Tuesday, March 19, 2013

It's Update Time!

Hey there, ladies and gents! With ADAPTING INSTINCTS having recently been released, I thought it was time for me to give an update and let everyone know what's happening on my writing agenda now.

But first, I want to give a huge "thank you" to everyone who's bought ADAPTING INSTINCTS. If you're a friend or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads, you may have already seen, but ADAPTING INSTINCTS broke onto the bestsellers in gay romance on Amazon.com and earned a bestseller star on AllRomance eBooks. Now, staying on the Amazon list is hard, especially for a series book, but just seeing that it made it gave me a big smile. I know as series go on, sometimes interest can get lost in it. That so many of you have stayed with not only the Instincts series, but the Conquest series, too, means more than I can ever thank you all for, and I'm grateful.



So now you might be wondering what's next. When will my next book be out and what will it be. Well, my hope is that my next release will be my fantasy/contemporary crossover, TO THE OTHER SIDE. I sent it off to my editor to see if she thinks it'll be a good fit for the MLR Press catalog, so I'm just waiting on that at the moment. I do really love the story, and it was fun to stretch my writing muscles and trying something different. My main men, Bryson Summers, who is a witch, and Garrett Evergard, an environmentalist and biologist, are pretty special guys. There are a lot of other fun guys in the story, and lots of critters, too. I also foresee more stories set in this world ;-)

With that story sent off, I turned my attention to a project that's been lingering for a very long time...writing the expanded version of A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY. Now, not everyone may know this story. I wrote it about two years ago for the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads and their Hot Summer Days event. So it was never formally published or put out other than on Goodreads and in an anthology, Don't Read in the Closet Vol. 1, on AllRomance eBooks. Even as I brought that story to its concluding point for the group, I knew Ash (my lead singer of the band From Ashes) and Jackson (my sweet country singer) had more to tell in their story. But with other projects demanding attention...Conquest and Instincts...expanding A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY got put on the back burner. Admittedly, I didn't intend for it to be there as long as it has, but I'm not a very fast writer, so I wasn't able to get to it sooner.

Well, now I'm working on it. Yay! What I decided to do, since I know not everyone is part of the M/M Romance Group and many people may not have read the first short version, is I'm polishing up the original version and flowing it right into the new half. This will (hopefully!) create a seamless novel edition of Ash and Jackson's story. I'm trying to not tamper much with the original version, but there will be some changes to it. That's kind of unavoidable since it'll be going through a fresh round of editing. As it's sitting right now, the manuscript is at about 47,000 words, and there's still some more to go on it. I'm going to aim for having it released this year.

Since I'm already seeing The End on A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY, it's got me thinking what'll be the next project. I'm still going back and forth between that, but I'm leaning toward either a novella with Brandon and Shunichi from the Conquest series, or Instincts #5. For Instincts #5, I've been weighing between three possibilities for whose story it would be, and right now, I think the scales are tipping in favor of Renart Bellerose, but that could always change by the time I get to actually writing it.

And there you go, everyone! My long, rambling way of saying what's going on in my little writing world. Hope it's all sounding good! And my deepest thanks again to everyone for all your support <3


18 comments:

  1. I remember Ash and Jackson's story! Something expanded would be so cool! And since Renart seems to actually have a heart, I guess he deserves a happily ever after too... ;) Thanks!

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    1. That's awesome you remember Ash and Jackson! It's been so long, I wasn't sure anyone still would. Thank you about the expanded version of their story, and about Renart, too! Yeah, hidden beneath his fancy exterior, there's a heart deep down in there. I've got some ideas on how to make it come out a little more ;-)

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    2. Renart Bellerose deserves a story, the poor vamp has no love life at all, maybe he meets an angel, just saying

      Ro

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    3. Yeah, I think Renart's actually pretty lonely. He's been part of the series from the start, so he should get some time. It won't be an angel, though. I do know who it'll be, if that helps ;-)

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  2. I really liked A Little Bit Country. The way you write rock stars is simply amazing. So, this shouldn't be a surprise. Please, please, please write more about Conquest! Brandon and Shun, YAY! Well and what about Tanner?! I know I said I didn't like him much, but he's growing on me...
    Oh and yes, this is begging! I'm not afraid to admit that.

    Gabriella

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    1. Aww, thank you! That makes me so happy hearing you like the way I write rock stars :D And that's awesome you remember A Little Bit Country, too! It's been nice continuing Ash and Jackson's story and working toward wrapping it up.

      And you don't have to beg, lol! I still have plans for Tanner's story, but it's gotten pushed back because for some reason, I feel like Brandon and Shun need to come first. So I guess if the guys are leading me in that direction, I'll follow :-) So there will still be a little bit more in the Conquest world. It's wonderful you like the guys and want to read more with them. Thank you!

