Update from T13: both Spring programs were awesome. The Mexican hat dance performed by three and four year olds was really something to see. I had fun with my mom (and so did my youngest son, whom she taught to headstand against the wall), my diswasher’s fixed, and I’ve had Key Lime pie every night since Wednesday. For Sara: the Key Lime pie I know and LOVE has a graham cracker crust, a filling made with Key Lime juice (from tiny limes grown in Florida) and condensed milk, and whipped cream topping. I highly recommend it. My front door is currently off it’s hinges (being re-stained)and will hopefully be replaced in the very near future as I’m ready to go to bed.

I know I’ve seen the button on other blogs before, but I finally discovered (through my mom) Technorati. Fascinating stuff. You can see who’s linking to you, what they’re saying, and why. Just recently I was reading on Stacy’s blog how she was researching what brought readers to her site. I haven’t tried that yet, but it’s on my list. I’ve always be sort of afraid to add a counter, figuring the lack of hits would dampen my spirits just slightly. Without one, I imagine I have all these strong, silent-type lurkers who find me witty, funny, and insightful. It’s fantastic!

Having never had a critique partner (and being a little insecure and needy), I’m having a little trouble deciphering some of my critique partner’s comments. We’ve never met and only communicate via email. She has lots of good advice, and I really like her, but I’m stymied. So we’re having our first phone call Monday night. Interestingly enough, she told me she thought there was enough to discuss for our entire first phone call on my first chapter alone. (!!!) I’m not sure how to take that, but she assures me, ‘it’s all good’. We shall see.

I’m also debating entering a couple of contests. Has anyone out there had a good experience with the ‘Get Your Stiletto in the Door’ contest? Any of you wildly successful, intelligent lurkers? Or, of course, any of you wildly successful, intelligent, and communicative posters? Do tell!

This month, my idea for a PRO column (for those non-RWA members, a PRO is a person who’s completed a manuscript and submitted it to an agent or editor…and been rejected) is to ask ‘What do you do if your WIP falls into a genre that has fallen out of popularity?’ Admittedly, I may need to trim that question up–not too catchy. Anyway, I’m hoping to offer some suggestions as to what an author (like myself) can do if the genre she’s targeting (chick-lit) is now taboo. Sooooo….if anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them. And, assuming I haven’t already thought of it myself, I’ll happily credit you in the mini article.

In writing news, my ‘Hundred Words in a Hundred Days’ challenge is doing wonders for me. I’m on Day 32 today! I’m also doing a much better job of ‘Writing Forward’, a term I read on Erica’s blog, so that’s helping my throughput, which is always good. I was asked in advance to substitute at my son’s Mother’s Day Out program three more Tues/Thurs in May, and my son’s last day is May 17, so I don’t have too many full writing days left before summer…maybe one and a half. So I’m trying to really power through.

In reading, I know I said I was going to read Persuasion with The Family Fortune, but I got sucked into Persuasion and don’t want to abandon it to read both piecemeal. I should have foreseen that. I also just got A Poisoned Season from the library, which I have been waiting anxiously to read. And…for all you Peter Pan fans…I’m happy to say that I checked out Finding Neverland. I realize that it’s not actually Peter Pan, but it’s close.