So not too long ago, I just finished edits on MARK OF THE B*E*A*S*T* and BLACK ANGEL.  Recently, I just finished first round edits on THE FALL OF JERICHO and first and second round edits on THE VIPER PRINCE.  And very soon, this week or next, I’ll be getting second round edits on JERICHO.  Exciting!  But man, I’ve been editing just as much as I’ve been writing it seems…

But, I’m NOT complaining.  Nope.  Writing is what I love to do.  And now, all that writing I did last year and this year is catching up to me!  lol

I should also be getting my cover soon for VIPER, since it’s releasing on August 4th.  I can’t wait!  My cover for JERICHO should be forthcoming as well, although I won’t have a release date for that one until all edits are done and the cover is finished.

I’m still waiting to hear word on RENEGADE and THE SCARAB PRINCE.  I’m not too worried about TSP because it’s the second in the series of my Desert Princes.  It stands to reason if my publisher LOVED TVP, they’ll LOVE TSP (counts chickens).

It’s RENEGADE I’m most worried about.  It’s been in the submission pile at Samhain Publishing for nine weeks, so I’m hoping to hear something soon.  As we know from my three recent rejections from them (BLACK ANGEL, RIDE THE LIGHTNING, & THE FALL OF JERICHO), you’re not “guaranteed” a sale just because you’re an in-house author.

As for books I’m currently writing, THE FALCON PRINCE (book III) is now going strong at 183 pages.  I have about 100 pages left to write.  This one has been fun to write.  You can find out why on my Desert Princes blog: http://desertprinces.blogspot.com.  Needless to say, I hope I’m not ready to turn it in before I hear word on SCARAB!  hehe  THE SPIDER PRINCE is the last one left in this series for me to write and I can’t wait.  The Spider has some Baggage with a capital “B”.  His love story will definitely be interesting and fun to write.

Been thinking about what to write after my Desert Princes.  I might jump into another western about Shirley Bloom, Lissa’s sister from IN YOUR ARMS.  IYA has been enjoying a new surge in popularity recently (my pub forgot to put it in our store on Omnilit.com so all those readers thought it was a new release once she posted it LOL).  Anyway, that would be a fun one to write, in the vein of “Taming of the Shrew”.

I do have a few other westerns I’ve been toying with writing, a series, and a couple of other stand-alone books.

Needless to say, I’ll be wide open after these desert books!

~~Becka

Hop on over to my BEAST blog for details on how to win a signed copy of THE B*E*A*S*T* WITHIN!

http://beastseries.blogspot.com/2010/06/exclusive-contest-to-win-signed-book.html

~~Becka

My older western, ONCE A DREAMER, is now in print!  If you’ve been reading the Orphan Train series from Champagne Books and have been waiting for this one to go to print, now’s your chance to get it.  Even if you haven’t been reading this series, ONCE A DREAMER can stand on its own.

This book is a great one, and even if you don’t buy the print, I encourage you to buy the eBook.  It’s full of emotion, and I did a lot of research on Doc Holliday.  He’s a great secondary character in this one.  Hey, you can’t have a book set in Dodge City circa 1878 and not have a cameo, right? 

Once A Dreamer

What’s an heiress to do when she falls for a con man?

When her adoptive mother dies in a bank shootout, orphan Karina Vadislav is sent to live with Patrick Baker, her uncle in Dodge City, Kansas. After years of abuse, she flees, meeting Benjamin Sawyer, a gambler with a sordid past.  He agrees to help her claim her inheritance in Topeka, posing as her husband to keep her safe.

But there are men who are out for Ben’s blood and will stop at nothing to see him dead.  Coupled with Karina’s bloodthirsty uncle, neither of them is safe on the trail.

When bullets fly and truths are revealed, will Ben and Karina’s fragile love survive the ultimate betrayal?

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-onceadreamer-12612-158.html – Buy the eBook

http://champagne.vstore.ca/product_info.php/pName/once-a-dreamer – Buy the Print

Woohoo!

