My Muse Has Lost Her Mojo

A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket. ~Charles Peguy

I tried to write yesterday... TRIED being the important word in that sentence. I haven't finished my fantasy (I'm SO freaking close) and I have one more week to meet my goal. I'm at the pivotal, uber-important part of the story and I don't know if I'm overwhelmed by it, intimidated by it, or just don't know how to get from point A to point B, but I open up the document and stare at it.

I was determined to write, though, so I opened "A Change of Tune". The Wild Rose Press is going to be offering a new western series and my store would fit in neatly. Since it's a sequel to my other TWRP story, "A Change of Heart", I figured I could kill two birds.

I'm at a fabulous point of the story, one that could be touching and funny and is quite pivotal (I plan on it being the first kiss for my H/H). I know what I want to happen, but when I open the document I just stare.

I used to write longhand when this happened, but my thumb is still achy and I can't write easily. So, I decided to open something light and silly, something I could write in without concern. A story where I could flat out be goofy if I wanted, thinking abject silliness might be the cure. I opened "Perilous Love". And stared. I admit, I finally just decided to write whatever came to mind just to see if I could bash through the block. It didn't help.

And I went to bed utterly dejected.

I'm going to give it a go again today. And tomorrow. And the next day. I suspect part of my problem was not writing something every day. It's easy to get out of the habit and, just like exercise, we get out of shape.

I hope that's all it is.

*sigh*

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You Are Liquid

You are a laid back person, and you always good with the flow. Why fight things? You are dreamy and imaginative. You get swept up in the moment, and you love abstract concepts. You are comfortable with solitude. You treasure your alone time and get into your own groove. You don't follow rules, and you definitely aren't punctual. You act without consulting anyone else.

Are You Solid, Gas, or Liquid?

Except for being comfortable with solitude? This is completely wrong.

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Win an eReader!

An apocryphal story - the word "apocryphal" here means "obviously untrue" - tells of two people, long ago, who were very bored, and that instead of complaining about it they sat up all night and invented the game of chess so that everyone else in the world, on evenings when there is nothing to do, can also be bored by the perplexing and tedious game they invented. ~Lemony Snicket

LOL... doesn't really have anything to do with today's post. I just liked the quote!

First off... just a quick reminder that the Long and the Short of It's second anniversary bash started TODAY. We're giving away tons of stuff -- the but the grand prizes are three (yes THREE) Sony eReaders. And, hey, feel free to spread the word :-)

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A writing friend, Wendi Zwaduk, shared her exciting news with me yesterday: she got her release date for her upcoming book with The Wild Rose Press. I was VERY excited for her, but also gobsmacked -- the release is for next May. Her edits are done, the cover is completed, the ARC is approved... and it doesn't release until next May... nearly a year from now. Holy smokes.

The reason this impacted me so much was this: even if I finally get something submitted (whether to TWRP or somewhere else), does this mean it will be a year or more before it's released? Because, yanno, I expect that with the NY publishers, but not with the ePubs.

So, I have to admit to being a little discouraged.

Still, I did manage to write a little last night. I opted to continue revising "Return to Stiller Creek" since it's the closest to being submitted. I clearly need to get something in the pipeline, so that's my goal. And, I will (I WILL) make time to write every day, even if it's only 30 minutes.

Yes, the fantasy still calls my name. Yes, I have other things singing their siren song. But, I need to be realistic and focus.

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Bad, bad news in Pillar Place: Monarch -- Jane died. She never even made her pupa. She went into her J and then just sort of... dissolved. It was quite icky. And Maria? Superglued Maria? Her pupa has turned black, so we're guessing she's a goner as well.

So, to recap: we began with ten eggs. We hatched four pillars. Nancy died as a baby. Jane died as a J. Maria died as a pupa.

And then there was one. All our hopes lay with Lenape.

NOT a good year to be a caterpillar.

In other news, though, I actually saw my first monarch butterfly yesterday... so maybe somewhere there are other pillars hatching?

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Great Deals for .99 Cents!

Thrift means that you should always have the best you can possibly afford, when the thing has any reference to your physical and mental health, to your growth in efficiency and power. ~Orison Swett Marden

Warning: Blatant promotion coming up below. I haven't done that in a while, cuz I haven't had anything to promote. So.. anyway...

How cool is THIS? The Wild Rose Press has ALL it's rosette length stories on sale for $0.99! This includes MY rosettes, if you're interested and haven't already bought them.



I was very impressed with Magic. Although not a long story, it had tremendous character development for seven characters. I loved the camaraderie between them, and would love to revisit this group. As for Ben and Cass, I do wish it had been a little longer, but only because I hated the story to be over. I am definitely looking into additional stories by this author. - Katherine, Joyfully Reviewed

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Marianne Arkins has created a light-hearted, fun short story. Patrice’s dedication to hunt down snacks of all kinds will bring a smile to the reader’s face. The playful bantering back and forth between Patrice and Joey is delightful to watch. The realism of a comment or statement being misunderstood is a nice building block for this plot. Although this story was told in less than twenty pages, it is no less enjoyable. This reader was glad she decided to stay up those extra minutes to read it. Pregnancy Cravings is a well-written story that follows two innocent bystanders and one pregnant girl’s interesting food choices. 4 Angels! - Shayley, Fallen Angel Reviews

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Miles From You is a touching, heartwarming story of love and hope. I loved it! I felt as if I was living in the age along with the characters, as if I could feel the tears Millie cried and hear Paul’s voice as he said good-bye. Ms. Arkins has given dimension to her characters, even in such a short story. I would have honestly loved it if this was longer, because I liked Millie and Paul so much that I wanted to know more about them. I am hoping for a sequel to this story, just to learn what happens next! Aside from making me care about the characters, Ms. Arkins has also given the reader a compact, yet engaging, story, complete with tons of details that made the images come alive. Miles From You is one of those great little stories that can be savored time and again. 5 Angels & Recommended Read! - Marlene, Fallen Angel Reviews

