Steampunk Call for Submission from Untreed Reads

The following call for submission information comes from editor and author Lisabet Sarai:

Suggest that you read all the information on the Untreed Reads site. What I like about Untreed Reads is that they are not just looking for erotica or romance, however, "Romance and eroticism are fine within the work when it furthers the story, but we prefer plot over a focus just on sex scenes."

Call for Submissions
Steampunk works
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Payment: Royalties are 50% of net earnings

Untreed Reads is an innovative ebook publishing house that is committed to the promotion and visibility of its authors throughout the publishing industry. We are now accepting 2010 submissions for electronic-format (ebooks) full-length fiction and nonfiction titles and short stories.

Note that Untreed Reads is not looking for erotica, romance and poetry. The feeling is that these categories are already well represented by other publishers, and we prefer our fiction focus to be on other genres such as sci-fi, mystery, fantasy, and general fiction. Romance and eroticism are fine within the work when it furthers the story, but we prefer plot over a focus just on sex scenes.

Attention authors! Untreed Reads is actively looking to release short story and full-length steampunk works. We are simply fascinated by the world of steampunk, and would like to help authors who are addicted to the genre as much as we are see their tales reach new audiences.

In particular, we'd like to see genre crossover steampunk titles. Got a great steampunk/zombie novel or short? Great! Maybe a steampunk mystery? We’ll want to take a look at that too.

Please note that we have NO interest in titles using public domain works that are converted into steampunk. Our focus is on original stories only.

Please see our Submission Guidelines for our expectations, and be sure to include the word “steampunk” in the subject line of your email. Preference is for works over 5,000 words, but we will consider anything except microfiction. Series are especially welcome.


Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Fire and Ice

Love Sherrilyn Kenyon and her Dark Hunter Series. But what I have been waiting for years for has happened at last! She has started releasing The League science fiction romance series!

Ever since I read Fire and Ice (a short story in the book "Man of My Dreams") in 2004, I've been impatiently waiting for another sci fi romance story from Sherrilyn Kenyon. Sci fi romance is so rare, and to have a great author like SK write a series...a dream come true!

The first book, Born of Night, was everything I wanted it to be. The next two in the series (Born of Fire and Born of Ice) are already out. I'm just waiting to get my greedy paws on them.

Untreedreads Thanksgiving Call For Submissions

The following is a call for submission from Untreedreads:

We are in the process of creating an anthology of short stories to be released on November 1st as a Thanksgiving release.


This anthology is designed to be a humorous mystery anthology. Only mysteries with a definite humor angle to them will be accepted or considered. What we're looking for are stories geared around the most popular Thanksgiving dishes: turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, etc.. As long as it's a regularly-featured food at Thanksgiving, we're open to how you work it in. Please note that it is unlikely we will publish multiple stories of the same food (i.e.: no two stories where pumpkin pie is featured).

As this is a short story anthology, submissions need to be between 3500-5000 words in length. We may be willing to accept longer works depending on the content. Previously published material is ok for submission providing that all electronic rights have reverted to the author. Stories that have been published previously need to be notated as such, along with the information as to where it first appeared.

The intention is to release each short story as its own release under our existing Fingerprints short story line, but there will also be an all-in-one edition at a lower price than purchasing the stories individually to encourage readers to pick up the entire anthology.

Editor-In-Chief Jay Hartman will serve as Editor for this anthology.

Deadline for submissions is September 30th, 2010. Email submissions ONLY, and they MUST be in DOC format, Times New Roman, 12pt. Submissions received that are not in this format will be deleted. Please include the word "Thanksgiving" in your subject line. All stories should be sent to submissions@untreedreads.com. Submissions sent to other email addresses will not be recognized. If an insufficient amount of usable entries are received, this anthology may be withdrawn, and such withdrawal will be announced no later than September 15th.

Please repost/cross-promote this Call with fellow authors/blogs/lists, etc..

Questions regarding this Call should be directed to Editor-In-Chief Jay Hartman at jhartman@untreedreads.com.

Learn more
 
Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

What Makes a Great Critique

I wanted to take some time to talk about writers groups and the feedback writers give and receive. Since writing is such a solitary occupation, local and online groups can be invaluable. However, I’ve noticed that many writers don’t know how to give constructive feedback. All too often critiques are destructive instead of constructive.

