This year’s goals

I am bad about keeping up w/ my blog(s) but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been productive. Since January 1st I have written 12000 words (and haven’t even gotten to my goal words for today). I am *thisclose* to finishing up a book I need to send to my editor for consideration (fingers crossed). I am 2/3 rds through the sequel to the book that I am pitching to agents (again fingers crossed).

So again at the January YR meeting we set our 2010 goals. Mine are as follows:

–  Write every week … honest and true I write every day–haven’t missed one since September–knockwood–but there’s less pressure for weekly than daily, if I miss I don’t have to beat myself up.

– Get an agent … self-explanatory

– Sell to NY … again, need I explain?!?!

– Avoid umbrellas … this is an inside joke. One gal, when I “don’t get” her story, has waved an umbrella–among other things–at me

– Get an office space … I don’t *need* one. I just really, really want one. I mean, do I really need to pay for space when I am home alone during the day… but I WANT it! A fellow writer gal has one and I am pea-green w/ envy

I figure those are decent goals. They are attainable, though the second and third are as much dependent on someone else as my effort. A not so attainable is the cabana boy. Still on my list, yet well…. I have to have something crazy put there or what’s the fun!

So here’s to 2010 and productive writing. Write on People!

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas

 

I have my two front teeth

(Cross posted from the Chica blog…) My boys made their lists for Santa the other day (okay, yes, I have a 15, 13 and 11 yo, but I have an 8 yo too who is still enamored with the jolly fat man). I could have guessed 90% of the items on there–the boys are nothing if not predictable. But there were one or two that raised an eyebrow–the 8 yo and 15 yo putting iTouchs. (A 32 G for the 15 yo no less–shaw and reindeers might fly out my butt). I will say this was the first year they didn’t put a gaming system on there–we literally have one in every room (but mine) and 7 handhelds–most of which they paid for. Trust me, the dh would NEVER buy something if you already have one that semi-sorta works.

Anyhoo–as I was perusing Amazon yesterday and pricing the items–for Santa of course–I started thinking, why shouldn’t they put it on their list. They never know when their mom Santa will flip a gasket and actually get it. It *has* happened once or twice before, so…

Still, I like that optimism. Why not shoot for too much rather than err on the side of some.

So, I have come up with a wish list of things that I want for Christmas:

- An agent (not too much to ask, and I am looking)

- The muse to stop being a bi*atch and help out (A little trickier but w/ the right cajoling she’ll get cracking)

-A book in a brick and mortar store I walk into (mine are readily available online, but haven’t made that jump to ordered a bunch for stores yet–though they did get in libraries across the country and that’s pretty cool)

-A Kindle… the big new fangled one (it’s a work expense!)

and in no particular order: a pretty cashmere sweater–to keep me warm while I write, a new Coach bag–to carry my notebook for when ideas hit, Elle Tahari flats–as seen on Oprah–to walk my behind to the post office to mail off queries, a big gaudy silver ring–to give my finger some style as it flies across the keyboard, wireless printer–for those times when I’m not at my desk and need to print something but am too lazy to walk into the next room, chocolate, copious amounts of chocolate–’nuff said and a cabana boy–I just want one!

What would/are you going to wish for this year–and it doesn’t have to be for Christmas… Whatever you celebrate make a wish list. Heck even a shooting stat gets wishes, why not go for it…

Happy Thanksgiving

Want to win a Kindle?

My wondamus Samhain editor, Tera, is hosting a contest on her blog. You could win a Kindle to start the Holidays off right.

But what do I need to do?

First, start by going here, to read the rules.

You went and looked, right? See, easy-peasy!

Good Luck!

Update: Wednesday (11/18) was my interview day.

 

 

Goals due soon

At the beginning of the year, the ‘Buds set goals for 2009 and we go over them at the Christmas party. (to see how we all did) I must say, I have been busting my butt this year. Just as a refresher:

~ Finish two books. (I have well over 20 open WIPs to choose from so it’s not like I have a lack of ideas to choose from)

~ Submit two finished books (they kinda go hand-in-hand w/ #1 goal, y’know)

~ Start and finish a new book from start to finish (but not until I have finished the afore-mentioned two books)

~ Submit brand spanking new book (you see the pattern here right, this is supposed to be how it works–rather than staring the WIP and making 42 save copies of it and stopping around page 90 and thinking it’s crappy and watching a week of Lifetime and finishing two quarts of Chunky Monkey to appease the pain and doubt . . . . wheshew . . . . I guess I needed to get that off my chest!)

~ Look for an agent (I won’t be so bold as to put find an agent–a lot depends on that other person too)

~ Write every week (I know me, every day ain’t gonna happen–but if I do better, like two or three  days a week, I will have gotten so much more done!)

To date I have completed all but the agent goal and I am a quarter of the way through that. WOOHOO.

Now, however, I am not sure what to set for the 2010 goals…. hmmm…. wait and see I guess.

Guest blogging

I am guest blogger at   THE SIZZLING PENS    today.

Come see me and leave a comment and you have a chance to win a copy of my new print release.

NOW AVAILABLE: SECOND CHANCES in print

“Second Chances PRINT” by Denise Belinda McDonald

Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 978-1-60504-431-6
Length: 256 Pages
Price: 15.00
Publication Date: November 1, 2009
Cover art by Natalie Winters

Be careful what you ask for. It might come with spurs—and baggage.

The Paintbrush Series

Hit on, manhandled and terrorized by the town Golden Boy all within the first five minutes in Paintbrush, Wyoming, Suzanne “Zan” Walters knows she left the boredom and a stifling ex behind her in Texas. But is that a good thing? The only redeemable aspect for her geographical relocation is a near collision with a gorgeous Cowboy blocking her exit.

Jacob Bowman’s mouth dries up when he finds the new gal in town. The woman he’d fantasized about from the diner—a curvy, vivacious, spiky-haired blonde—and the vet’s new assistant, watches him from afar wary, but oh so interested.

The pair find themselves thrown together by circumstance one too many times not to take notice of the other. Both like what they see, but both are gun-shy thanks to their former lovers. Add in the constant threats to Zan which escalate to the point of physical harm on more than one occasion and the couple feels doomed it isn’t meant to be.

Can the two get over past grievances with the opposite sex, and protect each other from eminent danger long enough to discover something more than great sex?

On Amazon

NOW AVAILABLE: GHOST OF A CHANCE

GHOST OF A CHANCE

ISBN: 978-1-60088-481-8

Date: October 30, 2009

Price: $5.99

Haunted by her past, Ruth-Ann Ryan tries to maintain the estate she inherited from a dear friend. Harry Troutman comes back to Texas with one goal in mind, to rid his familial home of one duplicitous gold digger.

Ruth-Ann and Harry fight each other, fight their growing attraction and fight an unknown assailant as they try to hash out the mess left in the wake of a will.

Throw in interference from Ruth-Ann’s long dead sister, another resident ghost as well as the manor’s aging butler and the couple will either drive each other crazy or fall madly in love.  

   

Read an Excerpt