In case you haven’t seen it and wish too, there’s a review of FORBIDDEN MAGIC here.  I sent the book out to two reviewers and they have both been awesome! I’ll let you know when the other review is up.

Okay, reading. This is crazy, but I’ve been trying to read PRIMAL BONDS by Jennifer Ashley for a week now. It’s pretty good, that’s not the problem. It’s just time. I thought this week would be better since I sent my projects off–but I am having such a great response to the announcement of publishing FORBIDDEN MAGIC, that juggling all that is taking up my free time. I am soooo not complaining though!

So what are you all reading? And just so you all know, I’ll be scarce for part of tomorrow too. I have a doctor appointment, and some things to do that will keep me away from the computer.

I finally sent out a newsletter! A while back my old newsletter company folded and it took me forever to get a new one, and THEN learn the new program.  So yesterday I tackled that.

Then ( and I blame BLB And Wizard for this) I made more lava cakes to celebrate. Mostly because they bugged me until I did it.

Wizard was home yesterday, and he took BLB to physical therapy. I was so stoked! I went to the gym for the first time in a week, then came home planning to have time to myself.

Except I had to call the health insurance company. For the FOURTH time.  And after an hour of carefully, methodically and in great detail, explaining the issue, I got the same result of, “Yes, you are right, let me research this and call you back.”  I swear this is beyond frustrating and it’s not THAT complicated.

Now I’m debating–do I work on Linc’s book, CAGE MAGIC, or a really interesting idea for paranormal mystery idea that won’t leave me alone. Probably because Laura Wright keeps nudging me to work on it

What’s up with you guys?

Busy! In a good way, though. The two main things I did:

I finished the dragon proposal and sent that off to my agent.

I ran into a scheduling snafu with Ram’s novella,  FORBIDDEN MAGIC.  I worked that out (I hope!), rescheduled everything, and the plan is to publish  it on or around April 15th.

Broken Leg Boy and I made Hungry Girl Lava Cakes too. We are having fun doing a “lighter” dessert recipe once every week or two. The Lava Cakes were a big hit. They are definitely lighter in taste, but enjoyable.

I even did a little reading.

How was your weekend?

Today we see BLB’s regular doctor to get him up to date and a referral to a new surgeon. Basically, I’m spending Monday through Friday driving (at least 20 minutes each way) and waiting. It’s unbelievable. But entirely necessary so no whining!

I think I’ll just have to skip the gym entirely for these two weeks, then I think (HOPE AND PRAY) BLB can drive.

But things are better every day and I’m thrilled about that!

In my “other” life as a writer I am multitasking like a mad woman. I am:

1) Working on self pubbing Ram. Waiting on the editor, and in turn, the formatter is waiting. In the meantime, I’m setting up all the accounts to self pub and taking care of other “business” items related to that.

2) Getting the dragons ready to go. I need to recheck one section of the synopsis, then edit the entire package. It’ll go to my agent next week. She is waiting.

3) And working with my agent on a another submission that my she suggested. The proposal is done, we just had to do some housekeeping like change the title. Try to come up with a new title in an hour or two–nothing like a little pressure.

The writing portions I try to do on my laptop while BLB is in physical therapy, and for an hour or two in the afternoon.  The rest I do as I get time. It’s amazing what we can get done when we focus.

One of the things I’m not doing though? Reading. That sucks. I did all the contest reading and friend reading I needed to do, but very little pleasure reading.  When I do stop at night, I just don’t have the energy to get invested in a book.

Are you guys finding time to read? What am I missing out on?

This is me:

Except I’m nowhere near as cute, and my sleep cycle is malfunctioning. Yesterday (the day I typed this) was non-stop. And can I just say that I am getting really tired of the medical system that treats us like cattle?

It took over 2 hours to get Broken Leg Boy’s x-ray.  The system is so sad, that when the lady FINALLY called BLB back, he hobbled on his cane, his surgery scar and swollen leg so obvious that people were actually wincing as he walked by. But that x-ray gal? She wanted to know if he had an injury or was just there cause his leg spontaneously started hurting.

SERIOUSLY?

BLB, who has way more patience than me, said, “Injury.” Then let her shoot the x-ray. Once she saw it, she’s like, “Oh, you had surgery.” Yeah, I imagine the metal plate and seven pins were a real surprise to her since the cane, swollen leg and pronounced scar didn’t tip her off.

Okay, yeah, I’m being a real witch. Sorry! I promise, I’ll be better by tomorrow (Tuesday) when you all actually read this blog. After all, BLB is steadily improving, I’m getting some writing done whenever I can, and over all, life is good.

Now it’s your turn. Anything you want to gripe about? Share now!

It was cold and rainy here! Here is how Bailey deals with cold weather:

By the fire, on a quilt with a brand new toy. Rough life, Bailey!

Wizard and I went to see Act of Valor Wednesday night. It was the first movie we’ve been out to see since BLB had his accident. The movie was good, more of a guy movie than a girl. But good. We also rented Moneyball. Eh…a lot of hype and I found it mostly boring.

Sunday, I wrote for a while. I used my laptop so Bailey could sit next to me

Today is a long day. We have BLB’s physical therapy and then we have to go get an xray. Tomorrow BLB sees the surgeon again. Keep your fingers crossed! His progress these last two weeks has been amazing. He’s only using a cane now. I suspect he’ll be at this level for a while, but this is still huge progress for him. And me since he can do so much more for himself now.

So how was your weekend?

I’m notoriously stubborn. And I don’t give up easy. But these dragons–they are really testing my commitment to stubbornness.  The day before yesterday, I fought through yet another draft of this opening scene, a scene that simply has to be right. Then I sent it to my critique partner and for the rest of the night, I had a sick feeling in my stomach.

Yesterday morning started out plain sucky.  I forced myself to go to the gym, got on the treadmill and realized I didn’t have my iPod. I had dropped it in the parking lot. Fortunately I found it and it was fine. I got back on the treadmill and pushed myself hard through 3 miles and my thanks was a new blister on my foot.

You get the idea. The day just kept getting worse. Everything single thing I tried to do was a major trial.

Right up until I got an email from my critique partner. She was sending me back the billionth revision of my heroine’s opening scene in the dragons.

She loved it.

I was stunned. Really. I thought it was crap.  And this is why I believe in never giving up. Waling away, taking a break, working on something else to clear your head–those are perfectly acceptable. Giving up is not.

And may I say, that stubbornness is paying off for BLB too. At therapy yesterday, he made some real progress walking with one crutch. This is so important in strengthening the leg. Afterward, we went to Starbucks, and I watched him walk with that one crutch, and I know damn well it hurts, but he just kept going slow and steady with absolute determination. I thought my heart would burst with pride in him.

So do you consider yourself stubborn? Is that a good or bad thing?