I’m pleased to announce Cobblestone Press has bought my time travel ghost cowboy story RIDE THE LIGHTNING!!    It’s still too soon for release dates, but the contract has been signed and cover art is percolating.  Once it’s edited, then they’ll give me a date to give you as to when you can expect it.  Until then, here’s my Coming Soon RIDE THE LIGHTNING page!  Yeehaw!!

http://www.rebeccagoings.com/westerns/ride-the-lightning/

(THIS POST HAS BEEN STICKIED. SCROLL FOR NEWER POSTS!)

Those of you who’ve been waiting to read my dragon-shifter fantasy, KINDRED, wait no longer!  It’s available for purchase now at Champagne Books!

http://www.champagnebooks.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_5&products_id=369

http://www.rebeccagoings.com/fantasy/kindred/

WOOHOO!!

~~Becka

So, I read through RIDE THE LIGHTNING and fixed the ending (didn’t like the climax, so I changed it) and sent it back out for submission at Cobblestone Press.

Here’s hoping they like it!  Bonus if they buy it – I know it’ll have a kick-ass cover.    Third time’s a charm?  We shall see.

~~Becka

RIDE THE LIGHTNING has been rejected at Samhain Publishing.  Currently, it’s 0-2.  Kind of a bummer, I thought the premise was very intriguing. This one is my time-travel ghost cowboy.  I’m going to do a read through to see what it’s lacking.  Going to need a Plan C.  Thinking I might send this one to Cobblestone next.

Hmm.  Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

BUT I’M NOT GIVING UP!

~~Becka

In the writing world, I decided to send my full western novel, RENEGADE, to Carina Press.  What can I say, they called for historical manuscripts on their blog, and one of their editors wanted to find that one author who could “single-handedly bring back the western”.  Naturally, I had to submit. 

Since I’m obsessed with reading and writing westerns these days, I figured it would be stupid of me to ignore that call.  Being one of the premier western authors for Carina would kick ass.  Of course, if they don’t like the book, I’ll send it to Samhain.  I’m thinking even if they reject it, Samhain is an excellent publisher I would be proud to publish this book.

I still haven’t heard back on either of my submissions.  I’m still waiting for word on THE FALL OF JERICHO from Carina and RIDE THE LIGHTNING from Samhain.

On a personal note, I’m feeling a bit down in the tooth lately.  My wrist problems are really worrying me, mostly because this stupid injury keeps getting worse it seems.  I feel like I can’t see that darned hand surgeon soon enough.  What really pisses me off is the fact I didn’t do anything to facilitate it.  I didn’t fall, wasn’t playing sports, didn’t torque anything heavy.  I’m beginning to think I actually tore my TFCC 22 years ago when I broke my wrist as a kid, and all these years later, some random “straw” broke the camel’s proverbial “back”.  For the life of me, I can’t remember my pain levels in the days after I got my cast off as a kid.  I DO remember the hellish pain of tweaking my wrist so they could take the necessary x-rays.  I remember the pain of having to stretch my thumb so it sat a special way in the cast.  I remember the bastard doctor forcing my wrist to bend 90 degrees up and down mere minutes after my cast came off.

I’m freaking out a bit, because I know I’ll need some kind of surgery to solve this problem.  Regardless if I need something minor or major, the fact remains something needs to be done.  I can’t just live like this.  Not with the evolving pain.

Good news is, my elbow is much better, and just feels like a pulled muscle in my upper and lower arm now.  I can fully extend it without a problem.  Wrist though, is still stiff and sore.  Probably because I’m still mostly wearing the brace.  I take it off many times a day to flex a bit, just to get my range of motion back somewhat, but I can’t be without it for long.

What does this mean for my writing?

Good question.  Well, I obviously cannot write for long stretches like I used to.  I can write in short bursts.  Maybe I’ll concentrate on some short stories.  Or perhaps I’ll just take a tad longer to write a full one.  I do know I can edit, add, delete stuff to existing stories without a problem.

Maybe Someone Upstairs knew this injury was coming and that’s why I was inspired to write eight stories last year.

This sucks.  If I can get well within a few months, I’ve still got the rest of the year, right?  RIGHT?!?

SIGH.

~~Becka

This one comes from Harlequin Historicals for my full Western novel, RENEGADE.  I was expecting this rejection actually.  I not only found a similar book plot already published with them, but I knew it wasn’t long enough.  Used to be a book’s word count would be calculated at 250 words per page, even if there were only a few words on the page.  Now, however, its simply actual computer count, just like at ePublishers.  I couldn’t readily find this information on HQ’s website, so I’d assumed it was still at 250 words per page.  I didn’t figure out I was wrong until after I’d submitted the book.

Anyway, I have to say I’m excited to have this book back in my clutches.  I’m going to read through it and see if it needs more.  I love this book.  It flowed out of me when I was writing it, but I do believe there are parts that can be beefed up to further develop the characters, their relationship, and the plot.

I’m thinking maybe Samhain or Carina for this one.  But because both of those publishers already have a submission of mine pending, I might wait to see what they say before submitting another book to them.

Don’t want to bog them down with a bunch of submissions.

Figure Champagne has a LOT of my books already, with more to come this year, and Cobblestone only does erotic romance these days.  If I write for Cobblestone, it’s got to specifically be hotter, written just with them in mind.  Samhain hasn’t released one of my books in a long time and Carina is new territory I’d like to explore.

So, we shall see. 

~~Becka

First, the good news, Champagne Books recently bought BLACK ANGEL, one of my fantasy manuscripts!  It will be released in October of ‘10.  Here’s my page for more info on it:  http://www.rebeccagoings.com/fantasy/black-angel/ I’m very excited about this one because it’s very different than anything I’ve done before.  Can’t wait!

