It’s still a slow week. The one bit of writing I managed to do was to craft most (about 800 words) of a first draft of a horror story for my Absolute Write October blog chain post later this month. I’m near the end of the queue so it won’t go up for another couple of weeks, I’m estimating.
I got my line edits back from my editor, so that will command front and center stage between now and its due date in mid-November. Funny thing, I had toned down the sexy, not to cozy levels, but way below where I had it before. The editor wants MORE sexy in three “fade to black” places. Well… :::digs toe into ground::: I guess I can do that. LOL Probably just have to dig up an older draft. Moral of the story? You’re either a cozy reader or you’re a ROMANCE reader (in big capital letters for a reason ::wink::); there is a low tolerance for the ground in between.
On a cheerier note, I’m one day into the two-day Portland Wordstock Festival . Guess who I ran into there? Guess?
Stacey Wallace Benefiel!! One of own ROW80 gals.
Here’s a few crappy photos I took with my cell phone. I’ll try to take better ones today.
Book Trailer effectiveness was an interesting topic.
Pulitzer prize-winner, Jennifer Egan
Pseudononymous Bosch
Lauren Oliver, Kimberly Derting, Patrick Carmen (sorry for crappy quality...I was second row from front, no excuses)
Horned guy in kilt and a purple satyr...no idea
My goals for this round are on my ROW80-4 page.
The Linky site lists other participants’ progress reports. Give them some encouragement too.
Claire Gillian 
You know, I’m not a great sexy scene writer too, but I read Stacia Kane’s “Be A Sex-Writing Strumpet” and I think it was a great help.
You should give it a try.
Keep up the good work! See you around =)
I’ve read Stacia’s Strumpet posts–very good indeed and thanks for reminding me of her series. It’s always worth another read. I love all her stuff, especially her Ghosties. For me, it’s less about not wanting to write them or feeling uncomfortable with them as it is “brand” separation. I write hotter stuff under another pen name but sometimes the line between them blurs.
A lot of readers of cozies have no problem with sex, and they aren’t always specifically romance fans. The problem is that there is a small core group who are vocal about it.
Yeah, they are quite vocal too, arguing even the name “cozy” implies less heat. Sigh. Well, mine is tagged “romantic suspense” so I have free reign to sex it up and that’s what the publisher wants so that’s what I’ll give them. I don’t have a problem writing or reading those types of scenes other than I’m trying to brand my hotter fiction under a different pen name and have to pull my punches to just the right degree, so to speak.
Claire, good luck with the scenes.” I guess I can… I think I can … I did and am done with it!” LOL Perhaps more emotionally sexy (shivers, quivers and sighs) instead of physically sexy? Best of luck.
~Kate
Line edits, sounds fun. Don’t you just love the tone it down, wait, no, not that far. Fortunately, it tends to be easier to tone it up.
I’d say you’re doing fine on the goals, sometimes it takes a bit to get everything to mesh together. Hope you were able to enjoy the second day of the Woodstock Festival (the satyr/horned guy pic is bizarre!)
Have a great week, Claire 🙂
Yay for more sexy. I mean…*ahem*…I guess I’m one of THOSE readers (says the YA writer…haha!).
It sounds like you’re doing great on the goals (speaking of, I totally have to write my own post for the AW chain. Eep!).
Have a great week!
Nothing wrong with more sexy. Have fun writing the scenes. Will have to check out Stacia Kane’s Strumpet posts. Hadn’t heard of them. Have a great week.
Haha, I am always a fan of more sexy! (I suppose I fall under the “ROMANCE” heading there, lol). Good luck with the edits, and have a wonderful week!
Ha ha! We’re the satyr and horned guy in the kilt…Alex and Duncan respectively…characters in our book, Sambuka Black, a novel by Dielle & Jeff. That picture is awesome! There’s more info at www(dot)sambukablack(dot)com Thank you so much for noticing us! Dielle
Hey!!! Welcome, welcome!!
I’m thrilled you found me and dropped by to comment and identify yourselves. Sorry I didn’t get the scoop on you while at the festival. The horned guy (Duncan?) I saw walking around many times before I saw him in your booth and I thought, “Well alrighty then. This IS Portland after all and I’ve seen a lot of strange dressers before.” LOL
hi again! thanks for posting our picture. can we send you a copy of our novel and its companion activity book? what would be a good mailing address? you can email us at dielle(at)chezchampignon.com
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