Shelli Stevens

So this beta/google/blogger thing is killing me. I couldn’t leave comments on half the blogs, so when I got the notice that I was ready to move to the google blogger, I did it (after I read the FAQ on whether it was required, and it is, soon we’ll all have to convert or your account won’t work.) So now I can’t post comments on any non-beta/google ones. And worst off, since The Novelty Girls was opened under my name, now all the members aren’t able to post until they upgrade to the google. Yes, throw the dunce cap on me. I should have realized that before I made the change.

On a happier note, I won Amie Stuarts contest, and she sent me the cutest little prize. A sailboat ornament, and a bitch kit. I love getting stuff! Thanks, Amie!

And, wow, I’m super excited. Check THIS out… My signing We’re actually on the website! *Doing a little dance.* Still have no idea what to wear. But my token Christmas item (since we’re trying to be festive and wear sweaters or antlers and what not) is a pink, santa hat from Victoria’s Secret. Does that make me a bad person? LOL. I can’t do the sweaters with Frosty, and this hat was just too cute!

Okay, off to bed. I’m so tired. *Yawn*

Hey, anyone seen Rudolph?

* 1. Schizophrenia — Do You Hear What I Hear?

* 2. Multiple Personality Disorder — We Three Kings Disoriented Are

* 3. Dementia — I Think I’ll be Home for Christmas

* 4. Narcissistic — Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

* 5. Manic — Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and…..

* 6. Paranoid — Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

* 7. Borderline Personality Disorder — Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

* 8. Personality Disorder — You ! Better Watch Out, I’m Gonna Cry, I’m Gonna Pout, Maybe I’ll Tell You Why

* 9. Attention Deficit Disorder — Silent night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?

* 10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…

I’m at The Novelty Girls today! Come see me :)

So I had a really good weekend! I mean, technically, we should go back to Thursday. Thursday night was the local RWA chapter Christmas party. (Lacy and I in pic) We had yummy food, a fabulously fun elephant exchange (I got a Casanova figurine and a Peace candle!), and then everyone who sold in the past year got silk roses. Granted, there were two different colors for the sales. White for RWA recognized, and peach for small pub and epub. I came away with 7 roses! (I didn’t get my Samhain sale in in time.)

Friday I went and got pics of Emma with her 1/2 sister with Santa….soo didn’t go over well. “MOOOOOMMMY! Noooooo!” Wailing, back arching, terrified out of her mind. Maybe next year Emma’ll be ready.

Saturday I woke up at the butt crack of dawn to take Emma on the Santa train with Lacy and her kids. That was a lot of fun! Well, the actual train part. The whole getting off the train and waiting in line after line (cookies, santa) not so much. (The pic is her reaction when the train began to move!) Then Emma and I went to Lacy’s later in the day to celebrate her birthday! Pizza, cake, cookie baking. Mmm good times! And the best part, I fell asleep with Emma at 8 and slept till 7 in the morning. Oh it was sheer bliss. I haven’t had 11 hours of sleep since she was born.

And today I went to a cookie and ornament exchange party. Good times. So yeah, the holidays are in full swing! My signing is next Saturday, and I’m super excited! Still have no idea what I’m wearing. Sigh. We’ll see. On a yucky lame note, I think I have an ingrown toenail. The side of my big toe is somewhat purple and painful to the touch. I think I may be in for a trip to the doc.

So how was your weekend?

So I was strolling around Sam’s Club, pushing Emma through the aisles in the cart. I’d passed by all the samples, until we hit the mini eclairs. So I hand one to Emma, and then take one for myself. And just as I’m shoving it in my mouth I hear, “Hello, Michelle.” Which of course makes me pause, cause I’m so used to Shelli now.

I turn around. It’s Bill! Wait, no, it’s not my close friend-almost-more-at-one-point. But he kinda looks like Bill. Cute, goatee, a little extra padding. And all I can think is…I haven’t showered, I’ve got an eclair in my mouth, and I’m officially wearing stretch pants (which I’d given up after high school, because I realized they weren’t flattering on curvy people) Well, technically I’m wearing yoga pants from Victoria’s Secret, but they sure don’t keep my cottage cheese thighs a secret.

“So what have you been up to? Besides getting published?”

Whoa, haven’t seen this guy in 11 years and he knows I’m published? He reminds me that I posted it on classmates.com (great promo tool, use it!) Then he said he’s been meaning to buy one of my books and read it, which of course made me go all kinds of red. Fortunately he said he doesn’t read romances, and I told him he probably shouldn’t read my book (Yeah, way to go Shelli, keep talking people out of buying your book. You’ll be up there with Nora in no time!)

Meanwhile, Emma’s face is sufficiently coated in chocolate as she casts bored stares at the guy. Which, I also couldn’t remember his name, or somewhat had an idea. So I had to do the ‘remind me of your name, isn’t it…’ Nice. Smooth. I’ve come so far since high school.

Which is what sucks about the whole situation, because I have! I was a bona fide geek. I excelled in choir, tried to be a drama geek (I did become a thespian) and I dressed horrid. I used to wear spandex, stretch pants, big shirts with Indians or endangered species on them. And had a short Sideshow Bob haircut and glasses. I just wasn’t cute. It took a few years into college, with some help from people determined to make me cute, but I got my stuff together. I’m a lot cuter now–I’m no glamour girl, but I’m not what I used to be.

