Posts from — January 2010

Took a picture of me today after I colored my hair. Hey, I don’t look like I’m about to commit murder!

Looking to lose my next 20 lbs.!!!

Went to gym and did my workout. Feeling really good. Stronger. Positive. Yeah, I feel real good.

Stopped at RiteAid on my way home to get a few things. I decided I wanted to change my hair color. This new hair cut is not my favorite. And my hair seems so off…too red. So, I’m going darker…a soft black. Haven’t been black in a long time. I remember when I worked at the hospital my hair was so black…naturally. I think it has to do with the meds I’m on.

No, I’m not on many medications. I take 3 pills at night—BP, cholesterol & anti-depression. The cholesterol med is fairly new to me. I don’t have high cholesterol, it is actually normal. The doc wants to go lower as I am diabetic.

I’ve been on the anti-depression med for a while, since the kids were born. Depression runs in my family. The biggest difference between me and my mom and grandmother is I admit it to my doctor. I even tell him when it gets worse. I was beginning to think I needed a different med, but I feel fine right now, and have been since the holidays are over. (I always get depressive around the holidays. Always.) I do think the exercise helps. I definitely do not agree with Tom Cruise and his opinion depression can be cured with vitamins and exercise, but they help. They don’t cure it, but they can help.

As for my diabetes I am type II. Again, runs in the family, both my parents were diabetic. I am on one pill for that, but I mainly control it through diet. You have to read labels and stop and think about ingredients.

Looking forward to watching the Biggest Loser tonight. I am hooked on that show. I think I get inspired by those people trying to get healthy. I’m not really into reality shows, but I do watch this one. (I do NOT watch American Idol.)

I’m off to wash out this hair color stuff and shower, then on to writing today. It is sunny out so I may go out to write somewhere.

Made a move to find an agent today. I went ahead and joined Publishers Marketplace to get the direct news of who is selling what books to which editors/publishing houses. As the book I have to offer is considered a “category” romance, due to the length, I have a fear of agents not being interested. I do see there are authors with agents selling to Blaze, so that is a relief. Still I understand why some aren’t anxious to represent category romances as they generally make less money that single title releases. But you know, I have to start somewhere.

Yes, I am published. I even have a book with NY, but I’m not satisfied. I want to readily find my book on the shelves. It was a thrill to find Pirate’s Mistress in the Tally B&N a few years ago, but it isn’t enough. I want mass market. I want a piece of the pie. I want a chance outside the slush pile.

My friend Jo (Angelique Armae) and I were talking on the phone a few weeks ago. People who hit ebooks after us are in NY before us. It is taking us a long time to break in. My excuse was the fact most of those years were my caring for my kids full time. Ebooks were enough for me then. But now, I want more. Soon I will have a finished ms to peddle. For years, I had contracts already offered before the books were finished. This is a new thing for me, a book done without a pub already lined up. Weird. Anyway, I told her it is taking us longer to get there, but when we do, we will rise to the top above the rest.

Nice dream.

Okay, off to bed… Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Weight loss for this past week: 10 lbs.
Total weight loss: 21 lbs

And I just started this month.

I swear, I am following the Weight Watchers program. It is the exercise that is making the difference. I went today for an hour. I don’t over do it. WW says I am losing too fast, but I feel fine. I feel so damn good…in many way. So who knows. I am just going to stick with what I am doing.

Hey the people on the Biggest Loser have high weight loss each week too. And they have personal trainers yelling at them to work harder.

Okay, got to get cleaned up and go out to Office Depot for some paper. Got to print up the new stuff so I can work on the next scene today. The Dark Moment in the book. Fun.

Writing is going good. I finished the sex scene, and somehow, it led into another. LOL

Here’s a little unedited snippet of my WIP:

She wrapped her arms about his neck.‭ ‬“Don‭’‬t tell me you‭’‬re thinking of having your way with me again.‭”

With a sly smile,‭ ‬she said,‭ ‬“That‭’‬s the idea.‭”

—————————————————————-

Edited @ 9:05pm to add:

Finished the second sex scene in the chapter…thus finishing that chapter. Hallelujah. Closer and closer to the end.

Next week I’ll do edits while seeing if I get chosen to serve for jury duty. Once I am done going over this for edits and get that all done, off it goes to Harlequin. Then I will breathe a sigh and start querying agents. With the magazine showing up this week in mailboxes, I figure this is a prime time for me to query agents, especially with a finished manuscript in hand.

Seriously, this is going to be my year. This book is good and it will get sold. To what publisher is the question. But I feel in my heart this will sell.

I put myself through hell and back with this book, literally a love/hate relationship. I never thought a book would come close to me as special as Crossed Swords, but this does come close.

As for my Alluring Arts short, I’m going to ask for a 2 week extension on the deadline. If I don’t get it, I will still hand in the story to EC. Its a great idea and I want to write it. I did start it, but finishing Chasing the Shadows comes first.

I really wish I’d hear something on my Spice Brief.

Found out I have my very own author widget at Simon & Schuster. Pretty cool, huh? I posted it on the sidebar. Check it out.

I invite ALL my visitors to post a link under the Google Friend Connect on my sidebar. You get an instant link to your site on mine. I’m all about networking, so please, join my site and post a link. I believe “joining” the site gets my site listed in your Google Reader.

I also posted the link to the ALPHA Ghost Team for their DVD, Dead Air. I just got another copy, I gave my original to a contest winner who lived in Hawaii. I got an autographed copy of Dead Air to give away in the basket Annmarie and I will get making for the Chicago Spring Fling conference in April. Books I’m including in the basket include copies of Men After Midnight, Royal Bondage, Medieval Menage, Pirate’s Mistress and Even Naughtier Nuptials. Yep, ALL of my books in print. Also have other goodies to add in there.

The Writer Chicks are on Twitter now at thewriterchicks. Annmarie and I are the original and ONLY Writer Chicks. Accept no substitutions.

Oh, FPHRW has a new treasurer…Thank you Dana. You’re my hero.

Looking forward to getting major planning underway for the FPHRW all day workshop mini conference for later this year. We opted to do a one day workshop with a headliner author, a nice luncheon, etc. Should be nice. We will announce our guest speaker soon.

Back from my meeting. We had a great time. Tracy found a flirt buddy with the new slave boy we had today. (Oh Tracy, he was liking you. You should have gone back and “helped” him with the desserts. He was ready to drizzle that chocolate… ahem. I’m just sayin’.) I had a delicious lunch of coconut crusted shrimp…followed by a Martguerita. I was bad. Very bad. I had a warm brownie and a scoop of ice cream too. And man it was good.

Got a nice chunk if writing done, but I will be doing more tonight once the kids go to bed. Made myself laugh a few times, and had to fan myself at least twice. Whew… Big reason to keep on writing. I have the mojo in tune so I want to get the scene done. You know I don’t like writing sex scenes unless I write the whole thing in one day. At least I plan to write…hubby may have other ideas. *g*