Well you should love the one you're with.   That doesn't always happen so in my experience (5 1/2 agents in 17 years),  it is more important for your agent to love you. 

Let's face it . . . your agent is supposed to be your advocate. If their interest wanes or their client list grows too large, you can easily be left in the dark.  And guess what - agents lie.  Yep - they tell you things are out making the rounds when in fact the project is sitting there gathering dust.  They say they love an idea then let it sit in publishing limbo until your 'timely' proposal has timed-out.

How to prevent that?????  Ask current clients.  Any agent worth his/her chops should be willing to give you names and contact info.  If they won't, run.  fast and far.  Any agent who takes you to task like you're some errant child, run faster.  Any agent who has to 'read' a project that has been requested by a publisher isn't your advocate, he/she is your roadblock. 

So, how do you get around all this?  Try this:

1. Investigate the Agent.  Is he/she and hands on (must read it, requires revisions on proposals, etc.) or is he/she a well-connected, trust the author and get it out ASAP kind of agent?  Is he/she somewhere in between?  What do you want?

2. Check predators and editors and current clients (see above).

3. Make a list of questions and either call or email an 'interview'.  Hell's bells, I interview the people who clean my house, surely my career is more important than shiny tiles.

4. Meet in person and get a feel for the agent - can you work with this person?  Are they intimidating?  Too wimpy? Too aggressive?

5.  What do publishers think of this agent?  Is he/she loathed?  Is their agency loathed? Do they only make deals with one or two publishers?  This is why you should subscribe to Publishersmarketplace.com ($20.00 a month).

Don't forget that this person works for you.  If they are going to get 15% of your money, they need to do at least 15% of the work and take 15% of the crap.  They need to understand you - do you want career planning?  A first sale? a jump to a new goal (say a NYC publisher rather than a small press)?  Do you need hand-holding?  Do you want updates every week?  What is your comfort level and can this agent meet your needs?

It's a difficult road but so long as you know what you want and steadfastly go out looking for it, you won't have to change agents like you change shoes.

Happy book release Babe Leanne!!!!  How many is this??????

Write well, Rhonda

If I were sitting in jail, dear Babe readers, I would not be alone.  And I am not talking about spiritually.  I fully expect that God, Jesus, the Goddess, the Holy Spirit, Buddha or The Big Kahuna in the Sky would be sittin’ there minding my soul.  But when it comes to wearing the plastic tie on bracelets in a cold cell, well…after spending this last weekend on a cruise ship with my forty new best friends?  I pick them!

They know how to have a damn good time and tequila for one, means tequila for all, lol.  We could wear balloon animals on our heads while we sang La Cucaracha, and look for phallic symbols no matter where we went.  And what’s funnier than that??

Jokes would fly, and we would be arrested because we were having Fun In Public.

Of course, lol, there was this other time I had a slight brush with the law…it was my fortieth birthday, and man oh man did we bring the new year in!  I should have asked for a new liver for my birthday, we wore the old one out that night, I swear.  We were at a comedy club having a blast when I got picked (ie: drunkenly raised my hand) to be on stage with the comedian.  Well, comedian looks at me in my pretty dress, lol, then asks where my husband is.  I point to him in the crowd of people, and the comedian announces that I’ve married Dog the Bounty Hunter’s cousin and he sent me back to my seat before my hubby kicked his butt.  Which Greg would have done if the man had tossed me upside down for faux oral pleasure – which was the gag he’d planned – and performed on the next girl.

Whew…

And then there was this other night where I made it so far as to being actually hand cuffed.  It wasn’t my fault – scout’s honor!  I was protecting my BFF from her crazy ass sister in law, but all the cop’s saw when they came was me doing a running tackle on her ass and taking her down.  So they got me, thinking I was the criminal.  My poor hubby was going crazy, and he was the one more in danger of going to jail.

Okay.  Let me clarify about who would actually be sitting next to me in a jail cell.  MY HUSBAND <g>  Guess we know how to have a good time, hon, lol

Traci

The Question for the week:

If you were in jail, who would be with you and why?

Confession time.  I’ve never even gotten a speeding ticket.  I’ve been stopped and warned, but never received one.  My parents successfully raised me to be a law-abiding citizen.  If not law-abiding, then hopefully not stupid.

SO, if I were in jail, it’s more likely that I would be visiting someone near and dear to me who had done something stupid.  If I were truly put behind bars (hopefully for a very, very short time), it would be because I allowed myself to get talked into going along with something against my better judgment.  I didn’t hang around with miscreants when I was a teenager, so this didn’t happen to me.  These days, however, I have a few friends who for the most part are very responsible, but may also have a wild side. 

The good news?  My husband would bail me out.  He’d fuss at me, but he’d get me out.  I would then point out that everyone is put on this earth for a reason.  My reason for existence that day would clearly have been to generate some excitement.

But I’m still scared of getting a speeding ticket.

Have a good day!

xo,

Leanne

My best ‘buy’ of the year is a jewelry organizer that hangs from a hook.  It isn’t fancy – you can get them for about fifteen bucks- but it has revolutionized my accessorizing!  Bracelets – I can see ‘em! Earrings? Easy to find something in the clear little pouch that matches what I have on. There’s no opening, closing or fastening so it’s as simple as pie to put my jewelry ‘away’, lol.  The downside of this is that my daughter has full access to my costume bling.

Each chain has its own pocket, so nothing tangles. I tell you, I love it.  The one below is available from Target for 25.00 - both sides are usable!

I work at Starbucks for great insurance – twenty hours a week, and we get full coverage insurance for a third of what we were paying at my husband’s job.  Another perk is the pound of free coffee each week, and free drinks when you work.

As my frugal grandpa liked to say "Can’t beat that with a stick" 

Traci

ps - I just returned from a fabulous writer's retreat cruise with the Florida Romance Writers. I blogged a bit about it, and I've included the link to the blog. We are all trying to get pictures up by this afternoon!

http://www.frwriters.org/blog/?p=198

I'm not sure it's about reinvention for me.  I think it's more about thinking outside a box I may have created for myself.  If you believe the affirmation that we were created with unlimited creativity, then there's always something new bubbling inside us.  Sometimes we just need to give that bubble a little boost.

I agree with what Rhonda said to read read read.  Perhaps read things you haven't read before to see what strikes a chord in you.

Explore what cranks your engine.  Do you have a hobby?  If not, do you wish you had a hobby?  What is it that you've always wished to do, but haven't?  Use that as a springboard to explore things that interest you.

If you feel too constrained by what you've done in the past, then adopt a new identity.  Allow yourself to be someone different than you've been in the past.  Give yourself a new name.  Be your best version of a creative diva or powerhouse.

Remember it's all about the passion.  Listen to yourself and foster your curiosity.  Give yourself the freedom to be passionate and go for what you really want!

xo,

Leanne

Even if you’re just feeling the tug, it’s always good to ask yourself, “What’s next?”  I’ll say it right up front . . . I’m the worst person to address the subject of reinventing yourself.  My fear of failure kept me from even trying to make the leap.  I was making a decent living writing Intrigues, so the mere thought of stepping outside my comfort zone was terrifying.  Besides, I didn’t want to make less money - as usual, I wanted more.

This is where good friends can save you from yourself.  From 1983-1992 I tried to write a Silhouette Desire™.  Reinvention #1:  I learned I had to plot the book so I could stop playing three chapter Sally.  It wasn’t until a good friend finally said, “Your action and dialogue are great but everything else is crap [edited].  Have you ever considered writing romantic suspense?” 

Reinvention #2 - I can’t write Desires.  I love reading them but I just don’t have the right kind of voice to pull it off (hence the nearly 10 years of failure).  So now I knew that I couldn’t write a Desire and whatever I wrote, I had to plot before starting the first chapter. 

Reinvention #3: Read, read, read!  I poured myself into reading every romantic suspense out there.  I finally decided that I wanted to write for Silhouette Special Edition™.  That line had seemed to have more romance than Harlequin Intrigue™.  Then karma struck.  I’d entered a contest hoping to catch the eye of a Silhouette editor.  At the last minute, an Intrigue editor was substituted and after coming in second, the editor contacted me and asked if the manuscript was finished.  It was, I sent it to her and on February 10, 1993, I sold to Intrigue™.  Why?  They were changing their guidelines - they now wanted more romance.  BTW - Silhouette™ rejected me - not enough romance.

Reinvention #4:  Sometime in 2001 the crumb of a character was in my head - what would it be like to write someone who was an underachiever by choice?  Someone who often did the wrong things for the right reasons?  Maybe someone who was a series romance anti-heroine?  Don’t get me wrong, I still love romance and try to keep one foot in that market.  But Finley didn’t go away.  In fact, I kept making notes and suddenly I realized I had a character and a plot and it wasn’t for Intrigue™.  Now what?  It took a lo9t of courage for me to tell my nearest and dearest about my concept.  To a one they all encouraged me.  The only one holding me back was me.  It took two years - yep, twenty-four months before I got up the nerve to get another agent and start the submission process.  Finley sold in less than three months.  When it was time to go back to contract, Finley was lured away from Kensington by Pocket™. 

So what did I learn?  I am my own worst enemy and stepping out of your comfort zone can be a good thing and even if it isn’t - what can they do to you?  Take away your birthday?  Go out on the end of the plank.  Jump into the water.  Listen to your friends.  Just don’t let your fears hold you back.

Happy writing!

Rhonda

Every 18 months, my husband was deployed for six months to a year.  As is the military wife way, Marine wives would gather and help each other.   While living on Camp Pendleton, the families on our street were all from the same battalion so when they were gone, it was women and kids only.  We’d gather, share our day, and often, share dinner because none of wanted to cook, because we always over cooked.   Most every evenings I could be found at the end of the driveway, chatting with  my friends and watching our kids play in the cul-de-sac. 

I’m talking with my friend Dawn, and her eyes stray past my shoulder.  She’s fighting a smile and says, “Amy you need to see your son.”

I’m thinking Nick and his hair raising skate board half pipes he’s executing.  The reason I have my back to the kids because all I saw was a broken arm and hours in the ER.

But when I turn around, I see Zackary.

He’s taken his bike helmet and shoved it down the back of his shirt, making a huge lump, then he bends over, and runs down the street, one arm stiff and swinging.. and he’s yelling in perfect diction, ‘sanc-tu-warwee, sanc-tu-warwee…”  like the hunchback of Notre Dame.

We roared with laughter, yet he doesn’t notice, doesn’t stop doing his version of the Hunchback crying for Esmeralda.  After a couple trips up and down the road, he puts the helmet on and rides his bike, oblivious to entertaining us all, even for a moment.

It was too darling to ever forget.

OMG  We have major storms here right now and I’m loading this up fast.  I can hear thunder and feel the rumble. 

Later....

AMY

I don’t have anything so recent as Rhon’s note for breakfast as if she were the maid – however, I adore my children and will happily rat them out about past cute things.  The first thing that comes to mind is when my kids were little, like 2 and 3. Greg and I were going out of town for his work conference so my kids stayed with my folks, who lived next door.  Well, Destini, who at two felt a great sense of entitlement, got into an argument with three year old Brighton, and she threw dirt in his face.

He stormed into grandma’s house – righteous with fury – and demanded that my mom take care of this situation immediately. When my mom, who was trying hard to take this all in stride and not bust out laughing, asked Destini why she’d done that, my daughter said, complete with eye roll as if the facts of the case didn’t matter, “I told him I was Sooooooo Sorrry.”

For her, it was over and done, even though Brighton was covered from scalp to chin in dirt.  What, honestly, was the big deal???

Now I have Brighton, who is almost done with his AA, and Des, who is finishing her first year of college.  They are great friends, having thankfully gotten past many years of “ I’m sooooooo sorrrrry.”

I am off on a writer’s retreat tomorrow, so next week I will post all of the details of my visits with Adam Wilson from Harlequin, and Eric Raab from Tor.

Adios,

Traci

Sorry for missing technical Monday, but here goes anyway . . .

I think I’m supposed to be discussing confessions of a bad mom, sister, aunt – kid stories . . .  Or I’m supposed to be chatting about reinventing your writing career.  Since I can’t tell, I’ll pick kid stories.

First, a little background . . .  I chose to stay home with my son for his 1^st three years of life.  Serious confession – I hated it.  Loved him but I could feel my brain going to mush daily.  That’s how/why I started collecting degrees.  I needed more intellectual stimulation that Sesame Street.

All of my friends had little girls.  Kyle was the only boy and I think, because his play group were a bunch of chattering girls, he opted to maintain silence until well after age 2.  Of course I panicked and took him to every conceivable specialist – they told me he’d talk when he was ready.  His 2^nd birthday was in November and he was still grunting like some primate, but by Christmas, he was speaking in complete sentences.  One of his favors was “change my diaper, please.”

Hell’s bells, if you can say it politely, surly you can do it.  Well he finally did – unfortunately it was when I had my back turned in the plumbing section of Sears.  Yep – no prouder moment than watching your kid make good use of the display potty.

As for my other child- I’ve zigged when I should have sagged – this is what she left me on her door Saturday morning:

Happy Writing!

Rhonda

I’m dating myself severely with that, I know.  There is a box of Calgon in my bathroom, but I’m not the long soak in a tub type.  I can barely sit still to write, so lounging in a tub isn’t on my list, although... I can lounge on a floaty in a pool for hours.  What’s up with that?

My only true indulgence is lounging clothes, aka pajamas.  I wear them to work, in my house.  In private, at my desk.  They are decent enough that I can answer the door and not scare the Fed Ex guy, but he’s seen me with tint on my hair so we’re on a first name basis now. 

My mother gave me an adorable lime green and pink set for my birthday, but its been so cold, I’ve yet to wear it.  I’m enjoying the 8 sets of Victoria’s Secrets PJs that I rarely get to wear in the south.  (its 26 here today!) I like outrageous prints too.  My favorite is a print that looks like a page from a Batman comic book complete with Wham! Swoosh!  I have several variations of lounge clothes but I’m going for comfort because I usually sit cross legged with the keyboard on my lap.   I’m such a jammy Ho that half of my closet are lounge/PJ clothes and half is ‘to be seen in public’ clothes.  In the summer, I'm in wild printed cotton pants or shorts and a camisole top and if its not PJ’s I’m in Danskin yoga pants (now ask me that last time I actually DID yoga?) they stretch but don’t leave ‘knees’ in the slacks and in public, no one’s the wiser. 

My second indulgence I could never give up… great coffee.  Bob says I'm a Java Snob and I’m okay with that.  I drink it all day, and love strong mild to medium blends because the dark roasts taste burnt to me.  When we lived on Okinawa I had Gevalia coffee shipped to my door and rationed it. ($$!) I’m happily working my way through bags of Starbucks I got for Christmas, one’s already gone (thanks Traci!)   With those coffees, comes several ways to prepare it.  Aside the regular coffee maker, I have an espresso/ cappuccino maker, a French Press (makes it very strong) a one cup at a time machine and now, a two cup at a time machine.  Love that one.  I have 4 thermal carafes and the best one is a 20 year old Tiger brand from Japan, and keeps coffee hot for 12 hours!  I’m not fond of flavored coffees and like mine rich and strong with a little creamer.  I get excited when it’s the perfect shade!

Its decaf after 8 PM and I'll reheat a cup once, then its down the drain and I make fresh.  That's why Bob calls me a Java Snob.  I like tea too, and the herbals are fine, but prefer Twingings Irish Breakfast tea because its smooth and strong. 

Good coffee and cute jammies isn't so bad and frankly, affordable.  Yet I’m looking around my office, wondering if I have an indulgence I’m not admitting, and it has to be my make up, Bare Escentuals Bare minerals.  I have two train cases full of it and use it every day or I'd scare the locals.  Yet get Leslie Blogett (CEO of BE) on QVC and I'm racking up the bucks to get the latest treat to share with my sisters.

Now that I've confessed my indulgences, I want to hear yours.  What's your must-have, can't live without--all about ME indulgence?

Before I sign off, run, do not walk to the bookstore for Leanne's latest Medici Men release from Silhouette Desire, FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA!  Go Leanne!  

Have a great day everyone!

AMY

Okay Babe Amy, lol - this is the second week of staying on topic - it seems that you and I are holding down the fort <g>

(clearing throat)

Indulgences: I don't have very many.  Fresh, warm bread with real butter is one. Wine - zinfandel or white merlot is the other. I gave up smoking, something that was really hard because I liked it so much, but four years later I am a healthier person for it. I am not a big chocolate fan. I don't care about dessert. I like coffee, but I also like tea. I don't have to sleep on a certain side of the bed, I don't have a particular fabric that I have to wear.  I like purple, but I am not surrounded by it.  Mashed potatoes and gravy are always a nice treat and much better at Thanksgiving than the turkey, lol.

I LOVE the ocean. Coffee in the morning on the beach is a lovely thing - a spritual indulgence, I suppose. Being with friends is always high on my happy list and I put it before laundry hands down.  I like scary movies and books that draw you in from the first page. I love to laugh, and hate to cry. Strawberries and chocolate is nice - with some champagne?  Baguettes and Dubliner cheese.

Sheesh. Now I'm hungry - happy hump day everyone!

Traci

Can you guess what inspired my new series The Medici Men for Silhouette Desire?  Lots of things, but one of the biggest sources of inspiration for this new series was my trip to Italy!  No denying the fact that Italian men are GORGEOUS, Italian food is DELICIOUS, and Italian art will take your breath away.

My husband and I joined two other couples and visited Milan, Bellagio, Venice, Florence and Rome.  My fave?  Florence!  There's so much amazing art and history there.  Seeing Michaelangelo's famous sculpture of David was a thrilling experience.  Having the opportunity to learn about some of those famous Renaissance men where they lived, created and competed was fascinating.  When we were in Florence, we took a tour and learned a bit about the famous Medici family.  Known as one of the big banking families, the Medicis became a powerful political and creative force.  They encouraged the arts and even managed to produce two Popes.  Despite centuries of power, however, the Medicis, eventually died out. 

In my scrambled writer brain, I asked questions.  What if the Medicis hadn't REALLY died out?  What if a couple of them had secretly survived?  Then my muse took a little trip down another path.  What if there were some different Medicis who'd owned land in Florence, but been cheated out of it during a business deal gone bad?  What if that resulted in the family being scattered? 

What if a Medici came to the United States and got married and had four sons?  I was on a roll.  What if the father died in an accident and the mother couldn't manage the boys anymore and they were split up into foster homes?  What if one of the brothers was with the father during the accident, but his body was never found?  What kind of men would these brothers grow up to be?  Could they ever learn to love?  As a side note, with the exception of Damien's name, I had some fun with the inspiration for the names of the brothers -- Rafe (for Raphael), Michael (Michaelangelo), and Leo (Leonardo da Vinci)  -- all artists of the Renaissance.

Italy provided me with a lot of food for my muse and my belly.  If I ever get a chance to return I'm sure I'll be inspired again!   

Have you ever visited a place that shook you up in a good way?   Tell me about it!