Old G'day Messages
G'day!August, 2003As we Aussies say. I can't believe I'm making the transition from unpublished to published. I am hoping that Restrained Hearts, my short story published through Amber Quill Press, is the first stepping stone to more publications. It certainly gives one heart! You can read more about Restrained Hearts, my completed (and as yet unpublished) manuscripts and works in progress on the Works page. Aside from this page, which will be updated monthly, you can read more about me on my Bio page and for my daily thoughts, please visit my journal. One of the things I would like to do with my website, is to collect not just reviews on Restrained Hearts, but individual reader comments. It is readers like you who will spread the word about my short story and I'd like to group together what you're saying about my story to other people. Never fear, I'll use first names only and the state you're from if you wish. To send me your comments on Restrained Hearts, use the form on the Contact page, or just send me an email or a letter. All the contact details are over there too!
As we Aussies say. I can't believe I'm making the transition from unpublished to published. I am hoping that Restrained Hearts, my short story published through Amber Quill Press, is the first stepping stone to more publications. It certainly gives one heart! You can read more about Restrained Hearts, my completed (and as yet unpublished) manuscripts and works in progress on the Works page. Aside from this page, which will be updated monthly, you can read more about me on my Bio page and for my daily thoughts, please visit my journal. One of the things I would like to do with my website, is to collect not just reviews on Restrained Hearts, but individual reader comments. It is readers like you who will spread the word about my short story and I'd like to group together what you're saying about my story to other people. Never fear, I'll use first names only and the state you're from if you wish. To send me your comments on Restrained Hearts, use the form on the Contact page, or just send me an email or a letter. All the contact details are over there too!
As we Aussies say. My first letter here was about how to find your way around this website. If you still need a guiding hand, you can find it here. Don't forget to check out the contest winners of my first ever contest! I've just returned from the Emerald City Writers Conference in Bellevue, WA. This adds another state to my list of U.S. states visited, but I've a long way to go yet before I've visited them all. This kind of list-building and traveling isn't nearly so exciting back home in Australia. There are only 6 states and two territories there, all massively huge in size. That said, I've still not managed to make it to either the Northern Territory or Western Australia. One of these days... Just before I left for the conference, I finished the first draft of Touched By Time, and if you've been following my journal entries you'd know this already. The next step, though, is to revise A Sword for Wellington, which I've made a start on, before getting back to Touched By Time. It's always better to let a just-finished project sit for a time before going back to look at it with fresh eyes. I did decide to NaNoWriMo in November. It will help me get that much neglected erotica novella done, so I can send it on to my editor at Amber Quill. So that's the writing life, so far. My short story's still for sale, too. One of the great things about these e-books is that you don't have to rush in the first month to get them! Well, that's all from me for this time around -- enjoy exploring the site and reading Restrained Hearts. I am still looking for reader comments!
Here it is the start of a new year! Thoughts turn towards the year past and the year ahead. Well, we all know what happened last year -- I got published! And boy, let me tell you that was a thrill! Looking ahead, I've set two goals for myself:
This year I'm planning to attend RWA National in Dallas, TX. Before that I'm hoping to get to the "Royal Rendevous" in Victoria, B.C., Canada, provided I remember to call my travel agent in time--and I'm going home to Australia for a visit! I'd like to make another trip to England, but I think that's going to have to wait another year. Can you tell I like to travel? So, there will be all sorts of good things to look forward to in 2004. I look forward to sharing them with you! My first letter here was about how to find your way around this website. If you still need a guiding hand, you can find it here, along with previous letters.
It's been a while since I've done one of these, but the first three months of the year seem terribly hectic--both with the day job and writing. I have such a lot of good news to share! First though, if you are interested in receiving a bookmark with the Restrained Hearts on it--send an SASE to the address on the Contact page and I will send you one as soon as I can. There is a limited supply, however! The Royal Rendezvous conference in Victoria, B.C., Canada, was loaded with unexpected thrills. It really was the best chapter conference I've been to--what a pity they only do it every three years. Best of all though, my Regency The Redeemed Rake finaled in the conference's Rendezvous With An Editor contest and came third. "But that's not first, Leanne," I hear you say. "What's the big deal about that?" Well, in presenting the certificates the editor who judged it wanted to talk to all the Historical category finalists about a contract! Based on a one-page synopsis and the first ten pages of the chapter, it was not an offer, but it was still a thrill to sit down and chat with the editor and get the scoop. We'll see what happens there. Last month, I also spent some time in Orlando, Florida. Gorgeous weather and we stayed at a rather posh resort hotel. (Could I write an Amber Kiss about it? Probably, but that idea has to get in line!) It was there that I found out the biggest news yet -- A Sword for Wellington had finaled in the Golden Heart! For those of you who don't know, this is the most prestigious contest run by the Romance Writers of America -- and I find out who wins in my category (Paranormal) when I go to National in July! Eeeks! Can I wait that long? One last thing -- I'm giving away a copy of Restrained Hearts at The Romance Studio:Blue on Tuesday, the 6th April!
