Do y'all remember that show? I can't quite remember when it came out, but in the mid-late 80's, somewhere between Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and GI Joes, my brothers became obsessed with it. They no longer jumped off the bus and ran home to catch the last few minutes of cartoons. They jumped off the bus to find Carmen Sandiego. They obsessively played the computer game. It was all about Carmen and her world travels. You needed to gather evidence against the criminal, some times taking you to the most exotic places. If the evidence you gathered wasn't spot on, you lost the case and your reputation suffered. It was genius really, a geographical sleuth game. The boys loved it so much they didn't realize they were learning.

So, I got to thinking, yeah, please don't go there.
Anyway, I've completed the first draft of Hellion's Haven, I'm almost done with the first round of revisions, and I'm positive it will go through at least two more, if not three before it conforms to how I want it.

It's been requested by one editor that I pitched to at a conference, other than that I haven't forced the issue. I want to be totally and completely prepared 'just in case'.

Naturally I'm a people watcher and I've been watching new writers finish the first draft and send queries out to every agent and editor on their list. I have no idea if they research who they are submitting to. What I do know is that their manuscript is more than likely not up to specs, which garners them rejection letters, which leaves them scratching their heads.

When should I begin the agent search? After the final revisions?

Before or after I submit to editors? From what I'm hearing from agents, they want you to query them first. And in all actuality, it seems to be in any writers best interest to do so. But from the gossip mill, agents are darn hard to find.

Who knows what I'll do or when I'll do it, I tend to be an indecisive individual, not all the time, but circumstances do change. I have decided though to begin researching agents. The first thing I did was write down a list of literary agents that are accepting queries from unpublished authors in the genre I write, which of course is historical romance. I wrote down the name of 26 agencies.

Because I'm considering writing inspirational romance as well, my next step was to put markers by those that accepted queries from both genres. That narrowed it down to five.

Then there is one agency, that specifies Scottish historicals, which automatically got a marker.



These six agencies will be the first I research and watch. I want to make sure that we might fit together before I even consider querying them. There's no sense in wasting their time and my frustration.

Am I on the right track? Any suggestions? How do you go about looking for that perfect agent?

Oh, and you might be surprised that not one of the six were in my original top five. In fact, out of the six I had only heard of one of the agencies prior to making my list.

I am writing this with the confidence, no matter how wavering it is, that I might have what an agent might be looking for.

So once again, I got up early to write. I'd call it the crack of dawn, but there was no cracking around here. Not from the sun anyway.

Last night before I went to bed I set everything up so I wouldn't disturb those sleeping and end up disturbing my peace. The one thing I forgot...my headphones. For those who know me that is clearly a problem. I write listening to music. Fortunately, I got over it and wrote away. About half way through my hour, Mr. Scott wakes up and mumbles, "Did you make my coffee?" My response? "Hah." click, click, click. I wanted to make progress on the chapter I was currently rewriting. It was an intense scene, I needed to build tension very dramatically and of course the emotions for my h and h were going back and forth.

I was in my zone.

"Did you make my coffee?" Now what kind of question is that to ask me? When have I ever made coffee, except on the rare occasion that I'm up at 5:00 A.M. Yeah, I can see his mistake in assuming that because I awoke before he did, that I was up for him. *smirk* Duh! Get real, buddy. I love you, but make your own pot of coffee.

After a few minutes he returns to remind of the things that I already know I must do. I mean I do them everyday anyway, right? Of course, I did forget yesterday, but I was busy, with my career. Yeah, yeah, I know, he's trying to build a business too, but you don't see me asking him for help. Well, maybe every now and then, I'll ask his opinion and he's always good for research, as Alice Audrey calls it.

But seriously, hon, I'm writing here. LEAVE ME BE! I want a mega word count and that count has really got to count, no nonsense, and I'm not talking about pantyhose.

I bit my tongue and wrote until my hour was up. A little over 1k, not bad but it could have been better if I wasn't distracted at 5:30 A.M. Once my hour was up, I went and played the housewife, did the dishes left from last night, started a load of towels that one of the kids was supposed to do yesterday, and fed the dogs, because Lord knows, if they don't get fed on time they make the entire neighborhood miserable.

All is settled and pretty much quiet. I figured I could return to rewrites, I mean really if I'm going to treat this writing business as a full time job, then I need to treat it like a full time job and take advantage of every quiet moment. Sadly they are to far and too few.

