Monday, July 31, 2006

Ack!

My photos won't load tonight. I've saved my post & will try to load it & pics in the morning.

RWA National--continued

On Wednesday I got up and went to breakfast with members of the Writers Playground and the Wet Noodle Posse and Kelley St. John. Was lots of fun. I had pecan pancakes. Yum. Yum. Yum.

My pal and fabulous Harlequin Blaze author Tawny Weber arrived this afternoon & I gave her a small gift in celebration of her first sale--a Johnny Depp doll. Tawny seemed pleased with her gift, but I may be permanently scarred from my roommate's molestation of that doll...Johnny didn't seem to mind, though.

When first seeing my pal Lindsey Brooks I gave her a goodie I got for her back when I met Dr. Travis Stork at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Bachelor & Bachelorette auction. A personalized autographed photo. Lindsey and her reality television craze is what inspired JANE MILLIONAIRE so it's only fitting I had the Bachelor autograph a picture for her. :)

After that I went to The Golden Network's first retreat. There was a panel of agents and an editor. It was interesting and worth going to. After the retreat I hung with pals, then went to the booksigning.

My very first RWA Nationals lit signing. :) It was awesome. Even though Jane's been out for 8 months, I still sold quite a few books. It was loads of fun to finally be on the opposite side of those tables.

After the booksigning some friends of mine went out to karoake. Not me. I sooooo don't sing in public & the public appreciates this. So I went to dinner at this sports bar inside the hotel called Champion's. Good food. Good friends. Great evening.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

RWA National--back home!

I'd planned to blog from the hotel each day. Unfortunately, Internet connections weren't that great at the hotel and I kept getting kicked off before I could get a blog in. Sorry about that, but I intend to make up for it over the next week by recapping my week at Nationals.

Tuesday.

I drove to Atlanta and arrived around 4 PM. Traffic was good & the weather was perfect. After arriving, I checked in to the hotel & immediately ran into my pal Gemma Halliday (who has a fabulous book coming out this week called SPYING IN HIGH HEELS--I've read this book. It's awesome & you should definitely get a copy!!) while registering. A group of close pals were hanging in the Atrium & called to tell me what I was wearing as the were spying on me from the balcony--what are friends for??? ;) After lots of hugs, we all sat around talking for a couple of hours and then it was off to The Knight Agency's 10th Anniversary party. We all met at 6:30 in front of the hotel and took two big tour type buses on a one hour cruise toward our destination. Everyone looked gorgeous in the garden party wear.

The Knight Agency is located in a wonderful area of Georgia that avoided being burned by Sherman. The buildings there are amazing, including the infamous Knight Agency. After exiting the buses we traveled down candlit lit walkways to where a tent was set up with a wide selection of delicacies. Immediately I was offered shrimp & other mouth-watering goodies. Yum!! But the absolute yummiest part of the party was the pecan pralines--let's just say that Janet Campbell & I developed an obsession for that station and devoured our share of the delicious dessert and then some. My big can-I-just-crawl-under-the-table? moment of the evening was when I was at the praline station and took a couple of pralines and then took a spoonful of pecans from the silver bowl also on the table. Apparently, those pecans in the bowl complete with serving spoon in their midst weren't really for consumption and the catering lady manning the station goes, "oh! Those are just for decoration." Ack. But since that was my only big goof for the night I figure I made out pretty good.




Glimpses of THE conference party to be at!

Friends in attendance included Michelle Buonfiglio, Marley Gibson, Diana Peterfruend, Gemma Halliday, Leslie Dicken, and quite a few others. Plus, I met lots of other wonderful people--TKA clients and staff alike. Meeting Pamela for the first time was a blast. Julie & Elaine, too. The entire night started the conference off with a bang! Fun and laughter rained supreme with conversations about furry pocketbooks and taxidermists (amongst other things) that don't bear repeating, but had me laughing so hard tears ran down my cheeks.


Janice & her fabulous agent Pamela!

So, to sum up The Knight Agency party---great food, great company, and a wonderful atmosphere. A total success--but then, how else would one describe anything to do with TKA? They rock!!!! & I'm proud to be a part of such a talented group.


Janice & friends at the party!

Monday, July 24, 2006

Tomorrow!

By this time tomorrow morning I'll be on the road to Atlanta!! I keep reading emails from friends who are attending conference & my excitement grows with each one. :) Although the conference is really a business one, I have to admit that I'm most looking forward to spending time with my writign buddies from the Writers Playground, the Wet Noodle Posse, the Agency Sistahs, From the Heart, the list goes on and on.

I'm rooming with awesome romantic suspense author Kathleen Long (Harlequin Intrigue) & Beth Burgoon (can you say 2006 DOUBLE GOLDEN HEART FINALIST??? :) )) & I know we're going to have a blast. We roomed together last year and things went great.

