Cover art!

I got the cover at for AT ALL COSTS yesterday. It's it gorgeous?!!

Time flies...

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted on here. I wish I could say I've been busy, but I haven't. I'm currently working on the edits for White Wolf, due out in April with MuseItHOT. "Raising the Dead" was featured in Shelter of Daylight and can be purchased on Sam's Dot Publishing's website. "Wedding Wizard" has been accepted by Residential Aliens and is due out in the near future. Other than that, nothing. Nada. My muse has gone on vacation, leaving me all alone.

Okay, it's not as bad as I'm making it sound. I've been catching up with my reading (almost finished Mortal Coils by Eric Nylund right now, and will start reading Secret Circle by LJ Smith next) and watching Supernatural via Netflix. I've got ideas for my future WIP, but right now I'm just going to relax some more.

And I just rememered....NaNoWriMo is next month!!! Holy crap I'd forgotten. Dear Muse, please come back from vacation. It's NaNo time! You can follow my progress on NaNoWriMo.org. My handle is dadewrites.

Dream Lover's first review! 3 hearts!

From Sizzling Hot Book Reviews;
"Dream Lover is a good concept with loving characters and is a good sweet love story."

For the complete review, go to http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/2011/08/dream-lover-by-heather-kuehl.html

Epiphany has been released!

Today starts my Epiphany and Dream Lover blog tour! It's also the day that Epiphany is released! So excited!

To purchase Epiphany, please visit http://www.decadentpublishing.com


I'm blogging at Decadent Publishing's blog today: http://decadentpublishing.blogspot.com

I'm also guest blogging at The Sweater Curse: http://sweatercursed.blogspot.com



For a full tour list, go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199964386700292

Whoops!

How could I forget to mention that I was in 5x5 Fiction and that Ruby Red Cravings has been released.

Read 5x5 for FREE at http://5x5fiction.blogspot.com/2011/06/5x5-fiction-presents-issue-two-secrets.html

Buy Ruby Red Cravings at http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Red-Cravings-Brianna-Stoddard/dp/1617061271

Happy Memorial Day!

Yeah, I know, Memorial Day isn't until Monday. But I still felt the urge to say Happy Memorial Day, especially since my short story "What Heroes Do" is up at Flash Fiction Online. I'm so proud of this story, not just because this was my first professional story sale (WOOT!) but because of the message within it's short length.

To read "What Heroes Do" go to http://www.flashfictiononline.com/f20110503-what-heroes-do-heather-kuehl.html

New Review!

Tammy from The Pen and Muse has written a glowing review for Far and Away.

"Perfect for momentary jolts in between the daily moments of drudgery, Far and Away is loaded with slices of life that sting with humor and linger in memory."

Read more at http://thepenmuse.net/archives/2978

Thank you, my fabulous fans!

Isn't that awesome? Also, for Fantasy ebooks, Blood Moon is #65 and Fade to Black is #78. Top 100! WOOT!

CDC warns about zombie apocalypse

How awesome is that? Read the full article here.

Busy busy

The moment I get my new ac adapter in the mail, the motherboard on my laptop craps out on me. I've spent the last week redownloading things that I use and trying to get the info I have off of my old laptop's harddrive. And there are some things on there I really want, like the book trailer for Dream Lover.

It also means that I'm trying to catch up with updating my website and blog. I know I forgot to post on here that I was guest blogging at Creative Chatter last week. I also got the link for the roundtable interview I did with Romance Radio Network. Today I'm guest blogging at MuseItUp Publishing. That should be it for guest posts until Dream Lover is released in August.


WIP update:

Of Wolf and Man has been sent out to publishers. I'm shooting for the stars with this one, so it may be a while before it actually sees the light of day.

Gray Magic is on hiatus. There's something about that story that just isn't doing it for me right now. Don't know what.

"Smut story" has a new name, White Wolf, and I will be editing and submitting it this week.

Sarah Vargas 4, 5, and 6 are outlined. They will be a stand alone trilogy, meaning that you don't have to read the first three to enjoy these. Maybe I'll label these Part 2: Book 1 or something of the sort.

