Just a few more days until the big conference. Nick and I will be loading up the Element and heading out on Wednesday morning. I think we’ll have about 4 and a half hours of driving ahead of us. (I can’t remember exactly, even though we’ve been to Atlanta over a dozen times.)

Today I’ve started creating my business cards. I picked up a handy tip from the RWA website–I’m going to write short book blurbs on the back of my cards. I’ve got two books that I’d love to place, so I’ll do two versions of my cards–one with my straight paranormal romance description and the other with my erotic paranormal romance description. And maybe I’ll find some nice editors and agents who want these cards. (Oooh, got to think positive!)

Now, the last time I wrote a blog entry, I was ranting about my chain letter. Well, yesterday, our central air conditioning unit broke. Yep, no more nice, cool air. And when you live in the deep south, you truly need that nice, cool air. I could say this breakdown occurred b/c of my failure to send out the letter as instructed (cuz, yeah, it did cost me some money to get my central cooling unit up and running again), but since my bro-in-law works in the air conditioning business, I managed to get a great deal. So, is this chain letter punishment? Nah–I think it was just crummy luck.

Now a very random question: Am I the only one seriously intrigued by the promo commercials for Heroes?

Back to preparing for RWA…

Okay…so I go outside, all nice and happy, and pick up my mail around noon. Looking for those perky little SASEs that mean I’ve got either a request or a rejection coming to me. Instead, I find a plain, white envelope, no return address, waiting on me.

Hmmm…

I open it, still hoping that maybe it’s something involving my writing. Maybe–

But no! It’s a dang chain letter. Oh, I HATE chain letters. This is how my letter begins:

“Greetings! This is NOT a chian letter.” Um, yeah, it so is. Liar!!

The note goes on to read: “This letter has been sent to you because someone wants you to receive a financial blessing.” Bull. Someone wants to torture me.

Apparently, if I don’t send this letter off to 20 folks within the next 96 hours, I can expect all sorts of calamaties to befall me. For example, “While in the Philippines, Gene Welch lost his wife 51 days after receiving this letter which he failed to circulate. After circulating his copies, he received $7,500,000!” Call me crazy, but maybe that money was an insurance payment (assuming, of course that Gene and his dearly departed wife are actually real people–not that I think they are!). But wait–is this a threat? If I don’t send out the letter, can I expect something to happen to someone I love? Or, gasp, will I be like “a young woman in California” who was “plagued with various problems, including expensive car repairs”? Gee, what are the odds of a car breaking down and needing repairs?

The letter ends with this inspirational quote, “I don’t know what your beliefs are personally, but I believe in Blessings from God through Jesus Christ, Our Lord!!!” Well, just FYI, I do believe in God. But I don’t happen to believe in the power of a chain letter. So, yes, this letter will leave my hot hands within 96 hours–it will be tossed into the trash.

Oooohhh…I hate chain letters, chain emails.

Now back to looking for my SASEs in the mail.

Want to get a free autographed copy of The Wizard’s Spell? Then enter my Magical Powers contest.

My book trailer for The Wizard’s Spell is done! Yay!! I learned a great deal from this experience–and I had a darn good time. (I don’t know if Nick did–I think I might have driven him to near insanity with frustration a few times.)

Originally, I’d planned to do a “live action” trailer and “still-shot” sequence. But, well, time snuck up on me. When my editor from ImaJinn notified me recently that my book would be released on July 21st, I realized I would only have time for one trailer. So I opted for the still-shot.

I know I want to do another trailer. I’ve already started planning one for The Wolf’s Mate. I think I may be addicted now.

A quick note about The Wizard’s Spell: I don’t have an ISBN number for this book yet, and it won’t be listed on Amazon.com for a few more days. As soon as I get more info, I’ll list ordering information on my site.

I’ve been a bad blogger this week, so I thought I’d play a quick game of catch-up.

Here’s a few personal life events that have been keeping me busy: Jack was baptized recently. Wow. My little snookums screamed like the Omen child when he was oiled up and dunked in the water. Even though he was only six months old at the time of the afore-mentioned dunking, I kept expecting him to turn to me and say, “It burns, Mama, it burns!” Luckily, he didn’t say that, and he now appears to have fully recovered from his dunking trauma.

Next life event: Saw Superman Returns and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. First, let me talk about Superman Returns. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed. Would have loved to see more of Clark Kent. Sigh. And I’m a huge Lois Lane fan. Huge. But I didn’t like the way she was portrayed in this movie. I got a few hints that Lois wasn’t the best mom on the earth. (If you haven’t seen the movie yet and don’t want spoiler info, I suggest you skip the next few sentences.) For instance, her son is “supposed to” suffer from asthma–but the woman keeps smoking. Then she forgets to pick her child up from school. Then she takes him straight into a very dangerous situation. Those details just didn’t fly for me. I think Lois would have been a great career woman and a great mom–but that’s just my humble little opinion.

Second film: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. I, ahem, actually saw this movie twice. The first time, I thought it was good, but not as great as the original. The second time I saw it (last night), I loved it (but I still prefer the original). Will Turner is as sexy as before, and Jack Sparrow still manages to steal the show. Lots of action, some romantic surprises, a giant sea beastie…oh, so much fun. A definite recommend.

Now for publishing news…Today, Nick and I are finishing up my still-shot trailer for The Wizard’s Spell. I’ll be updating my website today (tomorrow at the latest) and putting the trailer up for view. I’m also getting ready to start a contest in conjunction with the release of The Wizard’s Spell. More details on the contest will appear soon…

I was a busy girl this week–I sent off 3 submissions. Two were requested, one wasn’t–just sent it off for the heck of it. Hopefully, I’ll hear some positive news on one of those manuscripts soon. And now that I’m all submission done, I think I’ll turn my hand to trying something new. I’ve got an urban fantasy idea that’s been bouncing around in my head for the last few days. Perhaps I’ll give that a go.