Update delays

So sorry, but there probably won't be an update this weekend. Major problems at work have had me going for about the past 50 hours straight, so I haven't done a lot of writing. If things improve, I hope to get the Judging Books complete chapter Monday or Tuesday.

Such is life....

Sneak peek and Such

Answers to some questions, and then a sneak peek.

With regards to Want No More - I was really wondering why so many people seem to be reading it all of the sudden. Did it get rec'd somewhere that I didn't know about? :) Just curious.

The new story is Unexpected Circumstances, for those who asked. There is a little blurb on it on the writing projects page. It won't start posting until Surviving Bella is done.

Judging books is moving along slowly. We'll see how far I manage to get with it tonight. I'm not totally happy with what I have right now, so I'm not sure if it will be updated this weekend or not. Even what I'm "sneak peeking" to you could end up in the bin. :)

All right, here's your Judging Books sneak peek! Enjoy!

***
At the bottom of the stairs – balanced on his bicycle and smoking a cigarette in all his beautiful, teenage glory – was Edward. Our eyes met, and he graced me with that smile.

“Hey,” he said – or maybe he just mouthed it. I couldn’t hear him over Lauren’s chatter. I glanced over at her, but she was looking off in the other direction and apparently hadn’t noticed him. I was only three steps from the bottom, and I’d have to either stop or walk right past him. I had no idea what I should do. I wasn’t expecting him to actually show up here – on campus! I wasn’t prepared. What was I going to tell Lauren? She was definitely going to grill me, regardless. Good lord, there was no telling what she might say to him right in front of me! Would she notice how young he was, or would she not even get past the piercings and tattoos? I couldn’t even think about the cigarette and the fact that he was on a bicycle. Shit, Lauren would have a fucking field day if she found out I had spent the weekend with him. I was going to be torn apart if I even acknowledged that I knew him. I wondered what he would do if I just walked right past him and pretended I didn’t see him, but if I did that, Edward was going to be hurt.

I hesitated a moment, having absolutely no idea what I should do, and then ended up stopping at the bottom of the stairs – caught in my own indecision. Edward twisted sideways and dropped off the bicycle seat before reaching out and hugging me against his chest. I hadn’t even considered that he might do something like that. I stiffened and glanced quickly over at Lauren, who appeared to be trying to catch flies with her wide open mouth. Edward immediately let go, his smile disappearing.

***

Want No More Conspiracy?

Someone out there in fandom needs to confess, before I send Terroristward after you! No, wait...you'd probably like that.

Why have I received several dozen requests to expand Want No More lately? I just don't expect that from a o/s written more than six months ago! :)

Naturally, I'm completely flattered and think it's great so many people enjoy it enough to want to read more of it. Right now, it's just not in the cards. Maybe someday, but honestly, I don't even know where it would go from where it is. With two other stories currently in the works, and another one to start when Surviving Bella is done, it's really not very likely to happen any time soon. I am glad so many people like it, though!

Thanks!!

Need opinions!

So here's the deal. I'm working on the next chapter of Judging Books, and much like the last chapter (okay, okay - like the whole damn story) it's getting really, really long. Much longer than I intended.

So, is it better to post a chapter with a cliffhanger, or wait until the entire thing is done and post later? Let me know what you would prefer!

JB Progress and Fic Rec

I got a decent amount of Judging Books done today, despite work calling me almost constantly this evening and my kids insisting on a marathon game of scrabble (I almost won). I just about finished the scene I've been working on for most of the weekend. It's not "done" but it's close. I'm still hoping to post it sometime this coming weekend, I hope. I'll be out of town most of Saturday, though - so if it isn't up before noon eastern US time it won't be going up until Sunday. I'll try - I promise. :)

I've been reading Code of Conduct by MandyLeigh87. I'm entertained, definitely. Edward's a bodyguard hired to keep teenage Bella in line. It's complete, too, which is always a bonus. Check it out! :)

Judging Books and Surviving Bella

It's Sunday, and between household chores, I'm working on the next installment of the "one-shot" (haha) Judging Books. I think it will be ready next weekend, at the latest. It should be the last official update for that story. I know, everyone loves Splitbrainward, and I don't think this will be the end of their story all together. As I've mentioned before, though - it's really difficult to switch back and forth between stories. It was hard enough with H&D vs. SB and their different Edwards. The difference between SB Edward and JB Edward is so vast, it's almost impossible to be writing both at the same time.

In a nutshell, after the next update no extension of Judging Books until Surviving Bella is complete. I anticipate 18-20 chapters total for SB.

I am thrilled with the response from everyone on the last SB chapter - wow! I wish I could respond to more reviews, but I definitely do read them all! Thank you!

