Amy Ruttan

Holy cow, it’s been a year. I’m in shock too, trust me.

But I have living proof of it everyday. He’s walking precariously across the floor, and has said his first word “car”, and on June 26th at around 1 p.m. he will be a year old. *sniff* My last baby. Happy Birthday James. I love you.

To all the father’s out there, whether they be biological or not. Enjoy your day.

I have been stuck in my writing cave. Not only did I finish editing and the second draft of my 1920’s romance I also finished a gladiator novella I started around Christmas. Both are off to my CPs and I anxiously await their feedback before I attempt to submit … I’m also procrastinating on the synopsis and blurbs. LOL!

Right now I’m just having fun writing something small. A hot cowboy piece that’s contemporary.

I’m also trying to play catch up with housework and yardwork. Since I was indisposed with the baby last summer my poor yard is sorely neglected and I have friends and family coming over in a couple of weeks for the baby’s baptism. We were out yesterday and discovered our sunshade bit the dust. *sigh* Since my backyard gets full sun I need the shade for the kidlets. I went out this morning, bought some salad fixings (because it is SO hot today & when it’s hot I eat light) then bought 4 perrenials for my garden. I believe 2 Jacob’s ladder and I can’t remember the other 2 off the top of my head. I think garden sage. Nice purpley colors. Then I went to the JYSK stor and bought a new sun shade for my deck. I just have to convince the DH to put it up tonight so I can go outside tomorrow.

I feel like I’ve been running ragged, but it’s all good. I have a LOT to catchup on.

How have you been?

It’s been a crazy few days since my last blog post. I finished the last of around 1000 dictated medical reports this week and I’ve been prepping for the CRAZY 8 hour exam this weekend. If I get 85% on my objective and 85% on the transcription part I will be a full fledged medical transcriptionist. It’s a way to earn some extra moula at home. Diapers are NOT cheap, plus we have some home renos we would like to accomplish. I also find transcribing allows me to plot, I seem to daydream when I’m listening to dictation. In my EDJ I was a legal assistant and dealt with this daily.

I’ve also been scheduling guest blogs etc and getting my marketing in order for my upcoming re-release of my series this year.

On the writing front I’m rewriting a middle portion of my 1920’s romance to get it ready to sub, and I’m also busy finishing the 1st draft of my gladiator erotica.

In between all of that I’ve been chasing after James who turned 10 months. He’s crawling, hoisting himself up and I think getting ready to walk. I’m still in shock he’s 10 months. Seriously, where did that year go?

I also got a Sony EReader for my birthday, and so I’ve been reading again. I had a HUGE digital TBR pile, but because of my bad eyes I can’t read them on the computer, so I’m playing catch up on that. I’ve re-read Men In Kilts by Katie MacAlister and Hold by Zannie Adams on my pink Sony. I just finished Sin in Jeans by Ciana Stone (pretty hot actually), and I’m currently reading Vivian Arend’s Granite Lake Wolf Series (forgive me if I just butchered the title I don’t have my reader here beside me at the moment). Next on the reader is Edge of the Storm by Jennifer Leeland.

I’m also going to reread Rhevenge’s story from J.R. Ward to reacquaint me with the last book in the series so I am totally prepped when I get Lover Mine, which should arrive any day.

Anyways, that’s what I’ve been up too. I have some great things coming up so stay tuned! I plan on it being a fun summer.

Well, that retreat was most successful. I didn’t get to stay the whole time, I had to leave a day early but I managed to get my 1920’s romance done and to novella length. I was aiming it to 15k, but I crossed the finished line at 20k. I started at 10k on Saturday morning (Friday was spent drinking and chatting), by Sunday just before Noon I typed The End.

WOOT!

Now, on to editing and layering to get it ready to sub.

All in all a very successful weekend away, and of course lots of fun with my buddies.

How was your weekend?

I was interviewed by a new author on the block, so be sure to come to her blog and leave a comment. This is an author to watch out for too. She is very sweet.

So come visit here.

Today I am packing for my retreat this weekend with Christine d’Abo, Leah Braemel, Kimber Chin, J.K. Coi and Wylie Kinson. I missed the last one because of the baby & the kids, this time nothing is stopping me. YES! I plan to get a couple shorts finished and possibly plot out some new stuff.

I’m very stoked for the freedom from the kiddos this weekend. I love them to bits, but I need a break.

Well, I’m off to pack. In the words of the evil magician from Frosty the Snowman “Busy, busy, busy.”

To the weekend for sure.

I’m going on a little writer’s retreat with some fellow author friends. We plan to write and write and write some more, and I need the break to be honest.

We had one in the fall, but I couldn’t go because the kids all came down with a cold and the baby was still quite young.

This time, I’m going. The baby will be 9 months on Saturday and since DH has left me a few times alone with the three it’s his turn to watch the crawling butterball get into everything. LOL!

I have a bit of a sinus infection, but I don’t care … I’m GOING!

I have plans to finish an erotic UF and my 20’s romance this weekend. I also have the final galley of Enemy Enchantress to read over. Enemy Enchantress, the first book in my Enchantress Series is coming out June 7th from Eternal Press.

I’m in charge of prizes, I’m thinking some Easter themed things. *Muwahahaha*

Anything you’re looking forward to in the near future?

There is something constant in my life.

The end of winter is also followed by a sinus infection.

It hit this morning. I woke up to the sound of a bird. I don’t know what kind of bird because it was twittering through the haze of pain and pounding of my first sinus infection.

I never get them when preggers. That is my only respite.

So it’s back. The sun is shining, the snow is melting a bit, there was a bird chirping happily and I’m dying on the couch so drugged up. I’m cold, shivery and all I want to do is sleep. Of course having three children, one being 8 months and wanting to get into everything doesn’t help.

Well, at least there is something constant in my life, like the tide and of course … Spring is coming.

It was the first book I completed, and in 2009 released from Linden Bay. Unfortunately, Linden Bay shut it’s doors and my series lost a home. Hey, it happens. It’s the nature of business, sucks as it does. It also happened around a time when James made entrance into the world. I had no time to think about what the fate held in store for EE or as it was published Enchantress The Fey.

I am happy to say that Enemy Enchantress has found a home at last. I’ll spill the deets later. It’s been a long time since I had a sale. It feels good. Doubt weasels had seem to set up a permanent camp in my home.

I kicked them to the curb this morning. Yay!

Hopefully this year will be better than 2009. Other than James coming into our lives it was a TOUGH year. My mother and father both suffered … I thought more than once I was going to become an orphan as I became a new mom.

It was a great email to start the day.

Other than working in my cave … not much. Seriously. I’m hard at work.

I have a lot on the go. I came up with a writing plan for my year. I don’t know how it will fly, but I figured it’s time to get a plan done up; and in case of cracking up I entrusted said plan to one of my CPs. Evidence in case I really do crack up.

 I’m on Twitter a lot of the time. If you’re on Twitter find me. I chat … alot. My user name is ruttanamy.

Other than that, what’s up with you?

And when my brain becomes my own again, I promise more exciting topics. I swear.