Back in Black

I'm back from my sojurn to Atlanta. The Knight Agency par-tay was a blast (although I didn't get to talk to everyone I had wanted to introduce myself to such as Diana P., Marley, Mel Francis, Liz Allison, Gena Showalter, Sylvia Day...the list goes on...) Then again, I suppose I should be glad I didn't meet everyone I wanted to meet for fear of turning into a fangirl! I didn't embarrass myself too badly when I met Jennifer Echols and Shannon McKelden. (I don't think I did anyway.)

What to Wear?

HOTLanta isn't too far from me and I've been invited to this fabulous party on Tuesday night so I'm going. Now, however, I'm freaking out about what to wear.

Before I was married, I was a decent shopper. Then again, I never looked at the prices or 'shopped;' if I saw something I liked, I bought it. That's probably why I amassed a HUGE credit card debt between the ages of 19-21 but I digress. Now, I see clothes (and purses and shoes) that I like but I'm always able to talk myself out of them. Always. I'm not sure if that's because of willpower or because I think clothes are expendable, like I don't need them. (It's funny how I don't do this with books; of course, I have a list of books I want to purchase and I save money in order to purchase them.)

That's the thing about books vs clothes: books are relatively inexpensive. We have a great used bookstore in town and I love my Borders Rewards coupons, so for me to buy a book equals the amount of money I might spend on lunch one day. Not so much with clothes. For a decent outfit (be it a dress, shirt/pants, shirt/skirt, whatever), I could spend what I might spend on 3 hardcovers (or 8 mass markets)! That's a lot of books! In exchange for 1 ensemble!!

So I'm looking for something to wear. Something that's practical, inexpensive, will look good on me, and that I won't feel too guilty for purchasing. Target.com is my friend!

When Good Ideas Strike

You may or may not know, but I'm attempting to be e-published. When I made the decision last May to boldly pursue writing as a career, I was gung-ho about finding an agent. It didn't matter that I about a million ideas (okay, it was more like 5) with no 'The End' in sight to my current WIP; I wanted an agent, damn it! After receiving a rejection on a writing sample for a packaged YA deal, I took a step back and went on a break. Then somewhere along the way, I started writing again.

In that time I've taken on 2 pen names and have contracted something for each other them. But oh no, that ain't good enough. Now I want to write sweet and sassy Southern stories under a third pen name (J. J. Hanson). This month, I'm bustin' my hump to (1) edit and re-write a sci-fi romance novella, (2) finish a paranormal vampire novella, and (3) a couple of paranormal short stories. What hits me upside the head today like a bolt of lightening? That's right, friends. A new idea.

And not just any new idea -- this is a pretty good idea, if I do say so myself. I'm itching (itching) to share it but I won't. When written, this idea won't land me an agent but it might get me in with my dream e-publisher. The bad thing about this lightening bolt from my muse: I'm freaking busy! So to satisfy Her Royal Hiney-ness, I wrote the plot and character names down on a scrap of paper and shoved it into my ideas file folder. Maybe I can get to it by the end of the year.

OOTB Spotlight: Angel with Attitude

When you're hot for a demon, you might as well kiss your halo good-bye...

Falling naked into the killer whale tank at MarineLand is always bad news, but it's a real bummer when you've just been kicked out of Heaven. Former angel Valerie Grace is determined to reverse her banishment-Earth's just no fun.

Her best friend is a slightly perverted human-turned-rat, and she's being tailed by a sexy Tempter Demon named Nathaniel, who's trying to lure her to hell with kisses that are almost worth the trip. With the talking rodent sneaking peeks down her shirt and Nathaniel getting more irresistible every minute, this ex-angel has only one hope: find the stolen Key to Heaven and go home.

Then the oddest thing happens-Nathaniel starts to show signs of loyalty and love. And soon Val is asking herself if it is such a bad thing to have the hots for a demon.


I finished this book over the weekend, and read the majority of it on Saturday (I bought it with my preciousssss Borders Rewards coupon). LOVED IT! A laugh a minute, people! Michelle has some very cool Behind the Scenes things for AwA on her website. Now my only question is when will there be a sequel???