This makes me giggle

The new and improved logo for the UK's Office of Government Commerce...


Clearly, they either NEED a handful of frat boys on their design team or have a few who are hi-fiving each other right now! If I tried to work a snafu like this into a book, I'd never sell an editor on it!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS...

47669 / 50000 words. 95% done!

...and no baby yet...

Exhaustion Won...

I didn't get my writing in yesterday like I'd planned. My morning write went as usual (hence the 700 words in one short scene with Jake, Lily and grandma Thalia) but the afternoon write time was spent at the park, library, grocery store, and hanging out with the neighborhood gang...I think I am in fear of the baby cave. I'm going to miss my people!

The evening write time should have redeemed me...but I couldn't stay awake. And then...and then! I wake up with a headache.

Hmmm...I wonder just how long my list of 'I didn't write today' excuses can get?

BUT on the exciting front (for me at least) I did work in some Jane Austen title banter which made me OH so pleased since it turned out way funnier than I'd hoped. At least to me. And entertaining myself is all that matters, right? Right?

FIRST IMPRESSIONS...

45038 / 50000 words. 90% done!

WORKSHOP WITH JAX CASSIDY & Special Guest: SIMONE HARLOW

UNDERSTANDING & BREAKING INTO THE MULTI-ETHNIC MARKET

What do you think of when you hear the words Multi-Ethnic? This has always been a quiet sector of romance that few understand and many are unaware of. Multi-Ethnic embodies more than just the lifestyle, culture, and stereotypes, and has become increasingly visible and more accepted within the last decade.

This workshop focuses on understanding and breaking into a market that most people are afraid to approach, but may be interested in learning more about. From authors such as L.A. Banks, Kayla Perrin, Sunny Chen, Brenda Jackson, to Caridad Pineiro, these women have proven that there is a demand for literature that focuses on the exotic.

...and how is FIRST IMPRESSIONS coming along?...I'll update at the end of the day...

43613 / 50000 words. 87% done!

The Baby Pool

Jenna's baby pool thread :: Official due date May 11

When will I get my baby girl? It's anyone's guess...I don't think it will be today.

MG Braden - May 2, 8#1oz.
Ally Kendall -May 5th, 7lbs 8oz
Eden Bradley - May 5th, 8lbs 4 oz
Gwen Hayes - May 6th, 8lb 6oz
AJ Chase - May 6th, 8 pounds even
Jennifer Leeland - May 7th, 8 lbs, 3oz, around 8am.
Christina Castle - May 8th (my little brother's b-day) and say 7lbs. 4 oz.
Jennifer Shirk - May 9th, 8 lbs 10 oz
Dana Belfry - May 9th, 7lbs 6oz. 5:30am And will sleep through the night at 8 weeks. (a round of applause for Dana!)
Maria Shanti - May 9th (Fridays child) 3:12 pm, 6# 10 oz.
Crystal Jordan - May 10th, 7:32PM, 8lbs 3oz
Cassandra Curtis - stroke of midnight on May 11th.7 lbs. 7oz.
Adelle Laudan - May 12th 6 lbs 13 oz
RB Michaels - May 13th, 9 lbs 5 oz
Lyra Marlowe - May 14, about 3 a.m., 7 lbs 14 oz

My money is on May 1, 7 lb 3 oz
(Boy 1 was on his due date, 8#5oz. Boy 2 was 11 days early, 8#3oz)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS...Let's see how much I can write today...

42912 / 50000 words. 86% done!

Romance Readers Luncheon

No baby yet! I was able to make it to the annual readers luncheon my local chapter puts on. Cassiel Knight runs the show, making sure every detail is taken care of. Everyone had a great time and left with a TON of stuff. There were books on the seats, books in the goody bags, door prizes, and we raffled off book baskets. The proceeds of the event go to Oregon Literacy, so there is quite the feel-good sensation going around!



I sat at a table with Roz Bailey whose latest, Mommies Behaving Badly sounds wonderful. Suzanne McPherson was the guest speaker - she was hilarious and had vintage Barbies for visual aids! Other local favorites like Lucy Monroe, Elizabeth Boyle, and Stephanie Rowe were there as well. Delle Jacobs even brought me a baby gift! Talk about a great day!

And now...well, my feet are swollen and I need a nap!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

38014 / 50000 words. 76% done!

Decisions, Decisions

To finish, or put it aside, that is the question. I heard from the brilliant editor today about the partial of Mr. Possibly. Good news - she liked the concept, but she did have a few concerns. Nothing so big she didn't think I couldn't go on with the chapters as they are...but I happen to agree with her points so I want to change them a bit to make sure they're as good as I can make them, not merely good enough.

But...I am on the downhill slide of First Impressions. It is nearly done. In fact, I put them on a plane to Hawaii today, and since I love Hawaii I know it will be smooth sailing. However...I could have a baby any hour and so lose my brain for a bit. In a perfect world I would finish the draft of First Impressions, put it aside while I rework Mr. Possibly's partial, then edit FI while the brilliant editor falls in love with MP, give her the full or FI while I writ MP...and have her fall in love with both books.

In my world? Eep! I don't know what to do! And to complicate it more? The brilliant editor is having a baby too! About three weeks after me. Hmmm...what would you do first?

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

36262 / 50000 words. 73% done!

Thursday 13 - 13 things I must do before the baby comes

1. pack the hospital bag...hey, the diaper bag is packed
2. kindergarten round up - babyboy must be enrolled in kindergarten for next year or I will go mad. I will.
3. readers luncheon - because it is fun for me
4. pedicure - I can't see my feet, so someone had best check to make sure they look OK in stirrups
5. go nomail on on my yahoo loops - I am looking way too forward to this one.
6. clean. Everything. The house needs help.
7. make the phone list. I always forget that and wind up conning a friend into calling EVERYONE. I need to be a better friend.
8. sleep. I should be asleep right now
9. finish FIRST IMPRESSIONS...it's on the downhill slide now, when it is flowing. If I have to pick it up again later I'll end up rewriting the thing.
10. return all my library books - I don't want to know the fines if I forget this one
11. pick up portraits of the boys from the mall. I loathe the mall. Read FOR KICKS to find out why.
12. fill out the baby book - because I won't have time after she's here
13. get a DVD player - for late night movie watching...either that or a cable box for upstairs so I can go On Demand.

What are you getting done in the next few weeks?

FIRST IMPRESSIONS...

33838 / 50000 words. 68% done!