I do not believe that these destructive critiques are given with malicious intent. However, the result is the same: harm to the writer and their work.

When giving a critique the overall feel of the feedback should be encouraging, while the meat of the critique should be instructive. If the mood of the critique is not hopeful/helpful than it falls into the destructive feedback category.

Types of Critique Partners:

• The-glass-is-half-empty critique partner: This critter concentrates on the negative while throwing in a few off-hand positive non-instructive remarks from time to time. Overall the critique is not helpful because it is not instructive or constructive.

• The-glass-is-broken critique partner: This critter only offers feedback on the negative. They have nothing good to say. Often this is because they believe that offering positive feedback is a waste of time. They would be wrong. Telling a writer what works and why it works is just as valuable as telling a writer what doesn’t work.

• The-glass-is-overflowing critique partner: This critter only comments on the positive. They use lots of smilies, boost the writer’s ego…and offer nothing constructive. Saying, “This is great! I loved!” without telling the writer why it’s great and why they loved it is not instructive and can be destructive because the writer might take your word for it and sub a piece that needs some TLC.

• The-glass-is-half-full critique partner: This critter knows how to give constructive feedback. They construct a critique like a painting, framing their instruction with positive feedback to draw in the recipient, allowing them to receive the instruction provided.

How do you become a “glass-is-half-full” critique partner?

Easy. Start and end with positive feedback. Frame the negative using the two-for-one method: offer two positives for every one negative. This method works because when you find and explain the positive, your critique will be instructive. Remember, knowing what works is just as important as knowing what doesn’t work.

A constructive critique should look like this:

1. positive
2. positive
3. negative
4. positive
5. positive
6. repeat

Don’t:

• offer your personal likes and dislikes (subjective)
• rewrite the author’s work for them (changing style/author’s voice)
• say you like/dislike something without explaining why

Do:

• motivate the writer by balancing your positive and negative feedback
• critique work outside your genre
• give examples and use lessons learned when giving feedback

Taking the time to give constructive feedback not only helps the recipient but helps the critter. If you understand what does and does not work in someone else’s writing, you will learn what does and does not work in your own writing, and, more importantly, how to fix it.

Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

First Heat Book Trailer

In anticipation of the release of my new book First Heat, I have created a book trailer and uploaded it here and on YouTube.

Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
http://www.jocelynmodo.com/

Call for Submissions LazyDay Publishing

Call for Submissions from LazyDay Publishing

LazyDay Publishing is a new digital publisher that is focused on the future of storytelling.

All books will be on our site, but will also be available with all the leading third party distributors. Our books will be easily available in all leading formats. LazyDay Publishing will be a dominating presence in the future of the digital book.

LazyDay Publishing is royalty based with no advance. Payments will be made to the author on a quarterly basis. Royalties are 40% of cover price for digital direct sales, 50% of cover price of publisher's royalty for 3rd party distribution and 7% of cover price for print.

Contract requires full rights to the work, including both digital and print. A fully negotiable contract will be available for your review upon acceptance of your manuscript.

LazyDay Publishing will be officially launching December 1, 2010! Our initial web page is designed for the author, but will vastly change on December 1, 2010 to become a fully integrated online ebook store and digital publishing house that will be focused on the reader.

We are actively pursuing authors who want to be part of our team. Please see our submission guidelines on how to get published:

http://www.lazydaypub.com/Submission.html
 
This call is from Staci Helling of LazyDay Publishing, new to the ePublishing world. I recommend that anyone who accepts a contract makes sure that they have a reasonable launch date. This way if the venture fails, your work doesn't end up lost in in limbo.

As always, be sure to read the contract carefully. LazyDay "requires full rights to the works, including both digital and print." However, the contract is "fully negotiable."


Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Call for submissions Samba Mountain Press

The following call is from Susannah Indigo of Clean Sheets Magazine fame! Check it out.



