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Archive for August, 2008
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
I am once more writing from my office, and the new carpet smell certainly is better than what it replaced. Everything has been dusted and put back in place, or in some cases, discarded. I’ve moved all the medieval reference books back to the basement as there doesn’t seem to be a medieval story in my near future.
I learned a neat Word trick this week, thanks to longtime friend Mary Jo Putney–thanks, Mary Jo. Probably all you experienced Word users out there have known this forever, and this is old-hat to you, but I now know how to make faux galleys–two colums to a page, two pages per sheet of paper, laid out horizontally (landscape style) so that it looks more like a real book, uses less paper (omigosh, I’m being green! <g>) and is cheaper to mail. Since it took me so long to switch to Word, I’m just now learning things experienced Word authors have been doing for ten years or so. Better late than never.
It’s been a good week to be an author! I’ve mailed out advanced reading copies to reviewers and a few family and friends and received not only my first advance check for the new contract but a 4-star review in “Romantic Times” for HILL COUNTRY CHRISTMAS! And so did my best writing friend Deborah Simmons for THE DARK VISCOUNT! Woo hoo for us!
Tags: " the writing life, "Romantic Times", tricks in Word, writing friends
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Thursday, August 21st, 2008
I’m writing from the living room. Everything is moved out of my office, because I’m getting new carpet this week. This is thanks to my cat, who had a temper tantrum at not being allowed to cat around outside all night. Said temper tantrum rendered my office olfactorily uninhabitable. It’s not that I didn’t badly need new carpet–this is the same ugly-but-serviceable carpet that was present when I moved in here over 10 years ago, but I had hoped to be between books when I did it. It’s also my husband’s busiest time at work, and I hate to add one more strenuous task to his shoulders.
As if I didn’t think my nose could be assaulted worse, two of my three dogs (the only female of the three had more sense than to get close) got skunked the other night. I know, I know, it’s a hazard of living in the country…They didn’t suffer a direct hit, apparently, but it was bad enough. They’ve been bathed in a Heloise’s supposedly foolproof skunk remedy made of hydrogen peroxide, dish liquid soap, and baking soda, but I can still faintly smell eau de skunk. I hope there’s no next time, but I’m laying in a supply of tomato juice, which I’ve used in the past. Anyone else have any good remedies?
And now to get back to MARRYING MILLY, if I can manage to write in this unfamiliar setting…
Blessings, Laurie
Tags: pets, skunks, writing life
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Monday, August 11th, 2008
It’s great that you can count on some things not to change. Musical groups usually aren’t in that category; they squabble, and break up, or some members quit, and they go on tour again with maybe only one member from the original group (or sometimes none). Or they keep playing, but maybe they shouldn’t have.
Phil Dirt and the Dozers, a vastly popular group in the central Ohio area since the 80’s, are still around, and as I can testify from seeing them last Thurs. night at the Dan Emmett festival in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, they’re even better than ever. Though they’ve lost one member in death, their previous drummer, the group is as versatile and talented as ever. Starting out with a medley of “beach music,” they went on to prove they could handle any musical style they chose. Each member seemed able to handle a multitude of instruments, switching from guitar to keyboard to bass and back again. My husband and I stood out in the rain–and for about five minutes, HAIL, under one small umbrella fearing the show would be cancelled, and I can tell you it was very well worth it. Thanks, guys for continuing to play and excel!
Blessings, Laurie
Tags: Mt. Vernon festival, musical groups, Phil Dirt and the Dozers
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Monday, August 11th, 2008
I’ve been back from RWA San Francisco, and I’m just now caught up enough to blog again. I wanted to post a belated salute to Linda Goodnight, who did all of us who write for Steeple Hill Love Inspired proud by taking the Inspirational category Rita for A TOUCH OF GRACE. I met Linda on the way to the Faith Hope and Love miniconference on that first day before the RWA conference properly got underway, and I can tell you, no one deserves this award more. Her kindness and friendliness were outstanding. And her win proves that the shorter Love Inspireds can compete favorably with the longer bigger trade-sized inspirational single titles! I haven’t had the pleasure of reading her book yet, but I can tell you I will be getting the above book!