If you haven’t been keeping up with my BEAST blog, you’re missing out!  There’s some great content up already.  I’ll be updating that one every 3 to 5 days until MARK OF THE B*E*A*S*T*‘s release.  This blog has exclusive content, stuff that’s not in the books.  I’ll also be holding contests and sharing excerpts you won’t find anywhere else.  Come on over and have some fun!

http://beastseries.blogspot.com

As if you didn’t have enough blogs to follow, I’ve opened another one for my Desert Princes of Jikkar series with Carnal Passions.  Why?  Well, like my Legends of Mynos blog (which I never post to anymore but is still up and has GREAT info on the world of Lyndaria – http://legendsofmynos.blogspot.com/), I want to introduce my readers to my new world — Jikkar.  It’s an awesome, exotic place with smokin’ hot princes.  It’s still a work in progress, but if you want to check back and learn more about this series and this world (without me bogging down this blog with all that shizz), pop on over to:

http://desertprinces.blogspot.com

On top of all THAT, I was quoted recently, with regards to eBook pirates in a new article on the Sacremento Book Review website!  I stumbled upon the columnist on Linked In, and she asked her colleagues if they’d like to give her feedback on pirates.  I don’t usually pass up a great chance for promo and getting the word out, so I responded, and she chose my quote.  Awesome!  To read that article, click here:

http://sacramentobookreview.com/viewpoints-weekly-columns/20511/

Okay, now, here’s a question for YOU guys.  My publisher, Champagne Books, and I are organizing a “blog tour” in August for the September release of MARK OF THE B*E*A*S*T*.  So far, we have some great stops, and I’ll be sure to let you guys know the links when they go live if you want to read them.  I’m planning on doing different content for each blog.  Time consuming, but better than reading the same boring crap, right?

So my question for YOU is, do you have a blog with readers who are looking for new books to read?  If so, contact me either in the comments or email:  rebeccagoings@gmail.com and perhaps we can set up a stop on your blog.

I’m almost to page 100 on THE FALCON PRINCE.  Right on!  Still employing my “write something every day” policy, and it seems to be paying off.  I’ve plotted the book, now I just need to write it!  But more info on that will be available on my Desert Princes blog in the days/weeks to come. 

Take care, guys!

~~Becka

COME SEE THE NEW COVER FOR MARK OF THE B*E*A*S*T*!!!

Unveiled exclusively on my BEAST blog!

http://beastseries.blogspot.com

~~Becka

Today, I’ve had the pleasure to interview the hero of my good friend, Donica Covey‘s new release, CRY WOLF.  I’ve read this book, and it’s awesome!  I encourage you to pick up a copy.  For now, let’s read what Remy has to say!

Hello, Remy, it’s nice to interview you today.  Can you tell us your full name, the title of your book and where we can find it? Howdy Becka, how’s it going? The names Remington Alderich. My Pop was a crackshot, a real pistol and named me after his favorite gun maker. *chuckles* Pop’s a pistol–guess that makes me a son of a gun? The book is called Cry Wolf and it’s from Samhain Publishing. The book came out this past Tuesday. Readers can check us out there.

Tell us about Angela Martin.  Why did you leave her fifteen years ago? I didnt leave her. She shut me down. She had the chance to leave with me after our illustrious Alpha refused to allow us to join and she turned me down.

Then why are you back? I’m a masochist? My Angela is in trouble. I  can’t explain how I know, but I do know it. I got a call letting me know she disappeared from pack land and I have to know she’s all right.

Sounds like you still love her. The hell you say! I’m only going back because…because I’m a freakin’ masochist…

I’ve heard you have some kind of psychic bond with her.  Can you tell us about that?  Do all Lycans have this bond? I dont know what it is. I mean there are legends of special couples that have a fabled psychic link…never knew it to really exist, but somehow we can sense each other’s thoughts and feelings.

Can you hear her thoughts?  Does she love you still? Yes I can hear her thoughts…I guess I’m a delusional masochist because I think she does love me.

Tell us what it’s been like for you to be reunited with her after all these years. Fabulous. I missed her deeply. Now I’ve got her  back in my arms, I’ll do whatever it takes, and I mean whatever, it takes to keep her here.

What if she wants you to leave again?  Are you going to walk away this time? *He growls in the back of his throat. “Next question.”

Sounds like a great book, Remy.  Anything more you’d like to add? No, thanks for letting me chat today.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, and I apologize if I’ve angered you.  Go claim your woman once and for all. *Remy chuckles and smirks then pivots on his heel and strolls away.

Many thanks to Remy for stopping by!  For more information on his book, here you go.

This second chance at love could get them both killed.