Samba Mountain Press
Call for submissions
"Sex & Food" anthology
Publication date: Late 2010

"Sex & Food" will be a print anthology, sponsored in part by Clean Sheets Magazine. This themed anthology will be edited by Susannah Indigo. We are looking for stories and poems that involve food and appetite, along with eroticism -- the topic is wide open, and not limited by any conventional image of sex & food. Your submission doesn't have to be serious, though we love deep and serious -- it can be funny, inspiring, profound, fantastical, but please be sure to make it new, something we've never read before. "Sex & Food" will be pansexual in nature, and all varieties of erotic encounters are encouraged.

Stories should be less than 5000 words, and can be much shorter if they're great. Previously published work is fine, as long as you notify us of the publication, even if it has been in Clean Sheets previously. Payment is $50/story, $25/poem, for one-time anthology rights, along with 2 copies of the book. Please send submissions either pasted in an email, or as a .doc attachment, with this information in the subject line:

POEM: name of poem
FICTION: name of story

Deadline is September 15, 2010

Email submissions to sfoodanthology@gmail.com



Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Poetry Contest - Free to Enter

Here are some upcoming free poetry contests! Good Luck!!!


7/25: GLCA New Writers Awards

Recommended free contest offers a reading tour of 12 midwestern colleges, with a $500 honorarium per visit, for the author of a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction that is the author's first published book in that genre. One winner in each category. Publisher should submit 4 copies of book along with publicity material. Book must have been published in the US or Canada between spring 2009 and spring 2010. Selection process favors recipients of major first-book awards.


7/30: Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Literature

Entries must be received by this date

Recommended free contest offers $25,000 fellowship for foreign-born writers aged 38 or under who are citizens or legal residents of the US. Enter online only. Poets, novelists, short fiction writers, and creative essayists are eligible. All genres compete together. See website for application form and required materials. The Vilcek Foundation honors and supports foreign-born scientists and artists who have made outstanding contributions to society in the United States.


7/31: Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award

Highly recommended free contest for unpublished poems by authors aged 11-17 offers free books, anthology publication, and other prizes. Online entries accepted.

7/31: Jerwood Aldeburgh First Collection Prize

Entries must be received by this date

Highly recommended free contest offers 3,000 pounds and a reading at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival in Suffolk for the best first full-length collection of poetry published in Great Britain or Ireland since August 1 of the preceding year. Either publisher or author may submit 3 bound or proof copies of the book with a note indicating the date of publication. Include cover letter with contact information.

7/31: Linda Bruckheimer Series in Kentucky Literature

Don't enter before July 1

Recommended free contest offers publication by Sarabande Books, a high-quality literary press, for a manuscript of poetry, fiction, or essays (all genres compete together) about Kentucky or by Kentucky authors. Winner must agree to travel to readings within the state. You are eligible if you were born in Kentucky or have lived there for at least two years, or your book is set in or about Kentucky. Poetry manuscripts should be 48-100 single-spaced pages, prose manuscripts 150-250 double-spaced pages. No scholarly works, children's literature, or genre fiction.

7/31: Marie Alexander Poetry Series Book Contest

Recommended free contest offers $500 and publication for a book-length collection of prose poems by a US author, at least 48 single-spaced pages. Send one copy by regular mail and another copy by email as an MS Word or PDF file. The Marie Alexander Poetry Series is an imprint of White Pine Press, a well-regarded small press.


8/15: Memoir (and) Prizes for Prose or Poetry

Recommended free contest offers twice-yearly prizes for the best memoirs submitted to their magazine during each reading period (November 1-February 15, May 1-August 15). Online submissions preferred. Send 1-5 poems or one prose piece, maximum 10,000 words. See website for art formatting requirements. "Memoir (and) publishes memoirs in many forms. We strive with each issue to include a selection of prose, poetry, graphic memoirs, narrative photography, lies and more." Enter by mail or online.

8/16: Boardman Tasker Prize

Entries must be received by this date; formerly August 15

Recommended free contest offers 3,000 pounds for the best published book on the theme of mountains or mountaineering, first published or distributed in the UK between November 1 of the previous year and October 31 of this year. Entries must be submitted by publisher, and may be poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or drama. Early entries are encouraged.



Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Nothing Plain About Jayne Castle

Jayne Castle has a wonderful sci fi / suspense series for us romance lovers. On the planet Harmony, human colonists have evolved for 200+ years, rapidly developing paranormal abilities as an energy source due to something unknown in the alien world (and underworld) they now occupy.

