Friends and Parties and Limos, Oh My!

I've only been home a couple of days from RWA's annual conference held at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, and already I'm wishing it could have been a longer trip!

It's always wonderful to get to spend time with friends and especially when they're writing friends. Eight of the Ditzy Chix managed to finally get together at a conference and had a fabulous time at a celebration dinner for our achievements this year.

It was an especially super trip because, not only did I room with my friend Kathie DeNosky for the first time, we shared the flight from Kansas City to Dallas. We spent as much time as possible talking and laughing and sometimes shed a tear, and quite often shared that time with Kristi Gold and her nifty roomie Vicky Dreiling.

Of course, there's always the party hosted by Harlequin/Silhouette that's one of the big highlights for some of us at conference. This year, several H/S authors went together for a special treat--and some of the Ditzy Chix joined in the ride back to the hotel from the party...in a stretch Hummer limo. Now just how cool is that?!

His Queen of Hearts in Italian

It's always such fun to receive foreign copies of my books. The other day, a new one arrived, and it has such a beautiful cover! This one is the Italian version of His Queen of Hearts, the last of my Silhouette Romance books. (BTW, the literal translation of the title is Escape in Dress White.)

I'd love to know what you think of the cover!

Catching Up

Busy, busy! That's what I've been since the middle of January. Why? Because I learned then that Family by Design will be a January 2008 Harlequin American release! What a wonderful group of writers the Harlequin American family encompasses. I've been able to be in contact with several old friends who write for HAR, and it's wonderful to meet new (I hope) friends. But with an April 1 deadline to have the book finished, there hasn't been a lot of time to be as sociable as I'd like to be. It's all done now, but that didn't mean I could lay around and eat bonbons and watch soap operas.

I've done three new Designs by Delaney websites and am finally now able to catch my breath. (I hope!) Heather Waters, Susan J. Mitchell, and Susanna Chelton Sheehy are worth a look and such very nice writers who were wonderful to work with.

Here's hoping Winter is on its way out and Spring, if not already here, is on its way!

Happy New Year!!

I'm only a couple of days late, but it's been a busy start to 2007 here.

Nevertheless, may each and every one have a joyful and prosperous new year. May 2007 be a year of happiness and peace.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you joy, abundance, and love on this Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Halloween! aka The Moral of the Story

This post should really be titled, "The Disadvantages of Aging." I'm not yet ready to officially announce being old, but I will bite the bullet and admit that my memory is failing me...often to my disadvantage. I'll simply skip the story and announce the moral: Always keep sign-in information, including passwords, in a safe place. It's easy to forget them and can lead to no posting to blogs.

I doubt I can even begin to catch up, so I won't try. That said, we've moved out of summer here and into fall. Yesterday was beautiful, with the high temp of 76, but a bit windy. Those of us in Kansas understand windy. Then last night, the wind picked up, just about the time I ventured out for provisions, i.e. food, and the temps dropped dramatically. It was even worse an hour or so later when one of my daughters asked me to accompany her on a search for a new Halloween costume. Temp was in the upper 30's and wind gusts were close to 40 mph. The moral of that story: Don't go looking for a Halloween costume the night before Halloween--unless you're a child who isn't picky. And she's 24. Today we're eating Halloween cookies. My plans for the evening, while my own grown-up kids take their kids trick or treating, is to turn the lights out and veg out on old scary movies, accompanied by buttery popcorn.

So Happy Halloween, All Hallows Eve, and Samhein to all!! I hope it's an evening of delightful shudders. And Happy Birthday to Lisa Childs, the Ditzy Chix own Halloween girl!

Another One Bites the Dust

That really isn't a fair title. The truth is, another Silhouette line is being closed. Silhouette Bombshell did not bite the dust. The authors of the many wonderful books in that line put their heart and soul into their stories, but because sales weren't as high as what the company had hoped for, they've (the guys in suits) have decided to discontinue the line. The last books will be on shelves in January '07.

I really liked this line. In fact, I liked it so much I even tried my hand at writing one. Sadly, it was rejected, but even in rejection I learn something. I may like the "kickass heroines" I read about in Bombshell, but I'm not a kickass heroine, myself. *grin* And that was okay, because I could still read the books. I won't be able to much longer.

If you were a Bombshell reader, drop your favorite author(s) a line and let her/them know. They'll really appreciate it, and you'll put a smile on their faces--something they really need right now.