Working From Home: Or, The Struggle

So there's this thing right now, this thing where I get bombarded with ideas in the middle of writing 2 or 3 works in progress--and there's no way to stop it. I get dragged along on six different paths while I'm trying to focus on something entirely different. It's hard to avoid. Especially when I work from home, see the same scenery every day, and fall into a writing slump. I'm in one of those right now. 30k into two big books that have awesome potential, one planned NA, and one unplanned romantic suspense pouring out of me. And then all the writing comes to a grinding halt.

There are days where being my own boss is not a hat I relish wearing and when I get tangled up in plot strings it's a struggle to break myself out when I could just read, watch TV, or twiddle my thumbs on social networking. So many distractions, which I seem to snatch up as I try to find the balance between being a workaholic and living life outside of the computer screen. I often run the gambit between working my ass off and burnt out as hell--I'm currently in the burnt phase of my process--but there's no time! It's like I have two settings, stressed out of my mind, working way too hard, and procrastination. There's no happy medium.

I'm releasing Furious Temptation soon and to prep for doing that while trying to get my mojo back I'm going on a forced media black out this week. Nothing but books, my laptop, and no internet. No social networking, no TV, only me and my books and my writing. I'm hoping the forced seclusion will throw me back on the path of passion. Back to basics.

If you need me, I'll be back next Monday after plowing through Kresley Cole's Shadow's Claim, Stephen King's On Writing (again), and trying to write my little heart out. Wish me luck! Hopefully, I'll be almost done with a book and I'll have another free read for you!

Playing Around With Photoshop

A lot of author's have been releasing these lately, so I figured I'd try my hand at them. What do you think?

Yesterday I finally joined my local library. bought some books from the book sale, and today I'm gearing up for my promotional roller coaster for Furious Temptation. I'm also doing a few odds and ends for the conferences coming up! So excited to be back in the writing world I love instead of tucked away behind my computer writing book after book after book. Phew, it makes me sleepy! But I'll have lots of goodies to put out in the world in 2014. Right now, I'm working on a little surprise short that will hopefully hit the interwebs in the near future.

Also, don't forget to check out my newsletter where I offer snippets of new books, giveaways, cover reveals, and lots of other fun stuff. You can sign up on the side bar to the right hand of this post under "Newsletter Signup" and get a little piece of me in your mail! I promise I won't spam you or send you emails ALL THE TIME, only every couple of months.

Until next time....

Cover Reveal: Furious Temptation

My newest cover in the Furies Series has been pinned to the side of my blog for a bit now, but I came to the startling conclusion that I never announced it here on my blog. Author fail! With my mind running like a hamster wheel I tend to forget things here and there, it's like I have constant book pregnancy brain. So here is my latest cover for my new release, Furious Temptation, the second book in my mythology Furies series which is coming out in April 2014 from Secret Cravings Publishing. Only a couple weeks left until this mammoth of a book is out in the world, only took me more than six months to write the sucker. It'll be a scary relief to have it out for sale. If that makes any sense.

In the meantime I've been plugging away at several different WIP's including a contemporary romance/mystery, totally anxious for the release of my romantic suspense series with Entangled Publishing in May 2015. A long way away, to be sure, but I'm hoping to turn in the other two books in the series way before then so they'll all have a relatively close together release date. But, best laid plans. Only time will tell if I can knock out so many books in such a small window. Although time is flying, wasn't it January like two seconds ago or is it only me?

Which brings me to more awesome news! Wanna meet me? I'll be making appearances this year at several conferences including the Romantic Times Convention in New Orleans, LA in May as well as Authors After Dark in Charlotte, NC in August. Come say Hi, get a free book signed, pick up a sharpie, and get a hug from me. I'll be the small one with the short hair bouncing as if I've ingested nine lbs of crack, but really I'm just excited and have had too much coffee. But seriously, I really am short. Look for the 4'9 chick with the black and red pixie cut. I can't wait to meet you!