Wow. Just...wow! In my January G'Day letter, I listed one of my goals as being published in novel-length fiction. Well, I've done it! I got "The Call" on April 7th and have a two book deal with Kensington Books for two Regency romances (love stories in the time of Jane Austen). They're not spicy like my erotic short stories, but woo hoo!, I made it. Now the new challenge is to stay here. The sale resulted from placing in that Royal Rendezvous contest I told you about in last month's G'day letter. It was a bit of a roller coaster, let me tell you, but I'm very very glad I made it. Now, I hope you'll forgive me for delaying my announcement by a whole month, but this is such a special step in a writer's career, that I wanted to share the news with my Romance Writers of America local chapter in person and the next meeting wasn't until the 15th May! I think I may have done some damage to myself for sitting on this news for so long, but I think it was worth it. It's been a long hard road to this point and I want to share the excitement by holding another contest. I hope you'll enter it. I've also reworked the site a little bit and planning on adding more pages as the release date of my first book approaches (A whole year away!).
It's August, and I haven't updated this since May. Bad, bad me. What has happened to me since I got The Call? Well, I've been to the UK briefly and to RWA National in Dallas, Texas, and have been working on the second book for Kensington Zebra. The first book is now titled Dangerous to Know. I got a sneak peek at the cover and I'm dying to share it with you, but it has to be finalized first. Stay tuned. It's scheduled for release in April, although it flipped back to May at one point so I'm not really sure. Things I've learned since getting published? You lose a lot of brain cells. Really. If I don't write down that I have to do something, talk to someone, it's gone, caught up in the maelstrom of questions like: "Can they still change their mind after they've signed the contract?" to: "Well, if my heroine does this and my hero does that and...." Well, ok, I've always been wandering in the minefield of that last question! If you missed the updates on my journal, here are some highlights: UK trip: One and a half weeks at the end of June is not really long enough, and it rained a lot, but I didn't let that stop me. I visited Winchester Cathedral and saw part of Jane Austen's gravestone. The cathedral was having a school day so there were kids everywhere doing activities. Wilton House, loaded with incredibly old art, was another stop. (It's just outside Salisbury.) Most of my stay was in Bath, though. This is the setting for what I hope will be the second book for Kensington. So I walked about the city, reliving the scenes from my book, putting the five senses to work, plus imagination for how it must have been back in the Regency. Found lots of delicious research books that were a great help. (And are still in a pile by my desk here. I'm not quite ready to put them away.) RWA National: Wow. Wearing a "First Sale" ribbon and a "Golden Heart Finalist" ribbon sure does get you noticed. Received congratulations from many random people. The best night I think was Wednesday night, which was the Beau Monde chapter afternoon tea, followed by the Literacy booksigning, followed by the Regency soiree. I can safely announce that I have a constitution strong enough to have chocolate covered strawberries and fruity fondue all week and still want more! As part of the booksigning, I got up in my Regency gear (picture coming soon), and distributed postcards listing all the Beau Monde authors. Confessed I squealed when I saw my name on it. The chapter organizer for this, Regina Scott was much amused. So I was in an emerald green gown, Shirley Karr wore purple and Jennifer Ashley's husband also pitched in and was the center of much attention, let me tell you! After the signing, I headed upstairs for the soiree and danced the night away. I miss dancing, although Regency is more sedate than the bush dancing I grew up doing, but many of the steps are the same. I shall have to try and find a place here in SoCal that does it. (I said this two years ago after the soiree at National in Denver, we'll see if I actually do this!) Of course, the awards ceremony was huge, with all of us dressed to the nines, so that it looked like prom night. I'm giving away an identical copy of the bracelet that I wore that night. I didn't win in my category but being nominated was enough and having got to know everyone pretty well on our Golden Heart loop, it was hard to feel upset for more than a moment. We all cheered everyone on and then afterwards hugged each other and indulged in dessert. What fun! But now it is time for me to get back to work. I have revisions on book two to finish and need to start thinking about a third. I hope to have a publication date soon for Rainbow's Desire with Amber Quill Press. I have the cover, but you're just gonna have to wait and see *laughs evilly*. Oh and Jackie won an autographed cd copy of Restrained Hearts as part of a contest I did with In The Library Reviews. Congrats, Jackie!
