Oooooh, today is going to be a rant so make sure you’re in the mood for it…
My 13 YO is one giant, obnoxious, annoying attitude. His ‘tude is typical for a teenager, I’m sure. But, hell and damnation, I want to drag that 5′ tall kid over my knee and spank his ass! Here was one of the convos this morning after snarling at his 9 YO brother for turning a light on:
Me – “Your alarm went off 22 minutes ago. You need to get yourself dressed and downstairs”
Ian – “I didn’t hear it go off.”
Me – “You must have turned it off.”
Ian – “No I didn’t.”
Me – “Yes you did.”
Ian – “No I didn’t. I never turn it off.”
Me – “It will continue to beep until you… Never mind, just get downstairs in 2 minutes.”
Ian – “Or else what?” (here ’s where my BP really goes up)
Me – “How about a week’s grounding?”
Ian (strolling into his dark room to his dresser) – “Okay.”
Mom follows him and he looks surprised and dismayed to find me there.
Ian – “What? All I said was okay!”
Mom – “Your attitude is driving me crazy. Get downstairs!”
That was just one of the conversations. There were more. Teenagers suck. Really. He tried to convince me that if I bought Levi’s in Walmart, everyone would know they were from Walmart. ???? How the blooming hell would they know that? Walmart radar?
I love that kid but I’m afraid I may have to get rid of him before he turns 18. I mean, he’s only been a teen for 6 months. I don’t think I can take 5 years!

The funny thing is, I am totally in the zone for The Treasure. Many of you writers know what I’m talking about – that mindset where the story just flows out of your fingertips and you can actually see the characters as you write. It’s a rush of power. The story is taking off on its own – I’ve added three characters that I hadn’t even thought of adding before now. I call them the three witches – as in Macbeth. I was like, who the hell is that? Come on in, ladies, make yourself at home. You say you want to scare Lily and try to convince her that Ray is a piece of shit? Oh, go right ahead. She’s listening. Vicious, conniving bitches.
I’ve written close to 10,000 words in three days. In the zone, people, seriously. I am having a hard time concentrating on my job that pays the bills when I’m itching to continue writing The Treasure.
Just wrote the first sex scene last night. Yeah, Ray and Lily are getting to know each other.
I know what the end will be, and the middle is shaping up very nicely. I’ve hit 24K and feeling golden.
(ooh, that was a bad pun wasn’t it?)

Although I’m not happy it’s Monday again (really, who would be unless it was a release day), but I feel lucky to be here in NC instead of getting hammered by Hurricane Katrina. I’m worried about all those folks on the Gulf Coast.
I successfully wrote 5000 words of The Treasure this weekend. Hallelujah!! I’m over 20K and moving along – that’s closing in on 30%, maybe. I don’t know how long this sucker is going to be. It’s funny, I can always visualize the first scene and last scene very clearly in my head. I try to plot the inbetween, but it goes it’s own way sometimes.
I also put in two more Malloy brothers, Trevor and Brett, into this story. Trevor took off without my knowledge and became a charming gambler that woos all the ladies. He’s sweet, gorgeous, and full of shit. The next story (although I haven’t planned it) may be Trevor’s. He’s headed for trouble, but don’t worry, the heroine Lily in The Treasure can see right through the brown stuff. Brett, well, he’s too darned quiet. I think he needs a hellion to drag his ass into this lifetime.
I also finished the muse website! It’s going to be a “soft” opening. The announcements won’t go out until September 1, but y’all can get a sneak peek. Let me know whatcha think.
I’m off to my “real” job – work, work, work. Pay bills, then squeeze in writing. Thank Gawd this weekend is a holiday weekend here in the U.S. – next Monday is Labor Day. Wahoo! Three days off… I’m digging it.

Feel like I’ve got a hangover! LOL! After being online at the party for like six hours, then I had two 13 YOs and my 9 YO boys to handle. Ick. Do you know how funny a fart is to them? Geez, you’d think it was the first time they’d heard one.
So, then I finished the navigation and design of the Muse website. Look for a grand opening on September 1. We’ll be taking the publishing world by storm with a cool reader invitation for next Saturday.
Today I still have the three boys, but one of them is going home in three hours. Thank Gawd! I just don’t see the appeal of eating cold pizza with cold garlic dipping sauce for breakfast. :shock:
I plan on writing my ass off today on The Treasure. I basically wrote about 300 words yesterday, not a whole helluva lot. I’ve got laundry and library to do, but other than that it’s write, write, write.

I’m busily preparing for my SiN party today so I don’t have much time to write. 45 minutes to showtime. I’m still gathering some sexy pics and getting my excerpts together.
Hope y’all can make it. And I really hope I don’t screw up or make a fool of myself.

