Books To Be Bought

For every holiday, I usually get a gift card for Barnes & Noble or Amazon. (What can I say? Everyone seems to know what I like!) So, today, instead of doing revisions, I've picked out a few books I might get with my new gift card I hope to get for my birthday in just over a month (you know, the big 4-0!):

These 2  are possible buys. They sound interesting.

 

These 2 are definites since Cat is my friend and conference roomie...

 And Laura is my favorite suspense author!

 

Lies, Matt Damon And The Deal With Myself

One of my FANTABULOUS CPs gave me back chapters 1-5 of Tell Me No Lies quite a while ago. I am still working on her suggestions and my own tweaks. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE already because the necessary changes aren't earth-shatteringly difficult.

AND...

If you've been following me for any amount of time you know that my favorite actor is Matt Damon. Tomorrow the latest movie with him, Contagion, comes out. I have money left on a gift card from a generous friend for the theater. I specifically held onto this card so I could see this movie on its opening weekend.

SO...

I made a deal with myself that I will not go see the movie until my revisions for chapters 1-5 are completed.

Tuesday Stuff

Well, my part time job will be ending between now and the end of the month. While I'm sad about that, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work there for as long as I have. I'm already scheduled to be a substitute teacher so I can go back to doing that, but of course I'd rather get out of it. I'm spending more time each day now looking for a job when I really wish I could be spending that time on my writing.

Tomorrow marks 10 weeks since I sent my requested manuscript to the editor. I'm really trying not to think about it. Heaven knows I've got enough to think about!

I did manage to get my butt in gear and start back on the revisions (from 1 of my CPs) for Tell Me No Lies. I swear the revisions (so far- in the 1st 5 chapters) aren't earth-shatteringly difficult so I really should be done with them soon. But I REALLY, REALLY want to be done with it all by October so I can focus on the current works in progress. (Of course, if an agent or editor has some other plan in mind for me, that would totally be okay!).

Speaking of an agent, I submitted a query to an agent after she requested them on Twitter. The response time is 2-4 weeks. It's only been 1. I don't spend a lot of time searching for agents because technically I don't need one to submit and sell to Harlequin, but since this woman requested them and I like her, I thought, "Why not?" Plus, I plan to make writing my career and it will be wonderful to have someone else to discuss that with.

I'm now reading The King of Lies by John Hart. I LOVE this guy's writing! I have only read 1 of his books so far, but I have 3 of his 4 (the newest just came out in hardback). I bought the first one I read, Down River, on a whim with a gift card. I actually kept looking at it, putting it back on the shelf, looking at it, putting it back. I went to shop in the romance section and all I could think about was this book so I went back and got it.

Oooh! I almost forgot! Next Tuesday is the start of the Mills & Boon New Voices Contest! I can't wait! I'm sure I'll blog about that in the next couple of days too so stay tuned....

Happy Labor Day!

Did you do any labor today?

I went to the gym, watered plants, finished Jill Shalvis's Simply Irresistible (loved it, as I love all of her books!), and picked out another book to start tonight after dinner and before the Season Finale of The Glades.

Writing work? There's always tomorrow....

Writer Contests

Mills & Boon is having their New Voices Contest starting 9/13. For more details, visit www.romanceisnotdead.com

Ruby Slippered Sisterhood is also having a contest on their blog toward the end of the month. For more details, visit www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com

I'm entering both. How about you?

Happy September!

September 13th is the birthday of my favorite fictional character, Jason Bourne! I'm thinking I might celebrate somehow. I'll keep you updated. (He'd be 41, by the way.)

RWA National has elections. I take my time and read through all the information for the candidates. I don't make it a popularity contest. A fellow Celtic Heart, Kerri Nelson, is up for Chapter Liaison. Consider voting for her if you think she sounds like the right candidate!

I'm 5 weeks into a part-time receptionist job, which has relieved some of my financial difficulties and has allowed me time to work on my books. I'm now going to start looking again for another part-time job or a completely different full-time job. If I can avoid going back to substitute teaching, I'd be so much happier.

9 weeks since I submitted my full manuscript that was requested. I know the publishing world is traditionally slow, but it doesn't make the waiting any easier. I'm about ready to start pulling out my hair...one strand at a time. To keep myself from doing that I'll be hard at work on revisions this month for 2 different manuscripts.

10 weeks into my diet and I'm down exactly 15lbs. I'm still hitting the gym several times a week (between 9 &13 classes a week). The big motivation to keep going is how much better I feel, how my clothes are too big and how much my physical appearance has changed, at least to me.

My twitter fascination hasn't become an obsession yet. It's been interesting, though, because I'm following several editors and agents. It's neat to see a bit into their lives and personalities. I'm sure I'll add more to my current list of 10. I'm @AlexaBourne if you want to follow me!

Plans are coming along for my 40th birthday party in October. I'll keep you updated!

September is also the start of the Mills & Boon New Voices Contest! This is the 2nd year for the contest. I'll be entering again, this time with a romantic suspense manuscript. To find out more about the contest, visit the New Voices website. Basically people post their 1st chapters and anyone who wants to can comment. I'll be blogging about my experience, no doubt!

Happy Release Day!

Happy Release Day to my favorite romantic suspense author, Laura Griffin! Her latest book, SNAPPED, is out now. It's book #4 in her Tracers series. It's at the head of my To Be Bought pile. Don't miss it!