So, writing the novella is turning out to be a lot of fun. I was supposed to write a regency but somehow this one was in my head. I have always had a kind of connection with the Civil War, was always interested and so when we visited Gettysburg, I reconnected.

The heroine is a southern bell, living near Fredricksburg in Virginia. She is left to maintain the family farm when everyone she loves goes off to war. Finding herself pregnant at the beginning of the war, she quickly marries the most convenient man. (Not the man she loves--the who fathered her child). Five years later the man she loves, a Union cavalry officer appears at her doorstep. The war is not over but everyone knows the Confederates can not hold on much longer.

The hero returns to his beloved's home. He hopes that when everything is done, he can find a way to convince the heroine to forgive him for joining the Union army.

Ah, back to New York. The next stop on our tour was the first capital of the United States. George Washington served his presidency here.

There are so many interesting sights in New York city as well as the fascinating history. We all know that the Dutch settled on the southern tip of Manhattan Island and the English on the northern part. What I didn't know was that the Dutch who were terribly afraid of an English invasion built a wall across the entire island to protect themselves. It was at this wall they did business with the Indians and other traders. Unfortunatel this wall did not protect them. The English invaded successfully and took over the island. The wall the Dutch built later became Wall Street the heart of our financial district. Soemtimes when they are doing new construction or tearing down old, they find parts of the origional wall.

I'm trying to figure out how to write a 30,000 word novella. My books have all been over 90,000 words. So I look at this as a huge challenge. I suppose I will have to plot, plot, plot and do more plotting. Again I usually have a general plot and then work from there letting the characters guide me. I don't think that philosophy will work this time.

If you write novellas, please log in and let me know how you go about plotting and keeping the word count low.

Launching my new e-pub is getting exciting. I have some great books and the potential for more. The first commuter book should be out in about 6 months so the countdown is on. My friends and colleagues have helped a lot and have given me some great ideas. My family has also been there with great ideas and comments. What fun is this? When I retire I'm hoping this will be well on it's way to keeping me busy and satisfied.

My Civil War book is beginning to take shape and my part of an anthology is forming in my head. I've always wanted to write and be part of an anthology and now I can invite my favorite authors to be part of one of my dreams.

Before Hershey we took a tour to New York City. We came to the island via the Staten Island Ferry and having been there before, the stark emptiness stood out. The missing World Trade buildings brought the reality of what happened that day home to me.

Today is a day to write my synopsis for a proposal I'm sending to Awe-struck. I won't give up my connection to a company which has helped me grow as a writer.

So, I'm off to work and a happy writing day.

After Gettysburg we drove to Hershey. Hershey is a great place and a surprise for both of us. We had no idea that hiding behind the choclate factory was a rollercoster park. We might have opted to spend an entire day there and enjoy the various rides. But we didnt know and we didn't have the time. So we satisfied ourselves with a visit to the choclate factory and the sweet delights inside.

Well, I didn't work on my book yesterday. I worked on things for everyone else. That is okay though. I plan on giving my new book at least an hour today. I know my heroine is a spy/nurse. She is a staunch unionist even though she lives in the South. She does not believe the south should have left the union. So she works as best she can to help bring the two sides back together without giving away her identity.

Juggling is good for the soul. I think. At least I have time to work on all the things I put off during the winter. I'm starting a new book which I said I wasn't going to do for a while. This was all generated by a long-time wish to write a War Between the States book. I visited Gettysburg two weeks ago on vacation and a wealth of ideas were generated. So, today I'm doing background work on the characters and some plotting. Happy writing.

I guess a picture of Gettysburg is in order.

Summer vacation has begun and I've been taking full advantage of it. Two weeks of vacation in the East and almost 3,000 miles driven I am happy to be home. All in all it was a great time and my husband and I saw some incredible sights as well as some historical sights I have always wanted to visit. The highlight of my trip was on our first excursion to Niagara Falls. The falls are incredible. The power and the majesty of the water is awesome. And of course, a picture of the falls is in order.

I have so many projects circling my desk I am not sure where to start. I'm afraid I will have to make a list. Lists go against everything I believe in, but there are times when they are definitely in order.

Where has spring gone? I certainly don't know. It's the end of May. School is almost out and I'm trying to wrap everything in a nice tidy bow. I don't think it's going to happen.

Rogue Phoenix Press has sent out it's first contract. We are still looking for wonderful and unique stories that don't fit the mold but hold the readers attention and leave them wanting more. If you have a story, check out the Rogue Phoenix website, polish it and submit.

