Archive for the ‘Birthdays’ Category

I haven’t been updating you guys like I should. I’ll try to blog much more. I envy Savannah, she’s such a great blogger. *smile* Okay, here we go. Let’s try and pack as much into this as possible

Books:

Tartan Surprise is out which I’m so excited about, next up is Discovering Passion, in August ’08, which is Lida’ story from A Fling in Vampiropolis. I’ll get the exact date to you as soon as I get it.

In June I subbed a total of five books, three to CP and two to Tease and on July 1st I subbed a book to a new pub. I’m hoping they like it. I was really nervous about query letter and synopsis. I can write a book but blurbs, synopsis and query letters stress me out. But hey, they’re a part of the process.

For the last month or so I’ve been either tired, working my ass off to finish a book or suffering from writer’s block. Up until now, I haven’t written anything for a week which frustrated me a lot. But I finally managed to work on a story that I’m aiming to finish by Friday of this coming week. So far I’ve got 8k+ on it. It’s a ghost story, I’ve never done a ghost story before so this is all new to me. I hope I get it right.

My aim is to finish several stories by the end of the summer and subbing to at least two to three more new pubs. I know, a lot of work but at the end of the day, it’s worth it. I’m also working on making my Free stories downloadable, not the Friday Flash series though, not until that’s done. That’s about it on the writing front

Lori Foster’s Get Together:

I had fun at this event. It was so nice meeting so many people and seeing some people I had me at RT. The highlight seeing my twin from another mother, Ce! We were good I swear *shoots look over at Dawn*. Tell them Ce, we were well behaved.

I have to say Hi to Lena, Liz (good to see you again), Joy (you are awesome), Maggie, Kelly, Bianca (B!), Jacki (as always, you are fabulous), Maya, Marty, Tuesday (I’ll call you I swear. You are behaving right? lol), Laura K., Kelley, Jackie, Sierra (Big Hugs), Teeka (Teeka!), Kate, Camille, Flash, Renee, Shiloh, Rhonda aka SandDaz (sorry for the awkwardness), Anya, Ali and Aneka. If I forgot you, I’m soooo sorry, please feel free to yell at me later.

I loved the conference and had so much fun. Ce, Tuesday we sooo have to do an antho together. *grin* Tuesday, stop looking at me like that, you know you want to0, mwhahahaha! I definitely want to go next year. I also want to go RT next year as well. Shar, Ce you ready for that? I know I left a lot out but I can’t really remember everything. *sigh*

Birthday:

Well, I turned 27 this year. Yeah! My birthday started early when the fabulous Crystal Green/Chris Marie Green (she’s going to be at Comic Con and the RWA conference, I soos wish I was going), sent me a signed copy of Midnight Reign. I was in absolute shock. She is so awesome. I got a Birthday Card from Savannah (Big Hugs, babes). A lovely bag of chips from Tilly , (yum). *Grin* And yesterday, although late, I got flowers from Shar. She told me to expect a few more things. Goodness!

I pretty much spent the day wading through email, promoing Tartan Surprise and doing the chat over at ARe. *Grin* That chat was so much fun! I want to do it again. I’ll try and arrange another one maybe this month or next. A special to Thank You to Shar for staying up late just to do the chat. Another special Thank You to everyone who stopped by and spent my Birthday with me.

My birthday was made all the more special by Jambrea who showed me the book review she did for A Fling in Vampiropolis for Joyfully Reviewed. I was so ecstatic by it. That really helped make my Birthday great.

I got an ice cream cake the next day: cookies and cream ice cream with Devil’s Food Cake. A real ice cream cake! One that isn’t ice cream in the shape of a cake. Man, I want another one. LOL

I know it sounds like a boring Birthday but it was good enough for me. I like the simplicity of it. Not too much expectation which I’m good with. I didn’t go see Wanted like I wanted too. It was opening weekend which would mean dealing with too many people. I am hoping to go to see either Batman: Dark Knight or Hellboy 2 or both. LOL

Movies and TV:

What else can I add? Hmmm . . . nothing more, I don’t think. I’m watching the Twilight Zone, absolutely brilliant. I can understand why they wanted to resurrect the series but, sorry if it doesn’t have Rod Serling, I really can’t bring myself to watch it. The Twilight Zone is classic, brilliant story telling.