Now for the bad, HQ Historicals Undone R’d THE FALL OF JERICHO.  They gave me a constructive letter, however, and I beefed the story a bit and sent it off once more.  I decided to give Carina Press another go with this one since they have a “quiet” open call for historical manuscripts over there.  I say “quiet” because the info isn’t on their website, they sent it out to various blogs to go “viral” I suppose.  So we’ll see what happens over there.

They have said they now have a lot of readers, so it shouldn’t take too long to hear from them.  If they R this one, I’ll send it to Samhain Publishing.  If THEY R it, then it’ll go to Cobblestone Press.

So, Plan A didn’t work out, I’m on Plan B, and I have C & D in line as well.  Gotta be prepared. 

Anyhow, that’s my news for now.  Hoping to hear good news!  Too many rejections lately.

~~Becka

Sad, I know.  Was hoping for it, but it didn’t work out.  However, I opted to jump immediately into my Plan B, which was sending RIDE THE LIGHTNING to Samhain Publishing.  Keep your fingers crossed my editor over there likes the story.    But now, this means another long few weeks of waiting.  Good news is, the rejection came through on Dec. 31st, so I’m starting this year off without one looming on the horizon.  LOL

I haven’t written in awhile, but that’s not by choice.  The holidays and the celebrating eeked their way into my routine.  I’ll be more than happy to go back to my routine on the 4th!  THE VIPER PRINCE is on page 150 right now, about 29K.  I’m loving it so far!  Still have a long way to go, so I’m thinking this one will be a full novel.  The plan for this one is also Samhain Publishing.  Seems right up their alley.

Anyhow, that’s the scuttle from this end.  Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I know I’m looking forward to 2010.  With all these stories I’m writing, SOMEONE’S gonna want to publish them, right? 

~~Becka

Just got my cover art today for my next fantasy novel, KINDRED, from Champagne Books!  This book is coming in March of 2010.  Isn’t it awesome??  I love the colors!  Much better than I envisioned.  Now I can’t wait for this story!    WOOHOO!!!

~*~*~

When an ordinary woman discovers she’s anything but ordinary, her life becomes an amazing journey into the land of dragon-shifters, and into the arms of the Crown Prince himself…

While caring for her dying grandmother, Alana Capria hears the most shocking news of her life.  She’s not human, she’s a dragon-shifter.  Not only that, she’s from the extremely rare and powerful House of the Sun, brought to Earth as a baby to save her from assassins.

Rionshalintaris is her betrothed, the Crown Prince of Dragoran, and a blue dragon-shifter from the House of Ice.  He’s been looking forward to bonding with Alana ever since they were children.  Rion is overjoyed she has returned to Dragoran, and is most eager to claim her as his own.

But the red dragons of the House of Fire endeavor to kidnap Alana in an attempt to overthrow the Crown.  Can Rion protect the woman he loves and bind Alana as his Kindred before it’s too late?

~*~*~

(As an aside, only THREE more days before the release of HEAVEN SENT from Cobblestone Press! )

~~Becka

Well, my new book, THE VIPER PRINCE, is currently at 87 pages.  I have no idea how long it will be, but I’m loving every minute of it.  I have my phases of “This is Gold!” or “This is Crap!” moments, and currently, I’m in my “Gold!” phase. 

Here’s a bit of background world-building for you, to whet your appetite.

My hero’s name is Tariq Sayed, the Viper Prince of the Golden Desert.  His world is Jikkar, a desert planet, and there are six sparkling oases in the Golden Desert.  Each oasis is ruled by one prince, who travels to them in his caravan to collect water for the people who live in the tent cities.  The largest of the tent cities is Suridesh.  The others are Mekolam, Parradh, and Neviann.  The world is broken into three “sectors”, the desert, the Borderlands (Mekolam is on the Borderlands – the very edge the caravan princes are willing to travel), and The Waste, a giant stretch of desert with absolutely no water or life.

It is said the planet was destroyed during a war between the gods, and each of these gods chose one family to be their representation on Jikkar, thus the caravan princes were born.  The oases never dry up, and it is the duty of these princes to bring the water to the people.

We already know of the Viper, but there is also the Scarab Prince, the Falcon Prince, the Jackal Prince, the Cobra Prince, and the Spider Prince.  These princes meet twice a year in Suridesh should they need to solve problems between the people and/or their caravans.  Sequel bait?  Perhaps.  I must admit I didn’t want to invent such an awesome desert world without some hope of ever going back.  However, a few of these desert princes aren’t sweet and cuddly, so I highly doubt there will be six books on this world.

Just keeping things open, folks.  For all I know, the Viper is all we’ll see of Jikkar.  Depends on how big a “hit” this book may or may not be…

Heroine’s name is… Sabine Santiago.  Teased as a kid, she was always told she should become a romance author with a name like that.  Thought “Huh, maybe they’re right” – tried her hand at it – and was really good.  But her life begins to change the moment she bought a coiled serpent armband at a local flea market.  It’s the perfect accessory for her pink harem-girl outfit she bought for a costume party at the Romance Convention she’s attending.

But she never actually makes it…  to the convention, that is.  LOL

Yes, it’s another one of “those books”, the author pulled into the plot of the novel she’s writing.  Hopefully, I’ve done this plot device justice and in such a way that future books can be written about the same world.  I have a good reason behind my plot, folks, so you there, I saw you roll your eyes.  Heh.  We shall see if it all comes together.

Still no idea about how long it will be or where, for certain, I’ll be sending it to.  For now, I just want to get it written.  I’m loving it so far and Tariq is SOOOO HOOOOOTT!! 

~~Becka