Somer's Rising, Book Two of the McRaidy Clan

My little darling Somer's Rising was contracted by the incredible Eternal Press! The tentative release date is September! It is the sequel to Her McRaidy Chieftain. I think you're going to love Somer and Conner:) Don't forget, Only Because It Was You, Gus McRaidy is releasing on April 7th. I'm a happy girl!
Have to run but I'll be posting soon...
Lots of Love to All
Em

Friends!

Happy March! It's been a rough last month. My computer gave up on me so now I'm using a borrowed one from my best friend of twenty plus years. It made me stop again and think about the value of friends, not so much what they give or lend but that they are just simply there. Especially one that you've had for many years. It gives a sense of roots so to speak. They are with you good and bad and many times outlast marriages, jobs and a plethora of other life events.
I think for me, it keeps me grounded and calm. Hopefully I do the same for her. If you haven't recently, then take the time to show some appreciation to the friend or friends that can turn the day into something a little more palitable when things seem hopeless. Make sure they know they matter.
I have a release next month from Eternal Press for my book Only Because it was You, Gus McRaidy. I'm excited and can't wait to read it. I know, I know, I wrote it, I know how it goes but there's something different about lazing around and reading a story you love. In May I have a release with Still Moments in their anthology. My piece is called Threat to our Forever. Its a sweet vs spicy romance. Make sure you check out both releases and let me know what you think.
That leads me back to friends. Mine are supportive of my books and writing but most heart warming to me is when I discuss a WIP they can usually tell me when I started it, when I reworked it and when I submitted it for publication. What does that tell me? That I matter:) Who doesn't want, need or love that?
Last I blogged I a new bathroom door was on the to-do list. Well its in but nothing ever goes as simply as one would hope. Had to trim the side and the bottom. I guess that comes from living in a house that was built in the 30's. LOL
Today and for the next couple of weeks I will be working on a manuscript to submit for another anthology. I'll keep you posted!
Well I'm off to let my creative flow begin!!
Much love to you all,
Em

New Contract and random thoughts

I'm not sure if I mentioned this because it all went very quickly but I submitted for an anthology with Still Moments Publishing for their Moonlight Mysteries to be out in May. Well bless my day I received an offer from them on Tuesday. They are so friendly and helpful, I am excited to be a part of their author team!!! So watch for it. My book is called Threat to our Forever.

It's Friday and I'm going door shopping tonight...I'd love something elaborate but think it will pretty basic. After all, its for the bathroom.

Love you all!
Em

What I've been writing!

Well, I got Somer's Rising submitted. Now I wait to see if it is accepted. Always a lip biting time but I just move forward with my next manuscript to pass the time. Soooooo, you'll wait with me??
Somer's Rising is Book Two in the McRaidy Clan. I really like her and Conner McRaidy is all man*sigh*

I'm anxious and excited about Only Because it was You, Gus McRaidy. Amanda Kelsey is doing my cover as she did the one for Her McRaidy Chieftain. She is such a gifted artist! Gus and I are in great hands!

I wanted to give a little peek a boo of Gus. He is what you would expect from a McRaidy. Strong, passionate not only in love but family and life. The woman who gives him a challenge is Ann. She is a confident, accomplished woman who is worth the effort. I like her and when I wrote Ann, she had great things to whisper in my ear. Like I've said before, my characters tell their story and I am just the note taker. LOL

Hmmmm, what else am I working on....Just finished writing the first chapter of Book Three of the McRaidy Clan. The heroine is outstanding, I can't wait to see what she wants to have written:) I finished a 13k novella submission that is a sweet romantic suspense. A little different for me as far as romantic heat goes but we'll see what the publisher thinks of it. We'll have to wait a few weeks so add that to our waiting list also:)

A christmas story idea that has simmered in my mind for a while is flowing out also aaaannnnddd I am doing some clean up on my very first manuscript I completed. Editing, polishing, some rewriting, fixing those naughty POV changes in the middle of a scene....this could take a while.

As You can See I am working on several manuscripts at the same time. That's pretty typical of me which is why I have several done at the same time and then a longer period without a completion...Just my style I think. Multi Tasking sounds so much better.

I'll close for now but as soon as I have my approved Blurb and Excerpts for Only Because it was You, Gus McRaidy, I'll be sure to post them!

