Recovering from the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention

I’m starting this blog entry while on the plane ride home from Florida. I’m so exhausted that I can barely keep my eyes open and yet I can’t sleep. I’ve completed about a page and a half of a handwritten scene for a side project that will probably not see the light of day for a couple more years, but a little quality time with these characters every once in a while helps to clear my head. I’m supposed to be working on the plot outline for Book 5, but it’s just not flowing like I would prefer. It will eventually, but I think I just need my subconscious to stew on some of the plotlines for a little while. I know the main plot and at least one of the subplots. There’s also a life that is potentially hanging in the balance with this book and I can honestly say that I haven’t decided whether this character will live. I think the final decision will only come after I’ve made some more extensive notes about some of the upcoming books. The problem is that I have lots planned and many, many things that need to be addressed, but I don’t always know the order of how things are going to work out. I think it’s well passed time to finally get some more detailed thoughts down on paper and quit relying solely on my own shaky memory.

I’m sorry I wasn’t about to blog about the events of the Romantic Times (RT) Booklovers convention. I was relying on the Internet in my room so that I could post updates. Unfortunately, the Internet in my room decided not to work and I was left for several days without the ability to check my email, blog, or even twitter. Yeah, as you may have guessed, I suffered from some serious Internet withdraw and my dear friends will attest to the fact that I became somewhat testy and cranky at times. Come on, you can’t take away a girl’s Internet!

RT was another great conference. This was my fourth RT conference, I believe, and while I missed many good friends who were not present, a good time was still had. I once again roomed with the amazing Rachel Vincent, where we swapped writing horror tales and plans for the future.

I had a panel on Thursday that discussed what we had to do to keep a series going. My fellow panel members were Mario Acevedo, Jeaniene Frost, Ilone Andrews, Mark Henry, and Jaye Wells, while Richelle Mead moderated.

Okay. I’m now home again and finishing the blog entry from the comfort of my bed, which means that the rest of this entry should be short since I am exhausted and have to return to work tomorrow.

Also on Thursday, I completed a radio show with Authors on Air (I promise to post a link to it tomorrow) and then completed a massive signing at the Avon Dusk til Dark Mixer. And what was I signing, you ask. Why copies of Dayhunter, of course. Yes, about 100 signed copies of Dayhunter are floating around the globe as we speak. But don’t worry. The book will finally be released on Tuesday and you can get your very own copy. If you’re interested in getting a signed copy, send me an email and we should be able to arrange something.

There was much talking and carousing going on with many fabulous writers during the next couple of days, which concluded with another massive signing on Saturday – then I had copies of only Nightwalker.

Sorry this entry is so short, but I really need to catch some sleep and maybe even a little food.

Here’s a few other links to some stuff that came up while I was out of town.

I completed an interview with writer Mike Spradlin recently and he posted it to his blog. Click here to read my comments.

The ever-so-lovely Bitten By Books has not only reviewed Nightwalker, but Dayhunter as well. Click here to read their wonderful comments.

Also, Jackie over at Literary Escapism offers up her thoughts on Dayhunter. Click here to read her lovely comments.

I think that’s enough from me. I’ll have more to say tomorrow when I know that I will be coherent.

The End of Disney Days

Yesterday was the last "official" day of my Walt Disney World tour. But hey, I might sneak away while I'm in Orlando. I do have one more day left on my pass. (he-he-he)

On Tuesday, we tackled Hollywood Studios, which was pretty cool. Now, don't get me wrong. The place is interesting, but it happens to be my least favorite of the four parks. The Rockin' Roller Coaster was AWESOME and I wish I had taken the time to ride it a second time. The Tower of Terror was also pretty doggone cool. However, by the end, it had messed with my heart a bit, so it's not a ride that I could ride too often. It was truly scary.

But beyond that, most of Hollywood Studios is shows, which are very good. I caught the Stunt Show and the Indiana Jones shows. However, I have to admit that when I go to an amusement park, I go for the rides, not the shows. But to each their own and for some, Hollywood Studios might be their cup of tea.

It is a very cool place, but for me, I wouldn't spend a whole day there. I think the best way to cover it is by getting a park hopper pass so that you can spend part of the day at Hollywood Studios and the last half of the day at another park. But again, that's just me.

Now, I am off to the Romantic Times Booklovers conventions. A quick check of the map reveals that the hotel is about ten minutes from the condo I am currently staying in. I'll be leaving in the early afternoon in an attempt to get checked in before my roommate (Rachel Vincent) arrives. I know that a number of people are already settled into the hotel and have located the hotel bar. I plan to join them as quickly as possible. That's where all the good conversations are being hashed out and thrown around.