The underground city of catacombs, left behind by the aliens who once lived on the planet, is full of danger and intrigue. The exotic pets, called dust bunnies, native to the planet bring humor into the often tense story lines in this series. The dust bunnies have no problem navigating the catacombs, but for the humans to navigate it they must use their paranormal abilities to disarm traps and disable ghost energy.

Most of JC’s characters have the more exotic abilities out of the population. It’s so cool to see all the variety of powers that are manifesting in the colonists. All of the books are exciting, fast reads with fun characters.

I have reread all of the books in the Ghost Hunter Series several times and am always waiting, waiting, waiting for the next book to be released.

One of the BEST sci fi/futuristic romance series out there! Check ‘em out.

Books in Ghost Hunter Series:

Call for Submissions Just Another Paranormal Christmas PG-13

The moderators of Just Another Paranormal Monday invite you to submit your short stories in a special call for submissions. Guidelines are posted below. Number of stories accepted will later be determined.

The Christmas Anthology will be benefitting The ARMED FORCES CHILDREN’S EDUCATION FUND, Inc. (AFCEF) -- www.afcef.com as our charity. This fund was established on May 1, 2003, the first day of National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM).

The purpose of the non-profit corporation is to be able to financially assist the educational needs of the surviving children of the U.S. Military men and women who lost their lives on or after October 7, 2001, the commencement of Afghanistan operations, as part of the global war on terrorism defined as "Operation Enduring Freedom".

Regardless of our stance on war or our political opinions and views I feel that we, as authors, have something special that we can offer these surviving children. We are more than just mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. Through our writing we build dreams, inspire hope and create worlds where all of life’s possibilities are within our readers grasp – they just need to turn the page. We are the teachers and dream-makers of tomorrow. What better way to give back than to give a future of learning – a future of becoming everything they could ever hope to be; become everything their parents would have wanted them to be, despite the difficult paths they have walked.

Through this anthology and its PG-13 Christmas stories we have the opportunity to create worlds that inspire those dreams and help give a small part of ourselves that may make a difference in a child’s life.

Guidelines

Please, do not send us your simultaneous submissions. Multiple submissions are considered for authors who carry several pen names or wish to submit more than one project. Mojocastle Press has graciously accepted this anthology and they will be contacted with the final proposal based on the anticipated number of stories submitted and response to the call for submissions. All internal Submission rules and Guidelines will apply.

The anthology will feature PG-13 Christmas inspired paranormal short stories with an element of magic, hope, dreams, romance and joy. We want interesting submissions that surprise the reader. Give us your vampires, ghosts, shape-shifters or any other paranormal creature. However, for this project, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN DEMONS.

This anthology is for charity and will be available to young adults as well as those over the age of 18 so we are sticking with a PG-13 rating. We want this anthology to appeal to the vast majority without limitations. Due to the rating we will not be taking F/F, M/M, ménage or BDSM at this time.

The story must take place at or around Christmas. We love sub-genres and your story can take place at any time - past, present, future. We're looking for a good variety of bizarre and intricate stories that celebrate the combination of the paranormal and the magical while appealing to a wide audience. – for every creature – vamps, shifters, fairies and ghosts need and feel the spirit of Christmas too.

To submit a manuscript for consideration, please include:

Your full manuscript attached as an RTF file. Your polished manuscript should be between 5,000 and 10,000 words. Include a one page letter of introduction including your published works, a brief bio and a summarized paragraph of the story you're including in your attachment.

Include a title page with your real name, pen name, and contact information. IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE MODERATORS TO KNOW YOUR REAL NAME, it's fine to include ONLY your pen name. However, the publisher will require—as you know—your real name upon signing. Format your submission as follows:

1. Attach your RTF formatted manuscript using Arial, Book Antigua or Times New Roman 12 pt. font

2. POV and scene breaks must be individually marked (One* for POV, **** for scene break)

3. No headers or footers are necessary

4. Attach your manuscript as follows: TITLE_YOUR NAME_WORD COUNT_

5. Subject line should follow the same format: Title_Your Name_Word Count_

6. Submit your paranormal magical romance short story to mladyfair12@yahoo.com and CC: brigitaine@gmail.com

*We seek single titles but are open to a short story that may be the beginning of a series you have planned or a prequel to an existing title. *

We will consider first and third person stories for this particular project.