So many last minute things to do today--like go to work before I'm late! Ack! Plus my oldest two boys have soccer practice in just a few. Time to go!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Just 2 more days!

Until Atlanta for me! I leave out early on Tuesday morning & am meeting a friend at her house as parking at the hotel is $22 a day--ack! So, we're riding over together to cut down on costs. Every penny counts when the orthodontist tells you 3 kids have to have braces. Yep, that happened this past week. I was sick, I tell you. Fortunately, the youngest (yes, he's the one with a mouth already worth over $5K!) doesn't have to have his put on for at least a year, but the other two are within the month. Eek. I need to sell a book---or two or three or four...

Anyway, as I was saying, I leave for RWA Nationals on Tuesday morning. My itinerary is as follows:

Tuesday: Arrive at Maureen's & ride over to the hotel
Meet up with friends & visit
Got to the rocking The Knight Agency party & try not to make a hick of myself. ;)

Wednesday: Eat breakfast with a group of friends that include the awesome Kelley St. John, Kathleen Long, Tawny Weber, Stephanie Rowe, Trish Milburn, & Lindsey Brooks! Wow! With starting the day like that, you know it's gonna be a good one. These ladies ROCK when it comes to writing great books.
That afternoon, I'm attending the Golden Network's first retreat & then it's the booksigning. My first RWA national booksigning that I'm signing--I'm super excited and maybe a bit intimidated, too. I mean, Nora Roberts & Sherrilyn Kenyon & Jennifer Crusie will be there! Wow!!!!

Thursday: workshops in the morning & afternoon!
Thursday evening is the From the Heart Romance Writers party. I'm looking forward to it. I serve as secretary for this chapter & it's close to my heart as it's the first RWA chapter I joined and where I met most of my closest writing buds.
That evening I also have The Golden Network's party. This is a chapter that's for those who've finaled in the Golden Heart. In 2003, I finaled with my very first entry. Blew me away. Of course, I entered the next 2 years and didn't final with books that I thought were much better. Jane Millionaire actually got a wrong category & I entered it in the category it eventually sold in--go figure.

Friday: workshops in the morning & afternoon!
This evening is my publisher party. Last year was the first one I'd attended & unfortunately the From The Heart party was at the same time. Amazingly the parties were across the hall from each other & I zipped back and forth, but I know it took away from the experience of both. I'm really looking forward to the party this year because my pal Gemma Halliday sold to Dorchester last fall (her book Spying in High Heels is out next month, be sure to check it out. It's awesome!). I actually almost ran my car off the rode when she called to tell me she'd sold! A strong gust of wind caught my car right as I squealed & ack! I also have a get together with friends after the party. It's gonna be fun!!

Saturday: I'm giving a workshop with Jo-Ann Powers & Brianna Yamashita. Not sure how many will be in attendance as I'm usually brain dead by Saturday & often miss workshops this day...bad Janice. ;) I'm having a girl's in dinner with pals that evening & then it's the Rita/GH awards ceremony. Can't wait for my pal Tawny Weber to WIN the GH for her category. She's that awesome! & my pals Anna Sugden & Beth Burgoon are going to be duking it out for Long Contemp. I'll be the one in the crowd screaming LOUDLY. :)

I just realized that I'm missing half a dozen things from this list. I don't have any of my Wet Noodle Posse stuff listed & I'm definitely attending a couple of things with my GH sisters! But the above gives you the general picture that it's going to be a fun-filled, but PACKED week. The week always flies by.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Painting & Procrastination

So, I've finally started getting ready for RWA Nationals. It's sad to say that until today I'd done NOTHING to prepare--which is totally unlike me. Generally, I'd have planned stuff out weeks ahead of time. I'm not a color coder, but I do like to have a schedule made out & have a pretty good general idea of when & where I'm supposed to be, etc. Plus, I usually shop for clothes & a gown & such. This year--naughta. But I'm changing that today--better late than never, right??? ;) So, I've gotten 4 give-away baskets put together for the From The Heart Romance Writers dinner. I've put together the things that I'm driving to conference for friends, as well, so that everything is together & I've STARTED thinking about what I'm going to wear. I'm not panicked about gowns as I've a friend who has a closet full and if I can't come up with one of my own I can call her and bum. ;)

As I've mentioned before, I'm really excited at the prospect of meeting my agent in person. Hopefully, things are going to start happening sale wise in the near future so it's going to be nice to put a face to the voice.

On the painting front, I'm posting a picture of my not quite finished yet but almost dining room. :)

Sunday, July 16, 2006

RWA Nationals is drawing Near!


