Feeding the Beast aka Distraction Jackson
Happy Monday! Time to get the grind on, as if the grind ever stops when you’re in the creative arts. But honestly, I’m starting to feel the pressure as the words have not been flowing at a rate that I feel they should be, so grinding right now is what I need to do. Take what I can get and worry about it later. Just get something on the page. Everyday. Don’t overthink. Besides, all that can come later along with the internal editor. She loves that job any way, so why should I deprive her of it?
The problem is it would seem that at this point I’d rather do just about anything but grind it out as I need to and get the words on the page. And to feed the beast of procrastination my good friend, Laura Curtis, was kind enough to gift me with some amazing needlepoint patterns and one of them just so happened to be a perfect match for my very own Jack. Isn’t it amazing? I’m finding it so hard to think of anything else right now but running to the store and getting thread to start on this project. Tell me what are ways that you procrastinate or ways that you don’t? Hmm… yeah, maybe I should start there. LOL
All the best,
KMJ
Bounce…coming soon in PRINT!
Happy Monday and Happy New Week Folks!
Can you believe it’s the end of March already? Even though I know I’ve been incredibly busy, still I feel like I’ve spent the first part of the year in a state of hibernated slumber and I’m just now opening my sleepy eyes to 1/4 of the year gone.
And since I’m now waking up to Spring I might as well wake up with a smile. Please join me in celebrating the cover reveal of the PRINT version of BOUNCE coming soon to an e-tailer near you (that would be Amazon, but doesn’t e-tailer sound cool?).
Thanks so much to Mae from Coverfresh Designs once again for the amazing design work. And a huge thank you to the fabulous Lauren Dane for my fabulous cover quote. Talk about a dream come true!
Bounce with me people!
All the best,
KMJ
Coffee, My Love
So I’ve been up for hours comparing online reviews of coffee makers. Mind you that’s after spending a good portion of my afternoon going from store to store looking for just the right machine in person and coming up short in the decision department. Silly I know, but I’m a writer and I spend the better part of my day at home with my laptop and my cup of coffee as my literal right hand companion and brain stimulator. Looking back now it’s hard to believe I ever used to be a light tea sipper. Those seem like such carefree innocent days now.
Happily, I finally went for a little talked about Hamilton Beach that got not much press, but amazing reviews on each site I went to. We’ll see how I like it when it comes in.
Tell me are you a coffee or a tea drinker or do you take on the day on au natural?
All the best,
KMJ
image fm Pinterest
With this Thread… Threads of Desire release day!
Wow. So this has happened. In the past year and a half I’ve gone from zero stories published to as of today, with the release of THREADS OF DESIRE, the final book in my Crimson Romance Creative Hearts series, being a four time multi-published author. That is quick version of my overnight success.
The long version of that overnight success is nowhere near as astonishing or amazing and it sure as heck ain’t quick. The reality is this path to publication has taken me well over ten years (more like twelve, but come on, if I really count and then look in the mirror I may start to see the wrinkles and I’m not going there), three agents (yeah I’m still in that process) and enough rejections (from the who’s in the who) to wallpaper my house both inside and out to get where I am today. And where is where I am today?
Honestly, it is with me just where I am. Being a multi-published author grinding it out each and every day and still feeling just as wide-eyed and vulnerable as she did on the very first day. Both excited and nervous, stomach full of butterflies about presenting something to the world. But as with all new things I set forth, I’ll take a breath, steel my nerves and see where this one goes. And then come tomorrow, as with all the days before I will open my laptop and stare at the blank page.
Once again the possibilities for an overnight success wide open…
Thanks for joining me on the ride.
THREADS OF DESIRE is available now!
Sexy, fashionista Gabrielle Russell has been challenging Nick Ross most of his life and now is no exception. A top financial analyst, Nick has been dating his boss’s daughter and he’s on the fast track to turning his five-year marathon into a three-year sprint. But life throws him a curve when he finds his perfect girlfriend curled up in a very un-zen like position with her yoga instructor. Faced with this awkward downward dog, Nick heads to the only place he can think of—his brother Steve’s place—only to be stuck face to hips, thighs, lips, just about everything with his roommate, Gabby. She’s the habit Nick just can’t shake. The one that got away and she won’t let him forget it.