Yup, today’s another day. Apparently I wasn’t the only one feeling down yesterday. Perhaps it’s because certain people that get good news tend to smack us in the face with it, making us feel like losers? You can be excited by your success, but do it like a lady. Some authors tend to be like the little kid who flashed the expensive clothes and shouted “look at me” in everything they did. I don’t want to be petty, but I can’t help it. I have friends that are making it in the publishing world that I absolutely adore and am so excited for them! They know who they are – love you guys.
Okay, rant over.
Moving on to brighter things. I wrote a little more of The Treasure last night, but was mostly working on the Muses website. I’ve promised to get it up and running by the end of the weekend. No problem, I will.
Although there are two parties online that I’m committed to this weekend – the Slippery with SiN party and the CLR Pirate Treasure Hunt party. Saturday looks like its shot to hell for website and writing.
I was just asked by Loose Id what’s next… Hmmm… I want to finish The Treasure, but I want to write something for Loose Id too. Luv that pub! Thinking about writing a bowling story after spending last weekend with a bunch of crazy women bowlers. Whaddya think? Would a story about a BBW woman that got a perfect 300 game and a hot man interest y’all?

I’m feeling kinda blue and down on myself today. I haven’t broadcast it, but I have three submissions out there to agents and a publishing house. I haven’t heard spit, squat, nada. One of them has been more than two months, probably closer to three. Sigh…
Other authors are jumping on the NY bandwagon and selling and contracting all over the place. So what’s wrong with me? Why can’t I get a contract or an agent?
I think I’m not aggressive enough… I don’t e-mail people (I figure that will piss them off to get a cold pitch via e-mail), just send subs by snail mail. I do things the way I’m supposed to like a good girl. And I wait, and wait, and wait. You get the picture.
I received good reviews (two 4 1/2 stars from RT) and I know my writing is good. It’s hard to be patient when someone you don’t particularly like snatches up the agent you targeted.
Now I’m starting to sound petty and self-pitying. Time to kick my own ass. “Be patient. Don’t be concerned with what the others are doing. You know you can write well. You have the staying power to really make a career out of writing. Focus on you and what you’re doing.”
Is it working? Hell, I don’t know. I’ve got to get into the upswing for the SiN party Saturday. I’m on first with my peeps Cece and Christy.
I shouldn’t let all this bother me, but I do. Human nature and the propensity for self-flagellation. I think I’ll go shopping for a purse at lunch. My friend Donnie calls it “retail therapy”. Or better yet, I want him to come make me feel better.

I’m pleased to announce that I’ve submitted The Outlaw’s Virgin to LSB for publication. I am so excited to say that one is done, done, done!!!
This is the first half of the anthology Vixen Virgins that I’m writing with Robin Danner. Hers is The Sheriff’s Vixen. Get it? Virgin? Vixen?
And I feel like I’m finally cruising on The Treasure. Got about 2000 words written last night and reread what I already had written – it’s pretty good if I do say so myself. I think my self-imposed deadline of September 30 is going to work.
After that it’s off to Santa Fe Spirits with Cece Stuart – a time travel western anthology that we’re cooking up.
And, and, and… there’s plenty more lined up behind that.

Whew, I was in a dry spell there. Haven’t written in my WIP since Saturday, and yes, that’s a dry spell. I write every day. Last night I was able to pop out about 600 words, not nearly what I wanted to, but hell it’s something!

I’ve been working on the Muse website – it’s going to be so cool. We’ll be the envy of every other website. Now all I have to do is design the front page and figure out the damn navigation, and get everyone to agree. Did you ever try to get 10 divas to agree on anything? I love ‘em all, and they all have their own opinions. Sometimes I just step in and do it the way I want to.

So tonight I will be back on the writing kick. I’m going to wait a few days to get, er, feedback from the other muses on their individual muse page before I move on with that. The Treasure is humming along. I need to get some sex. :shock:

In the book. Between the characters. What were you thinking? I already wore my “Save a horse, Ride a Cowboy” t-shirt Sunday night.

Geez, I’m sorta wishing it wasn’t Monday. All right, I’ll be honest. I damn well wish it wasn’t Monday. I needed another day to recuperate from my long drive this weekend.
I am drinking coffee and trying to focus, but I feel like I’m looking at the world through bubble wrap.
I didn’t get much of any writing done this weekend and I ate like a horse at a trough too.
Back on track here, folks. Back on the diet and back writing like a fiend.
That’s all my mind can come up with this morning. Catch me tomorrow and I’ll be witty and charming again.