The Bandwagon: July 2010

Pack Your Bags

We're moving. I'm going to keep this blog for now in case Wordpress makes me mad, but new updates will be at the new site.

Goals for the Week SURFACE RELEASES!!!

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Happy 4th of July, everyone! Celebrate safely!

1) celebrate, and drive to different stores to see if it’s there

2) celebrate 4^th of July

3) work on Midnight Sun (7000 words, please)

4) revise short story, write synopsis and query, submit

5) judge last contest entry

6) Get this website thing squared away

7) Write 3 guest blogs

8) paint MIL’s interior

9) get Cindi’s son a bday present

10) get ds’s girlfriend a bday present

11) exercise

12) keep up house

Yes, it really is 2:30 AM as I write this. My boy cat was in a fight outside the window and I couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to get up and write, since the dh took over the computer last night. (Yes, we need a new computer. Haven't exactly decided which option we want to go with, though--netbook, iPad or splurge and get a new Macbook.)

I was reading that book I was telling you about the other day, Suddenly One Summer, and I just don't like the main heroine. It's not her, particularly, but her type. The closed-off type, the one who doesn't let anyone in and wants to do it all herself. This one is particularly serious, as well, which doesn't heighten her appeal. I'm trying to think of other books that I've seen this type of heroine in and I can't.

Another kind I don't like is the too-tough heroine, which probably means urban fantasy isn't for me. Interestingly, these two heroines have something in common, I guess. I wouldn't say Jenna in SOS is too-tough, so they're not the same type, really, just similar.

Busy day ahead--post office, UPS store, Goodwill, library and Walgreens, then my cousin's in town and wants to meet up. Hope I can get back to sleep. Maybe after I write something....

Something to Talk About

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A couple of weeks ago I mentioned I was looking for a home for Something to Talk About. After some poking around, I sent it to Lyrical Press, and this week they sent me a contract, saying they loved it. Finally! No idea about release or print or any of that yet, as I've just signed the contract. But STTA has a home.

I'm also trying to move my website and blog to Wordpress. I feel like a bit of a traitor, since I've been on Blogger forever, and I love my new template here, and all the widgets I can use. But I hate updating my website and Wordpress makes it so easy. Also, it's very pretty. I'm trying to figure out how to point it to my mjfredrick.com, that's the only delay.

I finished revisions on Road Signs LATE last night, and spent most of yesterday morning watching The Tudors and rereading Midnight Sun. I'd planned to insert a storm, but it seems I'd already done that. Blast. Today, I'm going to fix the query and synopsis for Road Signs, then get to work on MS, after a morning of breakfast and shopping with Mom and BB. Hope to get my carry-on luggage for my weekend in MN.

The Ideas...The IDEAS!!!

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Eight years ago, we were driving to the Grand Canyon through New Mexico and the dh said, "I wonder what's down that road." An image came to my head, a rundown house, a corral, a man who worked as a vet and took care of his alcoholic brother and delayed sister. I knew his story was that his father had killed his mother and was coming home from prison.

I just didn't know who the heroine was. I thought maybe she was a lawyer hired when the father was accused of killing again, but I thought a romantic suspense would be too complex.

Last night I think I figured out who she would be, a social worker who threatens the hero's view that he can take care of everything by himself.

Only this story has to wait. I have my cruise ship story to write next, two books I want to rework for HAR, and a post-apocalyptic story. That's not even thinking about the hostage negotiator story or the RS series I want to write or the three historicals I have in mind. And I write every day. I need a clone.