Random thought of the day
June 23rd, 2008
Sensible shoes on women on romance covers are a turn off for me. Do not ask me why.  I don’t know. Lord knows, if I wear shoes at all, they’re sensible. Not to say I don’t own a pair of stilettos, however, the extent of waking I do in them is limited to the two steps it takes for me to get to the bedroom door. There, after striking a dramatic pose, I primly wait  for my DH to do the manly thing and save me from myself by sweeping me off my feet and carrying me to bed. 
So, that being the case, you would think I could relate to sensible shoes on a cover. But alas, no.
Sarah 
No dead kittens before coffee
June 21st, 2008
This is my one rescue rule, (and one day will be a title of a book) and one I hold inviolate.  Yesterday, on a simple trip to the nursery to order 5 black night butterfly bushes, I ended up with a 5 week old kitten that was 3/4 to the way to dead. The nursery staff had found her crying in their hydrangeas. They brought her in and intended to keep her.  When they showed her off to me I automatically did an assessment and it wasn’t good. Anemia, dehydration, upper resp, frail, and so weak she really couldn’t sit without swaying. I stated giving them a to do list because she didn’t have much longer in her current state. Long story short, kitten is rehabbing with me for a long weekend and after a long night, I’m happy to report kitten is not dead this am. She is feeling perkier and ate a huge breakfast. She is now drinking water on her own. The L-Lysine I gave her for her upper resp has kicked in and green gungus has stopped flowing like a river from her eyes and nose which, of course encourages the eating and drinking. All systems appear to be normal and because she’s on the evo can, no diarreha from the diet change. Barring anything else perking, I think she’s going to live.
The only complication- She might be visually impaired which might explain why she was in that situation in the first place. She also just might be having blurred vision from the gungus and the dehydration. Time will tell.
I’ve named her Bella. Those who have read Sam’s Creed will know why when I say she’s an impudent little thing. Example one: She stepped in the water dish, spilled that all over creation and then proceeds to hop into her litter box.  This results in uncomfortable lumps of litter stuck to her long fur. I pick her up and start grooming her with a flea brush. Takes her about two seconds to figure this out. What does she do? She flops over on her back in my arms and “presents” one at a time her minuscule limbs for me to groom. And this after only knowing me an hour! Laughing
So my reading and or other relaxation time this weekend will consist of reading Ms. Bella’s wishes and fulfilling them while explaining to the rest of the fur babes that she’s in quarantine and “No, she’s not staying and no you can’t cuddle guard, play, carry around on your back, nuzzle, nap with or otherwise interact with the baby.”
Sarah, very tired this am.
This whole promotional item thing
June 18th, 2008
Here’s the deal, I suck at it. Really suck at it and I don’t see it getting much better. I may or may not have bookmarks to go with a book. That will depend on my writing schedule when the book releases. Yes, I’m a procrastinator so if I run out of time, and it’s a choice between writing and creating a promo item, I write. I don’t have a catch phrase to “Brand me” because I have an old fashioned view that my writing style is my brand and if a reader reads my book and likes it, the memory of that “experience” is what they’ll remember, not a few words stuck under my sig line. I have a website, (2 actually) but I don’t have a myspace page or a face book page because with my writing schedule I don’t have the time to maintain that style of presence. I also don’t enjoy the process. I’m not a collector of anything so my drive to collect friends is microscopic. REALLY microscopic. While I will spend hundreds of dollars for a great giveaway basket, or a special surprise giveaway for my yahoo group members, I usually balk at spending hundred of dollars for throw away promo items to put on a promo table. I think maybe I’m not convinced of the value of the latter, while I know the baskets and giveaways are well received.
The other thing that keeps me away from the time of developing promo items is the distraction of the internet, because, well, I love to chat. If I have time to pop over to a board and participate in a discussion, I will, despite the fact that I could be spending those few minutes developing a book mark. If I’m at a conference like RT I’ll be in the hospitality suite as much as possible. Or if I’m at Lori Foster’s and Diane Castell’s Reader Author Get Together, I’m an instant friend. Why? Because writing is such a solitary process it’s good to be able to connect with people that love books as much as I do and so get it when I explain how huffy I got when a store didn’t have out on the shelf on it’s street date the book I’d been waiting a year to release.  What is up with that anyway?
So, bottom line? I will develop a bookmark for Running Wild and Sam’s Creed, but, well, they’re not going to be ready for a couple months yet.
