Sizzling Hot Books

Can I get a whoo hoo? I received my first review for Drive-In. Sizzling Hot Books says, "Drive-In by Kelli Scott is a short read with plenty of spice! I definitely recommend Drive-In when you need a good quick pick me up or are just in need of a smile."

I gotta say, I totally agree. What do you think?

A STORY IS BORN

Sometime around the first of the year, late February to early March, I began writing Drive-In. It was meant to be a very short, free story. Somehow Drive-In got away from me and ended up being 12,000 words when I submitted it in late April to Ellora's Cave. A Quickie. Early May my editor, Meghan Conrad got back to me saying she liked it, but wanted it longer. She gave me some direction and revision notes. I resubmitted in late May with a story that was 19,000 words.

Contracts were signed and re-signed because I can never seem to get that part done without mistakes, mostly on my part. I filled out cover request forms and of course I moved on to the next story. Mid October I received my first round of edits, which ended up taking me entirely too long (three weeks) and added another 3000 words. A grand total of 22,000 words. Around that same time I got the awsome cover (by Caitlin Fry, featuring the back of Jimmy Thomas' head).

December 2nd, as scheduled (after a few blips and blurps), Drive-In went live. Nine months after conception. And I'm as proud as a new mommy.

I'M IN LOVE

I got hit all at once, smacked by love. New cover art (by Caitlin Fry), a release date (Dec 2nd) and I turned in my completed edits. Drive-In is a "go" for December 2nd. I love the cover. I love the story.

What do you think?

DRIVE-IN

For nine days I have been slowly working on edits for my next Ellora's Cave erotic romance, Drive-in.

I look forward to edits because I know nothing gets published without them. I also dread edits because they remind me how far I've come (not far enough) and how far I have yet to go (way far). My mistakes make me feel stupid. The more edits I plow through, the worse the manuscript looks, covered in red like it's bleeding from a major artery and yellow as if the gaping wounds are infected. Words are crossed out and rearranged like one of those word puzzles in the Sunday paper. The kind of puzzle I can't solve.

For some reason, Drive-in edits have hit me hardest. I'm not even 2/3 through after nine days, and I've left the really gnarly edits for last. I can blame it on my work schedule or the recent death of a beloved pet. I've had computer woes and outside commitments. Don't even get me started on my home life. I will get through these edits, or die trying. But not today. And probably not tomorrow. The next day isn't looking good either. But someday soon.

Maybe if I had a book cover for inspiration. Hint hint.

EPIC NEWS

Much to my surprise, and yours too perhaps, Stormy Wedding is a finalist in the Epic contest. What is the Epic contest? Uh? Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition. I'm not a member, but I think they probably fight for our right for a little respect in the industry.
I'm excited and honored and giddy. I'm up against some other awsome authors from Ellora's Cave as well as Carina, Loose ID, and TWRP. I'm especially honored because Stormy Wedding is my first erotic story. Not that I'm in an erotic category. I'm in the Novella category.

So please wish me luck, although I feel like I've already won (not actually won, but I feel honored just to be a finalist). And I can't wait for the day when digital publishing, as well as erotic romance will be able to compete on an even playing field with print books and traditional romance (RWA I'm talking to you).

Holding Pattern

I know it appears to the untrained eye that I am not a very accomplished author with only one lonely title to my fake name.

I assure you I have more to say, many more romance tales to tell. And that's what I'm going to do. I've been contracted for two more Ellora's Cave titles, eagerly awaiting covers to post.

Why so long, you ask? Okay, yes, I had a couple stories rejected. I'm still learning the erotic ropes, figuring what "is" and "is not" acceptable. And then there is my inability to properly or completely fill out paperwork. What's that about? I blame creativity.

As God is my witness I will post my covers and release dates just as soon as I know. Check back soon.

Three's Company or is it a Party?

Okay, so I was on Facebook the other day. Shocking! I know, right? Someone posted a seriously sexy hot but tasteful M/F/M photo. Comments ensued, as they always do. One comment in particular pondered why some male cover models refuse to pose for M/F/M or M/M/F or F/M/M (honestly, I don’t know the difference) covers. “It’s just a modeling job.” Or is it?


