Monday, Monday

Scenes from St. Augustine -- I love this photo. I took this close to dusk, sitting on the bay front in front of the Castillo while listening to our ghost tour guide.

We made major progress on the office this weekend, and I'm wiped out. This week's plan:

1) Minimum 7K on Troy Lee and Angel (now titled Fall Into Me -- I love that title).
2) Paint the bathroom.
3) Install the wainscot in the bathroom.
4) Clear the master bedroom . . . and paint.
5) Take Monster #1 to tennis lesson.
6) I'm sure there's lots more . . . but my brain doesn't want to work this morning

Here's my updated progress on Fall Into Me:

62,076 / 80,000 (76.0%)

It's going really well. I figure 40 more pages . . . about 2 more weeks . . .

What projects, writing or non-writing, are on your agenda right now?

And I Can Say I Knew Them When . . .

	Claire is tired of pretending to be polite, docile...human. She wants to unleash the animal inside her, and she wants to do it with a man who can really handle her. Then she meets Lars, a dangerous, sexy alpha, in a smoky bar. They share some moonshine, a potent shifter aphrodisiac, and have blisteringly hot sex. Their one night of intoxicated passion leaves her wanting more, but Lars isn't interested in a woman who can only let loose while under the influence. Claire must then decide whether she's ready--and willing--to truly embrace her wild side.
Read an Excerpt Online for Free

Go check it out!

Wait. Is It Really Almost July?!

Scenes from St. Augustine -- The World Famous Love Tree! In Romancelandia, it would be the lurrrrve tree. It stands in front of the Love Tree Cafe (which contains an antique shop -- be still, my beating heart!) and right next to the Tolomato Cemetery (the haunted one that contains the remains of the exploding bishop. I kid you not -- he exploded, supposedly during his funeral.) Anyway, the Love Tree has a palm tree growing out of an oak. Kiss someone beneath it, you're stuck with them for life. Yes, the DH is doomed.

Wow, where did June go?! Well, yes, I know where the first week went -- you've been looking at photos of it for weeks. Actually, June's been pretty productive. The living room renovations are about 50% complete (I'm waiting on my sliding glass doors). The master bath is coming along nicely (I painted the ceiling and primed the walls yesterday). I've written 26,589 words on Something More in the last fourteen days. I completed one graduate course and started another one. Hearts Awakened is through final line edits.

July is going to be terribly busy. We need to finish the master bath, the master bedroom and my office before we re-tackle the living area and kitchen. (But we are almost finished! I can't wait. I want my life back!) I have to complete SM and give it a good editing before I turn it in. I have print galleys due on Hold On to Me. I'm teaching an online writing class through Wine Country Romance Writers. I need to get ready to write the next book (I'm in the thinking stages). I'll be embroiled in EDUC 6672 and I have to prepare for the coming school year.

But busy is good. Busy is just . . . me. :-)

Thursday Thirteen -- Things to Do In St. Augustine

Scenes from St. Augustine -- Reenactors atop the Castillo de San Marco, preparing to fire the cannons.

1) Visit the Castillo de San Marco. If you go on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, they fire the cannons, which is fun and educational.
2) Go to the beach. We prefer Vilano, but St. Augustine Beach out on Anastasia Island is nice too.
3) Eat lunch at the Spanish Bakery on St. George Street. (This is not to be missed!)
4) Visit the Mission of La Leche. Cool, quiet, peaceful, a great place to reflect.
5) Tour the Fountain of Youth. Yes, it's a little hokey, but the fourteen acres of grounds are gorgeous and you can feed the squirrels.
6) Walk the historic district. Beautiful atmosphere, great shopping.
7) Tour the San Sebastian Winery. Really interesting (even the Monsters enjoyed it) and the gift shop is great.
8) Listen to live music in the square.
9) Visit art galleries (if it's First Friday, they're all open in the evening too).
10) Walk the bay front.
11) Climb the lighthouse!
12) Eat at the Santa Maria and feed the fish and birds while you eat. Although I was nervous at first b/c the building is pretty old and the table felt less than clean, the experience and the food were fabulous!
13) Take a ghost tour. We did three -- one trolley, one carriage, one walking. All were fantastic, all met a different need. If you must choose one, the walking tour is fabulous.

I could go on and on and on (as I'm pretty sure you've noticed I'm in love with this city, always have been), but maybe I'll save that for another day. :-)

Check It Out!

Look at #10! (I've been knocked off by a new release already, but hey . . . I was there, baby!)

What You Need

Scenes from St. Augustine -- St. George Street. Lots of historic buidings, closed to auto traffic, lots of great shopping and restaurants, not to mention a fun place to just walk, soak in the atmosphere and people watch.

I spent the evening at Mary's last night. Ever not realize you really need something until afterward? We talked, looked at her pictures from England, laughed, talked some more. I really needed to spend time with her! I'd smiled and laughed until my face actually hurt, but it felt great.

Jamie joined us for a few minutes after the UGA College World Series game and I was able to pick his brain about accident reconstruction, which I need for Troy Lee's book. Mary inadvertently gave me an idea for a book, one I'd toyed with while I'd played with the concept of a cold case trilogy, but I think it might be too close to the book I want to work on this fall.

On the writing front . . . made a little over my 1000 words yesterday, but it was painful. At least I'm producing. I'm hoping once I hit the next emotional/plot high point, my speed will pick back up. Current word count: 54,028 out of a targeted 80,000.

Pet Peeve #1

Scenes from St. Augustine -- Potter's Wax Museum. I've never wanted to do this one, but the DH picked it as one activity for us. It was actually kind of fun, and I was tickled to see the Seinfeld crew there. (Is it just me, or does Elaine look like some demonically possessed Barbie doll?)

Seinfeld was one of my favorite shows, because even though it was a show about "nothing," it really was a show about characters. For the most part, you could count on the characters to stay, well, in character.

Another of my favorites, when I had time to watch, was Law and Order. I like the police procedural, but even better was the tiny nuggets we gleaned about the characters over several seasons. (And I love how they used New York the setting as a character.) Even with minor inconsistencies (Does Cragen have chidren or not?), the characters remained themselves.

One of my pet peeves in movie, television and book series is characters who go wildly out of, well, character. For example, I loved The Mummy with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Wiesz. The second was a wild rolic, but left me with a niggling sense of dissatisfaction I didn't figure out until I'd watched it the second time. It was Evie and her character changes. Now, I'm sure living ten years with a swashbuckler would alter a shy, slightly goofy librarian, but she turns into a Lara Croft-wannabe? I don't think so. (Yeah, yeah, I know . . . she's channeling the reincarnated Egyptian Lara Croft, but please.) It bothers me enough that I'm not sure I want to see the third Mummy movie, due out in August (although I know I'll end up seeing it).

