Finally...

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If kovert kitteh was staring out the window at my house, he'd see...SNOW!

Yes, it's finally snowing. Nothing's sticking, but I love seeing the big, fat snowflakes fall from the sky. This is what we've been waiting for all winter. Hope we accumulate enough for the kidlet's to build a snowman!

There's no virtual book tour stop today. I purposely took Wednesdays off because they were so busy. Today, however, is a day of rest. I won't be teaching this afternoon, but resting so I can recover.

Spending my time in bed has let me sleep, cuddle with animals, write and play on the Internet. I've been tweeting a bit and managed to get 1200 words written in a one hour challenge with a couple other romance writers. I've also been watching sales of my book, something I rarely have time or inclination to do, and feeling seriously love for my bn.com NOOKbook readers.

This morning I checked my sales rank and yelled to hubby I was at 262 (best I've ever seen.) He said, "I hope that's pages." Grrr.

I heard from my editor. She wanted to know if I had any visuals for the Christmas book. (The one I'm currently writing.) Today they are talking about the cover art. I sent her a few ideas. The last two Christmas Magic/Hood Hamlet books have had horse drawn sleighs on the covers. I can't help but wonder what they'll come up with.

Okay, I'd better get... Well, not busy. I'll be spending it in bed again except for helping get the Atrium at church set up. But I did sleep in today, and I'm a little hungry. Time for breakfast! Hope the snow is still falling!

Have a nice day!

Cuteness

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That little kitten is just too cute! One look and I'd be at that kitty's mercy. How about you?

Speaking of cute, my furbabies were definitely pulling my heartstrings yesterday.

First, we had an earthquake. Something was going on underneath Mount St. Helen's. I was in bed lying against the wall when the entire room shook. I've been through enough earthquakes when I lived in California to know exactly what was happening. Not Spirit. She sat and stared at me with wide eyes as if wanting me to make the shaking stop. I only felt the first quake, but given her reaction I think she was aware of both of them. Poor kitty. She didn't leave my side for a very long time.

As you can guess, when I'm in bed either writing or napping, the cats and dog like to keep me company.  Yesterday was no exception. They don't all get along so they rotate who gets to sleep on or by me. It's pretty darn adorable. At one point all the cats napped on the pile of laundry on the bed waiting to be folded. I posted the pic on facebook to see how many cats could be found. Brandy, who comments here, got the correct answer.

We also had some good news on Valentine's day. My youngest's test result came back negative. Huge sigh of relief there. And best Valentine's gift ever.

Today I'm being interviewed as I make another stop on my virtual book tour at Grace Elliot's blog.  Please stop by and say hello if you have time!  Grace writes historical fiction and is a big fan of cats, too. She's also a vet!

Note:  I posted a comment this morning on the virtual tour blog, but it never appeared. I checked back throughout the day, but still no comments appeared. I think the host must have had moderation on and never checked her email. So sorry!  Whenever comments do go up, they will count for the amazon gift card giveaway at the end of the tour.  I'll be at another tour stop on the 17th!

Remember, if you comment at today's book tour stop you're entered to win a $20 Amazon gift certificate that I'll give away to one commenter at the end of the book tour. And if you comment here on this blog post, you're entered to win books. Sorry I still haven't had time to type the titles in. As soon as I'm feeling better I will!

Did you watch any of the Westminster Dog Show?  I was so thrilled to see the Norwegian Elkhound place third in the Hound Group! Very exciting. We were all pulling for him during the competition.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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Valentine's Day has always been special to me. Given I'm a romance writer, it's kind of like a national holiday. We never do anything huge or make grand gestures, but it's those little things—a special card or an extra kiss or favorite chocolate candy—that make the day so special. Not just for hubby and me, but our entire family. But I realize those celebrating love can and should happen every day. Not just the fourteenth of February.

A good thing because our Valentine's day is going to be a little different this year. And it's totally my fault for not taking better care of myself.

Being stuck in bed doesn't make for a great Valentine's Day. Let me fix that...being stuck in bed sick.

