Yesterday we had a fabulous chapter meeting with the wonderful Susan Mallery. She gave her talk called The Sagging Middle. It was all about keeping your book going in that spot where you often lose momentum. It was a great, great talk.
She made the most fascinating comment, and I’m not sure who originally said it, but she said something along the lines of, “You can tell how productive a writer will be in a year, by how fast they write through the middle of a book.” Which is so absolutely true. How many people put aside their book after 100 pages and say they’ll come back to it later? I got similar advice from my dad’s cousin (who writes regencies) years ago. Finish the book or you’ll always find an excuse not to. Anyway, after the talk Susan opened the floor to questions, and wow did we hit her with them. She was amazing–very funny too!
Time for a paragraph of toddler talk. Lacy Danes taught my daughter the most annoying habit. She taught my daughter how to grab a sugar packet off the table at a restaurant, rip it open, and do the finger dip/lick bit. So I’m currently trying to break her of that–though it is a lovely distraction. On a ‘mommy’s proud’ moment, my kid has also really developed a musical ear. It’s not such a surprise, because music has always been a big part of my life in school/college. She’s in the bath tub right now, listening to classical musical and actually humming along with some of the melody. She has a good ear, which thrills me!
Now on a brag for someone else moment. Friend and fellow Romance Diva Gemma Halliday wrote a book called Spying in High Heels. I read this book, LOVED it, and blogged about it some months ago. Now Gemma’s fabulous news is… Spying in High Heels is in development for a television series on the USA Network! I would be a total addict, because that book was so good I hated it to end–really it didn’t, there’s follow ups! So big congrats, Gemma. I thrilled for you! You totally deserve it.
Here are some Divas at breakfast at Nationals last year. It was such a blast. I can’t WAIT for RWA, it’s my one vacation a year away! I had so much fun….
All right, off to the mall with the kid. I promised her another My Little Pony book.
Oh! And don’t forget to check out the pics below of Emma Petersen and I on her trip up to Seattle!