So . . . what's your number one pet peeve as a reader/viewer?

**

On a side note, yesterday's 1000 words was like pulling teeth. I expect today will be the same. I hope this breaks soon . . .

Sunday Check In

Scenes from St. Augustine: The bay front historic district at dusk, from the vantage of the Castillo de San Marco.

Check it out! My progress on Something More since June 15 (last Sunday):

51,749 / 80,000 (64.0%)

What I need to accomplish this week:

1) Print assignments, etc. for the grad course I'm starting tomorrow.

2) Wrap up lectures for the writing class I'm teaching, get ready to start teaching the next one.

3) Write minimum of 7K on SM.

4) Finish clearing the office so we can demo in there and work on it. (I'm tired of renovating -- I'm ready to be finished!)

5) Clear construction debris from the backyard.

Get this -- we won all the spindles to redo my front porch on ebay. 58 spindles, which would have cost me $3-$4 each at Lowes, for $.99. We have to pick them up about an hour away, but I'm still saving money (and reusing materials that would have gone into a landfill). But do you know how weird it will be to walk up and hand this guy $.99 for over a $100's worth of material?

People Watching

Scenes from St. Augustine -- Look! It's Patrick and Cody! Patrick is the horse (he's a retiree from an Amish farm up north) and Cody was our fabulously wry, witty guide for ghostly carriage ride. This was sooooo much fun. I've always wanted to do one of St. Augustine's famous carriage rides, but we were always a) too busy or b) on a shoestring budget when we went.

I'm not sure if it's the writer in me or not, but I love people watching. I look at everything--how they dress, how they move, how they talk, how they interact. (Then, usually, I get caught staring and they give me weird looks. I don't mean to stare, I just get drawn into them.) While we were visiting SA, I was surrounded by people watching opportunities. People come from all over to visit. I do mean all over, because the DH and I picked out the following languages around us: Portugese, Spanish, Russian, Greek, Vietnamese and Japanese. You heard accents from all over the United States (and some British accents). Families, couples, friends.

Some of my favorites:

1) The three teachers on vacation together who were on our Ghost Trolley tour. Oh my God, they were hilarious. One was the DD and two had indulged in a few too many martinis, but they were so much fun. They were having fun and you wanted to be drawn into their good time.

2) The young family atop the Castillo de San Marco. The dad was valiantly trying to get his 2-3 year old daughter to drink water and stay hydrated. They were just sweet.

3) The honeymooners we saw on a different night in front of the Castillo. They were taking photos of the sign, canoodling, celebrating being in love. Very, very cute.

4) Watching the local teenagers hang out on St. George Street on Friday night was interesting. They were really different from our local teens (not in a bad way, just different). Actually, all of the local were interesting, from the 1960's hippie guy who hangs out on St. George to the street performers, to the guys who sit in front of the local hangout bars and hollered to Cody as we passed on the carriage ride. Oh, the stories behind all those locals . . .

I think what I liked the most, and what I sometimes crave when I go on my binges about wanting to live down there, is the sheer level of diversity. There's not a lot of that here, although you get into social and class and color differences that lead to tension.

What about you? Are you a watcher? Or a watchee?

Coquina!

Scenes from St. Augustine -- A shot from the top of the Castillo de San Marco. Ponce de Leon and his men sailed through that channel beyond the palm trees (so did Sir Francis Drake, several years later). That's Vilano Beach to the left, where we always stay. It's gorgeous, not very commercial (although it's becoming more so, sadly). The walls of the Castillo are made of coquina, a seashell-limestone mined locally. The white stuff is where the fort has been repaired. After surviving many, many attacks (coquina absorbs cannonballs, go figure) and turning over only as part of treaty or surrender, the Castillo is not holding up as well under a quarter of a million visitors each year.

Not much to talk about today. I've been writing, writing, writing -- more than 13K in the past week. I'm loving how Troy Lee and Angel's story is shaping up so far.

How was your Friday? Up to anything interesting this weekend?

Today . . .

Scenes from St. Augustine -- The bay front area. This is where the horse and carriages park (we were on our way for our ghostly carriage ride -- that was a blast!). I love walking along here at night, with the historic district quiet around you and the waves lapping at the sea wall.

Today was all about errands. Put gas in the Jeep. Took Monster #1 to the orthodontist. IHOP for a late breakfast. A trip to the grocery store. A trip to Office Depot. The post office, the hardware store. (Yes, I lead an exciting life.)

While I'm working on Troy Lee's book (current word count: 43,117), I'm thinking through what I want to spend the fall working on. I think I have my idea, but all I'm getting right now are snippets of the story.

I must admit, on a different note, that going through the St. Augustine photos to post here makes me a little melancholy. Early in our marriage, the DH and I had planned to move there.He was on a career track in law enforcement, but he made a bad decision for us to move back to Georgia, following his heart when he really should have listened to his head (or to me). Although his motives were good, the move turned out badly and we've dealt with the repercussions for a long time. (This might explain why I tend not to follow my heart when making decisions -- I like to think through all the options.) It's not that I don't like my life now--I like where I teach, our home is basically paid for (although, you know, renovations from hell), we're close to my parents. At the same time, I love the cultural richness of St. Augustine, the beauty of the ocean, the appreciation of the arts (which enchanted Monster #1, our resident artist in the Winfree household). So while I enjoyed being there, I couldn't help seeing what could have been if the DH had continued the career track he was on back then. It's taken him a long way to find his way back to the place he is now, and it hasn't been easy. Like I said, just a little melancholy and pensive.

A couple of questions for you: Do you tend to follow your head or your heart when making decisions? And do you sometimes look at the what-might-have-been's or are you solely focused on the what-will-be's of your life?

Climbing the Lighthouse

Scenes from St. Augustine: The St. Augustine Lighthouse.

My photo doesn't do justice to the sheer size of this building. When you're standing on the ground, looking up, it's huge -- you have to tilt your head back to see it all. If you're from Manhattan or Atlanta or anywhere there are tall buildings, no big deal. But when you live in an area where the tallest buildings are five or six stories tall, this thing is massive.

The lighthouse has 219 steps, in the circular stairways I showed you yesterday. It's fourteen stories tall. The area around it is beautiful and the view when you get to the top is stunning.

