My first blog entry on my first website! Thanks to the amazing efforts of my friend, K, KaiaBennett.com is up and running and I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with my new home base.
There’s been a lot of firsts this year. For those of you new to my work, I just republished my first erotic romance novel, Sunday, this past May. It was briefly published back in 2008, but when that publisher folded I found myself searching for what to do next. Self-publishing crossed my mind, but I barely knew how things worked the traditional route. I didn’t know what the right decision was and I was getting ready to transition from civilian to service member. There wasn’t a lot of time to think about what to do with my book.
I sat on the book for a long while, and in the interim finished up what would become a prequel called Gabriel, and started a follow-up called Loose Ends under the name TangledinYou on Literotica. I joined the U.S. Army, moved around, occasionally checked in with those still following my work and managed to finish Loose Ends. I talked to some agents that had a lukewarm interest in my work. I sent out query letters. But I did none of this with consistency or urgency. I was afraid of making the wrong choice and revisiting that brief and ultimately unfulfilled brush with publication. That is, until it was time to move on from the military and I asked myself ‘what next?’. Well, what was next was my decision to stop ‘waiting’ and start ‘doing’.
So, I self-published Sunday and the response has been amazing! I never expected there to be continued interest in my work, and I was proved wrong by the wonderful readers who purchased, reviewed and spread the word. I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of your support and kindness. It’s made me feel like my old writing self again!
There will be more to come, and this site will be the place to find it. Reviews, excerpts, works in progress, playlists! A whole bunch of goodies await you and I can’t wait to get more books out there for you guys. I hope you continue to enjoy my work and that you know I’m forever grateful for the warm welcome I received into the world of a published author.
Thanks for stopping by, for reading and for being so wonderfully kind. I love you guys to pieces!
Kaia Bennett
was #1 Crush a story originally written on Literotica?
Hey Mazie!
Yup, #1 Crush was originally called Gabriel, but it along with Loose Ends had to be taken down. Someone tried to steal it and sell it while I was in the midst of editing it for publication. #1 Crush is the edited version with added scenes, and will be followed by Books 2 and 3.
I read your work on Literotica. So happy to have found you again!!!
Hi Jess! I’m glad you found me again too! Thanks for reading then and now and I hope you enjoy what’s coming next! <3
When is volume 2 for Die by the Drop Shivers and Sin coming out.
Hi Jerri!
I’m working on Volume 2 now. I don’t have a set date yet and won’t till I hand it over to my editor. Mostly because I don’t want to drive you guys crazy missing deadlines. But I’d love to have it out in early 2017 :). Thanks for reading Volume 1!
When will your next book “when dying is done” volume 3 of shivers and sins coming out?
Hey Mary!
When Dying Is Done is in the works, but I don’t set an official date until I send it to my editor. It cuts down on missed deadlines that drive you guys crazy. That said, I feel confident it will be done this year, and I generally keep everyone updated on social media as I make progress. It’s also the final volume of Evie and Jesse’s story so I want to do it justice. Thanks for your interest in the series and I hope you enjoy When Dying Is Done! <3
Is volume 3 of shivers and sins out? Love the other 2 volumes.
Hi Jennifer!
Nope, not yet. I’m hard at work on it and when it’s off to my editor you guys will be the first to know. Thanks for reading and loving the first too Volumes, and for leaving a message about how much you enjoy the series so far. <3 <3
How close is when dying is done to bring finished?
Hi Teresa! I have to leave the answer vague and just say, closer to being done than not. The process of writing isn’t always linear though I tend to write in order to experience the story as readers will. Some things have to be cut, some things have to be dreamed up. The upside is I write fast once the road ahead is clear and the road has gotten much clearer of late. I still hope to have the story in the editing phase this year and I’ll keep you posted with more regularity soon.
Hi Kaia ! I Would like to know if you’re close to finishing the third book of shivers and sins ?
Hi Niusha! Thanks for reading.
As to your question, it’s tricky to answer in the drafting phase. I’m closer to done than not, but that doesn’t account for if I get a better idea for the characters and scrap something, or tie up a thread I didn’t realize I left dangling. I’m better able to gauge where I’m at when I’m ready to send it to my editor. Not there yet, but getting there! Before I do I’ll update more and probably share another excerpt or two. People are really asking about this one so I’m hard at work to get it out there <3
Ahhh I’m literally going out of my mind waiting for when dying is done!! I’ve literally read all of your other books on goodreads trying to tie myself over haha! Your such an amazing author, please tell me your close to publishing? Haha X
Omg, thank you for reading all of my work! That made my day! I’m working hard on WDID, and I don’t want to drive readers crazy promising publishing dates and then missing them. So I’ll just say that what I have been, which is that it’s my main focus and you guys will be first to know when it’s ready. Drafting has been hard because there’s so many plot threads to tie up and themes to explore. I want to get it all right so it does this arc justice. But I’m committed to finishing and publishing this story next and committed to make it worth the wait. Again thank you for being patient and for loving the series. I really appreciate it and your support so much. <3 <3
Hey Kaia,
I know you have been getting a lot of questions on WDID, and I hate adding to the growing list but by chance is it close to bing done?