Help with a nick name - win a prize

Okay, I'm finally writing a new story. My heroine's name is Leslie (can't be changed, cause she's Leslie in the book set to be released this November). I have her as being a klutzy blonde. (who knew klutz was spelled with a K...not me, I was spelling it with a C--it's a great thing to be a writer who can't spell lol) Not stupid, she's a highly intelligent lawyer, youngest partner ever in her law firm. So, what sort of nick name would her middle school/high school classmates have given her?

Any suggestions? If I chose the one you suggest, you'll win a prize...I don't know what yet, cause it's 12:30 in the morning and I'm too muddle minded to think of a good prize, but it'll be nice.

She's about to run into a gang of her old classmates, after a klutzy accident leaves her with a broken high heel shoe, her coiffed hair hanging down (guess it's not coiffed then, huh?) and coffee stains/tears on her suit and one of the old 'buddies' is going to call her by the name. That's really going to piss her off.

Thanks.

~Anna Kathryn

The Lone Star Conference

The Northwest Houston RWA chapter will be holding their 2008 conference on October 25th, in north Houston:

National Best Seller, Pat Kay will present her two part series of “The First Five Pages” and “Scene and Sequel.”

In addition, agent appoints will be available with: Michelle Grajkowski of Three Seas Literary Agency, Becca Stumpf of Prospect Agency, and Carolyn Grayson of the Ashley Grayson Literary Agency.

For more information go to:

http://www.northwesthoustonrwa.com/html/conference.html

~Anna Kathryn (who will be attending the Lone Star Conference

Romance Writers in San Francisco

Last week, the Romance Writers of America held their annual meeting in San Francisco. I was unable to attend, but here's a report on it and the romance market in general.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25966976#25966976

I read mostly historical romance. I'm a history buff, though not an expert in any of it. Historical is what I read most of the time for years. In the past few years, I've started to branch out, mainly because I know writers and I buy their books, which may not be historicals. I started reading romance in my teens and historicals in my yearly 20's. There's a lot I like about romance, the HEA is one thing, but it's also how the couples work together to overcome the adversity in their lives.

When did you start reading romance and what do you like most about it?

~Anna Kathryn
www.aklanier.com
www.myspace.com/aklanier

Really Harsh Comeback Lines

Man: So, what do you do for a living?

Woman: I'm a female impersonator.

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Man: Haven't I seen you someplace before?

Woman: Yes, that's why I don't go there anymore.

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Man: Is this seat empty?

Woman: Yes, and this one will be if you sit down.

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Man: How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Woman: Unfertalized.

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Man: Your place or mine?

Woman: Both. You go to yours, and I'll go to mine.

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Man: Hey baby, what's your sign?

Woman: DO NOT ENTER

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Man: If I could see you naked, I'd die happy.

Woman: Well, if I saw you naked, I'd probably die laughing!

~Anna Kathryn
www.aklanier.com

Surviving Edouard

Well, we are being hit 'full-force' by Tropical Storm Edouard. We are in the path of the eye, so we're getting rain and some wind, but for us, so far, neither has been bad. Yesterday, my daughter and I went 'hurricane shopping' and stocked up on water, non-perishable canned goods, fruits and veggies and chocolate. I boiled half a dozen eggs, too, so that we'd have cooked eggs for eating or putting into tuna fish sandwiches, should be loose electricity. I thought about frying bacon (for BLT's) but then I didn't. Hmmm, I still have electricity, maybe I'll fry some up after all.

As with tropical storms and hurricanes, we're getting hit with bands, so it'll rain really hard, then it'll let up. I don't think it's stop completely for the past 5 hours, but it lets up enough that I'm not worried about flooding--at least for my house. Other places, low lying places, may well flood, even with the letting up of rain.

So, so far, we're fairing well and hope to continue to do so.

~Anna Kathryn

Shameless Promotion

Really? How silly would I be if I didn't take a minute to invite you to be on the lookout for my upcoming release, Forever Faith. When all is said and done, this will be part of my Stages of Love anthology presented in print format, but for the present, they are being offered as ebooks upon their individual release.

Chastity's Charms was the first and is available now at Eternal Press, and Forever Faith will be available soon. Next will be Amazing Grace, then Hope Springs Eternal, followed by Joy's Revelation. I hope you'll watch for them.

Also, don't forget Sarah's Journey. It's a western women's fiction about a woman who plans to start a new life in California, but instead finds herself a sole survivor of an Indian attack on the wagon travel with which she travels. She starts anew, but not in the way she intended. It too is available at Eternal Press.

I'm hoping to have a new release date for Sparta Rose, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm positive this book was hexed by a witch. I'm with a third publisher now, and holding my breath they'll want it after it's been through edits with a previous publisher. We'll see, and I'll keep you posted. Maybe I should hang a string of garlic around my door...oops, that's for vampires isn't it? What keeps witches away?

