Much Overdue Update!

My poor, poor neglected blog. I know, I know. I kept promising to set up a regular schedule for this and then time just slipped through my fingertips and before I knew it, months had passed. Shameful, I know. I debated giving up, but I'm a horrible quitter and I've been blogging for so long I hated to throw in the towel even though so much of the media world is now focused on the quick hits like Facebook statuses and Twitter quips.

I have both, but I still like my blog. Call me old school.

For a quick update - I'm toiling away at the second book in the BRIDES OF FATAL BLUFF series. THE OUTLAW BRIDE is out in the big, bad world and appears to have been welcomed warmly. A big thanks to all of you who have left such lovely feedback for my debut effort. Next up will be THE WIDOW BRIDE. This will focus on one of the other brides that took the train ride to Fatal Bluff with Kate in THE OUTLAW BRIDE. Faith meets up with Nate Thompson, who was also introduced in Book 1. This meet up throws Faith's world into a bit of a tailspin, but I won't say why just yet. Wouldn't want to ruin the fun!

After THE WIDOW BRIDE, we'll find out what happens to the last mail order bride on the train, Elizabeth. She has a backstory that was loads of fun to write and was rivaled only by her intended groom's, Tanner. I'm really looking forward to sinking my teeth into this one!

And for those of you who have asked me about Ed Devers and Garrett Bentley, not to worry! I have a book planned for each of them as well. As for those of you who have inquired upon the fate of the real Hannah Stockdale from THE OUTLAW BRIDE? I have something up my sleeve...

Meanwhile, I'm have another western historical I'm waiting to hear from a publisher on, so fingers crossed on that one. There is also a regency historical series that I am debating whether to shop around, or jump into the self-publishing pool. Decisions, decisions...and never enough hours in the day!

And in case anyone is interested, you can find me on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/kellyboyce1/  where I have a board for each of the series I'm working on filled with character pictures, settings, etc.

Enjoy!

When Chocolate Goes Bad

Time is what prevents everything from happening at once. ~ John Archibald
Wheeler, The American Journal of Physics, 1978

I would totally disagree with Mr. Wheeler on that point. I'm pretty sure everything has been happening at once around here because I've spent the last month scrambling like a madwoman trying to get it all done. Don't ask me how I'm doing on that...

One thing I have been successful at, however, is eating about 10 lbs of chocolate a day. I'd like to blame it on Halloween, but I actually started the process about a week previous...okay, maybe two. Either way, by the time the kids showed up at the door trick or treating, I was in a full blown milk chocolate addictive meltdown. By the way, did you know chocolate can irritate the bejesus out of heartburn. I do. Now.

Needless to say, I am on a no chocolate hiatus. Just to add insult to injury, I'm also cutting out my one cup of coffee a day and adding 7 days of workouts to my schedule. Some days are just walking, which the dog will appreciate, but there's about 3 days of strength-training and 3 days of internal training and another 3 days of 30 min moderate/high cardio. Which, for those of you who are good at the whole math thing, equals more days than there are in a week, but I'm doubling up. And hoping to do a spin class and yoga class on top of that. I've noticed a softness creeping up where muscle used to be. Then I heard on the radio a week after my wedding that marriage makes people gain weight. I considered an annulment, but I kinda like this guy I married so figured maybe working out was a better option.

On top of that, I need to develop a solid marketing plan for my writing to boost my profile, sales, etc, as well as a workable writing plan for maximum output of manuscripts over the next 18 months.

All on no coffee and minimal amounts of chocolate.

Please have the rubber room standing by...

This is me exploring the gardens on Petrin Hill in Prague. I'm still trying to get my pixs up on Facebook.

Which reminds me...stay tuned on Facebook. Next week I'm looking at doing a book giveaway and visit to a blog where they're asking me lots of fun questions.

Cloning

Normally, I'm opposed to the idea of cloning. The idea that you can take someone's DNA and somehow recreate them never sat right with me. Maybe physically you could have a life-like replica, but I'm still not convinced you can recreate someone's inside, their soul or their imagination or whatever it is that makes them who they are.

That being said, if someone could clone me, just for the rest of this month, I'd really appreciate it. Because for some crazy, insanity-inducing reason, I thought it would be fun to do a book release and complete another manuscript to send off to HQ and plan the company AGM during work's busiest month, all in one shot.

I know I like a challenge, but the next time I try to challenge myself like this, someone give me a good, hard shake until my sense is restored.

