Where is everyone? What y’all doin’? Working, reading, cutting down on web time? I thought for sure the mostly naked angel hunk would get a rise out of one or two of you! (Excuse the pun! :blush: )

Somehow I won another contest. ML Rhodes, the author of wonderful e-books (I’ve purchased every one of her titles and eagerly await more!) informed me yesterday that I was one of the winners in her October contest. :hehe: I can’t wait to get my “goodie bag”. When it comes I’ll share what’s inside!

I’m thinking this lucky streak I’m on is pretty amazing. How long can it last, I wonder…

Congratulations to the fabulous Saskia Walker for the sale of her erotica novella to Red Sage. She’s also a lucky girl!!

(I see you peeking under his loincloth!! )

Things sure have been quiet in cyberspace the last few days. Where is everyone? Writing, I hope.

I saw a comedy show a long time ago. I’m thinking the comedian was D.L. Hughley, but don’t quote me on that. Anyway, he did a skit about being “Next”. He talked about how being “Next” is actually better than any other position, including being “It” because of the expectation. The possibility. Everyone wants to be “Next” in line, no one wants to be any further back than “Next”. But once you’ve been called and you’re no longer “Next” than it’s like reaching the top and falling off the side. There’s no where else to go, nothing to look forward to. You’re no longer “Next”, you’re done. Off to wait in another line until you can be “Next” again. Of course, in the skit, it was hilarious, but part of the hilarity came from the truth of it.

Right now, a finalist in two contests, I’m “Next”. The expectation and the possibility is there. I’m almost inclined to stay here, where there is always the hope. In a few months, I won’t be “Next” anymore and the possibilities I see now may no longer be there. Then I will have to go and get in another line and wait for another turn to be “Next”.

Despite my cold, I’ve spent the last few nights pulling almost all-nighters.

Last night, I went to the IRW Golden Opportunity site to check out the finalists. And looking at past finalists, I saw Gena Showalter and The Stone Prince. I’d heard of the book and seen the fab cover so I Googled her and checked it out. Oh WOW!! Am I hooked. I’ve got to get this book. The excerpt is fantastic and the premise is great. So, so glad I was surfing last night!!

In other news, I’m deep into editing and last night I expanded and intensified a love scene. I’m so happy with the way it came out. (I had to turn the fan on!! :blush: ) A few word changes, a couple added paragraphs and that was it, but oh what a difference it made. Now I’m getting into the spirit of this ms and I’m having fun with the edits. I’ll get to work on it all day and I’m actually looking forward to it.

My heart goes out to Larissa, who is in the path of Hurricane Ivan and is evacuating her brand new house with her son.

My allergies turned into a cold that turned into being truly sick. Sucks.

Nothing new going on here. I’m editing. And after I edit this ms, I have two more to go before I can move on. I’d like to be writing. I think I’ll try to write at least a page a day in my new historical. Otherwise, I’ll forget how to write! :confused:

Just so this post is not totally boring, I’m relying on Quizilla again to spice things up! (Yeah, it messed up the layout a little, but I’ll take it down later.) *UPDATE* (removed pic)

You are Lili St. Cyr, artist of the burlesque stage. You bring drama and flair to everything you do. You are an innovator and a star, and an exotic beauty no other can match. Stay true to your calling and you will be on top.

What Classic Pin-Up Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

(Not too sure about the whole burlesque thing, but drama I do. And staying true to my calling and ending up on top? Well, one can dream!!! )

I just received word that Almost Too Much is a finalist in the Indiana Romance Writers “Golden Opportunity” Contest!!!!

This bit of news is wonderful for a variety of different reasons, but the one that means the most to me is this:

I sent this ms to an agent. She liked it, but wanted me to alter the story and resubmit. I altered it. She declined it. Afterwards, believing that this NY agent would know better than I what the story needed, I submitted the revised story to other agents. Reception was lukewarm, but contest entries of the original ms were garnering wonderful comments. So I wondered… should I have stayed with my original vision of the story or should I trust that the agent knows best? In an effort to discover the answer, I submitted both versions to the same contest. The contest coordinator e-mailed me and said, “You cannot submit the same ms twice.” (The beginnings are very similar.) “Is this the same ms with a different name or is there some differences?” I explained the agent story and they accepted both. It’s my original ms that was the finalist!!! Whaddaya know.

I’m dancing around the room, thrilled beyond belief!!! :hehe: :laugh: :hehe: :hehe:

Wish me luck!!