Dragonflies

I've moved!

2008-03-27T00:31:00.000-07:00

I've moved my blog to my website at www.sablegrey.net
Please go there for new blog entries.

A Lover's Moon (poem)

2008-03-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Moonlight pours through the open window
Filtering onto spent bodies a pale white glow

Branded upon his shoulders flush the marks of love
Crimson ribbons twist beneath light from above

Reminds me of something wild and untamed
Like the yearning for passion so long un-named

Pelts out now like unkempt sin
Upon sinewy muscle and milky skin

Atop a few mornings they will be gone
Just memories of the night’s passion song

An echo of a glow that falls across the room
Faint scratches in the lover’s moon

The Absent Ms. Grey

2008-03-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

Swamped. That's the only word to describe my schedule since December. But in a good way. I just put in a couple of fifteen hour days and feel great about it because I really worked my butt off and got alot accomplished.

Writing...zip. I've written nothing new.

Art...nothing for myself but I've done ALOT of cover art recently. It's been alot of fun. My most recent cover is this one, which I'm pretty delighted with:

Ain't it purtie?

Since December I HAVE cut my hair. The pony tail do was getting old so i decided to wack it off. And I did and now it's really cute.

I hate the word diet...cause that's not what it is. But as of March the 1st I've been working out and watching how much junk I eat everyday. Since we started Cobblestone Press and I spend so many hours infront of the computer now, my butt has gotten happy with the vacation but the vacation is over and it's time to get myself back on track. My goal is to lose thirty pounds. Now don't get me wrong...I look good and I know I know, I carry weight well because I'm tall but I'm not comfortable with the number on the scale so I don't really care what anyone else says, I'm gonna get back to a number I'm comfortable with. So thirty pounds. Thos einterested, I'll keep ya posted, those not, moving on...

I'm so happy that my friend G is back from Kenya! YAY! Who knows for how long. He's the explorer type and likes to go alot. Me, if I were going to go to WALMART, which I don't, but if I did, I would take the same road every time or I would make my own road that no one could use but me where no cellphones are allowed. G on the otherhand is the kind that likes to explore new roads and see where they lead him...a very interesting person. I'm happy he's home for awhile so we can catch up before he goes off on another adventure.

Other than that, it's work work work. I've been keeping very busy. Deanna and I both have. And while it seems stressful sometimes, I'd much rather be very busy than sitting here with nothing to do but think about how I'm not writing.

CPQ Magazine now FREE

2007-12-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

CPQ Magazine is now a free download!

I'm really excited about the magazine being free now. We'd discussed it when we first decided to take the dive with this project but decided that we would charge for each issue in case it didn't take off like we hoped. After two issues, however we could see that the popularity of the magazine would NOT be a problem.

We are keeping the advertising at the same costs and are brainstorming new ideas to give authors more ways to connect to readers. Our advertising now ranges from $5 for a clickable cover ad to much more expensive video advertising. We wanted CPQ to be a magazine that was affordable for every author to use as a marketing tool in their promotions. We also wanted to make a magazine that appealed to authors AND readers. It seems we've acomplished that! And the full page ads that we do for authors...we send the image to the authors for free to use in other promotions for their books. - It's so freakin expensive to have ads designed that we thought that would be a cool thing to do for authors.

For those not familiar with this magazine it's a quarterly publication that includes interviews with agents, authors, artists, and other industry professionals, writing related articles and columns, short romance stories, featured websites, and of course an Around Cobblestone section (it is afterall OUR magazine). But we welcome other publishers to advertise in the magazine as well as authors published at other presses.

One of my favorite features of CPQ is that every cover, link address, and banner is clickable - a direct link to that book page, publisher, or author website. And the book videos play on click...I'm all about the visual...lol

Sooo, that's my big news...what I'm so excited about right now. If you guys are interested in looking at of the issues (did I mention that the magazine is FREE now? lol) you can check it out at http://www.cobblestone-quarterly.com/

Sable Grey
Cobblestone Press, LLC
www.cobblestone-press.com

WIM Conference

2007-11-09T09:18:00.001-08:00

Words In Motion (WIM) is an annual online conference developed to offer support, marketing, and networking within the romance and erotic romance industries. Our goal is to provide affordable and convenient opportunities for authors, publishers, and other professional individuals. WIM is a free event, meaning it costs absolutely nothing to attend or participate.

2008 WIM Conference: Romantic Suspense, January 2nd - 6th
The Lamplighter Conference Center, Main Street Community Forums

Special Presentations

Forensics: A Reality Check for Authors - M. E. McCombs
Image Building: Developing a Web Presence - Croco Designs
Workshop for Authors on Marketing - Kayelle Allen
Writing the Convincing Villain - Melanie Atkins

For more information and for details about how to register:
http://www.cobblestone-mainstreet.com/WIM/

In Other Words

2007-11-04T11:20:00.000-08:00

So on one of my lists, the use of the "f" word in literature came up...so I made a list:

Have sex
Fuck
Thrust
Ram
Slam
Bang
Coition
Gyrate hips
Deflower
Copulate
Fornicate
Boff
Tup
Consummate
Hump
Shag
Hunch
Make out
Breed
Mate
Making Love
Make Out
Go all the way
Screw
Lay
Procreate
Pop her cherry
Hanky Panky
Boning
Slapping Skin
Milk the Bull
Knocking Boots
Bumping Uglies
Boink

Then with the help of A. L. Debran (http://www.al-debran.com), we searched the internet and found some wonderful resource sites for euphemisms for "having sex"

http://www.starma.com/penis/richardkitty/richardkitty.htm
http://www.sex-lexis.com/
http://www.uta.fi/FAST/GC/sex-scat.html
http://www.gregology.net/Gregtionary/sextionary.php

2007-10-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

Okay one of my favorite horror movie lines is from the exorcist "Your mother sucks cock in hell" - I know its horrible. Anyway I was researching for my French Revolution story today and found this:

"Ta mere suce des bites en enfer" which means, yes they had the whole sentence "Your mother sucks cock in hell".

I think its fabulous

Snark This Cover

2007-10-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

So I sat down yesterday and created a horrendous cover that would NEVER be approved for a book at Cobblestone Press.

Feel free to snark this cover!

20 Things about Me

2007-10-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here are twenty things about me that some might not know....

1. I have a thing for priests (I'm not Catholic and I don't think I've ever even met a priest before lol)

2. Mustard and cheese can't be together on the same side of meat on my burgers. The two yellow colors touching gross me out.

3. I use genealogy research software to make timelines for my historical novels.

4. I can't drink milk with ice in it...because ice looks yellow when floating in white milk...gross.

5. While I've written about it in my books for my readers, I do not and have no plans in the future to have anal sex. While I would be up for just about anything else in the bedroom, my ass is my own and I like to keep it for private things like taking a shit.

