Back in the Swing

I made it home from a fun but exhausting road trip last week and the first thing I did after stepping off the airplane? We went to Apple and bought MacBook Pros. We'd hoped to do this before I left so I wouldn't have had so many problems while I was gone (and neither would my biz partner, who was left to run the companies with failing computers), but patience became a virtue. They say that happens. So although we had our computers picked out weeks ago, by waiting, we were able to get a better deal.

This weekend, I migrated most of my files (still having issues with Outlook - if anyone knows anything, please help! I'd love you forever!) and starting yesterday, I've been doing revisions on the Mac. It was the first time I'd been excited to do revisions in a long time. LOL It wasn't really any different - Word is still basically the same (though not exactly) - but it felt different. And fun.

But the best part was being productive again. I finished an entire chapter in GENESIS yesterday morning. In just a few hours. So much better! I just might make this deadline after all. Whew.

It's nice to be back in the swing of things. With all the excitement of real life behind me, including the fourth season of True Blood (awesome finale by the way!), I feel like I can see some kind of normalcy on the horizon. I don't know. We'll see. I just got my Pottermore access email yesterday, so... 

How are you doing? With summer and back-to-school behind us, are you settling into a routine? Or are you still reeling from it all? How do you ground yourself when chaos hits?

Harleys, Books, Kindle & Other Ramblings

Starting tomorrow, life gets even crazier than it has been for the next 10 days. Tomorrow I'm taking off with The Man and some friends to Biketoberfest in Daytona. Anyone familiar with the world of Harley-Davidson and motorcycles knows that Daytona Bike Week and Sturgis Bike Week are the two BIG rallies of the year. But Daytona has a smaller one, called Biketoberfest that's supposed to be more fun because it's not as huge. I'm excited for a real break...and possibly a beer or two. ;-)

I've been trying to figure out how to take advantage of this trip because, you see, Tristan (aka Mr. Beautiful up there in that picture) rides motorcycles. He has a crotch-rocket (well, um, two, if you think about it...ROFL...er, sorry, as you can tell I'm ready for a break!) and a Harley, which he and Alexis ride on throughout Promise. But I just can't see myself walking up to biker dudes and chicks, asking if they'd like to read my book. So, the idea of how to do a tie-in is still germinating and will have to wait for the next rally.

But while writing this, I had a great idea for the Halloween Hop contest. Too bad I can't enter my own contest, though. Maybe one of you lovely readers will take the hint of Tristan and motorcycles and run with it... Remember, a Kindle is up for grabs!

Speaking of the contests, I've seen many tweets, FB and blog posts about them. I'm eternally grateful, but not all of you who have spread the word have entered the Birthday Bash giveaway. The one where you get entries for tweeting and posting! If you're going to do it, you may as well enter the contest for books and swag! Don't forget, you can enter that one as many times as you want by filling out the form each time you tweet or post about the contests.

As for the Halloween Hop, just put the link of where you'll be posting your entry in the linky-thingy. The more people who sign up there, the better the prize (like that Kindle).

Okay, real quick, other things going on next week, in case I'm somewhat absent:

• My usual bi-monthly trip to Orlando for the day-job will keep me up there through the end of the week. Because I have to be back there for...
• Florida Writers Association Conference! Next weekend. I'm so excited for my first big conference. PLUS, Promise is a finalist for the Royal Palm Literary Award. I find out next Saturday night if it won.
• While I'm sitting in my hotel next week, I'll be Skyping for the first time with a book club. They're all the way in Minnesota! I'm chewing my nails about this. I hope they're nice. I think they will be, based on the hostesses.

So, yeah, lots of ramblings of my chaos. But it's all exciting stuff. Oh...one more thing. Twitter Party tonight!! Hosted by Jess at Confessions of a Bookaholic and Lisa at A Life Bound by Books. Starts at 9 p.m. ET, at #HauntedHalloween. They're giving away books, swag and Halloween goodies. I'll be there. I wonder what other authors will be. Follow @TotalBookaholic and @BoundbyBooks

Have a great weekend, everyone!!