Mid-Week Sneak Peek - Surviving Bella Chap 13

Okay - due to way too much time between cookie batches this morning, it looks like Surviving Bella Chapter 13 will probably be out before the weekend. Here's a sneak peek for you!

***
“You might as well let go,” I said. My voice was calm, and the back of my mind registered it as Carlisle’s voice of death. In my mind, I wondered if I had ever sounded like this before. “No matter what else happens here, you are going to die. That’s a given.”

“Edward…” Bella’s words were nothing more than a whisper.

“Shh,” I responded. I didn’t look at her. I couldn’t. I was so focused on him I couldn’t even see her in his grasp.

“I’ll kill the bitch,” the motherfucker growled. He was trying to keep his voice steady and tough, but he was failing. His eyes showed it all – he knew he was going to die.

“Take your hands off of her now, and I promise to kill you quick.” I took half of a step towards them, and saw his fingers tighten against her windpipe. “You know you’re already dead. It’s just a matter of how long I make it last.”

“I’ll kill her!”

“How?” I purred at him. “You aren’t holding a weapon. Can you hurt her faster than I can get to you? Are you willing to take the chance? I have all kinds of ways of making you feel pain.”

He moved, but not in the direction I expected.

***

Uh oh...

Up at 5:00am

Just to get some more writing done for all of you wonderful people! Okay, really my son has to bake cookies for his German class today. Last night he said he needed to make them, then proceeded to pick out a "traditional" recipe, where the dough had to sit in the refrigerator over night. Now guess who is up in the wee hours making 9 dozen frikkin cookies??? Not him. LOL

Really, he's up now, but I was up a lot earlier.

But between cookie batches, I'm writing. I swear.

Updates and Stuff

Chapter 13 of Surviving Bella is moving along nicely. No teasers just yet, but I will get one out here on Wednesday. There is a lovely write up of SB on Random Acts of Rob this past weekend. Check it out! I also had this manip pic tweeted to me by Lolypop82. I LOVE IT!

Oh yeah! SB passed 2000 reviews on FFN. Thank you all!

There's an interview about Hide and Drink with a little Surviving Bella thrown in as well, if you are interested. You can find it on Robstenlove.com.

H&D Immortal Sin Awards WOW!

Hide and Drink won in both of the Immortal Sin Award categories - Best Darkward and Hottest Dark Vamp Fic! Thank you to everyone who nominated and voted for Hide and Drink!




Check out all the winners!

Darkest Temptations

Happy Weekend!

Hope everyone's weekend is off to a good start! I may end up working most of mine, and by that I mean in corporate America, not on writing. :( Ah well. It pays the bills!

I am amazed at the response received by the latest chapter of Surviving Bella. Thank you all so much! I know the cliff hangers are evil, but I really haven't had too many of them in this one, and I won't make you wait too terribly long for the next update. It's about 1/2 done now, so I'm on schedule to get it out next weekend.

Hide and Drink is up for the Glosp Award for the best "should-come-with-a-warning" story (best surprise). Voting open now until October 26th, so go vote for your favorites!

In addition, H&D has also bee nominated in the Darkest Temptations contest! Hide & Drink was nominated for the "Just Drain Me Now" - Best Darkward award as well as "The Vicious Vamp" - Hottest Dark Vamp Fic. I believe voting is closed, but winners will be announced 10/22! Great place to find some dark fic recs.

Mid-Week Sneak Peek - Surviving Bella Chap 12

Chapter 12 is almost done - hope to finish it as soon as my kids go to bed. ;) In the meantime, here's a sneak peek! Enjoy!

***
Bella maneuvered herself on to my lap, placed her hands on either side of my face, and kissed me deeply. She backed off after a minute, her fingers trailing over the now smooth skin on my face. She scowled.

“You don’t like it?” I asked.

“I do,” she said. “But it does make you look very different. I was just wondering how you managed to get it so smooth.”

I pulled out my knife and flipped it open.

“It’s really, really sharp,” I said.

“Makes me wish I had one, too,” Bella said.

“You have something you want to shave?” I cracked a smile, unable to help myself and my wandering imagination.

“I’d love to shave my legs,” she said, a blush suddenly covering her face. “And my…um…armpits.”

She giggled, which made me laugh, too.

“Why the fuck are armpits funny?”

“They aren’t,” Bella said. “I’m pretty glad I’m in your shirt now instead of a bathing suit.”

“I really don’t give a shit,” I told her honestly.

“Well, I do. I guess it’s ingrained in me. The perils of popular female hygiene culture.”

