Happy Postal Worker

I have a few friends who I send 'gag' Christmas gifts. Gag in the sense that it's not your usual kind of gifts. Anyway, for Christmas this year, I put together several fun gifts for one of my pals. I bought things that would fit in this long, white tube and mailed them the week before Christmas. Unfortunately the mailing tube didn't arrive prior to Christmas, which surprised me because I mailed it Priority. The tube finally arrived! Empty. Ack! She called to let me know so I could go file a claim at the Post Office. File a Claim???? You have to envision me with my mouth gaped open and thinking, "I don't think so." as the image of my going into my local PO and saying, "I'm here to report that the big white package I mailed shot it's load at some point on it's way to Kimmi's and I need to file a missing content claim for a 2 lb sausage and a Bad Girl Clean-Up kit." Yeah right, file a claim.

The Bad Girl Clean-Up kit was one I'd bought already put together. It had the most hilarious sayings on the box and came equipped with moist toilettes and other such goodies.

The Sausage? You really should get your mind out of the gutter cause it's NOT what you're thinking. Two years ago during a From The Heart Award ceremony at the RWA National convention, myself and two friends were deemed "Sausage Queens" & given awards for such in front of the entire group. The friend who got the empty present was writing a book and was researching sausages because her heroine's mom was waving a sausage around while trying to pick up a guy for her daughter while grocery shopping. The friend was asking about weights & sizes for sausages, etc. A full fledged discussion about sausages began on this writing loop (a BIAW was going on) and things got a little...out of control. :) So, three of us were dubbed Sausage Queens. That's all I can say on the matter, because if I told you the rest of the story I'd have to kill you. ;)

I sent Kimmi a 2 lb sausage, the Bad Girl kit, a bracelet, and a few other goodies. Nothing real expensive, but things that I'd chosen to give her a smile. Needless to say I was disappointed that the package contained no surprises, but enough to go file a claim?? You have to remember I live in a small town. Everyone at the post office knows me. Knows me well. My mom bakes them Christmas goodies every year. Claim? The thought gives me hives.

So, while discussing the caper of the missing gifts with Kimmi, we got to discussing the happy postal worker and her delighted surprise when she found her very own Bad Girl Clean-up Kit and a 2 lb sausage. The jewelry and other goodies were just bonuses. Can't you just picture her smiling, recounting the tale?

This one time when I was at post office work... (said in true band camp intonation, of course) tee hee!

Oh! I didn't win the computer. :( Guess it's back to the bidding.

New computer?

Well, maybe. I put a bid in on one at ebay and am hoping that it'll pan out. I have Sahara (my wonderful Dell laptop that's named after Matthew McConaughey's movie!!) but my desktop is about 7 years old and my monitor's color has been whacked out for some time. Plus, everytime I try to load something new it crashes. My hubby says I've pretty much maxed my memory out--not sure if he's talking about the computer or moi. ;) So, I've been watching ebay for a while and tonight I put in a bid on one. How cool if I get to start 2006 out with a new computer? Of course, I'll have to figure out a name for the one. Although Matthew's latest movie is Two for the Money I'm not thrilled at the prospect of naming my desktop that...uhm, going to think on this one...guess I should win the laptop first. :)

I sent The Glass Slipper to my agent this evening, danced to 80's music being silly with my daughter--we have had a blast with a Detrola record player my husband got me for Christmas. I can play all my old albums (can you say Air Supply, Bay City Rollers, The Rolling Stone, Sue Thompson, and more? Okay, so that's a bigger mix than just the 80's.) Anyway, Abby and I have danced around the house singing along and having ourselves a good time. Way fun.

I've had my eye on this really cool suede jacket, but getting a new computer is my top priority so I've delayed on buying it, thinking I'd get it after Christmas. Today it went on sale--what are the odds with me bidding on a computer? It was 50% off so I decided to go for it and not eat for the next month. They were sold out of my size. Not only my size but the size below my size and the size above my size--yes, I did check. Wah! Now I'm wishing I hadn't procrastinated and had just gone ahead and ordered it to begin with. That'll teach me to be a procrastinater shopper. ;)

Oh, and the above is a picture of Matthew after he finished reading Jane Millionaire. Apparently he had to cool himself off afterwards. ;)

A Life Less Ordinary

So, when I was searching for a fabo picture of Matthew to post on my blog tonight, this one caught my attention. The saying as much so as the gorgeous man.