Wednesday is going to be a light day. I'll go scouting, get a lay of the land, and catch up with some friends. On Thursday, the work begins with a panel, a radio show, and an evening mixer, where I believe I will be signing books. Friday, the plan is to go AWOL with my agent, while Saturday is the massive signing and a little decompression. From my experience at other conferences, there will be lots of coffee consumed and a splash of alcohol. I don't handle huge crowds in small places too well, so the caffeine keeps me upbeat while the alcohol helps to mellow me out at the end of the day. I know, I know, not very healthy, but it's only for a couple days.

I do have a little other news. This is just a quick reminder that Dayhunter is due for release in less than 6 short days. Have you ordered your copy yet? Made plans to run down to the bookstore on the day of the release? Well, let give you a couple reasons.

At the risk of tooting my own horn, which I really don't mean to do, I am happy to report that a pair of really great book reviews were posted to the web yesterday about Dayhunter. I think both give an amazing overview of the book. Check them out if you want to know more about the book.

SciFiGuy.ca: Review - "Dayhunter"

Book Reviews by Jess

Their positive words have helped me breathe a sigh of relief in a way. There's a lot of new background information that comes out in Dayhunter and I'm really hoping that readers enjoy the new aspects of Mira's world.

Also, don't forget that if you haven't yet, HarperCollins has posted the first 5 chapters of Dayhunter if you want to get a headstart on the book.

The Disney Saga Continues

For once, I was right. We did actually cover Epcot on Monday and it was great. This time it was just my mom, dad, and myself. My brother, sister-in-law, and niece opted for a more relaxing day by the pool and hitting the local mall. My feet are complaining that I should have joined them instead of torturing them some more, but I try not to listen to my feet. Besides, I had way too much fun at Epcot.

All right, so we started at a ride called Soarin', which is like riding in a glider. It dangles you in front of this massive video screen. It tilts and moves so that it feels like you're actually soaring above the earth. We liked it so much that as soon as we exited, we grabbed Fast Passes for later in the day so we could quickly do it again.

There were more awesome rides such as the Finding Nemo Ride, Mission: Space, Test Track, and too many more to bother to list here. It was very cool. The other neat thing about Epcot (other than the fact that it's educational) is the topiaries. They have bush and flower combinations that look like a number of their cartoon movie characters. I've posted a couple here, but the pictures just don't do them justice. They are way too cool.

Amazingly, we managed to cover pretty much all of Epcot by4 p.m. The lines weren't too long and we move pretty fast. So, for the rest of the day, we returned to the Magic Kingdom, where my mom and I rode Splash Mountain. It has to be my all-time favorite log flume ride. Sure, it's probably not the wettest ride, but prior to the major drop, there are seveal small ones inside and the characters dancing and singing inside are very cool. I didn't get as drenched as the Kali River Rapids, but I got pretty doggone wet.

From there, we headed to Big Thunder Mountain, which is the runaway train. It started raining while we were on the ride, but that just seemed to make it more fun to me. That's the second time I've ridden it on this trip and I'm hoping it won't be the last. We also covered the Pirates of the Caribbean ride again (one of the greatest rides ever!) and the Haunted Mansion.

I also managed to get a little shopping done. Spent way too much money, but sometimes you just got give the plastic a workout. I picked up a couple gifts and a little something for myself. If you've been to Disney or even the Disney Stores, you're aware that the company has something called collector's pins. They can be addictive, which is probably the point. I have a sack that I carry with the Disney logo on it. I now have 4 collector's pins of some of my favorite rides. There's a few that I feel like I'm missing. Sigh. Yes, I'm addicted now.

I think that just about covers everything for this trip.

As a side note, HarperCollins has created a browse inside for Dayhunter so now you can read up to the first 5 chapters of the book. The browse inside is located on my blogger blog so be sure to catch that. We've got only a few more days until the release. Please pick it up during the first week if you can. I really want to get on the New York Times Bestseller list so that I can get my second tattoo. Speaking of which, here is a picture (finally!) of the tattoo I got. It has a very close tie to Mira, which I will be explaining in later books. Of course, it has a very close tie to my own beliefs, which I will be explaining in later books.

Have a great day! I think we're off to Hollywood Studios today and the Rockin' Roller Coaster.

Yep, I Was Wrong

Boy, was I wrong! But then, these things tend to happen on the rare occasion. When I got back to the condo on Sunday after by brief blogging and breakfast session, I discovered that we were no longer going to Epcot. Oh no, we were now headed to Animal Kingdom. *shrug* It's all good to me.

