The Writing Life in Pictures

This week, I turned in the first book on my Kimani Press contract.

I wanted to fill y'all in on the past few months, but find writers blogging about writing to be a snoozy topic.

"Staring at the black page is sooooo hard."

"Where's my muse?"

"This chair makes my butt hurt."

"Blah, blah, blah, zzzz, zzzz..."

So I thought I'd sum up the last few months of my life in (snoozy) pictures.

My office:

Kitchen:

Bedroom:

Starbucks:

Library:

And everyone needs an office buddy:


Now I'm off to look at something besides my laptop!

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Do You Believe in Signs?

As writers we’ve all been there. You send off a proposal and the waiting begins.

When I’m playing the waiting game, I tend to look for signs my manuscript will hopefully sell.

This time I saw my ‘sign’ on the shelves of Sephora – a bath set with the same name as my book.





Honestly, it was probably just a coincidence, but I bought the set – and my proposal for ‘Sweet On You’ sold!

Anybody else? Come on, I can’t be the only desperately wacky person out there.

Tell me about your last sign.

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Happy Dancing!

If you're reading this I'm already at Chick-fil-A celebrating with lemonade and waffle fries, because...



OPERATION PRINCE CHARMING, is a finalist in the Single Title Contemporary category of WisRWA's Write Touch Readers' Award contest!!!!

Honestly, I'm not sure what I'm the happiest about - finaling or Chick-fil-A?

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I Made A Cake Y'all!

The main character of the book I'm working on bakes the most scrumptious desserts.

Dessert at my house is usually a Snickers bar, so I recently spent five hours in Classic Cakes class for a crash course in baking.

Voila! A Five-Flavor Pound Cake homemade by yours truly:

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A Breakthrough!

I finally figured out a story problem that’s been holding up progress on my WIP. So I’m feeling like these spring flowers I spotted breaking through the dirt on a frigid 25-degree morning.

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Something's Gotta Give

What do these two things have to do with writing?



I'll bet you already guessed, but come on over to Novel Spaces anyway and I'll tell you all about it!

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Looking for Inspiration?

Sixteen Dorchester Publishing authors (including me!) are on Musetracks today offering great writing advice and a chance to win tons of free books!

I'll be giving away a signed copy of The Holiday Inn!



Come on over!

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Novel Spaces

I adore my laptop and smart phone, but sometimes I have to unplug and hide in Starbucks. I'm blogging about it over at Novel Spaces.

Join me!

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Welcome to My World

The editor's revision letter for my upcoming book (August 2010!) arrived. So I'm currently buried under this pile on my kitchen table. I'll be back to my already sporadic posting when I'm done.

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Writing Lessons from Bootcamp

Workout Bootcamp taught me some valuable writing lessons. I'm blogging about them over at Novel Spaces.



Drop by and say hello!

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My Favorite Things: Writing Edition

I'm over at Novel Spaces today blogging about my favorite writing things. If you want to see what I absolutely must have to write, come on over!

See you there.

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Hanging Out With the Chick Lit Gurrl

I've over at the ChickLitGurrl's blog - High On Lattes and Writing today blogging about writing. So if you get a breather from the holiday hubbub, please stop by and say hello.

See you there!

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If I Can Do It, So Can You!

We’ve all heard the voice.

You know, the one deep inside that whispers:

When I get time, I am going to write a novel.

Sorry. The magic time fairy is a no show. Even after you’re published, writing time is something you grab, sneak and even steal.

So why not grab, sneak and steal that time starting NOW!?!?

That’s right. Open up your word processing program and just freaking do it!

Why now?

It’s National Novel Writing Month! You’ll have tons of support and of plenty of company.

Hey! What are you waiting on? Get over to www.nanowrimo.org to sign up, then get busy writing!

No excuses. I read your blogs. I KNOW you can do it!

P.S. If you want to be my friend over there, just click here.

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Holiday Food Hangover?

Overindulge on deliciously naughty foods at your holiday picnic?

Well, get on over to Novel Spaces, where I’m blogging about my adventures aboard the healthy snack bandwagon.

See you there!

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Just Write It!

Do you think you've got a novel in you?

Well, there’s no better month than November to get it out.

National Novel Writing Month also known as Nanowrimo begins today!

My Starbucks card is loaded (for endless cups of black coffee) and my laptop is fully charged.

The rules: Write 50,000 words by the end of the November.

The supplies: Perseverance and something to write on.

The prize: A certificate of completion and the satisfaction of knowing you authored a book.

Your novel can be any genre – sci fi, fantasy, horror, romance, mystery or a combination of all of ‘em.

I wrote my first Nanowrimo book in 2004. I didn’t do it for an editor or publication. I wrote it for me. And I’m just as proud of it as I am my published works.

Will your novel be good? Probably not. The first drafts of bestselling authors suck too. Just write it. You can always fix it in December – or not.

Can you do it? Hell, yes! I’ve read your blogs, and you guys are a fantastic bunch of writers!

So click on over to www.nanowrimo.org and sign up!

Good luck! See you (and your novels!) at the end of the month!

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