Monday, May 10, 2010
Tuesday Update From The RWR Newsroom
Good morning, I’m Bo’sun Terrio and these are the stories rocking the boat this Tuesday in May.
There will be less twang and more Tink at the RWA National Conference this year. With the worst flooding to hit middle Tennessee and the surrounding areas in fifty years, the original destination hotel, Gaylord Opryland, took a substantial hit, rendering the facility unable to host the annual celebration. Drying vibes go out to all affected and there is hope RWA will fit Music City into the schedule for a future conference.
The surprise flood meant redirecting two thousand romance writers, which looked like a daunting task to all. But RWA pulled off what some might call the miracle of 2010, landing in the Greatest Place on Earth - Disney World. In July. Heh.
The new site is the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort and if the pictures on the website are any indication, this could result in embarrassing pictures of inebriated Romance writers riding a large swan twirling their vajazzled boostiers over their heads. However, my goal is to keep Chance off the roof so we’ll see how it goes.
May isn’t just Mom’s Month, it’s also the month for auctions around Romanceland. First we have the big one, Brenda Novak’s annual auction for Diabetes Research. Everything and anything relating to Romance, be you a reader, a writer, or both, is available in this auction. From ARCs to signed books to critiques to Zumba lessons. *pauses and holds earplug* Our crack research department has not been able to confirm the Zumba lessons, but we’re still checking.
Loosen up those purse strings and get yourself something nice. I can’t promise a Vibrating Cutlass, but we have plenty of those over here anyway.
Another auction worth checking out is the DO THE WRITE THING FOR NASHVILLE auction. With high water comes great loss and the writing community is reaching out to lend their support. Everyone is stepping up for this one. Editors and agents aren’t just giving critiques or putting up a couple hours of their time to read your submission, they’re offering themselves for a lunch meeting and business advice. *taps earplug again* What do you mean they’re running off? All of them? Damn it.
Looks like that’s all we have time for on this episode. Tune in again next month when we’ll bring you up to date on the latest happenings in the world of Romance. May your seas be calm and your Hooha Glittery, goodnight.
*smiles into camera, waiting for screen to go black* Hello. *still smiling* Someone needs to cut the camera. Oh hell. Looks like we’re going to keep rolling. Any other news out there to report? Record writing sessions? Incriminating pictures from RT? Sudden labor pains? Anything?!
There will be less twang and more Tink at the RWA National Conference this year. With the worst flooding to hit middle Tennessee and the surrounding areas in fifty years, the original destination hotel, Gaylord Opryland, took a substantial hit, rendering the facility unable to host the annual celebration. Drying vibes go out to all affected and there is hope RWA will fit Music City into the schedule for a future conference.The surprise flood meant redirecting two thousand romance writers, which looked like a daunting task to all. But RWA pulled off what some might call the miracle of 2010, landing in the Greatest Place on Earth - Disney World. In July. Heh.
The new site is the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort and if the pictures on the website are any indication, this could result in embarrassing pictures of inebriated Romance writers riding a large swan twirling their vajazzled boostiers over their heads. However, my goal is to keep Chance off the roof so we’ll see how it goes.May isn’t just Mom’s Month, it’s also the month for auctions around Romanceland. First we have the big one, Brenda Novak’s annual auction for Diabetes Research. Everything and anything relating to Romance, be you a reader, a writer, or both, is available in this auction. From ARCs to signed books to critiques to Zumba lessons. *pauses and holds earplug* Our crack research department has not been able to confirm the Zumba lessons, but we’re still checking.
Loosen up those purse strings and get yourself something nice. I can’t promise a Vibrating Cutlass, but we have plenty of those over here anyway.
Another auction worth checking out is the DO THE WRITE THING FOR NASHVILLE auction. With high water comes great loss and the writing community is reaching out to lend their support. Everyone is stepping up for this one. Editors and agents aren’t just giving critiques or putting up a couple hours of their time to read your submission, they’re offering themselves for a lunch meeting and business advice. *taps earplug again* What do you mean they’re running off? All of them? Damn it.
