But my ruby slippers are just fine, thanks.

Now where else have I been?  I’ve been hiding in my WIP.  I’ve been a Very Good Writer and made sure to plug away at three scenes a week (roughly–some weeks are more productive than others), producing content which does not suck.  Prior to that, I was hanging out in every other temporary location I could get to because my dear Ol’ Sparky croaked on me and I kid you not, it took me damn near a month to get it all sorted out and New Sparky up to speed.

But technical woes aside (and there were some damn awesome moments within the woe.  Imagine my glee when discovering New Sparky arrived just in time for the release of Kubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron (I chose Cutting Edge over Rock Solid because I’m adventurous like that and KDE4 Plasma just rocks my socks right outta the box!), for the most part I’ve been playing Writer and not so much Author.  I’ve been creating, storyboarding, plotting, writing, revising, brainstorming, more revising, re-plotting, still more revising–you get the idea.  Now, I’m ready for a little break and to play Author again.  I’ll be doing it at Lori Foster’s Readers and Writer’s Get Together in West Chester, Ohio this weekend.   I’ll be signing print copies of Alien Communion and generally hanging out with a bunch of other authors and readers enjoying a relaxed, romance-oriented atmosphere.

So if you happen to be going (the six of you who read this blog, LOL), please feel free to stop by and say hi!

The reception for Alien Communion surprised me. I was honestly pleased to receive very good reviews for it, and solid sales (which indicate people were interested in reading it). It still makes me smile to have the reality brought home that people are actually –gasp– interested in reading one of my stories.

I’ve always been one of those “writer’s writers” – I write because I love the structure and framework of story, of rooting around in the thesaurus to find just the right word, and of the thrill of stringing a story through from start to the high of typing the words “The End.” And for those special times when the characters take over and I’m just the stenographer (and not all my stories are like that, so I value very preciously the ones that are).

That I can share the products of my love affair with prose is an honor and a privilege. If you have read my stories, thank you. If you’ve just found your way here through a link or a whim and are reading these words here, thank you, too. You’re part of the world that allows me to live my dream. If you’ve reviewed one of my stories, I also thank you, deeply and from the bottom of my heart. No matter how you felt about the book or story, the fact that you took the time to share your opinion is a gift I value.

HAPPY “BIRTHDAY” XANDRA

You’re probably also aware, if you’ve been reading this blog, that ‘Xandra Gregory’ is a nom de pixel. Xandra is actually around three years old this week. When I submitted Alien Communion, I knew I couldn’t publish it under my own name for several reasons, the most pragmatic of which is that my name’s just not that sexy. So I “exoticised” some family middle names by running them by my critique partner. Xandra Gregory is the result.

Among my non-writer friends who know who I am and what I write, at least two of them have asked if I have a different “persona” as Xandra. The answer to that is both yes and no. If you know me, you know that in person, I’m a lot more goofy than the image of an erotic romance writer whose first name begins with an X. Writing is my job (and I love my job), and when I’m Xandra, I’m “at work” so to speak. So when I’m Xandra, I’m a bit more…professional. So far that means I haven’t embarrassed myself in public. Here’s to hoping that streak continues. Other than that…I’m pretty much a WYSIWYG person, and I’m a lousy actress. The real me is hard to suppress for very long. I toyed with the idea of trying to cultivate the whole glamorous “erotica writer” persona–I remember reading something in my teens about Barbara Cartland lounging on a divan in a glamour gown and dictating her novels. Because primarily, I think it’d be kickass-cool to have a divan. Glamour gowns inevitably require pantyhose, and don’t respond well to small, often-sticky hands constantly touching. Plus, my life goes too fast for me to sit down during the day, much less lounge. But I wouldn’t make it five minutes without blowing it, so Internets, you get the real me, a little more polite, when you find Xandra.

Pseudonyms have their practical uses, too. I love making those sweeping ‘X’s at booksignings, and I’m comforted in knowing that folks aren’t walking around with bookmarks or CD cases that have the same name I sign my checks with.

They say on the Internets, you can be anybody. But sooner or later, you can’t help being who you are. Xandra and I, we’re pretty tight. So the least I can do for the old girl is give her a birthday wish. She and I, we’re a lot alike, except she has better manners. And flatter abs. Yeah, definitely flatter abs.

