Sunday, January 9, 2011

Ten Things I'm most excited about in 2011

Charles Caleb Colton said “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

With that in mind, I’m going to borrow the idea for this blog from the Editor of Vogue magazine, of which I am not a usual reader as my fashion sense would scream if you were to meet me in person. However in the salon this week, I picked up the January edition because Natalie Portman was on the cover, and I’ve been a fan of hers ever since she was twelve in The Professional. I would tell you the editor in question’s name but the message was signed with a signature that I couldn’t quite read. I’m sure if I was a regular reader, I would know the editor’s name, but we’ve already addressed my lack of fashion sense. So I digress...


Anyway, here goes – paraphrasing the Vogue editor – instead of writing a message about the beginning of the year and resolutions, she talked about the ten things of 2011 she was most excited about. My blog today is supposed to be about “beginnings”…. So I’ll start my Ten Things I’m Most Excited About in 2011 list beginning with…


1. Lydia Dare’s presentation TODAY at Heart of Carolina Romance Writers


That’s right. TODAY. So, if I don’t comment on the blog as much as I would normally, you’ll know it’s because Lydia Dare (the writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson) are presenting Team Writing : Are Two Minds Greater Than One? Or Do Great Minds Think Differently? Together we’ll discuss tips for writing with a partner as well as the ups and downs of team writing. If you're in the Raleigh NC area, stop by!


2. The March release of It Happened One Bite


2011 is the year of vampyres. At least for Lydia Dare, anyway. We have a new Regency vampyre trilogy out this year starting with IT HAPPENED ONE BITE, set in a picturesque crumbling castle in the Highlands.


3. RT Convention in April


After attending RT last year, missing this convention seems unthinkable. Faerie Balls and Vampire Balls. And lots and lots of readers.


4. My agent, Melissa Jeglinski, speaks to my local chapter in May


Anytime we get the opportunity to listen to Melissa is amazing. I can’t wait to hear what advice she’ll impart to the group!!


5. RWA Conference in June


I love the RWA Conference. It is the one time of year that I get to see all of my critique partners in person, or most of them, including Samantha Grace who will have her debut with Sourcebooks later this year. Being an online group, we have members in every corner of the country and even as far away as Australia. AND... Of course, there's always the opportunity to bond with our fellow Casa authors.


6. The July release of In the Heat of the Bite


The second book in our trilogy hits shelves in July and we are super excited about each one – however IN THE HEAT OF THE BITE offers a unique vampyre hero – an earl who at one time was a real knight in shining armor.


7. Authors After Dark Conference in August


Lydia Dare is up for four Bookie Awards which will be presented at theAuthors After Dark Conference in the city of brotherly love. And we will be on several panels. We can hardly wait!


8. The September release of Never Been Bit


Our final vampyre book will be released in September. I can’t reveal anything about the hero at this point, as it will be a spoiler alert. But I will say that writing this particular character’s story arc has been one of the highlights of my writing career.


9. Heart of Carolina Romance Writer’s October Workshop with Cherry Adair


Every year I look forward to my local chapter’s all day workshop in October. In fact, it was at one of these workshops that the two of us who make up Lydia Dare first decided to collaborate on a project. This year’s presenter the enchanting Cherry Adair is always fascinating and listening to her is always inspiring.


10. Finishing up a wolfish trilogy for 2012


Finally, the last thing I’m looking forward to this year is completing a new wolfish trilogy that is contracted for 2012. The three Lycan heroes have been rumbling around in our brains for quite a while and it will be nice to have their stories completed. And only then will we be able to decide what is next for Lydia Dare.


I’ll end this blog with a great big thanks to the editor of Vogue for giving me such a wonderful idea to borrow! And now I'll ask you - What are you most looking forward to this year?


originally posted at Casablancaauthors.blogspot.com 1/8/2011