Monday's Mentionables: Freebies and Contests

Here's some exciting news: as part of a Samhain Publishing promotional offer, One Night in Boston will be available as a FREE Kindle download from April 1 - 14th. Yes, that's right: if you have a Kindle, you can download my first contemporary romance novel ABSOUTELY FREE! Spread the word to your friends...and I'll be reminding you again before then!

And speaking of getting things for free, since it's February and the month for love, romance writers everywhere are offering contests and giveaways. Here are just a few:

Win a signed copy of the YA novel The Naughty List by entering your "secret agent name" on the host blog, here.

Red Sage authors are featuring an entire month of giveaways on their newly redesigned blog.

All Romance Ebooks is featuring several free reads - click here to discover a new author at no cost!

Suggest story ideas for a historical romance anthology It Happened One Season. Grand prize winner will receive a $1,000 American Express gift card and a signed copy of the book!

Finally, I'll be participating in the Brenda Novak Online Auction again this year. This is a terrific opportunity for readers, writers, and the general public to bid on a variety of items, with all proceeds going to benefit research for juvenile diabetes. I'll be donating a "One Night" basket, complete with my three autographed "One Night" books and some time-related goodies. More info to follow, so stay tuned!

Friday Fun Facts: This Day in History

"Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, 'Give me a challenge and I'll meet it with joy.' They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us..." ~from Ronald Reagan's speech after the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster

A big thanks to Charity, who not only recommended some YA authors for me the other day, but suggested I do some Googling of YA debut authors, to find out what's selling. Let me tell you - there's a lot of them out there! There was even an article in the latest Romance Writers' Report about what you should think about when considering whether or not to attempt YA. It's definitely the hot genre right now - whether or not I'll produce anything worthwhile in it remains to be seen :)

And, just because I think it's cool, here are some random notes about this day in history:

1595 - William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet is probably first performed.

1845 - Edgar Allen Poe's "Raven" 1st published (NYC)

1896 - Emile Grubbe is 1st dr to use radiation treatment for breast cancer

1916 - 1st bombings of Paris by German Zeppelins takes place

1919 - Secretary of state proclaims 18th amendment (prohibition)

1936 - 1st players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame-Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson & Walter Johnson

1951 - Liz Taylor's 1st divorce (Conrad Hilton Jr)

1958 - Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward wed

1966 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Peggy Fleming

1983 - 40th Golden Globes: Gandhi, ET & Tootsie win

1990 - Exxon Valdez capt Joseph Hazelwood goes on trial due to oil spill


Finally, yesterday in history, Jan 28, 1986, the Challenger space shuttle exploded during liftoff. That is one of those moments you remember exactly where you were when you heard, I think. I was a freshman in high school, standing in our guidance office, when an upperclassman walked in and said, "Hey, that teacher going into space just blew up." I'll never forget it.

Writer's Wednesday: Happy Birthday up to Heaven

"In the end, I think that I will like that we were sitting on the bed, talking & wondering where the time had gone." ~Brian Andreas

Today would have been my father's 68th birthday (he passed away last January). Hey, Dad, still miss you lots...........

Monday Mentionables: Researching the World of YA

"Those awful things are survivable, because we are as indestructable as we believe ourselves to be. ... We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken. We cannot be born, and we cannot die. Like all energy, we can only change shapes and sizes and manifestations. They forget that when they get old. They get scared of losing and failing. But that part of us greater than the sum of our parts cannot begin and cannot end, and so it cannot fail." ~from Looking for Alaska by John Green

Most of my regular readers know that I've been kicking around the idea of a YA (Young Adult) novel for the last few weeks. Well, I'm still inspired, still writing, and up around 27K words after this weekend. I like my characters, my plot seems to be going the way I thought it would, so I'm pleased so far. Still waiting for the axe to fall and things to start falling apart, though...

Speaking of YA, I'm trying to do some research and reading the most popular books & authors out there on the Young Adult shelves right now. I'm almost through Carolyn Mackler's The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (meh...I'm lukewarm about it...it's a little simplistic for teen readers, in my opinion) - next on the pile is Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever - then something by Ally Carter - and maybe The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I've already read Meg Cabot and of course Stephenie Meyer. For me, John Green (Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns) still stands out as brilliant in the genre, along with Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak, Wintergirls).

My question for you: have you read any of these authors? What did you think? Other strong YA writers you'd recommend?

Special Writers' Weekend: An Interview with John Le Beau!

Thanks for joining me today, for a look into John Le Beau's new novel, Collision of Evil. At the end of the interview, look for a chance to win a signed copy!

Hi John ~ thanks for being here today! Can you tell us a little about your background?

Most of my adult life was spent as an intelligence operations officer in the Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA. In that capacity, I spent the better part of a quarter century in intelligence work, most of it outside of the United States. I had the distinct privilege to serve with an extraordinary group of people at CIA and to work in some fascinating parts of the world. Having retired from CIA a few years ago, I am currently very engaged in my new position as a professor at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch, Germany.

Once again, I have been fortunate to associate with another highly talented, very dedicated group of professionals dealing with transnational security issues for an international audience. The Marshall Center position allows me to travel to various locations around the world and to pursue the theme of terrorism studies, which is one of the major security issues of the 21st century. At the same time, I am honored to serve as the chairman of the Combating Terrorism Working Group, a component of the Partnership for Peace Consortium.

Wow, very interesting! Now, tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

My first novel, Collision of Evil, has recently been released by Oceanview. Although I have written non-fiction pieces on intelligence activity and terrorism, this is my first venture into the world of fiction. Collision of Evil is a thriller dealing with contemporary terrorism and intelligence operations, but is also meant to link with malevolent forces from the past. The book is set in several locations, but its anchor is in the Bavarian and Austrian Alps, an area that I am well familiar with – and where I currently live – and an area that I hope will appeal to readers as something a bit exotic and exciting.

The book revolves around the investigatory work of a German Kommissar of police, who is a detective, and a CIA case officer. They enjoy an uneasy relationship, coming from two different cultures. The American is sort of in-your-face and optimistic, his German counterpart considerably more reserved, a bit irritable and perhaps pessimistic. I would like to think that this underlying tension to their relationship adds a bit of drama to the story as well!

How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

That is not always easy – and I expect that answer likely holds true for many writers. I have daytime and fulltime responsibilities aside from writing, which means that I have to carve out time to put pen to paper. I find that I do most of my writing on weekends, when I have some blocks of time at my disposal. Of course, I do write some evenings, but that can be a bit difficult after a long day, and I do want to spend time with family members and on recreation. So, if I am working on a text in the evening, it is often really some editing, re-reading or polishing language a bit. I find that if I have a couple of hours, I can write productively.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Writer’s block, so-called, can affect non-fiction as well as fictional endeavors. It can and often does stem from two things. Either you have not adequately conceptualized where you want to go with the written word in terms of coherent structure (with non-fiction) or with plot (for fiction), or you just have a feeling that that mystical and expressive, creative dimension is temporarily absent.

