Trashy (?) Romance Novels

I was reminded recently (actually by the title of Catherine Avril Morris' blog) that many people consider romance novels trashy--or at least some of them. I have been told, by more than one person, that they liked my book (a Regency historical romance), but that they don't like trashy romance.

What does that mean exactly? (And I confess I'm too stunned, stumped, stymied to ask them. And really, I don't want to get into an argument with someone about it, particularly someone who liked my book).

Does it mean that they don't like the sex scenes? My own book was a little sexy.
Besides, why not just read sweet romances? Not ALL romances have sex in them. But plenty of other genres--even literature--have sex in them.

Does it mean the characters are not well-developed, the plot line is vague, the ending was terrible? How is this any different from any other book that was not well-conceived, well-developed, or well-written? Why single out romances?

Does it mean they're short novels, published in a throw-away form? So trade with friends, turn them in to the used bookstores, donate them to libraries or assisted living facilities.

Does it mean that the storylines are light, fun, and simple. Easy to read and understand. I personally call those books gems.

I just don't get it. I guess I'll have to work up the gumption to ask the next person who says that to me. And it'll take some doing. Unless they're already criticizing my book...

Nothing Out of the Ordinary

I feel like I'm in a smooth, comfortable rut. Everything is going fine (other than my hair--my husband has taken to calling me 'Freak Girl' and I can't say I object), I'm getting exercise, I'm not overly tired, overly worked, overly stressed. I'm writing, reading, and still getting everything done. But it seems as if nothing out of the ordinary is sparking my days. I'm not having any of those 'over-the-top' emotions. No fits of giggles, shocked gasps, horrified shivers, not even any anger. I'm just here, following the schedule, slowly, patiently getting things done.

Maybe the calm before the storm...

I finished reading 'The Origins of Fingerprinting'--really fascinating stuff, and couldn't help myself--moved on to Girls in Pants-The Third Summer of the Sisterhood. I love those quirky girls, and I'm really enjoying my third installment. Although part of me wishes I'd never seen the movie, because now I'm picturing the actresses, trying to reconcile their appearances with the changes the characters are going through. Next up is Twilight. In my over-eager zest for books, I had way too many checked out to read before the due dates. So I had to let Twilight go. Now it's back, and I'm just about ready. After that, I really need to buckle down and read a Jane Austen. I've been meaning to do that for forever and just gotten distracted by other books. And I call myself a devoted admirer...

I'm still off Coke and still studiously plugging along with my manuscript. Wait! Could Coke have been responsible for all my ups and downs? Is it the reason I'm flatlining now? Good grief, I hope not. I'm just getting the hang of things here.

Blended

I got my hair highlighted yesterday. And today I'm trying to think of ways to fix it. I have only had my hair professionally highlighted one other time in my life (about eight years ago), and it basically just brightened up my natural color. As of today, I have my normal hair color (sort of a medium brown) interspersed with pale, pale blond streaks. I have absolutely no problem with this look--if it suits a person. It absolutely doesn't suit me.

The colorist asked me if I'd like the highlighting to stand out/be obvious (or some similar wording) or if I'd like it to blend. I remember that word specifically. I emphatically said, I'd like it to blend. By that I meant I'd like it to marry with my hair color. When I looked in the mirror for the first time, I saw these platinum strands scattered all over my head. How is that blending??? Using a food metaphor, I'd say I ordered salsa and got pico de gallo instead. And I have no idea what would be best to fix this. I'm wondering about a toner (recommended by my hair stylist), but I worry that'll lighten everything up too much and I'll be a blonde. I'm wondering about colored shampoos, but then question whether that'll undo the highlights completely. I'm at a loss, and it's making me very nervous.

I have only a week to figure this out, so if anyone has any ideas...I'd LOVE to hear them. If necessary, I could post a picture.

Vacation Fantasies

I think maybe it's because I haven't had a vacation all summer that I can't stop dreaming about being somewhere else. Well that, and having had just about all I can take of scorching, humid weather. Although, today it's raining, so we're likely at a steamy 80 degrees. Anyway, whether it's the setting in books I'm reading, photo essays in magazines, movies, TV, or vicarious living through other lucky people, I'm positively yearning to be off somewhere, preferably someplace cool.

Before my sons were born, my husband and I went on our only really, totally loner vacation together. (Everything else had been wrapped around a visit to see family.) We flew into Seattle in October, rented a car, and took the ferry over to Orcas Island (and I discovered I adore ferries). We hiked, stayed in a bed and breakfast and relaxed before the ferry took off for Victoria, and later Vancouver Island where we stayed at the lovely, mysterious Whikaninnish Inn in Tofino (click the link to be wowed!), at the edge of Pacific Rim National Park. Beautiful and lush...you feel like you're at the tip of the world.

