Where does time go?

It’s really scary how fast it flies by. My kids are 11 years apart, the youngest 7 months, and I find it hard to believe that by the time she’s her brother’s age, he’ll be grown and out of the house. Hopefully, anyway.

I went to YouTube the other day to hunt for this video. If you know me, whether personally or from Twitter or any forums I post on, then most likely you know I’m a Korn fanatic. I would talk about how much I love this band, but I wouldn’t be able to adequately express my devotion, and it would probably just come off as weird, anyway.

So I was watching this, and it slapped me right across the face that it was ten years ago. I remember that weekend of Woodstock ’99…no, I didn’t go, unfortunately (or fortunately, because I might have been brutalized in that crush). I taped Korn’s entire set. That tape is long gone, but bits and pieces can be found at YouTube. I’d give anything to have that tape. It was their most amazing performance ever. I’m pretty sure even the guys in the band say that. The crowd was insane and they fed off that energy. It was the height of their career. When Jonathan Davis screams “Arrrre you rrrready?” and the crowd goes freaking insane, I still get chills. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen them live (it’s in the mid-teens), how many times I’ve heard him bellow those words while I was out in the crowd, but I don’t think any of those times was quite as powerful as during that Woodstock set, which I watched from the safety of my living room.

They’ve lost two of the original members since then. I still love those guys dearly, but damn, how I miss what they used to be. Oh, well. There’s no going back, so here’s to the next decade, guys, and hoping it’ll be just as awesome as the last

RWA President Diane Pershing has posted her response to Deidre Knight at ESPAN. But I don’t feel like linking to it. I wasn’t expecting much, but it’s far worse than even I anticipated. Deidre posted a very civil, articulate, well-thought out response to Pershing’s letter in the RWR, and what does she get in return? Personally attacked. Accused of bias. Essentially called a hypocrite.

I really can’t read any more, because it’s given me a headache. And obviously, the debate is doing no good, because RWA is not listening. Or rather, they say they’re listening, they’re just not agreeing. Hmm.

Angela James, executive editor extraordinaire for Samhain, will post a rebuttal at ESPAN on Monday. I can’t wait to read it. I know I’ll want to cheer and applaud every word she says. It’s not going to do any good or gain any ground with the current board and president, of course, but hopefully down the line, things will get better. The simple fact of the matter is that it has to. It might not be any time soon. But e-publishing isn’t going away. And as more and more authors choose to go that route, RWA will conform. It has no other choice. More members e-publishing means more e-published authors running for office, and winning. And ushering in change. There’s no other way for RWA to go, except for that of the dinosaurs.  

In the meantime, I’m going to write, and not look to this organization to legitimize me. I have a book available for purchase. I get royalty statements. I make money. I’ve been reviewed. I have readers. Regardless of what RWA says, that makes me a published author. The fact that I’m still writing with every intention of submitting more of my work? That makes me career-minded. It’s frustrating to hear someone imply I’m not simply because of the publisher I chose (yes, RWA, I chose, I CHOSE Samhain; in fact, they were my very FIRST choice, definitely not a last resort after exhausting NY or any such nonsense).

But what I’m really, really sick of? Are the people who recommend we get out if we don’t like it. I guess so they can keep on having their little in-crowd sisterhood without those pesky e-pubbed authors trying to nose their way in. Well, guess what, ever since high school, I’ve always been on the fringe. I was always considered weird and different. Because I’m a writer. So I’ll be damned if my WRITER’S organization is going to chase me out because of the way I choose to write.

Oh, hell no.

Deidre Knight, agent and author, has penned an excellent letter to RWA regarding their frustratingly dismissive attitude toward e-publishing and the authors who choose to go that route. Anyone who was left bristling and wondering why they still give money to this organization after the President’s article in the RWR this month can’t afford to miss this.

http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/

And one little note I wanted to add myself: Ms. Pershing insinuates that any author who signs with a small press or e-publisher has no understanding of the market and therefore, if I can follow her logic, RWA has somehow failed that author.

I can only speak for myself here, but I’m guessing I’m not alone when I say that I signed with an e-publisher because I understood the market well enough to realize that my book wasn’t a fit for NY and traditional publishing. Ms. Pershing needs to consider that the only way the organization is failing us is by not evolving with the changing times or offering support for all avenues of publishing.

I’m joing the fun this month and participating in Excerpt Monday, the brainchild of Bria Quinlan and Mel Berthier from Romance Divas. I hope you all enjoy this excerpt from one of my WIPs, tentatively titled Sweet Rebellion. If you’ve read Unleashed, you’ve briefly met Brian, our tattoo artist hero. And now meet Candace, who, feeling brave (or not) on her birthday, has come to ask Brian to work his magic on her…

****************

She was so caught up in her appreciative perusal of the surroundings that she almost missed Brian’s emergence from the door behind the counter. At the sight of him, she lost her breath.

