Productive day...

I'm still so excited about the quote from Diana Gabaldon that I want to tell everyone I meet. Of course, the people who don't know me are really starting to give me strange looks, but who cares. Diana Gabaldon called HAUNTING BEAUTY "A complex, mysterious and very satisfying story!"

Today was productive although it didn't start out that way. I began with taking care of business. I updated my website, announced last contest winner and posted a new one. This month I'm giving away a copy of CEREMONY OF SEDUCTION written by Cassie Ryan who just happens to be a friend of mine. It's hot and steamy (as you might guess by the cover) and it's the first of a series so if you're a fan of erotic romance, be sure to enter.

Then I found myself doing a bunch of busy work and accomplishing nothing. It wasn't until this afternoon that I finally started writing with any focus. Once I got my head into the game, I made progress and that felt good. This is my first time to write a book that is part of a series and it comes with its own challenges--new ones that are a bit daunting. It's only natural for readers to compare book one to book two, right? Well it's only natural for authors to live in fear of readers comparing the first and second and finding one lacking. I hadn't really thought of that going in, but now that it has occurred to me, gulp, I'm shaking in my shoes.

Challenges, challenges, challenges....

Highlights and lowlights....

I've been hard at work on my WIP. First draft is done except for the ending, which I usually don't write until the end of the second draft anyway. I write about 3-5 drafts before I feel it's ready for readers, so I'm still early in the process. But I like what is going on with the story and I feel like it's all coming together as I envisioned. I'm so behind on my life, though! Sheesh. I need to send out my contest winners, update the website, take care of all the other little details. It's never ending.

This weekend I received some great news. Diana Gabaldon has given me a quote for HAUNTING BEAUTY! I can't believe it. She read the manuscript and she liked it. I think I'm as excited about her name being on my cover as I am about my own, LOL. This is what she said:

"A complex, mysterious and very satisfying story! I'm amazed that anyone can fit such a good story into so relatively few pages."

I'm just pleased as can be. Still waiting on the cover art so I can do a redesign on my website and start spreading the word about the book.

On the downside....day job continues to suck the life out of me. I need a vacation.

Where's Erin?

Wow, the past couple of weeks have been insanely busy and sometimes completely wonderful, sometimes not so much. The day J-O-B is taking its toll on me, but trying not to let it completely run my world. Trying being the key word of that statement. There was no writing day for me this week and my so-called vacation was spent on line, on the phone or worrying about the fact that I wasn't online or on the phone. sigh. My kids returned to school this week (and my baby started high school!). Very hectic and exciting all around.

But the wonderful part took place last weekend in San Francisco at RWA national meeting. Wow, what a fabulous conference this year. The location was stellar, of course, but I think for me the best part this year was that I knew so many people. 4 years ago I went to Dallas (or Houston? Can't remember which) and I knew 3 people. After that I joined my local RWA chapter with one goal--meet some fellow authors. I got so much more than that out of my membership that I could blog for a week and not cover it, but suffice to say I did reach my goal.

Every corner I turned, every elevator ride or stroll through the lobby, I ran into someone I knew. It was joyous. There were smiles and excitement and hugs and well wishes. Fellow Desert Rose member and author Calista Fox and I hung out together, did the bar thing and found ourselves in a dive that should have probably been condemned but made an awesome sirloin burger. Calista has a single title coming out next year that sounds amazing. The next day I had lunch with my lovely friend Sylvia Day who is fun and kind and knows more about our industry than I could ever hope to know. Sylvia has a new series coming out from Tor under the name SJ Day. EVE OF DARKNESS is the first book and I picked up an advanced reading copy at the Tor signing. So far it's nothing short of fantastic.

I was invited to a wine and cheese party hosted by Harry and Susan Squires--friends from the pre-published days. Two nicer people you'd be heard pressed to meet--and both exceptionally talented. Susan's books are fabulous (and many, starting with her first which won the Golden Heart, called Danegeld.) Harry writes as HR Knight and his What Rough Beast is exceptional. At their party I met Barbara Vey of Publishers Weekly and learned that I have definitely missed the boat when it comes to Buffy the Vampire slayer. I must see get those dvds and watch that series.

Then my CP and bestest friend Lynn flew in and we had several days of good food, good drink and great company. We brainstormed until our poor brains were mushy and both of us worked out major plot issues with our WIPs. What a relief and a great session.

Then came lunch with my editor Kate Seaver. My first lunch with my editor--but I hope not my last. She is as bright and charming as I could hope and I am very excited to be in this creative partnership with her. I'm looking forward to many books to come. :-)

By the time I reached the airport on Sunday, I was exhausted. Happy, but exhausted. But no rest awaited. I found more friends on my same flight and the hour before we took off was spent happily talking about, you guessed it, books and writing.

I came home with great memories, 31 books I can't wait to read, and total motivation to get on with my new book. Now, if I could just get the day job to give me a break, life would be close to perfect!