Fifteen years ago, denied the only woman he ever wanted as a mate, Remington Aldrich packed his few belongings and left home without a backward glance. Now the pack leader who ripped his world apart is on the other end of the phone, asking for his help.

Angela Martin, Remy’s first love, is missing and the trail has gone cold. She may have refused to defy the alpha and run away with him all those years ago, but Remy can’t stop himself from coming to her rescue.

Abducted by two men—one for his ghastly scientific experiments, and the other for his driving need for revenge against all Lycans—Angela despairs that no one will find her. Then she senses Remy nearby.

Together again and on the run from a killer bent on hunting them down, Remy vows to never again let Angela out of his arms. But first they have to survive—and fight against history’s tendency to repeat itself…

Warning: Hot shape shifters, mad scientists and vengeful hunters, and steamy alpha marking his mate may induce a massive adrenaline rush.

EXCERPT: http://samhainpublishing.com/excerpt/cry-wolf

BUY:  http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/cry-wolf-p-5867.html

~~Becka

#1 – I started THE FALCON PRINCE today! No joke, this book is already on page 15, 2588 words long.  Did good for not knowing just where I’m going with this one.  I’ve brainstormed it, but Falcon is the haziest of all my princes, meaning, he’s the one I don’t have a firm grasp on.  HEY YOU!  No snickering.  O.o  o.O  Going to keep on keeping on with my “write something every day” policy, even if it’s only 100 words.  At least it’s forward and not stagnant.  I finished THE SCARAB PRINCE in 32 days doing that, with no clear goal of how many words I “must” get done, just ass in chair, fingers on keyboard.  (SCARAB has been submitted, no news yet, I’ll keep you posted.)

#2 – I have re-opened my official B*E*A*S*T* blog!  Since MARK OF THE B*E*A*S*T* is coming out in a little less than THREE months (squee!!), I’m going to continue with the content on that site.  What will you see there?  Well, some exclusive blurbs I won’t put up elsewhere, cool contests and prizes not held anywhere else, perhaps interviews with my characters, and “in character” replies to messages, just overall fun stuff I won’t be posting HERE, that will tide everyone over until The Big Day, September 7th, 2010!!!

So bookmark that blog and visit it often.  I’m going to try and get new content up every few days from now until the book’s launch, so tell your friends and come have some fun!  We’ll RAWK the joint until BEAST roars back!

http://beastseries.blogspot.com

~~Becka

The second book of my Desert Princes of Jikkar series, THE SCARAB PRINCE, is finished!  I finished this one today, just had one more scene left, after writing an average of 1720 words a day for 32 days.  It was actually 34 days since I began this book, but I didn’t write two of those days.

I am in love with the Scarab.  And if the author is, I think my readers will be too.  I just wrote the blurb and synopsis, and turned this in to the Powers That Be at Carnal Passions.

And check it out, I’m in the news section for my sale of THE VIPER PRINCE!  AND I’m in the authors section!  Woohoo!

I have a coming soon page for Viper, if you want to see it, where I show off my logline and blurb.  It’s pretty sweet.  ;P

Now, it’s onward to my sequel bait, THE FALCON PRINCE!  As long as the muse is a-flowin’, I’ll be handing these books in like a fiend.  I want to hurry up and get through Falcon’s book so I can get to Spider’s.  I reallyreallyreally want to write the Spider Prince’s book.  You’ll just have to read ‘em to find out why! 

~~Becka

Got a phone call from my doctor’s office today to tell me the date of my arthroscopy.  I’ll be going in for surgery on July 16th.  Bonus: it’s at my local hospital, just about a mile away from my house!  However, I’ll be going under general anethesia, so DH will have to take the day off work to drive me too/from the surgery as well as watch our kids.

I’m a little excited and apprehensive about it.  I want this to work, I really want to be better.  There are days when my wrist doesn’t hurt much.  I’ll think, hmm… should I be getting this surgery?  And other days when my wrist is on FIRE and I can’t do things with it and think, yup, I am NOT canceling.

Today, I was eating some pistachios.  OUCH.  You cannot believe how much it friggin’ hurts to friggin’ crack open a friggin’ pistachio!!  I had to stop after a few of them.  My wrist doesn’t really hurt bending up and down.  It’s the side to side that hurts.  And opening my hand wide, like if I was to do a huge chord while playing piano, that hurts like a beeyotch too.  Holding heavy things, like a pile of plates from the dishwasher, that’s ouchy.  Transferring laundry from the washer to the dryer (I have front loaders) yeah, that hurts too.  Driving.  Tying my shoes.  Putting in a pony tail.  I’m just thankful it’s not in my dominant hand.