“Alien Communion caught my imagination and fantasies tight in its alien fist from the first page on. Not only was the sex hotter than could be contained on ordinary paper, the characters drew me in and made me feel as if they were standing right next to me.”

I’m not supposed to be posting today, since it’s not Monday, and I promised myself I wouldn’t blog h0r any day but Mondays…but I was so very excited about getting my second review, I couldn’t wait to post.  Plus, it’s raining outside, and I can’t take the laptop out while the rugrats play.

I’m also being a bad girl and messing around with blog layout and tinkering under the hood of this baby…just a few tweaks.  I can quit any time.  Really.  Swear.

Periodically being every five minutes during the day, and sometimes in the middle of the night when I get up to pee.

Imagine my surprise when I found out my name had appeared somewhere! I found I’d been reviewed by Euro-Reviews, and called Mr. Xandra to tell him.

Mr. Xandra, being the pragmatic and connected soul that he is, read the review and said, “So…does this mean you’re big in Germany? Y’know, like David Hassellhoff?”

“Honey, I think they’re in the Netherlands. All their ads are in Dutch.” See, I can tell this, because it says, “Reviews in Dutch” right on the front page.

But then, Mr. Xandra is persistently distracted by my cover on a regular basis. “Think there’s more than a passing resemblance to the hero?” he asks.

“Only the horns, my love.”

But you aren’t here to read the rest of that conversation (and no, I’m not sharing! My mom reads this blog…or so she says…) – see a select bit of what Annie at Euro-Reviews has to say:

“I really enjoyed this book and yes, it will be a re-reader. I highly recommend it, and I believe it will appeal to many more readers than just those who prefer Futuristic or SciFi genres.” — Annie, Euro-Reviews

She made her way to the door on shaking legs that screamed in pain and yanked the door open. Behind her, she heard Kenneth’s startled shout. “Holy–sh–Stop her!” She ignored it and fled clumsily into the night, aiming for the thick copse of trees that served as a picnic area for the complex’s workers on break.

The door slammed open behind her just as she reached the trees. She darted to her right, hoping to throw them off, but barked her shin solidly against what must have been the picnic table. She couldn’t keep a cry from escaping her lips.

“Over there!” The voice was too close.

She stumbled around the picnic table and ran again, reaching the deep shadow of the building next door. Behind her, she could hear what sounded like an entire army literally beating the bushes for her.
Her heart slammed into her chest, making the pain of her limbs throb in time to its beat. She forced herself to slow down, knowing that she was more likely to escape without sudden movements that would draw attention to her whereabouts.

As she approached the corner of the building, she heard a sound a little ways behind her and froze. She turned carefully around, needing to see whatever seemed to be on her trail.

Arms, out of nowhere, snaked around her nude body, one pinioning her arms to her sides, the other one covering her mouth with a hand. She was pulled around the corner of the building, out of sight of her pursuers.

Hot breath blew over her ear, sending chills throughout her body. “Screams are best reserved for pleasure, Lady. Do you understand me?”

She nodded. His voice triggered memories in her–hot, sweaty memories of earlier, before the world went to hell. Her body responded, liquid heat centering in her abdomen. The ache in her joints turned hot. She leaned into his body, aware of the hard ridges of muscle pressed against her shoulder blades, her buttocks, and her thighs.

Ez’iri smiled, her forked tongue flicking between pointed teeth. “Tai’en took it upon himself to ensure my protection. It is his right as a member of my family.” She stood next to the second bay. “Although I suspect his curiosity about humans motivates him more than concern for my safety. This way, of your pleasure.” She motioned to the third bay. “And of yours, Physician Kenneth’en.”

Buhlmeier would get a kick out of the way Ez’iri mangled idiom, she thought. Ez’iri began asking her questions, interspersing them with explanations of the instruments she was lining up. The Alcaini were interested in the sensitivity of their skin, and the strength and structure of their bones. Rayne answered the questions as best as she could, noting Kenneth’s nervousness.

Ez’iri noticed, too. “Your mate–he does not approve?”

She frowned. “He’s not my mate. Hasn’t been for years, in fact.”