Take care and Lots of Love
Em

Only Because It Was You, Gus McRaidy

Hi All!!! I have exciting news, Only Because It Was You, Gus McRaidy received a contract from Eternal Press! The scheduled release date is April 7th. This is the contemporary in my arc of the McRaidy Family. Her McRaidy Chieftain started the medieval footing in the Highlands of Scotland and Gus McRaidy is the footing for the contemporary.
Authors will understand my next comments and readers perhaps too but the McRaidy's in their entirety just line up and have a lot to say. I will be starting the edits for Gus and prepping Somer's Rising (medieval highlands) for submission but I have several characters from different time era's tapping on my shoulder. For me it's a fun process and that feeling you get when you read a book, you know how you are glued and keep turning the page, well when my characters began speaking, it's that way for me. I just type the notes:)

We are in the New Year finally and I have to say, I love January. Everything feels fresh and alive. As though opportunity and adventure will occur at any moment. It's also one of my favorite times to think about myself. That sounds weird huh? If you think about it, you don't really think about yourself as much as you think about what you need to do or accomplish. It's like paying your monthly bills, you just pay them most of the time but when do you really think about why do I owe these and how do I feel about owing them? For instance lets discuss my phone bill. Now the amount is agreeable to me but what I was getting for my money seemed  to be far less than what everyone else is getting. So I looked around and realized for what I was paying I could have unlimited talk, text and web browsing where as previously I had unlimited text, 500 mins of talk and zero web browsing. It paid off to make the change and no I didn't have to get a new contract either. That's what I mean about thinking about myself versus thinking about what I'm suppose to do.

I'm sure we all have made goals or resolutions and some we will keep, others not so much and a few we may modify but no matter how we go about it, at least we've thought about it:)

For now I need to run but as part of MY resolutions I will write more often on my blog instead of thinking about it!

Lots of Love
Em

Could we all be a writer without knowing it?

I think there may be a writer in each of us but we just don't know it. The average persons perception on an incident, happy or sad becomes a story. However, to those that feel a swelling inside are driven to put it down in writing. Little things that happen in every day life become a seed to an author. It may not generate an entire novel but it definitely shows up somewhere in some fashion.
Even the color of the sky at sunset can fertilize a growing story. For instance, during a tremendous windstorm, dust seemed to gather in cloud that, to me, looked like a character in my book. As the wind lifted various items and floated them around I wondered if the hero in one of my story's could actually float down on gusts of wind if they were controlled by a mythological creature. Well I did a few trial and errors (no I didn't jump off anything) with some research on wind gusts and some probability theory's and viola, it could happen.
The reason for my musing is this, when you are in a group and people are relaying their weekends or an event, some of them are noticeably more interesting than others and you want to hear more. Could they be a writer and we don't know it or is it that they don't know it yet.
I worked with a wonderful woman at one point and she had a personality that made  you want to know her. Kind, funny, honest and a wonderful heart. She is drawn towards making life better for others but when she tells about it, I always thought she should write a book. Maybe she will, maybe she won't but I still always thought it.
Well those are my thoughts today on writing and now I shall open my latest WIP re-write (and trust me, you want me to re-write this!!) and get to work.
Lots of Love to all
Em

Been working hard---How about you?

I've been working hard on a few different manuscripts now that work continues to calm down. Whatcha been doing yourselves?

Lots of love
Em

I was a drama queen! My thoughts on romance and a comment about Her McRaidy Chieftain

Romance writers write about one common thing regardless of their subgenre...romance. But what is romance really? Are couples that have been together for years and years still romantic? Absolutely! It's just different. The thrill of new love is exciting. All the fun things such as anticipation, unexpected compliments, special touches are addictive but is that what describes romance in long term relationships? Maybe a little but more so it is the unspoken compliments that are replaced with "that look". You know the one I mean. When your man throws a little wink at you, cups your butt with a squeeze...just the way you like it or flashes an intimate smile with a little nod.
Now let me regale you with my drama queen moment that relates to this very topic...It's the Saturday before Valentines day, I'm tired and feeling defeated that I gained a few pounds over winter and it was still too cold to do much outside. Envision I'm plopped in the middle of the couch focused on playing battleship on the Xbox whining about us eating too much red meat, I want to become a vegetarian and if I had a bicycle all my problems would be solved.
My man teases me a little, kept giving me a kiss or squeeze and patiently tolerated my snippy comments, crappy attitude and general bad behavior. Then he grabs the keys and mentions he's going for a haircut.
Now keep in mind he goes every week to the same barber and gets a haircut. He is picky about his hair and always has been. One of my favorite things about him. A haircut should not have come as any surprise to me but at that moment the fact that he was spending 20 bucks on a haircut and I was moody without a bicycle sent me over the top and into self pity. (I really should have slept in that morning, it had been a long week with a ton of overtime) I got teary eyed, left him in the living room and sniffled my way to the bathroom to sulk.
Finished with my pout about a minute later I decide I really needed a nap and slinked out of the bathroom and then I see the front door wide open and no one in sight. I stomped to the door and shoved it shut. Stomped to the couch and plopped myself down again all the while loudly giving my opinion of my mans manners since he left the door open.
Not a minute later, Woosh the door opens and in a loud racket my gorgeous loving man sets my brand new bicycle down and smiles and announces "Happy Valentines Day Baby!"
I sobbed and hugged him while I apologized for being such a bitch. He explained he knew I wanted a bike and bought it the night before. He hid it at the neighbors to wait for Valentines day but decided I needed it today. I adore him for that and I took a ride then a nap and was much more pleasant for the rest of the weekend.
The moral to my little recitation is this...even though it isn't brand new love, romance comes in all sorts of ways. To some a bicycle for Valentines day may not be the perfect romantic gift but my man knew it was for me. That is what romance is all about, knowing what makes your partner tingle. The important thing for we ladies is to remember it goes both ways. I think our partners like a little attention too.

