More Buck for Your Bang

Ok, so True Blood premiered tonight on HBO. My husband and I sat down and watched it together. Now, Nate is very picky about his vamps as they have been portrayed in movies over the last few years with all the machine guns, swords, and leather. This, however, he liked. I like the idea of vampires being low profile and trying to blend in.

The civil rights part of it kind of reminds me of the Anita Blake series, though their vamps are a lot more established. I find it pretty intriguing, but generally I prefer the vamps being mostly or completely unknown then discovered as the show goes along.

It was a pretty good show and the premise is definitely interesting. The acting is a little…l dunno, stiff I guess? But I pretty much contribute that to being the first episode. It takes a while for everything to fit right. I have a feeling that it will come into its own. Here’s hoping anyway.

I’m not going to say I’m into it yet. I think it has a ways to go before I really like it. It’s only the first episode after all. I do think it has potential to be really awesome. I’m thinking about picking up the books. I need something to read anyway.

Oh, speaking of vamps, I’ve updated Shadowman. It’s a short chapter, mostly because it was originally supposed to be a part of chapter 3. I may do one sooner than two weeks since it was so short…Be sure to check it out.

My story Decontamination is ready for your purchasing pleasure. So, anyone who’s interested, just go here to buy! I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did writing.

I guess I’d have to say that I’m currently on a personal journey. That’s probably the best thing to call it. Though, it’s not really for me; it’s for my mother.

My mom has always been kind of flighty. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good person and I love her dearly. But, I’m pretty sure she has a problem. A pretty big problem, I think, and she knows it, but is delusional about it.

Let me explain a little better. She’s been diagnosed with clinical depression and I’m seriously thinking she may be bipolar. To top those problems off, she is a bit of an alcoholic (who am I kidding, there’s no such thing as a “bit” of an alcoholic). Again, she is very aware of these problems and she’s choosing not to do anything about them.

Which is a huge issue. Not for me, of course since I’m a grown up living away from home with my own life. If it were just the two of us, I would be really upset and bitter about it, but I’d swallow that pill and pray that she wised up. No. There are my little brothers involved, too. Two little boys, not even teenagers, both with special needs which aren’t being met.

She feels that her problem is secondary to theirs and once she has them situated, she’ll seek help for herself. I find this ridiculous, personally. It’s been years and she’s had plenty of opportunity to get things together for them, but with her condition she isn’t able to do anything. I asked her recently “how do you expect to help them without helping yourself?” She told me that her adversity is making her stronger for the boys. See what I mean about delusional.

There is so much wrong with their situation and so much I can’t do to help. I would take the twins myself if I had a way to afford it, which I don’t at this point in my life. For a long time, I kind of just…hoped it would be fixed on its own. Stupid, I know. Call me idealistic. Luckily, I’ve come to the realization that someone else is going to step in if she refuses to see reason. It’s a hard choice, but I’m standing by it. Nothing else can be done about it.

In the end, it’s the best thing for the kids and their health is more important than me being upset about having to “take control of the situation.” Honestly, though, I’m completely heartbroken. She’s my mom. She’s supposed to be a responsible adult. Unfortunately, “supposed to be” isn’t reality and I have to do the only thing I can do to make it better.

image by channah at sxc

So, you’ve finished writing an erotic story and you’re ready to share it with the world. Good for you! The next step is to find a place to put it and while it may seem like an intimidating task, there are plenty of resources out there to help you on your way.

1. Erotica Readers and Writers Association

This would have to be the best place to start. Not only does it give you a HUGE listing of publishers seeking submissions, there are also articles to help improve your stuff by people in the “know.”

2. Erotica Romance E-Publishers Comparison

If you’re a little nervous about figuring who’s the best place or if it’s some type of scam, EREC has a list of many, if not all, the erotica e-publishers out there. They let you know if the place is good, if they’ve had some type of controversy, or if it completely sucks.  Another place to check out would be Predators and Editors.

3. Erotica Authors Association

The EAA has a lot of information on all things erotic writing. Their LiveJournal has a listing open submissions and competitions. Also, once you’re published, you can join the association! Right now applications are closed, but it will be open again in December.

4. Erotica Romance Writers Forum

There’s no better place than a forum for making friends and finding out more information. ERWF might not be a very busy place, but it can still help you get your foot in the door and point you in the right direction!

5. Other Author’s Blogs

Straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Taking a peak at the blogs of people like you will give you a great perspective of the field. A good place to start would be a webring. A pretty decent one is the Erotica Romance Writers webring which lists sites of members from their forum.  There are tons of others out there, too, so Google up and check ‘em out. And, if you have your own site, don’t forget to join up!

Hope that helps! Get out there and get published.

Photo by ngirly1991 at sxc

Man, I’m in full swing with the extended portions of Bait, or the work that will be called Smut in Need of New Title.  The next portion is called Watcher and it’s about one of the members of Baltimore’s brood (group of vampires) that is in search of the succubus as a favor to Sledge.  It’s kind of funny considering that the succubus is loosely based on me and the vamp is based on one of my friends.  For that reason, the characters soooo won’t be doing it, but there will definitely be sexual undertones (I’m a smutter after all!).  And, since he’s my buddy, the story ends well and may be the only story in that series that ends well.  It depends on a few factors.

This weekend, though, I’m going to work some more on the sequel to Awakening.  I’m thinking I could get the better part of it done by the end of the weekend, which would be good.  I’ve been cooking that one for almost half a year now.   It’s been slow goings because it has a certain primal mood around it that I haven’t been able to get into.  Plus, I’m feeling a little…I don’t even know how to put it, really, but it amounts to feeling like I freaking suck at writing.  Go figure.  Once in a while, I get that way.  It usually passes.

By the way, Shadowman is on a brief hiatus until I can get some work on other stories completed.  I’m planning on updating the next chapter on 9/7/08, so don’t forget to check it out!

Anyway, it’s almost Friday (and believe me, I’m totally weeping for joy), so enjoy the weekend!  Get out there and soak up the last of that glorious sun.