Please keep in mind, we're looking for a variety of stories and while we like scorching hot manuscripts, typical industry no-nos are in full force here. Don't cross the ick-factor line. If in doubt, ask.

There will be several readers considering your submission and regardless of who you are or where you're published, your story will receive a very fair evaluation. We want as many JAPM members included as possible. With that in mind, stories will go through an editing process that JAPM moderators have in place.

You must be familiar with TRACK CHANGES in order to submit. After our editing process, your manuscript will go through our publisher's editing process as well.

Submissions open June 15th and close September 15th 2010. Late submissions will be deleted, unread.

So what are you waiting for? Start writing! We want to hear from you!




Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Mercy Mercy

Werewolves, witches, vampires, Fae, and a skinwalker-coyote in an urban setting...how much fun is that? Let me tell you: loads of fun!

The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs is fantastic! Mercy is an exciting character: stubborn, independent, and always getting in trouble. Put her with Adam, an alfa werewolf, and complicate things by making it a love triangle with the old fashioned but super hot werewolf, Samuel, and you get a fast, exciting read.

Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega Series is worth reading too, although her female character, Anna, is weaker and less interesting than Mercy, the male lead, Charles, keeps things entertaining.

So check out these series. They're a hell of a ride!

Author Interview: Missy Martine

Author Missy Martine was gracious enough to agree to work an interview into her busy schedule (and I do mean busy--check out all the books she's working on in the below interview)! I am so excited to have the chance to talk with her!

Jocelyn: Hi Missy Martine! Thanks for taking the time to hang out on Meta Modo so we can get to know about you and your amazing books better. 

Missy: Thanks, Jocelyn, it's an honor to be here.

Q. Missy, how ‘bout we start off with you telling me how your writing career started. When did you first know you wanted to be a writer and how long did it take you to reach that goal? 

A. I'd like to be able to tell you that I dreamed of becoming a writer even as a little girl, that I mesmerized all my little friends with imaginary stories during playtime, but it would be lie. Like a lot of girls I dreamed of becoming a nurse and taking care of sick people, subjecting my dolls and friends to countless bandages and splints.  Is it any wonder I grew up without having a lot of friends?

I was lucky enough to grow up and realize my dreams, becoming a nurse in 1976.  For years I worked in hospitals and then in 1985 I branched out to medical management.  By the year 2001 I was retired from nursing and owned my own medical billing service.  Everything in my life was great, or so I thought.  In 2002 my world sort of collapsed when I suffered a series of strokes.  It was a long road of recovery during which time I had trouble communicating and limited mobility.  

During my recovery period I started to read romance novels one right after another.  I think it was the only thing that kept me sane.  In a strange twist of fate, I also discovered that I could type on the computer exactly what I wanted to say even though I couldn't always voice the thoughts in my head.

My recovery was steady and I was finally left with only a problem with short-term memory.  That seemed like a small price to pay when the outcome could have been so much worse.  Of course, it ended my career in nursing and medical billing.  Nobody wants a nurse who can't remember what they did an hour ago!  After a few years of sheer boredom, with me still reading dozens of romance novels a week, my husband was desperate to find something to challenge my mind and bring me out of my depression.  So he began to nag me about writing my own romance novel.  According to him, I had read enough to know how it's done, and what people like.  I think I finally gave it a try just to shut him up.

What I discovered was a world that I loved!  It was a way for me to bring my fantasies to life, and gave me a feeling that my stories might just help someone else the way other's books had helped me.  My first book, Table for Three, took me about four to five months to write.  I really didn't think anyone else would want to read it, but my husband insisted we send it to a publisher.  No one was more surprised than me when Siren/Bookstrand agreed to publish it.  That was just a little over a year ago, and that was my beginning as a writer.

Q. I want to know about your latest book(s). Will you fill me in?

A. My latest book published was book 1 of my trilogy "A Wolfen Heritage" titled "Discovering Her Wolfen Heritage."  This book is about Maddie, a young woman who comes from a family of wolf shifters but was never told the family secret.  As a child she is introduced to her future mate, but then is separated from him for ten years due to a tragic accident.  When she is finally able to return to the family's cabin in the mountains, she doesn't know about the shifters or her own heritage.

