Heart of American ~ 5

Rae,

 Hugs.  Sounded like after a week like last week you needed them!  Big hugs.  Hope you exhusband found the card.  And more hugs on your son.  Lots of them.

 Hall 

Jennifer,

 Thanks!  Hoping you get jobs on your list crossed off quickly today!

 Holly 

This loop explodes! Now we're in new digs again. Wow! New York was fabulous and so was the PASIC conference. That said, it's great to be home again.

Jennifer F- Hope your f-i-l is better now. Yes, I saw three shows!! The 39 Steps, a comedy of the Alfred Hitchcock movie (not very good), Billy Elliott (fabulous), and my favorite, Impressionism, starring Jeremy Irons, Joan Allen, Marcha Mason and Michael Weis (former star of the Pretender). It was wonderful!

Lisa62- I'm glad you're enjoying (enjoyed?) Ooh, Baby!.

Holly- I knew about your m-i-l, but not your own mom. I'm so sorry. 

Rae- I hope your life has calmed down now. Actually, sounds as if it has. Let's hope things stay calm for awhile.

Sandy- Anderson, which delivers books to many outlets, closed its doors and really screwed up distribution. Hopefully, soon you'll be able to find those books you love.

I found everyone! Monday here, which meant back to school where no one wanted to work. We're expecting rain tomorrow which may at least get everyone refocused as spring is definitely here and crazy.

Working on revisions and found out I was in the local paper Washington Missourian, which was good. Of course there were only 2 of my Americans left in Washington MO Wal-Mart, so we'll see if those are now sold. I got a bunch of bookmarks from Harlequin so I went and stuffed those in all the Americans at Borders and at Wal-Mart. They are cute little things.

Hang in there Rae.

BTW, Lisa Child's Noctures are really good. She also writes for them as well as American.

Ann, glad you had a good time. Saw my favorite editor was in some of Kate's pictures. LOL.

Also, anyone twittering, I'm at www.twitter.com/micheledunaway if you want to follow me.

Michele

What am I reading? Hmm... let me grab it so I get the title right. 'Mommy For A Minute' by Judy Christenberry. It's an older HAR. I embarrassed to say that I've got tons of books in my TBR piles/boxes. So I've been reading a new one and then a couple older ones, hoping to shrink my huge backlog of books this year.

Holly, thanks. I made a small dent in my list of things to do yesterday but now that I'm starting to walk every day I've got to rearrange everything around that. Loved getting out in the sunshine but I have to say that the air was still really chilly. I don't think it made it past forty-eight yesterday but the sunshine was way too tempting to stay inside.

Ann, FIL is on the mend and for a while we had problems getting him to settle down enough for his body to heal but now he's good to go. *G* Glad you were able to catch some shows while you were in NYC.

Michele, congrats on making the paper!

Holly- Regarding the PASIC conference, I absorbed tons and tons of info! Book sales are down (we all know that!) but even so, industry professionals are bullish on book sales--especially romance, which unlike many other genres, continues to do well. Yay!

Most often repeated advice (again, which we all know)- Write the best book you can and turn it in on time. You'd be suprised at how many authors are late.

Michele- That break sped by, huh?

Jennifer S- Enjoy all those parties.

Good-to-hear-from-everyone....Anne-I'll-try-to-remember-to-turn-in-a-book-quickly.

Rae,good-to-hear-that-life-is-returning-to-normal-in-your-area..

Everyone,check-out-my-blog-on-this-site.My-last-three-entries-have-photos-from-last

fall.One-is-from-Halloween.The-last-two-concern-the-celebration-of-the-local-symphony's

80th-anniversary.I-am-in-two-of-the-photos-which-you-can-see-the-contrast.LOL!

Aurelene

Wow, Lisa.  You have my sympathies.  My SIL and her husband decided a few years to stop inviting all the family except the grandparents to any of their children's b'day parties.  They try to make it sound like they did it because they want to it keep things simple.  As if.  Her husband is an only child so they're not excluding any of his family, just hers.  She has four brothers, including my husband, and they make waaaayyy more money than the rest of us.  I'll say no more because you really don't want to get me started, but it totally irks me. 

So thanks for the tips on ordering online.  Sounds much simplier than driving from store to store.  I will definitely look into it.

Sandy

Jennifer F- That's good news about your f-i-l. Like you, I have a ton of books in my TBR, too! Right now, though, I'm reading an excellent library book, which I'm going to buy because it's so good (so far anyway), called, Creating Character Emotions (by Ann Hood). I'm only 1/10 of the way through it, but so far, I'm impressed.

