This just in from The Knight Agency

On Wednesday, September 30th @ 9pm ET, Louisa Edwards will be the featured guest author in The Knight Agency chat room. Formerly an editor at Penguin's Berkley imprint before turning in her editor's hat, she describes her debut novel, CAN'T STAND THE HEAT (St. Martin's, Sept. 2009) as a "culinary romance."

Louisa has an indepth knowledge of the ins and outs of the publishing industry, and she'll be sharing lots of information about her experience as a first-time author and details on her upcoming projects.

Hope to see you there! Of course, there will also be fun trivia and prizes!

Here's the 411 on CAN'T STAND THE HEAT: For sharp-tongued Miranda Wake, the chance to spend a month in Adam Temple’s kitchen to write an exposé is a journalistic dream come true. Surely Miranda can find a way to cut the hotshot chef down to size once she learns what really goes on at his trendy Manhattan restaurant. The trouble is, she never expected Adam to find out her most embarrassing secret: this critic has no idea how to cook.

As for Adam, well, he’s not about to have his reputation burned by a critic who doesn’t even know the difference between poaching and paring. He’ll just have to give the tempting redhead a few private lessons of his own—teaching Miranda what it means to cook with passion.

To learn more about Louisa, visit www.LouisaEdwards.com.

What: CHAT with Louisa Edwards
Where: TKA's Chat Room
When: Wednesday, September 30th @ 9pm ET
How to Chat: (1) Click on this link: http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545
(2) Enter a username and password (any combination)
(3) Click Login

And I'll see you there!

To finish or not to finish, that is the question

I'm over at Fictionistas today, talking about finishing books that don't hold your attention. Do you? Come chat!

Yay! It's Monday!

I just read some article about how we should learn to greet Monday with a sense of joy because it's a new beginning, a chance to start fresh, blah, blah, blah.

I'll greet Monday with a sense of joy when it does the same for me. Until then? Monday can bite me.

I have to get some groceries today, but then it's all about the writing. I need to do what I've begun to call "head down" writing. You know, that kind of writing where you block out everything else and just power through? I had hoped to do that this weekend a bit, but I had a chapter meeting then Hotrod found out he had a sinus infection, so I didn't get much done.

Oh well. Tomorrow's a new day and all that jazz. What are you up to?

Caturday!

Office help.

Getting Thin

I'm starting a new diet today. Writing under deadline has shown me that my time isn't what it used to be and my focus has narrowed to such a solitary point that I will expend brain power on the book, but not so much on what's the healthiest thing to eat.

So.

I've taken the leap and decided to try NutriSystem. My mom's done it a few times with good success and I've heard good things about it from some others. Plus, I'm actually doing it along with two of my lovely writer friends, so we can all support each other.

Wish me luck! If you've ever tried NS, I'd love to hear what you thought of it.

Here's a question for you all

Do you ever avoid something because it's popular?

I know that for me, when something gets embraced by the masses, that something will start to lose its appeal to me. Not always, mind you, but occasionally.

The Harry Potter books are an example of this. I've never read them and I have no desire too. They became so popular, I lost interest.

Crocs are another one. Besides the fact that I think they're hideous, everyone has them. That immediately negates their desirability in my mind.

Do you ever feel this way?

The Land of the Living

After several days of being sick (Is it just me or is almost everyone you know getting sick, been sick or just getting over something?), during which I felt like a zombie and probably slept like one too, I have finally returned to the land of the living.

Which is also the land of writers under a deadline.

So after running a few errands, I'll be chained to my desk hard at work making stuff up again.

What are you up to?

This is not a post.

I'm sick. Just a regular cold, it seems, but still, I'll be on the couch all day downing Nyquil and napping. Hopefully I'll be well enough to get back to life tomorrow.

Caturday!

Angry cat yoga.

I'm audi!

I'm off to the Central Ohio Fiction Writer's Conference for the weekend. Y'all be good. I'll have pics of my exciting new red highlights (lowlights?) when I get back. Which look nothing like those in this picture. I swear on my cat's whiskers.

Small Ephiphany

I realized something last night as I was struggling to make word count for the day. Sometimes, I think about a scene too much. And thinking about it - over anticipating it - makes it harder to write. The more I think it's going to be hard to write, the more it is. When in reality, all I have to do is block that noise out and write the stupid thing.

