It's a new year after all..

On the eve of 2006, I have to tell you that I make no new year's resolutions. Oh, I have hopes and dreams for the upcoming year, but January 1 is just an arbitrary date--one that I am the first to admit gives us a great excuse to party--and has no real meaning in the long term. It's just a convenient way to track time. I make resolutions when the mood strikes me: March, Tuesdays, three A.M. (I have sleeping issues). I believe resolutions are a good thing, I just don't make them now.

But for the new year, I wish all of you peace, health, and above all joy. For myself, well, I'd settle for a new book contract. Got a great manuscript ready to go.

So from me to you:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
--Gabi

Words of wisdom

I haven't blogged in two weeks, so I wanted to put something particularily pithy on the page today. Some brilliant topic to dazzle you readers. Something to take your breath away and impress you with my intelligence. So what did I come up with? Nothing. A big fat zero. And let's face it, nothing is not impressive. Oh sure, one can write about nothing and fill a page, but it's still nothing. I've just finished making a present for writing friends--a box filled with 365 inspirational writing quotes--filled with brilliance...from others. Some of these quotes are fabulous: "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." --Jack London. Or "Take chances. You will succeed if you are fearless of failure." --Natalie Goldberg. So I thought I'd spread my own words of wisdom. Ah well. I still have nothing.

Books I'm reading: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Too much going on this time of year to read much more than a comfort read. ALthough I am having fun teaching a mini-class on Latin to my students. They think they're learning a language. I know they're learning grammar.)

Enjoy the season, and sieze the joy in every day. Life is just too short to do otherwise.
--Gabi

A little on luck...

I have none. Not good luck, not bad luck. I've always known that I can't depend on serendipity to get me where I want to be. Take writing, for example. I know I need to write the best stories I can, because luck will take me nowhere. I've met editors who like me, who like my work, who push for me at their publishing houses, and then they leave the company before I sell a book to them. Some might consider this bad luck, but then one would have to consider the first part good luck as well. I just believe theses two unrelated events cancel each other out, leaving me with no luck. I don't play games that require luck to win--Risk, for example, or gambling of any sort-- because if I can't depend on skill, I know I won't win. My daughter, on the other hand, wins everything. If there's a raffle or drawing she's entered, she wins. Ah, well. Maybe I'll have her pick out lottery numbers. (Sorry, don't play the lottery either.)

Books I'm reading now: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (have seen the movie, loved it, and just wanted to remember how much I love the books); When Chritmas Comes, by Debbie Macomber. Gosh, is that really all? I just don't have the time right now.

--Gabi

I've been good...

I received my flu shot today. I've never had one before, but since I'm exposed to all kinds of germ carriers (read: students), getting the shot might make sense this year. And getting it was really easy, considering they offered it at my place of work, so I didn't even have to make much of an effort. I'll keep you posted how I fare this winter.

I'm finishing up the final revision on my WIP, and trying to re-read Harry Potter nd the Goblet of Fire before the movie comes out. The previews look great, and I love the books, so I'm looking forward to this weekend. Of course, having the seventh book in my hands would generate a great deal more excitment.

Temptaion's warrior is getting great reviews all over. Check them out and see:

http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/reviews/andersongabriella11105.html

http://www.loveromances.com/temptationswarrior_janalee.html

http://thebestreviews.com/review31176

http://www.onceuponaromance.net/Temptation'sWarriorReview.html

One is also coming out in Booklist
and one should be posted on the 20th at Romance Reviews Today: http://romrevtoday.com/

All is well, the weather has turned cold, and I've got to start worrying about cooking that turkey. I still have to buy it and all the accouterments. Maybe I haven't been so good after all...
--Gabi

A Brand New Wind...

No, I'm not suffering from flatulence. I came back from the Red River non-conference (if you want more info about this, you must e-mail me) so full of writing energy that I can hardly find the time to eat (and you'd think I'd lose weight from this, but no, my body decides that it must store all fat in case of the Big One, just to be safe). So I've got all this writing energy (an entirely different beast than the energy to, say, make beds or do laundry) and I've been revising away at THE STONE KEY, and having a great time doing it. Patting myself on the back here-- TEMPTATION'S WARRIOR is out, getting great reviews, and for a change I'm not having so much angst about the writing. It's a good place to be.