She hadn’t seen him in a few months, since his breakup with Michelle. It had been far too long, and that first sight of him was like a soothing relief to her sorely deprived senses even as her conscience grumbled at her. She couldn’t help but think of her cousin at that moment. The details of their demise were fuzzy at best; Michelle wasn’t one to talk about personal heartbreak, but it hadn’t taken any keen insights to see she’d been terribly hurt when the relationship ended.

Given the brilliant smile that lit Brian’s face when he saw Candace sitting in the waiting area, she could sympathize. She would weep oceans to lose a guy with a smile like that. It was infectious, and she was on her feet and crossing the room almost before she realized it.

Brian folded his arms on the countertop as she approached. “Hey, sunshine. What brings you out?”

She didn’t know why he called her that, but it had always made her as giggly as a teenager. “Guess.”

Brian’s gaze flickered to Macy, who had somehow mustered the courage to follow Candace to the counter. His smile intensified. “Bringing your friend in for a tongue ring.”

Candace laughed as Macy blanched and stepped back in horror. She grabbed the other girl’s arm before she could bolt for the door. “God, no. She’s a weenie.” And so am I, truth be known. Why in the hell was she acting so tough? One touch of the needle might cause her to dissolve in hysterics.

“And you?” Brian asked, one dark eyebrow raised.

“I was kind of hoping for a tattoo.”

“There’s no ‘kind of’ to it, girl. You get it or you don’t.”

“I know that.” Her gaze strayed to his arms resting on the counter. He was wearing a form-fitting black shirt with sleeves so long they almost covered his hands, but she knew that underneath, the flesh of both his arms was a riot of color from his shoulders to his wrists.

Pity that it was all hidden from her sight now. She thought his sleeves were beautiful, and always struggled not to stare…actually, on second thought, perhaps it was best he was covered. After going so long without seeing him, she might have very well embarrassed herself. How often had she fantasized about running her fingertips along all those lines and patterns and hues, deciphering all the meandering shapes, exploring the statements he’d found profound enough to mark on his skin for all time…

Plenty of times. She’d felt horribly guilty about every single one. But now Michelle was out of the picture, and in a happy relationship. Besides, it didn’t hurt to simply admire the scenery, did it?

Tonight, from head to toe, Brian looked quite subdued…for him, anyway. She was tempted to ask him what was going on. His hair was its natural lustrous black—she’d seen it every vivid color in the rainbow—worn just a little long so that it fell into his face. Not shaggy or messy like she so hated to see on guys, but silky and gorgeous and touchable… Okay, down, girl, stop right there. She noticed even his eyebrow ring was MIA.

Maybe he had a date later. Some ultra-gorgeous conservative type he desperately wanted to impress. Maybe she wouldn’t appreciate his body art. The very thought, speculative as it was, made Candace seethe. Brian was Brian. If he had to change for someone, anyone, he didn’t need them.

She cleared her throat, trying to chase the images away. “I do want a tattoo. It’s my birthday and I’m feeling rebellious.”

His perfect lips quirked at one corner. “You want me to do it, don’t you?”

She nodded and tried her best not to pout. “But they said you weren’t seeing clients tonight.”

He tugged up one sleeve and checked his watch. She caught a flash of his vibrant skin and felt her heart plummet to her toes. “I have an hour or so.” So he does have some place to be. “I can get it done unless you want something massive.”

Candace laughed and held up her hands. “Oh, no. Nothing like that.” Now, where she wanted it was another matter…

________________________________________

Links to other Monday Excerpts:

Mel Berthier, Urban Fantasy (PG 13)
Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG)

Christina DeLorenzo, YA (PG 13)
Bryn Donovan, Paranormal  (PG)
MG Braden, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Babette James, Fantasy Romance (PG 13)
Cynthia Justlin, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Kaige, Historical Romance (PG  13)
Adelle Laundan, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Jeannie Lin, Historical Romance (PG 13)
RF Long, Paranormal (PG 13)
Crista McHugh, Paranormal  (PG 13)
Dara Sorensen, Paranormal (PG)

Evie Byrne, Historical Romance (R)
Grace Draven, Fantasy Romance (R)
Cate Hart, YA- Paranormal  (R)
Aithne Jarretta, Paranormal (R)
Inez Kelley, Contemporary Romantic Comedy (R)
Aislinn Kerry, Paranormal (R)
Kim Knox, Erotic-  Sci-fi Suspense (R)
Alina Morgan, Urban Fantasy (R)

Stephanie Adkins, Erotic-  Supsense (NC 17)
Ella Drake, Sci-Fi Romance (NC 17)
Annie Nicholas, Sci-Fi Romance (NC 17)
Kirsten Saell, Erotic – Fantasy (NC 17)

I couldn’t be happier about my new site. It was designed by Celia Kyle at Get Cesigned. She did a fabulous job, didn’t she? If you’re in the market for a website, she gets my very highest recommendation. And her rates are crazy cheap.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. Mine is already going by too fast! But as I can’t wait for the True Blood season premiere tomorrow night, I guess that’s a good thing. Glass half full, huh?

‘Til next time,

Cherrie