More on that another time, but in case anyone is wondering why Musa Publishing is called…well, ‘Musa’, there’s a good explanation here at BRITTANICA. It’s all to do with mythology, which I love, in this case Greek, and the muses. I’m pleased to say that at Musa ‘The Story Comes First’, which deserves special emphasis. If this works out, and I’ve every hope that it will, I very much see it as a market where I can concentrate on story and incorporate sex only if the plot calls for it. I admit Acting Out calls for it, but it’s nice to come across a market where the story is all important. Anyone who knows my work knows no matter the genre I always try to incorporate a story. Needless to say, I couldn’t be more delighted.

In other news I’m working on the draft of my story for Space 1889. This is the first time I’ve contracted for a story prior to writing it, and it has to take priority. My priorities are quite easy to list for the start of the year:

1. Write for Space 1889
2. Turn in any edits that come my way
3. Come up with a new story for Changeling
4. Finish Calm and Chaos 2

That’s more than enough to be going on with. Pity all my other plans and ideas won’t listen to reason and persist in biting at my ankles.

Flash Fiction: Jack Frost Visits, Jan 2011 (Paragraph Planet)
Short Story: Equal Opportunites, Mar 2011 (Radgepacket Volume 5)
Novella: All Washed Up, Apr 2011 (Changeling Press)
Novella: Hounding the Beat (Protect and Serve), May 2011 (Changeling Press)
Novella: Toasted Almond (Del Fantasma), July 2011 (AMP) — the one sour spot in the year as this was only out a month before I had to fight to withdraw it and I never saw a penny.
Flash Fiction: The Stepford Wives, July 2011 (Paragraph Planet)
Short Story: Bitter and Intoxicating (Red Velvet and Absinthe anthology, edited by Mitzi Szereto, foreward by Kelley Armstrong) Sept 2011, Cleis Press
Short Story: The Texture of Winter, Oct 2011 Untreed Reads
Novella: Faerie, Nov 2011, Changeling Press

On to this year, and if I don’t include starting the year by being accident prone (don’t ask), 2012 is looking productive. Excuse the abbreviated titles, but secrecy and all that.

C1 (m/m romance) — currently reading over prior to subbing.

C2 — needs finishing, but will discuss with potential publisher when subbing C1.

Space 1889 — write rough draft asap this month, now, get it DONE. Note I said rough draft. Writing for a series is going to mean filling in some blanks and revising during edits. My first priority is to get the story down.

The One That Got Away — short story previously out with AMP: someone is looking over this for me and I’ve put a cover I’ve put together. When it’s edited, if I’m satisfied, I hope to put it out as a freebie.

Sm — Bit of an odd one. A previously published work for which I have edits with no obligation. I’ve yet to look at them, but if I like what I see and can rework, this may see a new lease of life.

Old works previously out at AMP all need my attention, as do others.

FT — have two shorts for this intended themed series of short stories and need to choose a publisher.

Changeling — numerous plot bunnies multiplying. Sigh. I’m hoping to sit down to write the first in February.

This doesn’t include ALL my planned works. I have two fantasies I still wish to rewrite and short story ideas, some of which may be suitable for Untreed Reads. Some need writing, some just revising before subbing, and I’m always looking out for markets. I…to be honest probably have enough work for another couple of years just here, and that’s not including many other drafts/projects I’ve not mentioned.

Of course, these days these two definitions are too limiting. There’s P***; there’s Erotica; there’s also Erotic Romance and simply Romance. Even some works listed in the most innocent category of this genre: romance, aren’t what they used to be. Gone are the days when romance publishers stop at a closed bedroom door. Those that do tend to have labels such as ‘sweet’ romance, possibly aimed at the faint of heart.

The simplest definition that most will give out is that Erotica, Erotic Romance and Romance has a story — that ‘other stuff’ does not. Others will argue that a sex scene is there to titillate and therefore arrive at the same conclusion, and that there is no difference at all. My definition is simply whether the sex in a story serves a purpose. Something has to be happening ‘to’ the characters during the sex that the reader needs to be privilege to, even if it is something as simple as an emotional letting go that fuels the plot in some way.

