So... I'm rubbish at diaries... No, worse than that: I'm abysmal. So my advice would be - Do NOT watch this space: Change, if it comes at all, will come at random intervals.

So here it goes...

Writing
I am an AMATEUR
Please find as much entertainment as you wish from my babblings LOL

I find myself with three stories on the go. Well, more "in theory", but three that are actively loitering, rather than ducking into dark corners where I won't see them.

First is Poppy, which exists solely for me to see if I can finish a full length story. I'm trying *not* to put my heart and soul into making it into a masterpiece. Of course, right now chapter 3 is on it's 8th re-write, so that's not going too well. The first chapter was entered in the romancejunkies contest; it did okay, and I'm happy with that.

Second is Whicker, which is being written as part of a group anthology effort. At the minute, it's a race against time for us all to write our 1st drafts, due in on the 23rd. I dread to think what I'm going to think of it all when I re-read it, but hey ;-)

Third is... Well, let's call it Stacey. I started it in response to a short story challenge on Deep Magic, but it spiralled out of control and is now at about 9k and rising.

Currently on the backburner (is that the right phrase? I forget, when it gets late)...

Ongoing Fantasy thingummy - you know; the one I've done all the background on and really *want* to be fabulous, ergo never going to get written

Carnage rpg story - Love the characters in this; keep forgetting what my destination is LOL

Luna rpg story - Kind of lost the plot with this one; really, really wishing someone else would come along and play the evil guys as I'm finding it tricky at the mo

Futuristic cliche - You know; fast cars, spectacular technology and everyone's just too darned sexy for their own good.

And a whole load of other bits and pieces...

I have a finished short story, currently being lovingly cared for by Merris, together with a collection of other stories all based on a ONS. It's my first story that's been let loose, so I've turned a bit Bill Oddie and am watching its progress with interest.

Reading
I gave my historical cravings some succour, with...
Teresa Medeiros' After Midnight - Fabulous, wished the secondary characters had more airtime.
Teresa Medeiros' Yours Until Dawn - Good, but a familiar plot.
Sabrina Jeffries' One Night with a Prince - Great, if slightly unbelievable.
Christina Dodd's Rules of Engagement - Ditto above.
Madeline Hunter's The Saint - Good, though the romance didn't ring 100% true.

I'm a complete spreadsheet saddo, and use the scores from fictionwise, amazon, romantictimes and likesbooks.com to tell me what books should be top of my "wants" list. Lord of Fire was listed 3rd, and I thought it was pretty darned perfect. Julia Quinn's How to Marry a Marquis was 2nd, and I thought this was pretty darned wonderful too. But first on the list is Lisa Kleypas' Worth Any Price... which I haven't got yet. Reason? It's $7.50... hahaha

For the curious, from the title's I've "analysed" so far, the top ten in this genre are...

1. Kleypas, Lisa Worth Any Price $7.50
2. Quinn, Julia How to Marry a Marquis $6.99
3. Foley, Gaelen Lord of Fire $6.99
4. Medeiros, Teresa Yours Until Dawn $7.50
5. Carlyle, Liz A Woman of Virtue $5.50
6. Quinn, Julia Splendid $6.99
7. Alexander, Victoria The Lady In Question $6.99
8. Laurens, Stephanie A Rogue's Proposal $6.99
9. Dodd, Christina Scandalous Again $6.99
10. Carlyle, Liz A Woman Scorned $5.50

I'll let you know if that changes ;-)