K.C. Burn – Erotic Romance Author

I pretty much take the title to heart for my post today at Contact Infinite Futures.  Some of you may know I’ve had a rather trying time in real life lately, and even though I’m doing my best to keep up with my commitments, it does mean I’m going to occasionally spew out some random thoughts in a blog post (and of course, for this one, vaguely sci-fi related) and hope they’ve got some sort of coherency.  So, take a look, if you dare.

Erica Pike and Poppy Dennison both tagged me in this Lucky Seven meme.  Here are the rules:

1. Go to page 77 (or 7th) of your current ms
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines-sentences or paragraphs- and post them as they’re written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 other authors. No cheating.

It seems like a lot of fun, but before I get into it… I need to lay out a couple of provisos.  First, the only thing I’m really superstitious about is my writing.  This better be a *lucky* thing to do!  Secondly, my current manuscript is in the first draft stage, and because I usually include notes and place holders in the body of my first draft, it’s a complete mess.  So, since I got tagged by 2 authors, I figure I’ll also include lines from a recent submission – that hopefully isn’t a complete mess.  And, of course, I have no guarantee that either of these will end up getting contracted. This might be all you see of them.  But I’m only tagging 7 other authors!

–

First – completely rough, unnamed manuscript.

“We got word that one of the suspected up and comers in ***’s organization has advertised for a roommate.  I want you to get in there and see one – if the connection is real, and two – if you can find some inside information on ***.  If we can’t take him down, we’re going to have more incidents like today.”

Ivan frowned.  “A roommate?  Why on earth would he need a roommate?”

Moffett shrugged.

–

Second – refined submission, working title – Craving

Reason suggested he dial it back, interact like two civil colleagues, but reason was crushed under a rancid tide of anger and regret.  Brandon had done nothing but suppress his feelings since the day he’d been told his hearing would never fully return.  Seeing Oliver again tapped a deep well of bitterness he hadn’t known was festering in his soul, and words spouted from his mouth that his brain tried desperately to abort.

“Can you?  Without getting people hurt or killed?”

Anger added a rosy flush to Oliver’s bronzed cheekbones.  “Injury is a risk.”

–

Gah.  Terrified to post this… so superstitious!

I’ve been offline for a couple of days due to a back problem, and spending any length of time at the computer is painful, but I did want to add my voice.  I’m saddened and horrified that a chapter of the Romance Writers of America, specifically the RWI chapter in Oklahoma is no longer allowing GLBT entries in their contest, due to the members being “uncomfortable” with GLBT entries.  Now, there have already been many, many blog posts already on the subject which articulate eloquently and reasonably (and more so than I believe I could) the problem with this pronouncement.   I encourage you to read these blogs and make yourselves heard.

Fiction with Friction

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Heidi Cullinan

Kari Gregg

I want to thank everyone who has bought and read Cop Out.  I’m so excited that it’s managed to hit a few bestseller lists, and is still on some, even one month after release.  I truly appreciate everyone who has had a part in that.  It’s the best Christmas gift I could ask for!

That being said, I also must thank those who thought enough of Cop Out to nominate it in the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s 2011 Members’ Choice Awards.  If you care to vote, please do.  Here’s the link, and I’m in the Coming Out, Gay/Out for You, and Contemporary categories.  You don’t need to be a member of Goodreads or the M/M Romance group to vote, but it’s a fun place to be, so think about joining.  Voting is open until December 30, 2011.

Regardless of how the voting turns out, I get to post this great banner, and I’m thrilled and honoured to have my name up there with so many fantastic authors.

Okay, posting from my phone for the first time so we’ll see how it goes! I’m posting at Simone
Anderson’s (www.simoneanderson.blogspot.com) today about titles – how I’ve come up with them, how difficult I find it to do so, and I share a couple of my fav titles (not mine) that I think are excellent at grabbing one’s attention. Stop by if you can!

p.s. the phone thing isn’t going especially well… in fact, failed miserably for posting this

I’ve listed direct links to my books on ARe below, but it’s a great time to stock up on summer reading!

MIA Case Files: Wolfsbane

MIA Case Files: Blood Relations

Spice ‘n’ Solace

The special rebate is in effect until 11:59 pm (US/Central) on May 30, 2011, for PayPal or credit card purchases.

I’m signed up as an author, and hubby’s coming with… so excited to be going to New Orleans for the GayRomLit Retreat in October!  Reader registration is open now & I’m looking forward to meeting readers and other authors.   Lots of fun activities planned!

It’s been a while since I’ve done a romantic cage match (last one was Vampires vs. Aliens), and I enjoy them, therefore you must, too — this I command! Robots vs. Mexican Wrestlers — come and tell me which would make better romantic heroes!

Update: Voting is open until January 30th, so if you liked Blood Relations, stop by and vote!  One vote per person per category.

• Best Vampire Book
• Best Book Cover

MIA Case Files: Blood Relations was nominated in the “Best of 2010″ Reader Awards at Love Romances Cafe for Best Vampire book and Best Cover.  Obviously I can’t take any credit for best cover — Croco Designs has been SO good to me   I’m in some fabulous company — I’m completely thrilled!

Probably because I can never keep them.  However, this year I’ve decided to make a resolution I might have a “whelk’s chance in a supernova” of actually keeping (thank you, Douglas Adams, for one of many colourful phrases I’ve never forgotten).  My goal this year is to complete and submit six manuscripts.

Now, I’m kinda cheating, because I’ve got one that’s already a first draft (last words finished this morning & my first attempt at cyberpunk) and one that’s got 10K already written (first attempt at a contemporary).  But if stacking the deck is what it takes, well, call me a cheater   It also helps that I’ve got tons of ideas besides those two.  I want to write a third MIA book (oh, poor Oliver — I intend to put him through the wringer).  I’d like to write a sequel to my upcoming Carina release, and this one would involve alien nookie.  And I’ve got an idea for another contemporary as well as a time travel one.  And those are only the ones I’ve made notes for.

For a change, I’ve even got titles picked out for half of them, which is highly unusual, since I usually use a generic working title until I’m ready to submit.  Then I agonize over choosing something suitable.  For instance, MIA Case Files: Wolfsbane spent several months as “the agency”.  Blood Relations was “vampire agency”.  Spice ‘n’ Solace, my upcoming Carina Press release started out as “rent boy”.

The cyberpunk is currently “the hacker” although I’ve chosen a proper title now, and the contemporary has a working title that I might want to keep.  MIA 3 already has  a title, too.  Because I’m weird about titles, I’m not going to share the ones I’ve picked out… not yet.

So…  back to the resolutions.  I have an idea of how long I want each one to be, and if I subtract the words I’ve already written, that means about 215K for 2011.  I think that’s manageable, even with a full time job.

As an adjunct, I’d like to find more time for Facebook — probably more people say they should spend less time on it, but I need to feel more comfortable with that style of communication.  So for me, the easy resolution will be the writing bit.  The hard bit will be Facebook.  And if I manage to exercise more and eat right, that’s just gravy!

Hope everyone has a fabulous 2011!