Both of these developments do ‘block’ the ability to write. In my own case, I find it valuable to try to discipline myself to write, even if I feel that I am not in the optimal state for that. Sitting in front of the PC, or at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a pad of paper, sort of forces you to attend to the task at hand. I will often start by refining some prose I have previously put together and that seems to transition me often into more active new writing. It is important to know what you are about to convey – to have a fairly detailed sense of where the plot is going, what a chapter is supposed to contribute to the overall storyline. I find that I sometimes outline on paper where everything is going, and how various disparate story threads need to come together to form a satisfyingly entertaining, credible and cohesive whole.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

My position at the George C. Marshall Center keeps me very busy, with lectures, leading seminar discussions, arranging security-theme programs and the like. It also has entailed a notable amount of professional travel to areas such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Turkey. My CIA career also required considerable international travel. So, during my free time, I am generally content to hang around in one location. We live in Garmisch, Germany and also have a residence in Austria, arguably some of the most naturally beautiful places in the world, and I am quite happy to spend time in those venues.

I love to walk and hike around and find that very rewarding. I cross-country ski in the winter as well,. We have a circle of friends, including Americans, Germans and Austrians, and I enjoy spending time in that social setting. I still like to learn, and, to be honest, I very much enjoy writing fiction; it is a real pleasure for me and rewarding in many ways. I am currently about half-way through the manuscript of a second novel and am anxious to bring it to closure. The Kommissar Waldbaer and case officer Hirter characters return, along with some new additions, some benign and some malevolent, and involve themselves in another international thriller plot. Some of this has a nautical setting, some of it takes place in Azerbaijan and Jordan, but the center of gravity is the Alps, giving Bavaria and the Austrian Tyrol their due.

John, thanks for a wonderful interview! Now, for readers, if you'd like a chance to win a signed copy of Collision Evil, simply go to John's book tour page HERE and enter your name, email, and PIN# 6772.

Entries from Allie's Musings will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on his book tour page next week.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fun Facts

NOTICE: Tomorrow I'll be featuring author John Le Beau on his book tour for his novel Collision of Evil. Here's the blurb to whet your appetite:

As evening falls against the majestic backdrop of the Bavarian Alps, Charles Hirter, an American tourist, is savagely murdered. In the peace, quiet and pastoral splendor of this magnificent setting, Charles Hirter draws his last breath. Was Charles simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Kommissar Franz Waldbaer, the German detective in charge of the case, faces an investigation that yields neither clues nor suspects nor motives. A gruff, go-it alone detective, Waldbaer is dismayed by the arrival of Robert Hirter, the victim's brother, who insists on joining the investigation. But there is more to Robert than meets the eye.

As Robert and the Kommissar uncover a nefarious nexus of evil past and evil present, they find themselves probing dark, long-forgotten episodes from the Third Reich in order to identify the present threat.

Thrust into a violent world of fanatic passions, malevolent intentions and excruciating urgency, Robert Hirter and Kommissar Waldbaer must race against the clock to stop a sophisticated, covert, and deadly plot.

Stop back tomorrow to read John's interview and enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of Collision of Evil!

***

My new favorite poet/author is Brian Andreas. Have you heard of him? His quotes have been bouncing around for a while now; I just didn't know who he was until recently. Here are some of the most well-known/well-liked:

"Anyone can slay a dragon ...but try waking up every morning and loving the world all over again. That's what takes a real hero."

"We lay there and looked up at the night sky and she told me about stars called blue squares and red swirls and I told her I'd never heard of them. Of course not, she said, the really important stuff they never tell you. You have to imagine it on your own."

"Are you a princess? I said & she said I'm much more than a princess, but you don't have a name for it yet here on earth. "

"In my dream, the angel shrugged and said, if we fail this time, it will be a failure of imagination and then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand."

"A few said they'd be horses. Most said they'd be some sort of cat. My friend said she'd like to come back as a porcupine. I don't like crowds, she said. "

Writers' Wednesday: Changing Editors

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." ~Mary Engelbreit

Quick update:

WC on Entwined, my "literary romance" that jumps between time periods and follows 2 love stories: 80K and finished! Now sitting for a few weeks until I go back for another revision.

WC on The Dance Club, my women's fiction novel based on the women in my Zumba class...which will probably not find a publishing house because the genre isn't selling right now: 16K.

WC on my untitled YA novel: 16K and moving along well. Funny how smoothly the writing is going. I suppose that's partly because I'm around teenagers ALL THE TIME. (Now watch me jinx myself!)

***

And in other news, I recently got the news that my editor is leaving Samhain Publishing :( She was the second editor I'd worked with there, and she edited both One Night in Napa and Summer's Song. She was tough and a stickler, and I'll miss her. I'm being reassigned to another editor, but at Samhain so much of what's published is super-hot/erotic romance, that I'm sure the Executive Editor is tearing her hair out and thinking, 'Hmm...where to put this Allie Boniface with the closed-door sex scenes??' Haha. Well, we'll see what happens. Nothing is ever certain but change!

Monday Mentionables: I Have a Dream

The biggest mentionable today, of course, is that it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. And in honor of that, here's his famous speech, "I Have a Dream". I would like to think that he was looking down from heaven last election day, heart overflowing, at the fact that this country elected its first black president. Yes, we still have a ways to come. But I see and hear the way the next generation treats each other, and there is cause for much hope that in the next years, and in the next decades, we will come that much closer to bridging the distance between all of us:

Friday Fun Facts

"The brain that doesn't feed itself, eats itself." ~Gore Vidal

Fun Fact #1: Carina Press, the new digital imprint at Harlequin, is actively seeking submissions in a variety of genres. Angela James, who used to be Executive Editor at Samhain, is heading up things at Carina, so if you submit/are accepted, you'll be in good hands.

Fun Fact #2: Merpoint is a brand new e-publisher that's also currently seeking submissions. As with any new, start-up company, proceed wth caution if you're considering submitting there.

Fun Fact#3:William Paterson University (NJ) is holding its annual one-day writers' conference on April 17, 2010, and I highly recommend it. For only $50, you get breakfast, lunch, a keynote speech, and two valuable workshops (morning and afternoon). It's one of the most affordable and useful workshops I've attended.

Fun Fact #4: The first Super Bowl was played on this day in 1967. Green Bay beat Kansas, 35-10!

Happy weekend!

Writer's Wednesday: YA and Absolute Write

"The troubles of adolescence eventually all go away - it's just like a really long, bad cold." ~Dawn Ruelas

In case I haven't mentioned it before, Absolute Write is a terrific place for writers of all genres/abilities/etc to spend time, share stories, and get feedback. They have forums for everything from perfecting your query letter to asking questions about agents and venting about your latest rejection.

Since I've been toying with the idea of writing Young Adult, I've been spending a fair amount of time lurking over there lately, reading other people's excerpts and experiences with the genre.

