It’s raining, it’s pouring, I wish I were snoring.

Okay, I wish I were sleeping because I only snore when I’m really tired. Woke to the pouring rain and thought, yeah, this bites. It’s Saturday. My husband is off and what can you do in gully-washer weather. Nothing? It really is quite fitting since me mood has been dark and dismal the past few days. I won’t bore you with why. It really doesn’t matter.

On a more positive note. I’ve been writing 2 hours a day all week, which has earned my almost 8,000 words in Hook, Line, Murder. May I just say that my hero, Steve Morgan rocks. He is a fantastic hero and perfect for Whitney McAllister, my heroine. Both are working-class people trying to survive.  I’m about to hit the 30,000 word mark in the story and that means I’m on the otherside of halfway now. This book is the one. I know it and I’m not going to let anything negative stop me from proving that.

Emma is growing like a weed. I think she’s nearing 14 pounds now with her puggy cheeks and all. She simply lights up my life whenever I see her.

Anyway, you all have a great day. Like I said, it’s raining here, so I won’t.

Jerri

Another Birthday rolls by, and Christmas in July!

So I had another birthday yesterday and it was wonderful. All my children, plus Emma were here and that’s a blessing in itself. What got me was the cake my hubby brought home. Done at Sam’s Club on Lemay Ferry Rd in St. Louis where my hubby works. DH came up with the idea. I totally loved it!

So, a number of romance suspense authors will be chatting on the Samhain Loop Sunday from 4 to 5. Come on over. I’ll be giving away a copy of one of my books.

Working on revisions right now, but I did finish chapter 2 of Hook, Line, Murder.

Have a great Thursday!

Jerri

I have a release date!

Yep, Grace Under Fire has a release date. Digital release is 11-18-09. Print date, tentatively 11-18-09. It could change. But I’m very excited because I thought it wouldn’t be released until next year. I’m really going to work hard to get the word out with this book. Cord is a great tortured hero and deserves that much.

I finally worked up the nerve to send my submission to Harlequin. Now the waiting begins. I pray they’ll ask for the full of Going Once, Going Twice, Dead.

Hook, Line, Murder is moving along nicely. I have about a scene left to finish chapter 2. I really like it so far and that’s not easy for me to say since I’m so critical of my work, but I think it’s my best work yet.

Emma. What can I say. I simply adore her. She weighs 10 pounds, 3 ounces now. She is growing so fast.

Anyway, I’ll talk to you all later. Have a great weekend!

Jerri

MORWA meeting!

I had the best time today at the chapter meeting. The subject of the day was The First year after “The Call”  Megan Kelly and Kimberly Killion were giving the presentation. They have to be the funniest women I know. They had us all in stitches, and I learned a lot as well. I was nervous yes, but they made it easier.

I finished my galley for Grace Under Fire. Now I wait to hear on the release date.

Still haven’t sent off Going Once, Going Twice, Dead. I’m procrastinating because I’m a big chicken. Bawk…bawk.

Love, love, love my granddaughter.  She is a dollbaby and I adore her.

Anyway, I have two critiques to get done. I’d better get on that.

Jerri

No release date yet, but I have a cover!

For Grace Under Fire, which I totally love. Take a look!

I should have a release date soon, and when I do, I’ll post it. I truly love this story. I love the hero, Cord. He’s a brooding hunk of a guy who doesn’t think he’s worthy of Grace , the heroine, or any woman for that matter. I can’t wait to hold this book in my hands–I’ve waited a long time.

I’m getting ready to submit the book I just finished and I’m nervous as heck. What if they don’t like it? What do I do with it then. I have my Jungle series just sitting around because I don’t know where to submit them. Action-adventure/category. Shrugging. I’m at a loss.

On a personal note, my grandbaby is getting cuter everyday. We were over there last night and I just wanted to hold her forever.

Have a great day!

Jerri

Hit two milestones on Thursday!

Yes, that’s right. Two of them on Thursday morning. First, I finished the first draft for Going Once, Going Twice, Dead. Second, and the most important, I became a grandmother for the first time to the most beautiful baby girl. I may be bias, but she has to be the cutest thing that ever existed. Emma Christine weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces–20 inches long and simply adorable. I could hold her forever but I don’t think my daughter would let me.

She is as cute as a bug in a rug. Isn’t that a weird saying? Why would a bug in a rug be cute? Anyway, she’s my heart and I couldn’t love her any more  if she were my own.

I had to spill out my heart–I promise it’ll never happen again. Well, I’ll seriously try to control myself from now on.

