.  I just hope I don’t have too much story for a novella.  Sure, I could write a novel, but the dynamics wouldn’t “fit” with a novel, I don’t think.

You see, the heroine can only see the hero during a thunder storm since he’s a ghost, hence the title.  The story has to actually be fast-paced to make any sense, because I can’t have it storming all the dang time.  So their meeting, feelings, and circumstance has to happen pretty fast and desperate for the premise to work.

Leaving the heroine to wait for the next big storm is going to be a boring read, as we all know waiting for a storm can take many weeks, and even then, it’s not guaranteed to be a thunder storm.

Therefore, I can have the story take place over a few days, as it makes sense to have a large storm overhead for a little while, but not month after month.

Anyhow, this little gem might get sent off to Carina Press, the new eBook division of Harlequin.    Yup, Harlequin opened a new publishing house, one that’s under the Harlequin umbrella but not affiliated with the Harlequin imprints we all know and love.  And guess who’s executive editor over there?  Ms. Angela James, the very same wonderous exec. editor who used to be with Samhain Publishing!  We love Angie. 

So far, I’ve written 3265 words on it and it’s coming right along.  As always, you can follow my progress on this one at my FaceBook Fan Page.

So, to keep myself sane with all the submissions I’ve got in the air right now, I’m on another adventure, to Texas, where I’ve gotta save a cowboy from reliving his death over and over and over again…  :’(

~~Becka

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!! 

Yes folks, you read that right, the fourth book of my BEAST series is DONE.  I wrote The End on Wednesday.  Spent Thursday on my read thru and edits/polishes with my crit partner (the lovely and talented Donica Covey), wrote my logline, blurb, and synopsis and shot this bad boy off to the Powers That Be at Champagne Books!

WOW, what a ride, folks.  This book poured out of me.  Took me about seven weeks to write.  I started it on Sept. 24th I believe.  Finished it November 11th.  At first, I didn’t know where I was going.  I knew the general direction and typed out a few hundred words a day.  Once I figured out where that direction was going, I couldn’t stop.

For some writers, 2K to 5K is a normal day’s work.  Maybe even more.  But for me, it’s extraordinary.  I have five kids, one of them an infant.  I homeschool them.  We do chores, run errands, and do what families do.  Sometime in there, I’m supposed to find time to write.  1500 words on any given day is a good writing day for me.  So when I was averaging around 3500-4500 words a day, I knew this book was something special.

My crit partner and I both believe it’s the best of the series.  Of course, don’t all writers say that of the current book they’ve JUST written?    “It’s my favorite!”  For me, I had a soft spot for two of my BEASTie Boys.  Wade and Mac.  I wrote Wade’s book two years ago.  Yup, it’s been awhile.  I knew I had to give Mac an awesome story, since he and Robyn heated the pages of Wade’s book with their own passion.

I believe I’ve given them an AWESOME story.  There’s a lot of raw emotion, tension and action.  I LOVE IT!!

I have no idea about release dates, BUT, I’ll keep you updated when I hear any news.  When I can share the blurb, I’ll post it. 

I’ve just been so engrossed in this one, it’s almost euphoric to finish it!  Of course, this was the last book I promised my fans, so now, I’m free to write whatever I want now!  Yeehaw!

Still haven’t decided what I want to do.  Most likely a cowboy, because my “paranormal” sheikh I want to do a little more world-building before jumping into another dimension with an Arabian/Persian flavor. 

For now, I might just go back and re-read MotB for my own pleasure.    Seriously, I love this book.  If you’re disappointed in it when you read it, it’s a safe bet for me to say you probably weren’t a BEAST fan to begin with!

LOL

~~Becka

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

“Your life is forfeit if you open that door.”

WARNING!!! SPOILERS MAY OCCUR, AND IF NOT OBVIOUS SPOILERS, PERHAPS INFO YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO KNOW…

I rarely buy anything on impulse, especially books.  I either have to be familiar with the author or know what I’m getting into by buying a familiar genre.  This book was promoted on my friend Ciar Cullen’s blog and I loved the cover and the title.  The logline (posted above) also got my attention.  The blurb – even moreso, and with a warning like this:

This gothic contains heady kisses that lead to ruin, passionate sex on a desk chair, a mysterious husband who may be a murderer, a cursed family of raven shifters, and an unspeakable evil hidden in the closet.

