Waasaabii

I was looking for something different for a veg with dinner, and decided to try coleslaw. Last year, we stayed at a Red Lion in Eugene, OR, for Faeriewords, and they had this wasabi cole slaw that was to die for. I wanted them to just bring me a vat of it and back away slowly. But that slaw had mayo in it, and I was looking to make something a wee bit healthier.

I looked up some recipes online, tweaked them to taste, and came up with the following. Which I lurve. Happily, I can make a vat of it and nobody has to back away slowly.

Wasabi Cole Slaw

3 cups shredded cabbage/carrots (I used the bagged stuff, but if I have time I'll shred red cabbage, because it's healthier)
3 tbsp white balsamic vinegar (most recipes call for rice vinegar, but I had the white balsamic on hand)
2 tbsp oil (sesame oil might also be good)
2 tsp brown sugar (most recipes called for more, but that made it too sweet. Bleah.)
wasabi to taste (if wasabi powder, mix w/water)
sesame seeds (optional)
green onions, thinly sliced (optional)

Whisk together vinegar, oil, brown sugar, wasabi.

Toss with cabbage.

Sprinkle on sesame seeds and green onion slices.

(Another recipe calls for lime juice; could be a tasty addition but I haven’t tried it.)

We only bite when requested...

Take a wander over to Lust Bites today to check out an excerpt of Sarah's and my forthcoming book A Little Night Music!

Labyrinthine

Morgana, Brian, Ken, and I went to the Nuart Theatre in LA to see Labyrinth (witness the amazing Goblin War Mullet!) on the big screen again, because the Frouds were going to do a Q&A after the showing. Above is a picture of Morgana and I with Wendy, Toby (the baby in the movie!), and Brian Froud. (They all signed my copy of the DVD.)

Writing bits and bobs

A reader named Emily took the time to send me (well, Sophie, actually!) this e-mail (and gave me the okay to repost it here):

“I read your story in Best Women's Erotica 07 and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to google your pen name, in an attempt to find an email contact. Your story was great for it's purpose (as erotic fiction) but it was also a story I deeply related to. I was particularly moved by the character's struggle with her body image and how her dance class affected that. I look forward to reading more of your writing in the future. Thank you for your story!”

We all write for different reasons. To get the stories out, to get the words out of our heads. For the thrill of seeing our names on the book covers in stores. The money’s nice; the acceptances are always joyful, perhaps even a validation.

Every author I’ve met has pretty much said, though, that even if they knew they’d never see their name in print again, they’d still keep writing.

Striving for publication, though, is another matter. And I can tell you that one of the things we all really want there is communication. To know what we’ve written has reached a reader. (If that weren’t true, whyfore the proliferation of blogs?)

Acceptances: fantastic. Checks: sweet. But a reader taking the time to say “I read your work, and it meant something to me.”?

Priceless. The best gift a writer can receive.

<>-<>-<>

Some recent writing stats, from the last month or so. I’ll try to keep more current on these!

• Submitted lots of stories.
  
• Received the second half of my advance for A Little Night Music.
  
• Received the contract for “In Flight” to appear in Best Lesbian Love Stories: Summer Flings.
  
• Received payment for “Mrs. Claus and the Night Elf,” which appeared in The MILF Anthology.
  
• Received comp copy of Love on the Dark Side, which includes the Sophie story “Stranger to my Shores” as well as a story of Teresa’s.
  
• Received comp copies of Iridescence: Sensuous Shades of Lesbian Erotica and payment for my story, “Just Be.”
  
• Received the contract and proofed story for “The Witch of Venice,” to appear in Screaming Orgasms and Sex on the Beach.
  
• Received the contract for the reprint of “Frozen” to appear in Best Lesbian Bondage Erotica.
  
• Rejection from Kensington for Waking the Witch.
  
• Rejection from Heliotrope for “What Price Beauty?”
  
• Rejection from Clarkesworld for “Heaven Has Eyes.”
  

(And may I just say, it’s exceedingly cool to link to all of those books and think, “Hey, I’m in all of those!”)

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Currently Reading: Wraith, Phaedra Weldon (yes, I know I was a first reader on this manuscript. But the book is different, and I’m gearing up to be a first reader on book two, and it’s a kick-ass fabulous book!)
Lately Listened To: Division Bell, Pink Floyd
Recently Watched: Northern Exposure

Norilana Books

The inimitable Vera Nazarian of Norliana Books has asked friends to put out a plug for said publishing company, which Vera herself started. Seeing as Norliana Books is reviving the Sword & Sorceress series of anthologies, and seeing as Vera did a lovely interview of me in her blog, how am I to say no?

