Shelli Stevens

I would have blogged last night, but I was way too tired. Because Tuesday night I only got 3 1/2 hours of sleep. I was on the internet shopping quest to find a bedspread to buy with my royalties check! And I found it around 1:15 am, and went to bed. But then stared at the ceiling chanting ‘must fall asleep’ for the next two hours. Does that ever happen to you? Yeah, it sucked! And then Emma woke me up at 6:30. So yeah, pretty much passed out at nine last night. But not before I had a fabulous dinner.

See I had dinner with two great people. Both we’re people I was really great friends with in grade school and Girl Scouts (Yes, I was a Girl Scout! Top Seller of cookies one year, 720 boxes!) But in high school, none of us really hung out. In college I started hanging out with Patricia again, and then just a few months ago my friend Danielle found me on My Space. She bought my books and declared herself a fan, and I love her! Not just for that, der, but cause she’s so sweet. Well, last night we all got together. And it was the first time I saw Danielle in like 11 years. First time we’d all hung out in almost 20!

So we went to The Olive Garden. Drank, ate, talked, gossiped, ate, drank, ate. And it was so refreshing, because these two women are both single as well. And both can give me a run for my money on the ’sh*tty luck with men’ :) So it was a great dinner, and I really hope we all hang out more often. How about you? Anyone in your life you wish you could reconnect with? Or maybe you already have? Maybe it’s romantic and you married that person!

So it’s a quick post today, cause I’m off to gramma sit. But maybe I’ll post again or more later if I have anything really important to say.

Okay, truly I had a pretty cool post today. And blogger just ate it and belched it back out to taunt me. So, let’s start fresh. Shall we? Just understand that this one will be a little suckier.

Sooo I’ve sent off three partials today, and as Shelley says.. I now have Hope in the Mail. I have a great critique group that gave me some fabulous tips. I know a lot of people don’t care much for critique groups, but they can really find a lot of cool stuff you’re missing. And I love the fact that they’ll be my Beta Readers. I love that term, learned it in Atlanta.

I flubbed a bit today. I was all pumped up after having watched Super Nanny last night, deciding I was going to be a better mom. And then Emma started to get a little out of control this morning, as toddlers tend to do. So I muttered under my breath–well I thought it was under my breath–”Emma, you’re pissing mommy off.” And then she says in her singsong voice, “Mommy, you’re pissing me off.” Sooo… yeah, no comments like that unless they’re in my head. But even then, the chit can probably read minds.

So before I sent the stuff off to NY and Colorado (can you guess which agent that one went to?) I had to stuff the envelopes. See, lately I’d gotten to the point where I would print up the agent/editor and my return address on labels and slap them on the envelope. But I ran out of labels and figured I’d try and write them in this time. So I grabbed my blue Sharpie and went at it. Halfway through I realized it looked like my toddler was writing it. So I crinkled up the envelopes, put Emma in the car, and then drove to the store to buy some address labels. And when I sent the partials off, they were awfully pretty. So how do you do the envelope thing? Do you have good enough handwriting to get away with it? Or are you a label person too?

So isn’t this a great pic? It’s a chalk drawing on the sidewalk.

I had a great day yesterday. I went to Whidbey Island for the day and spent the night. I went to the Coupeville festival and bought Emma a cute shirt and dress. Then I went back to the cabin (my parents own a cabin they bought years ago up there) and had a family gathering of sorts. My aunt, uncle, cousin, and lady I gramma-sit were there. We spent the day BBQ’ing, talking, going for walks. And we tried to take Emma out in the rowboat, and she freaked out a bit. Ah well, she used to love boating. She’ll get used to it again. And I got so much writing done. I’m fleshing out my heroine in Grounds for Arousal. Making her less rough around the edges. And giving her some more motivation. I’m liking where this is going. I also came home to find two partials requested from two of the agents Roberta referred me to. So… trying to keep ‘hope in the mail’ as someone said. Who was it. Shelley? Hmm. Speak up if it was you!

