Shameless Promotions!!!

I am happy to announce that my newest short story Fearless Heart will be released for sale on October 22, 2008. I got the inspiration for this story after falling off a horse and earning my first concussion. And since I did it, why could Miranda do it too? Of course the man who picked me off the ground was a cowboy, he wasn't my cowboy, so I had to give her one of those too.

I also received my very first review on this story (stumbled across it actually). The review had an incredibly low score because the reviewer thought the story wasn't long enough to develop plot or characters, but she enjoyed the first part of the story. Well, if your biggest complaint is the story isn't long enough, I'm happy to hear that complaint.

I have to thank my crit partners Stacy, Jane, Marie and Natasha for helping me get this story ready for submittal. And I also have to thank my fabulous editor Stacy Holmes for her patience and hard work in making this story shine. I love you guys so very much, and am proud to call you my friends!

Terror of terrors...

I am supposed to enter a synopsis in a contest, with a deadline of October 1. Ugh! The problem isn't that the synopsis isn't written yet. No, the problem is sheer terror.

What if they totally hate the synopsis? What if they tell me my writing is pure filth? What if I don't win the contest, does that mean I'll never get published?

Now I take a deep breath...in...out...nice and slow. Ahhh, feel bettter? Nope. :)

Seriously, I know the contest is good experience, and I need to get my name out there. Synopsises are necessary to getting published, and writing them is not my strong point. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the comments made by the judges are constructive, to help me strengthen the synopsis.

I'll keep you all posted!

Ready for the weekend...

This week the day job has dragged on, and on, and on...you get the picture. The workload has been light, which I'm not complaining about, but I've had to get creative in finding stuff to keep busy. I attempted to hang pictures in my boss's office only to pull a ligament in my right hand while fighting with a ladder.

Today I thought I could treat myself to a relaxing pedicure and manicure, and my cell phone kept ringing. First it was a manager, then it was a coworker, and then the boss called. So much for a Friday afternoon of relaxation.

Tomorrow I am going to the local RWA chapter meeting for the first time in about 2 years. I'm excited. I can see just from the website how they are working on changing. I think it will be really nice to have a group to participate in here in town. And surprisingly, Las Vegas's RWA chapter isn't as big as I thought it would be. I mean, with 2million people there has to be more than a handful of writers, right?

Have a wonderful weekend. Play hard, sleep long, and enjoy the time away from the day job. I know I will.

The Bell Has Sounded...

And millions of children/youth/adults are groaning. Yes, it is that time of year again. School started this week . And I am one of the many students who
walked back into the classroom this semester...Ok, so it was a cyber
classroom, but darn it I am going back to school. This semester I feel a bit like I'm cheating. My classes are Microsoft Office for Offices and Word Processing 1. Can you get any easier than that? Honestly, if I don't ace these classes, I should lose both my day job and my editing job. (But I won't tell my boss if you don't!)

This week has been a bit off for me. I missed work Monday and most of Wednesday due to nasty migraines (regular and sinus migraines), and it hasn't been pretty. My boss kicked me out of the office Wednesday, so I went home and even took work with me. I sat on my overstuffed comfy couch, turned on the television, had my work on my lap...and I woke up three hours later with the Cartoon Network on. I haven't watch CN for a very very long time, and I have no recollection of how the TV stopped on that particular channel. I think the cat stole the remote while I was sleeping.

How's the writing going for you all? I'm making some progress. I finished two synopsiseseseses (sure that's how you spell it! Don't argue with me, I'll send Her Evilness after you!) for two stories. I, of course, thought they were sheer genius, but then the other princesses did crits and reminded me that I'm delusional, and I need to rewrite/revise both synopsises (yeah, you can spell it like that too in Johannaland) before I even think of submitting them to a publisher.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

I'm very happy to say I've been remissing in posting because I have been busy with writing projects...and work...and life. My hubby and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in January, and I wanted to post then, but time just got away from me. I can't believe we are almost at the end of August already. Classes start Monday for me, as I am still plugging away at duel degrees. I know I've got a ton of classes left before I actually achieve those degrees, but at least I'm working on them. :) If I had listened to my parents in 1995 and stayed in school I would already have graduated and would probably be working on my Masters now. Ah well, you live and learn, right?

