Man, oh, man. Where do people find the motivation to blog? Especially when no one is really reading it. Yeah, I read crap about how to attract people to your website. Blog tours. Blah-blah-blah. Don't get me wrong. I know it needs to be done. I know I will do it. When I'm published, or at least sold. In the meantime, I'll just bitch a little. A tiny bit.

I am embarking a new venture - FastDraft. It begins today. There is a goup of twenty or so and we're doing it together. I thought I was ready and learned I wasn't quite right. But that's okay - because I know where I want to go so I'll figure it out.

But what I really wanted to write about today is music. There's always a song that kicks off my daydreaming of new characters and this story (the one I'm about to work on) is different. There was no song...until today. I was in Fortino's (a local grocery store) and heard Bonnie Raitt's Not the Only One - http://youtu.be/Gw8wJQi05Ws. I've listened to it a few times and realized it is THE song for my current MS.

Does it work that way for you? Let me know.

Cheers. Oh, and wish me luck.

Back from my first Romance Writers of America conference. Actually, my first ever conference. Go big or go home, right? It was...busy, overwhelming, and great. Busy pretty much goes without saying - women everywhere, a few guys (which was cool), workshop after workshop. Overwhelming because I was surrounded by published writers and pre-published writers so far ahead of the curve I'm afraid I won't catch up. Great because I met so many wonderful women, learned things I can actually apply, and I am so keyed up I think I can actually write 20 pages a day like Candace Havens - http://www.candacehavens.com. I really enjoyed her workshop - Fast Draft.

I got the chance to chat with Stephanie Tyler and Larissa Ione - tons o'fun. They're so funny and genuinely kind. I shook hands with Sherrilyn Kenyon, chatted with Keri Arthur, got Kim Harrison to sign a book for my mom, and sat next to the lovely Heather Webber for lunch - can't very well say we had lunch together - she's so sweet. Then there are the Romance Divas - what a great bunch. So funny and maybe just a little rowdy.

I attended some stellar workshops and some not quite so stellar. I loved Candace Havens, Virna DePaul, Christie Ridgway, Deb Dixon, and Tracy Wolff. Thank you - cause I know you'll see this post.

So even though I felt like a poseur-wannabe, especially when everyone congregated in the atrium, at the luncheons and outside the workshops, in the elevators...where was I? Right. Poseur. It's a darn good thing I'll go anywhere alone.

Oh, to top things off I won free registration to next year's conference. Oh yeah baby, California here I come. It pays to volunteer.

Jax Cassidy is raising money and you should help. Please buy her short story... and enter to win this fabulous prize. From her website:

I’m so excited about the eBook release of SHIBUYA MOMENT and decided to get together with some of my friends to create an amazing giveway valued over $500.00 for my readers! Can you tell I’m passionate about this cause? Thanks to the help of my SPONSORS listed below, we are going to include a brand new Kindle 3G and an Amazon gift card to add to the giveaway!

Please visit these author websites to find out more about their awesome books! The Kindle will come loaded with my backlist as well as some of their eBooks!

Items included in this giveaway:

♦ Japanese tote bag
♦ Kindle 3G
♦ Amazon Gift Card
♦ eBook of all my backlist
♦ Additional eBooks by some of my Sponsors
♦ Autographed copies of my books: Art of Sensuality and The Lotus Blossom Chronicles
♦ USB jumpdrive with the original theme song for SHIBUYA MOMENT
♦ Japanese pottery
♦ Body pampering set
♦ Japanese snacks
♦ Original watercolor artwork painted my me
♦ Plus a whole lot of other fun Japanese inspired/related products

To enter, all you have to do is Tweet or Facebook about my release to get your name in the drawing. If you purchase a copy of SHIBUYA MOMENT through one of the vendors listed below, you will have 2 chances of winning. Just stop by my BLOG to let me know who you are. Cut off date to enter is midnight September 8, 2011. Winner will be picked through RANDOM.org on September 9th and announced on my birthday! What a great way to celebrate the event!!

*Unfortunately, due to the the high cost of international shipping, this contest is open to US residents only.

**DISCLAIMER: You must be at least 18 years of age or older to participate. These eBooks & Print books contain content suitable only for adults.

Author’s note: All author proceeds from the sale of this story will be donated to the Red Cross and ShelterBox for the relief effort in Japan.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

What can I say? I'm a freaking lazy blogger. Oh, and NaNoWriMo, well, that didn't work out so well for me, but did I mention the holidays were fantastic? Yep, they were. It's now 2011 and I have plotted a new story. That's right, plotted, not pansted (you know what I mean). It's my first fully plotted, Debra-Dixoned, attempt. Wish me luck.

On another note, I have a cold and it snowed while my hubby was away on business and I had to clear the driveway or possibly not get out the next day. I'm proud to say - I got the snow blower started. Yay me! But ran out of steam, so I blew the end of the driveway only. Hubby had to finish up the difference. Poor him!

So that's my life in a nutshell at the moment. We'll talk sooner. Maybe.

So? How was your summer? Mine was awesome. Freaking terrific. Did a little reading and a little studying, trying to improve my craft and all that. Debra Dixon and Margie Lawson. Wow. I have to read it all over again. Seriously. I do. I'll try to do that while I plot for Nanowrimo.

Yeah, Nanowrimo. Anyone else participating?