Plot Monkeys

I am so excited to have Sherry Thomas here at Plotmonkeys today. Her book, PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS, was one of my favorites for the year. It’s amazing on so many levels…great plot, amazing characterization, unusual and unique storytelling technique, underused time period, super sexy…I can’t say enough good things about the book. And for me, it all started with a book trailer.

I saw this and figured an author with that great of a sense of humor was someone I wanted to read. So I did and I wasn’t disappointed! Now, her new book, DELICIOUS, is on my TBR pile (having just arrived from Amazon!) and I can’t wait to dig in!

I also couldn’t wait to share my love for this new and amazing author with the readers of Plotmonkeys. So many of us cut our reader teeth on historical romances, it’s fabulous to have such a fresh voice in the genre with us today! Without further ado…

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Beyond Boobs and Buttocks

First I would like to thank Julie Leto for her lovely invitation to guest blog here at Plot Monkeys. And I can’t tell you how glad I am that she told me it is a craft topic—I get bored talking about myself and I don’t know enough about publishing to give anyone a whole column of advice. But writing? Bring it on.

For the longest time, the topic I had in mind was Chemistry. It is one of the most important ingredients in a successful romance, and one that is seldom addressed. And then I realized, of course, why it doesn’t come up very often in craft topics, because trying to teach romantic chemistry is like trying to teach someone how to live a rich, fulfilling life: the topic is so vast and cmplex that I either have to devote my entire life to it or I’m reduced to meaningless slogans like “Beyond Boobs and Buttocks!”

So I decided to whittle down the scope of my post to physical desirability, or rather, the successful portrayal of it. In a romance, the lead characters are generally reasonably attractive people. Therefore, their physical desirability has less to do with their looks—most heroes are handsome and fit—than what else they bring to the table. For example, Brad Pitt is often cited as the western male ideal. Is Brad Pitt really that beautiful? I think there are other actors in Hollywood who are equally if not more gorgeous. But very few exude the kind of charm and sexual charisma that buttress Brad’s physical allure.

How does a writer make her hero or heroine stand out in a sea of dazzling good looks?

Here’s an example from Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s Match Me If You Can on a hero whose nickname is The Python:

The Python’s office was the color of money: lacquered jade walls, thick moss carpet, and furniture upholstered in varying shades of green accented with bloodred pillows.

Color of money? It was at that point that I knew the book was going to be awesome. Now I couldn’t wait to meet him.

The Python turned slowly in his chair, and Annabelle felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach.

He was square-jawed and tough, everything about him proclaiming a brash, self-made man—a roughneck who’d flunked charm school the first couple of times around but had finally gotten it right on the third pass. His hair was thick and crisp, its rich color a cross between a leather portfolio and a bottle of Bud. He had a straight, confident nose and bold dark brows, one of which was bisected near the end with a thin pale scar. The firm set of his well-molded mouth proclaimed a low tolerance for fools, a passion for hard work that bordered on obsession, and possbily—although this might be her imagination—a determination to own a small chalet near St. Tropez before he was fifty. If it weren’t for a vague irregularity to his features, he would have been unbearably gorgeous. Instead, he was merely drop-dead good-looking. What did a man like this need with a matchmaker?

As he spoke into the phone, he turned his eyes on her. They were the exact green of a hundred-dollar bill singed at the edges with displeasure.

Gorgeous? Sure. But much more than that was the alpha-ness of this man, his worldly success, his ruthlessness and still-unappeased ambition. I’m convinced that the Python is one of the most vivid characters Susan Elizabeth Phillips ever created, in a body of work that is densely populated with extraordinarily vivid characters.

My personal reaction? I am torn between a pressing need to run away screaming from the Python and an equally great urge to be devoured whole by him.

Because SEP is such a master—I really should rush to Chicago to abase myself at her strappy-sandaled feet—our next example also comes from her, from Breathing Room, her Tuscany-set romance between a very good girl and an exceptionally bad boy.

…so she studied the statues on the other side of the piazza, copies of The Rape of the Sabines, Cellini’s Perseus, Michaelangelo’s David. Then her eyes settled on the most amazing man she’d ever seen….

He sat three tables away, a portrait of Italian decadence in a rumpled black silk shirt with dark stubble on his jaw, long hair and La Dolce Vita eyes. Two elegantly tapered fingers curled around the stem of the wineglass that dangled indolently from his hand. He looked rich, spoiled, bored—Marcello Mastroianni stripped of his clown face and chiseled into perfect male beauty for an avaricious new millennium.

