Nita’s Blog

Well, I’m happy to report that maybe the wheels are turning again.  I finished my CP’s critique.  And OMG, let me tell you, she has written one heck of a book.  It’s historical, set in 11th century Wales, and the sex is hot, hawt, HOT!

So I’ve marked one thing off the list.  Yes, there are still five more items on that list, but at least I can say I finished something.  I’d like to be able to report I’ve finished something else really soon.  I think focusing on one or two things instead of spreading myself out so much is the key.  A few hundred words on this one, and a thousand on that one doesn’t show much overall progress. 

I know.  I know.  A few hundred here and a thousand there is technically progress.  As long as I’m working and getting the words down (or edited) I’ve made progress.  But I’m one of those people who needs to see results.  I need to see the finish line.  You know? 

Marking something off “The List” is clear, satisfying progress.  Okay… on to the next project.

Nita

Wow.  I can’t believe it’s been 11 days since I posted anything.  Where does the time go?

Do you ever feel like you’re moving in slow motion and everyone around you is in overdrive?  I’ve felt like that lately.  I think I just have too many irons in the fire right now.  Well, that’s the only excuse I can find anyway.  LOL Here’s the list:

1. Part Two of The Roscommon Faerie Tales - I recently finished chapter 8 of 12 chapters.  I’m getting closer.

2. Designs on Haley - I about 3/4 finished with that one.

3. Edits on The Wagonmaster - I received my edits last week.  I’m working those a little at a time.

4. Critique for my CP - I’m still trying to finish her critique, but I haven’t even reached the halfway mark yet.  I’m lovin’ the story and I have to be careful to pay attention to the stuff/errors I’m supposed to be looking for.  LOL

5. There’s an untitled Regency short story I started, but haven’t touched in a while.  It’s been on my mind some lately.

6. Luke’s Daddy - I don’t think I’ve posted anything about this WIP yet.  I started it recently in response to a call for submission from one of my publishers.  I wrote about 6 pages on it this weekend, and it’s really starting to take shape.  I was thinking it would be a short story.  I mean really short, no more than about 30 pages for the anthology call.  Well, I’m on page 12 or so now, and I’m not half-way yet.  {insert sigh here}  My stories always seem to grow longer than intended.  LOL  But it’s okay.  This is a sweet romance with a cute, five-year-old boy that says the funniest things.  (I’m basing his character on my CP’s son.  He’s a doll.)  And the publisher has a call out for longer sweet stories, too.  So it will still work.

So anyway, I’ve got so much going on.  I’m making a little progress on just about everything, but not finishing ANYTHING.  It’s become issue for me.  I’m feeling like I’m spinning my wheels.  Hence the title of this post.  LOL  I really need to try and focus on just one or two of these things for a while and get them done.  That way I can say I’ve finished something.  Anything.

What about you?  Ever feel like you’re running on a treadmill- going no where?

Nita

I’ve entered a kiss scene from The Dream in the eCataRomance’s Kiss Off Competition.

Check it out here.    Leave a comment if you have time.  And at the end of the month, I’ll remind everyone to vote for their favorite kiss scene. 

Nita

Tomorrow (Tuesday, July 22nd) I’ll be at The Haunt, one of PNR’s Yahoo loops. 

Paranormal Romance is celebrating Faerie Tales this month.  We’ll be talking about faerie stories, of course, but feel free to chat with me about anything.  I’ll be around in the morning from about 9am-12pm, and then again in the evening from 7-9pm (eastern standard time.)

I’ll have excerpts from both my faerie stories, PLUS…  Anyone who participates in the chat will have a chance to win an ebook copy of HOW FAERIE DUST IS MADE or IN THE GLOAMING.  To “participate” all you need to do is post a response to one of my posts or post a question for me.

Wait!!!  There’s more!  Tell your friends.  Why?  Because if we have 20 or more people participate in the chat, I may just have to dig out a print copy of HOW FAERIE DUST IS MADE for one lucky chatter.

See you Tuesday!

Nita

It’s here! Paranormal Romance’s Spotlight on Faerie Tales is live.

You’ll find lots of romance books with faeries as the central theme.  Among them is HOW FAERIE DUST IS MADE. Yay!  Isn’t that the coolest? My name is listed on the same page as Nora Roberts, Karen Marie Moning, and Laurell K. Hamilton!!!!!! 

Dee, the fantabulous coordinator of PNR’s monthly spotlights also interviewed me! And man, did she ask some tough questions.  LOL  Stop by and check it out. 

Oh, and then come back and tell me what you think.  LOL  You KNOW I want to hear what you think about the interview and stuff.

Nita

Well, the not-so-good news first…

I got a rejection today.  Yeah, I know what you’re thinking.  “Oh, I’m so sorry.”  But, it’s okay.  Really.  It wasn’t the usual form rejection.  Okay, so it wasn’t a lengthy detailed explanation either.  LOL  But it was very nicely worded.  And that softened the blow a bit.

