Sherry Thomas's Blog, page 5

New Jersey, New Jersey

So I went to New Jersey for the Put Your Heart in a Book conference.

I did my packing over several days and remembered a lot of things that I might otherwise have forgotten, had I packed in a hurry.  As usual, however, I forgot my hairbrush.  But not to worry, you can't tell the difference–which was why I demoted hairbrushes from friends to nodding acquaintances in the first place.  :-)

Another thing I forgot was a pretty basket to display all the promo goodies I'd taken to NJ.  I took a look around the hotel room and pressed into service the lovely black box used to hold paper coffee cups, coffee pouches, teabags, sugar packets and such.  It was perfect.  I might never bother taking a basket with me again.  :-)

But you are here to read about Meredith.  So allow me to report that yes, she is alive and well–and looking awfully cute in a cowhide-print dress and red boots.  Chic with a touch of bohemian quirk.  (My conference attire, on the other hand, swing from twee to tarty and back, with very little in between.)

She is very close to finishing her next book–due out in July 2011.  The book is going to have a marriage of convenience theme and a heroine who knows her way around salty language, both of which I love.  Alas, I did not get a chance to read the manuscript, but I did get to fondle  the lucky Alpha Smart that will birth the next Meredith Duran masterpiece.

Meredith gave her very first romance writing workshop at the conference, on using backstory to shape what a character fears, and then having those deep-seated fears drive the story forward.  It was brilliant and profoundly insightful.

I give an occasional workshop on evoking emotions which advises entering a character via their deepest, darkest pain.

Fear and pain, two sides of the same coin, wouldn't you say?  Little wonder Meredith and I see eye-to-eye on so many things.

(But as exceptional as Meredith's workshop was, I'm afraid I am going to have to hand the best-in-show award to the one given by the one and only Anne Stuart.  I am never going to write a hero dark enough to rival Anne's renowned antiheroes, but I went to her How to Write the Dark Romance workshop just to be nearer her barbed halo.

Okay, I went because I was curious as to just how fun and fearless she could be.  I left a squealing fangirl of her sheer awesomeness.  On my gravestone I want the epitaph: "There is only ever one Anne Stuart, but Sherry Thomas made herself into a pretty good fascimile."

I only regret I didn't invite myself up to her room to see the pig.)

And wouldn't you know, Meredith promised that after she's done with the current manuscript, she's going to blog on a regular basis.  I can't wait.  Meredith has one of the most immense and satisfying minds around.

Which was why I was saddened that she left the conference right after the book signing on Saturday.  But if her going home sooner is going to produce the next Meredith Duran oeuvre sooner, then I must do my part for romance and let her go.  :-)

Let's see, what else?  If you have the chance, definitely attend the NJRWA conference.  It is run with wonderful vigor and efficiency.  Robyn Carr gave a great speech on her 30-years-in-the-making overnight success.  (We got to sit at conference chair Miriam Allenson's table; she was on the opposite end of the table from us, but it was a thrill getting a special seating asignment!)  Virginia Kantra showed me the Roman woman strut–definitely ask her to tell you the story should you be lucky enough to run into her.  And the one and only Anne Stuart sat down next to me toward the end of the book signing and said, "I hear you write pretty racy books."

Folks, at that  moment I'd have admitted to writing anything, least of all racy books!

And at the booksellers' luncheon I met Stacey Agdern, who works at the bookstore at Grand Central Station.  I really can't think of a cooler place on earth!  Here's me, Stacey (r), and Kate Garrabrant (l), who is more familiarly known as Katiebabs around the romance blogosphere.

And this, just because it's the next picture in my camera, the tableau Senior Kidlet arranged before the house.  The Great Pumpkin Pickaxe Massacre.  Pretty good way to salvage a destroyed jack-o-lantern, I say.  :-)

Summer Omnibus Update

What?  Summer was over a while ago?  Well, then you know how long I've been meaning to write this post–as in seriously, I must write it today, come hell or high water.   Guess I can now compliment myself on being immune to both hell and high water.  :-)

So let's see, what all happened since I last posted.

