The Big Cover Reveal

From the Vault--Loveswept Books!

Bantam Doubleday Dell has relaunched its former, much loved (by me) line of Loveswept titles as digital releases! Well, not all of them, but here's hoping. I used to LOVE these books back in the day, which was long before the e book revolution gave romance readers a much wider variety of romance novels to choose from. Loveswept was pretty much the only line offering an alternative to Harlequin in the '80s, if you wanted short category titles. I always found the Loveswept books a little edgier, the characters a little more down to earth than what Hqn was offering (not that I didn't devour a few Harlequins with relish--especially the Temptations. Hmm, perhaps Hqn can re-release some of my old pink cover favs as digital books. My brain is sending out vibes as I type...)

Sami

Great Article

So with the tail end of this flu and a general case of exhaustion, I didn't get to my Wednesday post. Meh. Let's face it my schedule idea was always going to face tough opposition from my disorganised self :).

Stopping in to say that if anyone hasn't yet gone to read Kate Cuthbert's guest spot over at the Down Under Divas, please do. It's fantastic, and I agree with Jess Dee that the world needs more Kates. Certainly, the romance genre could do with an army of champions like her. She wrote an article that should be read by everyone too. If you've ever hidden your romance cover inside that of another book or acted like somebody else left that M&B novel behind in your house and you simply haven't gotten around to chucking it yet, you'll relate to Kate's thoughts. I only wish I could put it so eloquently myself.

Sami

Two Days or Two Weeks?

The last time I had my WIP open was two days ago. Thursday 23rd, when I got some good words down and felt that it was all flowing pretty well. I'd written past Chapter 3's problems and was on Chapter 5 rewrites.

I had my two days off for Christmas and have come back on Boxing Day feeling as rusty as if I've been away from the ms for weeks. I guess that advice about writing every day is on the money, but seriously, I wasn't going to write Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Being Santa is a busy enough past time.

The reading has been fun though. I've discovered Tina Wainscott's suspense novels and thoroughly enjoyed Until the Day You Die. I felt like something violent and scary at Christmas, coz I'm odd I suppose. Digression: Does anyone else remember Tina Wainscott writing rom-com for Harlequin Temptation back in the nineties? There's nothing on her website about that but I'm sure I don't have the name wrong. Damn my 'toss it out if it's old attitude', or else I'd probably have those old harlequins still!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas. I'm going to try and find my warm spot in the cave again and get this ms rolling once more over the next couple of days. Lord knows, the cricket's not worth watching unless you're English!

Happy writing (and reading), over the break to all,

Sami

Found this in the inbox

I had a rough weekend. Between my back spasms and then a bout of what I think was food poisoning (thankyou supermarket deli ham), I got stuff all done as far as writing, housework or general living is concerned. Work was its usual thrill a minute, but it pays the bills so whaddyagonnado?

Then this morning I opened my inbox to find this great message:

Dear Sami Lee,



EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Coalition™ (www.epicauthors.com) is delighted to announce that your entry, Sunset Knight, is a finalist in the Contemporary Erotic Romance Category of the 2011 EPIC eBook Awards Competition™.

Well yay! I entered the comp when I was searching around for something writing related to do that would excuse me from doing any actual writing, and yippee I'm a finalist. There were around 62 entries this year so I'm quite chuffed. Yes, I'm saying chuffed like a Brittish person.

Now I'm invited to an awards dinner at historical Williamsburg, Virginia. Anyone got a private plane?


Sami

Available in the Flesh

I do so love coming up with provocative blog titles. Overnight/this morning Sunset Knight was released as a trade paperback edition. Yes, it's arrived and you can get your hands on it in the flesh, so to speak. This is another excuse to shamelessly post the cover, which is totally scrummy.

It's available wherever quality books are sold... isn't that what they always say? They must sell crap books at A & R then because you can't get it there :). The usual places that cater to the left of centre romance tastes will stock it though, and of course you can get anything online.

My Bookstore and More

The Book Depository

Or just follow any of the links from the book page at Samhain.

I'm posting all this here because I can't see myself updating the website tonight. It's on tomorrow's list.

Cheers,
Sami

Yipyoo It's Out!

Woo Hoo, Sunset Knight is now up for sale at My Bookstore and More, and incredibly, have already received a positive email from the lovely Joy from the Samhain Cafe, praising the book. How do these people read so fast?! Words like 'awesome' and 'fantastic' do wonderful things for my undernourished writer's ego.

Will be back soon with a competition, some man pics or something else of that nature. I'm on my second glass of wine tonight so can't promise I'll be making any sense. Am also planning to eat the hazelnut crunch drumstick I've been saving for a special occasion. Oh yeah, I'm celebrating with food and alcohol, against all weight watchers' edicts. I'm not in a rule abiding mood right now.

Sami

Time's Acreeping Up

I got my final versions of Sunset Knight today. I have to say they look gorgeous. Am I the only nerd who goes into each and every e reader program to see how it looks? 'Oh, look at the Mobipocket version, it's soooo cute!'. Oh yes, I'm a dork.