Animal Kingdom was awesome as usual and I'm happy to report that we didn't have to use Fast Passes (or tickets that get you to the front of the line at certain times of the day) at all. We managed to hit the major rides at just the right time so that our waits were generally between 10 and 20 minutes. Now that's a good day!

I think the first ride of the day was what my family calls the Yeti Ride, or as it is know to the rest of the world, Expedition: Everest. It's this cool roller coaster that takes you up into this high replica of Everest. Once you hit the top of the hill, you coast a bit until you reach this section of track that looks like it has been ripped up. Behind you the track is switching. And then you drop backwards through the dark, whipping through twists and turns. It's awesome. The track switches again so that you finish it going forward. Just before the end, you see this enormous Yeti, which takes a swipe at the roller coaster cars. It's just cool.

Next is the Kali River Ride, which I rode with my brother, sister-in-law, and my dad. You can walk off this ride slightly damp or completely drenched. Yeah, my luck runs that direction. My dad and I walked off with rivers of water running down us. My brother and sister-in-law were somewhat damp. It was another awesome ride though and I would have done it a second time, but it took me all day to dry off and I didn't want to get the car wet when we drove home.

We caught a show, a parade, walked through two sections of the park that were set up for animal displays like zoos and pretty much completed the day with the safari ride. With the exception of the tiger and bat pictures (which came from the zoo-like section) the rest of the pictures came from the Safari ride. In this one, people load up in a jeep-like vehicle and drive through the savanna-like setting so that you can see the animal closer up. It was simply awesome. There were 2 baby giraffes. They were so cute!

Overall, the day was great and I am happy to report that it ended a little earlier than at the Magic Kingdom. Animal Kingdom closes at 7 p.m. It gave us a chance to relax and look over some of our pictures. The weather is calling for a chance of scattered showers so I think today we are hitting Epcot since all the rides are indoor. But then, I've said that before, haven't I?

My only concern at this point. They are extremely sore and starting to blister. I brought 2 pairs of heels for the RT convention. I'm beginning to think that I'm not going to get out of my sneakers the whole time I'm in Florida.

Found Internet

Yes, I found some Internet! Yeah, I know. At this point, I realize that finding Internet shouldn't be so difficult. I just hate paying for it. I'm sitting in a McDonald's in Kississimee this morning, eating my sausage biscuit and I'm loving this whole vacation thing.

Yesterday was fantastic, but exhausting. I got off the plane, picked up my rental car, and drove straight to Disney World where I met with my family. Due to the brilliance of my sister-in-law, within 60 minutes of landing in Florida I was screaming and laughing my head off on Space Mountain. And to add to my luckiness, yesterday was the last day that Space Mountain was going to be open before it is shut down for 6 months due to repairs.

From there, we rode a bunch of rides, saw at least 2 parades, and ate WAY TOOO MUCH food ... but then again, they've got some good food in the Magic Kingdom.

The bad news: I got a little sunburned on my forehead and my glasses were broken. I think it may have occured on Big Thunder Mountain when they were crushed in my pocket. (A side note: I advise trying that ride at night. It's even cooler in the dark).

Today, I think we're off to Epcot for some adventure.

My feet are sore from walking, but I am so ready to head back into the fray today. This is great prep work for the Romantic Times Convention.

Oh, and one last thing: yes, I actually started the opening scene for Book 5 while I was on the plane ride down. I'll admit that I'm a workaholic.

New York Comic Con -- DAY 2

I'm running low on energy again, but I think I've got enough left in me to try to get a little work done tonight. Actually, I'm going to try to get some prep work done for tomorrow's panel.

Today was completely overwhelming. Now, keep in mind that I've never been to a Comic Con before so I was unprepared for the overwhelming size and the sheer number of people that were at this thing. I managed to snap a couple pictures of some of the costumes that I saw. I will try to grab a few more tomorrow, but I probably won't be posting them until Monday. I fly out of New York directly after my signing tomorrow, which runs until 5 p.m., I believe. I still have to check my schedule again and make some notes.

I'm sorry to report that I missed out on meeting Bruce Timm, one of the character designers for Batman, and Seth Green, who is in town promoting Robot Chicken. I'm a little bummed, but I can't complain since I got the chance to meet some very wonderful people in the publishing world.

But overall, Comic Con has been a blast and I'm now considering checking out the one in San Diego, which I hear is a complete madhouse.

