Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Extasy UpdateI know that many of you are writers, or aspiring writers, or simply readers interested in what's up with the company that publishes my books, so I'll give you an update on the internal conflicts at Extasy. As I said before, yes, my favorite editor (Stefani Kelsey) has left the building.
I understand she's received offers from three different publishers so far. And I, for one, am anxious to see where she goes next.
This is how I see it...she made me. She acquired my books, saw them through the editing process and supported me from the moment I signed on with Extasy. She spoon fed me like a baby on a lot of things I didn't understand about publishing. She answered my questions, literally, at all hours of the day and night. She exhibited more patience than I can convey. (Because sometimes I'm a little thick headed.) Bottom line...I am loyal to her and grateful for all she has done for me.
I understand that three Extasy authors got released from their contracts yesterday, and another emailed me this morning to say that she was going to ask for a release--even though her book had not yet come out--which is why she is unhappy. Hers was contracted last year.
You may have noted that the book releases at Extasy have been slow in coming for a few months. i.e. Hood was supposed to come out months ago, and it didn't show up until the last of April, first of May.
Company says...They had so much turmoil over the ebookad fiasco--where the man didn't pay, and the website went down--more attention was spent on that than anything. And getting a new website up and running, of course. Lots of input to get all the titles in correctly.
The owners of the company, Tina (who had the falling out with Stef) and Diana (who is handling the author releases) are hoping to salvage the company, and its reputation by stemming gossip. Word of mouth can be terribly damaging, as you well know. And all it does is hurt the authors whose books are with Extasy. The site is up and books are available for purchase: http://www.extasybooks.com/
Tina ran the company for two years before Stef came on board, from what I understand, and is sure that she can run it now. She says she's in negotiations with editors.
Of course, those of you who know Stef, know that she gets a corner of the market--the one I like to write, and you like to read!--the one that has been supporting Extasy--vampires, werewolves, and twisted stuff, oh my!--and it will be hard (maybe impossible) to replace her.
I feel sorry for the editor who steps into her shoes. Stef has done an awesome job of engendering mutual fanship with the authors she has nurtured.
All of this has been distracting to me as a writer. I can't focus. I've got this inner turmoil and anxiety thing going on. What to do? What to do? Ya know?
So, like all basket cases, I'm sitting here, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the dust to settle, asking myself, "What should I do?"
I'm taking all suggestions. How about a poll here? Should this rat leave a sinking ship? Or pretend she's a captain and try and steer it out of rough waters? Should she walk the plank? Sink or swim? What do you think?
7 Comments:
First of all, I think Stef is pretty dang cool. She was fun to visit with at the OWFI conference and she helped me out A LOT in getting the autograph party set up.
Now then....
I think you need to keep your options open. Don't jump ship just yet, but have all your ducks in a row to be ready when/if it does come down to that.
In another entry, you had mentioned something about wanting to be sure your readers can get the whole series from one place. In that vein, is it possible for the rights to revert back to you so you can have them published elsewhere sometime down the line should it come down to that?
I'm not sure my opinion actually counts for much since my only publications so far are in the OWFI Report and a couple press releases to local papers.
Don't desert yet. Sit back and watch the situation for a while.
In answer to Jen's question--Yes, if I pull my contracts, all rights would revert back to me within thirty days.
It is my thinking that writers should not pull contracts willy-nilly. There is a list at publishing houses--of people who waste their time. They share it among editors.
Personally, I think it's smarter to leave books in place until you have somewhere to take them. But that's just me.
By 
CarysWeldonblog, at
6:34 AM
Sexmuse, you sound like you know what you're talking about. Could you explain what happened with RFI? I'm not familiar with that. I haven't been writing professionally very long.
By CarysWeldonblog, at
6:35 AM
I don't think you should pull contracts willy-nilly. I hope it didn't sound like I was advocating pulling anything. I was only saying it seems like the best option is to keep your options open but have things ready if (and only if) it comes down to it.
The webdite for Extasybooks is incredible. I've tried a number of times to buy bppls there, and it's just impossible.
When I click on Purachase, the book I want appears as 1 in the cart, but no place to purchase ut, U click on Purchase again abnd get 2 if tge biijs ub tge cart. Where us tge cart? I certinly can';t find it.
I run the arrow all over the front page and things pop up bo click on but you never know what you're going to get; something not useful.
I'm trying dewsparately to buy these books somewhere else but it's pretty difficult to do.
Suggestions? Belle
By 
, at
10:37 PM
I had the publisher check on this, Belle, and she says that all the links are working...now. Try again?
Let me know if you have problems again, and I'll stomp my feet or something.
By CarysWeldonblog, at
6:09 AM
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Sexcerpt HOOD XXX warningHere's an excerpt from Hood. You may have seen it before--because it is one of my favorites from the book. Every time I read it, I admire both my hero and my heroine. I think you can see Giselle's sense of humor, and her emotional need to keep Hood wanting something from her. Ya gotta admire the bitch who keeps the top dog coming back for more. Enjoy:
The minute he came through the door, I demanded, “Lie on the bed.”
So, Hood doesn’t take orders. Ever. From anybody. This was totally new to him. And he immediately hesitated, obviously letting his mistrust, and his true nature—of being the alpha in charge—move to the fore. He shook his head, “I don’t think so.”
At an impasse, we both had our feet planted wide, facing each other. Staring into one another’s eyes, clashing wills.
He read my mind again. I’d been going to service him.
I can always tell when I surprise him. He narrows his gaze—just for an instant. Then there’s a minute bit of wonder or appreciation that zips over his expression, but he’s careful not to say too much.
I licked my lips with a smile, letting my eyes flash a little triumph. “Shame,” I said. “You let your pride get in the way of a lot of things, Hood.”
He conceded that with the slightest of nods.
When he didn’t move or say anything else in response, I asked, “What are you thinking now?”
A devilish grin slipped onto his face. “I was wondering how you’d react if I said—”
I got laughing, interrupted him with, “Oh, please don’t say on your knees, bitch.”
So, okay, he didn’t. But that had been exactly what he’d been about to say. He asked, “You think that’s funny?”
“Well…yeah.” (Dogs and men are so predictable sometimes.)
He chewed on his lower lip, trying to figure me out. “I don’t get you.”
I scooted on over to him. “Why’s that?”
“You were going to—”
Stepping closer, tweaking his manhood with a quick grab, I asked, “What?”
To his credit, he didn’t jump.
“You’re a fucking tease.”
“You just noticed?”
“I just realized that you knew I would read your thoughts.”
“Hm.” I yanked. Not hard. Just enough to make him jerk a little—you know, defensive worry setting in.
“Stop that.”
Offering a pout, I asked, “You don’t really want me to, do you?”
“I want you to get serious.”
Always so serious.
Slipping around behind him, I tiptoed so I could whisper in his ear. “I am serious, Hood.” I let my fingers glide from his manhood, over his hip, across his buttocks, reached lower….
Amazing how quick he can turn—in a flash, he snagged me by the wrist, pulled me around in front of him and said, “What are you playing at?”
Feigning innocence, I asked, “Whatever do you mean?”
Hood didn’t answer. Not out loud, anyway. In my head, I heard be careful, Giselle.
“Or what?” You’ll hurt me?
Don’t tempt me.
I tugged free. I didn’t want to tempt him. I wanted to send him over the friggin edge. Instead of thinking that at that moment, though, I simply dropped to my knees in front of him. Shocking the hell out of him, I grabbed a hold of his cock, looked up at him—with my mouth poised over the knob, and asked, “What happens if I tempt you?”
