Not forking out the dough for the RWA Conference this year, with evening wear, suits, high heels and whatever “business casual” means?

Not to worry! Romance Divas is hosting the

Not Going to Conference Conference…

The Conference You Don’t Have to Get Out of Bed For!

From July 28-31, come hang out with some terrific, savvy authors — and you don’t even have to brush your teeth (although, seriously, good dental hygiene gets you extra points.)

We’ll be hosting panels on:

The Power of Three: A crit group tell-all (Paranormal)

Crystal Jordan

Patti O’Shea

Dayna Hart/Rowan Larke

The Lolitas of STEAMED! Present Writing the Steampunk Romance -more than leather corsets and brass goggles!

Marie-Claude Bourque

Theresa Meyers

Whips, Chains, Slings, Oh My: It Really Isn’t About the Toys (BDSM Erotica)

James Buchanan

Joey Hill

The Great Big YA Panel

Rhonda Stapleton

Shannon Delany

Kiersten White

Carrie Ryan

Linda Gerber

Saundra Mitchell

Lara Zielin

Brenna Yovanoff

Register for free at Romance Divas, then come join us on the forums for the discussions, as well as some terrific prizes:
Eden Bradley/Eve Berlin:
1) erotic e-books, THE SEEKING KISS and TEMPT ME TWICE.
2) a synopsis critique in any sub-genre of erotica/erotic romance.
Jax Cassidy:
1) erotic e-books, DEVIL’S HEART and BRUSH STROKES.
2) book cover design or banner ad
Kristen Painter:
copy of her e-book, ALL FIRED UP
Rhonda Stapleton:
1) STUPID CUPID YA Book trilogy
2) a proposal critique (1st 3 chapters and synopsis) for any genre of book, romance or not
K.B. Alan:
1) The choice of one of her e-books: PERFECT FORMATION, ALPHA TURNED or BOUND BY SUNLIGHT.
2) A $25 Barnes and Noble gift card.
Robin L. Rotham: Signed copies of BIG TEMPTATION, ALIEN OVERNIGHT, and ENEMY OVERNIGHT
AJ Chase: copies of e-book CAT AND MOUSE
Inez Kelley:
1) e-book package of both MYLA BY MOONLIGHT and SALOME AT SUNRISE
2) The complete Dirty Laundry Series (3 e-novellas) co-written by Ginny Glass aka Wordsugar and Inez Kelley
Kate Pearce:
1) a three chapter ~and~ synopsis critique-any erotic romance, paranormal romance or historical romance.
2) Winners choice, in either print or e-book format (if available), of a set of the Simply series (there are 5) ~or~ a set of the Cowboys (there are 3) ~or~ a copy of KISS OF THE ROSE-readers choice.
R.G. Alexander:
Winners choice of any two e-books from her Samhain or Ellora’s Cave back list
Nadia Lee:
Critique of 1st chapter & synopsis-paranormal or contemporary romance
Shelley Munro: Winners choice of any one her backlist books from Ellora’s Cave or Cerridwen Press
Ciar Cullen: Winner’s choice of any one e-book on her website.
Voirey Linger: A copy of her e-book RISKING ETERNITY
RF Long:
1) a submission package critique (letter, synopsis and 3 chapters)
2) e-books! (details TBA)
Crystal Jordan:
1) 1st chapter and synopsis critique
2) One copy of any e-book off her Samhain backlist (http://samhainpublis…/crystal-jordan)
3) One copy of IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (print or electronic, winner’s choice)
Jeannie Lin:
1) a first chapter critique, any genre
2) an official BUTTERFLY SWORDS souvenir charm
Elise Logan: Winner’s choice of any e-book from her backlist
Marguerite Labbe:
1) A critique of an m/m story
2) Signed copies of her m/m vampire trilogy MY HEART IS WITHIN YOU, HAUNTED BY YOUR SOUL and OUR SACRED BALANCE
Seeley DeBorn:
One jar of home made body or face scrub, customized to the winner’s preferences and skin type.
For example: Orange Spice Oatmeal, Coffee-Cocoa, Citrus Salt, Lavender Mint, Honey and Flax
Sela Carsen: a copy of her e-book CAROLINA WOLF
Hailey Edwards:
1) a copy of her sweet fantasy romance ebook, EVERLONG.
2) two five dollar MBaM gift cards
Charlotte McClain:
Copy of her two e-books, LOVE TO DECLARE and ROCK STAR’S RETREAT
Cynthia Justlin: (Golden Heart Finalist!) Proposal Critique (3 Chapters and synopsis)-any genre other than erotic
Lainey Bancroft:
1) signed copies of her contemporary romance, THE TROUBLE WITH TESSA and her chick lit romance COZUMEL KARMA
2) Proposal critique (3 chapters and a synopsis) any genre except Steampunk
Tina Burns-Publisher-Liquid Silver Books:
1) a critique of 1st 3 chapters & synopsis
2) 3 be-book prizes for 3 different winners! Winners choice of any one e-book download from LSB library.
Mima:
Winner’s choice of one e-book from her backlist-see her website for booklist.
Taneasha: handmade jewelry by our own Taneasha-details to come!
Barbara Sheridan:
1) Winners choice of one e-book from her backlist-see her website for booklist.
2) Critique of up to 20 pages of either M/M, or M/F romance or erotic romance in various subgenres (contemporary, historical, paranormal or suspense/mystery)
David Bridger:
A copy of his ebook BEAUTY AND THE BASTARD
Victoria Janssen:
3 print books TBA (whatever she finds at the RWA Conference)
Gemma Halliday:
Signed copy of SCANDAL SHEET
Jennifer Leeland/Jennifer McKenzie:
1) copy of her e-book MARKED FOR PLEASURE (Kindle version available upon request)
2) copy of her e-book MARKED FOR DESIRE (Releasing June 29th) (Kindle version available upon request)
3) copy of her e-books The Command Series (Trilogy)
4)copy of her BDSM e-book series (3 from TWRP and 1 from Samhain)
Emily Ryan-Davis:
1) Critique of novella-length (up to 30k) manuscript; any time period, m/f, menage, f/f (m/m not her area of expertise)
2) signed print copies of her anthology: MATING CALL, DRAGON DANCE and DRAGON BOUND
3) e-book copy of CHANGING THUMBELINA
Sabrina Darby:
1) Signed copy of her erotic historical novel, ON THESE SILKEN SHEETS
2) Critique of first thirty pages of any Regency (erotic or non erotic fine, but m/m outside my area of expertise)
Alina Morgan:
1) copy of her e-book The Twilight Deception
2) copy of her e-book The Shadow Unveiled
Debbie Mumford:
1) Critique of a synopsis
2) Winner’s choice of any e-book from her back list.
Kimberly Troutte:
1) copy of her e-book SOUL STEALER
2) copy of her e-book CATCH ME IN CASTILE
Sasha Devlin:
1 pair of hand made writing mitts or gloves-style and color TBD by the winner
Julia Knight
Winner’s choice of one copy of any of her books available in e-book format