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    2. It's great news to hear that you'll continue to write a little bit more in the Conquest world.
      I love the Conquest guys, they feel so alive. And since I can't listen to their music, I have to read about them. LOL, I'm addicted.
      If you ever plan to make the songs into a soundtrack, I'd buy the CD.
      (Alyssa Day had that made for her Warriors of Posidon Series - there are 2 really nice rock songs. I'd post a link, but I'm not sure if that's okay...)

      Gabriella

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    3. It makes me so happy hearing the guys feel alive for you :D They're certainly that way for me! I would LOVE to have a soundtrack made for the books one day. That would be amazing. And you're more than welcome to post links here. I love to hear about new and other books, authors, music, all that good stuff!

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    4. If there's ever a CD coming out about the Conquest Series, I'd run to buy it. I really like the lyrics you've written and I think they are a big part of what makes the guys feel alive.

      So here's the link: Atlantis Alive Songs by Grout
      I count these two songs as good stuff. Good solid rock songs. There's also a video for Every Time You Read My Mind on Youtube. I'm not sure, but I think I've read somewhere that they won a prize for the video.

      Have you heard from MLR about To The Other Side yet? Do you plan to make it into a series or is it a stand alone?

      Gabriella

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    5. Those are very cool songs! It would be beyond awesome to have my lyrics recorded, music put to them, and the songs performed. I'm so happy you enjoy that aspect of the book :D And that you'd get a CD of them! Thanks so much! Doing something like that is a dream I have. Don't know if it'll ever happen, but I'd love for it to someday.

      And nope, I still haven't heard from MLR on To The Other Side yet. I know my editor has been really busy reviewing stories for a call for submissions they did recently for "Mixed Tape" stories. Authors picked a song and wrote a story based off of it. I didn't write for it, though, because I was too busy with other projects, but I know they got a lot of stories come in. I'm hoping after things settle down with reviewing those, I'll get word on if my editor feels To The Other Side will be a good fit there. So, keeping my fingers crossed for a while longer!

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  3. I am so happy that we get to see more of Ash and Jackson. I have wanted to see their extended story and how they will make it work. Also, you can't go wrong with more of Brandon and Shun. They are so awesome :)
    But I have been really wanting to know for a while now and didn't know when to ask... do you ever think that you will expand on Dillon's story from Finding A Dream? I so want to see his future and where you envision him to be. I was just enchanted by his story and I want to know Dillon as an adult.
    Thanks so much!
    Marissa

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    1. That's awesome you'd like to see they're expanded story and you haven't forgotten about them either! Thank you! It makes me glad to hear that as I'm working on it :-) They were such fun guys the first time around, so hopefully when this expanded edition is released, you'll enjoy seeing them get their true ending!

      And you're always more than welcome to ask me anything! I've weighed for a while on if I'd do something more with Dillon, maybe when he goes to college, but I'm still not sure at this point if I will or not. But I can say I'm sure he and Reese will show up in a story with Brandon and Shunichi to let everyone know how they're doing :-)

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  4. This is great news, Ash & Jackson are magnetic! However, what I really want to know is, what about Lions Rampant?! I'm dying to read their stories!!! Oh, and if you ever want to revisit Skler & Robbie via short story, free read, etc., I won't say no...

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    1. Thanks so much about Ash and Jackson! I do have a little more planned for the Lions Rampant boys. I've still got Tanner's story on my to-do list, so hopefully, I'll be able to get working with him this summer :D And I'll definitely keep Robbie and Kyler in mind for future shorts, too!

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  5. I didn't know about the short story. Is it still available? I can't wait to read a story about Renart. He has been around helping but has no social life. Have you ever had thoughts about Matthew? I just finished Adapting Instincts and he didn't seem done. One other question are you still going to write a story for Tyler from Lion Rampants? Sorry for all those questions. I just love all these series!! I agree Marissa about Dillion as well.

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    1. Yep, the short version of A Little Bit Country is still available to be read on Goodreads at the M/M Romance Group: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/586465-sj-frost-a-little-bit-country-7-9 But, you have to be a group member to view it. It's also available in an anthology that's free to download on AllRomance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-don039treadintheclosetvolumeone-625552-145.html

      Thanks so much about Renart! I agree, the poor vamp's been part of the series from the beginning and now it's time for him to get some more attention. I've been toying around with some ideas about Matthew too, so you never know, he might come back ;-)

      And I do still have plans for Tanner from Lions Rampant. I'm hoping to be able to start writing his story this summer. Fingers crossed he doesn't give me too many troubles, lol! I'm still not sure if I'll do another story with Dillon as a lead, but I do think he'll pop up in a future story to at least show how he's doing :-)

      And no need to apologize for the questions! I don't mind in the least, and I'm always happy to answer! Thank you again for all your kind words on my stories!

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  6. This is why we love you!

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    1. lol! Why, thank you! I love all my readers, too <3

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