I haven’t posted in ages, and that’s bad.

I’ve finished writing my book, though. Twice. And I’m the newly appointed Vice-President of Communications for the newly established Women’s Fiction Chapter of RWA. So I’ve been working with the amazing Alison Kent on the chapter’s website (well, she is doing most of the work, but I am helping), putting together a newsletter committee, and participating in meetings, loading software, doing stuff.

I’m not sitting on my hands, in other words.

But, I knew I needed to post, and Liz Kreger gave me the kick in derriere I needed.

I’m now 75 pages away from completing my revisions, and then I’m sending the manuscript to my wonderful agent, and getting down to the next book.

Do you find life just sweeps you away occassionally, and something has got to give?

I love hearing back from writing friends who attended the RWA National Conference. I have only attended one conference myself, but I loved it, and I can put myself there when they talk about the meetings and the meals shared with other writers.

I’d love to go next year, and am already making tentative plans with that in mind. It’ll be in Nashville in 2010, and I’ve never been there, so that should be fun. Last time I went I met up with friends before the conference and we had such a good time, I’d love to do that again, too.

What one thing do you try to make year after year, despite the cost and hassle, because it is really worth it to you?

I am happy and excited to announce I signed up with literary agent Marlene Stringer of Stringer Literary yesterday. This is the start of a fantastic new stage of my writing career, and I am thrilled to have an agent of Marlene’s calibre on my side.

Woohoo!

Marlene signed me up on the basis of my recently completed historical romantic suspense, Illuminations. It’s set in 1525, in the court of Henry VIII, and is based on real people. The blurb is:

Henry VIII’s most lethal courtier and his newly appointed artist become the only thing keeping him on the throne – and if they survive, neither will ever be the same.

John Parker is one of Henry VIII most useful courtiers — utterly merciless and completely loyal. But one small favour for his King will pull Parker into a deadly plot against the throne, one that will test his courage, his resolve, and most especially, his heart. This hunter is about to become the hunted.

A commission from Henry VIII should have been the crowning achievement of Susanna Horenbout’s career, but before the beautiful and talented artist even sets foot in England, she finds herself in possession of a secret that could change its history. With Parker as her only protection against killers who will stop at nothing to silence her, Susanna has to trust the dangerous, enigmatic courtier. She’s used to fighting in a man’s world, but she never expected to be fighting for her heart or her life.

What can I say? Life is good. And I’m already working on the sequel .

I have started a new WIP, and am trying something new with it. Which isn’t working, LOL. I wanted to just write, forget the internal editor and go for it. Ten to twenty pages a day. I managed the ten pages a day, but the internal editor isn’t all that keen to take a holiday.

I’ll see what I can do about it. I want to forge ahead with this one, and re-reading and editing obviously will slow me down. But quite often I think I neatly avoid painting myself into a corner further down the track with my edits, so maybe that’s just how I work.

I won’t just give up on the new method, though. I’m going to try give it a fair go.

Have you ever tried something new with your writing?

I am knee-deep in revisions, and so surprised at what I’m catching. But its the little things. I’m happy on the whole with my plot, I LOVE my characters, and now I’m just trying to make sure the pictures in my head go onto the page so that other people can see them in their heads too.

I’ve never honed so much before. I hope I succeed in chipping away everything that is not the story, so it emerges, David-like, from the page.

I’m excited about attending the RWA Perth Roadshow on 23 May. The line-up is:

A. Deep Point of View (Denise Rossetti)– Bestselling authors make readers laugh, cry and sigh with satisfaction. They build three-dimensional characters – flawed, complex, contradictory, human. In this tutorial, learn how to write from the inside. Reveal the innermost thoughts and emotions of your hero and heroine and let your readers connect.

B. World Building (Keri Arthur) – In any kind of fantasy fiction, whether it’s science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy or paranormal romance, the writer is asking the reader to put aside the conventions of the “real world” for the world the author presents in the story. However, if the author doesn’t weave the details of her world well enough into the story, readers can easily become disenchanted with both the author’s world and the story itself. So how can we, as authors, successfully create an alternative–and believable–environment? The answer is, of course, to know far more about your world than you ever put in the story. This workshop will help you flesh out some of those finer details and make your story more believable.

C. Urban Fantasy/Paranormal (Keri Arthur) – Got a question about writing urban fantasy or paranormal romance? Want to know how the publishing world works? Want to ask what’s hot and what’s not? Then come along to this question and answer session with New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Keri Arthur.

D. Dialogue (Kelly Arthur) – “He said what?” Tips and tricks for writing dialogue that shines. Fact: If you can’t write good dialogue, you can’t write a good romance. Bring workpad and pens and be prepared to work through a series of exercises designed to help bring your dialogue to life.

E. Heroes (Kelly Hunter) – I Need A Hero – Romance hero archetypes and why we love them. Alpha or beta? Bad boys or charmers? Lost souls or warriors? What’s your preference? Join Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley, Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner, Shrek and Donkey and more, as we figure out why audiences fell in love them and why they (almost) always get the girl.

F. Sealed Section (Denise Rossetti) – Anything’s open for discussion in this frank tutorial about how to write sensuality and sex. Leave your inhibitions at the door and learn how to increase sexual tension and make intimate moments sizzle.

My first Australian writing conference. Woohoo!

I finished my historical novel today. It is so satisfying, so wonderful to have reached the end. The end that eluded me for over a week. The end I wrote, and rewrote and rewrote until eventually I struck the cord I was aiming for.

Now, I feel totally drained. I can’t think of starting something new, but at the same time, the thought of spending tomorrow without writing anything almost terrifies me. How will I get through the day without it?

I think my brain is sort of punch-drunk with writing. I’m going to read, and give myself until next Monday before I print this baby out, do a hard copy read through and some tweaking. And then, ready or not, I’ll dive into the next book.

What is your system when you finish a book?

I am nearly done. 5000 words, baby, and its all over. I planned to finish this book at the end of January, so I’m two months out, and I have no one but myself to blame. Deleteing and rewriting at least two chapters didn’t help, either. Anyway, no looking back. I am looking forward to putting this book to bed in a few days.

Anything you’re excited about coming up?

Just a reminder that we’re having a Guess the Saying Contest over at Magical Musings, and we need all the guesses in by the end of Monday, 9th March. You can find the details and clues here. Good luck.

My cyber friend and all round great person and writer, Cynthia Eden, has a month to go before her latest release, Immortal Danger, hits the shelves. Cynthia is running a contest, so head on over to her blog, and help her spread the word about her new book, and maybe win some great prizes while you’re at it.