I’ve been down with a rotten, kick-my-butt-big-time cold. The kind not even DayQuil/NyQuil helps to conquer. After two days of crawling out of bed for purely essential reasons, I do believe I’m on the mend. Yeah. To prove I’m not just whining about being sick, this is what happened yesterday…
I had to send an email for work, so I dragged myself out of bed and used my Blackberry to send the email since turning on the computer would have been too much work. I then glanced at my personal emails. There was an email from my Harlequin Editor. I read it, but being so fuzzy headed, I went back to bed. Hours later, I woke wondering if I’d dreamt the email. I got up and turned on the computer, after 100+ emails downloaded, I scanned them, and... It hadn’t been a dream! There was an offer for a three book contract for their Undone Line. I read it, twice at least, and then, went back to bed. Today, however, I’m alive enough to appreciate it.
I have people ask all the time, what is an Undone? They are historical short stories that are highly sensual. At fifteen thousand words or less, they are available only in e-book, and depict a highly charged, emotional snapshot of two characters at a turning point in their lives. Being so short, there isn’t much room for back stories and the characters have to hit the page fully developed and running (so to speak). For me, this makes an Undone more difficult to write than a full length story, but the editing is much easier because of the length, which is a nice payoff.
Harlequin is very open to new writers in this genre, so if you’ve ever wanted to sub a story to them, this is the line to try. Their guidelines are on their website.
I’m off now, to complete a few chores before my energy wanes. Have a great week all!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Coldest Night of the Year
The local news station posted on facebook that tonight will be the coldest night of the year. It’s already -12, and still falling. I’m thankful DH made room in the garage for my car since I have to have my mom at the hospital by 8:00 AM.
We watched all three granddogs last weekend. When the neighbor dogs trekked through the woods to say hi, they were ecstatic to see the company. All five dogs, three labs, one collie, and one pug, had a hayday playing in the snow, and went through a full bag of t-bone treats.
I attended “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” musical today with my granddaughter’s preschool class. Her first bus ride! It was a wonderful event and the kids were great. Then I went to a purse party this evening. Tomorrow, after getting my mother settled home with my brother and sister-in-law, Jess and I will attend fundraiser we’ve planned for a friend.
Nope, cold weather doesn’t slow down Minnesotans.
On the writing side: If you haven’t had a chance to vote over at Siren, the voting is open until Feb. 1st. I finished the edits for an Undone and sent it back to my editor, and have completed another couple chapters on my WIP. The interview with the gold miner from Nevada was so educational!
A final tidbit before I close, if you want a delicious nightcap, try a cup of hot chocolate with a splash of raspberry Schnapps—it’s like drinking a raspberry truffle!
Warm or cold, have a wonderful week!
We watched all three granddogs last weekend. When the neighbor dogs trekked through the woods to say hi, they were ecstatic to see the company. All five dogs, three labs, one collie, and one pug, had a hayday playing in the snow, and went through a full bag of t-bone treats.
I attended “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” musical today with my granddaughter’s preschool class. Her first bus ride! It was a wonderful event and the kids were great. Then I went to a purse party this evening. Tomorrow, after getting my mother settled home with my brother and sister-in-law, Jess and I will attend fundraiser we’ve planned for a friend.
Nope, cold weather doesn’t slow down Minnesotans.
On the writing side: If you haven’t had a chance to vote over at Siren, the voting is open until Feb. 1st. I finished the edits for an Undone and sent it back to my editor, and have completed another couple chapters on my WIP. The interview with the gold miner from Nevada was so educational!
A final tidbit before I close, if you want a delicious nightcap, try a cup of hot chocolate with a splash of raspberry Schnapps—it’s like drinking a raspberry truffle!
Warm or cold, have a wonderful week!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Best books of 2010
I received notice that Wish Craft has been nominated for Siren’s Best Book of 2010 awards in the western category. Voting runs from Jan 10th to Feb. 1st. Every reader/voter has a chance to win one of three prize packs consisting of e-books. You can only vote once per category, but can vote for in all eight categories, and each vote gives you another entry into the contest. Here’s the link and if you have a chance, I’d appreciate your vote.
Blurb: After intensive studying of Quantum jumping, Jayden White embarks on a journey one hundred and twenty years in the past for two reasons—to aid her sister’s financial crisis and to meet the man she’s come to know through an old family diary.
The night Levi Grimshaw asks his long time sweetheart to marry him he arrives home to discover a strange young woman sleeping in front of his fireplace—trouble is she’s not a stranger to his heart.
Our local high school holds a Poetry Out Loud contest every year, in which students choose a poem to recite for an audience. I’ve had the pleasure of being a judge since they first implemented this program, and I must say, it’s not only fun, the kids do an awesome job! The contest was held today and I listened to 78 recitals. It was phenomenal!
For the past few weeks I’ve been researching gold mining in the 1800’s for my latest WIP. I found lots of information, but not exactly what I was interested in. Then I came across a modern day prospector and emailed him to see if I could ask a few questions. He not only answered my questions, but sent links and videos and we have set up a phone interview that I’m really looking forward to. This story is really flowing, and I’m enjoying writing it immensely.
The neighbor dog is knocking at the door for her evening treat, so I’ll sign off. Enjoy the day, make it one to remember!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Welcome to 2011
I hope you're all experiencing a wonderful 2011 and that it will just keep getting better and better every day!
We had a wonderful New Year’s Eve and Day! The kids were over and we had family from out of state visiting. We had a bonfire and lit off some fireworks, and ate, and visited, etc. etc.
My goal this weekend is to get the rest of the decorations put away. The tree is down, but with all the company, I didn’t pull out the tubs to take down everything else. The weather has dropped below zero, as it normally does this time of year, so having inside chores for the weekend is just fine with me.
I’m still loving my Kindle, but I’m also loving the new story I started. Set in Colorado in the 1880’s, I’m enjoying the research as much as the writing, and creating a list of places I must visit on our next trip out there.
I’m off to get supper done so I can get some writing in this evening, tomorrow will come quickly and promises to be a busy day. Best wishes to you all on the wonderful new year we are embarking upon.
We had a wonderful New Year’s Eve and Day! The kids were over and we had family from out of state visiting. We had a bonfire and lit off some fireworks, and ate, and visited, etc. etc.
My goal this weekend is to get the rest of the decorations put away. The tree is down, but with all the company, I didn’t pull out the tubs to take down everything else. The weather has dropped below zero, as it normally does this time of year, so having inside chores for the weekend is just fine with me.
I’m still loving my Kindle, but I’m also loving the new story I started. Set in Colorado in the 1880’s, I’m enjoying the research as much as the writing, and creating a list of places I must visit on our next trip out there.
I’m off to get supper done so I can get some writing in this evening, tomorrow will come quickly and promises to be a busy day. Best wishes to you all on the wonderful new year we are embarking upon.
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