Hi gang!

The image posted above is my new foreign bookcover from German publishing giant, Knaur. For more information about what the title means, you can check out the books page on my website. This is more or less a blog-by, but I wanted to let you all know about a contest I'm running.

Most of the German translations of American romance novels use recycled covers from older American books. I have a feeling based on the pose and art used for the new "Rescuer of my Heart" version of The Jewel and the Sword, that this is such a case.

But whose book did this cover originally bless? That's the contest!

The first reader to swing by my website and use my contact for to tell me the name of the book and author for whom this cover was originally crafted will win a copy of The Jewel and the Sword (American version). So hit those keeper-shelves, search those sharp-as-a-tack memories and let me know if you've seen this cover before! Enquiring minds want to know! Mine!

Permission to forward this post is granted and encouraged... the more the merrier (and the better my chances of gaining this little bit of trivia for my own peace of mind.)

Hugs and more hugs,
Marjorie

Getting down to basics

I've been a very bad girl. I haven't been writing like I promised myself I would for the new year. I'm supposed to be writing at least 1000 words every day. To make up for lost time, I'll need to put in about 28,000 words before *looking at watch* lunch.

I have been working hard. But I haven't been working smart. I need to learn how to work smart. How do I post to various lists, complete interviews, promote my various titles, complete my edits, blog (I blog here sporatically and have recently signed on to Unusual Historicals http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com to post every month on the 13th) and remember what my children look like?

I don't get it. Twice in the last week the topic of 'balance' has come up. Balance? What balance? You mean there's someone out there who actually does this right? They have time for their family, job and writing? Oh, I get it. We're talking about those who have so many books in print that they've quit the day job and write full time. Sure, I could do that. Set a schedule and when I'm writing, pretend I'm not home. Hmmm... tried that. I didn't have a job outside of writing for almost 2 years... or was it 3? Anyway, even when I closed the office door, I could still hear my daughter's arguing, my husband still rapped on the door to ask where his keys might be, et cetera et cetera. So unless I actually leave the house, find myself a table at the library or park my bootie under a tree at the park, working for eight hours uninterrupted at home is a pipe dream.

And just how did those successful stay-at-home-writers get to be so successful. They must've found that magic-balance-feather at some point before then.

I'm still looking for it, personally. Someday, I'll stick my Dumbo ears out and fly away. In the meantime, I shall endeavor to be more organized with my time and my responsibilities. Right now, I'm off to do laundry.

While I'm climbing Mt. Laundry, how about spilling your secrets for balance. Whether you're a writer or a waitress, working moms fess up: How do you do it all?