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!

Wow, the RWA National Conference and recuperating from it have blown a hole in my blogging, haven’t they? Eek. Since getting home on Monday, I’ve been eyeball deep in revisions that are due Aug. 3. But I plan to start putting up some of my pictures from conference week sometime later today or tonight. Must hit my revision goal for today first.

In the meantime, I would love for you all to check out and comment on my latest YA News & Reviews column over at Romance Novel TV. It’s also my blog day at the Wet Noodle Posse, and in keeping with our summery theme of the month I blogged about my memories of going to the drive-in theater in my little hometown.

My second monthly YA News and Reviews column is up today at Romance Novel TV. I’d love to see some friends faces swing by and comment.

The weather here has been stormy the past few days. Yesterday, a trained spotter reported a funnel cloud in the suburb where I live. I didn’t have to make any mad dashes for the bathtub in the interior bathroom, but it sure got windy and dark here for awhile. And the radar was lit up with red when I clicked on the local news coverage. There’s been more rumbling, rain and lightning today and tonight, and spotters once again reported funnel clouds — though this time they were north of us. At least so far.

In writing news…let me just say for the record that changing a manuscript from third person to first person is quite tedious. I can only do two or three pages at a time before I have to get up and do something else for a few minutes; as luck would have it, I always have something else that needs doing.. Six chapters left to go of this, and then thankfully I can work on writing up a synopsis for a new YA idea.

The great car search last week yielded results. My poor wrecked car was a Nissan and had been very good to me, so I really wanted another Nissan. And I got this cute little 2007 Nissan Versa hatchback. I already took her on a road trip to Kentucky for the Memorial Day weekend, and she’s so fun to drive. And she’s supposed to get 36 mpg. Bonus!

Okay, deadline looming. Must go write books to pay for the cute car.

I found this interview with Outlander series author Diana Gabaldon interesting. Have loved what I’ve read of the series (I think the first three books; it’s been awhile), and she’s one of those people it’s easy to listen to. The owner of this YouTube channel, BookLounge, also has another interview with her, probably just a continuation of this one, plus lots of other author interviews.

In car news, the claims adjuster should be here within the next hour or so. We’ll see what he says.

And in wasted time news, I am WAY too addicted to the Farm Town game on Facebook. But, like my sister says, it’s fun and a stress-reliever.

But I wrote 6 pages yesterday. My goal had been 10, so I’m shooting for 14 today. And if I get them, I can play Farm Town with no guilt.

I’ve been interviewed by Meankitty. Go here to see what I’m talking about.

I’m working on a new story. Yay! I’m part of a six-book continuity series Harlequin American is doing centered around a family in rodeo. I’m book five in the series, which I think will be sometime in 2010.

Thanks to everyone who sent good thoughts after my wreck on Saturday. I appreciate it. I’m very fortunate that it wasn’t worse. Still waiting for the insurance adjuster to come look at the car so I’ll know for sure whether they’re going to total it or not, and whether I need to buy another car.