Marianne Arkins writes one of those books that should come with a box of Kleenex attached, or at least one of those pocket packs... Ms. Arkins has done a great job with this book of memories of a different time in our history. Even though I'm sure there are still people like Paul and Millie around, we don't hear about them much. I'm glad the author reminds us. This is a sweet read. But remember what I said about needing tissues handy!! - 5 Hearts - Dee, the Romance Studio

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This charming short story is another winner for author Marianne Arkins. Marianne Arkins has a knack for creating everyday heroes who work their way into your heart after just a few pages. I’m looking forward to this author’s first full-length novel, as the only disappointment I feel after reading her short stories is that they aren’t nearly long enough! - The Long and the Short of It

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Your Personality Cluster is Introverted Intuition

You are: You are multilayered and complex. No one can quite understand you. You are very inspired and driven to achieve your goals. Whether you know it or not, you are a visionary with a complete life plan. You are intuitive enough to understand difficult problems, ideas, and people.

What's Your Personality Cluster?

Yep... okay... mostly.

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Win an eBook reader!

The Wild Rose Press is giving away a Sony Ebook Reader...

Have you bought a Wild Rose Press story lately? Did you know that you can enter to win an eBook reader?

Check it out: All this summer (June 11 – August 31), every time you purchase a title by any of the sponsoring authors (click the link above to see the list), you will be eligible to enter their drawing to win a SONY eReader.

May I suggest purchasing Lost in Paradise by Allie Boniface?

New Covers for Old Stories!

We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading. - B. F. Skinner

So... today I opened up my inbox and discovered that TWRP is issuing new covers for all the older short stories so that they match the current cover selection! How cool is that? So far I have three new covers. Check them out... I love them!

Check it out (you can see the originals on the sidebar, cuz I haven't changed them yet):







Aren't they just GORGEOUS??? I really think TWRP has some of the most talented cover artists.

I can't wait to see "Now That We've Found You"...

Of course, now I have to update my website, this blog and get Judy to make me new banners. But that's okay, cuz I love the new look.

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Yesterday, Dru asked how Dakota did in doggy obedience class. Ha. We spend all week teaching her, and she does GREAT at home, and then gets to class and forgets everything. Wednesday she wouldn't even SIT on command in class, something she's been doing since we got her last November. It was the first thing we taught her as a puppy.

The teacher asked how we were doing with "loose leash walking". I said I could NOT get her to stop pulling, no matter what I did. She took the leash and a few little bits of hot dog and Dakota trotted alongside like she should. We got all the way around the store, the teacher turned to me and said (laughing), "I don't know what you're talking about. Your dog is an ANGEL."

Ha. Color me frustrated. But, I'm going to get her trained or die trying. Cuz, yanno, just look at that face:



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You Are Strawberry Kiss Lip Gloss

When it comes to life, you want the best of everything: The best clothes, the best friends, the best guy - and you usually get all three. You impress most people you meet with your genuine class and style Strawberry is a classic, admired flavor that goes with many things. Sound familiar?

What Flavor Lip Gloss Are You?

A Worthy Cause

From Rhonda Penders -- co-owner of The Wild Rose Press:

Judith Rochelle is a multipublished author at The Wild Rose Press as well as a personal friend. In late summer, 2007 I approached her with an idea of a project that would enable RJ and me to give something back for all the wonderful things that had happened to us since we opened in May 2006. I wanted to find an organization that I felt everyone, everywhere would care about and really embrace. While many qualified, the one that kept coming back to my mind was St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

A few days later, Judith created a synopsis and a proposal for a book incorporating romance, suspense and St. Jude's. It took my breath away at what she'd come up with. Judith wrote the book, RJ and I edited it, and Kim Mendoza did the beautiful cover. None of us, including the publishing company, will receive any compensation; every penny will go to St. Jude's. Children's Hospital. The result of this, is the amazing Crimson Rose book called "On the Run" by Judith Rochelle. The book will be offered in both print and electronic format. The amount raised will be announced on our web site twice a year. The first report to be posted at the end of June
2008.

If you've purchased this book, thank you for your contribution to St. Jude's, if you haven't purchased it yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. The download is $5.00 and will go into a special fund to be donated to St. Jude's twice a year.

If you would like more information on this project, you may contact Rhonda Penders at rpenders@thewildrosepress.com. To learn more about the author, please visit www.judithrochelle.com. To see the amazing work St. Jude's does, please visit their web site at www.stjude.org.

Thank you for your support of this important project.

Rhonda Penders

On the Run by Judith Rochelle



When Robin Fleming witnessed the murder of her sister, Jamie, her only thought is to grab her nephew and run, from her vicious brother-in-law. Running and hiding, covering their tracks, they eventually settle in Memphis to begin a new life. Robin, now Laura, though still grieving for her sister, is determined to make a good life for her nephew. Then illness hits Andy, and while Laura is dealing with that crisis, bad luck and unfortunate circumstances bring all the players together again and endanger everyone’s lives. Can Dr. Gage Hollander, who has fallen in love with Laura, find a way to save them?

Don't Fence Me In

I was going to wait until tomorrow... but I couldn't stand it because I love the cover. This is my second Vintage Rose story, set in 1953 and should be released next month (or maybe January, depending on the number of holiday stories).

It's June, 1953 and Lizzie Scott recently lost her brother, Seb, in the Korean War. When his friend and unit buddy, Jeremy McMasters, brings her Seb's "goodbye" letter, little does she know her life is about to change forever.

I can't stop looking at it. It's just lovely...

So Excited!