Not waiting for a response, I went down on him, swallowed him whole. That made him gasp, reach for my head with both hands, and groan, “Ah, Giselle.”
There was definite satisfaction in knowing that he hadn’t really been expecting it, and that, once again, I’d won the round. I mean, he got pleasured, but I got true satisfaction, because, in nothing more than seconds, he was out of his mind with what I was doing to him.
He’d be going over that conversational foreplay for a long time.
But true to my wicked ways, I got him right there, to the edge of the precipice he wanted to reach, and…stopped. My lips were swollen from my efforts, I knew. I could feel how puffy they’d gotten.
It took him a second to get it, before he looked down at me. I mean, he’d been watching me most of the time—or what he could. My hair is layered, full, and I’m pretty sure that it blocked his view much of the time. I’d only stopped, momentarily from time to time, to push it out of the way and glance up, get a breath.
Some of the time, he’d had his head up, to the ceiling, and I knew he wanted to howl for how good it felt. He just had that werewolf pose, you know? Head up, knees buckled, shoulders hunched, trying to get more, afraid to move for fear I’d quit…?
He gutturally insisted, “Don’t stop.” And he looked down at me, his dark eyes even blacker than normal. “For Gaia’s sake, don’t stop now.”
So, that prompted a small smile from me. “Why, Hood…are you begging?”
There was a long pause between us before he got some self-control together, let go of my face (his fingers were wrapped up, a little, in my hair,) pulled himself from my hand, and backed up. “No, Giselle,” he said.
Tongue in cheek, I waited for him to withdraw completely—because he and I knew this was really a test of all that he was. I could see admiration in his eyes—for the fact that I’d brought him almost to that point.
I rolled my shoulders in an easy shrug. “Shame. Like I said, Hood, you cheat yourself out of a lot.”
Squeezing himself, he beat off in front of me. He was not happy with me. He said, “Wrong, Giselle. You cheat me.”
Okay. That felt like a hard slap. One more mistake to put on the record book.
Watching him spurt onto the floor, I tried not to think, not to give him the satisfaction of knowing that I hated myself at that moment. Always trying to outthink him, to be clever. Always losing.
4 Comments:
I already bought it and I'm looking forward to reading it!!!
By Rinda Elliott, at
6:45 AM
Am gonna buy that book!
When you read it, come to this blog and tell us what you thought of it. Unless you hated it, then just email me and rant. K? ;)
By CarysWeldonblog, at
6:36 AM
I swear, like Chaos, this book is just different than most of the erotic romances I've purchased. Cool different. Can't stop reading different. I really liked it! It's so raw, honest and hot! Since you've read some of my writing on my blog, you know I like gritty. This was so gritty I could feel it crackling between my teeth. Too cool.
By Rinda Elliott, at
10:37 PM
Monday, May 29, 2006
Getting Serious (NOT!)Okay. I need to buckle down and get to writing or editing.
Why is it that when ya need to do something--to get serious and disciplined--is the time you least wanna do it? Is it the fact that I'm a rebellious soul, do you think?
I am bored with everything I've got started--which means I have to go back and look at the last scene in each of them and rewrite it--because any time I get bored, I know you'll get bored if I just plug away and don't fix what made me lose interest. So, sometimes writing becomes tedious re-writing and editing.
I can't face it! Not today!
I have a pinched sciatica--which I blame fully on the four friggin' hours of sports banquet I sat in one place the night before I left for RT. Been to the ER twice. Fifth lumbar is out, pinching on the nerves, shooting pains down my left leg. Vicodin ISN'T working. So, what will result is a bitchy heroine, I guess, if I write something fresh. But then, you werewolf fans would like that, eh?
What to name her? And the guy who might, just, be in danger of getting his head bit off? (Pun inserted purposely)
Hm.
Or should I try a second vicodin and see if that gives me a happy little feel good story?
It may give me a much needed nap. Yeah. Yeah. I know. This post is being written before 8 a.m. and I'm talking about needing a nap. So, I don't sleep much at night. Sue me. I'm a tosser, turner, but not a bra burner.
Sorry, poet in me slipped out.
Yeah, I know. She's not at her best in the morning either. I should keep her locked up.
Did I mention that I believe I've got split personality disorder? Self diagnosed. On one hand, I am Carys Weldon, woman who writes everything with a pun or tongue in cheek. There's a poet inside, which I keep duct taped to a chair a lot. And then there's another ego that writes cleaner prose. Stuff that fits on children's book shelves, and on sf fan's bedside tables...and nonfiction. She often writes anonymously. If you find TRUE CONFESSIONS, June 2006 issue, and read DEPLOY TO WAR, that's something I wrote. Of course, I don't get a byline in that mag.
Usually, when I can't write wicked, I write "that other sort of stuff." But (she whines) I wanna write sexy stuff today!
0 Comments:
Sunday, May 28, 2006
I'm back! (Again)With the laptop in Alaska with my hubby, I'm pretty much incommunicado at the conventions--as far as blogging goes. I hope you'll all bear with me.
I had a good time. Science Fiction conventions are SO different from romance and fantasy, or regular writer conferences. First of all, sf fans are mostly purists. They argue to keep sex out of sf books. Crazy, huh? I say, that's the only thing they're missing! You can throw in a kitchen sink with a super duper garbage disposal that can portal a carrot to another universe, but no sex? Unreal!
Recently, I read a sf book that had a guy on a ship with two women (Yeah, just a threesome) for six months and he didn't get it on with either of them, nor did any internal dialogue of desire or even interest of any kind come into the narrative. I could not suspend my disbelief! I mean, geez, truth is...marooned on a ship for that long? The doorknobs would start to look good...if there were doorknobs, I mean. And in sf/space, there probably weren't any, so...that makes him look all the more fetching, right? He even bunked in a room with one of them.
Supposedly, he was genetically enhanced. Yeah. If braindead to the idea of sex is an improvement? I'm keeping my feet on terra firma. Forget the new frontier!
Luckily, for me, there is a group of readers out there (YOU) who appreciate some good sex sprinkled into a book. I do have a sf book coming out with Extasy titled ANGEL BET. When it comes out, you can tell me what you think of twisted reality in a futuristic setting--Carys Weldon style.
Meanwhile, there's a storm brewing. Did you hear?
If you read the post before this, you'll see that there has been some turnover at Extasy. This is one of those times when the metaphor of having all one's eggs in a basket seems to be appropo. My editor, whom I love, Stefani Kelsey, is no longer at Extasy. She is, I believe, still under contract with Zumaya, the parent company.
What does this mean to me? And you?
Well, I have seventeen books under contract with Extasy already--and most of those contracts were just signed or renewed before all this hoopla. So, I'm in the house, under professional obligation for a while--two years at least--so, if you hear rumors of boycotting Extasy, please don't--that'll only hurt me and the other authors. It's not our fault that management has problems. Who doesn't?
I HOPE to complete and sell the rest of the books to the series I've started to Extasy. I expect them to be accepted. And you should be able to go to the Extasy Books site to find more of my work--as six of the completed titles will be coming out there.
In future? Well, if Stef gets a job at another house, I would certainly hope to send (at least some of) my work her way. How often do you find a "boss" that gets ya? That ya totally click with? (Almost never!)
Do I support her? Hell yeah.
Would I follow her like an adoring puppy? Yeah. No doubt.
Can I pull legal contracts, as some authors are talking of doing?