V-day Blog Hop Winner

Today is the day! The day of glory! Or...the time when I announce the winner of my A Little Slap and Tickle giveaway by random hat drawing. Thank you everyone for your lovely comments about the sexiness that is men like Chris Hemmsworth, Viggo Mortison, and Ian Somerhalder, I had so much fun with you this week and reading your answers. But now, the moment has arrived *drumroll*:

The winner of a copy of A Little Slap and Tickle as picked by my DH from his cowboy hat is...Cindi! I will be emailing you shortly to figure out your preferred e-book format.

Thanks everyone for participating and Happy belated V-day to you all with kisses and snuggles from me to you! I leave you with kitties! Also, if someone could cut off the blizzard supply to my state, that would be awesome. We currently have over a foot of snow and I'm only 4 ft tall.

K thx, bye!

Valentines From My TV Boyfriends

Welcome V-day Hoppers, today I'm welcoming my TV boyfriends to my blog and showcasing their homemade gifts for lovely ol' me. I'm a lucky girl!

Don't forget, the V-Day Hop is giving away two grand prizes: A Kindle Paperwhite and a New Adult Book Basket:

Every comment on each stop of the blog hop qualifies as one entry into the grand prize giveaway. Meanwhile, I'm also giving away a little book of my own, A Little Slap and Tickle. To win a copy of my book all you have to do is answer this question: If you could get a valentine from any celebrity, who would it be? Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop!

Click Here To Keep Hopping!

Kay Jaybee: Hitting 90 and Still Writing

Hitting 90 and Still Writing

Kay Jaybee

Many thanks for inviting me over to your wonderful blog today Elise!

Believe it or not, this month I am celebrating the publication of my 90^th story!! Whether long or short, flash fiction, poem, or novel, every single piece of writing that I’ve managed to find a publisher for feels as much as a miracle now as it did when I began to write 9 years ago!

           

This 90^th story will be appearing in Best Bondage Erotica 2014, the latest hot anthology from Cleis Press- and is called Behind the Door.

Although I’ve written 6 novels and 3 novellas as Kay Jaybee now, without the short story trade I’d have never have written any of them. Before I even dared to try and write something longer than 10,000 words I’d had 40 short stories and poems published. I’m so glad that’s what I did, for writing those early stories taught me so much. They were my apprenticeship, a place where I learnt that every single word in every single sentence counts.

If you’d like to read a few of those short stories, then why not check out The Best of Kay Jaybee.    

       

Blurb-

Fourteen of the very best erotic tales of dominance, submission, bondage, and romantic lust, are delivered with lashings of kink from the pen of Kay Jaybee. From the sexual adventures recalled by a woman as she stares at her favourite shirt, to a deliciously dirty orgy on a bed of cardboard boxes, the after-hours education of a rookie soldier, and the bizarre obsession of an Egyptologist, each story shows why Kay Jaybee has been hailed as ‘a master of the craft of erotica’ (Oysters and Chocolate). As a girl writes messages of lust on the body of her best friend’s lover, and a mistress’s employment of ropes and chains on her slave co-insides with the application of emulsion, we discover just how Kay has earned her reputation for producing ‘super-heated kinky stories,’ (Kd Grace), which are ‘a sublime pleasure to read’ (Violet Blue). 

It’s a very odd feeling to read a blurb like that about your own work! I know I often say it, but I honestly can’t believe how much has happened to me ‘writing wise’ in the last few years, let alone the last few months. That I have enough stories published with Xcite to warrant them publishing a ‘Best Of...Collection’ is an amazing feeling- and I’d like to thank Hazel and the team for putting up with me for so long!

The stories tucked inside The Best of Kay Jaybee come from the Xcite anthologies I’ve had work included in since 2008, (such as Maggie, The Basic Rules of Anal Sex, and The Fuck-Me Cabbie),  as well as my three solo Xcite collections, Quick Kink One (The Shirt), Quick Kink Two (The Bride wore Rubber) and Yes Ma’am (Lying in Wait).

