We have COVER! And a yahoogroup!

I really don't mean to be so geeky about this process, but when I got my cover today, I was bowled over. Yes, it is a stock cover but it has MY name on it, and that is worth its weight in gold!

I've also created a yahoogroup and am busy convincing Patrick to join us. If you're interested in chatting with us, it is called Silver Scribes.

I hope to see you there! Oh, and our cover is uploaded there, as well :)

The lure of the shape-shifter

I have been reading romance since my teens, while Patrick has read a book here and a book there. As a result, I've read a lot of shapeshifter books. I must confess that they've always been a favorite theme of mine. Patrick is a much newer convert.

When we first decided to start writing together in August, I wanted to write a werewolf story first, since that was my comfort zone. Patrick, on the other hand, was much more comfortable with futuristic, and Chocolate-Soaked Destiny was born. I love reading science fiction and found my futuristic voice easily.

Our third book was our first shapeshifter. I was thrilled to find that Patrick enjoyed it as much as I did. Since our menage featured three feline shapeshifters, it didn't bother Patrick. Lo and behold, our second shapeshifter book features a werewolf and a feline shifter. And Patrick loves it.

The idea that our more animal natures war with our more civilized social mannerisms is very forbidden. Reason versus emotion and desire. It is all very sexy! And the forbidden attracts a great deal of interest.

For me, also, I enjoy the animal domination and how it impacts the story. Shapeshifter books are very complex, and that doesn't include the world-building. Just the different natures of the characters fascinate me.

Shapeshifters that are particularly well done would have to include Kelley Armstrong's Women of Otherworld series. Elena and Clay are so multi-layered. I've also particularly enjoyed Jaci Burton's Devlin wolves, Kate Steele's To Tempt and To Trust A Wolf, all Lorie O'Clare's werewolf books, Susie Charles' werewolf books, Nathalie Gray's werewolf books, The Enter The Dragon anthology, Tielle St. Clare's dragon books, Kate Hill's Horsemen. The list goes on and on. I haven't read nearly as many shifter books as I'd like to.

Then again, I haven't written nearly enough shifter books, either!

Alexa & Patrick, how it all works

We just did our first interview and described how we work. Since Patrick is very much 'behind the scenes' I'm going to work on coaxing him out to talk to everyone here. He isn't shy in his off-line life, but put the man in front of a computer and he clams right up!

I wanted to start out with some questions for him.

1.) What is your favorite romance?

Hmmm.. the movie Romancing The Stone is probably my favorite. That and Lois McMaster Bujold's last few Miles Vorkosigan novels.. the romance between Miles and his lady is wonderful stuff to me.

2.) What do you like about romance novels?

Let me see now... I DON'T like vapid, senseless books that have little or no plot to drive the romance.. give me a romance that is interwoven with a strong plot every time! Novels should have characters that are as real as possible, and love, strong emotions about other people, are a part of human makeup. That the hero can fall in love whilst saving the universe... thats a good romance ;)

3.) What do you like about writing with your beautiful, talented, endlessly patient spouse?

Hmm.. I wonder who is writing these questions??? I like the spark. the interaction of two minds trying to come up with a workable storyline. I'm competent enough writing (I've written enough technical documents in my time!) but I'm nowhere near the creative writer that she is. What I'm good at is logic, character motivation and phrasing. I mean, why WOULD that character go out and get his/her ass killed/hurt/captured/embarrassed? unless they have a strong reason to do so.. I supply the (believable) reason :)

4.) Do you feel that our relationship has strengthened with our writing?

Yes. It provides a common activity through which we can interact with each other on an entirely different level. In the mundane world, we are both boring professionals, and writing gives us an opportunity to allow our imaginations to soar together.

5.) What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Savaging a plot. The "That won't work, but how 'bout if..." interaction between the wordsmith and the plotmeister.

6.) Least favorite part?

EDITING. My God, how many TIMES must I re-read this... Oh yeah, I wrote it...

7.)Name your 5 favorite books and authors. Favorite Ec books/authors?

Time enough for love, Robert A Heinlein. (i've worn out three paperback copies of this book).

The moon is a harsh mistress, Robert A Heinlien.

Anything by David Weber.

Almost anything by John Ringo.

Anything by Lois McMaster Bujold.

I've not read as many EC books as I'd like to, so I can't give you an answer here.

8.) What are your biggest strengths as a writer?

Logic and insight into human nature I guess. I'm a cynical bastard most of the time but also believe that most people have a "nice" streak in them.. somewhere... Without the creative talent of Alexa though, any book I wrote would put you to sleep better than a tech manual!

9.) What could you tell the readers that might surprise or shock them?

Hmmm. now do I really want the world to know my innermost "shock the socks off ya" secrets? no way. I will say that "I'll try anything (sexual) once. some things more than once". 'nuf said.

If you have any questions for Patrick, add them as replies, or visit us when we do a List Mom and Dad day at the EC reader list on Feb 13!

I'm sorry I haven't been updating!

My life has been very busy of late. First, Christmas. Second, family visiting. Third, the 'dreaded flu'. This was the stomach variety that laid all my family down just after the holidays. We spent New Year's Eve nursing ginger ale and Saltines instead of going out. We played games with our family. It was so nice to not be worried about hair and makeup and the perfect dress for once.

The stomach flu hung on with me through last weekend, and only now am I feeling back to normal. Our tag bar on the right is horribly out of date. Here is our update.

Animal Attraction will release as part of Ellora's Cave's Valentine Vixens. It is a Valentine's Day release, can it get any better than that? Our very first book will release on the day of love.

Chocolate-Soaked Destiny is a futuristic novella. It is under consideration by our publisher but no decision has been made to date.

Last weekend, I started writing something new. I have almost 8,000 words written and we both love it. This is set to be a shape-shifter Quickie in the same universe as Animal Attraction.

I'm splitting writing time with working on publicity, which scares the bejezus out of me. Where to advertise is so daunting when you consider all the different online forums.

I'll be certain to update the bar on the side and keep posting on the blog!

The Sony Reader

Patrick sprang for this bit of electronics as a joint Christmas present. We like it thus far. With registration, we got a 50.00 credit at the Sony Store. We just put 13 books on it and didn't spend a cent buying them. Now, I need to add some of my recent Ebook purchases.

Another new free story

We're greeting the Christmas season by posting a free story. You can find it here http://www.alexasilver.com/Christmas.html

In other news, we're almost completed edits on Animal Attraction, our first published book. We're expecting the cover any day now! It should release sometime around Valentine's Day.

We've just submitted Chocolate-Soaked Destiny for evaluation to our editor at EC. It has been expanded and we're so pleased with it.

We must get back to work on our Tarot menage as well as revising You Turn Me On for resubmission. We're disappointed that we didn't make the cut for the Caveman stories, but the two books will work much better as novellas/novels.

Happy holidays to you and yours!

Free short story!

I'm linking here to a 18+ only story I published on Literotica called Come To Me. I hope you like it.

Please only click on the link if you are 18 years of age or older.