Writers block Hell!

Well, after the record of writing a novella in 13days - I've been in writers block hell. For the last 2 weeks I've been struggling to decide on a project. None of them are really speaking to me and I know I have to get my butt in gear. So, I think I'm going to do free writing on each on and see which one takes off.

Gosh I hate WB. *sniffle*

I got my cover!

I'm so thrilled. Not only did I get a recent submission accepted, but I have the new cover for my urban fantasy - The Ripple Effect: Dane. I'm so excited out it.

Meanwhile, I'm deciding on what new project to persue.

I'm back

Well, I'm back from my visit and let me tell you - I'm exhausted! I had a rough night sleeping, because Mia slept with us. She wasn't comfortable in the unfamiliar environment, so she slept with her hand on me and her foot on Andrew or vice versa. Since no light was on - she woke up during the night disorientated and upset. *sigh*

When we got home I was never so glad to see my own bed. I had a wonderful night sleeping, although I wished I had more hours. Oh well.

Anyway, you guys might want to check out my guest spot on Novelty Girls

Busy weekend making calls

Yep, I have plans this weekend to visit my husbands relatives. We overbooked you see. We gotta go see his dad - a 40min drive from us in the morning after Mia's swimming lesson (we bought a cute one-piece swimsuit with one of those attached skirts - so cute!)

Anyway, after his dad's we are driving all the way up the coast to see his grandparents - a 1.5hr drive. We're going to spend the night there and then go and visit andrew's aunty and sorrogate grandmother to my daughter.

So, I probably won't get much writing done, although I will be bringing up my laptop for the JIC.

I Finished!

I have done it! I beat my deadline and finished a novella in 13 days... Hmm, unlucky for some, but it would seem that it's not so for me. I stayed up until 3am writing and editing and sent it off. Thankfully, I had already completed the query letter so I didn't have to worry about that.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT: DANE is an urban fantasy, action adventure that I plan to bring out into an ongoing series.

So, now the wait begins....

In the meantime - some of you might want to hear the blurb:

Reality is a matter of perception…or is it? When Jamilah inherits a beautiful Egyptian artifact, she didn’t expect it to propel her out of her reality and into another so displaced from her own.

The year is 2006 and Set had been awoken from his tomb over a century ago. He runs his kingdom with an iron fist and doesn’t need anyone screwing with it, least of all the ‘Holyman’ that has been like a thorn in his side. But when a shift in the air signals the arrival of something powerful, Set is determined to possess it.

Dane didn’t know what a woman was doing in the destroyed city of New York, but he couldn’t very well leave her to her own demise. But what starts as a rescue attempt, soon becomes something far more complicated. With the emergence of something deep within him that demand his attention and his budding love for a woman he knows he can’t have, so begins the battle between a man willing to fight for what is right and a God who will do anything to have what he wants.

* * * * * * * *

So there you have it. Now that I'm finished with this particular project - I have a few that are vying for my attention and will try and focus on 2 at a time. In the meantime, time to focus on the housework that has been neglected for nigh coming onto 2 weeks. Eeek!

FULL SWING - coming to Cobblestone

FULL SWING by Crystal Jordan(Cobblestone Press, August 18, 2006)

The only place they still communicate is between the sheets...a professional woman golfer and an Army Ranger struggle to save their marriage after he's seriously injured in combat and has to retire. Outside the bedroom, everything is falling apart because he believes she deserves better than a broken man, but she dreams of a future when they stop fighting and start talking long enough to reclaim the happily ever after that once seemed so certain.

ABOUT CRYSTAL JORDAN
Crystal Jordan only began writing about a year ago after she finished graduate school and needed something to fill the hours that used to be eaten away by homework. What started as a hobby has quickly become a new career. She now writes paranormal, futuristic, contemporary, and erotic romance. Additionally, she is a member of RWA and its erotic romance chapter, Passionate Ink. She also belongs to the award winning author's resource website and forum RomanceDivas.com, where she serves as a moderator and Paranormal Co-Liaison.

http://www.crystaljordan.com

AVAILABLE AUGUST 18!

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/

my New cover

Today I got my cover for the print release of His Unexpected Bride. I LOVE IT! I'm not sure who the artist is, but I liked how they caught the profile of my heroine.

Thank you NCP!

First Notice of Upcoming Chat

www.cobblestone-press.com

Authors & Reader PartyFriday,

September 15, 2006

All authors will be on the Cobblestone Yahoo Group, discussing their current releases and their coming soon works.

There will be tons of EXCERPTS, even more FUN, and LOTS OF PRIZES. So mark your calender!This will be a day to remember.Join the Cobblestone Press yahoo group:

http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/cobblestonediscussion/join

We're here to bring you the best of the best. Please note that chats scheduled are Eastern Standard Times

8-9AM MADISON CHASE

9-10AM SUSAN GREENE & ME!

10-11AM SHELLI STEVENS

11-12PM JADE JAMES

12-1PM LORIBELLE HUNT

1-2PM SARA DENNIS

2-3PM ANN CORY

3-4PM MIA ROMANO

4-5PM LYRIC JAMES

5-6PM KAREN ERICKSON

6-7PM CRYSTAL JORDAN

7-8PM L. SHANNON

8-9PM SHERI LIVINGSTON

9-10PM JENNAH SHARPE

10-11PM HEATHER A FOWLER

And we're ending the day with a BANG!

Opening Hooks

Whenever I start a book, the first thing I think about is hooks. How can I get the reader to get on this ride the quickest way possible? Well, this is where the opening hook comes in. I'm going to share some of mine.

