It’s been a very busy beginning to the year, but now that we’ve finally emerged from the winter that seemed to not want to end I’m sprucing up the Web site content, including new, regular posts on this blog.

So, what have I been doing? I had to do revisions to Elly: Cowgirl Bride, which is due out in October as part of a six-book, multi-author continuity series. When I finished those and turned them in, I had to read like a mad woman to finish judging the RITA contest for RWA. I had some good books in my packet, one of which I enjoyed so much that I went out and bought the sequel. This week is a massive catch-up week including exciting things like getting all my business taxes stuff in order so hubby can do our taxes. Oh, will the fun never end!

I do have some good news to share. Last week, I sold my first eHarlequin online read! We’re still working out the details, but it’s going to be a weekly serial connected to the continuity series I mentioned above. It starts on eHarlequin’s Web site at the end of May and runs for eight weekly installments.

For those of you in or near Bowling Green, Kentucky, I just put some details on the homepage of this site, over in the Appearances sidebar, about my attendance at the Southern Kentucky Book Fest on April 17. Hope to see some of you there.

The hubby went back to work today after two weeks off, and that means I got back to my normal routine. No more sleeping in because no alarm clock is going off. No more staying up until 2 or 3 a.m. reading. I have revisions due on one book in about two months, I want to work in revisions to a YA, and I’m writing another YA. I’m also shooting for 2 hours of exercise a day in my quest to get to my goal weight by my birthday. So, yes, busy days ahead.

We had the first snowflakes of the season this morning as hubby was headed to work. They stopped once the sun came out, and what few were stuck to the grass and the deck quickly disappeared despite it being cold, cold, cold today. It’s like the New Year’s ball dropped in Times Square and the temps decided to drop with it. Right now it’s 20 degrees with a wind chill of 7! And we’re headed for 12 degrees tonight. Brrrrrrrrr! Not supposed to get above freezing tomorrow. Have I mentioned that January is my least favorite month of the year? Oh well, I’m going to be so busy that it’ll be spring before I know it.

Considering a recent phone conversation with my father-in-law recently started with him asking, “Have you died?”, I think perhaps it’s time to do a better job blogging.

And as luck would have it, I have something exciting to share — the cover for my second young adult novel, Winter Longing, which is set to come out next August. I really like it, and I’m hoping it will make people pick it up off store shelves and race to the cash register. What do you think?

I just turned in a proposal for a trilogy to my agent, who sent it to my editor at Harlequin American. I’m hopeful she loves it as much as my agent who said she “loved every word!” I heart my agent.

I’ve also got lots of other things out there under submission, so Santa, if you’re listening, I’d like a new contract for Christmas!

After 10 hours of having workers in the house yesterday, it was nice to have my domain back to myself today. As a result, I got some house cleaning done, a bit of exercise, and a lot of book research. I love the feeling of getting things accomplished.

I mentioned yesterday that I’d be blogging a bit about the new TV season, and I’m going to start out by directing you over to the Nobody Writers it Better blog where I’m blogging today about Stargate Universe (SGU). It’s part of what is giving me my sci-fi fix each week, and it’s filling the hole left by the end of Battlestar Galactica and Stargate Atlantis. Even if you not a big sci-fi geek like me, come on over and read about SGU. It’s a very character-driven show, so you might like it despite all the space stuff.

I have been woefully remiss in keeping up with my blog, but that’s about to change. Blogging is sort of like writing books — if you miss one day working on it, it becomes easier to miss two, then three, and so on. But I’m energized by a planning session I had late last week in which I made writing plans for the rest of 2009, and I’m rededicating myself to blogging here each day.

So, what have I been up to since I last blogged here in mid September? Well, I spoke at the Moonlight & Magnolias Conference

Went to my 20-year high school reunion

Spoke at the member retreat for River City Romance Writers in Memphis

Have been enjoying the new TV season (I’ll do a separate post about this sometime this week, but I have to give a squeeful shoutout to the beginning of Castle last night when Nathan Fillion’s character, Richard Castle, dressed up for Halloween as Captain Mal, aka Captain Tightpants, from his Firefly days!)

Been working on some new story ideas

Been doing a lot of yard work and general prep for winter (like the duct-cleaning guys are here now)

Keeping up with my Healthy Writer blog (come by and check us out!) and continuing with my regular blog days at the Romance Bandits, Supernatural Sisters, Wet Noodle Posse, Harlequin American Authors and Nobody Writes is Better blogs

Got new author photos taken

And generally just keeping up with all of the everyday demands.

So, what is everyone else working on/doing this fall?