That is a good book which is opened with expectation and closed with profit. ~ Amos Bronson Alcott

First off, I got my first spam comment since ending the word verification on the comments of my blog. If it happens again, it'll go back up (as much as I hate to do it because I, personally, hate typing them in).

Second... I'm excited! There is a very, very, very good chance I'm going to get to site down and have a cup of coffee with Michele today! We live a few hours apart and have wanted to get together but kids and jobs and life have interferred. But, now, VERY spur-of-the-moment, something came up that is getting her to my neck of the woods (albeit the farthest south neck!), so we may have an hour or two to gab. Judy, we wish you were closer!

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So, I know reading eBooks can be tough. I've read around the blogosphere that many folks just don't like to do it -- they like the feel of a book in their hands, or their eyes don't take to staring at the computer, or the want to be able to take it with them in their purse. And while I agree to a point (I'm asking Santa for an eBookwise for Christmas to help with that last point), I also like how inexpensive they are -- makes me more inclined to try new authors. AND, I like the idea of an eBook reader loaded up with a ton of books to take places (especially on vacations -- no more carting around heavy books!).

Still, regardless of which camp you fall in, I have a couple of reading suggestions for you. I can recommend these stories from The Wild Rose Press:

Five-year-old sisters Boo and Lindy want a daddy – and anything goes in their quest, including a secret spell known only to the twins. On a lonely country road, Chad Applegate appears out of nowhere to help the girls and their mother rescue an injured dog. Robin Harmon's stubborn independence and breathtaking curves mesmerize the handsome pumpkin farmer, and her daughters charm him. They, in turn, are fascinated by his tales of pumpkin magic.

Despite Chad's captivating blue eyes and tender kisses, Robin cannot believe his happily-ever-after promises. Experience has proven those kinds of dreams never come true. Will Robin deny the possibility of forever or will her daughters' daddy spell work its magic?

This is a sweet story and a steal! No, it's not a literary treasure, but it's well-written and highly enjoyable. It's 219 pages long, and only $3.50 for an eBook (AND it's also available in print, if you'd prefer). I even have to admit to getting a bit choked up at the very satisfying Happy-Ever-After.

****

Becky Richardson’s motto is love ‘em and leave ‘em. The only man she trusts is her best friend Louie, the local computer shop owner and resident geek. When a mysterious man shows up at a masquerade ball and sweeps her off her feet, will she remember that men are good for only one thing or will she let down her guard and open her heart?

Louie Hanson has adored Becky since they were in junior high. He lives under no illusion that the former prom queen will ever see him as anything but her geeky friend. In disguise he arrives at the Valentine’s Day Ball and manages to take her breath away. Now he’s playing a dual role, knowing when she finds out it will be the end of any hope for a relationship with her and the friendship they once shared. How could he ever have thought this was a good idea? How can he stop fulfilling every one of his own fantasies by having Becky in his arms?

Hot, hot, hot! And so well-written. A wondeful read from first to last page...only $5.00 for the eBook (and also available in print, if you're interested).

And, no, in case you're wondering -- the author's didn't pay me for these endorsements! LOL...

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I got a set of interview questions from Jen, and am working on answering them. I'll hopefully have an interview with ME (*G*) tomorrow. Hope it doesn't bore you to tears!

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You Are a Chocolate Cheesecake

Rich and greedy, you're attracted to the dark side of life. Nothing ever quite satisfies your inner beast. And somehow, people find that sexy.

What Kind of Cheesecake Are You?

Okay... that totally made me laugh.

*snort*

It's a Cold, Cruel World

There are many things that you're not supposed to eat, especially children. -- Mary Margaret McBride

That struck me funny, so I had to share. It really doesn't have much to do with today's post (and, a good thing, too).

I probably have an overly rosy view of the wild -- a little Snow White-ish, with bird singing, and raccoons dancing. And I do hate the idea of killing a critter for what I think is no good reason. Hence this story:

Over the past month or two, our lawn has been the lumpy home of a mole. We have a healthy, green lawn and is probably full of yummy bugs (most likely earthworms, since I bought a passel a couple of years ago and I'm sure they've multiplied), so it's almost like we put up a "welcome" sign to the critter.

My DH, who is a fanatic about the lawn, demanded I kill him. I said I would look into non-lethal mole eradication, but I didn't figure we should kill him. Moles are awfully cute and fuzzy. We found one out a couple years ago (actually, I think my dog dug him up) and I carried him far, far away a released him (to the horror of my DH who thought, again, I should have killed him). My luck, this is the same mole.

Anyway... I tried those little stakes that beep (Mole Chasers), and it worked fairly well. They have a much smaller range than the package claims, but the mole didn't come into that area. Until DH lowered the mowing deck too far on the mower and shattered the top. The moment that thing was broken, the mole came back.

I kept hoping the ground would freeze, so I could ignore the problem until next year. But we've had a very mild fall. DH declared I had to buy poison, he'd had enough. I was supposed to go get it last week, but couldn't *ahem* find the time.

Well... Thursday, something happened that took that right out of my hands. As you probably know, I have lots of bird feeders. Now and then, unfavorable birds come by to join in the feast -- grackles, crows, etc. We have a local murder of crows (I love saying that!) who visit regularly. I let them be because they clean the mess on the ground (them and my gray squirrel -- I don't chase him because he doesn't get on the feeders like those rotten red squirrels do). On Thursday, one of the crows was pecking, chowing down on all the seed those sloppy finches and chickadees leave when he did this weird hop, grabbed and flew off.

With the mole.

It's amazing we were even watching (what are the odds? It's not like I spend all day looking out the window!) and amazing the crow found the sucker (who must have stuck his head up for two seconds... bad timing on his part). We weren't sure at first that it was the mole -- it happened pretty fast. We knew it got something small and gray. But I went out later and stomped down all the mole hills and they haven't come back.