But last night was wonderful. With Emma and I tucked away in this tiny room. I have my laptop, even though we don’t have any internet, and I did the most wonderful thing. I grabbed my CD’s and picked out some of my favorite classical ones. So I put on Faure’s Requim. Which has to be my hands down, all time favorite, choral piece. I sang it college, and in a group after college. It was also the Requim sung at the memorial in Washington D.C. following September 11th. So I listened to it, in this tiny room without lights. With no internet to distract me. I even minimized my book I was editing and just listened. To this music that makes my stomach clench, my eyes tear up, and my throat go tight. I don’t really think I can accurately convey how this piece affects me. But it does, on a truly deep level. Beneath the writer, I have another creative/artistic side. And that’s the musician in me. The girl who will always appreciate great classical music. The thrill of a dissonant chord that hesitates to resolve. I love all kinds of music, but the type that challenges me emotionally as well as intelligently, will always be classical. And although music really isn’t big in my life now, I remember how much I love it when I take the time to… well, just listen.

So… what were you before you were a writer? Did you have another passion? A hobby, or some talent we don’t know about? What’s your other passion besides writing? Or if you’re not a writer, what’s your passion period?

Speaking of period. Look at all the creative things you can do with tampon…..

So my first ‘official’ interview went up! You can read it at Romance Reviews Today .

I went to the Taste of Edmonds today with Emma and my friend Patricia. It was hot, dirty, crowded, and we had a blast! I got Emma one of those cute fair hippie tie dye dresses. So cute. And we ate way too much. Oh and Emma is officially riding her first bike! With training wheels of course, she’s only 2 1/2! I’m so proud! She’s cruising all over the place.

So I’m pretty darn excited. I mentioned earlier that Cobblestone Press is holding Octoberfest in a couple of months. Basically it’s an entire month of paranormals that are coming out! I can’t wait! And I decided to write a series–Vegas Magic–with Sara Dennis and Loribelle Hunt . And now we all have our covers! This is a three book series about three witches who are friends, that end up going to a Halloween Hell’s Ball. And each manages to get into their own bit of trouble!

A Halloween party at the Crypt Casino sounds like fun. Meeting a magician who makes Sam’s blood race is more than she dreamed. Can she teach the man who’s meant to be her mate to summon his own magic and beat the odds?

Scarlet Nelson needs a break and a Halloween bash is just the thing. What she doesn’t count on is a sexy werewolf in hot pursuit, a shady business partner, novice witches, and a few zombies thrown in for good measure. Can her night of fun be salvaged or is it Gone With the Wolf?

Arianna’s a holistic witch who tries to stay out of trouble. But trouble finds her when the Hell’s Ball she’s attending lives up to its name. She meets Jake, a cocky vampire who’s creating havoc on her hormones. But he’s also her only hope at getting through the night alive.

Well I heard back from the agent I was waiting on. She rejected me. *Sigh* I kind of expected it, because she’d looked at the work before and rejected it. But I get the feeling she likes me as a person, and that’s why she asked to see it again after I won the Stroke of Midnight contest. So she gave me a wonderfully personal, sweet rejection. And also gave me the names of three agents she thought I should try sending my book too. And it really reiterated one thing in my quest to NY. You have to find an agent/editor who is in love with your book. An agent won’t settle for you if they’re not head over heels, and you shouldn’t settle for an agent who’s luke warm about your book. So yeah… even though it’s for the best, it’s still a bit of a bummer, and then I came home and found my award certificate in the mail for the contest. It was a little ironic.

So I emailed one of the recommended agents, and there seems to have been a mix up. Because this agent represents inspirational romance. Which we had a mutual giggle over. So I emailed back and forth with agent B a couple times, and then she offers to introduce me to an editor at an erotic publisher. I’m thinking that may not work at this time, because this publisher doesn’t take simultaneous submissions, and I’d have to make dramatic changes to make my book fit. I’m just totally amazed at how nice some people can be in the industry, and how networking can happen when you least expect it.

So I’m still pushing for success. I emailed the other two recommended agents, sent an update to Ellora’s Cave that my book won a contest, and… okay, that’s it. Oh, and I still have to send out the partial that St. Martin requested. On that note, has anyone else in epubs gotten really spoiled? I keep thinking of how much paper that is! And the price to mail it. LOL. I’m used to opening an email and hitting ‘attach.’