So. Check out this reprint of romance Evermore by Modean Moon, which got a thumbs-up from La Nora herself…

Slosh

Well, not the spiffiest of days. My back continued to hurt, and thus I was out of sorts. Plus, this: Since October of last year, when I read about it in the Endicott Studio blog, I’ve been looking forward—no, craving—to see the Pre-Raphaelite exhibit when I heard it would be coming to the San Diego Museum of Art in May. Of course I planned to see it with my Pre-Raphaelite partner in crime, Morgana, but she and Brian had a busy summer, so there was a lot of shuffling and planning and whatnot. Finally we decided on the weekend of Faeriewords, since they felt they couldn’t shoehorn Faerieworlds into their schedule. Unfortunately, we then had a mis-meeting of minds, with me assuming it would be a day trip and them assuming it would be a weekend jaunt. By the time we realized this last week, there was no way I could take a whole weekend away, especially after a week away at RWA.

So yeah, it hasn’t been the best of days.

On the plus side, I’ve been strangely compelled to do various organizational things, like rearranging the TBR bookcase to fit all the new books from RWA, and putting away all the sewing trim we’re keeping (we’re purging about half of our original stash), and mending, and filing, and story submissions… Oh, and baths with copious amounts of Epsom salts are excellent for catching up with one’s reading. Exactly why don’t I do this every day?

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Currently Reading: Lying in Mid-Air (ARC), Anne Tourney
Lately Listened To: cats purring
Recently Watched: Graham Norton, Painkiller Jane

There is no pain, you are receding...

My darling Meglet visited for a couple of days, and of course I got almost nothing done (because when Meg and I get to talking…). As a result, I’m a bit behind and a bit fretful. Add to that the fact that my back was hurting so much today that I cancelled my appointment with my trainer and went back to my chiropractor for the second time, and the day was largely a bust. Especially because the chiropractor said my muscles were spasming and pulling the bones out of alignment, and I should take a bath with Epsom salts, so I did, but not before popping half of a prescription muscle relaxant from last year.

It’s been a nice, floaty evening, let me just say.

That said, I’ve gotten a wee bit of writing done, and a lot of reading, and tomorrow is another day.

Before I forget, though, go check out the recent Lust Bites review of RWA Nationals, written by myself, Teresa, Kate, Deanna, and Anne.

More tomorrow. For now, I’m taking my loopy self off to bed.

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Currently Reading: Lying in Mid-Air (ARC), Anne Tourney
Lately Listened To: “Hm, what?” she asks dreamily
Recently Watched: Eureka, Painkiller Jane

Pirate Tourney!

Pictures can be found here!

RWA away away (and back again)

Unsurprisingly, I’m writing this on yet another plane. This time I’m on the way home from RWA Nationals, where I’ve been since Tuesday. Dudes. My brain is full. Six days of workshops, 2000 writers (95% female—woah, the estrogen levels in that hotel!), an abundance of food and drink, and not a whole lot of sleep. I met so many wonderful people and reconnected with so many more.

I roomed with the fabulous Christine, the other half of my brain Phaedra, my coauthor Teresa, which was a blast. I was the only one who knew any of them—I was the pivot point friend—but as I suspected, they all got along famously. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time…

I spent some quality time with Teresa’s and Sarah’s and my editor, Adam. Fascinating man, and lots of fun.

I hung out with fellow Lust Biters Kate Pearce, Anne Tourney, Deanna Ashford, and Deanna’s daughter (also a Kate), as well as Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy Roth (a fellow ‘80s aficionado!). I also got to meet the amazing Emma Holly.

Thanks to Phaedra, who took me as her date, I got to go to the Berkley/Penguin/Ace party. Fantastic hors d’ouvres, free wine and champagne, and oh my gods squeak I’m at a party with Nora Roberts!

I took mostly workshops on creativity, on re-finding the joy and refilling the well, although also a few on structure and whatnot. Much of the former was stuff I already knew, but needed to be reminded of, needed to get it to sink back into my subconscious. During one workshop I did have a lovely (dark and sad, though) epiphany about the book I’ve just started. It breaks my heart to do it to my heroine, but I can’t shy away from it.

