Summer’s End
Tags: girls, writing
I finished my book! Well, a first draft anyway. I have about two weeks to polish it up and then it’s on to the next project. I hope it doesn’t need too much fine-tuning. *biting nails* I don’t think it was a good idea to pick a deadline at the end of summer. I’m always struggling to find a balance between work and family and this season was more stressful than usual.
I’ve also volunteered as asst. coach for my daughter’s soccer team, which means two hour-long practices per week plus games on Saturday. But look how cute she is in her uniform. Who could resist?
First grade started yesterday. I can’t believe it! Her new school is a 10-15 minute walk from our house, which is very convenient and good exercise to boot. I’m counting on the uphill portion to tone my computer-chair shaped backside. Deadlines are hell on the rear end!
Little Miss will start preschool in a few months. Her sister has been calling her “Em” because her name starts with M. So they are Sissy and Em, my beautiful girls.
Back to work for this busy mom! Hope you are doing well and ready for fall. : )
xoxo
Jill
Quick Update
Tags: life, updates, writing
Hello world! I’m still in my writing cave but I haven’t forgotten you. Miss you bunches!!
Here’s what’s going on with me:
1. I’m going to have Simultaneous Releases in April 2011! Not just one, but TWO Jill Sorenson books on the shelves in the same month. THE EDGE OF NIGHT, my next single title romantic suspense with Bantam Dell, will be released March 22. That is considered an April release by my publishing company, not sure why. STRANDED WITH HER EX, my next Silhouette Romantic Suspense, is also scheduled for April 2011. I’m so excited!!
2. I know I need to update my web site. I’m waiting for the final touches on my cover for THE EDGE OF NIGHT. I’d love to post a blurb as well. Those things are out of my hands so hopefully they are coming soon.
3. Busy, busy, busy. This week I’m trying to finish my current manuscript (The Heat of Day?). I also have copy edits for STRANDED. And then I have to revise my proposal for the follow-up to STRANDED, another SRS that is tentatively titled LOST BEACH. All of this stuff is due around the same time so life is a little crazy right now.
4. Plus, my daughter is starting first grade next week! And I volunteered as asst. coach for her soccer team. What was I thinking? 
I’ll be back when I can take a breath!! Nose to the grindstone…
Crunch Time
Tags: misc.
Dear world,
I’m going to my author cave for a few weeks. I will try not to haunt the internet all day and night. Maybe I can actually get some work done! Deadlines are coming up so it’s serious. This is a real blogging hiatus. I mean it this time!!
Because my visual inspirations post was so popular, I’ll leave you with a nice face to look at while I’m away. Like my previous two books, The Edge of Night has a romantic subplot. Twenty-something actor Jay Hernandez kind of matches my mental image of the secondary hero, Eric Hernandez. Enjoy!
I’ll be back as soon as I can, hopefully with good news…
xoxo
Jill
Hey, I wrote an article
Tags: f/f, m/m, RRRJessica, sexuality
called “Sexuality and Same-Sex Romance: Placeholders, Power Dynamics, and the P-word.” Jessica of Read React Review posted it yesterday and it’s already generated more interesting comments than my brain can handle! This piece is sort of an accumulation of ideas I’ve picked up while lurking on the internet. You know me, always lurking. I’m like a shark.
Click over if you’re interested. There is some offensive language but it’s part of the point of the article, not just me popping off.
Thanks!
Jill
Just Business Etc.
Tags: f/f, lesbian romance, reviews
My review for Julie Cannon’s Just Business is up at Dear Author. Please ignore the TWO typos in the second line. *headdesk* You know, this reviewing thing isn’t easy. I appreciate the art of it more now that I’ve gone to the dark side.
Two recent books that I’ve read and enjoyed and may review:
The Gift by Eva Cassel. This one is hard to describe without spoilers. It’s kinda sorta f/f/m.