Meanwhile I'm reading Charmed and Dangerous by Lori Wilde, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (For my classes, but it's so good it's worth mentioning) and I just finished Some Enchanted Evening, by Christina Dodd. And of, course, I'm working on THE STONE KEY , an unpublished manuscript by Gabriella Anderson.

Keep those dreams big.
--Gabi

Red River

I'm off to a much needed writers' retreat this weekend in Red River, NM. The area is so beautiful, the air so clean, and the company so inspiring. To be a writer for an entire weekend, and not worry about the other jobs--mom, wife, teacher, etc.--should rejunvenate the spirit. Don't get me wrong. I love being a wife/mom, and even enjoy being a teacher, but, sometimes, just being one thing is so refreshing. No multitasking this weekend.

And, in exciting news, I have seen the book, it is lovely. Temptation's Warrior, the final edition, has arrived in all its hardcover glory. Do pick it up if you can and if not, tell you local library to order it for you. Here are the details:
TEMPTATION'S WARRIOR by Gabriella Anderson
ISBN 1-59434-418-4
Ask for it at your local bookstore.

Now I'm off to the mountains.
--Gabi

Reviews, reviews

I received my first reveiws for TEMPTATION'S WARRIOR. They like it, they really like it. (OK, is that line getting as old for you as it is for me?)

Check them out at http://www.loveromances.com/temptationswarrior_janalee.html

and http://bookcrossing.com/journal/3282624/HARRIET/book_-Temptations-Warrior-Gabriella-Anderson


--Gabi

It's 6:30 in the morning...

...and I'm getting ready for school (that's work, you know), and I'm grumpy. Who wouldn't be? It's an ungodly hour, and I don't even drink coffee (not for any particular reason except that to drink it I need it with half cream and about four sugars until it tastes like hot coffee ice cream, but at that point I'm thinking calories, so it's just not worth it.) The sun isn't even in the sky yet (not that we've had sun for the past-gulp-five days). This is definitely not my favorite time of year. I don't like getting cold. The days are shorter, and it's still too warm to wear my calf length stadium jacket--which is definitely overkill here in New Mexico, but I already mentioned I hate getting cold. And on top of all that I don't do mornings well (You read that post, right?). My afternoon classes definitely fare better than my morning classes.
So as I peek outside and see...nothing...I realize it's time to shut off the machine (this one) and continue putting on the make up, make sure the family is awake, and maybe rethink the whole coffee thing. Oh, yes, I don't do tea either, and it's just too early for booze.
--Gabi

1000 places to see before you die...

In the book of the same title, Patricia Schultz lists the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Now, it's easy for me to see this particular event because I live here, but that doesn't diminish the joy one feels as the hundreds (yes, literally hundreds, maybe even a thousand today) of hot air balloons take to the air and fill the morning sky with color and shapes and whimsey. You can't help but smile. My sister has never been and has said that she lived in a place with a balloon fiesta and it was nice. She doesn't get it. This is huge. You've never seen so many hot air balloons in one place. We took 120 pictures this morning (Thank God for digital cameras). Sometime in your life you should make the effort and see this amazing event.

So now I can cross off one more of the 1000 things I have to see before I die.

Hey, if I've been ten times, is my total of places to see now 990?
--Gabi

Anybody out there like "House" as much as I do?

I don't have time to watch TV. I'm not bragging, because after working all day, there is nothing I would rather do than veg a little in front of the tube, but I just don't have the time (not to mention we have initiated "no technology hour" at our house.) But I have been able to make time to watch "House, MD" for two weeks now. The characters are terrific, complex, funny, and sympathetic. Yes, even House. I love that character. Talk about your flawed hero. Besides, I have been a fan of Hugh Laurie since he appeared in "Wooster and Jeeves" on PBS. A very talented man.

