Monday - Weekends and Holidays, You Gotta Love Them

Wow, what a busy weekend I had. Friday, I did community service (the day job pays us to do two CS a year) with Hospice, wrapping presents at the mall. I didn’t think we would be very busy. Boy was I wrong. It’s still so much fun. People are pretty happy and love having their gifts wrapped and ready to go under their tree.

Saturday was our TARA Christmas/Holiday party. Talk about tons of fun. It’s the one time of the year you really get to mingle with everyone.

Then there is the gift exchange. Quick version here, the game has been around for ever and has many different names. You pick a number. Then the person with the first number starts. They pick a gift. The person brought the gift stands up, tells who they are, and what they write. The ornament usually has something to do with their wip or book. More often than not there are other goodies in the bag as well. Chocolate? Of course, all writers love chocolate. :) The person with number two has the option of opening a new gift or stealing the one that has been open. If they steal then that person gets a new gift. And so the game continues. The biggest rule we have is a person can only be stolen from three times. At that point their gift is off limits.

It usually takes about ten people before the stealing commences, or until the TARA Bear shows up. After the party a bunch of us went to, where else, Starbucks. Coffee or tea is the other things writer’s love/crave. Again, it was a great time to sit, chat, and catch up with each other.

Oh totally forgot…my Crit/Partner in crime, Laurie K. won the BC challenge. Everyone who finishes their manuscript, yes it can be in POS form, has to bring a copy of it with them to the party in order to receive a ticket. Once of those tickets are chosen and that person wins. I am so proud of her!! She did not think she would be finished in time and look at her now. She wrote the end before Thanksgiving and won. How cool is that? Very cool since her book is amazing.

This brings us to Sunday. Since I had not bought many presents I decided I should do some shopping. Apparently so did the rest of the town I live in. I found great deals and did manage to do most of the shopping. This started about 10:30 AM and lasted until 6:45 PM. Tired, you ask? Oh yeah, but very happy with my gifts.

I’m really picky about gifts. I can’t just buy something to buy it. I have to look and find the perfect gift for each person.

My yard is decorated and my house is done with the exception of the tree. It has lights (which I turn on at night) and an angel on top. The rest of the decorations are sitting in a box beside the tree. Hopefully tonight I’ll get them on. I mean it is only 16 days until Christmas, counting today. Oh lord, that means I need to get those presents wrapped and in the mail. Yikes!

Oh and start the revisions on the AT&B. I need to have it ready to send out by the middle of January. Major yikes!!! It was requested at conference so now I need to get it out to the agents. Side note here: I did not have an appointment, but was asked by them to pitch. I did tell them it was not finished at the time. Both of them (separate pitches) still said they were interested and would like to see it when it was finished. This is both exciting and scary. I know it could be rejected by both and while that’s not the happy place to be, the scariest part of all is…The Dreaded Synopsis. Yes, it’s time to write the real thing. If you noticed the sidebar then you’ll see I now have a revision meter. I figured I should put one up since it keeps me going.

So, how was your weekend? Did you shop? Write? Did you do anything fun? Have you finished your goals and started on new ones?

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and Contest and Winner (last weeks), Oh My...

Monday, and not only is it the beginning of the week, it’s the Monday after Thanksgiving. Food, maybe buying holiday gifts, and oh yes, eating more food. So what do we do today? We diet, of course. I mean hello, Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanza (please excuse me if I missed one) is right around the corner and then it’s more food. Which means for the next few weeks, Science Guy and I will be dieting, or at least trying too. :)

Truly, I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends, counting the blessing we have be they small or large.

Last week’s contest winner is Erica!!! Congrats Miss E. I’ve got your info.

My word count for this week is 2142. Which doesn’t sound too bad for a holiday week and since I went out of town for basically five days (including travel). Trust me; this is not a good word count for me. I have to have a little over a 1000 words each day to meet my goal of December 6th.

This week’s contest is a continuation in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by
JR Ward. Lover Revealed is a marvelous book. Okay, I know what you’re thinking. I say this about each of her books. And it’s true, I do. The thing here is by now I’m hoping you see the pattern. She is an amazing writer.



Here’s the back cover blurb:

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...