This weekend I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and pleurisy. Neither are much fun. But given I had an EKG to rule out heart problems and a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia, a mass in my lungs and a few other not so good things, I'd say I ended up with the better diagnosis.

I actually got my Valentine's Day present early. The relief I saw on hubby's face when I walked into the lobby after a three hour examination told me more about his love than anything he could have bought me. The kidlets, too.

I'm making a stop on my virtual book tour today at Hearticles. I'm blogging about category romance. I'll also be giving away a book in honor of Valentine's Day so stop by and say hi! I'll be checking in throughout the day.

And finally, check out how Adam Young of Owl City responds to Taylor Swift's song Enchanted about her crush on him. Talk about a hero move. The "shy boy" did well! Must admit, I'm curious what will happen next!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Shameless Self-Promotion Time

I have a book out right now, a Harlequin Romance titled Expecting Royal Twins! If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know I don't do much promo, but I decided to dip my big toe into the water with this book. Last week was the launch party for my virtual book tour.

Each stop on the virtual book tour will be a little different. Some are interview formats. Others are posts I wrote based on topics suggested by blog owners. At least one has nothing to do with writing or my book at all!

I'm running a contest with the tour. One commenter will win a $20 amazon.com gift card. Just comment and you'll be entered. You can comment at one book tour stop for one entry or at each of the stops for ten. It's up to you!

Here's my virtual book tour itinerary:

February 11: Launch Party at Goddess Fish Party Pavilion
February 14: Hearticles
February 15: Grace Elliot- gripping historical romance
February 17: Book Junkie
February 21: Romance That's Out of This World
February 22: My Eclectic Bookshelf
February 24: The Heart of Romance
February 25: Sandra's Blog
February 28: Me, My Muse and I
March 1: Ryshia Kennie's - Once Upon A Time...

When I'm going to be blogging at a tour stop, I'll stick a link here with the topic so it'll be easy to find me. You can also find the list of where I'll be on my News page. I'll update the links to the exact posts once I have them.

I posted the book's Romantic Times review on my News page, but I can't remember if I posted it here on the blog so here it is. My apologies if I've already put it here. This is what the reviewer had to say:

EXPECTING ROYAL TWINS! (4) by Melissa McClone: Nikola Kresimir, crown prince of Vernonia, arrives at the North Carolina garage where Isabel Poussard works as an auto mechanic. The Balkan prince shocks Izzy by informing her that she is really a princess from Vernonia and his child bride. Niko takes her to Vernonia to reclaim her title and fortune, and to annul their marriage so he can marry another princess. McClone tells a fast-paced, fun tale in a way that makes the lost-princess plot seem surprisingly fresh. War-weary Niko comes across as an insightful character who holds a true respect for Izzy’s tough, working-class values.

Reviewed By: Roseann Marlett

Okay, self-promo over.

Ready for the weekend!

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This cozy, relaxing LOLcat is exactly the kind of weekend I'm hoping for. Last night we all watched Secretariat together. I already slept in late today. Much needed since I hadn't slept much the past three nights due to sick kidlets.

Not that it'll be all napping and playtime the next two days. I have a couple of places I need to be. I also have pages to catch up on. But writing isn't work. At least not for a couple of more weeks when the deadline will start looming.

Any weekend plans of your own?

Biker Cat and Launch Party

Did you know there's a It's Okay to be a Cat Guy promotion? I love the idea. A few of my heroes have had cats. Will in His Band of Gold, Drake in Memo: The Billionaire's Proposal and in my upcoming July release.

You can read more about it in this article from The Examiner. You can also check out the Facebook page here. Check out this clip:



Do you know any cat guys?

Today is also the launch party for my ten stop virtual book tour that will run between now and March 1. It's here at Goddess Fish Party Pavilion. I'll be giving away a $20 amazon.com book card to one commenter from the tour so be sure to stop by and comment at all the stops. Hope to see you there!

Have a nice Friday!

A talk on writing and revising

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On Monday, my motto was I can do it. It's Thursday and I'm just not so sure now. I was up with the first kidlet at 12:30 and 3:30. A second kidlet is now sick. Hubby doesn't get home until tomorrow night.

