Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Happy Love Day!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

... now I'm going to go finish those edits so that tonight I can enjoy my Valentine's instead of working! ;)

Ahhhh.... that time of year again.

Oh yeah baby! It's that time of year again... Judging!!!

I judge 2 contest in the year:

Yellow Rose unpubed and Daphne Du Maurier Pubbed. I love them both. I know what a trator I am to TRW, but maybe I'll even judge for that this year... maybe.

So I'm sitting here surrounded in contest pages for the yellow rose contests and I must tell you I am so impressed with this years submissions - some serious talent out there. It also makes me wonder why some of these great authors aren't published yet.

Is anyone judging some good contests out there? Are you finding that writers are getting better and better? Lots of competition out there!

A day in the life of a Harlequin publisher

I have to say that I found todays meeting quite interesting. The one thing I took away from it is that there was no way I could publish with Harlequin category romances - at least not what I've written in the past. And for some reason I only realized this NOW. Today.

I read category romances, the fact that I hadn't realized this until now amazes me. I go into some major detail in the sex scenes and I guess I always assumed that the heat level could just be, well, not ignored, but maybe... I don't know. All I know is that there is no way that 4 of my manuscripts (which were intended for category) will ever be able to fall into Harlequin guidelines.

My husband says - why not just remove the heat - lower it somehow... but that would no longer be my story. Plus, it's my favourite part to write - and we do, after all, write because we love it. So why would I ever try to squeeze my manuscript into a little box? I wouldn't. But clearly I need to rethink my future goals, at least my short term ones. Maybe I'll find use for the manuscripst sooner or later elsewhere. Maybe.

Research... hehehehe!

Since I finished my first draft of my WIP - I'm adding in a new project, I know stick to one thing, but at this point the things I'm changing are pretty much grammar and spelling/wording - so not a big deal. Plus the project I'm starting is for a contest - I though it would be a nice change and it needs to be short and sweet - something I can totally handle.

I'm in the research phase *giggling* I love research. ;)

The contest winner will have their short erotic story published in Best Women's Erotica 2009. Details are on the Passionate Ink website.

It sounds like a lot of fun if anyone else wants to join. :)

Out of service today.

Today we have a wonderful doctors appointment. Most of the time I really couldn't care less about them. I go because they have to get done and I don't argue with doctors. But I am absolutely dreading the doctors appointment today. It's for her hearing because we have hearing loss in the family.

Anyways, I don't know if any of you have ever done one of these, but from the time she wakes up (usually around 7ish)I'm not allowed to let her eat or sleep until her appointment at 10:30am. At which point I feed her there and she should fall asleep for the test (yeah, I'll let you know if that happens). Anyways, this wouldn't bug me so much if they didn't suggest putting ice chips on her to keep her awake. Ice chips on my baby? WTF is wrong with people? Doesn't this sound like some serious torture method? Is it just me? It's making me sick to my stomach just knowing that she's going to be in the hands of these "professionals" for an hour.

Okay... I'm going to walk away from this subject, because I seriously feel a meldown coming along.

Last night I finished round one edits... YAY!!! For godssakes it's taken me forever! Hopefully round 2 won't take too long. I hope to have it done by the end of the week (although I have to confess the first time I wrote this sentence I wrote mid-week). In a perfect world it will be. :D

I can't wait to hear all the good news tomorrow. I hate being kept in suspense! I'm okay with it, sort of. Well, I'm okay with it if I don't know I'm being kept in suspense! :D

I hope you all have a productive day!

Spell f#@%ing check still doesn't work! And why did it underline and highlight the word? I swear Blogger has it out for me!

One of those weeks...

On Wednesday I posted a hump day hunky hero... the one that inspired my current WIP... and then I accidently deleted my post! Retard moment. (I wish I could at least blame it on someone other than myself, but I can't)

On Thursday I tried posting - wrote a whole shpiel about what I was working on... couldn't friggin post because Blogger was doing some maintenance. And I learned I also can't select all or cut to paste somewhere else.. no that would be too easy.

By Friday I was so sick and tired with Blogger that I couldn't even log on without wanted to.... well lets just say it wasn't pretty.

On Saturday my husbands godfather had a heartattack, and had to have Quintuple bypass surgery. Which sucked. He's fine now... well as fine as someone with bypass surgery could be.