OK, when did it get to be September? I am making the effort of putting up the pictures from RWA National. My dear spouse promised to get rid of the red-eye, etc, but as he hasn't been particularly moved to actually do it, I guess I'll do it myself. It's not that difficult. So look for a new page under the bio section called "Photos". At this rate, I'll have to create a site map. I have spent much of the month finishing up with what I hope will be the second book in the Kensington/Zebra contract. My editor should have it by now but I haven't heard if it's a go, need to do revisions, or *gulp* need to start over. In Amber Quill news, I've edited the galleys for Rainbow's Desire, but it hasn't been slotted yet, so stay tuned for news on that. Mostly this month, I've been coping with my day job. I'm an office manager and well, the company is moving and there's a whole other bunch of stuff going on, that I don't want to bore you with. Needless to say, all I want to do when I get home is play The Sims and even that gets a tad boring after a while, so I liven it up with some solitaire. Ah yes, the life of the procrastinating writer. *grin* I've also been doing something incredibly healthy for both my sedentary type jobs, and that's actually going to a gym (it's called Curves) and working out! There's finally one within walking distance, so off I go, work out for 30 minutes, walk back and collapse in front of the computer. I'm sure it's doing me good. Actually, I know it is because my husband and I attempted the Stonewall Peak trail last weekend out neary Cuyamaca Lake and I almost made it to the top. Considering that the last time I did this (a few years ago), I couldn't even make it a third of the way, I consider this quite the accomplishment. Ok, so we were in sight of the very top, but it was a steep climb instead of the nice winding switch-backs, so I'm "Nuh uh. This is far enough!" Still, impressive. At least for me. Congrats to Donna for winning the bracelet and Jaynie for winning Nonnie St. George's book. If you haven't yet, check out the contest page for this month's prize.
What a month! I finally have news on Rainbow's Desire at Amber Quill Press, but you would've noticed that on the front page. I found out last week that it's coming out October 10th, or thereabouts (Trace does like to release them earlier), so keep your eyes open for it! Just today (the last day of September), I found out that my second book for my Zebra/Kensington contract has been accepted. It is a time travel Regency set in Bath called Touched By Time (title tentative). The pub date for that has been pushed up to July 2005. In mid-September, I took a flying visit home to Australia, just visiting with family and catching up with a couple of friends. It was indeed a quick visit, I spent five and half days there! For a 14 hour flight that's short. Still, going home was worth it. Now that I'm a published author (or near enough), I am supposed to start sharing my knowledge with other aspiring romance writers. Which will mean the creation of an FAQ soon. (So, if you have questions, email me!) In the meantime, I'm working on two separate workshops (when I'm not working on the copy edits for Dangerous To Know which are practically done). The first I'm doing with fellow Zebra author Judy Laik, which I think we'll keep under wraps until a) it's done and b) we find out where we're presenting it. (We're hoping for National in Reno). The other workshop I'm presenting at my local San Diego chapter meeting this month. It's called "Let's Get Physical: Writing Body Language". I think it's going to be a lot of fun as I plan quite a bit of interaction. The month ahead will be promoting Rainbow's Desire; getting back into the option book which I haven't touched in about a month, it feels like; practicing and presenting the workshop; doing handouts etc for the other one to submit to National; taking part in a chat at Romance Junkies on October 7th at 6pm PST; oh, and picking a winner for the September contest. How could I forget that? Busy, busy, busy.
