More Conference Stuff

Yesterday saw another trip to Chinatown for a few forgotten things, some interesting bakery goodies (chocolate-covered winter melon mooncake anyone?) and a side trip to Macy's for Louisa, where we met the very interesting Vera. Best. Saleswoman. Evah.

Then, believe it or not, I actually wrote. Sure, it was just three pages, but still! I should get big credit for writing at conference. After that, Louisa and I took a stroll through the Literacy Signing to say hi to some of our friends. Both Roxanne St. Claire and Lara Santiago sold out. I'm sure some others did too, those are the only ones that I know of for sure. We took a little break to change into some Chinatown silks before heading off to the RWA Online party. Fun was had by everyone but I had to leave while the fun was still happening as I am not yet truly adjusted to the time difference.

Today things kick off in earnest and I hope to actually attend a workshop or two before this evening's festivities: the Romance Divas dinner followed by the TKA party.

Okay, off to the gym. I've worked out every day I've been here and today will not be the exception.

Conference Update

Not much conferencing going on as of yet, but we had a fun day in Chinatown yesterday. Ate dim sum, laughed alot, you know the drill. There's some fab shopping to be had outside of Chinatown, too. I bought THE most delicious Juicy Couture sunglasses. So me. Hopefully someone will snap a good pic of me in them and I'll post it.

I actually hope to do some writing today. Shocking, I know.

More later.

Off To Nationals!

Hey gang, I'm off to the airport. Can't wait to see some of you in San Fran!

Talk To Me!

I have to give a short presentation on setting at my chapter meeting tomorrow. Help me! What should I talk about? How important is setting to the stories you write? How do you choose your setting?

I've always believed that setting is really another character. Do you think that too? Are there any settings that turn you off? Make you want to read a book?

Help me!

Project Meh

Normally, I would talk about Project Runway today but you know what? I found the whole episode to be rather uninspired and not exactly blogworthy for me today. Sad, I know. I expect so much out of that show. I will say that having the models go out and buy the fabric was stupid. The dresses would have been incredible if the designers had been able to do that job themselves. Instead, the dresses were, IMO, boring and too much the same. Whatever.

Instead, I'm going to give you another pic of the mouth-watering David Boreanaz (throwing James Marsters in there doesn't hurt either) and tell you how I will probably waste away the afternoon watching Angel on Hulu. I'm about halfway through season 3 of Buffy and kinda over it. All that angst over how they can't be together and Buffy's cold shouldering of Angel are getting to me. Makes me want to slay Buffy just a smidge, so I'm moving on. For now.

I'm also getting my nails done for Nationals today. Exciting stuff, I know. And at some point, I may actually write. I've got a new, slightly "not me" idea careening around in my head and I'm anxious to see what it looks like on the page. Is it crap? Is it fabulous? I'm not sure yet.

How long does it take you to decide if a new idea is working?

Say Hello To My Newest Obsession

You're welcome.

My Broken Heart

I'm blogging at Fictionistas today about my recently broken heart. Come share!

Don't Be Jealous

I know you're going to wish you could live my fabulous life, but try to contain yourselves.

Monday To Do:
1. Scrub toilets
2. Mop floors
3. Dust
4. Fold laundry

If I have the time, I might even do some dishes and clean the kitchen. The fun never ends.

What are you up to today?

Yay! Part III Is Here!

If you haven't watched this yet, hurry up! It all disappears on Sunday. And as of today, you can watch all three parts. No uncomfortable waiting necessary.

Odds-n-Ends

Today's post is a mish-mash, so bear with me.

*Saw the gator again last night. Got a few pics, too, but I took them on Hotrod's camera and I have no idea how to download them so that will have to wait for his cooperation.

*Decided to start working out again yesterday as I am tired of feeling like a lump. Being fluffy holds no appeal for me, but my love of food is at an all time high. Unfortunately.

*Gena Showalter is talking about her first sale at Dear Author. Go check it out.

*Lastly, I've been doing some shopping for Nationals, even though I said I wouldn't. I haven't spent much though. I've stuck mainly to the clearance and sale racks. Got some cute stuff yesterday, including two really sweet pairs of shoes. You know, because I really needed shoes. I could only find a pic of the flats. They're not quite that bright in person and have sort of a shantung silk look to them. Plus, bonus, they're really comfy.

Project Wack-a-doodle

Season 5 (and the last season that will be on Bravo) of Project Runway got off to a bang last night with what looks to be some of the most interesting designers yet. (An aside: Bravo has done little to no promotion for this season - perhaps because they lost the series to another network? Can you say sore loser?)