As you’d expect from me, there are a fair number of dominance and submission related stories included in this anthology, but there is also a heap of romantic lust, explored fantasies, and happy kinky threesome play.

If you’ve never read any of my work before, then The Best of Kay Jaybee is just the right place.

Here’s a little taster from...

The Fuck-Me Cabbie

 ‘That’s him over there.’

‘The one stood on his own? Brown hair, tight jeans, cute arse?’

‘That’s him.’

‘Does he have a name?’ I put my drink down onto the sticky plastic topped table before us, not taking my eyes from the back view of the man leaning against the bar.

‘Well, the men call him Mr Greedy?’

‘And the women?’

My friend smiled at my expression, she knew me very well.  ‘They call him the Fuck-Me Cabbie.’

‘Really?’

‘Oh yes.’ The satisfied lilt to Jenny’s voice made me drag my eyes away from the self- styled Adonis at the bar, to the air of happy memory plastered across her face. ‘He claims to have had sex with nearly every female passenger he’s carried in his taxi between the ages of 18 and 50.’

‘Is that so?’ I picked my Cola up and took a long thoughtful draft as I rocked back on my chair.

‘So he says.’

‘And you believe him?’

Jenny said nothing, but her smirk spoke volumes as she peered at me over the top of her glasses.

‘And was it worth it? Is he that good in reality, or is it all arrogant attitude?’

‘I can’t argue with the arrogant bit, but the man’s bloody hot. Annoying; but true.’

Running a finger around the rim of my empty glass, my eyes returned to the cabbie, mentally willing him to twist round so I could get a proper look at his face. As if picking up on my mute signal, he turned, a pint glass in his hand, and stared directly at me. Unashamedly, I stared back.

It was his eyes that struck me most. They screamed non-stop endless desire; a desire which would somehow never be satisfied. The square cut to his chin and his bulky, yet toned frame, simply bellowed sex, as if a neon sign was permanently flashing above his head saying “Get it here- NOW.”

The other signal he gave out, perhaps even stronger than the aura of lust, was conceit. He’d been told once too often that he was good in the sack. This cabbie needed taking down a peg or two.

‘Go and talk to him.’

Jenny’s eyes flickered at me mischievously, ‘what are you thinking?’

‘He needs cutting down to size.’

‘How?’

‘You’ll see.’ I kept eye contact with him. He didn’t need to say anything to let me know what he was thinking. ‘I want you to tell him there is a threesome on offer. Do not tell him who’ll be involved, but feel free to let him make his own assumptions. It’s not our fault if he jumps to the wrong conclusion is it.’

Jenny looked momentarily disappointed, ‘Won’t it be us?’

I couldn’t help but smile at her. Jenny’s neat chest had been poking at the flimsy covering of her t-shirt and bra ever since we’d started discussing the taxi driver.

‘Of course it will be us. But it might not be him...are you game?’

‘I’m game. Tell me.’

Pointedly ignoring the cabbie, I shifted our chairs closer together so that no one could overhear what I was about to divest to my companion.

Regarding me with renewed interest, Jenny was obviously eager to get our plotting underway immediately, but was still a little unsure about my plan, which I had to admit, was a bit complicated. ‘Do you think he’ll go for it? He’s not known for sleeping with a woman more than once. No return fares as it were.’

‘I’m sure you could lay it on strong. After all, he’s had you, but not me. You’re a beautiful woman honey, use that to our advantage. Sod feminism for once! Paint him a picture he can’t refuse. Tell him about our casual relationship, and I’ll see you and him at the back of the car park in an hour. And don’t forget to switch your phone to vibrate.’

Jenny stood up, readying herself to approach our quarry, her short floaty skirt swaying suggestively around her long legs. I re-focused my blue eyes onto the cabbie’s gaze, communicating what I hoped was an expression of mutual understanding. Then, with a deliberately seductive glance at Jenny, I trailed a polished fingernail down her pale neck, with the intention of planting the idea of all three of us being together firmly in his mind...