Gabrielle Russell is frustrated. She’s been banging it out for years as a curvy girl trying to make her creative mark the exclusive world of New York fashion and she’s hit a brick wall both personally and professionally. Now stuck in a dead end job designing jersey pantsuits for wannabe mafia wives while dodging the advances of her boss’s son, she doesn’t know how to get out of the hole she’s dug for herself. At least she has a bit of peace in the small apartment she shares with her childhood friend and roommate, Steve.
Or she did until Nick Ross walked in. Mr. Perfection and her own devastation, the one that broke her heart and almost broke her spirit, and now here he’s back and looking for a place to camp out while he gets his life back on track. Well, she’s got news for him: She’s not the same girl she was all those years ago when just a look would send her heart stuttering. Okay, maybe she is, but now maybe it’s time the tables were turned on the unflappable Nick Ross.
THREADS OF DESIRE can be found at these e-tailers:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1dKW7Sy
Barnes & Noble : http://bit.ly/Nkr0sc
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1aHfqS4
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1njw0I5
All the best,
KMJ
Plan to Dream
Happy Friday! Well we made it through another week and for me what a week it was. I made it through the 1st week with my DD away on her semester abroad in France.
Yes, I still hardly slept and yes, I worried like crazy and yes, I cried more than once, but I’m happy to report that my lovely daughter arrived and is settled with her host family and is happy and doing well. I got to Skype with her and meet her host family over Skype too and was thrilled that they are already treating her like a member of the family. Having 3 grown sons the mom said, “thank you for sending me a daughter”. This made me tear up again but also soothed my heart. Please continue to join me in wishing her well, love and safety and to send good thoughts to our new extended family in France!
With the DD settled I got to thinking about my own dreams and goals for the next few months. I have so much going on with THREADS OF DESIRE coming out on Monday. MONDAY!! (cue mild freakout) You can pre-order it here. But after that my writing options are wide open. Luckily the book ideas are overflowing, but sadly for me time is not. That said, I brought a fantastic new Filofax A5 Domino to reign in both my time and my writing. So far I’m thrilled with it (and I blame my twitter/writing bud Dren for the new obsession with flair). Now to get to writing…
Tell me are you one to plan your dreams?
And a big thanks to all who commented and entered Alyssa Cole’s giveaway. Alyssa pulled a winner and it’s Reese Ryan! Thanks so much Reese. Alyssa will contact you with your prize.
All the best,
Kwana
image fm Becoming tru Me and Beyond
P.S. See you back here on Monday to talk THREADS!
And the nominees are… (wait, that’s all you’ve got?)
So a lot has been said these past few days about the USA TODAY Top Books of 2013 list (Big congrats to all that made the list. Good for you. There are some great books there).
Also sidebar to me and giving myself a back pat for BOUNCE having gotten a mention on the USA TODAY HEA blog. Huge thanks to Michelle Monkou for the lovely review. It was called a “great book club pick”. Loving that! You can check out the full review here.
But back to matters at hand. So much has been said about the fact that there are no self-pubs on the USA TODAY list this year, which is huge, but I do think in many ways speaks to the power of having a backer and big marking behind you (and the possibility of a TODAY show appearance doesn’t hurt a thing). But this hybrid woman writer of color is asking another question: where are the fiction writers of color on the list?
In this big global writing world, why are the top spots in publishing as rare as getting an Academy Award nomination? What are your thoughts? Why are so many writers of color turning to self-publishing? How can there be more visibility for these writers? Also who do you think, writer or publishing house, is getting it right? I’m sure there are some.
This is a day of celebration so things have to start looking up. I’m all about the positive. Have at it.
All the best,
KMJ
Hello Monday, What brings you here?
