Confessions of a Romance Writer

Dear Friends, today I'm taking time away from my Roccoco inspired rosewood desk trimmed in gilt to converse with you (while lounging in my silk and marabou wrapper, with matching nightgown)about this business of writing. Between lunching on lobster in New York with editors and agents, and after black tie publisher parties, I do occasionally dicatate a line or two to my personal secretary who jots it all down. While I 'write' books, I never actually write them, that's my secretary's job. I am the artiste, she is the lackey!
This dictation usually comes between moutfuls and swallows of the most decadent chocolate truffles you can imagine. Sometimes my words of brilliance arrive while in the tub, soaking in champagne and perfumed oils. This, dear reader, is a small glimpse into my world as a romance writer.

And Lord Craven-Moore has just whispered in my ear, 'wake-up darling, you've hit your head'. Indeed, I have. That would be this morning, when I was reefing on the frozen car door, trying to pull it open, when it suddenly gave way and brained me stupid....And the kidlet started laughing as I saw stars and the neighbor dude came running over to see if he could help as I landed in the graceful lithotomy position in a snowbank. Oh,yes, glamorous indeed! Where the hell were my smelling salts when I needed them!

Ah, back to lucidity....

The above narrative is just a fantasy about what I once naively thought of as the life of a romance writer. What a git I was!
As I write this, I'm wearing jeans, socks that feel too small (I think my feet have grown) and a t-shirt, that I think has dog slobber on the sleeve (two dogs, both very happy to see mummy after dropping off the kidlet to school) I'm downstairs at the computer (not in my study beause that computer doesn't have internet, because I'm supposed to be a good girl and write on that computer, not surf) My teeth are brushed, my hair is in some semblance of acceptable, and I'm sipping away at a Chai latte in a take out cup~my one indulgence for the day. I'm also excessively obsessesing over deadlines that I have, and alternatively vaciallintg from thrill (yeah, more contracts!) to utter terror (oh, no, will they like it? Can I do it? Oh, gaaaaawd!)

This, is the life of a romance writer. How very ordinary and mundane. But that's it, folks. You see, the whole 'image' of a romance writer is just imaginary, just like our plots, characters and worlds which we've formed in our minds. I wish I had some magic wand to make it all glamorous, but in fact, it's hard work. Harder than I thought it was going to be, actually.

But I love it. And this is what I want to do. For years to come.
So, after that diatribe, on to the real reason of my post!
I'm currently forming a world for a new series I have coming out with NAL under a different name (that's another post). The world is Annwyn, and it's the Celtic Otherworld where all sorts of lovely and devious creatures live alongside us boring mortals. The series is dark and sexy, with Celtic, Druid, Gothic overtones. Gargoyles, Shadow Wraiths, Sidhe and fallen angels, Annwyn has creatures that will lure and entice you!
I'm excited to get started on the series. I'm already in love and lust with the hero of the first book, a night Sidhe who shifts into a raven. He's built (what romance hero isn't) with all kinds of interesting markings over his body, and cool eyes (one pewter colored, the other gold, both rimmed in violet) that can form alchemical magic, not to mention seduce a woman at fifty paces. All is set for the world and the series, but now it comes down to business. Promoting. Reaching readers. Getting a website.....grrrr.

So, I thought I'd come to you guys for a little help as I know you're all savvy readers, and you always go to author websites. What draws you there? What do you think of newsletters? Help or hindrance? What do you like in newsletters? Most of all, what do you really hate when you visit an author's website?

For your troubles, I'm offering up a copy of Addicted to the post that tickles Lord Craven-Moore's fancy!!!!As an aside, the pictures are a few of the things that inspried the Annwyn Chronicles, which is the name of the series.