Tess Quinn

My Fall shows have taken a reprieve because of the weather, and that means I usually don’t watch a lot of TV these days….



Except for ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ I don’t know what it is about that show that I absolutely love. It’s AMAZINGGGGG!!!!!! I started watching it around Season 2, but it’s sort of been on and off for me since then because it’s really hard to dedicate myself to a show when my summers are usually crazy. So far, my favorite season ever has been season 5 with Twitch and the rest of the fabulous gang that have all seemed to made it to the Allstar crowd.



For those of you who don’t know what’s going on with the way the show works this year, Instead of 20 dancers, the show only chose 10 of the best dancers and those 10 dancers were paired up with Allstars who are crowd favorites from season’s past. People like Comfort, Twitch, Dominic, Ade, Courtney, and Mark are in this group.



So what’s going on with this show that I had to write about it? Well, for one thing, two of the 10 dancers chosen had to leave the show because of dance injuries. My favorite dancer of all time, Alex Wong, had a torn Achilles heel or something. Then, two nights ago, Ashley had to leave because she cracked a rib. Is Season 7 cursed? Who knows? I do know that I cannot wait for Alex Wong to come back in Season 8 because he’s going to rip. it. up. I’m still watching for my cutie, Kent though. The fact that he has a love interest with one of the other contestants is sooo ridiculously adorable.



So what about you guys? Do you watch SYTYCD? Or do you prefer to skip out because of busy summers? Here’s a taste of Alex Wong’s fabulousness…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLtSfYX8tJk



Enjoy! <3Tess

Helloooo blogsphere! I know it’s been forever since I last blogged, but I thought I’d do a quick appearance to let you know what I’ve been doing and to share some words of wisdom.



For the last week or so, it has dawned on me that I need to start preparing for RWA nationals. I’m giving a workshop this year under my other name ‘Nisha Sharma’ on the subject of Goal, Motivation and Conflict in the YA Novel.



So what should writers do to prepare for nationals? Here is my handy-dandy list to help you out!



1. The most important thing you should be doing is getting your business cards ready. Conferences are fabulous opportunities to network and if you don’t have your card ready for someone when they ask, they won’t be able to remember you. Here are some tips on getting your business cards ready:
a. Keep the information simple. Name, the genres you write in, any website, facebook, twitter links, a novel publication if you have it, an email address, the name of your agent if you are repped.
b. You can get free business cards through Vistaprint.com. They have limited templates and if you want to pay for a fancier version, they have more options for backdrops to chose from.
c. You can opt to make your own and use your book cover as a backdrop if you have it. Or, if you have another image you want to use, go for it! You can get business card paper and templates at your local Staples.



2. Get your pitches ready! You should have an elevator pitch (a one line succinct description of your project for when someone asks you about your book at the bar or in the lobby). And you should have a 3-5 minute pitch that goes into a little more depth in case you are lucky enough to get a pitching session with an agent or editor (or you are having a friendly conversation in the lobby).



WARNING: I run into this problem every year and I know other authors have the same issue: Don’t go in trying to pitch seven or eight books all in different genres. I write different projects too and it’s best if we all try to pick the one or two books that are the strongest, the most complete, and pitch each one to different people depending on who you talk to. If you pitch book A to an agent and she asks if you have anything else, feel free to bring up book B. Just don’t go in saying I have Book A and Book B and I am ready with both. You want to make the strongest impression with your best project for the person you are pitching to.



3. Send out those emails to people you haven’t seen in a while! Getting together with friends who are out of state is one of the best parts about nationals. However, if you plan on figuring out a meeting time and place at the conference, you may run into difficulty. The conference is crowded and busy with every moment occupied with one thing or another. If you have time free at night for a dinner, make plans in advance. It’ll cut out some of the confusion and the mayhem.



3.A. As an offshoot on this point, it’s best to look through the workshop list and the times before heading to the conference so you know what your schedule is going to look like in advance for any last minute changes. You’ll also want to print out the handouts if you’d like a hard copy of them. RWA is going green and they only provide the handouts on flash drives now at the conference.



