This has been one of those crazy busy weeks for me. Probably, compared to many women's lives, it wouldn't seem that frantic, but for me...with the shopping and lunching and appointments and stuff...jam-packed!
This week, in addition to Wedding Outfits, I was looking for one of those cupcake stands for a tea I'm having in July. Could I find one? No. But I did look in several stores. I also returned one of the four wedding outfits I got after Daughter gave me "a look" when I tried it on. 'Nuff (not) said, especially as it was the most expensive. And the pants were too long. (Situation of thinking, in the store, that once I had heels on, they would work. This is really never the case, and yet I bought it anyway. D'oh.)
So this week, on at least two occasions, my step tallies were not on a walk-for-exercise, but from wandering a mall, although I also added a brisk short walk on one day to bring the tally up. In the rain.
This morning's weigh in was 134.4 despite pigging out on mini-Tootsie rolls while watching So You Think You Can Dance. Yeah! I'm hoping to keep up a minimum of 10,000 steps a day or at least 40 minutes on the treadmill. I do note that two days, I didn't do that. OTOH, I wasn't eating huge meals this week either, what with the busy-ness.
This weeks's treadmill/step/exercise ball tally:
May 22 - 40 min. on TM, 20 eball lifts (this was the only day I did the lifts, because the rest of the week, I was walking.)
May 23 - nuthin' (brunch with friends)
May 24 - 17,710 (whooo hooo!)
May 25 - 12,863
May 26 - 13,303 (shopping)
May 27 - 12,456 (shopping)
May 28 - nuthin' (lunch with niece, although I did park far away from the fabric store later, so I would have a longer walk, and then I knocked down half a display in the store - domino effect, you see. Oh, the shame!)
Where is the writing in all this? Funny you should ask.
Nowhere. Didn't do any. Fortunately, I planned it that way. I shudder to think how stressed I'd be if I had a pressing deadline right now!
Remember back in January when I was doing my version of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)? Only mine was JaStoWriWee, for January Story Writing Week, because I didn't want to try writing a whole novel straight through with no revisions? But I discovered I liked it?
Well, I revised and sent that story to Harlequin for their new Undone program, even though they've been buying mostly prequels to upcoming series and mine was a sequel to THE WARLORD'S BRIDE.
Guess what? They bought it! So now Trefor and Bron get their own (short) story called THE WELSH LORD'S MISTRESS. I don't have a release date on that yet, but hopefully it won't be long. It will be available only in electronic form, at least at first. I live in hope that someday it'll be in a print anthology of some description.
Since I liked that exercise so much, I tried it again in February, only for a whole novel and even though I hadn't yet sold the short story. I'd already sent a two-book proposal in to Harlequin Historicals, but didn't know if they'd buy it. However, since I knew I was going to have a busy summer, I thought, what the heck. Start it, try the NaNoWriMo method and see what happens.
Well, for the first time since my first sale, I actually finished the first draft of a complete manuscript before I had an offer.
But then, lo! They bought the two books! So I'm actually ahead of the game, which is good, considering the summer is awash with wedding activities. No firm schedule on those books, or titles, but here's what I do know: The tentative titles are THE HIGHLANDER'S KISS and THE HIGHLAND HEIRESS'S KISS. THE HIGHLANDER'S KISS is tentatively scheduled for summer, 2010. They aren't sequels to my other "kiss" Regencies; they were going to be, with the first about Jamie, but I just didn't feel he had the "chops" to carry a whole book. Or, I guess it would be more accurate to say, I didn't find him interesting enough to write a whole book about him.
However, the heroine of THE HIGHLANDER'S KISS is a solicitor's sister. She would have been a darn fine attorney herself, had women had the chance in the Regency. The hero is the disgraced, disowned son of an earl who is basically a private investigator. To say they do not get along in the beginning is an understatement, so when they have to pretend to be husband and wife...well, sparks fly.
The second book is a sequel to THE HIGHLANDER'S KISS, about a character who will be introduced in THE HIGHLANDER'S KISS. He's a solicitor, too. What can I say? I like my attorney heroes. And yes, they are set in Scotland.