Who could resist, right?

So, let’s start out by setting the stage.  For anyone who’s wished for a historical to add in paranormal flavor, this book is for you.  Magic, curses, & shifters abound in this book.  And not only is it a historical paranormal, it’s shifters are the likes of those we’re not “used” to seeing–raven shifters.

The book takes place in 1823 England, and it begins like you might expect, at a ball/party/soiree of a prestigeous wealthy lord.  Of course, this lord has been whispered as murdering his past two wives, but that doesn’t seem to phase Isabel, our heroine.  You see, Lord Hayle is sinfully sexy, and of course, he’s set his eyes on her, eighteen, though not yet debuted into Society.  Her mother has favorited her older sisters, since she looks too much like her father, who has since passed away.  This aspect reminded me of Cinderella.

Not too long after the hero and heroine first meet, however, you know this isn’t your typical Regency.  No, it’s a book with full on raven shifters, an entire family flock of them, and Lord Hayle, of course, is the Alpha.  I enjoyed reading the heirarchy of the group, as the author has obviously done her homework in both historical England as well as ravens and their behavior.

As the book progresses, secrets are revealed, and the fragile love between Hayle, who’s first name is Rukh (pronounced Rook) and Isabel is tested to the breaking point.

I enjoyed the author’s prose.  It was very rich, almost decadent at times.  A joy to read, however, like a velvety chocolate cake, if you eat too much, you might regret it.  At times it seemed as if the author was deliberately drawing out descriptions in an effort to be overly flowery with the prose, and it became tedious at times.  That is not to say I didn’t enjoy it.  I did immensely, and would have contracted this book had I been an editor.  I suppose my complaint doesn’t lie so much in the prose as it does with the pacing.

I felt there were a few scenes which cut away from the action too fast or rambled on and could be cut.  One such example is when Hayle fought with his family over his now-current wife (Isabel).  Like ravens do, they surrounded him, collapsed on him, and intended to teach him a lesson.  Here, the scene cuts.  I fully intended the next scene to be in Hayle’s point of view, a fight scene of sorts, telling his family where to go as Alpha.

Did I get this?  No…the next scene is three months later.  I’m left scratching my head over what really happened during that family “meeting” and began questioning the hero and his power as Alpha.  I understand an Alpha is the leader of the pack, or flock as the case may be, and as such, his word isn’t to be questioned.  Perhaps it is different in ravens, however, this distinction isn’t made clear in the book.

More and more his family pulls away and goes against his wishes in an effort for the author to show they obviously don’t want Hayle to break their curse.  To the point of holding Hayle and Isabel “captive” in his own home.

This to me seemed to go against every Alpha undertone in the hero’s nature.  He’s so overly protective of his heroine, that he shifts and tries to “kill” any man who dare touch her.  He’s loyal to his family and to a point, loyal to the curse, but the constant power plays between him and the other patriarchs in the flock, without a challenge to rise another Alpha, seemed out of place for Hayle’s character.  He was a pawn, an Alpha in name only, nothing more, as no one else in the family wanted to be Alpha. Then, the full extent of the curse would fall on their shoulders.  And yet, Hayle did nothing to quell the disloyalty, nothing to root it out, nothing to demand his dominance.

Perhaps this was to protect his flock by keeping the curse on his shoulders, but it seemed so out of character with a man who was an Alpha male ONLY to his mate.  Perhaps it was out of respect for his elders.  But at some point, you must have loyalty to the Alpha or the flock will only degenerate and choose a new leader, especially when the other family members seem to walk all over him.  In fact, the only one of his family loyal to him was his previous competition for Isabel’s attentions!  While I enjoyed the  competitors turned friends angle (or at least they’re friendly to a point) I wanted Hayle to do something to whip his family in line.

Which is why he was nothing more than a scapegoat for the elders as they didn’t lift a finger to help him, not even in the ending scene.  Because there was no real resolution to this “walking all over the Alpha” dilemma, the book fell flat for me in that regard.

Another pacing problem I had was the end scene with the Big Bad Villain.  I’m very happy to see the author doesn’t pull any punches and doesn’t hand her hero and heroine a happily ever after on a silver platter.  However, I felt it did go on and on a little too long.  We obviously knew what had to be done long before it was actually done, to the point I wanted to yell at my computer screen for them to do it all ready.

