Been A While

Well it's been a while since I posted anything here and that is going to change. In the past few months I have had some big changes. New releases, Upcoming releases, Going back to a full time job, and just trying to get things in order to make all the changes transition as smooth as possible. It wasn't easy, but I think I'm almost there.

I wasn't happy about going back to work full-time, but it's with a good place I've worked at before. My training schedule was a very awkward time frame for me, but starting Tuesday I'll have hours that are a much better fit.  YAY!! And who knows maybe I'll jump on the overnight shift in a few months. I loved working that schedule before, but I was younger then.

I did managed to finish Silver Spoons, Sugar, and Slow Hot Kisses book 2 in the Heiresses In Aprons series. Hopefully I'll have this out within a few weeks (and maybe a little surprise to go along with it).

Speaking of surprises, Surprised By Love book 2 in my Blackridges Series came out last week. It's doing well, and has even hit #3 on BookStrand's Mainstream Best Seller List. Thanks to everyone who has already picked it up.

So now I'm going to focus the last 3 things on my list. the first 2 are connected. I'm working on revamping this blog and my website.

For now I'm planning to post here at least once a week. Not sure when or about what so you'll just have to pop in and check.

The 3rd item is getting ready for AAD in Savannah in August. Anybody else going? I truly can't wait for this. I already got the time off approved and have been working on my raffle baskets. As soon as they're finished I'll post some pictures.

 Bye for now,
  Rita

Good, Bad, and Really Boring!

Good is knowing that despite a few rough spots Shit Kickers & Stilettoes is out, and soon to be available in print. Anyone who says self-pub or Indie publishing is easy LIES! I've always respected my publishers, but that respect has only grown with me taking on this challenge. When I was recently asked why I did it, a question I was fully expecting, I had to laugh.

I released Shit Kickers & Stilettoes on my own for two reasons and they're linked. First was I wanted complete control of the Heiresses In Apron Series. Second, and this may not make sense to anyone else sine I suck at promotion, I'm hoping that being in charge from the get go will force me to push me into doing more than I have in the past.

Bad is dealing with all the technical, and formatting stuff that came with doing this myself. What the hell was I thinking. Also how much I suck at promoting is becoming evident to those around me, though I think they're laughing when I'm not looking.

It can be Really Boring clicking on buttons  to check sales stats. Granted everytime I see the number change I get a little excited, but I know I should be focused on writing. Or worse the dreaded promoting. So on that front I'm going to start planning a couple of contest and hopefully getting a few people to review all my books not just Shit Kickers & Stilettos. If anyone who reads this wants to review one of my boks on Amazon or BN let me know. 

Start Of Something New

OMG! I've dipped my toes into the Indie author pool. I know the only way I see any results is to dunk myself and get acclimated, but I'm nervous. I've got books out there and people read them not as many as I'd like, but that's the point of this right? NO? Then why am I doing this? I have a bunch of reasons and over the next month or so I'll try to explain them all. Right now I just want to tell everyone about my new release.

Shit Kickers & Stilettos is the 1st book in a 4 book series Heiresses In Aprons.

Blurb:

Rosie’s uncle Teddy may not have been able to be around all the time, but he was always there when Rosie needed a dose of reality. Unlike her parents he believed that she needed to keep her feet on the ground even though she spent most of her time running charity and social events mingling with people who had their heads stuck in the clouds. When he dies she’s lost. Her friends try to be there for her, but her uncle does the unbelievable and leaves her part of his business. The other half he leaves to his sexy right hand man. He requests that the two of them move into his house for six months and find a way to make things work together, but since all she can do is stare at his ass and find ways to push his buttons Rosie’s not sure if this is going to work out.

Dade Sebastian would do his best to honor his boss’s last wish, but just looking at his niece he knew it was going to be as simple as it sounded like it would be. Then the lawyer throws him a curve ball by announcing he’s not just going to help Rosie learn to run the business. Instead he’s is named as co-owner with the company being split equally between the two of them. Together they’re supposed to make things work, but that’s hard to do when all he wants is for her to stay in the kitchen, or better yet in his bed.

Right now it's available at

BN Amazon Smashwords

What do I write and who with.

I've had 2 reader emails this week that asked why I don't write for someone like Harlequin? Well the answer is simple and complicated at the same time.

 
This isn't the first time this has come up. The two books in question are usually The Millionaire's Fake Fiancée  and Tempted By The Tycoon.

