Thought Patterns

Soon, as in, early September, I plan on ordering a bunch of my books. I'll be sending some to Ruta who recently bought Amazon Books in Minneapolis. These will be signed and have a sticker that says "Winner of Goldie" or something like that. GCLS provides 50 stickers to the winners. (and I'm one of 'em!)

The rest of them I'll keep around for whatever reason comes to mind. Such as for you guys and dolls.

If you would like one of the books, signed however way you want it, let me know. You'll have to pay for it, of course, but it won't cost any more than an unsigned book. And if anyone already have one and want it signed, send it to me. I promise to send it back. Just email me (you can use the contact page) with your information.

I won't kiss it though. That's a femme thing.

I hope to be able to finally have a reading (shudder) or signing at Malaprops soon. And hopefully another at a bookstore in Sylva (you reading this Robyn??) I hope to sweet talk other writers into joining me at both locations, probably Jane Vollbrecht. These are things I've been meaning to do (I know it is hard to believe, but I don't like limelight) but keep putting off. With BGCFA now a Goldie winner and at least one other BG book coming out (yes, yes, I am writing it), it may become an obligatory thing.

Still. And loving every second of it.

Let's see. Getting to Phoenix wasn't that bad. I had two great flights with an talkative man in the seat next to me. That makes time fly by. However, while outside waiting for the Super Shuttle, I got something in my eye which then led to a lot of problems. Luckily, one of the other volunteers is also an EMT and worked with me to get it fixed. We tried 3 different eye drops until we got the right one. After a night of not blinking and rubbing it, it was much better. Patty was afraid I'd cut it and we'd need to go get it taken care of. It got all gummy that day but the eye drops worked wonders.

This con was so relaxed and calming. The hotel was HUGE in terms of horizontal space but was only 5 stories tall at the highest. I made it to a lot of workshops but I also skipped a lot and hung out with people instead. I got to meet a lot of new folk and get reacquainted with a bunch more.

I went to almost all of the Coffee Chat things. They were excellent!

Saturday morning they auctioned off some cutie pie authors (which means I was NOT one of them). Nell Stark, Georgia Beers, Karin Kallmaker, Lynn Ames, KG McGregor. I think that was all of them. The auction was for the first dance after the awards ceremony. Nell went first and went for "only" $110 but her willingness to act up set the tone for the rest. I can't remember all the amounts, but Lynn Ames went for $300 and Karin Kallmaker went for $600!

Now, here's where I get all soft and mushy. The night before, a bunch of us went out to dinner and CL said she was going to bid on Lynn Ames. But Lynn said CL would have to get permission first (wimp). CL got out the cell phone and after some texting back and forth, she got her permission. Then Saturday morning, I see the CL is bidding on Lynn but as the price goes up, people keep handing her money so she can be the top bid. Finally, CL wins and I lean over (I'm across the room) and grin at her. She then says "Happy Birthday".

Yes, Saturday was my birthday. And yes, friends paid $300 for me to dance with Lynn Ames. I about had a heart attack. One, to think that people like me enough to spend that much money as a group. And two, a dance with LYNN AMES. She and I later discussed it and we decided she'd ride on my lap in the chair. Lynn is a sweetheart and was thrilled to be gifted to me for one dance. It was fun. It was embarrassing. And I'd do it again.

Then at the awards, I was getting nervous. CL made me write up a speech so that I'd not make a fool of myself if I actually won. So I did and stuffed it in my shirt pocket. Regal Crest racked up the awards! Six of 'em, not including the Director's Award to Nann Dunn. K E Lane won three awards for her book, And Playing the Role of Herself (Romance category, Debut Author, and Popular Choice). Jane Vollbrecht (my editor for BGCFA) won an award for In Broad Daylight in the Dramatic General Fiction category. Brenda Adcock won in the Mystery category for her Redress of Grievances. And then there was mine in the Debut Author category.

In each category, three people announced the finalists (split between them) then each one announced one winner each. In the Debut Author category, that was Katherine V Forrest, Karin Kallmaker, and….crap, someone else. You know, I haven't a clue who won the third Debut Author award nor who announced it! Isn't that awful?! Shit.

