Happy Halloween, Release day, Blog Hop winners and NaNoWriMo

Happy Halloween folks.

This is a bit of a jam packed post, so bear with me.

First off, thank you all, who commented on my Howloween post. I have my winners, chosen with the help of random.org.

Congratulations to SJ Thomas and Samantha Veerasamy, who have both won a copy from my back list.

And a little drum roll, please. It's release day! I have just the thing for you for some spooky reading tonight.

Freaky flashes are 13 Sexy Halloween Quickies, guaranteed to raise a flutter or two. Mine may or may not involve a creature of the night.

Available now from Breathless Press.

Of course Halloween means it's the end of October and NaNoWriMo will start tomorrow.

*gulp*

My Nano project this year will be book three of the Giovanni Clan. Between you and me this has proven to a bit of a personal nemesis. You see, Book one, Too Hot To Handle was written during NaNo 2010, and I launched straight into Book two, Too Cold To Love, and then this one, Too Devious To Tame. However, 20 K into this story I ground to a halt. Irrevocably and with a big jarring screech.

I got on with other projects, including the eventual overhaul and polish of the first two books, who have since found a home with Evernight Publishing, and I know lots of you love the Giovanni. Which is wonderful, but, of course, it meant I had to address this stubbornly elusive book three. I have tried several times to pick up the thread. I even started a complete re-write, and yes, you guessed it, I ground to a halt.

Why is that, you may ask? Well, in large part it's due to the way I write. I'm a complete and utter panster, so unless my characters are talking, nothing gets written, and I have had a fair few heroes since then growling at me much more strongly than one broody Italian Vineyard owner. And also, I pretty much know the story, and that may well be my problem. Nothing puts my muse off faster than a plotted story.

I know, I know, it *should* make it easier, but alas, not to my contrary little muse. She can be a right stubborn little moo when it comes to it. So I am giving myself permission to forget all my preconceived notions about where this story ought to be heading, and I will just close my eyes and listen to Giorgio. Because he has been whispering in my ear lately, quietly at first, but he's getting louder. Jemima too is making her opinions known, so come tomorrow I will open up a brand new word doc and just allow the words to flow.

Even if it turns out to be complete nonsense... Can't write a novel when there are no words, but I can rescue one out of what will no doubt be an interesting first draft.

So, wish me luck, folks. I am going to need it!