Looks like that’s all we have time for on this episode. Tune in again next month when we’ll bring you up to date on the latest happenings in the world of Romance. May your seas be calm and your Hooha Glittery, goodnight.
*smiles into camera, waiting for screen to go black* Hello. *still smiling* Someone needs to cut the camera. Oh hell. Looks like we’re going to keep rolling. Any other news out there to report? Record writing sessions? Incriminating pictures from RT? Sudden labor pains? Anything?!
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61 comments:
Me? On the roof?
I can fly! I can fly!
Let's talk about gettin' the Bo'sun onto her very first Disney ride! Mouse ears with a pierced ear, scarf and pirate hat! I will take photos!
And the most incriminatin' photos from RT that I have is Jane, wearin' a lampshade on her head.
Damn, I shouldna' sent those photos to the Bo'sun. The cavemen were so...nice.
News...hmmmm. Submissions packages going out... Signed up for a revision class that looks like it will be h*ll on earth...
Oh! Some nice news...next year RT is goin' ta be in Los Angeles! I don't have to fly!
I hope we get a room in the Dolphin, Jane says it is all nautical themed. And keep that bedazzler awa from my bustier, and everything else!
;)
Awesome blog, Ter, I love the news, and thanks for catching us up! The pics of the Disney resort look awesome!
Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes yesterday! Yesterday was a busy, sucky day, so I'm taking the morning off to go shopping with my gift-card presents (woo hoo!), and the hubs is taking me out to dinner tonight, and it's going to be all-around fun.
Hmmm... news....
No sudden labor pains *grumble grumble*.
But... I placed fourth in the Merritt Contest. Not great, but I managed a full request from an editor at Berkley over it. So I can't complain. :)
Besides that, nothing too new. Now if those labor pains would just start....
All those going to Nationals, have fun! Ride the Aerosmith roller coaster at MGM for me. I love that ride.
Marn! That's GREAT news. They editor judges seem to be requesting fewer manuscripts lately, so it's awesome that yours was requested. Fingers crossed for you.
It's not news, but I CAN report I'm massively jealous of everyone meeting at RWA. LOL And in the land of my birth no less! (I'm so old I was born before Disneyworld was there.)
What other news. . .oh yeah, I decided yesterday to quit writing, but then I decided to give it another go. LOL And I sent my Regency historical to my agent to review so hopefully she'll want to send that out.
That's it for now. Bo'sun, back to you!
Oh, I do have those pics of you with the Hired Hotties. BTW, don't pass around that some people pay for their Hotties or we'll lose this crew pretty damn quick.
We are going to rock the revision class. The good thing is, it's spread over six weeks so no rush through.
Marn - Sorry the little bugger isn't clamoring to get out just yet. I'd recommend getting all the rest you can while you can. My water broke while I was napping so try that. :)
That's great about the request. And 4th is nothing to sneeze at either. Congrats and keep us posted. On all fronts.
Hal - Not sure why I went out of order there. Happy Birthday Week! Score on the gift cards and the dinner out. Not having to pay or cook or clean is like the birthday trifecta!
Thanks for the update, Donna. I'll be sure to ride an extra time for you. Keep us posted on new developments on that Regency. It's about time your work was unleashed on the publishing world.
It’s about time your work was unleashed on the publishing world.
"If only Bo'sun were in charge," DRD answered with a wistful tone in her voice.
LOL
I'm sorry, I've really got nothing. No labor pains, no incriminating photos, no record writing sessions...
Except...there was that discussion over the weekend about Betty White's muffin.
And the dance last night on DWTS between Erin and Maks was crazy! *LOL* Holy crap, to fly off the stage and have one leg wrapped around his head and he catches you? OMG!
I wouldn't mind wrapping a leg around Maks' neck.
Just sayin'...
And she's TALL. Did you see that backbend thing she did next? Crazy.
Anyone who hasn't seen Betty talk about her muffin must go to Hulu and check it out. Hysterical.
As obnoxious as I find Maks, I'm starting to think it wouldn't be an awful thing to have a leg wrapped around his head either. *LOL*
I don't know. If I had my leg wrapped around his head, I imagine it wouldn't be long before I was doing the backbend myself. I'm still more impressed about flying off a stage and not kicking him in the head and him not staggering or anything. It totally worked. *LOL*
I knew you'd come around to team Maks.
Donna - Someday I will be. And then look out. LOL!
Hmmmm, might be time to start watching Dancinc with the Stars.
I usually opt out until the field has been culled quite a bit.
Oh, did I ever share that I finaled with an erotic poem in the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival? They didn't place them in any particular order, but everyone who finaled had their work read aloud at the festival, turned into performance art.... Too bad I couldn't go, might have been really interesting!
Congrats, Marnee!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNQ_50VFzL8
There's some dude sitting next to me today so I can't play as much as normal. And definitely can't watch that video right now. LOL!
Congrats on the poem, Chance. Since I've read that poem I'm thinking that performance art must have really been something.
Got to head out to get this crack news staff some snacks and sodas. I shall return. Anyone have any new book news? What new release are you dying to get your hands on?
I'm jonesing for the new Kleypas and James books coming out soon.
Yay, Marn! Congrats on the contest place and on the request. Great news!
I'm blogging about summer reads this week, so I'll just say there's a baker's dozen of books on my list for May 25-June 1, chief among them new books by Tessa Dare and Sara Lindsey and the debut novel of Margaret Rowe.
Wow that DWTS clip is unbelievable!
Nothing of import to report... I did stay at the Dolphin and Swan, though - awesome sheets! You're gonna enjoy yourself, Ter.
Congrats, Marnee. Although I'm sure in the very near future you can get 3 or 4 publishing houses wanting to sign you and the labor pains will rank higher on your priority list! Good luck with that. I have no tricks. They had to induce me both times which is kind of ironic cause now the two of them just can't wait to move on to the next best thing.
Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas!!!!! I did something really stupid and pre-ordered it at Amazon with the free super shipping. Now it says it won't be here until June 8th! ARGH!!!! I should have just waited and gone to Target - they always have it. That's what I get for making rash decisions late at night after reading a really awesome excerpt.
No news from me.
"Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas!!!!! I did something really stupid and pre-ordered it at Amazon with the free super shipping. Now it says it won’t be here until June 8th! ARGH!!!!"
Irish, can you cancel the order?
Congrats, Marnee! Wow, that is very exciting! Best of luck to you!
I about jumped out of my chair last night watching that Argentine Tango of Maks and Erin. Such a cool set up with her being afraid to jump. Thanks for posting the clip, Hellie! So worth watching again.
My only news is the long overdue removal of my self-published novel. I'm doing a do-over with thoughts to revise for sequels. Also, did a do-over for my pen name. Revised my blog and just a lot of "cleaning house" (not the real cleaning house kind of course!) LOL!
Oh, and Happy Belated Birthday, Hal!!! Sounds like you've got a fun day planned.
Congrats on placing with your poem, Chance! Sorry I missed that comment. :)
Donna, I think there should be a "national quit writing day" so we can get it out of our system and start in again the next day! LOL Good luck with your Regency historical! :)
I put two other books on the order that were at like half their original price. I think if I cancel the order the prices don't hold. I'm not sure, Sin. Just cancelling it would make sense wouldn't it?!
I did it as an experiment. I kept hearing people say that they ordered from Amazon and got their books before release day. So, I ordered MBM by Lisa and 2 others that have been out for about a month already figuring they would ship it out sooner. I think what is screwing me is the free super saving shipping. They probably send it by donkey or something.
I've decided to use it as my reward for getting through the 2 weeks prior (bridal shower at my house, graduation, graduation party at my house and wedding)!
Wow, Chance, you've got all sorts of stuff happening these days! Congrats.
