Let's Call the Whole Thing...Happy!

Yesterday I followed a link to an Atlantic Monthly article written by NPR contributor and writer/performer Sandra Tsing Loh who I recently heard speak at a library event in Orange County, CA. I loved her energy and humor and bought her book, MOTHER ON FIRE, which talks about her anxieties and challenges as a mother of school-age kids. It also talks about her marriage, which, from what she says in the Atlantic article, is now over. I'm sorry about that, and sorry to learn from what she writes in the piece titled, "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," that she's doesn't have much faith in the possibility of long-lived, happy marriages.

As someone who just celebrated a two-digit anniversary, I can tell you I'm a believer...

Loh complains that everyone says a good, long marriage takes "work." Maybe she's more of a romantic than I am, because she doesn't seem to think that there should be an element of labor involved. I don't think it should be arduous either, but to imagine that there aren't going to be crumbs left on the bread board or socks on the floor, well, that is just being blind to the usual foibles of our fellow man (and of ourselves. Every time I find myself irked by some habit of my spouse's, I remind myself there must be an equal number of my own--that I'm blissfully unaware of--that irk him). Or maybe Loh just hasn't spent enough time at an office type of job where you have to deal with the habits and idiosyncrasies of co-workers. No grumbling at the boss for leaving the milk on the counter!

And to give credit where credit is due, I'm know the credit for my continued marital happiness goes in large part to the wonderful man I married, Surfer Guy. He's a bit of a pack rat. He'll be late for something because he stopped to push a stalled car off the road or help change a tire. And then there's that tendency to think that he can repair any kind of household problem (with many more successes than failures, though). So he's not perfect, of course, any more than I am.

But when our anniversary was coming up and I could only dither about what we should do and also worry about fitting in a research trip for the current trilogy, Surfer Guy went all man on me and made a decision while I was at the RWA conference...he booked our trip to the wine country. We left behind kids, new puppy, the results of The Flood (blog for another day) and flew to Napa & Sonoma where he played chauffeur and fellow winetaster as I soaked up the atmosphere. No winery was too obscure, no backtracking to revisit a place did he find an annoyance. He took photos, he asked good questions, he made me hand out my books (he's much better at promo than I).

So, people, I'm here to tell you...a good marriage starts with a good man. And I believe and believe and believe that they are out there. Romance lives beyond the pages of our books and beyond the "I do"...I know it and live with it every day. Happy Anniversary to us, Surfer Guy. Thank you and I love you.

Do you have a marriage/romance success story? Yourself, parents, family? What do you think is The Secret?

Can I Panic Yet?

Lois Greiman

Remember how Betina said she was exhausted after promotion. Well, I’m at another grueling part of the writing process. The part where I’m just finishing up my manuscript. Or rather, I SHOULD be finishing. In fifteen days, two hours and fourteen minutes, I have to be done. But my latest and not so greatest still needs a butt-load of work.

So…it’s officially time to panic. And you know what? I’m glad. That’s right…I’m admitting here and now: I LIKE TO PANIC. In fact, sometimes I think I just sit around waiting for the adrenaline rush that comes with the terror. And it’s not just writing that makes me feel this way. It’s all kinds of things. Getting ready for special events, for instance. I was alllllmost late for my own wedding. Why? Well, partly because it was really kind of fun to see how nervous I could make my husband-to-be. Tee hee. But partly because I’m addicted to the nerves. For instance, I have an inexplicable inability to fill the car with gas when it runs low. Can’t do it until it’s below empty. It’s the thrill of the worry, I tell you. A couple months ago I pulled into a station and the car died as I was cruising up to the pump. Couldn’t make it five more feet. Loved it. Told everyone about it, most of whom thought I was a few aces short of a full deck. And I can’t deny it, it’s crazy.

I do it with my weight, too, these days. I’ll scarf down every possible empty calorie until I KNOW I’m past the ‘okay’ mark just so I can panic and starve myself. It’s painful, but it’s somehow oddly comforting, too.


Actually, I could quote a dozen other examples concerning everything from horses to house-keeping, but I’ve probably already admitted enough.

Yikes. This is like confession by blog. So as long as I’m confessing, someone tell me what the hell’s wrong with me? How do I fix it? And is there anyone else out there with this particular brand of psychosis?

www.loisgreiman.com

Winner of Susan's book is...

Martha E! Please contact Susan at susan@susanvaughan.com to provide your snail mail addy! Congrats!

Welcome Author Susan Vaughan

Please join me in welcoming terrific author (and very nice lady!) Susan Vaughan to the convertible today. Susan has written for Silhouette Romantic Suspense and has a full length romantic suspense novel published with The Wild Rose Press. Her newest release PRIMAL OBSESSION won the More than Magic Award and has been getting rave reviews!

RESEARCH CAN BE RISKY

Most research for my books is virtual, that is, on the Internet. But often it means taking risks, emotional risks to interview people face to face and other, unanticipated risks. For example, my current release, PRIMAL OBSESSION, required me to venture on a six-day canoe-and-camping trip in northern Maine. Risky for this nature wimp, exhausting and beautiful but not dangerous.
After that I never thought my research in Washington, D.C. would also be risky. Ahem. Having the Romance Writers of America conference there afforded me the perfect opportunity to do research for the current project, which is set there. I rode the Metrorail, the subway, to determine how my hero will lose his bad-guy tail on the way to Crystal City, Virginia. At that Crystal City stop, I checked out what he'd see and smell and hear when he exited.




Then I went to the National Museum of Natural History to continue my research, the most important part because that's where the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Mineral houses, well, gems and minerals, including the Hope Diamond and various other famous pieces of jewelry. In my current project, there's a robbery, not of the Hope but of the crown jewels of a fictional country on loan for exhibit. I'd made an appointment with the security manager to run my scenario by him to see if it could work the way I have the robbery set up. When I arrived, he was still at lunch, so I hustled up to take pictures of the scene of the crime. I snapped shots of the Hope Diamond...





