So the big conference in Dallas is in full swing.

From all of the reports I’ve heard so far, the authors are having a ball meeting and sharing, and the signings have been well-attended by the public.

There was also that silly little issue about certain e-publishers suddenly being labeled ‘vanity presses’, and prohibited from participating in RWA activities, even though they were previously RWA approved—but what’s a family gathering without a little drama, hmmm??

Photos are starting to trickle in, and since there’s nothing spectacular happening on the home front, I’ll direct you to some of them…

Jill Shalvis

Dear Author

Naughty and Spice

Lynn Matherly

Gennita Low

Suzanne McMinn

It’s been a busy week for me. Since Monday, I’ve had about three or four topics in my head I wanted to blog about today and now…nada. Nothing. Zip. Zilch.

What is UP with that?

I guess I should have written them down.

But I’m not entirely sure what I have to say is riveted anyway. I’ve been thinking about too much lately. And not sleeping that great at night. I’m having a hard time getting to sleep and when I do, I have weird dreams. It makes for a restless night.

So by the end of the day, I’m tired. And very cranky. And so is my kid. We don’t make a good pair at all. hehe

If you’re not at Nationals, what are you doing this week? Are you hanging out with the kids or just working like normal? And if you ARE at Nationals…well, I want a full report on my desk by 8 am Monday.   :wink: Just kidding.

Today I head far far away for Nationals. . .  all the way to Dallas. I know, not so far from Fort Worth–hey, at least I don’t have to fork over airfare this year! But it is at least a break from the DH and kiddos–gotta love, but need to get away every now and I again.

Hopefully I will remember to take pics. Last year, I think I took like ten, all the first or last day there. But I feel weird snapping shots of the writers I want to be when I grow up. I will try and do better in Dallas.

So, as I mentioned last week, if you see me come up to me and let me know you’re a Chica fan and I will give you a little goodie bag. And one special fan will get an autographed copy of Amie’s hot new book HANDS ON!

Can you Find me?

Wow….I remember my best friend Donya (Happy Birthday Sug!) loaning me Shanna and us giggling overanalyzing the dirty juicy parts. Of course, Donya’s mom always had the best books! And My God…who doesn’t remember Shanna, The Wolf and the Dove, Ashes in the Wind…*sigh* they’re classics.

Kathleen Woodiwiss … It’s the end of an era. Look at how much publishing has changed since those first bodice rippers 30′odd years ago…….wow.

In honor of Kathleen, what’s the first romance you remember reading? Or the first really dirty juicy book you remember?

I’m off to RWA tomorrow but I’ll be checking in, blogging as often as I can at my blog-house. If you’re in the area, I will be doing the book signing on Wednesday night from 5:30-7:30 and I have goodies for the first six or so people who get a book. :)

I’m afraid Mik’s all tied up.
Well…I don’t mean tied up.
Although she may very well be.
Who knows what people do when they’re not blogging?
But either way, you’re stuck with me.

I know this will come as news to some of you…
But it’s JULY.
The seventh month.  In fact, tomorrow will be 7-7-07.
(Amazed by my powers of awareness, huh?).

I know people say it every year, but this baby is FLYING!!

I’ve also been around long enough to know that one’s value as a human being isn’t based on ‘achievements’ as defined by society.  But I also admit that I get very frustrated when I don’t feel like I’m accomplishing anything (like pretty durn often lately!).

How’s your year going, ‘achievement’-wise?  If you set goals, are you pretty well on track, or have you made adjustments with the passing of time?  Or are you simply not worried about it, and enjoying whatever space you’re in?

Today is my blog day but I’ve been a tad busy. So I will have to come back later :) So… stay tuned.

I had to blog this very important announcement for all you readers.

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

* hell (5x)
* cock (4x)
* sex (3x)
* clit (2x)
* bastards (1x)

So here’s the deal . . .

As I said yesterday, Ames and I will be at Nationals next week.

if you can find me–and don’t already know me (that’s cheating y’all)–I will have a goodie bag for you. And one lucky ”Goodie” recipient will also get a signed copy of Hands On.

Can you stand it?!?!?!

So how will you know me? hmm . . . . . good question. It could be by chance you find me or pure blind luck. Or I can post a pic and you can hope to match the face from among the throngs of writers. That’s the chancy part!

Are you up for the challenge?

WHAT DO WE LOOK LIKE ??? . . . look below . . .

(more…)

I decided to upgrade my phone–my old one is a year old (I got it from a friend who worked at Motorola–it was a pretty decent model, but he didn’t give me all the hardware that came with it–and it cost nothing to upgrade. . . ) 

I decided to go with the Samsung version of the Razr this time–the Samsung SYNC–it plays music and has all sorts of crap I haven’t a clue about–y’know the good stuff. I can download my songs from Windows Media to the phone. It’s red and so pretty. I ordered it on Friday, got it yesterday. . .

And the freaking thing is BROKEN! GGRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

The main LCD screen is all jacked up. Sometimes it will split across in three sections or layer one screen atop another; once it completely transposed the entire screen. DAY-UM! I was so excited; now I have to deal with returning this phone and getting a new one all before heading to Nationals on Monday. Did I mention GGRRRRRR!!!!!!!

BUT on a totally happy note: Ames and I are headed to Nationals next week (as I mentioned). It just so happens I have an extra copy of HANDS ON–signed by the author–burning a whole in my hot little hand. I have an idea how to give it away to folks who will also attend Nationals! As well as other prizes for Chica-fans. . .

Details to follow tomorrow–are you curious?

UPDATE: Can I also get a show of hands of Chica readers who will be at Nationals? Ames and I will be . . . who else . . . ?

So, out of necessity *coughshitcough* I pulled out a WIP I’d like to work on. I’ve really got to do some major character fleshing (and writing), but I”d forgotten how much I loved this story. It’s an absolute hoot and if I can get it written *godhelpme* should be a fun read too.

However, when I first created the characters I made them older. Not OLDER older, but my age older. The heroine is 39 and the hero is in his early 40’s. I did this for very specific reasons. Namely the hero is a doctor and all that medical school stuff takes a while. I also gave them both issues I think a lot of people my age and slightly older can relate too–aging parents. I think it’ll make an interesting sub-plot.

And, oh yeah, it’s supposed to be an erotic romance.

You can stop laughing now.

So while I know the age amongst the readership of erotic romance varies widely (and i tend to stick with 30-something heroines), how do you feel about reading slightly older characters? I’m a fine one to be asking, I can’t even date older men