During the AMP debacle something occurred to which at the time I made no reference. A newspaper in the publisher’s hometown labelled the authors as ‘local p*** writers’. Not only were the writers NOT local, but international, it also came as something of a shock to those who had written sci-fi or thrillers, some containing no sex scenes or reference to sex at all. Yep, folks — AMP published much more than erotic romance, but naturally those were the titles the newspaper jumped on with delight. When defending their controversial headline, which they said the reporter in question ‘did not’ write, among the titles they threw up as evidence was my ‘Virgin Special’.

While said ‘news’ paper admitted not having read these titles cover to cover, their argument was that such titles were “designed to appeal to readers looking for graphic and prolific sexual content.” They then suggested their report could have been more complete had ‘sources’ agreed to comment and not been hesitant for fear of reprisal from the publisher.

Another error on their part: the reason the writers did not wish to comment was to protect the family of said publisher in the local area where they live, and precisely because this is what happens when one talks to some members of the media. One only has to look at what is happening in the British news and the current investigation into behaviour of certain newspapers to see perfect examples of sleazy reporting at its best.

The true irony was that the headline put in place by this Colorado newspaper was designed to do exactly what they were accusing the writers of doing with the titles of their books — catch readers attention. Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but isn’t that what any title is intended to do? There are examples of sexy sounding books in mainstream publishing that are far removed from the subject, and I don’t see anyone accusing those authors of being something they’re not.

As for my book, does it contain sex? Yes, for which I make no apologies. But sex does not equal ‘P***’ and I’m tired of those ignorant enough to think that it does. The book also deals with grief — maybe not to the extent I could have taken it, but as it’s now open to a rewrite maybe I can fledge it out beyond the restrictions for the series I was writing it for. The title — and idea — came from the name of a cocktail. It was part of a series where all the titles were based on the names of cocktails.

My ‘virgin’ is a man who never got to sleep with his beloved because they had decided to wait, and she died before they married. His attempt to commit suicide is thwarted by some rather supernatural means where he encounters a couple who happen to be vampires, who have also lost someone they loved. The question of the book is whether they can heal together or face death together — two walking into the sun, one into the sea. Readers always contacted me to say how they ached for their grief. Reviewers stated how they would have been happy with either outcome. A romance that ends in death? To have even one reader say they would be happy with that is some feat. To my knowledge not one reader or reviewer said anything about how ‘titillated’ they were. They wrote to me mentioning how I had affected their emotions.

This is part of one of the reviews:

…and so begins the psychological drama that is … Virgin Special. Hannah and Seth take over James’ care and try to tempt him back to the land of the living. Some readers might be non-plussed by the manner in which they do so, but Hannah and Seth are vampires fighting for the will to survive and James is their only hope. How do you convince someone who’s lost the very meaning of his life to live again? Through thoughtful conversations, simple board games and shared pain, Hannah and Seth attempt to do just that, but James doesn’t make it easy for them. He resists their overtures at every turn and is determined to hold on to his grief at any cost. Bidwell deserves kudos for elevating an erotic, menage vampire tale to such a cerebral level that I wasn’t sure how the story would end. The characterizations are particularly strong in Virgin Special. Bidwell gives the reader a lot of background on each person, with plenty of vivid flashbacks so that their motivations are crystal clear. This is a good thing because the heart-stopping ending pays off handsomely. I would have been okay with either outcome.

Sounds terribly ‘p***like’ doesn’t it! Things are not always what they seem. Even many of the romance writers who edge into or write outright BDSM are truly writing about psychology. Read a BDSM book where the writer hasn’t got the psychology of the relationship right and it doesn’t matter how good the sex is, the book will feel ‘off’ even if one can’t quite figure out why.

Once I stopped laughing, I realised the true paradox — two companion m/m romances I’m working on feature an unscrupulous reporter. Making readers sympathetic to him is precisely why this particularly book is somewhat difficult. Now I truly understand why I’m struggling.

And in another way, it isn’t over. I have decisions to make and new homes to find for those said works, which in some cases may not be easy. Even if they are snapped up, it means re-editing and some thought on my part. In an industry that can prove to be devastating in all sorts of ways, that’s the least of my worries — a week ago today the arrival of that letter was nothing more than a dream. I’m hoping the owner of AMP fulfils many more wishes before the end of the year.