Blood Moon stats

Blood Moon seems to be doing well. Well enough for me to brag, anyways. LoL

On Fictionwise.com, Blood Moon is currently #45 for Fantasy ebooks. It's also #11 for Eternal Press on Fictionwise.

Maybe this will hit number 1 as well, like Fade to Black did in November 2009.

Two interviews and a review!

Far and Away has its first review and it's glowing!

"Kuel does it again with some great flash fiction and poetry. Her work makes you think, is something really hiding in the dark and even in the deep recesses of your mind." ~ The Pen and Muse

Read both the review, followed by my interview, at The Pen and Muse: http://thepenmuse.net/archives/2651


I'm also being interviewed on Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz's blog: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/2011/05/interview-with-author-heather-kuehl.html

The End

I love those words, especially when I can type them at the end of a project. For those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you'll know that I've been working on a project that I've called my "smut" story. I finished it today, and no I don't have a better name for it yet. It's a 5k erotic paranormal romance (M/F & F/F). This is the first time I've looked into the world of my werewolves through a born Were's eyes. Before, it's been through Sarah's eyes but she's a converted Were. Kalia, my main character, was a born a werewolf. It's interesting to see how animalistic some Clans can be, especially when it comes to their females. I've discovered that aparently Weres don't approve of same sex couples, oftentimes destroying them rather than banishing them. So, what happens when your the daughter a Clan's alpha and you discover that your Mate is a female? Do you run from your feelings, or do you stay and face them head on?

Blurb: Kalia Seffmoyer is a rarity among werewolves. She's albino, a trait that is coveted by Clans worldwide. She is sent from Clan to Clan, bedding every eligible male she comes across hoping to find her Mate. Kalia doesn't expect to find love, but the second she looks into Sophia's eyes she's done for. Never has Kalia had feelings like those she has for Sophia, and a night of passion quickly leads to dire consequences. For in the supernatural world, it seems that humans aren't the only ones who discriminate.

That's what my smut story goes into. :o) It really needs a better title than "My Smut Story." LoL

Free Read - Struck by Beauty

Struck by Beauty is available now from Smashwords for FREE!

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/49914 A collection of four fantasy stories:

"Struck by Beauty" - Mika is forced to do the unthinkable.

"Homecoming" - Carra returns home to confront her past.

"Blythe's Vengeance" - Blythe seeks vengeance on the sorcerer that destroyed her hometown.

"The Desire of Selkies" - Salena discovers that humans will do anything to get what they desire.

Amythist Dreams is now available!

Amythist Dreams is now up on Smashwords!

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/49843

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Contains "Dalamar's Quest," "The Hunt," and "The Final Goodbye."

"Dalamar's Quest" - Sorcerer Dalamar Shola and his apprentice, Amythist Dyier, investigate new magic in Ancient Egypt.

"The Hunt" - Amythist wants revenge, even if it means going to the demon realm to fulfill it.

"The Final Goodbye" - Will Amythist be able to say goodbye to her truest love?

Dragon Sent is now available

Dragon Sent is now up on Smashwords!

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/49712

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: PG

Contains "The Wicked Deed" and "Redemption."

"The Wicked Deed" - To save her twin sister from a sorcerer's curse, Xerri must betray the dragon that trusts her to find the cure.

"Redemption" - Xerri goes on a dragon sent redemption quest to clear her soul of her wicked deed.

Anthologies

You'll notice that within the next couple of months, I'll have a couple anthologies coming out. Nifty, isn't it?


Through the Rosebush is a print anthology published through AnthologyBuilder.com. It contains 11 of my previously published short stories. This is available now at AnthologyBuilder.



Far and Away is an ebook anthology published through Smashwords and available on the Kindle and Nook, as well as several other ereader sites. It's a collection of over thrity previously published flash fiction and poems, including 12 never before published works. (Coming Soon: May 2011)





Dragon Sent is an ebook release containing two short stories; "The Wicked Deed" and "Redemption." These stories feature an interesting character named Xerri who has to betray that dragon that trusts her to save her twin sister. (Coming Soon: March 2011)



Why am I doing this? I want my previously published work available for everyone to read. Some of it is hard to find or no longer available. I want to put related stories in a set (such as Dragon Sent) and offer them for little to no money.

