As always, we love to have guest bloggers here at Plotmonkeys. But it’s especially fun when one of those guest bloggers is someone who has been a part of the jungle from the very beginning. It’s doubly fun when the guest blogger is someone you’ve watched evolve from being a reader, to a published author in her own right! Her second book, SAVIN’ ME, is now out with Wild Rose Press. Please help me give a warm, jungle welcome to one of our own — Alannah Lynne! 
First off, I want to thank Janelle, and the rest of the Plotmonkeys, for giving me my own grapevine to swing from today. They’ve been so supportive and encouraging over the past four years, I could never thank them enough or tell them how much it’s meant to me!!
As an avid reader, I always wondered where writers came up with their ideas. I’ve been asked that question several times myself this past week, and I decided I’d share the details of the long, drawn-out, often painful journey of writing Savin’ Me (it started here, and so much of it involves the jungle).
Those who have been hanging out in the jungle for…oh, the last four years or so, have been taking the journey with me. They’ve heard bits and pieces along the way – especially those who participate in the Saturday “mini workshops.” The first line was actually selected by Kimberly Raye in a “First Line” contest she did here in the jungle. Savin’ Me became affectionately known as the “Strawberry Story.”
As a new writer, there was one piece of advice I’d heard over and over: Write what you know. This sounded like a really good idea since I knew less than nothing about the actual process of writing. People always seemed interested in the story of how I met my husband, and it had a happy ending, so I decided to write about that. I mean, it was something I knew. Right?
I had just finished the first draft when Julie mentioned the TARA (her local RWA chapter) contest. It seemed like a great way to get feedback, something I desperately needed, so I got the first chapter spit-shined and sent off. I don’t remember how long it was from the time I sent the entry in, to the time I heard back, but it seemed like months and months and months. In the meantime, I’d taken a lot of classes and while I still had a ton to learn, I knew enough to know the chapter I’d sent off to TARA was horrible! It was to the point I was dreading getting them back, and they couldn’t have come at a worse time. They came the third week of July. I remember it with amazing clarity.
It was the week after my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor, my oldest son was diagnosed with kidney problems and my youngest was told he needed to have 5 teeth pulled.
To say I was overwrought and overwhelmed would be an understatement. When I saw the SASE in my mailbox, I knew it was from TARA. A sick knot of dread wrapped around my stomach. I couldn’t stand to open it and hear how awful it was. I needed good news, not to beaten down some more. I carried the envelope into the house and went straight to the trashcan with it. My curiosity, however, got the best of me and several hours later I retrieved it from the trash. I still didn’t open it, though, for several more days. One afternoon, when I was feeling a little stronger and thought I could take it, I opened it up to read the comments.
All of the judges said the same thing. They liked my voice, they liked my characterization but….surprise! There wasn’t any conflict. Well, of course there wasn’t. LOL. I’m not going to say my relationship with my husband is perfect but…well…there wasn’t a lot of conflict there.
Encouraged by the judges’ comments (and let me say here, they were right on, professional, and even though they thought things needed to be changed, they said it in a constructive, positive way. I would strongly encourage any new writer to enter the TARA contest. The feedback is well worth the entry fee!) Anyway…encouraged by the judges’ comments, I sat back down and started again. I kept the characters, but not much else, and wrote in what I thought was a bunch of conflict. However, when I sent it to my CP (critique partner), she said there still wasn’t enough conflict.
She spent 3 hours in Instant Messenger with me one night and we piled the gloom, despair and misery onto my characters – mostly Erik, my hero. The poor guy. I rewrote the story again…in its entirety…for the second time. By this time, I was working with two new CPs and they really liked it but had a few comments and additions that resulted in…severe edits that could probably be considered rewrites.
Okay, let me say, at this point…I should have taken what I’d learned, applied it to a new story and stuffed this one in a very deep hole. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I loved Erik. And he was so wounded, and had been carrying so much hurt and guilt around with him for so long, I needed to make sure he had his happy ending.
I’m not sorry that I rewrote it so many times and spent four and a half years of my life with Kat and Erik. But I don’t think I’d do it again. First, I hope I’ve learned enough in these past four years that it wouldn’t take me that many tries to get it right. And secondly, I’m smarter about my career now. Hopefully, I know when it’s time to release a work-in-process, and move on to something new.
