To Publish or Not to Publish

Last March, I released Deja Vu, the continuation of Darcey St. Claire and Vincent Guidry’s story. I started immediately outlining two additional stories about Darcey’s best friends, Lenore Jennings and Catalina Houston. By November 2013, both stories were in the first draft stage and I was ready to really start polishing A Loving Affair.

Then…

Nothing.

I love Darcey and Vincent. But I thought that was just me and three of my relatives so the stories remained on my hard drive.  Not because I don’t enjoy them but because publishing them takes time and money. And I was okay with the rest of the Rose Gold Collection residing there.

Then I was having lunch with my friends in late April and one of them asked when the rest of the books were being released. This evolved into a discussion of why I’d waited so long since they knew I finished in November.

My response – You never said you liked it.

Friend 1 – I just thought you knew.

Friend 2 – Why would think we didn’t like it?

Obviously my besties aren’t writers, but they are a great source of encouragement when they know I need it. So I polished both books and I’m moving forward to the beta reading stage. I’m also taking it as a good sign that a reader asked me about the books about a month later. Here’s hoping for a publication date in July!

Happy Reading! (And if your favorite indie author has a book you enjoy let them know)

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Today, I’ll be hanging out with my kids as hubby is away on a sales trip and won’t be home until Sunday. Of course I got the chocolate before he left. Now that’s not romantic in any fashion, but that’s my life.

Thank goodness, I have the fictional life of others to make me all warm and fuzzy on Valentine’s Day even though I get the all the pillows for the next few nights.

***The Couple***

If you haven’t met Darcey and Vincent, I think they may be having a spectacular Valentine’s Day…and night.

Darcey St. Claire met Vincent Guidry in a posh hotel in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve. Though he was fourteen years her senior and her VIP client, the naturally flirtatious Darcey couldn’t stay away from the handsome former quarterback.

She broke the cardinal rule of hotel sales – You don’t sleep with your client.

Vincent made that part easy with his gleaming blue eyes, rock hard body, and attitude which said he was entitled to have anything he wanted.

In the follow up to their steamy meeting, Vincent Guidry gave up on the thought of Darcey as a casual fling. The young woman had rooted herself into his thoughts and refused to budge.

He’d showered her with everything his wealth could provide and yet she pushed away from him at every turn. Though her copper eyes sparkled, he hadn’t missed the glint of sadness.

What he wouldn’t give to wipe it away.

Their story is done but I don’t think Vincent is done with the showering of gifts for this woman. What is Darcey getting for Valentine’s Day? Here’s a few hints to help with your answers.

• Vincent’s first gift to Darcey was a set of platinum earrings with pink diamond centers.
• Darcey is a first generation American. Her father is from Jamaica and her mother is from England.
• Vincent has never traveled outside of the US.
• Darcey is a huge fan of the Miami Dolphins.
• Darcey is a clothes whore. This is the woman who would rather shop than eat.

There you are readers, for your chance to win a $10.00 iTunes gift card to be sent via US mail, tell me what Vincent is getting Darcey for Valentine’s Day.

The winner will be chosen at random by Random.org among those who answer the question. The winner will be contacted by Vallory Vance via email so be sure to leave your email addy.

Winner will be announced on Monday, February 17th. Another holiday? Maybe he’ll do something really big!

~Val

Haven’t Been Around Much Lately (Sad Face)

Hi All,

I haven’t been on the blog lately and I apologize for that. Life has gotten in the way.

Luckily some fantastic authors have stopped by and picked up my slack. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read the posts, you just may find your next great read from:

All Shades of Passion – A multi-author anthology (erotic romantic shorts)

Love Resurrected by Kristy Centeno (paranormal romance)

Snug Fit by Anna Bayes (erotic short story)

The De La Cruz Saga by P.T. Macias (romance with a Spanish flavor, muy caliente)

Renzo by Jamallah Bergman (interracial romance series)

Night of the Horse by Elodie Parkes (paranormal menage)

Black Baroness by R.B. Michaels (erotic short story)

Taken by Lust by Leteisha Newton (interracial erotic romance)

Thank you. Thank you.

As for me I’ve just received edits for a short story, One Stormy Night,  to be released by Evernight Publishing prior to the end of the year. I’ll be working on those this weekend.

The Beginning of Forever, the conclusion of Amber and Kevin’s story, is out there on the web waiting to heat up your chilly weekend!

Just see what one Amazon reader wrote:

If you haven’t had a chance to read In The Moment then you should before you read this installment so you can appreciate the amazing love between Kevin and Amber. Truly Kevin is my hero, he is everything a real woman would want in her man. This story picks up with the two planning to marry but also Amber trying to get pregnant. Amber’s desire to have a family with Kevin really test their strength, faith and love. For Kevin he’d give her the world but not at the risk of her health, Kevin feels that the two of them have enough love to adopt but his life wouldn’t matter without her in it. Wow! what a man. Kevin in his usual determined way must prove to Amber that together they can make anything work, getting Amber to believe it herself is her walk of faith. I just loved this couple they were real, funny, sexy and just wonderful. I especially loved the ending of course it could be a new beginning for Kevin and Amber come on Vallory what do you think? This is a great read you won’t be disappointed but get In The Moment first. Enjoy

Do I love this because it’s glowing? Yes. I also love it because at least for one reader, the point of the story hit home.