...and pictures of the room's cameras and other exhibit cases.



There's my risk, you say. The guards should descend on anyone taking pictures of the cameras. Nope. No burly guards grabbed me because of that.

Finally the security manager was ready for me, not in uniform but in a gray suit with a polyester tie in a color of green that reminded me of what my dog spits up when she eats grass. Sorry. Not an image you want if you've just eaten. I should've left then after that omen. But no, I persevered. I explained--again--what I was there for. I laid out my scenario for him. As I talked, I could see the security chief backing off, widening his stance and his shoulders. Suspicion lowered his eyebrows. He refused to answer any of my questions, wouldn't tell me anything about security for the gem section or anywhere else for that matter. Wouldn't tell me if guards are hired by the entire Smithsonian (they are). Wouldn't tell me how many were employed or might be there overnight. He was insulted and incensed that I wanted to write that two of the guards were paid as accomplices in my robbery. His guards would never cross that line. And finally he wanted my fictional robbery to take place in a fictional museum, not this real one that he felt would be made vulnerable. I tried to change the subject to him, to find out what made him go into security work and what he liked about it. Dead end there, too. I felt like Katie Couric trying to interview Dick Cheney while he's still in his no-interview bunker.

Enough, I gave the man the bookmark for PRIMAL OBSESSION and thanked him. For nothing, but I didn't say that. By then, he was ready to have Homeland Security check me out. Yup, he should've done that two weeks ago when I first phoned him. He'd have saved us both a lot of time. As I stood to leave, his secretary leaned across her desk and asked, "Can I have a bookmark, too?"

Remember that burly guard who didn't show up when I photographed the security camera and the Hope Diamond? He appeared now and the manager had him escort me to the exit. As I walked out, I looked back to see him glaring at me with suspicion and with his hand on his gun.

I was steamed walking out into a D.C. steamy summer day and not a little embarrassed. But now I get to make up my fictional robbery the way I want. Maybe I'll give away museum secrets and maybe I won't. I'll take that risk.

What's the riskiest thing you've done in the name of research or in your daily life? Susan is giving away a copy of PRIMAL OBSESSION to one lucky commenter today. (Print for US, digital for foreign.)

Exhaustion. . .

I just finished, as of today, a month of promotion for my most recent book, Make Me Yours, and I have to say, I'm exhausted. Can I get back to writing now? Please. Pretty pleeeeease.

I didn't go to RWA national this year; I had too much to do and-- I confess-- I thought I could use the $2,000 better elsewhere. Like most of America I'm making more careful money decisions these days, and trying to make the most of each promotional opportuniy and each promotional dollar. So I did a lot of on-line interviews, blogs, a couple of talks to groups, stock signings, and participated in Ask the Author sessions that lasted weeks. . . for RT and the Cherry Forum's Book Discussion. We did a couple of viral e-blasts, produced a pod cast for Harlequin, and I did a couple of print interviews-- that unfortunately won't show up until the book is officially off the shelves. It may not sound like a lot, but each event took days of planning and execution, appointment making, driving, meeting, dressing, speech-writing, e-mail or blog checking. . . my poor ms sat untouched for three weeks!!

I'm used to spreading promo out over three or four months prior to, during, and just after release. This "series" kind of promotion where everything is focused more closely around the release month is very intense and totally new to me. So, I'm mentally exhausted and trying to find the creative sparks to continue to write.

And of course, with every round of "meet the public" I find myself wondering why it's so important that we romance/women's fiction writers put ourselves out there with our books and make ourselves so accessible.

The short answer is: that's our industry. The romance genre has grown and developed differently than the other publishing venues. A lot of it has grown on the backs of relationships between readers and writers, between authors and un-published writers, and between industry professionals and writers-- both published and not-yet-published. There are good aspects to it -- the sales, the camaradie, the good energy, the feelings of community and belonging. . . and of course the opportunity to garner reader reaction.

As a writer, most of the time I feel like a comedian playing to an empty house. It's hard to gauge reaction without seeing and meeting our readers. And no matter how many reviews you get that say you've written a good book, there's nothing like seeing the delight or excitement in a reader's face to make your day. Week. Month. Year.

However, there is another side to such interactions. . . one that writers whisper or groan about at conferences-- usually behind locked hotel room doors, for fear of alienating someone, anyone.

The plain truth is: there are readers who are far from complimentary, gracious, or even sane. There are readers who assume a deeper intimacy with a writer than is healthy (MISERy anyone?) and begin to track and follow a writer. Stalking potential is one reason that most writers use PO boxes for mail and have more than one e-mail address.

There are those readers who, no matter how friendly or generous or well-intentioned a writer is, become disappointed or jealous or feel deprived of the attention they're due and go to extremes. . . posting scathing critiques of books on sales outlets, slandering authors to other writers and in writer groups, posting hateful comments on author web sites or blogs. It's the equivalent of throwing temper tantrums in public. . . "Look at me, look at me-- I hate you!" A few show enough style and wit to make their venom publicly palatable and bring out the ugly and atavistic in others. . . these are the ones who build a reputation for being "cool" or "bitchy". . . and spend a great deal of energy tearing down other writers for fun and attention. (I have only one name in mind as I write this, but if you think I'm talking about you, here, then I probably am.)

I am a working writer with stories to tell and a life to live. I have had a child nearly die, a beloved husband die, lost two in-laws and two parents. . . all within a space of ten years. Through it all I kept writing. I am not saying this to curry sympathy; I'm simply stating the facts of my life. A number of my writer friends (including ones on this blog!) have gone though similar and even worse trials during similar periods. . . and they continued to produce books and honor the expectations of their publishers and readers.

It isn't easy, writing, when the very heart has been ripped from you or when you're so exhausted you can't see straight from caregiving. And yet many writers do it again and again. Yes, there are writers who lead charmed lives and who never seem to have troubles-- at least very few. But over time, the ups and downs of life catch up with us all.

