Finished with the first draft of "Two for the Show"

I know there's no writing, only rewriting, but tonight I'm allowing myself the luxury of feeling very good about the accomplishment. I started the book in NaNoWriMo. I had to take a break after a month of intense writing, but began again later in December. This weekend, I was more earnest in my writing. Today, it was one of those obsessive, "I have to finish this" days. I worked on it for over seven hours straight. The story ending was right there in my brain, ready to make the move down to my fingers and onto the computer screen. I'm sore. I'm tired. My vision is blurry. But it was all worth it. I'll step away for tonight, but will start with the first total read-through tomorrow--I haven't done that in weeks. Snippets and chapters, yes. Entire book, no. I only hope everyone enjoys Amy's journey in this one. It's much more her story. Lisa and Frankie are there for support, of course, and they have their own issues to deal with. But Amy and Stacy spoke to me more in this sequel. And once your characters take you by the hand and lead you, you can't say no.

I know I promised to get better about writing once a week. I'll reiterate it here. I'd like to keep a weekly blog of how the rewriting's going.

Aside from my book, HOW 'BOUT THEM COLTS???!!!!! It wouldn't have mattered who won the Chargers/Jets game. Either team scares me since the Colts are so close to going back to the Super Bowl. I'll try to limit reading about them this week. It'll only drive me crazy.

What a way to start a New Year...

...by finding out this past week Playing for First was chosen as one of Curve Magazine's Novels to Start Out the New Year: http://www.curvemag.com/Curve-Magazine/Web-Articles-2008/Novels-to-Start-Out-the-New-Year/. It's an honor to be named in the same list as Ellen Hart, Lee Lynch, and Jane Fletcher, as well as fellow Blue Feather author, Joan Opyr, and the other fine authors. I have Ellen's The Mirror and the Mask, but need to catch up on the other Jane Lawless mysteries. I also have Lee Lynch's Beggar of Love. I've heard great things about both. And thank you to fellow author Amy Dawson Robertson. I'd never known about this without her posting the link on my Facebook page. I need to stay more in the loop!

If you like a good crime/law mystery with a dose of romance, definitely read Carsen Taite's It Should Be a Crime, one of the books on the list. Since I work at the law school here in Indy with second- and third-year law students, the storyline with the law school and professor was fun to read.

We had a restful, quiet New Year's here at home. Do you know how to spell daiquiri?? I sure didn't. lol Sooooo...I've learned a new spelling for the new decade. Yay! I'll have to drop this in a book sometime with a joke about the spelling. Something like, "Well, I don't know how to spell it, but I sure as hell know how to drink it."

Today, I plan to finish writing a short piece for an anthology, plus hopefully get back to Two for the Show. Right now, Amy Perry's waiting for me after a game to lead her where to go. I need to tell her, "Hey, you're leading me. I'm only along for the ride."

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope to get on here at least once a week this year. That's my goal.