Too many irons in the fire!

That’s what I’ve got going with my writing. I’m, working on too many different stories.  Revision on two and writing a new story and struggling to finish another. I really think you can have too many characters running around in your head that its hard to focus on any of them. This is me right now. I started a new spy story that I think will be a novella. I’m doing rewrites on my Men of the Jungle series. Then I have my romantic suspense, “Going Once, Going Twice, Dead” that is about half done. Which one do I work on? I just don’t know. Maybe I’ll let you decide. I’ll give you the first lines of each and you can tell me which one I should focus my time on.

1. Untouched–Travis Kane lifted the box from the attorney’s desk and gave it a good shake, not at all surprised to find it sounded empty.

2. Unplanned–Dana Rutherford stared open-mouthed at the stick between her thumb and forefinger, the pink plus sign forming on the indicator sending her heart into her stomach.

3. Going Once, Going Twice, Dead–Christ almighty!  In the ten years Dane Reynolds had been in Homicide, he’d never seen anything like this, and that was saying something.

4. The Spy Who Snagged Me–From an acquaintances theatre box, Gil Bartholomew viewed his target, a tempting vision that made his groin twitch.

Which story should I finish first?

The baby shower was a blast. Everyone came and had a good time. I don’t think there is much my daughter needs now. She’s ready for her daughter to come. So am I.

Have a great evening!

Jerri

I did it–I survived my first Chapter meeting!

I was scared. I’m sure they could all see that. The ladies I did talk to were really nice. First we had Coffee Talk. In the meeting we had  Janette Kenny as speaker and I really enjoyed her presentation. I learn a few things I didn’t know and that made going well worth the uncomforable feelings I had about it.

I’m working on revision and I started something new as well. It’s a secret agent type story. I have so many things going–I need to finish at least one of them in the next month. I do know working on one thing at a time is best but right now I just don’t seem to be able to do that. I’ll write all I can and finish them all hopefully this year. Goal for the rest of 2009–finish everything I’ve started.

Today hubby and I are off to get everything for the baby shower. I’m just thankful that its not going to be a formal thing–casual and laid back. I want to enjoy the day as well. My daughter wasn’t feeling well yesterday–having a lot of Braxton Hicks. I told her not to have the baby before the shower. She said she’d try not to. She had a doctors appt today. We’ll see if she’s start dialating or not.

Anyway, have a great Tuesday!

Jerri

Stepping out of my comfort zone!

It’s time for me to do this. I’ve been content with learning everything I needed to know about writing from the internet, through articles, groups and forums. Well, I’m going to expand my network tomorrow. I’m going to my first chapter meeting. Yes, I’m nervous but what’s the worst thing that could happen? Maybe I learn something I didn’t know and possibly become a better writer in the process. What am I really afraid of? Silly insecurities that it’s time to put behind me. I’ll post about the experience when I get a chance.

Writing–well, I’m struggling with that as well. Revision is coming along great but writing anything new is virtually impossible for me right now. I hope tomorrow will motivate me to change that.

Today I found a whole bunch of cute little things for Emma Christine. She’s just about a month away from being born. Becca is ready–at least that’s what she says–boy will she be surprised how not ready she is. She does have her bag packed for the hospital stay. Her baby shower is next Saturday. I’m not ready yet but hope to have it all pulled together by then.

Anyway, you have a fantstic weekend!

Jerri

Excerpt Monday!

I thought I’d post an excerpt from Aztec Security’s–Caddy-Did.

http://samhainpublishing.com/print/aztec-security-print

 

Excerpt

 

 

Cadence gritted her teeth as she followed Jameson down the hall to the firing range. Not a good place to start training when all she could think about was aiming for the man’s crotch.

What a jerk. Insinuating that she was into S & M. All because she was intelligent, something he apparently couldn’t handle.

Cadence trailed him down the corridor, hands fisted in anger, when he abruptly stopped in front of her. She collided with his back, one of her palms landing on his behind to keep her balance.

He turned, his gray eyes dancing with amusement. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist me. But you’ll have to try. I don’t date anyone from work.”

Cadence’s tilted her head back, narrowed her eyes, and shot back, “Don’t flatter yourself, Jameson. If we were stranded on a deserted island, I wouldn’t look twice at you.”

His lips curled up. “Right, well, then keep your hands off my ass.”

Cadence wanted to yank the man’s sandy-colored hair from his head, but thought better of it. “It was an accident. You don’t even have a nice behind.”