I’m also finishing a short story for early next year. This is a departure from my usual contemporary romance and delves into the paranormal world. We’ll see how that goes. Maybe the Ngali and Widatsi will get a few likes in January. I don’t know but Logan and Ada called me to them and I had to answer.

Lastly, it’s almost November and I’ll be taking part in NaNoWriMo. Last year, I didn’t finish a completed novel. This year, I hope to pen A Loving Affair. In this next installment to the Rose Gold Collection, you’ll  meet my first African-American hero, Xavier Loving.

Y’all keep reading, writing and playing nice!

~Val

Bargain Erotica Book of the Day-0.99-Cheers

Bargain Erotica Book of the Day-0.99-Cheers.

Check me out I’m on Kiindle Spice!

June 2013 Update – Editing and Retooling

This update thing isn’t working as well as I’d hoped, but I’ll try to remember to do this every month. Can’t promise a date!

Originally, I wanted to complete four long works this year – The three books in the Rose Gold Collection and the completion of Amber and Kevin’s story. 

Thankfully, I got June’s update in and here’s what’s going on…

The completion of Amber and Kevin’s story, The Beginning of Forever, was contracted by Amira Press.  I have to say that this was my toughest editing process to date and I feel like it helped me as a writer even though I cried through most of it! Still in the finalizing stages –  final edits and a release date. I can’t say too much but here’s the blurb and a sneak peek at the cover:

Amber Grayson, a conservative executive, found true love with fiancé, Kevin Miller. He infused her life with a sense of adventure and challenged her thoughts about appropriate bedroom behavior. After such a steamy affair, Amber was expecting nothing less during their engagement.

Even with the rushed timetable for the wedding combined with the stress of merging their households and finances, Amber is excited to begin a family with the man of her dreams. However, the beginning of forever is more difficult than either Amber or Kevin thought.

Locked in a battle of wills, Amber and Kevin find their commitment to each other and their future tested. Is this the beginning of their lives together or the end?

A Twist of Fate – A poem I wrote, The Pearl,  was accepted into the Twist of Fate anthology. This collection of poems and short stories by indie authors from around the globe will benefit those who suffered losses during the 2013 tornadoes that ravaged Oklahoma. As a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, I’m well aware that help is needed beyond those first few days. I’m so proud to be a part of this effort. I’ll get you the the links to the work when they are available.

A Loving Affair – The next installment in the Rose Gold Collection is begging to be written. So I’m off to write a leisurely pace.

Happy Reading ~Val

Hump Day Hook – Deja Vu (The Rose Gold Collection)

Welcome to the Hump Day Hook! This is a weekly blog hop in which authors give you a peek at their work. To check out the other authors participating in this event, click here. You may just discover your next read!

This week, my hook comes from Deja Vu. I’ve been thinking a lot about heroines lately. And Darcey is special – she isn’t in need of a knight in shining armor. In fact she’s dead set against the idea.

“You could work for me. I told you about the reception hall in the Northern Bluffs.”

Her head popped up, bright eyes and a seductive smile. “You just want me at your disposal.”

He did. He wanted her all the time. He hadn’t felt like this since Melissa three years ago; an attorney he’d met at some event. In the end, Melissa hadn’t been able to deal with his work schedule and he hadn’t been willing to deviate from it.

But for Darcey.

He had rescheduled meetings, delegated authority, actually taken a vacation to be close to her and have those bright eyes shining down on him.

“I love you.” The words were expelled by the crushing sensation in his chest and he waited.

What he wanted was for her to say that she loved him as well. What he expected was an argument about the nothing serious rule. What she did was startling.

Dèjá Vu is available from All Romance, Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

Hump Day Hook ~ Speaking of Moms

Welcome to the Hump Day Hook! This is a weekly blog hop in which authors give you a peek at their work. To check out the other authors participating in this event, click here. You may just discover your next read!

My little piece is from Deja Vu, available at Amazon and Amazon UK, and is actually posted in conjunction with my appearance on the Elodie Parkes: Erotic Romance blog. (Thanks again, Elodie!) 

In this snippet, the reader is introduced to Darcey St. Claire’s mother. Mrs. St. Claire was born in Bristol, the largest city in the south west of England (according to my research).

Sherrie St. Claire was not an excitable woman and took life as it came, trying to find the good in all situations. Her main role in the St. Claire family was to soothe the veins that often throbbed in Darcey’s father’s forehead.

