The Comprehensive, Must-Have, Magical, Mystical Packing List Rises

I just looked at my calendar and realized I'm leaving for the RWA conference in Anaheim in less than two weeks. Not ready? Neither am I. I have been crazy busy. But not too busy to revive this list from the dead. I depend on it, every year, so I thought I'd bring it back to life to help others.  It's tradition and a great place to start building your own list if you don't have one already.


Mine is broken into sections, starting with what I'm wearing on the plane. These are usually items that are too bulky to pack and comfortable for travel. Jeans, a sweater and sneakers are must haves in my book and I've racked up my share of airline miles in them. Planes get cold and I've been so happy to have my sweater instead of wearing shorts and flip flops like all the other tourists. Plus, when they change your gate for the 10th time or your plane is late and you have 5 minutes to make your connection, sneakers are a godsend.

Wear on Plane :
- Shirt
- Jeans
- Sweater
- Sneakers (or slip-ons for walking to make getting them on and off in security easier)
- Socks

Then I have the list of what goes in my backpack. I like backpacks because my hands are free, but this could be your small roller bag, laptop, your toiletry bag...whatever. Just make sure these items are in a bag you physically have custody of at all times. Must have stuff. You don't want it to end up in DC while you're waiting at the luggage carousel in Orange County

Backpack :
- Plane Itinerary / Ticket
- Camera & Battery Charger
- Cell Phone & Charger
- 1 extra pair of panties & socks (just in case)
- Book or e-Reader of choice (& charger) to read on the plane
- ID and/or Passport (I keep this and some cash in an easily accessible pocket - one that zips for security - for the 20 times I have to get it out to travel. This is mainly because of the next item.)
- Purse (I transition to a smaller purse and stuff it inside my backpack so I have less to carry. This makes it harder to get to, so I take a few essentials out for the day. Even though you won't need your keys, be sure to carry them with you as well so you have them when you get home.)
- Snacks & An Empty Water Bottle (They don't feed you on planes anymore, so this is a MUST. Its also good to have once you get to Nationals so you have something to eat aside from the overpriced hotel food. As for the water bottle, you can refill it as you travel, but it must be empty to get through airport security.)
- Prescription Medication (Never, ever check your pills with your luggage.)
- Travel Alarm Clock (If you can't set your cell phone, and you can, I'm pretty sure)
- Mini flashlight
- Business Cards
- Presentation Materials and/or laptop (I'm doing a workshop this year, so anything I need is staying on my person.)

Next is what goes in my toiletry bag. Mine is actually a small bag that fits inside my luggage, which is good considering all the charges for extra pieces these days. If you're carrying this on, remember all liquids, gels and aerosols must be smaller than 3 ounces and must all fit within a clear, one quart ziplock bag. You have to pull this out and run it through the security x-ray separately. If you do check the bag, I still recommend putting liquids inside a ziploc bag in case a bottle comes open and leaks all over your clothes.

Toiletry Bag :
- Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss & Mouthwash
- Deodorant
- Hairbrush
- Shampoo & Conditioner (if you can use the hotel provided ones, ok, but my hair is too picky)
- Lotion and Soap (I will use the hotel provided stuff, but if you can't, pack your own)
- Hair Products - Gel, Hairspray, Mousse, Detangler
- Hair Electronics - blow dryers, curling iron, flat iron, etc. (coordinate w/ roommates to cut down on unnecessary appliances)
- Makeup, brushes, cotton applicators, good mirror, tweezers
- Moisturizer w/ SPF (you might also take outright sunblock if you'll be outside a lot)
- Razor & Shaving gel
- Feminine Hygiene (I always take an emergency stash just in case.)
- OTC Meds - Pain Reliever, Antacids, Stomach Pills
- Clear and colored nail polish & file for manicure fixes and hosiery runs
- First Aid Kit & Extra bandaids (if you have to ask, you haven't read this blog for very long)
- Mini Sewing Kit
- Mini bottle of Downy Wrinkle Release Spray & Febreze
- Bandaid Friction Block

