Exciting Updates!
Beth Ciotta
One of these days I'll get better about blogging on a more regular basis. Just not this month. *g*

Finished and turned in the gallies for Out of Eden. Yay! The official release date is April 1, 2010, but the promotional efforts are already in motion. This past week I was invited to write an article for the magazine Simply Books. Having stopped by this blog (goes to show I really should update more!) they noticed I'm an animal lover and since their readers are animal lovers and since Out of Eden co-stars a dog, they thought I might be interested in writing an article about animals. My answer? You bet! As a bonus, they're going to include a picture of the dog who inspired Out of Eden's fictional dog, Shy, my real-life dog, Cheyenne! I'm so excited!

Another reason to happy dance, Out of Eden is now available for pre-order! Be the first on your block to own your very own copy. Lots of quirky, fun characters. There's humor and thrills. A romance and a mystery. Oh! And a dog! Click here to pre-order. Cover and excerpt coming soon. Stay tuned!
In other news, tomorrow I'm heading up to NYC. I think I told you, in celebration of our wedding anniversary, my uber-wonderful husband bought us tickets to see A Steady Rain, the Broadway show starring... drum roll, please... Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman! Eighth row seats! Yes, sirree, tomorrow I will be up close and personal (sort of) with Craig and Jackman for almost three hours. Woo-hoo! Details forthcoming! In addition, I get to spend the entire day and night in NYC with my hunky husband. Talk about inspiration for my writing!
Speaking of, I best get back to it. Deadline on Into the Wild looms. Hard work, but what a fun story!
What's new and exciting in your neck of the woods?
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When it Rains, It Pours... and other stuff
Beth Ciotta
A couple of days ago, I received the AAs (author alterations aka gallies) for OUT OF EDEN, my April 2010 release from HQN. For those who don't know, it's the last phase before the story goes to print. My last chance to check for typos. The deadline, the date HQN needs my changes back--November 16. The same day my draft of INTO THE WILD--my September 2010 release is due.

I had to laugh. It was that or cry. When it rains it pours.

In other news, even though I'm here sporadically, I'm always at Sisters in Sync. Today we're discussing scary movies in honor of Halloween, but skim all of our posts. They're fun!

Speaking of Halloween, I have to work at the library tomorrow. The staff is dressing up. I have two closets full of costumes, thanks to my previous life as a character actress. I spied one of four poodle skirts and thought it might be fun to be a bobby soxer... but then I'd have to look for my saddle oxfords and a matching sweater.

Ooh! I have an authentic 60s dress/suit and matching pill box hat. I could be one of the chicks from 'Madmen'. Although, I'm not sure everyone would get it. Dang.

Easiest costume... my Gothic gown. A sorceress. A vampire, witchy type woman. Cliche, but easy. Easy--when under a stressful deadline is good. Stay tuned for pics.

What about you? Are you dressing up for Halloween? Do share!
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This and That
Beth Ciotta
You can find me over at SIS today chatting books and movies with my sisters and whoever chimes in.

In other news, I cooked today. No really. Okay. I used a crockpot, but I had to shop and then put all of the ingredients in the pot. It turned out really good. Some French low-fat recipe using Northern White Beans as the main ingredient. The end result reminded me just a tiny bit of the soup beans my mom used to make. Only I added escarole instead of ham. Oh, and sundried tomatoes and black olives. Also, it was creamier because of the two cheeses. Hmm. Actually, it was nothing like my mom's soup beans except for the beans and the fact that there was a lot of it. Did I mention it was delicious?

Working hard on the deadline book, but took a small break to upload a cute scene I caught with my new Flip. We should all get along like cats and dogs. At least this cat and dog. My fur-kids, Sadie and Nia.

P.S. Shut off the music on the 'slide' in the right column before watching my vid, otherwise you'll have clashing music!



