August 16

Sunday morning and the living is easy. :) There is a warm summer breeze coming through the windows. The lake ripples. Insects buzz. Everything feels lazy and wonderful. I fancy a picnic and a good book. So, for today, I'll walk away from the new writing project and simply let the day unfold. I wish for you the same!

August 15

The middle of yet another month! Sheesh... The petunias and status that I planted on my porch pots are overgrown and spindly. The stores are filled with fall mums. My first thought was-no...it's too early. But it's not. Its nearly September. Kids are returning to school. The sun is inching toward the Fall angle and I am hopelessly lost in my head. Part of the joy and madness of being a writer.

On a happy note, I was awarded a new blog award from Linda Kage. She said it was due to my diligently writing every day. (hopefully I'm not too boring.) Which was very sweet. Thank you!

August 14

Yesterday I found gluten-free lasagna noodles on the store shelf. I've been gluten-free (No wheat, malt or barley) for nearly a year and so it's been a while since I've had lasagna. I bought the noodles, the mozzarella, the ricotta cheese, onion, oregano, hamburger...and went looking for pasta sauce. Where i discovered Newton's Own Vodka Sauce- what a giggle. Who thought up putting vodka in pasta sauce? Hmmm. The bottle gave a little story about a man drinking vodka running into a woman with a pan of pasta sauce...you get the idea. I was laughing so hard. The best part was on the label splashed across the front were the words..."Industrial Strength." *me shaking my head*

It was good for a giggle, but no, I didn't buy it. I bought organic garlic and olive oil sauce. By the way, the lasagna turned out fabulous! Wishing you good cooking and laughter!

August 13

The Wild Rose Press has started a bi-weekly marketing newsletter to be sent to readers loops, writers, groups, etc. The fun news is that Mr. Charming is featured on the first one. Here's the link: http://www.thewildr osepress. com/publisher/ newsletters/ Rose_Clippings_ Aug_10-09. pdf

I've seen so many authors who put a great deal of work into promotion. Sigh. I have never been good at door-to-door sales. (I never even liked to go trick or treating as a kid....going door to door.... what if you insulted someone? What if you-like Charlie Brown- only got a rock? It's too much pressure. I didn't need candy that bad... LOL) Promotion feels like that.

There is a huge debate in the writer's circles as to whether any of it does any good...because books are an impulse buy item. They say the best a writer can do is write a good book- and set up a website. I hope I've done that. My friends pester me to do more-so there's facebook (Friend me if you haven't-and I do have a fan page *blush*) and twitter and myspace. I try to keep up... it's a start any way... Okay- off to do what I really love- write!

August 12

Most of you probably already know this, but I checked the Wild Rose Press Bestseller list this week to see if the 16 new releases knocked Mr. Charming off the list and was delighted to find that the book had actually moved up to number 9~ How fun is that?

I mean as far as bestseller lists go it's really small potatoes, but it is also encouraging to see that hard work does pay off...even in little bits and snigs.

Today I'll finish chapter three of my new middle grade project for boys. My goal is to have a draft done by the end of the month and shipped off to my nephews-grades, 7, 4 and 3-for a first read.

Meanwhile, agent rejections keep coming in and more queries keep going out. Thus is a writer's life. Cheers!

August 11

There is a yellow finch that is enamored with the screens on the windows of my house. For the last two days, it has been hovering and checking out each and every window, including the one over my shoulder. I think he's clearing off the summer bugs...or maybe he wants inside where it's cool?

Does anyone know what the myth is if a bird keeps knocking at your window? Is it that someone is coming to visit? Or good fortune? Let me know what you know.

Cheers!

August 10

Today is the second stop on my mini blog tour. Linda Kage has hosted Mr. Charming with a wonderful interview of the heroine, Jennifer Sumner.

If you get a chance to day, pop over and say hi!