And speaking of that, here's a little taste from some freewriting I did the other, opening pages. I discovered (or remembered) that I really like writing in first person:

"OK, here’s the thing: I understand why my parents pulled us up by the roots. Why they moved me and Paul from the only place we’ve ever lived, the only home we’ve ever slept in, and trekked us in two U-Haul vans four hours away, to a town in the middle of Nowheresville, New York. I’m sixteen, not stupid. They can sing us their excuses until they’re blue in the face. They can tell us stories with painted-on grins that they think we can’t see through. They can explain that Dad wanted to return to the place where he grew up, and that Mom wanted to give up her crazy whirlwind of a job (the job, which, by the way, gave her a company car, trips to Europe twice a year, and enough money that Paul and I both already have four years of college paid for) and trade it for a teaching position in – what did she call it? – “a quaint small town where everyone still knows their neighbors.”

Terrific. I knew my neighbors back in Pound Ridge. I liked my neighbors. And if every town in Westchester County, with its rolling hills and old brick homes and Main Streets lit by white lights all year round, isn’t quaint, I don’t know what is. But that doesn’t matter now. None of it does, when you become That Family, the one in the neighborhood that the devil takes by the throat and turns black with the evil that seeps under all the doors, no matter how much you try to keep it away. When you become That Family, your parents move you as quickly and quietly as possible, which brings us back to why I am sitting in an empty room staring at walls painted an awful green color and wondering how my life got to this point..."

Monday Mentionables: The 2010 Promo Push

"Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days." ~Zig Ziglar

I'll admit it: I haven't done much in the way of book promotion in the last few months - well, since school begin, really. And promotion is a big part of the lifeblood of an author's success. You'll hear it in many, many places, and it's true: be prepared to do A LOT of your own promotion and marketing when you sign that publishing contract.

Now that the new year has started up in full swing, I'm trying to plan my promotion, especially since I have 2 books coming out in print and 2 coming out in audio book. Whew! Yes, of course I'm happy about all that, but it's a lot to juggle in my head.

What kinds of promotion will I do? Well, I've just ordered a slew of new bookmarks and oversized postcards for excerpt booklets, from Vista Print. I actually just got an email from a bookstore in Ohio asking me for some more booklets (I had sent them some about a year ago). I've taken out some cover ads on a couple of well-known romance reader websites and booked a few blog/author interview spots for around the time of each release.

I'll also send out press releases closer to each release date, and I'm starting to set up a few signings for the year as well. Oops! Guess that means I should update "Allie's Appearances" on my sidebar :) I'll be at the Yonkers Barnes and Noble on February 7 with some other local romance authors, and the woman who coordinates the book club in my hometown, where I've spoken the last 2 summers, just emailed to see if I'd be coming back again this year. Of course!

So...slowly but surely I am trying to get a handle on this promo thing! Now, it's off to work...

If you're an author, what kinds of promotion do you find works the best for you?

Friday Fun Facts: Tackling YA?

"Adolescence: A stage between infancy and adultery." ~Ambrose Bierce

I picked up a couple of YA novels yesterday (The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things The Truth About Forever, Paper Towns), and I have a bunch more on my list. Why? Well, I teach high school students, and I like to keep up with what they're reading. But I also (gulp) am toying with the idea of writing a YA novel. I know, I'm probably out of my mind to tackle a brand new genre. But here's the thing: I listen and talk to teens every day, 180 days of the year. I hear their voices in my head even when I'm not at school. I know the things that stir them up, I know what they do behind their parents' backs, I know what they're scared of and what they strive for.

All this, of course, doesn't necessarily qualify me to write a YA novel. However, it's a hot and growing market, and there's a local writers' conference here in April that has a YA focus this year, and I have the germ of an idea...so yes, I might just dip my toes into the water. Plus, a full-length novel only has to be 50K words minimum not the blasted 90K of an adult novel!

What do you think?

Writers' Wednesday: Three Book Reviews

I had a chance, over the long holiday break, to get through 3 books on my TBR pile. Here are my thoughts on each one:

A Summer Affair - Claire Danner Crispin, a harried housewife with 4 young children, finds herself the chair of Nantucket's summer gala, a huge fund-raising affair that requires her to rub elbows with both her modest neighbors and the elite New Yorkers who vacation there. Suddenly, she finds herself having an affair with her co-chair, questioning her devotion to being a stay-at-home mom, and longing for the innocence of her adolescence and first love (who just happens to now be a famous rock star who agrees to come and play as the headlining act at the gala). Elin Hliderbrand has an easy writing style, and it was enjoyable to get caught up in this sopa opera-type women's fiction novel. I wasn't conpletely in love with the heroine, and I thought she got out of the sticky immorality of her affair a little too easily at the end, but A Summer Affair is still an engaging book with a slew of fascinating, believable characters. I'll probably look for other books by this author.

In a Perfect World - My mom gave me this book for my birthday last month, with the warning that "It's a little weird..." I tend to agree. The story revolves around Jiselle, a former flight attendant who marries a dashing pilot and becomes stepmom to his 3 kids. The Phoenix flu is sweeping the nation, though, killing celebrities and average citizens alike, and it's only a matter of time before the herione is left alone to raise the children and deal with a changing society in the face of a terrifying plague. The most interesting thing about this book, for me, was the fact that it was so realistic, that I believed today's world could be felled by a pandemic like the fictional "Phoenix flu" before we know it. The author, Laura Kasischke, did a lot of research on the Black Plague, and it shows.

Living Dead in Dallas - This is the second book in the Sookie Stackhouse series (the TV show True Blood is based on it), and while it wasn't quite as engaging as the first, I still enjoyed it. Mostly, I love the voice of the main character, a blue-collar barmaid who can read people's minds and who's in love with a vampire. In this book, Sookie is called to Dallas to find a missing vampire, and of course she's kidnapped and almost loses her love and her friends in the process. I'm not a vampire-genre fan, but the humore and the local color in these books really pulls me in. And the main character's voice. Did I mention her voice?

Right now I'm working my way through Club Dead, the next book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, and I just borrowed Nightlight from a student. It's a Harvard Lampoon parody of Twilight, and I'm loving it so far (since I wasn't a huge fan of Twilight to begin with). Here's the back copy, just to give you a taste:

About three things I was absolutely certain. First, Edwart was most likely my soul mate, maybe. Second, there was a vampire part of him–which I assumed was wildly out of his control–that wanted me dead. And third, I unconditionally, irrevocably, impenetrably, heterogeneously, gynecologically, and disreputably wished he had kissed me. And thus Belle Goose falls in love with the mysterious and sparkly Edwart Mullen in the Harvard Lampoon’s hilarious send-up of Twilight. Pale and klutzy, Belle arrives in Switchblade, Oregon looking for adventure, or at least an undead classmate. She soon discovers Edwart, a super-hot computer nerd with zero interest in girls. After witnessing a number of strange events–Edwart leaves his tater tots untouched at lunch! Edwart saves her from a flying snowball!–Belle has a dramatic revelation: Edwart is a vampire. But how can she convince Edwart to bite her and transform her into his eternal bride, especially when he seems to find girls so repulsive?Complete with romance, danger, insufficient parental guardianship, creepy stalker-like behavior, and a vampire prom, Nightlight is the uproarious tale of a vampire-obsessed girl, looking for love in all the wrong places.

Have you read anything good lately?