6. I was born in and currently live in Mississippi but lived in Longmont, Colorado for 5 years.

7. I love history and genealogy research.

8. I have never married a man with a little dick.

9. The first story I ever wrote and completed was called The Duck The Rock and The Fork about a Duck, a Rock, and a Fork that became friends when the duck decided to run away from home. The Rock and the fork convinced him that no place was better than home and so he went back to his home on the farm and they lived happily ever after. I wrote it when I was a child...when my mother told us (the kids) to go write her a story - to get us out of her hair.

10. Before I started writing romance, I read and wrote horror.

11. I took two years of journalism in college.

12. One of my big toes is smaller than the other big toe.

13. I like making beaded jewelry and working with clay, I also like to paint - my favorite is working with watercolor.

14. I drink anywhere from 6 to 8 Diet Dr. Peppers a day.

15. I smoke half a carton of Doral Ultra Lights 100's a week.

16. My favorite color is red.

17. One of my closest friends has been my friend since the third grade.

18. I've cried watching commercials (the one with the dad playing with his kids before work and when he leaves, they stand in the window and watch him go gets me every time.)

19. I started and ran a not for profit organization called AWS Survivors of Abuse for 5 years during which time I scheduled and managed a conference for survivors of abuse, published a monthly newsletter for over 500 members, and participated in peer counseling.

20. Deanna Lee and I are not the same person, we are not lesbians, we do not live together, and I am meaner than she is. LOL

New Release: Something Wild

2007-10-05T05:56:00.001-07:00

Something Wild by Sable Grey

Paranormal Historical
Something wild is stalking through London and only one man can stop the killings.

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/somethingwild.htm

London is a city drowning in fear as a barrage of gruesome murders plague the streets in Whitechapel. Detective Baden Sikes is out to find the ripper but gets preoccupied a bit with a young woman he decides to save from a life of thievery in the streets.

Baden wants Cora...wants her bad, but with so much at stake and his own secrets threatening to destroy him and those he loves, can he afford to give his heart to this woman? Or will he leave them all at the mercy of the wild thing that stalks through London?

Content: Erotic Romance
This title contains explicit language, violence, and graphic sex

Excerpt:

Something Wild by Sable Grey

Baden stood in the doorway of the kitchen, sipping his bourbon as he watched Cora make her tea. It was past midnight. He’d heard her weeping earlier, but waited until her sobs had ceased.

Now his gaze slid down the length of her blonde hair to the sleeping gown. It was the same she’d worn when she’d attempted to seduce him with her ripped slipper. Its sheer material slipped around her curves as she moved, and each time she stepped in front of the candle, he could see the outline of her body.

He leaned against the doorframe when she began humming softly.

“Have you enough for two?” he spoke then smiled when she started with a yelp of surprise. Her fingers splayed out against her chest as she breathed out. She turned back to her tea after a quick glance at his glass.

“I’ve more than enough, if you want some.” She nodded and reached for a second cup. He just wanted to be near her. To smell her scent, to have her look at him with those clear eyes, to scold him with her quick tongue. Everything about her excited him, aroused him. He didn’t want tea. He wanted her.

“What did Webber tell you to do to seduce me?”

Her hands stilled and her back stiffened. “You were witness to my failed attempt.”

“But you went back. Did he not give you more advice?” Baden walked slowly toward her, but she didn’t turn to face him.

“It was suggested I use my mouth to seduce you.” Her hands dropped to the wooden surface of the counter.

“Did he show you how? Make you practice…”

She whirled, her eyes flashing in the candlelight. “He did not. I am not so stupid that I would fall for such a ploy even if he had suggested I do so.” She clasped her hands together when Baden halted in front of her. “Besides, I talked mostly with one of the women there. She demonstrated on a carrot.”

Baden didn’t mean to laugh. “And you’d planned on doing what she taught you to do?”

“I’d not resolved if I would or would not.” She visibly shook, obviously affected by him.

Carefully he set his glass on the counter behind her, slanting his gaze down at her when she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply as if she were breathing in his scent, too.

“Why would you even consider it?”

“You’d done so for me…put your mouth on me.” She opened her eyes as he straightened. “And I told you I wanted more of your kiss.”

“And it does not occur to you to respect my wishes?” He raised an eyebrow.

“You want me. I know you do. As I said, I am not stupid.” She licked her lips nervously. “Why should I respect something that is not truly your wish at all?”

“I told you that if I indulged myself, I would keep you.” He wanted to touch her, to reach out and run his finger across the softness of her cheek.

“Perhaps I want to be kept.”

“You think you do, but I am not what I seem. You have not seen me for what I truly am.”

“And what are you?” she asked, her words breathy as if she continued to be affected by him.

“Something wild.” He finally lifted a finger to brush back a strand of her hair. “Not much different than The Ripper…” Her fingers suddenly pressed against his lips; her large blue eyes welled with sudden tears.

“Don’t you ever say that again,” she whispered. “You are kind and generous and decent. You’re nothing like the monster that roams the streets. He has no guilt, no shame, no pain, no conscience. I see all of those in your eyes now.”

“If you only knew, you would not be so eager to win my affection,” Baden spoke against her fingers.

“You hide yourself, sir, but I still see you. You have passion you struggle to control. I knew that the second day I’d known you when you struck Webber. I saw it again that day in your study.” Her free hand rose to his chest, and she closed the distance between them. “I felt the wild in you when you kissed me. It’s what has driven me to seek Webber’s help.”

“I am only half a man.” Baden reached up to wrap his hand around her delicate wrist, pulling her fingers from his mouth. “The rest is…” He stopped when her fingers curled against him. Her gaze reflected deep lust. She would not care if he told her he was half winged demon. Her desire warmed him more than any bourbon, intoxicated him.

“The rest is what?”

He leaned forward, brushing his jaw against her cheek as he inhaled deeply, exhaling on the word “beast”. He might have leaned away. He might have left the room. But that small whimper that pushed from her lips weakened and bound him. So be it.

Something Wild Cover Art!

2007-09-30T16:23:00.001-07:00

I've just received my cover art for my upcoming release, Something Wild!

My Queen

2007-09-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

Today I'm posting about a remarkable author...the very reason I ever started writing romance to begin with. Picture a girl of 19 who'd only read Stephen King and Piers Anthony her whole life. Now her friend gives her a set of books, a trilogy by Iris Johansen.

Iris Johansen is the single largest influence in my career as a romance author. The Wind Dancer Series, after reading it, was and still is my favorite set of romance books of all time. They are filled with action, adventure, sensuality, and romance. The moment I closed the last book I KNEW that was what I wanted to write.

Now over ten years later, I still strive for the talent Johansen's books are filled with. I open and read the Wind Dancer series atleast twice a year to remind myself what my goal is.

While my set is tattered and I definitely need to buy a new one, they remain the inspiration - that which makes me strive to better myself as an author and strive to accomplish in my books.

Upcoming Release

2007-09-26T00:38:00.000-07:00

I'm Sooooo Excited about my release next month at Cobblestone Press.

It's called Something Wild and I've not seen my cover yet but I can hardly wait! Louisa Gallie is doing an original painting for my cover of one of my character and it's killing me to wait like this. The last time I was this excited about a cover, it was my first publication with Liquid Silver Books and I worried the hell out of April Martinez - the cover was for The Pirate's Jewel and it's still one of my favs from April.

Anyway, Something Wild is my paranormal Jack The Ripper story - inspired by the Werewolves Of London and Come Together songs. My book is of course set in London during the ripper murders. Add a couple of werewolves and a woman drawn to the darker wilder side of a man she barely knows and there you have it.

I really enjoyed writing this book...of mixing the historical and paranormal like this. I was very careful not to mess up the historical time line of the actual murders. That's the best part of writing a historical, weaving my fictional story into the actual history.

I did alot of research for this book. As most of you know, I LOVE doing historical research. I knew very little about these murders until I did the research and now I'm obsessed with wanting more and more information. The fact that the murders are still unsolved drives me crazy though...lol.

One of my characters in this book is actually based on a real person. I found him fascinating in my research and knew my that story couldn't do without him. Ripper researchers, can you spot who it is? Thos that are very familiar with the history of the Jack the Ripper history can spot him easily...he's on the very first page and a key character to my story. When you read it, feel free to post a comment to this thread and we'll discuss the differences between my character and the real person.

Aside from my fascination with this history now, these murders were truly horrific. We may never know who this blood thirsty madman was. In my book of course, I reveal a killer to be the ripper - because I like things to be wrapped up. Maybe someday this chapter in history can be solved as well.

What's up?

2007-09-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

I've been swamped to be honest. So I'm FINALLY getting a chance to update!

Writing:

Released at Ellora's Cave: The Latharian Review
Released at Cobblestone Press: Hired Hands
To be released in October at Cobblestone Press: Something Wild

WIP:
1. "WISDOM" for the In The Cards series at Cobblestone Press
2. Erotic western romance series
3. Second Salacity Book
4. Second Latharian Book for Ellora's Cave
5. Exiled - another Bieste Book

Publishing:
CPQ Magazine - I've been working hard on getting the September Issue of CPQ ready. Lots of cool interviews and some great fiction in store for everyone!

Deanna Lee and I will be attending a MSRW meeting this month to do a presentation about e-publishers.

Artwork:
I'm working on several projects....some of which will be revealed soon. I finished up all the covers for the Oracle Card series at Cobblestone Press. The authors LOVE them and that makes me really happy.

So yeah, as you can see, I've been busy busy.

2007-03-21T22:42:00.000-07:00

Talking Art - Introduction

A youtube thing I'm gonna try to do weekly.

2007-02-26T23:47:00.000-08:00

snakes on a plane

OMg...I LAUGHED MY BUTT OFF. This is fabulous. The Christopher Walken one had me laughing so hard I nearly peed my pants.

2006-12-27T06:48:00.000-08:00

Historical Romance Reading and Writing Workshop

I'll be hosting a research and writing section of this workshop!

SALACITY released!

2006-11-15T22:38:00.000-08:00

Referred to as The Darkness Series, the Salacity books are erotic paranormal romance anthologies that include stories that all take place in the fictional town of Salacity, IL.

Salacity, released on November 10, 2006 from Cobblestone Press, LLC, contains three stories:

When Darkness Falls
Officer Darq Dillion has a neighbor who is hot for him - but would she be so eager to hop in his bed if she knew he was a vampire?

Chasing Shadows
Psychic FBI Agent, Dixie Daniels, works with Darq Dillion to capture a serial killer. One strange professor is the key to catching their killer - because he has more in common with the fugitive than Dixie can guess.

The Dark Half
Darq's adopted son, Doctor Jack Jordan can't help his attraction to his new assistant, Andrea Ashley. But can they trust each other enough to reveal their dark secrets?

To learn more visit www.salacitybooks.com

Also released on Nov 10th were The Ripple Effect: Dane by Jodie Becker and Vali's Curse by L. Shannon.

2006-11-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

SALACITY Excerpt

Read a short excerpt of my upcoming book, Salacity.

2006-11-02T07:12:00.000-08:00

Ghost Car

This scared the hell out of me

Salacity

2006-09-18T23:19:00.000-07:00

My new anthology called Salacity was accepted at Cobblestone Press, LLC! It's an anthology of three paranormal romances that take place in the fictional city of Salacity. I'm real excited about this because I'm working on three more stories for a second anthology. Anyway, here's the cover. :D

Finished!

2006-09-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

So a few nights ago my muse dragged her drunken & broke ass back home from vegas. And I put her to work. Last night, I finished the 3rd Darkness series book! *snoopy dancing across the keyboard*

The third story is called but subject to be changed, The Dark Side. It's about Jack Jordan - remember the kid in the first book? Yep, he's all grown up, a doctor at J&H Laboratories. So this story is about him, his new employee Andrea Ashely, and his partner Hyder Haines - all in the J&H building where nobody is what they seem.

Now I just have to figure out what the heck to do with them. Since the first two are no longer available at any publisher, I'm thinking I might go in, add and revise, and then bundle all three into an anthology. That way, once I find a publisher, readers can get the new improved versions of the first two and then the newest addition in one.

I'm really excited to be writing again!

-Sable

Missing books

2006-08-23T18:28:00.000-07:00

Incase some of you are looking for my books: Hired Hands, Storm in the Rockies, When Darkness Falls, Chasing Shadows, and The King's Sword - no, there is no glitch in your computer or mine. LOL

Currently I'm working on a new book for the Darkness Series. I will be combining the three into an anthology and submitting them to Cobblestone Press as a collection.

Hired Hands will be reworked, added to, and hopefully made into a much longer book with lot of great extra scenes for Will and Tessa. I'll keep you all posted on that.

I'm not sure about Storm in the Rockies right now...I may submit it to a new publisher.

And The King's Sword, I will be submitting to some Fantasy publishers with hopes of getting a book deal for it. :D

So there ya go, now you know. They aren't missing...they are just going to different addresses. :D

-Sable

On writing

2006-07-20T22:39:00.000-07:00

Well I'm writing. Two books at once...the Octoberfest book (I'll be subbing to Cobblestone Press) that I HAVE to finish this weekend and a western historical. Dan Skinner has given me two cowboy cover art images so now I have to decide what other cowboy book I'm gonna write.

Mostly, I've been writing late at night. Everything is quieter and not much chance of the phone ringing. So no interruptions.

I know some of my readers are getting impatient with me not having a new romance book out lately...I'm working on it peeps. I had a major block for several months but now, at last, I'm getting back into the swing of things so I hope to be writing like crazy and getting several books out to publishers soon.

Be patient, grasshoppers.

-Sable

New clothes

2006-07-03T22:14:00.000-07:00

As you've probably noticed, I've redone my website and blog design. I needed a change.