On a more personal note, I am editing a story of my own, The Wager. It set in regency London and is a sequel to Allura which will be published in 2009. The hero has lost the will to live after his wife and young child were murdered during a summer outing. He now engages in all types of reckless activities. The heroine is Allura's cousin. She has been sent to London to find a husband. She dares to dey her father, refusing to do his bidding. Will the hero and heroine find true love? Or will they sabotage their chance at love?

How to find enough time to do all the things I want to as well as take time to play? I don't know. I would love to start a new contest but I haven't figured out how to contact the winners of my contests and send them their prizes. It can't be that difficult but somehow nothing seems to work for me. If you are out there and have won one of my contests please let me know. I'm not a slacker. I really do want to send you your books and your goodie bags.

Messages? Do you answer all of your messages? Does the heroine run off to the village to meet with her protector because a message says he needs her? Or is she prudent? Does she stay at home because she knows her life might be in danger? Did the hero even tell her he suspected foul play?

And when the hero runs off to London to safe her brother, does he figure it out? Does he realize he has fallen in love with his mistress? Ah, and when he procures a special marriage liscense is he afraid she might say no?

Stay tuned:

Christine Young

I can't believe I haven't posted anything since March 25. We've encountered the coldest weather for April. No one could believe that we had snow during spring vacation. And there was snow on the beach! That was incredible. I'm back at school and trying to finish An Uncommon Thief. I've written 99,000 words and I still have 2 chapters to go. I do believe this is going to take a lot of editing when I finish the rough draft.

The hero is going to marry the heroine, to keep her safe of course. But he hasn't asked her. Will hte heroine accept his proposal? Or will she decide she just isn't good enough for him? Or will fate step in and stop the wedding?

Stay tuned:

Christine Young

Looking forward to another bright sunny day here in the rainy part of the country. It's great outside and maybe I'll get a little work done in the garden. My husband very sweetly spent the day outside so he wouldn't bother me while I was writing. How nice it is to have a sensitive husband. Oh, yeah.

The hero and heroine start to patch up their differences. After the near drowning the hero knows he cannot live without the heroine. But he doesn't understand that it is LOVE. Oh, no, he still believes his attraction to the heroine is just physical. He also wonders about the Earl's knowledge of his mistress. How did the Earl discover that the hero's mistress is his bastard daughter? He cannot put all the facts together. And then...

And then the heroine's brother shows up on their doorstep in the country and announces that the other brother has vanished. Where has he gone? Has the evil mam kidnapped him or sent him to Newgate?

Stay tuned:

It's raining again. The wind is blowing and it's just a gorgeous stormy day. I'm writing and my "to do" list isn't growing any smaller, but I've made significant progress on my book.

So how does the heroine end up knee deep in water in the middle of a lake and in a sinking boat? Does the hero show up in time to save her? Who is behind the nefarious scheme to end the heroine's life? Is it her father who has finally discovered her true identity? Or is the person who taught her the tricks of her trade?

Stay tuned:

Christine

Spring break! I'm looking forward to getting some of the things on my 'to do' list checked off. And writing. I haven't had the energy to write and now that vacation time is upon us, I hope to change that. I have big plans to finish the rough draft of An Uncommon Thief. But I'm going to have to write about 2,000 words a day. In the words of the little train, I think I can, I think I can. Wow, am I rambling or what?

There is so much going on in the world. Obama is in Portland and then Salem. Tickets are sold out. It would have been interesting to see him speak. He is probably more charismatic in person than he is on TV.

I'd love to run another contest, but I can't figure out how to get in touch with my winners. I don't see why they can't just send me their address. I still have two contest winners that I can't locate to send them thier books. I'd really like to hear from them.

No comments on the book. I haven't written anything since Monday night. So hopefully tomorrow I'll have something to post.

Stay tunned:
Christine

Gosh, it's been a long time since I've been able to sit down and write anything. I didn't win. Darn, I didn't win. I knew going to the Eppies, I wouldn't win but I guess I really wanted to win. Maybe next year. At least I finaled. That was something I've never done before. One small step at a time, they always say. Congratulations to Paty who did win. Hooray.

The hero and heroine are off to the new cottage. Will they leave the terrors of London behind them? Or will the assassin follow them to their new home. Will the heroine's brothers make it to America or will the mam ruin all thier plans? And further more is the mam a lady or is she a he. Why is the heroine so darn importatn to the mam? Why is she so important that she or is it he is willing to murder?

Stay tunned for the continuing saga of An Uncommon Thief.

Congratulations blackroze37! You have won the February contest. Please email me at achristay@aol.com with your address so I can send you your book.

Finally, I've finished the edits for Highland Song the third and last book in the Higland series. It will be out in ebook in September and hopefully will be a POD book in October.

I've restarted the pickpoket dog and what fun. It is so much more fun to write than it is to edit. The hero has been attacked in his own home. All hell breaks lose as he fights to save his life and that of the heroine. The cook appears in his doorway rolling pin in hand and the heroine appears afraid for her heroe's life. Oh, but does the assassin escape? Or does the hero mange to capture him before he makes it out the kitchen door. Or did the dog get enough of the assassin's clothing to stop him?

Find out in the continuing saga of pickpocket dog now known as An Uncommon Thief.

Christine

This is different from anything I have ever posted before. But today I would like to put forth Rachel's challenge and continue a chain of kindness among the people I know. Friday at Stayton High School, the student council presented an assembly that was meant to change lives. Rachel Scott was the first person who died at Columbine High School. She was an extraordinary young woman. The presentation had a huge impact on my life as did the murders at Columbine. The craziness has to end. The killing has to stop. Prejudice cannot continue forever. Make a point of accepting those who are different. Let this be a challenge every day of the rest of your life. I know I will. I also know that we are all not perfect. At time we judge and at times we judge wrongly. Make a point to call those you love and tell them how much you love them. As a school teacher there are many days when I go to school and wonder at the safety of the schools. When we are confronted with senseless killings, it is hard to look at every student and see the good in all of them. But there is good in every human being. It is up to all of us to make sure that no one is left alone in this world and no one is left feeling so desperate that they feel that they have no recourse but to end their live as well as others. This is beginning to feel like a lecture so I will stop here. Tell someone you love them. And try to pass on kindness each day.

Christine

Except for the banquet, swimming is over for this year. My girls were 4th at State! I truly didn't expect that high a place so I was pleasantly surprised. Wow! is more like it. They worked so hard and put in so much swimming time. Focused and dedicated would be two good words to describe them. But now that swimming is over, I'm focused and dedicated to getting my edits finished and sent off to my editor. And I'm going over my writing looking for comma mistakes, over and over and over.

And... I'm eager to get to my other book, An Uncommon Thief, sometimes known as The Pickpocket Dog. Ah... but what would it be like to have the endless energy of my swimmers. I think I knew that much energy a long time ago.

I'm still looking for the winner of my Winter Contest. Please email me your address. achristay@aol.com. I will send the prizes asap.

And please enter my February Valentine Contest. Where is the most romantic place in the world? There are still two weeks left.

Christine

Just received word that I need to send Highland Song to my editor by the end of the month. So I've got to make next week work better for me than this one. But it's exciting. It has been over a year since I had deadlines. I'm ready. I'll be reading all day and taking notes. I may even take the ms to State next weekend.

If you haven't entered the contest for Februrary, please do. It runs all month. The contest is to tell what city you think is the most romantic. I did have one entry, from my father, no less. He gave me the city that he thought was the least romantic city in the world. Rest assured he won't win.

Remember: If global warming floods the earth, swimmers will rule the world.

Christine

This has been a tough week for me. No writing and I'm feeling withdrawal pains. I haven't even found the time to edit. I started a new project in my Personal Finance class and it has taken almost 100% of my school time as well as time outside class. It's been very hectic but I think it will be worth the time I've put into it.

I haven't edited either. My goal was to edit a chapter a day. That certainly didn't happen. But I'm not totally behind either. I am half way through the book because I worked extra hard last weekend.

I'm off to the first day of the distric swim meet. We will do well and hopefully place in the top 3. I'm really proud of the swimmers and all of the hard work they have put into their swimming.

There have been a few entries for the most romantic city in the world. Hopefully more of you will give your opinion.

Happy writing and reading
Christine

I'm kicking off my new contest. February is the most romantic month of the year, at least some people believe. To enter, voice your opinion. What city or place do you think is the most romantic place in the world?

The prize: a copy of one of my books and a bag of valentine goodies.

Will Joye from Arizona, the winner of my last contest please contact me through one of the loops that you received information for my contest on. I think I must be having trouble with my filters for spam and I don't have your address to send your winnings from the winter contest. I really want to send you your prize.

Well, as we head into February I am going to have to leave my hero and heroine in limbo, frozen in time so to speak. So there won't be any news on An Uncommon Thief for a while. I am doing final edits on Highland Song. Highland Song is the last in the Higland trilogy which will be available September 2008.

Christine.

Wow, it's another snow day. Woke up at 5:40 this morning to a snow day call. So, I'm wide awake and ready to roll. I don't usually blog on a Wednesday just because of a lack of time. But with an entire free day ahead of me...

