So I had an absolute fabulous fourth of July. It was very family orientated. My cousins from across the country came up and spent it with us. I finally got to meet my guy cousin’s wife and kids–and I love them!

Here are the highlights/grosslights/scarylights of my weekend:

1. Finding a dead shark in the boat launch (yes, a shark in cold water, I’m still pondering this!)  (grosslights)

2. One of the kids tossing a firework into the fire next to where I was sitting, not realizing there was still some bang left in it (scarylight)

3.  Driving past my grandparents old house and walking around the campus of University of Washington where our grandpa used to be the dean of law school. (highlight)

4. Eating homemade cheesecake my cousin’s wife made (orgasmic highlight)

5.  Watching how excited the kids were to go crabbing (highlight)

6. Watching the crab die in a pot of boiling water for the family’s consumption (grosslight and I so did not eat it)

7. My kid running after those parachute fireworks. (highlight)

8.  Trying to keep my kid from running off the edge of fort at Fort Casey. (scarylight)

9. Reverting to my inner teenager/child by lighting off fireworks and playing with the kids. (highlight)

10.Exploring the joy of garage saleing with teenage boys. (highlight)

So what were some of your highlight from Independence Day weekend? Or if you’re not American, how about just the weekend? Do anything fun?

So I’m not really a huge believer in good luck charms. (Though I did just write a novella that centers around one!) But in the past year I changed my min a bit. I picked up three that were writing related. Though I never convinced myself they’d help me strike it big in my writing, I just thought they’d be good to look over at on my dresser to keep me focused. Keep my eyes on the prize!

The first lucky charm was a bit out of my control. I won it at the Elephant exchange at my chapter holiday party. What was it? A oh so charming Casanova figurine. (You know they make librarian ones too!)

The second item I picked up was a stuffed armadillo doll in the Dallas airport. I was inspired after the ‘armadillo talk’ at one of the luncheons.

And the third I bought was a Nora Roberts bobble head doll. You did know they existed, right? Well there not easy to come by. I bought mine on Ebay and I’m sure I was bidding against some other romance writer just dying to get their hands on it. I grew up reading La Nora, and after hearing her speak at the PRO retreat in Atlanta I came to respect her/like her even more. She’s smart, funny, an inspiring. And I’m so amazed with what she’d done with her career, that when I learned she had a bobble head I just knew it must join my lucky charms collection.

So all three sit on my dresser. I stare at them all the time. And maybe it’s a coincidence, but since I acquired the trio I did sell to NY and get an agent. So those lucky charms? Keeping them!

How about you? Anyone else have a ‘lucky charm’ or item?

I’m back! Yaaaaaaaaay!!

Okay, so Disneyland has that reputation as being the ‘happiest place on earth’ or something like that, right? Well, as a young kid I never got that. Sure, it was fun, but the happiest? Hmm. It had some competition. Then I went back as a late teen and early twenties. Basically, before I had a kid. And yes! It WAS the happiest place on earth. I couldn’t get over it. I’d run from land to land, riding every ride I wanted to do. Stay late at night to avoid lines and devour churros galore.

And then I went back again. This time with a child of a my own. A four year old. And I’m right back to ‘not so much the happiest place’. Now you have to switch into cranky kid waiting in lines in 100 degree or more heat–lines for rides you haven’t done since you were a kid. And forgettaboutit on the big scary fun rides. No time for those and the kid won’t go. And no late night parties closing down D-land. We didn’t make it past noon before melt downs started.

But despite the new version of doing D-land, it was still a lot of fun. Truly. Dumbo rides and getting hugs from people in costumes is all good. And yes, obviously I was in denial about how I’d surely have ‘me time’.

Beyond that, we did a day at the beach that was just brilliant and fun! I loved it. I had to get over the fact that we were the only obese/overweight people on the beach. And I was sure I’d end up on TMZ when I a wave knocked us down, and the two big girls were rolling around on the shore trying to get up–which in the midst of that I had a Tara Reid moment. My breast popped out of my swimsuit but no one told me for like a minute. I’m sure it was quite the entertainment for the Barbies’ watching in fascinated/horror on the beach. I could see the headlines ‘Somehow, non svelte women were able to infiltrate the hot chick beach and did their best impression of beached whales and Tara Reid’.

And we had dinner with Diva Dana who is so sweet and too much fun. It was just so much fun over all. Though yes, I may sound a bit negative nancy about it all typing it up. I’m simply trying to be sardonic. Or something. And I’m in the midst of a really dirty scene I want to get back to writing, so my thinking is a bit raw right now. I had a fabulous trip and it’s good to be back!

Oh, and be sure to ask Emma Petersen about the dirty hotel neighbor and the Giant Peach (bra).

On Saturday I was guest blogging over at The Bradford Bunch about a Girls Night out that I’d be going to. Well, now that it’s Monday (or will be when this post goes up!) I can share all about it!

Well after a great chapter meeting, followed by a fun board meeting, some of the board and a few extras went and had a girls’ night out! We got a hotel room (at the conference hotel since we adore them) and stayed in. We didn’t go clubbing or do anything too crazy. Actually, it probably would seem boring to some. But it wasn’t! We played bartender (blenders and alcohol of every variety) and just gabbed. And gabbed. And gabbed. And drank. And ate.

At one point the talk came of who could they set ‘Shelli up with’ and I listened with half interest. I’m beginning it’s not the guys that are the problem, it’s me. I’m afraid to date. Afraid of rejection and I imagine them shooting me down right away. Because I’m not perfect, and the more they know about me I’m afraid they’ll run and say ’screw this’. I think I’m afraid to even take that chance. And, yes, there is my deep thought of this post. Onto the not so deep.