I can’t be the only one who’s done this, am I? Has anyone else had something they just couldn’t give up on? A new dress that looked absolutely nothing like the picture on the front of the pattern package? Quilted placemats that didn’t have a single perfect square? A piece of thrown pottery that was supposed to be a bowl, but you were the only one who knew what it was supposed to be? Something, that despite how bad it was, you just kept pushing through until you’d gotten it the way you wanted it?
I’ll be giving away two downloads of Savin’ Me today. All you have to do is leave a comment to be entered. Thanks for listening to my story and I hope today is the start of a great week for everyone!!
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 45 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
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Alannah, what an inspiring story. I’m so proud of you for not giving up. I’m sure you’ve learned a lot of valuable truths from this experience, and thank you for sharing.
My “not giving up” story is really boring in that I hope to one day be fairly debt-free (well except a mortgage). I’m slowly but surely getting there. It’s made me realize what’s important, not so much the material things in life. Maybe a year from now I’ll have achieved that dream. One day I WILL get there.
Good luck with your story.
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Wow, Stacy, that’s an awesome goal!!!
And I believe you, I KNOW you WILL get there!!! 
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Congratulations on your first release. My “not giving up” story still continues. My youngest daughter is Bipolar I and has been since birth. As a toddler, I couldn’t leave the house without her. No one, older siblings or father wanted to deal with it. She diagnosed herself at 14 and we worked on stabilizing her for several years. At the same time she withdrew from society and we are still working on that ten years later. She leaves the house for doctors appointments and occasionally something else. Otherwise, it’s cable TV, reading, the internet and sometimes spending time with me. I know you went through a lot with your family and I wish you much success with your writing career.
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Oh, Andrea, my heart goes out to your and your family – especially your daughter!! My youngest son has severe ADD and a mood disorder that presents itself like bi-polar disorder (the doctors are falling short of labeling it bi-polar and hope the meds he’s been on since he was 10 will eventually help the brain to heal and it won’t fully develop). He’s 14 now, but he’s also been like this since birth. Like a switch flips in his brain with no warning!
If you haven’t read The Bi-Polar Child, I strongly recommend it (even though she’s not a child anymore).
And I’ll tell you, the reason I found Janelle’s Wilde Series was because I was at B&N looking for something that didn’t involve ADD or bi-polar or mood disorder. I’d been so immersed in that type of reading over the past year, I had to have an escape. I saw the cover of The Wilde Side, it looked fun and so I snatched it up.
Wow…little did I know. LOL
There are several online support groups for families with bi-polar children (if there isn’t one in your community). If you want, e-mail me at alannah@alannahlynne.com and I’ll pass the websites along to you.
Huge hugs to you and your daughter and I wish her tons of good things to come in her life!!
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Keep at it, both of you. Even though Devil’s Spawn (that’s her name for herself on her, not mine!) has not been diagnosed as bi-polar (she refuses to go) she did get diagnosed severe ADHD and Emotional Disorder as a child and I refused to let the labels keep her down. I guess that is my one big project I refused to let go of. Now she’s in college and on her own. She still has bad times, but I am more than willing to be woken up in the middle of the night if she needs to talk or is feeling very down. All the drugs in the world are fine, but without the parental support and encouragement, well, they just don’t have as good a chance.
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You’re so right, Ev. And the whole “label” thing is why I’m glad the doctor’s have fallen short of sticking that on him. He obviously knows he has issues, but the doctor’s and us are hopeful as he ages it will get better, not worse, and I think that gives him something to work for. We’ve seen huge improvements over the past year or so, and I’m so grateful for them!!
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We actually had a teacher tell her she would never amount to anything. They got fired. I hate labels.
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Alannah–What a wonderful testament to your strength. Congratulations on the release of Savin’ Me. Thank you for sharing and I wish you all the best in your future projects.
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Thanks!! Although I have to be honest…I don’t know if it has to do so much with strength, or that I’m just too damned hard-headed and stubborn!