Rae- So glad your week is drama free.

Aurelene- I popped over and saw that photo of you in the wig and nurse's cap. Too cute!

Lisa62- Glad you enjoyed Ooh, Baby!. I really enjoyed writing it. Oh, gosh... the babty! How are the new mama and daddy doing? The wedding plans sound stressful! Too bad the witnesses can't be there when the actual documents are signed instead... (I'm thinking of Jewish weddings, when the bride, groom, rabbi and witnesses watch as the couple sign the ketubbah, the marriage certificate. This is a private, and very joyous affair either before or after the wedding ceremony.) Whatever happens, good luck.

Holly- Good for you with your punctuality! I'm the same-- I generally turn in the book before the due date. (My mom taught me to always get it done early so if something comes up, it's ready to go no matter what.) You're lucky to have your close friend traveling with you.

Ann, My need to be on time--or early--is almost a sickness! LOL  And yes, it's lovely having a writing friend in town.  Susan and I travel together a lot.  We're lucky that this year's RWA is in DC...we can drive to that!

 Thanks, Penn!

Holly 

Two Harlequin American authors are RITA finalists! Congratulations to Linda Warren and Cindi Myers. I want them both to win!!

Holly - Like you, I'm punctual. Getting worse as I age. My dad is the same way, and it drives Mom nuts.

Enjoy the day, everyone!

Was thrilled to read that HAR took two RITA nominations!!! That's wonderful! I've read both books and enjoyed them both immensely. Here's hoping HAR takes the RITA award. *G*

My kids get out early April 3rd and then don't go back until the Tuesday after Easter.  Unfortunately I get no days off for Easter.  Which is kind of weird given I work in state office and it's kind of local joke around here that if it's smells like a holiday we get the day off.  I got both President's Days off, I got Election Day off last year, Veteran's Day, Columbus Day and so on, but nothing for Easter???  Makes no sense.  I suppose I shouldn't complain.  We do get a lot of holidays off, but I would have liked to do something with my kids while they're home for Spring break.

On the bright side we're going to the Zoo in St Louis the weekend before, that is if doesn't rain.   So does anyone have any special plans for spring break/Easter they'd like to share?

Sandy

runs in shaking icy rain off

I can't belive this weather! Warm 60-70's one day and supposed to get snow the next! Argghhh It's feezing here.

Thanks for the support gang. It is tough but we'll get through it. I spoke to sis and she is being understanding about it. She doesn't know yet that my brother will be here for it though. I think that will be the straw. I pointed out that none of dhs family will be ther, though I don't think it really helped. But, they are having the reception for everyone to go to, so...

Sandy- sympathies for your family too.

Yay Holly on the traveling Bud! How fun.

Yay Rita finalists!!! You represent all of us and make us so proud!

Not getting to go to DC, but hope all who do has a blast.

sounds like the ice just hit. not supposed to til Friday/Saturday!

I can't remember more. Hugs and high 5's all around. Good luck on the writing.

I didn't get any writing in these last two days because 1) dh was off and 2) I was finishing a crit and got it returned today, so I can focus on my h/H today. So I'm hoping to get some real work in today. I put in for a local cp to brainstorm with and one of my local girls replied so we will start meeting 1-2 times a month soon. I'm hoping that will help me and her both! Online cps are fantastic, but sometimes you just need a personal contact to give/get encouragement.

We're supposed to get snow later tonight. The weather in St. Louis is always so crazy. I finally read Janet Evanovich's Plum Spooky. I also saw the new HARs including mine in the library, and that's always fun.

I am working on revisions, but at the same time, trying to simply relax this gloomy gray weekend.

I'm also thrilled for our RITA finalists. I also explained to my new editor that I never enter so she wasn't wondering.

Michele

into Saturday. Temps dropped to high 20's Saturday morning, and by Saturday night, though it was good snowman powder, it was gone-- and today is up in the 50-60's! Sunny, NO WIND, and beautiful out (so why am I inside? I'll tell you in a minute)

Yay on chopping words and wood. And on the writing- Hall. I used to enjoy chopping firewood- when we had a fireplace that is.

Holly- would you mind if I email you?

Great that you got to read, Michele. I finished Ann's book last week then buckled dow to writing before I even think about reading more wonderful stuff by anyone. Why don't you ever enter the Rita?