Thanks for joining me today and my winner for the day is Jannine Corti Petska. My grandson drew your name so let me know which book of mine you'd like to read. I'll email you a PDF copy as soon as I know.

Thanks again, Anna K for allowing me to visit and monopolize your readers. I hope I didn't bore them. *lol*

Hugz
Ginger

Where Do Those Ideas Come From?

First I want to thank my hostess for allowing me a day to post on her blog. It was a lucky day when I met Miz Anna Kathryn. She's become a great friend and confidante. So...on to the topic at hand:

I know when I was purely a reader, I often wondered where authors got the ideas that fueled their stories. Now as a writer, I realize that almost every book I've written has a bit of my own life experience somewhere. It doesn't have to be a big chunk of the plot, or anything that stands out, but I think we all tend to find something to which we can relate. Whether it be an old boyfriend and the feelings he conjured up with that first kiss or a bad memory, having our hero or heroine reenact that scene gives the author a chance to perhaps deal with it in a different way, or just re-live the excitement. It might even be someone's fantasy you're reading. :)

Embezzled Love is my latest release, and sadly the whole book is based on a true-life experience. I wrote the book as a testament to my sister's strength but also as a warning to people who use the Internet as a means of finding their soul-mate. Just like everything else, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. This was not a story of success, trust me, but it did provide fodder for a very interesting and unusual story that already garnered a fabulous review--from my SON! He never reads romance, nor does he call often. He phoned the other day specifically to tell me how much he enjoyed it and what a wonderful author he thinks I am. I can only equate that with receiving as Oscar! Wow. Talk about surprised.

So, since I have the whole day here, I'm going to drop in a few times and share some of my questionable wisdom with you. At the end of the day, I shall draw a name from the people who leave comments and present a free PDF copy of any one of my available books to the winner. I hear a grandson rattling around up stairs, so before he does too much damage, I'm off to check. Be back soon.

Howdy

Ginger Simpson is back as my guest blogger. Ya'll give her a warm welcome while I go run around town gathering Hurricane supplies. Seems a tropical storm, which will probably become a hurricane is heading my way and though I doubt I'll have to evacuate, I do want to get some supplies, like water, non-perishable foods and ice. We shouldn't flood, but there is a chance we'll lose electricity.

So, Ginger, take it away!

~Anna Kathryn

August Guest Bloggers

Each Monday, I'll have a guest blogger. So far, for August I have:

Ginger Simpson - August 4th. Ginger blogged for me last week, but a family emergency called her away and aside from her interview, she wasn't able to post or reply, so I'm having her back. Go read her interview and have questions in the ready!

http://www.gingersimpson.com/
http://mizging.blogspot.com/
http://myspace.com/mizging

Bess McBride - August 11th - Bess is multi-published, with two stories set to be released in August.

Love of My Heart available now
A Sigh of Love available now
A Trail of Love coming August 16, 2008
A Train Through Time coming August 22, 2008

http://www.bessmcbride.com/
www.myspace.com/bessmcbride
http://www.rvromance.com/


Donna Marie Rogers/Liza James- August 18th. Donna is a multi-published author, with several more books set to be released:

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY ~Coming August 6th~The Wild Rose Press
THERE'S ONLY BEEN YOU ~Coming Oct. 10th~The Wild Rose Press
WELCOME TO REDEMPTION The Wild Rose Press *4-1/2 Stars Romantic Times*
GAME ON by Liza James The Wild Rose Press
LYING EYES by Liza James Red Rose Publishing

http://www.donnamarierogers.com/
http://www.lizajamesauthor.com/


Donna Micheals - August 25th: Donna is also multi-published. Her newest release will be out on August 22nd, so come found all about "Fated Hearts."

MEET YOUR MATE - The Wild Rose Press
DR. GNOME - Forbidden Publications
THANKS FOR GIVING - The Wild Rose Press
VALENTINE'S DO OVER - The Wild Rose Press
TEN THINGS I'D DO FOR A COWBOY - The Wild Rose Press
VALENTINE'S DO OVER II - The Wild Rose Press

http://www.donnamichaelsauthor.com/

What's coming up this month

Well, I won't be blogging every day. I'm just not that disciplined....honest. But I had a couple of authors who didn't get into this month's interviewing. So, I think I'll host a weekly guest author, each Monday.

Check back later for a list of authors for the month (I'm still composing it...if you'd like to be a guest blogger here, just e-mail me about it).

And I'll probably set up a particular day or two when I do blog. I just have to get organized!

BTW, anyone who comments during the month of August, on any of the blogs posted, will be eligible for a $15 The Wild Rose Press gift certificate.

~Anna Kathryn