My hero has decided he's been a real cad. After all, he has taken another mistress, the heroine, and he's completly ignored his first mistress. Oh, but the trials and tribulations of a man. Too many women, too little time, but there is only one woman he wants. Can he wait until he has her installed in her new charming cottage? Can he dismiss his first mistress without hurting her feelings? Or does his first mistress know that her protector has taken another woman under his wing? Has she already found herself a new man to protect her?

Stay tuned...

And February 1 is quickly approaching and the kickoff to my new contest. What city do you think is the most romantic in the world? Hmm...

Christine

Congratulations Joye! Joye from Aizona is the winner of the winter contest. Please contact me at achristay@aol.com and send me your address so I can send you a book and winter goodies. I hope the weather is still nice out there. We have about 6 inches of snow and school was closed today. Check out my web site for my new contest starting February 1.

Writing has been going great. I've finished next weeks words. That was my goal because I have to start final edits on Highland Song the third in the Highland trilogy which will be out in September.

So, what will happen to our hero and heroine in an Uncommon Thief? The heroine brazenly shows up at the hero's dinner table (uninvited). And, she shows up in the gown he refused to buy her. Oh, but will there be sparks flying? Will the hero be furious with her for deyfing his command? Will the hero be mesmerized by the low cut of the gown and throw caution to the wind, making love to her on the dining room table? Or will her dog, grad his hanky and run creating havoc in the dining room, sending potter and food flying?

Stay tuned...

Christine

I thought I would get my post in early today. We are on our way to a swim meet, and up at 5:30. I guess it is called getting ready for State. We expect snow and freezing rain, but there is a wrestling match in Cottage Grove and there is no way they would cancel that. So the swim meet will go on.

My heroine is about to get her charming cottage. The hero has gone to great lenghts to find just the right idylic spot. Will she like it? Will she show her gratitude? Or will she find something wrong with it? However, the hero returns home to find the locks on all the doors have been tampered with. Is it the notorious mam? Is the heroine's life in danager?

Stay tuned...

Must leave, the bus to Albany is waiting and my husband is pacing the kitchen.

Christine

I'm looking at the thermometer and it's saying 24 degrees. Sooooo cold and then I hear on the news 15 degrees somewhere and I think I heard -5 degrees. Well it's too cold for me to walk. My toes hurt too much when it gets cold.

2000 words yesterday but no editing and I'm afraid I have lots of words but a real big job to clean up. I've way too much narrative and very little dialogue. But yesterday was productive. I finished the General II final, almost finished the General I final and wrote the letter of recomendation for one of my swimmers. All I have left is to do entries for the Saturday swim meet and write the article for the author spotlight on the Mid Willamette Valley web site. The slogan of the day: I think I can, I think I can...

Oh, and I have to iron.

The hero and heroine have had a huge argument. Neither one of the pair have a mild temperment and so they can have quite interesting and heated arguments. Have you ever wanted a dress that someone tells you you can't have? Well, the heroine wants a dress and the hero see how it looks on her, exquisite and sexy as hell. In his own very possessive way, he wants her charms all too himself. Is this too much to ask? Or does the heorine have the modiste send the dress to her anyway defying the hero and all his money? After all she is bought and paid for. Stay tuned...

Christine

Good golly, Miss Molly but the little pickpocket has become the mistress of a very rich man. She is about to be decked out from the skin out and from the toes to the top of her head. But is she happy? Does she regret her decision to become the heroe's mistress? Are all her dreams of becoming a respectable lady vanishing in the London fog? And the hero--has he ever felt so alone and foresaken? Does he regret agreeing to this compromising relationship? Ah, but true love does not exist without paying a price. He has bought and paid for the relationship. But...

What fun to have a word challenge and watch my book grow. I've gone over the 50,000 mark and find that I'm not yet half way. So I will most likely be cutting a lot of material when I edit. Better to cut than to have too few words I alway say.

It's still foggy outside and an arctic front is moving in. It's supposed to be extremely cold next week.

Christine

One more week until I announce the winner of my January contest. It's foggy here and cold. We are supposed to get a few snow flurries this morning turning to rain tonight. I've written a little over 15000 words since Alice issued a writing challenge. Thank you Alice. I'm hoping we'll have another challenge in February.

It's a three day weekend and I've so much to do. Finals are next week and I have to write two finals as well as write on my book. I just have to take a deep breath and do one thing at a time. My heroine has issued an ultimatum to the hero. He is shocked by her assertiveness. Will he be willing to do anything for the heroine? Will he buy her the country home she has asked for? Or will he toss her out and tell her to fend for herself? Oh, the trials and tribulations of true love.

Christine