The Start Of A New Year

Like everyone, I've been thinking of what goals I met last year and the ones I plan for this year.

Last year I planned to finish an old vampire 1st person book. I did. Actually, I finished two books this year. Note that the one that sold was already completed. Like every year prior, I planned to get published. I finally did. At the first of 2011, I knew I needed to save my money that I usually spent on conferences and spend it on a family vacation instead. I did. I planned to quit spreading myself thin (day job, family, writing) and end my obligations with my writers group by the end of 2011.  I did.  2010 had been a stellar year in contests (5 finals - that almost half of those entered; plus there were a couple questionable on how they scored me - see posts in 2010 about those) for me and I had hoped to do it again this year. With the sale, that knocked me out of many of the contests (no true lost there. LOL!) but I still was able to final in three (two were with a historical romance). So I guess that last plan was still a positive. A sale - technically two sales - trumps all.

This year, I plan to finish two books and a novella. I would love to finish the historical someway this year too. It's not top priority though. 

I plan to go to at least two conferences: Silken Sands (already paid the fee) and RWA National (that one comes due 1/26).  M&M in October is still up for debate. 

I plan to continue on my weight loss program and hopefully will be in good shape by July and that includes taking care of my body with physicals and check ups.

I plan not to sweat the small stuff in life and enjoy every moment of being published. To continue to help others to become published. The traditional way - not self-published. That's a totally different post I'll do later this month maybe. I'll keep in mind that writing a book that entertains is the key to success. So that leads into my next one.

I plan to write, write, and write along with improve my craft. My books aren't literary masterpieces. They're written for entertainment and to make people sigh and feel hopeful about romance in their own lives.

There are a few more plans (goals) I'm sure that haven't come to mind at this moment, but I can always add them later.

Re-Run #6

This one was at a buddy's blog, Patricia Preston from October 23, 2011.

Thanks, Patricia, for asking me to post on your blog.  I’ve always loved hanging out with you.

If you were about to be served your last meal, what would be on your plate?

Re-Run #5

Here's one from October 18, 2011 that was at Reader Girls blog.

Thank you for asking me to visit your blog. I love seeing families reading together. My reading gene came from my dad and his dad. Then I passed it on to one of my daughters. We keep hoping to bring the college student into the fold once she graduates. Then again, she’s a professional student. So we have no idea when that will happen. She has promised to read my book. Isn’t that sweet? But we do plan to have a defibrillator nearby when she does. She’s destined to have a heart attack when she reads certain scenes in “Mom’s” book.

Your question to me was how does it feel to compete with established writers?

Re-Run #4

This one is from I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read blog, October 20, 2011. It was a lot of fun to write. Hope you enjoy it.

You’re living on the edge by allowing me free rein in deciding what to post. But I’ll behave and do what I love to do more often than I like to admit. Make up lists. Yes. My OCD is showing. To make it a little less dry, I’ve decided to let my two main characters in Circle of Desire, Olivia St. Vincent and Collin Ryker, help out.

Re-Run #3

Continuing my revisit to blog posts that I made on blog tours, here's the one from The Heart of the Dragon Den, October 20, 2011.

Tell us a bit about yourself (50 words or less).  It’s no surprise that I love to write as I grew up with a dad who loved to entertain us with stories about his youth in a long ago era of lonely two lane highways and strong men protecting their families. With that rich history, I turned to writing romance.

On The Road Again

I'm over at Mina Khan's blog talking about what inspires me.  Come over and talk to me. You might win a copy of my book. Hey, I figure if I can't get people to buy it, I'll give them away.   LOL!

Merry Christmas

Re-Run #2

This post was at Black Seductions on October 19, 2011.  What I especially loved about this interview was the comments I received. Lots of them and some really interesting answers. Go and check them out. Oh, before I forget, some of the sites I'm sending you to are for people 18 and older. So if you're at work looking at them, be sure no one is around as they often have book covers that make mine look tame.

 I deleted the blurb of the book, but the rest of the post is here. Be sure to FOLLOW them on Twitter: @BVSBooks .

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Thank you for inviting me to your blog. Like most authors, I enjoy talking about my books and love the opportunity.

You had asked, “What steps did I take to make my heroine someone the reader would like?”

Re-Runs of My Favorites

I've been doing the blog tour thang on and off since October. Mostly off than on, but I've enjoyed every stop, some more than others. One thing about blogging elsewhere, even though I place a link here, people forget or blogs die or whatever. So I decided to repost them here. For the next few days you'll see them in full or partial and including links back to the original blog/post.  But please comment here (better chance of me seeing it now).

Here's the first one at Among The Muses. (October 17, 2011.) A great interview/review website. And it's not just because they gave me such a good review or that I like the ladies who run it, but because the site is easy on the eyes and they keep it up. Gives you confidence in knowing that your work is respected when the site is professinal looking. Anyway, I always liked New Jersey people.

Oh, be sure to LIKE them on Facebook, FOLLOW them on Twitter and FRIEND them on GoodReads.

What inspired you to write this book?
One of my all-time favorite TV series was Le Femme Nikita and my go-to-book of Linda Howard’s is ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN. Both deal with mercenaries, spies and assassins, and I find them fascinating. When I was writing the hero, Collin, for CIRCLE OF DESIRE, I was channeling Michael, the dangerous über spy from Nikita. His soft spoken, yet deadly voice always sent delicious chills down my back to my … uh, I made sure to listen to hear every word he said. I wanted my book to have those layers of danger and sexiness filling every page.

Little Surprises

I'm over at Gnome de Plume talking about Little Surprises in books among other things. Come on over and comment. You might win a copy of my book.