Happy New Year!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." ~Marianne Williamson

Yes, I'm back! I know, I know, I took off last week entirely from blogging and I didn't even tell you ahead of time. Sorry. But I hope you had an enjoyable and restful holiday season, wherever and however you spent it.

Now here we are in a brand new year, 2010 (and have you heard about the minor controversy regarding how we're supposed to pronounce it? "Twenty-ten" NOT "Two thousand-ten" according to the National Association of Good Grammar, which coincidentally or not is abbreviated NAGG...hmm...). With the new year come articles everywhere you look about how to improve your life, how to make resolutions and keep them, what resolutions you're supposed to make in the first place, and on and on and on....

But I stopped making New Year's resolutions a few years back, when I realized that, honestly, just the fact that the calendar reads January 1 doesn't mean it's a better (or worse) day to begin a new chapter in my life. In fact, looking back on 2009, which was the most tumultuous year for me in a very long time, I felt even more certain about my belief that new chapters in one's life often happen when you least expect them. For me, in 2010, I'd like to continue to live in a way that makes me happy, passionate and challenged, while giving back to the world and the people around me the best ways I know how. FYI, today's quote is one of my favorites, and I'm going to do my best to remember it this year.

I'm going to continue to blog 3 days a week, and my goal is still for Monday's Mentionables to be updates on what's going on in my life and writing; Writers' Wednesday to be either author interviews or information useful/helpful to writers; and Friday's Fun Facts to simply be a day to share interesting facts about whatever's on my mind.

I hope you'll stick around with me in 2010; I have 2 print releases coming out (One Night in Napa and Summer's Song), along with 2 audio book releases (One Night in Memphis and Lost in Paradise), and fingers crossed that I will finish at least one other book and sign a contract for it as well.

In the meantime, I have 2 books up for Preditors' and Editors' "2009 Best of..." Poll: One Night in Napa and Summer's Song. If you have a chance, would you stop by and vote? Thanks! ~ and that's my only mentionable of the day. See you Wednesday!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a blessed and joyous Christmas ~ I hope all your dreams come true!

Santa and His Singing Reindeer

Here it is, a Christmas favorite. Enjoy!!

Monday Mentionables

"Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life." ~Mark Twain

Mentionable #1: It's the first day of my winter break! This is actually quite unusual, to have 2 full weeks off from school. Usually we teach until the 22nd or 23rd, at least. But we started soooo early this year (before Labor Day), that I guess we're enjoying the trade-off now. Of course, I have a list of things I want to accomplish over the break, including a fair amount of writing. We'll see how that goes. We'll be heading to Florida after Christmas; maybe the warm(er) weather will inspire me!

Mentionable #2: We escaped the worst of the winter storm over the weekend, thankfully, since we threw a big holiday party Saturday night. We watched the weather report in anticipation, but the storm hit south of us, and we really only ended up with a couple inches of snow after it was all over with. Thank goodness.

Mentionable #3: I really hope to be able to spend some time reading over this break, since I've already gotten a few books for my birthday (last week) and early Christmas. On my bedstand right now: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Comeback, A Summer Affair, In a Perfect World, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Socrates in Love.

Have you read any of them?

Friday Fun: An Excerpt from The Dance Club

OK, here it is as promised: an unedited excerpt from The Dance Club, the as-yet non-planned-for-publication book based on my adventures at the gym with my girlfriends. Part chick lit, part women's fiction, part nonfiction, all fun to write so far.

Lola leaned over and read aloud. “New dance class starting January tenth. Lose weight and have fun while learning all the hottest Latin steps.” She smiled. “C'mon. let’s try it. We don’t have anything to lose.”

Roxy sighed. “Girls, I’m a friggin’ trainwreck when it comes to dancing. Or anything that requires rhythm and counting. I think I’m gonna skip this one.”

Zoe waved the slip of paper in front of her friend’s face. “C’mon! You’re gonna pass up a chance to spend an hour looking at a hot piece of South American ass? No way. I know you better than that. We all do.”

Roxy frowned. “You think he has an accent? Like one of those really sexy ones where you can’t really understand what he’s saying but it all sounds good anyway?”

Soleil rejoined them and set down her coffee. “He does. I heard him talking to some little redhead in the lobby when I was picking up the flyers.”

“Is it sexy?” Roxy asked. “I mean, really, like, to-die-for sexy?”

Soleil blew on her coffee and smiled. “There’s only one way to find out, right? First class meets next Monday night. What d’ya say?”

###

“Check out the blonde in the front,” Roxy whispered. “What is she, six feet tall? She looks like a giraffe.”

Lola laughed out loud and then slapped a hand over her mouth. “You’re awful.”

“I’m just making an observation.” Roxy turned in a slow circle and surveyed the rest of the room. “And what’s up with the geriatric group in the corner? Damn, I thought I was old.”

“You aren’t old,” Soleil said. “You aren’t even close.” She adjusted her t-shirt and stared woefully at her chest. “I’m having these done the summer I turn forty. I told you all that, right?”

“You’re crazy,” Lola said. “I’ll get a facelift before I’ll get a boob job any day.”

“That’s because you already have boobs.” The voice came from behind them, and all three turned as Zoe skipped into the room.

“I hate you,” Roxy said.

“Why?”

“Look at you.” Lola poked her friend in the ribs. “There’s nothing to you. You’re beautiful. Perfect. You don’t need to lose weight.”

“I need to tone up. Plus I want to see this hot dance instructor.” Zoe glanced around. “Where is he?”

The stocky Chinese woman standing beside them shrugged. A pair of brunettes in matching pink sweatsuits, hoop earrings, and full makeup craned their necks in the direction of the door. A balding man dressed in fatigues and another thirty-something woman with a belly hanging out over too-tight sweatpants made up the rest of the crowd.

“Huh.” Soleil looked around. “Kind of a motley crew, aren’t we?”

“Well, it’s only the first night. And the place has only been open a few weeks. But you were right. It’s nice.” Roxy waved a hand at the polished floorboards and the mirrors that covered three of the four walls. “I’m loving the juice bar in the lobby, too. Think they’d slip a little vodka into one of those smoothies if I paid extra?”

Writers' Wednesday: What Am I Working On?

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~Scott Adams

I only have time for a quick post today, but I thought I'd share my 2 current projects (of course, they haven't gotten a lot of attention in the last couple of weeks since it's finals week for the College English classes I teach, which means piles of research papers and in-class essays everywhere calling my name). But beyond the final grade submission deadline, I have 2 glorious weeks of holiday break, and I'm hoping to make some headway on...

Entwined, my literary romance which right now is about 75K words long and really, really needs to be wrapped up and just finished already. It's been just about a year that I've been working on it, and while the end is in sight, I also know it needs some serious revision work beyond that end. Still, I really want to finish the last 10 chapters and then just let it sit for a month or so. Then I can move on to...

