Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

At this point in time, I’m not planning on lugging my laptop to Reno. I thought about it, but it is one of the bigger ones–so darn heavy and the hotel charges an extra $10 a day for Internet access in your room. Pooey on them.

I am, though, taking my digital camera and may try and sneak time on the lobby computer–assuming they have one and don’t charge me to use it. Ya think I can play craps or something and get free Internet time instead of drinks?

If not, I’ll at least have pics to post when I get back. :)

Right now my schedule looks something like this: Arrive Tuesday around 7. Get to hotel and down to bar by 9 to meet with Debs/Romance Unleashed partners in crime. Wednesday breakfast with same outlaw gang, then off to Virginia City with hubby, back for literacy signing and RWAonline party. :) Thursday, I haven’t decided yet–panels or hanging out with hubby? I am planning on attending the RWA General Meeting–could be a good time this year–don’tcha think? That night hubby and I are going to the Trident Media party, and maybe more time with Debs after that. Friday–pure panels (moderating one at 4:30), then dinner with hubby and Debs. Saturday, more panels, meeting with my agent, and finally cheering Sandy Blair on for the Ritas and WisRWA GH finalist: Chris Merrill, Kathryn Albright, Kelle Riley, and Beth Watson. Lots of fun! Oh, and then the dawn patrol to the airport Sunday a.m. :)

Talk at you when I get back–unless I find a way to do it earlier. ;-)

Lori

He took the online quiz–see below for what he is (not). (Think Demon wanting to be something else.)

You are Form 3, Unicorn: The Innocent.

“And The Unicorn knew she wasn’t meant to
go into the Dark Wood. Disregarding the advice
given to her by the spirits, Unicorn went
inside and bled silver blood.. For her
misdeed, the world knew evil.”

Some examples of the Unicorn Form are Eve
(Christian) and Pandora (Greek).
The Unicorn is associated with the concept of
innocence, the number 3, and the element of
water.
Her sign is the twilight sun.

As a member of Form 3, you are a curious
individual. You are drawn to new things and
become fascinated with ideas you’ve never come
in contact with before. Some people may say
you are too nosey, but it’s only because you
like getting to the bottom of things and
solving them. Unicorns are the best friends to
have because they are inquisitive.

Which Mythological Form Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I tried the quiz

I don’t think this will come as too big a surprise to my friends. :) Lovely, no?

You are Form 8, Demon: The Destroyer.

“And The Demon took advantage of the chaos
and seized civillization. With grace and
style, Demon slit The Goddess’s belly and
drowned the world in her blood. The Goddess,
The Demon, and the world were no
more.”

Some examples of the Demon Form are Seth (Egyptian)
and The Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Christian).
The Demon is associated with the concept of
destruction, the number 8, and the element of
earth.
His sign is the full moon.

As a member of Form 8, you are a very strong willed
individual. You don’t let others’ opinions
sway your own and you’re usually not afraid to
speak your mind. However, some may see you as
a bit overly passionate but it’s just because
you never back down from your values. No
matter what, you always do everything with
style. Demons are the best friends to have
because they will back you up.

Which Mythological Form Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Still time to:

1. Lose 5 to 10 pounds Buy a body slimmer.
2. Get rid of those nasty winter feet. Buy foot-hiding pumps.
3. Whiten your editor-winning smile. Practice your no-teeth smile in the mirror.
4. Start and finish a whole new proposal. Start and finish a whole new pitch.
5. Cover your gray–or your roots. ;-)
6. Get a little sun on those legs. Buy sunless tanner–or spray on hose.

So get going!!

Lori

I consider myself somewhat of a diet expert. It has been kind of a hobby of mine in the past. But I yesterday I found this cool free site that will keep track of your calories eaten, and some other cool stuff–and, man, have I been understimating my calorie intake.

Check it out for yourself–there’s even a link you can publish so people can review your records–talk about accountability! :)

Lori

I added a new blog to my sidebar. This one is title Agent 007. It’s another anonymous blog–this time by (supposedly) an editor turned agent. The latest entry gives a day in the life of a submission sort-of. What happens when a submission enters the publishing offices. Very interesting. Not shocking, but interesting. :) And it definitely adds pressure to get a respected agent. Check it out.

