Charles Caleb Colton said “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
With that in mind, I’m going to borrow the idea for this blog from the Editor of Vogue magazine, of which I am not a usual reader as my fashion sense would scream if you were to meet me in person. However in the salon this week, I picked up the January edition because Natalie Portman was on the cover, and I’ve been a fan of hers ever since she was twelve in The Professional. I would tell you the editor in question’s name but the message was signed with a signature that I couldn’t quite read. I’m sure if I was a regular reader, I would know the editor’s name, but we’ve already addressed my lack of fashion sense. So I digress...
Anyway, here goes – paraphrasing the Vogue editor – instead of writing a message about the beginning of the year and resolutions, she talked about the ten things of 2011 she was most excited about. My blog today is supposed to be about “beginnings”…. So I’ll start my Ten Things I’m Most Excited About in 2011 list beginning with…
1. Lydia Dare’s presentation TODAY at Heart of Carolina Romance Writers
That’s right. TODAY. So, if I don’t comment on the blog as much as I would normally, you’ll know it’s because Lydia Dare (the writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson) are presenting Team Writing : Are Two Minds Greater Than One? Or Do Great Minds Think Differently? Together we’ll discuss tips for writing with a partner as well as the ups and downs of team writing. If you're in the Raleigh NC area, stop by!
2. The March release of It Happened One Bite
2011 is the year of vampyres. At least for Lydia Dare, anyway. We have a new Regency vampyre trilogy out this year starting with IT HAPPENED ONE BITE, set in a picturesque crumbling castle in the Highlands.
3. RT Convention in April
After attending RT last year, missing this convention seems unthinkable. Faerie Balls and Vampire Balls. And lots and lots of readers.
4. My agent, Melissa Jeglinski, speaks to my local chapter in May
Anytime we get the opportunity to listen to Melissa is amazing. I can’t wait to hear what advice she’ll impart to the group!!
5. RWA Conference in June
I love the RWA Conference. It is the one time of year that I get to see all of my critique partners in person, or most of them, including Samantha Grace who will have her debut with Sourcebooks later this year. Being an online group, we have members in every corner of the country and even as far away as Australia. AND... Of course, there's always the opportunity to bond with our fellow Casa authors.
6. The July release of In the Heat of the Bite
The second book in our trilogy hits shelves in July and we are super excited about each one – however IN THE HEAT OF THE BITE offers a unique vampyre hero – an earl who at one time was a real knight in shining armor.
7. Authors After Dark Conference in August
Lydia Dare is up for four Bookie Awards which will be presented at the Authors After Dark Conference in the city of brotherly love. And we will be on several panels. We can hardly wait!
8. The September release of Never Been Bit
Our final vampyre book will be released in September. I can’t reveal anything about the hero at this point, as it will be a spoiler alert. But I will say that writing this particular character’s story arc has been one of the highlights of my writing career.
9. Heart of Carolina Romance Writer’s October Workshop with Cherry Adair
Every year I look forward to my local chapter’s all day workshop in October. In fact, it was at one of these workshops that the two of us who make up Lydia Dare first decided to collaborate on a project. This year’s presenter the enchanting Cherry Adair is always fascinating and listening to her is always inspiring.
10. Finishing up a wolfish trilogy for 2012
Finally, the last thing I’m looking forward to this year is completing a new wolfish trilogy that is contracted for 2012. The three Lycan heroes have been rumbling around in our brains for quite a while and it will be nice to have their stories completed. And only then will we be able to decide what is next for Lydia Dare.
I’ll end this blog with a great big thanks to the editor of Vogue for giving me such a wonderful idea to borrow! And now I'll ask you - What are you most looking forward to this year?
Hey there :) I loved this post. It looks like you've got a busy and exciting year ahead! I look forward to reading your new vamp series and hanging at RWA his summer here in NYC!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've got quite a year in store! Hope it all goes well for you!
ReplyDeleteSara ~ Thanks! We look forward to hanging with you too at RWA.
ReplyDeleteCheryl ~ I hope all goes well for you too. Happy 2011.
Loved the post! Excitement reigns at the Lydia Dare establishment! I look forward to a bumper crop of books this year (7 total between two publishers), seeing all you wonderful authors again at NYC,and next Friday when I finish Liz and Raylen's story in Darn Good Cowboy Christmas because Jasmine and Ace are pestering me to get on with theirs!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great line up of books and wonderful characters' stories!! The best part? It sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteWow, Lydia! How wonderful. You've got a lot of things to be excited about this year. Major congratulations!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely lots to be excited about in 2011! I hope to see you at RWA.
ReplyDeleteWow wow wow! Three books out this year? I'm utterly impressed. Best of everything with your releases. I like the idea of thinking of the ten things you're excited about for the new year. Kinda gets me thinking too!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading all those incredible Sourcebook releases. It's like eating a pringle, you just can't stop at one! Can't wait to read It Happened One Bite. Happy 2011...indeed.
ReplyDelete-Susan
For this year? Demons Are A Girl's Best Friend and a lot of other fun stuff that will be going on.
ReplyDeleteHave fun this year!
Wonderful post, Lydia! It sounds as if you have a full year planned. Best of luck with all events. My Sourcebooks TBR pile is growing by leaps and bounds.
ReplyDeleteHands down the most exciting thing about this year will be my first release with Sourcebooks, TYLER, in March. I've already turned in book 2 and am working on book 3, along with a few other trilogies that I'm hoping to entice Deb with.
Hmmm...three Lycan heroes? Sounds like I'll have even more Lydia Dare books to add to my TBR pile!
Hey everyone! Sorry for being absent all day - but HCRW day seems to go later and later each month.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn ~ 7 books this year??? Wow. I am more than impressed!!
Terry ~ It IS fun! That is the best part, you're right. ;)
Olivia ~ Thanks! You have a big year yourself, don't you?
Shana ~ I am definitely looking forward to seeing you at RWA too!
Amanda ~ Thanks! When I read the editor's message in Vogue, I knew I had to borrow her idea. It is fun to think about the year in that way.
Susan ~ I so hope you'll like It Happened One Bite. But as it does have a witchy heroine, I think you'll enjoy it. ;)
Linda ~ Awesome! Definitely something to be excited about. Good luck with the release.
C.H. ~ Your first Sourcebooks release is so exciting!!! We'll be release buddies in March. I'm sure we'll be criss-crossing each other on our whirlwind blog tours. ;)
Wow! What a year! I'm looking forward to RWA Nationals too. It's always a highlight! I get to see all the casababes!
ReplyDeleteWow, ladies, you sure have a wonderful year ahead of you! Love your vampire covers! And RT is such a blast. :}
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