I wrote this last night but stupid internet DIED on me. So we go to Hoffbrau’s last night (sorry this was much funnier when I wrote it after two martinis) *cough* for dinner (Me shelli and Emma — we have pictures!) and Shelli decides to try a Texas beer, since you know, she’s in Texas. She loves it. It loves her. It’s a match made in heaven. Same for the fried pickles I got her and Emma to try…the fried okra…..ehhhh not so much!

Shelli spit it out and said, “It’s got seeds!”

TOo bad I was laughing my ass off to take a picture of her face because it was truly priceless.

And the pink lemonaid martinis? They were priceless too!

In other news we saw Sara Dennis and some of her chaptermates at the hotel, and tehre were rumors of a Nora sighting. I can neither confirm nor deny :no: 

Poor Shelli couldn’t blog last night–the hotel charges 20.00 a day for internet–Jesus AOL is only 30/mo.  She refuses to let the hotel rape her more than necessary.  We’ll find a Starbucks and check in as we can!

Well, kids, we’re off! That’s right. The entire lot of Spice Girls (that’d be us kinky writers, not those British has beens) is going to Texas next week.

We invite you to visit us all week long as we do a Live from the Soggy Carpet daily recap! Each day we’ll keep you posted on the events and fun of the conference in Dallas! Maybe even post some pics…  

And now comes a video that not only embodies where we’re going, but also represents the drama and excitement we hope to find there. Without further ado, here is your Video Saturday.

Hi everyone. I’m Bonnie Edwards and I write for Aphrodisia from Kensington. I helped launch the line with the first anthology, The Hard Stuff, then moved on to Pure Sex and right now I have a series out that started in March. Midnight Confessions is set in a haunted bordello and the spirits who lived there tell my heroine their stories of love lost and found. Need I say they’re hot stories? (This is the naughty-and-spice blog isn’t it?)

When Shelli asked me to do this guest blog I jumped at the opportunity! It’s especially nice since I learned that Amie Stuart hangs around over here. We’re in BUILT together, an anthology that’s releasing at the end of July from Aphrodisia.

Even so, I’ve been at a loss to come up with a topic, until I found myself struggling with a first sex scene. I tapped my chin and stared at my blank screen. HMMMM….first sex…first time together…how fast? Or will it be slow? How will these people go at each other?

Sometimes I know without thinking. But other times, and depending on the story, it’s a conundrum.

Then, I thought. What’s sexy? What is it that my hero has noticed about this woman in particular? What small thing keeps his attention? The one thing that calls to him.

Her boots.

Are these thigh high boots? Long and sexy with eyelets up the front? Are they stiletto boots? Black leather? Red patent?

Nope.

They’re work boots.

She’s in a bra and panties and short, leather, steel toed work boots. With her thick wooly socks rolled to a nice round rim at the top.

With a strong, tanned man untying them. On his knees.

Is that sexy? I think so. What do you think is sexy? Especially in a first sex scene?

Bonnie Edwards

Greetings from Half Moon Bay! I’ve been on a mini-vacation since Saturday. After I sent in my first full length novel ever (squee) to EC, we jumped in the car and headed to the Bay Area. First we invaded my friend’s house in San Jose for two days. Then we went over to San Francisco for two more days. My kid seems to love the City. He had his first walk up Haight street and the Cha Cha Cha tapas dining experience. He even got a tour of the restaurant’s kitchen! I’d post pictures but this hotel internet connection sucks!

On Tuesday I spent a grueling four hours in the tattoo chair. You know all those things I said before about liking the pain? Yeah, I changed my mind after the first hour of having the shading done over my spine. It hurt. It hurt so much I wanted to cry. But it’s kind of like childbirth. Now I have this beautiful creation that I love, and the fact that I earned it through pain just makes it all the more meaningful.

Yesterday we drove up the coast to the town where I spent most of my life, Half Moon Bay. Summer days here are often foggy, but yesterday the sun was out and we arrived just in time to catch a parade down Main Street. We spent the afternoon drinking wine on the beach.

