So, I’m back. I know you missed me.

The weekend was lovely and cold. It sleeted Saturday for a while, which sounded wonderful on the tin-roofed deck at my parents lakehouse. For a little while, I bundled up in a quilt and sat outside and just enjoyed the ting and ping above me.

I did get some writing done, but I have to say, it was almost too quiet for me. I’m obviously not one of those hermit wannabe writers who must hide away in a cave in order to be productive. My creativity seems to come on the waves of chaos. Which is a good thing, since at home, it’s never quiet.

The Fishdog is off to San Francisco this week. Hope he has a good time. 😦 the boys and I will hold down the fort while he’s gone…but we miss him already.

The chapters and writing loops are all a twitter with excitement about RWA National Conference registration, which opened Monday. I love “Nationals”. I get to see my friends, schmooze with my way cool agent and all the way cool chicks at TKA, party with my online chapter, and refill my writing well with the energy I always bring back with me. I think I’m driving this year, since parking isn’t gonna be $25 a day. Last year I elected to fly to Atlanta because my airfare was cheaper than the parking and gas would’ve been!

Any of you gonna be heading to Dallas this year with me? It’s not the most exotic of locations, but hell, we rarely leave the hotel anyway, so does the location matter? And this time, we won’t be sharing the hotel with the Mary Kay convention. But honestly, that kinda saddens me…the stories we had when we left! Awesome!

Edited to add:

by the way, I left at 2:45 on Thursday. I was sooooo close. 🙂 I didn’t have to leave at 2:00 because my committee meeting was cancelled. I drove in anyway because I had already taken the time off and I took that time to see a friend.

Also, I didn’t win squat at the horse races. Just didn’t have the good gambling juju going on.

I have known myself for almost 38 years now and I still don’t understand myself. Why do I bother trying to make plans if I’m still gonna wait to the last minute to do everything on my list.

For instance, I’ve known for months now that I was going out of town this weekend. Originally my CPs and I were going together but due to some unforseeable events, we’ve postponed our group gathering until later. But I’m still going.

Now, I’ve known that I would need to get the oil changed before I left. Did I do that last week? No. Did I do it during the holidays when I had time off? No. When am I having it done? This morning. When am I leaving? This afternoon.

Apparently a couple of weeks ago we ran over a screw and the driver’s side front tire has been leaking air ever since. Have we had it repaired? Um, yes. Today. We’re having it repaired today.

Am I packed? Hah!
Do I have my music picked out for the road? Nope.
Have I put a new book on my mp3 player and charged it? Negatory.

And when did I say I was leaving? Today. After lunch.

What am I doing now (besides blogging)? I’m at work–finishing up some stuff here that needs to be done before I leave. Then I guess I’ll pick up the car from the shop, (after my dentist appointment of course, because GOD FORBID I make that appointment for another day) then I’ll pack, grab the mp3 player and the charger and charge it when I get to the lake. I’m supposed to leave by 2:00…

Taking bets now–will I make my 2:00 departure time?

I have known myself for almost 38 years now and I still don’t understand myself. Why do I bother trying to make plans if I’m still gonna wait to the last minute to do everything on my list.

For instance, I’ve known for months now that I was going out of town this weekend. Originally my CPs and I were going together but due to some unforseeable events, we’ve postponed our group gathering until later. But I’m still going.

Now, I’ve known that I would need to get the oil changed before I left. Did I do that last week? No. Did I do it during the holidays when I had time off? No. When am I having it done? This morning. When am I leaving? This afternoon.

Apparently a couple of weeks ago we ran over a screw and the driver’s side front tire has been leaking air ever since. Have we had it repaired? Um, yes. Today. We’re having it repaired today.

Am I packed? Hah!
Do I have my music picked out for the road? Nope.
Have I put a new book on my mp3 player and charged it? Negatory.

And when did I say I was leaving? Today. After lunch.

What am I doing now (besides blogging)? I’m at work–finishing up some stuff here that needs to be done before I leave. Then I guess I’ll pick up the car from the shop, (after my dentist appointment of course, because GOD FORBID I make that appointment for another day) then I’ll pack, grab the mp3 player and the charger and charge it when I get to the lake. I’m supposed to leave by 2:00…

Taking bets now–will I make my 2:00 departure time?