4. Invest in yourself. You are going to make an impression on other writers and/or industry professionals. Make sure you dress appropriately, even if you are wearing only business casual clothes. Save the jeans with the holes in them, the palm-tree t-shirt you got in Punta Cana, and the paint splattered cargoes for another time. You want to look like you are serious about your profession and you are at the conference to learn, network and hopefully make leeway in your career. Most importantly, wear comfortable shoes! Trust me on this one. You’ll do A LOT of walking. Also, don’t forget the dress for the Golden Heart and Rita award ceremony! People go all out for that event and you want to dress up, glam up, whatever, because it’ll be a great time.



SIDE NOTE: It’s not absolutely necessary, but I’m a total fan of pampering myself before nationals. It’s like preparing for vacation. So…I have my facial booked, my hair appointment, and my pedicure all ready to go.



5. Set goals for the conference. You want to have general goals that you plan on meeting. Something like: I plan on attending workshops that will help with the dialog in my story. Or, I plan on meeting friends and just having a good time. My goals usually sound like: I plan on getting one request from an agent or editor. And, I plan on sitting my butt down and working on my book at the conference because the sheer energy is so inspiring. Plan on accomplishing those goals if you can. They are really helpful.



6. Avoid the major DON’Ts that apply to all conferences: DON’T talk bad about people behind their backs. DON’T pitch to editors or agents in inconvenient locations if they don’t ask for more information about your book, etc. DON’T bring a copy of your manuscript with you to hand out. At the publisher showcase events where authors sign free books, DON’T cut the line and take a free book (because it’s rude).



7. Make time for yourself. You are going to be completely overwrought with energy and excitement that it’ll wear you out. Every day, make sure you take a half hour to either blog, twitter, upload pictures onto a computer, reflect over workshop notes, or just put your feet up and talk to your kids. It’s a good way to recharge and gear up for the next events you have planned for yourself.



8. Overbudget on purpose. Make sure you set aside 20$ for meals and 30$ for shipping if you plan on accumulating a lot of books and sending them home. That way, you won’t run short on cash when you get to nationals if a dinner comes up or if you and a bunch of new/old friends decide to enjoy a few overpriced hotel drinks.



I hope this little list helps you with your conference prepping! I plan on doing a post-conference blog once I get back from RWA. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for updates from Orlando, RWA 10!!!



<3Tess

WARNING: Spoilers ahead! If you haven’t seen the season finale, do not read any more!!!



Okay, Hart Hanson, Mr. Creator of Bones…I have a bone to pick with you (bad pun not intended). WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??????



The season finale of Bones definitely shook things up if that was your intention. I mean, I like that Brennan is still all about anthropology and that she was asked to go to Indonesia because she is the “best” in her field and how can she be the best if she isn’t on the most exciting dig in the decade?



But did Booth really have to go to the Army? I feel like it was too tidy that ‘oh look, Booth is also asked to go away for a while.’



And did anyone else find it ridiculously frustrating that they didn’t kiss? I was ready to pull my hair out. They weren’t going to see each other for a YEAR. A whole YEAR. I thought that should at least earn some sort of smooching, right?



OK, I admit it: I liked that Angela and Hogins were leaving too. Angela deserves some time in Paris. She gave her dream up of being an artist in Paris so she could stay with Brennan and now that Brennan is leaving, it only makes sense that Angela should get some time off, too. I thought it was really cute that Hogins and Angela got married in such a low key way. It really made the moment all the more special, I think.



Okay, but here is my big question: What’s going to happen after the year is over? Are Daisy and the other two interns going to continue working at the lab? Will Booth find someone while he’s over sees? Because that’s just terrible if he does. But most importantly, WHEN WILL SEASON SEVEN START? I must google.



That’s it for now! I’ll probably do a little thing on Glee, NCIS, and NCIS:LA when I’m done being mad about Bones. lol.

Today we have Debra St. John talking about her writing life. Let’s see what she has to say about her brainstorming process and what she’s working on right now.



What is your brainstorming process for a new book?