So, though part of me is sad for that fuzzy little critter, at least his death served a purpose AND absolved me of the lifetime of guilt I would have felt if I'd poisoned him just so our lawn could be pretty. I never thought I'd be thankful to a crow. Ugh.

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My latest story, The Christmas Curse, is in the bottom spot of the overall bestsellers at The Wild Rose Press. I was worried for a bit that I wouldn't hit this time (for the first time!)

It's also number three in the short stories, and number four in all general contemporary sales. So, I can't complain. And Dru sent me the nicest email about it yesterday. Warmed the cockles of my heart. Thanks again, Dru! It's always nice to know that your work is appreciated!

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You Are a Chick Rocker!

You're living proof that chicks can rock You're inspired by Joan Jett and the Donnas And when you rock, you rock hard (Plus, you get all the cute guy groupies you want!)

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

Thank goodness for that! When I was in high school, the Go-Gos were all the rage ("We Got The Beat!") and I wanted to be in an all girl band like crazy. I had a friend who played the drums, and I would sing (not much call for the flute in a rock band...) but we never did manage to find anyone to fill out the numbers. Oh well.

You?

Booking it With Preservatives

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy. ~Edward P. Morgan

BOOKING IT THROUGH THURSDAY:
PRESERVATIVES

Today’s question comes from Conspiracy-Girl:I’m still relatively new to this meme so I’m not sure if this has been asked yet, but I’m curious how many of us write notes in our books. Are you a Footprint Leaver or a Preservationist?

ACK!!! If it's not a school textbook I never, Never, NEVER write inside. I'm one of those freaky people who even try to keep from breaking the binding on my paperbacks. I don't dog-ear the pages (dear heavens, I feel faint at the thought of it). I have a definite book buying budget, and since I'd prefer to not have to rebuy books that I love, I treat them with deep respect.

You?

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First off, thanks to everyone for your kind words about my latest release! If you did purchase "The Christmas Curse", feel free to return to the Wild Rose Press site and leave a review...

And, did you enter the contest to win "The Christmas Curse" or any of my backlist? It was easy-peasy to do! Simply join the LASR "Let's Talk About Romance" Yahoo group and post a message--any message--between now and Friday, midnight eastern time. I'll draw a name from the posters to win, Win, WIN!!! If you already own all of my stories (and, hey--why wouldn't you??), I'll buy your choice of any other short story (miniature rose or rosette) from TWRP.

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So... yesterday I took DD to the mall. She's in need of new pants (this is quite an ordeal that I won't get into, but suffice it to say we didn't find any to purchase). By the time I left however, I was about to smack someone -- forget road rage, I'm talking mall rage.

What is UP with those blasted vendors who rent carts in the middle of the concourse in the mall? Why, WHY do they feel the need to grab at me as I go past and slather various lotions or whatever on my hands. Why, WHY won't they take "no, thanks" or "I'm all set" or "I'm not interested" as an answer? Why do they keep talking and follow me halfway to the next corner???

If anyone from those little carts is reading this, I have one thing to say: Leave me alone. If I am interested in your product, I'll come look. I even bought something from one of you yesterday -- this person simply sat at her register, answered my question when I had one, and LEFT ME ALONE. Most of you, though? You're worse than telemarketers. You're worse that those little buzzy no-seeums that pester me all summer long. Worse than the tick I pulled of my dog last night. I wouldn't buy your product if I was dying a long, painful death and your product would give me immortal life.

It makes me want to never, ever go to the mall again. In fact, if the store had an outside entrance, I would never walk down the Concourse of Annoyance again. Truthfully, I will give it much thought before I return. I can't express to you how truly awful my entire experience was. I took to ducking inside stores and lurking a the window until I saw those people busy attacking someone else, and then running out as quickly as possible.

Geez.

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Your Brain is Green

Of all the brain types, yours has the most balance. You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver. You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don't get stuck in bad thinking patterns. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).

What Color Is Your Brain?

The Christmas Curse -- Released!

Available NOW!!

The Christmas Curse

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.

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WIN your own copy of this -- or your choice of ANY of my stories! It's easy...

Join the LASR "Let's Talk About Romance" Yahoo group and post a message--any message--between now and Friday. I'll draw a name from the posters to win, Win, WIN!!! If you already own all of my stories (and, hey--why wouldn't you??), I'll buy your choice of any other short story (miniature rose or rosette) from TWRP.

How's that for easy?

Just to whet your appetite, here is the excerpt from "The Christmas Curse":

Late as usual, Molly jogged toward the elevators. The one on the left was just closing, so she hollered, "Hold the door!" and leaped forward, slipping her arm inside the crack. She took a step and jammed the stiletto heel of her boot right into the crack where the elevator car met the floor. She teetered unsteadily, praying she wouldn't break a bone.

The doors lurched open and she lost any hope of staying upright when they did. She tumbled inside, heard the snap of her boot heel breaking and then tumbled onto another occupant, knocking them both to the barely padded floor.

"Oh no, I am so sorry!" She rolled to one side before sitting up to see who had cushioned her fall. The best looking man she'd ever seen lay on the floor, grinning up at her, and making no effort whatsoever to get to his feet.

"My pleasure." He propped his arms under his head. "Truly."

She jumped to her feet, forgetting she'd lost a heel in the door, lost her balance and fell again. At least she managed to land on her hands and knees above him like a bridge and didn't squash him.

"Sorry." She crawled to the door and wiggled the broken heel back and forth until it came out, wondering why the doors hadn't tried closing on her fingers. She glanced over her shoulder to find the man sitting up with his finger on the "Door Open" button.

"Thanks."

"No problem. What floor?"

"I need the penthouse, please."

"That's where I'm heading, too."