I have no idea. I guess I’ll learn as I go here. Contracts have to be finalized and signed, which could take several months. (something I did not know! I guess I always thought the contracts came with the offer!)

Last night I celebrated with a few of my girlfriends in town. We had a great time just catching up and having margaritas–even though it was 24 degrees outside! We pretty much drank with our gloves on…LOL.

I’ve already had someone I know in town come out and ask

So how much?

Excuse me? How much what?

How much they give you?

I think I was flummoxed. First of all, they didn’t “give me” anything. I earned it. Secondly, isn’t that poor form? Do you ask everyone you know how much money they make at their job?

Sigh.

I really was surprised when he asked so I kinda sputtered. Thankfully my friend came to my rescue and chastised him for me.

I’d heard that was a common occurance after selling a book, but I guess I just didn’t believe it. Were these people born in a barn? My momma always said you’re better off talking about politics and religion than you are about money. I think she was right.

Anyway, I’m going out of town tomorrow afternoon and I won’t be back until Monday evening. I have my 20 year reunion committee meeting–good lord, 2o years! I have my girls day at the horse races on Friday and then I’m going up to my parents’ lakehouse to hibernate and write. No internet, no kids, and really bad tv…which means there will be no distractions.

Woohoo! I can’t wait!

I have no idea. I guess I’ll learn as I go here. Contracts have to be finalized and signed, which could take several months. (something I did not know! I guess I always thought the contracts came with the offer!)

Last night I celebrated with a few of my girlfriends in town. We had a great time just catching up and having margaritas–even though it was 24 degrees outside! We pretty much drank with our gloves on…LOL.

I’ve already had someone I know in town come out and ask

So how much?

Excuse me? How much what?

How much they give you?

I think I was flummoxed. First of all, they didn’t “give me” anything. I earned it. Secondly, isn’t that poor form? Do you ask everyone you know how much money they make at their job?

Sigh.

I really was surprised when he asked so I kinda sputtered. Thankfully my friend came to my rescue and chastised him for me.

I’d heard that was a common occurance after selling a book, but I guess I just didn’t believe it. Were these people born in a barn? My momma always said you’re better off talking about politics and religion than you are about money. I think she was right.

Anyway, I’m going out of town tomorrow afternoon and I won’t be back until Monday evening. I have my 20 year reunion committee meeting–good lord, 2o years! I have my girls day at the horse races on Friday and then I’m going up to my parents’ lakehouse to hibernate and write. No internet, no kids, and really bad tv…which means there will be no distractions.

Woohoo! I can’t wait!

January 12, 2007 at approximately 4:00 CST–I received a call that will change my life.

Or at least, it will change the writing part of my life…

Because, that call was from my lurvely agent. And lurvely agent, who I heart with all my inside parts, told me that HarperCollins wanted to make me a two book offer.

I thought she was kidding. I mean, we had been waiting for this news all week and it was Friday afternoon, already 5:00 in NY, so surely she was just joking.

Um. Nope. She wasn’t.

OMG!

HarperCollins? Seriously?

So, here’s a little blurb on the two books:

AJ Ashe isn’t a typical seventeen year old vampire. Her ex-boyfriend is now her stepbrother, who, as it turns out, is also warlock. Her two BFFs are in a huge fight and she’s caught in the
middle. She’s totally framed for cheating on a Lit test. And now, apparently, the fate of humankind lies in her little undead hands. Like that’s fair. What ever happened to the good old days when all a vampire girl had to worry about was the occasional zit and hiding her fetish for necks.

The details that I have now are that the first book won’t be released until December 2008 or Jan 2009 and the follow up will be about six months later. That seems like forever, but it’s a good thing. It gives me plenty of time to produce a quality story.

Now, we writers often dream about what the call means to us. What will we do, what will we think, how we will reward ourselves once it’s all said and done…

My immediate reward was a bottle of Veuve Cliquot. Then we went to dinner. I also made calls to my friends and family and then emailed my various writing groups. Then I took a BC Powder before bed so I wouldn’t wake with a Champagne headache in the morning.

Remember how I said the call changed my writing life? We writers often think that the call will change every part of our lives…but the next morning, I ate a bowl of cold cereal, had to do the dishes, sweep the floor, sort the laundry and go to Wal-Mart. Sounds glamorous, no? Wanna hear something even more glamorous for this soon-to-be-famous-multi-pubbed author? This morning I had to clean up after a sick kid.

