Reviews- fear or excitement?

I'll be the first to tell you getting a book reviewed scares me silly! Number one I'm use to being on the other side of the table, and two- that is my "baby" that is getting critiqued. So when I saw that I had a review up for my upcoming novella Snow's Heat I held my breath as I opened it. Then held my breath again as I went to the review site...

First review?
From Vampires, Werewolves, and Faries Oh My! with a rating of 4.5

My thoughts: Oh were do I start on this novella? I know, it was GREAT, loved it my only problem was I wanted more, lots more of Travis lol.  I actually felt like I was reading parts of my own life from this book. And yes I wish it was the part with the hot young stranger who wanted sex. Ok I will get back to the book, Bree is coming off a horrible divorce from a jerk of a husband who completely stomped on her self worth and said hateful things to her before he walked out the door. After a year of dealing with the heartache and divorce she needs a weekend alone to deal with healing her heart and starting her life over without the baggage of her old life. She decides to spend some time alone in a cabin in the woods, while there her neighbor comes to warn her of the danger of a leopard in the woods. The snarkiness from Bree when she first meets Travis is great but his reaction to her is even better...

To see the rest of the review go HERE 

SQUEEEE! So excited! 

Ohhh guess what was in my email last night? And other news lol

LOL yep yep that's right! Snow's Heat! How exciting. Seeing it all put together is awesome, and makes it just a bit more real. Seeing the different formats and the ISBN number is definite *SQUEEEEE* time! :D Am I bouncing and acting like a loon? You betcha! Now for the part that is a tad harder... finding reviewers for Snow's Heat, LOL it is definitely different being on this end of the reviewing table... :)

 I also have a couple of other projects going on-
Working on Book 2: Tentatively named Snow's Fury right now
Starting a super short (less than 12k) HFN (Happily for now)
Working on a prequel to Snow's Heat- giving readers a free look into Travis :)
And trying to find time to work a bit more on Catting around.

Of course this is also summer- so the kids are home- and I still have to find time to do edits, housework, animals, to play, try to relax, oh and sleep! Can't forget that can we? *snicker*

So that's my exciting *beginning of the summer* news. How are you all doing?

And before you head off! Let me share with you the book Trailer/Tease for Snow's Heat! Video done by JoAnne Kenrick! (If you haven't read her book When a Mullo Loves a Woman you are missing out!)

Official cover art for Snow's Heat

Isn't it always fun when you get the official cover art! Here's the cover for Snow's Heat- artist Mina Carter. :D  Can I get a w00t w00t!?!?!

When do things go too far? Speak out!

Are you wondering about the blog title? Things going too far. That's a bit vague no? Ok so let's break it down.

Censorship isn't necessarily a bad thing right? I mean we censor what our children watch, read, and hear. We censor ourselves when speaking to others, so as not to hurt feelings. We censor our actions to suit others more often than not, most notably would be how we act around our families. So you are thinking yes, yes, yes these are all good things, right? Things that everyone does.

But what about censoring something that someone else does? What they say/think/feel? Ok how about what they write? That seems to be a bit ridiculous don't you think? We live in America, a free country. One that people try to run INTO for that very thing freedom.

Yet just the other day I hear something that simply blows my socks off, truly. A teacher was successful in her art- writing. Something you would think that her town would be proud of right? Something they have known that she has done for some years. Oh wait did I tell you what she writes? No? Fanatsy/paranormal erotica.

Now some of you may gasp, some may snicker, and others I have intrigued. Yes erotica, she writes hot "smut" as one irate parent complained. And before you join in on the "bashing" bandwagon, let me give you a bit more info. She wrote under a pseudonym, not her real name. She never brought her work on campus to pass out to her high school classes. She never tried, by all accounts, to even make herself famous in that town by her work as an author. She was quiet about it, sedate in her home town even. But recently, she was "recognized" and this was brought out to the news.

