Writers know all about the revision cave…well, I’m in the life cave. If I’ve been quiet lately, its because I feel like my son’s favorite word, p-o-o-p. I’ve been sick for a month and it’s the middle of summer. What’s wrong with this picture? How can I turn around and catch something else while I’m on antibiotics for the first problem? And why haven’t I bought stock in Kleenex yet?

The lady manning the front desk at my doctor’s office recognizes me now. I’ve got enough prescriptions for a small army, not only for the illness but the many other things going wrong with me lately. Throat infection, insomnia, breaking out like a 12-year-old boy. No, I’m not pregnant, and anyone who suggests it will get my largest shoe in an unpleasant spot, because having kids isn’t on my fun list right now either. Yeah, I said it. If you have kids at home who are not in full-time school yet (three more weeks, dear God, send me strength), I’m sure you feel my pain.

They (some experts, somewhere) say stress weakens the immune system. I may never get better! Anyone have a cure for can-I-hide-in-a-hole-now syndrome?

The small piece of good news is, I finished first round edits on my November book. Actually, that’s not small news at all, because it means I can go to bed early for a few nights. Ask my editor exactly how naked one should be when getting it on outside at night. And you thought your job was interesting.

Drop by Elisabeth Naughton’s blog and participate in her Stolen Heat contest–there are lots of chances to win books, and one lucky entrant will win a $100 Visa gift card.

I’m guest blogging tomorrow (Friday, July 24)–see you there!

Revisions for my second book, For His Eyes Only, have arrived in my inbox. Yay!

Most writers would call this work. I call it fun, because it beats a) sitting around waiting for word on submitted manuscripts and b) sitting around trying to come up with new ideas so I don’t feel like a failure if submitted manuscripts don’t work out. Such is life when you write books with the intent to publish.

I like revisions, and I like deadlines. Nothing drives me crazy like the aimless wandering that happens between books. I start eating too much, and drinking too many alcoholic beverages, and spending money that I don’t have…no, I don’t do “aimless” well at all. Still, I have trouble making myself sit down and work until I have a solid to-do list. “Start new story about a boy and a girl” doesn’t cut it. What boy? Which girl? And WTF are they supposed to do for 300 pages? (Pull hair out.) I’ve heard a lot of bestselling authors say “the muse” is a myth–a writer has to sit down and work no matter how much the words don’t want to come. And it’s true. Sometimes, there’s no magic. Sometimes it takes a whip. And my editor really wants to help me out of my funk, because she sent revisions AND demanded a blurb in the same night.

Generally, after one round of edits comes another, and then a final one…so I’ll be busy and sporadic here on the blog for a while. I’ve got a few events coming up: I’m guest blogging with Dorchester author Elisabeth Naughton this Friday (she’s giving away a $100 Visa card!), and I’ll be participating in a second anniversary bash for Long and Short Reviews on August 12 (they’re giving away two Sony readers!). Look for me. I’ll remind you later.

For now…I’m off to write a blurb.

Congratulations to the 2009 Golden Heart winners, with a special shout-out to Pixie Kelly Ann Riley for her win in the Inspirational category, and Samhain author Vivi Andrews (eligible for GH because her sales were either under 20k words or contract came after entry deadline…I think that’s how it works…) for Contemporary Single Title.

While I’m disappointed (shocked! throwing things at my laptop!) that so many of my 007 and Pixie sisters were not recognized for their repeat awesomeness, it was fun to watch all the Pixie presenter names pop up via RWA’s Twitter. I’ve never seen the live feed before because I was always, uh, there (yay). But it was pretty cool. Congrats again, ladies!

RITA announcements are still coming in as I write this, but I have to stop following it now (sorry RITA, you have my respect, but not the same sentimental attachment, LOL). See the complete list of GH and RITA winners here!

Really need to finish plotting. Don’t pretend you’re not all at the conference this week, anyway!