****

Buy Links-

Amazon UK- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Kay-Jaybee-ebook/dp/B009YYRM3Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352239489&sr=1-2

Amazon US- http://www.amazon.com/Best-Kay-Jaybee-ebook/dp/B009YYRM3Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352239753&sr=1-1&keywords=best+of+kay+jaybee

Kay xx

PS- And yes- that is me on the cover of the book- who’d have thought I’d be a cover girl at my age!!!

Bio-

Kay Jaybee wrote the The Perfect SubmissiveTrilogy, (Xcite, 2011-2014), Making Him Wait, (Sweetmeats Press, 2012), The Voyeur (Xcite, 2012), as well as the novellas, Not Her Type: Erotic Adventures With A Delivery Man (2^nd ed. 1001 NightsPress, 2013), Digging Deep (Xcite, 2013), A Sticky Situation, (Xcite, 2012), and The Circus, (Sweetmeats Press). She has also written the anthologies The Collector (Austin & Macauley, 2012 & 2008), The Best of Kay Jaybee (Xcite, 2012), Tied to the Kitchen Sink, Equipment, (All Romance, 2012), Yes Ma’am (Xcite e-books, 2011), Quick Kink One and Quick Kink Two (Xcite e-books, 2010). Kay has had over 80 short stories published by Cleis Press, Black Lace, Mammoth, Xcite, Penguin, Seal, and Sweetmeats Press.

Details of Kay’s work, past, present and future can be found at www.kayjaybee.me.uk

You can follow Kay on Twitter- kay_jaybee,

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/KayJaybeeAuthor

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3541958-kay-jaybee

Brit Babes Site- http://thebritbabes.blogspot.co.uk/p/kay-jaybee.html

Kay also writes contemporary romance as Jenny Kane – www.jennykane.co.uk 

K.D. Grace: Bring on the Chaos

Today I have the awesome K.D. Grace on my blog talking about chaos and order!

Bring on the Chaos

By K D Grace

I like order. I like order a lot. In an ideal situation, my world would be well-ordered – spotless house, clean cupboards, well organized work space, sock and underwear drawers all neatly folded and spaced. But because I’m a writer, because I’m tunnel-visioned and spend more time in the worlds I’m creating than in the bombsite that’s my house, the fantasy and the reality are way different. In fact, my world seems most ordered when I’m creating chaos. My world suits me best when I’m writing fast and furiously and I’m completely in the throes of the story. Writing a story involves creating chaos. And if I’m doing it right, the chaos in my outside world will seem dwarfed by the chaos of the world I’m writing into existence.

Once the chaos has reached critical mass, once I’ve totally and completely made a mess of things for my characters and turned their lives upside down, I set about restoring order to their world. I set about guiding them through the chaos to their Happy Ever After. It’s my job, as a writer, to create a world that begins in order, blossoms into insurmountable chaos, and then resolves into an even higher form of order. Isn’t that what story is all about?

The way I see it, the main occupation of a writer is to create chaos for her characters, to make their lives miserable, uncomfortable, and challenging. Having said that, chaos doesn’t have to be of the shoot-‘em-up, thriller, action, adventure variety. Sometimes the very best chaos comes straight from the mind of the character. What writer doesn’t love a few serious neuroses? What writer doesn’t love to muck about inside her characters’ heads? With no chaos, no conflict, there’s no story. Happy endings are just that – endings. What happens after the HEA is for readers to fantasize about. It’s what comes before that happy ending that a writer concentrates on. What comes before should be a voyeuristic romp for readers that entices them into the chaos and catastrophe of the characters they’ve come to know, with plenty of anguish thrown in for good measure. That chaos and catastrophe needs to be a cranked up, high octane ride that will not only leave the reader willing to hang on for dear life to get to the very last page, but very pleased to do so, even as the writer turns the bull loose in the China closet and wreaks havoc with hearts and relationships and, well, generally with everything. Then when the situation is just about as chaotic as it can possibly get, when it begins to look like all is lost, and the reader is white-knuckle page-turning and angsting for the characters, the writer, in ways only writers can, creates a higher order, one word, one sentence, one paragraph at a time. Voila! Love conquers all, and there might even be dancing in the street.