I've got a new release with Midnight Showcase. It's a short story called Off Duty Romance and is part of an anthology titled Summer Heat 1. Check it out at http://www.midnightshowcase.com It's also available in print through POD at lulu.com

So Cobblestone Press is doing wonderfully! Our first month and sales are great, our authors are happy, and readers seem to really like our books! The reviews that the books have received have been amazing and the excitement buzzing around Cobblestone Press is wonderful. I couldn't be happier.

And finally, I'm writing! I started the second chapter of the halloween book I'm writing to submit to Cobblestone Press (yes, even the owners of the company have to submit and can be rejected - we're fair.) I hope to get this book completed soon and submitted because I have another I want to write for a series of special books. Then I think it will be time for a historical. :D

-Sable

One is the loneliest number...

2006-06-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Mr. Grey comes home on Tuesday. He's been gone a week to Colorado and I admit I've missed him terribly. It's good though that he has gotten to see his mother who is very ill.

I've been keeping busy with Cobblestone Press and am very pleased with how well things are going for our new company. The authors have been fabulous, the editors spectacular, and we have some really wonderful books to be released.

We've recently taken on some new cover artists too - I'm so excited to see their work on the site! It's going to look FAB!

I'm off now to do some CP work.

-Sable

MIA: Where the F is Sable?!

2006-05-31T23:11:00.000-07:00

I know. I haven't blogged in awhile. I've been busy with Cobblestone Press and getting ready for the Grand Opening which is now 1, that's one, day away. I want to take a moment to brag about some people before I start talking about me me me.

Deanna Lee and I are so fortunate to have such a fabulous staff at Cobblestone Press and to have all these great authors signed on with us! Our editors are remarkable, our artists have so much talent, and the authors just blow me away with their enthusiasm and support of one another's success. That's what ebook publishing is supposed to be about. It's not supposed to be about cat fights, disappointments, and seeing who can outdo the others.

Okay, now about me...cause I'm awesome too.

The King's Sword, a mainstream fantasy novel, was released today at Titan Press and I'm suprised at how excited I am about it. While it is a fantasy, not a romance, there IS a romantic relationship going on in the story. At this point I don't think I could write a book without one.

You can purchase this book at Titan Press - http://www.titanpress.net

Blurb:

Ronan Culley is just a blacksmith, or so he keeps telling himself. But when a Royal Guard dies at his feet leaving him to deliver the King’s Sword to the new King, Ronan’s whole world is turned upside down. With the help of his apprentice, an old witch, and a dragon, Ronan must face the world outside home as well as the demons within his own heart on a journey that will test his heart and his will.

Excerpt

As he swung onto the horse, rage filled him. What if the boy was killed? Ronan bent forward as he’d seen Ula do when Ahearn headed back up the road in a full gallop. His fingers gripped the hilt of the sword, promising himself that he would cut off Bryan’s blond head if Arien had been killed.

“Faster,” Ronan growled and to his surprise Ahearn leaned into the run, forcing his legs to pump harder. Around the bend and the horse reared up as he halted. Ronan’s eyes were wide as they fell to Arien’s crumpled body. Keegan and Ula stood, surrounded by the centaurs while Sorcha, Dermot, and Keegan’s horses struggled to untie themselves from a tree.

Keegan brandished a sword and Ula gripped her mule rock ribbon, clearly ready to use it as a weapon if she was made to. She was murmuring something that Ronan could only guess was some kind of protective spell. He prayed that someone heard her voice. One of the centaurs was bleeding and he saw that Keegan’s sword showed evidence of a strike. They were doing all they could to protect Arien. Thick emotion tore through Ronan and pushed him to kick Ahearn forward, raising the sword.

“If you make me use this, I will be the next King of Irys and you can be sure the lives you live now will seem like that of royalty for I will make everyone of your kind into the kind of slaves you could not even imagine.” Ronan’s voice lifted, bounced off the trees around them with conviction. Every one of them looked at him as Ahearn neared.

“You are the blacksmith.” Bryan shifted his stance, staring at Ronan.

“I am also a royal guard and you may name me king in a few moments.” Ronan met Bryan’s eyes. “I am not like the boy. I do not bluff and I will kill the lot of you if I must.” Bryan’s blue eyes widened and Ronan could read easily that the centaur knew he spoke the truth. Ahearn pranced a little as if liking the prospect of a fight but neither Ronan’s gaze nor balance wavered.

“Not before we kill them first.” Bryan nodded to Arien and one of the centaurs lifted a hoof to hover above the boy’s head. Ronan knew Bryan saw his body stiffen. He hadn’t expected the man to use the boy against him. It had been stupid to think he wouldn’t.

“You made a mistake, blacksmith. You came back for those you cared for. It is true you have the weapon, but you give us one of our own to use. And we will use it.”

Bryan took a step forward when Ronan’s eyes darted to Arien. “This is not what I want. We are not a violent people. I can see that you are the same. Irysgale will not know that you gave the sword to me. They will think you were ambushed. The boy has injuries. They will not question your word. Go back to your forge and leave this to us.”

“I understand you more than you know, centaur, but I cannot do what you ask of me.” Ronan felt as if he were being torn. His heart pounded at the choice that was left to him. His hatred for the sword deepened.

“But no one need ever know what happens here,” Bryan insisted, stamping a hoof against the road and creating a cloud of dust. The movement brought Ahearn moving forward without Ronan’s command. But the horse did not charge and Ronan gave Ahearn’s reins a slight tug to remind him to wait.

“I will know.” Ronan’s eyes slid from Arien to rest on the centaur. “I did not want this obligation but it is mine. And those three are my responsibility as well. I was paid to make this sword for the wizard Thestian. The weapon belongs to him.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Keegan’s head snap around. No doubt the horseman was surprised that Ronan had included him in those he would fight for. Ronan realized in that instant that Keegan had known the suspicion Ronan had felt toward him the day before. He would right his mistake. Keegan would know that Ronan would never doubt him again.

“Very well, blacksmith,” Bryan said sadly, looking back to the one who waited for command. “Do it.” Ula screamed.

It was a sound that Ronan was certain if one note higher would make a man’s ears bleed. And it stopped everyone, causing them to look at her. Her shoulders were squared, thrown back and her dark eyes looked like dangerous wells of evil. Overhead, the skies suddenly darkened, drew black clouds from every direction. Wind tore at the trees, bent them with little effort and for once Ronan saw the true power of the healer.

She had hidden this side of herself, allowing Ronan only to see her as a bothersome woman, perhaps even as mad. But Ula Baen was more than that and anyone who looked at her at this moment could see that fact clearly.

With flourish of her hand and without even looking in Arien’s direction, Ula’s tiny blade split through the air and planted in the neck of the centaur that hovered over the boy. For a moment the creature only stared at her, then staggered backward and fell into a muscled heap.

Thunder clapped and lightening forked from the sky as if it were by her will. It struck the ground only a few yards from where they stood. Ronan felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as the electric charge filled the air. Any moment, she would have the sky spitting ice at them!