A life less ordinary--that's sorta what we're all looking for. Meaning. Purpose. To feel that we made our mark on the world in one way or another--hopefully a positive one. To know that when we reach the end of our days we can look back and know that we reached for our dreams and lived a life that was less ordinary. I like it. Especially at this reflective time of year when many of us are looking back over 2005 and preparing to set New Year resolutions. A life less ordinary.

I finished up the rough draft of Causin A Commotion last week and have been toying with it, trying to figure out why I'm not quite happy with the story-line. I took a break from it today to read over The Glass Slipper. My agent plans to submit it in early January. It's my first attempt at a paranormal and it's a light, fun story. I had a lot of fun with it and just adore the ending. To me the ending is soooooo important. I can love a story and then if it doesn't end right, well, it just ruins the entire thing for me. For instance, hubby and I watched Cold Mountain. An excellent movie--up till the end. I won't give a spoiler for those who haven't seen it, but I really, really wanted to rewrite that ending. In my mind, I did a hundred times. The characterization in that movie was fabulous, btw. I've never been a Jude Law fan, couldn't have even named anything he was in, but I have to admit, he did a fantastic job and his character was such a true hero that you couldn't help but fall in love with him. But I'm a romantic at heart and want my happily-ever-after. If a book or movie doesn't give it to me, I'm disappointed---or dream about the movie all night, giving it alternate endings. :)

A Life Less Ordinary--I'm going to come back to this in a couple of days when I write my resolutions...think I can list Matthew under my tree as a goal for 2006??? LOL. Guess I better stick with things a bit more realistic--and that won't lead my husband to asking for a divorce.

Merry Christmas!

Wow! Look at what someone left under my tree after I whined that none of my packages could possibly have Matthew McConaughey tucked inside as they were the wrong shape and size. ;) Actually, several sweet ladies on my readers loop sent me pics of Matthew! YUM!!!! Now there's an image to cause happy Christmas thoughts to dance in one's head during the night. ;)

On that note, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Hope Santa is particularly good to you all this year!

Ho! Ho! Ho!!! Merry Christmas to one and to all!

American Title 2

Round Two of the American Title 2 contest has started! Voting began on Dec. 19 and runs until Dec. 31 at www.romantictimes.com, which will take you to the front page or you can go directly to the voting page by going to www.americantitle2.com.

This round they are looking for the best hero and heroine and the three contestants who receive the fewest votes will be cut from the competition, so every vote counts! Please pass this along to anyone you think would be willing to help out. You can only vote online and each email address can only vote once.

As someone who knows exactly how these ladies feel, I want to encourage you to go vote in this round. Flavia was particularly harsh to some of the contestants (Ouch! I remember EXACTLY how that feels), but don't let that dissuade you from voting for whichever entry you feel is the best.

The lovely floral arrangement above is from the American Title Two contestants. They had this delivered to me on the morning of November 29th...the day Jane Millionaire was released (which was such a stressful day because of my son's oral surgery). It was so unexpected and so sweet of them, that I cried when I read the card. The really cool thing is that I have lighthouses in my office and the plate and cup look fabulous on my desk!!!

One of the greatest gifts I've recieved during 2005 is all the new friends I've made via the American Title contest and Jane Millionaire's release. I have much to be thankful for.

Hump day!

Get your mind out of the gutter! I'm talking about the fact that it's Wednesday! & that (am I jinxing myself by saying this?) everyone in my house *seems* better. Yea!!! That's enough to make me want to turn cartwheels!

I did a radio interview yesterday morning. It was for a local station and it was nice. We mainly discussed the American Title Contest and the process Jane Millionaire went through from the time I entered to the time I was announced the winner. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would--which isn't necessarily saying a lot since I was terrified at the thought of having to do the interview. :)

I plan to finish the rough draft of Causin A Commotion today! Woo hoo! & then it's back to work tomorrow (been off a couple of days with the sickies, unfortunately they were too sick for me to get anything done other than clean-ups & pick-ups. Yuck.). I am off work on Friday & look forward to a day at home, hopefully with no sick kids, no sick husband, and dream about Matthew by the pool. Lucky dog! ;)

Stomach virus is still in the house!

Ack! Enough said.

