Thursday, May 17, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #18 - My Night of Passion with Brad & Angelina

Made you look - ha ha! No,... I've not had a passionate night with Brangelina, but I've got marketing on the brain and hey -- it seems to work with the tabloids!!
The real topic:

13 Interesting Things about my novella, Destiny By Design,
and why you may want to buy it...


1. First, the blurb:
Interior designer Ellis Strathmore has been chosen to compete in the Oak Ridges Development Competition, along with a handful of other designers—including her former boss and nemesis, Cynthia Travers. With the deadline just weeks away, the design teams are under intense pressure to finish. A relative novice known for her unusual approach to decorating, Ellis is determined to prove her talent, artistry and professionalism when creating the perfect home office.

One week into the Oak Ridges Competition and Simon Callon would happily trade Callon & Son Construction for a string of donut shops. Tools and supplies keep mysteriously disappearing and two of the designers are making his life miserable. He’d worked with Cynthia Travers before and knew how to handle her demands, but quirky Ellis Strathmore, with her uncanny ability to both annoy and arouse him, has Simon questioning his normally solid judgment.

Ellis and Simon clash over paint colors, work schedules and cabinets, but they can’t deny the sexual chemistry that’s building between them. The perfect palette for passion comes together with a brush of danger, tones of teasing banter and a touch of naked painting in Destiny by Design.
2. You won't find this kind of action on HGTV...

3. In this house, the spice doesn't stay in the kitchen...

4. The hero, Simon Callon, was inspired by (but is not based on) Mr. Wylie, who once painted our bathroom in the nude in response to my painting the bathroom in my underwear because I didn't want to get my clothes spattered. Did you manage to follow that? The whole incident had us both prone with laughter for days...

5. The heroine, Ellis Strathmore, named herself. I had nothing to do with it. I mean, Ellis for a girl?? My preference would have been Catherine or Eliza, but she would have none of it. She screamed at me every time my fingers typed anything but E-L-L-I-S.

6. Ellis' friend, Valentina, is named for my mother. For no other reason than I love that name - it's so classy and European, don't you think? I plan to stick it in as many of my future books as possible. It's already the name of a sailboat in one of my WIPs.

7. The antagonist is named Cynthia. I have a cousin named Cindy, who is smart, lovely, stylish and thin, and has three perfectly angelic children, so this is simply a coincidence,... I assure you.

8. I made Mr. Wylie, nay forced Mr. Wylie to design a new website so I'd feel like a REAL writer. Then I pimped myself by sending EVERYONE in my address book an announcement, begging them to go visit the new site. Of course, I never actually gave them the web address or gave them a link, so I've got some very confused friends...

9. Mr. Wylie was also forced to drop everything and help me create a video trailer that will undoubtedly have absolutely no impact on the sale of my novella, but I had to have one because Colleen Gleason and Jaci Burton do.

10. I declared the story complete (1 draft + 2 revisions) at 11,000 words. FINAL edit #1 took it to 14,000 words. FINAL edit #2 took it to 16,000 words. FINAL edit #3 - 21,000 words. FINAL edit #4 - 24,000 words. After FINAL edit #5, I submitted it to Ellora's Cave, it was 25,000 words. First and final edit with EC and it's being released at 30,000 words.
Lesson - I just can't leave well enough alone. Never write FINAL on anything!

11. This was the longest story I've completed to date, and has given me hope that yes, one day, I may have the patience, time and gumption to complete an entire novel.

12. I desperately want the sales figures to equal more than 12 and I'm not beneath begging...

13. And I leave you with this ~
WARNING: Naked painting can lead to more than just brush strokes!

Thanks! Destiny by Design will be available to download from May 18th at Ellora's Cave.

Please leave your name so I can do a return visit:





53 comments:

RED GARNIER said...

I'm sure I'll love the book! I already hear buzz around it, so I know it's gotta be awesome.


Wow, painting naked? My gosh, that's even worse than my hosing down the lawn naked! LOL!!!

Miss Frou Frou said...

