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

Waking up to a two hour delay, not because of snow but ice. It's 29 degrees out there. Now I know that you in the midwest and northeast probably would think this is warm. But this is the Willamette Valley. And for us, it's darn cold. There are accidents all over the valley. But this school delay give me time to blog and to write this morning. Of course I still have two finals to write but I can always put that off until the weekend.

My heroine is going out of character and it's going to baffle the hero. Of course she is protecting her heart. He of course thinks she has turned into a monster--a monster he cannot live without. And he doesn't know how much she loves him. He also doesn't know how much he loves her. They will have to go down a dark, winding road to figure all this out. It will be a great adventure. What trials and tribulations will they encounter? Will the mam kidnap our heroine? Will the brothers make it to Baltimore?

Stay tuned.

Christine

I'm waking up to a beautiful sunny day--no rain. My weather contest is coming to an end and I'll be looking for the most romantic city in the world. My personal favorite in Paris but I love New York. Every city seems to take on a personality all its own. And I suppose the ones with the most pazazz (is that how you spell that word?) Is the one that will make the biggest impact on a soul. There are so many places I haven't been. I want to see everything, well maybe not everything. The last time my family had Chinese food and fortune cookies I had a great fortune. It read: Your feet will touch on many countries. I plan on making that fortune come true. I guess I've been blessed with good fortune cookies. I'll never forget that one summer at an RWA meeting/dinner at a Chinese restaurant my fortune read: Your greatest dream will come true. A month later I sold my first manuscript. So I'm always looking for the right fortune cookie.

I've got to get going on the word challange. I have a goal of 3000 words today. My hero and heroine are in a very compromising position. She is about to give up her virginity to the hero. But will she stop and bargain with him? She is only a servant in his home and being a finacially smart young woman, she knows she has to look after her retirement interests. Will she give in to the notion of romance and romantic love and make a devil's bargain she might come to regret?

Stay tuned: for the continuing saga of an Uncommon Thief

Christine

It has been one week since the challenge to write 1000 words a day went out in my RWA group. It has definitely been a challenge and I wrote a little over 7000 words last week. Now I'm starting over. Thank you Alice for issuing the challenge. I'm confident now that I will finish this book before summer gets here. Wow! I didn't think I could do it.

My contest is still on for January. I'm looking at one more week and then I'll have my daughter draw for the winner. The weather all over the country has been crazy. Just a little north of here near Portland Oregon there was a tornado that caused lots of damage and thankfully no deaths. Now you folks in the midwest would probably scoff at this tiny tornado but it scared the #@^%$# out of all of us in the Willamette Valley. We just don't have severe weather like that. The last tornado in the area was in 1972.

Christine

The 1000 words a day is a challenge. I managed 600 words today even though I worked all day and coached my swim team. I was proud of myself. I got home, ate dinner, watched my one soap then wrote. My goal was to write 500 words. So I will have to do that tomorrow too. It's a good feeling to make your goals and will be an even better feeling to finish this book ahead of schedule. Bravo to Alice who put forth the challenge and the rest of my chapter for accepting.

It's easy for me to write bad guys. And right now I'm in a scene with a very bad, bad lady. Or perhaps she not really a "lady" The bad guys are always fun because you don't have to be PC. You can have them act and do anything you want them to do. Right now the very bad lady is sipping wine, smoking a cheroot and plotting the murder of the hero. Will she order the murder? If she does will the hero outsmart her?

Christine

One day down, 30 to go. I managed almost 3000 words yesterday and I'm quite satisfied. I will edit and then write some more today. I realized that I was close to half way on this book. My original goal was to finish by the end of summer. However, with this challenge and ongoing encouragement, I might finish in March.

Still no luck with my webiste. I worked so hard on it and now not to see it up and running is discouraging and frustrating.

Looking forward to getting back to school. I discovered I missed them. I really do have some wonderful classes this year. Two weeks and they will have semester finals. It's about this time the freshman discover that they really will have to repeat the classes if they fail, and if they don't have the credits they won't graduate. I always see a huge turn around with the kids. Suddenly they start turning in their work.

Still thinking about possible romantic cities? I am. But I'm running out of pictures. My travels really haven't taken me very far. Perhaps Edinburg though would be a romantic city, with the castle guarding the town.

