David Gandy, gadgets and geeks

I was originally going to write this post back in February, but with Valentine’s Day I thought there was enough talk about what makes the perfect hero, what we want in a man, so the idea got filed and forgotten. Until now when a mention of Mr Gandy reminded me :-)

Entangled Publishing had a submission call open at the start of the year, and they were looking for subs where the main character was a geek. One of my WIP’s does in fact have a heroine who’s a bit of a geek (because I’m a bit of a geek), but it got me wondering what it was about the geek hero that appeals….

I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for the tall, dark handsome kind of hero, the type of man who is successful, dominant (but not bossy!)… yeah the alpha hero. But having worked in IT I’ve know plenty of geeks, and some of them have been sexy, and some definitely haven’t rung my bell…and although I like my hero rugged and with a six pack, he also needs to be smart, because although I don’t want to talk bits and bytes in bed (I really don't) I do want my mind challenging as well as my libido.

So when women say that they like geeks, and would  love to see one as the leading man, what exactly do they mean? Is that a ‘David Gandy with a gadget’ type of geek (see I did get back to him!), or do they mean the everyday under nourished, (as in too busy to eat), pale from lack of sun/daylight, straggly haired, no social skills type of geek? Your normal, everyday average geek that you can spot in the corner hugging his electronic wizadry?  

Or is the clue in the word ‘normal’, do we just mean that any man be a hero providing he’s extra-ordinary in some way to the heroine, to the reader? That a guy with brains is as sexy as a guy with brawn? Does it all just come down to how he reacts when he finds a woman that finally gets his attention, the one that can drag him away from his gadgets, the one that he can be as obsessive about as he is about his toys? Because geeks can truly be obsessive believe me….

So what about you? Do you need toned abs and a cute smile? Or a man with a challenging mind and a way with his hands? Can a geek be alpha, or is it that we want that little bit of beta? Or maybe a bit of everything?

Revealing the real me (or, how I went from aspiring to published)

 I was recently asked what my new novel ‘Forfeit’ is really about, if there is a message in there that I want people to grasp. If anything I think it’s about how important it is to be true to yourself. To believe in yourself and who you really are. And let that person out!

If you’re the type of girl who wants to squeal, and hug the nearest person, when something good happens, then let’s face it if someone stops you reacting that way then you’re not going to be happy. In fact, before long it will probably take most of the fun out of any situation. Similarly, if you’re naturally a reserved type who hates all the touchy feely stuff, then having hugs and kisses forced on you might make every muscle in your body tense up (how many of us remember that from when we were kids?!).

In ‘Forfeit’, the heroine Cat has built up barriers for self protection. She’s tried being herself and been knocked back, and she decides that the safest way to live is to shut off her emotions, shut off what she really wants and feels. Which is how I guess a lot of us feel about life. With some people it’s one big event that destroys their self confidence, with other people it’s the constant drip feed of messages that they’re not good enough, not doing things the right way. And it isn’t always easy to believe in ourselves enough to risk opening our hearts up and doing what we really want to.

In a strange way it was being true to myself that took me from aspiring writer to published author. At the end of last year I realised that I couldn't bury a story that had received a form R from a publisher. I loved the premise; the story meant something to me. But it wasn’t good, it didn’t sing, the way it was written wasn’t really me. It was how I thought it should be written. So I scrapped every single word. I reworked the plot. I got to know the characters a little better.

Then I forgot how I should write, and I wrote the story I’d want to read. I made it more upbeat, the heroine more sassy and determined, and the hero more edgy and real. I put in the type of plot twists that I knew could and should happen, and took out the plot devices that I’d manufactured.  I put in swear words and people tripping up, because that’s what happens in real life. And the story came alive and I loved it. When I read it, it was me. It was real. It was about people I cared about and things that could really happen. It was escapism, but plausible. So I subbed it to a publisher who had started producing the types of books I love to read and crossed my fingers.

A short time later I saw the Xcite competition and even though I’d never tried writing erotic romance before, I wanted to try. So I did (after uncrossing my fingers). I was more confident about me, about the way I want to write. I was being true to myself. Not trying to mimic what was already out there. That story is now on the (virtual) bookshelf, and I’m a published author. (Yay!)

And I’ve just had feedback from an editor on that rewritten story to say they loved the story, the voice (my voice, the real me that I’ve finally been brave enough to let loose!) and the authenticity. I’ve not had a final decision on that yet – but I’ve had confirmation that I’m heading in the right direction.

By discovering how important it is to be true to myself.

Didn’t someone once say you need to learn to love yourself, before you can expect anyone else to?

What happened to January, February and March?

I can't believe that it's the middle of April! Easter seems a distant memory already and the school re-opened today after the hols, so it's back to some peace and quiet and catching up on a mountain of things I've been neglecting i.e. house, garden, fridge.....

