TGIF!!

"My big stand is this: Every child deserves a home and love. Period." ~Dave Thomas, found of Wendy's

Thanks for all the warm wishes yesterday , everyone!

And this is weird, but if you go to Amazon now and search for Lost in Paradise, only the Kindle edition comes up. You can still get there by clicking a specific link I already established (like this one), so it's in their system somewhere, but...guess I'll have to email them today to find out what's up!

***

And here's my Friday Feast...

Appetizer
When someone smiles at you, do you smile back?

Always.

Soup
Describe the flooring in your home. Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix?

A mix of carpet (in the bedrooms), hardwood (in the foyer, kitchen, dining room) and tile (in the great room). It works.

Salad
Write a sentence with only 5 words, but all of the words have to start with the first letter of your first name.

Apples always attract amorous ants.

Main Course
Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption?

Of people? Yep: one of my closest friends at school is an aunt to a boy and girl from Kazhakstan; my principal is mom to 2 girls from China; 2 co-workers have grown sons who are adopted; and I once dated a guy who was adopted (his sister too).

Of furry people? Yep again: we have 2 cats, one adopted from a shelter, one from our front porch. Then there's my parents, some friends at school, a writing friend out in CA, my childhood friend in Detroit...

[I would be surprised if anyone *couldn't* answer this question with a "yes."]

Dessert
Name 2 blue things.

1. The ocean off the Gulf coast of Florida.
2. My cover for One Night in Boston :)

Have a great day!

Allie's Christmas in May - Presents Everywhere!

OK, first off, a hearty Thank You! to Blonde Duck, who nominated me for the "Blogging with Purpose" award. I think that's very cool...I'm not sure I always have a purpose here, but it's nice to know some reader out there thinks I do, anyway!

***
And now for my very exciting news:

Yesterday I received my author copies of BOTH books that are coming out this month! I'm still a little overwhelmed that both Lost in Paradise and One Night in Boston are releasing within a week of each other, but I'm sure not complaining :)

So I thought I'd share with you a little montage of my "Christmas in May" that occurred last night when I got home and found two boxes on my front porch...

Trying in vain to open the first box, without damaging the valuable contents inside...

Ooh, look what it is! The very sexy cover of Lost in Paradise - Eddie West looks even better in my hands! (OK, pun not intended)

2nd box is a little bigger (The Wild Rose Press sends authors 1 complimentary copy, and I ordered 10 additional. Samhain sends authors 10 complimentary copies, and I ordered 10 additional.)

Here it is! The first book I ever contracted, ever edited, ever marketed, ever published...pause for some happy tears, please...

Beautiful back cover, right? Samhain also puts review clips in the front - and speaking of the front, let's just look at the title page:

Sigh. A dream come true...

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Samantha Sommersby

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I have a fabulous interview with romance author Samantha Sommersby. Sit back and enjoy!

Hi Samantha, and welcome to my blog! Can you tell readers a little about your background?

Sure! I was first published in 2005 and in January of 2007 I left what I used to call my “real life” day job in the psychiatric field to pursue writing and working in the publishing industry full-time. I think that my background as a psychotherapist is apparent in my work and it allows me to bring a unique perspective to my characters and stories. I’m thoroughly enjoying having the opportunity to spend my days writing and strive to create a hero that will literally sweep you off your feet.

I live with my husband of eighteen years, my fourteen year old son, and my cocker spaniel, Buck. My husband is a social worker who works with abused children. He’s an avid sailor who loves to surf, and you’ll find bits of him in every hero that I’ve ever written. My son is wonderfully sensitive, with a sarcastic sense of humor. He plays the piano, composes his own music, is a competitive fencer, and worships video games.

On the rare occasion when I manage to set aside some "play" time for myself, you’ll most likely find me reading a book, at the movies, or out wine tasting (we have an 800 bottle cellar and collect mostly California cabernets).

800 bottles?! Wow! (Fans self and wonders if it's 5:00 yet) So, how do you go about developing your characters?

I don’t outline with regards to plot, but I do extensive work before starting a story on characterization. I usually begin with the hero, then I move on to the heroine, and finally I address the important secondary characters. I’m pretty meticulous about it, creating a full background, giving them history, figuring out what motivates them, what it is that they’re afraid of, what they desire most, what they need. I like to get to know my characters inside and out then once I do, I set them loose. What happens after that? Well, they take on a life of their own.

