SECRET CHILD, ROYAL SCANDAL BOOK TOUR


April 5th - 3 Partners in Shopping
(Stop 2) - Joyfully Reviewed
April 11th - EskieMama Reads
(Stop 2) - Cat's Guilty Pleasure
April 13th - underneath the covers
(Stop 2) - T&L Book Reviews 
(Stop 3) - Lilly's Book World
April 14th - Teatime and Books
(Stop 2) - deal sharing aunt
(Stop 3) - Becca the Bibliophile
(Stop 4) - What I'm Reading
(Stop 5) - The Sassy Bookster
August 2014
I'm excited to be part of the next Texas Cattleman's Club series. BECAUSE OF THE BABY... (coming January 2015) is the fourth book in the AFTER THE STORM series.
The Texas Cattleman's Club stands proud in the town of Royal, Texas and its members, some of the most powerful and elite men in town, work hard to help out the community. When, late one October afternoon, an EF4 tornado, the biggest to hit Royal in almost eighty years, cuts a path of death and destruction across the community, it's the members of Royal's Texas Cattleman's Club that come to the rescue.
June 2014
In January 2014, the first of my 3 book Las Vegas series with Harlequin Desire hit the shelves. Come follow the three Fontaine sisters as they gamble on love and find that going all in is the only way to win big.

Look for A GAME OF SEDUCTION a free on-line read at harlequin.com. The novella features Scarlett's friend, action hero turned director, Chase Reynolds.

The third book in the series, A TASTE OF TEMPTATION, is due out July 2014. World renown chef, Aston Croft, might drive conservative hotel executive, Harper Fontaine, crazy, but she needs him to show her a whole new world of adventure.

















MEDDLING WITH A MILLIONAIRE

COMING TO HARLEQUIN DESIRE JUNE 2011




No Man’s Bargaining Chip
Emma Montgomery wouldn’t be manipulated into marriage as part of Daddy’s business deal—even if he cut off access to her trust fund until she complied. The talented jewelry designer would just make her own way. Or go down trying. Too bad her intended groom--maverick businessman and former crush Nathan Case--made her stubborn stance so difficult. The heat of his touch had her nearly betraying herself at every turn. Resisting Nathan and regaining her money were the name of the game—but meddling with this millionaire might land her right back in his arms! 

Pre-Easter Blog Hop

Easter Hoppin Blog Hop
What - Easter Hoppin Blog Hop Giveaways
When -  12:01 AM April 15th until 11:59 PM April 17th 
Where - All around the blogging world!
How it works - Recommend a debut author in the comments and you'll be registered to win a $10 Amazon gift card.

New home

Hello everyone. I'd like to invite you to visit me at my brand new website and blog. The design was done by Will Design For Chocolate and I have to say, they did an absolutely amazing job.

blog

I won the Golden Heart

Golden Heart winners me (series contemporary), Liz Selvig (single title) and Elisa Beatty (regency) at lunch on Saturday.

Thanks Anne, Kelly, Marcy, and Annette. You guys are awesome.

Fake Fiancee, Real Love won the Golden Heart in the Series Contemporary category.

I can scarcely believe it's true. If not for the necklace and the photos of me standing at the podium, I would think it was all one big dream.

Fellow Golden Heart winner Angi Morgan (series contemporary, suspense/adventure), Harlequin Intrigue author and fellow Marsal Lyon Literary Agency client.


It was an incredible conference. One thing about having an agent and finaling in the Golden Heart, I was mostly fearless about introducing myself people I recognized but never had the guts to approach before. Maybe a little too fearless, but any crazy behavior, I'm writing off to the adrenaline surge of being a Golden Heart finalist.

Some examples:

I stopped Robyn Carr and gushed. She is not only an incredible writer, but a lovely person. If you want to learn how to write conflict, read her books. Especially her 2010 A Summer In Sonoma (which I finished on the plane).

I had a book signed by 2010 Rita winner Kristin Higgins and thanked her for her kind words on a contest she'd judged almost 2 years ago. She remembered the story. Totally made my day.

I teased Barbara Poelle about her back and forth with Janet Reid and chatted with her client, the incredible Sophie Littlefield, who is as sweet as she is talented.

At the Harlequin Pajama Party, I met the Mills and Boone editor who read my entry for the last Presents contest. She not only remembered my name, but also my voice. She was gracious and lovely and her accent made me smile.

Here's a picture of the woman who kept me sane and on track. My CP and roommate, Lexi Connor. I never would have gotten through the weekend without her. The win wouldn't have been as wonderful without her to share it with.

Almost Nationals time

I'm leaving tomorrow for Orlando. Needless to say, I CAN'T WAIT!!!

I have made my lists. Checked them three times (once more tonight as I pack the extra this and that's.)

I have printed my boarding pass and discovered that I can do an ePass on my iPad which will help coming home.

I have my car arrangements made. (I'm riding in style to and from the airport because my time is so short and it was cheaper to have a town car and driver pick me up at the airport than to take a cab.)

I have practiced in my brand new shoes.

I have shopped 'til I dropped.

I'm about as organized as a girl could be.

So why do I feel as if I'm missing something?

Anyone else get this feeling?

Guest Blogging

I'm guest blogging at double Rita Nominee Elisabeth Naughton's website today.