I like the painting naked story... last week at work there was quite a lot of activity at the windows watching a guy who had removed his shirt in the carpark... no, not cause he was hot... he was probably in his late sixties and his manboobs were pretty saggy and baggy. The guys were watching out the window making up ridiculous reasons for his sudden semi strip-tease. I said, he's probably taken his shirt off cause there is something wrong with his car and he doesn't want to get his shirt dirty. They laughed... until he walked around and lifted the bonnet and started poking around...

Miss Frou Frou said...

Oops, forgot... I always clean the shower naked... actually usually do all my housework in my pj's, and then clean the shower last.

Amy Ruttan said...

Too funny. I'm pimping the book at work. Got some anxious Law Clerks waiting for the release.

Happy TT!

Wylie Kinson said...

Red - I'm glad we're in this together!! And the nude lawn watering? There's a story I'm going to have to hear...

Miss Frou - sounds very practical to do the nude-shower thing last :)
LOL about the parking lot dude. But when you re-tell the story, make him 26 and HOT!

Amy - I'm starting to sweat a little bit... What if everyone hates it? I'll be the laughing stock of your office!

Gina said...

Sounds like a hot novel to me! Good luck with the book sales ;)

pussreboots said...

Sounds interesting. Reminds me a bit of Pearl Moon by Katherine Stone.

Tink said...

I've added your book to my wishlist, sounds very interesting! I love the new website; Mr. Wylie did a great job!
Thanks for visiting my detective TT.

Anonymous said...

This sounds HOTTER than any Brangelina action!

Unknown said...

Thats awesome..I gotta come back and read your blog

Anonymous said...

LOLOL! Love your list! And yes, I hear you on the "final" thing -- I don't think any written work is ever "final" until it's been released, hee hee! And wowie, just two more days!

Read this book, people -- it ROCKS, and it's HOT. *big grin*

Happy TT, my friend!

Mitchypoo said...

hmmm, sounds interesting, I'll be back... Happy TT and mine is up! Come by if you get a chance!

http://mitchypoo777.blogspot.com

Wylie Kinson said...

Goodness - took an hour away from my computer for dinner and BOOM! My comment section exploded :)

Thanks for visiting, Gina, Pussreboots, Tink, Dew, Amy TL, Mitchypoo and Michelle. For those of you I haven't visited yet, I'm on my way over...

Unknown said...

I can't wait to read this Wylie!!! I love the premis and know it's going to be super sexy.

Is it Friday yet??

Anonymous said...

Thanks! What is it with everyone adding reading material to my list! LOL

Rebecca said...

Great idea for a thursday thirteen!

How excited are you about your book??!!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

#12 sounds like a good ambition... I'm talking about something I know NOTHING about at the moment. Can you tell?

I'm also still waiting on a postcard or two from you...

Can't wait for Friday!

Rhian said...

EXCELLENT! I put your book at the top of my TT, followed by RED's which also comes out friday as well and Michelle and Mandy's!!
Oye - my wallet!!!

Anonymous said...

ROFL! This is a great TT. And congrats on the sale to EC! This sounds like a really fun book. I love a book that steams me up and makes me laugh at the same time.

When does it release? Drop me a line and maybe you can hop on over and do a short interview or something on my blog to get the word out more. Every little bit helps.

Ann said...

Great list! Loved #13. Happy TT.
My list is up: 13 favorite vampires.

Joely Sue Burkhart said...

Congrats on the sale and release! Happy TT.

Anonymous said...

Love the new website, very professional. And, I'm sure that you'll sell more than 12 copies of your book. I love the name of your heroine too: Ellis. Congrats!

Ann Aguirre said...

I hope the paint was water soluble!

Gattina said...

Last time I had to choose a name was for my cats of course, and there I took names of my grandma's and grandpa's siblings they both had 10 that makes twenty names with that I had enough. If you need names like Justine (pronounced Joustineh), Gretchen or Alphonse, I dispose of plenty and don't have enough cats which is very frustrating !

Nadia said...

Sounds very interesting. :)

samulli said...

Love the new website. It looks very stylish. Nice.

