Hello blog friends! I’m back from the deep, dark writing cave. Yesterday morning I finished my first draft of Aftershock (HQN, 2013). Yay! I’m going to give it a short rest before I do another read-through, polish, line edit etc. It’s due in about two weeks.

Although I always feel pressure to submit quality work, this manuscript challenged me. I blogged about my struggles with Shark Island (now Stranded With Her Ex), a book that I rewrote several times. For this project, it wasn’t the subject matter or characters or claustrophobic setting, but the time frame and circumstances that added to my stress. I had just over three months to complete it. I often mull over plot lines and do research for years before tackling a project. For Aftershock, I had a seed of an idea (one of my Harlequin editors said “I’d like to read an earthquake book” on twitter), developed a synopsis over a weekend, and got a very quick response –YES. Write THAT.

What’s the problem, you say? I have a contract, and an editor clamoring for my work. This is fantastic. Let me make it clear that the pressure I feel is not from outside sources. It comes from within.

I’ve worked with my Harlequin editor on category novels, but this is our first single-title project for HQN. Category novels sell on brand recognition; single titles on author recognition. With HQN I’ve been given an opportunity that few authors in my position get in this business climate. Romantic suspense isn’t doing as well as some other subgenres. I haven’t “broken out.” I need to gain more readers to stay with a NY publisher. I need to deliver an excellent product.

Gosh, I’m frothing myself up again. Breathe, Jill. Whew.

Okay, so I felt like I had to write a book that was twice as good in half the time. No problem, right? Hahaha…*cries*. About three weeks ago, I realized that I needed to hurry up. Plenty of authors on twitter write 3-5k per day (jerks). Normally I do about 1k. Some tweet about 10k days! WTF? I challenged myself to 2k per day with a January deadline.

The same week, I received my 2-book contract from HQN. They want another adventure/disaster type story for book 2. I hadn’t anticipated this, although I should have. I started panicking about book 2 while frantically trying to finish book 1.

I couldn’t sleep. I took Tylenol PM. It worked one night, but not others. I exercised like a maniac, trying to exhaust myself. I was manic and tense and emotional. I yelled at my children. I wouldn’t let my husband touch me. I said that I wanted to die, even though it wasn’t true.

It was fucking horrible.

Look, I’m a mother. I know about sleepless nights. I’ve had sleepless years! I mean, 4-5 hours a night for weeks or months at a time, while nursing a sick or newborn baby. This reminded me of those dark moments (I’m not exaggerating, caring for a newborn can be hell) except that I also had to work and…think hard. Do I sound like a wuss? I’ve only worked part-time up until now. Finding a balance between career and parenting has always been important to me. I try to give 100% in both areas. Working moms, fistbump. I know it’s hard.

So, what’s this post about? Black moments. In a romance novel, a black moment is the dark before the dawn. It’s that “all is lost” point of angst and hopelessness before the happy ending. My black moment was a 10-day descent into madness insomnia.

Around day 7-8, I stayed up late (of course!) watching Black Swan with my husband. Oh, my poor, put-upon husband. I’m so glad he’s mellow and relaxed. Pick up your socks, honey.

Anyway, we both LOVED this movie. It’s dark and artistic and freaky and gorgeous. Natalie Portman’s face! She plays the tortured perfectionist to…perfection. You wouldn’t believe how cathartic and comforting the experience of watching this uptight, neurotic character was. Someone crazier than me! Thank god. Someone crazier than me.

On a side note, the last time I felt this way about a character, it was the hero in Victoria Dahl’s Crazy for Love. He was so anxious and messed up and caring. I cried at the end. Good times.

(spoiler alert) No one would call the last scene of Black Swan happy. And yet, I felt happy for the character. She’d done it. She’d achieved perfection. She gave the performance of a lifetime. Sure, she died afterwards, but she’d led such a joyless, tightly wound existence. Death was a blessing. (end spoiler)

Don’t worry. I’m not going to sprout black wings and fly into the underworld. I hashed out a basic idea for book 2, worked through the insomnia, and started sleeping regularly again. Triumph!

I’m so glad I made it to the other side. Because the thing about insomnia is that it feels endless. Like you’ll never sleep a full night again. During certain parts of the day, I was functional. Nothing more. I couldn’t rise above that level. After my insomnia passed, my spirits lifted so much that I felt like a different person. I realized that I’d had no joy, no lightness, no peace. It reminded me of the week my entire family had an awful stomach flu. Everyone was violently ill. When we were all well again, wow. The sunshine seemed brighter, the air fresher, the world a better place.

Oh, friends. I hope you are in a good place right now. If you’re struggling, know this: you are not alone.

Watch out, 2012. I’m going to read so hard and last all night! I’ll wear down my kindle button! I’ll keep going until my eyes are crossed! Yeah!

Ahem. I’m on deadline, and having a bit of book withdrawal. Sorry.

1. Best novella

“Kitten-Tiger and the Monk” by Carolyn Crane, from Wild & Steamy. I love Crane’s Disillusionist series and can’t wait to read Head Rush, the finale. The series is unlike anything else I’ve ever read, and the novella is an additional, exceptional departure. Just as mind-blowing, but more tender and romantic.

Speaking of unique, Meljean Brook is another highly innovative author and her Iron Seas story, also in this antho, is great. She wrote my favorite novella of last year.

2. Best erotic romance*

Holy hotness, Eve Berlin can write a story. Pleasure’s Edge delves into romantic psychology and delivers more than just toe-curling BDSM scenes. It’s beautiful, emotional, and classy. If you want to read about gorgeous, intelligent people having hot, dirty sex (and falling in love), pick this up.

3. Best historical*

Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin. I loved, loved, loved this. A warrior princess falls for a vagabond barbarian in Tang-Dynasty China. Amazing writing, unusual setting, sensual love story. It made all of my happy places happy.

4. Best YA

Sister Mischief by Laura Goode. Funny and heartfelt coming-out story featuring Esme Rockett, a lesbian Jewish hip-hop lover at an uptight Christian high school. Hilariously excellent! I reviewed it here.

5. Best contemporary

Good Girls Don’t. Victoria Dahl seems to make my list every year. I adore her stories, her characters, and her smokin hot love scenes. The secondary plot between Luke and his coworker, Simone, is really touching. Dahl’s world is refreshingly sex-positive and subversive. In this one, Good Girls Do. Oh yes they do.

*these are from late 2010

This is my list. Feel free to agree, disagree, make your own recs, or praise my good taste. Lurking is also allowed. I love my lurkers. Hope you had a great 2011!!

My older daughter has a birthday next week and I’m trying to finish a book. I’ll be too busy to blog for most of January, I imagine. Time is flying so fast!

Happy Holidays and have a wonderful New Year!!

Holiday Secrets by Jill Sorenson
After witnessing her husband’s murder eighteen months ago, Leah is in hiding and has no plans to celebrate Christmas. Though she tries to resist, her handsome new neighbor awakens long-buried feelings of attraction…and brings a killer to her door.

Kidnapped at Christmas by Jennifer Morey

Chloe is a struggling artist and thoroughly bored with her life—until a rugged FBI agent pulls her into a fast-paced adventure…and a sizzling love affair! The only damper on their mistletoe madness is a vengeful mobster who won’t stop until they are both silenced…forever.

Jill Sorenson’s AFTERSHOCK, trapped by an earthquake-collapsed overpass in Southern California, a female EMT faces danger from aftershocks as well as a bus of escaped convicts, to Stacy Boyd at Harlequin Romantic Suspense, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2013, byLaurie McLean at Larsen/Pomada Literary Agents (World).
laurie@agentsavant.com

Aftershock will be released by HQN in January 2013. I’m so excited to be working on a single-title romantic suspense with Stacy Boyd, who has edited all of my category novels. She also bought my first book, Dangerous to Touch.

Yay!!

I’m hard at work on my current project, which I hope to finish by the end of January. Yikes! I might be a little scarce around blogland for the next two months.