There are times when writers simply can't be sociable or generous or gracious. . . and don't feel like broadcasting the details of their lives in explanation or apology. Frankly, we don't owe readers that. They have no right to demand explanations or excuses from us for their expectations. And when they do demand it-- we have to draw the line and step back from it-- refuse to play blame games or be hurt by their inappropriate reactions.

What we do owe readers is the best damned read we can produce. We cannot be responsible for the mood they are in when they pick up our books.

Half of a great read is the stuff a reader brings to the story-- images from the reader's own world that she supplies to furnish and upholster the story. If a reader is angry, distraught, skeptical, or bitter when they pick up our books, they're going to find a less than satisfying story. No way to avoid it. Remember "willing suspension of disbelief"? If a reader is determined to keep one foot outside that suspension of disbelief, there is nothing we as writers can do about it. There hasn't been a book or story published, anywhere, ever, that can't be torn apart by a cold, analytical approach that refuses to suspend disbelief and welcome the writer's voice. Shakespeare included. You can always find something to criticize in a book.

If a reader is not in the mood to be entertained, she won't be. Count on it.

So, there's my rant. I had intended to mention that one woman from someplace who posted nasty things on my own web site and went from on-line store to on-line store posting virulent slams about how terrible my book was and what a fraud I was. But honestly, I've forgotten her name and most of the details. And I can't tell you how pleased I am to realize that. Her problem is. . . her problem.

In writing the best book I could write, I have honored my sole contract with my readers. I've tried to be friendly and accessible and to share my thinking and my process with those who are interested. I've tried to be welcoming and helpful and supportive of my fellow blogmates here and of our wonderful readers and contributors. But I'm not perfect. If someone feels a great need to point that out, for their own purposes, that's their problem. . . not mine.

And here's the proof: some of the biggest names in the business are infamous for being awful to their fans and wretched to their peers. Yet, they sell like mad. And some of the sweetest, warmest, most evolved and compassionate people you'll ever meet. . . sell pitfully few books.

It makes sense when you think about it. How many of the 100,000 people who buy a book can possibly have met and been influenced by the writer's warmth and personality?

It's really all about the books themeselves, folks.

And right now. . . I need a nap.

Got a reaction to my relatively civilized rant? Let's hear it! Feel free. . .

ARGHH! We Be Pirates

The pirates visited their Gamma and Grandpa a few weeks ago. Or at least, they became pirates once they got here. I'd been anticipating their visit for weeks. Making plans to keep them busy--more plans, as it turned out, then we had time for. And the weather didn't cooperate for trips to the pool or the lake. But that was okay. Because the pirate costumes I surprised them with were a big hit.

We even prevailed upon Grandpa to don a pirate hat the first day. But it was Gamma with the hat and eyepatch, dagger in hand as we sailed the seven seas from our trusty ship (the front porch). There were endless sea battles with The Beast and Captain Hook. A special call to summon all the friendly pirates to come to our aid. And there was treasure. A chest full of it (minus the lid the first couple days because Gamma is useless at putting things together.) A trip to Auntie Ali's bedroom found it chock full of gold and jewels. (Or beads--how'd she score all the beads? A mother doesn't want to know.) There was treasure to hide from the dastardly Hook and treasure to hunt for when, inexplicably, it had disappeared upon our return. Treasure maps were plentiful but some were easier to follow than others. (Not everyone is a mapmaker.) And always, always there was Gamma providing a running script about what we were doing and why and what we were looking for and what would happen when we found it.

Admittedly, Gamma needed to scale back on some of the more lurid tales once they were linked to extra lights requested at bedtime. But we had a smashing time playing pirates for three days. And when you can keep an almost three and four year old entertained playing the same games for that long, you've accomplished something!

There were also board games (someone needs a bit more practice at sportsmanship!), wagon rides, trips to the playground, feeding the ducks and geese at the park, making crafts in Gamma's school classroom and playing in the bounce house in the backyard.

I had such fond memories of my own visits to my own grandparents that I wanted to make similarly great memories for my own grandchildren. When my first grandson was born, I told my daughter-in-law that I expected him to stay at Gamma's for a week every summer. She got this panicked look on her face and said, "Like when he's nine, right?"

She first sent both boys when they were 1 and 2, LOL. It's amazing how quickly they learn how rare it is to score some time alone :)

There were some flashback memories during the visit, too, of course. Like when I was forced to take them grocery shopping on a two cart trip. A deja vu hour and a half in which I recalled just how my hatred of grocery shopping was born. There was the episode of emptying two bag of chips on the dog's back and smashing the rest of them into the carpet. Of breaking a container of laundry soap on the driveway then running their crocs through them so they'd need washing.

Precious memories, all.

Because something odd has happened since the days I regularly cleaned up those types of messes and juggled making dinner, cleaning and a house full of young children. Things have slowed down. *I've* slowed down. What I remember about when my kids were young is how time flew by. I thought I'd always remember what our daily lives were like then, but now I can only recall moments.

Visits to Gamma's are nothing BUT moments. Each to be cherished and recalled long into adulthood.

The pirates' parents arrived after five days and stayed through the fourth of July weekend. Captain Rylan and First Mate Kasen were ready to go home. And Gamma is already busily dreaming up new ways to entertain them next summer. If I start talking now, maybe I can have their cousin join them.

Do you have special memories of times spent with grandparents? Or are you at the stage in your life when you're making memories for your grandchildren?

Romance Novel handed to President Obama

Very cool, especially because I know Geri.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emily-cotler/a-novel-for-michelle-obam_b_243600.html

Kathleen's Veggie Garden Update

Since everyone's pulling for us to succeed in our first-ever raised bed veggie garden at the Eagles' nest, celebrate with us our first green pepper, picked last week.