Probably not. I'm not legally savvy. But...most importantly, I want my readers who've supported, say, my Wanton Werewolf Series, to know they can go to the same publisher and pick up the other books in the series. It would be real annoying to me, as a reader, if I read 5 books in a series and then couldn't find the damn finale or something. So, rest at ease, the rest of the werewolf series will be buyable in the same place--Extasy Books.
Back to Stef...
I admire her for many reasons. She's a hard worker--I can testify that she was online answering my questions at all hours of the day...sometimes 3 a.m. and sometimes 6 a.m.--I felt good about all the books she acquired and then edited. The quality is there. Not only in my writing, but because she advised me on many fixes, and saw the books through to completion with a keen eye. I have learned a lot from her. She and I are friends, and will remain so.
The company...
Extasy Books gave me my start and because of that, I have some loyalty to the company. (Although, truth is, Stef was my acquisition's editor and the one who gave me that start!)
Bottom line?
Editors come and go, and so do authors. I think it will be tremendously hard to replace Stef with an editor that has so much skill and understanding of my corner of the erotica genre. She is/was great to "her" authors--and that's why you'll find comments from many authors supporting her--including Morgan Hawke (Extasy's best selling author) and Brenna Lyons (Extasy's 2nd best selling author.) And, of course, me (Extasy's third best selling author.)
~Carys Weldon~
1 Comments:
I think you're right. It's funny, but prime time television (sci-fi channel) has done a tremendous amount of putting sex into science fiction in the last couple years.
Last year, at CONquest, they had a panel on sex in sf. It wasn't attended by that many people--and those were adamantly opposed--except for a handful of people like me...the sex pushers.
But...it seems so unnatural to have human beings interacting anywhere, including space and foreign worlds, without any emotional attachments, or sexual interaction. I mean, isn't the act of getting it on one of the basest instincts of all?
I'm not a skinny woman, but most of the time, if you said, "Hey...wanna do it or...have cereal?" I'd pick the bed boogie. But that's me.
Okay, sometimes I say, "Nah." But I usually go get a banana and make a long drawn out deal of downing it. Just to drive my husband crazy. I mean, what's life about if it isn't to have fun?
I love a tease more than anything. Don't you?
By CarysWeldonblog, at
5:57 AM
Much discussion has been made about the events at RT and my subsequent release from my position. There is some confusion about what my position was, perpetuated by several factions.
Until last Wednesday, I was the Executive Editor-in-Chief of eXtasy Books, and one of four partners in eXtasy/Zumaya. Though the position was both granted to me and publically announced, no paperwork was ever filed on my behalf, despite my requests, and eXtasy/ Zumaya was never incorperated. That is why my position was so easily and trivially dissolved.
I have spoken privately about the events leading up to and after that dissolution, and will not discuss them publically. I have always attempted to conduct myself as a professional, as those who attended RT can attest. It's unfortunate that due to the need to gossip, I was forced to make any statements at all in defense of my own reputation. I had hoped that professionalism would prevail.
I have no battle with eXtasy Books as a company, nor the authors that remain within. They are not to blame for the actions of staff, and should not be persecuted for same. They are a very talented and wonderful group, and well worth notice.
I would like to officially announce my availability. I am skilled in several areas of the publishing business, having edited both mainstream and erotica for more than ten years. My role at eXtasy included not only editing, but maintaining the editorial staff, copyediting, completion and formatting of manuscripts, and conversion. In addition, I was responsible for the majority of promotional and contact efforts not handled most efficiently by Millenium Promotions, and taking care of the authors as well. My creativity and originality has been the driving force behind eXtasy's success.
I am honored that several publishers have stepped forward already and approached me with offers. Thanks to all of you who showed me that respect.
If you would like to discuss a possible connection between myself and your company or have any questions, contact me at eeestefkelsey@yahoo.com . I will consider all offers and render my decision shortly.
Thank you for your time. I hope this will help calm some of the issues, and allow eXtasy's authors to get back into their rhythm again.
Sincerely,
Stefani V. Kelsey
The editor formerly known as the EEE.
0 Comments:
Friday, May 26, 2006
SF and TuckerizingI've talked about using fan names in my books. The idea comes from a thing known in the science fiction community called TUCKERIZING. A writer named Tucker started putting real people, his fans, in his books, and now a lot of writers are doing it.
The thing about it is...you have to be careful about it. As a writer, we don't want to get into trouble. You know that little disclaimer at the front of books, that any similarities to persons is purely coincidental?
Well, some fans like to see their names and descriptions in books. Some are very specific about the fact that they don't want to be seen in certain lights. For example, a virgin girl might not want to be put in as a hooker. But then again, she might like the joke of a girl in a book with her name and description being SO obviously different. Who can tell? Only you can say if you want to be tuckerized and if so, how you want to be immortalized.
I met a guy who was a weapons expert--for real. He said, "Use my name. I love it. But only as a weapons expert." Then he went on to say he'd advised me on the book, in weapons, if I needed it. That was cool of him.
Another guy said, "Put me anywhere. I like to be the bum on the corner that sees everything. Or the drunk in the alley that's in the back of every scene."
No. I'm not kidding ya.
Mostly, I look for pretty names, and people with striking things about their looks or personalities and try to honor that in my character creation.
But my characters come alive--and may not stay true to the original model. So, I stay away from using first and last names.
Now, I'm off to CONquest 37--a science fiction convention held at the airport Hilton in Kansas City this weekend. Swing in!
4 Comments:
Enjoy your convention!
Man!! I've got to find another conference to go to. I just go to OWFI in Oklahoma City in May and OCWI in Eureka Springs in October.
Have fun. :)
I'm going to the Little Rock Writer's Conference next weekend, Jen. Why don't you come over and check it out?
And I'll be in Amarillo the week after that--at the Frontiers in Writing Conference.
The more the merrier, I say. Everybody come!
By CarysWeldonblog, at
5:22 PM
That's tempting! :)
It depends on if I can get there.
Sometimes -- a lot of times here lately -- not driving is a major pain.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Take 2 on RTTake two aspirin and call me when it's over. Only aspirin wouldn't be enough.
The drug of choice there was alcohol.
Every night was a party and most people started getting happy at the mixer hour, sometimes a few hours before that--out on the patio/verandah--whatever you call the longest porch in the history of the world.
Before I went, I knew that every night was going to be a party--that's what RT's claim to fame is. A luau, a vampire ball, a faery ball, a racy rockin' 60 smash, a pajama party. Hundreds of people dressed up. The rest of us in jeans and comfy stuff, gawking, smirking, and plotting--if we came again--would we, could we dare to be so bold?
The costumes came in every range and style, from the homemade to professional, from flimsy and skimpy, to extra folds and layers.
My favorite quote of the week was from my editor, Stefani Kelsey, who came to the faery ball in a very good elf costume. There was everything from sprites to ninja spider web wing creatures to the faery king there. Now, remember, the chick buys my books--she gets my sense of humor, like you do, and she's made a living off of reading erotica. I took one look at her, squinted--she looked so cute--like Legolas's little sister or something, and asked, "What are you? An elf?" She nodded, "Yeah. Fuck the faeries." She had the smirkiest little grin and I thought, "You rock!" She is SO cool.
0 Comments:
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Announcement!HOOD is out. It's available in e-format and as the last novella in the print copy of the Wanton Werewolf Anthology 1. I think I've already announced that.
But...this is sort of funny...I just realized where I came up with the name of that heroine--Giselle.
I was emailing back and forth with Giselle Hirtenfeld/Goldfeder--Romantic Times BOOKreviews--and said, "Hey, I have a heroine by the same name."
