My weekend felt long and tiring, how about yours? I made a lot of progress on the book, though, and I’m seriously close to finishing. I will be celebrating big time when the last line is written. I should be done by Wednesday, and that will give me a few days to go through the entire book and make any other changes.

They shouldn’t be major at this point, since I edit/revise as I go. Alice’s story has turned out quite different than I thought it would be, but I’m happy with it. It’s a strong story, and there’s a lot of fun things happening–it’s just not how I pictured it at page one. But I think it’s better, so all’s good.

Other than writing, I spent some time with family on Saturday, when we celebrated my grandmother’s birthday. In fact, if it wasn’t for the freaking bleeping sound that is still going off in my house (only at night!) I’d be in really good spirits. But this beeping/bleeping is driving me nuts! We seriously need to figure out where it’s coming from.

I’ve been collecting interesting blog points I want to share, but that post will wait until this book is done. However, I did want to share a YouTube video of Jensen Ackles (who plays Dean in Supernatural). I LOVE this video, and even if you don’t normally watch the show, I think you’ll still like it.

Don’t Forget!

Today is my day at The Novel Girls. This week is all about Halloween!

Somewhere in the lower level of my house, something is beeping. I don’t know what it is, as I can’t find it. It sounds like when your smoke alarm needs a new battery, so it intermittenly lets out a “Beep. Beep.” and then is silent for a while, before doing it again.

But, from where the noise is coming from–we don’t have an alarm. So–um–no clue what it is, or how to stop it. Want to wager some money on exactly how much this is driving me insane? I’ve searched up and down, looked in corners and under/behind items, I’ve moved things around. I. Still. Can’t. Find. It.

Moving on…my twins had their school pictures taken about a month ago. I bought the same exact package for both of them. Only, somehow, one child did not receive pictures. This has made him very upset, naturally, because now his brother has something that he does not. I’ve called the photo people. Supposedly, we’ll get them in a few weeks, but they neglected to mention why we didn’t get them to begin with.

On the good news front, tomorrow we’re celebrating my grandmother’s birthday. I can’t wait to see her and see how she’s doing. Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Okay, off to look for that dang beeping again…

Don’t Forget!

We’re still dishing about call stories over at The Novel Girls this week. Today is Lesley Livingston’s turn, and tomorrow is Caroline McTighe’s. I can’t wait to read about their very cool day!

Not like tomorrow near, but it’s definitely approaching. As far as the book goes, that is. I spent many hours today reading from page one to my current point, because I’d sort of lost the feeling of where I was at. Now, I’m refocused, and quite happy with it all.

I apologize for these crazy short posts that talk about nothing other than the book, but until I finish, I just don’t have the creativity to come up with anything exciting! Another week or so, and I’ll be back to normal.

I haven’t slept for way too many hours, so going to catch a nap. Yay! Blissful sleep, for at least a little while.

Don’t Forget

Today Jillian Cantor is sharing her amazing Call Story over at The Novel Girls. Go check it out!

Crazy busy, so this one will be short.

I’m at that place in my manuscript where I know how much story still needs to be told, and I know approximately how many words I have left to tell it in, and I’m worried. Because it doesn’t seem like there’s enough room to do what I need to do.

But even with that worry, I know it will be fine. It always is. The story is flowing now, and even though I can’t see it as a whole yet, the rest will come out and I’ll be where I need to be. Of course, then I’ll need to go through from page one, and look for places to tighten, look to see where I’ve repeated myself, look for my lazy words/phrases, and most importantly–make sure the story flows properly.

I *should* finish this by mid-week next week, which will give me enough time to go through the entire manuscript and make the final edits before sending the book in to my editor. But right now, at this minute, it feels like the clock is ticking and I’m racing, racing, racing to finish the story.

On that note, I’m really happy with what I have so far.

I hope everyone has a terrific Wednesday!

Don’t Forget!

Lisa Patton is talking about her call story over at The Novel Girls!