Thanks for entertaining yourselves there for a bit. There is now enough soda in this place to sink the damn ship and if they drink it all in a week, they're just shit out of luck.
Janga - I know there are a ton of reads on the way, but I wondered about that one. The one you'd knock your sister into the ditch for. LOL! And how did I not realize Tessa's and Sara's were out already? I had them both in July in my mind. And how the hell did it get to be June already?!?!
Irish - I preordered Maggie's on Amazon and got it almost a week after it was released. Good thing I was reading something else before it. The timing ended up working out quite well.
Please tell me the shower and graduation and wedding are not all the same person. LOL! (Years ago that all happened for my ex-SIL in the same month, so I have to ask.)
Sin - Didn't you mention your story is churning in your head again? And you gals have been sticking to the writing at the library thing, which is good news to declare.
Melissa - Sometimes you get that urged to just organize everything at once, huh? So, what can you tell us about the revision plans? And sequals? Is Chance rubbing off on you? LOL!
No cleaning house. Of course not. Though I had kiddo run the sweeper the other night. Didn't really make a dent in what needs to be done.
I think I quit writing so many times during college that I got that all out of my system. Then again, when I get to revisions I may change my mind and declare writing a part of my past. LOL! We'll have to wait and see.
I just got back from grocery shopping, and getting a pep talk from my BFF -- which I needed, because I was thinking of quitting writing again today! (She's gonna love my post tomorrow. LOL)
I'm looking forward to Toni Blake's new book on the 25th -- although last year's "One Reckless Summer" almost melted my skin off. LOL I hope this one will continue the tradition! I might have to re-read ORS. . .
No not all the same, Ter. My niece is getting married so the shower and wedding are hers and the graduation is my daughter (from grammar school).
We've been debating the whole graduation vs. promotion thing here for months. When/where I went to school you graduated from grammar school and you graduated from high school. Now they get promoted into high school and graduate from there. I guess it is a family/regional thing cause I'm hearing lots of people tell me that graduating 8th grade was really no big deal. Oh well, it is going to be a big deal here in about 2 weeks and I'm nowhere near ready for it all!!!!
Man, I forgot about Toni Blake's new one, too. There are so many coming out on the 25th - I have to go back and check my list. I know I'm going to be pleasantly surprised. I love when I forget and then go to the store and there's a book I've been waiting forever for. That happens very rarely cause I'm usually stalking sites and grabbing every excerpt and tidbit I can before the big day.
My kiddo is graduating from 5th grade in the middle of June. Next year she' moves up to the Middle School and I'm trying to figure out how the heck I have a child old enough for that.
I went to Catholic school and we graduated from 8th grade before we jumped to the HS for 9th. But we didn't have caps & gowns or anything fancy like that.
Can you believe I still haven't read ONE RECKLESS SUMMER? I'm so far behind. But I'm on a historicals kick again, which I think is good to keep me from freaking about reading other really good contemporaries while trying to write my POS draft. LOL!
Melissa, I think maybe I need a daily "I'm quitting writing" thing, something that's part of the routine, like taking my BP medicine, or brushing my teeth -- THEN I can get started on my writing for the day. LOL Oh, I left a post on your blog. :)
Irish, I was at Target yesterday and thought I'd splurge on some of the books, since they are 25% off -- and the place had been picked clean! LOL I was hoping for some good surprises, but I couldn't find anything! Waaaah! LOL
Bo'sun, I try to avoid whichever genre I'm trying to write too, but I haven't done so well with that lately (which may be why I'm having all this writing wangst -- LOL).
I was up til 3 a.m. today reading "Sugar Daddy" by Lisa Kleypas, and I was PISSED when I finished because I wasn't a fan of Gage (obviously! LOL) Now I have to go get "Blue-Eyed Devil"!
Poor Donna. I wasn't a fan (at all) of Gage either. I remember listening to it in my car, thinking, "How in the f*$* is Lisa Kleypas going to save this because I know she has Gage in mind as the hero?" I absolutely couldn't believe I liked him at the end. It was crazy.