In three sentences, SEP has given us a man who emanates sex, sin, and danger from every pore. This time I don’t even have the sense to want to run away. I go at him in a kamikaze craze, whimper “Corrupt me. God, please corrupt me” as I rip into that rumpled black silk shirt.

Now from 21st century to the 14th century. Here’s a little physical description from Laura Kinsale’s For My Lady’s Heart,

She felt herself strangely daunted by him, overpowered by his greater size, the black line of his legs, the heavy square links of the belt that hung at his hips. He wore it as if it had no weight at all, though each joint, ornate and thick, studded with the silvery sable of marcasite crystals, would have balanced a cobblestone on the measuring scale. But in his velvet he moved effortlessly.

This passage does not come at the beginning of the book, but quite late in it. The hero has been established as a thoroughly good, trustworthy, wonderful knight. But until this point, I don’t really think of him as sexy. The belt, however, clinches it for me, that heavy, square, masculine belt. (It is the details, always the details that do the trick, particularly if it is an unexpected detail.) Can you imagine the magnificent physique it takes to wear such a tremendous belt? I can and someone please pour a bucket of cold water on me.

Heroes can be simply presented in their glory, and when done well, readers of romance, largely female, largely heterosexual, will respond. With heroines it is slightly different. At least for me it is different. I need to see the heroine from the hero’s eyes, to see why this one particular woman is so special, to a vastly desirable man who is often jaded, and who has sometimes slept with legions of beautiful women without ever committing himself. In other words, I need an emotional response, something from deep inside him, from places that he himself does not care to frequent, for whatever reasons.

Our next example come from one of the most celebrated romances of our time, Loretta Chases Lord of Scoundrels. What makes LOS so wonderful is the continual destablization of our black-hearted hero by every encounter with the heroine, starting from the very beginning.

She looked up.

And a swift, fierce heat swept Lord Dain from the crown of his head to the toes in his champagne-buffed boots. The heat was immediately succeeded by a cold sweat.

“My lord,” she said with a curt nod.

“Miss Trent,” he said. Then he could not for the life of him produce another syllable.

…

For one deranged instant, while he contemplated licking her from the top of her alabaster brow to the tips of her dainty toes, he wondered what her price was.

But out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed his reflection in the glass.

His dark face was harsh and hard, the face of Beelzebub himself. In Dain’s case, the book could be judged accurately by the cover, for he was dark and hard inside as well. His was a Dartmoor soul, where the wind blew fierce and the rain beat down upon grim, gry rocks, and where the pretty green patches of ground turned out to be mires that could suck down an ox.

What’s in the ellipses? Three paragraph of more or less what she looked like. Why did I not put it in? Because I could care less–her hair could be another color, her eyes and nose and mouth shaped differently altogether. What interests me is his reaction, that his thoughts immediately turned to his own beastliness. He is alarmed, uncomfortable, and, in a way, enraged. Now we are talking.

Because I’m a major Laura Kinsale fangirl, she too supplies a second example of a deep emotional response on the hero’s part to the heroine’s physical desirability.

Already he walked the public streets in a mist, halfway between reality and fantasies of her. He was aroused by nothing more than the neat, straight line of her back, from her demure collar down to the curve of her hip. Knowning the real contour beneath the gathered abundance of fabric and padding stimulated him; a trace of shared scent or the sight of the tiny, tender wisps of hair at the nape of her neck when she bent her head over some glass-topped counter were electrifying.

And the sleep, heavy and dreamless, that overcame him after he had her; it scared him. In its own way, it carried more power and attraction than the act itself. To hold her close and drift into limbo while she talked in that gently animated voice of what they’d bought and seen that day—talked, for God’s sake; when the lethargy took hold of him like a blanket of dusky cotton unrolling, and he could not answer, nor help himself; utterly lax, wholly vulnerable and happy—he felt it must be someone else who lay there. It could not be himself.

Sigh. Sigh again. I just melt when a man loves a woman so madly, so much that it scares him. Do I believe he finds her to be the most beautiful creature alive? You bet I do.

I wanted to round out this post with an example from the great Judith Ivory’s Beast, one of the most ravishing books I’ve ever read. But alas, as I looked around my bookshelves, I realized that I’d loaned my copy to a friend.

So with a good deal of trepidation, because I’m not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as these other authors, I offer up an example from my own book,
Delicious. It is, in its way, a curious example, because it takes my point—that one does not need to give into elaborate description of the heroine’s looks to convey her desirability to the hero–to something of an extreme.