Meanwhile, here's a list of The Outlaw Bride Blog Train for promo week. There will be a book giveaway at Petticoat & Pistols on April 23rd, so hopefully you can all mosey on by and check it out.

And congratulations to Lina Gardiner who won the book giveaway on my Facebook Page.

I'd also like to give a huge thanks to all the reviewers who have been singing The Outlaw Bride's praises. It is hugely appreciated to know your enjoying the read as much as I enjoyed the write.

The Outlaw Bride Blog Train Tour:
April 17: A Piece of My Mind
April 18 : The PopCultureDivas
April 18: Manic Readers
April 20: Carina Press Blog and Carina Press Facebook Page and Carina Press Twitter
April 23: Petticoats and Pistols - BOOK GIVEAWAY
April 25: Back here for another BOOK GIVEAWAY.

The Blog World Blitz

I've been busy writing up a storm, preparing for the looming book release of THE OUTLAW BRIDE on April 18th (ack! only a few days away!). A lot of the prep has been writing up blurbage for a blog tour. So while I will only be popping into Dark & Stormy for one day next week, here's where I'll be the rest of the week:

April 17: A Piece of My Mind

April 18 : The PopCultureDivas

April 18: Manic Readers

April 20: Carina Press Blog and Carina Press Facebook Page and Carina Press Twitter

April 23: Petticoats and Pistols - BOOK GIVEAWAY

April 25: Back home to Dark & Stormy for another - BOOK GIVEAWAY

I am also hosting a book giveaway on my Facebook Page . The draw will be done on April 18th to celebrate my official release of THE OUTLAW BRIDE. You just have to click the "Like" button and your name will be entered in the draw.

And that's it. For now anyway.

Then it's back to work on SALVATION FALLS to finish the clean up and fire that off to Harlequin Historicals who requested the full.

The fun never ends!

All Kinds of New Things

"For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work." ~Doug Larson

I had the best of intentions of blogging every week when 2011 started, I really did. But oddly, I discovered that time, like money, does not grow on trees. And the free time I used to have through the day at the old day job no longer existed with the new one. And while I’m enjoying the new job at CCS (Canadian Cancer Society) it is a hundred times busier than life at ING. Hence no time to squeeze out a quick blog post through the day. I’m lucky if I find time to break for lunch. My, how things have changed…

And given how the commute has eaten a half hour out of my writing time, there is little time in the morning to squeeze a blog post in after writing.

But I am determined to still manage a weekly post and get out and visit all my blog pals who I have sorely neglected this past month. I’m going to carve time out each week ahead of time to do just that.

So here I am, squeezing! And there is news to report. Last night, Romance Writers’ of Atlantic Canada were hosted by Charlie Mac Productions/Media Inc, EnviroWeb Consulting, and Bconnected Progressive Networking Organization for a great evening of networking and promotion. The event was held at Argyle Fine Art Gallery’s new location. Despite a brief snow squall shortly before the event started, we had a good sized crowd and a good time was had by all. It was my first opportunity to get out there and promote THE OUTLAW BRIDE. Here’s a pic of me holding the cover. I received the file a couple days before and managed to whip off photos of it to take to the event.

Which is the other big news – my cover. I’m waiting for the final file from Carina Press to post the cover, just in case they have a few last minute changes, but you can get sneak peak in the picture above.

As for the writing, it was a little slow going for the first month trying to find a balance with the new routine and limited amount of time. I’m still tweaking it to maximize my writing time, but it’s getting better. I’ve finished taking Angela James’ course on self-editing, Before You Hit Send, which was great. I’m currently using that to clean up SALVATION FALLS before I send it off to Sally Williamson (hopefully next week). Turns out Harlequin lost the partial I had originally sent, which is why I hadn’t heard anything back in so long. My writing bud, Donna Alward, checked in with Sally Williamson and discovered this for me, and Ms. Williamson suggested I resend to her direct. But after taking Angela James’s course, I want to ensure SF is in the best possible shape, so I’m taking a week to clean up before I hit send.

Then I’m on to finish INVITATION TO SCANDAL and THE WIDOW BRIDE before the conference in NYC which I am booked for, hotel room secured and flights arranged. Can’t wait! Then, after conference, I'm going to spend the second half of the year working on something new and different which I'm pretty excited about.

Oh – and the last bit of news – my website revamp is completed! Take a look: www.kellyboyce.com. And thanks to AnneInspired for the great work on the design.