Speaking of TV, is anyone watching In Plain Sight? I’m loving that show. I also can’t wait for Burn Notice, Psych and Eureka to come back. I’m starting to enjoy So, You Think You Can Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew.

I’ve seen the trailer they’re running for Heroes next season. I love the series but I was left feeling as if the show is lacking something. Maybe it was adding too many characters or the sudden character shift (Uh, Hiro what about Charlie?). I’m hoping this season makes up for what was missing last season.

I can’t wait for Chuck to come back on air, I love that show. And NCIS, noooo, you can’t do that! OMG! I can’t wait to see what they do with Lost, that finally was just, WOW! Okay, can’t think of any other shows and I think I’ve started babbling. LOL. Later’s guys.

Hugs all around,

Selena


P.S. So what shows are you guys looking forward to seeing this summer or this fall? What are you reading? Any questions for me? *Selena now wonders if she’s opened up a can of worms* I’ll answer them if I can.

And what have I learned? A lot, lol. This year for me has been a roller coaster ride, some crying and happiness that took me to heights that I never thought possible. Right now, it’s 11:43pm EST, only 17 more minutes and I’ll be 27 years old. I don’t feel old, lol.

I feel, well, alive, I guess, lol. It’s still hard for me to comprehend what has happened to me this year. The highlight, getting published. Goddess, I’m proud of being published. I’m all teary thinking about my first book, A Fling in Vampiropolis, out there for people to buy. All my hard work and people like it. Squeeee and in a few hours Tartan Surprise will join Fling.

Its like a dream, one I don’t want to wake up from. I love it. I love writing, I have found a place for myself where I fit in and feel as if I am able to breathe and be myself. M, Vicki, Sheri ,you guys, I can’t thank you enough. To my fellow Changeling Authors especially the Amok crew, I can’t be prouder to be apart of a stable of such talent.

To my new family over at Tease, I am honored. Truly, Stella, you are a goddess, Thank You for encouraging me to sub and putting up with me, yeah I know, I’m a nut, lol. Gail, you are awesome. . To my Tease family, you guys are so talented, again, I’m honored.

I have so many dreams, so much I want to write, so many stories floating around in my head just screaming to be told and I will continue to write them until the voices go away (may they never do that to me, lol). I have yet to share When You Wish Upon a Pixie with you guys (40k and counting, Thanks Mary, lol. Ce, I know, I know Jessibelle, back woman, don’t get out Mr. Whippy!) or explore the Fae series (Tilly I expanded Green Beer ). LOL. One of these days, I swear. LOL.

We’re just getting started guys and just wait until me and Ce write together, whenever that will be. LOL. That will be interesting.

Ce, Shar, Ro, you guys support me, encourage, push me, hold me up when I want to wallow, make me laugh and enable me. I can’t breathe without you guys. Shar, get to writing woman, you need to be pubbed now! *Stomps foot a la Ce*

To my writer friends, I adore you, there are too many to name but you guys know who you are. You inspire me so much, I’m in awe of your talent. All I can say is Thank You for sharing your talent.

To the wonderful readers who have bought my books, Thank You. We’re just getting started. lol.

Well one minute to midnight, I’m all emotional. lol. I’ve got a jam packed day. Promoing Tartan Surprise, an ARe Chat (4pm-8pm EST, 1pm- 5pm PST) and trying to finish this story I’m working on. So far I’ve finished Tartan Interlude (that’s been subbed) and Renato’s story (being read and needs to be edited). Three more stories to finish up, wish me luck! lol.

Here is the cover of Tartan Surprise. I know I’ve been a bad blogger and not shown you the beautiful cover Sahara Kelly did for me. She is awesome, yes? *grin*. Here it is, purrtastic yes?

Well it’s past midnight and I’m 27 now. Currently I’m listening to Charlotte Martin’s On Your Shore, I love this CD.

I should apologize for no updates to the Friday Flash, being tired, the muse leaving me and scrambling to finish projects has kept me from writing the series but I’m hoping to rectify that in July.

Also, I have to work on the stories for the PCD. I’m so happy to be apart of The Pink Chair Diaries and so proud of the talent we have. *Grin*

What else can I say? Oh! Birthday Bash Contest, check it out: http://selenaillyria.pinkchairdiaries.com/contest/birthday-bash-contest/.