As for dinner (I know you were waiting to hear about more food), my lovely agent took me out to Blue Ribbon on Sullivan Street in SoHo. Very cool part of town and dinner was awesome. I got to have oysters for the first time, and they were very nice. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very cozy. I definitely recommend the place. It is always great to have the chance to talk with my agent about new book ideas, how she thinks my career is going, looking forward to upcoming releases, and all the usual good stuff.

New York Comic Con -- DAY 1

All right, I'm so tired I can barely see straight and I haven't even made it to the convention yet. Yes, I'm that sad and pathetic. Today, I had a quick meeting with my fabulous editor and a video interview with Kim Harrison -- which was fun. I think the video went well. As soon as it is released, I promise to produce links.

From there it was relaxing with mini-cupcakes from a place called Crumbs. They were the yummiest, most amazing little cupcakes I have had ever had. All different kinds of flavors and neat decorations. I think I'm going to be tracking this place down on my next trip.

Then, I grabbed dinner with the stunning and effervescent Vicki Pettersson at a place called Fatty Crab on Hudson Street. Write this one down, people. The food was absolutely to die for. I believe the fare was Malaysian and it was simply amazing. I suggest the Steamed Buns, and the Watermelon Pickle and Crisp Pork. We also had a soup, but I cannot remember what it was called. Just go. Hurry. Go now. The different tastes and the way they mixed was awesome. I know, I usually don't go so over the moon about food, but this was really great.

To Mark, with the lovely Irish accent, and the other wonderful servers at the Fatty Crab, thanks for the amazing, attentive service, and we hope you stop down to visit at Comic Con.

Last Night in Savannah

It's my last night and I'm sorry to be going home. I've loved my time in Savannah. I love the history, the beauty, the amazing squares, and the unique stories that are hidden in every shadow and around every corner. I'm so glad that I have picked this place for Mira's home. I can see why she loves it here and why she is so willing to defend it against not only the naturi, but also against any other threat that may arise.

Today was a walk up Bull Street, which is the main street that divides the city. Heading up from the hotel, which is located on Bay Street, we hit Johnson Square then to Wright Square, which is home to the Gordon Monument and the Toma-chi-chi grave. From there is the Chippewa Square -- which is where the movie Forrest Gump was filmed. Afterward, is Madison Square -- which is home to the Sorrell-Weed house that I mentioned yesterday, and then Monterey Square. Monterey Square has the Pulaski monument, a Jewish Temple, and the Mercer-Williams house.

I did take a tour of the Mercer house, which was absolutely amazing. Beyond the gory history regarding the murder and eventual death of Jim Williams, the house itself is exquisite in its artwork and appointments. I suggest that you check it out if you are ever in Savannah.

The pictures above are just some of the places that I was able to visit today, including a quick trip out to Old Fort Jackson. Tomorrow I will be headed home and getting back to the task of writing Book 3. No more "Goofing Off" for me.

Savannah Dreaming

It's been my second full day in the city of Savannah and I think I may be in love. That's not to say that I don't still love my hometown of Cincinnati. But there is a quiet and a history to this city that seems to seep into your pores and settles down into your soul after walking through more than a few of the city's squares. The homes are exquisite relics of the past, rising up among the Live Oak trees like graceful ghosts.

Let's see, today was a walk through the Telfair Art Museum, which is the current home of the "Bird Girl" statue from the cover of "The Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". The statue was originally in Bonaventure cemetery, but was later moved in an effort to protect it following the popularity of the movie and the book. I wasn't able to take a picture of the statue, which was a shame because she looks lovely in her new home. However, the picture included is of the exterior of the museum, which the former home of Lady Telfair, who donated the house to the city under the stipulation that the house be used as an art museum.

Next we visited the Owens-Thompson House, which was a few squares over from the Telfair Museum. I'm getting the impression that most things within the city are measured by which square they are closest to. This house was absolutely stunning. It was built in the early nineteenth century and was also donated to the Telfair Museum for use as a museum. The interior design and detail was stunning and I highly suggest visiting in should you ever get down to Savannah.

A couple more things that I did get to see that you might be wondering about.

If you're a fan of Ghost Hunters, their 2005 Halloween special was at the Sorrell-Weed house. I went on a ghost tour last night that included parts of the house. I didn't see anything indicated to me that it was haunted. However, I did have one picture that showed an orb. Believe what you will. The picture below is a picture of the place during the day. I may try to go again tomorrow.

