Had to leave San Antonio today — sad to leave Mary’s but will be glad to get home and see the hubby. But today’s agenda included driving just as far as Houston for a meeting at the RWA office. As luck would have it, it started pouring down rain just as I was getting onto the Sam Houston Tollway and had to start looking for an exit I’d never had to locate before. Normally, I have a really good sense of direction and love maps, but there must be a curse when it comes to me and Houston. The last time I was here, I got lost. Today, I got lost twice. Ahhhh!

Had a good meeting though and dinner with several of the wonderful RWA staffers at a Mexican place called Lupe Tortillo. Headed out of Texas tomorrow toward home. We’ll see how far I get. Unfortunately, once again, I don’t have time to head to another part of Houston to visit some college friends. Next time I come here, I need to build in an extra day. And hopefully next time I won’t get lost!

On a different topic, good friend and 2009 Golden Heart finalist Kim Law just launched her new Web site. Check out the whole thing, but I’m in love with her cool crossword puzzle function on her Fun page.

Haven’t blogged in a few days, but I’m been busy (as usual). But it’s been fun busy. I got to San Antonio on Thursday; then Mary and I headed to Kingsville (where we toured the famous King Ranch) and then to Corpus Christi (where we attended a PRCA rodeo). This portion of my trip was research for a rodeo book I’ll be working on when I get back home. It’s been awhile since I went to a rodeo, so that was fun. And the bonus? We got to spend the night out on Padre Island. Yay — seafood and sea air!

Yesterday, before heading back to San Antonio, we went out to Padre Island National Seashore to walk on the beach and so I could add another stamp in my National Parks Passport. Yes, I am a geek. Why do you ask? Then we went downtown for one of the Fiesta parades, but we had to leave before it started because Mary’s son’s car broke down.

Today, we had a birthday party for Mary with several members of her family and friends. Loads of fun — and loads of food. That, combined with the Guenther House biscuits and gravy I had this morning, have me feeling like I should flee San Antonio before I gain a few hundred pounds. Seriously, there is so much good food in this city that if I lived here I’d be enormous. Mary and I also went to several bookstores today to sign our books. Big fun!

I’m here for one more day, then it’s on to Houston for a meeting and then home.

It’s Mary’s birthday today, and as it happens I’m headed to Texas to visit her today. Woohoo! But while I’m on the road, I thought these photos might bring a birthday smile to her face — and perhaps yours too.

Dean: Dude! I told you I wanted to wish Mary a Happy Birthday first.

Sam: Jerk. You know I got dibs because we’re both from San Antonio.

Angel: I’m sorry, Buffy, I don’t have time to fight evil right now. I’m headed over to wish Mary a Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday from the high seas, Mary!

I never did get around to sharing photos from my San Diego trip last month. So here you go, a photographic tour of my trip…

The desert of New Mexico outside my train window.

The Marriott where the RWA board meeting was held and where the conference will be in a few years. Gorgeous location with lots of restaurants nearby. I think the members will love it.

Coral trees in the park in front of the hotel. Beautiful.

With a Navy base across the bay from the hotel, I saw lots of Navy vessels go by.

Nearby was the USS Midway aircraft carrier, which is now a museum. Here I am on the flight deck. Funny that I’m in a plane since I don’t like to fly.

And here I am in the brig. Oops, I was bad.

Beside the ship was a huge statue of that sailor kissing the nurse made famous by that photo snapped in New York at the end of WWII.

After my meeting was over, my sister and her family came down and we played tourist for a few days. Here we’re at the Shamu show at Sea World. We all got sunburned because we were dorks and forgot out sunscreen.

Another day, we went to Cabrillo National Monument. Here I am with my two nieces.

This cute lighthouse was at Cabrillo. It was the original, but they eventually had to build one down by the water because this one gets socked in with fog all the time.

These tidepools were down below where the lighthouse is located.

After several reports of people unfortunately not being able to find Heartbreak River on the shelves at Barnes & Noble locations around the country, I finally heard of a sighting at one. Tami Brothers snapped this shot of the New Releases rack at the B&N in Macon, Georgia. She said there were four copies. Yay! And look — it’s close to one of the wonderful queens of YA fiction, Meg Cabot! I might expire of excitement. Thanks, Tami, for the photo.