DUH. There's a blonde moment. I've seen her name on things for ages and just put the two and two together on my inspiration.
The point is...it is a great name.
And you can never be sure when you will next inspire an author like me. So, if you see your name in something I wrote, and you've actively blogged or emailed with me, you can almost bet that there was some subliminal reinforcement to me that it is a name I like!
7 Comments:
Carys, have you ever read the Drina ballerina series by Jean Estoril when you were younger? The protagonist Drina's mother was a world famous ballerina who died when she was a mere babe and she's also called Giselle. I've always thought it to be a very beautiful name.
I would probably faint dead away if anyone used my name in a book.
I haven't read the Drina series, is it good?
And, Estella...would you be dropping dead with horror, or the thrill of seeing your name in print?
By CarysWeldonblog, at
12:16 PM
I actually took the first name of someone we both know and used it for the name of my heroine in what some have called a cyberpunk short story.
Since she also reads here, I won't say who it is unless she prods me herself. lol.poeza
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I like it. Some of the books take her from London to exotic places like Switzerland, Italy, Madeira, Paris, New York etc. But the final (11th) book which was written much later is very hard to find unless you're prepared to pay over 30 GBP on eBay for it, which sadly I can't afford.
What does $30 gbp run in USD? Somewhere around $60. Too much for one book--for me anyway.
But then, I'm cheap and easy.
(Sex-cerpt coming soon!)
By CarysWeldonblog, at
8:02 AM
The Romantic Times Convention 2006 was set in the beautiful Hilton on Daytona Beach. I liked every employee I met there. And the volunteer staff for RT, in particular, ran their butts off. Hats off to all of them!
But...as a restaurant reviewer, I'll say their five star restaurant status is...only because of the name on the outside of the hotel. Presentation stunk. Some dork in the kitchen thought that putting one cherry tomato on the plate--at each meal--was classy. Sorry, it was laughable. Veggies were all overcooked--to the point of brown broccoli--and that was not very appetising.
I even had a roll, get this, with MOLD on it. Yeah, that turned me off the banquets real fast. I say, go, see, hang out on the patio--that was great. Take your meals outside the place--save yourself a ton of money and get a better meal.
I highly recommend the BBQ place located catty corner to the Hilton. Ate there twice. It was good both times.
1 Comments:
Nothing ruins an experience like crappy food and service. I can hardly believe Hilton would serve up moldy food. Isn't that a health hazard? I think our health inspectors would have something to say about that if it happens in our local restaurants.
I hope I didn't lose you all while I was away!
As it turns out, I was at the only hotel left on the planet without any internet connection. But, it sure was relaxing.
Well, except when I was at the convention at the Hilton up the street. Okay, that was relaxing, too. I mostly hung out on the patio chatting with people.
I'm gonna get my pics up in the photo album on my website as soon as I can. I'll let you know when they get there. Gotta give my web people a few days to recover from RT, too. They were there and it was a pleasure to meet them in person--since I've been doing business with them for two years.
I'll do more updates here after I've gotten through my inbox. Aaaagggh. Hundreds and hundreds of emails! Great, but...time consuming.
I'll post some pics here, too. (Cover models of course!)
Ah, it's good to be home, and sleep in my own bed.
6 Comments:
But did you have a good time at the convention?
Yes! And I'll elaborate more as soon as I get some things settled here. I've got to get my car into the shop before I go to CONquest, a science fiction convention in Kansas City this weekend--at the airport Hilton--feel free to show up and hang out.
I have to say...the best part of all at RT was meeting the romance readers. They were great--so sweet!
Yes, I liked them better than the eye candy (er, cover models). The readers held better conversations!
By CarysWeldonblog, at
11:45 AM
I guess not many cover models have the time or inclination to read romance novels. LOL
Did ya really think you could lose us that easily? :)
My paranoia shows!
All I can say is...*hugs* to all of you!
By CarysWeldonblog, at
8:05 AM
Paranoia? Perhaps. But I can completely relate.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Naples Florida & Mother's DayToday, we drove down through Florida and came to rest at the Best Western Naples Inn and Suites on US 41. Got a nice suite at a great rate. The room is clean, and comes equipped with two t.v.'s, two queen beds, a dvd/vcr player (or two), a hide-away bed/sofa and super comfy big arm chair (daughter's opinion) in the suite living room, a great view of the pool via the balcony...and they serve breakfast down by the pool. Anyhow, we're highly recommending it for those of you who come to Florida. Stay in room 241. You can say you slept where Carys Weldon slept! (LOL For whatever that is worth!)
We spent a really long day in the car, 14 hours. Happy Mother's Day (and Birthday) to me. My three kids that aren't with me--all called and said sweet things. The ones riding with me were nice and we had no disagreements all day, so that's a pretty dang good gift when you consider the hours we spent cooped up together, wouldn't you say? Downright close to miracle stuff, I'd say.
So, now we're camped at the top of the Everglades, 8 blocks from the Gulf of Mexico...which we'll go look at after breakfast. We're thinking to check out the glades and the keys. Anybody been here? Got any pointers for not getting gator ate?
6 Comments:
Happy B-Day!
By Rinda Elliott, at
7:03 AM
Happy, Happy, Birthday, Happy, Happy, Birthday, Happy Birthday to you.
Stay out of the swamps. I don't want to be buying a Carys Weldon alligator bag.
By , at
12:15 PM
Stay away from the alligators.
A very Happy Birthday to you, Carys! Have a grand time at RT.
Thanks! You gals are great.
But...I got close to the alligators! And I'm not talking handbags.
We did one of those hover boats over the Everglades. Ran over some alligators.
(As far as we know, no animals were harmed during those stunts!)
That's worth doing, let me tell you. And it was cheaper than I thought. It only cost $10 a person where we went, and the ride lasted a half hour--which was plenty. As soon as I figure out where my camera is, I'll get some pics uploaded to my website or something and let you know that they're up.
By CarysWeldonblog, at
11:48 AM
Oh wow! That I've got to see.
We made it down to the gulf of Mexico--Biloxi is torn up like you wouldn't believe. The media doesn't show half of what Katrina did. It's horrifying. We're not sticking around. We're doing the Comfort Inn Continental and hitting the road!
0 Comments:
Saturday, May 13, 2006
On the road!I'm leaving the house ASAP to go to Florida--to the Romantic Times Convention in Daytona.
Send me some healing energy/prayers, would ya? I went to my daughter's sports award banquet yesterday and it turned into a four hour long ordeal. I ended up with my sciatic nerve pinched. My trip will be miserable if I don't get a miracle.
I should be posting via laptop--so stay tuned. I'll give you some news on those Elloras Cave cover models. Are they really cute in person? Or do they all look gay up close? (Those are the questions, aren't they?)
5 Comments:
safe trip. My prayers are with you. Bring me back a tall, dark, hunk-a-hunk burning lover.
By , at
5:58 AM
Have a safe trip and enjoy the conference.
Thanks!
I'll be scammin' for hunka-hunkas for all of you. Er, maybe my daughter will be on the lookout with the digital camera so we can post some. Who knows?
Of course, I will only have eyes for my hubby! I'll just be looking for YOU.
By CarysWeldonblog, at
9:32 PM
Hope you have a comfortable travel.
Digital cam pics is a great idea. You'll be our eyes in every sense of the word. LOL
You will be excited to know that I DID get cover model pics. And another guy in a speedo that HAD to be immortalized. Hang onto your hats, that pic is worth more words than my tongue can get around. ;)
By CarysWeldonblog, at
11:50 AM
Friday, May 12, 2006
DyingI'm always thinking about dying. How about you?