Life's ups & downs!

Well, after my very lovely day on Thursday, my life went to the loo. My youngest had a stomach virus & I was up with him all Thursday night. Ick. Fortunately, he felt better and he and I slept quite a bit on Friday. Unfortunately I didn't get to go to my Christmas party at work. :( It was at a dinner theater and I'd looked forward to going, but kiddos come first.

Tonight was my Christmas with my family. It began with my 12 yr old starting with the dreaded stomach virus an hour before time to be there. We started to just all stay home, but my other 3 kids begged to go on to Grandma's since they felt fabulous & we were talking presents, after all. So, my dear hubby and the 12 yr old stayed home while I took the other 3 kids to my parents. Everything was going well, until my daughter's dinner came back up. Ack! We should have stayed home. I knew it from the beginning, but I gave in to their begging because I remember the magic of presents at Christmas time. This year I'm hoping for Matthew McConaughey under my tree. After dealing with several days of sick kids, I'm thinking I'd really run away with him if he showed up on my doorstep...okay, so I'd come back for the kids...eventually...maybe...okay, so I'd just go away with him for a weekend or two, but come on, I'm trying to forget about reality for a bit here. Puh-leeze. You're totally interfering with my fantasy here by reminding me that I love my hubby and kids and would miss them terribly even I was on a wild weekend with Matthew...perhaps he could work really hard to make me forget??? Or perhaps I could be having one of those Stetson, take me away! moments (hey, you can have your Calgon, I'll take my Stetson! ;) Anyway, after all the household yuckies, I definitely need a Matthew fix. ((Janice stares at Matthew's picture, wipes the drool from her chin, and stares some more.)) Ahhh, I'm feeling better already.

I did two interviews tonight. It's always interesting to see what people ask about you and your stories and your writing process. A lot of the questions are similiar, but then there's the totally unexpected ones. I'm currently the featured author at www.romancejunkies.com . I'll post the other links when they go live. :) I'm doing another radio interview on Tuesday morning. It's for a local station and is thirty minutes long. Hope I don't say Uhm too many times. My first radio interview is still on archive at www.healthylife.net under the Definitely Dana! show.

Well, I'm off to get some sleep...at least, I'm hoping I get to sleep tonight. Two sick kids in the house, I'll be lucky if I get any shut eye time.

Jane Millionaire does Australia!

This morning prior to going to work I checked my emails (imagine that!) & I had the sweetest email from a bookseller in Australia. She'd read Jane Millionaire and loved it. Okay, call me sappy but I watered up. Big time. It just seems so unreal to me that something I wrote is actually a real book and that said book is being read by people on the other side of the world.

I've almost finished my Christmas shopping (yes, I said "Christmas" & no I won't be politically correct and just say Happy Holidays. I'm not overtly political, but this one really gets my goat! Celebrating Christ's birthday by taking his name out of the day? I respect others' religion and believe they have every right to believe as they choose and to celebrate as they choose---but so do I & anyone not believing in Christ should show me that same respect for my religious beliefs, IMHO), but back to shopping...ah, shopping. Can I just say that the stores are madhouses and I've never seen so many women ready to commit murder over the last video game. The poor sales clerks. Ack! Each year I seem to be doing more and more of my shopping online. If possible, I think I'd do all my shopping there. :)

And then there's the people on your lists who have it all, people you love and want to give a gift to show how much they mean to you, yet you can't quite find the gift that says that. At least, not one within your budget. Usually it's men that I have this problem with...but not always.

Oh! I'm the featured newbie author at http://www.roadtoromance.ca/ :) One of the fun thing about finally selling a book is coming across all these neat romance sites. Despite being an avid romance reader all my life, I didn't know a fraction of them were out there.

And, just in case you were wondering, the hottie above is Benjamin Bratt. I know, I know, I'm a Matthew kind of girl, but in Jane Millionaire my heroine, Jill, thinks the hero, Rob, looks like Benjamin Bratt. Yeah, I can see what Rob's appeal might be. ;)

Call off the search!

I'm not lost or missing, just negligent on keeping up with my posts. Life has been nutty! Okay, my life is always nutty, but lately more so than usual. :) Thursday my dad went into the hospital with chest pain and that through my life out of kilter. Needless to say all the things that are so important in my day to day life fell to no importance at all. Fortunately, my dad is okay and he aced his cardiac stress test. He's home and feeling better. Yea!!!

