Friday, July 16, 2010

Life Is Good

Hey everyone, I'm back and ready to share some wonderful news with all of you. Last week Thursday I signed with my verey first agent, Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Agency. I am thrilled beyond belief to be working with Jill.

And we are less than two weeks away from heading to sunny, HOT Florida for the RWA National Conference. I must admit I am a tad more (ok alot more) excited about this years conference than I have been in a long time. Does it have something to do with signing with an agent? Probably. Reconnecting with writer friends I haven't seen in over a year? Definitely. Dinner with a writer friend I haven't seen in 3 years? Absolutely!!

I also have an appt with my first choice editor pick as well, and will be pitching my category novel to her. I have plans to see friends on Tues and Wed, the Literacy Signing on Wed p.m. as well as the Greater Detroit Booksellers Best Award Reception(I'm co chair), dinner with a writer friend on Thurs, workshops on Thursday and Friday, then leaving for home early Friday afternoon in order to be back here for my daughter's wedding bright and early Saturday a.m.

Sunday will be a day of rest (hahaha) and then on Monday we are heading to Cedar Point to meet up with friends who came up from Florida for their vacation and the wedding and spending the day with them. After that I can rest. Or crash land, whichever comes first.

I hope whatever you are all doing this summer, you are having a blast with it. Till next time, Patti

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy Fourth!

A very happy and safe fourth of July to everyone out there. I know I haven't been as good at keeping up on my blog as I would have liked, so today I'm going to change all that.

This past year has brought many surprises, both good and bad for me. I've just returned from the hospital once again from another surgery. This time a right knee arthroscopy. I swear the older I get, the harder it is to recoup from surgery. Today every bit of numbness has fled and in its place, plain old pain. I'm sitting here with the ice bag and aspirin, to ease the pain and swelling.

But I digress. This has been a good year for writing and submitting. At present I have a partial at Silhouette Desire, a partial at Mills and Boon, a partial with Kensington and three top choice agent queries out there. I am also getting ready for RWA National Conference July 27-31st. Though I will be leaving Orlando early to fly back for my daughter's wedding on July 31st, so am missing the GH and RITA awards. But some things can't be helped. I have my pitches all ready for National, got my top choice appt and am very happy about that as well. This should be a very fruitful conference, the way I see it.

And hopefully in the fall we'll be heading out for vacation for a week. We had planned to go earlier but everything went a little topsy turvy as the son came home from Iraq and was here for three weeks. The daughter's wedding is closing in quickly, and the real world takes priority at times.

So, in closing I hope you are all having a wonderful summer. Chat soon. Patti

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Chicago North Spring Fling Conference

This past weekend was my first time experiencing the Srping Fling conference and it certainly won't be my last. The conference organizers and speakers, as well as volunteers put on a heck of a show!

The conference started Friday afternoon with a fantastic opening session with headliners Cherry Adair and Julia Quinn. Both can make you laugh and cry at the same time. Though I am still wondering why Cherry Adair thinks Detroit is no place to have an RWA National Conference. (G)

Dinner was a salad bar and pasta bar. Adterwards, I attended a talk by agents Paige Wheeler, Laurie McLean, Diana Fox, Joanna Stempl Volpe, and Kensington editor Selena James. Very imformative information these ladies shared with the group. After we all headed out to the lobby for a chocolate reception. Talk about a sugar rush!

Saturday was a mixture of workshops and editor/agent appointments all day. I had very productive appts with Laurie McLean and Selena James and also had the opportunity to speak with Paige Wheeler and Amanda Bergeron from Avon about pitching. Cherry Adair gave a talk on Career Planning that I wish were taped. I would love to be able to remember every word of it. She brought up points I would never have thought of.

Julia Quinn was our lunch speaker and Cherry Adair took the podium during dinner. The Chicago North Fire and Ice Contest winners were announced during dinner as well. Congrats to all the finalists and winners! Afterward, more chocolate.

Sunday morning we stuck around to have breakfast with Jenna Petersen one of the nicest gals I know, as well as Barbara Vey from Publishers Weekly, Liz Kreger, Sheila (never got her last name) and Jade Lee stopped by the table too. Sorry about almost giving you a heart attack Jade. Wasn't intentional. (G)

I went home Sunday feeling wired to write, and of coourse after spending 7 hours on the road changed my tune and went to bed instead. But bright and early on Monday I put all my submissions into cyberspace and one into snail mail and off they went.

All in all, a very productive, fun filled weekend. And now back to writing. Take care all!
Patti

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Hello again!

Hello all, you know there are days when it really doesn't pay to get out of bed. I think since the beginning of the year that has been my life. I've been writing my little brains out, and then got sidelined by an unforeseen surgery. Learned I had a problem on a Monday and was in surgery on a Tuesday.

Sigh, apparently someone must have thought I was having a slow week/month when this was dumped in my lap. I certainly wasn't ready for it, nor did I want it. My body looks like a cross country road map of bumps, lines and such as it is from the 8 surgeries I've had in the past 3 years alone.

But the upside is the restrictions that came along with the surgery are no lifting more than a milk jug till May 1st. Which lets out carrying the laundry basket down three flights of stairs, pushing or pulling or lugging the vacuum up and down those same three flights of stairs. It gives me the chance to heal. And write.

Ah yes writing. I have made a dent but not as big of a dent as i would have liked. What someone forgot to tell me is I'd lose a week right after surgery with just trying to figure how to get in and out of bed. That your abdominal muscles are used for pretty much everything, including the dreaded sneezing and coughing. Oh yes dear readers that alone was a treat and and among itself! (G)

Yet, I persevere and onward and forward. So forgive me for being so silent, but I am once again back in the saddle and ready to rumble. Take care all and have a great weekend!