The Dance Club, a silly something I started a couple of weeks ago that is based solely on my experiences with my girlfriends at our Zumba class. There are about 5 of us who've become quite close, and they keep asking me to write a book with their/our stories, so I sat down, sketched out some ideas, and started writing. I don't know that I will even try to publish it - it will probably resemble chick lit (which is dead in the publishing world) or maybe women's fiction (which still has a chance). Either way, it's just for them, and I'm having fun at this point, only 5K words in. Friday I'll post an excerpt...until then, have a great week!

Monday Mentionables: From a Cat's Perspective

"Time spent with cats is never wasted." ~Sigmund Freud

My owner, Allie Boniface, is taking a break from blogging today, so I told her I'd fill in for her. I mean, I've been around for over 14 years, and I've lived with her for 13 of those 14, so I have a pretty good idea of what she'd say, anyway. But today, I'd like to talk about why it's good to be a cat around the holidays...

First of all, if you have the chance to get a brand new scratching device of any kind, take full advantage of it. Make sure to lick your chops several times (yes, that's my tongue hanging out) before tasting it for fresh catnip.

And just in case your owner is not particularly quick at adding catnip, you can meow and wind yourself around her legs to remind her why it's your FAVORITE treat EVER.

It is especially invigorating to dig right in and sharpen those claws...

Though if a friend comes along and wants to try it out too, it's okay to let him. Just keep an eye on him.

Sometimes, in fact, those friends can be quite comforting and warm, especially when the temperatures get a little frosty! That's when it's best to remember the advantages of cuddling.

Finally, don't ever underestimate your importance when it comes to interior decorating. I have given several pieces of advice regarding the tree over the years - and as you can see by looking closely here, this year I needed to sit atop the ladder while my owners were hanging the lights to really have my say.

Guess that's all for today. Time for a nap in the sun...

Friday Fun Facts

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." ~W.T. Ellis

Fun Fact #1: We have our Christmas tree up! Of course, it still needs to be decorated (I hope this evening), but it's found a very nice place in our living room amid the other holiday decorations.

Fun Fact #2: I was pleasantly surprised by my royalty report from Samhain. Now, December is one of the biggest paying months, since there are print royalties from the summer along with both electronic and print royalties from a bunch of other distributors, but still...it was nice to see that I can afford more than dinner and a movie this month :) Note: it definitely pays to keep publishing books. The more you have in circulation, the higher the royalties are. It seems that would go without saying, but it's worth mentioning.

Fun Fact #3: WOW-Women on Writing is featuring Literary Agents this month - how to get 'em, what they're looking for, and how they work. Check it out!

Writers' Wednesday: An Ebay Auction for You

"Any proverbs about weather are doubly true during a storm." ~Ed Northstrum

Well, I'm sitting at home enjoying the first snow day of the season...yes, there are some perks that come along with this teaching job! Although I do have a stack of research papers to grade (not to mention contest entries for my local RWA that are close to being overdue...yikes!). However, I'll take the day off to lounge around in my pjs and grade when and where I want to, anytime!

***

Spotted this interesting Ebay Auction the other day. Irene Goodman, a very well-known, very successful, and very selective literary agent, is offering 25 manuscript critiques. She's auctioning them off on Ebay with proceeds to benefit two different charitable organizations, in part because her own son suffers from a degenerative disease that will eventually take away his sight and hearing.

The auctions (and there are 25 separate ones, one for each critique) run through tomorrow, December 10th, if you're interested in bidding. Last time I checked, each was up around $300.00, which seems a little pricey, but keep in mind that if you have the money, this is a great way to get your first 50 pages + synopsis in front of a very savvy agent who will give you honest feedback about what you need to do to improve it/make it marketable. It's not a chance to pitch your work (well, of course in one respect it is) as much as a chance to have someone in the industry honestly assess it and give you direction for revisions.

Anyway, just thought I'd share. If you decide to bid, let me know! And now I'm off to make some hot cocoa and curl into my chair while the snow comes down outside...

Monday Mentionables: The First Reviews of Summer's Song!

The first reviews of Summer's Song are in, and well, let's just say that I'm reminded yet again of how subjective readers can be.

It got 4.5/5 stars from Single Titles review site (apparently a new sub-site of the well-known CataNetwork review site). In part, the reviewer said, "Summer's Song is an engrossing story about hidden pasts, lost memories, and finding love despite everything else. Summer is a complex character who you will grow to care about; her vulnerability is beautifully described throughout the story. Damian, the protector, is compelling as you read his internal struggle with his attraction to Summer..."

You can read the whole review here.

Then, it got killed - and I mean slaughtered - by Mrs. Giggles, who is notorious for her snark but up to this point didn't really destroy my books. Until now. She hated the bookSummer's Song and gave it a 56/100, claiming it was entirely too melodramatic from start to finish. Ouch. The tagline she has posted on her website is the tiniest preview: "Wow, lots of angst and drama here. Everyone has at least two issues to deal with in this story. I don't know why nobody has attempted to put down the hysterical heroine, however. "

If you want to read the whole thing, 5 miserable paragraphs about how awful my heroine is, then go ahead. You can read it here.

And in the meantime, I will be off toughening up my skin...

Writers' Weekend: An Interview with Joanna Challis

Welcome to a special author interview with Joanna Challis. Her brand new novel, MURDER ON THE CLIFFS, is the first in the Daphne du Maurier series. Today she's visiting with me for a look at the woman behind the book...and at the end of the interview, you'll find a hint at how you can win a copy of it!



Hi, Joanna, and thanks for joining us here today! So, when did you first begin writing?

As soon as I could hold a pen in my hand! My parents' house is littered with my early attempts. Growing up, I loved English and History and any chance to write a story. I finished my first novel at 15 and never looked back. If I'm not writing something then I don't feel normal!

Tell us about your latest published title.

MURDER ON THE CLIFFS is the first in a new murder mystery series featuring Daphne du Maurier. It has all my favorite elements: history, mystery, a touch of romance, and the setting is the Cornish coast and an Elizabethan mansion full of secrets.

How do you go about developing your characters?

Characters come out first for me. I have a sketchy plot in mind but the characters lead it once they're fleshed out and I learn their motivations. They become real and seem to take over :)

What advice would you give to new authors just starting out?

To love what you do. To never give up.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

When at home, read and watch favorite movies. When not at home, travel, particularly the overseas kind: Europe for its scenery and history.

What is your favorite movie? Did it inpsire your writing in any way?

REBECCA, PRIDE & PREJUDICE, THE PRINCESS BRIDE...I seem to love a blend of the old classics with a good mystery/suspense and a touch of the fairy-tale is always nice too!

Joanna, thank you so much for your time! Now, readers, for a chance to win a copy of her new book, MURDER ON THE CLIFFS, simply go to Joanna's book tour page and enter this distinct PIN #: 3829. Have a great weekend...hope you win!!

Friday Fun Facts

"Dancing in all its forms cannot be excluded from the curriculum of all noble education; dancing with the feet, with ideas, with words, and, need I add that one must also be able to dance with the pen?" ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Received my Romance Writers Report the other day...I'm always interested to see what articles are featured. Here are some of the highlights in December:

What Can Internet Communities do for You?
Hook those Readers with a Great Scene
Writing by Committee?
There is No Such Thing as Bad Publicity and Other Famous Lies
The Warrior Writer: Using Green Beret Techniques as an Author

The most interesting for me, though, was an interview with best-selling author Christina Dodd. A couple of my favorite excerpts:

"The most important thing an author can have is an absolutely brutish belief in herself and her talent, and she can never, ever allow the facts to change that faith..."