Chocolate. He’d never had chocolate before he came to live at Fairleigh Park, but
when he was seven someone had given him a shred of paper that had once been wrapped
around a piece of imported chocolate. He’d pressed the wrapper to his nose and inhaled
as deeply as his lungs allowed, dreaming of chocolate enough to bury him.

Her custard smelled like that, a good smell made mythical by fervid imagination
and true hunger. Suddenly he was famished again. He wolfed down the whole content
of the ramekin in seconds, barely tasting anything as he ate.

Only as he slumped back into his chair did the residual flavors ambush his senses.
For a moment the inside of his mouth tingled and luxuriated, a burst of glory. But the
sensation faded just as quickly, leaving in its wake only the same obstinate, inexplicable
craving.

A craving that was not limited to chocolate custard. He saw himself invading
Mme. Durant’s kitchen and trapping her in a dark corner of her domain. He imagined her
wordless consent, the urgency of her ungentle grip on his arms.

She would be thin and frail, with the heartbreaking strength of those too long
accustomed to hard work. He’d cup her face between his hands and kiss her. She’d taste
of whiskey freshly consumed, hot and pure. And all about them would billow the scent
of high summer, strawberries ripened to the seduction of juicy red lips—

He came out of his chair. He was thinking of her again, when he’d already
decided, most firmly, not to think of her anymore. A man could not set his life by the
eclipses of the sun.

At least, try as he had, he could not.

That her is a young woman the hero had met briefly years ago and loved ever since. Little does he know that she and the notorious cook he’d just inherited are one and the same. But he is going to be—oh, is he ever going to be—thinking rather obsessively of the cook from this point on.

Craft posts are dangerous. Because they are very much one person’s definition of good writing and how to achieve good writing. You the writer should feel absolutely free to discard any and all advice, no matter how well-meaning, that does not suit you and your story. And there is no need for you to ever read authors you don’t enjoy just to see if you could learn from their writing—you won’t.

That said, I think the books I’ve quoted here today (with the exception of mine, bien sur) are shining examples of everything a romance can be—terrific prose, beautiful characterization, killer emotional intensity—and I highly encourage everyone to study them at length.

Thank you again to Julie for inviting me and thank you everyone for taking time out on your weekend to read this @#$%ing long post!

For a chance to win a pair of PAUL FRANK “monkey” slippers in hot pink, size large (fits everyone I’d think even if they’re big!) and a signed ARC of Carly’s October release: LUCKY CHARM!, all you have to do is comment below. Winner drawn at random and posted Sunday. Outside the U.S. winner will receive $25 Amazon Gift Card instead.

First, for those of you who stopped by the blog yesterday, I wanted to give everyone an update on how Julie’s dad is doing. He went in yesterday for a triple bypass and everything went very well. He’s in the hospital and now starting the recovery process. Thank you everyone for all your wonderful thoughts and prayers for Julie and her dad! You all are AWESOME!

Another big THANK YOU to Donna, Cher, and Paula for your reports on the RWA San Francisco conference. It was such fun “seeing” the conference through someone else’s eyes. You all did a great job on making us all feel as though we were right there with you, and you’re hired for next year, too!

Since I didn’t take my camera to conference with me this year (the first time ever — I’m usually the taking snapshots of everyone!), I don’t have any pictures to share. Carly did take one of the four of us Plotmonkeys, and hopefully she’ll be able to put it up sometime today. I think it’s the only picture the four of us took together this trip! I think that’s because for the most part we were holed up in our rooms plotting like good little Plotmonkeys. We really kept our appearances to a minimum because we had so much plotting stuff to get done.

A NOTE FROM LESLIE:

I’m home and I’ve got one!

It was such a joy and pleasure to meet in person so many people that I’ve corresponded with on-line and here on this blog. So many people came up to all four of us to tell us how much they enjoy reading our blog — a lot of them weren’t regular “posters”, but they were regular readers, and that’s all that matters to us. We were warmed by so many warm hellos and greetings, as well as amazed at how many people out there read our blogs on a daily basis. If you’re one of the ones who read the blog but don’t post, come on and join the fun!