My husband and oldest two boys went backpacking this weekend (yes, it was colder than an iceberg's bottom) and camped. The youngest two & I hung out with my parents and curled on the sofa watching Christmas movies. Okay, so I wrote a bit, too. My self-imposed deadline for the sequel to Jane Millionaire is by the end of the year. I'm 309 pages in, so hopefully I'll make it.

I had a really cool thing happen today. I've pitched an article to RWR magazine once before, but unfortunately they'd already bought a similiar one. So, being thick-headed female that I am, I pitched another. & they picked it up! Woo hoo!!! It'll be in the August 2006 issue.

Take Me by Bella Andre

Tonight, I'm blogging about my co-finalist in the American Title contest, Bella Andre! She's fabulous and writes fabulously hot books! Bella's debut book from Pocket has the most yummy cover ever.

An appetite for sensual pleasures must never be denied. . . .


Lily Ellis has curves–soft, beautiful curves. The kind of voluptuous body she fears Travis Carson, the man she’s always loved from afar, would never crave. But Lily is about to be proven wrong. Her sensual adventure begins when, despite her inhibitions, the demure San Francisco interior decorator agrees to model a plus-size dress for her fashion designer sister. Watching this sensual beauty move down the runway with mesmerizing power, Travis can’t believe it’s the same Lily he’s always known and always rejected. In a whirlwind of electric attraction, Lily is soon moaning Traviss name in his bed, not just in her wild fantasies. But Lily is all too aware that she’s nothing like his past lovers . . . and now that she has him close at last, she’s praying Travis likes what he sees and feels. Determined to beat Travis at his own game by guarding her true feelings of love and lust, she spontaneously partners with him on a business deal that takes them all the way to Italy. In the seductive warmth of the Tuscan sun, Lily is about to unwrap her real self, and play a game of desire with the hot-blooded Travis. Will she be burned by an ecstasy that’s so all-consuming it has her seeing stars? Or will Travis open his heart to the sexy, exciting, and lasting love she has to offer?

Emma Holly, bestselling author: Oh, my! Bella Andre’s TAKE ME is wonderfully sexy–a big, fun fantasy with an euqally big heart. You’ll cheer these characters on as they find each other…and themselves!

Jaid Black, bestselling author: TAKE ME is emotionally charged and deliciously erotic. A must-read from cover to cover.

Patricia Green, Romance Reviews Today: A story with a woman who isn’t model perfect is a refreshing change in TAKE ME…Ms. Andre captures the beauty of Italy in such a way that it will leave one wishing to experience the warmth of the Tuscan sun…a delightfully engaging tale of erotic contemporary romance.

Susan White, JustEroticRomanceReviews: Take Me is a terrific book that I absolutely adored.

Angel, Romance Junkies: TAKE ME is an excellent book about a full figured woman… I love the fact that a plus size heroine gets the hero. Bella Andre has done an outstanding job creating a heroine who is not average and a hero who loves her just the way she is.

Tewanda H., bookseller: I am lucky enough to work at a bookstore that received an advanced reading copy of Take Me. I was unable to put the book down. IT IS WONDERFUL!!!! And I will be recommending it to customers, friends, and family. Lily is a wonderful heroine, that cannot help but touch your heart.

Available now from Pocket Trade!

Y'all be sure to check her out at http://www.bellaandre.com/

Ack! I've been tagged!

My darling buddy Kathleen Long (check her out at www.kathleenlong.com ) just tagged me. It's sorta like this nasty virus that once one person gets tagged they spread it all around. Now's my turn to do my part to infect some of my friends. :)

Okay, this tag is to list 15 things related to me and reading/writing. 15 things. 15 things. Like I have 15 things to say. Well, let's give this a shot.

15. (Hey, I can make it a countdown if I want to. Just to make things a little more interesting.) The first romances I read were my mother's Harlequins, Silhouettes, and Second Chances at Love. I'd sneak them off her shelf and sit in my bedroom closet with a flashlight and read them.

