Archive for November, 2009
Friday, November 27th, 2009

I’m expecting electronic copyedits any day now for Tempting Eden. Mistress by Mistake’s came on comforting paper with little red squiggles. As a former English teacher, I felt right at home, but this old puppy is ready for some new tricks. I also got a couple of revision suggestions from my Berkley editor, which I’m to incorporate in the copyedits. So I’m reacquainting myself with Hart and Eden, who have been with me in all their glory since around March of 2007. I keep hacking away at them, and they keep hacking right back. It seems I’ve rewritten this book a whole lot of times, and the characters never cease to surprise me. At this moment I’d almost like to start from scratch…can I be addicted to revision?*shudder*
I’ve also realized I’ve written 5 more couples since Eden’s wicked stepfather popped into my head, not counting the crazy novellas I dabbled with. But Hart and Eden will always be special to me. I was pretty mean to poor Eden, and she’ll probably never forgive me, even though she got her happy ending. But I’m a sucker for tortured characters.
Who do you prefer, the tortured hero or the tortured heroine? Who’s your favorite unhappy person cured by love?
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Friday, November 20th, 2009

And I’m not talking about myself. I’ve denied myself time to read lately, because I’m trying really hard to finish the current project (17,000 words to go!). In addition, I’ve worked on the back cover copy for Any Wicked Thing (with the help of several editors, my agent and my crit partners…it takes a village), ordered gorgeous bookmarks, finished copy edits for Mistress by Mistake, came up with a novella synopsis, and stared at my new websites like a lunatic way too many times. I have a stat counter now, and all I can say is thank you so much to all of you who’ve clicked on here (over 1,000 hits this week, and they’re not all me, I swear*g*), signed up for the newsletter or left a comment. I’ll be getting in touch with everybody in the coming weeks (including the Twitter people who spread the word) to send you some goodies. If you comment on this post too, you’re on my list. Still celebrating the Grand Unveiling!
But I’ve wandered off topic. Gee, who could imagine that? I finished a marvelous book, first published in 1981, Eva Ibbotson’s A Countess Below Stairs. Nowadays I guess it’s considered a YA, but as an OA, I loved every wonderful word. It was magical. I’m also reading Mary Jo Putney’s 1989 The Rake and The Reformer. I’m not very far along, but I am going to love this book. I know I’m in such good hands, and with Signet Super Regency on the cover, how could I go wrong?
December’s RT paid tribute to writers who’ve been bringing it for over two decades. What books or writers have you loved for a long time? What have you read recently that you think will be a future classic? RT has called Courtney Milan’s Proof by Seduction “a book for all time!”
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Sunday, November 15th, 2009
As you’ve just discovered, I’ve got a new delicious, lush, romantic site, thanks to the incredible Frauke Spanuth of Croco Designs.
To celebrate my new home, I’m offering a special something (when I get my special somethings) to everyone who comments below and/or links to my new sites and/or tweets and/or signs up for my newsletter (which will be published very infrequently, LOL). I’m talking bookmarks, coverflats and/or other rare and wondrous things to be distributed amongst you (and a few ARCs will be included—be the first on your block to read Mistress by Mistake or Tempting Eden!). You’ll have to be patient, since at present I have exactly 1 coverflat and only good intentions, but I do swear to fulfill my promise. Everyone will get something, and I’ll do a random drawing for the books.
So, click above on whatever strikes your fancy. I’ll still be here when you get back. I imported my MRMR icon for sentimental reasons. I hope she likes the new place!
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Friday, November 13th, 2009
Yesterday I sent off the copy edits for Mistress by Mistake. I spent about 10 hours on Wednesday reading every single word—again, for the zillionth time—and was so impressed with my copy editor. She (he?) caught all sorts of stupid things. Me for be? Heaving for leaving (honest)? The marks were an interesting secret code, and my favorite is ‘stet’—let it stand. I did write that a few times, but mostly the copy editor was right. So whoever you are, thanks a bunch. While there may yet be mistakes (did you know that Persian rugmakers always made a deliberate mistake in their pattern to show humility because only Allah is perfect?), it won’t be for lack of attention to detail.
I laughed at the funny parts. And I cried at the end, as if somebody else wrote the story. I hope you will too!
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Friday, November 6th, 2009
1. Rented post office box. Hope I don’t lose the keys.
2. Ordered address labels with new post office box #.
3. Ordered business cards.
4. Receiving copyedits for Mistress by Mistake next week!
5. Working on cover copy for Any Wicked Thing.
6. 65,000 words on Master of Sin as of Sunday. Slooooww.
7. Buying ad with other Bradford authors in June RT.
8. Was quoted in December issue of RT (p.30*g*).
9. Reserved room in Gaylord Opryland Hotel for RWA.
10. Set up new desk and managed to re-plug-in the computer correctly.
11. Changed my Twitter (above right) and MySpace backgrounds, not that I use either very often. I’m all about the dark, rich reds now…so passionate, LOL.
12. Margaret Rowe site almost ready! (Tiny sneak peek at banner, left)
13. Pinching self on a daily basis.
What are you doing?
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