Today, I'm consumed with the thought that I need a change. What to do with my hair? I have one daughter that thinks I need to go blonde. Never done that before.
Went black. Don't want to go back. I have terribly white skin, so it looked rather shocking on me, imo. And I dunno what was in my head--back then--absolutely insisted on wearing red lipstick. (Yeah, too much! For my complexion anyway--hubby liked it.)
I thought about blonde with a streak of some electric color around the bottom. Does that sound like a desperate attempt to stay young, or get noticed? I don't think I'll do that because I don't want people to think I'm desperate for anything.
Though I might be!
I dye my hair shades of dark brown-to-auburn all the time. Covering gray I'm too young to have. (Sigh)
I've got an expensive appointment set before my daughter's wedding next month--at a good salon. SO GOOD that I saw this lady at Walmart and said, "Oh , my goodness, who does your hair? It looks beautiful." She told me where to go. Her hair had a nice cut plus one of those three or four color dye deals that blended perfectly.
So, I should look half way decent for the wedding, anyway. I'm thinking I need a complete makeover.
I met a gal in Oklahoma City this last weekend that I swear, she looked familiar, her name rang a bell but the face I was looking at was not the one in my memory. She'd had a personal trainer. Lost 150 pounds or more. Yeah. She looked amazing. Inspired me to want something again.
But I have no time (or money) for a personal trainer this month. How about you? Any thoughts on dye jobs or personal trainers? Makeovers on a budget? Got a super workout at home tape you can recommend? (Or would that be dvd now?)
I wish Oprah would pick me out of the crowd and say, "You! Let me fix you!" Because, you know, if Oprah points at you, you're good as gold. Feel free to write in to her and say, "Fix one of my favorite authors in the world, Oprah! She needs it!"
OOH. Maybe we could get a show with all of us on it. Carys Weldon and her fans all get worked on...by male masseuses (Calvin Klein underwear models?) with oil. What do you think? If enough of you wrote in, we'd get noticed you know. That's how it works.
3 Comments:
Is there a Merle Norman cosmetics store near you? They do free cosmetic makeovers. Their makeup may be a little pricey, but not as much as Avon's "prestige" line I used to get.
I'm not quite sure about you as a blonde, though. Blonde highlights would look good, I think. The electric color around the bottom would be fun, but probably best to keep that for after the wedding. (Geez, I typed "weeding" three times before I got it right.) :)
I could go for a personal trainer. If he looked mighty fine. ;) Though, I doubt Curves has those and that's where I'm about to start going.
I'm no help here. I couldn't decide and just went for all the colors. heh heh
By Rinda Elliott, at
7:54 AM
Ever tried sun in? It works without sun now days. You can do streaks, a lot around the face, a little on the ends. Blow dry and lighten. You know how dark Myriah's hair is. It worked really well on her hair.
Don't try the strip and bleach thing if you decide to go blond. It destroys your hair. Myriah tried it last year and her hair hasn't recovered yet.
She talked me into going black a few years ago, and I'd never go back either. Picture me with black hair. Not working. I've tried the light brown and soft auburn. They did okay. But no matter what I do to my hair the color fades quickly the yellow and gray bleed through and I've finally given up and just let it be what ever shade of blondish gray it wants to be on it's own.
I wouldn't do anything drastic before the wedding. Always a bad choice to do drastic things to your hair before an important event. Try spray colors that wash out to see what colors suit you. Try temporary colors that wash out. Or drop into a wig store at the mall and try on different colors to find one that goes well with you face and skin tones.
Personally, I love your hair the way it is. It's a good color and perfect length for you. Wash, roll, and fluff. You will knock 'em dead.
By , at
11:39 PM
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Phallic SymbolsEverywhere I look, I see phallic symbols. Do you think that says something about me? Am I oversexed, depraved, or in need of something that should not be named? LOL
I have a friend writing a novel about Norsemen. In the first chapter, there is mention of a Maypole. I question his usage and he sends me, of course, to wikipedia's definition. Which uses the term "erected" straight up. And so, I email him back and say, "I stand corrected but I see that it is a phallic symbol now." He says, "You would notice that, wouldn't you?"
Uh, yeah. The whole world is filled with 'em. Tall smoke stacks. Cigarettes, and bigger cigars. Guns. Bigger guns. Hot dogs. Fatter sausage. Batteries, bigger batteries. Hell, even the remote controls you put them in.
Well, I'm here to tell ya, bigger ain't always better. It's not the size, but what a man does with it. Right?
For example, doesn't matter how big the remote is--if it don't work.
Doesn't matter how thick his wallet is--if he ain't sharing.
Doesn't matter how big his hands and feet are, if it ain't representative of all his appendages.
Ball Park size hot dogs with cheese oozing out of them are not necessarily better than a plain polish sausage done right.
See where I'm going here? (Yeah, yeah, right into the gutter I was born in!)
Come with me!
Doesn't matter how pretty his Hummer is if he doesn't get it dirty.
Doesn't matter how big his Durango is if he doesn't take it somewhere cool.
A basketball player doesn't impress me if he can't get it in the hole.
Who wants a tennis player with a good backhand?
Wait. Who needs a tennis player with a good backhand? (Answer: Most men?) Just kidding.
As you can see, I struggle for good metaphors. But I'm always thinking. Help me out here. Can you come up with any?
2 Comments:
Who needs a baseball player with a big bat if he can't swing.
The baseball metaphor is great!
By CarysWeldonblog, at
6:45 AM
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Gag!I am gagging (and no pun intended!)
On my website, I've had this link to a vampire site for months--never bothered to go look until my husband said, "Hey, wow, I'm surprised you have a link to porn on your website."
I was horrified to see where the link went. It was NOT where it was supposed to go.
I sometimes feature links to other authors' websites.
Like, for example, Morgan Hawke is another Extasy Books writer that does vampire/dark erotic romance. She is a top seller. Most people who like my vampire stuff would like hers, too.
Becky Cline is an up and coming writer that hasn't sold her work yet, but she is good and I wanted to give you a heads up on her stuff. When you see it, buy it. She's fun!
Sometimes I get invited to do "reciprocal links" with others. Some are for just a few months, or something.
Anyhow, for anyone who went to a link on my website and ended up in a skanky porn site, I am SO sorry. That is not me, or my deal. There is a big difference between erotic romance and pornographic pictures. Again, my apologies. I want things labeled properly. If you click a link to porn, you should know it before you go. Don't you think?
3 Comments:
The problem there is sometimes domains can get hijacked and sent to porn sites. When my site was on homestead (before they went to a pay-to-use format only), someone had hijacked it for that.
Hi, Jen!
Well, you're right.
E-vampires is not about vampires any more. It's about pictures to make your eyes pop out of your head.
It redirects you to another site you never even heard of. Okay, that I never even heard of, anyway.
By CarysWeldonblog, at
6:47 AM
I tell ya, there's a 99.99999999999999999% chance I've never heard of it. *s*
Today is International Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman's Day, so please send this message to someone you think fits this description. Please do not send it back to me as I have already received it from a Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman! And remember this motto to live by: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day!
_________________________________________________
To the Girls !!
Inside every older person is a younger person -- wondering what the hell happened.
-Cora Harvey Armstrong-
Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut the bitch up with cookies.
(Unknown)
The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy.
-Helen Hayes (at 73)-
I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows.
