So I’ve been working on the new book… but only really plotting it. I think because this story is complicated, I really want to have all the twists and turns plotted out before I really get into writing. I’m leaving about myself – I’m lazy. And I don’t want to rewrite major chunks. So I’m teaching myself how to plot, which is difficult for a Pantser like me. It’s not easy to give up old habits, that’s for sure.

I got a little further in the plot of the new book yesterday. So far my notes are about six pages long. Since I have about half the book plotted, I went back and starte working on chapter two again. I decided it really needed to be from Devlin’s POV so I started rewriting it.

One of the things I’ve learned is that a scene needs to be from the POV who has the most to gain or the most to lose. So I’m putting that to work with this book. I’m really thinking hard about it and where to go with it. Again, hard for a Pantser who likes to sit down and start writing from scratch with no real direction.

But I also learned something from writing the gladiator book. I started with a synopsis – about three pages full of everything that happens in the book. And even though I didn’t really stick to it, I did learn how to write to it somewhat. And then I took that same synopsis and turned it into a real one that I’m using as a tool to help me sell the book. It’s been a great learning experience.

I decided with this new futurstic, I want to get the plot done so when I get back from Nationals, I can start writing and hit it hard and heavy. That’s the plan anyway. I’d like to have it drafted in about two months. A really aggressive goal. So if I start August 1, my target finish date would be October 1.

I’m wondering if this book could be the start of a series… but then, I can always decide that later. You know, when I get the book done.

On Saturday, the thermometer read 105 on my front porch. Ew. By Sunday, it was 103.

It’s ridiculously hot.

And it’s really bad when you have to run errands in the heat. I had to get by the bank, Best Buy, Penney’s on Saturday. Man, Kiddo, and I went to Southlake to the Apple Store. It was a mistake, really. But Best Buy didn’t have the silicon cover I wanted for my iPod. The only other choice was the Apple Store. It was frigging packed with people. I’ve never seen so many people in one small store in my life. And RUDE. All of them so totally rude. We’re looking at the silicon covers for the Nano jam-packed between people. I’m keeping a hand on the kiddo so nothing happens to him and this dad sends his kid right in front of us to pick up some cover for his iPhone. Um. HELLO.

Needless to say, I was really happy to get our shit and get out. Man wanted coffee (yes, even in the heat) so we walked down to Starbucks. I got a green tea, the kiddo a coffee light frappaccino and Man got his Americano. We rested, cooled off, and then knew we had to hit it again to get to the car (which was in a garage, thank goodness). But along the way, the kiddo had to go to the bathroom. So we had to make a detour to the Barnes & Noble. I was good – I didn’t buy a thing in there.

FINALLY we get to the car. And I’m dragging all the way back like a big wussie. We get home and collapse. I did managed to get enough energy to make my microwave meatloaf.

Man, though, mowed the front yard and the back yard when the sun started going down. He was dead tired. I don’t know how he managed it. We went to Sherridan’s afterward for frozen custard. I thought we all deserved a treat.

That night, while the kid hid out in his room, we watched Pride and Prejudice. Love that movie.

Sunday was Grocery Store and Laundry Day. Blech. After running that errands, though, Man went to his place and the kiddo and I hung out at the house. I made Mom’s Potato Salad, oven-barbequed chicken and baked beans for dinner. It was so darn good. And the potato salad was just like mom’s. However, I made enough to feed about 10 people. LOL

I did manage to get the front yard watered, too. It’s hard to keep it from burning up in this awful heat. I’m dreading my water bill and electric bill this next month. I have a feeling they are both going to be high.

I also worked a little on plotting the new futuristic. I still don’t quite feel ready to write yet. I’m still working the story out in my head first. I need to know where I’m going and how to get there first.

Thank GOODNESS this is a three day weekend. I’m really looking forward to it. I just hope it’s not 1000 degrees for fireworks on Saturday. :/

Hey all – I’m over at the Yellow Rose blog for an interview, if you’d like to stop in and say hi. Click here.

Hard to believe this is the last Friday of June, isn’t it?

Got my contest entries done and sent by to the coordinator on time for one contest. Now I have another one to judge. I should be able to knock it out next week. That’s the goal anyway. And then I think I’ve volunteered for one more. Then, by the time that’s all done, it’ll be time for the Winter Rose to start up again.

I’ve been having some terribly restless nights lately. Not sure what’s up with that. Lots of tossing and turning. And even though the thermostat is on 78, I’m dying of the heat. It’s just hot. So I turn the ceiling fan on full blast and then I get cold. Grr. I can’t win.