Can you tell my granddaughter loves green peppers? She eats them like apples. She's been watching this one eagerly. We'd just finished up a painting project (that's one of my old shirts) and we'd been talking about starting supper. I was wondering what happened to the promise of help cleaning up the brushes when I heard, "Nana! Look! It's ready!"

This is the beauty of having the raised bed so close to the kitchen door. In the old days women planted conveniently located kitchen gardens. Mostly the small stuff. Not only is it easy to care for this way, but it's so much fun to watch it grow. You can take a turn around the garden several times a day, nip off the sucker shoots on the tomato plants, prop up

a drooping branch, pluck a few weeds, and it's not a chore. It's an outing.

Here's two weeks' growth on the tomatoes. Left, 3 weeks ago. Right, last week. One of Clyde's objections to tomatoes is the wire cages. I don't like them either. We started out with metal supports we found in the garage--old window screen frames. We added bamboo U-shape supports later, but lately I've been plugging in simple bamboo poles

as needed to lift a heavy branch. I use the green velcro garden tape to attach--great stuff! You can actually re-use it. I like this more natural approach. We'll see how it holds up under the growing weight.

Oh, yeah, we just lost another tooth.

And look, Grampa! We're growing tomatoes!

One more aspect of ownership for the kids--we ordered the pepper and tomato plants through one of their school fundraisers.

Amazing how much you can get into a raised bed. I have visions of my sugarplums thinking of Nana as they tend their own gardens someday. I have lots of wonderful garden memories. Like my parents, I did the whole soup to nuts--er, salad greens to sweet corn garden in my salad days, but now it's mainly about tomatoes. Daddy always found a spot in the yard for a few tomato plants. For the sake of education and experimentation we're doing a little of this and that as space permits.

Do you have garden memories?

Playing Matchmaker

Photos have turned into a major source of inspiration for me these days. One of the first things I do when I start a new book is print off pictures of my new hero and heroine. Sometimes the image I have in my mind is a celebrity, but in many cases it's just a regular folk. It's important to me that these people "go" together, that they look right side by side, that they complement each other.

That whole process has got me to thinking about how directors go about casting actors and actresses as couples in movies. There are some matches that seem perfect to me (think Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan) and others nothing short of disastrous (Harrison Ford and Anne Heche in Six Days, Seven Nights).

I thought it'd be fun to play matchmaker today.

So who do you think did it best with Viggo Mortensen? Maria Bello (History of Violence), Liv Tyler (LOTR) or Diane Lane (A Walk to Remember)?






































Gerard Butler? Thandie Newton (RocknRolla), Hillary Swank (PS I Love You) or Lena Headey (300)?







































Johnny Depp? Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies) Penelope Cruz (Blow) or Juliette Binoche (Chocolat)?





I'd post more but for the fact that downloading and arranging these photos is very complicated. Can you think of some on-screen couples that really worked for you? Any that you thought were disastrous?

Happy Thursday!
Helen

Guest Author: Andrea Sisco

Tell us about your novel A Deadly Habit and how it came about.

My novel A Deadly Habit will be released July 17, 2009 from Five Star (an imprint of Gale, part of Cengage Learning). I enjoy reading mysteries and used my background as a former probation officer for a large metropolitan area as the vehicle for solving a murder. For a first time author it seemed less complicated if I wrote what I knew about.

A Deadly Habit is about a young probation officer, Pen Santucci who is looking good for the murder of her estranged husband. The wisecracking, safecracking Pen lures an elderly priest and a young nun into committing felonies on her wild search for the truth. Hardly appropriate behavior for the dedicated officer. But while Pen believes in her job, she has little faith in the justice system. Unfortunately, Pen digs herself deeper into trouble and straight into a muddy grave, dragging her hunky attorney with her. If they ever get out of it alive, he plans to wring her neck himself. That is, if the thugs who are after the money she found don't get her first.

Tell us about your journey to publication.

I've written most of my life, but I haven't always written fiction. Years ago I had an idea for what would be considered a Women's fiction novel. It's a good story, but I didn't know how to write a book and so I over wrote it and made all sorts of beginner mistakes. Unlike a lot of authors who keep those first books under the bed, I may dust it off, clean it up and have a go at it. But only because I feel it's a good story and can be fixed.

It became obvious that I didn't know how to write fiction and a friend who is published in the Romance genre suggested I could learn a lot about writing if I tackled that genre (because of the fast rules and tight structure). The story, again, was interesting and I learned a lot (my query letter was a killer because the full manuscript was requested each time I submitted it) but I hadn't learned enough. Alas, this is a story that will stay under my bed gathering dust. And that's a good thing because the book really isn't worth saving.

I have a large number of children and didn't write much when I was raising them. I also had a career and that took time away from writing (although I could have found a few minutes a day if I'd really thought about it. Several years ago I had an idea (based on a bit of me) for a mystery. I wrote, had readers who helped me focus and kept me honest and I continued to write except for a time when I’d experienced the loss of a number of family members in a short period of time. When I'd rewritten the book about twenty times I decided to send out queries for agents. There were only rejections! I think I queried about 30 agents. Oh, I had requests for partials, full manuscripts, etc. but nothing stuck.

I must admit I was feeling pretty low. Hey, it was starting to feel like it might be easier to get a new husband than an agent. I refused to throw in the towel. I knew the book had merit so I decided to send the manuscript to some houses that didn't require an agent or knew me from my work reviewing books on my site www.armchairinterviews.com

I sent it to several different houses and was offered a contract by Five Star. A friend, Emyl Jenkins (her newest book The Big Steal published by Algonquin is out in July also) told me I had to have an agent and don't sign anything until she talked to her agent.

I couldn't believe that someone was offering to act as a go between with her agent (frankly I've found authors don't do this much—at least it hasn't happened to me). Her agent said if I could write, she'd work with me. And she is now my agent. She took an orphan author and gave her a home and some feeling of security. It’s a nice place to be in at this time.

