I’m fortunate that I have two dads, the one who raised me and the one who came into my life after I married my dh. I truly feel doubly blessed to have two very different types of men in my life.
After my interesting Friday, things seemed to calm down quite a bit…thank goodness. I guess it was as I described ‘just one of those days’. I haven’t done much this weekend beyond run errands. I have some more to do today, but I may just give dh a list and stay home. I’m about halfway through my book and I’d like to finish. I am enjoying the story, but it’s weird, there are language choices that are throwing me off.
I know a lot of readers out there have issues with language. I’ve heard from a few after they’ve read my EC books. (wg) I understand it’s a ‘me’ issue when it comes to being thrown out of a book by a language choice. The author hasn’t done anything wrong. That said, some of the choices made in this book remind me of high school. More specifically, the way guys used to talk about their ‘member’ in high school. I think that’s why I have to stop and re-read passages on occasion. She’s a very good writer. I really am enjoying the story, even if a Sioux would rarely refer to themselves as a Sioux, since it’s derogatory. (They’d call themselves Oglala, Teton, Hunkpapa, Brule (with an accent), or Miniconjou. Basically whatever branch of the nation they came from.) None of these things would prevent me from buying this book or her other books in this series.
I guess my point is that when writing, an author has to be very conscious of her/his word choice. I’d known this before, but this book has driven home the point. Hope everyone’s weekend is grand.
Archive for June, 2006
My morning started out okay. Got up, had coffee, exercised, showered, then left to get my hair cut. The guy did a good job. I’m happy with it. After that things deteriorated. I went by the used bookstore, which happens to have a charity book container outside its doors. They (not the used bookstore, but the charity) collect books to sell to help with literacy and foster children. Anyhow, I’m unloading my bags of books and placing them in a shopping cart, which refuses to remain near my car, when the last bag breaks, sending books flying across the pavement. This is where you picture me, trying to hold the possessed cart and pick up books at the same time. Grr…
I manage to get the books dropped off and I head to the post office so that I can mail my paranormal suspense. I get there and grab a number, only to see that they’re closing for lunch in five to ten minutes. By the time I reach the front of the line, the woman is starting to lose it because 15 minutes of her lunch time has been eaten by customers. So I volunteer to wait until she gets back. She ends up taking me early, which was nice. I’m excited because I have cash and figure I’ll be out of there quicker. Turns out she has no change. This is after I cut my finger digging through my purse in search of exact change. She tells me it would be easier if I wrote her a check. Now why she thinks writing a check is easier, since I have to find my driver’s license, a pen, and give them blood to prove I’m who I say I am, is beyond me.
I finally get out of the post office and head to the grocery store. I get there with list in hand. Everything is going okay. I’ve put a bandaid on my bleeding finger, so I no longer have blood oozing down my hand. I decide to grab a basket, instead of a cart. Yes, this is mistake number one. Within three aisles my basket is full and I’m carrying an item in my free hand. Said item happens to be Starbucks bottled coffee. Oh yeah, it’s that obvious. I’m about halfway down the back aisle when the handle on the Starbucks four pack breaks, sending pink whatever all over the floor. Did I mention that when I tried to catch it that my nails dug into my already injured hand deep enough to leave bloody crescents behind? Or that when I swung around, I nearly took out a row of Prego tomato sauce with my purse? I didn’t think so.
I reported the spill, grabbed a Dr. Pepper, and walked straight to the alcohol aisle before checking out and coming home. My Dr. Pepper exploded the second I opened it. Sticky goodness covered my stove, floor, counter, and sink. I did have a half a bottle left by the time it finished foaming. I’m so glad that the cleaners came yesterday. I’m thrilled to say that I accomplished all of this while managing to only break one of my dozen eggs.
I was going to work on edits for EC, since my Harlequin ones haven’t arrived yet, but I think I’m going to read instead. It seems safer somehow. Snort. How was your day?
No, the edits have not arrived yet. I’m going to try to read, so that I can (insert laugh here) ‘forget’ about them for a while. Tomorrow I have a haircut appointment. I’m taking a magazine with pictures in it. Wish me luck. :-O
On the super news front, my friend, Tina Gerow just landed a three-book deal with the Aphrodisia line. Yah Tina!!!
Now, I’m going back to waiting. Sigh.
Yesterday was my brother’s birthday. Happy Birthday, bro. 