As always, there is one designer who sticks in my craw. Maybe because he's too...girlicious? Ugh. That is so not a catch phrase that will catch on. The tanorexic Blayne is way too in love with himself if you ask me. Where is Christian when you need someone called a hot tranny mess, I ask you?

The winner of this first challenge was Kelli - awesome chick with a full sleeve tat on one arm. She used vacuum cleaner bags that she dyed herself with ink, coffee and bleach to make the skirt and some burned coffee filters for the bodice. Other elements of the dress contained parts of a spiral-bound notebook and thumbtacks. She pretty much rocks like a rockstar and is my early favorite.

The loser was Jerry, whose outfit looked like it might be worn by a serial killer escaped from a nut house butcher shop. Wow. Scariest use of a tablecloth and shower curtain ever. He did not, as Tim Gunn would say, make it work.

I'm so glad this madness is back on TV. I has a happy!

You're In, You're Out. You're In, You're Out. You're In...

We recently installed a pet door panel (and by we, I mean Hotrod) in one of our sets of sliding doors. This was done in hopes that we would no longer be forced to get out of bed because of the crying/meowing/wrestling/carrying on that occurs when the hellions want out at 3 AM. (And so you know, this only gets them onto the fully screened lanai, not the actual great outdoors.)

So far, this door has been met with a great deal of "meh." I thought Sam had figured it out, and I think he has for the most part, he still occassionally goes to the slider and cries. Max has learned to come in, but can't get that the door will also let him out. *sigh* And Scooter, the cat who taught himself to flush the toilet so he could watch the water go down, doesn't seem to get the door at all.

Anyone have any ideas how I might speed up this learning curve? I'd love some training ideas.

Phrased Out

I'm over at Fictionistas today talking about words and phrases that do/do not belong in conversation - come add your ideas!

Hot Mess Monday

So the Twilight movie, based on the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers, has finally hit the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Um...is it just me or is that pic of Edward just completely sad? I mean, in the book he's this fabulous, mind-blowingly handsome, sparkly dude. In that pic, he's more like some kind of dull, mind-eating zombie. (And I get the feeling that I could snap him like a twig.)

I hope he doesn't look like that in the movie, or you're going to have theaters full of rioting teenage girls. Or do teenage girls think pale and wasted is hot?

Bumpy Things Report

After many days of nothing, I spotted the gator again last night. I said I thought he 5-6 feet before, but I take that back. I think he's 6-6.5 easily. He was swimming with most of his body showing, so it was easier to tell. I got a really good look at his face with the binoculars, too, and now...I kinda feel sorry for him.

He looks like he's usually the last one the other gators pick for dodgeball. He's got about a 5 inch scar that runs from the corner of his eye down the side of his neck. And his jaw isn't right. Like it's deformed or was damaged in a fight. It's all twisted to the right and lopsided. On the left side, you can plainly see several of the teeth from his bottom jaw. Straight on, it gives him a kind of sad expression.

I know he's a gator and a decent size one, so he's obviously doing all right for himself, but I have a soft heart toward any kind of animal and I hate to see them suffer, you know?

Anyway, have a good weekend!

50 Books In A Year

I'm in the midst of number 28 right now, so I'm well on track to read 50 books this year, however I have to say I thought it would be easier. I figured I read that many anyway. I thought reading 50 books would be a piece of cake. It hasn't been. There have been a handful that I've read half-way through only to quit because they were so bad. You don't get credit for those. Then there are some like New Moon and Lover Enshrined that are long enough they ought to count for two. Anyway, I'm on track, which is cool because I hate to attempt a thing like that and fail.

How many books do you think you've read this year? Are you keeping track?

Which of these authors will you be?

From Slunch, a group blog of publicists, comes a list of author archetypes you do NOT want to be on (at least, I don't think you want to be on this list - personally, I'm making notes for the future):

1) The Space Case: Although well-intended they forget about interviews (even after being reminded the night before) and if they do remember they have an event, they’ll show up late. The net result causing mild ulcers every time you get a phone call from a reporter or bookseller who doesn't know how to get a hold of him/her. Solution- Never let them out of your sight.

2) The Overeager: Not to be confused with the Gem (see below). While thankful and willing, wants to do too much and constantly floods your inbox with unfeasible ideas. “Hey, how about we send Oprah my signed tiger woods golf club along with a copy of the book?” ummmm, dude, your book is about child rearing and Oprah is friends with Tiger. I’m sure she can get his club any time she wants. Solution- Ignore the majority of their emails and never reply immediately to anything they send you.

