Monday miscellaneous stuff -- a LOT of stuff

Update on The Trouble With Demons: After a weekend of much needed brainstorming, I am really and truly unstuck and am back on track! *big, huge grin* I figured out what the problem was -- the plot train pulled out of the station and left Piaras and Talon Tandu behind. Yes, that's the name of the character I said I couldn't tell you about because it'd be a spoiler for Armed & Magical. Well, telling you his name isn't a spoiler, so there it is. And I don't think telling you that he's a gorgeous, 18-year-old, aqua-eyed, half goblin/half elf would spoil the surprise either. Talon would be the first to tell you how hot and utterly irresistible he is. And ladies, there's no girlfriend in Talon's immediate future -- he thinks it'd be cruel to womankind if he limited his attentions to just one. He's also a smart ass -- I love this kid. ; ) I'm now writing Chapter 1A (fits between the Chapter 1 and 2 that I've already written). I wrote half of 1A yesterday and hope to finish it tonight. Then it'll just be weaving Piaras and Talon into what I've already written. The goal is to get that done this week and be back on Chapter 11 by Saturday.

I'm guest blogging today over on The Bradford Bunch. Thank you to Anya Bast for the gracious invite!

And if you didn't see them on Saturday's blog, I posted my Glamour Shots --huge hair, feather boa and all. (It was 1990, big hair was still in). Scroll down and check 'em out.

I've also accepted a blog challenge from fellow fantasy author James Maxey. He's written five articles on The 5 Things I've Learned About Writing. (See the "James Maxey" link in the list to the right to read his posts. They're great!) And he's challenged four other authors including myself to do the same. So this week I'll post my first article. I haven't decided which topic I'll start with, but I've come up with the following as my 5 Things I've Learned About Writing:

1. Persistence pays.
2. One sentence, one scene, one chapter at a time.
3. Trade your skin for rhino hide.
4. You gotta want it BAD.
5. Writing is a business.

Late last week, I got my copy of the Feburary issue of Realms of Fantasy magazine in the mail. This means it's either available at newsstands and bookstores now, or will be in the next few days. Barnes & Noble and Borders sell it. My ad for Magic Lost, Trouble Found is on page 14 in the middle of the cover article on The Golden Compass movie. The cover of this issue is the movie poster, and it's gorgeous! And the previews for the movie look fabulous! Daniel Craig = yum.

I'll be checking today with my editor's assistant (the wonderful Cam Dufty), and see if the art department has finished the complete cover for Armed & Magical yet (front, spine and back). With luck I'll be posting that this week. Keep checking back.

And finally, I have a special gift for all of you that I'll be posting the week of Christmas.

That does it for now!
Lisa