I watch my sugars and diet, so spent the night sipping on vanilla vodka/diet cokes. Yummy. Yum. But the more I drank, the more I started to fret on the pounds I might be gaining (no really, lol, I did) so I suggested we all get up and belly dance. Our Federal Agent/Romance Writer who also happens to know how to belly dance, began to teach us! I think the drinks made me more loose and, oddly, focused. I was determined to get it down.

It was a blast. When I woke up this morning was it my head that hurt? No, it was thighs and abs. Wow did we get a workout! I wanted to put up a pic of us belly dancing, but sadly I looked über intense and like I was about to do a jumping front kick. Don’t even ask how that works.

So I’m going on vacation. Monday morning, the butt crack of dawn, two weeks from today I’m getting my ass on a plane with my daughter and my friend’s daughter, and we are OUTTA here. Where are we going? D-town. That’s right. Disneyland. Me and the mouse go way back. Though Cinderella and I fell out–the wench stole my shoes and my prince.

But I’m stoked. Absolutely stoked. This is my first non-writing related trip in years! I think maybe since the kid was born… oh no wait. I did that Vegas trip for the American Idol auditions a few years back.

So when I fly into Cali, I’m meeting up with people. First, Emma Petersen is meeting me at the airport and joining up on the trip. Then we’re renting a car and driving to Pismo where we’re meeting up with Karen. Yeah. Karen. Naughty and Spice Karen. She’s bringing her kidlets. I’m so excited about that! We thought it was about time for them to all hook up and hang out. You know, case my kid marries Karen’s kid some day.

But I’m excited. I hate to fly, that whole big chunk of metal hurling through the air thing, but I need to be brave. This is my kid’s first time on a plane. If I flip, she flips. So brave it is.

But here’s my worry. My kid is only 4.5 and I have to wonder…is that too early to go to Disneyland (not like I’m canceling the trip or anything!) Do you think she’ll even go on any rides? She’d better. My theory is, make us stand in line, not tell her why, get her on and let her scream as we’re plunging down a hill? Yeah? No?

How old were you the first time you went to Disneyland (or Disneyworld). Have you been? I went at 7 and did like nothing. NOTHING. My kid better not be as big of a pansy as I was, or I’m screwed. I’ll be singing It’s a Small World until my ears fall of.

How about your kids. How did they do? How young were they? Share, tell me what I can expect with a first timer little kid.

Holy macaroni and cheese, but it’s been one year since we launched Naughty and Spice! Can you believe it?! I barely can. So much has happened in this past year. And then again…so much hasn’t.

While I’m typing this post out, I have a chef in the kitchen whipping up a cake for our celebration. He was so sweet to let me take a quick picture of him. I’ve included a picture of the cake and the recipe at the end of this post

Week after week we talk about anything and everything here. We laugh at the word discretion. Because if we can’t have one place on the internet to just let loose, then where’s all the fun in that? We’ve talked about our sex toys, hair dye for down south, women we’d do if we swung that way…we just like to discuss it all.

A year ago I was dreaming of selling to NY and getting an agent. A week ago that became a reality. That’s where I’ve come so far. Where have I actually gone backward? Or lost ground? Oooooh, that thing called having a love life.

The very first Naughty and Spice post–and my first post here–was all about that toe curling passion. I’d just had a kiss that was nice, but didn’t quite knock my socks off. I made it a vow to keep looking for the one that would.

Have I found it? No. Have I attempted to find it? Double no. My love life has actually gotten worse in the past year… which if you’d told me then that was possible, I would have laughed in your face. But sadly, it is possible.

So my goal for the next year? Well, to also sell a book that isn’t erotic to New York (but still sensual!) and maybe even to…get some? Yeah I said it. To get some. Even if some is just a hot and heavy make out session. It’d be a good start.

So what’s gone on in the last year with you? And please share what you like (if anything) about our blog! And maybe what you’d like to see more of?

And now…here’s that cake and recipe I promised. Mmmm, hope you brought your appetite!

(more…)

Sorry my post is late!

Last Wednesday I received a call. What kind of call? A call from an editor at Kensington Publishing offering me a two book deal for their Aphrodisia line! They want to buy my erotic Sci Fi, The Captured Rose, which won the Stroke of Midnight contest last year (in its category). Plus they wanted me to write one more book! Hence the two book deal.

So since I was a bit and I told him I’d like to speak with an agent first! So I hung up and started contacting several agents. I’m completely thrilled and stoked to say that Friday morning I called back and accepted an offer for representation from Laura Bradford! And as of a few minutes ago, the deal is official with Kensington (hence the late post!)

So the last five days have been great–except the trying to keep it a secret bit. Word trickles out *sigh*. And then I also had the stomach flu all weekend, that kind of sucked. Oh, and I got a really nasty sun burn on Saturday, but still, it couldn’t put a damper on my

I will say that my book The Captured Rose is really different than anything I’ve ever written, it’s hotter than most of my stuff, more serious/intense, some consider controversial (in the contest), but I love it. It was my first attempt at a Sci Fi (though I’ve been told by some beta readers it has a contemporary feel set in the future) and I had a blast writing it! I’m just so completely thrilled that Kensington loved it and wanted to buy it.

So thanks to all my friends and family who swore this call would come some day, you had faith, even when I began to lack it!