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Welcome, Alannah! I remember when my Oldest (with autism) lost his words (he didn’t have many to begin with when we started thinking that something might be wrong. I told my husband, my aunt (who teaches special ed preschool) and my mom that he was going to tell me “I love you’ and mean it (even if it was the last breath I took getting it out of him). I couldn’t live without that one little thing. We’ll after about a month, guess what? He was able to look at me and say it. That’s when I knew things were going to be bumpy, but okay. Since then, he has exceeded my expectations. We have a long way to go, but I know that if I can get him to do that one thing, I can get him to do anything. My heart breaks for families like mine whose kids cannot say that.
I read romance books for the same reason (and watch mindless tv). That’s why when they start having a character with autism, it drives me mad.
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Katie, that is such an awesome story!! I know things aren’t easy for you guys, but you have a wonderful attitude. You are his biggest advocate, and I know your faith in him makes a difference in what’s he’s been able to accomplish!
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Thank you, Allanah….My heart just breaks for other families. That’s why I fight for families like mine. I am very lucky and I don’t like being lucky.
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Hey Alannah! It is your turn. Yippee! Congrats again on pubbing Savin’ Me. You know I want it in print, and I hope that one day soon, the publishers will do that for you and me. Don’t count me in for the contest okay.
I don’t really have any of those don’t give up moments to share with you guys today, but what I have read so far is very moving. Thanks for sharing your story with us. I don’t know if I would have been able to open the envelope. The advice to enter a contest is a good one, but I don’t have the nerves steady enough to open myself up that way yet. I will one day though. The journey seems so long, but it is well worth it from what I have read here and at other writer sites.
Questions for Alannah: how long was your chapter? How did you know when to make a chapter break? Anyone can answer these questions too because I need all the input I can get.
Janelle, thanks for inviting Alannah to be a guest blogger. Have a great day everybody. I will check in again later. Alannah, have a blast swinging from the vines chica. See you later.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Hi Paula!!! I’m sorry about the print. If I’d been able to scrape out another 5,000 words, it would have been in print. But, at that point…I didn’t have another 5K words in me for this story!
Julie used to train the judges for TARA, I don’t know if she still does (maybe she’ll hop on here and speak about it), and that’s one reason I entered that contest. I knew the feedback would be great. The judges comments were positive and constructive. I’ve heard horror stories about judges ripping entries apart, and for that reason, I haven’t entered any other ocntests. But I knew the TARA would be different, and I was right.
Chapter lengths-I’d love to hear some of the others’ comments on this. While writing Savin’ Me, I wrote Reaction Time (which was published by Samhain in Dec. ’08). I did everything wrong when it came to chapter breaks in Reaction Time – but the one comment I’ve heard over and over about that books was that the readers couldn’t stop turning pages.
So maybe it wasn’t so wrong. I ended one chapter right in the middle of the first love scene. Just as they were about to get busy, I cut the chapter off. But I was switching POV and I wanted it to be a cliff hanger so I did it.
I think my best advice would be to learn and study scene and sequel structure, and that will give you a good guideline for ending scenes and chapters. I can give you several different references, classes to takes and books to look at. E-mail me if you want the list (or let me know on my blog).
Eek…sorry so long! Have a fab day!!
Peace and love!
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No worries about the length of your response…it has some valuable info Alannah. Sometimes, when I end chapters it is more of a gut feeling rather than a deliberate break. That could just be me figuring out my process…has anyone else done this?
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Paula, I have three important points in mind when I start a scene–Goal, conflict and hook. I also work to create a strong hook at the beginning of each scene/chapter. Whose POV are you writing the scene? What is their goal for the scene? What is the conflict standing in their way of reaching that goal and what is the hook at the end? Now some writers refer to the hook at the end as the disaster but I don’t like that word so I don’t use it. I prefer hook because I want to “hook” the reader and keep them turning the pages. Check out Shirley Jump’s web site because she has lots of great articles for writers including one on scene and sequel. She also gives fabulous workshops so if you can take one.
Does this help?
Cher
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Cher, thank you very much. This information is very helpful to me. I will check out that website.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Congrats on your new release, Alannah! As I’ve already read Savin’ Me, I can tell everyone to head over to Wild Rose Press and download your copy. It is an amazing story and I love Erik and Kat!
My goal that seems like I’ll never hit is to get out of debt too. I really want to buy a condo or townhouse, but need to get everything else paid off first. I was really making progress until my surgery last month.
