The Friends and Family Plan

One of the really nice things about WordPress* is that I can write blog posts in advance and them schedule them to appear, so on days when I can’t check in — not even to change something from “draft” to “published” — we can already have posts raring to go. Just think of it — [...]

A Fortnight of Unicorns: Official Wine

Yes. I even have unicorn WINE.
This one was a gift from my father, who found it in a wine store and couldn’t resist (starting to see a pattern?). I checked out the winery and they don’t use this particular label on their newer bottles. That makes this Limited Edition Unicorn Wine.
A close-up on the label:

Talking ‘Bout YA

Folks all over are talking about the value (resulting smackdown to be found here, here, here, here, and, even at GalleyCat, who calls for the dude to be replaced), classification, and fun of writing a YA novel (or not). (Updated to add: Susan Adrian was also posting about it here.)
This weekend at my writing retreat, [...]

Secrets of My Suburban Life

I’m off to the first WRW meeting of the new year today. Emilie Richards is talking about how to save your novel from sinking, which sounds like a fabulous topic. I can’t wait!
Meanwhile, to entertain you, listen to this fascinating podcast by prolific and talented author Lauren Baratz-Logsted, whose latest book, Secrets of My Suburban [...]

Quote of the Week

SB: “I’ve instituted a boycott on Deleted Scenes.”
DP: “But, honey, why?”
SB: “Because, we put them on, and we watch them, and then at the end, I go, ‘Yep, glad they deleted that!’”
DP: “I can see that.”

blogging ennui

I’m currently experiencing one of those semi-annual bouts of blogging ennui. Tonight I was in yoga class and as my mind wandered during Shivasana (as it tends to) I had all these great ideas about blogging topics, but now that I’m here, before the keyboard, none are appealing to me.
I’m also really behind on reading [...]

On the Radio!

Sorry for the last-minute, but today I will be appearing on Internet Voices Radio’s Crazy Tuesday Show, “Cherry Picking with Rowena,” hosted by speculative fiction romance author, Rowena Cherry.
The topic of the show is book series: writing them, reading them, and the complex relationship both writers and readers have with series that develop over time. [...]

Best Halloween Costume Ever, pt. 2

Okay, so now we have the wings and halo made.
Next you get dressed. What you choose to wear is going to determine what kind of fallen angel you are. The first girl I made this for was a very traditional angel, wearing a long skirt and a velvet top. The second wore a sexy black [...]

The Best Halloween Costume Ever

Halloween is my favorite holiday, and due to circumstances beyond my control (hurricanes, they don’t really have it in Australia, etc.) it’s been several years since I was able to go all out. Also, my idea of a Halloween-themed wedding was vetoed.
I was determined to go Halloween or go bust this year. And this year [...]

Things on my mind

The Manuscript Mavens are doing a special Halloween “Choose Your Own Adventure” project, so stop by, catch up on the story and vote. (I’m one of the guest authors, so vote good, folks!)
You may have noticed that blog posts have been a bit thin on the ground in the last few weeks. That’s because I’m [...]