If you’d like to read the excerpt: Lover Revealed Excerpt

So, how about you, are you meeting your goals? Do you have any deadlines before the end of 2007? How was your Thanksgiving? Did you stay home or travel? Leave your comments through out the week to be entered into this weeks contest.

Oh, I’m trying to get the sidebar slideshow working and then I’ll have pictures, not just flowers. :)

It's working, it's working!!! Whoo Hoo!!

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Checking In and Contest - WhooHoo, It's good to be back in the swing of things :)

Ah Monday, time to check in with last weeks count and give the goal for this week. Can anyone say, thank god for Sunday? If I hadn’t written on Sunday the word count would have been very low. It’s not what I know I need to finish the book before the TARA Christmas party, but they’re new words add all the same.

Here you go: word count added – 1773. Sounds like a good year or something. :) Goal for this week is to write everyday even with the holiday. I’m going to Destin to see my family and I’m so excited but I will write.

The contest is back in full swing this week with the third JR Ward book. This weeks it’s Lover Awakened. That link will take you to the excerpt page.



And here’s the back cover blurb:

A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

My thoughts on one of the brothers:
Zsadist is a vamp/man who you will love and feel the fear at the same time. His past dictates who he is and why he’s become that person. Still as you read the books you know there is a man inside who cares deeply for the BDB. There is one thing though – if you’re out at night and see the scared man be careful. Unless he knows you he’ll not want to carry on a conversation or go have drinks. He’ll more than likely scare the crap out of you.

Take some time and visit the site. Get to know him and then jump into his world. I promise once you do you’d fight to the death with any Lesser for him.

So, you all know that I love this series and word up it’s not like any series I’ve ever read before. I know these guys and somehow even though they’re supposed to be characters in a book, coming from JR’s mind I think they know me. They’ll know you too once you begin.

Now it’s your turn. How was your week? Did you write? Meet your goals? What’s your goals for next week? Have you got your own personal deadline for finishing your book? And last, but certainly not least, have you read any of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books? I’d love to hear what you think about them.

Leave your comments to be entered into the contest each day this week.

As always, Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and Contest

I totally forgot to announce last week’s contest winner! One of the girls at work drew the name and everything. So before I go forward, let’s go back in time pretending it’s Friday for a moment. :)

The winner is Anne!! Major congrats!! Email me your snail mail addy at vickilanewrites @ yahoo.com and I’ll mail out your book.

Also, I haven’t heard from Susanhalter, the winner of the weeks before. Please email me your information as well.

Time for check in: Word count for last week is 2552. Not a bad word count but not the amount that I need to finish on time. Which basically means my daily word count goal now becomes a bit higher.

I didn’t write at all yesterday. I read the 4th book in the JR Ward, Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I couldn’t put it down. Her world…hmmmm…really the brotherhoods world is amazing.

In fact, for the next several weeks I’m going to give away her books. Since I’ve already given away Dark Lover, this week we’ll begin with book two.



Lover Eternal is the second in the series. You can read an excerpt at the link above. This is Rhage’s book.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves…

If you want to know which of the brothers I like better, I can’t give you that answer. It’s a bonding thing and when you become bonded to the brotherhood you love them all and their Shellans. No, there's not a spicy aroma emitting, that's between a male and his mate. Still you can be sure there is a bonding. That is unless you like the smell of baby powder discharging from your soul. Then the bond thing, not so much.

They each have different strengths and weakness. Ummm…don’t tell Zsadist I said anything about weaknesses. Okay, maybe you shouldn’t tell any of them I said that. They’re not so much down on the weakness thing.

I cannot actually visit the compound and let Wrath, the King, know I’m sharing their world with you, I can only hope he will read this blog. You see as a human once you’ve been there you can’t go back. Just ask Butch. But then, why would you want too? :)

Oh, and one more thing. Actually this is a very important thing. Should you meet the Scribe Virgin remember to keep your head lowered and DO NOT ask her any questions. No matter how badly you'd like to know the answers. None, not a one.

So, it’s your turn. Did any of the above wet your appetite? How did you do this week? Did you meet your goals? Have you read any of the Black Dagger books? Let us know.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and Yep, Contest Time

Good Monday morning (or afternoon). It’s getting closer to Halloween, my daughter coming to visit, and Thanksgiving. So Monday’s aren’t looming over me with the weeks just beginning feeling right now. Too much stuff is happening.

