I’ve been working on Lush Situation, the sequel to Chastity Flame and making good progress. I’ve also been writing a lot of noir, so it seems like a perfect match to share this wonderful 1936 short feature from the delightful Robert Benchley.
Tag Archives: Chastity Flame
Making Mistakes
There’s a mistake in the first line of Chastity Flame. The first line ought to read, “Chastity Flame stood in front of Les grandes baigneuses waiting for her contact to arrive.” She doesn’t have a phone, a fact that becomes a plot development point later. Why is the first line wrong? I started writing the novel with little more than the picture in my head of it beginning with this striking woman meeting the man of her dreams (unbeknownst to her) in front of that painting at the National Gallery in London (for very silly reasons that nonetheless make me happy). I wrote the rest in a few weeks during the end of the fall semester and sent it off to the publisher, who put it in print that spring without ever actually giving me proofs.
I was not terribly happy about that, but I was also in the midst of conference hopping and the dissolution of my marriage, so it’s safe to say I was a bit distracted. The publisher was jut getting off the ground and had an incredibly hectic publication schedule. It happens. The speed of epublishing makes me very happy on the whole. I have a novel coming out in print next year (under my given name) that I finished a couple of years ago. I barely remember it. Epublishing still requires editing, proofreading and packaging, but it can be quick and usually gets measured in weeks or months, not years. In the streamlined process, it can be just a matter of days, as it was for Four Play.
But that error in the first sentence irks. It’s not as if it were the only typo in one of my books; trust me I have loads of them because I don’t have the careful attention to details that good copy editing requires, which is why I am extremely grateful for my good editors. I am careless, forgetful and seem to have lost the ability to spell with each new language I study. (>_<) Even if I were more careful, mistakes occur. We are all far from perfect.
I’ve been working on the sequel. It’s been slow going for a number of reasons. When I’m working on it, it generally goes quickly, but it keeps getting shifted aside for other things. I do have at least a few people clamouring for it, but as usual I am trying to do too many things and whatever seems most pressing gets done. In theory any way; I’ve spent the last few days trying to force myself to work on something that’s overdue. It’s an academic essay and honestly I have not had my academic hat on lately. My mind has been flying around the wonder that is Ireland and catapulting into unexpected regions (like noir and crime lately, oh and then there’s that whole falling in love again).
In short, all this freedom has gone to my head.
Restrictions are a writer’s friend: word counts, themes, audience, deadlines. They give the mind focus and limits. Usually a topic and a deadline is enough for me, but I seem to have lost an essential bit of discipline with this particular project. I’m inclined to think it’s just laziness, but the usual whiplash exhortations have not resulted in attacking the project so I’m not sure why my brain has so stubbornly refused to work. I sit here staring at the screen as the minutes tick by and –
nothing.
I’m writing this too early on a Sunday morning despite being up late watching bad horror films with my sweetie (:-*) even though it won’t post until Monday. Why? I might think better of it. Why write it then? I’m trying to figure out what’s going on in my head and writing is the only way I know to do that. Sometimes it’s just priming the pump. Writing anything — the action of writing, I mean, tappity tappity on the keyboard — can sometimes get the stubborn brain unblocked. It’s the reason I usually work on several projects at once. When one gets stuck, I just move to the other. While I’ve supposedly been working on this project I have started and finished several other things. I keep prodding this one but it’s like poking roadkill with a stick.
It’s only academic stuff really. I’ve whipped out a bunch of things since I moved to Galway. I haven’t had trouble with the Chas sequel: I just haven’t had much time to devote to it. I’ve had oodles of time for this essay. I had another academic project earlier this semester that I desperately tried to get out of but ended up finishing at the last minute. I tried to get out of this one, too, but the editor wheedled me into giving it a go. Maybe it’s time to admit defeat. I am sticking to my declaration to take on no new academic projects, but I have one left (>_<) that’s due soon, too. We’ll see what happens.
Drink the Chastity Flame
You know I’ve got a sexy spy novel called Chastity Flame; did you know there’s a drink named after her, too? Because it’s Friday, I think some of you might be thinking about happy hour, so here’s a little drink you can try out. It first appeared in the Noble Romance Christmas Bonus Recipe Book. I was hoping I’d have the sequel to the novel done this summer, but moving to Ireland has taken up far too much of my time! Never fear, it’s at the top of my list once I get settled in Galway.