Important question, now: how do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

That’s a constant struggle. I have the advantage of being able to focus on this full-time now, so I keep reminding myself that I can stop and pick things up the following day. I maintain a schedule and although it can be a challenge to stick with it, I do manage to most days. I always stop whatever I’m working on by 2:45 so that I can pick my son up from school, help him with his homework, make dinner, and enjoy the evening with my family. Once upon a time I’d write early in the morning, late at night, and on weekends because that’s the only time I had to write. Now I view writing as my job and I try really hard to balance that out with family, friends…and taking care of myself.

I think that's a terrific attitude to have. But do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

Sometimes I find that I’ve taken my character down a path that wouldn’t be true to them and I get stuck. Normally if I go back a few pages I’ll see where I went wrong. Once that’s fixed things flow smoothly again.

Can you describe your writing space for us?

I have a small office on the northeast corner of the house. We live in an old two-story craftsman bungalow in southern California. It was built in the early 1900’s and the office has built-in bookcases and oak wainscoting. The office was my husband’s domain, but now it’s all mine. I redecorated it last spring. I painted over the dark green walls with a light buttery yellow, moved my favorite reading chair and ottoman from my bedroom down there, made new curtains, and completely reorganized the closet. It’s a cozy space, but it has everything that I need. And, there’s a huge window that overlooks the front yard.

Oh, it sounds wonderful! Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

The third book in my Forbidden series, Forbidden: The Revolution, was released in mid-March and I’m working on promoting it now. I’m also in the early stages of writing book four, Forbidden: The Temptation.

The Revolution is set twenty-five years after the second in the series, Forbidden: The Awakening and introduces Byron and Violet’s son, Dell Renfield. Sorcerer. Sexy vampire. Special Agent. Secret weapon. In Forbidden: The Revolution, Dell is sent on a mission to Las Vegas where he encounters an old enemy of Byron’s and finds the two women that had been abducted along with Dell’s mother during Forbidden: The Awakening. The first woman is Rita, Byron’s former consort. The second is Alex Sanchez, who was an infant at the time of the kidnapping. Alex becomes Dell’s love interest. You’ll still see Byron and Violet, Luna will be back. But I’m also introducing some new characters, Byron’s daughter Lily, his assistant Chase, and a young werewolf names Jake who will be featured in book four. Oh – and there’s also a real badass mercenary mage named Basta in the book.

Sounds great! What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

My favorite genres are urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Laurell K. Hamilton, especially the early Anita Blake stuff. I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan. I discovered Jeanne Stein’s Anna Strong Series last year and I’m about to start on the third. I’ve got more Kim Harrison in my TBR pile, Charlaine Harris, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Kelley Armstrong. There’s this fabulous bookstore here in San Diego called Mysterious Galaxy. Every time I walk in there I walk out with an arm full of books!

Samantha, thanks so much for being here. Readers, make sure to visit Samantha's website, and check out her books! You might just find yourself a new favorite author today...

Follow-up to Yesterday...

"Strategy and timing are the Himalayas of marketing. Everything else is the Catskills." - Al Ries

Thanks for all your comments on yesterday's "birth of a cover" blog post. In fact, Marianne did one of her own today, with all the covers she went through for One Love for Liv. Go check it out - you'll see that mine was pretty painless compared to hers!

Dru asked me the most daunting part of the whole publishing process, and I have to say, it's the marketing. The editing, the revising, the cover design - all that is still related to the writing aspect, which I'm fairly good at (I think!). But the learning curve as far as marketing and promoting a book has been huge, for me. Learning what kinds of promo to use and when, how much to spend, what audience to target for what promo...it's interesting but also overwhelming. After about a year of doing it, I feel marginally more comfortable...but only marginally.

Devon is in the process of having her very first novella published by The Wild Rose Press, and she's outlining her whole journey on her blog, from submission to contract signing to blurb writing to pre-marketing thoughts. I'll be interested to see her cover for Addicted ~ especially since I'm making the trailer for it!

Finally, while we're talking about covers, I should mention that for Lost in Paradise, I only got one version. I loved it, so the artist didn't change anything at all. Let's take a moment and look at that yummy picture of Eddie West again, hmm?...

And guess what I discovered yesterday? It's up on Amazon! Funny thing, though: I think you can buy it (I haven't tried yet) - it says it's in stock. But my "official" release date isn't until May 23. I wonder what's up with that? Hey, if you want it now, give a try and see if you can buy it. Why wait?? :)

The Story of a Book Cover

"Who sees the human face correctly: the photographer, the mirror, or the painter?" ~Pablo Picasso

I got my cover for One Night in Memphis, from my editor yesterday, and I LOVE IT!! It's so perfect. I can't share it with you yet, though, until it gets the official OK from the head honcho at Samhain.

