I've Moved!

If you're looking for me, I'm no longer here!

Head over to my website which now has my new blog. Change your favorite settings to http://www.deecarney.com/blog.

Thanks for keeping up with me! God knows what might happen if someone doesn't do it.

Dagnubbit!! I've been tagged!

Darn Kris Eton. Anyway, I'm supposed to write seven random things about myself and then tag five other people. Here goes:

1. I'm cheap as hell. I won't spend more than $20 for a pair of pants. (I can usually get add a shirt to the mix and still stay under $20.)

2. Having made it almost thirty-four years without seeing a dead person (never even attended a funeral), I've had three patients die in the last three weeks. (And no, I didn't kill them. Oncology unit. Nuff said.)

3. I hate my toes.

4. My mouth is itching right now because I just ate some raw carrots in my salad - which I'm allergic to.

5. Before I became published, I used to read four to five books a week. Now I'm reading one book a month. Sometimes.

6. I collect shot glasses from states I've visited.

7. Speaking of visiting, I hate to travel, but often do it for work.

There. Happy?

I'm tagging: Deanna Lee, Ava Rose Johnson, Celia Kyle, Ericka Scott and P. Andrews.

The Fisherman (PG-13)

I've been working like a dog and I'm tired as all get out.

Oh wait. Y'all not from the South? That's how we speak down here. Anyway, since I haven't posted in a while and I'm too brain-fuzzied to think about anything clever right now, I'm leaving you with a bit of eye candy.

Enjoy.

Nightmares! Oh My!

For the past two nights I've had a doozy of a dream - part I and part II. You know, the kind of dream that when you finally wake up, you can feel your heart hammering in your chest. The kind that makes you wonder if you'll be able to fall back asleep...EVER. In very loose terms, it was similar to those old "Invasion of the Body Snatcher" type movies. And in my dreams, hardly anyone makes it out alive. Heck. I can't remember if I make it out alive. lol.

Make lemonade out of lemons I always say.

I've jotted down the basic premise for a story based on those dreams. Somehow I'll try to turn the adrenaline rush into something sexy too. We'll see what we see. Right now, I have so many story ideas running around my little brain that my fingers can't keep up with the necessary typing. And this from the person who only a few days ago couldn't find the motivation to write. Such is life.

And on a personal note, if you're an adult who is told that you need braces, of course, by all means get them. But if your orthodontist tells you it will only be for two years - HE LIES. June of '08 marks three years that I've had these suckers on. But the good news is that June 3rd of this year, these puppies are coming off!! Oh yeah!

Dry Spell

It's been seven days since I've written anything. True...I like to take a break in between writing projects, but during that break I'm usually brewing something in my mind towards a new story. This time? Zip. Nada. Nothing.

I think it has to do with the fact that I've left the comfort of working 50 to 60 hours a week doing my day-time job. Now, I'm down to about 30 hours a week and it's freaky. I have all of this spare time! You would think that I would use it to write, but noooo, not me. My days are filled with sudoku and finding dust bunnies in the oddest places.

Someone come along and prod me into action, would ya?

Any way, two bits of news: One - Kris Eton will be interviewing me on her blog April 28th. Come on over and check out what I have to say. Two - New contest! Everyone who is signed up for my monthly (and I do mean monthly!!) newsletter by May 15th will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to Cobblestone Press. If you haven't signed up yet, get moving!

Hmm. I think I just spotted another dust bunny. Die, rabbit, die!

Good things come in threes

Of course, by now you know that Soldier released this past Friday. And you also know that I received a contract for Career Opportunities. Well, yesterday, I received another contract for The Fallen!!

The Fallen will be released by Cobblestone Press under their Wicked erotica line. It is a very, very dark tale about a fallen angel who seduces a woman into doing some things she normally would not do. The ending is so wickedly corrupt that I have plans to write a sequel just to try to redeem our dark "hero". If you're looking for sweet, this ain't the story for you.

And speaking of dark, do you think that what a writer prefers to write about is in line with their true personality? I've been vowing to edit a Christmas romance for weeks now and I cannot seem to find the mood to do so. Instead, I am finding ways to twist current works in progress into stories that make your eyebrows shoot up. I added two sentences to Dark Forest Nights before I subbed it that echo in my mind still. Pure evil, I tell ya.