I digress...anyway, I've been dreaming of Vancouver and Washington State, Oregon, and Maine. I want some scenery. I want to wear a jacket, I want to experience fall weather. For those of you who don't live in Texas, we don't really have a fall. We barely have a winter. Many a Christmas Day has found me wearing shorts to go outside. Often we need the air-conditioner. It's just not right--for this part of the world.

I guess I'm stuck with just the rain and vicarious living for now.

Paranormal Appeal & Josh Lanyon

I may be a little dense, but up until now I really didn't get the whole paranormal phenomenon. In fact, I wrote up a whole blog post about it that I've never posted. I simply didn't understand the appeal of all those creatures. I've been enlightened. Several writers speak up at Midnight Moon Cafe. Someday soon I'll need to give one a try.

Was also reading about Josh Lanyon, who after having his first two books in a mystery series published (admittedly by a non-traditional press), decided to self-publish his third. It's published through iUniverse and has gotten great reviews on Amazon, notably from Harriet Klausner (whose opinion I respect) and Midwest Book Review (ditto). When I stumble across books like this, I want to read them. I feel a connection with fellow self-pubs. My only trouble is that they're expensive to start with (in my frugal mind) and you can't get them discounted. So I really have to want them.

Counting Down

It's DAY 12 of my Coke-free existence. I did have a couple of false starts at the beginning, but I'm still calling it DAY 12. If we must be accurate, it's more like DAY 7 or 8. But who's counting?

It's also been more than a month now that I've been working (almost) everyday on my work-in-progress. Sure there have been a few weekend days there were missed, and even I think one afternoon, but mostly I've totally hunkered down. I've got a long road ahead of me, but it feels good to make that little bit of progress everyday. And it really is getting to feel more and more like a very 'little bit'. With my little one not yet in school, and my older one in school and wanting to play on the playground after school, then the homework or reading time when he gets home, the time I have to write before making dinner is just not enough. I've been supplementing with after dinner time, but I'm thinking my husband is feeling slighted, so that's going to have to stop.

Since I'm addicted to countdowns, I'll start another one. My little one starts school September 7. So 14 DAYS left till I have a five hour block of time to myself!

The Great Blog Experiment, with Guinea Pig, Nalini Singh

I am participating in a blogging experiment hosted at dearauthor.com. To enter the contest, put up this blurb, image, and trackback and you are entered to win the following prize package.

$200 Amazon gift certificate
Signed copy of Slave to Sensation
New Zealand goodies chosen by Singh
ARC of Christine Feehan's October 31 release: Conspiracy Game
You can read about the experiment here and you can download the code that you need to participate here.

SLAVE TO SENSATION
Nalini Singh
Berkley / September 2006


Welcome to a future where emotion is a crime and powers of the mind clash brutally against those of the heart.

Sascha Duncan is one of the Psy, a psychic race that has cut off its emotions in an effort to prevent murderous insanity. Those who feel are punished by having their brains wiped clean, their personalities and memories destroyed.

Lucas Hunter is a Changeling, a shapeshifter who craves sensation, lives for touch. When their separate worlds collide in the serial murders of Changeling women, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities…or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation.

Excerpt

Not Quite Cold Turkey

I'm giving up Coke. Well, not without a few last hurrahs. I'm letting myself indulge when I really, really need it. And I'm finding, I really, really don't.

I used to drink a can of Coke a day. It would be my afternoon caffeine and carbonation pick-me-up when I was writing. But recently my husband (who'd been drinking 2-3 cans a day) went pretty much cold turkey and started drinking iced tea and water. He'd seen a nutritionist hold up a bag of sugar showing how much is actually in a 12 oz. can of Coke, and I guess he was convinced. He's lost between seven and nine pounds since the start of the 'experiment' about three weeks ago.

This will be Day 10 for me, and I've only had Coke three out of the last nine days. Twice while out (in a combo) and one can at home on a day I had a headache. I'm pretty proud of myself. However...I haven't lost a single pound yet. Doesn't seem fair, but I'll keep trying, saving my Coke indulgences for those really tough days that require a fizzy pick-me-up. I simply can't do Diet.