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Hey Liza – aren’t you sweet!! (checks in the mail)
Good luck on getting back on track with reaching your goals!! We were in the same boat after Charles had his surgery. It’s like one step forward and two back. But I’m really glad your surgery went well and that the news is mostly positive. That’s the really important thing!!
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Congrats on your new book. My “not giving up” dream is to have a small business. This is my dream for now with three small children at home. Thankfully all are healthy, just some ear infections. It has been slow, but I am hoping to be able to start spending some more time on it now.
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Wow, Jen, that is an awesome dream!!! If you’ve never read Mary Kay Ash’s autobiography, you should find a copy and keep it handy. She was an amazing woman, mother and businesswoman. She was smart and inspirational and you might really find what she had to say encouraging.
Good luck and NEVER give up your dream!!!
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Loved this post, Alannah! I’ve also had a few characters I couldn’t give up on, despite numerous rejections, lol. But writing’s a journey, and the more you write, the more you learn, so the better you (and your stories) get. Congrats for sticking with it! Now you reap the payoff – publication. Wishing you all the best with Savin’ Me.
Last year, when I first began to be published, began a roller coaster of extremes. Every bit of good news as far as acceptances was matched with an extreme personal low for my family or me. Writing saved my sanity (or some of it anyway) and I hope it does the same for you.
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Hi Cate!! Thanks for dropping by to visit. I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one who had characters turn into stalkers.
I admire you for being able to keep writing when things aren’t going great personally. 10 stories in the past year is proof that you can obviously keep pushing through when things get rough!!! Hopefully, this year, it will all be smooth sailing and nothing but great news for you!!
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Well I’m not a writer so that will never have to be a goal for me- finishing my TBR pile is a whole nother thing!
Even though everyone tells me to give up on them- I refuse to give up on the 2 remaining adult step-children, who after 13 years of marriage to their father, still have a problem with me. We’re the same age- I have many years left to dog their steps until the yell Uncle. Or Aunt. Or anything.
Ok, maybe that’s just the Sicilian in me.
I have been known to redo my stained glass over and over until I just have to go cut new pieces and start over. Same with cross-stitch. It used to be the same when I was sewing my own clothes.
I gave up on getting the house keeping portion of life right a long time ago. Somethings gotta give.
And now I am going to head over to Wild Rose Press and do some pre-CA Trip shopping!!
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You’ve mentioned your step-children before and I think it’s incredible that you’re able to still believe the best in them after all this time! And your support for your daughter is fabulous. Even though I’ve spent a lot of time lurking over the past year or so, I do read and keep up with everyone. I’m glad to know the move is working out well for her!
I did stained glass for a while, but I didn’t have the patience to stick with that. My mom, however, does beautiful stained glass work! I already have plans of things I want her to make for me when I move into my new house. (hehe…Mom, you listening?)
I did cross-stitch too. But after making a huge piece that took about 6 months of non-stop work (that was before my writing days) I haven’t been able to pick up another piece!
And that mention about “making a dress that looked nothing like the picture on the pattern”…. 
Only tried that once!
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I do snowflakes and lots of them. LOL I really do need to get back into my glass. Once I find my dining room and then work up the energy to actually clean it up.
I guess you could say I believe in them (their own brother and sister tell me to give up on them) or it’s just I am a stubborn Sicilian/Scot. I’ll either force them into it or put a hit out on them!!
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What a treat this morning to check in with the Jungle and find you blogging here. Aren’t the Plotmonkeys just the bee’s knees!! I don’t know of four better women anywhere.
Alannah, you amaze me everytime I read one of your e-mails. I MUST read this story especially if it’s roots are in the courtship of Alannah and Charles. Jungle crawlers this lady has more strength and more heart that anyone I know. You’re m’avelous, d’aling, simply m’avelous.
As far as not giving up on something, my current WIP in which my hero is a mortician like your loving Charles….I have almost stopped writing it quite a few times. I’ve had several published and unpublished writers tell me it will never sell, it’s unmarketable, it has an ick factor and nobody wants to read a mortician hero. One person even said “when I read the words IRS and mortician I flee the room.” That comment hurt. Of course, I explained to them that there are no morbid, sad or ghoulish scenes in this book but they tell me I’m wasting my time. I should scrap what I’ve written and move on because an editor may ask me to change the hero’s profession anyway. I did have an editor at HQN who was interested in seeing it when it’s done but she has since retired. Just my luck. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something. And yet despite those negative comments ringing in my head I plow toward the end. It’s definitely the hardest book I’ve ever tried not to write.