I would love to crawl in bed and have someone wake me up when it was time for noms, I mean lunch. But that's not going to happen.

This morning, I'll be giving a talk to two different middle school classes about writing and revising. Of course, my daughter who is in one of these classes is sick so won't be there. But she probably hears enough about writing from me already. I'm excited to talk to the kids. I've read a composition from many of them, and I hope a few tips will help them to understand the importance of revisions. Note to self: do not mention blog post from last week about youngest kidlet's view of revising.

I put together a two page handout with what I consider the most important basics to better writing. I use Dwight V. Swain to talk about his motivation-reaction units and how to respond to stimuli and in what order (feeling, action, speech.) I also show examples of using passive voice and filtering words.

I'm also embracing the Show, Don't Tell philosophy. I've printed off five prologues from Rescued by the Magic of Christmas. Two of these versions contain my critique partner's remarks. I figure if they see what I started with and how I revised until I got to what was published, it might help them see the importance of revisions and why writers revise. Again, I'm hoping to have better luck with these 12, 13 and 14 year olds than my own 8 year old.

Wish me luck!

A quick post

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If I had the chance to lie on the carpet, I wouldn't be swimming. I'd be sound asleep. But I have admit I'd watch any event with cats.

Not much sleep last night due to sick kidlet followed by an early run to urgent care. Why does this always happen when hubby is out of town?

Hope you have a nice day! I'm already counting the hours until bedtime!

Kitty Love

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Those are some cute kitties! I especially like the Happy Kitty. What about you?

The Sleepy Kitty reminds me of Super Bowl Sunday. We watched the game at my parents' house. My sister's family came too.

Cupcake, my niece's kitten, tagged along. The kitty is a few months old and has had quite a few health issues since being adopted from the humane society. Last week she had an allergic reaction to a vaccination. Poor kitty.

She's a real cute, a black and white tuxedo cat. But my niece is a little upset with her. Cupcake only likes to be with one person...my dad. The cat won't go to anyone else.

The kitten spent most of the game on my dad's recliner, sleeping against his leg and the chair arm. More than once, the Super Bowl was forgotten because everyone had to see Cupcake's newest sleeping position. Even the boys!

But no one could touch Cupcake. My dad wouldn't let anyone, not even the grandkids, near her. "Don't bother the cat. She's sleeping." Forget "Go Packers." The other became the mantra during the game.

It was pretty funny how protective my dad was with the kitten. He claims not to like pets. But they sure love him.

I remember when I was a teenager and woke up early one morning. I found my dad in the kitchen making little piles of canned cat food on a plate for our cat Dupree. The cat would eat a pile and then get another. This was a cat my dad had called "that damn cat" on more than one occasion. Yet, here he was practically hand feeding that same cat.

Makes me wonder what treats he might be giving to Cupcake when no on is looking! Homemade jerky, anyone?

Can do it!

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This is my motto for the week when it comes to writing and everything else. We'll see how I do!

Did you watch the Super Bowl? I was happy the Green Packers won. I enjoyed the commercials. VW Darth Vader, the Bridgestone Beaver and the truck save Timmy were some of my faves. What about you?

Super Bowl Sunday

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Today's the big day! The game. The commercials. A new Glee.

Hubby is a Jets fan so he's a little disappointed they aren't there today. But he'll be rooting for the Green Bay Packers.

His brother even sent him a cheese head top hat to wear during the game. The kidlets have been having fun with it. We tried to stick Yoda inside it for a pic, but that didn't work too well.

The Star Wars ad I posted a couple of days ago will be shown. It sounds like there may be a few good ones this year. I'll be watching the commercials closer than the game to tell the truth. I'll probably be writing, too.

What about you? Are you rooting for one team over the other? Who do you hope wins? And any commercials you're especially looking forward to?

Perfectionist

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This picture reminds me of a few things. One of my cats, one of my kidlets and a small part of myself. I used to be more of a perfectionist. I think that is part of the oldest child, overachievers R us mentality. Lack of time and perhaps age have curbed that tendency.

I still struggle with the writing. But having contractual deadlines helps with that. It also helps to realize nothing can be perfect. That lessens the frustrations and feelings of futility I remember in my teens and twenties.

