Where did my motivation go?

Hey - I am sooooo tired I want to take a nap, but I already slept ten hours the night before. I've walked for fresh air, but unfortunately all I need to do today is at the computer. Marketing (yuck) radio interview questionaires - cool - galley's - coolyuck. I can't concentrate on the book because my eyes are so tired. Normally I am the one with the annoying pom poms rallying the team to cross the finish line. Today? I just want a cup of hot tea and a nap. I did a funny blog this morning over at www.babesinbookland.com on swearing - cussing. And now I guess I will go back to my book. I'm only on page fifty of two hundred - wish me luck, lol

Traci

home again

Hi!!
I am home. 11 days seems like a year.
I am unpacked. I've caught up on bills, cleaning the house and groceries. I sent in my finished book and my proposal for a new series. I am still waiting to hear from my other editor, but I can't make her go any faster, so I am trying not to think about it. I gave the dogs a bath, mopped the floors, and I'm half way through the mound of laundry that nobody but me can do - or at least that's the subliminal message my family is sending me.
I have my other book up to edit. My goal is to have it to my agent by friday. Please, please please it will wow the editor and I will have a sale in this really super uber crappy market.

The Florida Romance Writers cruise kicked butt. We had so much going on, and the people are amazing. Aleka totally earned her tiara. Greg came with me and he had fun - he is the best when it comes to doing his thing and being a part of what is going on. He went rock climbing on the ship - we have pictures that if I can figure out how to post I will. If not you can find him on facebook or myspace, I know he's got them there. The booksigning was great, and my workshop went very well. Shining in a Shrinking Market.
But I came home feeling very very depressed about the writing market. Yeah, the economy sucks bad. Agents can't sell, which means writers can't sell. I have a friend who was talking retirement and it breaks my heart.
Something has to change, but I don't have the answers. Just work, polish, and submit. There's nothing too magical about that. It's hard work without a guaranteed pay off.

Plotting was amazing! I have two books plotted - just in case my publisher wants them. Be prepared. Kind of like being a boyscout...
with sex scenes, lol.

have a great day
Traci

Chance to Win

www.bookroast.blogspot.com

Hi all - come visit me over at Book Roast - where you can have a chance to win a free signed book by moi, and banter some witty dialogue back and forth. Or not so witty, depending on the caffiene intake....

I am feeling VERY fabulous - I finished my book before deadline and before the trip tomorrow so all is good. I'm looking forward to the cruise, and doing my workshop - shining in a shrinking market.
I've got prizes, I've got cool shoes, the world is my oyster I will gladly post the hand out on this sight after the workshop is over and if you want to take advantage of some serious goal setting, then we can do that to. As I said, I give cool prizes, lol

Where did January go?

New Year, New Blog

Happy 2009 everybody! Today I am celebrating writing over 10,000 words - that's right - forty one pages in Microsoft word. My brain is mush and I am ready to fall into bed and watch Tru TV to numb the pain in my wrists.

Just kidding about the last part, although by tomorrow they should be screaming. Maybe advil tonight? I don't want to think about anything other than reaching my deadline. Feb 1 this baby is due - I've plotted it, thought about it, studied for it and crammed more information on Boadicea (Boudica) and early Briton than I can stand. Go ahead and ask me - I can tell you fighting styles (ditch and dyke) or weapons (spear and sword) and method of transportation (foot, chariot or horse) I can name Goddesses (Andraste, Bridget or Epona) and discuss the housing of pre roman invasion farmers. Yes, they farmed. They lived in round houses with thatched roofs. They loved - just like we did, and that is always the heart of a romance. We can have the plot, but it is no good without the characters - if the characters grab your heart, a loyal reader will follow them through fire. I hope Ela and Os grab at people's hearts like that - they sure have my attention, woo hoooooo.

I am also getting ready for a writer's cruise January 22nd - FRW is conducting their first ever ship conference, and it should be fabulous. I am looking forward to giving my workshop - Shining in a Shrinking Market, and meeting with old friends as well as making new ones.

So far 2009 has been busy, filled with hard work, friends, and quite a few laughs. Okay - we watched Pineapple Express. Freaking hysterical!

I will post after the cruise, with pictures!

Something Wiccan This Way Comes recieved five angels from Fallen Angels reviews - one of many great reviews this second book in the Rhiannon Godfrey series has garnered. If you have a chance go to www.samhainpublishing.com and look up Traci Hall for both of my Young Adult parnormal stories.