Doesn’t help the kid woke me up at 4:15 thinking he heard thunder. Yeah, so not happening. I think he heard a car or something. So of course by about 9 last night, I was tired and super cranky.

About the only thing I’m looking forward to next week is being off on Friday.

And that’s about all I have today. Nothing exciting. At all.

Have a good weekend.

…I don’t have time to blog today… so I’ll be back tomorrow.

But – real quick – if you’re so inclined, I’ll be interviewed by my home chapter online tonight at the blog. You can get it by clicking here.

More later. Have a great day!

The other day as I was getting ready for work, it occurred to me the three things I absolutely could not leave the house without: my cell phone; my thumb drive; my iPod. I feel completely lost without them and naked. And if I do leave one of them behind, I always turn around and go back and get it (of course, if I’m already at the office then I suck it up and try to get on with my day without them, but it’s very hard, let me tell you).

I’ve come to depend on the iPod for my daily blockage of stupidity. It’s the only thing, lately, that keeps me sane from the outside world. Plus, I’ve started picking up those “free download” cards from Starbucks (because I’m in there nearly daily) and I actually sat and downloaded the free songs. Most of them aren’t really my taste, but what the heck. It’s FREE. And today, Starbucks had a little booklet of coupons for their products in the grocery store. And since I’m the coupon lady how could I refuse that?

Last night I managed to get home early, get dinner done and the dishes done by 7 pm! It was glorious. Then I caught up on emails and cleaned off my desk. Then I finished making the final changes on my Phoenix synopsis. And THEN I got this really fantastic idea for a dark fantasy and I quickly jotted down the notes for it so I don’t lose the idea in the dark chasms of my head.

I also watered both the front and the back before they burn up from the heat. We officially hit our first 100 degree day yesterday. Today, it will be another 100 degree day. And then we have about a 20 percent chance of rain next week. Right. We’ll see if that happens. I reprogrammed the AC so it would kick on earlier in the day. I originally set it to go up to 85 but being so hot, it’s taking the house way too long to cool down at night. So I bumped it back to 82. Let the thing have less of a work-out. It’s old, after all, and I can’t afford to have the thing replaces this year. It can break next year (now you watch, I’ve just jinxed myself!).

Anyway, I’m loving the HP Mini. Man installed some virus software for me and it’s working like a charm. Now I don’t have to worry about getting online and I’m SO SO SO excited to take it with me to Nationals. I had a little SNAFU with the hotel reservations – they LOST them essentially and I had no reservations for my stay – but I got it all sorted out and a new confirmation emailed to me. It’s all good. I’m all set. I have a few little things to get before the trip. Most notably LUGGAGE. Some new walking shoes and some black flats that aren’t beat up. I’m getting my hair done and a pedicure before I leave, too. So much to do. So many things to get ready. I’m really looking forward to the conference and to meeting all my online writing friends who are long-distance. Plus I have a fabulously fabulous red party dress for The Gathering (the FF&P party) on Thursday night AND some terribly hot red sexy shoes to go with. Note to self: wear them before the trip to get them broken in!

As soon as I get back, I’m driving to East Texas to my sister’s the next day to take the kiddo for the week. He’s dying to spend some time with his cousin who is only a year and a half older. I think they’re going to have a blast. I hope. He’s never been away from home for any length of time so this should be interesting. He said today he wanted me to stay with him. Which throws a bit of monkey wrench in the situation, seeing as how I’m not planning to take that week off too…

I have myself scheduled for a week and a day of vacation from work and that’s the longest stretch I’ve ever taken in my entire working career. EVER. I think I’m due. And I think I need it. Can you say Burn Out? Twenty years of working in Corporate America (not for the same company, mind you) and never having a lengthy vacation? Yeah. I’m due.

And before I forget – here’s a head’s up! I’ll be interviewed tomorrow night at my local chapter’s blog, so be sure and stop by if you get a chance! I’ll post a note on Facebook as well as Twitter as a reminder.

That’s it for me! Happy Wednesday, ya’ll! Stay cool.

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Okay I’m normally not a big baby about the heat. I can usually take it and live with it and not let it bother me. But this year it’s exceptionally hot. Earlier than normal. We’re above average temps right now. It sucks.

At least, on the bright side, my allergies are all better. For the last few days, I’ve felt fine. I guess all the heat burned all the damn Cottonwood.

Summer is that time of year where it makes me into a slug. The heat zaps all the energy.

Not much else going on … trying to get motivated to get back to the WIP which has been sorely neglected. And I’m trying to put out some fires. I have entries to judge and some pages to critique so that’s on the agenda for tonight.

Short entry here… I’m off to work!