Luggage :
- Another copy of your flight itinerary in case your bag loses its ID tag
- Panties x # of days, plus one or two if you're going siteseeing and might get sweaty
- Sport or Trouser Socks x # of days needed
- 1 pair pantyhose (I hate them, but its good to carry one pair JIC. I have a pair of shoes that just rubs something fierce without them, but are super comfortable otherwise)
- Regular bras & dress bras (as needed for formals, etc)
- Spanx (the ever-so important foundation garment) & slips as needed
- Casual tops x # of siteseeing/travel days
- 1 pair jeans (if you aren't doing a lot of tourist stuff, this might not be necessary, especially as I'm wearing a pair on the plane)
- Seasonal Jacket, etc, as needed (depends on where you're going, as SFO was cold, NYC is NOT)
- Pajamas (I don't know how many times I stress over every outfit, then forget PJs)
- Daytime Outfit Components (see breakdown below)
- Party Outfits as needed for Ritas, etc.
- Swimsuit, if you think you might manage to make it to the spa at some point
- Badge Lanyard with conference and chapter pins
- Shoes - At a minimum, 2 pairs of comfortable casual shoes or sandals, 1 or 2 dress pairs for formals, maybe some slippers or flip flops if you're inclined to swim or visit the spa. If you coordinate your outfit to a color scheme, you can cut down to less. I do not recommend wearing the same shoes every day, even if it matches. I find even the most comfortable pair will start to rub and make your feet sore if you wear them over and over. You will do a lot of walking.
- Jewelry - Make sure you know what you're wearing with each piece and put them all together in a bag with tissue if you don't have a jewelry travel case.

Finally, to determine my outfits, I use a daily breakdown. I try to bring some neutral pieces like black capris or a skirt that I can use a couple times. Microfiber is awesome - it doesn't wrinkle and it takes up almost no space in your bag. I also advocate the inclusion of one extra outfit that lies somewhere between your workshop attire and your formal in case you get an impromptu invite to a dinner or a party someplace nice. Here's my breakdown based on my typical activities...

Wednesday - black microfiber skirt, pink top, black sandals, pink jewelry
Thursday - black capris, blue microfiber top, black sandals, blue jewelry
Thursday Night - eHQN PJ party attire, flip flops/slippers
Friday - black microfiber skirt, purple microfiber top, black sweater, black heels, purple jewelry
Friday Night - black formal, sale shoes, black/silver jewelry
Saturday - black capris, pink satin top, black sandals, pink jewelry
Saturday Night - black and pink formal, pink heels, pink jewelry
Sunday - t-shirt, jeans, etc. for flight home (add days as needed if you're siteseeing)
Pitch Outfit - if you are pitching, bring the outfit that makes you feel your best if its not already one of the ensembles you're wearing
Extra Outfit - a fabu just in case outfit that you can wear with the shoes and jewelry you're already planning to bring

Hope The Comprehensive, Must-Have, Magical, Mystical, Packing List helps make planning for the big trip a little easier for you. Have I missed anything? What's on your must pack list?

Andrea AKA SP

Behold, The Power Of Sugar

Y'all remember those cheese commercials a few years back? The little girl who left Santa cheese instead of cookies and got all sorts of gifts, like a pony? Well, same general idea, but not about cheese. I love cheese, don't get me wrong. But no amount of mozzarella is going to help me write a book any faster.

That takes more powerful stuff. Namely sugar and caffeine. I know, they're both bad for you. Offer no nutritional value. But I can't argue the fact that they work. A chapter can be stalled out and if I crack open a diet coke and start munching on peanut butter M&Ms, the words just start flowing. Caffeine and sugar both help you think, so its no wonder. And being kinestheic (move to think) at heart, chewing helps my brain work better, too.

Oh, but I feel guilty about it. Two week ago, I wrote four chapters over the long weekend. Four! It was awesome. And fueled by Jelly Belly jelly beans. Primarily strawberry daquiri and fresh pear. I plowed through that bag, then moved on to the rest of the M&Ms I had set aside when it was gone. Then, in desparation, I switched to gum, but that only half works.

When it comes to my fuel of choice, I'm not too picky. Things that are small, easy to pop in my mouth and don't get my fingers sticky, usually rank pretty high. Wouldn't grapes qualify? Uh, yeah, whatever. M&Ms (usually peanut butter or peanut so I can convince myself I'm getting protein) are my go to. I've been on a jelly bean kick since Easter. I had a bag of Jolly Rancher ones that I loved, but they disappeared from shelved after the holiday. I've been munching on trail mix more recently, with mixed results. Girl Scout cookies work well. As do those bags of mini Oreos. I even mowed through a box of Lucky Charms the other day. Dangerous stuff.

I tell myself that it's okay as long as I only eat that junk when I'm working. And I drink diet soda with it for the caffeine (can't drink coffee) so its only mildly criminal, right? What will I do when I write full time? Gain twenty pounds, probably.