-Janette Barber-
Things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse.
-Lily Tomlin-
My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first one being -- hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.
-Erma Bombeck-
Old age ain't no place for sissies.
-Bette Davis-
A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't.
-Rhonda Hansome-
The phrase "working mother" is redundant.
-Jane Sellman-
Every time I close the door on reality, it comes in through the windows.
-Jennifer Unlimited-
Whatever women must do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.
-Charlotte Whitton-
Thirty-five is when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.
-Caryn Leschen-
I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once.
-Jennifer Unlimited-
If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
-Catherine-
I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb -- and I'm also not blonde.
-Dolly Parton-
If high heels were so wonderful, men would still be wearing them.
-Sue Grafton-
I'm not going to vacuum 'til Sears makes one you can ride on.
-Roseanne Barr-
When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.
-Elayne Boosler-
Behind every successful man is a surprised woman.
-Maryon Pearson-
In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.
-Margaret Thatcher-
I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.
-Gloria Steinem-
I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.
-Zsa Zsa Gabor-
Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt-
Send this to five bright women you know and make their day.
0 Comments:
How is your week going? Mine is filled with kid things, what with the end of school on top of us. And a vacation looming.
Last night, I had a band concert and National Honor Society induction to go to--for my youngest daughter. Today, I have to take my son to the dentist. Tonight, I have to take them both to church activities. Thursday, I will be at a band awards banquet, and Friday, at the sports banquet. Mostly doing it all for one over-achiever girly girl who is spoiled rotten. (I had a great need to put that in writing for the world to see.)
My 22 yr old daughter brought a cake from DQ last night...to celebrate my birthday and mother's day--which are days away. It was great, and a total surprise. Why so early, you might ask?
Well, it could be the same reason I called my mom FOR MOTHER'S DAY this last Sunday. Early is better than late or not at all? Because I believed a ninny who insisted it was mother's day, and argued until I gave in and said, "Oh, I must've had my dates wrong." DUH.
Do you ever let someone talk you into things that are just messed up? I, of course, had to laugh when my mom laughed at me for calling a week early. I SAID it was because we were both going to be traveling on the real day. We talked for hours. But, I don't think I fooled her. I'm always a day late, a dollar short, and flying by the seat of my pants--which is a large surface to skid with, if I may say so.
One of my girls thinks I should buy my children presents on Mother's Day because...get this...they stay alive so I can keep enjoying mother's day. Yeah. I'd knock her in the head if she'd step closer.
(That's the one that was almost killed last year--I AM thinking about buying her a present. And, of course, you can't do that without buying them all one.)
Another jumped on the band wagon. She says I should buy them presents because I believe they are mothers in the making and all mothers should get presents. (I tell them that every time they argue the why of having to do housework that they think is my job.)
I told that one to get the father of her children to give her presents--(she doesn't have children yet, or a boyfriend, so HA!) and on second thought to get her own father to buy presents for all of us.
Of course, he's fresh off a 2 day trip from Alaska--spent in airports across the country--hasn't had much sleep--AND had to fix the pump in our well the minute he got home. So, you know he's thinking happily about all the gifts he wants to give us. Not. He's in there, enjoying his own bed. Funny, how a month away makes you forget how much a guy snores and hogs the bed. Man, I missed being able to reach out and touch his skin in the night.
I'm one of those touchy feely folks that wake up repeatedly, reach out, snuggle up, kiss a couple spots on the back or shoulder or chest. Make him jump when I...well, you can use your imagination on that one.
How about you? Are you into that sort of thing, or want your s.o. to stay the hell on the other side of the bed, or better yet in another room--or state...? Are your kids running your lives? Have they grown up and moved out? And still running your life? Share a little about yourself here. I don't have to be the only one giving too much information.
3 Comments:
Hey buddie, You know my story, I sleep with a really big dog, and a Great Dane. The Dane and I think the man is the intruder. That's our bed. My son got his permit yesterday. Now I have two teens with driving permits in the house. There isn't enough valium in the world for that kind of anxiety. My daughter Myriah graduates the 26th and XMen 3 comes out the same day. I may have to flip a coin. Bet I can manage both.
Anyway, Happy mother's day to you. Give that big lug of yours a hug for me and tell him we missed him at OWFI this year. Love ya both, and hi to the girls. See you in Arkansas.
By , at
10:21 AM
My kids are grown and three of the four are parents themselves.
I am a leave me the hell alone sleeper--my husband is too warm at night and if he snuggles-- then I can't sleep.
I'm a wolverine fan. (See my werewolf book HOOD.)
So, I'd be hard pressed on the coin flip. Might have to say...can someone just record the graduation for me? (I hate those sort of things. Bleachers are too hard these days. I swear they were softer when I was a kid!)
Okay, just kidding. Like a good mom, I ALWAYS put my interests behind my kids.
Just last night, I went to a boring band award ceremony for my youngest daughter instead of a cool tarot class the Maiden of Mystery (Keen.com) was giving in Springfield, Missouri.
My daughter's band teacher is a bozo. For six years straight, he's given awards to the same girl. You know, "the best student I have" award?
It doesn't hurt that he has dinner with her skinny little blond mom. Yes, saw this myself. The two of them, both married elsewhere, sitting cozy side to side, thigh to thigh, shoulder and elbow to shoulder and elbow, in a big ol' booth at Fuddruckers, Springfield, Mo at the 'tween lunch and dinner hours.
But this year, he took the cake. Due to divorce, (Ha! No surprise there since she was playing with the band leader!) the girl and her mom moved out of the school district. I thought we'd see something new and cool at the awards ceremony. BUT NO, he invited the girl back. Even though she was not even in our school district, he gave her the damn award again! Can you believe that bullshit?
And I had a wicked thought...that his genitalia would rot off soon...that's how bad I am. (Go ahead, pray for me.)
By CarysWeldonblog, at
6:57 AM
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Blogs to check out!There's a million blogs out there now, and most of them blend together into one big BORING, but there's one I'd like to recommend you check out. It belongs to a friend of mine, Rinda Elliot.
She's a way cool writer and we totally click, so if you like my stuff, I think you'll get a kick out of hers, too. Her blog's called The Write Snark. You can google her, the blog name, or whatever. I have trouble getting links on here that you can just click, but here it is, nonetheless--let's hope it works:
www.thewritesnark.blogspot.com
and
http://hometown.aol.com/__121b_XgepibVRKgUM25cDKgdbV021yt8cmohy
Now, check it out, and report back. Tell me what you like. And feel free to post other blog addies in the comment section if you know of another one that is awesome and entertaining. But no boring ones!
2 Comments:
I have to agree. Rinda's blog is pretty dang cool. :)
Thanks for the kind words. That second site is kind of a joke. I never thought anyone would see it and put it up because Apex Digest needed a banner from me and I needed a site to post it.
It was also to tease someone who gave me a hard time about those pics. I need to do something with that.
My blog is different. It's really my main site.
I think you're way cool, too, Carys. :) Hope none of your friends are disappointed.
hey Jen! I'm going to respond to that comment you made about the category we were both in.
By Rinda Elliott, at
10:43 AM
Monday, May 08, 2006
Recap of the WeekendSorry that I got too busy to blog over the weekend. OWFI, the writer's conference held annually in OK City, is a long, long weekend and I ran on 3-4 hours of sleep a night.
