Lilith Mercury Book 5 is on sale at Fictionwise

Right now you can get A Dream Forbidden for 15% off. It is available in any ereader format.
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b112585/Lilith-Mercury-Book-5/Tracey-H-Kitts/?si=0

It is also available for pre-order in print at http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/

Enjoy!

"Real" writing

I'll never understand why so many people think that writing romance isn't "real" writing. Is it just that they are uncomfortable writing about feelings maybe? I mean, if you're going to love you have to feel something and what good is a book that doesn't describe what the main character feels?

Any writing (if it's good), regardless of genre requires effort. I respect anyone who puts the time and energy into writing that it deserves. It never ceases to irritate me when someone turns up their nose at my hard work just because it's romance. Or when the "nose turning" is immediately followed by a statement like, "Anyone can write romance."

No, they really can't. But apparently anyone can critique it.

How to get encouraged

It's very difficult at times to remember that I write because I love it, not because it pays all my bills. Of course it would be wonderful if I could make a living doing what I love. And one day I plan to be able to do just that. In the meantime, it's hard. Sometimes I stare at a page and wonder why I bother. (Espeically when my books keep getting pirated and my royalty checks keep shrinking.) Then I get a note from a reader who likes my books and remember that someone out there is listening. So, I go back to my keyboard with my heart full of encouragement and start again.

Lilith Mercury is not paying my bills

For those of you who know the series, I'm sure you'll understand what this post is about by the title. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the letters asking when the next book will be and letting me know how much you enjoy it. I love Lilith too. My heart has always been in this story, but unfortunately, it isn't paying the bills.

I don't plan to stop writing the series, but there will be a significant delay in the next book. I won't lie to you. I have to make some money. It's not about greed, it's about survival. If I plan to continue writing (and I'd like to) then I have to write what sells. As of now, that is not Lilith Mercury.

I feel like fans of the series deserve to know what's going on. Please understand that I'm not abandoning you. I just don't want to be homeless.

The character I identify with most

Okay, I know I should let it go and I promise to get over it soon. The review mentioned in the post below just REALLY bothered me. I'm sure if you read the post that my reasons are obvious. The reviewer calls the book a "Mary Sue" saying that I'm the main character Jewel and then goes on to call her "uninteresting."

Gee, thanks a lot. So, in all fairness I took another look at the story. I already knew that I'm nothing like Jewel. But as I re-read the book I remembered how much fun it was to write Alucard. How I never had to second guess what he would do because I already knew ... because he was the character I most identified with in the story. If it is a Mary Sue in any sense then at least cast me as the proper character. I am Alucard. And his shadow that makes vulgar gestures behind his back. lol I'm sarcastic, have a warped sense of humor, and often dress in black. I also like long coats and have a few in my wardrobe. He's ME for crying out loud. Oh, and I've fantasized about being the boogeyman. lol Probably TMI. Sorry.

One more thing I forgot about Vincent, he transforms into a gargoyle. Yeah, nothing like Jean-Claude, like I already said. Just because one vampire in another book was sexy doesn't mean they made sexy famous.

But after reading the story again and seeing so much of myself in Alucard, it does mean I might need therapy. LOL

My son is growing up and I can't cope

My son is growing up and the strangest thing is happening. I can’t cope. I was already having a hard time dealing with the idea of a girlfriend. Then I cleaned house today. In a box I had completely forgotten about were some pictures that I had also forgotten. Among them the smiling three year old face I had almost forgotten too.

How does that happen? It’s simple really. He gets taller and I get used to looking at that. His hair darkens and I get used to that too. The baby fat disappears and somewhere along the way I forgot how much I missed it.

I used to lay awake at night and wonder when he’d stop waking me up because he had a bad dream. Now I lay awake and wonder why he doesn’t do it anymore. He’s starting to look like a young man and it’s killing me.

I can’t tell you how long I’ve been crying now over that little face in those pictures. Or how much my head hurts because of it. I was young when he was born. Hell, I’m still young now. But I feel so old tonight. I’ve worked so many years to make a life and in the process I feel I’ve missed one. His. Like so many women it was necessary for me to work outside the home. Here I am unemployed again (other than my income from writing) and wondering, what’s the use? What has any of it gotten me?

Sure, I helped to pay the bills. But right now as I look at these pictures I can’t remember what it felt like to hold him as a baby. I can’t recall how “little” his voice sounded. We didn’t own a video camera until he was older so my memories are the only way to ever experience those moments again. But my memory tells me how I put work first. How I always needed sleep instead of time to play because I had to go to work early. To a boss who was an asshole while I left my son with my mother.

Maybe every parent feels this way. I don’t know. What I do know is that I would give anything to have those years back.

I guess what it all boils down to is that my son is growing up … and I can’t cope.

Since pirates like to share so much

Spread this around. I’ve filed for bankruptcy. Based on the number of times my books were downloaded (and this is just what I know about) I lost roughly $10,000 last year. If each of those downloads had been an actual sale (I know that others will argue the point, I’m saying IF) then I would not have lost my car and would most likely not be having to file bankruptcy now to keep from losing my home.

If you like what I do, don’t steal from me. If I’m homeless, I can’t write. Even if you don’t give a damn about me on a personal level, take into account that I need a place to live in order to write.

I know there are a lot of people out there right now thinking they wouldn’t share this information if it were them. I want pirates to know this. I’m going on the idea that deep down people don’t want to hurt each other. Besides, screaming does no good and I don’t know where they live.

For every person, like me, who speaks up … think how many others keep silent.