Before we check in and I announce this weeks contest I wanted to remind you to check out the Maven’s. Today’s installment is by Julie Leto. I’m pretty sure ‘A’ won out yesterday and if so than she’ll be writing a love scene. Who better than Julie to write a love scene between two half dead, or are they all dead??? You’ll have to check it out to know. :)

It’s time to check in and let us know how you did this week. I wrote 5494 words. Whoo-hoo!! I’m actually in last act of the book right now. I’ve got about 29,000 words left to go and I need it done prior to December 3rd.

After the fabulous CL Wilson released her first book, Lord of the Fading Lands, I, much like the rest of the reading world couldn’t wait for the next book in the series to come out. Thank goodness this was a quick release and it’s HERE!!!

This week’s contest is Lady of Light and Shadows. It promises to be another fabulous read. The reviews are awesome and I know you’re going to love it.



Man, does she have awesome covers or what? I love them. The covers alone would make me pick up the book.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Since her earliest memories, Ellysetta Baristani has feared magic, even as she has been inexorably drawn to all things Fey, especially the poetry and legends of Rain Tairen Soul. Now claimed as Rain’s truemate and no longer able to deny her own magic, Ellysetta is swept into the very center of a struggle filled with the magic and darkness she has always feared. The High Mage of Eld wants to capture her. The most murderous dahl’reisen who ever lived wants her dead. And her enemies will corrupt even the people she loves most in their quest to claim her magic for themselves.

To read an excerpt follow this link.

You know the drill, leave your comments through out the week to be entered into the contest.

So, how did you do this week? Did you meet your goals, come close, or go beyond? Are you working on a deadline to finish the wip or are you taking your time, writing as you can?

Tell us, we like to cheer you on and will even pull out the red stiletto’s if needed. :)

Hope your week is a great one!!

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and New Contest

Monday has rolled in again. This time without the omg, it’s Monday theme plastered to it. Why? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because my daughter and SnL will be here in a couple of weeks and I’m getting excited to see them. Maybe it’s because the day job should be a bit more normal this week. Maybe it’s cause I re-vamped my website. Check it out and let me know what you think of the colors and stuff. Regardless of the reason, I’m not feeling the five-more-days-until-the-weekend that I normally feel on Mondays.

Before I do the word count and the contest for this week I wanted remind you to check out Anne-Marie’s blog today on writing software. AM, as we call her, has a wonderfully sassy voice which comes through in her blog as well as her writing. So, go check it out and on Tuesday she’s starting an interactive writing week. Sounds like it’s going to tons of fun.

Also, I’m sure you’re all reading the Manuscript Mavens blog each day, but be sure and check it out this morning. Their having a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ and today is day 1. So many fun things happening this time of year in the blog world.

Now onto this weeks check in. Word count: 4042 and that’s with two days of zero writing. I’m finding that my best writing day is Sunday. I still try to write everyday but on Sunday’s I can leave the computer on and write for a while, do what I need or want to do for a bit and then come back and write some more.

It’s contest time!



This week’s contest is featuring Julie Leto, Rhonda Nelson, and Mia Zachary in their new book Witchy Business.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

CASE FILE #1:
Regina St. Lyon's powers have been waning. Maybe she did betray love, but what else could a duped girl do? At the time, banishing hotter-than-thou Brock Aegis to the Middle Realm seemed like a good idea. But now Brock is back...

CASE FILE #2: Benedict DeWin is practically wizard royalty--and as magically gifted as a stale loaf of bread. But then he meets Bryony Flynn, another magical "failure"- whose only gift is to make certain things grow. Not that Benedict is complaining...

CASE FILE #3:
Born to a family of seers and shamans, Siobhan Silverhawk has accepted her magicless lifestyle. But when she meets recent widower J. B. Pendleton, Siobhan figures she has magic enough to make a love potion--which seems to have worked a little too well!

Case File #1 is Julie Leto’s story and if you read Stripped you’re going to love this book. If you haven’t read Stripped then what are you waiting for. Go get the book, get both books. :)

Here’s where you can read an excerpt for Witchy Business Case File #1.

So, how was your week? Did you meet your goals? Did you write, plot, think about your current wip or spend time critiquing and polishing your baby? How close to writing ‘The End’ are you?

