This is just a quick note to let you know that I’m out of town today, and in the spirit of being on vacation, I’m just going to share a cartoon from one of my favorite sites, Inkygirl.com

(Posted originally at Writer Unboxed.)
So while the ocean in the picture above is replaced by a river, the sand is replaced by dirt and rocks, and the palm tree/hut thing is replaced by towering redwood trees (we’re camping), that –I’m sure–has been me relaxing this entire weekend.
I hope your extended weekend (or just …

This Saturday, I was able to attend the monthly meeting held by my local RWA chapter (Sacramento Valley Rose.)  Since I haven’t been able to attend more than one meeting all year, it was a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by other writers and women who have a passion for those things I love.  This meeting was what we call a three-page read, where members can submit their first three pages to be read out loud for comments, feedback and opinions.  This is the first 3-page read I’ve …

Forewarning: This blog has very little to do with writing. In fact, any attempt I make to connect is pretty bad.
Recently, I took a day and played hookie with my sister-in-law — away from work, kids, family — just two women, doing what they wanted to do. We decided on visiting the state capital, wandering at a leisurely pace that wasn’t dependent on toddlers, potty trips or anyone else but us. As we arrived at the capitol building (in Sacramento), I was struck as I …

We all do things we know are bad for us. I drink too much coffee.  I love ice cream. I eat carbs.   These things I tend to do with full knowledge that they are, in fact, bad for me.  I don’t care. I do it anyway.
But what your writing? Have you developed bad habits in your writing?   One of my favorite websites, storyfix.com,  had a wonderful, humorous post on the very subject, so I thought I’d steal share that post with you.
Here’s a bit of the post followed by the …

“Psst. You. The one with the chocolate-fingerprinted keyboard. Will you give me a scene already? I’m dying here.”
“Kill me off? You think you can kill ME? We’ll just see about that.”
I am Jeannie Ruesch, and I am a romance author. I must, therefore, admit the above sentences are actual thoughts that have run through my head… not, I am compelled to point out, when I’m sitting at my computer praying for my characters to show their faces.  No, that would be normal.
I’m talking about completely …

I saw this on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books this morning and HAD to share it with you all.  This is such a great show of what the literacy signing is all about — over 500 authors signing books in one room for thousands of fans.  And our very own Silver James is in the video!  Go Silver!

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See image to the left.  Picture this as Jeannie this week, since I won’t be attending the RWA Conference this year.
The pout won’t be there all week– I do have fun things planned for the upcoming weekend that I’d be missing were I headed to Orlando.  Like my younger brother’s 30th birthday (how did THAT happen?).  But since I won’t be attending the RWA Conference, I’m putting out the call to all those who are. I want details.  Good, bad, ugly, frizzy-haired and everything in between.
Fortunately, our very own Eliza …

In reading Lavada’s post from last week, it made me think about the days before I succumbed to the computer. Yes, I’m probably dating myself here, but I grew up in the world where computers existed really only on Star Trek and the movie War Games.  I recall the first computer we had — it was about as far removed from the modern computer as a diamond is from coal.   And then, later on, into my twenties, my mother actually grew to rely on the computer for work long before …

Stacey Joy Netzel needed today off to deal with the craziness of life, but be sure to check in next month for her next post.  In the meantime, ladies (and gents), it’s time to show me yours.
No, I’m not getting frisky with you.  I am going to ask you to share, though.  Earlier, the topic of Alpha vs. Beta males came up with one of my fabulous CPs.   And because I have a google addiction, I decided to google the topic and see what I came up with. There has …

Don’t you love a good mystery?
I know I do, whether it comes in book, movie or…author form?  If any of you have tuned in to ABC’s hit show CASTLE, you’re familiar with the handsome, charming bestselling author Richard Castle (played by Nathan Fillion.)  The premise of the show revolves around Castle’s partnership with the beautiful and tough Kate Beckett – who becomes the inspiration for his Castle’s new book series Nikki Heat.
As both a writer and a marketing professional, I’ve loved the fact that the books mentioned on the show …