Publishing update...

Much has happened since last post. 

"The Connecting Flame" cover is done.  Artwork by Reese Dante through Silver Publishing.  I am EXTREMELY happy with this cover, she captured what I wanted, which is a symbolic image of the story line.  This first book in my 'Harp & Sword' series has a tentative slotted release date of March 3rd. 
The second book in the series 'Passion's Chill' has been picked up and contracted with a release date tentatively scheduled for sometime in June.

The first round of edits for 'The Connecting Flame' are finished and when I put up this post, I'll be sending the document back to my editor for I believe a final go-over, then I  believe we're on our way to the galleys.  (Should that be capped?  Not sure.  Brand new to this area of the editing process.)

I pulled 'Crimson Dawn' from the submission process.  Not happy with it at this point.  I'll reconsider it at a later date.

In the meantime, I'm working on my spiritual classes to become a Science of Mind practitioner.  Lots of studying, writing and editing.  My work load is F-U-L-L FULL!  But...it's a good kind of busy.  ;D

Blessed Be,
Myristica

"Crimson Dawn" Book I update...

Pre-edits still in progress.  Finished up to chapter 7 in the handwritten area, am currently working what has been done so far into the Word doc.  Am aiming to get more handwritten edits done to chapters 8,9 and 10 this evening.  I have a 5 day weekend coming up this week, so I will be busy finishing up this first book and then it's on to submission road!

The first book to my Harp & Sword Chronicles is still waiting for first round edits.  Silver publishes quite a few books throughout the month so they are extremely busy.  I may not get the first round until the beginning of 2012.  I'm good, though, it just means they are very, very busy and that's a good thing for a publishing company. ;D  Leaves me free to work on the second book as well as this first book to my 'Crimson Dawn' series.  ;D

New blog for spiritual angle...

Hi, all!
I have a new blog for the spiritual lessons I'm learning.
http://myristicasom.blogspot.com/
The som in the URL stands for 'Science of Mind'.
The post I put here before and now deleted (because I've decided that this blog should only deal with M/M Romance) is on the spiritual blog.  If you are of like mind in the Science of Mind area (or Religious Science), then please stop by and share your thoughts and insights.  I would love to connect.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Myristica

'Bounty' by Hank Edwards

I'm loving the texture of this story.  It's gritty, dark and definitely Old West.  I have no clue where Mister Edwards is going with this series, but so far I am really enjoying the ride!  The horror style rings a tad bit of Stephen King, especially 'Salem's Lot', but that's just my personal opinion.  Other readers may have a different take.  I know one thing, the premise hooked me and the first page drew me in.  Fortunately my reading is catch and release so I can get hooked on the next installment when I'm done with this one. 

'Bounty' is perfect bait for a Horror-Gay-in-the-Old-West story lover.

Incredible changes...

I've not been reading the M/M books a lot these last few months with my mom being sick and then passing on, as well as the need to get my own material finished, not to mention a spiritual study I'm undertaking.  Also, I work 40 hours a week, so there's not a lot of time to do fun reading!  :(  However, that does not mean I can't sneak a page or two in between other tasks.  I'm reading 'Raincheck' by Sarah Madison and 'Bounty' by Hank Edwards.  Slow going on my part (not theirs), but wish I could find the time to just sit and read and not have to worry about other things.  Ah, well, maybe this weekend I may find some time after the chores and errands are done.

In the meantime, I studied today for my spiritual class, but this morning I edited the first two chapters of the space opera I'm working on.  As well as worked at the job.  Productive.  Now I'm tired and want to go to bed. 
Until more to update comes along, I bid you all sweet dreams and sweet passages through the day.

~Myr~
Oh, yeah, I was also able to pay my artist for the next illustration for my "Harp & Sword Chronicles", I hope to get that baby within the next week.  Once I do, I'll watermark it and post it.  :D

A lot has happened in the last 3 months

Firstly, the first book in my "Harp & Sword Chronicles" (tentatively entitled 'The Connecting Flame') has been picked up by Silver Publishing. 
I have other stories I will be submitting to them in the not so distant future.  I likes Silver Publishing!  :D

Secondly, my mom passed away a little over a month ago.  I've not been hit with the grief, yet.  Still wondering when it's going to crash into me.  I still can't believe she's gone.  It just doesn't seem real.  I never saw her body, so I know there's no closure there.  But stepfucker, and I use that title without any amount of restraint or hesitation, moved quickly to get her to the crematorium.  I was never consulted on the memorial service thanks to stepfucker, and was never told he had gone to spread her ashes last week.  He basically pushed me aside as he has hated me for 31 years.  Good news is...now that she's gone, I can get on with my life without stepfucker.  Thank the Universe!  So, there is a silver lining even in this sad time.  I know my mom is watching out for me.

Thirdly, the cancer is almost gone.  Life is good.

Fourthly, I got an incredible e-mail this morning from a woman who found an old unfinished M/M Slash Fan Fiction I wrote back in 2006 on a Live Journal community.  She wanted to know where the rest of it was because she had found the story 'beautiful' and was eager to see how it ended.  I explained I stopped writing it because I had this crazy notion to revise the storyline and make it into an original futuristic setting space opera.  In 5 years, no one has spoken to me about that story.  In 5 years I've not heard a peep.  One woman finds it and gets in touch with me specifically to find out how she can read the rest of it.  It just takes one person to give you great feedback to get you pumping on a story you think no one is interested in and so why rush to publish?  I spent all day on the puppy as a result of her wonderful 'shot in the arm' feedback.  It now has a beginning and the first chapter outlined and after 5 years, I finally found solid footing with it's beginning.