The simple answer is because I chose other venues. Was this a good choice? I think it was I've learned a lot about the publishing business since The Millionaire's Fake Fiancée came out in 2009. I'm still learning.

The complicated answer comes in a few parts.

Part 1: Publishers have to decide what's right for their lines. You may not have the voice or style of writing that they are looking for. If something's not good for them that doesn't mean you just give up. What I mean is just because you write the same types of stories they publish that doesn't mean they are your only option for publishing. You can try somewhere else.

Which brings me to
Part 2: Publishers decide what to do with your book once they accept it. They choose the category and how to market your books. I write contemporary romance, but that term seems pretty broad at times. One of my publishers had decided that a few of my stories were Romantic Comedies, another decided they were Erotic Romances. Why?




Jump to 

Part 3: I'm what I like to think of as an author walking a line (or bouncing on a trampoline). My erotic romances The Brazen Sister Series or What Are Friends For Series have fallen into that category, but I'm the first to admit they just barely made it. In my opinion Tempted By The Tycoon and Love Me Or Lose Me are more traditional romances and stay on the other side of the line in Mainstream romance, since they are written in the same voice and heat level. How do publishers decide where a book should go?

Heat level or intesity of the sex scenes is a major factor. Also (this is something that I didn't catch right away) swearing, foul language, using descriptive words for body parts can push you in a certain direction with some publishers.
 
My books range from steamy to sizzling(though hubby would like me to try my hand at something really raunchy)
I would like my books to all be considered fun hot contemporary romances. Why can't that be a category at the online book vendors?

Okay so since I've figured out a few things doing this post I'm off to get some work done.
 

 

Rita Sawyer

Giving You It All

Romance Passion Laughter

http://www.RitaSawyer.com

 

Progress Makes Me Happy

It's been a few weeks since I posted anything, which means I haven't been pushing myself to get on here like I said I would. I'm making a schedule so I can be more prepared to just hop pn and bore you all with my thoughts. (That was a joke. I hope everyone's laughing with me, not at me!)

Now in my own defense I have been working damn hard. I finished 2 projects.

Blackridges 2 is done and submitted to editor at Pink Petal Books. Just waiting to hear back on it. If you haven't checked out Book 1 Love Me Or Lose Me you should.


Now I'm working on the last 2 books in the What Are Friends For Series with Siren Publishing. The good thing about waiting to write these last 2 books is Sadie and Jillian have had plenty of time to grow and find trouble I hadn't even thought about when I planned the series.

I do need to squeeze in some promo time for mainstream contemporary romance Tempted By The Tycoon with Siren Publishing. And work on the project I hope to announce within the next few weeks (if all goes well).

I'm Not Obsessed!

Really I'm not. I just have things I like.


 One thing I don't think I could live without. BOOKS! Print or ebook I love them. Okay when some people see my bookselves they might think I'm obessive. (yes I have more than 1. Try 3 here in MA and 1 massive one at our house in Maine.) Today I picked up these 3. I torture myself by only reading 1 chapter for every 2 I write.




Tuesday in my house is movie day. Whether we go to the theater, choose something on TV, or pick up a new DVD we try to watch something together. Today was the hubby's choice. He took me and the kiddo to see the movie Promised Land. Matt Damon and Frances McDormand were good. It started of good, but slowed toward the end. Still a good movie.

Hubby's Chicken Salad grinder

Chazz's Pastrami with mustard cheese
and onions.

After the movie we went to my first choice in restaruants. Steve's Pizza in West Boylston Mass. This is the place to go for lunch or dinner. For taste, price, and huge meals this is it. I have two 6' 2" sons and I've only seen them finish their meals two or three times the portions are that big.

 

  

This is my spaghetti and meatballs with the loaf of garlic bread. Trust me the picture from my phone doesn't do it justice. The meatballs are the size of softballs. I have failed to finish even half of this, but I keep trying. My hubby has come closer. Basically you  can order anything and come out full and have something for later. Or do what we do, SHARE. I split a spaghetti and meatball with my niece and neither of us finished our half.




So in all today I got three of my favorite things and I managed to hobble around pretty damn good. The back is feeling better. Still sore, but managable.

Aches and Pains

The new year is starting of quite the way I wanted. I tweaked my back and instead of taking it easy I pushed it and now am paying the price. Today I'm down for the count. Hubby has me in the recliner with heating pad. What sucks is niece and nephew missed bowling today.

I should get a lot of words written today since I can't do much else. So today I'm aiming for a lofty goal of 5 thousand words.