But if I had to choose between TV and a good book, the book would win every time. Not trying to sound snobby here, just stating my preferences.

And notice I said "good" book.
--Gabi

Juggling and other great talents

This week had to be the week from hell. Not that I have a right to complain. After all, New Mexico wasn't hit by a hurricane. However, blessings having been counted, I don't want a repeat of this past week. I was out every night except Friday for some reason or another. Some of the events taking my time were of my doing--critique group, volleyball, romance readers' group--but others weren't--three days of kids' volleyball tournament (although technically you could call that my fault since they are my children and I chose to have them), piano lessons (again, kid's), class I have to take for work (not my choice, but it's required), speech therapy (again, kid's),etc. Friday night I didn't have to go out, but, lucky me, I caught a cold so I spent Friday night trying to feel better and drinking Nyquill, the cocktail of choice for the infirm.

On the bright side, there were no hurricanes in New Mexico.
--Gabi

What an annoyance...

A spammer has attached himself to my blog address, so I've had to turn on word identification for anyone making comments. It adds an extra step when you want to comment, for which I am sorry, but blame the idiots who want to use my blog for selling their crap. Please don't let the extra step keep you from commenting.
--Gabi

Here's looking at you, kid...

Did you ever notice how many great lines there are in the movie CASABLANCA? I just re-watched the movie, introducing it to my children for the first time. It has everything--romance, laughs, tears, intrigue. The perfect flick. What happened to great movies like that? It's not that I don't enjoy movies made today, it's just that for the most part they can't compare (I mean really--TITANIC vs CASABLANCA? Puh-lease) Movies like MRS. MINIVER, THE THIN MAN, THE WOMEN, TO CATCH A THIEF--they just don't make them like these any more. Mind you, I'm no movie snob--I love STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES--and I can see why AFI named CITIZEN KANE movie of the century, but it seems to me that if you have to see why KANE is movie of the century instead of just enjoying it, how can it be the movie of the century? I'm sorry, but "Rosebud" isn't all that profound. Where are the TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD-s now? OK, so the book is better, but, for that matter, where are the TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD books now ?

Currently reading: BET ME by Jennifer Crusie (A re-read for my book group)
JUST LIKE A MAN by Elizabeth Bevarly
"Rappaccini's Daughter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Reaper's Image" by Stephen King, "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker and "There will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury

Every little bit...

I'm doing my own little bit to help. Over at squawkradio.blogspot.com (you've heard me mention them before) they have adopted a family whose home and belongings were wiped out by Katrina. Leslie Ferdinand and her mother write romances as Christine Holden. Squawkradio is trying to help Leslie and her family (including three young children), so I've jumped onto their bandwagon and posted a couple of items for sale at eBay to benefit the family. I've put up two sets of EVER YOURS and YOURS ALWAYS (to be autographed, of course) along with a set of cover flats (except from A MATTER OF PRIDE, of which I have none) a complete set of postcards from all my books and a souvenir Destiny Coin. Visit

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZlizabevQQhtZ-1

to see the other fabulous items the ladies at squawkradio have donated or to bid on my books. And for more detailed information visit squawkradio.blogspot.com

This is definitely a time to count our blessings and take joy in the few troubles our lives have compared to others.

Always dreaming,
--Gabi

In my thoughts...

It's hard to contemplate writing a light-hearted post during this time of tragedy and sorrow we, as a nation, are facing. My thoughts are with the people who are suffering, the ones who lost loved ones and homes, and the ones trying to bring them help.
--Gabi

Best Laid Plans...

The intentions were there, and I did much this weekend, but I didn't get to half of what I wanted to. I finished only one chapter of revisions this weekend (and to put a positive spin on it--at least I don't have a deadline looming for this manuscript and I CAN take my time.), but I finished a book (reading), played some awesome volleyball (two games out of three), and did two loads of laundry (it never ends--AARGGHHH). I also bought clothes for the kids, chauffered them all over, and got food into their stomachs. And now that it's Sunday afternoon, I'm waiting for the free time that is mine, Mine, MINE! I still need to do the grocery shopping, attend a parent function for the girls' school, more laundry, homework from the class I'm taking, critiquing for my critique partners (we meet tomorrow), and do more revisions. Oh yes, and there's still the school week up ahead and the class I have to teach. And I haven't gotten around to posting my new cover on my website.