Being in St. Augustine for a week while editing HEARTS AWAKENED was a special treat for me. I was immersed in Mark (Cookie) and Tori's story, part of which takes place in St. Augustine, which holds many of the secrets of Mark's past. It had been five years since our last visit to the Oldest City, and I loved rediscovering all of my favorite places while finding new ones. After climbing the lighthouse, I did manage to work it into the dialogue and even into Mark's past, although I didn't set a scene there. Everywhere we went, I'd think, "Hey, Mark and Tori went here. Or this is where they were when . . ."

And I took photos. Lots and lots of photos.

Hearts Awakened is due to release in September, so look in late August, early September for a virtual book setting tour -- photos of the setting to whet your appetite. I love their story and I'm excited about the upcoming release, so be prepared -- I'll probably be talking about it a lot.

I'm also excited about Something More, Troy Lee's story. I passed the halfway mark on it yesterday! It's really closely linked to Mark's book and actually interleaves with it in a couple of places, something I've never tried before.

So the writing is good. I'm no longer standing at the base of the lighthouse, looking up. I'm about halfway there, looking out the window. 39,000 more words and I'll be here, gazing miles out to sea:

Another scene from St. Augustine: The awesome view from the top of the lighthouse, gazing out at the Atlantic Ocean.

Crossroads and Taking Stock

Scenes from St. Augustine: View down the stairs at the St. Augustine Lighthouse (if you're a Ghosthunters fan, you know Jay and Grant ran up and down these stairs, chasing a "shadow" later seen to peek over at the cameras, just as I'm doing here). Those are my toes, not the ghost's toes.

The photo seemed apt, since I'm hitting the "taking stock" point. I hate this, by the way. I don't know why. I don't have difficulty doing this in the teaching career. There is a very concrete plan for that and I take stock on that plan, on my classroom plan pretty regularly. Ditto on the house renovations. There's a plan, I know the plan, I work the plan, I monitor the plan.

But in this terms of taking stock, I feel lost, almost like I'm almost endlessly circling those steps above, not sure where I'm going, not sure if I'm going in the right direction. I think it comes down to not knowing for sure what I want. What do I want? Is the thing I'm currently seeking what I want or merely what I think I'm supposed to want, because everyone expects you to want that? If I do want it, why do I want it? And what if I want something else entirely and don't know it?

And once I figure out what I want, how do I get there?

Then I get into the need vs. want. What if I what I need is at odds with what I want? What then? And how do I know the difference?

It's enough to make my head hurt. But I really have to get a handle on this. I'm not good at simply flailing around without a plan.

So tell me . . . how do you figure out what you want and need? Help me out here. ;-)

**

Word count check: 40,211

Whoo! That's past the halfway point!

Progress Report

Scenes for St. Augustine: My photography skills probably leave much to be desired, but I love watching the different sail boats bobbing in the Bay of Matanzas. The horizon in the distance is Anastasia Island.

**
I'm making progress on Something More. The deal is, I have to write 1000 words a day. I can write more, but I have to make 1000. So far, I'm good. Here's how I measure up as of June 15:

36,971 / 80,000 (46.2%)

It probably helps that I'm loving Troy Lee and Angel. And that I'm through the main edits on Hearts Awakened. It's off to the FLE.

This Week's TTD:

One of my favorite shots from our vacation -- the Castillo de San Marco fronting the Bay of Matanzas in St. Augustine.

1) Blog more often

2) Minimum 7K on Something More, Troy Lee & Angel's book. (I have to turn it in August 1. What was I thinking, write a book in two months, under contract?!)

3) Hang ceiling drywall in living room

4) Laundry

5) Discussion posts and portfolio for EDUC 6650 (this is week 8)

6) Print out assignments and make notebook for next course

7) Write and post lessons for the online writing class I'm teaching

8) Clear office and panic.

9) Demo drywall so we can finish hanging new panels.

I'm sure there's more, but I'm afraid to think about it.

***

Now:

Before:

Big improvement, huh? It looks soooo much better already and that's without paint and flooring!

MEMORIES OF US Available Today!

Beneath the lies is truth—and temptation neither of them can resist.

Memories of Us by Linda Winfree
Book Five of the Hearts of the South series.

Investigator Celia St. John is hopelessly attracted to the one man she shouldn’t want, district attorney Tom McMillian. Arrogant and completely alpha, McMillian is the type of man she likes—a tough son of a bitch. The problem? He’s her boss, and he’s still hung up on his ex-wife.

Since his marriage to a law enforcement agent failed after the death of his infant son, Tom has avoided emotional involvement with any woman. Despite his attraction to Celia, he refuses to get involved with another cop.

Their no-strings affair quickly becomes a tangled web of intrigue as they investigate an illegal baby adoption ring and more than one murder, one of which points to Tom as a suspect. The more they dig under the lies, the higher the risk, not only to their relationship, but their lives.

**

Memories of Us is a Recommended Read at Joyfully Reviewed for June. You can read the review here.

For an excerpt and purchasing information, visit http://www.samhainpublishing.com/romance/memories-of-us.

And remember -- I've hijacked Kate's blog all week long. Come visit, leave a comment and you could win free books!

Where To Find Me

Alas, it's not HERE:

I was there last week. More pictures and fun stories to come, including the "ghost" pics.

Today, I'm over at Writeminded, exploring the link between Elisabeth's nagging and Memories of Us (Did I mention it releases TOMORROW?!). Go comment. The lovely Writeminded ladies are giving away a print copy of What Mattered Most, winner to be announced tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I'm at the Samhain blog to celebrate the release of Memories of Us.

And all this week, I've stolen Kate Rothwell's blog. Again, the chance to win free books!

What's Going On

Wow, I didn't mean to be MIA for a whole month! Y'all, I'm telling you--May is crazy. Every. Single. Year. May is CRAZY.

It's filled with awards banquets and high stakes testing and final exams and graduation and report cards and honors day. I tend to lose the whole month.

So what's been going on?

1) I'm editing Hearts Awakened, formerly A Formal Feeling, which is due out in ebook in September.

2) I'm in week five (whoo!) of a course on the sociopolitical context of multicultural education. I like week five. Once I get past the midpoint of each course (week four), it's all downhill from there.

3) I'm planning for a couple of writing courses I'm teaching this summer.

4) We're renovating. Lord have mercy, I think we only have a few more weeks of the renovations from hell. I'll post pictures soon.

5) I'm writing a new book, Something More, Troy Lee's story for those of you who have been reading the Hearts of the South series. And . . .

6) Today, my editor made a contract offer on said book! Whoo! Now I just have to finish the thing in two months . . .