At the weekend we finally got out in the garden and started a tidy up, which was quite therapeutic after spending so much time indoors at the keyboard. We also put a base down for a BBQ (yes, I'm sure we're going to have some sun in the UK this summer!) and uncovered the garden furniture - and it was actually warm enough to sit outside and have breakfast on the patio which is lovely and sheltered. Even the hard top came off the car!

It's this time of year that I miss my horse though, spring is a great time to be out and about after that horrible cold winter bit when the tips of your fingers feel like they are going to drop off, and before there are too many flies about. Yes, I miss the good bits, and horses make such good companions, but it has been quite nice not wading through the mud with buckets over the winter. Still when life settles down again it would be great to find another nice horse....

So what happened to the first three months of the year? Well if you've read my previous post you'll know that I've recently had a book accepted for e-publication. It has all been a bit of a whirlwind, from start to finish with 'Forfeit'. Official release day is Thursday and I'll be celebrating over at Zara Stoneley, but today I noticed that it's already for sale on Amazon!! Thursday though is when OH will be home, so that's when we celebrate :-)
 

Today I got some really positive comments from an editor about a romance I submitted a short while ago, so I'm crossing my fingers on that one too....

And the rest of the year? Well I have a ten day blog tour arranged with Lucy Felthouse, at Writer Marketing Services which starts at the end of May which will keep me busy, plus I'm working on a new erotic romance (which has hot men, horses and tumbles in the hay) and another romantic novella (a geek girl and a hot guy who just knows he can draw her out of her shell) which is bubbling away in the background.

And I'm just dying to get out in the garden as soon as we get some hot weather: soaking up the sun, pottering, drinking wine and BBQ'ing (well OH will be in charge of the BBQ)...... what about you?

What's in a name?

I know I've neglected this blog woefully so far this year - and I had such good intentions. But as a lot of you know, life can get in the way of good intentions.

Alongside all the normal day to day stuff, I've been writing frantically and as a result I signed a contract with Xcite Books yesterday! (Now please excuse all the links in this post - but these are some awesome people!).

Last year at the Festival of Romance, Xcite books launched a competition to win a publishing contract. Now, I had seen the competition advertised on the Festival website, but my writing wasn't really erotic romance and so it hadn't registered with me. Over the past few months though I've had more and more comments about how sizzling my writing is and how much sexual tension it contains, which got me thinking. After all, writing what you know, and what you enjoy, helps produce a good story.

On 12th January, Kate Allan posted a reminder about the competition on Romantic Fiction Online, with a closing date of 31st January. I still wasn't sure, but I'd just finished a couple of books by the wonderful Doris O'Connor and Lucy Felthouse and after a bit more procrastination I felt inspired to give it a go!

So, nothing like a bit of pressure, I got writing knowing that I needed to produce the first three chapters and a one page synopsis. And I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed it!

On February 14th the winner was announced, and it wasn't me. I did however get a request for a full manuscript, which had me jumping about in excitement until I remembered I hadn't got a full. I emailed straight back asking if the editor was happy to wait a few weeks and I had a lovely response, so got to work on completing the novel. I'm now hopping about eagerly awaiting edits!!

So, why has this post got the title it has I hear you ask? Well, I'm getting there. (Apologies for such a verbose post but I'm excited!)
After quite a bit of umming and ahhing I have decided to publish 'Forfeit' under a different pen name. I've read a lot of comments about the pros and cons of using more than one name, which I have read and deliberated over.

This novel is a romance, it does have a HEA and two main characters. It also has a lot of sex, a lot of explicit sex - and most definitely is an erotic romance (some might just say Erotica). Now, when I write contemporary romance it definitely sizzles (I don't write sweet!) but it isn't this explicit.

What concerned me, was that someone who had enjoyed one of my erotic romances might search for other books I'd written and purchase a contemporary expecting a similar erotic read. I know book descriptions are there for a purpose, but sometimes we just don't bother reading them in detail if we already know and love an author and there's nothing more frustrating than a book not delivering what you expect. Similarly, I'd hate to think that someone might accidentally purchase an erotic romance and be shocked or offended at the level of detail! Either way, they might decide they like it after all, but....

So, I've decided to use a different name and have set up a different blog, but will continue to post about all my writing here (yes, I will try and get back to posting regularly!).

It's early days so I haven't got a publication date or cover yet and have only just set up my blog. (Will I manage to cope with two I hear you asking? Hopefully!) But if you're interested please pop over and visit me at my new blog where I will be writing more about erotic romance.

A big thanks to everyone who has helped me so far with my writing career, I'm really looking forward to being able to announce a launch date for 'Forfeit' by Zara Stoneley shortly.

What do you think about using different writing names - confusing or the right thing to do? I'd love to know what people think!