Books 2 and 3 of the trilogy are due to be released in September and November of 2010.  Book 2, "Denying His Wolfen Heritage," is the story of Maddie's brother, Michael.  He has to come to terms with finding out about his family's secret, and finds himself falling in love with a female shifter against his will. Book Trailer

Book 3 of the trilogy, "Changing Their Wolfen Heritage," is based on the Alpha Wolf's brothers.  They're determined to protect Maddie from the evil from her past, and trying to figure out why they're both sensing the same female as mate. Book Trailer 

Q. What are you working on now? Do you have a release date? 

A. I'm working on several books right now.  First, I'm nearly finished with the sequel to "Table for Three."  It’s Serena's story, and deals with the unanswered questions from the first book about Serena and a particularly nasty phone call to Cass's ex-husband.  It's titled "Catch Her When She Falls." 

Another book that's nearly finished is a paranormal/magic romance titled "The Magic in Her Gift."  A young woman's grandmother dies leaving her the magic she needs to turn her life around and find true love.  Unfortunately she dies without explaining how she can access the magic.

"Screams on the Mountain" is a thriller/romance with shapeshifters that picks up right after the "A Wolfen Heritage" trilogy.  I can't tell you much about it without revealing the ending of "Changing Their Wolfen Heritage."  I can tell you that it also has a sequel planned. 

I've started a Christmas story titled "A Were Scrooge," and finally a time-travel, historical romance set in the 1890's west that I haven't titled yet.  As you can see, I stay pretty busy.  Actually, I just returned from a trip to Utah and Nevada where we visited and photographed old mining ghost towns for my research on that last book.  I wanted it to be an authentic as possible.

I'm hoping to have "Catch Her When She Falls" and "The Magic in Her Gift" to the publisher by the end of next week.

Q. Have you ever fallen in love with one of your characters?

A. Actually, I have. You won't know who he is until you read "Changing Their Wolfen Heritage" in November, but I created the character of Mali with my husband as a model.  I love big, muscular, masculine types that don't take crap off of anybody.  He's strong, virile, funny and romantic.  Plus, he's a real take-charge kind of man.  He will always be the head of his family.

Q. Speaking of yummy characters, are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? (I think I know your answer to this one.) 

A. Okay, I have to admit ignorance to this question.  I had to research to figure out what you were talking about but that's because I can't remember the last movie I went to.  For the past few years I have been pretty sick, stuck at home with oxygen concentrators and lots and lots of medicine.  Then, in December of last year I let them do weight-loss surgery on me.  I suffered from pulmonary hypertension and it was damaging my heart.  Anyway, to make a long story short (too late)  they did the surgery and now, six months later, I've lost 132 lbs and feel and look like a new woman. 

Anyway, I researched and after weighing my options, I would have to say that I'm definitely "Team Jacob."

Q. Do you believe in soul mates? If so, who is yours?

A. I absolutely believe in soul mates.  I was married twenty years to a man who was most definitely NOT my soul mate.  Actually, my first book, "Table for Three," was based on my own miserable first marriage.  After twenty long years I finally got the courage to leave and almost immediately met a man in an internet chat room that just called to me.  We are almost as different as night and day on everything from food to entertainment, but we seem to compliment and complete each other.  I'm happy to say that on July 3rd we celebrated our 13th year together!  And just like my book, "Table for Three," he's much younger than me!  The only difference is that he's not half of a set of identical twins.  You can't have everything.

Q. Who/what are you reading right now?

A. I just finished reading Stormy Glenn's "Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" and Ashley Shay's "Sinful Pleasures."  I'm about to start Ariel Tachna's "Her Two Dads."

Q. Top of your head, fave quote (book, movie, music)? 

A. Okay, but this is kind of weird.  Remember I have problems with short-term memory so some things stick with me and some don't.  Please don't ask me why this stays in my head!  "If he starts to piss a circle around you I'm outa here!"  It's from "Kissing Orion" by Amber Kell.

Q. Do you create playlists for your novels? If so, who are the artists that fill up your playlists?

A. No, I'm not talented in that direction.  I've had two other people create videos for my books, but I don't even know the name of the music that they used.  Sad, huh. I can say that I really liked what they choose.