3) The Gem: Thankful for any and everything you get them, they are an eager beaver willing to do anything and everything you ask them. At times, you feel pity for getting them on WOR’s Joey Reynolds show and making them stay up till 3am, but hey, its a national booking. Solution- Thank God.

4) The Two Face: Will deal with you politely, then complain to their agent and get their agent to do the dirty work for them. Oh sure, you’re all smiles now, but that venom dripping from your agent’s surgically reinforced lips tells me a different tale. Solution- Document everything and share this ammo with the editor and your boss so you have peeps in your corner fighting for you. Take author off your Christmas card list.

5) The Ego: A prima donna that comes in 2 levels, unjustified and justified. The Unjustified Ego is the first time author who thinks they should be the center of your attention and laments their lack of coverage loudly. The Justified Ego is the New York Times bestselling author who's sales make up your paycheck and who can actually get you fired if you screw up. Solution: Bitch about the Unjustified Ego to their editor and they’ll whip em into shape. As for the Justified Ego, do your damndest to do anything and everything you can for them.

6) The Recluse: Impossible to get to do any media whatsoever and you can only communicate with them through their agent. Solution- None.

7) The Waste: Sadly, The Waste has no presence whatsoever, looks ugly, and can't hold a conversation no matter how brilliant they sound in print so you can't get them any publicity outside of an email Q&A. Solution- None.

8) The Neurotic: Constantly worries about their performance, compares themselves to other authors and are self deprecating to a fault and detriment of their publication. Bonus points if #8 is also an Unjustified Ego. Solution- Prozac, counseling.

9) The Amazon Author Crack Addict: All of the above obsessively check their amazon.com ranking.

ARCS I Really Need

I'm hoping Roxanne St. Claire and C.L. Wilson have their Google alerts up and working because I really need ARCs of their next books and I'm hoping this post will go a long way in that direction. Like, really need these fabulous books. Willing to beg, in fact. Not that I think that should be necessary. I'm a fabulous person who deserves to read these before everyone else. LOL

First up would be Roxanne St. Claire's Now You Die, available August 26th. This is the one that concludes the mini-series trilogy within her Bullet Catcher series (first of the trilogy - First You Run, second - Then You Hide). This is Lucy's story - the creator of the Bullet Catchers. Hot, sexy, serious action, plus buff men with guns. 'Nuff said. WANT!

Then there's C.L. Wilson's King Of Sword And Sky, third in her Tairen Soul series, releasing September 30th. This is fantasy romance like nothing you've ever read. Lush, rich, emotive and all with a slight patina that makes each brand new story seem like a tangle of well-loved myth and legend revisited. Good stuff. WANT!

Now ladies, concerning those ARCs...you know how to find me. I'll be waiting. (Plus I promise to buy the book once it's actually released. I always do anyway!)

You ate what?

I'm blogging at Fictionistas today about the crazy food concoctions born out of college life and no money. Come tell me about your strange combos at Fictionistas!

WOOHOO!!!

One of my BFF's, Louisa Edwards, has SOLD! Here's the PW report:

Rose Hilliard at St. Martin's Press preempted world rights to four
books by editor-turned- author Louisa Edwards via Deidre Knight. Set
amid the New York restaurant scene, the first book in the series is
called Can't Stand the Heat and is slated to launch in fall 2009, with
subsequent titles to appear every six months. Knight is a romance
author as well as agent, and Edwards was her first editor at NAL. When
Edwards left New York publishing, Knight briefly worked with Hilliard,
who subsequently left for SMP.

Now go give her some love in person here.

Happy Fourth!!!

Have fun, be safe, eat too much and think patriotic thoughts!
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Would you wear this?

Would you wear this dress? Answer first, then highlight the following for crazy secret this dress hides: It's made of condoms.

Now, would you still wear it? Does it change the way you feel about it? Why or why not?

Taking It Slow

It's been raining a lot here lately. Heavy, drowning rains accompanied by lightning and wake-the-dead thunder. The kind of storms that cause your electricity to flicker and your hair to stand on end.

Fun, fun stuff.

So the pool is rather full and the cats seem less than enthusiastic about trying the new cat door Hotrod installed for them so they can go out on the lanai anytime they want without one of us having to get up and open the slider for them.

As for me, I'm going to veg on the couch and read the last few pages of Roxanne St. Claire's Then You Hide. Are you reading this series? It's THE AWESOME. Seriously, get out there and treat yourself to some hot, hot Bullet Catchers today.

She works hard for the money

I'm at Fictionistas today, talking about summer jobs and stupid tourists. Come chat!