A little more good news…
Faith of the Heart has been named as a Single Title finalist in the Lone Star Contest. I’m as pleased about this as I was with The Reluctant Amazon being a paranormal finalist in PASIC’s Book of Your Heart because both contests have the published and unpublished authors in open competition.
Maybe I can hold my own with the big girls now. 
Aren’t people supposed to develop more patience as they age?
Yeah, well… I seriously doubt patience will ever be one of my virtues. Looking back on my life, I realize that my impulsiveness has gotten me into trouble on many an occasion. The worst thing ever for someone like me was the invention of email.
Back in the day (as I like to tell my history students), if you were mad, you could write a letter. Then you could put it aside and by the time you got around to mailing it, your temper would have cooled and you’d rip it up and throw it away. But no… Email allows you to pour out anger and frustration and instantly make a fool of yourself by hitting that “send” button. And there’s no “oops, I want that back” button to save your fanny. It’s not like I have done anything to embarrass myself. At least not recently. 
Just a general observation.
In my case, my impatience leads to frustration. That frustration leads me to compulsively reading the emails from an agent I desperately want to want me and an editor who has her hands on my story. Every word drips with potential and possibilities. I read and reread, hoping to see some hidden meaning between the lines. Geesh, I need to stop doing that. It’s like putting my hopes and dreams on a rollercoaster.
So I will try to practice a little of that wonderous yet elusive patience. Publishing is not a “now” game. Never has been; never will be. Even in the age of electronic submissions and instant email. And I’m stubborn enough that I’m in this for the long haul, so I better learn to cope. I have one book coming out. Those of you who know me well will quickly realize that isn’t enough to please me. I want more. Much, much more. I want a writing career.
I just need to stay out of my own way.
It was really crappy of Elvis to die on my birthday.
Of course, it’s been thirty-one years. You’d think that reporters would be past the King’s death by now. I actually made it all the way to dinner this year without hearing about it. Maybe by the time I’m fifty, Elvis dying will only be a blip in the This Date in History blurb on the second page of the Indy Star.
We don’t have any big plans for my thirty-fifteenth. Jeff took me to The Cheesecake Factory. Let’s face it. The James household is party central. 
The best part of the day was turning on the television and finding The Phantom of the Opera on Oxygen.
So, if you’ll excuse me. Gerard is waiting.
I had a surprise this morning.
My mentor — the wonderful Judie Aitken — found out yesterday she is a finalist in the Utah RWA chapter’s Heart of the West contest. I wasn’t remotely surprised by that because her work is phenomenal, and I absolutely loved the story she sent them. No, my surprise came later.
I had entered Heart of the West with The Impetuous Amazon – the second book in the Amazon series. But with yesterday being the notification date, and the day passed without a call or an email, I figured… no final for Sandy. I decided I would wait for the judges’ scoresheets and check out their suggestions for improving it. My fantastic critique partner, my (impartial) mother, and my wonderful beta reader (love you, Kylie!) liked The Impetuous Amazon, so I wasn’t sure what would need adjusting. Maybe I wasn’t clear enough in explaining the “world” of the Amazons since it was a sequel.
Then I opened my email this morning. The story DID final in Heart of the West. So I’m going to walk around in a happy fog today.
And I’ll start writing the fourth book — The Brazen Amazon.
Post mortem… Nationals was truly a wonderful experience.
I shared it all with a roommate who was kind, considerate, and a whole lot of fun to be with. And, she won the Golden Heart to boot! Major congratulations, Kay! It was truly a privilege to spend time with you, and I know your future as a writer is going to be platinum!
Judith and Peggy — It was such a joy to see San Francisco with you. We visited so many fantastic things, and thanks to my inability to choose the correct bus, we also saw more of San Francisco than we intended. Being with two such strong and self-assured women rubbed off. I’ll be so much more confident in all I do because of both of you. Thank you!
Nancy and Nancy — You are both such a delight! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as much as I did spending time with you. Thank you for so many great memories!
My Indiana RWA chapter sisters — Thank you for your support, your friendship, and your guidance! Thank you for sharing workshops, lunches, dinners, drinks, coffee, chocolate, and the awards ceremony. I feel so close to all of you now!
I do have to say that it was nice to sleep in my own bed last night. Having a Schanuzer snuggled up against my front and my beloved Old Man snuggled up against my back was heavenly.
So I’m home now. Loads of laundry to do. The refrigerator is empty. Stacks of mail to answer. Manuscripts to send.
But I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
To quote the late John Denver — Ain’t it good to be back home again!
Y’all will have to forgive me for not blogging much today. I’ve been up since 4:30 AM. Judith, Nancy, and I spent a good three hours at the San Francisco airport. It was fun, but I’m exhausted. We didn’t touch down until 6 PM, and the luggage took forever. By the time I walked in the door I wanted to see Dr. Carter, have some supper, and sleep. I just stopped by for a minute to apologize for no long post today.
I’ll be back tomorrow. Promise.
My roomie — Kay Cassidy — won the Golden Heart for Young Adult Romance!!!
Short post because I have to be in the lobby at (groan) five in the morning, but I wanted all our IRWA chapter sisters to know that Kay won.
Peggy, Nancy, Judith, and me right before the awards ceremony.
I’ll write a nice wrap up when I get home.
Pitching is over for me!
I’m someone who is very extroverted, so you’d think pitching wouldn’t bother me. But it does. I don’t have the confidence in my writing I do in my teaching. Don’t get me wrong. The stories are good. In fact, they are really good. I just don’t know how to “sell” myself as a writer. It’s nice to have a friend like Kay. She is so great with advice and on helping me know the right things to say and do. She’s been a blessing, and her advice paid off. The editor already had a full on Murphy’s Law – which she reminded me was the title of a Lori Foster story and am I ever mad she took my title — and she remembered the storyline. But she also asked about the Amazon books. She told me she liked the premise and to send a full on that as well. I normally don’t blog about submissions (mostly because I haven’t made any to publishers and just a handful of agents), but I was tickled with her response. And I don’t think I stuck my size nine foot in my mouth too awfully much.
I will admit to a small mental meltdown yesterday. It’s hard to even explain why. There was nothing overt, just an overall accumulation of stress and lack of sleep. I got to lunch and suddenly just needed to cry. I made it through the meal portion, but I simply had to get away before the speeches. My friends were so wonderful and supportive, and by the time I pitched the editor, I was back to myself, which I hope is a good thing.
I’ll be cheering for Kay tonight at the Golden Hearts. Fingers and toes crossed she takes the YA category.
Women who are thirty-fourteen should not get homesick.
Ah, but I am. I think the excitement has worn down, and now I’m focused on the business end of the business which is much more draining. It also allows my rampant angst to come out for some fun and games.
I will compliment this hotel. Lunch yesterday was wonderful, and the continental breakfast was great. Melinda and I ate with Lois Winston and Robin Haseltine. I knew both through their posts on the Elements loop. We had a ball, but I can’t even describe the conversation a table of romance writers had. A big thanks to Robin for getting all of the Elements members together for breakfast. It was nice to put faces with names.
I’m heading to some workshops and I have an editor appointment this afternoon. But I must confess my energy is waning.
I miss my husband and my Schnauzer.