I do a lot of internal thinking-through before putting pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard!). I let things percolate for a while. After that I’ll jot down notes. Finally I just start writing.



Can you explain your typical work week day?



I wish I had a typical work day when it comes to writing! (LOL) I have a full-time non-writing job, so that takes most of my day. I write at night if I have time or on the weekends. I don’t work in the summer, so I tend to get much more writing done then. I usually get up in the morning and take my laptop out to my back porch. I try to get a couple hours in while I’m still in my jammies!



Tell us about when you made the decision to write.



I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since high school. For a long time it was always hovering in the back of my mind. Then, about fifteen years ago, I decided to get serious about the whole thing. I joined a local writers’ group and tried to learn all I could about becoming a “real” writer. I’ve learned a lot so far, but each day I discover there’s still so much more to learn.



What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?



Join a writers’ group and/or a GOOD critique group. Enter contests – this is a great way to get feedback on your writing and to possibly get your work in front of editors and agents. Attend conferences – you’ll find a slew of valuable information and make contacts with people in the business.



Tell us about what you’re working on right now and what we can expect from you in the near future.



Right now I’m working on promotion for WILD WEDDING WEEKEND, my latest release, which came out a couple of weeks ago. I also have a manuscript in the pre-galley stage with my editor at The Wild Rose Press. THIS CAN’T BE LOVE should be out later this year. In the midst of that, I’m trying to make headway on my fourth book. It’s coming along, but not as quickly as I’d hoped.



I’m sure you’ll be great, Debra! Thanks for joining us! For those of you who want to know more about Debra, you can check out her website here. Thanks for swinging by! Until next week!



Debra St. John has been reading and writing romance since high school. She always dreamed about publishing a romance novel some day. She lives in a suburb of Chicago with her husband, who is her real life hero. Her debut release, “This Time for Always” is a Champagne Rose and Rosebud bestseller at The Wild Rose Press. “Wild Wedding Weekend” is available now. “This Can’t Be Love” will be her third release from TWRP.

It’s been a while since I’ve typed about my TV show opinions, but then again, it’s been a while since my favorite shows have been on, too. So, without further ado, here are some of my opinions on shows that have recently come out with new episodes. If you haven’t been watching, then SPOILERS ahead! Either way, enjoy!



NCIS update: Ah, Ms. Snow, the Madam of D.C. How you are so much better for Gibbs than that other attorney bitch who just wants Gibbs to suffer. I think it’s great that the show writers are giving Gibbs this romantic interlude. It’s been a while since he’s had a woman. However, I think there are some other characters that deserve to have relationships first: After all, what is going on with Tony and Ziva? After their one night together a couple episodes ago, views are salivating for more, me included. What about McGee? Isn’t he dating someone? He can’t get Abby so shouldn’t he have someone else? And lastly, shouldn’t Ducky be happy? His mother just passed away and he should at least have something to cheer him up. He hasn’t had a romantic relationship that lasted more than one episode in the history of NCIS. Either way, Gibbs gets too much attention here. I do like the Madam Snow twist, but only because I think she’s awesome.



Glee: Glee is back and I have come to the conclusion that all the drama is a bit too much for me. I think I’m just going to fast forward to the songs. It’s totally not fair that Jesse the asshole is playing up Rachel’s emotions. It’s totally a plot point to distract Rachel before regional’s. I plan on writing a letter to the writers of Glee that says, Dear Glee writers: Please keep up with the talent in the show. You’re not giving the characters enough to work with. It’s kind of too predictable.



Bones: OHHHMMYYYGOOODDDDDDDLja;ldfkajdf;adfa. The one hundredth episode? No F*king way. I loved the idea that they were going to sleep together and that they had this attraction right from the get go. What really pisses me off? That Brennan told him NO. That she wouldn’t even give him the time of day when he came out with it and told her that he loved her. How dare she make Booth cry? That was so freaking upsetting. On a good note, I cheered when Dr. Addy made an appearance. I missed Doctor Addy so much!



