The joys of co-authorship with Antonia Tiranth

Hello everyone! First off a big thank you to the Divas for hosting me today. In just two short weeks, on November 2, my next book Black Velvet. Black Velvet is the third installment in the Tales of the Rikashi series and follows two more of the Aikanaro through their journey to discover their purpose. While my first two books will always be special to me, this one is even more special. This book was written by both me and my very wonderful friend Delilah K. Stephans.

Delilah and I have been writing together for almost six years but we have never met face to face. We met early in 2003 on some Inu Yasha fan forums. Through a series of fortunate events the two of us started writing together and we've become great friends and writing buddies. If you don't have a writing buddy I encourage you to try to find one. Del knows just when I need a swift kick in the rump to get me back on track. Now, you may be wondering exactly how co-writing works. There are several ways you can do it and Del and I have done just about all of them. Our first joint venture was of the reactive writing type, kind of a role play through email where we each had a particular character we wrote. It went something like this:

I might write in an email : Jackie walked into the room, put her hands on her hips and glared at her husband.

Del's reply : Sam slowly lowered the newspaper he was reading to meet his wife's gaze. "What?"

And it would continue in this way. You have to go back and smooth this out because you have a lot of POV shifts this way but its a good place to start.

Another method and the way we wrote Black Velvet is to do all the plotting together and then have one of you write the entire thing. The other goes back through and adds, deletes, edits without tracking changes. Then you start bouncing it back and forth to do the normal edits.


I can't tell you how happy I am to have met Del and write with her. When my muse is having a mental block or won't talk to me, she knows just the questions to ask to get things moving again. We have several other joint projects in the works but this is our debut in publishing as a team and we're really excited about this one so I hope you check it out on November 2.

Here's a little peek :

I tossed the rental car keys on the table at the entrance to my small suite and watched as they skittered across it and fell to the carpeted floor with a soft thump. Only now that I was several miles away from him, did my anger at his high-handed actions hit me. I stomped across the room, picking up one of the pillows and burying my face in it before the angry cry escaped my lips. As soon as I stopped screaming, I tossed the pillow back onto the bed violently. “He did it again!”

How could he have that effect on me? The second he touched me, or looked at me with those dark, brooding eyes, my mind was reduced to mush. This didn’t happen in real life. It only happened in those stupid romance novels I loved so much.

I paced the small room, muttering darkly. “Stupid male, thinks he can take whatever he wants and just walk away after he gets it.” Of course, that’s exactly what he had done, and I hadn’t done a thing to stop him. I hadn’t even had the chance to ask him anything. He just kissed me, got on that motorcycle of his, and left me standing in the parking lot looking like a fool.

“Amara? You okay, lass?”

I had to smile. Arafin was always concerned about everyone’s happiness, that and getting on Tura’s nerves. “Yes, Fin. I'm fine.”

“You dunna seem fine ta’ me. Tell ole Fin what the trouble is.” I could almost see him lounging in a chair, his feet propped up on the nearest table.

“Really, Fin, I'm fine. Just a little frustrated. I'll figure it out.”

“Alrighty, if ya say so. Take it easy, luv.”

I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, kicking at my suitcase. Why couldn’t dear, sweet, gentle, funny Arafin make me melt the way Jett did?

Not for the first time I wondered what was I doing here anyway. Why in the world did I agree to this?

“Because you needed to do something your father didn’t want you to do,” I said aloud.

I loved Daddy, but he always treated me like a brainless doll that he could mold into any shape he wanted. But I wasn’t. I wanted things out of the future. Love, respect, a purpose for my life. Things Daddy didn’t want me to have because they interfered with the plans he’d made for me. At one time, I may have been able to live with that but not anymore. Not since I met Fin, Shirak, Jo and the others.

Well, I’d just have to try again tomorrow to talk to Jett. I was here, and I had a mission to accomplish. If I could somehow manage to keep my mind focused on the purpose for my trip and not on those strong, firm lips, gentle, slightly calloused hands, dark, sultry eyes, body made for sin -- oh damn it, I might as well admit it was everything about the man that fascinated me!

Why wait until tomorrow? Why not show him, he couldn’t walk away from me like that?

