Still breathing, still writing… I’ve given up on updating that page meter, because I passed the 400 page/100K word mark long ago, and now my heart sinks with every page I write, knowing that it means I’ll need to cut a page somewhere else. But the end is in sight.

And this weekend, I’m going for a cruise on this ship so I can hopefully go through and fix all the highlighted lines that read, “Do something something with the sail!”

It’s a battle cruise with four ships and cannons and everything. And we’re allowed to bring booze. How cool is that?


18 comments to “Just checking in….”

  1. Lindsey
    January 10th, 2008 at 4:19 pm · Link

    Are you bringing ale or grog? 😉



  2. Elyssa Papa
    January 10th, 2008 at 5:19 pm · Link

    OMG, that ship is beautiful! And you so deserve a trip…

    Will any dolphins be involved?

    *ducking and running*



  3. Tessa Dare
    January 10th, 2008 at 5:39 pm · Link

    Lindsey, I’m definitely an ale girl – can’t stand rum at all.

    Ely, if I see any dolphins, I promise not to harpoon them. 🙂



  4. CM
    January 10th, 2008 at 8:18 pm · Link

    Yay, Tessa! Your cruise looks fantastic. It’s too bad you can’t write your book like Princess Bride.

    “You there! Move that thing! And that other thing!”



  5. Renee Lynn Scott
    January 10th, 2008 at 9:03 pm · Link

    Oh my FLIPPIN word! Ugh, I hate being landlocked. Don’t get me wrong I’m super happy for you, ridiculously so. But I’m uber jealous.

    Have a great time.



  6. Santa
    January 10th, 2008 at 10:10 pm · Link

    How cool is that? You get to go on a booze cruise to do research. Maybe you can find out how many goats per capita fit on a boat!

    Have a blast and raise a tankard or two for me!



  7. Lenora Bell
    January 10th, 2008 at 11:21 pm · Link

    That sounds delightful! A great way to mix work and pleasure. Will there be any pirates? Are you going to wear a regency dress to make the experience more authentic? The dresses Amy Adams/Giselle whips up for herself out of curtains are very regency-esque. I’m picturing Tessa Dare on the deck of the ship in a fetching gown leading the sailors in a bawdy sea shanty…



  8. Alice Audrey
    January 11th, 2008 at 8:33 am · Link

    That looks like so much fun! I wish I was going with you.



  9. Gillian Layne
    January 11th, 2008 at 10:44 am · Link

    Ack! Color me jealous 🙂 When life allows, give us a report, please!



  10. Noelle
    January 11th, 2008 at 1:19 pm · Link

    Hi Tessa! I’ve never left a comment on your blog before; thought I’d start today, I guess. 🙂

    Beautiful ship. I’m officially green! Have fun!!

    BTW, how do you manage so many words? I know you view it as a curse of sorts, but I’m rather jealous you have so many words and scenes in your brain.



  11. Christy Reece
    January 11th, 2008 at 7:19 pm · Link

    Tessa, this looks like such fun! And a fantastic research opportunity. Have a blast!



  12. India Carolina
    January 11th, 2008 at 8:09 pm · Link

    Ale or dessert wine? Wait, that’s CM. Anyhoo, I was kind of attached to those “do something to the sail” lines. They were good for a giggle.

    But have fun and get some learning done!



  13. Darcy Burke
    January 11th, 2008 at 11:49 pm · Link

    Ooh, ooh, sounds fun! Is it too much to hope you’ll put together a nifty article for your website so all of us can learn what to do with that sail? I’ve always had mad respect for authors who write about boats. Terrifies me. (Not the actual boats, just writing about them.)

    Mmmm, I might take a nice pinot gris. 😉



  14. skirbo
    January 13th, 2008 at 12:32 pm · Link

    Lenora, I think that would be an AWESOME publicity shot. Maybe they could video tape it and put it on youtube, with the closing a teaser for her new book.

    That would be very, very cool.

    Sarah



  15. Ervin A.
    January 13th, 2008 at 12:45 pm · Link

    Well, look at you! Living the fancy author life, going on boats and whatnot, with the ocean and the booze and the fish and cannons. Have fun, miss fancy pants. 🙂



  16. terrio
    January 13th, 2008 at 4:17 pm · Link

    Fancy pants. LOL! I must be tired but that just made me giggle.

    That boat looks way cool and how great you get *hands on* research! Do you get to fire a cannon? Oh, that would be fun.

    Have a great time (or hope you HAD a great time at this late hour) and don’t drink too much. We’d hate to hear you went over board…



  17. Lady Leigh
    January 14th, 2008 at 9:19 pm · Link

    I hope you had a blast! My novel (which now has dust on it) originally started on a ship. I grew up sailing, though small boats. My dad is a hugs sailor and everyone calls him ‘Skip’ or ‘Skipper’ as his everyday name. He gave me some useful info for my book, which I found quite amusing since he is totally staight laced and, well, my dad. I know cliche things like ‘unfurl the sails’ and ‘hoist the main’ and ‘tighten the jib’. And ‘aye, mate’ of course, lol. I am so excited to read your books!



  18. Alice Audrey
    January 14th, 2008 at 11:38 pm · Link

    Tag! Come by and see what.