I guess it's like when you get in the mood for one of those movies that make you pull out a box of Kleenex and you consciously choose to watch it, knowing what kind of blubbering mess it'll make you. Right now, my train of thought has entered strange and forbidden woods. You might want to bring along a flashlight and a weapon if you care to ride.

Writing Growth

Last night I subbed Dark Forest Nights to a new publisher as I said I would. An additional 2,200 words were added to my original manuscript. By the time I was done with it, I couldn't have been more pleased.

Reading it over made me realize how much I have learned in the months since I first submitted Soldier to Cobblestone. In fact, I think I might have to become like some of those actors who don't watch their own movies....I won't read my stories once they're published. I don't want to cringe over something I didn't know back when I originally submitted it. Then again, that may mean that I never get to read my stories again.

Face it. We're always learning something new.

And the best part about learning during this process has been the number of authors who have been willing to help me along the way. This list is by no means inclusive (so if I forgot you, I'm sorry!!!!!!!) but thanks to (in no particular order!!!) Moira Rogers, Cassandra Moore, Moira Reid, Tess Harrison, Tierney O'Malley, Ava Rose Johnson, Kris Eton, L. Shannon and Devin Govaere...and so many others who have poked, prodded and dragged my writing into something better. And of course, thanks to Deanna Lee and Sable Grey for giving me my first start.

Jeez. When did this turn into the Oscars? lol

It's Official!!

I'm a published author, y'all! *Snoopy Dance!!* It's some ungodly hour of the morning and I just received my author package for Soldier. If I do say so myself, it's gorgeous!! Sometime within the next two hours or so, it will actually be available for purchase on Cobblestone's web site.

Of course, tonight at the online release party starting at 8pm EST I'll be sure to give away a free copy. So set your clocks and be there!

Ok. I think I've just petered out. lol. Being excited takes a lot of energy. I will say that prior to the email, I was revising Dark Forest Nights for submission to another publisher. It was rejected earlier this month for er - let's say questionable content. I'm fixing that now and hopefully will send it out tomorrow or Saturday. I just need to add another 800 words.

But before I do that, let me gather my strength for just...one...more....

SNOOPY DANCE!!

New Blog Design

If you're viewing my actual blog right now, you had to have noticed the changes. I spent an insane amount of time today trying to find a new layout that I liked and that worked. Key word that: "worked". Anyhoo, here it is in all it's splendor and glory. I'm still trying to decide if I like it. I adore the layout. I hated that you used to have to scroll *all the way down* to find anything useful on my old blog. This one has everything laid out nice and neat off to the right. My biggest issue though is the actual design. Although it's pretty, it's so, well, bright. Even after four cups of coffee, I'm not this bright. If you remember my old blog, drop in and let me know what you think of this one.

In the meanwhile, I'll be looking for my shades.

Final Countdown to Soldier

Yep. We're in the home stretch! This Friday, April 11th, 2008, you can purchase my debut novella; Soldier will be released by Cobblestone Press in six days! I received the good news that they wanted it on Christmas day and not even six months later, dream turns into reality. How cool is that?

If you want to learn more about the story, come chat with me at Cobblestone Press this Friday at 8pm EST. Simply go to http://www.cobblestone-press.com/chat.html. Strong warning up front and the disclaimer is there before you enter: the content of the chat DOES become very adult in nature. Those who are faint of heart should not enter! (For example, I think last night was an all-time record. It took 35 minutes for someone (moi!) to mention the word c*ck. That usually happens within five minutes. lol.) I'll be giving away a free copy of Soldier that night and there is usually at least one other give away done.

And speaking of adult in nature, I've also sold Career Opportunities by Morgan Sierra to Cobblestone. It's an erotica for their Wicked line. I posted an unedited excerpt for it on this blog some time back, but if you want to see it again, go to my website under the Morgan Sierra page.

Yes - I'm slowly but surely getting there, folks!

Contest Winner!

Thanks to all who entered my March blog contest. Congratulations to Malice Blackheart for winning a Cobblestone Press gift certificate, a signed copy of the cover to Soldier (releasing April 11, 2008), and some adult goodies for a romantic evening at home. Malice, send an email to dee@deecarney.com with your email and snail mail addresses and I'll get those out to you! Stay tuned for future contests!