I wish my youngest kidlet could see that now.

Her very first multiplication test with sixes happened last Friday. She got 88 out of 100. I thought that was great. The twelve she missed were problems she didn't have time to answer. But no, she was so upset because she didn't get all of them correct. Anything less than 100% is no good in her mind. This translate to each and every subject. Fortunately she's a pretty sharp kid and usually aces everything. But we're working on how to deal with it when she doesn't.

Yesterday she had to revise a narrative in language arts. She couldn't understand why she had to revise it when all she ended up doing was making mistakes. But the entire lesson was about...drumroll...revising. Yes, she'd written her composition very well considering it was a first draft. But this lesson specifically asked her to add words, details and sentences in order to learn proofreading marks. This frustrated her to no end!

Her: This makes no sense. Why do I have to revise?

Me: Because that's what writers do.

Her: How do you know what writers do?

Me to myself: Is she serious? Okay, she just turned eight a couple weeks ago. But still...

Me to her as I point to one of my books and wonder if I should show her all the books I've published: See Mommy's name. I wrote that book. I'm a writer. I revise. I know lots of writers. They all revise, too.

Her: You know lots of writers.

Me as I realize I've spoken with that same tone of disbelief: Yes.

Her: How many do you know?

Me to myself: Maybe I should have stuck to raising cats. I do a quick calculation of the writers in the various RWA chapters I've belonged to over the years, the ones I've met at conferences and the ones I know online. She is the kind of kid who may want an exact number and ask me to prove it.

Me to her: Hundreds.

Her: That many.

Me to myself: She's going to want to know who they all are. Don't let her go there. You still haven't met your word count goal for today.

Me to her: Yes, and they all revise.

Her: All of them?

Me to myself: Better leave some room in case she decides to do a little research of her own and finds the one author who doesn't revise. Heaven help me, if I happen to know them.

Me to her: Most of the ones I know do. So start revising.

She rewrote the narrative about her trip to Build-A-Bear on her birthday. Unfortunately she forgot a sentence. After some tears and coaxing from me, she added the words and drew an arrow to where it should go.

Her: It's so much easier to write it perfect the first time, Mommy.

Me to myself: I'm sure it is. I'd love to be able to do that. I'm guessing so would a few hundred of my writer friends.

A great commercial and guest blogging

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The Star Wars Fangirl in me loves this clip! Take a look:



Well done, Volkswagon!

I'm also interviewed today at Behind the Book about my new release Expecting Royal Twins! Please stop by if you have time! Thanks.

Have a great Thursday!

When a romance hero sends a Valentine...

This came across my newsfeed on Facebook yesterday. It's brought to you by Tiny Prints. Clever and funny. Enjoy!



Gotta love the fan blowing in his face! Remember, Valentine's Day is in less than two weeks! Don't forget to buy or make your sweetie a card!

Release Day!

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Today isn't as exciting as the release of the Kraken, but it is the release day for my newest Harlequin Romance, Expecting Royal Twins!

This is the story of a mechanic from Charlotte, NC who discovers she's a princess of a faraway country in the Balkans. But Izzy Poussard is so not princess material.  Not that Crown Prince Niko Kresimir would ever be mistaken for Prince Charming.

You can find more info about the book by going to my Booklist. There you'll find the cover blurb, an excerpt and links to purchase.

In honor of the book's release, I have two contests for you!

One contest will run here on the blog. My friend and Avalon author, Shirley Marks, sent me a box of romance novels by various authors that I haven't had time to give away. The prize will be romance books (at least five) and a small package of Novel Teas. As soon as I have a spare moment, I'll type in the titles on the contest page.  Three winners will be selected on March 2nd and announced on the blog. Each comment you make, starting today and through March 1, 2001 gets you an entry. So be sure to comment.

I'll also doing a virtual book tour beginning February 11th. One commenter from the virtual book tour will win a $20 amazon.com gift card. I'll post more info about where you can go to enter that contest later. The super sweet, patient women at Goddess Fish Promotions are setting the tour up for me. I only decided to do this recently, and I appreciate their assistance so much!