Okay, well here’s the latest releases at Cobblestone Press today. We’re going down to two releases a week for awhile, I think, because the editors are working hard to get ready for Octoberfest! You’ve GOT to check out the covers for those babies! Good stuff coming up! Octoberfest

P.S. Thanks to everyone who’s sending promo stuff and books to me for the Emerald City Writers Conference. They’re arriving by the truckload! I just got books from Shelley Monro! (Thanks Shelley!!!) And a kick arse raffle basket (well backpack technically) from
Vicki Lewis Thompson She has the ‘Nerd’ theme, and donated this raffle backpack full of great stuff. It’s FABULOUS!

The below books are available at Cobblestone Press.

It’s getting hot in Christy Evans’ kitchen! Kyle Warren, the boy next door she made sure to avoid in high school, has moved back home and he’s turning up the heat. Keeping her distance has never been so difficult.

This time around Kyle’s helping her with her catering business, Edible Delights, being a good neighbor and refusing to take no for an answer. Her defenses are crumbling like undercooked cobbler … can she keep denying the gorgeous man who looks at her like she’s his next “edible delight”?

After spending his life hunting rogue werewolves, Trey Williams is looking forward to a quiet retirement in Alabama. But between hunting for the local outlaw wolf and claiming his newfound mate, Tara Burke, that peace doesn’t last long. Can he find the mysterious wolf before it endangers his new mate?

Tara knows all about werewolves and she doesn’t want one, thank you very much, but there’s no denying the heat that flares between her and Trey. Can she use her gift for witchcraft to break the bond between them? And does she really want to?

Oddly enough, I got hit on again online today. I mean, it’s pretty likely I got a ‘form’ message. Which I’m sure anyone within his zip code that looked cute got. Now, this guy wasn’t bad looking. Actually somewhat my type. Meat on his bones, nice smile. But, let me show you the highlights of his message…

Yo yo..
… I wandered into your profile and well, I liked what I saw.. ;p So.. ya :) they call me *Billy. I think you and I should perhaps be friends, cause you seem pretty cool, and smart, and maybe even cute! (it’s everso hard to tell in this vast digital world.. :) ….you know what they say.. appearance wins over the eyes, but personality catches the heart.. LOL!

So I visited his profile (this is all on My Space) Here’s his entire ‘about me’ blurb..

Hi, I love to travel more then anything else. My current passion is The Netherlands. (Netherlands = Amsterdam = possible pothead)

Would like to meet anyone with similar interests or even anyone curious. (I’m a single mom on a tight budget, traveling is not exactly in my future)

No strings or baggage. Take a chance. (Right, fabulous deal. We get to have sex as long as I don’t expect anything from you. And of course a pushing 30, single woman will have no baggage. I’ve got my rose colored glasses on. I’m just waiting for my Prince Charming to whisk me off to Amsterdam on our baggageless trip.)

Then’s the kicker. In his side bar profile thing it says… I don’t want kids

Okay, WHY are you hitting on me? Did ya read my profile? I have a kid, it’s noted in my profile, and there’s even a picture of her on there. I think that new pic of me that I put up (the same one that’s in here now) is attracting attention. But I rarely look that good. That was Shelli playing dress up at Nationals. I’m usually wearing my fat pants, a t-shirt, and have my hair pulled back in a ponytail. And NO MAKEUP.

I don’t even think I’m going to reply to him. Athough I’ll feel bad if he somehow finds his way to my blog and reads this. But what can I say, he gave me great material for a blog post today.

So I got tagged by Kelley. It’s all about books, and so I have to warn you.. my answers aren’t very deep. I rarely remember what I ate for breakfast the day before, let alone all the books that have impacted me over the years. Yeah, I shouldn’t admit that being a writer.

1. One book that changed my life: He’s just not that into you. Seriously, I haven’t dated since.
2. One book I’ve read more than once: Some historical romance that I read so long ago I forgot and read it again when I bought it at a thrift shop. I never intend to read a book twice.
3.One book I would want on a deserted island: A survival guide.
4. One book that made me laugh: Good in Bed
5. One book that made me cry: Who knows. Maybe one of those Nicholas Sparks books.
6. One book I wish I had written: Good in Bed.
7. One book I wish had never been written: Can’t remember. Some book about an alcoholic who’s wife left him, and he dies in the end. I think he was a cop. It really pissed me off. That took like three days to read. Three days of my life I’ll never get back.
8. One book I am currently reading: Bunking down with the Boss by Charlene Sands.
9. One book I have been meaning to read: In the Mood by Suzanne Macpherson

Tagged: Anyone motivated to do this or wants something to put on their blog today!