At times, I felt the heroine seemed wise beyond her eighteen years.  I remember when I was eighteen, and I’m not so sure I would have been as on-the-ball as this woman was.  Yet the author mentions her mother ignored her and thus she was able to study more with her tudor.  I can let that slide.  At the beginning of the book, she was a wide-eyed innocent, in more ways than one, however, near the middle and end, she seemed more mature.  Perhaps that’s merely a nit-pick.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I read the book in one sitting and prayed I wouldn’t get interrupted.  Like I mentioned before, the prose is decadent, and as a fellow author, I lapped it up.  Looking back, perhaps reading it in one sitting isn’t what one should do with prose such as this.  Perhaps that is why I found it tedious at times.  It needed to be savored rather than gobbled.

This book is filled with so much uniqueness, that I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good gothic romance, a historical romance, or anyone who’s longed for the blending of the two with a paranormal shifter twist.  While I admit, there were times when imagining a giant raven pecking at someone had me giggling at the mental image, the shifter angle was one I’d never seen before and kept my interest, since ravens are indeed such a handsome, sleek bird, after all.

All in all, even with my dings for over-indulgent prose, pacing, and disrespect for the Alpha in Hayle, I give this book a solid four stars from Becka.  I enjoyed every minute of it and will be looking for more of the author’s work in the future.  This storyline was indeed one of a kind, and I’m sure I won’t come across another like it for a long time to come.  Good work, Ms. Drake.  May you have many successes with this book.

And you, dear reader, go and buy this one.  You won’t regret it.

~~Becka
You can buy THE FORBIDDEN CHAMBER from Samhain Publishing here:

http://new.mybookstoreandmore.com/shop/product.da/the-forbidden-chamber

So this past week, my hubby had a pot-luck at his work.  He had the awesome idea of bringing chicken enchiladas.  But he didn’t want to bring them cold and not warm, nor did he want to make them early in the morning and bring them to work hot as they would still be cold by lunch time.  So he needed a way to keep them warm and/or warm them up.

His brilliant idea was an electric skillet.

But the one we had was old and sad.  It was this little 12″x 12″ deal, that looks like it has seen it’s fair share of world wars.  Most of the “non-stick” coating is scratched off, not to mention it just wasn’t big enough for the shindig at DH’s office.  This thing is literally a dinosaur; a gift from DH’s grandparents on the occasion of our wedding nigh 15 years ago.  It was well used, but now, we needed an upgrade.

I got out of the habit of using an electric skillet because my family is so huge and I didn’t have a big one.  My pans were good enough, as I have a jumbo iron skillet I use all the time.  But, we needed the skillet to do the enchiladas, so off to Target I go.

I found a couple in their selection of bigger skillets, one a $30, the other $60.  Seems a no brainer, right?  Quick giant skillet for a one-time pot-luck, right?  Well, I stood there and weighed my options.  The $30 was indeed the size I needed, but there was some assembly required.  The $60 one was already ready already.  It had rubber feet so it wouldn’t slide on the counter.  And it had a lid that is held down with buckles.  AND a pour spout on one of the corners.

Okay, sold!  Here it was, already nearing 8pm, and we still needed to make the enchiladas!  I don’t want to put together the fricken’ skillet with a screwdriver while browning the chicken.  But it was indeed the pour spout that ultimately sold me.  Browning beef?  No prob, merely lock the lid down and drain.  Awesome Sauce.

So I brought it home, we made the enchiladas, put them in the fridge overnight, DH took the entire skillet to work the next day, plugged it in on 300 degrees an hour before the pot-luck and voila! Perfect hot, melty enchiladas.

That night, it was so easy to clean, just wipe out with a sponge, the non-stick coating is so super-sweet.

So last night, I decided to make frozen burgers for the family.  The thing held 6 big ol’ patties from Costco with no problem, enough to feed everyone without having to do a second batch!

I’m thinking I’m in love with this thing.  It’s definitely the best $60 I’ve spent recently, and I cannot stress how happy I am I didn’t get the less expensive skillet.  With the lovely coating, the lid, the spout and the sheer size of it, this bad boy is now going to be a staple of my kitchen for many years to come.

I love it when you buy something you thought you didn’t really need and it turns into something you can no longer live without. 