Before I leap into the subject of the month, here's a few items of note on the website this month: a new Site Map to guide you throughout the place. Those of you looking for my journal, will now find it on my Bio page. Don't forget the really cool contest I'm running this month with Estee Lauder products! Oh! and one more thing: PBS is running Regency House Party starting in November, so be sure to check your local listings! Anatomy of a RWA National Badge I thought this would make an interesting exercise (and something to talk about, besides me me me in these "G'day"s) and that's to talk about the badge I wore to RWA National this year. Now, everyone gets a name badge, but then the fun starts, based on an author's publications, awards, award nominations and affiliations. Ready? Right. My 2004 badge is probably a touch more than average:
A light pink ribbon is scored when an author makes their first sale. This is the one everyone squeals over! *grin* So one has to be prepared with a pitch about what the book is and when it'll be out and quite possibly, how one got the call. As I was a Golden Heart finalist this year, I also had a pale lavender ribbon. Double Golden Heart finalists got two. Another cause for squeals. Next year, I'll just have one ribbon, which will be showing that I am a PAN member. So I have hot pink (I think) to look forward to. PAN is the published authors group within RWA. The pins above the ribbons awaken the collectors' bug in just about every RWA member. From top left we have: a golden heart, which, you guessed it, signifies I'm a Golden Heart finalist. I get to put this on my chapter badge if I want, but I have other plans for it (which may be revealed later in the year! I know, I'm such a tease.) Top right is my RWA PRO pin which I've worn to various conferences for a couple of years now. Below that is a golden boot. This came from the Golden Network chapter, which consists of past and present Golden Heart finalists. The boot pin is received when one makes a first sale. OK, I confess, I joined the Golden Network just to get "booted". The rectangular gold pin below that is my Beau Monde chapter pin. The detail in this picture is lousy but it is basically the logo you see at their website: flowers, a scroll and a regency dame. To the left of that are two pins that indicate conference attendance. The one bearing a striking similarity to the logo on the badge is for this year's (2004) conference. The one to the left of that is for the 2002 conference in Denver. Yeah, I skipped a year. In the bottom left corner is my RWASD chapter pin. One needs to be a member of the chapter to know 'cause there is no writing on it. Last, but not least, is a gold pin of a bunch of flowers. I got this one at the conference too at the Beau Monde afternoon tea. I guess that completes the tour of my badge. I hope it was somewhat interesting.
Oh my gosh -- is it December already?! I need to get cracking on Christmas presents! Not to mention my top secret project which I hope to reveal to you all next month. So far, so fun. *mysterious wink* Writing-wise, I'm working on my option book, a Regency based on a village I stayed in earlier this year. It was a smuggling village in the New Forest area of England. I have a very proper hero/lawman and a very improper heroine. They're fun to write once I give them their heads, but I have to hold back the hero's sidekick -- else he'll take over the whole book. For those of you interested in the publishing process, the galleys to Dangerous To Know are done and sent back in. I hope I found all the typos! (I'm sure I'll be told if I didn't.) My editor tells me that the cover to Touched By Time is coming soon. I wonder if this means I'm keeping the title? Sure hope so! The highlight of the month though, aside from receiving what looks like to be 300 covers of Dangerous To Know was the RWASD chapter meeting. Mary Balogh came and spoke to us for the entire day and I came away with renewed vigor for the current WIP. After the booksigning, a bunch of us Regency writers went out to dinner at an Afghan restaurant with her and talked about our writing. She is truly a lovely lady and I've been a fan of her work for some time now. Well, that's about it from me for this month. Short and sweet this time! Until January and a New Year!
Happy New Year! 2004 was certainly the year for me when it comes to my writing career: making my first two book deal, finaling in the Golden Heart, my first advance checks. Wow, just wow. Who'd have thunk it? 2005 promises to be another year of firsts: my books will be on the shelves, and I'll be doing my first booksigning outside of the safe haven of my chapter. I'm sure there will be other firsts as well, as I plan to include at least one new state in my list of U.S. states visited. The good news from the past month was that not only was my spouse a sweetie and bought me books on the historical (and legendary) King Arthur for Christmas, but I also received my first batch of covers for my second 2005 release, TOUCHED BY TIME. I scanned in the cover and it's up on my Books page, just scroll down past Dangerous to Know. How do I plan to spend the first day of the New Year? With 12 hour marathon of all the extended editions of Lord of the Rings. It promises to be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to the new scenes in the finale, especially those that were cut between Eowyn and Faramir. Ah, romance! Incidentally, if you're interested in reading about the subversive nature of women's fiction and why it's ignored, click here. Happy New Year!
