Okay, so my mom knows what I write, but won't read it. That's okay...I think I'd be embarrassed if she did. On Saturday (yesterday) I take both her and my daughter to the mall for a girl's day out. Of course, I want to stop in Waldenbooks and see if they have any of my books on the shelves, but Mom needs to stop in Claire's for a necklace. I send the two of them into Claire's and I head over to Waldens...since I'm not really sure I want my mother to see the naked woman on the front of TABLE FOR FOUR anyway.

Well, they have a smattering of EC books...3 or 4 of Lora's, a few of Jaid's, Lacey and Anya, Shiloh... all represented with one book apiece. But not one Diana Hunter. :(

As I walked in the store, one of the clerks seemed quite friendly and asked me if I needed help. I told her no at that time, but as I was leaving, she asked me again and I told her she was out of Diana Hunter books. She seemed surprised and then laughed. "I can't keep those books on the shelves!"

I said, "Well, that's a good thing, really. 'Cause I'm her." (Brilliant, witty dialoge, I know)
It took a moment to register with her and then her eyes got really round and she said, "You write for Ellora's Cave?"

I nodded, grinning.

"Oh my God...I'm in the middle of TABLE FOR FOUR right now...I love it!" She then proceeded to introduce me to every one in hearing distance (turns out she's the manager) and begged me to do a signing.

Now, my ego's feeling pretty good by this point and my mom comes in with my daughter. I introduce them to the manager who is still gushing about EC books and that she apologizes for there being such a small representation on the shelves, but that they fly out almost as fast as she can load them in. "Come back in three days and there won't be one left, I guarentee!"

As we're leaving (and my mother is in shock, especially since she's heard several people in the store now gush over my books), the manager walks past me and says, "I have to tell the clerk next door that I met you...she's going to be so jealous!"

We're walking past the store next door and I look in through the glass. The manager motions to me and I know she wants me to come in. So I go...with mom and daughter in tow for another gush session. I leave, promising to come back for a signing when my next print book comes out.

I couldn't stop grinning and my mother looked at me and said, "I had no idea..." Talk about great timing! Neither one of them (mom or daughter) quite know what to do with me...but they sure had a great time!

Diana(still on cloud nine a day later)

It didn't really hit me until I went to update my webpage...a new year means a new page for the website. All the old announcements are relegated to an archived page, clearing the way for new news.

A while back I was feeling a bit depressed because I had only one book in the pipeline (off to the publishers) and the one I've been working on has been giving me some trouble. I expressed my frustrations to a friend and he asked me how many books I've published in the past year. I counted up and was amazed to discover I published four separate pieces in 2004. The year before that, I published only one. Still, in a year's time, I had written, rewritten and published five stories. Needless to say, I quit feeling sorry for myself.

Still, it's a challenge to keep up with all the stories running through my head clamoring for attention. I'd like to give them all their time in the spotlight, but can only deal with one piece at a time. For 2005 I have one release that came out today and another that's under consideration. Future pieces are still in my computer and in my head, with pages being written every day. As I look forward to the upcoming year, I have no idea how many pieces will see the light of the bookstore...but know I continue to write and continue to listen to the stories these wonderful characters love to tell.