Hi, everyone! I just wanted to post a quick entry about my interview at Romance Junkies–if you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think!

Also, I’ve updated my website to include descriptions of three of my upcoming releases: Touching the Darkness, Call of the Blood, and Blood Hunt.

Have a great Friday night!

I picked up a copy of the June 2007 issue of the Writer’s Digest, and read (with much interest) their yearly list of the “101 Best Websites for Writers.” There were a few familiar sites, like:

pubrants.blogspot.com
misssnark.blogspot.com
absolutewrite.com (For anyone not familiar with this site, you can search the “Writers Wanted” section for paying jobs.)
novelspot.com
romancejunkies.com
romancedivas.com

There were also some interesting sites I hadn’t known about until this issue:

agentresearch.com/agent_ver.html (site allows you to research agents)
coolstuff4writers.com (I think the name says it all)
duotrope.com (contains info on over 1,525 writing markets)

Does anyone else know of some great writing websites you’d like to mention?

***Update: DEFINITELY check out the Magical Musings site (far and away one of the most positive, best group sites I’ve seen!).

On Friday the 13th (ah, I love that date!), the family and I loaded up and headed for the beach. An hour and a half later, we made it to the beach house we’d rented in scenic Fort Morgan, Alabama. Here are a few pics from my stay. Notice the nice baby foot prints in the sand. 🙂

I’m in between books right now. Actually, I’ll be starting a new manuscript this week, and I really feel like this little trip was a great way to recharge. But leaving–packing up my too heavy gear and coming home–ugh, so very hard…

I’ve taken the last few days off from my writing (with brief editing exceptions for Blood Hunt). I like to take a break between projects (as long as my schedule lets me) b/c I think the break gives me a chance to put the previous characters to rest…and better focus on those waiting in the wings.

So, during my rest, I’ve been reading some books–some for pleasure, some for research, and just some that I should have read long ago. Tonight, I read through The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood. This book is designed to inspire writers, pretty much as the name implies. So far, there’s been one section of this book that has interested me. Monica Wood says that every writer should have two critics. The first critic should have nothing but great, wonderful, glowing things to say about your work. This person will need to be someone who loves you a great deal and thus pretty much thinks everything you do is perfect. This person is the one you turn to when you need that important positive reinforcement. The second critic, the non-positive one, should be someone who “never, ever lies.” I’d imagine this critic would be a bit harder to find. : -) The second critic is the one you face when you need help–or you know your story does.

I know many people who work with critique partners on their manuscripts. I’ve never done that. And I don’t make a habit of running my work by a friend or a loved one, either. Yes, my husband does sometimes read my work, but generally, I don’t give him the book until it’s actually in print–then, well, his comments usually fall under critic category #1.

I started working with Laura Bradford (my agent) last November, and I feel that she gives me very honest, straight-forward comments about my work–and I like that about her, a lot. So I guess that means she’d fall under category number 2.

What about the other writers out there? Do you have critics? And are they in category one (I love your work!) or category two (This scene falls flat.)?

My friends and I are organizing a book club. Okay, Ashley, my instigator friend, and I are harassing our other friends into joining our book club.

The types of books we’ll read: Pretty much anything. Although I am really, really hoping to avoid the Oprah Book Club type–yes, I know those are wonderful books, but often they are just too sad for me. I like books that end happily (at least partially)–that’s why I write romances (guaranteed happily-ever-after).

The first book on our agenda: Alabama Ghosts: They are among us. Ashley and I were bumming around Books-a-Million a few weeks ago, and this little baby happened to catch our attention. No, it’s not a weighty volume of epic literature, but I bet it will be a fun, interesting read. And I’ll even post some of the ghostly lore that I discover here on my blog. 🙂

Hmmm…I wonder if this book will inspire some ideas for me, or at the very least, inspire the creation of a ghost hunters’ club (something Ashley and I have been talking about for quite some time!).

When I’m done with the book, I’ll be passing it on to my mom. She loves a good ghost read. It’s really in the blood.