7) I'm embroiled in the agent hunt. Kinda. Maybe embroiled is the wrong word. I'm querying. How's that for a word?

Summer is here and I have a ton of things to accomplish in the next couple of months. What's going on with you? What does your summer look like?

TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES: Available in PRINT

“…a first rate suspense thriller with an excellent romantic component that hooks the reader from the very beginning… quintessentially a story about doing the right thing and it’s so well told that I’m in a hurry to read it again. I give it my highest recommendation.” — Aviana, Two Lips Reviews

When deceit and desire collide, the results can be deadly . . .

Truth and Consequences by Linda Winfree
Book One in the Hearts of the South series

For undercover FBI agent Jason Harding, coming face to face with the grown-up version of his adolescent dreams is a nightmare. Kathleen Palmer sees him as a despicably corrupt small-town law officer and a murder suspect. Trapped in a web of his own making, he must see his mission through to the end and bring down the crooked cops who’ve run Haynes County for decades. To do so, he must betray the only family he’s ever known and fight his growing love for Kathleen, a relationship that could get one, or both of them, killed.

Determined to uncover the truth, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Kathleen struggles with her attraction to the one person who’s awakened her since she buried her heart and emotions in her son’s tiny grave. Listening to her heart could destroy all she has left in life – her career and reputation. When the truth about Jason’s identity surfaces, they both face unimaginable consequences: Jason may lose his life and Kathleen the man she loves.

Samhain link: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/authors/linda-winfree

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Truth-Consequences-Hearts-South-Winfree/dp/1599987716/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209486269&sr=8-2

Booksigning at The Bookstore, Camilla, Georgia: Saturday, May 3, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

“But in the south, we also have men like Jason who are patriotic, law abiding, loyal, caring, family men…Thank you, Ms. Winfree, for a character that is a real southern man. I also enjoyed Kathleen’s tough girl, independent, take no prisoners attitude…the embodiment of a southern woman…Truth and Consequences is an exciting, pulse-pounding, suspense story.” – Stephanie, Fallen Angel Reviews

Go Visit Carol

She has a cool post up today about finding your niche as a writer. If you write, go weigh in.

Truth and Consequences releases in print today! I'll have excerpts and fun stuff up later today!

Alive But Writing

Elisabeth tagged me days ago. I'm buried in the WIP right now, loving it, trying to make major inroads on it before I have edits in May/June for my September release.

So six random things about me:

1) I really need to update my website. (I'm working on it, I swear. But I've been writing, I swear.)

2) I love to cook.

3) I can roof a house.

4) I actually enjoy reading my students' research papers. They picked topics they were passionate about and it makes for interesting reading.

5) I will probably end up getting a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Not that I'm being coerced {cough} or influenced {cough} in any way. {cough-cough-Mary-cough-Connie}

6) I have a total addiction to Harlequin Presents.

Progress Report

1) Finish grad school course (I am 1/3 of the way finished with my master's -- Whoo!)

Um, working on it. I still have to do discussion replies, write a paper, and place evidence with rationale statements in my portfolio.

2) Finish revisions to AFF and send to editor.

Check!

3) Grade freshmen I-Search papers.

Um, yeah. They're still sitting where I dropped them Friday. I'll start on them . . . today.

4) Sleep late. Every. Single. Day.

Working on it. So far, successful.

5) Hang siding on ends of house.

Nope. But we fixed the electrical issues . . .

6) Take Monsters for dental cleanings, take Monster #1 for seriously overdue ortho appt.

Um, does scheduling the appointments count?

7) Clean. Clean. Clean.

Done it. Done it. Done it. Except the bathroom and my filthy office.

8) Begin set-up for the DH's raised garden (which will be my kitchen garden).

Done it. My part, anyway. Now it's DH's baby for a while.

9) Start a new book. Probably Troy Lee and Angel's book.

Yep. Almost 3K.

Why Math Is Scary

Believe it or not, I find the idea of math fascinating. Hence, my friendship with Connie the Math Guru. I wish she'd been my high school math teacher. I think I'd have done better.

She amazes me with what she can do in her head. Like she could tell me, if my sales numbers stayed on the same pattern, what I could roughly make this year in royalties. Without a caluclator, she did this.

But math can be scary, too. Like over at Query Tracker, there are over 2000 registered users. This, of course, does not count the ones who don't register.

And 37 success stories.

You do the math. I'll wait. (I had to find my calculator to do this one. There's a reason I'm an English teacher and Connie is the math guru.)

1.85%.

That's really scary, when my request percentage is only 7.

I think I'm going to stick with words. Words can be scary, in the right hands. But they can be warm and wonderful and emotional. They can be terse and suspenseful and exciting. They can be sexy and hot and sensual. And they can be angsty and painful and aching.

I have 2075 words on the brand-new WIP. I think that's the math I'll stick with tonight.

What about you? Is math scary or fascinating?

Spring Break!

I'm so excited. I've needed spring break. When the graduation coach says, "Linda needs spring break." . . . well, I need spring break. ;-)

We're not going anywhere, but we're not going to school for nine whole days, either. So what's on the agenda?

1) Finish grad school course (I am 1/3 of the way finished with my master's -- Whoo!)
2) Finish revisions to AFF and send to editor.
3) Grade freshmen I-Search papers.
4) Sleep late. Every. Single. Day.
5) Hang siding on ends of house.
6) Take Monsters for dental cleanings, take Monster #1 for seriously overdue ortho appt.
7) Clean. Clean. Clean.
8) Begin set-up for the DH's raised garden (which will be my kitchen garden).
9) Start a new book. Probably Troy Lee and Angel's book.

What are you up to this week?

Recommended Reads!

This makes up for it still being a week and a half until spring break!

Melissa wrote, in part:

". . .an emotional minefield . . .I can’t recommend Anything But Mine and the rest of Linda Winfree’s Hearts of the South Series highly enough."

Read the entire review here: http://joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/RRs/April08RR/AnythingButMine.LW.html

Here's what Rachel thought of What Mattered Most, in part:

". . .one of the most emotionally engaging books I’ve ever read . . .This book is a keeper and Ms. Winfree is an author to watch. Do yourself a favor, pick up a copy of What Mattered Most today; and while you’re there grab anything else with Linda Winfree’s name on it; I know I’m going to."

Read the entire review here: http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/March/RachelC-WhatMatteredMost.htm

Question

Hey, y'all, need a quick favor.

I'm trying to pull together a sampling of my work. If you've read one of my titles, what scenes would you, the reader, include in that sampling? You know, the scenes that are "evocative" of a Linda Winfree read.