In the meantime, I thought it might be interesting for my non-writer friends to know what's behind the process of getting a book cover, once you sign that golden publishing contract. I didn't know much about it, before I published my first book (and I have to warn you that, from what I've heard, authors have much less input and control when they publish with the big NY houses. Small presses can work more closely with their authors, I think.)

Anyway...

1. Soon after you sign your contract, your editor and/or the art department sends you a book cover info sheet. This is what Samhain's asks:

 Title of Book
 Series name (do you want this on the cover?)
 Author (name to be on cover)
 Author Email
 Editor name and email
 Genre & Time Period
 Where is story set
 Hero Description (Whatever details will help the art department)
 Heroine Description
 Short Summary of Story
 Author ideas/what would the author like to see (Please include specific examples and/or links, attach drawings or pictures if available, to help give art department as clear an idea of what you’re looking for as possible)
 Is there anything you don’t want on the cover or any comments

2. You fill it out, making sure you're as detailed as you possibly can be. You send it back and hear nothing for weeks or months. Then one day, surprise! You open an email from either your editor or your cover artist with your proposed cover.

Note: It may or may not resemble what you wrote on your info sheet.

3. You, your editor, your cover artist, and the publisher make a final decision. This, of course, is how One Night in Boston ended up, after I agonized whether I wanted the heroine on the front:



When I filled out my book info sheet for One Night in Memphis, I emphasized that I loved the clock-face overlay and hoped it could look similar to the Boston cover. And let me just say again: I LOVE IT.

Fingers crossed that the publisher will too, and I can post it here soon!

Surrounded by Inspiration

"I don't know a lot about politics, but I can recognize a good party when I see one." ~Mae West

Had such a lovely time yesterday at Jenna Kernan's Authors' Tea:

Jen is a member of my local RWA chapter (I gave away 2 of her books on my blog a couple months back), and she is absolutely the funniest and nicest person I've met in a long time. She writes historical romance for Harlequin and belongs to 3 - yes 3 - local RWA groups. And every year she has a tea in her home to bring fellow writers together and raise money for Heifer International (she won't let anyone bring anything, so a few years back instead of hostess gifts she suggested a small $$ to a charity).

It was a small group, just 8 of us, but they included a screenwriter, 2 published paranormal authors, 3 published historical authors, and 2 published contemporary authors. I sat between Jen, who just found out she's a RITA finalist this year (big honor in RWA) and a woman who is an RWA board member and also a professor of Victorian literature at a community college in CT.

The meal was scrumptious - scones and finger sandwiches and fresh fruit and lots and lots of tea - and the conversation never stopped for 3+ hours. It was so nice to be in a group of fellow authors, to talk about the writing and marketing and editing concerns common to us all. We told all kinds of crazy stories and laughed until the tears ran, literally. It was terrific.

Plus, it was just the kick of inspiration I needed, and when I came home I sat down at my laptop and got through another 1000 words or so on One Night in Napa. I'm struggling - it's the darned sagging middle - but at least I got something on the page.

And no, I don't have pictures from yesterday, unfortunately, but Jen took some, so if I get my hands on one, I'll post it. Now I'm off to write some more!

It's My Release Month!

"Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is." ~Zig Ziglar

It's finally here!! May 2008...the month in which not one but two of my novels release in print! And of course, that means contests. So here you go: I'm running two giveaways this month, and all you have to do to enter is comment on my blog. The more times you comment this month, the more times you'll be entered. Easy, right?

Prize #1: Signed print copy of One Night in Boston (OR an autographed bookplate for your own print copy, if you're one of my faithful fans who already pre-ordered one, + $10 Amazon gift certificate)

AND

Boston Red Sox goodies (OK, you might not be a fan, but Jack, our hero is) : baseball cap, coasters, bottle jersey.

Prize #2: Signed print copy of Lost in Paradise

AND

Goodies to help you create and enjoy your own slice of paradise: a wine preserver and yummy-smelling sugar plum candles. Oh, and I'll throw in some chocolate too...what's paradise without the sweet stuff?

Two lucky winners this month...I hope you'll play!

TGIF!

Welcome to Friday's Feast!