Do you feed your muse? Any go to choices for you? Any suggestions on some stuff I could try that wouldn't induce self-flaggelation later?
SP

Plotter's Paradise

A couple weeks ago, I turned in my January 2013 book and now, I'm waiting for my revisions and line edits. In the meantime, I thought, maybe I'll start tinkering with my next book. It isn't due until October, but it couldn't hurt to start. The book is part of the 2013 Desire Continuity. My book is #5, the May 2013 release.

This is my first continuity. I'd heard mixed reviews on what its like to do one of those. I guess a lot of that has to do with the bible and what plot you're assigned. I also think the experience depends very highly on whether or not you're a plotter or a pantster. I could see a pantster being absolutely miserable. They already know how the book is going to end. Someone has told them. The excitement and creative high is over for them before they even start.

A plotter, on the other hand, is in HOG HEAVEN. After receiving the bible (which is what the call the series overview with all the basic stories, characters and how they connect) we have a few weeks to put together a synopsis. I did have a few bugs I had to work through on mine, my logical brain rebelled against a few plot points I was given, but I got permission to change them. I sat down on my patio one afternoon and wrote the synopsis. It was twelve pages and I got a massive sunburn, but I didn't notice because it was all going so well. Yes, the bible gives you plot points you have to hit and a general overarching storyline, but I still had to develop the characters and fill in all the plot holes. I kind of enjoyed that, as a 12 page synopsis would tell you. The continuity editor was very pleased with me. He said it was the work of a seasoned professional. I like him. :)

That was back at the beginning of April, so last Friday, I decided to sit down and start writing. I didn't want to get too far ahead with my book in case the other stories had changes that would impact me, but my book is fairly stand-alone, I'd say. I took my approved synopsis, broke it out into chunks for a chapter by chapter outline (the pantsters are cringing right now) and started. Before I went to bed Friday, chapter one was done. Saturday, chapter two was done. Sunday, chapter three was done. Monday, chapter four was done. It was awesome. The words just flowed. I knew exactly what I needed to write and where I was going. I'm hoping this helps me with the miserable middle where I lose track of the plot and get stuck. That would be great. I hate chapter seven. Like the title says "Plotter's Paradise." I might add "Pantster's Personal Hell."

I'm hoping the whole book goes this well. Last night I started putting around and wrote half of chapter five without meaning to. Nice. Did you ever have a project where everything went smoothly? Usually, whether its writing or assembling furniture, I run into a snag. Writers, have you done a continuity before? Did you like it?
SP

Winner!

Happy Memorial Day weekend! The winner of my "Win It Before You Can Buy It" giveaway of a copy of More Than He Expected, my July Desire, is.... JANE! Email me your information at author (at) andrealaurence (dot) com. Congrats, Jane!

SP

Book of Your Heart

Everyone talks about writing the book of your heart. That when you're frustrated or not feeling like your career is moving forward, that maybe the thing to do is stop and let yourself write the book you really want to write. The story and characters that call to you while you're writing what you 'should' write.

I have that book. Its the one I've been tinkering with for years. The one that has always been special to me, but that I always felt was a little too out there. It needed work, which is part of the reason it was rejected in the past, but it also didn't fit into any of those neat marketing boxes that the publishers like so much. Yes, it is a special snowflake book. But I love it. Everyone who reads it loves it, including my agent, who signed me after just reading the first few chapters. I don't think there's anything quite like it on the market right now.

Which is why I'm holding my breath. After years of polishing, multiple revisions and incarnations, the book of my heart is being shopped. Today. I'm so nervous. This book has definitely grown up and gone to college since most people saw it. So I'm hopeful. I'm not expecting news to come any time soon. It takes time. While I'd love to have a couple of my top publishers fighting over me in an auction that lands me a "nice" deal, right now, I'll be happy to have any publisher take a chance. Self-publishing, if nothing else, has shown publishers that a book can be commercially successful without fitting neatly in a box.

So, we'll see. I'm going to be a wreck for weeks. Have you written the book of your heart yet? Any luck getting it out into the world? As a reader, can you tell when an author is really and truly in love with their stories and their characters?
SP

New Book Love

The end of Februay, I was a nervous wreck. I knew, I just knew, the first copies of my book would show up at my doorstep any day now. I watched. I waited. I stalked the UPS guy. No luck. I went out of town, and of course they showed up while I was away. But what a great thing to come home to!

Lately, I've been so busy, I haven't had time to obsess. March and April were a blur of promotion for What Lies Beneath. Answering fan mail. Going to RT and other booksignings. Writing and naming my third book scheduled for January of next year. Busy, busy.

