Aphrodisia Authors :: Blog

I signed a contract for my three book deal with Kensington today, so that’s what’s on my mind right now.

Whenever I get a new contract, I buy myself a little present. It has to be something I wouldn’t normally buy for myself, but that I really want. It’s an extra, an indulgence. Most of my advances go to very practical things, promotion, paying bills, etc, but I get one really nifty thing each time.

The first time I sold, I bought myself a digital camera. Yes, I was in the Stone Age and didn’t have one. I’d wanted one forever, but it seemed like such an extravagance because I didn’t really need it.

But I deserved something nice, don’t you think? I did. Behold the booty for that contract. It’s even lime green…my favorite color!

For the contract I just signed, I got myself a new cell phone. My old one was dying, so I bought it a bit early, but it still counts!

It has all kinds of neat features that make me squeal and jump up and down and hug it. It plays music, interfaces with Bluetooth, has speakerphone, and let me download the Boston Pops playing the Pink Panther theme song as my ring tone. I always have Pink Panther, you see, though my old phone had just a tinny midi file. I tried the standard rings, but it just didn’t register that my phone was ringing. So, I got the awesome new version of my ring tone.

Isn’t it pretty? I love getting presents, and I love buying myself presents. Now if only I could find a good reason to send myself flowers, I’d be all set. Hmm…

-Crystal Jordan
http://www.crystaljordan.com

CARNAL DESIRES - Nov 08
ON THE PROWL - May 09

I’ve been writing for two, almost three, years now, and in all that time I’ve never had any kind of writing down time. There was always a project to work on, a book to finish, a deadline to meet, a contest to enter. You get the idea.

I just finished my first two book deal with Kensington, had a wild selling streak and sold everything that was out for submission (woohoo!), and…now I have nothing to do. I’m waiting for edits and contracts to come back to me, but right now I have nothing. to. write.

I know some will say I should enjoy the down time, but…it’s so not in my nature to have down time. I mean, I work full time and pretty much write full time, too. Call me a workaholic, I’m okay with it.

I suppose I could write a new proposal, though I just finished three of them. Or I could write a short story for one of my e-publishers. But it’s just odd not to have to do anything. I usually have very specific word count goals every day. I write every day. No exceptions. I don’t care if I’m sick or dying or had an icy fall down some very cement steps (March was a bad month for me is all I can say about that).

And now…I can watch TV after work and not have to feel guilty about not doing what I should be doing. It just feels dirty and wrong.

Anyone read any good books lately and want to recommend them? I’ve already burned through my TBR pile in the past five days. This is why I started writing in the first place, I’m easily bored without something. to. do.

I watched the Netflix movie that’s been sitting on my DVD player for a few weeks now. I Am Legend. Will Smith with no shirt is yum. Post-Apocalypse meets Cast Away premise is interesting. Special effects were laughable, and the pacing of the movie was off to me. But Will Smith had no shirt on and he was all sweaty, so I forgive the movie for not being made of awesome.

I’ve also been cruising around YouTube like a fiend. There are some really weird things on that website. Also, some of my favorite songs have fun videos. Who knew?

So that’s my fun update. I’m between contracts and driving myself crazy. Quick! Someone put me out of my misery!

-Crystal Jordan
http://www.crystaljordan.com

Man, I would prefer to be sniffing that than what I’m smelling in my office right now. We have a joint refrigerator in my office suite and let’s just say someone left their food in their too long. My boss opens the fridge this morning and all stench breaks loose. Hoo-wee! My eyes are still watering. Time for another group email where people have to clean out their fuzzy green messes. I get to feel superior about this one because I haven’t brought anything refrigerated for a loooooong time, so I know whatever the stinkpot is, it doesn’t belong to me.

Anyway, on to the minty freshness of contracts. I got some from my agent Monday afternoon when I got home from work. I admit that I may have done a booty shaking happy dance. I also may have hugged the contracts while doing aforementioned dance. Perhaps. I confess to nothing.

After several hours of translating mind-bending, IQ dropping legalese, I sent a few questions to my awesome agent…and poof! I have a contract. Signed, sealed, pretty, and sent off to the Powers That Be.

Now for the fun part. I’m putting in for my provisional PAN membership at RWA. Technically, I could have done it with my first Kensington contract, but I never got around to it, so I’m doing it with this one. Woot! I feel so official.

So, I’m either high off the giddiness of contracts and official writer-ness, or I’m high from the fumes of whatever died in the fridge. Your call.

Crystal Jordan
IN ICE, SEXY BEAST V (Sept 08)
CARNAL DESIRES (Dec 08)
Kensington Aphrodisia
www.crystaljordan.com