First Review for Blood Moon

The Pen and Muse has reviewed Blood Moon!

"When I think of Heather Kuehl, I think of great action packed paranormal writing. Why? She simply provides it with such ease that as a reader, you invest in her works, her characters, and the world these characters are in...Sarah is a great kick ass character that you will absolutely fall in love with. "

To read more, go to http://thepenmuse.net/archives/2396

A break from tour for some news

BREAKING NEWS!

Eternal Press has accepted Dream Lover for publication in August 2011!

Dream Lover Blurb:
Denna Rainerd has dreamed about Warren Connelly for the past ten years, their relationship in the dream world hot and passionate. Pity he isn't real...or is he?

Warren wishes that Denna was in his real world, but a human in his world would be a liability. He's a Hunter shapeshifter; sworn to protect his world from the darkest of creatures while he's focused on revenge for the death of his brother. Their worlds collide when Warren saves Denna's life, setting up a chain of events that will change their lives forever. Will Denna be able to accept Warren's supernatural secrets?


AND...

MuseItUp Publishing has accepted my short story At All Costs for publication in December 2011!

At All Costs Blurb:
Samantha lives in a post-apocalyptic world where she is the mortal enemy of technology that has turned on humanity. Sam's a technopath, a person with the ability to control all technology. She can use her powers to obliterate the tech-threat one at a time, but General Lieberman knows that Sam's power can work both ways; not only can she kill but she can create as well. Wanting her to create a monster for their soldiers to use against the tech-threat, Lieberman hopes it will end the war.

There is just one problem; the level of power Sam will have to use to create the monster for the soldiers may cost her own life.

Will Sam sacrifice herself to save the world?

RRN interview – Show #014

My interview with Romance Radio Network is now live! I had so much fun doing this interview. You can either listen to it at http://romanceradio.net/2011/02/24/rrn-heather-kuehl-author-show-014 or click on the gaget below.

Update and advice

I've been so busy lately getting ready for the Blood Moon Tour. Not only am I emailing blogs my posts, but I'm also still booking spots. I don't think the lineup will be final until the day the tour starts...which is on March 3 you lovely people. Two weeks away! Don't forget about the Blood Moon Scavenger Hunt that will being going on at the same time. What's better than fun and prizes? IMO, nothing!


Hrm, updates...

I finished Of Wolf and Man! *happy dances & throws confetti* I had just gotten through the hard scene when my computer crashed in 2009 and I lost a good chunk of it. Tells the story of Juliet and Jensen; Juliet discovers Jensen's dangerous secret and now a Clan of rouge werewolves wants her dead. It took alot to get me to sit down and write this, mainly because it was a lot of rewriting what I had already written before the crash. I'm happy it's done now, and I think it's much better now than it was originally.

"Dalamar's Quest" is currently in Bewildering Stories and can be viewed here. This is the first story I ever wrote about Amythist Dyier. Originally it had been accepted by Flashing Swords for publication in Feb 2008, but the magazine went under before it could come out. Major bummer, but hey it all worked out in the end!

"Apocalypse" is in the current issue of Aphelion's Webzine. Aphelion also has their Best of 2010 listed, and "Siren's Song" is on the list for best poem! Sweet!

My Uprinting giveaway is still going on. Go to my blog post that offers the giveaway and make sure to leave a comment. The contest ends on Tuesday!

I've already made a book trailer for Epiphany. It's up on my YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/iryadragyn


Now for something fun! One of the authors on Decadent Publishing's yahoo group posted this link. It gives some no-no's when writing fiction (it's geared to YA, but the no-no's cross the genre gap). http://georgiamcbridebooks.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/newbie-writers-watch-out-for-these-big-writing-no-nos/

1) I've never done this. Luckily, I don't get carried away with backstory and such until later.

2) OMG I'm so guilty of having my main character notice the love interest's eyes first! I just did that in Of Wolf and Man! The reason I do this is because I believe that eyes are windows to the soul, and I want my MC to fall in love for who the person is, not what they look like.

3) I used to do this early on, like during my high school drafts of Promises to Keep. A new writer can't help it. You get this awesome idea, go with it, only to discover that you don't know the whole story yet. This is where outlining can become important.