So, as a pressy to you all, here is a taste of Tartan Surprise:

Blurb:

Iain just wanted someone to help take the edge off before the full moon rose in a few days. When he met Katherine in the pub he felt he had found the perfect person to help him with his problem.

Katherine could not resist the kilted stranger who caught her eye at the bar. When he offered her a night of hot sex she couldn’t say no.

But what happens when she finds out that the stranger is her boss’s son?

Buy Link:

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=917

Excerpt:

Tartan Surprise
Selena Illyria
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2008 Selena Illyria

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Katherine’s gaze slid to the side and then quickly back, heat flushing her face. She couldn’t stop looking, wondering, imagining. Her gaze slipped back again, this time connecting with sea-green eyes. She immediately looked away, picking up the pint of ale she hadn’t touched since ordering it when she’d first sat down at the bar.

Bringing the cool glass to her lips, she tilted her head and swallowed, nearly spitting out the warm brew. Warm beer? Never in her life had she had warm beer. She preferred hers icy cold. Disappointed, she put the heavy glass down. The bartender came over to her and placed a shot of amber liquid in front of her. Staring at the small glass, she tried to figure out when she’d ordered a shot.

“From the fella over there,” the barman said, nodding his head toward the epitome of her walking, talking, kilted wet dream.

Swallowing, she reached for the shot with a shaking hand. “What –” she cleared her throat, “– what is it?” she asked, hating how breathless her voice sounded.

“Whiskey,” the barman replied before moving away with a grace she hadn’t thought a man his height could manage. She eyed the golden brown liquid, trying to figure out if this was some sort of trick men in the bar played on newcomers.

“Go ahead, love, it’s all right. Nothing done to it,” a rough Scottish accent purred next to her ear.

Her body awakened. Heat seeped through her veins, enflaming her. Her nipples became erect and her pussy throbbed to life. She swallowed and looked to her left, unaware that her body turned in that direction too. Her brain stalled and she forgot how to breathe. Looking up, she saw the confident smirk painted on his full, sensuous lips. His angular jaw was shadowed by dark stubble, and his hair fell in layered waves to brush his shoulders.

She watched the tip of his tongue peek out, wetting his tempting lips. “Go on, love, drink up,” he urged.

Her hand wrapped around the cold glass and, without a thought, she threw back the shot. The liquid burned when it hit the back of her throat. She opened her mouth to gasp for breath from the burn. Suddenly, she was dragged off of the stool and landed against a hard wall of what was surely muscle. His lips crashed over hers, and like a flash of lightning it was all over when he pulled his mouth away from hers. She was back on her stool, mouth hanging open. Her lips burned where they had touched his. She looked around, wondering if she had imagined the kiss. No one seemed to be looking at them. Settling back uneasily in her chair, she turned to face the bar, ready to pay her tab and leave.

The barman came over, smiling at her. “Another one for the road, lass?”

“Nope, I’m done for the day. How much –” She was stopped when he held up his hand.

“Already taken care of, love.” He nodded his head toward the man at her side. She rolled her eyes and sighed. Turning on her stool, she looked at him. His smile said it all. He thought he was going to get rewarded for his thoughtfulness. Not tonight, pal, she thought.

“I’m not going to sleep with you, give you a blow job or a hand job just because you bought me a drink. It was your money you wasted. Now if you’ll excuse me, thank you and good night.” She turned all the way around and hopped off the stool, hating the fact that she was only five foot three inches, and she had to jump down. Her booted heels clunked on the old wooden floor.

She just made it beyond the threshold when she felt a hand wrap around her wrist and jerk her back. Her spine hit the wall and two hands framed her head. His face was a contrast to the darkness of the entryway. “First, I never asked you to pay me back. Nor did I ask you to sleep with me, or give me a blow job or a hand job. I’d have loved for you to offer, but I didn’t ask. So don’t assume you know anything about me just because I buy you a drink.”

She was speechless.

“I did kiss you, not because of the drink, but because I wanted to, and besides, you were staring at my kilt. You were wondering if it’s true what they say, weren’t you? I can tell you with great certainty that it’s all true,” he murmured as his lips brushed hers.

-End of Excerpt-

Hugs All Around,

Selena

Happy Birthday! Big Hugs and Wishing you lots of yummy cake!

Selena