I was offered my contract with Five Star in late November of 2007 and A Deadly Habit releases July 17, 2009. That feels like a long time and it is. I can understand why authors decide to publish their own books. At my age I could have died before I saw my book in print.

What advice would you give to yourself if you were just starting to write?

Write! And I would have started writing at an earlier age. So many people have the dream, but don’t put it into action. Right now I’m working on the second book in the Penelope Santucci series and I figure if I write 30 pages a week, I’ll have the book done in a year. If I don’t write, I have nothing. I don’t like that. I think it’s also important to believe in yourself, your ability. If you don’t, it’s too easy to quit.

Publishing is a difficult business, what bothers you the most about it?

New authors are finding it increasingly difficult to break into the business. With the demise of the independent bookstores and the diminishing shelf space, we're being served up the best sellers whether we like them or not. Wonderful writers who are also great storytellers are not getting the publicity they deserve.

What’s your favorite part of being a writer? What is your least favorite part?

Writing is my favorite part of being a writer. My least favorite part is the publicity. It takes away from my writing time and frankly, most writers have no idea how to promote themselves. And even if we knew how to promote our work, we would rather be writing. When you think about it, publishers print books and the authors promote them. While people view me as an extrovert I’m not. I’m an introvert who likes people so promotion drains me.

What has surprised you most about this industry?

The willingness of review sites, bloggers and other authors to help promote my book. So many people are willing to step out and help. It’s also meant that I’m stepping out and taking the time to help other authors in small ways that they say are helpful.

Do you have any advice to aspiring authors?

Sit butt in chair and write. Don’t stop writing. Join a good writers/critique group, read books (dissect them to see how they are constructed), talk to other writers, notice the world around you, listen to conversations, take notes. Everything has possibilities for a future novel.

You have a popular author interview and review site. Please tell us about Armchair Interviews.

Connie Anderson and I were former television hosts. We interviewed authors (new, emerging and the superstars). When I left television (I was living in AZ and MN and it was impossible to do the job) I missed the author's and the books. Connie had the idea and we started Armchair Interviews over 4 years ago. We've been named for four years by Writer's Digest as one of the best 101 web sites for writers. We're pretty proud of that honor.

How does an author get reviewed on Armchair Interviews?

If an author wants a review they should go to www.armchairinterviews.com and click on the FAQ for submission requirements. We are one of the few sites that review self-published books. We have found some gems.

What’s been the most exciting thing about seeing your book published?

I loved when the ARC’s (Advanced Reading Copy) arrived. I haven’t seen the finished book yet so I imagine that will be really exciting. I received great reviews from Kirkus and Booklist. Both reviews likened me to Janet Evanovich (and that’s a good thing). I was so excited I could hardly breathe.

Is there another Penelope book being written?

Yes, I took some time off from writing after I sold A Deadly Habit. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to write another one. Having a book published is part of my bucket list and I’d accomplished the task. But Pen grabbed a hold of me and challenged me to write more about her. I like her. She has potential so I’m writing now. The working title is A Bad Habit.

Biography:
Andrea Sisco has had an eclectic career as a probation officer, television host, flight attendant, book reviewer, and adoption activist. The charge that the character of Penelope Santucci is autobiographical is only partially true. It is true, however, that her husband consented to his murder, but only if it took place of the pages of a book. She has kept her promise. Andrea is the co-founder of www.armchairinterviews.com, a web site that reviews books and interviews authors. A Deadly Habit is her first mystery. She is currently coauthoring a Young Adult Fantasy series. Her website is www.andreasisco.com

Diary of a mad writer in D.C.

Hang on. It's my day and I'm still suffering from post conference difficulties. Christie is my heroine! How she managed to get a post up yesterday so early is beyond me. Anyway - be right back with something that will stun and amaze!!
Cindy

Okay. I'm back. And I can't believe I promised to stun and amaze. I'm not sure that's going to happen but I'll give it a go. My head still feels like it's stuffed with confetti but the conference memories are starting to jell and I want to share a few with you. So here they are. Cindy's memorable moments. Drum roll please ......

We arrived in D.C. on Monday afternoon, just in time for dinner. Do we know how to plan or what? Across the street from the beautiful Marriott Wardman hotel (which is surrounded by the most incredible gardens!!) is a row of shops and ethnic restaurants. Vunderbar!! Kylie, Roxanne Rustand and her daughter Emily and the inimitable Gennita Low and I trippy-trapped along the street and finally decided on a lovely open air Indian restaurant. Why, you ask? Because they had $3.95 Margaritas. Now these weren't just any Margaritas - they were authentic West Indian Margaritas that only a very delicate palate could discern from the traditional Mexican drink. Since there is nothing delicate or discerning about us, we were in hog heaven. Ole!

Tuesday, we rented a car and drove over 100 miles to Charlottesville, VA, to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation. With Gennita at the wheel we arrived in record time - just in time for lunch (are you sensing a pattern here?) Monticello is a lush, beautiful plantation set in the midst of rolling hills and dense, old growth forests. The main house itself is just stunning. We took a guided house tour and learned so much about Jefferson - did you know he was an inventor, among other things? We also took a tour of the slave quarters. It was a sobering glimpse into a disturbing part of America's past.

After a nice drive back to D.C. we wandered the streets of Georgetown. Did you know there were many cobble stone streets there and it's not wise to wear platform shoes? I learned the hard way when I turned my ankle and went down on my butt. The earth moved, people, but amazingly, except for a bruise the size of Texas on my hip (because my hip IS the size of Texas) I was none the worse for the wear.