See me trying to be nice with that lovely “hello” though I’m darned near loopy enough to growl as I write this at 2:46AM after a weekend of Bat Cave copyediting. There I go looking up at the clock and BAM! I’m hit by Monday morning. Can I get a re-wind?
Can I also get a forklift to get me off this basement couch and up my stairs to my bed? How did you spend this weekend? I hope unlike me you got outdoors and maybe took in some fresh air or are you in need of a forklift too and maybe that extra cup of coffee.
Have a fantastic Monday!
Oh and just a reminder my BOUNCE giveaway is still going on. Have you entered yet?
Had to add a little edit here as it’s now 9:30 and I’m just blinking my eyes open to find out about BOUNCE getting an fantastic review on the USA Today HEA blog! This Monday is looking up! You can check out the review here
All the best,
KMJ
image from here
Happy 6th Blogiversary to Me!
Happy 6th Blogiversary to Me over here at ye old blog!
I hope all who celebrated had a Very Merry Christmas. Mine was wonderful with family coming over and a fun time of food and festivities had by all. I want to thank each of you on your well wishes with the debut of BOUNCE. I’m so grateful to each person that commented here, on Facebook or on Twitter. It means so much to me. This has been quite a year, a total speed rollercoaster ride and honestly if I had my way I’d do a little re-wind bringing it back to September or October where my heart tells me the calendar should be set. But, alas it is what it as and I’m ever so grateful to be where I am today. Now a published author of 1,2… 3 books and a 4th on the way!
Latest release!
My mind can hardly get around it. But I know I have so many of you to thank for where I am now. Thank you.
Cheers from me and The Jackster and here’s to a fabulous 2014!
All the best,
KMJ
candle image from here
I’m Coming Out!
Happy Friday! Well we’ve made it through another week. Thanks so much for the well wishes on my January cover for THREADS OF DESIRE.
I really appreciate it.
Here’s a little Friday Flashback to celebrate the end of the week and to give a hint and let you know that a little something something BIG is coming soon from KMJ!…. I’m coming out! To be continued….
All the best,
KMJ
Threads of Desire… Cover Reveal!
Cue the horns and grab your confetti the time is here! It’s the big cover reveal for my final book in my Crimson Romance self proclaimed Creative Hearts series called: THREADS OF DESIRE due out at the end of January 2014.
In this book we meet, Gabby the sexy, sassy and curvy fashion designer who just so happens to be the best friend to Samara my heroine from SEDUCTION’S CANVAS. Being a former fashion designer myself, I can’t wait to bring you into Gabby’s world.
And now a bit about THREADS OF DESIRE:
Sexy, fashionista Gabrielle Russell has been challenging Nick Ross most of his life and now is no exception. A top financial analyst, Nick has been dating his boss’s daughter and he’s on the fast track to turning his five-year marathon into a three-year sprint. But life throws him a curve and when he finds his perfect girlfriend curled up in a very un-zen like position with her yoga instructor. Faced with this awkward downward dog, Nick heads to the only place he can think of—his brother Steve’s place—only to be stuck face to hips, thighs, lips, just about everything with his roommate, Gabby. She’s the habit Nick just can’t shake. The one that got away and she won’t let him forget it.
Gabrielle Russell is frustrated. She’s been banging it out for years as a curvy girl trying to make her creative mark the exclusive world of New York fashion and she’s hit a brick wall both personally and professionally. Now stuck in a dead end job designing jersey pantsuits for wannabe mafia wives while dodging the advances of her boss’s son, she doesn’t know how to get out of the hole she’s dug for herself. At least she has a bit of peace in the small apartment she shares with her childhood friend and roommate, Steve.
Or she did until Nick Ross walked in. Mr. Perfection and her own devastation, the one that broke her heart and almost broke her spirit, and now here he’s back and looking for a place to camp out while he gets his life back on track. Well, she’s got news for him: She’s not the same girl she was all those years ago when just a look would send her heart stuttering. Okay, maybe she is, but now maybe it’s time the tables were turned on the unflappable Nick Ross.
And here it is…..
All the best,
KMJ