4) I don't think I've done this, especially since I can't stand to have filler in my books.

5) If my first chapter starts mundane, it doesn't end that way. I have to make sure to keep my first chapters interesting.

6) I've don't overly focus on my first chapter. My goal is to get it out there, and once it's done to go back and fix what desperatly needs fixing.

7) Guilty! I won't catch it while I'm writing, but during edits I'll be like "Haven't I said this before?" That's what I get for staying up late and waking up early to write!

8) Again, I hate useless filler. Not only do I consider scenes to be filler, but characters as well. Hence the reason why T.D. Drake isn't in Fade to Black. I cut her out...but was able to shove her and that cut scene into Malevolent Dead...Yay me!

9) Please see 8 and 4. Filler = bad. Georgia McBride must feel the same way.

10) I always hate when I'm reading a book and the author has no clue what they're talking about. I mean, it's obvious they did no research at all. While I hate research, my readers will know if I pretend to know what I'm talking about. I do the work to give my readers a vividly true reading experience.

11) I've done this. It happens when I get tired or if I am having a bout of writer's block. I don't know what to do next, but I feel that the words NEED to be written.

12) Please see 4, 8, and 9. Yep, Georgia McBride does feel the same way. LoL

I've printed up this blog post and put up above my computer. It's something that all writers, not just newbies, need to remember.

...and cover art already!

Holy moly that was fast! I absolutly love it!

Epiphany!

Joy of all joys! Decadent Publishing has accepted Epiphany for publication. I'm so excited to work with the Decadent team and getting to know my fellow authors. Everything's so shiny and new; I'm giddy!

Here's my page for Epiphany: https://sites.google.com/site/heatherkuehl/epiphany

Far and Away: Coming May 2011

Far and Away: an anthology of flash fiction and poems.

Genre: paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, romance, contemporary

Publisher: Smashwords

Release Date: May 2011

Filled with over 30 previously published poems and flash fiction pieces and 12 works that have never seen the light of day, this anthology will be perfect for readers on the go. Cover art by the wonderful Dawne Dominique (didn't she do a damned good job? I LOVE it!)

Heck yeah!

Anthology Update

I've spent the last couple of days working my butt off, putting together what will eventually be Far and Away; a collection of flash fiction and poetry. Due to the fact that several of my favorite short stories won't be available to be placed into an anthology for a couple of years yet, I've decided to focus my attention on my much shorter works. I'm contacting cover artisits right now, trying to find someone to do the cover art for this anthology. I'm going to published through Smashwords.com sometime this summer or fall. Hopefully. :o)

My first article!

I'm so excited! Siren Book Reviews Ezine's first issue is now available, which means my article, "So You've Gotten Published. Now What?" is now available. This is my first published artcile. :o)

My short story, "Whispers of the Night," is also within this issue. Two great things....

AND THEY'RE FREE!!

Totally nifty, right?


SBR Feb '11 Issue TOC

4 - SBR sits down with Edward Kendrick, Author of Everyone’s Man

8 - Siren’s Best Books of 2010

12 - Writing Fiction - The Pitfalls, by Chris Burton

14 - Whispers of the Night, by Heather Kuehl

18 - So, you’ve gotten published. What’s next? By Heather Kuehl

20 - Nightseekers by Cindy Jacks

22 - SBR speaks with D.C. Juris, Author of On Solid Ground

Lost in Translation

This should come as no surprise; I'm a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. Loved the show and was heartbroken to see it go. So when I heard that Joss Whedon was creating season eight of the show using comics as his medium, I jumped on it. Granted, it wasn't until issue seven, but I quickly caught up.

40 issues later, I'm hooked yet again and looking forward to season nine. When I saw the motion comic at the store, I just had to add it to my collection. It didn't realize until I watched all 19 issues that I missed quite a bit. Yes, I read and reread those comics over and over. But I think some things are lost when there's no description or inflection to go along with some things. Then again, it might be because I know how everything plays out now. I really hope they turn the rest of the season into a motion comic. It was way cool to watch. I think I'm going to rewatch the entire series soon. Joss hinted at things sometimes two season before they came to pass. I wonder if he hinted at all about the events in season 8...

