chocolate

What I've gotten done since my last post is item 7, mini-synopsis of Lacey Book 6. I revised it basd on my CP's points (she's so smart) and sent it off to my agent and editor. We'll see what they say about it.

My family has left me all alone in the house with a box of Godiva truffles!!!! Ahhhhhhhh! The evil, the evil! We bought them on sale yesterday at a Godiva botique Big box of special Valentine truffles for $7. Couldn't pass it up. But now, they're staring at me! Oh, just one won't hurt . . .

Have vowed to get through the year 1534 today. Almost done. Several momentous things happened that year, each eating away at Anne Boleyn's position as queen.

Take care, and don't forget to enter my contest by end of day tomorrow (March 1). One more day! Send me an e-mail (jenniferashley@cox.net) or visit my site (address below).

Jennifer
www.jennifersromances.com

work in progress

As a followup to my last post, here's whas happened this week:

1. Reading page proofs of Confessions of a Lingerie Addict.
DONE! and mailed back to my editor

2. Finished draft of novella for Christmas Cards (woo hoo!)
Mailed to crit partner, who sent me the critique the next day (she's fast!)

3. Revising/polishing draft of novella
DONE! Mailed to editor

4. Writing first draft of Anne Boleyn
Ongoing. I'm on the year 1534 today.

5. Researching Anne Boleyn
Ongoing. Still making notes and timelines

6. Working on proposals for historicals and mysteries and another chick-lit.
Ongoing.

7. New item: Write mini synopsis of Lacey Book 6 for my editor
Draft done; crit. partner is looking at it.

To non-work related stuff:
What I'm watching:

Shrek2: Didn't see it in the theater, and viewed it for the first time last night. I laughed until I cried! I love Puss in Boots. Oh man.

Smoke Signals: First time I've seen it. Wow, what a beautiful movie. The writing is spectacular. Instead of a typical A-B-C event timeline, the writer weaves different timelines and events together like a tapestry. Highly recommend that writers watch this movie. (bring hankies, it's weepy)

I Capture the Castle: A bittersweet romance set in England in the 30s (based on a novel of the time). A coming-of-age story of a young girl whose writer father has rented a castle in England, where he intends to write a second great novel. After ten years, he never does, of course. Then the Americans who have inherited the castle arrive, and the oldest daughter, Rose, decides the best thing she can do for her family is marry one. The characters in this movie are fabulously drawn. There's the nudist, artist stepmother, the vague, brilliant writer father, the handsome servant of all work who becomes a model, the naive Rose, and the focus character (whose name escapes me), who watches all of this and experiences her first taste of love. Another movie I highly recommend to writers. (Besides, cutie Marc Blucas is in it).

Please don't forget, I'm still running a contest for my backlist (Pirate Next Door, Pirate Hunter, the mystery novels, and others). I'm taking names until March 1. Send me an email (jenniferashley@cox.net) and put "Contest" in the subject. That's all you need (you can say hi, too!).

Best,

Jennifer
www.jennifersromances.com

writing, writing, writing

These last few months have been flat-out work. I know that some authors write one book a year, or take even longer. All I can say is, it must be nice to have so much leisure time!!

Here's what I'm doing:

1. Reading page proofs of Confessions of a Lingerie Addict.
2. Finished draft of novella for Christmas Cards (woo hoo!)
3. Revising/polishing draft of novella
4. Writing first draft of Anne Boleyn
5. Researching Anne Boleyn
6. Working on proposals for historicals and mysteries and another chick-lit.

I have to have all of this done by March 15.

A couple of Dorchester authors and me have formed a little BIAM group. We report to each other every day what we've gotten done or not gotten done. It's helpful to be accountable for your progress. I probably wouldn't have gotten the novela done as quickly without them. All of us are working on farily short deadlines, and we're all panting.

Oh, before I forget, I'm also running a contest on my Web site for my entire backlist plus some extra goodies. Go to www.jennifersromances.com and click the Contests link on the right (scroll down if you don't see it right away). Or drop me an email at jenniferashley@cox.net and say you want to enter the contest. I'm closing it March 1.

Best wishes,
Jennifer
www.jennifersromances.com

updates and author reviews

I'm lax about posting, but only cause I'm so dang busy! I am working now to finish a novella for Christmas Cards from the Edge out from Dorch. next Christmas. Yes, now that Christmas has come and gone, I get to do it all over again! That and I'm working frantically on Anne Boleyn. But loving it.

I'm distressed because I see on reader boards that many people think authors post their own reviews at Amazon and the like. Yes, there was a stink last year when a few authors were caught posting rave reviews about themselves. But there were only a few. Unfortunately, now people assume ALL authors do this.

No!! MOST authors don't. Heck, I'm way too busy writing or keeping up my Web site and my blog to bother posting pseudo reviews about myself on the Internet. That's what my site and blog are for, to flap my gums about how wonderful I think my books are. I can flap my gums all I want--you all will say, yeah, yeah, we're happy for you, pat, pat, pat.

If you read the books, you'll either like them or you won't. If you like one, please try the others; you might like them too. If you don't like the book, you don't like it, and what can I do?

I am annoyed at those few authors who decided that anything done in the spirit of self-promotion is ok. You can get caught up in self-promotion madness, and believe me, it's an insane place.

When it comes down to it, what's going to make readers read a book is a great story with great characters. That's all.

Speaking of that, I really gotta get my butt back to work.

Love,

Jennifer
www.jennifersromances.com