On the Topic of Blog Updates

I hate when I get so distracted that I end up having to do an update type of blog post instead of a normal one. Oh well. There's no help for it sometimes, as life often gets in the way. 

On the Heartless front: 

I've just posted my progress report on my Heartless blog. Click over to find out where I am in this endeavor. (The link will open in a new tab or window, depending on your browser settings.) In addition, I've announced the official release date for Heartless, the new revised edition. Watch for it to hit the virtual shelves August 31. 

On the writing front: 

I've been working on my prison hulk story, the serial for InD'Tale Magazine, and My Lady Coward. Coward will have to take a backseat until I get Heartless back out there, though. The 11th Commandment, on the other hand, will go forth as planned, since readers of InD'Tale will want to know what happens next. I'm curious about that myself. If you'd like to get in on this Regency serial, click on over to InD'Tale and subscribe. Subscriptions are free. If you subscribe now, you'll get access to the July/August issue which includes part 1 of The 11th Commandment. 

☺

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing
♫♪ Savage Garden ~ Universe

Just a little update...

I don't really have anything to say at the moment. I just wanted to assure everyone in bloggerworld that I am still around. I've been distracted. A little bummed, perhaps, but mostly distracted. 

Watch for a new Regency Wednesday post this coming Wednesday. It's short and for that I apologize. But I've neglected my blogging for long enough. I need to get back to my weekly posts, even if they're just quick tidbits here and there. 

♥ Happy reading, writing, and blogging!! ♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing 

♫♪ Savage Garden ~ Tears of Pearls ♫♪

All the Latest Gossip

I am a bad, bad blogger. How can I let more than a month pass between posts? Typical, though, when life gets extra busy. 

Writing 

I've been writing short stories and editing on Heartless, two things that take up a lot of time. I hope to post a new short story soon but in the meantime, there is another installment of My Lady Coward over on my website. www.jaimeygrant.com (Click the Coward cover and then scroll to the bottom to find Part 7.)

Covers 

I still design book covers. If you're in the market for a great, eye-catching design, please check out my cover design site: www.anauthorsart.com In fact, I just bought a new computer with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive so the cover designing isn't such a slow, slow, SLOW process. (My old computer only had 3GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive...not that the hard drive size has all that much to do with the slowness of the computer but now I have tons of space to save all those wondrous covers.) I'm still in the process of transferring programs, book files, fonts, and all that lovely stuff. That's time-consuming and just a bit irritating. Still, it will be done soon and I'll be back to cranking out some fabulous covers!

I think that's all the updates I have for now. I wish everyone a safe, productive, lovely weekend! ♥

It's Been Awhile

♪♫♪ Everlast ~ What It's Like ♫♪♫ 

Hello again, faithful readers! How goes life at your end? Here, things are crazy and a recent bout of [mild] illness took me out of the game all weekend. I'm still feeling the aftereffects and working at a snail's pace because of it. 

In Heartless news, the edit continues apace. OK, that's not true at all. I'm still stuck in chapter five, which, if you're following my Heartless blog, you'll know contained a huge info dump. I'm trying to rectify that HUGE faux pas. Rewriting an entire chapter, for some reason, is especially time-consuming. Oh well. The story will be the better for it.

In cover news, I've got orders coming out my ears. Never thought I'd get this busy but, there it is. I may have to cut back a little on accepting clients. I have a few regulars who I will always have time for but I have a tendency to take on more than I can handle. This cuts into writing time and hubby was very clear where my focus needs to be. Love that man! 

In other cover news, there are changes on the horizon for An Author's Art and I think the first will be a website facelift. Fun! I'm also in the negotiating stage with another designer to be a part of her design company. Yay!

In writing news, there's not much to tell. I've been so busy with family, covers, and editing that actual writing has taken just a bit of a backseat. I have current WIPs open on my laptop at any given moment, just in case inspiration demands I add to them.

So what's new with you?

A Heartless Dragon Update

Remember way (way, way, way, way) back when I asked for Heartless beta readers? I bet you're all wondering what's up with that, right? I haven't announced a winner, I haven't revealed a cover, I haven't mentioned a release date... 

The list goes on and on. 

Here's the deal: I'm a coward. That's right, a coward. I haven't cracked open those critiques 'cause my stomach lurches every time I think about it. I'm not sure why; Honor's critiques didn't fill me with this much dread.  

