Friday's at the Piedmont Grille

On Today's menu -- Champagne! Let's celebrate!






First up, I just want to say how really blown away I was by the response I recieved last Friday on Tara's blog. I was really touched by all the warm feelings toward me and my books. You know it's hard sometimes to really grasp the scope of what I'm doing, trying to achieve, by self-publishing. It's hard also to accept the good wishes and pats on the back, even from total strangers. So to all of you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I also want to thank all my new blogging friends. I've met so many wonderful and fascinating people on this writing journey, it's mind blowing. I've reached the elusive 300+ followers and I just don't know what to do with you all. Big group hug comes to mind. It's such a humbling experience to know 304 people stop by here and read what I have to say. You guys keep me so real and I thank you for that.

Also, just for fun, (and some really mad prompting from Tara) I am now on Twitter. I know, can you believe it. Never thought I'd see the day. But I Tweet. Albeit slowly, and not everyday, but I am there. See, it's right there on my sidebar so it must be true. As for FaceBook...that's a whole other ugly monster.

On the writing front, I'm deep into the middle of THE DUKE'S DIVORCE, book three in The Reluctant Grooms series. I so wanted to finish this by Thanksgiving, but I'll have to do some wicked mad writing to achieve that.

I also recently finished reformatting REMEMBERING YOU, (for those of you who remember Genna and Tony and Pete) and I'm hoping to get that bad boy out to Kindle shortly. One more quick line edit, just to make sure I've got all the nasties out, and I'll be good to go. A couple more days I think.

And, I'm also getting my act together to get THE LADY'S FATE out in paperback. I've got to do a little more research, and reformat, but I'm hoping to have paper soon.

And although I'm not doing an "official" blog tour, I will be stepping out from the Grille on a few occasions, next Monday as a matter of fact. I'll be sitting on the Veranda at Christine's where she will be conducting an interview with yours truly. She has some pretty snazzy Barabara Walter's type questions, I might add. So if you're not busy, mark it on your calenders and take a spin over. Also on the 16th, I'll be hanging at Nicki's for some more fun back in the 80's, so hope you'll stop by for that too.

Thanks again, so much for all your support. It really does mean the world to me.

Have a great weekend everyone!

It Is Worth It -- A Public Thank You

On March 1, the Literary Lab launched its latest anthology, NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND. This is my second time being asked to contribute. (My first short story High Tide appears in the GENRE WARS ANTHOLOGY released last year.)

To say I am thrilled beyond words is an understatement. I am in the company this year, as well as last, with some of the most brilliant, innovative, and imaginative writers I have ever read.

As writers, we all stumble through rejections whether from critters, or agents, or publishers. Being chosen to participate for a second time has validated my very fragile ego and shown me, it is WORTH it. All the revising, writing, editing, late nights, early mornings, has shown me, with publication, it IS very much WORTH it.

My parents know I'm writing a book. They have never asked me about it, nor do they seem to care. Neither has ever asked -- How's it going? What are you writing? Is it finished? Neither also does not know, not only have I finished two books, I'm closing in quickly on a third. It seems we have a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy at my house. Which is fine. They do not seem to think I will succeed. (Somedays, truthfully, neither do I.) Of course, it is my deepest desire to prove them wrong.

My mother and I were having a discussion last Friday about the latest shennanigans my ugly, horrible, evil, vile sister-in-law has pulled. She hates my guts, I hate hers right back. Every so often, my mother and I give ourselves a little laugh and figure out things to make her hate me even more. So I said,

"Why don't you call Brother and tell him I published a short story for the second time in an anthology."

(You know those cliches I talked about a few weeks back, quirky eyebrows, raking hands... here's another one -- mouth agape.)

My mother's mouth hung agape, her eyes went wide, and she said after a ten second delay, "You know I don't lie."

And I said, "It's not a lie. My short story was published in the NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND anthology and it's on sale at Amazon for $10-. He can go buy it right now."

Suffice to say, everything I have ever written up to this point, including this post has been WORTH IT, just to see that look on my mother's face.

So THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART

Domey Scott Michelle

For making my literary dreams come true.

Thank You Everyone

I just want to say Thank You to Everyone who helped me through my horrible birthday.

Your condolences and birthday wishes let me know just how much I love you and you love me. Even though we've never met, you guys are the best people I know. I cherish each and every one of you.

Life as I know it will never be the same without her, but it will go on and the pain will lessen. This I know is true.

I don't know when I'll be back. I can't really seem to concentrate on too much at the moment, thinking wise, that is, so Genna & Tony and all my plans for that seem to be on the back burner for now. I'm hoping I'll snap out of this by next week sometime.

I hope you all celebrated Earth Day by planting something green. Or recycling, reducing or reusing something. If there's one thing we can all do, it's to be kinder to Mother Earth. She's the only one we have.

I love you all and miss you much. Don't all go get agents on me while I'm gone. I'd hate to miss the party.

Welcome & Thank You

Thank you and Welcome to Kristen and Elaine who joined our little group over the last few days. Come on in, grab a coffee, the buffet opens at 7am. breakfast only.
Feel free to browse, comment, share a laugh. We're all friends.

Welcome & Thank You

Thank You and Welcome to Donna and Wendy and Roxy for joining me on this adventure. Although someone told me people are only being my friend for the buffet. That's okay too, I love to feed people almost as much as I love writing. Anyway, welcome, feel free to browse, grab something to eat, comment. We have a good time here.

