Guest blog and excerpt by Aubrianna Hunter
Recently, I have had several other authors and aspiring authors ask me how... How I decided on traditional instead of self publishing, how I got published, how I market my books... Basically, they are looking for advice.
While I understand the query, have even made the same query of other authors myself, it is actually a very challenging question to answer. First and foremost, there is no 'right' way, no singular method, no formula to follow. Unfortunately, it is just not that easy. Everyone's path to publishing is as personal as their path to writing. While I cannot tell you how to get published, nor even which path is going to be right for you, I can tell you a little about my experience.
I wrote two books, queried forty different publishers and agents and they were both rejected by everyone. That part is pretty traditional.
However, my third book (the first one published), wasn't even completed when I sent out a query. Fully expecting another refusal I sent it to one publishing house on a whim. I didn't even submit the query with the requested formatting. I opened with a quip... "Long time friends, one time lovers..."
It was accepted twenty four hours later, which meant I had to finish writing the book! Oh. My. God. I was some weird combination of excited and absolutely terrified. Now, I not only had to finish a book in a matter of days, I had to let the world read it! Eeeekk.
So, my advice would be...
First and foremost, keep trying. If at first you don't succeed, write, write again. You will hear no, you will have haters. It's part of the process and the best way to look at that is not to take it personally. Just keep at it. Submit to as many people as possible, as often as possible. There will be a lot more no's than yes's. Contrary to how I got published, I would say make sure you have a completed manuscript and that it is as polished as you can make it before you try and submit. That last minute panicked rush was absolutely no fun.
Finally, be true to your own style. The one thing that I have heard repeatedly, from both fans and haters, is that I don't sound like anyone else. Which is probably quite true. Some love my writing style, and others don't. However, I refuse to change my approach simply to please the masses. And trust me when I say it has been suggested in more ways than one. Find your style, write what you want to read, and stay true to yourself. Your writing will be more natural and infinitely better if it is not forced.
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing, Josh?"
"Why Georgia, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh cut the crap, lawyer boy."
Bringing them literally nose to nose, he whispered against her lips, "That's three, baby."
"What are you doing? Someone is going to see us. Back up."
Josh noted that she was telling him to back up, but her lips were moving the tiniest bit closer. He could kiss her, right here, right now. And she would let him.
But, if anyone saw them, she would hate him, and what they had would be over before it truly began.
With more control than he thought he possessed, he backed his head away from hers and spun her away from him, until she was facing the bar. Removing temptation, while still allowing him the feel of her body.
"Teasing me like that, Gia, is worth two... so that makes it five."
It took her a second to respond, letting him know she was just as affected as he was. "Five what?"
He leaned in and smiled against her ear. "Spankings. Every time you tease, torment, or simply act bitchy, you are going to earn yourself another."
She leaned her body back against him, almost sagging into him as gooseflesh ran down her arms. That, combined with the little shiver she gave, told him all he needed to know.
"You really like that idea, don't you baby?"
"Fuck you, Josh." Her words were harsh, though her tone was raspy. The desire he heard in her tone shot straight to his cock.
Grabbing her hip with one hand, he gripped the bar with the other, half convinced he would break the damn thing with his grip. "Here and now, or did you want to wait until we get back to my house?" He used his grip to grind himself against her ass.
He realized just how carried away they'd gotten when instead of pulling away, she leaned into him with a breathy little moan.
"Ah, hell Gia." He pulled away from her taking a full step back before he did something colossally stupid. Taking a deep breath, he was trying to calm himself when the bartender showed back up, drinks in hand.
Taking the beers, he asked Gia to grab Deb's martini and he turned to head back to the table. He stopped for just a second, and leaned in to say quietly, "Now we're up to seven, Gia. One for the 'fuck you' and one for the teasing. Just how badly are you going to behave the rest of the night?"
* * * *
She was going to kill him. A long, slow, painful death. After she sexually tormented him for hours on end first, of course.
If she was honest, she was actually more angry with herself, or at least with her body, than he was with him. She had almost given in and kissed him at the bar.
Kissed him... hell, she knew it wouldn't have stopped there. At that particular moment, she had forgotten where they were, who they were with. She hadn't cared. The only thing she could think about was having him slip that long, hard shaft inside her and easing the ache.