Five stars from Becka, for the $60 (Okay, $59.99) 16″ electric skillet by Hamilton Beach.  Well done, guys!

http://www.hamiltonbeach.com/skillets-premiere-cookware-electric-skillet.html

~~Becka

My friend Kathy was unable to send me a guest blog during my birthday bash earlier this month, so she sent it to me a little late. Not wanting to keep her out of the loop, here is her guest blog. Thanks Kathy!

~*~*~

Halloween is near, time for everything scary and spooky. I’ve never been one to enjoy being intentionally terrified. I would walk through the haunted houses with my eyes closed (most of the time), and never watch horror flicks. The only “scary” shows I ever watch were Poltergeist (all 3) and movies from Alfred Hitchcock and M. Night Shyamalan.

One movie certain to put me in the Halloween mood, besides “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” is “The Lady in White”. Set at Halloween 1962, a young boy witnesses a murder – a murder that had happened years earlier. With ghosts, murder and suspense, I consider it a perfect Halloween thriller.

With every holiday, I enjoy revisiting romances with those themes. Here are some of my favorites for Halloween:

Vampires – Maggie Shayne’s Wings in the Night and Susan Sizemore’s Primes
Ghosts – Shadow’s Kiss by Joan Hohl
The Invisible Man – Splendor by Catherine Mann
Spooky – Kay Hooper’s Bishop series (can’t remember which, but one really freaked me out)
Spy – Dangerous Love by Anne Stuart
Haunted House – Erin McCarthy’s Ohio’s Most Haunted series
Hockey Mask –Deirdre Martin’s NY Blades series (Hey – they’re much hotter than Jason!)
Superheroes – Julie Kenner’s Protector Series

And I would be totally remiss without including:
Dragons – Rebecca Goings’ The Legends of Mynos series

Hope this list gives you some titles to add to your TBR!

Kathy
www.KathysReviewCorner.com

It’s a roller coaster, I tell ya.  Just got word yesterday from the agent I sent RENEGADE to…  She rejected it.  :’(  But that’s okay.  Now that I know she doesn’t want it, I’ve moved on to Plan B.  Don’t allow yourself to wallow in your own self-pity too long or you’ll never find the courage to resubmit somewhere else.

Therefore, I sent off my emailed query, synopsis, and first three chapters to Harlequin Historicals.  They are a part of Mills & Boon in London, and they allow emailed queries.  I sent it end of the day Friday, which means it was middle of the night London time.  I haven’t gotten a reply that they’ve received it yet, which is a little worrying.  Every other time I’ve queried anyone via email, I’ve gotten an automated reply that they received it.

Perhaps the London office doesn’t have an automated reply.  Perhaps someone emails you directly, and since it’s the weekend, no one is in the office.  But that seems strange to me.  If I don’t get a confirmation email in a few days, I’ll probably email again and ask if they received it.  Their website says you get a confirmation email, so I don’t want to be sitting and waiting for weeks on a submission they never got.

Anyhow, I chose HQ for a few reasons.  Number one, the story was the perfect length for the line.  Number two, I’ve always thought my writing fits there.  Number three, I really enjoy reading their books, almost moreso than Avon, Pocket, or Kensington.  And since you don’t need an agent to query…  Well, what could it hurt?

I still haven’t heard back from them regarding THE FALL OF JERICHO for their short eBook “Undone” line (which I got a confirmation email for when I sent that on).  Hoping that’s a good sign.  They give themselves 12 to 18 weeks to get back to someone on a submission, and my 12th week will be Oct. 22nd.  I’m hoping to hear from them between the end of Oct. and the end of Nov.

Ultimately, I’m hoping they love JERICHO, offer for it, and perhaps take a closer look at RENEGADE.  Of course I’m counting my chickens, but I’ve always been a dreamer, so keeping that daydream going is what keeps me going.  LOL

Of course if HQ passes on RENEGADE and/or JERICHO, then Plan C is to send them both to Samhain.  If *they* pass, I’ll send them to Champagne Books.

I’m at that point in my writing career where my friends and fans say I’m Totally Awesome!! but the agents and editors think otherwise.  Therefore, I’m trying so hard not to get a big head over good reviews and compliments and excitement over other books that are coming out.  So, if these books are rejected by HQ, it’s not the end of the road for me.  I won’t cry in my beer (for too long lol).

