I think I’m finally recovered from my 12 days traveling to Yaoicon and GayRomLit! Not sure if it was jet-lag, or Hurricane Sandy, or just coming back down to earth after two amazing weeks, but I probably slept 10 hours a day last weekend! What a treat. November promises to be a very busy month for me, so I thought I’d update everyone who’s asked and let you all know what I will be up to.
November 1st marks the start of NanoWriMo. Unfortunately, there’s no way I’m going to be able to participate this year. For those of you who may not know, “The Melody Thief” was a late entry into NaNo last year, so I’ve definitely found NaNo to be great motivation in the past. This year, however, I’ve got way too much on my plate to give it another go.
First up on my list of to-dos: “Aria” is in the final editing process and set for a Christmas Eve release at Dreamspinner Press. I’ve approved the cover art (it looks amazing!) and am waiting on the final version to share with you all. “Aria” is the story of Sam Ryan (from Blue Notes #1) and Aiden Lind (Cary Redding’s best friend from Blue Notes #2, “The Melody Thief.”). Aiden is an opera singer. Sam is an attorney who lives in Philadelphia. The book focuses on themes including the difficulty of long-distance relationships, letting go of the past, and moving forward from grief. It’s a sweet and sexy look at the opera world, with a bit of intrigue. It’s set in Paris, London, and Philadelphia for the most part, and revisits characters from both the prior books, as well as introduces everyone to a few new characters who you will hear more about in the future.
Next up: I’m wrapping up book #4 in the series, “Prelude,” co-authored with my good friend Venona Keyes. Tentative publication date for that book is April, 2013. “Prelude” is the story of superstar conductor David Somers, who appears in all three Blue Notes novels. David is wealthy, successsful, and yet insecure about his ability to do the one thing he truly loves: compose music. When he meets crossover violinist Alex Bishop, David’s world is turned upside-down, and he is forced to confront his insecurities both in music and in love. I have to admit that David is one of my favorite characters. He’s a mentor to most of the musicians who inhabit the Blue Notes books and, as you will see in “Aria,” a good friend, as well.
Oh, and: I’m starting work on Blue Notes #5, working title, “Encore,” which features two secondary characters from “Prelude.” I’m also working on my pirate/shifter novel, “Stealing the Wind,” which I hope to finish this spring.
Lastly: I’m both a participant and judge in Elisa Rolle’s Rainbow Book Awards this year, reading wonderful stories and following the amazing cover art contest. Oh, and if you haven’t seen, “The Dream of a Thousand Nights” cover is still in the running for Best Cover! Anne Cain rocks!
Wow! Just saying all that makes me tired. December will be a bit less hectic, I think (at least I hope it will be!). In the meantime, stay tuned for more information about the upcoming “Aria” release and some contests to go along with it, as well as guest posts from some wonderful writers including Hayley B. James, Michael Rupured and Michael Halfhill.
Happy November ya’ll! -Shira