Had the worst cold this week!  At first, it messed with my head.  Then, when my body was still fighting, the brain started working. 

I got ideas for two new books this week.  TWO!

One of them is pretty vague with big potential.  One came in with a bang and potential.  I started taking notes and researching and that flood of excitement in my veins made the cold take a back seat.  Still ill, but I’m not caring quite so much.  LOL!

I’ve also been in intense critique sessions  with Rachel.  It’s no secret, especially to those on Twitter, that Rachel and I LOVE these sessions.  We really dig into the meat of the story, the motivation of the characters.  We both benefit no matter whose manuscript we’re working on because it stirs up creative fire every single time.

This time, we’re critiquing ALPHA.  (And NO, I will not share any of it, not even hints. Okay, one hint… it’s INTENSE and EXCITING.  That’s all you’re getting. Along with germy hugs, kay?)

Since these fierce sessions will go on a few more days and I’m planning to dive into the new idea to take my mind off the books out on submission…and this tenacious cold!… I’m going to leave this post up a few days. And do a RANDOM GIVEAWAY!!! 

In the comments, tell me your favorite part of the critiquing process or revision process–or just say hi and show me some love so I can kick out the cold.  One random winner will get to win this!  Everyone occasionally feels like a zombie when on deadline, right? (Makes a fun Christmas gift if you’re not into zombies. )

If you really don’t want the zombie one, I’ll let the winner pick from these. Deadline to comment is by midnight my time (Central standard) Wednesday. I’ll announce the winner Friday.  Good luck!

I’ve been pretty ill this week, so all my writing energy has been used toward fiction writing. I’d planned to share a funny graphic here but my network is acting under the weather, too.

Posting will resume soon! 

 First of all…

HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO LILI ST. CROW! 

Betrayals is book two in her Strange Angels young adult series and I just LOVED the first book.  Click on the cover to go to Amazon and read an excerpt or order your own copy!

As for me, still alive and kicking.  While Rachel and I started critiques, they slowed a bit and will be continuing soon-probably within a couple of days.  I’m also working hard on a side writing project and seriously looking into paying  jobs that would use my writing or marketing skills.  (While it wasn’t the most amusing work, I do miss the contract work I did from home.  Someone needs to convince the oil and gas industry here that the economy is getting better. Oh and convince me too.  LOL!!)

Seriously though, as most of you know, I have been on the job hunt this year. That takes up incredible amounts of time. Yes, I still hope to have a career writing novels–I write pretty fast and know I’d nail this gig.  But as you also know, getting in takes some time. My lovely literary agent is marketing two books for me.  The last one has only been out since September and something tells me this one will find a home faster. 

I mean who doesn’t want to read a romantic young adult trilogy based on Norse mythology and set during Ragnarok–the Norse apocalypse–with lots of action??

I’ll be blogging at The Deadline Dames tomorrow.  Do any of my readers have a topic they’d like to see addressed?  Comments are down all over the blogosphere these days since most of us read from feeders like Google Reader-but if there’s a burning question on your tongue, drop it here in the comment section.

And until you get to pull my work off the shelves, check out all the books the Deadline Dames have out!  Have you ever looked at our complete book list page?  Doesn’t it blow your mind? I’m in such prolific and talented company there.  All new releases are in the sidebar  And… I also wanted to share this book.

My critique partner, Rachel Vincent, has a story in here called Binge.  Let me just say… out of all of the work I’ve critiqued for her, this is one of my favorites.  It’s a fantastic story! Click on the cover to read more about it!

My critique partner, Rachel Vincent, has a tight deadline coming up, so I’m going to slam through critiques with her over the next week while finishing up a writing side project of my own.  Things might be a little quieter than usual in here.  Until then, check out her post today at The Deadline Dames to see her new office!  Also, the next book in her Soul Screamers young adult series is due out VERY soon. (Click on the covers to order.)

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her boyfriend’s loyalty to the test.  But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for
eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they  can’t possibly understand.  Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….

If you haven’t already checked out the first book, it’s on shelves now!

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH
KAYLEE CAVANAUGH

She doesn’t see dead people, but…

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about the need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who’ll be next…

SOUL SCREAMERS
The last thing you hear before you die…

When I’m not creating my own fantasy worlds, I like to play games in ones others have created.  I was speaking to a group about writing once and a question came up. “What is your choice reward when you reach your writing goals?”  My first choice was reading of course, but I added video games and immediately looked for the expressions in the crowd–you know the ones–the “Oh yeah, I get that” expressions. 

My favorites are mostly PC games like Starcraft, Broodwar, Age of Empires and an old one some might remember, Dungeon Keeper.  I WISH they’d release a new version of this one that works on modern computers! You had minions!!

I was also into Zelda.  Big time.

Lately, my family has been dealing with rough issues and I’ve found solace in playing games again.  I like the site  Wild Games by Wildtangent.  Lots of fun games to offer. For strategy, I go for Westward, The Build a Lots, etc.  It’s where I found Plants Vs. Zombies, which is so much fun, it should be illegal.  

They have a great program where you can download a game and try it out for free. Twice in a 24 hour period.  There’s no one hour trial so you’re not shut down just as things get good.  Plus, if you become a member, you get a certain amount of coins per month and instead of buying the game, you can just use up the coins to play different games.  Some games are worth buying ( I recently caved to Westward III. I’m not normally into anything with a western theme, but I do love the strategy of building up a town from scratch!) and some are fun just for the mindless break. One of the best policies is every coin you use to play goes toward purchase if you must have that game.

I’m also an occasional subscriber to Big Fish Games.  They do shut you down after an hour of trial, however, their games are always 6.99 and they have some fun exclusives. 

I like both sites, but have been leaning toward Wild Games lately.  The reason? They offer surprise discounts on Twitter and I like the person they have working that Twitter account.  She recently gave me an idea about writing and gaming together. I’ve never thought to check into such an ideal situation.  So, she rocks.

Now, I’m off to ponder creating my own alien world/survival saga…

I am sooooo ready to jump on the publication train!  This is how I feel Monday mornings when I realize the possibility is there. That this could be THE week.

I went to Walmart over the weekend to pick up an ethernet cable. We tried to set up my son’s XBox for live play and never could get it to work.  In fact, I messed with the settings on my router so much, I apparently jacked up the RAM on my computer and now it restarts constantly.  Never did get the live to work either. Grr.

But while there, I browsed the HUGE section of books.  The Walmart near me isn’t quite this decked out.  The adult urban fantasy and romance section is still big, but the young adult section has exploded!  End caps galore and there was a long, stunning display of gorgeous covers.

I wanted to see my book nestled in there so badly, I could taste it.  In either section.  WHO AM I KIDDING?  IN BOTH SECTIONS.  The hubby had to drag me away from the shelves. (Okay, I might have been running my hands over them. Just a little.)

So, I awakened this morning hopeful.  Maybe not quite as excited as the lady in the image above, but close. However, I will refrain from showing you an image of how I usually feel by Friday night. 

My daughter brought home this book last night.

I read the last part of the book barely breathing. Couldn’t around the knot of pain in my chest.  Very, powerful, wonderful book.

Editing yesterday’s post because I want to leave it up. But there is still a lot of exciting news happening at The Dames this week.  Keri Arthur’s book, Bound to Shadows, is hitting the NYT at number 6 next week!!!!! (Keri is another awesome Dame-and not only because she sends me Australian chocolate. <g>)

It was my turn to post again at The Deadline Dames  and today, I put up this month’s ROD challenge.  You can win a copy of this book!!!  I absolutely loved the first book in the series, Strange Angels, so I can’t wait for Betrayals.  (And just so you know, Dame Lili St. Crow is the bomb. I’m nuts about her!)

Click on this gorgeous cover to get your own copy.  (BTW, the giveaway at The Dames is the very first one for this book!) To read more about the first three books in the series, go here.

Big Book Party at The Deadline Dames to celebrate the releases of books from Devon Monk and Jackie Kessler!  You can win an entire set of either series!!!  

The releases? Click on the covers to order your own copies!!!

It’s a big release week for several Dames again and there will be exciting giveaways this week!  Today’s post is so interesting, too.  Want a fantastic glimpse into before and after cover art?  Jenna Black shares an insider look at the process!  Click on the DAME to follow!

  And don’t forget to come back this week for more release fun!  I’ll be hosting another Readers on Deadline Wednesday.

I needed a laugh, how about you?

Have a fun holliday!