Lori

I’m plotting again–nothing evil, just some ideas for books. :) Currently, I have the four proposals with my agent–two she sent to Zebra/Kensington, one to Harlequin, and one is still on her desk. Obviously, the woman needs more from me, don’t you think?

Anyway, I think I have finally settled into a method for plotting. Here’s how it goes. First, I have a spiral notebook I use for my initial planning. It has a number of story ideas in it–most of which have been converted to synopses.

I start with the characters–just the main ones. What are their names, a few key characteristics and some back story? Then, what do they want? Oh, and hopefully, why they want it and what is in their way. Now the fun begins. I try and target 6 plot points–which in a romance are usually tied to first meet, first kiss, realization of love, love (sex) scene, black moment and resolution. It so happens none of the ideas I have right now are romances–more women’s fiction–so I do it a little differently. I zig zag.

So you start with the basic world of the character and something happens–right? Is it good or is it bad? Let’s say good. So, she is going along thinking things are headed her direction until wham something else happens, something that sets her off course. So, now she is heading in another direction, life isn’t so good, blah, blah, but then something else happens–something good that redirects her again. You do this over and over, until the poor creature has suffered enough, then she finally makes a stand, conquers the world and the book can be over. Simple.

Well, it works for me. :) Anyway, I scribble all this down and eventually convert it into a synopsis. My synposes usually run around 7 pages. A pretty good length, I think.

Two basic tips for writing syposes: 1.) you don’t have to tell every little thing that happens, and 2.) you should use phrases like until, but then, meanwhile, etc. These tend to show a change in direction, and in a plot that is a good thing.

Till later

Lori

I should have posted this weeks ago, but I’m behind. Anyway, this is a picture of my neice, sister, cousins and me at my book signing in my home town. :)

Do you save books? I don’t just mean “keeper” books that you read over and over, but books that for some bizarre reason you feel you have to keep.

Here is my predicament. We just finished our basement. This means a lot more space to fill up with stuff–and do we have the stuff. Now, my husband and I have decided we won’t just fill up though–no this time we are actually going to purge. So, more space, less stuff. Sounds good, doesn’t it? But how do you decide?

I have already done some major toy purging. (Okay, I need to do a ton more, but I’ve made a good start.) But now it is time for books–where to begin? I mean, I can’t get rid of the my autographed books. Then there is the entire collection of Isaac Asimov (me and DH); Lois McMaster Bujold (DH); Agatha Christie (me); books from childhood our children will someday surely read (me and DH); bizarre possible research books on topics like: great pick up lines, history and how tos of blacksmithing, history of fairies, the civil war in St. Louis, etc. (me); just weird books like The Great Big Book of Fun (me and DH); and around twenty books on antiques and collectibles (me). I mean, obviously, every one of these is in desperate need of space on my new bookshelf –How do I choose? I mean heaven forbid we had to (gasp) look for something at the library–or (bigger gasp) rebuy something.

So, what do you keep, and what automatically gets resold, donated or passed on? I need guidance here, people.

Lori

p.s. So you don’t think I am completely weak–I’ve already sent a giant box of books to Operation Shoebox, and donated another huge shopping bag to St. Vincent de Paul’s. But some of these other books I stole from my parents when I left home over twenty years ago–I KNOW them. They’re mine now. How can I let them go?

Still time to:

1. Lose 5 to 10 pounds (okay, it will be mainly water weight, but your cocktail dress will still fit better. )
   
2. Get rid of those nasty winter feet–no one needs to see those cracked things, think sandals and pedicure.
3. Whiten your editor-winning smile–thank you, Crest White Strips
4. Start and finish a whole new proposal–yes, you can, at 5 pages a day it still leaves time for the synopsis and revisions.
5. Cover your gray–or your roots. ;-)
6. Get a little sun on those legs–Eeek!

So get going!!

Lori