Just a small update in case y'all are wondering what's up with my submissions lately.  As of right now, the only thing I have out there is my submission to DAW which I've asked for another follow-up on.  I've almost exhausted the pool for my second novel as the genre is confusing.  Most paranormal seekers expect romance and while my protagonist is a young adult, I've been told multiple times that my subject is too mature for a young adult audience.  So I've put it aside and am focusing on my next one.  Maybe one of these days someone will pick up "Memory's Hostage".  In the meantime, I've finished the non-fiction ebook I've been working on and it's going through an edit process. 

I've let my untitled fantasy novel sit for a few months and now I'm going back over it in rewrite and edit mode.  I usually hate revisions but I'm actually enjoying going back through this novel.  One of these days I will have a suitable title but today is not that day.  It will probably take me a few weeks to complete the revisions and then I will start seeking agents.

I've written one science fiction short story lately called "The Hand" and am about to send it out to Analog next week. 

Other then that, it is all I have going on with fiction stuff.  I've had a lot of non-fiction work coming my way lately, a ton of assignments for Yahoo! that I couldn't afford to let go, so it has contributed to slower fiction progress.  But I keep on with it and I hope you are keeping on the path of your dreams as well.

I realized something today.

For the last year to year and a half, I've written on my fiction or poetry (mostly fiction, as poetry tends to be a spontaneous burst) five to seven days a week.  It was constant.  My mind was able to escape for that hour or so that I was able to sit down and fully immerse myself in my fictional world with characters that, while I made them up, take on a life of their own.

A little over a week ago, I finished up my latest science fiction short story.  I've sent it to a few test readers and I'm letting it sit; only after letting it sit for a few weeks will I be ready to go back over it with a fresh perspective.  In the meantime, I've been working on a non-fiction booklet.  During this time, I've felt... well, antsy I guess would be the word to describe it.

I've always felt down or depressed somewhat when I wasn't writing for long stretches at a time.  It was those times when I'd tried to give up the craft in favor of something more tangible, more normal.  It was after struggling with myself for so long that I knew I couldn't ignore it.

Even though I'm writing for a living now, it is the fiction aspect of writing that gives me a sense of belonging, a sense of peace, a sense of purpose.  I can write non-fiction to my heart's content; I've had descent success even.  But it's not my calling and it's not something that I will be happy doing forever.  Only those who have heard their true calling will understand that.

I won't be doing many more of these longer non-fiction projects, that's for certain.  I want my fiction worlds back!

I expected a lot more attention to something free.  While it’s not the only free story on Smashwords that I’ve offered, it is the only free story INDEFINITELY; which means I will never charge for it like I do my other stories.  But I didn’t expect the great reviews (all 5 star reviews so far!) nor did I expect the over 200 downloads so far.  I’m absolutely thrilled that so many people have taken the time to download my story.

I offered “An Unusual Cupid” free for two reasons.  One, I wanted to give my supporters a thank you… as well as give them a reason to support me.  I’m under no delusions - of my almost 400 fans on Facebook and my almost 400 followers on Twitter, I doubt that more than a mere fraction of them have ever read anything I’ve written.  I’m not just there to look good with the numbers of my networks.  I want people to say, “Hey, I really like how she writes and I am interested in reading more.”  That’s my main goal here.  If I’m writing and writing… what good is that if no one is reading?  Two, I hope that if they like “An Unusual Cupid”, they might feel compelled to buy one of my other stories.  I can’t let everything go for free.  I work hard and I deserve to be paid for that work.  So if you like “An Unusual Cupid”, I hope that you will go through the other few stories I have either on Smashwords or Amazon and purchase something you like the sound of.

This is a perfect Valentine’s Day story.  I can’t say that there was any set spark of an idea that came to me.  I was brainstorming for a perfect Valentine’s story and that was the result.  It was actually published in a small non-profit circulation almost eight years ago and got some great reviews then as well.  And I’m happy to share it this Valentine’s Day.

If you haven’t read it yet, all you have to do is go to Smashwords and download a copy in the format of your choice (there are many to choose from including reading it online if you’d like!).  Thank you for your support and Happy Valentine’s Day.

Love and best wishes,

Pamela