Since I’ll be away from the computer tomorrow for doctors’ appointments, I thought I’d give you a quick update on DD’s doings and then pose another burning queston.

Yesterday, I finished a short story for a collection of erotic romance shorts. On spec. Which means no contract and no guarantee of publication unless they love it. I loved it. That’s what counts. And if it gets passed on, no doubt I’ll find another home for it. Thanks to Virginia and Maura for giving it a read and showing me the errors of my ways.

Today, I worked on an interview for RWR Magazine’s Writers on Writing column. I’m sure I sounded like a complete flake, but I couldn’t very well ask someone else to make it up. It will be published pretty soon, so I’ll let you know when you can find it.

On Wednesday, it will be back to the quarry for me as I dig back into my Dark Realm book, which is getting away from me at the moment. I’ve asked a good friend of mine to give it a read, and since she’s taking so long, I know she’s trying to figure out how to throw up all over it in a nice way.

So until I get back to my computer tomorrow night, here’s the question I want you to think about:

What is your all-time favorite scene from a movie?

I’m playing at Ellora’s Cave’s chat loop all day today along with Shayla Kersten and Myla Jackson. We’ll be serving up warm, witty conversation, scintillating excerpts, and running contests with multiple drool-worthy prizes all day long! If you’re not a subscriber to EC’s loop, just send an email here: Join EC’s chat loop

Okay, so that’s the administrivia note for the day. Plenty other stuff is happening! Did I mention that I sold another Spice Brief to Harlequin? I don’t know when it will come out, but I have the contract ready to mail on Monday. Woohoo!

I met and exceeded my NaNoWriMo goal for the month of November, ending the writing challenge with 50,700 words! Okay, so non-writers are going to say, what’s the big deal? *I’m blowing raspberries at you*

The big deal is I showed fortitude, discipline and kicked ass (at least on paper) for a whole month. And it was fun—posting my progress, trying to find buddies to join me for timed writing sprints, and watching a story come together in just a month.

I cheated a wee bit. I worked on two stories—one of which I finished! That’s my yummy cowboy threesome story I mentioned yesterday. Do you want to see an excerpt?

And last, I wanted to remind you that I have a free story on my “For Readers” page. I recently uploaded chapters five and six of Knight Dreams, which continues my Immortal Knight series.

Readers at The Cave asked for a peek at the cover for Unleashing the Tiger, which will be out in March. And here it is!

Thanksgiving passed in the Devlin household without any fuss. We’re waiting until tomorrow to have our turkey feast. The red-headed hellion’s hubby had to work last night at the prison, so we decided to hold off until they both could join us. Today, I’ll be cleaning house. Mom and daughter will be cooking. They never ask me for help with that (possibly because they want to be sure no one gets poisoned!).

The quiet day gave me a chance to finish up a novella. Think cowboys rescuing a woman from a frigid creek and you’ve got the gist. Add lots of nasty sex. Some questionable postions and acrobatic moves. That about sums it up. Yum!

I have a short story to wrap up today and Sunday, and then all my goals for the month will be accomplished. Did I mention I’m at the halfway point for the fourth Dark Realm story too? I’ve had a very productive month.

December won’t be any easier. I might be posting my “to do list” a time or two to keep me motivated. I’ve been doing a lot of reading. Mostly Mesopotamian myths and witchcraft books. Trying to play with some things for future stories. Research isn’t really work though. It doesn’t add page count. And I enjoy it way too much to take it seriously. Work’s supposed to be hard, right?

On Sunday, I’ll be hosting Ellora’s Cave’s chatters loop, so be sure to pop in and say hello. I’ll be posting plenty of sexy excerpts, running scavenger hunts and generally having a really good time. ~DD

Squeeee! Okay, so I never really squeal. But I do pump the air with my fists when I’m really, really excited. So, imagine me doing that right this second.

When I found out Down in Texas would be featured in the Rhapsody Book Club, I joined so that I could receive the mailing with my book in it—and so that I could get a hardcover edition to my story. The mailing arrived today, and while I would have been content just to see it offered like most of them with a tiny little picture, it looked so much more impressive than that! I’m thrilled and hoping the attention actually translates into sales, because, man, would I ever love to write more of these books.

Take a peek at the page in December’s Rhapsody catalog:

I’m heading to Dallas today to take the 4-year-old to her daddy, so I won’t get a chance to read your comments until tomorrow. You’ve got loads of time to be creative!!

If you could have any object or place in the world completely to yourself for one day, what would you choose?

I’ll let you know my choice tomorrow! ~DD

…at Romance Junkies. Although you won’t know it unless they edit the post and add my name. The darn thing published before I had a chance to add the final two paragraphs and my signature block.

Join me if you can, and someone please say my name so everyone knows who they’re talking to!

Progress on Dark Realm-4

Progress on tentatively titled Snow Bound

I’ve had my head tucked like a turtle’s while I’ve been working this week. I haven’t read my email, have barely answered my phone. My progress listed above isn’t impressive wordcount-wise, but I’ve been doing some revisions.

Yesterday, I shipped off the copyedited manuscript for DARKNESS BURNING, the third book in the Dark Realm series. That cut into writing time too. Also, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what’s next for me and what sort of proposals I want to get out to publishers. I’m wondering if I need to switch some things up and maybe even jump genres. Not entirely, but just to experiment. Writing isn’t a linear kind of career. You can reinvent yourself again and again.

Is there anything in particular you’d like to see me doing?

And in case you haven’t already seen it, here’s the cover for DARKNESS BURNING.