Thursday, July 09, 2009

It's Q & A Time!

Since the release of my last Calamity Jayne book, ANCHORS AWEIGH, I've been inundated with questions and queries (and a few complaints) as to just what the heck I was doing--literarily speaking. Inasmuch as I had taken a self-imposed 'hiatus' to focus on obtaining my degree in Criminal Justice--and having achieved that particular goal--and with emails still coming in daily, I've decided to answer many of those questions here today.

Question 1:
Will there be any more Calamity Jayne books. (i.e. 'PLEASE don't stop the series!' 'PLEASE tell me there are more books coming!' 'I HAVE to know what happens with Taylor and P.D.' Readers MUST have a Calamity Jayne/Ranger Rick wedding!'...etc.)
Response: At this time there are no plans in the works for me to pen a seventh Calamity Jayne book. I'd love to continue the series at some point, but for now--for a variety of reasons, I'm moving on to other projects.
Question 2:
Will there be a sequel to FIANCE AT HER FINGERTIPS?
Response: Although there were plans for a sequel to 'Lawyer Logan' featuring 'CEO Clay' since I'm not under contract with Dorchester Publishing for any new projects at this time, plans for a second book have been placed on hold.
Question 3:
Just what the heck are you working on?
Response:
Quite honestly, I hadn't anticipated the heavy-duty time demands that came with the new job and increased classload coupled, of course, with those responsibilities that come with being the Head of the Household. I did not want any area of my life to be short-changed. All the aforementioned areas demand a high level of concentration, time commitment, and creativity. (Being 'creative' is a must when you are the mother of multiples.) And I SO didn't want to produce a project that, in my opinion, was not reflective of my best effort and abilities. Obviously something had to give. In this case, it was the writing. Now that my course work has ended and all future home improvement projects (with the exception of fall house painting) will be left to the professionals, I'm now back and focusing on my writing career with renewed energy and experiences that will, I think, only benefit and complement my writing endeavors from this point forward. To that end, I am working on a proposal for a new series which, I think, is very 'high concept' and has loads of potential. Since the project is still being developed and tweaked before it makes its way into the frenzied world of publishing, I won't elaborate. But it's the kind of project that has me waking in the night and grabbing my notepad and scribbling down ideas so that is a good sign.
Beyond this project, I am also returning my attention to a finished hard-boiled series that needs a bit of updating and some revision before it is shopped around. And, of course, I still have a completed Young Adult book sitting on the desk of a Penguin-Putnam editor waiting to be read.
I also have a American West historical romance I wrote ages ago that had promise but needs to be revamped, as well (you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl) that I'm tinkering with. So, much as with my 'home improvement' undertakings, I am not limiting myself to one writing option. In this business, you can't.
So there you have it: What's up with Bullet Hole. Or as much as I care to disclose in this venue. Hehe.
I'm off to the dentist this morning (yay) but if you have any other questions you'd like to ask, bring 'em on.
Oh, and if you have any advice on how to keep furry little pests from nibbling on my tomatoes, do tell. ('Possums are particularly pesky.) My kids seem to have a problem with me lying in wait for them with a slingshot. I tell 'em it could be worse. I am, after all, a former cop...
Off to get 'crowned' at the dentist's office.
Talk to you all later!
~Bullet Hole~

9 comments:

Tori Lennox said...

Having been crowned a few times myself, you have my sympathies. Though I suppose it's better than the alternative. :)

One question about the new project. Is it a mystery series?

Bookmobiler said...

"My kids seem to have a problem with me lying in wait for them with a slingshot."

Tell them you wont do that if they're willing to eat the remnants of the nibbled tomatoes! :)

Or they could rotate scarecrow duty.

As for your writing, I'm not fussy, I'll buy what ever you care to write. But I'm hoping what ever it is, is soon. Which given the realities of the publishing world it probably wont be.

Terry S said...

Just waiting here patiently (somewhat) for whatever comes out next and enjoying your weekly blog contributions. Congrats on your goals accomplished in the meantime.

As you wait with your slingshot, it's been years since a raccoon came visiting around here. We've progressed, if you can call it that, to coyotes and now a cougar....and I live in a city in a definite residential area, for goodness sakes. At least my grown child has stopped hounding me to fence the yard so the dogs could go out alone. While the other critters that don't play nice making unscheduled visits to the immediate vicinity, my dogs will never go out alone.

Anonymous said...

Do you know why Books 1 & 3 of the Calamity Jane series are NOT available for the Kindle but all the rest are? I hate it when only part of a series can be bought in soft copy. I was hoping to load the series into my Kindle for my next business trip. Deep sigh ..... Mo

Kathy Bacus said...

Yeppers, Tori. It's another outta-the-box mystery series--with a rather unconventional occupation (which I'm keeping under wraps at present).

And I've had my share of crowns, as well. Gotta tell you. It's no way to spend a day off.

~Bullet Hole~

Kathy Bacus said...

Unfortunately only one of the three triplest like tomatoes, Bookmobiler, so there is little incentive for collective outrage--or action on their part.

And thank you for the reader loyalty. Realistically, it will probably be late '10 or early '11 before I'm back on bookstore shelves. Still, it's nice to be back in the saddle again...

~Bullet Hole~

Kathy Bacus said...

With coyotes and cougars provling your neck of the woods, Terry S, I feel kind of wimpy whining about possoms and raccoons and 'squinties' who like to tunnel all over the back yard.

And thank you, too, for waiting so patiently for my next book. I hope to make it worth the wait.

~Bullet Hole~

Kathy Bacus said...

I wish I knew why only certain books in the Calamity series are available on Kindle, Mo. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me not to include all the books in a continuing series.

I'll never understand this business...

~Bullet Hole~

Caffey said...

Kathy, since I came to this group, I've been trying some books and having such a blast reading them. Yours I've yet to get but I can see all the excitement about your books from your readers, so I know I'm missing out! I hope I can change that soon!

My hubby is the garden person and all I know is he goes in the garden all evenings and all weekends and sends my son out there all during the days, so it seems to be tended to 16 a day (nuts). So I haven't heard anything yet on the bugs with the tomatoes. He's be mad if so! I'll check with him, when he ventures away from the garden tonight.