I think as writers we all have those days where we feel like we're running around like crazy people, not doing what we should be doing, not making an impact. Writing's such a solitary endeavor. Aside from the few conferences we attend, our interaction with other writers happen via the internet or email, brief phone conversations or monthly RWA meetings.

Today is not one of those days. :) Last night was my RWA chapter meeting, and I have to say, we had a great meeting. Great discussions, great turn-out, lots of excitement. As the president, I love it when things run smoothly. Our speaker ran a little long, and as a result, our business meeting was abbreviated, but that was just fine with me. The members were chatting about writing, and anytime we can get members excited about something in the industry, I'm happy. It was also a great meeting because I got to see two of my dearest friends - Intrigue author Alice Sharpe - who I have roomed with at Nationals the past few years (except for this year because she didn't go!), and my VP, Lisa Catto - who is my other National roomie, and who also didn't attend this year because she's been in Italy the last month (I know, rough life, huh?) .


These are two women who have been there for me during the ups and downs of writing, and are the two I probably depend on most to keep me sane. I am so thankful for both of them, every day, especially today because they both brought me goodies! :)

Alice found this cute little book in a bookstore on the coast - The Furies - and picked it up for me. It's really just a knicknack to sit on my desk, but considering my debut book, STOLEN FURY, centers around three priceless Greek reliefs of the three Furies from Greek mythology, she couldn't have found a better gift. I absolutely love it. And not to be outdone, Lisa came back from Italy with this gorgeous photo album for me to put all my pictures from my debut in. It's not of the Furies (they are very hard to find, trust me, I've looked), it's of the Muses, but I love it just the same. I can't wait to fill it with pictures from the Dorchester dinner in SF, photos from my first book signings and snapshots of my release party.

And an even more special surprise? Alice brought me (and Lisa) a copy of her August release - Bodyguard Father - and surprised us both because she dedicated the book to "...her roommates extraordinaire." I couldn't have been more tickled (or surprised) and cannot wait to read this book.


So today, I'm still riding the high from all of that last night, trying to work, but wait...my day gets better...


This morning, NYT Bestseller, Allison Brennan, sent me a fabulous cover quote for my debut, STOLEN FURY. Among the things she had to say about the book:

"If you like Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone, you'll love Naughton's dazzling romantic adventure. This debut sizzles."

Isn't that great? I absolutely love it. Thank you so much, Allison!!

And finally, my editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, sent me a link to a wonderful new website she's put together: Romantic Reads. Here's what she has to say about it:

"At RWA, I heard a lot from reviewers and libarians asking how they could get info on upcoming titles, and I know even as an individual, I've been at home wishing I could access so-and-so's cover copy, or that a certain cover image were available on the web. The site is primarily aimed at booksellers, librarians, reviewers, writers and readers really tuned in to the industry. It doesn't cover all our titles; we have a company site for that. But I'm hoping it will be helpful to folks."

The site is gorgeous, and full of lots of great info. Be sure to bookmark it and click on the blog to read about current industry info from a top-notch NY editor.

So, all in all, a really great day. Now I'm off to work on galleys. How's your day going?

My writer's brain works in the strangest ways. I swear it gets me into more trouble than not.

Saturday night the DH and I went to a poker party. My running partner and her hubby (he's a lieutenant with the state police) were there. We were laughing, drinking, having a good old time, when out of nowhere I had a writing thought. I turned to my running partner and said, "Oh! I forgot. I have this scene in my new book that I need your husband's help with."

Now, being a smart girl, my running partner eyed me and said, "Elisabeth, I've read the scenes in your books. He's not allowed to help you."

Of course, it took me a few seconds to clue in to what she was getting at (I admit I was a little slow that night), but I quickly shook my head and - thinking everyone else lives inside my brain and knows how my frazzled writer's mind works - said, "No. You don't understand. I meant you could both help me by demonstrating. I'll just watch."

*ahem* Yeah. You can only imagine what happened next.

My running partner busted out laughing. Her hubby clued in on the conversation and became very interested. Conversation at the poker table stopped as everyone looked our way and stared. My hubby (on my other side) glanced my way, rolled his eyes and though he didn't speak I could all but hear him thinking, "What the heck is she up to now?" He, at least, knows how my brain works - how I can take off on a strange tangent in the middle of a conversation and come back with things like, "If you were going to kill someone and wanted to hide the evidence..." or "When you're in a strip club..." The others at the table? Ahhhh...not so up to speed on my brain.

Now, to clarify, I was NOT implying what it sounds like I was implying. The scene in question takes place in a gym. My heroine is working out and I need to know some self defense moves cops might know to drop someone to the floor. TOTALLY innocent. But alas...my bad...it didn't come out that way.

*sigh* Such is the way this writer's brain works.

In other news....I'm uber-close to finishing my paranormal RS. I can see the end in sight. Unfortunately, each step I take towards that end seems to push it that much farther out of my reach. But I'm ticking off scenes, and I think I'm down to seven. Or eight. Something like that. I can't wait to finish!

So share with me...how does your brain work? Ever find yourself having to clarify with friends and family? Or am I the only one who lives in her own version of la-la land?

This, That & The Other Thing(s)

DH and I got home from Reno late last night. We went with a group of friends for Super Bowl weekend, and wow, what a great time we had. We ate too much, drank too much, partied too much, gambled too much...good times!

I got carded in the casino by a dealer who looked at my ID three times and then said, "No way you're that old!" (made me feel good), got hit on a few times when the DH wasn't with me (that made me feel even better), and scored some cash when the Giants won! (Was that game awesome or what?!). I admit to not being a big NFL fan (college football's more my thing), but the Giants are the only NFL team I've ever loved. It started in high school when my English teacher used to do soda can bets on the Sunday games. I picked the Giants and have stuck with them since. My mother loves to tell the story of the time (in my sophomore year) she took me to NY and spent the whole day showing me the sites...you know, The Empire State Building, Ellis Island, The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Tiffany's...and I, being oh-so-wise, was more impressed driving by Giant Stadium on the way into the city than I was on anything she had to show me. So when I found out the Giants were going to be playing in the Super Bowl this year - even better times. And when they won? Amazing. You can't help but love the underdogs. (And that Eli - wow...)

In other news, after I got home last night I stayed up and finished my revisions. (I can hear the collective cheering from you all, yeaaaaaaah!). No idea why I stayed up until 2 AM doing revisions after a weekend of very little sleep, but I had the bug, so I went with it. Now I have to read the thing from beginning to end and figure out if it makes any sense with the changes I made. Cross your fingers for me. Hopefully I'll have this ms out the door to my agent by early next week.

And because I'm sharing this, that and other things...I thought I'd pass on some good things happening for friends of mine. Lin has her new cover, and it's gorgeous. Go check it out at her blog if you haven't seen it yet. Carol has some fabulous news to share as well, so hop over to her blog and wish her good luck. Jenny sold her first book a few weeks ago (click on Contemporary (general) and scroll down to The Wedding War...way to go, Jen!), and if you're in the mood for a good, quick, light-hearted, romantic read, pick up Roxanne St. Claire's Tis The Silly Season novella in A NASCAR Holiday, which came out from HQN last year. Rocki won the RITA for this one last summer, and I finally got around to reading it on the plane coming home from Reno. Loved it.

That's all from me. I'm off to get started reading my revisions again. Drop me a note and let me know how you're doing!