I accepted Alice's challenge of 1000 words a day. I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it, but at least I will make sure I write every day. I've finished Highland Song and now need only to do edits. I am working on An Uncommon Thief which was renamed in my October contest.

Please, if the winner is out there, email me at achristay@aol.com. I would love to send you your prize. I know you said you gave me your address but I can't find it.

I've received lots of comments on the weather. I hope a few more people enter the contest, but if not I will be drawing for the winner in a couple of weeks. It snowed huge wet flakes this morning. Nothing stuck. And now the sun is shining, lots of wind too.

Not having a lot of luck with publishing my website. And I still have to finish my book trailer for Rebel Heart.

Christine

After spending hours and brack-breaking work the heroine finally rescues the hero. She comes to realize that the hero will never change. Even though she loves him with every breath in her body, he will never be able to return that love. He believes in passion but not love. She is heart broken but stronger. At least she has known a moment of love. She will carry her memories with her and hold onto them in the cold of the highland winters. Will the hero realize his mistake before it's too late? Or will he let his one true love leave him?

As to romantic cities. Could the most romantic city in the worl be London? Coming in February let me know what you think.

Here in the Willamette Valley it's windy and rainy. The snow level is dropping by Monday. Will it reach the valley floor? Hmm...

My new websight hit a major problem yesterday when I tried to publish it. Errors! Oh well, I'll be working on it today and hoping to get it up and running.

And now because of a writing challenge I have to write 1000 words a day. Does the blog count?

Christine

My hero and heroine are getting closer to her home. They've found an Inn to stay the night...but. Isn't there always a but? The heroine's long time friend and suitor finds the dynamic duo and bursts the hero's bubble so to speak. Ah, the trials of young lovers. There is never an easy path and it's my job to fill that path full of as many pitfalls as possible.

I spent yesterday adding links to my websight pages and now I have to finish. The designing (fun) part is over. I hope to publish the websight by the Sunday. Maybe sooner. Have to do this before Winter break is over and back to teaching.

Stay tuned to the continuing saga of Highland Song to be released in September 2008.

Christine

Worked on my websight again. I think it's looking good but I'm going to need some input. All I will work on today will be the links. I was able to use some of my Europe pictures on the sight and that was fun.

I came up with a contest for February when I was looking at my picture of the Eiffle Tower. Tune in February for more details.

My hero and heroine are finishing an idylic tryst at the loch before finishing their treck to the MacPherson castle. The hero is worried about the reaction the heroine's brothers will have about the days together they have spent. His reputation as a lady's man is well known. Will the brothers skewer our hero through? Or will they let him into the family? Will they be expecting a marriage?

Christine

The first day of the new year. How many of you stayed up and watched the new year come in? I didn't. I really am getting old. I almost watched the ball drop in Time Square. I was 5 minutes late. Sigh. On the other side, my 27 year old daughter told me I was welcome at her party. Maybe I'm not so old.

I've started working on a new websight. I worked most of yesterday and finished two pages. I like it. My main objectives are for it to look professional and to work. Some of the pictures I took in Scotland are on it.

I left my hero and heroine contemplting love. Is it just passion or is it something else?

Happy New Year
Christine

Ah, the last day of the old year. For me, it was a productive and fulfilling year. I hope that my readers can say the same and if not, may the new year bring only happiness. My oldest daughter and my son married their long time sweethearts. What joy. My family dealt with two bouts of cancer, one very rare and the other very common. The prognosis is good for both. A long time friend also is dealing with cancer. My prayers go out to her.

My second book in the Highland trilogy is a finalist in the Eppies. The third and last book, Highland Song, will be out in September of 2008. My writing always takes a back seat this time of year to work. But winter break provides extra time for me.

Yesterday, I left my hero and heroine frolicking in a loch. Now I had some reservations about swimming in a Scottish loch. But as I was in Scotland last summer, I know it is possible although chilly. No more chilly though than swimming in the Rogue or Crater Lake, both of which I have done in my life. I didn't want to give them hypothermia.

Best wishes to my readers for the new year.

Christine

As far as writing goes, yesterday was truly productive. My hero and heroine are momentarily out of the jaws of danger. Oh, but is there a different danger lurking close by? Is the heroine in danger of losing her heart to the hero? Or has she already fallen deeply in love? She wants his heart and soul but he can't see past her history. And she knows she can't let him have her heart until she tell him her deepest darkest secret. Will she tell him? If she tells him, will he despise her and blame her? Will he think that all that has happened was her fault? We shall see.

