Before I get to today’s eye candy for your viewing pleasure, be sure to stop by Barbara Vey’s blog, Beyond Her Book, to find out about the amazingly fabulous anniversary bash she’s having next week. My group, the Wicked Writers, will be cosponsoring Saturday’s Romance Blowout and giving away a Kindle.

And now without further ado… Hell-o cowboy. :)

I saw this on Twitter yesterday. LOVED IT! And who wouldn’t love a bunch of shirtless college guys lip-synching Katy Perry’s “Firework”?

Between travel and family, I’ve been completely off my writing horse for over a week. I’m drying up like a raisin in the sun here y’all. I’ve GOT to get back in the saddle.

Reading usually puts me in the mind to write, but it didn’t work this time. I actually read a whole book (or thought I did anyway, it ended abruptly and I just realized the last 50 pages are missing from my ebook, grr) and didn’t get inspired at all. Perhaps it was the book?

Anyway I’m going to start using Write or Die today and get some words down every day. No more fooling around now. I’ve got a deadline and so many things to get done.

Can I please put in a request to cut down on ALL drama for the next month? No more family emergencies, crying children, car accidents, emergency trips or any other sort of unexpected insanity.

Check please.

Happy Tuesday y’all! I’m glad to be back home, not quite recovered yet (still tired!) but hanging in there. Milwaukee is a city rich in history and character, not to mention beautiful architecture. I saw some interesting things while there (what was up with the dude walking the pony down Canal Street anyway?) and had some good food, oh and work of course. :)

Okay, now onto the winner!

Thanks to everyone who posted where they’d want to visit in my While I’m Away Contest. I had responses posted on my blog, on my GoodReads version of the blog and even on the Wicked Writers loop. Using the Random Line Picker site, I have a winner…

Estella!

Woohoo! You go girl!! Let me know your choice of a signed copy of RESTLESS HEART, WUTHERING HEIGHTS: THE WILD AND WANTON EDITION or DEVILS ON HORSEBACK: LEE.

And now I’m off to Winston-Salem – Mom is having eye surgery today (worried) so I’ll be tweeting and reading from the hospital waiting room.

Monday’s eye candy for your viewing pleasure. A special shout-out to someone I met yesterday, Beth from Massachusetts, who loves the eye candy Mondays. Howdy Beth!

I will announce the winner of the “While I’m Away” Contest tomorrow!

Since I will be away for a few days, I am hosting a contest to give away a free, signed book. Interested? Awesomeness!

I’ve never been to Wisconsin so this will be a travel topic! I’ll make it real easy for everyone. All you have to do is tell me the one place you’ve never been that you really want to visit and why.

I’ll start. I always wanted to visit Australia because it’s such a beautiful country with a rich history. And besides I’ve got peeps there!!

Winner gets their choice of a signed copy of RESTLESS HEART, WUTHERING HEIGHTS: THE WILD AND WANTON EDITION or DEVILS ON HORSEBACK: LEE, and some swag of course.

Ready, set, post!

Okay, wait, it’s Wednesday? Wow, this week is so jampacked, I lost track!

Tomorrow morning I’m headed to Milwaukee area for two days. I likely won’t be online much since this is for my “real” job. I may post a contest tomorrow on the blog and give away a treat to entertain you while I’m gone. Whatcha think? Good or bad idea?

The bad thing about going to Wisconsin is I will miss the FABULOUS weather in NC. Supposed to be almost 80 on Friday. *sob* And I will be waaaaaaay north. The good thing is the temperatures will be in the 40s in Wisconsin, much better than the single digits they had last week, so I won’t turn into a writer-sicle.

I’ve never been to Wisconsin so I’m looking forward to checking off this state on my bucket list of places to visit. Any cheese-heads out there have good tips for things to see in Milwaukee?

I’m pleased to see the very last round of judging for the Brava Writing with the Stars contest has brought not two, but THREE finalists. They were all so good, they all made it!

These ladies are counting on us to vote for them. If you haven’t read the entries, go forth and read. Then vote!

Today’s eye candy for your viewing pleasure.

I’ve got three WIPs and one proposal going at once. Not the best situation, definitely, but I felt like I had to do it. I also thought I wasn’t getting many words in because I was torn between so many things at once.

Yet when I looked at my word count on the novel WIP (due in 7 weeks) and the novel proposal (obsessing about), I found that I’d written almost 22K in the last month. I was completely surprised! Honestly, bouncing between them was like treading water and trying to swim at the same time. It’s hard!

I have another 5K or so to add to the proposal before I send it to my agent. I’ve plotted the entire book but I need to bring it to life because I totally suck at a synopsis (or the suckopsis as I call it). When I start writing, it comes to life for me. This is a completely different book for me, a cross-genre that I want so bad to work that my teeth hurt.

Yesterday I wallowed in self-pity but I gave myself a good talking to. Life is what we make of it and whining about things we can’t control will amount to nothing but misery. I’ve got a good life, a good job, a writing career, and a great family. Yes I struggle with stuff, but so does everyone else.

I’m not a superstar (yet) but I’m gonna keep on trying, keep on writing, and keep on reaching.

(Now I feel like an infomercial. Tee hee.)

Have a great Thursday y’all!