The last episode of Bones, the high school reunion, was really cute too, but I wish some more stuff happened between Booth and Brennan. The Prom like set up at the reunion was really sweet but I wanted MORE. I feel like most other viewers I’ve talked to wanted more, as well. I heard that everyone will get more relationship stuff in the next episode, so I guess I’ll just have to wait for it!



Other than that, I have been watching NCIS: Los Angeles, which is also a lot of fun but Bones and NCIS I have to say have taken the cake for this post of TV Guide. I’ll keep you posted on what I think is going on with these two shows, along with GLEE and NCIS:LA. Let me know what you guys think, too! Until next time, happy watching!

Today we have author Ilona Fridl talking to us about her writing life. Check out what she has to say! Thanks for joining us, Ilona!



What is your brainstorming process for a new book?



I usually start with a “What if” premise . With Silver Screen Heroes, I started with a “ What if gangsters took over a movie studio to make illegal liquor and use the theaters as distribution centers?” I did research about the era then set up the characters. I take notes on where I want the story to go. By then, I have characters who have their own ideas and I have to revise some of my notes.



Can you explain your typical work week day?



After breakfast, I check my email and do general business. Now, that I’m doing promotion for the book, I go on blogs and soon am going to be booking signings. After that, I read my WIP a few pages from where I stopped last then add a scene or two. All in all, I spend around four hours on the computer. The story is always swirling around my head and if I get an idea, I jot it down.



Tell us about when you made the decision to write.



That started early on. When I was a child, I used to make children’s picture books for myself. My English classes in school were a breeze for me, because I loved doing research on different topics. Math, on the other hand—well—not so good. I must be all right brained. Anyway, after school I did some writing for magazines, but I didn’t like typewriters. I didn’t do any serious writing until we got our computer, so now I didn’t have any more excuses. I’ve been writing ever since.



What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?



Find a good critique group. There are times in writing you know what your characters are up to, but you don’t make it clear to the reader. Others will notice. I’m lucky because my group is a positive force. They work with you to make it better. Next, join an organization. I joined RWA and besides having the support of the members, it’s a great place to start networking with agents and editors. Third, don’t let the rejections get you down. Somewhere out there, someone will love your work. You just have to find them.



Tell us about what you’re working on right now and what we can expect from you in the near future.



Silver Screen Heroes was just the first in a Dangerous Times trilogy. Golden North the second book set in Juneau, Alaska also in the early 1920′s. That is set to be released August 20th. The third book is my work in progress, Bronze Skies, that’s set during World War 2 about the Alaskan invasion by the Japanese. It’s about the children of the original characters. Later, I want to rework my first manuscript that takes place in the 1960′s.



Wow, really looking forward to reading more of your work! Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! For those of you who want to know more about Ilona’s work, you can visit her website here. Thank you for joining us today on Writers on Writing! Until next week!

It’s another glorious Thursday, and we have A.Y. Stratton talking about her writing life on today’s Writer’s on Writing. Enjoy!



What is your brainstorming process for a new book?



Plot and character ideas come to me any time, any place.



I keep a small notebook with me so I can write down ideas for characters’ names, awkward situations where two people might meet, words I would like to use, interesting professions and plot twists. For example, some day I intend to have a character named Zack, Zeke or Zoe who delivers flowers during the day and is an amateur detective at night. In my next story I intend to us the words “sizzle” and “dazzle,” because they jump right off the page.



I got the idea for Buried Heart, my debut romantic suspense novel, when my husband and I were visiting Mayan ruins in Central America. As we explored the expansive archeological site in Copan, Honduras, the archeologist-guide explained that the Mayans recorded their scientific and historic data by drawing hieroglyphs on paper they made from tree bark, folded like an accordion to form a book, officially called a codex.



The archeologist went on to explain the Conquistadores who arrived in the New World brought the Spanish Inquisition with them. Soldiers were ordered to burn the Mayan books as works of the devil. All but four of the codices were destroyed.



I was struck by the terrible loss of the Mayan culture and astonished that at least a few books from pre-Columbian times had survived.