So imagine my surprise when I noticed that my July shelfmate, Sarah M. Anderson, had posted a picture on Twitter of her newly arrived book. It snuck up on me! I rushed home, but no books. Waited around for a while. No books. Went to the store and came back. No books. But finally, finally, my hard-working UPS guy rang my doorbell and brought copies of my July book - More Than He Expected!

Here's the back cover blurb:

The Exception to the Rule

Playboy Alex Stanton likes his relationships short and without strings. But his fiery fling with Gwen Wright left him craving more. So when a holiday weekend getaway provides an opportunity for another taste of the tantalizing woman, he grabs it. Only, things have changed since their last encounter….

Besides being noticeably pregnant, Gwen insists she’s sworn off men. As if the challenge weren’t tempting enough, Gwen’s enticing new curves have made the sexy spitfire even more appealing. But how can the footloose bachelor hang on to his heart when he can’t stop longing for the soon-to-be mama?

I love getting mail, especially when its my book! I bet you like getting mail, too. So to celebrate, here's a 'win it before you can buy it' contest for a copy of my July release. To enter, comment on the blog today and tell me about the best package you ever received.
SP

The Great Balloonfest of 2012

I can always count on an evening with the Playfriends and the Mavens to be anything but boring. Whether we're playing board games, doing bizare crafts or running through Walmart at midnight in our own twisted version of a reality show, I will eventually laugh until I cry.

All I need say is *cocktail dress* and we'll all burst into laughter with an image in our minds that can simply not be described if you weren't there.

Friday night before our annual luncheon, we volunteered to blow up balloons. It was an anniversary year, so we were doing some special decorations. Our luncheon coordinator rented a helium tank and brought us Hi-Float, ribbon and 150 silver balloons. Oh, she also brought three bottles of wine and some glowsticks. I guess she imagined us huffing helium and drinking wine until we broke out into a balloon rave.
After a few speedbumps, we seemed to get the process down. PM filled the balloons with Hi-Float. For those who don't know, Hi-Float is a liquid you put inside the balloon to keep it floating longer. We had no intention of getting up at 6AM to blow up these balloons. Maven LJ massaged them. (More to come on that.) Angel filled them with helium. Instigator put clips on them. Maven Linda and I tied the strings. Angel's sister cut ribbon, and PC gathered them into bundles and tied them to the weights. Simple, right?

Well, maybe. After our first few balloons were a little limp and floating low across the floor like little silver sperm in search of an ovum, we realized we were using too much Hi-Float.  I was so tempted to draw little faces or "X" and "Y" on the wandering ones. We decided to read the Hi-Float instructions and maybe it's just because we're romance writers, but that was some really dirty stuff. We had to insert tip into the balloon and plunge it deep. Then, the number of times we pumped depended on how big it is. One pump for 9 inches, two pumps for 12 inches and 3 full pumps for 16 inches. Note: if Hi-Float leaks out of the balloon, you haven't thrust it deep enough. Um... kay. Then you had to slip off the balloon and gently massage the fluid into the latex.

With each step we read and each glass of wine we imbibed, it seemed to get worse and worse. Eventually, the giggles got the best of us. I feel bad if the people in the room next to us actually wanted to sleep. The next day at the luncheon, Maven Linda discussed how that had become her favorite luncheon memory. I love how with the right group of friends, even something as simple as blowing up balloons can become a memory you can cherish forever.

What's one of your favorite memories with your best friends?
SP

PS. Kira's winner of the Island Nights trilogy is Scarlet Wilson! Email her at kira (at) kirasinclair (dot) come to claim your prize!

Bienvenido a Reality

Last week, I ran away from home. I cashed in some airline miles and hopped a plane to Puerto Rico, the Isle of Enchantment. More accurately, the Isle of bad drivers, loud frogs, brightly-painted houses and good sangria. At least, that was my takeaway.

I met up with a friend and we spent 5 nights in San Juan in a funky 300 year old mansion converted to an inn. We shared the place with 5 exotic birds, about a dozen cocqi frogs and a group of war reenactors there for the weekend to battle at El Morro. I don't know about their fighting skills, but they're horrible singers when they get drunk.

I'm a planner and my friend is not, or was too busy to, so we flew by the seats of our pants. It was painful for me, and probably cost us the opportunity to do a few things that required advanced reservations, but we still had a good, relaxing vacation. We walked around Old San Juan and saw the old forts. We shopped, dined and drank. We rented chairs and an umbrella and sat on the beach reading for an afternoon. We rented a car and drove around the entire island. We got routed through an unsavory part of the island and ended up at a police checkpoint. (Thanks, Garmin! Seriously, there should be an option to avoid routes through high crime areas, like high traffic areas.) Fortunately, I was a licensed, insured citizen, so we continued on our way.