Leave your comments so we can cheer and encourage you for the last week and the new week ahead. Oh yeah, and it will also enter you into this week’s contest. All comments through out the week will enter you.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,

Vicki

Monday Check In and Contest Time

Monday is here again. Have you ever noticed how long it takes for Friday to come around and yet Monday loves to zoom right on in? For some reason I think when God was creating seven days, Monday was his hyperactive child. Flying around the room, arms raised, hands waving wildly and with a loud voice screaming out, “Pick me, pick me.” While Friday sat back in the corner staring off into some unknown universe without a care in the world, not even thinking about being picked.

Okay, probably not one the best analogies of the weekdays but you get the idea of my thoughts on Monday verses Friday. :)

Check in time.

This week I wrote 3577 words. WhooHoo! I’ll gladly take them. At least until I’m in edit mode. Then who knows how many will stay and how many will be shipped off to the deleted scene/words folder. However, since I had three days this week I didn’t do any writing they’re great words right now. All I can say is, thank god for Sundays.

Contest time.



This past Saturday we had Rita Herron as our TARA workshop speaker. She was awesome. Rita has sold over 30 books to date and was one of the Sweet Valley writers when she started her career. From Sweet Valley to intrigue she made the jump with flying colors. I’ll blog about the workshop and dinner later this week.

Her book Anything For His Son is a fabulous read.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

The Boston blackout turned terrifying for Ethan and Rebecca Matalon when their five-year-old son was kidnapped. Rebecca suddenly forgot she'd been in town to finally get divorce papers signed. All she could focus on was little Jesse, her adorable boy who was afraid of the dark, taken by a vengeful madman.

Ethan had saved people all over the world on his secret missions, but could he save their son? His arms gave strength and comfort to Rebecca—the woman he'd never stopped loving—but their life together wouldn't be worth saving if they lost Jesse. Frantic, trapped in a nightmare, Ethan had to focus. But time was running out, as darkness was descending….

Check out the excerpt here.

At Rita’s website you’ll find great writing tips for the writer along with her other books.

So how was your week? Did you reach your writing goals? Have you set any new deadlines for yourself? What about new books? We love to hear about the books you’re reading and what you loved about them.

I’m wishing everyone a great week whether its writing, reading or whatever you love to do.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and New Contest

Monday. Yep, it’s here. Time to go back to the day job and start another week. It’s not so bad since I really like where I work but I’d so much rather be home typing in my pj’s. :)

I took last Friday off and it was great. I wrote in the morning, ran some errands, and read in the afternoon. I loved it. But alas, since I’m not a full time writer as of yet and the bills want to be paid…to the day job I go.

It’s also time to check in. I had several days last week that I didn’t write. At all. Zero, nada, zip. The scene that I’m doing right now just wouldn’t come. I knew exactly where it was going to end up but getting it there. Finally Sunday night I just sat down and decided I was writing it. It might all be cut but I was going to write the scene.

You know what? I’m thinking it turned out pretty good. Would it have turned out as good if I’d done it earlier in the week? I don’t know, it might not have been the same scene at all.

All that to say, this past week I wrote 2733 words and trust me most of those were written on Sunday. Next weeks goals are to write every night except Tuesday (I have a meeting to attend).

Okay, for the fun part. You may have noticed I’m trying to hit most genres in these contest. Something for everyone and if you haven’t read a great historical in awhile then this is the one you want to read.



This weeks contest is by New York Times best selling author Samantha James. Her book The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell is a fabulous historical romance.

Isn’t the cover georgous? I love the colors and her dress is sexy. Flip open the cover and oh yeah, he’s hot.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

A cruel twist of fate changed Simon Blackwell’s life forever. A man of intense passions, he resolved to deny his emotions and desires forever—taking refuge in the wilds of the moorlands and shutting himself off from the world. But on one extraordinary night, on a rare trip to London, the unthinkable occurs. An intoxicatingly beautiful stranger stirs the sensuous hunger he has sworn to resist. Simon Blackwell believed that no woman could tempt him.

No woman…save Annabel McBride.

