She really does.

But let's back up a bit.

I got an e-mail from her last week. Don't think I will ever be cool enough to read this with equanimity:

I was just talking about you a couple of hours ago at lunch with an editor. I think she'd be perfect for Guide and she was saying submissions are really slow right now and she'd love to take a look. Sometimes it can't hurt to let 1 or 2 editors take an early look and then maybe they'll make a pre-emptive offer (which we are under no obligation to take but gives us a strong position for getting others to read quickly).

Talking. About me. To an editor. Over lunch. Because, yeah, I'm that interesting. As for being 'under no obligation to take an offer', I am slackjawed. Riiight, we wouldn't want to take a lower offer when we could drive it up, maybe have an auction or get me a multi-book deal. Here I was just worried about selling in the first place.

So I was still reeling over that when another e-mail came today. This is the beginning:

I ended up starting the submission of Guide this week. After reviewing my projects and thinking more about strategy and speaking with some editors, my feeling was that they were hungry for some August submissions and this has the feel of a summer read. It’s currently out with 9 editors.

She then provided the list, and damn, but it reads like Who's Who of steamy romance novels. In closing, she tells me, "I think this is an exciting development..."

Uh. Yeah. Talent for understatement. I'll be in the corner, squeeing myself to sleep.