Friday Five

1. I'm roughly three chapters away from the end. I think. Must finish. Must finish. Must finish.

2. It's official. I'm going to Hershey with the family! I can't wait. I'm counting the days.

3. My kids are finished with their countdown. 1/2 day tomorrow and it's hello summer vacation. See number 1 as to why I'm not as excited. I will will now have a rising 3rd grader and a *gulp* rising 5th grader. Next year is going to be tough...probably worse on me.

4. I blogged at Virginia is for Romance Lovers about strange laws in Virginia.

5. Anyone catching Deadliest Catch? The poor Wizard crew. 3 guys and that's half the crew. And I'd really missed Phil. Glad he's back.

May the muses have catches
Mechele

Friday Five

1. Posted at TRS Blue on Wednesday about working hard. Posted at Loose Ends about being on a Deadline (my attempt at humor). Posted at the Virginia is for Romance Lovers' blog a couple of facts related to the Civil War and Virginia.

2. Am writing writing writing. I've written over 10 K the last two weeks and hope to do that the next four weeks.

3. Deadliest Catch rocks. I felt so bad for Murray on the Cornelia Marie. And I'm amazed at how well the Time Bandit does on catching King Crab. Long live Ophie season that starts next week.

4. Toured the Virginia Food Bank yesterday and delivered peanut butter for a peanut butter drive. Was an eye opening experience. 50000 lbs of food travels out of there every day. Food pantries always need donations...

5. One day I will make it to the post office to mail Mari's birthday present. I bought it before her birthday. Was going to mail it before RT. Then, when I got back. It is in a box now. *blinks* one step closer to being mailed...

May the muses have crabs
Mechele

PS. I've been waiting for someone to announce some news. Corinne Davies has announced her sale to Siren! You can read about it here. Corinne...I'm thrilled for you! I told you one day I'd say I knew you when. To a fabulous critiquer and a wonderful writer, cheers! I wish you all the luck in the world. But I know, as hard as you work...you don't need the wish.

Monday blah blah

I'm excited. I started a new story. I need to finish it quicky so that I can move onto the next project that has to be in by summer. I also fleshed out an idea on paper that I hope to get to later this year. So much writing. *G*.

I blogged at Ladies of the Club on Heroes.

May the muses have new stories
Mechele

Weekend recap and looking ahead

Thinking Day went well. I really enjoyed presenting the 1920's.

This week, the youngest has a play at PTA. She's so excited I think she's bouncing. The oldest and I have to make 200 mini muffins for her Thinking Day.

I'm determined to submit Settler's Mine: The Man by next weekend. I've been through the first three chapters. I'd like to start a new project next Monday.

I watched Dark Knight just in time for Heath Ledger's Oscar win. I can definitely see why he won. His Joker was creepy, smart, and well thought out. Dark movie but really enjoyed it.

Oddly enough, LOL we also watched some of Big Bang Theory's first season. "I'm a fricking genius." The humor is so smart and snappy in that show, I'm really enjoying it.

Also watched the 2nd episode of Doll House. I'm intrigued by Echo and her storyline. With Joss Whedon, I expected one heck of a story and so far, I'm right. The hubby says it's a sure thing Fox will cancel it because it shows so much promise. I hope not.

May the muses have weekends
Mechele

Whoo hooo whooo hooooo

Settler's Mine: The Man is done! It will of course need shaping up during a read through LOL and I expect it to grow during that read through.

I always seem to rush the end. I do it when I write, that's where a lot of rewriting occurs when I reread. I rush when I read the end of books, too. Seems to be a habit.

May the muses have endings
Mechele

Quietness

As LOL Cats would say, "I haz it."

Everyone went back to their own schedule today.

I've been stalled writingwise. I think the holidays and the *cough* several rejections I got before Christmas have a lot to do with that. I'm slowly trying to get back on track. I know I just need to roll with the punches. I'm trying. I figure it just wasn't meant to be and there is another plan. There's always another plan.

This time, I think my writing has a song or least a singer to go with it. For some reason, Tom Petty has been on my mind. Something about the music speaks to Colton, especially, "I won't back down" and "You don't know how it feels". It suits him. I don't usually have "mood" music so will be interesting to see how that goes. I can only think of about one other time this has happened.

I posted at the TRS Faery Court Forums today.

May the muses have mood music
Mechele

Chilly start to the day

I know I haven’t been posting much in the wake of a deadline. So in the immortal words of Inigo Montoya from Princess Bride, “Let me 'splain.

[pause]

No, there is too much. Let me sum up.”


1. I met my deadline on I Heart NY: Body Shots. Love Love the story. It topped out at 51 K *blinks*. Did a lot of writing on it, had some 10 K weeks, which is wonderful for me. Had a 5 K day which is rare for me.

2. My coauthorship, Melany Logen finaled in the 2009 EPPIES in the science fiction/futuristic category with Law’s Deliverance! I’m still snoopy dancing.

Also the nonfiction anthology, Nothing but Red that I'm a part of also finaled in the EPPIES. I'm so thrilled! The proceeds from this anthology are going to Equality Now. It's a collection of stories, poems, writings, and pictures all inspired by the death of Dua Khalil. Congrats to Skyla Dawn Cameron who put this project together and edited the anthology.