Annabel knows nothing of Simon’s secret pain. But one irresistible kiss plunges her into marriage with a man she scarcely knows, a man who hides a shattered past. She can feel the blistering heat of the fire that burns within this exquisitely handsome man, making her yearn for much more than the union in name only he has promised her.

But Simon dares not love again--for fragile love can be lost in an instant. And now Annabel must find a way to open his heart to the most glorious risk of all…

You can go here to read an excerpt. The excerpt is chapter two, how fun is that.

It’s your turn now. How was your week? Did you meet your goals? Did you read any great books or discover a new author? What are your goals for next week?

Oh, and just in case you didn’t see it I announced last weeks winner on Sunday’s blog.

As always, Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and This Week's Contest

Last week’s winner is…drum roll please, Julie S.!!! Major Congrats! Email me with your snail address at vickilanewrites at yahoo.com and I’ll send it out.

Monday, the coveted weekend is over. I don’t know about you but I’m thinking weekends should be three days. Two just never seem to be enough. By the time I’m through running ‘weekend’ errands, cleaning the house, and trying to throw a little bit of fun in it’s over. I’m so looking forward to the day I can work from home in the pj’s. :)

This morning there’s a cool breeze blowing and although it reads 73 on the outside thermometer it feels just a bit cooler. Maybe fall is beginning to wake its sleepy head down here in sunny Florida. It’s been a killer of a hot summer so we’ll take the change no matter how slight.

I’m checking in this week with 3987 words. Not to bad considering I had 3 days this week with absolutely zero writing. Of course that also means my daily word count to finish by December 3rd has increased by about 100 words.



This week’s contest is Carly Phillips new book Sealed With A Kiss the sequel to Cross My Heart

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Molly Gifford has it all—a hot legal career and Daniel Hunter, her equally hot boyfriend. But what she desperately needs is a family—her family. So, when she discovers her real father, she doesn't hesitate to pack her bags and go to him. Even though it means leaving the man she loves behind.....

A year later, Daniel Hunter's still trying to get on with his life. That is, until Molly shows up at his door, begging for his help. Her newfound father is under arrest for murder, and Hunter's the only attorney in the area with the skill and reputation to get him off.

Hunter can't resist helping an innocent man. And, unfortunately, he still can't resist Molly. But this time, he'll be the one walking away—even though it'll break both their hearts to do it...

To read more of Molly and Hunter’s story check out Chapter One on Carly’s website.

Like so many of Carly’s fans I fell in love with Molly and Hunter in the first book and wanted their story. It’s a great read and I know you’re going to love it.

As always leave your comments this week on the blog to be entered into the contest. You can leave them on any or all of the weeks blog post.

So how was your week? Did you write? Read any new books? Are you meeting your goals? Let us know what’s happening.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and Contest

Last weeks contest winner is tetewa!! Congrats, I’m sure you’re going to love the book. Email me your snail mail at vickilanewrites at yahoo.com.

My word count for the past week is 3198. Not too bad considering I didn’t write at all this weekend. Saturday I did this huge yard sale at a park. The city does all of the promoting for it, they have a bandstand with music the entire time and a food court type area. I’m not really that big on “doing” yard sales but this ended up being fun and I made some extra cash.

Sunday was a family thing and then Science Guy and I put in a decorative fence in the backyard. Actually the back yard is privacy fenced but I wanted an area for the babies when they didn’t need to run the entire yard.

The instructions looked simply enough. Measure, pound in the stake, put the fence piece on top of said stake and put the pole through it. Yeah, sounds easy. Not so much. It took much much longer than we thought and pulling out the stakes to put them in again even though we measured.

But the results are great. It looks pretty and does the job all in one.



Okay, for the fun part. This week’s contest giveaway is autographed copy of Terri Garey’s new book Dead Girls Are Easy. Click the title to read an excerpt.

And to wet your appetite here’s the back cover blurb:

There's something about almost dying that makes a girl rethink her priorities. Take Nicki Styx—she was strictly goth and vintage, until a brush with the afterlife leaves her with the ability to see dead people.

Before you can say boo, Atlanta's ghosts are knocking at Nicki's door. Now her days consist of reluctantly cleaning up messes left by the dearly departed, leading ghouls to the Light . . . and one-on-one anatomy lessons with Dr. Joe Bascombe, the dreamy surgeon who saved her life. All this catering to the deceased is a real drag, especially for a girl who'd rather be playing hanky-panky with her hunky new boyfriend . . . who's beginning to think she's totally nuts.