Season 8 overview: After the events in season 7, there is no longer only one slayer (two if you count Faith). There are roughly 2,000 girls in all the world, chosen to fight the forces of darkness with Buffy as their leader. A new big bad surfaces, one with the backing of Uncle Sam, who wants to destroy Buffy and her Slayer army; Twilight. Don't get the name confused with sparkly vamps who are more emo than evil. Twlight will do anything to get to Buffy, even if it means killing the people she loves most.

Reoccuring characters from the show: Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, Faith, Spike (YAY!), Andrew, Dawn, Dark Willow, Riley, Harmony, Oz, Ethan Rayne, Angel, Dracula, Warren, Kennedy, Robin Wood, Rona, Vi, and Amy. There may be more, but that's off the top of my head.

New characters to love: Satsu, Fray (Love her!), Twilight*, Renee, Saga Vasuki, Lady Genevieve, Jacob, and Alexia. Of course, there's more than that, but those are my favorites.

*Yes, I listed Twilight as a character to love. I think you have to love the big bad at least a little to appreciate the complexity of the season. :o)

Season eight rating: 8/10

Buffy Season 8 is published by Dark Horse Comics.

Pro market response times

I have to get on my soap box about this...

I just withdrew a short story submission, "Whispers of the Night," from a pro market because it got accepted by Siren Book Reviews Ezine (which I'm happier about). Here's what I got as a response:

Dear Miss Kuehl,

As requested I am withdrawing your story from our reading queue. You will get a second notice of withdrawal attached to your submissions e-mail.

Many pro markets are behind as we are right now and closing their submissions to catch up. Weird Tales being one of them. We certainly have no problems accommodating withdrawals, however I would respectfully ask that in the future you adhere to guidelines and not send us simultaneous submissions. we do not accept simultaneous submissions. In return our newer authors enjoy being in the same magazine as such names as Bradbury, Romero and others.

One thing I might suggest for you that could be helpful for your future in submitting stories in pro markets such as ours, is to expect lengthy waits. for instance it isn't untypical for a publisher like Doubleday to by the rights to a book that doesn't see print for at least a year. One way to do that is to tailor a story for that particular magazine or publisher and then submit and go on to writing the next. All of the top names in the industry we have dealt with do this.

I sincerely hope this helps with the frustration of waiting,


I feel like writing him back. I really do. I don't mind lengthy waits. What I mind is when your site says that you have a four month response time (120 days) and it's been 277 days. When a market gets so far behind, they shouldn't be shocked to find that authors are simultaneously submitting to other markets. (BTW: I submitted to them several years ago. It took 647 days that time (Jul 2007-Apr 2009). I had hoped that they got their game straight over the years. Guess I was wrong.) For that matter, markets shouldn't do that; not allow simsubs. If it takes almost a year to make a 4 month decision, either change the guidelines on your site or allow simsubs. Easy as pie.

I don't mind waiting a year if your guidelines say it'll be a year.


Also, learn to spell. You're a pro literary magazine. Look like it.

It's time...

...to do the cover art happy dance!

And a new year has begun

Happy 2011 everyone! I hope you all had a fun and safe holiday. Just a day after 2011 began, one of my resolutions have already panned out. I had two goals for my son during 2011; to get him out of his crib and into a twin sized bed and to have him potty trained. Potty training is still in the distant future, he's already in his twin sized bed! *happy dance*

Last night I jumped back on the writing wagon (after having not written a word since November) and added 3k to my WIP, Gray Magic. Gray Magic was my NaNoWriMo 2010 novel, and after reading through it I discovered that it made very little sense. I've had to toss a lot of it, and try to make sense out of what I've decided to keep. I'm about 15k into my rewrite. I don't think the final product will be 50k, since I'm a chapter away from hitting a vital turning point before wrapping things up. My goal right now is 30k.


In other news...

Blood Moon is due to be released in two months!

Epiphany has been submitted to two other publishers. It's almost been a year since I submitted it to my first choice publisher. A year with no response leads me to believe that it's a rejection.

Congratulations to Ashley Verdi. She won a $25 Amazon gift card from my Bitten By Books contest back in September.