Now, we’re coming up to my conference “squee” moment, and I have to say ahead of time that for the most part during this conference I didn’t want to do a whole lot of stuff outside of the hotel room. Yes, call me a loser, LOL. There were a few parties I ducked out of because I just wasn’t in the party mood, and I think Carly drew the line when I told her that I really didn’t want to go to the Reader’s Choice Award reception (where I was nominated for best single title for BORN TO BE WILDE), because I honestly, truly, didn’t expect to win. I mean, c’mon, I was up against our own Leslie Kelly, Susan Mallery, Kelley St. John & Lori Wilde. But, I did want to be there for Leslie, because SHE’S NO ANGEL has been such a good book for her this year (with a RITA nod, too!) and I thought if anyone was going to win, it was going to be HER. So, imagine my utter surprise when MY name was called. It took a few seconds for it to register that *I* had actually won. Wow. (i.e. my Squee Moment ) Then came the part I dread the most — making a speech. I dread public speaking, and this was in front of a crowd of at least 50 or more women. Somehow I managed to get my award without tripping up the stairs, and make a speech thanking the three most important people in my writing life — my Plotmonkey sisters, Carly, Leslie, and Julie.

So, needless to say, I was surprised, stunned, and excited that readers enjoyed my book enough to make it a Reader’s Choice for Best Single Title. Other than the RITA (a gold statuette), I think the National Reader’s Choice Award is the 2nd most covetted award — it’s absolutely gorgeous. We call it the “headstone” because that’s exactly what it looks like. It’s big, and heavy, and your name and book title is carved into the marble-like stone. Here’s a picture of what mine looks like:

Winning the award (while not expecting to win at all!), was just what I needed to give me that kick in the pants to get back to work on the next Wild book!

Now, for a bit of “off topic” stuff. How many of you are watching the show So You Think You Can Dance? I’ve watched it all season, and I have to say that I think this season of dancers have been, by far, the absolute best. We’re down to the final four in the competition (from left to right in the picture below: Twitch, Katee, Courtney & Joshua). Last night was the finale, and tonight they crown the best dancer of them all. Personally, I’m rooting for Katee. She’s been fabulous throughout the entire season — though I have to say that the other three have been equally as good. Katee is just a personal favorite for me!

So, if you’ve been watching So You Think You Can Dance, who are you rooting for?

Hi, all. Julie here. Before I give you the long-awaited (and worth waiting for!) report from Paula, I have a special request. At 12 noon Eastern time, my father is having bypass surgery. You all know I’ve spoken about my Dad a lot and how close we are…to say I’m a wreck is an understatement. But I’ll get through it because we Letos are nothing if not tough. But if you could all take a look at my dad, Sam, and say a little prayer for his safe surgery and recovery, I’d really appreciate it. Prayers work best in numbers!

And now, without further ado, heeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrreeeeeeeee’s Paula~!
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30Jul08

Hey jungle buddies! I am one of the “reporters” for the author signing. I was sort of on an undercover mission and only one of the Plotmonkeys really knew what was going on. Today was insane. I got to the hotel really early, I mean, hours early, and just hung around near the Starbucks Coffee Shop in the hotel. This hotel, San Francisco Marriott, was amazing. The foyer is unbelievable and it was so busy.

When I first walked in, I was wondering who I was going to see, and thought about how I would react if I ever did see anyone of my favorite authors. Needless to say, I didn’t really see anyone until it got really close to the time for the author signing. So many of them walked by, and sat near me, but I was too shy to speak to them. I was somewhat intimidated by all of them.

I actually went to the hotel early because I was meeting up with Kate Douglas before the author signing, just to chit chat and such. She was awesome. It was incredible sitting down and spending some time with her. Kate is so full of energy, and it was great to finally meet her in person. We talked for about half an hour, and then she had to leave.

It was almost time for the author signing to start, and when I went downstairs to the Yerba Buena Ballroom area, I was amazed at how many people were in the line already. I don’t know how they got passed me without my noticing them. I guess there was just too much going on around me. Anyway, I joined the line, and it felt like we were waiting forever. I started to get a little anxious; can you tell this is my first time? I was so scared because I didn’t know what I was going to do when I got inside. Finally, the doors opened and I took a deep breath. It was great because I wasn’t too far back in line so I was able to get inside really quickly.

Let me describe how I felt when I first walked in. After I stepped into the room, I stopped in my tracks. The lights were blazing and I was stunned at the number of authors that were in the room; there were hundreds of them. I felt like I was let into a forbidden space, or rather, like a kid in a candy store. I know that sounds crazy, but I didn’t know what to expect, and I was absolutely blown away by them. The noise level was low until all the people who were waiting finally got into the room. I finally unfroze and then my mind started racing, “Where do I go?” “What do I do?” “Where do I start?” are just some of the questions that ran into my mind. I felt like there was so much going on in my head and I had to get out of the doorway and go into a corner for a little bit. I gave myself a little pep talk, and I finally calmed down. Once I was ready, I went off to find my beloved Plotmonkeys.

