I've gone and done it

I've signed up for NaNoWriMo, to jump start the next Duals and Donovans book, the direct sequel for Lions' Pride. (Foxes' Den is a Duals and Donovans book, but is only slightly related to Lions' Pride. One of the heroes is Elissa's cousin.)

I'm not going to sweat if I don't make my 50K. I have other things that need to happen in November, including continuing the revisions for Out of the Frying Pan. But I know myself and if I don't give myself a reason to start the next book, I'll get lost in research and procrastination instead of doing it.

at least it's not the flu...

and thank goodness for that, but some nasty virus got its metaphorical claws in me and I've spent the past few days largely asleep. Feeling better today, but still stayed home from work and slept until 11:30. I've been so sore it feels like the mattress tries to beat me up at night and we have a temperpedic mattress, nice supportive foam!

Oh well. So it goes. With luck, today I'll feel well enough to work a little on Foxes' Den. It's so close to being ready to go to my editor...

At least in my semi-delirious state, I think I came up with some plot elements for Lions' Pride 2 (which is NOT going to be its title).

home again, home again

Just back from a wonderful conference, Authors After Dark. It's the conference's first year, so it was relatively small, but it was a great group of people. This was my first "fan" conference. Unlike the RWA conferences I attend, which are strictly industry, this one was designed to bring authors and readers together.

And wow, it was fun! Totally different energy, much more like a science-fiction convention than a professional conference. The other authors and I were definitely working--signing books, chatting with fans, talking up our work--but it was more relaxed, less fraught atmosphere and there was a definite party element, including a massive costume party with dancing.

I got to meet my wonderful Samhain editor at last, and see Kat from Phaze again. Got to meet other terrific writers who love the dark side of romance as much as I do. I even got a cheer when I introduced myself at a panel--an avid reader who'd bought Lions' Pride and loved it. Not bad for a relatively new name! And these felt like my people. It wasn't just that they were fellow writers and readers. They were writers and readers with Goth streaks, readers and writers who larped or did SCA or science fiction fandom as well, writers and readers who were outside the mainstream in a number of comfortable ways. I even discovered that someone I was chatting with at dinner was a friend of a friend, quite outside the writing community.

And to top it all off, we raised $1500 for a local animal shelter raffling off gift baskets!

Entirely not on the subject of writing...help my sweetie help his critter charges

It only takes a click or two.
Visit http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?
Vote for the Mansfield Animal Shelter, and help win my husband (aka Jeff, aka the Cat-Herder, aka the local human officer) money to help build a shiny new shelter that is already in progress.
http://www.mansfieldshelter.org/New_shelter.htm It'll give him a lot more room to take in the many critters who find themselves homeless in these troubled economic times.
(You can click daily between now and Dec 20th, but every single click helps!)
While you are there, you can click to donate food to animal shelters through Petfinder.com.
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3
Spread the word!

Chatting at Coffee Time Romance

I'll be chatting today at the Coffee Time Romances erotic romance group--noon to 4 EST. Drop in and you might win fabulous prizes. In any case, it'll make me feel loved.

First you'll have to join the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karendevinkaren/. You can always drop out later if it's not to your taste. But do stop by.

Award? Well, it could happen

Restraint is on the nominee list for an award at http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/805833.html

Go over and vote for me if you've read the book. Heck, do it even if you haven't. :-)

FYI, the book's part of a series that all had the same cover. It's actually male-male. *shrug*

Thanks.

A quiet but productive weekend of writing and cooking planned. The cooking's already underway. Applesauce and apple butter are burbling in the background, making the house smell like autumn. A perfect thing for a wet, cool early October day.

I've spent some time catching up on blogs and drinking coffee. Now on to getting ready to can said apple products and then write on Foxes' Den.

I need music, though. I'm alone this weekend, which is good for Getting Stuff Done, but the house is much too quiet and the cats...the cats are all sacked out, as cats on rainy days are wont to be, and are no company at all.

*goes to put music in the stereo*