Blah, Blah, Blah

A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the other one. - Baltasar Gracian

My brain is on vacation this morning... This is why it's taken me so long to blog.

I swiped this from Judy:

Check out Snowdays, make your own snowflake and help out the Salvation Army (Popular Front will donate $$ depending on how many snowflakes are created). And, while you're there... check out my snowflake. It's #3,208,628.

I did manage to do a bit of writing yesterday, so that's good. It's also good that I have an honest family writing critiquer (is that a word?): My Mom.

Yup, most everyone out there complains that their families are the "good job" pat on the back reader of their work. My mom (who is undoubtedly reading this right now) is brutally honest. And I appreciate it. Really (really, Mom).

She gave me some advice on what I wrote yesterday that I let simmer all night and has helped me come up with some ideas on how to make my heroine more interesting and lengthen the story -- which I wanted to do.

So -- Yay for Mom!

Hey, you romance writers out there -- Allie is looking for help in writing those, *ahem*, awkward sex scenes. Anyone with comments or advice, head on over and give it to her!

BTW, did I mention I'm giving away a gift certificate to the Wild Rose Press this month? Well... I am, so go check it out!

Anyone up to anything interesting?

EDITED TO ADD:

Paperback Writer has done it again -- she's giving away a copy of Holly Lisle's Talyn today! Go play.

Changing the Past

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. - W. Somerset Maugham

I just realized that I hadn't updated my blog yet today. I popped out of bed around 4 a.m. like always and got started answering emails -- but the husband is playing hockey in Nashua this morning, so I woke him at 4:30, started a load of laundry and basically skewed my regular routine.

I am working on expanding a story I originally wrote with Womans World in mind. It was rejected but I love the premise, so am fleshing it out. It's so nice to revisit characters that you enjoy, isn't it? That must be the reason that many authors write a series.

The only thing I've struggled with is this: in my mind, the story happened the way it happened originally. And changing it up is like trying to change my own past. In the original story, the characters only meet once, near the end, but I want to build up their attraction a bit more and let the reader get to know the hero more, so some of the characters original past needs to change. It's like pulling teeth.

Hey -- thanks to all the folks who've purchased my story at Wild Rose and left such nice reviews. I'm glad you enjoyed the story -- it's one of my favorites.

So... Christmas shopping done yet? Mine is (insert evil laugh here).

EDITED TO ADD: If you haven't stopped by Paperback Writer's blog today, you should. She has a list of ten really cool contests.

Hey, Hey, Good Lookin'

The weirder you're going to behave, the more normal you should look. It works in reverse, too. When I see a kid with three or four rings in his nose, I know there is absolutely nothing extraordinary about that person. ~ P.J. O'Rourke

For the past month or so, I've been studying Womans World magazine for their romance short stories. This morning, I actually looked through the rest of one of the magazines and stumbled across a story entitled: What Would You Change About Yourself If You Could?

In this particular story, the woman got breast implants and went from a AA cup to a C cup. Not exactly earth-shattering stuff IMHO, but there you are.

Still, it got me to thinking about our characters and their appearances. Though chubby heroines are beginning to make an appearance (I am interested in the fact that Nora has Peabody in her "In Death" books who is very curvaceous, self-conscious about it and always considering a diet BUT continually getting wolf whistles and such), most heroines are slim and built.

Many have long hair. Full lips. Big eyes. Legs all the way up to their butts.

In the article, above, they list average sizes for American women:

Height: 5'4"
Weight: 163 lbs
Clothing size: 10-12
Bra size: C cup

How many of you have read or written a story lately with a heroine proportioned in such a way?

Me neither.

I know, I know -- we read to escape, at least I do. So it's a fantasy. If I could insert myself into a particular world and be anyone I could be, I'd certainly want to have a "perfect" body, be strong-willed and intelligent and sexy and self-assured, so I understand.

Still... it got me to thinking. Isn't it a shame that we, as women, would choose something like our breast size as the one thing we'd change about ourselves?

If I was being realistic, and had to change something physical and not my circumstances, then I wouldn't want bigger breasts (and I'm not exactly well-endowed). I would change my hair. I. Hate. My. Hair.

What would you choose?

Hooked On A Feeling

I can live for two months on a good compliment. ~ Mark Twain

Yesterday, I had this odd realization: other folks, folks I don't even know, are reading my story.

Now, I've had a few other things published before, so this shouldn't be a new feeling. But it was. I tried to figure out why, exactly, and I came to this conclusion. Every other thing that I've had published I was paid a flat fee by the publisher, but the people who read it thereafter paid nothing to do so.

Folks who are reading "Now That We've Found You", however, are making the conscious decision to pay money specifically to read it.

All of you who've had your books published before have been through this. I wonder -- am I the only one who finds it odd?

Incidentally, to those of you who did make the conscious decision to purchase my story: Wild Rose Press allows readers to give reviews on what they buy. I'd love for you to do so!

I looked at the current holiday bestsellers at Wild Rose, and my story is number six. And in its category, Champagne Rose, it's number one! Cool!

Okay, I'll be over it all soon, probably about the time I start submitting again (which needs to be soon). Thanks to all of you!

It's Available!! Woo!

Finally! My story "Now That We've Found You" is now available at the Wild Rose Press.

YAY! Tell your friends, your family, strangers you meet on the street.... :-)

My Latest Time Waster...

It's all Judy's fault (and Judy, I've almost caught your personal best -- I'm only a few feet behind, so watch out)!!! I can't stop playing this game.

Come join me at the Monkey Kick Off.

Patience is a Virtue

Patience: A minor form of despair disguised as a virtue. ~ Ambrose Bierce

Ahh... patience. I have none. Okay, very little. I bounced out of bed this morning and hurried downstairs to look at The Wild Rose Press page... and my story still isn't available. It should be soon. I hope.

beats head on keyboard

Okay, instead of complaining, I suppose I should be writing! I'm going to be messed up on the day of the week for the next few days because DH is off today and it already feels like Saturday. I hate that.

So, happy whatever day it is, and check back to see if my story is available for download!

EDITED TO ADD:

THE WINNER OF MY MONTHLY CONTEST IS "NOVEL BLOGGER", Brian P.

Brian, send me an email with your mailing address and I'll get it out to you! Congratulations!!