Feel free to leave ideas in the comments section or you can email me at linda_winfree @ yahoo.com (no spaces).

Um, please feel free to leave ideas in the comments section, LOL.

What?!

It's THIRTY-THREE degrees outside.

It's MARCH!

Geez Louise.

Yet Another Weirdness

My students tell me all the time how weird I am. I usually shrug, agree, move on with teaching.

I've discovered yet another weirdness in my personality: I don't celebrate.

Over at writeminded, Sharon is blogging about celebratory traditions. I know Carol has a bottle of bubbly stashed in the event her requested H/S manuscript sells. Mary blogged about all the things she did to celebrate the release of her first book. Elisabeth and her DH went to dinner to celebrate her recent three-book deal.

Okay, here's my weirdness. I didn't celebrate selling my first book. Or my second. Or my . . . you get the picture. I haven't celebrated book releases. I was chosen STAR teacher at school. You guessed it -- no celebration. Birthday and wedding anniverary in February? No celebrating.

I do things for my Monsters on their birthdays. The DH gets some kind of celebration around his (birthdays were a big deal in his family). But I am not a celebrator (its that a word?).

Yes, I'm weird. What's your weirdness?

Covert Art Goodness

It's official!

I have been dying to share this cover. It's for my June release, Memories of Us.

All I have to say, other than Anne Cain is a goddess, is yuuuuuuum!

Link: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/coming/memories-of-us

Wondering over Breakfast

Just how do they make Poptarts, anyway?

Now that there are whole grain Poptarts, I can have childhood nostalgia for breakfast and not feel guilty about it.

Oh, man, that sounded like one of those cheesy advertisement voices from Feed.

Hauntings

I spend the first few minutes of first period each morning talking with my seniors. The subject varies daily, from the DH buying the truck with the huge NAPA hat on it to their college visits and anything and everything else under the sun.

As I dedicated Anything But Mine to them, I've been sharing with them it's daily placement on the MBAM Top 1o list (it's been there a week, I think, moving from nine to eight to seven to six, back to nine now back to seven). One of my favorite students is a voracious reader and she always has "author" questions for me whenever we're talking books or writing.

This morning, she asked if I was jealous of other writers or felt like I was inferior to them. Wow, that's a tough question and it was an eerie echo of a conversation I had with Joan last night.

Am I jealous of other writers? Honestly, no. That's like being jealous of another teacher. Oh, I envy Gabe his ability to make his classes engaging and interesting on a daily basis (he uses the neatest techniques I have ever seen). I used to envy my friend Pam's ability to be such a consistent classroom manager. I envy Lucy Monroe her ability to write gorgeous Harlequin Presents (man, I wish I could write those!). I envy Fitzgerald's ability to twist words around descriptions. But I'm not jealous. That's a destructive emotion. A pointless one.

Inferior? Oh, boy. Hell, yes. As a writer, I am inferior to Fitzgerald or King or any number of authors. Fact of life, baby, just like one tennis player can be inferior to another. So, yeah, some days I really feel that inferiority more than others.

Mine and Joan's conversation centered around that sucky, nebulous feeling of "not enough." I hate that because it's hard to pin down (like one of those EVP's on Ghost Hunters). Instead it's this hazy little thought that hangs around whispering, "This book? This idea? Not enough." Or "Not ___ enough."

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate adjective. ;-)

However, feeling the "not enough" and letting it cripple me as a writer? Two completely, totally different things.

Gee, can't wait to see what tomorrow's conversation holds . . .

Progress Report

I survived! Edits turned in on MOU, print galleys turned in for HOL, graduate paper subbed on time, report card grades imported.

So now I'm polishing up A Life Unlived. I have an agent request on it (actually, two requests, although I'm considering not sending to one agent for varying reasons) and I kinda/sorta promised Maya Banks (under duress) that I'd get it out this week.

We will not discuss the number of rejections the poor book is garnering. Or rather, the number of rejections my query letter is getting. At least I've gotten to the point where I can differentiate between a rejection of my work and a rejection of me. Couple of years ago, it was all personal. Now? Not so much. And that's a good thing.

I've seen the preliminary cover art for MOU. It is gorgeous and I cannot wait to show it off. Soon, I hope.

Well, I'm headed back to line edit. Gotta keep Maya happy, LOL.

Buried But Digging

Grades are done!

Working on edits on MOU.

Over 1/3 of the way through print galleys on HOL.

Should have the final installment of Forever with You up at the yahoo group in the next day or so. I, um, somehow managed to mess up the file.

What are you up to?

ANYTHING BUT MINE Now Available!

Will her need to do the right thing cost them everything?

Anything But Mine by Linda Winfree
Book Four of the Hearts of the South series.

Public Defender Autry Holton is in a "shunned if she does, disbarred if she doesn't" position—honor-bound to defend an accused serial killer. To complicate matters, she’s pregnant and hasn’t told the father about a baby she’s sure he won’t want.

Sheriff Stanton Reed never believed he was the right man for Autry. He’s already raised one family and suffered a failed marriage. When an attempted break-in at Autry’s home highlights the real danger she faces, at first all he can think of is protecting her. Before long, all he can focus on is how much he loves her and wants her back in his life.

But just as Autry dares to hope there’s a future for them, an act of home-grown terrorism shatters her trust—and threatens their lives.

***

This had to stop.

Autry put her lotion away and wrapped a towel around her body. Irritation and unfulfilled desire had her nerves jumping and the worst part was she had herself to blame even more than Stanton. Sure, he was clueless about other people’s emotions, let alone his own. She’d known that going in. Now suddenly, she wanted him to change into Mr. Perfectly-in-touch-with-his-feelings? So being pregnant had made her emotional and now completely irrational. Instead of sitting around whining about how blind he was, maybe she needed to show him where to go.

He’d asked for more time. That had to mean something.

They were having a baby together. She wanted to forge a relationship with him. He said the same thing.

What was she accomplishing by holding him away?

Sleeping in the spare room wasn’t getting her any closer to him, wasn’t in any way binding him to her.

So what are you going to do?

Taking a deep breath, she knotted the towel at her breasts. Before her spurt of courage and resolution could desert her, she marched into the bedroom and gathered her things. Her hands full, she slipped down the hall to Stanton’s bedroom. The door stood slightly ajar and the fresh smell of his soap hung in the air.

Her stomach turning slow rolls, she nudged the door open with her knee. The bedside lamp shed soft light in the room. Stanton lay on the bed, arms under his head, clad only in his khaki slacks. At her entrance, he glanced her way, his eyes dark and shuttered.