I said pretty much quiet-I sat down to work and I hear this rumble. No it's not my stomach, although I could do with some breakfast. The rumble continues and it's quite distracting, obnoxious really. I stopped everything I was doing and listened. I couldn't tell if it was coming from the duplex next door or if it was my Great Dane, who has a tendency to snore loudly.

I went and investigated.

After rereading Tessa's blog I discovered her deadline was later than what I thought. Good thing too, because after my adventure outside my four walls, I was exhausted and my leg hurt like the dickens, (where'd that phrase come from?)

Anyway, once we got home Mr. Scott had a job to finish, so supper was off for him. You would have thought, pizza in the oven would have worked just fine, but noooooooo, he wanted to grill out. Sorry, I like having my kiddos cook, but they aren't playing in raw meat. YUCK! So I did. Totally gross!

Did I mention we don't eat red meat but every once in a while. My stomach turned at the thought. I also don't like buns, hotdog, hamburger or otherwise. The kids were thrilled with the idea of trying to start the grill themselves. Okay, go for it. After thirty minutes I stepped in, well hobbled down the stairs and to the grill. Wouldn't you know it, I can't start a fire to save my life. After another forty-five minutes and a good dousing of lighter fluid, half the bottle I swear, and three books of matches, it ignited.

After we consumed our burnt hotdogs and hamburgers, mine thoroughly covered in guacamole, I was able to sit down and write a bit, but I was so dang tired and my leg hurt to the point of tears. Did I mention I have a crazily high pain tolerance? Too much in one day.

So after dragging a few hundred words out of me, I crawled into bed (literally) around midnight only to get up at 5:00 A.M. for yet another writing challenge, no the challenge didn't start at 5:00, but I knew if I waited until 5:25, I wouldn't be roaring to go at 5:30. Remember this is A.M. Did I mention, I'm a night owl?

We wrote for one hour, or worked on our ms's for a solid one hour, I was able to revise a little over 2,000 words. We met again at 1:00. P.M. By this time I'm dragging, fighting sleep and severely. And I know I have to leave by 2:30 to get the youngest to piano lessons on time. But I trudged through it for one whole hour. And I only created, gosh I can't remember, 600 or 800 some words. I was quite disappointed in myself.

I was to meet again at 4:00 my time, but somebody hadn't gone grocery shopping in two weeks, I knew the kids were beyond starving, so I had to go to the grocery. Did I mention that is one of my least favorite things to do? And I had to hobble around. Go figure, I decide to go to a store close to piano lessons so I can just go straight home. Yeah, well, I ended up walking up and down every isle, trying to act like I wasn't limping and wishing I could borrow the old man's cane that kept cutting me off at every corner.

I bought pizza for the family. I was smart and knew I wouldn't want to be on my feet the rest of the night cooking. As soon as I got home, two hours beyond my hour challenge time, I sat down for almost a solid hour, outside of putting pizzas and taking them out of the oven, I wrote a little over 1100 words, I think, I know it was over 1000. Anyway, that plus all the writing I did over the weekend put me way over the 7200 mark.

Both challenges were good for me in more ways than one. Not only did I get some writing done, but some kitty or a couple of kitties will have their needs met. We have a few associations here that deal with kitties. I'll have to decide or perhaps split the 72.00 between them.

I think Tessa's challenge was heartfelt. I wouldn't mind seeing something like this done more often and with different charities. Instead of Idol Gives Back we'll be Writers Give Back.

TaTa for now,

Renee

Oh BTW, if you're interested in where the phrase hurts like the Dickens comes from, check this out.

I've made it past the half way mark. Less than 3600 words to go before tomorrow morning.

I guess the upside to spraining one's leg, is one gets to stay home while the rest of the family goes roller skating.

Peace and quiet. I'm taking on Tessa's challenge. I'm a bit on the late side, but I'm going to write my little heart out.

Update, yeah I realize it's only been a whole two minutes and I at least have chapter 15 typed on my document. But my oh so gallant ds, thought he needed to stay home and take care of mom. How sweet, dripping with sarcasm. It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't include the company of one hyperly obnoxious neighbor boy. They assure me they are leaving to go play. For some reason, it'll be disaster either way. If they stay then the noise level will be like an AC/DC concert, even with my headphones on, if they leave, well, there's sure to be trouble somewhere.