3. I did first round deadlines on Settler’s Mine: The Wolf. Another story I love. Clyde is da bomb. And I received my new cover. Check it out. It's gorgeous!



4. Settler’s Mine: The Rivals is out in print! It’s available on Amazon and if can be ordered by any bookstore with the ISBN number. I’m hoping maybe I’ll spot it in the store like I did Dinah’s Dark Desire. Wouldn’t that be COOL.

5. I joined a little group called Sensual Romance Sirens. *swoon* I’ve been a big fan and to now be a member is pretty incredible.

6. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family. Twas nice.

7. Decorated the outside. Snoopy is airborne *G*. Still have to do the inside. The tree is naked in the corner.

8. Have some cold things going on where my throat hurts and I keep getting hoarse. This combined with the brain deadedness of finishing a book and edits have kept writing totals down this week.

9. I have so MUCH to do! Eek. Both with writing and with the upcoming Holidays. I need to finish my Christmas cards. I need to start my Christmas cards...

9. Lots of fun things are coming up like a trip to Maymont's holiday celebration. And two Mother Daughter Christmas cookie exchanges. And lots of time with family and friends. I love this season! Even with number 8.

May the muses have lots to share

Mechele

Many varied things

I'm alive. I still have a brain. I'm ready for Thanksgiving!

And *cues drum roll*, most of the writing part is done on my new story, I Heart NY: Body Shots. I still need to do a quick read through and get it off to my editor. It topped off at 48 K! I'm really getting bad at estimating word count. I'm really happy with my chararcters!

I had an over 5 K day on Monday. Which is rare for me. I tend to write a small amount each day and not binge write. *G* it was a good day Monday.

My total so far for Sven is 30928, which I'm very happy with.

I did manage to blog at Book Worm Bags on a simple thing you can for promotion.

May the muses have progress
Mechele

Coming up for air

The Never Ending story

Uh why yes the target was 35 K when I last posted... The end is in sight!

Mechele

Don't worry about me...I've just...

It's due by Dec 1 so I'm on a mission to finish. It was originally going to be 30 K. Umm it grew!

Mechele

Blog me this, blog me that

Yesterday, I blogged at Book Worm Bags with another agent search tip.

Today, I blogged at The Romance Studio on the power of words.

I also posted an excerpt at Romance Excerpts Only's blog for their Halloween celebration.

Mechele

Many things

Yeah, I know creative title. LOL.

I blogged at Book Worm Bags with more tips on the Agent Quest.

I received and sent back edits on the Sixth Cursed Halloween. I'm so thrilled that it releases *chirps* next week! Love-love my cover.

Settler's Mine: The Wolf is off to my editor. I'm crossing fingers (and toes) she likes it. I had a lot of fun writing that one.

I had thought I knew what was next on the agenda to write...had a good curve thrown my way. I'll give you more details as I can but it's going to be a fun ride.

I am working to edit Dark Raiders: Night Warriors. It's written, just needs the tweaking. I'm working on submitting to agents. A few rejections to add to the wall so far but still hopeful. I'm realistic, too. I've already formulated some back up plans.

Once DR is tweaked, I plan to edit two novellas I've written over the last year and find homes for those as well.

Wrote a bit on Kyrand's Reward for a Melany project and sent that back.

This past weekend, went to a Girl Scout Celebration. It was so much fun! I had to leave around lunchtime due to my conference. While I enjoyed my conference, I wish I could have stayed longer at the Girl Scout thing. So many booths and crafts and swaps.

I was a Girl Scout for a long time. I went through Brownies (no Daisies back then), Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors. I even helped with a middle school troop my senior year of high school as an aide. I got the second highest award in scouting, the Silver Award. It's been exciting to see my girls getting into scouting. I'm not sure how far they will go but they enjoy it for now.

Throughout my whole Girl Scouts career, my mom was with me every step of the way. She was so proud to be a leader and co-leader at various points. It was something we shared together and spent a lot of time together doing Girl Scout activities. When we visited Savannah in 1998, one thing Mom wanted to do was visit Juliette Lowe's house (the founder of Girl Scouts).

Saturday morning, all I could think of as I watched the Girl Scout parade was that my mom would have loved the whole celebration. So would my troop leader through most of my time in Girl Scouts. Both Mom and my troop leader have passed away. I have to think they were there in spirit. Mom would have just been beaming to see my girls enjoying all the Girl Scout activities going on. Her birthday is tomorrow, she would have been 73. Sometimes I really miss her.

This turned into a book! LOL

May the muses have Girl Scouts
Mechele

Monday Monday

I hate when the time changes. Bad enough my body is out of whack but I have to deal with critter and kids who just really don't understand this whole thing. 6:30 came waaaaaay too early.
The bridal shower went very well. The hubby took some pictures of the decorations when he showed to help clean up. I may have to post a few.

I blogged at Ladies of the Club today about heroes. Go weigh in.

The new story is going very well. *G*. I'm not sure on the name yet. It's a Blood Lines vampire story. And male/male with lots of funness. I decided I had two more and not one more Blood Lines tale to tell.





May the muses have heroes
Mechele