By the time we returned from our trip, I had roughed in my story. I pictured a modern-day Mexican-American professor of archeology, Luis (notoriously attractive, of course), who had inherited a map that might lead him to one of those ancient documents. I imagined evil characters attempting to steal his map. I saw a feisty, uptight and independent woman (eventually named Lauren) who would meet the archeologist and become entangled by passion and intrigue.



My story begins with a mugging on a dark, slushy winter evening in Milwaukee and eventually continues among Mayan ruins deep in the steamy rain forest. I continued the theme of contrast and conflict by including scenes with blazing sunshine and dark caves, ancient secrets and shocking revelations.



Can you explain your typical work week day?



Here’s how my favorite work day goes: after breakfast with the newspaper (reading about the Milwaukee Brewers or the Green Bay Packers), I read emails for no more than thirty minutes. Then I write for two hours, have a quick lunch, get some exercise (yoga, walking, tennis or swimming, depending on the season) and write for another two hours. Later in the day I edit what I have written. Limiting email is the most difficult task on this list. (Now that I have actually created this schedule, maybe I’ll be able to follow it.)



Tell us about when you made the decision to write.



When I was a child and had trouble getting to sleep, I’d make up adventures starring me as the heroine and imagined I’d write stories like those some day. Once I began reading mysteries in middle school, I just had to record the stories that were in my head. For about twenty years I wrote for newspapers and magazines, as well, but always had a few short stories, mysteries or romances to send off to agents and publishers. Until last year I received only rejections. As I like to tell everyone, I am multiply-rejected, but poised to become an overnight success!



What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?



I urge aspiring writers to FINISH every story they have begun. So often people tell me they have started a book, but can’t seem to get back to it.



Tell us about what you’re working on right now and what we can expect from you in the near future



In my next romantic suspense story, tentatively called “First You Practice to Deceive,” someone wants young widow Suzanne Buchanan dead. Is it one of her step-children? An employee of her husband’s steel company? Or is it the family enemy, Pete McCoy, with the sassy mouth and sexy eyes, the man she’s falling in love with?



I also have four chapters of a story that’s been nudging my imagination for about a year. The protagonists meet and fall in love after they break into a house and stumble upon a dead body. Concocting the reasons for each of them to become burglars was my first challenge. My other task is to decide on the identity of the dead woman. After a few wakeful nights, though, I’m sure I will fill in the rest of the plot.



Thanks for joining us and sharing, A.Y.! For those of you who want to know more about A.Y. Stratton, you can visit her website here, or check out her bio below. Thanks for joining everyone!

I grew up in Glenview, Illinois, moved to Elm Grove, Wisconsin, when I was in high school, and then attended college in New York where I majored in English. My husband and I live in a suburb of Milwaukee. Once our three children were older, I started working as a free-lance columnist for local periodicals. In the summer I write a baseball column for the web site of my beloved Milwaukee Brewers. I still make up stories as I go to sleep, but now I save them in my computer.

Last Saturday was the Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference. Over 130 people showed up with F. Paul Wilson as the keynote speaker. Agents and Editors were hanging out. John Maberry taught a two hour workshop on writing a thriller. It was glorious. or those of you who are interested in writing, definitely consider joining Liberty States. If you don’t live in New Jersey, or anywhere near Jersey for that matter, all of the meetings are podcasted so you can hear the monthly speaker any time you want.

The first annual LSFW workshop went off without a hitch. I totally enjoyed every moment of it. I taught a workshop on writing the YA novel early in the morning. I had a really great turnout, met some nice people, etc. I stumbled a bit because i had to cram my hour and a half workshop into 45 minutes, but totally fine.



Afterwords, I did some writing in the cafe (surprise, surprise) and then headed to lunch where I sat with a really pretty editor from Dial and this adorable southern boy editor from Dutton. They were kind enough to have pity on my pathetic sense of humor and requested my YA MS. Well, one requested whatever I had completed on my WIP, and the other requested my completed MS. So that was nice. F. Paul Wilson spoke and he was HYSTERICAL. Totally loved him.



After lunch, Mary Kennedy and I had a workshop which was…uhm….small. lol. Mary told us HYSTERICAL stories about her pitching adventures. If you ever get a chance to see Mary Kennedy speak, totally do it. She’s awesome!



After that, it was getting dark and the wind was crazy and I felt like we were all going to die in the hotel because all you could hear was the windows shuttering and the howling outside. But we all sat down with our books at the book signing and I sold to my friends because no one wanted to die and come out in the rain to see us. lol.



So I was supposed to go home after the book signing, but I decided to stay and have dinner. Me, Lynn and Monica hung out, had some chow, and I debated the WHOLE time whether or not it was safe for me to drive home. Sigh. When the hotel lights went out for like 5 minutes because a pole fell down in the back parking lot, I knew that i had to stay.



I had awesome writer friends who said that I could share with them, but I was always up late and night and i snored like hell (true fact), so, I went to the front desk, begged for a discounted room, and voila! Not only did the sweet guy at the front desk (who had a mad crush on George Clooney) give me a discounted room, he gave me a hug and a handful of Hershey’s kisses. sigh. What an awesome person.



So Monica and i stayed up until 11 writing/critiquing and then I studied before hitting the sack. The next morning, Monica and I had breakfast, talked more about the writing biz, and we headed off into the gloomy Sunday afternoon, thus concluding my LSFW conference experience. Yeaaay!!



In the end, I presented a workshop, signed some books, ate great food, got some writing done, and survived a monsoon. You guys should think about going. It was such a blast. Can’t wait until next year!

Thank you for joining me today for my Writers on Writing series! Today we have Laurie Edwards telling us a little bit about her writing life. Let’s see what she has to say…



What is your brainstorming process for a new book?



Usually I “see” the story in my mind. The characters talk to me or to each other, then after I’ve eavesdropped a while, I write down what I’ve been seeing and hearing. Most of the time, I see several isolated scenes—usually the first one, a few in the middle, and the ending scene. Then I need to dig for the rest. That involves character interviews, where I ask various characters what comes next, or asking myself “what if?”



Can you explain your typical work week day?



I write (&/or edit) all the time, generally 10-12 hours a day. Unfortunately, most of it isn’t my own novels, but fortunately, that writing does pay my bills. I consider myself lucky to be able to support myself with my writing. And unless I have other things planned, I even write on the weekends. Umm, does it sound as if I enjoy writing??



When I’m under tight deadlines, I try to set aside 10 minutes a day for my personal projects. That may not sound like much, but two things generally happen. The first is that I’m less likely to skip my personal writing time when I know it’s only for a short time. The second is that 90% of the time, I end up getting involved in what I’m writing and write for longer than 10 minutes. I’ve also found that knowing I only have 10 minutes forces me to start writing immediately; there’s no time for fooling around. That discipline comes in handy when I have longer stretches of time to write.



Tell us about when you made the decision to write.



Let’s see…I believe it was when I had 5 kids under the age of 8. At the same time, I’d just opened my own business, and we’d just moved into our first home, which we were painting and decorating. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. Or maybe I had to do something to maintain my sanity?



What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?



Believe in yourself. Call yourself a writer even before you get published. Stay away from people who try to shoot down your dream. If you have the desire and determination, you will get published. Don’t be afraid to start small; no one (or almost no one) becomes a NY Times Bestseller overnight. Expect the process to take a long time; it’s not unusual for authors to write for 10-20 years before they get published. You wouldn’t expect to become a concert pianist in a year or two, so why should you expect to be a published writer in that amount of time? Put in your time learning the craft; it will pay off in the end.



Tell us about what you’re working on right now and what we can expect from you in the near future.



I have several romances in the works. They’re all adult books—a bit different from my usual YA. Two of the romances are inspirational. I also have a YA fantasy in rough draft form that I want to work on and finish. It’s part of trilogy. I’ve jotted down scenes and ideas for the other two books, but need to find time to write them. And I have hundreds of ideas knocking around in my head… Oh, and quite a few picture books, including one in free verse that I illustrated, Jungle of the Night. I’d love to illustrate picture books, so I hope to make that a part of my future too.