So I've got work to do, but not at such a frantic pace I'll be stressed out for my son's wedding. That was a major goal of mine - to have sales so I wouldn't be panicked about my career, but with the projects either finished, well on their way, or with deadlines far enough away that I can relax and enjoy the summer and all the wedding hoopla.
I did work today. More on that after I do my email newsletter, because I have a Big Announcement and the subscribers get Big Announcements first.
Then I went shopping. For a Mother of the Groom outfit.
Now, I do have one...but it's sort of short (as in above my knee), so I decided to see what else I could find.
Okay, given that my son is of marriageable age, I'm no kid. Neither am I a grandmother. Unfortunately, the fashion industry seems to think you are either 15 and going to the prom or 65 and going to tea. Or else you're going to a Very Fancy Shindig requiring an outfit that cost $500 plus. Or else you're 25 and going to a cocktail party.
In other words, the pickings are slim for a mature woman who doesn't want to look like a granny or a kid.
Finally, finally, after going to specialty dress shops, I wound up at a department store. I found two outfits - on sale. Both were longer than the outfit I already have, and a little fancier. Then I found a pantsuit with wide pants and a lovely jacket-type top that was not on sale and cost more than the other two outfits combined.
I bought all three.
I think I had a combination of mall-atosis (brought on prolonged exposure to mall air - it's what turns my husband comatose after setting foot in a mall) and desperation.
So I have got my bases covered. One outfit (the one with pants) I can wear to at least one other wedding-related function, if not the wedding. The other three? Well, there are nieces and nephews who may be getting married some day. And if you see me at the RITA awards and I have on a jacket that's either dusty/peachy rose or pale green, well, you know I got some use from the jackets.....
I learned a new word today - blofluffle. Like kerfluffle, only it's a blow-up that takes place in (on?) blogs.
I also like "clutching of pearls" to describe indignant reactions. :-)
Whoo hoo! It looks like I may have finally cracked the glass ceiling of 135 pounds, and this despite not doing regular workouts this week. Instead I was waxing floors, painting and toting books and boxes. Mind you, that made me thirsty, so I had more than two Cokes, which is what I've been trying to manage.
Yesterday, after my walk, the scale read 133.6! This morning, it was back up to 134.6, but that's not unusual for me. What I hope it means, though, is that unless I do some serious backsliding, I should stay under 135. Yeah!
And my doctor tells me the exercise ball is fine to use again, so I should get back to that, because yes, I've noticed a difference without it. I still haven't gotten into a routine with weights for the arms, though. I've been telling myself "wax on, wax on, wax on" was sufficient. :-)
This week's step/treadmill tally:
May 15 - 1/2 hr. on TM, 6450 steps
May 16 - 4594 steps plus waxing/polishing/moving furniture
May 17 - painting, waxing, polishing, etc.
May 18 - floors and painting
May 19 - nothing (out for the morning, then recuperating from waxing, polishing, etc.)
May 20 - 17,037 steps
May 21 - 13,273 steps
Today, it's the treadmill and exercise ball for me. Now that I've seen the scale dip to 133.6, I'm even more inspired to keep going. I may just make 130 by August!
Recently, there have been a spate of posts over at Romancing the Blog about authors and the internet, specifically using the various social networks. The point was made that most of these are free, and authors should take advantage of this, as the only cost is their time.
Ah, yes, time -- which also happens to be one of an author's most precious commodities. Most romance authors I know are women, so most of us have other responsibilities that, even now, tend to fall more heavily on women's shoulders. We are still the primary caretakers in families, whether it's children or aging parents.
And a writer can't spend all her other time writing, editing, revising and doing PR because -- trust me on this one, as I speak from personal experience - that is the fast track to burn out.
That's even supposing the author doesn't have another "outside" job, as many do. Quite frankly, I don't know how those authors manage to write anything at all, let alone something wonderful that sells. Well, yes, I do - they're dedicated to their craft.
So let's say you're Amy Author, who has two elementary school age kids, a part-time job and also writes. Is it reasonable to expect her to then spend a couple of hours on the internet doing promotion, for which she is not paid?
Publishers would say, but if she increases sales, she is, in effect, being paid.
The problem is, nobody knows if being on Facebook, Twitter, etc. etc. really does increase sales.
But the pressure - oh, the pressure! The feeling that if you aren't doing all that stuff, you'll be left behind in the dust.
