Had a pair of days off. Since I'm expecting my new books soon, I had to reread everything before them in the series, right? So I've binge read the entire Sinner's Gin set (aside from "Absinthe of Malice" which is in my order), "Black Dog Blues" (I just ordered "Mad Lizzard Mombo"), "Murder and Mayhem" (loose connection to Cole McGinnis), "Down and Dirty" (tight connection to Cole McGinnis), "Fish and Ghost" (because why not), and I finished reading my Christmas present from my sister, "Ink and Shadows" (start of a new series). I'm not sure that's everything: I have stack of books by my bed right now and it looks like Dreamspinner Press threw up on it. In a good way, I promise.

Every time I read her books, I'm struck by the beauty of her prose, her sneaky geek references ("an Alderan diorama". Come on.), and the depth of feeling I'm left with for her characters. I remember them and their stories, and I recommend them to friends because they are so full of love and madness and everything that could possibly remind me how much I believe in love.

Of course, every time I read her books, I'm often struck with a strange stirring of jealousy because her stories are so beautiful and they make you feel so damn much and if you're not in tears during at least part of it, you're not paying attention. And oh, how I want to write like she does, to evoke that sort of feeling in my readers on the first and second and fifth read through.

There's a reason I'm glad I'm not actually composing much for "Scandalous" right now. Mostly, I find that if I submerge myself in too much of an author's works for too long, my writing becomes a mimicry of theirs. But right now, I sort of... need to get my confidence back in my own writing style. I'll never write like she does, and that's okay, because I write like I write, and that should be enough for me. It just takes me a while to get back into the right head-space on that one.

Speaking of "Scandalous", I'm up to 23,335 words typed now. All I'm trying to do currently is get their story worked out. There's a lot of editing to be done, strengthening my writing and removing bits and adding bits and basically, it's gonna be Frankenstein's monster when I'm through, but that's okay, too. Because I want this to be the best possible story I could tell, not just something slammed on a page. That's the most important part: that I make it the best possible story it can be for anyone that may read it.

I've still got a lot of work to do, but that's okay. I just want to do this right.

See you on the flip side!
Lulu
​

I wanted so much to complete things, to finish up "Scandalous" before Thanksgiving. 

I unfortunately worked too hard, had too much pumpkin pie, and got distracted by everything else.

I finished editing one scene, wrote a new one, and started some brief edits on it. So I have made progress, just not as much progress and I had wished. Ah, well, it shall get done this year or else.

I'm also working on a novella for Dreamspinner's Daily Dose anthology --Storybook Love. It's cute, cliche, and yet all me, so it will be a lot of fun to complete.

I'll keep you guys all updated on how everything is coming, alright?

Love you, my darling koi,
Lulu

I've never let Scandalous out of my sight or my thoughts. 

I thought it might help you to know that out of the 25 scenes I intend to have for this piece, only about 8 of them still require work or composition. Now, only about 11 of them are typed in full form that I am happy with (which leaves it at over 14,000 words. Woot, loves!) but I should have a little more time to type them and tweak them in the next week or so.

Hopefully, I will have it ready to submit shortly after Thanksgiving. Fingers crossed and the boys cooperation, please.

So I'll be reviewing the submition gidelines and I'll keep you guys as updated as often as I can.

Love to you all,
Lulu

I know it's been a while since you've heard from me. That just seems to be job burn out, third shift, and depression (I mentioned that last time I think. Still not any better.).

That, and last time I had a day off, I binged on "Hannibal". Not the books or even the films:  the TV show. And oh, my,  jeez, I ship Will and Hannibal. And I'm a horrible person because I know that Hannibal does awful things to him like hiding his illness and telling him it was literally all in his head to see how he'll react and frames him for murder a lot, but sweet mother of Shiva, the chemistry is off the gd charts!
Yeah, I see pairings in everything. My sister hates it. Can't watch a single show without me pairing off the characters. Well, except the Ellery Queen Mysteries. There's just no one fantastic enough for me to put with Ellery, I think. XD

Okay, I got away from my topic for a minute.
The thing I want to talk about is my two scandalous boys and their story.

