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! ♥

Cowards, Giveaways, and Gothic Intrigue! Oh my!

♫♪♫ Alicia Keys ~ Butterflyz ♪♫♪ 

Gothic Intrigue

"There are two courses open to a gentlewoman when she finds herself in penurious circumstances," my Aunt Adelaide had said. "One is to marry, and the other to find a post in keeping with her gentility."

Thus begins Mistress of Mellyn by the fabulous Victoria Holt. I've been a longtime fan of Gothic romances and Victoria Holt (Eleanor Hibbert) was a Queen of Gothic Romance. My favorite is On the Night of the Seventh Moon but The Spring of the Tiger comes in a very close second. The twists and non-formulaic storylines in these two books are just amazing. If you haven't read them, I strongly encourage you to do so. All of VH's books are totally clean, if sexual details in romances are something that bother you.

(I suspect my love affair with the darker of clean romances was the greatest influence on my own darker Regency offerings. ☺)

On that note, the Gothicked group on Goodreads is reading Mistress of Mellyn right now. Pop on over (click HERE) if you'd like to join in the group read or discuss it if it's one you've already read.

Giveaways

Over in the Clean Romances group on Goodreads, we're having another one of our massive book giveaways. 92 books were donated this time 'round, two of which are copies of my own Honor and Deception. Click on over to the entry thread HERE.

Cowards

I've failed to keep you updated on my serial romance, My Lady Coward. Here are the links to every part of the story:

1. Clever Fiction
2. Clever Fiction
3. Clever Fiction
4. my website 
5. my website (same page, immediately following Part 4)
6. Clever Fiction 
7. Part 7 is coming soon. I have to finish transcribing it. 

That's it for now. I'll be back when I have something worth saying again. Happy reading, writing, and blogging!! 

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?

My Heartless Journey

Now playing: Fiona Apple ~ The First Taste 

♫♪♫ ♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ 

Remember this book? 

 

But maybe you remember it looking like this: 

 

Either way, this book has been off the virtual shelves for several months now (over a year, maybe??). I expected to see used copies for sale, of course, even suggested to a few eager readers that they check out Amazon for a used copy. This is what I saw:

 

Yeah, that says "3 used from $442.58" (most expensive being $738.47). This screencap was taken November 14, 2011 and I know the prices have varied since then, but not much. I have no idea what they are now.

I was only slightly surprised when I saw that B&N had one used copy and it was listed at $519.

Based on these numbers, I think it is in everyone's best interest that I get the Heartless revamp completed. (You might remember that I listed that first on my writing goals for 2012?) So far, I've been enjoying the adventure. If you'd like to be kept up-to-date on how my Lord Heartless is taking up my time, please click over to my Heartless blog. That's where I'm recording my progress.

 

I've already posted an excerpt as well as a request for opinions. Who doesn't like to give their opinion? ☺

Fans of Romance: Opinions Needed

♪♫♪ Now playing in Jaimey's mind: Daughtry ~ Breakdown ♫♪♫ 

Over on the Affaire de Coeur blog, TJ MacKay asked a question:

"What do YOU think about the prevalence of graphic sex in books today? Do you like it just the way it is or would you prefer more tame romance offerings?"

TJ's goal is to raise awareness that, although the big publishers believe otherwise, there is a market for clean, sweet, or traditional-style romance offerings. As a writer of clean romance, I hope this blog post and the article set to appear in the Jan-Feb issue of AdC magazine will bring out other writers of clean romance, as well as open some doors in the publishing world. 

Please take a moment to click on over and weigh in on this subject so close to my heart. Thank you! 

First Post of 2012 : Goals

♫ Now playing in Jaimey's mind: Staind ~ For You ♫

Everyone needs goals, especially writers. If we didn't set goals, we'd never get these stories out of our heads and onto paper. Thus, here are my writing goals for 2012: 

• Heartless: read, edit, read again, tweak, submit to TreasureLine Publishing for re-release.
• Intrigue: read, edit, read, edit again, read, tweak, offer up to beta readers, read, edit, read, tweak, submit to TreasureLine. 
• Temptation: finish first draft, read, edit, read, tweak, submit to beta readers.
• Retribution: finish first draft, read, edit, read, tweak, submit to beta readers who have strong stomachs. 
• Flawless: finish first draft, read, edit, read, tweak, submit to beta readers.
• My Lady Coward: finish this episodic short story and submit to TreasureLine for publication. 
• Sable's Secrets: give Sable her HEA or at least put her out of her misery. (Don't know who Sable is? You can read about her HERE, HERE, or HERE.)
• The Dragon Curse: read, edit, read, edit, read, edit... (yeah, this one needs work). 
• The Keeper and the Key: figure out what the heck is going on in this short story....sheesh.
• Unnamed fantasy novel (co-authored with Linda Boulanger): finish my part and send to Linda so she can add hers. 
• SELL MORE BOOKS.

