Shaking in my 5 inch stilettos...

Janice Warriner Art

"Break through the wall! Find my dream!...

Into a thousand whirling dreams of sun!"

Langston Hughes (1925)

Two years ago I began to write...


All I knew was that I wanted to write a story about a professor in Paris and I wanted to write erotic romance - that's it. That first year or so, mamma-hood and career left me little time to actually write. I stole a few hours here and there (during my son's interminably long football practices; hunched over my pc late into the night, after I put my children to bed). And (shockingly to me) my story began to flow (turns out that I've got quite a naughty mind ;-} Still, it didn't take me long to realize that I had absolutely no fucking idea what I was doing - to the internets!I enrolled in a few online writers' workshops (eureka!), joined a few romance writers' discussion groups, and got busy.

In the meantime, my career was steadily becoming more and more 'dissatisfying.' After nearly 8 years, no promotion, no raise, no benefits, no hope of mobility. Yeah, you get the picture - bitterness, frustration and anger. Luckily for me, I had the perfect refuge. I found myself returning to my heart - writing - more and more. Then in May, I found myself in the midst of a perfect storm...

For awhile (I forget exactly for how long) I've been Facebook gurl-friends with Jaid Black. The unexpected part is that our friendship had nothing to do with writing. Outside of writing, we have so much in common and we just...clicked. We never even 'spoke' about Ellora's Cave (her wildly successful publishing company). Then in May, during one of our late night messaging convos, Jaid asked if I wrote. I replied yes, but I had no idea if what I had was any good. Jaid asked me to send her a few chapters, though it would take her several months to get back to me. I'm no dummy - one of the foremost authors of erotic romance, offering to look over my work? - she could take her sweet time! After profusely thanking her, I @mailed Jaid a two chapters then went to work. It was the worst day of my career-life.

As I figuratively limped home at the end of the day, I knew that that part of my life was over. A career that I had spent 10+ years preparing for; a career that I loved, had invested my heart and soul into; a career that has no place for me and doesn't want me - a hard demoralizing pill to swallow indeed. Of course I went to my refuge - I turned on my pc and prepared to lose myself in my wip (work in progress). But first, as I always do, I checked my @mail. There were two from Jaid. The first contained only three words: "Oooh you're good." WOW! In the second she offered me a publishing contract!!!!! Double WOW, with a YIP! Yeah, I said YES, and was assigned an editor before the week was finished.

I've taken an indefinate hiatus from my career, hoping to never return (huge sigh of relief) to work on my wip full time (did I mention that I have the best, the sexiest, and the most supportive husband EVER!)  I'm giving myself 6 months (with a 6 month extentsion option) to see where this trip down the rabbit hole leads me.

But here's the thing - I'm terrified, shaking in my 5 inch stilettos! This is a whole new brave world I'm entering and I feel like Alice in Wonderland - feeling her way.

So, that's what this blog is about: the adventures of a fledgling erotic romance writer publishing her first novel.

'Til next time,

Temple