Appetizer
What was your favorite cartoon when you were a child?
How much am I dating myself when I answer this question? OK, Bugs Bunny (is there anyone who didn't love him?) and the Smurfs. Although in college a friend told me the Smurfs were a communist society, so hmm...I don't know...

Soup
Pretend you are about to get a new pet. Which animal would you pick, and what would you name it?
Easy, a cat. They have tons of personality and don't need a human around 24/7 to tell them how wonderful they are (they already know). And I would never deign to give a cat its name. They name themselves ~ you just have to pay close attention to figure out what it is!

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy getting all dressed up for a special occasion?
Probably an 8 - it's fun, though not the way I'd spend every weekend.

Main Course
What kind of music do you listen to while you drive?
Anything I can sing along to - seriously, I cannot listen to anything BUT music when I drive. If the DJ starts to talk, I change the station.

Dessert
When was the last time you bought a clock? And in which room did you put it?
Tough one...I think it was actually our cuckoo clock from Rothenberg, Germany, that hangs in our great room. It took us 2 hours to pick out, in a room full of gorgeous ones. I love it :)

Exciting News Today!

"But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?" ~Albert Camus

Hey all, I have lots to share today - all good - so hold onto your seats!

First, I just found out I can order my author copies of Lost in Paradise, which I promptly did about 6.7 seconds after I opened the email from my publisher last night. This would be exciting in itself, but it also means I'll have print copies to bring to (and sell at??) my next public appearance, at an eclectic little place called The Spotty Dog, which is both a pub and bookstore. And seriously, whoever came up with that combination should win a gold medal, right? Anyway, I CANNOT wait to hold my book (my baby) in my hands...

Second, the latest issue of Romance Writers Report has good things to say about Samhain, my other publisher. A very interesting article about authors who have made the switch from e-pubs to NY houses had this to say:

"Not all e-publishers are created equal. There are many small presses and e-publishers in operation right now. Who are the leaders? Kensington Editorial Assistant Megan Records cites "Samhain, Ellora's Cave, and Red Sage." Literary agent Laura Bradford (of the Bradford Literary Agency) agrees. She notes, "Ellora's Cave and Samhain are two of the industry leaders for the e-pubs."

I count my lucky stars every day that I'm contracted with Samhain!

And this third announcement has nothing to do with me, but with a terrific cause that you should definitely take a look at, and that's romance author Brenda Novak's annual Diabetes Auction. Proceeds go to diabetes research (her son has diabetes), and let me tell you, there are some awesome items on the auction this year. There's something for just about everyone. Take some time and check it out, OK?

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Maggie Toussaint

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Enjoy today's interview with author Maggie Toussaint...

Hi, Maggie! Thanks for being here today. So tell us, when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I’ve always been a writer. Early on, I poured out my heart in diaries and letters. I loved creative writing. In college, I ventured over to the dark side, biology, because of better job prospects in the deep South. Marriage came along, so did children and a day job. I scribbled essays or short stories from time to time. I typed up newspaper articles as a Pony Club mom. I wrote scientific journal articles for my day job. The urge to write never lessened.

In 1991, I had a snow skiing accident. I fell off the side of a mountain and landed backwards on a rock. The doctor prescribed a month of bed rest, and I read voraciously, sometimes two or three books a day. After reading a number of so-so books, I decided I could write a better book.

It took me three years to write a historical trilogy (100,000 words each) based on the colorful love story of my paternal grandparents. God bless my mother, my sisters, and my best friend for wading through those epics. Those books were rightfully rejected by publishing professionals. I purchased books about writing, subscribed to Writer’s Digest magazine, took a creative writing course at community college, discovered Romance Writers of America, and realized I needed to up my game. Years passed while I honed my craft and my voice. In 2006, I signed my first contract with The Wild Rose Press for a romantic suspense. A few months later I sold a mystery to Five Star. Since then, I’ve contracted a sweet romance to Freya’s Bower (the first in a trilogy) and a second romantic suspense to The Wild Rose Press

What a wonderful journey to success! Can you tell us about your latest writing project or published title?

No Second Chance, my second romantic suspense, was born from my love of horses. I barrel-raced as a youngster. With my friends and cousins, I rode through the moss-draped lanes and marshy flats of coastal Georgia. On a full moon we rode horses while in our sleeping bags, quite a balancing act, let me tell you!

My oldest daughter loves horses. Unlike me, she rode English style, competing in dressage, stadium jumping, and cross country events. When she became too busy in college to ride, we donated Eureka to a charitable riding foundation where sturdy mounts provided physical therapy for chronically ill children. My husband and I were on the board of that charity for a number of years before we were able to let go of the reins.

