Because SAFE FROM THE FIRE (Bright’s Ferry #2) comes out next Friday – 2/15 – I’m so thrilled to be able to make SAFE FROM THE DARK (Bright’s Ferry #1) free for this weekend only!  I hope you enjoy Colin and Evie, and come back for Matt and Grace’s story next week!

How is it already Thursday?  The week is speeding up and I’ve got so much to do!  Luckily, it’s all plotted out – I’m a big outliner, and it’s nice to know there’s a plan in place.  Here’s what’s coming up!

FREEBIE TOMORROW!!!  And that’s all I’m saying 🙂

SHINY THINGS – Chapter 6 goes up tomorrow!  I get a lot of questions about how the serial works, so here are a few answers:

Is the book already written?

NO!  Outlined within an inch of its life, yes.

So it looks exactly the way it’s supposed to?

One of the craziest things about writing is that it never looks the way it’s supposed to – the characters start thinking and talking and behaving like themselves, and then it’s basically out of my hands.  I’m along for the ride and sometimes, I have to just do what they tell me, outline be damned. 

When it’s all done, can I just staple the chapters together and have a full novel?

Well, you could.  One of the fun things about writing in serial form is that when it’s finally complete, I can look at the book as a whole and it will probably be a total surprise.  There will probably be a fair amount of horrified self-recrimination (OMG, I let them read that?!), and then I’ll start re-editing, and eventually you’ll be able to get a normal ebook or print copy, all shiny and polished.

SAFE FROM THE FIRE – Release date pushed to 2/15, for the sake of my sanity, which gives you plenty of time to finish SAFE FROM THE DARK, and me plenty of time to stop editing. 🙂

SHADOW OF THE RAVEN (HEARTS OF STONE – PREQUEL) – planned for the end of the month, but if things move really well, I’ll have it out earlier.  Paranormals are so much fun to write, but they take a lot of time and research and world-building.  I can’t wait to hear what you think about this one!

And that’s it for the moment…phew…LOL…

Chapter 5 is up!  Hope you enjoy it!  And now I have to get back to Matt and Grace in SAFE FROM THE FIRE.  I left them a little hot and bothered, poor things…:)

Don’t forget to comment and let me know what you think of Ali and Leo’s story so far!  Chapter 6 will be up next week.

I had this grand plan to finish SAFE FROM THE FIRE early this week and then give it one last leisurely edit, followed by a self-congratulatory spa day.  Instead (of course), I’m fighting off a nasty cold and trying to figure out how to get through the emotionally draining low points of the story – which I left for last, of course.

Sigh.  It’s a good one, I promise, but I’m going to need a serious nap when it’s over.

Excerpts coming up probably Wednesday, so stay tuned!

I’m having such fun writing Ali and Leo’s story.  This week we learn a little more about what Nico’s got on Jonah, and things really start to heat up for our two reluctant lovebirds.  Enjoy!

https://lilycrede.wordpress.com/shiny-things/

Yes, I know I’m a tease.  I’m also a champion at being distracted by new projects!  SAFE FROM THE FIRE is chugging along nicely toward its Feb. 8th release date, so I took a little break to write about my upcoming HEARTS OF STONE series, which starts with a prequel to set the stage for a modern-day paranormal saga of monsters, ancient gods, and my own take on a bunch of gorgeous, tragically befuddled Muses.  Our magical heroes are going to wake up in a new world and have to deal with sassy modern women who aren’t about to put up with archaic, alpha male tendencies, no matter how drool-worthy our heroes seem to be…oh, and they’re all going to be a little busy saving the world, so there’s THAT. 🙂

Take a look at how it starts!  The prequel will go up after I recover from getting SAFE FROM THE FIRE all shiny and polished.

https://lilycrede.wordpress.com/hearts-of-stone/

I woke up this morning and had that excited and panicky realization that SAFE FROM THE FIRE is due to come out Friday, February 8th – that’s only three weeks from now!  Wow, do I have a lot to finish before then…LOL…

Busy, busy week, but keep an eye on this page – I’ll have some excerpts for you, and of course, more SHINY THINGS on Friday.  Meanwhile, here’s Matt to warm your Monday morning…:)

Six months ago, a friend convinced me to self-publish a hot short story I had written for her on a dare. I’ve been writing in one form or another for years, but never anything serious and never for an audience. Even though I think I sold ten copies that first month, the satisfaction of knowing people were reading and enjoying my little story encouraged me to write a few more. Fast forward six months and I’ve got eleven shorts, collections, and even a novel, and a whole slate of projects coming up this year, not to mention a wonderful, supportive community of writers with quick wits, dirty minds, and huge hearts. And I couldn’t be more thrilled.

