This Week: In Diana's Head

Frustration. I've found a book that seems to incapsulate it. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'm not sure I'm going to be back for more. Depends on how well they wrap up the ending.

I guess I like simplistic romance.

In this story, there is the Hero and Heroine. Standard fare. Except I'm not crazy about the opening premise of this book. He's a brute who's having to change his ways. I can see him doing it but good grief! The only thing on this man's mind since the opening page has been sex, and how to get the Heroine to give it to him. And he's not shy about telling everyone on the planet that's what he wants, that she's going to do it whether she wants to or not, on his terms and she can just deal with it, and he's told her so! She's not exactly crazy about this part of him. Can't say I blame her. Feel like meat lately?

Then you have Hero wannabe. The man on the sidelines who thinks he's the one who's going to get said heroine and has been building up his end to be with her. Oh, but he plans on keeping his mistresses, of course, even after marriage. He doesn't have a clue she's already with Hero #1. Confused yet? It gets better.

There's no less than six different sub characters with their own points of view and dialogues, all with conniving chunks of sub-plot. It's been hard to keep them all straight.

I've been reading it basically a scene at a time because I have to digest what's going on. This hasn't been a book I can fall into and become oblivious to the outside world. It's not couple-centric. (Is that a term? If not, I claim it! LOL)

I will say this. The author took immense time to plot this book. There's so many twists that I literally want to see the people who deserve it (I'm not saying who and give away the ending), get their butts returned to them on a platter. There's no way this book could have been done otherwise, with the exception that each individual POV was written out and then put together in the manner of an index card at a time on a tackboard. There's definite talent in being able to do that. I can't. I know that. But there's so much going on with this book! Where's the romance? Where's the romantic feeling? Right now the only thing I feel impending is the satisfaction of justice.

A special (concerned) note

To all my readers and readers everywhere:

Technology is an incredible medium. We can read, draw, learn, speak and see so much thanks to the advances of modern technology. The basic computer and keyboard. However, in the instance of authors, it's also becoming a means to lose our very livelihood. We write, and those written words are being stolen. By the billions, if not trillions, of words. This has been happening for years and is a growing concern. A hugely growing concern.

There is no excuse for theft, yet pirate sites are appearing out of the blue like any other source of information. They may be innocuous to start, but once the first book is posted, uploaded, downloaded, read, it is done. That author has lost revenue. And not just the author, but every person in the production chain. Just because it is on a site, does not make it legal. Car theft, identity theft, downloading copyrighted material. They are equal. They are all theft. (Public domain books [Shakespeare etc.] are a different explanation.)

Please purchase books only through reputable stores and sites. If you see any book from any author on a forum, a database, or a sharing site, please do not download that book. Report the site to the author directly. Most authors have free reads, full books, chapters, all sorts of reading material readily available to the public. Many run contests, or give away free reads. Almost any book can be found in a library, a bookstore or through a used bookstore.

