Both of my futuristic romances went up for sale on Fictionwise and all the other ebook sellers in the past month. Palm ebooks, Ereader, eBook wise, Knowbetter and probably a few I've forgotten all have THE GREATER GOOD and THE LESSER EVIL up for sale. And they're doing great! And with that I'm finding myself spending time over a new obsession. Numbers and figures watching.

Now you can't get exact numbers of sales by looking at those bookstores, but you can check for where your book ranks on their bestsellers lists. You can check it numerous times per day. You can check it every hour. You can spend hours checking those rankings. I know because I have this week. It's very exciting and gratifying but … it certainly interferes with my writing time.

I've heard people talk about this. Some speak of the fun of watching those rankings and speculate on what they might mean. Some others speak of how little it actually tells you and warns against becoming so intrigued and addicted to numbers watching that you forget your main goal for the day. Writing.

It's fun to watch those sales and enjoy the tingles when one of your books sits in a top spot on anyone's bestsellers' list. But you have to keep writing. You have to use those tingles to inspire you to write more, write better and keep your name on those lists. So happy writing and if you're taking time to read check out those bestsellers list.

THE GREATER GOOD

THE LESSER EVIL

A RUTHLESS GOOD

I visited Fictionwise today and was thrilled to see my first novel, THE GREATER GOOD listed at #17 among the top rated ebooks. I didn't even know until today that it was listed on Fictionwise. I hope you'll check it out and see why it's receiving these ratings. For those of you who don't know, Fictionwise is the 'Amazon of ebook sellers.' You'll see all the big names listed there. I'm on the main page right across from James Rollins and his newest release.

THE GREATER GOOD

THE LESSER EVIL

A RUTHLESS GOOD

After many hours over the past few weeks, many of them late at night, I finish the edits on a fantasy romance. I had submitted it to Samhain Publishing a number of months ago. A very kind editor said she'd consider it again if I made some changes. Some of those were very involved. I rewrote most of the entire manuscript while keeping the plot mostly intact. I'm very excited and hopeful to be sending it back. And for all that hard work I did, I'm going to reward myself.

I consider writing my job, one of them anyway, so I'm giving myself a little mini vacation. It's not easy. Things are nagging at me. I have some major updates to my website planned that I haven't gotten to yet. I have that manuscript I put aside to do these edits that's calling for my attention. And the plot of the fourth book in my Solonian Chronicles for New Concepts is coming together. And then there's the book I started last summer that I think is my big break out fantasy languishing on the shelf because of all these other projects. So much to do and still I'm going to reward myself for a few days. What should I do?

First and foremost is the TBR pile. I have so many books I want to read. I'm talking a month worth of reading material. So I started one this morning. And I'm going to bake those peanut butter cookies my children love. I'm going to weed the flower beds. I'm going to have all the trimmings for our July fourth cookout. I'm going to float on a raft in the pool while I read a book. And I'm not going to hurry through any of it.

Maybe those seem like little mundane things, but I've felt like I hurry through everything this summer. I always have to get it done and then get back to the keyboard. For a few days I'm doing everything at a leisurely pace. And while I'm dogging it, as my husband would say, I'm going to contemplate which project I'm starting next. I know the few days off from writing will reignite the fires to get moving again.

So what do you do to reward yourself when you finish a big project? I'm sure most of you do some reading, but what else? Whatever it is, I hope it's something that fires you up all over again to let your muse run your life.

THE GREATER GOOD

THE LESSER EVIL

A RUTHLESS GOOD

I thought it might be time to hint on my upcoming release from New Concepts Publishing. A RUTHLESS GOOD is the third book in THE SOLONIAN CHRONICLES. Solonia is one of only a few surviving colonies on a future Earth after an asteroid strike as decimated most of the word and wiped out technology of all kinds. In THE GREATER GOOD, a newly established colony called the Realm arranges a marriage between one of their warriors and a princess of Solonia to join the colonies' futures together. Of course, it's much more complicate than that. In THE LESSER EVIL, another Realm warrior and a Solonian warrior woman battle out their differences. Both stories are rift with betrayals, enemies both subtle and lethally dangerous.

A RUTHLESS GOOD introduces to a newly peaceful Solonia and Realm. The two colonies sent a joint exploratory team to search out the lost University of Parlania and the city that surrounded the learning center. Claudia Turan, first introduced as Sky's brother in THE LESSER EVIL, leads the expedition and what they discover will change their world. They find not only the city but survivors. But Parlania has evolved into a society so grotesque and profane, Claudia's team must decide whether to even make contact. Should they assist the handsome rebel leader, Roth Celebria, free his colony? Or is Claudia's desire to help him motivated by simple lust for the Parlanian's fine body and intense drive to bring better times to Parlania?

Get ready for some forthcoming excerpts and meet a new hero and revisit former favorites in the continuing Solonian saga of a world rebuilding itself with courageous determination and personal sacrifices.

THE GREATER GOOD

THE LESSER EVIL

A RUTHLESS GOOD

Today I gave up one of my loves. I've been a coach of one sort or another most of my adult life. My first years out of college I coached track and field and field hockey. Later I coached my son's baseball team for a few years. I recently went back to coaching field hockey. The high school I work at is a national powerhouse in that sport though I know there are parts of the USA totally unfamiliar with it. It's been so much fun and the relationships I've built with the players provides rewards beyond description. I feel sad about giving it up, but I also know I did the right thing. As my writing career demands more and more of my time, I have to rework some priorities. More and more I feel like writing is something I need. The more successful I am at it, the more time it demands. Today after finishing my day job, I worked on my writing career without working on my WIP even one minute. I had to submit an artwork questionnaire for A RUTHLESS GOOD. Then I had to submit a partial and a synopsis for the second book in my series with Medallion Press. Did I mention I had to write that synopsis? My last most reluctant duty on my list was to update my website. Of course, I had to visit a forum or two to do a little promotion, make a few announcements and thank some supporters.

So good bye coaching. I'll miss you, but a person can only work so many jobs and I already have a couple of full time ones. Oh yeah, I forgot, I had to blog too.