But the highlight was kayaking in a biolumiescent lagoon on our very last night. Sadly, there are no pictures. Our cameras weren't waterproof and the little glowing plankton don't photograph anyway. But it was one of the coolest things I've ever done. There are fewer than ten places in the world where these little guys can thrive and three of them are in Puerto Rico. Imagine kayaking through a still, silent lagoon in the dark, surrounded by mangrove trees and a clear, star-filled sky. Then imagine that every swipe of your paddle or dart of a fish creates a green-silver fog through the black water. Damn near a religious experience, I have to say.

But now I'm back. *sigh* We got up at dawn Tuesday morning and I got back that afternoon. That left me precisely 3 days to unpack, do laundry, go to the grocery store, work, bake and decorate a two-tiered, filled cake for Baby Girl's party, get all my HOD luncheon stuff together and pack, and prepare for the follow-on 3 day plotting retreat. Talk about a big change from leisurely strolling down cobblestone streets and watching the waves crash on the rocks. Work is a zoo. I need to do some last minute edits before I send in my book. Oh, and I just got the email requesting titles for my new miniseries and the art fact sheet due next week.

I've told myself for a while now, that if I can just make it through to the middle of May, I'll be golden. Almost there. Have you experienced any vacation whiplash lately?
SP

The End of the Road

The groupies are tired, the bus is out of gas and its time for this tour to come to an end. It's been a great month of hopping through cyberspace to celebrate the release of my first book, What Lies Beneath. The time has just flown by.

I'd like to thank everyone who joined me for the ride. Thanks to:

Harlequin Desire Author's Blog
Writer Wednesday with JD Elliott
Book Reading Gals
Authorial Moms
Get Lost In A Story
Okay, Listen Here
Love Cats Down Under
Minxes of Romance
and The Pink Heart Society

for hosting me. I had a lot of fun answering interview questions and talking about important subjects like reality television and recipe swaps.

And now, for the part everyone has been waiting for. The grand prize winner announcement. :) I have over a hundred entries of folks who commented on the tour and signed up for my newsletter. In the end, I randomly chose entry #45 because I hit #45 on the Bookscan Adult Romance list last week.

And that means .... BW/Lori is my grand prize winner!

:: cue confetti and balloons falling from the ceiling ::

Lori, please confirm your email and mailing address by contacting me at: author (at) andrealaurence (dot) com. I'm in Puerto Rico at the moment, but I'll get your seaglass locket and autographed copy of What Lies Beneath in the mail to you once I get back!

Thanks to everyone for joining me and celebrating my debut!
SP

Romantic Times

I recently got back from my first Romantic Times convention. It coincided well with my release, so I packed up my promo and went to Chicago with PC and Lynn Raye Harris. What an experience! Parties, costumes, workshops, mixers, signings... I fell into bed exhausted every night. But it was fun.

A few highlights...

First, my very first booksigning. Barbara Vey with Publisher's Weekly had a reader's luncheon in Milwaukee the day before the convention started. The three of us drove up there for the day. After hosting a table and giving away a doorprize, there was a booksigning. Here I am.

Another cool event was the series social organized by our very own event planner extraordinaire, PC. All the Harlequin passion authors hosted a get together for readers to come and mingle. We played romance trivia and gave away a ton of books. Of course, my team won. I can't be sure, but I think Emily McKay's (not pictured) team was cheating... :) (L to R: Cat Schield, me, Janette Kenney, Maisey Yates, Mira Lyn Kelly, Zuri Day, Caitlin Crews, Lynn Raye Harris, Jade Lee/Kathy Lyon, Kimberly Lang & Lisa Renee Jones)

The booksigning on Saturday was insane. There was something like 500 authors there, including folks like Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris and JR Ward. Then, me! Crazy. My line wasn't nearly as long as theirs. Luckily, PC was next to me alphabetically and we kept each other company. Aren't we cute?

More imporantly, though, is that I got a copy of Dead Until Dark signed by Charlaine Harris. She was so nice. I had to go up to her right as she came in so I could get back to my seat before the doors opened. She was very gracious and posed for this picture with me.

In addition to all this, I gave away a crazy amount of promo and came back with twice as many books. My poor luggage. I got new trading cards for my July book - More Than He Expected and cool purple pens.

