Cover for His Unexpected Bride

Ok, got my cover today so I thought to share.

Here is the blurb:

‘Nothing in life can be achieved without a solid plan and a well-tied cravat’. It's a simple motto that served Rutledge well until the day his method is interrupted by an unforeseen catalyst: His not-so-fictitious betrothed.

Having no wish to marry, Marquis of Rutledge refuses to bow to his overbearing mother’s demands and to avoid being forced to the altar; he fabricates a betrothed with the most ridiculous last name he could come up with. Miss Hinglebottom was a perfectly absurd name. But the minute he utters her name he’s horrified to find he’d chained himself to an existing woman.

After experiencing the sinister mockery of the ton, Bethany Hinglebottom vows never to return to London. But when a handsome lord appears offering her a fairy tale romance, she braves the whirls of the social Season for the chance at love. Confused by his heated looks and lukewarm manner she is determined to make an impression, praying her accident-prone tendencies won’t make an appearance. But while the reality of their match lays hidden in the shadows, her love deepens for a man that seems to be the answer to her dreams.

Despite being faced with a faux betrothal where only he knows the truth, Rutledge cannot help but attempt to apply his wily plans in an effort to bypass his current predicament. Yet for some reason, since the arrival of Miss Hinglebottom nothing has gone his way and he finds himself becoming a pawn to his own game where he just might be falling in love with HIS UNEXPECTED BRIDE.

With the release date on the 31st Stay tuned for some exerpts!

Editing vs housework

*ding* *ding*

Welcome ladies to the clash of the titans. In the red corner we have Editing 'The bones' Manuscript and in the blue with have Clean 'The d@mned' House.

Well, I'm sitting here battling with my editing woes. I've never been very good at editing and I know it's a thing that needs to be done. The sad thing is, is that I hate doing it. But it must be done. Problem is, right now I'd rather do housework and I know then I'd be avioding. I can't hide forever and must get my butt in gear and edit this baby so I can send it out.

(Childish whiney J)*sniffle**pulling covers over my head* 'Do I have ta?'
(Professional J) *Nodding sagely* 'Fraid so.
(Childish whiney J) *Throwing pillow* OOhh! I don't wanna.
(Professional J) *glowering* Don't make me give you a time out
(Childish whiney J)*stomping to the computer* Fine!
(Professional J) *starting at Blogging J* And what are you doing?
(Blogging J)*looks around* Uh, nuthin.
(Professional J) Get to work

Ah well, you heard her folks. Off I go. *sniffle*

All in a weeks work!

Ok, I've done it. Shelli Stevens site is now LIVE! check it out at http://www.shellistevens.com

On another note, after having a few days break on my paranormal I'm about to go back and start editing. But while I edit I usually have another new project started. *Sigh* The only problem is, is that I don't know which one to choose! Both are the 2nd book on their respective series but they both are elluding me. One is my Historical --which the first book is contracted to come out through NCP in June and the other is my Paranormal.

So, should I try my hand at both and edit or just pick one. And if I had to pick one I would HAVE to go for the Historical since I'm *sorta* contracted....sorta. I mean it is a trilogy after all and my publisher has accepted the first book... hmmmm.

Oh well, at least it's been a very productive week just gone. An MS finished, a website done and now to continue on full steam ahead!

Mmm Yum... My hero

I saw a post on NCPauthors about heroes. And I thought I should post the piccys I have of my Paranormal series. I don't usually have to use a pic as my visual reference since alot of the time my characters are very vivid to me. But since a lot of the time they ask for what they might look like in order to get the cover right I thought it would be good to find a picy now. So here are my lovely boys.



Gabriel (Book 1)

Dante (Book 2)

Michael (Book 3)

These are the boys I have so far, but boy the search for the perfect hero for my stories is ALWAYS fun

The End....Or is it

Well, I've done it. FINALLY!! I finished my first Paranormal--the first book in a series--and boy did I have a blast. It took me an unusually long time getting this one done mainly because I think I got major writing block due to Nano. 1 month I got 50k and 4months to get the next 50k. See the difference?

Well all that aside, I have finished it: Fallen into Darkness:
In one night of passion Gabriel the Archangel has lost his wings and is left to walk the world as a mortal. A year later he has returned to the place of his downfall to run into Eva--the woman he Fell for.
Eva Langely hasn't seen Gabriel since that fateful night one Halloween and now he has returned...As her colleague. Working on a new case investigating the strange cult murders that are sweeping LA. They walk on a path to darkness that will tilt everything they know on its axis.

I loved this story. I enjoy writing action and in this one there is a fair bit of it. Add in some guns, swords and the supernatural and we have a wild ride! This was the first book that I've written and HATED to see the ending but I had to. Most books that I've written thus far have a very 'Ahhh' ending - satisfying. But this ending, though satisfying and ending in the PERFECT spot, left me going 'Noo, what happens next??' Sorry folks gonna have to wait for my second book in the series. Although you never know what will happen in the editing stage....

