Shelli Stevens

First I have to say it’s the beginning of the month and the child support should be rolling in. Woo Whoo! Sooo… I went to the mall and bought Emma her summer swimsuit and matching sunglasses, what do ya think? I have one from the Gap that I want to get her too. The resale is so great on Ebay.
On to writer stuff. Oh the relief! I made a decision on that thing I was fretting over yesterday. After imploring advice from a bundle of people, I decided. Here was the situation. NCP requested a full for my manuscript Grounds for Arousal, and I just made it to the next cut with Ellora’s Cave with that same book. But after a lot of thought… a lot of realistic thoughts, I really wanted to send it to NCP. I like what I’ve seen from them, their authors seem happy. I love this book, but it’s also the second book I ever wrote. So… it doesn’t have Deep POV or anything, but I still think it’s really good. If they both reject me, I’ll rewrite the crap out of that baby and see if Cobblestone will have me :) Another book out for submission, and out of my head.

Today, I ate good! YAY! I’m making myself get onto some kind of routine. I’m doing a Slim Fast for breakfast, a normal lunch and a small dinner or light tv dinner. I have to go back to Weight Watchers on Friday, and would rather not have the scale moo at me when I step on it. Tomorrow I will exercise again. I also have to help my mom shop for all the Easter baskets for the grandkids. Fun fun!

I sent out the Christmas story, so I can put that out of my head. And now I’m onto the series novella. I’ve started doing research on ghosts and hauntings–not such a hardship because I actually love the whole paranormal UFO/Ghosts stuff. I’ll do an outline and then start the book tomorrow most likely.

Wow! Sable just sent us out images for business cards! It’s got the cover of our book on it, and our name and Cobblestone Author. Ahhhh… I’m so freaking excited! You know how those guys stand on corners holding signs? Well, I’m going to take a shift and hand out business cards!

Okay, it wasn’t much of a post today, but… was it good for you?

I went to the beach today. With Patricia and Emma. It was great. The sun was shining, the water was sparkling, and Emma was running a mile a minute. Sometimes you just need to get out in the sun. It really does something for the soul. We came home and watched In Her Shoes, which was a pretty good movie. It had a couple of tearful moments at the end. The rest of the movie I just wanted to smack Cameron Diaz’s character. :) I haven’t actually read this book, although I did read Jen’s other book Good in Bed.

Ah… I’m listening to The Imperial March again. I’m not a big Star Wars fan, it’s all right, but I love the arrangement of this piece. I drum along, hum along, direct along, and really pull out my music major roots on this song. But that’s just one song in the middle of a bunch of country music. And the more I listen, the more I love it. So sorry to all my friends who would rather listen to nails on a chalkboard than country music. But I think I’ve been converted.

Well, I’m almost done editing Once Upon a Snowflake. Finishing up some edits, and then I’ll send it out. Ah, my sweet, undersexed Christmas story for the family. Next it’s onto the series novella I signed up to write for CP. It’s going to have some paranormal aspects, actually quite a bit because it’ll involve a ghost ;) This is a first for me. I’m a paranormal virgin. But I’m pretty darn excited. I’m just trying to figure out if my ghost can have a sense of humor or not.

I had to make a tough call today on a manuscript request that came back to me. I hope I’m making the right choice. I’d elaborate, but you never know who’s reading your blog.

Anyhow, back to a bit more editing and then bed. I’m still not adjusted to daylights savings yet. Ack. Soon, my friend. Soon.

Happy Birthday, Loribelle!

I finally finished the short story today! Whew. I’m telling you, that one was like pulling teeth. I’m not sure I’m very good at writing sweet and innocent. I’m all about funny and kinky. But like I said, this one is for the relatives who don’t do the kink thing. :) Now… I just need a title. How bad is Snowflake Wishes or Once upon a Snowflake. Actually, there we go. I’m going with the second one. It’s a little cheesy, but then so is my story! I’m going for sappy and sweet.

This morning I had a chapter board meeting (i’m the secretary) before our regular chapter meeting. I picked the board meeting location, and of course settled on Starbucks. Nothing like a dry cappuccino, my laptop, and a breakfast sandwich. Mmm. I got there early to reserve a table and work on finishing the short story. The meeting was good. The chapter meeting was good as well. Twice a year we have a critique meeting, where 4-5 volunteers bring in their first 7 pages and we do a group critique. That way the writer gets mega feedback, and people learn what it means to work in a critique group. It went a little long though.

I had lunch with two of my critique partners. I rarely see them anymore. One of them, Jen, offered her work up for a critique during the meeting and I was blown away. This girl has a romantic comedy voice that blows me out of the water. I was so jealous! I’m recruiting her to Divas, by the way! ;) I just need to hound her butt and make sure she finishes the book and sends it out!

Well, in between writing and editing, poor Emma got sick tonight. I’m talking chunks of blueberries mixed with peanut butter all over the bed. So it was a quick clean up fest. And now we’re sleeping with spare blankets and old sleeping bags. But she’s finally asleep next to me, sigh, so peaceful. And, thankfully, no longer puking.

Okay, off to work on the Cobblestone Q&A. I feel like I’m back in school doing homework. It’s kind of bizarre.