Thanks for being here today, sweetie
Cher
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Well these people have never met too many morticians have they? I know a bunch of them (had one at my first weddding- just in case! Old Family Friend) another I worked with for years. He and others were part of the beginning of the group to do major disasters- TWA flight 800.
They have a warped sense of humor which I love! Think about it- what do they deal with? They have to be warped and the humor is perfect.
Six Feet Under was a major hit.
Do these people know about that show btw?? Really?
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They never mentioned Six Feet Under. I forgot about that show. I think it did pretty well. They reiterated that romance is about fantasy. Readers want an escape. Very true. They said there is no romantic lore concerning morticians like there is with vampires, werewolves, bad boy motorcyclists, cops, military heroes…and basically I’m wasting my time on a book that no one will buy.
Cher
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I think there were books put out once the show took off too but I don’t remember. I know that there are for Dexter.
And speaking of that, it’s about a coroner. And then you have Bones- also a coroner. So what makes a coroner so much sexier than a mortician?
Is your story done with a sense of humor? That may make all the difference. Think of the calamaty that goes on in the Stephanie Plum novels at the local funeral home. Or which ever series I read that takes place in a cemetary where the Heroine works?
Death is fine- I personally prefer it to come with a sense of humor is all- no matter how warped.
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Yes, the story is filled with humor and a lot of sizzle. It’s a fun, fun story. No embalming or crematorium scenes in this book. Some humorous caskets too. One in which a surfer is being buried and there are cresting waves painted on the casket with bare feet on one end. The toes are curled as if around the top edge and the words Hang Ten written underneath.
My hero has a great sense of humor. He is also an adrenaline junkie because he sees first hand where people end up. She gets people in the beginning(wedding planner) and he gets them at the end. 
Cher
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See? That is a book I would pick up. It’s quirky, different and definately appeals to my warped sense of humor. Finish it anyway!!
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Congratulations, Alannah! We are so proud of you!!!
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Thank you!!
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Allanah it really is exciting to have you here, as a published author. I feel like I’ve gotten to know you so well over the past 4 years, it’s almost like a proud mama watching her kid graduate…lolol!
We’ll be having a few more Plotmonkeys visitors-turned-pubbed-authors guest-blogging here next month and I just can’t wait!
Congratulations again!
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Thanks, Leslie! It’s amazing how close I feel to all of you, not just the monkeys but to all the jungle bunnies. Just like the other day when Carly posted that Bailey was 3!!
That was a little shocking! I remember the day she went and got Bailey and I just can’t believe it’s been that long.
I’m so proud to say I’ve been here since the beginning – well, in the first few months, at least. The jungle and it’s inhabitants have helped me through the roughest years of my life – literally! – and ya’ll will never know how much that’s meant to me!
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Oh, I forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS!!
Cher
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LOL. It’s quite all right, but thanks.
OK..I gotta be honest about something here. Charles and I were talking about this at lunch, and he and I both agree on something. The word “mortician” totally creeps us out!!
If I had to say I was married to a mortician, I’d lie.
Maybe it’s a geographical thing, but I personally don’t know any morticians. Everyone I know in the business, refers to themselves as funeral directors. Most of them are licensed embalmers too, but the biggest part of their job is directing funerals, taking care of the families to the best of their abilities and making sure every tiny detail is seen to.
Maybe changing the word “mortician” to “funeral director” might evoke a different kind of feeling. I don’t know, but it’s just a thought.
As for finishing that story…you’ve gotta go with your heart and gut. But you’ve worked on it for so long, I don’t know how you can NOT finish it. Even if you just finish it for you, and it doesn’t ever sell, that’s still a huge accomplishment and one you should feel proud of.
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Hey Allanah, thanks for the tip about word choice. I can totally work that into the story.
I’ll definitely finish it and pitch it. All they can do is say no. It’s not like I haven’t heard “no” before.
