As I mentioned on Facebook earlier this week, the reason I haven’t been around much is that I’ve been hidden deep inside the bowels of my deep, dark Editing Cave.

Even though the main writing on PROJECT: RUNAWAY HEIRESS (Book 1, “Project: Passion” mini-series for Harlequin Desire) was finished a little over a week ago, this is the part where I have to sit down & start reading every word, polishing & revising where necessary.  It’s not a fun part, either, because I’m already so familiar with the story, I don’t want to read it again.  Plus, I always think there are sections that are going to need a major overhaul, & who enjoys that?  It’s like digging a hole in the ground for a swimming pool.  Can’t I just have the pool already? :cat

This time around, I also had the added task of making sure I got all of my British details & references right.  (Sexy Nigel Statham is from across the pond. :yummy )  Thankfully, a U.K. reader on Facebook offered to be my fact-checker.  Or rather, my fact-approver. *g*  So I’m feeling pretty good about most of my hero’s POV.

As time-consuming as all of that was, I’m happy to say that the story held together beautifully.  Better than expected, actually.  I could swear there were scenes while writing that made me think, “I’m going to have to go back & fix this.”  But on the read-through, everything looked great.

You know what this means, don’t you?  Apparently, I am like the proverbial shoemaker.  I do the groundwork during the day, then at night while I’m sleeping, little cobbler elves come in & fix things for me.  Either that, or aliens.  And you know what—I’m okay with that. :coffin

But now, finally, I am beyond thrilled to announce that THE BOOK IS DONE!  DONE, DONE, DONE!!!  Not just finished, but polished & perfect (well, you know, perfect-ish) & on Editor C‘s desk, where it belongs.

Whew.  I cannot tell you how happy I am to have this one turned in.  As I mentioned before, it was a rough project to complete.  Not the story itself, but just getting. it. written.

And now that it is, I get to take a short breather, maybe a nap.  Then it’s back to work.  Book 2 is already calling to me. :lipstick

Do you know what today is?  Aargh, that’s right—it be National Talk Like a Pirate Day!

And ye’ll do it, ye will, or Mistress Heidi will see ye walk the plank!

So first, a hot & sexy pirate in honor of what should be Happy Hunk Day!

And then… Funnies!

You may be wondering, What’s with those blue quotation marks in the sidebar, under “What We’re Reading”? :imthinking

Well, it just so happens that I’ve been asked to give another quote for another new book by another new author. :tada And while I’m excited about the prospect, I don’t feel 100% comfortable sharing the exact author & title until everything is said & done.

For one thing, I don’t know if the book even has a cover available yet, as I’m reading it in unedited galley form.

For another, there are dozens of things that could happen between now & the book’s release that could throw everybody’s well-laid plans off track.  I mean, what if the author & editor change their minds about wanting my endorsement & solicit a different author for a quote?  Wouldn’t I feel the fool for saying, “Hey, look—my name’s gonna be on this cover, too!” :cat

Or what if I start reading, but am unable to finish the book due to unforeseen circumstances?  You know, like a sick grandma or looming deadline.  Or what if I start reading, but the book is eerily similar to one of my own releases or upcoming projects & things just get weird?  It happens.

So I thought it would be smarter to use a general graphic to let you know I am reading something, but I can’t tell you what just yet.

And since I’ve obviously started the book or those quotation marks wouldn’t be in the sidebar, I’ll also say this:  So far, I’m quite enjoying the story.  It’s very Desire-ish, which we all know I love…& is maybe why they asked me for a quote to begin with. :fangs    I haven’t thought of anything witty or brilliantly quotable to say about it yet, but hopefully that will come.  Because even if I weren’t reading it with an eye toward offering a quote, I’d still be eager to finish it. :yummy