Have you ever attended RT, RWA Nationals or any other big event like that? Ever gone to a big booksigning where you live? Any authors you'd love to meet and get their autograph, but haven't gotten the chance?

Andrea

Someone, Please Love Me

As you read this blog, I am at the Romantic Times Conference in Chicago. Last week my book came out and this week, I'm doing the big author thing. A sort of baptism by fire. Two booksignings, a luncheon, an author event and unlimited social opportunities for authors to mingle with writers. Bless my poor, unprepared, introverted heart.

People like me. Really. It just uh, usually takes a while for me to warm up. Initially I come off a bit snobby, arrogant, shy, bored or disinterested. I am incapable of getting hit on in a bar unless my friend attracts a pair of guys and I get the wingman by default. It's counter-productive for me to hide in my hotel room, I'm trying to sell my book. So that just leaves alcohol. Which they frown upon at breakfast, so I'm going to have to at least go half the day without any social lubrication.

Sans tequila, my default defense mechanism is just to shut up and be invisible. I have the option to simply not speak to people. Seems snobby, but really, I'm just protecting us both from an awkward exchange. But when I do the author thing, I have to be sociable. I have to talk to people I don't know. I have to smile and nod when they start going on about their medical conditions. I'm scared to death that I'm going to be bad at the public persona-thing. That I'm going to make one of my faces without knowing it and offend someone.

But I'm even more frightened of being ignored. The luncheon has presold seats. As of the cutoff, I have a whopping 7 left over. Fortunately, they sold a lot of tickets so someone will have to sit at my table. Hopefully I will figure out what to say to them. Not the case at the booksignings. I just have to sit there while people avoid eye contact and scan over me in the search for the author they want. With my luck, I'll be near someone popular, like Sherrilyn Kenyon, and my table will be blocked by the mile-long line of people who wouldn't read my book if they were paid to. Then the one person that did come to see me, can't get to me.

But I can do this. I have my whole alternate persona together. I have snappy clothes. Flashy jewelry. Cute clothes. I'm getting my hair done and some cool nails. My facade will be carefully crafted. Let's just hope it holds up!

What kind of questions do you like to ask authors when you meet them? Give me some ideas so I can prepare answers. There's still two whole days of this thing left...

SP

Launch Party

I feel like I've spent a good part of the last year celebrating. Every few weeks is another cool milestone on the road. There has been flowers and fondue and charm bracelets and sparkly shoes. Celebrating my sale with friends and family, getting a title, a cover, my first review, my first fan letter... But now we've finally gotten to the time I've been waiting 11 months for - hell, that I've been waiting my whole life for!

It's real. Really real. They can't change their mind or take it back. I AM a published author. My book is on shelves (after a minor setback where the local stores weren't in a hurry to stock), online, and downloading to e-readers everywhere. People other than my editor and critique partners are reading my books. People I don't even know!

Can I get a "squeee" up in here??

It is time to party, people. Bust out the champagne. We've got gourmet cupcakes and a chocolate fountain, as all good parties do. Dip a marshmallow in some milk chocolate goodness and celebrate.

SP

PS. I'm blogging with the Love Cats Down Under on Sunday - The Sunday Smooch. :) Pop in for another entry in my contest and read a steamy excerpt from What Lies Beneath.

Draw... Um... Something

First, I would like to thank Instigator for - being true to her moniker - getting me started on something that can be quite the time suck. Draw Something. It's a free app for my iPhone where you play a sort of Pictionary with your friends to earn coins.

The trick? You have to draw with your finger. Your big, clunky finger. My fingernail won't work. You also only get four colors to start. You have to buy more with coins and I don't have enough yet. So you only get black, red, yellow and blue. And no, blue and yellow don't mix to make green. They just write over the other color. Do you know how hard it is to get someone to guess trees when they have black trunks and blue leaves? You've got to have a broad imagination, that's for sure.

For each round, you're given your choice of three words/things to draw at various coin values. You can choose to draw a 'bone' for 1 coin, a 'turtle' for 2, and 'fencing' for 3. I've gotten everything from meteoroid to airport, fairy to ewok. (I'm fairly certain geeks designed this game because I've also gotten Spock.) You draw and submit it, then continue going back and forth guessing with your friends. Here, for example, is my miserable attempt to get Instigator to guess 'ringtone.' What? No, it's not a jukebox. You mean you can't tell that's an iPhone? What's wrong with you?