It’s been a week of All Revisions All the Time — well, almost. I did occasionally sleep, eat and collapse in front of the TV at night. And yesterday, the official release date for Heartbreak River, I went bookstore hopping to see it on actual bookstore shelves. One of the lovely ladies working at my local Books-a-Million was kind enough to snap a picture of me with the book. And yes, my book was located on a shelf just below the two full shelves of Stephenie Meyer books. Squee!

Today, I was SO happy to finish up the revisions on my second young adult and send them back in. The book, which was originally called Arctic Heart but then changed to Ice and Desire now has a different, and we believe, final title — Winter Longing. I like it, and it really fits the book. So put it on your calendars now for…Summer 2010.

Okay, I’m curious where else Heartbreak River has been showing up. If you’ve seen it in your local stores, let me know where and how many copies they had. And if you bought it, have someone take your picture with it and you just might end up on this blog.

I’m having a launch party over at the Romance Bandits blog today. We’re talking teenage heartthrobs and who’d we’d cast if movies were made of our books. So come join the fun for a chance to win my new book, Heartbreak River (written as Tricia Mills), which officially hits store shelves tomorrow.

I also have a fun interview up at Bookluver Carol’s Reviews blog today. She’s made it fun by adding her own comments aftere my answers. Had to chuckle over a couple of them.

I’m not the only one getting some online love. Best bud MJ Fredrick has a very nice interview in the Houston Examiner today.

Hubby and I don’t watch a lot of the same shows on TV. Most of the time, it’s just The Daily Show. But that changes tonight because the fifth season of The Deadliest Catch premieres on The Discovery Channel. I know all these guys do is fish for crab on every episode, but I can’t help myself. I love watching them battle the Bering Sea, play practical jokes on each other, battle to see who can catch their quota and how quickly. Every time the Hillstrand brothers aboard the Time Bandit get to laughing, I crack up myself. It’s a sure cure for the blues or other bad moods. I notice they have a couple of new boats this year — one big one and one that is the smallest in the fleet. It’ll be interesting to get to know these new crews and see how they do against the regulars — the aforementioned Time Bandit, the Cornelia Marie, the Northwestern and the Wizard.

Any Deadliest Catch fans out there? Which is your favorite boat and crew?

My revisions are continuing, though a bit easier since the section I’m in today isn’t requiring as much rewriting as yesterday’s. Still, I feel like I’m growing to this chair like kudzu overtaking a roadway.

Friday I drove up to Cincinnati and stayed with the fabulous and cool Liz Bemis, who is the program director for Ohio Valley RWA and a double Golden Heart finalist this year.  That night, we drove through the pouring rain that had been chasing me to Ohio to meet up with the equally fabulous and cool Jenn Stark for a yummy Mexican dinner.

Yesterday, I spoke to the OVRWA chapter on perseverance, a subject near and dear to my heart since it took me 11 years to sell. I know there were people in the audience sitting in the same boat I was such a short time ago — Liz and Jenn among them — where they’ve got tremendous talent and have found success on the contest circuit but haven’t quite made that first sale yet.

Liz Bemis, me, and Jenn Stark

Since it was the day before Easter, I rewarded audience participation with Carmello bunnies, Cadbury’s Creme Eggs, Peeps and a couple of free books. Hey, I’m not above some sugar-filled bribery.   The ladies were wonderful, and I was thankful for such a nice turnout the day before Easter. I even got to meet Becke Martin (aka Treethyme), who hangs out with us a lot over at the Romance Bandits blog.

With Becke Martin

After the meeting, some of us were about to chew our arms off we were so hungry. So before I hit the road home, I went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory with Liz, Jenn, and two other great and interesting ladies named Amy and Libby (man, I hope I got that right or I’m going to be really embarrassed). Then it was time to hit the road home. I plugged in the iPod and passed the hours listening to PotterCast and an the Supernatural podcast.

Two funny signs seen along the way:

On a fence surrounding a field: For Sale, Used Cows

On the ladies restroom door inside a gas station/Subway combo: Now hiring servers. Apply within.

Two other notes:

Liz has a fun blog series going on at her site counting down the 100 days until the Golden Heart ceremony. Be sure to check it out.

And Jenn isn’t just a writer. She’s a whiz at author branding. Check out her branding site at www.knowyourbrand.com.

I’m guest blogging today over at In Bed with Books about how I get writing inspiration from TV and movies. I even mention those hilarious Hulu commercials.