Friday, July 30, 2010

More From RWA Nationals

Editor Brenda Chin and Desire author Emily McKay comparing Harry Potter outfits at the Harlequin PJ party
Me with authors Farrah Rochon, Emily McKay, and Tracy Wolff at the Harlequin PJ party
Me with my Daphne certificate at the Kiss of Death Daphne du Maurier Awards party (I got 3rd place with a request!)
Me with author Monica McCarty at the booksigning
Me with friend and author Carol Ericson at the booksigning
Me in a "fangirl" moment with author Jill Shalvis!
Nora Roberts inspiring the masses at the opening luncheon

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Sunday, July 25, 2010

More Pictures From Mexico

1. A volcano near the city of Puebla.
2. The city of Puebla from one of the cathedrals.
3. A man painting the phrase "mi casa es su casa" on one of my souvenirs.
4. The outside of my room in the house I was staying in.
5. The outside of the house I was staying in. I have to be honest. When I first pulled up outside here, I lost my breath and thought, "What was I thinking????"
6. My friend Kat from Sacramento who also lived in the house and went to class with me, our Mama Mexicana, Rocio, and me.





A Simple Prayer

As I try to pack for Nationals, I keep repeating this:

Dear Lord, please save me.....from myself!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

A Reminder, As If We Needed It


I loved my time in Mexico and I love living in Texas, but I'm sitting here listening to Celtic music and I am reminded that my heart and soul belong to the countries of Great Britain.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Huh????

Who am I? What the hell day is it? You mean I only have 2 more days until I'm on a plane again?

ACK! I am the chicken running around without its head!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Ahhhhhh

New AC and a good, strong cup of tea! What could be better? (Well, a book contract would be nice....).

The guys (another 2 cute, respectful, young guys) worked from about 8 until 12:30 putting in my AC. I spent time on the computer filling out some job applications, sending some writing related emails and working on details for my tutoring business.

I'll be having a contest sometime soon for some historical books and maybe a little something extra. More details coming soon.

And if you're not going to RWA Nationals but wish you were, I'll tell you now that I intend to take lots of pictures and upload them on a regular basis next week. (Yes, that means uploading them quicker than I have been with my Mexico pics. BUT those of you who have been reading this blog for a while will remember all those Ireland/Scotland/England pictures I used to upload months after the trip, right? I'm making progress, at least!) With me as a Daphne finalist and my roomie, Cat Schield, as a Golden Heart finalist, we're sure to have some GREAT tales for you!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Mas Informacion...As Promised

AC- My new AC is being installed manana. I can't complain too much. It was a teeny bit less expensive than I thought it would be and the old unit was 20 years old. In the long run the new one will pay for itself and make my house more efficient.

Writing- Yeah. Not happening. I had wanted to finish Witness this week, but I still haven't started revising/writing the ending. Like I've said before I know how it ends, I just haven't written it. I'm thinking now to give myself permission to wait until I get back from RWA Nationals on August 1st. I'll be geared up, excited and ready to let my fingers fly!

RWA Nationals Prep- It's coming. I've got a bunch of things to do (since I'm the Celtic Hearts VP), but I'm making lists and crossing things off one by one. I'm so excited about this conference! I haven't heard anything from London on my Scottish short contemporary submission 8 1/2 months ago, so I'm going to focus on my romantic suspense manuscripts in the conference. I'm working on pitches for Witness, my Daphne and Golden Claddagh finaling manuscript, and for the Han Solo Meets Bridget Jones book. Of course, I've got my Scottish short contemp pitches memorized too, just in case.... Today I'm going shopping for dresses for the Daphne awards and the GH/Rita Awards. I managed to lose about 7lbs in Mexico and I'm down another 1 this week so I'm feeling pretty good.

Mexico- I still intend to post more pics and another couple of Examiner articles. Maybe tomorrow since I'll be here all day as they put in my new AC.

"Real Job"- Still looking, still applying.

Okay, time for some shopping! Catch you later! Oh, and are you going to Nationals? Let me know so I can look out for you! I'd love to put some live faces to names!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Aqui en Texas

Dagger and I made it home in one piece. Unfortunately my AC died while I was away and the house was 89 degrees. Now I'm waiting for someone to come out and give me an estimate for a new AC. Yeah. Great. Luckily though I have a place to stay that is cool. Mas informacion tarde!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Han Solo Meets Bridget Jones

I went on a trip today and bought this:

And WOW! The new story ideas flew through my head! I grabbed my pen and pad and started jotting down the notes my hero was sending me. This may HAVE to be my next suspense. And the really awesome thing? This hero was the sidekick in my 2nd suspense manuscript NINE YEARS AGO. I always said he deserved his own story and I think I've found the perfect heroine for him AND the perfect plot!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