News, now would you think this would be news? A teacher has a second job... ohhhhh. She is not a topless dancer. Nor is she selling her body or drugs. She is selling her imagination. She is making money on her ability to use words.. Oh yes, did I mention she was an ENGLISH teacher?

One of the parents interviewed in this 'oh so newsworthy' story said- and here is a direct quote from the news stations site people-"Now my son knows so how is he thinking when he's sitting in her class knowing what she does on the side."  Seems an incongruous statement- insulting but harmless correct? Watch the "video" and it tells a different story. You hear the insinuation. Ok now let me reiterate something else- she teaches HIGH school. So this parent is insinuating that this author/teacher is also a pedophile? Ok excuse me for a moment to be unprofessional-- PUH-LEASE! By all accounts this is a hard working, well liked by her students, GOOD teacher. Her only fault? To have a job that some others think is "dirty".


Well, let me tell you (yeah, I know you already know this) if erotica wasn't popular there wouldn't be multiple Houses, authors, OR have its own set of genre! Erotica is something that is no longer in the darkest of rooms or the dark corner of your mind. It is out there for everyone to see and experience. We are SUPPOSE to be in the age of acceptance. We are suppose to stop our children from bullying and being bullied. We are suppose to be numerous things, but these parents show just how far we are from what our society would like us to be. 


Granted I am a bit of a sh!t starter. I live now in the bible belt. A non-alcohol selling, quiet, church going every Sunday, listen to country, non-cussing bible belt. And what do I do? I go through the town blaring S&M or Down with the Sickness, or Bodies. I DON'T go to church. And I (gasp) cuss. Yeah no fitting in here, lmao. But you know what? The people who know me in town are PROUD of me for getting published. Heck they asked all about my "adult" book, and told me they wanted to read it. That is what should have happened to this author! 


Now I have a question for you. What do you think of this? What do you think about a teacher having a second job as an erotic author? Is it a bad thing in your mind? 


Below are links to both news articles and the Youtube video by one of the former students of this teacher, as well as the link to her Support page on Facebook. 


Original Story


Second Story


Facebook Support Page


Youtube video from a former student

w00t! Celebration time!

Yep that's right! It's time to celebrate! Why do you ask? Because Snow's Heat was contracted last night! w00t w00t! Yeah, that's right, uh huh, do the happy dance with me!

Writing a book isn't easy- but getting published is harder! And when you get that email that makes you "an official author", well it's like the sky opened up and is crying rainbow tears of joy. You hear "hallelujahs" being sung in sweet young voices. The day seems brighter. Your heart tries to beat its way out of your chest and your feet seem to fly away with the urge to dance. In other words- total bliss.

I tell all my friends who are new authors- revel in that feeling. Roll in it like catnip! Suck in all those rays of sunshine and laughter and awe that you did it- because now the fun/hard part comes. Lol, I'm just so nice right? But seriously folks, it is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G feeling to get that email- more so after rejections, just don't forget you still have work to do!

If you have yet to do this- it is a mixture of OMGOMGOMG and a mixture of oh HELL! You get the contract! w00t w00t! BUT read through it! Don't let your excitement get ahead of you. :) Just a word to the wise. I have seen others go through this- if you have questions on the contract ASK! Better safe than sorry.

Next you have your "author bio sheet". UGH Author bios. Like we really want to talk in-depth about ourselves in third person? >.> Lol, my suggestion would be look at your life, look at a couple of author's bios of people you read, and after you write it up ask a friend to look it over for you. Getting that mixture of personal and professional can be tricky.

The one you would think would be *SQUEEEEEE* fun is the cover info... LOL! It was fun up until "What is the TONE of your book" .... tone? really? *sigh* It would be more simplistic if you asked for a blurb or suggestions or what the author would like.... but tone? *headdesk*

But once all of those are done it is back to *SQUEEEE* time! You did it! Not only did you manage to write the darn thing- you managed to get a House INTERESTED in the darn thing- next (after edits) will be to SALE the darn thing! So yes- with Snow's Heat now accepted, contracted, and I am now awaiting edits and the cover art it is official. More than with publishing poem, or contests, or writing shorts for pleasure. Now I can call myself an author, in my mind it is official. :)

LET'S CELEBRATE!

