THE WINE PRINCE - VINE OF OBSESSION IS OUT!

Merry Christmas!  And may this New Year be filled with love, laughter, perfect health and prosperity for everyone!  

Yes at long last I did finish on my birthday (or within a day or so) The Wine Prince - Vine of Obsession! This was my first "light erotic" romance.  It was a lot of fun and I admit that the really naughty scenes were written with the assistance of wine, and of course, one must do sufficient research by reading various similar materials for "inspiration". 

Thank you to both of my amazing editors and dear friends Debbie and Liz.

This book was a journey.  Despite my wonderful editor Liz who wanted "shades" of The Letter (concocted over margaritas with our other friend Cindi) I had to admit about a fourth of the way into the real shades that while my characters could take some erotic journeys ....they certainly were not going to take all of them.  I decided that I wanted a male character with a fine hand not a billy club. 

However, were it not for Liz and her notion of kicking up the next book to be into the erotica range and her insistence that I read the real shades, the book could not have been what it turned to be.  In writing it, I sometimes went deliberately and deliciously "anti-shades".

When Liz read the book for the first time she was a bit surprised. I kept from her almost every detail. I was so stealth that she thought a sequel to The Letter would be Victoria and William's children...but alas, it was generations later...it had to be because I had already started writing the book when I started to go "shady".  Plus, it was not at first ever intended to be a sequel to The Letter.  However, in fashioning it to be both a sequel, then adding the light erotica...the whole story took on new life and ended more amazing than even I had predicted. 

John-Pierre is obsessed and dominating just like William was in The Letter so that part was easy.  I also added excerpts from The Letter and that generated a lot of sales for that book...that was fantastic...but it had  a purpose because there was a similar pattern and I think it really made the book pop.

So excited was Liz about this book that we met at The Palace Hotel for lunch to go over the book and her suggestions and celebrate my birthday the day after she finished it.  I was, of course, eager to meet with her because she used words in her email like "OMG I couldn't put it down!"

After so much work, you soak in a moment like that.

At The Palace Hotel where it is quite beautiful, but quiet, there were a number of Christmas parties going on around us.  And they did get to hear Liz and I debate, somewhat heatedly, the difference between a particular scene in Iron Horse King that involved what I call "love taps" and being beaten painfully.  

We did turn a head or two, but really were too excited to care.  I wonder when the last time a conversation like that has happened in that famous and opulent dining room (perhaps more often than I imagine).

But I knew I had found a new love for Liz to replace her other unmentionable hero when she said of the main character, "John-Pierre would never have served ... He would have had ..."  As an author, I sat there knowing I had created a person that Liz would and did love (and she knew what he would serve!).  He was a character with a fine, but yes naughty, hand and I believe I obtained the same effect without....without the pain!

I am lucky and blessed to have such an editor who might just be more excited about the book than me.

Editor Debbie also confided that it might be my best book.  Though like Liz she favors The Letter and Iron Horse King.  I believe Iron Horse King is my best book.  But of course Iron Horse King was based on a real person and he already was bursting with character...I just had to find the right counterpart and figure out how to make the book comprised of historical facts, fun and romantic.

Writing is a funny thing.  One single thing can change the entire book.  In Iron Horse King I originally was going to call the book "The Train".  But I had measured down not just the name of the book but also the true character of the person it was written about.  

One day, I just thought "Iron Horse King."  I pictured him in a top hat and tail coat climbing out to the top of the train and it changed everything.  From that moment on the character became true to life with the intensity of the real character and I gave him the boldness that was true to the real person that was his formula.

John-Pierre was also a mild character until he went erotic.  One moment he was one person and then I turned him into a Frenchman that was a previous army sniper.  Very fun and delicious. 

That is the amazing thing of being an indie writer.  You do write raw.  In the end I made the book, the story and the characters, exactly what I wanted.  More amazing is that world-wide people buy my books every day.  I still can't believe that.  I am humbled and feel such gratitude.  My dream is complete, it can only get better.

I am taking a little time off for Christmas to spend with my husband (son is working), but the next book is getting started in the New Year.  The new book will take us to Europe.  That is all I will say right now, oh and will involve "Summer" character (friend of Bethy) from The Wine Prince. 

Editor Liz and I are headed to Paris, Bordeaux, Champagne and Monaco (Two weeks in France starting May 1 -OMG!).  I need to work on research and scenes.  I am blessed to  have a really kind friend that has offered me a free flat in Paris.  My husband is not keen on Paris so he was happy to send me with Liz! (with warnings of course to not get into too much trouble...which of course I wouldn't.  :)

But "Paris is always a good idea."

Editor Debbie has a little too much going on to go, though she was tempted (and I can't even get her to visit me for a few days!).  But she will be there in spirit.  She has been my friend since I was four years old and we went to the Catholic school together (only she wasn't Catholic). She has put up with my craziness all these years...hopefully now she only sees me as "an eccentric author" rather than just crazy.  I am certainly going with that.  She is about to start following her own passion now and I am so proud of her.  

The only negative to all of this is that now that I went a bit "shady" with light erotica..I have to suddenly contemplate that people I know will read this book.  Oh well...being a writer is being a writer.  I learned long ago that you can't write books if you are worried your mother (and presumably anyone else) will read them.  

My dear mother passed away when I was 16 and she was 42.  She probably would be a little scandalized but in her last days, I promised her I would take every adventure that she never got to take (though I am not sure if writing light erotica was what she had in mind for the daughter she sent to Catholic school).  However, I am sure she would appreciate the adventure she never took in being an author.  And I do believe she would be proud.

If you are going to write, it is best to write raw and take a few risks.  

This year has been an amazing year.  It started out to be not just extremely difficult, but almost a complete disaster personally.  Yet, it became more and more magical with each passing month.  Which does confirm my belief not just in Santa and Miracles, but just the goodness in people and the wonder and mystery of life.  There is a plan for all of us, even when we are afraid of the steps to get there.

No one could ask for a better year. I got the opportunity to go to Paris in May 2014, though a working trip it is also a fun trip. 

I saw the complete turn around at the America's cup and as a mother and wife of soldiers was touched as I watched literally thousands of Americans pass by me with American flags when I thought I would be the only one (this was SF after all and not really known these days as being particularly patriotic...though in the past it was a big Navy town).  I was proven wrong...because thousands did walk by me with flags. 

Third, I relearned to ride a bike and my limp is nearly gone.  I can dance again. I did a lot of things I never thought I could do.  

My books really started to take off and I have consistent sales that increase...yes...perhaps only in tiny bits...but all the same...they do increase and that is more exciting than I can describe. So I really became an author in my own heart.

This was a truly Blessed year despite the hardships at first.  

And the year is going to close out perfect.  My husband is flying to see me so we can spend Christmas together.  We will go down to Monterey/ Carmel, have the Christmas Buffet at The Palace (Yaay I don't have to cook!) and celebrate some milestones for our family. 

I wish for all of my family, friends, readers and fans to have a truly Blessed Christmas and that 2014 will be your best year ever for each of you.