Before I sneak away, let me share a few links:

1. Giveaways. Check out this holiday party at Marie Treanor’s. Lots of books up for grabs, including a print copy of Risky Christmas.

2. Discussions. I love it when readers talk about my books. It’s like, my favorite thing ever!! Liz at Something More has made a connection between category romance (Stranded with Her Ex) and silent film. Both have big emotions, grand gestures, necessary shortcuts. This kind of post is especially interesting to me because I adore film studies.

Mandi of Smexy Books is also talking about shortcuts. She mentions my holiday novella in her post Unconvincing Declarations of Love. The love declaration is probably the most important scene in a romance, so I appreciate knowing what works (and what doesn’t) for readers.

3. Reviews. All About Romance has given Tempted by His Target a B+! I’m on a roll at that site. All of my recent releases have had A or B grades there. *pats back*

4. Mantitty. I guess this could be filed under “discussion.” Two author-bloggers, two different takes on shirtless men on romance novel covers. Smart Bitches is against. Joanna Chambers is in favor (I think).

For the record, I like sexy covers with lots of skin. Men, women, everyone get naked!

XXX
Jill

The Friday night booksigning was great fun! It was so nice to meet Maya Banks and catch up with HelenKay Dimon. Thanks to everyone for coming out and buying books. I really appreciate it.

While I was there I picked up several of Maya’s books, along with HelenKay’s charity anthology, SEAL of My Dreams:

All proceeds from this collection will go to the Veteran’s Research Foundation. Check it out!

I don’t do a huge amount of appearances/booksignings but I have a couple of events coming up that I’d like to share with you.

1. Friday, Nov 18 at 6pm in Oceanside, CA:

Barnes & Noble booksigning with MAYA BANKS! I’m so excited to meet Maya. She wrote me the nicest reader mail about my debut novel, Dangerous to Touch. I was thrilled when she blurbed Tempted by His Target. Yay!!

2. Saturday, Nov 19th in San Diego:

Romance Writers of San Diego Annual Literacy Event Again, Maya Banks is the featured speaker. Every year our chapter does a huge raffle for literacy and we donate proceeds to READ San Diego.

3. Saturday, Feb 25th in Long Beach, CA:

Passion and Prose is a big event for “romance readers and the writers who love them.” Keynote speakers are Christina Dodd, Meg Cabot and Gail Carringer. The list of participating authors is amazing. I love that this event supports WriteGirl, a non-profit organization devoted to supporting disadvantaged and at-risk girls. I’m honored to be a part of it.

If you can make it to any of these events, I’d really appreciate it! I love to meet readers in person.

xoxo
Jill

Former actress Georgiana Knight always believed she and her brother were illegitimate—until they learn their parents were married, making them heirs to a great estate. To prove their claim, Georgy needs to find evidence of their union by infiltrating a ton house party as valet to Lord Nathaniel Harland. Though masquerading as a boy is a challenge, it pales in comparison to sharing such intimate quarters with the handsome, beguiling nobleman.

Nathan is also unsettled by Georgy’s presence. First intrigued by his unusual valet, he’s even more captivated when he discovers Georgy’s charade. The desire the marriage-shy earl feels for his enigmatic employee has him hoping for much more than a master-servant relationship…

But will Nathan still want Georgy when he learns who she truly is? Or will their future be destroyed by someone who would do anything to prevent Georgy from uncovering the truth?

I’m excited about this book for so many reasons. It features one of my favorite setups: a heroine in disguise. The hero begins to suspect that his valet isn’t quite what “he” seems. It’s delicious! You’ll love it!

I got a chance to read an early draft of this project, before Joanna got her first publishing offer. We know each other from blogging, and made an agreement to exchange manuscripts for feedback. She gave me some awesome advice about The Edge of Night. I hope I did the same for The Lady’s Secret.

Thanks Joanna!

My reading tastes don’t always match the “popular opinion,” but I think that this book has a really wide appeal. It’s a quintessential historical romance, elegant and nuanced and beautifully written. Give this a try–you won’t regret it.