Writer's Market

O
M
G
I LOVE the Writer's Market. And guess what??? The 2009 edition is out!!! *dancing*
Oh, yeah.
This large book is one of my favorite toys and resources. And it highly appeals to my office supply/stationary fetish. *grins*
If you don't have this book, and you're a writer...GET IT!!!
So...um...I have everything color-coordinated with post-it notes. Each page I'm interested in is post-ited on the top of the page and then right over then entry I wish to peruse again.

I've already decided that when I finish Earth Goddess (Book Four of the Elemental Guardian Series) that I will seek out an agent and/or publisher. And the book I wish to peddle is about halfway done.
Go me!!!

Other than my Writer's Market fixation, I'm pondering my vacation.
Oh yes. It's true. I will be gone the end of next week and through the weekend. How long has it been, you ask?
Too
Damn
Long
Oldest Chicken is in Missouri right now with Upward Bound. She's exploring caverns and going to Silver Dollar City. When she gets home, I'm having her backhoe her room.
Enough said.
Grins*

Sharpening my intellect...

...also known as playing a Yahoo game for thirteen hours yesterday.
*grins*

I downloaded Bookworm Adventures onto my laptop Saturday. And I received a couple of free trial turns. But that was enough. I played for a couple of hours Saturday. And then I really got into it Sunday.
I beat the game.
Yeah. That's right. I BEAT THE GAME!!!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

It's the cute little worm from Bookworm on Yahoo. And he's on an adventure to save some literary chickie. And he has to battle all sorts of mythical creatures. With WORDS.
Oh
My
God

The bigger the word, the more powerful the blow the little worm delivers.
I kicked ass.
That's all I'm saying.

And kudos to the chickens. Especially oldest chicken who could look at sixteen tiles and think up nine letter words.
I'm so proud.
*sigh*

As for the vacation, I got sick again (wheezing, coughing crap this time) Wednesday.
I sleep with earplugs. I have a hard time shutting down at night. I'm like the dude in daredevil.
Gotta have the silence.
So I pop the earplugs in and doze off.
I wake myself at four in the morning with a pounding heart because I think I hear someone talking.
*snickering*
I was hearing myself wheezing because the earplugs trapped the horrible sound in my head.
lmao
Oh yeah. That was extremely special.
So I'm taking OTC meds. Hoping to halt that crap. And I'm back to work today. And the piles...they are huge. pfffffftttttt

UPDATE: Holy crap. Can't believe I forgot to put this in!!!
Baby Chicken is at a Scholastic Meet today. *grins* For English, of course.
Woo!!!
Have a good one!!!
Grins*

Wonders never cease

Wow.
My second blog post in as many days.
*checking my head for a fever*

There was a bit of a discussion today at work this morning about the honor I received from Romantic Times Magazine.
Several co-workers would like to see if there's possibly a way to fundraise or seek funds so that I can go to Pittsburgh.
I'm not even contemplating it. It's one of those...if it happens...I'll probably pass out.
So, we'll see.
*concentrating on NOT hyperventilating*

If, however, I cannot go, I think I'm going to ask a fellow Oklahoma author to read a small thank-you note if I win. (Yeah. A girl can dream. *grins*)

Today's my cousin's 21st birthday. Go visit him. He's bringing sexy back. lmao
What a nut.

The chickens are doing well. We had a nightful of homework last night. OMG. My reluctant education continues. And there are term papers in my baby chicken's future. Yes! PAPERS as in plural.
Oh Lord.

Tonight is Biggest Loser and SVU. Good night of television. Making some chicken with a veggie.
Now. If I can just make it until 5:30 pm.
Grins*

Finally fall!

Ah...it's lovely here today. In the mid-seventies for a high with a gently northern breeze.
*sigh*
About damn time.

I finished Water Goddess (on time, thankyouverymuch) and am now waiting for my extremely talented Cover Artist to send me what will be the cover.
Little nervous because my November release for Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, Programmed for Pleasure, doesn't even HAVE anyone working on it right now. Or not that I know of, anyway.
ACK!