It’s been a very strange week thus far. (Yes, I realize it’s only Wednesday.) I don’t know if it’s the boxing/bagging of the books or the waiting, but I can ‘feel’ the stress. Maybe the planets are out of alignment again. *g* The edits still haven’t arrived, but I’m not worried yet. If I don’t have them by next week, then maybe. I have been keeping myself busy with writing business things. (Never fun.)
I’m just not good with waiting, even though I have plenty to keep me busy. I’ll be happy once next week rolls around, so that several items are off my plate…and shoulders.
How do you all deal with waiting?
No, I’m not talking about the Harlequin edits. They haven’t arrived yet. What I’m talking about is MUCH bigger than mere edits. (Takes a deep steadying breath.) I have been giving some serious thought to getting rid of my TBR pile. Not all of the books, but a very LARGE percentage of them. Why has this insanity overtaken me? Because I realized the other day that no matter how good my intentions are I will probably NEVER be able to read all the books that I own. 
I’ve had some of them so long that my tastes have changed. Yeah, THAT long.
I was thinking about taking them to the used bookstore, but I may opt for the library instead. They have such a poor selection at the one near me that any additions would help.
I’m truly torn about this decision, but I know it’s going to happen. I don’t read fast enough to cut a swath through the pile. Has anyone out there ever cleared out books that they haven’t read? If so, did you get over the loss fairly quickly?
I’ve been reading a lot of Michelle Pillow lately. Currently, I’m reading King of the Unblessed, which was released by Samhain. Before that, I’d read a couple of her futuristic books from the Lords of Var series. I must say that I’ve really been enjoying them. I have three more to buy and read, The Bound Prince, The Rogue Prince, and The Pirate Prince. To say this girl is prolific is an understatement. Seriously. Check out her book list. I’d have to forgo sleep to build up a bookshelf like that. Kudos to her.
Most of Michelle’s work has been published by New Concepts Publishing. They actually have a few authors that I really enjoy. I love Celeste Anwar’s vampires and werewolves and Autumn Dawn’s furturistic books. I also like Mandy Roth’s Immortal Ops series.
I realize I’m late in coming to NCP, but I barely have time to read as it is. If you’re familiar with the publishing house, who is your favorite author there and why?
So far, I’ve received feedback on my paranormal suspense from two readers that I trust. Both loved the story. You have no idea what a relief that was. I still have two more coming in, then the manuscript is out of here. YAH!!! It will be so nice to have it off my plate.
I haven’t received the edits from Harlequin yet. Not sure if they’ll arrived today. I’m almost hoping that they don’t show until Monday that way I can work on my urban fantasy some more and maybe reach a hundred pages. (I only have eleven pages to go.
I received contracts from Ellora’s Cave…finally. I still have to read through them to make sure they’re kosher. If they are, then I’ll be signing and mailing them in so that the Phantom Warriors will finally see the light of day. I must admit that those two e-books will probably be the only work I turn in to EC for a while. As much as I enjoy writing for them, I think my focus needs to be on writing single titles (and perhaps categories 
for the New York market.
Has anyone else changed their focus? If so, to what?
As you can tell, I’ve decided to blog until the Blaze edits arrive. Actually, I have been trying to get a ton of stuff done before they get here. I finished my edits on the single title paranormal suspense. Now I’m sitting in the nail-biting position, waiting to hear if the folks reading it think it’s worth submitting.
I am also going to write my Romancing the Blog entry. No, I have no idea what the subject is going to be, but I’ll come up with something. I don’t want to have to worry about it in the middle of edits.
Well I’m off to exercise, then get to work. Keep those sales coming. I love hearing about them all.
I was going to stay away and I will, once I get those edits from Harlequin. Until then, I just received the best news. Vivi Anna scored big and landed a deal with Harlequin’s new Nocturne line. YAH VIVI!!!
Maybe if we ask really nice, she’ll tell us what her book is about. 
I’m going to have to take a blogging break. I just got off the phone with Harlequin. No, they haven’t bought my Blaze yet (wg), but I do have edits coming. So I have to try to get the ST edits done before they get here. :-O Hopefully after I finish all these things I can go back to my urban fantasy. I think it misses me as much as I miss it. Have a great rest of the week.
Oh, and if you haven’t picked up Lynn Viehl’s Dark Need yet, what are you waiting for? Go. Buy Now!