Mind you, I've been hearing that about PR since I began writing. Back in the olden days, we only had a couple of print advertising venues to consider - Romantic Times and Affaire de Coeur - but it wasn't cheap. And we were told to go to the book warehouses and sign every single copy of our books. And get bookmarks made, and flyers and do a mass mailing.
So the pressure to promote isn't exactly new; I do think, however, that it's gotten to be even greater because...the internet is free. The author can't say it's too expensive and my advance is too small to pay for that sort of thing.
But time IS money. Time is precious. Time is one thing we authors don't have a lot to spare, not if we're trying to write and have a life outside of writing.
So does that mean I think an author should ignore the web? No. But I don't think you have to try to do it all, either. And FWIW, I think the people who capitalize most on social networking trends are the ones who get in on the ground floor, when it's the newest, latest craze. Join later, and that ship has sailed into more populous waters, so you and your efforts are much less likely to be noticed, so much less effective.
So I take a middle road, using some avenues on the web, but not all available. I have a website, an email newsletter, two blogs, a MySpace page and just joined Twitter.
I do think an author really should have a website. Readers should be able to find out what other books you've written and when you have new ones coming out, at the very least.
I use my email newsletter not just to send information or announce when my books go on sale, but as a sort of bonus for those readers who clearly like my books enough to sign up. They get first looks at covers, get notified when I've posted an excerpt and are eligible for a monthly draw for a $25 electronic gift certificate from Amazon.
As far as I'm concerned, these are the two most important things I do online in terms of PR.
Obviously, I blog here - but that's mainly because, quite frankly, I enjoy it. Do I think it means I'm selling more books? I doubt it. But I don't care. It's free, I like it, and I think it gives the readers who find it a bit more of an up close and personal link to me.
My Story Seedlings blog is also mainly for fun. I get a kick seeing what sort of story ideas I can find in the records of the Old Bailey. Unfortunately, those blogs can take a while and sometimes the cases are fairly repititious (many a theft), so I don't do that one as often.
My MySpace page is pretty neglected, because I'm really not sold on its effectiveness and frankly, it was a pain to set up, even as little as I did. I go there when I have a major announcement.
I started to Twitter, but if I'm really busy, I'm too busy to Twitter that I'm busy.
Oh, and I joined Shelfari ages ago and have rarely been back since. I just don't quite see the point of that.
One thing I tend to neglect and really shouldn't is the eHarlequin site and boards. For one thing, they have a huge audience compared to this little ol' blog. For another, they have lots of fun stuff.
I have a lot going on this summer, but I also have a book out in August (THE VISCOUNT'S KISS), so I'm going to make an effort to be more present at eHarlequin.
My point in a nutshell is this: Yes, I think authors should use the internet for PR, but only as much as they can afford in terms of time and life balance. Neglect it completely - not a good idea. But don't let peer pressure to do it all get to you, either.
Today, one of my revising jobs is to trim down a manuscript that, in revisions, has expanded too much. I gather some authors have trouble with this. Not me, perhaps because I tend to write lean anyway.
Here are my criteria:
I look for small bits that can go, adverbs being a number one target. I keep an eye out for any hint of repetition or redunancy.
I hate cutting dialogue, but I will look to see if a conversation can be condensed.
Description can get slashed. However, it's hard to set a scene without it and I don't write a lot in the first place, so I can't take out too much.
Sometimes two scenes can become one, so I wind up with less description, etc. while delivering the same information.
I try not to cut anything that deals with the characters' emotions and relationship; that's what romance is all about, after all.
Now, I'd better have at it.
It was a long weekend in my neck of the woods - Victoria Day, to be precise, which means it's supposed to be a holiday.
However, having had my living room, dining room, hall and kitchen painted and new windows installed that needed paint touch-ups (by moi), it meant I worked. And worked. And worked. And not just painting. There was sanding, vacuuming, sweeping, dusting, putting dishes and books back, and last but not least, waxing and polishing hard wood floors.
Yep, we have ye olde hardwoods floor that require waxing and polishing with ye olde floor polisher.
As I was waxing and polishing (and waxing and polishing), I was reminded of the last time polishing assumed such prominence in my existence.
Basic training. When it was my shoes. And yes, they had to be very shiny, and yes, I used spit to get the shine.
