I thought some of you might benefit from this.

What Editors Don’t Want To See
(with Abby Zidle – HQN, Krista Stroever – Steeple Hill, Mavis Allen – Silhouette)

1. Queries with crazy opening questions.
Be upfront – why you’re targeting that line, what the story is about. Give a brief bio, but only relevant information.

2. No fluff bags – they like bubble wrap bags.

3. Synopses that don’t show character emotion and growth.
Synopses needs to show not only the plot but how the characters change and what their emotional connection is. Esp. important for Harlequin. Must give … Read more »

Finally getting around to posting some pictures from Nationals. Only a few weeks late. 🙂

Here’s me with my partner in crime, Piper Lee, at the welcome reception. (I’m the sexy blonde. LOL) Did I mention she kept me up until 2 am every night? It was a week-long slumber party.

Another with Danita and Paty. They dragged me to the casino to gamble. All I wanted was a free drink. After losing $11 in the nickel slots, Piper so eloquently informed me that drink wasn’t free. (Piper Party Pooper)

Lissa Manley, Danita Shattuck, Leah Vale, Paty Jager.

A small … Read more »

The queen of procrastination can waste a whole day perusing writer loops. I’m sure I’m not the only one (gasp! I hope I’m not the only one). And to prove a point, I did just that today. (When I should have been working on chapter 19…grumble, grumble)

Now, I’m on several loops – so many that I can’t even keep them all straight. I look at My Yahoo Groups link and my eyes cross. Among the many are my local RWA loop, the KOD loop, RWC, RWAPro loops (I think there are four), RWA loops (again, at least four), the … Read more »

Snarky moods can be good for the muse.

21 pgs today and counting. I’m now in the middle of chapter 18.

It’s a wonder what one can accomplish when she puts her mind to it (and plops her butt in the chair).

Of course, it’s probably all crap, but a crappy page can be edited. A blank one cannot.

(And I am sooooo going over 20 chapters. Thank goodness for editing…and hacking, slicing, shredding…)… Read more »

Ever feel like good things are happening to people around you and you’re just standing still? Been feeling like that a lot the last few days.

Paty placed first in the paranormal category of the Great Beginnings Contest. Way to go, Paty!!! Carol recently finaled in the Maggie. Linda has uber-exciting news she can’t quite share yet, Joan’s agent is about to send her book out to publishers, and Piper got to be in a movie.

And me? What have I done lately that’s super exciting?

Not one darn thing.… Read more »

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS DATA SHEET

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
Substance: Woman
Symbol: W02
Discoverer: Adam
Atomic Mass: Accepted as 55 Kg, but there are known isotopes ranging from 45 Kg to 225 Kg
Occurrence: Large quantities in urban areas, with traces found in most other areas

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. Surface normally covered in powder and paint film (thickness variable according to age)
2. Aromatic odour.
3. Boils at nothing, freezes for no apparent reason.
4. Melts if given appropriate treatment.
5. Yields if pressure applied in the correct manner, explodes if stressed excessively.
6. Bitter if used incorrectly, may become sour with age, … Read more »

I have nothing of interest to say. So I will leave you with some words of wisdom courtesy of Paty:

WOMAN’S PERFECT BREAKFAST

She’s sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee.
Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box.
Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week.
Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl.
And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.

WOMEN’S REVENGE

“Cash, check or charge?” I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase.

As she fumbled for her wallet I noticed a remote control for a … Read more »

(For Part I, be sure to visit Linda‘s Blog)

A wicked grin crossed Ethan’s face. “Get him a Blow Job.” At Sam’s incredulous expression and Caitlin’s murderous one, his brows shot up, and he smiled. “What? Every guy likes those.”

Tick’s jaw tightened. “Jim Beam’s fine.”

“I’ll be right back. Get us a table.” Sam leaned in to kiss Ethan. “Try to behave yourself.”

She sauntered away, Ethan’s gaze following her. Tick crossed his arms over his blue-stained chest. “Now, do you two want to tell me how you really know each other?”

Caitlin linked her … Read more »

(For part I, be sure to visit Linda‘s blog.)

Ethan didn’t break her gaze. The tick of a clock on the wall was the only sound echoing through the room. Caitlin‘s back straightened under his intense stare.

“What I did isn’t important. It’s what I did after that matters. I could have let it break me, but I didn’t. The question is, Agent Falconetti, what are you going to do?”

She turned back to the window and crossed her arms over her chest. “The same thing I’ve been doing.”

“Wallowing in your misery?”

“Maybe I like wallowing. It’s … Read more »

Wow. What a week. I don’t even know where to start. I learned more than I expected, was inspired more than I thought I would be, and was star-struck beyond belief.

Highlights of the week:

1) Running into Nora in the hall. Oh. My. God. Talk about being star-struck.

2) Pitching. Not nearly as bad as I thought. Even with all the quirky eyebrow looks I got whenever anyone asked the dreaded question, “Who are you pitching to?”

3) Debbie Macomber’s “Why Not You?” speech. Inspiring. It WILL be me.

4) Susan Elizabeth Phillips admission that yeah, she SUCKS at … Read more »