It always happens. As release day looms, I get into a sense of utter panic. Something crazy in me starts to worry… Not that I have a clue what I’m worried about, but there it is. One week until All Of You releases! My first book of 2010.

I’m approaching full freak out mode.
I’ll keep you posted.

Okay, yesterday threw me into a tailspin. I basically woke up to discover that my bank account had been skimmed. Meaning, while transacting a legitimate ATM purchase–like at the gas station or a restaurant–someone stole our card info and pin number and proceeded to drain half my bank account.

HALF.

So, you can imagine my utter, horrified state of mind yesterday. The whole plan for the day just went up in flames and the diet absolutely exploded. I’m pretty sure I gained three pounds in comfort food alone.

Worse, apparently there’s a skimming ring in my town and my banker said we were like the 12th set of folks to come in with this problem. Including a police officer who works in the electronic fraud department.

Sigh. Thankfully, our bank has a good program for this and we should be okay. But it’s a hell of a shock.

So, today, I go back to…well, everything.
Wish me luck!
Dee

For some reason, a spammer named Vladislad is very taken with my site. He likes to leave tons of spam comments in Russian, which, while it’s very nice of him to want my attention, is driving me absolutely nutty.

So, I’ve added a few security measures to send him on his way.

But, I’m in need, gang. I don’t want to keep REAL people from commenting. Could y’all take a crack at leaving me a post so I know if it’s working okay? (Last time I tried this kind of thing, no one could post for a month! Don’t want to take that long this time. :) )

Any help would be great. If you can’t get in, email me using the contact page here on the site, so I’ll know and can deactivate. :)

Thanks much, gang!
Dee

Ever read those quotes on the front of book covers, where some fabulously famous author declares the book to be so fabulous as well that you simply must have it?

Every time I see that, I just think…how the hell did they DO that??

I mean, does the publisher go to Fabulous Author and ask them to read it? Does the author, who is never as fabulous as Fabulous Author, the one who contacts them and asks/grovel/begs for a read and quote?

And really, how does that conversation go?

Dear Fabulous Author,

Thanks!

And what is it like for the Fabulous Author reading this. You know, between emails from her editor asking for her next three proposals, galleys and how are her current edits, will she have those in on time? to a few fan letters to her notes on her next book and the ten thousand words she has to get done that day. Why wouldn’t she look at this letter and roll her eyes and decide that this is the dumbest, most presumptuous person ever.

I mean, clearly, the requesting author would be way more classy (God, I hope) and respectful, but reading between the lines, that’s what it comes down to.

The reason I ask, of course, is because I’m considering doing some of this begging and I’d really like to not upset the Fabulous author whom I admire, lol.

Any thoughts? Any Fabulous Authors who’ve gotten these letters? How do you see it when they come?
Dee

I’ve been…busy-not-busy lately. You know when you clean the house, turn around and it’s destroyed again? Yeah, I got tired of that. So I’ve been trying to get everything fully organized so that I can put stuff away properly from now on. Problem is…MAN that’s a lot to organize! And all of it has to be done at the bottom level before anyone will see it on the top. So right now, it’s a bigger mess than usual.

The good news, though, is that I sold another novella for later this year.:) Going with the working title of “Shaken”, which is kind of ironic given the wee earthquake we had yesterday. Actually, I didn’t feel it at all.

Now, if you’re standing right on top of a 4.4, that’s going to wake you up and make you check to see that the furniture doesn’t fall on you. But after that…eh, that’s it. It becomes conversation filler for the day. Honestly, here in Cali, anything less than a 5.3 is going to be conversation filler. 5.5’s are where the noteworthiness comes in–stuff breaks in a 5.5 and folks get hurt. Usually your furniture. 6.0+s are where you get the big damage. 4.4? Good for some adrenaline, but not a lot.

I’m also working on the sequel to Pale, which we will call Tate. The synopsis, anyway. I know where I want to end up, but I haven’t totally figured all the ways to get there. And I think I need a subplot of some sort. No, I know I do. And I just this second got one. Thanks!

I’ve also been putting together some reviews and guest blog spots and such for next month as my Summer Releases begin…er, releasing, lol. I have some special plans for here as far as extra excerpts, so I promise, I haven’t abandoned the place. Just a lot snowed under. :)

Keep your heads above water folks,
Dee

As is usually the case, I’m working to put together some exposure for the new book. Considering how exposed the cover IS, lol, that’s saying something, hee hee. Anyway, so the last few days have been about sending out copies for review and scheduling events. Or trying to. I’m working on it, anyway. If any of you know of a few places I should look to see if they have room for me this spring, please leave a link. :)

I’m getting very excited and nervous about the upcoming release of “All Of You”. I do this with every book and I really have to not do it, but it’s so hard to be blase. I have a book coming out! Well, actually, I have three coming out in the next few months and so I’m chewing the fingernails hoping to make it work well for all of them. But right now, the build up to the release dates? Phew, nerves are hopping. Will people like it? Will they laugh? Will they feel the suspense? Will they tell their friends?

It’s a lot of questions to wonder about, lol.

But here’s hoping!
Dee

So Hubby and I packed up the kids last week and strolled on over to Fresno to visit our families. BUSY, busy days, but OH so nice to see people and it not be because of a funeral.

We spent time with my father and I saw my sisters and saw hubby’s Mom and uncle and cousins we haven’t seen in years. It was a long drive and kind of nuts and we saw WAY too many cartoons–Dear God, save me from the Goofy Movie, I may never get “Powerline” out of my head. But it was really, really, really wonderful.

I know, not a great description from an author, but hey, best words are best words. I loved seeing our parents and our families and letting them see our kids.

Yes, everyone survived the twins. Not all eardrums are intact, probably.

Bubba is now happily back to school and he’s happy to be home.

I was glad to see and sleep on my bed. It missed me. There is something to be said for mattresses that sag just for you.

Not sure when next I’ll take another trip, but this one was nice. Next time… I’ll bring more diapers, though.

Anyone else taking any trips this year?
Dee

Just a warning, though, gang. This is my most risque trailer because, well, I didn’t want anyone confused about the sexuality of this book. The hero is a charmer and there’s more to the story than sex…but there’s a lot of sex, lol.

Hope you like!
Dee