“Get out of my way or I will take you out one by one.” Her voice didn’t even sound like her own. Ronan stared as the centaurs moved away from her so she could go to Arien. When she dropped to his side, the wind settled and the sky immediately cleared. It was as if her power had never been, which made it all the more frightening.

MORE COVERS!

2006-05-09T22:57:00.000-07:00

As you can see I've been busy! Here are all my newest covers at Cobblestone Press, LLC.

New covers for Cobblestone Press

2006-03-29T04:35:00.000-08:00

Here are some new covers I've done for Cobblestone Press.

What's up with Sable?

2006-03-20T13:55:00.000-08:00

June 2nd is our Grand Opening for Cobblestone Press (http://www.cobblestone-press.com) and I am getting more excited with each passing day. I'm very impressed with all the submissions we've been getting in and I've been having a blast creating covers! Here are some I've already done for Grand Opening:

It's keeping me very busy but I am really enjoying to work. The authors are fabulous. I think its because we aren't just limiting ourselves in word count or catergory. Lots of people can write 10K stories and quickly so it looks like our 10K-20K Tryst books are going to be very popular. Also, because we are publishing mainstream (sensual) romance to erotic romance we are attracting a larger group of authors. Lots of authors are enjoying the fact that we ARE being selective about what we will accept and that regardless if we accept or reject, we try, if we can, to offer helpful feedback about the manuscripts.

I'm also quite pleased with the staff at Cobblestone Press. I'm doing cover art myself but we also have three other very talented artists. Our editors are tough editors who are working their butts off to polish up each and every manuscript we contract. And the people at review sites, other epublishers, and others in the electronic publishing industry have been very supportive. Also, I have to say that Erin Fry at RWR has also been extremely nice, patient, and helpful.

It's just amazing at how supportive people are of what Deanna Lee and I are trying to do with this new epublisher.

As far as my own writing goes...I've just completed the editing at Venus Press for Chasing Shadows, the sequel to my paranormal When Darkness Falls. I should begin editing at Titan Press soon for my mainstream fantasy The King's Sword.

I've got a few other manuscripts in the works that I write on inbetween the Cobblestone Press work.

So that's what I've been up to...busy busy busy...just the way I like it!

-Sable Grey

Cobblestone Press

2006-01-15T17:01:00.000-08:00

Deanna Lee and I are starting a new epublisher! Check us out at http://www.cobblestone-press.com

We are an electronic publisher of sensual and erotic romance seeking creative storytelling and original style. Because we at Cobblestone Press are selective about what we accept, we are looking for authors to set the standard of writing for this new press; authors that show extraordinary ability to weave tales of romance through strong, unforgettable characters, plots that twist and turn with layers of conflict and emotion, and a style that sets them apart from other writers in the market.

We will begin accepting submissions from published and unpublished authors on: March 3, 2006

Cobblestone Press, LLC will open on: June 2, 2006

We'll be publishing:

Novella: 20,000-40,000
Novel: 40,001-65,000
Full Novel: 65,001-100,000

Cobblestone Press is a full service publisher. There are NO fees for the author at any point during our publication process. We are NOT a vanity publisher. Your book will be edited, assigned an ISBN number, and cover art will be provided.

I'm totally psyched about this and about working with authors. We are going to do everything we can to promote and market the books and the authors. WHoo hoo...great things for 2006!

-Sable

Manucriptmania

2005-12-16T20:54:00.000-08:00

I'm currently working on three new books for my Salacity Series (When Darkness Falls) at Venus Press. I've also got a contemporary thriller and a couple of historicals in the making.

Though I'm not the art director at Venus Press anymore, I'm still doing cover art for them and am working with other publishers as well. Some of my covers can be found at Ocean's Mist Press, Venus Press, Titan Press, and I just signed on with Loose Id as a cover artist. And I'm having a great time!

As soon as my new books go through editing, I'll post an excerpt for y'all. I'm really excited about all my upcoming releases, and hope to have more to add to my coming soon list shortly.

-SG

What' s New

2005-11-19T21:07:00.000-08:00

Well, today I received a contract for a short story, Off Duty Romance, from Midnight Showcase. Editing for A Question of Honor, the first book of my mainstream historical romance Redleigh series for Titan Press, starts soon. Yeah! And Sable Grey Designs has hooked up with Cerberus Inc and is off and running.

I'm working on a few stories now...hopefully to have submitted before the end of the year - too many to list.

That's about it. Everything is rolling along wonderfully.

-SG

Holy Cow

2005-11-04T22:47:00.000-08:00

Big news today...Piers Anthony...one of my favorite authors...is being published at Venus Press - My publisher! WOW. That says a lot about VP in my opinion since Piers Anthony doesn't take crap from publishers and calls them on their shit...yet he submits to VP. Makes me feel smart and special to be with them right now.

Finished Chasing Shadows, sequel to When Darkness Falls! Yeah for me! I'm really looking forward tothis book coming out in print. I think my editor will have me heat it up a bit...which is fine...cause the plot is a lot better, in my opinion than When Darkness Falls.

Me and Deanna Lee finally tied the knot...online, so to speak. She's my bestfriend and now we have a forum together! Rogue Skirts. VEry cool! I feel honored that she wants a forum with me...we are working on an anthology together called Southern Nights. It's funny..people have thought we are the same person, that we are lovers...but the truth is...as much as I would love to be her...we are bestfriends.

It's good to have a best friend who is in the same business...and quite honestly, I don't know what I would do without her support. I've come to rely on her encouragement...how selfish is that?

I hope she relies on me too.

SG

Featured Cover

2005-10-15T22:51:00.000-07:00

The response I've gotten from my new cover art design page (www.sablegrey.net/designs/index.html) has been great! I've had several people tell me I should charge more. LOL I'm pretty certain I "should" but I'm content with the prices I've marked. I would charge more if I was designing a cover for an author but these are premade...a little more creative freedom for me and an alternative for authors who can't afford $200 to $400 covers for their books right now.

So here's the one that I've done that I like best:

Rafferty Jones

2005-10-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

This is the pic I have of Rafferty Jones right now. I admit, I'm not completely happy with it but it's pretty close to how I picture her in my head.

Rafferty Jones is the kick ass heroine in the Pirate's Jewel. She's a pirate and when Merrick Cole captures her to take her back to London where she is sentenced to hang, she fights him the whole way - but that's not all she does with him *wicked grin*

oooh ahhh oooh

2005-10-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, so now the background music on the book pages of my website can be turned off! Yeah! And I added a calendar page to my site for visiotrs to find out when I have upcoming events - its very cool - like author chats, publisher chats, interviews, etc. I've also condensed all my links into one page...whoo hoo!

I actually wrote a little bit today as well. My muse has become a stubborn dragon with her heels dug in but I did milk a little creativity out today.

a busy busy little dragonfly

2005-10-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well I've been working on my website and the new design. I've yet to add the fun page where I'll have all kinds of games for visitors to play.