I’ve really been thinking about that a lot today. Through talking to people, to reading post in Divas, I just have to wonder how long it takes people to break into the NY market.

This sounds crazy every time I think it, but it’s true. I’ve been at this for 5 years. I subbed my first manuscript in June 2001 to Harlequin Blaze. I knew almost nothing about the industry. I wrote a book, then talked a lot to my dad’s cousin (who wrote regencies) who told me how to research who to send it to. I figured it out and sent it. Actually using really bad lines in my query like “I am young and feel my book would really strike a chord with the younger market, because I am part of that market.” And “My book it your typical Harlequin, but with tabasco sauce.” What the f*ck was I thinking? Oh man. And I got a rejection, but it was actually a really great one. Not form, and with lots of compliments. But this was when I was wet behind the ears and didn’t know there were good rejections, bad rejections, and form rejections. I saw it was a rejection and burned it. Ignoring the ‘you are obviously a talented writer’ part.

So I took more of my relatives advice, and joined the RWA. That’s when I really got started. But even then…how serious was I about getting to NY? To getting published? I think I was sort of interested, but I was more concerned about dating, and school, and just having fun in my early twenties. I was doing what I think a rather large group of writers do. I would write one book. One. And I would send it out twice a year. I would send it to the agent and editor I met at the Seattle conference. If they didn’t want it, I’d wait until the next years conference and then pitch the same book to a new agent and editor.

It took me until 2005 until I wrote my second book. And as I started to market it, I was taking advice from a local chapter member Cherry Adair . She gave me the best advice. I said what do I do next? Just send it out until it sells? She said send it out, and write another book. Immediately. And when you’re done with that one, write another one. And so within one year I wrote two books around 70k and a novella ‘The Pirate’s Booty’ which I’ve sold.

I’m very productive, and I think I’ve come far in that aspect. But there’s one more step I need to do. I need to start sending my stuff out. I’m comfortable in my epub life now. And even though I have two books I want to sell to NY, I rarely send out queries. In these five years I would say it would be amazing if I’ve sent out 20 total. I start to get agent interest, and I’ll put everything on hold. Which I know you’re not supposed to do. Most of my friends will have to send out like 25+ queries to get agent interest. A lot land agents that way. So what’s my problem?

When am I going to take that final step and start the massive storm of sending out my stuff to a bizillion places? When am I going get to the end of the road and reach NY. My goal. A lot of people’s goal.

So where do you stand in your writing? Have you hit’m hard in NY? Are you waiting to hear back? Are you waiting to send? Or are you still pitching the same book you wrote three years ago? Or maybe you’re still writing the same book you started a year ago. Let’s share. :)

Here’s my pic of the day….

Well, I’m one of those people who get super excited about holidays. And, yes, Halloween is over two months away, but I shop early (Especially since I’ll be consumed by a conference in early October.) And so after great debate on what to put on Emma this year, I’ve chosen…. A Pirate!

Okay, I totally had to. I mean come on. I wrote a book called The Pirate’s Booty, and then I saw this costume. Lacy and I agreed it had to be done.

And I’m kinda in the fun, non-traditional cutesy girl costumes, because I’m sure Emma will demand to be Cinderella when she turns four. Last year she was a pumpkin patch witch. And I’m going to be selling her old costume on Ebay next month.

So what was your favorite costume growing up? Or if you have kids what are you thinking of plopping on them this year?

Okay, so off of Halloween talk now. Lacy crashed at my house last night and tonight. It’s like a continuation of Atlanta. It’s pretty fun, and Emma adores her. We’re such geeks though. We sit in the same room, both on our laptops, chatting with each other on yahoo. LOL.

I’ve been getting various books, promo stuff from writers for the ECWC and I have to thank you guys! It’s fabulous stuff and I really appreciate it!

My pic of the day was somewhat inspired by a post on Shelley Munro’s blog. She talked UFO’s and stuff. And so I couldn’t resist putting up this great tattoo!

Ok I’m back! I’m still coughing like a eighty-year-old smoker, but I’m not as sick today. I’m getting better! Woo whoo! Thanks for everyone who’s been so sweet to wish me well.