Heck, I got critiques on a fantasy novel I wrote almost two years ago and still haven't read those suggestions. (And I'm positive they're GREAT suggestions!) 

Then there's Dragon's Birth. OK, this one is a little closer to seeing the publishing light of day than the other two. In fact, it is up on Smashwords but the version there is not how we (Linda Boulanger of TreasureLine & I) want it to look. So, don't rush out and buy it yet. Especially if you were one of the ones who commented on my blog post ~Giveaway~ Woo-hoo! 100 Posts! (OK, 101.) and are thus entitled to a free copy.

All that said...

I am not trying to renege on my promises. The lovely readers who took time out of their busy schedules to read/critique Heartless will receive their free, cleaned-up eBook version when it's released, and one will receive a paperback. As for Dragon's Birth, as soon as my publisher gives me the HOORAY, I'll be emailing those download codes to the 6 lovely readers who commented (with their email addy) on my earlier blog post.

Thank you for your understanding and patience. I really appreciate it, as I appreciate each and every one of my blog followers. :O)

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!

NaNoWriMo Update

I'm sorry to say I am not doing well with NaNo at the moment. The first couple days went fine but then something happened that was too distracting for me to concentrate on a new novel. And when it comes right down to it, a new novel is not essential to my survival. Besides, I have 19 novels in various stages of completion, from 'middle of a rough draft' to 'in the final editing stages'. These should probably be seen to before a new novel is really started. That said, I will not push myself to "win" this year. I may go back to one of the books that's half done and attempt to complete that in the month. I'm not sure at this point. 

I have several projects in the works that will take up most of my time anyway. I've mentioned before that designing book covers has become something of a hobby. Well, I'm branching out a little beyond that now and offering my services should any indie authors out there be interested in the style of covers I design. Send an email to jaimeygrant{at}yahoo{dot}com with "Cover Art" in the subject line for any questions you may have on the subject of cover design. 

But perhaps you'd like to see what I can do first? To the left is the cover I made, just for fun, for the novel I was writing for NaNoWriMo. You can also check out this page on my site for other examples of my covers. I even explained what went into making the front cover for Deception.

I hope everyone who is doing NaNo is reaching their goals. Everyone else, I hope you are reaching yours too. Happy reading, writing, and blogging! 

News and Updates and Giveaways Galore

News. 

Deception's eBook debuted in August, going live on Smashwords and in Amazon's Kindle Store. It's only $4.99, a marked contrast to the $14.95 paperback. (But with a cover that gorgeous, who wouldn't want a hold-in-your-hands copy?) ;o)

Unlocked's paperback went live on Amazon. Those of you who were awaiting the Amazon edition, now's your chance to get it!

Heartless has been picked up by TreasureLine Publishing and so will receive a new cover, interior layout, and a bit of editing. (OK, so nothing's quite "official" yet, as I've not signed the contract, but that's just a formality.) The new cover will be revealed when I'm given the OK by TreasureLine. 

Updates. 

I'm working hard on editing Honor so I can submit it to my publisher. Meanwhile, I've been distracted by Retribution and tapping away on that so it can make its way out into the big bad world by next year. Covers for both are also in the works. 

Giveaways galore. 

Jewelry is the featured giveaway this month in the Unlocked group on Goodreads. Join to find out how to win a "key" necklace in September's contest. As always, visit www.unlockedproject.com to download your free PDF copy of the anthology.

I will be holding my own giveaway for Unlocked just as soon as my brother (of JaysDesign Jewelry) has finished the key necklace I've ordered from him. Oh, and after I've ordered/received a few copies of the book itself. I'm excited to see it!

I will hold another contest when I reach 100 blog followers. I have yet to decide what the prize will be but it will be a good one, I promise. Only 10 more followers to go!

That's it for me...for now. Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!

Update: Regency Giveaway

The entry deadline for my Regency Giveaway has been reached. The winner will be announced tomorrow, September 1st. (Ok, so that's technically later today.)

Thank you to all who entered.

For another chance to win a gorgeous piece of jewelry made by JAYSDESIGN Jewelry, check out his new facebook fan giveaway. Become his fan and you are entered to win. If you already are his fan, you are already entered. Click here for details.