So now that is done - I have a bit of editing, query and syno and I go on my hunt for a home for this baby.

The reasons why I love my husband

Well, yesterday I had my daughter all to myself while hubby went off to the markets to help a friend out. While he was there he saw a person sellng beeds and called me up and asked what I liked. I told him and when he came home more about half of them were just...yuck. But you know what. Its the thought that counts and he braved a store to try and get me what I liked.

So sweet.

On another note, I have about 25 pages left to write of FID (Fallen Into Darkness) I'm so excited, although some of these scenes are turning out to be a bit short - it's ok since I have 9 scenes to write out in that amount of pages. After all this is done I'll be going on to editing and trying to find my historical voice. Which won't be too hard since I'll be reading over A Devil's Proposal.

Exciting stuff.

Something to blog about

Hmm, for the last few weeks I've had stuff to blog about but for the last few days I've had trouble picking a topic. My day?? Boring. The fact that my mother came over in an impromptu visit? Too deep. My husbands idiot brother? Too angry. LOL

So I've picked a subject for today. First I went to my craft class again and made a 3 tier necklace. I will post a piccy as soon as I can but in the meantime I'll chat about something that I'm sure you writers can relate to.

Characters.

Now I have a friend who says she never gets any peace because she has character vying for her attention all the time. Well, I used to say that I can keep mine under control. Well, now that's a lie. I have scenes replaying in my head incessantly. I am inspired and excited by them but at the moment I have 1 trilogy to write out and 1 series and now another series has popped in my head and the heroine I just love. Can I just say that I love kick-ass heroines? Well I do. I like a girl that can hold her own.

So here is my plan: 2nd book of my Regency historical needs to get started after I finish the book in my first series Fallen. I can here Dante (from book2 of the Fallen series) roar his anger. But I'm sorry, mate, but I gotta get A Devil's Passion done (renamed title) for NCP since they accepted A Devil's Proposal. *yey*

Something to blog about

Hmm, for the last few weeks I've had stuff to blog about but for the last few days I've had trouble picking a topic. My day?? Boring. The fact that my mother came over in an impromptu visit? Too deep. My husbands idiot brother? Too angry. LOL

So I've picked a subject for today. First I went to my craft class again and made a 3 tier necklace. I will post a piccy as soon as I can but in the meantime I'll chat about something that I'm sure you writers can relate to.

Characters.

Now I have a friend who says she never gets any peace because she has character vying for her attention all the time. Well, I used to say that I can keep mine under control. Well, now that's a lie. I have scenes replaying in my head incessantly. I am inspired and excited by them but at the moment I have 1 trilogy to write out and 1 series and now another series has popped in my head and the heroine I just love. Can I just say that I love kick-ass heroines? Well I do. I like a girl that can hold her own.

So here is my plan: 2nd book of my Regency historical needs to get started after I finish the book in my first series Fallen. I can here Dante (from book2 of the Fallen series) roar his anger. But I'm sorry, mate, but I gotta get A Devil's Passion done (renamed title) for NCP since they accepted A Devil's Proposal. *yey*

Redesign

Well, I've done it. One of my clients wished to have her page redesigned. So with a bit of photoshoping (which i'm improving on) I came up with an images she was very happy with. You might want to check it out @ http://www.sarahmcneal.com

2 Birthdays, BBQs and Pool tables

Well, yesterday was my daughters 2nd birthday (and my mother-in-laws 50th). Yes, my daughter was born on my hubby's mum's birthday. The first grandchild in that family and she put me through 32 hrs of labour to get there! ANYway went on a bit of a tangent there.

On the 11th we went to the MIL to celebrate her birthday and then the next morning I got up and cleaned up and got everything ready for Mia's b-day. By 10am everything was done and ready for guests.

Hubby had managed to put together his billiard table for the get together so alot of adults were playing pool while Mia ran outside. By the end of the day I was knackered. Ah well, not another day like this until christmas!

How'd my first craft class go

Well, I just came back from by craft class and very happy with it. It was fun and nerve racking because I hadn't done it before and everyone that said they'd come backed out. Because I was the only beginner I was shown the basics and run through what each tool meant. After that I was left to my creativity and scoured the store for some suitable beads and such. Well, I came back with pink, blue, silver and pearl and began putting something together. At the end of the class I had managed to make 1 nice bookmark. Happy with the result I packed up and paid for my class and the beads I used: $72!! Well, they only sold them in packages so I have a lot of beads but the lady assures me that starting out it's expensive but it'll get cheaper when I have more stock. So now I have several beads and tools, I now think I need to purchase a tool box to organize my new hobby.

Well, despite the high cost that it may well have for the next few weeks, I'll be sticking with the class because it gives me a break from my daughter for 2hrs where I can relax and be out of the house.