I found Janelle first, and I was so excited. I didn’t gush all over her like I wanted to, but I couldn’t stop smiling as was the case with all the monkeys. She recognized me, and I was a little surprised; I don’t even know why. I didn’t get a picture of her, and I am “bumming” about that, because something happened to my camera. Janelle, I was able to fix it later, but I failed to see you again before I left the ballroom. I didn’t realize that Janelle was so tall, and her hair looked fabulous. She then directed me to
Jules, who was so awesome.

When she saw me, Jules had a look on her face that said, “I know this person, but I am not sure.” Jules, that’s my interpretation. She also knew who I was, and I was still a little surprised, you think it would sink by then that they knew who I was. I went to find Les next, but I stopped a lot to take pictures and just look around. My camera was still acting up, but I was able to take pictures the “old-fashioned way.” I couldn’t believe that I was actually in a room with some of my favorite authors.

Les was awesome too, and yes, she recognized me too; we talked for a bit, and she wanted pictures. She looked absolutely wonderful, by the way. Carly was just as welcoming as all the other monkeys. She is very personable. It was nice talking to her. It felt so good to actually meet and talk to them in person. I felt so privileged to have their attention for more than a few seconds. I was and am still ecstatic about the whole experience.

Even now, as I sit here writing up this “report,” I can’t believe how fortunate I was to actually be there. It was a little overwhelming at first, but I was able to maintain. I was so giddy when I met the monkeys, some of my other favorites like Gena Showalter, who also recognized me. When it came time for it all to end, I was a little sad that it was over, but hey, there is always next year. After it was all over, I was going to meet up with Les, but she wasn’t able to make it. As I was coming down in the elevator, I was fortunate enough to get on one with just Carly and Janelle. I wanted to say so much to them, but I didn’t want them to think I was following them around. They talked to me though. Gosh, looking back I realize that I was such a rube; I like that word. I barely looked them in the face while I was with them. I was so self-conscious, and star-struck, believe it or not. If it happened again, I would probably do the same thing. I am a lot shier than I appear to be when I am in the jungle.

I hope to have the opportunity to go to another one of these signings. Maybe, I won’t be so nervous about talking to Jules, Les, Carly and Janelle then. If you guys haven’t had a chance to meet them, make every effort to do so. They are really and truly what I expected and more. Thank you, guys, for being a part of one of the most memorable moments in my life. I felt loved and appreciated. I love you guys…

Peace and love,

Paula R.

Hey, all. Julie here. Leslie is off drinking wine somewhere in Sonoma, so I’m taking over her blog for the next two days…well, Paula and Cher are with their delayed reports…totally my fault due to email problems. They were both so enthusiastic and creative…I’m posting Cher’s today and Paula’s tomorrow. THANK YOU, LADIES!!!

Without further ado…
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Day One
This is Cher Gorman, reporter for WMIR-Monkey Internet Radio—on special assignment for The Plotmonkeys, aka Julie Leto, Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison and Leslie Kelly, four fabulous fantastic and fabled authors whose books light up the bestseller lists. Don’t forget to sign on to the legendary Plotmonkeys blog – www.plotmonkeys.com each day to stay informed about the latest and greatest from these swinging jungle babes themselves.

I’m here in beautiful San Francisco at the Marriott hotel to report on the celebrity sightings, the gossip, the intrigue that is happening now at the Romance Writers of America 28th Annual National Conference.

Hold it! This just in! The 2008 “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing has officially begun! With heightened anticipation I make my way into the ballroom crowded with an array of celebrity writers including *gasp* the famous Plotmonkeys whose glittering presence adds a bewitching touch to this magical evening. Their tables are teeming with salivating fans eager to get their hands on the latest Julie Leto, Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison or Leslie Kelly book! The excitement is palpable! I reluctantly tear my gaze away from the Plotmonkeys to look around the room. I see authors of every sub-genre of romance, including BLAZE au thors, Cindi Myers, Jacquie D’Alessandro, Hope Tarr and Rhonda Nelson among many others lending their star status and donating their time to this worthy cause.

And now, I must join in the fun and bid you all a good night. Tomorrow, I will be back with another report that is sure to titillate so stay tuned!