Her simmering level of irritation, with him and herself, flashed into anger. She tossed her overnight bag on the floor. “Just tell me one thing. What the hell is your problem?”

Surprise flared on his face and he levered up to lean on his elbows. “Which problem are we talking about?”

“What do you really want? Is this all about the baby and your so-called duty? Or do you want me at all?”

He moved to a sitting position, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. He kept his gaze trained on hers. “Of course I want you.”

She clutched the knot between her breasts. “If there were no baby, would we be together?”

He opened his mouth, closed it, swallowed hard enough his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I don’t know.”

Irrationally hurt, she laughed. “What am I saying? The only reason we’re together now is because I got pregnant.”

“Autry…”

“It doesn’t really matter how much time I give you.” How could this hurt so much? “Nothing changes the fact that you didn’t really want me.”

His head jerked up. “That’s not true.”

“You dumped me. If that doesn’t say ‘I don’t want you’, I don’t know what does.” Why was she doing this? Hell, why was she even here? What she should do was march back to her room, get dressed and demand he take her to her parents’ house.

Shaking her head, she spun and stalked to the door.

“I was afraid, all right?” The words emerged in a near-hiss, as though he pushed them out between clenched teeth. “What I felt for you scared the hell out of me, and I got as far away as fast as I could. Happy now?”

“Afraid.” She couldn’t quite catch her breath, couldn’t quite believe what he was saying. Holding her breath, she turned.

“Yeah.” He ran both hands through his hair, leaving the short brown strands disheveled.

“Why?” she whispered, still clutching at her towel.

He shook his head. “I’d already failed with Renee, hell, to the point she had an affair. I was scared of screwing everything up with you too, and it just seemed easier to get out, let you find somebody who could be what you needed.”

Renee had cheated on him? He’d never revealed that before, and as badly as she wanted to explore that, see how it related to their relationship, she needed more to make him understand what was most important.

She took a step forward. “I needed you.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m a real prize. An emotionally unavailable ass, as Renee says.”

Unavailable? She wouldn’t say that. Reserved, yes, until she’d managed to get under the layers of professionalism and seriousness. Then she’d glimpsed the real man underneath—honest, compassionate, intuitive, blessed with a wry sense of humor.

She took another step toward him. “I think I’d say more confused than unavailable. Whenever I’ve needed you, you’ve always been there.”

“Autry, you don’t get it.” The words were rough, torn from him. “If I failed again and lost you…”

She closed her eyes, his words thrumming through her. He did care; there was hope. She simply had to reach out and take it, show him the way. They could have so much more than she’d dared dream. If only one of them took the first step.

Opening her eyes, she caught his ravenous gaze. Those eyes whispered of starvation, of a wanting that went far beyond the physical.

She reached for the knot and let the towel fall to the floor.

Link to book: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/romance/anything-but-mine

***

What did Mrs. Giggles say in her review of Anything But Mine? Find out.

Well . . .

I was going to rant about how I don't watch American Idol and therefore don't really like to read recaps on author blogs, but some of my friends do them and, you know, that might be a tad rude.

So then I was going to blog about my new roof, which we just finished today. But, I thought, that might be a tad on the boring side.

I could post an excerpt from Anything But Mine but you know, I'm going to be posting those for the release date . . . TOMORROW!

I could tell you how I've been sick and my Monsters have had the flu.

How behind I am on grading. (Did I mention my grades are due tomorrow?!)

Or . . .

I could . . .

Tell you the absolutely true, completely traumatic story of how the lovely and gracious and talented Maya Banks threatened to kill me!

She did. For real. Earlier in the evening. I have the email as proof. And there might have been some cursing going on in there, some of that language, I -- as a good and prudish English teacher (Hey, seniors, stop snorting! I am your STAR teacher; therefore, I do not curse. Much. And only when I write. Or when I'm working on a the roof.) -- would never use. And since I'm fairly certain she doesnt't live anywhere near me, I can say . . . bring it on, baby!

I would start a huge blog kerfluffle and maybe even bring out the rabid fangirls . . . but I think she might have more than me.

I'm going to grade papers now.

Stuff

I think Monster #2 has the flu. Headache, sore throat, cough, fever, body aches. We saw the pediatrician on Friday and they did a flu swab. Said they'd call if it was positive. No call, but the kid sure has flu symptoms.

I'm in the first round of edits on MOU and I get to within 20 pages of the book's end and realize, "Oh, my God, I have a plot hole." Not a small, pinprick hole. One of those you could drive a truck through.

So . . . I'm rewriting the end of my book.

Great.

What are you up to?

An Open Statement

(Or . . . Judgmental People Suck)

To the two supposed "ladies" in line at the Dollar General:

Yes, the house and yard you were openly discussing and passing judgment on in public belong to me. Yes, right now, they look pretty sucky.

Major construction tends to do that.

I'm sorry improving our home and suffering through the subsequent mess offends your sensibilities. Try living in it.

God willing, we should be finished in one to two months. Yes, that long. Because we both work (I, by the way, have two careers). I also am attending graduate school and am actively involved in coaching Literary while planning the talent show at school. Did I mention we're doing the work on the house ourselves?

So, thank you so much for sharing your opinion on my "trashy" lifestyle with everyone in earshot in Dollar General today.

By the way, that handsome guy behind you? My husband, who makes a pretty good roofer, painter, drywall installer, father and spouse. He's also a much nicer person than I am, obviously, because he chose not to confront you.

If it had been me on the other hand, I'd have thanked you nicely for taking such an interest in my personal affairs and apologized in person.

Then waited while you slithered back under your rock.

Have a nice day.

Sincerely,
Linda

Whoo-hoo!

Elisabeth sold! She just inked a three-book deal with Dorchester.

Go congratulate her!

I Am So Tired!

Here's the accomplishment list for the weekend (but not pictures, alas!):

1) All fascia (sp?) is hung.

2) Drip edge installed.

3) All roof repairs made.

4) Wet, icky, stinky junk out of the room that flooded.

5) Tar paper on roof. Shingling to commence as soon as rain is gone tomorrow.

6) Final paper submitted to EDUC 6671.

7) Portfolio artifacts and rationale statements submitted as directed.

8) Quiz and first discussion post for EDUC 6625 out of the way.

Edits, you say? Print galleys? Grading of tons and tons of student note cards?

I'm working on it.

What are you up to?

Quick Stuff

Am I the only person in America who doesn't watch American Idol?