I’ve been in a writing slump for a while, and just before the conference, when I started to haul myself out of it, I realized I’ve been mildly depressed overall. I didn’t want to write, but I didn’t want to do much of anything, except maybe costuming. As I started to come back to my normal self, I decided to start a new project, go in a different direction to clear out my brain. (Phae, what did you call it? Something about coffee?) Cleanse the palate. So I’m working on an urban fantasy, and it’s different that what I’ve been doing, and I’m enjoying it. I need to just play with it, not worry about whether it’s “right,” explore and learn the book while I’m writing it.

Pictures can be found here—enjoy!

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Currently Reading: Dime Story Magic, Kelley Armstrong
Lately Listened To: the buzzing in my brain
Recently Watched: Dr Who

What about this?

So what do ya'll think of this for a license plate? It's Welsh for "author."

Squee bouncity!

Got word from the Virgin marketing folks that Sarah Dale will have an ad as part of the New Author Spotlight page in Romantic Times! It'll be in the October issue (on sale in September).

How cool is this?!

Eight straight

I’ve been tagged by the scrumptious Ms. Alison Tyler to give eight pieces of trivia about myself, and since I’m doing a stellar job of writing avoidance, I’m succumbing to the temptation. (Alison’s very tempting.)

The Rules:

• We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
  
• Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
  
• People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
  
• At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
  
• Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.


1. The first erotica story I wrote was a letter to Penthouse Forum, because if they printed your letter, you got a free t-shirt.

2. I still have the t-shirt.

3. Although my father was a pilot, my ex is an aviation meteorologist, and my beloved is an engineer, I cannot for the life of me understand how planes stay up in the air. Therefore it must be magic. I don’t fear flying because I have utter faith in magic.

4. I’ve communed with the stones at Stonehenge, felt the North Wind’s touch in the Nine Ladies stone circle, crawled through the hole at Men-an-Tol for good health, exulted on Glastonbury Tor, looked for answers in the Chalice Well, and left a strand of hair at every holy well I’ve been to.

5. I was proposed to on a beach in Cambria, handfasted in the hills above Santa Barbara, and married in Gretna Green, Scotland.

6. My earliest memory is my third birthday, which fell on Easter. I opened a door and behind it found an Easter basket of plastic eggs filled with Cheetos. (Incidentally, my fourteenth birthday also fell on Easter, but it will never happen again in my lifetime.)

7. If I possibly can, the first thing I do when I sit down is kick off my shoes.

8. I love learning new things, but hate doing things I don’t know how to do well. Me and learning curves, oy.

I tag…
Angell
Cat (to get her to update her blog!)
Helen
Julie/Margaret
Jessica
Lynn/Iliana
Phaedra
Rob
Sharon (because I want to get to know her better!).

EDITED TO ADD:

I apparently smushed two, two, two links into one. Now that I've fixed them, I've tagged nine people. Eight, nine...I love my friends, so it's all good!

Iridescence Blog Tour

Five Questions from Jolie du Pre, editor of Iridescence, for Andrea Dale, author of “Just Be.”

1. Why do you write erotica?

Confession: I started writing erotica in college for beer money. But I was having so much fun, I never really stopped. Now, I think it has to do with an exploration of human emotion—we all have sex, and we all exerience it differently, even at different times in our lives. How does it relate to emotion and emotional development? How does it change us? Plus I love combining erotica with other genres: paranormal, humor, suspense, etc. There’s no limit to what you can write about!

2. What do you like best about lesbian erotica?

Mmm, girls! Girls are soft and curvy and they smell nice. What’s not to love?

3. What is the theme of your story “Just Be” in Iridescence: Sensuous Shades of Lesbian Erotica?

Finding balance and peace in our lives. The title is unabashedly lifted from the Styx song “Just Be,” and it’s a reminder that sometimes we have to step back, away from all the craziness in the world and all of the things (e-mail, chat, cell phone, etc.) that distract us, and just enjoy the moment. The characters in the story have a chance to reconnect and spend quality time together, and remember why they love each other so much.

4. Name some other books where we can find your work.

Novels: A Little Night Music, written as Sarah Dale (with Sarah J. Husch), Cheek Books 2007; Cat Scratch Fever, written as Sophie Mouette (with Teresa Noelle Roberts), Black Lace 2006.

Anthologies: Ultimate Lesbian Erotica 2007, Travelrotica for Lesbians, Got a Minute, and many more. See my website for a complete list!

5. Just for fun! Gym Shoes or Stilettos?

Nothing at all, actually! I’m happiest when I’m barefoot and have warm sand or cool grass or my home’s lovely hardwood floors beneath my feet.