She pivoted away from his lopsided grin and nearly stepped on a rather small, ashen-faced man leaning in the corner. His body shuddered when the doors closed and the car started to move.

"Oh-kay…" She was stuck between drop-dead-handsome man and pasty-face man and had to figure out how to do her routine with a broken-heeled boot. She tucked said heel into one of the many pockets in her slicker lining and left the coat hanging open. She hoped the boot could be repaired. But because it was only a week before Christmas, she doubted she'd have any luck with that.

It was a little like the time, eight years before, when she'd performed an aria for the school Christmas program, unaware that two buttons on her dress were undone, thereby flashing the front of her ancient white bra, complete with holes and safety pins.

"So, you were invited to the party upstairs?" Handsome man broke into her thoughts. He climbed to his feet and moved beside her.

Molly nodded.

"I wasn't aware it was a costume party."

She crinkled her nose and shook her head. "I wouldn't know. I'm only the entertainment."

"Ahhh." He reached out a hand and flipped the bells on her collar. "So, Mrs. Claus, is the mister showing up tonight? Because, to be honest, I haven't been very good this year."

She had just opened her mouth to speak when the lights cut off and the elevator ground to a halt. Oh, dear heavens, she'd done it again.

Going To The Garden To Eat Worms....

“A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.” - Bo Bennett

My darlin' dog made it until 3 a.m. before she had to go out so, despite that early hour, I am grateful. I had visions of getting up every hour all night. I might still be a bit blurry-eyed, but not as bad as it might have been.

So... I got my first rejection from The Wild Rose Press yesterday on a shortish story I'd submitted. It was from an editor I've worked with before and whose opinion I value, which is probably why it really hit me hard.

One thing about TWRP -- they try to issue constructive crits with their rejection. You won't just get a "it's not right for me" letter. Typically, they'll at least tell you precisely what didn't work, and many times, they will actually edit a few pages of your story or book to show you exactly what they mean. I think that's one thing that sets them aside from so many other publishers.

Still, ouch. Even this morning, I'm still bleeding a bit. Because, of course, I got all the information on why the story didn't work for her...and there was a lot! Too much passive voice, not enough emotion, an unsympathetic hero... and that was just the beginning. There was plenty more where that came from.

Wow.

Oddly, I really like this story. I don't think my hero is unsympathetic. The other stuff? I'll have to go look. In any case, it was pretty demoralizing. And what else should I do with something that makes me look (and feel) really awful? Well... share it with all of YOU, of course. Misery loves company.

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Going to go write, now. I suspect I'm writing about another unsympathetic hero, but c'est la vie. He is who he is, and we'll see how it goes. If I change him, the story changes dramatically. And, the only other men in the story are either out to kill the heroine or related to her by blood. Not a lot of romantic choices for her, there!

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OH! I almost forgot!! We're giving away stuff, again at LASR: a free autographed book, a free eBook and, on our reviews blog, ANOTHER free eBook here and here (and not your usual romantic fare, either). Go forth and enter!

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Your Pilgrim Name Is

Desire Moore

What's Your Pilgrim Name?

Yes... yes I do. Don't we all?

Daring Girls

The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think - rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men.

Someone (Tori?) recommended I check out "The Daring Book For Girls" for my DD (It was on the post about string games). So, I did! LOL... My library had it available in the YA section and I picked it up yesterday. Some of it's silly, but most of it is pretty darn cool. I have to admit, though, I don't think most "young adults" today (i.e. tweens and teens) would be interested in most activities in this book. I do think, however, they would find the other information: famous women, letters from Abigail Adams to her husband, etc., quite interesting.

My DD is terribly excited to look through it. There are directions for climbing trees and how to be a spy and camping in your backyard. It's cute. Thanks!

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Okay, I know I'm not dyslexic. I read fine, was reading younger than most. But, I think my fingers are dyslexic. I frequently type words backwards. Completely... not just mixing up a couple of letters. One will be eno, for instance. And I do it (that originally came out ti) without thinking. It's the strangest thing. Tell me I'm not alone in this?

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I'm not sure about the release date of my story "The Christmas Curse" -- it may be November 14th, or it may be November 19th. I'm inclined to think it'll be the 14th, since that's when they typically release this length story. Tune in next week to find out! I haven't a clue what I'll do to promote it, but will think of something by then.

Promotions aside, it was a really fun story to write. You should grab a copy. I think it'll make you smile.

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Gotta go write, so that's it for me for now. I'll update the word count later!

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You Are Pumpkin

Realistic and practical, you see the world for how it is. You know what it takes to succeed in life... And you're happy to help others reach their goals.

What Color Orange Are You?

Well... yeah. That's about spot on.

Release Date and Dripping Sweat

"The truth is you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed." - Eminem

I know. I can't believe I'm quoting Eminem, either!

First off... congrats to the folks who guessed the song yesterday! It was, indeed, the theme from Rawhide. And, just for grins, I give you the Blues Brothers version:



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I got the official release date for my Christmas story "The Christmas Curse"... after a bit of wrangling by my editor (you're a peach, Nancy!), I got the release date I'd hoped for -- November 19th. Mark your calendars, folks!



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.

And, to whet your appetite, here's an excerpt:

Late as usual, Molly jogged toward the elevators. The one on the left was just closing, so she hollered, "Hold the door!" and leaped forward, slipping her arm inside the crack. She took a step and jammed the stiletto heel of her boot right into the crack where the elevator car met the floor. She teetered unsteadily, praying she wouldn't break a bone.

The doors lurched open and she lost any hope of staying upright when they did. She tumbled inside, heard the snap of her boot heel breaking and then tumbled onto another occupant, knocking them both to the barely padded floor.