Yup! True enough I like order. But I also like to create a lot of chaos before I get there.

Here’s a snippet from my collection of short stories, Gracefully Aroused.

Blurb:

From a love spell that doesn’t quite go to plan to a farmhand who needs a little discipline; from a woman who is addicted to the confessional to a personal trainer with a very unorthodox method of guaranteeing his clients they’ll look fab come bikini season, K D Grace will tell you a naughty story with a twist. Before there was Ms Holly and the Pet Shop, before there were sexy ghosts, before Grace Marshall upped the romance ante, K D Grace was into quickies, and here’s a selection of her naughtiest.

‘Personal Trainer’

Penny Davis can’t afford to hire a personal trainer to get her fit for bikini season until ex-military hard man, Hawk Sturgis, offers her an unorthodox fitness regimen and an even more unorthodox payment plan, guaranteed to have her heating up the beach in her new bikini just in time for the summer hols.

Excerpt:

When we finally arrive at the gym, and he unlocks the door, I’m thinking death is imminent. He places a meaty hand against my neck and eyeballs his chronograph to check my pulse. I’m wondering if it’s even possible to count that fast. I’m not sure if the resulting grunt means it’s acceptable, or that he’s totally disgusted with my lack of fitness, but at least he’s not dialling an ambulance.

He marches me at a fast trot to a back room with mirrored walls and free weights.

I head straight for the nearest weight bench. It’s the perfect place to collapse and have a whimper. But I don’t get far.

‘Davis! About face!’ he huffs.

And I’m standing at attention again, while he walks around me, hands on his hips muttering. ‘Uh huh, mmm hmm, right.’ He nods to my blue trainer bottoms. ‘Take ’em off.’

‘Sir?’ My voice cracks.

‘You want a beach job, I need to know what I’ve got to work with.’

‘I have a leotard, back home. Believe me, it doesn’t hide anything. If we could just wait–’

‘Take. Them. Off.’ Between each word he makes a stabbing motion at my trackie bottoms with an index finger that looks like it might be a registered weapon.

I shove the trousers down and step out of them, embarrassed by the comfy, and now sweaty, granny panties I wore to work out in. I never expected to have to display them.

‘And the top.’

Buy The Best of K D Grace Now

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
Barnes & Noble
Xcite Books

Reviews

“This whole collection is varied, balanced, and beautifully—even, yes, gracefully—written, and you shouldn’t miss a word of it, so reading it all yourself is the only way to go.” Reviewed by Sacchi Green for Erotica Revealed

About K D Grace/Grace Marshall:

K D Grace believes Freud was right. In the end, it really IS all about sex, well sex and love. And nobody’s happier about that than she is, otherwise, what would she write about?
When she’s not writing, K D is veg gardening. When she’s not gardening, she’s walking. She walks her stories, and she’s serious about it. She and her husband have walked Coast to Coast across England, along with several other long-distance routes. For her, inspiration is directly proportionate to how quickly she wears out a pair of walking boots. She also enjoys martial arts, reading, watching the birds and anything that gets her outdoors.
K D has erotica published with SourceBooks, Xcite Books, Harper Collins Mischief Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, Sweetmeats Press and others.
K D’s critically acclaimed erotic romance novels include, The Initiation of Ms Holly, The Pet Shop. Her paranormal erotic novel, Body Temperature and Rising, the first book of her Lakeland Heatwave trilogy, was listed as honorable mention on Violet Blue’s Top 12 Sex Books for 2011. Books two and three, Riding the Ether, and Elemental Fire, are now also available. She was nominated for ETO’s Best Erotic Author 2013.
K D Grace also writes hot romance as Grace Marshall. An Executive Decision, Identity Crisis, The Exhibition are all available.
Find K D Here:                                                                  
Websites: http://kdgrace.co.uk/         
                http://gracemarshallromance.co.uk/            
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KDGraceAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KD_Grace         

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