I moved to the mirror, looking at my reflection. My curls were wild as always, and I finger combed them into some semblance of order that probably wouldn’t last long. Bending to retrieve the keys, I concentrated on his presence in my mind. He was doing his best to block me, but he couldn’t do it completely. I knew where he was, or at least in what direction I needed to go to find him. Thank Bahamut, he wasn’t back at that horrible bar.

Almost an hour later, I pulled into the parking lot of a small restaurant and the presence of his motorcycle confirmed what I already knew. He was here. Turning off the engine I sat in the car for a moment, gathering my courage. Taking a deep breath, I got out and marched toward the entrance.

It was a small diner, with booths and a bar-like seating area. I scanned the tables and counter, my eyes settling on him. There he was. Dark cowboy hat, dark coat, dark hair, and too handsome for his own good. He was sitting in one of the back booths, blending with the shadows.

I walked to his table, seating myself across from him. He looked over his menu at me and smirked.

“Just can’t stay away from me, can you, Princess?”

The nickname made me bristle, but I took a deep breath. I had to keep my focus on the mission. “So it seems.”

“Interesting,” he murmured, turning his eyes back to the menu, his face hidden beneath the brim of the hat.

Now what? What exactly should I say to him?

“We need you,” I blurted. Might as well get right to the point, rather than beat around the bush.

He laid the menu on the table. His dark eyes skimmed over my hair, my lips and down to my breasts, before returning to meet mine. My breath caught in my throat. There was such intensity in those eyes.

“We,” he echoed, then his voice dropped to a gravelly tone that made me want to squirm in my seat, “…or you?”

Now exactly what was that supposed to mean? I was one of the Aikanaro, if all of us needed him, didn’t that mean by extension each of us needed him? “I need you to come --”

“Ladies first.” He tapped the brim of his hat with a finger and winked.

I blinked at him, not understanding what he meant by that. Then slowly his meaning hit me and heat crept into my cheeks. “That’s not what I meant,” I snapped. “If you would just let me finish.”

And what peek wouldn't be complete without a look at the cover?

Love Stories - Remember those?

Well hello there everyone,

First off, we are aware of some issues with our blog's layout with people not being able to comment. I (K.D) have been trying to fix it but it seems to be a bigger pain in the rare then we had anticipated. But eventually we will get it worked out *Crosses fingers*, we hope.

Secondly, wonderful news! Anya is now officially an aunt (And I be an adopted aunt of course lol). Her little bundle of joy nephew arrived in the world all perfect with ten fingers and ten toes and already has her wrapped around his little finger. Well he has me wrapped around it too even though I have yet to meet him. Babes are so adorable so we wanna congratulate Anya on that end.

Well, Velocity is coming February to Phaze. It has a cover *points to entry below this one* and a trailer and is ready to go. It even got edited already! So we are basically just waiting our turn. Careless Whispers is finished. We wrote it all now the dreaded editing before submissions is happening. We haven't decided where we will send it as of yet but we will let you know once we've decided and it gets accepted.

So Anya and I were having this conversation this morning - and it was a rather impromtu one. We were talking about true love stories and why we don't write them anymore. I'm not talking sex on ever page kinda love stories. I'm talking stories like the Scarlet Letter, The Other Boylin (I think I spelt that wrong) Girl, Jane Eyre (yes it is a love story), Memoirs of a Geisha... True stories that makes you laugh, cry, cheer and then fall in love all over again. I would Love to see some new names rise up and write some so Anya and I have decided to attempt this to lead the way - practise what we preach - so we began researching and find out that we have bitten off ALOT but so help us we are gonna chew lol.

I cannot give you any details about the project yet, because Anya and I haven't totally gotten everything down pat yet but once we do, we'll have a blurb up.

Please visit our website and check it out. Watch our trailer on youtube, we could use the views lol.

*hugs*
K.D

woohoo!! - Our first cover!! - and new link

Hello everyone!

We are tooooootally excited about our new cover that was done by Michelle over at Phaze! Isn't it pretty? She is amazing!! She has managed to incorporate the race car, the race track and the library in to the cover!! As you can tell we are bouncing off the walls...well I, K.D is because Anya hasn't seen it yet...she is probably at work so shhhhh!