"...on any given day, successful writers write the best way they can, and if what they're doing doesn't work, they adapt. Best way to write a book, I guess. But, I admit, I spend an incredible amount of time thinking I know nothing. That seems to be part of the job."

Please note: Tomorrow I'll be featuring a special Weekend Writer's Interview with author Joanna Challis. Stop back on Saturday to read her interview and find out how to win a copy of her new book!

Writers' Wednesday: What to Give, What to Give?

"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." ~Jeff Valdez

'Tis the season to start shopping - if you're lucky enough to either have ideas for your recipients, or a specific list from them. But what do you do when you have neither?

No, that isn't a rhetorical question...I'd really like to know! Every year my husband and I are faced with the dilemma of buying holiday gifts for relatives who give us no clue as to what they'd like. You might think this makes things easy; after all, a gift card or two, and you're done. But it's not. We struggle every year.

So I'm asking for ideas. Anyone have a foolproof (or nearly foolproof) idea for buying at holiday time for those loved ones who either (a) have everything or (b) don't know what to ask for??

************

In a sidenote, here are two ways you can give this holiday season and benefit animal shelters!

Send an Ecard, Help an Animal

Give a Dog (without really giving a dog)

Monday Mentionables

"Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space." ~ Dave Barry

Sooo...did you survive Thanksgiving and Black Friday? Were you brave enough to risk the stores and the sales, or did you stay in the comfort of your home? Are your holiday decorations up yet? Holiday cards ready to be sent?


Yikes...so much to do, and such a busy season! Last night I tackled the order for our Christmas cards. Last year we sent out simply a photo card, but I was surprised at how many people said they wished for the yearly update "letter" I usually send out with them. Since my father was so sick this time last year, it was all I could do to manage a card. But this year, I'm returning to the letter. It's a bit tricky, you know: you want to sound friendly and newsy but not pushy or overly annoying with all the wonderful things you've spent your year doing :) I tried to keep it short and sweet, but we'll see. I'll read it over in a day or two and see what I think with fresh eyes.


The Romance Studio is having a terrific holiday promotional event. Many, many authors are giving away all sorts of books and goodies, so if you're not a regular visitor to their site, bookmark it for December and give it a try! I have several giveaways and promos being featured there between now and the end of 2009.


Finally and most exciting, I received the covers of my 2 books that AudioLark is making into audio books, One Night in Memphis and Lost in Paradise! I have to say, it's a funny thing, seeing new covers for books that have been out for awhile with another publisher (but since they are new rights, this company can do whatever they want with the covers). I love what they did , though...check them out!!

Friday Fun Facts: Black Friday

Sooo.....how was your Thanksgiving?? Did you celebrate with family and/or friends? Were you home, or did you travel? And the big question, of course: will you be doing any shopping today, Black Friday?

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My husband and I usually do tackle the stores on this day, though we aren't with the crazy troops who brave the cold and the dark sometime after midnight to wait in line for hours. No, we scan the flyers, figure out what we might like to get that everyone and their mother isn't gunning for, and we hit the stores around 6 or 7 am. Usually, we're back to the house by 9, and while the stores themselves are pretty full, and the lines pretty long, there's still a bit of a thrill to finding that awesome deal and scooping up the last of a super-sale item.

Some interesting facts about this day:

Although most people think the meaning of "Black Friday" is the day that retailers finally move from the red into the black, the term originated in Philadelphia because of the heavy traffic on that day!

However, the term has also been associated with financial crises, as far back as the 19th century.

Of course, it can also be a rather ugly day, as crowds of people are willing to literally stampede each other to get to that elusive, rare gift. Last year, a temporary Walmart worker on Long Island (NY) actually died when people trampled him to death as the store doors opened. Horrific. As a result, many Walmarts (at least in our area) are open 24 hours this year.

This day is also known as Blitz Day, and the official site for sales can be found here.

However you spend this day (maybe just recovering from yesterday??), I hope it's a good one!

Writers' Wednesday: Things I am Thankful For

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." ~Meister Eckhart

On the day before Thanksgiving, it seems fitting that I should mention some of the many things for which I'm thankful. So here goes:

I am thankful for...

My good health.
My family members, especially my mom, my sister, and my husband.
The friends I have rediscovered this year thanks to Facebook!
The new friends I have made this year, especially the girls at the gym who love Zumba as much as I do :)
My job, where I get to laugh and touch young people's lives every day.
The roof over my head and the comfortable, lovely home I live in.
My community, which is safe and pretty and friendly and close to the hometown where I grew up.
My inherent talents, especially for creating books and creating music.
My optimism.
My perseverance.
My cats, who love me unconditionally no matter what.

What about you? What are you most thankful for this year?

Monday Mentionables: The Monday Before Thanksgiving: 'Nuff Said

Friday Fun Facts: Audio Books!

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force..." ~Anonymous

Happy Friday! I'm happy to share the news that I recently signed contracts to put 2 of my books, Lost in Paradise and One Night in Memphis, into audio book format!

This will be a new venture for me -- and it's a new company, AudioLark, so I am approachinhg it with caution. However, I'm interested in seeing how making the books available in audio format might help sales (or not). I've had a few friends say to me in the past, "Oh, I'm too busy to sit down and read your book. Now if it was in audio and I could take it on the run, then..." Of course, they might just be making excuses (!), but I do think that with the rise of iPods, along with people's inability to sit down for any length of time, having books available in audio can't hurt. And I have friends who borrow books on tape from the library all the time, to listen to in the car.

Anyway, a fellow author I had done signings with before emailed me about AudioLarkto let me know they were looking for all romance genres, but especially sweet/sensual as opposed to erotic, which was awfully nice of her (you never know how those contacts are going to pay off!). I believe they're still looking for ebooks to put into audio, so if you're interested, follow the submission guidelines at their website.

The publisher is quite professional and agreed to a couple of changes in the contracts I requested. She was also VERY fast in responding to my inital query.

So, the release date for both my audio books will be March 1, 2010. I'm excited and will keep you posted!

Question: Do any of you listen to audio books now?

Writers' Wednesday: Announcing the Release of Summer's Song!

"What if everything you knew about the past turned out to be...wrong?" ~Summer's Song by Allie Boniface

My latest contemporary romance novel, Summer's Song, released in ebook yesterday over at Samhain's My Bookstore and More! Very exciting. This means it will be in print roughly ten months from now, or September 2010. Mark your calendars!

Today, there's a character interview with my heroine over at Emma Lai's blog today, so please stop by and take a look!