Here was the method:
Apply polish in small circles (which explained my circular application of floor polish - old habits die hard). Spit on same, then rub in more small circles. Buff. The theory went that saliva made it shinier. I don't know about that, but it gave us something to do in the evening. Kind of like a quilting bee, only with the heavy scent of shoe polish.
There are other methods and let me tell you, it can become like some kind of competition of the Dark Arts, getting the best shine. One involved heating the polish with a candle. I always expected to hear chanting with that one.
Because shiny shoes assumed such importance in our lives, ruining somebody's shoe shine also became a means of expressing animosity. Sounds weird, I suppose, but it happened. Fortunately, not in our platoon, but it got ugly - and I'm not just talking about the shoes.
However, that was long ago, and now I can fondly reminisce about spit and polish.
There's an unforeseen bonus to having new windows put in and painters all over the place - I couldn't get to the kitchen for snacks. Of any kind. Or lunch yesterday (save for an apple I grabbed from the fridge). And with the hubby not home, either, dinner was salad last night and a sandwich the night before. Mind you, I did have a Coke and chocolate chips last night, but I figured I'd earned it.
Because not only was I unable to access a goodly portion of my house and was forced (FORCED, I tells ya!) to stay in my office and work for several hours, before that I had to prepare for the windows and painters by (a) cutting down masses of ivy from the outside walls and cleaning the brick as much as I could (b) packing up china (three cabinets) and two wall units full of books and moving them to other areas of the house and (c) sanding the two bedroom window areas after the windows were put in (because the painters aren't working in those rooms). So I had a lot of physical activity that wasn't necessary leg related, but still burned calories.
Next week I hope to get back to the regular routine, although gardening's going to start coming into the mix, as well.
But it all paid off, because this morning, I was back to 135.2. Despite Mother's Day chocolate. Yeah!
This week's step/treadmill tally:
Friday, May 8 - 13,207
May 9 - 40 min. on TM
May 10 - 45 min on TM, packing books and china
May 11 - 1 hr. on TM
May 12 - 9,807 steps (including walking very fast because I was late to get to a concert)
May 13 - painting and generally running around, but didn't wear my pedometer and didn't get on the treadmill because...I was lazy.
So no big meals and plenty of exercise (except for yesterday) = weight loss of at least a pound, possibly two, despite copious amounts of chocolate. But I don't recommend trying to get by on such small meals, because it meant when I got to the chocolate...well, it was much more difficult to stop than I usually find.
Painters are here, so my upstairs is swathed in plastic sheeting. The poor boy cats are traumatized. I have painting to do myself and will do it this morning, although it's rainy.
I don't think I'll get much revising done on the ol' manuscript today.
ETA: Looks like I'll be working on my manuscript after all, since the painters need my footstool, so I won't be able to reach the top of the windows.* Good thing I'm revising and not trying to write new material, though!
*Say, all you writers out there, doesn't this sound like the sort of excuse one can find not to write? :-)
Not only did I get revision notes from my editor about a new project, I've got a lot going on with the house this week, including - today! - new windows! After the windows comes the painter to paint the living room, dining room, hall and kitchen. And after that, the new window coverings.
As I was taking down the old living room and dining room drapes yesterday, I thought, "Hey, why did I buy something to wear to my son's wedding? I should have done a Scarlet O'Hara and made an outfit of the drapes."
I've already emptied out the wall units of books and books and book and three china cabinets. What can I say? I like me my knickknacks and antique cabinets. But if I'm not blogging any more this week, it's 'cause I've got revisions and renovations and redecorating on me mind.
Now I'm off to take down the bedroom curtains. Howdy, neighbors!
Why did my good china vegetable bowl crack completely when it was just sitting in the china cabinet, not close to anything else, and empty?
Why doesn't the Turner Classic Movie channel have intermissions, if not the occasional commercial? How's a girl supposed to get anything done?
Why does American Movie Classics have so many commericals?
How many times can they show the Godfather movies and still have an audience?
Where's Mr. Bun-Bun? Why hasn't he or any of his family been in our backyard lately? (I'm sincerely hoping nothing bad has happened to him!)
Why didn't I see the problem in my manuscript that my editor did? Because on re-reading, it is glaringly obvious.