Unfortunately I am no fan of romance novels (or novellas), so I'll probably not read yours either - sorry for that! - but congratulations for sticking with it and actually finishing it even through 5 "final" edits. So far I've always given up somewhere earlier on my writing. (Here's to hoping it will be different for the story I'm writing at the moment.)
Anyway, good luck with the published result. I hope you'll find lots of readers.

Anonymous said...

The website is great. He did a good job. And, after struttin' around nekkid y'all were prone with what?

kuanyin333 said...

What a clever way to promote your novella! Happy TT!

Elle Fredrix said...

The book sounds fabulous, and will be added to my buy list.

Love the website!

Anonymous said...

It got my attention!

Dionne Galace said...

schweet. i can't wait!

Robin L. Rotham said...

Call me crazy, but I'm thinking Brad and Angelina might both be a bit of a letdown when the lights go out.

LOL! I slapped THE END on my first book (not AO) at 50K, and I've revised and revised and revised until it's now nearing 90K.

And from what I've read, I don't think you have anything to worry about in the sales department, but I'll do my part first thing tomorrow. :D Congratulations, Wylie -- can't wait!

Lori said...

Sounds great:)

Robyn Mills said...

Wylie, I love your voice and your intro is a great... Good luck with it I'll be one of the buyers R.

Sparky Duck said...

now that is what I call marketing! Though wasnt someone on greys anatomy named ellis?

Tempest Knight said...

Great list! I'll make sure to check it out!

Lyn said...

Keep writing! :-)
Lyn from Bloggin' Outloud

Anonymous said...

Oh my! Great TT list. It has me intrigued.

Erica Ridley said...

Of course I will buy it!! =)

Shelley Munro said...

I'm looking forward to reading it! Mr. Wylie sounds like excellent hero material ;-)

Lisa Andel said...

Dang, I thought we'd get some imagery with the story.

(word of warning: Don't read your story after it's pubbed. you'll just want to fix it. again. :D)

Miscellaneous-Mum said...

What an interesting break down of your creative process! Good luck with it

Angela/SciFiChick said...

Congrats!
Sounds great!

Candy Minx said...

I'm looking for the paypal button so I can buy a copy. Help a sister out...how do I buy this book NOW!

I finally finished my TT list:

http://gnosticminx.blogspot.com/2007/05/there-is-no-spoon.html

Rhian said...

i got it! i got it!!!!!

RED GARNIER said...

I just got it too! Just want to tell you HAPPY RELEASE DAY, WYLIE. There's only one first and this is it!!!

Dawn said...

Humungous congratulations, Wylie. I'm so happy for you. Mine will be out next month so I can only imagine the excitement you're going through. Keep it up, gal!

Daisy Dexter Dobbs said...

Just saw Destiny by Design on EC's new release page and wanted to pop over to say congrats, Wylie! I hope your book gets fab reviews and enjoys phenomenal sales! :-D

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Congratulations on this first Release Day! Such a moment to celebrate. I hope it lasts forever in your heart.

Loved Ellis naming herself!

RED GARNIER said...

I read DESTINY BY DESIGN in one sitting yesterday and I completely loved it!! Just wanted to say so. Simon is hot and Ellis is funny and sweet and adorable. Hope you keep gifting us with more books, Wylie.

Tawnya Shields said...

Naked painting? Nice. :o)

You have a very nice blog. I wanted to stop by and say hello and thank you very much for the comment.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Sophisticated Writer said...

Congrats, Wylie :-) I can't wait to be published too and yes, your website rocks ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi Wylie,
found the link to your site through TRW - may i just say, Mr. Wylie did a great job, I love the image at the top of the page (how brilliant to have your name implied on the book cover), all that lovely lace, and most of all, how funny are you ? Several places made me laugh (and believe me, I don't give up my laughs cheap). As a former Sudburian, I'm thinking, maybe you hail from Thunder Bay or thereabouts ? I still get my kicks out of telling Torontonians about the times that it would go down to minus 80 Celsius with windchill where i used to live...
yours, Maya