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Furry Angels
Beth Ciotta
I was down with the flu for the past two days. The first day I couldn't even get out of bed. Well, except to let the dogs out to do their thing and to make some hot tea and chicken soup for me. Other than that, I was in bed, sleeping mostly, for 24 hours. My dogs, Nia and Cheyenne stayed with me the entire time.

I was astonished.

Mostly, they cuddled beside me and slept too. Or they took turns laying on the floor next to the bed chewing on the bones/toys they'd dragged upstairs. But they never left the bedroom. Nor did they wrestle at any point like they usually do. It was as if they sensed I was sick and were there to comfort me. They did the same thing the second day. Today I'm feeling better and they're back to their mischievous selves.

Have you ever had anything like that happen? Do you think animals sense when their human isn't well?
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A Girl Can Dream
Beth Ciotta
I want these clogs.
Bad.
Why-oh-why do they have to be $136.00?! I know they're hand painted and the artist should be compensated fairly for his or her work--but dang. I'm not cheap, I swear. Just . . . frugal. A woman who does the happy dance when she finds a cool pair of shoes for $25.
Maybe I'll write a letter to Santa. Or... I could give up coloring/highlighting my hair for a couple of months.
Yeah. Right.
That does it. Tomorrow, I'm buying a lottery ticket.
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Kate Duffy -- One of a Kind
Beth Ciotta
Yesterday, I learned a romance industry giant, a woman I called friend, passed away. Kate Duffy, Executive Editor at Kensington Publishing is no longer with us. I still can't believe it.

I'm not sure that I could write a fitting tribute, but other's have. I'll share posts that touched me most. Mary Stella spoke my heart. Kate was a mutual friend of ours. Sarah Wendell's lovely tribute prompted over 100 comments, many of them showing just how beloved Kate was. Lastly Squawk Radio re-ran an interview with Kate and boy does her one-of-a-kind personality shine through.

If you google, I'm sure you'll find mention of Kate Duffy all over the net today. That's how revered she was by the romance industry. I cherish every moment I shared with her.

Just one of many great times. A dinner party with friends, hosted by Kate. She's the one next to me (2nd from your right) Cheers, Kate!

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Shedding Pounds and Gaining Momentum
Beth Ciotta
I need to lose some weight. When my stretchy pants and my too-baggy jeans don't fit quite right . . . when it takes effort to button the waistband . . . time to readjust my eating habits. I refuse to buy the next size up.

Re-adjusting my current eating habits means giving up my daily Peppermint Patty and Lipton Iced Tea. For weeks now that's been my mid-day treat. Now it has to be water and a piece of fruit.

It means giving up sausage, egg & cheese breakfast sandwiches and eating cereal or two hard boiled eggs and a glass of V8.

It means making recipes from my Weight Watcher cookbook instead of ordering Chinese Take-out. And if I do waver and order Chinese, instead of my favorite dishes I have to get the steamed chicken and veggie dish which wouldn't be so bad except it has NO FLAVOR!

It means making my own soup (a super duper low cal, no salt Weight Watcher's soup) from scratch instead of nuking my beloved Progresso soup.

All in all it means willpower plus extra time and effort on my part, but I did Weight Watchers last summer and I lost 16 pounds! I'd be pleased this time around if I just lost ten. Wish me luck.

In other news, I'm banging away at my current deadline book, Into the Wild, coming in September 2010 from HQN. As with all my stories, this one's evolving a bit differently than I'd first envisioned. I've learned not to fight change, to go with the flow. The writing is most alive, most real, when I allow my creative fires to burn unchecked. I'm gaining momentum as I resist my internal editor and give over to the inner creative maniac.

In other, other news, I hope to able to share the cover of my April 2010 release, Out of Eden, very soon! Just waiting for my editor to send the final tweaked version. I think it's a splendid cover. Can't wait to show you!

In did-we-really-need-to-know-that news... What's up with Mackenzie Phillips new tell-all book?

In how-cool-would-that-be news.... Apparently they're prepping James Cameron's Titanic for a new 3-D release!

What's 'news' with you?
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