Geez, it’s been a wicked week.

I’ve been running back and forth like a maniac, trying to visit an extremely ill loved one in the hospital, take care of business, and go to work (almost) daily. I think I’ve had three meals and about 18 hours of sleep in the past four days—but the good news is that the loved one is showing SOME improvement, thank God.

The sad news is that, as soon as I heard there was some improvement, my thoughts didn’t go to how tired or hungry I was.
Nope.
They centered on the fact that I hadn’t written a word in days.
A strange, sick species these writers. Yes, we are.

I’m blogging at the CHICAS site today.
Come and play with us—or else.

I don’t discuss my writing career with the people I work with.
It isn’t exactly a friendly place, lol. We consider each other acquaintances, not friends, co-workers, not comrades, and if no one in the building is cursed, threatened, or assaulted in a 24-hour period, we consider that a successful work day.

And, while I’ve only shared my “other life” with a couple of them, I suppose word has spread a bit—morse code against the bars of our cells, no doubt.
Still, I was a little surprised when, during a gab session in which several of us were complaining about the job, one of our ‘little princesses’ chimed in,
“Well, you don’t have anything to worry about, Raine. Seeing as how you’re a world-class author and all.”
And with a simpering laugh, she walked away.

Now don’t get me wrong. I can give as well as I get if it’s called for–even better on a bad day. But this one caught me with a thrust of the blade that left me speechless.

I know myself well enough to know why it bothered me (my own insecurities about my lack of success), and that’s my issue to deal with. However, while I know there are lots of miserable people out there who enjoy sharing their ‘gift’, I’ll never understand the urge to rear back and attack for no good reason.

Venom.
It’s the new black.

Amie Stuart’s latest, “ROPERS RULE”, is being released by Cobblestone Press today.

Amie has a wonderfully direct, insightful style that’s moving her right on up the ranks in publishing.
And if that’s not enough for ya…this book is HAWT.
“ROPERS RULE” is the launch short story of Cobblestone’s new WICKED line.
Check it out!

I’m blogging at the CHICAS site today.

I believe this was probably the first night this year I actually smelled spring at NIGHT. There’s something special about the feeling of spring at night. It’s like sensing something being born. It’s full of mystery and mischief, fresh sights and scents. The leaves unfurl their new forms while we sleep, and the grass gathers sweetwater from the cool evening air. It’s the feeling that something hopeful and exciting is about to happen at any moment.
So hard to believe everything seemed dead and cold barely a month ago when the sky seems pure and the air itself pulses with a sensual undercurrent of life.
If I had to have a season to keep, I believe this would be it.

(And many thanks to my webmistress for the restoration of piccies–I know the blog is making you nuts).

I got nuttin’.
And I feel shtoopid posting that “I got nuttin’”—the exciting life of an author and all that.
So I’ll have to steal good news from other people, lol.
It’s Monday. We all need all the good news we can get.

Bernita has sold another story to Wild Child Publishing. Yayyy!

Rachelle Chase is sponsoring a contest featuring intriguing, lovely photos of herself. Think “Dead Stare” and “Noir”, and go play.

And huge congrats to fellow Samhain author Beth Williamson, who just snared a well-deserved, three-book deal from Kensington and an agent, all in one day!

Wishing you good news too.

Yes, I’ve been trying to write.
Yes, I’ve been working on Pinky (that’s another blog entirely).

But this week I started something new. Just a start.
And yes, I was well-prepared. I had 15 pages of synopsis and worldbuilding. Five pages about characters—knew their names, backgrounds, how they looked, purpose in the story. I knew the tone I wanted, the romantic highs and lows, the small victories, agonizing defeats, who lives, who dies.
I was ready to roll.

So I sat down to write, knowing exactly what I wanted in the first chapter…

And NOTHING.
Nada. Zip. Zero.
For the first time EVER, for as long as I’ve been trying to write, I couldn’t think of an opening. Thought. Pondered. Tried different approaches. Left it. Came back another day. Fretted. Fumed. Fussed.
NOTHING.
I’ve come up with something that’ll do for now…but geez. Maybe this pre-planning stuff just isn’t for me.

I’m on my soapbox at the CHICAS site today.
At least, that’s the plan…