Aside from the pictures being hilariously awful, the game is kinda addictive. I find myself checking the app constantly to see if its my turn again. Anything fun sucking up your extra time, lately? Cause, you know, I have time to blow...
SP

PS. Just in case you might have forgotten, MY BOOK COMES OUT TUESDAY!! So crazy.

Makeover Time

Those of you that have seen my roots or worn out sneakers lately are probably itching to work me over. I'll admit I could use a bit of a style revamp, but alas, that is not the makeover I'm talking about today.

Today I'm talking about my website makeover! I've been working with Laron at Ninth Moon Designs for several weeks. It started out with me wanting a new header. Something a little snazzier than I could do myself. By the time we came up with something I loved... it didn't match anything else I had on the page, so we did a complete site overhaul. I love it. It's purple, gray and black. Its sparkly and kinda moody. DB called it 'washed out' but I respectfully reject his assessment. His idea of a great color palate is the lime green and black on his dirtbike.

Here's a sneak peek.

To get the full effect, you'll need to view the whole thing. Pop on over and tell me what you think!

SP

P.S. Congratulations to pjk, Instigator's winner from last week. Please email her with your snail mail address to claim your prize.

Good Things Also Come in Moderately-Sized Packages

They're here! They're here, they're here, they're here. My author copies arrived.

The last few weeks have been agonizing. Knowing they're coming soon, but finding my porch empty night after night. Then I went out of town. Of course they would arrive while I was gone!

Fortunately, they came the day I was driving back, so I only had to wait a few hours to hold my baby in my hand.

Everyone has asked how it was. The answer... weird. I'd nearly worked myself into tears before they arrived, imagining how amazing it would be to hold one for the first time. As I sliced into the tape and pulled out the first copy, it was just kind of surreal. Maybe I got all my excitement out of the way when DB called to say it arrived and I shrieked so loudly, I deafened him, Angel and PM.

When I finally picked it up, there was just a weird curiosity. What blurb did they pick out of the book? Who's advertised in the back? Did my dedication come out right? Does my Dear Reader letter still sound as cool as it did when I wrote it? Flipping through it and noticing how small the margins are... I think it may still be sinking in, days later. I sent a tweet to my editor that said having it in my hand meant Harlequin couldn't change their minds, now. She laughed and told me there was no way they'd change their mind. But a part of me had really held back some of the thrill of selling until now.

It's real. Really real. And it's awesome.

Since everyone got their whine on yesterday, let's swing to the other end of the spectrum. March is here, spring is on it's way. What are you looking forward to? I can't wait for my release day and getting to see my next cover for my July book, More Than He Expected.

SP

Running Away From Home

I travel a lot. I used to travel a good bit with my day job, but fortunately, that's no longer the case. I occasionally go somewhere for training or a conference, but that's about it. Now, most of my travel is still for 'work' but it's for my second job - writing. If I'm getting on a plane, odds are, I'm traveling to a writing conference or promotional event. Research and plotting trips. I do try to cram in some vacation with the business, especially when we go someplace I've never been, like San Francisco. But usually, its me running at top speed the entire time, then coming home, exhausted, just in time to go back to the day job.

But every now and then... I get a pure vacation. Sleeping late. Hot tubs. Shopping. Alcohol. Good food. Good friends. Laughter. I treasure these trips. Like I said, I don't get them very often. And even though I'm traveling with the same people I usually travel with (the Playfriends, duh) it's a completely different kind of trip. We trade the heels and ball gowns for Uggs and yoga pants. Forego the flat iron and depend on the messy ponytail. It's the ultimate down time. And boy do we need it. We are some overworked chickies of late. If its not day jobs, its writing pressures or family drama or medical problems. We need a break!

And yet, we can never truly get away from writing because it's what we all love. We'll all take our laptops and notebooks to work as needed. I, for example, have a deadline, so I'll try to get some writing done while we're gone. Once we jump in the hot tub, our creative juices will inevitably start flowing and a book or two will get plotted. Sitting on the deck with hot tea and snuggly blankets, plots problems will be corrected and characterization will be fleshed out. That's the beauty of being friends with fellow writers.

And the best part of this trip? We're there now! Thank goodness! What's your favorite kind of vacation to take?
SP

Great News!

So many exciting things have been happening around Casa SP lately. I've saved them all up to share all at once.

First, I found out that my book, WHAT LIES BENEATH got an incredible review from Romantic Times Magazine. I got 4 1/2 stars and a Top Pick! On my first book. That's just nuts. Here's some of what the reviewer had to say... "Laurence hits all the high points in her debut - romance, intrigue, evolution, passion and discover - and elevates them to new heights... She could easily become a fan favorite." It's kinda weird to have myself referred to by my last name. But they're saying great things, so I'll get over it.