Maybe a little seasonal magic was involved granting me an early Christmas present. Who knows when the fae are around? Another nice surprise was coming home to the cover for my next work at Changeling Press. Due out on November 25th. Many thanks to Renee for my cover:

Of course, it could be simply that Ms Hicks is too busy. She’s terribly under pressure it would seem making pumpkin pies, going to concerts, and decorating her son’s bedroom. One has to enquire how she finds the funds for such decorating when she still owes so many in unpaid royalties and salaries, how, for someone so ill, she is able to go out and about and face the world with a brave smile. When she’s not actually physically ‘doing’ these things, naturally she’s preoccupied posting about them on her Facebook page along with numerous bible quotes. Now whilst I will defend anyone’s right to their beliefs, posts such as “Get us all on the same page – The Jesus page” strike many as somewhat hypocritical, and this one, “But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed, lacking in nothing. James 1:4 (AMP)” seems to be a subtle dig at the authors for showing impatience and a lack of understanding. A strange take on things one would think when many had already endured months of unanswered correspondence, and have only asked for what is rightfully theirs.

Not long ago I stated to Sandra that I would not accuse her of things for which I did not have the evidence, meaning primarily the inappropriate use of royalties, but the longer Ms Hicks continues to act unprofessionally, the more inclined I am to listen to the voices of those who state they ‘do’ have said proof and are willing to provide it. Although Ms Hicks has gone quiet and is once again ignoring all attempts to communicate with her, the situation still exists — a situation that has once again pushed Celina Summers to break her silence: http://kaantira.blogspot.com/2011/11/breaking-my-word-about-aspen-mountain.html

As of now, I have no faith in anything Ms Hicks has to say or any of her intentions. I do not believe she intends to issue all of the release letters she promised, not that I ever did. I believe the AMP website will rear its ugly and offensive banner again before the middle of December. I would, of course, like very much for Ms Hicks to prove me wrong. I would also like her to tell the other members of her new Facebook ‘bible-loving’ group what has led her to the need to open a new, brighter, and ‘separate’ page from those she had previously. I would like to know if those sharing her love of said ‘good book’ are aware that there are a couple of references sorely missing from her page — that of (as others say they can prove) Thou Shalt Not Steal, and Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness.

Through November 15th, these bestsellers are discounted 15% in The Untreed Reads Store (with the exception of titles by Infusion Nurses Society or others that are part of our monthly promotions):

1. Vandals on Venus (Space: 1889 & Beyond #2) by K.G. McAbee

2. Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice by Infusion Nurses Society

3. Journey to the Heart of Luna (Space: 1889 & Beyond #1) by Andy Frankham-Allen

4. Policies and Procedures for Infusion Nursing by Infusion Nurses Society

5. Bread of Deceit by Jim Vanore

6. Daydreams and Diaries by Taylor and Tim Black

7. The Texture of Winter by Sharon Bidwell

8. Apartment Building E by Malachi King

9. Obsessed by Rick R. Reed

10. A Suspicious Affair by Barbara Metzger

Drop by and discover the answer to “How Did THAT Happen?” It was somewhat to do with the lovely Angela Knight, for which I have thanked her for and paid homage.

Little did I know a single idea was going to get me hooked… *puts on innocent, surprised expression*

Sorry. I think comments are disabled as they’ve had problems.

Thursday, 20th Oct:
QUESTION:Okay, you want to write, but you can’t. Every time you sit down to it, you freeze or else write badly. Maybe you’ve always been prolific, but suddenly it’s as if the well has dried up. Is it really writer’s block? Question provided by affiliate author: Megan Johns

Good question. I’m much more used to being asked how does a writer get over writer’s block, so this is a good spin on the question. Health and stress can, naturally, be a factor, but if nothing has changed in your physical or emotional well-being then simply the strain of writing or even boredom can be the cause. And, yes, it is possible to feel bored or uninspired at times.

For me it can be a sign I’ve worked too long and too hard especially in one genre. I’ve especially heard romance or erotic romance authors say they’re burned out. I’m sure the same can be said for any writer. The thriller writer has to think of yet another way to solve a crime. The romance writer has to think of yet a new way of bringing two people together. Sometimes one needs a break or just to go do something entirely different.

This could lead into several blog on the subject of writers being pigeonholed or how to cope with writing in different genres. It can also be why many writer use pseudonyms, but there truly is a lot to be said for the old adage that a change is as good as a rest. It’s definitely more difficult to establish oneself as a writer in different genres, but I feel it’s a lot more fun and also helps to keep me actively writing almost all the time.

If you’re interested in other responses to the blog hop, drop by Alternative Read.