eHarlequin has posted the writing guidelines for the new Nocturne line! The editors are looking for strong, sensual paranormal tales with powerful alpha males and strong females.

Books by Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne, and Sherrilyn Kenyon are listed as examples of what the editors want in terms of story lines.

Submissions (query, synopsis, first 3 chapters) should be sent to:

Tara Gavin
Silhouette Nocturne
233 Broadway, Suite 1001
New York, New York 10279

Where do you write? Do you have a perfectly arranged writing desk that sits in a cozy corner somewhere? Or is your desk currently hidden under about two feet of printed manuscript pages?

Me…well, I have a home office that I share with the hubby. Got a nice desk, several bookshelves full of reference material. Or at least, I had all that–there’s so much junk in my area now that I think mean little gnomes must have come and stolen my books and my once faithful desk! Now, I write on my laptop any place that I can–the couch, the kitchen table, the recliner. If the baby’s quiet, I grab my LT and write! Oh, but I do miss my desk…

Michele Hauf’s blog is currently featuring an assortment of writers’ desks. After looking at the desks, I’ll admit…I feel a lot better about myself. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who isn’t driven to keep that oh-so-perfect space.

One day soon (yeah, right? who am I kidding?), I plan to clean and reclaim my space. I plan to dust off my old Snoopy writing figurine, clean up my wizened dragon friends, and get back to an organized writing space. Yeah…I’ll do that…someday.

The first line in a book is by far the most important sentence in the entire novel. The first line can instantly hook readers…or it can completely turn them off.

When I’m trying to come up with a new book concept, I always come up with the first line, then I work out the rest of my story. Cause if I can get a strong, powerful first line…well, then everything else falls into place for me.

Each October, Tina Wainscott hosts a “Best First Line‘” contest. I love this contest! I entered it a few years ago and came away with third place and an honorable mention. And I got a lovely autographed book from Tina for my effort. The reason I particularly enjoyed her contest was because I got a chance to just sit down and brainstorm ideas. One wonderful first sentence after the other.

In my idea file, I have tons of first sentences, and someday…I’ll write complete books to go along with them.

All right, I’m not saying the guy from Capote isn’t a good actor…but, PLEASE! No way should he have won the Oscar over Joaquin Phoenix.

Yes, in case you haven’t guessed, I’m a serious Joaquin fan. The guy is enormously talented (no, I don’t just like him for his looks–that’s just a bonus). I loved him in The Gladiator. No one does crazy like he does. And he stole the show in Signs. Swing hard, Joaquin, swing hard.

And he’s the reason I saw Walk the Line twice. The guy just has talent. But, unfortunately, he doesn’t have an Oscar…on account of the fact that He Was Robbed!

Okay…I haven’t even started my NIAW (Novella in a Week) and I’m already behind. Dang. Talk about not being cool.

I anticipate that I’ll actually be starting my NIAW on Wednesday (I SHOULD be done with my current WIP by then). I’m still trying to rope my friends into doing it with me (Felecia, Ashley…don’t make me hunt you down! I’ll do it!). I’ve found that if I can get others to do a project like this with me, I’m more likely to stay focused…on account of I feel like I’m competing with them, and I’ve got to stay strong in my game!

So…I’m not a big fat liar. I’m just behind. Sigh.