Are you ready to hang up your Christmas Stocking?

I'm quite an organised person, but it doesn't matter how many lists I've got, December always seems to be a mad busy time. So, I decided I would sneak my 'catch up' blog post in now before things get really, really chaotic!

If you've been here before, you'll know I write under two names - and I thought I'd let you know what 'both' of me are up to, as my Zara Stoneley blog concentrates more on excerpts and guest posts.

I've been busy setting up and arranging lots of blog posts for the festive season and I hope you will pop back to meet my fabulous guests. On this blog I'm featuring some amazing new authors - if you haven't heard of them then don't forget to check out the excerpts and interviews.

If you missed the wonderful Tea Cooper, talking about her new release 'Tree Change' then you can find the interview here, and her website here.

On 18th December I'm thrilled to be welcoming Aurelia B Rowl with her debut, a Christmas romance, 'Christmas is Cancelled', on 11th January Christy McKellen will be here talking about 'Her New Worst Enemy' (phew, hot cover) and on 22nd January I'm thrilled that Aimee Duffy is coming back to tell us about her latest 'Isle of Sensuality'. (They've all got amazing covers btw!)

Over on my more erotic Zara Stoneley blog I've got Victoria Embers talking about vampires today, on 17th December I've got the brilliant and very prolific Doris O'Connor, on the 28th December the inspiring Raven McAllan is dropping in and on 1st January Kayla Jameth is kicking off the New Year for us!

And what about me? Well, in December you can find me on my travels at various places with my Zara persona in full flow... 13th December with Victoria Embers, 18th December with Allie A Burrow (look out for her mega giveaway), 20th December I'm at Tea Cooper's escaping the UK freezing fog and on 17th January you will find me with Raven McAllan.

And, at this point, I'd like to say a massive, massive thank you if you've bought a copy of my erotic Christmas romance 'Good Enough to Share' (and sorry if I've been over enthusiastic talking about it!), I've been amazed and over the moon at how well it is doing (still sitting at #1 on Amazon UK), and very touched at the wonderful reviews. As a writer I appreciate it so much when people take the time to say they enjoyed the read - thank you. And to all the people who have asked about another story in the series - yes, it's on the way!! I just can't decide whether to let you know what happens next with Dane and Holly, or to let Sophie tell her story - any views on which you'd like to read first?! (And sorry Charlie and Anna - you get a turn, but you're so laid back I'm sure you don't mind waiting!)

What else have I been up to recently? I've set up my new website, which still needs a few tweaks but I'm fairly pleased with it - let me know what you think! I've completed the first round of edits for 'Text me, Tweet me, Need me' - my debut as Susie Medwell, and am looking forward to telling everyone more about that in the New Year. The edits are also in for my Breathless Press short story and I've got another story for Xcite at first draft stage...


I've already decided on one New Year's resolution for 2013 - to be more disciplined about my social networking... so yes, you won't have to put up with my chattering on Facebook and Twitter quite as much (well that's the plan!). I have got so many projects on the go that I need to make sure I find as much writing time as I can. My main projects for next year are a novella for Xcite, a follow up novel to 'Riding High' (featuring James) that a few people have asked me to write, plus the next story in the 'Good Enough' series. I also have my first paperback due out in February which is very exciting! With my Susie hat on, I'm looking forward to becoming a published author with Lyrical Press, and I have another contemporary novel planned out and begging me to write it.

So for the rest of 2012?

Well.....I've got a truly daunting TBR pile - many written by my brilliant author friends, and I'm determined to hide behind the Christmas tree at some point and read (and review) them all! I also want to chill out a bit, visit my virtual friends, then have a very traditional Christmas here at home - with all my family visiting, the full Christmas turkey dinner on the table and a few glasses of wine! I'm (fairly) sure I'll be ready to hang up my Christmas stocking come Christmas Eve - and I'm not going to tell you what I want to find in it! What about you? What kind of Christmas are you looking forward to? Hope it's a good one.

Bad blogger!

Yup, that's me! I haven't blogged for a while because a) I've been mad busy and b) I was waiting for news!