And finally. For lovers of The Book (a.k.a. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) or the movie, here is a picture of the Mercer House, which was owned my John Williams and was the scene of the infamous murder. I've not gotten to go through it and I haven't yet decided whether I will.

But to the real reason that I came to Savannah.... I think I have located the townhouse that Mira owns and I know which square that it is outside of. I've met characters that I'm positively dying to put in the story. At last, both Mira and I feel at home in Savannah.

Research Road Trip

It was time for me to hit the road again. I had been home for a whole month and my luggage was starting to collect a little dust. So, I packed up my things and with the help of my patient and somewhat odd parents, we've headed down to Savannah, Georgia for a little sightseeing.

We drove down on Saturday and got just a little lost along the way, but we made it to the hotel in once piece. That first night we had dinner out on a second floor balcony that overlooked River Street. There was live music and a great view of the boats coming into the nearby shipping yards. While it's a little colder down in here than normal, the night was nice and relaxed.

Today was all about seeing as much of the city as humanly possible. There's this fabulous trolley tour called the Old Towne Trolley Tours that takes you throughout the whole city, which is 90% historical district from what I can tell. This is quite a switch for me growing up in a city like Cincinnati with its skyscrapers and limited green space. The city of Savannah is arranged around 22 park squares and I think I saw almost all of them today.

It's too early to tell favorites, but I am definitely a fan of Forsyth Park with its enormous fountain. However, I fell in love with the old Live Oak trees dripping with Spanish Moss in Chippewa Square, which is also the square where they filmed Forrest Gump (in case you were interested.)

The city is positively lovely. Everywhere you go, you see Victorian home with their open arm staircases and wrought iron fences and red brick. Or the Colonial District with the classical Colonial designs and bright colors.

But it's late and I'm exhausted so I'll post more pictures tomorrow.

Exhaustion

Soon... very soon... I will be headed home again. I'm exhausted. It has been a very good, productive trip to New York. I've met a lot of great people, who I hope to see again on return visits. And for a market that is rocky, I think I held my own in the interviews fairly well.

So, here are a few highlights for those that are interested.

Signed Books:

I popped by the Borders at 461 Park Avenue (I think the cross street is 58th, but you might want to check) and signed a handful of books if you are interested in a signed copy of Nightwalker. If I sneak in any more bookstores before I leave, I promise to post their location here. A special thanks for the booksellers at Borders for kindly helping me.

The Highlander:

Last night, I didn't post a blog entry because I got back to my hotel room late from an evening cruise around the harbor on the Forbes yaht, called The Highlander. The boat is absolutely beautiful and I promise to post a picture of it later. Right now, I'm blogging from the hotel lounge and don't have the necessary camera cord. The boat departed at 6:00 p.m. last night from the harbor and sailed around the area, passing by the Statue of Liberty and under several bridges, which my new friends and I were unable to successfully name. It was a beautiful, if somewhat cool night. The view of the downtown skyline was amazing, better than any of the pictures I've seen. Overall, the whole experience was very sureal. I'm this little Kentucky girl on a yaht in the New York harbor along with all these brilliant newsletter advisors, enjoying an evening cruise while being pampered. Life is filled with lots of strange, unexpected moments.

Radio Show:

Do you have any burning questions you would like to ask me about Mira and Danaus? Well, you're going to get your chance. I'm going to be on the radio. The Authors on Air program The Beyond is hosting an "All Souls Show" on October 30 at 3 p.m. that will feature me, Melissa Marr, Vicki Pettersson, Jeaniene Frost, Holly Black, and Mark Del Franco. The call-in number is 347-826-9684. Mark your calendars. For more information, please click here.

Starry Night

It's been another good day in the Big Apple. My morning started off with an interview on Bloomberg TV, which I think went very well. At the very least, I think I looked good because I had professionals handling my hair and make-up. My next appointment was cancelled, but I concluded the afternoon with another print interview, which I think went well.

After a quick break in my hotel room catching up on emails, I am pleased to report that I managed to pop into the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), which is just across the street from my hotel. I had a very specific reason for going -- they have a special exhibit of Van Gogh going on right now. It is an exhibit of his famous night/twilight pieces, including ... sigh ... Starry Night. Growing up, I had a print of Starry Night in a frame on my bureau. But getting to see it in person was amazing. For a brief moment in time, I standing in the same spot as a piece of exquisite history. I got a little teary. I know, I'm silly. But to see some of the great pieces of art from the masters is always exciting.

The line to get into the Van Gogh exhibit was a little long so I didn't have enough time to get through the whole museum, but I enjoyed what I did see. I did see a few Picasso and some Lichtenstein. I'll admit that you can fit what I know about art into a thimble and still have room left over. However, I know the names of the so-called masters and I can appreciate the amazing work they have accomplished.