“My error.”

The portal opened and several other Alcaini females joined them. The tone of the lead female could only be that of a teacher lecturing students. Some things were universal, Rayne thought ruefully, as she noted the bored looks on some of the faces of the rear guard.

As the examination continued, she noticed the Alcaini women shooting strange looks at their guard. During a break, she asked Ez’iri about it.

Ez’iri rolled her eyes and shrugged. “My kinsman is something of a legend among our people. No one has seen him take a mate.”

“Hasn’t met the right girl yet?”

Ez’iri smiled, her skin bluing with amusement. “I know how your people feel about mating. But it is not the same way my people feel. Mating is something we share. We do not hide it like a…” she searched for the word…”shame?”

“Sin, you mean.”

“Yes! It is not a sin to us.”

“It isn’t to us, either,” Kenneth interjected. “We’re just private about it.”

As fascinating as the Alcaini were, she couldn’t comprehend this part of their culture. She would probably never again have a lover, because of her need to keep her desires private–a culture that saw things the complete opposite boggled her mind.

“Tai’en has more in common with humans in that respect. However, for us, it is a sin that he chooses not to mate.”

“Shame,” Rayne corrected. “Unless you mean that his not mating is a punishable offense.”

“A shame, then. None would dare punish a warrior. Tai’en’s decision, however shameful, still brings honor to our family, because he holds it with honor and strength.”

“So you value deep convictions?” Kenneth asked.

Ez’iri frowned. “Deep…I do not understand.”

It was Rayne’s turn to search for words. “Tai’en will not change his ways, and it is honorable that he doesn’t, even if his decision is not.”

I see, and am bowled over.  Will Kramer is the artist, and let me tell ya…from the baffling stuff I wrote in my art  questionnaire, the man nailed it, which is nothing short of amazing, since I used words like “luscious,” and “sensual” instead of “red” or “put two people on the cover.”

Speaking of red…later tonight, I’ll be posting a tantalizing tidbit about the red-hot lover on the cover…his name is Tai’en, and he’s twice the man as any man found on Planet Earth.  Stay tuned…

Well, the big news is that “Alien Communion,” my release (there I go again!) from Liquid Silver Books, will be out and on the virtual shelves April 17. That’s right–a week away. I’ve been on tenterhooks since first starting the whole publication process, and now I’ve loaded the cannon, so to speak. I just found out a few hours ago, so I expect that tomorrow morning, I’ll hit panic mode and suddenly wonder if I’ve left some glaring errors somewhere in the manuscript, or if I’m really just a two-bit hack and now everybody will know it, instead of just my critique partners.

Then, of course, the wonderful and supportive Mr. Xandra will tell me to get my two-bit hack head out of my two-bit hack ass and settle down. And my wonderful and supportive friends in various places will tell me the same thing, because they’re wonderful and supportive, and have good heads on their shoulders.

So to celebrate my impending freak-out, I’m getting freaky with the previews. Stop back in here during the week and meet some of the main players in the story, learn a little about the Alcaini, and maybe even catch a glimpse of some out-of-this-world eye candy!

No…really.

Okay, yeah, not so much. But hey, a girl’s gotta have ambitions. Liquid Silver has given the go ahead for the title of my upcoming book. “Alien Communion.”

And because I’m proud of the way I banged my head against the wall to come up with a half-decent blurb, here it is:

How far would a woman go to fulfill her deepest desires?

For researcher Dr. Rayne Warren, an illicit “experiment” with alien simulation technology opens the door. Then she discovers her “simulation” is a real-live Alcaini warrior with an out-of-this-world hunger of his own, who will stop at nothing to keep his human lover–even if it means interplanetary war.

I did a LOT of worldbuilding for this book when I sat down and started writing way back in 2003. One of the things I so loved about writing it was not just the incredibly liberating sense that I could feature really hot sex as a prominent plot thread in a cultural sense, but the development of the Alcaini, the race of aliens with whom a select few earthlings, among them my heroine, Rayne, are engaging in a cultural and scientific exchange. As I wrote, I peeled back the layers of what the Alcaini culture and people were like, and fell in love with them right along with my heroine. That’s part of the magic of writing that keeps me doing it.