I know, I know. A month. It’s been almost an entire month since I wrote anything here.

Actually, it’s been almost more than a month since I wrote anything anywhere. “Slump” doesn’t begin to describe. More like “descent into an airless hell.”

But I think I can now tentatively state that I’m writing. I started a 3rd Carolina Wolf story on Saturday and have just over 1K words down. I don’t want to get too excited, but it’s good to write again.

Really, really good. I feel like I have purpose again.

Not much of a blog post, I’m afraid, but I feel like it’s a good beginning.

I like making plans. They look so pretty on paper. Real life tends to make them messy, but at least I have a direction to head, right?

Today is my last day of work! Yay!!!

I have a rather dreadful feeling that DH intends to rip out a chunk of my kitchen this weekend, so that means I need to clear off the counters so he has space to work.

Honestly, the plan is to finally clean the damn house. Since I started working, housework fell completely off the radar and I’m starting to ick myself out here. So that’s the first priority. Tidy first, toss the junk, sort the rest, then scrub. That’ll take the weekend, working in small chunks.

Tuesday will be at the library, at the grocery store, running all the errands that need to be run. I’m on my last roll of paper towels here, and I gotta stock up. We were supposed to go to the case lot sale at the Scott AFB Commissary last weekend, but we blew it off, so now it’s just me and Sam’s Club.

Still have family administrative stuff to do — things to register and de-register for, bills to pay, forms to fill out. Just all the little stuff that falls through the cracks while mommy’s brain is in neutral.

And then? Once all that stuff is either done or sorted by Wednesday or Thursday?

Then, I write.

Yep, I’m the big 4-0 today.

Oy. My knees hurt just thinking about it.