The artwork conjures up so many my ideas and questions in my head, leaving me wanting a quiet place to sit and write for hours on end. However, I am due for dinner with a friend tonight. And then it's back to the book edits for me.

New York

I'm back in New York for a series of interviews. For those new readers, I do still have a day job in the finance industry. It allows me to pop into New York a couple times during the year to do a series of TV, radio, and print interviews with the financial media. It also gives me the chance to visit a city that I love to visit.

It must be a sign of the Kentucky hillbilly deep inside of me, because after I got settled in my hotel room, I hit the street and walked straight to Central Park -- one of my absolute favorite parts of the city. I stayed on the edge of the enormous park, but it was just nice to see it again. The lovely green mixed with giant boulders and spotted with sunbathers -- all ringed with skyscrapers scratching at the sky. It's the part of the city that I feel most at ease in.

But that's not to say that I don't love the hustle and bustle of New York. I walked over to Fifth Avenue and grabbed a shot of the Apple store. The entrance to the store is a great glass box with the Apple logo. The area surrounding the store (which I understand is underground) is always filled with people grabbing a bite to eat from the street vendors and doing a little people watching.

The pace on the sidewalk seems a little slower today that the usual frantic pace. I wonder if Sundays are left to the tourists and the real New Yorkers stay inside.

I didn't wander about long. I'm a little tired today. Also, I've included a picture of my room. As you will notice on the bed is a copy of the edits for Dayhunter. I've still got to work on that for a little while today. I hope to pop back out again tonight when the sun sets a little bit more.

Mass Signing

If you haven't been to the Romantic Times Convention, then you may be unaware of the fact that there is a massive signing on one of the last days. Today is that massive conference. Unfortunately, my book is not out yet, so I didn't get to join in the fun. However, I did wander around and take pictures of all the authors that I know. This time next year, I'll be sitting among them. So, here they are (in no particular order), all the nifty writers that I have met over the years and at this year's conference!

This is the amazing Jenna Black:

This is the sweet and funny Jeanne Stein:

This is the way-too-young Caitlin Kittredge:

This is the brilliant Jeri Smith-Ready:

This is the positively darling Jeaniene Frost:

This is the wickedly bubbly Jackie Kessler:

This is the lovely Richelle Mead:
This is the severely warped Mark Henry:

This is the wonderful Keri Arthur:

This is the superb Kelley Armstrong:


This is the angelic Rachel Vincent:

And finally, the simply wicked Kim Harrison:

The rest of the day is light and I'm headed home tomorrow. I hope you've enjoyed these little glimpses of the convention. I'm sure I'll be posting more thoughts on the conference during the next few days as I have more time to digest everything I heard and saw.

RT Goodness

I'm a bad blogger. Everyone else here has been much better than me about posting pictures and updates. I haven't taken many pictures, but somehow I'm managed to be a number of pictures. Hmmm.... I guess I'm just hanging out with a very picture-happy group.

Yesterday wasn’t a very good day for me as I had a nasty migraine that slowed me down. However, I’ve bounced back and I’m ready to go again.

This morning started off on the right foot: coffee and friends. After basking in the warmth and love of my cup of coffee, I got to sit down and spend a few less-than-hectic moments with Kim Harrison, “Guy in the Leather Jacket,” Rachel Vincent (my roomie here), Jeanne Stein, and Mark Henry (who I met for the first time in person here, and let me tell you this man is twisted and hilarious).

Next, we were off to the panel “Demons Are the New Black,” which had on it Kim Harrison, Caitlin Kittridge, Jackie Kessler, Richelle Mead, Carole Nelson Douglas, agent Miriam Kriss, and Mark Henry. The panel was great, but I didn’t get pictures because I was way in the back. Hop over to Rachel’s blog, as I believe she has posted one or two.

Next was the “Urban Fantasy 101” panel, which had on it Rachel Vincent, Richelle Mead, Jeanne Stein, Keri Arthur (who I am just loving the more I see her each year), Jeri Smith-Ready, Kelley Armstrong (who I already adore), and a Tor editor whose name I am completely forgetting right now because I am an ass. Unfortunately, as you will notice in the picture below, not everyone is shown because I moved to the front row for this panel to make up for my back-row blindness during the prior panel. This panel was great because a lot of it was about defining Urban Fantasy vs. Paranormal Romance and the importance of world building (it’s ABSOLUTELY crucial).