On another note, whatever happened to those great musical Coke commercials. I LOVED 'Coke is it!' and the old Diet Coke song: 'Just for the taste of it...'. The new ones are fine but not nearly as satisfying. In my opinion.

Turnaround

Just finished Amazing Grace by Megan Shull. Had heard about it on Ally Carter's blog and decided to go ahead and add it to my already overflowing list of library books to reserve and check out. Loved it! Absolutely loved everything about it. The writing style was so light and hip and fun. The characters were all quirky and unique and so very real. Really, I can't say enough.

I'd like to read Ms. Shull's other books--I really would, but I don't envision myself getting to them anytime soon. This is a total and compute turn-around for me. I used to be the sort of person who discovered a great new author and then bought up or checked out his/her entire backlist. Then I'd sit waiting impatiently for the author's next release. There are still authors that I feel this way about, but these dates, it's pretty irregular for this to happen. And it's not because I didn't love that first discovery from a new author. It's more that I now know what to expect and would like the thrill of 'discovering' someone else.

Since becoming addicted to the magical, enchanted world of blogging, I am discovering so many new authors and great books--I can barely keep up with them. Well, that's just not true. I can't keep up. I'm way behind. But I vow to remember names. And when I decide to take a break from it all and use all my spare time to read, I'll have a whole list of authors to tap into.

Also reading Twilight by Stephenie Meyer(Romancing the Blog) and Coupon Girl by Becky Motew (Agent Kristen's blog)

Veronica Mars

Well, last night I saw my first (and second) episodes of Veronica Mars. I'd never even heard of this show until I read Ally Carter raving about it on her blog. Then there was a mention of it on Diana P's blog... Anyway, I decided to see what I was missing.

First let me say I liked it. I think the show has a LOT of potential (by that I mean in a TIVO slot), but I'm sorta lost. I was really trying to keep up, but there are a lot of characters, and the storylines are a little involved. Besides that, the show is builds on previous shows, so I don't think I had all the information I really needed to get the full effect.

But still, I liked it. The witty banter was lightning quick, and I'm sure plenty of lines flew right by without me even noticing. But the characters are fun and strong and quirky and I will definitely be watching again.

Talking about shows, Diana P mentioned her willingness to watch anything written by Aaron Sorkin, and I second that. I loved Sports Night when it was on (so did my husband), and we both really liked the West Wing and The American President. Now I'm looking foward to this fall's new show...don't remember the name of it.

Rules, rules, rules

I've mentioned that I've re-re-re-rewritten my opening pages. And I think I've tightened them, given a better feel for the heroine, her conflict, goals, etc. I was feeling pretty happy with it. So last night, I ask my husband to read it.

He doesn't like it.

In fact, I think I got an 'Eh...' He likes the original better where I sort of start mid phone call and break up the phone call with internal refelction and mini-flashbacks. I thought that seemed kinda choppy and excessive on the internal reflection. (I've also heard that from contest judges and my own personal family readers.)

So, I sent those first three pages to my sister and mother to see what they think.

There is no dialogue in those first three pages. Is that really a problem? I hear all this stuff in writing workshops, online, from contest judges, etc. and then almost everything I read breaks all the rules. By nature, I'm a rule follower, but I just can't seem to do it so well with my writing.

I'm thinking the rule is this: If they like your story, they'll forgive you anything.

Sad News

I read via a couple of blogs today that the Harlequin Bombshell Line is closing. Normally such news wouldn't phase me at all as I don't really keep up with the different lines, but a chapter mate of mine, Sandra K. Moore, writes for Bombshell. And from what I understand, she rocks! I met her after her debut novel Orchid Hunter was released, so I haven't read it. I do however, have her current release Dead Reckoning on my TBR stack. I can't help reading the first few pages of books I buy (even if I'm in the middle of reading two other books), so I did the same with DR. So far, so good. I'm excited to read more. I just have all these library books breathing down my neck... Anyway, Sandra is a serious, professional writer, and her books have garnered great reviews. I know she'll find another publishing home. I hope it's as quick as she wants.

I'm not going to get to do any writing today. My mother-in-law was here all day, and I have a chapter meeting (and a pre-meeting chapter board meeting tonight) that will eat up the rest of the evening. It's my husband's birthday today, and I'm deserting him for RWA! Anyway, I did write a little yesterday, keeping yesterday's blog post about tighter writing in mind. It felt completely different. Normally I just write. Ideas come to me, the plot plays out as my fingers trip over the keyboard, things happen that I'm not expecting. And I end up with these big long chapters that probably have more verbage than most people want to see. Maybe the market is different now, but I remember reading long, wordy books--and really liking them. Now people what the story quick and efficient. And while I like that, I also miss the lingering.