Whoever decided 24 hours in a day is enough was cruel.
--Gabi
www.gabianderson.com

Ahhh, Friday

Yes. Another weekend to rejuvenate the senses, refresh the creative well, recover from the work week...

Oh, and I've received the cover for my next book, Temptation's Warrior, and will be making the valient attempt at loading it onto my website this weekend. (www.gabianderson.com)

--Gabi

It's in the Cosmos

Have you ever noticed that ideas seem to occur to everyone at the same time? Like the year they had two volcano movies, and the next year when they had two asteroid movies. (I'm not sure about the chronological order, so feel free to set me straight...See? I've been reduced to begging for comments.) Last night my daughter was watching the Lion King, and I realized it was the same plot as the current book I'm reading. Not that there's anything wrong with it. It happens all the time. Depending on whose theory one ascribes to, there are only seven, or three, or one plot out there with which to write our stories. Think about it. How many stories are there about an orphaned child who lives with guardians who don't like him/her? Let's see: Cinderella, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Harry Potter, Annie, and on and on. Right now I'm brainstorming ideas for my next novel, and I've came up with an idea for the heroine, only to discover the same backstory information in "By the Waters of Babylon" by Stephen Vincent Benet. (My story has a totally different plot, but the same set up.) This is one of the phenomena I love about writing; if you give twenty people the same idea, you should get twenty different stories from it. (Unless one of the writers is a plagiarist, but that's a whole different monster.)

My current reads are: The Runaway Duke, Goddess for Hire, a bunch of short stories: "The Lottery," "One Thousand Dollars," "By the Waters of Babylon," "A Rose for Emily," and "A Sound of Thunder" (Hey, I've read them before, but I have to refresh my memory before I can teach them to my students).

--Gabi
Read an excerpt of my latest novel, Temptation's Warrior, at
www.gabianderson.com

No cure needed

I admit it. I am a reading addict. If I can't read daily, I feel as if I've forgotten something. Laundry can be piled up in the bedroom ('cause that's where laundry goes, don't cha know?), but I'll be lying on the bed getting my five minutes of reading in before I have to go to sleep so I can wake up for my day job (See my earlier post on being a night owl). Right now, I have a stack of books to read, an unusual occurrence in my house, because I don't often have a TBR pile. I read too quickly. But having returned from Reno and the RWA conference with a bunch of books, and then the school year starting up the following week, and finally finishing my WIP, I've only been able to get through four of the books so far.

Well, only 174 school days to go until summer vacation.

--Gabi
www.gabianderson.com

Oh, the tears...

I've finished my WIP (work in progress)--The Stone Key, the rough draft--and the most curious thing happened as I was writing the last chapter (There's a epilogue as well, but I'm talking about the last full chapter). Now, I've made myself laugh while writing (my sharp wit, you know), and I've even made myself cry a few tears when I wrote a tender scene in Yours Always. But last night as I was typing, I was sobbing. I mean couldn't-see-the-keyboard-grabbing-the-tissue-box-blowing-the-nose-dripping-everywhere sobbing as I wrote that final scene. What a catharsis. It was fabulous. I have no idea if my emotional rampage translated onto the page, but what an experience. I was worn out afterwards (or afterwords, as the case may be --see, it's that sharp wit thing). We had to have pizza for dinner.

Now let's hope I can find a publisher to buy it. Paranormal anyone?
--Gabi
www.gabianderson.com

Hi ho, hi ho...