So I came back from Nationals knowing I was going to be busy. And I am. Here’s what I’m doing all at once. And before you say “why is she coming to her blog to whine?” I’m not really. I love being busy. I love responsibility. I thrive on deadlines. Besides, I can now come back here as I finish each project, since this is my checklist!

1. Vice President duties: Booking all meetings for my local chapter through September 2007. That means hunting down workshop presenters. And I got Eden Bradley (Diva Lisa) to do a Sensuality Workshop! So excited :)

2. Raffle Chair duties: I am contacting/reminding people who said they’ll donate a basket to the Emerald City Writers Conference coming up in October. And I’m still buying things to fill the baskets, asking for donated books and promo items for the baskets, and then I’ll actually have to put them together. Baskets, weird shrink wrap and all.

3. Find a karaoke host: I got drafted to be the one to find a karaoke dj for Saturday night of the conference. It’s been tough, but I think I may have found one that works within our budget. I’m supposed to call him, oh, right now actually.

4. Write: I’m editing and lengthening two books. Well one is edited, but could be lengthened about 15k so it’s a legitimate single title. I screwed up the margins when I originally wrote it a year and a half ago. So it’s shorter than I thought. More category length, but I don’t think category takes erotic romance. *wince* So now I’m working on those. Plus I just took on another novella to write in a series with 3 other Cobblestone Press authors.

5. Submit my stuff: If the agent turns me down, then I’m going to have to get ready to start subbing again. Sending my stuff out.

6. Be a mom to a toddler: Enough said.

7. Lose weight: Massively important and not for vanity reasons. Dr. Phil’s on my night stand begging me to read him.

Okay, so there it is in all it’s brutal glory. And I love it. Truth be told. I’m on top of everything, and am more productive now than I have been in the last five months!

Is anybody else this nuts? Like, you do your best when you have a gazillion things to juggle at once? Or maybe it’s just me. *Sigh* And I know I had something somewhat interesting to say in my blog, but I can’t remember what it was.

For my pic of the day, I thought this was totally appropriate…

UH! I’m still sick. So sick I missed the BBQ, and had to cancel plans to go see Emma’s 1/2 sister and her mom today. *Sigh* So no big blog today. But I did blog over at The Novelty Girls last night.

UPDATE: Okay, I’m back. I know I said I wasn’t going to blog. But I have another review to share. Sasha White was telling me a week ago that she saw my review up at JRR. And I was all excited, went to find it… nada. Couldn’t find it. I just assumed Sasha thought I was someone else (Cause really, I was so excited she was even talking to me) But then, today I get an email from Deanna at Cobblestone Press. And walah! There’s the review. So here it is. I’m a happy camper again. I really hope this chain of good luck doesn’t break.

Title: The Pirate’s Booty
Author: Shelli Stevens
Publisher: Cobblestone Press
Publisher URL: www.cobblestone-press.com
ISBN: 1-60088-021-5
Reviewer: LT Blue
Rating: 5 Stars
Heat level: H

When her doggy daycare business is threatened with foreclosure, Renee Hawkins is desperate to find a brooch mentioned in a diary passed down through the family for generations. With the help of a friend, Renee crashesa party thrown by the descendant of a pirate. She intends to steal back the brooch taken from her ancestor centuries ago. Renee does not realize that itis a sex party and Devon Murray is as notorious as his pirate ancestor. From the moment I began reading The Pirate’s Booty I couldn’t put the bookdown. Shelli Stevens created such vivid believable characters. The sexual tension that continued throughout the book was steamy and excitingly raunchy. Renee Hawkins’ has one goal—steal the brooch and save her doggydaycare. She wasn’t looking for mind blowing sex or a relationship with a modern day pirate.

Devon Murray was only looking to stop the nosey reporter(Renee) from getting the scoop about his famous parties and maybe have a little fun with her. From the moment Renee and Devon meet the sexual sparks between them would not be put out and they continue to ignite through the story. The déjà vu feeling that Renee and Devon have for each other gives justification for the first sexual encounter happening only hours after they meet. The group sex scene was tastefully written with Renee’s obvious feeling of “I can’t help but look” that this reader could relate to. The Pirate’s Booty was a great read and I look forward to more work from Ms.Stevens.

LT BlueJust Erotic Romance Reviews