So difficult to believe that I'll be packing next weekend to leave for Atlanta & the Romance Writers of America conference. Every year there is so much anticipation for this event. For many writers it serves as a mile stone. A marking point from year to year to stop and take measure of where you were the year before and where you are now. For me, this year's conference is very special. It's the first time I'll be signing books at the Literacy signing on Wednesday. Not familiar with the Literacy signing? It's a huge booksigning (I'm not sure how many authors will be there, over a hundred I imagine) of romance authors that include greats like Jennifer Crusie, Nora Roberts, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, Lori Foster, the list goes on and on...This year my name is on that list. Okay, so realistically, I'll be excited if I sell 15 books when there are such greats on offer, but I'm there. It's a heady feeling. Surreal and a bit staggering when I think how long I dreamed of that moment.

There's an awesome blog started that gives lots of information on RWA national this year and has links to sites that are going to be blogging about the conference. If interested, check it out. http://www.bloggingnational.blogspot.com/

Signing off to go die...okay, so hopefully not really, but I am TIRED. Sanding & scrubbing baseboards is SOOOOO not my thing. I keep thinking "I took off work for this????" ;) Still, what little I've gotten done looks good. & hubby & my boys are home from their Buffalo River canoe trip. They did 25 miles on the river this weekend & apparently had a blast. :)

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Painting & Vacationing

Well, I've finished the stairwell & the upstairs foyer--did I say that already? Not sure. Last night & today I've worked on my dining room. I'm painting it khaki with white trim. The walls are done. Just have to sand the trim work & then paint & viola! I'll have the dining room almost done. :) That should take me...okay, I'm not going to think about that since I still have several more rooms to go. ;)

After painting last night I sat up reading a good book till the sun came up. Wasn't great, but good enough that I wanted to finish it. :)

Hubby & two oldest boys are off canoeing the Buffalo River this weekend. Their canoeing in the day & camping at night. Before long the youngest two kids are going to be old enough & I'll get to go on these trips again. :) I still go on some, but not as many as I'd like. We're taking the oldest two white water rafting on the Ocoee River next month. I'm looking forward to that. I love white water rafting.

Since I know I have a lot of patients that read my blog, I wanted to let ya know that I'm taking quite a bit of vacation time over the next few weeks, but will be back to regular schedule on August 21st. Between now & then I'm working the next three Mondays and that's it. I hope to spend time with my kids, get my house remodeling finished, catch up on my scrap-booking, finish three book proposals, write a novella, get the kids' school shopping done and them back in school, and buy new furniture for my living room. No biggie. Jeeze, I bet I get that all done the first week and then I'll be bored the rest of the time---YEAH RIGHT. And of course I'll be in Atlanta the last week of July. I'm really looking forward to that since I'll be seeing friends I only see once or a few times a year. Plus, I have a booksigning & I'll get to meet my agent in person for the first time. That should be cool.


Not sure if you can make out what the plague says or not but I got this in the mail & was thrilled. It's the award for JANE MILLIONAIRE winning the 2006 Golden Quill for Best First Book. :) I also got a pin to wear on my name badge. Very, very cool!

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

So bad!

It's been wayyyy too long since I last posted. Lots going on, though. Things like celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary last Friday. Hard to believe that 16 years have come and gone since David & I married. Wow. & what did we do to celebrate? Why, we went to watch Pirates of the Carribean, of course. Who doesn't enjoy some Johnny Depp to set the mood????


Okay, so that explains one day, right? So what else has had me so busy? Other than working on a new story proposal, that is. I decided to remodel my house. Insane I know, but I'm not much of a house cleaner--big surprise, I know--and it was/is sorely needed. So, I've took doors off hinges and stripped paint and painted and scrubbed and...okay, you get the idea. Why I decided to do all the rooms at once is beyond me though.

I live in a house that's literally a hundred years old. It has lots of character and charm--that's a nice way of saying it has a lot of old stuff. ;) Anyway, when I was stripping paint from the baseboards at my staircase I was pleasantly surprised to find some gorgeous wood beneath. Now I just have to finish stripping it off. I didn't take any pics before I got started, but here's one that shows what I was uncovering. Nice.



I'll post more pictures as I get things done.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Hope you have lots of fireworks & happy times!!! I'm off to my in-laws for swimming, food, fireworks, & fun! :)

Be safe & don't forget the wonderful thing this day honors--our country's independance! What a wonderful blessing freedom is.

A special thank you to our armed services!!

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Failure to Launch

Watched this last night. Of course, I found Matthew to be absolutely adorable. What can I say? The man has charm & I'm a bit biased. Just a weeeeeee bit.

I laughed out loud several times during the movie & so did hubby. I also drooled over the chest scenes--Matthew's NOT Terry Bradshaw's, which in my humble opinion could have been left out completely. I mean, who wants to see Terry Bradshaw in the buff? Not me, but I suppose there are those who do. Personally, I think they could have left out the butt shot & the movie would have been just fine & I would have one less EWWW moment in my life.

Anyway, it was a cute movie & a fun role for Matthew to star in. I like him better in this role than Sahara, but am glad that Sahara was the movie out when I named my laptop though as I would hate to think of my computer as "Failure to Launch".