Dec 18, 2009 | Holidays, Life |
Yikes! It's only a week until Christmas! Are you ready? I almost am. I actually mailed Christmas cards yesterday, which was a weight off my mind. And, I have to admit, I cut my list down this year. I've had people on there for years to whom I mail cards — and never get one in return. I've decided I just don't have time for that anymore. This year, I kept a couple of those people on the list, but mostly I mailed cards to people who mailed them to me. And people who I know will mail them (or would) when they have time.
As far as gifts, I'm almost done there. Hubby and I may not be shopping for each other, though we won't know that until tomorrow. See, we have this big wall in our great room where we've been wanting built-ins. So we have a contractor coming to give us an estimate. That may be our present to each other — which, I have to say, is fine with me. I'd rather get something I want than turn the man loose with a few ideas and hope for the best. 🙂
If the estimate is too large, then we may be doing some last minute shopping for each other. We tend to buy what we want when we want it, or plan for bigger purchases, so it gets difficult to find things the other person doesn't already have. I really, really hope the built-ins are within the budget. I know we won't have them before Christmas, but knowing they're coming would be awesome.
What do you want for Christmas? Do you like things for the house? Or do you prefer personal items like jewelry and perfume, etc?
Dec 11, 2009 | Holidays, Life |
I'm feeling pretty happy today! Not only did I turn the novella in with 3 days to spare, but I managed to actually do a little Christmas shopping. Oh, not enough, that's for sure! I have much to do. But it was so nice to be able to leave the house, to actually wear makeup and put on real clothes, that it made me giddy.
Silly, huh?
But I've been cooped up in the house, slaving at the computer (while streaming Pandora Belly Dance radio, I might add!), and occasionally staring out the window wistfully. Getting out for something as exciting as a post office run and a trip to the mall was big news for me. 🙂
I know there could be novella revisions any day, but I'm forging ahead with my holiday cheer until then! Today, I have fudge to make for a party tonight. Tomorrow, I have my RWA chapter Christmas party in the morning, and a tour of homes with my mom in the afternoon. Lots of Christmas activities to get my spirit going! And it's cold in Alabama, like really really cold, which it typically isn't this time of year. While I don't appreciate cold, it does mean I get to wear my gorgeous German Loden coat to my events instead of a light jacket. Since my coat is red, it puts me in the holiday mood!
And now I'm going to go turn on the local radio station that plays Christmas music 24/7, start the fudge, and wrap a package or two to take to the PO later. Are you in the holiday mood? What sort of things get you in the spirit?
Nov 23, 2009 | Books, Holidays, Life, Revising, Shopping |
I turned in my revisions last night at about midnight. Since my editor is in the UK, that means they'd be sitting in her inbox when she arrived in the morning. What a relief to get them gone! The work isn't done until she tells me it is, so no getting my hopes up that the book is finished yet. There may be some more work to do.
In the meantime, I have a sheikh novella to write! My lovely editor called me this morning to talk about him. I suspected there would be work to do there, and of course I was right. The novella is a new format for me, so it's also a learning experience to try and pack all the power and emotional punch of a Presents into 25k. That story is due in about 3 weeks now, so guess who will be busy and scarce once more? 🙂
But I'm excited about the holiday this week! What American doesn't love Thanksgiving? A day dedicated to eating and spent with family? Can't wait. We're going to my mother's house, and one of my brothers will be there with his family too. I'm making my famous Cajun stuffing, and I believe I'm in charge of cranberry sauce too. Tomorrow, my mother and I are going shopping together for many of the fixins (a Southern word, for my international readers, that means ingredients).
Of course I'm going to have to find a way to write during all this festivity. And I will. I'll write early, write late, and write whenever there's a free moment.
I'm still looking for my winner last week! Cynthia Gander, where are you? Email me for your book! 🙂
And, speaking of books, Cavelli's Lost Heir is officially out in the UK now! If you live in the UK, and you happen to see my book on the shelves, could you snap a pic? Email to me at lynn AT lynnrayeharris DOT com, and I'll send you a couple of my lovely bookmarks!
Oct 13, 2009 | Life |
I had a very exciting weekend! First, I typed The End on Book 4 on Thursday afternoon, an entire week before my deadline. My plan was to let it sit for a day or so, and then start reading it again for any last minute changes. I honestly can't remember what I did on Friday — this is typical after I finish a book. I know I went to the post office to finally mail prizes to a couple of you! And I may have gone grocery shopping.
Friday evening, bolstered by the knowledge I need to write a sheikh novella very soon, I talked the hubby into watching Lawrence of Arabia for the gazillionth time. I do love that movie. The desert, Omar Sharif, the horses, the camels, the locations (the buildings were actually Moorish buildings in Spain, but the desert scenes are in Jordan). Gorgeous scenery, fabulous story. I've actually read the book on which the movie is based — twice. Lawrence was quite a wordsmith. (There's a whole other side to the story about the Arab perspective, which he does not necessarily portray accurately, but that's another topic.)