I've finished one birthday and now have two more to go this month. And no, smartasses, I did NOT plan it that way. These things just, um, happened. *grins*
I blame it on my wedding anniversary being Feb. 12, Valentine's Day, and my birthday is Feb. 18. See what I'm saying? *wriggling eyebrows*

I'm working on three projects right now. Wind Goddess is number one with a bullet. And wouldn't you damn know it? It's coming to me in pieces, too. *sigh* Quite a lesson to learn here. Just when you think you've settled in with something that works...it changes.
I'm also working on SWTWC and WATS. I can't decide whether they're going to be Erotic Romance or not. Usually I have it all pared down in my wee little head about which subgenre I'm rocking along with. But both are outside the box. *grins* Box? What box?
Exactly.

I'm still pulling my life together, and all seems to be going rather well with me. Hope you and yours can say the same.
I'll try and post a bit more often. *laughing* This just seemed to rather escape me for about a week. Blame it on the birthday frenzy.
Grins*

Chicken Update

Here's the news:

Oldest Chicken tried out for a play Tuesday. And guess what? She got a part!!! *dancing* I'm sooooooooooooooo proud. Of course, she's a little ham anyway. So should be just wonderful. And if I understood her correctly...the title is "Snow White in the Seventies."
Take a moment amongst yourselves and discuss the obvious ramifications. lmao

Middle Chicken is now scandalized. That would be because I, the Mama, talked about her getting her first boyfriend. Well, apparently, for the first time ever to MY knowledge, the little heifer accessed this blog. Apparently her scream of embarrassment could be heard from miles around. *snickering* It was enough to have classmates running, and she pushing the "X" button with all her might. rofl

Baby Chicken has been a bit difficult of late. It's neither cute nor pleasant when one's eleven year-old daughter channels her snarky thirty-five year-old mother.
Just saying.

That's about it for the little heathens. They've been good for the most part.

I had a lovely, busy day today. McSis had vacation and took Mom and I to Tulsa to visit Incredible Pizza. There was mini golf (got my ass whooped) and bowling (another ass whuppin') and air hockey (do you see where this is going???).
However, there was a small bit of redemption in bowling when I bowled two strikes in the final frame. *pumping fist in air and singing "We are the Champions"*
So. There you have it.
Grins*

A typical evening at the homestead

The chickens and I got home last night from work. Girls are running about after we all change into our nightclothes. Then there were lively games of armwrestling and thumb wars on the living room floor. That was followed by a jaunt outside where I let my children play with eggs.
Yeah. You heard me. Play with eggs.
This all stems from when Fear Factor was on the air. And yes, weak stomach though I have, I watched it with the short people.
That morphed into Fear Factor for my children! Because yes...I have a wide sadistic streak. So I know my children's fears and weaknesses. And one of the "stunts" was eating hot dogs dipped in mayo, mustard, bbq, and something else. The last one escapes me. Anyway...oldest chicken loathes mayo. Baby chicken dislikes bbq. So it was all fun. Then we'd toss eggs to each other and see who they cracked on.
(Um...anybody calling DHS yet?)

After we broke out the eggs (literally), we stepped inside because the children were not aesthetically pleasing (nor were they fragrant) at this point in time, and they hopped in the shower. Middle chicken took the first shower and decided to shave her legs.
OK. All you females know that behind the legs is NOT the funnest place to run a razor over. It's not as bad as some...but I'm just saying. So she accidentally slices against a small mole there. I, of course, have one, too. So I'm making sympathetic sounds, and we're doctoring the area. And then Middle chicken is like...WHY in the world do I have that there? I explain that some is genetics. I have one there, too. And it's unpleasant when razor meets mole.

(At this point in time...a disclaimer. I am hell on wheels in English. But I don't have much interest in Math or Science. Ya ya. Bad, bad me. So any untruths I'm about to retell should be chalked up to my Scientific ignorance. Back to your regularly scheduled blog...)
After the genetic discussion, I explain that melatonin concentrates on some area of the bodies and darkens the pigment.
Oldest chicken pipes up, "Why does it have to concentrate on my bootay?" Because, you see, oldest chicken has a nice heart-shaped mole on one buttcheek. I apparently have one, also. (I've been told)
And so does my Mom. (Sorry, Mom. I just outed you on my blog. Love you. *grins*) You don't get to know WHICH buttcheek because we all need a little mystery in our lives. But needless to say...Middle Chicken about fell out of her chair when Oldest Chicken spoke up. Puts it all into perspective, doesn't it?
Then there came a game or sixty of tic-tac-toe. But I begged off and took my butt to bed.

