WGW Wednesday

I'm over at Writers Gone Wild today blogging about nourishment.

Yay for Monday

Does anyone else feel like this weekend flew by incredibly fast? I missed the RT book signing on Saturday, but got to spend some time with my sister and her fiance at a barbecue so I actually don't feel that bad. The thought of heading toward I-Drive and finding parking made me shudder so it's probably a good thing I didn't go (I despise traffic and FL drivers are insane) Plus, I just bought quite a few books from Harlequin's 'Spring Cleaning' sale and if I get another package of books in the mail or come home w/ another new bag of books, I think the man might just leave me. He keeps threatening to clean out some of my bookshelves. I fear that one day I'll come home and half my books will be gone. Of course if he does that, I'll hide his guitars and guns and hold them hostage until my books are returned. In reality, I don't think he's brave enough to mess with my book collection ;)


Didn't get a lot (okay, any) writing done this weekend unless you count editing. I finally finished judging the contest entries I've been trying to get to and critiqued about 100 pages of one of my critique partners wip's. She sent me the next chunk but I'm holding off on reading it until this weekend b/c I know if I start now I won't want to put it down. Surprisingly, I'm glad it's Monday. Weekends are either a hit or miss when it comes to writing. Last weekend I knocked out 15K, but this weekend, nada. It all depends on what we've got planned, which is why I like the weekdays b/c I've got structure. So far I've knocked out 1K and hope to get another 500-1000 by this afternoon. I'm meeting w/ my other CP for coffee later and I want to bounce some ideas off her.


Okay, enough slacking and back to writing. How was everyone else's weekend?

Being Thankful

On the way to the grocery store yesterday morning I was grumbling to myself that my husband had taken over the computer (to do his homework, *gasp*), and that I was finally being forced to go grocery shopping. Forced sounds like an extreme word, but I hate grocery shopping and I usually wait until we have nothing but a few withering grapes and baking soda left in the fridge before I go. Of course, my husband usually breaks down long before that, and that’s exactly what I count on. *Insert evil laugh* Considering he vacuumed the house, put up the two loads of laundry I’d also been ignoring, and mopped the kitchen last week, I figured it was probably my turn to do something around the house. Wow, I sound like a bad wife so in my defense, when I immerse myself in a new story, I ignore housework for about two weeks until things return to normal and the man is very understanding.

Anyway, as I was pulling into the parking lot I saw a man wearing threadbare clothes digging through the trash, presumably looking for food. In that instant, I felt like the queen of assholes. Even though my husband is still looking for a new job, I’m thankful that I’m able to support us and we’re able to buy groceries every week. Over the past couple weeks I’ve been letting the negative part of my brain take over the positive part in regards to writing and life in general. When I saw that man, I realized something I already knew. I don’t have it bad at all. In fact, I’ve got it pretty great. I’ve got a great job, I’ve got a roof over my head, I don’t worry where my next meal will come from, and even though I’m waiting on a couple things from agents, I’m thankful they're taking the time to read my stuff. So instead of letting that stupid little voice in my head override my normally optimistic self, I’m looking at the glass half full again. And what a relief it is.

Passionate Plume Finalist

Just got the notice yesterday that Running From the Past is a finalist in the Passionate Plume contest. This story holds a special place in my heart because it's the first romantic erotica I ever wrote. I know it sounds cheesy, but I'm just excited I'm a finalist b/c there are a lot of amazing authors in this list! Here is the list of finalists:


Contemporary
Jenna Bayley-Burke - Her Cinderella Complex
Eileen Ann Brennan - Marnie’s Secret
Mari Carr - Erotic Research
Katie Reus - Running From The Past
Saskia Walker - Reckless


Futuristic /Fantasy/Science Fiction
Mechele Armstrong - Settler’s Mine 3: The Woman
Dee Brice - His Virtual Assassin
Mari Freeman - Birthright
Mima - In Service
Denise Rossetti - Strongman


Historical
Elizabeth Amber - Lyon, The Lords of Satyr
Alice Gaines - Sans Regret
Samantha Kane - Retreat From Love (Brothers In Arms
Kate Pearce - Simply Sinful
Emma Wildes - A Devil’s Bargain


Novella
Jade Buchanan - Horsfall: Tail of Two Brothers
Samantha Kane - A Lady In Waiting
Anna Leigh Keaton - Sweetest Desires
Natasha Moore - Sunrise in Jewel of the Nile II
Carolina Valdez - Tie ‘Em Up, Hold ‘Em Down


Paranormal / Time Travel
Dana Marie Bell - The Wallflower, Halle Pumas Book 1
Crystal Jordan - Treasured
Mackenzie McKade - Black Widow
Jennifer North - Party Vamps
Eden Rivers - Broken Pentacle


Click here for the official Passionate Ink link.