Feels like it some days. :-)

Oh, and the first part of Forever with You, a Hearts of the South novella, is up at my yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Linda_Winfree. I'll post part two next week and the final part the week thereafter.

Added a HOTM piece to the Cutting Room Floor file as well. :-)

Happy Friday!

Thursday Thirteen -- Research Papers I'm Looking Forward to Reading

I could probably list more than thirteen -- my kids picked great topics this year. But here are thirteen, from the 100+ I'll read between February and April that I'm particularly looking forward to . . .

1) Comparative politics -- The kid whose writing this one is a great writer and has a nice, comedic tone. It will be a hoot.

2) The existence of ghosts -- Again, a good writer willing to look at both sides of the issue. His level of excitement over this topic will make it an interesting read.

3) Archery -- The kid writing it is a hoot. I've already seen part of it and even in rough form, it's great.

4) Abortion -- A topic I see every year. It gets old. But the student writing this one is doing great research and it'll be interesting to see what she comes up with.

5) Global warming -- two papers. Two kids. Two very different takes. Should be interesting.

6) Cryptozoology -- I've never seen this topic done before. The kid writing it is smart, funny, a good writer. It'll be a good one.

7) Photography -- I bet I can take better photos after reading this one. ;-)

8) Geishas -- Great writer with a topic she's passionate about. Can't wait.

9) The Columbine shootings -- I've not seen this topic before either. The kid writing this one is doing great research. It'll be good.

10) The Dave Matthews Band -- 'nuff said. :-D

11) Spirituality -- a really, really strongly opinionated writer. Should be interesting.

12) Heavy Metal Music -- I'll learn something I didn't know from reading it. Guaranteed.

13) Comparative Religions -- She's taking a neat angle with this paper. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

What was your most interesting high school writing assignment?

Look! Progress!

There is new siding on the back of the house. You will notice we have not yet cut out for doors and windows . . .

Hey, it's better than the exposed pink insulation!

Show And Tell

So I've been bemoaning the renovations from hell for, what? Months? Well, this weekend has been the "Hey, let's rip off the siding and replace it so we can finish the roofing" weekend. Wait, that's what it was supposed to be.

Then we found the electrical issues. The scary ones. The ones the DH doesn't want to explain to me (Uh, yeah, honey. I'm college-educated. I know a shorted-out wire that singes the insulation isn't a good thing. Keep trying to hide that.).

So then there's the floor joists that have to be rebuilt because, you know, that's what the batting boards attach to, and you know, the siding attaches to those boards.

So . . . the siding has to be up before the shingles can go on. And, you know what? Plastic doesn't always stop water. Hence, the waterfall in my office during a mega-thunderstorm Saturday night.

But . . . there is progress. We have more than 1/2 of the siding hung now. About a month and we should be through most of the major stuff.

Here's pics of the during, taken yesterday. Connie's reaction when I sent them to her Blackberry:

"What. Happened?"

I think she thought we'd fallen victim to the FOUR tornados that came through south of us Sunday night. It kinda looks like it.

I'll post after pics tomorrow, when we're finished with the rear siding.

New Reviews

I've never had Romance Junkies reviews before, so I was excited to learn I recently had TWO reviews there. Couldn't resist sharing.

Hold On to Me and His Ordinary Life were recently reviewed by Romance Junkies. Both books received 5 Blue Ribbon Reviews.

Jenn, the reviewer, said this in part about Hold On to Me: “a welcome addition to Ms. Winfree's HEARTS OF THE SOUTH series...as engaging and gritty as its predecessors and has a depth that is undeniable…Tick' s ability to forgive and his innate sexiness are hard to resist and when Caitlin finally surrenders the sex is explosive and caring in one brilliantly written love story.”

Jenn also reviewed His Ordinary Life and had this to say on Del and Barb’s story: “…an amazing look at the power of love and the journey of discovering who we really are and what we want out of life…a moving and emotional read that should not be missed.”

You can read both reviews in full at the following links:

http://www.romancej%20unkiesreviews.%20com/artman/%20publish/contempo%20rary/Hold_%20On_to_Me.%20shtml

http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/contemporary/His_Ordinary_Life.shtml

Sunday Check In

The closet in the master bedroom is finished! Whoo! Hey, after months and months and months of renovations from hell, I'll take my successes where I can get them.

Paper #7 is turned in. One more to go in this class. I'm just about 1/5 through with my master's degree.

Trying to finish A Life Unlived (Mad and Ash's book). Will let you know how that goes. ;-)

6 Unimportant Things

Carol, my sadistic CP who thinks I don't have enough to do, tagged me. ;-) Oh, my God, now I have to think.

Six Unimportant Things About Me:

1) I didn't have to change my monogram when I got married.

2) I only eat ketchup on French fries.

3) My new pet peeve (and don't hate me . . .) is those author posts to lists that say things like "I have a problem!" in the subject line and then the body is a plea to come join them at such and such blog to weigh in. Don't ask me why it bothers me. It just does.

4) I can read Middle English. My students are usually not impressed.

5) At school, my nickname is the Evil English Overlord.

6) I can't stand clutter. Hence, why the renovations from hell are killing me.

Here's the deal . . . if you stumble by . . . consider yourself tagged. :-D

Kids. I Don't Get 'Em.

I have two, affectionately known as Monster #1 and Monster #2.

Monster #2 loves this cartoon:



I, however, do not understand the appeal of said cartoon.

Does anyone else get it?


It has to be the most annoying cartoon EVER. And we've seen some pretty annoying cartoons around this place, let me tell you!

Monster #1? Has started playing tennis. Loves tennis. Talks it, reads it, is teaching me to play.

Watched him play his first tournament today. Oh. My. God. It's a good thing tennis is a quiet sport and I was far, far away on the balcony, hence why I wasn't in the position to yell at him to be serious on the court. Y'all, I always swore I wouldn't be one of those crazy sports parents. But when the kid is good and likes the game and could play better but is too busy being goofy on the court . . .?!

But. He's having a good time. He's being active. That's the important thing. Right?

Now . . . about that weird Chowder cat-kid-thingee . . .

This Is Why . . .

Every year, I plan out my units for my American Lit class. I look at the Romanticism unit and think, "I'm not teaching the Scarlet Letter this time. It's too hard, the kids fuss . . . we can read some short stories from the period instead."

Guess what I end up teaching? Every. Single. Year.

Yep.

The Scarlet Letter.