Hey all! I’m over at Pop Culture Divas today talking about 1001 movies. I’d love some company. Come over and talk to me about YOUR 1001 movies.

I’d like to say I was a lazy bum this weekend but, alas, I wasn’t. My kiddo spent Saturday with me while his dad worked and I took him Father’s Day shopping. Since his dad has an iPod Shuffle, I went the easy route and got him an iTunes gift card. Because, as we all know, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. We lounged around most of the day and I worked on my bookmarks and business cards with the kiddo played the Wii. When he started throwing tantrums is when I banished him to his room and forbid the use of the Wii any more that day.

He was tired. He had stayed up very late the night before and got up way too early. So he was cranky. I thought he might take a nap but he didn’t. I think just out of defiance.

The only time we left the house on Saturday was to go to the store and then I came back home, sat in front of the computer and did laundry. When his dad picked him up, then I ended up watching one of my all-time favorite old movies: Random Harvestwith Greer Garson and Ronald Coleman. I just love that movie.

I managed to drag myself up on Sunday only because the cat was meowing due to an empty bowl. He thinks he’s starving if it’s empty. Coffee was the first order of business before feeding the cat, much to Sampson’s dismay.

So as I ate my morning cereal and watched the last hour of Meet Me In St. Louis on TCM, I looked around the house in utter disgust. I guess there comes a time when spring cleaning is definitely a necessity. So I put on XM’s Boneyard radio, rolled up my sleeves, and got to work.

I swept, vacuumed, scrubbed, killed cobwebs, cleaned bathrooms, the kitchen, scrubbed the counter tops, the microwave, moved furniture, was severely grossed out by the state of my bathroom sink (it sucks to have long hair sometimes…that’s all I’m sayin’), I even scrubbed down the kitchen trash can for crying out loud. And now the house sparkles and shines and smells good and it’s lovely. I did a thorough deep cleaning. The only thing I didn’t do was mop and I ran out of steam. I had every intention of mopping the nasty kitchen floor but my back just couldn’t take it.

And so since I worked so hard for nearly four hours on the house, I rewarded myself with reading time. I’m currently reading Vicki Petterssen’s The Scent of Shadows and it’s quite awesome. I picked it up because I read on Janet Reid’s blog that it “scared the helvetica” out of her and I had to see what that was all about (plus the overall comment that it scared the “helvetica” out of her cracked me up). It’s an action-packed dark urban fantasy and so far I’m loving it. I’m so glad I went ahead and bought the second book. I have a feeling I’ll be diving into it right away.

And, let’s not forget, that we’re getting very close to release date of Karen Marie Moning’s fourth installment of her Fever series. Dreamfever releases August 18 and I’m salivating at the thought (yes, I’ve already pre-ordered it). I’ve been in limbo since finishing Faefever.I truly can’t wait to see what happens to Mac! If you haven’t seen the gorgous cover art yet, pop on over to Amazon and have a look-see. It’s really beautiful.

And that’s about all I have today! I’m off to Dallas this morning for a mid-morning meeting and a lunch meeting. Meetings, meetings, meetings.

I’m so proud of myself. I figured out how to do something in Photoshop FINALLY! Of course, I had to Google tutorials online but I finally figured it out.

It’s CLIPPING! And it’s terribly easy.

Want to see the results? Just go to my home page and check out the new man in the header. *purr*

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Not much to blog about today other than it’s Friday; it’s hot; my allergies suck. Still. You’d think by now all the Cottonwood would have burned to a crisp in the heat.

I’m working on designing some new bookmarks and business cards. I found a place online that will print them in full color for a really good price, so I’m going to try and get them done and shipped to me before I leave for DC. That way I’ll have some on-hand.

Other than that… that’s it. I have more contest entries to judge before the end of the month. I guess I better get busy on that.

Happy Friday!

Okay, so. I totally did it. I splurged. I bought myself an HP Mini. I totally LOVE it. Of course, I have to get used to the smaller keyboard. That’s about the only thing I don’t like.

I spent a good portion of the evening setting it up - removing software and installing software. Got the wireless up and running too. And now I’m ready to take it to Nationals! Now I don’t have to feel lost without my computer or my internet access. AND I can blog from Nationals and upload my pictures and everything. Totally cool.

I’m even typing this entry on my new netbook now.

And in more National news – got my time for my agent appointment. I’ll be pitching to Nephele Tempest at 10:20 on Friday, July 17. VERY excited about that. I can’t believe how close it is!

Aside from my allergies killing me, yesterday was pretty good. Had a nice productive meeting with the office manager in Dallas and I feel like we can continue to move forward and maybe everything will be a-ok.

