Things are going too well for me to have any bitching to do. Rather than work up a fake rant about stuff that doesn't really bother me (and you guys could tell the difference, couldn't you?), I'm going to do something different. Today SBD stands from Smart Blessing Day; I'm going to recount the ways I'm lucky as hell. If this post seems disjointed, it's because I'm just counting my blessings as they occur to me.

My cover art for Guide is absolutely gorgeous. If that wasn't enough, my wonderful editors at Loose Id, Ann and Olivia, who helped make a good book great, are interested in a sequel. Ann wants three chapters and synopsis for the secondary characters in Guide. I'm calling it My Valentine and when I have that stuff done, Ann says she can probably offer me a contract, based on partial and synopsis. I'll have deadlines and everything!

Last week, I sold a book and I hadn't ever submitted to this publisher. As an adjunct to my 100th comment contest, Tina Burns, acquisition editor of Liquid Silver Books, read some of my material on my website and sent me a personal invitation to submit. I had Your Alibi available, so I sent it her way. Five days later, she offered me a contract. When I accepted, she wrote:

Yeah! I'm so glad. I got goosebumps when I'd read the excerpts on your site and was prepared to send chocolates if I needed to to bribe you to send me a book!

I'm a feedback whore, I freely admit it. Sometimes in this solitary writing gig of mine, I start jonesing for other people's opinions. Well, that was a happy slice of validation right there. I gave someone goosebumps!

More good stuff. My work is currently in the hands of a wonderful agent, who is close to making me an offer. I've checked her references and they're impeccable. Now I'm just waiting for the magic moment.

Paula Guran of Juno Books is considering Good Touch for their paranormal line. I'm pitching a six book series. My kids are old enough to understand that I'm working when I'm writing, and they've gotten great about handling their own issues. I'm so proud of them for that. I have a maid who takes care of the pesky household details so I can work. I have a husband who, even though he's second in line running a five company corporation, spends his whole weekend helping me whip a project into shape. After reading Good Touch, he also told me who Corine ends up with. I'm not sure he's wrong.

Is there more? Well, yes. As a reward for staying on task over the last two weeks, I bought a gorgeous black sparkly handbag and a new water fountain. I love those (and so do my cats).

I also have fantastic, supportive writer friends who give me great advice and commiserate with me so that my failures don't sting too much. All in all, I have a pretty great life and things are going well. Come on, your turn. Count your blessings for me. I think you'll be smiling when you're done.

Labels: SBD