Only two more sleeps and hubby will be back home, and eleven more sleeps until release day. Am counting down for both with similar anticipation. Here's another of my favourite snippets from the book:

“I’m not the kind of guy you should tease. I might take you seriously.”
One could only hope. Lana’s pulse thundered in her ears, so she was barely aware of when Van Morrison ended and Eric Clapton began. “Who says I’m not serious?”
“I do. You’re not exactly…”
When his words trailed off Lana filled in, “I’m not your type.”
His soft chuckle tickled her earlobe. “Lana, female’s my type.”



Sami

It's Out

Can finally show off my new cover. Striking isn't it? I wanna go sailing on that boat with him :)

Sami

The Important Stuff

1. Wrote 5,375 words.

2. Got a blurb and excerpt up on the Samhain page. Nothing like going on sale the same day as Lorelei James, Ciar Cullen and Shelli Stevens. Methinks the bestseller list may elude me this time around.

3. Sabrina was clearly the winner tonight with her emotive performance of Numb. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. No, I'm not watching it this year, I swear. Just taking a peek every now and then.

Sami

Done!

The final line edits for Sunset Knight are finally done and sent back to my ed. Excerpts have also been chosen and the book, with cover, should be appearing on the Samhain coming soon page sometime this week. I can't post the cover until then, darn it, so you'll have to wait to see that. It is yummy though, I promise. Very sexy and appropriate for the book.

My other writing project isn't going as well. I wrote just over 4,000 words this week and every single one of them is rubbish. Well, not every single one. The 'the's 'and's and the occasional reference to 'shimmering' are okay--it's the way the words are put together that sucks. Oh well, I had father's day to organise and a funeral to attend so have been kept preoccupied this week. My grandmother, one of the loveliest, most generous and gracious ladies to ever walk the earth, passed away peacefully in her sleep only a few weeks shy of her 94th birthday. What a good innings, Nan. Rest well.

"Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die." Amelia Burr

Sami

Lucky You

If you haven't read Chasing Sunset yet, shame on you. Just kidding. Maybe you haven't gotten around to buying it yet, or you've been thinking it's not your sort of thing. How would you know right?

Well it's your lucky day. As part of Samhain's Discover New Authors programme you can now download the first half of the novella for free. Not just an excerpt, not the first chapter--the whole first half of the book. That's a pretty good deal isn't it? If you hate it you never have to buy the second half--no royalties for me boo hoo. But I'll never know so what's the harm hey? Just don't email me and tell me you hated it please. That's something I don't need.

If you're interested, just hop to the samhellion, and the link's there on the first page. I don't think you have to be signed up to the newsletter itself to download the pdf (but if so it only takes a couple of minutes and all you get is one digital newsletter a month that has loads of good articles in it. No spam, I promise).

So go forth and read :).


Sami

Here 'Tis!

Ain't she pweety?

Sami

Watch This Space

Cover art for Chasing Sunset is coming soon. What I've seen of it so far is pretty darn hot, so I'm waiting with baited breath for final approval so I can show it off. The excerpt is up on the Samhain site if you want to check it out.

Sami

Totally Stoked

I've been having some email dramas the past week - trouble sending on one account, receiving on another. You've gotta love technology. But I was pleasantly surprised this morning to open my email account(s) and discover that not only was I now receiving communication from the outside world (very important for the new housebound mother) but that the ever resourceful Jess Dee had discovered a new review for Born Again Virgin at The Romance Studio, who awarded it 4.5 hearts. Here's a snippet:

"Ms. Sami Lee has... showed her skill in producing emotionally intense, light-hearted action which was attention-grabbing and sensual at the same time. Her main characters were so real it was as if I knew them personally. The minor characters just enhanced the storyline itself.

This book had a passionate plot with a great deliverance. I could not put the book down. It was a remarkable story with an excellent storyline. I recommend it for a great read."

Reviewer: Brenda Talley July 28, 2008
Read the full review

I love The Romance Studio's website and blog, so am particularly pleased with this review. Thanks Brenda!

Today I am determined to get an hour's worth of writing work accomplished. Since I've already been on the Net for longer than that the blog and email stuff is not going to count toward that total. Sigh. Subsisting on 4 hrs sleep right now so time will tell how much I get achieved before the need for napsies takes over. Not to mention smallest cherub is just letting me know it's feed time. A woman's work is never done...

Sami

A New Arrival

No, not that kind. This is another one. And no, it's not twins either.

I have had a novella accepted and it will be released by Samhain Publishing in December. I found out earlier in the week and have managed to get the contract business sorted out quick smart, so hopefully they can't change their minds now :). The preliminary title is Chasing Sunset and it's a menage story I wrote mainly just to see if I could write one. Evidently I can. Who knew?