It's still not done, probably not even half way, but I apparently have to listen to them when they tell me that they've known each other since college. So there were some small revisions to make. Stupid boys. They had to be right. And it was a better fit for the story; it's just gotten a little sidetracked is all.
I still have almost 12,000 words typed and several thousand more waiting for the opportunity. I could probably push this out to novel length, but I've never really had the desire to write that kind of book. I like sub-plots and conflicts and things that bring people together and shove them apart. So if I'm making this a novel, what sort of sub-plot fits best?
I paint them as handsome rock-stars, though Sam likes to hide in the second row. Someone could have a stalker. Or they could have a more mundane issue, like Sam's god-fearing family or someone in Cade's family getting sick or something. I don't know yet.

I guess the point of this ramble is that "Scandalous" is still coming, I'm still working on it, and occasionally, my characters know best.

Still need proof-readers or just pre-readers. Just leave me a comment, ne?

Love you, little darling koi,
~Lulu~

With all the crap going down in my life from burnout at work to third shifts to depression, the piece I hoped to submit today isn't freaking done.
That's the bad news.

The good news is that in it's current state, it only needs 5000 more words to be eligible to submit as a free-standing novella. The down side to that is I hate reading on a screen (please don't shoot the bibliophile) and that's the only way they will publish it. And that's if it's good enough.

There is no way in hell I'm leaving these boys before they're at least sorta together, though, and I want to be published this year. Or at least know I might be.

So "Scandalous"? Still a work in progress. And I'll need beta-readers. Or lad rats. Or both. Any volunteers?

Kisses,
Lulu

Life has a way of getting away from me, I think.

Here it is, the last day of March, and it's the first time I've posted since January.
Granted, that is because of transitioning from first shift to third shift, writing a novella, and waiting for my mom to get the surgery she's needed (she got that surgery Monday and now is home again, by the way) but that is still no reason for me to be so distant.

As far as the novella thing goes, it's not done yet. It has 7500 words and I have yet to push toward the next portion of the story --bits that are written and not even included in that word count. But I love how my characters have grown and become more real to me with each word and sentence and scene.

I can say with all honesty that Cade is that sort of person that life tends to happen to, while Sammy is more likely to happen to life. I know them inside and out, so well that I can see how they support the broken parts of each other. And I cannot wait to finish this piece. Unfortunately, I only have one more month to pound this out so it should get pretty interesting soon.

There is a very sensual scene that should inflame a reader or two (*wink*) and a few jaw-dropping scenes that just... well, they still kinda blow me away and I wrote them, but that's mostly in the way the other characters shove at these two or the things that my characters do that are perfect for them but leave me thinking, Oh, my God, they're loose!

The only eyes on it so far have been mine, though one of my friends has really let me bounce some nutty ideas off of her. And helped me name Sammy's cat. And plotted about Cade.
So she's been a hell of a lot of help!
But I still need beta readers, if anyone is intersted! Just leave a comment and I'll be in touch, alright?

Love you, my little koi fish!
~Lulu~

So it really has been much too long since I've been on and posted a proper update for all of my darling koi, but I shall remedy that today as best I can. Pardon the time it takes me to make things right: my computer has decided it hates me quite thoroughly.

I told you rejection letters don't keep me down too long. I am currently working hard to have a novella ready to submit for May 1st, and it really seems to be coming along slowly but surely.
Of course, Cade and Sammy already have minds of their own and a tender affection that binds them even before love truly does. I get to play with another of my recently created characters, too: Raphael, who is Cade's best friend. Best of all, I love the band I created around Cade's need for music and the song I think will fit him like a glove.

So far, I'm torn between calling the novella "Melt" or "Scandalous". I'll probably settle on the latter of the two only because the scandal and the scandalous behaviors of my loverly boys have already taken center stage in the parts I've already composed.

Of course, work often keeps me from spending time with Cade Alexander and Sammy Dean Martin, but I take the time whenever I have it. They speak to me deeply, and I want to share them with you all.

I will need feedback along the way. If you are interested in helping me beta and prepare my work for publication --or maybe just giving me a helpful shove when I get stuck -- let me know with a comment, please!

Love to you all,
~Lulu~