There are agent/editor appointments in the morning, and a full round of speakers, plus book signings, luncheons, banquets, and contests. I won an honorable mention in a nonfiction category. Some asked me if I was disappointed that I didn't win more. The answer is...well, sure, I wish I'd won more. But, geez, there was 480 people there (give or take) and that means a ton of professional competition. To place at all in any category is very cool.
After the banquet each night, there are buzz sessions where you can walk around and talk to tons of other writers, editors, and agents and get to know them. Some folks drink. Some folks don't.
Beer Margaritas were served liberally in one room--I wasn't brave enough to try them but some folks said they were awesome. Wine was poured freely in the Presidential Suite. I'm not into that, either. My editor got a CHALICE the size of Texas (full of beer) there.
I learned that bartenders make non-virgin Shirley Temples by adding vodka. Did you know that? You're probably all bartenders and I'm the only virgin in the crowd! LOL
I have been 86'ed from a bar before--and I was stone cold sober! My husband would have to tell you that story.
Anyhow, the weekend was long. I didn't get enough rest. I picked up a sinus cold...which sucks. But, all in all, it was fun to go and chat with other writers.
I have some friends, relatively new writers, who made contact with my editor and will probably get published by Extasy some time in the future. I'll give you a heads up on them when they get in the publishing queue, so you know what to get excited about.
I've got to get back to editing a book that is going to print real soon. (Yay!)
Talk at ya later.
3 Comments:
Sound as if you enjoyed yourself.
It was good to see you. Looked for you after the banquet Saturday night but the place was chaos!
Still recovering too?
I have to get up a fiction piece on my blog from a reader's winning topic challenge and I'm so hitting a blank...
Also reading your historical book. I know you said it was before you learned the rules, but lady, your raw writing talent is breathtaking.
By Rinda Elliott, at
10:00 AM
I was in the bar area, mocking the judges comments. Five of my entries have already gone under contract. Two had won first places elsewhere. So, stupid judges who said things like..."This really should be scrapped" can kiss my...big fat toe. Ya know?
Which brings me to an admission a friend of mine made. That she got paid $250 (3 times) to let a man suck her toes.
Toe prostitution. That was a new one on me.
By CarysWeldonblog, at
7:08 AM
Friday, May 05, 2006
Sex Talk at the CONSo, I'm in Oklahoma City at the Oklahoma Writer's Conference...
And last night, after happy hour had gone and died in a pyramid of glasses, the topic at the tables degenerated to sex with goats and horses, and a phenomena that has a following (this was news to me)--where people dress up with bridles and other horse/leather apparel--for sex activitives.
I mean, hey, of course I knew about leather, domination, etc. BUT I did not know that people put bridles on their significant other's--then climbed on their back, with a whip no less.
And I was downright wide-eyed over learning that people use roach clips on scrotums--or to know some people taser their hubbies down there. TASER. (Yeah, I'm still shivering.)
LOL
So, I guess my point here is...it ain't all tame and sedate in OK City this weekend. My editor, Stefani Kelsey, from Extasy Books is here--making everyone laugh. She's great. Totally wicked cool.
I'm at the Embassy Suites Hotel on Meridian, room 536.
2 Comments:
It's not foreplay. I don't zap him down there with a taser for sexual pleasure, his or mine. Although, I do get a lot of pleasure when I cause him pain. I take it back, foreplay it is.
By , at
2:42 PM
Should we take a poll on this? Is taser action foreplay or the way to stop the party up front?
(Yes, pun intended!)
By CarysWeldonblog, at
8:17 AM
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Phone Sex (Tease)Jenna wasn't expecting a phone call from anyone. She'd gone to her bedroom, picked up a book, and been bored to tears. So, in between biting her nails, and letting her mind wander into fantasy land--about how she'd fix the book if she'd written it--the phone rang.
It made her jump--because it was after midnight. She picked it up, the caller i.d. said CALLER UNKNOWN. Normally, she didn't bother with stuff like that. She pressed talk and end, hanging up the phone on the sales person. But, for some reason she couldn't name, she clicked the button and put it to her ear.
"Hi, honey," the caller said in a to-die-for sexy baritone voice.
She wanted to giggle, but she tamped that urge down and huskily pushed out, "Hi."
"Were you waiting for my call?"
Now she wanted to laugh. Instead, she threw out. "You know it, baby."
That, apparently, took the caller off guard. Silence crossed over the line. Whoever it was, Jenna thought, had a wrong number and had figured it out, most likely.
But, no. He came back with, "That's what I like to hear."
She wanted to place the voice. It sounded vaguely familiar. She figured...if I get him talking more, I can probably guess who it is.
So, the devil in her prompted, "Did you call for a reason?"
"What do you think?"
"I think...it's late. Guys call girls this late because they're thinking about them...and hoping for something."
"Conversation?"
"Is that all you want?"
"Yes. Stimulating conversation." His tone was suggestive and stimulating to her!
"Mmhm. That's the only kind I give when I'm already in bed," she said, rolling her eyes at herself, and blushing.
"You're in bed?"
"Just clarifying?"
He chuckled. "You don't mind if I try and visualize you there, do you?"
"If you don't mind me picturing you doing the same."
"You know who this is, then?"
She made a face at the phone. She couldn't very well say no, could she? "Oh, yeah."
Jenna racked her brain. Who the hell was this guy?
"I wasn't sure if you'd recognize my voice. It's been a while since we talked."
"But you remember that real well, I bet." She wanted to laugh again. Who, in hell, was it?!?
"Oh, yeah." He repeated her comment and tone of a moment before.
"You're playing with me, now, aren't you?"
"I'd like to."
Wickedly, she thought about inviting him over. That would answer her question in a heartbeat, wouldn't it? But then, what if he was a stalker type and not half as sexy in person?
"You're a tease," she said. "I thought women were supposed to be the tease and men were supposed to...." She let her voice trail off.
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Did you call to talk dirty to me?"
He laughed. "Talk dirty? Honey, I haven't even started."
"Oh, please," she said.
He chuckled again. "Where do you want me to start?"
"What are YOU wearing?" That seemed like a good place to her.
"Not much."
Her eyebrows went up. "You called me naked?"
"Should I call you naked?"
Jenna laughed. "No. I have something on. We were talking about you."
"Now, you're teasing me. What do you have on?"
"Oh, no, you don't! You first."
"Hang on."
Jenna looked at her phone receiver. Who was this guy? Call her anonymously and then tell her to hang on? She thought about hanging up on him, but then, his voice timbred through the phone line again.
"Had to take my shirt off."
"Tell me it wasn't a Grateful Dead t-shirt."
That made him laugh. "It wasn't a Grateful Dead t-shirt."
"You're mocking me."
"No. Giving you what you asked for."
"I asked for a strange caller to ring me after midnight?"
"Hey!" He took umbrage at that.
"What? You're gonna tell me you're not a strange caller? Because I know it's after midnight."
He chuckled. "Okay. Maybe I am strange."
"How strange we talking here?"
Silence stretched between them.
His tone changed from playful to serious. "I'm strange enough...that I needed to hear your voice."
"You needed to hear my voice? For what?"
"Guess."
Images of a naked man--taking care of his laundry by hand--came to mind. Only, she couldn't put a face to the bod. However, she DID put some washboard abs to the picture in her head.
Instead of guessing, she asked, "Do you have pants on?"
He chuckled once more. "Yeah. Jeans."
She thought about that for a minute before saying, "Unbutton one button, but only one."
There was a sound on the other end--like a sudden intake of breath. He asked, "Can you see me or something?"
"No. Only in my head. Why?"
"Because, I was just reaching to do that when you said it."
