Things to Make You Smile

I totally ripped the blog title for today off Kate Hardy's post yesterday.  Thanks Kate!

The reason why is despite a trying week all around, today I get to share with you something I have waited for, for what seems like FOREVER.

Yesterday, the cover for HER LONE COWBOY showed up on Amazon.

I was afraid for this cover for a few reasons.  One, and most of you who regularly read this already know, my hero is disabled and only has one arm.  I hoped beyond hope that my hero on the cover would not show two hands.  Mistakes happen on covers and I admit it did make things an extra challenge for the art department.

Two, I adore this book.  I adore Noah.  I adore Lily.  I am always very invested in my books but sometimes one just stays with you forever.  This is one of those books.  So I was hopin' and wishin' for something really great.

And did the art department ever come through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love it.  I love the colours and the fence and the cowboy on the front with only one arm visible!  I love the tone and the feel and I just feel gushy all over.

I have already e-mailed my editor expressing my pleasure.

Hopefully my UK cover will be just as splendid.And equally one-armed.  :-)

Here's the blurb:

Grouchy Noah was a challenge, but a Noah who started to trust Lily was far more difficult to handle…


Shutting himself off from the world, injured ex-soldier Noah Lamarie plans to lick his wounds in private. For who could love a cowboy who can’t even tie a bale of hay?

Lily Germaine thinks Noah is the most infuriating, stubborn-as-a-mule man she’s ever met. Losing an arm doesn’t mean he has to lose sight of who he is. His courage, strength and loyalty make him one in a million. She just needs to convince him of that!

So Proud of my CP!

Today's post is SHORT because there is one simple thing I have to say and that is go read my critique partner's (Michelle Styles) post at the Pink Heart Society today.

I came away affirmed and inspired - no small task.  And a little lighter in the pocketbook when all is said and done.

It's coming....

It's only 12 more days...until my TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS CONTEST!

I've got a great lineup of authors helping me celebrate this year!  One winner is going to get an AWESOME selection of books, all inside a new tote bag and with a few surprises added in for good measure.

It kicks off on November 30!  The day that also happens to be my deadline, so there should be celebrating all around.  I'm thinking the contest is going to help get me in the holiday spirit right off the bat!

Speaking of deadline - last night I managed to break the 40k mark.  Very good news.  But I was up far too late and will pay for it today!  First things first - a coffee run.

Ticking along

Working on - Doorstep Baby
Listening to - nothing at the mo - husband home, dryer running
Reading - not reading much - the deadline approacheth

Yesterday I got a lot done but not everything I wanted to.  I am now doing laundry today and I desperately need to vacuum.  I did however get the Christmas pud made and also some special cookies for a friend that my husband is hand delivering today.  I also went to fill up the truck, go to the post office, and the grocery store.  I made lasagna and garlic bread for dinner.  And I finished Chapter Nine which is a great relief.  I am getting closer to the end and it always seems to move faster, so I have my fingers crossed for a good couple of writing days.

The stack of magazines on my filing cabinet are starting to taunt me though.  We did not get any subscriptions for 2010.  I'll have all I can manage making it through the Travel and Leisure and National Geographics from this year.  Pitiful.  But when I have a chance to read, I normally pick up a book instead.

Mix it up Monday

Working on: Doorstep Baby
Listening to:  Kids off; Mythbusters in the background
Reading:  Exclusive! 2005 antho.

We were away on the weekend, visiting my family about 5 hours away.  It was fun but manic.  Friday night we dropped off dog at my inlaws, then stopped at Mc Donalds for supper and ate in the truck.  Arrived at my mum's going on nine - just in time to veg for a few minutes and then punt kids into bed.  Saturday morning was breakfast with mum, visit with sister #1 and drop off their Christmas prezzies, run into town and stop in to see family friend/go to WalMart/have lunch.  Later in the afternoon it was drop off prezzies to sister #2, then back to my mum's for supper. After the kids went to bed, the dh and I went back to sister #2's for a few games of Canasta and a lot of laughs.  Sunday morning was up for breakfast and on the road, lunch and a visit with the inlaws, load up the dog (who had a blast at what we call "nanny camp") and drive home, arriving at 5:30.

BUT my Christmas presents for family are all delivered.  Hooray!

Today it is back to work with a vengeance.  The original plan was to mix up the Christmas pudding yesterday but since we were away, now that has been moved to today.  The kids are off for a PD day and so we will be mixing and stirring and making wishes. 

My Christmas pudding recipe came my way courtesy of my critique partner, Michelle Styles.  She also gave me my favourite rice pudding recipe. 

Now - the deadline calleth, so I'm off.

Freebie Friday

It's Freebie Friday again over at eharlequin.  This week a brand new Romance line author has the featured book - Nina Harrington with ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID!

I'm going to put in my order - how 'bout you?

In other news - I'm going to finish chapter nine today and I have to run an errand and finish the laundry.  All by 2:30.  There is never a dull moment.

Oh and last night I felt like I was playing Monopoly and landed on Chance.  There was a tax error in our favour and we got to collect.  I hadn't checked our accounts all week so when the notification came, I had to see if it was really true!  Was there a deposit made?  And yes!  There was!  I am still glowing from it.  We got to pay off a few things that I was planning on paying off with royalties when they arrive and now I can use that money elsewhere (hello Christmas and winter heating bills).   

I think I might have even felt glee when I clicked the mouse and realized those bills are paid in full.  It's a GREAT feeling.

Happy Friday.

Long Live the Agent?

Hey - I'm carrying on with the "OMG it's a release month, I must blog everywhere" thing and I'm over at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs today talking about my mother in law's fruitcake.  :-)

This article was brought to my notice via twitter yesterday.  There have been some comments made in various places about the relevancy of agents in the changing publishing market and some people being of the opinion that they are going the way of the dodo.

I don't think everyone HAS to have an agent, but I don't think agents are going anywhere and nor should they.  I certainly didn't have to have one to sell; I sold my first eleven novels without an agent.  Could I continue selling?  Probably. 

That doesn't mean agents don't have an important place in the industry - and of course you're getting this from an author's point of view so what I'm going to say is obviously biased in that direction.

I have always believed that successful people are successful because of several factors.  In simplest terms, I think success happens when preparation meets opportunity.  But if I look around myself at those authors that are most successful, I see that they surround themselves with the right people.

I'm not going to write a big long dissertation about it, I'm on a deadline.  But I will say that I am not an agent, or a publicist, or an editor, or an artist, or in marketing.  I'm an author.  I'm one member of a larger team whose members all play a part in my success.  Sure, I can learn lots about the business as I go along, and in fact I should, but my main job is writing books.  It is what I do.  It's my agent's job to negotiate contracts and help me make professional decisions - and a good agent is going to do that better than I could do it myself.  Not only that, my agent is my advocate and that is SO important.  My editor edits my books, sees problems, suggests solutions, and gets my book ready for the market.  I can't do her job better than she can.  I sure as hell can't navigate the waters of marketing and publicity as well as someone who does that for their JOB.  And why would I want to?  All of that takes time away from MY job, which is writing books.

With the face of  "traditional" publishing changing every day, I would argue the opposite, actually.  We need agents more than ever.  We especially need good agents with the foresight to see what developments will work to their client's advantage and which ones to avoid.  A number of things are changing with how publishers are doing business.  Let the people in the biz look after the biz.  Writers write.
Who do you want navigating those waters?  You?  Or someone with the expertise to look out for your best interests? 

Don't get rid of agents.  Just surround yourself with good people.