Halfway through, I want to pull out my hair, wondering why I bother. But chapters seventeen and eighteen? Sigh. The kids clue in. Things smooth out. And oh my, we get a glimpse of Hawthorne as a romantic writer. Not a Romanticist (hey, he is -- he's probably THE writer of the American Romantic movement . . .okay, okay, I know. People are going to come out of the woodwork and take me to task for that . . . but it's Hawthorne, people.) But a romance writer.

Now, don't pick up the Scarlet Letter expecting the happy ending found in today's romances. It doesn't have one. It has what I would call a satisfying denouement, but Hester and Dimmesdale do not live happily ever after. But when they are reunited after seven years apart? Oh. My. Goodness. The sparks do fly and Hester's passionate nature, repressed for those years, comes out in full force:

The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne:

""

That . . . Hawthorne's incredible heroine, the way her love -- though buried -- never dies, her growth throughout the book . . . that is why I come back to the book year after year.

What about you? Any favorite classics which involve a love story? Do share!

Tired . . .

It's been a long busy weekend. The tally:

1) Attended Monster #1's tennis tournament.
2) Served as judge's hostess for school's Little Miss/Mr. pageant. So much fun!
3) Watched two videos for grad course, took quiz (100!), did discussion posts.
4) Wrote my paper for grad course for the week.
5) Laundry. Laundry. Laundry.
6) Helped DH with repairs to in preparation for new roof! Whoo!
7) Graded for 11th American Lit and 12th British Lit.
8) Updated Teacherease. Grades due tomorrow.

No wonder I don't feel refreshed and ready to go to school tomorrow.

Oh, my God. What am I going to TEACH tomorrow?!

Thursday Thirteen -- Favorite Foods

For some weird reason, I'm food obsessed lately. I'm not over-eating -- actually, I'm eating what I normall do -- but I'm obsessing about food.

So . . . to that end . . . thirteen of my favorite foods, no particular order:

1) Big Dawg fries with pepper and ranch dipping sauce
2) White Cheddar Cheezits
3) Camembert baked in pastry (with honey and fruit)
4) Birthday cake with ice cream
5) Cheeseburgers
6) Chicken salad on Wheat Thins
7) Cheddar cheese, walnuts and grapes
8) Frito Scoops with ranch dip
9) Muffins: orange cranberry, lemon poppy seed
10) A bagel with cream cheese
11) Chili
12) Crab Rangoons
13) Spaghetti Bolognese

Now I'm hungry. . .

Today's Post . . .

...Is at the Samhain Blog.

http://samhainpublishing.com/blog/2008/02/06/a-poolhouse-conversation-what-is-sexy

Come Join In!

Weirdness and Goodness

Today was a weird day. All my kids wanted to do was kvetch.

"I hate Macbeth."

"Why do we have to write thesis statements?"

"Are we watching that stupid movie?"

And on and on and on. Plus, the kids who are normally really well-behaved? I tossed FOUR of them out of two different classes. I can't remember the last time I had to throw anyone out and FOUR in one day?

Oh, man.

By fourth period, this sign was posted on my door:

Abandon all hope, ye who enter! CAUTION: Both Ms. Winfree's patience and sense of humor have left the building for the day. Act accordingly or face the consequences. (And they won't be pleasant.)

I have goodness on one level to share, but it's not mine to share, so . . . I must wait.

But, there is public goodness -- Moira Rogers has TWO new contracts. I predicted this. Go forth and offer congratulations.

I'm good like that. ;-)

Cover Goodness!

I'm in love:

What do you think?!

Me=Horrible Blogger

I haven't posted in a MONTH.

So maybe me=busy. Yeah, that works as an excuse. ;-)

This is what I've been up to:

1) Edits on Anything But Mine. (You should see the cover -- I cannot WAIT to show it off.)
2) Getting Monster #1 to and from tennis. However, we have missed the ortho this month. Sigh. Must reschedule.
3) Revisions on Memories of Us.
4) Working on the first draft of A Life Unlived (Madeline & Ash's story).
5) Teaching research.
6) Teaching Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and The Scarlet Letter. That's a lot of teacher reading.
7) Keeping my grades up-to-date in Teacherease.
8) Gearing up to coach Literary.
9) Gearing up for the talent show, the student government's big spring fundraiser.
10) Panicking because Literary competition and the talent show are scheduled for the same day.
11) Going to a really cool teacher conference.
12) Being stressed over house renovations from hell (I think I'm going to post pics so you'll understand why . . .)
13) Filing my taxes.

Hey, that could have been a Thursday Thirteen! We'll make it a February Fourteen by adding:

14) Suffering from a cold.

I'll try to be here more often, I swear. Soon to come: a new online read and excerpts from Anything But Mine . . .

So . . . did you miss me?

Goals? What Goals?

If you look, they're all over the Internet right now: 2008 writer goals. Well, if you're looking for vast writerly goals, you won't find them here. Do I have them? Sure, although they're more like targets. I'm in awe of writers who set goals and do spreadsheets and do tracking software and challenges and stuff.

I'm just not one of them.

Instead, I'm a JDI kind of girl.

My students will tell you that "JDI!" means "Just DO it!" I say it when they're experiencing disequillibrium about something new (like that word? It's a fancy educational term for "whining.").

"But, Ms. Winfree, I can't write an eight to ten page research paper!"

"JDI."

So what is my JDI plan for the year? I don't know. Basically, it goes like this:

1) Make sure all grad school assignments are in on time, completed to the best of my ability. Gotta maintain that 4.0.

2) Make all publisher deadlines on edits, print galleys, etc. Gotta keep those contracts.

3) Keep on teaching, grading, making parent contact, etc. Need a contract for next year! Not meeting professional expectations kinda puts a damper on that.

4) Run. Daily. 20 minutes. If I get 30 minutes, great. If it's five days out of seven, it's all good.

5) Write. Daily. I target 1000 words a day, which gives me a couple of rough draft manuscripts in a year.

6) Get on the agent-hunt merry-go-round again. Don't know what I'm thinking. I think Joan just wants me with her.

Oh, wait. Those look like goals. Naaaah. That's just what I'm going to do.

Untitled: Ash & Mad

Today: 0/85,000 Words (0%)
Total: 72,692/85,000 Words (85.52%)

Generated with the Progress Bar Generator.

Okay, If Kate Can...

So can I.

First of all, I'm also over at Romance Worth Killing For today.

So what skill does Kate have that I want to emulate? Well, about a year before I sold, Kate read some of A Formal Feeling and made the prediction I'd sell.

Well...

So here's my prediction: Expect good things from Moira Rogers (otherwise known as Bree and Donna). Don't believe me? Go check out their free read from November. These ladies have talent!

Courtesy of Kate Rothwell

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