The 2011 Plan

UPDATE: Feb 2, 2011  
I keep losing my connection so I'm going to hunker down for a few days and wait for this ice storm to pass.

I'll swing by your blogs if I have power. If I don't, I'll be swigging tequila shots and fighting the dogs for a piece of the covers.

maria-cicle, signing off

***

The year is off and running. Have you made any plans for 2011?

I've been offered some fascinating writing proposals, and I even had a well-known (and successful) agent query me for a change. How's that for a switch?

This is probably due to the fact that I am abysmal at sending queries out and she must have gotten tired of waiting. --I can write queries, but I loathe going through the process.

In the end, it didn't work out for either of us, but I was rightly chuffed by the conversation and her enthusiastic interest. Should I shift direction, she will be the first on my list.

This year, I am going to try for novellas. I've even started what might be a new series for me, involving angels and demons. Not the same stuff currently making the rounds, but something uniquely mine.

If you thought the world of the Nephilim was interesting in True Believers, you'll probably like this series too. This one will be a little more fun and sexy--at least that's the plan.

The sequel for Touch Of Fire (Apocalypse Rising) is awaiting its cover and after I finish the novellas, I will start edits for the sequel to True Believers. In this book, we go deep into how the Nephilim were created. This time, we go off-world.

:Subliminal message: Go buy my books. And if you have my books--tell your friends to buy my books, cuz you know I'm a nice person and I luvs my dogs. Thank you. :End subliminal message:

On the homestead, I am awaiting a little warmer weather so I can start incubating eggs for new chicks. I'm excited! I'll be sure to do several posts on incubation and hatching. 

We are still counting on goats in the spring, but for some reason the new goat pen has not magically appeared. Hmm...I better check with my djin, Greg, and see what the holdup is. (Oh Lord, I can already hear him muttering curses at me.)

Now that the greenhouse is in place, I will start my seedlings this week and get them out there in time for March planting. Last year, we had a freak snowstorm on the first day of Spring. Never mind that we got back in the 70s later that week. A frost can kill young plants, so I will wait until the very end of March before I plant outdoors.

Last week, my niece and her (shiny) new husband came down to visit us. We had a blast with them. It was so much fun to see them get excited about living out in the sticks. 

We visited the neighbors' alpacas, my chickens, and a host of woodland creatures that caught their citified eyes. Greg taught them to shoot. My niece made bread, and we had a big spread of munchies while we watched the Chicago Bears lose the playoffs.

Sadly, during their visit, there was blood involved and innocent dogs were molested. My nephew-in-law is very tall and smashed his head on the jutting edge of the chicken coop roof. And Iko...well, Iko doesn't bite, but he has other defenses to keep people from pawing at him. LOL.

All in all, this year is off to a great start. I hope it continues. And I hope my niece and her husband will come back--despite the injuries to flesh and pride.