He laughed, then turned and opened the door in front of them.

As he entered the room, Cadence found herself staring at his firm rump to check.

Okay, she was wrong. He had a damn nice ass, but he was still the biggest jerk she’d ever met.

Once inside the room, Cadence glanced at the firing range to the right.

She’d never held a gun before and admitted to being intimidated by the idea. Guns killed people, and she wasn’t sure she could aim one at a person and pull the trigger.

Kent took his gun from the holster strapped to his shoulder and removed the clip.

“First lesson,” he said, waving the gun and clip in front of her. “Always know the number of rounds in your weapon.”

As Cadence stared at the gun, her breakfast sandwich threatened to come up. On impulse, she swallowed.

What the hell had she gotten herself into? If she couldn’t do what was expected, she might as well quit before wasting any more of Aztec’s time.

“You’re looking a little green, Ms. Fleming. You feel all right?”

She opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out.

He reached for her arm. “You need to sit down?”

She shook her head. You can do this, Caddy. Don’t allow this man to see weakness or he’ll use it against you.

“I’m fine.”

“Good. Now watch while I unload the clip, because I’ll expect you to reload it.”

With full attention on his fingers as they ejected each bullet, Cadence made a mental note of which direction they came out. After his demonstration, she was confident she could place them back into the clip the right way.

Standing next to him, she caught a whiff of alcohol and something else. Something familiar, yet she couldn’t place it. Something unpleasant. But what?

She was about to give up when it dawned on. She knew exactly what it was. Sex. The man reeked of intercourse.

She snorted, loud enough to cause Kent to look at her.

“What?” he asked, his gaze intent on hers.

“You stink of booze and nastiness.”

He frowned. “Nastiness? What the hell’s that?”

“I think you know.”

He rubbed his beard. “No, you’re going to have to spell it out for me.”

“Okay, S-E-X just oozes off you.”

“I’m surprised you know anything about it. Especially with your high and mighty attitude. I’d suggest you get some. Maybe you won’t be so uptight.”

His cavalier tone made the cut worse.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve had plenty, thank you. You could’ve at least showered this morning. Now I’m going to have to stand upwind of you.”

He grinned. “Why? Does it turn you on?”

Cadence huffed. “Just give me that damn clip.” She tried to rip it from his hand, but he held firm to the steel bar.

They stood glaring at one another until he blinked, then let go and backed away. “Don’t just stand there, refill the thing.”

Didn’t these things come already filled? Cadence picked up a handful of bullets, inserted them into the device, and was pleased with herself when she finished.

“Now unload it and do it again.”

Cadence stared at him, wondering if he did this with everyone he trained, or just her.

As she removed the rounds, she asked, “When am I going to get to shoot the gun?”

“First of all, it’s a weapon, a Glock, not a gun. Second, I’d have to help you aim the thing, and as you so rudely pointed out, the smell of sex makes you want to jump my bones, and I wouldn’t want to embarrass you by having to turn you down.”

Cadence had never wanted to hit someone so badly in her life. The man had an over-inflated ego that needed to be burst in the worst way.

“Look, Jameson. I don’t like you. I certainly don’t want to sleep with you. I’m here to be trained, that’s all. Got it?”

He saluted, then glanced at the clip in her hand. “I’m waiting.”

His attention unnerved her, but Cadence managed to remove the rounds, then quickly put them back.

Once she’d finished loading the clip, she slammed the thing into the weapon and laid it on the table. “Okay, now what?”

“You repeat it until you can do it in your sleep. Meanwhile, I’m going down to the lounge to get cleaned up. I wouldn’t want to offend your sensibilities any longer.”

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll be going to my first Missouri chapter meeting!

I’m nervous as heck and I hope  I don’t chicken out. I’m shy and reclusive. That’s why I write. My characters are always outgoing–never worry about the things I do. I need to do this for my career and for myself.  So how do you talk yourself into doing things you’re scared to do?

As for writing, I’m working on my Men of the Jungle series. Doing rewrites on both Untouched and Unplanned. Trying to strengthen characterization for Travis & Mattie, Galen & Dana.

Still trying to pull together my daughters baby shower. We’re doing what they refer to as a Baby-Que. It’s a little less formal. I just pray it’s nice that day.

Finished my second round of edits on Grace Under Fire. I can’t wait for that book to come out in print. It’s one of my all-time favorite stories. Cord is a brooding hero–and oh so sexy.

Hope to talk to you soon!

Jerri