Update on my writing block...some days go better than others but I have several books that are at the closing stage. I am still waiting to see if my submission is accepted by the publisher but these things take time.
This week I received a lovely comment on my book Her McRaidy Chieftain from Eternal Press that I want to share
"Just wanted to let you know I read your book. I love it! I'm not a romance fan and it was great! You are truly talented!:)"
It meant so much to read that. I keep these types of comments close so when I feel a little unsure, I can be reminded somebody really did like what I wrote
My every day career is getting better every day so I think my writing pace will continue to pick up! Thank goodness the upheaval of the last year is behind me:) Have a happy day!!
Lots of Love Em

I'm still on track!

I submitted my latest manuscript a week ago and have that mixed feeling that is usual. Glad it's off and starting a new book combined with are they going to take it and how long will it take until I find out. It's a process that personally I think is good for a soul. Just like when you were a student, waiting to see how you did on a test or a big report. Anticipation! That too, is what makes a great book, anticipation of what will happen next. All of my favorite authors include that in their story telling which is what is also known as a hook. Placing these hooks to keep our reader with us is a craft of love.
I have some authors that I read that focus more on the "created world" so to speak and don't utilize a great deal of anticipation...or so I thought until recently. Layering their "worlds" is what keeps readers hooked. They want to know what it becomes.
I'm finishing the sequel to Her McRaidy Chieftain at Eternal Press and will sub it in when it's finished. Weeeeelllll, you know what happened, I was almost finished with it months and months ago and then my "real career" got in the way and I forgot it. Not that I had worked on it but that it was so close to being finished. Then I stopped in to finish Only Because it was You and there you go. I really believe in everything happens for a reason so I'm not angry with myself, just wondering how it will all pan out:)
Ok, I know this was a quick check in but I have to get going. Maybe I can stop later and tell you about my weekend...some fun stuff happened!!
Lots of Love
Em

Whew!

I'm so sorry I haven't kept up over the last  months. I could and should go into the details as part of my apology but it will come in time. The old adage that things happen in 3's...well somewhere in the cosmic sphere the calculation portion of life became skewed. My best mathematical skills showed the original 3 issues then a multiplication of the square root of said 3 issues which then a rounding up factor kicked in. Without an even divisible, you can see how that happened.

As things seem readily in hand and controlled...well at least the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned back on I have that old feeling back. My characters chatting at me as I drive, reminding me that I'm almost finished with my self edits...just come on!!
That is exactly what I did last weekend (keep in mind the light only turned on a week or so ago) and the foundation piece of my McRaidy series is 75% done with edits and will need a polish and tightening round. Hehehe, I thought that sounded funny...anyway back to my progress.
I posted on my Facebook page (come visit me) that I should set a goal or timeline to complete this manuscript and sub it in. My very good friend (I'll talk about her in a minute) helped me out and next Monday is the day.

Ok, lets talk about my BFF. She has surgery next Monday and I'll be at the hospital worrying. This isn't something minor...they are removing some skull ...that is freaky stuff. The thing about this woman is that she gets some of the freakiest things happening to her health. Like I told her, she will end up with this her whole life and live forever whereas me on the other hand will probably just have some heart attack in my sleep.
I'm worried about her and my way to cope and not ask her to make me feel better, is to take the low road. My solution-Texting her as to what I should wear that will make me look lovely while I worry and stress at the hospital. She of course-because she is my BFF for over 20 years- suggested sweats...........I can't do thaaaaaaaaaaat!!! Entertained with ourselves we agreed on something casual but not overly so. In addition I have her permission to bring my laptop to the hospital and work on my submission. (the surgery is hours and hours long) Isn't she the bomb!!!! Seriously though, whether you pray, keep good thoughts, meditate or any number of other things, keep her in there. I want success and a great recovery for my friend.

Now back to my writing, I'm on it. I haven't really been MIA, just quiet, I've been promoting Her McRaidy Chieftain published with Eternal Press. And I really have been working on things but it's not my usual pace or schedule. Speaking of Eternal Press, I still love them:):) Kim the owner works so hard and the other authors are exquisite. Helpful and supportive. I love reading their books, posts and blogs. I've also been silently keeping up with some of my favorite author friends too. Kim, Lisa and Nicole. Their links are on my blog so go visit them!!
I've chattered long enough, I just wanted to say HI and update you on my plans.
Lots of Love
Em