What am I doing now that I turned in my book? Yes. In case you missed it, my work is no longer in progress but is DONE! I emailed it off to Mills & Boon on Thursday. Whoo hoo!
The good news is, I liked the final result. When I read through one last time, the book held together pretty well. It even has some surprises. Of course, my editor and her readers at M&B may see things differently, but it is out of my hands until revision time.
I’ve had a lot of other stuff that I’d put off to deal with, like getting my webmistress (the incomparable Emily Cotler and her team at Waxcreative Design) new material, including my new bookcover! Take a peek! There were a couple of other promotional things to take care of. Including one I almost forgot! On July 21 I’m going to be a guest at Rosa is for Romance, a blog for Italian and English-speaking readers who love romance.
I also loaded more CDs onto my ITunes, including my favorite CD of Strauss. The Blue Danube always makes me smile. I imagine my hero and heroine gazing at each other lovingly and then starting to dance with joy. Of course, The Blue Danube was written in 1867, but I imagine it anyway.
I also created a new bookmark. Back in June my husband bought me a new laptop (for our anniversary. It was easier than getting me flowers) and now I can use software to design my own bookmarks! I love my new computer. It’s pink.
And I had the great pleasure of realizing my clothes are too big. Most of my pants and jeans are TOO BIG!! I have been dieting but I haven’t lost that last 10 lbs I wanted to lose before RWA. Still, I went down a dress size! So I went into a flurry of trying on my clothes to see what fit and what didn’t and I ran out to Macys to buy some more things, including a pair of black pants with a light pinstripe marked down to $20 from $109! I also stopped in the lingerie dept and bought new…lingerie, including some Flexees so I can look 10 lbs thinner even if I’m not.
I think I am ready for RWA. I might be able to fit into this dress for the Beau Monde Soiree (Left)
But maybe not this one. (Right)
Hmmmm. Maybe I’ll run upstairs and try that light blue one on again…….
I can’t wait to see all of our Risky friends at RWA. Only a couple weeks to go!!
There is still time to enter my contest on my website. But if you want to read the Sneak Peek of Scandalizing the Ton you’d better hurry. It is going to disappear soon.
All this month the Wet Noodle Posse are giving RWA tips. So come visit. My topic posted today is Don’t Be Shy: RWA Survival Skills for the Very Very Bashful
I confess I gave up on my pre-conference diet: too many other things I’m trying to do, too much stress, too many cats nagging me to order in some pizza with pepperoni-fish… So I have great respect in my typing as I congratulate you on going down a size, all while on a deadline!
The nice thing about my (one and only) Regency gown is that it’s highly adjustable. I suspect that since I made it, I’ve been three different sizes, but it always fits. (Thank heavens! Much as I’ve never been thrilled with it, I do *not* want to have to make another one.)
BTW, I love the bookmark!!!
Cara
Great excerpt, Diane–and lovely cover, too. The Cover Gods have certainly treated you well again. Can’t wait to read the book!
I bought material to make another Regency gown years back but never got to it. Won’t this year, either. So it will be the tried-and-true.
Sure wish I were closer to finishing this mss but…
Well….The light blue dress does not fit……Not even with Flexees.
Congratulations again on finishing, Diane! And on your new pink laptop. I also have a new laptop, which I love and adore, but it is not pink.
Re pepperoni-fish: since tunas are obviously small and round and come in cans, pepperoni (which are also small and round) must also be fish. Or so reasons the cat. If “reason” is the word I want.
Todd-who-is-not-sure-this-is-a-valid-syllogism
WOO HOO! Congrats on the FINISH, O Divine One! The dresses look darling. I bought the pattern and material to make my own Regency gown for the soiree, BUT little things like requests for the full and a complete panic to get more done on the second WIP and a thousand other things got in the way. Definitely next year for the Regency gown I wanted to wear. I have another Regency style gown that will have to do in a pinch.
Now that the days are ticking down I am completely nervous about pitching and meeting editors and agents. EEEEK! But I AM looking forward to meeting the Riskies!
Even when you’re not busy – you’re busy!
Congrats on the dress size and on the new clothes.
Now, I’m off to check out your site….
Congrats again on finishing, Diane! And on finding that your clothes are too big. Woohoo!
I’ve lost about 8 pounds since spring but I’d wanted to lose more. Oh well. My Regency gown ought to still fit anyway though I’ll try it on next week to make sure.
This week is too insane–planning a birthday party for my oldest among other things. The theme is Greek mythology–how cool is that? But now I have to go figure out how to make an Athena helmet out of gold cardboard. 🙂
Congrats on finishing AND on the diet!
Love the cover–it will really stand out on the shelves! I’m so looking forward to it.
But what is Flexees? It sounds like something I need to know! 🙂
But what is Flexees? It sounds like something I need to know! 🙂
There’s a hyperlink on the blog, Deb. Or you can look at Macys.com
It is maidenform’s slimming line.
Diane, I’ll have you know that I’ve dowloaded both your pictures on my computer. You look so VERY lovely. Dying to see you soon!!!
Pre-conf diet? Exercise? The former never existed, the latter, I’ve kept up with. As to the zillions of pounds that needed to vanish into ether? My bones adore the fat and are holding on to it like a dear friend. Not my fault. (le sigh)
Oooh. Tips on how you made your bookmark, please. So, so cool. Your covers from HH have always been marvelous. I’m delighted with this one, because the colors of the background are subtle but very visible, yet they make the foreground pop.
A pink laptop? Don’t say it’s a Mac. Are you planning on bringing it to the SF?
Todd, glad basic science isn’t based on your brand of logic. Then it might leap (and crash) all the time. 🙂
Keira-who’s-a-huge-fan-of-LeapFrog-toys
I like this Flexees Singlet, except that I’d like it to cover my toes (trim the arch), go up to my chin (elongate the neck), and down to my wrists.
Great cover, Diane! Can’t wait to see you in a few weeks! 🙂
Pre-conf diet? Exercise? The former never existed, the latter, I’ve kept up with.
I’ve done the diet but not the exercise. Gotta get back to Curves.
Oooh. Tips on how you made your bookmark, please.
The bookmark site printrunner.com gives the dimensions for a 2×6 bookmark (with bleed allowance). I have software that lets me design it. It’s called Scrapbook plus and it wasn’t my favorite but it worked. Gotta find something better. (I don’t do Scrapbooking)
A pink laptop? Don’t say it’s a Mac. Are you planning on bringing it to the SF?
It’s a Sony Vaio. I decided that I didn’t want to learn a Mac. I LOVE this laptop!!!
Keira wrote:
Todd, glad basic science isn’t based on your brand of logic. Then it might leap (and crash) all the time. 🙂
It’s not my logic, it’s the cat’s! Explain it to him!
Todd-who-is-only-the-messenger