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My thanks to Jolie du Pre for hosting this fun author tour. If you’d like to read the interviews by the rest of the Iridescence authors (including my frequent co-author Teresa Noelle Roberts!), go here for a list and links!

Waiting for the third shoe to drop...

Words Written: ~750 in the airport, more to come

Ugh. I didn’t sleep well, got to the airport late, and managed to leave my credit card in the check-in machine—and this time, when I went back, it was gone. (You never get a reminder to remove your card nor does the machine spit it out for you at the end. And when you’re juggling your new boarding passes and your carry-on and you have to haul your suitcase back off the scale and drag it across the airport to the security screeners…) I miss Ken. It’s a full flight. (I offered to give up my seat, but they didn’t want me, because of the difficulty of ensuring I made my connecting flight. Since my massage therapist canceled on me tonight due to an emergency, I really had given up caring just how long I sat at LAX. And I could’ve really used that free flight. Oh well.)

But I just spent about an hour and a half writing up my Styxfest wrap-up report, which is overdue anyway. I’ve got three hours at LAX, so I’ll get some lunch, hang out next to the one working outlet in the 80s gate area, and get some writing done.

<>-<>-<>

And because my day apparently could get more thrilling, I arrived home to discover that my car had been towed. (This would be my old car, which had been parked in front of my house for the nearly three years that we’ve lived here. My new car is in the shop getting that dent repaired. Apparently there’s a law here that you can’t park on the street for more than three days. Apparently it goes into effect after two years and nine months, the day you’re getting home from a vacation. That’s right, they towed it this morning. My heartfelt thanks to our tenant and the guy across the street, both of whom tried to reason with the cop. So anyway, that’s approximately $200 I owe to the police, and who knows how much the towing place will charge. Hopefully it’s not too much, because I had to cancel my damn credit card.)

Is it too early to start drinking?

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Currently Reading: Perdido Street Station, China Miéville
Lately Listened To: An Ancient Muse, Loreena McKennitt
Recently Watched: the empty space where my goddamned car should be

Oregone and back again

So, how’re ya’ll doing? You never comment anymore. Are you still reading? Or have I gotten so sporadic and/or boring that you’ve wandered off to greener pastures? Do I need some sheep to fertilize the place (and provide fleeces for my spinning friends)?

Anyway. I’m in Oregon having a marvelous time. (If I manage to post this before I get home, don’t break into my house and scare the kitties, okay? Besides, Eostre’s an attack cat—don’t be fooled by her missing leg—because she will shed on you to death.) I arrived Thursday afternoon, and Ken and I eventually took a walk down to an area of frou-frou shops and restaurants because there was a Swagath, which is owned by the same people who run Swagat in Beaverton, which we always go to with Lev and Gayle because the food is awesome. This place was slightly less awesome, but still fantastic. I adore their shrimp biryani. On the way back we stopped in a market Ken had been meaning to check out, and it was also fantastic. We picked up a bunch of organic frozen meals, and found—wait for it—Green & Black’s dark chocolate ice cream. (For the non-chocolate snobs reading, Green & Black’s is a British chocolate, and my snobby chocolate of choice. Better than Ghirardelli, yes. Many flavors, including ones we found at the market that we didn’t even know existed. Espresso! Mint! Caramel!) Alas, we later discovered that it had semi-melted as some point and refrozen with water crystals in it, so while the flavor was awesome, the texture was saddening. Eventually we drilled down to find an inner core that was still pristine. How does it compare to Godiva Belgian chocolate ice cream? I’d say the Godiva has a darker taste, but the G&B has a creamier taste.

Friday we mostly refinanced the house on the phone (I heart USAA) and then hopped on the bike for the trip south to Grants Pass to meet up with a bunch of other BMW riders for the annual West Coast Rendezvous.

The highlight of WCR this year was the four-hour jet boat tour down the Rogue River, complete with champagne brunch. The highlight of that, for me, anyway, was seeing a bald eagle in the wild for the first time. (I got a picture, but it’s mostly of a bird up in the sky, so don’t get too excited. At any rate, I’ll try to post pictures after I get home. Not that I’ve had the chance to post pictures of the Shaw/Blades shows from April or Styxfest last month…) Gorgeous thing. There were also ospreys, turkey vultures, and I swear a fourth type of raptor that our guide (the fabulous and hilarious Donny) didn’t identify. Alas, we saw no otters, although we were assured they were there. We also saw places where they filmed quite a few movies, including The River Wild. Breathtaking scenery the entire time, and they were generous with the champagne; can’t ask for much more than that.