So I'm just now winding down from the week. All my writing since Wednesday will have to happen tonight, because so far I don't think I've written more than 400 words.

We'll have to see how it goes.

F#@& what the hell happened to spellcheck? I want to bleep bleep bleep this blogger bleeeeeppppp!!!! :D

I don't know...

I stole this from Amy again! :D

In a Past Life...

You Were: A Gorgeous Fortune Teller. Where You Lived: Japan. How You Died: Typhoid fever.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

Life gave me lemons...

I totally stole this one from Amy! I'm just too tired to post anything. I'm a frickin' lemon! I love lemons! Let's make some lemonade!

You Are a Lemon

You have a very distinct personality. And if you're not being sweet, you're a little hard to take.You're a bit overpowering, especially in one on one situations. And while you are very dominant, sometimes your power is needed and appreciated.You can liven up a dull situation, and you definitely bring a fresh outlook. You are a bit of an acquired taste, and you tend to grow on people over time.People feel refreshed and rejuvenated after spending time with you.

What Type of Fruit Are You?

I love me some Jenny Crusie...

Okay, most of you know that Jenny Crusie is one of my fave authors (hello!!! - check out that side bar!) Anyways... I've been stalling on my edits and headed over there to see what's new...

I know we're all completely over the 'Did Cassie Edwards really plagiarize?' crap. Well, at least I know I'm over it, but when I read Gennita Low's blog (which was linked from Jenny Crusie's) posting about the subject I couldn't stop laughing! :D She is sooo funny! Anyways if you have some time on your hands - or are like me and procrastinating... check them both out. Gennita Low's was Hilarious! And Meljean Brook's (also linked from Jenny Crusie) reference to 'her red shoes' was awesome!

Wow, things sure can change in one day.

A couple of things on my mind today:

First off; while I was deep into editing yesterday - somehow the story veered off in a different direction. I can't even tell you how different it is... actually I can. It will no longer fit into the category I was going to submit it for - woopsies! I wasn't bummed for long because I just absolutely love this story. Plus, believe it or not... once I veered off into this direction, a title just jumped off the pages! :)

Secondly; I visited Amazon today and got a kick out of this... because of valentine's day they have two places to shop on their site - For Lovers and For Haters. Of course curiosity got the better of me and I had to see what kind of gifts they had for "Haters". I mean seriously what could you get for them... well... apparently Amazon has figured it out! Movies such as Unfaithful, Fatal Attraction, The Breakup, The Black Widow and The Crush - hehehe! I thought this was a hoot! And to top off the hate... at the top (and I quote) is this "Not excited by all the hype? Giving up on romance? We also offer selected soundtracks, movies, and books to match your more cynical (or realistic?) mood." Hehehe! I don't know why I'm totally amused by this - but apparently it doesn't take much now a days.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone! I can't wait to stop off and see the progress you all made this week - See you at Christine's!!! :)

Hate editing...

Do you ever have moments when your editing and think to yourself....

Man oh man... what the hell was I thinking?

Well, I've had lots of those in the last couple of days. Sometimes I would read a sentence and find myself completely confused... what was I trying to say? Why would she do that? Who's Bob? :)

I'm still editing, and tonight as I was working away I slipped up onto this baby...

'Lina looked up from the bracelet, speechless. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”'

I almost threw my laptop against the wall! Seriously! She wasn't speechless for long was she now? Anyways, I know what I meant to say, but clearly I did a pretty poor ass job. So here is why I'm sitting here now - blogging. I'm in need of some therapist (completely out of chocolate) and blogging seems to do the trick when I find myself ready to pull my hair out - which wouldn't be so bad if I had any left to pull out!

Can't wait to hear how everyone is doing with their goals! Have a wonderful weekend guys!

Still going at it....

I'm still writing... but I have decided that from now on I only want to write sex scenes! I'm suffering through the story telling right now... can't they just get on with it? I find it soooo much easier to edit the naughty than the nice.

I'll keep visiting to see what everyone is up to (it's a wonderful stalling tactic - which might explain why I feel like I've been editing for so long!)

Happy Writing!

Thursday Personal Deadline...