One Class Day Left

I've learned a TON of Spanish this week! My maestras have been fantastic, as usual. Tomorrow is my last day at the school, last day to take pictures and see most of my new friends. I'll get my certificate for finishing the program and I've prepared a short speech (in Spanish, of course!). Today was my last chance to visit the center of town and I started getting teary-eyed as I thought of leaving mi familia Mexicana. I don't actually leave until Sunday, though. I've got no big plans for tomorrow except packing and then Saturday I go to Puebla, which I hear is absolutely beautiful. I posted a new examiner article on what I'll miss most about Mexico and what I'm looking forward to enjoying back in Texas. Have a look here if you have the time. I probably won't post here again until I'm back in the States. Until then, adios!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I'm In Class With Liam Neeson!

Okay, not really. Our class got a new student this week, Andrew, and his voice TOTALLY makes me think of Liam Neeson. I swear if I closed my eyes and listened to him I'd be convinced he was the actor.

Went shopping today, spent lots o' pesos, did some homework and some reading. Today I didn't feel as stupid as I did yesterday. We'll see what Wednesday brings.

Got to do my last load of laundry tomorrow and have to find out about taking the bus back to the airport on Sunday. I can't believe it's almost a month already. Time has flown by and it has been fun!

I'm hoping to do a quick Examiner article tomorrow too so be on the lookout for that. Prep work for RWA Nationals is starting to move to the front of my brain, but I don't want it there yet. I want to enjoy my last few days here before the insanity and chaos of switching back to English speaking (& American lifestyle), finishing my book, and gearing up for Nationals!

Monday, July 12, 2010

New Story Idea

She knew just enough Spanish to be dangerous. He understood someone wanted her dead.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

My Last Sunday in Mexico!

Bourne Identity was just as good in Spanish as it is in English. Imagine that!

Today I'm relaxing in the house for a while and editing some pages for my 2nd editing job. My Mexican sister, Kat, and her kids went on a trip to a water park. My Mexican Mama and her kids just left to go to the superama for some groceries. I'm SOOOOO enjoying the silence!

I posted a new Examiner article this morning on the Caves of Cacahuamilpa National Park. This was one of my trips last weekend. You can check out the article here.

En la tarde, I am going to el centro to watch the World Cup final game. I found a great little place to watch without the craziness of the actual town center. After the game I intend to make some purchases! I've got money burning a hole in my pocket!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Saturday

Hola! The first day I can sleep in and I was awake at 7:15. Ugh. No worries though. Today is an easy day. I'm not going on any excursions out of Cuernavaca today. Maybe some shopping later and the 2nd to last World Cup game. Oh! Hoy en la tarde, mis amigos y yo van a ver The Bourne Identity en Espanol! Should be fun!

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Hola!

3rd week in Mexico is almost over! I can't believe I only have another 10 days here!

The school is having a party tomorrow night for its anniversary. It's been open for 14 years.

My amiga and I rented The Bourne Identity in Spanish for this weekend!

I posted a new Examiner article on Taxco, a beautiful little town known for its silver production.

I intend to post more pics and info for you at the weekend.

Adios!

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Martes In Cuernavaca

I don't have much to tell you. School is going well. The school had a 4th of July party for us since most of the students are Americans. I have 1 new teacher this week and he speaks really fast. It's a challenge to understand him, but a challenge my classmates and I are up for. We got a new student in our class, so now there are 4 of us. We spend a lot of time laughing with AND at each other.

I finished my editing job last night. YAY! I like the challenge of helping writers improve their stories and I'm looking forward to more editing.

On my Examiner.com page, I added a new article with some of my observations as I begin my third week in Mexico. Click here if you're interested in reading it. Below I've added some new pictures for you! Enjoy!
This is one of the teachers who entertained us at the 4th of July party.
This is the view from the school. Did I mention our classes are all outside? More pics of the school will come later!
My classmates, Kat and Bill, and me at the 4th of July party.
This was when all the parents joined the kids on the dance floor after the kids' talent show last Thursday. After taking some pictures, I jumped right in!

Friday, July 02, 2010

Whoohoo!

1. Went to a talent show for the kids I'm living with. It was very cute. At the end, all the adults got up and joined all the kids on the dance floor. I danced to YMCA in Mexico. Me gusta!

2. I'm on target to finish my 1st editing job on time.

3. I've gotten 2 new suspense ideas in the last 2 days.

4. BOTH Fractured Paradise, my old Scottish contemporary romance, AND His Reluctant Witness, my current suspsense, finaled in the Celtic Hearts Golden Claddagh contest! Now both entries are off to the final judges who happen to be agents!