Cher
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I agree- change it for the squemish! LOL but she is right, it just might be the occupational title that is doing it
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Alannah, Congrats on your release SAVIN’ ME!!! Glad that all of your hard work can now be shared with all of us!!! Wishing you the best!
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Thanks, Colleen!!
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Hi Alannah, welcome to the jungle!!!
Congratulations on your book!!! 
Your post hit home for me today. A year ago I started my first book or wip only to find out that the I had no conflict. I had a great hero too. I loved Luck. His counter part, Ava, was sassy and fun, while having a soft heart. They were perfect for each other, but that wasn’t enough to carry the story to the end.
Last Novemember, I entered NANOWRIMO in the attempt to try and finish my wip with the working title Finding Home. I had written 5,000 words already and thought I could do the other 45,000 with no problemo. That was either the smartest thing I’ve done or the dumbest. The jury is still out on that one.
It didn’t help matters much that it was THE worst month for me either.
I managed to write an 15,000 words total before I discovered to my own horror that there was no conflict to be found in my plot. I immediatley stopped working and it broke me heart. It took me three weeks to come out of hiding. 
Needless to say, I never finished NANOWRIMO.
When I did mangae to come out, I discovered two things 1)I better grow some thick skin and 2) I better get to work reworking my plot.
I am currently 4,000 words into the reworked story line and plot. An I even managed to keep my protagonists.
While I know I have my own strength that forges me ahead when I feel like throwing my hands up, I also have the plot monkeys to thank. They offer such great advice to writers with their own blog posts and the special guests they bring to the jungle. Thank you again Alannah for sharing your story today!
~Talina
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Oh, Talina!! I feel your pain! You are exactly where I was several years ago.
First of all, you need to give yourself a big pat on the back for finishing 15K words! You were at the keyboard (or had a pen) and you were writing. Good for you!!
Secondly, you realized you needed more conflict. Being able to see what’s wrong, so you can fix it is HUGE! I’ll use Silver’s comment below as an example. She knew something wasn’t right, but couldn’t figure it out. even over several rewrites. And you’re already way ahead of the game, over me. I didn’t figure it out until I’d rewritten it. Twice!
Best of luck and just keep plugging along until you’ve reached “The End.”
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I have one of those books. I’m rewriting it right now to be pitched at my chapter conference and then again at Nationals. When I first wrote it, I’d lived with the MC for almost three years. Since I wrote it (and I won’t mention what an editor had to say about it…the NICEST thing she mentioned was that I had a warped sense of humor!), I’ve re-edited it three or four times over the past two/three years but just couldn’t wrap my head around what was needed. Since then, I’ve also learned so much about the craft of writing and I’m finally fixing all the Pug Uglies in the book. It’ll be better for the wholesale slaughtering I’ve done. This is a true rewrite, not *just* an edit.
I look at all the things the readers here in the Jungle have managed to do with their lives, the hopes and dreams they’ve refused to let die, and I’m awed by each and every one of them! I feel blessed to be a part of this community!
And :Irish1: Happy St. Patrick’s Day (Coming soon to a party near you! :Irish2: )
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Dang, Silver! No, you rock! Thanks for already getting your copy!!
My fingers are crossed for you on that rewrite. I can’t wait for you to come back from Nationals and tell me who requested it (I’m not going to be able to go to Nationals after all, so I’ll be looking for tweets and comments).
I look forward to your release next month!!!
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Release???? What release???
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LOL Ev!
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Sounds like you had quite a journey and learned a lot. I haven’t ever an experience quite like that. I tend to move one if I can’t get what I’m working on to resemble what I want within a few tries.
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Thanks, Karin. I’m the same as you, most of the time. First, I expect I should be able to do something perfectly the first time and when I don’t, I get very frustrated. Secondly, I’m not a very patient person (boy, is this business changing that!).
I mostly blame Erik for my tenacity on this. He was pretty insistent. He popped into my head at all times of the day and night, he kept me awake almost every night, and he just wouldn’t let me give up on him.
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Congratulations on Savin’ Me, Alannah. And what a great backstory – especially since today I begin the re-write of Lady Bells (yet again). It’s good to know that if you believe in something with all your heart, things will go well – you just need a little time and a whole lot of determination.
My challenges pale in comparison to those mentioned here (yours included). I applaud all of you who are nuturing a child with problems. Erma Bombeck once said (and I am paraphrasing here) that…k, I couldn’t quite remember, so I went looking. Still brings a tear to my eye: Go Here.
