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.

In a few weeks, I’ll be heading to Houston for the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention (yay!). This will be my first time to stay in the city (I think I drove through Houston very quickly once), and in addition to the convention fun, I’m hoping to explore the area a bit.

So, for anyone else out there who might be looking for a few non-convention activities, here’s what I’ve discovered so far:

1. Downtown Aquarium–I did a mapquest search on this place, and, according to the directions I received, the Downtown Aquarium is only three minutes from the hotel hosting the RT event. Three minutes! And the place has a Sunken Temple exhibit and something really intriguing called a Shark Voyage. How could I miss that???

2. Houston Zoo–Located about ten minutes away from the RT hotel. I’m a sucker for animals–gotta see this place. The zoo boasts one of the world’s largest collections of venomous snakes, and, yeah, I’m terrified of those slithering crawlers–but I do so love to see them!

3. Memorial Park–a perfect place to get away from the crowds. Wide open spaces, scenic beauty. Nice.

4. Houston Museum of Natural Science–when I read the description for this place, two things jumped out at me: dinosaurs and Egyptian artifacts. I’m crazy about dinosaurs, and I’ve been wanting to write a story about ancient Egypt for years. I will definitely try to stop by this place!

Does anyone have any other recommedations for me? I’d love to hear them!

HelenKay Dimon has been nice enough to post my Kensington news over on the Brava Authors website. She’s got details of my sale on the blog, and she’s planning to give away a $15.00 Amazon gift certificate as a way of celebrating the newest Brava addition (little old me!). To qualify for the prize, just leave a comment on the Brava post by Thursday, April 5. HelenKay will pick a random winner. How cool is that? Check it out!

Okay…I’ve just got to share my news.

This little piece recently appeared in Publisher’s Marketplace:

Cynthia Eden’s TOUCHING THE DARKNESS, a psychologist whose patients are all supernatural creatures — lovelorn succubi, vampires with blood phobias and the occasional shifter with commitment issues — is pulled into a brutal murder investigation as a profiler, to Kate Duffy and Megan Records at Kensington Brava, in a nice deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency (World).

* * *

Yay!!!! I am SO excited to announce that I’ve been offered a three-book deal from Kensington! I will be writing paranormal suspense novels, with the first slated for a tentative release date of 6/08. The first story has a much darker feel than my previous works (look for this “darker” tone to continue in the other Kensington tales). I had a fantastic time writing Touching the Darkness (tentative title that will change later), and I certainly hope to get to visit that world and those characters again.

AND…

I was recently contacted by Avon Red, and I’ve been a busy writer–I’ve just finished the draft for (again, tentatively titled–and oh, so subject to change) New Year’s Bites–an erotic, paranormal novella (a description will be posted soon, but no, it’s not about vampires!) that will be released in 01/08 as part of a New Year’s anthology.

So, so excited.

AND…

Red Sage publishing has made an offer on Blood Hunt, my erotic vampire romance. Here’s a teaser for that story: Vampiress Nema Alexander has a definite taste for bady boys. Slade Brion, a notorious bounty hunter, has just been charged with tracking her down. He won’t stop until he catches her, and Nema won’t stop until she claims him, forever.

* * *

My family is a rather superstitious lot. My mom has always said that bad things come in threes, and that good things do, too. Well, this time, I’ll believe that superstition.

Hmmm…did I mention that I am SO excited? I think I just might have to slap myself.