The Big Day

To celebrate the release of Ride a Cock Horse, my first book with Breathless Press, I'm throwing a launch party! There will be tantalizing treats to please the palate. To start the day in fine style, my bartenders are serving up your favorite beverage. We've got Mimosas, Peach Bellinis, Bloody Marys, coffee (spiked if you like), and tea. Grab one as they walk by (drinks, not servers *wink, wink*). Tell them what you want; they are here to please.

Personally, I am having breakfast in bed! I mean, have you seen my wait-staff? Hello!!

This day seemed like it would never come. I've been impatient, nervous, and excited. Now that it's finally here, I want to enjoy it with all of you! So grab a pillow and your beverage of choice.

First up on the menu is one of my personal favorites. Pain au Chocolat. I like mine sprinkled with a bit of powdered sugar. What about you? What is your favorite decadent treat? How would you spend your first launch day? I want to hear from you!

And while you're here, why not follow me? Links are on the right.



You can buy Ride a Cock Horse at the following places:

Breathless Press
All Romance eBooks

The Countdown and Other News

Calvin and Hobbes - gotta love that duo.

It seems like this day would never come. Not release day yet but Ride a Cock Horse is available for pre-order at the Breathless Press website. I've been stalking the site for the last two weeks in anticipation. The one time I didn't - well let's just say I didn't know it was there until my friend and crit partner Karyn Gerrard told me. Every step of this process has been new, has had it's highs and lows, and like any roller coaster ride it has been a thrill a minute. I don't think this ever gets old. I can't wait until I get my final copy! Not sure when that is but I look forward to it.

In other news, mother's day is tomorrow. I sent my mom a pretty orchid in a tea cup. ------------ >>>>>>

The card attached made her cry but it was happy tears. I don't always express how much she means to me and more often than not we butt heads. I don't have daughters so I don't know if that is normal for mothers and daughters but I would not be the mom I am today without her as an example. Both the good and the bad.

To all the moms out there, I hope your day is filled with light and love. I hope your loved ones pamper you the way you deserve.

Blog Hop Winner and Excerpt

Doesn't this chocolate rose look delightful? Almost too pretty to eat but I would give it a go.

Without further adieu, my winner of a pdf copy of Ride a Cock Horse for the Breathless Press Sexy Bunny Blog Hop, (selected by random.org) is...

* drumroll please * 

Susan W. 

*throws confetti and small chocolates* 

Susan, please email me at gtaylor423 at gmail dot com so I can send your pdf copy just prior to release. Thanks to everyone who left me a comment and followed my blog. 

And now for a steamy excerpt. Warning - adults only please.

Sexy Bunny Blog Hop

I have an unadulterated passion for dark chocolate. This is the time of year when I really indulge myself in my favorite decadent treat (post Lent of course). Here are a few of my favorites (in no particular order):


Trader Joe's French Truffles

Rich, gooey, and coated with cocoa powder, these decadent treats not only melt in your mouth, they melt on your fingers. You have no choice but to lick them - or let your significant other do the honors.

Hershey Kisses
What can I say about these? They are cute. They come with or without nuts or filled with creamy caramel. I love unwrapping them - slowly. I adore how they slowly melt on my tongue.

Ghirardelli Intense Dark Midnight Reverie
Tell me that name doesn't scream romance novel title. This luxurious chocolate is smooth, deep, and full-bodied. One bite leaves you with an intense pleasure that lingers long after you have swallowed the creamy treat. Enjoy them with a vintage Port, roasted, salted nuts, or my favorite - gourmet marshmallows.

Cheesecake Factory Red Velvet Cheesecake

Moist layers of Red Velvet Cake and their Original Cheesecake covered with special Cheesecake Factory cream cheese frosting. Served with a generous and fancy tower of whipped cream. I confess this one combines several of my weaknesses - chocolate, cheesecake, and whipped cream. Picture a candlelit evening, soft music, two forks and the man or woman of your dreams.

What does this have to do with a Sexy Bunny Blog Hop? Plenty! My debut with Breathless Press, Ride a Cock Horse, releases on May 25th. If you want the very first copy the evening before it releases, all you have to do is follow my blog and leave a comment telling me your preference for chocolate - Dark or Light. Not a fan of chocolate? Tell me what your decadent delight happens to be. Already following my salacious scribblings? Let me know in your comment and you will be entered.

There will also be one grand prize winner of a $10 Gift Certificate for the Breathless Press Website! We are talking books, baby!

