Home again

I got in just in time to spend the very last ten seconds of my fifth anniversary kissing my husband :)  I had to book, but it was worth it.

Conference was amazing, and crazy, and more than I expected it to be.  I haven’t ever had so much fun in my life, or met so many amazing people, or come away from an experience so exhausted and energized at the same time. I’ll post more later, and some pictures, too.

Old School

I have a dozen stories roaming around my head. Some pushing harder than others for dominance. Some simmering on the back burner of my mind (I bet you didn’t know my head was a Kenmore, did ya’? LMAO) And I keep getting new ones. I’m actually really looking forward to the travel part of my trip as a time to organize my poor, overfilled head.

I’m leaving Sunday sometime, probably late afternoon for Elko. It’s a three hour drive, which I don’t really mind when I’m by myself. No fighting kids! HA! Then I’ll be staying in a hotel, because my train doesn’t leave until 3:45 in the morning on Monday. So I’ll have all that time to work. Plus the 15 hour train ride. I figure I’ll be the most prepared little writer at the conference! I wish, wish, wish I had a laptop. It’s notepads and ink pens for me, baby.

Okay…off to pack, and print out my novel so I can read it on the train. And maybe my WIP because I’ll have another 15-hour train ride and a hotel stay on the other end. The return train gets in at about 10 p.m. I’m scared to sleep…what if I end up in Chicago? LMAO

Home Again

The only thing I love better than going on a trip, is coming home.

I am home. Just for a week, and then off next Sunday night to San Francisco. I bought pretty purple luggage in Las Vegas, and found the perfect dress. I also got cute new shoes. I am ready. This week’s plan is to finish my rewrite of Devil You Don’t, so that it’s ready to go out immediately should anyone ask for it during the conference. And to work on pitches for that novel and my WIP.

I have an author page up at Pink Petal Books. Isn’t it pretty?

Scorched

I’m headed off with all three of my kids in a few minutes for sunny SUNNY hot Las Vegas for the weekend.  I have my advocacy class, the kids are visiting their father (Adrienne and Nick) and grandparents (Ruby.) I’m not looking forward to that sunny SUNNY hot part. But I am glad I get the opportunity to look for some appropriate clothing for the conference.

At the moment I’m printing out the balance of Devil You Don’t that I didn’t get a chance to do a final polish on yet. I’ll take it with me, since I’ll be spending a lot of time in a hotel by myself. By the time I pay for my spur of the moment trip to San Francisco, I don’t have much in the budget for Las Vegas. I’ll probably see a movie (a huge luxury, since our only theater has one screen, is 100 years old, and plays one movie every two or three weeks. Usually a kids movie. They had Kung Fu Panda for most of June!) But otherwise, I plan on using the time constructively. You know, besides scouring the thrifts, praying that someone my size has donated a dress appropriate for something called a ‘Gala.’

So–I’ll talk to ya’ll on Sunday. Have a fantastic weekend!

Sisters Between the Covers

Out of curiosity, I did a little research today as to the writing habits of a couple of prolific romance authors. Namely Nora Roberts and Christine Feehan.

According to my Google search, both write at least eight hours a day. Every day for Nora.

I read something else about Ms. Roberts that I found incredibly heartening. We share a writing style. No…really. According to her Wikipedia entry, she writes a short first draft of her books and then goes back and fills in the details, fleshing out the book. I can only hope that by the time I have dominated the NY Times Best Seller List, I can get it done in two drafts instead of five. (Hey, it could happen.)

The interview I read with Christine Feehan sort of warmed my heart, too. Seems Ms. Feehan, she of eleven children, writes into the night when it’s quiet. I may only have three kidlings, but the one with autism is equal to a baker’s dozen. Plus a toddler? Yeah, I’m often writing until midnight because it’s the only time no one is demanding my attention.

Anyway–I found it interesting to read about these two women. To feel some sort of kinship to women who do what I long to, and who aren’t all that different from me when it comes down to it. I’m not comparing myself to them, just saying that I can put the effort into my work that they put into theirs, and hope that in the end I become a polished author.

And I don’t feel as weird as I did yesterday about my need to write a super tight first draft. Because if Nora does it, it can’t be bad.

I’ve been working all day on the final re-write of Devil You Don’t. I spoke online to one of the women I’ll be sharing a room with at the conference, and she told me that she’s always asked to send at least a partial to several editors or agents during the conference. I want (need) to be prepared.