It's not all fun and games. Not all the time. Nor is it the guillotine.
Just another day in the life.
Grins*

Mild, medium, hot

I struggle with this every time I have a new book come out. If it's hot...it shoots up on the bestseller list. The mild stuff? Not so much. And I understand why. Hell, I write HOT. I like it. But there's also a place for the milder, but still intense, love scenes.
But all of my stories compartmentalized in my wee little cranium are already classified with the appropriate level of hotness.
Anyway...such as it is. It's not going to change.

How was your Fourth? The chickens and I had a great time. Popped some fireworks. Saw a rather huge display in the nearest city. Ate chips and drank soda. I'm sure that's what our founding fathers saw when they declared our freedom from England. *nodding* Suuuuuuure it was.
Lit several smoke bombs at the house. The kittens ran for cover and wouldn't come out for an hour or two.
Almost set my baby chicken on fire. Hey! It was an accident! I swear it!!! I had two sets of these new firecrackers. Had no idea what they would do. Me=bad mama
So I light one FAR away from the chickens and myself. Doesn't do much of anything. So, in my maternal brilliance, I decide to set the other one of the sidewalk in front of the house. We're all gathered around.
I disavow all knowledge of proximity. But it was um...close. ANYWAY...lit the little sucker, and one comes flying for baby chicken like a guided missile. OMG!
Once we all realized she wasn't hurt...(AT ALL)...I almost fell on the ground laughing. That girl can MOVE! And as, once again, oxygen flowed to my brain...I apologized.
This incident ranks right up there with the time I almost got all of us hit by lightning. I'll have to pull that gem of a post out and let everyone see what my poor chickens have to put up with.

But all in all...we had a good time. And my chickens only have about six more weeks of freedom. Anyone else looking forward to the start of school? *sigh*
Grins*

Royalty resides here

Sunday was an interesting day. I wrote (about 8000 words). I split those between two different works. One that's already contracted...and um, one I can't get out of my head. *grins*
Oldest and baby chicken were reading in baby chicken's room. Both hovered over an air vent. *eye roll*
That left middle chicken at odds with the world. So what does she proceed to do?

Well...she grabs a white fitted sheet and drapes it around her neck. Then she pomps and circumstances down our long hall while looking for her "subjects." And when she finds them, she tries to "knight" them.
I. Am. Rolling.

Then...as I meander off to bed last night...what do I see?
This note on middle chicken's door: (the name has been changed to protect my royal heathen)

Do not come in! I am busy for the rest of my (Queen) life.
Middle Chicken of
Middle Chicken Land

And I thought I had it rough. LMAO

And just in case you didn't know...Fire Goddess is available NOW~! Hie thee to Whiskey Creek Press and check it out.

What else? Well...What He Wants is in the Top Ten Bestsellers for WCP Torrid for the eleventh month!!! Yay!
Makes me a happy camper, my friends.
Grins*

Book Binge

Where have I been? You've been pondering that, haven't you? Besides being busier than nine kinds of hell...I've read.
That's right.
I have pushed cleaning to the side and actually read.
Ah...bliss. I've probably read a dozen books in the last week. If not more. I've read all but three of the Carpathian books by Feehan. I read all of the J.R. Ward "Brothers of the Black Dagger" books. And all I have to say in reference to the Black Dagger books is...GO BUY THESE BOOKS! Now.
I've read P.C. Cast's Parthelon series. I LOVED the first two...Goddess by Mistake and Goddess by Choice. Don't miss these. But the second two just didn't have the spark the first two did.
I reread Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank. And I'm really going to be excited when I get my hands on Gideon (the second book in the series). Um...figuratively speaking. *grins*
I also read a couple of non-fiction.

