Do you really call two weeks of cleaning house and writing a vacation?  Maybe I should say my break is over, referring only to my children.  Just as well too because I am terribly missing them–especially my little peanut.  He gives the best hugs in the world, and I haven’t had any in some time.  I told him he had a lot of hugging to do when he gets home.  I can’t wait!

So, I sent in the revised Stiletto entry, right?  Then I entered that entry (well the first, slightly condensed five pages) for RD’s WAW (Romance Diva’s We All Win contest) and several opinions were kinda average.  I hate average; I try not to do average.  That is easy.  I’ve been average my whole life, and I’m looking for a little greatness here.  Besides, I *know* the piece is great, it’s just a matter of whether or not I displayed it correctly.

Which has me thinking I started it wrong again.  I cut out the first chapter based on advice from one of the Stiletto judges.  But starting where I did and adding enough backstory to have it make sense is too much.  It slows down the action.  Then I was thinking of the advice I got from Gemma Halliday (yes, *that* Gemma Halliday).  She said she likes her mysteries to be linear and to start with the action.

Where is the action?

See, a couple of people kept saying the action began when my heroine enters the reality show house, but I kept disagreeing.  I felt a look into her ordinary life was important.  Not just to add scenes but because how she lived before is a direct contradiction of how she has to live in the house.  Everything she has to become is all she’s against.  If I don’t show her as herself, in reality, without internal monologue, doesn’t it take away from what I’m trying to establish?

I believe it does, and now I believe it even more.  What I’ve learned through all of this (so, I guess the revised entry is a “mistake”, and I’ve learned a lesson–grew) is that I was correct in wanting to show some of her life, but originally maybe I was showing too much.  One chapter of beforeness is fine, and that chapter will include her makeover aftermath and interactions with her dead friend.  Those things are important to the story, well the friend is, and no one who read the WAW entry picked up on any of it.

I guess I could totally rewrite the scene to reflect it all doesn’t have considering it was written as is with different intentions originally, but I like this other way better.  The scenes I have planned were my two funniest ones anyway, plus, with my heroine talking with her sister and dead friend, it gives me opportunities to add in the backstory through questions and clarifications–dialogue rather than monologue.  Much more effective!

So, today I will be spending a bit more time with my characters, creating these sheets for them based on some info I just got from EPIC.  Then come Monday it’s back to making the changes and finishing the damn book.  It’s gonna have to be a decent first draft thought, cause I don’t want to see this damn thing for a couple of months after.

PIERCING THE VEIL, Available September 17th from Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Paranormal erotic romance/menage

Here’s the blurb:
Twins Hawk and Val are Fianna warriors under the vengeful curse of a scorned goddess. Following the prophecy in the Book of Veils, they search for the one who can help them retrieve the Claiomh Solais before their enemies get the chance. Their quest leads them to Linnea. One touch and there can be no doubt that they have found their match. But will she accept them once she knows the truth?

Linnea is no one special. So why is she on the run from evil faeries and her egotistical ex? Why is she suddenly spending time in the company of dragons, druids, and one kinky Viking with a split personality? All she knows is she has to keep her daughter safe from those who hunt her, and her heart safe from another betrayal.

To protect one gifted child and all of humanity from the dark god that seeks retribution, they must learn to trust each other. To have a future together, they must find the perfect balance.

***

Purchase at Ellora’s Cave and don’t forget to visit RG’s website.

My day involved cleaning the second half of my son’s room, just have to was bedding and make it and straighten up the closet.  I cleaned out the litter box :P, chatted with Divas and edited the entry for RD’s WAW.  Oh, I also designed one page of my new website–maybe.  The new site is definite; I’m not positive I’ll use this page though.  It’s really not a whole page, just an opening splash.

Next I’m going to do some billings and write the next scene of AMTDF.

My kids went to NY on Saturday, so I have the next 2 weeks alone (hopefully).  I have a plan loosely mapped out so I can get all the “work” done this week and be free to do as I please next.  So far, yesterday I rewrote the first two chapters of my book, for the revised Stiletto entry (which must be returned by tomorrow).  That took ALL day.  I wanted to pluck my eyeballs out but decided that really wouldn’t help.

Today I rewrote the syno, cleaned the kitchen, washed the kitchen, bathroom and hallway floors and the stairs.  I then cleaned the bathroom and got through half of my son’s room.  He’s such a pack rat and a pig. Ewww! Old, hard French fry at the bottom of his car box. I got tired, hungry and thirsty, so I took a shower, made a sandwich and am now blogging.

I plan on spending the rest of the night editing the entry (oh joy!) and sending that puppy in.  If I get it done quick enough, I’ll finish putting the books on my shelves and free up a plastic bin for the rest of my son’s toys.  I’m actually afraid to go under his bed.  I’m also getting a sweet tooth, had one last night, but I didn’t want to bake cookies cause it was so humid and the kitchen floor was so gross.  I may go do that while I edit.

At this rate though, my time I go to pick up the kids, I should have the house done, the first half of the book revised and a good nother 2-3 chapters completed and two websites done.  At least I hope.  I signed up to do Fast Draft with some divas starting October 6, so I’ll have those two weeks to finish the book too.  Although, I really wanted to start something new next quarter. Darn.

Ok, off to bake cookies and edit two chapters.

I’m kicking off my two-week vacation (kids are in NY with Grandma and the rest of the family) with my WIP. It needs to be revised slightly–the beginning–and the plot needs to be deepened. I get so involved with one area of the book and sometimes forget to focus on others.

I’m actually excited and need to get cracking. Tootles!

Kick A$$ Characters By Authors Who Know How To Kick A$$

September 12-13 at Romance Divas

Featuring:

Bob Mayer

Lori Avocato

Maggie Price

Lindsay McKenna

Barry Eisler

Linnea Sinclair

Larissa Ione

Merline Lovelace

Want to know how to write authentic action, suspense, law enforcement, and military romance? Ask authors who know firsthand! Romance Divas is hosting a 2-day workshop with some of the hottest names in the genre. It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register.

I received mine today and realized I may have to ditch the entire first chapter, rewrite a few parts of the second and add the third. All in one week.  Yikes! lol

I have a lot of thinking to do too.  I had wanted to add a ghost, but it doesn’t seem possible without completely changing the plot, which is the main reason to write this particular story.  Darn!  I really enjoyed writing the ghost scenes.  They were fun, but it does seem a bit too convenient, the way I have it, so he must be deleted. *sigh*

Before I get into rewriting the last 210 pages (which will drastically lower my page count–damn), I will redo the entry, because I definitely want it to sparkle for Elaine Spencer and Megan McKeever.