Oh yeah. My life has changed. NOT!

January 12, 2007 at approximately 4:00 CST–I received a call that will change my life.

Or at least, it will change the writing part of my life…

Because, that call was from my lurvely agent. And lurvely agent, who I heart with all my inside parts, told me that HarperCollins wanted to make me a two book offer.

I thought she was kidding. I mean, we had been waiting for this news all week and it was Friday afternoon, already 5:00 in NY, so surely she was just joking.

Um. Nope. She wasn’t.

OMG!

HarperCollins? Seriously?

So, here’s a little blurb on the two books:

AJ Ashe isn’t a typical seventeen year old vampire. Her ex-boyfriend is now her stepbrother, who, as it turns out, is also warlock. Her two BFFs are in a huge fight and she’s caught in the
middle. She’s totally framed for cheating on a Lit test. And now, apparently, the fate of humankind lies in her little undead hands. Like that’s fair. What ever happened to the good old days when all a vampire girl had to worry about was the occasional zit and hiding her fetish for necks.

The details that I have now are that the first book won’t be released until December 2008 or Jan 2009 and the follow up will be about six months later. That seems like forever, but it’s a good thing. It gives me plenty of time to produce a quality story.

Now, we writers often dream about what the call means to us. What will we do, what will we think, how we will reward ourselves once it’s all said and done…

My immediate reward was a bottle of Veuve Cliquot. Then we went to dinner. I also made calls to my friends and family and then emailed my various writing groups. Then I took a BC Powder before bed so I wouldn’t wake with a Champagne headache in the morning.

Remember how I said the call changed my writing life? We writers often think that the call will change every part of our lives…but the next morning, I ate a bowl of cold cereal, had to do the dishes, sweep the floor, sort the laundry and go to Wal-Mart. Sounds glamorous, no? Wanna hear something even more glamorous for this soon-to-be-famous-multi-pubbed author? This morning I had to clean up after a sick kid.

Oh yeah. My life has changed. NOT!

While the rest of the country seems to be experiencing winter overload, we here in Oxford, MS seem to be heading right into Spring.

Yesterday it was 75 degrees. Today — 65.

El Nino is having a grand time playing with our minds and our wardrobe.

Oh, well. I’m not complaining. Just think it’s strange that just about the rest of the country is buried in snow, and we’re wearing shorts.

One more thing…

I have some very good news. Very good news. But I’m thinking I’m gonna be a bitch and not tell you exactly what that news is just yet…

While the rest of the country seems to be experiencing winter overload, we here in Oxford, MS seem to be heading right into Spring.

Yesterday it was 75 degrees. Today — 65.

El Nino is having a grand time playing with our minds and our wardrobe.

Oh, well. I’m not complaining. Just think it’s strange that just about the rest of the country is buried in snow, and we’re wearing shorts.

One more thing…

I have some very good news. Very good news. But I’m thinking I’m gonna be a bitch and not tell you exactly what that news is just yet…

As of about 1 minute ago, I am the proud owner of a brand new book.

I was very priveleged to get a chance to read this book before it was published. According to my friend Kate, she even managed to make some improvements on the manuscript after I read it…I’m not sure how that’s possible. I guess I’ll have to find out.

This book is HOT so I wouldn’t recommend sneaking reads at work.

Antonia’s Bargain By Kate Pearce
This book is the stand-alone sequel to Eden’s Pleasure

Since the suicide of his first wife, Gideon has avoided emotional interactions with women in favor of less emotionally draining liaisons with men. When he unmasks “Anthony” Maxwell and finds he is, in fact, Antonia, he is still sexually intrigued enough to want to bed her. A reluctant heiress, Antonia knows she has to marry but she intends to do it on her own terms—her wealth in return for a husband-free bed.

Gideon offers to help her infiltrate the world of the ton dressed as a man so she can see her potential suitors in their natural habitat. In return, she agrees to allow him to teach her every trick in his sexual repertoire as long as he doesn’t take her virginity. Her fear of marriage and pregnancy is a puzzling barrier that Gideon, despite his exceptional skills, finds difficult to penetrate. As they become more scandalously intimate, he has to decide whether to help Antonia face her fears or walk away from the only woman he believes he could ever love.

Reader Advisory: Contains multiple scenes of male and female same-sex erotic interaction.

Buy it here.