Somehow yesterday an idea for another novella popped full-bodied into my head. So I’ve written some on that when I needed a break from editing.

I’ve received my signed copy of my contract for Keeper. I’m considering framing it. Maybe making copies and papering the wall next to my desk.

New Excerpt

I’ve posted the first chapter of my novel, Devil You Don’t, as a new page. I’d love to know what you think

San Francisco Here I Come

I just found out about the RWA Conference in San Francisco in two weeks.  San Francisco is only about 600 miles from me.  I know to some people 600 miles is far.  But when you’ve lived in the vast, empty state of Nevada as long as I have, it doesn’t seem so bad.  Especially when you consider that next year’s conference is in Washington D.C.

So, I’m going. I decided I wanted to yesterday and everything is falling into place with such grace that I have to think it’s a good sign. A sign of good things to come. Within fifteen minutes of deciding to come, I found three lovely ladies from points East who wanted a fourth to share their $300 a night room. I’ve missed the registration deadline, but when I called RWA and told them that I just found out about it, and just made my first sale, and please, please let me in–they were happy to.

Also, my kids were already going to be in Las Vegas that week. That’s a freaking miracle. Because I’m not exaggerating when I say that it’s h-a-r-d to get out of town when you have a toddler and a teenager with autism to find care for.

I’m going to take the train. I’m a little excited about that. Kevin will have to drive me into Elko to pick it up. It’s a 15 hour trip, but I’m kind of looking forward to the solitude. Plus–how romantic, right?

Also. I feel a little giddy about Christine Feehan being there signing books to raise money for literacy.

And I get to wear a ribbon that says I made a sale this year. Yes, I am a dork. And yes, I will be wearing that puppy proudly.

So I’m furiously finishing the final edit on my book. And I hope to polish up and solidify my ideas on the WIP that has fallen by the wayside the last few weeks. My wonderful editing partner has some ideas on that, so I’m going to just see what I can do.

I’m going to bring my camera, so expect some pics. Actually, when I’m in Las Vegas this week I might try to pick up a little camera, because I’m not entirely sure about lugging my big monster Nikon around all day, OR leaving it in the room all day. I would cry a river if it were stolen.

Keeper

I’ve been offered a contract for my novella, Keeper, by Pink Petal Books.

To say I’m happy would be the understatement of the century.  I’m not sure I can even describe how I feel.  Amazing.

More later.  Today…I celebrate!

Beautiful

Days like today, I wonder why it took me so long to leave Las Vegas.

According to Google it’s 68 degrees here.  It’s not raining, but it smells like rain.  You know that yummy smell they try to make candles smell like but always fail?   I’ve lived in the desert for so long that rain-smell is like Christmas.  So rare it’s special.

In Vegas? It’s 93 degrees.  At 8 p.m. Guess what.  The rain smell is greatly diminished when it feels like you’re boiling in your own skin.

The breeze coming from my window feels so good.  The elm tree outside my window is blowing in the wind.  My veggies will get some good rain tonight I think.  And life is good.  It’s just really good.

I’ve finished the rewrite on Keeper.  I’m working on a final read-through of Devil You Don’t.  And I have a little back-up of story ideas in my head.  Who could ask for more?

You would think…

with all my kids gone, that I’d have tons of time for things like writing in my blog. HA!  Double Ha!

The good news is that I’m about 2/3 done with the huge edit to my story.  I’ve added about 5,000 words.  It’s definitely a stronger story already and I’m really happy with the way the rewrite is going.

I’m planning on working on my synopsis for Keeper today and getting that turned in tonight or tomorrow.  I have a really terrible habit of putting things off until the last day and then forgetting to do them.  I don’t want that to happen this time, because I think I’ve written a really strong story.

I miss my kids.  Tons.  I talked to Ruby yesterday and she was telling me all about her grandparents taking her to the zoo, and how she found a peacock (only she calls it a he-cock) feather and how the snake opened it’s mouth and showed all its teeth and scared her.  And I was fine.  Until she said, “can I come home now?”  Man.  We’re picking everyone up on Sunday morning.  I’ll be more than ready for my break to be over by then.

My dad and one of my brothers are going to be here in a little bit.  They’re stopping on his way to Idaho to visit my sister.  He’ll stop on his way back, too.  Yay