It was Sherrie who had stood between the two of them when she declared that she was dropping out of college and moving to Myrtle Beach with René. It had been Sherrie who had smoothed those lines in her father’s forehead when René had lost his job and they needed money for the rent. And Sherrie who had driven her home from the airport, broken. Held her through her father’s tirades all the while smiling sweetly.

“Mom?”

“Still sick, are you?”

“Not really. I’ve got something to tell you and I think you should be sitting.”

“Dear Lord.”

*** And The Contest!***

Thanks for stopping by and remember to visit Elodie! She’s hosting a contest for me and here’s how to enter – Give me a very British phrase for Sherrie to use in the next installment of the Rose Gold Collection (Darcey has other things her mother will need to be sitting to hear) and you could be the winner of a $10.00 gift card and have a special acknowledgement from me in the next book!

Hump Day Hook with a Giveaway!

The Hump Day Hook is weekly blog hop where authors run a paragraph or two from a WIP or their latest release. This week we’re all hosting giveaways, so be sure to the click the Hump Day Hook link for some great snippets and the chance to win a prize!

Here’s the hook: My snippet comes from Cheers, a short story introducing Darcey St. Claire and Vincent Guidry from the newly released, Deja Vu. This scene takes place a few hours before midnight on New Year’s Eve on the interior balcony of the Chat Noir, a club in New Orleans.

“You know, I’m pretty good at reading people…” He leaned closer.

The spicy aroma of his cologne filled the small space between them and she leaned closer for another whiff of the tantalizing scent.  Maybe a little more than a kiss…

“…and I think I frighten you…but I’m a really good guy.” He patted her knee.

“What?” She almost choked on the champagne. Only he could ruin a moment when she was actually beginning to think she was going to make his New Year’s Eve!

“It’s okay. I know I can be intimidating sometimes, sweetheart.” He skimmed his fingers up her thigh to just beneath the hem. “Let me show you how nice I can be.”

Darcey banged her glass down on the table and twisted around to face him, ready to tell him that no man intimidated her. “Listen Vince…”

The gentle push of his lips silenced her.

Here’s the prize: The Rose Gold Collection to date!

An Electronic Copy of Cheers! (available internationally!)

As a successful Sales and Catering Manager for the posh Hayden Court Hotel located in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter, Darcey St. Claire is absolutely thrilled to be working on New Year’s Eve. The commission and bonus she’ll receive from the two day Guidry Construction event will not only fund her spring trip to New York City, but buy a cute pair of shoes for the plane ride!
Her enthusiasm quickly turns to barely disguised irritation when Vincent Guidry arrives hours early for his scheduled check-in, demanding access to his suite. After he slashes the budget for the event, not even the crystal blue eyes of the former quarterback can quell the anger surging in her chest.
That is until he walks into the Chat Noir where she is trying to regroup after her irksome day.
In the private enclave known as the Cristal Room, Vincent willingly lights up Darcey’s New Year’s Eve and may have lost his heart in the process to the young woman who isn’t looking for anything serious.

A signed print copy of Deja Vu (available only in the US, electronic copy will be substituted in case of an international winner.)

Darcey St. Claire is never surprised when a man is attracted to her. In fact, her style revolves around that assumption. From her short skirts to her thigh-high boots to her flirty laugh, Darcey flits along the edge of provocation to sell the overpriced services of the Hayden Court Hotel and afford her the spot as top Sales Manager. So the lustful looks Vincent Guidry cast in her direction didn’t faze her. It was the feeling of déjà vu creeping up her spine that made her run at breakneck speed away from the handsome former quarterback. And she wouldn’t have ever sought him out again. Not for herself. But there was someone else to consider…

For a chance at winning, just leave a comment about the snippet, the covers or what the weather’s like in your part of the world! Good luck ~Val

Deja Vu and Youtube.com

I’m trying all sorts of things to get the word out about my work:

Goodreads giveaway of five print copies (available in the US, GB and CA)

Upcoming Blog Hops

Guest posts hosted by some wonderful bloggers

Facebook Event – May 11, 2013 – I’ll be giving away gift bags and print copies of books. (If you don’t have your invite, please let me know I’ll send you one along!)

And I posted a trailer to YouTube!

Let me know what you think.

Really, let me know before I start promoting this thing and find out it sucks!

 

No Really This is Their Theme Song!

My daughter was so excited to share with me her new favorite song. We like some of the same music, but not all so I began by half-listening while I scanned through the mail. Then I heard the lyrics –

Not really sure how to feel about it

Something in the way you move

Makes me feel like I can’t live without you

It takes me all the way

I want you to stay

That’s Darcey and Vincent. I don’t know if I achieved it in the book, but that’s what I meant. Both are hit out of nowhere with the feelings they have for each other and it’s hard to come to terms with these new emotions.

Vincent’s line that gets me – “Darcey, I almost came to blows with your dad, had it out with my mother…honey, I just don’t have the energy to pretend that it’s only sex and I’m not in love with you. Not tonight. Not right now.”

I really plan to stop talking about this soon. I promise! ~Val