But things get even more complicated when a friend foolishly sells her soul to the devil, and Nicki's new gift lands her in some deep voodoo.

As it turns out for Nicki Styx, death was just the beginning.

So, how was your week? Did you reach your goals you’d set in writing? If you’re joining the 75 Sweat or the 100x100 let us know. Did life and things you had to do get in the way this week?

Did you read anything new that you absolutely loved? We always love to hear about new books.

Leave your comments to be entered in this week’s contest.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and Contest

It’s Monday. You know what that means. It’s time to check in with the week’s word count. Word count: 3639. WhooHoo! That’s a bit more like it, for me. :)

As I said in yesterday’s blog (be sure to check it out for last week’s winners), I’m starting a new challenge today. The 100x100 started in our TARA group a hundred days ago. Some joined immediately and some came in later in the challenge. I wrote 58 days out of 100. During that time I added 30,080 words to my current wip. Pretty good, I’m thinking.

Then Julie Leto emails and reminds us in order to have our books completed by the Christmas Party we only have 75 days. OMG, 75 days sounds like plenty of time, to procrastinate and still get it done. Procrastinate: Often my middle name. But it’s not. Not if the needed word count is around 90,000.

She threw out the gauntlet. Anyone who wants to join this challenge has to figure out how many more words needed and then divides by 75. This will give you the amount of words you need each day in order to meet the goal. If you’re not sure of the words needed you can estimate. You can also check out Julie on the Plotmonkeys.

If you are doing the 100x100 and that’s working for you, then by all means stay with it. It’s a great concept and one I’ll go back to when I start working on CI. However, if you want to step it up a notch, add some deadlines, and complete your work in 75 days then this is for you.


Contest for this week:

Whose Number Is Up, Anyway? By Stevi Mittman

This is a signed copy. :) How fun is that. Stevi is an excellent writer, who books are never easy to put down. Make sure you have plenty of time when you sit down to read this book. And to find out more about Teddi and tips check the site. :)

Backcover blurb:

Literally, he's had it for every hour of the day for as long as Teddi's known him. So it's no coincidence that minutes after Teddi stumbles accidentally on a corpse in the deep freeze at King Kullen, Detective Dreamboat is back on the scene. Her supermarket snob (among other things) of a mother will never let her hear the end of it.

Nor will Drew, who has told Teddi time and again she's got to stop messing with murder scenes. Until Teddi goes from material witness to potential next victim…
But the woman whose smarmy ex dubbed her "Long Island's Most Dangerous Decorator" isn't going down without a fight. Or going down alone. Not when she's got an oh-so-irritating, way-too-irresistible cop watching her every move…

Here’s
where you can read an excerpt and check out href=http://www.stevimittman.com>Stevi’s website.

Leave your comments this week to be entered.

Tell us, how did you do this week? Did you find time to write, plot, revise, or set any new goals? We need to know. We’ll cheer with you or encourage you, whatever you need.

Oh, I almost forgot! Tomorrow I have the wonderful and talented Karen Lingefelt as my guest blogger. Be sure to stop by and say hi.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and Contest for the Week

It’s Monday and for most of us that means, back to the ‘day job’. I don’t know about you (those of you who have day jobs), but I’m so looking forward to the day that I can write all day in my pj’s, leaving the weekend for family and friends. Yes, I know, once that day comes and I’m on deadline I’ll still be working day, night, weekends, and whatever other time I can find in the universe to meet said deadline. Insert: When Erica takes over the world one of the first orders of business must be more hours in the day.

I’m checking in with 741 words this week. Not a lot, but they are new words. Words that I think will stay and not hit the cutting floor. Which is always a good thing. The count looks like I did at least 100 words each day. Don’t let it fool you. I wrote twice this past week. That’s it, two times. My goal for this week is too write everyday (again). Even if I end up with the same count, writing everyday is still better.

Now for the fun part. This week’s contest giveaway is not one but two books that will not actually come out until October 2nd. So, whoever the winners are I won’t be able to mail it out to the, until then. The books will, however come to you signed by the author.