Day Two
Thursday – First Day of Conference

This is Cher Gorman, reporter for WMIR-Monkey Internet Radio—reporting to you live from the Marriott hotel where the Romance Writers of America 28th Annual National Conference is in full swing. The air is rife with intrigue and speculation as the night of all nights, The Rita and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony looms closer and closer. Just two days to go before the winners are announced. Who will walk away with a Rita statuette or Golden Heart pendant?

The finalists in the Best Single Title Contemporary Romance Category are engaged in a battle royal for the coveted Rita prize including our own Leslie Kelly. Have you seen the Rita trailer featuring the finalists? Check it out on You Tube! It’s called “Trash Talking Romance Novelists: Bring on the Ritas baby!” And boy do these ladies talk trash including Leslie “Lone Wolf” Kelly. That’s right folks, Leslie Kelly has picked up her sword and is slashing her way through the competition. Go Leslie! The Plotmonkeys are ready for war!

I spy several Rita finalists discussing their chances, shooting steely glares at their competitors including *gasp* Leslie Kelly! Folks, this is so exciting. Leslie Kelly is up for a Rita for her book, “She’s No Angel” edited by the intrepid, profound and genius Harlequin editor, Brenda Chin.

And ladies, I must say Leslie Kelly is looking marvelous and every inch the star! I’m walking toward her, I’m going to try and get an exclusive interview…Sorry folks, her publicist informs me she is on her way to a private meeting with her agent but has agreed to give me 5 minutes later on today if her busy schedule permits. I’ll do my best to bring that interview to you—live! So stay tuned! In the mean time I’m off to uncover some more juicy tidbits for your listening enjoyment!

Day Three
This is Cher Gorman, roving reporter for WMIR - Monkey Internet Radio bringing you an update live from San Francisco the site of the 28th annual RWA National Conference. As you might guess, things are really starting to heat up in anticipation of the Rita and Golden Heart Awards tomorrow night. For those just tuning in, one of our own Plotmonkeys, Leslie Kelly is a Rita Finalist in the Single Title Contemporary Category for her book, “She’s No Angel”!!!!!!! Go Leslie!! I for one will be cheering her on–hopefully into the winner’s circle. Please everyone send as much good luck and well wishes for Leslie toward San Francisco.

Also I was lucky enough to speak to Brenda Chin, Senior Editor at Harlequin yesterday down in the lobby. We had a really nice chat in which she reminded me of the trouncing she gave me during a heated Trivial Pursuit game in May of last year. Yes, folks she is a brutal Trivial Pursuit player!

Last evening I attended a reception in the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus. It was lovely but quite high up–I hate heights! The ceiling of this place was stained glass, there were windows all around with a spectacular view of the city and of course it was built around an open atrium. A long, long ways down. Needless to say I stayed away from the railing. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of some agents from Trident Media Group who were invited along with several other agents and editors but alas they all must have had prior committments because most everyone who attended was a member of PASIC.

But at national conference there will be thrilling moments as well as disappointing ones. Sometimes the food will be fairly good and sometimes not. A case in point, the typical dry chicken that was served at lunch yesterday. But hey, we eked it out with a good salad and bread. And of course, Victoria Alexander was a wonderful speaker.

I’m off to workshops. I will try and ferret out some more interesting tidbits for you and report back to you tomorrow live from San Francisco.

One more thing, on the way to dinner last night we saw a woman get her purse snatched right in front of us. She ran after the guy in hot pursuit! That is some excitement I can do without. There were several street musicians as well, one playing a guitar and one guy beating drumsticks on some overturned white buckets. He also rat-a-tat-tatted on the telephone pole. San Francisco has an eclectic mix of interesting people from all walks of life. This reporter has really gotten an eye full!

Day Four
It’s Cher Gorman, the roving reporter for the Plotmonkeys. Today was a fabulous day. The first wonderful thing that happened to me today was that I attended one of the best workshops I’ve ever been to. It was taught by Blake Snyder, a Hollywood screen writer. His workshop was called, “Save the Cat”. He also has a book by the same title and another called “Save the Cat Goes to the Movies”. He was the most intelligent, funny, charming man and I soaked up his words like an arid landscape. In fact as I listened to him, a light bulb went on in my head. And it is a lightbulb that I have been waiting a long, long, long time to turn on. As a writer–it was thrilling!! You writers out there know what that feels like. :-)

