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....

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.

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.

I've read some good books this summer, and I've read a lot more than usual, about 2 books a week.

The one I'm reading right now is called SUDDENLY ONE SUMMER by Barbara Freethy. I think it's the first in a series that takes place on the central coast of CA, in a seaside town. It's a contemporary romance, but has elements of the paranormal--angels are leaving messages carved in the cliff overlooking the sea--and romantic suspense--if I tell you that, it will spoil the surprise. It has wonderful characters, all of whom have their own conflicts and concerns that makes you root for them. I already have the second book on my wish list.

I really enjoyed EXCLUSIVELY YOURS by Shannon Stacey, too, one of Carina's launch books. It's a great reunion romance, focusing on the hero and heroine, but set at a campground, of all places, surrounded by his family. It has a great mix of humor and tenderness, and will be the topic of discussion at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books book club.

DISASTER STATUS by Candace Calvert was another book that I was thinking about after it was over. I absolutely loved charge nurse Erin and her grandmother, and thought she was just what firefighter Scott needed to snap him out of his shell. It's inspirational but not preachy. Can't wait until book 3 comes out!

What have you read lately?

I was bummed to read in Entertainment Weekly that Sunday was a Jaws marathon on Encore. I LOVE Jaws. I enjoyed Jaws 2. But my guilty pleasure is Jaws 3. I love that ridiculous ridiculous 3D movie. I love that it's set at a Sea World. I love that they have an underwater part at the Sea World. I love the cheese.

I also love Christmas Vacation. I think I watched it a dozen times last December. I always think I'm going to watch whichever part is coming up next, but then I get sucked in. I crack up at the lights, the houseguests, the squirrel.

And the movie Soapdish--have you seen it? Robert Downey Jr, Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, Sally Field, set in the backstage world of a soap opera. It's a reunion romance (hey, I forgot this one!) and a secret baby, and RDJ is delicious. Also Kevin Kline.

What are your guilty pleasure movies?

I'm still thinking hard about getting the Nook, but have about 40 books I'm not sure I can transfer. I'm going to tweet someone today who I know went from an iPod Touch to a Nook and ask her.

In anticipation of that, I downloaded all my books from Fictionwise and put them on Calibre. I have no idea what I was doing, so that may or may not work.

I didn't see where one could make a wish list on bn.com when it came to ebooks, so I poked around and found one, then moved items from my Amazon wish list to bn.com. Overall, it seems the books are more expensive, though I did get CHILL by Stephanie Rowe for $3. But I like how the bn.com wishlist shows the prices, so I can see at a glance if anything changes. Right now they have the new Robyn Carr for a good price, but I'm 4 books behind in the Virgin River series...

Does anyone here use Calibre? Can someone explain it to me?

Goals for the Last Week of June

1) Barbecue with my cp and her daughter, who I haven’t seen in 7 years

2) Catch up with Cindi, whose oldest son’s birthday is today

3) Grocery store

4) Library

5) Finish revisions on short story and submit (Halfway through the 65 pages already)

6) Finish revisions to Road Signs and submit (I’m up to p. 100 already)

7) Work on new short story

8) Newsletter (MUST) and website—hope I get the final copy of my Sunrise cover soon!

9) Read Coven for Trish

10) Contest entry

11) Go to 1 more bookstore to see if they’ll order Surface

12) A day with Mom and BB

13) Continue exercising

14) Clean house and yard—brush pick-up is this week

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I'm guest blogging today at Leah Braemel's blog about writing the reunion romance.

I've been tempted all week to get the Nook. It's $149 right now and I know Marianne loves hers and Shannon Stacey said you can get the Adobe epub books from the library on it. Last night my finger hovered above the buy button.

But I resisted. Why? I finished reading the excellent Disaster Status by Candace Calvert and scrolled through my other books to see what to read next.

And scrolled.

And scrolled.

LOTS of books on the eReader, which has the books I got from Fictionwise, which can't be read on the Nook, at least, the ones from the big publishers.

Quite a few books on the Kindle for the iPhone.

Yeah, I can't justify the expense until I read a bunch of those. Maybe for Christmas....

I may finish my short story for TWRP's reunion series today. Only 2 more big scenes to go.

This week I should only be working on 2 books at a time instead of 3 :)

1) celebrate Father’s Day and the dh’s birthday

2) visit with my oldest writing friend, who’ll be in town this week. We haven’t seen each other in 6 years.

3) Finish Sunrise edits

4) Write query and synopsis for Queen

5) Finish short story for TWRP and write query and synopsis

6) Promotion (blog at Leah Braemel’s, email loops and setting up blog visits, newsletter, update website as soon as I get the final copy of the Texas cover)

7) Day with Mom and BB, to their place in the country this time

8) Exercise

9) Keep up house

I am obsessed with these two shows lately, and could they be more different?

I think I finally get what it is about Glee that draws people. Not only does it show the talent of the outcast kids, but it shows that the cool kids have trouble too—Quinn with her parents and Finn not having a father figure. I do hope next year we see more of the secondary cast perform. I love to see Mike dance and hear Kurt sing.

It took me a few episodes to get into The Tudors, unlike Supernatural and Glee, which sucked me straight in. And to be honest, Charles Brandon, as portrayed by Henry Cavill (guh!) is a big part of the draw. But I’m also watching and anticipating the downfall of these selfish people. I can’t say I really root for them, because, well, they just aren’t very nice. I’m intrigued with the church history angle, as a Catholic, and I’m wondering why we were taught that Anne Boleyn was a person to be pitied when she was a conniving little so-and-so. Still, I cried when she died, the scene was so well done.

Also, I think the actress looks a lot like Penny from The Big Bang Theory. Seriously. Same shape face, same eyebrows, she does the same thing with her mouth….

I finished watching the streaming shows over the weekend and now am looking forward to getting the discs of season 3.