Theft is still theft, no matter the excuse. Respect any author's right to earn a living.

~~~~

 

A special note:

E-piracy hurts writers
and is punishable by a $250,000 fine and up
to five years in jail.
Please don't do
business with e-pirates
for both of our sakes.
http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/

 

*sigh* I'm waffling

Badly, at that.

See, I have a dilemma. I have two books that I want to finish out of a pile of about six that I could finish. One is a fantasy, a full length, lush fantasy romance. Dragon guadians, planes (worlds, not the flying kind), sarcastic unicorns. The list could go on.

Then I have my *In a deep male voice-over affect* AGENT BOOK. Yeah, the one I've only been working on for the last two years. A shifter story that is intricate, and likely only the first to a strong series if I can ever get it done, and done well. It could be my ticket to an agent, and a NY publisher. Could be because even though I feel good about the book and the premise, I'm still realistic.

The thing is, there's a cover I wantwantwant for the fantasy. It's gorgeous. I want it. I mean I WANT IT! And he has to be done by October if I plan to get it. It is a work of art, simply stunning.

But then there's the agent book.

But then there's the fantasy.

They both have qualities to say which one should be first. Let's not even toss the edits I have into the barrel, but I guess in all fairness, we must. I have three books in different stages of edits right now. So they're distracting me. And the books I want to write are distracting me from the editing I need to do.

So I'm waffling. And I don't even get to play in the syrup. :(

What would you guys like to see? A fantasy romance with a sexy dragon guardian, or a shifter paranormal with certain twists that are NOT the norm?

This week: In Diana's Head

  I had to bite the bullet and use an online calendar. I don't keep any program open enough for one to be really effective, except for Google. My schedule has been and will be nuts for the next several weeks. I'm participating in two Scavenger Hunts (TwoLipsReviews and Forbidden Publications) at the end of the month, and I'm going to do two anniversary parties, (Tease Publishing and Brenda Williamson) and then I have my regular chat schedule. Want to catch up with me? Check out the appearances page on my website. I keep that up to date. Stop laughing! I do! LOL

The good news of the week is the booking I've been postponing until I had confirmation of my book being on schedule is now set. THE ETERNAL KISS will be available as of September 15th, and I'll be doing a signing for this debut book here in San Marcos. I'll also be running a contest at the beginning of the month to help celebrate this release. The best thing to do is watch here for the announcement.

If you want the insider information, you can also join my newsletter http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dianacastilleja This is a newsletter and announcement loop only. No spam, no Kielbasa either. ;) Yum... Kielbasa. Had that for dinner. :)

One more tidbit of good news... Tease Publishing has showed interest in a few more of my stories, but because of my current schedule with them, they will not be seen out again until 2010. I know. I'm sad about it too! So it's a bittersweet report. But that does mean that I will have a full roster with them for 2009. Like I said, bittersweet.

So that's the scoop for this week.  Catch ya' soon!

I'm in Fredericksburg today!

Which means I'm really not here today. I know. What a drag. I should be here. I have so much work to do, books to write, a workshop to figure out. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I'm going to be spending the day with the man and the boy, so it should be fun. It'll probably be exhausting too. It's going to be a LOT of walking.

Fredericksburg is close to Enchanted Rock. From the website: "It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States." I don't know honestly if we're going to make it there or not tomorrow. I haven't been since I was a kid, at least 15 years. Yeah, I'm really that freakin' old. I feel it most days too.

Anyway, so we're going to take a day trip down there to cruise the town, check out the Nimitz Museum, some of the shops and some recommended restaurants. Well, probably only one. Can only eat so much in one day.

Aside from that, I have one more winner to announce! Yep, I sure do. I'm going to give away any book of my backlist or if the winner is willing to wait, either of my pending releases, HIS MASTER PLAN or TRUSTING DELILAH. I would just hold onto your email and once I have the book in my hot little hands, I'd forward it to you.

So, with all of that said and done, and after a really fun and wonderful week, everyone's comments went into the hat and the winner for the freebie pick is.....

 

.........

 

 

 

*cracks the envelope*

 

 

 

.........

 

 

 

Karen!!!!

Wooohooooo!!!!!

Email me Karen and let me know which book you prefer.

 

I will be doing this again soon! This was a wonderful experience and I really appreciate everyone's comments.

Author Diana Castilleja Newsletter - Subscribers Wanted!

Hey all!

I'm relaunching my Newsletter! After almost a year, I'm getting it back up and running. It will be a once a month update on what's going on, my latest news, contests and other weirdness. Lots of weirdness

All you have to is sign onto my Yahoo News Group. Yep that's it! No tricks, and no spam. I have it set up as a newsletter distribution file on one of my email accounts, so after you sign up, that's it. But if you want to catch the occasional info and spontaneous announcments, you won't miss any of it!

So come and hang out with me for the latest!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DianaCastilleja/