Passionate Ink workshop

Title : Collaboration: When Two Heads are Better Than One
Date : January 9-11, 2009
Presented by : Dayle A. Dermatis & Teresa Noelle Roberts, aka Sophie Mouette
Cost : $15 (PI Members) and $20 (Non-PI Members)

Be one of the first 20 PI Members to email karen.e.erickson @ gmail.com to be added to the free members list. All Passionate Ink members receive two free workshops per membership year.

Workshop Description :
Learn how to write with a partner, including how to choose the right collaborating partner, the types and methods of collaboration, collaboration agreements/contracts and much more!

Presenters’ websites:
Dayle 
Teresa

To Pay Online :

Using PayPal (http://www.paypal.com), send payment to renewals@passionateink.org with “WORKSHOP - Collaboration” as the subject. In the “message” section, include Your Name and Email Address.

Cost: $15 for Passionate Ink Members, $20 for non-members

To pay by check, print this page and send with a check to
Passionate Ink Workshops
c/o Karen Steele
1304 Forest Marsh Dr
Neptune Beach, FL 32266

Best Lesbian Romance 2009 available!

I'm delighted to announce that Best Lesbian Romance 2009 is now available for sale! It contains a reprint of my story "In Flight," a sweet erotic romance about learning to trust again, with bonus! birds of prey.

Plus there are so many other fabulous authors in this one: my frequent coauthor Teresa, Shanna Germain, Alison Tyler, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Catherine Lundoff, Sacchi Green...

A good year indeed

The New Year has started out extremely well, even if, in my mind, yesterday was the first day of the New Year (since we were traveling all day Thursday). They say that what you do on the first day of the year relates to how your year will go, and my first day(s) have been mostly marvelous.

New Year’s Day started with kisses and the best music EV-er, followed by cheap champagne and much laughter, and then blessed sleep. In the morning we had brunch with Sara (the fabulous Styx fan with whom we stayed—she’s also into faeries, SFF, Ren Faire, crafts, and paganism, so you’d think we were clones or something), Rob (a fellow OWN writer), his wife Ximena, and his brother Richard. Then, sadly, we had to say goodbye to Sara and drive home, but that involved stopping at The Old Spaghetti Factory for supper, and a day that includes TOSF and mizithra cheese is a good day indeed.

I woke up with a headache yesterday (a holdover from the day before) but liberal applications of painkillers and a hot shower chased it away. I hammered through some e-mail, and after lunch went to CB&TL where Ellenie and I caught up and got productive. I finished writing the first draft of part 3 of the workshop, and got a good chunk done on Ghosted (Ellenie helped me work through a couple of small sticking points, in part by saying useful things that sparked me, and in part just by being there so I could ramble aloud at her to get to the information I needed). :-)

The only downside was when I got home, Grimoire started yarking up bile (on his own paws, even), panting, and shaking, so we raced off to the vet. Who gave him a shot of $30 painkiller (in hindsight, I should’ve asked for one, too—my neck/shoulder is killing me and I don’t have a chiro appt until Monday), told us to not feed him ‘til morning, and bring him back in the morning if necessary.

Half an hour later, he was demanding food and purring. Twit. As Ken said in the vet’s waiting room, “This is why we don’t have kids.” (To which I responded “Really? I thought it was because I didn’t want to lose my girlish figure.”)

We wrapped up the day with pizza (because it was too late to cook) and a soak in the hot tub, and that’s pretty much a perfect end to any day.

Now we’re to today, and I was up early to feed Grimoire and make sure he was okay, which he is. The mail came early because we had packages—hemp cord for my new corset and my comp copy of The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica, which includes the Sophie Mouette reprint “Behind the Masque” (about jewel thieves in Vegas! Hee!).

Lots of work planned for today:

• Ghosted
  
• crit a story of Teresa’s
  
• review synopsis of PUM (formerly Angelika)
  
• go over part 2 of our workshop
  
• write holiday thank-you notes
  
• track down the roadie who gave me the backstage pass and thank him! (There’s a form to contact the band on their website, plus the band has a MySpace page; I’ll leave messages both places :-) )
  
• work on (and ideally finish) the first online issue of The Oak Leaf, our Shire’s newsletter
  
• hammer through more e-mail
  
• go to the gym
  
• go to the library
  

I’ll check back later with my progress!

The best part of technology

I really love the Internet, and right now that especially includes Facebook. A few months ago, a friend from England—from when I studied there in 1987—tracked me down just by searching for my name. (I also really love that I have a unique name and that I didn’t change it when I married!) I’d tried to find her when we lived there in 1998-2002, but she doesn’t have a unique name, and her parents had moved (the only address I had). So I was thrilled.

A few years ago, one of my first boyfriends found me. We had a great talk, kind of clearing the air about when we broke up (talk about complete lack of communication…oh, we were so young). I’m so happy he’s doing so well!

Now, one of my best friends when I was a kid—she was older than me, but lived two doors down in a neighborhood where we were the only girls of any young age—just found me via Facebook. I’d actually been thinking about her, maybe a month or so ago, wondering how she was doing. The last time I heard from her was when I was in law school, and she’d gotten married. I’d since forgotten her married name, so I was at a loss. I’m so excited she found me!

There are still a few other people I think about every so often, wondering what’s become of them. Of course they’re people with names that bring up eighteen million Google hits (or eighteen hundred Facebook hits, or whatever), so pretty much all I can do is put the thoughts out there in the Universe and hope someone hears. And hope that those I’m thinking of, even if I never hear from them, are happy and well.

Eating the elephant, one bite at a time

I’m not making resolutions again this year, because I never do. I make general goals, and try to work towards those goals regularly. On New Year’s Day, I had a small epiphany, and realized my “resolution” is to stop and think: “What is the best thing for me right now?”

It might be choosing a healthier eating option—or it might be to indulge a little. It might be to hammer out another thousand words—or it might be to veg in front of the TV with my beloved. It might be to go to the gym—or it might be to take the day off. The main thing I’m going for is to make sure I’ve considered the question, that I’m not just taking the easy option.

Tony Robbins says something that’s a corrolary to this in his Personal Power stuff: That with anything you set out to do, even if it’s going to hang out with a friend, you ask yourself “What is my goal?” It could be just to hang out and have a good time. But the idea is to focus on what you want to achieve, because if you do, you’re more likely to achieve it.

The only other thing I’ve been thinking about in terms of goals/resolutions/whatever you want to call them, is a series that one of my mentors, Dean Wesley Smith, has been writing about in his blog. Although the articles are focused on writing goals, his insights can be applied to any goal. He’s also training to run a marathon, so he equates some of it to that, too. Even if you’re not a writer, I think they’re worth checking out. (You pretty much have to read them in order; the lead-in one is dated December 2.)

I've been re-reading them, taking notes as I go of the things that ring true for me. That way I'll have a Cliff Notes version to refer back to throughout the year.

What about you all? Are you resolved?

Happy New Year? You betcha!

How to ring in the New Year, Dayle's version:

Go to a Styx concert.

Get given an all-access backstage pass by a roadie from one of the opening acts who overheard you being interviewed by the local TV station saying this was your 82nd show.

Get kissed by your husband at midnight while he's recording a video of Styx singing "Auld Lang Syne."

Go backstage. Ask Lawrence if you can have a New Year's kiss.

Get it.

:-)

Done done done done-duh-done done-duh-done

Well, almost everything I did today was in the writing column—which is my job, so it was all priority stuff anyway. I did get through some e-mail, though, and the laundry's in the washer. Ken and I ended up going out to dinner, which altered some of my timeline.

You'll note I also added some stuff to the list that I'd forgotten about this morning…

• finish the proposal for Angelika (first draft is off to Teresa)
  
• review returned Chapter 3
  
• assemble first three chapters into one file for mailing (probably tomorrow—there’s one more thing we have to tweak first)
  
• finish “Now You See Her” (short story) and send to Teresa for a quick crit if she has time
  
• write my bits for part one of Teresa’s and my online workshop at Passionate Ink in January
  
• review Teresa’s bits for part one of the workshop
  
• follow up with the workshop coordinator about our workshop
  
• update my website with new sales, etc. (also tomorrow—I’ve lost the brain power for it)
  
• promo Like a Myth (yup, also tomorrow)
  
• follow up with an editor about payment and some other small bits and bobs
  
• re-read Dean’s articles about setting goals and take notes (started, but there’s a lot to process)
  

Tomorrow, another writing session at CB&TL. I'm hoping to focus on Ghosted, which has been languishing. The other To Do stuff I can do at home.

Now it's late and I feel the need to curl up with a good book—to read, not write or edit.

---

Currently Reading: Fathom, Cherie Priest
Lately Listened To: various holiday music
Recently Watched: nothing, but the next disc of Alias season 2 just showed up

To Do be do be do be

It’s one of those days when I feel I should post my To Do list, because it looks looming and extensive, and if I post it, I’ll feel compelled to really churn away at it. Or something like that.

Lots of writing stuff to do today (thankfully I’m meeting Ellenie at CB&TL for a few hours!):

• finish the proposal for Angelika (which may have a new title finally) and send to Teresa
  
• finish “Now You See Her” (short story) and send to Teresa for a quick crit if she has time
  
• write my bits for part one of Teresa’s and my online workshop at Passionate Ink in January
  
• follow up with the workshop coordinator about our workshop
  
• update my website with new sales, etc.
  
• follow up with an editor about payment and some other small bits and bobs
  

Then there’s the SCA stuff:

• work on the Shire newsletter for January (yeah. Chronicler again. Who expected that?). We’re moving to an online newsletter so I get to do a total re-design. Fun! But time consuming, and must be done after work is done.
  
• write and send Quartermaster Doomsday report (that woke me up last night—completely spaced on it ‘til now!)
  
• any Black Oak Lodge stuff that currently needs poking at
  

And let’s not forget about Life, the Universe, and Everything:

• holiday thank-you notes
  
• laundry
  
• dishes
  
• e-mail
  
• visit Morgana & Brian’s cat (they’re away for a few weeks, and Patches gets lonely)
  

I’m feeling a bit under the weather (minor stuff, nothing to worry about, but it’s very wearing and I run out of energy quickly), so I’m trying to triage and not overdo it. Ken’s on a bike ride today (I bowed out due to the minor health issues) but when he’s home, I can foist some things off on him. :-)

Anyway, I think that should keep me busy for a while… I’ll report back on my progress!

Randomness

To all my friends in the UK who got to see the Christmas episode of Doctor Who: ::pbltz!::

~ ~ ~

My friend Jenn Reese has posted an amazing story at her website. Go. Now. It’s awesome.

~ ~ ~

A reprint of my story “Peppermint Stick” is up at Circlet Press as part of their erotic advent calendar. Even though it was posted a few days ago, it’s still available—check it out before it vanishes! (Unlike Jenn's, mine is NSFW.)

And their eyes full of tinsel and fire

Love and blessings to all my friends this holiday season.

Playing with toys

	500
20
lab.drwicked.com

More holiday thoughts

Stuck on what to give your favorite author this year? No, I'm not even talking about me. I mean any author whose work you enjoy. I can give you a simple solution: Take a few minutes to write to them and tell them you enjoy their work. There's a great article about this here. (Even better, buy copies of their work to give as gifts this holiday season. But if you can't swing that, the nice note will warm even the Grinchiest of writers' hearts!)

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, Shanna Germain is giving away books on her blog—just comment about your favorite winter fantasy, and you could win!

