Shelli Stevens

So last night I went to support some writing friends. Lauren Dane, Lacy Danes, Susan Lyons, Bonnie Edwards, Celia May Hart all did a reading/signing at Babeland in Seattle. It was a lot of fun, although I realized I’m pretty immune to sex scenes now. I don’t think I even blushed once as they read aloud some seriously hot stuff. There was a great turn out and I even bought a few books. I would have bought all of them, but at like $12-$15 a pop, it’s just not realistic. Afterwards I had dinner with my friend Jacquie Rogers who won a Pearl recently, and just got nominated for a Rio!

This positive thinking has been great. I’ve already noticed the effects it has had on the way I’ve begun to think about my current book. I can’t wait to send it out. I think this puppy is pretty darn good and really has a chance. So I’ve expanded this positive thinking beyond my writing. I’m using it with everyday life. Instead of thinking I’ll never date again, I’ve started to think yes I will. And I’ll do it with confidence! *Grin* Though I couldn’t possibly think about dating yet, life is too crazy and I’d rather have a writing career than a love life right now.

I’m at The Novelty Girls today! Come visit or check out my post below.

I think I gave everyone the idea my birthday has passed–oops! Nope, it’s still 9 days away. That’s the whole thing, I celebrate all month long. *Grin* So still 9 more days until I turn 30!

You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about my post I did on The Novelty Girls last week. It was all about being an optimist or a realist in the world of being a writer trying to break into New York. My thoughts were that I tended to be more of a realist. Then weird things started happening all week. I started reading all kinds of articles and seeing stories on tv about being optimism and positive thinking and how good it is for you in life.

Sooo…since I’m generally a cheerful and supportive person to others, why am I not treating myself the same? So from this moment on, I’m vowing to make a change. To acknowledge when I think I’m writing a really good book, and this could be my break out story to NY. Or to send out a book and not automatically be planning for its rejection. I intend to use more positive thinking. And if you hear me saying anything utlra negative, please virtual-smack me.

I’m back from Whidbey Island! It was fun, but it wasn’t quite as relaxing as I would have hoped. I suppose that’s the risk you take when locking yourself in a small cabin when the weather is bad, with three kids 4 and under. *Grin* It was really windy though, and we kept a fire going all weekend. Finally when the kids passed out, Lacy and I turned off the tv, got out the laptops, and wrote. We had some wine and cheese and plotting breaks. And on the ferry ride home I ran into a friend from high school (Hi, Angie!) I hope if she reads this, she sends me an email sometime and keeps in touch. I always get frazzled when I see people from way back then. I’ve posted about that before and how–of course–you inevitably are looking like ass that day.

I had a little time to read over the weekend, and finished my friend and chaptermate’s (Pat White) book: The American Temp and the British Inspector. It’s a Harlequin Intrigue, which I confess to not reading much of. The only time I do is when they’re hers or another friends :) But I really enjoyed this book, it’s the first in a 3 book series: The Blackwell Group. Check it out, I completely recommend it. And I lurve the cover.

I hit 70k on my sci fi last night and think it’ll be done in like 4-5k. The ending completely just changed on me. I love it when that happens. I was in a chat the other night discussing my plotting and pantsing tendencies. I’m not really hardcore either, but lean more towards pantsing. So I’m now calling myself a caprister. :)

Ah and I returned to find a good review for Love for Sale from JERR

“Fun and sexy, Love For Sale was a fascinating story…The story is joyous and engrossing… Ms. Stevens has an excellent grasp of her craft. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys sensual erotic romance. ” 4 stars, Marcy Arbitman, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

All right, off to take advantage of the fact that my daughter is now out cold for the night!

What a fabulous day for the most part. I woke up this morning, going on 5 hours of sleep, totally not in the mood to go to the gym and sweat my thighs off. And when I picked up my exercise partner she’d had a crap night too, so for the first time we blew off the gym to go eat pancakes and drink crappy coffee at a local pancake house. What a treat. A breakfast without the kid. I wasn’t constantly screaming, “Get out from under the table.” or “Stop climbing over the seat to look at the biker guy.”

So. I’m one of those people who celebrates their birthday all month long. Various dinners, lunches, and evenings out with friends and family. Today for lunch (yes I ate out twice!) I went to Tony Roma’s with my mom where we used our ‘free bbq sauce and mud pie’ coupon that they send you for your birthday. Then we went to the mall and I indulged in a ‘slimming tip’ I should’ve made use of years ago. I saw it on The View–it’s my guilty indulgence show. I bought a pair of DARK blue jeans. Not light or medium. But dark. Dang, my arse looked almost hot! You should totally try it!

I’m on the home stretch of my sci fi book. I think it’ll wrap up soon. Tomorrow Lacy Danes and I are heading to Whidbey Island with the kids. It’ll be a good break for the kids and for us. It does mean pretty much no internet, but we’ll get writing done that way! So likely I won’t blog tomorrow.