I’ve started watching The Biggest Loser this season. My friend Michelle, with whom I do the Healthy Writer blog, has been singing its praises for a long time. But it wasn’t until I started that blog and really dedicated myself to weight loss and getting healthier that I decided to watch. It’s been inspiring, emotional, and suspenseful. Each Wednesday, we do a recap and discuss the things we learned from the episode, what inspired us, which contestants we’re rooting for, etc. So come on by to check out the blog. Maybe you’ll be inspired, too.

Has anyone been watching this season?

Well, autumn is here. I’m seeing signs — a few leaves turning color or dropping, cooler temps, football on TV on the weekends. It makes getting out and walking or working in the yard much more pleasant.

Writing-wise, I’m brainstorming some new ideas while I catch up on some other things that didn’t get much or any attention while I was on deadline. I’m prepping for a couple of workshops I’m doing in Atlanta in a couple of weeks, planning to attend my 20th high school reunion, and prepping for workshops I’m doing for another RWA chapter later in October. I have something scheduled for every weekend in October.

Anyone else have a busy fall on tap?

Watch out, Blogland! I’m back from the writing cave. Yes, fair readers, I finally finished my latest book and turned it in to my editor yesterday. I then breathed the most enormous sigh of relief mankind has ever experienced.

As it normally does when I’m on deadline, my desk has become a disaster area. I began the excavation today by paying bills and throwing all the junk mail in the recycle bin. Also ran a million errands and did some prep for my trip to Dragon*Con this upcoming weekend. If any of you are attending, I’ll be on a Young Adult panel on Sunday morning. The rest of the time I’ll be geeking out with 40,000 of my closest friends. I booked my “photos with the stars” appointments last night, and I have to admit I went a little crazy. I plan to have my photo taken with several actors from Battlestar Galactica, Stargate Atlantis, Twilight, Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel, along with John Schneider and Leonard Nimoy. I’m also very excited to see many of the actors on panels along with some wonderful authors like Diana Gabaldon, Charlaine Harris and Richelle Mead.

I hope to share lots of fun pictures here when I get back. I still have a few photos from the RWA National Conference I want to share, and I plan to do that over the next couple of days before I leave.

I’m still on crazy deadine (book due next Monday), so I’m still scarce here. But I wanted to post that the Q&A with those of us who are running for the RWA Board is now available for viewing by RWA members here. I encourage all RWA members to read through this information to be fully informed before voting opens on Monday. I’m running for re-election to the post of Region 3 Director.

Just call me Lamey McLamerson. I’ve not been blogging here lately because when I get to working on a book, other things seem to get shoved to the sides. I have been committed to blogging on my Healthy Writer blog every day, so pop by there if you get the chance.

But for now, here are some more pictures from the RWA National Conference. These are from Wednesday of conference week.

It was my first year to be able to sign at the huge RWA Literacy Signing. Imagine 500 authors in one room with lots of readers going from table to table to meet them and get books signed. So cool. And the proceeds go to literacy groups. We raised more than $60,000 this year. Extra cool was the fact that my next-door neighbor during the signing was my good pal Tanya Michna/Tanya Micheals. Here we look like normal, friendly authors. In a few weeks, we’ll be getting our geek on and dressing up at Dragon*Con.

Lots of friends stopped by my table. Among them were Michelle Butler, who I’ve now known for 13 years!

And Vanessa Barnevald, talented YA author and Golden Heart finalist this year. I fully expect to hear about a first sale from her soon.

After the Lit Signing was the annual Bandit Bash, sponsored by my fellow Romance Bandits and myself. Here’s a view from above of part of the crowd.

If you’re a regular visitor to the Romance Bandits blog, you’ll know how popular our Golden Rooster is. He’s a virtual rooster who goes to the first comment poster of the day, but don’t tell him he’s not real. He might get upset and karate chop me. The rooster, sporting a cape and mask, graced our party cake — along with some of his cocky attitude.

Banditas KJ Howe and Anna Sugden.

And more Banditas, Beth Andrews and Susan Sey.

Me with one of the Bash guests, Jessica Andersen, who took time away from pimping the end of the world, to come party with us. (See Jess’s books to see what I’m talking about.)

If you had been at my house at 11:12 p.m. tonight, you would have seen the not-so-world-famous Trish Milburn Happy Dance. That’s right, fair readers, I got my revisions that had kept me away from blogland done! I sent them off to my editor and agent, and breathed a ginormous sigh of relief. Even though I still have plenty on my plate, including another book deadline Sept. 1, I hope to get back to regular blogging.

Today (Monday), I’m blogging at Nobody Writes It Better about my trip along the Tennessee River aboard a paddle-wheel riverboat. There’s even a picture of me at the wheel!