Monday Mentionables: An Author to Watch For

"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

I'm thrilled to share the news that fellow Samhain author, Rebecca James, has hit it big in the publishing world, in her home country of Australia. Rebecca released her debut book, Nightswimming, with Samhain Publishing back in 2007. Now she's being called "the next Stephenie Meyer" [of Twilight fame] and has enjoyed a million-dollar advance for her upcoming novel, Beautiful Malice, a YA thriller. Here's a link to an article that tells more, including the fact that the book was first rejected by "pretty much every literary agency in America" for being unmarketable.

I got to know Rebecca a little bit in cyber-world when we were both newbies at Samhain, and as another non-erotic contemporary author, I'm so excited to see that she didn't give up on her dream to break into the mainstream market.

*************

Now, in other exciting news, my newest novel, Summer's Song, releases in ebook TOMORROW! And guess what? I and 4 other authors are having a very cool release-eve party in the Samhain Cafe this evening, beginning at 8:00 pm (EST). We're featuring character interviews and a scavenger hunt, with the prize being...of course...free ebooks! Come on over and play, will you?

Friday Fun Facts: It's Friday the 13th!!

Happy Friday the 13th! How many of you are superstitious??

Fun Fact #1: Interestingly enough, there were 3 Friday the 13ths in 2009 (Feb, March, and Nov), but the next time we will have 3 in one year will be 2015.

Fun Fact #2: The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia, and the fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekephobia - try saying those out loud!

Fun Fact #3: The roots of this fear go back at least to the 14th century's Canterbury Tales (most bad things seemed to happen on Fridays); the Knights Templar were supposedly mass arrested on a Friday the 13th in 1307, and even earlier than both of those, of course, for followers of Christianity, Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

It's interesting how superstitions and belief systems take root and grow, isn't it?

******

In other, non-superstitious news, I'm not sure the following is a "fun" fact, but since I'm active in my local animal shelter and I do what I can to raise awareness about animal rights, I wanted to share this video with you (plus I love the music!).

Please watch and, if you're so inclined, share with others on your own blogs/Facebook pages/etc....

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Tracy Ruckman

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! We haven't had an author interview here in a while, so I'm thrilled to have Tracy Ruckman join me. Grab your coffee, sit back, and enjoy!

Hi, Tracy! First off, can you tell us a little about your background?

I’m a full-time freelance writer, editor, and photographer. In the past two years, I’ve been editing more than writing, for financial reasons, but I always seem to dabble with words in some form or another. I offer full editing services through my company Write Integrity Editorial Services, and earlier this summer we began WIES Workshops – online writing courses for anyone interested in writing for the Christian market. I also own the popular Pix-N-Pens blog where a team of us offers book reviews; freelance writing, editing, and marketing advice; photography tips and assignments; writing prompts; and even frequent contests!

I’m married to THE Prince Charming, and we live with our spoiled dog, in Alabama. I’m proud mom of two grown sons who live in metro Atlanta.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

I’m so excited about this beautiful book. Christmas Miracles is a powerful collection of heartwarming stories written by many authors – I’m honored that my story was chosen as one of them. The book is co-authored by Cecil Murphey, bestselling author of 112 books, including the book he coauthored with Don Piper, 90 Minutes in Heaven, and Marley Gibson, author of the Sorority 101 series.

About the book: Many ordinary people experience Christmas miracles—those special moments during the season of giving and receiving when Christmas becomes more than just a holiday. Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson share the stories of those who have recognized the special moments that transcend daily experience and transform their lives. In these stories, people overcome desperate situations through a miraculous twist of fate—all during the most wonderful time of the year. A young boy sits down to read a Christmas book and discovers that his learning disability has vanished. A woman stranded in a blizzard is rescued by a mysterious stranger who she suspects is an angel. And a woman living far from home gets an answer to her prayer in the form of an unexpected gift.

My story, “Miracle of the Nativity” reminds us all that God is still very much with us today, even in the smallest details of our lives during the hardest of times.

What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Join writers groups, critique groups with writers more advanced than you, study writing as a craft. Learn as much about the craft as you can learn, with a mindset that you’ll never know even a fraction of what you need to know. Develop the habit of writing daily – no matter the circumstances. Even if it’s only 500 words per day – that’s an entire novel over a year’s time. It’s oversimplified, but if you’re going to be a writer, you must write.

What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

Writing in general is more difficult than I ever imagined it would be. I’ve held some tough jobs in my lifetime, and writing is by far the most difficult. My brain tends to generate an idea every hour – but learning which ones are workable, feasible ideas is a feat in itself. Then, taking that idea and putting it onto paper – sure, you can just slam it down on paper and type “The End.” But that’s really only the beginning. To get a manuscript to the publishable stage you have to rewrite, edit, hone, tighten, delete, add to, rearrange, and much more. And like most writers I know, the middle of the book is always the hardest to write.

The most exciting and rewarding part has to be the characters. Getting to know my characters so intimately that they become part of my family, and when I speak aloud and call out one of their names, my family doesn’t ask, “Who?” They KNOW. In the early stages of a book, my husband will question me as we run errands, “What kind of car does your character drive? What kind of cereal does he eat?” This helps me know my characters, and they become friends.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I edit almost full-time these days, so being able to write is special time. But when I try to take a break from either, you’ll usually find me exploring some town somewhere – I love to travel – camera in hand. I also love to garden, although my thumbs are more brown than green. We did manage to grow some tomatoes and peppers this year, and I grew some herbs for the first time. I LOVE fresh dill and basil – yum. I also like to cook – just about anything. It’s a good thing my hubby and I like to eat! And even though I don’t get to do it very often, I’m an avid freshwater fisherman. I’ve been fishing since I was five years old, and it is the greatest escape, greatest relaxation of all time.

When you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?

Definitely by computer – I just don’t know how books were created before the invention! If I were still having to use a typewriter, I’d probably have a different career. The backspace key is one of my favorites! I have heard of writers who dictate – and sometimes wonder if that would work for me, but my brain and typing fingers tend to work faster than my voice, so it probably wouldn’t work.

What is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?

I like action/adventure movies and shows – 24, Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure, Executive Decision, and many others like them. With the first book I completed – I knew NOTHING about writing, and had the story in my head, but didn’t really know where I was going with it. If/when I decide to go back and edit it – totally rewrite it is more likely – it will probably be the action/adventure category. The third novel I’m currently writing is definitely an action/adventure detective novel. It has some fast-paced scenes that are my favorite, and my crit partners say I’ve found my “voice,” so I guess all those movies did indeed inspire my writing.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

I’m giving away a copy of the book, and some other awesome goodies, in a fun contest this month! Just drop by my Web site, look for the Contest tab, and leave a comment to enter.

Monday Mentionables: Revisiting Rejection Letters

"Never, never, never give up!" ~Winston Churchill

Happy Monday! I FINALLY got around to sorting the piles of stuff in our office over the weekend - hooray! And as I was moving files from one file cabinet to another, I came across my folder of rejection letters. They're from both agents and editors/publishing houses, and I vowed always to keep them so I could remember how hard it was to get a contract and how many times I had to pick myself up from disappointment. As I was flipping through, I found some that made me smile, and I thought I'd share them with you:

Rejections for One Night in Boston

"I regret having to tell you that I've decided to pass on this. I wasn't convinced enough of being able to place this manuscript, considering the very tight and demanding conditions of the market."