Anyway, apologies if you've popped by.... I've set up a 'For writers' tab at the top of the page and this is where I've copied the list of publishers accepting submissions. I'll revisit it periodically to check it's up to date - any additions/comments are very welcome. (Pretty please!)

And news... I've been busy as I was commissioned to write an erotic romance novella by Xcite Books for their Secret Library series. I sent an idea in just before I went on holiday in July and it was ok'd by the time I got back - then I was asked how quickly I could finish it as they had a September publication date in mind. I got the story finished and in before the end of August and it was edited and contracted within days and released on the 5th September. I was extra pleased because didn't have a publication date in advance - and then got an email on the morning of my birthday to say it had been released! I'm also delighted as it will be going into print, bundled with two other stories, in a lovely plush Secret Library cover early next year!!

I love the characters in this story, 'Freefalling', and I think the cover captures Tom, the hero, perfectly. The book has been published under my pen name Zara Stoneley and if you want to know more, and read an excerpt check it out here! AND it's free on Amazon at the moment (buy links are included above the excerpt).

More news.. I've also signed a contract for 'Riding High', my next erotic novel to be published by Xcite. More details will be over on my Zara Stoneley blog when I have them!

And my last bit of news.... as you probably know, I started off writing contemporary romance and would love to get some published. I wrote a novella some time ago and with help from Annie Seaton I've knocked it into shape and subbed it - I've now got offers and will shortly be deciding who to sign a contract with.

So phew.... summer school holiday is normally a quiet time, now I've got to really get down to work!

Publishers currently accepting submissions - updated!

** THIS LIST CAN NOW BE FOUND HERE - I WILL UPDATE IT PERIODICALLY**

Someone recently asked on Facebook which publishers are currently accepting submissions. I’d been meaning to put my bookmarked list into some kind of order for some time, so here goes… in no particular order. (Updated 23/08/12)

Still Moments Publishing – various romance categories (not erotic)

Breathless Press – romance, erotic romance, erotica

Samhain – romance, erotica, horror

Carina Press – adult commercial fiction (including romance)

Lyrical Press – various categories of romance, including erotic

Liquid Silver Books – erotic romance, various genres

Evernight Publishing – romance, erotic romance, urban fantasy

Red Sage – various genres, emphasis on romance & erotic romance

Entangled Publishing – romance, various imprints including YA

Musa Publishing – various genres including romance, historical, mystery plus..

The Wild Rose Press – romance, including erotic

Silver Publishing – romance, erotic romance

Beachwalk Press – all subgenres of romance

Mischief – erotic and erotic romance

Total-E-Bound – erotic romance

Xcite Books – erotica/erotic romance

Crimson Romance – five subgenres of romance

Choc Lit – romantic fiction

Ellora’s Cave – erotic romance
Decadent Publishing - romance, erotic romance, plus new imprint Bono Books for mainstream fiction, YA, sweet romance and non-fiction
House of Erotica -  full range of erotic fiction
Secret Cravings Publishing - all genres of romance
Resplendence Publishing - range of romance genres
Avon Romance/Impulse - super sexy and romantic, also check out the FB page for current sub calls
Mira Ink - young-adult fiction
Sapphire Star Publishing - all fiction genres, YA to adult
Trestle Press - all genres
Harlequin - various romance categories, including new Digital First imprint
Rogue Phoenix Press - various genres including romance, YA, sci-fi, fantasy (Book featured exclusively on Amazon.com)
Changeling Press - erotic romance, various genres
Turquoise Morning Press - genre fiction including romance, erotic, mainstream fiction, YA. Re-opens for submissions on 31st August, 2012
LazyDay Publishing - primarily romance/erotica but also welcomes other genres including fantasy, mystery, thrillers etc.
Amira Press - open for erotic romance submissions only at present.

I have not had any experience with most of these publishers, so they are not recommendations – just sites I (or other people I know) have come across. Feel free to add a comment if you’ve had good/bad experiences with any!

I know as soon as I post this I’ll think of someone really obvious that I’ve missed off!  At some point I will set up a page so that the information on this post can easily be found.