Friday Funny

How hot is it?



Awwww. :)

The Fine Art of Schmoozing

Today is the first day of the national RWA convention, which once again I'm not attending. But I know what goes on--lots of authors, editors and agents meeting and mingling and having a great time. And while editors and agents still really don't like having manuscripts shoved at them under the bathroom stall door, they're open to conversations any other place--like if you happen to end up on an elevator with them.

Remember: They're people, too. Ask how they're enjoying the conference, or if they've had a chance to see anything interesting in the city yet, or if they have a favorite nearby restaurant. In other words, have a conversation. It's almost a guarantee they'll ask you for at least a partial manuscript, but at this point you just want to make a good impression. Because...really? Most editors/agents will ask for a partial. It's a lot easier than telling you to your face that your story sounds like a real eye-drooper. Which I'm sure most of them are more than ready to do--it's part of their job. But if you're riding up the elevator after a long day at the conference, the editor/agent has probably already heard a lot of pitches that day and more than likely really doesn't want to hear any more. So don't worry about pitching. This is the time to ask questions about the business and/or get a professional's advice on your book idea. It's all about networking.

Man Meat Monday

Friday Funny

I am addicted to checking my email and being connected, I'll admit. But I'm not quite this bad. Yet.

Storytelling

My friend Maya Reynolds has an interesting blog today about Heroes' creator Tim Kring's Conspiracy for Good. CFG is a project that invites the audience to become part of a story with real world outcomes. As Maya calls it, it's transmedia--using multiple forms of media (video, text, blogs and participatory games) to tell a story. The next evolution of murder mystery dinner theater and the like, perhaps?

It's an interesting concept, and one that could impact the way stories are told in book format. We'll have to wait and see.

Man Meat Monday

Hmm. Kinda puts me in the mood for Diet Coke break...

Friday Funny

This has been making the email rounds--I've received it several times and decided I had to share it here.



No I have not seen your lipstick, why would you even ask me that? I'm insulted! Every time something goes missing around here, everybody looks at me! For your information, I don't even wear that shade. It doesn't flatter my complexion and it tastes terrible.



Oops.

Great News!

I've been sitting on this news for a few weeks, thinking I would announce this once I had signed a contract, but I just can't contain my glee any longer!

Grand Central Publishing (formerly Time Warner Books and now a division of Hachette Book Group) and I have a three-book deal in the works, with the first book set to be released next fall! I'm so excited!

These books will be written under my new pen name Cynthia Garner. The series introduces an alternate reality where vampires, werewolves and other creatures are loud and proud...and living next door. There's a twist on the origins of these preternatural beings that I'll get into in a later blog.

With the first book, the heroine, Nix de la Fuente, is part-demon/part-human and is a liaison to the Preternatural Council. The majority of her job is to investigate crimes that involve humans--either as victims or as perpetrators. Her former lover Tobias Caine, a vampire, comes back to town and is tapped to take over as the vampire liaison to the Council.

I'm hard at work on book one, which is due to the publisher October 1st. I'm finishing up Chapter 6, which means I have roughly two months to write about 14 more chapters. So, as you can imagine, with a full-time job my time is at a limited premium. I will not be continuing to offer free blog stories, though I am going to do my best to continue free stories in my monthly newsletter, probably in the same serialized format as done here on my blog. So if you haven't joined the group yet, please do. You'll get the newsletter once a month, and there's no other chatter to clog up your inbox.

Yikes! Two chapters a week. I gotta get busy! :)

Man Meat Monday

If one is good...


...half a dozen is better!


Just a note: Beginning today, for the foreseeable future, I will be blogging on Monday/Wednesday/Friday.

Friday Funny

What is a real man?

A real man is a woman's best friend. He will never stand her up and never let her down. He will reassure her when she feels insecure and comfort her after a bad day.

He will inspire her to do things she never thought she could do; to live without fear and forget regret. He will enable her to express her deepest emotions and give in to her most intimate desires. He will make sure she always feels as though she's the most beautiful woman in the room and will enable her to be the most confident, sexy, seductive, and invincible.

No, wait... sorry... I'm thinking of wine. Never mind.

Bloggin' at Brava

I've over at Brava Authors today--come on over and chat with me about your favorite type of heroine!

Tipsy Tuesday

Just because an agent is reputable and from a well-known agency doesn't mean you shouldn't do your research before signing with them. Check out this article from The Daily Beast.

Wow. Just...wow.

Man Meat Monday

Take it all off!

Friday Funny

I'm not advocating any particular insurance company. I just think these commercials are very clever. And darn funny!

That second one is how I've felt many a time when talking to employees...

Two Wolves

An old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil--it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good--it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

Grandfather replied, "The one you feed."



...life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. --Chuck Swindoll