Renegade Angel is a RITA finalist!

I knew today was the day that the phone calls went out for the RITA finalists.  And I'm not going to lie, even though I knew I was up against a LOT of fabulous writers, I had that little glimmer of hope that I'd get a call.  And...right about 11:00 am...

I got one:-)

Did I squeal in the lovely Jeannie Adams' ear?  Oh yes.  Did I hang up and shriek at the top of my lungs?  Oh hell yes.  I'm still shaking.  I know that a lot of readers probably don't even really know what a RITA is, but the best way I can describe it is sort of the Oscars of Romance.  It's a big, peer-judged contest...THE big contest, and we hold a lavish awards ceremony every year at the national conference, on the last night.  And this year, I'll be sitting there with Kevan (my agent) and Ann Leslie (my Nocturne editor), in my pretty new dress (which I'm going to need to buy!), and loving that this book was recognized for being something special.  I don't care if I win.  I'm just honored, and thrilled, and I wish I could bottle this feeling and pull it out whenever I feel like things are too tough.  It's a difficult business...but there's so much magic in some of the moments it gives you.

It's a good day.  A really, really good day!!

Final Cover

Hi Everyone!  Had to share this with you...they've tweaked the cover just a bit before release.  Same idea, but bigger hot dude.  Nothing wrong with that:-)  Hope you all like it!  Have a great Thursday.  I do apologize for posts being sporadic during the week right now.  With a deadline in a month and a lot of work to do, sometimes online is the last place I should be!  And my updates, if I gave you one every day, would read "Writing", "Still writing", and the ever popular "Yep, STILL writing!"  I am a snoozefest of a human being right now.  I did get a brand new Durango a few days ago.  THAT was actually pretty exciting.  I really liked my Flex, but believe it or not, we needed more space.  This is what happens when you start adding enormous animals to the family.  Speaking of, we get Stella this weekend, so expect pictures soon!

Tuesday Fun

I'm swamped with work.  It's time for the Magic Dance!

Abby...Normal

So this weekend I went up to Wilmington, DE to see the musical version of Young Frankenstein with my MIL and daughter.  It was SO FUN!  I haven't seen a musical in a long time, but I really enjoy them.  And of course, I'm a big Mel Brooks fan.  My dad introduced me to the awesomeness of his films back when I was a kid.  I loved them instantly (in fact, Young Frankenstein was my first), but they're managed to improve as the years have gone by, too...because I didn't quite get all of the jokes when I was younger:-)  Same went for my daughter.  I was, um, pretty glad she had no idea why I was giggling so hard at Elizabeth's post-coital ode to the monster's, erm, endowments with the song "Deep Love".  There was also a plethora of boob jokes.  Pretty sure she DID get those.  Igor stole the show.  The guy who plays him in the touring company has also played him on Broadway and in London, and he's fabulous.  Here's a little trailer for the musical:

Now, the guy playing Frederick Frankenstein in these clips wasn't playing him in the show I saw.  Actually, the actor I saw do it was much better...this guy played a few other parts.  In any case, it was a great day, and it was a good way to introduce my daughter to the wonder of theater.  I've never forgotten my first show (Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages Theater in Toronto), and I'm betting she'll never forget hers.

Hope you all had a good weekend!  I've been ridiculousy busy, and it's the out of the house kind involving lots of car time.  That's life with three kids for you:-)

For the LOTR Junkies

I am one.  A Lord of the Rings fangirl, that is.  And I am beyond excited that The Hobbit is finally getting made with Peter Jackson at the helm!  Anyway, I ran across this the other day and thought it was VERY cool.  Pogo, the musician responsible, does some really interesting mixes.  He says this one isn't polished yet, but I say it's lovely anyway.  Happy Hump Day, ladies:-)

Pretty Things

I was rummaging in my pictures this morning, trying to come up with something decent to post, and discovered one of my potential candidates for Damien who I didn't show you.  He's one of those up-and-comers in Hollywood, and I believe he's in that new Beauty and the Beast take-off, Beastly.  Alex Pettyfer.  He's quite lovely, check it out.

Pretty, huh?  I can't say I'm excited about the movie from the trailer (and that is my favorite fairy tale, so major bummer for me), but Alex is kinda nice.  I think the movie has Vanessa Hudgens in it.  This may be part of the reason for my lack of excitement.  Maybe it's just me, but the current crop of popular stars and starlets just don't interest me much.  And there's a disturbing trend towards anorexically skinny bleached blondes...I mix them all up.  Oh well...Tangled hits Blu-Ray at the end of the month, and I'm looking forward to that.  Plus the teaser trailer for The Hangover 2 just came out.  Yeah...that's one I want to see too:-)