I've been working on my next hardback book---yes another Bentz/Montoya novel set in New Orleans and I was having trouble locating the hero.  This is a new problem for me.  Usually, the hero appears right off the bat and the plot and heroine come in later.  Not so this time.  I had the plot all figured out and the heroine came ripping through the pages---Geez, I love her!  But she had no one to play off of.  I was stumped.  As I said, heroes are always so visual to me.

So, for the first time ever, I was trying to create the perfect/worst guy in the world for the heroine and nothing was working.  (Blame it on the Christmas crazies that are running rampant around here!).  Then, last night, just as I was getting ready to turn in for the night, BAM!  He appeared.  Like a bolt of lightning.

He's not what I imagined he would be.  (I guess that was the problem, I was looking for the wrong guy!)  But he appeared and he's perfect.  Phew!  So today I get to flesh him out and really get to know him.

Let me tell you, when he comes face to face the heroine, sparks are gonna fly!

Now . . . about that Christmas shopping . . .

Falalalala!!!

So a week ago I was busy roasting a turkey, setting the table, worrying if we had enough whipped cream for the dessert and generally scurrying around as I had my family over for Thanksgiving.  (We all scatter to the winds on the actual day.)  It went well and all seemed right in my world.  So why on Thanksgiving (Thursday, the real day) when I didn't see my kids for the first time in thirty years, did it seem weird?  I was okay with it, but the day was a little off for me.

Hmmm.  I'm definitely rethinking Christmas.  I've always thought I was flexible, could roll with the punches on the "day of" thing.  Everyone has different places to go now that my sons have families of their own, but still, it was different, even though I had a great time with friends and Ken's family and celebrated with another turkey, lots more dressing and some really interesting veggies and dessert.

Now, it's a week later and somehow my Chirstmas lights aren't up.  I haven't even thought about a tree and shopping---forget it.  I didn't partake of Black Friday (it scares me to death) but I understand Cyber Monday is tomorrow....look out!  I might have to rustle up my credit card and get this season rocking.

For now, though, I'm curled up with my computer, a dog, a cup of coffee all before dawn.  I've lit candles and the fire and it's peaceful as everyone else in the house is still asleep.

This is my idea of heaven and I'm thankful for it!  (By the way--that "not working for a week thing" didn't happen !  Looks like I'll have to wait for January.  Ah, well, the best laid plans of women and . . .

This past week I did revisions on WITHOUT MERCY.   Day and night.  Rewrote a lot of the book, even surprised myself with a new character.  How did THAT happen.  Even fooled my editor.  But it was worth it; I fnished and my editor LOVES the book.  Phew!

Once that book was out the door, I picked up the synopsis for WICKED LIES, the book I'm planning with my sister.  We'd tossed the idea back and forth, so I polished it and sent it off to her.  She dropped her current book and reworked a few scenes, then it, too, went to New York to land on our editor's desk via the Internet.  (Ain't technology grand!)

Tomorrow I tackle the copy edited mauscript for RUNNING SCARED,  book that will be out in August 2010.  It's the re-written WISHES, with a lot more suspense than the original paperback.

After that....drum roll . . . I'm taking off the week of Thanksgiving.  Hanging with family and friends.  NOT working.  I see big dinners, walks, card playing, and relaxing in my future!  It should be fun.  As my wonderful dad used to say, "I owe it to myself."  Indeed I do!

Or something like that. 

The thing is I'm back home and back at the book, seated at the desk, cup of coffee nearby, dogs curled at my feat.  Yep, good to be back.

Even so, it was a struggle shaking off all the jet lag and quick fire memories of NYC to submerge into the book again, but that's what I aim to do.

I'm in the homestretch now and will blog again once I can breathe and say, "The End!"

For now, a Happy Halloween to you all!