What do you think of my first endevour for creativity?

I'm excited!!

Well, this morning my daughter came into the room and woke me up at 4am in the morning. Yes, 4 am. She has been doing that of late and I find it both endearing and odd that she has now chosen me as her favorate. For as long as she's been around it was always Daddy. Well, now it's my turn. Which wouldn't be so bad if she didn't wake me up so dang early! But alas I was. After getting to bed a 1am (mainly taken up with writing and editing) I knew I would suffer today because we are getting part of our backyard concreted.

Did I tell you we live in a swamp? No? Well we do. The only swamp in the street. See, when we got this house built the large construction company cut the land wrong, so whenever it rains, we get a mud pool around our house. 1.5years later we can finally afford to get that issue fixed. Our concreter Harley is doing a wonderful job and hopefully in the next downpour we won't get flooded and neither will our neighbours! (Who have been so patient with us for the last year!) Thanks guys!!

On top of that I got new software today. I'm so excited about it that I had to install it immediately and look around. Who gets excited over software???? Gosh, geek + *grin*

So as yet no writing done - but I'm very certain I'll get a fair bit in tonight - I've hit an exciting part in the book...well, not exciting but conflicting that I can't wait to experience my heroes reaction...then the herione's.

Anyway, I better sign off and get to typing!

Me and instructions... I blame it on my Philo side

Ok, well I got my craft book yesterday and was so excited I pulled it out and stared aghast at the 16pg magazine thing that I paid $20 for. Undetered I looked through the projects and found myself sorely dissapointed. The instructions were pretty vague, with crafting phrases I've never heard before.

So I scoured the net for online instructions and found some that helped, but it wasn't enough.

So Friday I've booked myself in for a crafting class. Yes. I am paying someone to show me the ropes. And I'm hoping this will be a fun venture. Also, I'm dragging my sister along with me. LOL

On another note. I did 4 pages yesterday and was very proud of myself. Although this would need a bit of reworking in the end I am not 60 pages from the end. Wahoo. Everything better start moving fast!

Websites, writing, crafts oh my!

Well, I did it! I completed...well almost, Vivienne Kings new website. Check it out at http://www.vivienneking.com I had landed this job on a friday night and sunday morning it was done. Why? Because Monday I wanted to get back into writing. So the goal was to have the website done by sunday night and I did it! Well, I did spend an all-nighter on it on Saturday. lol. Here I was working on the website and look at the clock: 3am!! So I reason. My baby will be up at 5 so may as well stay up. 6.30 rolls around and she get up. Well needless to say by 9:30am I was knackered so I went to bed for 3hours, got up and started agian. And now, the rest will come on its own.

So, monday is here and writing as started with a new purpose. On top of that I can't wait to get my craft book so I can start doing that and getting my tools. What can I say -- I'm turning into a regular Jane of all trades. *imagine me pulling up my shorts and wink with a little tsk*

Ok, well, I'm supposed to be writing, but I thought I'd drop by and say my hellos since I've been a bit on hiatus.

Wiggle out of a dream & Cafty little idea

I had this dream that my husband wanted to leave me. It was so sad because on top of that They yellow shirt guy from the Wiggles wanted to go on a date with me! What the??? First off, I think I've been watching Waaaay to many kids flicks because personally the Wiggles just don't do it for me. If anything I'd go Hi-5 first. Anyway, I got up and gave dear hubby a hug and warned him not to leave me otherwise I'll do some horrible things to him.

On a more uplifting note, I am now going to learn how to craft. Why? because it'll work out cheaper to do it myself. I found willing to make some personal promo items. I found one in melbourne as well as in Brisbane. I also bough a craft book to get me started so I can learn how do give my readers a personal touch.

Wish me luck!

It's a jugging act!

Yesterday was pure misery for me. My lovely daughter (who turns 2 this weekend) was being very naughty. She has this thing that whenever Im on the computer to either get on my lap or misbehave. Although she is misbehaving more often than not at the moment and heaven forbid I had to give her a smack. *gasp* And you know what she did when I did that?? Laughed! I did it again later, a bit harder and she cried but then I stood and walked away and zip! she was quiet. *roll eyes* Well it obviously didn't hurt that much!

I spent yesterday scrambling to look for promotional items and can I just say that they are expensive!! What am I going to do with 500 magnets and 500 pens I tell you!! I only want 50 of each! So, I'm scouring the local area for a partner in crime that is willing to do small batches rather than bulk. *sniffle* I didn't know this was so time consuming, but I guess it comes part and parcel of being famous *grins* I CAN see the future you know.

Well, I have another client for Jodici Designs. Although not an author, this is allowing me to stretch my wings a bit and test it out. I was still the wee hours of the morning developing a header and basic layout of two examples, and thanfully he chose the one I put the most work in. So the better part of the morning was spent setting up the Home page design. Now that's done, I'm taking a break to move onto writing. Yippee!