Now we are about to leave for home. I’d love to stay longer, but I have so much to do before RWA! The next two days are booked with grooming appointments, of course. It’s like going to the Oscars or something. I have to get my hair done, toes done, and a facial.

And the clothes! I haven’t even started packing yet! This is a time-consuming trip to pack for. First of all, I need decent daytime clothing. Now, anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that my wardrobe consists of two options: fancy dresses or sweats. I have no in between clothing. I can go days without leaving my house, and when I venture outside it’s usually to some event that requires me to dress up. Therefore, I never know what to wear during the day at conference. I have a feeling there will be some last minute shopping ensuing.

The other thing that takes me awhile to pack are all my gadgets. Laptop, digital camera ipod, cell phone…The list goes on. And on. Just the cords I bring require their own suitcase.

Are you going to RWA? If you are, what do you still need to do?

So go and celebrate! Have fun with your family and friends, bbq, swim, go camping, maybe even go to the mall and shop those special 4th of July sales!!

Whatever you do, celebrate our country’s birthday in style. And if you get a chance, check out some fireworks! Maybe even create some fireworks! **wink wink**

I’m SO LATE!

My apologies! I was out doing last minutes stuff for Nationals. Now you’re probably asking why I’m doing last minute stuff a week out.

a) Fourth of July sales

b) extra time off work

c) I have the kids this weekend and I can’t get nothing done with them around, so it’s best to leave them behind while I can and while I have bribery at my fingertips (namely Transformers).

Needless to say, I’m in a panic thinking I don’t have enough clothes :no:  but then, do we ever? :no:  I picked up two pair of shoes today (when I meant to get one but they were both cute and comfy–and half price), some new jeans, a cardigan and a couple more shirts on clearance. Got the hair all relaxed for the hairdresser next week.

I’m off tomorrow so the plan is to start gathering up things for the cleaners. You didn’t think I was actually going to IRON all those clothes did you? And then Monday I drop the kids off at the ex MIL’s, Tuesday I get a haircut, and load up the car and then it’s A WEEK OF NO CHILDREN!!

I know …I know, it’s really sad. As much as I’m looking forward to a week of girltalk, and meeting my editor and cocktails (and cowboys :hitit:  ), and oh yeah, learning more about writing, it’s the NO CHILDREN factor at the forefront of my happy little brain.

The little buggers even had the audacity to ask me today why they couldn’t go with me (THE NERVE!), then immediately started bickering about nothing in general. I turned around and gave them the and said that’s why.

So who’s going to RWA? What are you most excited about? (BTW we WILL be blogging from RWA with our own special red carpet reports *ggg*)

I’m out of town and almost forgot to post, so this is a short one!

So everyone always asks that question, “Where do you get the inspiration for your books.” And I always wish I had some fabulous answer. But the truth is… I don’t. Not at all. My inspiration comes from everyday life. From random things.

And inspiration always hits when I really don’t want it to. When I’m only halfway through another book. I start thinking…oooh look at Sebastian, the secondary character in the book. He totally needs his own books. He can have this happen, and that happen, and he can meet this type of heroine.

It can get a bit annoying. To the point where I’m totally plotting the other book while writing the first one. Which can be a little bit crazy, because usually I write one book at a time. But sometimes, I just can’t help it. It comes out.

And here’s the worst part, the part where I say the title of this post is completely relevant. Don’t plot and drive. For real. I should not do it. And I wonder if I’m alone here. I will start plotting, and almost every other thought leaves my head. Where I can have driven twenty miles and not even realized it. I zone out when I plot. I going into this deep recess of my brain and don’t come out, until someone gets in my face and yells, “You’re about to hit that tree.” Or “Did you just hear a word I said?”

So know you tell me… where do you get your ideas (ha! I get to ask now! ) and do plots hit you at the most random times?