Falling Star Released!

I'm so excited to announce the release of my latest book from The Wild Rose Press,
Falling Star.
Nearly broke and unable to find work, Hollywood has-been Jolie Farnsworth is desperate to feel loved and appreciated. Her husband, a former rock star hopes to ride Jolie's star back to the top--even if it means destroying her in the process.Producer Dante Ebersol is under the gun to create a top-rated reality show and portray Jolie as a train wreck. When he starts falling in love with her, his plans crumble, threatening to end the career he's worked for his entire life.
Get it today at The Wild Rose Press

Do You Hear the Banjo?

Hello from Tennessee! I'm on vacation now - visiting DH's sister and nephew at their new home in the freaking sticks. Let me share what the adventure has consisted of so far: sitting on the porch shooting the stop sign with a beebee gun, feeding the sheep, trudging through a "haunted" cave on a private farm where the overall-clad owner gave a dissertation on canning peaches and making rabbit, dove and deer stew!!!, eating lunch at the old school cafeteria (now a down home style restaurant), which had pretty good food and a shlocky junk store attached, sitting on the porch and shooting paper cups and plates with the beebee gun, shooting the wooden wind chimes with the beebee gun, going the "Second Amendment Gun Shop." This evening we go bowling, then back home for guess what - more target practice - YAY! Tomorrow, we'll probably tour Vanderbilt University's campus (which will actually be interesting) - DH's sis works there now. The nearest neighbors are about half a mile away - past the soybean field and the tobacco field. In all seriousness, it's nice to see where my SIL lives and to visit, although DS and I decided if we ever had to live here. we'd have to hang ourselves. The town (population 300) has 7 churches and a post office - nothing else. SIL bought this giant house built in the 1920's with loads of space and lots of charm. Oh - did I mention the graveyard on the property, which dates from the 1820's? Many of the neighbors also have similar graveyards for their ancestors. I think they died of boredom! Or overindulging in soybeans, corn and tobacco (pronouced tub ak uh here). The natives need subtitles to be understood.
Sunday morning we take our leave and head to Savannah, one of my favorite cities for a Ghost Tour, lots of sightseeing and some good old Southern charm. Thank God it's an actual city and that we're leaving the beebee gun here!

Priorities

Sorry if I've been scare in Blogdom these days. I'm really trying to get some writing done. I did finish the book, BTW - YAY!! I've also been doing some re-write work on an older MS and was deep into it a couple days ago when DD came into my office and wanted to chat.
Well, chatting turned into "a real talk," so I abandoned the writing for the evening and we had girl time. We made earrings together, played a couple hands of cards and talked all the way through. Now, if you're familiar with the workings of a fourteen-year-old girl, you know the times they actually want to speak to a parent are few and far between. I had a hundred things on my To Do List, but none - not one single thing - will get in the way of spending quality time with my children.
DS has also hijacked my attention a few times lately and that's fine, too. Won't be too long before he's no longer living under my roof and I won't get to see him nearly as much as I'd like. I wish I'd known this years ago, when they were both little. I was so busy working or doing all the stuff that probably could have waited, to give them the time I should have. But I've realized that life is too short and there's no going back to correct mistakes. The book will eventually get written, the laundry will be done, but those moments with your loved ones will never repeat themselves.
I know - very introspective for the usual fare here.
I hope you have a great weekend and I hope you get to spend time with those you love.

No More Ms. NiceGuy!

OK - I mean it this time. I'm going to buckle down first thing tomorrow and get back to my regular writing routine. Enough summer laziness. I have a gazillion ideas swirling in my head and after an RWA meeting earlier today and a gentle kick in the pants from Lara, one of my plotting group/goals group members, I'm ready to start writing. First thing on the agenda - finish the damned book I've been working on for months (and not working on for weeks!)
It's been a couple of weeks since our last goal meeting and I left there feeling positively energized and ready to tackle the surgery I've been putting off on the book. But after a couple days of less than stellar word counts, I stalled again. So here's the carrot I'm dangling in front of my eyes. I can start on any of my new projects when I finish the book-in-progress.
So, should I plan to do the YA first, the short, humorous story or the paranormal? So many possibilities! And all I have to do to get to that great place where I'm charting new territory is write a few thousand words... But can I do it? Stay tuned.
UPDATE: Sunday afternoon and I've done a little more than 400 words today. Only a flash in the pan compared to what I'm capable of, but it's a start!

Muse at Rest

This has not been a very productive summer for me, at least so far. I've been struggling to finish my WIP, which is moving along at a snail's pace. I've also been revising a novella, but that honestly hasn't taken very much time from my regular writing. I have one excuse after another:
1. Compromising Positions, my second book, just came out in print and I have been busily promoting it and mailing out copies to friends and family.
2. Planning our vacation to Nashville and Savannah later this summer.
3. Working on the various upcoming book signings I've scheduled for my RWA chapter.
4. Working on a program I am presenting on writing short stories and novellas.
Shall I go on? I can think of a hundred excuses, but what I need to be doing is committing myself to even a minimal daily word count. I'll let you know if I get there!
What about you? Does your Muse go on holiday every now and then?

In Honor of Dads

Since it's Fathers Day, I want to share some thoughts about dads from a writer's perspective. In romance novels, we read about the sexy hero - the guy who makes our heart quicken and stirs the old libido up. He has qualities we want in a mate - maybe he's tall and dark, tough but strong. Perhaps he's wealthy or powerful. But what is it that our heroines seek? It boils down to good mates in biological terms. Scientists tell us women instinctively look for men who have well-muscled shoulders, a full beard (or evidence of the ability to grow one) and a deep voice. These are all signs of a high testosterone level, which equates to a man who can impregnate a woman. Our body unconsciously senses that with this man, our offspring have the best chance of survival.
Emotionally, though, we seek a man who can be a good father, not just a sperm donor. He must show evidence of good character so we can know he'll not only father a child, but hang around to help raise it. So, is this the quintessential man we write as our romance hero? Well, I can't say I've ever read a romance novel where the hero was scrawny or a big pork chop. They never have high voices or lack the ability to grow a beard. So, all types of romance novels - from sweet historicals to sexy eroticas feature dad material. Even if your hero and heroine are too old or too young to consider such things, they are there.
So this Fathers Day, I'm honoring the romance hero - the dad in every man.

Planning for Fun!

I had a meeting today and I must tell you, I'm excited. You see, we're in the midst of planning our biggest book signing of the year - more than 20 romance authors, center court in a big mall right at the beginning of the holiday shopping season. We make these amazing Gift-With-Purchase bags loaded full of books, promo pens, bookmarks, magnets and every other kind of promotional trinket you could think of, plus chocolate, of course. My dining room is already starting to fill up with goodies and the excitement is palpable!
The signing is a fundraiser with Barnes and Noble donating a portion of the proceeds to the Adult Literacy League. We also do some impressive raffle baskets (the ticket money all goes to the ALL). We sold a ton of books last year. Personally, it was the only signing I've ever done where I sold out all my books. Needless to say, I can't wait to participate.
So, if you're an author and you'd like your promo items in those amazing goody bags, leave me a message with your email addy and I'll give you details. Meanwhile, if you're in the Central Florida area, save this date! November 15, 2008