I learned about Cobblestone Press in March of last year. I kept my eye on their site, because the professional site impressed me, and I was more than impressed with the covers they created.

When I learned that they would look at short stories, I sent Office Relations. Cobblestone sent me a contract, and Office Relations became my first published story.

It was released the second week of June 2006, the week after Cobblestone Press opened.

Since then, I’ve released two additional books with Cobblestone and I plan to submit more.

Happy anniversary to all the people behind the scenes who make Cobblestone Press a success! Thank you for helping make my dreams of publishing come true.

Between Floors came out while I was in Atlanta for RWA.

Between Floors
ISBN 1-60088-026-6

When Chloe Wilson enters her apartment building, she doesn’t expect to see ex-lover Sean Harris, the man who left her six months before. She doesn’t know why he’s back, and she doesn’t waste time wondering–until they get stuck in a malfunctioning elevator. Suddenly Chloe has nothing but time.

Sean didn’t plan for the elevator to break down, but he’s not going to waste time wondering what happened. He’ll take advantage of it, because his return is no coincidence. He wants Chloe back and will do whatever it takes to convince her to let him back in her life.

Click here or on the cover to purchase it.

The edits for Between Floors were finished this week, and I’ve learned the release date:

July 28, 2006.

Yay!

I got my cover for Between Floors, and I’m very pleased with it.

Here’s a teaser to start with:

When Chloe Wilson enters the elevator in her apartment building, she doesn’t expect to see ex-lover Sean Harris, the man who left her six months before. Sean’s return is no coincidence. He wants Chloe back, and he’ll do whatever it takes to convince her to let him back in her life.

I’ll post once I find out the release date.

Between Floors is in the editing stage. I was interested to see what changes would be made and what I could improve. I didn’t have as much trouble with wandering body parts as I did last time, but several changes were suggested. I appreciate how thorough the Cobblestone Press editing process is. It’s much better to catch things now instead of when the story has been released.

Speaking of releases, the release date for Between Floors has not yet been assigned. I’ll post it once I get it.

Good news! Cobblestone Press contracted Tryst-length Between Floors. I’m excited and relieved–I think I was putting too much pressure on myself with this story. In any case, here’s a short blurb about it:

When Chloe Wilson enters the elevator in her apartment building, she doesn’t expect to see ex-lover Sean Harris, the man who left her six months before.

Sean’s return is no coincidence. He wants Chloe back, and he’ll do whatever it takes to convince her to let him back in her life.

Between Floors is loosely connected to Office Relations–the heroines are friends. Office Relations occurs first chronologically, but the stories can be read out of order. I’ll post the release date once I get it.

In other news, I finished edits on Office Relations this morning, so I should have a release date there soon. I believe it will come out in June.

Yesterday I bought First Draft in 30 Days. I looked at it last week when I went to the bookstore, and eventually set it back on the shelf. This week, I had a 25%-off coupon, and I was still intrigued by the book, so I picked it up. I plan to use the method to write The Ring and Tavia’s story (untitled as yet). I’m excited to give it a try.

I just finished Between Floors and have sent it to a test reader and an editor I found through Romance Divas who also has an editing/critiquing service. I’ve heard good things about this editor, so I decided to try her critiquing service. I’ve heard from several people that it’s good to have critique partners or critique groups, but my schedule is so hectic that I don’t feel I could do someone else’s work justice. However, like every writer, I can use an editor. So I’m looking forward to seeing how this works.

I can’t tell you how glad I am to have finished Between Floors. I’ve lost objectivity on this story and learned a very important lesson–there’s a reason I usually go back and forth between stories. When I don’t, I get way too bogged down in the one story. Alternating works much better for me; when I get tired of one, I move on to the next.

This basically solves my question of what to work on next. I’ll work on The House Party for a while, then start Tavia’s story, and keep going back and forth. This process works much, much better for me.

I’m closing in on the end of my latest story–working title: Between Floors. I’m thinking of submitting it to Cobblestone, but I need to have some test readers look at it first. I should finish it tomorrow and send it off. It will be nice to move to another story.

Now, I have to decide what story to work on next. One of my goals this month was to revise chapters four through nine of In Her Eyes, so that’s what I’ll do. After that, then I need to decide whether to start Tavia’s story or go back to The House Party.

I have joined Michelle Rowen’s group, the Write-Ons. Each of us is striving to finish a book by August. I’d like to do The House Party, but it’s slated to be about 30,000 words instead of a full-length novel. I’ve begun to plot Tavia’s story, but I haven’t gotten very far. It’s not coming together yet–I don’t even know what the hero’s name is.

In any case, I’ll figure that out in a week or so, and then I’ll have plenty of writing to do.

My latest project is a short story that will be about the same length as Office Relations (10,000 or so words). With OR, I really felt like I knew the hero, Peter. Sean is the hero of the new story, and I don’t know him as well. He’s a little vexed right now too.

Sean: I’ve got an issue with you.

Lia: I thought you might.

Sean: Yeah? Well, my issue is that you want me to talk about my issues.

Lia: What’s wrong with that?

Sean: (Long pause.) I’m a man. I don’t want to talk about issues. I want to get on with it. That’s what’s wrong.

Lia: What do you want to get on with?

Sean: SEX. It’s bad enough that I’ve been celibate for six months.

Lia: That’s because–

Sean: It’s because of Chloe. I know. And you’re right–I do love her.

Lia: So?

Sean: So, now I’m stuck in an elevator with the woman I love and you want me to talk about my issues?

Lia: Everyone has issues, Sean. It’s part of the human condition.

Sean: Fine. You talk about them. I’ve got better things to do.

Lia: