Happy Anniversary, CTR! I'm so happy to have been part of the CTR family this past year, and I'm looking forward to many fabulous years ahead!
Looking back to CTR's first year, 2004 — or any year, for that matter — I always wind up thinking, "Time and again…" Why? Well, I'm a creature of habit who routinely needs a new adventure since I get bored pretty quickly with the status quo — but I need that routine to keep my butt grounded and productive. Otherwise, I'd spend all my time quite content in my own little worlds — and my kids would have starved before they reached their teen years 😉 So, for me, that expression "time and again" serves as a reminder that living this life where I love my routine is a great gift, not a bore at all.
In 2004, I was writing as a means to make myself happy, to collect my thoughts, to let those voices in my head out before they did neurological damage…;) This I'd been doing since I was nine years old. Writing was a part of my daily routine. By the Fall of 2010, given the rise of e-publishing, I decided to send a manuscript out. That initial acceptance forever changed my routine: now I'm here today, my isolated, happy writing-for-myself gig more open and public with each contract. Me and promo getting along…who woulda thunk that even a year ago…!
What a whirlwind from July 2011 and my first release, UNSTRUNG, to November 2011 and the release of BENDING TYME, to now, with the release on my third novella, SOUNDING THE DEPTHS, scheduled later this month — and my fourth, AFLAME IN CAMELOT, coming in July 2012! One of my closest friends, who believes I am much too hard on myself, bless him, often reminds me to look at my accomplishments when I look back in time rather than fret about whatever fell along the wayside. Time and again in the past, I've ignored his advice, but given how much fun I've been having since last July…well, today, I'm looking forward to even more cool stuff happenin' with these people in my head between now and July 2013!
Here's to looking at all that CTR has done for so many authors in the past — but, more importantly, here's to another upcoming year of great success and a helluva lot of fun getting there!
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About SOUNDING THE DEPTHS
Ethan Gray, former sailor on a nuclear submarine with the Royal Navy, arrives in California to work on a technical paper with a military recruiter, an acquaintance who introduces him to the elusive Josh Bennett. Back in Cali a few weeks later to attend a five-day party, a commitment ceremony for two friends, one with whom he served in Iraq, Ethan again runs into one Joshua Bennett, an explosive ordnance expert in the United States Navy and veteran of two Iraq tours, just returned from a third year he volunteered to spend in Afghanistan: this, an unexpected decision he remains loath to discuss even with the few closest to him. While Ethan’s initial encounters with Josh leave the easy-going, confident British sailor in love for the first time, the tight control Josh maintains in his professional and personal lives leaves him reluctant to ever fall in love again. To win Josh, Ethan must help this man who captured his heart heal his own and leave his dark past behind him. With some persistent interference from Josh’s feisty twin sister Lana – and a specific gay-friendly phone app – can Ethan convince Josh to drop his defenses and let love in? Or is this British sailor out of his depth?
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E-BOOK GIVE-A-WAY!
To celebrate CTR's Anniversary and the release of my sexy sailor story on 21 May with Total-E-Bound, I'm giving away a free pdf copy of SOUNDING THE DEPTHS to one reader who shares: what's one special — maybe unexpected! — accomplishment that's made you happy and proud since 2004?
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Thanks for stopping by, all — and, once again, Happy Anniversary, CTR!
Maria-Claire
http://www.maria-clairepayne.com
- About the Author
- Posts in the Past
Maria-Claire Payne is the alter-ego of another Claire who holds multiple professional credentials related to the field of radiation oncology and a graduate degree in psychology. Both personalities share a love of taking classes in English literature and reading in many genres as well as getting inked and admiring biker dudes from afar. When no new reading material is readily at hand for whatever reason, her children have caught her reading cereal box-tops to fill the void. Maria-Claire lives in Southern Florida with her two rather conservative (how did that happen?) teenagers, the ghost of her soul-mate (her muse), and a crew of Himalayan and Persian cats affectionately referred to as the “Pussy Posse.†She loves to hear from fellow romance readers!
Happy anniversary! I'm proud of graduating from college.
Happy Anniversary! I am proud to be attending college (I just turned 61)! It is such fun! Sorry I missed it earlier in life.
Happy anniversary!
Since 2004 hmmm. I've started running. I've been doing 5k's for charity. At 53 I figure thaas pretty good. I've started my own blog to post my opinion on the books I've read and pretty much anything else I think of. I became a Grandmother in 2005 and again in 2010.