Welcome & Thank You

I guess someone had a party on my blog and didn't tell me. A big fat Piedmont shout out goes to Christi Goddard, Steena Holmes, coffeelvnmom, Garret and Ryan who all joined my little square of heaven last night Come on in you guys, grab a coffee and some danish from the buffet, browse around, comment. We may not get much work done but we sure have a lot of fun. I've got great friends.

And Thank You to Rick Daley for linking my Five Stages of Querying over at TPQSP. Thanks man.

Welcome & Thank You

We give a warm Piedmont Writer welcome to Lindsey Brooks, Carolina Valdez Miller, Lisa Amowitz, and Elle Strauss who became my friends over the weekend. I'm overwhelmed with warmth and appreciate you all for being here. I have a buffet set up in the dining room so grab something to eat, have a coffee, or tea, browse around, make a comment or two. We're all friends here.

Welcome & Thank You

Hey Summer, and Shelley Sly, glad to have you both here. Feel free to browse, make a comment, I've got coffee on and a buffet set up in the dining room, help yourself. Questions? I've got answers!!! LOL

Welcome & Thank You & A Contest

Thank you for joining my little group of friends and a big fat Piedmont Writer Welcome to Roni from *Fiction Groupie* and Erin from Musings of a Writer living in Paradise. (I've seen pictures, and even if it is in Canada, it's beautiful.) C'mon in, browse, I've got a buffet set up in the dining room, feel free to help yourself, and no fighting over the danish. There's plenty, and I don't want another episode like last time. LOL.

And Chuck Sambuchino has a contest over on his blog Guide to Literary Agents for YA and middle grade writers, so any of you who write that, go on over. I think the prize is a critique by an agent. Or something big. I didn't read it, my YA isn't finished. He did a narrative fiction, memoir one last month and he said it turned out great. So go check it out.

And did you notice -- I linked. Yay me. I'm learning how to speak computer. Finally.

Welcome & Thank You

Hello Welcome & Thank you to Lisa and Teebore who decided to join my little blog of craziness. Feel free to browse, comment, jump right in the water's fine. I have no sharks swimming in my pool.

(The coffee line was getting old. But by all means, do try the buffet)

Welcome & Thank You & By The Way

Welcome to Kristi for joining my little group of friends today. It's nice to have you here. Feel free to browse, comment, grab a coffee. We had a fight over the danish this morning and ran out, but I'll see what I can come up with tomorrow.

Oh and by the way, I finished with my line edits this evening and have cut another 2,000 words from my manuscript bringing the total down to 95,740. YAY TEAM!!!! It's looking like a real romance ms. after all.

I'm only 3 days behind with my sending out the queries but now I feel like I have a fighting chance. Instead of "coulda' being a contenda" I really think I am one now.
Watch out single title Queens, here I come. LOLOLOLOL

Welcome & Thank You

Welcome and Thank You to My Friendly Neighborhood Palindrome for becoming my friend today while I was at Mom & Dad's. It's nice to have you here. As I've said before I have 'friends' not 'followers' because I'm not a cult. Feel free to browse, comment, grab a coffee and some danish, if there's any left.

Welcome & Thank You & Some News

Welcome to Elana who became my friend today. It's nice to have you here. Feel free to look around, grab a coffee, chat. I should warn you though, beware of the chocolate. It'll git ya'!

My news for the day is that I finished my query this morning.
DUM DA DA DUM!!!!!
I will be posting it tomorrow for everyone to read and comment on and if you don't like it -- I don't care -- I'm not rewriting it. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Okay, okay, if you find something terribly wrong with it, then maybe I'll think about it.

Thanks to everyone who helped in the process, I really couldn't have done it without you. And everyone who gave me their support from the trenches. As someone said, we are all in this together and I am truly, truly blessed to find the friends I have on this crazy thing called a blog.

Thank You & Welcome

Welcome and Thank You to Nicole Ducleroir who became my friend this morning while I was blogging around waiting for 8:00. I met her over at Sarah's lat night. (Writing in the Wilderness) Come on in Nicole, grab a coffee, pull up a chair, browse, comment, we're all friends.

Welcome & Thank You

Hello and welcome to Kristi Faith who became my 11th friend tonight. Come on in, pull up a chair, grab a coffee, browse around. Feel free to comment. We're all friends because I don't have followers.

Thank You & Welcome

Hello to Tara who became my friend at some point today while I was grocery shopping. We're all friends here so feel free to browse at your leisure, make a comment, have a coffee.

Welcome & Thank You

We have a big fat Welcome and Thank you to Sarah Jayne Smythe for becoming my "friend" today. It's nice to have you here, feel free look around, comment, have a good time.

Hello & Welcome

Hello and Welcome to Stephanie who became my friend today. Thank you for your lovely compliments. It's nice to have you here. I stopped by your blog and read the beginning and the end. Not the middle, I didn't have enought time, but from what I read, I think we are of a kindred spirit. So welcome, anytime.

Welcome/Thank You

And a big fat hello, welcome and Thank You to Dominique for becoming my "friend". I went and checked out your blog and it seems we have some things in common. I didn't have much time but I'll be back for a longer read soon.

Thank you

I'd like to say thank you to Miss Traveler for being my "friend". I don't like to say "follower", as I said before, I'm not a cult.