Okay... I'm hiding out for the next couple of days. Me and my trusty million page Writer's Thesaurus - yes I use a Thesaurus! And I thank God I have it, because while reading my current WIP I realized that wow... I sure like to use certain words... I won't mention them here, but man, pregnancy has sucked my brain dry. And I have no time to let it find it's way back to me, so for now my Thesaurus is my guide!

Thursday night is my personal deadline for first round edits to meet this February 1st deadline... although, I'm starting to think I was slightly delusional when I thought throwing myself back into writing was the answer. Maybe I should have taken it slower, but it's too late now and I love this story too much to let it just sit collecting dust - like my other 4 - yes 4!!! WIP's (I want to say waiting neatly on a desk somewhere, but I'd be lying! Their somewhere in a box in the basement. And one day, I swear they will be complete - I just don't see that day in the near future.)

Can you tell I'm stalling? Anyways, I hope all of you are having great success with your writing goals. I'll check in on your posts, while munchkin is taking her morning nap tomorrow! (Yet another stalling tactic!)

Ahhh yes, what a lovely day to stay in doors and write.

It's snowing, and I'm pretty sure it's -20 outside... what a great day to NOT have to leave the house! :) If you can use a snow day as an excuse - I encourage you to do it! ;) I'm such a bad influence... or at least I try to be.

Anyways... getting on with it. This kick in the butt is fabulous! Last night I finished my WIP with everything plus the cheezy-cheeze sappy ending. It's only a skeleton so far and the next two days will be all about adding some substance, let's see if I remember what that is! LOL! Overall I'm happy with it. Still no title, but who knows maybe it will come to me in a dream.

Happy writing everyone!

Christine's Mid Winter Kick In The Butt.

Okay... you all know about the 'Kick in The Butt'. Nice and early this morning I went to Zokutou to bring up a word meter - because as small as a word meter is I find it incredibly motivating. Zokutou is not working - at least not for me, and now I have this ugly (sorry NaNo people - but it really is ugly!) meter on my site.

Of course, it's all good and I'm sure it will be JUST as motivating as the really nice ones from Zokutou, but it goes to show you why a book cover needs to grab me in order for me to even pick it up to read the blurb! LOL!!! I am such a snob!!! I'm know there is a better fitting word that would suit me right now, but I'm trying to stay motivated! :) *Sigh* You learn something new about yourself every day!

Anyways.... I'm re-posting my goals to hold myself accountable:

BIG GOAL: Finish the current WIP and send it out for February 1st deadline for submission - so I know I need to accomplish this goal! And then (and this is going to be why I need this) try not to think about if my sent in WIP is going to the crap pile or not and still continue writing…. I would like to have another 15,000 story completely polished or have a 30,000 word first draft.


THIS WEEKS GOALS: 5000 words and completing edits.


CHALLENGES: A baby that is recovering not only from being sick (from some mysterious illness - I might add) but also from all the guests that have hugged, squeezed and just plain out traumatized her this weekend. Oh yeah... and a husband who thinks because I'm home all day, I should have enough time to make dinner! MEN!!! :)

Have a wonderful day guys! And good luck with all your goals!

AWAL until Monday!!!

Okay... so I have to apologize... I won't be here until Monday!

We have family coming over on the weekend and my sister-in-law is staying with us until Sunday - as if that wasn't enough... munchkin has been sick since Friday and has officially thrown up on everything that she owns (a couple of times)... so I've been doing laundry. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just little people clothes, but as all you mommy's know - someone has to hold the baby, so there's usually another victim (me!!!) :) Anyways, I can't wait until everyone goes back to work and it's nice and quiet again.

If you read Christine's blog - then you know she's having a little inspirational writing challenge... you should check it out and join!

I hope everyone has a great weekend (or at least the rest of it... as I sneakily type this while my guests are downstairs! Mwahahahahah!)

7 things about me...

Michelle tagged me to do a "7 things about me" meme so here goes... I've read everyone's and seriously I have nothing that interesting... I don't leave the house much anymore.