"Oh no, I am so sorry!" She rolled to one side before sitting up to see who had cushioned her fall. The best looking man she'd ever seen lay on the floor, grinning up at her, and making no effort whatsoever to get to his feet.

"My pleasure." He propped his arms under his head. "Truly."

She jumped to her feet, forgetting she'd lost a heel in the door, lost her balance and fell again. At least she managed to land on her hands and knees above him like a bridge and didn't squash him.

"Sorry." She crawled to the door and wiggled the broken heel back and forth until it came out, wondering why the doors hadn't tried closing on her fingers. She glanced over her shoulder to find the man sitting up with his finger on the "Door Open" button.

"Thanks."

"No problem. What floor?"

"I need the penthouse, please."

"That's where I'm heading, too."

She pivoted away from his lopsided grin and nearly stepped on a rather small, ashen-faced man leaning in the corner. His body shuddered when the doors closed and the car started to move.

"Oh-kay…" She was stuck between drop-dead-handsome man and pasty-face man and had to figure out how to do her routine with a broken-heeled boot. She tucked said heel into one of the many pockets in her slicker lining and left the coat hanging open. She hoped the boot could be repaired. But because it was only a week before Christmas, she doubted she'd have any luck with that.

It was a little like the time, eight years before, when she'd performed an aria for the school Christmas program, unaware that two buttons on her dress were undone, thereby flashing the front of her ancient white bra, complete with holes and safety pins.

"So, you were invited to the party upstairs?" Handsome man broke into her thoughts. He climbed to his feet and moved beside her.

Molly nodded.

"I wasn't aware it was a costume party."

She crinkled her nose and shook her head. "I wouldn't know. I'm only the entertainment."

"Ahhh." He reached out a hand and flipped the bells on her collar. "So, Mrs. Claus, is the mister showing up tonight? Because, to be honest, I haven't been very good this year."

She had just opened her mouth to speak when the lights cut off and the elevator ground to a halt. Oh, dear heavens, she'd done it again.
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I sweated successfully again yesterday! My daily goal is at least 1,000 words, and I managed 1,058!

My favorite line from yesterday's writing? It's this:

With one last, long look, he turned and left her sitting in the gutter with nothing but a lump on her skull and a broken heart.

Though this was a close second:

She burned for him—moth to flame. Part of her knew she should fly away from this inferno that would devour her, but she couldn’t do more than hold on tight.

Have I mentioned that I'm having a BLAST?

An interesting note: I went through the document and searched for "it". I then replaced about 85% of them with better nouns and descriptors. You know what? I gained almost 200 words! I was shocked. Happy, but shocked.

Woo!

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Your Karaoke Theme Song is "Margaritaville"

You are a true party animal, but your style is mild and chill. Kicking back with a few friends and a few drinks is all you need to be happy. You certainly don't feel pressured to be a part of any party scene. In fact, you avoid trendier spots. You've been known to kick loose anywhere and everywhere. All you need is a cooler. You might also sing: "Gin and Juice," "Love Shack," and "Red Red Wine" Stay away from people who sing: "Wind Beneath My Wings"

What's Your Karaoke Theme Song?

Hey... I like Buffet! I DO NOT LIKE Red, Red Wine... GAH. Bores me to tears.

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This looks pretty sharp, yes?

It's Official

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs. ~Vance Havner

I've been sitting on my hands for over a week with news that I've wanted to share -- but needed to wait until I actually had the contract in hand.

My novel has been accepted for publication with Samhain Publishing!

I'm so excited about it, I can't stand it. I emailed a few online friends with the news when I first got the offer just over a week ago, and they've asked me why I haven't hollered it from the rooftops. Well... the person who issues the contracts at Samhain was on vacation, and I really just wanted to wait until all the t's were crossed, and i's dotted.

They are, so I am (shouting... from the rooftops...)

My novel is (tentatively) called "Isn't She Liv Leigh" and it's a lighthearted romance I wrote for NaNoWriMo in 2005.

Here's a short blurb from my query letter:

Olivia "Liv" Leigh, wealthy socialite and spa owner, believes her fiancé is cheating on her, so she takes drastic steps to discover whether appearances are deceiving. And if those steps require a bit of stalking, a change of appearance, dealing with a sneaky ferret, a hippo-sized dog named Spike and a man determined to break several of the strangest Guinness Book of World Records, why should that be a problem?

So that makes THREE shortish stories with TWRP and this novel all recently contracted. Huh... guess I need to get busy on some new stuff!

Actually, Judy and I challenged each other to submit something somewhere twice a month. We both managed last month, but I'm a little concerned about this on my end for September. Judy? You have two somethings you're sending out this month?

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Pillar Place: Monarch P2 has suffered a population explosion. DD went out to gather leaves for the two we have and discovered a whole colony. We now have, SEVEN monarch babies scattered throughout the house. I can't keep them in the spare bedroom like I did all summer, because my uncle arrives here from California today (to drive my mom and all her stuff back out there...mean old Uncle. Just kidding, he's actually about the kindest, most generous person you'd ever meet... but... still... he is taking my mom away. So... yeah... mean)

My DD has two in her room and I have FIVE piled in the windowsill of my bathroom. One is a little bigger than I would have liked to bring inside -- I worry about parasitoids -- they're really yucky, live inside the butterbaby and don't hatch until the pillar makes his pupa (thereby killing it).

Ewww....

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Ha! This cracked me up:

You Are Curling

What you lack in athleticism, you make up for in concentration. And while curling isn't much more of a sport than bowling, you *can* win a gold medal for it!

What Winter Sport Are You?

RELEASED!! ** Win a Book!! **

"When I am dead, I hope it may be said: 'His sins were scarlet, but his books were read.'" - Hilaire Belloc

Woo!

