It’s May 1st, and I thought I’d share a few updates. I haven’t posted since December when I sold my first full length novel, ‘Passion’s Race’, because I’ve been hard at work.

I polished ’Mystical Connections’, and sent it to my agent. My novella, ’Identity’ for the Anthology, ‘Sisters of Spirit’ went to the editor prior to my deadline. ’Passion’s Promise’ is mapped out, the skeleton gaining flesh, but I just put it on the back-burner to complete my edits on PR for my editor!!

I’m heading to the OWFI conference this weekend to learn everything I can about Social Media Marketing for authors, and to catch up with a good friend I met at the Reno National Conference in ’05.

Next week, while finishing my PR edits, I plan to update my website - so check back in a few weeks - I want to look into a different blog site, as an addition to this one. Then it’s back to ’Passion’s Promise’!  

Right now, it looks like ‘Sisters of Spirit’ will debue late this year, and within three months of the Anthology’s release, look for ’Passion’s Race’ to hit the shelves. Both books will be available as e-book and in paperback.

Besides writing, ’The Wild Hogs’ - a group of us - are hitting the road for our annual motorcycle ride. This year, it’s a week on the Blue Ridge Parkway!! Of course I’ll be gathering information for another new story! The well is never full, and now that I’m an author - not just a writer - I have to keep those fresh ideas morphing.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, hugs, Christine  

No matter how you picture it, it never happens that way … On Saturday, December 10th, I was on an Island with the three other anthology authors. We were there to polish our stories so we could turn them in to the editor by our December 31st deadline.

Three of us went for a ride, to pick up dinner supplies and to find the perfect cottages for Jeanine’s characters. When we returned to the house, Annette was on the phone with our Publisher - she has several projects going with them.

We went into the dining room so we wouldn’t disturb her. But a few minutes later, I heard her call my name. I poked my head in the door as she says, “yes, she’s right here. Would you like to speak to her?”

She handed me the phone, and LeeAnn Lessard asked, “Have you spoken to your agent in the last 24 hours?”

Me: “No, she’s on vacation and I’ve been working on the anthology.” Thinking: I have to check my emails!

They loved Passion’s Race and want to publish it!!! Woohoo, peel me off the ceiling!! I sold my first full-length novel!!

She said the offer went through my agent, but since they knew the four authors were together, they wanted us to celebrate … pop that bottle and let’s do the happy dance!! I think I’ll be dancing for a long time!!

I’ll keep you posted on dates and all that, but for now, join me in the celebration!!

Hugs - Christine

Last night, I finished my novella, 19,200 words with a tearful ending. (Tearful for me anyway.) The joy of typing “the end” put a smile on my face, and a copy is now printed and in my husband’s in box. He gets the first read, before the four authors get together to finalize any changes, then off it goes to the editor!

Now it’s back to either Mystical Connections or Passion’s Promise - or maybe both, one is in the polishing stage, the other only has seven chapters written … so depending on my mood each day, I can choose to create or edit! Sounds like the PLAN.

So, where do the tears of sadness come in? Our son had to put his 13 year-old Husky down. Fallon was the most beautiful red husky, with sweet, loving caramel eyes. She gave PAW endlessly, her sweet disposition making everyone who met her fall in love.

It was the right decision, her hips and health have declined since Feb., but we’ll all miss her terribly. There is a hole in our hearts that we have to say goodbye.

Rest in peace, Fallon. We loved you very much <3

The good part is we are there for each other, we can grieve together. We can hug as we share the wonderful memories of her. She’ll continue to live in our hearts.

Tears of joy, tears of sadness mingle into today … until next time,

Hugs, Christine

I’m taking a quick break from my WIP, the Anthology, SISTERS OF SPIRIT, to update you on my progress. I hit 18,000 words yesterday, so I’m shy of my goal by only 2000 words. I’m adding new conflict, pacing the action, to keep you turning the pages when it finally lands in your hands! Still no firm date for publication, but since it’s already November, it won’t be too long a wait.

The four authors plan to get together in Early December to share our stories and weave the final threads, before sending them to the editor!! Once that’s done, PASSION’S PROMISE comes back to the forefront. Since Lachesis has PASSION’S RACE in their hands, it makes sense to get the second book finished and polished, right?

This has been such an exciting year. I feel Blessed, very Blessed. I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving … and I AM thankful for everything in my life.

I hope you feel blessed, too. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Until next time, Hugs - Christine

I haven’t posted lately, because I’ve been hard at work on my Novella, but this weekend, John & I went to NY to attend Sting’s 60th birthday concert. Imagine walking into the Beacon Theater, getting a glass of champagne, and sitting in the 2nd row, just above the center floor.

Sting opened the show with “Englishman in New York” - appropriate as he has a home in NY, though the song was written for a different englishman in NY. With Sting were Dominic Miller, Christian McBride, his regular drummer - forgive me, I can’t remember his name - and his back up singers. Behind them a string ensemble, but that’s not all.

Robert Downey Jr, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Handcock, Chris Botti, Billy Joel, Mary J Blige, Bruce Springstein, Lady Gaga, Joe Sumner (Sting’s oldest son), and a few others sang and celebrated for 4 hours.

They sang all of our favorite Sting songs - and we rocked along. It was the most amazing night - well, weekend! The flights to and from, walking the city & Central Park, the hotel, dinner at Landmark. Even the weather cooperated, it rained while we dined, and though we had to walk the wet streets, not a drop of rain fell on us.

We’ve done some awesome things, but we both agreed this topped everything.

Happy Birthday Sting (Sunday) and thanks for the party!

Chrisitne  

Wow, what a vacation. We explored the Northwest on motorcycles. Close to 3000 miles, 5 states, 4 national parks, awesome sights, great company, and lots of laughter. We started in Utah, heading into Idaho to visit Craters of the Moon. On day 2, we rode into Oregon to visit Crater Lake, which still had snow on the banks. Next was the Redwoods, and a sail down the Mendocino Coast in California. We rode through Napa Valley and stopped at an old haunt for lunch - The Red Hen Cantina, moved locations, but still serves the fabulous food we remember from our days in Northern California.

We rode through Yosemite, stopping to take pictures of the incredible backdrops, and stayed at a quaint little hotel by Lake Mono. The next day, we rode the loneliest road in Nevada; highway 50. Three small towns and stretches of road in between. Very peaceful, and I must say, while sitting on the back of the bike, I let my muse roam. Scenes for my novella played like a movie in my head, the conflict for the charcters flashed with clarity, and by the time we rode back into Utah, I’d written over half of my story in my head.

Now, I’m back at the computer - first with my editor’s hat on - my deadline for my first RIRW newsletter is looming; then I’m on to the actual writing of my first draft of Idenity, my story for the Anthology being written by four friends!

I’m relaxed, recharged, and ready to tackle my new projects with gusto! Stay tuned for updates, and until then; Hugs - Christine