Why is it that taking down the Rogue's Gallery in the hall has made the hall look so much shorter?
Will I be able to continue avoiding any spoilers for the new Star Trek movie until I can see it? (Soon, I hope.)
Now that Twitter's taking over the world, should I bother to blog? Or just Twitter? Or don't Twitter, just blog?
Just a few of the things I'm wondering about this morning. :-)
This is the first Mother's Day I've celebrated as an "empty nester," and let me just say...it's not the same.
I'm delighted my kids have grown up to be loving, wonderful, responsible adults, but oh, I miss having them around!
I've heard some writers say that they tell their kids not to interrupt them when they're writing unless they (the kids) are bleeding. I never minded when my kids interrupted me. I wanted them to feel they could talk to me at any time, about anything, because I could foresee a time when they might want to talk to me about something, then think, "Why bother? She's busy. And I'm not bleeding."
I did NOT want that to happen.
Which isn't to say they didn't appreciate that my work was important to me and had to be done. They could see me working with furrowed brow, during the day and at night. They were around when work arrived that had to be done so quickly, it meant a call to "our military friend" (Col. Sanders) or "our Swiss friends" (the Swiss Chalet) for dinner. They knew Mom didn't go on walks to the park some days because she had writing to do. And they certainly knew our house wasn't spotless because, well, I'd rather be writing. Or reading to them. Or listening as they told me whatever was on their mind.
But you know what? I never had to tell my kids to do their homework. They saw me do mine, with nary a boss or teacher in sight. They knew if I didn't do my work well and on time, there would be no checks in the mail.
Yet they also knew they, and my husband, are my top priority. Not a book. Not the writing. They are, and always will be. And I wouldn't change that for anything.
It's really no surprise that this week, I'm back up a bit, to 136.6. It was one of those weeks where I couldn't keep to a regular exercise routine and had too much sweet stuff (chocolate cake, for one).
I also noticed that as my exercise routine was thrown into disarray and that made for less-than-satisfactory progress, so it was with my writing. I had plans to get farther ahead on my revisions this week, only to be thwarted by (a) an unexpected realization that I had a big problem in the first four chapters and (b) other things taking more time than I had planned, or that cropped up unexpectedly.
Added to this was the fighting off a cold, so...all in all, not the most productive and/or successful week of my life in terms of work and weight loss.
However, the cold finally seems to be disappearing and I have only one errand to run next week (so far), so here's hoping I can get back on track with both work and exercise.
This week's step/treadmill tally:
Sat, May 2 - nothing
May 3 - nothing (and ate far too many treats over the weekend)
May 4 - 12,678 steps
May 5 - nothing (just got too busy with other things and not feeling that great)
May 6 - 10,812
May 7 - 1 hr. on TM
My goal for next week is to be back to 135 and do more exercising. I also plan to have less of the sweet treats, although I don't plan to cut out my Coke and Chipits entirely. A girl's gotta have something to look forward to, right?
I'm pretty sure many romance readers think of me as a writer of medieval historicals. But I've actually written books set in a variety of time periods, beginning with my second book, CHINA BLOSSOM. Released in North America in 1992, CHINA BLOSSOM was set in Victorian England and featured a heroine who was British by birth, but raised in China, and a hero who was, just for my own amusement, a descendent of one of my medieval heroes, Urien Fitzroy.
I just received copies of a new Japanese edition of CHINA BLOSSOM,. It's already been published in Japan, in 1999, and now it's been reissued as part of their 30th Anniversary Collection.
That's one of the great things about selling to Harlequin. My books may only be on shelves in North America for a month, but then they'll be sold all over the world. Some of my single titles sold in other markets, but nothing like my Harlequins, which have been published in France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Russia, Poland, Estonia and the Czech Republic.
I'm especially tickled CHINA BLOSSOM is having this continued success, because despite good reviews ("In CHINA BLOSSOM Margaret Moore has created some of the most endearing, refreshing, enchanting and humorous characters to ever grace the pages of a novel. This delightful, delicious Victorian romp is a 'must read.'" -- Romantic Times), it didn't do as well as my first book. Was it the setting? Was it the unusual nature of the heroine's history? The cover? I don't know, but I've since gone out on other limbs (Restoration setting, anyone?) and I have to say, for all those readers who want "different," there seem to be many more who don't.