I have a dilemma. Two or three, maybe even. The good news is that over the past two days I managed over 10,000 words on the ms! And, I am a mere chapter-ish from completion with just 12-17,700 words away. The problem(s) is that I still haven't even gotten to my heroine's main conflict resolution and the whole story is (by necessity) featured in one week so far. Her issue falls out another two weeks from that point and I can 'skip to it' easily, and as planned. BUT- I don't think it will work out in one or less chapters and still fit in the HEA. <sighing hugely at this point> But, luckily, this is still the first rough draft so I know it's do-able in the following weeks of edits. See? Problem solved--in theory.

This is my first 'targeted' American, so I'm wroking very hard to keep it tight and flowing through all the conflicts, but I think I may need to get a better grip on Hero's conflict. It's there and strong, but I feel it's a little straggled in places. Heroine's is, too, and I know what to do about hers, though it will take more work than his will. I want to add expand more on the external conflict and deeped it throughout, so that may call for a major edit session to get it in and work with it a little longer, plot-wise, than it is now.

I'm hoping to have it polished and ready to go by August 1, so when would be the best time to Q&S?

Lisa,

Yes, you may email me!  As for your questions, I've switched over to using computer word count.  So far, it's worked just fine.  So, i don't worry about page counts so much any more.  My chapters tend to come in around twenty pages, which gives me about ten chaps for an American and about twelve for a Super.  I emphasize the ABOUT because I don't sweat it. 

Hoping everyone has a great Monday...we all know I love them!  Today's going to be busier than most Mondays...my 5yo niece is coming to spend the day with me.  I think we're going to bake!

Holly 

Oh, Ann, what a fun weekend for you all!

Holly 

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to be like Holly and embrace Monday, although it's a bit tough today since this is my first day back after a week off! Anyway, I thought I'd pop in and say hello, and also address Lisa's questions. Though I'm really just repeating what Ann and Holly already said--don't sweat the formatting stuff too much. Our word count is 55-60k words by computer count. Chapter length can vary--there's no hard rule on that. Although, you might want to try to keep the chapter lengths even (i.e., avoid having one chapter at three pages and the next at thirty). And, Lisa, I think you can skip the query stage and just go ahead and send in a partial (synopsis and first three chapters). Mention I said so, if you want!

I hope that helps!

I'd also like to give a big Woot! to our two RITA finalists, Linda and Cindi! What fantastic news to come back to!  (We need a partying emoticon!)

Have a great week, all!

Johanna~ Associate Editor~ American Romance

Johanna! I appreciate all the help I can get as this will be my first American submission and I'm very excited about it. I knew your name was familiar, and then I read your sig line and it clicked (I think). I was able to listen to the American podcast last year, I believe your were on it? (sorry if I have that wrong) I'm still learning names, and sooo much about this genre, and I love to read these books. I will keep in mind to mention you offered this advice. Thanks for that. I hope to sub it by, or before, August. If you don't mind my asking, should I send it to anyone in particular then? And welcome back to work.

Thanks so much again Holly! You're a true gem! Haven't emailed you yet. Dh decided I needed to take dgd to fun park, where her soon-to-be uncle is GM, and let her play for a while with her mommy. Lol So I stopped and picked up his baby and fiance, my dd, to go along. Unfortunately- he was in meetings the whole time we were there. 

As Monday wasn't so happy. We woke up in the dark to find we had no power/heat. Brrr... Seems a nearby transformer blew during the high winds and sleet, caught the pole on fire, and brought down some lines. Took three crews a few hours to cut down the part of the pole that was still on fire and get everything functioning again. Until then it was cold going. Today we have heat/power and I'm enjoying a nice hot cup of tea as I write this. *G*

Ann, congrats on the upcoming wedding. You'll have so much fun with it. Maybe there'll be a story in there somewhere for you. *G*

Lisa62, so glad to hear your ms is moving along for you. Good luck getting those last few pages completed.

Johanna, great seeing you here. Hope you had a wonderful week off. And I agree, having two HAR RITA finalists is wonderful!!! I read both books and really enjoyed them.

Holly, so glad you had a great time making bread with your niece. Those moments go by so quickly.

Okay, I'm off. Decided to enter a contest and see what feedback I get on my revised first chapter. *G* So I suppose I should reread it for the millionth time. LOL. Then I'll have to hit the send button. I love these contests where you can do everything from registering to paying from your laptop. This is so my style.

Happy writing,

Jennifer

I-heard-on-the-news-that-there-is-a-computer-virus-that-leaks-in-through-a-weakness

in-Windows.Its-set-to-start-on-April_1st.What-affect-will-that-have-on-the-message-boards?

Aurelene