One is a lonely #

Whomever said writing is a solitary existance was right! I've been in a hole for the past week and a half trying to finish a novella named Blue Streak for submission to Ellora's Cave's Jewel Series. The novella, an interracial paranormal set in Nevada, is being submitted for their December-Turquoise series. So, keep your fingers crossed guys that my editor, Carole likes it enough to publish it.

Peace and Hair Grease,

Koko

"Brown sure has a way convincing you to open your mind to read more!"

Just wanted to share that I received another great review for Charmed! This time from Sistah Friend Book Club, a live and online reading and networking group for women that focuses on reading and discussing books by African-Americans and promoting unity through women empowerment and fellowship.

I'm presuming that the reviewer, Sistah Candice, normally doesn't read paranormal considering the jist of the review, but I obviously opened her up to the idea, since she gave my story 4 1/2 hugs out of 5! Click the Sistah Friend icon below to read the entire review!

Musical Muses and Bag Boys...A writer's Inspiration!

Many writers claim to have a muse, which provides them with literary inspiration. I've read where a muse can range from an actual person, a stuffed animal, or even a photograph.

In my own writing, I did have an living breathing muse, whose many escapades inspired the racier scenes in my stories. However, since he has slown down a bit or retired his spurs, I've discovered another one.

What is my muse?

It's one single song. Nope, not an entire album, just one song by young R&B heartthrob, Omarion, formerly of the boy band B2K.

I know...I know...why is a grown woman who is old enough to be his mother...or more like his older cousin, so into his music. That I went out and purchased every one of his albums when my taste have leaned more towards Billie Holliday, David Bowe, and Blondie?

I can't explain it myself, but this young man's music, most specifically his track "Ice Box" from the album 21 is the driving force behind all of my stories, except Charmed (Natasha Beddingfield's "Unwritten" takes the honors on that one).

Maybe it's due to the fact that's the song is a man's earnest plea to his lady love to forgive him for all the troubles in their relationship brought on by his inability to trust because his memories of a past ruinous relationship keep interfering. And although he tries to let the past go, he cant' but think if he opens up to her, she'll break his heart like the last woman did.

You know...that brings me to another issue. Why do men carry so much baggage? If I had a dime for every "wounded" man I've dated who couldn't get over that one girl who broke his heart, I could sail around the world...twice.

Don't believe men have baggage? Well according to a twelve year study, "Ten Years On: The Effects of Separation and Divorce on men" conducted by Peter Jordan, he found that men who had been separated from their ex-wives for more than ten years, a whopping 63% still reported feeling as though they were dumped! Many of them also felt that the was a huge mistake and all of them still carried feelings for their ex-wives years later.

Even though the above research pertains to those legally partnered, I think it can be applied to all men single, married, divorced, pimped or otherwise.

Hmmm...bag boy sure does take on a whole new connotation.

Anyway, since I've become older and wiser, I now look back at those relationships and realize it wasn't ALL my fault, or that I wasn't good enough or pretty enough, maybe it was just simply he couldn't give up the ghost...the memories of a bad past relationship.

So to all of you bag boys out there these lyrics from Erykah Badu's "Bag Lady" have been re-written just for you:

Boy, I know sometimes it's hard

And we can't let go

Oh when someone hurts you oh so bad inside

You can't deny it you can't stop crying

So oh, oh, oh

If you start breathin

Then you won't believe it

You'll feel so much better

(So much better, baby)

Bag boy let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go

What's your muse?

Great Poem...just had to share:)

Hello everyone, I stumbled across the poem on one of my critiques partner's sight and had to share a tidebit of it.

A VERY SPECIAL MAN

He should never be an afterthought
Only thought of when times are rough
Or just on special occasions
No matter what you do, he always loves you
Phone calls are nice, cards are sweet

But to sit and visit is the best
Even if it's on a riverbank, or in a boat
Maybe walking through the timber
more

2008 Launching a Star Contest

Hey Gang!

Space Coast Authors of Romance (RWA Chapter) are accepting submissions for their 2008 contest - Launching a Star. Last year acquiring editors and agents requested an amazing 15 manuscripts fromthe finalists and as a direct result, two of the finalists signed withtheir dream agents. And one sold in a 3-book deal to a NY publisher. If you are interested in getting your book into the hands of an editor/agent submit the first chapter (25 page max) of your romance in any of their seven categories. All first round judges (2 per entry, one trained, one published in romance) will provide constructive comments on every entry. If your manuscript makes it into the final round, two industry professionals (one agent and one editor) will judge each category And get this...no synopsis is needed!

Sponsor: SpacecoasT Authors of Romance Chapter (STAR)

Fee: $25-$30, SASE

Deadline: Post-marked by September 8th, Received by September 15thE-deadline (for non-US residents only): Emailed by September 8th,received by September 10th.

Eligibility: Unpublished or not published by RWA-recognized publisherin book length fiction within 5 yearsEnter: Prologue (if desired) and First Chapter (up to 25 pages).

First round judges: One trained; one published

Categories/Final round judges:
Historical: editor Keyren Gerlach, HQN, and agent Elizabeth Pomada
General Paranormal: editor Heather Osborne, TOR, and agent LaurieMcLean
Fantasy/Futuristic Paranormal: editor Angela James, Samhain, and agentLucienne Diver
Single Title Contemporary: editor Erin Galloway, Dorchester, and agentMichelle Grajkowski
Series Contemporary: editor Susan Litman, HQN, and agent Becca Stumpf
Young Adult: editor Kristen Daly, Harper/Collins, and agent ElaineSpencer
Erotic Romance: editor Allison Brandau, Berkley/Jove, and agent Roberta Brown

Top Prize: A star named in your honor! FMI, entry form, rules, and alist of Frequently Asked Questions, go to http://www.authorsofromance.com/!

Procrastination City

Hey gang,


Just droppin in to procrastinate. I should be working on really easy edits for my upcoming title from Loose-Id but I don't feel like writing today. I know sad, but I really don't. I would rather be out running in a field of daisies and soaking in the sunshine:)

Ellora's Cave First Reader/Author Convention!!!

The first ever conventions for Ellora's Cave, Cerridwen Press, and Lotus Circle authors and readers will be held in Akron, Ohio in 2009!!!

The following dates are being considered as not to bump heads with other writer conventions:

September 18th - 20th

September 25th-27th

October 2nd - 4th

Tentative schedule:

Friday Night - EC/CP/TLC Celebration Party

Saturday Morning - Continental Breakfast

Day - Workshops

Night - Awards Banquet

**The city is working on something fun for attendees to do after the Awards Banquet.**

Sunday Morning - Continental Breakfast

Afternoon - Book Fair

Evening - An author sponsored event.

Once EC has an idea of the number of interested people (authors, readers, book stores, models), and they decide on the hotel, food, etc., they'll be able to determine the cost. If you are interested in the convention, respond with name, address, and phone number via email to:conventions@ ellorascave. com