As requested by a visitor, I'm adding tooltips to all the links. This is going to take awhile. So far I'vegot the main page finished. But in the end, ALL the links on my site will have this feature.

I'm also looking for a script that will allow visitors to click a button to turn off the background music on the book pages since some don't particularly care for the tunes.

I've added a forums feature for the readers and visitors to interact. Very cool.

I'm working on my designs page (not yet linked to my site). I have decided to go ahead and offer my services to those who want them: webpage design, book promotional teasers, and cover art design.

So yeah, I've been busy busy busy :)

Revamp and Vamp Release!

2005-09-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm redesigning my website, hoping to make it easier and more fun to navigate. I'm nowhere near being finished...working on the art page and the research pages...but the design and most of the links work.

On Tuesday, my book, When Darkness Falls, was released at Venus Press. I'm very excited since all the feedback I've gotten so far has been fabulous. This is a new area for me...vampire paranormal...and I wasn't certain I could really pull it off. Apparantly I did. (I designed the cover myself.)

BLURB:

Nina Nicholas’ mouth has been watering for her hunky cop neighbor, Darq Dillion, since the moment she laid eyes on him. But all her attempts to win his attention have failed. In fact, she doesn’t even know he has an interest in her until she receives a creepy letter and has to turn to him for real help.

Darq Dillion has a secret, one that doesn’t allow him many chances at relationships. The sexy librarian that lives next door in his apartment building makes it difficult to remember that. Things heat up after he’s forced to try to protect her from a stalker that manages to slip around even his acute senses, forcing him to reveal his secret and leave his heart vulnerable.

EXCERPT (ADULT):

Every time he was near Nina, he could feel her hot energy pressing out towards him. It set him on fire. Her aura was easier to read than most. Red, hot, and pulsating. And even without her ploys, he felt her energy get warmer when she looked at him.

As he walked naked into the bathroom, he wondered what scheme she would plan next. Turning on the shower, he imagined her sitting again on the sofa, her robe open around her, waiting for him to join her. He’d known what she’d been waiting for. It had taken all the strength he had, not to give in and to remain standing, afraid if he’d sat down next to her, all would have been lost.

As steam began to drift over the glass door, he slipped into the shower and stepped into the heat of the spray. He ran his hands over his face, attempting to wash away the arousal that had filled his veins. What man wouldn’t want a woman who would go to such extremes to catch his attention?

He turned and leaned a hand against the stall as the water pounded rhythmically onto his back. The image of that damnable outfit burned into his brain. He couldn’t push it aside. God, she’d looked inviting. His hand slid down to his hardened cock. He’d wanted to rip it off of her the moment she turned around and faced him.

Closing his eyes, his fingers wrapped around the shaft of his cock and then ran up the length to its head. Down again. When she’d leaned closer, he’d smelled her natural scent buried beneath the soft scented perfume she’d dabbed at her throat. That scent had pleaded for him to bury his face into her flesh, to taste her.

The rhythm of his hand on his cock quickened as he recalled the softness of her breast against his arm. It had been her nipple, pushing past the lace constraint and the material of his shirt that he’d noticed most.

And when he’d stepped into her bedroom, she’d left several of her unmentionables scattered about. He was certain it had been purposely done and had felt like a pervert when he’d dared to hold one of the silken garments in his fingers. Her eyes had been pleading, hopeful, desperate when she’d offered him the drink.

Agonizing tension knotted in the pit of him as his breath deepened. He worked his hand over his cock, desperate to find release to the need in his body. He turned, leaning his shoulders against the cool tiles of the shower wall, growling low as the warmth that rained on to him only heightened his arousal.

He groaned against the pain that ripped through him, but his hips moved against his hand, and he was unable to slow himself. Tilting his head back, he opened his mouth, allowing his canines room to extend. He fisted his free hand against the raw hunger that tore through him in pinpoints of hot pain.

His skin sensitized so he could feel each droplet of water bounce off the crown of his cock as it slipped in and out his fingers. The steam filled his lungs heavily as he dragged a breath through his nose. His senses became more acute and even over the pounding water, he could hear her moving about her apartment, returning to bed. Would she sleep in what she’d been wearing?

Her bed groaned softly beneath her weight. The covers rustled as she pushed them away from her. A drawer opened and a moment later a soft hum penetrated the walls. His hand stilled momentarily, his entire body rigid. The humming sound muffled, then grew louder. Muffled again. Good lord, he thought with realization. She had a vibrator.

A low growl crawled up from his throat but she hadn’t the senses he did. She wouldn’t hear him. He couldn’t count the nights he listened, waiting for her to pleasure herself. That pleasure often filled his hunger and kept him nourished without the taste of blood.

He never invaded her apartment. He could do it easily by reaching out and stimulating her with his mind. He could devour her sexual energy before it ever left her body. But that would go against everything he stood for as a cop. So, instead, he waited until that energy filled her apartment and eased into her, grateful for the little that soothed his hunger.

Now, his hand resumed its path up and down his cock, this time at a slower pace. He imagined her sprawled across her bed, dipping that battery-operated device in and out of her. A soft moan found his ears and his fingers tightened.

He could hear her breath, pushing her full lips apart. He felt like tearing through the walls between them and leaping atop her. His balls tightened when she moaned again and he echoed the sound with his own voice.

“Come, Nina,” he gritted between his clenched teeth. But she wasn’t rushing to reach her peak. He could tell by the rhythm of the humming. Was she thinking of him? If she was, she had it wrong. He would bury himself deep and fuck the living hell out of her. There would be no lazy in and out. There would be no soft moaning or gentle panting. He would ride her until she screamed.

His body shook with need. He wanted her energy. He wanted to feel its warmth sliding through his veins. His chest pumped in and out as his ragged breath grew deeper. As usual, he felt the first wisps of heat from her penetrate the walls between them and he drew it to him. How many times had he sipped of her sexual pleasure? Too many to count. She sustained him, kept him from feeding on blood. But at what cost? He already felt a bond with her that could be dangerous to both of them.

As her little moans became desperate whimpers, he pushed his doubts from his mind and he allowed his hand to quicken again. He thrust his hips forward, imagining her thrashing beneath him. Blood pumped through his body in a wild rhythm. She would arch into him when he clamped his mouth onto her nipple and drove her into the eye of her pleasure.

Her energy became hot, indicating she was close to climax. It pulsated and Darq drew it into him, groaning at the hunger it fed. He shook as he continued to work his cock.

He could hear her voice tremble as she reached her peak behind the wall and Darq could almost feel her wet cunt gripping him, milking him of everything he had to give, while he milked her of her passion. He jerked forward, finding his own release from torment. Several moments later, he released his cock and rolled his head back against the shower wall, dragging deep breaths into his chest. At the soft click of her lamp, Darq reached up and turned off the water.

Copyright © 2004-2005 Sable Grey All rights reserved.