Thirteen things to do while laid up in bed with a sprain...

1. Read a book. (Haven't done that yet)
2. Catch up on blogs.
3. Annoy the family every five minutes with another errand.
4. Catch up on critiques. (still working on those)
5. Watch Ellen.
6. Watch Deal or No Deal
7. Watch American Idol
8. Wish I was asleep.
9. Wish I wouldn't have taken that pain pill.
10. Listen obsessively for the email bleep.
11. You think I'd be writing.
12. I should be writing.

and

13. Visit Emily McKay, guest blogger at Romance Roundtable.





Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Alice Audrey
Harris Channing
bettythegeek
Don't make me get the flying monkeys!
Buck Naked Politics
Jackie Does Dish
nichtszusagen
My Life~AUTHOR Adelle Laudan
MYRTLE BEACH RAMBLINGS
I'll add more...

There is so much excitement going on around the writing world.

I want to shout a huge congratulations.

Jackie Barbosa for her awesome, fantastic, wonderful...go check it out.

Anastasia St.James, she has sold a story, but I'll leave the details for her to tell when she guest blogs at Romance Roundtable on May 1.

Courtney Milan, Sindee Sexton, and Lara Lee for making it to the finals in various contests.

On to other news, Sindee Sexton and Gladys Clifton are having a blast at RT with all those sizzling hot cover models. I hope they bring back pictures.

If you have news you'd like to share, drop me a line.

If you haven't heard, KU, the University of Kansas has won the NCAA Championship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet another picture from my daughter's trip to Chicago.

I thought we'd take a break from pictures.

Amazon.com's Books Bestsellers, romance...

1. The Hollow by Nora Roberts
2. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
3. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philipa Gregory
4. Hokus Pokus by Fern Michaels
5. Pleasure by Eric Jerome Dickey
6. The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
7. Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian
8. Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong
9. Creation In Death by J.D. Robb
10. Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward
11. Bulls Island by Dorothea Benton Frank
12. Killer Secrets by Lora Leigh
13. The Duke Next Door by Celeste Bradley



Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Alice Audrey
Harris Channing
bettythegeek
Don't make me get the flying monkeys!
Buck Naked Politics
Jackie Does Dish
nichtszusagen
My Life~AUTHOR Adelle Laudan
MYRTLE BEACH RAMBLINGS
I'll add more...

Mr. Scott's family suffered a loss this past week. And although death is never easy, I think this one was particularly hard.

Grandpa was 82. And you know what, he was one of the most amazing men I've ever met. There are too many words to describe him. I never saw him not smile or try to make anyone else laugh. He was never idle. Never. He loved people. Especially his family, and it didn't seem to matter if you married into the family or not. He still loved you. And that love was always unconditional, which is a rarity. He was an example to follow. A hero through and through. (Yes, I'm sure he had a few flaws like any hero, but I didn't see them.)

Grandpa B taught me to hug. I know it sounds funny, but I didn't come from a huggy, touchy family. He taught me to hug my kids, which sadly is something I probably never would have done if I hadn't married into grandpa's family.


When my own grandfather died, I didn't cry. It's not because I'm a cold hearted b****, although that may be contrary to popular belief. I think it had more to do with the lack of bonds. Yes I have fond memories of my grandparents, at least on my father's side. But by the time my grandfather died I had become somewhat detached. I have regrets of not seeing him more, but there is nothing I can do about that.

Will I cry when my mother's father dies? Probably not. Cold-hearted? Probably so. Not only can I count on one hand the number of times I've seen my grandparents, there are also issues that I will not delve into to protect those I hold near and dear to my heart. So if I cry it will only be because of my mother's sadness.

Did I cry at Grandpa B's? You betcha, I sobbed like a baby. I cried when his kids cried, I cried at the looks of devastation on the grandkids faces. And I cried when my own kids cried. Most of all I cried because he was my grandpa too.

Although he lived a full happy life and was ready to go home, he'll be greatly missed here. He leaves behind an awesome legacy-he has children and grandchildren that carry so many of his traits. Laughter, the love of family, the love of life. This family couldn't ask for a better soul watching down on us from his place in heaven.

Grandpa B touched so many lives with his own. If you believe in heaven and the rewards received there, Grandpa B will have a multitude.

We love you and miss, Grandpa.