I read in one place paranormals are leveling out, in another they're still hot. And still I write.

Here's a new market quiz. It's a toughie!

1) This agent writes the blog, Agent in the Middle.
A. Meredith Bernstein
B. Lori Perkins
C. Jessica Faust

2) This agent’s blog is Pub Rants.
A. Jessica Faust
B. Emily Sylvan Kim
C. Kristen Nelson

3) This agent’s blog is Lit Soup.
A. Jenny Rappaport
B. Jenny Bent
C. Jessica Faust

4) Allison Brandau edits for which house?
A. Berkley
B. Bantam
C. Pocket

5) Sulay Hernandez moved from Kensington to what publishing house?
A. Harlequin
B. Bantam
C. Simon and Schuster

6) Keren Gerlach edits for what house?
A. Pocket
B. Bantam
C. Harlequin

7) If you enter a paranormal contest, which of these editors is most likely to be the final judge?
A. May Chen
B. Chris Keesler
C. Brenda Chin

8) Abby Zidle moved from which publisher to work at Pocket?
A. Bantam
B. Warner
C. Harlequin

9) Jessica Zita works at which publisher?
A. Simon and Schuster
B. Grand Central Café
C. Signet

10) Leis Pedersom edits for which house?
A. Avon
B. Berkley
C. Harlequin

11) If you submit to Superromance, you’ll probably submit to ___ or ___.
A. Lauren McKenna and Jessica Zita
B. Kerry Donovan and Laura Cifelli
C. Victoria Curran and Laura Shin

12) Lara Hyde is the editor for _____.
A. Harlequin
B. NAL
C. Red Sage

13) Tessa Woodward is an editor for ____.
A. Grand Central
B. Bantam
C. Avon

14) Warner Books is now called ________.

15) Which of these editors does not work for Harlequin?
A. Brenda Chin
B. Susan Litman
C. Esi Sogah

16) Kerry Donovan edits for ______.
A. NAL
B. Avon
C. Pocket

17) Michelle Bidelspach edits for ______.
A. Harlequin
B. Leisure
C. Grand Central

18) This agency is located in New Orleans.
A. Prospect Agency
B. BookEnds
C. Ahearn Agency

19) This agency is located in Madison, Wisconsin.
A. BookEnds
B. Three Seas
C. Folio

20) If you write sexy, this is not the editor for you.
A. Hilary Sares
B. Krista Stoever
C. Raelene Gorlinsky

Yup, the Spurs did it again. We watched on TV as they won, as San Antonians went downtown to celebrate together in the rain.

In the rain? I looked out the front door. Not raining here, but 10 minutes down the road, pouring. Never did rain here last night.

I suppose a lot of SA dads will get Spurs Championship shirts for Father's Day. The dh is just hoping he doesn't have to work the parade.

Trish and I were talking last night about series, and how to make strong connections between characters in a series. I don't read a whole lot of series, so these were some of the connections I came up with:

family
friends
common goal
common enemy
same team

What are some connections you can think of?

I was up till 2:30 last night. I watched 3 movies - The Messengers, Blood and Chocolate and Freedom Writers.

Freedom Writers was INCREDIBLE. I went in with a bleh attitude - I don't care for Hilary Swank, and I've seen every teacher-in-a-poor-school movie, but this one was a lot more raw. I really really liked it. It's a purchase for me.

The Messengers was my second favorite of the night. It's a ghost story with Dylan McDermott (who looked a lot like Gerry Butler in this movie, but that's NOT why I liked it.) He moves his family to North Dakota to raise sunflowers (yeah, I know.) Penelope Ann Miller was his wife, and she moves into this decrepit old house wearing a SUNDRESS. (I said to the dh, "You will NEVER buy a house with boarded up windows, a sagging roof and no paint, got it?") BUT the haunting stuff started almost immediately, and was creepy as heck! And the daughter, who you know did something wrong back in Chicago, but you're waiting to hear what, has to earn her parents' trust and convince them what's going on.

Blood and Chocolate was good, too, about a werewolf clan and a girl meant to be the alpha's new bride, but she falls in love with a human. I really liked the mythology.

Okay, I didn't mean to go on so long about movies. I think I wrote myself into a corner last night. I dunno - I'm less than 50,000 words, I have some circular plot points (h&h go out investigating, they are followed and shot at twice, the third time something ELSE happens) and I just don't have a good handle on it. Everything I'd planned to write this week has gone awry because it's not coming out the way I wanted.