So now there’s one submission still out there.  I’m crossing my fingers on that one.  And hoping I don’t have to wait too long. ;-) 

The good news?

THE WAGONMASTER should be ready for release this fall. “Coming Autumn 2008!” Of course, I won’t have a date until edits are finished.  A lot of that will depend on how quickly I get the edits back to the editor after she sends them to me.  But it’s nice to have a “ballpark” time frame. 

Can you believe it’s the middle of July already?  Wow.  Autumn will be here before you know it.  The kids start back to school in just a few weeks.

Oh, that reminds me… My son needs new pants for school.  And new shoes.  Have I ever told you how much I dislike shopping of any kind?  Ugh.  The prospect sours my mood far worse than that rejection.  Okay, NOW you can post your condolences. 

Nita

The day before yesterday, my son got his driver’s license. It’s not so much that I’m worried about his driving. He’s a good, cautious, courteous driver.  I taught him myself.  LOL What I worry about is all those idiots out there on the roads. 

For instance, my daughter came home in tears one day.  She was crying so hard she had those sobs– you know the kind where you catch your breath almost like a hiccough.  Some idiot woman was talking on her cell phone and ran a stop sign.  My daughter narrowly avoided hitting her. 

I hugged my daughter and tried to be calm, telling her “See?  That’s why I always tell you to be a defensive driver and watch what other people are doing.  You did a good job avoiding her.”  Then I prayed, thanking God for watching over my daughter. 

The last accident I was involved in was caused when some guy ran a stop light.  You guessed it.  He was on his cell phone.  Fortunately, I reacted quickly and slammed on my breaks.  It didn’t prevent me from t-boning his car, but he would probably have been killed if I hadn’t hit the breaks fast enough.  He got out of his car.  “Are you all right?  I’m so sorry.  I was on my cell phone.” :( Wonder if seeing his life pass before his eyes has cured him of IDOACP Syndrome?  That’s Idiot Driver on a Cell Phone Syndrome, btw.

So now I’m not only worrying about my daughter out there on the road with all those idiots.  I’ll be worried about my son, too.  We’re shopping for his car now.  In the mean time, he’ll borrow mine when he needs to go somewhere.  I’m okay with that since my car has six airbags and a couple of other safety features to prevent injury should he encounter some idiot.

Though I pray daily anyway, I’ll be sending up more requests for God and his angels to protect my kids. 

Don’t get me started about how I feel when people say, “Oh, I’m not distracted by my cell phone.  I can drive and talk at the same time.”  Yeah, right.  I’ll bet they drive well when they’re drunk, too.

Please… If you MUST talk on your cell phone while you’re driving, PULL OVER.  Don’t hurt yourself or someone else by being a selfish, careless idiot.  That phone call could never be worth the danger to yourself and others.  If the call really is that important, then it’s important enough to pull over.

Nita

P.S.  Yes, my kids have been lectured dozens of times. “You are NOT to use your cell phone when you’re driving. Period.” 

You did it!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I won FIRST PLACE in the Manic Readers monthly referral contest.  If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, check out this blog post. 

So thanks to all those clickies you made for me, I’ve won three cover ads for 4 weeks on their site!  WooHoo! That’s a lot of advertising!  I wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for it.  I know I’ve said this before, but new authors and authors at small publishers really don’t make much money in royalties.  Most have done well to earn $200 off a book for a whole year of sales. Seriously.  I’m not kidding.  A lot earn less than that.  So you can imagine how difficult it is to pay for advertising.

Manic Readers runs this referral contest every month.  So whenever you see a little button like this:

Be sure and click on it.  The author who posted it will appreciate the help. Besides, Manic Readers is a cool site.  If you’re looking for a good book, you can find covers, blurbs, and reviews there to help you find just what you’re looking for.  (Umm, yeah, now would be a good time to click it.  LOL)

Seriously, though.  Thank y’all for helping me out.  You’re the best!

Hugs (and kisses, too!)

Nita

I updated the excerpt page on my web site last night.  I thought I’d put the opening of DESIGNS ON HALEY up for ya.  I think I mentioned in another post that this novella is about Haley, an interior designer, and Michael, a sexy architect.

To be honest, I was a little surprised… Okay, A LOT surprised when these two modern-day characters popped into my head.  Everything else I’ve written has been historical or fantasy.  But Haley and Michael would not be denied.  They insisted their story be told.

So now it’s a little more than half finished. Haley and Michael are waiting (a bit impatiently) for me to finish the story of Breandan and Fionna, part two of The Roscommon Faerie Tales.  Fionna and Breandan are demanding their happily-ever-after.  They say they’ve waited long enough.  LOL

Let me know what you think of the excerpt. 

Nita

I’m excited.  Can you tell?  LOL

HOW FAERIE DUST IS MADE is now available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble! Yay! Of course, since B&N has it in their system now, you can go to any B&N bookstore and get them to order it so you don’t have to pay shipping and handling.

Nita