Then, my editor contracted with me for the first two books of my new 4 book series for Desire. The mini-series will be getting a name, I'm not sure what, yet, but the first book will be out in January 2013. And I'm super duper thrilled to say that the second book in the series will feature a tortured, virgin hero! Everyone, including my agent, thought for sure they'd want me to take that out, but my editor actually said she loved Brody and that my "virgin hero won her over." Huzzah! I'm so excited.

Next, I got my nifty new trading cards. They're super cool. If you'd like one, email me your snail mail info to: author (at) andrealaurence (d0t) com. Please let me know if I can add your information to my new newsletter mailing list as well. I like to crack twenty people. :)

I was hoping that I would also get to say that I got my books. Instigator got her April books last week, but so far, no luck for me. :( In the meantime, I'm stalking the UPS man.

So many exciting things going on! And its only February. So far, its turning out to be a pretty great year. :) How's your year going so far? Anything exciting?

SP

Oops

I had gotten it in my head that today was Free Book Friday so I didn't plan a blog. Then I looked at the calendar (too late) and figured out that was next week. The problem? It's 5am, I have today off and I'm typing this from my computer in bed.

My company has recently started letting our program work a 9/80 schedule where you work an extra hour most days and you get a Friday off every other week. Today is my day. It's the second so far. The first week I went to the dry cleaner and the post office because I could. My local PO keeps the same work hours I do, in case you're wondering why it takes me so long to ship prizes.

Today, I think I'll check my PO box for junk mail (the only kind I get), catch up on laundry and dishes, and write a synopsis. Fun stuff, eh?

What would you do with an extra day off each week?

SP

Bucket List Failures

No, I'm not dead. The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated and my bucket list is still alive and kicking, thank you. Unfortunately, there are a few things on the list that I'm not fully in control of. You think you have time, you pass up on opportunities you should sieze because of money or schedules or whatever. Then, you realize years later that was YOUR CHANCE and you let it go by.

That makes me absolutely crazy. I'm a list maker anyway, so having a bucket list really appealed to me. It gave me a chance to really think about and list all the things I want to do before I die. I get immense pleasure from checking off items. Knowing there are items I can never check off makes my completion-driven heart die a little bit. Swim with dolphins? Check! Take a cruise? Check! See R.E.M. in concert... hmm...

It seems that if you're going to include an item like that on your bucket list, you need to account for the fact that said group is aging like you are. And they may not want to tour with their wheelchairs and oxygen tanks. Not that R.E.M. is that old. But apparently they have a bucket list of their own that includes something other than music and they've decided to break up and focus on, instead.

Crap. Crap. Crap. R.E.M. was my first CD when I as ten. When I finally got a CD player six months later, I nearly exploded finally getting to listen to Out of Time. Since then, I've acquired about five other CDs of theirs. But never managed to see the show. When I was in high school - no money. Then I moved and they never came close enough to make it convenient. Would it really have killed me to drive over to Atlanta? But it was a Wednesday night show, I'd miss work, blah, blah. I always had time to see them later. Until I didn't.

You'd think I would've learned from the Simon & Garfunkel tour. They weren't on my bucket list because they swore they'd never tour again, but then, magically - 5 shows. One in Atlanta. Tickets were upward of $300-$500. I passed it up. Stupid. It was Simon & Garfunkel! They hate each other and will probably never ever do it again. There goes that chance.

I can only hope that in a few years, R.E.M. will get nostalgic or need money and will put together some kind of reunion tour like the Eagles or the Stones. Until then, I'll have this glaring failure on my list. Do you have a bucket list? Are there any items on there that you'll probably never be able to do through no fault of your own?
SP

Cover Love

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Free Book Friday to show you my new cover! I'm in LOVE.

WHAT LIES BENEATH
April 2012, Harlequin Desire #2152

She’s Awake. So Why Can’t She Remember?

They say she’s Cynthia Dempsey, fiancée of media mogul Will Taylor. But try as she might, she can’t recall their high-society life or the man sitting by her hospital bed. Though her body certainly remembers him. Even as she senses the distance between them, the electricity when they touch is undeniable.

Will can hardly believe Cynthia’s transformation. Gone is the ice queen who betrayed him, and in her place is a woman who seems genuine and warm. But can he risk his heart again, not knowing what might happen when her memory returns?