Archive for the 'Me, myself' Category
For the past two weeks, I’ve been enjoying the life of a full-time writer. I finished working at one ordinary day job and found myself with a two week gap before I started the next day job. So I happily trotted out into the wide world, calling myself a full-time author, and armed with a long to-do list. Number one, of course, was to write three-four hours every day.
Hah!
I really should have known better. The last time I tried being a full-time author, real life smacked me hard in the face and I wound up working ferociously, just to keep my head above water and finish all my deadlines on time. How do full-time authors keep away all the people who believe they stay home to be social? Or run errands? Or keep an eye on their project?
I think successful full-time authors must have a hidden ninja warrior inside them, who leaps out yelling, “Aiiieeeee!” and chops through all the ridiculous odds and ends, in order to protect their writing time. I’ll try cultivating mine harder next time.
But tomorrow it’s back to the grindstone at a new day job. I’m so used to that kind of tight schedule, it already feels like coming home.
Diane
11:44 pm |
Well, Christmas is past and my family’s now knee-deep into putting away presents. We all know which one is the most popular – our Keurig K-cup brewer. Thanks to it, everyone can drink their favorite hot beverage at the same time! Very smooth Columbian decaffeinated coffee, extra bold organic coffee from Indonesia, chamomile tea – anything! Just choose a K-cup containing the variety you want, pop it into the brewer, press a button, and voila! There’s also a nifty little adapter if you want it to brew something that doesn’t already come in a K-cup. (Yes, this family is all about choices, choices, choices.) We’ve used the little darling every night since it arrived – and no, I’m not being paid for this endorsement! LOL
In fact, we’re having so much fun that we’re actually finding excuses to hang out in the family room, close to the K-cup brewer for our second cup. I usually indulge myself in an orgy of movies and books when I finish a book but this year’s version is pretty spectacular. We’re actually making a list of which movies to see first – which means what is everyone else willing to see twice, since I saw almost none of this year’s new releases. (Hey, I wrote two books in ten months, including a first draft in 3 ½ months!)
So far we’ve managed LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD and TRANSFORMERS. THE ILLUSIONIST, THE HOLIDAY and STARDUST are on the list. Last night we saw SWEENEY TODD (Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were wonderful but be prepared for a lot of blood) then came home and watched football! NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS is coming up soon (New Year’s Day, anyone?). Now we’re discussing whether ENCHANTED is best watched in the theatres (ooh, wide-screen and big speakers!) or on video (replay whenever you want). ALIENS VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM has been ruled out as a group activity. And I get to watch 300 as many times as I want. Whoopee!
We’re even reading books together. I’ve cracked a few research books for the next Devil romance, and even managed to read some romances, thus cutting down my To-Be-Read pile. Meanwhile, the rest of the family is comfortably sitting across the room with their book, and their cup of coffee, also enjoying life.
Harmony through different choices. Isn’t that a huge part of what makes for the good life?
5:42 pm |
Hullo!
I’m blogging today over at Brava Authors about pre-New Year’s Eve fun.
Please stop by and let me know what you like to do!
Diane
8:00 am |
I just delivered BOND OF DARKNESS, the Texas vampires trilogy volume 3, to my editor! Wheehaw!!!
Next step: Christmas cards! We took photos at Disney World (duh!) and had a particularly holiday-ish one translated into a wonderfully festive card by Snapfish. Now I’ve just got to figure out how to print address labels from Outlook 2007, since all my addresses currently exist only on my Treo.
It’ll give me time to listen to some new music. My sister gave me Celine Dion’s latest album, Taking Chances.
Or Ruderial…
Or Brad Paisley…
Fun, fun, fun. 
Diane
7:40 pm |
I’m blogging over at Brava Authors today about James Bond, Chanel and me.
Please drop by and chat, if you get a chance!
Diane
2:30 am |
Okay, I admit it: I had a fantastic time last night watching Dancing with the Stars. Five good-looking guys strutting their stuff, happy as all get out – what could be better? There was music, too – whoohoo!
While I like TV shows and movies that focus on one guy, there’s something to be said for variety. Oh yeah.
First and foremost, I’m dancing because Maksim has lasted this long in Dancing with the Stars. Hard body, rippling abs, sense of humor, no problem being strong minded – what’s not to like? But his previous partners always got themselves – and him! – eliminated far too early for my viewing happiness. This season, he’s still here. Yes!
And then there’s the other four. Helio, whose ever present sense of humor reminds me of my darling brother in law. (The second time around, my sister got it so riight!) Jonathan, who really looks like a guy my father would have liked me to bring home. Cameron, who reminds me of a dancing superhero. (Could Flash Gordon defeat Ming the Merciless in a ten dance? Undoubtedly!) And, of course, Derek, who may be young but all my friends agree has hidden depths which need to be investigated. LOL
Survivor has a different appeal, with its ever present mind games. Project Runway starts up soon but I’ll start watching it when the contestants get down to a manageable few. (Maybe it’s because I just can’t keep too many trendy styles separate? Who knows.)
I’m addicted to American Idol, not necessarily because of the contestants (no, no, don’t hit me! LOL) but because of the music. The combination of the producers’ twisted minds (once making 21st century kids compete in big band standards? hellooo!) and the contestants’ varying skills and neuroses makes for an always unpredictable show. I’m always willing to be distracted by it.
Any other TV shows where you find interesting guys to watch? Reality shows or even a drama or comedy?
2:27 pm |
Welcome to my very first blog on my own blog! Wow!
Of course, the next question is, why have a blog? Well, I’ve got an absolutely gorgeous new website and it needed a place where I could interact more openly with my readers. That’s my primary goal.
I named myself “inveterate romantic” because I do tend to see things that way. I believe in heroes, heroines, and happily ever afters. I’m sure there’s a silver lining to every cloud and an open window whenever a door has been slammed shut, no matter how brutally hard they may be to find or achieve. I promise faithfully to sigh over a first kiss and to weep happily whenever a warrior comes home to his true love.
I adore reading Anne Stuart’s blogs, Notes from the Drama Queen, and she is my goddess of author blogs. Given that bit of fair warning, I thought maybe I should tell you my inner rules of blogging.
Firstly, I have a family, day job, and two editors. I hope to once again be owned by Tibetan Terriers. Much as I adore every one of you and the fact you make my writing possible – other people will grab my time. I promise to blog as often as I can, but not daily.
Secondly, I promise to tell the truth and to be as transparent as possible. I want to start conversations here. If you ask me a question, I will answer it, to the best of my ability. If I cannot answer it, I will say so.
Unfortunately – much as I’d like to pretend otherwise – my ability to say everything isn’t always perfect. Sometimes the muse hasn’t answered your question yet. (Alas, I have no idea what Sean’s son is currently up to, romantically speaking!) Sometimes answering your question would mean exposing too much of my “muse.” In that case, I’ll take refuge in generalities, which are often more useful to more people.
Mostly I plan to talk about my books, my characters, twists and turns along the road to seeing them in print, and similar bookish topics. From time to time, you may also be treated to musings on assorted stuff, which I tend to think of as quirky notions. Be prepared for such oddities.
Since this is my very first blog, I’d love to hear what you’d like me to talk about. Any suggestions?
8:34 pm |
