And Seaworld Wins!!!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in my mini-poll. Seaworld didn't actually win (that honor went to the neighborhood pool, which we've also frequented) but it won the Kenner household contest, and so off we went. We took the munchkin on Saturday, and she had a fabulous time. I spent today recovering and reading The Rule of Four (a fabulous book that Kathleen and I will soon be klatching about. My sneak preview? I give it two thumbs up.

As for Sea World itself, it was a big hit, as we knew it would be. We didn't see the "sea horses, mommy!" that C wanted, but we did see fish and the Anheiser-Busch (sp?) Clydesdales, so that's something. And we saw both the Shamu show and "Fools with Tools," which was a very cute little show w/ sea lions, an otter and a VERY large Walrus. My daughter, who's been wondering about Mr. Otter ever since he was a no-show at the Dallas aquarium, was thrilled beyond belief. (She was also pretty excited about popcorn, so that gives you some perspective.)

During the drive back, I came up with some fabulous plot fodder and some one liners. Alas, exhaustion and the drive erased them from my brain. I'm currently wondering if hypnotism is an option. (This is one of those job hazards. Not only can I not dictate well -- couldn't even do that as a lawyer; my fingers need a keyboard -- even if I could, I don't think I could do it in front of D. So no matter what, unless my brain grabs hold, I'm guaranteed to lose driving-thoughts. It sucks. And Alphie can't even help me out here, b/c I always drive (as a result of car sickness which, I think, C has inherited. Bummer)). How was THAT for a convoluted sentence???

Pulling over every 5 seconds to jot down notes would not go over well with the family.

Actually, I'm probably making more of it just for dramatic license. I remember a few key things (one very funny bit of business for the bride book with Signet next summer!) and I'm sure once I start getting the thoughts on paper, it will all flow. We'll see.

Right now, my writing is in a weird place. I emailed a novella to my editor on Saturday, and that means that I'm currently working on story outlines and synopses. No actual books. Not yet. This is both a dreaded part of the process and a favorite part. Dreaded because I have to sit down and come up with the entire story. Favorite because I get to sit down and write a whole story in a few days (instead of a few months). And you thought writers weren't neurotic???? But outlining the story is NOT the same, and has its own unique set of frustrations (a key one being the absence of critique partners at absolutely critical moments in the plot structure. Don't they know they must be at my beck and call?????!!!!!) And, of course, there are the flashes of absolute brilliance (I think) that are completely contrary to the one sentence blurbie turned into the editor over a year ago. And now, of course, you can't catch said editor on the phone if your life depended on it (which, of course, it does b/c it's all about me, right???). And, yeah, I really do have a cool new twist -- I think -- on the next book after The Givenchy Code, and I'm DYING to run it by my editor and critique partner and, of course, it's the weekend and I must wait until tomorrow. Alas.

What else?

Ah, novellas. Some come so easy, and some so hard. Though even the hard ones turn out okay (or at least, I will tell myself it turned out great until I hear otherwise from my editor!) And my recently published novella (warning! Warning! Shameless self-promotion approaching! Just got a GREAT review at AAR . Click on the review page and look for Essence of Midnight. (I loved writing that story. It was like "the dark side" of The Cat's Fancy. Very fun. Very moody. Very sexy.)

Well, that's it for tonight. Tomorrow I settle in for more synopsizing (and editor phone tag!). Signing off ...