There is one catch with this giveaway. The winners must post a review of the book on their blog. If you don’t have a blog, no worries, you can email the review to me and I’ll post it here. Oh, and for a slight twist the first one to post the review will receive an extra surprise. Don’t you just love surprises?

This is the first in a series for CL Wilson. Cheryl is an amazing writer and this is a book you'll not be able to put down. She worked on this series for several years. Her world building is, IMHO, some of the best I’ve ever encountered. Check out her blog, Cheryl’s World Building I promise you’ll be as amazed as I was. No matter what genre you’re writing, you will be able to glean from this. We all world build: whether its fantasy, paranormal, romantic suspense, set in other worlds, or in a very real place. Cheryl clearly understands the importance of this and how to do it.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Long ago, in the magical holocaust known as the Mage Wars, the immortal Fey and their allies fought to defeat the grasping evil of the Elden Mages and their dark-gifted supporters. During those wars, in a fit of grief-induced madness caused by the death of his mate, Fey shapeshifter Rain Tairen Soul nearly destroyed the world in a blaze of tairen fire.

Now, a thousand years later, the fierce Fey king must fight to save his race from the brink of extinction and once again stop the evil rising in the homeland of his enemies, the Eld. The key to his success lies in the mortal city of Celieria, where the Mage Wars began, and with a young woman whose soul sings to him in ways no woman’s ever has, whose presence reawakens the primal fury of the tairen within his soul, and whose vast, untapped power can either save or destroy him and his people.

To read more check out the excerpt on her site. Lord of the Fading Lands.

If you are not one of the winners you can preorder it here: Lord of The Fading Lands

Just in case you’re new to my blog, all you need to do is comment to be entered into the contest. I’ll take all the comments for the week, throw them into the proverbial hat and two people’s names will be drawn (not by me). On Friday I’ll announce the winners.

So, how was your writing week? Did you accomplish your goals this week? Was it a crazy busy week where trying to find the time to sit down and write didn’t seem possible? Let us know, we’re here to cheer your word counts and encourage you if you need more. Ummm…that would be me this week. :)

As always, Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,

Vicki

Monday Check In (on Tuesday), Fun Friday Contest Winner and New Contest for this Week

Wow, that's a long header. Being out of the loop for this many days means lots of catching up. :)

First things first, last week’s winner of Karen Rose’s book Die For Me, is Terri W.
Congrats Terri, you'll love the book. Just don't read it when you're all alone.

Email me at vickilanewrites at yahoo.com with your snail mail info and I’ll get the book out to you by the end of the week.

We’re in the new house!!! It’s taken us five days but most of our things are unpacked and have found their new home. I must say that the kitchen still does not have enough space. Do they ever? I’m thinking the answer to that is no.

Pictures still need to be hung as well as few boxes still to go but all in all we’re in. Yea!

My office is coming along great. For that I am extremely thankful. I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time working when everything is all over the place.

I’ll post some pictures soon. I’ve missed everyone here as well as everyone who I visit each day.

Also, I know I owe several books to winners and I’ll mail them out this week. With the move I couldn’t seem to find the time to get to the post office. So sorry about that.

No new words to report this week but watch out next Monday. I’ve missed writing and my muse has decided enough is enough.

Now for the fun part. This weeks contest is Cindy Kirk’s new book, When She Was Bad. Don't you love the cover!!!



This just hit the shelves in July. If this is the first time reading any of her books, then you’re in for a real treat. Below is the back cover blurb and if you click the title link above you’ll be able to read the excerpt.

She never knew how good “bad” could be!

Jenny Carman is tired of playing by the rules. It didn’t get her the promotion she so deserved, and it certainly didn’t get her Mr. Right. Or even Mr. Right Now. It’s time for her to do something besides spend Saturday nights at the Laundromat. So she’s letting down her long blonde hair, stepping out of her gray suits and into some sexy stilettos…

Leaning against a bar, dressed in a lacy, curve-hugging red camisole, Jenny’s ready for action--and gorgeous businessman Robert Marshall eagerly takes the bait. She tells him her name is Jasmine, a hairstylist, and gets ready for a mind-blowing evening. Robert, however, is smart, funny, sensitive--worth a lot more than a hot one-night stand. But one lie leads to another, plunging Jenny/Jasmine in way over her head. She can’t keep this double life up forever--but will she still drive the handsome hunk wild if he discovers a good girl hiding inside?