Q. As a big sci fi buff, I’ve got to know, what will your first question be to the aliens when they visit the Earth?

A. "Can you take me up in your spaceship and show me the heavens?"

Q. Until the aliens arrive and make us all their love slaves, will you / do you keep a set schedule for your writing? Do you write at a certain time each day or for a certain number of hours?

A.  I don't have any set schedules, I just write when the mood  hits.  I have discovered that I can't write when anyone else is in the house with me.  When my  husband is home on the weekends I can't get anything done.  He has a tendency to ask me questions, want me to look at whatever he's looking at on the internet, or to watch episodes of Star Gate or Hogan's Heroes.  For my actual writing on the books, I'm always alone with my three cats.  I don't even play music in the background and I can't tell you the last time I turned on the television during the day.  I keep excel charts of the characters and story outline so that I don't get confused or forget part of the story line.  It makes it mandatory that I can concentrate. 

Now my outlines are a different matter entirely.  I can do them anywhere!  All my books start with an outline done on legal pads.  During the recent trip I took to Utah to visit family I was turning out outlines for future books while riding in the car.  After this trip I now have 6 new outlines for the coming months, after I finish what I'm working on right now.

I only write on my books during the day, after my husband leaves for work.  My outlines are usually done at night after he goes to bed.  I suffer from insomnia to a certain extent and don't require nearly as much sleep as he does.  It drives him nuts when I get up after he goes to sleep and don't come back to bed until nearly time for his alarm to go off!

Q. You write some hot hot hot love scenes. Do you find love scenes easier or harder to write compared to the rest of the book and why?

A. I find them much harder because you always want them to be fresh, and not repetitive.  It's even worse when you have problems with memory and you can't always remember what you had the characters doing together in the first couple of chapters in the book. 

My answer to this problem was to begin keeping charts with excel.  I keep track of what positions my characters make love in, what words they use, etc.  That way I can be assured that my readers aren't reading the same scene over and over again.  I just sit back and let my fantasies run wild.

Q. What is the one thing you wish someone had told you when you were an aspiring author just starting out?

A. I wish someone had told me that you can't please everyone.  I've had wonderful reviews on both my books published, and I've also had some really bad reviews on the same books.  You have to remain true to yourself.  If you like what you've written then you've accomplished what you set out to do.  Enjoy your writing and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

Q. Last question: When reading, what turns you on and why? 

A. I love stories of older women, especially older queen size women, who are finding love for the first time or even for the second time, with gorgeous, hunky men.  Everyone deserves a chance for love, no matter their age or body size.  I guess these stories appeal to me because they reflect my life.  I was older, heavy-set and I found my true love!  Now, I'm still in love with a much younger man, I'm even older but not so heavy-set now.

Jocelyn: Missy, thanks again for taking a time out with me to answer my questions. I’m looking forward to many, many more hot, amazing stories from you and wish you love, light, and laughter! 

Missy: Thanks so much, Jocelyn.  It's been a pleasure!

***


Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

RT Book Reviews Writing Competition

Below is contest info from Lisabet Sarai, author, editor, ERWA subscriber, and author of ERWA's monthly newsletter, Erotic Lure. Please carefully read the competition rules.

RT BOOK REVIEWS and Kensington's Brava division are proud to bring you 'Writing With the Stars' a writing competition that will offer one lucky Aspiring Author a publishing deal!

Ten contestants will compete through five rounds of judging. The contestants will be mentored by a Brava author who will help the contestants' manuscripts become the best they can be. Each of the rounds will include comments from celebrity judges from the romance blogsphere. Those picked to compete will get their own webpage on the Brava Authors blog and the RT website. And the winner of Writing With the Stars will get a publishing contract with Brava.

Each prospective contestant must have completed 80,000 - 90,000 word manuscript in any romance genre (contemporary, historical, romantic suspense and paranormal) with a sensuality tone that matches the Brava line.

Entries will be accepted from July 1st to July 15, 2010 and only the first 500 participants will be considered.

Competition details at:
http://www.bravaauthors.com/blog/2010/03/26/writing-with-the-stars/
http://www.bravaauthors.com/contest/brava-contest/

Good luck and have fun!

Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com