Started a post last night, and then my computer ate it (sigh), so here are a few random ramblings. I'm this close to finishing my Blaze synopsis, and I'm totally loving this story. The whole synopsis premise is pretty interesting, actually. The Blaze was sold blind (which means I hadn't turned a story idea into my editor; she just bought two books for me, stories to come) and so I had to come up with an idea that I love (because, trust me on this, writing a book that isn't a story you love is really, really hard. I've done it once, and it makes the process so much longer. By the time I got to the end of the story, I'd "made it my own" and really did love the set up and the characters. But it didn't start out as my baby, and it took waaaaay longer to get into the story than usual, which threw off my entire schedule, which wreaked havoc on my life ... well, you get the picture.)

But I've managed to get off track. Ahem. As I was saying, I sold the Blaze blind. Actually, I sold the Temptations blind, but since Temptation has gone the way of the dinosaur, the stories were moved to Blaze. Great. Good. No problem. Except for the nagging lack of a story.

My editor put the book in a "mini series" with two other authors. The books aren't connected, but they each take place during the same blackout. OK. Fine. I can work with that. I called my editor from McDonalds the other day (I was waiting for my car at the Toyota dealership. Note to car dealerships: Have some sort of waiting room for those of us who want to WORK and not listen to really bad television at top volume. It was either McDonalds or open one of the showroom Camry's and work in the backseat!). Anyway, pitched an idea to my editor (she later called me back when I was at Barnes & Noble; I seem to do so much work away from home ...) and she loved the idea. I, however, did not. The characters seemed flat and the situation forced. I pondered and plotted and came up with a story I could live with ... but I didn't love it. But then, as I was in the shower the other day (don't ya just love the way your subconscious works?) I came up with characters I love, a situation I love, and a fabulous conflict. And, as an added bonus, I get to pull in the Victorian erotic romance that I used in Silent Confessions and Silent Desires (so, for those readers who've asked if there will be any more similar books, look for this one in Augut of '05; I'm calling it Truth or Dare, but I bet that changes). Anyway, I'm totally rocking on the synopsis and am heading off right now to finish it up. Wheeeeeeeeeee! After that, I've got two more synops on my plate, and then I'm free, free, free from the Land Of Synopses. Thank goodness.

No word yet from my editor on her comments/revisions to The Givenchy Code. This is The Waiting Part. It sucks.

Finished Cirque du Freak the other night. It's a kids' book, but a really good one. A vampire story. Really enjoyed it. And I moved from that to a book not on my actual pile: Maggie Needs An Alibi. Only read one chapter last night, but am totally loving it. Assuming I get all my work done during the day today, I'm going to dive back in after C goes to bed. Unfortunately, that's a big assumption. The closing on our old house is today (YAY!) but it got bumped from the morning to the afternoon, which means the trip down to the title company in Austin will take longer, as I'll hit traffic. Ugh. More info than you want to know, I'm sure, and I'm REALLY not complaining. The first buyer defaulted (evil eye! evil eye!) and so I'm just thrilled we found another buyer so quickly.

Oh, and I read The Rule of Four recently. Awesome! Kathleen and I are doing it next in Coffee Klatch, so keep an eye out.

And, in a wrap up, we went and saw Dora the Explorer Live! on Sunday and Oh. My. God. C just went nuts. She LOVED it!!! I'm hoping this is a sign that she'll love musical theater (D just tolerates much of what I like; he's more an opera kinda guy). Just think, in another decade, I'll have a companion to drag to various shows. Whoo hoo!

Off to work ....

Happy reading!!