Anyway, I digress. I was trying to get at the fact that while I was writing my umpteeth intro, I had an overview in my mind--I was conscious of theme, plot, character arc--all of it, and I was trying to tighten my writing to incorporate all of it. Is that how normal people write? This is a new thing for me, and I'm not sure I can sustain it for the re-write of an entire novel.

Tightening Up

To anyone reading my blog with any frequency, I may appear just doggone flighty. I keep coming up with reasons and ways to change my manuscript that, by anyone else's standards, should be done by now. For instance, yesterday I happened to glance over the scoresheets for an RWA chapter-sponsored contest. You know, just to see how my manuscript MIGHT measure up if I were to be so bold as to enter another one. What I found was that I'm not actually making my heroine's goal very clear. Besides that, her inner conflict isn't obvious in the first, probably 30-40 pages. So, back I go.

Add to that the fact that I keep reading these short, tightly written books that I really love. I keep thinking, 'I want to do that!'. I'm more of a rambler, with side commentary, anecdotes, long descriptions, you name it. And I think that while that sort of style lends itself to historicals, it doesn't seem all that common in contemporary novels today.

I should start counting the number of drafts chapter one has sustained...and there's no end in sight.

Mix 'n' Match

Took the day off from blogging yesterday and actually ended up getting quite a lot done. I've finished Writing the Breakout Novel, and I'm so pleased not to have put off reading it any longer. The book definitely gave me a lot to think about in my current manuscript--I'm already envisioning changes, additions, and deletions--but it also gave me a great starting point for planning the next book.

Besides that, I've been reading a great 'Query Letter Series' on Agent Kristin's blog and taking copious mental notes. My problem with query letters, pitches, synopses and all of it is that I don't think my voice comes through. I have it entrenched in my subconscious that these are formal documents or summaries of my book. But the ones that are getting requests (and representation) from Agent Kristin are quirky, funny, oddball, and interesting. They don't come across as stilted or formal at all. So, for occasional breaks from my manuscript, I've been working on a query letter and pitch, and will probably move on to a backcover blurb when I'm finished with those. I'm finding that it's really helping me to get that overall picture in my head and to figure out how to best describe my book to someone else.

With help from Donald Maass and Kristin Nelson, I really think I'm getting my manuscript whipped right into shape.

Today's Project:
My RWA chapter is hosting an Author/Bookseller Appreciation Reception in September and collecting promotional items from its published authors for inclusion in the goodie bags. I think I'm the only author(probably because I'm the only self-published one) who is giving a book to each of them. I figure it's a great promotional opportunity. If all goes according to plan, they'll love my debut, recommend it to customers, get excited when contacted about my next release, order many copies, handsell them, and start all over again. A girl can certainly dream...

Rather than providing bookmarks, which I've heard from a variety of sources are really cumbersome for booksellers, I'm trying to create these custom business cards with my bookcover and contact info on the front and some review excerpts on the back. I got the idea from Bookseller Chick, who indicated that this sort of thing is perfect to slip into a Rolodex for easy reference. Right now I'm up against printing/aligning issues.

Star Wars: My Own Personal Saga

My four year old is obsessed with Star Wars. Particularly Star Wars Lego sets and Star Wars Lego people, but really anything. Yesterday I was asked to draw Darth Vader, Bobba Fett, and a Grievous Guard (you have to see the movie). I had to have the little guy go fetch the action figures so I'd be able to make any sort of attempt. Still they were gruesome. We talk about Star Wars constantly, and lately our greatest obsession is trying to track down those little Lego people. Why on earth do they only sell those in the Lego kits??? I've only bought one Star Wars lego kit so far, but I'm sure my son would have talked me into buying multiple sets of people--they're just so darn cute! He sits on my lap and we cruise ebay for these little guys--very pricey!

If you need a little break from writing, check this out, and know that they are way cuter in real life.

I'm also currently in a position of needing to fashion some sort of Mace Windu Halloween costume (lego guy on the right)...in a size four toddler. Complete with cape and boots...

And So It Begins...

Well, I've started reading about Writing a Breakout Novel. Actually I'm already almost halfway through the book due to today being the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! and the fact that my little one wanted to play on the computer this morning. Anyway, I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't stumble onto this book about two years ago when I started messing with inital ideas for the current work-in-progress. (This book has been a long time coming too as I put it on hold to promote and market my debut novel). This book is like an entirely new way of thinking, and already I'm wondering if my manuscript includes enough oomph to carry it through--to find an agent, a publisher, a market, a niche, whatever.