Trying to raise money for Katrina victims

2005-09-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

As most of my readers and fellow authors know, I live in the southern US state of Mississippi. Recently, Hurricane Katrina tore through our state, leaving destruction along the coast and inland.

I have family on the coast where Katrina hit. Fortunately, though their homes were destroyed, my family members survived. They evacuated to other relatives' homes and I can't describe the relief I, and others, felt when we received the news that they were alive!

But some were not so fortunate to have a place to run to or a means to escape. Those that survived Katrina's path remain in need of clothes, water, food, and shelter. My uncle went down to the Mississippi coast and to New Orleans to pass out food and water as part of the relief effort. What I'd seen on television didn't even come close to what he described that he'd witnessed when he'd returned. I won't give you the details but I will tell you that I've cried more in the last month than I've cried in the last ten years.

I can't sit by and do nothing. Though I am not wealthy by any means, I will be donating what I can and asking others to donate to the Salvation Army. My goal is to have raised $1000.00 for these families who need so much through gifts of $5, $10, and $20 donations. - That's not much from each of us, but together, these gifts can really add up to provide food and shelter for families that need it. If each person who reads this message could give at least $5, we could reach that goal easily.

The Salvation Army has made the commitment of "Doing the Most Good" with our dollars so I am joining to help them get those much needed funds. I am hoping you will join me as well as we pull together to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Details of how you can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina by being a part of The Salvation Army's "Doing the Most Good" initiative are clearly noted on my personal page...

Sable Grey Hurricane Relief Page

Please, please, take a moment to visit this page and make a contribution.

You will automatically receive confirmation of your donation via email and I will also be notified by email of your support. Together we can make a difference for those victims that have lost everything.

Thank you very much for your consideration in supporting me and The Salvation Army Disaster Relief effort. I appreciate your taking the time to read this letter.

For additional information about The Salvation Army and the work they are doing toward the relief efforts of Hurricane Katrina visit http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

New Look For the Blog

2005-09-13T00:25:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna try it out and see how I like it. It's VERY red...so we'll see.

I didn't like the look of it before and since I couldn't sleep tonight, I decided to make myself useful.

My favorite Men...top twelve

2005-09-12T01:26:00.000-07:00

Okay so I couldn't narrow it down to ten.

My friend Anisa Damien inspired this post. Well she did and Tracey West as well. They love heroes...so I decided to let folks in on which ones I like. Sadly, this list isn't all of my favorites. It took me an hour to narrow them down from over twenty to just the twelve. LOL

So if you want to SEE the twelve men I picked, follow this link:
Sable Grey's Top Twelve Sexiest Men in the Movies.
(Mac users...sorry, you won't be able to view...and dial up users, it'll take a while.)

Enjoy!

Sable Grey's Top Twelve Sexiest Men in the Movies

1. Tommy Lee Jones
2. Sean Connery
3. Jack Nicholson
4. Samuel L. Jackson
5. Gabriel Byrne
6. Harrison Ford
7. Alan Rickman
8. Al Pacino
9. Laurence Fishburne
10. Robert DeNiro
11. Robert Redford
12. Michael Caine

Twins!

2005-09-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

As of today I am the grandmother of twin boys. Three grandchildren now! They are so precious!

Also, got a call from family down on the coast...everyone is safe!

So needless to say, I've done nothing for cover art or writing in the last two days! LOL

Rejectimonious

2005-09-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Well I got rejections from two agents so far. *sigh* Maybe I'm writing a crappy query. LOL There are still two agents who've not answered yet...so I've got my toes crossed.

We looked at a house today. And we are looking at another tomorrow. With My DH's very pregnant daughter (twins) and the grandbaby living with us now, we are looking for a bigger house. My husband liked the one we were shown today...but I like the looks of the one we are supposed to be shown tomorrow. Nice backyard for Marshall Dillion (my dog). The one we saw today was nice inside but the backyard sucked.

I'm getting a lil better with poser...well with using PSP with poser. I'm gonna try to start again on creating the Rafferty Jones character from The Pirate's Jewel. If I can get her together, I'll share her here. :)

-SG

The Wind Between My Ears

2005-09-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

Hurricane came and went. Thank God there was no damage to our home. So many suffered more than we did. We were out of electricity for a couple of days but we were glued to our battery operated radio, listening to the devastation just south of us. No word on our family from Pascagoula yet - my grandmother's family and I've no news to tell her yet.

I tell you it was pretty scary that evening when the hurricane came through and we only got a bit from the outside. I can't imagine the fear of those who were in its direct path.

On a less important note, my email was a monster when we did get our electricity turned back on. Emails up the wahoo. I still haven't waded through all of them. So much than in those few days my box filled up so much that emails were bouncing back to senders. Not good.

And I've written nuthin. I suppose with all that's going on, I just can't wrap my mind around a plot or character right now. I DID manage to do a lot of covers for Venus Press though. That was a nice way for me to escape and do something productive.

Hope to have something for you guys soon though!

-SG

Covering my Butt

2005-08-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've been redoing covers over at Venus Press for the past couple of days. Lots of them. It's been fun though. Haven't written much. Haven't worked on the MSRW newsletter either yet - eek I need to write an article for the Editor's Desk section.

Got a rejection from an agent I queried several months ago. Glad she at least sent a letter. I've noticed that some agencies don't contact you if they don't want to take you on. Personally I think that is tacky...if they are that busy, in my opinion, then they can afford to hire someone to mail out standard rejection letters.

No word on the agents I sent queries to last week. I'm too impatient. I'm too impatient with everything I think. Impatient with stupid people. Impatient with lazy people. Impatient with indecisive people. Impatient with people in WALMART. Hell, I'm impatient with myself sometimes when I'm writing.

Haven't had time to work on the character images I want to post here. I'm stilllooking a the too skinny version of Rafferty Jones. LOL Mostly, I've just been working on covers.

My Japanese Name

2005-08-24T23:46:00.000-07:00

I love quizzes and polls...so here's one I recently took...thought I'd share.

Your Japanese name should be

'Aki'

which means
"autumn".

You can be compared with
autumn, the way the autumn weather changes, is
how your feelings change. You have these mood
swings you can't control; one moment you're
happy, the next you're feeling almost
depressed. You're probably sensitive and
creative.

Which Japanese name fits you best? [females, 9 results + absolutely stunning ANIME pictures!]
brought to you by

okay screw it

2005-08-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

I'm ranting...the rest that I said I was gonna blog about will come...but this morning-in the wee hours - I'm ranting.

As I said before I don't like getting involved in the petty arguments between authors BUT

When do people grow the eff up? GAWD. I have more tolerance for idiots that are young...cause they are still discovering who they are. I remember being 21, 22, and 23 and searching for myself...but if you are still searching at 40, 50, and yes 60 give up, sista, you are just effing LOST.

