A dual purpose post...

First, I’m going to interrupt the advice we are dishing at the moment and brag. And Squee. And lead the Happy Dance Conga Line around the swingset.

I’M A MAGGIE FINALIST!!!!!

If the Ritas are the Oscars of the Romance world, then the Maggies are up there with the Golden Globes. It’s a big deal to final. And I’m just tickled pink to be able to say that The Secret Mistress Arrangement is a finalist in the Short Contemporary category.

TSMA was my first book, and therefore it will always be very special to me. The fact it’s now a finalist in the NCRA and the Maggie just makes me love it all the more.

And, again, Anonymous Blogger Who Called It Lame: pppppbbbbbbbbtttttt.


So I’ll be headed to Georgia in October for the award ceremony.
I’ve never been to the GRW Moonlight and Magnolia conference before, but this seems like an awesome year to attend.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Now, for those of you who tuned in for nuggets of conference wisdom, I’ll get on with it.

1) Realize that you cannot do it all. You can’t attend every interesting workshop, hit every book signing or party, or meet every online friend for a drink. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day for that. Accept it, do the best you can with your schedule, and then give yourself a break about it. Not only will you burn yourself out, you’ll ruin your overall conference experience. And remember, things are going to pop up and your carefully constructed schedule might need to go out the window. That’s okay too. Enjoy it.

2) When you’re in the elevator (or anywhere) with someone you recognize – a favorite author, a blogger you read, a reviewer for a site you trust – speak up. No author I can think of ever gets tired of hearing someone liked their book. Bloggers and reviewers like to know someone is reading what they put out there. I’m still constantly amazed that anyone has heard of me – much less likes my books – so in my case, you’ll make my day (and possibly be my new best friend).

And for our Honorary Playfriends who will be attending --- please come say Hi. We love to meet you. Kira and I will be at the big book signing and Kira, SP, and I are also doing workshops (our workshops are also a great place to find the other Playfriends, too, as they show up for moral support). Don’t be shy – even if you are. We’re safe and friendly.

Now, back to the Conga Line...

PC

Being The Author

Monday night, I went out as an Author. I know, I’m an author every day, but in my world, being an author involves tattered sweatpants and much swearing at a computer screen because I’m sure I’m a talentless hack whose career will be over if I can’t get those two to a HEA. It ain’t glamorous, that’s for sure.

But a local book club chose The Secret Mistress Arrangement as their book this month and invited me to their meeting. I was The Author—the guest of honor. I’d heard of such things happening, but hadn’t really counted on it happening to me any time soon.

Bear with me for a minute – you have to understand that life on the Playground is a little surreal at times (in many ways, yes, but stay on this track with me). Pretty much everyone I know writes books. Many of them have written way more and far better books. So, saying “I’m a writer” has about as much punch as saying “I breathe air.” Finishing a book is always met with a cheer around here, but there’s always the undertone of “Thank dog, if you’d whined about that winery one more time we were going to string you up by your toenails.” The Playfriends are pleased and proud, but they’re not terribly impressed by it. After all, it’s what we do. (It’s a tough crowd on the Playground!)

Even the friends I have who don’t write aren’t terribly impressed any more. It’s cool and all, but I’m still just plain ol’ me and now writing is just my job. The “Wow-how-nifty” factor wore off about the time I posted my fifth cover on Facebook.

I’ve lived in this world for so long, I’ve kind of forgotten that not everyone on earth knows a writer and has them on speed dial. And let’s not forget how low on the totem pole I am – why on earth would anyone want to meet ME? (I’m still reeling from the fact people sat with me at the Readers’ Luncheon on purpose –not just because they were overflow from Rhonda Nelson’s table.) I’m not that interesting, I tend to obsess a lot over small things, and I’m known to stick my foot in my mouth without even trying.

But the book club wanted The Author, so I put on pretty shoes and went to the book club meeting.

And I had a blast.

It’s amazing how much I learned about my own book – what their expectations were, what they were hoping I’d deliver, questions they had about the characters. (Like why my heroine broke up with her last boyfriend – I had to admit that honestly, I didn’t know. Hadn’t thought about it. Unfortunately, I also found out my heroine’s last boyfriend has the same name as a character in my 3^rd book. I really need to get to work on that spreadsheet I mentioned yesterday. And get a baby name book…)

Most of the group was new to romance, but they were enthusiastic and so much fun to talk to. And I guess I wasn’t too boring or too much of a dork because they’ve invited me back. The food was so good, and the conversation so great, I’m definitely in.

While everyone thanked me for coming and really made me feel like they’d enjoyed meeting “The Author,” I’m the one thanking them. Suddenly, all that time I spent staring at the screen and cursing became very worth it. These ladies enjoyed my book. I made them happy.

That’s awesome.

I love this gig.

Would you want the author of the book at your book club meeting? Would you feel you had to act differently because she was there?

The Perils of Pantsers

If you’re not a writer, you may not be familiar with the terms “Plotter” and “Pantser.” Plotters, um… actually plot their books before they write them. They know what’s going to happen in chapter eight before they get there. Pantsers, though, fly by the seat of their pants. Pantsers start writing and see what happens. It’s an adventure! Who knows what will happen? The possibilities are wide open! Chapter eight? I'll worry about chapter eight once I finish chapter seven.

