It’s that time again. I sent one proposal off to my agent yesterday and am finishing up another, hopefully sometime this week. In the midst of all this, my back went out. OUCH. LOL It does that from time to time, but wouldn’t it just figure it would do it when I had some ‘free’ time and wanted to go play?

 I’m blogging tomorrow at www.pinkladiesblog.com and giving away a fabulous Christmas book. I hope you’ll stop by and post a comment.

 As soon as possible I’ll have my appearances page updated. I’ve added a few things here and there but am still having trouble posting/updating. Sorry about that.

 Wal-Mart Signing! Yes, that’s right. I’ll be signing at my hometown Wal-Mart in Ashland, Kentucky, on November 17 from 11 AM to 1 PM. Wal-Mart signings are *very* hard to get so I hope if you’re from the area, you’ll make an effort to stop by and make it a great signing/showing.

 Until next time…

K

I reached the end today. THE END! My house is a wreck, I’m a wreck. But it’s a good feeling. Nick turned out to be quite a hero. Beneath all that brooding masculinity lurked quite a guy. *sigh*

Now, how to market it. What? You thought all I had to do was write the book? Hey, it’s my career we’re talking about here. I have to be proactive. So, if you have any suggestions on what to do marketing-wise, please de-lurk and post. I’d love to hear where I should advertise online, any promo ideas or suggestions you have.

 In the meantime… I think I need to find my floors.

 Kay

We made it home from the expo last night. And what a fun, fun time! I met great people (especially the M’s from dinner Friday night) and had great food. I’ll post pictures as soon as I can. They’ll probably have to go on my Pink Ladies Blog post Wednesday because Wordpress isn’t happy when I try to post them here. I do want to give a BIG shout out and say thanks to Sharon for coordinating the authors’ booth at the expo. I can’t imagine what it took to get thirty authors rounded up like that.

 Today I’m lazing on the couch, working on my deadline (oh my, behind again!) and not moving a muscle.

 Kay

This weekend I’m attending the Kingsport Women’s Expo in Kingsport, TN. And I can’t wait. Why? Because I have a flapper dress and I’m ready to travel.  (And it’s Tennessee in October. If you’ve never been to Tennessee in October, you don’t know what you’re missing. The beautiful fall colors, the mountains, the views! Oh, I’m so excited!) But that’s not all, I’m in such a good mood because I’ve completed the last book of my three-book contract. Can we say vacation? <G>

 Back to the Expo. On Friday night the event hosts are having a Murder Mystery Theater with the theme of the Roaring 20’s. All the authors and their spouses/guests have been asked to dress the part and a few are even going to take part in the ‘murder’ and the quest to find whodunnit. I’m not an up on stage person, so I’ll be in the audience trying to figure out the clues like everyone else. But doesn’t it sound like fun? There will be raffles and giveaways, good food. I’m taking a very special basket for the giveaway that has romance written all over it.  And others to be raffled off on Saturday and Sunday (all you have to do is sign up for my newsletter and be entered to win!). The baskets are *WELL* stuffed with brand new books. Gotta love that!

On Saturday and Sunday, the authors will be signing, chatting with readers and generally having a good time because on their breaks we’ll be checking out all the fabulous booths displaying what I’ve been told will have anything and everything to do with women. Cooking products, lotions, makeup, clothing. You name it and it’s supposed to be there. I wonder if they have the organic makeup I’ve been looking for?

So tell me, have you ever attended anything like this? The Expo? The Murder Mystery Theather? I’m soooo looking forward to it! 

For more information on the Kingsport Women’s Expo, go to www.womensexpoauthors.com . And if you’re in or near the Kingsport area on October 19-21, stop by to see me!

Kay

It happens every time.  As soon as my designated deadline approaches, so does fifty other things. What does it mean? It’s deadline crunch time.

Instead of inputting my hard-copy changes into the computer, today I finished up going through the final printout of my March release, typed up those edits, and sent them off. Yay! I celebrated for all of thirty seconds, fixed lunch and started back on the manuscript due at the end of October. I’ll make it, no problem, but I also need to work on proposals. I need to blog. I’ve neglected updating my website for way too long now, and I’ve outside chapter commitments to keep, not to mention all the family stuff that keeps me hoppin’. How do I get myself into these things? LOL

 I’m not whining. Well, maybe a little. But not a lot. <G> I LOVE finishing up a book. I love starting on new projects when the characters and story are so much fun to figure out. I love hanging out online talking with readers. Basically, I love what I do. It’s the stressful times that get the blood pressure up and make me long for hot baths and massages. But then what job doesn’t have that?

In the midst of my ‘crunch’ I received a fabulous fan letter from a nine-year cancer survivor. Thank you. You don’t know how much I appreciate the fact that you took the time out of your busy day to write me and tell me I got it right. Your letter is the reason I do this. The reason I work so hard to meet my deadlines, to do what I do. You said I made you feel good because you knew you weren’t alone in the gamut of emotions Melissa displayed in HPW. But I mean it when  say the letter made my not-so-bad-yet-sucky-day better.  It made me realize I’d forgotten to take Melissa’s motto and put it to use in my life. To cherish each day, to hug my family, to let the small stuff go and be thankful for how I’ve been blessed. Thank you.

Crunch times will come and go—but I’m thankful for every one of them.

 Kay