Monday, January 19, 2009

What's happening with me?

Yikes, I haven't posted in a while. January always seems to put me into hibernation mode, no matter how I fight it. Having said that, I had a grand day out with Portia Da Costa last week, braving the cold to meet up and have a good natter. It was a lovely break and did me good. I'm eternally grateful to have an author pal within meeting up distance. The fact that it is the legendary PDC still makes me go all weak at the knees. :o)

Otherwise I'm mostly busy working on INESCAPABLE at the moment, (a novel length contemporary erotic) and it's challenging me in new and unexpected ways, great stuff! That's one of the things I love about writing. Every book is different, and it teaches me new things about life and about people and about writing itself. This story has a heightened sense of tension throughout - erotic tension, and atmospheric tension due to the situation the characters find themselves in – and that’s demanding I rise to the challenge. (Think caged tigers, sensual but sparring. ;)

The majority of the book is set in the landscape of Conwy in North Wales, a place I’m very familiar with, and I must admit it’s like visiting with an old friend as I drip the description in. We’re actually hoping to visit again in May, so I can double check anything I need to then.

I’m now trying to make up for my quiet week with a deluge of communication - I’ll be sending out my newsletter either later today or tomorrow, and an ARC of THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST NEW EROTICA goes to one random member of the group.

In other news, COMING TOGETHER: AT LAST is available today! I'll post more details about that in a moment, but I just wanted to say that I'm very excited about the collection. This is a charity anthology and all income will go to Amnesty International. It features a terrific line up of authors, and is available in both print or e-book. My story "Matilda's Touch" is one of my early favourites. I wrote it at a major turning point in my life, a time when it was my friends who opened my eyes and gave me hope for a new beginning after my world fell apart at every turn. The story is about love and life and new hope, and how race and difference can draw us together in the most unexpected ways.

"Matilda's Touch" has previously been selected for HEROTICA 7: Arousal, race and culture (out of print) and for STIRRING UP A STORM. I'm absolutely delighted it was selected to go into COMING TOGETHER: AT LAST as well. More info coming in just a mo!