To celebrate, HOT FOR JOE, my very first little self-publishing adventure, is FREE Friday and Saturday! I hope you enjoy it and stick with me for another six months and beyond!  I’ve got some sexy fun planned for y’all…:)

Waitress Sarah Riley has never broken a law in her life. When a financial jam has her considering the theft of a gold watch, she’s horrified to realize how low she’s sunk. However, there’s one thing Sarah wants more than money…her hot boss Joe. He’s not about to let her embark on a life of crime, and one night after closing, he decides to use every deliciously wicked form of persuasion he can think of to change her mind.

And yes, it’s Friday, so…

Chapter 3 of SHINY THINGS is up! Ali’s about to get a dangerous offer she can’t refuse, and Leo’s definitely not thrilled.

Check it out! And don’t forget to comment and let me know what you think of the story so far!

Today is all about the pages, but tomorrow I’ve got a brand new chapter of SHINY THINGS for you – Ali and Leo are going to have to deal with Nico’s nefarious plan while the heat between them kicks up even further!

Also, a freebie!  It will be my six-month anniversary, so I feel that deserves a little celebration…:)

Stay tuned!

It’s Monday!  I was going to post a new excerpt from SAFE FROM THE FIRE, but decided that could wait a few days, since I’m feeling a little pulled in all directions this morning.

As a writer, one of my biggest problems has always been focus – just as I get enmeshed in one plot, fifteen others pop out of my brain and say, hey, over here!  Forcing myself to just work on the thing in front of me has always been the greatest challenge to my creative life.  At the same time, it’s comforting to know that once I finish one thing, there are plenty others waiting to step up!

As I was working on Matt & Grace this weekend, I had two other ideas that were interesting enough to be distracting, for a couple of reasons.  First of all, they were both period, which is odd for me – much as I LOVE reading historicals, writing them is another kettle of fish.  Secondly, they both burst out fully formed in a “here’s an idea and here are the first two books, go write!” kind of way.  Usually I just have snippets to go on and spend weeks anguishing as I pull the pieces together.  Since I’m pushing toward 500,000 words this year, what’s a couple more stories to add to the mix?

No titles yet, but take a look!

Regency – A recent widow from a less-than-satisfying marriage finds herself ostracized from high society when she decides to pursue a trade instead of marrying again.  Eager to experience everything she missed while trapped by her domineering husband, she decides to take a lover, only to discover that finding the right candidate is not as easy as it seems!  A chance referral to a clandestine matchmaking service offers hope – a guaranteed connection with an interested gentleman whose sexual and emotional needs parallel her own, no strings attached.  Our heroine’s perfect match is the last person she would have chosen, but turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to her.  Too bad they both said no strings, because things start to get quite tangled…

Victorian – Desperate for a job, the prim daughter of a disgraced scientist takes a job as a governess for the daughter of a rich recluse.  She’s not the greatest governess, but as it turns out, the child is not all that normal either.  Our heroine quickly becomes obsessed with her new employer, only to discover that he’s barely human himself – the leader of a magical clan recently returned to London, trying to make a place for himself and his unpredictable and occasionally dangerous family.  Sparks fly as our heroine tries to help her employer fit in, even as the family’s loose cannon threatens the lives and welfare of the entire city.

What do you think?  Some classic Regency romping with a few little twists, and a crazy Victorian monster-out-of water story.  Add a couple of strong women and a bunch of fun secondary characters that will eventually get their own books, along with some thrilling adventure, high stakes conflict, and plenty of shiverlicious hot sex that just screams off the page…hope you’ll have as much fun reading it as I know I’m going to have writing it!

On that note, I REALLY have to get back to Matt and Grace so that SAFE FROM THE FIRE actually has chapters behind that yummy cover. 🙂