K, I also don’t know how to use the linky thing here – sorry.
Again, congrats, Alannah :)
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Well, that’s a big old mess, isn’t it.
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All fixed!
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Thanks, Julie :)
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Without that warped sense of humor I would never have made it!!
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Wow, Janet, that’s awesome! I’ve never read that before and I’m so glad you shared the link (mess and all
).
BTW…you’re blog today is great! I love the poem. I think you should definitely keep it. And like you said, you did write something.
Good luck with the rewrite of Lady Bells and with finishing that *gag* synopsis!
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Thanks, Alannah – I think that’s the best thing about this journey, the friends you make along the way and the support they lend you in good times and, well, blocked times.
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Congratulations on sticking with writing and getting published!
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Gosh, somehow I missed this comment last evening. Thanks, Estella!!
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Paula, I’m glad it helped.
Did you guys know that today is National Penis Day in Japan? They have a parade with wooden penises and everything!
It’s to celebrate fertility and babies.
Cher
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I’ve seen video before of it, but didn’t know it was today! Big Dick Day!
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I did not know that. And honestly, I probably could’ve gotten through the day without that little tidbit!
However, my morbid curiousity it going to get the best of me, I can feel it building inside, I’m going to have to go find the video Ev mentioned. 
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I’ve just gotta say that even though I may be a bit biased since I’ve loved Erik from the beginning that this book is
You know how thrilled and proud of you I am for hanging with this book and crafting such marvelous characters. Your determination and drive have always, and will always be, an inspiration and motivation for me–especially on those days that it just seems like too much to deal with.
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Dang, your check is in the mail too!!
Like I said before, hard-headed stubbornness definitely comes into play at times, but there’s no doubt that having CP’s, and friends, like you and Lu keep me going when I want to crawl into bed, pull the covers over my head, and never write another word.
Julie talked about it a couple of Saturdays ago, but there’s no doubt about it: Friends who understand this crazy business are priceless!!
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Wow, Alannah, you’ve had a VERY busy day here in the jungle!!!
We love having you here on a daily basis as a friend, but it’s even more special to have you as a published author! Here’s to many, many more books in your future!!! 
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Thanks, Janelle!!! This has been one of the best days ever! It’s so much fun to be here with everyone like this! Thank you!!!!
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It sounds as if it was a tough road to today! Congratulations on your stick-to-it
attitude and getting the book published! I look forward to reading it!
Pat Cochran
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Thanks, Pat!! I think today, alone, made it all worth it!!
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This is so wonderful. You did great. I hope your husband and son are doing well.
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Hi Deb, thanks!!
Everyone is doing great. Thanks for asking! My husband had surgery to remove what of the tumor that they could, and 14 rounds of chemo tablets (not nearly as invasive as regular chemo, but it still took a toll on his body). The remaining part of the tumor had significant regression with the chemo and his MRI’s have been “stable” for a year – a year this month!!
My son’s kidney problems were related to an undiagnosed strep infection, one he’d had for 6 months!! And, he’d been going to the doctor all that time – and had even told them he felt like he had strep. Needless to say, he has a new doctor now.
He still has some residual issues from that, but for the most part, he’s doing great!
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Alannah! Congratulations on your book release! I’m VERY PLEASED that the TARA contest judges were so helpful. I’ve been training the judges for over five years now, so I’m glad to know that our method was helpful to you. Once you’ve trained a judge, you can’t control what they write or see, so it’s feedback like yours that let’s us know we’re doing our job right!
(Deadline for the contest is May 1 — We’re not yet taking entries, but will be soon!)
I read your whole blog nodding and nodding. You obviously learned a lot about your process and it was very helpful to hear you tell your story! I’m so glad it has a happy ending! (Or a happy beginning, as the case may be!!!)
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Thanks, Julie!!! I’m so glad you stopped by. I was thinking it had to be getting near. When you have the info, if you’ll send it to me, I’ll post it to the RWA Chapters loops and boards where I’m a member (if you’d like).
Thanks for letting me swing through here, I’ve had a great time!!!
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i loved reading your journey and can’t wait to read this book.
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Thanks, Claudia!!