Today you can find me at the Cobblestone Press Blog where I’m talking about Vampires and Harmony.

You will also find me at the airport, winging my way to San Francisco to Nationals.

Tomorrow, check out Romancing the Blog, where I’m talking about being a reader at Nationals.

So now, I go and pick my daughter up from Kindergarten, come back to pull the chocolate chip banana muffins I made my family out of the oven (there is someone here I am not leaving it on with no one home), pack the car, pick my oldest up from school early and the five of us will head out for the long trek to the airport. I will try to post from Nationals (if I can find the time! )

for Snowbound. This ms of mine has gone through quite the process from when I originally wrote it in the Fall of ’06. It has been revised numerous times and even entered in a contest. It bares little resemblance to what it started out as, but that’s ok. I hope it’s all the better for it. My writing has changed a lot in two years.

Apparently emotional abuse is a tough sell in , even when it’s with the ex, not the hero. However, I felt strongly that this story needed to be told. For part of it is my story. I may have said this before, but emotional abuse (really any abuse) does not only happen to stupid women. It happens no matter what social-economic scale you are on, no matter what IQ you have. And it’s not easy to cut your losses and run, no matter how simple it seems form the outside.

In any event, Snowbound will be published by Blade Publishing. Blade Publishing is fairly new, but I have high hopes for them and a lot of respect for the people behind the scenes.

PS: Did you know I’m leaving for Nationals tomorrow? Just sayin’.

I will be on my way to San Francisco for Nationals!

I am so excited and scared all at the same time.

Excited to meet my Divas, and so many of the authors that I chat with regularly online. Excited to learn more about writing and talk to editors and agents. Excited to stay in a nice hotel and have all adults to deal with for five days. Excited to dress up in fancy clothes. Excited to volunteer at both the literacy signing (as a cashier) and for editor/agent appointments. Just excited over all.

On the other hand I’m scared about pitching to an agent, scared I’ll say the wrong thing at the wrong time to… well, to anybody. Scared about leaving my family for five nights. My baby is only two. The longest I’ve ever left any of them, to date, was three nights earlier this year and I was with my husband. So now, I’m leaving all of them for five nights and it worries me. I know they’ll be fine, but it’s their last week of school and there are all sorts of activities that they need to get to and bring stuff to and… my anxiety builds. My daughter is just over a week away from being out of Kindergarten. My big guy will enter grade 4 in September. Technically, this is his last “primary” grade. Since my husband has to work (he’s self-employed and if he doesn’t work there is no income) we will have someone babysit for two of the days to help out. Which means I am relying on an outside party to take care of my kids and since I am normally home with them every day, this is new for us. Again, I know it will be fine, I just get worried about this stuff.

But mostly I’m excited. Not that you can tell from that previous paragraph, but really – I am.

The Romance Divas annual Not Going to Conference Conference will make you feel a bit less deprived! Amazing workshops, a star-studded guest list and awesome giveaways, all on the Diva forum! Don’t miss it!

Coordinated by Seeley deBorn!

Here’s a bit of a schedule update for the Q&As and Workshops…

Wednesday, July 30

Paula Guran, Editor, Juno Books
Q&A on Creating Kick a** Heroines

Laurie Rauch, Editor, Samhain Publishing
Workshop on What Happens After the Contract (aka Editors are People Too!)*

Thursday July 31

Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary
Q&A on Inspirational Romance Stories and the Inspy Market

Sandra Schwab, Historical Romance Author
Workshop on Historical Accuracy and Anachronisms

Friday, August 1

Yolanda Sfetsos, Author of Guarded by Stone
Q&A on Paranormal and Urban Fantasy World Building

Katie MacIver, KatieDidDesign
Workshop on Website Design and Color Selection

Saturday, August 2

Joey W. Hill, Erotica Author
Workshop on Plotting Erotica and Erotic Romance

Rhonda Stapleton, Editor and Author
Workshop on Style and Voice

How about if I list some door prizes?

• What Gwen said” mug donated by Gwen Hayes
• 3-chapter critique of a YA by Simon Pulse author Rhonda Stapleton
• 3-chapter critique of a YA, chick lit, or rom com by Golden Heart Finalist Amanda Brice
• An ebook of your choice from Nell Dixon’s backlist
• An ebook of either Second Sight (paranormal romance) or Dragons’ Choice (fantasy romance – dragon-shifters) from Debbie Mumford
• Ten dollar Amazon gift certificate from Jodi Henley
• Lush stuff from Seeley deBorne
• e-book copy of Chasing Shadows from Erin Richards
• Paperback copy of Iron Horse Rider OR Smiling Eyes from Adelle Laudan
• Book thongs from Angeleque Ford
• 3 chapter critique from Sela Carsen
• winner’s choice of ebook copy of “Not Quite Dead” or “Heart of the Sea” by Sela Carson
• e-book copy of HEATWAVE by Eden Bradley
• e-book copy of BREAKING SKYE by Eden Bradley
• a box of goodies, trade and paperbacks, bath products candles, etc… All for a fun and relaxing home spa day treat. courtesy of The Midnight Moon Cafe
• 1 download each of Natasha Moore’s Samhain books, The Ride of Her LIfe and The Passion-Minded Professor
• a copy of “Painted Soul” by Mary Quast
• e-book copy of HER CINDERELLA COMPLEX by Jenna Bayley-Burke – Samhain
• e-book copy of PAR FOR THE COURSE by Jenna Bayley-Burke – Samhain
• e-book copy of FOUND by Jenna Bayley-Burke – Wild Rose Press
• e-book copy of NIGHT OF INSPIRATION by Jenna Allen – Phaze
• e-book copy of ON AGAIN by Jenna Allen – Phaze
• $10 gc to Amazon from Kendal Corbitt
• ebook Vampire Oracle: Harmony by MG Braden

Plus a lovely bar of wonderful Chagrin Valley hand made soap, Caramel Pralines jar candle, handmade jewelry, Tarot readings, a Lush box for European Divas/Dudes, a $10 fictionwise gc and much more!

As the release date of Vampire Oracle: Harmony draws near I find myself both looking forward to it and feeling a slight trepidation.

You see, I feel that the story is strong and compelling. I liked it when I wrote it and look forward to revisiting it. However, this is the first time I have written fully disclosed sex scenes and have also entered the realm of the paranormal, all in the same book. Oh good Christian girl, what have I done? Does writing these things make me a bad person? Most of me says no, but the pastor’s daughter in me still worries.

I don’t believe in Vampires, annd writing about them isn’t going to make them real to me or sway me into some kind of devil worship. As a matter of fact, the vampire in my world is a good man. Also, Christians have sex – amazing, but true. Lots of them even enjoy it This is an engaged couple who are very much in love. Should they be married – well, I would have to say yes, but again these are characters in a book. I’m not here to preach to anyone with my words. I write fictional stories. That’s all. I hope to bring entertainment to those who read my words.

Bottom line? I know what is real and my God knows what is real to me.

My WIP has a murder in it? What can that possibly mean?