Saturday, March 27, 2010

I'm Almost Home

We docked in Florida late this morning. Now I'm resting in the hotel. I fly back to California at noon tomorrow. Now for the really interesting news.

On Tuesday I found out that I made it to the quarterfinals in the Amazon/Penguin Breakthrough Novel Contest. Hooray for me! You can read an excerpt of the manuscript on Amazon.com. To do this go to http://www.amazon.com/ and search Nubian Princess by Stephanie Jefferson. You'll be able to download, read, and review it if you have an account with Amazon. If you don't, you can start one. It's very easy and free.

The download is for a Kindle. If you don't have a Kindle (neither do I), first download Kindle for PC, Mac, or iPhone from that same website (also free), then "buy" the excerpt at a whopping price of $0.00 (Why don't they just say it's free?) All of this is FREE.

Once you do this you can read the excerpt and leave a review. I would love for you to tell me what you think. Then May 25 12:01 AM EST through June 2 11:59PM EST you can (must) vote for me. The Grand Prize is a contract with Penguin!!!

Man, am I stoked!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

OMG! OMG! I MADE IT!

I just checked the Amazon website and I made it to the quarter finals in their novel contest. I am so stoked. I'm still on my cruise. The ship is leaving Honduras and is on it's way to Belize. This is a vacation of a lifetime! I made it!

I'm sure there's lots I could write about, but right now all I can saw is OMG! I'll keep you all posted. Soon Amazon with post the excerpt of my novel. I need you to read it and vote for me. I'll give you all of the details in my next post.

WAHOO! It is so wonderful.

Monday, March 15, 2010

It's Almost Time

Friday's acomin'. I can't wait for it to get here. I've washed all of my laundry, set out the suitcases, and double checked the passports. Tuesday I'll start packing everything. I have checked and doubled checked to make sure I have all of the necessary electrical cords. I have the one for my phone, and one for my camera, and one for the earpiece to my phone, one for my toothbrush, and the one for my computer. Now I'm trying to decide if I should take my video camera. At this rate I'm going to be so loaded down with cords and equipment that there will be no room for clothes; and I need to save room for my books, too. I can't leave the books, a good read is a must. My husband even picked out a brand new su doku book to work on.

I talked to my friend who's joining us from New Jersey. She's looking forward to some pleasant weather. It stopped snowing there, but now it's raining. I can't complain about the weather, here in So California it's warming up nicely. Soon there will be no need for sweaters.

I've been writing and and working on a MG and a YA, trying to keep busy and not think about the contest. But it slips in now and then. I wonder how my excerpt is doing in the standings. I hope it's compelling enough. I really want to go the distance. The grand prize is calling my name. I'll find out if I made the cut next week. Please keep all of your body parts crossed for me.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Vacation Time!

I am super jazzed. The last week of this month I'm going on vacation. I'm taking a cruise with my husband and some friends. Of course I'm taking my computer, a sack of books, and exercise clothes.

I'm taking the computer for two purposes. One is so that I can check my email while I'm away. The reason I need to check email is that the Amazon/Penguin contest announces it's next round winners while I'm cruising. If I didn't check it, I'd be distracted for the whole trip. If I make it to the next round I'll be in the perfect place to celebrate. If I don't make to the next round I'll have my husband and friends to help console me, plus a lot of good food (the reason for the exercise clothes).
 
The other reason for taking my computer is to write, of course. I never know when an idea will appear. What better place to get ideas than the Caribbean. After all it is the setting for my next WIP. I'm looking forward to getting some flavor and inspiration to and to my research.
 
I've never been to the Caribbean before. I'm really excited.  WAHOO!