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Showing posts from October, 2009

NaNoWeen

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For the last few years, Halloween has become 'NaNoWeen' for me. There is still dressing up and giving out candy, but at the stroke of midnight, it is officially November and the writing begins. My Co-Ml and I hosted the annual Kick-off party in our region today. We gave out cool (or at least, I thought they were cool) goody-bags and we played several 'games' like draw your inner editor in jail (or in some way locked away where he/she can't bother you) and sealed plot ninja gifts (where everyone wrote a plot twist and sealed it in an envelope which were then randomly distributed for Wrimos in their darkest hour of writer's block.) We had a great turn out and a lot of fun. As you can see in the pictures, fellow Tri Mu Tori and NL Berger dressed up with me, but luckily we weren't the only ones (though we did get some interesting looks walking into B&N.) Well, midnight is almost here. I can hardly wait! Are all of you out there participating in the

A novel writing challenge: NaNoWriMo and the madness, plus PRIZES

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Every year around this time I start blogging about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) , and while I am obviously once again blogging about NaNo, I've decided to do something a little different this year. This year, instead of just blogging about how I am doing in the challenge (and it will be a challenging year as I am expecting revision notes for two different books any week now) I want to know how YOU are doing. Oh yeah, and there will be prizes (so read on!) For those of you who don't know, NaNoWriMo is a month long challenge where people all over the world attempt to write 50k words during the month of November. If you have ever wanted to write a book, this is a great time and a great challenge to get you noveling. I wrote THE END on my very first novel during NaNo 2005. That novel was ONCE BITTEN, which was released this past January. So, as you can guess, NaNo is a challenge I really believe in. Officially, the 'prize' for participating in NaNo is ty

Pictures from Moonlight and Magnolias

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This post is late (story of my life) as I returned from Moonlight and Magnolias over a week ago, but hey, better late than never, right? Tori Pryer , NL Berger , Cera Daniels , and I attended M&M this year and among the four of us, brought home four requests for partials. As I sold a three book deal (on top of the 5 book deal I already have) a week before the conference, and I am neither suicidal nor a writing machine, I did not pitch. Now, if you're doing the math, that means one of my critique partners brought home multiple requests ! (Congrats Cera!) We had an absolutely fabulous time at the conference. There were workshops to attend, authors and industry professional's to chat with, a book signing (more on that in a moment), and, of course, the Maggies Award dinner and dance. As you can tell from the photos, I toted my hoop out onto the dance floor and introduced a whole gaggle of romance writers to hoop dancing. A hoop on the dance floor was clearly a first for

Wish I could blame this on the pain meds, but all they gave me was Novocaine . . .

Dear Novel, I appreciate your wish to remain lodged deeply in my mind and not be torn away, pressed into a manuscript, and then sent out into the world. It warms my heart that you like me so much, you are clinging to the shadows of my subconscious and refuse to be parted from me. That said, you need to take a deep breath, jump into words, and become a book. I love you dearly, and because I think you are so 'wonderful', I wish to share you with others. Know that being read by other people will not tarnish you nor will it diminish you in any way. In fact, it is likely to do the opposite. It is my greatest wish that you to grow up to be a bound book people can buy and enjoy. So, this is an official letter to inform you that you are being evicted. Understand that it is with greatest love I have made this decision. Now, please proceed in an orderly and climatic fashion down to my fingertips, into the keyboard, and onto the screen. Thank you. With love, your novelist.