Wednesday brought more sight seeing. Kylie and I went to the Spy Museum. Good thing we did, too. You all don't know it but if we hadn't shown up there on that exact day at that exact time to take part in a covert mission we never would have saved the world from terrorists getting their hands on a trigger mechanism for a dirty bomb. We sacrificed, people. We risked our very lives running down dark alleys, dodging bullets, intercepting encrypted radio transmissions - you know, just your run of the mill super spy stuff. No thanks necessary. It was all in a day's work. :o)

That evening RWA held their annual Literacy book signing. What a hoot!!! I met so many amazing people, sat by my usual signing mate, Rachael Gibson, (who also won a Rita sat night - Yea Rachael!!!) and sampled the gorgeous and talented Olivia Gates' s Baklava. Yum Yum.
Afterward, my wonderful agent, Maria Carvainis held her agency dinner at Citronelle, a dining experience I won't soon forget! Double yum yum!

Thursday and Friday were both whirls of meetings with friends I only get to catch up with at National, plus drinks and dinners with the Pocket people and my amazing editor, Maggie Crawford. (You're noticing that I manage to eat a lot, right? Heaven.....) Oh, and Kylie, Rox and I, along with Maria Carvainis and Gennita Low as moderator, presented a panel in the afternoon in which I think we managed to sound reasonably intelligent. Anyway, that's the hope. Oh - and Thursday night, our very own Kylie won the Daphne DuMauer award of excellence for her book Terms of Surrender! Not only that, she won the over all award for all categories. WTG, Kylie. Of course we had to celebrate. By Saturday night one of the staff at the bar knew us on a first name basis :o)

Friday night - yee haw - the Harlequin party. Wow! As always, it's the party of the year and we laughed and danced and got blisters on our feet and - oh yeah - we ate some more. And all of that was after a 3 hour dinner with my editor that I will never, in a million years, forget. I can't even begin to describe the delicacies so I won't try. Suffice it to say it was an out of this world culinary experience.

It wasn't easy getting up Saturday morning but, troopers that we are, we did it and set out for another day of meets and greets with our buddies and, you guessed it, we ate!!! By Saturday night, we were all dragging but managed to rise to the occasion to attend the lavish Rita ceremony and laugh at the incomparable Ann Stuart (aka sister Chrissie) who was a brilliant MC. Golden Hearts and Ritas were the coveted prize for the evening and let me tell ya, NO one was more surprised than me when they called my name for the Rita in Romantic suspense. What a rush!!! Thanks for all the congratulatory posts, you guys. I answered e-mail all day yesterday. I hope I was coherent.

Couldn't resist. Here's a photo of New Rita with Old Rita. The girls are getting along just great!! Also, I just HAD to post the cover for TAKE NO PRISONERS. Thanks to BOI operative, Sam Lang and Abbie for staring in this book!!



















Sunday morning, after only a few hours of sleep found Kylie and I standing in the lobby of the hotel. I don't remember why we were just standing there. We had checked out and needed to get a cab to get us to the airport so we really needed to get a move on. But as fate would have it, there we stood and who should approach us but P.J., who posts with us regularly. It was so much fun to meet her!! Even more fun when she handed each of us a bag of home made chocolate. OMG. Ambrosia!!!! Melt in your mouth delicious!!! Mine barely made it home. Thanks again, P.J. You saved our lives.

It was great to get home Sunday afternoon to Margaret, our little Brittany, and Buddy and Sly, our cats, and my dear, dear hubby who was waiting with a dozen red roses and a steak dinner that I didn't have to cook.

So, that's it folks. Thanks for indulging me. It was a once in a lifetime kind of trip where all the stars aligned with a plethora of good friends, good food and good luck!

I'm sure I left a lot of things out so if any of you have any questions about the conference, the authors and the color of my bruises, ask away. Bottom line, if your a writer or a reader, it's a great place to be.

Winner of Debra Webb's book

is Laurie! Please send your snail mail addy to kylie@kyliebrant.com and I'll send it on to Deb. Congrats!

Only at the RWA Conference...

For those of you who don't know, "RWA" stands for Romance Writers of America, and the annual conference (attended by about 2000 of the 10,000 members) occurred last week in Washington D.C. There are workshops, publisher spotlights, booksignings, and general celebration of our industry. The photo on the left is from the Harlequin party last year. I've yet to download my photos from this year's conference because I came home to the aftermath of 5 hours of toilet overflow in the upstairs bathroom (it was fresh water, but damaged carpet upstairs and drywall downstairs, humidifiers and fans now at work, insurance is involved, and it's a bazillion degrees in my house in order to dry things out), but I also came home with some "Only at RWA" thoughts in mind...

1. Only at RWA do upcoming book covers get more "oohs" and "aahs" than photos of kids. (Exception, real live babies, like Anne Mallory's son, who is the cutest little guy in the world. Romance writers cannot resist a hero in the making.)

2. Only at RWA can you mention something (lingerie tape, chocolate) on Facebook or Twitter and then find that someone brings that very thing for you to the conference (thanks Heather, Bella, and PJ).

3. Only at RWA can you attend a lunch for a favorite author (Robyn Carr) and sit across from a German publisher of a romance magazine who shares your taste in favorite reads...and loves one of your very own Silhouette Special Editions (it got her reading them again!)

4. Only at RWA can you not remember the title of the book she describes. "Something with 'Bachelor' in it," you say. Kris Alice, I remember now it is Bachelor Boss!

5. Only at RWA can you be lunching offsite when you learn that firetrucks are at the RWA hotel and the response from fellow lunchers is that they text friends to find out if the firemen are cute.

6. Only at RWA is it perfectly okay to ask a stranger hanging out in the lobby to get your back zipper unstuck so you can then go in the bathroom and change for the airport (thank you Colleen Gleason).

7. Only at RWA could you become insanely rich if you received a dollar for every bandage on every conference-goer's feet.

Do you have an RWA or other conference thought to share? Or how about an explanation of why we put our feet through shoe-torture?

p.s. If I can maneuver around the de-humidifiers and fans and get unpacked, I'll put up more photos later today.

Congrats!

Congrats to our own Cindy Gerard for winning the RITA for Romantic Suspense with Take No Prisoners!

