Welcome to Elizabeth's Blog

Never lacking for something to say, Elizabeth shares everything from All My Children to Writing and all the life that’s in-between . . .

The Backlog

If you have emailed me in the last, say, three months, you know that I am a little behind on the answering part. My email usually gets busy when a book comes out, but this year, with the two, the response was overwhelming and then, of course, I got sick, so nothing got answered, so now I have a HUGE backlog of email. So if you have written, please be patient with me–I am making an effort to get caught up now that my next book is done, the revisions (just a bit of tweaking per my editor) are in, I can breath again and start the process of catching up.

Getting this sick has really been eye-opening about how much I was doing and how much I kept starting, not finishing and then it would get piled to one side as the next “must-do” came along. I was over-committed to say the least, saying “yes” to everything, and not giving my schedule a realistic perspective. Getting sick made me realize I cannot have it all. Which is a good thing.

The best part of looking ahead, as I am getting my strength back, is that I have an open slate in front of me. No commitments, just time to get the life re-aligned. Time to write the next book without interruption. Get the office work caught up. Clean out the Bob Cratchett Room along with a myriad of other corners in the house. (that’s from the DH’s list of things for Elizabeth To Do.) I can completely recommend getting pneumonia–of course I would also recommend getting the kind that doesn’t come with a high fever, lungs full of fluids, weeks of fatigue and repeated visits to the doctor. That kind is a drag. But if they could come up with a kind that just gives you a big do-over, that is the kind I would recommend.

So next week, I’ll start answering questions from my emails. Show you the cover for the January book, How I Met My Countess. And talk a little bit about the new Bachelor Chronicles series. I am actually very excited to start working on the next book, which comes out in November 2010. A little hint if you want to know who the hero is: he’s a duke. He was in This Rake of Mine. And he’s as stuffy as duke’s come. My plan: take the stuffing out of him.

What are your plans for the weekend? The summer? The rest of the year?

My Two Favorite Words

The. End. Typed in that exact order at the bottom of a manuscript.

Haven’t Any Words to Spare

Down to the wire putting the finishing touches on a book, but I knew that a number of you (and thank you for your emails) were worried that I’d dropped out of sight again. So no worries, I am good. The fatigue is getting less and less, and I am working every hour I can function (without getting overly tired–that is for my Mom and Dad, just in case they are reading–or my Aunt Sue or my Aunt Dar, either of whom would rat me out in a NY minute) to get this book tidied up and ready to make its all important trip to NY and into my editor’s hot little hands.

In the meantime, I did run across this blog, What’s Your Legacy by Mary-Frances Makichen and thought it was a wonderful piece. So I am sharing it with you and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And if you want, post your own list and we’ll compare Legacies.

Signed Books in Florida

Boy, I am behind. I’ve had this info sitting here for weeks, and finally got it typed into my Alphasmart. Here are the stores where, like the Easter Bunny, I popped in and signed books while I was in Florida. If you are headed to Orlando, consider this a good list of bookstores in the area, and if you want to go on the hunt and discover a signed copy of one of my books, call ahead to make sure they still have copies, or call and purchase one over the phone ask them to ship it to you. They will do that, you know!

Winter Park, FL
Borders
600 North Orlando Ave
Winter Park, FL
407 647-3300

Orlando, FL
Books-A-Million
5498 Touchstone Dr
Orlando, FL
(407) 352-9043

Barnes & Noble
Colonial Plaza Market Center
2418 E Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL
407-894-6024

Barnes & Noble
Waterford Lakes Town Center
481 N Alafaya Trail
Orlando, FL
(407) 275-1765

Barnes & Noble
Florida Mall
8358 S Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL
407-856-7200

Altamonte Springs
Barnes & Noble
Altamonte Mall
451 Altamonte Drive
Altamonte Springs, FL
(407) 261-0252

Borders
880 W State Road 436
Altamonte Springs, FL
407-772-0411

Casselberry
Books-A-Million
S Hwy 17/92
Casselberry, FL
(407) 339-7323

Lakeland
Waldenbooks
Lakeland Square Mall
Lakeland, FL
(863) 859-6875

Barnes & Noble
4136 US 98
Lakeland, FL
(863) 859-3334

Books-A-Million
1520 Town Center Dr
Lakeland, FL
(863) 688-6382

And of course, the lovely Borders where my booksigning was held:

Clearwater
Borders
2683 Gulf to Bay Blvd.
Clearwater, FL 33759
727-723-2300

I am just bummed that I won’t be able to make it to Washington DC, or even the local signings that I had set up around Seattle. I’ve had to cancel all my events through the Fall. Just need to get healthy and get caught up. As this late post attests to that fact. . .

What are you behind on? And what is your excuse? And no using pneumonia, I’ve used that one all up.

Diversions

Keeping me from doing too much is sort of a full-time occupation it turns out. Thank goodness for the online reservations at the library, Ravelry, online bookstores, and Netflix. Between the four, I am finding enough diversions to entice me to put my feet up and take a break.

I’ve been able to read the latest Laura Joh Rowland Sano Mystery, The Fire Kimono, which I found fascinating. This mystery series is set in feudal Japan, about a samurai who has little in the way of connections and family but rises up the ranks by his sheer ingenuity and ability to solve crimes. Rowland does a masterful job of setting the time and place so as the reader you truly feel as if you are in 16th century Edo. The Fire Kimono revolves around an old arson case, which is actually a subject I know a lot about, having worked on a lot of arson cases in my previous work life, so that only added to my reading involvement. Rowland also recently published a mystery using Charlotte Bronte as the protagonist, which I am still reading. I can’t say I am diving into this one as quickly as I have the Sano stories, but I trust Rowland, so I am not giving up yet. What is intriguing is that her voice is so different between the two books. That is what intrigues me the most.

I think my slow pace with Rowland’s book is tempered by the fact that I’ve also read the 2nd book in Deanna Raybourn Lady Julia series, Silent in the Sanctuary. Raybourn just nails the Victorian period and her books are peopled with characters. And when I say characters, think CHARACTERS. Try Silent in the Grave and give this series a read. These are the sort of books writers pass around to other writers like some sort of initiation into a secret club. They are really well-written, and most importantly, entertaining.

I’ve also been reading any Georgette Heyer I can get my hands on–at least the ones I haven’t read before. I’ve gone through The Nonesuch and Devil’s Cub. Interestingly, Devil’s Cub is the only sequel she ever wrote, and I have to say that is a good thing. I don’t think sequels were her thing. I know a lot of Heyer fan adore Devil’s Cub, but I have to say it wasn’t one of my favorites. The Nonesuch was a light-hearted story, but also had more sexual tension than her usual fare. Usually when I recommend Heyer to friends, I suggest starting with The Grand Sophy or Fredricka, which are both great fun. My personal favorite is The Foundling. The Toll-Gate is next in the queue, and I always open her books hoping to find another gem.

But then again, don’t we all, every time we open a book, sort of cross our fingers that this will be the read?

Between books, I’ve been watching movies, and I have to say the one that I’ve enjoyed the most is Lost in Austen. If you haven’t seen this, watch it. It is freakin’ hilarious. It is the story of Amanda Price who spends way too much time reading Pride & Predjuice and then one night finds herself tossed into the story, replacing Elizabeth Bennett in the narrative. The more Miss Price tries to make sure everything works out according to the plot, the more she messes up the storyline. If you loved watching Colin Firth come out of the pond at Pemberly, watch this movie if only for that scene. If you’ve seen this movie, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

What have you been reading or watching of late for diversions?