Okay the second wonderful thing that happened to me today happened during lunch. I was seated directly behind the great Cherry Adair. I LOVE her books and I mean LOVE. To find her sitting behind me was a thrill you can’t imagine. I’m afraid I slobbered all over her. She was so, so nice to me. She even asked me for my card! MY CARD people!! I’m nobody! I was flabbergasted! I mean CHERRY ADAIR has MY CARD!! Holy Cow!! She asked me about the book I am writing now. She asked me to write the title and the date I planned to finish it–completely polished, ready to send out on the back of my little business card. I’m pinching myself as I write this. She said she is going to hold me to that date, she is going to e-mail me and make sure I am on track. She also asked if I had an editor appointment while I was at national. I told her that I did make one but they lost it, so my name was not on the list. Then I signed up for open call but still was not able to get one. I was planning to pitch a romantic suspense I’ve been sitting on for two years–not written yet but all plotted and ready to go. She said, “I will hunt them down like a dog, who is it?” I told her but she didn’t know them. It was Nataysha Wilson at Silhouette. Oh, and I had my picture taken with her and she asked me to send her a copy and she would post it on her web site!! How cool is that!!! My picture on Cherry Adair’s web site!!!!

The third wonderful thing that happened to me today was another workshop I went to taught by the fabulous editor, Brenda Chin and two of her BLAZE authors, Rhonda Nelson and Jennifer LaBrecque. For asking a question I won a BLAZE poster!! YAY!!! Very, very cool. I also learned a lot and had some laughs which is always a good thing. :-)

All three of these things that happened to me today were gifts, plain and simple. Great, Gigantic, Golden gifts. But furthermore all of these gifts made me feel important. So Thank You to the Universe!

Last but no least, tonight is the RWA Rita and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony. Don’t forget that our girl, Leslie Kelly is up for a Rita in the Single Title Contemporary Category. I will be there Leslie, cheering for you all the way. I hope to see you walk away with a statuette. :-))

RWA will be posting the winners as they are announced onto the web site. So, here’s the web address so you can check out all the winners: www.rwanational.org

Leslie, I wish you all the luck in the world tonight, sweetie! And Plotmonkeys I wish you every good thing including many, many, many contracts and ship loads of sales!

The conference this year has been wonderful for me. I’ve seen old friends and made new ones. And for some reason I was gifted in a big way today. Stay safe and remember never stop reaching for your dreams. :-)

Farewell from San Francisco,

Cher

Note from Julie: Absolutely no offense to Kristin Higgins, but Leslie was robbed.

Hi, all! I’m writing this Friday night from San Francisco. I’ll give you a quick report and updates and a few pictures because that’s all I took.

The Plotmonkeys were at their finest during the time the four of us spent holed up in Julie and Leslie’s room, working and plotting and not seeing daylight for over 48 hours. I kid you not! But I have all of LUCKY BREAK (book 3) plotted and I could not be happier! I love hanging out with my plotmonkey pals, meeting people from the jungle was one of THE highlights of the conference! It showed us what a fantastic community we’ve created here. Not just a website but a place for friends to congregate!

I am happy to report that Julie was not sent to the bathroom on a time out this trip! Yes, she actually behaved! There was less junk food than usual since Leslie is svelte and Carly is trying a new diet to lower her cholesterol, and Julie is recuperating and Janelle tried hard not to be too bad an influence on the rest of us.

Other than the Literacy Signing, I must admit to being more of a hermit this trip than usual, but I think that’s because I needed a break and I really did get one. I’m happy to be home and I’ve missed all of you!

ADDED THIS MORNING: Again, never travel with Carly~ I had a 6:30 am flight, left San Fran on time, arrived in NY early only to sit on tarmac for 40 minutes because there was no place to unload the plane, then the luggage didn’t come out for over an hour and a half, I was on line at the baggage office to file a complaint of lost luggage for half an hour, the line did not move, when we heard the luggage was on the conveyor belt at last. The FAR conveyor belt. Sigh. Well at least that part of the trip is OVER! I feel extremely battered and tired though I slept 9 hours. The time change is rough! But the week was so worth it!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my quick summary from RWA! If you went, what was your favorite part? If you didn’t, what would you like to know about our trip?

And the winner of our Friday San Francisco Jungle Madness is …

# 81 Michele !!!

Congratulations, Michele! Please drop Julie a note at: Julie @ Julieleto . com (no spaces) with your name, address, phone for shipping!

And now for the Sunday Funny:

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard; I could tell
from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was
well taken care of.

He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head;
he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the
hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar: ‘I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.’

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar: ‘He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he’s trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?’