But here's the surprise...and my internal editor was doing cartwheels...each and every book had at least one mistake in it. *holding hand up* I swear.
I know one of the non-fiction books referred to "sheer power" as "shear power." I'm quite sure that scissors or other cutting utensils had no bearing on the phrase.
In one of the Black Dagger books...the sentence in quotes had "heard" spelled as "herd." And I believe it was Goddess by Mistake that had an error in it that only an Oklahoman would have caught. The heroine refers to an Oklahoma restaurant as "Bram's." And as we all know...here in the heartland...it's "Braum's." I, myself, put the ice cream and burger place in Perfect Timing.
And just to make sure that's what she meant...I emailed P.C. (Wonderful, gracious woman...by the way.) She assured me that-yes. It was supposed to be Braum's.

Mistakes happen, my lovelies. No matter how many hands your precious book passes through...mistakes happen. I could pick my first release to shreds, but I won't. Because it's part of me. It's part of the process. And I think it deserves to stand on its own merits.

Another reason I decided to give myself a reading frenzy was to increase my vocabulary. My phrasing. My sense of perfectly proportioned writing.
Reading someone else's work is a great teacher. A tool to use. As long as you don't take the other author's words as your own. That's a hanging offense around here. And I'll bring the noose. Just so ya know.

On a completely unrelated subject...my chickens rock. Oh yes. *grins* Yes, they do. We have a rather large lawn to mow. And oldest and baby chicken pitched right in. Middle chicken took care of the house stuffs.
We went swimming this last weekend. Watched movies. It was great. And I absolutely refuse to think about the fact that school starts in two months.
Well, okay. Except for the days when I want to strangle them. Then I clutch the fact tightly to my chest while whispering the Lord's prayer.
Grins*

Here and now

I STILL haven't gotten my July Romantic Times magazine in the mail. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
So I will wait and post the dang review when I finally receive that.

Work has been hell on wheels with people out sick and vacations and whatnot. I'm mentally shredded right now. And I just finished the Errata for Fire Goddess. Due out July 1, 2007. Damn time flies.
Also...Summer Solstice Scorchers is out NOW!!! Hie thee to Whiskey Creek Press Torrid and getcha some. Romance Junkies gave us 4.5 ribbons. *grins* Not bad at all.

The girls and I have been piddling around together. Nothing helps mend wounds like togetherness. So, believe me, we're together.
Watching movies, Finding Waldo (I kid you not), foraging through I Spy books (yes. My children ARE adolescents...and your point is?), doing tricks in the front yard, and playing charades.
The charades were flippin' hilarious. I'm trying to explain the concept. Middle chicken wanted to spell out (in sign) who or what she was. *snickering* Too damn funny. And then she proceeded to bring imaginary trays out and set them on the ground. Oldest chicken pretended to grab them, so Middle chicken took out her imaginary tape (picturing me rolling on my bed laughing) and taped them down. They are too much fun. Seriously.

We're going swimming Friday. Going to put some sun on this pale body and (hopefully) be energized by the rays. Not burnt, mind you. Energized. There is SUCH a difference there.

Thanks for all the congrats on my review. *ahem* That I STILL haven't read. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Grins*

Let the good times roll!

For the chickens.

Yep. It's the last day of school. *sigh* I would have rallied for year-round school, but no one asked. Damn it.
So the chickens will be home for about 2 1/2 months. Then back the academic grind. And I've (fortunately) got quite a few things planned this summer so there will be no whines of "I'm bored!"
*collective Mama groan*
I know you're feeling me. :)~~

I've also finished editing Fire Goddess! Yay!!! Let me just say...I do NOT enjoy the editing process. And by the time I've finished looking at my own story (SEVERAL times)...I just want to scream, "Take it!" and shove it in someone else's hands. Mebbe that's just me. *grins*

It's only Tuesday. A fact which I am in denial about. I've thought it was Wednesday since I woke up. That doesn't bode well for the rest of the week. Know what I mean?
But I've had a good day. And I'm glad for it. Even if *sigh* it's NOT Wednesday.
Have a meeting tomorrow in Norman. One which I think I will really enjoy. It's about Publicity and Marketing. And what author couldn't use a little more info in that direction?

I'm going to go make a difference now. Enjoy the day!!!
Grins*