RWA Orlando

It's always fun to attend a RWA conference. But the highlight of my conference, without a doubt, was this:

The preparations leading up to the awards ceremony was the same as the year before.  I had a couple of commitments that left me about forty-five minutes to get ready.  I threw on my dress.  My roommate Kristyne did my make-up. My other roomie Shellee flat-ironed my hair.  (My hair, left to its own devices, is wavy.  And since it is never not left to its own devices, it was the first time I'd ever seen my hair completely straight.  I was thrilled to discover that I looked like a Hong Kong gangster's moll–the expensive sort, of course!)  My other, other roomie Tracy, my bedmate actually, introduced me to the wonder that is the vibrating mascara applicator last year.  This year she did nothing to help me!  LOL, because Tracy, a first-time nominee, had to get her own gorgeous self ready for the event.

Right before I left my hotel room, I tore a small strip off the edge of a newspaper that's been lying around.  I figured, just in case, I should jot down a few reminders of people I wanted to thank.

(I didn't do this last year because last year I was nominated for PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS, and had I won, you'd have heard me thank myself.  Seriously, somebody should give that speech, for all the writers out there who don't give themselves quite enough credit.  Since PA was written on my own time, at my own instigation, without ever inconveniencing any family  members, I figured it was the only time in my career I could say, "And most importantly, I want to thank me for never giving up on me.  I would never be here if it weren't for me!"   I'd have done it too–I can see Shellee, Kristyne, and Tracy all nodding their heads going, yep, she totally would have–except for the fact that my name didn't get called!)

This time it did get called.

Even as Teresa Medeiros, the presenter for the historical category, read the list of nominees, I was scrutinizing the same list on my program and wondering if it was going to be Elizabeth Hoyt, Liz Carlyle, or a complete dark horse.  And then came the drumroll.

Until then I had no idea who it would be; my gut is usually dormant when it comes to such matters.  As soon as the drumroll started, however, I sort of knew.

Somebody hugged me from behind–my agent, as it later turned out.  And then I was upon that stage.  And I am totally mortified about it now, but as I was walking across to the podium, I heard my name shouted from  the back in the ballroom–and I waved.  Waved, like a beauty queen!  *dies of embarrassment*

The statuette is surprisingly heavy.  Perfect-for-braining-home-intruders heavy.  I pulled out my little piece of paper–reproduced below–and poured out my gratitude.  It can never be said enough that I needed all the help I could get on NOT QUITE A HUSBAND–on each book since PA, in fact–and if I look back and see only one pair of footprints, it was probably because my editor carried me.  And so the award was dedicated to her.

I did forget one line on the list–the line that said "everyone."  So if you are reading this, I want to thank you–and thank you again–for everything.

I got my picture taken more times that night than at my wedding.  Drank a bit of champagne–and that's not an euphemism but literally two sips.  And then went back to my room to hang with them what brung me, my wonderful roommies.

And then, I put on my headphones and listened to this song three times straight.  It is called, aptly enough, "Just for Tonight."

This is a tough business. But it does have its occasional glorious moments.

(The video is incomplete. The full version does not allow embedding, but you can access it here.)

San Diego

I had the good fortune to spend five weeks in San Diego this summer.

His Hawtness was working there, the family joined him for some time before RWA.  On route to Orlando I dropped off the kids at their grandparents'.  From Orlando I went back to SD for a nice little grownups-only time with the honey.

I love San Diego.  True, I was shocked upon arrival that it is so arid–I was expecting a humid maritime climate, like my hometown in China, not taking into consideration Southern California's proximity to the deserts.  But other than that, the weather could not have been more delightful, especially coming from the heat of a Texas summer.  (This year wasn't quite as bad; last year we had 100 days over 100F.)

We went to the beach.  We hiked.  I wrote in a public library with a spectacular view of the ocean.  I visited my jewel of a critique partner, Janine, and the awesome Bettie Sharpe in LA–sprinting like mad to catch my train back to SD because we were having so much fun.  They in turn visited me in SD.

And, of course, His Hawtness and I stumbled upon a clothing-optional beach. (Janine and Bettie, it was where we did not go down to the beach.) Imagine, it was near twilight, we were having this wonderful walk on this largely empty beach that go on for miles and miles.  There were a few people fishing, some joggers, others on an evening constitutional–perfect normalcy, if you will.   And all of a sudden I blurted, "Is that man not wearing anything?"

It was exciting stuff, let me tell you, even though I kept my eyes averted from the dangly bits–and not out of modesty either, but so as not to laugh. Anyway, nude beach! This suburban soccer mom has never seen one before.  And now she has.