Here's the blurb for Velocity

What do you get when you mix a man that loves to go fast a bookworm?

Rebecca Lindsay is perfectly happy with her quiet life. She let her father live the fast life for both of them. But when Mark Anderson walks into her library with his tenderness towards a little orphaned girl, she loses her heart instantly. But is she ready to be the woman of a celebrity? Or will she make gossip and stupidity tear them a part.

Mark Anderson knows that all eyes are on him. There aren't many African American men who are NARC(National Adrenaline Racing Circuit) drivers and after having to fight for his sponsor - he has every intention of behaving himself and winning the big race. But his love of books and children sends him into an obsession with a shy librarian that threatens to burn his body, break his heart and drive him crazy.

Secondly, our website is on it's way to being moved to here. That is all oh and if you can, give Michelle some props, she rocked it out!

All our love,

The Writing Divas

Stuffage and sale!

First of all,

We'd like to say R.I.P Michael Jackson - you will forever be our king of pop!

Secondly, yes, we're here. Things haven't been going the way we'd like lately. I, K.D, is trying to switch majors to graduate earlier and my school is dragging it's feet. You'd think I asked them to have my babies or something equally overly dramatic. But I can do this. Anya is out right now, being stuck in the middle of nowhere in the day time - as you can probably guess she's not happy at the moment.

But some good news and the reasons for this blog, first of all our first story 'VELOCITY" is in edits at the moment. Anya and I are trying our best to finish our cover art form so that we can get a sexy cover soon but with Anya off net during the days and our time difference, it's taking a tad longer than we'd like but we're getting there.

Second good news, our publisher Phaze is having a sale! It's 30% off stuff. All you need is the following code when you purchase your titles!

FIREWORKS09

It doesnt start until July fourth so don't try using it until then! Buy your favorite author titles and save? Now THAT is hot!

Anyways, I should get back to job hunting.

Happy fourth of July all you lovely Americans you! Stay out of trouble, use fireworks only in designated areas. Be sure you're properly trained to use them. Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT give fireworks to children and be sure they are supervised when useing those sparkler ones. Be safe, Watch Independence Day (That's what I'll be doing for the millionth time), drink responsibly and know that you're alive and well!

Be Blessed.
K.D Tracey

Woohoo! Good News!

Hello Everyone! K.D here! We have some wonderful news for you about what we've been doing. So Anya and I have been writing together like mad! We are so excited. We’re now looking on completing our second piece titled “Careless Whispers.” But before we even talk about that – Let’s talk “Velocity.”

It was our first and guess what?? It has a new home and a release date for early 2010! Phaze Books has decided to give us a try and we are very very very thankful for that! We’ve signed our contracts and everything!

Velocity is about a racing corporation called NARC – National Adrenaline Racing Commission, a sexy African American race car driver Mark Anderson and a shy librarian Rebecca Lindsay. It is a sensual, Interracial tale that we enjoyed writing and we hope you enjoy reading as well.

Over the next little while, writing for us will be a tad slow since I live in Canada and Anya lives in the USA and we’re on a three hour time difference. But we’re trying to make it work as best we can and it’s still fun to write. Anyways, we’ll have news about Velocity and Careless Whispers as things develop!

Hugs,
K.D Tracey – Writing Divas

Music Gets Me In The Mood - Guest Blogger Antonia Tiranth

Music Gets Me In The Mood

Firstly, hi everyone! My name is Antonia Tiranth, I'm a newly published author. My first book, The Quickening, was published in Februrary, which is the first in a series of books called The Tales of the Rikashi. Book Two, The Gathering will be released on July 27, 2009 and book three, Black Velvet, co-written with Delilah K. Stephens on November 20, 2009. I'm very excited to be here!

So what does my blog title mean? No, I'm not talking about getting in mood. I'm talking about writing. I've found I can't write unless I have some music on and it can't just be any music. Trust me, I’ve got some Bach and Beethoven on my iPod and I just stare at the computer screen when it comes on. Specific songs put me in the mood to write specific characters or stories. Take this scene for instance:

The smell of bacon woke me, making my mouth water before I was even fully awake. I looked at the clock on the bedside table. Eight o'clock. Five hours of sleep, not too bad, although I was still tired. My muscles ached. I stretched, ignoring the protests of my body, shifting as I did. There was bacon cooking. I wasn't about to go back to sleep.