”Never despise a drink because it is easy to make.”
~ Kingsley Amis, Everyday Drinking
When I created Chastity Flame, my sexy government agent, of course I had Ian Fleming’s Bond in the back of my head. While working on the sequel, Lush Situation (which draws its name from Richard Hamilton’s piece, of course), I decided that Chas needed a drink just as memorable as Bond’s “shaken not stirred” martini. Et voilá! I give you
The Chastity Flame:
2 measures gin (I recommend Boodle’s or Tanqueray Rangpur)
1 measure vodka ( I recommend Zubrowka, Reyka or Stoli)
A generous dash of bitters (is there any but Angostura that will do?)
Lime garnish
Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with plenty of ice, but don’t dawdle or it will get dilluted. Strain the chilled contents into martini glass — or a tumbler if you’re a heathen. Garnish with a lime slice and a shot of lime juice if you like that sort of thing (I do). It should be the color of Chastity’s amber eyes and be rather lethal, but then again, so is its inspiration. A perfect accompaniment for a stimulating book.
New CHAS Book Trailer
Nah, I couldn’t quite accept a less than perfect video, so I had to go back and do it again — let me know what you think. This is much better! Now to do a general trailer for all my books!
Book Trailer for Chas!
Thanks to K. A. Laity for making the video and to the fabulous Bisonics for allowing me to use their song “Mercenary” — thanks, Aitch! It sets the right mood.
New Gig: Nights of Passion
I am joining the fabulous team over at Susan Hanniford Crowley‘s Nights of Passion blog. I first met Sue at Albacon and we had a terrific time hanging out; we also both took part in very fun late night reading of erotic stories. I think this will become a regular feature at Albacon.
I’ll be at Nights of Passion every Sunday, so please make a date with me and I’ll be sure to entertain you 
You’ll all be pleased to know that I am finally back to work on the sequel to Chastity Flame. Almost up to the “special guests” — the scene that has some of my fellow writers in it. I will of course have to run it by them to see if they’re happy with their portrayals. Can’t wait to see what they think! The sequel has an interesting new foil for Chas, further developments in her relationship with Damien — no, they’re not supposed to see each other! How will they cope with being separated?! Is their attraction stronger than their devotion to duty? And what’s this about a sex club for women…?!
Three Cherries!
Over at Whipped Cream there’s a very nice (and favourable!) review of Chastity Flame. Reviewer Carnation ended her review with:
Chastity Flame is full of sexual tension, and has a twist that I honestly was not expecting. The adventures in the storyline kept me coming back to read more, and I was quite satisfied with the ending. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you firmly in your seat, then this one is the one!
A thoughtful review that provides useful feedback. I have to re-read the beginning and figure out what might have made it confusing. Writers are always looking for ways to improve.
I have been busy of late, but a lot of it is under wraps — hush, hush, secrets, something Chastity herself would understand, eh? I am trying to get moving on the sequel, but I’ve had an unfortunate week of illness that has thrown my life out of joint a bit. Trying to play catch up and get a bunch of submissions sent off. Keep your fingers crossed for me and my cohorts!
Ravenous: Happy Year One!
Ravenous Romance celebrates its first birthday today! Congratulations to Lori and Holly for an exciting new adventure that has led to success for many. Check out the links on the left to many of my fellow RR authors who are reminiscing about what that year has brought. Of course I’m very grateful for my many stories that have come out with Ravenous, especially my erotic thriller novel Chastity Flame!
Albacon Begins!
See you there!
Upcoming Releases
I just finished a round of edits on my story SEX CYMBALS which will be coming out as a mini from Freya’s Bower very soon; on December 7th, my medieval M/M retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, SPINNING GOLD, will come out from Noble Romance. Little titbits to tide you over while I’m working on the Chas sequel. So much to catch up on! While I was preparing my tenure file and dealing with some personal issues, I haven’t managed to do much of the fun writing. After I get a few more responsibilities out of the way (things I neglected while working on the tenure package!) I will be back to the steamy stuff with a vengeance! I feel as if I have been away from it for too long, but hopefully not everyone will have forgotten my name. And don’t forget you can also read my library story, STACKS, for free thanks to All Romance eBooks.