Anyway, Katherine V Forrest goes first and announces K E Lane. Katherine is K E's idol so that was just wonderful for her. Karin Kallmaker announced the second one. She steps up, puts the award on the podium, and opens the envelope. Then she picks the award back up, kisses it, and announces the winner. When she picked it up, I knew it was me.

The rest is a blur. They tell me I raced up the ramp so fast they thought I was going to go airborne. I am soooo glad CL made me write it down, else I'd not known what to say. Later I'll put my words here to share with everyone.

Thought I'd share the highlights. More on the various individual workshops tomorrow.

Now available from Star Crossed Productions (SCP), Butch Girls Can Fix Anything (along with many other RCE books) is now an e-book in the simple PDF format.

Go to the SCP website: http://www.scp-inc.biz

Scroll down to the Browse E-Books section in the link list on the left.

Click the "PDF E-books" link. (direct link to PDF ebooks)

Select "Browse by Publisher" link (direct link to publisher's listings) and select Regal Crest Enterprises. (direct link to RCE e-books)

Scroll down to find the book!

Butch Girls Can Fix Anything has been reviewed recently by two reputable sources!

Jean over at Rosestar's Register and the fine folks at Golden Threads.

Head over and read the reviews!

Wow. What a conference!

I got to schmooze more this time and was more recognized so that helped. I signed about ten books and about five more at the bookstore (to go back on the shelf). That was an ego booster!

Everyone asked when my next book was coming out. Everyone. I considered each one a kick in the muse to get back into writing mode.

I was on two panels and both were a blast. Not only was I on a panel with THE Lee Lynch, but I sat next to her! And she is a sweetheart. Totally embarrassed by my playful fan-girl moments but laughed with me each time. The complete joy, the thing that made my trip worth it, was when she recognized MY name and went all nuts about my book. THE Lee Lynch loved it! Lee (and yes, I can call her Lee now) is human, sweet, cuter than cute, and far more energetic that I am. Oh, and she can dance way better than I ever could.

I feel that after the second book, if it is as good as everyone thinks the first one is, that I will have a well established fan base. And if the third is as good, there's no thinking to it. Lesbian readers are faithful and voracious readers. They give a new author two chances to impress them and if the third impresses as well…boom.

I've got some stuff to do today then when get to writing. My publisher agreed to take a look at Simple Sarah while I work on another Butch Girl book. I've got two friends (one a tough librarian) who have agreed to beta read anything I want to send them. I am going to run through Simple Sarah once then get their opinion. They've promised to tear it apart and not just say "I like it".

I'll give a longer report on the workshops later, promise.

As I (once again) write BG2, I find that I am having to consult the BG1 manuscript quite often.

Ellen isn't mentioned in BG1. And Nikki comes alone to the bonfire near the end of the book.

Which means Ellen doesn't appear until after the bonfire. Which puts it…when?

I seemed to have shot myself in the foot when I wrote BG1. I tried to not have too many time-related references in order to give the book a "timeless" feel. Most of the book takes place in winter. And they go to a ball game in early April. Kelly has to wait until "true thaw" to dig a hole. So…when?

I also mention the Gay Pride Parade in the beginning of BG1. Several people have told me they want to know what happens to/with everyone during the parade. Crap. That means June, right?

Ouch. Just burned out another brain cell cluster.

Some author-y stuff:

My bio over at Regal Crest has been updated. I like this version better.

Butch Girls Can Fix Anything (BGCFA) is on Regal Crest's best seller's list. (I heard a rumor it is the best seller for Jan. and Feb.) BGCFA has gotten two reviews, one thumbs-down and one thumbs-up, over at Amazon.

My publisher is chomping at the bit (better a bit than my ass!) for another book.

Irony lives: I had changed and hated the plot (of BG2) a year ago and I still hate it.

Some Real Life stuff:

We have three goldfish now - Sumo, Kiko, and Sake. They are in a 25 gallon tank and loving the space.

My friend Lew isn't doing so well with chemo.

All our critters (6 dogs, 3 cats, 3 fish, umpteen snails) are doing well. No more fights.

My voice is back; my cough is still around; my nose is clear; my ears still hurt; the nausea has decreased; and I am still on those horse choking anti-biotics.

Lorna had an MRI done to see what was causing the pain and tingling in her neck and hands. Arthritis in her lower neck, the nurse said. PT to start soon. We were sure it was going to be worse.