Afterward, we were whisked away to the awards luncheon, where Kim Harrison won an award for Best Protagonist and Jeaniene Frost won Best Urban Fantasy! And to complete a good lunch, great chocolate cake for desert, and the joy of friends winning awards: we got free books. Now, you know this is the main reason people go to these things; it’s all about the free books. I’ve done pretty well so far and I’m trying to keep it light. Remember, what ever you get here you have to either schlep home or ship. Also, I’m not allowed to read. I’ve got deadlines!

Any other updates… I finally got to meet the wonderful, brilliant Melissa Marr in person. She was the only one out of the upcoming anthology that I hadn’t met yet. I also found out that she’s reading my book … gulp! We had drinks last night and I joined her and several other wonderful writers for lunch today.

At the moment, I am enjoying a little down time before tonight’s Vampire Ball. It is my goal to grab at least a couple pictures of that interesting event tonight. In the meantime, it’s back to work. I’ve got a short story to finish.

For more photos and updates, stop by Rachel Vincent’s blog and Mark Henry had a great photo posting over at Fangs, Fur & Fey. I’m sure there are other pictures out there, I just haven’t located them all yet. In the end, the only thing I've got left to say is: Vicki Pettersson, we wish you were here!

Exhausted But Content

Sorry for the short entry, but I'm dead on my feet. I'm safe and sound at the RomanticTimes Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. The hotel isn't the greatest considering that we crammed in here and the hotel is under construction (yuck). But on the plus side, I've gotten to hang out with Kim Harrison and been able to catch up with my roomie, Rachel Vincent. Jeaniene Frost and Melissa Marr are on their way here and I'm looking forward to seeing them both tomorrow along with all the other authors that I've missed today.

After about 3 hours of sleep last night, I'm ready to collapse in bed, but I'm going to try to get a little writing done. I promise to have some pictures to post tomorrow!

A Hard Day's Night

...And I've been working like a dog...

Blame Scooby-Doo. The cartoon is on in the background and they made a Beetle's reference. I'm still in New York and it's cold. My day has been spent zipping around Midtown for a series of meetings. It's been a good trip and I've got one more meeting left before I can call it a day. I'm exhausted and I'm looking forward to heading home tomorrow afternoon. I've got a couple more pictures to show. The first is of a cool fountain not far from Radio City and the second is of my hotel room. I know it sounds sad, but curling up in bed to catch some Z's is really appealing right now.

I want to thank all the congrats I've received recently regarding the upcoming anthology. I am very excited. I even got the chance to talk to Kim Harrison for a few minutes today, who giggled excitedly with me. She's definitely looking forward to contributing a great story to this collection. She's been putting up with me for a few years now, as we've swapped writing woes and triumphs. I am very excited that we will be working together on a project.

For those curious about who I am and my work if you followed over from Jeaniene, Vicki, or Melissa, I am a new Urban Fantasy writer with HarperCollins under their Eos imprint. My books tend to be dark and violent, with a nice mix of sarcasm and irony. My first book, Nightwalker: A Dark Days Novel will be released at the end of July/beginning of August.

Below is the description that will be on the back cover of the novel:

For centuries Mira has been a nightwalker--an unstoppable enforcer for a mysterious organization that manipulates earth-shaking events from the darkest shadows. But elemental mastery over fire sets her apart from others of her night-prowling breed...and may be all that prevents her doom.

The foe she now faces is human: the vampire hunter called Danaus, who has already destroyed so many undead. For Mira, the time has come to hunt...or be hunted.

But in a dimension just beyond the world's boundaries, a banished race stirs dangerously, hungry for power, for domination, for vengeance. Already a protective seal has been breached: already blood flows like a river through the world's great cities.

And only the collaboration of two sworn enemies can save humankind...and its feral brethren.

Dude, Where's the Snow? -- UPDATE!!

I woke up this morning expecting snow. Lots of it. Did I find snow? No, just rain-washed streets. While I am partially relieved to know I won't be fighting the snow to find a cab, I am kind of disappointed that I won't get to see a snow-covered New York. Obviously, the weather forecasters were off their game yesterday.

Late-Night Addition -- Breaking News

No, it hasn't snowed in New York yet. That's not the news.

While I was away from my computer all day, Jeaniene Frost and Melissa Marr spilled the beans already, but I thought I would post the news here as well.

I have been invited to be a part of an anthology that will include such amazing writers as: (drum roll, please)

Jeaniene Frost
Melissa Marr
Vicki Pettersson
and Kim Harrison!