OK, so that last isn't a writing goal. Still, if I wanna keep this writing gig, I need to step up in the marketing department. Not my cup of tea but any job demands we do things we are not totally comfortable doing. 

So what are your writing goals? 

Not a writer? What are your reading goals? 

*Image found on Wikimedia Commons. 

Last Post of 2011

I don't really have anything to say. I just wanted to post something on this, the very last day of 2011. Heck, I still find myself almost writing 2010 on checks. (Oh, I know. Strange, right? I still have to write checks for some bills.) I think this says more about me than I wish to reveal. 

It's after 3pm and hubby's still sleeping. I've consumed a pot of coffee on my own so I'm almost shaking as I sit here typing. Still, I wanted to say nothing for a few minutes, wasting my time and yours. 

Aw, heck. You lovely people are the reason I'm still here, sporadically. You lovely readers, fans, and occasional naysayers. I love you all and thank you all from the bottom of my clichéd heart. 

(Like that? I made that just for you. Yes, you.) 

2011 was good, bad, and ugly. 

I started my cover design service back in January and that has been fabulous fun from the get-go. My Regency romance, Honor, hit the shelves in May and my short story fantasy, The Dragon's Birth, followed suit in November. They are available at Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, Apple...and probably a few others I'm forgetting. 

My book sales fell down and haven't quite picked back up but that's part of life. Not good when one comes to rely on royalties to pay a bill or two. 

My adored and adorable cat, Stinkerbell, died, taking five of her kittens with her. A couple months later, my grandpa died. Definitely the ugly part of the year. 

All-in-all, this year was...normal. Every year has its ups and downs, traumas and triumphs. 2011 was no exception. Keep that in mind when venturing into this new year. Strengthen yourself to face the traumas and ready yourself to rejoice in the triumphs. 

Thank you, my friends, family, fans, and readers. Thank you for adding to the triumphs of the year and thank you for allowing me into your lives through my writing. Thank you for sharing your ups and downs. Thank you. I appreciate it. I appreciate you.

I wish all the best to everyone at the start of this new year. 

Until next year, happy reading, writing, and blogging!! 

Melody of Dragons

Over a month ago I was asked one question (shortest interview of my life!) and it was: 

What song reminds you of your story, The Dragon's Birth? 

I answered, in great detail, with not one, but TWO Breaking Benjamin songs that bring this story to mind. Click on over to West of Mars to find out what songs I picked and how they fit this fantasy short story.  HUGE thank you to Susan of West of Mars for having me!!

For the interviews I've done, check out the little list of links in the right sidebar, just below the free UNLOCKED download. :O)

For the Record

Haven't done one of these in a while. Here's a subject near and dear to my heart. Without further ado, my latest whining rant... 

Food ingredient labels are not accurate. They have never been accurate. When high fructose corn syrup is allowed to be labeled as fructose, sucrose, or corn syrup, and MSG can be rolled into the all-encompassing ingredient SPICES, how much of the rest of the label can you trust?

Never trust a label. And since it's impossible to eat totally healthy (a wee bit too much world pollution for that) remember: ALL THINGS IN MODERATION.

~Regency Wednesday~ Vicarage House

♫ Now playing in Jaimey's mind: Brooke White ~ Free ♫

From Ackermann's Repository, October 1816: 

Architectual Hints. 

Plate 19. —A Vicarage-House.

  The annexed design was intended for the residence of a clergyman, and purposed to be erected in a situation where the scenery is both rural and romantic, and well disposed to accord with the style of building which may be considered as peculiarly ecclesiastic, from the extensive patronage that architecture once received by the munificence of church government. 

*Taken verbatim from Ackermann's Repository, October 1816. For more details, check out the linked Google book.