Here are my new stories, released just this morning -- One lucky person who comments on this post will win a copy of "The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes" or a free download of any one of my available stories at "The Wild Rose Press", your choice (Contest ends 8/15/07 at midnight eastern time). Feel free (in fact, consider me on my knees begging) to spread the news of both the contest and my new releases!

Pregnancy Cravings

Patrice would do anything for her pregnant friend, Cathy, even if "anything" includes running to the convenience store daily to indulge her cravings. On one excursion, Patrice meets Joey Sousa, the cashier at the store. Their attraction is undeniable, but awkward: he thinks she's pregnant, she thinks he's dating someone else. Will the misunderstandings keep them apart, or will their chance meeting give birth to happy ever after?

Magic

For fifteen years, seven friends have gathered for a vacation at Lake Wentworth, NH. This year is no different -- except this time, Cass Edwards has trouble looking at her best-friend-since-forever Ben Wilson as just a friend. Can two people in search of a future find it in a mutual past? Will love strengthen the bonds of their friendship or destroy them?

Also, if you do happen to purchase one or both of these and then, of course, READ them-- would you please leave a review at the TWRP site?

And, Dru, I haven't a clue if you can download these stories to your PDA, not owning one myself, but I would assume so. Can anyone answer that question for Dru?

Thanks!!

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Pillar Place: Monarch is getting very exciting! We hatched and released our first butterfly yesterday (yes, I have pictures, but getting them downloaded is difficult)! DD is certainly it was "Cutie". Finally, success!! It appears that we will have somewhere between 1 - 3 more to release today. One is Judy (poor Bob... he's a couple days behind), and DD will have to decide who the others are. What a thrill for all of us. Holding a butterfly in your hand is an amazing thing.

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Your Power Bird is a Vulture

You are always changing your life and the lives of those around you. You aren't afraid to move on from what holds you back. Energetic and powerful, you have a nearly unlimited capacity for success. You know how to "go with the flow" and take advantage of what is given to you.

What's Your Power Bird?

I have to admit to not knowing exactly how to feel about being compared to a bird who eats rotting meat...

In The Pink... Not.

“Pink is the color of romance and a friend tells me that the girl with the pink dress at the party is the one who is selected for each dance” - Alfred Carl Hottes

Is it possible that I am the only living person who wants to print something on pink card stock?? Because I have looked and looked, and can't find pink card stock anywhere -- except in a set of four other colors (green, blue, yellow and white) I don't want.

Pink isn't that uncommon a color, is it? I think pink is lovely. Quiet. Romantic. Pink, in various shades, is my favorite color for my flowers. Pink is nice. I have many shirts in pink. My bathroom is pink (well "rose" technically).

So, why can't I find pink card stock? Staples doesn't have it. Neither does Office Max or Office Depot. I have to admit, I've come close with Office Depot -- they have "salmon" which is oh-so-very-close. I may end up with salmon.

Does pink offend people? Does it make them violent? Ill? Hungry? Tired?

Why is there no pink out there?

I'm looking for pink business card stock as well. Does it exist? Apparently not. I found "butterflies & roses" which happen to be printed on pink business card stock... but PLAIN pink? Nope. Not there.

ARGH!!

I don't have the time to waste on this. It's absurd.

It's pink, office supply people... it's not a crime to like pink. Or is it?

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Charity is finally dishing on the Super Secret Hot Dish Project at her blog and congratulations are in order. Go give this MOST talented author the congrats she deserves.

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In Pillar Place: Monarch -- Otto is definitely a goner. He turned black and fell off the roof :-(

We moved Curly (of the black chrysalis) into his own abode (aka GladWare) just in case he, too, is stricken with the Black Death. All the other chrysaliseseseseses are a nice, healthy green color -- so, so far, so good. Fingers crossed for a huge crop of pretty butterflies.

It does make me wonder how they ever survive in the wild. Geez.

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Tomorrow is the big day! I have TWO stories coming out with The Wild Rose Press!! It's been tough -- I've been so wrapped up in the LASR site, that I haven't been in the least bit prepared to really promote these stories, and I LOVE THEM. I still haven't a clue what I'm going to do. I always have some sort of contest... any thoughts? What can I do to induce each of my readers to post about my stories on their blogs and get the word out? You decide what my contest should be.

Here are the stories:

"Pregnancy Cravings" (Coming August 15th)
Patrice would do anything for her pregnant friend, Cathy, even if "anything" includes running to the convenience store on a daily basis to indulge her cravings. On one of her excursions, Patrice meets Joey Sousa, the cashier at the store. Their attraction is undeniable, but awkward: he thinks she's pregnant, she thinks he's dating someone else. Will the misunderstandings keep them apart, or will their chance meeting give birth to happy ever after?


"Magic" (coming August 15th)
For fifteen years, seven friends have gathered for a vacation at Lake Wentworth, NH. This year is no different -- except this time, Cass Edwards has trouble looking at her best-friend-since-forever Ben Wilson as just a friend. Can two people in search of a future find it in a mutual past? Will love strengthen the bonds of their friendship or destroy them?

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You Are Expressionism

Moody, emotional, and even a bit angsty... you certainly know how to express your emotions. At times, you tend to lack perspective on your life, probably as a result of looking inward too much. This introspection does give you a flair for the dramatic. And it's even maybe made you cultivate some artistic talents! You have a true artist's temperament... which is a blessing and a curse.

What Art Movement Are You?

Schmoozing, Pillars, and Eggs... oh my!

I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world. ~Thomas A. Edison

Anno thinks I have the Power of Schmooze, and has awarded me the coveted "Schmooze Award".



Isn't it lovely?

Here's everything there is to know about this award:

Schmoozing is the natural ability “to converse casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.” Good schmoozers effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.

To say I'm flattered would be an understatement. And the truth is, I really love all my blogging buddies! How did I ever get through the day without you? (And, Anno, how are the maple babies?).