And so you should be, BN! Good for you! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
That's awesome, Angela! The hat I wear in my "day job" is as an educator, so I'm all about learning at every age!
Wow, Donna…and doing those runs for charity is even more amazing! Look at these comments here about our accomplishments: how great is it to see women in all walks and decades of life doing such cool stuff! Damn, we're good, aren't we! 😉
Maria-Claire, I think the most special and memorable thing that happened to me in the last 8 years was after I had written my first novel, Magge Mae, I gave it to my husband to read. He was struck with fear. He knew he was in a very touchy situation. LOL I told him that I just wanted his truthful opinion. If he didn't like it, he needed to tell me so I wouldn't make a fool of myself trying to publish it. He took a deep breath and sat down in the living room. Two hours later, I went to find him. He hadn't moved. He was still reading. He had tears running down his face. It was a magical moment for me.
Now that's a truly romantic story, Sandy!
I'm glad you were able to put those voices in your head to good use…writing books! I'm with you, I like thinking back but I also like to look forward. Life is full of ups and downs after all 🙂
To add, 2004 doesn't seem that far away but in that span of time I finished high school and university hmm so I guess those are things I'm proud of. I wonder what eight years from now looks like??
Congrats on your books Maria-Claire! I am looking forward to many more from you in the future! 😀
One thing I am proud of is taking care of my nephew while my sister is at work… I have been watching him grow and learn since he was 3 months old… he will be 4 soon! I love doing crafts with him… teaching him his numbers and letters… he is so amazing with his ability to do many things. I am glad that having been a preschool teacher has enabled me to help prepare him for school.
Happy Anniversary…It is so wonderful how a moment can change your life and take you on a path that brought you here..Congrats on everything.
Since 1984, I have gone back to school, received a degree, and got my certification as a Professional Administrative Assistant. I never dreamed that I would have either one of them.
Congrats on your books, Maria-Claire!
Happy Anniversary! I am currently in collage going for a degree in psychology. Wish I did this earlier in life but I am 34 now and giving it a go.
Na, the best is always in front of us! I absolutely insist on that, in any case! I am tthe eternal optimist 😉
Colleen, you have the most awesome job in the world — and your sister and nephew are lucky to have you! As a single mom, I would haved loved to have a Colleen when mine were that age….Glad you dropped by today!
Hi, Savannah! Right back at you! Even falling on my *ss has been good on this particular journey. I am quite good at dusting myself off and hauling myself back to my feet 😉
Thanks, Kathy — and how great is that! Nothing is out of reach. Well, I have been told that I am unlikely to get my hands on Sam Worthington or Christian Bale (without being arrested, anyway), but at least most dreams are fair game!
Ginny, I have a graduate degree in psychology. Having some life experience under your belt can be a most useful thing in that field — and you're still young, young, young! GIve yourself a pat on the back for going to school now! Good for you!
Since 2004? I've started back up with dance classes and yes, perform with all the little kids in the annual spring show 😉 Hee! Congrats to you, Maria-Claire!
Thanks for the congrats, Fedora! Ahhh, music and dancing…my other passions (not that I can dance worth a damn, but no one sees me when I'm bouncing around my house in the wee hours, and my kids never cared that I looked goofy when they were little). It's so cool to hear about people following their dreams — and I bet those kids think you're awesome too! You go, girl! One of my secret wishes: that I knew how to line-dance…caught the bug when I lived in Texas. And I'm not a big country music fan…! One of these days soon…!
Congrats Marie-Claire!! The thing I most proud of is my daughter 🙂 She truly is the light of my life!!
viajeradelmar@aol.com
Last year I celebrated my 25th year working in the same company. I was given two weeks leave and an all expense paid vacation up to a certain budget. Went to Angkor Watt with my husband. It was great!
tamsyn5(at)yahoo(dot)com
Congratulations on your new release, Maria. 🙂
Nikki, I have two kids — I agree, the little monsters are the reason we wake up and breathe in the morning 😉 Happy Mother's Day!
Wow, Tamsyn — congrats are in order for longevity with your very awesome company! Nice to see that some companies still value their best employees! I envy you that trip, too….
Hi, Natasha! Thanks 🙂 — and I hope both you and kitty are feeling better today!
Kathy C., you're my winner! I'll be sending you an email to confirm.
Everyone: many thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy reading Josh and Ethan's story as much as I did writing it!
CTR: Happy Anniversary! Looking forward to all the fun the next eight years is sure to bring!