Shelli Stevens

I am so happy. They killed that sh*thead al-Zarqawi. I’m a big news person, and I’ve had to watch him cut off hostage’s head’s for the past couple of years. And I’ve hated the guy, he makes me sick. And so though I don’t usually wish death upon someone, the bastard freaking deserved it. *Stands and Applauds* Okay, off the dead terrorist topics!

I am SO impressed. Cobblestone is impressing so many people, and the submissions are coming in. Today, we just contracted Charlene Sands who also writes for Harlequin Temptation, and has previously sold to Kensington. We already have an Kensington A author on board. Several of us have careers that are about to take off and hopefully thrust us into Kensington and Ellora’s Cave. But I still think Cobblestone Press is a force to be reckoned with. I haven’t yet subbed to Kensington, but I do have one with EC. Oooh! I had a book under consideration with a certain publisher and I pulled it today. And I’m so glad I did. I won’t go into details. :)

So I’m still working on the Witch book. Getting a little more done everyday. It’s kind of fun. I love my hero. Mmm. Oooh! I updated my website and put an excerpt of Silk Hauntings on my bookshelf page. You should check it out and tell me what you think! I’m so impressed with how much website code and stuff I’m learning. Actually, it’s a lot of copying and pasting, but I GET IT! Lol.

I also learned over the past week a lot more of my local chapter members bought my book than I thought. So I’m feeling a lot better about it now. They’re trying to convince me to be President next year… the scary thing? I may do it…

I’m so excited! I got a release date for the third book I sold to Cobblestone Press. I didn’t expect it to come out so soon, but it’s going to be out on August 4th! There’s not even a cover yet! It was my first attempt at a paranormal, and is called Silk Hauntings and here’s the back cover blurb…

Gavin Mackenzie is a best selling horror author and amateur ghost hunter. His plans to investigate paranormal activity at a local mansion are denied by the sexy new owner; even as she makes it clear she’d welcome him in her bed.

Then strange things start happening, and Taylor has to bring Gavin in for some exploring that goes beyond the bedroom.

So there you have it. My second book The Pirate’s Booty is in edits (which are on hold for the time being due to unforeseen circumstances) But that will be coming out hopefully some time over the summer as well!

It’s been a very exciting few months for me since I’ve been at Cobblestone. I’ve been writing like crazy! They’re a fabulous publisher to work with, and I would encourage anyone to consider subbing to them. I have a feeling they’re going to be big.

Happy Monday! Did everyone have a great weekend? I hope so! I had a pretty good one. Lot’s of promo’ing and local chapter stuff going on. Argh. Anyone ever feel like they’ve bitten off more than can chew? *Waving hands in the air madly* Remind me to slow down a bit.

So I took Emma to the mall today, we haven’t been there in awhile. We played on the playground, went to the Disney store. And I ended up buying her a bikini at Gymboree even though I said no bikinis. But it was so cute and on sale. Plus they resell so well! LOL. Right now she’s carrying around a toy cell phone holding a pretend conversation with Ruby from that show/book “Max and Ruby” Only 2 1/2 and she’s already addicted to cell phones! *Groan* I’m in trouble!

So I started my Halloween book. I’m excited about it! It’s going to be a lot of fun, and of course have a bit of a modern, fun edge. Because that’s how I write. My heroine is a witch, but she’s kind of a hippie, earthy, witch. With an addiction to designer shoes :) Anyway, she ends up falling for a vampire, which is a bit of a problem, since she’s a vegetarian. The Halloween book is going to be one of three that are related. Sara, Loribelle and I are all writing inter-related Halloween books. Three witches that are friends go to the same party on Halloween night, and get into all kinds of trouble! We’re all taking witch for our book.

So I was doing great on Weight Loss, I think down 4lb in two weeks. But then I had the misfortune of PMS and the release of my book falling at the same time. What a combination for eating bad. I swear, I need to figure out how to get around PMS bad eating. I eat anything not nailed down during that time of the month. Speaking of, I think I missed a piece of candy in my box of See’s candy.

Okay, off to round up Emma and get her ready for bed. Thanks again to everyone who visits my blog!

OH! Forgot to mention, Roberta Brown (agent) is looking at the first 2 chapters of my book Grounds for Arousal. But remember, I’m a realist, so I’m not getting my hopes up :)

Can I just say how much I love you guys? All my friends on blogger, on Divas, and now on My Space (which is you have a my space account and don’t have me as a friend, add me! www.myspace.com/shellistevens)

Everyone has been SO sweet and SO supportive of my first book coming out. I know some of you don’t read erotic romance, some probably are even embarrassed to purchase it to support me. But you did! YAY!! Maybe you didn’t read it, or can’t read the whole thing, but you at least supported me. And you rock.

I felt really let down by my local RWA chapter yesterday. The one I’m Vice President for. I sent out an email to announce my first sale and got maybe 5 responses. Do these people realize how much me and the rest of the board do for them? Could they take a minute to send a congratulations email? It really upset me, to the point where I was crying. Which really pissed me off. Because I SHOULD NOT CRY SAD TEARS THE DAY MY BOOK IS RELEASED. But I had a board meeting this morning, and I vented… and we realize it’s not just me. It’s the chapter. We’re on the verge of imploding. Nobody wants to volunteer, or be active, or get involved with the conference. People think conferences just up and create themselves. It is SO much work! Okay, enough of my venting.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the chat last night to! It was great to see those who made it in! And thanks to those who read my book and had wonderful things to say about it! You made my day!

I had a goal I wanted to make in first day sales, and I have a feeling I bypassed it! So big hugs to all my online supporters! You guys rock my online world. And when you’re book comes out, I’ll buy yours too.

Ooh! and I’ll leave you with another review I got yesterday from Euro Reviews… (yes it’s a fabulous one, I’m so excited!)

Tourist Attraction is the first book that Shelli Stevens has had published. I was delighted with her writing style and read this book in one sitting. This novella was a fast, fun read, with surprisingly well-developed characters. Given that it is a difficult task to create a storyline and develop characters that are likeable in such a short period of time, Ms. Stevens did a truly remarkable job. Ms. Stevens definitely delivers when it comes to intense love scenes. Overall, I feel that she is an author to watch out for. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading The Pirates Booty once it’s released. 4.5 flags!

My book is out! This is my first book to be published, and one of six books at the Cobblestone Press grand opening!

If anyone wants to buy it (and you would seriously my month if you did!) here are the details. I won’t beg or anything…, but it’s only about the price of a venti cappucino. :) Okay, that’s kind of begging… sorry!

Melanie Kemble goes to Hawaii with two major goals. To get a tan, and to have a fling.

But Brian isn’t finished with her just yet, and just how far will he go to get his sexy little tourist back?


http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/touristattraction.htm

Also we’re chatting tonight in the Cobblestone Press chat room at 8pm EST. So come on by and talk to the publishers and authors. Find out more about our books and submissions! There’ll be contests and prizes! http://www.cobblestone-press.com/chat.htm