Writing, Reviewing and Wings

"Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our weaknesses." - Marilyn vos Savant

Just cuz it was a cool quote. It really has nothing to do with my early morning babbling.

Woke up early, early, early today. I hate it when my brain wakes up before I'm ready. I tried to go back to sleep on the couch, but no doing -- I kept getting the strangest songs in my head. "Are You Ready?" by KC and Terry Desario. "Someone To Love" by Queen. And different thoughts zipped around in there, ideas for promotion, thoughts about writing, wondering about how I can create more hours in my day, wondering why my dog is so weird...

You get the idea.

So, about 3:30 a.m., I heaved a sigh, threw off the throw (it's a throw, it should be thrown don't you think?) and turned on the coffee pot. Even the cat gave me the evil eye when I turned on the dining room light. She clearly has no problem with her brain buzzing...

I checked email, puttered around on a few of my fave sights and then realized I should probably do a blog post. For all the things buzzing around in my brain, not one of them has to do with something to put on this blog.

Is it possible that, after nearly 1,000 posts I've run out of things to say?

You're right. I never run out of words.

I got my first round of edits on one of my newly contracted stories, "A Christmas Curse". Have I posted that blurb? If not, here it is:

For Molly Scott, everything bad in her life has happened during the Christmas season, from training bras in her stocking to being jilted by her fiancé. This year is no exception.

Ten days before Christmas, she arrives at work to find her department closed down and everyone laid off. Desperate, she takes a job for a singing telegram service and, dressed as Mrs. Claus, meets the man of her dreams--who turns out to be a nightmare--in a broken down elevator. The Christmas Curse is right on track.

Is it on your Christmas shopping list? Feel free to get a copy for all your friends and family. It's a fun story (she said humbly).

It's been fun messing with the new website, too. Have you checked out my cool new navigational buttons? I actually liked a different one better, but was out-voted. Judy, my mom and my 8 y.o. DD voted for the new ones. They're growing on me (the buttons, not Judy, my mom and DD). We have big things happening, and the first of them will be announced both here and at the website on Monday!!

We're still in desperate need of new reviewers. Even if all you can do is one or two reviews a month, we need you. We have far more work than my eight current reviewers can handle. I have two good sized ePresses sending us their new releases, and one has said we can review any of their backlist. Though romance is the central theme in all the books and stories we review, they are in all genres -- from Young Adult to mystery to paranormal. What are you waiting for?

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Pillar Place: Monarch may be in for some excitement soon. One of our chrysalis' is turning black! This happens right before they hatch. Like this (photo swiped from Bird Chick, once again -- I adore Bird Chick):



You can't *quite* see the wings on ours yet, but it's getting there. DD insists that it's Curly hatching first. Once all nine (ten?) went into the box, I lost track of who was who, but I'm good with this one being Curly. We'll keep you posted.

My first monarch. I'm tickled.

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What Your Pizza Reveals

Your appetite is pretty average. You don't go overboard - but you don't deprive yourself either. You are a very picky pizza eater. Not any pizza will do. You fit in best in the Northeast part of the US. Your taste is rather complex and sophisticated. You consider yourself a gourmet - and a bit of a snob. You are generous, outgoing, and considerate with your choices. You are definitely unique and artistically inclined. You should consider traveling to Prague. The stereotype that best fits you is hippie. You knew it was coming.

What Does Your Pizza Say About You?

If I don't blog tomorrow, it's because I've donned my love beads and am off to Prague.

Peace.