Because even if it sucks, at least I then have something to work with, you know what I mean?

Here's to thinking less and writing more. What's your latest writing epiphany?

It's peanut butter jelly time!

I'm over at the Fictionistas today talking about the classic PB&J. Come on over and chat!

Monday. Again.

At long last, I shall finally be abolishing my roots and returning some blonde goodness to my hair. Yes, I have an appointment with Vincent for a cut and color. About time, trust me.

In other news, it was just a so-so writing weekend, meaning I wrote, but not as much as I would have liked to. Sunday was super busy with church and then chapter contest stuff.

Today I have some errands, but then I'll be writing. And starting to think about what I'm packing for the writer's conference I'm going to this weekend.

What's your Monday look like?

Caturday!

Max contemplates life as a Bullet Catcher. Or Mouse Catcher. Or Lizard Catcher. Or Bird...

In other, more writerly news, I'm being interviewed over at the Midnight Moon Cafe today. Stop by and say hi!

Featured Film Friday

Over the holiday weekend, I finally got around to watching Confessions of a Shopaholic. It was fun, but not a movie I think I'd need to see again. Basically, it was uber predictable. I could guess what was going to happen next at every turn. But the clothes and shoes kept me entertained, so I watched to the end.

Have you seen it? Do you agree with my assessment?

And hey, I'm being interviewed over at Embrace The Shadows today - come check it out!

My favorite ways to procrastinate

Like you need help, right? Still, these sites are great for when you need a break:

Awkward Family Photos

People Of Walmart

Weird Asian News

Don't blame time lost on me. That's all I'm saying.

Wednesday is for writers

Jeannie Ruesch has created a WIP notebook that's worth a look - especially if you like to keep yourself organized. It's not free, but at $6.95, it's hardly expensive. Check it out here: http://www.jeannieruesch.com/mywipnotebook.shtml

Where's My Hassenpfeffer?

Of course this comes from the same people who brought us Hello Kitty. Why wouldn't it? Check out what I'm talking about over at Fictionistas today.

Happy Labor Day!

On this Labor Day, I'll be...wait for it...laboring. On my book. Because I need to make up some ground. How that's going to go with Hotrod home, I'm not so sure. I'm hoping he'll go golfing.

What are you doing this Labor Day?

Caturday!

Do you ever feel like you're being watched?

Character Keeper - free writer software

Now that I'm writing this series that involves the same characters, I've come to see the wisdom in creating a "bible" for the series with all the characters, places, descriptions, etc. Then I stumbled upon this software, Character Keeper, which seemed like just the ticket. I've downloaded it and am going to play with it today. Looks very simple to use and if it helps me get organized, then WIN!

You can check it out for yourself here: http://magicalwords.net/software/ or click on the screenshot image to get a better idea of what it looks like.

If you try it, let me know what you think? Either way, stop by the Magical Words blog and say hi to the authors who've made this software possible.

Guest Blogging

I'm guest blogging over at Hooked On Romance today. Stop by and comment to enter for a chance to win a copy of All Fired Up!

I'm wiped.

If I were cute and furry, that would be me, passed out on my keyboard.

Who knew release day was so tiring? And so busy, yet so lacking in accomplishments?

I'm taking the day off from the net today so I can write and catch up. I suggest you do the same, but you know, so you can read All Fired Up, natch. ;o)

You know, reading is one of those things I'm woefully behind on too...how about you? Read anything good lately?

Release Day! And other stuff!

Today's the day ALL FIRED UP officially goes on sale! Can you even believe it? Seems like forever ago I signed that contract. But today, it's official.

YAY!

Go buy your copy here (seriously, go buy one or my kittens will cry and you don't want that, do you?), then head over to the Fictionistas and check out my interview with the lovely Carol Alt and the discussion of her super-fun second book, Model, Incorporated.

And big congrats to my friend, Louisa Edwards, on the release of her book today too - Can't Stand The Heat is in bookstores now so grab a copy before they sell out!

Lastly, but certainly not leastly, today is The Sicilian's birthday. Happy birthday, Dad! I love you!