"Thanks but because of your location, I suggest you would be better served by a NYC agent."

Rejections for One Night in Memphis (which went on to become an EPPIE finalist and earn 4 stars from Romantic Times)

"Unfortunately, we have problems with this story. [Our house's] contemporary romances are generally more light-hearted in tone than your novel."

"When it comes to contemporary romances, I am very picky about what I am looking for. I really want to feel a strong connection with the characters and to truly want to see them together. I also look for a story that has a strong purpose and sense of place. Unfortunately, I just did not see what I was looking for in this story."

"You are a good writer, but somehow the story did not strike the right chord with me."

Rejections for Lost in Paradise

"Unfortunately, I just did not fall in love with the story."

"I just was not enthusiastic about this story."

"As I conduct a legal practice in addition to my work as an agent, I am forced to be very selective in the literary projects I take on to represent. While I am eagerly looking for quality women's fiction, I ultimately concluded that your writing was not strong enough to make this a clearly marketable project."

***

Then I went through my folder of "Fan Mail" and pulled out 2 emails at random:

"Just finished reading 'One Night in Boston' last night, well this morning at 1:10 am. It was great and I couldn't put it down! I can't wait to order 'One Night in Memphis' and 'Lost in Paradise'!"

"I just read your first two books and loved them both! You have amazing characters, gripping plots, a fantastic vocabulary, and fresh comparisons. I just had to drop you a note to let you know."

***

Sooo...don't ever give up! One person's rejection is simply that: one person's. The next letter (or email) may be the one you've been waiting for, the one with the wonderful news that says, "I am happy to offer you a contract for..."

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out. " ~Alfred Hitchcock

Today: I am in NYC on a field trip with my students. It's supposed to be chilly but sunny...I'll be back with a full report (and maybe some pictures!) soon.

Tomorrow: I am getting rid of my Facebook account. Sigh. I loved keeping in touch with people, especially as I was planning my high school reunion last summer, but there got to be too much drama recently - leave it at that. Anyone else experience anything similar, on FB or Twitter or another social networking site?

Writers' Wednesday: Links for Writers

"All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Wednesday! Okay, not every link today is for writers. Some are for readers too...

First off, check out the Book Video Contest over at JK Coi's blog and vote for your favorite!

The Meadowland Review is a small, new online literary journal that's accepting submissions for its spring 2010 issue. Details here.

Revelry Magazine is another small, online magazine that's just starting out and welcoming submissions from authors ~ in their words, "anything that relates to the literary world."

Since there were a couple of articles in last month's Writer's Digest about using small markets to boost your writing resume, I highly recommend checking out either of the above and submitting anything you might have. Those publications look great when writing your query letters to dream agents!

Finally, Summer's Song releases in ebook two weeks from yesterday...very exciting...and I'm currently thinking up some kind of cool giveaway events. Oh, I'll be promoting the book in a variety of places that week, too, so stay tuned for the places and times as release week gets nearer. Many cool prizes to be given away, including (of course) the ebook itself!

Monday Mentionables: Thoughts on Halloween and Daylight Savings Time

"One need not be a chamber to be haunted;
One need not be a house;
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material place." ~Emily Dickinson

How was your Halloween? Do you get a lot of trick-or-treaters? None at all? Somewhere in the middle? I've found there are 2 theories to people who hand out candy (or, in the case of my best friend from high school, who hands out candy to the kids and jello shots to the adults bringing them around): you either buy candy you like, so whatever's left you'll eat yourself...or you buy candy you hate, so whatever's left won't tempt you.

Which one are you?

We don't get any trick-or-treaters at all, which always makes me a little sad, but I guess that's OK. We did go to a party Saturday night, which turned out to be a little more raucous than I expected: one of our friends is recently separated and dating a much younger woman (24), so all of her friends were there...and let me just say that it's been a long time since I was 24 and partied like that. Hmm. I don't really miss it, either, truth be told - though it was good for some character ideas for future books. Of course, what isn't good for character ideas?

*****

And then there's Daylight Savings Time. OK, while I do appreciate the extra hour when it comes to early morning (I suppose), this day in fall always seems like f-o-r-e-v-e-r long. Doesn't it? I was ready for bed at 6:3o, and not just because it was pitch back outside. Ugh. It really does just make me want to crawl into bed after work for the next 4 months!

But enough about me. How was your weekend??

Friday Fun Facts: Random Pages from Entwined

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection." ~Anais Nin

So NaNoWriMo is nigh upon us...for those of you writers out there, that means that November is the month in which if you're crazy enough, you sign up to write a 50,000-word novel by the end of the thirty days. Yes, many people do it every year. No, I have not ever been one of them, though last year I chose December as my own month to attempt to do the same. That produced the first 30,000 words of Entwined...and now here I am a year later, trying to finish it. Yikes!! Where does the time go?

Anyway, for kicks, and also to motivate myself to finally finish this story, I thought I'd have my husband choose 5 random page numbers and then post the first 2 sentences on each one. I thought, I don't know, that maybe it would kick start me into remembering why I like this story and where I still have to go with it. Here they are...

5 - Edward Meacham stands to the side, watching. He waits until the sea of black parts and only Alex Smithson and his wife Trinity stand beside Natasha.

86 - His smile changes a little, grows rueful. “If I tell you I don’t really believe in that sort of thing, will you still have dinner with me?”

157 - Of course she wants to know. But it has taken so much effort to heal her heart that she suspects reading Maggie’s journal will undo all the work of the last six months.

211 - “Listen, I’ve got it bad,” she confesses. Her smile is a half-moon singing to him.

234 - There are truths that reach beyond what we can see or read or believe in consciousness. There are truths that should stay hidden, truths that belong to no one except the people who create and hide them in the first place.

Ooh, now I'm excited again! OK, how about you? Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? Do tell, and your reasons why or why not!

Writers' Wednesday: A Blog Post from Yours Truly!

"If you don't allow yourself the possibility of writing something very, very bad, it would be hard to write something very good." ~Steven Galloway

Well, I'm blogging over at the Samhain Publishing Blog today....do stop by and visit me there, would you? Love to hear from you!

Monday Mentionables: Pics from the Boston Trip!

If you didn't check in with my blog last week, I traveled to Boston for a whirlwind 2 days. While there, I accepted a teaching award at Boston College and visited with 3 friends from high school/college. had a WONDERFUL time! So, here are some pics...

With (from left to right) the former student who nominated me for the award, the Dean of the BC School of Education, and the president of the BC Student Senate




With my husband, standing in front of the BC flowers (there were a few of these, all around campus). Boston College has a gorgeous campus, and the weather on the day we visited was 70 degrees~

With my former student, Kerry, in front of one of the many beautiful buildings on campus

A view in Boston Public Garden

In Boston Common, downtown

One of a few squirrels foraging in the now-empty flower beds in Boston Public Garden - they each had their own, by the way. No sharing. Hmm..wonder if it's a squirrel-etiquette thing

They do love posing for pictures

And this duck was hard at work catching something for lunch...