The juggling has begun. I'm trying to convince myself that getting up an hour earlier and using that time as a strict writing time is a good idea and will not turn me into a dreaded "morning person." No, really. I love the night (must be the Hungarian blood--you were aware that Transylvania was a part of Hungary for a long time and that the people living there consider themselves Hungarian, right?) but unfortunately, society doesn't work that way. For some reason, one is admired if one is a morning person, but reviled if one is a night owl. Did you know that Churchill used to sleep til noon then work until two in the morning? (At least that's what they said on a radio program last week.) I've written most of my books between the hours of 6:00PM - 2:00AM.
Sigh.
--Gabi

With the big boys, uh, girls

So this blogspot thing has attracted some big names in romance. Not only do some of my favorites have their own site at squawkradio.blogspot.com, but I just discovered Jennifer Crusie has recently joined up, too. I feel like I'm in with big fish. OK, so nobody reads my blog, but I was here before Jennie.

Now if only someone would visit me...

On the writing front, I've got one chapter and the epilogue to write, and the rough draft of my WIP is finished.

Current reads: Harry Potter #6...again, Ain't She Sweet...again, but that's because I'm leading a romance readers'group this week and that's the book I picked.
--Gabi

Check out the web site

I was able to upload the prologue and first chapter of my upcoming book to my web site. If you want a preview, log onto www.gabianderson.com and you can read the opening of TEMPTATION'S WARRIOR.
(Yeehaw, I'm not as technologically challenged as I thought.)
--Gabi

My Reno Report

Wow. The Reno Conference was terrific. I met Susan Elizabeth Phillips, briefly, at the Literacy Signing ( a huge autographing party where all the proceeds go to literacy causes). She was spectacularily polite when I told her I'm starting a readers group at a local library and AIN'T SHE SWEET is our first read. I also met Patti Berg, a lovely lady; Elizabeth Bevarly, who remembered me from some e-mails we had exchanged a few years ago and took time to encourage me (made my conference, really); and I saw Lori Wilde again, who continues to share her insights and encouragements. Thank you ladies. Of course, I must also mention Jodi Thomas, a dear friend who offers support whenever I need it.

While the hotel was a bit smokey (What can one expect from a casino?), the service was the best we've ever had, and I can't recall a single elevator incident. Even checking in on Wednesday afternoon was smooth with a wait of no longer than five, if that, minutes. The workshops were interesting, the speeches inspriring, and the RITA/GH Gala awesome.
And I only lost $20 gambling. I have no luck. Not bad, not good. None. I really think I could get a job as a cooler (if you can remember that movie).

More later as the bags still need unpacking.
Happy winding down of summer,
--Gabi

I'm baaaack

Whew. I made it. In the past three weeks, I've been to five states, including Hawaii (which I must say was wonderful.). The RWA National Conference in Reno left me energized and ready to write. Unfortunately I still have unpacking to do, so all the reporting will just have to wait. Until then, dream on.
--Gabi

Two weeks to Reno

In two weeks I'll be taking in the sights and sounds of Reno, NV, at the RWA (insert trademark symbol here) National conference. It's where two thousand romance authors, published and unpublished, share their knowledge, opinions, and gossip for four days. We end the thing with a gala award ceremony that almost rivals the Oscars (insert another trademark thingie here) in sequins. The RITA (trademark character) award is given to the best, or at least the ones voted on by peers, book in various categories, and the Golden Heart (you get the idea by now I hope) to the best of the unpublished manuscripts. You can count on tears, laughs, and an inspiring time. I was up for a GH in 1997 in the paranormal category, and I hope someday to be nominated for a RITA.
And, sigh, before Reno, I have to go to Hawaii. Ah, the sacrifices we make for the family.

--Gabi

Hello. I am a historical romance writer with my sixth book coming out this November from Five Star Press. TEMPTATION'S WARRIOR is a medieval romp about a mercenary knight looking for a home and a woman who will never be a nun. Think of it as Robin Hood with a dash of Mulan.

I write under Gabriella Anderson, but everyone calls me Gabi. One of my earlier books, EVER YOURS, just won the 2005 Readers and Bookbuyers Best Laurie for Published Authors contest in the historical division. This same book finaled in the Holt Medallion and the CRW Award of Excellence.

That's all for now.
--Gabi