Research

I'm blogging at Writers Gone Wild today. Topic: Research

It's Friday

Yesterday I stopped by the post office on the way to work and almost got into it with the woman behind the counter. After years of working in the service industry, I go out of my way to be nice to people b/c there's nothing like meeting a jerk early in the morning to set the mood for the rest of the day. I sell books on Amazon. Not a lot, but it's a nice way to clean out some of the books in my library. If any of you do this, you know books and videos can be sent media mail. So, I ask the woman what the difference in price is between media and priority (sometimes priority is only twenty cents more so I'll send it that way). Her response: She grabs the small package and starts squishing it. "This is NOT media mail." Uh, excuse me? So, she repeats herself, TELLING me I am a liar. I explain that it's a book but it's wrapped in bubble wrap, hence the squishiness. She eyes me as if there's a bomb in there and repeats herself AGAIN. I shrug, take it back from her, and start to open it up. She quickly takes it from me and tells me that I should just be aware that they're allowed to open media mail packages. Uh yeah, I tell her that I know, I'm here once a week and that's why I JUST offered to open the package for her. Grrrr, what is wrong with people. I understand when someone is doing their job, but whatever happened to manners? Would it have been so hard to, I don't know, ask me what was in the package instead of calling me a liar. As a side note, I really do like the people at my post office, this was just one bad experience.

WGW

I'm blogging about the joys of writing at Writers Gone Wild today :) Come say hi!

I'm Back!

Okay, I was never really gone, but my friend left Sunday and I'm still decompressing from her whirlwind trip. We had a great time, even snuck in a trip to the beach. Even though I live in FL and put sunscreen on my face every day no matter what, I somehow forgot to put sunblock on my legs. Yikes. The red has faded to a nice bronze, but my skin is still sensitive. Since yesterday was my birthday I didn't get a chance to do anything around the house so starting today I'm 'detoxing' from the weekend and catching up on laundry and cleaning (I shudder thinking about the state of my house). Over the weekend we lived off (I'm embarrassed to admit this, please don't judge me)....Taco Bell, pizza, and diet coke (w/ a little rum mixed in, lol). It was like I was in college again. Of course, I don't bounce back as quickly as I did then so for the next couple weeks it's all fruits, veggies, and fish for me ;)


Finally finished the entries for one of the contests I'm judging so now it's on to the next round of entries. Read an amazing entry in the last batch and I'm crossing my fingers the entrant finals and gets a request!


In my writing 'news' I've got two fulls with an agent, another full I'm currently editing, and a short erotica I've picked back up again. I'd put it down to really focus on the other one I'm currently editing so while I'm plotting out my next full length I'm finishing this one. The hero is a cowboy (yum!) so I'm having a lot of fun writing it. I don't think that I could solely write erotic romance and I'm amazed by the authors that do, but I love writing them in between my fulls.


Those are my updates! Over the last few days I rarely checked the computer so it's nice to be back online :)

Friends

One of my favorite people on the planet is flying in town tonight and I'm so excited! Most of my really close girlfriends live out of state, which pretty much sucks, but we always have an amazing time when we're together. I have quite a few 'friends' but only a couple really close friends. You know, the people you can call at any time of the night and if there's an emergency, they'll be on the next red-eye to see you. Yeah, she definitely falls into the second category. We're opposite in so many ways (i.e. she's vera liberal and I'm not so much) but she's one of the best friends I've ever had and no matter what, she's one of the most truly giving and decent human beings I've ever known. Not to sound cheesy, but when I'm around her I feel like a better person. We randomly met about 6 or 7 years ago when we were both living in NC and we both met our SO's around the same time. Maybe it has something to do w/ the fact that we were both military wives (she actually still is) and had gone through a lot of the same fears, etc. but we bonded instantly and thankfully time and distance hasn't broken that bond. My sister and I were both in her wedding, she was in mine, and this year, she'll be in my sister's w/ me. My sister and I have sort of adopted her as our other sister ;) Other than the friends I've known my entire life or the friends I made in college, I've never met someone outside those circles that I became friends with and stayed friends with.


Girlfriends are such an important part of a woman's life. I love my husband more than anything, but my true friends have been there for all the monumental things in my life, and they get me in ways that my husband never really can. While the man supports my writing in certain (amazing) ways (building French doors for my office, leaving the house when I need absolute quiet, etc.) my friends give the kind of emotional support only a friend can give when I need it the most.


I won't be online much the next few days so I wanted to wish everyone a great (early) weekend!

WGW

I'm at Writers Gone Wild today. Stop by to see some hawt menz :)