Suggestions for keeping warm this holiday season

Winter is apparently very inspiring to me, because I’ve amassed a number of short stories set around the Solstice, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. So if you’re in the mood to snuggle under the covers or lounge in front of a roaring fire and enjoy some spicy stories to chase away the chill, may I make some recommendations?

I’m really excited about a winter-themed novella that’s just been released. “Hidden Treasure” is a Sophie Mouette story (written with Teresa) in Bedding Down. This is the first time I’ve been published by Avon Red, which is one of the reasons I’m over the moon. Plus the cover is gorgeous!

From the Introduction by editor Rachel Kramer Bussel: “The ‘Hidden Treasure’ in Sophie Mouette’s story turns out to be much naughtier than the criminals seeking it expect, and provides the inhabitants of a historic museum the chance to repeat the hottest parts of history.”

A snowbound castle folly in the Adirondacks, two bumbling redneck criminal wanna-bes, Victorian clothing, and a chance to turn a high school crush into something much more interesting… What’s not to love?

“The Queen of Christmas” was a blast to write, with inspirations from the house in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra “Wizards of Winter” video, the TV show Home Improvement, Martha Stewart, and one of the holiday displays on Christmas Tree Lane (aka the local historic district, a block from our house).… It’s the lead story in Naughty or Nice, an all-holiday-stories anthology to get you in the right spirit!

“The book starts off with a champagne popping bang with Andrea Dale’s ‘The Queen of Christmas.’ I ADORE this story! It’s so hilarious, I was laughing the whole way through, except when I was lusting after that very sexy, Christmas-loving electrical engineer across the street. And then I was kind of smacking my lips and making plans to attack my own electrical engineer husband later.” (author Donna George Storey)

You’ll never think about the Twelve Days of Christmas in quite the same day after reading “On the Twelfth Day” in the anthology He’s On Top…

“Finding Perspective,” a sweet and sexy Valentine’s story, can be found in Ultimate Lesbian Erotica 2007.

“Mrs. Claus and the Naughty Elf” was another extremely fun story, and The MILF Anthology is a great book with a fabulous cover.

I know I keep saying I love my stories, but “Frozen” really does hold a place in my heart. I’m not sure I’m supposed to get choked up when I read one of my own stories, but there you have it. It’s also one of my most successful, having been reprinted twice. I’ll link to Best Lesbian Erotica 2005, but check out my website if you want one of the other anthologies.

Then there’s “Peppermint,” a 2004 contest winner at Torquere Press. This one’s no longer available online, but I just sold the reprint to Circlet Press! I’ll keep you posted on its publication!

All of those are Andrea Dale stories, BTW.

Along with the aforementioned “Hidden Treasure, of course, Teresa and have the Solstice story “Bringing Back the Light” at Fishnet, and it was reprinted in Mammoth Book of Best Lesbian Erotica 2007. You can read it free online at Fishnet (NSFW, obviously) or pick up a copy of the anthology, which is chock full of excellent stories.

And there you have it!  ::wanders off to score some eggnog::

Appearing for one day only! EDITED

Just a quickie...but an exciting one!

Circlet Press is doing an erotic "advent calendar" type of thing, wherein they're posting a different story every day for the month of December. You get one day to read the story—after that, it's gone.

I'm delighted that my story "One Thousand" will be the story for Friday, December 19! (NOT Thursday as originally posted.) It should be posted around noon (if it's not, just keep checking back) at Circlet.

"One Thousand" will later appear in the Like a Myth, anthology, but this is your chance to read it now! Enjoy!

(Obligatory disclaimer: NSFW.)

(The other cool thing: I donated my payment to the ASJA Writer Emergency Fund, which helps writers when they have crisis medical bills and whatnot.)

Cover me

The adorable cover for Best Lesbian Romance 2009, which contains a reprint of my story "In Flight," a sweet and sexy romance about learning to trust again, with bonus! birds of prey.

Available for pre-order now!

How did this happen?!

