*cough* *cough*

I hate the fact that I've been blogging sporadically. This week has been brutal. I started feeling bad Monday and then everything went downhill. I spent Monday and Tuesday in bed. It's called sinus infections/fever/sore throat/all kinds of cooties.
I can kind of breathe today, but my voice is not a pretty thing. I actually lost it Wednesday. I didn't mind the kids dancing and grinning. I didn't have the energy to beat them. *grins*
I think I'm on the mend. *crossing fingers* Because I really hate being sick. I have this preference for being able to breathe. Mebbe that's just me.
I have to pry my booty out of bed for parent/teacher conferences tomorrow. Oh, and it's the oldest chicken's birthday. And the last for this month. THANK GOD! Then there's a fall carnival. Have to get stuff for the kid's treasure hunt. Then there's basketball games Saturday, and I'm supposed to help with the concession.
Oh geez. Give me some meds. I'm going back to bed.
Grins*

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Oh my goodness. *blinking*
I see Winter has arrived in my fair state. It's probably a balmy thirty degrees outside right now with strong winds gusting from the north. *shivering*
I have about an hour before I start making a difference around here, *grinning*, and cooking or something.
I like to cook on Sundays. Today we're doing fried chicken, potatoes, corn, and toast. Mmmmm
Good eatin', my friend.

My Author's Week at WCP Reader's Group has been great! I've had quite a bit of participation, and I absolutely LOVE to talk to fellow authors and readers. LOVE IT.
Now I'm working on my first book in my four-book set. And another naughty novel. I really do like writing both. All kinds of fun.
Hope everyone stays warm and safe.

Oh...almost forgot. *laughing*
We had a sheriff on our porch this morning at about eight o'clock. Seems some idiot stole a car and torched it in the pasture right across the street from ours. Can you believe that? We are VERY lucky that stuff didn't catch and spread.
And for this...I'm thankful.
Grins*

In hiding...

Shhhhhhhhhh

I'm hiding from the children. It's Fall Break. *sigh* Does anyone ever remember being out so much when they were going to school? Not me.
Yesterday was middle chicken's birthday. Shopping. For hours. But she had a great time. I have one more this month. (Thank you, Lord) Then I can focus on Christmas. *snort*

And now some GOOD NEWS!
I've been contracted by Whiskey Creek Press Torrid http://whiskeycreekpresstorrid.com for a FULL NOVEL! WOO! WOO!
I already have two short stories. One is Naughty and Nice due out January 2006 in the Winter Wishes Anthology. Then there is Intervention which will be in the Spring Flings Anthology due out in April 2006.
The title of the full is What He Wants. It's a Paranormal Romance.
I am so excited!
And now...back to work. I have a Contemporary that I need to work on. Oh...and another spicy story.
hehe
It's good being me.
Grins*

My Author's Week

Hello everyone!
I wanted to invite you to my Author's Week I'll be having at Whiskey Creek Press Reader's Group. You can join the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCPreaders/ or you can simply go to the website http://wcpauthor.com/ and scroll to the bottom where it says "click to join."
I'll be posting excerpts of several of my works and giving away gifts such as downloads of my book, gift certificates, and an autographed paperback of my first release.
I would love to see you there! I will post throughout the day and respond to posts as they come in. There's no set time. You come and go as you please. It's just a great way to interact with readers and have a lot of fun.
I'll be there all week answering questions and talking about my books and writing.
See you there!
Grins*

Definition of a weekend *snort*

Main Entry: 1week·end
Pronunciation: 'wek-"end
Function: noun
: the end of the week; specifically : the period between the close of one working or business or school week and the beginning of the next
lookupchange('weekend','lookUpDic');
See? That's what I thought.
And then I read my horoscope. And really...this time it's quite accurate.
Chrys,
When others require that you do something in particular, you often rebel. You'd prefer to do things your own way. Today, however, you may not have a choice. Sure, you can get yourself totally frustrated by fighting against your obligations, but it will be easier to just do what you must and then be free to later do what you wish.

And now...a little to-do list for today and tomorrow:
Whip up another website for my steamier works. (I'm technologically challenged)
Gather excerpts from my released and soon-to-be released works for my Author's week next week. (Haven't started)
Gather the gifts and list them for my Author's week. (Have three. Need five.)
Write a spotlight for our Authors Unlimited newsletter. http://authorsunlimited.net/ (Hate to repeat myself...but haven't started)
And three smaller things:
Hammer out a fifty word or less blurb for my story in the Winter Wishes Anthology coming out in January from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. http://whiskeycreekpresstorrid.com/
Make another signature line and somehow fit all my good stuff on there. *smacking head repeatedly*
Send out announcements detailing my Author's Week and plead for people to come. *grins*
Wish me well. I stocked up on Diet Pepsi yesterday and have already threatened the children's lives. So all should be well with that.
Grins*

Making a change

Since I've decided to pursue both traditional and erotic romance, I've elected to use a pen name for the erotic romance. It's not a HUGE change from my name. It's more of a derivative. So...without further ado...My erotic romance pen name is C'ann Inman.

And being the short-sighted heifer I sometimes can be...this now opens up a whole new can of worms. Another website linked to my first. Another signature line. More business cards. (I am going for RED.)

This was prompted by the fact that I'm having fun writing both. I've just had another short story accepted to Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. It's going to be in the Spring Flings Anthology due out April 2006. That makes two short stories with this genre. I also have a full that the editor is graciously eyeballing right now. I have at least two more fulls and two more shorts I want to pursue in this genre. For now.
I also have at least six ideas for traditional stories. Two have more than 25,000 words right now.

Has anybody looked into cloning?
Grins*

Ought to make for an interesting day

Chrys,
Get ready for an adventure into the unknown where you meet interesting and unconventional people who are very different than you. Some basic assumptions about what and who is "normal" may be tested and you could find yourself far from home. There are few better equipped than you to appreciate the extraordinary diversity of the human species. It's a fun excursion to another world and beyond.

Ooooooooooo
I love the interesting and unconventional. I often visit there myself.
Grins*

It's about damn time

I love the Packers. Anyone who knows anything at all about me knows this. And it has been a WOEFULLY pitiful season thus far. Until today.
My man, Brett Favre, led his team to a 52-3 victory over the Saints. He was the first one on the field today, period. He was at Lambeau hours before the game throwing that ball. He is my sports hero. I also lust after him, but that's another post. *grinning*
Fifty-two to three. I'm going to be hugging that one to my chest for many days to come.
The only major gripe I have is that there is regional coverage. Um...I'm quite a ways from Wisconsin, so I can only watch highlights. But that's okay. I'll take what I can get.

I've got another review. Woohoo! Woohoo! I love these reviewers. They're taking time out of their day to read stories and give feedback to the author and other readers. I appreciate ALL OF YOU!
Here's the link for my latest review http://www.romancejunkies.com/artman/publish/article_4306.shtml
from Romance Junkies.
Have a wonderful weekend all!
Grins*

Is it the weekend yet?

Brrrrrrrrrrr
It's one cold sonofagun here. Have the woodstove burning. Lovely.
I've finally made the choice on my school issues. When I've let them know, I'll pass it on to y'all. Satisfied? Mebbe not. But it's workable.

My first chat was the other night. And it was so exciting! OMG! I absolutely loved it. There is nothing like connecting with other authors and readers. Woo! And I love to read about other authors. Simply fascinating.
I have an interview at Fallen Angel Reviews http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/Interviews/Sept05-Serena-CrystalInman.htm
Give it a gander if you'd like. I'm bursting with stories and can't wait to actually work on them tomorrow. This week has simply been crazy.
I ran into a girl I knew from school that I haven't seen in about fifteen years. She asked what I was doing, and she smiled. "I knew you'd do something smart."
*laughing*
Thanks, Twana. I appreciate that.
Grins*

Y'all are the best

Okay. I have to vent. I'm sorry. But here it is.
The superintendent at the kid's school has a God complex. Apparently he told the Board when he hired in that he would do things his way. Period.
We had a nice two-hour chat yesterday (I'm mentally exhausted), and here's the sum of it.
Even though there are six children (sharp children) who have dropped a letter grade or two in at least one class...there are twenty-seven other children who are doing well. This one year won't do "irreparable damage" to them. If it were special education children who were having problems, he would hire an aide. But since it's not...oh well.
He went so far as to accuse the children of being lazy. Me of favoring my youngest child (She's so low-maintenance it's not even funny). And this just in...
the teacher who had the wall-eyed fit to keep all the fifth graders to herself popped off with, "It's not *my baby chicken* who has the problem. It's her mother." Nice, huh? Here and I will be having a little chat in the future. I can promise you that.
I have been officially villified by the four teachers involved, the principal, and the superintendent. Am I bothered? Not particularly.
The baby chicken's (ALL the chickens) academics have always been very important to me. The superintendent went so far as to say that grades don't matter. But if the schoolwide report cards drop...there will be consequences. I'm sure he'll think he can deal with that when it happens.
He doesn't think parents should be involved in any way, shape, or form with any scheduling or fund allotment for the children. We're all supposed to sit back, shut up, and deal with it.
I gave him a list of thirty-four questions that had to do with the school, teachers, and this schedule.
For the first thirty minutes of our meeting, he was the most insulting individual he could be without cursing me. I had an agenda. He wouldn't be a part of any school where the decisions were based on parents. Those questions were condescending and low. No one had ever talked to him that way before. I think that was the problem.
There is a massive hole on campus where I've heard rumors of a pond being there named after him. It turns my stomach, quite frankly. When I asked about it...who funded it...he said that they were hoping for a grant from the Wildlife Conservation. Interesting. I bet he still makes sure it bears his name. What an egotist.
I'm making another effort at the next school board meeting, but I don't see anything changing. Like I said, I'm the villain.
I'm not done fighting, but I don't hold out much hope I'll be taken seriously. There's a large dose of small-town politics attached to all this. And my roots don't run as deep as some others.
Wish me luck. And I adore all of you that left encouraging remarks. That's exactly what I need right now.
Grins*

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?

Yes. I'm yelling. And that other strange sound you hear? It's me. Hyperventilating. *grinning*
Thanks to everyone for their collective congratulations. I'm beaming over here.
:)
I love hearing from all of you.

I'm still bickering with the superintendent of the kid's school. He flat out told me today that he wasn't changing the schedule. And just because "six children are struggling. It's an acceptable casualty because twenty-seven children are doing fine." The six children are advanced students. He also stated that "one year will not do irreparable damage." Nice, huh?
Still not done. I have one more school board meeting to attend. Then I'm making my decision about what to do.
And the superintendent? He accused me of having an agenda. Me. An agenda. I almost fell out of my chair. And he was defensive to the point of being derisive and pissy with me. Rather ridiculous. It was because I was questioning him. Imagine that. The balls I must have. To question the current curriculum schedule as it affects my child. Someone get the whip.

But I digress.
Tonight is my chat at Coffee Time Romance. The link is in the post below this one. Come see me if you've got the time. Once again, I've neglected my writing and my bloghopping (pity that) because of this school debacle. I'm straightening that out tomorrow.
Can't wait to see what everyone is up to.

Grins*

My first release is available!

Hi y'all!
This is it. Virtually Yours is now available through http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com.
I'll also be chatting October 4th at http://www.coffeetimeromance.com at 9:00 pm EST. I'll be giving away a free download of my book. Come and join me!
Thanks to all of you for your support! I appreciate it so much!
Grins,
Crystal*