His Unexpected Bride:
The Marquis of Rutledge groaned as his mother dragged yet another young debutante in his direction. Why wasn’t God being merciful? Cold fingers of dread ran up his spine and with a surreptitious glance around the ballroom, he made his escape.

Fallen Into Darkness:
“Screw him.” Wonder Woman planted a hand over her hip, her leg cocked as she thumbed her lasso. The bonfires lining the oceanfront licked at the gold bands on her wrist, waist and forehead matched the burning in Tanya’s eyes.

Bloodlust:
Kira knew the roar of bloodlust. The amphitheatre beyond rose an octave as the iron gate before her opened. Standing in the dark, dank hall of the dome, she perused the line of weapons hanging on the wall.

A Dark Embrace: (wip)
She was going to die. Dante stood at the top of the old warehouse as the chase unfolded beneath him. Flicking back a flap of his trench coat and hooking it over his hip, he crouched. The chill of the winter wind picked up the hem of his jacket, waving it like a dark flag. Under his drifter hat his cheeks burned from the sting of the frigid air that brushed along his face.

My Enemy mine: (wip)
“She’s dangerous this one, but here she is,” the Ambassador said, indicating to a door lining the sterile hall of the prison ship.

A Devil's Passion: (wip)
It was nearing dawn and Simon could see the mists rolling over the gentle sloping hills like a wraith of death. Gusts of air wafted through the fog, rounding and whirling under the temperate wind. There was not a bird singing or an active squirrel in the bushes beyond. Everything was still save some horrid bird whose monotone squawk trumpeted like the Reapers horn.

Now after doing this, I've noticed I have a lot of WIPs. Ugh! I have to work on reducing that number....

Oh. My. God.

Ok, I'm learning more about my hero (Dane) in my current MS and although all the stuff that I've found about him thus far has been awesome, I just finished a scene where he was so unlike himself. Although it is explained prior and after the scene why he might've acted this way, it's still shrouded in darkness. He is so complex and will either have you liking him or hating him. A real piece of work. Honestly, he is a little screwed up (but not in a bad way). Life has dealt him a heavy card and I'm going to find out how he ended up with a split personality. No, it's not a schizophrenia thing, it's something more...Magically inclined. So what is really up with him? Hmm, I guess you guys are going to have to read it to find out.... LOL

Also, the heroine handled the situation wonderfully, after she regained her wits of course. I didn't want her to be a real push over. Personally I would've preferred she kick him in the nads, but I guess she wanted him to see to reason rather than resort to violence. Awww, why not?!!

She LIVES!

Yes, my heroine for my current MS lives. And by that I mean she has taken on a life of her own. Which pretty much happens with all my characters, but I can tell you now, this is the first time I've struggled with her issues. She is fully developed, flaws and all and I'm only 17 pages in. Which is wonderful. (No, I don't often do character maps.)

Now I know she is afraid of heights. Something which I could've done without. Oh well. I'm sure the hero will figure something out. For the last 3 novels I've written and the current one on the back burner, all my women have been strong and independent -- which I love. But my current heroine is something else entirely different. She is subtle in her strength where as all my others have been in your face type strong. That's all right though, because I believe that is going to be her character growth to come into herself. Plus I get to have a hero to show her the way while having fun doing it.

Ahh, the scenes fluttering through my head right now.....

My ideas

Well, some of you might know that I'm working on a futuristic for well over a month now and know the basic gist of the story with Dark Knight. And some of you are eager to see what is going to happen next, but I'm afraid that is now going to have to wait. While I was looking at some pre-made covers, I was instantly inspired by one. ... Well a few, but this one really struck a cord with me. So, I approached CP with my basic plot and promised to have it in around a month. So what does that mean? It means I need to knuckle down and focus on just this story which I've called The Ripple Effect. See I can't write without a title so this might change eventually.

What is it about? Sorry, can't do that. I've learnt the best way to do this is to keep it to myself and keep y'all salivating. Let me just show you the picture that inspired me and you can... draw your own picture. *wink wink*


I LOVE DAN'S WORK!!!

Now I'm vertually overflowing with ideas, several of which will have to wait, but WILL eventually get their story told. I love prompts

OMG - Going into Print

I got the most fabulous news yesterday. My first Novel HIS UNEXPECTED BRIDE, is going to hit the prints. I'm so thrilled and terrified at the same time. It's great news, and my husband has been totally thrilled for me. For sure, that means that those that aren't interested in purchasing my book due to it being in e-format (yes, Jossilyn I'm talking to you) *my sister you see* can soon purchase it from NCP booksellers. AND yes, they do have one in Brisbane. *jump up and down* SO I might go there and stare at my book on the shelf. Maybe even take a photo. *grin*

Well, I've been a bit buzzed about that. But I did have a productive day yesterday. Lucy Monroe & I worked together to give her blog a nice feel. You can check it out @ http://lucymonroeblog.blogspot.com . And can I just say that she is very friendly and gave me some great family advice. It was great having a chat with her. I'm a bit star-struck. *blink* *blink* *blink*

BTW: Don't forget your chance to win MORE jewelry, check out the details @ www.jodiebecker.com

And the Winner is...

Contest for the sapphire pendant and the winner has been drawn randomly.

Congratulations to Cathy Morton.

For those of you that entered. Thank you very much for participating. You still have a chance to win jewellry, simply check out www.jodiebecker.com for details. Yes, I love giving this stuff away on my contests *grin*