Hot-lanta Rocks

Okay, so...

I had a great time in ATL at the RWA National Conference.

My GA didn't attend, but I had fun hanging out with a wonderful colleague of his. So cool to be in the presence of someone who knows good food when she sees it -- and can call a crap steak a crap steak. Ha. Anyone who hires her is very, very lucky.

So many friends and parties and dinners and workshops my head was spinning. Will blog more about all the happenings soon. Hopefully will have some pictures to post.

Thanks again to my peeps (in Seattle, the Eastside, Chicago North and the Chicks from everywhere) for all the love and support. You guys rock!

I'm Like a Bird

One last post before I fly out the door to begin my RWA adventure.

It's screaming hot again in the Northwest and I broiled in the sun all day at my lake job. Exciting moment of the day?? Evicting a baby bat from the store. What is it with me and wildlife relocation?

Anyway, as I pack, I'm shaking off my country girl personna and cultivating my inner diva. Seven pairs of pants? More, I say! Four pairs of heels? What's one more snuck into the suitcase? Make-up? Bring it all.

The RWA conference is the great unknown, after all. You don't know what will happen -- only that on Saturday night, the Golden Heart Winners will be crowned and the suspense that's dogged me since April will be let loose. It's weird to be going there a double finalist -- maybe it's more pressure... But, on the other hand, it's a really nice "right on" from the universe, telling me I'm making headway in a tough profession.

I'll be sure to post all the gory (or glorious) details when I return. Until then, write damn it!

The Chainsaws are not in my brain, Thank God!

It's in the high 90's in the Northwest -- and up here in the hills, it seems even hotter. I'm sitting in my office with the cheapo version of an air conditioner (bowl of ice poised in front of drugstore fan) which leaves a lot to be desired.

Thankfully, and I hope it's not just a fake-out respite, the neighbor has stopped chainsawing whatever he was chainsawing in his driveway. Oh, happy day. For a moment there with the heat, I was beginning to wonder if it would ever end, or if it was all in my head.

So, I'm working again. It felt awkward this last week to force myself into the chair in which I'd written so many pages of words, and find it uncomfortable. But I guess that's what a month away can do; the body becomes unfamiliar with the contours of the chair, the fingers and wrists a little creaky on the keyboard.

And the familiar thoughts when beginning a new work surface like silvery fry, waiting to be fed. Can I do it again? When will I feel the magic? When will I hit the groove and get that confidence in my story? It's scary. But the scariness is what makes it work. What makes it something not everyone who wants to do it can do.

So, I cracked open a fresh goals/page journal this afternoon, dutifully recorded the week's word count (embarrassingly low, so I won't post yet) and I'm back to working on the character sketches, the goal, motivations, & conflicts (which, by my mentioning is totally not an excuse for me to grab Deb Dixon's book off the shelf and re-read as a diversion).

I'm excited about re-energizing myself next week at the conference, but I also know that writing energy has to come from myself as well. It's me who's at the desk alone each night, creating life from thoughts. So, I'll do a few push-ups, make a coffee, answer my emails, put on sparkly eye shadow if I feel like it, crank up the music, and write into the void. The only way to make it work is to write through the fear. This I know for sure.

Secret Squirrel

I can't believe I got paid to relocate a squirrel.

I'm totally not kidding.

My summer job is at a lake not far from town, where we had a slight squirrel problem. Every night (and sometimes during the day) this squirrel was breaking in to eat M&M's (peanut, of course) and the occasional regular candy bar.

So, the company set a humane trap, baited with candy. SNAPPO! He set it off within five hours.

My boss told me to drive the squirrel into the woods to release it. And so, there I was, with my trusty partner, in the company truck, motoring down the road to induct our passenger into the Squirrel Relocation Program.

We stopped a few miles down the road, just across from a creek. Then we lifted the cage into the brush, away from the pavement and opened the door. He jetted out of there, into the nearest tree. My partner and I debated about whether or not to leave him some candy, you know, to wean himself from his addiction. So, we ended up unwrapping some of his favorite bait and pitching it toward his new tree house.

And all the while we were thinking, I hope he doesn't have a family left behind...

So Many Events, So Little...

I had a fabulous time at Jane Porter's book signing last Wednesday. She did all the right things:

Adorable author -- Check
Cute scene read alout -- Check
Free Mai Tais at after-party -- Check

I can't wait to start Jane's FLIRTING WITH FORTY -- ironically about a divorced woman who finds love again. I love it. And anyone who holds a luau in Bellevue, Washington is tops on my list.

So what else is up?

Got a fab haircut in preparation for my trip to the Romance Writers of America conference. Bought a pair of tiny-sized jeans. (Yep. They're tiny.)

Put on my high heels and wobbled down to see my G.A., who was everything I'd expected and more. Didn't fall on my butt, but I did order a cappuccino waaay past noon. Tragic mistake of a country girl, I guess. :)

Met my Grandma's fiancee. Yep, my Gram is getting hitched next month. Patted my sister-in-law's baby-belly -- the baby is due while I'm out of town, of course.

Ate lots of fresh cherries and raspberries. Looked at a beautiful lake. On my way to work I had to stop for a herd of elk crossing the road.

Life is sweet and bitter at the same time. I guess it's all in what you focus on.

Hugs.

Book Party

Super excited that tomorrow I'm attending Jane Porter's FLIRTING WITH FORTY book signing and release party in Bellevue. Jane is super sweet -- and really talented. She was the very first category author I ever read, and now she is a Warner author writing chick lit-flavored single titles. Will post more details about the fabulous Miss Jane after the soiree.

Have a great week!

New Office

I'm totally excited about my new office. Not that I'm completely into Feng Shui or anything, but my desk lies in the direction of creativity and children. Talk about perfect for a YA writer.

I put my book collection in the closet, on these great built-in shelves. My reference books ended up on top of my desk bookended by these amazing carved stones my dad sent.

It's going to be a peaceful, thoughtful office. Coolest part of the house. Nice linen color on the walls with white trim. I so deserved this nice of a space years ago. When I look around at the space I've created I think, man, I'm gonna write some great stories in this room.

Hugs!