Working Late

Working late tonight watching over some computer rebuilds, so in between the boring bits, I thought I'd update my blog. I've been really bad about that lately…seems like each year goes faster and each day gets shorter and shorter. I'd like to talk to whoever is in charge of time and ask for days to be 36 hours instead of 24. There is just too much to do.

Spring has really exploded around here. The warblers are starting to sift through on their migration north, the first male hummingbird visited the feeder today, I got my vegetable garden started, and the azaleas are beginning to bloom. This year, I bought a white hosta—I didn't even know there were white hostas ('White Feather' to be exact) and that little critter has already sprouted a few leaves! I couldn't be more pleased. If it works out, I'll be putting in a bigger order next year to fill out our shady hosta garden.

We also bought another plum tree, so we have three now. Got that planted, and added two hazelnut trees, as well. In the veggie garden, I've got zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, peppers, and assorted herbs sprouting. And the roses are starting to bloom! Sure, the daffodils are almost done for the year—which makes me sad as I just love them—but the roses will make up the difference for perfume and color. I've got several bushes I need to dig up and move, so I've got to get going on that. They are in bad spots and need to go into more "rose friendly" beds.

With all that work outside, I haven't had much time to do as much writing as I would like. But I'm making progress. My next Regency romance/mystery, The Bricklayer's Helper, will be out Aug 6, 2010, which will be here soon! I've got one more round of edits for my paranormal book, Vampire Protector, and it's due to be released in the Nov/Dec 2010 timeframe. I love that time of year for paranormals.

There is a long tradition in English literature of ghost stories being published in Nov & Dec, and you have All Hallows Eve (Halloween) and those long, dark nights leading up to mid-winter… What time could be more perfect for the release of a paranormal? I know I'm always dying for a good, creepy story in December. I love to curl up in front of the fire with the lights turned low, a cup of mulled cider, and a chilling ghost story. My favorite book, though, in that category is still The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I've never read a more frightening ghost story, and no matter how many times I re-read it, it never loses that edge.

Right now, I'm working on several stories, including another paranormal based upon one of the characters in Vampire Protector. I'm editing my first draft right now, with hopes of getting it into decent shape for submission to my editor at The Wild Rose Press. I'd like to submit it before the end of summer, but that may be too optimistic, as I'm facing quite a bit of overtime this summer for my day job (watching computers rebuild themselves, ho hum).

I'm also editing another Regency romance/mystery—the first draft is done; and I even have a contemporary mystery that I'm writing. I've only gotten about 4 chapters written, but I'm having a lot of fun with it. It is set on the coast of North Carolina because I just love that area and could not resist. If it was good enough for Blackbeard, it's good enough as a setting for a contemporary mystery!

That's it for now—have to get back to work (grumble, grumble).

Best wishes and sweet dreams!
Amy