10 Best Things That Happened to You This Year

1.) Shanna likes kindergarten.

2.) Jack still likes school. (I really want my kids to look forward to the school day, not dread it. Thankfully, that’s been the case this year.)

3.) Hubby was able to go deep-sea fishing as much as he wanted.

4.) I sold the book of my heart — Sapphire’s Worth — in mass market and was asked to stay in that world for two sequels.

5.) I sold to Avon. It was a dream of mine, back in the day. Now I’m sure that Kate Duffy is the best editor for my historicals and I’m very happy with her. Still, it was nice to have a long-held goal come to fruition, even if my goals had changed.

6.) I was able to sit down with Kate Duffy in Daytona and talk with her. I’d been writing for her for over a year when that happened, and it was super nice to see the woman who’s behind the other end of the telephone.

7.) My mom retired. She’s much happier now, and that makes me happy.

8.) Because of my writing, we paid off everything but the house. That’s an awesome feeling.

9.) My readers. They’re wonderful and enthusiastic. I’m grateful for them. They make the continuation of my career possible.

10.) Deeping the friendships I have with others I’ve met online. Over the years, my close friends have moved to different parts of the country, or just farther away in CA so that I can’t see them as often. It’s been a great relief to me to have the Allure Authors, Renee Luke, Jordan Summers, Annette McCleave, Alison Kent, and others who have been there for me through email or the IM.

I feel like I’m missing something obvious. But then I’ve only had one cup of coffee, in a small mug. *g* I may be back with more to add to my list.

I just learned that Target is carrying ASK FOR IT! So if you shop at Target, look out for my books. I’d love to hear if you find them in your local store!

I also just found out that a short erotica story I wrote for Alison Tyler many, many moons ago was selected by her for inclusion in a Cleis Press anthology titled “Got a Minute?”.

I took a few days off of writing and caught up on other things. I figured I was just burned out and taking some time away would help. It didn’t.

In the end, I realized that my problem was avoidance. The beginning of my WIP is a new thing for me. Because it’s my first true series, I have to somehow set up the backstory without dumping it, but also without revealing so little that the reader ends up feeling like they should have read Book I first.

So I start and then stop. Go back and then creep forward. It’s taking way too much time and my brain isn’t really wrapping around it all well. I have to pause and look at what I’ve written as if I don’t know anything that happened in Book I and see if it makes sense. Whenever I do that, I realize that what I’ve written isn’t clear enough. So I layer in more. Then I re-read it while thinking of the first book, wondering if those who did read it will go, “Ugh. I read all this already. Where’s the new story?” It’s a learning process, which is great. But the deadlines are unyielding so taking my time isn’t an option.

Over the last 6 months I’ve come to realize that whenever I’m stuck, my mind wanders and I start procrastinating. This is a really, really bad thing to do when time is your enemy. Usually I can pull out some paper, map GMC (goals, motivation, and conflict for the non-writers out there. ), and figure out what’s holding me back. In this case, I have a 5-page synop (which is totally huge for me. Usually, I can barely reach 2 pages with a synop), so I know what I’m going to write. If I can get past the beginning! *smacks forehead*

I hope I get it together soon. I can’t keep ending the day with only a page or two finished.

ASK FOR IT was named a finalist in the EPPIES Erotic Romance Historical Fiction category!

This book–my first ms–has done remarkably well in contests! It won three when I was aspiring. I’m glad to see it place in a contest in its completed form, and I’m especially thrilled as Kensington put forth some effort in order to give me an e-version of the ms that was acceptable for contest entry.

**UPDATE**

WISH LIST finaled, too, in the Erotic Romance Contemporary/Suspense/Mystery Category!

I’m excited that these two books finaled, because I really have a soft spot for both of them.

ASK FOR IT because it was a lot of work. I rewrote it like a hundred+ times!!

And WISH LIST, because I love the story.

I’ve got my TT up at the Brava Authors blog, since I’m over there today! I’m giving away a copy of THE STRANGER I MARRIED, so stop by.

…to blog and started one, then realized I was rather incoherent due to exhaustion. So I’m going to bed. However, Avon unveiled the covers for the first two books in my Dream Guardians series, if you’d like to take a look. They did a great job with the branding, although I’ve already heard numerous comments/complaints asking why the covers look like straight contemporary erotica, and not paranormal at all. Y’all know my thoughts on that. It’s just one of those things. I used to go nuts and worry, but I haven’t done that in awhile, which is really nice.

Things I love about the covers: They’re connected beautifully, the images are sexy, and the colors and design will definitely stand out on the shelves. I think they’re fairly unique (although obviously from an erotic imprint.)

I’ll try to clean up my other blog post in the morning before I start working.

10 Things You Want for Christmas (or the Holidays)

1. my kids to get THE present they want
2. my hubby to get THE present he wants
3. my sister home for the holidays (she’s in the Air Force, so this won’t happen, but that’s what I want)
4. my mom to enjoy herself. (she says she doesn’t like getting gifts, though I buy them for her anyway )
5. to have everything we need/want in the house — batteries, food, snacks, drinks, movies, etc. — so that no one has to run out trying to find some place open for business
6. world peace
7. end of global warming
8. to take the day off and not get on the computer at all.
9. my hen to realize that she’s a hen and not a rooster, therefore ceasing to crow in the wee hours of the morning and waking the entire neighborhood up
10. a quiet day at home with my family, watching movies and eating stuff we shouldn’t. That would make it a perfect Christmas