Sarah, writing like a mad woman, and yes, stopping here and there to chat and connect with the outside world 
Sam’s Creed is available through Barnes and Noble.com
June 12th, 2008
So I’m back
June 11th, 2008
From Lori Foster and Diane Castell’s Reader Author get together. I had the time of my life. As the name implies, this is strictly a social moment between readers and authors. This weekend is always the highlight of my year because I get to meet and mingle with readers/women in a totally casual environment.  It’s like a big relaxed pajama party. (Though we’re all dressed  ) Inexpensive, fun, and wonderful, the majority of authors that go go to hang with readers in a way that’s just not provided for in other venues. And the hotel is the best I’ve ever been to for treating guests like princesses. It’s going to be June 5-7 next year. Mark your calendar and plan on attending. You will have a weekend full of laughs, fun and will walk away with a feeling of “YES!”.
Thanks so much to Lori Foster and Diane Castell for making this happen for the last four years. 
Sarah, who forgot to mention there are over 100 baskets raffled away and games, and other such goodness 
Woohoo! Made a list goodness
June 10th, 2008
I’m not entirely sure what this means but since my editor sent me the information with the heading Good news, I’m happy dancing.
Running Wild which released last Tuesday was #4 on B&N trade romance list last week, #5 this week and #4 on Borders list this week.
Break out the champagne and launch the Alpha parade. We have reason to celebrate.
Sarah 
How I roll (Or this is how I work)
May 21st, 2008
So I often get questioned on how I work, what my office looks like, etc. The reality is I happily spend money on the technology that facilitates the writing process and keeps me out of an office environment. I hate to sit still and this holds when I’m writing. Besides, I talk really fast so the quickest way to get to the point where I can do what I love (edit) is to take advantage of the huge leaps forward in voice recognition software that have come about. I’ll be upfront, I LOVE VR. It is my BFF. My most adored innovation, right up there with my Kindle.
So here’s what my office looks like 
Okay, actually more like this which enables me to d that.  
A Macbook (yes I’m an apple user from way back  ) and a revolabs wireless mike 
Now, pretty much, just imagine whatever it is you do during the day and I’m pretty much doing the same thing just dictating while I do it.  Cleaning, gardening, cooking… Mowing the lawn (I have a quiet reel mower and count it as part of my exercise regimin) really seems to inspire me, so I set my lap top on the screen porch, clip on the mike and mow away. As long s the muse holds up I can dictate 5k in about 45 minutes and it’s more accurate than my typing. (Which totally sucks for accuracy). I also have a dictation recorder that I use when I’m going to be more than 300 feet from my computer. (I also use this when I’m walking) It’s also handy for use when I’m vacuuming as the noise cancelation with the head set is strong and can block out the roar of the machine. Dictation is wonderful. I really suggest learning to adjust to dictation, especially if you’re one of those writers without a lot of time to write. As on average we talk 4 times faster than we type, productivity goes through the roof. And it really is easier than you think.
When it comes to editing I have a graphic tablet that works just like pen and paper and translates my writing into type. This saves the wear and tear on m hands from the small movements of the mouse. And it’s faster. About five times faster to inputing than using a mouse and cursor.
So there you have it, all my not so secret secrets. A need to move, an active mind, a solid dictation program and the technology to facilitate its use and my office is set up and ready to GO!
Sarah 
RUNNING WILD IS AVAILABLE
May 14th, 2008
at B&N.com!!
Wohoo, the boys are loose!
Sarah
29 days until RUNNING WILD!!
May 5th, 2008
Just realized we have less than a month to go! 
Sarah, wondering where the time went
THE REV IS COMING!
April 24th, 2008
PROMISES REVEAL is up for pre-order at Amazon!
How hot is he?
He’s a man who survives by his wits and lives by his own code. Along the way he’s left a trail of broken hearts, broken bones, and quite a few broken laws. But when he gives his heart to the right woman, it comes with a promise he’ll never, ever break…
Dedicated artist Evie Washington doesn’t fancy herself the marrying kind. But the moment she admitted that her faceless portrait of a naked man was modeled on the devilishly handsome Reverend Swanson, the whole town assumed her innocence had been ruined. Now her family’s determined to save her reputation—even if it means taking away her hard-won freedom.
It’s Brad “Shadow” Swanson’s preacher status that’s a pose—to avoid the law . Now he’s been convicted of the one crime he didn’t commit. And if he doesn’t step up and marry Evie, he’ll have to admit his true identity and replace his collar with a noose. Of course, a life sentence in the spirited beauty’s bed wouldn’t exactly be torture—and it just might be the key to making an honest man out of him…
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