"Oh." That took her by surprise. Then she smiled to herself. She muttered, "God, you're turning me on, and you haven't even done anything."
"That's what I like to hear," he said.
"Do you call everybody you know and do this? Or just me?"
"Think. Have I called you before?"
"No. I mean..." She could not put a face to his voice.
"I rest my case. I do not go around calling women...often. But I may start."
She hoped so!
Wait, she thought. She didn't want this sexy voiced man calling OTHER women.
"Just hit redial. Save your phone just for me. Okay?"
He laughed. "Okay. Sure. But that means you always have to pick up when I call. I mean, if I limit my calls to just one person, that sounds like a committed relationship."
Jenna bit her lower lip. It did, didn't it? "You don't have to limit yourself," she said.
"I'd like to. You and me. Night after night."
"Tell me," she said, "What made you call? I mean, this is a first."
"You don't think I called you on accident, do you?"
"Uh, no."
If he did, she was glad it happened. "Was it an accident?"
"No."
She was dying! Who was this man?
"We don't have a mutual friend putting you up to this, do we?"
"So, you don't recognize my voice."
Jenna felt his disappointment. "I do," she lied. Well, it wasn't exactly a lie. She did vaguely recognize it. She sighed. "I just can't put a face to it."
"Maybe it's better that way," he said.
"Why?"
"Because I can tell you something and you won't get all weird about it this way."
"Okay." She was half afraid of what he was going to tell her now. "Go ahead, then," she said, holding her breath.
"I've been thinking about kissing you. I can't get it off my mind."
Her eyebrows went up again. "Really?"
"Yeah." There was a pause, and then he added, "All over."
"Keep talking."
"Sometimes I think about kissing you on the lips. You know, leaning down and planting one on you, sliding my arms around your waist, drawing you against me."
It sounded good to her!
"And...sometimes...?" She prodded.
"Sometimes I want to do more."
"More?" She squeaked that out.
"Yeah. A lot more."
"Like what?"
"I want to kiss you all over."
An old song came to her head. "And all over again," she whispered.
"Yeah. You know what I'm talking about?"
"Oh, yeah."
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Yeah, Carys Weldon is a tease.
I'm taking a poll on the twist of this...
Shall we have them meet?
Do you think this is a guy from her past?
A guy from behind a counter somewhere?
Or shall we keep it to the phone?
1 Comments:
They should meet sooner or later.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
AnxietyI have a big weekend coming up and I'm kind of stressed over it. Can't sleep. I'm not sure why it is driving me so crazy.
I mean, I've been to the writer's conference in Oklahoma City a couple of times in a row now. So, I know a lot of people that are going. And, in fact, am driving a couple of friends down there in my car.
I've entered contests, and hope to do well, but don't really care if I don't place. I only spent about four days getting my entries together--that way, if I didn't get any awards, I wouldn't feel too bad. If I had worked super hard on them and then didn't place, I'd be super sad. Ya know?
What is freaky is my growing anxiety. I find myself shaking more and more--and not just over this event, but in a lot of things. I went to the dentist, and literally struggled against crying. I'm a frequent flyer at the dentist and the one I have now is awesome--very big on not hurting me. So, what's up with the whole shaky-I wanna cry thing?
For years, I took anti-anxiety medication. I did Prozac for a month but it stole my short term memory...big time. Took ages to get most of that back. Did you know that Sixty Minutes did a show on Prozac and Schizophrenia once--about ten years ago--and found that 90% of the schizo's living on the streets in the U.S. had been on Prozac. Crazy weird stat, huh?
I've had Valium (like that!) and Paxil--seems to even out the moody issues. But, I am currently not on anything.
How about you? Do you ever suffer from anxiety?
My first real anxiety attack was in church, believe it or not. I use to sing. But once, I did a duet with a girl, and it came off real nice everyone said, but I shook like I had palsy the whole time. I haven't performed a song since. People said they didn't notice. I don't know how they could NOT notice my shaking.
Anyhow, since then, I've been careful to avoid situations where more anxiety would pile on me. It's funny...I can speak to 500 people. I can run a program. But performing? That's a whole different ballgame for me.
Do you have an anxiety story you'd like to share? I think a ton of people are dealing with high stress these days, and it comes out in a million different ways. My doctor says that stress isn't helping me lose weight. DUH.
My dentist says all my teeth issues, grinding etc. are from stress and that I need some anti-anxiety medication. Aside from a b vitamin, and massage--and, of course, release of stress through sexual avenues, anybody know any other natural releases/treatments?
0 Comments:
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Need your opinion here...Hey, I've had a person or two suggest that I fancy up the template on my blog. What do you think? Do you like a busier page? Or not?
I tend to like things that load fast without bells and whistles, because I don't like wasting a lot of time before I get to the "meat" of a page...the reading. Ya know?
I like things pretty and easy. I like buttons that are no brainers. I don't like to have to work to find the comments that go with the blog post. But, we can rework this format if people have thoughts on how to improve it. So, post away with your suggestions on what to fix!
Thanks!
3 Comments:
I think it's fine the way it is.
I think it looks fine too. Sure colors and photos in the template are nice but i read blogs for the content, not because of how it looks.
Maria
I don't care for fancy stuff like graphics, effects, but I do find it difficult to browse or find stuff here.
I have a list of blogs I follow so I have to space them out and read in spurts. Say now, I want to see what I missed last month or I remember reading something last month that I want to refer to, it's so much easier to be able to click April and all the blog entries would be there and I can go directly to the ones that interest me.
I too want to get to the meat quickly but the way it's structured now, I have to click on the daily archives to find what I want and that's very time consuming, time I may not have.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Birthday TeaseToday is my husband's birthday. To honor it--as a present to him from far away--remember? He's in Alaska, I'm in Missouri--I've written this little tease--what I WOULD have done to him if he were here...
She waited for the clock to tick over to midnight. Beside her, her husband's even breathing told her he was asleep. As the seconds ticked by, she thought about what she could do for him, to wake him up on his birthday--for a midnight sex romp.
She thought about kissing him on his back and moving downward, and over his hip...
She considered rolling over him hard, pinning him, and agressively waking him with a kiss to end all kisses.
She considered sneakily handcuffing him to the bed, real slow like.
She thought about trussing his nether parts up with gentle caressing movements, in panty hose--then maybe a rope or a belt--her mind went wild with things she'd heard other women had done.
So many things went through her mind while he slept on. The slow tick of the clock drove her crazy. She finally got up, went to the bathroom, stripped down.
He always slept naked. He would be easy to seduce, or molest, or whatever.
She peeked around the corner at him. The blanket was off. He was laid flat out, taking over most of the bed--as usual. His manhood was semi-hard in his sleep.
Smiling, she went back to him, and looked down. She considered giving him a massage. She had oil; she could warm it up. Or how about a candle? She'd heard that some people thought that was cool--to spill wax...but he was a hairy Italian. She wrinkled her nose. That might not be half as fun in actuality. No.
Straddling him?
Climbing up between his legs, giving him a birthday treat--the kind he liked the best? Something with some serious lip service?
She thought of it all. What to do? What to do? What to do?
Wanna know what she did? (scroll down)
(scroll down some more)
(scroll down some more)
She blinked the fantasy out of her head--since he wasn't really in her bed. She couldn't wait for him to get off the plane, she still had another week to plot and plan what she'd do for him for his birthday. Better late than never. Would it be worth waiting for? Hm. I wonder!
hehehe
Yeah, I know. I'm wicked. That's why he likes me--I think.
0 Comments:
