Monday, July 31, 2006

Five days without e-mail

There are two kinds of people on the internet: those who will shrug at that headline, and those who will read it and break out in a cold sweat.

Much to my disgust, I am the second kind. That's why I went cold turkey, leaving my laptop at home while I spent five days in Atlanta at the RWA conference, even though I worried that I might wake up at 4 a.m. (as I do quite frequently) and want to work on my latest novel.

Somehow I made it through the five days. But late yesterday afternoon when I arrived home, I spent barely an hour catching up with my hunk o' burnin' love before I slipped into my office and powered up the computer.

As Dorothy says, there's no place like home. So while the RWA conference was great--well worth my time and money, as always--I'm glad to be back at my own desk, helping Mr. Springsteen belt out "Thunder Road" as I catch up on e-mail and post to this blog.

I'd like to thank everyone who listened to the audio posts I called in from Atlanta. (By the way, that first one, on Wednesday, appears to be a dud. I'm sure I said something wonderfully profound, but Blogger messed up.) Thanks, also, to those of you who told other people about the posts and linked here.


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10 comments:

jel said...

glad you make it back! :)
and it was a hoot listening to you


take care

Josie said...

Brenda, I love the audio posts! Hope you had a great time, but I'm glad you're back!

Susan Rix said...

I am in awe that you managed 5 days without a computer. Well done!!

Mirtika said...

I liked hearing your voice, Brenda. It's a treat.

Now, fill us in on all the nice and pertinent market and editorial insights that those of us who didn't go don't know. Come on!

And welcome back, sugar.
Mir

Mirtika said...

Oh, and congrats on the third sale. Yay. Yay. :) Yay.

Mir

Brenda Coulter said...

Thanks, friends. It's lovely to be back.

Here's some news for you, Mir: Next year Steeple Hill will increase their LI Suspense offerings from two to four books a month. That's good news for a couple of reasons. First, those writing suspense will have more chances to get a foot in the door, since Steeple Hill is now buying twice as many manuscripts. And writers targeting "straight" LI may have an easier time breaking in because many of the LI authors (although not this one) will be trying their hands at suspense, thus leaving some open slots at LI.

Steeple Hill is the biggest game in town, and it continues to grow. This is a great time to be submitting to them.

Mirtika said...

I'm very happy SH is doing so well that they can expand this way. I'm real happy for all the nice ladies who write for them. Any guys? I can't think of one.

Mir

Brenda Coulter said...

Ron & Janet Benrey are writing for Steeple Hill now. And you probably already know this, Mir, but SH author Hannah Alexander is actually a husband and wife team, Mel & Cheryl Hodde. I know of one other man (writing on his own) who recently contracted with SH, but I've forgotten his name. And the very first Love Inspired book (back in 1997)was written by Roger Elmer. I believe he wrote one other LI in addition to that one.

About a year ago, a multi-published author, a gentleman, contacted me because he was interesed in writing for Love Inspired. I won't share his name because the correspondence was private. I just mention this to show that guys aren't quite as scarce in the romance-writing world as we ladies assume. Not even at Steeple Hill.

ReadingIsSoMuchFun said...

Welcome Back Brenda. Glad you made it home safely. Hope you had lots of fun :)

It was a pleasure to hear your voice :)

HUGSSSS
Linda.H.

Brenda Coulter said...

Thanks, Linda. You're a sweetie.