The Sexy Bunny Blog Hop closes on Monday, April 9th at 9PM Pacific Time. My Lucky Winner will be announced the following day.

Now do yourself a favor and visit the following authors to enter for more chances to win some sexy, delicious books that will leave you ~ Breathless!

A Blurb By Any Other Name

Musician Hunter Blake returns to Banbury Cross to win back his true love, Kate. Will they find a way to make beautiful music again?

Not even a cock horse could bring musician Hunter Blake back to Banbury Cross, yet here he stood, ten years after leaving, to make amends for his past behavior and win back his true love, Katherine Banbury. Their relationship was in perfect harmony until Hunter's excessive drinking tore them apart. Now sober, he's focused on doing whatever it takes to prove he's worthy of her love.

Kate spent the last ten years determined to forget Hunter. With a developer intent on turning her ancestral home into tract housing, Kate had her hands full. When Hunter returns, vivid memories of their passionate history stoke the flames of desire between them. Will Kate fight the attraction or will she open her heart to love once more?

  

I have leaped over the final hurdles. All that is left is release day, which, if I haven't blurted it out enough, is May 25th from Breathless Press. It seems so far off but I know it will be here faster than I think.

I thought I would share how Ride a Cock Horse came to exist. The book was not what I was working on. It wasn't even an idea in the back of my head. Honestly, it started out as a distraction, a way to get over a block I was suffering. I saw the submissions call for the line of Naughty Nursery Rhymes at Breathless Press. I shared a chuckle over several titles with some authors on Facebook.

I googled a few. Tell me that title didn't scream naughty erotic romance—I dare you. An idea formed. I ran with it and subbed fully expecting a 'thanks, but no thanks'.  Sometimes, the unexpected can take you places you hadn't planned. I can't thank Breathless Press or my editor enough for giving me a chance.

For those of you who know me, it should not surprise you I went with a musician. I am sure I looked for some musical element when I searched for a nursery rhyme in earnest. I enjoyed writing it and am thrilled beyond words it will be published. I will be sharing an excerpt with you soon. 

Cover Art

This could not have been delivered to my Inbox at a better time. Having experienced the week from Hell, I needed something to put a smile on my face and this did it in spades. Behold the cover of my upcoming release, Ride a Cock Horse. Artwork is by the talented Victoria Miller at Breathless Press. I don't know who the female model is but she fits my female character perfectly. Male cover model is the swoon-worthy Jimmy Thomas. Counting myself as extremely fortunate to have him on my very first cover. Next to chocolate, Jimmy is my very own guilty pleasure.

I am nearly finished with my second round of edits and admit that I am excited and also a bit nervous. The release is two months away and I will have my hands full with a day job, family, and promotion. Can this wallflower survive the rigors and get out on the dance floor? Looking forward to a full dance card with breathless anticipation.

Round One - The Purple Pen of Doom

That's right. Purple. Pen. Of Doom. I've been working on the first round of edits for Ride a Cock Horse. I was expecting some heavy edits the first time around, especially since my editor is (fondly) referred to as Her Editing Evilness, wielder of the Purple Pen of Doom, master of the Chicago Manual of Style.

I imagine her with purple ink dripping off her hands as she gleefully marks up your manuscript. The one in which your words painstakingly bled onto the document. Okay, technically it is track changes in purple but you get my point.

It was interesting that two of the weakest areas in my manuscript ended up being paragraphs that I knew were not up to snuff. Thankfully I have another opportunity to make them all they can be. It really pays to have more than one set of eyes to review and suggest things to make a good piece of writing into a great piece of writing.

Among the things I will remember for the next submission - look for those nasty repetitive common words! As a writer who always wants to do justice to her characters, I appreciate what an editor's job is. I had no idea really. If you asked me what to expect I would have shrugged and said I don't know. Punctuation and grammar that you miss during pre-edits is a given. However, there is much more to an editor's job. They make suggestions to make your story stronger. They bring up salient points (such as asking what you meant when you used the word 'it'). Honestly, if you have to explain what you wrote, you didn't do it right.

That is just my opinion of course but think about it. An editor looks at your book with a reader's eyes, not just with the discerning eye of a grammar expert. They deserve the thanks that every author I have read gives them in their books. Without the editor, your book can end up less than you'd hoped. And you become more than you were with everything they teach you.

One Helluva Ride

Have you ever thought about writing a naughty twist to a nursery rhyme? When I saw that Breathless Press was looking for them, my imagination went a little crazy. I am so glad it did! The idea of putting my own twist on a fairy tale or nursery rhyme intrigued me. Today I am sharing a blurb from my upcoming eBook Ride a Cock Horse which will be available April 2012.