Blue Eyed Devil is...*swoons*
Hellie, I think that's my problem -- Gage is a decent guy, and he DID make her, um. . ."see God". So I understand why she liked him. :)
It's just the whole book she's in love with Hardy, and then he comes back and acts less noble than he is portrayed in the whole rest of the book--so it didn't sit right with me. Oh well. LOL
Donna - I was pissed too because I adored Hardy, but he still left her behind and wasn't perfect and once you read BLUE EYED DEVIL, you won't mind anymore at all. But I also really liked Gage. Which makes me weird, but that's alright.
You're not weird at all -- I think I'm weird. I almost ALWAYS want them to pick the WRONG one! I wanted Christine to pick the Phantom, not Raoul. When I watched Mighty Mouse cartoons when I was little, I was always hoping he wouldn't get there in time so the villain would get to keep the girl. LOL
Clearly I have issues. LOL
Donna! You rooted against Mighty Mouse? You demon!
MM was my invisible companion as a child... And you rooted against him?
I may never speak to you again!
I remember Mighty Mouse. But only in re-runs.
*ducks and runs*
You didn't root against Dudley Dooright too, did you Donna?
Will wait to watch amazing clip until home with larger screen and music I can turn up... I did see just a smidge of it last night when I switched over to Castle...
Donna, I wasn't 100% happy with her making Hardy "use" her to get back at Gage, because it wasn't in keeping with his character up until then. At least not how I saw his character. I thought she could have done it without smirching Hardy's character. Their lives had clearly moved on to different things. You didn't need to make him an asshole to make Gage look like the choice. I could have lived with a Sweet Home Alabama type thing. *LOL* Both good choices.
Totally on board with picking the Phantom. *LOL*
I'm so cracking up about Mighty Mouse. Who wouldn't want the "man" if you were going to be rescued by a mouse?
Donna, yes, I think that a daily "I quit" makes perfect sense. That probably why I loved your HOA. LOL You know, I'm always trying to trick myself into getting out of my own way. *sigh* Thanks for the comment on my blog. :)
Sometimes you get that urged to just organize everything at once, huh? So, what can you tell us about the revision plans? And sequals? Is Chance rubbing off on you? LOL!
Terri, yep, all or nothing. :) I'm sure a big part of my "writing spring cleaning" is from having had a very short break from school (back again tomorrow!) that only gives me enough time to look at what I have written (fresh eyes) and think about where I'd go with it (if I had time).
I'd go with sequels - - as many as Chance if I could only write fast enough! LOL Actually, it seems like I've been writing a sequel without really knowing it. LOL
I've been fighting it all the way. Sequels open up a can of worms with limiting what can come later if you don't say it in the first book or mean changes to the first. Heck, I have a hard enough time with that same domino effect problem within one book!
Okay, excuse the long post, but I kept getting this half formed idea for my "happy ending" for my stand alone and unrelated WIP ghost story that would actually link it to this first book. I thought about it and dropped it because I'd have to change "such and such" of the first. But the growing chain of "what ifs?" wouldn't shut up. (Big question(s): Could I really change the rules of my fantasy world?) It's amazing how long I kept telling myself I couldn't do that. LOL
But I will anyway. Now, I don't know how the heck this will affect when I'll ever get around to submitting a series. I think I'd have to know I wasn't going to want to change something big!
Hellie -- you said EXACTLY what I was thinking about Hardy -- it wasn't in character for him to use her, not with all the other things he'd done FOR her (including leaving her alone when they both clearly wanted something else). So that's what made me mad, that she'd changed who he was to suit the plot. I mean, if Liberty had just built him up to mythic proportions in her mind over the years, it would be different - but that wasn't the case.
