Lessons

I have learned a few things over the last couple months.

First I am definitely not and outliner. No I am what some call a pantster. I get my idea for a story or a character pops in to visit and I start writing. I may have a vague idea of where the story will go but most of the time I don't. I've discovered the characters always know, even if they won't share it with me until the last minute.

Second I am an outliner. Yes, schizo, I know. But what I've found is the perfect way to outline without outlining. And all it took was deciding to turn my fantasy romance book Puca into a movie. I found a group of great film and screenwriting people on Twitter which in turn led me to beat sheets and the three act structure. I had a vague idea that just possibly I could use this in my fiction writing but I had no clue how. Then I got some great advice from Jacqueline Lichtenberg and now the story is flying again.

Helpful Links:
http://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_archive.html
http://scriptchat.blogspot.com/
http://www.blakesnyder.com/tools/
http://www.rareform.com/screenplay-editor/beats.php

Oookay

About time I updated this thing. Much has happened since last April. I have a new book coming out January 4th 2010, Pale Fire from Phaze books. I tried to NaNoWriMo this year, got to 26,000 words before edits stopped me again. But I am continuing with the book which is a Steampunk western and tons of fun to write. Also working on the sequel to Pale Fire, doing the odd cover commission, and continuing work on my other projects which includes adapting Puca for film. The website has been updated as well with three free reads, including a Steampunk Christmas story (18 and older please)

I've been spending a lot of time on Twitter with some wonderful new friends. If you want to follow me there I'm @PennyAsh.

The place we're renovating is getting close to being done and moving day is coming up soon. The best thing about the place is it is totally paid for, there will be no house payment, no huge remodeling loan to pay off, and I will have a writing room.

I'll be putting in a garden this spring. I am hoping to try my hand at canning too. I'll be doing container gardening for the vegetables and I'm planning a poppy garden. My favorite flower, poppies in any color but especially red.

In the future I hope to start doing reviews again too.

News

The first review is in for Caesar's Mercy of Love http://tinyurl.com/PJreview a great review, woot :)Caesar's Mercy of Love, available here http://tinyurl.com/djopfp from Phaze Books. 18 and up only please. :)

my book Puca available in print at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/PUCA-Ash 18 and up (you get the idea) For E-Book lovers Puca is also available here http://www.mojocastle.com/penny/ash.html along with my other book Wish Fulfillment Inc. and a free read A Vampire Story. Another short free read Sanity is available here http://www.mojocastle.com/

And my friend Etienne (who needs to get his own blog) Has a book out here http://tinyurl.com/AlienArmsEtienne and a Time Traveler series out here http://www.mojocastle.com/ Pure smut of course :)

Oh yeah, and my website... http://www.pucasforest.com
and Etienne's... http://www.etiennedartagnan.com (There's a free Time Traveler read there too)

The Big Move & Other News

Okay, it's finally done. I've moved north. What was I thinking? I've traded the hurricane coast for tornado alley.

In other better news my updated historical should be out in ebook this weekend, and in print soon after. I got together with my best friend and writing partner Jade Morrison and we rewrote Caesar's Love, adding a second story written by Jade and continuing Caesar's story. Now titled Caesar's Mercy of Love and soon to be available from Phaze.

Laurentius Caesar has everything a man could want: power, prestige,
and the admiration of all. He lacks only love, something the old soothsayer
has promised will be his. But he hasn't found it yet and he's growing
impatient until a chance meeting with one of his house slaves, Auriel.

Having known only the life of a servant, Auriel is surprised and not all
that pleased with her new role as Caesar's lover. Men like Caesar are
dangerous and all Auriel wants is to stay alive.

Is Laurentius' love strong enough to erase their differences?

Digging for buried Roman treasure, archeologist Athena Preston
finds more than she bargained for when an ancient ruby ring is found.
Slipping the ring on her finger, Athena wakes to find herself staring
into the intense eyes of Quintus Caesar himself. Caesar demands an
explanation for why the beautiful servant is wearing his ring;
an explanation Athena is at a loss to provide him.

With her life at stake, Athena seduces the young ruler, winning not
only his heart, but his trust as well. Captured by time, and the
Caesar’s love, Athena is no longer certain she wants to return to her
world. However, as a scholar she knows the time of Quintus Caesar’s
assassination - and it's only days away. Should she save the man she
loves and risk changing the course of history?

In an unforeseeable twist of fate, history is indeed changed.
Lives will never be the same, but will love survive the centuries?