Friday, June 29, 2012

stressful times

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted here. My elderly mother got very ill, very quickly, and was hospitalized. Hence, everything else in my life went on hold. I live an hour away from the hospital, and I have mobility issues of my own, so trekking to the hospital every other day took a toll on me. Thankfully, she's rallied and is improving daily, so the bulk of the stress is behind me, but I'm still dealing with the effect on my poor, beleaguered body. Time and rest will set me right, and then it will be business as usual.

Just a reminder that July 3, my story Focused Desire is released from Phaze. http://www.phaze.com/ As usual, it's a sizzler of a tale, set in the world of high fashion photography. I hope you'll check it out. You can read an excerpt at http://www.paigebennett.homestead.com/

Saturday, June 9, 2012

When life hands you lemons...

It's been a bad week. My dear elderly Mom had to be admitted to the hospital, and I am a frazzled ball of worry. On the up side, test results show no serious ailment, so it appears that an infection and resultant wearing down is what we're dealing with. Hopefully, antibiotics, fluids and rest will turn the trick and she'll be back to her old self in no time. I am ever the optimist.
At times like this I'm glad for my extended family. We are a clan who rally around to support whoever is going through some trial or other. My brother and I feel that support now, and it really helps.
And in a strange way, the stress seems to fuel my drive to write. I think that writing is an escape for me. If I can keep my mind occupied on the trials and tribulations of my characters, I spend less time getting angsty about my problems. So I've made great strides with my current WIP and have even started mapping out another story I'm dying to write. I guess this is some of that lemonade you make from all those life lemons...lol.
If you have a moment, please send some good energy my way. I could use it. And I promise to return the favour the next time you're in need.

Friday, June 1, 2012

upcoming new stories

I've had a satisfying couple of days in my writing life. I was offered a contract for my new erotic romance entitled To Sir, With Lust. (Yes, I'm shamelessy making a glancing reference to my all time favourite movie from the 60s. The young Poitier made my heart go pitter-patter, and I can sing every word of Lulu's title song.) My version takes place at the college level (because I'm mindful of the taboos regarding underage sexual content). My heroine, Kendra, falls in lust with her English professor, Ray, and, as with all my books, graphic steaminess ensues. I'll have more details upcoming here and on my website http://www.paigebennett.homestead.com/

And my story, Focused Desire, finally has a release date from Phaze: July 3. So I hope you'll watch for that and consider picking it up. You can read an excerpt of FD at my site.

Blurb:  Five years ago, budding photographer Jessamyn Daniels lost a plum fashion assignment that would have put her on the map, to her then boyfriend well known photographer Dillon Grant. Feeling betrayed, she ended the relationship and for the next five years managed to avoid him while she rose in the ranks of the industry.

Dillon Grant never got over the love of his life, Jess. When the opportunity comes along to work beside her on a shoot, he calls in every last favor owed him to ensure it happens.

Though the situation on the day of the shoot is awkward at first, Jessamyn soon realizes she’s never lost her desire for the talented artist, while he will do anything to bring them back together as they once were.

I'm hard at work on a new story for Phaze which I hope to finish in the next couple of weeks. And I have an outline for a Hallowe'en themed story I hope to write then. At that point, I need to shift focus and do some work for Cambridge Press. They haven't released the work I have contracted with them yet, so I haven't pushed getting new stuff done for them. But the day of reckoning will come and I don't want to be caught flat-footed.

So my darling readers, that's where I am at professionally at the moment. I do this because of you and your support over this past dozen years I've been slogging away at the writing game. Your interest spurs my creativity. So thank you.