Yesterday when I checked my email, I found a contract from Eternal Press for my novel, Fever Dreams!
Being so close to the Thanksgiving holiday, I've been tallying up all my blessings for this year. Topping the list are my wonderful and supportive family. I love you all more than anything.
My friends and critique partners are amazing, giving sound advice while cheering me on.
I've met many incredible people this year. Though some only virtually, their warmth and caring and creative spark shine through.
Though this year has been tough for many reasons, it's been incredible on the writing front. Fever Dreams will be my eleventh story contracted by an epress this year, and the third with Eternal Press. Like One Soul for Sale and Picture This, Fever Dreams will be available through Amazon as well.
This story has special meaning for me. It represents the return of my muse, who'd given up on me while I raised my kids and went off to Tijuana on a drunken binge. After I began writing this story, she returned with the vengeance of a ten-year hangover and has been lobbing story ideas at me faster than I can type. I'm not complaining. I'm typing as fast as I can, or writing in notebooks, or generally mulling over what the characters might be planning to spring on me next. And loving every millisecond of it all.
Fever Dreams probably won't be easy to classify. It incorporates the theme of a woman finding her bliss in life, which doesn't necessarily mean romance. Although it has a love story, it's a complicated one, much like real life. But it also contains some dream sequences that aren't quite fantasy. I'll leave the categorizing to the experts.
The blurb and excerpt for Fever Dreams are tentative, but here they are:
When Diana Taylor changes jobs, she doesn’t expect it to change her life. Meeting Cal opens up a new world of passion. He encourages her to pursue her passion for photography. Her love overwhelms her, blurs the line between reality and dreams. But is it love or obsession?
Excerpt
He glanced around. “Last weekend, I called your apartment about twenty times.” His short laugh revealed his embarrassment.
“I moved,” she stammered. So that’s what he tried to tell her that morning when Jack interrupted.
He jerked his head to one side. “I know… now.”
“I didn’t realize.” What an idiot she’d been. “I disconnected my answering machine.” Trying to avoid Adam’s calls.
The ring of her cell phone interrupted. Adam’s name showed in the display. So much for her avoidance techniques. She sent the call to voice mail.
By his forcibly dissolved grin, he must have deduced the caller had been Adam.
She had to cut to the quick. She knit her brow. "Look, I don't play games."
"Me either," he quickly agreed, the image of sincerity.
If only he didn’t look so good – his hair uncombed, the layers tousled. His steely blue eyes piercing hers. ”Why are you here? You said you don't want to get involved with a coworker."
He slid toward her. "I said I was hesitant to get involved."
"No, no, no." She stood and paced in front of the table. "I distinctly remember your exact words. You said you did not want to be involved. And, it's probably the best solution." She stopped and folded her arms.
"Maybe I was wrong." He spoke slowly. Deliberately. "Maybe I didn't know how much I wanted you."
This song seemed like it might be a good soundtrack for the movie, eventually. :)