No Second Chance is about a different type of horse farm, one that rescues unwanted or abused horses. As the story opens, my heroine, Hope, is struggling to keep her farm afloat. Devlin wants to help her, but he’s got problems of his own, namely an enemy that wants to destroy his company. Devlin’s matchmaking mother binds Hope and Devlin together in a business arrangement where they must help each other. Troubles come, uniting Hope and Devlin against their mutual enemy.

Proceeds from this book will benefit a real life horse rescue operation, Days End Farm Horse Rescue, in Lisbon, Maryland. They have been involved with rescue efforts across America. Visit their website at http://www.defhr.org/ for more information on this well-run non-profit. Even better, No Second Chance is now available in both ebook and print formats!

Sounds like a terrific story! How do you go about developing your characters?

Character development is the key to my writing. I spend as much time fleshing out my characters as I do brainstorming plot events. I draw material from real life, from people I observe, from obituaries, from characterization books. I’m particularly fond of Enneagrams. (Check out my favorite enneagram book: Are you my type, am I yours? by Renee Baron and Elizabeth Wagele, HarperCollins, 1995)

Enneagrams seem to be ready made character sketches, giving attributes of each type of person and describing the people that don’t get along.

I use worksheets to create backstory for characters. Before I begin writing, I need to know what kind of car a character drives, how many pairs of shoes are in their closet, and the name of their childhood imaginary friend. To determine a character’s outward appearance, I cruise through my extensive picture files and snip out visuals to help jog my memory. I’ll collage the images together along with pictures of furniture, pets, and anything else that seems relevant. I keep all that stuff near my monitor as I compose the story.

In general, I write strong alpha males and independent, athletic females. My heroines are tomboys, misfits, or late bloomers, which gives them plenty of conflict and angst when physical attraction hits. I also believe that opposites attract, which is another built-in source of conflict for romance.

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

Two words: hunker down. Believe in yourself and write to the best of your abilities. Hold that creative spark close to your heart and guard it carefully. Writing is a demanding, competitive profession. If you want to be published, you have to apply yourself. You have to be willing to miss out on TV shows, to sleep less, to forgo impromptu lunches when you’re on deadline. You have to want it bad enough to persevere when rejection letters or “constructive” contest remarks arrive. You have to make writing a priority in your life. See? Hunker down.

Challenging question: how do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

Balance? What’s that? How many obsessive, focused people do you know who are balanced? Writing is my life; it just took me a while to figure that out.

Great answer :) Maggie, what do you like to do when you're not writing?

I’ve recently undertaken a new community service, hosting a local cable television show through Comcast. The rural area where I live is economically depressed and poverty stricken. Some people here don’t know how to read, many don’t read for pleasure, and few read to their children. On my weekly program, I stress the importance of reading to children. Coming up soon is an adult literacy series. I plan to interview regional authors to highlight different types of reading material. With any luck, About Books will inspire adults to read more.

That sounds really inspirational! Okay, on another topic, when you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?

I started out composing longhand. It was so rewarding to fill notebook pages with scrawling script, to hear the scratch of pen on paper, to physically shape each letter. The downside was that I’d fall asleep transcribing my prose into the computer. Other published writers I knew swore by composing at the keyboard. I didn’t like it at first, but I wouldn’t do it any other way now. I can type almost as fast as I can think, so there’s no lag time between brain and written word. That’s immediate gratification. I’m very much into that!

Thanks so much for being here today! Anything else you’d like to mention?

Allie, thank you for this opportunity to share my hopes, dreams, and books with you. I appreciate your hospitality.

Maggie’s links:
http://www.maggietoussaint.com/
www.myspace.com/maggietoussaint (my blogs are consolidated here)

And readers, check out No Second Chance...it sounds like a winner, and it's available now in both electronic and print formats - you can't go wrong!

What I Want in a Man

Whew! Stacks of papers on my desk to grade, my release month coming up in a matter of days (that means contests, you know!), and so I have no time for an insightful or clever blog post today. I'll leave you with this, instead, a recent email from a friend:

What I Want in a Man Original List:

1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates finer things
9. Full of thoughtful surprises
10. An imaginative, romantic lover

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32)

1. Nice looking
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner
4. Listens more than talks
5. Laughs at my jokes
6. Carries bags of groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries
10. Seeks romance at least once a week

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52)

1. Not too ugly
2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner out occasionally
4. Nods head when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down
10. Shaves most weekends

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72)

1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when asleep
5. Remembers why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears some clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers that it's the weekend

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 82)

1. Breathing
2. Doesn't miss the toilet.

Have a great day!