If I cut, it will be 100 pages gone. GULP. I've done it before, and I know it will be better for the book, but 100 PAGES. When I wanted to finish this book.

I should never have contested it, because it's done well, so I don't want to give up on it.

I did write another couple of pages on the vamp book, including the first meet, and I think it can be fun. I may just, as Stacy suggested, work on that for awhile and get distance from BD.

Had a blast at Dawn's! We talked so much and so fast, and still didn't get everything said! And y'all have to try Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc - YUMMY.

Only got 3 pages done yesterday, but will be doing timed writing here in a few minutes. I'm supposed to clean the kitchen today, according to my schedule. I may bump it till tomorrow.

The dh's bday is next week and Father's Day is this weekend and Mom and I are debating combining the two, or having them separately. I would be just as happy to meet everyone at Rudy's Barbecue and celebrate there. My MIL would hate it, but does she offer to have his bday party? Uh, no.

Okay, so point of view - when I started writing, I was not a point of view purist. Then I came to see the benefit of being one - you keep the reader in suspense of the other person's thoughts, you only see what the POV character is seeing. But apparently lately my POV transitions aren't apparent. My cps pointed it out in Breaking Daylight, and I noticed it when I was going over my Ghost Hunter scene yesterday. Plus, now that I'm doing online critique, I have a few beginning writers that I need to explain this to.

So what's a good way to transition from one POV to another, without the reader having to go back and say, "Whose head are we in again?"

I wrote 15 pages yesterday. I don't know if they're the RIGHT 15 pages, though. I'm looking forward to going to Dawn's tonight for some girl talk!

Okay, I didn’t finish ALL the books on my list last week. I finished HEAVENS TO BETSY, SHADOW HAWK, UNDER THE WIRE, A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES (I read the last 90 pages after listening to the audio book for TWO MONTHS) and a SECRETS volume. This week I’m reading paranormal books, so I’m going to pull a few onto this week’s list.





And add:











Some of these have been sitting in my TBR an embarrassing length of time. I hope I’m as productive this week as last.

I slept till after EIGHT!

I spent the whole time at the skatepark yesterday editing the first 50 pages of Ghost Hunters for From the Heart. I sent it to Trish to go over when her company leaves. We got home after 4 and vegged the rest of the day. Did see Dream Girls. Wasn’t terribly impressed.

The skatepark didn't have Diet Coke (!) so the dh bought me this. It's yummy!



So I need to set my goals for this week.

1) Write 60 pages on Breaking Daylight. FIFTEEN SO FAR
2) Judge Heart to Heart entries that I should be getting this week.
3) Send 15 more pages of Ghost Hunters to critique and revise one scene a day. THREE SCENES
4) Work on Vamp Hunters with an eye to entering From the Heart (deadline next Monday!). WORKED
5) Work in yard, clean laundry room, mud room, kitchen and living area. LAUNDRY ROOM, MUD ROOM, KITCHEN
6) Get Father’s Day gifts. YES
7) Watch Children of Men, Blood and Chocolate, Freedom Writers and The Messengers.
8) STAY HOME and stop spending money. DAWN BUSTED ME LEAVING LOWE'S MONDAY - THOUGH I WAS GETTING F DAY GIFTS! STAYED HOME TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, RAN TO GROCERY STORE AND BLOCKBUSTER AND MCDONALDS THURSDAY

I finally watched the Painted Veil. Very beautiful movie, great costumes. I love Edward Norton, who got more handsome as the romance progressed. But this was not a keeper for me.

The boy went to hang out with some friends at a shopping strip. The dh gave him $30. Guess what he spent money on? BOOKS! He IS my son! He got War of the Worlds and Season in Hell. He’s reading Atlantis, has Barack Obama’s book on the way, has a TBR pile with Dresden and East of Eden in it. I’m so proud.

Today we’re heading to breakfast with my MIL, then the skatepark with the nephew. I’m loading up my Supernatural messenger bag with the first 50 pages of Ghost Hunters, my AlphaSmart and HEAVENS TO BETSY.

I am all about products that work, and if they smell good doing it, more power to them!

Here are a few of my favorite products:

Loreal Nail Polish – takes a licking and keeps on ticking.



Garnier Sleek and Shine shampoo and conditioner – smells SO good and tames my poofy hair.



Oil of Olay with ribbons – I resisted at first, because it’s kinda pricy, but it’s so worth it!



Okay, this doesn’t smell good, but it makes my life easier – touching up roots takes half the time as coloring my hair.



