Jump for joy!!!

RT 2011 is in Los Angeles next year!!!

Blogging? Not so easy.

Recently, I've managed to relieve myself of a massive case of Writer's Block.

Go me. :)

Last year I made the disastrous mistake of taking a college writing class...for fun. Without rolling in the details let's just say that that class dammed me up rather than setting me free. So much for pushing creative boundaries.

Now, admittedly the class wasn't for romance readers, writers or lovers like myself. Needless to say not a lot of support for my genre. When the class ended I felt more frustrated than when I first started seriously writing. Which is a lot.

About a month ago though, give or take, I had a writing epiphany...to be explained in my next post...and am now on the way to recovery. It'll be great to get to know Ms. Muse all over again.

2008 West Virginia State Fair--Final Tally

Though it is two months come and gone it's time to tally up this year's state fair results. Drum roll please.....

Mom

1st - Dipped Candy -- Coconut Balls..2nd year in a row
1st - Apple Cake
2nd - Fudge -- Black Walnut
and most importantly...
1st - First Lady's Candy Box -- This pretty much means Mom's the number one home candy
maker in WV.

Me

1st - Apple Pie, Double Crust -- YES!
1st - Pie - Peanut Pie -- Just like a candy bar
2nd - Pecan Pie -- My first
2nd - Coffee Cake -- My challenge category since I'd never made one before
3rd - Blueberry Margarita Pie -- You read that right
3rd - Sour Cream Cinnamon Muffins -- I forgot the extra cinnamon

Overall, we did quite well. The county paper had both of us on the front page last week. Mom's had most of the notoriety. Next year's plans are already under way.

FYI, things have improved since my last post. Improved but not 100%. Ah well, that's life.

Let's FOCUS People.

Sigh.

Do you ever feel like you're adding more to your to do list than you're taking off?

1. Finish final class assignment.
2. Continue fleshing out characters for my rejection submission.
3. Actually get that rejection submission started.
4. Work on work stuff.
5. Start prepping for this year's state fair. Ribbons, ribbons, ribbons.
6. Practice my crusts.
7. Register my Relay participants.
8. Decide if we'll throw Mom a birthday party -- in July.
9. Keep an eye on said mother during her recuperation from surgery.
10. FOCUS! Especially on 1 through 9. More importantly 2 and 3.

There's more, I just can't think of them at the moment.

At least I finished one today. I can officially erase number six from the list because I now have a nice double crust waiting in the fridge for tomorrow's new recipe. Berry something or other, I haven't named it yet. It might be a double crust or it might have a crumb topping, I'll know more when I'm standing in front of it. My writing, and eventual publication is important, but ribbon fever has won out for the moment. Hey, what can I say? I have last year's ribbons to defend.

On the writing side, things are progressing as much as they can under the circumstances. Until I finish this last class I won't be able to launch myself into my story. I think I've finally worked out the plot and the conflict - yippee! - now I just need to flesh the two leads out. RT was as invaluable as I'd hoped it'd be. I won't be going to San Fran this year for RWA but maybe 2009.

Focus can be a hard thing for me sometimes. Sorry Judi, but it is. I know it's all in there, I just have to beat it out of me.

A Month?

Has it really been a month since RT?