I’ve known people this surgery has done miracles for.  And others who wish they’d never gotten it done.  One woman found me on Facebook and told me she was convinced she’d need pins in her wrist too, but come to find out, she just needed the debridement and now, she’s a million percent better.  I hope my story is the same.

Doc says I’ll only need the brace for maybe 3 to 4 days after the surgery, then get back to my normal activities.  Well… I don’t believe THAT. You were just poking and prodding inside my wrist with cutting tools, a small camera with a light, and fluids, don’t tell me it will only hurt for a “couple of days”.  LOL  *I* thought I’d need a cast.  Perhaps instead of dwelling on the brace I’ll “only” wear for a few days, I should be thankful I don’t have to be in a cast for 6 weeks!!

That is, assuming they don’t need to do anything else while they’re in there.  Guess I’ll know after I wake up from general.  Five weeks and four days until the Big Day.

~~Becka

I SOLD THE VIPER PRINCE!!!

Yes, that’s right, folks, Carnal Passions, the erotic imprint of Champagne Books, has bought THE VIPER PRINCE, and is excited for the entire series of the Desert Princes of Jikkar.

So excited, that we’re shooting for an August ’10 release date.  Can you believe that?!?

I told them I was almost finished with THE SCARAB PRINCE and they are ecstatic.  And that makes ME ecstatic!  I’m so jazzed!  I really, truly believe this series will be a hit, and I’m not just saying that because it’s mine.  I can’t possibly be the only person on the planet who wants to read about a desert prince.  And with the speed at which these books are writing themselves, I really want to release them close to each other, rather than making you wait THREE YEARS between books, like some other successful series of mine.

**cough**BEAST**cough**

Heheheh….

YAY!  Today is a kickass day. 

~~Becka

After a long and harrowing adventure a year in the making, THE FALL OF JERICHO has finally found a home.  I am delighted to announce this book has been bought by Cobblestone Press!

I wrote this story originally for the Harlequin Historicals Undone line, and after six LONG months, they R’d it.  Then, Carina and Samhain R’d it too.  :’(  Hmm.  It’s really not a horrible book, I promise you!  I was told a six month wait time is a long time for HQ Undone to get back to you so I was on pins and needles.  But with their rejection, they sent me a nice letter of plot points that didn’t work for them, another “rarity” supposedly with these short stories.

So close and yet so far!  **sobs into beer**

But being the intrepid eBook author I am, I spiced it up some and handed it to Cobblestone with shaking hands.  It had been R’d three times.  Gack, by the fourth time, you’re ready to throw it in the trash and start over, you know?  Thoughts of “Hmm… Maybe I should offer this as a free read since no one wants to publish this dreck?”

BUT, there wasn’t a fourth rejection.  Cobblestone really enjoyed the story, and I must say, I’m very happy/joyous/relieved they did.  Why?  Well, I finished JERICHO in June of ’09.  Here it is, one year later, and the ink isn’t even dry on my contract.  I suppose I’m spoiled by the fast pace of ePublishing, as one year to get a contract is quite the long haul for us eAuthors.  But I’m also relieved because this story proves that A.) not every house will love every story  B.) Even if you’ve been around the block, you’re never guaranteed a sale and C.) THE FALL OF JERICHO isn’t dreck!  YAY!

So to that end, I will leave you all with my blurb.  I’m hoping to see this story published in the coming months.

Author hopefuls, may this be a lesson to you.  Never give up, never surrender!  Your Plan D might just be the ticket. 

~*~*~

The walls around his heart come crashing down…

Mercy Ainsworth never stopped loving Jericho James after he’d left town. She’d once pledged her virtue to him after a stolen kiss. Now that he’s returned, one look is all it takes to convince her he’s still the reason the sun rises and sets.

After the death of his sister, Jericho became a hardened bounty hunter. When he travels back home, danger follows him, and the girl he once loved is now a woman who desperately needs his help.

Sparks fly as old embers are fanned into roaring flames, but will love alone keep Jericho by Mercy’s side?

~*~*~

Yup, another Western.  Expect anything less??  \:D/

~~Becka