Cheer Dark really works – the ds has mostly black t-shirts, and this keeps them alive longer than the logos ironed on them.



Now, my indulgence. I love Cherry Blossom scents at Bath and Body – it smells like taking a bath at my California grandmother’s house!



What are your tried and true products?

create your own personalized map of the USA

Went to breakfast with Mom and the boys before they went to work yesterday, then Mom and I went shopping. I got a new (nice! but not warm) quilt at TJ Maxx for $36. It's royal blue and white. Remember I was trying to figure out what color to paint my bedroom? Now I'm thinking....maybe....

White.

I know, but it's harder than it sounds. I have plantation shutters that probably USED to be white, are now more shabby chic, and I'd have to paint my ceiling and doors....but I really need to get rid of that peach.

I read two critiques for SARA and Trish's Coven yesterday, and also Shadow Hawk, which was a fast read and different for a Blaze. My eyes are tired. I also entered Cleveland Rocks. Next I'm looking at From the Heart but I can't decide what to enter.

I'm doing timed writing here in a bit.

The boy worked yesterday and got paid. I don't think it was what he expected. My brother, his boss, is going in for back surgery at the end of the month, and will be laid up for 8 weeks, so they both need to work while they can. I'm really worried about my brother. He's self employed and while my SIL is a principal and has decent insurance, he's not making any money, and won't for a bit. As soon as he's healthy (please, God), the AC business starts slowing down. Of course, he's never been NOT busy as long as he's been in AC in Texas. Still, it's bad enough to not be healthy, but to worry about money, too....

If I had a gun, I'd shoot the damned mockingbird that sang in my front yard. All. Night. Long.

Still haven't watched The Painted Veil and Dreamgirls, which have been sitting here about a month. I need to get this queue rolling! Hopefully tonight.

Romance Novel Reviews - Smart Bitches: Come for the Dominican Bitches, Stay for the Man Titty

I didn't get much done yesterday, other than revising my synopses based on last week's critique. The boy didn't go to work because my brother wasn't feeling good, and Cindi called early and said they were going to watch the game at Lucinda's, on her HDTV. I reminded myself NOT to be a hermit and so we went.

They wouldn't let me switch over to Supernatural even for a minute to see it on the big screen, but I forgave them.

Cindi brought her three kids, and a neighbor kid, whose parents actually got to GO to the game. He was only two, but almost as tall as her five year old! Then Lucinda's grandson, who is four, was there. That was a LOT of kids. But we ate kolaches and taquitos and chips and dip and drank beer and had fun.

I came home and finished reading Under the Wire and started Shadow Hawk.

Today I'm critiquing and entering the Cleveland Rocks contest (if Paypal stops the hating of me.) I'm working on a letter for the newsletter, too. I also need to start my vamp hunters if I want to send it to From the Heart.

I woke up at seven!

My summer hasn't had the best start. Monday I had diarrhea kitty. Tuesday I had a flat (thank goodness they were able to patch it. I love you, Discount Tires!) Wednesday, the dh blew a waterhose on the Land Cruiser coming home from work. Again, we were fortunate that O'Reilly had the part, since it's a 20 year old car, but I live in dread of what today will bring. I hope if it's something, it continues to be minor!

Today I'm fixing my synopses to get ready for From the Heart. And I think I may almost have the beginning of my Vamp Hunters book figured out. I wrote 8 pages yesterday.

Have you seen this? I found it on Kristi's blog - I can't WAIT!!!

This week I’m reading books on other people’s wish lists on paperbackswap.com. See, once I read a book and post it, someone else can request it and I get more book credits that way. Currently I’m at zero, and I’ve bought like 6 credits recently, so I need to build them up again.

So some I’m looking forward to reading this week are:







Though if it’s good, I’ll give it to my mom to read first.







And I’m already reading this one, waiting for Dallas’s story.



What books are you reading this week?

My goals this week are:

1) write 12,500 words on Breaking Daylight (which would be WAY easier if I knew what was going to happen) ONLY ABOUT 5000 - WILL TRY TO MAKE A BIGGER DENT THIS WEEKEND
2) revise my synopses (BD and Ghost Hunters - yes, I have a synopsis on BD and STILL don't know what's going to happen) YES
3) send first 15 page of Ghost Hunters to online critique YES
4) enter From the Heart with either Surface, DLB or BD, also enter paranormal with either Ghost Hunters or my vamp book, which means I have to write the first 50 pages and a synopsis. But then I can enter it in Indiana’s Golden Opportunity, too. ENTERED DLB IN FTH, PRINTED OUT FIRST 50 PAGES OF GHOST HUNTERS TO EDIT, WROTE 7 PAGES OF VAMP HUNTERS
5) enter Cleveland Rocks with Hot Shot, and Melody of Love with BD, I think. GOT MELODY OF LOVE READY AND CLEVELAN
6) Get submission ready for Corey Deyoe YUP
7) Clean the living area, bedrooms and bathrooms ALL BUT ONE BATHROOM

That should do!

