Today I won’t be able to respond to comments because I’m out of town for the weekend on an annual retreat with my 2 critique partners.
I look forward to this retreat all year long. It’s fun getting away from my usual routine, and there’s always good food and wine and sitting by the fireplace chilling out.
We arrive late Friday afternoon and get settled into our rooms, then meet in the kitchen to catch up with all the non-writing news each of us want to share over chips, salsa, and homemade guacamole, (and wine, of course) And then we get to work.
With only 3 of us, we each get a 4-5 hours long session where we all 3 concentrate only on that person’s writing needs. One session Friday night. One Saturday morning into the afternoon, then we break and go out to dinner, then another session Saturday night. Sunday morning is reserved for anyone to address anything they’ve thought of since their session.
One can use a session to plot an entire book, or plot the bare-bones of a trilogy proposal, or to figure out a difficult black moment and resolution, and then just brainstorm ideas for a new proposal. Sometimes we might even use a session to talk about our writing life in general, deal with burn out, or changing strategies or goals, or even taking a time-out from writing.
The retreat helps start the year out renewing my love for writing, energizing my excitement for plots and stories, and generally refreshing and de-stressing my life. I love talking about writing with other writers. But especially with my 2 critique partners. We’ve been together now for 10 years! I can’t believe it. We’ve grown to be not only really good critique partners, but very close friends. We talk with each other weekly, if not daily, and we’ve all been there for each other through the good and the bad times. I can’t imagine my life without my 2 CPs. And I know I’ve said this many times before, but, Linda, Pam, I wouldn’t be published without you. I love you both.
HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY, LPJ!!!!
To celebrate my 10th anniversary with Pam and Linda I’m giving away a copy of my NEWEST BLAZE (It doesn’t even come out until March!) ONCE A HERO… to a random commenter. I’ll announce the winner as soon as I get back in town Sunday night or Monday morning.

Once a hero…always a hero
Subject: Captain Luke Andrews, M.D.
Current Status: On stress leave in beautiful Hawaii
Mission: Rest and recovery
Obstacle: There’s no rest from the wicked chemistry
Mission: Rest and recovery
Obstacle: There’s no rest from the wicked chemistry
he’s found with her

Captain Luke Andrews has to get some serious R & R,
but he can’t keep his hands off Kristen. She’s wild
and irresistible, and spending his nights with her
seems more dangerous than his last mission.
But is their hot little vacation romp an escape from
real life…or will the survivor and the hero battle it
out and learn to live each day as a gift?

It has been 15 years since I’ve taken more than three days away from work, but I won’t be able to say that much longer. My in-laws are celebrating their 50th anniversary and wanted my husband and his sisters’ families all together. In one place. All of us. Together. Sigh. For an entire week. It’s not that I don’t love them, I do. They are all good people. But I’m usually good after about four hours of their company, and I’m sure they feel the same way about me. You know, like at Christmas? We get together, we eat a meal, we open presents, and then we go our separate ways.

This isn’t the first time they’ve done one of these big family things, but I’ve always had to travel for work during them. Sheer dumb luck, I promise. The phrase I keep telling myself is, “at least we are on the beach.” Crystal Beach, Fla., which I know is beautiful. They’ve rented a McMansion and my husband and I will have the carriage house all to ourselves. So that will help. A week from today, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary (Yes, I married very young. And yes, I can think of many, many ways to celebrate such a milestone that don’t include my in-laws.)

So… It’s been a really long time since I’ve had time off. I will have to do some work, but only about a day’s worth while I’m there. My plan is to sleep, eat, play in the ocean, and read — a lot! I’m downloading the June Blaze’s to my Kindle, and I’m open for suggestions as far as books. I’m in the mood for humorous reads, and anything paranormal.

Are you guys going on vacation this summer? Where are you going? Do you have have suggestions on how to handle these big family vacations? I asked my mom how she survived when I was a kid and we traveled with my dad’s family. “Valium, lots of Valium,” she said. I told my doctor this, and she laughed at me. But she wouldn’t give me a prescription. Sigh. It’s okay, knowing me I’d fall asleep on a floaty and drift out to sea where a handsome sailor…. Hmmmm.

Do you have funny vacation stories? I want to hear them. Book suggestions? Coping with large family gathering suggestions? Tell me!