I've Been Tagged

“To a foreigner a Yankee is an American. To an American a Yankee is a Northerner. To a Northerner a Yankee is a New Englander. To a New Englander a Yankee is a Vermonter. To a Vermonter a Yankee is a person who eats apple pie for breakfast.” ~Michael Owen Jones

Well, Pam tagged me with this meme, and I haven't played in a while, so I'll try to see if I can come up with 6 things you don't already know about me...


The Rules:

a. Link to the person who tagged you.

b. Post the rules on your blog.

c. Write six random things about yourself.

d. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

e. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog.

f. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.


Six Random Things About Me:

1. I can count from 1 to 20 in German.

2. I don't eat any kind of cooked fruit (it's a texture thing; I don't think fruit should be warm and mushy) - this includes apple pie, blueberry muffins, oatmeal raisin cookies, etc.

3. I started walking when I was 9 months old. I also did dance and gymnastics for most of my childhood and teenage years. I was also born on a Tuesday, which means I'm supposed to be "full of grace." All this and still I run into doorframes and the corners of walls when I'm walking through a building, even my own house. Seriously.

4. I'm the chair of my department at work, which means I get to tell people what to do. It's fun.

5. I can grip things with my toes. This was very helpful when I was in gymnastics and needed to stay on the balance beam. Now, apparently, it's just a novelty thing, as hubby likes to call me "ape toes" in his oh-so-affectionate tone. I suspect he's just jealous.

6. I don't like any of the following condiments: mayonnaise, mustard, relish, or onions. You can imagine that I eat a pretty plain hamburger.


I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to play, leave me a comment and let me know!

What I Should Do Vs. What I'd Really Like to Do...

"Fatigue is the best pillow." ~Ben Franklin

Here's what I should do today:

1. Finish grading my students' research papers. Of course, if I spend as much time grading them as most of the students put into writing them, this won't take very long :)

2. Put together packages of promo items to send to a couple of romance writing conferences.

3. Start compiling lists of the groups/book clubs I want to contact, using those links from yesterday.

4. Finish reading a book I'm reviewing for LASR.

However, last night I had the lovely opportunity to attend a black-tie event with hubby and some friends:

(Check out the dessert...a pyramid filled with chocolate mousse!)

....which is why I feel like this right now:


Where's my caffeine??

Some Additional Links for Readers and Writers

"I must confess that I've never trusted the Web. I've always seen it as a coward's tool. Where does it live? How do you hold it personally responsible? Can you put a distributed network of fiber-optic cable "on notice"? And is it male or female? In other words, can I challenge it to a fight?" ~Stephen Colbert

For all my fellow readers and writers out there, I thought I'd share some websites I've come across recently that might be of interest. Let me know if you've visited/used any of these, or if there are others you'd add.

All Romance Ebooks - This is a great website where readers can sate their romance appetites. And for writers, the two women who run the site are absolutely lovely; I met them at the NYC Book Festival event last winter. They're always running ads in Romantic Times and offering reasonable prices to authors who'd like to participate.

BookTour - Every author who has a book in print should be listed here. This site enables you not only to post your works and your bio, along with any appearances, but to search areas where you might give readings or signings as well. And it's free!

MeetUp - This is a brand new site to me, but it looks like a place to search for different kinds of special-interest clubs. Great way to find groups to approach for book readings, I'd think.

PrintRunner - I don't know anything about this site other than Maryann Mcfadden recommended them at the conference I attended last weekend. But their price for bookmarks looks pretty good, so if anyone else has used them, I'd love to hear feedback.

Reader's Circle - For readers, you can search local areas to see if there are already book discussion clubs in place - or you can start one! For writers, you can do the same kind of search, to find possible book clubs to approach for readings.

Reader Views - Again, a new one to me, but it looks as though they have a pretty comprehensive offering for authors, including different "review" packages. I'm not sure how I feel about paying someone to read and review my book, but there's a free option I plan to look into.

Reading Group Guides - I just contacted them for promo information; they claim they can give authors access to their newsletter which goes to their 6000+ book clubs, among other things. I'll keep you posted as I find out more.

Rebecca's Reads - Ditto what I said about Reader Views, above.

Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction - Great place for readers to discover new romance authors and books, and writers to have their work reviewed. They say they'll review all romance except erotica and gay/BDSM, within 3-8 weeks. That's a pretty good turn-around.

Good luck - and again, let me know if you know of other sites that writers or readers would find useful, OK?

TGIF!!!

Happy Friday, everyone! Welcome to my Feast...


Appetizer
Name something you would categorize as weird.

You know those little hairless dogs with snaggle teeth and a sprout of hair on top of their heads? They're weird. Lovable, perhaps, since I once knew someone who owned one, but still weird.

Soup
What color was the last piece of food you ate?

Red: a yummy apple.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy being alone?

Oh, I've always loved my alone-time. 10, definitely.

Main Course
Fill in the blank: I will _________ vote for ___________ in _______.

I will always vote for chocolate in a bakery full of dessert options. (Hah - what did you think I was going to say?)

Dessert
Describe your sleeping habits.

Hmm...well, I try to get at least 7 hours a night, I usually sleep on my right side or my back, and I only wake up if and when my cats are screwing around in some dark corner of the room (which, in fact, happened last night: they'd cornered a mouse at 4 am.)

Have a great day!

Never Before

"Everyone has a story." ~Neil LaBute

Hey everyone, I'm on my way to catch a plane back home to the chilly Northeast (never enough time in the sun, but that's OK).

But I have a short story published over at The Long and the Short of It today. (As of right now, it has the wrong title and author attached to it, but scroll down to the bottom, and you'll see my author bio - it's mine, really, it is).

It's titled "Never Before" - so enjoy the read, and if you'd like, pop back here when you're finished reading and let me know what you think!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Pam Thibodeaux

Welcome to another version of Writers' Wednesday! (Yes, even from the warm shores of Florida, I'm featuring authors). Today, enjoy finding out all about inspirational romance author Pam Thibodeaux!

Hi, Pam, and thanks for being here today! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I am a housewife, mother, grandmother and full-time Insurance Sales Producer. A native of Louisiana, I am also the Co-Founder, President and Treasurer of Bayou Writers’ Group in Lake Charles.

When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I began writing over 25 yrs. Ago after reading one-too-many disappointing romances. I figured that I could do better. A mite arrogant as it turns out because though writing may be fairly easy, writing well isn’t necessarily so.

I think we all make that discovery at some point! Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

My latest published novel is The Inheritance, (which is available in Ebook and Print) but I also have a couple of short stories (Rosettes) either available or coming soon –all from The Wild Rose Press’ White Rose (Inspirational) line. I also have 3 out of my 5-part ‘Tempered’ series available from ComStar Media—also in Ebook and Print!

What terrific success so far! So, how do you go about developing your characters?

Well, Allie, I am a SOTP (seat of the pants) writer so I don’t’ always know much about my characters before I start writing, but we get to know each other pretty well in the process.

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

If you want to make money, write for the market—research, study extensively and write what sells. For any other reason, write from your heart and trust God to open doors for the publication of your works.

Important question, now: What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

For me the most difficult part about writing is editing. I love creating that first draft! That is when I just let it all flow. However, we all know that not many first drafts are perfect….therefore the editing/cleanup (ie; work) is a necessary evil in having a publishable book.

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

Since I work full-time outside of the home, I write mostly in the mornings, evening and on weekends. However sometimes I just let it all go and spend time with family—especially my husband and granddaughter. I’d spend equal time with my grandson if he lived closer.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?

That you can write the book of your heart and in due season, it will get published.

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

Computer –though occasionally I’ll print something and continue by hand if I’m going to be somewhere that a computer is not available.

Thanks for a great interview, Pam. Anything else you’d like to mention to readers?

First, I’d like to thank God for my success then, I’d like to thank all of my friends, family and fans for their continued support of my career. You ALL are the wind beneath my wings! I’d also like to encourage new writers to NEVER GIVE UP! Writing is a gift and a talent….don’t bury your talent or hide your gift.

Thank You, Allie for taking the time to create such wonderful and informative interview questions and for offering this opportunity to writers to share their lives with others!

You're very welcome...readers, make sure to visit Pam's website today and peruse her selection of books - and have a great day!

There Are Characters Everywhere

"I learned to write by listening to people talk. I still feel that the best of my writing comes from having heard rather than having read." Gayl Jones

Greetings from sunny Florida!

I'm not a big fan of flying, but there's nothing like getting on a plane in chilly temps and then getting off 3 hours later to palm trees and sunshine.