“Let me do it,” I said suddenly. My cock jumped to attention at the thought, though I couldn’t have explained why if someone had asked me. The idea of shaving her was just…hot. Sliding my knife blade over her skin…yeah, I definitely wanted to do that.

“Do what?” Bella asked with her eyes narrowed.

“I’ll shave you,” I clarified.

***

Surviving Bella - update almost ready!

Chapter 11 of Surviving Bella is off to beta! I know it's a little late, but sometimes that's how things work. Chapter 12 should be out pretty quickly by comparison, since it's also most of the way done at this point. Then I plan on finishing up Judging Books before I get back to Surviving Bella again. It's all the back and forth that makes me nutty, ya know! :)

Don't forget -Hide & Drink was nominated for the "Just Drain Me Now" - Best Darkward award as well as "The Vicious Vamp" - Hottest Dark Vamp Fic.

Go vote quick! Voting ends October 15th!

Darkest Temptations

Judging Books Extension?

Almost every review I received on chapter 3 so far is begging for extension. I kept telling you guys this was a one-shot!! Err....short story!! Only three chapters! Err....well, four. Maybe. I think.

No promises, but I do have a little idea though, and wondered what people might think. I was thinking - *IF* I think of additional plot for Judging Books characters, I'll plan them in three chapter segments. Each of the three chapters will be it's own mini story (beginning, middle, end) that will also be a continuation of the last segment. Once a group of three chapters is done, I won't guarantee any more, but I will always at least finish the three segments.

Remember - this is still a side-line story, so I'm always going to be focusing on something else (like Surviving Bella).

Am I crazy? Should I plan on writing it all backwards? :) Shut up about it and finish Surviving Bella Chapter 11? What do you think?

Hide and Drink Nominated for 2 Immortal Sin Awards

Hey there! I just found out Hide and Drink was nominated for 2 Immortal Sin Awards. Thank you to whomever nominated it! Please stop by the Darkest Temptations website and vote! Voting ends October 15th!

Hide & Drink was nominated for the "Just Drain Me Now" - Best Darkward award as well as "The Vicious Vamp" - Hottest Dark Vamp Fic.

Darkest Temptations

Mid-Week Sneak Peek - Surviving Bella Chap 11

Okay, the next installment of Surviving Bella is getting there. Not sure when I'll get it done, the rest of the week is pretty busy. Hopefully it will be ready for beta by the weekend, and maybe post Sunday or Monday. We'll see. :) In the meantime, here's a sneak peek for you! I'm usually pretty choosy and don't post anything that's really a spoiler, but that just isn't an option this time. This one definitely has spoiler potential, so don't read if you don't like that kind of thing!


***

I looked up into the eastern sky as the sun’s rays slowly broke over the horizon. For a moment, I just stared, eyes narrowed, trying to figure out the trick of the light causing the diffraction of the light off to one side. A small band of cumulus clouds brightened the sky with gold and orange hues. There was a tinge of green on the underside of the closest clouds.

Four pelicans flew overhead towards the west.

I realized my breathing had escalated, and though I fought against hyperventilating, I welcomed the rush of adrenaline.

“Bella, wake up!”

“Hmm?” She rolled and rubbed at her eyes. “What is it?”

“Land.”

***

Ready for a change of scenery? :)

Judging Books Part 2/2 - Teaser

The second chapter of Judging Books has been really well received - thank you! Here's a little teaser from the second part, which is in beta now and will post in the next day or two. Then back to Surviving Bella! :)

***
“Edward, could I ask you something?”

“Sure,” he responded. “Anything.”

“Well…um…I can see you have tattoos, I was just wondering what they were, and maybe what they meant, if anything?”

“Oh yeah, sure,” Edward said, and immediately grasped the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head.

Oh my…wow.

Teenager or not, Edward without a shirt looked mighty fine. His shoulders were broad, and the muscles in his arms and shoulders were simply divine. I walked over in front of him and knelt down to get a better look. A better look at the tattoos, of course. Well, and maybe of his shoulders. And his abs. His chest was nice, too. Oh my…double wow. His nipples were pierced. They both had silver hoops that were slightly larger than the other ones.

***

So, is this weird?

I write sex scenes from the climax backwards. Am I the only one who does that???

The kids have finally left the room...maybe I'll finish this chapter tonight after all!

Judging Books - almost there!

Part two is getting there. Now that my kids have *finally* left the room, I might be able to get it done and off to beta tonight. If not, I should still be able to get it done tomorrow, which means it should post on Tuesday. Sorry for the delay - real life is like that some times. It is a nice long chapter, even though part two has been divvied up in the two parts. *sigh* I hope it will be worth it for everyone! Thanks for all your patience.