So, that’s all I have to say for now. Have a great weekend!

Jerri

About to hit 20,000 new word mark!

I have to tell you, it feels really good to be writing on a regular basis–I feel like a writer again. I’ve come to realize that I’ve been a slacker the last six months, and if it kills me, I’m going to continue the 1,000 words a day. As soon as I finish Going Once, Going Twice, Dead I think I’ll go back to my jungle adventures and finish the last book in the series Undone. Hunt probably thought I’d forgot about him. Then after that book, a secondary character in Going Once is calling for his own story. Yeah, yeah, I’m definately getting ahead of myself. One book at a time.

Yesterday my daughter had a doctors appointment. The Doc said the baby seemed big and that he’s afraid she might have trouble having a normal delivery. She is having another sonogram on Friday. I guess we’ll find out  what’s going to happen then, unless she goes into labor before Friday. I seriously hope she doesn’t have to have a C-Section.

Note: I am going to talk about character types some day soon–just haven’t had much time to get anything together on it.

Anyway, have a wonderful evening!

Jerri

Slow and Steady finishes the book!

I’m amazed at how fast a book can get written when you’re writing over a 1,000 words a day. I’ve hit the 100 page mark and I’m thrilled. I have less than half to go and I can’t wait to write THE END of this book.  I even know how I’m going to end it.  ; – ]

In the next couple of days I’m going to discuss  type on heroes. I’m reading a book on character types and what distinguishes one from the other.  Do you know what  type your current hero is? How about Heroine?

Yesterday my daughter was about  a  centimeter dialated. So, this baby could come any time. I’ll keep you p0sted on that.

Talk to you all soon!

Jerri

0ver 9,000 words and counting!

Going Once, Going Twice, Dead is moving along nicely. I’m over half finished now. I have about 20,000 words to go and I plan to finish the book by next month–then get it shining to send out. I’ve written the synopsis but I strayed from the plot a little so I’m going to have to rework it as well. I got past the part in the book that was the killer for me–the love scene. They really are the hardest thing to write for me. I love writing action-suspense, but that love scene just kicks my behind.  I think it makes or breaks a book.

One line from GO,GT,D I wrote today:  She was going to pay for this with her life, but not before he had his fill of her.

Today I’m going to wade into some revision on Untouched. The book is done. I just need to do the last run-through. Make sure there aren’t any loose ends. My hubby went back to work today so I’m on my own again, so hopefully I can get a lot of revision done. It’s hard when you’re running here and there. I was lucky I got my words written for the week.

No baby yet, though my daughter was having contractions on Saturday. She’s going to be in her 38th week tomorrow. She could have this baby any day now. I’m getting nervous because this is my baby having a baby and I can’t stand to see her in pain.

Anyway, have a great Monday!

Jerri

1,000 words a day, and more!

For the last 4 days I’ve been on the 1,000 words a day program, and surprisingly it takes very little time to do. Why haven’t I been doing this all along? Because I’m lazy when it comes to writing. I’ve treated it as a hobby, but I’ve decided that for people to take me seriously in this business, I need to take myself seriously. So, since Sunday I have a little over 4,000 new words in Going Once, Going Twice, Dead. Dane and Simone have lead me in a direction that I think will help keep me going for quite awhile. I hope to have this book finished by sometime next month.  Meanwhile, I’ll still be working on revision on Untouched and Unplanned.

Someone asked me the other day how many stories I’d written. I had to sit down and write them all down.  These are the stories I’ve finished. Because I have a few in partial completion, but I’m not counting them. I’ve written 13 full-length novels and 4 novellas. Only 4 are published–one going to be in the near future. But what does that leave? Okay, my first book was an ode to fan-fiction, but the others had strong story lines, I just need to rewrite them. That thought used to scare me, but it doesn’t anymore. It’s not all that hard to revise a manuscript. I’m finding that out with Untouched and Unplanned. So, even if I couldn’t come up with any new story ideas, (which I can) I’d have books to fall back on. I’m thankful for that. I hope to see them all in print someday.

So on to the homefront. My husband is on vacation this week, and we’ve been spending a lot of time working outside, when it isn’t raining. Trying to get the homestead looking fab. Going to do a little bit of landscaping if it stops raining.

My daughters baby has dropped, which says to me, she’s about ready to be born. I am so excited about being a Grandmother. I can’t wait to spoil my granddaughter completely.

Anyway, enough for now. Have a great Wednesday.

Jerri