On Saturday, we had planned to go to dinner with my parents. We'd arranged it earlier in the week, and once I remembered we were doing so, I was quite excited about it. We have discovered a wonderful German restaurant in town that has authentic food and decor. It's like being transported to a German cafe! (And no, for the locals reading, I am NOT talking about Olde Heidelberg.)
While waiting for my parents to arrive, I decided I wanted to get my Autumn wreath out of the attic. Big mistake. I have never gone into the attic for a reason, I later realized.
The repairman assures me that people stepping through the ceiling is quite common, in fact. I now have a large hole in my kitchen ceiling, and I scared the bejeebers out of myself when I took a step and there was no floor beneath me. My leg punched through, I fell on my wrist, and my kitchen looked like it had snowed because of the insulation everywhere.
Fortunately, aside from the hole, there was no lasting damage. My wrist is doing better, and my thigh isn't as bruised as I thought it would be. I scared my poor hubby to death, and he informs me that he's never seen the cat's tail that poofed out before. Apparently I scared her too. 🙂
Sunday was quite normal in contrast, and yesterday I sent my book to my editor. How was your weekend? Any adventures? Have you done something so dumb as step through the ceiling before? Come on, make me feel better! Tell me your embarrassing or silly adventures.
Oct 6, 2009 | Contests, Life, Writing |
I realized this morning when I woke up that today is the one year anniversary of The Call. One year ago today, at 7:27 AM, my lovely editor called to buy Spanish Magnate, Red-Hot Revenge and one other book from me. In February, my second book was accepted, and then my editor called to buy three more books. She also recently called to buy a novella.
It's been quite a road since that day one year ago! I can remember the excitement, the heart-pounding inability to concentrate on anything other than the fact I'd just sold a book. It was an amazing day! Best of all, my poor patient long-suffering husband was at home when I got the call. Five more minutes, and he'd have been out the door on the way to work. But he was here, and I didn't have to scramble around trying to find him so I could tell him. You know how you always read call stories where someone was at home alone, and then she couldn't get her husband or any of her family on the phone?
Thankfully, that wasn't me. 🙂 I can't remember the order in which I called people after. I may have called my mom, and then my dad at work. And my in-laws. After that, it's a blur. My hubby had to trot off to work, and later that day, he had to leave town on a business trip. I remember that my celebratory dinner that evening was a Lean Cuisine pizza and a glass of wine. But when my hubby returned at the end of the week, we went out for a proper celebration! And of course he brought me flowers and a card before he left for that trip.
It was a great day.
One year later, I'm hard at work on Book #4, which is due in a little over a week, and thinking about the novella I have to write next. It's been fun, busy, stressful at times, but I wouldn't trade this job for anything.
Most of all, I want to thank my readers for all the wonderful comments and emails you've sent to me over the last year. Your support when my book came out meant so much to me. I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you'll enjoy the next one. You landed me on the Waldenbooks/Borders Bestseller list and on the Bookscan Top 100 Bestselling Romances list. I thank you all very much. I write because I love it, but I also write because I hope you will love it.
Now, because I feel so celebratory today, I'm going to give away a copy of Cavelli's Lost Heir to one lucky commenter! You'll have to be a little patient, however, because I don't have my copies just yet. I expect them soon, and when I get them, I'll pop it in the mail.
So tell me what you've celebrated recently, or what you will celebrate soon! Any milestone or event counts.
PS You will have noticed I have a new Contest page on this site. Stay tuned for a new contest soon….
Sep 22, 2009 | Life, Writing |
I don't really have a lot of words of wisdom on the topic, but it occurred to me this weekend as I had to travel for my grandmother's funeral, attend the funeral, and be with family, that my job as a writer doesn't stop because of adversity.
Of course different events affect people differently. I was more emotional than I thought I'd be when I got to the funeral. Grandma was 78, and she'd been pretty sick. Her passing was expected — and yet the events overtook me and my emotions.
Still, I have a deadline to meet and though I know I could ask my editor for more time if I really, really felt I needed it, I don't feel like this is one of those times. Had it happened closer to my deadline, that would be different.
You have to know what you can do and what you can't. Think about this as you work on your stories. When you get that call that someone wants to publish your book, you are moving into the category of professional writer. Professionals show up for work every day. Treat writing like a job, show up unless you're sick, take vacations when you need them, and take time off for dealing with emotional events like death and divorce. But get back to work as soon as possible because writing is a job and the job must be done.
So this week I'm working hard to catch up, and I have something new I hope to tell you about soon.
How do you deal with writing through adversity? Any tips or tricks or thoughts on the subject?