For me, every book is like a college road trip with a group of friends. I know I'm leaving campus and heading for Graceland. I have a general map – I know which direction I need to go at least – and I’m pretty sure I want to See Rock City, stop at the outlet mall in Nashville, and do some bar-hopping on Beale Street on the way. (That’s the synopsis I turn in to my editor.) But when I see that sign for the Giant Ball of String or The World’s Biggest Sweet Potato, I turn because it sounds like it might be fun. I figure I'll get to Graceland eventually.

And because I’m with friends, I enjoy the ride. Except when I don’t. Someone is going to keep changing the music to a crappy station and then sing along off-key. Someone else is going to conveniently “forget” their wallet and never chip in for gas. No one wants to take a turn riding in the middle of the back seat. After a while, I’m wondering why I ever thought I liked these people in the first place and contemplating ditching them at the next rest area (where, if I’m really lucky, a serial killer will find them).

Know what I mean?

Now, when I get stuck, I’m stuck. That general road map is kinda helpful – I know I’m at Rock City, and the next stop is Nashville, but I don’t know how to get back to the interstate. And it’s not like I can skip ahead and write that great scene that takes place on Beale Street. I don’t know what happens between here and there, so there’s a good chance that conversation won’t work by the time I catch up. Maybe my characters will have already had that moment by then – in a rest area on the side of I-24. And, of course, there’s an equally good chance they won’t make it to Beale Street at all. Hell, they might not make it to Nashville.

Another problem with Pantsers (or at least this Pantser) is that we end up writing ourselves into scenes we don’t have any research on. All of a sudden, my characters are pulling into the parking lot at the World’s Biggest Sweet Potato, and I don’t know how big the sweet potato is, who grew it, who decided it was the World’s Biggest, what purpose it serves in the tourist industry of the surrounding area, or even how much it costs to get in to see it. (In particularly exciting circumstances, I’m not even sure exactly where they are or what I hope to accomplish with this little side trip.) Everything has to come to a grinding halt while I frantically start Googling “giant sweet potatoes.” And, should I happen to find the email address of the country’s leading expert on exceptionally large yams, he’s always out of the office until Monday.

What? I’m supposed to just leave my hero and heroine in the Sweet Potato parking lot for a couple of days? Um, I’m on a deadline, people.

But Pantsing through a book has its charms, too. Because I don’t have everything plotted out, I never get bored of the story or feel it’s getting predictable. Because I don’t have a plan set in stone, I’m fine with adding interesting details and side trips and just weaving them into the book as I go along. So my characters stop at the Giant Sweet Potato. The heroine has a soft spot in her heart for sweet potatoes because her mother used to make them for her. (Go back and stick that in chapter 2). But her mother is dead now (quick trip back to chapter one), so this is an emotional and healing moment for her. Later, in chapter twelve, when I need the hero to make a grand romantic gesture, he’ll cook her a sweet potato casserole from his mother’s recipe. Ooh, when he asks his mother for the recipe, they are able to break down that estrangement barrier that I will go back right now and add in chapter five, and then reconcile in a way that makes him realize he’s not his father – run back to chapter three -- and can therefore commit to the heroine in a satisfying HEA. And they’ll get married at Graceland!

Plotters reading this just dropped dead from a heart attack – and it wasn’t from the butter and marshmallows in the casserole.

Road trip and sweet potato metaphors aside, this is exactly how I write books. Ask the Playfriends – they have to listen to me whine and argue my way through every single book because my people have gone off chasing giant yams and I don’t know how to get them back on the road to Graceland. It’s painful. For everyone. But eventually, it gets the job done.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go research giant balls of string. Ooh, and Elvis impersonators!

Launch Party!

Oooh, I’ve been waiting for this day, and now the giddiness is practically paralyzing me as all I can do is squee at the oddest moments.

THE SECRET MISTRESS ARRANGEMENT is finally on a bookstore shelf near you!

While it’s been exciting to know the book was out in the UK and Australia, NOTHING beats going to your local bookstore and seeing your name on a real book.

I love this book, of course. It’s my first-born. But it seems a few other folks liked it as well, and that is really exciting! Romantic Times gave it 4-stars and said, “This enjoyable tale … treats readers to all the emotions, and all the highs and lows, that love entails." The fab Marilyn Shoemaker of Marilyn’s Romance Reviews made my day when she called it “magnificent” and said I crafted a “beautiful and romantic love story” (and gave me five stars on Amazon!). Then, when I debuted at #9 on the Waldenbooks Bestseller list for my first week, the giddiness knew no bounds at all. (Now it's #8! Squee!)

So let’s launch this baby properly!

And, my overseas friends, we’re launching my second book, THE MILLIONAIRE’S MISBEHAVING MISTRESS, today as well! I’m out in two countries at once.If I were any more excited, I’d have to split into two pieces to hold it. (TMMM will be an October release in the US.)

Cue the cabana boys! Rev up the chocolate fountain and jump right in!I’m giving away copies of both books today (although the winner of THE MILLIONAIRE’S MISBEHAVING MISTRESS will have to wait for a copy until I get my author copies in.)

Grab a drink and cut a rug, then be sure to head over to the Soapbox Queens where I’m reigning as Queen For A Day (and get another chance to win)! (Edited to add -- I'm also up on the I (Heart) Presents blog today. Please stop by!)

SQUEEE!!!

PC

**And in case you haven't ordered your copy already (grin), here are the links: THE SECRET MISTRESS ARRANGEMENT and THE MILLIONAIRE'S MISBEHAVING MISTRESS.