Stepping Stone by Karin Kallmaker. This is the best writing I’ve seen in lesbian romance. Great characters, great story.
What we’ve been doing
Tags: fun, kids, summer
Of course, my older daughter says she’s “bored.” I think she’s ready to go back to school.
I can’t decide if writing in the summer is easier or more difficult. The kids entertain each other but make twice the mess and noise. I’m not sure what I’ll do when they’re both in school. Probably have to turn the TV on because the house is too quiet!
Coming Soon
Tags: reviews, stuff, the edge of night
Sorry I’ve been MIA!! I’m at the 2/3 point in my writing project and it’s climax time, baby. A race to the fast-and-furious finish. My plan is to complete the manuscript in August and do some heavy editing in September because this draft is rough. Updates may be spotty.
I’m also working on an article about female sexuality that I’m really excited about and hope to share soon. Other stuff coming up:
1. Another guest review at Dear Author, of Julie Cannon’s Just Business. Next week?
2. Cover art for THE EDGE OF NIGHT. It’s very different from my other covers. After the last touches are made I can post it for you to admire! Squee!!
3. Pre-order links are available now! You can buy my next release in advance. Isn’t that fun?
4. I also have a page on Goodreads. I think someone else made this. It’s different from my reader profile. Is this a fan page? I don’t even know what it is! But I invite you to friend me, fan me, follow me, or do whatever else can be done to me. Book-wise.
Thanks for stopping by, my lovelies. xxx Jill
Summer Fun
Tags: family, kids, san diego
We’ve had insanely hot weather all week in San Diego! Everybody and their mama was at the beach today. I’ve never seen it more crowded, not even on the 4th of July. I wish I’d taken a wide shot of the jampacked sand.
There wasn’t much room for sandcastles, especially at high tide. The waves were crashing just beyond our towels, so close I had to keep an eagle-eye on the kids. But it was great to get out of the stuffy house and into the cold water! We had a fun, not-so-lazy beach day.
Summer Romance
Tags: crazy for love, victoria dahl
The weather in San Diego has been cool and cloudy. June Gloom crept into July. I was in my brother’s pool on Sunday (it’s heated) and it started pouring rain! Then the sun came out yesterday and it felt like the first real day of summer.
Instead of reveling in the warm weather, I was stressed out for a number of reasons. Projects, kids, etc etc etc. So I turned off my computer and opened this book.
The hero, Max, is an anxious control freak. He’s even more screwed up than I am, but he’s also a sweet, sexy guy. I think he’s my new favorite Dahl character because I related to him so well and he has such a big heart. The main romance is crazy-good and the secondary romance is super cute. This is a little more emotional than Dahl’s other contemps, but just as funny and hawt. When Max says I love you, I cried.
Okay, I admit I was in a crying mood yesterday. But still. This book made me feel better about my bad day. It even made me feel better about myself as a person. That’s what I call a perfect summer romance.
Progress!
Tags: tbr, writing, yard
I’ve probably mentioned that we love our home projects at Casa S. My husband is very handy with gardening, roofing, plumbing…you name it! This spring, we tore out the old weeds lawn, brought in truckloads of wood chips and mulch by wheelbarrow, and planted new grass seed. You can’t see it in these pictures, but we also refilled the kids’ sandbox (it’s huge), put weed barrier everywhere, and did about a hundred other little things.
I’m so proud of the way it turned out!
The girls have been very good about not stepping on the baby grass shoots. In a few weeks they can run all over it. Yay!
Yesterday I tackled the TBR scramble, too. It was driving me crazy to have all of the books mixed up. Now I have a keeper shelf, a used/unread shelf, and a new/unread shelf. Damn I’m good! LOL it’s nice to get things back in order.
I’m also making progress with my writing. I’m 50% done with WIP1 and 20% done with WIP2. Not that I’m writing them concurrently. I’m not *that* good!
Hope you’re having a great summer, getting stuff done or taking it easy!
~Jill