14. One of my all time favorite reads is Good Time Girl by Candace Schuler. Yes, I have a thing for cowboys, hot sex, and Mustangs. A book that combines the three works for me. ;)

13. When I was in 1st or 2nd grade I won my first writing contest. A story about a little witch. No, it wasn't an autobiography. vbg

12. Nora Roberts gave me my birds and the bees talk via reading her books. (see number #15 for the specifics on how. ;)

11. I wrote my first 'romance' when I was in eighth grade. By hand on loose leaf notebook paper. That notebook is in my basement and someday when I need a good laugh, I'll haul it out.

10. If I could be any author when I grow up, I'd choose to be Jennifer Crusie. Of course, I'm never growing up, so it's irrelevant.

9. On the night I got the coverflat for JANE MILLIONAIRE, I wrapped it around Marianne Mancusi's A Connecticut Fashionista In King Arthur's Court and put it on my bookshelf to see what it looked like. :)

8. My former boss read JANE MILLIONAIRE this weekend. He says we need to put Jane on audio, quit prescribing Viagra, and just sell the tapes instead. Says we'd make a fortune. :)

7. When I won the American Title contest, four dear friends sent me a gorgeous charm bracelet commerating the contest. A castle. A rose. A director's chair. Handcuffs. A water bottle. A computer. A star. For each charm, they'd written a line about how it related to the book. I cried and treasure that bracelet & their friendship. These days, they send me Tags. ;)

6. I finaled in nearly 20 RWA contests before I WON one.

5. I won that particular contest two years in a row. 2003 & 2004

4. This year, I'm not eligible to enter. (woo hoo!)

3. Despite the fact that my first published book is set on a reality television show, I've only ever watched one episode and that was while at a writing conference and my three roomies FORCED me to watch an episode of Survivor.

2. Leanne Banks is the first published author I remember meeting at my first RWA function (Denver 2002). Leanne (along with fabuloso Lori Foster!) gave me an author quote for JANE MILLIONAIRE.

I feel like David Letterman should interrupt me here and say something witty about the number one factoid about Janice Lynn in relation to writing or reading is...

1. The real reason I write is it gives me a legitimate reason to stare at pictures of Matthew McConaughey to my heart's content. For inspiration, you know. :)

Now I have to infect three of my pals...oh Kendra ( http://kendraclark.blogspot.com ), Mary ( http://marywritesromance.blogspot.com ), Trish (http://trishwrites.blogspot.com) ...look out!

Chocolate poured over Matthew McConaughey Kind of Day!

Yes, it was one of those delicious days that a person remembers all throughout their life. My first booksigning!! & I sold out! Happy day! Happy day!!! :) My mom took pictures. When I get copies, I'll post them.

Came home to some great emails from friends that local stores for them had sold out of Jane Millionaire! or that they'd seen Jane Millionaire face out in the bookstore and one friend even saw Jane Millionaire on the front table along with Nora and the *big* names! Wow! I'd love to have seen that. :)

Hubby has been super attentive & is almost finished reading Jane Millionaire for the first time ever & it's just been a really stellar day.

Thanks to all of you who've been so supportive and wonderful to me on Jane Millionaire's journey to publication. This has been one wild ride and it just keeps getting better. :)

Going to go watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith with my family and make notes on a new book idea that hit me while driving home from the book signing.

First book signing!

Tomorrow I'm doing my very first book signing. It's at a local bookstore (Tullahoma!) from 2 until 4 PM! I'm so excited. :) What's even more fun is that the bookseller called me yesterday to tell me that she'd sold out of my book and had to order more for the signing! Now that's cool! LOVED that.

Tonight I did an interview and answered emails and I just have to say that I thoroughly LOVE getting emails from readers. I watered up the first one I got. Sweet lady who reminded me of me. Mother, wife, job, school (ok, so I've FINALLY moved beyond that...unless I decide to go back and get my doctorate--somebody slap me quick!), anyway, her email was so fabulous and really moved me because I know how little free time she has and yet she chose to spend an entire afternoon reading Jane Millionaire, then took the time to email me to tell me she loved it!!! And I got my dream email---one from someone saying she was up till 4 AM because she couldn't put the book down and, despite the fact she had to go to work the next day, she had to finish Jane. OMG! I mean, I recall so many nights that I've done the same thing because I *had* to know what was going to happen with the characters next & now, someone had that feeling about Rob and Jill's story. WOW!!!!

Y'all have a great weekend!!! & wish me luck for tomorrow cuz I'm a bit nervous.