I couldn’t go online at Dallas or San Francisco airports, though I had no trouble in Columbus. Mysteriously, the only way to connect seemed to be buying a “daypass” from one of the cellphone companies, and I sure wasn’t about to pay $9.95 for the joy of connecting for an hour or so. If this was the result of technical incompetence on my part, fine, but if this was a scheme set up by those airports and the cell phone company, shame on you. It costs enough to fly and have cell phones these days without this added charge.
Now I really must get offline and get chapter 8 finished–the clock is ticking!
Blessings, Laurie
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Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
By far the best Harlequin party I’ve ever attended last night, from the food–delicious mini-egg rolls, dim sum, and the chocolate fountain to dim skewers of fruit, cake, etc.–to the dancing. This non-party animal got up and danced! And I’ve got the body aches to prove it! I stayed way later than I intended.
Had lunch with Mary Jo Putney at John’s Grill, which apparently figured heavily in THE MALTESE FALCON. Always great to catch up with old friends, and she’s one of the best at friendship in this business as well as being a darn fine writer!
I’m just getting ready to go to a workshop or two and the Rita Award ceremony tonight. By this point at the conference I’m already more focused on getting back home, and more tempted by the comforts of my room and getting repacked than by the workshops. It’ll be good to get back home, but I’m glad I’ve got ACFW’s conference to look forward to.
Blessings, Laurie
Tags: Harlequin party, RWA conference, writer friends
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Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
Hello again from San Francisco! Finally over jet lag, and a good thing because it was a busy day. I went to the Steeple Hill Meet’n'Greet for the authors. It was good to hear that all the lines are doing so well. Then on to Buca di Beppo with my editor Melissa Endlich and a handful of the authors–yummy food and great company.
Back at the hotel, I rendezvoused with ACFW buddy Mary Dodge Allen at the hotel’s Starbucks and caught up with her. Happy Birthday tomorrow, Mary! We went on to a workshop overview of the inspirational market by Lyn Cote, then onto the “Spotlight on Steeple Hill,” where my editor and Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense editor Krista Stroever showcased the lines for those who were interested in writing for them. They showed the covers for the upcoming books, and mine was touted as the “First ever Christmas book” for Love Inspired Historicals! Woohoo, what a great feeling that was! I didn’t know the other book out that month wasn’t a Christmas book.
Now it’s almost time to get ready for the Harlequin Party. I’m SOOOOO not a party animal…But I gather it’s tradition for the Steeple Hill girls to be gung-ho partiers, so I shall go and do my best. The desserts are always superb at these things! 
Blessings, Laurie
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Friday, August 1st, 2008
Busy day, up till now! I’ve had breakfast with my old compadres, the Harlequin Hussies (historicals), lunch with my wonderful agent Elaine English, tea with some of the Love Inspired historicals authors.
I don’t do long-drawn-out business meetings, so I must confess I skipped out on the AGM (annual general meeting) and went to the mall instead, which is right around the corner. Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, but otherwise the usual mall stuff. But it got me out in the fresh bracing air and sunshine, at least. Feels like Ohio in early fall here–66 degrees, I think.
For those of you who are tuning in from COFW, I’ve seen Donna MacMeans–and oh, what a fetching hat complete with ostrich plume she was wearing for the literacy signing last night–Marcia Anderson, Kay Stockham aka Dorma, and Karen Harper. I hear rumors there are other COFW-ers here, but I haven’t seen them…But it’s early in the conference yet.
I wish I hadn’t brought so many pairs of unsensible shoes–I could’ve bought more books…:/
Blessings, Laurie
Tags: Central Ohio Fiction Writers, COFW, RWA
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