Thanks! Looking Ahead

What I'm reading: Face of a Killer, by Robin Burcell

First Things First: I want to thank everyone who took time to pop over to the Night Owl Romance "Best of the Best" poll. Hidden Fire is one of the top three in Romantic Suspense. THANKS!!


On to the new year, which mentally starts today for me. Mondays don't mean much when you work at home, but starting a New Year on a Thursday just didn't work. Now that it's Monday, the routine is back; hubby goes to work, stores are open, school is back in session (not necessarily a good thing when you're stuck in traffic behind moms and dads jockeying around the traffic pattern to drop off kids).

Resolutions? Not for me, although I do resolve, for what little good it will do, NOT to get upset at the $4800 hospital bill we got on Saturday because hubby's employer canceled our medical insurance 6 weeks early. He has to iron that one out, and until he does, I will make a concerted effort not to turn to the chocolate.

I submitted a short story to Cerridwen Press yesterday for consideration in their upcoming "Free Reads" program. It's another Randy & Sarah story. We'll see if my editor approves it.

And today, I sever the last tie to my former day job when I turn over the keys to the storage locker.

Tomorrow I'm turning this space over to Teresa Reasor and her fascinating hobby. Please come back and join her.

I am within 2500 words of my goal for cutting Fozzie's book at which point I suppose I'll need a title! I really, really hate coming up with titles. In my computer files, it's still "Fozzie's Book". However, I got a great idea for a totally different title this morning when I called one of my detective contacts, Mark Hussey, to ask a couple of questions about terminology. He answered the phone, "Homicide. Hussey." Can't you just see it? Homicide Hussey. What a great title. Now, all I'd have to do is write the book! Meanwhile, I'm fumbling for something clever and evocative for Fozzie's book. And, more good news. Detective Hussey has written down accounts of a lot of his adventures during his police career, and he's giving me permission to share some of them. I don't have a set schedule for these, so you'll just have to check back regularly.
(Hint -- you can sign up to follow this blog)

Headed out west

Since I've been dealing with a couple of rejections, today's quote seemed appropriate.

First, be ever mindful that it's a privilege rather than a God-given right to be able to write for a living; that the opportunities are few, though sought after by many; and thus, that it's healthiest to view the years of rejection as a crude winnowing process in which those left standing are those who have endured because they must write. Second, rejection is never, ever to be taken personally or doomfully. All that counts is improving your craft.
~Robert Draper

I'm off for 5 days out west to visit family, enjoy a change of scenery and climate, and do some vegging.

I'm not sure how much I'll be able to post on my blog, but while I'm gone you can occupy yourself by reading the first chapter of When Danger Calls, which I've just posted on my website. If you enjoy it, it's available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Links are on my site as well.

AND … if you're in a generous mood and haven't already done so, a few more votes for Hidden Fire at Night Owl Reviews (link at the right) – then scroll way down to Romantic Suspense --- would be appreciated. It's one vote per person, so if you've already voted – Thanks!

Today's Gratitude List:

1. My faithful blog followers

2. Pre-printed boarding passes and on-line baggage checking

3. Time with distant family

Another Kind of Time Management

What I've been reading: Body Moves, by Jodi Lynn Copeland, Full Moon Rising, by Keri Arthur, Cupid's Web, by Carolyn Hughey

What I'm writing: Chapter 29

First: Some News

My last Cerridwen Press release, Hidden Fire, is nominated for A Night Owl Romance Award in Suspense/Mystery.

If you care to vote, you can go to this site, then scroll way the heck down to Suspense/Mystery in the center column, and hunt for Hidden Fire. There's also a link in the icon in the right-hand column of this blog. I can't promise to do anything about the economy or global warming if you vote for me, but just having a few votes on a ballot that contains some very big-name writers would be cool.

Moving along:

Today, I plan to hunker down and write. Yesterday was very productive, although I find myself in a too familiar dilemma -- handling time. My hero and heroine are apart now, and "real" time happens for both of them. However, on the page, a scene will cover a certain amount of time for one character, but the other character is obviously also moving forward in time as well. I find it a challenge to keep things clear for the reader so they can tell they've backed up in time at a scene break to 'catch up' with what the other character was doing. I definitely don't like using anything intrusive, such as, "While Fozzie was trying to escape, Torie had been busy confronting her grandfather." I also don't like putting little date/time stamps at the beginning of scenes (or I'd have to do it from the very beginning).

What about you? Have you noticed any clever ways authors can seamlessly move you back in time?