Thanks for stopping by!

Free download Wiccan Wonderland by Traci Hall

http://www.thesamhellion.com/ebooks/hall_wiccanwonderland.pdf

Happy Holidays to all of you internet savvy people out there cruisin' the blogging world. Samhain Publishing is giving away free reads this December for some extra holiday cheer. Something Wiccan This Way Comes was just released as an ebook (you can go to samhainpublishing.com) and Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways will be available at amazon.com - barnesandnoble.com and yes, even target.com, lolol. Of course you can always walk into a bookstore and ask for it too.

We have a sad tree this year - it had a huge open hole in the branches. We stuffed it with stuffed animals, turned it to the wall, and called it good. My husband is already planning on taking it down the day after Christmas.
Christmas is meant to be snowy, and filled with family and friends. I come from the Pacific Northwest, you know? We all worried about tempermental tropical weather when we moved to Florida! But hurricanes seem like a cake walk compared to what the people there are going through right now. 30 inches of snow - that is practically 3 feet. In less than a week!

No matter where you spend your holidays, I hope that you are safe and warm and with people you love,

Traci

Ho de ho de ho ho ho

We had the best Thanksgiving - we had bunco, mashed potato mermaids and lots of turkey!

I am singing christmas tunes and writing and partying and booksigning :) I am so happy to be here at this exact spot in my life. Yes, I want my agent to sell Guardians of the Underground by Christmas this year - and yes, I want to make money selling books - but other than that? I am content to work hard and put my time in.

Sunday we had a booksigning at Starbucks - and let me tell you, my friends rock. Dev, Faith, Sheryl, Becky, Nancy - thank you for being you! My wonderful manager/hubby made sure we were set up just right, the Starbucks crew had lemon loaf and coffee out and new friends came by too. Sold almost 25 books, so it gets thumbs up from me.

Today I spoke at Murder on the Beach in Delray - the ladies were terrific, Joanne and John had the store looking hot, and it was a 29 book day. Saturday is the FRW/MWA Christmas Party and then that afternoon Cindy Thompson and I are doing a booksinging at Waldenbooks in Miami.

On the just plain fun side, Brighton and I went shopping together this afternoon and we had a blast in Bath Works. We both ended up smelling like a combination of spice, tree and frosted cranberry. Ayyyy.

Destini is supposed to be home early enough tonight that we might play yahtzee and listen to oldies. We'll see. I am on deadline for my Feb 1st book - I am on page 25 of 400 pages needed so I probably should be writing. sigh.

Christmas is tight this year. It is for everybody...we are doing one 'big' gift for each of the kids and maybe some jammies and their stocking, of course - they would riot if there wasn't a stocking! I can't think of anything that I want other than a SALE and a CONTRACT. oh, and world peace. Want to know what I'm really looking forward to? The night when we decorate the tree, eat homemade popcorn and watch Holiday Inn and White Christmas and Scrooged.

what do you look forward to? what traditions have you managed to hang on to?

Traci

something wiccan this way comes

Hi!!! It is release day for Something Wiccan This Way Comes!! I am really excited - I love the Rhiannon series and I want everyone else to love it too. See - all this time writing and publishing (more time writing than publishing!) and I still am full of neurotic tendencies.
Gotta love this gig!The first Rhiannon book will be available in print at your local bookstore on December 28! Gooooo, Rhiannon!
Something Wiccan This Way Comes by Traci HallGenre: Young AdultISBN: 978-1-60504-241-1Length: NovelPrice: 5.50 Get it Now for 4.95Cover art by Scott CarpenterWhat's a girl to do when trouble finds her at every turn?

A Rhiannon Godfrey story.Being different is nothing new for Rhiannon Godfrey. Neither is hiding who she really is to all but a select few. So far she's managed to walk that line, but now someone is spreading rumors that the Godfreys' New Age store is really a front for witchcraft, complete with cauldrons and eyes of newt.The whole town is turning against them--even Rhee's boyfriend is suspicious. Then there's her ex-crush Matthew, who just showed up uninvited on her doorstep carrying a single suitcase--and a heavy secret.Rhiannon tries to be good, she really does. But it's hard when trouble pounces at every turn, and her unsuccessful spells seem to prove that science is the only path to enlightenment.Hiding her gifts and running from confrontation is easier than standing up for what she believes in. But this time, there's more at stake. And the possibility she may have to find the inner strength to banish one friend in order to save another.http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/shop/product.da/something-wiccan-this-way-comes