I'm not against continued growth. Don't get me wrong. We are all changing and growing. But, this mud slinging and juvenile b.s. like teens fighting over the jock in highschool is stupid when those fighting are over age 30. Get A Life. Better yet, get an effing hobby. Hell, get a pool boy named Francois that speaks no English...that ought to keep you occupied!

I want to ask some of talk to some of these women...helllo, you have kids? You have a husband? You have stuff you do every day? Yet you can find nothing better to do with your time but spout idiocy over the internet...and especially writers. I mean we battle every day with the world to be taken seriously because we write romance, and then you behave worse than your children do...and in a public forum. Can someone scream time out?

I just want to slap them silly and say grow up.

Okay, enough ranting. I'm done.

I'm gonna talk about something very important now...my characters. LOL Rafferty Jones is giving me grief. Dang. I should have expected it. She's a pirate for almighty's sake. I promise promise promise, I'm gonna break this b**ch. LOL I'm gonna have a pic of her to put on this blog - even if it kills me...or I kill her.

*giggle* Isn't it funny how we talk about our character like they are real people? Mine are kinda real to me. I mean, Will, from Hired Hands, - there has to be a man out there like that. He was too normal not to be similar to someone. LOL Clumsy oaf but damnably sweet.

Off to work on Rafferty now. Nix planted this seed. She has an awesome desktop image of one of her characters and I'm insanely jealous that she was able to do that so easily. Well I assume it was easy for her. It's difficult as hell for me. Maybe Rafferty is giving me trouble and that means the others will be easy...I dunno.

-Sable Grey

bloggedy blog blog

2005-08-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

So I read the new issue of RWR and there was an awesome article about blogging. Basically, it says that blogging is a good idea as long as the individual author remembers to find their own voice for the blog. Sooooo, I sat down and tried to think of what I really wanted to do with this blog....

Talk about my writing schedule and what's coming up
And share my characters...since that's my favorite part of writing
And let people know about other great books
And then talk about other projects going on
Maybe a lil bit of my personal life

I ramble so much, that I'm sure I can't always stick to topic...but heck maybe ramble IS my voice.

So right now, aside from doing art director stuff, I'm working on project for this blog - that was inspired by a really cool cover artist, Nix Winter, to try an make the characters of my stories using my art programs. I started working on Rafferty Jones last night - when a tree limb fell and took out our cable and I had plenty of time to try to keep myself busy without internet access or cable to watch - and I've got a good start on her but she's not finished yet. I'll post the pic when I'm finished, a bit about her, what book she's in, etc.

I don't know how interesting it will be for readers...but it will be a lot of fun for me. LOL

Also the article said it was best to blog every day or every other day - ugh...that's gonna be hard for me. I've always sucked at journaling. So I'm really gonna try to stick with this and do it right.

No word from the agents yet...lol...I know, I know, it's only been a few days. I'm so impatient. But I did go ahead and schedule another show with Jewel's Way....it will be in either January or February of 2006. That's gonna be so awesome...the interview I did this month was a blast!

I'm so behind on my writing - finally getting the breath to settle down again. I did 20 covers in the first 3 weeks of being art director at Venus Press...and they were damned good cover, if I do say so myself. LOL So everything is settling down now and we have a kick butt art team. A great group of folks...very very talented, and all eager to work. Makes my job much easier.

So now I've got to finish my second book for the anthology I'm writing with Deanna Lee. I want to finish my second book to follow When Darkness Falls, called Chasing Shadows for Venus Press, and I want to finish The Pirate's Gold to submit to Venus Press.

Lots of great stories to write...and I appreciate all of your feedback on the ones I've already written. I don't do it for the money...though money is nice...those emails where you tell me that you enjoyed a story is why I do it. So my stories get out there to the readers.

I really appreciate the emails about how my heroine's overcoming abusive husbands touched you. I hoped that the messages that I work into my stories would reach you and am grateful and happy that they did. :)

-Sable Grey

Agents, confidence, & what's up in my life

2005-08-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hi all.

A new blog...of mostly whatever I want to talk about and what's important to me. Those of you who visit here from DeviantArt, I'm still going to write in my journal there and at my blog with RWA Online. I just wanted a space for me me me me. LOL

My search for an agent continues. I queried three agencies yesterday that I'm interested in and that seem the kind of folks I'd like to work with. I'm a little picky - okay, I'm a lot picky. Just as the agent has to determine if I would work well them, I feel obligated to do determine the same about the agents before I submit. So I don't just submit to an agency just because the name sounds good or just because its an agency. It's a process for me. I visit their site, do research on them, see who their clients are and visit the client's webpages if they have one. I look around to see what their reputation is. But that's not all...I read the information that agency provides on their sites to determine if what they have to say jives with my own career plans.

I feel that its only a matter of time before my novels are in print. I've two completed right now and two more very close to being finished. So I think I've got a good start on a book deal that an agent might set me up with.

I don't feel I'm conceited because I know my writing is good. I think I'm confident in what I do. Just as a mechanic knows he can fix a car, I know I can write a good historical. I am sure of where my strengths are and I am constantly working to improve areas that are not as strong. I take my writing very seriously. It is NOT a hobby - it is a passion - and now that I am published and earning money, it is also a business.

My top concerns is my obligation to my readers and doing business with publishers in a professional manner that does not jeopardize my integrity, respect for myself or my work, my basic beliefs of what is right and wrong. This does not make me a snob. This makes me someone who knows who I am and someone who is not afraid of sticking to the things that are important to me.

I don't like getting involved in the little cat fights and arguments that I see going on all over the internet between writers. I don't have the patience for it. True, I will speak up and voice my opinion at times and perhaps defend someone I know to have pure intentions but as far as the ongoing mud slinging, I refuse. It is juvenile and a waste of time. I'd much rather be writing and responding to emails from my readers. Oh sure, sometimes I want to ask these writers how old they are and how they manage to get through their daily lives if they behave like that in other aspects of their life - but the truth is you cannot argue with a two year old on a two year old's level and win. They don't operate with the same reasoning and cannot think outside of the scope of their own emotional turmoil. Basically, it's a waste of time and energy. It's best to ignore them until they see that their efforts are in vain and have finished throwing their tantrums.

Instead, I write. And that is working for me. Last month The Nothing But Trouble Bride from Liquid Silver Books and Christy's Ghost from Loose-Id were released. I've recently received contracts from Titan Press for the first two books of my 9 book mainstream historical romance series as well as a contract from the same publisher for a non romance fantasy.

I've also recently been signed on by Venus Press as the art director in their cover art department. I'm the editor of Psyche's Lamp, the newsletter for my local RWA Chapter - Magnolia State Romance Writers. And I'm currently writing an anthology with multi published author (and my best friend), Deanna Lee.

I hope to have an agent's interest by the end of the year and at least on my way to working out a contract with a print publisher for a multi book deal by the end of next year. And I will continue writing sensual romance books for electronic publication and submitting them to Liquid Silver Books, Venus Press, and Loose-Id.

-SG