The Four Stages of Learning

Well it's 2012 and I've been resisting the urge to make resolutions. Instead I've been thinking about setting goals for the year, the main one being to keep my bum on the seat and fingers on the keyboard for longer. The only way to write better... is to write more.

Which made me think back to many years ago and a particularly good riding instructor I knew, who was trying her best to turn me into a dressage rider. From what I remember she was trying to teach me something relatively simple, like a shoulder-in. Now I know women are supposed to be able to multi-task, but when it came down to coordinating two arms, two legs and my body weight in a new way I was struggling. I knew 'what' I wanted to do, but the 'how' was something my brain (and muscles) couldn't cope with. And I think it's much the same with writing - we know what a story needs: a sassy heroine, a hunk of a hero, strong GMC - it's all in our heads but getting it down on paper can be difficult. So avoidance strategies take over.

My very wise riding instructor told me that to learn something new, so that it becomes automatic, can take thousands of repetitions. Not just the odd hour and twenty attempts, but day after day of trying until *click* one day you can do it without thinking.  She also introduced me to the Four Stages of Learning (Maslow, Burch), which applied to my dressage training, but also applies to my journey as a writer.

The first stage is what I think of as blissful ignorance (Unconscious Incompetence) - when you don't know that you don't know how to do something. You love reading books, you are sure you can write one as good, or better, than the one you've just read. Its easy, yes? Well no, you've not even started to learn yet. (This could be a good place to stop!).

The second stage is when you realise you don't know how to do something (Conscious Incompetence). You've sped through the first two chapters (or paragraphs) of your WIP and grind to a halt. Which for many people is the point at which they recognise that this writing game is harder than it's cracked up to be and it's a good point to pack it in and learn pilates instead.

Now the third stage is where it gets interesting. You know how to do something (Conscious Competence)! It isn't easy and requires a lot of concentration. To actually write your story requires a lot of planning, a lot of thought, a lot of editing. But some of what you write is good and you have the knowledge and skills to get to 'The End'.

So what is stage four? That is the envious stage when it just comes naturally (Unconscious Competence). When the words flow and the story can take shape without conscious effort (not sure that is possible!), when you can achieve the daily word count that proficient writers need to and you can teach other people how to craft a story.

Learning new skills comes more easily to some people than others, but the starting point for everyone is to recognise what we don't yet know, what we need to learn, and then we have to practise over and over until one day everything drops into place and we can't remember why we couldn't do it in the first place.


And that shoulder-in? Yes, I got it... in the end!

Another year nearly over.....

2011 has been quite an eventful year, with lots of highs and lows. So here are some of the good bits (bad bits are best forgotten)......

In September 2010 I bought a cottage, which needed quite a bit of work doing to it. The bedroom ceiling had to be replaced, which we did (a really horrible job with a lathe and plaster ceiling dating back to 1800 and matching coal dust) before moving in at the end of October. With my OH working away during the week, and me having to work part-time in the week, and every other weekend, this was no mean feat!

In January 2011 it was back to work - putting a new bathroom in (unfortunately the cottage only has one bathroom and so this had to be carefully planned). I was now self-employed and working from home which meant I could tile the kitchen floor and finish decorating at my leisure(!). The spring also saw a new patio/decking area plus planting up of the garden which had been neglected for several years.

Spring also gave me a new determination to write and this year I have entered New Voices 2011, which was a great experience. I've learned loads and met lots of aspiring authors, plus have 'met' via facebook and twitter many established authors who have been overwhelmingly generous with help and advice. I found out too late about Rachael Harrie's Campaigns to actually join up and become a Campaigner, but I couldn't resist the challenges and my two entries now appear in the 'Campaigner Challenges 2011' book.

So, soon we will be entering 2012, but I am proud that I have achieved a fair bit in 2011. All the essential work has been completed on my cottage, so we can relax and I can save up money for the next phase. I have left behind a job that I was not happy with and replaced it with freelance work that gives me more flexibility to pursue what I really want to do - writing. I have completed an online writing course and have submissions in with publishers for consideration and I have a new WIP which I am looking forward to getting my teeth in to properly in January.

Goals for the next 12 months? Getting rid of the aches and pains so that my arms move properly again! Reading, reading, reading and writing, writing, writing until I produce something that is polished enough for publication. Enjoying the home and garden that we have created in 2011.....

I'm looking forward to a great family Christmas, and then we are off up to Scotland for a few days of relaxation with hopefully lots of log fires and whisky.... I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and may 2012 bring everything you hope for.

Lazy Fridays...

I'm trying to restrict my typing at the moment, so this week I've just posted a few pics of Saffron... in elegant, sleepy and very cross mode!  (And just for variety I've added a few of my paintings... click on the tab above.)