Stefanie Sloane's Regency Round Table

Publication Dates? We Got ‘Em!

Stefanie — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:13:28 +0000

I know, it’s true that I’m fairly easy to excite these days, but really, for a debut author, actual publication dates are HUGE. It means that yes, your publisher does plan on printing the book. And distributing the lovely little novel to bookstores. Where equally lovely readers may purchase it.

Mmmmmm. Dreamy. Oh, sorry, I got carried away there for a second.

Anyhoo, here are the titles–fingers crossed that I’ll get to keep these–and publication dates for the first three books in my Young Corinthian series:

September 28, 2010 – The Devil in Disguise

October 26, 2010 – The Angel in My Arms

November 23, 2010 – The Sinner Who Seduced Me

And here’s a video of how I’m feeling at this very moment:

Pub date? Really? REALLY!

No, Really, I Did Not Fall Off the Face of the Earth

Stefanie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:27:36 +0000

Quite to the contrary, actually. Since I last wrote–in November of last year no less–I sold three books! Squee! Double squee! Squeeing like a ten-year-old girl at a Jonas Brothers concert!

SQUEE!

So I’ve been feverishly writing and, well, that’s about it. But that’s ok, because I can squee while writing. It frightens my dogs, but in can be done.

The publisher, Ballantine Books. The pub date, Fall 2010. The way cool editor, Junessa Villoria. The best agent evvva, Jennifer Schober.

Um, now I have to go, you know, write.

I promise to update on a more regular basis. Really. Cross my heart.

Really.

An Austen Friday

Stefanie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:00:02 +0000

It’s raining and quite grey here, leaving me in the mood for a bit of brooding.

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Mmmmm. Really, brooding doesn’t get much better than that to be found in Austen. Throw in actor Rupert Penry-Jones and you just can’t go wrong. He loves her! He hates her! He loves her! No, wait, he hates her!

Ah, amore.

Let’s Kick Cancer Where it Hurts

Stefanie — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:00:39 +0000

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. I knew nothing about this particularly brutal form of cancer until my Grandmother Anita died from it over ten years ago. And then my aunt Suzie received the dreadful diagnosis and passed away only a few short years after her mother.

And then my Dad. Wallace, or “Buddy” to his friends and family, was diagnosed in May 2005 with terminal pancreatic cancer. He passed away on August 5th of that same year. He was 62. This was a difficult time for my family on so many levels, the loss of him made that much more painful by the realization that there was a 50% chance that the disease ran in the family.

Pancreatic cancer is known as the “silent disease.” Symptoms often do not present until it’s too late, translating to a meager 5% survival rate of 5 years past the diagnosis date. It has one of the highest fatality rates of all cancers (37,170 cases diagnosed in the United States in 2007, and 33,700 deaths) and is the fourth highest cancer killer in the United States among both men and women.

My Dad was a spitfire of a man, a healthy short-man complex combined with extreme intelligence and a ferocious will making for an individual that one could not forget. To watch him suffer from this disease–the second most painful behind bone cancer–was unbearable. Laid low by the mind-numbing medications and persistent pain, it was only due to my Mom’s devotion and around the clock care that he died with some small measure of dignity intact.

It took time, but I’ve finally been able to accept that some good can come from this. I can schedule my brother and I for tests that will help with early detection. I can feel good about my choice to not smoke, something that leads to a 50% increased chance of the cancer occurring. I can eat my fruits and vegetables and get massive loads of vitamin D.

I can support groups like the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, a “nationwide network of people dedicated to working together to advance research, support patients, and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer.”

I can publicly applaud people like Patrick Swayze and Dr. Randy Pausch (1960 – 2008), who shared their stories so that others might benefit.

I can be thankful for my mom. She gave until she had nothing left, and then she gave some more. She is a shining example of what we all should strive to be each and every day.

And I can tell you my story. If just one person walks away from reading this and decides to investigate their family’s cancer history or even commits to eating a few more green vegetables, then I’ve done something.

And so can you. Support cancer research. Talk to your friends and family. And dare to hope.

The Day After

Stefanie — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:00:53 +0000

I was having coffee with a good friend the other day. We talked about the weather. The upcoming holidays. Our love of mini-sized Halloween candy. And, of course, the election.

I have great respect for this woman, a friend since college days who is intelligent, kind, trustworthy–someone I am extremely proud to count a friend.

We voted for different candidates. One for Obama, the other for McCain.

That’s not the important bit. Really.

What is important is that we both agreed that, no matter which man won, the focus should be on what we as individuals were going to do to insure that our country begins to move in a positive direction.

Donate used clothing to a local shelter. Volunteer to study with disadvantaged youth. Cook a meal for a family in need. It doesn’t matter who you voted for–everyone is affected by job loss, mortgage woes, market crashes, and the like.

So take a moment today to either celebrate the win or mourn the loss.

One moment. Two moments. Three moments.

Now get out there and make a difference.

One Word

Stefanie — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:00:00 +0000

VOTE.

I Was a Halloween-ie

Stefanie — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:54:29 +0000

For various and assorted reasons, chief of which was Halloween, I found myself on the streets of Seattle last Friday night. It wasn’t raining–no, really. No rain. But it was a bit chilly. And though I’d opted for the only non-slutty costume to be found in the city that actually covered my body parts, I couldn’t help but longingly eye a woman’s adorable puffer coat. It looked like this:

So cute! So warm! So would have covered up my costume, but after three hours of frolicking, I wouldn’t have cared. How about you? Did Halloween night treat you right?

An Austen Friday, Spooky-Style

Stefanie — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:00:25 +0000

As much as I love Halloween, I couldn’t stray from my usual Austen Friday feature. So I did my best to find one with a little of the BOO! included. See what you think:

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The video, not so scary. The music? Well, not that I don’t love Michael Buble–handsome and hip!–but, and here’s the scary part, I remember the Cheap Trick version. I even remember when it was released. 1980. Yeah, that’s right, I remember 1980.

Now that’s scary!

My Choice for Halloween: Slutty McSlut

Stefanie — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:35:58 +0000

Um, surely I’m not the first woman to take notice of the rather disturbing fact that our choices when it comes to Halloween costuming are, well, somewhat limited.

Apparently, I should really want to be a slutty nurse. Or a slutty maid. Or a slutty leprechaun–I’m not even making that one up. Really. See for yourself:

Seriously? Is this what the marketing gurus think we women want? C’mon Ladies, let’s send a message loud and clear: No more insulting costumes! Next year we want creative, fun, interesting options that actually cover our assets.

Is that too much to ask? I think not.

As for this year? I’ll be saving my cash and coming up with my own. Maybe I’ll wrap myself in tinfoil and go as a leftover. Warm and modest–NICE.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Stefanie — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:22:37 +0000

It’s currently raining and 45° in my little corner of the world. Which made the promotional email from JCrew sitting in my inbox this morning that much more entertaining. Because really, who doesn’t need these:

JCrew Crackle Jane ballet flats in metallic aqua

I know, I know, for those of you in warmer parts of the world, these would be considered practical. As for me? If I can’t have the webbed paws of my chocolate lab, then I really should be looking at something more along the lines of these:

Chooka Tattoo City rain boots

Which, while no where near as stylish as the flats, still add a little oomph to any outfit. Rain, rain, don’t go away, in a pair of these boots I want to go out and play! I’ll file the flats in the “sunny vacation” section of my brain and stick with the boots for the fall. And winter. And spring. And, oh let’s be honest, probably part of the summer as well, since the Northwest is notoriously shy when it comes to the sun.

How about you? Any accessory that will be occupying your dreams to get you through the doldrums of the colder months?