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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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Got my book title!

Captain’s Log, Supplemental

Blog book giveaway:
To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there.
My Thursday book giveaway is Dark Hour by Ginger Garrett.
My Monday book giveaway is The Guy I’m Not Dating by Trish Perry.
You can still enter both giveaways. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for the Dark Hour and post the title for another book I'm giving away.

Win an iPod Nano! Exclusively for my newsletter YahooGroup subscribers, I have a huge contest running until January 31st! Get more info on my contest page!
Click here to join Camys_Loft
Click to join Camys_Loft


My novel title! Thanks for participating in the poll! I heard back from the Z marketing director and she said they’ve decided to go with the overwhelming vote for . . . drumroll . . .

Sushi For One?


The question mark is deliberate.

I’m not sure if I go for it or not--the question mark. One minute I'll love it, the next minute I'm questioning (LOL) it. But then again, it’s not my decision. (Yeah, all you people who think writers actually get to pick their titles? Nope.)

Writing: I posted another "Health and the Writer" post at WriterQuotes, and a post about fiction proposals at my Story Sensei blog.

And in case you missed it, my review of Violette Between by Alison Strobel is posted at the Fab Four Book Picks blog.

Plotting hard. Or hardly plotting? LOLOLOL just kidding. I need more CONFLICT! Grandma is being too nice.

Diet: Still sick as a dog. Good thing my hubby’s not sick, too. Or my dog. Gosh, I’m loopy. Wonder if it was the espresso truffle from Trader Joe’s? That stuff’s imported from France. I have French caffeine in me.

Anyway, still sniffling and sneezing and coughing (oh, my!). Please pray.

Aw, man. Who needs Nyquil? Truffles are a better way to go . . .
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Comments

Anonymous said…
I like the title. I even like the question mark.

I hope you feel better soon!
Mon Oct 23, 08:24:00 AM 2006
PatriciaW said…
Like the title, especially with the question. More hopeful than without.

Feel better.
Mon Oct 23, 09:35:00 AM 2006
Mirtika said…
Get better right now. I insist.

and yeah...I'll take truffles over medication. Even if it means supporting the French. ; )

Muah<--disinfected smooch

Mir
Mon Oct 23, 10:06:00 AM 2006
Anonymous said…
MMMMM - truffles. I've been resisting my craving for them. This post didn't help lol. I hope you feel better soon! God, heal this woman - she has work to do. :)
Seriously, love the title and the question mark gives it a hint of mystery. :) Perfect.
Mon Oct 23, 10:47:00 AM 2006
Anonymous said…
Your title is intriguing! I like it. Did they go with your title choice on your first book? Amazing how we agonize over our titles, huh. Esp if it makes no difference!

I wanted to tell you about a new home remedy I read about for colds/flu! I blogged about it a while back "Alternatives for the Flu Shot"...and since then I've tried it and it worked! It's simply using hydrogen peroxide in your ears when you first start feeling the symptoms of the flu. Sore throat, drippy nose, stuffy head, etc. Tip your head, drip several drops of HP in your ear, let it fizzle and sizzle for a bit and then let it drain on a towel. Then do the other ear. Two or three times in one day. I did this when the above symptoms started and though I felt "wet-eared" for 3 or 4 hours, my symptoms went away! If you want to know more about it, I put the link to the testimonials on the post that I mentioned above. I know you've been sick for a while, but it still might work!?

HOpe you're feeling better, even now!
Mon Oct 23, 11:50:00 AM 2006
Pammer said…
Sorry you are sick. Hey that's the title I liked best. :D I can't wait to read it.

I'll be praying for you to get well...and pray that your hubby or dog doesn't get it too.
Mon Oct 23, 09:32:00 PM 2006
Anonymous said…
Yeah, I've heard from a lot of authors who complain about titles for their books. For example, Suzanne Brockmann, who writes about Navy SEALS named her Silhouette series one all with the call names of the hero. She had one that she wanted to call "Hawken's Heart" but since the publication was close to Christmas, the powers that be named it "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" although I'm not sure the plot had anything Christmassy in it. When it was reprinted, she changed it to the original title that it had.

Her sofar last series title was titled "Wild, Wild Wes". That was too confusing with "Wild, Wild West" so that was nixed too. There was one she called "Identity: Unknown" about a SEAL who had amnesia. That title stuck.

I guess it would depend what the book is primarily about whether "Sushi for One?" is THE title. Yep, the publishers will always decide what they think sounds best.

I'm praying you'll soon get better. I really must say that since I came back to Canada in late 1979 I've had only 3 bad colds. The only other real illness I've head was a triple infection that I can't call a cold. I still maintain that the vitamin C 500 chewable tablets that I take throughout the year keep the colds away. Of course this is all apart from my FMS.
Mon Oct 23, 10:23:00 PM 2006
Anonymous said…
Well I like it. I'd pick it up, even though I'm married. Sometimes a girl just wants a little Sushi for One! ;-)
Tue Oct 24, 09:05:00 AM 2006
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