So, in my writing life, I've just finished edits on two short stories for The Wild Rose Press. Fearless Heart (Yellow Rose) will release on October 22, and Kiss Me By Moonlight has yet to be given a release date, but should be released by the end of the year. In addition to those two stories, my story Seeing Double: Book 5 of the Celtic Broach Legacy will be included in an anthology, which is 12 stories by 12 different authors. This will be my first time in print, and I've got to tell you, I'm pretty stoked. As soon as I get that cover I'll post it.

In the mean time, here are my two newest covers and a little about the stories.

FEARLESS HEART

BLURB:
Miranda Hansen has been in love with Luke Dannon since the first time she visited the Lazy D Ranch. For the past fifteen years, she kept coming back, trying to find the courage to confess her feelings and prove she’s not the typical tourists he distrusts. This time, she’s not backing down. She’s going to prove to Luke she belongs on the Lazy D with him. Will her fearless heart prevail or will Luke’s pride destroy all she’s ever dreamed about?

EXCERPT:
Miranda eyed the animal, her eyes level with the top of his back. “Don’t you have one a little shorter?” It was the same scene played out every year. She had been riding horses her entire life, but each time she pretended to be a helpless female Luke puffed up and preened like a peacock, and if it gave her a few extra minutes with Luke, she was happy to play along.

He gave a baritone chuckle. “Don’t worry darlin’. Junior’s almost as gentle as I am.” He winked a vivid blue eye and patted the saddle. “Put one foot in this stirrup, and I’ll help you up.”

The thought of how he was going to help her—one hand over hers and the other planted firmly on her backside—sent shivers down her spine. But still, she did as instructed, and in a moment she was settled bareback on Junior.

Luke, with effortless grace, swung himself up on his black stallion. He sat tall and proud, yet relaxed in the saddle.

If he didn’t acknowledge his affections this afternoon, this would be the last summer she’d visit the ranch. She’d start a new job, a new life. Miranda came to the ranch, to him, straight from graduating top of her class in veterinary with a prosperous job offer—the dream job for any vet. But before she accepted the offer she needed once more chance to convince Luke they belonged together. When it came to loving him she was fearless, and to get through his thick head, she was going to have to take drastic measures—including give up her dream job to be with him.

KISS ME BY MOONLIGHT

BLURB:
Lindsey Carter thought she’d found her Prince Charming in Brandon Thompson. When he pulls a vanishing act after their first date, her prince becomes a frog. However, Fate steps in. At a weekend conference, she gets a second chance to find out if Brandon’s a shining knight or a real croaker. Will playing hard to get earn her a victory in love, or will she be left seeing green?

EXCERPT:
It’d only been one date, one dinner, and one kiss. One knock-your-socks-off kiss she couldn’t forget.

Lindsey pushed the button for diet soda, bent over and retrieved the can. So far, so good. She turned on her heel and strode purposefully back toward her friends. Brandon, she tried not to notice, was now standing, his back facing her pathway. She had a glorious view of his jean-clad tight rear.

Her heart dipped in disappointment. He hadn’t even noticed her.

Steeling her determination, Lindsey pressed on.

She blew on the top of the can, puffing away dust and trying to give her mind something to think of other than the gorgeous specimen now standing just to her right. Her hand dropped to her side, just as he took a half step back.

His fingers bumped into her pinkie, briefly curling around the digit in the gentlest of caresses. The shock of the connection coursed up her arm like a bolt of lightning. Lindsey fought not to react, to keep walking at a normal pace without breaking into a frenzied run.

Finally back with her friends, she released a pent up breath, her shoulders sagging in relief. “I did it. I walked past him, and didn’t jump him. I did good.”

Another year has come and gone. I look back on 2007 and know that I accomplished a lot as far as my life goals are concerned. I continued with school, published two more short stories, and started working as an editor.

I have a handsome husband who loves me, and whom I love with my entire being, a beautiful home and a loving and supportive family (immediate and extended). All in all I am a lucky woman.

Here's hoping and praying 2008 is just as wonderful and blessed as 2007.