Here’s a little creative project to do over the weekend if you get bored! Homemade slippers *Grin*

All right, so that whole weight loss thing I was gung ho about a month ago…or was it two…ok, you so know where I’m going with this. It’s not going so well. I am doing great on the working out front. My friend and I go to the gym maybe 3-5 times a week and do a good, ball-busting-if-I-had-them workout. But the eating? I swear, if it’s not nailed down I’ll eat it. Well, that’s not exactly true either. I’m actually a very picky eater as I mentioned in my post from a couple days ago.

So here’s where I’m going with this. Apparently, I’m not the only one with this eating like sh*t problem. So a few author friends and myself–and no, I will not out them–have come up with a plan. We are starting our own distorted version of a weight loss program. Like instead of W.W. (Weight Watchers) we’ll be B.A.S. (Big Ass Writers). We’ll each put in $2.50 a week to a paypal account, keep each other accountable, and maybe a few weeks before Nationals we’ll check in to see who has lost the most weight/reached their goal. And the winner gets the pot. Not a bad idea, eh?

Speaking of diets and food, ick. Did you hear the Atkins diet has gotten a clean bill of health recently? Ick. Sorry, tried it, can barely eat meat, and you get stinky breath and body odors on it. Anyway here’s the article if you want to read it.

On the writing front, well, I took a couple days to edit and clean up a book for submission to Samhain, and it’s currently in my editor’s hands. Fingers crossed! The sci fi WIP is doing good, I’m on the home stretch and then it’ll be up and off to the crit partners. Then I need to figure out what I want to do with it :) I’m thinking it’ll end up between 70-75k. After the sci fi, I have a book–the first manuscript I ever wrote!–that I want to rework a bit and submit.

All right, off to write. Have a faboo day/night :)

I’m at The Novelty Girls today! Come see me, or check out my post below about my fantabulous weekend.

Wow, what a weekend! I had a great one. How about you guys? Saturday my parents took my kid away for the night. Oh. My. God. I can’t tell you how badly I needed that! First thing I had to do was go to the chapter meeting, where Pat White (see my what I’m reading in the sidebar) gave a talk on writing a series. Excellent. She’s a great speaker and just such a nice person. So after that, a few of us went to lunch and had yummy Chinese food and good conversations. At one point they all insisted I was going to be next to sell to NY, that they really felt it. It warmed my heart, hearing it from NY authors–some who just broke in–because I sure am trying.

So after, Lacy Danes and I went shopping. We experienced fun little road rage incident in the parking garage. Like a guy jumped out of the car and pounded on her window calling us names as we waited for someone to pull out of a parking spot. I got a little aggressive and screamed F*ck you really loud, and was ready to jump out and fight. So later, when I was renewing my cell phone contract and picking out a phone (nearly free!), I skipped the black one with the dragon on it in favor of a pink floral one–I needed to regain some of my girly side. So then we went to LUSH and I spent more than I should’ve, sigh. Oh! And we also saw Mischa Barton from the OC signing shoes or something at Nordstrom. I think that was my first ever celebrity sighting. After the mall we went and signed all Lacy’s books at various bookstores. That night we went out to dinner with another friend and had a great time.

Sunday–after sleeping in until 9:45!!!!–was Teatro Zinzanni. I went with Lacy and my best-non-writing-friend Chris. Teatro ZinZanni is a big night out unlike any other, a three-hour whirlwind of cirque, comedy and cabaret all served up with a five-course feast designed by celebrated Northwest chef Tom Douglas. Wow, the show was incredible. Especially the cirque part. There was a trapeze act and then these people who climbed a pole and did all kinds of fantastic acrobats. And the guy was totally hot. I wasn’t crazy about the food, but then I’m really picky and hate most things gourmet. I came home and had Raisin Bran. :) Yes, I’m strange. They loved the food. Anyway, here’s a couple of pics we took!

And that’s about it for me. I did absolutely no writing, but honestly, I think I needed the break :) I did edit an entire book, though, that I should be sending out today or tomorrow to my editor at Samhain for submission. How was your weekend? Anything new happening?

Soooo…. my friend (who is also one of my critique partner’s) book has recently been released. And I’m here to encourage you to rush out and grab a copy! It’s called What She Craves and it’s from the Kensingon Aphrodisia line. This is one book with three erotic, historical novellas. Two of the books are like regency gone wild (hot, baby, hot!) and the third is a paranormal historical (sizzle, baby, sizzle!)

WHAT SHE
CRAVES
3 in 1 Erotic Historical
Kensington March 2007
ISBN-10: 0758215673
ISBN-13: 978-0758215673
Read the Reviews
Pre-Order Now

4 Stars ~ “Danes’ debut effort is definitely what readers crave!”
- RT Magazine.

4 cups ~ “…What happens between these two had me anxiously and somewhat voyeuristically turning pages in this steamy romp.”
- Coffee Time Romance Reviews.

4 1/2-5 Stars ~ “Ms. Danes has turned up the heat to make these stories truly blazing.”
- JERR.
4 Angels~ “Wow!!!! This is an action-packed trilogy with enough heat to set everyone’s temperature up!-Susan T. Fallen Angel Reviews