There are so many good ideas in there. Questions to ask yourself in hopes that you have the right answer (or can find it). A big one I'm kind of troubled with is "What does your protagonist want?" and follow-up, "What happens if she's not successful?" You'd think I'd have the first one, right? Well, I think I actually just need to tighten my focus just a little and made sure I make the answer clear in the manuscript--unless I go with the premise that she doesn't know the answer herself. The answer to the second is "nothing too dramatic".

But wait...I'm sitting here thinking about this, and things are gelling in my mind. Before I write anymore, I'm going to go write a few short paragraphs with the answers to some of Maass' questions. Writing a query letter a couple of weeks ago helped me crystallize the overview. Now I need to dig a little deeper.

This writing stuff is hard and very high maintenance.

Between a Book and a Manuscript

Title to be read in the same vein as 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place'. I'm going to blog quick today because I want to actually squeeze in a little bit of time to actually write (imagine that!). But I also just picked up Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass at the library. (Thank you for recommending, Sara!) So now I'm once again torn (as I was with Self-editing for Fiction Writers) whether to read the book first or intersperse reading it with writing. Because what if what I'm writing is addressed in the book as 'what not to do'? What if my afternoon of writing turns out to be a thorough waste of my time, the product of which will removed with a couple clicks of the mouse and the delete button?

It's killing me, I tell you!

P.S. My name is Alyssa Goodnight, and I have a library addiction.
I came home today with three fiction books (all pretty weighty) and a non-fiction writers' manual. How on earth am I going to fit those in with the two books I still have from last week!?! It's a sickness, I tell you.

Another mini slump

Well, thanks to everyone who posted. The cake actually turned out okay...(I let my mom try it first) hee hee hee. After having heard about my escapades, she scooped up a big spoonful of the frosting, and proclaimed it perfectly fine. We both had a piece oozing with frosting. What a relief. It's such a shame when you make a special trip to the store, buy all these special ingredients, and then cook/bake something that doesn't turn out. Nevermind that I wouldn't have had a cake for my mom... I'm quite relieved.

So I had the mini party at my mom's, which put me a little bit behind again. I pretty much don't write if I'm not at home. I write on my computer (which is not a laptop) and write new stuff while revising/rethinking the writing from the day (or week) before. So, at least on the current book I'm working on, I can't use the AlphaSmart I got last Christmas. I have so much of the book already written I don't want to just start shooting out entire new pages or chapters (who says I'm not optimistic?). So no work on the WIP Monday or Tuesday (unless I work on it tonight). Ah...but tomorrow certainly has promise. And Thursday is the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!! so I'll only have one little boy to distract with something...

Cake Catastrophe

Well, Friday went exactly as planned. I actually ended up with about four and a half hours of writing time (interspersed with blog/internet/email breaks), so I was really pleased. Then on Saturday I had a couple of hours more, so I didn't feel so bad when I didn't write at all on Sunday. Instead I finished Diana P's book SSG--loved it! and started on the book about the history of fingerprints.

Today I'm taking the boys up to visit my mom for one last summer visit. Her 60th birthday was on Friday, so I decided to bake her a cake. German Chocolate Cake is one of her favorites, so I figured it was a good choice. It's turned into a little bit of disaster. First, I decided to use a cake mix since I think they always turn out better than homemade cakes (at least the homemade cakes I make). So I dump in the mix, add the eggs, water, and oil and then realize I added twice as much oil as the mix calls for. Luckily I didn't add more than that! I thought the box said 1 1/2 c. oil (which had my eyes bugging out), but I added the first cup and checked again--just to be sure. I had been supposed to add 1/2 a cup. So I spent the next five minutes trying to siphon the extra oil off the top of the pre-mixed batter. I used a measuring cup to monitor my progress, but who knows if it worked...

Then I set about making the homemade frosting...with the sugar, butter, coconut, pecans, and evaporated milk. The recipe called for 1 c. of evaporated milk, but those little cans only have 5 oz. or something so I had to pull another one out of the pantry. It was a little thicker, but into the measuring cup it went. Cooked it all up and set it aside to cool while I was cleaning up. Picked up the ev. milk cans to clean them out for recycling and saw that the inside of the second can looked a little different, smelled a tad different too. Flipped the can over and, sure enough, the expiration date (who knew?) was Oct. 2004 (!!)

