I’ll be home later on today. This morning I shipped a HUGE box of books and author promo items home. It should meet me in a few days. I haven’t had a chance to go through your comments yet, but I will on Monday. I’m tired and running on a few hours of sleep a night so I hope to catch up and get back to work.

I posted the winners of both the Golden Hearts and the RITAs on RTB. I text messaged the winners as they were announced, for those of you who couldn’t wait to know. :bounce:

Talk to you soon and I’ll tell you all about the conference.

For those of you interested, I’ll be roving reporting from the RWA National Conference for Romancing the Blog (along with a few other authors and agents).
So here on my blog we’ll have a party!! :cheer: :dance: :party: :beer: :yay: (Who says you can’t have fun if you’re not going to Reno?)

I have to come back ready to work on my second ST for Brava (my third Brava, for those of you counting ) I’ve started it, just a teeny bit, but I’ll have to launch full-bore into it when I get back. So I’d like you to help me get prepared. I need some ideas for scenes I have to write. It’s a Regency-set historical featuring protagonists you’ll meet in Bad Boys Ahoy!

The Questions:

(for three and four think Clue, i.e. ‘in the study with a candlestick’)

The Rules:

I’m going to write down several numbers before I leave. Comments that fall on one of those numbers will win. (so spread your answers out some. There’s no limit, so you can use several comments if you like, or hundreds. ) There will also be an Honorable Mention prize for best euphemism. :cheer: Contest runs July 24-31. This is for readers, reviewers, writers, anyone!!

The Prizes:

The prizes will be goodies from the conference and items from my Cafe Press shop. We’re talking author pens, keychains, autographed books, bookmarks, magnets, postcards, etc. etc. The winners will receive a bag of fun stuff, not just one or two items. Any suggestions used in the book will be acknowledged in my Author’s Note along with the name of the suggester!!

(P.S. If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry. If you haven’t posted here before you’ll end up stored in moderation. I’ll approve you when I check my mail at night!)

Have fun!! I’ll miss you. :kiss: And if you’re feeling generous, could you spread the love by voting for my TRS Feature this month. I’m feeling lonely over there.

Last year, as writers came back from the RWA National Conference, I heard many of the same complaint: writers lost their mojo. Instead of returning fresh and motivated, many returned and found themselves lost in a bit of a slump. Some said it lasted a few months, others six months, still others said it lasted up to a year. They got a “weird vibe” and they couldn’t shake it off. As these conversations went on, other authors said they stopped attending Nationals because of this effect.

I’m curious as to this phenomenon. I’ve heard from writers who attended fabulous workshops that presented wonderful information in an easily understandable format. The end result being they left feeling as if everything they had written was complete crap and needed to be scrapped so they could use their new tools. I wonder if this is the cause? Is it simply exhaustion from a week of running around with not enough hours in the day? Would that be enough to set an author on a months long writing slump? I don’t know. :scratch: I’m curious to see how I’ll feel when I get back. I’m hoping it’s energized *g* because I’ve got two books and three novellas to edit, and my second Brava ST to write.

On an unrelated note, does anyone know what Starbucks is putting in their coffee to make it so addicting?

For those of you who would know - would you happen to have the name of the fonts used on the BBA cover? :scratch:

I’m down to the last 70 pages of edits and what do I do? I decide to rewrite the ending. Yep, I’m nuts. I freely admit it. But I think it needs to be rewritten. I think it can be tighter, faster paced, a bit more exciting, and a better piece of work all around. I’ve got it all planned out. Now I just need to get it done. I’m running out of time…

You know, sometimes when I sit here, I pause a moment and think of how much I love what I do. I absolutely adore being a writer. I’m awed everyday that I get paid to do it. It’s never a chore, though I do bemoan when I can’t seem to get it in gear. It’s truly my passion. :love: It’s hard to explain, but everything in my life requires something from me. Writing gives it back. There’s nothing in the world like finishing a story. And right now, as I’m charging full bore into my deadline, I’m excited. In just a few days it’ll be done and I’ll experience a high like no other. I’m really looking forward to it.

After yesterday’s crushing review it was wonderful to wake up to an e-mail from Ellen that pointed me to the following perfect score review of Catching Caroline by Love Romances:

For such a short story, it packs a sexual punch that will knock your socks off! Ms. Day’s writing is clear, smooth and meticulously precise. The relationship between Jack and Caroline is sexual intense, and yet beautiful in form. The storyline is very unique and original. It is beautiful in nature and exquisite in delivery. This reader was caught up in the story, from the moment the book was opened until the very last page. There was never one second that you lose contact with the character or their feelings. This is a wonderfully moving and touching story of two people whose love transcends all others.

Ms. Day’s writing career has just started and what a grand commencement with CATCHING CAROLINE. This reviewer highly recommends it! Get your copy today!

:yay:

I went to the post office today and mailed myself goodies to the hotel. I’m still trying to think of a way to bring the stuff I collect in Reno home. Perhaps an extra duffle to put on the plane? I noticed that Lisa Kleypas and Gaelen Foley are not on the Lit Signing list. So that’s a few less books to bring home. But I’m bummed.

*slurps up more Starbucks latte*

Looking forward to hanging out with gal pal/roomie Sasha starting on Monday. We had so much fun in Oct. I look forward to doing it again. :cheer:

I’m so looking forward to meeting those of you that are going!! :bounce: It’s getting close.