Many actors and actresses refuse to film nude scenes for various reasons. Just because I’m a writer doesn’t mean I’ll write anything. I write what interests me. And then I hope others will enjoy it also. I consider my career, as well, when I write a story. I am putting my name on the cyber cover, after all. You know, not my real name, but my psuedo name.


The commenter went on to say something to the effect of “We won’t assume he’s interested in men simply because he poses with one.” Won’t we? I see a model on a cover and if done well, my eyes will tell my brain the couple on the cover is in love, or at the very least, in lust.


I guess my point is, every one has to choose for themselves what they will and won’t do—personally, professionally and spiritually. And not be judged harshly for it. Am I right or am I wrong?

The Day After

My dogs are still in recovery from the sound of last night's fireworks. Thank God they're half deaf. My yard and street are littered with debris. The city park I walk at each day was trashed with the remnants of independence and broken beer bottles. I'd like to think that with our city's budget woes, the park employees have a better use for their time than cleaning up after intoxicated pyromaniacs.

Please don't think me unpatriotic, but I'm a little cranky from lack of sleep. What does independence mean to you?

KINK IS THE NEW BLACK

When I began writing, I glossed over the love scenes, imagining my mother one day reading my smut. I didn’t slam the bedroom door shut, but neither did I go into detail.


Slowly I dug deeper, literally and figuratively. I found my comfort zone and swore to my family I relied mostly on my imagination to conjure up the naughty (which wasn’t very naughty by anyone’s standards since I wrote for Cerridwen Press). Ellora’s Cave would ask for submissions on this, that or the other and I couldn’t go there until…

(Cue choir of angels singing.) Ellora’s Cave started their Branded line of erotic romance.

EROMCOM

What’s Eromcom? It might be a little something I made up myself. So sue me.

I like to laugh. Tears of a clown. As I wrote the other day in a manuscript—I’ll paraphrase—the ability to laugh has gotten me through some not so freakin’ funny chapters in my life.

But does comedy have any business rubbing up against erotic like a kitty in heat?

Flirty Author Bitches

I will be at Flirty Author Bitches on Saturday blogging for the first time. Squee!

Follow Me

I'm over at Delilah Devlins today, blogging about the Branded line.

A Rose by Any Other Name

     What's in a name?

     The erotic writing world is up in arms. Not just the erotic writing world, the entire romance writing world. Why? Because an Ellora's Cave author has been outed. Her day job in jeopardy. Why? Because she writes the naughty.

You May Kiss The Bride

You may kiss the bride.

My romance novella, Stormy Wedding, follows a couple on their wedding day. They share a sweet kiss on the veranda of their wedding venue with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop. But all these two have been doing since they met is kiss. A lot. Nothing more.

They’ve saved the best for last, although their pre-wedding encounters become a bit heated. Here’s a little snippet of a sweet kiss versus a steamy one:

Sweet kiss.

WHO ARE YOU?

You’re probably wondering who Kelli Scott is.


Kelli Scott, a former airline employee, spent her career globetrotting the world, leaving broken hearts and empty champagne flutes in every port (airport). Turning over a new leaf, she started her own now-defunct religion, also revolving around champagne. Currently a recluse living on a mountaintop in the Appalachians, she enjoys rock gardening, taxidermy and writing her semi-autobiographical memoirs.

BRANDED

The concept for Stormy Wedding was simple. Ellora’s Cave put a shout out about their new Branded line of erotic stories. Branded is a line of erotic tales set within the confines of a marriage. One of my pet peeves about romance is that the story ends when the marriage begins. And that is where I began my story…at the end…with the wedding.

Branded:

Guillermo

For some reason, the questions I get most often are about my research assistant, Guillermo. It’s a live-in position, because I write day and night. He’s been with me for years and feels like part of the family.

He’s not much to look at, but he’s smart as a whip. He follows instructions very well. Guillermo does work outside the home because his position doesn’t pay well, but I offer an attractive benefit package.

And The Winner Is...

Release Day Contest!

If rain on your wedding day is good luck, as superstition says, what does it mean when your wedding day is fraught with high winds and torrential rain? No amount of bad weather can douse Rachel and Rory's love for one another, or the passion they've denied each other for so long.