I wasn’t ready to face the 1o year HS reunion last year, and fortunately had an excuse with a coinciding writer’s workshop (Deb Dixon’s GMC and The Hero’s Journey. Great workshop!) So running into a guy, who I think loved to tease me in elementary school, looking just as lame as I did back then. Man, what a bummer! *Grin*

BUT he did tell me he opened a restaurant, so I could always try and not look so fugly one day and drop by. And no (stop it you matchmakers!) not to flirt, he’s probably taken or married. And I didn’t check for a ring because I’m not dating until Emma is 12. Because by then she’ll be able to talk me out of it again.

Anyway, long ramble. Sorry about that. Must get ready (yes, makeup and cute outfit) for our local RWA chapter holiday party tonight! Woo whoo! See, that’s me. I’m not, by ANY means, one of those people who don’t leave the house without looking their best. I dress up for conference and special occasions. Which is why I have a, ‘Hey nice to see you again. I look like shit’ reunion with people all the time.

Does this happen to you? Or am I the only one?

So I had a good day yesterday. It was an Emma and I day. We went to the mall, yes, again, and did the play area where she continued to chase and hug children. I swear…we Stevens are compulsive huggers.

Then was the fun part, I went over to Borders books to talk to someone about the upcoming signing. I actually got to say the words, ‘Hi, I’m doing a signing next week…’ and the guy at the desk called someone and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got an author here who wants to talk about her book signing next week.’ People were turning to look at me. It was an absolutely fabulous moment where I felt like a real author, a professional…well, not completely professional seeing as my kid was demanding cookies and running around like a banshee. But still. You can get my drift.

Well, that was one high point of the day. The other one was I sold to Samhain! Yup, those revisions paid off, and all those fingers and toes crossed for me (Sorry, Karen, hope you get the circulation back soon!) So I spent quite a bit of the day reading the contract and signing it, and printing address labels and all that kind of fun stuff :)

And tonight is the night. The finale of America’s Next Top Model. Woooo Whooo! I cannot wait! Who’s with me, huh? Huh?

Well, all right, guess I’d better get back to the grind.

I’m at The Novelty Girls today! Come see me.

How was everyone’s weekend? Mine was good, didn’t do much exciting except maybe finish up the Christmas shopping. It’s insanity out there at the malls. I tell ya, avoid it if you can. But Emma got a chance to play at the indoor playground. I swear she’s such a tom boy. She was chasing a little boy at least a couple years older around the entire time. And hugging him. She gets that hugging thing from me :)

Last night I went to one of those Body Shop at Home parties. Have you heard of those? Where you do like the tupperware party style party, only you’re being shown stuff from The Body Shop. It was lovely, I got to see a friend I don’t see too often, and I spent way too much money. But…at least I’ll smell good and have soft skin while I pay off my debt :)

I worked on some more revisions and sent them back out yesterday. A great big fingers crossed would be great, Karen’s fingers are falling off she’s had them crossed for so long. So now, back to the single title. I’m 30k in, and only 60 to go. It’ll be a breeze. *Cough*

Okay here’s a little something someone forwarded me….

HER DIARY:
Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn’t say much. I asked him what was wrong; he said, Nothing.” I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can’t explain his behavior. I don’t know why he didn’t say, “I love you, too.” When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. To my surprise, he responded to my caress, and we made love. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep - I cried. I don’t know what to do. I’m almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

HIS DIARY:
Missed a big deer today, but at least I got laid.

Tagged by Aura St. James :D

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Sugar free hot chocolate.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrapping them. Gotta make the greedy little children work for it.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White icicle lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Ummm. No. Not where I live. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had success under the mistletoe. The mistletoe must die.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Sometime after Emma’s birthday (11/12.)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Hmmm. I don’t really like holiday food. Is that wrong of me?

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Hmm. Waiting up all night Christmas Eve for santa.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Found a present from Santa a week before Christmas under the tree.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Gasp. Never!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? With the most random stuff out there.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it. Bring it on, and keep bringing it on.

12. Can you ice skate? Come on, have you ever seen a whale ice skate?

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Ummm. Ummm. Ooooh when my parents paid my airfare to England some years back.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Enjoying the spirit of the season.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Mmm Patricia makes these great peanut butter chocolate balls.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Probably going on the carousel in downtown Seattle and then on a carriage ride.

17. What tops your tree? The most ghetto, flashing angel with lights and foil. I think it dates back to the 70’s.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? All I want for Christmas~ Mariah Cary or that little girl from Love Actually.

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Only the non peppermint kind.

Tagging… Lacy Danes and Emma Petersen.

Yay, my book comes out today. Silk Hauntings , the second book in the Cobblestone Press Rune series.

Gavin Mackenzie is a best selling horror author and amateur ghost hunter. His plans to investigate paranormal activity at a local mansion are denied by the sexy new owner; even as she makes it clear she’d welcome him in her bed.

Taylor Ammons is using the mansion for her new business: holding educational sexual retreats for women. She’s not prepared for her attraction to her quiet neighbor, or his determination to convince her that the mansion is haunted.

Then strange things start happening, and Taylor has to bring Gavin in for some exploring that goes beyond the bedroom.

Here’s an excerpt (the first couple pages of the book)

Gavin MacKenzie shut his laptop and stared at the red leather miniskirt—and the ass under it—swinging back and forth as it passed by his window. The woman walking turned her head and caught him looking.

Damn.

Her platinum blonde hair lifted with the warm spring breeze. She was young. Mid-twenties. At least ten to twelve years younger than him. Her mouth, full, sexy, and designed for all kinds of sin, curved into a smile.

Ah, shit.