And for my birthday? I GOT A NOOK!!!!! Wheeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! I’m so excited!!! I’ve been wanting an e-reader for years and I’ve really liked this one every time I got to play with it in the store!

I’ve got more to add, but it’ll have to wait until after work. I’m late!

Me having all this extra time to write, that is?

Now that I’m not doing the show, I figured I’d be able to use my evenings to write when I realized that I almost never wrote at night before. I wrote during the day so I’d be able to kick back with the family while everyone was home. So now how do I say, “Sorry, everyone. I still can’t play with you. I have to write, instead.” Maybe I can train my brain to kickstart in the mornings so I can get some words in then. Other than blog posts, I mean. *gg*

I always wondered what it would be like to go back to work once the kids were old enough. I don’t like it.

I mean, I like my job — libraries are just plain awesome — but I don’t like this constant feeling that I’m not getting stuff done. Before, if stuff didn’t get done it was because I forgot or I was just procrastinating. Now, it’s because I run out of steam by 7 pm.

Not to mention, I had to go to the PO last night to mail out our Mother’s Day presents. Unfortunately, their hours are 9-5. Well, I work from 9-4:30, but I don’t get home until almost 5. So by the time I picked up the packages and made it to the PO, they were closed. Grrrr. And the Post Office whines because so few people use them anymore. Well duh! That’s because no one can get there before they close! I had to use UPS instead.

I am very, very fortunate that this isn’t something I have to keep doing. I don’t think I fully appreciated that until now.

So as this next Mother’s Day rolls around, extra hats off to the working moms out there. Y’all rock.

What will I do with all this new-found time?

Write, you say?

Yeah. Maybe.

We’ll see.

In the meantime, what’s up with y’all? Have I missed any fun kerfuffles in Romancelandia while I was mired in my own insanity? I haven’t actually been involved in one of those in a while. We must be due for one soon.

It went well. Really well. Really well as in, the house was packed and kids were sitting on the floor. SRO, baby!!

I think it bodes well for opening a real theatre program at the college. We were their test run to see if there was interest and I think we’ve displayed that there’s ample interest in a local theatre program! It would be great to see it grow because I never want to do another show in that room. We’re actually just co-opting a large room at the school and it is SO not set up for shows. The sound, especially, is awful. When the spotlight runs, the fan is so loud that it’s hard for people in the back to hear. The carpet completely deadens sound. We were on risers, but DH said that he couldn’t see anything on anyone from the waist down. It’s far from ideal.

But the show itself went pretty well, despite the tornado warnings in the area and the torrential rain that drowned out even more sound. The energy was a little low and we didn’t get quite the laughs we were expecting, but overall, I’m pleased.

One more show tonight, then life returns to semi-normal. Whew!

The show opens tonight and closes tomorrow. Our dress rehearsal went disturbingly well. Theatre superstition holds that a bad dress rehearsal means a good opening night. Hmmm. DH tried to cheer me up by asking if the dress could have gone better. Well, I suppose it could have, but it’s not quite the same thing.

I swear. If someone mentions  the Scottish play today, I’m going to run home and hide under the covers.

I’m not even a superstitious person, but around show time, I start walking around ladders, tossing salt hither and yon, letting my OCD out to play in a lot of weird ways.

So say a prayer to St Genesius for me, but whatever you do, don’t wish me good luck!

Since she’s concerned that I’ve lost my mind since I started working. Actually, I do have something interesting to tell y’all. Friday and Saturday, my local RWA chapter hosted a Margie Lawson workshop on Deep Edits: The EDITS system, Rhetorical Devices and More.

She wanted us to bring a piece to work on, handed out her worksheets and a package of highlighters, and off we went. I learned a lot about how to punch up emotional impact, discovered I already use a lot of the rhetorical devices she covered, and yes, people think my stories are weird. I was using “Monster Love,” my Gorgon story, as the guinea pig.

Other than that, I don’t have time to do much more than breathe. We’re in our last week of rehearsals and I need to find a pair of khaki trousers that don’t make me look like a zamboni ran over my ass. Seems like the ones I find that actually fit through the hips hang horribly on the thighs so I look like I’m walking on massive columns. *sigh* I hate shopping.

Anyway, that’s all the news from my end of the world. What’s happening with you?

My dog is in my lap. He’s happy. I’m scratching behind his ears and his head is resting on my arm and he’s making these little grunting groans of happiness.

I’m covered in dog hair — proof of love.