ARC 2015 New Orleans @AuthorReaderCon

 

Because of work and the Blame it on the Moon release tomorrow, I wasn't able to make the whole conference, but I will be going down to meet all these fabulous authors Saturday. 


If you're near New Orleans this weekend, why not check it out? Right there at the SuperDome, and then explore New Orleans.

Finally, it's here

Tomorrow morning we leave for the Moonlight and Magnolias conference in Atlanta. It can't possibly live up to the expectations we have or the excitement we are experiencing.

My CP, Cadence and I will be traveling together and will hopefully arrive late afternoon Thursday. Our appointments are Friday morning. Friday afternoon the fabulous Allison Brennan is presenting her workshop called 'NO PLOTTERS ALLOWED'. She is an awesome generous NYT bestselling author. And on Saturday and Sunday we'll attent Michael Hauge's screenwriting workshops. I blogged last year about his workshop and DVDs on the Hero's Journey - excellent if you've never heard him.

But the main goal this trip is networking. Several of our loop members and bloggers from Blame It On The Muse will be there as well as many other writers like ourselves. Kensington, Grand Central and Harlequin will be represented as well as three literary agencies, Marsal Lyon, Knight Agency, the Bent Agency.

Then there is the fact that it's Atlanta where I lived for three months back in 2006. I fell in love with it. I'd drive around at night just looking at the tops of the buildings with my compadre screaming, 'look at the road'. Can't wait.

Atlanta here we come.

Kick in the Pants wk4

Wow. Time flies. Fourth week. This challenge has really helped me to push myself which has boosted my confidence and helped me define some habits, which my husband would probably say weren't the ones he wanted me to develop.

I used to think I'd start to work writing as soon as I got up since we get up before dawn. But that hasn't happened. We have our coffee watch the news, eat a little breakfast, I check my emails, then around 8 or 9 it seems I get started and write until around 2 or 5 or 7, whatever flows.

Last week I wrote 15, 200 words! Yea! This week 4,000, got my business cards ready for the conference, worked on my pitch, helped Joe with crawfish, delivered mail.

Some days the end seems further and further away, but I don't have any doubt that I will finish both my first WIPs soon and submit them, both 90% complete. Ten days til the conference, only 8 calendar writing days.

2008 The First Twelve Days

I ask myself - How am I coming so far this year with my goals and resolutions.

Well! As far as exercise, and this isn't an excuse, I sprained my left foot in mid- December and the week after that pulled a muscle in my rib, which made exercising pretty much impossible and delivering the mail torture. So I try to remind myself of what I said after January 1. I can't just throw up my hands and say - oh well, I didn't start on time so I'll just wait til next year. No, with the help and gentle pushes from my critique and exercise partner, I will get back on the treads a little at a time until I can do more.

The diet - that's another story entirely. If I ever get back on a regular exercise routine I think it will come together.

December 31st I got my contest entry sent off. Of course, I went to the website for my judge and he had a general statement on what kinds of plots he doesn't accept. Um, mine was one of them. But at least I've sent it out there, I've done my best, I accomplished more than one goal where that was concerned, now I just need to finish the manuscript.

But as I was running the mail route last week a new hero ran in front of my fertile imagination. So of course I had to detour and interview him, research and get a few thousand words down before he escaped. You know what I mean. I'm pleased with how his story is progressing though.

I must keep my eye on my first deadline for 2008 - the Shreveport conference, March 1st. By then, I'm committed to finishing my two currents WIPs, getting my website designed and uploaded, working on my pitches, and helping my critique partner achieve her goals.

Whew, lots to do before then. For a while, I got away from setting goals, but I've always worked better under deadlines, especially self-imposed.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. As Leah said yesterday, BICFOK. Butt in Chair, Fingers on Keyboard.

See ya, gotta get back to it. (And of course there's the playoffs.)