Thank you, San Diego.

Latest Foreign Covers

French DELICIOUS

Spanish paperback DELICIOUS

Books

For a while there, I thought there was no more to say after foreign covers, and then of course, I had to smack my forehead.

I am writing a new trilogy for Berkley.  The schedule pub dates are May, June, and September of 2012.  From now to end of next year I have to produce three books.  I've never had such tight deadlines before.  Send speedy vibes my way!

Jersey Shore

I am going to give my chemistry workshop–which has totally become my workhorse presentation–at NJRWA's Put Your Heart in a Book conference Oct 22-24. I am very excited about it, not only because I've never been to New Jersey–or a big regional conference, for that matter–but also because I am going to room with Meredith, whom I haven't seen since RWA D.C.

I am going to attempt to shame her into writing an update blog post, so we know what she's been up to. Wish me good luck!

Foreign Covers–July Omnibus Edition (Now Updated With Slovene Covers)

We haven't had a foreign cover post in a while, so here's a big one. 

I think I'm excited about getting new foreign covers because it's like getting new clothes.  I like new clothes, but I am in general disinclined to shop.  We are in July now and this entire year I've spent less than $300 on clothes and accessories combined.  For the money I'm willing to fork over per piece–as you can guess, not much at all–there is usually something not quite there with the style, the cut, the fit, the...

Foreign Covers–July Omnibus Edition

We haven't had a foreign cover post in a while, so here's a big one. 

I think I'm excited about getting new foreign covers because it's like getting new clothes.  I like new clothes, but I am in general disinclined to shop.  We are in July now and this entire year I've spent less than $300 on clothes and accessories combined.  For the money I'm willing to fork over per piece–as you can guess, not much at all–there is usually something not quite there with the style, the cut, the fit, the...

Pulchritude Overload

When I came across this video I thought of Meredith, who is a huge Bollywood fan. But whether you've ever seen a Hindi movie, or heard of any Bollywood superstars–or Lady Gaga, for that matter–have a look.  Some people are so beautiful they are born to be on screen.

The scenes are from Dhoom II.

Recipe Post: Writer's Breakfast

A week or so before the RT convention in April, I started packing.  At my mother's advice, I tried on the dresses I was taking.

Left to my own devices, I wouldn't have bothered.  These things already fit me, right?  Wrong.  I'd put on a few pounds and they all showed at the worst places: right above the decolletage on my strapless frocks.  Ack!  How can someone who doesn't even have boobs have overboob squish-age?

So immediately I took a look at the Master Cleanse–the...

Inaugural Recipe Post: Cake Pops

I am a pretty decent cook. But more importantly, I'm a pretty fast cook. His Hawtness once jokingly said that I get only half credit for cooking since I do only the simplest dishes.

And then one day I said to myself, you know, these dishes are pretty simple but they hold up pretty well. I'll bet there are other readers/writers out there who wouldn't mind a few of those recipes–more time for reading/writing, right?

Except, well, our inaugural recipe is really simple but it isn't exactly...

RT Convention: A Quick Recap

My RT Convention experience would have been twice as good, but alas, at the last minute, my roommate, the awesome and babelicious Tracy Wolff could not make it.  (It's a sign of my love for her that I don't hate her, she who literally writes ten books a year and is a RITA nominee.)  We cussed and consoled ourselves with chocolate cakes.  Tracy, of course, had the far greater cross to bear: not being able to go at the last minute!  But I was crushed all the same: I've never been to a...

HIS AT NIGHT Trailer

I wavered for a while, on whether to do a book trailer or not. Let's face it: a book trailer is not the most effective means of promoting a book. (Although, what is?) But in the end, I decided to go for it and I'm really glad I did.

Because HIS AT NIGHT went through such repeated and arduous rewrites after it had been copy edited, I decided to hire an outside copy editor myself, just for quality assurance. Tiffany Yates, a professional freelance copy editor who has worked with many of the ...

Contest winners! Prepare to be moisturized!

After an in-depth consultation with Random.org, we offer congratulations to the winners of our contest:

Carrie

Joie

Barb in MD

Liz (1:05PM)

and our GRAND PRIZE WINNER, Vi (6:08PM)!

Soon-to-be-gleaming winners, please let Sherry know where to send your goodies!