Will the hero discover that she is true and pure of heart? Will he let his own barricades slip enough to see the love in her eyes? Oh, but if both lovers could erase their past, they might find happiness.

Over the holiday break I had set a goal to post something new everyday. I missed yesterday. So if I post twice today does that make up for missing one day? Maybe, maybe not. Instead of blogging which I had put off until the evening, I watched Oregon State beat Maryland in the Emerald bowl.

I'm still looking for entries in my weather contest. So, send me news of the weather in your part of the country. It's not riaining yet but there is a low fog.

Last night I left my hero trying to blow up a rock bridge so the mercenaries couldn't get across. I know there were explosives in the 18th century, I'm just not sure how he could do this. And I suppose it will have to stop raining bcause the powder will have to be dry. Or not?

Will the hero blow up the bridge or will the mercenaries get across? Stay tuned to the continuing saga of Highland Song.

Christine Young

Because of a high school swim meet and several hours to convert meter times to yard times then post on the high school web sight, Lainie is still hanging by her fingernails on a slippery wet ledge. Will she plunge to the raging river below and make the hero rescue her or will he pull her to safety? Will the horrid English soldiers catch up to them and kidnap Lainie taking her to the English general who has put a bounty on her head?

I'm hope I'll find out tomorrow. Since I write by the second flashing by and not by a very clearly plotted outline sometimes I don't know what is going to happen until it all plays out. I suspect the characters will take over and decide for me.

So, do your characters decide what is going to happen or do you?

Christine

Well, there is a snow advisory and there is still a thin layer of snow on the ground. But enough of the weather. It's time to start writing. My characters are struggling in wet weather, cliffs and raging rivers. Will they survive? The worst of the worst English soldiers are chasing them up the ravine. And Lainie is exhausted past exhaustion if that is possible. Oh, but we know the heroine and the hero must survive but what treacherous times will they have to surmount before they can find true happiness? Tune in later for all the details.

Highland Song will be out in ebook in September 2008.

The next pressing issue for me and my family for the new year is good health. I've always been an exercise fanatic. Even walking the Portland marathon a year and a half ago. So I was surprised to discover my cholesterol was high. Now I'm looking for good cholesterol free recipes and even going as far as turning vegetarian. Any good vegie recipes out there to share?

Christine

For those of you who have snow, snow and more snow, this won't mean anything. But the snow started to fall here about an hour ago and it is actually sticking. Other than the years my family and I spent Christmas in Bend, this is my first white Christmas. I'm in awe. It's sticking to the trees and the deck and the road. I did not believe that I would ever see a white Christmas in the Willamette Valley.

Merry Christmas to all.
Christine

It's so much fun looking at weather from other parts of the country. I was surprised at the response. My contests usually generate one entry so this was fun. It's still raining here in Oregon and the idea that the Willamette Valley would get snow for Christmas would generate a miracle. It's different hearing the news from real people and listening to the weather news on TV. I was wondering what the weather was like in Scotland. My family spent a week on Loch Rannoch last summer. If anyone out there knows what the weather is doing in the Highlands, please post.

Christmas eve day 2007. What a wonderful and joyous time. Happy holiday to everyone.

Christine

Well, it's the second day of winter break. I'm hoping to get lots of writing done as well as finish my christmas shopping. I'm going to announce a new contest to end in January. I'm asking that everyone give a comment about the weather in their part of the country. I will put all entries into a hat and draw the winner from that.

It's rainy here in Salem, Oregon. Not too cold but yesterday it was really nasty. I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you out there.

I plan on finishing a new book trailer. I've made one for both my Highland books. Now I'm working on one for Rebel Heart. A futuristic romance.

Look for Highland Magic an Eppie finalist at Amazon and at Awe-struck.

Christine

Since Friday I've been sifting through news about the eppies. I can't believe I'm really a finalist. It is such an honor to be recognized for all my efforts as well as seeing my name listed with such great writers. To all who have taken the time out of their busy Christmas schedules to congratulate me and the other awe-struck authors, I thank you. And to all the other finalists, congratulations. Highland Magic was such fun to write and my trip to Scotland this summer was an added bonus. Now I'm looking forward to editing the thrid book in the highland trilogy, Highland Song.