Summer Slow Down
Is it me or does it seem eerily quiet in romanceland? Posts on both loops and blogs I frequent seem to be way down. I know I'm busy with wrapping up the school year (which always seems to be crazily busy) and trying to get deep into book #3 so I can enjoy the summer vacations we have planned--maybe everyone else is, too.
We aren't doing anything exciting--a trip to the "Gold Country" and maybe a trip down south to Disneyland for my daughter's birthday. The "big" events will come at the end of summer when the Romance Writers of America's national conference comes to San Francisco and then in September when I head across the pond to the UK.
So what about you . . . have you been busy getting ready for the summer? Any big trips planned (BTW, it is NOT okay to tell me you are going to Hawaii!)? Are you planning to go to RWA this year?
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12 comments:
I think it gets quieter because a lot of people are thinking about RWA National. As for me, I'm winding down the school year (7 days to go!) and trying to get motivated to kick butt on my WIP. I'm not going to Nationals- trying to save some cash. I am going to RI (where I grew up) for 4 weeks visiting family and friends and then the family's got a beach house in NC for a week.
I think it's all the end of the school year stuff. I know I've been busy doing summer camp research and trying to figure which grandparent will get to keep the rugrat which week. I'm lucky since both sets of grandparents live nearby so don't have to spend a fortune on daycare but I still want my daughter to keep active so found some great cheer camps and art camps to put her in.
We don't really have anything excited planned. Just heading to the beach in June and random little trips to Houston and San Antonio, nothing exciting.
I really wanted to go to RWA in San Fran but will have to pass this year. Gonna have to live vicarously through you this summer, Monica with your UK and Disney trips plus RWA! Can I go too? :)
Lexi,
I think you are probably right--it seems like every year before national it's very quiet. I can't believe you only have 7 days of school left. My kids have three weeks. I feel your pain about getting motivated to get going on your WIP--I've been doing the same. Sorry that you won't be at nationals this year :(, but the beach and RI sounds fun. My aunt lives in CT and she took me on a jaunt to RI one summer--very fun.
Ing, sorry you won't be at national, too. :(
Glad I'm not alone in my end of the year struggle. I did the whole camp thing a couple of months ago--my little rugrats are going the entire summer--and you are right, it costs a fortune. It makes me glad that I have them in public school the rest of the year. I don't know how people swing private school tuition. I think they'd drive their grandparents nuts after one day, let alone a week. LOL.
I'll see if the airlines allow stowaways and you are there!
Monica, I have picked up on it too. It's like a lull, a weird quiet vibe, almost like lethargy. I hope whatever the hell it is, it snaps out of it asap!
Karin, I so agree with you about the lethargy--I'm definitely feeling it. I'm hoping everyone snaps out of it by conference!
Monica let me know if the airlines allow stow-a-way so I can have my bag packed and ready..lol!
Today was the first week my daughter was out of school. It was nice to drive to work without all the school traffic and not have to rush to get her to school on time!
Hope you had a great weekend!
Hugs,
Ing
For me it is mostly the last push of the school year and getting ready for summer plans: everything from kennel reservations to houseplant watering.
Some of it too is that I watched "PS: I Love You" this past week and THEN went to see the "Sex and the City" movie with a good friend who had just broken up with the guy she's been with for four years. She was so very sad.
Is there such a thing as 'romantic depression'?! Maybe that would explain my melancholy.
On a positive note, I just finished reading one of the best books I've ever read: The Religion by Tim Willocks. Wow!
Val, too funny, I read PS I Love you this week, too. OMG, such a good movie, but I think I cried about 40% of it. My husband was laughing at me. Sorry for the delay in repsonses, but for some reason my email wasn't forwarding that I had responses...weird. I'll have to check out the book...what's it about???
I did have a nice weekend, Ing, thanks. My kids are out next week.
Monica,
P.S.ILY was excruciatingly sad, but I couldn't get over myself about Holly. I hated that character from the first scene and it messed with my compassion. :-) The two best things about the movie: GB's biceps. LOL! "Gerry" was *great*. (Do you have those silly/corny songs stuck in *your* head?!)
Anyway, you asked about "The Religion". It is set during the 16th century seige of Malta (Christendom represented by the Knights of St. John) by the Ottoman Empire (the most powerful Islamic nation in history). It sounds like a boring historical. I can assure you it is NEVER boring for one single page. By page 16 I was bawling my eyes out and was hooked like I haven't been hooked in a while. Excellent writing, excellent research, tremendous dialog from philosophical to bawdy, compelling characters, fantastic wit and humor, excellent sex (the gorgeous warrior male lead can't decide between two women - kind of the beautiful madonna vs. the hot nymphomaniac thing). He's so good we *know* he will get both. But will he *keep* both?!
I should add the warning that there is tremendous blood and gore. After all, the Knights were out numbered about a million to one and each side to a man had declared it a duel to the death. I found it shocking to begin with and then easy to skim the battle scenes with half an eyeball after that.
The book had elements of "300", "Indiana Jones & Temple of Doom" and "Kingdom of Heaven" with - as the back cover blurb says - higher IQ points.
I'm reading it again just as soon as my heartbroken friend returns my copy.
~Val
Wow, Val, it sounds like something I'd love. How have I not heard about it??? Anyway, I'll be adding it to my Kindle soon.
I'm with you about Holly, but Gerry was just so yummy and the story was good. I liked her emotional growth, although it was hard to get over her initial uptightness.
Thanks for the book rec!
I had the exact same question!! I had not heard of it or seen it until it was just released in PB in the US.
Maybe because it is difficult to categorize - it would stand on its own in several genres.
Anyway, I know you'll love it.
Val, I think I'm going to have to do a blog post on those difficult to categorize books--I have a friend who wrote an amazing book, but it, too, was difficult to categorize and I know lost a huge potential audience.
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