I am a bit slow getting the site updated this month. I have a good excuse, honest. I just returned from Australia on the 1st. I had a wonderful time, catching up with family, getting a few relaxing days here and there, wine-tasting in the Hunter Valley (driven by horse-drawn carriage!) and attending my brother's wedding. Writing-wise I completed the copy-edits for Touched By Time and had a fun time (not) of express mailing them back to New York! (When the nearest drop off location is two hours away....) I also brought back some goodies which I giving away, starting in March. The rest I'm going to eat! Well, with some help from my hubby. I encourage everyone to pre-order my first book, Dangerous To Know on Amazon.com. (It's so cool having one's name on Amazon!). I will be doing booksignings in April (details next month on that--the details are too tentative to say yet) but they will be in San Diego and possibly Oceanside, and am currently pondering how to sign books long-distance. I'm thinking that clear labels that I can sign and personalize that can be stuck straight into the front of the book would be best. They'll practically look like the real deal! Let's see, what else? Obviously, I survived the marathon Lord of the Rings viewing on New Year's Day. At my local Curves gym last year they shared holiday recipes and I made an Artichoke Heart dip for the marathon that was really yummy. It's a bit late for Superbowl (for those who worship at that particular shrine), but perhaps a batch can be whipped up for a birthday party or other event during the year!
Artichoke DipShort recipe, eh? Very easy to do. I've mentioned on my journal in the past, a top secret project I was working on. I wanted some way to memorialize that 2004 was "my year". So I put together a shadow/memory box. Here's a picture of it:
 The secondary goal was to hang it somewhere so it'd inspire me to write. So I hit the local Memories store and bought the metal words and the fabric labels with inspiring words because this was my dream to be published and I need to get a contract for that third book! Until next time....
Yes, yes, yes, it's the fourth of March (2005) and this is just going online. I meant to have it up sooner, but well, you know how that goes, right? Be sure to check out my excerpt from Dangerous To Know and other good stuff on that page, and if you like what you see, why not preorder it from Amazon? (There's a link on that page.)
My book launch is all set for April 9th, 2pm at Mysterious Galaxy. And in case you missed my Alert! on the front page, the store is located at: 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., #302, San Diego, California 92111. There will be food, there will be drink (provided I get myself sufficiently organized before then) and there will be books to be signed! (*crosses fingers and knocks on wood*). I'd spit too, but I think my computer'd get mad at me.
Consider that your informal invitation. California locals will be getting a more formal invite (just as soon as I get the labels ordered!)
I'll also be speaking and signing my books at my RWA chapter's monthly meeting on April 16th. I'll be speaking with fellow author Judy Laik about getting "The Call" and what happens afterwards. So much was a mystery to both Judy and I, we figured it was a workshop well worth giving! The event is a paid one: It will cost $25 if you are not an RWASD member, $21 if you are. The meeting is an all day event from 10am to about 3pm, with lunch provided. I'll be speaking in the morning. You can make reservations at http://www.rwasd.com/. Click on Meetings at the bottom of the screen, then Reservations on the left hand side and fill out the form. There is also an email address on the Meetings page.
I've also something coming up in May -- it's not 100% firmed up yet, but check back for more details later in the month!
Then there's RWA National at the end of July and the Literacy Booksigning (Wednesday, July 27th, 5:30pm-8:30pm), which is huge. Stacks of authors (and books) and many many romance readers. Far too many to count. It's about the only event at National that is open to the public, and lots of money are raised for literacy. With any luck, I'll be signing both books there: Dangerous To Know and Touched By Time. The big question is whether I will have time to run back to my room and change in time for the Regency Soiree hosted by the Beau Monde Chapter of RWA.
So that's it for another month. Be sure to pop over and enter the contest, and check back in during the month for updates on appearances and signings!
So how does it feel to have a book out? That's the question people keep asking me. I just shrug and blush, because really, I don't know. I haven't got a copy in my hot little hands yet. As of writing, I haven't seen it in the bookstore yet.
Will I jump up and down and squeal like I did when I found out I finaled in the Golden Heart? (Hey, it was in the privacy of my hotel room.) Will I go very still and yet vibrate with excitement, and then dash out into the halls and tell everyone: "Look! This is my book!"? Will I forget to breathe?