RWA Conference Awards

First off, CONGRATS to Kylie!! Her book, TERMS OF SURRENDER not only won RWA's Kiss of Death chapter's 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence for the Best Series Romantic Mystery/Suspense category, but it was also the OVERALL winner for ALL categories. Yay, Kylie!!Tomorrow night is the long-awaited RITA ceremony at RWA's conference in D.C. Thought I'd post the finalist here to refresh everyone's memories. Read any of these books? Anyone willing to venture a best guess on who's going to win? One more thing ...GO GO Cindy and Susie! Got my fingers crossed for you both! Helen 2009 RITA Finalists — Best First Book
		Her One Desire by Kimberly Killion Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra ISBN: 142010442X Hilary Sares, editor
		No Good Girls by Jean Marie Pierson Dorchester Publishing, Love Spell ISBN: 0505527561 Alicia Condon, editor
		Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs Penguin Group USA, Dutton ISBN: 9780525479420 Sarah Shumway, editor
		Passionate by Anthea Lawson Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra Debut ISBN: 142010456X Hilary Sares, editor
		Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas Bantam Dell Publishing Group ISBN: 978-0-440-24431-8 Caitlin Alexander, editor
		Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue ISBN: 0373693346 Sean Mackiewicz, editor
		The Secret Soldier by Jennifer Morey Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense ISBN: 978-0-373-27596-0 Natashya Wilson, editor
		Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley Grand Central Publishing, 5 Spot ISBN: 978-0-446-17814-3 Alex Logan, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Contemporary Series Romance
		A Mother’s Wish by Karen Templeton Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition ISBN: 9780373249169 Gail Chasan, editor
		Adopted: Outback Baby by Barbara Hannay Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Romance ISBN: 0-373-17526-4 Meg Lewis, editor
		Antonides’ Forbidden Wife by Anne McAllister Harlequin Enterprises, Mills and Boon Modern ISBN: 978-0-263-86478-6 Jenny Hutton, editor
		Falling for the Lone Wolf by Crystal Green Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition ISBN: 978-0-373-24932-9 Susan Litman, editor
		Last-Minute Proposal by Jessica Hart Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Romance ISBN: 13-978-0-373-17544-4 Maddie Rowe, editor
		Texas Heir by Linda Warren Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin American Romance ISBN: 978-0-373-75230-0 Kathleen Scheibling, editor
		The Children’s Doctor and the Single Mum by Lilian Darcy Harlequin Enterprises, Medical Romance ISBN: 0-373-71454-8 Bryony Green, editor
		The Cowboy’s Christmas Miracle by RaeAnne Thayne Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition ISBN: 0-373-24933-0 Gail Chasan, editor
		The Right Mr. Wrong by Cindi Myers Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin American Romance ISBN: 0373752032 Wanda Ottewell, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure
		A Sexy Time of It by Cara Summers Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Blaze ISBN: 0-373-79400-2 Brenda Chin, editor
		Cold Case Connection by Kathleen Long Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue ISBN: 978-0373693276 Allison Lyons, editor
		Danger Signals by Kathleen Creighton Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense ISBN: 0-373-27577-3 Gail Chasan, editor
		Lethal Attraction by Diana Duncan Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense ISBN: 0-373-27580-3 Susan Litman, editor
		Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue ISBN: 0373693346 Sean Mackiewicz, editor
		Tall, Dark and Lethal by Dana Marton Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue ISBN: 0373693729 Allison Lyons, editor
		The Man Behind the Cop by Janice Kay Johnson Harlequin Enterprises, Superromance ISBN: 0-373-71489-0 Wanda Ottewell, editor
		The Secret Soldier by Jennifer Morey Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense ISBN: 978-0-373-27596-0 Natashya Wilson, editor
		Twin Targets by Jessica Andersen Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue ISBN: 9780373693283 Allison Lyons, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Contemporary Single Title Romance
		No Good Girls by Jean Marie Pierson Dorchester Publishing, Love Spell ISBN: 0505527561 Alicia Condon, editor
		Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books ISBN: 0061178047 Lucia Macro, editor
		Out of Time by Samantha Graves Grand Central Publishing, Forever ISBN: 0446618373 Frances Jalet-Miller, editor
		Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books ISBN: 9780778324935 Margaret O'Neill Marbury, editor
		Sweet Talk by Susan Mallery Harlequin Enterprises, HQN ISBN: 978-0-373-77297-1 Tara Parsons, editor
		Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves Grand Central Publishing, Forever ISBN: 978-0-446-61787-1 Michele Bidelspach, editor
		Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books ISBN: 978-0-7783-2550-5 Paula Eykelhof, editor
		Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley Grand Central Publishing, 5 Spot ISBN: 978-0-446-17814-3 Alex Logan, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Historical Romance
		Duchess by Night by Eloisa James HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books ISBN: 9780061245572 Carrie Feron, editor
		In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine Heath HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books ISBN: 978-0-06-135557-8 Lucia Macro and May Chen, editors
		Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas Bantam Dell Publishing Group ISBN: 978-0-440-24431-8 Caitlin Alexander, editor
		Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas St. Martin's Press ISBN: 0312949812 Jennifer Enderlin, editor
		The Edge of Impropriety by Pam Rosenthal Penguin Group USA, NAL, Signet Eclipse ISBN: 0-451-22230-X Laura Cifelli, editor
		The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation ISBN: 9780425219607 Wendy McCurdy, editor
		To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt Grand Central Publishing, Forever ISBN: 0446406929 Amy Pierpont, editor
		Where the Heart Leads by Stephanie Laurens HarperCollins Publishers, Morrow Books ISBN: 978-0-06-124339-4 Lucia Macro, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Inspirational Romance