For more details about either contest, check the contest page.

I hope you have a great Tuesday!

Being a Writer

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It never fails when someone finds out I write novels, they tell me they want to write a book, too. I've got my own reply down pretty well since I published my first romance back in 1999.

Two writers, however, tackle the issue so much better than I ever could. Especially since I've been up since 2:35 am with a sick kidlet. Both appeal to me for different reasons. Ones I could voice if I weren't so tired. But both are worth a read whether you're a writer, a wannabe writer or even a non-writer.

The first article arrived in my inbox this morning from author Larry Brooks who has an awesome website with lots of great info for writers called Storyfix.com. I discovered the website via my Facebook newsfeed. Great stuff. You can find the post here. I'll be honest after all this time I've never thought of asking why, but I have asked why a person isn't writing that book they want to write.

The second article is by author Judith Arnold, who I love. She posted this on the Girlfriends Book Club blog. Just check out the comments to see how her words resonated with other writers. My favorite lines from the post are:

A writer is not something you become. It is something you are, something you do.

And just because this is so funny and fits in with the topic, I want to repost the clip So You Want to Write a Novel.



So are you a writer? Would you like to be one?

Two Links and a Clip

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I thought I'd post some of the things I ran across this week on the Internet that I enjoyed reading/watching.

The first is this article about Scott Lang, a college basketball coach of a small school, who died of a heart attack. I don't follow basketball, but this is a great read about the kind of coach parents would love to have working with their kids no matter what the sport.

The second one is here on Fox News and is about an American Idol contestant. I haven't watched the show yet this season, but this news article caught my attention. Chris Medina's fiancee suffered a traumatic brain injury two months before their wedding. Make sure you watch the video. You might want to have a tissue handy. The three AI judges warmed my heart when they asked to meet the fiancee. Chris is a real life romance hero. He can also sing!

The third isn't a link, but a YouTube clip from CBS about Stanford Football player Owen Marecic. Seems like a really great and talented kid. And I'm not just saying that because I'm an alumni.



Hope you have a nice Saturday! I plan to make up all the pages I missed due to an out of town hubby this week (his plane arrives a little after noon today) and two sick kidlets!

Iz Bak

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MomE sez Iz look lyk that LOLcat. But Iz cuter.

Hai! Iz Yoda. MomE iz tired. 2 Sik kidz. Iz help her out and blog.

Top 5 Reazonz Y Yoda Not Disappearz Again by Yoda

5. No drinkz

4. No nom

3. No lazer pointer

2. I getz dirty I getz bath

1. MomE not letz go of me when Iz found.

I need a McGyver Kitteh

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My furnace is fixed. The air in the house is nice and warm. But everything else is falling apart. A McGyver Kitteh would be so handy! A Mary Poppins Kitteh would be nice, too. One of the kidlets is sick. Another seems ready to go down for the count. And I'm flying solo this week.

IThe sickie is too young to be left on their own so that adds another wrench into things. But we'll survive. We always do.

Better get off the computer and get going! Looks like a visit to Urgent Care is in my near future.

Update: And the second has fallen! Let's hope the third stays healthy.

Random Wednesday

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My pets are spoiled rotten. The world (at least my world) revolves around them. Or so they believe. I couldn't take them all trying to get my attention this morning so I closed my bedroom door locking them out. They are now taking turns trying to get in. At least they've learned to get along when they have a common goal.

In other news, we have heat! The part showed up on time and so did the furnace repair guy. Now it's nice and cozy inside!

I have a new book that will hit the shelves on February 1st. Expecting Royal Twins received a 4 from RT. I don't subscribe to the magazine so I have no idea what the review says. Guess I'll find out in another month or so!

I glanced at the Oscar nominees. I don't think I've seen one movie that was nominated. I'll have to take a closer look. But then again, I think the latest Narnia movie may have been the only one I saw in 2010. I can't remember any others. Yikes! Guess I'll have to catch up via Redbox.

Well, the scratching at the door has become more frantic. Better let them in! I'm going to get busy writing before my day goes from manageable to insanity.

Hope you have a good one!