Month: February 2009

A Day in the Life of…Diana Duncan

Seeing as I’m still on Vision Leave, I’m sharing this link to Sia McKye’s blog. My buddy Diana Duncan posted a hilarious “Day in the Life of a Romance Writer” blog. Enjoy.

P.S. Yes, I am managing to work on the WIP, for which I am most thankful.

P.P.S. In case I don’t return before next week, don’t forget that Natale Stenzel, author of funny paranormal romances from Dorchester Publishing, is guest-blogging here November 25th. That’s next Wednesday. The promo post will go up Tuesday. See you then.

The Eyes Have It

I’m having issues with my vision, so am limiting my computer time this week. Might not be hanging around here much—the WIP must come first. And hopefully I can manage that.

My vision has always been important to me. When you’ve worn glasses since 10 and probably could have used them at 9, it’s safe to say your vision is precious. As a writer, having vision problems naturally makes it very difficult to write! So, next to my brain, of course, which houses my creativity, my vision is my most important writing tool. I mean, I could go deaf and still write without any problems. I could lose my sense of smell and hopefully rely on memory or an excellent beta reader to help me through scent descriptions. My hands? Yes, I need them to touch, so if I lost my sense of…sensation, I guess I’d have to look at the keyboard to make sure I was typing the right letters. However, overall, the eyes have it.

Which is your most precious sense?

Published
Categorized as This & That

Who Loves Ya, 13?

I had a different post planned for today, but then I glanced at the calendar and realized—it’s Friday the 13th! And, guess what? We get another Friday the 13th in March, mwahaha.

Thirteen is my favorite number. It has to be. My birthday is January 13th, which, if you continue counting after December (and who wouldn’t?) is the 13th day of the 13th month. As I was lamenting to someone the other day, sadly, though, I was not born at 1 p.m., which would have made me a 13th hour, 13th day, 13th month baby. Nope, I was born in the evening. Irritation sets in!

For years, I thought I was born on a Friday the 13th, because my father was working out of town, only coming home twice a week, every Wednesday and Friday. My mother assured me that I was born Friday the 13th. The year I was 13, I found out, however, that I was born on a Wednesday. Yes, I’m a child of woe, which pretty much describes my adolescence and can account for all the characters who came to foul ends in my teenage short stories.

I have a brother and a sister born on the so-called “lucky” dates of 7 and 11, so you can imagine the ribbing I received over the years that I was born on the supposedly unlucky date of us three. Now, as an adult, I’m closest to the sibling who was born on a plain ol’ nothing fancy date. That’ll teach the other two.

How do feel about Friday the 13th? Are you superstititious? Do you avoid all things 13? Will you not read my books now that you’ve found out I love 13?

2009 Indie Book Awards

Oh, sure, I find about the Indie Book Awards the year I have nothing to enter!

From the website:

The 2009 Indie Book Awards is open to all indie publishers including independent publishers (small, medium or otherwise), university presses, self-published authors, e-book authors, seasoned authors and even first time authors based in the U.S., Canada or internationally who have a book written in English and released in 2008 or 2009 or with a 2008 or 2009 copyright date.

Cash prizes range from $250 to $1000.

Here’s a comprehensive FAQ page and Entry Guidelines.

Entry deadline is March 15, 2009, so get a move-on! And, remember, if you win, the credit goes to…well, okay, you.

Published
Categorized as Contests

New Interview with Agent Kevan Lyon

I have a treat for you today. I recently interviewed agent Kevan Lyon of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency for my Articles page. The interview is up now and will remain on the main Articles page for a few months, after which it will go into Archives.

Meanwhile, my interview with Silhouette Special Edition author Mary J. Forbes about Fogwalking is now in Archives along with interviews with agent Elaine Spencer, women’s fiction author Debrah Williamson, and a whole smattering of Girl Talk columns with Jamie Sobrato.