I received the galleys for A Taste of Magic last week from my publisher, along with a nice big stack of my cover flats. I can’t believe how quickly time has passed, and I’m at this stage already.

For those that don’t know, the galleys of a book are nothing more than the book printed out on standard sized paper, in landscape form, two pages of the book per one sheet of paper. They’re in the exact typeset/font/etc. that will be used in the actual book. My job is to read through them and make sure there aren’t any errors or typos. Sounds simple? Well it is, and it isn’t.

Because I know this story so well–from writing it, to rewriting large sections, to doing revisions, to going through it for line editing and copy editing–I know what’s supposed to be there. So I have to force myself to really look at every word, every mark of punctuation, etc., otherwise my brain will just remember what is supposed to be there, and my eyes will glaze over the actual printed content.

So far, I’ve only found one error, and I’m a little more than halfway through the book. Which is terrific! Also, because I’m forcing myself to read the galleys this way, I’m also reading the story somewhat clean. I’m proud of it. It’s a good book, and it’s funny, and emotional, and a heck of a lot of fun. I can’t wait to hold the actual book, with the kick butt cover, in my hands. But that won’t happen for some time yet.

Of course, while I’m reading through the galleys, I’m also working on A Stroke of Magic. I’m really in the home stretch now, and things are clicking together. I love it when I realize WHY I had a character do or say something later, that I didn’t know when I actually wrote it. It feels a little like magic.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday! I’m fighting a cold off again, which is making me just want to sleep. Of course, I don’t have time to sleep 12 hours a day right now, so I’m drinking lots of coffee and taking my vitamins. Hopefully, this one will go away much quicker than the last one did!

See you tomorrow.

Don’t Forget!

This week’s topic at The Novel Girls is First Book Sale Calls, so head on over and learn about all of our first calls. Mine was yesterday. Today is Maureen Lipinski’s! Come share in our excitement as we each remember that amazing day.

Happy Monday! I’m still way busy, so today, I’m taking the easy way out. Sorry!

Because Mondays are my days at The Novel Girls, and I’ve written a very long post over there today, I’m just going to stick with that one.

It’s also my Monday to post at my MySpace blog, but I’ve put the same post there–so you can either go here: MySpace Ohio Romance Authors OR here: The Novel Girls to read about my call story. It’s all there, the emotion and the excitement of hearing that someone actually wants to buy your book.

Until tomorrow!

We haven’t wandered the web for a bit, and because I’m brain dead at the moment (not having gone to sleep yet since, er, yesterday), I thought it would be a grand time to share some cool stuff with you all. This way, I don’t have to think too hard. I also don’t have to worry too much about sounding coherent.

Dorchester Publishing is having a nifty special on a select number of their books. For $3.99 shipping and handling, you can choose four books from a pre-set selection for no additional cost, PLUS receive a free bracelet. Yes. I speak the truth. Anyway, if you’re interested, check it out HERE.

On the Romantic Reads blog, Editor Leah Hultenschmidt wrote a very interesting post on foreign markets and publishing last week. Also included are some great photographs from her recent visit to Italy.   

Agent Nathan Bransford posted earlier this week about beginning novels with dialogue, and his take on it. I read his post, and all the comments, with great interest as A Taste of Magic opens with dialogue.

Author Jenny Gardiner wrote a hilarious post last week about her, her stubborn dog, and grilling in the middle of winter in the middle of the night. I totally felt sorry for her through portions of this post, while other parts of it had me laughing out loud. 

And finally, Author Gemma Halliday, blogged at Killer Fiction about the Perfect Man just yesterday. What makes up the perfect man? Gemma and her friends have started a list of perfect man traits/behaviors. It made me smile and think about all the “perfect” and “not-so-perfect” men I’ve known in my life.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! See you on Monday!

Don’t Forget!

Lesley Livingston is Friday’s girl at The Novel Girls, and Carolyn McTighe is Saturday’s girl. Both will be talking about their favorite books!