And now, in the spirit of schmoozing and blogging awards everywhere I must pass along this wonderful award. Here are my choices (narrowed down because so many have already been chosen):

Judy - who may be the schmoozingest blogger I know! She's deeply involved in the blogging community, participates in dozens of blog giveaways, and does them herself and is just generally A Really Nice Person.

Tori - Whose daily posts, very cool smilies and book & TV recommendations entertain me every day! Thanks to Tori, I watch some of the coolest shows, including "Eureka" (Note to Tori: I finally watched them both... but my TiVo cut off the last three minutes of last weeks -- it stopped just as Fargo came to... did I miss anything important??).

Groovy - Who never misses a chance to amuse me. Groovy can find humor in everything she sees and always makes me smile. Plus she has the cutest kids and hates Japanese beetles as much as I do.

You guys are the bestest... :-)

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In Pillar news: Eenie and Lily are both full pupas. Phil the pill is in position and should change some time today. I missed Lily's transformation by minutes, dang it. When I checked on her before bed, her skin was dangling from the tip of her pupa and she was glistening. I've never seen them go through this phase... and since it can take twenty-four hours or more, I can't just sit and watch.

We had a Moe sighting as well -- a black swallowtail hanging out in our yard, sipping nectar from the coneflower and milkweed. This made DD feel much better.

I did try to starve my last caterpillar to death. In the morning, I knew Jill was low on food -- but she had four decent sized parsley leaves, so I figured she'd have enough for a few hours and I'd stop by SIL's house on the way home.

When I got home, all that was left in the cup were stumps... and no Jill! Yikes! We found her on the side of the box, probably having walked all over trying to find more food. I swear, she looked depressed, probably having resigned herself to starving to death.

I, quick-like-a-bunny, fixed up her cup with new (albeit wilted -- I usually let them sit in water for a couple of hours to perk up, but NO TIME) parsley and tried to pry her off the wall with a leftover stump. She was not a happy pillar. I got her front (non-suction cup) legs onto the stump (she flashed her horns at me, and I didn't want to get her too worked up) and then goosed her little behind until she finally climbed aboard.

Once she saw what waited for her, though, she was happy enough. Poor Jill

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Because I've seen a Monarch butterfly near the milkweed a lot lately, I went to check for eggs. Keep in mind, typically a momma-fly will only lay one egg on the back of a milkweed leaf, and these eggs are about the size of the head of a pin. And white.

Still, thanks to Bird Chick, I know what to look for... and I found them! We have at least nine monarch butterfly eggs on the milkweed. Unfortunately, we also have milkweed aphids... which means we also have ants. And the ants will kill the itty-bitty little butter-babies as soon as they hatch. My only option for healthy, happy butter-babies? You guessed it: Bring them inside.

I found this post on the Wildscaping blog all about raising butter-babies inside from egg. In fact, if you want to see how small the eggs are, click through and scroll down a bit to the first picture -- you'll see an egg beside a pin head (one of those pins with the colored ball at the end that I used to stick into my Barbies head as earrings... am I the only one who did that?).

So, today, I need to go get some floral foam and maybe a tall, clear, plastic container... Milkweed is really big. I don't know how well it will fit in my box. I will NOT be bringing any more swallowtails inside because they overwinter as pupas and, any future swallowtails would need to be kept in my basement all winter. Yes, I've done this before. No, I don't want to do it again.

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In writing news, it seems it's either feast or famine for me. I was despairing lately that all of my TWRP stories were either published or in final production... yes, I had a bunch of submissions out, but nothing was contracted. I still have a bunch out, BUT I received two contracts in my email inbox yesterday! One for my 1953 story, "Don't Fence Me In" and one for my Contemporary Christmas story, "A Christmas Curse". Yay me!

Now, with my luck, I'll also contract on the others (one is a full length novel, the other a novella), and be in editing hell... NOT that I'm complaining (just in case those editors are here reading -- contract away, please!), but I did submit them one or two a month in order to avoid that. Ah... the best laid plans and all that.

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You are Barefoot!

You're a total free spirit, go with the flow girl You can't be restricted by shoes for very long And unsurprisingly, the same goes for men Your match is out there - and he's as carefree as you are

What Kind Of Women's Shoe Are You?

Um. No.

Actually, I'll go with the barefoot thing, and I am SO not a shoe snob (I love Payless Shoe Source, what can I say?)... but free spirit? Ha! Go with the flow? Ha. Ha.

Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Pregnancy Cravings Cover

My rosette, Pregnancy Cravings, should be released by the end of summer -- I hope -- and I just got the cover for it. I'm not in love with the red and blue letters at the beginning of the words, but I love the new look TWRP has given even their short story covers! Isn't it lovely?

Patrice would do anything for her pregnant friend, Cathy, even if "anything" includes running to the convenience store on a daily basis to indulge her cravings. On one of her excursions, Patrice meets Joey Sousa, the cashier at the store. Their attraction is undeniable, but awkward: he thinks she's pregnant, she thinks he's dating someone else. Will the misunderstandings keep them apart, or will their chance meeting give birth to happy ever after?

This story is one that shows my favorite writing voice -- a little goofy and off the wall. If someone picks up my full length novel, Isn't She Liv Leigh, out being submitted even as we speak, you'll get to see it again.

I have another little ditty out in submission, something that isn't really a romance, and it can't seem to find a home, though it did come close with Flash Me Magazine. If this last place rejects it, I'll post it as a free read on my website and you'll see the lighter side of me.

Have a great night!

The Wild Rose Press Website

Hey all... FYI... the Wild Rose Press site has been down for the past day or so. Just wanted to let you know that all is well with them.

You can get in here for news and to access author pages and the forums.

Hopefully the change will be done successfully and soon.