Ha! You have to read to the bottom to get the information about the contest!

Progress on Dark Realm-4

Well, after taking a little time off to take care of family biz (did I mention the newest member of the Devlin clan?), I’m back at work on the fourth Dark Realm book. Thanks to everyone who’s kept me company in timed writing sessions, and for those of you who’ve been nagging. I really needed a kick in the ass to get going.

I thought I was stuck in the story and dreaded coming back to it, but something amazing happened when I sat down and put my hands on the keys. I didn’t think, didn’t wonder what was going to happen next, just wrote what I “saw”—and it’s not crap! In fact, it’s pretty darn sexy—raw, actually. I likey.

Another plotting bootcamp kicked off this past Monday, and I have a very active, very enthusiastic group of campers! Every day I have to think about story, think about theme and characters—someone else’s, I know—but it seems to help me figure out what’s working in my own WIP. So I’m really glad to be knee-deep in the class.

I should have started yesterday, according to my plan anyway, on plotting a new western contemporary story—something to send to my agent. But I don’t want to force it. I tried that about three weeks ago and had to deep-six the first chapter because it thoroughly reeked. Learned my lesson. Cowboys don’t like to be hurried along. They stride at their own pace.

So, another frenzied week awaits! Don’t miss tomorrow’s sexy Man-day pic. And about that contest: I updated my contest page. Go check it out!

Men Can Multitask

My mother sent this to me. Thought it might make you smile too!

I haven’t written one word this year.

Sure, we’re only eight days in, but I haven’t taken that long a break in forever. I think the problem IS the New Year. New Year translates to New Starts in my brain.

Instead, I have a book that’s two-thirds written to finish by the end of this month, another that’s contracted and due by April 1st, but I’d much rather be spinning a brand new tale to hasten in the year.

I know. It’s time to pull up the big girl panties and get to work. Maybe a little company would help. Anyone feels like doing some timed writing in the next couple of weeks, email me! I work best with a sense of urgency and competition fueling my muse.

And everyone else—nag, nag, nag!

Okay, so you say, “who?” Or maybe you’re one of the converted too. Whichever, head over to Access Romance’s All-A-Blog to see what I’m talking about.

Tell me you wouldn’t be willing to run through brambles to catch a pass from him! That piercing gaze, those cut cheekbones and delicious abs…mmm-mmm.

I love finding photos I can use to start germinating a story in my mind. What sort of story might you love to see based on this yummy man’s photo?

Besides the eye candy, I’m cleaning out my promo cabinets and have a ton of bookmarks to give away. If you’d like some, just send me an email with your snail mail address! Email me!

My horoscope for today reads:

You’ll be in the middle of all the action today, because no one else will be up to the task of directing people the way you are! You can’t wait to be the boss, and you are ready to be the boss! Your quick mind, boundless energy and direct manner of speaking impress people more than you realize — they are waiting for you to tell them what to do and how to do it. Be a gentle leader instead of a tyrannical one. You have the capability to inspire people, so don’t waste your energy.

Hmmm…the first part sounds right. I’m very good at telling people what to do, and I have a new workshop I’m starting up: The Plotting Bootcamp. So it fits that I’ll be interacting rather than crawling into my mole hole to work.

The last part bugs me…can I be tyrannical? Better not ask my sister because she’d say yes, but I thought I’d learned to temper my dictatorial style of leadership long ago. Will have to remind myself constantly today to tread softly.

I did warn you I’d be sharing things I’m learning as I research the new book I’ll be starting as soon as I wrap up the fourth Dark Realm story. Did you know that every month has its own moon phase with its own name?

January’s moon is the Wolf Moon. It’s also called the Winter Moon, but the Wolf Moon is more appealing to us, right? This moon is a time of endings (winter represents death) and of beginnings (because we start laying our plans for Spring).

This month the full moon runs 9 – 12 January. If I were Wiccan (not saying I am, but I am curious), I’d want to know that so that I could “draw down the moon” and pull the power of the moon into me, becoming The Goddess Incarnate. I’d need that power to infuse any spells I cast.

Be thinking of me when the full moon starts. I might be standing outside under the light of the full moon with my arms raised—but I promise you I won’t be “sky clad.”

In the meantime, you can catch me tomorrow, January 3rd, at the Aphrodisia Authors blog. Just click on the banner below!