Actually, I realized yesterday that there's another advantage to flying: sitting in the airport and people-watching. I can find fodder for characters in my next 5 books, if I sit there long enough. From the elderly couple in matching wheelchairs speaking a foreign language I don't recognize, to the family with a beautifully made up wife who's chasing 3 young boys around the terminal while her husband talks nonstop on his cell phone, to the teenage-looking mother trying to comfort her newborn...it's all there.

Malls are good places for people-watching, too - especially if you're writing Young Adult or have a teenager anywhere in your book.

And of course, schools are built-in petri dishes full of character ideas, from kids all the way up to the adults. I'm lucky on that front; I'm faced with new ideas every day.

Now I'm off to give beach yoga a try...don't be surprised if I work it into a scene somewhere down the road!

What about the other writers out there? Where do you people-watch? Or do your character ideas come from other places?

And One More Thing...

"There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for." ~James Nathan Miller

Follow up to yesterday's follow up...

I made the fatal error of not bringing along any promotional material to the conference, though I honestly didn't think or realize there would be an opportunity to distribute anything (thus the fatal error...there's always an opportunity).

I sat at a table for lunch with 4 other women, and the conversation turned to pen names. When I piped up that I used one, they said, "You're published? How wonderful." And I had nothing at all to give them, with my name or website or anything. I told them One Night in Boston was available for pre-order on Amazon, but that was it.

Well, sometime in the 24 hours that followed, I found I'd sold another copy of my book. Coincidence? Maybe. But I'd like to think one of those women went home, looked it up, and liked what she saw.

###

And now for the most exciting news of the day: hubby and I are flying to sunny Florida for a 4-day vacation! We're visiting parents/inlaws and soaking up a little warmth during our spring break from school.

But never fear: my parents have high-speed connection, so I'll still be blogging. See you tomorrow!


P.S. - Read yesterday's comments, if you didn't before. The author whose marketing presentation I attended, and reported on, stopped by to visit!

Follow Up on Yesterday's Conference

OK, a report from yesterday's conference:

First, it was held at a local college, about an hour from my house - a beautiful setting, with delicious food, and only $40/person for the whole day. Plust it was so nice to be around other authors...and many of them, when they found I was published, congratulated me. For all of that, I'd do it again even if the workshops weren't great, which they were...

1. Reading by Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead and Exit A: I hadn't read either of his books, but it didn't matter. He read from his latest WIP, which I thought was really cool, that he didn't choose an already-published book. He stopped a couple of times to talk about process, and what I found most interesting was the word count he sets for himself each day: 500-1000 words. That's it. He writes for 2-3 hours a day, for 6 weeks or so, and then takes a couple weeks off. After a couple of years, he has a complete novel of 350 pages or so. I thought it was great that he doesn't rush the process. He was down to earth, quite humble, and a great writer, besides. He also emphasized the importance of making sure the reader is asking "What next" on every page.

2. Workshop on Teaching War through Literature: For the English teacher in me, it was a great workshop with a dynamic teacher. Made me want to take a college class again.

3. Promoting and Marketing your Book: Even though I knew a lot of what was discussed in this one, I still picked up a few things. The presenter was author Maryann McFadden, who self-published her women's fiction novel The Richest Season, sold over 30,000 copies, and went on to find herself an agent who sold the book at auction to Hyperion. Truly a success story, and a rare one at that. She was in real estate before, so she's good at talking to people and finding ways to make a sale. Her biggest tips were that, especially for the self-published or small press author, Independent Bookstores and Local Book Clubs are your best friend. They're both looking for local authors to meet and read. She even suggested that if you aren't published, you should still contact a book club and tell them you're looking for feedback, and you'll use their criticism and/or reviews for marketing to an agent or editor. Finally, she said definitely call rather than email these bookstores. They're much more likely to respond to a personal call than the dozens of emails they receive on a daily basis. She's started up a website as well, for authors: ABetterPlacetoWrite.com. I have no idea if it will turn out to be anything worthwhile, but you can always check it out.

Interesting note: She had one thing that many new authors don't have, which she admitted, and that's money: she gave herself an advance on her credit card when she first self-published and called it a "grant" for her writing career. She wouldn't specify how much, but she likened herself to another author who did the same thing, to the tune of $25,000. I don't know about you, but I don't have that kind of money. Still, the ideas of reaching out to local groups are good ones, and I'll definitely put them to the test in the next couple of months, when my two books release.

We'll see what happens!