I also got home to discover I had an email from Cobblestone with my royalty statement. I sold nearly 40 copies of TAKE ME I’M YOURS last month so a HUGE thank you to all my readers. You’re all fantastic and I really, truly appreciate the support.

And speaking of support (great segue, eh?) I got some help from my CPs on my internal/external conflicts with my hero/heroine. I finally have it all nailed down so now I just have to get the thing written. This is something I want to take my time on. I want it to be a good as possible.

It’s supposed to be 102 next week. That’s not the heat index, that’s the actual temperature. Can you say UGH? I’m so jealous of all you having temps in the 60s.

Off to work. Happy Thursday!

I made it to Wednesday.

Yesterday was better. I got Pei Wei and pigged out on the sweet and sour chicken. There’s just something about Chinese food that makes you fee better. And then last night I had a stack of double stuff Oreo cookies and a large glass of milk.

I did a lot of brainstorming on the new WIP yesterday. I figured out who my characters were and wrote a lot of background stuff that won’t make it into the book. But sometimes you have to do that to know who, what, when, why and why not. I figured out both the Hero and Heroine, their history, how they met, why they met, and their brief love affair. The story picks up two years after their split with lots and lots of questions. And a ton of action. I also figured out how the stone tablet figures into the story. At first I thought it was a treasure map, but the way I set up the backgrounds of the characters I knew it had to lead to something bigger. I talked with Man about it during lunch (he always humors me with my crazy ideas) and he gave me some ideas about it. Then, later, I had a great epiphany about the map. It’s still a map but it doesn’t exactly lead to a treasure of worth.

So now I feel like I can start writing. Even though I don’t have an outline yet or a synopsis, I’m going to let the Pantser in me take over and write this one. I have the big picture, the end, and some fantastic scenes in between. I’m ready to run with it.

I was so exhausted last night – I think from the restless night before (a neighborhood dog barked until nearly 2 am!), my allergies and the heat. I just laid on the couch like a slug and watched POTC:3. I fell asleep before it was over and managed to wake up before the big battle. That’s when I turned it off and went to bed.  

The cat woke me up at 5:30 this morning because his bowl was empty. GRR I finally dragged myself up to feed him. And I’m writing this in the early morning hours and about to make coffee and jump in the shower. I have to drive to Dallas today. Certainly not my favorite thing at all.

But after work today, I’m going to Best Buy and drooling over the netbooks. I’m slowly talking myself into one because I can use it on the go and I can take it to Nationals next month. And it’s a tax write-off. Right?

Let’s see if I can sum up yesterday: It was hot and it sucked. Yeah, I think that covers everything.

I don’t know what my problem is lately other than I’m in one of those places where I feel like I need to make some life-changing decisions. I’m fed up, sick, tired and just plain-old ready for something different. I haven’t quite figured out what that is yet. And it’s frustrating.

And I’m sick of being broke. SICK, I tell you. I’ve had it with the scrimping, the coupon clipping, the watching every penny, the being frugal. Had. It. I’m ticked the refills for my razors cost $10 for THREE. THREE! I want to be frivolous. I want to go out and buy that $500 netbook. That Kindle. That new super-cool slider cell phone. Those fancy shoes.

But I can’t. And I don’t. The sensible side of me prevails. Instead I know I need to be pricing a shed for the backyard. New window screens. New bath and tub installs for both bathrooms. A new couch because I’m seconds away from shoving mine out to the curb. Yeah. Real exciting stuff, isn’t it? Being a grown-up sucks.

Okay, I’m just complaining. You’ll have to forgive me. I’m in one of those spots where it’s littered with rocks and hard places. I’ll cheer up now. I promise.

I did finish judging one contest only to end up getting entries for two more. I can’t say no. I’m a glutton. I think one of my resolutions for 2010 will be to not volunteer so much. My personal life and my writing is starting to suffer. It’s time to pare everything down and start worrying more about ME and not everyone else.

And speaking of writing, I’ve been thinking on the new WIP. I sort of have an idea for a plot but part of me really wants to sit down and try and write out a little bit of a synopsis. The other part of me – the Pantser – is demanding that I just start writing. But here’s the thing: I don’t want to rewrite this book forever. I want to do it right the first time. And I think the only way I can do that is if I have a semblance of a synopsis already done. If that makes sense.

So I dabbled on the new WIP some yesterday. And then I played on Twitter and Facebook and called it a night. I’m lame. Oops, sorry. I promised to cheer up.

I think I need to go find my happy place. Which, I’m pretty sure, is in the bottom of a Starbucks Grande Vanilla Latte.

Carry on.