SSS2 More Catting

Check out Six Sunday for more Six Sentence celebrations, contests and snippets!

When I saw the line of bikes, a mixture of Harleys and crotch rockets, I thought I might’ve hit the jackpot. The sight of all that shiny chrome, and imagining the rumble between my thighs, definitely revved my engines. I made a mental note of Randy’s RoadHouse and Pool hall as a possible. I snorted as I pulled away. Randy’s RoadHouse. Yeah, in three days it sure will be. 

Just another excerpt from my erotica WIP Catting Around.  This is a fun one to work on, and I hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to check out the other authors sharing their Six Sentence Sunday excerpts!

A Win/Win Raffle

      As some of you know, I started taking Amazon Gift Card Donations to help four kids get Kindles after their home caught fire and their family lost everything (see post HERE). Many people didn't understand why I would want to get them Kindles instead of clothing, food, or other essentials; my reasoning is simple. I want to give these kids a sense of security in something. They have their family together banding around them, helping with essentials right now, but hearing that they cried because of their lost book collections and not laptops, Christmas gifts, or clothes gave me an idea on how we could band together and help out in a way others wouldn't think of. While we cannot get them back their copies of books, we can give them a way to always take their collections with them. A way they won't have to worry about leaving them behind and this happening again. Knowledge that something of theirs is safe. Members of the publishing industry across all genre have taken an interest in this, as it is something very dear to their hearts as well, and have banded together for prizes to be included in the raffle in an attempt to raise the money and in offering Young Adult PDFs to be adding to the Kindles.Any and all proceeds will be used towards this. Any amount that goes over and above the amount needed to procure the Kindles will be used to fill them with books.Help me not only give them a sense of security in something they own, but to bring back the fantasy in their lives.

Now for the Raffle!
The Raffle will continue through until March 14th.   
Winners will be announced On March 16th.

Entries:
For every $10 worth of Amazon Gift Cards sent to authornicolehicks@gmail.com you will get one entry for the raffle. So if you send a $30 Amazon Card you will get three entries! Are you wondering about the prizes? They are wonderful!

1. I am offering a pre-submission edit- Winner's choice of either an edit for an 80,000 word manuscript or 2 edits for manuscripts up to 45,000 words each

2. Two people will be able to choose any piece of Author Margie Hall's jewelry. Just a couple of examples of  her designs- Winners will be emailed with a listing of all designs.

3. One lucky winner will win a cover designed by Author and Cover Artist Mina Carter example below

4. One lucky winner will get Prince's Courtesan by Mina Carter (winner must be 18 or older as book contains adult content)

5. One lucky winner will win Thrill of the Night by Mina Carter (winner must be 18 or older as book contains adult content)

6. One lucky participant will win a signed copy of DC Juris's Finding Sanctuary (winner must be 18 or older as book contains adult content)

7. One lucky participant will win the first two books in the Hunter series by Stacey Thompson-Geer offered by Wicked Nights (winner must be 18 or older as books contains adult content)

8. One lucky Participant will win the ENTIRE World series by Stacey Thompson-Geer offered by Wicked Nights (winner must be 18 or older as books contains adult content)

9. One lucky person will win FIVE books offered by Ashlynn Monroe offered by Wicked Nights (winner must be 18 or older as books contain adult content)

10. One lucky person will win The Lawn Boy and books 1-4 of the Captivation series by Julie Lynn Hayes offered by Wicked Nights (winner must be 18 or older as books contain adult content)

Prizes may be added to the raffle as the raffle continues. Entrants for the raffle must return to this post and comment leaving their email or emailing me at authornicolehicks@gmail.com so that they can be notified of their winnings.