Anyway, I wanted to give you an update on my books.  If HQ takes the long road on RENEGADE, then I won’t hear anything about that book until around Feb. 19th!  :-O  Long time to wait, but worth it if they decide they like it.

Sure, HQ’s books are only around for a few short weeks, like a shooting star rather than a slow burn of other publishers who keep the books on the shelves forever, but it’s where I believe I fit.  There’s a few well-known ladies who write westerns over there.  I want Rebecca Goings to be one of them. 

Keep your fingers crossed, say some lucky chickens, and pray they think I’m Totally Awesome!

~~Becka

Hey guys, I announced this on my author loop, but I didn’t post it on my website.  DUH!  LOL  Cobblestone Press recently bought my erotic short story HEAVEN SENT for their 12 Days of Christmas line!  I don’t know the exact date, but I do know it will be out in December (I’m such a genius! lol)

Here’s the short blurb for those interested:

When God gives you an angel, you don’t turn your back.

For years, Pryce Daniels has mourned his wife’s passing.  He’s lived alone in the Montana wilderness, yearning to feel the warmth of a woman once more.  This Christmas, God has heard his cry.

A consuming passion overtakes them, but Pryce’s doubt threatens their delicate bond.  Before he can accept his gift, he must let the memory of his wife go.  But his hesitation might cost his angel her life.

YAY!!! 

~~Becka

(FYI, for those who’ve read my old skool Inspies back in the day… Yeah.  This one isn’t an Inpsie.  Although it does mention God and His angels.  Who knows, maybe it is inspirational after all.  I’m hoping I’ve meshed the erotic and the Inspie romance together in this one.  Fascinating pairing, don’t you think? )

It’s funny what you start out as and what you end up becoming.  Many of you might not know or remember, but I started out as an Inspirational author.  I wanted to write for Heartsong and Steeple Hill.  But I got rejected by both and picked up by the now defunct By Grace Publishing.

After a time, I tried my hand at mainstream romances.  Found not only was that more lucrative, but it was more fun (for me, anyway.)  I enjoyed writing sexual tension and the full culmination of a romance.

Lemme tell ya, that confused more than one reviewer.  Heheh

So I decided to write mainstream full time and drop the Inspies all together.  Now, all my Inspies are out of print since By Grace Publishing went under.  They’ll probably stay tucked away and those of you “lucky” enough to read them can say, “I remember when…”

Then came the Harlequin Desire.  I read them by the truckload.  Thought hey, I can write one of those!  Tried my hand, but ultimately got rejected.  Plot line wasn’t what they were looking for.  But after I wrote a few contemporaries, I realized that is not my genre of choice.  Becoming a Desire author might not be where I want to go.

But paranormals are great!  Fantasies can be fun too.  And Westerns are a rootin’ tootin’ good time!  I actually decided awhile ago my historical novels would be Westerns.  Why?  Well, I enjoy Regency/Victorian England as much as the next author/reader.  But, I believe enough authors are covering the genre.  And aside from a random pirate novel that might be fun, maybe even a Medieval, my desire to write in historical England isn’t that great.  Besides, when’s the last time you went to the romance section and saw Westerns all over the place?

You don’t, really.  I want to change that.  I want to help my friends, like Beth Williamson, and other authors, like Cheryl St. John and Kate Bridges bring them back.  They’re my favorite genre to read AND write.

I was talking to another author friend of mine about how much more prolific eAuthors are than print authors.  Sure, we get a lot  more in royalties, but our audience is a niche.  We have to write many more books to “pay the bills” than a big-timey successful NY author might.  Writing one book a year would be stifling to my muse!  LOL

Therefore, while I’m looking for bigger and better pastures to publish in, I am in no way turning my back on the small ePresses.  I know I’m very prolific.  I don’t think any agent or big name publisher I get is going to want to release a story by me every couple of months, assuming I don’t have a multi-book deal (hey, one can always dream!)  Anyhow, there’s just some stories I have that might not jive with more traditional publishers.

But you never know, right?  My plans for today might not be my plans for tomorrow.  If I’m picked up by an agent or a well-known publisher, obviously my writing will gravitate toward that, writing more books for them, perhaps pitching a series, etc.  You never know.  If I’m not, then I’ll continue to do what I’m doing.

But like I said before, sometimes where you plan to go isn’t always where you end up.  We’ll see which way I go at the end of the day. 

~~Becka