Leave you’re comments this week and on Friday, yes really on Friday, I’ll announce the winner. Things should be back to normal now. Whatever normal means when you’re a writer.

So, what about you. Have you written this week? Thought about your current wip? Did you do anything exciting for Labor Day weekend? Tell us about it. You know it’s that enquiring minds want to know thing. Tell us how you did on writing and anything else fun that you’d like to share.

It’s so good to be back…now I’m off to visit some of my favorite blogs. Then to write!

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and Contest

How can it be Monday? Where did the weekend go? I’ve got muscles I didn’t know I had and they ache. The painting is done in the new house with the exception of a small touch-up. I got paint on a little area of the crown molding in what will be my office.

The place is clean but me being who I am, I still needed to wipe out all the cabinets, clean the wood floors, and clean the bathroom before the movers come on Thursday. Science Guy and I spent the weekend getting all of the above accomplished. I must say, I’m tired, achy, and really proud of how it looks.

We’re taking boxes over each night this week that we won’t let the movers move and putting that stuff away. Then there are my clothes and shoes. Those go tonight. Yep, everything that hangs with the exception of the outfits I’ll need for work for the next two days and then jeans for Thursday. For those of you who know me well, you know this is a hard thing for me. I never decide what I’m going to wear until the morning when I’m getting ready.

All of that to give you an update and okay try to give you an excuse for not writing this week. I finally had to give myself a break and know that next week I’ll settle back in and write, write, write. So, my check in would be: zip, zilch, nadda.



Contest time. This week I’m excited to be giving away Karen Rose’s new book DIE FOR ME. The book will be available August 28, 2007.

Karen Rose is a Rita award winning, USA bestselling author of Romantic Suspense. If you like suspense then this is the book for you. Her stories are completely real and believable while down right scary. Tip: You might not want to read this before bed. :)

Here’s the back cover blurb:

COME TO ME

The first victim is found in a snow-covered Philadelphia field. Detective Vito Ciccotelli enlists the aid of archaeologist Sophie Johannsen to determine exactly what lies beneath the frozen ground. Despite years of unearthing things long buried, nothing can prepare Sophie for the matrix of graves dug with chilling precision. The victims buried there haunt her. But the empty graves terrify her – the killer isn’t done yet.

SCREAM FOR ME

He is cold and calculating, the master of a twisted game. Even with Vito and Sophie hot on his trail, he will not stop. One more empty grave must be filled, and one last scream must be heard – the scream of an archaeologist who is too close for comfort and too near to resist…

DIE FOR ME Click the link to read an excerpt.

How was your week? Did you write? Did life issues get in the way of your passion this week? Let us know how you did. We’re here to cheer your success or encourage you for the coming week.

Leave your comments to be entered in this week’s giveaway.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and Contest

This past week I’ve not written at all. It’s been packing, throwing away, and more packing. I don’t actually move for another week, which means I’m living in total chaos right now.

Hopefully, I’ll have words, pages, revisions, or edits to report next week. You all know how much I love the 100 words/100 days. It keeps me in my story. Now I feel I’m going back in cold. Yuck! Not the way I like to work but it can’t be helped.


This week’s contest is the first Black Dagger Brotherhood, Dark Lover, by JR Ward. This is the first in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and since she the fifth is coming out in September, I thought I’d introduce you to the boys. Ummm, if you meet them, don't call them boys. Especially Zsadist, who the brothers call Z. He's really cool but don't tell him I said that. He doesn't take to well to it. Oh, his book is the third in the series. :)

You may have read her other work, written by her actual name, Jessica Bird. If so, then you already know she is a fabulous writer.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a must read even if paranormal is not the normal genre you read. You will become totally immersed within their world, knowing them well, and yes, pulling for them. You might even wish to become a shellan or wish you could be one of the brothers.

Here’s a blurb from the book. You can check out her sight for an excerpt.

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There also exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Among them, none relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead…

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both…
So how’s your week been? Did you write, edit, revise, or even think about your current wip? Or are you like me, life has taken over for a short time and you’re fighting your way back?

Don’t forgot to leave your comments all week to be in the drawing for JR Ward’s book. You’re going to love it!

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki