One of my favorite things to do when I’m in a new city is visit an old graveyard. The Seattle trip in early September was no different. Thank goodness my friend, Sasha White, was down with that. In fact, as soon as she found out who their most famous resident was, she was all over a trip to the graveyard. She studied martial arts and Bruce was one of her idols.

I have several reasons I love to go. You get a feel for who established a city, what nationalities, what their interests were. I always come away with images that will inspire a story. And face it, I love the creep factor.
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It’s been a couple of weeks, so I should have tons more to report, but a trip and family obligations have interfered with my focus. Not something I generally allow to happen, but I decided to relax and go with the flow.

I had some good news this past week. I have a new editor at Ellora’s Cave, one I’ve wanted for a long, long time, and already I can tell she’s going to be “the one”. The two books that were languishing there are now contracted, and I have tentative release dates in November and December for Knight of My Dreams (yes, the next MIK book!) and Raw Silk (a contemporary m/m/f/f story).

More good news: The cover for my next cowboy ménage, coming November 24th from Samhain Publishing, is just about perfect!

The past couple of weeks, I’ve purchased books about Norse runes, which I’ve been pouring over for a scene in one of the books I’m working on. I also ordered two spy books, one on gadgets and the other featuring stories about real-life spies, for something I want to begin plotting. So, while I’ve barely written three pages, I have been thinking about what I want to write.

Today and the next couple of days, I’ll be working on some slight revisions of the two newly contracted EC books, then digging deep to get back into the writing groove. I’ll have the house to myself and no obligations pulling me away—so no excuses not to write!

Lastly, I know I have pictures to post. I’ll get to them shortly. Promise. Stay tuned, and I’ll also shares some sneak peeks at those upcoming releases!

Take today’s horoscope:

You’ve got plenty to think about today—but your mind just can’t stay focused! It’s not that big a deal, because you should know by now that your side paths lead to some amazing places.

And since I have to go babysit for most of the day, I sure hope it’s true. I’m taking along The Dictionary of Angels and A Field Guide to Demons. Not to read to the little ones. Promise. Maybe some of those “side paths” will prove productive.

I think I threw up a little bit in my mouth. 😮

Someone sent me the pic in an email, and I thought I’d share it since I don’t have time today to be ambitious. I’m still catching up on email, and trying to get some things wrapped up before I can share pictures from last weekend’s trip.

See you when I come up for air tomorrow!

Gotta be quick because I have to pack!

Day 4, for me, was a little more relaxed. Had breakfast with Connie and Chris, then headed to the patio to chat.

The public booksigning for the authors wasn’t well-attended, but the authors got a chance to get autographs and snag swag. Always fun to play fan-girl to your friends!!

Last night, those of us still here in the hotel met to walk to dinner at an Italian restaurant. I don’t think Frankie D’s knew what hit them when 40-plus women descended. I sat with Crissy and Marty from Samhain, and Beth Williamson and her mom. The food wasn’t anything to rave about, but the conversation was!

Hit a little purse shop on the walk back to the hotel and found a little clutch-wallet in a glossy tangerine for my daughter. I soooo want one of my own, but I called her and told her about it so I have to give it up now!

When I got back to the hotel, I headed to the patio again and some of the ladies had wine bottles on ice and bars of dark chocolate for everyone. Heaven!

I’ll be back on line later tonight—if all goes well with the flights. Later!

Or at least it is Day Three for me. I know most folks didn’t arrive until yesterday, but I’m one of those who likes to get a little rest after the travel to decompress. So I added a day before the conference to my travel plans.

Today, was the most hectic day so far.

I had breakfast with Sara B and Shirley Damsgard, whom I now adore.

The booksigning for conference attendees only was from 12-4, and it gave readers a lot of time to have the books they brought from home and those they purchased in the conference bookstore signed, along with T-shirts, bags, scrap books, etc. More pics there, but I’m too tired to upload and resize right now. All that stuff that will have to wait until I get home.

Had a late lunch with Maya Banks, Sylvia Day, Mary Wine, Tracy Wolf, Shayla Black and a reader named Ally.

Then I was back at the room getting dressed for the night’s party. I don’t do costumes. Haven’t the interest to spend time creating them, but I don’t begrudge people who do. I had the best time people-watching! The theme of the party was Saints & Sinners—so there were Catholic school girls, angels, devils, a nun and a menonite, Peg Bundy, and on and on. I took pics again, so you’ll get to see some of the folks who caught my eye until I settled down to chat with Beth and Audra.

I was good, didn’t drink—until after the party, then we flew ahead of the crowd to the bar to have a drink together. They had an early wakeup, so we couldn’t get too hammered. We did make a vow that next year we will coordinate costumes! Did I really do that? Argh! But with those two, it might actually be fun!

I wasn’t quite ready to head to bed after they went up to their room, so I wandered out to the patio. Enjoyed talking to Connie, Sara B, and Susan. (Susan, don’t worry about spilling that drink on me!) Connie’s hubby, “Ambiguous Chris”, joined us bringing beers, so I stayed a little longer than I should have. No doubt I’ll have the mother of all headaches tomorrow, but thought I’d better stay up just a few minutes longer and ramble.

On a side note, remind me to never wear my pretty gray slacks again. They are a drink magnet. I spilled water on myself at the party, had a beer and a rum and coke spilled on me by friends. Those pants are going into a plastic sack, rolled up tight, because they will stink up the rest of the clothes I have to pack tomorrow night.

Y’all probably wanted to know who won yesterday’s book, right? The winner is…Estella!

Before I get started, have you seen the new cover for my next release? Isn’t it droolworthy? And if you’re wondering what it’s all about, be sure to hit my Coming Soon page to read about it!

It’s been a busy day—starting with getting my makeup on which is always a chore. Until you don’t have to work, or work from home, you don’t know just how much time is spent on grooming! My mornings at home I usually jump out of bed and head to the computer in my jammies until breakfast, hit the pool afterward, jump into the shower, air dry my hair while I’m at the computer again, and that’s the extent. Makeup and blowdrying and trying on clothes (I hate everything I put on, but usually go back to the first thing I tried)—that’s half the freaking morning!

Sorry it’s just something I noticed today. 🙄

Saw Jacquelyn Frank at registration—she’s looking fabulous, and now I’m determined to diet when I get home. She’s thrilled with her weight loss and she should be. Had a very interesting conversation with the ladies that gathered around us about the woes of big-breasted ladies. Since I’m not, it was fascinating! Just listening to them talk about how they have to stuff it all inside a bra…and there’s a dance that goes with it, did ya know?

I went to lunch with a great group of ladies—hope I get all their names right: My pals Sylvia Day and Shayla Black, Crissy B. from Samhain, Tracy Wolf (new buddy I met today), the lovely Mary Wine, Maya Banks, and Tracy Duncan(gosh, hope I got the first name right!). Afterward we hit the Walgreens. I’m not a shopper, and I was done in about 5 minutes, but it took the rest of them another 45 minutes. I’m sooooo missing that shopping gene.

I attended a meet ‘n’ greet for the authors that Lucy Monroe hosted. Lora Leigh was there and I got a chance to talk to her for a little bit. She’s a down-to-earth lady. Lorie O’Clare was there too, and she looked so much more relaxed this year than last because she has a really great group of volunteers to help her run this thing. I swear I don’t envy her the job.

The pajama party was tonight and we had a buffet and a DJ. I don’t dance—I swear I sound like such a party pooper, but I’d much rather sit around and talk. I took some pics, so I’ll have those to share. The most fun was hanging with the ladies in the smoking area outside the hotel because we could actually hear each other.

I’m rested, feeling good. Tomorrow’s the first booksigning for the conference attendees. I’m met so many nice people here. If you’ve never come to one of these, it’s a treat for readers and writers. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and everyone loves to sit and chat.

I’m rambling. In between all the activity I am getting a little bit of work done, so I’m not feeling like a complete social butterfly. Y’all take care. I think I’ll post an excerpt of something you can win tomorrow. So don’t think that while the cat’s away and all…