And guess I better be careful when I besmirch Mighty Mouse. LOL Chance, I didn't root AGAINST him. I was just hoping the villain would get the girl for a change. That's all! :)
Bo'sun, I think I left Dudley Dooright alone. LOL
See, I didn't like what Hardy had become but I understood that the years between when he left her and when he found her again had changed him. He couldn't be that perfect young guy at that point.
Melissa - I read your blog but didn't get a chance to comment yet. Sounds like you have very good and lofty plans in the works. And I can see where making changes of that nature (ie: changing the entire world!) would be daunting. But I'm one of those who needs change now and then and it sounds like you're having one of those phases.
I say go for it and keep us posted. I'm guessing you're not taking the summer off from school?
And see, I didn't like Gage because he'd been so nasty to her -- NASTY -- but then she comes over and gives him Tylenol and makes chicken soup and all of a sudden he thinks she's great. LOL
The most important thing -- how REAL these characters feel, and not just to me. There wouldn't be anything to discuss if she hadn't managed to make the characters seem like people, not characters. That is skillful. And I want to do that. :)
Not anything against her historicals--which people can discuss years on end--but I think it's the POV she used in these particular books which makes the characters feel so much more personal, so alive. Because we were in Liberty's POV, we *loathed* Gage as much as she did. *LOL* And for very real reasons. I think if there had been more than one POV, it would have been too easy to show Gage's reasons for being a dickhead, and then it wouldn't have been such a big deal to like him.
Nope, I'm pretty much full time with classes for the summer.
I hate not having time for these "lofty plans" but I've been telling myself that the "secret" of being able to be a writer is to not have to write for a living. It's like, I thought my humanities classes would help with my writing, but who has the energy to write all those essays and papers AND think to write? Science is better. Then I can write. :)
Excellent point, Hellie. POV is such a powerful tool.
Which I should be using, right this very minute, instead of spewing random nothings every few seconds! LOL
You are not spewing! This is a great convo and we're talking about an awesome writer we'd like to emulate. That's good for the writing.
I usually like to get in the guy's POV, but with Lisa's books, I didn't mind not having that perspective. Thankfully, even Lisa says her first books were horrible. So there's hope for all of us yet. LOL!
Melissa - When I was still in school, I just couldn't do it. I tried and I beat myself up, but I had to let the writing slide. There are limits to what we can do and I definitely know now I need to be able to focus on the writing without a lot of distractions.
The good thing is, the writing will be there when you're done and after a bit of a break, you'll be ready to dive in and there will be no stopping you then.
Melissa - It's your world, change it. Play with it. I swear, sometimes I'm totally convinced whatever creative being is out there typing away on some celestial typewriter...they are changing things all the time!
OK, Donna...not so much against the mouse but for the guy. OK. No dissing MM... He's still with me, just morphed a bit. My guardian spirit, don'tcha know.
Chance, yes, not AGAINST the mouse. Just a little more FOR the villain. Which is bizarre, since my heroes are always charming, witty, never villainous. Mmmm. I should check my family tree again -- I must be at least 1/4 contrarian. LOL
Bo'sun -- I like having the hero's POV too -- although, again, like the contrarian I am -- LOL -- the last two books have been 1st POV of the heroine. It's fun to do, but it's also a little more work to make sure the other characters' personalities come through.
Melissa -- I think you mentioned the HOA up there. Put it to work for you! LOL That's what it's there for!
Thankfully, even Lisa says her first books were horrible. So there’s hope for all of us yet. LOL!
I'm thinking of "do overs" today, and I remember reading what I think was one of her first books (still great) and then reading the re-issue that was absolutely awesome! She'd changed all kinds of things to make it richer. I guess she was glad for a "do over," too. :)
It’s your world, change it.
Chance, I'm going to print that out in big letters and post it above my computer. :)
I love do-over's. And "Ally Ally Oxen Free's", but haven't had a reason to use that in a while. :)
Look at Chancey being all ispiring and wise-like.
That's me, all inspirin' like...
OK, watched the tango. Wow! Now, that was a tango I could recognize! Usually the guss 'em up so much, it's impossible to figure out what they are dancing!
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