Well, the lovely comments, anyway!! ::g::

I was going to answer each of you individually over the cover squee, but I realized that all I could say was “squee”, so hey, THANKS!! I’m still plotzing over this.

I spent a lovely lovely day with beledibade yesterday. Her entry says it better than I can. There’s nothing better than spending a gorgeous Saturday driving in country and hanging with good friends and fellow writers, Carla, Jan Burke, Laura Lippman, Sandi Wilson and Noreen Wald. Meeting Nora Roberts was also a plus.

This morning, I spent time updating my Web site.

The rest of the day will be spent reading Jan Burke‘s newest: Bloodlines. (Jan was so sweet, she gave me a copy of the book for my mom. I’d already bought a copy from Mysterious Galaxy, but it hasn’t yet arrived.) Mom and I helped Jan with some Spanish translations.

Fabulous Birthday wishes to the equally fabulous ardent_muses!!

May your day be filled with love, joy, and the best of all things.

My cover art:

http://www.thelima.com/work/

(image links to larger version)

::doing major happy dance here::

(Available in April online or at your local independent mystery bookstore)

Why, oh, why does the muse strike in the wee hours of the a.m.? I have to go to work tomorrow – eep! Today!!!

And no, i’d be okay with it if it were some fascinating revelation for book 2, which is languishing in writer’s block hell. Instead, it’s a snippet/short story/whatever starring two of my secondary characters.

beledibabe, honey – this one’s for you. You asked for it last year and it’s writing itself right now…dammitall. It’s not finished, but it’s nearly 700 words of Niko/Tucker. See the thing is, I was quietly laying in bed, trying to sleep, when all of a sudden, Niko was standing in front of a mirror in the dark and Tucker said “It’s a good thing the myth about mirrors isn’t true.”

I both love you and curse you right now. ::g::

::smooches C anyway, because it’s turning out better than I expected::

The happiest of happy days to allabout_me!!!

It’s a milestone, cuz – live it up!!!

::smooches and hugs::

In this case, the punishment most definitely does not fit the crime.

I’m still under the weather. I figured one more day of rest and I’ll be back at near-normal.

But…

The damned apartment building is doing fire-alarm tests. It’s been going on for more than an hour.

I had no idea this was happening – probably because I haven’t left my apartment in 4 days, but sheesh.

Can they not finish already?

Since I can’t sleep, I’m watching episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street. I’m up to season 3. Odd seeing Lee Tergesen and Edie Falco playing a married couple. Many familiar faces that later made it to Oz.

Speaking of which, the Mystery Writers of America just announced the Edgar(tm) nominees today. A special award is being given to Tom Fontana.

Now if I could only just get copies of seasons 5 and 6 of Oz since the DVDs aren’t likely to be released anytime soon…

Well, okay, it’s a rationalization. I’ve lost my voice. Woke up yesterday with a sore throat. This morning, the voice was gone. I decided to work from home today, since I can’t talk to clients, anyway.

So, in the spirit of geekdom: (gakked from everyone on my flist)

(I have to say that beledibabe, kelliem and allabout_me seemed to be channeling my own crushes!)

List five fictional people — from television, movies, books, whatever — that you had a crush on as a child (or early teens). Then post this on your LiveJournal so other people can know what a dork you’ve always been.

1) Robin Hood. Not the movie version, but like my cousin, from the original novel.

2) Tarzan and Jane. From the books, not any of the movies. (a caveat, this was the Tarzan I knew as a kid. When I re-read the books later in life, I realized how horrifically bigoted they were).

3) Mr. Spock (Star Trek, TOS) when he wasn’t doing the good Captain, that is.

4) Illya Kuryakin (Man from U.N.C.L.E.) – well, please, how could you not?

5) Doc Savage and his crew (from the books), just because

There are tons more, Starsky and Hutch, Trixie Belden, R. Daneel Olivaw (I, Robot, the book), Lessa, F’nor and Menolly from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragon series….yeah, well, okay.

Our IT director and his wife are having their first baby so we’re having an office baby shower for them this afternoon. I like cake.

Last night, instead of watching the Shrub speak, I watched my new favorite prison show. ::g:: Season 4 DVDs came in, so I settled in for a night of Oz. I’m only sorry that there are no more hours in a day. I forced myself to go to bed at a reasonable hour.

Tonight, there is laundry and writing. I will save the remaining episodes for the weekend – probably Sunday, because Saturday is writing day.

Did I mention that it’s snowing?

Today has been a Good Day. Despite the client insanity toward the end of the day, so many good things happened.

* I got a promotion and am now Senior Project Manager. w00t!! (announced at staff meeting.)

* I have a firm publication date for my book, Matters of the Blood: April – which means it’s *before* one of the major regional mystery conventions. w00t again!

* I just attended a wonderful book launch party for my cohort, Laura Durham. Her first mystery, Better Off Wed just came out. (paperback original). The party was held at a townhouse in DC, lovely catering, lovely hors d’oeuvres, lovely drinks. Pink and blue theme to match the book covers. Laura can most definitely throw a party.

Some upcoming events:

* I’ll be appearing on a panel at Malice Domestic the first weekend in May.
* Laura, Clyde Linsley and I will be presenting a panel at the Mystery Writers of America chapter dinner. Our working title: Bloodsuckers, Bridezillas and Dead Presidents. (I write supernatural mysteries, Laura writes about a wedding planner and Clyde writes historicals).
* June 15th, I’m on a panel at the Smithsonian with other mystery authors (including Laura) as part of the Anatomy of a Murder series. (Of course, they have my name a bit wrong, but, hey, the Smithsonian!!!!

I’m still mainlining Oz, eagerly awaiting my Season 4 delivery. You all know, of course, that I’m going to have to borrow tapes or whatever of seasons 5 and 6 at some point!! Waiting is *not* my strong suit. ::g::

Hope everyone’s day has been great. I totally am behind on LJ, due to crazy work stuff, but eventually, I will catch up.