I think the hot summer days are finally here. There is no more rain in the forecast. The only forecase we have is HOT. Temps reaching near 100 with a heat index over 100. These are the days I hate most. The ones where I tend to stay inside most of the time and never get out unless I have to.

It sucks I hate to swim or, you know, wear a bathing suit or I might enjoy summer a little more.

Saturday was the chapter meeting. Always enjoy hearing the speakers and learning new stuff. Afterward, we headed to lunch and I had a really fattening patty melt and it was delish.

Finally got home, picked up the kiddo, and we headed to the movies. We finally saw UP! I loved it. It had laugh out loud moments. My favorite was the dog, Doug. He cracked me up. We saw it in 3-D and while cool, it gave me a headache. Got home and I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.

I was so tired by the end of the day, I literally fell into bed. Got up fairly early on Sunday, started laundry (always a joy) and then went to the store. One of my most hated chores. I let the kiddo be in charge of the calculator which actually went really well until the end when he “misplaced” it because he got distracted by gum. It’s gone. At least it was a freebie so I didn’t care but he was beside himself.

Went to my brother’s for birthday stuff – my brother and niece both had birthday’s last week. Hung out there for a couple hours and then drove home in the searing heat. Have I mentioned I hate the heat?

Last night I made burgers and fries. Though nothing like the burgers and fries I saw on the CBS Sunday Morning show. Check out this place. It’s called Heart Attack Grill in Chandler, AZ. I feel a road trip coming on. haha

Two things. First: Happy Birthday to my big bro!! You’re still older than me.

Second: Don’t forget about the Summer Sampler contest at Selena Blake’s! Be sure to click here to enter to win. Contest ends June 15!

On Wednesday night, we had some really nasty thunderstorms roll through. And I mean really nasty. A tornado, they think, touched down in Flower Mound. Plus Lewisville and Grapevine got pummeled as well. Lots of power outages, downed trees, that sort of thing.

Luckily, my house and neighborhood sustained no damage. That was the first storm at 6:45 in the evening.

Then we got another major round. It thundered from the time I dozed off at 11 until the really bad rain started up again. At 1:15 am, the GFI tripped in the house and I couldn’t get it to reset. I gave up and crawled back to bed. At 2:30 am, thunder and lightening came and we got another round of high winds and a dumping of rain. The kid sailed into my room and dove into the bed. I carried him to the living room (he’s getting a little big for that) and listened to the weather radio. Severe Thunderstorm Warning. No kidding.

Since the local channels weren’t broadcasting weather, I figured it was probably okay and we headed back to bed. It poured down rain until after 4 am. That’s when I banished the kid back to his bed so I could sleep until the alarm went off.

I really hate nights like that. It really wears me out. And the kid hates thunderstorms so I know he’s going to be in bed with me, hogging the mattress and the covers.

As I left for work Thursday morning, I started pouring down rain again! We got our fair share, that’s for sure. It finally started clearing off by noon.

But boy was I tired last night. The kiddo fell asleep right after we got hom at 5:30 and he was impossible to wake up. He slept until I finally was able to get him up at 8:30 to feed him dinner. Of course, he got up just in time to go back to bed. Figures. At 9:30, I packed him off to his room with the portable DVD player and Star Wars III. Then I crawled into bed.

There are two things I can’t live without: coffee and sleep.

Paid bills. That was depressing.

Workd on WIP. That was fun.

Other than that, not much else to report. I’m SO glad it’s Friday. I think the kiddo and I are going to try to get to the movies this weekedn and see “Up”. I’m really looking forward to that!

This is going to be a really short, quick entry today. I’m writing this the night before since I won’t have time in the morning and I’m drop-dead exhausted.

First – I’m up to 5000 words on the new WIP. The first 18 pages are jam-packed with action and I love, love, love the characters and the story so far. A few times I even giggled at myself. It’s always nice to have fun writing, isn’t it?

Second – I have a new review for TAKE ME I’M YOURS. Finally! I got 4 stars from CataRomance.

“This is a romance that is passionate and lusty while being sweet and sassy.  The characters can be a contradiction of terms but they never deviate from their goals and desires.  This is a love story that one will happily fall for.”

If you’d like to read the whole thing, check it out here!

And Third – I just ordered the COOLEST book from BN.Com with my birthday gift card. I can’t wait to get it! I think it’s really going to add some zip to my writing. Especially the current WIP. It’s called Ka-Boom! A Dictionary of Comic Book Words, Symbols & Onomatopoeia by Kevin Taylor. Yeah, say that five times fast! You can get the book and more info here.

Yeah, I’m boring today. Sorry about that.