Yet CHINA BLOSSOM is living on and I'm delighted.
Here's the original cover and back cover blurb:
Fragrant Blossom looked at him with eyes as blue as the China Sea. Such delicate beauty seemed at odds with the whipping scars across her back. This was no fragile china doll, but a woman with a will of steel. And she was determined to serve Darcy Fitzroy in every way possible....
He was like a god -- tall and broad, with a voice like thunder. Most certainly a rich and powerful lord. And Fragrant Blossom belonged to him, body and soul. Willingly she offered him a thousand and one delights. So why did Darcy Fitzroy continue to refuse her precious gift?
I have a busy day today, so just a fast funny for those of us who require some technical assistance when we start using a new system. Or those who are tasked with helping the rest of us.
Enjoy!
Yesterday, I was wandering around the interwebs and decided to check out the Amazon listing for THE VISCOUNT'S KISS and lo and behold, there was the cover! What a surprise - and a pretty good one! I still haven't seen the cover in its entirety, but since I already have permission to post it here and on my website, why wait?
That meant, however, that instead of doing what I'd planned to do yesterday, I wound up redesigning my website and emailing my email newsletter subscribers, as they usually get a special sneak peek of the covers.
Today, it meant redesigning my blog (as you can see!), and next comes an announcement on MySpace, followed by a tweet. Social networking can be fun, but it does mean more time spreading the word when you have good news. Not complaining - just sayin'.
So there I am, reading through the second draft of my manuscript, and it hits me.
These two scenes are awfully similar, in tone, in location, in conflict and action. So why are there two?
And thus, in only the first four chapters, I have hit a major revision/renovation. Because, no, there shouldn't be two.
This sort of revision isn't something that fills me with joy. I don't think, "Oh, yes! This is gonna be great! What an improvement it will be!"
I think, "Why did I write two scenes in the first place? Why not just one? What was I thinking?"
Well, what I was thinking when I wrote those two scenes 'way back when was that I needed two scenes.
To be fair (to myself), there are differences, especially emotionally. Unfortunately, upon this reading, I realize the differences simply aren't enough to warrant two separate scenes.
So now you know how I'll be spending my day.
The cover of KNAVE'S HONOR is a nominee in the 10th annual Cover Contest over at Cover Cafe! It's in the two-cover category.
Winners are determined by ballot. Apparently their server can get overwhelmed when the voting opens, so if you can't get through to vote, please try again.
Well, I'm lighter than I was last week. Not by much, but considering I feel off the no-cola wagon and didn't get as much exercise, I'm not too bothered.
Yesterday, though, I decided it was time to raise the incline on the treadmill to its steepest. I was wondering if I'd notice a difference and...
oh baby, big time! I was starting to sweat after five minutes. So I only walked on the TM for 45 minutes instead of an hour. At first, I thought, "Maybe I'll just do half an hour." Then "Okay, 40 minutes." Then I settled on 45. I tend to do that - think "How am I going to last an hour?" and then manage. But with the new incline and the inklings of a cold, I didn't want to do overdo.
Walk/treadmill tally for this past week:
Friday, April 25 - 16,952 steps
April 26 - 4105 steps. We had planned to go for a walk after dinner, but the weatherman was wrong and the skies opened and the rain came down instead. Walk denied. But this just goes to show what my step tally would be if I didn't go on a walk.
April 27 - shopped at a big mall without the pedometer. I probably walked between 5,000 and 10,000 steps.
April 28 - 10,182 steps
April 29 - no treadmill, didn't wear the pedometer because I thought I'd do the treadmill, then never got on it (I really, really have to keep to an exercise schedule, and if that gets messed up...)
April 30 - 45 min. on the treadmill
This morning's weight: 135.8
I have a busy weekend and probably won't get a chance to do any exercising on Sunday. I won't have a lot of time tomorrow, but I'm telling myself to at least do 20 min. on the treadmill if I can't get in a whole hour.
After all, August will be here before I know it!
(Who was Sisyphus? Here ya go.)
This has been one of those crazy busy weeks for me. Probably, compared to many women's lives, it wouldn't seem that frantic, but for me...with the shopping and lunching and appointments and stuff...jam-packed!