Ken and I had a lazy afternoon, napping and lounging and wandering around antique shops in town, after which we went to the banquet, where I had an amazing crab-stuffed chicken mornay and won Harry & David’s truffles. We came home yesterday via Crater Lake, which I’d never been to before. I was somehow unprepared for the elevation and the snow. Stunningly beautiful. How can water be that blue, and that still? We had lunch at the lodge, then took a bunch of windy twisty roads through amazing woods on our way home, stopping for pizza on the way. (Note to Phaedra and Loren: at Pietro’s!) That ride was longer than was comfortable for me on Ken’s new bike, so I took a hot shower, downed some Ibuprofen, ate the above-mentioned ice cream, and curled up with my beloved and a glass of wine.

Today I’ve been cleaning up a little e-mail, doing laundry, petting the kitties, drinking too much tea, etc., while Ken’s at work. I need to get a little writing done as well, before he gets back. We’d hoped to have dinner with Lev and Gayle, but because I was a lame-ass and didn’t call them until today, they’d already made plans. I will remember to contact them before I come up here next time, dammit. So perhaps we’ll go back to Swagath tonight, because we haven’t found a good Indian restaurant in Ventura County and I’m already pining for shrimp biryani and garlic naan again.

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Currently Reading: Ghost of a Chance, Yasmine Galenorn (a cozy mystery about a witch who runs a china shop in a small Washington town); All U Can Eat, Emma Holly (just finished)
Lately Listened To: the gentle hum of the dryer; Lullagoodbye, Taylor Mills
Recently Watched: You, Me, and Dupree

The dark lords of rock

Lawrence namechecks Styxfest—and because it all is about me…

“Also, let me acknowledge the Styxfest at Casino Rama and all the good that it shall bring about. Well done... (Even the dark lords of rock are impressed).”

We’ve impressed the dark lords of rock. My job here is done.

<>-<>-<>

Rejection from Luna Books for Waking the Witch—but a full-page letter discussing what she liked (loved the character! would love to see another story with that character!) and didn’t like (didn’t think the idea was fresh and original enough). Most importantly, “I’d be interested in seeing other ideas you have in proposal form.”

Which makes me wonder if I should pause in the novel I’m struggling with (“beating my head bloody against the wall” comes close to describing the process) and do the redraft of An Ever-Turning Wheel…

<>-<>-<>

Worked out today. Just elliptical and the back machine and some ab work. But I’ve messed up my back something fierce (feels like the sacrum on both sides), and that does not bode well for getting on a plane to Oregon tomorrow. Sigh.

<>-<>-<>

Also worked on my skirt for Pirate Tourney. Wicked Red will have a whole new outfit when she comes ashore in July. And she’s going to be hot, baybee.

Be the First on Your Block!

To celebrate the UK release of A Little Night Music, we’re having a couple of contests!

For UK residents: Prove to me that you’ve bought the book! Proof can be a scan of the receipt, a picture of you with the book somewhere other than the bookstore, or something obvious like that. Be the first person to e-mail me with that proof at cyvarwydd at mac dot com, and you’ll win a prize!

For US residents: Prove to me that you couldn’t wait for the US release and you bought the book from the UK! Proof can be your amazon.co.uk receipt, the shipping label from someone who sent it to you, etc. Be the first person to e-mail me with that proof at cyvarwydd at mac dot com, and you’ll win a prize!

For residents of all other countries: Um, I don’t know what distribution is like for you… But if you’re the first person on your country to prove to me that you’ve bought the book (send an e-mail to cyvarwydd at mac dot com, you’ll win a prize, too!

Comp copies and shared copies don’t count. To win a prize, you’ve gotta pay.

(I have no idea what the prizes will be. Suggestions welcome—what do ya’ll want? You can’t have the wrist cuff, sorry.)

Contest ends July 15, 2007, unless all winners have checked in earlier. Winners will be announced at www.cyvarwydd.com.

I believe...

Back in April, when I went to the Shaw/Blades shows, my friend Thom from Utah (whom I'd never met until then, 'though I'd known him online through Styx fandom for years and years) wore a fabulous t-shirt that I decided I must own. It listed a bunch of geeky "I believe" statements, almost all of which I backed wholeheartedly.