The knowledge we needed to get moving before it was too late to help my brother propelled me out of the bed. I pulled on my jeans and went to the kitchen, from which the heavenly scent was emanating. As I got closer I could hear soft music.

Josephine stood at the stove, a sizzling pan before her, spatula in one hand, swaying lightly to the Madonna tune coming from the radio nearby. I stood in the doorway watching her. The song ended and another began, this one I didn't recognize but it was a catchy tune and obviously she liked it. Her dancing became more pronounced, hips swaying with the rhythmic beat.

The second song Jo is listening to is The Joke by Lifehouse. It was the song I was listening to when I was hit over the head by her. Of course, the words don't necessarily personify her, its more the music and the feel of the song. Sometimes its not even the whole song that fits the scene, character or story. These few lines from Revolution Deathsquad by DragonForce are what provided some of the inspiration for my second book:

Cry out for the fallen heroes lost in time ago
In our minds they still belong
when the sands of time are gone

Rise over shadowed mountains blazing with power
Crossing valleys endless tears in unity we stand
Far and wide across the land the victory is ours
On towards the gates of reason
Fight for the truth and the freedom
Gloria!


Searching through the memories to open the door
Living on the edge of life like never before


But then sometimes, a song fits a character so well, it becomes their personal theme song. The song Black Velvet, not only gave Del and I the title for Book Three is what brought Jett knocking on her door.

My usual playlist for writing my Tales of the Rikashi contains Kamelot, Lifehouse, Goo Goo Dolls, DragonForce, Dreamevil, Alanah Myles, Epic and a few others. Sometimes, I can't even get my muse to come around without the right music on. ^.^ Its a good thing I have an iPod or I'd be changing CDs all day. So keep your ears out when you are listening to the radio, you never know when your muse might be tickled by a particular line or sound.


Come visit me on my blog, my twitter, or my facebook. I'll look forward to talking to you and you never know when I might be giving away buttons or even t-shirts ^.^

Why do People think all animals should be pets?

Hi everyone!

Now the reason why I'm here. I was watching this show called "When good pets go bad" and I was sitting on my bed with my mouth hanging open. These attacks - most of them - the victims had it coming. I am stilled so stunned of how people can take an animal from its natural habitat, taunt it, tease it, try to change it and not expect it to snap. Like the moron that decided it was a great idea to collect snakes - I'm not talking about small snakes - I'm talking about cobras, boas - the dangerous ones. HELLO? Does anyone else see a problem with this?

Those things can wrap around someone and kill them, they can escape and eat other people's pets, babies - what in the world made someone think it's a good idea to bring a snake that big or at all into their homes? Or the smart guy that thought it was a grand idea to take a tamed horse and basically untrain it to be wild again just so he could put it into the rodeo. The horse went nuts and started biting the man. Now I dont like seeing people get hurt but this man was some kind of stupid! Messing with the natural instincts of an animal that size can only end in tears. Or the grown man that thought "hey! I'm gonna poke this dog with this stick!"

Ok, he deserved to get bit! Too bad they put the dog down. If you keep poking me with a stick I would snap and kick your butt so why does the dog have to take it? Another one that gets me, is the people that travel abroad and bring animals back. Erm, no, why? Leave the animals where they are. It can cause all sorts of problems, from new diseases, to danger to communities to the animals dying because they are not accustomed to the temperature or atmosphere. Letting animals die like this is not only painful but inhumane. So here are some pointers:

--> Stop using horses in crowded places.

Horses HATE crowds and people can be stupid as hell to taunt the horse, then everyone is in trouble.

--> Stop getting dangerous animals like snakes, tigers, lions etc as pets. That's just dumb and dangerous.

--> Stop taming and untaming horses...

--> Don't taunt animals because just because you're a dummy and do that doesn't mean that no one else won't he hurt. If you're the only one there, knock yourself out.

And the BIG one, the one that they should already know SNAKES ARE NOT PETS!

I'm not saying that people should die during these things but seriously, stupidity hurts. Thanks all for reading my little rant!

K.D Tracey