Come tell me how you quiet that pesky internal editor

Blogging with my fellow MFW Golden Heart Finalists

I'm blogging today at the 2009 Golden Heart Finalists Ruby Slipper Sisterhood blog with my fellow Golden Heart finalists from Midwest Fiction Writers.

Stop by and say hi.

broke down

Opened up the iPad tonight and loaded it with games. Daughter is kicking my butt at Scrabble.

Later: Okay, I'm infatuated. Still figuring out how some stuff works (read the instructions, right?), but it's really cool.

Less than 3k left to go

And I'm struggling to finish. This week at work is HORRIBLE because we're in training which means I'm working extra hours to get my regular stuff done.

The wrap up for the single title is challenging and I'm too tired to think straight. But I'm determined to get it done this week.

Bought my iPad to celebrate hitting 90k, but haven't opened it yet. Are you impressed with my willpower?

Previewed my soon to be new website today. I'm really excited about it. More to come on it. I'm scheduled to appear on the Ruby Slipper Sisterhood with my Minnesota chaptermates on July 20th and Elisabeth Naughton's blog on July 22nd and my new look will be ready just in time for that and for Nationals.

I'll let you know as soon as I open the iPad if I LOVE it or not. Hahaha, as if I'd hate it.

Have you splurged on anything lately?

Finale

Closing in on the end of the book. I'm deep into the finale and there's a lot of plot left to resolve.

In anticipation of revising, I've bought a great book called The Weekend Novelist Re-Writes the Novel by Robert J. Ray. He recommends 17 weekends, 7-8 hours each day to rewrite your book. Considering it's summer and I've given myself 2 months to do the rewrite, that's not going to work for me.

Hoping to have the book finished by the end of next weekend.

Then, I get to buy my iPad (YEAH!!!). I'm going to load it with books and read for two weeks while I prep for National and the rewrite.

What's next on your TBR pile?

Priming the pump, filling the well

Last weekend I needed a break from my writing. I took off both Saturday and Sunday to read, watch TV, go see a movie, hang out with friends and didn't let myself feel guilty about not writing.

Sure, I got behind in my word count, but the guilt-free break was sure worth the price.

Closing in on 3/4 of the way through and my H/H are heading for an All-Is-Lost moment of epic proportions. I just have to keep reminding myself to make it even worse.

If you want to see a demonstration of ratcheting up the conflict. Go see Toy Story 3. I have no idea why they rated this movie "G". It's intense.

What TV shows/movies have you seen that does a great job of using escalating conflict? Here's a few of mine:

Leverage
Saving Grace
Burn Notice
Miami Medical
House
Drop Dead Diva

Writing those tough scenes

I pushed through a really tough scene tonight. It's only the bare bones of a scene, but both the hero and heroine dropped their guards and talked about that which gives them the most emotional pain.

I've given my hero a vulnerability/flaw that might make some people uncomfortable. I love it about him, but it's going to be interesting to see how it goes over.

Man, writing single title is so much fun. What was I thinking to run scared all these years?

I want an iPad

Have you ever noticed how technology makes people instant friends? I chatted with a couple about their iPad last night before my daughter's dance recital. It was good to hear someone who'd had the thing a while to find out the ins and outs of it.

They totally talked me into the 3G one. It's more money, but with a $15 3G plan per month, it's worth the expense.

If you're wondering when I'm going to buy one, I decided it would be my present for 1) finaling in the GH (as if that's not gift itself) and 2) for finishing the first draft of my ST (a major milestone).

Yeah, yeah, it's all justification for something I'm dying to have, but whatever.



What about you? Craving a fabulous piece of technology or are you spending your dollars more wisely?

Halfway

And I'm 2500 words ahead of schedule. That's like a day and a half cushion. Which I'm sure I'll need over the next month.

Good thing I rock at pantsing

The character I intended to be good just might be bad. Discovered something unexpected about her this weekend. I haven't decided yet which way it will go, but the possibilities are exciting.

I suck at plotting

This is why I don't/shouldn't write mysteries.

'Nuf said.

New look

Digging the new templates on Blogger.

Nearing the 50% mark on the WIP. Still feels like I know where I'm going.

Got around to plotting the next quarter of the book. Stuff that I'd intended to put in the 2nd quarter got moved into the 3rd. What is with this wordage I'm pounding out? Not like me at all to write long. Usually I'm struggling to get that first draft to 48k.

How productive are you?

As a prepublished author, have you considered what will be expected of you production-wise once you get published?

Since January 1st, I've written 125,000 words.

I'm targeting Silhouette Desire. 50,000 words or thereabouts per book. If I wrote 3 per year, I'd be looking at about 150,000 words written (forget about editing, that's a whole different animal.)

Generally when I'm cranking out a story, I write 7 days a week. I average between 1000 and 1500 words per day. Now, I don't do this every month. I pretty much took March and April off. But I intend to continue with this level of output until National.

A lot of single title (and category) authors write one, maybe two books a year. Nora Roberts is at the other end of the spectrum, writing a gazillion books a year (does the woman sleep?) and I'd like to be somewhere in between.

Currently I work 40 hours per week. The drive to and from eats away another 2 hours. Add in my daughter's after school activities and a tiny bit of social life and my writing time starts to dry up.

If I wrote full time and wrote 1000 words per day, I could write 365,000 words in a year. That would translate to a couple single titles and 3 category books per year. That's my production goal. And 1000 words/day leaves me lots of time for editing, promotion, etc.

How about you? What do you see your production rates being? And can you achieve them?
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