So I ordered the shirt from Café Press. When it arrived, I was sad to see that some of the words bled into the design to such a degree as to be unreadable. While I was sure I'd been able to read Thom's shirt in its entirety, Café Press said the flaw was due to the low quality of the image intially given to them. They agreed to refund my money, and even said I could keep the shirt I'd purchased. Kudos to Café Press.

In an effort to not forget what the shirt says, I provide the text here for your amusement. Please don't copy it without tracking down the original source, which is DJ Rik Emerson in the Portland, OR, area. (Check out Café Press for details.)

So read on, and say with me, hallelujah.

<>-<>-<>

I believe that Han shot first. I believe that Ally Sheedy was hotter before Molly Ringwald cleaned her up. I believe in miniatures, models, claymation, and not revealing the shark until you absolutely have to. I believe that George Lucas, for better or for worse, changed the way we see the world, ourselves, and each other. And I believe that we will someday reach those stars that he himself made visible. I believe that George Lucas is also a narrow-minded, money-grubbing pig-headed slave to the now, who oughtta be locked away from his own creations, lest he do them further harm. I believe that Jean-Luc Picard is the better Starship Captain, but I also believe that James Tiberius Kirk is infinitely more cool. I believe that children standing in line to buy a book at midnight is fantastic; I believe that reading makes you smart—it’s schools that make you dumb. I believe that any episode of Futurama is better than any program featuring a precocious teenager who’s wise beyond their years. I also believe Buffy the Vampire Slayer to be the sole exception that proves this rule. I believe that comic books are an art form, and will someday be recognized as such. I believe that good shows die too young; and crap shows last too long. I believe that boycotts, petitions, and sending the President of Fox lots of candy will never save a program…only heads on spikes will ever do that trick. I believe that Eddie Izzard is the funniest man alive, and I don’t give a good goddamn whether you’ve ever heard of him or not—it’s still true. I believe that a girl who likes movies about zombies is hotter than whoever’s on the cover of Maxim this month. I believe that Beloch ate that fly, and I swear to God that I heard Luke call Leia “Carrie,” and I believe that Samwise Gamgee never quite got the credit he really deserved. I believe in magic, I believe in dreams, I believe in the power of music, movies, and the untold worlds inside an everyday library card. And I do not believe that geeks will inherit the earth; I believe that we already have.

Wraith is here!

Woohoo! Today is the release date of debut book from my extraordinarily talented friend Phaedra (aka the Other Half of my Brain)!

If you like action-packed urban fantasy with a kickass, smartass heroine, Wraith is absolutely for you. I was lucky enough to be a first reader on this book, and I can’t wait to get the final copy in my hands and read it again!

Go forth! Buy! Prepare to have your socks knocked off!

Be-Juned

Egads, halfway through the first week of June already. How did that happen?

So I sent out a bunch of stories Sunday (nine, I believe), and ASIM has already passed “What Price Beauty?” up to the second round. They’ve done that with about five of my stories so far. Still haven’t cracked the final barrier, but it’s always a nice reminder that my work doesn’t automatically suck.

Some other writing stats from May and early June:

• Sale! A reprint of “All About the Ratings” will appear in the Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica.
  
• Follow-up on a previous sale—it was an especially lovely acceptance: “Just a quick note to tell you that, damn, ‘The Queen of Christmas’ is an excellent story.”
  
• Another agent pass on Waking the Witch; nice things to say about my writing, but didn’t click with the character.
  
• Best Lesbian Love Stories: Summer Fling accepted “In Flight,” a story inspired by the day-long course I took at the raptor center in Wales, learning to fly and care for hawks and falcons and owls, oh my!
  
• An anthology formerly entitled In the Flesh has provisionally accepted my story “Party Favor.” (The publisher gets final right of refusal.)
  
• A total of five (three of my own, one Sarah Dale, and one Sophie Mouette) rejections from this year’sBest Women’s Erotica.
  
• Two rejections from Best American Erotica.
  
• Rejection from The Town Drunk for “Matchmaker.”
  

<>-<>-<>

I finally registered my new car today! It took only two and a half months… (Okay, I had all the paperwork to register it right before Styxfest, but it was so not a priority then.) I still haven’t decided on what my vanity plates should say (everything I’ve wanted so far has been taken, big surprise in CA, and anything I’ve tried to translate into Welsh has been far too long to fit on the plate!), so I got regular ones for now. Suggestions are always welcome!

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Currently Reading: Hell’s Belles, Jackie Kessler
Lately Listened To: Celtic Woman
Recently Watched: The Riches, Northern Exposure