This story has gone through a critique process with my good friend and writing pal Jess Dee, who has also recently had her first attempt at a menage story accepted for release as part of Samhain's upcoming Menage and More anthology. If you're wondering if I had any interest in the anthology myself, you'd be right. It was to be the novella's original destination but Jess, the dear, pipped me at the post she did. Pipped me I say! Fortunately I'm a placid, happy go lucky kind of gal (ahem), and I have managed to refrain from flaming her via email for her - well deserved - success. Her story, A Question of Trust, comes out in September so check out her blog if you want to know more about it. Mine will come out as a stand alone a few months later.

In the meantime... some of you might remember the yummy pics I posted a couple of months ago to show where I was getting my inspiration (actually I didn't need the pics to keep me motivated but it was a really good excuse to waste time scouring the Net looking for a couple of guys who looked just right). I thought it was worth posting a couple more, just because I can.

Just too yummy for words. The first is my character Drew, the one on the right is my character Brody - otherwise known as a couple of random male models I like to look at. Share the joy, I say. That's it for a teaser for now. There will be blurbs and excerpts etc to come... sometime.

Hope you all have a good weekend. I'm actually going out to dinner tonight with some friends - a kidless dinner which has been about six months in the making. My last opportunity to feel like my own person for a while I imagine. Hope I remember how.

Sami

A Road Trip

I'm not sure that it qualifies as a road trip, but I'm popping over to Jess Dee's blog, as I've been invited to be her guest blogger on Friday. Hope you get a chance to come on over. I'm posting a little Fijian Fling teaser in case you're interested.

The man pic is just for fun. Isn't he yummy? He's Sabrina's Secret - more about him in the near future....


Cheers for now,


Sami

It's Out

Fijian Fling has been released in print, as one of the stories in the Sand, Sun and Sex anthology. The paperback features some other great authors like Michelle Cary, Jennifer Colgan and Beth Williamson. I've read them all and they're fantastic. I'm so happy to be part of this, my very first anthology!

The book's available through several buy links on the Samhain site, and should be available in Australia soon. Yay!

Sami

The Empire State of TBR Piles

I've gone a bit crazy with the book buying this week. I went to Rosemary's Romance Books in Brisbane City to sign some copies of my book (yes, there it is right on the shelf. It will be featured in next month's catalogue. Go ahead, buy so they'll have to order more:)). Of course a visit to such a top notch specialist romance bookstore requires a serious browsing session, which inevitably turns into a even more serious buying session. I also picked up a few books in a bargain bin at my local shopping centre this week. So all in all I have some serious reading to do:


Anyone But You - Jennifer Crusie
Dream a Little Dream - Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Divorced, Desperate and Delicious - Christie Craig
A Red Hot New Year - Anthology including fellow Brisbanite, Denise Rossetti)
Dark Lover - JR Ward (Yes, a vampire story. I'll get to that)
Night Pleasures - Sherriyln Kenyon
Looking for Peyton Place - Barbara Delinsky (I used to read her categories back in the '80's and always loved them)
Her Master and Commander - Karen Hawkins
Blind Alley - Iris Johanson (Often in the bargain bin. IMO an underrated author)
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen


Yes, there is a vampire story in there. Ordinarily, I don't do vampires (pardon the pun). But I've decided to broaden my genre horizons, based on the fact that JR Ward is also Jessica Bird, whose contemporary categories I'm terminally in love with . I just finished The Billionaire Next Door, another fantastic read from this author. I just can't say enough about her work in contemporaries.


But vampire romance? I can't help but think that's a contradition in terms. I don't now, nor have I ever found vampires sexy. Something about a guy who might sink his fangs into your neck and drain the life from you at any moment doesn't exactly scream happy ever after. Maybe that's just me. I'm going to read Dark Lover with an open mind and see where it takes me. Perhaps I'll finally understand what the vampire 'thing' is about.


When I get to it that is. You saw the list.


Happy reading!
Sami

Erotic Features

Princess Two is screaming in her room as I type, upset about having been told not to do something or other by her father. It's nap time you see, and she's so exhausted she might even sleep today. Here's hoping. There was no sleep going on yesterday afternoon.

I have been featured at The Romance Studio, where they've done a little interview and posted an excerpt etc. from Born Again Virgin. I'm right down the bottom of the page, and yes, that's a photo of ME there. Not a fan of having photos of self posted on Internet, or in fact displayed anywhere in the house, but there you have it. I've put the feature in the 'Blue' section of their site, which is the 18+ section, based on the fact that the book has been referred to as erotic romance before. I've talked about this on my other blog - about the line between what is simply spicy and what it truly erotic and exactly where it lies. I'm still not sure BAV fits in the erotic genre but I err on the side of caution. One person's romance is another's porn I guess.

There's no such confusion about my current WIP, something I haven't spoken about yet. I still don't want to say too much, other than there'll be no mistaking which category it falls into should it be published. It's capital E for Erotic. And almost done, first draft wise. Aiming to be finished with that this weekend (although I can hear Princess has calmed down but still not sleeping. I count no chickens). Re-writes next week, hopefully.

Here's a couple of the pics I've been using for inspiration:

And yes, there are two different guys there. Two different naked guys. 'Nuff said on that for now.

Have a good weekend,

Sami