		Deep in the Heart of Trouble by Deeanne Gist Bethany House Publishers ISBN: 1590529286 David Long and Julie Klassen, editors
		Faking Grace by Tamara Leigh Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah ISBN: 978-1-59052-929-4 Julee Schwarzburg, editor
		Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren Tyndale House Publishers ISBN: 1-4143-1019-6 Karen Watson, editor
		Love Starts with Elle by Rachel Hauck Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN: 1595543384 Ami McConnell, editor
		Mulberry Park by Judy Duarte Kensington Publishing Corp. ISBN: 978-0-7582-2015-8 John Scognamiglio, editor
		The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter Thomas Nelson Inc. (ISBN: 9781595542588) Amanda Bostic and Leslie Peterson, editors
		The Perfect Life by Robin Lee Hatcher Thomas Nelson Inc., Women of Faith Fiction (ISBN: 978-1-59554-148-2) Ami McConnell and Leslie Peterson, editors
		Where Love Abides by Irene Hannon Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired ISBN: 9780373874798 Melissa Endlich, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Novel With Strong Romantic Elements
		Last Dance at Jitterbug Lounge by Pamela Morsi Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books ISBN: 978-0-7783-2519-2 Valerie Gray, editor
		The House on Tradd Street by Karen White Penguin Group USA, NAL ISBN: 978-0-451-22509-2 Cindy Hwang, editor
		The Paper Marriage by Susan Kay Law Penguin Group USA, Berkley ISBN: 978-0-425-21935-5 Jackie Cantor, editor
		The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah ISBN: 978-1-4000-7456-3 Shannon Marchese, editor
		The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley Allison & Busby ISBN: 978-0-7490-7985-7 Lara Crisp, editor
		Tribute by Nora Roberts Penguin Group USA, Putnam ISBN: 978-0-399-15491-1 Leslie Gelbman, editor
		Where Serpents Sleep by C.S. Harris Penguin Group USA, NAL Obsidian ISBN: 9780451225122 Ellen Edwards, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Paranormal Romance
		Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn Penguin Group USA, Berkley ISBN: 9780425222393 Kate Seaver, editor
		Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation ISBN: 978-0-425-22016-0 Cindy Hwang, editor
		Moonstruck by Susan Grant Harlequin Enterprises, HQN ISBN: 0373772599 Tara Parsons, editor
		Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready Simon & Schuster, Pocket ISBN: 978-1416541165 Megan McKeever, editor
		The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter Harlequin Enterprises, HQN ISBN: 0373772467 Tracy Farrell and Margo Lipschultz, editors
		The Healer by Sharon Sala Harlequin Enterprises, HQN ISBN: 978-0-778-2544-4 Leslie Wainger, editor
		The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books ISBN: 978-0-06-111845-6 Erika Tsang, editor
		Thunder Moon by Lori Handeland St. Martin’s Press ISBN: 0-312-94918-9 Jennifer Enderlin, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Regency Historical Romance
		Duke Most Wanted by Celeste Bradley St. Martin’s Press ISBN: 0-312-93970-1 Monique Patterson, editor
		Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books ISBN: 0060876115 Lyssa Keusch, editor
		My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation ISBN: 9780425222461 Wendy McCurdy, editor
		The Dangerous Duke by Christine Wells Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation ISBN: 978-0-06-123492-7 Leis Pederson, editor
		The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books ISBN: 978-0-06-124339-4 Lucia Macro, editor
		Three Nights of Sin by Anne Mallory HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books ISBN: 978-0061242410 May Chen, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Romance Novella
		“All He Wants for Christmas” by Jill Shalvis in Heating Up the Holidays Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Blaze ISBN: 0373794398 Brenda Chin, editor
		“Blame It on the Mistletoe” by Terri Brisbin in One Candlelit Christmas Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical ISBN: 978-0373295197 Joanne Carr Grant, editor
		“Only You” by Jacquie D’Alessandro in It Happened One Night HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books ISBN: 978-0-06-135416-8 Lucia Macro, editor
		“Our Day” by Jean Brashear in The Valentine Gift Harlequin Enterprises, Superromance, Everlasting Love ISBN: 9780373714650 Beverley Sotolov, editor
		“Penance” by Sharon Sala in Aftershock Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne ISBN: 978-0-373-61796-8 Leslie Wainger, editor
		“Snowy Night with a Highlander” by Julia London in Snowy Night with a Stranger Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books ISBN: 1-4165-7822-6 Maggie Crawford, editor
		“The Fall of Rogue Gerard” by Stephanie Laurens in It Happened One Night HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books ISBN: 978-0-06-135416-8 Lucia Macro, editor
		“Thicker Than Blood” by Meljean Brook in First Blood Penguin Group USA, Berkley ISBN: 978-0-425-22400-7 Cindy Hwang, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Romantic Suspense
		Killing Fear by Allison Brennan Random House Group, Ballantine ISBN: 9780373881352 Charlotte Herscher, editor
		Night Secrets by Cherry Adair Random House Group, Ballantine ISBN: 9780345499912 Charlotte Herscher, editor
		Now You Die by Roxanne St. Claire Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books ISBN: 9781416552448 Micki Nuding, editor
		Scream for Me by Karen Rose Grand Central Publishing, Vision ISBN: 0446509205 Karen Kosztolnyik, editor
		Stop Me by Brenda Novak Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books ISBN: 0778324607 Paula Eykelhof, editor
		Take No Prisoners by Cindy Gerard Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books ISBN: 978-1-4165-6674-8 Maggie Crawford, editor
		The Angel by Carla Neggers Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books ISBN: 0778324834 Margaret Marbury, editor
		Triple Exposure by Colleen Thompson Dorchester Publishing, Leisure Romantic Suspense ISBN: 0843961430 Alicia Condon, editor
Back to Top
2009 RITA Finalists — Young Adult Romance
		Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore Random House Group, Delacorte Press ISBN: 978-0385734141 Krista Marino, editor
		How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro Random House Group, Delacorte Press ISBN: 978-0-385-73438-7 Krista Marino, editor
		Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs Penguin Group USA, Dutton ISBN: 978-0525479420 Sarah Shumway, editor