1. Until exactly 2 and a half months ago, I didn't do my own groceries! I absolutely despise grocery shopping and love Grocery Gateway! Unfortunately, they don't deliver in Oshawa... so I've had to venture out and be an adult. (Poooey!!!) I still hate it!!! I pray to the Grocery Gods every night to bring me a delivery man! :)

2. Up until this week I hated Elmo... passionately! I know... your thinking how can anyone hate Elmo, but you need to understand that I have worked in a children's and baby store for the past 10 years! I work at Gymboree... we have a TV on the entire day... and guess who sings over and over and over again! You guessed it! Elmo!!! But, this week had been really cold in the 'Shwa and munchkin and I couldn't go out for our regular walks... I think I would have gone crazy if it wasn't for Elmo. So yeah, he's my hero (until the weather gets nice again or I have to go back to work - at which time I reserve the right to hate him once more!)

3. In order for me to write sex scenes (yeah, I know... what a topic after Elmo!) I need to be in bed with the lights off and I need perfect quiet... then the scenes just start flowing.

4. I love craft projects... or at least beginning them, however to date I don't think I can actually claim to have ever completed one! I can probably make you a list of at least 50 projects sitting around the house that I had begun (excitedly I might add) and never finished! :)

5. Until I was 16 (Yeah... 16!) I thought I had the power to perform love spells! :) I received a book from God knows where and it had the directions... all I remember is engraving the persons name into a candle and lighting it and chanting something... Dear God help me!!! I was so gullible! I still am! My husband though, is convinced I cast one on him - no joke.

6. I am the messiest person at home, but at work everything is pristine! I tell myself that it's because I use up all my cleaning energy at work - I've almost convinced myself!

7. I go to bed with lullabies and songs still replaying in my head! My sister got "this is the song that doesn't end" into my brain and I sang it for 2 weeks straight!

Just about everyone has been tagged... but anyone who hasn't done this one feel free... and let me know so I can stop by and read it! Thanks Michelle - this one was a lot of fun! ;)

What a glorious day!!!

My muse is back! My brain is somewhat on track... and other than the fact that the day is going a little too quickly for my liking, I'm quite content!

I have missed so many things in the last 9 months... all of which I'm slowly catching up on. Can I just say... holy smokes.... there have been SOOOO many of you that have written not only one book, but multiple! I can't even tell you how impressed I am! Well, today I'm cutting the post short so I can actually continue writing. I noticed that Thursday Thirteening is out? Yet another thing I've missed! Doesn't matter though... tomorrow I'm going to post 10 things I missed in the last 9 months! :)

Have a great day guys!

Can I get a muse in isle six please!!!

I was all gung-ho yesterday... couldn't wait to get writing. Sat in front of my laptop with my fingers itching... but what the hell do I write about? I mean I haven't even said a coherent sentence since I left and I'm afraid everything that comes out of my mouth sounds like it wasn't thought through! I still have many of these moments... so if you every read something I write and think to yourself... "Self, what is that Vicky talking about?" Well let me assure you that I probably wouldn't be able to answer that question... but enough about my excuses. I was ready to go! Sitting in front of my laptop yesterday... hmmm... how can I explain the moment I had. Well, something like this. It felt like I was sitting in a car, keys in the ignition, foot on the gas - reving the engine full speed... but there aren't any tires on the car and for that matter the car is raised on blocks. Going nowhere. No matter how badly I want to get there! Does that make sense? In the end, I wrote a measly 100 something words... yeah... and the sad part is when this WIP is actually complete not even one of those words might exist! But I'm going to push through... I just wish this one was one of those WIP's that wrote itself... I wish I could say that in all my time off that I have been saving idea after idea - waiting to get them all on paper, but I just haven't. If anyone knows where to get a Genie in a bottle or knows where I can get me some wishes.... please let me know! ;) If only!

Does anyone know if I can buy a muse on e-bay?

Happy (14 days late) New Year!!!

Happy (14 days late) New Year!!!

I think (crossing my fingers) I might be back... I finally have munchkin on a schedule that I can live with and since I'm at home I'm taking this perfect opportunity to write... write... write! Well, at least when she's napping.

I also wanted you all to know how much I've missed the adult world. I've been throwing myself into reading so that I'm not so bored while my brain (hopefully) starts to rev up again. I'm really looking forward to catching up with everyone and getting back into the writing groove... which has dwindled down to grocery lists! So I'm going to get me some chocolate and planting my previously big - now huge - butt down in front of my laptop... and I'm going to write! I'll keep you posted on how my evening turns out!