Readers take note:  Feedback the authors of stories you love.  Even if it's just on a blog or your Facebook or Live Journal.  Find them (and you can find e-book authors practically everywhere)  or even feedback Fan Fic authors (if you truly love their work).  Feedback drives writers to write more!  It's our spiritual bread-and-butter (physical bread and butter is the royalties, so bear that in mind as well.  DO NOT PIRATE BOOKS!  Sorry had to throw that in as it's a pet peeve of us authors.  I know times are tough, but e-books are written with love and the authors and publishers and editors should be rewarded for their hard work.  Save your pennies.  E-books don't cost an arm and a leg, luvs.  Really, a few dollars here and there and you've got yourself a wonderful story.  Let's make stealing a thing of the past, okay?)
So, reward your favorite authors.  It's what keeps us moving, desiring to write more, knowing our stuff is bringing joy to those who bother to let us know that.  :)

Life is good.
~Myr~

The Past is Prologue...

What's gone is gone.  What's past is past.  It's time to change direction and find new roads to travel.  This is not to say that I've cut off ties with people, just changing my vision, expanding the horizons, meeting new people to work with, make friends with.  Around July of 2009 I started developing symptoms of a major illness.  As the weeks went by I became very ill and needed to seek treatment.  It's taken me this long to get back on my feet again.  But during that time (and I'm still going through it...lessons, I mean) the school of life began teaching me what it means to really, truly LIVE! 

My passions changed.  My focus changed.  Areas I thought were important took a back seat.  My spiritual life moved me to a new direction and I'm traveling it with gusto.  I love my life and where it's going.  I had to cut off areas that no longer served me, in order to branch out into areas that helped me see further than I ever have before.  But...one thing called me back.  My passion for writing and M/M Romance.  While I was being treated, my desire to pursue this path became numb.  I was too sick to care anymore.  I put aside everything.  All I cared about was fighting to live.  I am heading into becoming better now, and my desire for this area of my life has also returned with a gusto.  I learned from my past mistakes and am ready to move forward, not letting go the friends I made before getting sick, but changing my direction. 

I am making new friends on FB, seeking out areas of publishing I never allowed myself to investigate before.  Short stories.  I really want to try my hand with that.  Who ever said I had to only write novels?  I did.  Well, that attitude has changed along with attitudes regarding many other things.  This battle was uphill, and I'm clearing the top, and the vistas around me are as far as my eyes can see and then some.  I have classes coming in the Fall, classes for Science of Mind, learning how to become a practitioner.  And then?  Learning to become a minister for SoM.  I want that...and I want to get my stories out there.  I'm seeing beyond where I was yesterday, to dreams of many tomorrows. 

Fellow authors out there are helping me, giving me wonderful and thrilling adventures.  Mary Calmes, Lynn Lorenz, Andrew Grey, John Simpson, J.L. Langley, Ally Blue, SJD Peterson, Sue Brown, Carol Lynne,...oh my word...the list can go on and on.  You authors who write in all areas of M/M Romance -- Historical, Fantasy, Contemporary, Paranormal, do you know what you have done for me?  Do you know that your worlds have sent my mind soaring?  My heart flying?  My brain hurling outside of its inhibited box?  Heck, I may even dabble in researching and reading some BDSM for the hell of it, simply because living and experiencing and learning is what life is all about.  I don't *understand* BDSM, but I'm beginning to.  When I read about DOM/Sub, I used to cringe away from even the slightest hint of that happening in a story.  Now?  I choose to learn because it doesn't have to be *bad*.
Getting sick was the best thing that ever happened to me.  I've learned to grow and seek out what living is really about.

I went to a Beatles cover band concert the other night.  I am telling you, the people around me were kicking up their heels, dancing...LIVING...and we had the most wonderful time!!  I came up with an idea for a short story right then and there.  THAT is what taking the world by the horns and saying: 'Dance with me' is all about.

I remember one time, while I was searching out who the Goddess really is, I went into a deep meditation and in my mind's eye I saw her come to me, holding out her hands and she said, "Where have you been?  I've been waiting for you."  And her hands were held in such a way that she wanted to dance with me.  I didn't understand that vision...not until a few nights ago.  A new friend I found on Facebook shared with me a blast from my past with old music and I remembered back to when I was a child and that music had been such a part of my life.  The Partridge Family.  I was so joy-filled I went to upload one of those albums to my MP3 player and remembering those songs, singing to them...what a rush.  Joy, life, living, experiencing...and from that we can bring joy to others.

I'm moving forward.  Doc has not (yet) given me a clean bill of health, but it's only a matter of time.  I'm already believing that my life has turned around...because it has.  My Science of Mind spiritual leader this last Sunday said:  "Don't let the past inhibit you...and don't let the future scare you.  Where do you want to be in 6 months?  In 3 months?  If you're sick do you already know you are healed?  The Master Teacher Jesus knew this, that is why he could heal.  He KNEW it!!"  I *KNOW* it!!
My life has a reason.  And I'm pursuing my passions.  Both in writing and in spirit.

Tell me your story.  And...where do YOU want to be in 3 months?  What goals do you have for yourself?  Go for them:  "Don't let the past inhibit you...and don't let the future scare you."  The Past is Prologue, get to writing your life chapters!
Hugs,
Myristica