Check it out & let me know what you think:

I have New Book Excitement.

It’s no big secret to anyone who knows how I work that I’m not a big fan of writing the opening scene. Sometimes the opening comes to me – bam! – and I know immediately how a book will start (as was the case with STOLEN FURY). Other times I seem to rewrite an opening 100 times or more before I find the one that works (as I did with STOLEN HEAT). (July 28, 2009) This time around, working on the 2nd paranormal (working title: DECEIVED), it’s been one of those – bam! – in-your-face openings that has stuck with me, and off I went. I’m now in chapter four, past the “set-up” hurdle, and loving the book. I love the characters, I love the plot, I love where this is going. I love that I have that “this is totally going to work” feeling. Sure, I’ll probably go back and revise some of that opening (I always do), but so far? *big grin* New Book Excitement.

I also have New Book Excitement for my CP. Yesterday I didn’t get to write. I know, I know, if you’re following me on Twitter or FB, you know that contradicts with my 100 day challenge, but don’t worry, I’ll make up the words today. Yesterday I was too busy critting my CPs new book, which she has a request for. And, oh my gosh, I LOVE THIS BOOK! Every time I sit to read a chapter (and my CP can’t send them fast enough), I get that shiver feeling. You know the one…when you’re reading something you KNOW is going sell. This book is amazing, and I can’t wait to tell her, “I told you so,” when it finally does sell.

And along those same “New Book Excitement” lines, one of my beta readers called yesterday to tell me she finished STOLEN SEDUCTION (January, 2010) and absolutely loved it. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. I love all my heroes, but *sigh* there’s something special about Shane. Maybe it’s because I wanted to kill him so many times while writing that book, maybe it’s because he was the first character I really didn’t “get”, and maybe it’s because I was so blown over by his character arc. I have no idea why he’s the one hero I still think about long after the book is over, but he is.

My beta reader had some great things to say about the book, and one constructive comment I am so SO happy she shared. It deals with one tiny section of a scene in the end of the book – or, rather, a tiny section I cut because I was already over on word count. But after listening to her, I’m pretty convinced that section needs to be there, and it’s kinda nice to know my first instinct was correct. So…I’m probably going to add it back in and worry about cutting elsewhere later (…have I mentioned what a magician my editor is at editing my long-windedness?).

So yeah. New Book Excitement. All around.

How about you? Reading or writing anything right now that has you excited?

Just got this in my inbox:

Six years ago Katherine Meyer knew exactly where her life was going. She was finishing up her time in Cairo, and getting ready to write her dissertation for her doctorate in Egyptology; then Pete came into her life.

Anger, pain, and betrayal all vie for attention within Peter Kauffman’s brain, but his heart can only grasp onto one fact: Kat is alive, unbelievably and blessedly alive. Her death in a car bombing in Cairo six years ago was the most crushing time in his life, but it was also the catalyst to clean up his act once and for all.

The years have only succeeded in making Pete more attractive, but no matter how much Kat would love to throw her arms around him and never let go, she keeps her distance. His involvement with the stolen artifacts in Cairo six years ago broke something within her that may never be repaired, and her mistrust splintered their fledgling relationship. Pete cannot begin to wrap his mind around Kat’s
reappearance when all hell breaks loose around them. He should despise this woman who blew his heart to smithereens with her fake death, he really should, but in getting to the truth, he may find there is more than one person to blame.

Stolen Heat sets a pulse-pounding pace, whipping you up with a maelstrom of flying bullets and blistering kisses. The emotions are extreme, and the characters unrelenting in this action-packed and sensual romance. Pete and Kat whirl around each other like they are caught up in a tornado, flying apart and getting sucked back in with explosive results. Ms. Naughton hooks you with characters way too human to be perfect, and plot lines that are delivered with laser-like precision.

–Lototy, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Rating: 5 Cups

Yup, that’s me. Big ol’ blog slacker. Sorry to be so MIA. In my defense I’ve been busy. Not like the rest of the world isn’t busy, too, but…ya know how it goes. LOL

So what have I been up to? Let’s see…Page proofs for STOLEN HEAT are done and out the door. Woohoo! I’ve been immersed in those the last week.

Revisions on MARKED are done, and the ms is off to an awesome NYT Bestselling author who agreed to read and blurb it for me. I hope she likes it. (*Says Elisabeth while she chews her fingernails down to the quick.*)

I got news that STOLEN SEDUCTION will definitely be a January 2010 release, so I’m pretty pumped about that. I absolutely love this book. And as much as I love all my heroes, there’s just something special about Shane. (It’s that whole love/hate relationship thing he and I have going.) The art department is already hard at work on the cover, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with. The cover should be the same style as the first two books.

Oh! And I think I can announce this (gosh, I hope so since I’m doing it anyway…). The first paranormal is going to keep it’s original title. Book one is going to be called MARKED. And the series is going to be called ‘Eternal Guardians’.

And before I forget…I’m running a new contest. I put the details in my newsletter and will get them up on my website hopefully this weekend, but here it is in the meantime:

In the Mood for Some Hidden Treasure?
Enter my Newsletter Contest to Win Your Very Own Treasure Box!
For every person you refer to me who signs up for my newsletter, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a box of buried treasure. The goodies will be GOOD (and fun), so start spreading the news(letter) and enter. The rules are simple. Just sent the info about my newsletter to your friends. Then email me at elisabeth (at) elisabethnaughton (dot) com separately with the names of the people you referred. For each person from your list that signs up, your name will go in the drawing for the treasure box. It’s THAT easy. A winner will be picked at random in mid-May.

So…aside from all that book stuff, I have nothing else exciting to report except that Nickelback tickets go on sale tomorrow morning, so you can be guaranteed I’ll be on the phone trying to get some good seats. Anyone out there Nickelback fans? My Gremlins know most of their (tame) songs, but I had to put a ‘hands off’ sticker on their new Dark Horse CD. Definitely rated R, this one. (And I love it!) I’m thinking it’s a good Eternal Guardians soundtrack.

I just realized it’s been over a week since I blogged. Where does the time go?

I’ve been swamped this week with this and that, but I have a few things to share:

1) Are you following

1. I’m knee-deep in copy edits for STOLEN HEAT. So this is going to be a short, catch-up post.

2. I have HAD it with Adobe. They have, without a doubt, the WORST customer service on the planet. It’s a wonder I have any eyebrows left.

and…

3. I need some help for a workshop I’m giving next week. If you are a published author (and want some free promo in front of a roomful of 200 writers), send me a .jpg of your cover and answers to the following questions by Friday, 1.30.09 to elisabeth (at) elisabethnaughton (dot) com:

(a) How long did you write before you sold your first book? How many manuscripts did you write before selling? If you haven’t sold yet, what keeps you motivated to write?

(f) What advice would you give writers who are struggling with finding time to write?

Ciao!!

My editor sent me the final cover for STOLEN HEAT (book 2 in the Stolen series) this morning.

Antiquities dealer Peter Kauffman walked a fine line between clean and corrupt for years. And then he met the woman who changed his life—Egyptologist Katherine Meyer. Their love affair burned white-hot in Egypt, until the day Pete’s lies and half-truths caught up with him. After that, their relationship imploded, Kat walked out, and before Pete could find her to make things right, he heard she’d died in a car bomb.

Six years later, the woman Pete thought he’d lost for good is suddenly back. The lies this time aren’t just his, though. The only way he and Kat will find the truth and evade a killer out for revenge is to work together—as long as they don’t find themselves burned by the heat each thought was stolen long ago…

And today I’m blogging over at I Do Not Want To Wait about books following popular movie genres. Stop by and say hi!