Not even a cockhorse could bring musician Hunter Blake back to Banbury Cross, yet here he stood, ten years after leaving, on a mission to make amends for his past behavior and win back his true love, Katherine Banbury. 

Kate, adorned with sparkling rings and a tiny bell anklet given to her by Hunter, has spent the last ten years fighting off a developer intent on turning her ancestral home into tract housing. Will Kate and Hunter find a way to make beautiful music together once more?

Makes you want to find out what happens right?

Spent most of today holed up in the writing cave. It was productive. I must be nuts but I now have three works in progress going. I made some decent progress on Sweet Spot. It is turning into the book I hoped when I started writing it. The other two have been floating around for awhile in my head. One involves a book store owner who is in a bit of a pickle and the other is a cop story. As for Ryan and Melinda, they are still on the shelf cooling their heels. I need to make some serious changes to their story.

This has been a weird day. Very weird. Ever wake up and were convinced you were in a Twilight Zone episode? Anyway...have a blogthing. I clicked on the random generator option and this is what I got.

You Are Thong Panties

Woman, you are one hell of a ride! You're a total wild child - and you live for crazy times. Men are attracted to you like flies to honey, even though they know they should stay away. You need an expert cowboy who can keep in tune with your free spirit!

What Kind of Panties Are You?

Top of the World

Yesterday I mentioned how real it felt to be a published author once I returned my contract. If possible, real just became more real! The contract has been executed and I am more official than yesterday. Am looking at my pre-edits checklist. I haven't looked at my book since I submitted, mainly because I knew I would find something I wish I changed or wrote differently. I am always in edit mode. It's the perfectionist in me. The lazy side of me was smiling like the cat in the cream of course.

The real work begins now. This is where the technical eye scrutinizes the writing, grammar, structure, and punctuation. I am still walking on air, still feeling overwhelmed but overjoyed and ready to start my journey.

On a side note, I spent the better part of the day in Sacramento settling my son for school. Not going to lie, I tear up at the thought of him being so far away. We listened to some old school Van Halen and if my lungs had not been so rattly, I would have sung as loud as possible. It was just a Van Halen day. Crank it up, roll down the window and sing it baby!

In-Between Holidays Post

I had a holiday post planned up until I ended up seriously ill on Christmas Eve but am recuperating under the watchful eyes of my boys. I am happy to report (albeit a bit tardy) that my very first contract is signed, sent and it has finally sunk in - this is real. I don't like talking about things before they are truly a done deal. Now I can talk about the next steps which have me nervous and excited. A fantastic pre-Christmas gift indeed.

My upcoming release with Breathless Press is for their Naughty Nursery Rhyme line and is titled Ride a Cock Horse. I am still pinching myself and look forward to working with my editor, the art department (trust me, my artsy self has been thinking about that a lot) and getting my novice toes dipped into the publishing world. While I don't think anything will start popping until after the New Year, I have been thinking about the time and energy that I will want to spend promoting/marketing the book. It is daunting considering the time suck my life currently endures but I am up for the challenge.

If I do not have an opportunity to post again before the New Year, have a safe and cheery one!

The Impossible Dream

I wish I could say I didn't check my email every 5 minutes since I submitted my story because I did. Yesterday, when I sat down to dust off The Sweet Spot, I caved and checked my email. And there it was. My first reaction was to brace myself. I read the first line. I read the second. I held my breath and read the third - which was the contract offer. If the boys had not been asleep, I would have screamed.

In the not too distant future, I will be a published author for Breathless Press! I am thrilled beyond measure. This is a dream come true and what I hope will be the first of many. This story came out of nowhere. Honestly, I wasn't sure I'd finish it let alone submit but I could not resist the opportunity to write a naughty nursery rhyme. Yes, you heard me, nursery rhyme - a naughty one. I had fun with it.  

New friends as well as old friends have touched me with their writing and their friendship. I would not be where I am if not for you.  Karyn Gerrard, who held my hand, kicked my ass as necessary and offered valuable support, encouragement and advice. My cohort in crime Beth, who always saw more in my writing than I ever could. I have to thank my boys whose patience and understanding throughout mom's out-loud conversations with her characters is greatly appreciated.

I don't have many details yet but as I get them I will post them here. I am still on cloud 9. I hope I never land. It is bittersweet that I write this post today of all days...I hope you're proud of me too, T.