That sounds great, Laurie! Don’t we all have so many projects we can’t tear ourselves away from? For those of you who want to know more about Laurie, you can check out her site here. Thanks for joining us! Until next week!

Yeay! Today author and friend Kathleen Coddington is stopping by to tell us a little bit about her book and the beauty of sleep. Welcome Kathleen!



Thanks for allowing me to visit, Tess and talk about my new book, Palace of Dreams.



Tell us a little bit about your story Palace of Dreams
The story is a futuristic erotic romance set in a dream dome on the planet Cereus Prime. Of course before you can reach REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and dream you first need to fall asleep, a real problem for many people. Here are a few tips I picked up as I researched sleep and the dreaming process that might be of interest to your readers.



Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t always easy. While it may seem like a steady state, studies of brain waves show that we go through 5 stages in order to get to the REM (rapid eye movement) state where dreaming takes place. It’s at this stage that true restorative sleep occurs. If falling asleep has become a nightly problem, here are a few tips that might help.



Develop a sleep routine. Send your body signals that it’s time to sleep. About 2 hours before you plan to hit the hay, take a bath, turn off the television, put away that exciting thriller, put on some soft music and turn down the thermostat. Keeping your bedroom a few degrees cooler at night promotes sleep.



Sip a cup of tea or eat a carbo-rich snack. A cup of chamomile or other herb tea can help you relax. Stay away from black or green tea unless you drink the decaffeinated varieties. Because they release tryptophan, which has been shown to make people sleepy, eat a light snack of rice cakes, pretzels or a potato about an hour before bedtime.



Aroma therapy works. Spray your pillows lightly with lavender or light a lavender candle to induce drowsiness.



Consider the pet quotient. Sharing your bed with your pet can be part of why you can’t sleep. But banishing them from the bedroom can be almost as stressful. Consider giving your pet his/her own bed on the floor next to you. If constant scratching seems to be a problem, schedule a visit to the vet to check on things like allergies, ticks and fleas. Play with kitty and take fido for a walk. If they are tired at the same time you are, they’ll be more likely to sleep through the night.



Or visit a dream dome. In my latest book, Palace of Dreams, dream dome guests never have a problem falling asleep. And when they do, they have the most incredible dream adventures led by their own telepathic guide. For a deep, restful and completely fulfilling sleep, you can’t go wrong scheduling a visit to the Crystal Palace.



That sounds great! Thank you for all the helpful tips on getting a goodnight sleep! For those of you who are interested in learning more about Kathleen’s book, check out the information below:



Book release date: March 5, 2010
Ellora’s Cave: Aeon
Novel. You can purchase the book at http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8218-50-palace-of-dreams.aspx



Visit her at: www.kathleencoddington.com or www.kathleencoddington.wordpress.com



Check out her book blurb here:



In the dream domes of Cereus Prime visitors can fulfill their deepest erotic fantasies in sessions led by telepathic guides. Among the guides, Inari Rau is a living legend. On her final night as a guide, she receives a request to lead one last dream. During the session she loses control and is drawn into a fantasy of raw, sexual pleasure with her mysterious client.



Kastel Fane has a mission to complete—give Inari the dream of a lifetime as a farewell gift from her friends. If he succeeds, he’ll receive a hefty reward. What neither expects is the passion that ignites between them or the new psi talent that is born out of their first encounter, an ability that leads to dangerous consequences for both of them. As they fight for a future together, can Kastel prove he is the man who can finally fulfill all of Inari’s dreams?



Thanks again for joining us, Kathleen! Best of luck with your release!

Kathleen Coddington has been writing romance on and off for 15 years. She has three books, a paranormal romance and two historical romances, published by Cerridwen Press and one erotic futuristic through Ellora’s Cave Publishing. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Pocono Lehigh Romance Writers and the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, where she served at various times as VP, secretary and treasurer.



A retired school librarian, Kathleen enjoys reading and travel. Members of two Civil War reenacting units, she and her husband are frequent lecturers at schools and historical societies. She has also published several articles about the fashions of the mid-19th century. She and her husband and two cats live near their son in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania where she teaches a novel writing course at the local community college.