Napoleon, my bad boy cat, has diarrhea (and if he could read, he would kill me for telling you.) He was on my lap last night, which he NEVER is, and after about an hour, it just, well, I had to go shower. So off to the vet in a couple of hours.

I was talking to one of my critique partners about Pirates 3 and I mentioned how hot Will Turner was. Witness.



She argued that he was too boring because he was too GOOD. (Debatable in this movie) She's all for the bad boy.



I'm reading Trish's Coven again as she changes it from third person to first. She wrote it based on Sam, the Good Boy. (Why, yes, I did go looking for the hottest possible picture, why do you ask?)



I wrote my paranormal basing my hero on the Bad Boy brother.



Izzy on Grey's Anatomy chose Good Boy (again, debatable) George over Bad Boy Alex. (WHAT the...??)





So who do you prefer? Good Boys or Bad Boys?

Okay, off to scrap the most boring love scene EVER and start fresh.

Two names you go by:
1. Mary
2. Mary Helen

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Roswell t-shirt (that glows in the dark)
2. athletic shorts (otherwise known as pajamas)


Two things you would want (or have) in a relationship:
1. trust
2. love


Two of your favorite things to do:
1. watch movies
2. Read

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. More money
2. to finish this book!

Two pets you had/have:
1. 4 cats
2. dog

Two things you did last night:
1.sang karaoke
2. barbecued pizza

Two things you ate today:
1. brownie
2. Diet Coke


Two people you last talked to:
1. my husband
2. my son

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:
1. write
2. go to the Bath and Body Works sale

Two longest car rides:
1. We went to CA when I was a kid
2. Driving to Atlanta

Two favorite holidays:

1. My birthday (should be a national holiday)
2. Christmas

Two favorite beverages:
1. Diet Coke
2. Crystal Light Raspberry

Four things About ME!
Things you may not have known about me:
1. I have a MySpace, but most of my friends are my students ;)
2. I love bacon but hate ham.
3. I worked 2 days in Haagen Dazs at the airport and just never went back to work
4. I'm not very good with money.

Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. worked at Winn's, a local 5 and dime that's no more
2. worked at Eckerd's
3. worked at a craft store
4. teacher

Four movies I would watch over and over:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. Lord of the Rings
3. The Mummy
4. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Four places I have lived:

1. Clinton, OK
2. Sunnyvale, CA
3. San Antonio
4. uh, that's it

Four of my favorite foods:
1. hamburgers
2. chocolate
3. strawberries
4. Cherries, the darker the better

Four places I’d rather be right now:

1. At breakfast ;)
2. At the beach
3. on a road trip
4. The Grand Canyon

I tag:

Trish
Michele
Natalie
Kelly

I've been up since 6, made 8 pizza doughs for Healing Brother's birthday party (BTW, he may be having surgery this summer, which is probably the best option, but means The Boy is out of a summer job), started my challenge buddies on their timed writing and am heading out to get H.Brother's bday gift. I can't believe I forgot! I'm going to get him a Spurs shirt, a Dresden book and a card to Border's.

Yesterday's luncheon was nice, though I was NERVOUS about making my presentation to Mr. Allen. He loved it, though he did say, "What happens in the classroom, stays in the classroom!"

I can't believe I'm free!

Have you seen this?



What about this? The song is a hoot!

I've got to go finish cleaning my room, then we have a luncheon today.

I watched The Queen last night. REALLY good. I'm taking it in today to trade for Catch and Release. I know, I know, but Jennifer Garner's in it and I love Jennifer Garner.

We saw Music and Lyrics the night before and the song is stuck in my head. But the movie had no conflict, and Drew Barrymore was very annoying in the beginning.

We saw Night at the Museum, too. Very family friendly.

My excitement today is not about the last day of school, though. It's that Best Buy has their TV season DVDs on sale. I bought 3 Babylon 5s (don't tell the dh - it's his present) and 3 Gilmore Girls!!!! Whee!!! Amazon actually has Gilmore Girls on sale, too, same price.

Have you seen this?