Josh leaned over, whispering in her ear, "If you don't want me to fuck you right here at this table, you had better get that goddamn look off your face."
"Go to hell Josh," she all but yelled at him. Everyone at the table glanced her way, but since the two of them arguing was nothing new, they merely waited for his response. When he merely smirked at her, they all went back to chatting about whatever they'd been chatting about.
She made the mistake of looking at him and he mouthed out, "That's thirteen, baby."
She trusted him. Completely. At least in this. She knew he would absolutely break her heart in the end, but she knew she could trust him with her body. And quite frankly, judging by the look in his eye, he may not give her a choice. She knew he was deadly serious. She was going to get spanked tonight.
Another little shiver of anticipation ran through her.
Suddenly Josh stood up, almost shooting out of his chair. "Hey, Gia. Dance with me?"
Before she could even answer, he grabbed her arm and tugged, leaving her no choice but to stand and follow unless she wanted to be dragged across the room.
As soon as they were hidden from view, he pulled her flush against him. The contact, combined with the friction of movement, both soothed and tormented her.
After just a few seconds, she heard Josh groan, his already hard shaft, pulsing against her belly.
"You have got to stop looking like that Gia. You are driving me fucking insane."
"Like what?" she asked, honestly confused.
"Like you want me to throw you over my lap and spank you right here."
Hidden Series - Book 1 Aubrianna Hunter
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Publisher: Writer's Edge Publishing
ASIN: B00B09852A
Kindle - Hidden Depths - Kindle Edition
Paperback - Hidden Depths Paperback
Book Description:
She is pierced, dyed and tattooed born on the wrong side of the tracks. He is a traditional white knight born of the proverbial silver spoon. Their meeting was an accident, the fact that they became even the most tentative of friends, an anomaly. The only real thing they had in common... chemistry. Lots of chemistry. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough and Gia knew it. Now, if only she could convince her body...
Josh had always walked the line, lived the life he was expected to live. He had, by all accounts, the perfect life; a corporate lawyer, a beautiful home, a family empire to run, and the perfect fiancee. He was well on his way. The only question he had... was that really where he wanted to go? Plagued by dreams, Josh fought all his natural instincts, denying not only what he truly wanted but who he was deep down inside. Until one crazy night when he gave in to his desires...
Could these two polar opposites have more in common than even they realize?
About the Author:
I am often asked; who is Aubrianna Hunter? And the truth is the answer isn't a simple one. Beyond being a dedicated wife and mother, I was raised by a Marine, and married into the Navy.
Needless to say I can go toe to toe with the most sarcastic people you have met, and can dish insults and curse with the best of them. I blurt wildly inappropriate things at precisely the moment when the room goes quiet, so much so that my co-author has nicknamed me Ted... Yes... After the bear in the movie.
Recently my husband has replaced calling me crazy with calling me "Creative", but the tone he uses to do it makes me question his sincerity. Though honestly, crazy is probably closer to reality. I like my hectic life, in fact I thrive in the chaos and would have it no other way.
Amazon Link
Facebook Fan Page
Aubrianna Hunter - Blog
More of the tour...
April 20 Spotlight
Reviewing in Chaos
http://reviewinginchaos.blogspot.com
April 20 and 21 Interview
http://www.kaydeeroyal.blogspot.com
April 22 Review
A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books
http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/
April 23 Interview
Pembroke Sinclair.
pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
April 24 Spotlight and review
Readaholic's Reviews
www.readaholicsreviews.com
April 25 Guest blog and review
Nightstand Novels
http://nightstandnovels.com
April 26 Spotlight and review
Musings From An Addicted Reader
http://musingsfromanaddictedreader.blogspot.com/
April 27 Spotlight and review
Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com
April 29 review
Romance Addict Book Blog –
www.romanceaddictbookblog.com
April 30 Guest blog
Erotica For All,
http://eroticaforall.co.uk
May 1 Interview
TBQ'S Book Palace
http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com/
May 2 Spotlight
Books & Tales
http://www.booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk/
May 2 Spotlight
ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com
May 3 Spotlight and review
Open Book Society
http://openbooksociety.com/
May 3 review
Faerie Tale Books
www.faerietalebooks.org
0 comments:
Post a Comment