So now I have this questionable cake and even more questionable frosting. I'm just going to take the whole mess (cake separate from frosting) up to my mom's and see what she thinks we should do with it. Happy Birthday, right? Good grief.

Amazing Self-Publishing Story

Not my own, mind you...

I followed the link on Allison Winn Scotch's blog to this truly inspiring, fantastic story of Philip Beard, who was on the very brink of self-publishing when he closed a book deal with Viking Publishers.

Even without the book deal, it's still a great story, and his book would probably have eventually found its way to a traditional house. His story is all about determination, persistence, and connections. I had the first two when I self-published my book.

One Book

Dan Wickett of Emerging Writers Network, posted this list (except with his choices and commentary) and I thought it would be fun to fill in the blanks myself.

One book that changed your life.
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Love, love, love it! It’s always been an inspiration and an ideal.

One book that you’ve read more than once.
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart. This book is my absolute favorite among the treasure trove of Mary Stewart’s novels. I’ve probably read it ten times (or more).

One book you’d want on a desert island.
I’m thinking something like ‘How to Get Off a Desert Island for Dummies’ or ‘How to Call Long-Distance from a Coconut Phone”.

One book that made you laugh.
Going Coastal by Wendy French. Her zingy sense of humor is so entertaining. I laughed out loud through the whole book.

One book that made you cry.
Adriana Trigiani’s Queen of the Big Time. Once I get really wrapped up in someone’s story, any type of loss or injustice just sends me off.

One book that you wish had been written.
Another few from Anne George would have been great. But I can make due with the books she left behind...I re-read them all the time.

One book that you wish had never been written.
I don’t know. I can’t say that a book has ever affected me in such a negative way that I’d wish to remove it from print.

One book you’re currently reading.
Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund. It’s a hip, intense story of an Ivy Leaguer who gets tapped to join one of the most secret societies in the world. I’m definitely enjoying it.

One book you’ve been meaning to read.
Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. I recently read Carrie Bebris’ North by Northanger and was introduced to some of the characters. Now I’m even more eager to read it. I have the ebook but may just end up checking it out from the library.

I'd love to hear anyone else's answers. Feel free to post here, or if you post on your blog, please send me the link so that I can check them out.

Writing Weekend

Well, tomorrow is sort of a Day of Reckoning for me: I'll see if I can get my writing back on track a little. In the last few weeks...honestly in the last couple of months...my writing has definitely suffered. Summer is leaching away my time and my energy. Even if we don't happen to be doing something during my 'scheduled' writing time, I'm not all that motivated. I'm physically drained, wanting to do nothing more than slide down onto a cool bed and read a book to escape. Although, strangely, blogging doesn't seem so physically and mentally taxing.

But tomorrow...my in-laws are taking the boys mid-day for a weekend at their lakehouse. So I'll have a good bit of time to write (and maybe even a little time to squeeze in here and there over the weekend). It's been a long time since I've had a chunk of time to work with, and I think I really need it. I need to get my head back in this book and get a move-on.

I WISH I was one of those people who can write a book in a couple of months. Although...who knows? Maybe I could if I had both boys in school. Even a book in a year would be a huge improvement... Maybe I really need to give myself page goals everyday. I really hoped it wouldn't come to that...

Library Day!

Today was Library Day! I LOVE Library Day! Even when I'm not getting anything for myself, I love going in and picking out some new books to read to my sons. I love carrying around that glossy stack of books...so much potential for memorable characters, fascinating storylines, and outstanding voices. So much to study as a writer.

Well today was more fun--I got some books for myself. Basically I've devised a strategy. I buy the new releases from my RWA chapter members, and I buy my favorite authors, and I buy books I've heard/read really great things about...as long as they're in paperback. I don't buy hardback books. I tend to do most of my reading lying down and a hardback is just too hard to hold up with one hand and the spine pokes rather uncomfortably into my stomach). What I do is get them from the library. I put a hold on them, sometimes while they're still on order. Then if I really enjoy them and think I'll re-read, I buy them in paperback when they're released that way.

Today I checked out Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund (sorry, Diana...hardback), Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven? by Erica Orloff (an author I've never read, but heard good things about), and Fingerprints The Origin of Crime Detection and the Murder Case That Launched Forensic Science by Colin Beavan. I'm just interested...

So now the books I've actually purchased will have to wait while I hurry through those that are due in two weeks. I also have Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel on hold. It's in transit from another library, and I think I'm lucky not to have it. This way I can read the pleasure books first with no guilt.

Sometimes it's great to live in a big city--the libraries are priceless gems.