I’ve never hidden the fact that cooking isn’t something I enjoy. It’s just not my thing. I suspect it has something to do with the transient nature of the product; as an artist, I like to create things that last. Which doesn’t explain my love of music, but I suppose you can record it and re-listen to it—plus I get a stronger visceral experience from listening to music than I do from eating. I’m definitely not a food connoisseur; I like fairly simple, basic dishes. Ken’s the same way on pretty much all accounts (although I don’t know if the transience is a factor).

Anyway. We cook because it’s better for us than eating processed food all the time. I gather and try new recipes to avoid getting bored (“Not this again!”) and to find easier things to make (“Ooh, I can throw all these ingredients in the crock pot in the morning and then not have to think about dinner for the rest of the day!”)

So how did I end up having to cook for other people four nights in a row this week?!

Last night we had some friends over to do some Black Oak Lodge plotting and planning. Ken actually did most of the work on the honey-mustard chicken and black bean burritos, bless him, although I wielded the food processor and chopped three onions (because two would be needed for future recipes), and made salad, and set the table, yadda yadda.

Tonight’s progressive dinner through the Historic District somehow mutated into a potluck, so I’m making a white trash version of scalloped potatoes (frozen hash browns, butter, cream of chicken soup, and Velveeta. And since the scary blocks of Velveeta come twice as big as I needed, I’m making this on Xmas Day, too. Deal with it.) because they’re easy and frighteningly tasty. Although I will probably avoid them because I’m trying to lose weight.

Tomorrow night is our Shire Yule party, and we’re making a beef stew in the crockpot. Rah.

Sunday we’re hosting a Men’s Italian Costuming Overview class because Ken’s teaching it, so we’re making sloppy joe’s in the crockpot. Of course, I’ll have to prep this before I leave for the LARA meeting in the morning.

And then, by the gods, I’m going to find somebody else to cook for a while. (Do you know you can order Pizza Hut online?!)

Ah, life

Story is in the mail, as are the four contracts. On the downside, my massage therapist cancelled on me last night, leaving me with a stiff neck and the remains of a migraine to deal with on my own. I was so looking forward to my chiropractic appointment this morning!

So now I’m home, and I’ve mostly cleaned off my desk (sorted mail, paid bills), put away all my laundry, and unpacked everything else. The cleaning lady is here, thank goodness. I went to the grocery store after my chiro appt so we have food again. Now I’m going to see how much e-mail I can churn through in the next hour or so, which also includes checking edits on a story and responding with any changes… Ah, the mundane home life returns with a vengeance!

Did you miss me?

Home, and officially swamped, with a short story due now and four contracts to review, print, sign, and mail.

The mail also brought comp copies of

• Bedding Down, containing the Sophie Mouette wintery novella “Hidden Treasure."
  
• Never Have the Same Sex Twice, a combo fiction and how-to book edited by Alison Tyler, which contains an excerpt of my story “Breakfast in Bed” as well as something I posted in a comment on Lust Bites about music. (Amazingly enough, I didn’t even mention Styx!)
  

Mmm, comp copy goodness!

More soon, as I pull my life back together!

How have you all been?

Happy December!

Happy December! Let the Wild Rumpus of the Holiday Season begin!

(I believe in the order of things. First comes Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then the December holiday season, however you celebrate the latter. No overlap. None of this “Christmas decorations in stores before Halloween” shit. Deep down I think you should hold off ‘til December 1, but I know a lot of people use the T’giving weekend to start decorating, and I’m cool with that. But now it’s December, and I’m happy about singing along with all the holiday music!)

Smokin'!

Not one, but two acceptance e-mails today!

My story “Fanning the Flames” will appear in the Playing With Fire anthology, edited by the delicious Alison Tyler! pompoms! *\o/*

The other is a preliminary sale, meaning the publisher gets the final say—but the publisher seems to like my stories (it’s the same publisher that’s doing Playing With Fire), so squee! I’ll announce that one officially when I can.