Last year we had a horrifically cold and snowpacked winter. We lucked out this year and have had moderate temps and just a dusting of snow.

Until this last weekend.

The snow wasn’t deep — only 7.5″ of the white stuff. But the below freezing temps are brutal.

It really hurts more when you’ve had mild weather, and then get slapped with this cold icy stuff.

Monday was the worst. I made it to work — left home early arrived late due to the driving conditions. Coming home that late afternoon, I did fine until I was a little over a mile from my house.

I hit a patch of ice and nearly lost it when I pulled out of a side street onto a major road that should have been better cleared. I hit a patch of ice and came dangerously close to doing a 180 in the middle of a four lane.

Somehow I did the steering thing — go left, go right, go left until the car righted itself and was going straight. I was very lucky I didn’t end up off road or hit by a double lane of cars coming up too fast behind me.

Took about 30 minutes for my legs and arms to stop shaking!

Ok, enough winter. Spring, please come soon!!!!

I just finished and turned in my sheikh book for Harlequin Presents, and am enjoying the writing break before the revisions/edits roll in. Though I want to enjoy the Holidays this year (instead of writing through them) I am anxious to start the next proposal.

Playing catch up on all that’s been left for want keeps me from doing that. And wow, a lot of stuff was ignored around the house. Eww

The fall newsletter just went out, so watch your inboxes.

In case you aren’t on Facebook, fellow author Michelle Willingham posted a link on my page that’s a huge ego booster. One Real Man was listed as one of the Best Romance Novels of 2010 on www.buzzle.com Thanks for letting me know, Michelle. And much thanks to Buzzle.com! 🙂

I had a great time at the Moonlight and Magnolia conference. It was wonderful to meet my Kensington editor, Peter Senftleben. Such a great guy!

Had so much fun will fellow Presents author Lynn Raye Harris, and Modern Heat author Kimberley Lang. A bit bummed Kim didn’t win a Maggie. 🙁

Absolutely enjoyed both of the conference speakers. I always learn from NYT and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan. This time was no different. Thanks Allison for everything!

Michael Hauge’s workshop was fabulous, and even as a non-plotter I saw ways to improve my haphazard (no, organic!) writing style.

And a special thanks to Sally Kirkpatrick for her hard work at the M&M. Thanks for everything, Sally. And uber congrats for winning the unpubbed Maggie in contemporary single title.

Well, for me, it was mainly consumed with writing. I had copy edits on In A Cowboy’s Arms, revisions on the continuity which was an experience, and RWA National conference in Orlando.

The conference was a fabulous break from the grind of a day job and writing deadlines, though I actually worked on my revisions at conference.

I connected with dear friends and met new ones — one who’s just gotten an offer from Harlequin Presents!!! Woohoo, Tatia! So thrilled for you!

There will be more on that later.

I’m writing my first sheikh book for Presents now and absolutely loving it, though it is going slow thanks to a nasty cold morphed sinus infection. Yuck! I am so not a good patient.

But I’m loving this book and the time to write one for a change! Bigger thanks to my editor!

I’ll be heading to the Moonlight and Magnolia conference the first of October. Hope to get lots written before then.

And so hoping for a looong Indian Summer. I’m not ready for winter and cold and ice and snow.

Copy edits on In a Cowboy’s Arms are done and turned in to my Kensington editor.

Copy edits on Captured and Crowned are done and turned in to Harlequin editor.

The booksigning at Books A Million is over and was a success. Thanks much to Ty and the staff for organising such a nice event for me! And thanks to the readers who came out in the rain for the signing. 🙂

I’m blogging Thursday, June 17, at Magical Musings where I’ll give away an autographed book to one lucky reader. I’m also blogging the same day at I Heart Presents.

Please drop by and say hi!