Back to the Real World

Wow! I feel like I’ve been out of touch with the real world for a week. Oh, I have. I returned late last night from Romanticon 2010. Ellora’s Cave puts on one helluva party. I drooled all over the cavemen. LOL
When Angelo walked in to the meet and greet, my DH said, “Oh I know him, he’s plastered all over the house.”
This is true. He’s on the cover of Dante’s Desire, which I think is one hot cover. I must say, Angelo is ten times hotter in person and his accent will melt you. I know a Latin lover will show up in a future book.
I also got to meet an amazing group of authors. I formed new friendships and bonded with many I’ve known online. My hubby was a great sport about being at a conference. A few women brought their husbands.
I came home to so much good news. First Adrift received a Top Pick 5 star review from Night Owl Reviews. If you’d like to see what they had to say, check it out here:
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nor/Reviews/Ursshebear-reviews-Adrift-by-Amber-Skyze.aspx

Adrift was also the Fresh pick on October 9th over at Fresh Fiction. Talk about publicity. Do you know how many people they reach daily? I couldn’t ask for better promo. :0)
Lastly, I received a contract for my Christmas story – Naughty St. Nick. It will be released on December 10th from Aspen Mountain Press. They published my first Christmas story two years ago. YAY.
Today I have to spend the day getting caught up around the house and at work. I’m hoping to get some pics up from Romanticon and finish the quickie I was working on before I left.

Until next week!
PS…Anyone start planning their NaNo book yet? I’ll talk more about mine plans next week.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

I’m about to embark on a road trip with my DH. He’s my true life hero. He knows how much I hate to fly so he offered to drive with me. It’s a ten hour journey and I tend to get cranky when in the car for long periods of time, IF we get stuck in traffic. On our last trip in July what should’ve been a six hour trip turned into nine when we got stuck in NYC. It took us three hours to move two miles. I was driving and let me tell you it wasn’t pretty when we emerged. :o)
So where are we going? To RomantiCon, Ellora’s Cave conference for their readers, authors and aspiring writers. It runs from October 7th thru the 10th this year and I’m thrilled to be going. I’m armed with loads of giveaways. If you happen to be in the Richfield, OH area do stop in on Sunday for the Book Fair and say hello. I’ll have goodies during my book signing too.
As the time draws near I’m starting to grow nervous. It’s not shock that I’m a terribly shy person. I tend to be the one hiding in the corner afraid something stupid will come out of my mouth. I try to blend in the background taking in everything others are saying. I rarely offer an opinion on anything. This is where my husband comes in handy. He’s a social butterfly. He’ll strike up a conversation with just about anyone and offer his opinion whether or not you want it. (This is where I cringe) LOL
I know I’ll be surrounded by great friends like Regina Carlysle, Fran Lee, Cindy Spencer Pape and Anny Cook just to name a few.
For someone who suffers from stage freight as much as I do you’d think I was crazy to agree to host a reader based workshop with Fran Lee. I’ve thought about backing out many times, but I couldn’t do that to Fran. She’s such a wonderful person. I’m going to overcome my fears and move forward. BUT if you hear about a red-face blubbering idiot chances are it was me. LOL
I’ll be sure to take lots of pics to share with you. For those who adore the cavemen as much as me, I’ll be sure to get them too.


Before I forget, my October's newsletter is out and I'm giving away an autographed copy of Ignite the Flames. You must be a subscriber to get the contest details and win. You can sign up below. :0)
authoramberskyze-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Until next Tuesday!

Nibble on UNTIL THE DAWN by Desiree Holt & Cerise DeLand

Already out over at http://www.jasminejade.com/ is the first in a series of erotica thrillers by my good pal and talented award-winning author, Desiree Holt, and me!

Yes, we have taken our suspense to the highest level to give you...a thriller!

This one, UNTIL THE DAWN, introduces you to women who are, to be blunt, kick-ass wise and strong. No. Not superheroines, except in the most real sense. The first heroine is Madison Sommers who hires a man she should resist. But can't. Doesn't. Once she has him, she wishes she'd done it sooner. YEP. Dan Foreman is that luscious.

Want a taste of our trailer about Dan and Maddie?

Feast!

Then come read!

We have the second coming soon, UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

Our tag line?

Danger has new mistresses.

UNTIL THE DAWN.

You'll be thrilled.

Desiree and I will see you both at Romanticon next week, won't we? DO HOPE SO!

And for your pleasure, here is our trailer:

No Longer a Virgin

Conference Virgin that is. Yes, I attended my first writer’s conference this past weekend. The RWA-NEC conference. I’m a member of NEC and I must say there are a lot of EC authors! Friday my friend Donna and I arrived early. We met up with another friend for lunch. After we got settled in our rooms we registered.
The first workshop of the day was Brenda Novak. She spoke about emotion. This was a great two hour talk. The time flew by. During the Q&A someone asked if she was a plotter or pantser and her response struck a cord. She said she was a pantser. She said when she tries to write after plotting it feels forced because she feels in a lot of ways she’s already written the story. It was a light bulb moment for me.
I’m a self-proclaimed pantser, so this made sense to me. I like to let the characters explore and decide where they’re going. Looking back my rejected work has been plotted.
The food was to die for. At dinner my one friend H had the agent and editor sitting at our table laughing at her tales of drunken sluts in her books. This broke the ice for her agent appointment the next morning. She doesn’t really have drunken sluts in her books.
Dessert was a Q&A with Annette Blair. She is one of the sweetest women you’ll ever meet. I’ve known her for a little over three years and she continues to amaze me with her generosity and knowledge sharing.
The keynote speaker for breakfast was MaryJanice Davidson. OMFG, she is so funny. We laughed all through breakfast. Of course she received a standing ovation after her speech.
I attended a bunch of great workshops throughout the day including one given by fellow EC author Nina Pierce. She helped my friend H out with her workshop. H tends to write very long and Nina gave hints on how to write shorter.
There were free books and promo items galore. The conference ended with a book signing. I spent way too much, but that’s okay. That’s what it’s all about, right? Hopefully next year I’ll be sitting at one of the tables signing too.
I signed up for RomantiCon yesterday. Maybe I’ll have a print book for that conference. We’ll see.

Happy Tuesday.