Each step along the publishing path has been a "Wow. This is really happening. They are really publishing my book!" Seeing the galleys really made it real. I am so fortunate in having such a gorgeous cover. And good reviews! So far at least.
Speaking of Dangerous To Know, it is available now. If you go into the stores and cannot find it, do ask a sales representative when they expect it to be in. In this strange book business world, not all the books pop onto the shelves the same time, unless they are guaranteed hits (J.K. Rowling, anyone?). So don't leave the store empty-handed! At least find out when they'll be in, or place an order if you've missed out on the copies they had.
I'm collecting reader reviews again, so if you'd like to tell me what you thought, please email it to me at leanne@leanneshawler.com Be warned, I'll only put the nice stuff up online. For unfettered reviewing, why not post it at Amazon.com?
Ok, enough sucking up! Go check out this month's contest and read the latest review for Dangerous To Know. Keep checking back: there might be a mid-month update as more reviews come in!
Almost forgot! If you can't make it to my booksignings, send a SASE and I will sign a label for you to place in your book.
Until next time!
I have survived my first month of being a published author with the book actually out! I am often greeted by people who know me as "here's that famous author!" Well, no, I'm not. Famous, that is. I am fortunate in that I've achieved a life long dream. But where do I go from here? First things, first. I have to tell you that my booksignings both at Mysterious Galaxy and the RWASD chapter meeting last month went very well. There are pictures in the photos section for those of you who want a look! I have a second book to promote, Touched By Time, and I am finally putting up the back cover blurb for that this month. It was a hoot to write! Hopefully, it's also a fun read. My current writing projects include revising two older manuscripts, and doing research for a new project which is quite different from what I usually write. (Check out my journal for tidbits on that.) In other ways, it isn't different. I figured out, right after I got the Call, that what I write about are Second Chances in Life. My first published short story (Restrained Hearts) was about a young couple separated by war and they get another chance to make a go of it together. My first full-length novel, Dangerous To Know, is about a nasty man who is tired of being bad and wants to change. The heroine gives him that chance. The heroine in Touched By Time (July 2005) is a walking relationship disaster until she gets her chance at making someone else's relationship work, thereby getting her own second chance at happiness. And not to go all religious on anyone or that, but it is a core tenet to Christianity, to be forgiven for doing wrong and making amends. There really wasn't much room for forgiveness at the society level during the Regency period, but isn't that what love can be all about? Forgiving and healing through love? Before I go completely airy-fairy on you, here's something to think about. Second chances are everywhere you look. A mistake is made? You usually get a chance to fix it. Some people don't give themselves the opportunity for a second chance: a chance to heal, a chance to amend, a chance to just have another go at what seems like an insurpassable mountain. Taking on that mountain again is scary stuff. I've certainly turned down a second ascent a time or two! But that's ok. We're all human. We pick our battles, we promise not to do that ever again, and we try and make it, or something, right. So I haven't figured out what the second chances are in my current project under research, but I know they'll pop up. That is all for now. Until next time!
Since I last wrote one of my "G'Day"s, I have been interviewed and the article published (you can read it here but don't forget to come back and read the rest of this G'Day!) and participated in a group romance panel, with about seven of my fellow San Diego romance authors. We got a lot of questions on the business of writing and some on the craft of writing. I managed to sell a few books and I signed the rest of them, which hopefully are still available at the Oceanside Barnes & Noble. One thing that did disappoint me in the last week, was my inability to get to a bookstore in Hawaii. Yes, you read that right, I've just come back from a week-long trip to Hawaii, mainly for a family member's wedding -- on the beach, at sunset! (*sigh* romantic!) I discovered the joys of snorkeling and spent hours floating above coral reefs and stalking fishies. I even saw a moray eel. More importantly -- it took me to the third hour of snorkeling before I burnt the backs of my legs! I have very fair skin, and was expecting to end up like a lobster this trip, but just two small wedges on my butt (of all places! at least it wasn't so bad that I couldn't sit down!) is a grand victory for me. At any rate, I was so busy snorkelling, swimming at the foot of a waterfall, snorkelling, attending weddings, snorkeling, and the such-like, that although we drove by three different bookstores, I didn't go in to see if they had any of my stock that I could sign. My apologies to any Hawaiians out there! Is it the tropics, the mai tais and pina coladas, or the beautiful nature all around that made me have the weirdest dreams? One was vivid enough to be the starting point of a new book (I just have to pound out the rest of it, and hammer at the inconsistencies one gets in dreams) and another was a word over and over again. Weird. I do get a lot of story ideas from my dreams, so I hope the heroine and hero of this last dream (Eden and Aaron -- yep, they even came with names!) get to see the light of the bookshelf. One more thing -- virgin pina coladas? Not nearly as good. This shocked me as I love to drink smoothies and hardly ever drink alcohol. It must be the tropics... On that note, I'll sign off and let you explore the other updates to the site. Those on my mailing list can look out for postcards heralding the release of Touched By Time and reminders of my July booksignings towards the end of the month. And did I mention that Touched By Time got 4.5 stars?! (from RT). I am incredibly stoked! Ok, ok, I'm going -- have a great June!
Good news! In case you haven't noticed my second book, Touched By Time is out right now. Go get it! I am also in good health (although in the throes of a deep cleaning of my teeth, was that Too Much Information?) and looking forward to three booksignings this month. I'm going to National in Reno at the end of month--maybe I'll see you there! So that's the good news. I am looking forward to the movie Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley this year, so that's another thing to look forward to! I've been working on new books, new proposals, so we shall see what happens next! Perhaps now's a good time to start talking about my dogs -- well, if you've been following my journal, you'll know I've been having "fun" with them. They've had their teeth cleaned and teeth extracted, and the number of fleas on them have increased exponentially (i.e., from none to gazillions) in a matter of days. They're getting groomed, so they'll be cooler for the summer, and I'll actually be able to find skin to apply some anti-flea stuff to through all that thick fur. Oh dear, that was a poorly constructed sentence. Anyway, they are poodle terrier mixes, black and white and absolutely adorable (and, being terriers, demanding). So they have been great fun! I know it's a short letter this month -- go forth and check out the settings of Bath, the new contest (and congrats to the June contest winner) and other good things!
Well, as it is out there, let's get the bad news over with. Kensington/Zebra are no longer producing their Regency line. So get 'em while you can. The last books will be coming out in September, I believe. (I've heard rumors about the survival of the Signet Regency line, but they're all conflicting, so who knows?) So what am I going to do now? In many ways, it's back to the drawing board. I met with an agent at RWA National last week, so my fingers are crossed that I can get some representation at last. But I'm running out of fingers to cross here! So let's talk about some good things. I just got back from RWA National conference in Reno late last night. I had a great time -- it is so much less stressful if you're not up for an award. I came home with lots of books. The literacy signing on Wednesday night was a blast, although I think I was on my third wind at that point. Here was my Wednesday schedule:
7:00am Get up, shower, dress. If you head over to my photo gallery, you can see a picture of me at the signing. I am waiting on a picture of me in my Regency gown, because of course I didn't think to bring my camera with me. Stay tuned for that (probably later in the month). Not all my days were like that -- the conference was over on Sunday so I had a chance to drive down to Lake Tahoe for the day before the evening flight out. I also went 10-pin bowling and broke my old previous best of 32. The new best is now 73. Now off you go -- there are new photos and the winner of July's contest to discover! I'm taking a summer break for contests, but there will be a new one in September. I hope everyone is staying cool in the northern hemisphere and warm in the southern hemisphere!
Oh, the trials and tribulations of a romance author! Last month, I wrote about hopes of getting an agent. Well, that didn't happen. If you've been following my journal, you'll know that I have been busy, busy writing. So I thought I would talk about that this month. I have found I write best to a deadline, and by "best" I mean that I get words down. Rewriting is a whole other thing. When I didn't give myself a deadline, I did anything but: surfed the net, started scrapbookling. Now these are rewards for achieving my goals. (OK, I confess, I check LiveJournal every morning before I start writing, ditto email.) My goals are five pages a day, 25 pages a week and since June, I remain on track. Apologies this month that there is no contest as I promised last month. I am reevaluating this site in light of the lack of upcoming new releases for Leanne Shawler. What would you like to see here? Drop me a linie. © 2003-2005 Leanne Shawler. Designed by Shawler Web Design, 2003. |
