Back Temporarily

The other day fellow author and friend Anny Cook blogged about the decrease in sales and whether or not it’s worth continuing to bust your butt to put out stories that people just aren’t buying.
Like Anny I began tracking my sales in a spreadsheet at the beginning of the year. Let me just say sales aren’t what they used to be. I didn’t write as many stories as I had last year, but it shouldn’t make a difference. Everyone said you need a backlist. Well, I have one – 25+ books long.
I do have two books that sell well – Adrift and Gettin’ Lucky. Two different publishing houses and two different stories. So why do they sell so well? Beats me.
Then yesterday I received 4 reviews for 3 different books. The first one was really good for Hit Me. The next three came hours later and within minutes of each other. Each was not so great. Hit Me, Chasing Forever and Just Another Rainy Day. So maybe it’s my writing. Maybe because I’m not grieving as much I’ve lost something in my ability to write a decent story. Could be I’ve lost my mojo. ;o) Whatever the reason things are not panning out the way I thought they would by now.
I couldn’t write full time if I wanted. Where I once made $500 a month I’m lucky if I get $100…and that’s from 4 publishers. I want to be able to spend more time with my new daughter. I’d like to quit my day job, but again, the money just isn’t there right now.
So where does that leave me? To focus more on my non-fiction writing. It’s more productive and lucrative. I’m going to finish the one book I’m writing because it’s contracted. Not sure how long I’ll be on hiatus. At least until the writing bug strikes me again or I feel I just have to write.
I’ll continue to blog here if I have something to write about or something worthwhile to share.

June

The DH and I managed to get the pool fully cleaned and ready for swimming. During the process the temperatures fell and rain moved in.
Always the optimist he said, “Summer hasn’t even begun yet. You’ll have lots of time to enjoy the pool.”
Me the pessimist. “Summer begins Memorial Day weekend. I want to swim now!”
So we had a debate as to when summer actual begins. I know, I know the calendar says June 21st, but since I was a little kid my mom away marked Memorial Day as the unofficial start. I won’t change that, not even for the DH! LOL
They’re promising some warmer temps for a few days before the rain comes back. Seeing as how busy this week is for me I’m hoping next week will be hot and humid when I can finally enjoy the pool and the deck.
The DH and I are planning more day trips then long vacations this summer. After reading the blog posts over at Penelope’s Romance Reviews yesterday I have some fun ideas for trips. If you want to learn more about New England drop over and see all the great posts.
One thing we always do is take in a few Red Sox games. That will still happen. ;o)
What are your plans for the summer?
My newest release is a summer read: Chasing Forever available now from Ellora’s Cave.

Blurb:
Jordyn has longed to make her relationship with best friend Diego more than platonic. Her body drips with need to know what it would feel like to have his lips kissing every inch of her skin. Desire to wrap her legs around his waist and plunge into deep waters with him fills her every dream.

Diego is one with the ocean. His passion is surfing and chasing that ultimate wave. He doesn’t have time for a relationship. Or does he?

A storm is brewing and when a tragedy occurs, Diego and Jordyn need to decide if they’re both chasing the same dreams.

An Excerpt From: CHASING FOREVER

Copyright © AMBER SKYZE, 2011

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One



Jordyn sat on the beach towel watching Diego riding out the waves. Her pulse raced. He knew he shouldn’t be out there. Hurricane Ivan was heading inland and the weatherman had warned of the dangerous undertow. She’d attempted to chase a few waves, but once she’d swum a few yards she knew it was a mistake. She’d quickly swum back to shore and waited while her best friend tried to prove he was smarter than the ocean.

The waters had turned mean and ugly over the last twenty minutes and the sky was an ominous gray. The hurricane was moving closer. A breeze came in off the water and a chill passed through her body. She’d unzipped her wet suit down to her waist, exposing her bikini top when she exited the water. She should cover up again in case the rains poured down.

She scanned the waters. Someone on a Jet Ski buzzed around, stopping every so often to take some pictures. She hoped he would keep away from the jagged rocks. The razor-sharp rocks were Jordyn’s bigger fear with Diego being out on the water. One wrong move and a wave could drag him under and throw him against the rocks, ending his life.

Jet skis were prohibited at any time on this part of the beach, but it didn’t stop them, especially on a day like today. They’d swarm around the surfers—in this case, just Diego—hoping to get a great shot of him nailing a thirty-foot wave.

Hopefully that’s all he catches.

She scanned the beach looking for any other fools. People with cameras hoping to click the ideal picture of the perfect storm peppered the sand.

“Dumbasses,” she muttered. What did that make her? She was on the beach too. Why had she allowed Diego to convince her this was a good idea?

“Because I’m a fool too.” She buried her foot in the sand and watched how the tiny particles glided between her toes. If she was smart she’d grab her board, jump in her Jeep and hightail it back to her place. Common sense flew out the window when it came to Diego, because she was head over heels in love with him.

Too bad he doesn’t feel the same. He loved her like a sister he’d said a few too many times, especially on drunken occasions.

If she’d had a nickel for all the times he’d said, “If you weren’t like a sister to me, I’d fuck you.”

How her pussy moistened with the thought. A few times she’d been tempted to sock him one and other times she’d wanted to tackle him and show him the woman inside waiting for him to fill that void deep within.

Instead she’d sat back and waited.

Another Self-Publishing Blog

I’m watching all my friends self-publish their books and having so much success. I’m jealous. I won’t deny it. I’m also lazy. I could be one of them. I’m just too lazy to put in all the effort – right now. I have plans, though. I have a goal for the end of the year. I don’t like to set goals because the procrastinator in me always sabotages those goals.
At the end of this year I’ll be getting the rights back to one of my favorite books. I know this book will good if I self-pub it. That’s my plan when I get it back. I’ll give it a once over, see if it needs any editing or if I should add to it. I’ll find a cover artist and I WILL self-pub it.
There’s also one other book that I plan to work on to self-publish. I’m not going to overwhelm myself. I have two wips that are close to done. Once they’re done and off to my editors I’ll work on the full-length. The book is technically written, but needs a LOT of editing. I have a lot of research to do too.
So I don’t have plans for a bunch of books published the second half of this year, but it’s not about the quantity. I want to produce something special to ME. :o)
How about you? Any plans for self-publishing in the future? Do you have the desire to at least try it once?

PS...This is my new cover for my next release from Ellora's Cave coming this Friday, June 10th.