Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

Mapquest is truly one of the biggest gifts of the Internet–when it works right. In the past I have trusted it only to be lead through every backroad in Bloomington IL, when the hotel I was going to was right on the main road. And my inlaws trusted it to find our house, and wound up two exits past. So, I KNOW not to trust it completely, but being me, yesterday, I took off on a two hour trek with no clue where I was going except those three little pages supplied by Mapquest.

You can probably tell here this didn’t work out well.

Actually, it wasn’t HORRIBLE, but I did spend an extra half an hour searching for an exit number that just doesn’t exist. There is no exit 128 on highway 151 in Wisconsin–make a note of that. On the plus side, I do now actually own a map of Wisconsin. I’ve only lived her seven years, as you can tell I like to fly by the seat of my pants at times.

Luckily, I had left early so I was still at the book signing well ahead of schedule. There was a low turnout, but the community relations manager really had things set up nicely–Starbucks coffee, cookies and Godiva chocolate. And a number of women from WisRWA showed up to support us. So it was a fun day. Also, I found a copy of Stolen by Kelley Armstrong–the last of her books that I haven’t read yet, and got a really good latte for the drive home. (I think there can be a lot of variety in the quality of a latte, so when I get a good one I’m pretty darn pleased.)

So, lesson for the day–don’t trust Mapquest. Use it, but don’t trust it.

Lori

Just in case any of you are in the area. I’m doing a book signing tomorrow at the Grand Chutes, Wisconsin Barnes and Noble. Five other authors are going to be there too. (In case I’m not enough for you. ;-) ) Pam Ford Stutz, Ana Leigh, Carrie Bebris, Linda Wichman, Victoria Hinshaw and me! It’s from 2 to 4. Stop by and buy a book for your sweetie. (I’ll have chocolate too.)

Lori

Still making those ARCs for Love is All You Need, but I have also been busy tweaking a couple of synopses. The first is a paranormal mom lit. The second is a dark paranormal romance–yep dark.

I’ll let you know how those turn out. :)

Lori

I could really go for a Twinkie right now…anyone else?

Maybe I’ll try those Pudgefree Brownies instead….

Lori

So tonight a new American Idol season starts. It’s the audition show, which isn’t my favorite, but I’ll probably watch it. It’s two hours long though which means it overlaps with Supernatural. That can be picked up on reruns–or more likely I’ll record it with my DVR and watch American Idol. Oh, and then after that, is the premiere of Love Monkey. Anyone planning on watching that? I am not a big Jason Priestly fan, but I do like Tom Cavanaugh. I will definitely give it a shot. :)

Lori

So, I went to lunch with a friend of mine today who recently sold her first book. As part of her prep, she has been cruising web sites looking for ideas. Well, when she hit mine she showed her husband the picture of me with my pet pig Toadstool. (star of Love is All You Need) She said he was rolling on the floor laughing. Now I realize that most people don’t have pet pigs, but is it THAT strange? And a lot of people have potbellied pigs–maybe not Hampshire hogs, but still… I told her to tell him I had a duck named Spud and a pony named Wishbone too.

I am sure someone out there can beat this line up. What pets did you have as a child? (Oh, I should probably mention my turtle and black snake too…)

Lori

I’m done with my galleys. I hate reading galleys. No matter how much you like the book, by the time the galleys arrive you are just sick of reading the thing. Plus you always find nit picky little things–change? don’t change? At the galley stage it is supposed to only be corrections–so your choices are limited. Funny how things slip by time after time. Luckily nothing major this time. Yay!

Off to Fed Ex tomorrow!! Now where are my Rita books. I’m ready to do some judging. :)

Lori

Yes, it was a wonderful day of doing pretty much what I pleased. This doesn’t mean it was a complete waste though–both kids are bathed, I wrote around four pages, and I spent many hours updating my contacts in Outlook. The last was to make the best use out of an early Christmas present–an i500 phone. :)

I also spent some time browsing Fictionwise. My phone can also work as an ebook reader. It is kind of small, but I think it will be cool to have a book on there for those times when I am stuck waiting at the doctor’s or something. Anyway, I put a few on my wish list, but wondered if any of you have some good suggestions for me. I’d like to branch out and try something by a purely epubbed author rather than just an eformat of a traditionally pubbed book, if you know what I mean. So, any suggestions? I’m not really interested in erotica, and in fact it doesn’t even have to be a romance. Right now I have six books on my list–a mix of romance and fantasy. I like mystery too.

Any suggestions???

Lori

explain to me why a child would stick a potty seat on his head? Okay, once I get–looks like a hat, its there, you’re alone in the bathroom, etc., but TWICE??

I really need to keep the camera out for this kid…

Lori

Thank you Laura Drewry for introducing me to the world of Blog Tag. ;-) Here’s the game list 15 preferences/quirks/habits/likes or dislikes you have about books.

1. When I was in high school I got a hold of a list of books “everyone” should read and systematically tried to work my way through it–checking it off as I went. Yes, I read The Turn of the Screw by choice.
2. I have never read anything by Nora Roberts.
3. An Oprah read pretty much means a no read for me–I am not into angst.
4. I would love to see Laura Drewry write a romantic mystery.
5. The first book I remember owning was a book of Winne the Pooh poetry. In particular I remember the poem When I was Five.
6. I love pop-up books or books that do cool things–just gave my daughter one I got in the second grade that folds out to become a school house.
7. I would love to write straight fantasy.
8. Everything I read must have at least some humor in it.
9. I refuse to by a children’s book that was written by a celebrity.
10. My favorite books to read to my children: How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague and Toad by Ruth Brown.
11. I don’t plan my characters–they just are.
12. I love what I call psycho killer books like John Sandford’s Prey series and Jonathon Kellerman’s Alex Delaware books, but for some reason haven’t read one in years.
13. Read Rosemary’s Baby because I knew my mother didn’t want me to.
14. With the exception of the aforementioned Rosemary’s Baby (which I enjoyed) I don’t read horror.
15. I will never finish another book, if I have to do many more of these blog tag thingees. :)

I am going to tag Teresa, Kathleen Long, and Mary Stella. Consider yourselves tagged ladies!

Lori