Can you believe it? I am somewhere between bubbling over with joy and stunned, speechless shock. This is an amazing opportunity and such a wonderful honor to be included with these fabulous writers.

If you would like the details of how it all got started, please check out Melissa's or Jeaniene's blogs. All I know is that I got a call from my agent shortly after the start of the year asking if I wanted to be included in this anthology. I laughed. I kept thinking "Why is she calling me? Yes, just tell them yes fast before someone comes to their senses!"

And for me, the news gets better -- I know, as if that were possible, but it is -- the editor for the anthology is my own beloved editor Diana Gill. (Happy Dance!) This gives me an added comfort zone, because she already knows my style and shortcomings. I will feel more secure that when the book is released, I have turned in the best damn story I am capable of, which is absolutely necessary when it comes to hanging with this crowd of authors.

Right now, the anthology has been tentatively set for release in May 2009. While the release date has not been set for my second book, I am kind of hoping that the anthology will fall between the releases of books 2 and 3, giving me a few more characters to play with for the anthology.

Those Little Town Blues

Well, I'm back in New York City, trying to get a little work done. I was last here in September and it's good to be back. The cats weren't too pleased to see me go, but I left them in good hands. I have no doubt they'll be pampered and loved while I am gone.

The trip hasn't gone too smoothly. The flight was slightly delayed due to water issues, as in we had a water leak. Then, one of my bags has gone missing. I have all my suits, but my hair dryer, brushes, make-up, and a spare pair of shoes never showed up. It supposed to be delivered, but I ain't banking on it arriving before I have my first set of interviews tomorrow.

Oh, and the best part: we're getting a snow storm! Yes, I just managed to slip into the city ahead of a storm that is supposed to dump 5 to 8 inches on the city by morning with more to come throughout Monday and Tuesday. While I doubt it will be enough to shut this city down, I seriously doubt getting a cab will be fun. Well, I always wondered what the city would look like covered in snow.

However, before the rain moved in (which is currently drenching the city in a steady downpour) and the snow eventually comes, I did manage to wander the city a little. Due to the locations of all the places I need to visit for work, I typically stay in Midtown. I'm one block over from Broadway, a few blocks up from Times Square, and Rockefeller Center, Radio City, and Fifth Avenue are just a stone's throw away. Because of the darkness, the pictures didn't come out too clear, but it's at least a glimpse of the coolness. Many trees are still coated in white lights and the skaters are still flocking to the ice rink at Rockefeller.

I think the rain and cold kept a lot of people inside tonight. People were still about, but the traffic was a lot lighter than what I am used to. Of course, Times Square was absolutely packed, but I think that part of the city always will be. Even in the cold and the rain, it's a awesome place to be. A visual treat.

Well, it's back to work for me. I've got some more work to get done to prepare for tomorrow and I also have to get a little more editing/writing done tonight. Keep your fingers crossed. Tomorrow could be an interesting day.

Sunrise on the Ocean

Deerfield Beach, Florida

I woke up in time to see the sun rising up out of the ocean this morning. After spending more than one summer vacation on the Gulf coast, I can easily claim to have seen a few sunsets on the ocean, but this was my first sunrise. The crispness of the light blue sky contrasted against the deep blue of the ocean -- all pinned into place by a fiery yellow ball -- was ... peaceful. It's how mornings should start, with a vast vista of nature's beauty spread before you. Not an alarm clock screaming at you. Not ensconced in a dark, cramped room where you lay on your back listing all the things you need to get done that day. Just you and the ocean.

I sill think the greatest sound on Earth is the sound of the ocean breaking on the beach. The steady sound of the waves cresting and rolling into the beach seems to automatically unravel layer upon layer of tension until there is only the sound of the surf in your mind. But for me, the ocean acts as a subconscious trigger. Nearly every summer as a child, my family drove down to Florida for summer vacation. We would spend a day or two at the beach, and other than the inevitable sunburns, the ocean is associated with a wealth of positive memories.

I've often wondered if I would still appreciate the ocean if I lived near it. Would I still stop that the first sight of it everyday and sigh with a mix of relief and awe? I like to think so. I've grown up in Northern Kentucky and there are certain turns in the highways around where I live that give me pause or put a smile on my lips when I reach them to see the hills rise up around me, the mist weaving through the trees before burning off in the rising morning sun. I am always glad to return home at the end of a trip. I have enjoyed the places I've been this year, but there is always a sense of relief to see my Kentucky hills again. However, I know when I fly out of here today, I will miss the ocean and the soft sounds she makes.