Straight from San Francisco - The plotmonkeys would like to say how wonderful it was to meet so many of you face to face! A big, huge thanks to our guestbloggers! If you aren’t posted today, we will have you posted Monday - it was hard to coordinate and get internet access. And now without further delay, guestblogger DONNA M!!!!!!!!!!!
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To the Plotmonkeys & all that visit there,

The four Plotmonkey’s (or is that Plotmonkie’s!) are very friendly, warm delightful people. I had the pleasure of meeting all of them at the RWA book signing held Wednesday evening in San Francisco. If any of you ever get a chance to attend go, it is an experience. I stayed in a hotel across the street and wandered over to see just where the book signing was being held so I knew where to go. It might have been about 4:15, not sure! Much to my surprise when I found the right place there was already a long line of people waiting. Someone told me they had started lining up about 3:00 pm! Can you imagine?! After waiting in line for what seemed like forever, my legs & feet were protesting, 5:30 finally came and everyone started going in. It was like the sale the day after Thanksgiving! You had to be there! It was a huge room, like a big ballroom, filled with authors. Around the perimeter are big names, Debbie Macomber, Suzanne Brockmann, Nora Roberts, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, to name a few. Needless to say I think the Plotmonkeys are big names. I avoided those long lines & headed directly for Janelle Denison as the authors in the center are at long tables in alphabetical order. Janelle gave me a big hug, as they all did, and we had a nice chat about Oregon. She signed Wild for Him for me and off I went to find Leslie! I recognized her right away and got another big hug, a picture taken with the two of us & left with no book because it was one I already had! Darn! She was still friendly & gracious. Next came Julie Leto, moving just a tad easy due to her surgery but looking great. Another hug, I love it!, She was signing Phantom Pleasures. How lovely to have all these to add to my TBR pile! Now for Carly, last but not least, they were all so nice when I introduced myself, it made me feel so good and so glad I had decided to take this little mini-vacation! Carly was signing Hot Property and I got one of her goodie bags. Yea!! After seeing all the Plotmonkeys & having a picture taken with each of them I wander all around to see who else was there, what other books could I buy & found Roxanne St. Claire, remember she guest blogged. She was very friendly also & what a salesperson I got her two latest books, remember it was for charity. Isn’t that lovely. I cannot wait to get busy reading. Seeing all these authors and all these recgonizable names was a WOW! moment or hour! It is somewhat overwhelming & the noise level is off the chart. Take over 400 authors plus even more readers and you have a whole lot of talking going on!! I have to confess to having a heck of a headache when I decided to leave as I was hungry and did not dare buy anymore books. It was a blast! Oh yea, I also got to meet Paula which was an unexpected bonus.

Speaking of a bonus! This morning I met Cher, Lori Borrill and Jill Shalivs. Jill invited me to a Blaze signing that Cher & Lori also came to with me. Guess who was sitting next to Jill at the signing…Leslie! I got the Blaze of hers that I didn’t have, signed of course. There were 5 or 6 authors for that all Blaze books I didn’t have. A perk I never even dreamed about. While I was waiting to meet Cher I got to have a nice chat with Jessica Andersen, also a guest blogger one Saturday.

This has been a wonderful experience I wouldn’t have missed. Thanks to the Plotmonkeys that helped make it so special, Cher & Paula that I see everyday on the blog and Jill Shalvis that was so generous to invite me the the Blaze signing. I would not have known about it!

Thank you to the Plotmonkeys for letting me ramble on about my experience and thanks to all that visit the Jungle for reading this. I know it is probably very long but there was so much to say.

Take care,
Donna M
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NOTE FROM JULIE: No, Donna…thank YOU!! I loved meeting you and all the Plotmonkey readers. Your report is MUCH appreciated.

I have to apologize to Paula R and Cher…I had your posts all ready to put up, but I saved them in my email file and due to circumstances beyond my control, they got downloaded to my PC back in Florida and are no longer here for me to grab in SF. I’m going to have them forwarded back to me…please, everyone, stop by in the next two days for Paula and Cher’s reports!!!

Hello from San Francisco, everyone! To celebrate our trip, we’re offering this VERY fun, very adorable Alcatraz gift basket!

Instead of an excerpt today, we’re throwing a surprise celebration party for one of our Jungle Buddies. Please join us in wishing a huge, CONGRATULATIONS to Jodie Wilkerson for selling her very first novella! She is officially a published author!

Jodie, all your hard work has paid off and we’re so proud and excited for you! This is your special day here at Plotmonkeys, so enjoy the hunks I’ve invited to the party to help you celebrate this wonderful accomplishment!

When your hunks give you a break, be sure to share all the details of your upcoming book with us! The title, the publisher, and the date we can get our hands on the story!